A/N: This is the final chapter of this book...but not the end of the story!

Flying on Palla was unlike anything Saph could have ever imagined. It was exhilarating and terrifying and majestic. It made her feel a little sick, too. A glance at Zenya said she was in the same boat—huddled in a ball next to Valen with a green cast to her face. Shylo was thoroughly enjoying himself, of course, sitting up front with Akiro.

Meanwhile, Koko lounged against the edge of the saddle with a bored, heavy-lidded expression.

"Not your first air bison flight?" Saph asked, sitting next to her.

"Nope. Anyway, I prefer airships. They're a lot more comfortable." She shifted around a little, looking vaguely annoyed. "Actually, I prefer walking."

"What?" Saph said with a disbelieving laugh. "You said before that if you'd known about Palla, we wouldn't have walked all the way to Republic City."

"Because as much as I don't enjoy this, it's a lot faster and safer. Could've avoided chasing you across the Earth Kingdom and getting stabbed, for example," she grumbled under her breath.

It wasn't the first time Saph had been keenly aware that the injury was largely her fault, but it was the first time Koko had blatantly made her feel bad about it. No longer in the mood for talking, Saph turned around to look out over the edge of the saddle, arms crossed on the low barrier. They were above the clouds, though, so there wasn't much to see.

Koko sighed and moved closer. "Despite the fact that you ignored my instructions to not leave the cave," she said quietly, "I understand why you did it. You acted like an Avatar. And even if you hadn't gone after Zenya, I would've ended up fighting blue sages no matter what, to get her back. So stop sulking because you think that what happened was your fault."

The little speech created a confusing series of emotions for Saph. First was chagrin for disobeying, followed by pride that Koko thought she'd done something brave, and then finally indignation from the final remark.

"I'm not sulking." Some part of her did recognize that Koko was trying to make her feel better—in her own emotionally constipated way. "By the way, you're terrible at pep talks," Saph added, unable to stop the corners of her mouth from twitching up in amusement.

"Hm. Not the first time I've heard that."

They both went quiet for a while after that, the only sound the rushing of wind as they soared through the air. Saph was left alone with her thoughts and inevitably began to ruminate on one of her earlier visits to the Spirit world.

"Hey, Koko…?"

"Hm?"

"Um…Korra wanted me to tell you something."

At that, Koko sat up straight and looked at her with interest. And a little apprehension. "...What?"

Saph was beginning to regret bringing this up. She'd been putting it off for a while—the entire two weeks they'd spent with Jinora, actually—but it needed to be said, so she haltingly recounted the depressing story of Korra's untimely demise.

"She– She said you'd want to know," Saph finished in a shaky voice, unable to meet Koko's eyes. The last thing she wanted was to risk seeing tears glistening where stern resilience usually lived.

Koko cleared her throat softly. "She was right." After a brief pause, she asked, "Did that man have a scar on his face?"

"No." Saph finally glanced over to see a troubled frown. "Why?"

"I knew someone like him once. Dead now. It doesn't matter."

The idea that more than one person could have power like that chilled Saph to her bones. But Koko was right: They were both dead, so what did it matter? "I… I remember Korra talking to you," she said to push those thoughts from her mind. "Up on the hill, I mean. I dreamed about it. You said that you had a lot of questions…"

She didn't actually expect Koko to start asking them, but even so, the sharp response stung.

"You're not her."

"I never said I was," Saph insisted. She curled up on the floor of the saddle, not sleepy but wanting to pretend to nap. "Sorry I brought it up. I was just trying to help."

"I know…" Koko murmured, so quietly that it almost got lost on the wind. "Thanks."

Saph wasn't even sure if she'd actually heard that last part, or if it was just her imagination. After a little while, she actually did become drowsy and drifted off into a half-awake state where she was consumed with memories of her time with Jinora...

"I talked to Korra again last night."

They were back on the hilltop that overlooked both the bay and the perpetual storm. Saph had gone up there early in the morning after a restless night and found Jinora meditating.

"Did you, now?" Jinora said with a bright smile. "That's great. What did she say?"

"Well…she just answered some questions I had. I probably didn't ask the right ones." For a moment, she considered telling her what Korra had said about her death, but that seemed like something Koko had a right to know about first. If I can work up the nerve to tell her… Aloud, she said, "I did ask her about unlocking the Avatar state. She told me that you're the best person to help with that."

"Yes, that's probably true. Why don't we get started?"

