Dear Asami,

I know you're mad but please stop sending my letters back. I've tried calling and texting and emailing...

I know you probably don't want to hear this but... I don't really have anyone else to tell, you are -were- are? still my closest friend. Mako and I are having a baby. And Asami...I'm so...excited about it. And a little terrified. I just wanted you to know. I needed to tell you. I really wish you were here.

I'm so sorry. Please, 'Sami...talk to me.

Love, Korra

Asami's POV

I sighed as I decided to take a break from paperwork, eyeing the stack of letters that I was going to return later today. Since I'd left Republic City Korra had been trying to get at hold of me to the point where I'd changed my number, set her email messages as spam, and would return her letters but she was persistent.

I had been a total bitch. A part of me wanted to pick up the phone and tell her that I should be the one apologizing but I wouldn't do that. Because I had finally vented and even though I had probably ruined our friendship, I didn't regret that getting everything out in the open...though I might've regretted how I'd went about it.

My phone vibrated and I looked, noticing it was a text from my husband, telling me he'd be home early. I raised a brow. That was odd. Usually he wouldn't return until early in the morning or in the middle of the night, having been partying or training for his matches. I was about to text him I was swamped with work when he sent me a picture of our favorite take out. Well, technically his favorite take out. He said he wanted to show me a good time and I sighed knowing what he meant.

Well, I did want to start a family…

I replied that I was on my way, getting up and grabbing the letters.

Mako's POV

Korra and I had been working on the nursery all day, mainly just picking out what kind of furniture we wanted and things like that. We were saving the painting and decorating till we knew the sex of the baby.

We'd had to find a replacement Waterbender for the team since there was no way in hell I was going let her play while she was pregnant. So Korra had a lot of free time to look at baby stuff. I'd never seen her so excited before.

I walked into my house to find her on the couch looking through a catalog. I stood and watched her for a moment, loving the smile on her face.

"Your staring," she commented, her eyes not leaving the magazine.

"Can you blame me?"

"Easy, Romeo," she teased, finally looking up at me. I smiled and walked over to her, giving her a kiss. She smiled back.

Later that night, I was almost asleep when I felt the bed shift next to me and heard Korra get up and walk to the bathroom. I didn't think much of it, it happened often enough.

However, I started to worry when she didn't come right back and I was considering getting up to check on her when I heard a thump.

I pushed the covers off and got up, walking over to the bathroom connected to our bedroom. I knocked on the door before trying the knob. "You okay in there, honey?"

"I'm fine, Mako."

Her voice was shaky and I knew instantly something was wrong. I knocked on the door again, harder this time. "Korra, what's wrong?"

"I said I'm fine." Her voice was fiercer but it still wavered. I heard another heavy thump and tried to open the door again. When it didn't budge I jammed my shoulder against it and it gave way with a crunch.

"Get out!"

My eyes widened in horror. I hadn't been prepared for this.

Korra sat on the bathroom floor, blood surrounding her, staining the tile. It was everywhere, on the floor, her nightgown and a little was smeared on the toilet lid. Korra was crying, her body shaking, and I noticed more blood seeping onto the tile.

The next hour was a blur.

I remember calling Katara, and trying to calm my hysteric wife. When the elder had finally arrived I was ordered out of the bathroom, and sat on the bed with my head in my hands. I wanted to be in there with my wife but Katara had insisted.

The bathroom door opened and I looked up. Katara's face was sad and apologetic, slightly worn. The words that left her mouth caused me to swallow thickly, and my heart to twist.

"I'm sorry."

I slowly and numbly walked passed her and into the bathroom, finding Korra curled up in the corner, tears streaming down her face. I walked over and gathered her in my arms, rubbing her back in soothing circles.

She lost all composure after that. Her hand covered her mouth as uncontrolled, hiccuping sobs rocked her body. She squeezed her eyes shut as I held her, rocking her back and forth gently.

We had lost the baby.

Senna's POV

Mako had called me a few days ago informing me of what had happened to Korra and the baby, and immediately I found myself on the first flight to the city. My husband wanted to come but he was in the middle of important business in the Southern Water Tribe, and now that he was Chief he couldn't just leave. I arrived and upon opening the door I was enveloped in my daughter's arms, and I did my best to try and soothe her. Mako had told me that she had been sad for days, and none of us could really blame her. She'd lost her baby, a part of herself, and she was grieving.

