There was a nightly ritual in the Beifong house that had gone on since even before the children were born, and that took form in spending time together in the Beifong study. It had begun when the house was first built, and Su and Baatar Sr. would sit together planning their dream city late into the night. When the children were born it turned into story time before bed every night after dinner.

Kuvira had taken note of this tradition the first night she was there. Even her new presence did not disrupt it. Life went on with or without her.

This Beifong tradition had given birth to Kuvira's own ritual of watching the family from a distance, not wanting to intrude on something so precious. It was not her place. So she stood night after night with her eye pressed against the small crack in the door, watching her adoptive family.

Su sat cross-legged on the couch, a book in hand held out so the children around her could see the beautiful pictures on its pages. Wing and Wei, still infants, were propped in her lap, leaning against either knee. Both had already given up and were fast asleep. Little Opal, a toddler, was leaning against Su's right arm. The girl's eyes kept drooping, but would open wide every time she caught herself dozing off. Huan was leaning on Su's other arm. His eyes were always drooping, but usually out of boredom. Baatar Jr. was next to Opal and lying back on the couch. He was focused intently on the story and his mother, though he was the eldest and could stay awake longer.

Every night was the same: everyone gathered to hear their matriarch reading a story. Even Baatar Sr. who was constantly working on some new design for a new building was always there with his papers on his lap so he could work as well as be with his family. Though Kuvira noticed that the father often did not even look at his notes and instead gazed fondly at his family and listened while his wife read.

When the story was over, Kuvira would always run quietly back to her room as the mother and father put each child to bed. However, tonight she strayed from her nightly routine. Her eyes began to droop as she listened to Su's comforting voice, and after fighting it for a few minutes, Kuvira felt herself slide into a seated position against the wall next to the door and fell asleep.

Su and Baatar had just finished putting each child to bed and were returning to the study to relax as they did every night. But, as they were returning, they found little Kuvira curled up on the floor sleeping outside the study. The door had previously blocked their vision of her when they left to put the children to bed.

Baatar knelt down and gently picked her up in his arms, turning toward his wife confused. He brought her into the study and placed her gently on the end of the couch. Su went to their room and grabbed a spare blanket and pillow, making the girl comfortable without waking her. She looked so peaceful.

When the preparations were done, Su sat next to Baatar on the couch across from Kuvira, and her husband placed his arm around her shoulders and pulled her so she was leaning on him. They watched her sleep in silence for a few minutes before Su finally spoke, quietly so as not to wake Kuvira.

"Do you think she's always out there?" Su asked him. Her tone conveyed a bit of sadness.

"I don't know. It looks that way," Baatar said.

Su felt a pit in her stomach when he said this. This girl had subjected herself to watching them each night from a distance, feeling unable to come in and join. It may have been insignificant, but it must have been a form of torture to a girl who never had that with a loving family.

She felt Baatar shift and kiss her head before he stood up, extending a hand to her.

"We should go to bed. It's late," he said. He looked over at Kuvira. "Let her sleep."

She took his hand and let him lift her to her feet. Su began walking to the door to their bedroom. When she saw that Baatar was not following her, she turned to investigate and found him leaning over Kuvira. He kissed the little girl's forehead, like he had done so many times before for his own daughter before he turned and joined Su in their bedroom.

Kuvira awoke early in the morning, a turn in bed nearly sending her to the ground. She sat up abruptly, unsure of where she was. Looking around she recognized the study, a room she had only looked in on, never been in. Looking farther to her right she saw a door slightly ajar. After letting her eyes adjust to the darkness she could make out Su and Baatar asleep in their own room.

She looked at the pillow under her head and the now messy blanket strewn about on the couch and then looked to the heads of the household, oblivious to her in their peaceful slumber. She felt something she had never felt before, and it nearly made her cry. She felt loved.

~AN~

Thanks to everyone for reading and reviewing. Words cannot describe how much I appreciate it.

Just to explain myself a bit: much of my headcanon about young Kuvira and her first days in the Beifong family revolve around some feelings of insecurity stemming from her feelings of abandonment. But I promise that this will change because she is obviously not an insecure child anymore.

Again thank you for reading and a special thank you for reviews.