Authors Notes: So I got some hate for my last chapter, but that's ok, so long as it's constructive it's cool. I even used (more or less) a quote from one of the guest reviewers. I would like to hope everyone likes this chapter more, however it's a continuation of Korra's feelings on the upcoming nuptials and of course to move the story along. I also wanted to reiterate that Mako would be a good father (at least for this story) regardless of being married to Asami, but that Korra is pushing for the marriage because of society. I picture this story having parenting/marriage/relationship expectations similar to those of a 1920's America. That said, please enjoy. : )
The swings of the pendulum of the grandfather clock counted away the seconds … minutes...hours, that passed as Korra waited, in the dark, for her lovers to return home. It wasn't much longer before Mako and Asami would be married. The closer the deadline approached the less she saw of them.
"What was I expecting?" she asked rhetorically to the emptiness.
She reached behind her and scratched at her polarbear dog's, whom she was leaning against, thick fur coat. She had fed the majestic beast when she had come home. After being tired out after a long walk before dark, Naga rested herself on the living room floor and Korra had settled down with her, the creature her only companion currently. Together they waited as dusk gave way to the dark. The only light in the room was the city ambiance that filtered in through the windows. It seemed no one had time for her of late. Even her second family, the airbending clan, who always made time for her were all preoccupied these days. She tried to tell herself that it felt worse than it really was because she was feeling sorry for herself.
She was jealous that Mako and Asami would be getting married even though it was at her own direction. Even though it made her feel awful she didn't regret it. Korra still thought it was what would be best for the baby. None of that, including the knowledge that her lovers insisted she was essential to the family dynamic, changed her doubts and fears that the pending marriage and birth would render her obsolete. The increasing absence of her beloveds only added to her anxiety.
One and ½ months ago Asami and Mako had included her on the hasty wedding plans and decisions to make her feel as though she was part of the marriage, even though realistically she was only a witness to the nuptials as much as any other guest. Opal, once she had returned from her honeymoon, probably had more involvement with the planning than she did. It also didn't help that Korra was the avatar and had constant duties to attend to. There were plenty of times when Mako and Asami invited her on tour for ceremony and reception concerns (wine tasting, chef interviews, dress designers, etc. Asami does have refined tastes after all) and she had to turn them down because of avatar requests.
Just four days ago Korra was going to join them on a trip to her hometown to meet with a waterbender who would be making ice sculptures for the reception and she had to stay behind when she received a call from the Lin that her services were required. What made it even more frustrating was that it was over supposed pesky earth spirits that were destroying a woman's garden and Lin Beifong had told her the police couldn't waste any more resources on the woman when the issue was spirit based. She couldn't even catch up with Asami and Mako because it took her until today to realize it wasn't even spirits, as she caught a rabbitmole redhandedly burrowing in the woman's garden and stealing vegetables. Once again she felt slighted by someone she knew. It felt like dealing with the old woman was beneath Lin's stature and she passed it off onto Korra to deal with when all Korra so badly wanted was to be with Mako and Asami.
Korra sighed. It was just one more thing she was feeling sorry for herself over in which was her own doing. Lin didn't know that the she, Asami and Mako were in a relationship, and that she needed to be with them right now. No one did, aside from Opal and Bolin. Nor did anyone know how much she was sacrificing and hurting over the upcoming wedding, not even Mako and Asami, because she didn't tell them. Secrets were hard enough to keep between three people, let alone keeping ones all to yourself. Korra felt sad and alone at a time when she should feel happiest. She was in a relationship with two people she loved more than anything and they were going to have a baby. But all of those things hurt.
"Love shouldn't hurt this much." she said to herself. Placing her hands over her face she started to cry. Naga picked her head up off the floor sensing her human's sadness. She licked Korra's hands, and Korra rolled into Naga burying her face into the white fur, taking comfort where she could. The brunette cried herself to sleep, just as she had done as a child at times, with the safety and unconditional love of a pet.
