To start things off, I'm kinda glad that I was too busy to post this chapter until now. This is a really special chapter to me, and it is my favorite chapter of fanfiction that I have ever written. I would like to take a moment to say a few things. While I didn't write this for Korra and Asami's anniversary on this day, December 19th, I feel like today was the most appropriate day I could have picked for posting this chapter. It really is a culmination of their growth, support, and love between them. And one of the things I love about this chapter is that you could read it out of context, without having read any of the chapters before, and understand. This is a chapter about them, and everything they have worked so hard to achieve. It is a chapter that signifies their love, in and out of canon. It is a chapter that starts to show what Korrasami means to me, and maybe even what it means to you.

Love. Nurturing. Acceptance. Happiness.

These are just a few of the things that signify the gravity of this relationship. Don't even get me started on the rest and on Korra and Asami as individual characters: they don't allot me enough words in this box to talk about that. I remember the night I watched the finale and midnight the day before work, and I remember crying when they walked into the portal together. Every time I think of them, there's a flutter in my heart. I feel encouraged. I feel safe. I feel strong. I feel loved. And I still have not been able to watch more than one episode of Korra to this day due to the emotions they have brought about inside of me.

So, let this be a celebration of them, a culmination of all that has come before them. I would like to dedicate this chapter to their anniversary, and to each and every one of you. You have all filled my heart with love and strength, and I would not be where I am today or who I am today without you. Thank-you, from the bottom, top, and sides of my heart for investing your time in reading my story. It means more to me than words can express and I cannot believe how lucky I am to have such amazing readers. I am honored to have you cross paths with me, and each time that I see a notification from one of you, a smile crosses my face.

Thank-you. Thank-you to you, the readers. Thank-you to the creators of Legend of Korra. And most of all, thank-you Korra and Asami, for bringing me something I never thought I would get to experience before.

(-)

Chapter 30

Perfect

"I can't believe you were able to find a polar bear dog." Asami grinned, tightening her grip on the torso-sized plush in her left arm. Her right was entangled with Korra's as they departed the sounds and smells of the darkening festival.

"I can't either, to be honest. Polar bear dogs are usually feared and hunted in the Southern Water Tribe."

"Maybe you taming one made a difference."

"Maybe. At least one person out there must think that kids would want a fluffy wild animal as a toy for that booth to have it. It might have taken me a few tries, but I got it!"

"A few? Try about thirty."

Korra pouted. "Those rings would not stay on those glass bottles, no matter how many times or ways I tossed it."

She chuckled and nudged Korra's shoulder with her head. "But you did it. Now I have a polar bear dog of my own."

"What are you gonna name her?"

She raised an eyebrow and looked at her plush. "I don't know, to be honest."

"You could always name her Naga, Jr., but you'd have to ask Naga about it first."

Asami laughed and straightened. "I suppose I would." She glanced at the festival behind her. Some of the lamps were being lit in the distance as the sun made its orange descent over the horizon. "Are we heading back to your place, Korra?"

"Actually, no. Not yet. There's one more spot I want to show you today, and it's not too far from here." She released Asami's arm only to slide her tan palm into the gloved one. Korra gave it a gentle squeeze and led Asami away from the carnival.

They walked for quite some time, enjoying the crisp air in their lungs and the quieting of the festival sounds from their ears. Asami took a final look at the fair; most of the tents were a blur, but the Ferris Wheel still stood tall. She thought to their adventure, from the many games they played to the foods they consumed. "Korra, how come we didn't have to pay for any of the stuff we did?"

She raised her brow in confusion. "The Glacier Spirits Festival is always free."

"But why? The Southern Water Tribe could make a huge profit on this and really help fund their economy."

"Because that's not what this is about, Asami. It's not about raising money and exploiting people. It's about bringing people together, whether it's the two Water Tribes and Spirits or people from all over the world."

Asami peeked over her shoulder again, a bit of wonder in her eyes. The giant ride was the only thing visible from their distance. She wondered why the pair hadn't gone on it until she turned around and saw what was before her.

