Opal and Bolin's Wedding.

Final Chapter Part 1


"Mom, stop fussing, it looks fine!" A whine came from the other side of the door.

Lin shared an amused look with the guard posted in the hallway, before knocking on the door. She didn't wait for an answer and slipped inside, shutting the door behind her.

Opal and Su turned from where they were standing in front of a floor length mirror.

"Aunt Lin!" Opal said with a bright smile.

Lin smiled back and walked over to the two. "Oh, Opal, look at you." She said, taking in her niece's appearance as she took one of Opal's hands. "You look beautiful."

Opal blushed. "It's not too much?" She asked as she looked down at her pale yellow dress with complimentary jade green accents. Her shoulder length hair was curled and pinned back in an updo, and she had light hints of makeup on. She almost matched the description of the woodland sprites in a fantasy children's book series Lin had read to Suyin when she was small.

Lin shook her head. "It's perfect." She insisted. "I just came to check on you."

"I'm oddly nervous and yet completely ready at the same time. I'm really glad we've kept the wedding small." Opal said, tightening her hand in her Aunt's a little.

"I was the same. Marrying Bumi was easy. It was doing so in front of everyone that was the difficult part. But once I saw him, everything else faded away. I'm sure that will happen for you." She turned to her sister. "Right Su?"

Su surprised them by blushing a little. "Well, Baatar and I never had a ceremony, so I wouldn't know. But I am sure your Aunt is right, Opal. Bolin loves you so much, darling." Su cupped her daughter's cheek, her eyes growing misty. "My baby is all grown up." She said with a sniff.

Opal sent her aunt a pleading look, and with that look, Lin knew Su had been doing this all morning. Lin squeezed Opal's hand once more before dropping it, ignoring her niece's small look of betrayal.

"I have something for you." Lin said, pulling her other hand from behind her back. In her hand was an antique looking black velvet box with a gold embossed flying boar embossed onto the top. Lin held out the box for Opal to receive into her own hands.

Opal bit her lip a little and after a reassuring nod from her aunt, she opened the lid. A gasp rang through the air, as Opal gently fingered the beautiful piece of jewelry. "Aunt Lin… These are gorgeous! I can't-"

"You can and you will." Lin interrupted. "These belonged to your great-great grandmother, our grandfather Lao's mother. When I saw your ring that Bolin made, I knew these would match nicely. Unlike many of the Beifong ancestors, Huifen preferred delicate jewelry." She lifted the dainty necklace from the box holding it up for the two younger women to gaze upon. The chain was a fine chain that glinted in the lighting, and at the bottom, a delicate oval shaped white opal hung. Around the opal was delicate filigree.

"Lin…" Su whispered, in sudden awe of her sister.

Lin shot Su a smile, before focusing on her niece again. "Here, turn around." Opal turned so her back was to Lin so that she was facing the mirror again. Lin reached up and gently placed the necklace onto Opal's neck, deftly closing the clasp at the back. The young bride reached up and fingered the necklace again.

Su sniffed while looking at Opal's reflection in the mirror; her baby girl was all grown up. She reached over and took the jewelry box from Opal's hands and set it on the table nearby, before taking the matching earrings out. She swallowed past her tight throat as she helped Opal place the earrings on.

Opal stood there, looking into the mirror as her mother and aunt flanked her.

"Oh my darling, you look stunning." Su said, unable to hold back her tears.

Lin gave her niece a smile.

Opal turned around and pulled Lin into a hug, which she happily returned. "Thank you Aunt Lin." Opal said with her own sniff.

"Hey, no tears." Lin said, pulling back to cup her niece's face. She wiped the one tear that escaped Opal's eye. "Leave the crying to your mom." Opal let out a small giggle as she heard her mother's indignant cry.

The three were interrupted by a knock on the door. It then opened revealing Baatar and the rest of their children, even Baatar Jr. was there. The father of the bride gasped, while her brothers gaped at her as if realizing she wasn't a little girl anymore.

Lin gave a squeeze to Opal's shoulder. "That's my cue. I will go make sure Bumi and Korra have not gotten Bolin worked up." She winked at her niece before kissing her forehead. "You are a beautiful bride, Opal."

Opal gave her a beaming smile, tears in her eyes. "Thank you, Aunt Lin."

