Archive of Our Own

There's something to be said about feeling your child's heartbeat for the first time. Something to be said about those quiet moments after the trauma of childbirth where your child is placed on your chest and their little heart beats in tandem with yours.

Toph had felt Izumi's heartbeat long before anyone else would have been able to discover her pregnancy. Her seismic sense allowed her the ability to hear people's heartbeats and when she felt a second heartbeat, impossibly tiny and fast and strong, within her body one day during the height of summer, she knew they'd be welcoming a new family member come the new year.

Looking back on her pregnancy, Toph realized just how willfully unprepared she was. She wasn't ashamed of anything she had done during those nine months, carrying and growing a whole human from scratch was difficult work, after all, but there were somethings that she'd change if she could, be nicer about somethings.

—

It was still dark out, Toph not yet feeling the sunrays on her skin, when she felt it. Something had woken her up. Zuko was pressed against her back, arm wrapped snugly over her waist, like a furnace and with the added heat of summer, it took her a minute to gather her surroundings.

Something was wrong. She couldn't make it out without touching the stone floor fully but something about their chambers was off, not dangerously so but enough to make her suspicious. Carefully extracting herself from her husband's arms, Toph quietly made her way out of their bedroom and out into the main part of their apartments to investigate. She didn't make it very far though.

As soon as she shut the door behind her after she left the room, she realized where the disturbance was coming from. It came from inside of her.

Placing a hand on her stomach and stomping gently against the stone, toph confirmed her suspicions.

A heartbeat. Tiny, but strong and fast and loud. A child was sharing her body.

Her first thought after dropping onto one of the couches was 'the council will be happy' and if that didn't give away the state of affairs, she didn't know what did.

They had been married for just over three wonderful years, and the council has been hounding them for an heir since the wedding night.

Tensions at court had been high ever since Zuko took the throne, being the first monarch after dethroning the last one, no matter how tyrannical he was, definably wasn't easy. The council had immediately started shoving eligible ladies into his inner circle ever since, claiming he needed an heir as soon as possible.

Tensions among the council had only gotten worse when they started their relationship, in whatever capacity it was back then. One of the councilmen, who has since been removed and toph couldn't remember his name anymore, had went on a 30-minute rant about how 'a filthy earth kingdom noble should have never shared the Fire Lords bed let alone the throne!'

Safe to say, she wasn't popular among the council. Their hunt for an heir had come up empty thus far and there had already been plots to remove her from Zuko's side by whatever means necessary. The crueler ladies at court, those who were scorned by Zuko's choice of bride, had attempted to spread rumors that 'the fire lord must be dreading the chance that any child the earth girl bares would be a filthy earthbender. why else would the royal nursery remain empty over a year after the wedding.'

Though the year and a half following the wedding was spent setting up her metal bending academy after her relocation to the fire nation and getting her accounts in order for such a drastic move, rather than creating an heir. Besides, Toph was only 24 at the time, and she and Zuko weren't exactly in a rush to fill the royal nursery.

And now, two years later, she was 26 with an impossibly small life growing under her ribs. Toph decided in that moment that this child would be hers first and would remain hers long before they belonged to the council.

Toph had grown up incredibly sheltered and trapped under the expectations of her parents and society and while her relationship with her parents has been cordial since her wedding, marrying the monarch of the Fire Nation does that, she did not want to end up like either of them. Her mother, faded into her role of meek wife, going along with whatever her husband said. Her father, hiding Toph away from the world because he was ashamed of his only daughter.

In the quiet of dawn, the palace not yet awake, Toph sat with a hand on her stomach, right above where her child rested, and thought 'how am I going to do this'

Being a parent, having someone so new and innocent totally reliant on you, was something Toph had never done before. It was such a new concept that it felt akin to the ocean to her. When Toph was in the ocean she was completely and utterly blind.

But just like the ocean, she was never truly alone. There was always someone holding her to keep her grounded.

Toph didn't know how long she was sitting there for with a hand resting on her stomach, but the sun was slowly peeking through the windows, gently warming her skin. The bedroom door opened and Zuko walked out only to freeze when he saw her. He wasn't frozen for long and crossed the room in two quick strides, coming to a stop and kneeling in front of her.

"Toph, my love, what's wrong? Why are you crying?" He asked softly as he wiped her tears. She didn't even know she was crying.

Instead of verbally responding, Toph grabbed his hand and placed it where hers had been resting. Zuko, as endearingly awkward as he is, was not an idiot and caught her hint. His hands moved up to her face as he wiped the still falling tears.

"Really?" He whispered. She could hear the smile in his voice. "We're really having a baby?"

Toph sputtered a wet laugh, she was still crying after all. He sounded so earnest. "Yeah, we're having a baby." She croaked, laughing again as Zuko stood up and pulled her into his arms, spinning her as he laughed.

"Put me down!" She laughed; glad he was handling the news better than she did.

He put her down and the moment her feet touched the floor; he started peppering kisses all over her face. He pressed their foreheads together once he was done and whispered against her lips. "We're really having a baby."

She hummed. "The council might be happy."

Zuko, knowing all the problems his council has had with her, pulled back slightly so he could look her in the eyes. Not that she could tell.

"Toph, I don't care what the council says. What matters is you." He kissed her again. "The council has no say over this child and never will, not if I get a say in it." He said quietly.

Their moment was interrupted but the Grand Chamberlin barging in, followed by a few of Toph's ladies, one of which was thankfully holding breakfast.

"My Lord, My Lady, breakfast is served." The Chamberlin said, ignoring the moment her walked in on. He's walked in on worse. "My lord, I have your schedule for the day."

Zuko smiled at her gently, falling back into the Fire Lord role seamlessly, and turned the Chamberlin. "Very well, I'll be taking breakfast with my wife today. I'll meet you in my office momentarily."

The Chamberlin bowed before walking out of the room. One of her ladies spoke next.

"I will have a bath drawn ready for when you finish eating, my lady." Layla said, setting the tray of food she was carrying on the low table near where they were standing.

Layla was one of 20 people Toph's father sent as her wedding present. Of those 20 people only 3 passed her lie detector test. Layla was an earthbender and a decent sparring partner. She also wasn't scared to call her out on her bullshit. Toph, of course, has no idea what she looks like but is told that Layla and her husband make quiet a pretty pair.

"Thank you, Layla." Toph smiled as Layla bowed and left, followed by the other ladies.

