Just wanna say, THANK YOU SO MUCH for all the encouraging reviews. I love you guys. Seriously. Keep 'em coming. : ) This is a fun way to spend my Spring Break.

All right, so I'm trying to piece together how much longer I'm going to let this story go. I'm thinking somewhere around 20 chapters. That's my goal so far, it may stretch on more. Please, give me any feedback, suggestions, or even story ideas! I'll try and use 'em. All right. Enjoy this chapter. It's a little shorter, but still took just as much effort.

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"Korra, are you sure you're all right?"

Korra jerked out of her meditation—or at least her attempt at a meditation—and looked up to see Tenzin entering the sun-drenched gazebo. His gold and maroon airbending robes swished around him as he settled himself onto the marble floor, a few paces from her, and mimicked her cross-legged pose. The concern was evident in his clear blue eyes.

"Hmm?" Korra cleared her throat. "Oh, I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?"

Tenzin measured her with that penetrating gaze, and Korra shifted. Her teacher always had the knack to see straight through her, especially when she didn't want him to. Ever since Amon had dropped her off at the foot of Air Temple Island, Tenzin had been keeping a keen eye on her. Everyone else seemed thrilled she was back. Mako, Asami and Bolin had thrown a party the night before, celebrating her return. Her meditation practice was one of the only spare minutes she didn't have Ikki, Jinora, or Meelo hanging off one of her limbs. Pema, so pregnant Korra was sure she would burst any day, still insisted on hugging her with that bloated stomach every time she came around the corner.

Korra returned her gaze to Tenzin, swallowing once as he continued.

"It's just… you've been acting a little reserved lately. Not your usual self. Is something wrong?"

"Why would anything be wrong?"

Tenzin sighed. "Korra, it's all right to be shaken." His voice darkened, his blue eyes flashing. "If Tarrlok hurt you…"

"No, no," Korra said quickly. "It wasn't anything like that. I'm just… a little shaken like you said. I've never been bloodbent before you, you know?"

Tenzin sighed. "Neither had I. I suppose this traumatic experience is the reason you've been so removed, yes?"

Korra nodded. Tenzin suddenly leaned forward, clasping both of her hands in his. "Korra, I just want you to know you are like a daughter to me. When you were taken, it was like I'd lost a member of my own family. If Tarrlok—or anyone for that matter—has hurt you in any way, they'll have me to deal with." He took a deep breath, squeezing her hands once. "Just know that I'm always here for you, if you ever wish to talk."

Korra swallowed, a sudden burning in her eyes, and nodded. Tenzin released her hands and stood, offering her a hand up. "Pema sent me to get you. Lunch is ready."

"Good, cuz I'm starved." Korra followed him to the dining hall, beating back the clot of guilt in her throat. It would only hurt Tenzin to know the truth. Spirits, she wasn't even sure she knew the whole truth. Everything was complicated right now, far, far too complicated to get them involved in her mess.

Everyone else was already seated when the two of them arrived. Pema sat at the head of the table, propped up on several pillows so her swollen belly wouldn't brush the floor. Ikki and Jinora sat opposite her, with Meelo drooling over the rice bowl in the middle. Korra's heart brightened when she saw Asami, Mako and Bolin sitting around the table too. Bolin jumped up as she entered.

"Well, looky who decided to show up!" he crowed. "Have fun fake-meditating?"

"Leave her alone, Bo." Mako shoved him as Korra's cheeks colored.

Asami rose from the table and hugged her around the middle, beaming. "It's so nice to have you back, Korra. We were all worried sick."

"Yeah," Bolin piped up. "I thought Mako was going to have a fit."

"Shut up, Bolin," came the low growl from the other side of the table.

Korra laughed and sat down. "Glad to know I was missed." She took a deep breath. "Mm. Pema, this smells amazing."

"Thank you." Tenzin's wife smiled, resting a hand over her huge belly. "Took me all morning to simmer those beans. I hope you like it."

Korra dipped their head as Tenzin said a brief blessing, then dug in with the others.

"You're outdone yourself again, dear," Tenzin congratulated.

