Ah yet again the time has come where I have exams, and what is that in my head? New ideas for a Legend of Korra fic? Brilliant. Yes I have some new stuff for you lovely people, hope you enjoy, and as always, please read and review.

Miss Buch xxx

I wanted everything I never had,

Like the love that comes with light,

I wore envy and I hated that,

But I survived.

Alive, Sia

Asami rolled over in bed, letting out a low groan as she woke up. She reached out for the warm body that should have been next to her but didn't find anything. The inventor opened her eyes, letting them get accustomed to the darkness as she moved her hand around, still searching for Korra. Nothing. Asami sat up, pushing some inky black hair away from her face. Goosebumps popped up over her exposed arms when the covers slipped down and she noticed that the large window on the other side of the room was open a fraction. She could see the silhouette of her wife sitting on the balcony and Asami tilted her head to the side, frowning slightly. The young woman left the warmth of her bed, grabbing her patterned dressing gown and pulling it on over her nightie, tying the cord around the waist. She padded across the cold wooden floor and slipped through the gap in the curtains and the screen behind them. She found Korra sitting cross legged in a chair, still in her bed clothes and bathed in the light of a full moon. She was playing with a ball of water in one hand, splitting it into five smaller balls and twirling them around each other. The water moved down her fingers before being flicked away a few metres and turned into ice. The small ice spikes came back to the Avatar, hitting her hand and becoming water again. The water was then lifted away from her hand and rolled around in the air for a moment before being whipped into the floor.

"Korra?"

"Hm?" She lost control on the water and it splashed down onto the wood of the balcony. Asami settled herself into the chair next to her, curling up under the length of her dressing gown to keep her feet warm.

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine, just couldn't sleep." Korra looked at Asami, seeing her normally made up face completely natural and her hair sticking up in some haphazard angles. It made her lips twitch at the edges, knowing she was the only person that ever got to see the city's greatest inventor looking like this. The Avatar pulled the water back out from the wood and curled it up and around itself a little absent mindedly. "It's the moon. It's been calling to me recently. Especially when she's full." Asami tilted her head to the side, watching as Korra focused on the water, making it twist and coil. She kept quiet, sensing her wife had more to say. "Did I ever tell you the story about what happened with Aang and the moon spirit?" Asami shook her head. "During the Hundred Years War, Aang, Katara and Sokka travelled up to the Northern Water Tribe. What they didn't know was that the Fire Nation were also planning a siege on the north. There was a beautiful princess in the Northern Water Tribe called Yue, and Sokka fell in love with her. She had been born very sick, and her father prayed to the Moon Spirit to save her – and it did. It gave her life. But when the Fire Nation attacked a general killed the embodiment of the Moon Spirit that lives in our world. You know, when the Moon Spirit was destroyed, water benders lose all their power? And with her home being attacked by the Fire Nation and the Avatar having gone to the Spirit World, she gave up her life to save the Northern Water Tribe. All the life that the Moon Spirit had given her – she gave it back. I probably wouldn't be here if it weren't for her." Asami shifted slightly in her chair and the edge of her dressing gown fell off her feet, exposing them to the cool night hair. Korra moved the water to wrap around Asami's feet and warmed it slightly for her. "Sokka was head over heels for her." The inventor smiled, tilting her head to the side.

"That's a lovely story. But why are you telling me this?"

"The moon and the tides are the very essence of waterbending, we learned everything from the moon. But now she has something to tell me, and I don't know what it is." Korra looked at the round orb that gently lit the balcony they were sitting on. "I don't know, sitting out here and waterbending helps me think."

"Maybe you should take a trip to the Spirit World." Korra bit her lip.

"Perhaps I should. But I don't want to leave you here. Either of you. Not with the triads flaring up again. With me being so active in the government and police force, we're prime targets."

"We can go and stay at Air Temple Island while you're away if it makes you feel better. And you know I can take care of myself Korra." She said with a slightly disapproving look on her face.

"What about Avani? She's only four. She needs her mummy and her mama."

"I know that. But her mama can go away for a little while and come back. She'll be alright. I'll take some time away from the office and let Varrick look after the company for a bit. That way we can both stay on Air Temple Island and be safe." Korra looked down at the wooden floor, chewing thoughtfully on the inside of her cheek. Asami leaned over and put her hand on the side of her face, tilting her wife's head up to look at her. "Stop worrying. We'll be fine. Avani loves the air-kids."

"They are hardly kids anymore Asami. Jinora and Kai are getting married in a few months." Korra interrupted. Her wife pursed her lips for a second before continuing her sentence.

"And we've got the White Lotus to protect us. You know I love you to bits Korra, but we can look after ourselves. Stop worrying." The Avatar's face softened and she took both her wife's hands and smiled at her.

