Hello, I just got this idea a little while ago and even though this circumstance is probably one that Toph would kill me for putting her in I'm evil. (Hehe) So read and review and I'll try not to have too terribly waiting period for updates. Thanks!

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She had over exerted herself, that was all. Toph, in the midst of her earthbending, breathed in deeply and exhaled slowly. The pains in her stomach were terrible, as if a war far greater than the one resolved six years ago was being fought within the walls of her belly. This was not the first time either.

I'm not training myself hard enough, Toph thought to herself. I've been letting my skill go unpolished.

She summoned the earth, threatening to tear it to shreds if it did not obey her command. Gravity won. Soon she was on the floor retching something awful. She felt as she never had before. A handmaiden came rushing to her and grasped her hand.

"Miss Toph, my lady, are you alright."

Toph shook the young girls hand off, glaring with her murky eyes that saw no light. "I'm fine," she growled. "Just fine."

She detested being vulnerable, she always had since she was a little girl. But in spite of her kick butt attitude, the young earthbender had changed much. Her black hair still piled up in a thick bun and bangs still fell over her green eyes, but her face was no longer one of a child's. She was more shapely and, to her great aggravation, nearly the same height.

Most respectable called Lady Bei Fong, short for the extremely long title that she herself disregarded, Toph now lived on her own. The little pavilion in earth kingdom country was a good place to go and train when she wasn't out on political affairs. There was also a little garden with a lily pond that had on more than one account been obstructed by Toph's craters. 'What do I need a garden for,' she complained. 'It's not like I can really 'see' it if you know what I mean. A nice garden of boulders will do.'

Used to Miss Toph's tough, and rough around the edges exterior, Memo disregarded the knife sharpening tone. She was a girl of thirteen, five years her mistresses minor, and the best of the few pupil Lady Bei Fong taught. Although she knew her mistress longed to be an independent woman, which in most aspects she was, she still needed Memo to write and read letters for her. This task was very tedious and made Memo aware of every conspiracy in the four nations. Also of Lady Toph's worldly known gang. "You went to the physicians yesterday, did they not give you medication?"

Toph blanched, and felt sick all over again. Unconsciously, she put a hand on her stomach.

They told her the same thing, all of them did. When the first physician delivered the news of what ailed her, she laughed in his face. She believed less in his prediction than in Sokka becoming a bender. And he called himself a doctor! Ha! Then the second said the same, and the third, and the fourth. She had even got so desperate as to call a visit upon the famous Aunty Wu.

'Be happy' Aunt Wu said, the old gossips voice wise with insight. 'I see life in you.'

And she still refused to believe even as a month passed and she felt occasional stirring in her slightly protruded stomach. The spirits must be punishing her in the worst way for nothing could be more awful than this guilt.

They told her she was pregnant.

And when each did so, Toph felt angry enough to bite the head off the baby's father. Whoever he was, he was seriously in big, big, big-

"A vistor," Memo said her eyes scanning the fields beyond the Hie Mountains. In the sunset light, a young woman holding her daughter's hand walked towards the pavilion. Rather glided, as if she were on water.

"Who is it now!" Lately Toph's vibrations were getting all screwed up and she was less than happy about that. It was scary, she admitted to herself, to feel vibrations within your own body. The baby seemed to read her mind and kicked.

Toph was in no mood for company. "Tell them to go away. Honestly you'd think I was a celebrity or something!" She stomped over to past making sure to shake the ground with every step.

Memo ran after her, using her earth bending to stay balanced. Miss Toph acted very strange lately. She was quieter at times and then angrier as hornets the next. Memo also observed that she picked at her food as well, as if afraid it were poison.

"Toph," a voice called out. It was so familiar that Toph smiled in spite of her self. The voice was sweet, level-headed and motherly but Toph wasn't the only one who knew it's venomous side. She had missed it all the same.

"What's up Sugar Queen. I see you brought the little fire nation brat with you."

Katara, rushed up to hug her friend. "Go on and hug Aunty Toph," she said to her daughter. "Good girl Qui."

