Chapter 98: Epilogue

"Master Kanni?" I glanced up from the healing table, where my young students were gathered. I saw the silhouette of an older student, her arms wrapped nervously around her coat-clad torso.

I raised my eyebrow at her, my nine-year olds still working at the healing table. "Nukka?" Nodding at my students to continue, I stepped away from the lesson when I saw her worried face and stance.

Her heart was racing, every muscle fidgeting beneath her clothes. "Are you alright?" I asked, looking at the young girl, that was growing frighteningly fast.

"I just... I just don't understand."

I raised my eyebrows again. "I'm not following..."

She pushed her fists into her cheeks angrily, her entire body radiating frustration. "I just... why can't I get it? Everyone else has!" It dawned on me what she was talking about. In her last class, I had taught my students a move invented by Katara herself when she was only a teen. There had never really been any legitimate name, but most had taken to calling the odd move, 'The Octopus'. It was a move in which a bender had a circle of water around their feet, and with somewhat complicated movements and concentration, the bender lifts tentacles from the ring, and manipulates them individually.

I sighed. "Do you remember the first class you had with me?"

She seemed surprised. "What?"

A smile graced my lips as I thought back, remembering the young girl when I first met her. "You were fiery and determined. You reminded me a lot of myself when I was younger, actually. I think that's why I was always so hard on you. But your first class, you bended this... tiny stream of water, and you were so proud..." I laughed.

Nukka looked at my quietly. "So?"

I leveled her with my gaze. "You've always been talented. Just because you can't get an incredibly complicated technique on the first try doesn't make you a poor bender."

"But all the other-"

"None of them have it. Not really. If I actually sent things at them, they wouldn't block a thing. It took Avatar Aang himself a significant period of time to truly master the move." I put my hand on her shoulder, which now came up to my chest. "You've grown so much in the three years I've been teaching you. Don't give up. Keep practicing, and you'll get it, okay?"

She chewed her lip for a moment before nodding. "Thank you, Master." I opened my mouth to respond with a smile, but her arms enveloped me in a warm and grateful hug. I returned the gesture, before ushering her out the door with a final wave.

"Alright," I said, clapping my hands together as I looked back to my nine-year olds. "That's enough of that. Good work, today. I want you each to go through the techniques for the water whip ten times, then you're free to go." They erupted in cheers, overjoyed to take advantage of the warmer weather we were experiencing at the South Pole. The kids scampered to their places on the mats, moving slowly and steadily through the movements I had drilled into their brains over the past few weeks.

I cleaned the healing table, putting all of the equipment away as they finished. "Master Kanni," Yet another call of my name made me turn. I smiled at the sight of one of my graduates, the young boy now working down at the docks.

"How are you?"

He smiled at me with a nod. "Well, but I think you're going to be better." I quirked my eyebrow. I became aware of the fact that his heart was racing, blood pumping through his muscles hastily, his chest heaving with each breath.

"Are you alright? You're face is all red..."

He laughed breathlessly. "I just ran up the hill to tell you that the Onartok just entered the harbor. They'll be docking soon."

I felt my heart skip at the name of the ship. I smiled, hugging my once-student briefly. "Thank you," I whispered before racing up the stairs to my small home above the dojo. I pulled on my baggy, gray fur-lined coat, tossing my long braided hair over my shoulder. As I turned to race out of the room, my eyes caught sight of the tiny bundle of blue-knitted cloth. I sighed, rolling my eyes.

"Of course," I muttered to myself and the empty room before scooping up the tiny hat and gloves and racing out the door.

My boots crunched against the snow, my pace quickening with each step down the sloping hill. In the distance, I saw the Onatrok gliding across the waves, the sun reflecting off of the water's surface.

I glanced around, wondering where-

"Oh noooo! She got me!" The loud cry from the Avatar made me glance to the side, coming to a stop near the central square. I smiled as I spied Korra collapsed on the ground, a two year old with pig-tails sitting atop her prone form.

"Auntie Kowwa! Auntie Kowwa!" She cried, her face inches from Korra's. "Awe you dead?"

My cousin's eyes snapped open, causing the girl to scream and fall backwards in a fit of giggles.

Asami emerged from the onlookers, who were all shaking their heads and smiling... hey, kids do that to people... A shopping bag was slung over her shoulder, her hair and makeup as flawless as ever.

She approached me with her radiant smile.

I shook my head. "I don't know how you continue to look so wonderful after watching a toddler all day."

She flipped her hair and laughed, waving her hand. "It's no bother." I rolled my eyes.

"Thank you, really."