"Oh, er…now? Okay. What do I do?"

"Listen and remember," Jinora advised. "If you understand how Aang and Korra mastered the Avatar state, it could help you on your own journey."

"So…if I do what they did, I'll be able to enter the Avatar state?"

"Hm, well… There's no easy path from point A to point B. Every Avatar has to solve that riddle for themselves. It's a journey of self-discovery, often involving great personal sacrifice. Korra, who was raised knowing she was the Avatar, was overconfident and arrogant in her youth. She had to be broken down to her lowest point before she truly became the Avatar. Aang, on the other hand, went through a guided process of enlightenment by consciously unblocking his chakras. It's not as easy as it sounds. His spiritual training facilitated that method, but even so, he struggled with it."

Despite Jinora's assertion, Saph thought Aang's experience sounded much less painful. "So if I unblock all my chakras, then I can access the Avatar state?"

"I'm afraid it's not that simple. What works for one Avatar won't necessarily work for another. To be clear, no one's chakras are all completely open most of the time—not even an Avatar's. They are important for bending, though. I sense that your earth chakra is severely blocked. Do you remember which emotion blocks the earth chakra?"

Saph thought back to her first conversation with Korra. It had been so intense, so full of devastating revelations, that it was hard to remember exactly what had been said. But she had a pretty good idea of what her primary weakness was. "Fear?"

"Correct," Jinora said with an approving nod. "You won't be able to earthbend until you address the deep-seated fear that's causing the block."

"Great… So all I have to do is just stop being scared." She forcefully exhaled to blow away the clump of hair that had fallen over her eyes. "That doesn't sound hard at all…"

Jinora responded to her sarcasm with a sympathetic but also vaguely reproving smile. "If it were easy, it wouldn't come with such incredible rewards. Great power shouldn't be wielded by anyone who hasn't first struggled and sacrificed."

"I feel like I've struggled plenty already," Saph grumbled. "And anyway, it's not like I just live in a constant state of terror. I only feel that way when bad things start happening. Just like any normal person."

"I've been meditating on this, and I think the issue might be a little deeper. You lived through the destruction of the world and were then raised in an environment where fear is a constant companion—not just for you, but for everyone around you. The world is afraid, and because of Raava, you are connected to everything in it in a profound way. Growing up near the banyan grove tree likely strengthened that connection."

Saph didn't quite know how to feel about all of that. On the one hand, it was a relief: Her current largest obstacle to succeeding as the Avatar wasn't the result of her simply being weak. On the other hand, it meant the solution was much more complicated than just 'learn to be brave'.

"How do I make the whole world not be afraid?"

"Give them hope."

When they finally landed, Zenya lay flat on the ground and silently cried for a minute or so. It took some time for Valen to coax her back to her feet; meanwhile, everyone else said their goodbyes to Akiro.

"Are you going back to Republic City?" Saph asked him, wishing he could stay and train her. Shylo was a good airbender but he wasn't a master like Akiro.

On the ride over, she'd occasionally watched him from the saddle, where he sat behind Palla's head. Unlike his mother, he kept his head shaved bald. Apparently, he'd been one of the last air nomads to receive his tattoos, having been only sixteen when the comet came. How strange and sad it must be for him to have to choose between being able to bend and spending time with the only family he had left…

"Eventually, yes," he replied in response to her question. "I've got a few stops to make first, though." He gave her a roguish grin. "My work never ends. But…it's good to stay busy. What else would I do?"

He was a tall, muscular man, and more soft-spoken than his size would have suggested. Saph supposed he would be good at a great number of things, in a kinder world.

I'll figure out how to get your mom's bending back, she thought to herself. Then you both can have a better life.

It was another half a day's walk back to the farming village that served to conceal Oldtown. As soon as they set off, Koko gave them stern instructions.

"This should go without saying," she began, directing the words at Saph and Shylo, "but I'm going to say it anyway: Don't tell anyone anything about being the Avatar, or what happened with the blue sages, or about Jinora, or anything about Valen and Zenya. In fact, don't talk about anything that's happened since we left Oldtown. Do you understand me?"

"What about Nani?"

"You can tell her," Koko relented. "Assuming she's even there, which she might not be. But don't talk about any of it where anyone else can overhear."

"At least we don't have to worry about Zenya running her mouth," Shylo said with a laugh.

"A small mercy. You two are chatty enough for three."

