The Next Chapters:Part Three
Korra readjusts the baby on her hip as she heats some milk and formula on the stovetop. Korra and Asami recently mastered the art of making baby formula. The two women had taken the breastfeeding Asami could do with their other children for granted.
It had been a while since there was a baby in the house. It meant Korra was back to being a full-time stay-at-home Mom. She doesn't mind; the world is quiet, which means she gets to see Wan and Ai more.
During the week, Korra's days were pretty much the same, mornings with Kimmi at home or running errands and then waiting in the kitchen for the other two children to come home from school in the afternoon. She would give them a snack before letting them go off and play until dinner. Then Asami would come home from work, take Kimmi, and rest her on her hip and they would cook dinner together. Korra couldn't foresee why today would be any different.
A Satomible pulls into the driveway, meaning Hong is back from picking up Wan and Ai. The front door opens and slams shut, then more gently opens and closes again.
"Hi, kids!" Korra beams, coming out of the kitchen with Kimmi in tow.
"Hi, Mumma!" Ai chirps. Hong nods and makes his way to his small home in the backyard. He cuts through the living room to get to the back yard. Picking up the children was always the final task of his day.
Korra glances around the foyer. "Where's Wan? Did he slam the door?"
"Yeah," Ai answers bashfully.
Wan's bedroom door is closed when Korra and Kimmi arrive in front of it.
"Hey Buddy, is everything okay?"
"I'm fine!" The boy hollers back. Korra knew it was a lie, but it was better not to press him.
Korra returns to the kitchen, where Ai patiently waits for her snack.
"How was your day, Sweetheart?" Korra asks as she places the prepared plate of fruit slices with nut butter on their kitchen table. She sits across from Ai and adjusts Kimmi to sit in her lap. Korra tests the bottle on her wrist to see if the milk is cool enough before offering it to the baby.
"It was good. Today we drew pictures of our families."
"Did you bring it home?"
"Nuh-uh." Ai shakes her head. "We're putting the pictures up in the classroom for a while. So we can learn about everybody's families."
"That's nice. Does anyone in your class have a family like ours?"
Ai beams. "Mmhmm! But she has a Daddy and a Dada instead of a Mommy and a Mumma! Her name is April. Can she come over sometime?"
"Of course."
"I'm home!"
Ai and Korra perk up at the sound of Asami entering the house.
"We're in the kitchen Babe!"
Asami enters soon after. She pats Ai on the head before walking over to Korra and Kimmi.
"Where's Wan?" Asami asks after pecking a kiss Korra on the lips.
"He's up in his room."
Korra passes Kimmi to her wife.
"Hi baby," Asami says in a higher tone, bouncing her a few times before settling her on her left hip. "You two have a good day?"
"We did." Korra stretches her arms over her head. Holding a baby most of the day was more workout than she remembered it being. But she was a lot younger when they had their other two children. "Kimmi really likes sitting in her bindle while I practice my bending stances."
"I bet. I wish I were small enough to be strapped to the Avatar."
Korra blushes. "You're terrible."
"Whatever do you mean?" Asami says coyly, walking away from the table.
"How was yours?" Korra sneaks one of Ai's fruit slices. The young girl's eyes bulge, and she quickly pulls the plate closer to her side of the table.
"Busy. I met up with Ikki for lunch, which ran later than planned, so I will need to leave early tomorrow to play catchup."
"How's Ikki?"
"Oh, you know," Asami sighs. She bounces Kimmi a few playful times. "Girlfriend problems again."
"What's with that?"
Asami shrugs. "I'm sure a girl who was a very famous child actor, never went to school and has tattoos seems really exciting at first."
Korra chuckles and sneaks another fruit slice. "Keyword, at first. So you think Ikki is the problem?"
"She is the common denominator. The girl has wanted a girlfriend since she was, what, twelve? I'm sure she comes on as strong and intensely as she did as a child. Speaking of, she will babysit for us Friday night."
Ai straightens up from her seat and squeals with excitement through her full cheeks.
"Why don't you and Ai go practice some water bending while I see what our little man is up to."
"Tread lightly. He's been so moody lately." Korra gets up from her chair and picks up Ai's empty plate. Ai hops down from her chair to join in the clean-up.
"He's getting to that age, Korra."
"What age?" Ai asks innocently.