The duo made their way to the top of a giant glacier of sorts. Really, it was more of a snow covered mountain or ledge. Still, it was quite high up, even taller than the Ferris Wheel – which seemed to be but a small circle as they began their ascent to the peak. There was ice and snow on all sides except one. While the Glacier Spirits Festival and Harbor City were behind them, the joining of the Igniga and Paniga Rivers into the Aakaga were in front of them, the convergence stretching out to almost the span of a lake – perception wise. The faint lights of common room fires in the homes of the village outskirts where Korra lived could be seen on the horizon, the outside of the homes glowing orange from the setting sun. The wind was much colder and fiercer at this height. Asami tightened her hold on Korra's hand as a breeze passed through them.

"Remember the first day we met and you asked me about the Southern Water Tribe? You asked me what my favorite place was and I told you it was the central glacier?"

She nodded, a smile forming on her face.

"Well, this is it. My favorite spot in the entire village, in the entire Southern Water Tribe."

Asami took a few steps forward towards the ledge, freeing herself from Korra's hold. She let her eyes touch on every single thing she could, and in all honesty, it was the most beautiful sight she had ever seen. The white of the snow along the many hills, valleys, and mountains radiated the color of the setting sun. Small, almost iridescent flowers littered the edges of the cliffs, their petals shimmering in the lowering light. They waved to her as the wind moved through them. With a squint of her eyes, she could see the dark blues of the ocean shorelines, a faint streak in the scenery. The color matched the mighty rivers at her sides and her front, stretching out to the small village that Korra called home. She glanced behind her, observing the sparkling lights of the festival below – now that it was dark enough to see the faint lamps. The stars were starting to shine, popping out of the darkness in full view. She understood, at that moment, why Korra hadn't taken her up onto the Ferris Wheel; the view from atop the ride just couldn't compare to the scenery on the glacier. Upon further rotation, her eyes landed on Korra, whom she decided in that instant was the most beautiful woman she had ever seen.

Her tan skin glowed under the light of the setting sun, the blues of her outfit complimenting her skin and matching the ocean eyes beaming back at her. The gentle smile and curve of her lips were to die for. Her wolf tails rustled in the soft breeze around them. Korra was motionless, her heart pounding as she watched Asami take in the sights – the real sights – of the village for the first time. She took a nervous step towards Asami, an arctic lily in her fingers behind her back; she picked the prettiest one she could find from the edge of the glacier while Asami was lost in her observing wonder.

"So, Asami… how do you like it?"

"I love it." She turned back around, watching the sun fading from sight.

Korra joined her side and crossed her arms over her chest, careful not to crush the flower she held. "It's pretty great, huh?"

She nodded. "I can see now why you were so homesick."

Korra chuckled and eyed the color of the sky as it started to shift into a dark blue.

Asami noticed this and interjected. "Can we stay, Korra? Just for a little while?"

Her grin expanded. "I was hoping you would want to." She looked away for a moment, a mixture of embarrassment, hesitation, and anxiety washing over her.

Come on, you can do this. You were fine before. Just take a breath, relax, and be smooth.

You make it sound easy.

"I – uh – I got this for you, too." She stared at the plant in her hand as she raised it up to the Asami. "It's an arctic lily." She grinned, locking onto the peridots before her. A gentle blush was on her cheeks, though it wasn't overwhelming. "They grow in the Southern Water Tribe, near the edges of cliffs and mountains, but they only grow on the sides where the moon and the sun sets, since that's when it's the coldest in both the day and the night."

Asami bent forward to examine the flower in Korra's fingers, mesmerized by its iridescent white petals. "It's gorgeous."

"May I?"

Their eyes met once more.

She raised a confused brow and nodded with hesitation.

Korra's smile grew in size. She stepped closer, taking advantage of Asami's curled position, and wove the lily into the side of Asami's hair, twisting the raven locks into a small plait to support it. "Arctic lilies came from the moon lilies that grow in the south. Moon lilies are pretty, too, but they aren't as shiny; their petals are mostly white. But they only open up during the full moon. Arctic lilies are here all year round, but they only like the peaks where it's the coldest." When she finished lacing, she slid back to observe her work.

"How does it look?" Asami ran a gloved hand through the unbraided portion of her hair and smiled.

"Perfect," Korra muttered, her heart pounding in her chest to the beauty before her. She stood there for another moment, face agape to Asami's splendor. With a nervous chuckle, she took a seat on the ground. She outstretched her legs and patted the spot beside her.

Asami followed without a second thought. She started in an agura position until another gust chilled her. Even with Korra's parka, she managed to feel the bitter cold sink into her bones.

