The Legend of Korra was created by Michael Dante Dimartino, Bryan Konietzko, and is owned by Viacom Inc. No infringement on their property is implied, nor should be inferred.

Left My Heart in Republic City was composed by Jeremy Zuckerman and owned by Viacom Inc. No infringement on their property is implied, nor should be inferred.

Lulu's Back in Town was composed by Al Dubin, Harry Warren, and owned by Warner Brothers Inc. No Infringement on their property is implied, nor should be inferred.

The title of this story comes from the song And It's Beautiful, composed by A. Russell, performed by Bah Samba, and found on the album Sun Dance, mixed by Nicholas Matar. No infringement on their property is implied, nor should be inferred.

The title of this chapter, Kiss of Life, was written by Andrew Hale and performed by Sade. No infringement on their property is implied, nor should be inferred.

This story is rated M for Mature.

And It's Beautiful

Chapter One: Kiss of Life

The sun had already been up for a couple of hours and after Tenzin waited for as long as he could, he went in search of his pupil only to find his wife instead.

She was wearing her usual robes, hair in a bun, but for some reason wasn't wearing any footwear, and even though she acknowledged his presence with a glance over her shoulder, she turned back to look down in silence.

Joining her, instead of calling down to his charge for meditation, Tenzin and Pema stood in the ornate pavilion on the edge of the western cliffs of Air Temple Island watching two figures move on the beach below them in the distance.

One of them was a large, powerful white beast enthusiastically jumping around, playfully splashing in the lapping waves on the shoreline, snapping at a stick in its mistress' hand.

The second a small, but powerful bender who finally gave in to the whim of her best friend and winged the stick in her hand as far as she could, the polar bear dog leaving wet splashes of salty water mixed with sand in its wake. "That was a pretty good throw." Tenzin said.

As the young woman swept her hands over her speckled clothing to clean it off, Pema made an observation of her own. "Do you know what time Korra got in this morning?"

With a twinge of guilt because he did, Tenzin nodded. "Yes, I do, but things have been quiet as of late, and outside of her duties she's been so carefree, I didn't want to cast a pall over her happiness with a lecture."

She knew Korra's absences weren't over some boy, but still concerned, Pema rationalized, "I'm glad she's happier now too, but I don't like her going off by herself like that, staying out at all hours of the night with no one knowing where she is, and coming in next day late." She ended emphatically, "It's not safe for anyone to do that, let alone the Avatar, and I don't want anything more happening to her that we can avoid."

Tenzin turned his head to the side, "I didn't like it either at first, but," Pema's eyebrow twitched upwards at the exception. "We must remember that Korra is an adult now and we need to respect her privacy. She's been through much the past four years, and she deserves to enjoy the same freedom she's fought for and earned for others." With incredulous disbelief, Pema gave Tenzin a look of suspicion because he was understanding yes, but not that understanding, so he must know something about Korra's nighttime adventures she didn't. The air-bending master rubbed the back of his neck and shaved head as Pema eyed him suspiciously. "I also sent a couple members of the White Lotus undercover to tail Korra and see what she was up to."

"Thank goodness!" Relieved, Pema questioned with impatient interest, "They found?"

Tenzin shook his head, preparing for an outburst. "Korra's been frequenting a bar on the east side called The Dragon's Scale." Before Pema could protest and threaten lectures for the Avatar or worse, Tenzin quickly added as he raised his hands in a calming gesture, "She's perfectly safe going there, the bartender and owner is a member of the Order of the White Lotus, and he was an initiate of Grand Lotus Iroh himself when he was around Korra's age. Though there have been no incidents, he's been looking after her safety while she indulges."

With true concern, Pema asked, "She hasn't been drinking has she?" With conviction, she nodded her head and pointed towards the beach, her eyebrows migrating progressively downwards with each word pronounced. "Avatar or not, Korra is still underage and if she has, I'm going to give that young lady a darn good talking to and tear that booze slinger a brand new,"

Tenzin's eyes widened as he shook his head, secretly grateful it wasn't him she was angry with.

The air bending master hadn't ever heard his gentle wife offer to tear anyone a new anything for all the time he'd known her, not even him, and she'd given birth to four of his children with little to no anesthetic. "No, dear, there's no need for any of that. Korra doesn't drink alcohol when she's there, and even if she asked, the owner of the establishment gave me his word that neither he nor his wife would serve her."

With horror, Pema shrieked as Tenzin motioned with his hands for her to lower her volume. "But still, the Avatar shouldn't be hanging around a dive in the seediest section of Republic City she can find!" She made a rolling motion with her hands. "What if someone hurts Korra, tries to kill her like the Red Lotus did, or the papers got wind of it?"

"Believe me, Pema, nobody there is going to hurt Korra, she's extremely popular with all the patrons and staff, so there's no need for you to worry about that. Besides, the Equalist movement is over, Zaheer is locked away, the rest of his inner circle is dead, and the papers along with the tabloids are more interested in the reconstruction of Republic City, as well as the upcoming show trial of The Great Uniter rather than the Avatar at the moment."

Tenzin sighed, a tiny smile teasing the edges of his lips. "As far as Korra's activities go, the worst things they've observed her doing when she goes in the place is eat mounds of barbecued ribs, drink gallons of fruit punch, and participate in belching contests. Afterwards, she challenges anyone foolish enough to take her up on it to bouts of arm wrestling, and talks at length about her girlfriend in painstaking detail with anyone who will listen, complete with pictures and newspaper clippings." Tenzin thoughtfully amended, "Not necessarily in that order."

Relieved, Pema shuffled her bare feet on the smooth wooden floor, privy to events that her husband was not a few weeks prior.

That evening as Korra and Kya healed everyone injured during the battle for the city; Mako, Suyin, and Lin's injuries being amongst the worst; Pema noticed that neither Asami nor the Avatar could keep their eyes from the other.

When one would look, the other would change the direction of their gaze, and when the other felt it was safe, they would glance and then stare more, repeating the cycle for a little over an hour.

At her insistence of being the last person in triage, when it came time for Asami's cuts and bruises to be addressed, to Kya's ill hidden amusement, Korra insisted she treat her personally.

Korra's face flushed as she helped Asami remove her clothing from the affected areas, but when the Avatar laid hands on the Sato girl, her voice was reassuring, and the curative touches given were light caresses compared to the semi-rough handling and playful insults the fire-bender endured during his course of treatment. It even seemed that the water around her hands somehow glowed brighter than it did with the others while Korra worked Asami's wounds.

Frankly, they couldn't have been more obvious, but there was too much commotion for everyone to pick apart what was transpiring between the two, but then, it seemed they didn't quite realize either.

She noticed though, Jinora certainly did too, with a knowing smile that Pema wasn't quite sure she liked out of her fourteen year old girl or not, Suyin seemed bemused by it all as well, and even the chief of police seemed to rumble the unwitting interaction between Asami and Korra.

Of course, that wasn't the only interesting show in town by any stretch of the imagination.

As Kya's glowing hands gently brushed around Lin's aching head, sore neck, naked back, and then bruised forearms with the same delicate care the Avatar displayed, Lin fisted the towel more tightly over her bare chest while glancing around at everyone in attendance.

When Kya's chin rested on Lin's shoulder to reach a difficult area and lightly brushed her neck though, the chief's eyes widened and her face flushed while looking in the healer's direction peripherally.

Kya's only response was a slight smirk, and though the moment lasted for only a few seconds, the healer's boldness and Lin's reaction to it was more than enough to arouse more than a passing interest in the goings on between the two in Suyin, and as she raised her eyebrow with a suspicious smile, as though she'd seen her older sister for the first time in her entire life, Chief Beifong focused her attention back to the wall in front of her looking somewhat flustered, her face redder than a fire nation rug.

After fixing the best meal she could with what food she had for such a large gathering and no electricity, everyone sat in the dining hall eating by candlelight, recalling their individual and collective acts of bravery, with Meelo and especially Bumi's retellings becoming more elaborate and dangerous with each revision.

Mako, Lin, and Bolin would have been there also, but after their healing session and a short rest, they left the island and were away in the city under the pretense of meeting with Republic City officials to appraise the damage done to it along with the Avatar.

In truth, they arranged a meeting with a crime scene technician who owed Lin a favor and a deputy coroner to sift through the tangle of collapsed buildings and spirit vines, searching for the remains of the dragonfly hummingbird craft Kuvira crushed to spare Asami the sight of it and the recovery of her father's remains.

The detective and chief tried to sneak away, but thanks to an accidental slip of the tongue by Bumi, Asami learned of their secret agenda, and caught up with them at the dock just as they were leaving. Demanding to go as well, when refused, she claimed family business, and that they had no right to stop her, but when they attempted to further dissuade her, the engineer became irrational and furious, with her ex boyfriend receiving much of the venom.

