Asami Sato leaned back against her front grill of her dark-blue satomobile, the warmth radiating off the still cooling engine keeping the cold of the night air at bay. A light evening mist hung over Yue Bay, but it was not thick enough yet to obscure her view out towards Air Temple Island where she could see the lights of a small boat cutting across the water towards her. Asami knew this had to be the boat bringing Korra over to the mainland and her heart leapt at the thought of seeing her girlfriend again.

Although it had only been two days since they had returned from their vacation in the spirit world, Asami ached to see Korra again. She had been kept extremely busy with meetings and planning sessions with the board of Future Industries, charting the course her company would need to take to recover from the disaster that had befallen it when Kuvira's army had marched into Republic City. She knew Korra had been just as busy, meeting with President Raiko and the representatives from the Earth Empire about the upcoming free elections in the Earth states as well as settling dozens of minor disputes between the city's new spirit denizens and returning human citizens.

Fortunately, they had previously organised to go to dinner this evening and it gave of both of them the excuse they needed to escape their duties for the night. Asami had even bought a new evening dress specifically for their date, spending far more than she would ever admit on it. It was a truly gorgeous dress, however, with an embroidered red silk bodice featuring a plunging neckline trimmed with floral black lace that was definitely more daring than her usual dresses. The skirt was made of four different layers of silk and an outer layer of lace net and she had added a red silk shawl that draped around her shoulders. She also wore her mother's favourite piece of jewellery, a heavy gold pendant set with a magnificent ruby and a cabochon cut emerald, as well as her gold bracelets and a gold hairpin shaped into the Future Industries logo.

Seeing that the boat was now pulling up alongside the wharf, Asami left her satomobile and hurried over to the stone steps leading down to the wharf, eager to greet Korra as she arrived. The Avatar sat at the back of the small boat, wearing the same dress she had worn at Varrick and Zhu Li's wedding and looking even more beautiful than Asami could remember. Seeing Asami, Korra used a small burst of airbending to carry herself safely out of the back of the boat and onto the wharf.

"Hey there," Korra said as she walked up the steps to greet Asami. Her eyes widened in surprise as she looked down at Asami's new dress. "Wow, you look amazing," she said. "I'm so jealous, this is about the only dress I have at the moment."

"Well then I might just have to take you shopping sometime," Asami said. "Little Ba Sing Se has reopened and there are a couple of nice stores in the upper ring. Just as long as we don't run into the 'little king'."

Korra laughed. "Fortunately he should be leaving for Ba Sing Se tomorrow afternoon. I'm supposed to go to his farewell ceremony at City Central Station with President Raiko and Tenzin."

"Oh?" Asami said. "I didn't know. Is Mako going with him?"

"I don't know," Korra replied. "Tenzin didn't say, he was too busy reminding me not to be late."

"Do you need us to wait for you, Avatar Korra," one of the White Lotus guards interrupted, calling up from the boat.

"I'll see she gets home safely," Asami answered them, slipping her arm through Korra's and guiding the other woman away towards the waiting satomobile. Behind them the boat's engine roared as the guards turned it away from the wharf and back towards the distant island.

"I missed you," Asami said, as they approached her satomobile. "I..."

That was all Asami managed to get out as Korra unhooked her arm from Asami's and reached up with both hands to cup her girlfriend's face and pull her close enough to kiss. It was a gentle kiss, but one full of promise and anticipation for the night ahead.

"Oh spirits," Asami gasped as they finally broke apart.

"I've missed you too," Korra said, her blue eyes almost luminous in the dim light. When Asami didn't respond immediately, she asked, "was... was that okay? I know we said we would take this slow, but..."

"Oh Korra that was perfect," Asami said. "But any more kisses like that and we might not make it to the restaurant."

"Would that be a bad thing?"

"No," Asami replied. "But... um... I sort of already skipped lunch at the office and if I miss dinner as well..."

"You skipped lunch?" Korra asked. "Are you feeling all right?"

"I'm fine, Korra," Asami assured her. "I... I was just nervous about this evening."

"Nervous? But in the spirit world... we... well you know," Korra said, blushing at the memory.