"Ok. I'll take a trip to the Spirit World. Tomorrow I'll warn the council, the President and our friends. I'll be gone for a week tops."

"You'll be gone for as long as you need to be gone." Asami raised an eyebrow at her. "I'll keep an eye on things while you're away. With the Triads heating up and President Raiko being such a pain about trafficking the spirit portal I'll be kept plenty busy."

"Please just keep you and Avani safe. I don't know what I'd do if I came back you two were…y-you know." Korra couldn't finish her sentence properly. The idea of her wife and daughter being dead or worse when she got back terrified her. Asami squeezed her hands.

"Everything will be fine. Go be the Avatar for a little while, just promise you'll be my wife and Avani's mama when you get back."

"I promise."

"C'mon baby girl! Eat your brekkie." Korra gurgled at her daughter, who threw her spoon at her. Korra's hand flashed out and the metal implement stopped dead in its tracks before slowly going back down the bowl of fruit.

"I'm not a baby anymore mama!"

"I know sweetie, I'm sorry. Now please eat your fruit, you're coming with me to work today." The little girl nodded obediently and picked up a slice of mango.

"Where's mummy?"

"She's gone to work early this morning. She needs to talk to Uncle Varrick."

"Ok."

"And I need to talk to you." Avani froze and looked up at her mama with bright eyes. They scanned Korra's face, working out whether she was in trouble for something or not.

"What's wrong mama?"

"The reason mummy needs to talk with Varrick is because I'm going away for a few days. I need to go visit an old friend."

"I don't want you to go." Avani's face started to crumple.

"Please don't cry sweetie." Korra pulled the girl into her lap and wrapped her arms around her. "I won't be gone long, I promise, it's just for a couple of days. And mummy will still be with you. You're going to stay on Air Temple Island while I'm gone, alright? Uncle Tenzin and all the airbenders will be there too." The Avatar ran her fingers gently through her hair and kissed her forehead.

"Ok." She mumbled.

"I've a special job for you as well. I want you to keep mummy safe while I'm gone. Can you do that?" Her daughter nodded, a wobbly smile forming on her face. "That's my girl. Now finish your fruit, we need to go talk to the Council." Korra let her daughter sit in her lap while she finished her breakfast, and then the pair of them got dressed. As she had aged, Korra had moved away from wearing her travel/battle clothes all the time, and now had a set of blue water tribe robes with a slightly Air Nomad design, so she could fight in them if she really needed to, but they were still formal. It took all of her dexterity and skill to get Avani into her smart clothes. Normally she would dress in a tunic and some loose bottoms and ran around barefoot, but now she was being forced into shoes and a dress that Asami had gotten for her a few months ago when they needed to go to Meelo's tattoo ceremony.

"Please Avani, we need to go soon."

"I don't want to wear the dress!" Korra sighed, pushing a hand through her short hair.

"If you wear the dress, we can fly to the council meeting." The girl's round face immediately brightened up.

"Really mama?"

"As long as you don't tell mummy, because I'll be in trouble. It will be our secret, ok?" Avani smiled at her and pulled the dress over her head. "Ok let's go!" Korra grabbed some pelts and used them to secure her daughter around her body.

"You have got to be kidding me! What did I tell her?!" Asami exclaimed as she pointed at the flash of blue that was heading through the cloudy sky. "No flying unless I'm there! Oh she is in so much trouble."

"Ok, so when you get over your marital issues, you wanted to talk about the company?" Varrick steepled his fingers and leaned over the table slightly. Asami's brain switched back on, and she looked at the genius opposite.

"Korra is going to the Spirt World for a while, so I need you to look after things while I stay at Air Temple Island. Sales have been up over the last quarter, and I want to keep it that way. Don't put any new products out until I've given them the ok, don't break anything and don't spend all my money. Does that sound reasonable?"

"As always, I make no promises." Asami sighed. "Where is your wife? She has her head screwed on, and I want her overseeing everything you do."

"Ju Li is in the Earth Kingdom researching some new kind of turbines we could use for airships."

"When does she get back?"

"Three days from now." Asami mulled this over.

"Ok, when she gets back, please tell her to visit me." Varrick nodded.

"Councilmen-" Korra paused. "-and women," She said, gesturing to the Fire Nation designate and the Chief of Police. "I hope you are all well. My apologies for my daughter being here, but she's promised to be on her best behaviour while we have this meeting." Avani was blissfully unaware of everything her mama was saying because she was full absorbed in a colouring book. She had her tongue sticking out the corner of her mouth as she frowned, focusing on keeping the green crayon inside the lines. "And you also have my apologies for calling a council meeting at such short notice, but it's important." Tenzin frowned at her, tilting his head to the side. "Recently I've been having…indications that mean I need to take a trip to the Spirit World. I don't know how long I'll be gone for, but hopefully it won't be more than a week." Raiko was about to say something, but Tenzin beat him to it.