Lin gave her a nod, then patted Su's arm before heading to the door. She gave her nephews a small but warm smile. As she passed Baatar, she gave him a gentle push in the direction of his girls. He startled a little, but didn't take his eyes off Opal and rushed over to her, pulling her into a hug.

Lin left the family and headed back to the small cottage Su had gifted them last time they were in Zaofu. She entered the house and was met with a pacing Bolin, while the others seemed to be trying to calm him down. She closed the door, then walked over to the nervous young man and stopped his pacing with one hand on his arm and the other on his cheek.

"Bolin, look at me." Once his eyes were on her, she continued, "deep breath in, hold it, then out. Again." She did the breathing with him until she could feel his heartbeat slow back to normal. "Better?"

He nodded. "I'm just nervous. What if she changes her mind?" He asked quietly, his green eyes wide as he looked at her.

"I get it, kid. But you have nothing to fear. Opal loves you, I promise." Lin answered. "I just came from seeing her, and she is just as nervous and excited as you. Not to mention she looks beautiful."

Bolin lost a little of the tenseness in his shoulders, and gave her a small smile. "Opal is always beautiful."

"Good answer, kid." Lin teased, but pulled him into a hug to which he happily leant into. After a moment, Lin caught Bumi's eye over Bolin's shoulder and he nodded. Lin pulled back. "Come with Bumi and I for a moment." She gently nudged him in the direction of the master bedroom.

Mako, Asami, and Korra kept the two young ones occupied while the three disappeared into the room. Pabu scurried into the room behind them, and climbed up Bolin's clothes to get onto his shoulder.

Once in the room, Bumi shut the door behind them, and then went to the same drawer he had once hidden Opal's engagement ring in. He opened the drawer and pulled out a small velvet sachet.

"This is from both of us." Bumi said as he handed the small package to Bolin.

Bolin took it into his hands. "Wow, thank you. You didn't need to."

"We wanted to." Lin replied, as Bumi stood beside her with his arm wrapping around her to rest on her hip.

"Go on, open it." Bumi said, excitement sparkling in his light blue eyes.

Bolin smiled and opened the drawstring of the pouch. He pulled out a beautiful silver pocket watch with an embossed "B" into the front. A few small pieces of opal and jade were encrusted into the design etched around the initial. He opened the front of the watch to look at the watch face, the spring opening it to the left. The bezel surrounding the watch face was set, again, with alternating pieces of jade and opal. But it was the picture on the other side of the open case. I Inserted there was the only picture of Mako and himself with their parents, San and Naoki; He had only seen this photo a handful of times. Instantly tears came to Bolin's eyes, and he tried blinking them away so he could keep looking at the monochromed image.

"Your grandmother allowed us to borrow her photo and have it duplicated." Bumi said softly.

Lin nodded and added, "we thought you would like to keep them close, especially today." Bolin let out a small sob, and instantly Lin and Bumi pulled him into their arms. Pabu chittered comfortingly into Bolin's ear as he snuggled in as well, cuddled between Lin and Bolin.

"They're always with you, Bo. Always." Bumi said, speaking from experience, even if it had taken himself a while to learn it and accept it for himself.

"Thank you so much." Bolin said after his sobs died down. He gratefully accepted a tissue from Lin. "Growing up, I barely remembered what they looked like. I only had Mako saying I looked like Dad and that he looked more like Mom. I think even Mako forgot what they looked like until Grandma Yin showed us this photo." He blew his nose loudly. "Thank you so much. Oh and thank you for the watch too, it's really awesome too."

Lin started fixing Bolin's hair back into place as Bumi patted his shoulder.

"We love you, bud, and it was the least we could do to honour the people who gave the world you and your brother." Bumi said.

"I love you both too. And I am so thankful that you both have taken Mako and I under your wings, even though we were all grown. You have given us the chance to have parents again, and in a way that isn't replacing them." He smiled at them, genuinely. "I am happy to call you Mom and Dad, and I think they would be happy that we have a great second set of parents."

Lin sniffed, trying to hold back her own tears that she wanted to let out. She couldn't believe the growth in this boy - no, this young man - that she had seen over the years; and that she can even claim a small portion of him astounds her. All she can do is give him a wobbly smile and kiss his cheek.

Bumi grinned widely. "We are privileged to call you our son." He said, as he wrapped his arm across the shorter man's shoulders, giving Pabu a little scritch as he did so. "Now open the back side of the watch." He prompted.

