Author's Note: So I must say I feel like I have been getting more hate than love recently, and that is ok, everyone is entitled to their opinion. However, I just wanted to address a common complaint that Korra should leave,Asami, Mako, or both as she is not happy...What relationship, even in reality, does not have it's ups and downs? In my adult life I do not know of a single relationship that is all hearts and rainbows. Also I did not feel I was writing Korra's character as this perpetually unhappy creature as seems to be the consensus with the said critiques.
On the flip side I will admit I have a penchant for drama. I like my (versions, because obviously I don't own these) main characters to face adversity and physical or emotional pain in between moments of happiness or well being. What fun is a story without turmoil and distress (and a bit of naughtiness)? I would like to think of my story arcs as a roller coaster in which the reader is in for a ride of high's and lows, happiness and sadness, pain and healing, etc, etc. Perhaps I am just a masochist but a story without a bit (or a lot) of heartache would be rather boring.
I suppose the main concern is will our heroine have a happy ending? What is happiness really? It can differ from one person to another. Will you like my version of Korra's ending? I don't know, it's quite a bit away yet, but I guess you will have to keep on reading to find out.
San howled bloody murder as Korra bounced him in her one arm, trying to sooth him while trying to make his cereal on the stove, one handed.
"Come on San." Said Korra in hushed tones, "I woke up and got you from your crib to comfort you and now I am trying to make your breakfast, doesn't that count for anything?"
"Mahh-mee, Daa-dee." the baby cried out in a mantra style over and over.
"Daddy has gone to work already, and I am trying to let mommy sleep." Korra shifted San to her hip as she stirred the milk.
"It's ok Korra, I am awake. I can take him now." Said Asami with a yawn, sidling up to Korra to take San from her hold.
"Oh, uh...ok, if you are sure." both hands free Korra poured the grains into the steaming milk "I'll just finish making his breakfast then."
San's screaming had simmered down to hiccup like whimpers now that he was in the comfort of Asami's arms. However he kept his eyes warily on Korra worried that she might try to hold him again.
"You know," said Korra as she reached for a bowl "I think San might be getting a little more used to me. His screaming sounded a decibel or two lower than yesterday."
Asami laughed out loud "Yes, he only woke half the dead with his cries this morning."
Korra laughed. She was glad that in the last two weeks home that her and Asami's relationship seemed back to normal. Almost. Mako was right that Asami was overworking herself and that she was short tempered and frequently mad at either her or Mako, often for reasons unbeknownst to them. Though luckily her moments of distemper were short lived.
"You look tired why don't you go back to bed for a bit. You have another hour or so before you have to leave for the office." offered Korra. "The sun is barely even up."
"No, it's ok. If I go back to bed and leave San with you he will just start crying again."
"Ouch...He is not going to get used to me if you don't let me have him and let him have his meltdown."
"I know." said Asami guilty as she took the bowl of cereal from Korra. She then placed San in his wooden high chair to feed him his breakfast. "Open wide." she said to San in a baby voice, though really he needn't be prompted as he knew what to do when it was time to eat and he liked his food. Then back to Korra she said, "It's just that he is my baby, and it just breaks my heart when I hear him cry. It's my maternal instinct to do whatever it takes to make him feel safe and comfortable."
"I get that but I am his mother too and he needs to learn that I can also make him feel safe and that I am ok to be around, but if every time he cries and you take him from me it only strengthens his perception that I am a threat; somebody to be scared of."
Asami shook her head "I know, I know." she repeated in an exasperated voice
"Why don't I take care of San today while you are at work. I'll ring Jinora and let her know she doesn't need to care for San today."
"Aren't you supposed to help Lin with a gang that has been causing trouble."
Korra brushed it off with a wave of her hand, "It can wait, they've been acting like they own the town since I was in Ba Sing Se. What's one more day?"
"No," said Asami, as she shoveled more food into san's wide open mouth. "You are the avatar and you have your duties. I am glad you are trying your best with our family, but I was wrong to make you feel guilty for doing your job in the past. Help lin. tonight… you can give San his bath, tears and all."
"It's a deal." she kissed Asami on the cheek and went to poke San playfully, but he turned away from her as far as his highchair would let him. "You can try to get away from me all you want right now cherub, but tonight you are mine."
