'Hey girl, is he everything you wanted in a man?
You know I gave you the world
You had me in the palm of your hand
So why your love went away
I just can't seem to understand
Thought it was me and you babe
Me and you until the end
But I guess I was wrong...'
Months passed, Lin had called him one night. It was a brief conversation. Tenzin had to have mentioned that he missed her. It only made Lin push herself farther away. Little by little, Tenzin didn't feel the need to worry over her. Not until his void turned to five years. Tenzin tried his best to be happy with Pema. It took Tenzin five years to push his feelings for Lin somewhere inside of him. Pema had gotten pregnant and they had circulated into the papers. Tenzin went into panic mode.
"Tenzin? Would you like to accompany me into the city?" His mother asked walking past him without the need of a reply.
"Mother, you know the city isn't safe. Whatever it is you need, I'll get it for you." He told his mother.
"Now, now Tenzin, I can take care of myself, I just need a few things and have a little light talk if possible with Lin,"
"What? Why?" Tenzin questioned.
"Over something's, let's go. I want to catch her before she disappears." His mother said as she waited for Oogi to be readied.
Tenzin didn't understand why in each month Lin left the City for Gaoling. Was she telling the truth years ago about having a lover? 'She's bluffing.'
Tenzin's mother had gotten what she needed and they both made their way to police headquarters. Tenzin was nervous. He wanted to tell Lin about Pema's pregnancy. He didn't want her to find out through the papers. Lin had just stepped out. Tenzin stood there frozen. He was thinking of a way to tell her about Pema's pregnancy.
Lin walked by causally, stopping at Katara's greeting. Lin had returned her greeting to his mother. Lin's eyes were fixed on Tenzin. Causing him to lose the little colour that he had.
"I already know Tenzin. You don't need to worry." Lin told him.
Tenzin had swallowed hard to suppress the lump in his throat and let out a puff of air.
"Oh..." Was the only word he could produce.
"I'm kind of in a hurry here." Lin said while biting her lip.
She had turned on the ball of her feet and began to walk away when Tenzin used his air bending to grab her attention. She turned around again. Giving him and his mother a look. She sighed and placed her full attention on him.
"Why have you been leaving the city so frequently?" He asked.
Tenzin noticed how she was taken aback by his question. Crossing her arms.
"Do I need to remind you that I'm a grown woman Tenzin? Or should I knock some sense into you? Take your pick." She asked him.
"Don't avoid my question Lin. It's for the council," he said looking away from her.
Tenzin wasn't one for lying but he wanted to know the truth.
"Do you really want to know?" She asked playfully.
Tenzin looked at her. She was pouting.
"I've been leaving the city because I have a lover and let me tell you this; he's a pretty good guy, not just personality." Lin said turning around to walk away.
Tenzin's face had turned different shades of red. He turned around walking past his mother but waiting for her to approach him.
"Tenzin, Lin's just in a wrong place. Give her some more time." His mother told him.
As they strolled their way to the docks. As much as Tenzin preferred to take Oogi. He'd rather have a conversation with his mother.
"Yes mother but how much longer must I wait. Until she gets herself nearly killed?" Tenzin said as anger arose in him.
"Tenzin, you must put yourself in her shoes. How would've you felt if you caught her kissing a young man and having her own family?" Katara asked her son.
"Lin never wanted a family that would be preposterous." Tenzin replied.
"Why do you say that? Lin has every right to be with whomever she'd like,"
"Yes but..."
"Tenzin, you're being spoiled here. I think you need to think things through. You're going to be a father, if you need to clear things with Lin do them but do them when she comes to you, not you going to her. Lin is stubborn like her mother." Katara rambled.
Tenzin stayed quiet and nodded. They had gotten to air Temple Island. Tenzin needed to finish some paperwork and made his way to his office.
'Don't want to think about it
Don't want to talk about it
I'm just so sick about it
Can't believe it's ending this way
Just so confused about it
Feeling the blues about it
I just can't do without ya
Tell me is this fair?...'
Later that night Tenzin received a phone call.
"Councilmen Tenzin,"
"Councilmen, we need you to communicate with Chief Beifong,"
"Why is that?" He asked.
