Beyond Time

Sequel to Beyond the Void

If you haven't read that one you probably should to figure out what's going on in this one. So leave and come back after reading that one please. This one will also have a bit more comedy and be more adult (i.e. it's rated M not T). Also you might have noticed this is a cross over with Avatar: Last Air bender so time travel is going to be involved but due to the power of plot convenience, the continuity between the two shows will remain intact but will interact. So if the idea of serious story with a lot of jokes and comedy and a touch of time travel and an "Involuntary midnight flash mob" doesn't peek your interest then maybe you want to move along. This prologue however, does not contain such things, as it is really more of a stand-alone story that while setting up elements for the rest of the story still is it's own entity. So if you just want some romantic fluff feel free to read and enjoy. ~C.C.

Prologue

Korra had never believed the old saying that the only people at a wedding not to eat are the bride and groom but as she stood trying to smile as a photographer took yet another picture, she could care less about, she believed it. She felt a woman's hands on her shoulders.

"Come on dear, try to smile like you happy." He mother said softly. "It's your wedding day."

Korra's smiled became more forced. "I'm getting married in an hour, I haven't eaten anything all day, and I'm getting my picture taken. Mom this is as good as it's going to get."

Korra felt her mother kiss her on the cheek. "Ok fine, we're done taking pictures."

"Yes!"

"Until after the ceremony."

"Awww." Korra slumped a little. "Can I at least get something to eat before then and now?"

"You could stain your dress." Asami pointed out.

Korra rolled her eyes. "Blind girl don't care, blind girl doesn't want to pass out at the alter." Korra sent a breeze around the room and saw that most of the people there were smirking. She felt her father put his arm around her and lead her out of the sanctuary.

"Don't worry Korra, I had the catering people put some food in your dressing room."

Korra hugged her father. "Thanks Daddy."

She felt her father kiss her on the forehead. "You welcome sweetie." The two walked in silence for a moment. "So are you nervous?"

Korra bit her lip. Should she tell her father all her irrational fears about the day? "A little, mostly worried that he won't show up. Or forgot. Or over sleep! He could have taken some sort of sleeping pill last night and it still comatose! Or Mako could have glued his head to the pillow again!"

Tonraq chuckled. "Korra, relax he's going to be here, on time, ready to go, with or with out a pillow glued to the side of his face." He patted his daughter's hand. "And if I remember correctly Mako promised not to play any pranks on his cousin that would effect him today."

Korra sighed. "I know, but I still worry I mean I haven't heard any of the Fire Nation royal family's voices around here except Fire Lord Zuko's. Commander Bumi isn't even here! Oh spirits! He was planning the stag party! What if they wake up three weeks from now shoeless in Omashu?!"

"Calm down Korra." Tonraq soothed. "I bet right now, that prince of yours is awake, ready, and within the city limits."

Of the three things Tonraq had assured his daughter, only one of those things was true. Iroh was within Republic City's limits; sound asleep in his warm bed at the Fire Nation Embassy. Opening his eyes slowly he looked at the clock and then jumped about four feet in to the air.

"Fuck!" He ran in to his bathroom and checked his reflection. Aside from needing to shave and comb his hair, Iroh looked pretty damn good. He noticed the check marked shaped scar that fallowed the underside and outer edge of his left eye. Most days he didn't see it there but today it seemed more obvious. With his left hand he ran a finger over the scar. His left arm, two years ago he had just a burn there after his fight against Zaheer, however, the arm was myriad of ugly scars and burns. Now however, all of that was covered by an intricate tattooed red dragon winding its way down from his shoulder through a sea of fire. The tattoo stopped just before his wrist and was easily hidden under long sleeves. He had gotten the tattoo during his year abroad with Korra. On one of the new islands they had discovered, they met a society of warrior people who commemorated their battle scars by tattooing over them with images that referenced how the scar had been earned. For example the most damage on his arm had been burns and so a dragon was considered appropriate.

When they had arrived on the island, the tribe was about to be wiped out by a neighboring tribe. The crew of the Leviathan did not directly intervene with conflict, however, they did give them assistance by building stronger walls and medical aid. In thanks, the leader had insisted that every member of the crew be inducted in to the tribe and be honored with what they called the sacred marks. Most of the crew had gotten small tattoos that were easily hidden but because of the massive scaring on Iroh's arm his tattoo had been large and covered the entire limb. Personally Iroh liked it, but he was well aware that such a thing wasn't proper for a Fire Nation prince and thus kept it hidden most of the time.

