Disclaimer: I own nothing, sadly.

A/N: Hello lovelies,

So, I had no specific prompt for this small snippet. Part 4 was initially supposed to be the last, but the final episodes of Book 3 made me reconsider. So here, have a teeny-tiny epilogue, because I couldn't bear to leave these two without at least an hopeful ending.
(And sorry for the wait, too! Life's been busy lately.)

Reviews are still very dear to me!
Love,
-Wil.

Epilogue - Solstice

Lin was the last person to visit Tenzin after his fateful encounter with the Red Lotus.

He had started to believe that she would never come, and when the door finally revealed the metalbender's figure, he'd almost lost all hope.

'Lin,' he breathed out with difficulty. 'You came.'

'Of course I did, old friend.'

Tenzin smiled, weakly attempting to sit up. As he did, he noticed Lin was at a loss for words. Her fist was pressed tightly against her lips, and tears were slipping from her watery eyes to her chin restlessly, leaving glistening streaks upon her skin.

'Lin, don't. I'm fine now. I'm safe.'

'I almost lost you,' the earthbender confessed in a rare moment of utter honesty. 'Again.'

'You won't get rid of me that easily, Beifong,' Tenzin teased softly.

Lin shot him a teary smile, before gently cupping both his cheeks in her cool hands. A second later, her lips were crashing upon his urgently, pulling him into a searing kiss that conveyed all of Lin's pent up passion and worry. He responded almost instantly, roughly deepening the kiss and taking her by surprise.

Handfuls of fabric were grasped desperately whilst soft moans lost themselves between their lips, as they both refused to let go. When Lin eventually pulled away –after peppering chaste kisses upon Tenzin's lips for long minutes- she was no longer crying. Instead, she looked straight into the man's blue eyes.

'Don't ever give me such a scare again.'

'I'll try not to,' Tenzin answered sadly after yet another peck.

'You better,' Lin teased back, yet Tenzin could tell she was still half-serious.

'Tenzin?' Lin asked tentatively, shortly after.

'Yes, dear?'

'Remember those words you whispered in my ear that one night?'

Tenzin suddenly froze, forgetting to even breathe. He had never thought she had heard him in the first place, even less that she had remembered.

'I- I feel the same way. I didn't want to admit it back then, but almost losing you again made me realise I can't keep lying to myself any longer. Or to you, for that matter. I-' she began, but her voice cracked, tears welling up in her eyes again.

'Shh, Lin, it's okay. I know. I do, too. I don't think I ever truly stopped.'

They kissed again, slower this time, pouring almost two decades of repressed feelings into their embrace. They moved together like one, even after so many years apart.

'What now?' Lin asked timidly, refusing to look Tenzin in the eye. 'Is this the end?'

'No, Lin, it's not.' Tenzin answered straightforwardly. 'I was enough of a fool to let you slip away once; I won't ever repeat that mistake,' he added, clutching both her hands in his larger ones. 'I don't know yet how this will work; I just know I can't ever lose you again.'

'You won't,' Lin promised, linking her slim fingers with his. 'Because this time, I won't ever let go.'

The End.

A/N: So, I really hope you all enjoyed this little story. I'm now working on a different piece for Linzin Week, but it won't be ready for another while- as I said, I'm really occupied lately.

Thank you so much for reading, I love each and everyone of you!
Take care,
-Wil