"Saikhan and a couple of officers haven't returned from their mission. It's been nearly 3 hours since we last got word."
Tenzin sighed. "I can't promise you that she'll oblige to me. I'll try to communicate to her but it'll have to be until tomorrow."
"... Well, I'll try my best to get everything under control here. Goodnight councilmen."
"Goodnight."
Tenzin sat there silently debating if he should call Lin now or call her tomorrow. The officer was worrying too much. Plus Tenzin didn't want to disturb her if she was with her lover. Tenzin would call if things were serious. Tenzin arose from his seat and made his way to bed.
Pema was fast asleep when Tenzin got to his room. He smiled at her. He couldn't help but be happy about being a father.
That night Tenzin dreamt about his unborn child. It was a very relaxed and gentle dream.
...
It was night once again. An officer informed Tenzin that the other officers hadn't returned. It left Tenzin with one last resort. Calling Lin.
"Beifong," Lin's voice resonated in Tenzin's ear.
"Lin, thank the spirits that you answered,"
"Councilmen, what do I have the privilege of you calling me?"
"Lin please..."
"Councilmen, if you don't tell me what it is you called for, I might as well hang up now." Lin hissed.
"Fine, if you'd like me to be a little blunter with you, you have to cut your little rendezvous short. There are serious issues a foot. Saikhan said he had this in a bag with some of your skilled officers but... He and those officers haven't surfaced since last night."
"What? Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
"I would have but again, I didn't want to ruin your rendezvous." He said with tints of jealousy.
On the other side, Tenzin heard a young girl call Lin what he would never have heard anyone call Lin.
"Mom?"
"Uh... Look, I'll be there as soon as I take care of things around here. Councilmen, I think you're hearing things. Goodbye."
Lin had hanged up on him. Was he hearing things? 'No, I definitely heard a young girl call her mom.'
Tenzin was pondering all night about the voice over the phone. He also was concerned about Lin and her captive officers. He hoped nothing would get out of hand and Lin would come out of there untouched.
'Is this the way it's really going down?
Is this how we say goodbye?
Should've known better when you came around
That you were gonna make me cry
It's breaking my heart to watch you run around
'Cause I know that you're living a lie
That's okay baby 'cause in time you will find...'
It was approximately four; Tenzin and many other people at that time were listening to the radio.
"Chief Lin Beifong was pierced with an ice shard during her attempt of saving her fellow officers, witnesses said that the chief was bleeding pretty badly..."
Tenzin shut it off.
"No..." Tenzin arose and made a beeline for the hospital.
When he arrived no one would tell him about Lin. His mother had arrived as well. They both tried their best to get something out of the doctors and out of the nurses.
"Why aren't they telling us anything?" Tenzin said while he paced.
Katara watched her son.
"Tenzin, I'm as worried as you, I'll see if they have any information." His elderly mother said as she strolled to reception.
'Please, please be all right.' Tenzin's heart was beating at a rate that it could literally jump right out of his chest. He kept pacing. He wanted to know if Lin was fine. If she needed anything.
"Tenzin."
Tenzin turned around, his face went pale.
"She's fine, thankfully the wound she got didn't hit anything vital. She did however lose a lot of blood and needs time to regain consciousness." Katara told her son.
"C-can I see her?" He asked.
Katara nodded. "Don't disturb her or agitate her, she's in room 208."
Tenzin sped walked to Lin's room. He wanted to see with his own eyes if she was fine. He froze in front of the door. His hand was in mid-air, inches away from the doorknob. He grasped the doorknob and twisted it opening the door gently and quietly as possible.
There she was. Unconscious, unaware that he was there. Tenzin's eyes moistened at looking at her dishevelled state. Her hair was unpinned. Her skin didn't radiate that sheer hint of life. He walked up to her. He got a better look at her. Tenzin was admiring every bit of her. Until his eyes adjusted to where Lin had received her wound. Tenzin moved his hand to touch it but his hand went and clasped her hand. She didn't move. It was as if she was lifeless. A tear slid from his eye and fell onto her cheek. Tenzin sat there quietly. Stroke her cheek, waiting for her to jolt up and get angry at him. He wanted to hear her voice; he wanted to embrace her in a hug if possible. He knew she would push him away, say something's that he truly deserved. Tenzin just wanted her to wake up. Was this some kind of sick twisted game that the spirits were playing?