Saph just rolled her eyes. In the last couple of weeks, Koko's mood had become increasingly sour. She was more sarcastic and less patient, snapping more often than usual at the smallest things. Saph had witnessed several arguments between her and Valen, though most of them had been from a distance, the words lost to her.

She hoped that them being back in Oldtown and getting their bending back would cheer Koko up a little. Surely that was the root of the problem. It hadn't been easy for Saph, either, to be without the familiar flow of chi for so long.

Around midday, the trees finally began to thin, and then they were there. It was much different than last time. Busier. And it seemed like there were more buildings now, as well as many earthbent tents on the periphery.

"What's going on?" Koko asked a man that they found in the center of town, who was giving instructions to people that came and went while countless others swarmed nearby. "Why are there so many people here?"

He motioned for them to follow him into a building. "Refugees. Jupa was attacked."

"What?!" Koko, Saph, Shylo, and Valen all exclaimed together.

With her stomach now painfully tied into a knot, fingers digging into her palms, Saph was unable to speak. She just glanced furtively at the others. Valen and Koko were talking over each other trying to get more information.

"There were a few casualties," the man said once they were inside a small building and they finally let him get a word in edgewise, "but your family is fine."

They both slumped with relief but Saph was still on the verge of panic. How could this be happening? Everything she'd been through, Nani convincing her parents to go to Jupa, and now this?

"What about my family?" she finally choked out.

The man glanced at her with furrowed brows. "Who are they?"

"Mara and Jojin. And Lia."

"I don't recognize the names. Let me check my records." He went over to his desk and shuffled through a stack of papers, muttering softly to himself as he scanned them. "Hm… I don't see them here…"

Was that a good thing or a bad thing? Maybe they were still in Dao-Shu… Saph wrung her hands tightly together, heart pounding furiously. The fear seemed to seep through her entire being, each second of waiting a new torture. If it went on any longer, she was going to be sick.

"Oh, wait, here they are: Jojin, Mara, Lia. They're on a different page because they were verified for residency."

"They– They're here?"

"Yeah, in the city." His brows furrowed as he read the paper. "Hm. I'm sorry, but you're not in their file as a family member…"

"She's in mine," Koko said.

But Saph was barely listening anymore. She wanted to cry with relief and happiness but held herself back; she'd done enough crying in the last couple of months to last a lifetime. Instead, she found a chair and lowered herself into it, knees trembling, and ran her hands down her face.

"Hey, you okay?" Shylo asked while the adults continued the conversation on their own.

"Yeah. I'm good." She gave him a weak smile. "It's exhausting, bouncing so quickly between calm and terrified. I feel like I need to exist in a constant state of anxiety just to survive."

"I bet it won't always be like this. Your family is here, safe and sound. No one's going to hurt them." At that point, he continued on in a hushed tone. "And you'll get trained up until you're the strongest, most powerful bender in the world. Then you won't have to be afraid of anyone."

Saph grunted. "I bet Korra felt that way. Didn't do her a lot of good." Hearing Zenya's name mentioned, she tuned back into the others' conversation.

"I'm afraid you'll both have to wait," the man was saying to Valen. "The verification process takes a little while and there's currently a backlog."

"She has family in the city. Her grandparents."

"That's good. It'll speed up the process. But it'll still take some time."

"Zenya's not going to like that," Saph said with a sigh.

That turned out to be a gross understatement. It became apparent the exact moment she realized what was happening because she first tried to bend, and when that didn't work, she launched herself at Saph and hung on tightly.

"C'mon," Valen admonished, trying to gently pull her away. "Let her go."

"I'm sorry, Zenya. I have to go for a little while. We'll see each other soon, okay?" She knew her words wouldn't mean anything, of course, but what else could she do?

In the end, Valen had to forcefully pry Zenya away, at which point she collapsed into defeated tears. Saph felt terrible. Seeing her friend in such a desolate state was painful, and it was maddening that she couldn't do or say anything to make her feel better. At the same time, she was bursting with impatience to see her family again and resenting every moment of delay.

"They'll be able to come in soon, right?" she asked Koko as the two of them and Shylo walked away—finally—toward the underground train entrance.

"It might take a week or so. But yeah, they'll get in eventually."

"Poor Zenya…"

"Please. She's being a brat. For the first time in her life, she's being told no, and she can't stand it."