Asami took Korra's hand and squeezed it gently, marvelling again at the warmth her girlfriend seemed to radiate. "We did, and it was amazing. But... well this is more real if you know what I mean? Besides, I'm pretty sure that this is technically counted as our first official date. A girl is allowed to get nervous on a first date."

"Well, I guess I'm a little nervous as well," Korra admitted. "I'm not entirely familiar with this whole dinner date thing. The last couple of times didn't work out so well for me."

"Don't worry, it will be fun," Asami told her, leading Korra over to the waiting satomobile. Once they were both seated, Asami turned the key and the satomobile came to life with the deep purring sound of a high-performance engine.

"So," Korra began, as Asami drove them away from the wharf and onto the nearby road. "Can you tell me where we are going?"

"Kwong's Cuisine of course."

"Kwong's?" Korra asked, glancing over towards the vine-covered piles of rubble that surrounded the spirit portal site. "Wasn't Kwong's in Downtown?"

"It was, but they have rebuilt... well not really rebuilt exactly, they bought an old ferry that was due to be decommissioned and have converted it into a floating restaurant. It's still needs a lot of work as they have only had a couple of weeks to get it ready, but it's the first of the old Downtown icons to reopen so I thought it was appropriate, even if it's not longer in Downtown."

"Sounds perfect," Korra said, and Asami smiled at her, recalling the last time she had heard Korra say that exact phrase.

Asami turned the satomobile west, driving along the edge of the crater that surrounded the spirit portal and onto the Silk Road Bridge towards the western shore of the city. Even with the destruction in the Downtown district the road was busy with other traffic and Asami was forced to slow her speed, her perfectly manicured fingernails tapping the steering wheel in annoyance at the delay.

"So, how is everyone on Air Temple Island?" She inquired as they crossed the bridge stuck behind a large truck hauling rubble away from ruined city centre.

"Quite a lot has changed in the short time we were away," Korra said. "Bumi and most of the other airbenders are off helping General Iroh. Bolin and Opal have gone with Su to help reclaim Zaofu. Tenzin is still... well Tenzin and... um... I think Jinora is on to us."

Asami arched one eyebrow and glanced over at Korra, "Oh? Did she say something?"

"No, but she has been looking at me strangely ever since I got back. Then when I told Pema that I wouldn't be there for dinner tonight she was whispering to Kai and then they were both looking at me."

They drove in silence for a while before Asami asked, "Jinora can meditate into the spirit world, you don't think..."

"Oh spirits, I hope not," Korra said, blushing bright red. "She would have said something surely?"

"I don't know, maybe she is just respecting our privacy."

"We will have to tell them all eventually," Korra said.

"We will," Asami assured her. "Once we figure out just what exactly we are going to tell them and how best to do it."

"Yeah, I'm certainly not looking forward to telling Mako."

"It's Bolin I'm more worried about," Asami said, turning the satomobile off the main road and heading down towards the docks.

"Why Bolin?" Korra asked. "He will understand and be happy for us."

"Of course he will, but once he knows we are dating then you just know he is going to be organising double dates with him and Opal all the time."

Korra laughed. "I can imagine it now. Speaking of Bolin, before we went away did he mention anything to you about when he is due back from Zaofu?"

"I think maybe in a week or two," Asami replied. "But, I don't think he knew himself when exactly he was going to be back."

By now they had reached the docks, and Asami drove towards a large ferry, freshly painted and brightly lit with orange lanterns that hung from the upper decks. As the satomobile came to stop near a gangplank that led up onto the ferry, a valet appeared to open Korra's door and help her out of the vehicle.

"So this is it," Korra said, as the satomobile was driven away to be parked and Asami joined her at the base of the gangplank.

"The all new Kwong's Cuisine," Asami confirmed. She took Korra's hand and led her up towards the restaurant entrance. "Come on, I'm starving."

While the owners had yet to finish decorating the outside of the old ferry, inside the restaurant was richly appointed with thick red carpets covering the floors and antique tapestries and paintings hanging from the walls. Vases of fresh flowers and braziers of burning incense helped to cover up the smell of fresh paint.