The only person on the crew who had gotten more ink was Korra. She had asked them to cover the scars on both her legs. Starting midway on her left thigh and working down to her foot was a sea dragon and a depiction of the water spirit La (on the top of her foot) in a ocean of swirling water, on her right leg soring upward through the water was a phoenix and the moon spirit Tui(which was also on the top of her foot). She had chosen the images to represent the events that had crippled her and her recovery from it. The entire thing had been made with blue ink that matched Korra's eyes and while neither one of them ever wanted to do that again, the results were pretty damn awesome. Even better was that the tattoo showed up in the spirit world too, so Korra could take a better look at them.

On the topic of the spirit world, during that year with Korra, Iroh had actually learned to cross back and forth between the worlds with ease. Korra believed that this ability was due to the fact that Iroh had been dead for a period of time and had solidified a connection to the spirit world. Now, why his fire bending flames had turned from normal yellow and red to white like Korra's was anyone's guess. Korra and Iroh did have 'find out what white fire means' on their to-do list but it kept being pushed further and further down priority wise.

Iroh looked back at his arm. He had been home now for four months and had yet to tell or show anyone aside from his grandfather that is who took it rather well. Fire Lord Zuko's response had been, "I'm glad its not naked woman, just don't let your mother see that until after the wedding." Iroh had neglected to tell him about Korra's tattoos however; he didn't want to give him a heart attack.

He paused what was going to happen when summer came along and Bolin or Mako saw it? Shit! What if they were still asleep? He ran out of his room and finding all the rooms empty, stormed down the stairs into the Kitchen where Commander Bumi, Bolin, Mako and two of Iroh's United Forces buddies where sitting at the table calmly drinking tea. "Why did none of you wake me!? And why are you just sitting there?!"

Mako put his cup down. "Relax, cuz it's only noon the ceremony's at 3 you've got plenty of time."

Iroh face palmed. Over the past year the two men had, surprisingly, become like bothers or more accurately like siblings. For Mako, he had gained an older brother who could easily be called upon to give rather good advice, or be the victim of all the good hearted pranks that Mako had wanted to pull on Bolin but hadn't as his role of protective big brother would not allow such behavior. Iroh on the other hand was completely fair game for said pranks. For Iroh, he had gained two younger brothers, that while as family he loved them, drove him up a wall for sheer enjoyment. He had once made the joke to Korra that it was his father's water tribe blood that gave him the fortitude to survive Bolin's 'family' nights which Iroh and all the cousins from Bar Sing Sa where dragged out for a night on the town.

"The reception starts at 3! The ceremony is at 1. Fuck! It's at 1!" He ran from the room in more of a panic and back up stairs.

Bolin looked over at his brother and then took the invitation off the fridge and looked at it. "Huh, yeah ceremony at 1pm. Reception to start at 3pm." He looked up at the four other men whose faces had drained of all color. "Korra's going to kill us!"

Bumi jumped from his chair. "Korra? Honora's the one to fear!"

"Was Iroh's arm bleeding?" Bolin asked as they all ran to start getting ready.


Honora walked in to the Embassy five minutes later to see five men rushing around in various stages of dress with a conspicuously missing groom. She crossed her arms as her husband (dressed only in boxers) ran up and hugged her. "Darling! I though we were meeting you at the church. What are you doing here?"

"I was supposed to meet you and rest of this," She paused as Mako ran past soaking wet, wrapped in a towel.

"Hi Aunt Honora!"

She waved at her nephew. "… Madhouse an hour ago at the Church for pictures. Where is Iroh? He better not be hung over!"

Bumi put his hands up. "He's not hung over Love. He didn't even drink last night!"

"Ow! Mother Fucker!" Iroh yelled from the story above them.

"But he might be bleeding."

Honora walked over toward the balcony. "Iroh! Get out here now!"

As his mother, Honora had seen her son in a lot of situations. She had not ever seen her son however, panicked, half shaven, bleeding from a scratch on his left cheek, and lacking all manor of clothing save an unbuttoned dress shirt hanging off his left arm. "Yes?!"

Honora looked down. "Never mind, Iroh dear, uh go back to getting ready. I'll call…my father and tell him to stall…or something."

Iroh ran back in to his room while Honora just stood there shaking her head. She turned to Bumi who at this moment was pulling his pants on. "You guys mixed up the reception time with the ceremony time didn't you?" Her husband just nodded.