"Kanni," She said, putting her hand on my arm, making me meet her serious eyes. "Literally whenever. I love it. And clearly," She laughed, gesturing to Korra who was mercilessly tickling the child. "She loves it, too."

I thought quietly for a moment, glancing between the Avatar and Asami. "Are you two ever going to...?"

Asami shrugged. "I'm not sure if Korra wants one."

"She's great with kids," I offered.

"I know she is... I just don't think she wants one of her own."

I pursed my lips. "Listen, I know my cousin-"

"And you think I don't know my own wife?"

I swatted her arm playfully, the both of us laughing. "I know you know her. I'm just saying... I think she'd be open to it. Talk to her?" I put my hand on hers gently. She smiled at me and nodded.

I sighed, glancing back towards the harbor.

"You alright?" Asami asked, reading my like an open book, as per usual.

Laughing slightly, I nodded at her. "Yeah... It's just..." I looked to the harbor again.

"Oh my... The ship is back!?" I smiled with a nod, feeling a nervous buzz in my stomach. "What the hell, Kanni?" Asami exclaimed, swatting my arm. "Why are we sitting here?"

I giggled, looking back towards the Avatar, my fingers fiddling with the knitted bundle in my hands.

"Alright, you two," I called, both of their heads snapping up to see me. "Let's go!"

They both pouted and I laughed. "Miki, let's go. We're going to the harbor." The girl's face lit up as she bounced off of the Avatar and ran to me, her little legs awkward in the snow.

"Why awe we going to the hawbaw?" She asked, her big blue eyes huge, her teeth chattering.

I stooped down to her. "You a little cold?" She nodded. I rolled my eyes. "Well maybe if you listened, and didn't leave your hat and gloves at home," I scolded gently, teasing her as I pulled the hat over her eyes.

She giggled, the bubbly sound making my heart warm every time I heard it. "Thanks, Mommy," She said with a whisper, standing unsteadily on her tip-toes to kiss my cheek. I smiled, brushing my hand over the top of her head before standing and offering my hand to her.

She reached up and took it, walking beside me, Asami and Korra following. I glanced back, a smile gracing my lips again at their linked hands. My fingers brushed my engagement necklace, given to me three years ago.

Asami and Korra had gotten married before I did, and that was a whole ordeal unto itself. It wasn't that the council and our family was entirely against it... it was just that it was...a newer concept. Thankfully, Tonraq and Senna were more concerned with Korra's happiness. Besides, all the shit Korra had been through, I think we all agreed that she deserved happiness.

And for Korra... that was Asami.

They were unbearably cute together. It was disgusting. I smiled to myself, making me feel like my own child, making gross faces whenever I kissed her father.

"Why are we going to the harbor, Mommy?" The two year old asked again, pulling my back to the present as the docks drew closer.

"Well," I said softly, leading her. "Do you remember the name of the ship Daddy and Grandpa went on?"

She thought for a moment, her lower lip protruding comically. "The... The... Ana... Ano? The... Onatro? Anotri?"

I laughed, tugging her arm gently. " The Onar..." I led her.

"Oh! The Onartok?"

"There you go, sweetie. Well, the Onartok is in the harbor."

She jumped excitedly at my side. "Daddy's home? Daddy's home?"

We stopped at the docks, seeing the ship being tied off. I didn't answer, instead choosing to watch the crowd of passengers anxiously.

Familiar silver eyes met mine through the crowd, and I felt my heart skip a beat, butterflies taking flight in my stomach once again.

"DADDY!" Miki cried, breaking away from me and sprinting headlong into the crowd. Luckily, the passengers were all more than aware of my daughter and her wild ways, parting like waves around her. They created a perfect isle for her to meet her father in. He scooped her up in a massive hug, twirling her in the air as she giggled.

"There's my prettiest girl!" His deep baritone was light as he cooed over the child.

"Hey Dad!" Korra exclaimed, wrapping her arms around her father. Asami soon followed suit, the three of them happy and relaxed. Seeing my husband and daughter still occupied, Tonraq came over to greet me as well.

"Tikanni," He said, his arms strong around my shoulders. I embraced him warmly with a smile.

"Uncle, it's so wonderful to see you!" He chuckled, looking towards the raven-haired man who was trying to pry the toddler off from around his neck.

"Your husband was so helpful on this trip. He's ever the smooth talker." The Chief wiggled his eyebrows at me with a smile, and I rolled my eyes.

Sure, some people figured it out over time, who my husband was. Tonraq approached me as he did his daughter: If I was happy, it was the right thing. Asami accepted easily, since she read me like an open book, anyways. Tenzin, though he never said anything, I knew that he was very much aware.

