The next morning Lin was packing her bag when he came back from meditation. She didn't turn around when he entered, he didn't expect her to either. Lin Beifong like all Beifongs could hold a grudge. She had slept as far away from him as possible last night. He had stayed up thinking about it well into the night. He was kicking himself over it. He should have told her, he might have been yelled at anyway back then but right now it hurt worse. He left very early in the morning to try to mediate instead of sleeping.

"Are we going to talk about?" He asked, not looking at her, instead focusing out the window. He didn't think he could see the anger on her face.

"No, we'll talk when you get back. Lin said her voice was cool and indifferent.

Tenzin shifted his weight from foot to foot but in the end he couldn't help himself. "Lin…" he begged her name drawn out.

"No Tenzin if we talk right now," she pauses shaking her head. "You won't like it and I'll say something I might regret."

Tenzin nods, he understands even if it feels like someone is slowly cutting him in two. They walk out to where the kids and Kay and Bumi are waiting with Red to say goodbye. Tenzin stops her just before she moves to say goodbye to them. He grabs her hand and kisses her cheek. " I Love you, more than anything." He tells her. She lets him but just moves to Rohan and gives him a hug followed by the others. He watched her flight away sadly.

"Dad, are you and mom okay?" Jinora asked the others are looking on concerned too.

"Why do you ask that, honey?" Tenzin tried to play it off.

"Uh because the two of one usually can't keep your hand off the other." Bumi said.

Tenzin was going to protest. But Kya cut him off "you have two kids you didn't plan to show for it."

"Come one dad. We all know somethings up." Rohan said.

"Fine yes your mother and I had a fight but it's fine." Tenzin half snapped at them. He stomped off. It wasn't their fault but he really needed to get out of there. He needed to be on his own for a while.

Korra was training on some practice dummies in the white lotus compound, she was tired of being babied by Tenzin, by her parents and even by her friends. She did know what she was doing contrary to what everyone else seemed to think. Her father had lied to her, for her entire life. He didn't trust her, what could she possibly do to earn his trust at this point?! She had trained like he wanted her entire life and did everything he wanted, yet he would even tell her the truth about his own past, like she didn't deserve to know. No it had been Unalaq, an uncle she saw once every few years that told her that her father had been banished from the north for upsetting the spirits. Still he somehow thought he was a better judge of the spirits than her uncle who had been able to defeat them even Tenzin, Mr. Spiritual, hadn't been able to do that. Unalaq did believe in her. He had been the one to tell her about the attacks on sailors, he had told her about the spirit portal and showed her how to bring balance back to the south.

"Korra!" Asami called running up to her.

"Hey Asami." Korra said, stopping her training. "Whats up?"

"Why are there northern troops here?" she asked.

"I opened up the spirit portal. They are here to protect it." Korra told her.

"Why can't southern troops do it?" She asked.

"Because," Korra started. "It doesn't matter." She shook her head. "Unalaq has been teaching me how to stop the spirits from attacking and he supports this, that's what's important."

"Okay but I was with Varrick and some other southern businessmen when they found out and they don't like it." Asami warned her. "The ports are closed and we can't do business."

"Err, why can't people just relax this is for their own good." Korra complained stomping by Asami to head into town.

"Your father is holding a meeting to try to calm everyone down." Asami told her catching up. They took Naga to the hut where her father was holding the meeting.

"Thank you for coming, everyone." Tonraq started. "I know these last few days have been troubling."

"Trouble?" Varrick interrupted. "Troubling is when I get that itchy rash, that won't go away. This is shocking, nay sickening!" Throwing his plate on the ground, breaking it. "But these Kale cookies, the opposite! Remind me to get the recipe later." he told Zhu Li.

Korra rolled her eyes at the man's excentrictness, her father seemed to agree. "What's your point, Varrik?" he said with thinly veiled contempt.

"My point is that Unalaq has already booted our chieftains out of their place. How long before he starts telling the rest of us what to do?" Varrack said. Korra could see some of the others nodding along including Mako. "Not to mention I got a cargo ship of halibut rooting in the harbor."

"Chief Unalaq is here to help the south." Korra defended her uncle, standing. "He wants to show us how to get the spirits to stop attacking us."

