The next few weeks passed quickly. Her days were filled with training the airbenders three days a week while also attending her therapy appointments and seeing Kya after her acupuncture ones. Monday afternoons had also become a standing tea date with Asami where they discussed many things from redevelopment of the city around the spirit vines to nursery designs.

Mako also came for tea on afternoons he was off. She continued to mentor him and offer insights to his cases. Sometimes they talked about other topics that were on his mind. He always was checking in on her as well to make sure she was feeling up to the visit, or if she had enough pillows or tea. Instead of annoying her -most of the time anyways-, it amused her to see this mother arctic hen side of him. She admitted to Bumi that it was slightly endearing that he cared so much.

Lin was now into her 6th month of pregnancy, her belly was steadily growing. Kya told her that even with her smaller belly size, the baby was still measuring right on track.

She had to admit, even if just to herself, that she was feeling more settled than she had in a long time. It seemed talking out your feelings to someone actually did help; who knew?

Lin had just got home from her therapy appointment and went upstairs to change before Jinora and Opal came to pick her up. Tonight was Bumi's birthday dinner celebration on Air Temple Island.

She had a quick shower, avoiding getting her hair wet so she didn't have to dry it. After toweling off, she went and changed into a dress that Bumi had said he liked. It was a sage green with a boat-neck neckline and long, fitted sleeves. The dress was simple and casual, but also comfortable. She found she had been wearing more dresses the last couple weeks as the summer progressed.

Lin then went to the bathroom again and fixed her hair. She let it down, as Bumi preferred it like that. She knew it was more because he liked to run his hands through her hair. It had grown quickly over the last couple months, Kya told her it was due to the amount of hormones running through her body. Her hair had also gotten thicker and had darkened a few shades - nowhere near the dark ebony of her youth, but definitely more gunmetal than the medium-dark silver it had been.

She heard the groan of a bison landing outside and with one final check to make sure she was ready, she made her way downstairs. Grabbing the gift she had hidden in a kitchen cabinet, she left the house, locking the platinum bolt with her keys.

"Afternoon girls." She said, as she bent herself with a platform of earth onto Pepper, Jinora's bison.

"Hi Aunt Lin!" Opal said, leaning over to hug her Aunt as she came to sit beside her in the saddle after bending the pavement back down.

"Hello!" Jinora said from the reins. "All set?" At the two Beifong's agreement, she said, "yip-yip Pepper."

Lin caught up on the girls' day as they flew to the Island. Upon arriving, Lin set off to find the birthday boy while the girls took Pepper to the stables. She took off her shoes on the walk up to the house, seeing with her seismic sense that he was in the house. She left her shoes at the front door and placed the small gift she brought with the couple others on the table in the living room, before continuing on to find him.

She found Bumi and Meelo being shooed from the kitchen by Pema, Kya, and Ikki. "There is the birthday boy." Lin said approaching. "Trying to get a swipe of the birthday cake?" She asked with a quirked eyebrow and a smirk.

Bumi turned to look at her and shrugged, grinning impishly. "Trying the imperative word. They wont even let us through the door."

"Yeah, no fair that Ikki gets to lick the icing from the spoon!" Meelo said, pouting.

"It won't be long now till you both get some. Why don't we leave them to it?" She held out her hands, one for each of them. Bumi took hers, and brought it to his lips to kiss, causing her to smile at him. Meelo decided to follow his Uncle's lead and placed a kiss on her hand too. However, it was much more wet… and sticky? Lin tried not to grimace, giving Meelo a tight smile. The boy didn't seem to notice and just grinned toothily back at her.

Lin looked sideways at Bumi who was giving her a shit-eating grin, which she mockingly glared at. She turned back to the young boy as he tugged on her hand, pulling her - and subsequently Bumi - outside.

Once outside, Lin told Meelo to go play. Turning to Bumi, she placed a quick kiss on his lips. "Happy birthday again. Sorry we didn't get much time this morning to ourselves."

Bumi pulled her closer for a longer kiss. "It's okay love, we have tonight." He winked at her blush. She wasn't fond of too much kissing in public, but she decided since it was his birthday to allow it this once.

"Think again lover boy. We are on the Island tonight. It will have to wait till tomorrow night." Lin said, patting his cheek.

"Ah come on Linny, just this once?" He pouted.

"We are not having sex in a room that shares one wall with your sister and another with your niece!" She hissed quietly at him, avoiding letting Meelo know what they were talking about.

"I suppose when you put it that way… Fine. But don't expect to get much sleep tomorrow night." He said cheekily, enjoying her returned blush.

