Thank my amazing Co author, BG-13, and check out We're friends, aren't we?

Korra's POV

Ever since Mako and Bei Fong had brought me home, Jason hadn't let go of my neck. His sobs rocked his tiny frame until I managed to assure him that I was fine.

My mother and Katara were doing what they could to heal my injuries but Jason wasnt making it easy. In an effort to help them I would switch the boy from one arm to the other.

Once they were done I noticed Jason's eyes were dropping and I kissed his temple. He had every right to be exhausted. I carried him to his room and set him on the bed. He wouldn't let go of my neck at first but I told him I wasn't going anywhere and he relaxed.

I took off his boots and jacket first before stripping him down to his little undershirt and shorts. I couldn't help but remember the raw fear in his eyes as I handed him to Howl. Tears had streamed down his face and his hand had reached for me as he screamed for me.

I could still hear it.

'Korra! Korra, don't leave me!'

"Does it hurt?" He was staring at the bandages wrapped around my arms.

"It only stings a little," I answered, trying to keep him from worrying about me. "You need to go to sleep."

He yawned as he fought to stay awake but I could tell sleep was calling him.

I sat down on the edge of the bed and smoothed his jet black hair as his breathing started to even out. I'd never seen him so scared, and I hoped I never had to again. I couldn't help but feel guilty, thinking this must've been what my parents felt when I'd disappeared.

"Goodnight, kiddo," I whispered, standing to go to my room.

"Goodnight, Mommy."

I froze. Did he...did he just...? I looked back at him only to see he was fast asleep. I felt my body going numb. I tried to shake it off, shake the word out of my head but I couldn't.

He'd called me mom.

I had to get out of there. I couldn't be in the same room with him until I figured out how to go about this.

Senna's POV

I was surprised to find my daughter up this late at night. She was sitting on the windowsill, something I hadn't seen in a while, and staring out at the bay. Tonight was a full moon, and even without her Bending abilities she seemed restless on these nights. It didnt help that a fun day at the fair had turned into a nightmare. The white bandages around her arm stood testimony to that.

I gently placed a hand on her shoulder, careful not to startle her. She looked over her shoulder at me.

"It's late," I said. "What are you doing up?"

Korra returned her attention to the bay. I sighed, thinking she wasnt going to talk to me. We hadn't exactly been on the best terms lately. But after a moment, and almost hesitantly, she spoke.

"He called me mom."

I blinked, trying to register this. Whenever my daughter was home, her and Jason were inseparable. And for some time now I'd suspected he looked at her as more than a caretaker.

"That's great," I replied with a smile. My daughter lowered her gaze. I frowned. "What's wrong?"

My little girl shut her eyes and shook her head. "I don't deserve it." She opened her eyes and looked over toward Jason's bedroom door. "I don't deserve him," she added quietly.

"What? Why?"

"Look at me, Mom!" she snapped, gesturing to herself as she swung her legs over the side of the window pane so she was facing me. "I'm not exactly a parental figure!"

I furrowed my brow, trying to comprehend. When she'd said she wanted to adopt Jason I thought it was because she saw him as a son. I didn't understand why him calling her mom would bother her.

"I thought you wanted Jason," I replied carefully.

"I do." Korra wrapped her arms around herself. "But look at me," she repeated, her tone soft, and something else I couldn't identify. "I'm damaged... And I don't want him to turn out like me."

"Korra," I began sharply. "We told you, you can't give him back."

"It's not that!" she quickly clarified. "I..." She sighed. "I just don't know what to do and sometimes I don't even know how to talk to him. And I don't want him to think I don't care about him..."

She seemed so lost, confused even. I knew this situation was completely new to her. She hadn't been prepared for this.

I placed my hand against her cheek. "Sweetie, what do you feel?"

I saw her swallow thickly. "It's like this...this bubbly feeling." She clutched the fabric of her shirt above her heart tightly between her fingers. "I've never felt this before. He...he makes me feel..." She paused, seemingly unable to find the words. "And it's been so long..." Her eyes were glistening with in she'd tears. "It - it hurts, Mom."

I pulled her to me, soothingly rubbing her back. "It's okay. This feeling is completely normal. You're doing a great with Jason." And she was. Korra would go to the moon and back for that boy. "Plus, I'm sure he meant what he said. You have nothing to fear."

"But that's exactly what scares me. Amon won't stop till I'm dead. I don't want to leave him all alone. He's already lost two parents..."

Now it all made sense. "You won't," I said, pulling back to look at her. "You're doing great," I repeated. "Now go and get some rest. He's probably wondering where you are."

My daughter sighed and nodded, getting up, slightly limping to his room. She stopped half way to look back at me. "Thanks for the talk, Mom," she said with a small smile.

I smiled back. "Anytime," I answered, watching as she went inside Jason's room. I sighed. Korra was trying, I could see that. But I could also see why she was scared. She didn't want Jason to get attached only for something to happen to her. I had seen his tear stained face when Howl came home with him. He'd kept asking for Korra and when she'd finally came in, injured, he'd ran up to her and wrapped his arms around her neck and refused to let go.