Mako groaned and rolled over, reaching for Korra.

She wasn't there.

Pushing up onto his elbows, Mako blinked sleepily around the room. It was empty except for him. He'd gotten used to being the first one up, departing at some indecent hour with just a sleepy kiss to get him through the day. And another half-awake greeting as he slid into bed next to her late in the night. This was new

Sunlight poured across the bed, keeping him comfortably warm. Well, he supposed it really didn't matter when they left, considering that Asami's yacht was at their disposal.

And the late night last night had definitely been worth it.

Mako got up, stopping when he remembered that no, he did not need his uniform. He wasn't going to work today. He had a whole week to enjoy with his wife.

Mako grinned. Wife. Just thinking of the word made his insides melt. Korra was his wife. They were married.

If he never got tired of that feeling it would be too soon.

Sappy grin still on his face, Mako shrugged into his casual clothing and went looking for Korra.

He heard her laughter ringing across the courtyard and headed to the main building, where, as expected, he found Korra sitting around the table with Tenzin's family. Ikki and Meelo moved a few cushions over when they saw Mako, though Jinora stayed in her spot next to Korra, leaning over Korra's shoulder as she read what ever had Korra laughing.

"Good morning," he said nodding at everyone. He sat next to Korra, leaning in for a quick kiss, despite Meelo's noises of disgust.

Korra gave him a goofy grin. "Good morning to you."

"How long have you been up?" he asked.

Korra shrugged. "Since way too early," she said, laying a hand on her stomach. "This one had me starving before the sun was up."

They really were going to have to start talking about names soon, Mako realized as he took a bowl of cooked grains and fruit from Pema. "You should have gotten me up."

"You don't get many chances to sleep in," Korra said, in her hand she held a newspapers. One of the less reliable ones. She was in a rather good mood for having one of those in her hand.

Mako raised an eyebrow. "Been doing some light reading?"

A twinkle in her eye, Korra held the paper up for him to see. Just as he'd suspected, their picture occupied a spot on the front page. The photographer had caught a very intimate moment form last night. They stood very close. Her hands rested on his shoulders, his arms are around her waist—it was probably taken while they danced last night. If the picture had been of total strangers, Mako wouldn't have been able to miss the way they were looking at each other.

Mako couldn't help smiling. "Well, at least they got my good side."

"You don't have any bad sides," Korra said, pulling the paper down to shake her head at him.

"I meant you." Mako winked.

"Ugh," Meelo said. "Grown-ups are gross." He looked to his sisters, growling in disgust at the dreamy expressions on both their faces.

"Just look at that title," Korra said. "'The Avatar's Love Lights Up Republic City'." She pushed his breakfast aside as she spread the paper out on the table. "I asked Asami to keep an eye out this morning," she explained. "Just to see what the fallout from last night would be. She brought this with a few others. It is a rather good picture," she said, tilting her head to study it.

Mako retrieved his bowl. "Very good picture."

"Do you think if I asked nicely, they'd let me get a copy." She glanced at him sidelong. "We could frame it."

"By ask nicely, you mean with your words, right?"

"Of course," she said. "This is the most ridiculous thing I've ever read, but whoever wrote it absolutely loves us."

Mako popped a spoonful of the grain in his mouth as he glanced through the story.

"'Hoping to spare Republic City the expense of a lavish wedding, the Avatar and her beau opted for a small, civil ceremony with only family and friends. An exact date has not been announced, but circumstances point to it occuring several weeks ago. 'We are very happy for them,' a family friend says. 'We've been rooting for them since day one. I don't think anyone who's seen them together can deny that they were meant for each other.' After last night's heart-warming displays of affection, it would certainly seem that way and...'" Mako cut off, scanning a little further down the page. "Spirits, Korra, did you threaten the writer?"

She pouted. "Since when do I threaten the press?"

"Well, there was that one time..." Ikki cut off as Korra glared at her.

"I love how I'm your unnamed beau," Mako said. "Such a fancy word."

"I know, right?" Korra giggled.

He kept reading. "I think I might have some competition."

"I love how they won't outright say that I'm pregnant, but they keep hinting at it like they're so clever." Korra rolled her eyes, picking at a seam in the wood with her nail. "You'd have to be blind not to notice after last night. Wt least we don't have to worry about them raking us over the coals right now."

"See? You've won them over."

Korra folded the paper, making sure that the picture of them was on top. Her finger traced the line of his profile. "I think, maybe, you won them over. How can you not fall for a couple when the guy looks at her like that?"

"She looks like she thinks he's something pretty special too."

"He is something pretty special."

"Seriously? We are eating here!" Meelo threw his hands in the air and left the breakfast table, while his sisters sighed.


Bit of a short chappie, but I'm trying to keep the narrators in a pattern of sorts and I had to do this little moment with Mako and Korra and that newspaper. If I'd really been on my game, I would have seen if there was some meta writer or someone who'd want to dream up a truly trashy article similar to what I wrote, alas, you get my sad attempt. Ah well...

We're winding down, if you couldn't tell. Just a few more chapters and then, finito. I've already got it all down, I just need to read through and polish it up a bit. I think ya'll will really like the way this ends. *grins*

Reviews are appreciated.