The Republic City Beifong's + Adopted kids get ready to travel to Zaofu for the Hanami celebrations.
The Krew finally addresses what happened in Gaoling with Lin and Bumi.
And we have a tender moment between Lin and Bumi
A/N: Hanami - Celebrated in Japan. Traditional custom of viewing the cherry blossoms (sakura) or plum blossoms (ume); but we are focusing on sakura. My cousin did a student exchange in Japan a few years ago and the pictures she had of the sakura trees were absolutely breathtaking.
*I am not Japanese, so if I get anything wrong about this, please let me know. I am trying to make sure I am as accurate and respectful as possible
As the months passed, Airi was growing bigger and stronger. She had moved from grunts to whimpers, to finally crying as her lungs grew. Lin and Bumi had never been happier than to listen to her cries grow louder everyday as it meant that their baby was really going to be okay.
They had adjusted to the new family dynamic. Lin had started making sure to include Haru in taking care of Airi, learning that he wanted to help out and didn't want to always play on his own. He loved his little sister, and was quick to help grab a diaper or a blanket if someone asked. In part, the time he spent alone with both parents individually and together without Airi, also helped him to overcome most of the jealous fits he had been having.
Haru was also at a fun age where his older siblings, Opal, and Korra enjoyed taking him on outings. Lin was grateful for the older kids taking Haru with them, especially during the Winter months, as she wasn't keen on taking Airi into the cold for longer than she needed to be. Haru especially loved when Korra would bend the snow to create igloos, tunnels, and snow creatures; while Mako was still his favourite, Korra had soon become a close second much to Bolin's amused chagrin.
Thankfully the Winter had come to an end and the snow had melted, bringing the warmer air and greens of the grass and budding trees.
Suyin had invited Lin and her family to join them for the Hanami Festival that Zaofu was hosting this year. So Lin had spoken with Mako, Asami, and Bolin, to see if they could take the time off to join them. Bolin had at that point already been invited by Opal and was planning on going; Mako and Asami agreed immediately. Asami's only hesitation was if Korra could come with her, but Lin assured her that it would be fine; after all, 'Team Avatar' was a packaged deal by this point.
Today was the day they were starting their trip. Asami had offered the use of her airship so that everyone could be more comfortable. An air bison may be faster, but the airship had couches, beds, and tea. Lin and Bumi readily agreed as they weren't keen on wrangling a toddler and an infant on a still long flight on an air bison with no breaks, even if it would cut a couple days off their trip.
"Haru, come on, we need to go now!" Lin called upstairs. Haru had run up to grab his badgermole plush that he had left in his room. Bumi was outside loading their bags into their Satomobile; Mochi was getting spoiled by Meelo while they were gone.
"Okay Mama!" His little voice came as she felt his feet hit the floor in a run. Soon enough he was at the top of the stairs.
"Don't run down the stairs!" She reminded him, causing him to slow. When he was near the bottom steps, he jumped into the air, trusting her to catch him. She had anticipated his actions, so much like what his father would have done, and caught him with both of her arms. She brought him into a tight hug, before tickling his side. He let out a giggled shriek and squirmed in her arms. She stopped after a moment to let him breath, grinning at him. "Do you have everything now?"
Haru beamed up at her, a cute flush on his cheeks from the laughing. "Yes Mama! See?" He held up his plush badgermole.
"I do. How about we go get your sweater on and grab your sister? Then we can meet Daddy outside."
"No sweater." He pouted.
"Yes, sweater. At least till we get onto Asami's airship."
Lin carried him to the living room and went about pulling his sweater on, over his head. While it was certainly warmer out, there was still a slight chill in the air. Haru may be an airbender, but he still wasn't able to regulate the air around him. So as much as he didn't want to wear it, Lin was not going to let her child get cold.
Once his sweater was on, Lin pulled on her own button up sweater, before wrapping the sling around her. She then walked over to the bassinet and gently picked up a sleeping Airi. She tucked the 5 month old into the folds of the sling, careful not to wake her from her nap. Lin then grabbed the diaper bag, slinging it over her shoulder and offered her hand to Haru.