Before the shouting became worse, Lin intervened by gently placing her hands on Asami's shoulders, giving the excellent argument that that the area was a crime scene, explaining that no other personnel except Republic City police and technicians could be allowed inside the area because of the chain of evidence.

Everything Lin said was the truth, and with that, reluctantly, Asami agreed to allow them to leave without her.

Later that evening, after their return, Korra shared a look with the others and then walked towards Asami, presumably to take her to a more private area to speak to her about the events in town. Korra didn't get an opportunity to though, as throngs of airbenders surrounded the Avatar en masse, and pulled her onto their shoulders to carry her to the dining area, forcing her into a seat of honor at the head of one of the tables instead.

For what everyone had just been through, the mood was remarkably light, all but Asami's, who picked over a sparsely filled bowl looking thoroughly alone, adrift in a sea of people. In the upheaval, she had been so busy caring for everyone overall, that only when she had a chance to sit and reflect upon the day herself, did Pema realize the true gravity of the girl's individual suffering. Asami literally watched her father die that day, murdered by Kuvira, and she couldn't imagine the horror of the sight or the wrenching sadness that she must feel.

Finding the other half of the equation in question amongst the festive atmosphere of the gathered, Korra was uncharacteristically silent as well; a grim countenance on her face, and her eyes focused only on Asami, looking as though her heart could break along with her best friend's at any moment. The Avatar looked as though she wanted to rise and console her friend, but couldn't move because of the mass of celebrants crushed around her.

It wasn't everyday Bum-Ju could be cajoled into modeling one of the loud, ill fitting sweaters Bumi knit for him without much of a fuss.

Pema surmised that she stayed as long as she did only to be a good guest, and quietly Asami slipped away from her place at the table. A credit to the skillful stealth that served the Avatar and her friends so well, Asami left by the side door undetected by the others, with Korra the only other person noticing her retreat, leaving her to shift uneasily in her seat as Meelo and Bumi flung their arms around her to make another toast to her heroism.

Pema got up and left the dining room to look for the Sato girl in the hopes of offering some sort of solace, but as she roamed the hallways in the darkness with only one candle to light her way, Asami was nowhere to be found.

Just as she was ready to give up the search, she heard a familiar voice coming from the adjacent hallway, explaining grave matters as gently as possible.

"The craft is in the police impound yard as evidence, and your father is secured. We all served as witnesses to the investigating official, so you won't need to come downtown to," Korra's voice fell off, unable to finish the sentence. "Martial law is instituted in the city until further notice, so civilians aren't allowed within city limits anyway; the only reason why Bo was allowed to stay is because Lin deputized him, the police are shorthanded, and they need his earthbending skills for the emergency."

Asami nodded. "Thank you, I owe you all so much for doing this for me." Judging from the mood the exhausted group was in when they returned, Pema was glad that Lin wouldn't let the poor girl go, and it seemed for all her zeal in the afternoon, Asami sounded grateful she didn't too. "I need to apologize to Mako and Lin too; they must think I'm awful." She caged her fingers over her face in shame. "I was so ungrateful to them this afternoon, especially Mako. I shouldn't have been so insistent and,"

Korra interrupted the engineer, gently grabbing her shoulders. "Asami, we're a team, you'd do it for any of us, and you were upset, after all of this, anyone would be. You felt the need to go because you love your father and wanted to take care of your family, and when you found out you couldn't, you were angry with the situation and not at them, it's just that they were the only thing there to be angry with. Believe me, Mako understands what you're going through, and so does Lin, we all love and care about you, Asami, and after everything that you've done for all of us, it was an honor to help you when you needed it, you don't owe anyone a thing."

A nervous action, Pema didn't envy the Avatar as she rubbed her forearm and spoke gently. "Lin said that as soon as the information is recorded by the proper authorities, and the all clear is given, you can make arrangements to claim your father. Since your secretary is city side, she gave the examiner's office her contact number and has already volunteered to do that for you."

Asami's only acknowledgement to the difficult news was, "I know, I-I've already spoken to her about it tonight over the radio."

Korra smiled at the unwavering loyalty they all witnessed that afternoon. "All she wanted was to get to your side. We all tried our best to get her here for you, but the docks are blocked by several sunken battleships, air traffic has been suspended, Kyoshi bridge was damaged by the advance of machinery, main street is blocked by a whole division of mech suits, and the island has restricted access until further notice because of security issues." Korra's disgust was evident as she explained, "If General Iroh were there, it wouldn't have even been an issue, but Iteq was charged with safeguarding the harbor instead, and he flat refused to let her in, even after we all vouched for her at the docks."

Despite the gravity of the day, when it happened, it took everything Pema had to not burst out laughing at the entertaining spectacle.

When name dropping and the fame card didn't work, the resulting ultimatums from Asami's employee for the general's refusal of her admission to the island were profanity laden and rather graphic. She didn't begin to stop yelling like a drunken sailor on leave or making threats to Iteq's physical well-being, with of all things, a large, golden metal fan, until her brother in law showed up.

The deafening silence at their recognition of one another after their years of separation was all telling, their exploits together were the things of legend, and with a small smile at what was probably an interesting unseen history between the two, Pema could easily see the attraction, at least on Bumi's part. To his credit, Bumi liked strong women, Pema gathered by his exposure to Toph and his own mother, Katara as examples, and as in the case with Toph and Katara, it seemed that Asami's secretary was another woman not to be taken lightly, or trifled with either.

It also seemed that despite the rumor she overheard, Iteq was a skilled strategist after all, because while Bumi and his irate acquaintance were distracted by their unexpected reunion, the disliked general felt it in his best interests to beat a shrewd retreat.

Korra shrugged apologetically. "All the ferries that survived the attack have been commandeered by the United Forces for transport and clean-up by authorized personnel only, so she couldn't even come in on one of those." Despite the gravity of the situation, Korra injected hope. "I spoke with General Iroh later in private, and he said he'd be more than happy to smuggle her to the trade district docks and look the other way if I wound up there on Naga to bring her back here from an underwater approach." Confidently she ended, "I talked to Tenzin about it, and he said that if it was found out, anyone who had a problem could talk to him."

Asami shook her head. "No, I wouldn't want you and Iroh to get in trouble or have Tenzin put on the spot; he has enough to deal with while coaching Raiko through this mess without having that idiotic general on his case too." She shook her head. "Before the siege, I asked her to take my staff, Yin, the family, Wu, and anybody else they ran into to the lake house and take care of them there." Asami shrugged. "They should all be okay for awhile until things settle down, it's isolated, secure, and not many people know about it. They're better off there while all this is going on anyway." Korra gave Asami a questioning look. "There is a generator on site because I knew one way or another that the grid would be down, so while Varrick and I were occupied building the dragonfly hummingbird ships, I had Lee stock the place with enough fuel, food, water, and other supplies to last a few weeks before the earth army got here. I thought that if we all had to bug out of the city and formulate a plan Z or something, we'd have a safe place to do it, or as a last resort, a staging area to have what we would all need to escape the Republic altogether."

Korra placed her hand on Asami's shoulder and smiled, truly impressed with the resourcefulness her friend. "You think of everything."

With the comment, Asami's eyes lowered.

After a period of silence, and knowing Asami was well cared for at the moment, she should have left then, but instead Pema blew out her candle, moved closer, and strained her ears to hear what had become Korra and Asami's catchphrase for one another.

"Are you okay, 'Sami?"

Pema's eyebrow rose. "A nickname? That was new."

"Spirits what a dumb thing to say." Korra muttered in disappointment to herself before looking back into Asami's eyes. "I know you aren't okay. I don't even know what to say to you, there's nothing that I can say that would even begin to help." There was a moment when Asami's lips parted to speak, but then she looked away.

Pema watched Korra present a small item in her hand wrapped in a leaf, thoughtfully offering it to her friend. "Here, you barely touched your dinner. I know you don't feel like it, but you need to eat something to keep your strength up, healer's orders." Pema was sure that endearing grin of Korra's was on her face when she dipped her head to look into Asami's downcast eyes as she untied the green bundle and spread the leaves open before handing it to her. "Look, it's even happy to see you, Miss Sato."

Despite her aching sadness, Asami chuckled as she took one of the sweet buns Pema made for Meelo in her hand, complete with a happy face painted on it. "Only you could make me laugh at a time like this, Korra."

Korra sighed heavily and slowly raised her hand, seemingly with the intention to take Asami's, but thought better of it and nervously rubbed the back of her neck instead. "I know you probably want to be left alone, being around a bunch of people after all of this can be overwhelming. I understand, believe me."

