A/N Hi everyone! This is my humble contribution to the wonderful ATLA/TLOK fandoms! I only delved into these shows recently, and I'm completely obsessed. It's been fun getting to know/learning to write new characters, and I adore Korrasami! Given the events in TLOK I figured Aang must have thanked Korra, so I consider this a missing canon scene. I have not yet read Turf Wars, so apologies for any inaccuracies (but hey, it's fan fiction, we get to invent right?)

Please read and review!

The Bridges Between Worlds

Korra watched as Asami—her girlfriend—finished tightening the straps on her pack and stood with a smile. "Ready to head back?"

"Yes, let's—" Korra stopped abruptly as she felt someone's presence materialize near them. A very familiar someone. Aang. Turning, the young South Pole native saw the regal form and smiling face of the most famous Airbender in history. "Aang," Korra bowed, Asami letting out a quiet gasp of surprise before quickly copying her.

The monk nodded back to them graciously. "Greetings Avatar Korra, Miss Sato. I hope you will pardon this interruption?"

"Of course, Avatar Aang," Asami said, still wide-eyed. "It is an honor to meet you."

"The pleasure is all mine, Miss Sato. I am grateful for your aid in saving this city."

Korra beamed at her new girlfriend, who was blushing like mad. "It's true, we could never have taken down Kuvira without your help and ingenuity."

Aang grinned to himself, wondering if this was how Sokka had felt while constantly trying to keep him and Katara on track, when all they could see was each other. He coughed faintly, catching the young women's attention. "I am sorry to interrupt your time together, I was hoping to speak with Korra for a moment before you leave the Spirit World?"

The blue-eyed woman nodded, and squeezed Asami's hand briefly. "Be back soon!"

The two Avatars walked in silence for some time, Spirit creatures swirling through the peaceful landscape around them. When Aang spoke next, his voice was thick with emotion. "I wanted to thank you Korra, for bringing back the Air Nation. I—I don't have the words to say how much it means to me; to know my people have returned, to see the world with a sizable number of Airbenders again. Enough to rebuild and continue on, it's—it's more than I ever dared to hope for. You are truly an amazing Avatar."

Korra blushed faintly at the praise. "You don't have to thank me Aang, I'm just grateful it happened. I honestly had no idea leaving the portals open would create more Airbenders, it was a happy surprise for most everyone I think. I'm so glad that the Air Nation is coming back."

The monk paused in his walking for a moment, looking at Korra with wise eyes. "I know it was a difficult choice to leave the portals open, and that you've received a lot of backlash for it." The young bender nodded, it had been extremely hard to convince people it was the right thing. "But as you knew it would, it did bring more balance to the world, and the return of the Air Nomads is nothing short of a miracle. As an Avatar I commend you for doing it. Not all of our predecessors would have."

"Thank you Aang." Korra smiled in gratitude, but her heart tightened with grief that Aang couldn't be there in her place, with his people. "I wish you could be in the human world with them."

The monk sighed faintly. "I would be lying if I didn't admit that part of me does wish for that." Then he looked at her and smiled, a truly joyful one that crinkled up the corners of his eyes. "But mostly I am so relieved, and happy. You ensured the survival of the Airbenders, and more importantly, you lifted a huge burden from my family—and for that I can never thank you enough." Korra simply nodded, eyes welling with tears.

Aang moved to sit on the grass, the dark-haired woman joining him as he gazed off into the distance, his smile turning slightly rueful. "I know that I have many failings as a parent."

Korra's brow furrowed, confused with the change of direction. "What are you talking about Aang? Tenzin adores you, he's always going on and on about how great you were."

"Tenzin, yes. Bumi and Kya…" He sighed. "I love them dearly of course, and I never intended to neglect them in favor of teaching Tenzin about the Air Nomads." He paused. "But that is what happened. Yes, I felt pressured by the world to restore the Airbenders, both physically and culturally, but the bigger reason was I didn't want to feel alone anymore. It meant so much to me that one of my sons was an Airbender, and I got somewhat lost in that; in trying to bring back a semblance of the world—the life—I knew as a boy." He looked at her seriously. "How I handled things with Kya and Bumi is my responsibility, my problem to bear. I did a disservice to Tenzin as well, though I'd convinced myself otherwise at the time, by failing to protect him from the stress I felt as the cultural keeper for the Air Nation. By focusing too much on him as an Airbender, and not enough as Tenzin, I inadvertently passed on my own issues on the matter, though that wasn't my intention at all."

Aang took a big breath. "Being the only surviving person of your culture is a terrible burden." Korra felt a lump in her throat as she watched her predecessor momentarily bow his head before speaking again. "A burden I never meant to put on Tenzin, but it was there from a ridiculously young age, and—I didn't stop it. I've often wondered, if I had handled things better, if he would have enjoyed life more. If that stress hadn't been there, how his personality might be different as a result."

At that, the young Avatar couldn't help grinning slightly. "I'm not sure I have that much imagination Aang." That got a brief chuckle out of him.