Korra looms over Ai, reaches for her armpits, and wiggles her fingers. "An age I never want you to become! I want you to stay my little Sweetheart forever and ever."
"Aaah! Mumma, noooo!"
Asami smiles as she leaves the scene in the kitchen. It wasn't long before she was in front of her eldest child's closed bedroom door. Asami knocked lightly with her free hand.
"Wan. It's Mom. Can I come in?"
There is no answer, so Asami lets herself in. Wan was lying face down on his bed. She quietly crosses the room and sits on the edge of his bed. She lets Kimmi onto the comforter on her tummy. "Buddy, what's wrong?"
"I hate my school."
"But you just started at public school. You have to give it a little time. "
Wan groans and rolls over so his back is to his mother.
"I know it's hard adjusting, but isn't this what you wanted? How are your technical drawings coming along?"
"They're on my desk." Wan half-heartedly points in that direction.
Asami walks over and picks up a few large pieces of drafting paper. Kimmi starts to wiggle from her spot on the bed. Wan, sensing her movement, rolls over in time to grab her.
Asami flips open the sketchbook and thumbs through the pages. Most of the drawings were Satomobiles in different stages or parts. Then she came upon some more imaginative sketches. Clearly, her son is trying to work out ideas.
"These are beautiful," Asami says as she flips through. "Oh, your style reminds me so much of my fathers…."
She looks at her son. He was the spitting image of her Hiroshi when he was that age; his pale skin and black hair, even how he liked to part it. The only difference is his piercing blue eyes.
'Just like Korra's…'
Asami would forget herself thinking both her biological children inherited the trait from Korra. Those eyes were a testament to how dominant that particular water tribe gene was. Ai took a little more after her water tribe heritage; her skin was a light chestnut, but her hair was also black, like Asami and her brother's.
"Mom," Wan starts, resting his head on Kimmi's. He rubs his cheek across her soft tufts of sprouting hair. "Why don't you ever talk about Grandpa or Grandma?"
Asami felt a lump form in her throat as she sat on the bed again. She still had Wan's drawing in her hands.
"It's hard for me to talk about Buddy. My mother died when I was very young, so I don't have a lot of memories of her and Dad... He died in the Earth Empire invasion. Both of them gave their lives to save mine." Asami began to tear up.
"Mom, I'm sorry; please don't cry," Wan says, wrapping an arm around his mother. Asami put the drawings down to embrace her son back. Asami then offers to take Kimmi, and Wan lets her.
"It's okay. I'm so grateful to them both because I would never have the family I have now." Asami pets Wan's forehead. "I now know why they did it, and I would do the same for any of my children."
"Even Kimmi?"
"Of course, Buddy. I love you all just as much and more than you will ever know. Now I'll leave you alone, but please come down for dinner, okay?"
"Okay, Mom."
***6 months ago***
Asami was hunched over, deep in thought over her sketchbook in the study, when Wan opened the door, startling her.
"Mom, Mumma's on the phone. She says she needs to talk to you."
Asami's heart leaps into her throat. It was well after eleven. Korra was currently in The United Earth States; they had just suffered a terrible earthquake in Ba Sing Se.
Asami follows her son to the kitchen, where they keep the phone.
"What are you doing up so late?"
Wan blushes. "Ai and I were hungry..."
Ai sits on the table next to the phone cradle. A cookie in each hand and the big phone comically under the crook of her neck. "So, Mumma, when are you gonna come home? Late-night snack isn't as fun without you."
"Late-night snack, huh?" Asami asks as she walks towards her daughter.
Korra did not hear Asami and continued to speak. "Soon, Sweetheart. Many people lost their homes, so I need to help them while we build new ones."
"Mommy's here!" Ai announces, shoving the cookies in her mouth. "wove woo! Buuuhee!"
Ai quickly scoots her butt off the table and scurries over to Wan's side in the doorway. Asami smiles at her mischievous daughter.
"Wan, you want to say goodnight to Mumma before returning to bed?" Asami holds out the receiver.
"Mumma is a baby name. Why can't she go bye, Mom too?"
"Hey, you guys still there?" Korra calls out.
"Wan, are we really having this discussion now? Please say good night." Asami was losing her patience; this late-night call made her very unnerved.
She passes the receiver to Wan. "Hi, Mom. I just wanted to say goodnight, so goodnight."