It was past midnight when Mako and Asami arrived home to find Korra asleep on the floor. Naga's tail thumped heavily against the wooden floor boards but she did not move to meet them. The smart animal did not want to disturb the girl that rested against her.
"Do you think she was waiting for us this whole time?" asked Asami of Mako as she turned on the living room light.
"I don't know." Said Mako as he leaned down and patted the animals head. "Hey girl. Were you keeping Korra company?" You are a good girl aren't you?" Mako finished in an exaggerated baby voice. Asami noted how cute Mako could be with Naga and felt it was a good reference for how he would be with their baby in the near future.
Mako pulled Korra close to him and cradled her in his arms as he carried her to their room. Korra snuggled herself into Mako's chest and he couldn't help but feel his heart go out to her. He looked at her pretty face, very childlike in her sleep, and noticed the reddish puffiness around her closed eyes.
"I think Korra has been crying." he said softly to Asami, who was following him into the bedroom.
"And you have an idea what is bothering her?" asked Asami, looking for a theory. As Korra was an emotionally charged person tears were not unusual for her.
"I don't know." said Mako. After laying Korra down on their bed he changed into sleeping attire and watched as Asami did the same. He liked the way the growth of their baby made her slim abdomen protrude ever so slightly. He walked over to Asami and hugged her from behind and placed a kiss on her shoulder.
"Maybe it's us. She acts like you and I get married and having a baby doesn't bother her, but I think it does." Mako wanted it to bother Korra. Not because he wanted her to hurt, but because he selfishly wanted to be that important to her. "I wish I could express to her how imperative she is to me."
Asami turned and kissed Mako on the lips. "You know we will." She touched his face, before slipping away from him to pull a night dress over her head. "Once the wedding is over and we get back to our regular routine everything will be fine."
Asami climbed into bed next to Korra and removed the brunettes shoes and pelt. Asami decided the rest of her clothes were comfortable enough to sleep in. "I know you are worried about Korra, but let's focus on just making it through the wedding. Getting a whole wedding together in such a short time is no easy feat, and we just accomplished the most important piece."
"Booking your ice sculpture artist was the most important piece of your wedding? I thought it was supposed to be the person you were marrying." Korra laughed groggily.
"Korra honey, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you." Apologized Asami, as Mako turned off the light.
Korra could feel Mako climb into bed on her other side and she smiled to herself when he wrapped his arms around her. "s'kay, I was trying to wait for you two to come home anyway. How was the trip?"
"Good." replied Asami "We accomplished exactly what we set out to do." She reached for and found one of Korra's hands.
"Were my parents disappointed I couldn't make it?" Inquired the avatar, feeling much better now that she was being enveloped with love from both her partners.
"A little bit." said Mako, "but your parents adore Asami, so they had someone to dote on in your absence."
"Your mother wouldn't stop feeding me. I think I gained ten Pounds." interjected Asami
Korra laughed "It's OK you are starving the baby anyway, he/she could use the food." Then to Mako "Did my dad give you a hard time Mako?" She knew her father was not a big fan of Mako these days.
"He was cordial, but by the end I think we came to an understanding. I can't blame him though. If I have a daughter one day, I would kill a man for treating her the way I did you...and Asami." He held Korra tighter. "I'm glad I got another chance to make things right."
"I know." said Korra. "You are doing a good job." She snuggled her back side closer to Mako, Making sure not to let go of Asami's hand.
"Speaking of jobs" said Asami "How did it go with that Earth spirit that Lin couldn't handle?"
Two weeks later Asami raced down the speedway, in her sporty satomobile; loving the feel of of hair whipping behind her from the wind. She didn't care how messy the drive made it as she and Korra were getting makeovers-Asami's treat.
"I am so excited we get the spend the whole day together." Asami looked at Korra quickly before turning her attention back to the road "I am sorry we haven't had a lot of time together the last few weeks, but we are going to have so much fun today."
Asami took the exit for center city and parallel parked in front of her favorite high end spa.
"yea!" said Korra with false enthusiasm as she eyed the beauty parlor/spa.
