-Recap-

Korra spent most of that night awake, balancing on the very edge of the pallet. She had never spent the night in bed with a man before…well, not that she remembered anyways. The entire night, however, Tahno remained on his side of the pallet, turned away from her, sleeping soundly with a platonic two feet of space between the two of them. As Korra settled in, her hand brushed the crumpled envelope under her pillow. Sneaking a glance over her shoulder to make sure Tahno was sleeping, she took the envelope out and traced the names of the sender, her fingers lingering over Mako. With La as her witness, Korra slipped the still sealed envelope under the pallet to be sure Tahno wouldn't accidently come across it.

-Chapter 10-

One week later, there were still no signs of pregnancy.

As Korra dressed she could feel both Mother Kavbin's eyes and Laylahh's nervous energy. For the first time, her mother stayed behind after the appointment, posted by the door waiting for the room to empty. She knew why. She could feel it with every movement, the burning stare drilling into her back. The healer slowly finished washing her hands in the basin and packed the portable bed away. She was lingering, not moving as efficiently as usual. Even as Korra had finished dressing, rather than even trying to leave, she went to Laylahh's side and placed a gentle hand over hers. Korra was thankful for this, woman's concern, but she was only delaying the inevitable.

Before departing, Laylahh removed a small package from inside her tunic and pressed it into Korra's hand. She instantly remembered the intoxicatingly sweet fragrance. Tears burned the corner of her eyes at the memory, or perhaps lack thereof.

"I believe your sister is waiting for you in the drawing room, Laylahh," Mother Kavbin clipped out.

The healer nodded, understanding that her time was up and left the two women. Mrs. Kavbin quietly closed the door behind her. She knew what was to come and hoped Korra would be prepared. A sudden sharp, resounding sound pulled her attention back to the door. A tear streamed down her cheek. Helplessly, she left to meet her sister in the drawing room to return home.

Meanwhile, behind closed doors, Korra held her swollen cheek, fighting back burning tears. The rage in Mother Kavbin's eyes was apparent. Korra tasted blood.

"You continue to refuse my son," the woman seethed. "You ungrateful bitch! Tahno wanting to marry you in the first place is a privilege and honor and you continue to do nothing but shame and humiliate both him and this family."

Korra was ready to retaliate, her fist clenched and ready to strike back when the next comment came.

"I've looked into your past, your relationship with those Fire Ferret brothers, Mako and Bolin. There's plenty of gossip on the intimate details of your team; things that happened behind closed doors," she sneered. "Apparently some of it was correct. Your attachment to those two is as good as an affair. Why else would you continue to refuse this family."

Her last statement was an accusation, not a question. It startled Korra, burning her heart as much as her inflamed cheek. Why did she continue to deny Tahno? Her role is set. There is no escaping. She has no other alternatives. And she couldn't even try to justify that she was a victim resisting domestic abuse from an unloving husband. Tahno has been nothing but kind and patient with her. He has never forced himself upon her since the incident of their wedding night, and even then, he was as much a prisoner to his family as she, required to act the role of the dutiful son. She honestly had nothing against Tahno, as a matter of fact, she was starting to really like him. She enjoyed the time they spent together. His lessons in hand to hand combat were thrilling and tantalizing to her. At those moments she could appreciate his strength and body. Their continued late nights by the fountain afforded her both conversation to get to know him better, as well as secretly admire his beauty. She often found himself sitting in his office with him as he went over business pertaining to his uncle's shipping company. Looking over his shoulder, she could see that he was well versed in business dealings and economics. And between business and taking the time to entertain her, Tahno's early mornings were spent constructing their marriage home, a task that would certainly be more difficult to a person accustomed to bending. She asked him several times why he didn't just enlist some help. It was a common practice to seek the help of close friends and family members in the arduous labor of constructing a house, but Tahno would only look at her and smile. It was by the fountain that he revealed his true answer: I want to do this myself. I want to do this for you.

So why did she resist Tahno so fervently? Was Mother Kavbin correct in her accusations? Instinctively, Korra's eyes sought the location of her secret letter. The letter that was still unopened. If she still cared so much about Mako, why hadn't she opened the letter? Doesn't the fact that she hadn't count for something? Mother Kavbin, noticing Korra's distant gaze also turned to focus her piercing eyes on the pallet. Did she also know what was hidden there?

