Tapan took a step back as the door opened and revealed a man that was a bit taller than his mother, and Tapan is slightly shorter than his mom. This man in the doorway had a red scarf, spiky black hair, a thin yet trimmed face, ember eyes, and a blank expression. Tapan was sure this was the man on the newspaper cover.

With a hand on the door, Officer Mako asked, "Hello. What can I do for you?"

Tapan took a deep breath and gulped. He couldn't believe he was going to have this conversation. After deciding there was no going back, he asked, "Officer Mako, can I come in and talk to you?"

Officer Mako told him, "Depends what it is about. If it's about police business, Beifong banned me from talking about that on vacation. Everything else is free reign."

Starting to smile, Tapan stopped as soon as he remembered what he was about to say. Walking inside, he followed Officer Mako to the living room. "Sit down," Officer Mako told him as he sat down himself, and Tapan did just that.

Fiddling with his hands, Tapan said, "I don't want to beat around the bush too much, but... did you know Korra?"

Placing a hand on his temple, Officer Mako sighed, "Yes, but if this is what you want to talk about, I'm not going to."

Worried he wouldn't get a chance to tell Officer Mako that he suspected he might be his father, Tapan frantically said, "No! Wait! Please, this is important. I just need to ask a few questions first."

Seeing the boy was desperate to talk, Officer Mako told him, "Ok."

Happy he'd get a chance, Tapan asked, "Did you love Avatar Korra?"

Realizing this was going to be an awkward talk because it was about his ex-girlfriend, Officer Mako decided to answer to get it over with as quick as possible. He said, "Yes. We dated, but it didn't work out."

Tapan scoffed and said, "Let me guess, you two just don't work, but you still love her... And she still loves you believe it or not."

Officer Mako realized that was almost exactly what he and Korra had discussed years earlier, and because he was baffled, he exclaimed, "What?" Then wondering how he knew that he asked, "How do you know that's how it went?"

Shifting in his seat, Tapan told Officer Mako, "I believe you are my father."

Mako didn't know what to think. There was no way this boy could be his son. This kid had to have the wrong guy. Mako unbelievingly told Tapan, "I'm sorry, but I'm not your father."

Fumbling with his tote bag Tapan managed to pull out the newspaper and a picture of him and his mother. Pointing to the newspaper cover he told Mako, "Here."

Shaking his head, Mako said, "I have no idea how you could get me being your father out of that article."

Suddenly, the truth began to come out as Tapan said, "Avatar Korra is my mother. I came here to find you because you fit the description of how Mama described my dad. I'm guessing because you had discussed being together wouldn't work, she didn't tell you about me..."

Mako's eyes widened as he took in what the boy, supposedly his son, had just said. Korra hadn't told him in the slightest that she had become a mom, or that he was a father. He didn't think the boy was lying; on the other hand, it was very possible that the kid had guessed wrong. After all, it was hard to believe this boy was his son. Finally he said, "How do I know you are the Avatar's son? I think you've got the wrong guy."

Handing Mako the picture of him and his mother, Tapan said, "This is me and Mom."

Hoping to prove that the boy had no evidence, Mako looked at the picture, but what he found did not hinder the boy's story. It only strengthened it. Mako felt a tug in his chest as he found himself looking at a picture of the boy and the Avatar. The boy was about seven or eight in the picture. Korra was bent down to his level, pulling him up to sit on her lap, but it looked as if the kid was trying to run off. They both had a smile that Mako couldn't describe spread across their faces. It was a smile he had never seen on Korra before; then he knew. He knew this boy was Korra's son. There was not another if, and, or but in his mind.

The only thing left to contemplate was whether this child was his. Nowhere in the picture was the boy's father. Plus, if Korra had met someone, he Bolin and Asami would have definitely been told about it, so if Korra didn't meet another guy... Mako was this boy's father.

Now, Mako was the one with questions. He asked, "How old are you?"

Hoping Mako was in agreement with his guess, Tapan answered, "Fourteen."

Mako remembered that himself and Korra broke up about fifteen years ago, so that answer would make sense if he was Mako's son. Then Mako asked, "What's your name?"

Tapan smiled and told Mako, "Tapan."

Giving Tapan back the picture Mako sighed, "Well Tapan... I didn't think it would be possible but, I might just be your father."

In the Southern Water Tribe Korra was still searching for her son. She hadn't gotten any sleep last night, and with it being around noon, she was ready to collapse. The only thing stopping her was the need to find Tapan. Naga was just as tired.

Finally, she got off Naga and held onto her pet's harness as they walked some more. Though after a couple hundred yards, neither of them could take it anymore. With bags under her eyes, Korra slumped into the snow. Naga flopped beside her master and began to fall asleep. Korra was trying to fight it, but sleep was getting the better of her too.

Right as she was drifting off, Korra heard, "Hello Avatar."

Straining to open her eyes, Korra saw Injuquaq. He was an old man that usually wandered around the tribe. It was all she could to to say, "Hello. Injuquaq. Have you seen Tapan?"

Injuquaq shook his head and said, "Not since yesterday."

