A/N: Here it is. The one thing you've all been waiting for: lots of Linzin smut! I know it's been awhile since I've written and added to my fics. I'm really sorry. My life is just so crazy since I'm in my last semester at uni, which is student teaching. So I'm literally working a full time job for no money, going to class, and working a part time job. It's very hectic. And I'm not even going to promise to update soon or say that I will try to keep up with this because who knows when I'll be able to?!
Chapter 7: Ember Island"Ready to go, love?" Tenzin asked his wife, holding his hand out to her so he could help her climb up Oogi.
"Most definitely. I could use a little more sun and that briny sea air," Lin replied enthusiastically, taking her husband's hand.
"Are you sure you have to leave so soon? I thought you were getting accustomed to things here and maybe wanted to live here for a bit…" Akash inquired.
"I'm sorry, Akash, but I promised Lin we'd see the world for our honeymoon," Tenzin reasoned.
"I know. You guys are just such a welcome distraction. I am not looking forward to taking things over when my dad retires," Akash confessed.
"Believe me, Akash. We completely understand how you feel," Lin reassured him, taking his hand and squeezing it gently.
"When we finally settle back home you should come visit us. Take a little vacation, but say it's about temple business," Tenzin explained.
"Hey, that's not a bad idea," Akash agreed. "Well, until next time," he said, reaching out his hand and clasping Tenzin's forearm, the manner in which the Water Tribe tended to greet and part with. He gave Lin a kiss on the cheek and watched as the newlyweds settled onto Oogi's back. They all waved to each other as Oogi ascended into the air and headed off towards a very familiar place.
Up on Oogi's back, Lin reclined and stretched herself out, like a cat preparing its bed for the night.
"Well don't you look comfy," Tenzin remarked as he turned around to find out why his wife was making the noises she was.
"Well I haven't been getting much sleep lately, and I want to be well rested for when we arrive at Ember Island so we can spend some time with Izumi and Uncle Zuko and everyone else."
"Why ever have you not been getting enough sleep, my dear?" Tenzin asked with a big smirk on his face.
"Some airhead has been poking me in the back relentlessly with his erection, it's really annoying, especially with the loud snoring accompanying it," she replied dryly, a small smile growing on her face.
"Oh I see. Well you can sleep alone from now on if it bothers you so much."
"Sounds good to me. Now shush. I'm going to sleep. Wake me up when we get to Ember Island."
"Goodnight, sweet." Tenzin turned to leave his wife to her cat nap. It would be a fairly quick ride to Ember Island. He didn't mind the solace. Plus it allowed him to think and plan some things out: like their return home and the big announcement they'd be making, where they would live, where the baby would be born, names for him or her. The list of things just went on and on, but Tenzin didn't mind. He was a planner. The sooner he began figuring them all out, the more he'd be able to relax.
…
"They're here! I can't wait to tell them!" Izumi squealed. A fluffy white dot was growing larger in the distance, the outline of a flying bison becoming more distinct with every passing second.
Zuko smiled, "I know, turtleduck. Come on, let's head down to the stables to greet them."
Within minutes, Oogi landed with a loud thud in the open space near the stable that the Fire Lord had built specially for his friend, the Avatar, and his own flying bison, Appa. Tenzin turned to wake Lin who was still dozing on Oogi's back, but he didn't have to since she bolted up when a loud shriek of "Lin!" pierced the air.
Tenzin looked around, trying to find the source of the noise and spotted Izumi hurrying towards them, forgetting her manners and all sense of propriety that was expected of the heir to the Fire Nation. Lin blinked rapidly, trying to make sense of the situation.
"Where are we?" she demanded.
"We made it to Ember Island, love." Lin looked at him for a moment and then a smile spread on her face.
"If we're here," she reasoned, "Then that scream must have been…" Lin trailed off as she spun around and leapt off of Oogi's back to run toward her lifelong friend. The two women embraced like it was the last time they would ever see each other, clinging tightly, their two figures melting together into one. Tenzin noticed behind the two girls a large group of people coming towards them as well. He assumed it was the Fire Lord, the rest of his family, and an entourage of guards and servants, to help unpack and escort them safely to the Fire Lord's Villa on the island.
Tenzin hopped off Oogi and walked towards the two women. Izumi let go of Lin and turned to give Tenzin an equally tight squeeze.
"I'm so happy the two of you are here!" she gushed. "We're going to have so much fun these next few weeks!"
Tenzin smiled, "It's nice to see you too, Izumi." A throat cleared somewhere nearby and Tenzin looked around and noticed Lord Zuko and the others had finally arrived at the stables.
"Fire Lord Zuko," Tenzin turned and bowed to his elder, "Thank you for inviting us to join you and your family on vacation." Lin rolled her eyes at her husband's formal greeting and gave her uncle a big hug.
"Come here and join in, Tenzin," Zuko commanded, "You're much too formal." Tenzin hugged his uncle too.
"We're very glad to have you here with us and I have planned a small celebration here on the island in honor of your recent nuptials, with Izumi's insistence," Zuko welcomed them warmly. "But first, I'm sure you would like some rest after your travels."
