After Jinora's anointing, Korra watched still in tears as everyone approached her as held her in their arms giving her their most sincere congratulations. It was then when she noticed, for the first time since Zaheer's rampant attempt to bring the world into chaos, that those who were around her were bonded to each other to something the White Lotus taught her to protect and hold as a beacon of light in dark times, something that she had forgotten in her confusion and fear: Love.

Beifong earthbended her down the stairs of the temple after the ceremony was finished, she said goodbye to everyone and was waiting for Tenzin and Jinora when Daerod and her sister Kayther showed up. Those two where a case of which she (or anyone else as far as she knew) had ever heard.

Their father Zaoi Lansord, was a firebender who camed from a line of renowned military commanders that had served the Firelord for generations, his great great grandfather was remembered by having personally directed the assault on the Southern Air temple the day the comet Firelord Sozin had discovered came and with which the Hundred-Year War started and his grandfather had been a loyal servant to Firelord Zuko in his efforts to establish peace in what later became Republic City.

Their mother Toph Benyong(named after the inventor of metalbending) was an earthbender whose family was known in the eastern Earth Kingdom as the richest and most honorable family in the area, and some said, even in the whole Earth Kingdom.

Daerod and Kayther shared many things (as all twins usually do), they even shared the difference in the color of their eyes (the left one red, the right one green), to the amaze of the world. The differences where many, starting by their attitudes: Daerod had a calm temper, an imposing figure that stood at an incredible 1.92 meters, a monumental tall, thin body that showed muscles to put the strong man in the circus show to shame, black hair and a grin that you didn't knew if he had just figured out how to kill someone without getting caught, or a simple smile of happiness.

Kayther was impulsive and unstable, to the point where she almost had gotten herself admitted to an asylum once. She held the believe that planning is useless since nothing can be accurately predicted, so she would just DO things, like having an air bison or being a Mayor in the United Forces at 25 (which surprised everyone since she didn't looked like the kind of person to function in a fight, but she proved herself in several occasions through the many crises that occurred in the time Korra was known as the Avatar and some other moments that had occurred in her years in the army).

She was a beautiful as she was smart: She figured by herself the inner works of the Satomobile as a little girl; she specialized in engineering and had the energy and stamina of an electrical central. She was 1.89 meters tall, a figure that made people mistake her for a model and had changed her hair from the family black to a silver blonde with a permanent hair dye.

Another difference in them was their bending: Daerod was a firebender who was said to shoot lightning bolts since he was 10 and Kayther was an earthbender who figured out metalbendind as soon as she came back from her first earthbending lesson at the age of 7.

Kayther's Bison, named Haybale, was an adult air Bison that had a goofy look except when he was angered, then that goofy looking face changed to an angry face that had scared the some of the most dangerous animals in the planet.

Mounting Haybale's head was Kayther and in the back, Daerod could be heard telling her:

-I told you we were going to be late

- If one more word comes out of you, I will go back there and shove you my fist so deep in your throat that I will get back the sweet roll you stole from me when we were 6!

Korra grinned a little by hearing this, she always had a blast with those two, even when they had such extravagant personalities, she couldn't think of anyone else to cheer her up in this dire time.

Daerod first noticed her traditional Water Tribe outfit before realizing she was in a wheel chair, which placed him in a anxiety state that Kayther was surprised to see in his brother. She had ever seen him like that, but neither had she seen him as in love as he was with Korra.

-Was it that bad? I heard in the news that Zaheer and his group where a pain to get and what happened with the metal clan, but I never imagined this!-Daerod said trying to get a hold of himself.

-He tried to kill me and destroy the Avatar cycle by poisoning me so I would go to Avatar State and then taking me out so the cycle would break. I can move my legs, but I can't stand-Korra was about to start crying and Kayther held her in a warming hug that lasted for what Korra felt like an hour.

That's how bad she felt about everything that had happened to her. Not just Zaheer, but also Unalaq and Amon had made their mark on her, haunting her, making her question herself everything she was and dreamed of.

