Author's Note: Woohoo! Six pages! I'm slowly getting my groove back. Once again thank you all for the favorites, reviews and alerts. It is greatly appreciated. :)

Chapter 3

"I don't understand, why you want to stay here, Korra!" I yell as I follow her into the bedroom where Hima is crying loudly. "Don't you get it? This is genocide of benders!"

Korra picks up Hima and holds her closely to chest. "Ssh," she whispers against the tiny infant's forehead. She paces around the room without saying a word to me, but Hima continues to cry. "It's okay, Hima. Sssh." Korra stands near the window and stares at me with a frown on her face. "Where am I going to go, Bolin? Huh?"

I shrug my shoulder. "Look, I know you want to take Amon out from the inside, but you're honestly not ready for that yet. It would be better to relearn your bending elsewhere. The citizens are afraid of Amon, even the benders. There is no way they will attempt to bend outside of their jobs."

She maneuvers Hima, so that she is looking over her shoulder and begins to pat her lightly on the back. The patting sound continues until I hear a faint burp come from the baby. Korra rocks her slowly. "Is that better, Hima?" she asks, but the baby only coos in response to her question. A small smile flickers at Korra's face and a faint blush appears underneath her brown skin. "Why won't you let me do this my way?"

I smile and fold my arms across my chest. "Because your way is stupid and it's only going to get you killed." I walk toward her and the baby. "You have to learn your bending in order, right? I say we go back to the Southern Water Tribe and have Katara reteach you. I just want you and Hima to be safe." I walk away, but as soon as I approach the bedroom door, Korra's voice stops me.

"Why are you doing this, Bolin? Why don't you hate me? I slept with your brother, had his baby and now I'm asking you to help me. Why? You should be angry and bitter."

"The truth is, I am angry. I'm hurt, but I love my brother and I love you too. The baby in your arms is my niece and I have to accept that. I have to accept the fact that you never had feelings for me and your stomach didn't grow all big and round with my child. Yes, I'm upset, but things happen. I have to move on. We're a family, right?"

"Yes," she whispers.

"So, I'm going to protect you and my niece until we find my brother." With those final words I step out of the room. When I close the door behind me, I exhale deeply. This is the worst feeling ever. Two years later and I still have feelings for her. I thought she would never come back, but I tried to prepare myself for when she would return with Mako on her arm. If anything, I never thought she would come back with his baby. Not this soon anyway.

I drag my legs across the room and plop down on the couch. I need to think of a way to get us out of the city as soon as possible. Once you're in the city, it's hard to get out. I grab the phone from off the hook and place it against my ear as I turn the circular dials. The clicking noise of the phone spinning back and forth made me impatient, but I waited until I hear a female's voice through the other end.

She says, "Hello."

"Asami! Hey! What are you doing?"

I can sense her rolling her eyes on the other side and she says, "Bolin, I'm kind of busy right now."

"But I really need you to come by. It's important."

Her voice hikes up a bit. "Did you hear anything from Mako?" She suddenly clears her throat and sighs. "I will try to come by tonight."

"Good."

"See you then."

"Bye," I say before hanging up the phone. Two years later and she still has feelings for Mako. Maybe Mako was her first love and that is the only reason why she still feels strongly about him. I still remember spilling the beans about Korra and my brother kissing. I know it hurt her badly. Probably worst than watching your boyfriend act as if you didn't exist.

I sit up and realize that I was supposed to go shopping. I glance at the clock on the wall. It's just after five o'clock. I should be able to buy a few things and cook a meal before Asami arrives. "Hey Korra! I'm going to get a few things for dinner. I will try to be back before 7. Oh and if Asami comes by tell her to wait for me."

Korra

"Bolin!" I jump from off the bed and rush into the living room just after Bolin closes the door. "...Wait!" I curse silently to myself. Does Asami know that I'm here? Did he tell her about my situation? I rub my fingers through my short locks and tap my foot against the floor. What am I supposed to say to her? "Hey, Asami! Long time no see! Oh, here is my daughter. You see...Mako is her father. Isn't that funny?" I laugh nervously as if Asami is in the room with me. Breathe Korra, you can do this. It's just Asami, the ex of your bo-, hu-, frie-. I sigh deeply as I walk back into the bedroom and crawl into the bed next to Hima.

