A.N: I seemed to have popped out another Pemzin familial piece. I've been happily rewatching LOK and plot bunnies are running wild. Also Korrasami has consequently taken over my life. So much Korrasami plot bunny shipping! More to come later about that, hopefully. ; )

Anyway, here we have an angsty thing about Jinora coming back from the Spirit World in S2. I particularly liked writing this a lot. I'm just completely enamored with Tenzin and Pema and their amazing family.

This focuses on Pema and what she was going through when Jinora's spirit was lost in the Spirit World. I also listened to Jinora's Light while writing this and it helped a lot to keep me in the LOK mood. I recommend listening to the soundtrack when writing LOK stuff. It does wonders.

ENJOY!

When Jinora comes home . . .

Pema refused to say or even let herself think the word, IF. Because "if" meant there was a possibility that Jinora wasn't coming home and that she couldn't be saved and that her little girl, her precious Jinora . . . could die.

So Pema focused on the when of Jinora's eventual homecoming. She didn't mind so much the how, being that she had a limited understanding of the Spirit World and all of it's mysterious wonders and horrors. Pema didn't particularly wish to ask any specifics of Tenzin or Korra. She just needed her daughter back home safe.

. . . . .

"Tenzin . . ." Pema's voice warbled.

"Yes, love?" Tenzin gently coaxed her. He held on to Jinora's lifeless hand as her body floated in the healing pool at home.

"Jinora needs to come home. We have to get her back. My baby . . ." Pema whispered, tears gathering in her eyes as she lovingly stroked Jinora's pale face with a trembling hand. She brought her eyes up to meet Tenzin's gaze.

"Bring her back to me, Tenzin."

He nodded resolutely. "I will, Pema. I won't leave the Spirit World without our daughter."

She drew in a sharp breath through her nose, Pema's mossy green eyes filling up with long held tears.

Getting up and coming around the pool, Tenzin sat down beside Pema. He drew her into his arms and she finally let herself let go and openly wept. Tenzin cradled her head against his chest and she clutched onto him as she continued to sob. It was a release that Pema so desperately needed.

For the past two days, Pema had primarily been taking care of her three other children during this difficult and trying time. She was the caretaker, the one who made up breakfast, lunch and dinner for her family each day. The one who broke up sibling rivalries and then quietly calmed her crying baby. She kissed away and attended to every scrape and boo-boo. Pema read all of the books at bedtime and patiently answered every question Meelo and Ikki might have about Jinora and her trapped spirit. She was the one her kids were relying on the most right now to lean on for support and comfort.

And for them, the little ones nearest and dearest to her heart, Pema put on a smile and told them it was all going to be okay. That was part of her job, simply as a mother who loved her family. But on a deeper level, it hurt to constantly shush all their worries and hug and kiss them goodnight, when a part of their family was sorely missing. They all felt it and Ikki and Meelo understood most of that heartache. They were worried and concerned about Jinora as well.

To have to put on a brave face for them, every single day, from the moment Pema woke up in the morning until she finally retired to her bedroom at night. It was difficult and taxing to play the same act over and over again.

And for Rohan, he was still so young and needed the care, time and attention that sometimes Pema struggled to give him when he needed it. He was six-months old and thriving. Rohan's first word was sure to be said soon. He was no doubt going to be crawling before Pema could even blink and he was steadily progressing with his solid foods these days. It was an exciting time for young babies. Rohan needed the developmental stimulation provided by Mom, Dad and his siblings. But their family was understandably distracted from him at the moment, and sometimes Pema felt guilty for that as a mom who was trying to do right by her children.

There had been certain times during these past two days that she was more than happy to transfer Rohan over to Aunt Kya so she could finally go sit with Jinora and spend time at her side. It felt right to Pema that her daughters body shouldn't be left alone. She hated to think of her lifeless body in the healing pool, alone and wet and cold. It was those thoughts and more that kept Pema awake at night.

There was only so much she could do, as one woman, one non-bending Air Acolyte mother of four. The mother who carried everything on her shoulders, weaving in and out of each day as gracefully as she could since the day Jinora's lifeless body had been laid in her arms after Korra had returned from the Spirit World. But Jinora had not. Her daughter was still missing and hurting and it was a terrifying reality they now faced.