Bolin closed the front and after being shown the button that opened the back, he quickly did so. Besides just the spot to wind up the watch, just like in the front portion, there was a photograph. This one was coloured, and showed one of the family pictures they took last time they were all together in Zaofu. It was the one that Opal and Korra had also been pulled into as well.

"We thought you wouldn't mind having your new family with you as well. You can update that picture too as the years go by." Lin said, after clearing her throat.

"It's great! Thank you, Mom." He kissed her cheek, before clapping Bumi on the back. "Thanks, Dad. I am going to keep this on me at all times. I love it."

"You may want to remove it while in the shower… or going swimming… I also can't imagine it would be comfortable to sleep on." Bumi said, hand stroking his beard in contemplation.

Lin rolled her eyes as Bolin laughed. "Alright you two, we've not got a lot of time left, and we still have two young ones to get ready still."

"Yes Mom." Bolin and Bumi said at the same time, Pabu chittered at the same time from his spot on Bolin's shoulder.

Lin just smacked both of their arms, and left the room as the two burst out laughing. She went and picked up Airi, then carried her into her room to get her changed into the little soft yellow dress that Opal had picked out for her baby cousin. Airi babbled to her the whole time, and Lin spoke back to her as if she were having a normal conversation.

The nearly one-year-old still hadn't spoken her first word yet, content to babble in her baby gibberish. She also hated when someone tried to get her to crawl; she could and she has crawled, but she disliked it with a passion if her screams were anything to go by.

"Airi, please sit still for a moment. I know you just want to play, but it is Opal and Bolin's big day and we have to look nice. You want to look nice for our Opal right?" Airi squealed and smiled at Opal's name. "Yes, Opal is your favourite, isn't she? Hopefully after Mama though." She tickled the baby's belly and couldn't help but chuckle at Airi's shrieking giggles. "There we are, little badgermole, all ready. Shall we go show Daddy and your siblings?"

Lin picked Airi up and went back into the living room. Asami walked over and took Airi into her arms.

"Look at you, you look so cute!" Asami said, spinning them a little, causing Airi to shriek giggles again.

Lin left Airi with Asami and Korra and went to freshen up quickly in the master bathroom. She touched up her makeup and smoothed out her dress, before heading back out.

"Mama! Look, I look like Bolin!" She looked down to see Haru running over to her excitedly in his little suit. Sure enough his suit was very similar to Bolin's, just as Airi's dress was to Opal's. The couple had wanted their little siblings/cousins to match them as they thought it would be adorable - and it was.

She had just a brief second to catch him as he launched himself up with air; of course, the decades of quick decision making had her reflexes still trained well. That and this was a daily occurrence with her newly turned 4-year-old.

"That you do. I guess we'll have to make sure it is really Bolin up there, or you may end up getting married to Opal." Lin teased him.

Haru seemed to think for a moment, before shrugging with a smile. "Opal is pretty and nice. I could marry her."

"Hey!" Bolin called out with a mock hurt expression. "She's my fiancée, Mister!"

Haru giggled. "She's an airbender like me!"

"But if you marry Opal, you are going to leave me. You don't want to leave me alone with your Daddy do you?" Lin said, ignoring Bumi's indignant cry.

"Okay, Bolin can marry Opal, I will marry Mama." He said, confidently.

Lin let out a chuckle and sent Bumi a wink. He just grinned and walked over, giving Haru a little tickle.

"Sorry buddy, but Mama is already married to me, remember? Why don't you wait till you're older to find someone?" Bumi said, planting a kiss on Lin's scarred cheek.

Haru pouted for a moment, and pushed his father's face from his mother. "No, Daddy." He then leaned over and kissed his mother's cheek where Bumi had just kissed. He then shot a smug look at his father as he hugged Lin.

Korra and Bolin openly snickered at the two, while Mako and Asami tried to hold back smiles.

"Someone is being possessive of their Mama." Bumi said, before tickling the young boy.

Soon enough, the alarm Asami set went off, telling them it was time to head over to the ceremony site. So the family packed up and guided the nervous groom to the tram. The ceremony was taking place in the central gardens of Zaofu, where the proposal had taken place.

