After breakfast, Tenzin searched the temple halls for his eldest daughter. She was supposed to lead the morning meditation group, but never showed up. He wasn't worried about the other airbenders not practicing their meditation. The ragtag group he had started training three years ago now operated like true and disciplined air nomads. What concerned Tenzin was his own daughter uncharacteristically shirking responsibilities.

The Air Master decided to try one more room before searching outside around the grounds. He slid the door open to a small shrine room, and there she was. Jinora was quietly sitting in front of the small altar, a single stick of incense lit. She flinched at the sound of the door opening, but did not turn to see who was there.

"Jinora, I know you're not happy with me right now."

His daughter continued to focus on the shrine in front of her.

"I'm sorry," Tenzin started as he moved to sit beside Jinora. "I should have been more explicit with you about your role moving forward… and Korra's."

"I'm not going to work with Korra like you do, am I?" Jinora stated flatly, breaking her silence.

Tenzin shifted in his seat. "I don't know. My reasoning for getting you involved with Korra more professionally now, is so you will be available to take my place, if anything should happen to me. I didn't want to worry you with that grim possibility, but the past four years have shown me anything can happen and we must be prepared for it. And yes, working with Korra or the next Avatar will be a part of your job, but not all of it. The Air Nation is to be your primary concern, and I should have stressed that more. I want you to continue shadowing Korra, but I think it's time you started doing that with me as well."

"You want me to work with you because Korra is going to be busy with that White Lotus guy."

"He is best suited to help her through this transition. I'm truly sorry I gave you false expectations about working with Korra."

"Yeah, well…" Jinora started, but couldn't find a retort so she dropped it. The father and daughter then sat in silence.

Tenzin thought for a moment and then cleared his throat. "Zhou Rhen would like to speak with you about Korra, to get to know her better before they meet. You could be a great help to him, as one of Korra's peers and confidants. He is going to be delivering some difficult information, I'm sure he'd appreciate knowing the best way to approach her with it."

"There is definitely a wrong way to talk to Korra in a difficult situation… What is he going to tell her?"

"I can't say for sure, but I have a feeling. Remember when we talked before about your grandfather and the Avatar State? That Aang's love for your grandmother kept him out and he had to accept that his life and his mission had to come before her life?"

Jinora shrugged. "Korra can go into the Avatar State again, it was the poison and her depression that kept her out."

"I don't believe Korra's ability to go into the Avatar State will be compromised. What concerns me is that she could face difficult choices between her mission and the lives or life of another in the future."

"You're concerned about Asami, but why now, and what about Mako? What about the time she opened the Spirit Portal in order to save me? And didn't she sacrifice herself to Zaheer for all of us?" the young Air Master pressed.

"Yes, and it's those impulsive decisions that threaten the cycle. Korra has faced more in her short time as active Avatar than most others see in a lifetime. And on top of that, at an age where her training hasn't even fully finished. Korra's been making choices she has never truly been prepared to make."

Jinora sharply turned her head to look at her father. "Dad, do you honestly think she did the wrong thing by saving me, by saving us?"

The incense lit by Jinora reached the end and was now burning the thin wood of its handle. Tenzin stuck his thumb and pointer finger in his mouth for a second, and then pinched the tip to extinguish it. Silently his daughter retrieved a fresh stick from the vase on the shrine table and passed it to to her father. Tenzin lit the new stick and resumed his explanation as he placed the incense in the small metal holder.

"No. What has happened, happened, and we are all very fortunate. I just don't believe Korra has ever been explicitly told that her life matters more, and ultimately the Avatar cycle matters above anyone else's."

"Why do you think she's going to be learning this now? She was raised by the White Lotus. It seems like Korra doesn't even remember ever not being the Avatar. She must know."

