10. The preparations to leave for the South Pole were more extensive than Korra had anticipated. She didn't want to take a ship, they took too long, but she didn't know if Tenzin would allow them to borrow an air bison. The only way to find out is if she paid a visit to the Air benders, so she mounted Naga and took off in the direction of the docks in order to see the family she hadn't seen for a couple months.
She wasn't greeted at the dock on the other side of the bay, which she expected. So she took Naga up to the temple, and knocked on the front door of the family quarters. Jinora answered the door.
"Hey, Jinora," Korra greeted the young woman.
"Korra!" Ikki's voice rang out from behind the older girl before she had a chance to reply. Korra smiled at the girls who were both standing in the door now.
"Korra?" Meelo asked, jumping to see over his sisters. "Korra's here!"
"Come in," Jinora smiled at the older woman. Korra gladly stepped through the door. Meelo ran to give the news to his mother and father that the Avatar had arrived. Tenzin came around the corner a moment later, a smile on his face.
"Korra, what a pleasant surprise. Come in, come in. We were just about to sit down for lunch, you must join us," Tenzin greeted Korra warmly, like she never left the island.
"It's great to see you, Tenzin," Korra opened her arms for a hug, whish the older man was semi-reluctant to return.
"Likewise, young lady. How are you doing?" He asks as he leads her into the dining room.
"Really well. Since coming out with our relationship, I've been a lot happier," She replies.
"That's good. I'm glad you're happy," Tenzin says. Korra sits at the table next to the girls. Pema comes from the kitchen, baby Rohan strapped to her back, with large dishes stacked on her arms
"Oh, Pema!" Korra stood up to take a couple of the dishes. "No one told me that Rohan had arrived!"
"He came about two months ago, Korra," Pema smiled gratefully at the relief. "I thought Tenzin had called you!"
"No," Korra looked over to an embarrassed Tenzin. "He didn't. You couldn't have mentioned that when you called me last month?"
"I had other things on my mind," the air bender muttered. Korra placed the dishes on the table.
"Is there anything else you need help with, Pema?" Korra asked. Pema nodded.
"There's about four more dishes in the kitchen, if you wouldn't mind helping me with them," Pema said politely. Korra nodded and followed the other woman into the kitchen. The dishes were sitting on the counter, but Pema leaned against the it instead. "How far along are you, Korra?"
"Excuse me?" Korra gasped, her hand to her chest.
"You're glowing, honey," Pema smiled. "I've seen that enough times to know. So, how far along?"
"Um…" The younger woman debated telling her, but found no harm in doing so. "About 12 weeks, honestly."
"That's great, Korra," Pema smiled. "I'm happy for you."
"Thanks," Korra rubbed the back of her neck with a nervous chuckle. "I didn't know you could tell just by looking at someone."
"Usually you can't, but I've kind of picked up a knack for it," Pema explained. She lifted two dishes from the counter and handed them to Korra. "Is that why you came to visit?"
"Uh, no," Korra followed her back out into the dining room. "I actually came to ask if I could borrow a sky bison for a trip to the South Pole."
"Excuse me?" Tenzin spoke up. "In your condition?"
"What? You can tell too?" Korra asked, exasperated. Tenzin just nodded.
"Of course, Korra, I have four kids," Tenzin laughed along with Pema.
"Tell what?" Meelo asked. Pema served the children their food.
"Nothing, sweetie, eat your food," Pema urged. Meelo dug into it almost immediately, but Ikki was more persistent.
"Tell what, mom? Is Korra sick?" Ikki asked in her enthusiastic way. "What's wrong with you, Korra?"
"Nothing, Ikki," Korra replied. "Don't worry about me."
"But what can Dad tell?" She insisted.
"Ikki," Pema warned.
"It's all right, Pem. I'm going to have to tell them eventually," Korra's smile was small. "I'm pregnant, Ikki."
"WHAT?" Meelo yelled out dramatically, food falling from his mouth. Jinora looked up from her meal in surprise.
"Congratulations!" Jinora exclaimed. Korra just patted her head with a smile.
"Is Amon the daddy?" Ikki asked. "Or Tarrlok? Cause mom and Dad says you're with both of them, so they have to be the daddy right?"
"Right. They're both the daddy," Korra laughed. Tenzin put his face into his hand.
"That's so cool! I wish I had two daddies! Mom, why don't we have two daddies?" the girl's excitement made Korra chuckle.
"Because, honey, I only love one man," Pema tried to explain without making the situation awkward.
"Anyways, why would you want to borrow a sky bison when a ship would be much safer in your condition?" Tenzin interjected before the conversation could get out of hand. Korra shrugged, a mouthful of food.
"Travelling by ship takes so long, and I'd like to tell my parents before I get huge," Korra said. "I'm already three months along, I'm going to start showing any time now."