Lin decided two could play at that game and leaned to whisper in his ear. "Oh I was planning on it." She nipped his ear before pulling back, giving him a wink. "Now go play with your nephew." She then started walking over to the bench in the shade so that she could watch them. Once seated Bum-Ju flittered over and settled on top of her belly, snuggling into her chest.

"Linny…" He groaned

"Race with me Uncle Bumi!" Meelo demanded, rushing over on an air scooter. Bumi closed his eyes for a second to get himself in order, before looking at Meelo. "You're on, little lemur."

The afternoon passed by quickly and soon they were called in by Ikki for dinner.

The family dining room was full with Tenzin's family, Kya, Opal, Kai (who Bumi had grown a good bond with), Bolin, Mako, and Asami. Bumi and Lin took their seats between Ikki and Mako.

Dinner was full of Bumi's favourites, including a couple meat dishes Kya prepared for him. Lin made a face at the smell, leaning away from him slightly. "Sorry, but you are definitely brushing your teeth before you come anywhere near me after dinner."

Bumi made sure to move his plate further from her, and they kept the bowls on the other side of the table to help reduce the smell for her. "Will do, love."

The group listened fondly for once as Bumi told some of his extravagant stories of his time in the Forces. Bum-Ju flitted around the room, landing on everyone's heads at some point throughout, but he mostly was attached to his two favourite humans.

After dinner, Pema and Kya with the help of the older airbending children, Opal and Kai included, quickly washed the dishes and put everything away. Lin joined them in the kitchen, setting about making tea with the help of Ikki, who was progressing well with her lessons.

Cake and tea were served in the living room. Lin sat next to Bumi, grateful to be off her feet again. Bumi handed her her own cup of tea and she smiled at him. She could smell the mint on his breath as he placed a quick kiss on her cheek, and was thankful he had quickly popped to the washroom to brush his teeth.

"Present time!" Ikki called out excitedly. "Open mine first Uncle Bumi!"

Bumi grinned at his niece and accepted the package. He opened it to find one of his favourite tea blends. Most people didn't know he liked moon peach tea. "Wow Ikki, this is wonderful. Thank you." He grinned at her.

"Aunt Lin helped me pick out the right one. I wanted to get you your favourite."

"It's perfect, thank you." He said to his niece, accepting a hug from her. He gave Lin's knee a squeeze as well in thanks.

He received a few other small gifts from everyone else, including a watercolour of Poki and Bum-Ju from Meelo that actually was pretty well done for a 6 year old. Asami, Bolin, Mako, and Opal had gone in together to get Bumi a new set of knitting needles and nice, soft yarn with some new patterns that included ones for baby sweaters and blankets. This made him tear up a bit, and he couldn't wait to start on a baby blanket.

Lin had gotten Ikki to grab her gift from the table. She was the last one to give him a gift.

Bumi opened the small box to find a set of keys. Frowning he looked over to her, "keys? I already have a key to your house."

"I… These are keys for our new house."

"Our house?" His eyes widened.

Lin cleared her throat. "I figured mine is too small to have a child running around, especially with no backyard. This house is fairly large and has a very big yard, enough room to build a stable for a bison. It will be ours from the beginning, not one that started as mine. It is on the outskirts of town in a good neighbourhood wit-" she was cut off by his lips on hers. He kept it brief, knowing she wouldn't like much more in front of so many people.

"Thank you Lin. I'm sure it will be perfect." He beamed at her. He had never had his own home before, being in the Forces didn't give him enough time to settle in one place for long. But he had always hoped for this one day. Lin, a family, a home.

Lin blushed, but continued. "We can move in next month. There was a little work that needed to be done, and we can go over with a contractor to make sure it is exactly what we want."


Resting her hand on her belly, she made her way outside to await the airbenders for their morning self defence class. She was a little tired after such a busy day yesterday, but thankfully it was Friday, the end to her busy week. She bent a stone bench up so that she could sit. Bolin came ambling over, yawning.

"Morning Chief- I mean Lin… geez it's still weird to call you that… not that your name isn't a good one… I mean a beau-"

"Just sit down, Bolin." She cut him off. He sheepishly followed her order. "Good morning to you too. I trust you are ready for today's lesson."

"Yup! Happy to help out. Can't believe the stuff we learned on the streets could come in handy."

Lin swallowed the sudden feeling of wanting to cry. Her mind picturing a little Bolin and Mako huddling together, cold and hungry.

Bolin seemed to notice that she had gotten upset. "Did I say something wrong? I'm sorry if I upset you, I didn't mean to. I'm always saying things at inappropriate times."

"No, no, I'm fine." Lin blinked, and cleared her throat. "Just - you and Mako should be very proud of yourselves for how far you've come. You were dealt a shit hand, and I wish the city did more for the kids on the street. But you both have done well for yourselves."