"I'm sure it has been told to her in some way, and deep down she even knows it to be true. When you are young, you are invincible. The future feels impossibly far. In the past years Korra has faced death and now with clearer eyes is looking towards her future. She's not a child anymore; moving forward her relationships, especially romantic ones, will hold more weight. As I said I don't know for sure, but every Avatar must face the fact that their life is never truly their own. Your grandfather, a boy raised with logic and self discipline, was initially crushed by that reality. It's not easy, even for the most prepared."

Jinora thought back to the tense moment in Suyin's airship when Korra refused to take Kuvira's bending away.

"Korra you don't have a choice."

"I'm the Avatar, that means I always have a choice!"

"I'll talk to Zhou Rhen, for Korra."

Korra opened her eyes and found herself somewhat upright in bed. She turned her head to see Asami still snuggled up behind her, supporting the two of them with her back against the headboard.

She didn't remember falling asleep reading, but apparently that's what had happened. Korra's eyes followed Asami's hands to find the book near the edge of the bed, still open. She stretched a hand out to retrieve it. They hadn't gotten very far before passing out, despite how curious they both were.

'Avatar Aang was like me…' Korra thought as she held the small book.

It was strange finally getting the personal perspective of a man she knew only through second hand accounts. A man whose spirit she shared, but who was also gone forever. But then Raava's spirit still lived, so in a way, did all the Avatars live? Korra felt her head starting to hurt just thinking about it. Spirits and past life stuff was where being the Avatar got muddled. Master the four elements; check. Protect the world; clear mission. Spiritual destiny stuff; still a mystery.

Korra looked down at the book, re-reading a few sentences on the open page. They had left off with Aang planning on telling Katara his feelings towards Zuko before traveling to the Northern Air Temple. He hoped to meditate and communicate with his past lives there, to understand his feelings better. Korra couldn't help but feel envious of Aang, having had other Avatars to talk to when he needed to understand these sorts of things. Talking to Raava was different; even though she was there from the very beginning, she'd never been human.

"It's actually one of the more human things about you."

Love and sex, that was definitely only a human condition of the Avatar. Korra knew Raava would be no help in that department. Though it was comforting to know she wasn't the only Avatar who struggled with those types of feelings. Aang's words at times almost felt like her own. Was that because at one point they were, or was it just his feelings of confusion and being lost were so similar?

Korra shut the small book and moved it to the bedside table. Had it not been given to her by Katara, she would feel extremely guilty for reading the diaries. Even with permission, it still felt like she was reading words that were not meant for anyone else's eyes but the author's. Korra felt relieved she had never journaled and would think long and hard before ever starting. She had experienced enough pokes and prods into her personal life for a lifetime as it was. Despite that here she was planning to tell all of Republic City, and therefore the rest of the world, her sexual preferences. Had another Avatar done such a thing, Korra was sure she would have heard about it at some point. Lucky her, she was playing another pioneering role as Avatar.

At least this time she wasn't alone; Asami would be there by her side for all that was ahead. Her girlfriend had arranged a meeting with her public relations team to find the best way to get the news out when they return. Korra herself had envisioned just blurting it out at the next press conference she found herself at, but apparently that would leave her very vulnerable to questions and accusations she wouldn't be prepared to answer.

Lost in thought, Korra never noticed that Asami had woken up. She didn't even notice the taller girl's hand start running along her exposed arm until it gave her wrist a slight squeeze.

"What are you thinking about, babe?" Asami whispered.

Korra felt her nose wrinkle at the name. "Why do you keep calling me that?"

"You don't like it?" Asami asked, giving the Avatar's arm one more squeeze before disentangling herself.

"I never thought of myself as someone's 'babe'."

"Well, you are just blind to how much of a babe you really are."

"You sound like some greasy triad trying to pick me up."

"You've got half of that right. I guess now I know why my tactics aren't working on you," Asami said, slipping out from behind Korra. She then reached into a suitcase and pulled out a robe. Asami draped it around her body and the opened up the door.

"I'm going to go shower."

Before Korra could respond Asami was gone. The Avatar smacked herself in the forehead with her left hand and fell backwards into the bed. "I'm an idiot."