My son-in-law had tried to talk to my daughter but she had made it very clear she didn't want him anywhere near her. He understood the reason which is why he had called me to make sure she wasn't alone while he went to work, wanting to give her some space. The loss of a child wasn't something she would be able to just bounce back from, for Korra had never handled loss well. It left a void that couldn't be filled and brought a lot of pain. I didn't know if I would've had the strength to continue if I had lost Korra that way.

Currently she was laying on the couch, wrapped in a blanket, wearing the same pair of sweats she had been wearing for two days and an off-grey t-shirt, staring at the living room but not really seeing it. She wouldn't say a word as she laid there until Mako came and she'd join him in their room though I knew the Firebender had been sleeping on the floor. I walked over and sat on the edge, setting a hand on her shoulder. She didn't even flinch.

"Korra, sweetie," I began. "I know you're in pain and I can't imagine how you feel but…you can't keep going like this. You need to get out of the house, try to start going about your day. I know it'll be hard, but it's the first step toward healing."

She blinked. Once. Twice. "It would have been a boy," she whispered after a moment, a tear sliding to freedom. "I had such a strong feeling he would've been a boy."

My expression softened. "Sweetie, please. Mako is worried about you, we all are."

"I can't pretend like it didn't happen."

"I know," I agreed. "But you can't let yourself go. You're young. I know it's not what you want to hear but, you can try-"

"No." The tone was firm. "I can't go through that. Not again."

"Korra-"

One hand moved to her stomach, rubbing absently. "There was something in there once. I could actually feel him growing. And now...it's just gone." She paused. "But you're right. I need to do something to keep my mind off it. I'm going to go to the gym and I want to go alone. Can you tell Mako?"

"You need to talk to him."

"Can you tell him?"

I relented, nodding my head. She stood up and went upstairs to change and I shook my head. Korra was in pain and that kind of pain was the kind that lingered. But at least now she would stop cocooning herself here. At least now she would do something and that was a start.

Korra's POV

Empty. It was the only word that came to mind when asked how to describe this uncomfortable, heart shattering feeling. There was something missing, a life I had carried for just two months but had become so attached to. I had imagined night after night how I'd hold him in my arms, how I'd rock him to sleep and chase away the nightmares, comfort him when he was sick. It was a boy, I'd known that. I had always wanted a boy for my firstborn, then a little girl so he'd be able to look after her, not that she wouldn't be able to take care of herself, I'd make sure of that. He would have been a Firebender, just like his father. But now he was gone, and this fantasy was just that: an unrealistic dream.

At first I didn't feel the motivation to do anything, I had just stayed at home, until my husband would and coax me upstairs. I didn't know why he even bothered. Since I had lost the baby I wouldn't let him sleep in the bed and he knew this, which is why he'd sleep on the floor. I tried telling him that he could take the bed and I'd stay downstairs but I knew that would've been a slap in the face. I knew my silence was hard on him, but I couldn't bring myself to have a real conversation. Not yet. Not while this loss was still so fresh.

I had gone to the Pro Bending gym today after taking my mom to the airport. She had been reluctant to go back at first, since Mako would be away for two weeks due to a match. He didn't want to go but I told him that he should, that perhaps the time apart would make things easier and he had reluctantly agreed. I knew my mom was worried about me but I assured her that I wasn't going to do anything stupid and that I'd call her every day. She hugged me tightly, telling me the pain would pass, that I would be all right. I had simply nodded my head. I didn't tell her that I wasn't as optimistic.

After I destroyed the training dummy, I started to make my way back home. I could feel the soreness in my muscles and I couldn't wait to take a nice, hot shower. As I passed by the docks, I heard cheering and whistling. I raised a brow. What was that all about? I looked down the street, knowing I should keep on walking. But curiosity was a powerful thing. I pulled the hood of my sweater over my head so that I wouldn't be recognized, and followed the noise. I stopped at the door and looked inside, seeing what looked like a cage match, two Earthbenders going at it.

"Hey! What do you think you're doing?" someone yelled.

I turned to find a large man towering in front of me, arms crossed over his broad chest, and not looking the least bit happy. "What is this?" I asked, motioning with my head over my shoulder toward the match.

"Underground match. You wanna watch, you gotta pay."

I nodded, reaching into my pocket before a thought came to mind, and I stole another glance toward the ring. Based on what I was seeing, the matches were a free for all, no rules, no limits. One of the participants took a hit to the face with a large chunk of rock, and she was knocked violently into the wall.