When she was little, she thought being the Avatar was going out to the world stopping thieves and evil people from hurting the innocent. Now she knew what it was to be targeted, not only by the media, but by almost anyone who thought the world had to change, and in the sake change they wouldn't stop at anything to achieve it, that she could be killed so easily that even Meelo could do it, if he set his mind to it. The mere thought of death still haunted her and worried her; What if she dies? Would she be the First Avatar to die at 18? Would she be remembered for stopping Unalaq, Amon and Zaheer? Would she even be remembered at all?

Daerod could see the tribulations in Korra's mind through her eyes. They were starting to get wet with tears. And he could tell she had cried before getting there, a lot. He didn't knew what to do; he asked himself: How do you comfort the Master of All 4 Elements? She's not made of steel, but she was the ability to destroy Ba Sing Se in the blink of an eye. What do you tell someone who it is said to have 10,000 years of accumulated wisdom to their disposal?

Daerod pondered what to do next when Asami came to take Korra back home. They had some history between them and she was still nervous to see him. All of what they felt, experienced and did together was still in Asami's mind…and Daerod knew, with no little satisfaction, oe thing he always loved was to drive girls mad whenever he could, at any moment and situation. But with Korra, either he was too afraid of making her turn to a Weapon of Mass Destruction or he felt she had to be protected. And in this case the second option buzzed in his head like a bee.

-Hi Daerod! Hi Kayther! How are you? You missed the ceremony! It was beautiful!

-I know-Daerod said with his deep voice that was one of the many thing women used to find attractive of him-Kayther had the brilliant idea to stop for cake…for herself

-SHUP UP!-Kayther shouted stomping the ground and in the process, making a hole in the ground of the temple-I told you that if heard you sayin…HEY THERE ASAMI! How are you? You look awesome in your jacket as always!

Asami loved how Kayther could change attitude as fast as she could make an engine, she always admired Kayther's capacity to understand complex ideas and follow them. Daerod on the other hand, she liked him for many things; some she could say, others…not so much. Kayther had a taste for adult stories, and some of the ones Asami had with her brother could surprise her...her, knowing a lot of stuff Asami couldn't even think of…in all subjects.

Asami couldn't stop taking her mind to that place: The one where she remembered and her body shook to some things she had done with Daerod. Things that opened her mind to ways and levels of pleasure of which she hadn't dreamed of.

Daerod knew (much to his enjoyment) what was going through Asami's head, and he would've normally later implied her if she would like to remember old days, but since Kayther told Korra about his feelings, and Korra told her back that she felt something for him, Korra was all the thought about. It was his reason to be in that outfit that made him look so elegant and made all the ladies who passed the bakery where they stopped for cake. The reason he wrote enough poetry to fill books. And they were all about Korra. His sister read some; she was convinced he could make the family fortune with them, should he publish them one day.

He had a few of them with him, maybe he could get her to feel better with them, and finally ask her what he wanted to ask her since he realized he loved her more than he had love anyone else in the world.

-This…buddy with whom I share blood and Birthday-Kayther was still trying to stop cursing like the soldier she was- says half a truth as always. We did stopped for cake, but it wasn't just for ME! I BROUGHT HER SOME TOO!

-1 slice…you ate 3 cakes

-She's young and needs to take care of her teeth and diet since she's in a growing stage

-I think we can agree she'll be happy with it-Asami interrupted trying to hold her laugh

-I think she's a troglodyte who swears like a sailor and drinks like 10-Daerod said smilling with that grin of his

-I think you wanna find out the hard way why the call me The Crushing Mountain

-Cause you crushed your face through the Battalions food supply?

-If you keep that up, I'll send you to Whale Tail Island in a first class rock-ship. My treat

Korra started laughing as hard as she could, for the first time in what seemed an eternity she remembered what it was like to be with friends, having fun and good times.

-You people could make a fortune by doing comedy shows where you just fight over stuff.

-And later on hearing people trying to be like this… wise guy and trying his comebacks when rejected? Your job as Avatar is to keep the balance in the world. That would be jeopardized with all the bad comebacks and puns his one has on his head.

- Why would the balance of the world be in danger?