Saph didn't think that was a very fair assessment—and doubted it was even true—but kept her mouth shut to avoid further annoying Koko. Spirits, please let our bending come back soon…

The train ride, as well as the walk to the apartment building they'd been told to go to, would've been quiet if not for Shylo's upbeat chatter. Saph wasn't in the mood and just let him ramble on about seeing Nik again and getting some adjustments made to his flight suit and whatever else popped into his head.

She couldn't share his eagerness for this next chapter of their lives. The closer they got to their destination, the more nervous she became. Her stomach felt like it was full of bugs that were squirming around and trying to escape.

Eventually, they arrived at a wide three-story building. Up a flight of stairs. Down a long hall. It was number two twenty-three that they were looking for.

Two seventeen…

Two nineteen…

Two twenty-one…

Two twenty-three.

Saph paused at the door, frozen. Unable to go in despite her desire to see her family. She was going to have to tell them.

Koko hovered behind her. "Just get it over with," she murmured, apparently understanding the source of the hesitation. "Like ripping off a leech-a-pillar."

"Yeah…" Living in the swamp, Saph had done that plenty of times. It was never fun, but always necessary.

With one last deep, bracing breath, she turned the knob and pushed the door open. A second later, she realized she probably should've knocked, instead. But there was no one in the entryway to be surprised by her abrupt entrance.

"Is someone there?" a voice called.

Saph stepped inside just as Sherabi came around the corner.

"Well, look who it is!" she exclaimed, her face lighting up. "I'm so glad you're all back safe!"

"Thanks. Are my parents here?"

"Follow me!" she said cheerfully, waving her hand with a beckoning gesture. "We were just about to have dinner, so everyone's crammed in here."

But they didn't even make it down the hall before Mara appeared, wide-eyed and tense. She looked exactly as Saph remembered her: a petite young woman with old eyes, black hair in a messy bun. Her face crumpled instantly upon seeing her long-lost daughter.

"Mom!" Saph exclaimed as she ran into her mother's arms. For once, the overwhelming emotions that assaulted her didn't bring tears. She was simply overjoyed, brimming with happiness and contentment for the first time in a very long while.

Another pair of arms wrapped around both of them and Saph looked up to see her dad there, grinning with moist eyes. He didn't say anything, just hugged them silently while Mara cried into Saph's shoulder.

"I missed you both so much," Saph murmured. "I can't believe you're really here. I– I have so much to tell you."

But she didn't get the chance because a shrill voice down below screeched, "Saph!" while small arms wrapped around her leg.

"Lia!" she laughed, bending down to pick up her sister and settle her on her hip, though she was starting to get too heavy for that. "I missed you, little monster. You're bigger."

"I miss you," Lia whined in her baby voice.

"She asked about you every day," Jojin said.

Mara finally seemed to compose herself and wiped her face. "I told you to come straight home," she said with a pitiful half-smile.

"I know…" Saph said ruefully. "Sorry."

"Let's go sit down, hm?" Jojin suggested. "I want to hear all about your adventures."

"Okay…" She took a deep breath. "But first, there's some stuff I have to tell you. Can we go somewhere to talk? Privately?"

For as long as she lived, she would never forget the haunted look in their eyes when they heard those words.

Koko watched Saph leave her behind and run into Mara's arms. She watched as the little family held each other with smiles and tears. She watched Saph grin back with dry eyes and pick up her sister.

It was unbearable.

"How beautiful," Sherabi murmured behind Koko's shoulder.

"I have to go."

"What–?"

But Koko didn't wait for her to finish that thought. She just turned and started to leave, ignoring Sherabi's concerned glance.

"Hey, what about me?" Shylo called after her.

"Just stay here for now. I'll figure something out."

As she walked out the door, she could hear Sherabi kindly assure him he was welcome. A small, reproving voice in the back of her head whispered that she was being an idiot and ignoring the responsibility she'd taken on, but it wasn't too hard to ignore that voice.

Her current destination was the medical center. There were things to be done and said; maybe they would help. It was a decently long walk there, with little to distract her from her turbulent thoughts, so she focused her mind on the upcoming conversation.

Upon arriving, Koko went straight to a familiar office door and gave two brisk knocks, then pushed the door open without waiting for permission.

"Wha–?" But Nani's face went immediately from confused annoyance to sincere relief as she stood up from her desk. "Oh! You're back!" Then her expression fell into a worried frown. "Where's Saph? Is she okay?"

"She's with her family."

"Oh, thank goodness." Her shoulders slumped and she pressed a hand to her forehead. "Spirits, don't scare me like that! You've got that look in your eyes. I thought something had happened."