Korra was glad to spend the day with Asami but getting a massage and make overs was not her idea of an ideal day. However she followed Asami into the parlor without comment as she knew Asami had planned what she thought would be a great day. Still, she thought as she undressed for the massage, that Asami knew her a little better than this.
The avatar had to admit though that the tiny masseuse, who had unexpectedly strong hands, had a talent. Those hands were working magic on releasing the tension from her muscles. She groaned happily as her body relaxed. This felt like exactly like what she needed and until this moment she had no idea she needed it. Perhaps Asami knew her better than she knew herself.
That is until she had to sit through her nails being painted, make up applied and her hair piled into an intricate hold which required painful pulling and lots of pins. Asami however sat next to her easily chirping away and having the best time of her life.
"You look amazing Korra. How do you feel about it?" Asami asked
Korra scowled at herself in the mirror as the hairdresser affixed 'sparkly things' to her hair. She had to admit she looked rather beautiful. "I guess it's nice. A little fancy though, are you taking me somewhere nice for dinner?"
"I hadn't planned on it, but we can if you want to." Laughed Asami, "Though you usually think the portion sizes are rather small at those fancy restaurants." Asami moved back to the subject of Korra's hair " Do you think you would like your hair like this for next week or should we try another style?"
"For the wedding?" Asked Korra suspiciously.
"Well yeah, today was the practice run. After this we have your final fitting for your dress too."
"You mean I have to sit through this again?" Korra swatted at the hairdressers hand as she made incomprehensible adjustments. Korra really couldn't see what else the stylist could do to her hair. "And here I thought this day was about me." The beautician made a face and then decided to walk away from the avatar, not wanting to be smacked again. Nor did she want to get caught between fighting friends. Especially when one of them was the avatar and could destroy the place.
"Today is about you...and our wedding. I just figured we could kill two birds with one stone" replied Asami, double checking her reflection in the mirror.
Korra breathed deeply trying not to lose her temper. She wasn't sure who was in the wrong here. Was she just being jealous or was Asami being selfish. "It's not our wedding. It's yours. Yours and Mako's, that is."
"Korra. That is not fair. This was your idea." Asami looked hard at Korra.
"Miss Sato." interrupted the young receptionist, bowing "An Anya is on the phone for you."
Asami's secretary always had her itinerary for the workweek so she knew where she could get a hold of her at all times if needed. "Of course. Please lead the way."
Korra sighed, Asami was right, this was her idea. She wasn't sure how this was going to work out. Asami would be Mako's wife and she was having his baby. Marriage added an element of authority and officiousness to their relationship, and it was going to change everything. Korra just couldn't see how the transformation included her. She should have just stuck to her guns and broke up with them. She was just painfully dragging out the eventuality of it.
Asami came back and grabbed her purse "I'm really sorry Korra, there is an issue at one of the plants. I have to go." She touched Korra's face, ever so much wanting to kiss her and tell her she loved her, but this was not the place "We will talk tonight, ok?"
Korra shook her head, and before Asami left she asked "The dress shop, two blocks west of here?"
Asami smiled "Yes. Thank you." she said, trying to express to Korra how important this was. "Everything is going to be fine. I promise."
Korra hoped she was right.
Inside the dress shop Korra waited for what felt like forever for the elderly shop owner to fetch her dress from the back. She was pretty sure the old woman was blind as a bat. Korra wouldn't be surprised if it was after dinner by the time she got out of there.
"Here we are." said the shop owner holding out a box to Korra. "Took me a while,but I knew I would find it." She motioned for Korra to follow her to a dressing room. "I will be out here if you need my help."
"Thanks." replied Korra as she closed the dressing room door behind her. After undressing she opened the garment box and succeeded in pulling the thing from layers of tissue paper.
"Um, I think this is the wrong dress." Korra called out to the shop curator.
"Are you sure." asked the woman from behind the door. "I could have sworn the label on the box had your name. Korra right?"