"You have until your next appointment," Mother Kavbin hissed, drawing her attention away from the pallet. "If your negligence has continued, this family will have no choice but to adopt a second daughter in your place." Korra's head snapped back to attention immediately. Her eyes widened. It wasn't unheard of for men in the Nothern and Southern Water Tribes to have more than one wife hundreds of years ago, and these laws were still in effect, should a wife not be able to carry out her duties. It usually occurs if the first wife is unable to conceive, however, many couples have taken to adoption out of sympathy for the first wife, rather than forcing her to care for a child another woman had with her husband. Few families today abide by these old laws, but those who do certainly are not stigmatized or looked down upon. Mother Kavbin mistook Korra's thoughtful stare as one of contemplation for escape, "Although you find being a daughter to this family not to your liking, we can certainly keep you as a servant and if you continue to be too much of a hassle, I will personally secure your future elsewhere."

Korra felt like all the air had escaped her body. Her union to the Koh-Kavbin family completely severed her ties to her parents. As their daughter, they could do to her as they see fit, which includes servitude, remarriage, or worse being sold into slavery. No one would ever hear from her again.

Just then, the door flew open. Tahno rushed into the room, still wearing his heavy boots and tunic.

He had been on his way home from working on what would be his new home with Korra, deep in thought as to the letter he would send his uncle when a vehicle came to a sudden halt on the side of the road after passing him. He recognized the older woman who rushed out to meet him, her long grey hair adorned in feathers, as one of the healers that came to examine Korra on a weekly basis. She and her sister had also monitored his older sister's pregnancy.

"Please," the woman begged as tears streamed down her cheeks, "Korra needs you."

Alarmed, Tahno turned from the woman without a need for clarification and ran to his parents' home where he found himself currently rushing to Korra's side and embracing her as he glared at his mother's retreating back. Pulling away from Korra to look her in the eyes, he immediately noticed the red bruise across her cheek. This was the last straw. Releasing Korra to confront his mother, Tahno found himself immobilized by Korra's grip as she held on to his heavy tunic. Yes, he could have easily broken free of her, but the fact that she was attempting to hold on to him so fervently gave him pause. Maybe she needed him there to comfort her more than she needed someone to avenger her. Before Tahno could console her, Korra spoke.

"I think she's right."

Tahno pulled away from the woman before him to look her in the eye. Right about what? And what could possibly give his mother the delusion it was alright to strike his wife? He wanted to refute her claim. Despite not knowing the details, he was certain as to what the conflict was about and he was as much to blame as Korra. His stomach dropped. He should have been there to protect her. Breaking from her embrace, Tahno left Korra standing in the middle of the floor. He needed to contact his uncle immediately.

-That Night-

Tahno had been gone all day giving Korra plenty of time to think. She couldn't bear the thought of serving under Mother Kavbin. If this is how she was treated as a daughter, she couldn't imagine the misery that awaited her as a servant under the woman's household. She feared where she would end up next. Surely Korra wouldn't be allowed to stay in the home for long. She certainly wouldn't be married off to another family. That would still connect her to the Kavbin-Koh name, the first family who gave her up. As humiliating as that would be for Korra, it would also disgrace their family for not being able to control their daughter in law. It would mean that Tahno made a poor choice in selecting a wife. No. More likely, she would be sold. Labor camps hadn't been around since the tyrant Fire Lord Ozai, but prostitution was alive and well. Mother Kavbin would most likely make up a story, say that Korra fell ill. She would probably go so far as arranging a funeral in her dear daughter in law's memory. Meanwhile, Korra would never be heard from again, shipped to only La knows where under a fake identity and Tahno. Her heart clenched. Tahno would continue his life. He would marry again and this wife certainly would not be as difficult. He wouldn't have to be patient or understanding. She would give herself to him freely, dutifully, whether she loved him or not. Now Korra's heart was twisting. She couldn't let that happen. She wouldn't let this future come to fruition. Not for her because she deserved so much better, and certainly not for Tahno because-she couldn't finish that thought.