Her shiver didn't go unnoticed.

Korra wrapped her right arm around Asami's shoulders in an effort to keep her warm. It wasn't long until Asami melted into her side. Korra shifted– bending her left knee up to hold herself in place – to accommodate the woman beside her. They remained in this position for quite some time, watching the almost-full moon replace the sun and the stars exhibit their beauty. She couldn't believe her peridot eyes: there were thousands – thousands – of stars in the sky of all sorts of shapes and sizes and lusters. It was a sight to behold, even prettier than the nights at her isolated Estate; miles and miles of distance from the City wasn't enough to allow for this type of scenery. She was overwhelmed and the smile on her face showed it. Asami pushed herself into Korra's arms, snuggling both her torso and her polar bear dog into Korra's core.

Korra, of course, didn't mind this in the slightest. She closed her eyes and took in the scent of arctic lilies with content – though she did miss the normal aroma that radiated off of ASami. There was still a bit of that too, but it was masked by the flower-scented soap used in the Southern Water Tribe. Still, Korra wasn't going to argue. If anything, she could get used to this: spending the day with Asami and Naga, watching the sunset with her in her arms. It was a dream come true to her. She realized, at that moment, that this was the happiest she had ever been in her life, despite her trace amounts of exhaustion and soreness in her body. She tightened her hold and set her oceans on the most beautiful sight in all the land: Asami. The gorgeous scenery couldn't compare to her, not even in the slightest.

And for once, Korra didn't lose control of her thoughts, composure, or her cheeks to the notion. There was no horrible pain in her head, no vivid memories and flashes of nightmares to distract her and pull her away from this moment. The only thing that came close was the pounding in her chest.

"The view is absolutely gorgeous." Asami murmured, still in a state of disbelief.

"She really is." Korra responded, only half-aware of Asami's actual words.

Asami turned her head and craned it upwards until her peridots locked onto the blues next to her. When she realized Korra had been looking at her when she made the statement, her heart melted.

They got lost in each other, as they had many times in the past. But this time was different. Neither of them knew how or why or what was even happening but they were inching closer to each other and neither of them could stop it – not that they even wanted to. Their hearts raced, blocking out any other noise in their ears.

They felt heat between them, and it was undeniable.

They let everything go. All the anguish. All the pain. All the hesitation and torment and uncertainty. All the faltering and fluttering and stammering. All of their flaws and hindrances. None of those things mattered, for their feelings were true. Everything just melted away as they melted into each other.

Their eyes closed when it became too hard to focus. Within a second after that, their lips touched. It was a simple graze at first, a slow-speed peck on their sensitive skin. Sparks shot through them. The kiss morphed into a soft, passionate parting of the lips, one that held more emotion than lust. They repeated the motion.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

It was then that they realized what they were doing. They pulled away from each other until their backs were mirrored, cheeks burning hot, the stuffed polar bear dog abandoned in the melding.

Neither of them knew what to say, but they knew they had to say something. Their rampant thoughts, each ranging from 'what just happened?' to 'holy fuck we just kissed' and beyond, didn't help.

Asami was the first to speak, though she wasn't the first to be brave.

"Korra, I – I didn't – I don't – maybe we should go."

"No." She rotated onto her knees to face Asami and grabbed her forearm to get her attention. Korra waited until Asami's front was to hers before speaking. "I'm not doing myself any favors by holding it in anymore. I can't keep denying it. I have to tell you the truth." This time, she didn't continue until their eyes met.

Even though Asami knew what was coming, her heart refused to stop pounding. When her gloved hands were wrapped up by each of Korra's tan palms, the beating intensified.

"Asami Sato." Korra closed her eyes and took a deep breath, calming her nerves the best she could.

You can do it, Korra. You can do it.

She let go, let everything out of herself in that powerful exhale. When she locked back onto the peridots, she was ready – though she did ignore the thrashing in her chest. "Asami, I love you. I have for a long time, and I didn't get to tell you until now because I… I ran away. But I love you. I love you so much and I – I –" She faltered, her nerves creeping up and getting the best of her. "IthinkweweremeanttobetogetherandIcantwaitonemoreminute – noonemoresecond – to tell you and –"

"Korra – Korra, relax. I – I know." She fought the tears welling up into her eyes and squeezed Korra's hands to calm her from her declining ability to speak. Sure, she had a hunch that Korra had feelings for her, but to finally hear her say it; it was beyond anything she could comprehend – especially given Korra's quickening pace to her speech.