"Asami Sato!" an elderly woman called out as they entered. She walked over to Asami with a friendly smile and her arms outstretched.

"Hello Madame Kwong," Asami said, giving the older woman a brief but warm hug. "How is Mr. Kwong?"

"Oh, he had to go home early. He's not as young as he used to be, heh, but none of us are any more. He'll be sorry he missed you though, we owe you so much."

"Happy to help," Asami replied.

Madame Kwong looked over at Korra. "And this must be Avatar Korra," she said, bowing low. "It is an honour to have you in our humble restaurant, Avatar."

"It's... um... very nice to be here," Korra replied.

"We have a special table set aside for you two ladies on the second floor," the woman told them. "I'll get my son, Jian, to show you the way."

Madame Kwong waved to a middle-aged man on the other side of the room, who quickly hurried over and bowed to Asami and Korra. "This way," he said, waving them towards the carpeted stairs leading up to the second floor.

"What did she mean?" Korra whispered to Asami as they followed Jian up the stairs. When Asami looked at Korra with a puzzled expression, Korra added, "She said she owed you so much."

"Oh, that," Asami said, looking almost embarrassed as she whispered back. "Well, Future Industries loaned the Kwong family the money to help fix this place up. Not just the Kwong's, of course," Asami quickly added. "Before we went away I set up a fund that has been assisting a number of the old family owned businesses to get back on their feet."

"I had no idea," Korra said, smiling warmly at her girlfriend. "That's really nice of you."

"I wanted to help where I could," Asami explained. "The board doesn't like it, of course, but I wouldn't think of it as Republic City any more if we lost all the people and businesses who have been here since the beginning."

"Your table, Miss Sato," Jian said, leading them past a number of other tables before stopping next to a cosy table for two near a large picture window that looked out over the harbour and the distant glow of spirit portal. Thick red curtains hanging down from the ceiling blocked off the table from the rest of the restaurant and gave them some privacy. As the two woman took their seats, he bent over and lit the candles in the centre of the table. "I will send a waiter over shortly with your menu," he said.

"One moment," Asami said, gesturing for him to come closer.

She whispered something into Jian's ear and he nodded. "Of course, Miss Sato, I will arrange it immediately."

"This is really nice," Korra said, reaching over the table to take Asami's hand. "Did you organise all this?"

Asami smiled and squeezed Korra's hand affectionately. "Of course," she said. "I wanted our first date to be perfect, just the two of us."

As if on cue a familiar figure appeared from behind the curtain separating their table from the rest of the restaurant and a voice called out, "Ladies!"

"Please, not him," Korra whispered, releasing Asami's hand and covering her face, as if that would prevent her from being noticed.

Prince Wu appeared at the edge of the table. "I didn't know you would be here tonight," he said with a broad smile. "I could have invited you to my farewell dinner."

"Hello, Wu," Korra sighed. "Um... Mako isn't here with you is he?"

"Not tonight," the prince said. "I gave the tough guy the night off so he could help Grandma Yin and the rest his family finish packing."

"They are leaving?" Asami asked.

"Yes, Mako and his family are coming back to Ba Sing Se with me," Wu said. "Now that the war and instability is over for good it is safe for them to return and I'm kind of used to having them around now so I invited them to stay in the royal palace until we can find them somewhere more permanent in the city."

"I had no idea they wanted to leave," Asami said. "Mako never said anything to me."

"Well you have been away on holiday," Wu said. "It was all decided last week. Mako is going to continue to be my bodyguard until I abdicate and his family wanted to go home as well, so I made the arrangements." He leaned closer and in a conspiratorial whisper added, "I think Grandma Yin has a bit of a crush on me to be honest."

He straightened and stretched, looking around the room before leaning in close again. "You know, I have finished my meal and my guests have departed, but as you two ladies are here alone I'm happy to stick around if you want the company."

"We aren't alone," Korra said. A faint blush spread across her cheeks as she added, "we are here together."

"I can see that," Wu said. "I meant, neither of you have dates."

"Wu," Asami said. "What Korra means is that she is my date this evening."

"Oh... I see," Wu said, sounding surprised. "You can do that?"