Korra looked at the label and sure enough her name was written neatly on the lid proving ownership of the dress. "Yes, I guess it is my dress, but I believe the dress was supposed to be blue. This is white."
"Oh dear." said the woman "I suppose I may have ordered the wrong color. It's ok though, we can dye the dress after we see how it fits. Do try it on."
What a fiasco, thought Korra, as she slipped into the gown. She came out and the shopkeeper nodded her approval. "You look lovely and it fits like a dream. I don't think any alterations are even needed." She held up her finger in a gesture of remembering something important. "I almost forgot I have shoes and jewelry for you also. I will be right back."
Korra watched the old woman shuffle away and her breath caught as she glimpsed her reflection in the rooms several mirrors. She was in no way vain, but she couldn't help but stare at her unexpected beauty. She had already seen her made up hair and face, but the dress pulled it all together.
The garment was made of a soft flowing fabric with an overlay of fern patterned lace. The neck of the dress was modest and covered all cleavage, however the back of the dress was mostly open and gathered right at the small of her back. The bodice was form fitting until the mid thigh where the soft fabric moved as easily as flowing water. The front hem just covered her feet but behind her the dress dragged in a chapel train. It was also long sleeved but was suitable for the summer weather as they were made only of thin lace and her dark skin peeked out in contrast to the fragile white material. As she moved the dress sparkled with tiny jewels, sparingly and strategically placed.
The woman came back with light blue heels and sapphire tear drop earrings for Korra, which she added to her ensemble as the shopkeeper tidied up the dressing room. She looked at herself once more in the mirror and was again engulfed by overwhelming sadness. In the white dress she could imagine herself as the bride. Something she was never going to be in her relationship with Mako and Asami. Korra had never imagined her wedding day, as many girls do. She wasn't the type. But now seeing herself like this she wanted it more than anything.
Korra tore her attention away from her reflection when she heard someone frantically calling her name from the front of the store. She was surprised when she saw Lin and Lin seemed just as surprised when she saw Korra.
"Korra?" Asked Lin as if wasn't sure who she was addressing.
"Yes, what's wrong?" Inquired Korra
"You uh, look nice. But never mind that. There's an issue at the new spirit portal. We need to go now."
"Sure." Korra went to change but found her clothes were missing. She looked at the shop keeper. "My clothes, where are they?"
The old woman looked baffled. "I..I have no idea. I don't remember moving them anywhere."
"Forget the clothes." said Lin urgently as she grabbed Korra by the arm and started pulling her towards to the exit. "We don't have time for this."
"Are you going to tell me whats going on?" Demanded Korra as she stumbled, in her heels, behind Lin. "Asami is not going to be happy if this dress gets wrecked."
"I think she would be more upset if her groom got wrecked." replied Lin wryly as she climbed on her motorcycle, expecting Korra to get on behind her.
"What!?" questioned Korra. "What about Mako? Is he ok?"
Lin looked behind her at Korra. She pinched the bridge of her nose. "I am going to try and explain this quick. A bender got attacked by a disgruntled spirit while visiting the spirit world. His friends retaliated and then some more spirits got involved and everything kind of snowballed. One of the party came looking for help, but it's so out of control, my police can't even handle it. I couldn't get a hold of you so I called Mako to see if he knew where you were. He told me where you might be, but he also said not to bother you as you were having a much needed day off. Mako told me he would go in your place, but he is in way over his head. I tried to tell the dumb kid not to go, but you know how stubborn he can be." Lin patted the spot behind her. "So can we go now?"
Korra said nothing and climbed awkwardly to sit side saddle behind lin. Within seconds they were on their way to the heart of republic city where the portal had been opened in her fight with Kuvira. Korra's heart hammered in her chest. She just wanted Mako to be safe, she already almost lost him once. All of her jealousy and sadness over the last few weeks felt so petty. Mako and Asami were her soul mates, marriage or not.
Lin hadn't even stopped her bike when Korra threw her shoes off and jumped off the bike. With the help of her air-bending abilities she hurled herself into the spirit portal, expecting the worst.