Something happened, alright. Koko shut the door behind her and leaned against it with her arms crossed. But Nani continued before she could say anything.

"Well? How did it go? Did you find who you were looking for?"

"Yeah. It was Jinora."

Nani nodded and swallowed hard, her hands clenching into fists. "...and Saph?"

Just get it over with, like ripping off a leech-a-pillar. "She's the Avatar."

"No…" She hung her head and squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, jaw tense and trembling. "Spirits, no. Maybe… Maybe Jinora is mistaken…?"

"No." Koko sighed; she hated this. Too much tension. Too much pain on Nani's face. Doing something practical would be much better, so she turned around and took off her shirt. "I need you to look at something. An injury."

"You got hurt?" Nani closed the distance between them and cool water instantly appeared on the spot Koko was indicating. The still-sore scar. "What happened?"

"I got stabbed, that's what happened. It's a long story…"

There were a few moments where the only sound in the room was the faint slosh of water being bent. It felt nice. Soothing.

"Spirits, Koko…" Nani breathed. "How on Earth did you survive this? Who healed you?"

"Saph." After a moment, she added under her breath, "Or Korra, depending on how you look at it." But she didn't want to think about that. Didn't want to think about the things Saph had told her. It was better to just shove all those things away for now.

There was a long painful pause. She knew the full weight of her words was sinking in.

"I see," Nani said finally, deep sorrow in her voice. She cleared her throat roughly. "She did a good job. As good as can be expected, anyway, without a medical facility. Was it the Triad Technique?"

"Yeah."

"Ouch."

"Understatement." Koko stayed silent for a few seconds while the healing water drew the soreness out. "Can you fix it?"

"There's nothing to fix." Nani took the water away and sighed softly. "You're fully healed."

Koko whipped around; it wasn't what she wanted to hear. "I don't feel fully healed."

"An injury like that…it's never going to be perfect. Does it still hurt?"

"Yes, it still hurts," she snapped.

"Would you chill? I'm trying to help." Nani took a deep breath and returned the water to the injury. "I could try doing some sessions to reduce the scarring a little. There might be a surgical option that could do more…"

"Right," Koko said bitterly when she trailed off. "Heard that one before. Let me guess—it could make things worse?"

"That's always a possibility with surgery."

"Then my answer is the same as it was before." Besides the risk, she couldn't stomach the thought of being put under. Normal sleep was bad enough.

"For what it's worth," Nani said with a sigh, "you're not in bad shape. You might have slightly reduced lung capacity and performance, but considering I've seen you hold your breath for five straight minutes, I doubt any of your normal abilities will suffer. Honestly, you got lucky."

"No, 'lucky' would've been not getting stabbed in the first place."

"You're lucky she was there. And that you're…you."

She. Nani hadn't put any special weight on the word, but Koko still felt it. Saph. Korra. Raava. Each part of the trinity had been necessary in that dire moment. Korra's skill, Saph's physical presence, and Raava coming out of hiding to unite them.

"I'd hoped I was wrong," Koko said, "About Saph being the Avatar. I didn't…want that."

"Because you care." Nani gave her a faint, crooked smile. "You're dangerously close to showing it, Ms. Sentimental."

Not in the mood to be mocked, Koko put her shirt back on and started to leave. "Spending too much time around Nik, lately?" she said acerbically.

"Well…that was uncalled for." She had the nerve to sound hurt, though perhaps it was covering up a twinge of remorse. It was hard to tell. "You know, I care about Saph, too. And you." Nani paused for a moment, though she continued before Koko could escape. "How does she feel about all of this?"

Koko hesitated in the doorway but didn't turn around. "How does she feel? She's scared. And lost. She has a long way to go."

"She's not Korra."

"I know that," she said harshly as she walked away.

It wasn't until Koko was in the hall that she realized she'd forgotten to tell Nani about Valen and Zenya. Such was her current irritation and pride that, for just a moment, she considered leaving anyway.

But she didn't. With a frustrated sigh, she went back and leaned against the doorframe, getting a curious look from Nani. "Jinora wasn't the only person we found out there. Valen's alive."

"What?! Really?" But her pleased smile quickly faded. "What about the others?"

Koko shook her head slowly. "Gone, except for Zira and Hunir's daughter. Zenya."

"How awful…" Nani murmured. She sat down at her desk heavily; this sort of news always hit her so hard. "Poor Valen."