"You don't get out much do you, Wu," Asami commented with a wry smile.

"Obviously not," the prince said. "Well, that does explain how you were able to resist my obvious charms."

"Wu!" Korra cut in.

"Yes?"

"Can you please leave."

The prince looked shocked for a second, but then he bowed low. "I apologise for intruding, Avatar Korra," he said in a conciliatory tone. "Please enjoy your evening with Miss Sato."

"Wait!" Asami said, calling him back. "Don't tell Mako we are dating, okay? We want to tell him ourselves... when the time is right."

"Don't trouble yourself, ladies," Wu said with a quick salute. "You can trust me to keep a secret."

With that, the prince wandered off towards the stairs rubbing his chin with an extremely thoughtful expression on his face.

Asami frowned as she watched the prince depart. "You don't think..."

"I'm not thinking," Korra said, shaking her head. "Please don't make me think it."

Asami giggled. "It would be funny though."

"Your drinks, Miss Sato," a smartly dressed waiter said as he arrived at their table with a tray and two menus tucked on his arm, interrupting any further thoughts of Wu. "One Avatar Special for you, Avatar Korra, and a Republic City Rose for you, Miss Sato, and here are your menus. Please let me know when you are ready to make your order."

After the waiter had bowed and withdrawn, Korra eyed the tall multi-coloured drink. "What exactly is an Avatar Special?" she asked.

"Try it and see," Asami said, sipping her pale red drink as she flipped through the menu. "Would you like me to order?"

Korra nodded as she sipped the cocktail Asami had ordered for her. "This is really nice."

"It's one of my favourites." Asami said, putting the menu down and waving to the waiter. "Each of the layers is supposed to represent a different element."

Korra sipped the drink again as Asami placed their order. Once the waiter was on his way, with menus tucked under one arm, she asked, "So it seems like you know the owners of this restaurant pretty well."

"I do," Asami said. "My family has been dining at Kwong's for as long as I can remember, and I also bring business clients here quite often as well."

"And dates as well?" Korra asked, before quickly adding, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pry. I know you must have dated while I was away, and it's perfectly all right that you did."

"It's all right, Korra," Asami assured her. "I told you that I want everything to be open between us so I don't mind you asking, but the truth is there is very little to tell."

"Really? I thought... well let's just say I was surprised to hear you were still single by the time I got back to Republic City."

"While you were away I never really found the time to date anyone. My assistant, Seiko, did try to set me up with a couple of her friends until I told her to stop. After that, I was always so busy with work that I never found to time to meet anyone. Of course, that didn't stop the press pairing me off with every eligible celebrity in Republic City, even Raiko at one point, despite the fact that he is happily married to Buttercup."

"President Raiko? Why would they think that?"

Asami shrugged. "Who knows how they get these ideas. I was meeting with Raiko quite often at the time to discuss the rebuilding plans and after one late dinner meeting at Kwong's suddenly the papers decided we were having a secret affair. Then I had reporters following my every step for over two weeks before they lost interest and moved on to some other story."

"I suppose that means we can expect reporters following us around every time we go out for a meal then?"

"Probably," Asami said. "I didn't see any outside tonight though so I think we are safe for a little while. But, yes once our relationship becomes public knowledge I'd expect quite a bit of attention from the press. Is that going to be a problem?"

Korra sighed. "No, but I was really hoping they'd leave me alone for a while. Ever since I came to republic city I have been hounded by them. They are always questioning everything I do and asking when I'm going to fix things I can't fix and demanding to know why I can't solve every little problem that is plaguing the city."

"I still remember your eight percent approval rating," Asami said. "The press has been extremely harsh towards my company in the past too, especially after Amon disappeared. The stories they ran about Future Industries and my father during that time nearly bankrupted the whole company."

"Maybe we should just head back to the Spirit World for the rest of our lives."

Asami laughed. "Maybe... although I did miss sleeping in a proper bed while I was away."

"Things were so much easier there," Korra said.

"They were," Asami agreed. "But, the world still needs the Avatar, and my company needs me. As much as we might like to disappear into the Spirit World, we can't ignore our responsibilities here forever."