She and Zuko shared another look, laughing quietly, before digging into breakfast.

—

The nausea came three weeks later. With a vengeance.

Of course it chose the worst time to make itself known. Family breakfast was a regular occurrence ever since their wedding. Ursa and her family had been staying in a house on the palace grounds as opposed to in the palace in an attempt to give Kiyi, Zuko's younger sister, some semblance of normalcy. As such, quiet mornings where it was just the royal family (and whatever one of their friends were there) had slowly made their way into everyone's schedule.

At least once a week, they'd eat breakfast together in one of the informal dining rooms.

She had woken up perfectly fine, Zuko still attached to her back, skin warm like a kiln, and made her way to breakfast. Layla had picked a simple light green dress made of soft silk to combat the heat. It was the height of summer and that meant it remained warm, almost too much so, at night.

It was only when Toph lifted a piece of chilled watermelon to her mouth that the nausea made itself known. She apparently made a face because Ursa leaned closer to her and asked quietly. "Are you okay, dear?"

Toph managed a smile as her stomach churned against her will. "I'm fine."

Ursa didn't seem convinced and opened her mouth to say something when Kiyi pulled her into conversation. Zuko had heard their exchange from his spot to her right and leaned close to her ear. "You sure you're okay?" He asked, his hand coming to rest on her leg.

She gave him a strained smile, discreetly placing a hand where the baby rested, both to clue him in on her problem and in attempt to sooth the nausea.

Zuko made an understanding noise and kissed her temple before leaning down again. "Just let me know if you want to leave."

They weren't hiding the pregnancy maliciously; they simply wanted to wait until the end of her second trimester before announcing it. Both because that meant less chance of losing the baby and gave them more time just the three of them before the council encroached.

Really, for a bunch of old wrinkly men, Toph thought they were much too interested in her fertility.

Breakfast continued on quietly, no one fully awake yet. toph had managed to eat enough that it wasn't suspicious, yet every bite made her stomach twist. By some miracle, she didn't vomit on the breakfast table.

When all the plates were cleared away, ursa turned back to her. "Toph, dear, you look pale. You should go rest."

Normally, she'd argue with this, it was in her nature to do so but then her stomach twisted again and she just nodded.

She was the first to leave the dining room and made it all of three feet before breaking off of Zuko and sprinting her way back to their chambers, her bare feet pounding against the stone and Zuko running a dozen feet behind her.

Layla was there folding laundry when toph barged in and made it 2 steps into the bathroom before emptying the contents of her stomach. Hands pulled her loose hair away from her face, the pin Layla used to pull it back for breakfast must have fallen out during her mad dash.

"My lady?" Layla asked once she was done vomiting. "I ask this with the upmost respect but are you pregnant?"

Toph knew Layla would put it together sooner or later. She was the one who dealt with the bloody sheets when it was that time of the month and would be the first to notice it's absence. It seemed Layla had done the math.

"Keep it quiet, would you?" Toph asked as Layla braided her hair back.

"Of course, my lady." Layla smiled, guiding her to one of the couches and handing her a glass of water. "Congratulations." She whispered.

Toph smiled as the door opened to reveal Zuko, chest heaving from sprinting through the palace. Layla left after retying the braid in Toph's hair, congratulating Zuko as she passed.

Zuko dropped onto the couch next to her. "I take it she knows?"

Toph smiled. "She did the math."

—

It didn't take long for the news of her pregnancy to reach the rest of the palace, especially after they told Kiyi. Toph loved that girl, but she couldn't keep a secret for the life of her.

The council, as predicted, immediately began trying to control every aspect of her pregnancy. A few people going as far as attempting to name the baby.

As her first trimester continued, so did her morning sickness. Every morning (sometimes later in the day) without fail would result in her dry heaving while Zuko or Layla held her hair back.

That was her only major symptom though, small blessings and all that. she slept a lot longer and everything was sore constantly, but she was told by the palace doctors that all her symptoms were completely normal and would pass with time. The midwives had said the same thing and actually gave her stuff to at the very least sooth the symptoms.

Layla had been serving ginger tea with all her meals, as per the midwives' instruction, and it's been helping with the nausea. Toph will forever be grateful for the midwives because the palace doctors were getting on her nerves.

They constantly told her what to do and what to eat and even how much she was allowed to practice her bending. The only things that came out of their mouths that Toph listened to were the things the midwives agreed with. She'd rather listen to women who have done this before and understand the strain, uncomfortableness, and pain that came with growing a child.

Another one of her symptoms was that her bending was becoming weird. One of the midwives, Kenna, a waterbender, had explained that it was relatively common for a woman's bending to move differently when pregnant. She said it had something to do with the soul. Toph didn't really understand it but it made her feel better that this wouldn't be permanent.

It wasn't that her bending was completely gone. It simply took more effort and for someone like Toph, who's bending is an integral part of life, it caused a slight panic.

As the height of summer continued, the Fire Lady could be found most often in her chambers, sitting on a lounge in front of the open balcony doors with a cool cloth over her eyes, both cooling herself from the heat and soothing the headaches.

Zuko would join her most days, eating breakfast with her or simply sitting in comfortable silence. More often than not, the Fire Lord could be found with his wife's feet in his lap as she naps.

Layla would join her on days when Zuko couldn't. They'd spend the day talking about various topics and dealing with Toph's pile of unanswered letters. In the middle of summer, Katara and Aang came to visit the fire nation and Toph got the pleasure of breaking the news to them.

—

Toph hated pregnancy thus far. She was well into the second half of her first trimester and she was still throwing up every morning. But the silver lining this week was Katara and Aang were visiting for a month, bringing with them their 6-month-old son Bumi.

Toph decided to actually greet them properly, which meant getting dressed. She usually wouldn't put this much effort in getting presentable when greeting her friends but most of the court hadn't seen her for the past month and a half, usual due to a mix of morning sickness and atrocious headaches, and it was high time they did.

Layla, the saint that she is, helped her get dressed as Toph chugged back a few cups of the ginger tea. Layla chose a loose flowing silk dress, in a shade of green that matches her eyes she was told, that was specifically designed to combat the summer heat. The loose neckline left her collarbones visible. The straps were connected in the back with a delicate gold chain, so the neckline stayed in place. The only part of the dress that was form fitting was the silk belt, a darker green, that was tied under her bust, the fabric covering her chest was pulled over the belt, almost hiding it from view.