"The only spirit I'm interested in restoring is our spirit of independence!" Varrack punches the air.

Korra saw the murmuring around the room in agreement. "All Unalaq is trying to do is make our tribes unified again." Korra protested.

"No, he's trying to control our wealth, and I like my wealth. If Unalaq doesn't pull his forces out, we have no choice than to fight for our freedom!" Varrack was met with shouts of agreement this time.

"You want to start a war? Are you crazy" Korra said in disbelief.

"Unalaq started this, not us." Her father said. Her father! Korra couldn't believe her ears. Why would he possibly want war with his own brother! Unalaq was the only one who knew what he was doing, why couldn't her father see that.

"Sorry to interrupt," Korra said, walking into the throne room. Her uncle sitting up on the throne in the shadows. "it's about our conversation this morning. I understand why you brought your troops here but I'm afraid it's sending the wrong message."

"You've been talking to your father," Unalaq said, raising an eyebrow at her.

"not just him, Varrick there was a meeting at my parents house. a lot of southerners feel like they're being invaded." Korra told him.

"I'm their chief, I am United not invading." Unalaq said in an even voice.

"I know but if something doesn't change there could be a Civil War." Korra said voicing her concerns.

"If the water tribes were at war the spirits would thrive on the darkness and attack all of us." Unalaq said, finally standing and approaching her.

"How do we stop it?" Korra asked him.

"There is no we. Only the avatar can stop this." Unalaq told her.

"I don't know how to prevent fights," Korra told her uncle, shaking her head.

"As the avatar you have to remain neutral picking a side will only make the conflict worse." Unalaq concuseled her.

"Maybe Tenzin was right. Maybe I'm not ready to be the avatar." Korra looked down.

"Tenzin lacked faith in you. But I have no doubt you will be the greatest avatar the world has ever known." Unalaq said, putting his hands on her shoulders.

"Thanks uncle." Korra told him. Being the avatar was a double edged sword for Korra. She had thrived off the knowledge for a long time, it gave her a sense of purpose and worth. but Amon has changes that she had doubted herself then and it still haunted how close she came to actually failing. She knew she had never been the negotiator or peacemaker Aang had been. She struggled at anything that wasn't fighting, school spiritualness and air bending were all failures of hers in some way or another. Her father and Tenzin always saw that and never gave her a chance to prove them wrong but she would, she had before. Unalaq believed in her and was giving her the chance she needed and that was all she needed.

"Did dad send you here?" Korra asked harshly, as she stepped into her hut seeing her mother waiting for her, probably to give her yet another lecture.

"No he doesn't know I'm here. What's going on with you two?" Mom asked.

"Ask him." She snaps

"I tried but he won't talk about it honey it breaks my heart to see our family being torn apart like this" Her mother told her sincerity motioning her to sit down next to her.

"You want to know what's been going on. I found out dad's been lying to me my whole life! Unalaq told me everything! how Dad and Tenzin trapped down here while I trained. How dad got banished from the north!" Korra ranted.

"so the truth is out" Mom let out a breath.

"You never said anything," Korra said, shaking her head at her unbelieving.

"we were trying to keep our family together to give you a normal childhood." Her mother defended.

"I never wanted a normal childhood! all I ever wanted to be was the avatar. But everyone keeps holding me back, even my parents! Unalaq is the only one who believes in me" Korra said frustrated.

" that's not true korra" Her mother snaps back at her.

"Then why is no one listening to me" Korra shots back.

"The problems between the North and the South started long before you were born you can expect to undo them in a day." her mother said gently.

"so I should just sit back and let the water tribes go to war." Korra retorted sarcastically.

"no but this situation might be out of your control varricks been plotting Rebellion and -"

"Rebellion? Is dad messed up in this?" Korra interrupted.

"I don't know but I don't want you getting caught in the middle of it." Her mom pleaded.

"it's too late Mom I'm already in the middle of it" Korra throws over her shoulder as she leaves she needs to warn Unalaq. She needed to stop her father. Her dad was always her favorite parent growing up the two were close Tonraq had always made time for his daughter even when she was in the white lotus facility. She was beyond thankful that her father wasn't among the ones that she captured at the palace.