"Yes, Uncle, that would be delightful," Tenzin answered. The group walked to the Villa and allowed the couple to settle down before the festivities later that evening.
…
Tenzin and Lin found themselves escaping the party with a moonlit stroll along the beach close by the Villa. The party was loud and full of people all there to celebrate their marriage. Neither Tenzin nor Lin ever truly enjoyed big parties like this one. It made them even more uncomfortable since they were once again the center of attention at the party. So, like almost every other big event they've ever attended together, they decided to slip away for some time to breathe and just be with each other.
"She's beautiful," Lin sighed, her emerald eyes filled with the bright full moon.
"Yeah," Tenzin agreed, staring at his wife.
She giggled, "Not me, Tenzin. I'm talking about Yue."
"Yue?"
"You don't remember Yue?" she asked astonished.
"I've never heard of her before," Tenzin shook his head.
"You mean Sokka never told you about her?"
"No. Uncle Sokka and I weren't as close as you and Bumi were with him."
"Well then, come on and I'll tell you all about her!" Lin grabbed Tenzin's hand and skipped along down the beach, through some foliage and then back onto a secluded part of the black sandy beach. On the edge where the sand met grass there were some old rocks that were arranged in a circle. In the center of the rocks there was a little pit that looked like many fires had been started there.
"Where are we?" Tenzin asked.
"This is where Izumi, Kya, and I used to come to have girl talk. Looks like you're going to be learning a lot tonight!"
"It sounds like it. It also sounds like we may be here awhile. I'll grab some firewood so we can stay warm."
"Great! I'll make it a little more cozy for us."
Tenzin returned with the wood and placed it in the pit and began to start a small bonfire. Lin had rearranged the rocks to make some room for two people to lay next to the fire. She took off her shawl and spread it out for her to sit on. Tenzin did the same with his cloak. He laid down first and got comfortable, then Lin joined him, fitting her body snugly to his.
"During the war, a beautiful princess named Yue lived in the North Pole," Lin began, "She was tall and beautiful with clear blue eyes and hair as white as snow."
"So she was as old as Gran Gran?" Tenzin interrupted.
Lin chuckled, "No, Air Head, she was only sixteen, around the same age Uncle Sokka was at the time. Anyway, as the Fire Nation Fleet approached the city, Sokka was asked to guard the princess with his life. Little did her father know, Sokka and Yue had grown very close while Aang and Katara practiced waterbending. Sokka and Yue were very conflicted: they had strong feelings for one another, but knew their duties would keep them apart."
"I'm starting to remember now," Tenzin interrupted again, "Dad used this story to help us learn to always cherish the time we have with our loved ones because you never know what the Spirits have planned for them. Yue gave up her life to save Tui, the Spirit of the Moon."
"Exactly," Lin said in a whisper.
Tenzin looked down at his wife. He saw the tear fall down her face, glistening in the moonlight. He moved to wipe it away and bent his head to kiss her forehead. "Don't cry, love," he whispered in her ear. Lin rolled over, pushing her body closer to his, burying her head in the crook of his neck. Tenzin wrapped his arms around her. His hand began to trace her spine, moving slowly up and down her back.
After a few moments Lin spoke quietly into his chest, "I don't know what I'd do…"
"What?" Tenzin asked, unsure of what she mumbled.
Lin slid her body on top of Tenzin's and bent down to kiss him deeply. It was a searching kiss, meant to find reassurance that he was there and he wouldn't be leaving any time soon.
Lin broke the kiss off, whispering, "Please don't leave."
Tenzin wrapped his arms around her again, pulling her close to him. He looked deep into her eyes and swore, "I will stay by your side in this life, and the next." He sealed his vow with an even deeper kiss.
Holding her close, Tenzin gently rolled himself and Lin over, so that he was now on top of her. Tenzin broke the kiss and moved slowly down her body, leaving a trail of deep, passionate kisses on different parts of her body.
"Tenzin," Lin moaned as he made it to her thighs.
"Yes, love?" he paused his trail to wait for what she had to say.
"I love you."
He smiled up at her, "And I, you." He returned to pleasing his wife, slowly stripping off her party garments. Lin did the same for him, releasing him from his formal robes. The two lay on the beach naked, allowing their love to manifest physically.
…
"Lin? Tenzin? Hello?" a voice called out in the distance. Tenzin and Lin began to stir. They smiled at each other, at the thought of what just happened, and at the thought of what was to come.
The voice was a little louder this time, "Tenzin! Lin! Where are you two?"
"I guess we better get dressed," Lin said with a sigh. She went to stand up, but Tenzin grabbed her by the hand first.
"Wait," he pleaded, "I need to tell you something." She nodded her head so he could continue," I love you, Lin, with my entire being. I will be here with you, always."
She smiled at that, "I know, Tez. Sometimes, I just feel…"
"It's okay," he interrupted, "I think I understand, maybe not completely and thoroughly, but I have an idea."
"It's hard, going through life without knowing your real dad. And now that we're having a baby, well, I just don't want him or her to know that feeling."
"I will be in that baby's life. The power of all the Spirits combined could not stop that."
"Never say never. Remember Yue."