The sun was shining through the open windows when Layla sat her in front of her vanity and began messing with her hair, putting it up in an elegant braid. It was different that her usual style, but it also put less strain on her headache so it would have to do. She remained largely unembellished, as per her request, though she did put on one of the necklaces Katara had gifted her as a wedding present.

By the time Layla had tied off the braid, Zuko was at the door.

"Appa had been spotted." He said, leaning on the doorframe. "They'll be here in about ten minutes."

"Great." She said, a little lost in her thoughts.

"Toph, my love, what's going through your head?" Zuko asked, fully entering the room and kneeling in front of her as Layla left the room quietly.

"Nothing, really. Just…do we tell them or do we wait until the figure out the pregnancy themselves?"

"Well, they didn't tell us about Bumi until Katara was ready to pop so I say let them figure it out." Zuko smiled against her hair.

"Evil. I love it."

—

She was already regretting this. Her nausea had come back with a vengeance, and her headache was slowly growing in the back of her skull. They were standing in one of the courtyards off the side of the palace, the one specifically designated as a landing zone for Appa. The heat was not doing her any favors. Zuko noticed the face she kept making and leaned down from where he was standing to her left. "Are you sure you don't want to go lay down?"

Toph turned slightly and gave him a small smile. "Sparky, I'm fine. Besides, Sugar Queen and Twinkle Toes are almost here."

Just as she said that a familiar thump sounded against the ground. Appa grumbled softly in greeting as his passengers climbed down. Aang first, then he was handed the baby as Katara climbed down after him.

Without warning, Toph was dragged into a hug by Katara which caused her to gasp quietly at the sudden movement.

"Are you okay?" Katara asked, pulling back slightly.

"Yeah, just have a headache." She mumbled.

Katara didn't look convinced but didn't say anything more, squeezing her shoulders gently before moving so Aang could hug her. Bumi was still in his dad's arms and squawked in protest at being squished.

"Bumi, meet your auntie Toph." Aang said, presumably holding the baby in front of her face if the little hands that tried grabbing her bangs were anything to go off of.

"No Bumi, we don't pull hair." Aang said, untangling Bumi's chubby hand from Toph's bangs.

They all laughed as they made their way into the gardens for lunch. Simple thing really, fruit, warm breads, teas, almost the same spread from breakfast save for the roasted bird in the middle.

Bumi was passed from person to person as he got acquainted with everything and everyone until finally, he was placed in Toph's arms.

Bumi was a chubby little thing. And giggly too. As soon as he got settled in her arms, he started giggling and fell asleep, soft coos leaving him as he buried his head into her shoulder. Katara cooed and turned to her.

"Who does he look more like? Me or Aang?" She asked.

The table froze for a moment before Toph deadpanned. "Sweetness, I'm blind."

The table broke into quiet giggles so as to not wake the baby, who was gently snoring against her shoulder.

Toph gently ran a finger over Bumi's face. "Though, it's truly a maternal victory." She smiled as Katara quietly cheered. "He has your nose and chin, Sugar Queen. And Twinkle Toe's brow furrow."

The ginger tea she had chugged down earlier seems to be working as she hasn't felt the need to vomit at all during their meal. Though that could also just be her symptoms finally letting up as she approached her second trimester.

Bumi had woken up just as the finished eating and demanded his lunch. As Katara got him situated she turned back to Toph and Zuko.

"So, when can we expect a little lava baby?" She asked.

"Lava baby?" Aang asked, same furrow in his brow as Bumi.

"Earth and fire. What is lava but fiery earth?"

"Does that make Bumi a cloud baby?" Toph teased in return.

The table started laughing again at that. As the laughter died down Katara started talking again, smile ringing in her voice. "No, seriously, when are you guys having a baby?"

Zuko grabbed her hand gently and looked at her with a soft look in his eyes. She might not have been able to see it, but she could feel it. Toph just smiled. "Who knows."

—

After lunch Toph's headache caused her to return to her rooms until dinner. There was simply too much going on in the palace, the vibrations through the floor pounded against her temples. She was currently sitting on the lounge over the heavily carpeted area in their chambers, set up specifically for days like this. The carpets muffled aa large majority of the noise while allowing her enough awareness of her surroundings.

A gentle knock sounded and Toph reached a foot to the edge of the carpets. Her foot met stone and she sensed Katara on the other side of the door.

She stood up, wanting to change anyway, and made her way to the door. "What's up, Sugar Queen?" She said as she opened the door, not as enthusiacstic as usual.

"Zuko told me about your headaches, he said they were probably caused by the weather, but I could try to get rid of it for you if you want." Katara said as Toph opened the door wider.

"Have at it, Sweetness. Just let me get changed first."

Toph had no qualms changing in front of Katara. As the only two girls on team Avatar, modesty between them went out the window 2 weeks into their world saving quest.

As Katara paced around the room, eventually coming to a stop behind Toph and unhooking the chain she was struggling with, she began speaking.

"Do you think Aang will be disappointed if Bumi isn't an airbender? I know he loves him, but every time Aang calls him 'my little airbender' I get a pang in my heart and the thought of 'but what if he's not'" Katara said all in one breath. "I think he's a nonbender. I'll love him just as much either way, but I don't have to make sure my culture stays alive. If Aang dies before another airbender is born, everything dies with him."

Toph took a deep breath, processing everything Katara unloaded. "Sugar Queen, that boy is loved so deeply by twinkle toes."

Except Katara wasn't listening. She was still rambling. luckily, Toph had a way of getting her to stop.

"Sweetness, Katara," That got her to stop her rambling. Toph rarely used peopled first names. "I will make you a promise. If Aang treats Bumi any differently because he's not an airbender, or a bender at all, I will bury him in the ground myself. If, you do the same for this child." She said, taking Katara's hand and placing it right where the baby's heartbeat rested.

Katara froze and took a moment to process what Toph had just said before she wrapped the other woman in a hug, squealing quietly.

"Toph, that's wonderful!" Katara laughed, gently shaking her shoulders.

Just then, the nausea was back. "Sugar Queen, stop shaking me. I will throw up on you."

Katara dropped her hands. "Sorry!" She exclaimed. "How far along are you?"

"A few weeks from my second trimester." Toph smiled.

They ended up back on the lounge as Katara started hounding her with questions.

"So, you're due around the new year, right?" She asked.

"That's about right."

—

as summer and her first trimester came to a close, toph found herself wandering the gardens.

