After six months of keeping the secret it was Bolin who cracked. The guilt of knowing gnawed at him until it chewed its way out of him. He was enjoying dinner at Air Temple with the gang. Su and Baatar Sr. were visiting their daughter Opal. It was just like a regular old visit with small chit chat. Then it all went wrong so fast Baatar's name came up and Bolin went all weird. Su picked up on how strange Bolin was acting all of a sudden. The four young teen…adults were acting strange like Bolin. Sometimes Su forgot they were indeed adults because they still acted a lot like teenagers.

"Everything alright Bolin you seem troubled?" Su asked.

"Yep everything's is fine." Bolin hurriedly shoved food in his mouth. Mako, Korra and Asami shot him looks saying hold your tongue. You've kept this secret for this long why blow it now.

"I know it's been a while but how was your vacation?" It was Korra that answered the matriarch of Zaofu. Asami and Mako would chime in as well. They had practiced this over and over what to say when asked what they had done. It was so well rehearsed that it almost felt like the truth. The more his other team members talked the more Bolin fidgeted in his seat. Their faux story was almost over and it just spilled out of Bolin.

"Baatar and Kuvira are alive and have been living in the Fire Nation and we discovered them six months ago." The lavabender blurted out. All eyes turned on him it was confusion that turned into anger.

"What?!" Su exclaimed darkly standing from the table so fast knocking over her plate and glass.

"Oh." Bolin slunk down registering his folly.

"And you all knew about this and didn't think to tell me?"

"Su-" Korra tried, the avatar and the matriarch had a rough relationship the past years. Ever since that day Korra gave Su Baatar Jr.'s box things hadn't been the same.

"Unbelievable." Su stormed away. Korra stood to go after the older woman but Senior held up a hand to stop her. Opal angrily exited the room next.

"Thanks a lot Bolin, look what you have done." Korra said crossly.

"Don't you feel better to have this off your chest?"

"No this is exactly why we didn't tell." Korra left the room with Asami going after her. Mako pinched the bridge of his nose.

Baatar Sr. went after his wife there was certainly never a dull moment on Air Temple Island that was for sure. The bombshell that had been dropped just now left him more than shocked. Their oldest son was alive after all this time but why? Why would he and Kuvira just fake their deaths? They spent three years of hard work unifying the Earth Kingdom and just to up and leave it, it didn't make any sense.

"Su what are doing?" Senior said when he saw Suyin stuffing her clothes into a suitcase.

"What does it look like I'm doing? I'm going to the Fire Nation and going to confront Baatar and that woman." She snapped. "I don't know what she did to our son but I'm going to go get him and free him from her clutches that poisonous little bitch." Su rambled on cursing the woman who took away her son.

"She has a name you know its Kuvira." Su whirled around so fast pure hate in her green eyes. "Yes I said her name, Kuvira, so sue me. What's wrong with you can't even say her name anymore with raging. Remember you took her in and loved her."

"And that was a mistake if I would have known what she was going to do I would never had tainted Zaofu with her presence. Why can't you see that she brainwashed our son so much that he blindly followed her everywhere leaving Zaofu and now this?"

"Enough with this, enough with blaming Kuvira. You can't keep blaming her for our son's choices in life. He was twenty-two when he left Zaofu he was an adult he could make his own decisions. Why do you think he left? He even said it himself, he was tired of living in my shadow he wanted to be his own person why can't you see that?"

"Maybe you don't understand him like I do and maybe you didn't love him like I do." Su went back to her task.

Baatar Sr. spun his wife around gripping her upper arm. "Don't you ever say I didn't love Baatar like you did because I loved him just like you. I was blinded to see that he felt trapped that he was only a copy of myself." Baatar Sr was never one to raise his voice so loud and fight with Su. "What you going to do march right over to the Fire Nation and drag our twenty-nine year old son back home and pretend like nothing's happened the last seven years?"

"I'm going to talk some sense into him now are you coming with me or not?" Su shoved Baatar off of her.