Now, when Korra found out, it was practically a duel between the two of us. After a few weeks of her steaming, she finally found it in herself to forgive and accept him into the family.

That was a long few weeks.

I felt a hand on the small of my back, making me jump and return to the present. I turned, seeing the smiling face of my husband, the scar on his lip tucking in the skin slightly.

"There you are," His whispered, pushing his lips against mine hastily. "I've missed you."

I smiled, teasing him. "I think you missed you prettiest girl more," I said sassily, sticking out my tongue like a child.

He rolled his silver eyes. "Kanni, our daughter is definitely the prettiest girl. I mean... she was made from us, literally the two most attractive people on the planet."

I laughed, swatting his chest. "Noa, you have never lacked and ego."

He kissed me chastely again before pulling back, his arms wrapped around my waist. "Did you know that I'm lucky."

"Are you?"

"Well, I have the pretties girl as a daughter..."

"Alright..."

He smiled at me, his pearly whites gleaming like the snow. "And I have..." He kissed me. "The most..." Again. "Gorgeous," Once more. "Woman," One more time. "As," Spirits, more kisses? "A wife."

I grinned, my hands resting casually on his shoulders.

His eyes pouted at me, his eyebrows raising. "Does that make up for not being the prettiest girl?"

I put my finger to my chin, pretending to think. "Hmmm... I'll think about it."

He laughed, kissing me again, longer this time.

"Ewwwwww..." Surprisingly, it wasn't just my daughter's voice that I heard. Looking to the side, still being held by Noa, I saw Korra making a face along with Miki.

I laughed, pulling out of my husband's grasp. "Korra, watch it. I might start doing that every time you and Asami kiss." The couple laughed as Tonraq began to walk up the hill.

"Come on you guys," He called. "Senna promised a meal for us all."

Miki's stomach chose that moment to make itself known. "Alright, kiddo," I said, scooping her up onto my hip. "Wanna eat?"

"Yes!" She cried, smiling a huge smile at her father as he walked beside us, his hand finding mine. Our fingers laced easily, our steps falling in synch as we followed the chief up to his home.

The house was warm, a hearth obviously having been lit and tended to all morning. I let my child down, helping her strip off her outside gear, leaving them hanging to dry by the door. She raced after her grandfather, who picked her up and tossed her into the air easily.

I pulled off my boots slowly, my heart in my throat as I felt Noa taking his own boots off.

"So how was the North Pole?" I asked casually, trying to get my stomach to stop twisting.

Asami and Korra left the room, their gear already stripped off and hung. I plopped my boots in the corner as Noa responded.

"Cold... You realize it's basically here... just in the North, right?"

I shot him a look. "I was born there, honey."

He laughed, placing his boots beside mine. Suddenly, his hands were on my hips, his thumbs pressing into my hip bones. His heavy blue coat was already off, leaving him in his indigo shirt, crossed over his chest and ending in short sleeves. It left his scarred arms free to see, his muscles prominent and attractive as all hell.

I breathed out a slow breath as his face loomed close to mine, pushing me into the wall. His eyes closed slowly, just sitting there and sharing the same air.

"You have no idea how much I've missed you," He whispered. "I wanted to come home every day."

My hands ghosted up his torso, coming to rest on his cheeks. "Trust me, I know. I almost called Tenzin and had hime give me a bison to fly to you."

He laughed, his chest rumbling against mine. "Miki would have driven you nuts."

"I would have left her here."

"No you wouldn't have."

We chuckled, us both knowing full well that he was right. "I know... Asami and Korra have been so helpful. They watch her when I have lessons."

He nodded, his forehead falling forward to rest against mine. My heart still fluttered in my chest as he sat so near. It was silent for another moment before he breathed out a few words. "She's gotten so big."

"She's growing fast. She's smart, like you. She learns fast."

"She hasn't... ya know?"

I shook my head with a smile. "She's two, Noa."

"So?" He said, raising an eyebrow. "You started when you were three!"

I laughed. "I had the moon living inside my head... I really think I'm a bit of a unique case."

"I know... I know... you're right."

I cupped my hand to my ear. "I'm sorry? What was that?"

He laughed, moving off of my to swat playfully at my shoulder. "I said you're right. I just... I don't want to miss anything."

I stepped forward to kiss his cheek. "You didn't, don't worry. Alright? Besides, it was only two months... apart from constant questions and not wanting to go to bed, you've missed nothing."

He laughed, his head tossed back to accent his jaw and Adam's apple. "I'm sorry I left you with her... alone."

I pursed my lips. "You know full well that I can take care of myself."

"I know, sweetie. Spirits... How did I get so lucky with you, huh?" His eyes were scanning every inch of my face as he spoke.

