Looks like it's going to be a mix of long, POV chapters and short, dialogue heavy snippets from here on out.
Now for some review responses:
Dah: I make no apologies for just how many 'feels' I can pack into a single chapter ;)
Oogi: hope this chapter explains at least some of your questions.
Family Talk
"I told them we should have painted it yellow, or green, or something else neutral beforehand."
"No you didn't; you wanted to paint it blue because you were sure they were going to be boys."
"Is it really that much to expect of you to father the next generation of Pro-Bending champions?"
"Considering the way Opal's been talking of late, it sounds like you might have that job. Anyway, who says my girls couldn't be the next generation of Fire Ferrets if they wanted to?"
"Nothing! Nothing! I just figured you for the kind of guy who'd want sons, that's all."
"Bolin, you're my brother and I love you, but you can be such an idiot at times. Trust me, when the times comes; which will be sooner rather than later if Opal has her way, you'll understand that all any sane parent wants is for their kids to be happy and healthy. And for all we know, they might not even be benders."
"You take that back! You take that back right now!"
"What? Neither mom nor dad were benders, Asami isn't a bender, and neither were her parents. I'd say that there's at least a fifty-fifty chance that at least one of them might not be a bender at all. And if they are, then there's an even chance that they could be earth or firebenders, given their family tree. We won't know for sure until they're older."
"So... when are you and Korra going to try for a kid?"
"Not any time soon."
Asami opened an eye and looked around her: Korra was asleep and her side, drooling slightly, while Mako and Bolin did their best to paint the nursery pink. But by the looks of them, the only thing they'd managed to paint so far was themselves, probably because they wouldn't stop talking. And yes, she could have easily paid someone to do it, but Mako had insisted that it was his responsibility as the new father to paint his daughters nursery, and had roped in his brother to help. It was cute the way he went all Alpha-Male at times, happy to stand his ground, even against Korra. Other times it could be annoying. But right now, it as just embarrassing. Not that she was going to say anything to stop them; Mako needed to feel like he was doing something practical to help, and he'd already proven to be an abject failure at assembling the cribs. But he was trying he damnedest, Asami had to give him credit for that.
"Done." Tonraq walked in, carrying the first of the two cribs. He had explained that, in the South Water Tribe, they were traditionally something a new father would have calved himself, but given that Mako had almost broken his thumb trying to open a tin of paint, he'd felt it would be safer all round if he took responsibility for all the sharp tools. And while he was certainly a skilled warrior and leader, he seemed to take a certain pleasure from creating something with his hands.
"Put it over there for now." Mako had pointed over to the couch here Asami and Korra were resting, "We've already painted over there."
Tonraq carefully place the crib down, then pulled out the small camera his wife had insisted he keep on him at all times in case their new grandchildren did something she deemed 'cute', and carefully lined it up to take a snap of his daughter and daughter-in-law.
"Korra, honey; your father is about to take an embarrassing photo of us" Asami nudged her wife, "Use your Avatar powers to stop him."
"Too tired." Korra muttered, not even half awake, "Sleep now; seek bloody vengeance later."
There was a click, and the moment was saved for posterity.
"What time did she get in?" Tonraq asked.
"About an hour before dawn." Asami admitted with a yawn, "The representative of the faction that's taken over Ba Sing Se arrived a day early, and wanted to start hammering out the details of the peace talks right away. And as he was still on Ba Sing Se time..."
"If I get my hands on him..." Tonraq started, then remember that he was, as Chief of the Southern Water Tribe, one of the sponsors of the peace talks aimed at ending the civil war that had ravaged much of the Earth Kingdom. "She needs more rest; she can't keep burning the candle at both ends."
"I'm not the only one." Korra interrupted, having given up on sleep as everyone insisted on talking, "I came home to find someone already up and doing paperwork."
"Someone had to get up and feed the twins." Asami pointed out, "You and I both know that its impossible to sleep when they're hungry."
"What about that... 'thing'... Opal and I got you?" Bolin asked, turning a delightful shade of red.
"It pinches, and Yin has decided that she doesn't like the tastes of the bottle-tops." Asami groaned, "Kid's trying to drive me crazy."
"Well, why don't you go get some sleep now?" Mako asked, "Bolin and I can finish up here, and Senna, Pema and Opal have taken the girls shopping for... I have no idea what else they could possible need, but it's probably a good thing that you're as rich as you are."
"For a man who can't even handle a screwdriver, the father of my grandchildren is very wise." Tonraq folded his arms across his chest and nodded, "Go. Bed. Sleep. Now."
"Okay, okay; we surrender!" Asami slowly stood, half dragging Korra behind her.
"And if the world starts coming to an end... we'll let you sleep through it." Bolin promised, seemingly unaware of the large dollop of paint on the tip of his nose.
Leaning on each other for mutual support, Korra and Asami staggered next door to their bedroom, the door slamming shut behind them. They didn't even try to get undressed; instead they simply collapsed onto the soft, inviting bed length ways, asleep almost as soon as their heads hit the comforter.
"They're both pushing themselves too hard; they're going to burn themselves out." Mako commented in a hushed tone once he was sure he could hear both women snoring, "Lin's been amazing, but I've used up all my vacation time, and she can't give me any more time-off without it looking like obvious favouritism."
"It's who they are; they're both use to tackling any problem head-on." Tonraq admitted warily, "I am only grateful that Korra is fully recovered."
"I'd offer to help more, but Tenzin has me over at Air Temple Island, helping to organise the new airbenders." Bolin looked somewhat deflated, "He only gave me the job so I could be close to Opal, but its turning out to be a lot more work then either of us realised."
"Welcome to the wonderful world of being a grown-up with grown-up responsibilities." Tonraq chuckled, "Don't worry; you're both doing everything you can, and I know they appreciate it. I'm going to be in the city for at least the next few weeks, probably longer, before I have to go home, but I know that Senna would love to stay-on and help. She's missed having Korra around ever since she left to train with the White Lotus, and she adores the girls. I don't think it would take much convincing to have to stick around and play the doting grandmother a bit longer, especially given we missed the birth."
"They were a week early." Mako insisted, "You guys got here as soon as you could."
"You know that, I know that, I'm sure even Korra and Asami know that. But my wife?" Tonraq winced, "That's something I'm going to having to live with for a very long time."
"Damn, we really are growing up, aren't we?" Mako chuckled, "Jobs that actually pay real money, kids, responsibility, Bolin and Opal finally getting married..."
"Hey, I never actually proposed." Bolin sounded somewhat sad, "Opal just decided that it was time and dragged me out to pick a ring; cost me most of the money I made from The Adventures of Nuktuk: Hero of the South."
"Varrick really did screw you over on that contract, didn't me?" Tonraq laughed, "Anyway, I thought you'd be use to dealing with strong women after Eska?"
"Piece of advice; never mention that name when Opal's in earshot." Mako winced, "She is not happy they she has to invite her and Desna to the wedding."
To Be Continued...