-Imagine if everyone used those puns. Everyone would become so stupid that they would affect the balance of the world and put it upside down- Everyone else wasn't sure if to laugh of amusement or out of mere commitment to Kayther

-So where's the new airbending master who got some awesome tats to show the Navy guys at the docks?

Asami wondered if Kayther would actually introduce Jinora to his Navy friends. She never understood how she had navy friends in the first place with her being in the Land Corps, and if drinking wasn't against the Air Nation set of believes

-She's with Tenzin and Pema . They looked forward for this day since quite a while

-Let's leave Daerod with Korra, they have some catch-up to do-Kayther winked as she said the last part

As they left them alone, Korra passed from being happy to be uncertain as to what to do with Daerod. She was older than her but it didn't matter to either of them. What bothered Korra was that she was afraid of hurting Daerod and that things turned out like they did with Mako.

-Do you wanna talk about it or do you wanna talk of your past month?-Daerod knew Korra didn't know what to say to him

-I wanna talk about both; Daerod, I love you, but Im afraid of everything right know. Me, Life, Love, Everything. The last month showed me that I'm so vulnerable Meelo could kill me.

-That's something you should not think about. I doubt any Avatar had faced a guy who turned earth into lava, an octopus Waterbender, a woman that could blow things with her mind and a guy who could fly.

-Actually, Avatar Aang faced a guy who could blow thing with his mind too.

-I know, Combustion Man I think Chieftain Sokka named him. But that guy was alone, they were organized, members of a Secret Society.

-Yes, which makes me fear of anyone I don't know, anyone could be one of them trying to kill me

Then Daerod did something Korra would always remember: He knelt and kissed her feet, the he held her hands and said: I bow to you that for them to get to you they will have to get through me, I will not leave you again. Never.

Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out a necklace; the most beautiful one Korra had ever seen. It was the Water Tribe Symbol with incrustations of Blue Sapphires and Diamonds, and the necklace had little Emerals and Rubies in the collar.

-Would you marry me?

-But...but…I…My father…I…My Mom…I…can't even walk

-One: After Unalaq, your parents and the Southern Water Tribe are more than aware of whom I am. Chieftain Tonraq would be more than glad if you said yes, and Senna already calls me Son, lets just add the "In law" to that, shall we? Two: I've loved you since I met you, and Love is about being for one and other in hard times. I will help you out of this. Out of anything. Always

Korra's eyes started to get wet, and Daerod got scared and was going to get away had it not Korra stopped him by holding his face and the pushing him to her lips. They kissed and Daerod just felt the world banish and it became just them. Nothing, not the wind, not the water running in the temple, not the songs of the birds, nothing was around. It was just them in that embrace that could've lasted forever if not for Korra retreating to say something:

-Be mine. Now and always. I'll do my best not to screw up

-You won't, The Master of All 4 Elements can't mess up anything, everything you do is for a reason, even if you don't know it, there's a reason in everything you do. I will always find it-as Daerod said this he had a grin only a few had seen: One of confidence

Daerod placed the necklace in Korra's neck and then he went behind her and pulled the wheelchair to where Kayther and Asami had gone.

Tenzin was still crying out of proud that Jinora had becomed a Master and Pema couldn't even react to how changed her daughter was: Her shaved head and the blue tattoos made her look like Aang. But Pema knew it was her daughter, and that she had becamed the symbol of a new generation.

Meelo and Ikki where still playing with her sister like if nothing had changed, but they couldn't admire Jinora more than they did on that day. When they saw Kayther approaching; they all cheered: If there was an adult they could see as one of them it was Kayther.

Ikki described everything from her as awesome, for her clothing to her mismatched eyes to her bending skills. Meelo had a crush on her so bad he once gave her flowers and tried to impress her by eating a whole cake, little did he knew Kayther had won bets in the army in how could in more and still do exercise routines without puking; but she still gave him a kiss in the forehead that made him blush and look like a baby tigercat.

-Hey Kayther! How's Haybale? Did you go on a new mission? Uncle Bumi told us about some of the missions you did together! Is it true you stopped a Shirshu with your barehands? Is it true the Dai Lee taught you to earthbend? Is it true you made a Warlord for his mom?-Ikki asked with her usual energy.