Jinora's spirit was trapped in the Spirit World.

Her physical body, Jinora's life force, was slowly slipping away despite their best efforts to keep her energy flowing.

So, when Pema was granted the opportunity to let go and put her heart on her sleeve, she gratefully took it. Finding some of the peace she so desperately needed in the strength of her husband's arms. Tenzin held her close, the touch and feel of him around her comforted Pema greatly as the tears started to lessen. He stroked her hair, it soothing her.

Finally looking back up at Tenzin, she sat up. He brushed a few stray hairs out of her watery eyes and tenderly kissed her on the forehead. They each soaked up the loving contact, needing it like a lifeline in this moment.

Tenzin cupped Pema's cheek. "Jinora will be back in your arms soon. She'll come back with us, I promise. I don't want our little girl out there lost any more than you do, Pema."

Pema quickly nodded in affirmation. She reached up and took his hand from her face and held it in both of her hands. She gave him a gentle kiss on the lips.

Her eyes shone brightly when she drew back. "You come home to us, too. I don't know what I'd do if I lost both of you."

"I will, Pema. I will."

. . . . .

Forcing herself to focus on the when gave Pema hope and carried her through that long, dark week of sleepless nights and pacing the floor and Ikki and Meelo asking so many questions and not being able to give them answers.

So when Pema, Ikki, Meelo and little Rohan were all watching the clashing spectacle of the Dark Avatar and Spirit Korra fighting in Republic City's own Yue Bay, they were awestruck and surprised and relieved and elated when Jinora suddenly emerged from the Spirit World in a wash of warm light.

"Mommy! It's Jinora! . . . She's beautiful . . ." Ikki said, looking through the seeing-eye glass.

"What?" Pema gasped, then she grabbed for the seeing-eye glass. "Let me see!"

"Oh . . .!"

It was Jinora, floating like an ethereal angel in the air, surrounded by a halo of golden light. Immediately, Pema hollered from the balcony, "Be careful, sweetie!"

Jinora's beautiful light was cast out and it penetrated the Dark Avatar. It gave Spirit Korra, once close to losing the battle, a chance to retaliate and retrieve Raava from him.

That moment was amazingly unexpected. Pema was aware that something big was going to be happening with Harmonic Convergence. But no one could tell her exactly what or how this event would play out, or even the full magnitude of Harmonic Convergence itself. Korra hadn't even been sure of it herself.

The only person in this world who seemed to know exactly what was going on was Unalaq, and Pema was now watching transfixed as his and Vaatu's spirit were being peacefully destroyed and released back safely into the night sky.

Spirit Korra prayed for them, "Go in peace."

The fight was over. Korra had won. She'd saved the world, with Jinora's help.

Korra took Jinora's spirit and Raava cupped in her hands and then disappeared into the Spirit World. As soon as the glow was gone and all was calm once again over the water, Ikki and Meelo turned towards their mother, all wide smiles as they bounced on their toes. They were light as air again.

"Mommy! Did you see? Did you see her? It was Jinora!"

"She just swooped in and took out the big scary monster and then Korra did that thing-!"

Ikki and Meelo clamored on together, speaking so fast Pema could not have hoped to keep up with them. She took a step back, holding Rohan in her arms with big smile on her face. She was so relieved and overjoyed, she was struck speechless for a moment.

"Oh-!" Pema kneeled down and gathered all three of her children into her arms for a hug. She quietly murmured over them, "We're all going to be okay. She's okay."

Ikki and Meelo eagerly returned her hug, still talking about the fight and Jinora and asking about their dad.

Pema stood back up, wiping a few misty tears from her eyes, "I- I need to go and radio your father." She clutched Rohan to her chest and rushed back inside to get to the radio.

Beaming at each other, Ikki and Meelo shared a look, mirroring the others joy and relief. Brother and sister took each other's hand as they followed after Pema.

Ikki squeezed Meelo's hand, skipping back into the house.

Jinora was okay.

Jinora was coming home.

A.N: I am probably going to write a second chapter to this. Just a reunion/recovery chapter, if you will. I just wrote this first bit up last night and wanted to post it now. I worked on it all day and before I knew, it was all completed. Kudos to me! I never get anything finished that fast, ha!

Reviews? Thoughts? Critiques? Let me know! Hope you guys liked it!