Ch. 2: Decisions

The awkward slapping of little feet echoed off the bricks in the garden. Chorus of mother and child giggling was like the beautiful sound of birds in spring.

Lin watched as Korra, gripping the hands of their child, guided the little one's unstable feet across the patio. A cup of tea found its way to her lips. The spicy flavor of a special fire nation brand made her shiver.

"How is everything?" Someone asked fromthe chair next to her.

Lin glanced at the women in bright orange and yellow robes with the always thoughtful smile.

"It's been difficult." She admitted. "Most nights are fine. But..." The sentence lost steam as the wailing echoed in her head. The sleepless nights were weighing her down. She'd woken up at her desk in work a couple of times. With pen still in hand and a dried ink stain on an important document.

Pema laughed. "It can be difficult. The best way is to just let her cry herself to sleep in the crib. Trust me, I have some experience when it comes to this."

"I have no doubt about that." Lin agreed. Not even Tenzin would of believed it if the first avatar himself told him that the two women shared a laugh. Spirits; the world had changed. "The problem is Korra. She insists the baby sleep in our bed. Maybe if you tell her she's coddling her to much she'll listen."

They shared another laugh.

"Tenzin said the same thing. Four times over." Pema Said.

"So I guess I should give up then."

"It will save you two a lot of arguments." Pema replied over the brim of her cup.

A shout from the air came. "Korra!" Solicited women looked to the sky. As three long shadows flew past Lin and Pema. Three teenagers, two girls and one boy, dropped out of the air on small human length pieces of wood with wings. Each wearing identical yellow and orange robes to their mother that flurried as they retracted the wings on their gliders making the pieces of wood look like simple staffs. The teenage boy who proudly displayed his airbending tattoos with his short sleeved shirt and bald head. And who was just starting to grow a beard similar to his father's let his sisters have first go at their niece. Poking, prodding, and tugging the defenseless child. That is till mother got in the way and tore the child away and held her protectively between her busom.

Lin chuckled.

"How old do you think she is?" Pema asked.

Lin became mechanical as she recited what the doctor had told them as if it were a report that had come across her desk. "At least one, maybe a few months more. Since she has a few teeth and can sort of walk. She also doesn't have much of a problem with solid food. As long as it's small enough and not to hard for he to chew."

"Sounds about right." Pema agreed. "Have you two picked out a name yet. It's been a mouth already."

"No." Lin was sullen. Her face pointed at her feet. "I haven't had a lot of free time. A new gang has popped up and seems to be giving the triple threats a run for their money. There's been a lot of turf wars...I feel bad, Pema. That Korra's been taking up a lot of my slack with taking care of her."

"It's hard when you have two working parents, Lin."

"Yes. And thank you for watching her. I'm sorry to have to put that on you."

Pema did a double take. Lin was thanking her; spirits. She laid a hand on Lin's arm. "Were family Lin. Both Korra, and you, and now her." She looked over to the group. "But it would be nice to have a name to call my niece."

"We'll pick it soon. Tonight...I'll make sure by tomorrow she'll have a name."

"It's not a race Lin." Pema chastised.

Lin mumbled.

They settled into silence. Pema thinking the conversation had ended since the women beside her decided to go back to tending to her tea. Head laid into her breast as she sipped the liquid being cooled by the breeze. Mind swimming about the two girls in her life.

"I-Pema." Said person tilted to look at the normally stoic women now stumbling to put her thoughts into words. "I'm thinking about resigning...as chief. Take on a lighter job."

Before a response came Pema took a sip of tea. Which made Lin uneasy. "Are you sure?" She finally asked.

"Yes." Was her answer. Lin's decisive nature showing through. "I've been thinking about this for a while now. Before all this. Korra has been trying to get me to do it too. But now, with the baby."

"You want to spend more time with her."

"Yes, I do. The both of them." She hastily rebutted the first part. "I want to be able to see the both of them more. I've never been in a relationship as strong as this one not since..." And trailed off unable to finish out of embarrassment.

Pema nodded. "Since Tenzin. You can say it Lin. That's in the past. I don't think I should have any fears of you trying to steal him away. Not this late in the game. I know how you feel about Korra. We all do, Lin."

"Yeah." Lin sighed. Hunching over and resting her elbows on her knees. Hands clenched so she could rest her chin on them. With the rim of her cup just under her nose so she could breath in that spicy scent. And just stared ahead.

The laughter of her...family. That's what she should call it now. It was just her and Korra before. A couple. Now they had another. They had a family now with the three of them. And it made her smile. Never...

"I never would of dreamed this about you Lin." Pema voiced the thoughts as if she were reading Lin's mind. "I always thought you never would of found someone. Not after what happened with Tenzin."

"Thanks." Lin said gruffly.

"No, Lin." The women reached out and set her hand on the women's forearm. A caring warmth willing to be spread through the touch. "I'm glad I was wrong."

A calloused hand patted Pema's. "Thank you, Pema." Lin stood up. "Now, if you'll excuse me. I think Korra needs my help." She grinned.

The three airbender Kids were blazing around on their air scooters. Korra on their heels. As they were playing keep away with her child. Handing the giggling bundle off to each other when the Water tribe women came close to catching one of them.

Knuckles cracked.

"My little penguin doesn't seem to be enjoying the game. Sorry, Pema. I may have to get a little ruff with your kids."

Waving a robed arm Pema sent her off. "Fine by me. Maybe you can control those teens. Spirits know they don't listen to me now."

A pillar of rock launched Lin into 'the game.'