Hima stares at me with her big golden eyes. I poke her tiny nose with the tip of my finger and she coos softly. "What are we, Mako?" I roll onto my back and stare at the earthy colored ceiling. I miss him so much. Things were going great between us. The occasional arguments and then the make up sex. Spirits, the make up sex was amazing! We were like a family. A...soon to be family, but then he decided to leave without telling me why. Maybe he wasn't ready for such a serious relationship, especially with me being pregnant and all.

I roll back onto my side, the bed shifts underneath my weight. Hima brings her thumb to her lips and only to suck on it. I smile to myself as I stare at my little girl. She is beautiful, but sadly Mako doesn't know anything about her. He doesn't know how warm she feels, how soft she is and how she looks exactly like him, but with my complexion. She is adorable.

I hum a little tune and Hima's eyes dart toward me. She smiles and coos contently. Who would think I'm mother material. The time I spent at Air Temple Island with Tenzin and his family, I knew right then and there that I didn't want any kids. They are so loud, sticky and they smell funny. I find it hard to believe that I gave birth. Hima is changing me in more ways than one. Maybe when you have a baby, those hidden instinct come to the surface. You're willing to do anything for this tiny person you gave life to.

I lean down and kiss her forehead. "I promise to never let anyone hurt you."

Thirty minutes went by fairly quickly and Bolin had still not returned. It shouldn't take this long to buy groceries, unless he plans on trying to impress Asami. Why did he invite her anyway? Is she going to ask her rich father to give her a car so she can drive me out of the city? I am pretty sure Hiroshi has chi blockers watching her every move. Asami did fight against her father, even shocking him with his own weapon. If that is not a traitor, I don't know what is. I honestly don't know what to say to her. I took her boyfriend and had his kid. It wasn't intentional of course. Stuff happens.

A sudden knock on the door startles me. I grab Hima and walk to the front door. "Who is it?"

"It's me, Asami. Is Bolin in?"

She doesn't recognize my voice. I take a deep breath and reach for the doorknob, but I hesitate to open it.

"Hello! Did you hear me?"

I step forward and look through the peephole, only to see Asami close to the door, peeking through the other side.

"Are you one of Bolin's groupies or something? Open up!"

I move back when I hear the doorknob jiggle and suddenly it unlocks. She has a key! Great! The door pushes open and Asami enters with her hand still on the doorknob. She looks up and says, "I knew Bolin had a thing for water tribe girls. Poor thing, he still has feelings for Korra after all these years." She looks at me. "Wow and you actually look like her too."

I laugh nervously as I stare at the black haired girl. She hasn't changed much. She is still the beauty queen with her makeup, green eyeshadow and red lipstick.

She does her signature hair flip and stares back at me. "So, what is your name?"

"You don't recognize me?"

"Of course, I don't know you." She looks closer, her eyes widen and stutters. "K-Korra!"

I nod my head and wave with my free hand. "Hiya. It's been a long time."

Asami's jaw drops as she stares back at me, shock written across her slim face. "I can't believe it's you." She gives me a click once over and her smiles widen. "Wow, Korra, you had a baby?" She takes a step forward, but hesitates. She looks out the corner of her eye and hesitates for only a moment. I catch her looking down at the ground, probably contemplating about who the father is. I am quite sure she knows the answer. Asami looks and approaches me some more. She first looks at Hima, then at me, smiles and back at Hima. "She is beautiful, Korra."

"Thank you." Asami smiles Hima, not saying a word, just admiring the baby in my arms. "Would you like to hold her?"

She looks up, a bit startled by my question, but she only smiles. "Of course, but I must warn you, I'm not great with kids. I am an only child after all."

I laugh. "I'm new at this too, but after a while the motherly instincts start to kick in." I place Hima in Asami's arm and she instantly tries to move her arms to a comfortable position.

She asks, "Is this right?"

"Yes." I nod my head. "Just try to keep her head balanced."

"Oh okay." It doesn't take Asami long to adjust to holding a baby. It seemed almost natural to her. "What is her name?"

"Hima."

She repeats the name and says, "That's nice. You know, she looks a lot like Mako."

I rub the back of my neck nervously and try to prepare myself for any other questions she may ask me. "Yeah, a lot of people say that."

"He must be proud." I can hear a bit of resentment in her tone.

"He hasn't met her yet."