"Let's go see Daddy."
When they arrived at Asami's airship, Bumi started unloading their bags. Lin turned and unbuckled Haru from his special car seat from where they had been seated in the back row. Asami had decided to make something once they had started taking Haru out with them and realized how unsafe the regular car seats were for young children. She had successfully made one for older toddlers, though she was continually working on improvements. However, the one for infants and younger toddlers was still giving her issues; so Lin just sat in the backseat beside Haru, with Airi strapped to her chest in the baby sling.
By the time the three exited from the car, Mako and Bolin had joined Bumi and were each taking some bags out of the trunk. Gone were the days of travelling with just a small bag, which both Lin and Bumi had been accustomed to during their careers. But travelling with children, especially young children for more than a couple days meant packing a lot more. Thankfully they would be able to purchase supplies once they reached Zaofu and Su had assured them that there would be a crib for Airi. However, they still needed to survive the three day journey on the airship.
"Mako! Bo!" Haru cried out excitedly at seeing his brothers.
"Hey little man!" Bolin greeted him just as excitedly. "Ready for our big adventure?"
"Yeah!" Haru air bent himself to land on Bolin's back. The older boy just adjusted the bags in his hands a little, to make sure he could then support Haru.
"Let's go then!" Bolin started off towards the airship, leaving the other three adults to watch on in amusement.
Lin followed Bumi and Mako onto the airship. She noticed that Mako had hesitated a moment before stepping onto the gangway. Once inside the gondola, they greeted the Pilot of the ship and the other staff Asami had hired to take care of the ship. After the greetings and handing off all but the diaper bag to the cabin stewards, who would take their bags to their room, they headed up the stairs into the atrium.
The atrium was unlike any other she had seen; almost like it had been plucked from a hotel, with a bit of a homier feeling. Lin wasn't used to such grand airships. The RCPD had no use for such elaborate rooms like an atrium.
Bolin and Haru were already with Opal, Asami, and Korra near the far windowed wall.
"Daddy, look! They so small!" Haru said excitedly as he stared out the window at the crew that was finishing loading the airship below.
Bumi went over and joined his son, looking outside the window and exclaiming over things they saw.
Lin smirked in amusement, before greeting the other kids properly. "Thank you again for arranging the airship Asami."
Asami offered her a warm smile, though Lin could make out that it didn't reach her eyes like usual. "Of course. It just got finished with the remodeling. The windows are now made with the strongest glass available."
Lin frowned slightly. "You remodeled already? Didn't you finish this airship last summer?"
The oldest of the young adults let out a nervous giggle. "Oh yeah, well, there were some minor repairs that needed to be done after we went to Gaoling."
Lin didn't miss the looks that passed between the five of them, but just as she was about to call them out on it, they were interrupted.
"Ms. Sato, we are all loaded and ready for flight." The Pilot said as he stepped into the room.
Asami cleared her throat and straightened up a little. "Very good. Whenever you are ready." He bowed his head to her and left the room. Asami turned to the rest. "Anyone want some tea or coffee? I had some hot water prepared in advance." Asami said, motioning to the sitting area.
Lin followed them over, leaving Bumi and Haru at the window. She sat beside Mako and accepted the cup of tea from Asami. Opal started regaling them about previous Hanami celebrations in Zaofu. The last couple years ended up being just small ceremonies as the unrest in the Earth Kingdom had caused many to not want to travel.
"This will be my first Hanami. Sakura trees are hard to come by in Republic City, except in some private gardens. It's a shame though as they are so beautiful." Asami said, which caused Korra, Mako, and Bolin to agree that it would be their first as well.
"What about you, Aunt Lin?" Opal asked, leaning into Bolin's side.