When they arrived, there was already a large crowd of guests. Most of Zaofu and the Air Nation were in attendance. Like Bumi and Lin's own wedding, dignitaries from around the other three nations were in attendance as well; in part from their almost familial relationships with some. Lin did not begrudge the much larger crowd, and she felt a pang of sympathy for the two having to deal with such an audience. Then again, Bolin had been used to large crowds when he was a probender.

The group gave Bolin hugs before they were shown to their seats by Meelo, who was helping as an usher. They were led to the front row, and sat on Bolin's side. Haru was seated between Asami and Lin, while Lin had Airi on her lap. Bolin and Mako's grandmother and their extended family were seated in the rows behind them. Across the aisle, Toph was seated beside Katara and Zuko, with empty seats left for the rest of Opal's family in the row in front of them.

Mako stood next to Bolin at the altar, Pabu in his own little suit on his shoulders now, speaking quietly with Tenzin. Tenzin had been humbled and honoured when the couple had asked him to perform their ceremony. They didn't need to wait too long, before Opal was joining them at the front. Her best friend from childhood, Peizhi, was her bridesmaid.

The ceremony was beautiful, Lin admitted. The love the young couple shared was felt in every word they spoke in their vows. Bumi at one point had taken hold of her hand and held it for the duration of the wedding. During the vows Lin gave him a tender smile, wanting nothing more than to kiss him in that moment as she was reminded of their own wedding not that long ago. He gave her hand a squeeze, showing that he felt the same way. He grinned at her, before they turned back and focused on the couple in front of them.

The reception was lively, with great food and music. Haru was super excited when he and Rohan were able to pull Lin onto the dance floor. She played along and purposefully spun them to hear their laughter. Bumi at the same time had Airi in his arms as he danced with Ikki and Meelo. Jinora and Kai were adorable off in their own world as they twirled around the dance floor.

As it got later Lin and Bumi gratefully took Jinora, Kai, Ikki, and Meelo up on their offer to put the kids to bed, as they were going to head back to have their own sleepover - though with strict instructions that Jinora and Kai were not to be alone at all. Thankfully the boys had burnt off most of their energy dancing, and other than a small whine, they didn't protest too much. Jinora carried Haru, Kai carried Rohan, and Ikki had Airi in her arms as Meelo led them to the tram station.

Once the kids were gone, they both grabbed some drinks that were stronger than just the wine they had with dinner. They joined Izumi, Raijin, Kya, and Nira at their table, with Lin leaning into Bumi's side as his arm wrapped around her. Tenzin, Pema, Suyin and Baatar soon joined as well.

"A toast to young love, and to the first of the next generation getting married." Izumi said, raising her glass. The others followed suit, clinking their glasses together.

"So Su, Baatar, how does it feel?" Nira asked from her spot next to Kya.

"I never thought Opal would be the first to get married." Baatar said, with a wistful smile. "But I suppose she has always been fairly mature for her age. Bolin has been good for her."

"Mom always said she reminded her more of Lin as a child than me. But I'll take that as a good thing." Su added, sipping her drink.

Lin snorted. "You mean she didn't sneak out at all hours and join gangs?" She teased, amusement sparkling in her eyes.

"Thank spirits! I don't know how you dealt with me, Lin." Su said with an amused smile. Happy that they were now at a place where they could tease one another.

"Linny got up to her own shenanigans as a child too though. Especially when with Bumi, Uncle Sokka, and Uncle Aang. The four of them and Aunt Toph on a good day, were frankly, frightening." Izumi drawled, swirling the amber liquid in her glass as she peered at her friend from behind her glasses.

Lin blushed a little, but shrugged. "They were all bad influences. I was young and impressionable."

"Ha! I recall you being the one to tell me to put frozen wood frogs in everyone's mouth one morning. Mom was furious with me when she caught me." Bumi said, shifting in his seat as he remembered the smack he received to his 11-year-old butt. It was just the one, but man it caught him off guard.

Lin schooled her face, and looked up at him innocently. "I was only 5. I didn't make you do anything you didn't want to."

"So you didn't look at him with big round, green eyes and go, 'Bumi, would you stick frogs in everyone's mouths? I'm too little to reach.'?" Kya said, mimicking big, wide eyes with a little pout as she fluttered her lashes at her brother.

Lin quirked her eyebrow and smirked. "Not my fault he was a sucker." She then let out a small yelp as Bumi pulled her onto his lap.