This wasn't a new thing truly. On days where she didn't have to be Fire Lady, she'd spend the hours between the end of her practice and dinner walking around the gardens, listening to the earth and her secrets.

And the earth had a lot of those.

As her practice became slower on account of her pregnancy, wandering the gardens had become her escape. Katara, along with Bumi, had taken to keeping her company on those walks, they were quiet enough and the movement consistent enough that it lulled Bumi to sleep.

When it wasn't Katara keeping her company, it was Zuko.

Those hours in the garden were precious moments. They allowed them to simple be Toph and Zuko rather than the Fire Lord and Lady.

They'd muse about the future and what their child would be like. If they'd be a bender and would they be a firebender or an earthbender. The council would have opinions and so would the court. Neither Toph nor Zuko cared either way, this child was a part of both of them and nothing would change that, but there was still so much prejudice at court and among the council regarding her earth kingdom status that if this child was an earthbender, life at court would be very difficult for them.

"What happens if this child is an earthbender? Or even a nonbender?" Toph asked from where she was laying in the shade of a large tree. "You know what the council will say."

"The council always has something to say." Zuko said. He was lying next to her, head propped up on his arm with his free hand resting on her barely there bump. "This child is ours before the council has any say in what they do. I will not end up like my father."

"Already, you are nothing like your father." She said, bringing his hand up to kiss his palm.

In the end, they didn't care about what their child turned out to be. For this child whoever they become, will always be theirs.

The most surprising of her companions on her daily walks was Ursa. their relationship hasn't changed much in the 4 years Toph had been living in the palace. They got on well enough but were not close by any means. They were much too different for that toph had thought.

But still, on days Zuko couldn't escape from council meetings and other Fire Lord duties Ursa would fall into step with Toph. Sometimes she brought Kiyi along most times it was just her, but their relationship slowly began to change. Going from friendly strangers, for lack of a better word, to something akin to family.

—

The first weeks of autumn had cooled the air to a reasonable degree. The changing of the seasons also marked the official start of her second trimester, and her symptoms were constantly changing.

Gone was the nausea and headaches and in their place were cravings and soreness. Everything was sore, even muscles she didn't know she had were sore, and everything was swollen.

More often than not, her day ended with her feet in Zuko's lap as she dozed, attempting too at least. Her kid won't stop moving and kicking her ribs.

Anyway, she kept her habit of sitting in the gardens, especially after she had to cut back on her bending even more.

She was not happy about that but the first time the baby kicked during practice, a spike of earth shot up. Let's just say the trainee she was training was sporting a black eye for the week following.

The kicks weren't quite strong enough for anyone other than Toph to feel them yet and Zuko was eagerly counting the days until he could feel their daughter kick. He wasn't outwardly showing it, but she has known him since she was 12 and knew how to read his heart. despite what the council wanted, Toph had a feeling the child currently inhabiting her ribs was a girl. There was no explanation, she had just woken up one day and started calling the baby her daughter.

Currently Toph was back under her tree, enjoying the autumn sun and the feeling of her daughter's heart beating in tandem with hers. She quiet literally just sitting on the grass with her back against the tree, the cotton of her clothes snagging gently every time she moved. She had just closed her eyes when footsteps approached from her left.

The footsteps, gentle and unhurried, stopped a few feet away from her and a woman's voice asked. "May I join you?"

It was Ursa. It was unusual that her mother-in-law sought her out. Whenever the former Fire Lady asked about the pregnancy and how she was feeling it would either be during breakfast or she would ask through Kiyi when the teen took her turn keeping Toph company.

Their relationship has been cordial since they met but Toph thought they were just too different to get along more than that. But now here she was, standing three feet from her in silk that would inevitable get stained by the grass.

Toph decided to see how this played out. "Be my guest."

Before she could offer to have Layla, who kept fluttering past the gardens while making trips across the palace for whatever reasons, or one of the ever-hovering servants grab a chair or cushion, Ursa simple dropped onto the grass next to Toph, not outwardly showing any concern for the stains her silk skirts would get.

"How are you doing, dearest?" She asked once she was situated.

"Fine. This kid keeps doing kickflips against my ribs."

Ursa laughed slightly. "Zuko did the same thing when I was pregnant with him." She said, turning to face Toph properly. "But really, how are you doing? I know being pregnant at court, especially as Fire Lady, is a…delicate situation."

"Half the court and council have never liked me; it's not a new thing. At least the pregnancy has stopped the never-ending demands from the council. Some of them anyway."

Ursa's hand hesitated above her arm for a moment before settling against Toph's wrist. "Well, if the court ever gets to be too much, just let me know and we'll get you out. And don't let the court dictate how you go about your pregnancy. Only a mother can walk with the weight of a second beating heart, after all."

They spent the rest of the afternoon under the shade of the tree. Talking about her symptoms, pregnancy in general, and eventually just gossip from court.

During those hours, they weren't royalty. Instead, they were two women in different stages of the same challenge.

—

Later that day, after dinner, Zuko had found her sitting propped against their headboard, specially made with steel.

"So, I heard you and my mom talked today?" He said, laying across her legs so his face was level with her bump.

Not that she was really showing yet. Toph had woken up a week ago to find a gentle curve near her belly button, though she was still early enough into her pregnancy that the curve of her belly could be hidden under her clothes. Sooner or later, she'd need to adjust her wardrobe.

Zuko had taken to talking to the baby in the evenings, when it was just the three of them.

"Yeah. We talked about pregnancy things." She said, running her hand through his hair. The length of which could almost compare with hers.

She felt Zuko smile against her stomach and that was the end of that conversation. He started humming something, an old lullaby he said Uncle Iroh sang to him when he was little.

They carried on like that for a few minutes, he was still humming and she was slipping in and out of sleep. Zuko stopped humming, moving to go get ready for bed, and Toph sat up with a soft gasp.

"What!? Is something wrong?" Zuko asked frantically, returning back to her side.

She realized she was probably smiling like a maniac, but she held her hand out to him. "Give me your hand."

Zuko did what she asked, albeit with slight hesitance, and gave her his hand. She brought it to her bump and rested her hand over his. The baby kicked again, moving under their hands.

Zuko gasped and poked her bump again and was met with another kick. He moved impossible closer to her, nose to naval, and whispered. "Hello there, little one."

—

Shortly after Zuko felt the baby kick, they received another guest.