Just as Lin went to answer, Airi started fussing. Lin lifted her out of the sling and Airi settled once her back was to Lin's chest and she could see everyone. "Someone was feeling a little left out." Lin smiled softly, running her hand over Airi's tuft of dark hair she had worked hard to grow. "Hmmm… My grandparents would invite us to Gaoling when we were younger. It was very important to my grandmother. She had a few trees throughout her garden on the estate, as they were her favourite." Lin said as she thought about her childhood.
"What were Toph's parents like?" Korra asked.
"Well I am sure that Su and my mother would have different ways of describing them, as we all had different relationships with them." Lin paused to collect her thoughts. "I met my grandmother for the first time when Mom was pregnant with Su. I don't remember much from that, I was only 5 - almost 6 - at the time. I do remember that she was shocked to find out she had a granddaughter, and another grandchild on the way." Lin smiled ruefully. "After that she insisted on being a part of our lives.
"Overall, I had a fairly good relationship with both of my grandparents. I would spend a month or two of my summers with them. My grandmother was insistent I learned how to be a lady, whereas my grandfather wanted someone to learn the family businesses. They offered the structure I wanted as a child." Lin took a sip of tea to settle the slight anxiety that had risen at sharing so much about her childhood. 'Chen will be proud when I tell them at our next therapy session.' Lin thought wryly.
"Is that how you learned to dance? You and Bumi were definitely showing us all up at Zhu Li's wrap party." Korra said with a grin.
"All the traditional Earth Kingdom dances yes, but the newer styles came from Bumi's parents. Aang and Katara loved to dance, and they made sure to teach all of us how to."
"Most of us picked it up fairly well." Bumi said, as he set Haru down on Mako's other side. "There's a reason Tenzin doesn't dance." He snickered. "Didn't he almost break your foot once, Linny?"
Lin sighed. "He's lucky he didn't, or I'm not sure even my Mom would have been able to dig him out of that hole." She grumbled, wincing slightly at the memory of having her feet being stepped on so badly. The others all chuckled at the image of a teenage Lin cussing a teenaged Tenzin out for bruising her feet.
After dinner that was provided by the chef Asami had hired to come with them, Lin and Bumi put Haru to bed. He was out like a light after all the excitement of watching the landscape change below and playing with the older kids who kept him entertained.
Airi was currently in Opal's lap as she held her baby cousin. The infant found her older cousin amusing as she gave her brilliant gummy smiles. Opal was a puddle of goo as she cooed at her. Bolin watched them interact with a dopey smile on his face.
Lin and Bumi noticed the expression on his face as they returned from putting Haru to sleep. They exchanged knowing looks, before settling down together on one of the loveseats across from the couple. Mako had taken an armchair, with Korra on the other armchair and Asami on her lap.
"You know, all that talk about my grandparents had me thinking. Maybe we should pop over to the estate for a day while we will be so close? I haven't been since my grandmother passed and I know there are some things I need to oversee there soon." Lin started. "I haven't been able to go with everything that has happened the past 4 years, and the minimal staff I keep there can only do so much without me being there to make executive decisions."
"I don't see why we couldn't. Gaoling isn't too far." Bumi replied, his arm resting behind her back with his thumb rubbing circles into her hip.
"Have you visited the estate before, Opal?" Lin looked at her niece. She then noticed that they all had grown pale at the mention of Gaoling. "Okay, what is going on?" Lin asked, cutting right to the chase. There would be no avoiding whatever the kids were trying not to bring up. "Something big obviously happened when you went to Gaoling 5 months ago, so spill."
Mako ran his hand through his hair. "It wasn't a smooth discussion with the last faction of the Earth Empire…"
"And? Don't sugar coat it, there is more to the story." Lin said, arms crossing over her chest as she raised her eyebrow at them all; waiting for them to continue.
"Alright, alright. The truth is that Korra and Wu were going to get your Mom from the swamp so that she could run in the election against Guan for governor. The rest of us were going to take Kuvira to Zaofu so Su could watch her until after the election cause she freaked out on Guan and Asami had to shock her. But after Korra and Wu left, the airship was attacked and we were captured. He tried to get Kuvira to return to the Earth Empire, but she refused and he brainwashed Mako, Asami, and I. Next thing I know it's a few days later and Korra and Asami removed the brainwashing from Mako and I, oh and Wu - who at sometime got brainwashed too." Bolin said in a rush, before taking a large breath.
