Disclaimer: I don't own, and the world is probably really grateful.

Starring: Toph

Author's Note: Just studying the relationships between characters and their mothers.

Summary: The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new. - Rajneesh

_o0

He sometimes asks questions about grandmother and grandfather.

Toph does not lie and answers all of his questions. She firmly believes in honesty, respect. She afterall, is the ground on which he stands on to judge the world outside of their family dwelling.

"Grandmother and Grandmother loved me and tried to protect me. They kept me in their mansion and forbade me to interact with the world," she explained as she scrubbed behind his ears with a wet cloth. "I was not allowed to earthbend because I might hurt myself." The boy squirms unhappily at the thought of his mother unable to bend, and the warm bathwater swirls up the sides of the tub.

"But I went to the badgermoles and learned anyway. I taught myself to see the world."

"With your feet!" he chimes and she wiggles her toes at him. "Did you tell Grandfather and Grandmother?"

"No. They would not have understood. They still do not understand," she replies as she takes the soap and ever-so-gently rubs her feet. "They believe that because I am blind, I cannot do anything. The world is beyond my reach."

"But you can do so many things! You tell me stories and you can see in the dark and you can bend metal and you make me moon peach custard!" Toph can feel his heart rate climb in agitation, affronted that these mysterious grandparents would ever try to hurt his mother. Scooping him into her arms, holds him close. "That wasn't fair to you." He whispers.

"No. It was not fair. It is why we do not go any visit them because they are angry with me, they think I am foolish. It is why you have never met them, and for that I am sorry. Grandfather could play the snugi horn while Grandmother sang and the two were very beautiful. Grandfather would explain my lessons to me in stories as I drifted off to sleep at night and Grandmother would let me make bread with her in the kitchen," she tells him softly. "They are not cruel, little one. Merely misguided in their beliefs."

"Can we change their minds?" he asks, ear over her heart. She cocks her head and smiles.

"They are mountains, unyielding in their devotion to protect me. Changing their minds will be difficult." She attempts to explain.

"But we're the greatest earthbenders ever!" he exclaims.

In the other room, her husband laughs.