sorry for the long wait, one of my dogs passed away a couple of days ago, my cousin got married and it was ANZAC day, but her it is the final(ish) chapter. i still have an epilogue to write but that won't be as long as this chapter. Read REVIEW and enjoy

"Baatar?"

"In here dear."

Suyin entered the nursery of Lin's home, to see her husband sitting on the floor, trying to figure out how to put a crib together. "You've been at it for hours, don't you think it's time to come downstairs and have some dinner?"

"Su, I can build trains, buildings, cities, even cars if I wanted to, but I can't put a crib together. Those idiots at the store could do it, so what does that make me?"

Su sat down next to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Baatar, it's okay. You're tired from the trip back to Republic City and shopping all day. Come on, I'll give you a hand."

"Where's Daiyu?"

Su grabbed a piece of the crib and attempted to attach it to another. "I put her in Lin's room on the bed. She went out like a light."

Baatar stopped what he was doing to give her an incredulous look. "But there's no railings on the bed."

"Baatar, she can barely lift her head, I doubt she could crawl off the bed. She can't even roll over yet. Pass me the screw driver please."

Baatar looked around for the tool but came up empty. "Can't you use your bending?"

"Where's the fun in that. I'll go check the hallway cupboard."

While Su went to look for a screwdriver, Baatar re-read the instruction manual for the umpteenth time. "It says there should be fifteen pieces, then why is there eighteen? Ugh, there should never be leftovers. If you need to replace something, then it isn't a good product." Baatar looked up when he heard Su re-enter the room holding a box. "What's this?"

"I'm not sure."

"So, you just took the box and decided to go through it? Isn't that an invasion of privacy?"

Su shrugged her shoulders and took a seat next to him. "We bought her a new mattress, I think she will forgive me."

"I still don't know why we did that."

"Because Kya and Lin both deserve to share a bed that they didn't share with someone else." The earthbender removed the lid to the box and began to go through its contents. "Hey, Lin made some alphabet blocks for Daiyu out of earth."

She handed them to Baatar so he could have a better look. "She inscribed little messages on them. B is for the Badgermole who earthbends. There are little pictures of badgermoles too." He picked up another one and smiled. "Z is for Zaofu where auntie Su lives."

Su snatched the block out of his hands and read it for herself. Smiling at the pictures of a city, and another with what she could only guess to be herself, bending a piece of metal. "Auntie Su. She was going to tell Daiyu about me I always thought, I always thought she would grow up not knowing who I am."

"She needs to add uncle Baatar to the message." He picked up another block, his smile somehow growing as he read it aloud. "I think this is my favourite, L is for the love your parents have for you." The architect looked up at his wife when he heard a sob escape her. "Su, there's no reason to cry. I think we should put the box back."

"No, I'm fine. I always said Lin was soft on the inside, I just never knew she was this soft. If her officer's saw all this, they would have a field day." Su laughed to herself at the thought of her sister hiding in a closet, as her co-workers read the inscriptions of the blocks. She reached into the box and pulled out a photo album, and began to flick through the pages.

"So that's what Kya looks like. I thought she'd be shorter and I don't know, more muscular."

"No. Kya is someone that likes the muscles on others beside herself. I think it's what allured her to Lin in the first place, though that's not something I like to think about." She pointed to a photo and started laughing.

"What's so funny?" Su shoved the album into his lap and pointed to a photo of Lin, who had her arms wrapped around the shoulders of two hippies and holding a cactus cup in her hand. "Wait, isn't cactus juice illegal?"

"It is. That's why it's funny. She always vowed never to do anything illegal and yet she keeps physical evidence in her home. Oh look, a photo with them making out at a camp fire, it's disgusting." She flipped to another page and instantly closed the book.

"What's wrong?"

"I'm just going to say morning after photos and leave it at that."

"Oh… oh never thought your sister would have something like that in a box of baby toys."

"They're probably moving boxes. There is more stuff in the hallway cupboard." Su pushed the box away and went back to attaching the pieces of wood together. "Let's finish this crib then get something to eat before Daiyu wakes up. We have a long day tomorrow."

"I can't believe Lin and Kya will finally have their daughter back after two months."

"Mm, I'm going to miss spending so much time with Daiyu, but we need to get back to Zaofu and finish constructions."