"What kind of indications Korra?" The Avatar bit her lip.

"It's hard to explain without sounding like a lunatic." Tenzin offered her a kind smile that reassured her slightly before she continued. "Lately, it feels like the Moon Spirit has been calling me. It needs to tell me something, not that I know what it is."

"So the Triads have a spike in their activity and you run off to the Spirit World?" Raiko asked darkly.

"Don't you think I'd have the sense to take my wife and daughter with me if that were true?!" Korra shot back. "Councilman Tenzin, I hope you don't mind if Asami and Avani stay on Air Temple Island while I'm away? I just think it's safest."

"Of course."

"And what are we supposed to do in the mean time? The Avatar is supposed to protect the city!"

"The Avatar is supposed to protect the world!" Lin turned to Raiko angrily.

"Look, I'm not asking for a vote or anything, because the decision has already been made. I suggest you get Detective Mako onto sorting out the Triads. I'm sure he's up to the job. Chief Beifong, I'm sure he will want your help. President Raiko, this is your city, and I don't want to tell you how to run it, but if the Triads are such a problem, then hold some meetings with the police force to try and combat the problem. The people of Republic City have dealt with enough in the past few years, we need to get the Triads under control before innocent people start getting hurt." Raiko opened his mouth but Korra cut him off. "And another thing, stop wasting police time and making them patrol the spirit portal to stop people from going through. If people want to go to the Spirt World, then they should be able to freely." The President grunted in annoyance and folded his arms, frowning.

"Korra, are you sure this trip is a good idea? We really could use your help with the Triads."

"I have to go Chief. If the spirits need to tell me something, then I've got to listen."

"We had a Triad related murder hit this morning." Korra's mouth dropped open.

"Do you know what happened?"

"No. I've got the area cordoned off so I can look after we're finished here."

"Ok. Get your best people on it, bring Detective Mako up to speed and take him with you. President Raiko, discuss the situation we have with Chief Beifong while I'm away."

"Since when did you start running the Council?!" Korra pursed her lips for a second.

"Ok, everyone who agrees with the statements I just made, please raise your hand." Everyone but Raiko lifted a hand, including her daughter. Korra ruffled her hair in thanks. "Good well that's that sorted. Thank you everyone for coming. Now unless there is anything else we need to talk about, this meeting can be adjourned."

"Mummy, why does mama have to go away?" The little girl looked up at Asami with dark brown eyes and a sad look on her face. The two of them had been playing with some wooden pieces with matching sized holes while Korra packed. The inventor sighed tossed up the little wooden block in the air.

"You know your mama is very special. She's the Avatar."

"I know mummy."

"Yes darling, but that means that she is connected to the Spirit World. We'll take you there some day, when you're older. But the important part is that one of the spirits has been calling her, so mama has to go and talk to them."

"Can't the spirit come talk to her?"

"It doesn't work like that I'm afraid. I don't want mama to go either, but sometimes she has to go be the Avatar for a little while." Avani frowned as she pushed a cube shaped piece into its hole.

"How long will she be gone for?"

"I don't know. She promised a week at most, but it might be longer, we'll just have to wait and see. Time passes differently in the Spirit World." Avani hummed to herself in thought. "The real question, is how did you two get to the council meeting this morning?" The humming stopped immediately as he daughter froze. She looked up at her mummy's piercing green eyes, any lie that might have been dancing on the tip of her tongue melting away almost instantly.

"We flew." She said quietly, knowing that Korra wasn't going to be happy.

"Korra, get in here!" Asami called through the door. Her wife wandered in, holding a water skin.

"What's up?"

"I saw you flying to work today." Shit. "And Avani told me."

"Um…yeah…"

"I told you, no flying without me!"

"Look, we were going to be late because Avani wouldn't put on her dress and it was the fastest way there! I promise, she was completely strapped down, she was safe."

"She's four Korra, you can't just go flying with her like that!"

"She's not a baby anymore Asami, Avani was fine, weren't you baby girl?" Her daughter threw one of the wooden blocks at her.

"I'm not a baby mama! You just said so!" Korra dodged the block and sighed, backing down. The wooden piece hit the wall behind her and clattered to the floor.

"Look, Asami, I'm sorry I flew with Avani without you there. It was reckless, we could have just been late for the council meeting."

"Fine." Asami turned to their daughter. "And what have I told you about throwing?"

"Don't throw things at mama." Avani mumbled out, almost a perfect copy of Korra's face right then.

"Good. Now, do you think mama might need some help with her packing?" The little girl's eyes lit up as they flicked between her parents.