'What goes around, goes around, goes around
Comes all the way back around
What goes around, goes around, goes around
Comes all the way back around
What goes around, goes around, goes around
Comes all the way back around
What goes around, goes around, goes around
Comes all the way back around..."
Tenzin felt a slight movement. Tenzin had fallen asleep holding Lin's hand.
Lin mumbled something in audible.
"Lin, shush, don't make too many movements." He said softly.
"Tenzin..." She said hoarsely.
"Yes?"
"What are you doing here?" She asked him.
"Lin, please. Let me take care of you."
"Answer the question, what are you doing here?" She hissed but cringed from the pain she was in.
"I was concerned,"
"Humph,"
"Lin..."
"Well, you can leave now and let go of my hand." Lin had pulled her hand away.
Tenzin stayed there on the edge of the cot. He looked at her.
"No. I won't."
Lin snorted.
"I mean it." He said to her.
"Go home, your wife is pregnant and needs someone to keep her warm at night."
Tenzin turned a slight shade of red.
"Lin, stop being stubborn and let me help you."
"No thank you. It would do me better if you left." Lin told him stoically lifting her arm and showing him the direction of the exit.
"... So be it but I'll come by tomorrow morning to check on you."
Lin waved a hand in the air.
"Lin, get some rest. Goodnight," Tenzin arose from his the cot. Once he got to the door. Lin had said something he wasn't expecting to hear.
"I heard your voice before I passed out..."
"What?" He exclaimed.
"You heard me or are you just getting really old, Tenzin." She announced.
"Lin, I..."
"Goodnight, Tenzin."
Tenzin stood there and walked out without a word. He had heard right. Lin had heard his voice. Why? Why not someone else or just black out without any final thoughts. Tenzin shook his head. He didn't understand, well he did understand in some way but Lin pushed Tenzin away. Could it have been a sign or was it a sign?
After five years of not dreaming about Lin, he dreamt of her. It wasn't a sweet dream. There was Lin standing, looking down at a young couple that resembled much like them when they were younger.
"Who are they?" He asked standing beside her.
"I don't know but they were made for each other." She said softly.
"Lin..." He began.
"Tenzin, you were the one who ended it, those two have a chance, and we had different dreams..."
"Lin, you pushed yourself away as well. You can't only blame me,"
"I pushed myself for a reason; you were married for spirits sake. What did you want me to do? Run after you like an idiot,"
"No..."
"Exactly, you see those two down there. They have something that we didn't, I admit we were parting ways but the way things ended... I didn't want them to end that way, let's leave it at that." She said stoically.
Tenzin stood there speechless. Their arms and hands lightly brushed each other they watched the young couple as they laughed and embraced each other.
"What do they have that we don't?" He asked bluntly.
Lin chuckled.
"They have eyes only for each other. Unlike us we have our legacies to uphold,"
"Hmm,"
Lin was looking at him intrigued, crossing her arms around her chest.
"Don't think about it too much." She told him.
"I'm not, it's interesting how you think that, and I mean not that it's wrong or anything..." He rambled.
Lin pouted. To Tenzin it felt like old times with Lin, except he knew that this wasn't real, that she was injured.
That's when Lin started to bleed.
"Lin... You're... "He began. Only to catch her in his arms.
Lin's breathing was slow and she was white as a sheet.
"Tenzin..." She hoarsely said.
"Shhh," Tenzin whispered. Tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
She was trying to move but Tenzin didn't allow it. Everything around them was pitch black.
"I won't... Leave you here, you'll..." Tenzin said holding back his sobs.
Tenzin couldn't hold them back his tears for long they slipped gently landing on Lin's cheek. She looked at him.
"Tenzin, It's best that you..."she slurred out. Never finishing her sentence because he interrupted.
"I'll always be with you... Even in death." He said bringing his face near hers.
Lin let out a small smile and gently kissed his cheek. She disappeared.
Tenzin sat there, crying, the young couple had disappeared. Lin had disappeared. 'Lin... Why do you do this to me' he asked himself.