Korra laid on the bed for a few moments before rousing herself to get up and go into the kitchen. Senna was preparing breakfast just like the day before. A smile crept over the Avatar's face, remembering her mother's gesture last night.

"Morning Korra, did you sleep well?" Senna asked from the stove.

"I did. Thank you Mom, that really means a lot to me what you did last night" Korra said, pulling out a chair at the table.

Senna didn't respond, but turned to look at her daughter. They silently exchanged glances then stopped as they heard someone approaching.

Tonraq entered the room and looked between the two women. He stretched his large arms above his head and moved towards the table.

"I know I mentioned it yesterday, but it still makes me happy to see my two favorite girls in the morning. So the plan is still to go to the Spirit Portal today?"

"I think so," Korra replied.

"Then I'll go get started on prepping the snowmobiles, come grab me when breakfast is ready." Tonraq moved towards the back door of the kitchen, that led to the yard.

"Let me help you, it'll be faster," Korra said, shooting up from her chair.

Senna watched father and daughter confidently exit the kitchen, noticing the two had a similar gait. Not long after they left, Asami hesitantly walked towards the kitchen.

"Good morning," Asami said, standing in the doorway.

Senna turned to the young woman and mustered her best smile. "Good morning Asami, have a seat."

Asami nodded and took the seat Korra had previously occupied at the table. She looked around the kitchen, taking it all in more fully than she had when busy cooking last night. It was nothing elaborate, just a simple space with the basic appliances. Placed atop the upper row of cabinets were decorative baskets and nicknacks. The visible film of dust and occasional cobwebs were signs that these items had been up there for a very long time.

"So this is the home Korra grew up in?" Asami asked, breaking the silence.

"Yes, I much prefer it here. The palace is too big for just two people to live in. The size makes it feel lonelier too…"

"I moved out of my father's mansion for a smaller apartment in the city for that same reason. Mako and Bolin's extended family have been staying there for a few years, but are planning to move back to the Earth Kingdom now that Kuvira is... gone. I don't know what I'm going to do with the house next... If I had a family some day, I'd like to raise them there... but in the meantime…" Asami trailed off, glancing out the window. A light snow had started to fall. A few moments of silence passed. The only sound was Senna's spatula clanking against the metal pan.

The younger woman looked back over to her girlfriend's mother. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

Senna was going to say no out of habit, but stopped herself. "I want to pack a little lunch for our trip. I was thinking of looking through the gift bag you brought us."

"The deli treats would be perfect for a picnic lunch, it's mostly finger foods," Asami said, getting up from her seat.

"Wonderful. I have some containers in the cabinet next to the icebox. Would you mind packing up the foods you think would be good for lunch?" Senna said, turning around and gesturing with her spatula.

Following the instructions, Asami made her way to the cabinet. After collecting a few small containers she brought them and the bag from the deli to the counter near Senna. For a while they both silently did their tasks.

Senna cleared her throat, trying to get the courage to ask the question that had been running through her mind since their initial conversation had died down.

"Do you want to have children?"

Asami could feel Senna's eyes on her as she stopped what she was doing for a moment to consider the question. "I think so. My mother died when I was young, so I don't know what it's like to have one. I've always thought that I could still experience it in some way by being a mother myself."

Senna nodded as she listened to the younger woman.

"It's not easy being a parent, I won't lie. Korra has brought so much joy to our lives; I can't imagine not having her. Honestly I enjoyed it so much I wish I'd had more children."

"Were you unable to?" Asami asked.

"Not in the way you think... Tonraq and the White Lotus felt it would have been too difficult for a child to grow up as the Avatar's sibling."

"Your sister saved the world today, what did you do?" Asami mused aloud. "That would be tough when they were younger, but I'm sure they would have eventually been a part of team Avatar. I'm a non-bender and they even let me tag along."

"That's just what I would have needed, two kids risking their lives on a regular basis. The hope with another child was that they would stay at home, raise a family. To have one that didn't belong more to the world than to me."