She turned around and nodded slowly before picking up the phone and dialing the church's number. "Hello? This is Fire Lord Honora, can I please talk to Fire Lord Zuko? Yes I'll hold…Hi Daddy, we have a bit of an issue…no, we know where he is…no he's not hung over, Dad, Dad the problem is he just woke up…yes, yes, could you do that?... no just assure them that we are on our way blame construction or something… No I don't think you have to fake a heart attack. Daddy please don't have a heart attack either. Love you, thank you." She put the phone down and yelled to the house. "I bought you guys an extra fifteen minutes use it wisely!"

Honora stood in the living room while bedlam erupted around her. She sighed and thanked the spirits she had only one child and her job of aunt did not entail as much work. She looked at Iroh's royal dress jacked and saber that were draped over the back of the sofa. She picked off a piece of white fuzz. About ten minutes later Iroh rushed out of his room wearing most of his clothes (he was missing his boots and one sock).

"Mom! Have you seen my dress jacket and saber?"

"They're down here Iroh. Don't you dare jump over that railing! Use the stairs like an adult! You're the groom not the ring barer! I swear to Fucking Yue if you do that again…where are your shoes? Go back up those stairs find your shoes and that missing soak now!" She looked at the groom's men who were almost ready to go. "You have the rings right?" She looked at Lee-hu (one of the United Forces buddies) who held up the two rings.

"Got them your Majesty."

Honora nodded. "Good, Iroh, I fucking told you to used the god damn stairs! Well you're down here now…ok you have everything." She licked her thumb and wiped the blood off her son's cheek. "There now grab the coat and sword we'll put them on at the church." She looked at the others. "To the car go!"

For the entirety of the car ride Honora fused over Iroh, making sure his hair was right, the correct buttons on his shirt were buttoned, that he had brushed his teeth and used only the proper amount of after shave. At first they expected Iroh to resist the fawning but the man seemed to have gone in to a kind of stupor.

Mako looked at him concerned. "Dude you ok?"

"I almost slept threw my own wedding. I never sleep in a day in my life and today I chose to sleep till noon. What if I had slept longer?" He ran his hands threw his hair effectively undoing what Honora had just done. "Korra would have freaked! She's probably freaking out now or-or mad me which I don't know which is worse."

Bumi patted Iroh on the back. "Just calm down, She doesn't know you were almost late and if you are, we'll blame traffic. Contrary to popular belief, they will not start with out you."

Iroh took a deep breath held it for a moment then slowly exhaled. "Ok, I am calm. Like a tranquil pond. Calm."

Bumi slapped Iroh on the back. "That a' boy! Now I need to talk to you about what is expected of you tonight."

Iroh glared at his stepfather. "Do not say another word, and stop throwing rocks into my tranquil pond. I got tonight covered don't worry."

"Are you sure? I hear your old nick name is still very intact." Mako joked.

Iroh crossed his arms. "If you had Tonraq as your future father-in-law you'd wait too." The sudden silence in the car was telling.

Mako bit his lip trying not to laugh. "Are you sure you don't want some advice there cuz?"

Iroh burred his face in his hands. "We are not talking about this. Let's just pretend I did not just admit that."

"You sure you don't want some pointers?" Bolin asked. "Cause I know-"

"No!" Iroh put his hands over Bolin's mouth. "I'm good, don't want to know! Oh look! we're here! I'm going in, comb my hair, finish getting ready, and scream in a pillow. You know normal things you do on a wedding day." The car stopped and Iroh practically ran out of it. "See everyone inside!"

Honora looked at Bumi then over at her two nephews. "Be nice to your cousin."

"Yes Aunt Honora." They answered in unison.

Iroh was fixing his hair when Tonraq walked up behind him and tapped him on the shoulder. The Prince jumped just a bit. "Sir, Chief Tonraq, uh good morning! I mean after noon! How are you?" Iroh smiled, maybe a bit too widely for Tonraq's taste.

"Are you ok son? You look…panicked."

"I'm fine! Not nervous, or stressed, or scared out of my wits because I have literally only been awake for." He looked at the clock on the wall. "Forty five minutes. I'm perfectly fine." He sighed and let his shoulders drop. "I'm not fine."

Tonraq nodded. "Let me guess, you're nervous, stressed, scared and have only been awake for the past forty five minutes." Iroh nodded. "Can I know why you are all those things? Because if you're worried about being a good husband to my daughter you've already proven that you can, even if you can't stop her from hiding her scars under a bunch of blue ink." Iroh pulled down on his left sleeve. "So why the panic?"

"I just wanted this day to be prefect for her. With everything that's been going on lately with the press hounding her about every decision she's ever made, whether that year long trip was a good idea, and that's not even counting all the people getting upset about us getting married." Iroh sat down on a near by bench. "I want her to be happy today and I don't want any of those negative things to cross her mind. And what do I do? I wake up late!"