Little did Tenzin know that he had actually sobbed. Pema awoke him.
"Tenzin, are you all right?" Pema asked him.
Tenzin woke up, breathing heavily; he looked at Pema intently.
"You were sobbing in your sleep." Pema told him.
Tenzin hugged Pema tightly; he didn't let go of Pema the whole night. Never telling her about his dream. Tenzin didn't want to talk about it anyway.
'Now girl, I remember everything that you claimed
You said that you were moving on now
And maybe I should do the same
Funny thing about that is
I was ready to give you my name
Thought it was me and you, babe
And now, it's all just a shame
And I guess I was wrong..."
After work, Tenzin made his way to the hospital. Only to find out that Lin had left. Tenzin wondered around trying to think where she might have gone off to, either her home or to her job.
Tenzin froze on the spot when he saw whom she was with. Whatever the man told Lin made her smile. The man gave a smile in return. Lin was looking at the man the same way she would look at Tenzin. Tenzin's blood started to boil. Tenzin stood there until the two stopped. Tenzin watched at how they were communicating with each other. Whatever the man said to her made her give him an expression of surprise, finally Lin turned and saw Tenzin. As Tenzin started to approach her, the man that had been with her walked past him talking over his shoulder towards Lin.
"See ya around Beifong." He said in a cool smooth voice.
Lin pouted. "You wish, Jung." She hissed.
You could hear a hardy laugh in the distance.
Tenzin stood there confused, not knowing what to say or do. He figured who it might have been. He turned his attention to Lin.
"Why are you out of the hospital?" He asked.
"Why aren't you at your home?" She retorted as she brushed by him.
"T-that's not what's important here." He said nervously taking a long stride to walk beside her.
"Oh? Then what?" She said crossing her arms around her chest.
"You should be in bed." He told her.
Lin snorted, shaking her head.
"I'm surprised you're still walking with me. I suppose you think I'm going to let you in my apartment now?" She asked him playfully.
"I'll walk you because I'm concerned over your health and that's up to you." He replied calmly.
"Doubt it. I have plans. Go home, Tenzin." Lin ordered as her pace became erratic but Tenzin kept following.
"Lin, please go get some rest." He said.
"Sure..."
"If you're seeing that man, I'll leave you to be with him." He said slowing his pace.
Lin looked at him realizing what he really wanted to know. Lin bit her lower lip.
"I know what you're trying to do, Tenzin and I'd rather not tell you who he is to me,"
"Why not?"
"Tenzin... He's just someone I'm doing business with... Why am I explaining this to you?" She flatly said.
Tenzin only looked at Lin.
"I'm only asking because I worry over you and I shouldn't be asking. You know how to take care of yourself apparently." Tenzin announced to Lin. He couldn't contain his jealous induced emotions anymore.
"Oh, so just because I'm trying to do my job the way I want to do it, gives you the right to question me?" Lin said gesturing all over her.
"In all honesty Lin, you need to take care of yourself,"
"I don't need you babying me, councilmen."
"Lin, you're the one who is acting like a child still. Someone needs to watch over you." Tenzin said slightly putting himself at distance from Lin.
Lin stopped walking and turned herself to face Tenzin.
"Well, someone's already doing that, now goodbye, councilmen." She spat at him.
Tenzin watched Lin stalk off away from him. He sighed, walking back to head home. 'I shouldn't have worried over her. She's capable enough to take care of herself, reckless as she is..."
'Don't want to think about it
Don't want to talk about it
I'm just so sick about it
Can't believe it's ending this way
Just so confused about it
Feeling the blues about it
I just can't do without ya
Can you tell me is this fair?
Is this the way it's really going down?
Is this how we say goodbye?
Should've known better when you came around
(Should've known better that you were gonna make me cry)
That you were going to make me cry
Now it's breaking my heart to watch you run around
'Cause I know that you're living a lie
That's okay baby 'cause in time you will find
What goes around, goes around, goes around
Comes all the way back around
What goes around, goes around, goes around
Comes all the way back around
What goes around, goes around, goes around
Comes all the way back around
What goes around, goes around, goes around
Comes all the way back around...'