Senna met eyes with the young woman beside her for a moment before turning away. "That sounds terribly selfish of me…"

The mother felt a hand graze hers for a brief second, causing her to return her gaze to Asami.

"I don't think so. I have to remind myself now that being with Korra won't be like it could be with another partner. Her duty will take her away and I won't always be able to go along with her. Korra will have to risk her life over and over, and I can't stop her. "

Senna took a deep look at her daughter's girlfriend beside her. She looked past the make-up, the salon-cut hair, and the stylish clothes and saw the expression she knew all too well, the expression of a young woman deeply concerned about the person she loved. In that moment Senna saw all that she and Asami had in common.

Senna tried to speak but her mouth failed her. The sound of the back door clanking against the wall broke the silence. Korra and Tonraq lumbered into the room and made their way over to the table, leaving a trail of snow in their wake.

"Breakfast ready?" Korra asked as she sat down.

"Yes, we were just about to go get you two," Senna quickly replied, grabbing her pan from the stove.

Opal and Kai touched down on Earth Palace grounds mid afternoon. This was the last leg of their rounds through the Earth Kingdom before the pair parted ways. Kai would return straight to Republic City, whereas Opal planned to see her family in Zaofu first.

Opal felt uneasy as they walked through the courtyard towards one of the elaborately decorated entrances inside. Airbender aid was still welcome throughout the kingdom's territories; many towns were still in the sorry shape Kuvira had left them in. The palace, being Kuvira's former hub, had not received airbender presence as warmly. She glanced to her partner and could tell Kai was also on guard.

As they reached the entrance an Earth Kingdom guard placed himself between them and the door.

"Airbenders, what purpose do you have at the palace?" the guard asked, glancing between them.

"We're not here on business, but for personal reasons. We are here to visit Mako," Opal replied, feigning confidence.

"Who?" the guard asked.

"Mako, Prince Wu's bodyguard. He was brought to the palace hospital after he was injured when the airship carrying Kuvira crashed, but he should be working again now."

"What business do you have visiting him?"

"Mako is my brother-in-law. I wanted to see him while I am in the area, is that so wrong?"

The guard took a hard look at Kai, eyeing him up and down. "What about you?"

As the guard spoke another one came through the door.

Kai shrugged, unfazed by the display. "I have to go with her, airbender policy; you don't leave you partner while you're on a mission."

The new guard nudged his colleague. "They're frickin' Airbenders, why are you being such a hardass?"

The original guard shoved back and shook himself off. "You weren't here when the Queen was, I've seen some of the shit airbenders can get up to."

"You two can go ahead," the new guard said, turning to his colleague. "I don't know what you saw when the Queen was alive, but my family back home said airbenders…"

Opal and Kai couldn't hear the rest of the guard's explanation as they walked down the hall.

"So when did you and Bolin get married?" Kai asked with a smirk on his face.

"That was because of the guard! So what were they talking about back there? About the Queen?" Opal asked quietly.

Kai let out a huff. "You weren't around for that, were you? After Harmonic Convergence, when we all got airbending, the Earth Queen snatched up all the Ba Sing Se airbenders and forced them to be in her secret army. We found out about it cos I got kidnapped when we were traveling through here looking for airbenders."

"That's terrible, though clearly you made it out okay."

"Yeah, it was messed up. I know I was kind of a jerk back then, but after that experience I realized what real evil looks like. Kinda scared me straight in a way I didn't expect."

Opal nodded as she listened. It had been a long time since she had thought back to Harmonic Convergence, and when she became an airbender. "The Earth Kingdom has been in turmoil for so long now, I hope it can finally find some kind of peace."

"People seem to have a long memory here, I don't think peace will be easy, even now. As we've seen big gestures can do a lot to disrupt, but the true change comes from the slow day-to-day rebuilding. You and I saw that these past three years; I think it's going to take at least another three for things to get settled again."

"Are you worried Tenzin is going to pull us out of the Earth Kingdom?"