Tonraq looked down at his soon to be son-in-law. "You're too hard on yourself Iroh, today is going to be wonderful. You two are both here and there's still fifteen minutes before the ceremony starts, so relax." He pulled out a white handkerchief and handed it to Iroh.

Iroh looked at it quizzically. "Thanks… Sir, is there something on my face? Am I bleeding again?"

Tonraq chuckled. "No you're face is fine. That pocket square has been sprayed with the perfume Korra wears all the time. When I was getting married to my wife, I was probably just as nervous as you were and that morning while I was waiting she had her brother hand me a pocket square just like that one that was practically drenched in her favorite perfume. Just being able to smell that familiar scent was just enough to calm my nerves." He patted Iroh on the shoulder. "It will all turn out ok. You'll see."

Iroh watched as Tonraq left the room then inhaled the scent on the pocket square. It was Korra's perfume all right. He closed his eyes and remembered how her cabin on the Leviathan had been permeated by the smell, mostly because the she had knocked a bottle of it over and drenched the carpet and her mattress. Iroh could feel his pulse slowing down. Standing up and putting the piece of cloth in his pocket, Iroh looked at himself in the mirror. His reflection looked back at him looking like a fabled prince charming. He straitened his jacket, made sure all his mettles and indicators of rank were strait, and secured the officer's sword on his belt. Taking one last glance at the mirror he walked out of the room only to be lead down a hall where his parents and the groom's men where waiting.

Korra visibly relaxed when her father returned and confirmed that Iroh had in fact arrived. She didn't say anything but she no longer looked like she was going to crush the flowers in her hands. She jumped a little when she felt her father's hand on her shoulder.

"Is it time?"

Tonraq nodded and immediately felt like an idiot. "Yes, it's time." Korra stood up, hugged her mother and all her brides maids before taking her father's arm and letting him lead her out of the room.

Iroh stood at the front of the chapel watching the doors intently. His breath quickened when he saw the parade of bride's maids wearing gold and blue dresses, The groom's men had red and silver colors to signify the uniting of the two nationalities. He had to smile when Asami winked at Mako as she walked up and took her place. Then the music changed and everyone in the room stood up.

Seeing Korra took his breath away. She was beautiful, no gorgeous. Iroh would always remember her beauty that day but would have to look at a photograph to remember what she actually looked like. The faint breeze that touched his face almost knocked him over. He saw Korra smile and laugh a little, and then he realized he was gaping. Picking his jaw off the floor, Iroh smiled and walked to his mark.

The ceremony was all a blur to Iroh, he was happy he only had to say two words. He was so transfixed on Korra that he probably would have messed it up if he had three. He resisted the urge to hug her after she said 'I do' and breathed the biggest sigh of relief when the efficient finally said. "I now pronounce you man and wife, you my kiss the bride."

Their first kiss was more face smash then kiss as Korra might have over estimated how far Iroh's face was from hers. A few of the guests chuckled (it sounded like Milo, and Tenzin actually) as, for a second try, Iroh put his hands on either side of her face and gently kissed her. True it wasn't the most romantic kiss they'd every shared but their teeth were still intact after it.

The pair then walked down the isle, out of the church, and into safety of the limo waiting for them which would leave the two along for a grand total of twenty minutes as all to soon the car would return back at the church for more pictures. But while they were in the back seat of the limo, they were alone.

As soon as the car's door was closed Korra's lips were on Iroh's. This kiss was passionate, needy, completely opposite of the kiss at the church. The driver of the limo just groaned in an 'ug, newly weds way'. When the two did break apart the driver reprimanded them. "You're in a limo not a hotel room so behave."

Korra snicker and pulled herself on to Iroh's lap. It was at this point Iroh actually noticed the dress. It was a form fitting white dress with phoenixes and dragons embroidered it to the scrollwork. He wrapped his arms around her so she wouldn't fall off.

"What cruel soul decided you should wear a mermaid dress? Can you really move in that thing?" looking closely he could see the out line of the guarder she was wearing on one hip.

Korra shook her head. "Not really."

"Then why did you pick it out?"

"I didn't, I made the mistake of saying 'I'm blind I really don't care what you put me in as long as it's white and looks good' during the meeting with the dress designer."

Iroh chuckled. "Well it is white and looks good. So you got what you wanted." He kissed her on the cheek.

Korra leaned her head against his shoulder. "You know the best thing about this dress?"

Iroh tilted his head to the side. "What?"