It had been a whole year. Tenzin's first-born child was now one. He and Pema named her Jinora. Tenzin was completely induced in happiness. His mother and two older siblings had come to stay after the birth of Jinora.
"She looks like you Ten-ten." Bumi told his brother.
"Sure does."Kya assured him.
Tenzin stood there silent. Lin's frequent visits to Gaoling died out.
The members of the united council had forced upon a meeting. Lin had to be present that day. They wanted a follow up on how much criminal activity was taking place on the city and what needed to be done. With much of the city advancements and Satomobiles being produced for a good while now. It makes travel simpler for the officers and to get orders about much quicker. Tenzin had sat there looking at Lin attentively, waiting for her to speak.
"Chief, is there any matter of reducing criminal activities?" The fire nation representative asked.
Lin stood there stoic as ever.
"There are possibilities; however, my men and I are doing the best that we can to reduce these activities without destroying the city." Replied Lin.
Everyone nodded except for Tenzin. He just looked at her. All he did at these meetings was look at her. Just to see if she was all right. After said incident last year, he and she never spoke; it would always be a sarcastic remark, being ignored, or better yet insulted. Lin was and has been cold to him. She had a right to be upset at him. He was still waiting, waiting for the day that they could be at least friends again. He was happy with Pema but he did miss Lin, there conversations that went on and on to a point where they start arguing and laugh about it in the end. Until the day that was to come, Tenzin could truly be happy. For now, he'll be a husband, he'll be a father, and he'll be whoever else he needs to be.
'What goes around comes around
Yeah
What goes around comes around
You should know that
What goes around comes around
Yeah
What goes around comes around
You should know that
Don't want to think about it
(No)
Don't want to talk about it
I'm just so sick about it
Can't believe it's ending this way
Just so confused about it
Feeling the blues about it
(Yeah)
I just can't do without ya
Tell me is this fair?"
Jinora was now three years old and Pema was pregnant again. His mother was ecstatic at the thought of another grandchild. His mother had told Pema that she saw many air benders in the near future. Tenzin smiled at the thought of teaching his future children air bending and its customs. Once his second child was born it was a beautiful baby girl. They had named her Ikki. Another two years later and they have Meelo.
Tenzin's children were, five, two, and newborn. Tenzin was happy, Pema was happy, everyone was happy.
One day while being on his lunch break Tenzin couldn't believe what he was seeing. It was Lin speaking to a young girl. It had been roughly ten years since they split. Without Lin needing to know that Tenzin was staring, the young girl walked along side with Lin towards him.
"Councilmen Tenzin, I'd like you to meet one of the Earth Kingdoms royalty." Lin introduced.
"It's a pleasure meeting you, councilmen." The young girl bowed.
"It's also my pleasure to meet you too, miss..." He said not knowing the young girl's name.
The young girl gave a slight giggle. "Well, since you're the councilmen of Republic City, you're supposed to refer to me as princess Rui but I'd prefer Rui." She said with a smile.
How could this young girl have fallen in the hands of Lin, Lin wasn't the type to be around prissy young girls, especially if they were royal or rich.
"Well, princess Rui, what are you doing in republic city?" He asked.
Lin stood there, watching how the conversation was going.
"It's only a visit; I don't want to spark too much attention. Plus, I'm in good hands." She said gesturing towards Lin.
Lin waved at Tenzin. Tenzin was going to return it but something told him not to. He placed his attention back to the young girl.
As Tenzin looked at the young princess more closely, she had soft brown hair that passed her shoulders, her eyes were swirls of grey and green. The princess remind him of Lin. Except, she was completely different to her. She was subtler. Lin never said a word after. Nor did he they just looked at the young girl. Finally when the princess broke the awkward silence.
"Hmm, I wonder..." Rui said aloud.
"Wonder what?" Tenzin and Lin said in unison.
"If you would allow me to read your fortune." She said calmly.
"What?" Tenzin said in confusion.
"Councilmen, she's an earth bender and she's been marked as a priestess that is able to see in the future." Lin explained.
"Oh..."
"Big Oh." Lin sarcastically told him.
The princess looked back and forth between them and smiled a soft genuine smile.
"I guess not then... Oh, it's time for me to be heading back." She said aloud.
Lin turned her attention to the young girl.