"I know," Korra sighed. "I'm just worried that there won't be time for us."

"There will be," Asami assured her. "We will make time for us, as much time as we need, and we will make it work."

The first course of their meals arrived before they could say anything more. Asami had ordered prawns wrapped in wafer thin pastry and a sweet chilli dipping sauce for herself, and the dish was presented with all the elegant style customers had come to expect from Kwong's. For Korra she had ordered a more substantial meal of roast turtle-duck, thinly sliced and served with sliced fresh mango in an orange sauce. Both woman said little as they ate the exquisitely prepared food.

"So," Korra said, as she picked over the last remnants of food on her plate. "If Mako's family is going back to Ba Sing Se, does that mean you'll alone in the mansion now?"

Asami didn't answer immediately, but instead looked out the window towards the distant glow of the spirit portal. "I'm not moving back into the mansion," she said finally.

"I am so sorry," Korra said. "I should have realised that with your father gone..."

"It's not just that," Asami said. "I haven't been living there for years now, which is one of the main reasons I was happy to let Mako's family live there, especially as Grandma Yin made sure they kept the mansion and the grounds very clean and tidy."

"You are welcome to stay at Air Temple Island again," Korra told her. "With so many of the airbenders away on missions there is plenty of room now and I'm sure Tenzin wouldn't mind."

Asami smiled at her, but shook her head. "While I'd love to be so close to you, I have somewhere else in mind."

"It's not your office at the satomobile factory is it?"

"Hey, that was only for a couple of weeks and only because my old apartment in Future Industries Tower now has spirit vines growing through it."

"I'm sorry Kuvira destroyed so much of your company," Korra said.

"She hurt a lot of companies," Asami said. "We lost our main warehouse and the tower, but all of our factories and other holdings are intact. Like the city, Future Industries will rebuild."

"So the city will recover?" Korra asked.

"I've seen some early drafts of Raiko's plans," Asami said. "It is an ambitious and expensive plan, but if it is successful then Republic City will soon be better than ever. Kuvira has scarred it, but it will heal."

"I'm surprised Raiko isn't blaming me for it again like last time."

"Maybe by supporting you he is trying to cover up the fact that he surrendered the city of Kuvira during the invasion. The elections are in a few months so he can't afford to look weak now."

"That does sound more like Raiko," Korra said, finishing off her drink. "That's the one part of Wu's plan to give independence to the earth states I don't like. More politicians."

"It is certainly going to require some adjustments," Asami agreed. "But I think it will mean a better world for everyone in the end."

The waiter returned with the next course of their meal, bringing Korra two dishes, the first a bowl of grilled egg noddles mixed with prawns, cabbage, and chilli sauce, and the second a plate of sliced pig-chicken breast stir fried with carrots, bamboo shoots and mushrooms and served with sizzling rice crackers in ginger and lime sauce. Asami's main course was smaller, with a bowl of steamed rice and a plate of crispy fried pig-chicken fillet sliced thinly and glazed in lychee sauce. Korra's eyes narrowed as she noticed the difference in the amount of food on their plates.

"Another drink?" Asami asked before the waiter departed their table.

"Sure," Korra replied. "The same again I think."

The waiter nodded and left with their empty glasses. Both women dug into their meals and by the time the waiter had returned with fresh drinks they were nearly finished and just a few scraps remained.

"So..." Korra said, swirling the last strip of meat in the thick ginger and chilli sauce. "I can't help but notice that my dishes seem to be twice the size of yours."

Asami sipped her cocktail and gazed intently at her girlfriend. "Oh?"

"I was just wondering why that was."

"Korra, how many meals have we had together over the years?"

Korra frowned. "A fair few I guess... but that doesn't explain this."

"Do you think I haven't noticed that you always go back for seconds."

"Not always," Korra complained. "I didn't in Zaofu."

"Yes, but you were the only one who was actually able to eat the entire meal and you had two servings of dessert the first night we were there."

"Well, you were the one who skipped lunch today," Korra reminded her. "I had lunch at Air Temple Island."

"So you want me to cancel dessert then?"