Korra made it home just as Jinora was leaving; literally walking out the door "Hey, Jinora. Leaving already? I feel like I haven't seen you in forever."
"Korra!" said Jinora as she gave Korra a tight hug "That is because it has been forever. How have you been?"
"I'm in good health and I'm back home with my family, so pretty good. Pretty. Good…" she repeated, clicking off each word as she thought about San and Asami. "What about you? Why don't you come back in and stay for dinner. We can catch up."
"Thanks for the invite, but I feel like I would just be in the way. Once Asami comes home she doesn't really let me do anything and she has been really...umm" Jinora couldn't think of a polite word to explain Asami's recent erratic demeanor.
"Bitchy and then immediately apologetic and then bitchy again?" Korra offered for Jinora.
A short laugh erupted from Jinora unexpectedly and her hand flew to her mouth as she quickly regained her composure. "Vagarious, I believe would be the non offensive way to describe her at the moment, but yes your assessment also fits." the smile left her face as she crossed her arms and more seriously said, "I wish she would let me help more. I know she is having a hard time right now with trying to balance her family and career life but she tries to do everything herself and only lets others minimally help. I just don't think she can keep up at this point, she is going to end up breaking down, emotionally and physically."
Korra nodded her head. "Tell me about it." Jinora was always so rational and saw the best in everyone. Korra knew it wasn't right but It made her feel better to know Asami wasn't just snapping at her and Mako.
Korra and Jinora both turned to the still open door when they heard what sounded like pots crashing to the floor and Asami cursing loudly.
"I better go in." she gave Jinora's arm a quick squeeze in parting "It was nice to see you, once Asami is back to her regular self you can stay for dinner and we can catch up."
Korra walked into the kitchen as Asami was picking up last of the cookware that had fallen from the cabinet. An expression of sheer frustration marred her beautiful face.
"Everything ok in here?" Korra asked as she looked from Asami to San, whom upon seeing Korra looking at him averted his gaze and stuffed a vegetable pulp covered fist into his mouth while still managing to whine loudly at Korra's presence. She noted the baby food covered not only his hand but much of his entire self and was splattered over the high chair tray as well.
"Just fine." Asami said smiling, though it looked like her lips trembled slightly. "I just pulled all the pans out of cabinet while only trying to get one pot to fill for a boil. And while the water heated I was going to feed San, but I made the mistake of putting the food in front of him and as soon as I turned my head from him he ended up covering himself in baby food. But everything is fine. Really. Why don't you get cleaned up and relax before dinner." Asami smoothed her hair, as she spoke, as if the action would also smooth out her frazzled nerves.
Korra used her metal bending to turn on the sink and waterbended the stream into the pot Asami had left out all while offering Asami and alternate option. "I'm not really dirty, those thugs I helped Lin with were amateurs against my good ol' avatar state. We spent most of the time just searching them out." Korra once more used her metal bending to turn the pilot on and then used firebending to ignite the fuel. "Why don't I start dinner and then you can feed San. When he is done eating you can finish preparing dinner while I give him an early bath." As She walked over to place the pot on burner she noted San had quieted and was was watching her curiously. San reminded her so much of Bolin. Of course he would have in interest in food being prepared.
"No really, it's ok I can do both. Your job is much more strenuous than mine and you deserve a break." Asami went to reach for the raw dumplings she had pre-made but Korra slapped her hand away.
"I'm not overly tired as I barely exerted myself, and I want to help. So go feed the baby before he eats his hands. Are we making soup with these dumplings?"
Asami stood momentarily dumbstruck, as she held her hand that Korra had smacked, before finally answering "Yes."
Just as expected, when it was time for San's bath, the child wailed at the top of his lungs as Korra took him from his highchair. Korra ignored Asami's taunt features, that betrayed the fact that she was uneasy about her promise of letting Korra bathe San.
"it's ok big boy, I'm just taking you to get cleaned up. It's not that big of a deal, you'll see." Said Korra cooing to San.
On the way to the bathroom Korra bumped into Mako in the hall, whom had just returned home. "Bath time?" he asked Korra giving her a kiss on the cheek.
"Yup." she said, switching San to her other hip so that Mako was out of his reach.
"Da-deee, hewp" San cried over and over.
