Disclaimer: This is based before Book 5: Redemption, which I based after The Dictator by riot3672. I did not write it or claim any ownership of it. It's awesome. It'll make you cry. Check it out. Riot just built an amazing life for Kuvira that I think has so much further mileage and potential.

"So," Councilman Gerlun clarified as he sat, a larger, more monotone fellow, "in summary, this legislation is just what we need?"

Councilman Artok nodded, alternatively standing, spry, full of optimism. "Indeed," he said with his eager smile. "In layman's terms, this'll be the thing that'll get the Earth Kingdom's economy rolling again."

"So long as the people want to work."

"So long as the people want to work," Artok admitted, nodding.

Gerlun hummed in thought, rubbing his chin. "Hmm...What say you, Prime Minister?"

All the council members looked to Kuvira. She sat at the head of the large round table, with her hands gently folded in front of her face, deep in contemplation. She finally looked up and nodded in agreement. "Yes. This is exactly what the Earth Kingdom needs at this time. So long as the public is willing, which I am most certain it is, this number of jobs can only be beneficial. All for?"

All twenty of the councilmen raised a hand, including Gerlun after a second's hesitation.

Kuvira smiled. "Alright, then. I'll have the listing forms and approval filled out by tomorrow." She smiled at Artok. "Thank you, Councilman Artok."

He nodded with a smile. "Thank you, Prime Minister."

Kuvira nodded back, straightening her notes. "This meeting's adjourned. Thank you, everyone."

#

Kuvira walked out from her office to the lobby of the Earth Parliament building, all of her papers sorted and collected in her folder. It was just after three, though she didn't feel particularly drowsy today. Perhaps it had been that extra cup of tea that morning: jasmine, as Iroh would have suggested.

She looked around at all the people talking and bustling about, exchanging the occasional smile and wave and nod. There was always a substantial crowd, always business that needed dealing with.

But amidst the crowd today, she caught Artok talking with...King Wu?

What's he doing here? What happened to that charity deal?

She walked closer. She could've sworn she'd heard Wu say something about a "tropical island."

Artok chuckled. "Well, she no doubt deserves it."

"But," Wu thought aloud, "when? I mean, she always has so much to do!"

Artok rubbed his chin. "I don't know about the tropical island, but something more...simple, humble, when the time's right for her."

"You're right, you're right. Just her with her kids, probably."

Kuvira breathed in with a smile.

Time to find out.

She quietly stopped next to Wu, going unnoticed for a moment. "Hello, Wu."

Wu leapt back with a "wah!" of surprise. He quickly recollected himself. "Uh...heh-hey! Kuvira!" He gave her two quick friendly punches in the shoulder. "How's my favorite prime minister doin'?"

Kuvira took the punches with a smile. "I believe I am your only prime minister." She nodded at Artok. "Councilman Artok."

He returned the nod. "Kuvira."

Kuvira smiled. She always made the effort to get to know the other Parliament members on a personal basis, but also made sure that they were addressed with the proper respect they deserved. And Artok most certainly did deserve respect. He had actually been a commander in the campaign to reunite the Earth Kingdom, just as optimistic and incorrigible then as he was now. He'd left just after the first year however, due to family matters. In hindsight, Kuvira was thankful for that now. He was lucky. He'd gotten out early, before...everything got out of hand.

She looked back at Wu. "Is there something that I'm needed for here?"

Wu and Artok exchanged a look. "Nope!" Wu said. "Everything's just fine! You're not needed! Well, I mean, you're always kinda needed. Always needed."

Kuvira raised a brow and smirked. "Am I being superseded here? I thought I still had one term left in office."

"Oh you and your big words," Wu said with fake irritation, pushing Kuvira away. "Go on! Shoo, shoo! Important kingly business!"

Kuvira laughed as she was pushed. "Okay, okay! You only had to say so!"

"It's alright, sir," Artok said with a smile, waving the king down. "She can stay."

Wu stopped his pushing. "Alrighty, then." He pointed at Kuvira, squinting. "But I got my eye on you."

Kuvira stepped back up with a chuckle. "So, Wu, what are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in Lijiang?"

"I was!" he said. "I thought I'd have to be there longer, but as it turns out, holding babies and smiling for pictures flies by pretty quick!"

Artok snorted. "I thought they made you leave early because you dropped a baby."

Kuvira looked at Wu with wide eyes. "Oh my goodness. You dropped a baby?"

"Almost!" Wu corrected defensively. "It was a wriggly little guy! I played it off as going to throw him up in the air! No one noticed!"

Artok inhaled to say something, but Wu cut him off with a point. "And I caught it too."

Kuvira chuckled. "So some good came out of it after all?"

"Yep," Wu said with a glad nod. "A lot of good. Lijiang's really goin' on the up-and-up now."

Kuvira nodded. "Great." She looked down in thought for a moment. "Were you able to get to the orphanage?"

