Hey guys…anybody remember me? It's been a hard and tiring year. I just lost the inspiration to write for a while and I finally figured out why not do something for Christmas.

Just some heads up about the upcoming story. There is no bending in this story, but it still takes place in Republic City. Korra is about twenty-eight and Asami is twenty-nine. Time wise this is around the beginning of December.

If you've read my other actually completed LoK story you'll figured out my special tribute to it quick enough.

Happy reading guys!


"The way to love anything is to realize that it may be lost."

-Gilbert K. Chesterton

Chapter 1 – Hide and Seek

"Alright, Beifong, your stiches seem to be doing well, and you haven't lost your attitude so you seem to be recovering from your surgery just fine. You outta consider retiring from the force soon though. I've only been a home care nurse a few years; how many times have I've come to check on you?" Korra joked as she was putting away all her medical supplies in her bag.

"Nope. I'll be on this force until I die one way or another. All the other buffoons couldn't protect this city together if they tried. They need a hard ass woman to set them straight or else this city would be up in flames and anarchy!"

Korra just chuckled to herself. At this point, Korra knew Beifong on a personal enough note to have casual conversation with her. It was refreshing because usually it was her directing the elderly on when to take their pills and how to care for wounds or very serious that there wasn't time for chit chat.

She…liked her job as a home care nurse, but sometimes it just got to her. It became mentally, physically, and socially exhausting. In simpler terms she was married to her job and at its whim at any hour of the day. She had started the job about three years ago, and it was great. The job paid well and she enjoyed taking care of the patients. It was well worth it when she could put a smile or some joy into a person's life. The only problem: it sucked out the smiles and joy out of her own life.

"Lin, I love seeing you, but I've got to see you under normal circumstances sometime. I'm sick of seeing you every time you a bullet goes through you or got a broken bone."

"Well, that's your job ain't it, kid? You wanna see me under normal circumstances? No such thing. This job is my life," Beifong expressed with a hard glare.

Korra looked up from her bag and into the police chief's cold eyes. Beifong didn't need to say anything to Korra. She knew Beifong wouldn't admit anything anyway. Over the years, Korra had really gotten to know how dedicated Beifong was to her job. In that way, she and herself were really similar. The difference was that Beifong was more of a hard ass that Korra was and never really saw herself with a family for a long time. Once she was past her prime and well into her life, she realized she wanted that, but now she was too far gone into her life as chief of police.

Here Korra was in the chief's lonely apartment. Simple, perhaps too simple. Nothing extremely personal anywhere. If a complete stranger walked into the room, Beifong's apartment was probably more of a hotel than anything else. It was only a place to relax and sleep after a long day.

"Lin, I'm sure you've got other stuff running for you," Korra state, putting in the rest of her stuff in her bag and zipping to up.

"Nope. None at all. My job is everything to me. Don't make the same mistakes I did, kid. Now get out of my house!"

Korra smirked at the chief. She always said goodbye to her like that. Before that though, Korra knew the chief was giving her heartfelt information. It came from time to time for certain people and she wasn't about to throw it away.

Korra grabbed her bag off the floor and proceeded to let herself out of Beifong's apartment. Once the door was opened, she stepped into the doorway then looked back at the police chief lying on her couch with an emotionless expression. She smiled at Beifong then stepped out to go home.

She got down the flight of stairs fairly quickly and threw her bag onto the passenger seat as she got into her Sotomobile. However, she didn't put her keys into the ignition. Her eyes watered as she looked at her dashboard and stared into empty space.

Why did Beifong have to bring up what I hate most? I never wanted this to happen! Now I'm going to become a bitter old woman without a social life like her!


"Korra, it's good to see you my friend!" Asami greeted Korra who was sitting in a bar seat. Asami and she had been friends since middle school, and thankfully, they were able to stay connected through it all. Unfortunately, with the needs of real life, the two weren't able to get together as much as they wished to. For the time being though, they were just two long-time friends sitting in a hole in the wall restaurant.