Maybe…

"What if I want to participate?" I asked.

The man blinked before bursting into loud laughter, shaking his head. "All these people are twice your size. You don't stand a chance."

"That's because you haven't seen me fight."

He studied me for a moment before nodding his head. "Alright, I'll bite," he answered. "Let's see what you can do."

"Do you have a room I can get ready in or a bathroom of sorts?" There was something I had to do before this fight.

"At the end of the hall, make a right. It's not much and I don't know if the toilet works but it should work for you." He paused, grinning and shaking his head. "Good luck, you're going to need it."

I followed his instructions and ended up in what could be considered a bathroom...as long as you didn't actually want to use it. I closed the door, locking it before pulling out the wrappings for my hands. I took off my wedding ring, safely tucking it away inside the pocket of my bag. Once I was finished I pulled out a knife my dad had given me when I'd had my Bending taken so that I could protect myself. I took my hair out of its ponytail, letting it fall loose around my shoulders. I grabbed my hair, took the knife, and sliced it through chocolate locks, and I watched in the mirror as the strands fell to the floor.

The person looking back at me was a stranger, the short hair only adding to the new illusion of separation. But this was what I wanted. I grabbed my bag and made my way back out into the main area, my hood once again over my head. I spotted the man at the door and he waved me over, pointing toward a man that was literally twice my size.

"You want to fight, well there's your guy. You'll need a sponsor, but since you're new you'll have to do it yourself this time."

"How much?"

"Because I don't want you to lose much, two hundred Yuans."

I handed over the money, setting my bag down and pulling my sweater over my head and tossing it over to my bag. The current match stopped and a pair of men carried one of the participants away on a makeshift stretcher, their face all busted and bloody. It was a miracle he was still alive. The man who I was going to fight was already inside the ring and he noticed me, pretending to cut his throat before pointing in my direction. My eyes narrowed. So much for going easy on the guy.

I stepped inside the ring, the crowd cheering for the big guy and jeering at me as they closed the metal door shut behind me. My opponent was bald, had a small beard and reeked of sweat. I took a deep breath, getting into my stance just as he tossed a boulder at me. I easily dodged and that's when the real fight began.

He didn't even last ten minutes.

The big guy from before was surprised but kept sending people in, only for me to send them back out in a bloody mess. The guy at the door would come over to the fence while I waited for my next opponent, giving me my towel and a shot which I gladly took, loving the burning sensation as it went down my throat. I was on a roll, the adrenaline buzzing in my veins and the alcohol numbing me to any attack that actually managed to land.

Too soon I was called out the ring and the guard handed me a big roll of money. I took it, tossed it in my bag and put my sweater back on, trying to keep my balance and wiping the sweat off my face with my arm.

"Hey kid, where you think you're going?" he asked. "You're gonna have to celebrate with us. You did some serious damage in there."

"Not bad for someone who was gonna get squashed, huh?" I answered.

"Remind me never to bet against you in a fight again," he said with a grin, holding a glass of strong smelling liquid out to me. "Have a drink, it's on the house."

I took the bottle instead.

Mako's POV

I stood as the front door opened. I had arrived home a few hours ago to find my wife missing, her phone off and no one had a clue where she could be. I called her mother and she told she had been going to gym but when I called Benji, he told me she had left hours ago and I felt something knot in my stomach. I informed the White Lotus and Chief Bei Fong of the situation and they assured me they'd look for her but that I needed to stay home in case she'd only stepped out for a moment. However, it wasn't until almost four in the morning that she came home, barely able to walk and reeking of alcohol. It was a moment before I noticed something else.

"You cut your hair?" I asked.

"Oh, you're here?" she noted before dropping her gym bag on the floor by the door and taking a swig from the bottle in her hand.

My jaw clenched. I had been gone for almost three weeks due to matches in the Earth Kingdom. I had asked Senna to stay with her during my absence, though in all honesty I didn't want to leave my wife. Now, seeing how she was clearly intoxicated, I had never regretted leaving so much.

She started to make her way to the bedroom but I stepped in her way, my eyes narrowed as I noticed her busted lip and swollen eye. What the hell had she been doing while I was away?

"What happened to you?" I demanded as I moved to inspect the injuries.

Korra slapped my hand away, lifting the bottle to her lips to take another drink. "None of your business." Her words were slurred and she was swaying lightly on her feet. "Now get out of my way or I'll make you."

That was the last straw.