Wu smiled, quiet and sincere. "There's more kids going out than in."

Kuvira sighed in relief. "Good. Thank you."

Wu nodded. He looked over at the clock. "And would you look at that! Time to hit the spa! Don't wanna keep them waiting!" He gave a little salute to Artok and Kuvira. "Councilman. Gumdrop."

He strolled away, arms a-swinging.

Artok raised a brow at Kuvira. "Gumdrop?"

Kuvira nodded. "Yep."

Artok glanced back at Wu as he strolled. A smirk tugged at his lips. "You...allow that?"

"Honestly, it's not so much allowing as it is accepting." Kuvira looked back at Artok. "So, can you really not tell me what you two were discussing?"

Artok shifted stiffly, his hands behind his back. "Um...not really. It's, uh...confidential. F-For now, I mean, at least."

Kuvira smiled. "And here I thought I was doing a decent job as Prime Minister. Guess I'm being impeached after all."

Artok smirked. "Oh we'd wait to do that until after you fill out that legislation first. It's nothing bad, really. It's just...uhh..."

Kuvira laughed. "Alright, alright. Whatever it is can stay a secret." She turned to walk away. "Have a good day, Artok."

He smiled and nodded. "You too, Prime Minister."

#

The sun was shining brighter that walk home than it had been most days, what with summer waiting just around the corner. That also meant that school was almost just around the corner too. Finally, Takeo would stop being bored out of his mind.

Kuvira walked up to the main door of her house. Hearing the giggles of her adopted children on the other side instantly made her smile. She opened up the door and walked in.

"Whoa!" Arnav laughed, a grown man getting tackled to the floor by eight-year-old Takeo, with three-year-old Park wrapping himself around his leg like a little Pentapus, and also with six-year-old Anaya unfairly stealing the ball away from him amidst the commotion.

"Kids!" Kuvira called out with a chuckle, figuring she should save their babysitter. "I'm home!"

All three of her kids looked up at the sound of her voice. "Mama!" Anaya called back, dropping the ball and running to hug her.

"Mom!" "Mommy!" Takeo and Park called as well, joining the hug.

"Oof," Arnav said with a wince, picking himself off of the floor. He looked up and smiled. "Kuvira! 'Bout time you got here."

"Sorry," she apologized, kneeling and hugging her kids. "The sun hasn't been this bright in a while, and the meeting ran a little long. Artok's proposition for a new job package wouldn't go through unless Gerlun was completely sold on it."

"Ugh," Arnav said with a roll of his eyes. "Gerlun. That guy's always a stick in the mud, isn't he?"

"He's a good man," Kuvira said, walking over and setting her folder on the table. "He's just—"

"A stick in the mud?"

"I was going to say pragmatist, but I suppose that works too." She picked up Park, holding him on her hip. "They were good?"

"Well..." Arnav began with a smirk, crossing his arms. "Good? Yes. Fair? I think Park needs to work on not using his size to cheat."

"Tactical advantage," Kuvira said with a smile, giving Park a kiss on his cheek.

The toddler giggled as she held him. "Mommy, when's Korra coming back?"

Korra. She'd been gone for weeks, even though she'd asked for little tour of Parliament and everything Kuvira did as Prime Minister. First it was to the South Pole to visit her family, then to the Fire Nation for political business, then to the Spirit World to—

The Spirit World. Kuvira had been meaning to meditate there for so long, but she'd never had the time to do it, what with all the recent packages and legislations and...

Kuvira blinked. She held her forehead with her free hand. "I'm...not sure when she'll be back, little buddy. Soon, I hope."

Arnav laughed. "Whoa. Looks like someone could use a cup of tea."

Kuvira set Park back down on the floor. "Yes. That...sounds nice."

"Welp," Arnav said, gesturing, "kitchen's free." He pointed at the kids. "Remember, guys: make sure you stay away from the cranky old lady with the curly hair."

All three of the kids shivered in fear. What had Arnav told them about the neighbors this time?

"Arnav," Kuvira said with tempered sternness, "what have I told you about scaring the kids like that?"

"Oh," Arnav said sheepishly, the kids giggling at him. "Sorry. I just don't want Mrs. Chohun yelling at them for being in her yard."

"Please," Kuvira said with a roll of her eyes. "Mrs. Chohun wouldn't hurt a bumble-fly."

"Alright, alright," Arnav said honestly. "No more scary stories, I promise." He waved as he walked to the door. "Later, guys! Later, Kuvira."

"Bye!" the kids all called.

Arnav walked out and closed the door behind him. His satomobile could be heard as he drove away.

"Hey, Mom!" Takeo said excitedly, picking up the ball. "Are you ready to play earth-soccer with us?"

Kuvira suddenly lost her smile. "Oh...guys, I'm so sorry. I know I promised, but I have some paperwork I need to have filled out for tomorrow first. I'll try to make it as quick as I can."