"Good to see you, too, Asami. I'm sorry we haven't been able to see each other for a while. Work's just whipped me away from social life." Korra and Asami hugged each other before they each took a seat in a bar stool. Although Korra was glad to see her one good friend who somewhat understood her situation, she also just needed to rant about stuff on her chest.

"I totally see where you're coming from, Kors. Winter and Christmas are fast approaching which means more accidents and more sales. We both just needed a break from work. I'd love to spend time with Iroh and Addy, but I just needed some time with my other favorite girl," Asami claimed, wrapping her right arm around Korra's shoulder then releasing her.

"How is little Adaline doing, anyway? I haven't seen her in forever. Maybe we should've done this at your place?"

"Oh hell no! The place is a mess! Addy has taken up drawing on the walls and throwing her toys everywhere. I pray that my husband doesn't pull his hair out tonight if Addy doesn't do it first." As Asami talked about her daughter and husband, her eyes gleamed with love and adoration. Something Korra wished she had.

"Good luck, Iroh," Korra chuckled, imagining that scenario.

"He's going to need more than that! I love my little daughter, but curse my husband for being such a rascal when he was a kid and passing it down to our daughter! Enough about my family for now though. I run a huge company and need some nourishment right now!"

Asami and Korra had some drinks and their dinner quick enough. It was near eight at night so the restaurant was basically empty and the fact that the restaurant was a hole in the wall restaurant. The two of them had been going there since high school and weren't going to stop anytime soon. There were a lot of good memories there.

They made light talk as they enjoyed their dinner, and once they finished, they remained in their seats, finishing up their drinks. It was then that Asami bit the elephant in the room.

"Korra, I love you and we've known each other for over a decade now so I'm just going to ask. Why did you really invite to dinner tonight?"

Korra looked at her friend with a confused look then sighed. Asami was too smart to be outwitted. There was no point in fighting it.

"I really did want to enjoy dinner with you…"

"And? I know there's more. It's written all over your face."

"My life sucks, and I have nothing to show for it," Korra bluntly stated.

Asami's face contorted into one of surprise. She knew something was up, but wasn't excepting Korra to be so blunt or so negative.

"Come on, Kors, it can't be that bad. You're young, you've got a great job…" Asami immediately knew she was in trouble once she trailed off.

"See! You can't think of anything great in my life either! My life sucks ass! My job has taken over my life," Korra confessed, her whole body shaking at that point.

"Kors, you've gotta calm down."

"But I can't! I'm on the same road as Beifong and I'm going to become a bitter old woman with no family and no life outside of work!"

"No you aren't, Korra. First of all, Beifong's life isn't that bad. Second, yours isn't that bad either. You've just gotta find yourself a man and find the perfect balance between life and work."

"I can't! My work is basically twenty-four seven and I sure as hell don't get paid like a doctor. My work is all I know."

"Korra, you sure as hell know more than work."

"No, I don't. The past three years have been work, work, and more work! Look at you. You're the CEO of Future Industries, got married, and have a kid. What have I done besides recite how to take drugs to take away pain?" Korra questioned. "Give me your wallet for a second." She held out her hand.

"What?"

"Give me your wallet. I wanna show you something."

Asami looked at her warily then reached into her bag and pulled it out. Korra immediately opened it and started rooting through it.

"Hey, don't be throwing my debit and credit cards everywhere."

"I'm not." Korra then got her own wallet out and put it next to Asami's. "Now look at the difference between these two wallets. What do you notice?"

"That you really need a new wallet?" Asami attempted to joke. She did honestly think that though.

"No, you've got all these pictures of Addy and Iroh and you're family together. Mine has," Korra looked through her own and pulled out some things. "twenty-two yuans, a grocery receipt, and a coupon to get half off at Narook's."

Asami wanted to make another joke to lighten the mood, but thought better. Her friend was in distress, but she didn't know what else to say. She had to get going soon though, and she had to find a way to go out with a bang. She couldn't leave her friend high and dry.

"Kors, the difference between women's wallets is a sucky comparison. We're just at different points in our lives. It doesn't mean anything at all. Hell, I'm kind of jealous of your life. I love Iroh and Addy with all my heart, but sometimes I just feel like running free. I have my family though. Being single and work involved doesn't mean your life sucks. It shows your determination and work ethic." As she tried to change Korra's mind, she proceeded to put her wallet's contents back in the right places.

