Author's note: Sorry for the delay. Being sick put this on hold. I hope you all had a wonderful New Year's. Your reviews and criticism are always infinitely appreciated. I hope you enjoy this chapter.

(Asami's POV)

Spirits fly over my head and around me, the various shapes and forms of them are a blur as they pass. I have been in the spirit world for 2 days now, and the sights and smells are still a wonder to me. The spirit world is strange, constantly changing based on emotions, no certainties except for uncertainty. The weather constantly shifting, landscapes looking impossible.

One of the spirits flies in front of me and makes a cute sputtering sound. It is a dragonfly bunny spirit like Bumi's friend, Bum-Ju, except this one was light purple in color with darker ears. It flutters about in an almost dancing motion and then hovers away, spinning as it soars. A smile forms on my lips as the adorable creature almost dances in the air.

As it leaves my gaze, my eyes return to my guide and friend, Korra. She is walking in front of me with a few feet of distance, leading me to this surprise friend of her's. She says he isn't far now, but I can't process how she knows where anything is in this maze world that is constantly changing and shifting, or how she met anyone here in the spirit world... Then again, stranger things have happened in our journeys together so I shouldn't be all that surprised.

Being behind her allows my eyes to take in her beauty without fear of getting caught, to be able to take in the complete sight of her body. Her muscles are clearly defined even in her clothes, despite being well built, she has breathtaking feminine features. Her curves cause me to lower my eyes as I take in every detail of her lovely physique. Soon after I shake free and regain control from the mesmerizing view, a blush comes to my cheeks.

It has been like this for a while now... Me stealing glances of my water tribe friend, admiring her, secretly desiring her. How long I have felt this way is unknown to me, but the first time I consciously remember doing this is when me and Korra started hanging out before Zaheer attacked, when I was teaching her how to drive. As she talked to me, making light conversation about our shared ex and harmonic convergence, I was stealing glances at her sapphire blue eyes, feeling weak thanks to them. Her smiles and laughs make my heart flutter. I wanted to tell her back then, but the time never seemed right and when it did... I cowered.

When Zaheer poisoned Korra, it was one of the scariest days of my life. I had experienced loss in multiple ways, losing my mother to that firebender, losing my father to hatred of all benders... But none left me as hopeless as when I thought I lost Korra. As I saw her start breathing slower and slower, not healing no matter what we did, my heart was raising. Her eyes started closing, my eyes started watering, a silent prayer being uttered under my breath begging her to be safe.

She stopped breathing.

I felt like a part of me had died, the love of my life was gone. My best friend was gone. Korra... Was gone. I was ready to breakdown and start bawling, to give up entirely... But then, I heard that gasp. As I opened my eyes I wanted to kiss her, to hug her, to slap her for making me afraid that she was dead. But I could tell she was through enough today, her friend harboring secret feelings for her didn't seem appropriate to learn about today.

I stayed by her side almost daily after that, trying to help her as much as I could. Bringing food and eating with her so she wasn't alone, talking to her to keep her mind off of what happened, changing her and helping her bathe. My feelings for her were the furthest thing from my mind, she needed a friend at that moment, and I was going to be there for her in any way possible that she needed. At Jinora's ceremony where she became a master I held her hand, telling her if she ever needed me, I'd be there for her. Her face didn't move, but I knew she understood. It continued this way between us for a few more days before she started opening up to me.

She started to smile a few times after a week, they were brief and small, but felt genuine and gave me hope that she was on her way to recovery. We started making small talk again, it almost felt like before the whole mess started, where we could just talk and laugh and the world was stable. There were nights where she cried into my shoulders saying she felt useless, how it would be better to just end it all and let the next avatar be born seeing as a paralyzed avatar is not effective at protecting the world. I held her tightly saying that she was recovering, that she'd be back to full strength before she knew it, that no matter what happened I'd always view her as one of the strongest people I have ever known. That I'd never think badly about her, and I'd always be there for her. It would continue until she'd eventually pass out in my arms, too weak from crying. I'd let her down gently, but there were times where I held onto her and slept through the night with her, knowing she needed someone to be there when she would wake up in the morning, to make her feel better, to make her feel stronger.

At the news that she was leaving for the South Pole to receive healing treatments from Master Katara, I was ready to leave with her. Without even asking I was packing my bags and planned how long it would take, how many days I would have off from my company, what clothes I'd need to survive down in that frozen tundra. And when I asked Korra if she'd like me to come, she said politely "No, thanks, but I need to do this alone." I felt crushed, but understood. "It'll only be a few weeks." I told myself constantly "She'll be back to normal and then we can hang out again." Weeks went by, not a day passed without me missing her. I decided to send some letters to keep in contact with her.

Dear Korra,

Things haven't been the same without you here. The city is being rebuilt and everyone is starting to become adjusted to the spirits and spirit vines covering the city to the point that it has become a tourist attraction! We are trying to calm the fires in the Earth Kingdom.

But enough about the serious stuff, I miss you. I hope everything is working out well. Knowing you, you'll be sprinting across the pole soon and Katara and your parents are going to have to restrain you just to make sure you don't hurt yourself again. I eagerly await your return. If you want, I could even visit, just let me know. I know I have said it a lot already, but I will always be there for you no matter how you need me.

