The light faded from the sky. Clouds of pink and yellow covered the horizon, as she watched the sun sink down into the ocean, surrounded and embraced by steady waves of salty water that never seemed to end. It was over. They did it. A deep breath was taken as Zhu Li stood at the shore of Republic city, watching the night fall over the world once again. It was when a tear escaped her grey eyes. She couldn't tell why. Just as the wind seemed to caress her face and play with her hair, something took over inside her that let the stoic professionalism crumble instantly. Her emotions barely took over like this. But she let it happen. Salty and lonely, it tumbled down her face to fall down into the waves, where it was not a single drop anymore, but the part of something great. She was now too. She was not a single drop at the shore of life anymore. She now had him. She had the life she wanted, she wished for, her dreams had become reality so fast that it washed over her like a salty wave of this salty ocean. Her fingers touched the ring around her finger. It was not a dream anymore. It was not an idea or a wish she knew would never be accepted.
She felt a shy hand rest on her shoulder, and she turned around, slowly, tenderly and hoping her tears were not obvious. Varrick faced her with a hint of worry on his face. But there was also deepest happiness. Contentment. Love…
"Zhu Li…?" he gently asked. She had almost smiled, chuckled, anything, knowing that it was not anymore her sir, her Varrick, but her future husband. With a small lift of the corner of her mouth, she looked back at him. "Excuse me…" she mumbled, brushing her face clean and dry.
"I must be a bit worn out – that's all."
He nodded gently. Probably he understood this moment didn't require words really. They just watched the sunset for a few more moments, before his hand wandered down to hold hers, tenderly and timidly. It was yet strange and unknown to both of them, yet his heart skipped a beat once he felt hers wrapping acceptingly around his. Her fingers were so fragile and soft in his own, beautiful in every way.
"Come on…" he gently tugged on hers. "Let's go home…"

Home. It was not anymore his home alone, but theirs. She had worked for him so many years, knew each room and each corner by heart, and yet it was truly the first time she felt secure, welcomed – and as if she belonged only here. She never let go of his hand to the moment they entered it once again and for the first time as a couple and not employer and assistant. Varrick brushed off his coat and helped her to do the same. Zhu Li gulped as she looked over the living room, the large couch and the small teatable with a single Lilly he had picked for her once in her vase. She stared at the big armchair and the many paintings hanging from the walls. Each door was shut, the floor was clean, every furniture was standing neatly; everything looked just as they had left before. Zhu Li's heart suddenly felt like someone clenched their first around it. They had gone all this way, travelled across the entire world, followed and fought for the Avatar, put their life's on the line, and now they have come back, back to a normal life – a different life for both of them.
"It's great being back home, isn't it?" Varrick sighed. Zhu Li struggled to answer. Her hands simply rested on her chest and she nodded, her back still turned to him. Varrick noticed she was much more silent than the last few days. He could understand everything was a bit overwhelming for her right now. He never struggled with changes, he went through many on a daily basis. With a gulp, gathering his confidence, he slowly approached her, first resting his hand back on her shoulder, but even this didn't coax her into giving him an answer. With shaky hands, he gently placed them over her waist, looping them around her body, resting his chin on her shoulder. Zhu Li gasped slightly by the sudden contact. It was not that she didn't enjoy it, but – it was foreign. They only shared a kiss since then and held each other's hands.
Her hands rested on his arms, sighing as she gently rested her body against his and leaned her head against his cheek. She needed this. She really needed someone to rest her weary body against right now.
"I'm so happy you said yes." He whispered into her hair and Zhu Li smiled.
"I'm glad you asked me, Si—Varrick." She corrected herself with trembles in her voice.
Varrick looked down at her. "Zhu Li…are you okay?"
"Y-Yes, I'm…" she started sniffling. "I'm okay."
She never had been good at lying anyway. Varrick gently rested his hands back on her hips and turned her around to look at him. Tears were falling down her cheeks, and she couldn't stop them. Not even by wiping them away.
"Zhu Li, what's wrong? Are those tears of happiness? Please tell me you're crying of happiness."
"I-I am happy, I'm very happy. I'm just -"

