Chapter 2

Bataar Jr. watched as Kuvira lay unconscious in the spirit pool, waiting for her to wake up. She had remained stabilized, but Kya said if she didn't wake up there was no hope. Each day Kya would spend hours on end bending the water over Kuvira's body, healing the remaining physical wounds that still needed time to heal. Suyin was becoming impossible, insisting on spending time with Kuvira. Kya had conceded just once until she heard Suyin practically wailing over her comatose daughter.

After a week of waiting when Bataar Jr. was starting to lose hope, Kuvira opened her eyes. It was all he could do to keep himself calm and he held her hand and kissed it. "Welcome back, my sweet." Bataar smiled. "I was so worried that we lost you."

Before Kuvira could process what was happening, Kya walked into the room for another healing session, when she stopped in her tracks, rubbing her eyes to make sure she wasn't imagining things. As she overcame her initial shock, she approached the pool to check on Kuvira. "Hello, Kuvira…I don't know if you remember me, but I am Kya, Tenzin and Bumi's sister. Do you remember anything?" Kya cautiously asked trying not to startle her.

"The last thing I remember was being led away in handcuffs by Lin and Suyin." Kuvira responded.

"You don't remember anything after that?" Kya questioned.

"No, I just remember feeling a sharp pain in my side and then everything went black." Kuvira answered.

As Kuvira took in her surroundings, she attempted to sit up, but her body was sore. Bataar took her arm and helped her sit up. "How long was I out?" Kuvira asked. "You were comatose for over a week." Kya responded. "You are lucky to be alive." Kuvira didn't respond…. she just lay back down and gave herself time to process everything. She had wanted to die. Why couldn't they just let her die in peace instead of forcing her to live through all this misery.

A couple more healers came into the room to assist in moving Kuvira to another room for observation. Once she was settled, Kya conducted a complete physical exam.

"Well, you are as good as can be expected. There is still damage that must be repaired in your side. It will be another month before you can get out of bed. Until then, you are to stay here and try to stay as calm as possible. Stress will only prolong your healing time. I will give you and Bataar a chance to talk, while I go inform everyone that you are awake. I know there are a few people who will want to see you." Kya told her.

Kuvira just wanted to be left alone. She didn't want to see anybody. As she finally brought herself to look at Bataar, she began to cry. "I am so sorry for what I did to you, to us. I know you will probably never be able to forgive me, but I just want you to know that I love you." As she gazed into his eyes all she could see was love and affection. She thought she was imagining it, until he took her in his arms. "I never stopped loving you. I was so scared that I was going to lose you." Bataar confided as he held her in his arms.

"After everything I did…. after I almost killed you. I thought I had killed you. I never meant to hurt you." Kuvira said through the stream of tears that were pouring from her eyes.

"I know you weren't trying to kill me and yes I was angry with you at first. When Kya didn't think she could bring you back, she sent my mother to tell me what happened to you and it was then that I realized that I couldn't live without you. I can't imagine a world without you. I love you Kuvira and once you are better I am going to marry you." Bataar confessed.

As Kuvira processed everything, she couldn't help, but wonder why Suyin was involved with her. She brushed it off, that chapter of her life was over. She no longer wanted anything to do with Suyin.

"Are you serious, you still want to marry me after everything I've done?" Kuvira asked.

"Yes, as soon as you are better, and I am not waiting any longer. If you will have me sooner, we can get married right here with you in bed. I am not going to let another day go by without you? Before she could respond Bataar kissed her long and hard. Bataar only let her go when Kya knocked on the door.

"Okay, I know that this may be a little overwhelming right now, but there are a few people outside who want to see you." Kya started. 'If you want me to make anyone leave you don't have to say anything, just squeeze Bataar's arm?" Kuvira nodded.

A moment later, Avatar Korra, Republic City Chief of Police Lin Beifong and Suyin walked into the room. She had been expecting to see Lin and Korra eventually, but she stiffened as soon as Suyin walked in.

Suyin almost rushed in to embrace Kuvira before, Lin stopped her. "Su I think that it's a little too soon, she just woke up." Suyin just glared at her sister, but conceded.

Attempting to lighten the mood Korra started "so how…"

"How are you feeling?" Suyin interrupted.

"I am feeling much better, thank you." Kuvira responded only not to be rude in front of everyone, but still refusing to look at Suyin.

Not noticing the contempt and hurt in Kuvira's voice Suyin continued…."We were all so worried about you!"

If it weren't for the pain in her side, she would have balked at that statement. Since when did Suyin ever care about her. At one time Kuvira would have given anything for Suyin to accept and love her, but she stopped hoping for the impossible long ago. She wanted nothing more to do with the woman in front of her.

Kya noticed Kuvira grab Bataar's arm and shooed everyone out. "What's wrong Kuvira?" Kya asked. "Was seeing Lin too much to handle?"

