A/N: For a while I have wanted to do something with Bopal, so this is a good start. I'm thinking about doing a series like one this turned out to be for them, but I'm still thinking about it.
"You sure you're ok with this?" Korra asked as she raised an eyebrow at her sister-in-law and bounced Ama in her arms.
"Yeah, I got this Korra. It's not it's my first time taking care of a baby." A very pregnant Opal responded with a smile as she looked at her niece Anali and poked her little upturned nose, making the amber eyed infant giggle. She then looked at Korra and moved her hand to rub Anali's back. "Besides, Bolin will be back soon from picking San up from daycare." She finished with a shrug of her shoulders.
"I've actually been meaning to ask you about that," Korra said suddenly as the mention of daycare reminded her of her waiting question. Both sensing that the talk might be long, the two then walked over to the nearby couch in Opal and Bolin's living room and sat down. "Ok, you know how mine and Mako's schedules are a little hectic and busy, right?" Korra started out, receiving a nod from her sister-in-law. "Well, because of that, and that it's getting a little hard to find babysitters – or that we feel guilty of asking people to change their day to watch the girls for us – we we're thinking about putting them in daycare on days when one of us is busy. I was just wondering, what's the youngest a child has to be to be able to go to daycare?" Korra asked, her head shrinking down into her shoulders a little a shy, and embarrassed look creeping up on her face.
Opal sat back against the couch and thought about Korra's question, Anali now lying on her chest and playing with her aunt's short hair. "Well, with me always being home since we moved to the island, Bolin and I never really thought about putting San in daycare, nor did we want to. But then of course I got pregnant again and at first I was fine taking care of San by myself when Bolin was away at work, but then I got bigger and San got more hyper." Opal said as she laughed a little as she remembered the days when she was alone and had a hard time chasing her hyper son around the house. "That was when we decided to put him in daycare. But to answer your question, at the daycare we take San to, the woman that helped us register him said that they watch infants seven months and older too just in case we were thinking about putting our new addition in daycare as well. So honestly, if you and Mako want to put the girls in daycare, you can register them at the one Bolin and I take San to. They're really good and also give lessons to the kids too to help kids' learning devolvement. But it's up to you two honestly. You shouldn't feel pressured into putting them into daycare just because of your schedules."
Korra sat and thought about her sister-in-law's words. "I guess you're right." She said after a little bit. She then let Ama grab on to her thumb and move her mother's hand around anywhere she wanted, making Korra smile and laugh a little in her throat. "Now I don't want to leave." She said before kissing her daughter's coal black locks.
"I know. The first few years are hard to separate yourself with them. But just think, the sooner you get to your council meeting and wrap it up, the sooner you can come pick them up." Opal smiled as she tried to ease Korra's struggle, making the fellow mother smile a little.
"Mommy!" A high pitch yell rang out through the small house from the entrance. The yell was soon followed by the sound of little footsteps running toward the living room. At the sound from the footsteps, Opal turned her attention away from her magazine and looked over at the doorway into the living room. A little boy with tan colored skin, like Opal's, green eyes, and black hair soon came running in and jumped onto the couch and stood beside his mother before practically falling on top of her to hug her neck.
Opal giggle as her son gave her a big kiss on her cheek and hugged her neck. "Hello to you too honey," Opal giggled. "A little more affectionate than usual, aren't we?" She then asked as San went back to standing beside her on the couch, becoming a little suspicious about his actions. "How was daycare today?"
San tensed up a little from the question, his bright green eyes widening a little. He then turned away and sat down on the couch and leaned against his mother. "It was ok," he responded simply, raising his mother's suspicions even more. He then looked over to the floor and saw his two cousins sleeping on their stomachs on a makeshift pallet made out of blankets. "What are they doing here?" He asked as he pointed over to the infants.
"Their parents are busy today, so mommy is watching them till they come pick them up." Opal explained, smiling a little when she saw Bolin walk through the doorway.
"Uncle Mako's coming over?!" San asked as he jumped up on the couch and smiled.
"Maybe." Opal said before shushing her son after one of the twins stirred in her sleep.
Bolin then walked behind the couch and gave Opal and kiss on the head. "Hey," He smiled as he looked down at her.
Opal tilted her head back and smiled back. "Hey," she said before sharing a quick kiss with her husband.