She smirked and whispered in his ear. "You get to rip it to shreds later."

"Well that is a point towards the dress." He kissed her on the neck. "So I'm afraid to ask but what are we supposed to do after this lovely scenic car ride?"

Korra groaned. "We get to take pictures. More damned pictures."

Iroh stroked the side of her face. "That's just mean."

"Yeah, but every one keeps saying that after to day those pictures will be the only things to hold all the memories of today." She frowned and Iroh could see sadness creeping in to her blue eyes. "Just scraps of paper."

Iroh kissed her hand, specifically her left hand with the ring. "That's not all that's going to be left after this day Kor, and having pictures of a big party isn't the point of this day either. We're married Gorgeous, that's what today is about. Two souls sealing a bond between them that neither a person nor a spirit can sever." He wrapped his arms protectively around her. "Every one who came is a witness to that. I love you Korra and I don't need scraps of paper to remember that. Smile love, so we have to take some pictures for our family members. How bad could it really be?"

At the twenty minute mark Iroh had come to the same conclusion his grandfather Sokka had: The universe loved proving him wrong. At the forty five-minute mark, both his and Korra's smiles were recognizably less genuine then those they usually had plastered on at private political events. At the hour mark Iroh was starting to regret not having eaten anything all day. At an hour and fifteen minutes he was starting to feel the room becoming too warm and like his was going to keel over. Ten minutes later, he did.

He came to a few moments later finding his head resting on Korra's lap while she air bent a cool breeze onto his face. His coat had been unbuttoned and so had the top of his shirt. He felt weak, disoriented, and a little bit dizzy.

Korra looked down at him. "Hey there, how you feeling love?"

"Dizzy, weak… ugh, kind of disoriented."

"Do you know who you are?"

"General Iroh, crown prince of the Fire Nation and husband to the avatar."

Korra smirked and nodded. "Do you where you are?"

"On the floor of a church located in the embassy district of Republic City."

"Do you know the date?"

"It's December 4th."

Korra pushed some of the hair out of Iroh's face. "Well, good news you're not too disoriented, you know who you are, where you are, and when you are. Do you remember what happened?"
"I remember feeling really warm and weak and then nothing until waking up here. I'm going to guess I collapsed."

Korra smiled. "Give this man a prize, he knows what happened."

Iroh lifted one of his hands as saw it was still shaking. "I probably should have eaten something today."

"Yeah, Mako and Bolin mentioned that you hadn't eaten."

"Speaking of which where is every body?" He looked around and saw that the only people still around were his family (minus Mako and Bolin) and Korra's parents and Asami.

"After you collapsed I sent most of them on to the reception."

Just then Mako and Bolin came running threw the door. "Hey sorry, it took so long." He held up a bottle of orange juice and a bag of animal crackers. "There are practically no corner stores around here." Mako opened the bottle while Korra and Bolin helped Iroh sit up. "Here drink this, it should get some sugar back into your system."

Iroh took the bottle gratefully and started to down the sweet liquid. After drinking about half of it he put the juice down. "Thanks."

Mako handed him the now opened bag of animal crackers. "Don't mention it. Just make sure I eat before I get married."

Iroh finished the animal cracker he was eating. "Deal. Speaking of t 'M' word, Asami's headed this way."

Korra looked amused. "It's the 'M' word now?"

"It's been the 'M' word when Mako is involved." Bolin joked.

"Ah...yeah," Korra nodded. "How you feeling babe?"

"Better, beautiful."

Bolin covered his ears. "Oh spirits! They're using pet names again!" He said in mock exasperation. "Don't start the challenge!"

Korra crossed her arms. "Hey, you were the one who said we didn't act like a couple a few months ago!"

Bolin put his hands down. "Yeah well on the out side you guys didn't until you to started using all those pet names!"

Korra raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, remember Bolin you were the one who came up with the 'pet-name' challenge in the first place. So blame your self for that."

The pet-name challenge had been Bolin's brainchild for getting all the couples they hung out with to show more affection. The gist of the challenged was that the couple could not refer or address to their significant other by their name and could only use one pet name once and couldn't repeat a pet name another couple had used. This had led to some…interesting pet names after awhile as they would soon run out of normal and relatively tame things to call their beloved. Each couple started to see how extreme they could make their pet names before another couple told them to please stop.