"Pretty sure you enjoy that now." He whispered in her ear as he sucked on her earlobe. Lin flushed red, and quickly drained her drink as everyone at the table chuckled. Just to spite him, she finished off Bumi's as well, which he just responded by wrapping his arms around her and keeping her in place. She huffed, but settled back in his arms, enjoying the feel of his warmth.

Suyin motioned to a passing waiter to bring a bottle of fire whisky to the table. As soon as it arrived, everyone's glasses were refilled - of course barring Tenzin, Pema, and Nira who had only had a glass of wine each at dinner.

It was late by the time the two made it back to their little cottage on Su's estate. Lin admittedly was a little drunk, not used to drinking much over the last 5 years. She may have overindulged just a little. Bumi stayed to lock the front door, while Lin made her way to their bedroom. She haphazardly removed her clothes before face planting into her pillow.

Bumi snorted softly when he entered and found Lin in her underwear, asleep on top of the comforter. He removed her shoes and stockings, before picking her up enough to retrieve the blanket from under her. After tucking her in, he got himself ready for bed before curling up beside her.


The next morning

Lin awoke to the sun streaming in through the window. She groaned and rolled over, burying her head into Bumi's chest. She missed Bumi's smirk, but felt his hand as it came up to pull her in closer.

"Morning, love." He whispered.

Lin realized she wasn't going to get back to sleep and wrapped her own arm around him. "Morning." She said softly, placing a kiss over his heart. She shifted her leg to rest on him, which caused him to gasp as she grazed his sensitive parts. "Oh a good morning huh?" She smirked up at him.

"Always with you, love." Bumi said, pulling her up to plant a kiss on her mouth.

As they kissed they moved so that Lin was underneath him. Soon enough their trace amounts of clothes they had on, were thrown to the floor and moans echoed through the room.

Lin gripped the metal headboard behind her as Bumi moved his lips to her neck. Through the haze of pleasure, she felt a thrum getting closer, and attempted to focus on that. It felt like footsteps. Her eyes shot open and she tried to catch Bumi's attention.

"B-Boom…" She moaned lightly, before trying again. "Did you lock our door?" It took her asking a second time for him to respond.

He moved his kisses from her neck to nibble at her jawline. "I locked the door to the cottage last night. We're okay." He captured her lips in a fiery kiss that threatened to send her over the edge.

She unfortunately got distracted again when she heard the door to the cottage opening and heard voices on the other side of their door. At the last moment she had the frame of mind to reach out her hand and flick the lock on their bedroom door, just as someone went to open it.

"Mama! Daddy! Wake up!"

Bumi startled at hearing Haru's voice from the other side of the door, but the movement sent both of them over the edge. Lin had slapped her hand across her mouth, while Bumi shoved his face back into her neck; both barely managing not to make any noise, other than faint grunts.

"Shit." Bumi said quietly as he panted and rolled off to the side.

Lin took a moment to try and calm her breathing before grabbing her robe and tying it around her flushed skin. She opened the door just a crack after making sure Bumi was under the covers, and found Haru, their mothers, Uncle Zuko, and Airi on the other side.

"Mama, get dressed, it's breakfast time!"

Lin smiled down at him. "Sure badgermole. Daddy and I will have a quick shower and be out soon."

"May want to try separate ones." Katara quipped, gazing at her knowingly.

"And cold water." Zuko added, his pale cheeks showing a faint blush.

"I'm going to go burn my feet in the meantime." Toph muttered, with a nauseated look on her face.

Lin flushed and shut the door, locking it again. She turned so her back rested on the door and then let her head fall back against it, eyes closed in embarrassment. Her eyes sprung open at the small snicker she heard from the bed. She shot Bumi a glare.

"So you think it's funny we just got caught by our mothers, children, and uncle?" Lin hissed as she moved away from the door and started pulling out clothes for the day.

"Of course. Have I mentioned I love your quick reflexes lately?" He said with a cheeky grin.

Lin just threw one of his shirts at his face. "Well me and my quick reflexes are going to have a shower." She said, making her way to their ensuite. "Alone." She shut and locked the door, but managed to shoot him a smirk as he pouted.

Bumi fell back onto the bed to wait out his turn. He snickered to himself again. "At least we didn't scar poor Haru for life though. Yet, anyways…" He muttered, letting out another amused snicker.