You can do this. Just reach out your hand and… He pulled his hand away from the door and dropped his head in his hands. It couldn't be that difficult, all he had to do was ask. What about all the consequences though? He sighed, wanting to get this over with as soon as possible. Mako knocked on the large doors, praying Korra didn't answer. He heard the lock click and the oaken door swung inward.

"Hello Tenzin," he said nervously, his voice cracking a bit at the end. The airbender cocked an eyebrow.

"Mako," he replied, nodding his head. "I'm guessing you're here to see Korra," he said as he motioned for the firebender to come in.

"Actually sir, I'm uh… I'm here to talk to you," he said as he walked in and turned to face Tenzin. The man's eyebrows had shot upward and he was staring at Mako incredulously.

"Me?" he asked as the door slammed closed behind them. Mako gulped as Tenzin's eyes bore holes through him.

"Y-yes sir, and I'd rather not let Korra know." Tenzin looked at him for a moment before straightening his robes and walking towards the stairs.

"Follow me," he said quickly and began climbing the stairs. Mako trailed behind, fearing what Tenzin would do to him when the Airbending master found out what he was there for. "In here," he almost whispered as he opened the door to his office. Mako stumbled in and waited for Tenzin. The older man walked around and took a seat behind his desk. "Now, what did you want to talk to me about?" he asked seriously. Mako took a deep breath and opened his mouth.

"I know you're not her father, sir, but you're the closest thing she has to one in the city. I would gladly go to the South Pole, but I have absolutely no clue how to get there and no kind of transportation." Mako said, watching Tenzin's face the entire time. The man was looking at the young firebender with a very confused countenance. "Sir, what I'm trying to say is…" He took a deep breath, preparing himself for the worst, "I want to ask Korra to marry me." He said it slowly, deliberately, waiting for Tenzin to explode and yell at him about how they were much too young and there was absolutely no way Mako was going to ask Korra to become his wife. Except, it never came.

"Hmm," he hummed, stroking his beard. "Ask the Avatar to marry you, huh?" Mako swore he saw the hint of a smiled on the older man's face. "Are you sure you're up for it?" he asked, an air of teasing in his voice. Mako laughed and grinned at the airbender.

"Yes sir," he nodded and grinned, "I'm definitely up for it. She's the only person I've ever loved and could ever think of loving. I don't want anyone else. I've even got the necklace ready." he told him confidently.

"A betrothal necklace? You are ready then, I suppose." Tenzin replied, somewhat surprised. "I'm saying I agree or disagree with your decision, but are you sure you're absolutely ready? You've just barely turned nineteen," he questioned, wanting to make sure the boy knew exactly what he was doing and exactly what he was getting into.

"Yes sir. I'm ready." He stated matter-of-factly. He loved Korra with all his heart and he knew that she felt the same. He wanted to be able to say that she was his and to love her for the rest of their lives. Tenzin gave the firebender one last hard look.

"Alright, you can ask her," the airbender told him firmly, "but, I'm warning you now. If you do anything to hurt her, you'll have to answer to my mother." Tenzin laughed and stretched out his hand as he watched Mako try to comprehend his statement.

"Um... alright, understood," he replied, reaching his hand forward to take Tenzin's in a handshake. He had never met Master Katara, but from what Korra said about her, she seemed a fairly nice, reasonable woman.

"Do you have a day planned?" he asked Mako curiously. The young boy shook his head.

"No, sir, but it'll be soon, and I already have a place in mind." he replied. Tenzin smiled in reply.

"Well, I can't wait to hear how it goes. I hope to soon have you as a figurative, so-to-speak,, son-in-law." Tenzin said. Mako grinned and nodded.

"Me too, sir," he said. He turned and began walking towards the door.

"Tenzin! Tenzin, where are you?!" Both men could hear Korra running down the hall. The heavy footsteps stopped at his office door, and it burst open.

"Tenzin! Look at-!" She stopped abruptly, noticing Mako next to her airbending master's desk. "Mako? What are you doing here?" she asked, quirking an eyebrow.

"I uh… I," he struggled, trying to come up with a plausible answer.

"He was coming to see me about some family issues," Tenzin covered for the firebender. Mako turned around and smiled gratefully.

"Yep, and thank you for everything sir," Mako stuck out his hand, thanking him silently.

"You're welcome," he replied, shaking hands one more with the boy. Mako turned back around and grinned at Korra.

"How about I meet you at the north side of the island around seven? Seven fifteenish?" he asked as he walked up to her. She blinked a few times before smirking.

"Sure thing, Cool Guy," she grinned, "I'll see you at seven." She said. Mako leaned in and quickly kissed her.

"See you then," he said. He walked out, leaving a blushing Korra.

"What was all that about?" she asked Tenzin. The man simply shrugged and sat back down at his desk.

"Why don't you ask him?" Tenzin advised. The Avatar nodded as she walked further in and shut the door. "So what did you have to show me?" he asked her.

"Huh?" she said, then remembered why she'd come to see Tenzin in the first place. "OH yea! Watch this!" She turned her back to him and turned around quickly. Her hands were close together in front of her, palms facing each other, with a small ball bearing spinning in a fast circle between her hands. The airbending master raised his eyebrows slightly before pinching the bridge of his nose in between his thumb and index finger.

"You are definitely my father's reincarnation," he said exasperatedly. Korra burst out laughing and clutched at her sides.

"I'm glad to hear it, seeing as I can bend all the elements," she told him. The airbender rolled his eyes and waved her towards the door.

"Go on, you, I've got work to do," he said, trying not to laugh. Korra winked and saluted

"Aye, aye captain." She giggled and ran out. Tenzin grinned to himself and shook his head.