When Asami didn't answer, Korra's back straightened in the manner it did when she summoned the resolve to do something difficult, then reached out and took Asami's hand tenderly. "I just want you to know that it's like you said when you took care of me," The Avatar studied the engineer's fingers as she coupled them in hers. "If you want to talk or, or anything, I'm here for you, whatever you need, for however long." Korra wasn't making a statement as much as she was a promise as she looked back into Asami's eyes, hers full of resolve. "You know that no matter what, I'll always be here for you don't you?"

It was the truth, and Asami nodded in recognition as Pema's grip on her unlit candle tightened when Korra lifted her fingers to lightly tuck a stray lock of the heartbroken girl's hair behind her ear, and then touched her forehead to Asami's when she began to weep again.

"Oh, Asami," Korra whispered, "I'm so sorry." Korra gently cupped a hand on Asami's neck, and then placed her curled fingers on her cheek, stroking it lovingly. "For everything." She paused, and then confessed, "I can't undo all the bad things that have ever happened to you, but spirits I wish I could." Korra's forehead met Asami's as she declared, "I would roll back time in a heartbeat and change everything just so you wouldn't be in pain anymore." As Asami's wet eyes looked down into the Avatar's, her expression changed, and with genuine, heartfelt honesty, Korra swore with all her heart, "I'd do anything for you."

A tear ran down Pema's cheek and she had to put her hand over her mouth to keep from making a sound after Korra confessed to Asami the depth of the love she felt for her.

Korra raised her hand to her friend's face, gently swiping away tears that were flowing down the engineer's cheeks with her thumb, and then drew her into her strong arms for a tight hug, rubbing comforting strokes on her back as she did. The embrace lasted for a few moments, but Korra soon released her friend, holding her forearms in her hands as she quietly spoke, "I'm going to leave you alone so that you can get some rest, but your room is right next to mine, okay? If you need anything, I don't care what time it is or even if you have to wake me up, just come in and get me, or knock on the door or something, alright?"

Asami nodded, and thankfully, she thought she was alone with Korra or the revelation may have taken longer than it did or never taken place at all, but from the darkness of the adjacent hallway, Pema watched Asami briefly deliberate, and then lightly grab Korra's wrist as she turned to climb the stairwell leading to the women's dormitories. "Korra, please wait."

The moment dragged out for what seemed an eternity as they searched each other's eyes, and since there was no power, the only illumination they had to judge the other's expression by was ambient moonlight and the beaming yellow spirit portal Korra inadvertently created when she and Kuvira blew the center of downtown to hell.

In their hearts, both of them had to know the true extent of how they felt for one another, but even after their short, but loving conversation, neither of the shy women had the courage to utter the first syllable.

Finally, to Pema's amazement, not to mention the Avatar's, the admission was surprisingly silent as Asami cautiously stepped forward, held out a shaking hand to caress Korra's uninjured cheek, drawing closer to pull Korra's face upwards to place one gentle, fleeting kiss on her lips. Backing an arm's length away, looking to her side, Asami seemed to have been as shocked she'd done it as Korra.

"I, I'm sorry, it's just that so much has happened, we all almost got killed today, and if I don't do this now, I never will." Asami found resolve and then explained herself. "I can't stand being with you all the time and hiding how I really feel."

She faced her friend once more while taking a deep breath, steeling her nerves for what she was about to say. Exhaling through pursed lips, it looked as though after the next statement there was absolutely no backtracking or any excuse available to dismiss what she was going to utter.

"I'm in love with you."

Even then, after putting everything on the line, Asami muttered an out to the woman she was obviously devoted to, looking downwards as she worried her hands, more tears falling and her voice breaking as she quickly blurted the rest of her thoughts before losing nerve. "I know this is sudden, a-and a shock, but I've felt this way for a long time, Korra, and I understand if you don't feel the same way for me that I do for you, I promise I will respect that boundary." Asami expressed the greatest fear borne of her confession, her eyes never leaving the floor. "Please just... I can't bear the thought of you being disgusted with me, or hating me for loving you like this, but I have to tell you the truth because I've been lying to myself, you, and I can't do it anymore." With shuddered breath, Asami ended with hopeful sorrow decorating her voice, gazing into the Avatar's eyes. "You're one of the best friends I've ever had in my entire life and I can't lose you too."

Pema empathized with the nervous girl, for just as Asami faced an uncertain future based upon a single answer, she had done the same when she confessed her love for Tenzin.

The moment seemed to draw out for the three of them, Pema hopeful that the weeks of longing in their eyes for one another she witnessed would finally culminate in an affirmation of love, Asami frightened but hopeful, and Korra looking stricken to the core.

At least Asami didn't have long to wait for an answer to the slow, painful burn in her heart as Tenzin did Pema.

Many were the times that Pema watched Korra snatch Ikki, Jinora, Meelo, and their father up in her strong arms during a moment of unbridled joy, nearly crushing them.

It was to Pema's surprise then, when the Avatar, master of all elements, who at times also had a tendency to forget her own strength, suddenly scooped Asami Sato into her arms, gently cradling her as she brought her up.

A moment passed, Asami hopefully searching her eyes, and then Korra returned the chaste kiss she received from the clever engineer with one as equally tender, though thoroughly consuming.

Pema did think it prudent to make herself scarce when Korra's grip tightened, and Asami wrapped her free arm around Korra as their kiss deepened. Losing her grip on the sweet bun to twine her fingers through Korra's mussed hair as it fell to the floor, neither Asami nor the Avatar bothered to recover it, or stop their affectionate, silent discourse long enough for Korra to carry them both up the steps.

At least the sweet bun wasn't wasted; one of the lemurs swept inside from the window ledge and devoured it before Meelo, Rohan, or Pabu found it.

Despite the fact that this was the modern age, and the written saga was all but dead, Korra and Asami's tale, and the dramatic events leading up to this point in their relationship was worthy of one, much like the classic telling of the tragic love affair between Avatar Kyoshi and her beloved Yasu, the woman sent to kill her.

In hindsight, Pema felt guilty for her silent witness, the moment should have been a beautiful moment of discovery meant only for Korra and Asami, but she would never betray what she saw that night to them or anyone else as long as she lived.

Most people in the world saw Korra only as the Avatar, thinking her sole purpose in life was to hold the world together, serve others selflessly, and do nothing else. Korra had fulfilled all those duties, and then some, but people tended to forget that the Avatar was not some invincible god, but human, and she craved a life of her own, just as they did, falling victim to the same emotions, feeling confusion, sadness, fear, pain, hunger, joy, happiness, love, and desire.

Like all kids her age, Korra thought she was all grown up when she first came to Republic City, but in reality, she was still just a kid, a naive teenager, and even though she did date that fire-bending boy awhile, Korra led a sheltered life growing up. As such, she had little opportunity or time to learn who she was outside of her role as the Avatar, or have any of the life experiences that ordinary people took for granted.

Remembering the four long years of trials the poor girl had been through almost from the moment she set foot there, the worst of it culminating with the torture and near death Korra nearly suffered at the hands of the Red Lotus, Pema's expression softened. "Like you said, she's been through a lot, and it is nice to see her so happy for a change. "Playfully pointing at her husband, Pema reasoned, "If you're comfortable with Korra's off island activities, what can I say about them?" With a fond smile for the young woman, she admitted, "I'm glad she and Asami have finally gotten together, they're good for each other and they have a lot in common." Tenzin nodded and with a faraway look Pema ended with bit of sadness, "Before you know it, Korra will want to leave here."

Until that moment, Tenzin never truly pondered the possibility of anything taking the Avatar away from Air Temple Island and his family. Over the past four years, he and Pema had come to see Korra as a third daughter and he was floored by the notion of letting go. "But this is her home."

Pema, understanding her husband's sentiments, and loving Korra the same way as he, placed one hand on Tenzin's forearm, the other on the railing, and then drew in a deep breath of salty air while closing her eyes. "Just as the southern water tribe will always be Korra's home, Air Temple Island will always be her home too." With a loving look towards her husband, Pema took his hand. "Though Korra loves us and she'll always be here for us, she's growing up, and is going to want to be closer to Asami. When that time comes we need to let her know that it's okay for her to go and live her life the way she wants to, not the way the world, or we expect."

Tenzin was going to respond, but when distracted by a motorboat speeding across the inlet from the mainland towards the wide expanse of beach, he became concerned.

Only a few people knew about the beach on that side of the island, it couldn't be seen from the city, and why anyone would head there instead of the main dock had Tenzin worried. Watching and wondering if the visitor had sinister motives, or if it was a reporter come to disturb the Avatar, the air master made to launch himself off the railing of the pavilion to put a stop to it. As he was about to do so, a young man in beige uniform and jaunty headwear stepped out of the boat. After handing something small to Korra, it seemed she was signing for it, and after a respectful tip of his hat, just as quickly as he appeared he left.

Though they were a good distance away, Tenzin and Pema watched as Korra tried to open what seemed to be an envelope gently, but in her zeal, wound up tearing small shreds from it that fell to the sand beneath her feet. Disregarding them where they fell, Naga ran back towards her mistress with her wet stick and dropped it at Korra's feet.

