Author Notes

New story! Let me know what you think!

EM ;)

We All Have Secrets Part 1

Asami

I never thought I would be here on this beautiful beach as a divorcee. Mako and I discussed many times that we would vacation here when we both had time, but that time never came.

Our lives revolved around work. I was always in the office running my company and he was always caught up in an investigation for the police department. At first, we had that in common, the love of our jobs, and even got married after two years of dating.

We both understood that side of each other and gave each other the space we needed to be the best at what we did, but eventually, that led to not even having time for each other. When our son, Koji, was born everything changed. It seemed for a short time that nothing in the world mattered but our small family.

I pulled his small picture from my bag. It was old and worn, but looking at his beautiful smile always felt like a breath of fresh air.

Mako and I divorced after seven years of marriage. It had been inevitable.

"Hey Sami? How are you liking the white beaches," said the smiling Bolin as he sat next to me.

"It beautiful. Thank again for setting this up. Where Opal?"

He chuckled lightly.

"You know her. She out shopping and is probably going to make me take her to my movie set to keep an eye on the co-star."

"Ah, Ginger?"

"Yes," he said dragging a hand through his hair.

"No matter how many times I tell her there isn't anything between us and that Ginger is a complete bitch off set, she won't believe me."

I laughed thinking about my best friend and her jealousy issues. Seriously the girl had twins and not only did she take off the baby weight she is looking even fitter than before. Plus, Bolin adores her and the boys even if there are times I'm sure he wished he hadn't had twin boys.

"Have you called your mother-in-law to see if she is surviving?"

"Ha. After raising Wei and Wing I'm sure my boys are a breeze. That woman is unbreakable."

"How long will you be here for the movie?"

"Only a couple of days before we go abroad again, but you better enjoy these next few days ok? I didn't bust my butt to make sure this condo was available just for you to leave early," he said with a look.

I hadn't left Republic City or even taken a day off in two years. I slammed myself with work and projects and it had taken a lot of begging to convince me to come.

Bolin's phone began ringing and he sighed.

"I'm sure she found the cutest outfit for me to wear and now needs me to go try it on. Enjoy the beach and I'll see you tonight if we don't get out too late."

I smiled as I waved and watched Bolin walk back to the condo talking to Opal.

I continued to stare at the crashing waves. I had forgotten the picture of Koji was on my lap when I stood and as it fell the wind caught it.

I stumbled to catch it, but it was too late.

I watched the bronzed woman grab the picture before it could fly any further.

"Almost lost this," she said with a beautiful smile as she handed me the picture.

"Thank you."

With a sigh of relief, I placed it back into my bag and looked up at the woman.

She was lean and very beautifully sculpted. Her blue eyes seemed to glow in contrast to her darker skin and her short hair hugged her face in a way that complemented the angles of her face.

She was interesting.

In my cool head, I just smiled fondly and got up from my seat to head back to my condo.

"I'm Korra. By any chance would you like to have a drink? My friend ditched me and I rather not drink at the bar alone."

I looked towards the small beach bar and I could practically hear both Bolin and Opal yelling at me to go out and enjoy myself.

"Sure, I wouldn't mind the company either and I'm Asami."

We both headed back and I watched as she smoothly led me to the bar and ordered us both a drink.

She was definitely a smooth talker and by the way, some of the women around us looked at her I saw she was also very popular.

I wondered how many of these women fell for this. Korra had a way of making words sound so alluring and her eyes seemed to see right through you and like they could easily devour you.

Yes, she was very good at this and a small piece of me wanted to be swept away by it. It would be a night full of passion and pleasure, but reality always hits harder after escapades like this.

Instead, I decided to just enjoy Korra's company and let her kind words and seductive smiles breeze by me.

Yes, I was Bi and it had been many many years since I had slept with another woman… Actually, I hadn't slept with anyone since Mako. It shocked Opal when I told her, but it just never felt right and I honestly didn't need it.

I looked at the time and knew I had to leave to have dinner with Opal and Bolin and quickly finished my drink. I placed a few bills on the bar before I face her again.

"I'm sorry, but I have plans with friends that I don't want to be late to. Thank you for the company I really enjoyed it."

I expected her to get frustrated or even sad at my rejection of anything further, but instead her smile was so genuinely.

"I really enjoyed our time too. Have a great night. I'm staying here as well and if you get bored I'll return the favor."

I smiled and waved bye before I made my way back to my condo to get changed for dinner.

I sat across the couple as Opal went on about how Ginger was looking at Bolin.

"Sweetie I don't know how you confuse a glare with an 'I want you look.'"

"No, she wants you and I will beat that hoe down before she touches the father of my children."

I smiled to myself. She got to the "father of my children" stage of her argument. As if that made it more of an insult that someone would look at Bolin in that manner. The past month Opal had been on this mood swing and I think it's wearing Bolin down. It's as if she's hormon….