"Teenagers."

"Where are we going?" Korra asked as she walked arm in arm with Mako. The firebender rolled his eyes and gently tugged on one of the ponytail that was hanging by her ear.

"You'll see, you just have to be patient," he told her. She huffed and glared at him.

"I'm not good with being patient," she grumbled. Mako chuckled and kissed her cheek.

"Come on, it's right through here," he said and began making his way through a tall hedge. Korra groaned and followed grudgingly behind. Mako walked into a small clearing overlooking the ocean. The sun had just finished setting and the clouds were still tinted orange and red. The color in the sky used what little light was left to reflect off the water. The only thing you could see was the ocean all around.

"Mako," Korra breathed, taking in the stunning sight, "it's beautiful." Mako grinned.

"It gets better," he whispered right in her ear. She giggled as Mako wrapped a blindfold around her eyes. "Now, don't peek," he told her.

"Alright," she said. Mako took a firebending stance and began to shoot small flames from his fingertips. He'd placed candles all around the cliff side and was lighting them. He looked around quickly, making sure he'd gotten every last one. Satisfied, he walked behind Korra and began untying her blindfold.

"Okay, open your eyes," he whispered, removing the cloth. Korra blinked and stared, completely mesmerized by the sight before her. Little flames had surrounded them. They were in the bushes and the trees. There were some even floating in the water below them.

"How?" Korra was breathless. She couldn't believe he'd done all this. Mako stared at Korra. She was so beautiful. She'd changed from her usual, watertribe garb, into something more casual and she had left her main ponytail down, letting her dark hair fall over her shoulders. He watched as the light danced in her bright eyes. It was now or never.

"Korra," he said softly. She looked around and saw Mako watching her. "I love you. I have always loved you, even if it took me a little while to figure it out. I promise to love you for the rest of my life. You mean the world to me and I don't what I would do if anything ever happened to you. I love you so much, and always will. Korra, will you marry me?" Mako pulled out the betrothal necklace. The red and blue shined brilliantly in the dim candle light. Korra's breath hitched as she stared at the stone. The red and blue, the water tribe and fire nation emblems blended perfectly, combining fire and water.

"Mako." Her eyes began to fill with tears. Tears of pure and absolute ecstasy. She felt her face break into a grin, and she squealed with joy and delight. "Yes! Yes, yes, yes!" She leapt at the firebender, wrapping her arms tightly around her neck and kissing him passionately on the mouth. Mako spun around with her, returning the kiss with vigor. Korra pulled back and looked into Mako's eyes. They shined with bright and unconditional love. "I love you so much."

"I love you too, Korra," he whispered before kissing her again. She sighed and kissed him back gently. He pulled back and rested his forehead against Korra's. "You've made me the happiest person in the world," he whispered and kissed her nose. The Avatar giggled and laid her head on his shoulder.

"I'm glad I could oblige," she murmured. The firebender grinned and remembered the betrothal necklace still in his hand.

"Do you want to put on the necklace?" he asked, smiling against her hair. She looked at him and nodded. She turned around and lifted her hair away from her neck. Mako wrapped the purple fabric around her neck and clipped it into place. He gently laid a hand on her shoulder and kissed her neck right above the chocker, making her shiver. She turned, letting her hair fall back into place.

"Well?" she inquired. Mako smiled and snaked his arms around her waist.

"Absolutely gorgeous," he said softly. The Avatar giggled again and blushed. Mako cupped her cheek and gently pressed his lips to hers. Korra smiled and more tears fell from her closed eyes and down her face. The water hit Mako's hand and he opened his eyes. "Dear, what's wrong?" He asked her. She choked back a sob. She wasn't usually one to show emotion but she just couldn't help it.

"Nothing. I'm j-just so happy. I c-can't help it." She smiled at him as tears cascaded from her eyes. Mako grinned and laid one hand on her waist and captured her hand with his other.

"Would you care to dance?" he asked, grinning as he pulled her into a slow spin. Korra giggled and wiped her eyes with her free hand before laying it on his shoulder.

"Of course I would," she mumbled as she pressed herself close to him as they began spinning in a slow circle. She let go of his hand and wrapped her arms around his neck as he slid his around her waist.

"I love you," he whispered in her ear. She smiled and kissed his cheek.

"I love you, too."

Tenzin was sitting with Jinora in the meditation pavilion, when they heard a loud squeal from somewhere on the island. Jinora jumped slightly and looked around.

"What was that?" she asked her father. The airbending master hadn't moved a muscle. He opened one eye and grinned down at his daughter.

"I think she just said yes," he told her. Jinora's eyes widened and her mouth spread into a grin.

Tenzin just couldn't keep it to himself anymore and he had decided to tell Jinora a little earlier that day.

"I can't wait! And they look so cute together!" she gushed enthusiastically. Tenzin sighed and closed his eye again.

"You know, I bet if you ask real nice, she might let you be a flower girl." Tenzin told her. His oldest daughter gasped and turned to her father.

"You really think so?!" she cried ecstatically. Her father opened his eyes and turned towards his daughter. He had never seen her so excited over something before.

"Perhaps, but for now, we'll wait until she tells us, alright?" he told her. The young girl sighed and nodded her head.

"Yes sir." Tenzin nodded and got to his feet.

"Good girl. Now, come on, time to get to bed." He reached his hand down and Jinora grabbed it and jumped up. She landed in her father's arms and yawned.

"Bedtime story?" she asked him. The airbender smiled and nodded at the young girl.

"Of course," he told her. She grinned and nestled into her father's protective arms. He smiled and walked her back to her room. She was asleep before he even got there.