A long first night home.
A/N: Prepare for another part of our rollercoaster.
Lin woke with a start, her heart racing as she couldn't get rid of the image of Tulok sneering at her that she would never be free of him. She could still feel his arms around her, suffocating her. She swallowed back the small cry that had been on her lips since waking. Instead she focused on Tayen who was in front of her, sprawled in the middle of the bed between her and Tarlo.
She was able to steady her breathing by watching the young girl's chest rise and fall. Lin shifted and suppressed a groan at the sudden urge to pee. She managed to sit up and then stand, with only a little difficulty. She then fixed the blanket around her two youngest, before waddling quickly and quietly out of the room, careful when opening and closing the sliding door.
She made it down the hallway to the washroom, only getting the door wrong once - it had been over a decade since she had last been in the house. As she was washing her hands, she caught sight of herself in the mirror. She raised a shaky hand to run her fingers over her bruises, wincing at a flash of feeling his hands around her neck once more.
Lin shook her head, and looked away from the mirror. After drying her hands she headed back to her room. She gently moved Tayen back to the middle, and eased between the covers once more. Tayen soon rolled over to curl into her front, making Lin smile softly. She gently brushed some loose strands of hair from her baby's forehead before wrapping her arm around the girl, holding her to her.
She dozed off again, but soon awoke with a gasp as she had gone right back into the same nightmare. Lin buried her nose into Tayen's hair as tears slipped from her eyes. She took some steadying breaths, breathing in the soothing scent of her daughter, which helped calm her down.
She realized she wasn't going to get back to sleep any time soon, so she placed a kiss on Tayen's head. Lin slowly shifted herself out of bed, making sure to tuck the blanket back around the girl who had rolled onto her stomach into the warmth of the spot Lin just left. She placed a final kiss on the girl's head, then slipped her slippers onto her feet. She went around the bed and did the same to Tarlo, before grabbing the housecoat from her bag.
She wrapped it around herself and then headed next door. She needed to check on her other children to reassure herself that they were okay. Lin breathed a sigh of relief to see that the two were curled up on the bed together. She repeated the process of fixing the blankets and placing kisses on their heads as well.
"Mama?" Nuna asked groggily after Lin kissed her head.
"Shhh, little pebble. Everything is okay, I was just fixing your blankets." Lin whispered, cupping her eldest's cheek. "I love you sweet girl."
"Luv you too, 'ma." Nuna mumbled in reply as she drifted back off to sleep.
Lin left their room and headed to the kitchen to make a pot of tea. She paused in the hallway though and noticed that a soft light was coming from the living room. She peered in through the crack in the doorway and noticed Tenzin slumped in an armchair near the fireplace. She bit her lip and continued on to the kitchen.
She placed the filled kettle on the stove and searched for the teapot and cups. She found them and the tea and set about preparing the teapot. All the while, her mind warred with her heart. Her heart won out though, as she placed two cups on the tray. Once the hot water was poured into the pot, she took a deep, steadying breath, before heading back down the hallway.
She was able to nudge the sliding door open with her foot and entered the living room.
"You look like you could use some tea." She said softly, just inside the doorway.
Tenzin shot up at hearing her voice. "Lin!" He said with a gasp. "I-I'm sorry, did you want to sit in here? I can leave!" He turned to head towards the other entrance when Lin spoke up again.
"No! I mean, it's okay, you can stay…" She said with a small blush gracing her face. "J-just stay o-over there." She said quietly. "I-I mean I c-can le-leave if you don-don't want me here…" She stuttered out after realizing her previous suggestion sounded more like a demand.
"Lin, I would be so happy to sit here and have some tea with you. I've missed you." Tenzin replied softly, with a hopeful smile on his face.
Lin shakily nodded her head and after Tenzin sat back down, she walked over and placed the tea service on the table. She poured the tea, and then set Tenzin's on the middle of the table before sliding it as far as she could reach towards him, without moving the rest of her close to him. She then picked up her cup and sat on the furthest seat from him.
Tenzin waited till she was sitting back to slowly reach forward to grasp his cup, having realized that she needs to know what his movements will be.
As they both blew a little on the tea to cool it a little, there was a pregnant pause.
"I'm sorry." "I'm so sorry, Lin." They said at the same time, causing them to glance at each other with awkward smiles.
Tenzin motioned for Lin to go first.
She swallowed and looked back down into the swirling steam that came from her cup. "I'm sorry I freaked out at you earlier. A-and that I need to keep my distance. You're… You're the same build as him, and your voice…" She bit her lip, and ducked her head. "I'm sorry that it's so hard. I'm sorry I'm broken."
"You're not broken." Tenzin replied in a soft, but firm voice, purposefully trying to keep his tone as soft as possible, figuring he wouldn't have done so. "You are the bravest person I know. And our parents were war heroes." He cracked a small smile that was reminiscent of his father and brother, and it calmed Lin's slightly racing heart at the sight of it. "I'm sorry for scaring you like that. It was never my intention. I had just missed my best friend so much."
Tears sprung to Lin's eyes, she blinked to try to clear them, but they still escaped to track down her face. "I've," she sniffled, wiping her tears with her housecoat sleeve, "I've missed you too." She glanced up. "Everyday." More tears escaped and she set her cup down to grab some tissues that were beside the couch. "Sorry, pregnancy makes me more emotional."
"It's okay, Lin." He replied, tears in his own eyes. "Tears are good." Lin looked up and gave him a hesitant smile.
This time the pause wasn't awkward, it was two friends basking in being in each other's company for the first time in such a long time.