It clicked.

"Opal are you pregnant?"

I watched as the couple's faces paled and Opal began to stumble her words.

"How? I…. Asami I was going to tell you when I was further along…"

I reached for her hand gripping it lightly with a smile.

"Sweetie last time I saw you this obsessed with Bolin you were pregnant with the twins. Of course, I would eventually notice your mood swings."

Suddenly Opal began to glare.

"I meant your glow," I watched as even Bolin slightly scooted away from Opal and I waited for the bite.

"I will act as if I didn't hear that if you tell me about this bar date you were with."

I looked at both of them curiously.

"Bar date?"

"Bolin and I returned earlier than expected from the set and came to find you and we both saw you chatting it up with this hot little thing at the bar. Now tell me is our Sami going to have a little vaca fun?"

I laughed.

"No extra fun for me. I just enjoyed Korra's company and seemed she enjoyed mine. I will admit I expected it end somewhat differently."

I pondered about how genuine her smile was and how she was completely unaffected by not getting further with me when obviously that was her intentions or had I been so out of the game that I misread them.

Either way, I continued to find her intriguing.

I could tell that Opal read something on my expression as she smiled and added, "You have three more days to change your mind."

We drove back to the condos, but instead of heading off to bed I decided a nice evening walk would be better. I got changed and enjoyed how the warm air hit my skin.

I held my sandals in my hand as I walked the empty part of the beach. Further down I could see bonfires and small parties with drinking and dancing throughout the beach.

They seemed to be really enjoying themselves, but all I wanted was my solitude and began to take the longer route around the parties.

"Hey, beautiful."

I looked up to see two drunk men stumbling towards me.

"You want to have a beer with us?"

This is one of the times I was mad at myself for being careless. I was in my bikini top and maxi skirt and if I had my bag with me I would at least have pepper spray. I had taken self-defense classes since I was a girl, but my attire wouldn't help much especially with two large men.

I would have to try my best not to upset the men while turning them down.

"I appreciate the offer, but I am already walking back to my friend's place."

One man looked towards his friend with a grin. Obviously, they didn't believe my bluff.

"We can walk you back to your friend's place if you want and maybe you will change your mind about that beer."

They took another few steps towards me and I was beginning to analyze how I would get out of this situation without harm.

"Asami! There you are!"

I felt my heart almost leap at the familiar voice.

"Hey! Sorry, my walk was taking a little longer than I thought."

Korra smiled as she took my hand and pulled me behind her. She must have seen me in distress and I thank the stars she did.

"That's why I came to get you. The guys are waiting for us too," she turned giving the two drunk men near me a glare. "Who are they?"

The guys immediately began to back away.

Another set of male voices called Korra and I watched as the men's eyes darted towards the direction it came.

"We were just asking if she wanted a beer, but she declined. We were about to leave."

I watched as Korra's body language became more aggressive.

"Yeah, that sounds like a plan. You should definitely leave and leave now."

Without another word, they stumbled away.

I released a breath I didn't know I was holding and my heart finally began to slow down.

"Asami you shouldn't really be walking out here alone. I know it's pretty close to the condos, but it can still be dangerous to someone as beautiful as you."

I felt my cheeks blush as the compliment, but when I looked up into her eyes I saw real worry as she continued.

"What if I hadn't been here seen those assholes stalking you."

"Stalking?"

"Yeah, I saw you walking, but it seemed you wanted to be alone and that was when I noticed two guys following. I didn't want to intrude so I just kept watching for a while and when I saw how tense you got and how they wouldn't leave. I had to do something."

How lost had I been in thoughts that I hadn't noticed the men behind me and how irresponsible had I been to divert from the well-lit party into the darker part of the beach. I had set myself up.

"Thank you, Korra. I wasn't thinking apparently."

She smiled again trying to comfort me.

"Well, let's make sure they don't follow you back. You should hang out with me and a few of my friends I promise they are safe."

I smiled and looked into her blue eyes that seemed to sparkle with the light of the bonfire.

"I think I would enjoy that."

She continued to hold my hand as we walked over to two men. One was very buff and seemed to be a military man while the other was very thin framed and very well maintained.

"These are my friends Iroh and Wu. Over there by the fire is Kuvira and her fiancé Baatar Jr."

Hearing Baatar's name perked my ears up.

"Baatar Beifong?"

Korra looked at me surprised.

"Yes."

Hearing his name Baatar faced us and the look of recognition flashed across his face.

"Sami!"

I laughed as he ran towards me hugging and swinging me around.

The usual serious eldest son of the Beifong family had certainly changed a lot.

The last thing Opal had told me was that he fell in love with a woman while he was working on an engineering project for his family's company years prior and decided to leave it all to be with her.