Baatar wrapped an arm around her shoulders and placed a kiss to her temple. "We'll see her again. We are uncle Baatar and auntie Suyin after all."

It has been two weeks since Lin had been given back her badge and she was instantly put back on the beat, much to her annoyance but knew not to question her mother's judgement. She took off her armour as she entered her mother's house, before falling backwards onto the couch, though before she could close her eyes, she felt warm, smooth hands snake up from behind the armrest of the couch, and settle themselves over her chest. "You're just in time."

The officer let out a yawn as she let herself sink further into the couch. "For what?"

"Dinner. I made soup."

Lin let out a groan as she sat up into a sitting position. "I'm so sorry Kya, I ate before coming home. I was hungry so I-"

Kya placed a finger over Lin's lips to silence her, a small smile graced her features as she leaned in to rest her forehead against the earthbender's. "It's okay. I'm not that much of a heartless bitch that I would be angry with you for eating."

"You're not heartless," Lin raised her hand and pressed it against Kya's chest firmly, "Because I can feel it. Every time I come through the front door, I can feel it. It's steady, strong and still beats very fast every time you see me, every time you touch me." Lin raised her head and kissed Kya lightly.

The waterbender straddled the earthbender's lap, moaning when she felt a tongue enter her mouth. She took in a sharp breath when she felt Lin's fingers travel under her shirt and circle around her back. She pulled away to take a proper breath, allowing her hand to rest on Lin's scarred cheek. "You know, that's the first time we've kissed since being back together."

"Mm, I'm just happy to hold you." Lin kissed Kya again. Her hands came to hold Kya behind her knees, and then stood up. She placed the waterbender flat on her back on the couch, and crawled over her.

"Lin, are you sure you want to do… this?"

"No, I want to do you." Her mouth trailed slow kisses along Kya's jaw line, savouring the soft moans she received for her actions, as nimble fingers found themselves wondering up her shirt. Lin stopped her ministrations when she felt something protruding from between Kya's hips. She quickly withdrew her hands and sat back on her knees.

Kya sat up, brows furrowing in confusion at the unexplained shock on Lin's face. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

"Then why did you stop?"

"I, uh, there's something on your stomach."

"What?"

Lin let out a sigh as she explained. "When I put my hands up your top, I felt something on your stomach."

Kya took her shirt in her hands and lifted it above her head, smiling when she saw Lin's eyes instantly go to her chest. "Nice to know you're still attracted to my body." The officer's eyes trailed down the waterbender's torso, coming to rest at a scar that extended across the length of her pelvis. Lin tentatively reached out to touch the scar, only to hesitate. "It's okay, it doesn't hurt anymore."

Lin finally touched it and trailed the length of it with her index finger before coming to lie her hand flat against it. "She was cut out of you."

Kya knew it wasn't a question, but felt the need to explain. "Yeah. Lin, when I went into labour, the thought of giving her up was already in my mind. But I hadn't made the decision yet. It wasn't until a doctor told me that she was beginning to panic and that she was coming out feet first that I truly became scared. They told me that I would have to have surgery to save her. I thought to myself, 'how can I be scared of saving my unborn child?' If I couldn't save her when she needed me most, then how was I going to protect her throughout her life? I made the decision before going into the surgery to put her up for adoption."

Lin took Kya's face into her hands and wiped away a tear. "It's okay. We're going to get her back. Besides, that scar isn't nearly as bad as a few I have." Lin removed her tank and pointed to a small scar on her arm. "See this one?"

"You said you got that from an attacker."

"Well, it was actually an old lady who wanted me to get her pet wolf bat out of a tree. The little shit got me good."

Kya cocked an eyebrow at her and folded her arms across her chest. "A wolf bat? What old woman has a pet wolf bat?"

"The crazy kind."

The two women laughed throughout the night, as Lin continued to talk about how she had gotten the various scars on her body.

Su knocked on her sister's bedroom door. When she received no reply, she pushed the door open cautiously, relieved to see two women asleep peacefully in each other's arms. Su allowed herself to smile at the scene but knew it wouldn't last long as she approached the bed and poked Lin in the arm. She let out a gasp when her sister shot out a hand to catch the retreating arm. Lin let out a groan when she realised who had disturbed her sleep. "For fucks sake Su, what are you doing in here?" Lin kept her voice down as she looked down at Kya's face to make sure she didn't wake her.