After a long morning of writing and finding a carrier who could deliver his correspondence to his uncle, promising 2-3 day delivery, Tahno spent the rest of the day back at the construction site. As much as he wanted to be available for Korra, he couldn't think of anything more beneficial than getting her out of his family house. Most of his time was spent creating ice blocks, which would have been so much easier if he had his bending still. Despite this, he worked tirelessly, compacting blocks and heating and reheating the blocks to mortar and finish the walls. At least he no longer had to haul the blocks himself, however, as Naga was a big help. The polar bear dog wasn't so scary when she wasn't bursting through windows barking, and she made great companionship, sitting with him when he took his breaks. Construction should be done this week, and he already ordered furniture which would be delivered as soon as the roof was complete. The only problem was that Korra wouldn't be able to officially leave his family home until she conceived an heir to his father's name and family business and she wouldn't be completely left alone until she successfully delivered a healthy son. If he could just get Korra away from his mother, at least for a few weeks at a time, she may relax and open up to him more. Maybe she would only have to return during her ovulation cycles like Kaito did, and if she's relaxed, an heir would eventually come. He had to smile at that thought. Not an heir. A little boy, and many more children. He spent so much time on their marital house because he knew that in this place, her love for him would bloom.

Exhausted after his long day, Tahno wanted nothing more than to lie in bed, next to his wife. Despite the fact that they never touched and he had to be careful to stay as still and possible leaving a valley between them, Tahno was comforted in knowing it wouldn't be forever and at least he was now lying in the same bed as his wife. It was a step in the right direction, even though it was out of necessity for Korra's wellbeing and to create the illusion of her being dutiful to the family.

As Tahno approached the family home, he ran in to Kaito and Saien. Now that Kaito was so big, Saien accompanied her to the family home for the past week, although Tahno wasn't sure why his pregnant sister was suddenly being forced to come to the house every morning and night. He suspected it had something to do with his mother's concerns for Korra's fertility. Tahno had to admire how lovely his sister looked, in her pregnancy. Her face shown with radiance and her body was so supple with life. He could see the pride in Saien's eyes every time the other man glanced at his wife. He just wished Kaito was happier. Every time he saw his sister, he imagined Korra in her place, carrying his child, but that wouldn't be until much later and hopefully, by that time, she would love him as much as he did her.

As they passed, Tahno didn't have much energy except to exchange a quick hello. He didn't want to get wrapped up in talking to his sister about the construction or furniture choices and he certainly didn't want to be moved off his path, invited to their home for tea and a light dinner. Saien, the gentle giant, nodded to Tahno in acknowledgment. 'Good,' Tahno thought, but quiet Saien wasn't the one he ever had to worry about. Already bracing himself for his older sister's onslaught, Tahno found himself pleasantly surprised to simply be engulfed in an awkward hug because of Kaito's bulging belly and quickly released with a pleased smile.

Continuing home, Tahno found the house to be dark, save for a flickering light in the room he shared with Korra. This didn't surprise him, as she had confided in him that after her fight with Amon, she had grown afraid of the dark. Most nights she was fine to just close her eyes, but he assumed that after her confrontation with his mother, this was just a bad night and she needed a little light for extra security. Before when he saw the light in her window he thought nothing of it. It wasn't until they started sleeping in the same room last week that she revealed her secret insecurity to him. At the time he wished he was enough to secure her.

As Tahno trudged down the hall to the room he shared with Korra, he didn't notice the delicate fragrance in the air. Instead, his thoughts were on sleep. Should he go to his office so Korra's nerves could continue to recover? He didn't want to be a source of extra strain on her. He felt that she still wasn't completely relaxed when they shared the bed. She spent most of the night awake, and then when she finally would fall asleep, it was fitful as she tossed and turned. Still, he struggled with his own selfishness. She was his wife and he was also under a lot of stress. Being next to her and giving up his own chance for peaceful rest from her constant nocturnal movements gave him a strange sense of peace-certainly not physically, but peace of mind. Deciding to feel bad tomorrow in exchange for peacefulness tonight, Tahno opened the door quietly, just in case Korra was sleeping soundly for once.