Iroh was visiting from Ba Sing Se and with him came various tea blends, ones meant to help with pregnancy and recovery. Zuko had sent letters out to Iroh and Sokka, which in turn meant Suki, shortly after Katara and Aang left, alerting the rest of their family of the incoming arrival.

Safe to say, Iroh was ecstatic at the news of his imminent grandchild, having long since claimed Zuko as his son in all but blood. The first night of his arrival was spent with Zuko, giving him advice on fatherhood.

There was no hiding her pregnancy either, not that she was doing that in the first place but shortly before Iroh's arrival, Toph had well and truly popped. There was now a prominent curve under all her clothes. As she and Zuko agreed when she first told him she was pregnant, once they both felt the baby kick, they'd announce it to the world. It just so happens that the announcement coincided with Iroh's visit.

Honestly, Toph was surprised it took her this long to start showing, she was already halfway through her second trimester. She wasn't exactly tall and Zuko was a fucking giant so according to the midwives, there was no telling how big the baby was going to be. The baby was also kicking constantly. Toph has long since kissed a full night of sleep goodbye because between her child kicking her bladder and ribs every hour and the aching in her back and hips, she was stirring awake at least four times a night.

This had led to the palace staff discovering her in various spots around the palace, napping. She was pretty sure they made a game out of it.

Iroh had also discovered her habit of sitting in the gardens and would join her, always bringing some sort of tea with him.

"Toph, how's the little one treating you today?" He asked, handing her a cup of tea. Peppermint if the smell was anything to go off of.

She smiled slightly. "Oh, you know. As well as she can be."

"She?" He asked, setting down his own cup.

"Just a feeling. I have a feeling it's a girl."

"I've learned in my years that a mother's intuition is rarely wrong." Iroh smiled.

They sat in comfortable silence for few minutes before heavy footsteps approached. It seems Zuko was done with the council meeting. She was suddenly very grateful for her condition. It made a good excuse to get out of those atrocious meetings. They wouldn't want to upset her and risk the heir to the throne now would they.

Zuko dropped heavily into the seat to her left and slammed his head against the table, shaking the dishes on it.

"Son, what seems to be the issue?" Iroh asked, continuing as usual and pouring Zuko a cup of tea.

Zuko heaved a breath. "The council has decided, without permission from either me or Toph, that we'd be hosting a ball in honor of the baby."

Toph, having just taken a sip of tea, started sputtering as the tea went down the wrong pipe. "What!?"

"They've planned the entire thing behind my back and already sent out the invitations. If I back out and cancel it, it'll cause more tensions among the court and at worse, more rebellions."

"So, our only two options are to have the ball and suffer through insufferable nobility or risk rebellion." Toph said, wiping the spilt tea from the table.

Iroh, who had been looking back and forth between them, spoke up. "I think your best course of action is to host the ball. It gives you the ability to look over all of your subjects and find which ones seem suspicious." he said, taking her cup from her and refilling it.

Zuko nodded and downed the rest of his tea. "That's probably what well do, Uncle."

"When is this happening anyway?" Toph asked, taking her refilled cup from Iroh. "And did they at least our friends?"

"The council said it's happening next month, the day after the festival ends." He mumbled. "And I plan on sending letters to make sure everyone is here."

"Oh, wonderful, not only will we have to deal with nobility but also all the people visiting."

—

Somehow, Suki and Sokka managed to get to the palace a little over a week after the letters were sent out, beating Aang and Katara there.

Apparently, they were on their way for a surprise visit anyway, so all was well.

Toph was approaching the end of her second trimester and had the symptoms to show it. Her mood changed like the seasons, her cravings were worse than ever, everything was still swollen, her back hurt if she stood for longer than 20 minutes, the baby was kicking her insides constantly, she got winded if she walked to fast anywhere, and people wouldn't. Stop. Hovering.

She was also huge. Toph has never been a big person, she's always been petite and reached a whooping 5'3'' before she stopped growing. Everyone tended to gloss over that fact because she could pummel them into the ground by raising a finger. But then she decided to procreate with a 6-foot giant and was dealing with the consequences.

Her bump only drew attention to the fact that, despite her attitude, she was not very tall. At almost seven months, her stomach looked like she tied a pillow under her clothes. Her bump was also very inconvenient. The midwives all but banned her from bending until after her recovery period claiming her changing center of gravity could cause harm to both her and the baby. She also couldn't see her feet, not that she could in the first place, but she has given up fully on wearing pants and let Layla dress her up in the silk gowns that were sitting in the back of her closet.

Speaking of those gowns, the further she got into her pregnancy, the number of them that required an extra panel of fabric was starting to get annoying. Most of them were adjustable but the ones that weren't, like the traditional Fire Lady robes she was required to wear for what was dubbed 'the heir's ball', were very annoying.

Suki had appointed herself as Toph's personal guard for the duration of her visit, if her following Toph's every movement was anything to go off of.

She much preferred Suki as her guard than whatever ones the council keep trying to appoint. Zuko knew that she didn't need one, but the council had other opinions. Apparently being pregnant makes your opinion void. Nevertheless, Suki understood that she didn't need a guard, she could handle herself perfectly fine, but Suki also understood that pregnancy was hard and Toph's center of gravity was off which meant her reaction time was off.

Plus, Toph actually liked Suki.

Katara had arrived a week after Suki and Sokka with Aang and Bumi in tow. Bumi was now 11 months old and crawling. According to Katara he had been slowly trying to walk but was just now standing on his own.

Toph didn't know they had arrived until Katara barged in to her rooms with Bumi giggling on her hip while Toph was getting fitted for the upcoming ball.

"The last time I've seen you dressed up like this was your wedding." Katara said, settling on the couch next to Suki. Bumi immediately crawling over to the warrior.

Toph snorted. "I do it a lot more often than I enjoy too but it's not all bad. At least most of the time the dresses are comfortable." She sighed. "The same cannot be said about these." She finished, raising an arm.

the Fire Lady robes were pretty, or so she was told, but they were heavy.

"Sweetness, you're my eyes for this. What do they look like?" Toph asked, resting a hand against her bump as the baby kicked hard against her ribs.

"They're pretty. Like sunset in summer. The gold accents are like…sunlight sprinkled through leaves in spring." Katara explained, standing up and walking a circle around her.