Bolin blushed at the praise from one of the women he looked up to most. "You know, there was a time when I was really small that my hero was your mom. But one day, I was being chased by this man who was throwing fire at me, and out of nowhere he was suddenly wrapped up in cables. I had stopped running as I was in awe of what happened, and that is when the officer came over and asked if I was okay and then bought me some bao's as I said I was hungry. It was you. I didn't realize until later that you were the Chief. But from that day on, you became my hero. Even when Mako was always telling me that cops were bad and they would take us away, I knew you weren't. Not many people had shown me such kindness back then."

He looked over when he heard a sniffle. He couldn't believe he was seeing tears falling down the Chief of Police's face.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean-"

"Shut it kid." Lin said before pulling the stocky boy into her arms. She could remember that day perfectly as she had never forgotten the eyes of the young boy that were so like her own. They had haunted her for years. "You know I went back everyday for the next week, trying to find you again? I wanted - no, needed - to help you."

Bolin had been drawing comfort from the oddly maternal hug he was receiving. It was different from any hug he had received from Pema or Katara. It sparked a faint memory of hugging his own mother. He pulled back at her words though.

"You remembered me? As for after that day, Mako refused to allow me near that area for months." He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and offered it to her.

Lin accepted it gratefully. "Smart kid, your brother. I ended up catching the same guy two days later attacking a woman." She dabbed at her face with the cloth. "I didn't take you for the handkerchief type."

Bolin shrugged. "One of the things I remembered about my dad was that he always carried a handkerchief in his pocket. I used my first paycheck of being a probender and bought one like the one I remembered him having."

Lin smiled softly at him, and handed back the cloth. "Thank you kid." She said as she patted his shoulder.

They moved onto the lesson plan for the morning's exercises until they heard the commotion of the airbenders entering the open space of the courtyard.

"Alright everyone, I want you to be paired with a different partner than the other day. Preferably one who is doing well paired with someone who needs a little more help." Lin called out, standing up to be in front and monitor the pairs. "Bolin here is going to be helping for the foreseeable future. He will be showing you moves and helping correct your forms where I cannot. Now pair up!" She ordered, not quite as harsh as if it were her officers, but still in a commanding tone that offered no room for objections.


After lunch, Lin had a sleepy Rohan cuddled up on her chest. "I think a nap is in order, don't you little koala sheep?" She had taken to calling him that due to his cuddly nature - at least with her.

Pema nodded to her, grateful for the next hour or two of free time while her older kids are training with the other airbenders.

Lin carried Rohan up to Bumi's - well their room now since they hadn't slept apart since officially getting together. She laid down, propped up with pillows behind her back for support, and bent the metal she had attached to the frame up on each side, to prevent him from rolling or climbing off the bed.

They fell asleep with Rohan still on her chest, with one of her hands resting on his back, and the other on her bump.

That is how Bumi found them two hours later.

He airbent himself gently onto the bed and wrapped his arms around them both. Content to just watch them sleep.

"I can feel you staring." Lin said a few moments later, blinking awake with a yawn.

"Can't help that you are my favourite thing to look at." he responded cheekily, but sincerely.

Lin rolled her eyes. "Take your nephew would you? Your child is dancing on my bladder again."

Bumi gently took the still sleeping Rohan. "Why is it always my child when they are acting up like that?"

"I don't make the rules Boom." She said winking at him, before bending the metal down so she could scoot off the bed. It took her a moment to actually get herself up off the bed, before she was hurrying out the door.

When she returned Rohan was slowly waking, so she took him from Bumi, allowing him to get up himself.

"Did you have a good nap, kid?" Lin asked Rohan and she rubbed his back as he woke further. "Shall we go see if your mother has a snack ready for you?" But as she breathed in she caught another scent. Scrunching up her nose she started walking to the nursery instead. "Smells like you need a change first."

Bumi just followed her to the nursery. He was content watching Lin take care of his nephew, imagining their own child in his place.

Lin had asked Pema to show her how to take care of an infant as she didn't remember much from when Su had been born. She was definitely more confident in changing Rohan now than she had been a few weeks ago.

She glanced up to see Bumi in the doorway watching them with a fond smile.

"What are you grinning about? Next time I will make sure to have you change him."

"I'm just imagining our child instead. I picture a little girl with curly black hair and jade green eyes like her mother, maybe a mix between our skin tones."

Lin smiled at him before turning back to fix Rohan's clothes, never taking a hand off him while looking at Bumi. "And what if it is a boy that looks like you?"

"I'll love them just the same. But I can't lie that I haven't pictured a little girl who earthbends just like you."