Mom had been irritable since she got back from the southern air temple, Jade thought. Everyone had picked up on the change. At home she mostly kept to herself, which wasn't unusual but she seemed angry and upset. Iroh had caught it yet but Jade had seen it as soon as she saw her. At work she was snapping at nearly everyone, which was completely unheard of certainly during the equalist revolution she had been short with nearly everyone but no one could pinpoint a reason this time. Work had been busy, they were still in the process of rebuilding the city and training up new recruits. Serval officers had opted not to return after the equalist were defeated, including Saikhan. Razo had stepped up as deputy in his place. Today once again in the captains meeting Mom was mad.

"I don't care, just get it done, Luca" She snapped at him.

Luca seemed a little taken aback. "Yes chief." He said evenly.

"That's all." She said, beginning to sit down. Razo shot Jade a look, he wanted to know what was going on. Jade just shrugged but she hung back as Razo and Luca passed her.

Jade had been sitting in one of the chairs and didn't get up even when Lin shot her a look that said you have work to do. "Is everything okay mom?" Jade asked carefully. "Did something happen?"

"It's fine Jade." Lin said flipping through papers at her desk.

"No it's not. I've ignored it and let you brush me off since you got back. Tell me what's wrong, how can I help?" Jade persisted. Lin didn't look up. "Moom" she whined.

"Tonight. not now." Lin finally relented.

"I'll hold you to that." Jade warned her.

"Go to work kid." Lin said, shaking her head at her.

So far this trip was a mixed bag for Asami. She had come here to get a deal done with Varrick for Future industries but while Bolin had talked Varrick into a deal. How that had happened was still a mystery to her, they hadn't signed it yet because of the whole civil war business. Her and Mako had also been going through this weird on and off thing lately. He and her had broken up but now it seemed they had drifted back together kind of he was trying to avoid her after accidentally kissing her again. Bolin was having girl trouble from what she was hearing and Korra. Well Asami didn't know what exactly was going on with Korra but it wasn't anything good. She had been in a bad mood so bad that Mako had gotten over himself to vent to her about it. She had fired Tenzin and was fighting with her parents for no real reason. Asami knew about the spirits obviously but Tenzin had been there for her, been there for all of them and her parents seemed nothing but loving both time she had met them. She really didn't understand why Korra was being so supportive of her uncle from what Varrick and the other businessmen had told her he sounded like Tarrlok.

"Guys!" Korra cried, bursting through the downs into Varrick's office. Where Asami, Mako, Bolin, Varrick and Zhu Li were. "Unalaq's a liar and a traitor!"

"Well that's what I've been trying to tell you all!" Varrick shouted from inside his bear outfit.

"What happened?" Mako asked.

"I found out that Unalaq set my dad up!" Korra told them all. "It was a set up just like all of this. I'm busting my father and the rebels out of prison."

"Well you can count us in." Asami told her and Bolin, Mako and Varrack all echoed her. They were able to get the location of Korra's dad and the other easy enough from one of the guards and then used Varrick's ship to get out of the south polar. Korra and Mako were able to give enough of a boost up with their fire bending to get Varrick's plane in the air despite the runway. Asami took them towards Unalaq's northern blockade. Korra's avatar powers were able to easily push the northern ships out of the way. They caught up with the prisoner ship shortly after.

"Ah anyone got a plan?!" Asami shouted to be heard over the engine.

"Yeah Jump! I got you!" Korra yelled to them. Asami was never a big fan of these plans but she jumped anyway. Korra used her water bending to send them to the deck of the ship. She water bent all but one crew member overboard.

"Where are the prisoners?" Korra growled at the last soldier.

"3rd level down." He squealed. They easily overpowered the three guards they came upon and freed Korra's father and the other southerners. Varrick appeared in the nick of time and they jumped the small distance between the two ships and were away scot free for once. They dropped Tonraq and the others off so that they could return to republic city to get reinforcements.

"Uh oh" Varrick told them. "We have company and its not friendly"

"What?" Bolin asked. "Uh oh" Bolin echoed looking through the spyglass. "Quick question is this boat fast enough to get away from my crazy water bending ex girlfriend?"

"Of course! Zhu LI do the thing!" Varrick responded.

