Korra's POV

I took a deep breath, preparing myself as I walked toward Asami's room. I had arrived two days ago, my husband following shortly after. The doctors hadn't let me see my best friend because of her critical condition but now that she seemed to have stabilized. Mako had managed to get me to take a nap before I woke up and asked when I could see her. The match had been cancelled and my Firebender had contacted his brother to have the kids taken to Tenzin who had gone to the Fire Nation along with a couple of Airbenders. They were heading to the city on another sky bison and I just wanted to make sure they were safe. Victoria was with Pema for the time being and although she was worried about her mom, she seemed to be doing okay.

The air felt like it had been knocked out of me upon stepping foot in the hospital room. The person laying in the bed looked frail, and small and... They did not look like my best friend.

"Asami..." I walked further into the room and to the other side of the bed, my hand immediately finding hers. "Asami," I called, trying to get her to show some sort of life. I was relieved when she slowly opened her eyes. "Hey..."

She blinked once, slowly, tiredly, taking fractured breaths with the help of the ventilator. "You made it."

I nodded, forcing a chuckle that was watery and sad. "Where else would I be?"

"I waited for you."

I nearly broke, tightening my hold on her sweaty hand, because that sounded too much like the beginnings of a goodbye. This wasn't goodbye. This couldn't be it.

"Korra..." She took a stuttered gasp of air. "I don't want...I don't want Victoria to...to see me like this."

I managed to swallow the lump in my throat, nodding my head. "Okay, I, uh, I'll talk to the doctors."

I went outside, asking the nurses where the doctor's office was and followed her down the hall. I knocked on the door before going inside, the man looking surprised to see me. His eyes were apologetic and it took all my strength to keep standing.

"I want to take Asami home."

He sighed and shook his head. "Her body is rejecting the transplant. She's in no condition-"

"You think I don't know that?" I snapped. "I know what kind of condition she's in but she doesn't want to die here. Now, unless there's a way to save her life, I want to take her home."

"We've exhausted all treatments. The transplant was her last hope. I'm sorry, Avatar Korra."

I turned and walked out, heading back to Asami's room when I felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around me. And I lost it. I cried into his shoulder all my pain, my anguish... My defeat. I had failed her. I'd failed.

Mako's POV

I watched from the door as Asami talked to the kids. Korra had brought her home from the hospital and she had asked for some time with our children. She had talked to Victoria first and I asked Mya and Sammi to let her go in alone. I could see the former CEO try to blink back tears as she talked to her daughter. It was heartbreaking just to imagine what she was saying to her. Mya and Sammi went in next and I could see the confused expression on my little Firebender's face as his aunt gave him back his bear. I heard Korra whimper and I brought her close to me, hugging her as she tried to keep herself together.

"I don't understand, Aunt 'Sami," my youngest said. "Where are you going? I thought you were better."

"I'm going...somewhere where...I can't take teddy," she answered. "It's a place... where I will be better and... I can watch you...and protect you from there."

"I don't want you to leave."

"I know...I don't want... to leave either."

My son wrapped his arms around her while Mya crossed her arms across her chest, silent tears streaking down her cheeks and I could feel my eyes water.

Korra's POV

I kissed Sammi's forehead before Mako took him and the girls downstairs to eat something. The doctor had come by earlier today to check up on my best friend and he had shaken his head. It was bad. The end was near. I had allowed the kids to be with her and given her some time alone with her daughter as I explained to my little ones that they had to he careful with their aunt. Mako asked me how I was doing and I told him I was holding up which was far from the truth. He knew it and I knew it. I was losing my best friend. Victoria was losing her mom. I was far from being okay.

"Do you need anything?" I managed to ask as I approached her. I didn't want her to be uncomfortable. It was the least I could do. "What do you want me to do, 'Sami? Name it." I would do anything Asami asked me. I'd make it happen.

"Can you...can you just...stay with me, just for a moment," my best friend managed. Her pale hand moved and grabbed my tan one, and I squeezed it to show that I was there, that I wasn't going anywhere.