When Tahno turned to the bed, his blood surged through him and all thoughts of sleep subsided. There was Korra, his beautiful wife, lying on her side, propped up on one arm, the furs on the pallet draped tantalizingly around her waist leaving her full, perky breasts exposed. The candle illuminated her brown skin, casting it in bronze light. He could also pick up glints of silver reflecting off her bare skin. She looked up at him shyly through full lashes. A gentle application of make-up had been applied, not that his wife needed any. He couldn't believe she was welcoming him to her bed. Tahno couldn't remember his movements from the door to sitting on the edge of the pallet, but somehow he was there, reveling in the feel of her silken skin as he first touched her cheek, then let his fingers drift down her neck to her shoulder. All he could think was, 'Is this really happening?'

He wanted to be sure. If she made the first move, he would be more than happy to finish. He had waited so long for this moment. Korra leaned forward and kissed Tahno tentatively. This was all he needed. She gasped when he deepened the kiss. He reveled in the lightness of her voice. He would go slowly, make this last as long as humanly possible. He wanted her to be confident in her choice to allow him into her bed and body and leave her wondering why she didn't allow him sooner. Vaguely, Tahno wondered why Korra didn't try to untie his tunic, but released the thought as another high gasp escaped her lovely lips when he nipped the side of her neck. She was loosely clinging to his sleeves, keeping their contact close as Tahno adored Korra's body with nips and kisses. Unable to resist any longer, one of Tahno's hands left Korra's shoulder to admire her breast. That's where he wanted to taste next, but first he wanted to feel her. He could already see himself laying her down, taking more time to accustom his hands and tongue to her body when he couldn't deny the tenseness of her form.

Stopping his ministrations, Tanho looked into Korra's eyes, or at least tried to as she refused to make eye contact with him. Instead, her eyes lingered at her pillow. Confused, Tahno reached his hand underneath. Korra tried to stop his search, but it was too late. Tahno had discovered the envelope. He turned it around in his hands before noticing the sweet aroma coming from it. Opening the package, he poured out a hand full of violet flower petals. He recognized what these were immediately.

As he drew away from Korra, she pursued him, grabbing his tunic sleeve and trying to kiss his lips. She really did enjoy his kisses. It just startled her when his cool fingers brushed the sensitive skin of her bare chest. She hoped he wouldn't notice and if he continued, she was sure she'd get used to it. But now, here this man was, flinching from her touch as if she burned him.

"You need sedatives to sleep with me?" Tahno asked quietly. It almost sounded like he was talking to himself. Maybe she had burned him. The look in his eyes were that of hurt and betrayal, "I thought you wanted me."

"I do," Korra protested. It didn't sound very convincing though. Not to her ears, and especially not to Tahno.

"Then why do you need these?"

Korra shook her head, "I don't."

Tahno wasn't persuaded. "Did my mother put you up to this?" Then another thought hit him, "Oh, La, did Kaito?" Korra could only shake her head in the negative. "Then why?"

Korra could only come up with one, pitiful answer, "I'm your wife."

Tahno was taken aback by this statement. He didn't understand what she meant by that. "So my wife hates me so much she doesn't want to remember us. Our intimate moments together?"

Korra pulled the covers to her body defeated. Could she do anything right? She hadn't even taken the petals. She just had them under her pillow for security. It was comforting to know that there was an easy escape under her pillow if she needed it. That didn't mean she was going to use it though. The whole thing was a stupid idea, spawning from desperation, and it only left Korra feeling rejected. She turned away from Tahno and drew up the covering furs. "I didn't take them. I just…I just wanted a way to stay with you."

Tahno was silent for a while as he thought her words over. Korra just admitted she wanted to stay with him. Be with him. Remain his wife. They were definitely heading in the right direction. He bent over to kiss Korra's temple lovingly, "I promised you I would protect you. Please, trust me." Tahno then settled in next to Korra, draping an arm over her waist as she turned in his grasp to be cuddled to his chest. Pleased, Tahno kissed her forehead tenderly. 'And when we do come together,' he thought, 'I want it to be because you love me.'