"No and you're not either because we both need time to process this and cool off before we go marching over there."

"Of course I'm going over there I need to know he just left." Su sat on the bed defeated Senior sat next to his wife.

"He left Zaofu because he was tired of being locked away. Kuvira gave him the key and they flew off together. They didn't just decide to get together overnight it was a long process don't tell me you didn't know why he would accompany her on her patrols."

"I know and any other time I would have been happy for them. I still remember the time when he hated her. He was an eight year old boy who didn't want another "sister/sibling." Su smiled at the memory it felt like a life time ago that Baatar would throw dirty looks to Kuvira. He was so good at hating her that he turned his brothers and sister against her. But that didn't last long as they got to know her better. It was Baatar that held onto that loathing for Kuvira it wasn't until he was sixteen that he let it go.

"Give it two days and then we'll both go alright?"

"Alright."

"Don't blame Bolin and the others they were doing what they thought was best, their hearts were in the right place." Su nodded. Baatar Sr and Suyin took a stroll through the gardens of the island. Opal came to walk and talk with her parents. This certainly was going to take some time to understand the reason behind why Baatar and Kuvira would just leave. Him leaving Zaofu was a no brainer but faking his death?

Later in the night Suyin snuck out of bed and off the island. Preparing an airship she couldn't just wait around her son was alive and she desperately need answers.

In the morning Baatar Sr. read the note his wife had left. She was spending time with her sister in the city. So it came as a surprise when Lin came for dinner that night saying Su wasn't with her. Baatar Sr. knew exactly where she had gone.

What Bolin had failed to mention was their child.

XXXXX

Su stepped off the airship taking a boat to the island that she guessed that they would have chosen. Knowing them they would have picked something small as to not have as many people around and it would give them more privacy. Down the sandy beach she walked she didn't know what she was going to say to them.

Staring to the horizon Su lost herself in her thoughts. Turning straight ahead she spotted a man walking along one of the sand dunes. She knew that walk, it was Baatar but there wasn't any sign of Kuvira. Locking eyes with his form her anger swelled in her chest. Storming up the hill Su called out his name.

"Baatar Junior Beifong!" Her son turned he didn't have time to be shocked at the sight of his mother as she sucker punched him under his right eye.

Falling on the sand Baatar held the aching spot under his eye. "Hello mother." He said looking up at her with one eye. And oh man did she look pissed off.

"How dare you, you ungrateful little shi-" Su stopped as a child called out for their father. She thought the child was calling to someone else. A second later a little girl came bounding over to them sinking to her knees next to her son.

"What are you doing on the ground?" She asked.

"I fell over silly huh?"

"Yeah," Baatar looked over his daughter and sighed. "Kiara what was the deal we had that I would allow you to come outside?"

"To have my sweater on at all times," She replied.

"And…" He prompted.

"What? You didn't say anything about my shoes."

"Kiara I said as long as you stayed bundled up you could have some time outside. You don't want to still be sick do you?"

"No." Baatar reached out and undid her sweater from her waist only to see that it was wet. Her shoes were off and her pants legs were rolled up and slightly wet as well.

"What were you doing?"

"I saw this shell and had to go get it." Kiara showed her dad the sea shell. "Pretty isn't it? I can I keep it?"

"It is pretty and yes you can." Baatar took off his jacket and wrapped his daughter in it.

Su didn't remember Bolin saying that Baatar had a child. Dare she hope this was just his child? That was a foolish notion as soon as the girl turned her head to look up at her. She looked way too much like her mother for her to think Baatar had a child with another woman. She looked exactly like a younger Kuvira.

"Who's that daddy?" Kiara asked pointing to the stranger.

"That is…" How was he supposed to say it was her grandmother? They had told Kiara that her grandparents were not around anymore. "That is Suyin can you say hello?"

"Hello." Kiara held out her small hand to the woman called Su. Suyin knelt down and took her grandchild's hand in her shaking it.

"Hello."

"Common let's get you home your mom's not going to be too happy that I took you outside." Baatar said taking hold of his daughter placing her on his hip.

