Lin wasn't there to greet Pema and Tenzin when they returned from their honeymoon. Tenzin tried not to mind. Why should she be there? Her life didn't revolve around him anymore. He conceded that her life probably had never revolved around him. She did what she wanted.

He was disappointed further when she didn't so much as call the entire day. After supper, he retreated to his study, intent on reading his worry away. It didn't work. He almost grew sick at the thought of Lin being busy with someone else. Had she met someone in the month he'd been away? Or maybe she'd been seeing someone for months without him knowing. She'd be perfectly within her rights to find another man and move on, but Tenzin selfishly hoped she hadn't. He couldn't bear the thought of her in someone else's arms.

How had Lin survived watching him and Pema? Or Kimi? Or Ahnah? His ponderings almost brought him to tears. Either Lin didn't love him as much as he loved her, or he'd been very blind indeed.

His mind wandered to a time when he was young. He'd once asked Toph where Lin's father was. Toph had told him Lin's father was really a mountain where she had found the perfect earth materials to make Lin herself. He had believed it for a number of years until he learned the proper way for babies. But now, with a broken heart, he wondered if Toph hadn't been telling the truth after all. Lin couldn't be mere flesh and blood. She was his iron lady and his rock and superhuman as far as he was concerned.

The moment Pema meekly walked into his study, an enormous wave of guilt washed over him. She really was a wonderful girl. He wished he loved her. It would make things so simple.

He gestured for her to join him where he sat. She settled onto his lap and leaned against his chest blissfully unaware of his woes.

It seemed she shared some of his thoughts, however. "Have you heard from Lin yet? I thought she would have been over for dinner," she murmured into his robes.

"No. I suppose we could call her. Maybe she forgot when we were coming back." The both knew the idea was absurd. Lin would never forget something like that. Nonetheless, the pretended it was a possibility.

They called her. Tenzin worried that someone other than Lin would answer. Each ring raised his anxiety a bit more. But no one picked up. Somehow, that was worse.

Fortunately Pema was concerned as well and had no objections when Tenzin suggested they ask Katara if she knew anything.

"You know, I was just wondering about her. If she didn't answer her phone, there's a good chance she's at Toph's place. She's been spending a lot of time there lately."

They tried Toph. Still there was no answer.

"I can't imagine they're working at this hour, but I've no idea where else they'd be," Katara frowned.

So they called police headquarters. This time there was an answer.

"Yes, hello. I was wondering if Chief Beifong was working tonight," Tenzin said.

From the other end of the line, came, "Oh! Didn't you hear! She and her daughter landed in the hospital early this morning. It's pretty serious from what I've been told."

"Thank you," Tenzin choked and hung up. He turned, white-faced, to his wife and mother. "We need to get to the hospital right now."


Lin was awake when they arrived though Toph was sleeping. But the sight of her almost made Tenzin gasp. Her head was bandaged on one side, and blood was seeping through, and he could barely see it matted into her dark hair. There was also a bloody bandage on her face, on the right cheek almost extending to her chin. Other than that, she seemed fine.

"It's not that bad," she insisted before Katara could fuss properly. "I'd be perfectly fine if you'd been there, Katara. I guess I lost a lot of blood though because I've been dead tired." She gingerly felt the bandaged side of her head. "I would have called if I'd been awake. Mother's much worse off. A broken leg and a concussion I think."

"But what happened?" Pema asked, wide-eyed.

Lin started to laugh but immediately stopped and clutched her sides. "Spirits, that hurts. You'd think I'd broken enough ribs to know better," she said wryly. "Anyway, we made a huge gang raid late last night. We knew three gangs had a powwow scheduled, and he hoped to nab all of them at once. It worked more or less, but we underestimated a few things."

"What happened to you specifically?" Tenzin asked quietly. He eyed the bandage on her cheek with mixed feelings. How bad was it under there?

Lin closed her eyes. "It was unbelievably stupid on my part. A thug was getting away, and I had the wild idea that maybe I could catch him from above."

"You've spent too much time with Twinkletoes Jr.," Toph rasped, awake and grinning. "It was the most reckless thing I've ever heard of."

"Yes, anyway," Lin continued, clearing her throat. "I sent a cable to wrap around a beam, misjudged things—"

"Like gravity," Toph snickered.

"—and smashed through a window. I really think I could've pulled it off if I had more practice. And if the cables were positioned differently. Perhaps on the arm..." She trailed off, staring at her arms with her head cocked to the side. "You know, I really don't think it was that bad of an idea."

"Whatever," Toph snorted. "The day I see a bunch of cops swinging around the city on cables like leopardmonkeys—"

"You'll never see it, so you can calm down," Lin said testily.

Katara attempted to diffuse the tension by peeling away the bloody bandage from Lin's face. Two gashes glistened beneath it. Tenzin's hands trembled.

"Oh, Lin. These are deep," Katara said sympathetically. "Those idiot healers have left them too long. I don't think I'll be able to heal it without leaving a scar."

Lin shrugged. "I'm just lucky the glass didn't get more of my face. Besides, scars add character."


Katara chewed out the healers at the hospital and brought Lin and Toph home to Air Temple Island. Pema volunteered to help Lin get situated, though, honestly, Lin didn't need much help.

