Toph had never imagined himself in this life. He saw himself perhaps taking over the family estate, running the businesses. He couldn't wait to prove himself as an earthbender and focus in his own personal goals. He never saw himself really being a family guy. Toph could maybe see himself getting married for business reasons, perhaps one or two kids to be his heirs. But he never would have expected this. He was raised in a world where love came second to practicality. He never really knew parental affection, and he was just their tool for furthering themselves and seeing that all their work didn't go to waste. Especially because of his rabid fan girls, he could never really see himself falling in love and having a fairytale ending. Of course he was twelve and what did he know?

But everything he knew changed when he met her. It wasn't a romantic like a love at first sight thing, he thought she was one of his insane fan girls. Their relationship was far from perfect, as their childish bickering continued on for years even into living together. Even after being married, they would still bicker, for any other reason than being two separate beings. She wasn't exactly the world's most attractive girl, not that it mattered to him, he was blind after all. But she caught his attention in a way no one else had.

She had contrasted him, challenged his way of thinking and doing things. She was interesting, she had a brain and she thought. He wasn't sure what exactly he found so damn attractive about her, nor could he tell you. Aang was just Aang, and he loved her for it. At first he dismissed it as a hormonal crush, but as it grew worse he started behaving strangely. He would get flustered when they touched; he got insanely jealous over her male friends, one insanely old and the others dead. Though he was justified, in his mind of course, because all had planned on asking her to marry them.

Aang would on rare occasions be hit on by men much older than herself when she blossomed into a young woman. It was natural, she was considered a very eligible bachelorette and the one who married her would be greatly honored as the sire to her race. To Toph, she wasn't any different but it was more frustrating to have to watch her all the time because she was too damn naive to think these men didn't have any ill intentions. It certainly didn't help that Katara told him that Aang had developed a beautiful face and body which was part of the reason there were so many eager suitors.

Toph knew when he liked something and didn't waste time trying to stake a claim in her heart before other men began to notice her. He had inadvertently told her he loved her when they were Ba Sing Se, and had promised to propose to her while incognito in the Fire Nation. Not to mention that pretty much everyone else in the group, especially Suki, knew that he was head over heels. But of course, Aang, being the adorable naive girl she was couldn't comprehend that anyone would ever propose to her. "Not with my hair." Is what she said, but to him it was beautiful and silky. Besides, hadn't another literally proposed to her? Oh yeah, nomads didn't "marry" they "bonded". Whatever.

Of course his love for Aang came with a price. He had made many enemies on his wedding day to the young Avatar, but to him that wasn't an issue. No it was the little requirement that came with marrying her. Becoming the father to as many children as possible. That was enough to scare him witless. To him, children were filthy, bratty little devils that needed to be reined in by mom and dad. He had never been fond of them and he thought he never would be.

If you have told him when he was twelve that he would be the father of many children, preferably over a dozen, he might have socked you in the face. But when Aang given birth to that tiny little baby and he held the little one in his strong arms, his whole opinion on children changed. This was his child and she was beautiful and perfect. She already loved him unconditionally and clung to him for dear life. The baby trusted and loved him already, because she knew that this big, scary man would not hurt her but love her. For the first time in so long, he cried. He wept like a baby, so much so that Aang dismissed the servants so they could share this moment privately. She held his hand and told him he would be a good father. And he cried like a freaking baby.

No, he never expected himself to be living this life. He would have expected himself dreading to return home from a business trip. He expected to have a spoiled bitch of a wife and bratty, spoiled children. He wouldn't expect loving any of his family. But Spirits was he wrong. He was excited to return home, he wanted to be with his family and dreaded any time spent away from them. Though he was a bit gruff and wasn't the best at showing affection, his family loved him unconditionally.

They loved him so much that he was greeted by a chorus of shrieks and giggles. He would feel the stampede coming before it arrived. When he stepped out of his coach he would feel seven pairs of feet running down the stone path to meet him. Toph would feel them hug him all at once; the older ones clinging to his waist and hips while the younger ones clung to his legs. They would ask him how his trip was, tell him that they missed him and loved him. Despite his tough guy persona that he had fostered over the years he would hug every last one of them.

Then his wife would come out. She was considered the most powerful being in existence, master of elements and bridge to the spirits. But to him, she was Aang his wife. She would walk out carrying their youngest daughter Mingzhu while pregnant with another. Her footsteps would be heavy for carrying two children, one in her arms and the other in her womb. Toph would kiss his beloved wife lovingly as gift for his return and she would smile and kiss back which would lead to a chorus of gags, ews, and get a rooms.

No, he had never pictured himself a loving husband and father of eight, soon to be nine. Never imagined having some huge family with tons of kids. Never pictured himself a loyal and passionate lover with a girl he considered his soul mate. Never imagined he would actually enjoy a life at home and be happy to return there.

But he had absolutely no regrets.

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Princess: A little sappy piece about the family. BTW I have been posting art of the family on my deviantart and tumblr, on deviantart its cosmicstarempress and on tumblr I'm Galazysregent