Each couple started to have a particular style of pet name. Bolin and Opal seem to gravitate more toward pun related names that involved air or rocks. Mako and Asami tended to use some of the most suggestive, innuendo, adult pet names ever invented by mankind. Korra and Iroh in a desperate attempt to make this challenge not a thing had taken the opposite approach and embraced the sugary sweet, cavity inducing, innocent as a baby moose lion, pet names. The challenged had been officially discontinued but that hadn't stopped it from unofficially popping up every now and then. Usually started by one couple using a pet name and then the unspoken challenge began. So far the reigning champions of the challenge were Mako and Asami because their pet names usually got every one else uncomfortable the fastest. Not surprising Bolin and Opal had reached the point of pun use that even Sokka would have found over the limit. Korra and Iroh were just happy their friends actually believed they loved each other even if it did mean Iroh using 'My fuzzy little fire ferret' as a term of endearment more than once.

Asami shook her head. "Chill Bo, it's their wedding day they can use pet names and not start the pet name challenge."

Mako looked at his watch. "Hey, It's almost 4, I think we should probably clear out of hear and head to the reception. That is if Iroh's feeling well enough to walk."

Iroh nodded and got to his feet before helping Korra up. "Yeah I think I'll be good, just needed to actually eat something." He looked at his hand that was still shaking a little. "Though, I think I'll avoid taking anymore pictures or standing for bit."

"You probably need to eat more then just orange juice and animal crackers." Fire Lord Zuko said as he walked up to the group.

"Probably, Grandfather." He smiled. "We'll see you at the reception?"

Zuko nodded and smiled. "Where else would I be?" He walked over and hugged Korra. "Just incase the reception is filled with nosy press welcome to the family, my dear."

Korra chuckled and kissed the former Fire Lord on the cheek. "Thanks, but you all ready welcomed me into the family."

Zuko smiled. "Maybe I'm getting forgetful in my old age." He looked at his grandson's. "I'll see all three of you at the reception, behave." He turned and left the church along with the rest of the older adults.

Mako rolled his eyes. "You get into one skirmish with your cousin and suddenly no one trusts you."

Bolin stroked his chin. "You know I don't think it's because of the fight Grandpa doesn't trust you."

Iroh took Korra's arm. "Yeah I think he doesn't trust you because you bleached and dyed my hair blue during that family trip."

Mako snicker. "Yeah, you're a really heavy sleeper do you know that?"

"I do now. We should probably leave now, the cleaning crew is giving us dirty looks."

The reception was in one of the largest ballrooms in the city decorated in the colors of both royal families. The wedding planners had gone to great pains to not only make the room beautiful but to also fill it with flowers that gave off the best combination of scent. When Korra walked in to the room it smelled like a garden, a very loud garden, but a garden nonetheless. She smiled but cringed on the inside as the applause was almost defining. She felt Iroh squeeze her hand.

"I'm right here love, you don't have worry I've got you."

She nodded. "It's just so loud." She whispered.

"I know."

They sat at the head table and for what seemed an eternity as an unending parade of people stood up and gave toasts to the new couple. The amount of drunken toasts were so numerous that the press ran out of time and had to leave before the first dance. During all those drunken and lengthy toasts one thing had become clear, practically everyone on the room thought that Korra and Iroh had given up on love and had instead gone for political gain.

The last straw was Tenzin's salute, which used the phrase. "I hope you learn to love each other as much as you care for each other."

At first Iroh could not believe what he had just heard. He looked over at Korra and saw the mask crack. Behind her eyes was a burning anger. He took her hand. "Korra? What's going on? What are you thinking love?"

"I'm thinking I'm tired of playing politics, tired of people saying I don't love you because I don't make out with you on the street corner, I'm sick and tired of all our friends thinking we have no passion because we chose to wait, I'm tired of playing the princess role because I don't want to offend anyone important."

"So what do you want to do about it?"

Korra raised an eyebrow. "You're not going to try to talk me down? Tell me to smile and pretend? Try to look happy for the guests?"

"Fuck 'em, I am tired of this shit too. So do you have a plan gorgeous?" From behind Korra, Iroh could see Tonraq looking at him. Tonraq looked just as please as Korra with the turn of events.

Korra nodded. "Yeah I'm thinking of one." She turned to her father. "I want to switch the order of dances. Can I have my dance with you and Iroh's dance with Honora's first?"

"Yes, you can make the switch. Korra what are you thinking?" Tonraq put his hand on her shoulder. "You can't start a fight with these people."

"Not going to start a fight. All these people here acting like I don't love my husband because they don't see passion?" She smirked. "I'll give them passion."

Iroh's eye flashed with illumination. "Ah, are you going where I think you're going?"

Korra smiled. "Yes, yea I am. Because I remember that dance lesson."

Iroh smiled. "This is going to be fun."