"I'm just…so tried mentally, physically, and socially. I just wanna forget everything for a while. Go back in time. Go back to high school where everything was so simple."

"Haha, high school wasn't that simple, but I guess it's simpler compared to the responsibilities we have as adults. Korra, we all just wanna be forget everything and say the hell with everything. You should take a few days off from work and just relax. I think the stress of everything has gotten to your mind."

"I want to, I really do, but getting off work is a pain in the ass."

"Korra, think about everything I've told you. You don't have to go to anyone's home tomorrow I know so just sleep all day. Your body needs it. Then maybe take a walk and clear your mind. Maybe come over to my place tomorrow and play with Addy. I've got to go home and make sure the place isn't becoming a war zone. Think about everything I've told you, Korra."

The two of them got off their stools and hugged each other a long time. Asami gave her a kiss on the check and gave her an encouraging smile before leaving, waving the entire time to Korra. Korra decided to hang back a while and finish her drink. As she was doing that, she was staring into air.

This isn't what I wanted ten years ago. I wanted to have fun. I wanted to be married. I wanted to have children. I wanted the all too perfect life.


Despite the fact that it was a bit chilly, Korra decided to go for a stroll through Republic City Park. It was nearing eight-thirty at night and the cops might tell her to beat it, but she didn't care. The park was one of her favorite areas because of its calming affect for her. While the rest of the area was city, it was nice having this misfit area of a park. Korra could just be Korra there, and not a home care nurse.

As she approached the park, she saw a few people milling around so she figured the cops wouldn't tell her to scram. Once she started walking on the paths, she immediately felt different. She felt like a whole different person. Her eyes closed and she just listened and breathed in nature. What she didn't except was something to come crashing into her while relishing in her moment.

Korra's back hit cement and thankfully her head didn't hit hard against it too. Her eyes opened slowly and she swore she was looking into a mirror. A girl that looked to be about fourteen years old was on top of her and had very similar facial features. The major difference being that the girl had dark brown eyes and perhaps darker hair that was almost black.

"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to crash into you. Although you were just standing in the middle of the sidewalk so it's not entirely my fault." The girl got up off of Korra and held her hand out to help her up. Korra accepted and got up off the ground, but with narrowed eyes.

"Well, maybe you should've watched where you were going," Korra criticized, removing her hand from the girl's.

"People don't stand in the middle of the sidewalk with their eyes closed for no good reason! If you were on the streets you wouldn't do that!"

Korra clearly saw she was not going to get anywhere with the girl so she stuck her hands up, mumbled something and continued walking. She walked to one of the bridges and stopped at its highest point, leaning against the railing. Her eyes closed to their own accord once again, but then she heard footsteps approaching.

"Okay, I'm sorry I was being kind of pissy with you. I got this weird vibe about you though. You're having issues with something and you need to get it off your chest. Anything you wanna talk about with a complete stranger who'll provide a no-bias answer?"

Korra opened her eyes and looked into the water. Because it was almost pitch black out with little lighting from the lamps in the park, she couldn't see anything. The only thing she did know was that the girl that could pass as her sister was standing next to her providing a listening ear.

"Excuse me, but you're going into what grade?" she questioned, her voice snarky.

"Haha, yeah I get that a lot. I swear I'm not a pre-pubescent child. I'm twenty-four years old, fresh out of college just looking for a place in this world like everyone else. I've got an I.D. and diploma to prove it. Come on, if I wasn't in photography I probably could've been a psychologist." The stranger bumped Korra lightly in the shoulder with her own and it made a slight smile creep on Korra's mouth.

"Fine. I could give you my whole life story, but I'll stick to the last few years. I'm a home care nurse and I'm twenty-eight years old. That's about all I've got to my name. All I've done the past few years is work, work, and more work. I fear my social life has disappeared completely and I fear I won't be able to see my one good friend at all soon because she has her own family to worry about.

