The rain beat down on her as Kuvira lay in the streets. Wet, tired, hungry and alone. Passersby glanced at her before quickly deciding she wasn't there. It wasn't uncommon to see children like her, dotted around the roads of Gaoling. As long as she didn't steal or vandalize, Kuvira was left alone.

She didn't want to be left alone. Kuvira wanted to be noticed, she wanted to be saved. But like everyday in the past three months, no one did.

A woman walked by, before stopping and turning to her. She knelt down next to Kuvira and notice her.

"Are you alright?"

Shaking her head she stared up into green eyes. She blinked at them.

"My name is Suyin," the woman said. "What's yours?"

Kuvira awoke with a start, taking a deep breath as she groggily tried to sit up, but her head protested aching even as she tried. Groaning she rubbed her forehead and suddenly she heard a crash.

Looking around she saw a woman staring at her, a tray lying of food lying next to her where it had been dropped in shock.

"You're awake."

Then she was gone, darting out of the wooden door before she could protest and Kuvira heard the lock click behind her.

"Wait," she tried to say, but it came out in a dry rasp.

There was a glass of water next to bed. She reached for it, nearly knocking it over in the attempt. She drank greedily finishing it quickly, before suddenly feeling drowsy.

Sedatives she through then she fell asleep.

The next time she awoke to a woman leaning over her. Olive skin. Earth Kingdom or Republic City. Neither answer comforted her.

Weakly, Kuvira grabbed the woman's wrist, causing her to jump.

"Where am I," she said, as the woman broke free easily and pulled away. "Where am I?"

"Zaofu," a familiar voice said.

Her heart stopped briefly at the sound as Kuvira turned to see Suyin standing in the doorway.

"Su..."

The nurse looked to the older woman, who merely nodded allowing her to scurry out of the room quickly.

Kuvira swallowed, not sure what to say to her. A thousand apologies rang in her head. Even if she had just come to deliver her death sentence, the younger metal bender had to say them. But the words stuck in her throat and she continued to stare speechless at the matriarch. Thankfully Suyin broke the silence.

"How are you feeling?"

"Tired," she answered. And she was, so very tired.

Suyin nodded at that walking forward to the front of the bed.

"I can understand that. You have been through a lot."

Was it concern Kuvira heard? It was hard to tell. Her head was too fuzzy to make it out.

"I imagine you will have some question," Suyin said. "I will answer as best I can."

"How long have I been out?" she said dumbly. It was the first thing she could think of, falling back quickly into information gathering.

"Three weeks. Korra carried you out of the Spirit World... again and healed you in Republic City before transporting you here. She wanted to be here when you awoke but was called back to make a full report to the council."

"Opal," she said struggling to remember a blurred memory. "She was on a boat. I... He-"

Suyin blinked slightly at her daughters name, hesitating before replying.

"Opal is safe. You-," she stopped herself. "He left her with the air benders before going onto the spirit world. She has remained on Air Temple island for the time being."

"Good," Kuvira replied softly.

There was another pause as Kuvira tried to ask her next question. Suyin watched her patiently as Kuvira closed her eyes and willed herself to ask.

"What happened to Vaatu?"

"You don't remember?" Suyin said a confused look on her face.

Kuvira shook her head.

"I remembered Korra, the spirit World and a Light."

She shivered as she remembered the Light that had burned within her, purifying the darkness within her. Suyin sighed as though searching for the words.

"Korra told me that she was able to remove Vaatu from you. She said it happened to her during Harmonic Convergence," Suyin noticed the way Kuvira shivered at her word. "Its probably best you don't remember."

Only one question remained.

"What will happen to me now?"

"Suyin. It's time to make a decisions."

The council all looked at her waiting for her vote. Suyin said nothing still trying to think.

"Suyin we must insist you cast your vote," Izumi said. "Should Kuvira be executed or banished to the water tribes to live out the rest of her days? The choice is yours."

Riako and Izumi. Tenzin and Tonraq. Death or life rested in her hands. Her responsibility.

"Kuvira cannot live in exile," she said.

She heard Tenzin sigh in disappointment and Riako smirk triumphantly. Izumi turned back to the papers as though the result bored her.

"It's decided then," Riako said smugly. "We shall begin preparation for her execution in Rep-"

"I'll take her," she whispered.

There was a stunned silence for a moment before Raiko started to stammer his protest.

"Suyin you cannot be serious."

"I must admit," Tenzin said. "I did not expect this."

"But it makes a degree of sense," Tonraq nodded contemplating it. "It is the city most equipped to deal with a metal bender of her skill."

Su looked over to her sister who was looking at her, her face unreadable. The face she herself has scarred.

"The Earth Kingdom would not accept this," Raiko stammered flustered. "There would be an uproar."

"I doubt it. The Beifongs are respected enough that they would accept it." Izumi said, a slight smile on her lips. "But I must ask what your reasons are?"

"Zaofu is the city of second chances," she said. "I took Kuvira in when she was eight. She is my responsibilty."

Suyin looked down on Kuvira as she finished speaking. Her former protege looked up at her from the bed.

"Why?" Kuvira asked her so soft, she nearly didn't hear. "After everything I did to you. Why vouch for me?"

"You were my daughter once, I owe you this much." Kuvira eyes widened at the words as Suyin continued. "And because you were right. I was scared of what I would before if I led the Earth Kingdom and instead I pushed you down that path."