Honora looked over at the two then passed them at Tonraq. "I'd say play nice you too but…that last toast was the last straw. What can I do?"

Korra turned to her. "I need you to do this…."

The dances with the parents went smoothly, as planned. Nice slow elegant music played and the two couples danced like music box dolls. After the dance ended, Korra was escorted over to Iroh and more soft music started to play. Honora walked from the dance floor and over to where the band was playing and incidentally Mako and Bolin were also standing near there. Mako looked at his aunt.

"Everything ok? I saw Korra unhappy earlier."

"Yeah it will be in a moment. Just watch dear nephews cause you're about to see a show you can't buy tickets for."

Bolin raised an eyebrow. "And what show is that?"

She smiled. "A whole ball room of people will suddenly be unable to speak and yet most will be eating their words."

The two bother's turned to watch the dance. Korra suddenly stopped and looked down. "I can't do this. I can't pretend anymore." She walked over and grabbed a knife from the head table and the whole ballroom gasped and the music stopped. The whole room looked confused when Korra started to cut a slit into the side of her wedding dress. "I can't keep pretending that I can move in this dress." At this point Iroh had taken his jacket off and was starting to roll up his sleeves. There was a gasp when Korra finished the second slit and her legs were now visible.

Honora looked a bit surprised. "Well there's a story I want to know." She looked over and was even more surprised seeing her son's left arm. "Yup, got to be a story." She turned to the conductor. "I would if I were you play this song." She handed him a note. "When the couple tells you to start the music again." He looked at the note and nodded then moved to tell the rest of the band.

Korra pulled the pin that was holding her hair up so it hung lose around her face and then walked back over to Iroh. "Let's try this dance again."

The music started and just as the couple had hoped it was that rich, passionate, tango music. They started to move to the intoxicating notes while the rest of the room watched in stunned silence. As they danced Korra echoed what Iroh had told her almost two years before in a soft almost inaudible voice that only the two of them could hear.

"Remember, the most important thing about this dance is you've got to have passion."

Iroh pulled her in close. "It can be love or hate but you've got to have one."

Korra took the opportunity to kiss his on his jaw. "I prefer love over hate." She was spun around the room. "Because it's harder to convince a room you're in love then to convince them you hate a person's guts."

Another quick turn and Korra's leg was wrapped around Iroh's hip. "But it's possible." Iroh kissed her on the neck and Korra leaned her head back.

"Oh it's possible." Korra looked into Iroh's eyes and walked backward only to have him fallow. "You just have sex fully clothed on the dance floor." She felt Iroh's hands on her hips pulling her closer to him. "You need carnal urge that rivals even the most desperate of men." She let Iroh take the lead. "Be the forbidden lovers who just now get a moment alone." She was pulled into a dip so fast that she instinctually wrapped a leg around his torso to keep from falling. She could hear the songs end approaching. Their faces were so close she could feel his breath on her lips. "Just give them more fire on the floor then they can imagine in the bed." Their lips met in a kiss that rivaled the one he had given her right before being taken away by red lotus goons.

The dance ended and the room was silent. Until someone (best guess it was Bumi) yelled, "Yeah! That's how you do a first dance! Woot! Maestro hit it I need to hear some swing!"

The band started to play high tempo swing music and the dance floor filled with people while Korra and Iroh walked back to their seats. Korra was smiling and breathing hard when she sat down. She was about to say something when Zuko and Katara walked up to the couple.

Iroh looked at his grandfather and saw the old man smiling, Katara looked amused. "So that's why, dear grandson, you tough the avatar the Tango. Bravo."

Katara shook her head. "I don't think I've ever seen anyone pull a stunt quite like that. Accept maybe my brother."

Korra chucked. "Well I think, Iroh channels him more then people think."

Katara nodded and took the two couples hands and placed them together. "I know you've heard this probably a million times by now, but I wish you two all the luck and happiness in the world."

The two nodded and thanked her as she walked away with Zuko talking about the old days. Katara paused for a moment thinking back. "You owe me five gold pieces! Aunt Woo was right!"

Zuko looked confused for a moment and then looked back at the couple. "I'll be damned, I do. Huh, who would have guessed 'You and he shall share an heir and they shall love the avatar.' Would actually come true. I almost forgot that fortune and subsequent bet, I don't even remember what was going on around that time do you?"

Katara shook her head but still held out her hand. "Not really the years start to blur together after awhile. You still owe me."

Zuko nodded. "I do but at the moment I seem to be gold piece-less, how about I give you them tomorrow and we have lunch and that long conversation we've been meaning to have but have always put off."