Automatically, my hand drifted to my neck, my fingers ghosting over the necklace that laid there.

I still remembered the day he proposed.

The fearless leader of a revolution was nearly shaking in his boots. I knew something was up from the start, his heart rate through the roof. Frankly, that mixed with his fidgeting and excessive sweating, a part of me got legitimately worried that he needed a doctor.

But then we danced and ate and laughed... and he led me outside to be beneath the full moon.

It was there, in the cold air, the moon's rays reflecting off the snow, that he asked me to live my life with him.

His necklace was stunning, a circular pendant strung on a dark blue ribbon. I could tell he had spent weeks, perhaps even months on my betrothal necklace. It swirled a dark indigo and light, almost white blue together in a circular motion.

Yin and Yang. Tui and La.

That was the symbol he carved into my necklace.

Most did something water related, like waves or something. And while Tui and La are definitely water-related, it was hardly something ever done. Why give someone a symbol that represents light and dark, or push and pull?

Of course, it made complete sense with Noa and I. We for so long had been opposites. Even now we were. He was far more organized than me... almost anal about things, were I was always more carefree. Despite no longer running a rebellion, Noat still struggled with giving up control, and admittedly, we still bickered like we did back in the Equalist camps.

We were opposites that couldn't exist without the other. Separate, but one.

His firm lips on mine snapped me out of my memories. "Where'd you go?" He whispered against me.

"I was thinking about when you proposed." He smiled.

"That was the best decision I've made."

"No, the best decision you made was kidnapping me all those years ago," I teased, poking hus firm chest. I was avoiding it... ugh I can't believe it. WOMAN UP, KANNI!

Noa laughed, bobbing his head towards the door to go to get food. "Come on, let's eat."

I chewed my lip as he moved away. "Wait!" He stopped and turned, his face growing concerned when he saw my teeth teasing my lip.

"You alright?"

I smiled gently, my heart leaping. "I'm fine... I'm... more than fine. I've got a wonderful family. A beautiful daughter. My husbands home now... and..."

Noa stepped closer, eyeing me with worry.

I sucked a breath through my nose. "Noa," I started, unbuttoning my coat and turning to hang it. I turned back to him in slowly, his eyes on me. "Noa, I'm..."

I couldn't even bring myself to say it. My hand just... unconscionably floated to smooth over the tiny bump that was forming on my abdomen.

His silver eyes widened. "You're... No. Kanni you're..." His mouth gaped, floundering like a fish for a second before his face erupted in joy. "YOU'RE PREGNANT?!"

My face felt like it was splitting in half from my smile as I nodded vigorously.

"Oh! Oh this is wonderful!" He raced forward, his hand finding my hips and lifting me easily as he spun. "Oh spirits, this is so wonderful!" He lowered me, his arms encircling my frame as mine went around his neck, his lips locking with mine for a long moment. He pulled back, his eyes glassy as he stared at me.

"How long?"

"I'm three months in," I whispered.

His forehead pressed against mine. "I'm so happy," He stated, a declaration to the universe. Suddenly, his eyes snapped open. "We're going to need a bigger house."

I laughed, tossing my head back. "I know. We'll figure it out."

"We always do." He kissed the top of my head, his arms circling me from behind to let his fingers ghost over my abdomen. He cupped the swell of my stomach softly, his heart beating against my back.

His head dropped to my shoulder as my hands covered his soothingly. He turned his head, his lips brushing my neck.

"I love you, Kanni," He muttered against my skin, his breath tickling the sensitive flesh. "I love you so much."

I turned in his embrace, pressing my lips to his firmly, my hand brushing over his scars and pushing back his raven hair. When I pulled back, I looked him in the eyes with a smile.

"I love you too, Noa." He kissed my quickly once more, his hand sliding from around my waist to follow my arm and lace with my fingers.

We both turned, our hands linked, one of his fingers still reaching out to brush the bump of my stomach. As we entered the dining hall, his eyes never left mine, and I found myself lost in him again...

And not a single part of me wanted to be anywhere else.

The End

Author's Note:

I... I literally don't even know what to say. This always seemed so far away and... and now we're done. Kanni's story is over and I already have separation anxiety over her.

I am so grateful to all of you who have read and stuck with me through this entire journey, which has spanned a year and a half. You've all been so wonderful and I've so appreciated every message, review, PM and literally anything else. I've loved seeing that you enjoyed my story, and that you continue to read.

Feel free to review, now that we are completely finished with this crazy story.

I hope you enjoyed it all,

Because i most certainly have.

Much love to all my readers,

-Ryder S. Block