Bolin's never felt so lucky as he does in this moment. He'd always been content, sure—Mako took care of him, Pabu adored him, and he had droves of fans from his pro-bending career. But this, this was something more, and Bolin was going to cherish it.

It'd hit him like a lightning strike, like a vision from the spirits, the first time he saw her in the arena gym. This is the one. So he'd strolled over, rescued her from Toza's annoyance. It took years for her to see him the same way, pining over his brother as she did. But airbending seemed to settle something in her spirit, and at Mako and Asami's wedding she stands from her seat at the high table and congratulates them with a wide, open smile.

When Bolin asks her to dance, later, she smiles and takes his hand. By the end of the night they are a couple, and he swears to himself that he'll never ever let go of her. Of course they were never going to be a fairytale pair like his brother and Asami. He's too awkward and clumsy to play Prince Charming, and she's rougher around the edges than any princess has rights to be; but he doesn't care. This was where fate had led them, to nights of noodle-slurping contests and pushing each other into the bay, nights of rowdy family dinners with Mako and Asami and the airbenders, and he's happy. He hopes she is too. But when Asami and Mako announce at one such dinner, six months after the wedding, that Asami is three months pregnant, he decides he wants that for them too. He wants more.

So when Korra suggests they visit the South Pole so she can introduce him to her parents, he readily agrees. Tonraq isn't quite so terrifying once you get used to him, and he turns downright delighted when Bolin takes him and Senna aside as soon as Korra leaves the house to walk Naga, and pulls out the small metal pendant he's bent, inlaid with bits of emerald and sapphire. Senna is over the moon, of course. "My baby's getting married!" she squeals, and crushes him in a hug. Spirits, now he understands how Korra could pick up three children and a grown man in her arms. She didn't get it from her father, that was sure.

Korra comes back into the igloo then, covered in snow and grinning. When she sees her boyfriend being lifted a good foot off the ground, she snorts and says, "Hey, mom, lay off. He's mine."

Senna only smiles as she sets him down and replies, "Well, it's not every day I find a man who likes my cooking, sweetheart. You picked a good one." She puts an arm around her daughter's shoulders and steers her into the kitchen, saying, "Now tell me all about Republic City. How's your airbending training coming along?" She winks at Bolin over her shoulder as she walks away, and he smiles back and tucks the necklace into his parka.

He doesn't find the right time to give it to her until months later, when they're back in Republic and Asami's having her baby. The pale blue silk feels red-hot in his pocket, or like it must be glowing for the whole room to see. He's been carrying it with him ever since the South Pole, but he hasn't told anyone-save Tonraq and Senna-of his plans. Not even Mako. He and his brother are close, they always have been, but this is something he wants to be his and his alone. Mako appears then, with a bright, tired smile on his face, and he and Korra try to beat Ikki and Meelo and six-year-old Rohan into the room, while Jinora and her parents follow behind more sedately (the nurses try to protest at such a large group, but Korra just fixes them with her best "I Am The Avatar" look and they step aside).

Asami is sitting up in bed and holding a yellow bundle in her arms. She looks radiant, and Mako beside her seems as though he might burst from happiness. Korra glances at him and grins, and Bolin has another flash-thought like he did so long ago in the pro-bending gym. Now. Do it now. He slips a hand into his pocket discretely, folding the betrothal necklace into his fist. He takes her by the wrists with his free hand and turns her to face him, folding his closed hand over theirs. He opens his fist into her upturned hands, and everyone looks over at them as Korra gasps. He doesn't need to give a heartfelt dedication of his love for her, like Mako did for Asami. She already knows, and besides that they've never been a fairytale couple. But as the airbender kids squeal and Mako wraps an arm around his wife and Pema smiles as she cuddles the baby and Korra kisses him in answer to his unspoken question, he thinks that this is more than he ever wanted. And he loves it.

Review, lovelies! It feeds my soul.