"There you are!" the voice, which turned out to be Izumi, screamed. Tenzin and Lin jumped apart, Lin taking Tenzin's robe they had used as a blanket, Tenzin left lying on the beach, as naked as the day he was born.
"I'm so sorry!" Izumi tried to apologize, but could not stop a fit of giggles from pouring out of her. Lin scowled at her and Tenzin blushed a deep scarlet from head to toe. Tenzin scrambled to cover up his bits the best he could in the situation. He ended up grabbing Lin's bindings, causing Izumi to laugh more.
"It's not funny!" Lin cried.
"Oh yes this is," Izumi retorted.
"Just turn around so we can cover up better," Lin commanded.
Izumi turned, giggling still, "You two flew apart like you were doing something wrong though! For Spirits' sake! You're married! This is expected on your honeymoon."
"Old habits die hard," Lin retorted, smiling at the memory. She glanced at Tenzin who had managed to slip his pants back on, his head turning a darker shade of red.
"Well never mind that, you'll get used to it eventually," Izumi reassured them. She turned around guessing that they were decent by now and plopped down in front of the dying fire.
"How's the party?" Lin asked, changing the subject so Tenzin could return to a normal color.
"That's why I'm here," Izumi explained, "It was starting to wind down and some of the guests were asking about you so they could say goodbye, but no one was able to locate the two of you. I figured you had slipped away like you did when we were younger and I told Dad and he sent me to find you and tell you not to worry about coming back and he'd come up with something."
"Oh, sorry. We fell asleep after…" Tenzin tried to explain, but made himself blush again so he stopped.
Izumi giggled again, "It's okay. I figured something of the sort would be happening here in our special spot. The only people who know about this little alcove are me, Lin, and Kya so you two would be safe to do whatever you'd like."
"Yes, well we just needed some peace and quiet. You know Tenzin and I are not really for these parties, especially to honor us."
"No worries," Izumi assured them, "Besides, now is the perfect time for me to tell you my big news!"
"What's that?" Tenzin inquired politely, glad for the change of subject again.
"I'm pregnant!" Izumi announced proudly.
Lin went over and hugged her friend, "That's great Izumi! We're so happy for you and Ishan!"
"Thanks! I knew you would be excited for me!"
Lin looked over at Tenzin, a question on her face. Tenzin read it easily and smiled and gave her a nod, answering her unasked question.
"Izumi, we have some news for you too."
"Really?"
"Yes. Tenzin and I are going to have a baby too."
Izumi's mouth dropped, "What? You two? No way! That's amazing! We'll have to share everything, compare notes like! You should totally stay here in the Fire Nation and have your baby here so they can grow up to be best friends just like us and maybe even lovers like you and Tenzin!" Izumi babbled on and on. Lin smiled at her friend. Izumi's reaction reassured her that it was okay to share this news with others now.
"Thanks, Izumi, maybe we can work something out." Lin hugged her friend again. She turned to Tenzin and gave him a smile. Tenzin smiled back, a look of excitement on his face.
"So how far along are you?" Izumi probed them. A look of horror struck Tenzin's face and Lin's eyes looked to her feet.
Izumi could sense the uneasiness and probed further, "What's the matter? Did I say something wrong?"
"No, Izumi. You didn't it's just…" Tenzin trailed off, unsure if he should continue.
Lin sighed, "I've been pregnant for awhile now. We found out before the wedding."
"Oh," Izumi realized, putting two and two together, "So that's why you moved the wedding like that…"
"Yes," Tenzin confirmed, "We didn't want any rumors or whispers or problems to come about, so we moved the wedding, hoping nobody would catch on."
"Don't mind the people. They're always going to have their whispers behind your backs. What's important is that you're about to bring a wonderful child into this world and he or she is going to be a product of the love you bear for one another. Just try to focus on that. At least that's what Dad and Ishan always say," Izumi reassured her friends.
Lin smiled, shuffling her feet, still a bit uneasy, "Thanks, I'll try to keep that in mind."
"Great!" Izumi hugged Lin and then walked to Tenzin and gave him a big hug as well. "Now, gather your things and come back to the Villa. It's late and Dad will start wondering where we are."
"We'll be back soon," Tenzin confirmed and watched Izumi walk back through the foliage that hid this section of beach.
Lin turned to Tenzin, her head still down. Tenzin walked to her and wrapped her in his arms again. He kissed her forehead and left his cheek rest on the top of her head while he held her.
"I guess that wasn't so bad," Lin sighed into his chest.
"No. It went quite well," Tenzin agreed.
"Maybe it's time others found out too," Lin suggested.
"Whenever you're ready, love. The world waited over a hundred years for the Avatar to end the war with the Fire Nation. They can wait a few months to find out when the next possible air bender will be born."
"But no pressure, right?" Lin quipped.
Tenzin chuckled, "Never."
A/N: Apologies again for taking forever to update my fics. Life is just hectic, especially when you have to adult. Please don't lose faith in me though. I've planned out the rest of the story and hopefully things can get moving and I'll finish this fic, eventually. Please continue to rate and review! It's very much appreciated! I actually started writing this again because I've gotten quite a few kudos and likes on this lately. They really do help and motivate! Until next time, faithful readers!