Mako couldn't help but laugh at his son's distress "Help. That is a new word for him. If only he knew he was asking for help to get away from the person who saves everybody else."
Korra's expression conveyed that she did not appreciate his humor at the moment. "Guess I am the only one in this house who is in a good mood right now." he ruffled his son's black hair. "though that probably won't last. Good luck with San's bath."
"Thanks." replied Korra walking into the bathroom. "I have a feeling I am going to need it."
Korra undressed her son and threw his clothes on the floor, she would have to remember to put them in the hamper after San's bath or Asami might have a meltdown.
She tested the temperature of the water she had pre-drawn and lowered the screaming child into tub. She was hoping once he was in the water with all his toys he might calm down, but no such luck. San cried the entire time Korra washed him. Korra was not deterred as she was determined to make him used to her. Once she set her mind on something, there was no stopping her. She calmly talked to him through the process, and though it didn't seem to work, she was happy with herself for trying.
Once he was clean, Korra scooped him up into a fluffy warm towel and went to take him to his room to put on a fresh diaper cloth and to dress him. She paused en route however, when she heard Asami and Mako talking about her.
Asami's voice was slightly shrill, though Korra could tell she was trying to keep herself in check. "I can't Mako I am sorry. I can't listen to him cry anymore."
"You are not going in there and taking San away from Korra. You promised Korra she could do this and you have to let her. You know she is not hurting him, just let him cry. How else is he going to get used to her?" Mako's voice held an edge that Korra recognized as him trying to keep his temper under control.
"I know she is not hurting him physically or intentionally, but listen to him crying. He sounds so upset. By forcing him to get used to her maybe we are inflicting some type of emotional damage on him."
"How dare you." said Mako dangerously "She is his mother too, or do you not feel that way anymore? First you are mad at Korra for not being home with him and now you are mad at her for trying to be his mother. She can't win. Do you really even love her?"
There was a moment of silence in which Korra could only imagine the hurt on Asami's face. "Of course I do. But don't turn this around on me. I am only thinking about our son's well being."
Korra felt her heart grow heavy, she walked into the room. Asami and Mako both looked guilty as they realized Korra had over heard them. San leaned toward Asami and Korra relinquished her hold of the baby over to Asami.
"Korra," Asami started, her eyes wide and watery "What I said, I didn't mean it to be hurtful, it just came out wrong."
"It's, ok." she said giving Asami a loose hug, as she didn't want to squish San in between them.
"It is?" asked Mako, a little surprised and perhaps hurt. Korra could only assume he was afraid she was taking Asami's side as they had a habit of doing from time to time. And here he was the one defending her.
"Thanks for having my back Mako." She gave him a hug too, and he wrapped his arms around her tightly before letting her go. "but, I don't want the two of you fighting about me. Asami is right in the fact that I am trying a little too hard and a little too late. But that doesn't mean our situation isn't fixable, it is. I do however need time with San, alone I think. Asami, as his biological mother I get you have the desire to protect him, even when it's not necessary. I also think that you two need a break from San, especially Asami. You guys are great parents, but your current relationship with San is having a negative effect on your relationship as a couple. You two need some time away to reconnect. In some way's our trifecta makes everything so much harder, but right now we could all use it for our advantage."
Asami looked from Korra to Mako "Are you suggesting.."
"That you and Mako go away together for a couple of days together and leave me and San behind. You two will get the rest and relaxation as parents of an infant need and are way over due on while San and I hopefully reconnect that mother/child bond that never fully formed."
"but if Mako and I are going somewhere as a couple, shouldn't you be coming too? I would feel like we are leaving you out and you just came home a little over two weeks ago."
"I may have not been home, but the two of you have been acting just as out of sorts, and there has been so much fighting over the baby, and me, and the baby's and mine's relationship. Trust me I feel that this is what is needed for all of us."
"I think what Korra is saying makes sense. and I don't feel like I have been on a real vacation ever, so it sounds kind of exciting" said Mako.
Asami hesitated as she looked at the hiccuping baby in her arms. She hadn't been away from San for a whole day before let alone for a few days, but maybe that is why Korra was right. She was always tired and moody. Maybe she needed this. She took a deep breath: "Yes. I'm in." she said. "Now let me get this boy dressed before he pees on me."