I snatched the bottle away from her lose grip and she threw a punch forward but I easily dodged it, causing her to topple to the ground. She pushed herself up and glared at me before standing to try to take the bottle back but I walked over to the sink and poured it out.

"Hey! That was mine!"

"Enough, Korra!" I finally snapped. "I've given you your space, I've tried to understand you but I will not let you become an alcoholic!"

"What the hell do you care?!" she yelled back. "This," my wife added, holding the empty bottle to her chest. "helps me forget. It makes the pain go away."

"This isn't the answer." I was trying to calm down, to be reasonable. "And I care because you're my wife."

"It is, for me." Korra paused, looking at the bottle before setting it down, leaning against the counter. "I fight in those matches because it's the one thing I can control right now. And drinking…it makes it easier."

Matches? Did she mean those underground matches? I decided that was a conversation for when she was sober. "I know that losing the baby hurt you, but you can't just-"

"You don't know anything," Korra hissed. "I carried that baby. He was my son. My baby. You don't know what it was like to have him ripped from me and unable to do anything." Her shoulders began to shake and I tried to comfort her but she pushed me back, hugging herself.

I was done. "Why are you pushing me away?" I asked. "That baby was mine too! It hurt me too! Why do you hate me!"

"Because he would have looked like you!" she finally screamed. I watched as she finally started to cry and she shook her head. "I can't look at you because…our baby would have had your face. You're the reminder of what I lost…I can't…I'm sorry…"

She slid down to sit on the floor, her hands tangled in her now short hair as she continued sniffed and whimpered. I blinked away my own tears before pulling out my wallet and kneeling down to her level and showing her the ultrasound picture. Her breathing hitched and she took the image, holding it tightly against her chest.

"I know you're in pain, I am too," I began gently. "But this baby, our baby," I said pointing at the picture. "They wouldn't want their mom to drown herself in alcohol. This baby would want you to move on, Korra. I'm not saying it'll be easy, but you can't do this to yourself. I won't let you do this to yourself." I loved this woman, my wife. I would never let her destroy herself if there was something I could do to prevent it.

Korra didn't say anything as she sobbed, holding the picture and I sat next to her, wrapping an arm around her and actually she allowed it, even going as far as to rest her head on my shoulder. We stood like this for a moment before she pulled away, trying to stand and I helped her and got her up the stairs, getting the shower ready for her. When she came out I asked her to lay down, covering her up and gently pushing back the hair from her face as I handed her the picture once more.

I called Bei Fong and the White Lotus and let them know that she was home, both were relieved. I made a move to return to my pallet on the floor when Korra's hand grabbed my wrist. I looked back over at her and saw her tired, sad eyes watching me, pleading with me. I couldn't deny her anything. I slid into bed behind her but didn't touch her, letting her control the situation. And after a moment she turned to face me and closed her eyes.

This had been our first challenge as a married couple, and it had been rough. But I knew we would get through it. After all, you fight for the people you love.

Asami's POV

For the past couple of weeks I had been feeling nauseous, over eating only to throw it all up later. The food I once loved I couldn't stand the smell of. And when the symptoms persisted I made a doctor's appointment. I went to the market first, picking up a few groceries and other essentials, pausing in one the isles, suddenly feeling dumb for not considering the possibility. I grabbed the box and paid before I went back home. After a few minutes I got my result and I didn't stop the smile that graced my face.

I was pregnant. I was going to have a baby.

Every time I'd brought up the subject Tahno didn't seem all that thrilled though he did nothing to make sure it didn't occur. Our marriage had its bumps but this baby, this miracle, could maybe help our struggling. It was going to be a big responsibility and maybe that's what he needed so that he could grow up a little. I needed to tell him.

I went to the doctor's appointment anyways and told him what I had found out and he decided to order a few tests just to make sure. After all of that was done I decided that I couldn't wait for my husband to come home. I just had to share the good news. We were going to have a family.

I arrived at the gym and I asked where Tahno was. The clerk looked surprised and a little nervous but I brushed it off, thinking nothing of it when he answered. I walked in, expecting to find him practicing only to see him holding another woman against the wall, and sticking his tongue down her throat.

My excitement was replaced by shock only for a moment before I realized I should've seen this coming. The late night practices, the lack of interest in our marriage... Hindsight was a bitch.

After a moment I cleared my throat and he looked up, meeting my gaze with a look of complete disinterest. "I want a divorce," I told him.

"Finally something we can agree on."

And that was that.