Notes: Hi Everyone, sorry for the hiatus, I needed a little break. This just a little follow up chapter, I aim to get started again on more regular posts come October. Thank you for reading and thank you Toastermarketingboard my wonderful editor!

Once Korra, Lin and Jinora's airship had taken off, Suyin and her family left soon after. They decided to no longer restrain Kuvira during the last leg of their trip, but still had at least one person watching her. The airship was over halfway to the Fire Nation when Suyin took over the watch.

Former student and teacher sat across from each other on the bench seating of the airship's deck, much like the last time they were alone together. Kuvira was looking out the window, an option she did not have while she was bound on the dolly.

Suyin looked up from her book, to make sure the young woman was still there. The matriarch couldn't help but wonder what was going through Kuvira's mind. There was one action she was particularly curious about.

Suyin sighed and put her book down. "So, you have the hots for the Avatar now?"

"C'mon Suyin, like you'd kick Korra out of bed," Kuvira replied, still looking out the window.

"Hmph, I'm more of an Avatar Aang fan in that regard. Seriously Kuvira, what were you thinking?"

"It was just a kiss. I'm never going to see her again. I wanted to express my appreciation for what she did for me."

"A simple handshake will work just fine for the rest of us."

Kuvira turned towards Suyin, her emotions for the first time in, it seemed like forever, appearing unguarded.

"Does Baatar know what you are doing for me?"

"No, and he never will. Jr. will be led to believe you died, just like everyone else," Suyin said as she crossed her legs.

"That's for the best."

"I know."

The hum of the airship's propellers filled the void that the women's voices left as their conversation stopped.

Mako's whole body flinched as his eyes shot open. He palmed the soft mattress, confirming that he wasn't falling but only waking from a dream. The firebender looked around, and saw he was no longer on the Earth Kingdom airship. He surmised he must be in the Ba Sing Se palace's infirmary, based on the clinical equipment and gaudy decor.

Mako's eyes drifted to his left, and he realized he was not alone. A curtain was between him and the next bed, but it was thin enough that he could see the outline of another person.

"Yasmine?" the firebender asked hesitantly, in a quiet voice.

There was no reply. Mako started to slide out of his bed. When his feet touched the cold tile and he tried to stand up, his body gave out. He threw his arms out, grabbing at the sheets of his bed with one hand and the curtain with the other. The firebender's weight was too great and he collapsed on the floor, taking the sheets and curtain with him.

The crashing of the curtain rod was loud enough to startle the other patient in the room.

"What the hell?" a female voice called out.

"Yasmine?" Mako asked again, pulling the blankets that were obscuring his vision off his face. Once cleared he looked over to his 'roommate.'

"What are you doing?" Yasmine asked, sitting up in her bed.

The firebender fumbled out of the sheets and started crawling his way back into his own bed.

"I was trying to see if it was you, but my legs gave out."

Yasmine let out a sigh and laid back down. "I still feel like I was hit by a satomobile"

"Yeah…" Mako replied with a half-hearted chuckle. He had finished pulling all his sheets back onto his bed and was settling back down.

The pair fell quiet, as they looked up at the ceiling. A few moments passed until they both felt too uncomfortable with the silence and started to speak at the same time.

"So…"

"Uh-"

"You go first," Mako quickly added.

Yasmine rolled over to face Mako. He could feel her eyes, but he remained facing the ceiling.

"What happened back there?"

Mako thought for a moment before answering. "We got electrocuted… when the airship crashed..."

The young woman swallowed hard. "I mean…" Yasmine hesitated.

The firebender's heart began to pound, catching on to where the conversation was headed. He kept his eyes fixed on a spot on the ceiling, silently praying she wasn't going to ask what he thought she was going to ask.

"I need you to tell me what really happened."

It was early in the evening when Korra, Lin and Jinora's airship entered the United Republic's borders. The three women had ridden home mostly in silence. The fatigue of traveling and staying awake late had finally caught up with them.

Jinora had passed out a few hours back. Her face awkwardly pressed against the window, her small breaths fogging the pane. Lin's eyes were closed and her arms crossed, but Korra doubted the older woman was asleep. The police chief seemed to be incapable of resting on a mission, even when it was over.

Korra returned her attention to outside her own window. Though they had been gone for roughly a day, it felt like weeks. She then reminded herself that was how long the whole 'what to do about Kuvira' situation had been going on. Technically it had been years. All the events were set in motion when the Earth Queen and therefore Earth Kingdom fell and Korra herself 'fell.'

Korra truly felt like that chapter of her life was now officially over, and she was ready to move on and not let the actions of the past dictate her future any more. New enemies could emerge at any time, and Korra was done fighting the old.