"They're topside right now, waiting for verification."

Nani nodded slowly, her gaze somewhere in the far distance. Maybe her thoughts were there, too. "Does the girl—Zenya? Does she understand her lineage? She may very well be the last on Zira's side of the family."

"She doesn't understand, and she never will. She'll never rule, regardless of whatever happens in the world."

"Why not?"

"You'll understand when you meet her." It was all Koko had the energy to say, and she left soon after.

So tense. Everything hurt, mind and body. She needed some relief and—as she numbly entered Nani's house to get rid of her travel gear—it became clear to her that she wanted to be somewhere else.

The bar was calling her name, and at that moment, she didn't care. She was fully intent on breaking her promise to Saph, purely out of desperation. And what did it matter now? Saph was home. With her family.

Not my responsibility anymore.

Koko was still nursing her first drink when a familiar mocking voice interrupted her pathetic attempts to not think about anything.

"Well, well, well. Look who it is."

She didn't acknowledge him in any way, but it didn't matter. Nik plopped himself down next to her at the bar and spun around backward to lounge against it.

"Thought you'd given up the booze?" he said.

The snarky comment surprised her. How would he have known about her conversation with Saph? "I'm not drunk," she said with an irritated grunt, staunchly refusing to look at him.

"Yet." When she gave no response, he got the bartender's attention and placed his order. "Well, look at us, having a drink together."

"Not in your wildest dreams would us occupying the same space for a brief period of time ever be even remotely close to what you're insinuating."

"Heh. Charming as ever, I see." His beer arrived and he took a long sip. "This probably isn't the place to talk about this, so I'll be vague, but do you have good news for me?"

"Yes. I'll drop her notes off at your office tomorrow. I don't have them on me."

"Excellent!"

He started yammering on about his current project—not going into too much detail, of course—and Koko downed what was left of her drink. He noticed, apparently.

"So what'll it be, huh?" he asked. "Another drink, then another, or will you go home? Maybe even relax a little? See your family? I'm sure you know by now that they're here."

"Home…" she muttered, not understanding him at all.

"Yes, home. Why do you say it like you've never heard the word before?"

After weeks of her only adult interactions being with Valen, Koko couldn't help but appreciate how mild-mannered he was. How accommodating he was of her moods, which had admittedly been more volatile than usual lately. Nik, on the other hand, had no filter. He just said whatever he wanted, not caring how people might react. And she had no patience for it right now.

With that thought, she got up and left. A mumbled—and mildly offended—'Okay, bye…' caught her ears. It was almost enough to cheer her up a little.

"'How many spots do I have?' Dog asked Cow-pig. 'You've got four,' Cow-pig said. 'How many do I have?'"

Lia bounced up and down in Saph's lap where she sat cross-legged on the floor. Her fat little finger trailed across the page of the book they were reading together.

"How many spots, Lia?" Saph repeated. "How many spots does Cow-pig have?"

Rather than answer, Lia just let out an excited noise and turned the page. Actually, she turned about four pages. The pictures now showed a full complement of barnyard animals.

Saph could hardly imagine a childhood with such marvels. The book's artwork was colorful and stimulating, carefully crafted by a skilled hand and then professionally printed by a machine. She'd grown up with little more than the odd stone or wooden toy and her own imagination.

And all around her was family. Her parents were curled up together in a comfortable chair, Sherabi was reading on the sofa with San dozing off next to her. Toru was playing with her daughter on the other side of the room while her husband had an animated discussion with Shylo and Nani, the latter of whom had arrived just as they were finishing dinner. There were others—whose names Saph was still trying to remember—filling the room to the brim with conversation and warmth.

She was happy. Or rather…she wanted to be happy. Knew that she should be. She kissed the top of Lia's head and smiled at her dad, who smiled back. It should've been a perfect moment.

Not everyone present lived in this relatively small apartment—which belonged to Saph's parents—but apparently, they regularly gathered for dinner. The meal was over now and they were all relaxing. Celebrating Saph's safe return. They'd asked her where Koko was; she said she didn't know. The abrupt disappearance disturbed her, but what could be done? Koko did her own thing and rarely explained her reasons.

"Oh, are we done now?" Saph said with a short laugh when Lia closed the book and got up.

"She's easily distracted," Mara said. "Too many toys. She gets overexcited."

Lia returned momentarily with a colorful plastic monstrosity that made a lot of noise. The entire evening had been much of the same: She wanted to show Saph everything. Before dinner, she'd taken her hand and dragged her all over the apartment.