Kuvira looked away from her, shame and guilt evident on her face. Suyin watched as She reached out for the glass of water, her hands shaking as she did. Suyin hoped she wouldn't notice her own hands shaking.

"In any case," she continued. "Zaofu is extending its prosperity throughout the new States of the Earth Kingdom. Once you are recovered, you will be deployed, under guard to assist the Earth Kingdom as part of your sentence. You will be assessed according to your attitude, successes and behaviour. This assessment will determine the length of the rest of your imprisonment here. Do you have any questions?"

Kuvira shook her head, not speaking. Somehow, Suyin felt she understood. At the very least, Kuvira would still be in prison under guard for another ten years. A strange concept to think about, despite how worse it could have been.

"Very well, I'll let you rest."

She made her way to door, reaching out for the door before Kuvira spoke.

"Suyin..." She said softly. "Does this mean you forgive me?"

Pausing slightly, Suyin thought for a moment.

"No Kuvira," she said honesty. "It means I'm willing to try."

Kuvira nodded accepting the answer.

"Thank you Suyin."

Suyin opened the door and found someone waiting for them. He stood nervously, waiting to be let in and twisting the ring on his finger. Su made to protest before sighing.

"Five minutes."

Her son nodded gratefully and walked inside and Suyin only heard Kuvira say one word before the door closed.

"Baatar?"

Korra grinned as her eyes found her girlfriends form. Asami was leaning over the rails of the dock, staring out over Yue bay. The nights winds blew through her hair making her seem even more beautiful to the Avatar.

She considered sneaking up on her, but that idea was quickly dispensed with, when Naga barked happily and ran up to her and licked her owners face eager to see her again.

"Enough Naga," she said, failing to scold her companion. "You're making me look bad."

"No, you look totally smooth," Asami smirked. "Utterly dashing."

"I am pretty dashing."

The Avatar closed the gap between between them, picking Asami up and spinning her in a hug. Asami let out a squeal in protest.

"Put me down you dork," she giggled. "Spirits it's been like a week."

True it hadn't been that long. Nearly everyone had come home from the fire nation via Zaofu before being pulled back to Republic City for either business or family matters.

The verdict of Kuvira trial had come with them as well and word was spreading over the four nations. For the most part, the populous was content though a few radical groups from either extreme still protested. Some demanded her execution, some demanded her release and some wanted her as president.

Extremists were never happy, Korra had learned.

The other trials had gone through as well.

Baatar Jr had received a light sentence of mostly public service. Varrik and Zhu Li had been exonerated as heroes. Bolin had never even gone to trial in the end. In Korras mind, it couldn't have gone much better.

Even Asami had been happy with the result, to Korras surprise. The Avatar had expected residence to Kuvira relatively light sentence but Asami seemed at happy with it.

"I won't ever forgive her," she had said back in Zaofu. "But from what she went through with Vaatu... I'll trust your judgement."

Perhaps happy was too strong a word but she was at peace with it and Korra could work with that.

She continued to spin Asami around as she finished her thoughts.

"Maybe only a week, but a week apart," she said with an exaggerate pout. "Aren't you happy to see me again."

Asami answered by reaching down and drawing Korra into a deep kiss. Korra let out a muffled gasp of shock before returning kiss and letting Asami slide back to ground. After a few bliss filled moments they broke apart.

"Does that answer that?" Asami smirked while Korra blushed a deep pink.

"umm I..."

Asami laughed.

"You're right. You are smooth."

"Shut up. That was dirty tactics and you know it."

"I can show you some really dirty tactics tonight if you want."

Korras blush intensified and with another laugh, Asami linked their arms and started walking along the pier, Naga trailing happily behind them.

"You here the big news?" Asami asked continuing once Korra shook her head. "Riako announced he's not running for reelection?"

"Really?" Korra asked, shocked. "He seemed so sure about it."

Asami shrugged.

"It was just announced today and he didn't give much of a reason just that he thought it was time," she continued. "Its a shame really."

Korra let out a snort causing Asami to roll her eyes at her antics.

"You can't deny that he was good present. You not have liked him-"

"He had me banished from the city!"

"-But he created many jobs for non benders with his equality laws and had to rule during a difficult time." Asami shrugged. "If he had ran again he would have probably gotten in."

Korra let a out sigh reluctantly accepting her girlfriends point before an idea struck her.

"You should try running."

Asami raised her eyebrow at her.

"No way."

"I'm serious. I think you could win."

It was Asamis turn to snort.

"Of course I would win. I practically rebuilt have this city, have the support of the Air Nation and helped defend against three attacks." She smirked, playfully poking at Korra. "Plus I have the Avatar in my pocket."

Korra shrugged, smiling slightly.

"Just a suggestion. It would be nice to have a politician who was on my side."

"Maybe someday down the line," Asami said wistfully. "But why rush it? We have all the time in the world."

All the time in the world, Korra though. She rather liked the sound of that.

Authors Note

Hey everyone, I would like to thank all those that read and followed this with special thanks to those who reviews. I hope you all continue to do so as I really appreciate constructive criticism.

I hope you all enjoyed this fic, though if you got this far you probably did. it's amazing to me that I wrote nearly 55k words. That's ridiculous to me in a way.

If you have any questions about the plot or characters please feel free to ask and I hope you stick around for the next fic I have planned. It's not a sequel to this, but it is Legend of Korra based so I hope you will enjoy it.

Thank you all again.