"I'm surprised they're still here." Bolin said before rounding the couch and sitting on the floor beside his nieces. "I thought Korra's meeting was only going to take a couple of hours, not most of the day."
"She did too." Opal confirmed as she threw her magazine to the side, San now sitting back down on the couch with his back leaning against her. "She called during her break and said that the Earth Kingdom delicate was making things a little difficult."
"Is this still about representation? I thought they already figured that out?" Bolin asked, his confusion growing.
"They did, but it still pops up now and then." Opal explained the best she could as she turned to comb San's messy hair back with her fingers.
Bolin looked over at them and smiled when San covered his head and told his mother to stop with a childish pout. "So, did he tell you what happened at daycare today?" He asked as he lightly picked up one of his nieces and settled her in his arms.
"No. What happened," Opal asked as she looked down her son.
San instantly turned away and fiddled with his fingers. "Nothing," he mumbled through his now innocent pout.
"San," Opal said a little bit more sternly this time.
The little boy then had guilty written all over his face. "I'm going to my room." San said before standing up and jumped off the couch.
"Hold it mister." Bolin said sternly, making his four year old son freeze in his tracks. "Own up to your mistakes and tell mommy what happened."
The child stood in his spot in the living room, fiddling with his fingers for a moment before turning to look at his mother. "I tried to hide cookies in my pockets at snack time." San mumbled as he pouted.
"San," Opal said shocked about his behavior. She and Bolin both have always taught him that stealing was wrong when they saw that he was going through a taking phase when he was a toddler.
"It was at the end and no one else was eating them." San said in his defense, his eyes watering up a little from seeing how angry his mother was with him.
"I don't care if no one was eating them or not. Stealing is wrong." Opal retorted as she looked at him from the couch.
Tears started to swell in San's eyes and he started to sob. "I'm sorry! Please don't hate me! I won't do it again!" He cried out through his tears, holding on to the hem of his t-shirt as tightly as he could.
Over on the makeshift pallet on the floor, one of the twins started to stir and rubbed her face on the soft blanket she was lying on. "Uh, honey. I hate to rush the discipline talk and all, but one crying kid is enough, we don't need three." Bolin warned as he looked at Opal worried.
Opal nodded her head. "Sweetie I could never hate you, now calm down before you wake your cousins." She said as she tried to push herself off the couch, her overgrown stomach making it a little difficult. Once she was settled on her feet, Opal rested her hand on her stomach for a moment before walking over to her sobbing son. "Come on, why don't you come help me with starting dinner?" Opal asked as she held out her hand to him.
San looked up at his mother, trying to sniff up what has flown out of his nose. "Ok," he mumbled with a hoarse voice as he reached up and held Opal's hand and walked to the kitchen with her.
Bolin let out a sigh of relief once the crisis was settled. He then looked down in his arms and saw a bright pair of amber eyes staring at him. "Well hello there Princess," he smiled as he offered Anali his finger. "Your cousin has a good set of lungs on him don't you think? Of course, you're probably used to that since you share a room with your sister." Bolin then looked over at his other niece Ama, who was now sleeping on her side and somehow rolled over to wrap herself in her purple blanket.
After a few minutes of Bolin playing his now awake niece and Opal and San cooking dinner, there was a knock at the front door of their home. "I got it!" San yelled as he ran to the door, hoping that it was who he expected. The four-year-old pulled the door open and looked up at who was on the door step. "Uncle Mako!" He yelled out of joy as practically jumped up in his uncle's arms.
Mako laughed as he caught his nephew in his arms and picked him to settle him on his hip. "Hey kid. You've really gotten light on your feet lately haven't you?" He asked as he walked in while carrying San.
San nodded his head as if it were on a spring. "Yep! Mommy said it might be because I'm an Airbender, but we don't know yet." He went on explained, his green eyes beaming like how his father's did.
Mako walked into the living room of the home, his nephew now rambling on about his day. Once San was at a good stopping point, Mako set him down back on the ground so he could give his little brother a hug. "Hey little bro."
"Hey big bro." Bolin repeated, almost copying his brother's words.
"Sorry about leaving the girls here longer than expected. Where they ok?" Mako asked as he looked down at his daughters, now seeing that San had replaced Bolin and was playing with Anali while Ama slept.