"She's right, Tenzin," Pema said. "At least she would be able to give her parents some notice before she starts showing."
"But isn't it riskier earlier on?" Tenzin tried to argue.
"It's risky no matter what," Korra said. "But I have Noatak and Tarrlok. They can take care of me."
"I never thought I'd hear you admit others could take care of you," The older man smiled. "That alone expresses maturity I couldn't have foreseen. However, I think it's important to think about the wellbeing of the life inside you."
"Tenzin, please." Korra pleaded. "I want to tell my father in person, so he doesn't worry. They don't even know I'm with Noatak and Tarrlok. I need to tell them so many things."
"Tenzin, there's no harm to it," Pema said.
"Oh, very well," Tenzin threw up his hands. "You may take Oogi to the South Pole."
"Thank you so much, Tenzin," Korra nearly jumped across the table to hug her master. "I can't think of a way to repay you."
"Just, give my mother my best," Tenzin said gruffly.
"Of course!" Korra smiled.
The rest of the lunch went smoothly, and Korra stayed on the island well into the afternoon catching up with the air babies. She got to spend an ungodly amount of time with Rohan, which she actually didn't mind, while Pema cleaned. Korra also got to visit the meditation pavilion, where she sat staring at the sea for a long while as she thought. She leaned against one of the pillars and listened to the waves crashing against the cliff below her.
"I thought you had a hard time meditating," Tarrlok's voice came from behind her. She turned to look at him, only to find his smirk fall from his face. "Korra, what's wrong?"
"What?" She questioned, her hand coming up to her face to wipe away a tear. She stared at the offending liquid. "Oh, nothing. I was just looking at the ocean."
"Are you feeling okay?" He came to sit next to her. She nodded. "Are you sure?"
"Yes, Tarrlok, I'm fine!" Korra snapped. Her eyes widened. "I'm sorry."
"Don't worry about it, Love," Tarrlok wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
"What are you doing out here alone?"
"Just thinking, really," She sighed. "It's nice to be back here, after so long. Did you see Rohan? He's really cute."
"I did, and he is," Tarrlok chuckled.
"I didn't used to think babies were cute. I guess things change when you've got one inside you," She leans forward and rests her cheek on her arms. Tarrlok runs his hand over her back.
"I know we haven't really gotten a chance to talk about this pregnancy, Korra," Tarrlok started. "But I want you to know that I'm here to support you in any way I can."
"I know Tarrlok, thank you," Korra smiled up at him. He smiled too. "I love you."
"I love you too, my love," He hums as he leans forward to kiss her forehead. "Are you ready to go? Noatak made reservations for dinner."
"Yeah, I suppose," She moved to stand up. Tarrlok stood first and offered his hand to help her up. She gladly took it. They stopped in the house to say goodbye to Pema and the air benders, and Korra walked Naga to the dock. She chuckled as they boarded the ferry. "There was a time that I wouldn't have even bothered with the ferry. Naga swims really well."
"I'm glad you're bothering now," Tarrlok laughed. "I'd get lonely on this 20 minute ride back to the city."
"Don't worry," Korra patted his chest. "I probably won't be taking to the ocean while this kid is in here."
"I'm amazed you're talking about it so openly," Tarrlok said, eyeing the captain. Korra shrugged.
"He can't hear us. And I've pretty much accepted this. I admit I've thought about asking you to abort it, but I don't know I could do that after everything I put you though," Korra slumped in her seat. "I mean, I was already incredibly selfish, but asking you, or Noa to do that, would be infinitely more selfish."
"Korra, it's okay to be scared, or nervous, or doubtful. We all are," Tarrlok held up his hand so she'd let him finish. "Noatak and I talked about it today, and we're both terrified about this."
"I don't know why," Korra threw up her hands. "You're both well into your lives, you should both have families. Wives, kids, not me."
"Neither of us ever thought we would become fathers, my love. We didn't want to," He leaned back in his seat. "Our father made it hard to want to continue the blood line, you know?"
"Oh… Yeah. I never really thought about that," She admitted as she stroked Naga's large head.
"A large part of it was that neither of us ever really found someone we wanted to have a family with as well," He said, gazing at the sky. He contemplated the stars for a moment before looking at her again. "You've changed that, Korra. At least for me, you have."
"Tarrlok.." Korra felt tears prickling her eyes again. "Fuck! It seems I can't stop crying."
"Better than being an emotional dead weight, like I've been," Tarrlok chuckled. His arm went around her shoulders and pulled her into his side. "I love you, Korra. You've made my life so much brighter since you've come into it, and I'm very happy to call you mine."
They spent the rest of the ride in silence, watching, as the lights of the city grew closer. Korra felt her heart grow lighter thinking about the trip coming, and knowing that everything would be fine.