Kya's perspective of attending to the sick Tarlo

A/N: Slightly shorter chapter, but just as impactful I think.

There is new fanart of the kids on my instagram (jade_lotus394) if you want to know what they look like :D

Same day; Mid Autumn,146 AG

Kya was frustrated. She had had 4 appointments with Meriwa since the initial one, and she was still no closer to getting the confirmation she needed.

As the weeks passed then months passed, her thoughts turned over and over in her head. She sometimes doubted what she had seen; if it really was her Linny… But then she would shake her head. She was convinced this woman could be Lin, but the husband, Tulok, came to every single appointment. She didn't want to give up on finding out the truth.

She was supposed to be moving on to her next destination next month, but she wasn't sure if she should extend her stay here or not. 'Maybe speaking with Dad again will help.' She thought.

Before she could pick up the phone to start the long process of calling Air Temple Island, a call came through to her.

"Hello? Healer Kya speaking."

"Ah good, I was afraid I would have to call the clinic directly. This is Tulok, you treat my wife Meriwa. She has just called to say our youngest is ill and it seems to be getting worse. She can't bring him to the clinic, and I am unable to leave the palace at the moment. I found your number on the card and thought I would call you directly."

A chance to get this woman alone, and see if she really is Lin? Of course Kya wasn't going to pass on it.

"I can head over, it's the address on file right?"

After confirming the address, she quickly packed her bag and grabbed her coat, rushing out to the main reception. "I'm making an urgent house call, I am not sure when I'll be back." She said, not giving the receptionist enough time to respond.

She walked quickly, navigating through the busy streets, before ducking down one of the residential ones.

She couldn't help the slight smile that worked its way onto her face the more she thought about the call. Of course, she wouldn't wish a child to be ill, but this was the perfect opportunity. She just hoped she could be alone with Meriwa for more than a few moments. Kya wasn't sure how she would approach the topic, but her stomach fluttered with anxious energy at how close she was to potentially finding out the truth.

Finally she came across the right house and knocked urgently on the door. After a couple minutes she knocked again. Thankfully the door opened shortly after; just a crack at first, and then when she was recognized, it opened fully showing Meriwa who looked extremely concerned and tired.

"Healer Kya, thank you for coming on such short notice." Came Meriwa's timid voice.

Kya stepped through the door and allowed the woman to take her coat after she took it off and slipped into the spare slippers that were set in front of her.

"Thank you, Meriwa. Your husband said one of your children was ill? Can you please take me to them?" She followed her down the hall to a room with two beds, and a little boy was on one of them, in a fitful sleep. He was obviously very ill; his skin pale, but cheeks extremely feverish. Despite his poorly disposition, she could see that he was an adorable child.

"This is Tarlo, he is three. He was feeling ill all yesterday too, but mid afternoon yesterday it seemed to get a little worse, so the other kids are at my husband's family to make sure they stay healthy. But something felt off this morning, so I asked him to call the clinic as I can't carry him right now." Meriwa was obviously very worried for her young son by her rambling. It was the most that she had ever spoken at once to Kya.

"You did well." She said, trying to reassure the younger woman. "Let's see what's going on."

Kya drew water from her skeins on her hips, and guided the glowing water over Tarlo. Her eyebrows knit in concentration as she found an infection in the boy's intestines. Thankfully it had been caught fairly early and would be easily remedied in a few days with antibiotics. She healed as much as she could, and helped bring the boy's fever down.

"Okay, he should do better now. He had a bit of a gastro infection. I've healed it as best I can, but he will need some antibiotics. Would you like me to run and get them for you? Or I can stay while you go? He should have the first dose soon."

"If it's alright, I would prefer to stay with him. I could make tea though?"

"That sounds lovely Meriwa. Okay I will be back in a jiffy." Kya quickly left the room and made quick work of going to the apothecary.

She greeted the shopkeeper and gave them the name of the antibiotic she needed as well as the tea blend for fever reduction.

She drummed her fingers on the counter while waiting. 'Okay think Kya. How do we approach someone and ask them if they are really someone else and not seem crazy if she isn't your long lost, dead friend?'

Kya was brought back to the present when the shopkeeper placed two containers in front of her. Kya passed over the money and took her purchases. She left and hurried back to the house. She knocked twice before trying the door, which happened to still be unlocked. "Meriwa, I'm back." She called out, loud enough for the younger woman to hear her, but not loud enough to wake the boy if he was still sleeping.

Meriwa appeared from the doorway she assumed was to the kitchen, wiping her hands on a tea towel.

"Thank you for running out for me. Tarlo is still sleeping. Should I wake him up to take the antibiotics?"

Kya shrugged off her coat and hung it up as she answered. "No, let him sleep for a little while longer. We can wake him up after tea. You look like you could use the rest." She slipped her boots off and used the slippers she had used earlier, not wanting to track snow and dirt into the home.

Meriwa looked down, fiddling with the towel in her hands. "I admit it has been a stressful 24 hours." She then glanced up, shyly. "Have a seat on the couch, I will bring the tea in." She quickly disappeared back into the kitchen.

Kya made her way to the living room. The house was very neat, almost bordering on too tidy. Not many knick knacks around. There were some photos of the children around, but those were the only ones around. She knew at least from the glimpse at the boys room that their toys must be kept in their room as there had been toys and other clutter that kids bring.

She grinned looking at the picture of the four kids together. They seemed happy at least, and were absolutely adorable. All four grinned widely at the camera. It must have been a recent picture, as Tarlo didn't look much younger in the picture.

"That's one of my favourite pictures." A soft voice came from behind her. She turned to see the younger pregnant woman setting down a tray of tea and some cookies. Meriwa then approached to stand beside Kya. "My oldest is Nuna. She is 9 and is an earthbender. Then Amaruq who is 7, Tayen who is 5, and you met Tarlo, who are all waterbenders." She said, pointing out the children.

"They are beautiful. Nuna especially looks like you."

"To my husband's delight the rest have more of his features." Meriwa turned. "Shall we sit? I made kale cookies the other day, please help yourself."

They both took a seat on the couch, Meriwa serving the tea. "I hope you don't mind jasmine tea."

"I love jasmine tea, thank you." Kya accepted the cup. "I had a friend who loved it a lot too. Drinking it reminds me of her."

"You talk like something happened?"

Kya sighed, 'here goes nothing, see how she reacts.' "Yeah. She was kidnapped and murdered just over 10 years ago… She was 16 when she passed, so she'd be your age."

From the side of her eye, she saw the woman's eyes widen, even though her head was turned a little and facing toward the tea cup she had in her hands which rested on her knees.

Kya decided to go forward, voicing thoughts aloud. "Actually she was an earthbender too. When I first saw you, I actually thought you were her. I know it's crazy, I'm not saying this to make you freaked out that you look like my dead friend. I'm sorry, I'll stop talking now." Kya brought the teacup to her mouth and took a big sip to calm herself.

The room was quiet, and Kya was thinking she messed up. That she obviously made this woman very uncomfortable with the situation. She was about to apologize again, when a small voice spoke up.

"You're not crazy Kya."

Kya looked with wide blue eyes that met frightened and teary green eyes. She felt like her breath caught in her throat. "Lin?"

The younger woman let out a choked sob, before nodding. Kya set her tea cup and placed Lin's, Lin's, onto the table as well before pulling the woman into her arms. "Shhh. It's alright. It's going to be alright Linny. I'm here."

A/N: We'll get Lin's emotions behind everything in the next chapter.