Love, I scratched this part out of my letter.

Your friend,

Asami Sato.

Days pass by and eventually a few weeks pass, no reply. I decided to write back to her again.

Dear Korra,

I guess the healing process has taken a little longer than we thought, but don't feel sad or angered because of it, take as long as you need. If anyone has earned a well deserved vacation, it's you. Just get better, we can't wait to see you again. I can't wait to see you again.

Tell me how you've been, how are the treatments going? When you come back I can't wait to show you my new bike, we can even let you test drive it. Don't worry, it's outfitted with a metal alloy that makes it impervious to most damage, so you don't have to worry about crashes. If all goes well, we can even make one for you, think of it as a welcome home present.

Your friend, Asami Sato.

Weeks become months, still no replies. After a year I wrote one last letter.

Dear Korra,

I'm sorry if I've been smothering you with letters, I miss you, but judging from how many letters I've sent and how many replies I've gotten, you've either forgotten me or are trying to avoid me... Both options hurt, but I hope you're happy and are doing better where ever you are. I will always care for you Korra, you're one of my closest friends and my life would never have been the same without you in it.

Love, Asami Sato.

A week goes by and still no reply, I sighed and accepted that she has forgotten me, or she figured out my feelings and I scared her away. It hurts, but I bury myself in my work, trying to do what I love to cheer myself up. After a week, the hurt started to fade, not completely, but I smiled much more than I had in a while. As I returned home one day, I received my mail from my assistant, bills, deals, my Cycles and Mobiles monthly magazine, and strangely enough, a letter. As I examined the letter, I saw the name of who wrote it... Korra... My heart stopped for a few seconds. My hands almost started shaking as I held the letter, feeling excited, terrified, happy, and worried all at the same time. I gulped and opened the letter, taking it out and reading the contents.

Dear Asami,

I'm sorry for not writing back sooner. I read every one of your letters and they helped push me to try and heal more and more. They were the only thing that helped me push. I tried to write to you after every letter, but I couldn't find the proper words. I decided it would be better to not look like a fool to you and just not write back, thinking the sessions would end soon and I'd be back before you knew it.

I can walk now, it took months of hard work and in many moments I bought it would never happen again, but I eventually pushed through and took a step! I can now walk and run properly, though they tell me to take it easy so I don't hurt myself... I do take secret jogs every now and then.

I'm working on my bending now, I can do the basics, but I'm working on the more advanced techniques. At this rate, in a few months, I should feel back to normal. I can't wait to return, I miss Narook's Noodles, I miss the kids, I miss the noise... I miss you.

I'm sorry you thought I hated you or even forgot you, I could never forget you. My best friend, the person who has seen me at my lowest and never judged me. Who called me one of the strongest people she knew even when I felt like I was nothing. Never doubt that Asami. I can't wait for your next letter. I promise to write back more frequently, despite how stupid I may sound at times.

Please don't tell Mako or Bolin though, I haven't written to them or anyone else. Only you. It is just easier to talk to you, I don't know why.

Love, Korra.

Once the tears finally stopped I reread the letter again and again, feeling happy Korra hadn't pushed me away. She didn't pick up on my feelings, but that was also in a way, a relief. The letters between us became more frequent, until finally she said she would be back in a few weeks, feeling ready to return. I was fully prepared to see her again, ready to throw a party and talk to her in person again, to see how she's been.

But she never came.

I learned it was cause of the visions she had about her nightmares, I didn't blame her. Eventually she worked through her fears thanks to confronting Zaheer and accepting what happened and becoming at peace with it. Soon after, we took down Kuvira, and we're ready to have our well deserved rest. Korra was there for me when I told her about my father's death, she hugged me and tried to comfort me. I told her I was happy that I didn't lose her and my father on the same day, when she didn't return right away after the explosion I thought the two most important people in my life had died. We had small talk after, wanting to shift to a less depressing topic, and that's when she offered the vacation trip... A few days of preparation and setting up my vacation days later, I was ready to take the plunge into the spirit world with her.

She turns to me and smirks, this breaks me from the memory that was made a few days ago.

"We're here Asami!" She said excitedly. Stopping near what looked like a small building, similar in design to some of the buildings in Ba Sing Se's former inner ring. What it was doing here I had no idea.

"What is this?" I ask, curious as to what her surprise is.

"The Jasmine Dragon my kind friend." I hear a deep voice say to me, the surprising presence makes me jump. I look around to spot where it's coming from. I see a man, old, fairly round with a long grey beard. A big grin on his face, wearing an apron and green robes, carrying a teapot and a cup.

"Welcome back Korra, who's your friend?"

"Asami... This is General Iroh, uncle of former Fire Lord Zuko." Korra's words shock me... THE General Iroh.

"Nice to meet you Miss Asami, a friend of Korra's is a friend of mine. Let me grab two more cups, I hope you like tea." He says turning back to grab some more cups for the rest of us.

Korra, you always know how to surprise me.