Lin and Bumi eyed them all with horrified expressions on their faces.
"I guess I'll fill in some gaps there." Korra said, with a grimace on her face. She hated reliving the time that Asami didn't remember who she was. Asami took one of Korra's hands in both of hers, causing Korra to relax slightly. "Wu and I found Toph and eventually convinced her to run for governor of Gaoling. After she signed the paperwork, we were on Naga and came across Pabu. Next thing is, we come across Kuvira, who had somehow escaped from Guan. By that point she had already radioed Su for backup."
"Mom, Wing, Wei, and I with some of the guards went and arrived in Gaoling. We had just landed and were having them come aboard when Guan and his soldiers arrived… Including Asami, Mako, and Bolin." Opal sniffed, remembering the distant look on Bolin's face as he tried attacking them. "They followed Guan's commands of attacking us. We were only able to get Asami before retreating onto the airship. But we lost King Wu in the process." She purposefully left out the fact that Bolin had actually struck her with a piece of rock, not wanting to remind Bolin of the upset. It was hard enough telling him the first time.
"Once in Zaofu, Kuvira and Baatar Jr. worked tirelessly to reverse the brainwashing on Asami. Finally, only after they tested it on Kuvira, were they able to figure out the right process. Asami came back to me." Korra said, leaning forward to rest her head into Asami's arm.
"During the night, Kuvira slipped off wanting to confront Guan by herself." Asami continued, bringing Korra's hand to hold it against her chest. "Long story short, Kuvira brought down Guan and Su stopped her from killing him. Then we were able to reverse the brainwashing on the whole town. Wu decided to call off most of the elections and let each region set their own timeframe for switching to a democratic government, which is why he is still King."
"From there, we went to drop Grandma back in the swamp. And well, then she saw what had happened with you and Airi, and we flew straight to Air Temple Island." Opal finished.
Lin and Bumi were both shocked. "Why didn't you say anything before now?" Lin asked.
"Well with everything going on at that moment, we knew you didn't need to deal with all this on top of looking after Airi and yourself." Mako said, softly. "We didn't want to cause you any more distress at the time."
"I guess we just kinda kept avoiding talking about it in general, even with each other." Bolin continued, with a small shrug.
"Well, at least you are all safe and here with us." Bumi finally said. He still looked shocked, but he had experienced worse on his own missions and really, the kids had experienced worse under Zaheer and his Red Lotus. Not that he liked the idea of them not telling them for so long or being in harm's way, but he knew realistically that they were part of 'Team Avatar' and it would happen again at some point.
Lin had moved her hand at one point to grip Bumi's thigh above his knee. She didn't even notice that her grip got progressively tighter the further the story went. She tried to control her breathing, wanting to avoid having a panic attack in front of the kids - twice in a lifetime was enough. She closed her eyes for a moment, and after a few more breaths felt the tension receding a bit. It helped when Bumi placed his hand, that wasn't around her, on top of the one gripping his leg.
"Mom?" Mako said, leaning forward slightly, as he took in her pale and tense appearance.
Lin opened her eyes, glancing at Mako. "I-I'm very glad you are all safe too." She offered him a strained, but warm smile. "And I understand why you all kept it from me at the time." She looked at each of the young adults, who were nervously watching her. "Just, next time, tell me right away. Or at least not five months later. Okay?"
The room was silent, for a moment as if they were all waiting for her to yell at them for not telling her sooner. But when that didn't come, they all deflated slightly in relief and were quick to promise not to keep things like this from her for long.
Lin felt a lot of the tension leave her own body at their promises, and relaxed into Bumi's side, loosening her grip on his leg. Bumi leant down and placed a kiss on her head, before drawing everyone into a new conversation about which airbenders would be next to get their tattoos.