Wrapped up in whatever it was in her hands, the distracted girl simply picked up the driftwood and then air bent it a far distance away from herself so that she would have a moment alone to read the note as she walked. As Korra did, she smelled it for some odd reason, and then took what seemed like a long drag with a smile and then read some more, leaning her head back as she laughed.

Just as soon as she started leafing through the pages though, Korra stopped dead in her tracks, and after a few more moments of reading, placed a hand over her mouth, and then fell down to the sand on her knees, her head bowed low, touching her lips to the paper, and then swiping something from her cheeks.

Tenzin and Pema looked at one another in concern at the state of the girl, wondering what had happened, but as they moved to go down to the beach to check on her, Korra suddenly shot from the ground, fifty feet or so by Tenzin's estimation, twirling above the ground with a gigantic smile on her face.

Though they were several hundred feet away, Korra's jubilant, "Whoo Hoooo!" and the wind generated from her youthful exuberance easily carried to them, probably halfway across the island, actually.

Making a deep crater in the sand as she landed, Korra scrambled out of it on her hands and feet as her furry friend might and then whistled for Naga. Running alongside the polar bear dog, with an effortless leap, Korra mounted the animal bareback as it galloped, gripping its fur tightly for a thundering ride back to the compound.

Pema gave Tenzin a surprised look when he announced with a smile on his face, "I'm not a betting man, but I believe it would be safe to wager that Lulu's back in town."

In the grand scheme of things, it was a short measure of time and she had only been gone to Zaofu for two weeks, but her absence felt like an unforgiving eternity as she frequently found her thoughts occupied by memories of a few weeks ago.

More specifically, with whom she shared that time with.

Consequently, it made the work she had to do dreadfully difficult to focus on.

Suyin was sympathetic to her plight, having caught her daydreaming several times instead of paying attention to the droning negotiations she was there for, but still, cared just enough to find perverse humor in her lovesick suffering and playfully teased her at any opportunity given in private.

She should have been irritated with the matriarch Beifong for her breathtaking ability to recall all of her countless hair flips, the batting eyelashes, and loving glances paired with her concern for the Avatar's safety the first time they were there, with Korra being none the wiser about the former three. Su was a good friend though, and at the time she had a boon to ask of her too, so shrewdly, Asami took it all in stride.

After another few days of tedious negotiations though, they were getting nowhere fast and she was ready to go home regardless of the outcome.

It didn't help that her room was right next to the newlywed Varricks' chambers, and during the long evenings, she tried with varying degrees of success tuning out the thing they indulged in doing at all hours of the night.

Apparently the couple enjoyed role play, which was fine, but to say the cacophony was noisy would do the aural extravaganzas an injustice because it sounded like they pounded holes in the walls and destroyed Suyin's furniture on a nightly basis.

Asami never thought it possible, but the experience was far worse than her entire sophomore year at college, and she spent most of that time camping out in the student union, library, or the hallway a respectful distance away from her dormitory room door, summarily exiled by her older and somewhat promiscuous roommate.

All in all, she was truly happy for their joy together, but Asami needed sleep, and sometimes even a train has to stop at some point. How Zhu Li wasn't pregnant yet was a total mystery to her, because it wasn't for lack of trying.

Asami was indebted to them though, because if it hadn't been for Zhu Li's generosity and strong suggestion to Varrick via a poke in his ribs with her elbow that they could easily finish their shared business without her, she would not be home today either.

Even though she had many other things she would rather have done when she got back to Republic City that morning, she found more to do at Future Industries than in the Earth Kingdom, so grudgingly, Asami chose to work.

Rather, work chose her.

Therefore, from the moment she stepped off the airship to that very minute, Asami spent most of the day in meetings catching up on updates from repair projects and reports from other projects. At first she was tempted to simply shrug it all off and leave for Air Temple Island as fast as motorized conveyance could take her, but she was the head of Future Industries, therefore the last word so she had to be there, if nothing else to set an example.

With President Raiko hounding her as politely as he could without riling the Avatar, and the people of Republic City, whom she was much more concerned with, who depended on her promise to the city to have all electricity restored within the next week, it would be irresponsible for her to get behind on projects simply to satisfy her personal whims.

Glancing towards the direction of Air Temple Island as she presided over the seemingly endless stacks of manila folders however, Asami was still sorely tempted to abandon them. She fully understood the responsibility her father, and now, she shouldered, but when she was a kid, she resented office work simply because it stole so much of her father's time from her mother and she with him, and then, just her.

Inspecting another folder's contents, signing the papers, and then replacing it back to the proper stack, people could rail as much as they wanted about what a bad man her father was, but she refused to. First hand she suffered the consequences of his wrong choices, but still, in hindsight, they couldn't understand how much he had done to prepare her for life, how strong his foresight made her, and how grateful to him she was in the end.

This wasn't the first time she realized this of course, but for a time she forgot father's goodness and guidance.

Her father rubbed shoulders with powerful captains of industry, and while he did, Asami was by his right hand observing. Amongst her peers, such inclusion of a female, much less a child in meetings such as those were unheard of, her peers lived sheltered, pampered lives readying them for debutante balls, and the underhanded negotiations, trickery, and compromise required to secure a well to do groom equal to their status.

None of that for his girl though, and at a young age, Hiroshi Sato began the process of grooming her for leadership of Future Industries someday, teaching her every job in the company from sweeping the floors of the assembly line, to top level negotiations with board members and competitors.

In addition to being a sponge that absorbed all of his lessons, to Hiroshi's added delight, he found that Asami also inherited his natural inclination towards all things mechanical.

Rather, for that time being, his skills at disassembling it, by the number of alarm clocks that were forced to abort their own springs, telephones that fell apart when someone attempted to answer them, and toasters that became fire hazards under the formidable care of her screwdrivers.

Instead of being angry over the substantial collateral damage she caused, her father boasted to anyone who would listen that she was going to be a fine mechanic someday, and when she was old enough, Asami was in the garage wearing a worker's smock and a tiny pair of goggles made especially for her by her father so she could toil by his side.

As her age and skills increased, Asami graduated from handing her father oily rags to wipe grease from fittings, and parts to replace in cars to being a skilled technical artist and a master welder. Along with the best education money could buy, without her even noticing, her father gave her both the ability to design her dreams, and then fabricate them, and as they tinkered in unison over the sounds of grinding ratchets and clicking torque wrenches they formed a special bond. After the death of her mother, they grew even closer and then it was look out, because it was Hiroshi and Asami Sato against the whole world and they were going to win.

Better days.

Finding a real life hero to worship in Hiroshi, Asami never thought anything could taint the unique relationship she and her father shared, or break the strong bond between them.

Little did she know that her father would be the only one who would have the ability to not only break, but utterly shatter it.

When her whole world was torn apart by the lie he embraced as truth, when all was said and done, and he had hurt her more than she even thought possible, Asami resolved to never put eyes on him again.

For three years and his best efforts to reach her, Asami left her father's correspondence unopened, simply stacking what were probably more lies with even flimsier excuses, and tying them with a ribbon in addition to the ones he willingly told her to her face years before.

Never once did he leave her thoughts though.

Ultimately, even though she would be justified, Asami could never truly bring herself to take that last step and outright hate her father. In many ways what she felt towards him after her anger abated was something less than hate, but just as painful, a cold disappointment in the man who crushed both their lives to pieces and left her with a ruined company, a completely destroyed family, and a broken heart.

Asami thanked the spirits that she had her friends to fall back upon during those dark days, or she might not have the will to face life after her father's betrayal with the strength she did. She would not wish to endure the experience again, but after all was said and done, though it was bitter work, Asami learned much about herself, persevered with encouragement, and in the end, came out smarter and stronger for having endured all she did.

Somewhere along the Avatar's experiences through her own personal hell, Korra had become wiser too.

She told her that all things happened for a reason, and just because you don't know the destination of the road you're walking on, it doesn't mean that you should be afraid to keep moving your feet, because if you were, you'd miss out on the ending.

When she said it, Asami thought Korra was completely full of ostrich horse shit and must have read that in a fortune cookie at one of her back door noodle shacks somewhere, but after some reflection, she found that the Avatar was actually quite sage.

Korra had grown so much in the three years she hadn't seen her, and go figure, all of that Zen wisdom rolled out of the mouth of little miss scrap first and ask questions later.

Though it had been a little more than two months since the death of her father and her heart still felt the heaviness of his loss, now at least, she was unburdened of her anger and felt blessed to have a chance to forgive, love him fully again, and to honor his memory with no taint in it.

Even now, it sometimes surprised Asami she had the courage to do it, but through her own struggles, the engineer learned it is much easier to blindly hate, rather than make the effort to forgive the complexities of someone who has mistreated you, but is in pain themselves.

