She slowly opened her eyes as a strip of light hit her eyes, causing her to moan and curl her body inward. She felt so sore and achy and tired and her mind felt fuzzy.

She felt a strong, warm hand touch hers and she nearly jumped out of her skin as she sat up too fast before falling right back into the pillow cushions, her head pounding rather incessantly.

"Hey, you have to be careful." She felt herself relax as she heard Bolin's comforting voice as she turned her head.

"Bolin." She murmured, her voice thin and weary and she had to clear her throat several times before she made i i it clearer.

He smiled, a relieved one and her heart warmed at the sight. He looked tired, as if he hadn't slept in a long time. He grabbed one of her hand and cupped it between both of his. The tingle and warmth radiating from his hand entered through her hands, into her arms and towards every part of her body.

"How are you feeling?" He said, pulling her hand that was trapped in both of his towards his, right under his chin.

It was then that she noticed that she felt like a wreck and probably looked like a mess, her mind was still fuzzy and didn't know what exactly happened or how she got into this bed.

She frowned.

"I...don't...know. I feel confused. Everything's fuzzy. How did I get here?" She asked, looking at Bolin and was surprised to see the sad and worried look in his green eyes. Something wasn't right.

"What happened?" She asked, feeling ice enter her veins with dread.

He tightened his hold and leaned in, pulling his chair closer. Her heart began to pound with fear and worry. "Look, you don't need to worry. I told them what happened and they're confused and a bit weirded out, but everything will work out. I promise."

He sounded fervent. She did't like the pleading in his eyes.

"What. Happened?" She said, tightening her hand in his. It was obvious he didn't want to tell her but she had to know.

"Aylin, before I tell you, you have to understand that I-"

"Please." She pleaded, tears beginning to form in her eyes. "Tell me."

He sighed and closed his eyes before opening them, looking her straight in her eyes. "You bloodbent the chi blockers and let the moon spirit control you."

"WHAT?!" She yanked her hand back and nearly fell of the bed in doing so.

"It's okay! It's okay!"

"It's not okay! I bloodbent those people. Those people..." She closed her eyes and covered her face with her hands. "I can't believe it."

How could she have let this happen? How? She promised herself she would never let herself do that or let the moon spirit control her body. She'd rather die.

"Aylin, it's fine. Everyone understands."

She whirled her head to his almost angrily.

"What do you mean, everyone?!" She demanded hotly, her anger starting to burn in her body. Bolin looked as frantic as she felt and he had his palms stretched out in placating manner.

"Well, Mako and Asami saw you and they told Korra..." He stopped finishing the sentence at the guilt and shame she was pouring through her eyes. He frowned and sat down on the bed next to her, "It's okay. I told them-"

"You told them?!" She said, getting off the bed and standing away from him."Why?!"

She was feeling anger and shame and guilt and hate swirling like a vortex inside her body and she wanted this stop. How could she have let this happen? Why was she even here?

"I had to! They saw it with their eyes!" Bolin said desperately, almost as if he was trying to apologize for his behavior when it should've been her.

Her head started pounding as she tried to think through the murky waters in her brain. Searching for something. Anything.

"It's okay."

"It's not!" She said, anger exploding out of her body. "I could've hurt you. I could've hurt your brother or Asami or-"

"But you didn't." Bolin said, his voice thick with emotion yet determined.

"But-"

"Aylin," He said, something in his voice that made her stop and feel something warm growing in her heart, beating the chill in her body. He walked to her, grabbing her upper arms gently but firmly, a fire in his eyes that made her feel shy. "You stopped because I helped you. I helped you get out and become yourself."

Her eyes widened as he stepped closer to her, his chest bumping hers. "You stopped yourself and took control because I told you how I feel."

"How you feel?" She asked haltingly. She didn't know where this was going but something was clearing in her mind as he looked at her with an emotion in his eyes she only glimpsed before.

"I love you, Aylin. I'm in love with you." He said sheepishly, almost scared at what she was going to say. Her heart stopped then restarted with a new rhythm. Suddenly, her mind cleared and she was knocked back with the memories assaulting her mind.

Falling into Yue Bay, drowning and tied with a rope, Princess Yue showing up, Aylin's indecision about whether to let her in, bloodbending the chi blocker and defeating them easily because they had hurt Bolin and no one was to hurt him. The way Bolin looked up at her, not with fear but with confidence and trust, the way he tried to calm her down, the way he professed his love for her in front of everyone before she slipped away.

She gasped and were it not for the hold Bolin had on her, she would have collapsed. "You-you told me that before. When I was under the moon's influence. You told me you loved me."

He began massaging her arms up and down in a way that was both distracting and welcome. "You remember now?"

She nodded and she felt suddenly lighter. She felt a huge weight lift off of her shoulders and everything seemed brighter and she felt alive. She didn't feel any fear. She felt happy and loved.

She wrapped her arms around him, her negative emotions retreating away like the tide as Bolin smiled at her, color seeping into his cheeks which made her blush in turn.

"I remember everything you said to me. And I have something to tell you, too." She said, suddenly feeling shy and awkward but filled with determination.

"I love you, too." She actually felt his whole body sag in relief as he smiled, joy seeping out of every pore in his body. She smiled, unable to resist.

"That is really good! Everyone understands so you don't have to worry about that anymore. They understand. I didn't tell them about you bloodbending me. That'll be our secret. Do you know what this means? It means you're stuck with me forever. And I'm not letting you go, no matter what."

She laughed, a joyous laugh that made her feel so alive and good and all because Bolin had fallen in love with her.

"Good, because I want you to be there for me."

He smiled and leaned forward.

"Always," He said before kissing her.

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