"Really? It's not too salty?"

"It's perfect," Bolin slurped. "Seconds?"

"Geez, I see you haven't changed," Korra laughed, sliding the bowl of steaming rice over to her friend.

"Nope." Bolin paused, chewing thoughtfully as he looked at her with those wide green eyes. "But you have, though."

Korra swallowed her food, carefully avoiding his gaze. "What do you mean?"

"You've been different ever since you came back. Something eating you? What's up?"

Korra took a swig of water from her goblet before she had to answer, searching her brain for something to say. "Nothing's eating me," she replied, careful to keep her tone light and even. "I'm just tired after… everything."

Bolin frowned. "But, you've just been kinda…"

Tenzin cleared his throat. "Bolin, if Korra says she's tired, then she's tired." He turned to his young ward. "Korra, would you like to retire early today? We can resume your airbending training in the morning."

Korra smiled at him, grateful for the rescue. "Thanks. I think I'd like that."

"Naga's waiting for you in your room," Pema informed her.

Korra shot straight up, banging her knee on the edge of the table. She swore, grabbing the forming bruise, and flushed when she heard Jinora giggle at the dirty word. "Naga's here? She's safe?"

"We finally found her halfway toward Tarrlok's cabin. She'd been looking for you the whole time."

Korra's eyes pricked with tears at the faithfulness of her best friend. Gulping down the rest of her food, she stood and waved a wordless goodbye, jogging down the hallway toward her room.

A low-pitched woof greeted her when she pushed open her door, and suddenly a seven hundred pound, slobbering polar bear dog was tumbling into her, licking her face with a wet, warm tongue the size of a small ham.

"Bah—ge'off—good to see you too, girl!" Korra laughed and buried her face in Naga's furry neck, delighting in the warm, woodsy smell of her. Naga whined in protest as Korra pushed her off.

"Okay, okay, I know. I smell weird."

Naga woofed, a low growl emanating from her throat. She nuzzled Korra's cheek, still growling. Korra flushed, knowing her polar bear dog's keen sense of smell must be picking up Amon's scent. She pushed her back. "It's fine," she insisted, flopping down on her bed. Naga moved to curl up next to her, resting her bulky head on her shoulder. Korra reached up to pat her nose. She closed her eyes.

Home. She was finally home. She should feel happy. Relieved. Ecstatic. Or at least… thankful. But all she could feel was a strange sense of regret, burrowing down into the depths of her chest. Rolling over, Korra looked out the window at the sun slanting in, slowly on its way down over the bay. What was it? She felt like she did when she first discovered Mako had a girlfriend. Only ten times worse. Somewhere deep inside her, she knew what it was. But she didn't want to admit it.

Sighing, she slid out of bed, ignoring Naga's muffled protest, and moved to the window. The sun's setting rays cast orange shadows over the bay, bathing the distant city in a haze of gray and red. Somewhere out there, she knew he was standing in his office, probably looking out over the same bay. Why did she care? Why did the thought of him make her heart ache so terribly? Korra searched for reason. He'd saved her life, when she'd been sick with fever. It was only natural for her to feel indebted to him after that. But then he'd captured her, dispelling any sort of neutral ground between them, thrusting them back into enemy territory.

Korra's lips burned where he'd kissed her. She ran her tongue along the inside of her teeth, swallowing hard. It was wrong to feel this way about him, she told herself firmly. These feelings had no place in a respectable Avatar. Pining over her greatest enemy. She had no right. She had a job to do. She had to take down Amon, destroy the Equalists and eradicate his anti-bending revolution. She'd been training for this kind of thing since she was a girl. Her airbending could use some work, but her firebending, earthbending and waterbending were top notch. No average bender would stand a chance against her.

But Amon was no average bender. Korra groaned, sinking back to the bed. Naga licked her cheek, sensing her turmoil. Even if she could bring herself to face him, how could she defeat him? She'd never be able to strike the killing blow. She shivered when she came upon the awful realization.

She had feelings—strong, devastating feelings—for the leader of the Revolution.

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A'ight. There ya go! Please gimme feedback. I adore any comments you may have. : )