"But she doesn't have to know." Kiara said.

"She always finds out about things we shouldn't do." Baatar began the trek back to the house his mom falling in step next to him. He was dumbfounded when his mother called his name one of the four rotten kids must have spilled the beans. It was most likely to have Bolin who did. Kuvira wasn't going to be happy about this at all luckily she was at work.

Su walked in silence with her son back to his house. She felt a mix of emotions she was happy to know her son was alive and well and apparently had a little girl. But mad as well that he could just do that to them. Let his whole family think that he was dead. Soon enough they reached the house, Su waited in the living room as Baatar took Kiara back to her room for a nap.

While she waited for Baatar Su was drawn to the pictures on the mantel. Moving down the line of pictures, they were all of the three of them Kuvira, Baatar and Kiara. She stopped at one in particular it was just Baatar and a heavily pregnant Kuvira. They were facing each other holding hands and some other person standing behind them. They had gotten married. Moving along Su spotted a photo album on one of the end tables.

Picking it up she flipped through it. Inside held pictures of the three of them with Kiara at different ages from newborn, toddler and the age she was at now. Despite was she was feeling towards Kuvira right now one picture made her smile. It was Kuvira and Kiara they both had cake on their faces. Kiara sat on Kuvira's lap and was looking at the camera flashing a toothy grin. Kuvira had her arms wrapped around her daughter. She wasn't looking at the camera but down at her daughter. Nothing but love emitted from her eyes. A beautiful smile plastered onto her face. In all the time she had known Kuvira, she had never smiled like that before.

"She just had her fourth birthday a few weeks ago." Baatar said. Su shut the book and set it back down.

"Sorry I didn't mean to pry."

"It's okay, please have a seat." He indicated to the couch, he took the armchair. "Did you want anything to drink? Water, tea, juice?"

"No I'm good." This was difficult what was one supposed to say to a son who just disappeared? "So you and Kuvira got married." It was a safe enough subject to start out with.

"Oh yeah." Baatar looked at their wedding photo. "It was a spur of the moment idea. It took a lot of convincing for Kuvira to actually go through with it but…Kiara was born two weeks after that was taken."

"And where is Kuvira now?"

"She's at work and before you say anything we take turns looking after Kiara during the day. Well she should be in school but she's sick so she's stuck at home."

"Kuvira didn't trap you into this did she?"

"What!? Of course she didn't trap me." Baatar's tone was becoming defensive. "She's my wife and the mother of my child I love her. If you had bothered to write me back in those three years you would have know that Kuvira and I were engaged for two years. Kuvira didn't force me to do anything I willingly left Zaofu behind with her. Look I realize I have been a shitty son. I know I have done things that you don't approve of but it's what I wanted to do. I wanted to make my mark on the world and make a difference to the earth nation. And the Kiara came along and changed our tune."

"And Kiara was she…"

"No Kuvira getting pregnant blindsided us. It made us revaluate what we were doing."

"I would have expected Kuvira to abort."

"She almost did and we almost made the decision to. Remember that night I came to you drunk? Suyin nodded. "Well a few days before Kuvira had told me she was pregnant and I wasn't too thrilled about it. I told her to get rid of it and she almost went through with it."

"She's the reason you left the Earth Kingdom behind and faked your deaths. And you didn't think once in those four years to let us know that you were alive. That your father and I had to find out from Bolin that you were alive and he knew for the last six months. Do you have any idea the pain you put our family through because of that? " Su's voice rose in volume and anger.

"Yes our daughter is the reason we left. And no I didn't think to contact you because we weren't on the best of terms and as the years went on it was just easy not to let you or dad know. Why ruin the good life we had here? And I would appreciate it if you didn't raise your voice I don't want Kiara to wake up."

"So that's it Kuvira got pregnant and you just leave?" Disbelief sounded from her voice.