Korra stood up awake for a second, and asked, "Where did you see him?"

Pointing, he said, "Over there. He looked like he was eyeing my newspaper, so I gave it to him. He looked like he needed to read a bit." Injuquaq was smiling, but Korra wasn't.

Knowing he often read Republic City's newspaper, she asked, "Which newspaper?"

He happily told her, "Oh! The Republic City Press from, I don't know, three days ago."

Korra's eyes widened in horror. That was bad. She had read that newspaper too, and she knew Mako was in it several times. If Tapan had put two and two together, she knew her son would be in Republic City. Speaking hesitantly she asked, "After he looked at the paper, did he head towards the docks?"

Injuquaq just told her, "Couldn't say, I left him to read the paper in peace."

The Avatar tried to wake her polar bear dog, but Naga wouldn't budge, so she told the old man, "Thanks for your help."

He smiled and told her, "You're welcome. Get that boy home to his parents. I'm sure they are worried. We all know how he likes to run off."

Korra whispered to her polar bear dog, "Come on Naga. Tapan is in Republic City. Lets go find him."

As soon as Tapan's name was mentioned, she shot up and shook some snow off her back. Korra hopped up on Naga's back, and they snuck on a cargo ship just like she had so many years ago. The same way Tapan did hours before. Like mother; like son.

Getting up and walking to the kitchen, Mako asked, "Would you like some lunch?"

Hearing the mention of food, Tapan shot up and followed his father into the kitchen. Seeing him pulling things out from under the counter, Tapan eagerly said, "Yes, please."

The more time he spent near the boy and the more he heard his voice, the more he became convinced that this was his son. As he took a deep breath and breathed out, he felt the tension in his chest dissipate and a relief wash through his body.

Mako was happy to meet Tapan, and he treasured every moment. It seemed like a far fetched dream, but it actually made sense. Plus it was real.

Watching Mako make lunch, it was hard for Tapan to believe that was his father. It seemed surreal to him that he had two parents now. Still, he hated leaving his mom worrying. He hoped she wouldn't come after him because he had no idea how that would play out.

Putting something on the stove, Mako asked, "Do you like noodles?"

Sitting at the table, Tapan asked, "Who doesn't?"

Mako laughed and said, "Sounds like something my brother would say."

Smiling Tapan asked, "Bolin?"

Looking back at the boy, Mako said, "Yea. How do you know?"

Tapan, looking around the room said, "Mama told me you had a brother, but she didn't say his name. It was in the newspaper."

Suddenly Mako realized, "She told you all about us, but she didn't tell you any names did she?"

Staring at the floor, Tapan told his father, "No."

Mako told him, "Well, I can answer questions you have about me, my brother, your mother, Tenzin, the air bending kids, Asami, Amon, or Unalaq. Actually,.. Don't ask about him."

Tapan asked, "Why?"

Mako gave an uneasy, "Ahhh... I think Korra should tell you about him."

Chuckling, Tapan asked, "Why?"

Mako stirred the food as he told the boy, "Like I said, ask Korra."

Smiling Mako told the boy, "You'll love your uncle." Mako could only imagine his brother's reaction. Having a fourteen year old nephew would be something for the earth bender to get used to. He would be ecstatic; though, there would be a lot of questions. That would be an interesting conversation.

Perking up, Tapan asked, "What's he like?"

Fixing up the noodles and putting them onto plates, Mako went on, "He is a jokester. It's like being around a goofy, innocent kid. He can't keep a secret worth anything. You two will get along, and you'll get along with his kids too."

With Mako setting the food on the table, Tapan asked, "Wait! I have cousins?" He imagined one day finding his father, and possibly getting to know his uncle, but having more family didn't even cross his mind.

Mako chuckled as he said, "Yea, two. Ojas and Ela are Bo and Asami's kids. Ojas is ten, and Ela is seven. Now, I warn you about Ela; she's a feisty little earth bender. Ojas isn't a bender, but I have my doubts. I think I've seen something before, so what about you. Are you a bender?"

Taking the first bite of food, Tapan said, "Yea. I'm a waterbender. Mama said I was going to be a master soon. She's been teaching me."

Mako gave a bittersweet smile and stopped eating for a moment., and he said, "That's great. I bet it will feel good to master water bending." He remembered all the times he spent with Korra. It saddened him that Korra had their son and didn't even tell him. She just left.

Tapan told Mako, "Yea, I'm hopefully going to master it soon. Mama said you were a firebender."

Now eating again, Mako told his son, "That's right. You know, I was a on a probending team with Bo and Korra?"

Tapan said, "Mama told me that. You were captain right?"

Mako smiled and answered, "Yes... She really did tell you everything didn't she."

Happy, Tapan told Mako, "Yea." He was enjoying spending time with Mako. He was spending time with his father. It was completely unimaginable to Tapan. His father was nice too, and it was good that he accepted his son right away.

In fact, Mako was rather happy that he got to meet his son. It was not the way he was expecting to spend his day, but he didn't mind one bit. He regretted not being there for Tapan, but he intended to make up for it. The only factor to add was what would Korra think?