Once Lin was settled into bed, Pema pulled up a chair. She was ready to talk with her friend, and she began with a small squeal of excitement. "Sorry," she said, apparently not sorry at all, "I've been holding that in all day. And Lin! You were absolutely right about everything. I can't believe I was ever nervous to marry Tenzin."

"You had a good time then?" Lin asked, raising one eyebrow. "Tried some new things?"

Pema blushed furiously. "Why yes," she answered stiffly.

"Relax. I won't ask for details." She really didn't need them.

"We had a lot of fun. Ember Island is a beautiful place. Flying out there was pretty too." Pema sobered considerably. "I want to thank you for everything you've done. I can't even begin to imagine what it's like for you."

Lin didn't say anything, but she offered a half smile.

"I know you talked to Tenzin about what I told you. It must have been awful to tell him to kiss me or whatever else you said. But…it worked. I still don't know if he loves me, but I'm not worried anymore."

"I'm happy for you, truly," Lin said quietly. "And I acknowledge your gratitude, but this is a little painful."

Pema looked at her feet. "Of course. I'm sorry. I'll consider me and Tenzin a taboo topic."

"You can talk about anything else," Lin assured her. "And eventually, Tenzin will be something you can share with me again. Just not now."

The young woman didn't need telling twice. She followed in Katara's footsteps by fussing about the fresh scar on Lin's cheek. "You have a lovely face, Lin. Now it's all…" She bit her lip while she searched for the words. Well, fierce. Even more intimidating than before. It rather suits you actually."

Lin nodded. "I think I'll really grow to love it."


A week later, Tenzin certainly loved it. He used every excuse to stroke his fingers along it or gently kiss it. Though he meant it all to look like friendly or brotherly gestures, Lin knew they were much more. Worse, she knew Tenzin knew she knew, and he didn't seem to care.

When she was visiting city hall on a professional errand, he attempted to caress her cheek in the middle of the hallway outside his office. She grabbed his wrist with one hand and shoved him into this office and closed and locked the door with the other hand.

"This isn't a game," she snarled through gritted teeth. "You have to stop."

He didn't even flinch. "This is as hard for you as it is for me, admit it."

"Oh it's much harder, I assure you," Lin growled.

"Then don't fight it."

Lin barely kept from screaming. "I can't! It goes against everything I've been working toward for almost a year. You married Pema. I'm giving you up. I don't want to be the 'other woman.' And what's more, I promised Pema. And so did you."

"You can never be the 'other woman.'" Tenzin exclaimed. "You are the first and the dearest woman. Pema's the other, the stranger. And if I choose to break my marriage vows, it's my prerogative. I'll take the blame and suffer with that knowledge."

"And if I agreed, you don't think my conscience would torture me night and day for it?" Lin said. "She's my friend, and I gave her my word."

"You said I would be faithful when we were married. I was faithful when we were married. Now, it's after the wedding."

"That is not what she meant," Lin hissed. "You're despicable for suggesting any of this!"

Tenzin ignored her. "Furthermore, the promise was about me. You have no authority to make or break promises on my behalf." He lowered his voice and brought his free hand to her shoulder. "I need this to happen. I can't just let you go."

It was so hard for her to say no when everything inside was screaming yes. Tenzin's lips pressing against hers smothered her last ounce of resistance. After that, she welcomed his touch.


If it weren't for Lin's stubbornness, it never would have lasted. But as Tenzin held her close that first time, she selfishly convinced herself it was what she wanted, and there was no need to feel guilty because Tenzin was hers in every way except legally.

The affair went on without anyone suspecting a thing and without any noticeable effect on either Lin or Tenzin's relationship with Pema. Their dalliances were erratic, being governed by how busy the pair was and what was happening in their lives. But after every dry spell, they always came back to each other.

The first extended break happened around Tenzin and Pema's first anniversary. The ever impatient White Lotus had a bit of a hissy fit because Pema hadn't gotten pregnant. There was no reason for it, though Lin had wondered at first whether it was due to the affair. Katara ran a series of tests on Pema to see if everything was alright, and found it was. She advised her to be patient and then told the White Lotus to shove it.

Over the next year, Lin was unreasonably busy with her metalbenders. She'd designed a new uniform that made it possible to adopt a more airborne style. It was her job to train everyone in the way of the new technique since it had been her idea in the first place.

It took most of the year to fully integrate the new uniform and strategy in to the metalbending force. And every minute of it was exhausting. It was a pleasant surprise if she had time to visit Air Temple Island at all, let alone have a tryst. But anytime she did manage to find alone with Tenzin was well spent.

At the end of the year, Toph retired and appointed Lin as the new chief of police. It wasn't much of a surprise for Lin or anyone on the force, but it still meant a change. Lin practically lived at headquarters for the first while. There was too much to do and no one she trusted to do it. Late night visits from Tenzin were life savers. She would have gone mad if he hadn't been there to help set her straight.


A/N: A hundredth part of their affair cannot be written here; wherefore, it sufficeth me to say they had an affair. Sorry, not sorry, I won't be getting into any more detail with that. Use your imagination. And don't hate me for making Lin and Tenzin bad guys here.