"He might, look at Republic City, it's a mess," Kai replied as they turned a corner through the palace.

"Korra's back, it will be different this time. She can fix things there, while we tend to the Earth Kingdom."

Kai quickly turned his head to look at Opal. He raised an eyebrow in disbelief. "Avatar Korra's not back, she's on her second vacation since she came 'back' to stop Kuvira."

Opal slowed her pace, trailing slightly behind Kai. "Don't be mad at Korra, she doesn't shirk responsibilities. It must be something she truly needs."

"You honestly don't think two vacations is a little much?"

Opal thought for a moment. Part of her agreed with Kai, and she understood feeling frustrated with Korra's actions from an outsider's perspective. But she had faith in Korra; time and time again she proved her worth as the Avatar. Didn't that grant her some time, a few days, to be selfish?

"I believe in Korra," Opal replied firmly.

The pair were so caught up in their discussion that they didn't see Mako standing right in front of them at the end of the hall. The firebender was having a quiet, but tense-looking conversation with a woman Opal recognized, but was having a hard time placing where from.

Kai and Opal slowed their pace to wait for the conversation to finish before announcing their presence. They didn't have to wait long before the woman quickly turned on her heels and marched away from Mako.

"Hey Mako," Opal called out.

The firebender jumped at his name and sharply turned to look at Opal and Kai. Opal offered a smile and small wave before walking towards him.

"Opal, what are you doing here?" Mako asked quietly as he also moved towards the pair.

"Everything okay Mako? You look a little stressed."

"Your lady friend didn't seem too chill either," Kai added.

Once they were in arms length of each other Mako grasped Opal by the shoulder and pulled her close. "We need to keep it light until we can get to my room."

Opal nodded and Mako let her go. He then pointed down the hall they were just coming from, and started walking. The two airbenders dutifully followed.

"So what brings you two here?" Mako asked, sounding more like his usual self.

"Part of our rounds, the Air Nation is still making itself available to the Earth Kingdom," Opal replied.

"Great, great, oh, and here is my room, why don't you come in… for some tea!" Mako said, quickly pushing Opal and Kai through the door. Once inside Mako peeked his head out before slowly closing the door shut.

Opal looked around and did not recognize the room from her last visit. Mako whooshed by her and started to check around the room, opening up all the doors.

"Wu, are you in here?" he called out as he searched.

Opal and Kai stood awkwardly and watched Mako's erratic sweep of the room. Once he was sure they were truly alone Mako flopped down onto one of the chairs in the sitting area and let out a long sigh.

"Alone at last…" Mako said at the end of the breath, then glanced at his company. "Well, sort of."

Opal and Kai moved to sit down and join Mako.

"So you going to tell Kai and me what's going on? I hate guessing games."

Mako put a hand to his head and began to rub his temple with his pointer and middle finger. "Sorry, I just needed us to be in a place where it was safe to speak freely."

"Then speak!" Opal barked.

Mako motioned to Kai. "Does he know about..?"

Opal looked at Kai, and in the moment remembered he was not involved in recent events. The Kuvira mission had been inner circle only.

"Kai, Jinora talked to you about Kuvira, right?"

"She's dead, right?" Kai asked flatly.

Opal and Mako shared a look of panic before turning their attention to Kai.

"Yeah..." Opal slowly answered.

"Certain people don't quite believe it thought. Yasmine-

"The girl that was with you during the crash?" Opal interrupted.

"Yeah, she testified, and so did I, but still, not everyone is convinced. So it's just a little uncomfortable here in the palace, since the news is still so fresh."

"Well hopefully people will take 'she's dead' for an answer and start moving forward with the rebuilding of the Earth Kingdom," Kai replied, leaning back in his seat.

"Yes, that is the hope," Mako said with a few exaggerated nods.

"Anything else stressing you out, Mako?" Opal asked.

The firebender thought for a moment; he'd been dying for someone to confide in, but Kai was becoming a real wrench in this opportunity.