"Goodnight, Buddy; I love you."
"Love you too. Here's Mom."
Asami pats her son on the head and then motions for the two kids to leave. They both look back at her reluctantly.
"Please, children, I will tell you all about it in the morning. You must go to bed; it's very late."
The pair deflate and leave the kitchen.
Satisfied, Asami brings the receiver to her ear. "Korra?" She tries not to let her voice shake.
"Hi, Honey! You sound so nervous, don't worry; I don't have any bad news."
Asami lets out the breath she'd been holding.
"Aww, I'm sorry I scared you!"
Asami loops the phone's cord around her finger. "It's just when you're away, and you call late at night. I can't help but get scared…."
"Now I feel terrible, this could have waited till tomorrow, but I was so excited. You know how I get, I don't think, and do something like this."
"It's okay; I'm used to it after being married to you for this long."
Korra chuckles. "I'm so lucky…"
"So what is the news? I do need to go to bed soon, too, you know."
Wan opens the door to his room once he was sure Ai was in her bed. He creeps back down the stairs towards the kitchen and sits down against the wall right before the opening. There was no door, so he could easily hear his mother's.
"So you remember what we talked about a few months ago… About another child again... Well, today, we were clearing away some more debris, and Bolin made the most amazing discovery. It was a baby; she somehow survived a building collapsing. Her mother's body broke the fall… There are so many displaced people that I thought-"
"Yes, of course, Korra."
"You don't even know what I was gonna ask," Korra says sheepishly.
"I know you well enough to know where this is going. But yes, we can adopt her."
Korra breathes a sigh of relief. "Oh, Asami, she's beautiful. I have her here in my room. She's so little; we'll have a baby in the house again."
Asami closes her eyes and tries to imagine Korra in some tiny room with this baby. "What do you need me to do?"
"Can you come to get her? There is still so much that needs to be done here, and she needs a lot of care."
Asami pulls a pen and paper out of a drawer and starts making a list of tasks she must complete before leaving. "What about the children? Should I bring them?"
"I want to see them, but I think it would be best if they stayed at the temple. It's not the safest here right now. It's like post-Kuvira Earth Kingdom all over again.
"Okay, I'll call Pema in the morning."
"You've made me very happy, Asami."
"You too, my love. I'm going to go to bed now. I'll see you in a few days."
Wan scurried from his spot as he heard his parents wrap up their conversation.
***Friday Night present time***
Date night technically began after Korra, Asami, Bolin, and Opal's first double date at the Sighing Lotus, but officially became such after the third time they had dinner there. It was a misunderstanding on Bolin's part, their second dinner. The girls had commented on how they had such a lovely time on their date, so Bolin booked the Sighing Lotus the next time they double-dated. He even got them at the same table.
The girls teased Bolin and had a wonderful evening together. Then the third time the pairs went out, Bolin booked the Sighing Lotus again as a joke. He took the trouble of hiring a driver so the girls wouldn't know where they were dining that evening.
After that third time, they all agreed they should keep going to the Sighing Lotus every time they double date. Bolin knew they were half kidding, but he thought it was perfect. Fifteen years later and they were still going, usually once a month, sometimes every other, depending on how busy their lives were at the given time.
They did a triple date with Mako and his plus one occasionally, never at the Sighing Lotus. It panged Bolin not to include Mako in something where the rest of "Team Avatar" was involved, but date night was this constant in his life—Bolin treasured constants.
Mako eventually gave up actively dating, which was a relief for Bolin. It was hard to watch Mako try so hard. There was a solid year where he constantly hit them all up to go out and meet this new "terrific" girl Mako met. Then the next time he'd round them all up, it would be some different girl. Bolin never figured out whether it was more Mako feeling left out by not having a partner or because Mako truly wanted a relationship.
"So, is Mako watching the boys tonight?" Asami asks between sips of the wine she was determining was worth ordering a whole bottle of.
Bolin grins and nods. "He's taken them to a wrestling match."
"Not one of Varrick's cheezy masked wrestling shows."
"Of course it is!"
"I kinda want to check one out sometime."
"Really?" Asami asks, checking her shoulders into her wife's.
"He gave me some tickets. I got more-" Bolin starts, reaching into his suit jacket.
Korra puts down her glass and accepts the tickets from Bolin."I think the kids would get a kick out of it."