Bolin looked over at the kids as well. "Yeah, Korra called and explained before I got home. So far, they've been angels, even Ama – which is really strange."
"Bo, she's sleeping. She's only trouble when she's awake." Mako said as he gave his brother an unamused look.
"Hey Mako, I'm guessing Korra's still at the council meeting?" Opal said as she walked into the living room to give her brother-in-law a hug.
"Yeah, we're sorry that the girls had to stay longer than expected. You look like you're about to pop by the way." Mako said as he gave Opal a hug with his right arm to avoid her overgrown stomach.
"I feel like I'm going to pop. A few minutes on my feet and I'm already tired and my feet are sore." Opal complained a little with a tired sigh at the end.
"Don't worry sweetie, I'll give a foot massage during dinner to make you feel better," Bolin smiled as he gave her a hug and kiss.
"Ew, gross daddy." San complained from the floor as he stuck his tongue out at Bolin. Anali, who was chewing on a toy that her cousin gave her, soon threw it in his direction and squealed as loud as she could and clapped her hands before bringing them to her smile. San smiled and handed her the toy back, which Anali happily took and threw back at him. San happily laughed as he caught the toy this time. "Look! She likes to play catch!" San stated happily as he looked up at the adults, getting a smile from all of them, including his cousin who was laughing and bouncing on the floor.
"Ok, I think that's enough for tonight," Mako said as he started to walk toward the pallet. "I need to get these two home and give them a bath," he finished as he picked up Anali, who instantly kissed his cheek and rested her head on his shoulder.
"Wait, you have to show me your scar before you leave," San said quickly as he hurried to his feet to look his uncle in the eyes.
Mako blinked at the four year old for a minute. "Uh, I don't know San. It's getting pretty late."
"But you have to, you always do! It's the coolest thing ever," San replied back, being about as stubborn as his father.
Mako looked over at Bolin for a little help. "Oh come one bro. It is the coolest." Bolin said as he helped Opal sit down on the couch, not helping his brother at all.
"Fine," Mako sighed as he moved Anali to his right side and tried to take the glove on his left hand off. Once removed, Mako's hand was pink and had a dry, rough texture to it, his gold wedding ring standing out against it.
"Cool," San said in awe as he stared at his uncle's hand. "I don't understand why you have to cover it up. Daddy always says it bad to cover up scars because they're apart of you and you should never hide yourself," San said as he looked up at Mako. "Look! I haven't even covered a cut on my knee I got at daycare," San said he backed up to show a small scrap on his right knee to Mako.
Mako raised an eyebrow at the little boy. "Maybe you should let your mom treat that so it doesn't get worse. But, you dad is right, but it's also ok to cover some of your scars and injuries. I just cover mine because your great aunt wants me to while I work; it keeps people I talk to for investigations from getting distracted."
San looked down at his knee and then his uncle's hand for a moment before looking back at his knee. "Mommy, can you fix my knee?" He whined, showing that the scrape did hurt him a little.
It was close to ten o'clock that night. The twins were asleep and Mako was sitting the living room reading the paper that he found on the front door step on their apartment. As the clock continued to tick next to him on the side table next to the couch his worry started to grow. Korra should've been hom hours ago. Mako kept debating about asking the neighbor to watch the girls while he went to go look for her, but then kept saying that she would walk in after a few minutes. Right when he was about to stop waiting and actually do some, Mako could hear someone twisting the doorknob. He looked over and saw Korra walk in, looking miserably tired as she pushed her hair back. "Hey," she waved weakly to her husband as she closed the door.
"Hey," Mako said back as he folded his paper up and threw it on the coffee table. Before he could get up to hug her, Korra walked over to the couch and collapsed on it, hugged Mako and she used his side as a pillow. "Draining council meeting today?" Mako asked as he looked down at her as he raised an eyebrow.
"Yes. Dumb Earth Kingdom." Korra mumbled as her hold around his waist tightened. "Sorry about not picking up the girls."
"It's ok." Mako smiled before leaning down and kissing her head. "You want to go take a shower?"
Korra frowned and groaned. "Too tired."
"I'll help," Mako proposed as he reached behind his wife and scratched her back.
Korra slightly opened her eyes as she thought about his offer for a minute. "Carry me," she asked with a pout as she looked up at him with big blue eyes.
Mako scoffed a laugh as he looked down at her. "Always."