Tenzin eventually got Lin talking about her kids, and he listened with rapt attention. Her eyes lit up when talking about her babies, they had been her whole world since she first felt that flutter in her belly 10 years ago. It hadn't been until that moment that Lin realized that that little baby was also part hers, and she found herself falling in love with the tiny pebble right then and there; all resentment towards the fetus leaving her in that moment.
He then told her about his solo travels to the four air temples. Lin eventually was a little more comfortable to ask him about the fuzz on his face. He blushed and said he was growing a beard, but he was in the awkward transition face as it was filling out.
Eventually Tenzin ended up falling asleep. Lin just curled up as best as she could on the couch and stared out the window, watching the sky begin to lighten.
"Linny?"
Lin looked up to find Kya looking between her and Tenzin in concern.
"Oh I'm okay…" She glanced to the sleeping airbender and a small smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. "We're okay. It will take a little time… but we'll get there."
Kya nodded and walked over to sit beside Lin, placing a warm hand lightly onto Lin's raised knee. "Couldn't sleep?"
Lin swallowed, before shaking her head. "Nightmares." She offered quietly after a moment.
"Would you like me to play with your hair? It used to help when you were younger." Kya asked.
The younger woman bit her lip, before nodding a little in embarrassment. "Yes, please." She answered softly.
Kya scooted a little further down the couch, before patting her lap. Lin soon laid down with her head on Kya's lap and her back to the back of the couch.
The waterbender gently began unbraiding Lin's long hair, only leaving the loopies to fall in front. Then she began carding her hands through the silky black locks. The earthbender slowly lost all tension in her body, and by the time Kya started massaging her scalp, she was fast asleep.
Kya looked down at the beautiful, strong woman on her lap, and could help but admire the way the early morning sun cast across her face. Not to mention the waves of ebony hair that flowed over her shoulder and back.
After breakfast, Katara insisted on taking Lin to the healing baths. Lin hesitatingly nodded, but quietly asked if Kya could join. Katara readily agreed and guided the two to the healing hut she had on the Island. The children were left under the watchful eyes of the other adults - Iroh hitting it off immediately with the other children.
Once inside the separate building the three take off their winter coats and boots, and enter one of the healing rooms.
"Lin, please undress down to your wrappings, and lay down in the tub. Kya, be a dear and warm the water so our girl doesn't freeze."
Lin swallowed and with shaking hands began to undress. She took time to fold her clothes and place them in a neat pile on the bed against the one wall. As she was turned though she didn't notice when Katara and Kya eventually glanced over at her. She did hear their gasps though.
She spun around, one hand protectively on her belly, and the other crossing her chest to grip her shoulder. Lin could feel her face burning in shame, and the flush spreading to her chest.
Katara had closed her eyes tightly and stiffened, but Kya met Lin's eyes with ones of comfort. She beckoned the earthbender closer with a reassuring smile.
"May we take some pictures Lin? I know it's uncomfortable, but it's going to help put him away for even longer."
Lin winced at the thought of many people seeing the pictures, but eventually nodded. She shut her eyes and allowed Kya to move her arms out of the way. Kya took pictures of the bruises that had been hidden under Lin's clothes too and of Lin's back. Once done, she placed the camera on a side table, and placed a warm hand gently on Lin's shoulder.
"Here Linny, the water should be nice and warm for you."
She accepted Kya's soft hand and stepped into the tub gingerly. Kya helped her to lay down. This tub was a little deeper than some of the others to ensure that her baby bump would be mostly underwater.
Katara finally released a shaky breath, turned back around having had turned away as Kya took pictures. She offered Lin a small smile that didn't reach her eyes, and her eyes were suspiciously damp.
"Alright, Lin, let's see about healing those bruises and doing a proper check up." The water began to glow around Lin as Katara started gracefully bending the water to heal. At first it was concentrated on her face and neck - she could feel the tingle of the healing water, and by the relieved smile on Kya's she knew they had now disappeared.
Katara healed a few other bruises as she came across them, before also soothing tense muscles she could feel, which made Lin sigh in contentment.
"Lin…"
She looked up to see her aunt look at her with slightly pained eyes. She knew instantly what was going to be asked.
"How… how old are those marks on your back?" The older waterbender asked gently.
Lin looked away, avoiding both of the other women's eyes. After a tense moment, she finally answered the question. "It was… not long a-after I was taken. I re-refused to-" Lin felt sick, her face showing that too as she grimaced. "I refused to service him, and," she swallowed the bile threatening to come up her throat, "he bloodbent me to the wall. He held me there and… and he made his dis-displeasure known." She squeezed her eyes shut, unable to get the sudden memories from flashing before her eyes. "It was the only time it was that - that bad." She could feel that the bile was winning in its race up her throat.
Suddenly she was lifted and a deep bowl placed under her chin right before she began to vomit. She heard voices that sounded like they were distant, but she logically knew that they were right beside her. A sturdy chest behind her helped her stay upright, and she could also feel a hand rubbing soothing circles on her back.
When she finished, she accepted the glass of water from Katara and sipped on it lightly. As she did so she could feel herself leaning further into Kya's embrace.
"I just want to forget. Why can't I forget?" Lin whispered brokenly.
"It will get easier, Linny. I've got you." Kya said, kissing Lin's sweaty forehead. "I've got you, and he will never hurt you again. I promise."
The mother and daughter waterbenders locked eyes. This man was going to rot in the spirit world, they would do everything in their power to make that happen.