The robes were silk and heavy brocade. The inner layers were silk, not meant to be seen fully but meant to show the wealth of the crown. The outer layer was the brocade. expensive and really, really heavy. This was the first time she was wearing the Fire lady robes while pregnant and she was realizing just how much effort it took to move in them.

"The brocade has to go." She announced.

"But my lady, it's tradition." The older seamstress said, still hemming the train.

"I believe you heard the Fire Lady. The brocade goes." A voice affirmed from the doorway.

Zuko had apparently finished his own fitting and come to watch hers.

"Layla, I'm assuming you can handle her request?" Zuko said, turning to the lady in waiting.

"Yes, my lord. I'll see to it." Layla said, approaching from behind and releasing toph from her fabric prison.

"Perfect." Zuko finally made his way fully into the room. "Now, if you could free my wife, we have lunch plans."

—

The lunch plans in question were lunch with their friends and family.

And like always, it was chaotic.

Kiyi had cornered Suki and started asking rapid fire questions, Aang and Katara were still arguing about who Bumi looked more like, Bumi was intent on pulling Zuko's Fire Lord hair piece from his scalp, Zuko seemed perfectly fine to let that happen, and Sokka was claiming that the baby should be named after him.

"No, Sokka, I'm not naming my child after you." She said, shoving a piece of honey cake into her mouth.

"But Toph, Sokka junior has a ring to it!" He exclaimed. He was met with snorts from the rest of the table.

"Sokka, we don't even know if it's a boy." Zuko said, pulling Bumi's hand from his hair.

"It's defiantly a boy." Sokka said, stealing a grape from his sister's plate.

"Wanna bet?" Toph asked around another honey cake. She meant what she said about cravings. The only thing she wanted to eat were honey cakes.

"Sure." Sokka smiled, stealing another grape from Katara's plate. "Terms?"

She swallowed the honey cake and laced her fingers together, resting them on the table. She looked in Sokka's general direction and smiled. "If the baby is a girl, you have to do one favor for me, no questions asked."

"And if it's a boy?"

"If the baby is a boy, we'll name him after you."

Sokka pretended to think about it before reaching across the table with his hand out. "I'll take that bet."

They shook hands and lunch continued on as calm as it could for their group.

—

Alas, the dreaded day of 'the heir's ball' arrived.

Layla and the other trustworthy ladies, Kaia and Ravira, spent the afternoon pulling, pinning, and adjusting her until she was made up into the Fire Lady rather than 'the earthbender' as the sourer members of court had dubbed her.

Toph had no idea what she looked like. All she knew is that more of her hair was down than she normally liked, the robes were entirely made of silk (the heavy brocade was indeed done away with, a lighter silk brocade in its place), everything already hurt, and perhaps the most damning of all.

The way Zuko's heart sped up the moment he laid eyes on her.

Toph walked until she stood a few feet in front of him, lifting her skirts slightly as she did. The hems had been dropped so they settled on the floor rather than grazing it, so her bare feet didn't scandalize the older members of court.

"Well, Sparky? You gonna say anything?" She teased.

Almost immediately, she was pulled into a kiss. "You look…stunning." Zuko muttered against her lips.

Their moment was broken by their friends stomping down the hall.

"Slow down there, Hotman. You can't get her more pregnant that she already is." Sokka said, laughing. This earned him a smack from both Suki and Katara.

"Ignore him, Toph. You look beautiful." Suki said, pulling Toph into her arms.

Aang spoke up next. "Don't you two make quite the pair."

The official, traditional robes meant for the Fire Lord and Lady were matching, as were the head pieces that they were both wearing. According to Layla, they were meant to show a uniform and severe household.

"I feel like a whale." Toph muttered, pulling a strand of hair free from where it got caught on one of the necklaces Layla had forced her to wear.

"Nonsense! you're seven months pregnant. Growing life isn't easy." Katara exclaimed, going in for a hug next.

The hugs and chitchat were cut short by the Chamberlin clearing his throat. "My lord, the guests are waiting."

"I guess that's our cue." Zuko muttered, holding his hand out.

"Let's do this thing." She said, placing her hand in his and interlacing their fingers.

As they approached the large, ornate doors toph took a deep breath that turned into a stutter when the baby delivered a sharp kick to her ribs. She snorted, placing her free hand against her side.

"It seems your child is averse to these things as we are." She chuckled.

Zuko smiled and paused in front of the doors. Their friends had made their way into the ball room through one of the side entrances and all that was left was for them to enter to start the evening. Zuko leaned down until he was level with the curse of her stomach.

"Be nice to your mother." He whispered, dropping a kiss against the fabric. "Now, my dear wife, are you ready to face the masses?"

Toph snorted. "Ready as I'll ever be."

Zuko took her hand again before nodding to the Chamberlin, who in turn nodded to the guards to open the doors.

"All rise! Gor the Fire Lord—" The Chamberlin shouted. Toph tuned him out, listening to the baby's strong heartbeat and the sound of her feet against the stone.

—

As far as official events go, the ball for her unborn child could have been worse. It wasn't good by any means, she was uncomfortable and everyone who came up to the raised stone dais she and Zuko were sitting on, they'd make snide comments about various things regarding her pregnancy and how long it had taken them to conceive or they'd completely ignored her. Not that it was anyone's business, but they weren't actively avoiding trying for a baby. Toph's pregnancy was a complete accident.

Do not mistake unplanned as unwanted. This child was loved wholly and entirely the moment Toph felt their heartbeat and would only gain more love as their life goes on.

By the time dinner began, she felt a headache beginning to form behind her eyes. But at least she only tripped one person. Which was better than the last event like this she attended last summer. She tripped a dozen people and had fully throw a man out the door via the earth.

To be fair, that guy was attempting to make advances on Kiyi, who is a teenager, while he was approaching 50.

Safe to say, Zuko didn't have a problem with what she did.

The issue toph had with these events, aside from the stuck-up nobles, was the fact that they were so. Fucking. Boring. And she couldn't even drink away her boredom in her condition.

She was also told by the council that this would be that last public event she would be seen at until after the child was born.

Which is fine, Toph barely tolerated these types of events before she got pregnant but with her child doing kickflips against her ribs with every breath she took, they got a whole lot more unbearable.

According to the midwives—she had long since ignored the palace doctors—the ball marked to beginning of her informal confinement, which apparently was supposed to protect her from any assassination attempts before the child was born. Her formal confinement, the one where she'd be required to stay in her rooms until after the baby was born, would start a month before her due date.