The airship eventually touched down at Republic City's port. They left the aircraft and found themselves alone with just the other airships.

"Some welcome wagon," Lin said with a grunt.

The trio started making their way towards the city when they saw Tenzin walking towards them. He called out and waved them down.

"Sorry, I wasn't sure when to expect you all to get back," Tenzin explained from a distance.

"Dad!" Jinora cried out as she broke from her traveling companions to catch up with her father.

Tenzin opened his arms, accepting his daughter's embrace.

"I'm so glad you're home safe."

Lin and Korra caught up to them.

"Jinora really proved her worth out there, you should be proud of her," the police chief said, cracking a small smile.

Tenzin looked down at his daughter, still holding onto him tightly. "I am."

They two finally separated and the small group began to walk together.

"I want to hear all about what happened," the air master said as they walked.

"All of it?" Lin asked, drawing out the words while giving Korra a sly look.

The Avatar's eyes widened and she frantically shook her head at Lin. Fortunately they were walking behind the Tenzin and Jinora, so he could not see their conflict.

"Of course I do," Tenzin said matter-of-factly, oblivious to the implications.

By the time the four arrived at Air Temple Island Tenzin was (almost) fully caught up on the events of the last twenty four hours.

Asami and the rest of the airbender family were all waiting at the docks to greet them. It was Korra's turn to break away from the group. She charged into Asami, lifting her off the ground with a back-popping hug. The engineer giggled as she wrapped her arms around Korra's neck for support.

After bobbing her girlfriend up and down a few times Korra put Asami back on her feet. They stayed in their embrace, looking each other over.

"What happened to your eyebrow?" Asami asked, leaning in closer to examine the bright scab.

Korra grazed a few fingers over the spot in question.

"It looks worse than it is. I got tagged sparring with Kuvira."

"You sparred?" Asami asked, cocking her head.

The Avatar shook her head, not knowing where to start."It's a long story."

"I wanna hear about it!" Meelo called out as he ran closer to the girls.

"Me too!" Ikki added, following her brother.

"You won, right Korra?" the young boy pressed.

Pema walked over and ushered her children away. "Korra can tell you all about it over dinner, why don't you kids come inside and get cleaned up first?"

Korra and Asami watched Lin and the arbender family walk towards the temple. Once the group was far enough away they leaned into each other for a kiss.

"I'm so glad you're back in one piece," Asami murmured, ducking her head down to Korra's neck. "So it's done?"

Korra let out a long sigh and then replied, "It is."

The Avatar made moves to separate and Asami followed.

"Walk with me a bit before we go in?" Korra asked.

The girls took each others hands and began to walk to the perimeter of the island. They took a narrow rocky path down to the beach, and silently sat down side by side on a driftwood log.

The ocean waves washed over the rocky beach in a slow and steady rhythm. As the water receded off the pebbles it crackled and popped. The sun had started to dip into the water and was too bright to look directly at.

Korra turned to the woman beside her. "Asami, I wanted to thank you for telling me the truth about Kuvira's trial, and setting this whole rescue mission in motion. I know I must have made you question your decision by the way I acted. I now can confidently say, this was the right thing to do. Suyin made it clear to me that this choice was largely based on your concern for my well being."

The Avatar moved so she was kneeling on the beach before Asami. She reached out grasped both of her hands.

"I'm so lucky to have someone in my life who understands me the way you do. I'm so excited about the future, I have no idea what to expect, and that's what's making me excited. I do know that I want to spend as much of it with you as I possibly can. I know I promised I'd stop talking about the past, but now I am truly ready to fullfill that promise. I am here, I am present and I am healed."

Asami's green eyes began to blur with unshed tears as she silently looked down at her girlfriend.

"Say something," Korra whispered.

The engineer pulled one of her hands away to wipe at her eyes.

"You don't know how many nights… I dreamed about you coming home and saying those last three words."

The two women looked at each other, unsure what else to say. They both felt sure enough that they didn't need to.

Korra broke eye contact for a moment and looked in the direction of the temple. The outside lights had turned on. An evening fog had crept in, diffusing their glow. She could almost hear the commotion that was likely going on inside. As a wave of deja vu washed over the Avatar a grin tugged at her lips and grew into a full smile.

"You know, after all this, I could use a vacation," Korra whispered as she turned to Asami.

The engineer quirked an eyebrow and gave her eyes one more wipe before resting her hands in her lap.

"That's my line, and we're going on a vacation in a few days," Asami replied, with a smile of her own. "But this time as girlfriends."

"Sounds perfect."

"It really does."

End of part one

To be continued...