"No it wasn't just that simple it took us weeks to figure out what we were going to do. Okay I see that you don't believe that. When you dad, Huan and the twins were transferred to the suspended wooden cage, Kuvira was twenty weeks pregnant at the time."

Su sat there thinking back to that time. It did make sense now why Baatar stood so protective over her and why Kuvira looked different. Su and Baatar talked at some points their voices escalated only for them to quiet down. It wasn't until the front door opened that things got a lot more intense.

"Su!?" Kuvira went from confusion to anger. "What you doing here? How'd you find… never mind it must have been Bolin." Baatar stood as did his mother. He sensed a fight coming on and he was going to mediate it.

"Kuvira." Su said tightly, "I see you didn't die four years ago."

"I bet you wish I had so your son would be free of such a monster." Kuvira spat. Baatar looked from his mother to Kuvira who was going to throw the first punch?

"Kuvira, can I talk to you for a second?" Baatar asked.

"Not right now." She waved him off.

"It's about Kiara." In a flash her hard expression was gone replaced with worry. Baatar took Kuvira by the hand and led her down the hall outside of Kiara's room.

He started talking before she had the chance. "Kiara's fine she's napping." He whispered.

"You can't just use our child like that Baatar. And what is Su doing in our home?" That anger was coming back. Baatar retold her how his mother had come to be in their living room. "You took her outside I told you not to she's still fighting off a cold Baatar. I want her gone this is our house and our family and she's not welcome here."

"Just listen to what she has to say."

"No why would I want to listen to anything that woman has to say." Kuvira hissed out.

"She's still my mother."

"Is that it you want to go back home to mommy and daddy and resume your life in a cage?"

"What? Spirits no Kuvira you're worried talk me to." Baatar knew this behavior well whenever she was worried or scared Kuvira would get defensive and angry.

Slumping against the wall slightly Kuvira took a different tone. "This why we left the empire behind and fake our deaths. So Kiara would be able to grow up and have a nice life. And this has to happen now. What if she takes her away from us?"

Baatar stepped closer pressing their foreheads together. "She won't do that Kuvira I know my mom would never deliberately hurt a child."

"But what if she does Baatar I can't lose my baby or you." Kuvira played with the collar of his shirt. "And technically she already tried to hurt Kiara when she attempted assassination."

"Well that doesn't really count does it since no one knew you were pregnant then. Just hear her out that's all."

"Fine." Baatar pressed a kiss against her temple and led them back out to the living room. "I'm going to make us some tea." Baatar said. While he was in the kitchen, he heard his mom and Kuvira exchange some fiery words. Setting the tray down Baatar took a seat next to Kuvira.

The three adults sat in a tense silence there wasn't much to talk about. Kuvira wasn't willing to tell Su much about her daughter. She still had a feeling that Su was going to take her away from them. This was her family that no one could take from her.

The door to Kiara's room opened and a minute later Kiara came out to the living room. A blanket trailed behind her and her stuffed badgermole in her left arm. Out of all her stuffed animals the badgermole was her favorite.

"Mommy you're home." Kiara said when she spotted her mom.

"I am and I heard someone went outside today."

"Sorry." Kiara said as she was lifted onto her mom's lap. Kuvira took the blanket and wrapped it around her daughter. She felt her forehead, Kiara was running a fever again, "Looks like someone has to stay home again."

"Nooo." She whined.

"That's what happens you go outside and you're still sick. So what are you going to do tomorrow?"

"Not go outside and stay indoors."

"Good girl." Kuvira kissed the top of her head. Baatar handed Kuvira her cup of tea which she blew on and swirled around to cool off. Kuvira held the cup as Kiara's hands weren't accustomed to the heat yet. Kiara's small hands went over her mom's has she took a sip from the cup.

Suyin watched the interaction between Kuvira and her daughter. As soon as she was on her lap Kuvira's demeanor changed from guarded to loving. Su knew this behavior well it was what she did with all her children. She hated to admit it but Kuvira had changed in four years she was a mother now. The blanket reached the tip of Kiara's toes but still she tucked them under Baatar's thighs for extra warmth. He gently laid a hand on her knee.