"I guess he would have always been on the more serious side." The tattooed man stood, his companion scrambling to her feet after him. "What I wanted to say Korra, is that because of you, my failings with Tenzin are somewhat mitigated; and now he and his family—my grandchildren—can lead a more normal life, without the pressure of being the only Airbenders in the entire world." Aang bowed deeply. "And for that you have my eternal gratitude."

As soon as Korra finished bowing in return, Aang gestured the way they came. "Shall we head back to your girlfriend? At this point she's probably wondering if we ran into trouble." The South Pole native laughed softly as they started walking, but after a few moments her expression turned downcast, which Aang immediately noticed.

"What's wrong Korra?"

She sighed, stopping to look guiltily into gray eyes. "It's just—sometimes I feel bad for being so happy to have Katara as my waterbending master, to have had her in my life for so long."

Aang's face softened. "Korra, it's—"

Said Avatar wasn't listening though, beginning to wave an arm in her agitation. "I didn't even think about it until I met you, and I know of course it's not actually my fault or anything, but Katara has given her time as my Waterbending Master, and I—I feel like I'm keeping you two apart somehow, keeping her tethered to the human world; and guilty that I get to enjoy her company when you must miss her so much." She sucked in a breath and slowly let it out. Aang rested a hand on her shoulder, looking at her kindly.

"Korra, you have nothing to be sorry for, and you are certainly not some obstacle blocking Katara from joining me. Who knows how the timing of such things is decided? It was my time to go, and Katara knows it. Honestly, after being in the iceberg—not to mention the Avatar State—for a hundred years it's a miracle I lived as long as I did. She had more to do for the world, and we both knew it. Of course I miss her, but this was meant to be. I'm glad that the best Waterbending Master in the world—" Korra let out a watery chuckle, "—got to help train you, especially since you are from the same tribe. I don't think you know how much that means to Katara." They resumed walking, the young Avatar's expression thoughtful. "I'm sure she is very happy for the chance to know you Korra." Aang added. "Not as the Avatar, but as you."

The blue-eyed woman smiled gratefully. "Thank you Aang." He nodded in acknowledgement, eyes twinkling as a conspiratorial smirk appeared on his face.

"Not to mention, I know for a fact that Katara secretly brags to people that she's gotten to be the Waterbending Master for two Avatars." That revelation got them laughing, and the two enjoyed swapping stories about their beloved Sifu until the figure of Asami came into view and they walked up the hill to join her.

"Hey," Korra grinned goofily as she reached her girlfriend and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. Asami crossed her arms, pretending to be mad, though the tiny smile at the corner of her mouth betrayed her.

"A moment huh? Maybe Avatars have a different definition of time than us normal people, pretty sure I got gray hairs waiting for you guys."

At that Aang bowed comically low, a solemn expression carefully plastered on his face. "My deepest apologies Miss Sato, for detaining your sweetheart longer than expected." Korra couldn't help giggling at his theatrically woeful voice; hearing from Katara about the prior Avatar's playfulness was one thing, seeing it in person was something else. But Aang was just getting started. "Though our conversation concerned matters critical to the entire world, I am well aware that it is nothing in the face of love, and the time you need to be together." Asami too was now shaking with suppressed laughter. "I can only apologize and beg your forgiveness for the inexcusable delay, and promise that it'll never happen again."

The black-haired woman's cheeks were red from giggling, but she composed herself enough to reply regally, "Thank you for your apology Avatar Aang, I will accept it and let it slide this once." This was too much for Korra, who promptly burst out laughing, the others joining her a second later.

Once they'd all calmed down, Aang grinned at the two women. "I'd offer to make amends Asami, but I think I'll have to leave that to Korra."

"That sounds good to me."

"Hey!" Korra's face burned with embarrassment at the insinuation. "Do you two seriously have to gang up on me?"

Asami smiled and kissed her cheek. "Only because I like you." The Waterbender couldn't help melting a little.

"I like you too."

Aang coughed again to get their attention. Seriously, he really owed Sokka—and Toph, and Zuko—an apology. Probably Appa and Momo too. "Before I leave you both, I have one small request." Curious blue eyes turned to look at him, and for a split second they reminded him of his wife's eyes so much it hurt. "Would you pass on a message to Katara for me?"

Korra nodded immediately. "Of course, it would be my honor. What would you like to tell her?"

Aang smiled faintly, swallowing past the lump in his throat. "Tell her—tell her that I love her, and that she can take her time, because I'm willing to wait forever for her."

Korra bowed. "I will make sure she gets your message."

"Thank you. And one more thing," Gray eyes turned mischievous. "Tell Katara she still owes me a trip to ride those hog monkeys!"

The sun was just starting to set over Republic City as the Avatar and her lover exited the Spirit Portal after saying their goodbyes to Aang. They stood silently for a moment, watching the sky turn pink and gold, before Asami turned to her girlfriend with a smirk. "You know, you were pretty funny in your past life," she teased.

"Hey!"

A few weeks later the Avatar sat in her Sifu's living room after delivering Aang's message; a surprised and utterly bemused expression on her face as Katara laughed out loud for the first time in Korra's memory. The old Waterbending Master was still chuckling as she wiped tears from her eyes and looked back at her student. "Oh that Airbender, that is so like him. Even after he's dead I still can't get off the hook about those damn hog monkeys!"