Picking up a golden locket that held a small picture of her mother, father and she when she was five years old, a wave of relief swept over her, so grateful she changed her mind and tried. Asami knew now, had they never reconciled, she'd always bear the guilt of never forgiving him. Asami couldn't speak for the victims of Amon and his Equalists, but in the end, her dad redeemed himself for all time, if only in her eyes, with the valiant sacrifice that saved Republic City and her own life, allowing her to forget his wrongs and finally have some measure of peace outside the grief of his loss.

Even though she explained that he had saved her life, all their lives, for some reason, people didn't seem to understand her forgiveness. Worse, they refused to recognize that if it were not for her father's plan for defeating the colossus, Kuvira and her army would have almost certainly captured Republic City, and also killed, and hurt more people than she did.

Though she'd taken measures to protect them all, her main priority was safeguarding Korra with her actions, because spirits only knew what Kuvira would have done with the Avatar had they lost and she were captured. Fortunately, the opposite occurred which created a whole new set of concerns, and as such, Asami didn't even want to begin thinking about the trial that was coming up.

She already knew she was going to have to testify seeing as she had witnessed first hand not only the destruction The Great Uniter had wrought to the city, but also the death of her father.

She wanted to bear witness for him and countless others who had suffered upon her orders, but Asami had a feeling as to what was probably going to happen. Government officials said that Kuvira's trial was about justice, but she knew better and that it was going to serve only as a show to reinforce the still weak power of the Republic.

Sitting on the chair behind her desk, Asami blinked her eyes, swept away the hint of tears damming in the corners of her eyelids, and took a few deep breaths, time would come to worry about that soon enough, so she decided to count her many blessings instead.

There were so many times during Team Avatar's adventures where all of them had so many chances to be killed, but her friends were alive, she was so fortunate to be so too, and what a time to be alive! There was so much hope replacing the darkness of two months prior where there was nothing but uncertainty and desperation. All the citizens of Republic City had another chance to rebuild their lives, and had a much brighter future to look forward to thanks to the Avatar.

Asami knew that she certainly did, and with warmth swelling in her heart at thoughts of her, she turned to face the window behind her, and the faint yellow glow in daylight that would soon shine like a beacon and dominate the skyline come dusk.

Biting the corner of her lip at the memories of their much too brief vacation, and surprised she could actually observe it, seeing as she owned one of the few office buildings with all the floors of it left intact, Asami had little time to enjoy the aesthetic joys of what had become one of the few remaining penthouse views in town at the moment. With work niggling her conscience, Asami moved her neck from side to side, and then arched her back backwards.

Just as she was about to move to the next stack of papers on her desk, she saw a red light click on the speaker sitting on her desk, and then heard a familiar voice. "Ms. Sato?"

A wide grin cracked on Asami's face and as she enthusiastically looked around her office in wonder at all the burning bulbs illuminating it. "I gather the lines are repaired and we have power again?"

The older woman's voice chirped enthusiasm. "Yes, ma'am, citywide, and five full days ahead of schedule. As instructed, President Raiko's office was put back on the grid first." There was a pause, "He's already called asking to thank you, but he was informed as per your busy schedule and the fact that you are in a meeting at this moment, you cannot be disturbed." With humor on her otherwise professional voice, she ended, "I hope I haven't overstepped, but I took the liberty of apologizing on your behalf, Ms. Sato."

With a good natured chuckle, Asami rolled her eyes at the formality. "I appreciate that, Zin, thank you. Just make sure he gets a check in the mail with the bonus he promised the company if we were ahead of schedule."

Asami's dislike of Raiko wasn't quite as strong as Korra's, but still, Asami had little use for him, especially after he banished the Avatar from Republic City for absolutely no good reason whatsoever a few years back.

It was perfectly fine for him and everyone else to whistle for Korra like a pet to do the heavy lifting, and no imposition for her to risk her life repeatedly, almost dying more than once, without so much as a sincere thank you, but still having the gall to ask for more.

Now, even after all the sacrifices the Avatar made for everyone time and again, President Raiko still seemed to treat Korra with less respect than ever, at times, seemed to relish it even, and though Korra easily brushed it off, it irritated Asami to no end. "Did the mail from the patent office come in today?"

The secretary announced, "Yes, all the patents for your new model have come in. Legal examined the paperwork this morning, and all components have catalogue numbers for the engine, transmission, body design, and all proprietary rights for materials are secured. The name is also registered in the copyright office, properly recorded, trademarked, and protected for the foreseeable future."

With relief, Asami sighed, "Excellent! What of the other business?"

Asami heard papers rustle on her secretary's desk, and could almost see her squinting over them as she read over the small bifocal glasses she insisted she really didn't need. "Since Avatar Korra called and confirmed her availability earlier in the day, your reservations at Kwong's Cuisine are set for six o'clock."

The day just kept getting better and Asami's heart leapt for joy, Korra was actually home; open to going out, and her hunch was probably right, as it was most likely she who signed for the letter instead of anyone else on the island.

Gods only knew what would happen if the kids got their hands on it.

There was nothing…..untoward in it, but she was guilty of being a bit flowery in her short note turned unintentional devotional letter to her wonderful girlfriend, and from the moment she placed it in the hands of her courier to that very minute, Asami wondered if she went a bit too far with her declarations.

If those didn't put the letter teetering off the cliff of love driven insanity, the perfume and lipstick kiss finished pushing it over the edge to crash and burn.

They'd only been dating for a couple of months, and she just hoped Korra wouldn't get a restraining order after reading it; she'd certainly be justified, because after some reflection, Asami thought the letter sounded more like it came from a lovesick schoolgirl with an all consuming crush instead of a grown woman in charge of what would soon become a multi-national corporation.

With a blush, Asami hurriedly answered, "Thank you very much, sounds good. I'll be leaving in a few minutes and I won't be back in today, so if I have any messages, just place them in my inbox, and I'll get to them tomorrow."

Asami could just see her secretary's trademark sideways grin when she said, "Will do, Ms. Sato, please be careful and do have a lovely evening."

Though no one was in the office with her, Asami looked around and then whispered, "You're awful."

The woman chuckled puckishly, "Remember, Ms. Sato, I'm not your nanny anymore, just your secretary."

"Oh, I dare say you're much more than that, I don't think I could even function without you." Clicking the private intercom system off, and finding no better omen to call the workday at an end than the return of power to the entire city, Asami unlocked the drawer to the right of her hand and opened it. Inside there was a book with a red and gold dust jacket with a black dragon curled on the front of it, she plucked it out along with a small white box tied with gold trimmed green ribbon. They were expensive, but holding the items in her hands, Asami had a real feeling of accomplishment because against all odds she was actually able to get her hands on both rare objects, and because of who they were for, cost was really no object.

Checking the clock on the wall, and then her wristwatch, Asami figured she had just enough time to drop into the company locker room to take a quick shower, and since all her luggage from the business trip was with her, she could change into something dressy but casual there instead of going all the way home.

After that, it wouldn't take much time to pick up a few extra items before she had to catch the ferry.

Just as she was about to exit, she spied her faded leather racing jacket with the Future Industries insignia patches on the sleeves hanging on her father's old cracked and bent hat rack standing next to the open window. Feeling guilty because it looked lonely, Asami hadn't been wearing it much because she was usually clad in business formal for the office and though she had been fortunate enough to find time to tinker in her garage, her presence on the test tracks were nil as of late.

While they were gone in the spirit world though, she spent a good amount of time tangled in it and Korra's warm, inviting arms. Spirits help her, she found Korra more adorable with each passing day they spent there, but she looked so adorable in particular that one especially magical night, when with the pinkest cheeks in between kisses, Korra shyly confessed that she always found the jacket, 'kinda' sexy' on her.

Asami smirked with sultry eyes and snagged the worn leather from the hook to sling over her shoulder with the sensible thought that a girl simply must accessorize.

Turning to leave, she heard a high-pitched flutter, and in her peripheral vision, caught a glance of light blue whizzing by her window. Leaning forward to look outside, Asami was greeted with the familiar trill of an old friend come calling. "Well hello, Bum-Ju, what are you up to?" Unable to motion with his paws because they were holding a somewhat large bouquet of lovely, fragrant white and pink peonies that suspiciously resembled the ones growing beneath the window of Tenzin's study, Asami wondered, "Where's your other half?"

As his ears skillfully kept him aloft in a hover; the friendly spirit companion of one of Air Temple Island's newest airbenders trilled and motioned with his tiny furry head towards his left and then glided closer to his friend.

Asami leaned forward from the sill of her penthouse window to an interesting sight, and as she gripped her locks to keep them from drifting into her eyes, it took everything she had to keep from laughing. "Hey, Asami, how are ya'? Wasn't expecting you to be here with Korra lookin' for you tonight and all." With his trademark grin he wondered, "Is Zin around?"