-Fine. Yes, I did, I'm actually in a new spec-ops unit. I'm glad he did, I wish he hadn't retired, the old man is missed in the army. It wasn't my barehands, I had my hand covered with earthbended rocks like the Dai Lee do. Yes, they gave me a few lessons courtesy of their leader who was a friend of the family. Yes, that happened, the Warlord cried and begged for his mom, whom curiously enough was with his raiding party.

-AWESOME! You're so AWESOME!

-Thanks Kiddo, and how's my little man doing? Has he being a good boy?

Meelo blushed and stared at her eyes, which he found perfect as only they could be-Yes, I've been a good boy! Ask Dad!

-And where's the new Airbending Master? I wanna fight her and get her a drink so we can now say we fully know each other!

Tenzin and Pema were nervous about the last part. Bumi had told them she usually meant what she said about not knowing someone until you had a fight and a drink with them, so Tenzin came up and said: No fighting today. It would spoil this happy occasion.

-Oh come on! I've never fought an Air Bender! I wanna see some of those moves I've read Avatar Aang had that were the upper hand in his combats!

-One day you'll do. We've decided as a group that the Air Nation will help keep the balance n the world. We'll travel the world and uphold the balance wherever it is we're needed.

-United Forces already beat you to it. My new unit purpose is similar. To stop bandits and criminals of any kind wherever they are. We'll be out of jurisdiction of the laws of the Water Tribes, The Fire Nation and The Earth Kingdom. We'll only answer to the high command of the United Forces. They're still thinking a name for us; my favorite is Blade Runner Operatives.

-WOW! You're so AWESOME! I wanna be like you and join United Forces and become one of you!-Ikki said almost crying with excitement of the news her hero had just said.

-I doubt that your father would agree in you joining the army but if you do and if you become that good like to get you name into the candidates list, I'll see you there and we'll go together around the world for a while.

-Dad! Can I join the army!? PLEASE!

-You do need a representative Tenzin

-I don't know. You're still just a little girl. Ask me when you're older

Ikki took that as a yes and cheered, Meelo would join the army just to get orders from Kayther and he would also ask later for his father's permission. Kayther reached into a handbag she had on her and pull out a piece of cake, Jinora's favorite kind of cake, in a little plastic case she bought just for the occasion, as was Kayther's habit to buy special things for special occasions.

-Jinora, sweetie, have your first piece of cake as an Air bending Master. I'm so glad you've finally been promoted! Let's fight and have a drink in this week! Shall we? You're almost a woman now!

Jinora didn't knew how to react. Kayther was her best friend and the idea of fighting her just didn't sound right in her head. The drink part had gained her attention like all 14 year olds, but didn't knew how would her father react about her going out to a bar with Kayther and have some drinks with her and her friends.

-I don't know, I don't wann fight you. I don't want anything to change between us!

-Nothing will change! If you win I won't be sore! I'll be glad because you're THAT good as to beat me!

-Later,Ok? Now I just wanna be with my family and enjoy the moment

-Of course, and plus Tenzin is right, it could spoil this happy moment is we went and had a fight just for fun.

Asami then stepped up and gave Jinora a tender hug and then the keys to Satomobile, her own Satomobile to drive when she became of age.

It was then that Daerod showed up with Korra and everyone noticed the beautiful, shiny necklace she had in her neck.

Kayther smiled and then said out loud: Ladies and Gentleman, I bring you the newest bride and groom in the city! My Brother and Avatar Korra!

-Really? But hasn't Korra just turned 18 2 months ago?-Pema said happy but a little worried Korra was making a really serious decision at a very young age- Any way Im so glad for you, I wish you a long, happy marriage with plenty of children.

-YEAH! I want 5 little nieces and 5 little nephews!

-Don't you think those are too many children? -Daerod said worrying Korra could get intimidated with that last wish. For all he cared they could have those many children. He would love them all because they would be their sons and daughters. His and Korra's. He still had to get used to the idea he would get what he wanted , to wake up every morning to those beautiful blue eyes, that tender, energetic voice would be the one to wake him up and the last he heard before going to sleep. That his children would resemble that beautiful woman whom he loved more than his sister, his mother and father and anything else the world, Korra had become his world. One he would protect at any cost.