"Oh for sure Ikki is pretty much ready." Opal says, lifting Airi from where she had laid on her lap, up into her arms to cuddle her against her chest.
"Well I think you are ready too." Bolin said, placing an arm around his girlfriend's shoulder. Opal blushed slightly and gave him a demure smile. Bolin returned her smile with another dopey one, his eyes alight in love.
"I think Bumi is also up soon too." Korra continued, after giving the younger couple a slight snicker.
"Me? Tattoo's? I don't know…" Bumi stumbled slightly over his words.
"Really? I would have thought you would jump at the chance." Mako said, eyebrows raised.
Bumi shrugged. "I've gone 62 years without them, I'm not sure I see the point. Plus, I'm not sure I would want to shave my hair… I'd look too much like Tenzin." He shivered in an exaggerated fashion. "Not to mention, I'm not a vegetarian."
"I'm not a full vegetarian either." Opal said with a shrug. "Not that I eat it with every meal, but if I'm home in Zaofu I will eat some dishes that have meat. A lot of the other airbenders do the same. Tenzin has acknowledged that the Air Nation has evolved."
Bumi shrugged, "still, not sure it's what I want. But I'm happy for you Opal. You will make a fine Airbending Master."
Opal gave him a shy, but bright smile.
After another hour, Lin and Bumi left the young ones to head to bed. Bumi quickly checked on Haru in the adjoining room, before coming into their room. Lin set Airi on their bed as they changed into their nightclothes, having already changed the infant into her sleeper before putting Haru to bed. After dressing, Lin settled against the headboard and nursed Airi as Bumi slid into bed beside her, laying down so his head was against her side.
"You know, you aren't too old to get your tattoo's if that's what you really want." Lin said softly, running her free hand through his hair. "And as much as I love your hair, it will grow back… But I think we both know that these aren't the real issue."
Bumi sighed, his wife always could see through his barriers. "I just feel… like I'm unworthy of them. Like I spent so much of my life being ridiculed for being the non-bending son of the last airbender, and I worked so hard to prove that I could be just as successful as any bender… and then poof, I'm 58 and I now have the ability to move air. As excited as I was to feel that connection with my father… Why couldn't it have happened when I was a kid?" His voice broke slightly.
Lin squeezed his shoulder, offering her comfort. "Give me a second, love. I'm just going to put Airi to bed." She got up and quickly burped Airi, before rocking her a little. Luckily Airi fell asleep quickly tonight and Lin placed her in the travel crib they had brought. She then fixed her pajamas and got back into bed, this time laying down with Bumi. She pulled him into her arms, tucking his head beneath her chin. "I know I can never understand how it feels to be in your position. I wish there was something I could do or say that will make you feel better. But, I did see how hard you worked. I saw how proud you were every time you got your promotion in the Forces. How strong and brave you have always been. I saw you, and I still see you now."
She placed a kiss on his head. "I'm with you, whatever you decide. If you are fine with just being an airbender that is perfectly fine. Or if you decide you want to get your tattoo's, that is alright too. Just promise me that it will be your decision, and that you won't base it off what other people will say." Bumi had tears dripping into her neck, but she didn't say anything, just held him tighter.
Finally Bumi nodded slightly. "I promise." He whispered. "Thank you."
Lin slid down a little, cupping his cheek and looking him in the eyes. "You've been so strong for me and our family these past few years, let me be strong for you now." She wiped away a stray tear. "I love you, Bumi. No matter what happens, that will never change."
Bumi moved forward and caught her lips in a kiss, full of the love he had for her. Lin returned it in equal fervour. When they pulled apart, Lin placed another kiss to his forehead. "Let's get some sleep, okay?" Bumi nodded his answer, placing his head on her chest.
They fell asleep with Lin holding Bumi to her, one hand in his hair and the other clasped with his own hand beside his head.
A/N:
I wasn't planning on that tender moment, and I made myself tear up.
Next chapter will be their visit to Zaofu.
We are all caught up now with my AO3 account. New chapters are posted on Mondays.
Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed this chapter.