Bumi was clinging to the ledge of her secretary's closed window by the tips of his fingers, one foot precariously gripping the grout of the hot brick face. In addition to the airbenders' new flight suits, she also fabricated light, but durable footwear for the rigorous demands of their multi-surfaced landings too. Glad to see that the natural rubber materials she used to make them seemed to work well, Asami offered a playful suggestion. "You do know that there is a perfectly good door out front and elevators inside for you to use, right?"

Rivulets of sweat clearly running down his forehead and into the outskirts of his beard, finding a bit more purchase, Bumi strained to pull himself up by his hands on Zin's ledge to peer inside the window. "Where's the fun in that?"

Rolling her eyes, Asami ducked back into her office and pressed a button on her desk. "Yes, Ms. Sato? What may I do for you? I thought you were already gone for the day."

Asami chuckled. "You might want to look outside; I do believe you have visitors."

From outside Asami heard, "Oh for the love of…get in here before you break your neck again!" A pause, and then, "I swear, sometimes I think Bum-Ju has more sense than you!" Bumi's loud laughter carried as Zin ended incredulously, "Are you crazy?"

A question that easily answered itself with his actions, any other time she'd gladly pull up a chair and thoroughly enjoy the never-ending show those two provided when together, but Asami had things she needed to do before her date.

Making sure she had everything on the list that she needed to take with her, Asami closed her office door and walked briskly down the hallway towards the elevators with elation, eager to prepare for what promised to be an enjoyable evening out on the town.

Freshly bathed and wearing the last new outfit of her favorite ensemble that wasn't torn, ripped, stained or in unsalvageable tatters from some kind of fighting, Korra stood in the kitchen washing the left over dishes from lunch. With a swipe at her brow, and yet another check of the clock on the wall, she couldn't believe that it was almost time for Pema to start thinking about making dinner. She and the acolytes who lived there religiously offered daily to help her however they could, but Pema always insisted on doing these two tasks by herself.

When she first came to Air Temple Island, there were only six of them, a few acolytes, and the occasional guest to wash up after. Now, there were nearly a hundred nomads to feed and clean up after, not even counting the visitors from other regions as they traveled, and Korra didn't see how Pema cooked for them all, much less stood washing that many bowls three times a day, seven days a week. Korra chalked it up to devotion to service and selfless sacrifice, because as the stacks of wet but clean stoneware mounted, that was the only thing that she could think of that would make Pema continue doing this thankless job without complaint, mother to the air nation or not.

She wouldn't be around to help out with the evening cooking or clean-up tasks, but at least she could help Pema out a little by doing this, so picking up another crusty bowl to scrub, Korra looked out over the inlet searching the mounds of rubble and vines for the proximity of Asami's office building.

At one time, the Future Industries tower spire was easy to spot on the skyline, but even though it was undamaged, after the spirit cannon leveled nearly all of downtown, many of the tall landmark buildings there were cut severely short or obliterated, and now everything in the vicinity resembled a wild tangle due to the unhindered new growth of the vines.

Korra was grateful everyone she knew made it out, but if it weren't for Bolin, Mako would be dead, Lin saved she and Su by lashing them to the inside of the cannon arm of that unnatural monstrosity Kuvira had Bataar junior construct, Varrick and Zhu Li barely escaped death when they ejected from their damaged craft before it struck a building.

Then, there was Asami, who came the closest of all the members of Team Avatar to not making it out of the battle for Republic City alive.

She came within a hair's width of being killed when the metal hand mashed the vessel that held her and her father, and actually, for a split second; she thought Asami was still inside.

In the spirit world while Asami slept in her arms, Korra would lie awake stroking her raven locks while thinking of her near death, and the indescribable wave of relief that went over her when she saw the red parachute blossom in the blue sky above them.

It was horrible enough that Hiroshi died, and Korra truly was sad for it and Asami's loss, but spirits help her; she didn't know what would have happened if she had been hurt badly or worse.

Actually, Korra did know what she would do, and that was what frightened her the most, because she knew she would have lost it completely along with her sanity, compassion, and last vestiges of restraint.

Thankfully, she never had to learn if her friends had the strength to stop her from killing Kuvira and every soldier of her army, or know what it would be to attempt living half a life without Asami Sato in it, so she took a deep, calming breath.

She didn't realize it at the time, and it certainly wasn't their intention, but Zaheer and his followers hadn't destroyed her with their efforts, they'd helped her.

It took three years of separation to discover who and what she was, and though she suffered as she trod the earth in lonely introspection looking for herself and Raava within, Korra became stronger through the experience.

She now knew that she didn't have to rely only on only Raava and she to protect the world, and that there were good, courageous people who would gladly fight alongside her to help make it a better place and preserve balance.

Through her trials, though hard on her physically and spiritually, Korra also learned what it was to truly be empathetic, patient, and what real sacrifice was because until then, she hadn't a clue, she was just a participant in a play, acting out a role she thought was expected of her.

The most important things she learned from the Red Lotus, namely Zaheer, was that simply because something bad could have happened, it didn't mean that it did, and that life is precious, and every moment should be spent living and enjoying it instead of pondering what was past, and worrying about what had not yet come.

If nothing else, at least her time away and everything that happened made her realize the truth of her feelings for Asami, get off her ass, and make a move for her before someone else did.

Someone like her wouldn't stay single long, and the thought of a person other than her with Asami Sato, loving her the way she did was a painful, unthinkable thing; a woman like her would never come along again, not even in a thousand lifetimes.

Korra loved her so much, she didn't know what to do, and during her journey through the mortal and spirit worlds, when she wasn't tormented by pain, stalked by her doppelganger, and riddled with guilt, the nights were filled with not only self-contemplation, but ever growing thoughts of Asami and how they evolved and grew stronger each day spent away from her.

At first her feelings strayed towards how much she missed her dear friend as she read her well-worn letters wishing she were back in Republic City. As time dragged along however, Korra found those feelings skewed much deeper, and as realization slowly dawned on her, her feelings grew more complex until the point in which she couldn't deny the truth of them any longer.

In all the time she had known her, somewhere along the way, Korra found she had fallen in love with Asami Sato.

Even with their awkward start, she realized that in one way or another, she had been all along, and though at first it seemed odd to have these sorts of feelings towards her best friend, when Korra was honest with herself, it felt not only good, but right.

In fact, knowing that she both loved and was in love with Asami was the only thing during those dark times of her long recuperation and desperate wandering that Korra was actually sure about, and the hope of seeing her again was one of the few things that grounded her, and kept her from completely losing her mind.

Of course, she thought she knew what love was when she was dating Mako, and at the time, Korra thought that nothing could ever match the way he made her feel, but after they broke up and the passage of years educated her, she was actually glad that they didn't work out.

Korra and Mako still loved one another in their own way, and they would always be friends, but what they called love when they were together was a poor pretender to what she felt when she was with Asami.

As Avatar, Korra accepted that she would always have to be a part of the larger world and maintain balance, but when she was broken and feeling so lost, Korra never thought that she would be well, or know what it was to be happy ever again, Katara assured her that if she dedicated herself to getting better, she would find something worthwhile at the end of her journey.

She didn't know what it could possibly be at the time, but Katara was right, because at the end, Korra discovered the most wonderful thing in the world, she found love, and if it meant that Asami Sato was the reward for all she suffered, Korra would gladly endure it again and again, just as long as she was waiting there for her at the end.

Asami was home, her comfort, her harbor in the storm, the vessel that carried her heart when waters were calm; and no words existed to describe how warm, complete, and at peace she made Korra feel.

It was a long, difficult road to get to where they were now, and sometimes when caught up in her thoughts about her, Korra wondered what might have been if Asami had been her first love.

Yes, they could have been together longer, but in the end, she was grateful it never happened that way because they were not meant to be together until now.

After everything she'd seen and done, Korra truly believed that things happened for a reason, and she felt it took everything that transpired since her arrival in Republic City four years prior for her to mature into the kind of person that Asami deserved to have, and that the world needed her to be.

Korra knew life held no guarantees, and she didn't know what would happen between them, or how they would wind up, but she did know that Asami cared for her as much as she did for her; they complimented one another, and they both wanted the same things out of life. She and Asami had the desire to protect and do good deeds for the world and its people, and Korra knew that they would do their best to help and support one another to achieve those ends.

As such, even though Asami was the one who gave their relationship that crucial first push, Korra was completely prepared to build what was left of her life on the foundation of this kind, beautiful woman, and devote every minute she could spare towards her happiness if she'd have her.

As though on cue, the radio began to play Left My Heart in Republic City, and Korra's mind drifted off to more pleasant things as she scrubbed another dish, soon settling on the event that made her morning a little less evil and the whole day a lot more happy.