"Oh you know, just some girl troubles."

"The girl that you were talking to, right?" Opal asked.

"I'm learning you really shouldn't date women you work with."

Opal smiled. "Yeah that can be difficult, thought you would have know that by now."

"So where are you headed to next?" Mako asked, hoping to change the subject.

"I'm going to Zaofu, but Kai is headed straight back to Republic City," Opal replied, pointing to her companion.

"Zaofu, I uh actually have some business I need to conduct over there, would you mind if I tagged along?"

Opal shrugged. "No, but how are you going to get there?"

"I can borrow an airship; it's Earth Kingdom business, so they'll let me. Would you two care to spend the night and we can take off in the morning?"

Kai glanced outside to check the time. "Actually, I think I'm going to start back to Republic City. There are a few villages I want to check in on on the return trip, so I'll head out of here in a bit. Maybe I could grab a bite to eat first?"

Mako perked up in his seat and leaned over and grabbed the room phone. "Yes, I can order us some food now. You guys eat vegetarian on the road too, right?"

Kai shot a look to Opal. "I mean, we will eat whatever is offered to us… right Opal?"

Opal smiled. "I won't tell if you won't."

"Fire Nation-style Moo Sow ribs good then?"

"Yes!" the airbenders excitedly said in unison.

Shortly after the trio had eaten their fill, Kai excused himself. As soon as the door clicked shut behind him, Mako let out an audible sigh of relief.

"So do you really have business in Zaofu?" Opal asked, picking at the tray of food between them.

"No, but I need to get out of here."

"So they really aren't buying the story about Kuvira?"

"Enough aren't that it's making life around here little uncomfortable, though now I think I know who was behind the rigging of her trial."

"Do you think they'll do anything?"

Mako joined Opal in the scavenging of the food tray. He picked out a dumpling and leaned back into his seat. "It's hard to say, I don't know what they could do. We were pretty damn good about covering all our bases. I think had Korra not gone out there they would have launched a second investigation. But to do that now would indirectly call the Avatar a liar, and this country needs Korra's support now more than ever."

"So these people are just sulking for a bit."

Mako took a deep breath. "That's not the only reason I need to leave. I uh… got involved with Yasmine."

"So she's the girl trouble," Opal said as she extracted a few hidden dumplings with one hand and placed them in a pile in her other.

"I'm no stranger to problems with women," Mako started, causing Opal to snort "But this is uh, a little more complicated. I told her the truth about what happened."

"What!"

The firebender held up his hands defensively as Opal started leaning towards him. The tray between them clanked as her hands made contact with the table. "She put me on the spot, she already knew something was up!" Mako continued.

"You're a smooth talker, you make something up!" Opal said throwing one of her dumplings at Mako. He batted it away and it fell to the floor.

"I electrocuted the girl, I coulda killed her, she deserved to know the truth."

"She's threatening to expose us, isn't she?" The airbender asked, leaning off the table.

"No, Yasmine hasn't done that, but… I don't know what she would do if I broke up with her…Yasmine… she's a very intimidating woman."

"Why isn't it working out?" Opal folded her hands and turned her head to the side. She eyed her boyfriend's brother, already sensing the answer to the question.

"I dunno… I thought I liked her, but I think we got all swept up in the excitement of the adventure we just had. Then a week later is was clear we didn't know anything about each other and didn't really have anything in common…"

"Oh geez," Opal moaned as she slumped down in her chair. "Anything else?"

"I uh… I think Wu is attracted to me. He's been very possessive since I got back, and he hates Yasmine. "

The airbender slapped her forehead and sunk deeper into her chair. "How do you manage to get yourself into these situations?"

"They find me! You've got to let me go with you to Zaofu, I'm starting to crack."

"Oh no, no, no, no. You can't just leave, you do that and Yasmine will definitely blow our cover. You got to break up with her the right way."

Mako slouched his shoulders. "I've never done it the right way."

"Well Mako, this time you're going to break up with a girl the right way."

To be continued...