Korra, on the other hand, was a bit baffled and shocked, and it wasn't just from her embarrassing slip during her confession.

Wait, she knew? She knew this whole time? And she didn't say anything? She let me make a fool of myself, this entire time?

She struggled to make her tongue, lips, and vocal chords work at the same time. She wanted to ask Asami so many things: How? Why? When? The list went on and on. But there was only one thing – one question she could muster in her struggling state. "Do – do you love me, too?"

Asami smiled and lifted her hands to Korra's cheeks. She cradled the woman's jawline until her gloved fingertips mingled with her hair. She pulled her into a gentle kiss – similar to their last – before departing and staring deep into her ocean eyes. "Of course I do. I love you, Korra. With all of my heart."

Tears of joy streamed down Korra's face, tracing over the deep blush on her skin. She buried her hands into Asami's locks – appreciating their softness – and kissed her once more.

Asami's hands did the same, though she wanted nothing more than to rip her gloves off and feel Korra's skin in actuality.

Their kisses intensified, their lips widening with each one. They remained slow but increased in pressure, each of them blown away by the sensations they were feeling; it was nothing like what they imagined it would be, and lucky for them, it was better than their wildest dreams and fantasies. It felt good. It felt right. And nothing else in the world mattered to them.

It was Korra and Asami. Asami and Korra. It was their turn and no one else's.

A soft, very faint moan escaped Asami against her will. She had been hoping for this day and thinking of this moment for far too long. Her urges got the best of her and she deepened the kiss, a slight throbbing coursing through her and heading south.

Korra obliged without a single ounce of resistance; she had no idea – not even a single clue – that she would enjoy this so much, enjoy hearing the sounds of content radiating from the woman in her arms. She wanted more, and even though she didn't know how, she knew why.

Because she loved her. Because she lusted for her. Because everything in this damn moment just felt so – everything. Wonderful. Beautiful. Natural. Perfect.

Perfect.

She pulled Asami closer until their bodies were touching, the warmth from Korra's skin puncturing the parka and warming Asami to her core.

Asami wanted more. She wanted the heat, wanted the security, wanted the love and compassion and comfort that Korra had to offer.

Because she loved her. Because she lusted for her. Because everything in this damn moment just felt so – everything. Wonderful. Beautiful. Natural. Perfect.

Perfect.

Nothing could pull them apart. Nothing but the rapid arctic gust that forced their kissing to stop.

They panted for breath – Korra moreso than Asami – as a chill crept over their skin. Their eyes met, soft smiles on their lips.

Korra noticed the faint pink on Asami's cheeks and nose from the cold. "Do you want to head back?"

She shook her head and melted back into Korra, similar to the position they were in before they had kissed. "I want to look at the stars for a little longer." If anything, she didn't want to leave this absolute paradise; she would do anything to stay here for the rest of her life.

Korra couldn't agree more, in all honesty. This was the best she had ever felt in her life. She nodded and grabbed the stuffed polar bear dog with the arm that wasn't wrapped around Asami. She handed it to her and placed her palm on top of the gloved one. When a second shiver crawled through Asami's limbs, Korra pulled her closer. "Here," she ushered the woman between her outstretched legs, guiding her until Asami's back was against her front and her hips were framed by her baggy blue pants, in as innocent a position as possible. "I can cover more of you like this and keep you warm." She wiped her lips with the back of her hand before wrapping her arms around Asami once more; she noticed the residue of Asami's lipstick on her skin when her hand was in sight again. It made her smile and compelled her to tighten her hold.

A dark blush radiated off of Asami's face from the upright, almost-spooning arrangement. She waited until it was gone before she leaned more into Korra. Over time, she slid down until the back of her head was against Korra's chest. Her eyes fluttered shut, the stars her last sight and the warmth of Korra surrounding her – their fingers locked over the plush – her last feeling. She drifted into sleep not long after that, more content – no, happier – than she had ever been in her life. She was at ease, and the entire world – all of her worries and fears and everything else – faded away with a single breath.

(-)

300,00 words. You all made it over 300,000 words before their first kiss. I am proud of you all.