-In so happy for you two! You're soo for each other!-Jinora said happy for the new couple and wondering if she had find her own soulmate

-WOW! Does that mean you'll get married under Water Tribe traditions and go to live with Korra's parents until the wedding and then travel to the North Pole and swear love and protection to each other in the Spirit Oasis? And then you'll have a Fire Nation Wedding were you walk through fire holding hands?-Ikki seemed so amazed of how things started to change for the best and how Korra looked a little better than in the morning

-I don't know. Maybe we'll do both traditions. I just wanted a nice little ceremony that Korra was going to organize and then we would just go to Ember Island for a nice little retreat to spend time with each other and rest. Daerod couldn't still handle Ikki's excessive energy and speed to talk.

Korra looked a little sad and then said-I want to wait until I can walk again. I doubt my parents would like to deliver me in a wheelchair.

Daerod expected she would say that, but still felt a little sad. He was as excited as Ikki, but knew he didn't had to express it, everyone could imagine how excited the new groom was, so he just wondered how to tell his mom about a wedding in the South end in the world. She hated the cold and despised the snow.

-When you were doing that necklace, my first thought was that you were spending the weekend in your room jacking it really bad, until I saw a little bag with Emeralds- Kayther obviously forgot that there were children around

-What's jacking it? And why would he be spending his whole weekend doing it?-Meelo asked

-Is it a game? How do you play it? Can we play too? What do you do when you jack it?-Ikki asked with extreme curiousity

Tenzin and Pema's face went blue in awe as Kayther smiled as she realized her slip- It's not a game. It's what you call it when an adult thinks really hard about those he loves and misses and he locks himself somewhere to think of those he loves. It's adult thing.

Tenzin and Pema could breathe again and got a little relieved when they saw their kids believed that little white lie.

Turning to Korra, who was a little behind the rest of the group, Kayther went and told her brother in the ear-Do I give her the "When a man and woman love each other very much" talk or she knows?

-I don't even have the guts to ask her that, would you kindly do it for me? – Daerod was embarrassed of how he could o all that stuff to Asami in bed but with Korra he was as useless as a 5 year old trying to metalbend when he was a Firebender.

-You sissy bastard, I'll give her the talk, you mount Haybale,ok?. And whatever your hear, you don't interrupt me, am I clear?-Kayther asked with a tone she usually held to give military orders

-Ok, just don't tell her about me and Asami yet. I'll tell her later, when the time is right.

-Fuck that. You'll never tell her. I know you. I'll tell her but not the whole thing. As a woman I know how to handle this. Trust me

-Ok, don't mess up, please.

Backing off Kayther knelt and said to Korra looking her straight in the eye with the look of a little girl trying to make a cute face to manipulate her parents into getting her something- Korra, my beloved sister-in-law, would you do me the honor of coming to my house and have some drinks to celebrate your engagement with my brother?

-I wouldn't want to bother you. Im a mess right now. I need the kids to do everything for me. I can't even change into my pijamas to sleep- Korra hid her face in her hands to cry in desperation. She felt so helpless she couldn't remember all those times she demonstrated the world how powerful she was.

-I know the feeling too well. So does General Bumi. Any soldier who's been in the fight has know it. The Doc's call it Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, it's what you get when you live things you could've never imagined and so awful they don't seem from this world. What's your nightmare about? Mine was me getting tortured again. A story that I won't let the children hear. I'll tell you in my house.

Korra was surprised that Kayther knew about the nightmares. Nobody knew she woke up in the middle of the night swimming in her sweat as she saw Vautuu and Zaheer again in that cave where she was poisoned, helpless, feeling the poison corrupting her, killing her slowly. She remembered every bit of it until she went to Avatar State.

-So what is it?

-The cave where I almost got killed.

-I knew it. I'll watch over you tonight. It will help you, trust me.

Tenzin and the others were astonished to hear that. They could've imagined Korra would have troubles still but not like that. They help Korra into Haybale's mount and then Daerod got him off the ground, nervous for what was going to happen next.