For the past two years, Katara had been as happy as she had ever been. After the war she had spent some time at her birth home, helping her people and reestablishing the world's greatest academy for young waterbenders. People flocked to see the skilled and famed master. And then four years later Zuko proposed to her, and of course she agreed. (after torturing him for a month)

Toph grinned as the little two year old girl wrapped her arms around her waist, and she felt a lump rise up her throat.

"You look pale, are you alright?" Katara said.

"I'm always pale if you haven't noticed."

Katara still didn't let it drop. "Yes, but a sickly pale. Have you seen a doctor?"

"I'm fine mother," Toph lied. Good thing Katara was not the one who could spot a lie better than anyone. Katara of all people could not, she repeated not, know the truth. "Common' in, the place is a little, er, messy."

They walked up the pebbled path to the balcony. Wind chimes played their songs in the cool breeze. Autum is approaching, Toph thought to herself. I wonder if the baby shall come right close to the New Year. She felt her heart stab with pain again.

"Aang gave that to you didn't he," Katara said, interrupting her thoughts.

"Oh, what the wind chimes? Not one of his best gifts," Toph said smiling faintly. Aang was probably somewhere on Appa traveling over seas and mountains. She missed him even though she would never admit it. Did he think about her ever? Or was he still mourning over the loss of Katara.

"Pretty," Qui squealed as she skimmed her fingers over the chimes. They jingled and she laughed.

Toph led the group into the small, four roomed house. Memo was already chopping some vegetables from the garden and seasoning a stew. She inclined her head respectably before continuing.

"Toph, your house is a wreck," Katara exclaimed while crinkling her nose in disgust at the dusty, muddy floor and things thrown all over the place. "Sometimes I think you haven't changed a bit since we first met."

You have no idea. Toph just snorted and kicked a pile of dirty clothes from under the table. "So," she said getting comfortable, "what's up. Some butt to kick, some prince to over throw, or do you just want to get away from Hot Breath?"

"No something bigger. I'd hate to get involved in violence, especially after all we've seen and done, but this is different." Katara shifted her blue eyes and lowered her voice. "I know even after six years people are unforgiving, and the only reason Zuko hasn't been threatened yet is because he helped in the rebellion. But there are some who are plotting against the throne."

Now she was interested. "So you want me to take them out?"

"Qui, don't wander off." Katara looked near trembling and she glanced to Qui to Toph and back. "Someone tried to assassinate Qui, and I luckily got there in time to knock the assassin out. He proved one thing though." Her voice chilled. "There are traitors in the palace itself. Noone can be trusted."

Toph was starting to catch on. "So that's where I come in." She leaned her elbows on the table and took a sip of tea Memo had placed out in front of her. "To figure out whose loyal and whose not."

"Exactly," Katara stared at her eighteen year old friend. Toph seemed the same, maybe a little bigger around the edges, but something that she couldn't quite point out was making her stay at her mountainside pavilion longer than usual. She didn't seem quite as enthusiastic and Katara was worried. But, then again, she lectured herself, I feel everybody is my responsibility. I've got my own family to attend to now.

"It'll be just like old times," Katara said smiling as she pulled Qui into her lap. "Aang, Sokka, Zuko, me and you." She was then pulled by Qui who wanted to see the turtle ducks in the garden.

Toph felt her insides churn. She screwed her milky eyes shut for a moment and her knuckles clenched. All of them together. More than ever the impact of the thing she was to suffer in bearing crashed upon her. The memories came flooding back, faster than fire scorching her skin, and Toph remembered the days when her heart belonged to noone. Before when she didn't shamefully cry herself to sleep every night, not ready to face responsibility.

Three nights a few months ago she did three offense. Some were accidents, some were not. And each were with a different person, and for a different reason.

I think this is going to be fairly interesting, no? I was thinking of making the next chapter short flashbacks before resuming to main plot. I have not decided who the baby's father is and am open to different pairings. Tell me what you think, so that means review. REVIEW!!!