The family hadn't been too happy and even though he does contact Opal and his other brothers he has been estranged from the family for a very long time.

"Jr., I am so happy to see you are doing well. Opal doesn't tell me a whole lot, but I can see how happy you are."

A woman with a braid across her shoulder walked up to Baatar took his hand.

"Sami this is my fiancé Kuvira, Kuvira, this is one of my childhood friends and my sister's best friend Asami Sato."

Kuvira eyes widen a little. It was something I was already used to when people heard my last name. My company was well known and I was one of the youngest woman CEOs in the country, so even more people knew who I was.

Kuvira extended her hand and I took it happily.

"I will say I have never seen Baatar so… free," I said after a moment. "It suits him."

I had almost forgotten Korra when I felt her shoulder brush mine.

"Kuvira is my best friend and we allowed Mr. Genius to tag along on our adventures."

I looked at her as I asked, "adventures?"

She smiled.

"We don't really like to idle much. We go home just to save up to leave again. I usually work at my Dad's sports shop and the rest of them have their jobs as well, but none of us live to work, we work so we can live," she said as she swept her arm across the beach.

My whole life I was raised to become the CEO of Future Industries I was born to be a successor, an heir. I was taught to live for my company. As I looked out at Korra's outstretched arm I finally really saw the world outside the bubble I grew up in.

I finally saw what I had been missing out on and that was life itself.

Baatar put a beer in my hand and smile kindly at me.

"I know what you're thinking and what we both were raised to become, but life doesn't have to be so black and white. You can enjoy yourself, Asami. After everything you've been through you deserve to enjoy yourself even for a little while."

I could see the sadness in his eyes as he spoke and I felt my heart clench for a moment because deep down I knew he was right.

I opened my beer taking a big drink as everyone cheered me on and Korra wrapped her arm around my shoulders.

"Now it's time to continue the party!"

I got to know the guys better and learned that Iroh was a military man and was on leave to spend the week with his best friends and his boyfriend Wu.

Wu was very flamboyant and hilarious. He was definitely the life of the party. As each spoke a bit about themselves I noticed how Korra seemed to avoid some of the topics. It seemed she didn't really do much until a few years ago, but I couldn't blame her about her secrecy when I had my own.

I had done well with keeping my personal life out of the media and I was sure Baatar helped that my past didn't become a part of the conversation.

Other than that, I had a great evening and I was happy to say I had made new friends.

I told Baatar about Opal's destructive twins and how she is expecting again.

"Opal always did love the big family setting especially since she was the only girl. I'm glad she is happy, but I am fearful for Bolin. I don't think he understands my sister wants at least four kids if not more."

I laughed because after the twins Bolin had said no more, but Opal must have changed his mind….or she withdrew sex from him.

I giggled again before the question I feared the most was asked.

"Asami the picture I caught for you the other day, of a little boy, was that one of the twins?"

My hands began to shake and I saw Baatars wide eyes on me before he quickly spoke.

"Yes! She loves them so much…"

"Baatar, I can talk about it. You don't have to lie for me."

I looked at concerned blue eyes and felt everyone else's quiet eyes on me too.

"That was my son, Koji. He was five when passed away from leukemia. His passing broke me and I couldn't look at my husband without seeing Koji and I believe it was the same for him so we ended up getting divorced."

That was the first time I ever admitted that Koji was gone and why I had easily agreed to the divorce. In truth, Mako and I found nothing to talk about anymore. Without Koji holding our family together, it fell apart.

I stared at the bubbles in my beer and the silence seemed to last forever only the waves were heard in the background.

I lifted my head and looked at the stars and let the sound of the waves sweep away all the hurt I held onto for so long.

"I'm sorry, Asami. I…"

I turned smiling at her.

"I needed to say it. My best friend didn't even tell she was pregnant because she was afraid of my reaction. I couldn't live avoiding the truth anymore."

I took a deep breath.

"I'm happy I came. I'm happy I had this chance to let the waves take it all away."

I felt her strong arm around me.

"No better medicine than the peace nature can give us."

The chatting slowly continued and the laughter soon returned, but my mind was somewhere else.

I felt Korra hand lift me with her.

"Come on it's pretty late let me walk you back to your condo."

I agreed and said goodbye to everyone.

We walked in peaceful silence. It seemed all I needed was the warmth of her hand in mine.

We arrived at my door and I turned to face her. I wasn't sure what exactly I wanted to say. There were so many emotions going through me.

"Have a good night, Asami."

She pulled something out of her pocket and placed it in my hand.

"If you need me just call my cell on the card."

She turned and began to walk away. Again, I wanted to call her back, but I couldn't. I wasn't ready to.

I looked down at the shop card she gave me and saw her number.

Tonight, I might not have been ready, but like Opal said I have three more days.