Toph was pulled from her thoughts by a hand resting on top of hers.

"You're making a face. Do you want to leave?" Zuko asked, leaning closer to her ear.

The baby chose that moment to kick low in her hips, causing her to let out a stuttering breath. "Yeah. Probably not a bad idea."

Zuko took her hand and together they walked to one of the sides entrances. The dancing had started by that point, so they were able to get to the door without anyone stopping them. Just as they made it past the threshold, a voice called out.

"Your majesty!" A man called. There was something wrong with his left leg if his footsteps were anything to go off of. "Congratulations on finally producing an heir."

Zuko paused before turning, Fire Lord smile sliding back into place. "Thank you."

The man seemingly didn't know how to read the room because he carried on speaking. "It took so long, we thought the Fire Lady was barren."

The court talking like this when she was near wasn't a new thing. Apparently, they thought blind equaled deaf.

She felt Zuko tense and gently remove her hand from his. Toph knew where this was going. Zuko had a habit of threatening people he felt were insulting her and this habit has only gotten worse since she got pregnant. Zuko took a few steps in the man's direction, causing the man to stumble back a few paces.

"Never make a comment about my wife like that again." He snarled, voice dropping an octave.

The man shakily nodded before skirring off back into the crowd.

Toph wrapped her arm around his bicep again. "That was hot." She muttered, reveling in his rising heartrate.

—

That night after the ball, Toph was pacing the length of her chambers in attempt to alleviate some of her pain.

She was only wearing one of Zuko's robes, which swallowed her fully, with her wet hair dripping down her back. Zuko was pulled into a last-minute conversation with the Grand Chamberlin and wasn't there to be her personal heater.

Not that she necessarily needed him to be. As the days grew colder, winter fast approaching, Toph seemed to grow warmer from the inside out. The midwives believe this to be a sign that the baby was a firebender.

Just as she turned her back to the door. Zuko's footsteps approached. He came to a stop right behind her and wrapped his arms under her bump, lifting the weight off her hips and back. She leaned back into his chest, feeling his heartbeat against her temple.

"The council has been hounding me for baby names." He muttered into her hair. "Something about a birth announcement?"

"Really? This kid isn't going to be here for another three months." She mumbled back.

Zuko hummed, dropping a kiss onto her temple. "I haven't given them an answer, but we probably should think about names."

"Your sister brought forth a few names when I spoke to her last." She said as Zuko started swaying gently side to side. " The only one I really liked was Izumi."

"Fountain." Zuko translated. "I like it."

Toph snorted gently. "Don't ask me for any boy names. I firmly believe this baby is a girl."

Zuko smiled against her hair. "That's fine. Just don't let Sokka know."

—

A month after 'the heir's ball', Toph's official confinement began.

This would traditionally mean that no one, but the essential staff and the father of the child would be permitted to enter but their friends could be very persuasive.

Now, they all couldn't be at the palace at all times but that didn't stop them from randomly dropping by and barging into her rooms to hang out. It saved her from boredom, so she wasn't complaining.

Eventually, Katara and Aang took up a temporary residence at the palace a few weeks before Toph's due date. Katara wanted to be there for the birth and where she went, so did Aang. Sokka and Suki sent a letter saying that they'd be there in time for the birth with gifts a plenty.

Two weeks into her confinement, Katara came into her rooms, huffing and puffing like she had a secret. Toph wondered if it had anything to do with the extra heartbeat she was carrying.

"You okay, Sugar Queen?" Toph asked, as she struggled to sit up. The baby had dropped a few days ago and was now sitting low in her hips, making it very difficult to move without help. She couldn't even sit up without help.

Katara, sensing her struggle, assisted her and propped some pillow against the headboard. "I'm pregnant."

She paused for a moment. Katara seemed…melancholic at the news. "Is…is this a happy thing?"

Katara sniffled. "of course, I'm happy. I just…it's too soon, I think. I mean it feels like Bumi was just born yesterday."

Bumi was now a little over a year old and toddling after everyone and everything. Currently he was with his father and Zuko somewhere in the palace doing who knows what.

"What's really going on, Sweetness." Toph prompted, adjusting slightly.

"It's too soon. Bumi is barely a year old, and I don't feel like my body has recovered fully." She whispered.

"Have your told Twinkle Toes yet?"

"Not yet." She said, sitting up. "you're the first person I told."

Toph started to tear up. The hormones sucked. "Sweetness, if you make me cry I will punch you."

Katara snorted. "Sorry."

"But really, bring this up with Aang. Talk through your options. And if he makes you feel pressured into carrying more babies than you could handle, even unintentionally, tell me and I will break his nose."

That got another laugh. "I'll hold you to that."

"Now, enough of this sappy stuff." Toph declared, clearing her throat. "Do you want to feel the baby kick?"

—

A week later, Sokka and suki showed up. Suki immedelty took up her role as Toph's personal guard again while Sokka explained why they should name the baby after him.

They were having dinner in her chambers, because she was still under confinement, when she felt it. A sharp pain in her back. Her gasp caught the attention of everyone, even little Bumi.

"Toph, you okay?" Sokka asked. She had interrupted one of his stories.

"Yeah, just false contractions." She said with a small smile.

"You sure?" Katara asked.

"Yes, Sugar Queen, I'm sure."

She wasn't. But it was still too early for the baby to come. She was at the tail end of her third trimester and while there was a very good chance the baby would survive if she went into labor today, the midwives wanted to wait a few more weeks before the baby stops cooking.

Dinner carried on like normal, save for the pains in her back. It was only when they all got up after dinner and something wet dripped down her thighs that she realized what she feeling wasn't false labor, it was early labor.

"Katara." She gasped, her voice cutting through the chatter like a sharp knife.

Katara inhaled sharply, realizing the same thing as Toph and immediately took charge of the situation. "Suki, go get the midwives. Aang, start prepping clean linens and warm water. Sokka, watch Bumi. Zuko, help me get her changed."

No one argued, it would be a waste of time and went about their tasks. between contractions, which were picking up since her water broke, Katara and Zuko helped her out of the wet dress and into a plain cotton shift.

She was still two weeks out from her due date, but the baby wanted out already it seems.

—

Toph knew babies took a while before they greet the world, but she had already been in labor for hours and there was still no sign that she was ready to push.

Zuko has still there by her side and would remain there if she had any say in it, letting her squeeze his hand hard enough to make his bones creak without so much as a gasp. His heartrate was picking up and has been since her labor started.