"Can you go fill this with water for me?" Korra asked, passing her the skin that her father had made for her 24th birthday.

"Ok mama!" Avani grabbed the skin in her arms, the receptacle being roughly the size of her torso making it awkward to carry, and ran off to the bathroom.

"One day, we're going to have to have a serious talk about Avani flying." The inventor stood up, brushing down her skirt. Korra pushed a hand through her short hair and sighed.

"It was the only way I could think of to get her to put that dress on. I can't just let her go to council meetings in her home clothes. I'm sorry Asami." The frown melted off her wife's face and was replaced by a broad smile.

"I don't really have a problem with you letting her fly with you, I just want to be there when it happens."

"Really?" Korra's face brightened up. Avani came toddling back in the heavy water skin slung over her back.

"I got your water mama!" The Avatar swept up her daughter in her arms and kissed her forehead.

"Good girl! What would I do without you?" The girl giggled as Asami pulled the water skin of her before she dropped it and ruffled her hair.

"Your mummy would be helping out."

"I can pack on my own Asami."

"You always forget something. Remember when we went to the Earth Kingdom and you didn't bring a toothbrush? You kept stealing mine."

"Fine, ok I'll pack what I think I need and then you and Avani can help me."

"Ok."

Korra shifted her packs around her shoulders as they headed towards the green light of the spirit portal.

"Are we there yet mummy?" Avani asked. Asami tilted her head up to her daughter who was perched on her shoulders.

"Nearly sweetie." The sun was starting the rise over the horizon in the distance, the faint orange glow edging over the tops of the buildings in the east side of town. They reached the outer perimeter of the crater to find a couple of police officers standing by the main entrance.

"Good morning gentlemen!" Korra called ahead, waving her hand.

"Avatar Korra?"

"I thought I told Raiko to remove the police from around here?"

"We've had no new orders."

"Ah ok. Well relay what I've said to Chief Beifong, see what she says."

"Ok. I'm afraid we can't allow any children past the barriers."

"Can you make an exception for me? I won't be long." Korra put on the face she used with Asami when she wanted something.

"Well our orders say…."

"You know I could easily just slip into the Avatar State and make you let me go through."

"Korra!" Asami snapped at her.

"Chillout, I'm not actually going to do anything. Come one guys, its six in the morning and we'll be five minutes max. No one is around."

"Fine ok, but be quick." They let the trio through and they trotted down the steps towards the bright column of light that spread up into the still dark sky. Avani looked up at the chains of colour that swirled through layers of green and yellow. Spirts flew lazily around the central light and popped up from between spirit vines as they noticed a shift in the energy around them.

"You made this mama?!"

"Yes I did baby girl."

"What happens when you go through?"

"There is this kind of flash of light and then you're in the Spirit World."

"Is that it?"

"Well…yeah." They were only a couple of metres away when Korra stopped. She turned back to her wife and daughter and smiled at them. Asami knew that smile well. It didn't quite reach her eyes and had a tinge of sadness behind it. She lifted Avani off her shoulders and settled her down onto the spirit vines beneath their feet. "Alright, say goodbye to mama." Korra knelt down and wrapped her arms around the girl.

"I'll see you soon sweetie." Korra said into her ear.

"Promise you'll come back?"

"I'm like a boomerang baby girl, I always come back."

"I'm not a baby anymore mama."

"I know. You're a big girl now. Big enough to look after mummy for me, ok?"

"I will mama."

"Good. Don't get into too much trouble while I'm away." Korra let her go and stood up as Asami stepped over. "I'll be back as soon as I can. I promise."

"Don't rush your trip. Find Yue, talk to her and say hello to Iroh if you see him too. And don't injure yourself."

"When do I ever injure myself?"

"You burnt yourself on the stove last week." Asami deadpanned back.

"Just come here." Korra grabbed her hand and pulled the inventor into a hug, holding her tightly. "Please keep yourselves safe." She muttered

"We will. Good luck, we'll see you when you get back."

"Ok." Korra moved slightly so she could press her lips gently against Asami's. Their daughter cringed and turned away until they were finished. "I'll be fine. It's just the Spirit World, what's the worst that could happen?"

"I'm not going answer that question. Now go. Find out what you need to know." Korra nodded.

"I love you. Both of you."

"Love you too Korra." The Avatar smiled again and turned away, giving them one last look before stepping into the green light and letting it envelop her. Asami held out her hand for Avani and small fingers wrapped around hers.

"Is mama going to be ok?"

"Of course she is, she's the Avatar. Now let's go home and get our things so we can go stay with uncle Tenzin."

"Ok mummy." Asami squeezed her hand and looked back at the bright green light of the spirit portal before and blinking a few times. Everything is going to be fine. Korra will be fine.