Mako was sound asleep when a light knock on the door woke him up. He had been a light sleeper ever since he lived on the streets because he constantly had his guard up. At first, he thought it might just be Tapan upstairs, but after he listened, he realized it was someone at the door.

He walked to the door, but he almost tripped over his own feet. He doesn't do well if he hasn't gotten enough sleep. Rubbing his eyes, Mako opened the door.

He was immediately startled by who was at the door. At two in the morning, it was Korra knocking on his door, and by the alarmed look in her eyes, he could guess why.

Crossing his arms in a tired fashion, Mako yawned, "Korra? What are you doing here?"

She couldn't tell if Tapan had come here or not, so she played it safe and decided to beat around the bush. Korra asked, "You haven't seen anything out of the ordinary within the last day have you?"

Figuring this was the time to see if Korra was ever going to tell him, Mako acted clueless and asked, "Like what?" If Korra didn't tell him about Tapan now, he knew she probably never would.

Pondering over an excuse, Korra told him, "Rumors have been going around, and I was wondering if you've seen anything?"

Mako repeated his last question, "Like what?"

Korra sighed and told him, "Nothing, just some criminal activity in the area or something like that."

Mako shook his head and told her, "Nope. Is that all?"

Tapan, listening from atop the stairs, couldn't believe this. His mom and dad were talking. He could feel his mom's uneasiness, but Mako was fairly hard to read. He didn't know someone could be so nonchalant as they talked.

Worry was evident in his mother's voice. He could tell she was concerned for him, and he felt bad he had caused her so much trouble. Still, he wouldn't change finding his father for anything.

Realizing what Mako was doing, Tapan waited for Korra to tell Mako he had a son, but she wasn't. It looked as if she was trying to leave after she realized he wasn't there. Tapan couldn't believe it. His mother wasn't going to tell Mako. It pained his heart to know if he didn't head out to find his father, they would never meet.

Looking at the ground Korra said, "Yea." Now, the hopes of finding her son was slim to none. There was nowhere else she could think of him being at.

When she started to walk away, Mako realized that she was probably never going to tell him about their child. It hurt him that she would have never told him, but now more awake, he uncrossed his arms and asked Korra, "You weren't ever going to tell me; were you?"

Korra stopped in her tracks and turned on her heals to face Mako. Hoping this wasn't about what she thought, she asked, "What?"

Mako walked towards her and asked, "Is Tapan my son?"

Korra could not believe what she was hearing. Had Mako just asked about Tapan? This was not good in her mind. Korra didn't know what to tell Mako. She knew Tapan must have come by here now, so out of concern for her son, she asked, "Where is he?"

Mako took her hands in his and gently asked, "Korra, is Tapan my son? I've got to know."

Taking a deep breath and hanging her head, she answered, "Yes..."

Tapan was peaking out of the doorway. Hearing his mother finally admit who his father was became an instant relief for Tapan. He now had two parents.

Mako was smiling. Now, he knew one thousand percent that he had a child. Knowing the simple fact was wonderful to him, but when Korra raised her head back up, Mako could tell she was crying. To comfort her, he whispered, "Shhh. It's alright Korra. I'm not mad."

With tears still running down the strong Avatar's face, Mako wiped her eyes with his thumb and told her, "It's alright. It's alright." When she didn't stop, he gave her a much needed hug. Then he told her, "He's an amazing kid Korra." Rubbing her back, he said, "You know, I would have been there if you told me. I would have been there for both of you."

Korra knew Mako would probably be accepting, but she was too worried to tell him. There was always that what if. Korra definitely wasn't expecting Mako to be this accepting. He was doing everything in his power to get into their lives.

Then Tapan walked out. His parents' eyes were closed, and they were still in their embrace, so neither noticed him come out. He realized his parents really did love each other, and it wouldn't surprise him if they still did.

Quietly walking over to them, he said, "Mama."

Korra opened her watery eyes to see her son. She ran out of the embrace and to Tapan. She called, "Tapan!" Giving her son a hug, she told him, "Oh. I was so worried about you."

Tapan happily returned his mother's embrace.

With a hold on his shoulders, Korra held her son at a distance so she could look him over. The frantic mother asked, "Are you hurt?" He shook his head. "Are you alright?" He nodded his head. "Are you scared?"

Knowing his mother had automatically went into worried mother mode, Tapan told her, "Mom, I'm ok. You don't have to worry. I'm fine."

Korra squeezed her son in another tight hug, and told him, "I'm so glad you're alright. Never run away again."

Mako was amazed of how Korra acted around Tapan. It was like she became a whole other person. The sight made him give the most genuine smile he ever had. Watching Korra being a mother to their son was one thing he never thought he'd see in a million years, and it seemed so surreal to him. Mako was the happiest he had been in over a decade.

After Korra's tears had stopped falling entirely, she stood up and told Mako, "Thank you for looking after him, but we have to get back." Ruffling Tapan's hair she asked her boy, "You ready?"

Tapan looked baffled by going home the instant he found his dad, and Mako looked terrified and appalled at the same time. Mako asked, "What? You can't just leave. He's my son too, and I don't even know him." What shone through the most in Mako's voice was the hurt.

Korra was caught off guard by this. She didn't know how to include Mako in her son's life; she just wasn't ready.

Then Mako spoke up again and said, "Hours isn't enough to get to know someone."

Korra knew that was true but couldn't bring herself to face the facts. Her son needed a father figure, and he had one. Tonraq was his grandfather, so that's what Tapan saw him as. Korra knew there was no one better to have as a father figure for Tapan than his own father, Mako.

Continuing his thought, Mako reminded Korra, "I'm a perfect example of that." Mako smiled at the thought of himself when he was younger. He would never treat Korra like that now. He said, "I ignored you, asked if you were still there because I hoped you had left, and told you we weren't meant to be together, but I was wrong. You're the only woman in the world for me Avatar Korra , and believe me, Bolin has done some reconnaissance setting up dates for me. Not that I wanted any."

Korra quirked an eyebrow, and Mako told her, "You know how he is, but the point isn't that. The point is that I want to be a part of my son's life. I want him to be a part of my life... I want you to be a part of my life."

Korra was about in tears again from everything Mako had said, but this time, they were tears of joy. She couldn't believe Mako wanted to be in their lives so much. It made her realize how lucky Tapan was to have Mako as a father. Regaining control, Korra told Mako, "What can I say? Tapan needs his father."

Tapan was so happy that Mako said something. He knew he had the best dad. For them not to meet until Tapan was fourteen, Mako took his son in immediately. His role as a father was instinctual. Part of it could be from raising Bolin, or maybe, he was just meant to be a father. Whatever it was, Tapan couldn't have been more ecstatic.

He knew his mother had just agreed to let him see his dad in the future. After tonight, he couldn't have been more amazed of what came out of running away to find his dad.

Mako asked Korra, "Would you like to stay the night? You can stay upstairs; Tapan is across the hall."

Tapan gave a big smile, and Korra pondered over it. Obviously, her son was going to stay the night, so she might as well. She answered, "I guess." Then turning to Tapan she asked, "You're staying?"

The boy nodded. He couldn't believe this his parents got along fine. Which was more than he had initially expected in the South Pole.

Mako led them inside, and the two left the next morning.

Just two more chapters left. Then I have a sequel in mind.

-WolvesandDogs