They had moved through the room as her contractions picked up. Currently they were standing on the balcony, the cold night air cooling her heated skin as Zuko pressed firmly on her lower back with a warm hand. The moon was high in the sky by that point.

She leaned back against him as another contraction ended. "If you ever do this to me again, I will kill you." She gasped, gripping the balcony railing as another contraction started.

Zuko had the audacity to smile. "Yes ma'am."

As her contraction ended, Toph regained enough awareness to hear Katara and the midwives muttering.

"Toph?" Katara said from the doorway. "Your contractions are picking up, I want to do a check to see how far you've progressed."

She nodded and Zuko helped her back into their bed chamber and onto the bed, pausing once as her body spasmed with another contraction. She felt more than sensed Katara kneeling by her feet. "you're 6 centimeters."

"And how many do I have to get to?" She heaved.

"10." Katara winced in sympathy.

Toph turned sharply to Zuko, who was still sitting at her side, her hand in his. "Sparky, I'm going to kill you."

At her tone of voice, Katara snorted while the midwives shared concerned looks. Zuko, for his part, just kissed her sweaty brow with a smile.

Katara stood up again. "Try eating something. I have a feeling were going to be here for a while."

"You don't say." Toph snarked, gasping through another contraction.

—

Toph thought the contractions were the worse part of labor but she sorely mistaken.

Over a full day since her labor started, Toph was finally at ten centimeters and ready to push. Zuko was back at her side, having switched with both Aang and Sokka at some point earlier to go yell at the Grand Chamberlin for interrupting them four times in an hour, and was dealing with her nails digging into his shoulder with a grace befitting the Fire Lord.

"Alright Toph, on your next contraction you can start pushing." Katara said, sitting between her legs at the end of the bed.

She nodded and leaned back against Zuko as another contraction started.

Agony.

That was the only way to describe it. Every moment was agony. The ten seconds she pushed were punctuated with her screams. Later, she'd be thankful that Ursa and Kiyi had offered to take Bumi while she was in labor, she wouldn't want him to hear her screaming.

Every push, every scream that left her, the earth responded. unnoticed by her, Zuko and Katara shared a look as the midwives paused. tremors shook the palace and if anyone didn't know she was in labor, they defiantly did now.

(After her labor was over and the baby cleaned and sleeping against her chest, Sokka told her what had happened while she was in labor.)

An hour later, her screams finally ceased and were replaced by the wails of a newborn.

And so, on the darkest day of the year, after a full day and a half of labor, Crown Princess Izumi of the Fire Nation was born.

—

"Your majesty? What would you like to be done with the child?" Someone asked, Toph was too enamored with the baby to care who said it. The baby she delivered not even 20 minutes ago.

The palace doctors had all but shoved their way in once the baby's cries were heard, no regard for her as always. She was pretty sure it was one of them who spoke

"Pardon?" Zuko asked, looking up from their daughter.

"The baby doesn't have a spark." The person explained. "How would you like to dispose of the child."

Instantly the room became silent, and all eyes turned to the person. Toph now recognized who it was. One of the various palace doctors who were staunchly against Zuko's marriage to her and has made it known every chance he got.

As unseeing as everyone thought her to be, Toph could pinpoint just about anything and when she locked onto her target, well, she was told it was very unsettling. The doctor opened his mouth again but was met with a face full of earth and thrown out of the room and held down by stone.

Zuko took the lead again when she sagged against the headboard, her grip on Izumi growing tighter.

"Have him thrown into a cell. I'll deal with him shortly." Zuko said, clearly not wanting to wait and execute the man who threatened their daughter but is only doing so on account of her giving birth 20 minutes ago. "Anyone who threatens the crown princess will join him. Now leave!"

Slowly, her grip on Izumi relaxed as Suki and one of the guards dragged the man, kicking and screaming, down into the dungeon. As people left the room she leaned her head on his shoulder. "Thank you." She whispered.

Zuko wrapped an arm around her and kissed her sweaty temple. "You don't need to thank me. No one gets to threaten my family and get off freely." 2 hours later, once everything was cleaned and Izumi was asleep, Zuko left and came back 30 minutes later, smelling faintly of smoke. that doctor was never seen again.

(Everyone would be in for a surprise when at 2 years old, Izumi lit one of her toys on fire by accident. So much for being a nonbender)

—

The birth was long. And Toph was so sore. But it was worth it, so, so worth it.

She was dozing in and out of sleep, still reeling from the aftermath of her labor, childbirth was a very bloody and stressful ordeal, after all. The midwives and Katara has left after cleaning her and the baby and changing the sheets, Katara promising to swing back after they had some time with just the three of them.

Zuko was pacing the length of their chambers, freshly bathed and free of the smoke smell, with Izumi half asleep in his arms. Izumi made the beginnings of a cry. Zuko shushed her gently and whispered. "Hush now, fire lily. Let your mama rest now, she went through a lot so you could be here."

She hummed. "I think she's hungry."

Zuko brought Izumi to her as she adjusted her top to nurse. Toph made the decision that for the first three months of her daughter's life, she would be the one to feed her. And only after those three months would she reexamine hiring a wetnurse.

As she got Izumi to latch, Toph leaned back into Zuko. "Who does she look like?"

"Me." He said, wrapping an arm around her. "But she has your hair. And a lot of it."

Toph ran a finger through the tuffs of hair her daughter was born with. She was quiet for a moment before whispering. "I know Katara said she was healthy but…she's not blind right?"

Zuko tightened his arm around her. "No. As far as Katara and I can tell, her sight is perfect."

"Good."

Her child being blind was a concern for Toph. Because there was a chance that she would be blind and not an earthbender, meaning she would be fully, entirely blind.

The rest of the night was spent like that. Just the three of them, Izumi's little heart beating in tandem with Toph's.

—

A month has passed since Izumi's birth and if there was one thing toph has learned it was that having a child was akin to watching a piece of your heart beating outside of your chest and hoping the world was kind to it.

Honestly, Toph wasn't sure how she'd handle Izumi's formal introduction when she was a few months old. Already she got nervous if anyone other than she, Zuko, or their friends held Izumi.

Her darling girl was a little over a month old at this point and while she still felt the effects of childbirth, her postpartum bleeding had just stopped, after all, she also knew she'd do it again in a heartbeat if Izumi was the result.