"Of course. I wouldn't leave you." I took a seat next to the bed, holding Asami's hand while she laid there, trying to take deep enough breaths. "You gotta live a little, laugh a little, until the clouds roll by a little, that's the story of, that's the glory of love..." I sang the rest of the song, my voice barely above a whisper and cracking every so often. All the while Asami managed to upturn the corners of her lips in an effort to smile, seemingly at peace though she was covered in sweat and her hair was matted.

"There's so many things I want to say to you," I whispered when silence dominated the room long after the song winded to a close, my voice wavering as I looked at Asami, taking in her pale, sweaty appearance. "Things I want to apologize for, to make right."

"I hardly think...you need to apologize for anything..." There was trace amounts of humor in that barely there voice. "I know I've never been easy to deal with...myself..." I shook my head, eyes closed. "I don't regret any of it," Asami told me. "Meeting you...at the beach..." My chin trembled, as I tried to swallow my cries. "I couldn't have wished...for a better friend...thank you..."

My best friend slowly pulled her other arm free of the blanket, and my eyes zeroed in on the bracelet adorning her wrist. A new wave of tears welled up in my eyes and it took all my will not to completely lose the little composure I still had. The CEO then unclasped it, holding it gently in her hand before holding it out to me.

"This is yours."

"I gave it to you."

"And now...I'm giving...it back. I don't want it...to get lost." Her hand shook as her arm hung in the air, and I knew it was taking all her effort to hold it up like that. Asami was tired, that much was clear. So I spared us both an argument and gently grasped the piece of jewelry, bringing it to my chest, no longer trying to hold back tears, but still fighting back the whimpering sob that was stuck in my throat.

My friend was dying and I couldn't help her.

Asami's POV

I tried to take deep breaths, holding back tears as Korra tried to do the same. I was dying. Everyone had basically come by to say their goodbyes and I was glad. I was glad that I was able to see my friends and family before I died. I had talked to Victoria, telling her how sorry I was. I told her that I wanted her to be happy, so, so, happy. That she had to be strong, like a Sato, but that she had to learn to also be compassionate towards others, that's what Korra had taught me. I held her tightly against me before kissing her forehead and asking her to go with her cousins.

Sammi had nearly broken my heart. He was still too small, too young to understand that I was dying, that I wouldn't be able to play with him like I used to. The little Firebender and I had a bond similar to Korra and I, and although he didn't know what was happening he was just as sad as his sister and cousin. When Mako took them away, Korra came inside to talk to me, ask me if I needed anything. I needed her and she was there, doing her best not to cry.

My mother had died in front of me when I was eight. It was a horrible and traumatic memory I did not wish on anyone. Not my child, not my best friend. I could feel myself slipping away but I knew Korra wouldn't leave my side for anything. Well almost anything. I had to get her to leave. I didn't want her last memory of me be me taking my last breath.

"Korra," I managed to whisper. "Can you...can you go check on...Victoria? I...I don't want her to...be alone."

"Mako is with her," she replied. "She's not alone."

"Please," I insisted. "And...get me...something to drink...other than...water."

She managed a small laugh and shook her head. "Okay."

I let out a sigh. She wouldn't be here. She wouldn't watch me die. That's all I ever wanted for my best friend. My very loyal best friend. I felt my chest constrict, a pain shoot through my heart. I tried to sit up but it was too much and my vision suddenly blurred. I couldn't help but smile.

Finally. Peace.

Mako's POV

The moment I heard Korra scream I knew what had happened. Asami was gone. Pema hugged Victoria tightly to her and I lowered my gaze. The doctor quickly ran up the stairs but everyone knew it was too late. Tears welled up in Sammi's eyes and I picked him up, rubbing his back as I told him not to cry. Mya let a few tears of her own fall as she hugged her older cousin. They knew. Even as young as they were they knew what had happened. It would be a few minutes before the doctor came back down, glaring at us as he held his coat that was slightly singed.