"And what do I have? A crappy apartment that's a complete mess with no life outside of that and work. I haven't accomplished anything in my life. No relationship for years and my newest fear as of early today is that I'm basically a Lin Beifong 2.0. I've forgotten how to live, and I think I've always feared that since high school when I knew I wanted to go into this field."

Korra ranted on about maybe a little too much for her liking, but it felt nice to get it off her chest to someone she'd never see again. She looked over to the stranger to see her smiling out into the air. Her lips kept moving like she was about her to say until she finally let out a sigh.

"You remind me of my older sister. She's probably about your age. She and her now husband fought all the time because their lives were so different. They even broke up early on in their relationship because of that and so many question marks and unknowns. Had they just communicated better and met each other head on they probably wouldn't have been so shaky. Maybe it was for the better though and made their relationship stronger. They've got twins now and are living happily ever after now and fighting constantly. Nothing says happy holidays without a fight from them.

"The point I'm try to make is that you've gotta face this rut in your life head on. This is completely cliché, but you've gotta change your life to make it happen. Go out to a club to meet a man and completely forget all your responsibilities for one night. Hell, go on vacation for a week and forget the rest of the world.

"It's winter time and Christmas is soon approaching. Get into the spirit and enjoy this time of year. Let your inner kid out."

The stranger finally looked over into Korra's eyes once again. Something about this stranger was making Korra feel better and there was a twinkle in the stranger's dark eyes that seemed comforting. Maybe this strange girl that looked like a teen needed to bump into Korra. She knew what she needed to do, but she needed to hear it too from multiple people.

"Thank you. I know we don't know each other at all, but thank you for listening and talking to me," Korra thanked, still looking the stranger in her eyes.

"You're welcome, and I wish you good fortune in the future."

The girl's smile widen further at Korra before she pushed herself from the railing and began walking away. Korra looked out to the water, hearing the quiet rumble of the stream. Then Korra looked out to the direction that the stranger walked to see her figure slowly getting smaller.

"Wait!" Korra yelled into the darkness, not moving from the spot on the bridge. The stranger turned around. "What's your name?"

Korra couldn't see it, but she could feel the stranger smiling. "My name's Kandice."

"I enjoyed talking to you, Kandice. I wish you good fortune in the future too. My name's Korra if our paths ever cross again."

"More like if you're standing in the middle of the sidewalk and I come running into you, Korra. Now's the time to turn things around, Korra. Winter's the time of joy and giving, and also a time to meet cute guys who can make ugly holiday sweaters look like the hottest thing ever."

The two strangers laughed at that then waved and nodded at each other before Kandice continued to walk out of the park. Korra stared in that direction for a little longer then turned in the opposite direction to continue on. When she was almost out of the park, it began snowing. Nothing hard, but enough to make Korra want to get home soon since she had walked to the park and the restaurant earlier.

Just as she was about to exit the park, she saw a man in the dim lamppost's lights. She briefed a glance his way and then continued her journey home. Then she looked back quickly and noticed exactly who the man was.

"Mako?" Korra questioned as she turned around and walked closer to him.

She couldn't believe her eyes, but once she saw his distinct piece of clothing – his old, red, tattered scarf – she knew it was him. He was one of her friends in her "group" in high school. All the late night fun and just goofing off being stupid, young kids without a care in the world. Maybe he was the part that would make her feel alive and more human once again.

"Korra? It's been many years hasn't it?" he questioned, not excepting an answer from her. The last time they had to have seen each other was when Addy was born and that was a little over three years ago.

Korra finally got within a respectable distance between them. Their eyes locked onto each other's as if they were trying to read each other's soul and life story since they last met. Snow continued to fall between them as it begun to stick to their hair and clothing, causing Korra to shiver at one point.

"Strange seeing you here isn't it?" Korra joked, pointing at a tree behind him remembering the time the two of them crashing up against that exact tree during summer break. Both of them just seemed to remember the exact tree for some reason.

"I didn't even realize I was standing here," he answered, looking back at the tree that Korra was looking at. "So how's life going for you, Korra? Anything interesting going on with the injured around the city?"