"We have something to show you downstairs. You and Kya."

"Su, go away."

Kya's eyes opened at the two sister's talking and she rolled over to give Su a crooked smile. "Morning Su. I will have Lin dressed and downstairs in five minutes."

"Thank you Kya and it's good to see you again."

"Likewise, I'm sure." Waiting for the young earthbender to leave the room, Kya got out of bed and began to get dressed. "Come on Lin, it's ten in the morning, it's time to get up."

"You said five minutes, that means I have four minutes to sleep."

Kya crawled onto the bed and straddled Lin's curled up body, who was still trying to get more sleep. Leaning down, the waterbender placed soft, slow kisses to the earthbender's neck. "The sooner we find out what Su got us, the sooner we can go back to bed."

"Please, Su is lousy at getting gifts. She once got me a pink dress. I doubt she's gotten bet-" Lin was cut off when a shrill cry was heard coming from downstairs. The two women looked at each other with wide eyes. Kya jumped off the bed and ran out the door, a shirtless Lin Beifong hot on her heels.

They came to a halt in the lounge room, where Toph Beifong sat in her armchair, with a two-month-old baby softly whimpering in her arms. "Nice of you two to join us this morning. Su and Baatar are in the kitchen preparing breakfast for all of us including this cutie. Please, have a seat." Kya and Lin silently took a seat on the couch across from Toph, not taking their eyes off the baby for a second. "Lin, Kya, I would like you to meet Daiyu Beifong, your daughter."

Before either of them could ask Toph a question, Su and Baatar walked into the room with plates for everyone and a bottle for Daiyu. "Do you want me to feed her mum?"

"Actually," Everyone looked at Lin as she addressed them in an usually timid voice, "If you don't mind, could I do it?"

"Sure badgermole." Toph stood up and crossed the room to kneel in front of her eldest daughter, as she instructed her on how to hold the baby. "Make sure you support the head and you don't want her to choke on the milk so don't have her lying straight."

Once Lin got into position, Toph handed her the bottle and took back her seat in the armchair. "She's lighter than what I thought she would be."

"We'll explain everything after we eat." They ate the pancakes Su and Baatar had made, with Kya every now and then putting a piece into Lin's mouth. Putting down her plate, Toph leaned forward with her elbows on her knees and began to offload everything revolving around Daiyu and her involvement to get her back. "So, after I found out that Kya gave Daiyu up," The waterbender shrunk back as she was reminded again, that this was her fault, "I contacted Mao, one of the Beifong estate's top lawyers who can nearly track down anything. It took roughly a month to find her and strike a deal with the foster parents, but they wanted to meet the people who would be adopting her."

Lin's eyebrows almost shot up into her hairline as she looked from her mother to her sister and husband, both wearing grins on their faces. "You two are Daiyu's legal mum and dad?"

"Yes we are. It was a no brainer Lin. When mum called me after she found out that Kya was pregnant, I instantly saw Daiyu as a Beifong. Baatar shared my view on the situation and spending the last two weeks with her has been fantastic. You're lucky to have such a beautiful baby girl."

Lin gently passed the baby into Kya's patiently waiting arms, before standing and pulling Su to her feet in a bone-crushing hug. "Thank you little sister, for everything. I don't know how I can ever repay you."

Su let out a shaky breath at finally hugging her sister again for the first time in eight years, happy to be in the protective embrace once more. "You can repay me by not hugging Baatar. You're shirtless and he's nervous."

Lin drew back and gave Su a smile. "I'm going to get a shirt then."

They waited for Lin to retreat upstairs, before Su, Baatar and Toph, all fixed Kya with their best glare, which was hard seeing as how Toph's glare was directed off to the right, Baatar looked a tad constipated and Su, in her eyes, was still that annoying twelve year old she used to know. "Kya, on behalf of all of us here, if you ever break my daughter's heart again, we will kill you. That's not a threat, that's a promise."

Kya didn't need to see the glare to know Toph was telling the truth. The edge in her voice was more than enough to know she was serious. "I promise that I will never hurt Lin again, you have my word."

Lin came back downstairs, wearing a new tank accompanied by a grin as she sat back down and held her hands out to take Daiyu into her arms, the grin some how grew larger as the baby took hold of Lin's pinkie and squeezed. "She's strong, but why is she so light?"