"What happened?" I asked.

"Avatar Korra Firebended at me when I told her we needed to move Miss Sato," he answered, his voice nearly a growl. "We can't have the body-"

"Watch yourself," I told him, gesturing to the kids. He sighed irritably and I handed my son over to Pema. "I need to get Korra."

"I'll go with you," Tenzin said as he followed me.

I walked into the room to find Korra on the bed, holding her best friend's hand as she combed the hair away from the CEO's face. I took a deep breath as I stepped further into the room, knowing this wasn't going to be easy.

"Korra," I began gently.

"The doctor thinks it was a stroke. She was gone in seconds..."

"Honey..."

My wife shook her head, tears falling. "She died all alone. She was alone."

"There's nothing you could have done," Tenzin tried.

"She said she wanted me to be with Victoria but...she just didn't want me to see her die..."

"Korra, we shouldn't be in here," I said. This wasn't going to be easy for her. But she needed to understand. "There-there are things that they need, they need to move her."

A humorless laugh. "Take her to the morgue." Not a question. A fact.

"You can't stay here," I continued. "I know you want to."

"Can you please, please, just get out?" She sounded so tired. So heartbroken. "I want to be alone with Asami."

"Korra, that's not Asami," the Airbender said.

She turned to look at him, glaring at her former master. "Shut up."

"Korra, it's not Asami," he insisted. "The moment her heart stopped beating she stopped being Asami. Now I know you love her, and she loved you. And when a friend loves you like that, they don't want you to do this to yourself." He placed a hand on her shoulder. "Because it's not Asami, not anymore."

"Two weeks ago we were making plans to go back to the beach house," she answered quietly. "And now... and now she's going to the morgue. Isn't that ridiculous? Isn't it the most ridiculous piece of crap you've ever..."

Korra began to sob and I went to her side, picking her up and cradling her before sitting down on a nearby chair, holding her and rocking her in my arms as the doctor took Asami's body away. I kissed her temple repeatedly, telling her I was there as she cried for the loss of her friend. She took in shuttering breaths her eyes puffy from the crying.

"She left. She's gone," Korra managed between so s. "I've lost my best friend...What am I gonna tell the kids?"

"Calm down. Pema and Tenzin are with them-"

"No. They can't be alone."

I sighed and allowed her to stand, watching as she wiped away her tears before going downstairs. Victoria ran to her and she hugged her tightly, trying to soothe the heiress. She managed to calm her down, taking Sammi into her arms before taking them to their room so they would sleep, both Waterbenders sharing the same bed as usual. I talked to Tenzin about helping us with the funeral arrangements and to inform Vesta, Asami's aunt, of her passing. The Airbender told me he would and asked me to call him if we needed anything. I went to check on the kids, finding them asleep before going down to the kitchen. I took a deep breath when I spotted my wife with a glass of alcohol in hand and the bottle next to her.

"Korra..."

"Don't worry. It's my first glass. I just needed a moment." She sniffed, running her free hand through her short hair. Her bloodshot eyes stared emptily into the amber liquid.

"Do you think it's a good idea?" I asked, ready to take the alcohol away if need be. "I mean, you and liquor..."

The last time Korra had drank was when we'd lost our first born. She almost went over the edge and it had been so hard to bring her back... If she slipped back into that depressive state...

"Probably not," she agreed with a shrug, taking a sip. "But I need to forget, just for a moment. And then tomorrow, I'll be back to taking care of the kids and worrying about the arrangements." She stopped, looking at the glass in her hand, taking a deep breath before chugging the shot back in one swig. "But for once, just this once, I'm going to be selfish. And hate myself in the morning for it. Anything to feel something other than this blinding pain."

I sighed but nodded, placing a hand over hers. She wouldn't lose herself in alcohol. Not now, not ever. Korra was in pain and she wanted to forget just for a few hours. And I'd let her. Just this once.