Asami doesn't say much, but a simple "oh" and returns Hima to me. She sighs deeply and walks toward the couch. "Where did Bolin go?" she asks as she sits down.

"He went to get things for dinner. He should be back any time now." I take a seat on the other end of the couch when the silence finally enters the small apartment. I hum an old Water Tribe tune and rock Hima in my arms. I really wish Bolin will come back soon.

Bolin

"That's just about it," I say to myself as I grab the plastic bags from off the counter. It is a little bit after dark when I exit the store in the market district of Republic City. Asami is going to be pretty upset because I am keeping her waiting. As usual, the streets are busy and the street vendors are hawking all kind of items to anyone who had money. I only had about 20 yuans left and I needed to hang onto it, since I'm pretty much unemployed after losing my bending. I stuff my hands into my pockets, with the plastic bags dangling off each of my wrists.

"Get your homemade Water Tribe noodles here! If you love Flameo Instant Noodles, you will love these! Pets! Pets! Get your pets here!"

I smile to myself as each vendor try to offer me something. Nope, I am not giving in at all.

"Hello, sir! Would you like to buy a Fire Ferret?"

I am startled when a bushy, reddish orange tail pushes directly in my face. I take a quick step back when the vendor pulls the tiny animal away and smiles eagerly at me. He nods his head intently and I feel myself nodding as well. "W-Wait! No! I do not want a fire ferret!" I quickly turn around and speed walk away without saying a word.

It isn't long before I hear the vendor scream a few curse words and something crawling up the back of my leg, my back and finally stopping at my shoulder. Out the corner of my eye, I see the ferret hold his head down as if it is sighing in relief.

"Get back here!" The vendor yells angrily.

"Oh great! Do you see what you did? This guy thinks I'm stealing you!"

"Police!"

"Shit!" I don't plan on going to jail tonight, not for an animal who decides it want to leave it's owner. I pull my hands out of my pockets, grasp the handle of the bags tightly and take off running down the dimly lit streets. If only I could earthbend. The small ferret holds on to my shirt for dear life, when I duck into a dark alley. Luckily the metalbending police ran right pass me. I stoop down and the ferret jumps off of my shoulder and sniffs at the bags on the ground.

I shake my head. "No, this is not yours."

It only cocks his head to the side and wiggles its tiny nose.

"Run away. You're free now." With my index finger, I scratch behind its dark brown ear. "Was that guy cruel to you, little fella?" I reach into one of the bags and grab a banana. The ferret sits on his hind legs eagerly waiting the sweet treat. "Here you go," I say and place the peeled banana on the ground. The ferret seems to devour it in record breaking time. He quickly jumps onto my lap, up my shoulder and licks me on the cheek. I laugh. "I guess you're coming home with me."

It doesn't take me long to get back to my apartment and I am not exactly sure if Korra would like a pet ferret running around the place. I grab the key from out of my pocket and unlocks the door. When I enter, Korra is sitting on one end of the couch while Asami is at the other. The tension is so thick in the room, I can feel it. Korra looks up, relief crosses her face. Asami nods her head and waves.

Asami says, "It's about time."

"Sorry to keep you waiting," I say. The ferret chatters on my shoulder. "Oh and this is...uh...Pabu. Pabu meet Korra, Asami and Hima."

"You bought a pet?" asks Asami.

"Well." I say as I walk across the room toward the kitchen. "Not really. He kind of bit the street vendor selling him and escaped with me. Besides, I figure Hima could use a companion."

Korra says, "She is only a baby, Bolin."

"So what?" I place the bags on the counter and turn around toward the young women. "We all need an animal companion in our life. You have Naga and Hima has Pabu."

Korra points at me. "Nooo, you have Pabu."

"Fine. You don't want him. I will keep him." I grab Pabu from off my shoulder. "Say hello to your need bud."

Asami clears her throat and folds her arms across her chest. "Do you mind telling me why I had to rush over here for?"

"How about we eat first?" I look at Korra. "Do you mind helping me with dinner?"

"Fine," she says. "Asami, can you watch Hima for me?"

"Sure."

I hope you all enjoyed the latest chapter. I realized during the last chapter that I had completely forgotten all about poor Pabu. Don't kick me out of the fandom for that! :( So I thought of a way to add him to the story. Once again thank you for reading.