My Dearest Korra,

I am hoping that you are okay, that this letter finds you well, and that Tenzin and the White Lotus guards didn't think Air Temple Island was being invaded when it was delivered.

I know that you like to play fetch with Naga in the morning on the beach below the pavilion, so I figured that would be the best place for my courier to find you.

Negotiations are still ongoing with Cabbage Corp, Suyin, Varrick, and Future Industries, but it's been like pulling Bolin and Pabu away from a full bowl of noodles.

Impossible.

I have an idea that Cabbage Corporation is under the impression that Prince Wu is going to be a puppet they can control from behind the throne of the Earth Kingdom so they can set up a monopoly where it is still legal. They are shamelessly courting him with extravagant gifts, and the Prince seems to enjoy the attention, but as you well know, they're chapping their lips on the wrong backside. Since Wu doesn't seem to have any interest in telling them, I suppose I could tell them his plans for the Earth Kingdom, but it's much too interesting a show to watch, and I enjoy watching Cabbage Corp waste their money immensely, so I think I'll not interfere.

I had lunch with the prince the other day, by the way, and he asked me to give Mighty Avatar Korra his best regards, and to tell you that he can't wait to work with you next month to begin the process of transitioning Earth Kingdom into separate states. Wu has matured a lot since he's gotten some responsibility, it seems he continues to use the restroom by himself at least, but still, he's Wu, and he was dropping hints like bombs for me to help him convince you to go on a date with him since you and I are such good friends and all.

I promise I was patient with him, no electro-shock gloves or threats to life and limb, but I left no question about your eligibility, or lack thereof for the future and the reason why.

Quite frankly, I think he was a little shocked, and judging by his reaction, I honestly don't think he thought such a thing existed.

I suppose I should have waited and consulted you first about how to handle it because the king is a notorious gossip, so surely the whole Earth Kingdom probably knows about us by now. As I have always said though, it is easier to ask forgiveness than permission and I don't think I could tolerate him hitting on you in front of me again.

I wanted to murder him the first time he did it, and we weren't even together yet.

Of course, I'll tell you all the other news from the Metal Clan in person, because by the time you get this letter, I will probably be back in Republic City.

If you don't have any high level Avatar world saving to do tonight, I would love to take you out to dinner at our usual place because a celebration of sorts is in order.

Our reunion of course, and I have something special to show you! It is the only one in the entire world, at least for now, and you will be the first person outside of official business to see it. I was dying to show it to you when it was finished, but there are corporate spies everywhere, and everything I design, I have to protect as soon as possible so that no one can steal my ideas, designs, or components of them.

It is another cool thing that you inspired me to do, and I think you are going love it!

Also, this is a HUGE game changer, something that is going to surprise the industry! This innovation is going to be bigger than the overhead valve, and no, I'm not boasting, because as you always say, "Mighty Avatar Korra", 'it ain't braggin' if you can do it.'

I wish I could come see you when I land, but I'll be in meetings all morning unfortunately, and I have massive piles of paperwork to deal with after those as well. I won't be able to talk to you myself, but if you can, just give my secretary a call, and she'll let me know how your schedule is either way.

I do really hope you are free, though.

As far as here goes, Zhu Li and Varrick are better negotiators than I am anyway, Varrick could sell a melting red sauce popsicle to a prissy lady wearing long white gloves, and if his most charming ostrich horse hockey fails to impress during the meetings, Zhu Li has the ability to recover negotiations with her encyclopedic knowledge, professionalism, and tea.

As you well know, my forte is design and building, I don't have much patience or skill with speeches or the subtle art of the corporate lie, I prefer the direct approach. Wingman for the Avatar utilizing Electro-shock gloves, as well as kicks and punches are excellent for dealing with bandits sporting heavy, unflattering makeup on their faces, but unfortunately, those tactics are not for use in the business world.

Really, that's just my excuse for leaving Earth Kingdom anyway, telling the truth, I just couldn't bear another day away from Republic City because you're there, I'm stuck all the way out here, and I miss you as you would not believe.

I know I'm being ridiculous because it has only been two weeks, but it seems much longer, forever, because it is away from you.

There isn't enough time in past, present, or future to be with you, and even if I spent forever gazing into those lovely azure eyes of yours as time spun out, I'd be selfish and beg the spirits, the Gods, the master mechanic of the Universe for just one more hour with you.

I could say there's a hole in my heart when we are apart, but it wouldn't be true, because when I feel lonesome for you, all I need do is think of the time that we have spent together, and then my heart fills with more love for you that grows deeper each day until we see one other again.

You are so beautiful, yet I find I say it nowhere near enough because when we are together, I cannot keep my eyes off you. I don't mean that in some immature, shallow way either, your splendor to me doesn't exist merely on the outside, because the best of you resides within your noble heart.

You are so kind, generous, and good, and it breaks my heart when people don't appreciate you as they should.

Every time something happens, you don't wait to be asked for help, or think of yourself for a moment, you just jump in and save the day because that's who you are, I love you for that, and for so many other reasons, Korra.

Even when everything is stacked against you, you are better than any challenge or person you have ever faced.

People who have done far less for the world than you would become bitter and angry after enduring a quarter of the suffering that you have, instead, you only offer more love to a world that sometimes doesn't realize what a treasure you truly are.

Never think that you are taken for granted by me though, I could never undervalue, or forget how grateful I am that you are a part of my life.

You give me hope, you make me happy, and you give me a reason to live. I know I am far from perfect, but you inspire me to try to be a better person and live my life with purpose.

I want to be like you, Korra, because you are my hero.

Sometimes, I have to stop whatever I'm doing, take a moment, and make sure that this is real, and not a dream that I'm going to wake up from at any moment because I can't believe that we are together.

If this is a dream, I hope I never wake, because I could not possibly live without you, or your love. Never for a moment doubt that you will always have mine, along with my heart, for as long as you care to claim them as your own.

I only wanted to tell you that I am coming home, and hope to see you sometime today, but here it is that I lay my soul bare, yet you make it so easy to confess the things I feel for you because they are all true, and truth is the easiest thing to tell.

So, in your own words, you shall simply have to deal with it.

I love you so much!

Your 'Sami

P.S. Did I tell you that I love you more than anyone else in the whole wide world, and that you're absolutely gorgeous yet?

You're sorta' kinda' awesome like that, Korra!

After finally coaxing Rohan into bed for one of the naps he dreaded so, Pema made her way to the kitchen to finish washing the dishes that she should have finished that afternoon.

As she walked inside, the radio was on, Korra's favorite tune playing, and the girl in question was standing in front of the sink looking to her side out the open window towards Republic City, swaying in time to the instrumental.

Having a good idea as to why she was so completely distracted, Pema took a couple of steps backwards so that she was in the doorway, and cleared her throat in order to spare the girl any embarrassment. "You didn't have to do all this, Korra."

When Korra hadn't heard a word of what she said, still staring out the window, Pema walked over to the sink, glanced at Korra, the repetitive motion that she gave the item in her hand, her faraway stare, and touched her shoulder lightly. "I think that bowl is clean now."

"Oh!" Shocked out of her dreamlike state, the girl looked down at Pema, her sudsy hands, the shining bowl, and put it into the basin of hot clean water to rinse. "Sorry 'bout that,"

The understanding mother shook her head, making no further mention of it. "You don't have to worry about doing all this, dear, you're all dressed up, and I don't want you to get dirty water all over your nice clothes for your date tonight." Pema regarded her charge for a moment, "You look great, Kid."

"Thanks." Korra blushed, shaking her head, "I'm being careful, and it looked like you could use a little help." Glancing at the time, Korra picked up another dish and dunked it into the warm, sudsy water to begin the process of soaking crusted food off it. "I wish I could help you make dinner and all, but 'Sami's arriving on the next ferry." She rubbed the back of her neck with a blush. "I think we'll be leaving earlier than usual because she says she's got something special she wants to show me, and I guess after that we're going to Kwong's, but that's as far as Asami's plans go that I know."

Seeing the Avatar so smitten and happy was a treat, and with a smile Pema shook her head. "Oh, don't worry about missing dinner here; I'm glad that you're out having a good time." Then her eye squinted, an eyebrow rose, and she looked around before asking quietly, "Asami is being a lady on your dates, I trust?"

Uncomfortable red heat erupted on Korra's cheeks, she had already gotten innocently probing questions akin to these out of her mother and father, but getting it out of Pema, who cut right through the formality of the bullfrog shit and went in for the kill, was quite a surprise. "Of course, 'Sami always treats me like a queen."

Pema crossed her arms, and answered in not quite a threatening tone, but still, sternly with a hint of growl in her voice, "She better."

Her eyebrows rose and surprised at the sudden protectiveness of the mama polar bear dog wearing air nomad robes, Korra would have said more to assuage Pema's concerns, but another awkward moment was unfolding of her own unintentional making.