"Su you're still here?"

"I am." Su said softly as Kiara's green eyes met hers. She noted that they were the exact same color as Kuvira's.

Baatar and Kuvira shared a silent exchange. She doesn't know that's her grandmother? Kuvira shot at Baatar.

No what was I supposed to say we have never really talked much about her grandparents let alone her uncles and aunt. Baatar fired back.

"Kiara," Kuvira placed a hand under her chin to turn her head back to hers. "Su is your grandmother."

"My grandmother?" Kiara looked from her mom to her dad and to her grandma and back to her dad.

"That's right Kiara she's my mom." Baatar said. Kiara turned back to Su a tiny smile tugged at the corner of her lips.

"And do I have grandpa?" She asked.

"You do his name is Baatar."

"Just like my dad." She said happily.

"That's right." Su went on to explain her husband and her other children. In the simplest of terms she told her granddaughter where they lived and answered any questions that she had. All the while Kuvira held Kiara a bit tighter she would make Kiara take a sip of tea when her voice got scratchy.

Her questions died down and she turned her head into her mother's chest. Hugging her stuffed badgermole Kiara closed her eyes and went back to sleep. Baatar took the empty cup back when Kuvira stood to put Kiara back in her room. Baatar gathered the mugs onto the tray and took them to the sink. Su followed her son helping him wash up.

"You have a beautiful child Baatar." Su said quietly. Some of the ways that Kiara talked and held herself reminded Su of an eight year old Kuvira.

"Thank you mom she can be quiet the angel at times time and then she can be downright mischievous."

"Is she a bender?"

"She is and Kuvira's teaching her earthbending. But Kiara isn't really interested in learning, it really frustrates Kuvira. I mean on occasion she will focus all her attention into her lesson and when she does, she quiet good at bending. But most of the time she loses concentration. She's an earthbender who likes being up high in the air like an airbender."

"And Kuvira's a good mom?"

"Kuvira is a great mother to our daughter. She's very protective of her you should have seen her when Mako was holding Kiara. But it always puts her on edge when Kiara goes up high in the trees." He told his mom about the time she fell and the harness incident. "After that we both learned our lesson and got a scolding from Kuvira."

After the dishes were done Su took her leave. As Su left Kuvira came back into the kitchen.

"Did you hear all that?" Baatar asked leaning against the counter.

"Yes."

"You know she's going to get my father right?"

"I'm aware." Kuvira looked down.

"Don't look so worried my father is much easier to get along with than my mom." Baatar said moving to Kuvira. She placed her head on his shoulder and wrapped her arms around his waist.

That night Kuvira had Kiara sleep with them. Her back pressed against her dad's chest as he cuddle her from behind. Both Kuvira and Baatar had their arms over her. Kuvira had more of a protective manner. It made her feel a tad better to have her family in one place and to have their child sandwiched between them.

XXXXX

Su made her way back to the airship only to find her husband already there. Su told him everything about her day.

"So we have our first grandbaby." Baatar Sr. said, "That's why they left to give her a normal life."

"No she would have been safe surrounded by their bloody army."

"It's not what Kuvira wanted, she didn't feel like Kiara would be safe enough." The voice of the avatar said.

"Korra what are you doing here?" Su inquired.

"I gave Senior a ride on my bison rather than wait for an airship to be ready. And the reason why Kuvira didn't stay was because…" Korra told Su the same thing she had been told from Kuvira. It almost made Su feel bad for what she tried but not quiet.

It was noon when the avatar and the Beifongs returned. Korra felt the need to apologize for blowing the secret. It was Baatar who greeted them. His father didn't know what to say he saw a bruise under his eye. His mother must have punched him. Senior pulled Junior into a hug holding him tightly. Pulling back Baatar Sr backhanded him.