Lin picked up Rohan and went over to Bumi. She gave him an amused smile and a short kiss.

"Well we have a few months left before we find out part of that."

Rohan squealed and pulled Bumi's beard.

Lin let out a laugh and extracted his hand from Bumi's beard. "Come on Uncle Bumi, someone is hungry." She left the room, tickling Rohan's belly as she went, enjoying the baby's laughter.

Bumi rubbed his chin where the hairs had been pulled before following the two downstairs, smiling at the odd snort Lin let out every once in a while between Rohan's giggles. It made his heart happy that she was learning to allow herself to be happy.

They entered the living room to find Pema finishing the last page in her book. She glanced up and gave the three a smile, setting the book aside.

"Did you have a good nap with Aunt Lin, my love?" Pema asked as she accepted the boy into her arms from Lin.

"He pretty much passed right out. I swear he actually is part koala sheep, as he didn't move from my chest the whole time." Lin said; baby koala sheep were known for clinging to their mother.

Before Pema could respond, an acolyte stepped into the room. "Sorry to interrupt, but there is a call for Chief Beifong."

Lin frowned at the acolyte, "who is it?" She said moving to follow them.

"Acting Chief Saikhan. He said it was important. I took the liberty of transferring the call to Master Tenzin's office." The acolyte responded.

Lin was grateful to not have to walk across the Island to the communications room. She nodded her thanks to the acolyte and quickly left the room to head to Tenzin's office. It was empty when she arrived, so she sat behind his desk and picked up the receiver.

"Beifong speaking."

"Lin, thank the spirits you hadn't left the Island yet."

"Saikhan, get to the point."

"The press have finally caught on about your pregnancy. Our contact at the RC Herald tipped me off that there had been a picture taken of you yesterday in the city, it will be on the cover of this evening's newspaper. I have received word from officers that there are a horde of reporters at the docks and outside your house in the city."

Lin sighed, rubbing a hand wearily across her forehead. "I suppose I have no choice but to respond in some way. It's not like I can hide the bump now. I will get a hold of my lawyers to issue a statement."

"You sure you don't want to release it from the department?"

"No, as I am on leave, it will be better coming from the Beifong estate."

"Understood. I will have officers try to clear up the press from your house and the docks. Please call if you need assistance."

"Thank you. We were going to return tonight, but I suppose it will be better to go over in the morning when they are least expecting me to return. You can leave the ones at the dock. We rarely go that way, and they could do with having a cold lead once in a while." Lin smirked slightly at that.

"Chief." He said.

"Chief." She responded to him, before hanging up the phone. She sighed, before pulling out a sheet of paper and Tenzin's fountain pen. She quickly drafted a small statement, and was about to call her lawyers office, when she realized she should probably speak with Bumi first. 'That is how relationships work, right?'

Getting up, she left the room and headed back to the living room, hoping Bumi had stayed. Thankfully he had stayed, taking a seat on the couch with Pema on the other who was giving Rohan a small snack of puff rice cereal.

"Lin, is everything okay? What did he want?" Bumi said, getting up to approach her when he saw her enter the room.

Lin sighed. "It seems I was seen by a reporter in the city yesterday. I'm assuming when I was either arriving or leaving my therapy appointment. But the press knows I am pregnant now, there is really no disguising the bump now. Saikhan was warning me that reporters are swarming at the dock and outside the house. I know we made plans for the evening, but I think it would be better to go over to the house first thing in the morning when they wouldn't expect it."

Bumi put his hand on her arm, offering her comfort. He had learned to not always rush in with hugs when she was upset, especially over the last few weeks through the different emotions that were brought up with the acupuncture and therapy.

"How do you want to handle it?" He asked.

"I think it is best to put a statement out through the Beifong Estate rather than the department." She paused, looking up and giving him a hesitant smile. "Would you like to join me in going over what I drafted before we call the lawyers office?"

"Of course love." He said.

Lin's hesitant smile softened in relief to a more relaxed one. She took his hand in hers and turned, leading him back to the study.

Pema just smiled at their backs as they left, not bothered that she hadn't been acknowledged. She and Lin over the last almost two months had grown surprisingly close, they had sat down one afternoon after one of her sessions as her therapist had thought it a good idea to clear the air between them. Pema was able to apologize for confessing her feelings to Tenzin while he was still with Lin, and Lin had apologized for almost arresting her.

Pema was happy that Lin had chosen to include Bumi in this instead of just going ahead herself, like she would have only a few months ago. Sometimes it was hard to picture the Lin she knew now as the younger, angry and bitter woman she knew in the past.

Pema looked back to her youngest in time to see him about to shove a fistful of rice puffs into his mouth. "No, Rohan, not so many!"