Su leaned forward and ran a hand through the small tuffs of hair on Daiyu's head as she explained. "Well, the foster family didn't exactly know how to raise a baby and they weren't living in the best conditions. They barely had the money to keep her clothed. We're trying to get her to put more weight on but it's a slow process. Formula doesn't exactly have all the nutrients a baby requires."

Baatar pulled out some papers from the side of the couch and placed them on the coffee table in front of Kya and Lin. "These are adoption papers. We've marked where you need to sign and the box at the end of this page is if you want to change Daiyu's name."

Lin handed the baby to Su as she read through the papers before she and Kya filled anything out, when she came across a page titled 'guardians.' She leaned over to whisper in Kya's ear and received a firm nod from her in approval. "Su, Baatar, I know you two have bonded with our daughter over the past couple of weeks, and we were wondering if you two would like to be Daiyu's legal guardians?"

Su and Baatar smiled at the request. "Of course Lin, Baatar and I would be honoured."

"Sure, don't worry about grandma Toph over here, I never wanted to be a guardian anyway."

"Oh sorry mum."

"Was I using sarcasm again? I'm actually serious. I had to raise one stick in the mud and one rebellious teenager. On top of that you were both benders. Do you have any idea how many rocks I had thrown at me over the years? Because even one is too much."

It was late in the night when Su and Baatar had finally left to return to their city and Toph had left for her night shift at the station.

Lin stripped down to her underwear before climbing on the bed behind Kya, to wrap her arms around her waist. "We're finally whole."

"Mm, she looks just like me, except the eyes."

Lin sat up a little to peer over at Daiyu, who lay looking up at the two women with a small frown on her face. "She's beautiful. I can't stop looking at her." Daiyu began to squirm a little. Her face soon contorting into one that was about to cry. "She must be hungry, I'll go get her a bottle."

Just as she was about to move, Kya placed a hand on her arm, stilling her movements. "I've got this." Kya sat up against the headboard and took off her top, before taking Daiyu into her arms.

"Oh, do you want some privacy? I can wait outside."

"That's not necessary, it's a normal bodily function and it might help her put on some weight." Kya smiled when she felt her daughter latch on to her and began to suck away. "Wow, that feels really weird."

"I think it's amazing." Lin remained in her position on the bed as she ran a hand through Daiyu's hair, watching as the mother of her child nursed.

"Lin?"

"Yeah?"

"I know we just got her back, but this whole situation has me thinking, where are we going to raise her? We can't exactly live with your mother for the rest of our lives."

The earthbender shifted to sit next to the waterbender and gave her a smile. "Well, I've actually already bought a place." Kya's head spun around so quickly to look at her partner, it nearly gave her whiplash. "I bought it when you were four months pregnant with this little girl. I was going to take you there tomorrow as a surprise."

"You know, this makes me feel even more guilty about what happened between us. So what does it look like?"

Lin pulled Kya to sit in-between her legs, so she could rest her chin on her shoulder and look at Daiyu as she ate. "Well, it has a picket fence that needs painting, a garden that needs gardening, a huge yard at the back that will come in handy if she turns out to be an earthbender-"

Kya turned her head to cock a questioning eyebrow in her direction. "What if she's a waterbender?"

"You didn't let me finish. There's a stream at the back of the house for waterbending. It's one of the reasons I bought it. We can move in whenever you want to."

"Alright, we'll move in tomorrow. I only have a few items that need packing." Feeling Daiyu let go of her chest, Kya lifted her up and began to pat her back lightly in an attempt to get her to burp. "Can you pass me a towel please?" Lin reached over to the bag full of baby supplies at the side of the bed. Pulling out a small towel, she placed it on Kya's shoulder, just in time for Daiyu to spit up a little. "There we go, my baby girl is all fed, cleaned and ready for bed."

"Can I take her?"

"Of course." She handed the two month old to Lin, who laid Daiyu on her chest, allowing her to get comfortable.

"You know, she really is beautiful."

Kya fixed her shirt before lying down next to Lin and began rubbing small circles on their daughter's back. "She really is. I love you Lin."

The earthbender placed a soft kiss the waterbender's lips and smiled. "I love you too."