"Are you just saying that to get a move on or to avoid an explanation?" Lin asked.
"You could say both. Let's not be too caught up in the second one." She said smiling at Lin.
Lin pouted but returned a small smile. "Let's go then, Princess."
The princess laughed.
"Goodbye, councilmen Tenzin, May you have a wonderful day." She said Bowing and waving goodbye. Returning to Lin's side.
"Yes, goodbye councilmen," Lin said. Looking at him.
"Goodbye Rui and goodbye Lin." He said in return.
Lin snorted and walked along side with the princess who seemingly was intrigued by something.
Tenzin watched as their figures disappeared. Lin very much looked like a mother to the girl. If Lin had had children, she would have been a great mother. Children were naturally attracted to her. Lin never understood why. She never really wanted children in the first place. Tenzin sighed. He was doing it again. Wondering if this and that were to happen which wouldn't, he didn't regret his children. He regretted how his relationship with Lin ended but he'd never regret his kids. Tenzin's thoughts were over taking him. What he had to do was teach his kids air bending and maintain his father's dream over Republic City. Tenzin would put the two at par. However, Tenzin also needed to teach the young avatar how to air bend soon but the young avatar must master the other three elements in order to proceed. Apparently, she's been excelling well, in the other elements. Yet, she is not able to bend air. 'From what I remember, my father had a difficulty learning how to earth bend, aunt Toph had done an extensive amount of training with him. When eventually he was able to move a boulder.' Tenzin smiled at remembering the stories his family would tell him and his siblings. Reminiscing the days he had spent with his siblings and Lin on the island. The laughs they had all shared. Things changed after. Tenzin had confessed his feelings for Lin and she had as well. Most of their life was on the island. Everything they had done and shared was there. Now, he had a new life, he had his children. Many times Tenzin would imagine life with Lin still. It would bring a smile on his face. He must have looked like an idiot at the moment but quite frankly he didn't care. Now that he thought about it, how did Lin know the princess? Why were they so comfortable around each other? Tenzin's face went serious now. He went off into thought.
...
Tenzin wanted to keep his father's dream alive; he himself wanted Republic City to be safe, for his family's sake, for any one in general. He also knew that was what Lin wanted too. Tenzin sat in his office. Glancing around remembering all the times Lin would come by or him leaving to go visit her. He still kept a picture of Lin. Hoping that one day; it'll do good to put up on his desk beside his family. That day years ago, he and Lin had given each other they're all. That was her final goodbye. Lin had to keep seeing him in a different limelight. She had placed Pema in jail. Lin was distraught. Tenzin would never know how it was for Lin. Perhaps he would have been the same. Behaved in a manner that would have not been accepted. Now that Tenzin thought about, Lin left for roughly two years. If Lin had gotten pregnant around said incident that would mean he would have had children that would be around the age of ten. He wouldn't have found a need to marry Pema but then again, they would have had to take the consideration of the child's bending. Tenzin sat there, massaging his temples. Again, his if's and wonders. Tenzin stared out through his window. The movement of Satomoblies on the streets, the people, lights and shadows that danced around outside. Zeppelin's in the air. They contain the insignia of the metal bending officers. "Lin must be in one, patrolling." He said to himself aloud.
Tenzin sighed. It was time for to go home. To be with his wife and children. Tenzin didn't want to continue with his pondering. It brought back good memories and not so good ones too. He'd rather look at what he has now then what he could have had. It had boiled his blood at knowing that there might be another man in Lin's life but he had no right over her. She probably would lash out on her for doing so.
"I see now, while you can be with whomever you'd like, flaunting it or not, you know it'll please you to know that I'll be around to say something about it..." He said aloud gathering his things and walking out.
'Is this the way it's really going down?
Is this how we say goodbye?
Should've known better when you came around
(Should've known better that you were gonna make me cry)
That you were going to make me cry
Now it's breaking my heart to watch you run around
'Cause I know that you're living a lie
But that's okay baby 'cause in time you will find
What goes around, goes around, goes around
Comes all the way back around
What goes around, goes around, goes around
Comes all the way back around
What goes around, goes around, goes around
Comes all the way back around
What goes around, goes around, goes around
Comes all the way back around...'