Lin was half hoping something would come up and her daughter won't be able to drag her off to the beach to talk that night, but nothing came up. Jade arrived in her office at 5 and dragged her away from the mountain of paperwork that had built up over the last two weeks. Razo is a good officer but he might be allergic to paperwork. They walked home instead of heading to the house, Jade dragged her along the beach.

"So what happened after I left?" Jade asked after it became clear that Lin wasn't starting the conversation.

"Your father and I had a huge fight before I left." Lin sighed staring out at the water.

"Why? what happened?" Jade asked confused. Lin and Tenzin really didn't fight often, not over anything important at least. It hadn't been since Rohan was a baby that they had gone to bed mad at each other. Usually it was over dumb things, 'why did you move my papers', 'You forgot to tell me about this dinner' etcetera.

"He didn't tell me some for 17 years." Lin said. she was unsure of exactly how to tell her daughter.

"What didn't he tell you?"

"That he almost cheated on me" she told her plainly.

"What?!" Jade exclaimed spinning towards her.

"Apparently some acolyte girl kissed him and he failed to mention it until they met again at the southern temple." Lin said almost dismissively.

"Did he cheat on you?" Jade asked an edge coming into her voice.

"No." Lin said looking her in the eye finally. "He pushed her away, they only talked because she apologized when we were there."

"Better have" Jade scoffed kicking at the sand.

"Mmhm." Lin hummed looking back out at the city. "Do the math Jade you were 10, jinora 5. this would have been right before I got pregnant with Rohan." She added tirely

"And he seriously, what? led her on" Jade asked her voice still hard.

"Sounds like it. He says they were just friends, but we had been married a decade by then and he didn't bother to tell me." Lin shook her head. "They were friends for months and I never knew he was ever close with any of the acolytes."

"I can't believe it." Jade told her.

"It's not the first time acolytes have flirted with him but he told me the last time." Lin mused watching the city lights.

"Really?" Jade asked.

"Mmh, we were 20 at the time." Lin told her.

-30 years ago

The first time acolytes had shown an interest in Tenzin was when they had been 20, 21? Tenzin had just come back from a trip with his dad. He and Lin had been dating for over 5 years at that point, long enough that Toph joked they were already married. He had complained to her that the acolytes, the new ones he was teaching, weren't paying attention to him.

"Lin I don't know what to do. They don't respect me." He had told her over dinner.

She might agree with that but for the reason he did. She should be looking at him like a piece of meat. "Tenzin I don't think that's your problem." She said.

Tenzin let out a huff. " well I don't know what to do."

Lin smirked an idea coming to her. "Maybe I could come and sit in on a class. I'll tell you what I see" she told him.

Tenzin nodded, "that's a great idea, Lin" she held back a chuckle at how oblivious her boyfriend was. "Next Saturday you have the day off." Tenzin continued not noticing her amused look.

Lin had pointedly gone to the temple a few times that week to come and get him, make her presence known to the acolytes. Katara had given her a funny look when she had volunteered to go deliver some things that had nothing to do with seeing Tenzin but otherwise no one bothered her. She, Toph and Sokka were all regular visitors and the older acolytes knew them. With Tenzin being gone for the better part of a year with his dad, the newer ones didn't know what kind of hold she had over the avatars son. She noticed a few acolytes following her with their eyes by Friday clearly aware of her presence. She sat in class in the back watching Tenzin speak about breathing and the forms. As she had thought it was mostly young women about their age in the class. Some had eyed her since she walked in with him sizing her up. Some refused to look at her, they were quiet and subdued for most of class. Near the end a few came alive during the forms to ask not so innocent questions.

"Master Tenzin can you remove your cloak? I can't see the angle of your arm." One lemon faced acolyte said. Tenzin, oblivious to the fact they wanted to gawk at him, agreed. She watched several forget steps and purposefully be wrong so Tenzin would move them into the correct form. Lin chuckled to herself some were pretty good but Tenzin had yet to notice. She could however prove to them all that he noticed her. Near the end of class she caught his eye for a split second before getting up and santuring to the house. Tenzin found an excuse to wrap class up early to follow her. Lin smirked to herself yeah she didn't worry about him cheating but maybe about how dumb he was.

"So?" He asked when he caught her.

"You really have no idea?" Lin said, crossing her arms at him.

"No, Lin but they were much better today." Tenzin said, confused.