Ikki's voice was the first to carry loudly down the hallway. "You've had it forever, I wanna' see it now! 'Gimme!"

The eldest airbender sibling stated judiciously, "No, it's none of your business, it belongs to Korra!"

Ikki spat, "You've already read it twenty times at least!"

The sounds of wrestling and arguing grew exponentially as they neared the kitchen, and Jinora shouted, "You don't even like to read!"

Meelo stomped his foot and yelled, "I found it first!"

Korra's face flushed, she looked at Pema in panic, and then immediately reached down under her pelt to rifle through her pocket. The costly metallic object was still there weighing it down, but found to her horror that Asami's neatly folded love letter was missing. "Oh, sh-"

Korra eyed the swear jar on the counter as Pema in turn eyed her.

"Shoot." Korra quickly amended.

With the exception of the cleanup after the earth empire invasion, surprisingly, things settled down some the past month, so much so that Korra was able to take a part-time job at the city zoo feeding a few of the less dangerous animals and shoveling hog monkey cages to make a few much needed yuans. It wasn't the most fun job in the world, in fact, it was messy, incredibly stinky work, especially cleaning up after the aye-ayes who loved to fling the fruits of their labor at unsuspecting humans, but she made some good friends there too, along with some damn good money.

In fact, everything was going great there, that is… until the unfortunate incident with the air bison whistle and subsequent attack.

The path to Vaatu's lair truly was paved with good intentions, and the affair wasn't her fault, not in its entirety, she was only trying to help get the escaped animals she accidentally released back into their enclosures, and if her whistle could summon air bison, then she surmised that it might work on other species of animals as well.

Though something deep inside hinted that using her whistle might not be the best of ideas, how in the world was she supposed to know what would happen if she blew into it really hard?

Korra artfully informed everyone at home she was bored with the job and opted to find something else to do, i.e. she "quit", but in truth it was the draconian zoo administrator, who didn't seem to like her in the first place, who gleefully terminated her employment, and had been looking for the perfect opportunity to do so for a long time.

Korra certainly accommodated him with her benign actions that day, that much was certain, because an adolescent, four hundred pound male tiger seal tackled the administrator from behind in the misguided attempt to mate with him, while the rest of the herd of animals made a bid for freedom, and the entire staff laughed at his unfortunate predicament.

The feeling of dislike on her part for him was equal, but Korra could understand his ire at the position he was literally thrust into by her misguided act, and if he hadn't been wearing a pair of particularly well-made pants constructed of strong, moisture resistant cloth, the incident could have turned out much worse than anyone could have possibly imagined.

After she and the other staff members got all the animals back into their respective cages a few hours later, Korra grudgingly accepted her dismissal with all the dignity afforded the situation, though unable to resist, as a parting shot, she gave the administrator President Raiko's private office number, and suggested they play Pai Sho together someday.

After her unceremonious discharge there, she and the airbender Ryu found temporary employment picking komodo chicken eggs out of pens at the city hatchery, and on the side of that job, Korra worked a litany of others, each one shittier than the last.

Literally.

Despite the fact that she sometimes slipped up, and had to feed the greedy monster that was Pema's swear jar, somehow Korra still managed to save four hundred ten yuans over the last few months that were now almost all gone.

According to her near lapse that afternoon, as part of a graduated scale, swear words that were the product of excretion, both human and animal cost two yuans.

Unable to afford a swearing toll tonight because she wanted to treat Asami to something nice for a change and wasn't sure how much it was going to cost, Pema eyed her, and as Korra looked up at the ceiling of the room, she muttered, "Sorry." The worried Avatar then ran out of the room in a panic, Pema calmly following after.

Jinora, much taller than her siblings, held the pages of Korra's well-worn letter from Asami up over her head while Ikki jumped in place trying to snatch the sacred leaves away from her sister, Meelo blowing wind at Jinora's hand in the fruitless attempt at dislodging them.

As Korra neared the arguing kids, all of them froze, Meelo's wind died down, and each sibling shared a glance with one another, wondering if the Avatar was going to kill them for their trespass or not.

Pema stepped forward from behind Korra, gently took the creased, stained, and well-worn pages from her eldest daughter, folded them without looking at the text, and then handed them back to the owner. "You are all old enough to know better than to take something and read it without someone's permission."

Meelo looked down and kicked the edge of a tile on the floor that stood proudly of the others. "It was lying on the floor in the hallway; we didn't go into her room and get it or anything."

"Still, it's wrong to meddle, you all knew it didn't belong to you, and you had no right to read it! People's things are private, would you like it if someone took something you dropped on the floor without telling you they had it?" Pema said.

All the kids answered while looking down at their shoes, "No."

With her hands on her hips, and a stern expression on her face, she eyed her children and asked them the quintessential mom question, "So, is there something you'd like to say to your friend?"

All the kids looked at the Avatar shamefacedly and said in unison, "Sorry, Korra."

Korra stuffed the letter back into her pocket, making sure that it was deep enough and wouldn't fall out again. "It's okay." She knelt down and gave all the kids a hug together. "I was a kid once too, it's not like I've never done the same thing myself."

Meelo pointed towards Korra's bulging pocket. "Why was there perfume on the letter, and why did Asami kiss it?" He crossed his arms, asking with great suspicion, "Are you trying to steal my woman?"

Pema hid a smile behind her hand while red spread across Korra's face and Ikki innocently added to the young woman's discomfort, "Have you kissed Asami yet? Is it different than kissing a boy, because you used to kiss Mako a lot."

Embarrassed, Korra wanted to sink into a deep, dark hole and never come out again, but settled for caging her fingers over her eyes.

Pema bit back a laugh when Jinora came up with a stunning jewel all her own. "Instead of being an engineer, Asami should just sell her company and write love ballads and historic sagas professionally, she's sooooooo romantic!" Her eyes rolled in the back of her head as she clasped her hands in front of her chest with a long, dramatic sigh. "I hope I'll give someone a reason to live, be able to fill the empty hole in their heart with love, and they'll want to gaze into my eyes until the end of time someday!"

Pema grinned and looked to her side at Korra, "Really?"

Korra had an incredulous look on her face. "You too, Pema?"

Jinora smiled, "If you and Asami get engaged, who gives who the betrothal necklace?"

Blowing warm breath through her pursed lips and feeling surrounded from all sides, Korra put her hand on her forehead as Ikki asked, "Are you and Asami gonna' buy a house in town and have a bunch'a of kids together or something?"

With a smirk, Jinora stated sensibly, "Asami already has a gigantic house; all they really need now is the bunch of kids."

Korra's eyes widened at Jinora's logic, and Pema covered a laugh with a cough as Meelo chimed in, "Asami and Korra can't have any kids because they're not married yet!"

Pema's eyebrow rose and Korra looked down at the three of them while they bickered, and as Ikki stuck out her tongue at Jinora blowing a raspberry, Meelo passed gas while effectively mining the left nostril of his nose with two sections of a pinkie finger.

Granted, Korra loved the three of them very much, but if ever there was an argument against reproduction, she was looking directly at it.

Truthfully, she really had thought of all those things over the past couple of months.

With the kids' imaginations already having her saddled with a home, children, and other spousal responsibilities, along with no reliable means of supporting any of them, suddenly Korra felt overwhelmed.

Falling backwards until her shoulders met the rough stone wall behind her; Korra dragged her hand down her face in frustration and whined, "We're only going out to dinner!"

Meelo turned around and placed his arms around himself. Rubbing his back and making sucking noises with his lips, he teased, "Smoochy, smoochy! Someone's in looooove!"

Korra bent down and snarled at all the kids with her best wolf growl, but instead of being frightened, they all split off in separate directions while laughing before she could grasp them in her arms.

Korra brushed the wrinkles out of her tunic as best she could and adjusted the warm pelt around her waist while Pema cleared her throat. "I'm sorry about that, Korra."

Korra waved her hand, "Oh, it's no big deal, kids do things like that." She grinned wickedly. "I'll get both the girls and the air nation commander back when they start dating."

Pema didn't want to offend Korra, but she had to ask for parental reasons, "Ah, was there um, anything in that letter that the kids might have seen that they shouldn't?"

Korra instantly answered, face flushed, "No, oh no, nothing like that."

Just as Pema was going to ask Korra who would get the betrothal necklace, from the courtyard Naga began to bark, then howl loudly as a foghorn sounded in the distance. Korra's eyes lit with excitement, but then she looked at the last small stack of dishes that she didn't have a chance to finish. Pema looked over her shoulder, back at Korra then nodded her head to the side towards the door with a knowing smile.

Needing no other permission, Korra took off for the door, snagging the arm length fingerless gloves slung on the chair next to it as she exited, chasing the sound of hurried footfalls and jubilant laughter from children already present in the corridor ahead.