"Yeah I probably deserved that." Baatar said holding a hand to his stinging cheek. Leading the others inside, Baatar moved to the couch. Kuvira sat on the ground with Kiara between her legs. A bowl of sand was in front of them. With nothing else to do Kiara poured all her attention into practicing her bending and she was doing fairly well. While her daughter practiced Kuvira brushed out her hair it had grown out nice since Baatar cut it.

"Grandma Su?" Kiara said looking up and dropping the sand.

Kuvira stopped mid stroke looking up to see Baatar Sr, Su and the avatar standing in her home. Standing Kuvira blocked her daughter form view.

"Su, Baatar Sr., Avatar Korra." She said coolly.

"Kuvira it's good to see you again." Senior said.

"I bet it is." Kuvira said tightly. She didn't like this at all but she had to be careful with what was said with her daughter present.

"Hey Kuvira," Korra said awkwardly, "I'm sorry we blew it."

"It was bound to happen." She said curtly. Below her she felt Kiara start to move towards them. In a swift movement Kuvira trapped Kiara between her legs.

"You must be Kiara I'm Baatar Senior your grandpa." He said to the child confined by her mother's legs. He somewhat understood why Kuvira did that.

"Hi and hello again Korra." Kiara gazed at the avatar, Korra waved at the child. Kiara tried wiggling herself free but it wasn't any use her mom had her thoroughly trapped. Baatar touched Kuvira's hand looking from her to their daughter. Reluctantly she moved her right leg freeing Kiara. Curiously she stayed where she was beneath her mom. Baatar Sr. kneeled down encouraging his granddaughter to come to him.

Timidly she went to him his hands were hard and calloused. With her green eyes she took in the features of his face. He had a similar facial structure and looked liked her dad only older grey hair and more wrinkles. Baatar Sr. placed his hands under her arms. She stiffened a little as he lifted her off the ground. Su reached and tucked her black hair behind her ear.

Baatar slid his hand into Kuvira's she was agitated. She wanted to go over there and snatch her child back. And hold her in her arms where she was safe.

Korra felt like an intruder she stood back as Kiara was held by her grandparents. Something she noted that made Kuvira tense up. She sensed that there was a lot of family drama but they adults wouldn't say such spirited words in front of a four year old.

"Why don't we go for a stroll along the beach it's a nice day outside." Korra suggested. Kiara eagerly agreed with the avatar. Baatar Sr. set her back down and she begged her mom to let her go outside.

Kiara gave her mom the puppy dog eyes and stuck out her lower lip slightly. And Kuvira gave in, "Go get your shoes and coat on." Kiara smiled and dashed away she wasn't gone long her shoes on and her light sweater half way on. Kuvira stooped down buttoning up the sweater taking Kiara's hand in hers everyone left the house.

Kiara walked between her parents Korra walked on the right of Kuvira and Su and Baatar Sr. on the left.

Down at the beach Baatar and his parents fell back as Kuvira, Kiara and Korra walked ahead. Su, her husband and son watched on as Kuvira finally let go of Kiara's hand. Korra showed their child some cool moves that Kiara would mimic.

Baatar and his parents walked along the shore line. "How far along is she?" Both Baatars' turned their heads to Su.

"What Kuvira's not-" Baatar began

"I've had five kids so don't bother lying." She plainly stated.

"She's twelve and a half weeks." Baatar admitted.

"That's great son." Senior patted him on the back.

"Does Kiara know?" His mom asked.

"She does but she doesn't totally understand what that means since she literally asked what that meant." After much convincing and arguing why they should have another Kuvira finally agreed to try again. It was partially due to Kiara asking why she didn't have any siblings that swayed Kuvira. They had tried for three month before Kuvira got pregnant again. Baatar and Kuvira had agreed to wait until after Kiara's birthday to tell her the new. Plus they wanted to wait a little longer to make sure the pregnancy stuck.

Over the next weeks Baatar got visits from his other siblings they all punched him before slowly coming around. Kiara was always at school when they visited and usually Kuvira was at work. The farther along Kuvira got the more Baatar took note of how detached Kiara became from her mother. It troubled him how all of a sudden she became despondent.

XXXX