Katara nodded. "I believe that would be an acceptable course of action old friend."

For the rest of the night not one person dared to even mention the possibility of the couple not loving each other and in one case Korra and Iroh actually got an apology. Tenzin looked quite repentant as he explained that he really hadn't intended for his toast to imply what it had. The two accepted the apology and spent the rest of the reception talking easily with people whom the trusted. The Cake cutting ended how anyone who knew Korra and Iroh expected, the two missed the other ones mouth completely and its still unclear if it was intentional or not. As per tradition Korra tossed the bouquet in to a sea of single woman and Asami caught it (Korra would admit later she did aim) and Iroh participated in the guarder toss, which was obvious he aimed, because he got Mako right between the eyes with it.

Back in the limo, Korra brushed the rice out of her hair and lazily leaned against her husband. Iroh wrapped an arm around her shoulders and sighed. "Almost alone at last." Korra nodded and snuggled into him a bit.

"So very close. How far is the hotel?" Korra felt the Limo slow to a stop. "Apparently this close."

She heard the car door open and was surprised when instead of letting her walk Iroh carried her from the car in to the hotel. She paused when instead of going to the front desk they went right to the elevator. "I checked in yesterday and made sure everything was ready." He whispered in her ear. "Wanted to make sure you could find everything and not have to deal with luggage tonight."

Korra found Iroh's lips and kissed him. "I love you." She kissed him again. "So much."

She felt his forehead against hers. "I love you too." Iroh carried her out of the elevator and down the hall. Korra heard the click of a key and a warm breeze as a door opened. He kissed her as he walked over the threshold.

As soon as the door closed Korra felt a change in Iroh, as his kiss became deeper more desperate he opened his mouth and their tongues fought for dominance. Ending the kiss, Korra felt Iroh move and gently set her down on what she figured was the bed. She heard the sound of fabric crumpling to the floor and when his arms were around her again she noticed he wasn't wearing his coat. He kissed her neck.

"Remember Kor, if at anytime you want to-"

She cut him off with a kiss. "I know just say so, we talked about it before." She kissed and then bit his lower lip. "I'm tiered of talking about it." Her hands unbuttoned his shirt as her lips explored his jaw line.

She gasped when she felt Iroh's hips grind against hers. She ran her hands over his soft skin felling the muscles tensing and relaxing under her fingers. Iroh's own hands wandered over her torso.

"I'm allowed to total this dress right?" Iroh's voice was lower and huskier then normal and it sent shivers up her spine.

"Rip it to shreds."

She hard the sound of fabric being torn, felt the fresh air against her bare skin, and moaned as Iroh's hands fully explored her chest. Korra pulled her lover fully on the bed so now she was lying on her back and Iroh was on top of her. It wasn't too long before both of them were free of the rest of their clothing and their bodies were writhing against each other trying to be as close at they could to each other.

Korra dug her nails into Iroh's back and bit his shoulder as parts of her were explored for the first time. Fearing he was hurting her Iroh stopped moving. "Don't. you. Dare. Stop. Now." She gasped before moaning as he moved within her. Her mind refused to comprehend the ecstasy she felt as he drove her over the edge moments before he fallowed after her.

She was still in a dais as she curled up against him, her head finding his shoulder as the best pillow. She could feel the waves of fatigue she had been fighting all day start to catch up to her. She felt Iroh's lip kiss the top of her head as his arms wrapped around her as the two drifted off. Too tired to say anything and so assured of the other's love that they didn't need to.

In the morning Korra would learn that Iroh hadn't even turned the light on to see. Their first time had been in a pitch black room so both had been equally blind. Now however she didn't know and really didn't care. As she fell in to the arms of Morpheus she didn't want anything more. Iroh held his wife close and silently wish that they could stay like that forever.


Prologue done, story has yet to be started but I feel like this can be posted independent of the rest of the story's completion.

I really hope you liked it, I do look forward to writing and posting the rest of the story. Before I go I wanted to share some things that I was not able to fit in and keep the feel of the story.

1. Between the church and the reception Korra and Iroh were originally going to get drive threw food but I just couldn't figure out how to fit it in. So just know the first meal they shared may have been the Avatar equivalent of Burger King.

2. After the Dance Mako was going to tell Iroh that he did not need any tips.

3. After their first time Korra was going to ask where Iroh learned how to make her feel like that and he would admit that she'd be surprised what kinds of books (i.e. manuals) get published.

So hope you enjoyed reading these tidbits. I shall see you later. As always comment if you feel so compelled. ~CC