"Yes airhead because I was there." Lin said spelling it out for him.

She could see the gears turning in his head. "Why would that matter?"

"Because they aren't going to gawk and flirt with you while your metal bending girlfriend is standing right there." Lin finally says.

Tenzins is actually surprised. "You're saying they think I'm cute."

"Yes airhead that's why they mess up and you have to correct them or demonstrate the form a 100th time."

"So that's why they asked me to teach them how to breath"

Lin stared at him "yes airhead. How did you not notice?"

"You're the only girl I noticed." He shrugs so nonchalantly that it almost makes not the most sappiest thing he's ever said to her.

"Hey kids," Aang said as he walks up to them. "How was class?"

"Enlightening uncle" Lin answers for them both. "Actually we would like to sit in on your class."

"Really?" Aang asked excited,

"We do?" Tenzin asked, confused.

"Yes I think some of the form could be used with my metal cables now that I saw it today. Do you mind if I take notes?"

Aang's face lit up. "Not at all. If you like it I'll come teach the entire force."

"Mom might have something to say about that." Lin warned.

But Aang was already excited, "I know a few I'll add in today just for you." They did watch Aang class several of the acolytes from before had been surprised to see both Lin and Tenzin again this time Tenzin sitting by Lin side as she scribbled down notes. Aang's class was more advanced than Tenzin had been and only for her benefit. Lin thought it helped a lot. "See? it all because you're cute" Lin whispered to Tenzin as none of Aang's class acted the same way.

"Did you learn what you needed?" Aang asked at the conclusion of class.

"Yes uncle, in fact do you mind watching me and Ten spare and give me some pointers."

"Of course." She was even more thrilled that everyone even Katara had come down to see this. Tenzin had removed his shirt and Lin was in a tank top and loose pant cables at her waist. She tried to use the aerial move Aang had shown her in the fight rather than her normal ground and pound approach. The new approach nearly cost her but she was able to avoid some hits from Tenzin. The air bending technique worked well with the cables keeping them more fluid than rigid. She could change direction much better with them. Lin still had an ego and in the end she went back to her old ways to beat Tenzin. She ran over to him helping up.

"You almost had me airhead" she said, giving him a quick kiss.

He seemed surprised by the kiss but smiled. "You were amazing as always."

Aang ran up to her "You were right Lin. that was great we have few thing to work on but amazing job."

"You might want to add some water bending into that with the wips." She said, nodding along with her husband. Lin just smiled and nodded at them. In the end she had been proven right and fully developed her bending styles that day.

Jade chuckled at the story. "Are you guys going to be alright?" she asked leaning on her mother's shoulders

"Yeah kid. I just need time and space." Lin told her. "Iroh, coming for dinner?"

"Nah, I told him I'd see him tomorrow." Jade told her.

"Didn't know he still had a room off the island." She teased her.

"Shut up, Mom."

"Oh lil' brother of ours. What did you do to piss off Lin?" Kya's voice was kind as she and Bumi came to sit next to him that night. She would probably be taking Lin's side if he told her though. Tenzin had more or less hid up here in the mountains since Lin left.

"I didn't tell her something." Tenzin sighed.

"What? Didn't tell her that you love her." Bumi teased but gentler than normal.

"No," Tenzin hung his head. "I- it's a long story."

"Well, we got all night." Bumi said easily.

"Just before dad died we went through a rough patch." Tenzin started. "I became friends with this acolyte girl, who developed a crush on me. She tried to kiss me."

Kya cuts him off, "if you cheated on her, I swear I'll help her gut you." She threatened.

"No!" Tenzin said strongly. "I would never! I just never told her and I met the girl again here and it came up." he finished defeated.

"Well lil brother. I can't say I blame her." Bumi sighed, patting him on the back.

"Why were you talking to her again?" Kya asked with narrowed eyes at Tenzin.

"I didn't, she came up to me to apologize about what happened years ago and Lin overheard. We fought, that's it." Tenzin told them.

"Tenzin, you realize you basically lied by omission to her for what 17 years." Kya told him, her arms crossed.

"Yes. I know" Tenzin hung his head.

"Look arrowhead. She loves almost as much as you love her. She'll come around." Kya told him gently.

"Yeah you may have to do some begging but everything will be fine." Bumi added.