"Oh," Anaya said. "Okay. That's fine, Mama! We'll just play by ourselves!"

Kuvira started smiling again. "Thank you, 'Naya."

The three of them hurried off, giggling and tossing the ball to each other.

Kuvira walked into the kitchen with her folder. She fixed herself that cup of tea, and sat down at the table to begin sorting through papers.

Lost in the statistics and signatures, Kuvira remembered something, something that she hadn't remembered in a surprisingly long time...

#

Suyin sat at her desk in her office, sorting through papers. She'd been in that very same position many years ago, when Kuvira had...

Kuvira had moved out of the house less than a week ago, finally eighteen years old, old enough to join the guard. It had been her dream to join, ever since she learned metalbending and tried on one of the guard's helmets, which was several sizes too big for her little head at the time.

"Hey, Mom?"

Suyin turned from her desk to see Kuvira in the doorway. How clean and confident she looked in uniform, still wearing her braided hair with that bang curl Su taught her after she'd taken her in. Wait...

Had Kuvira just called her "Mom?"

"Some of the guards," Kuvira said, completely unaware, "are saying that there's not enough cover near the southern station, and Captain Dernau's not around to..."

She trailed off, noticing Suyin's surprised look. Her eyes widened. She almost immediately started blushing.

Suyin went to say something, but Kuvira managed to stammer, "I-I... Nevermind. We'll...figure it out."

Kuvira hurriedly walked away, out of the room, an embarrassed little mess.

After a moment, Suyin turned back to her desk. She couldn't help but smile. Even as Kuvira strove for immaculate professionalism and independence, she still thought of her as family.

Suyin looked up from her papers.

She stood, and walked out of her room. She needed to see if she could find something.

#

Kuvira quietly blushed as she turned the next page over. She really said that to Su, didn't she? She would've laughed at herself if it wasn't so utterly embarrassing. Finally eighteen, finally moved out, finally able to act for herself, and she called her Mom. How had she let that slip? She hadn't called her Mom for almost as long as she'd been eighteen. In fact, she...hadn't ever really called her Mom since she was twelve.

Was that when it started? Was it that early when she stopped seeing the Beifongs as family? Or, rather, when she realized that they weren't really her family? Why hadn't she ever—?

The kids yelling.

A smack.

Park starting to cry.

Kuvira sighed.

Oh spirits...

She got up out of her chair, losing her blush as she hurried into the living room.

She saw the scene: Takeo standing angrily next to a crying Park, currently holding his cheek. Anaya was standing sheepishly to the side of the room, and the ball was quietly bouncing to a stop on the floor.

Kuvira looked between them all with a furrowed brow. "Guys," she asked gently, slowly walking up to them, "what happened?"

All three of them looked at her, but only Anaya spoke up. "Takeo hit Park."

Kuvira looked at Takeo. She knelt down next to him and Park. "Takeo, why did you hit him?"

Takeo didn't look her in the eye, guiltily rubbing his wrist. "He was hogging the ball..."

Kuvira looked at Park. "Are you okay?"

The toddler nodded, his tears dwindling, though he still kept holding his cheek.

Kuvira looked back at Takeo, still gentle. "Tak, I know sometimes people don't give you what you want, but sometimes..." Her eyes widened for a second, realizing where she was channeling this advice from. "Sometimes you have to be the nice one. There's always a better way to make everyone happy. Hurting people back for what they do to you is not going to help anything. Nothing good will ever come out of that."

She looked at Park with a small smile. "And it's not nice to keep things from people either. Everyone deserves to have the same things. Sharing can feel just as good as having something for yourself. Do you guys understand?"

They both nodded, their apprehension alleviating.

Kuvira smiled. "Good. Do you guys have anything you want to say?"

"Y-Yeah," Takeo said, taking his hand off his wrist and turning to Park. "I'm sorry I hit you."

Park took his hand off his cheek, saying, "It's okay. I forgive you."

Kuvira smile grew bigger. She gently pulled her sons into a hug, and they hugged her back. "I'm so proud of you guys."

"Wait," Anaya said as she walked up. "You're not done with your paperwork yet, are you, Mama?"

Kuvira looked at her, then at the floor for a moment. She still had at least four more forms to fill out, and...

"...You know what?" Kuvira said with a smirk. "The paperwork can wait."

She picked the ball up, slapping it into her palm with a smile. "Me and Park versus you two! Come on, let's go!"

Cheers and giggles quickly followed.

Notes: Okay, that ending make me really happy. Hope you enjoyed as much as I did!

I feel like I need to stress again: Kuvira becoming the Earth Prime Minister was not my idea, at all. Her adopting kids was not my idea. The guy babysitting her kids? Not my idea, and you'll find out who he is next chapter if you don't already know.

Up next is Kuvira taking her kids to Zaofu :)