Speaking of Korra, Mako asked, "What made you want to come here and find me?"

Finishing his food, Tapan said, "... Well... I told Mama I wanted to know your name, and she told me no because she thought I'd try to come find you."

Mako raised an eyebrow and said, "You know, you did come here, so she was sort of right." On a side note he said, "Wow. You eat like Korra." They both eat fast, and don't use many manners.

Tapan rolled his eyes and told Mako, "Ok. First, I haven't eaten since this time yesterday. Second, right before we ate dinner yesterday is when I asked Mama about you. When she said no, I kind of stormed off to my room, packed a tote bag, and climbed out the window. I actually forgot to eat the food I packed. Oops. Though after I left, I went around the tribe for a couple hours. That actually has happened a couple of times before. I couldn't come here any other time because I didn't know who you were or where you were, but an old man gave me his newspaper. That's when I saw you in it and decided to find you in Republic City."

After taking a minute to finish up eating, Mako told the boy, "Korra's probably worried about you. Don't you think we should contact her and tell her you are ok?"

Tapan sighed and said, "No. I'll head back in the morning. Do you know of somewhere I can stay the night?"

Mako, who was putting away the dishes, turned around and raised his eyebrow in confusion. He asked in disbelief, "Why would you need to find a place to stay?"

Tapan started, "Well I just-"

Cutting Tapan off, Mako told him, "You can stay here. There are two guest rooms. You can take the one upstairs to the right."

The young water bender was baffled and told Mako, "No. I couldn't intrude. Honestly, I'm fine spending one night outside."

Shaking his head, the father said, "The city is not like the Southern Water Tribe in the slightest. You wouldn't want to sleep out there for the night. I insist." Walking over to Tapan, he placed his hands on his son's shoulders and told him, "You're my son. You're no burden. I can't let you stay out there for the night."

After Mako walked back to the dishes, Tapan confused by his father's kindness asked, "Why are you being so nice to me."

Mako, not bothering to turn around and face his son said, "The main reason is you're my son, but I have a different reason for not letting you sleep out on the streets... When I was eight, my parents were mugged by a firebender. He cut them down right in front of me... I know how dangerous the streets can be because I used to live on them. Not to mention, I had to take care of Bo..."

All the boy was able to say was, "Dad..." Tapan had heard his father was orphaned at a young age, but he had never heard the story that way. He wondered if his mother knew the whole story; she must have. Still, he couldn't believe his father had taken care of someone else at the age of eight. Being only able to imagine what Mako might have seen, Tapan understood why Mako was so insistent for him to stay there for the night. Finally he was able to say, "I'll sleep upstairs."

Surprising Mako, Tapan gave Mako a hug and told him, "Thanks." Before Mako could even respond, Tapan was up the stairs. The one thought that ran through Mako's head was, 'That is my son.' It is a thought the firebender never imagined having.

Reaching Republic City around one in the morning, Korra and Naga awoke to the large ship jerking to a stop. She knew she needed to move fast, and being fresh after a good, long nap, Korra hoped on Naga and they bolted towards the police station.

She hoped that Lin had heard a report of a boy fitting Tapan's description. The only thing that worried her was the chance of Mako being at the station. Now was not the time to run into him. Korra had no desire to tell him that she had a son, but he ran away. Now, she is looking for him, and has no idea where the child has gone off to. Mako would freak out if she told him that, and that's why she wishes he isn't there.

More than anything, she was concerned for her son. Tapan had never been to such a big city before. Korra realized it must be overwhelming for him.

Finally coming up on the station, Korra could tell not too many officers were left inside. She left Naga outside, and walked in. She found Lin yelling at someone because they were twirling around their handcuffs and ended up handcuffing themselves to their chair arm.

Walking up to the chief, Korra said, "Lin, I need you for a moment."

Looking at Korra then back to the handcuff victim, she decided to go over to Korra. In a blank yet somehow irritated voice, Lin asked, "What are you doing here Avatar?"

Trying to hide her panic, Korra asked, "Have you seen a fourteen year old boy with shaggy black hair, tanish skin, and blue eyes?"

Lin gave a smirk as she answered, "Yes. I thought you might know him."

A bit worried of Lin's suspicions, Korra hesitantly asked, "How so?"

Lin told her, "The boy was looking for Mako. I gave the boy his address; even though, I figured you would be against it."

Shocked that her son had Mako's address, Korra screamed, "What?"

Waving the Avatar's outburst off, the chief told her, "I noticed he looked like you with Mako's features. It's not that hard to notice, really. Don't worry. I won't tell anyone."

Korra sighed and said, "Lin. Please tell me he didn't go to find Mako. I've tried so hard to protect him." If Tapan was with Mako, she could only imagine how this would go.

Lin cocked her head and told the Avatar, "You can't keep the boy from his father. It's not right. He'll be fine; though, I have to admit, I never imagined, you of all people, had a child his age."

Korra rolled her eyes and ran out of the station. She only hoped Tapan wasn't there, but he had found who his father was. It was only a matter of time now.