-𝙄𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙩𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙖𝙩𝙚⊰

-Chapter 17⊰

Katara took a sip of her tea and tried not to wince; it was too sweet for her liking. She smiled at her grandmother as she put the cup down gently before she turned her attention back to Poppy Bei Fong who was prattling about Toph's future wedding.

"You'll have to have your cousin be your maid of honor," Poppy said as she sipped her tea.

"Actually, Katara is going to be my maid of honor," Toph said as she casually leaned back in her chair. "Well matron, seeing as she's already married."

"But she's not family," Poppy said and Katara scoffed in offend.

"She's my family, mother," Toph said haughtily. "And this is my wedding, if I want Katara as my matron of honor, then she's going to be my matron of honor."

The room was filled with a tense awkward silence as the four women drank their tea.

"Do you know what you'll be having?" Poppy asked her politely and Katara smiled, placing a hand over her stomach.

"No, but we do speculate that it is going to be a girl."

"That's sweet," Poppy said. "But wouldn't your husband be disappointed?"

"Disappointed in what?" Kanna asked, her eyebrows furrowed and a deep frown etched onto her face.

Poppy blinked in confusion, "Disappointed that it isn't a boy," she said with a laugh.

Katara laughed in shock, was this woman for real? "Zuko is not that type of person, he's happy at the mere fact that he's going to be a father. Whatever we are having, Zuko will not be disappointed."

"That's good," Poppy said as she took a sip of tea before clearing her throat, trying not to meet Katara's steely gaze. "As much as we love our darling Toph, Lao always wanted a boy, so the Bei Fong last name would be carried on."

Kanna and Katara looked equally offended, but it seemed to go unnoticed by Poppy as she continued to talk. "We are so glad someone was able to overlook my daughter's disability," she said. "We were so worried that Toph would become a spinster. For no one really wants to date a disabled person."

Katara watched as Toph's face became more and more crestfallen with each deprecating word that came out of her mother's mouth. And the more she watched Toph's face, the more Katara felt angry.

"If you have forgotten, my grandson just so happens to want to marry a 'disabled' person," Kanna said with hard eyes.

"I don't mean to offend," Poppy said her green eyes wide. "I'm just saying that it is uncommon for a man to want to marry a blind woman. I didn't want to say this to Sokka in fear that he'll revoke the engagement but, I don't think Toph will be an adequate wife or mother. Being blind is such a hindrance."

Katara couldn't take it anymore; she just wanted to throttle Poppy Bei Fong. Slamming her tea cup down she stood, "That's enough!" she yelled. "How could you say such horrible things, especially about your own daughter?"

Poppy looked taken aback as Toph and Kanna stared at Katara in shock. "Toph has to be one of the most amazing people to ever walk this planet. She's not inadequate as you so rudely called her; she's much more adequate than you are that's for damn sure. And, I'm more than sure that if Sokka never pursued her, she wouldn't have had a problem finding a husband; there are plenty of guys who would love to marry Toph. Why? Because not only is she badass, but they know she would be the best wife and mother, so all of your disgusting hurtful words are false." She stared hard at Poppy as she grabbed Toph's hand and tugged the blind girl up. "Let's go, Toph, Gran, it's time to leave," she said as she began to walk out, pulling Toph behind her.