"She's just happy to have her big sister back," Jojin said.

Sister. The topic had come up earlier, during their private conversation. There had been many tears on all sides, of course. Apologies for long-kept secrets. Healing hugs. Everything was all out in the open now, including the 'big news'.

"You're probably the first people in the history of the world to be the parents of two Avatars," she'd said ruefully.

"Don't take it personally if I don't jump up and down in celebration," Mara replied in a voice full of restrained emotion. She'd always been like that—bottling it up until it exploded.

Despite the fact that they weren't exactly happy about the new development, neither she nor Jojin had seemed too terribly surprised. Apparently, Nani had warned them of the possibility. And oddly enough, Saph felt that this had brought them closer together. No more secrets. She knew her life was about to get complicated and wanted to cherish this moment of simple family time. It was like they'd been thrown back into the past, to a time when they'd all been together—them and the Beifongs. Hiding from the world in the swamp.

But there were people missing, and Saph couldn't push that thought from her mind. Koko. Valen and Zenya. They were part of her family now. Nothing would ever feel right or complete without them around.

"Fire!" Lia insisted, grabbing Saph's hand when she tired of her current toy. "Fire, fire!"

"I'm sorry, I can't right now," Saph said with a despondent sigh. "Maybe in a couple of days, okay?"

As much as she enjoyed firebending for her sister, she had to admit it was a little dangerous. Playing with Lia with airbending would be a safer choice, though it wasn't an option right now—and wouldn't be even if she could bend. The rest of the family was still in the dark about her being the Avatar.

Saph glanced up, sensing eyes on her, and saw Sherabi peering at her curiously. Maybe they're not as 'in the dark' as I thought… Unable to help herself, she gave the perceptive woman a little secret smile.

It was hard to feel too scared about the future, as safe and comfortable as she was right now. Danger was most likely years away. With any luck, she'd be well-prepared for it when it came around. Better not to dwell. Focus on the now. Shove the worries away to deal with them later. Put them in a little box and forget about them. It should be easy; there were more than enough distractions here.

"Fire now !" Lia demanded, refusing to give up. When she didn't get what she wanted, a full-on tantrum ensued—complete with earthbent cracks in the floor, which Mara was quick to repair.

"I think it's someone's bedtime," Saph said.

"No!"

"Yep. C'mon."

She'd done this routine many times before, usually with annoyance and resentment. Tonight, it was with patient fondness. Lia was difficult and exhausting, but Saph didn't care. These domestic struggles seemed so tame compared to everything she'd been through in the last few months.

Finally, with a bottle of warm milk to stifle the sniffles and sobs, Lia calmed down in Saph's arms where they sat in a rocking chair. It was dark and quiet in the small bedroom. Peaceful.

"You don't know it yet, but you've been born into a pretty interesting family. You'll see, one day. Things will probably get weird in the next few years, but I guess by the time you're old enough to realize it, it'll seem normal to you. I hope so. And whatever else happens in my life, I'll always be your big sis."

Lia fell asleep soon after, and Saph returned to the living room and smiled at what she saw: Koko had come back and was playing Pai Sho with Toru. San was still stretched out on the sofa—and snoring now—and Saph didn't want to disturb him, so she sat on the floor in front of the chair where her parents were and leaned against their legs.

"Thanks for getting Lia down," Mara murmured, running her fingers through Saph's hair.

"Sure."

Koko looked over then and held Saph's eyes for a long moment. The glance seemed to say a lot. They were surrounded by family—blood and otherwise—but there were memories the two of them shared that no one else was a part of. In Koko's eyes, Saph saw a rare glimpse of vulnerability; all she could do was give her an encouraging smile, unable to fully understand the depth of what she gleaned from that brief glance.

She closed her eyes and put her head back. The road ahead was dark and murky. So little light. So much uncertainty. But…right now everything was okay. Here in this place and this moment, sheltered from the dangers of the outside world, she was just Saph.

Everything else… Well, that was for tomorrow.

A/N: If you're enjoying this story and looking forward to the next part of it, I hope you'll let me know! It's truly become a passion for me and I'm so excited to write the rest of it. It's a work in progress, though, and will take some time. If I'm being honest, I'll most likely finish one of my Tokka WIPs before I finish the next book in this series.

As always, feel free to hit me up on tumblr (sanrielle) or discord (sanrielle#8945)