Korra looked pained. "Um... what is it?"

"Madame Kwong's special iced mango pudding with mint and chocolate. But if you don't want any..."

"You know, Miss Sato, you shouldn't tease the Avatar."

A sly smile crept across Asami's face. "You think this is me teasing you? We can move on to teasing if you like. Now, dessert or no dessert?"

"All right, I'll have the dessert, but you are having some too."

"Sound fair," Asami agreed.

Korra quickly claimed the spoon when the bowl of dessert arrived soon after, while Asami stole one of the thin sticks of chocolate that had been stuck into the top of the pudding. "Oh wow," Korra said, as she devoured the first spoonful of the dessert. "This is amazing. I'm not sure I want to share it now."

"If you don't share then you are walking home," Asami warned her.

"Well maybe I can spare a little," Korra said, scooping out some more of the dessert. She held the spoon up and looked questioningly at Asami.

Asami shuffled her chair a little closer and allowed Korra to feed her the spoonful of dessert. "Mm, you are right, Korra, this is pretty amazing."

"I thought you ate here all the time?"

"I do," Asami replied. "But I normally don't have dessert."

"So you want some more?"

"Yes please."

Between them they quickly polished off the bowl of dessert and sat back smiling warmly at each other as they finished their drinks.

"So where now?" Korra asked, as she placed the empty cocktail glass back on the table. "It's a bit early to head back to Air Temple Island."

"We could see a mover," Asami suggested. "But, there isn't anything new out at the moment, so unless you want to see one of Bolin's old Nuktuk movers..."

"Maybe not," Korra replied.

"Or we could go for a drive," Asami said.

"Where to?"

"Well, there is something I've had some people working on while we were away. It's nowhere near finished yet, but I'd like to show you anyway. It's not too far from here."

"What is it?"

"Do you mind if I make it a surprise?" Asami asked.

"All right," Korra said. "Lead on,"

Smiling broadly, Asami took Korra's hand and led her towards the exit.

After pressing the shutter to take one last photo, Kuang lowered his camera with a despondent sigh and slumped back down in the chair near the open window that overlooked the docks below. He picked up his almost empty glass and downed the rest of the spiced rice wine in a single gulp.

"No luck tonight?" the barman asked as he polished the smooth wooden surface of the bar, wiping away a spill left by a previous customer.

The reporter shrugged his broad shoulders. "A few clear shots of Avatar Korra and her friend Asami Sato leaving Kwong's that will probably sell to the society pages of the United Daily News or the Republic News, especially if that's a new dress Miss Sato is wearing tonight. Nothing that will earn me the big yuans though. The papers want scandal and sensation if it's something that is going to make the front page. Asami Sato in another red dress isn't really what I'm looking for, that girl must have a hundred or more different red dresses by now."

"That's too bad," the barman said, tucking his cleaning rag into his belt and placing a fresh glass on the bar.

"Now, if either of them was going out to dinner with a new boyfriend, that would be news and I'd already be running down to the newspaper offices right now for a real big pay day, but sadly two friends going to dinner doesn't earn me much, even if one of them is the Avatar."

"Another drink?" the barman asked.

"Yeah," Kuang said, packing his camera away in the leather bag he carried to protect it from the weather.

The barman poured another generous measure of rice wine and carried the glass over to the reporter's table by the window. "So where are you going for your next scoop?"

"I'll swing past the office to get these shots developed and drop them off at one of the newspapers and then home to bed I think," Kuang replied, tossing several notes down on the table. "I'm scheduled to be at Prince Wu's farewell ceremony at Central City Station tomorrow so maybe I'll get something juicy there, although with half the reporters in Republic City also going to be there I'll be hard pressed to get anything exclusive. I tell you, one good picture of a breaking scandal and I've got it made, but the world just doesn't want to cooperate with me."

The barman nodded in sympathy and swept the yuans off the table and tucked them into a pocket. He patted the reporter on the shoulder. "Well, I guess we'll see you in here tomorrow evening?"

Kuang nodded as he finished his last drink. "Like I have anywhere else to be," he muttered as he picked up his camera bag and headed for the door.