She fumbled with her glasses. "I can't believe this would ever happen."
"What would happen?"
"That we would come back home."
Varrick blinked at his fiancée. Did she truly believe anything would have happened to them while being away from republic city? There were a few moments were even he was scared for his life. Or hers. But after all, they made it back, unharmed and even better – engaged. With a small smile, Varrick brushed away her tears from her face. "Zhu Li, do you really think I would have let you die out there? I never go anywhere without you."
"Oh Varrick, you talk like I'm still your assistant." Zhu Li sniffled.
He sighed. It was truly not fair how he had treated her all the way along. He knew this by now. And he would make sure to worship and grand her every wish from now on, just as she did for him. No more professionalism. No more serving anybody. His hands rested on the sides of her face, thumbs brushing over her few, tiny, adorable freckles around her nose, wiping away her tears. "What I mean is – I need you. I need you in my life. Not for your assistance. Not for your job. But for you. I love you more than my own life; and I would have made sure nothing would harm you. No matter if it's a spirit, a revolution or a gigantic colossus."
Zhu Li sobbed silently at his words. This was the nicest, most wonderful thing she had ever heard from someone like him. From someone she loved just as much as he loved her.
Zhu Li swallowed her sobbing down, tears still rolled down her cheeks. Varrick gently rested his forehead against hers and looked deep into her eyes, her beautiful, grey eyes. He didn't care she had close to no colors in them, he saw their future in her eyes. Their future in where they were married, were parents to wonderful children, living in a small house somewhere far away from town, just the two of them and their little family. That's all he wished for.
"But – what if I tell you I'm not the same anymore, Varrick? I'm not your assistant anymore. Or the girl you knew. I think…I think it would be hard for someone so great and amazing like you to love someone like me anymore…"
"Maybe…" he licked it bottom lip.
"But I don't care."

Their lips met halfway. It was not the kiss they shared as he proposed. It was even better. Zhu Li rested her hands on his nape, scratching gently over his short hair, his own held her face close to his. His lips were warm and soft and everything inside her shivered and went warm and fuzzy and her heart pounded so loudly it was hard to hear the content hum he gave from her nails running over his neck. She could feel his lips parting slightly, running his tongue over her bottomlip. Zhu Li nearly shrieked at the sudden encounter, but just moments later, she joined his with her own, opening for him and their mouths fused to deeper, passionate kisses. When the lack of air grew unbearable, Zhu Li gently pulled away, breathing heavily and staring back into his blue eyes she fell in love with the first time he saw him. She could literally feel the furious blush on her cheeks as she looked back at him and it felt embarrassing first. But Varrick simply chuckled softly, leaning down to kiss her temple gently.
"Please, Zhu Li…stop crying." He brushed the last tears escaping her eyes for her. "Or I'll start crying too."
"I-I'm sorry…" she hiccupped, laughing in between, but eventually, Zhu Li calmed down, her cheeks rosy and her eyes clear and happy again. She probably looked horrible right now, she already felt bad for exposing her emotions so blankly to him. But even when she knew he's never been good with comforting people or speaking about feelings, he had helped her more than anything right now.
"Let's make some tea, shall we?"
"Good idea…" Zhu Li smiled. "I'll get the –"
"No." Varrick interrupted her with his hand raised. "I'll make it. You go and sit down, hm?"
He patted the spot on the couch he usually sat on. She never dared to sit next to him on the same sofa, being nothing but his assistant. But things would change from now on. And that made her happy.
"Okay…" she nodded with a wide smile which he responded with his own. Gosh, he was so handsome when he looked at her like this, she thought, and started blushing again.
Varrick turned to head to the kitchen.
"I love you…" he mumbled under his breath, not expecting her to hear.
"I love you too, Varrick." he suddenly heard her saying, loud and clear and a hint of adoration in her voice. This woman really a was wonder.