Lie, lie, lie. Don't let him know how pathetic my life is.

"Pretty good. I saw Beifong today during my rounds, and that's probably the most exciting thing that's happened recently."

Mako smirked and tilted his head down a moment before lifting it up again. "Remember when we were in high school and you were so excited to get the hell out of there so you could help the injured in this ol' city? I'm so proud that you got to live that out."

Yeah, I remember that. Too bad this job sucks the human out of me. I should probably find a different position now that I think about it.

"Thanks, Mako. What about you? Where did you hide? I'm sure Asami would be glad to see you at some point."

"You know, just traveling a bit around the world. Doing odd jobs here and there to pay the expenses. One actually paid a decent amount so I stayed there a bit longer, but now I think I'm done with that life. Time to settle down back in Republic City. Maybe I'll Asami a call sometime and see if she can help a dear old friend out with a job until I find something more permanent."

"I remember in high school you always said you'd never settle for the average life. You wanted to be a nomad of types. The countryside too boring for you, City Boy?" Korra quirked an eyebrow to challenge him with her old fond nickname for him.

"Nah, that was just a stupid high school fantasy. While traveling was fun, I'm getting too old for that shit."

"We're both twenty-eight, Mako. That's not that old."

"I feel old as hell. Travelling takes a lot out of you, and just an average life seems just right for me now." The snow continued to fall at a faster rate as both Mako and Korra looked to the sky as if it was something unknown. "Man, I guess we should both be getting along then before we get stuck here in the park."

Korra's heart and soul fell a little at that statement although she knew it was true. Plus if she didn't get in the warm soon she'd probably lose a finger or risk getting sick. She knew she had to see Mako again and soon.

"Unfortunate, but true. I'm assuming you're staying with your brother?"

"Yup, hopefully he's grown out of being childish now."

"It's Bolin, I highly doubt that. He may be twenty-six and a trainer now, but it doesn't mean he'll forego his goofy personality like ever." Mako groaned at that. "But tell him to give you my phone number or Asami's. Give either of us a call. It'd be great if we could all meet up again once all our schedules match up." Unfortunately, that isn't very often. When was the last time I even saw Bolin.

Mako smiled at her and Korra couldn't resist smiling back despite her mouth freezing. It'd been only about ten minutes, but they were the best ten minutes Korra had in a long time. She felt human once again.

"I will if he doesn't drag me to one of you two first."

"I wouldn't ever doubt that. He's the type of brother to do that." Korra shivered once more and decided it was time for her to go home. "I better get going. It was really nice seeing you again, Mako, and I hope to see or hear from you soon."

Mako nodded his head and held his arms out in a gesture to hug her. Korra wasn't excepting it, but walked closer to him and wrapped her arms around his midsection while he wrapped his around her waist. They did this all the time when they were younger, and now to Korra his embrace felt comforting and protective. The duration of the hug was probably longer than necessary for two friends who had just met once again, but neither seemed bothered by it.

Once they did pull away, Mako gave Korra a quick kiss to the cheek like he used to do when they were younger too. The warmth of his lips compared to the coldness of her check from the air made it tingle more. It felt like old times and Korra relished that.

The two of them said their final goodbyes, and Korra was the first one to begin to walk away. She went in one direction and he went in the other. Her one wish was that he wouldn't disappear from her life once again. For now though, she'd appreciate the beautiful scene of the snow falling and at least seeing an old friend once again.


Posted: December 27, 2015

Just a short Christmas tale. This was originally supposed to be up before Christmas, but I kind of got stuck on the next chapter so I apologize as this was all impromptu. This is supposed to be 3 chapters, but the last one would just be kind of a short epilogue and the next chapter is mostly done. I don't know when I'll post the other half of the story, but I'll be sure it's before I go back to school in a week.

If you guys don't know a ton about a home care nurse, it honestly is really stressful and takes a lot of time up. I know somebody who is one and she's always tired when she gets home and has lots of paperwork to do on patients.

Anyway, thanks guys for reading and please review and follow for the rest of this Christmas tale! Enjoy the rest of your day/night:)