"I don't want to see Suyin. I don't know why she's here and I don't want anything to do with her." Kuvira affirmed tears streaming through her eyes.

Kya didn't know what to say. She would have thought that Kuvira would want to see Suyin even after everything they've been through. Obviously, there is much more to this story than she was aware of.

"Is it alright if Lin and Korra come in?" Kya asked. Kuvira nodded and turned her head to face Bataar who comforted her. He loved his mother even with all her faults, but Kuvira had every right to hate her.

Kya walked outside. "Lin and Korra you can go back in, but make sure you don't stress her out! She has been through more than enough right now." Kya chided. "Su, you stay here with me."

As Lin and Korra walked into the room, Suyin followed Kya into the next room.

As Kya closed the door, Suyin argued…" why did you stop me from seeing Kuvira?" Suyin protested obviously distressed.

Kya didn't know how to tell the woman who had been an emotional wreck for the last week that the girl she loved didn't want to see her. This wasn't going to be fun. "Su, she doesn't want to see you. She made that perfectly clear…. I'm sorry."

Kya couldn't help feeling sorry for Suyin. "What do you mean she doesn't want to see me? We apologized to each other when she was hurt, I thought we could finally start over and now you come and tell me that she doesn't want to see me." Suyin sobbed

"Su, she doesn't remember that. She barely remembers anything. You must keep in mind that she almost died and I am still pinching myself because I cannot believe she survived. By all accounts, Su, she should be dead, but she isn't, so just be thankful for that for now. Give her some time and maybe she'll come around." She is still very fragile now and with the trial that Reiko is planning for her in two months that is going to be even more stress. Once she is completely stabilized, she will be transported to the prison hospital to await trial along with Bataar. They are going to need all the help they can get if you don't want them spending the rest of their lives in prison. Thankfully due to events that have taken place during the past few years including Varrick being pardoned for attempting to kidnap the president, we may have a case. So if you really love her, put your effort into securing them the best legal representation available and talk to the other world leaders and try to convince them to grant Kurivra and Bataar leniency." Kya exclaimed.

Suyin could feel herself losing control, and she knew it was her fault. Kuvira had every right to hate her for everything she put her through and just hoped that in time she would come around. In the meantime, Suyin decided to put all her efforts into convincing the world leaders to give them a plea bargain, maybe even allow them to work off their sentence instead of being confined to a cell.

Kya and Suyin left the room. Kya went in to check on Kuvira while Suyin waited outside.

"So how is everything going?" Kya asked as she walked into the room.

"Everything is fine." Korra responded. "Lin was just questioning Kuvira as to what happened and to get any useful information."

"I think, I have everything I need for now….I will be back if I have any more questions. I will leave Korra to talk to you." Lin stated as she walked into the hall to check on her sister.

"So, how are you really feeling?" Korra inquired. She saw so much of herself in Kuvira, it was uncanny.

"I don't know. I am so confused. Everything changed so quickly and only now do I realize how wrong everything I did was. I destroyed the city, who knows how many people lost their lives because of me. " Kuvira confessed.

"What you did wasn't necessarily wrong, it's just the way you did it. I understand that you wanted to help your people. I understand where you are coming from. As I said when we were in the Spirit World, I know what it feels like to be vulnerable and helpless. Your mecatanks may have caused a lot of damage, but no one lost their lives except for Asami's father, Hiroshi. Then again as tragic as that may be, he had a chance to save himself, but chose to sacrifice himself. It was your mecatank that killed him, but it could have been avoided if he wasn't so stubborn and moved out of the way. As far as I'm concerned that one isn't on you. Prince Wu was in the process of evacuating the last remaining citizens from Republic City before your platoon attacked. You have no blood on your hands." Korra responded immediately noticing the change in Kuvira's demeanor.

"I am thankful that no one was killed because of me, but I will still probably spend the rest of my life in prison." Kuvira stated matter of factly.

"I wouldn't be so certain. Remember after you proved yourself in Ba Sing Se and Reiko and the rest of the world leaders pardoned Varrick of his crimes at your request. He was supposed to be serving time for attempting to kidnap the president, not exactly a minor offense. The fact that no one died will only help you. I wouldn't give up so soon. If I know Suyin, she will be working night and day to get you out." Korra informed her.

"I don't want anything from Suyin." Kuvira affirmed.

Korra wasn't going to argue. There was a lot for them to work out and even if she told Suyin not to do anything, she knew she wouldn't listen. She loved Suyin, but that woman was as stubborn as they get. Even Lin was easier to talk to at times and that is saying a lot.

Kuvira stayed in the hospital for another two weeks while she recuperated. As soon as she didn't require constant observation, she was transferred to the prison hospital. Lin had pulled some strings, so that Bataar could stay with Kuvira.