CHAPTER 1

One would think that being the Avatar instilled an ability to fix anything. Apparently, that wasn't the case in this situation.

Korra tossed and turned all night, never having gotten more than a few minutes of sleep at a time. Her brain was on overload and she couldn't get it to calm down. She thought about getting out of bed so she could walk out into the garden to meditate, but she knew how Asami would get upset if she woke up alone. Not that she would ever say anything, but it was always written all over her face the next day. That little twinge of heartbreak was too much for Korra to withstand, so she never got up unless absolutely necessary. In this case, she would just have to deal with it.

It had been a few months since they received the news. Modern medicine made for lots of options, but they all took their own toll. After many conversations, they settled on one course, not fully knowing what the impact may be, if there'd be any at all.

Asami stirred next to her, laying on her back while her body worked through a series of little stretches. She settled again with her head turned towards Korra as her cheek laid on the arm that stretched above her head. She was incredibly gorgeous, even more so when she was sleeping. A strand of hair fell over her face, the end tickling her nose shown by the little twitches in her nostril. Korra rolled onto her side, her head propped up by her elbow. She reached over and pulled the strand back, tucking it behind her ear. Immediately it fell back over Asami's eye, dangling across her cheek. Again, she brushed it aside, tucking it away a little more securely this time. She could do this all night, every night. Just gazing at her sleeping love's face, fighting against unruly hairs in an effort to get an un-obscured look. She breathed in heavily, relishing in the smell of Asami's hair as a whiff of cherry blossoms and sea breeze made her body tingle and curl into the sleeping beauty.

"What time is it?" a groggy Asami quiety asked as she felt Korra move against her.

"A little after 3. Go back to sleep."

"Why aren't you sleeping?"

"I'm just thinking. I'll go to sleep soon, I promise."

"I know you well enough that when you get caught up in your head you won't fall asleep. Do you want to talk about it?"

"Not really."

"Are you worried?" Asami began to shift, pulling the arm over her head down to place her hand against the soft, tanned cheek hovering above her.

"I'm always worried," Korra sighed. Her eyes drifted downward knowing that her girlfriend wasn't going to let it go now.

"Don't be. I'll be fine. The doctors said they're optimistic about the treatment we decided on. So far the side effects have been minimal. I'm lucky they caught it in time."

"Minimal or not, the side effects are there. It just scares me because I can't fix it. I have all this power but with this… with this there's nothing I can do. I feel helpless. I feel useless."

At this point, both girls are wide-awake, shifting from time to time in their conversation. Korra's free hand moves up the side of Asami's body, slowly brushing against her perfect curves and resting on the side of her breast. Her hand has a slight shake and Asami bends at the elbow to rest her hand on her terrified girlfriend's, wrapping her fingers around it to steady it. "Look at me…" Korra's eyes shift back up to those astounding gems that she thanks Agni for everyday. "I can handle a few side effects if it means we beat this thing. I have you to help me. Everyone has offered their support when we need it and I'm not afraid to take it, Agni help us should we ever get to that point. But I'm still here, and I need you to stop worrying because it makes me worry and I don't have time for that. I want to be happy and focused on getting better so that I can spend my life with you. Do you understand that?"

Korra leans in and captures the beauty's lips briefly but with reassurance. "I understand. I do… but it doesn't change the fact that I feel useless in this situation."

"You are anything but useless," Asami states with a hint of sternness. "Your love and devotion is what helps me get through each day. I wouldn't be able to go through this without you. When you're strong, I'm strong. We'll get through it together."

Korra lays back against the pillows and pulls a porcelain arm towards her, bring the love of her life into her embrace as Asami rest her head against her shoulder. "I promise to be strong for you. I promise I'll do anything and everything to make this as easy as possible. I'll be by your side every step of the way."

"Good. That's all I want, with the exception of some sleep. We have a long day of appointments tomorrow. I can't have you falling asleep when I need you to fill out paperwork. So please, turn that wonderful brain of yours off and drift into some dreams with me?"

"I can do that. Anything for you." And with that they both held each other a little tighter and drifted off, putting the next day aside and dreaming only of each other.