"I'll let you take them; I'll stay home with Kimmi."
Korra counts the tickets and passes one back across the table. "Since Asami's out."
"I bet the boys would want to go again; Korra, you and I can have a daddy date," Bolin says, tucking away the ticket.
"That should mean Asami, and I get to do something fun. Drop the baby at the temple, and you, I will hit up a spa."
"Much better than an afternoon watching a Varrick production." Asami clinks her glass with Opal's.
Asami's face lights up. "So a little birdie told me your brother's getting out of prison early? Your mom must be over the moon."
Opal nods, envisioning her mother back in Zaofu. She was likely prepping Baatar Jr. 's room as they spoke. It had been like a museum for the past fifteen years. Longer even, their mother left it as he did when he ran off with Kuvira.
"Yes, though I know she's still disappointed she couldn't do much for him while she was in office."
"It wouldn't have been a good look."
"I know. I think Mom hoped with Kuvira being dead and gone, the people would have had a little less animosity toward her lackeys, but no one was quick to forget the cruelty they inflicted. With or without Kuvira nearby."
Opal recalled several conversations with her mother, half venting, half testing the waters to see if she could gauge the public temperature around Bataar Jr. They did discuss if a pardon was given to Bataar Jr., it would have to be granted to anyone with a shorter sentence still incarcerated. Her mother did not like that idea. She had no trust in the faceless masses that followed Kuvira. But she never doubted the good in Bataar Jr.
Opal herself felt it was best if her mother just left it alone. Her heart softened towards her brother's betrayal, but she just couldn't imagine managing the self-inflicted mess her mother was flirting with.
"It's hard to imagine it's been fifteen years since all of that." Korra flashes a cheeky grin. "And since you two got married."
"I can't believe it took you guys a full two years to get married after us." Opal waggles two fingers at the couple across from her for emphasis.
"Really?" Korra scrunches her face and looks at Asami. "That meant we dated for around the same length as you two, still a shorter amount of time."
"Bolin was convinced for a whole year that that wedding invite was coming in the mail any day now. That you two were saying you would wait but would eventually cave."
"Korra knew I was a sure thing, so that took the pressure off asking, I guess."
Korra cocks her head to the side. "What?"
"Don't you remember after their wedding, we talked about it, and I said if you'd asked me right then to marry you, I would have."
Korra contorts her face trying to recall this conversation. Asami rolls her eyes but smiles.
"Now you see, Asami, I was gonna peg you to be the one to propose. But you two were so mysterious about the whole thing."
Bolin wiggles from side to side in his seat. "But I knew what was going on."
"And you kept it a secret." Korra slaps the table a few times. "Something ninety-nine percent of the time you cannot do."
"I know; I was so proud of myself."
*** Thirteen Years Ago***
It was a Sunday night dinner, seemingly no different than any other at the Air Temple. Summer was almost over, and the days were warm, but the dusk came sooner every night, along with an evening chill. Korra's parents were in town, so of course, they were invited over for dinner.
The meal was wrapping up. Most people had put their sticks down over their bowls. A few side conversations were happening, but nothing held the group's attention.
Bolin shoots up from his seat and starts slapping his stomach. "Wow, what a terrific dinner, wouldn't you all agree? Say, how would everyone like to watch some fireworks? I heard on the radio that little Ba Sing Se will be setting some off tonight to celebrate the Harvest Festival. We should be able to see them out in the courtyard."
People slowly rose from the table while Bolin ushered them through the dining room door. Without notice, Asami, Korra, Ikki, and Jinora snuck out the other door.
Mako and Lin scowl and quietly speculate on why Bolin is so keen for everyone to go outside. Tenzin also appears a little confused and also loiters in the dining room.
"C'mon people, what else have you got planned tonight? " Bolin waves his arms to the doors. "Let's watch some fireworks!"
Opal put a hand on Bolin's chest and leaned in. "Why are you pushing this so hard? What are you scheming?"
Bolin blinked a few times, feigning surprise. "What could I possibly be scheming, as you so harshly put it? I just want to ensure no one misses the fireworks on such a beautiful fall evening."
Opal narrows her eyes but allows herself to be pushed out of the door. Bolin follows closely behind her. They walk together to the yin and yang circle in the courtyard's center. Chairs are set up to overlook the water. They're arranged in two sections, with a walkway between them about the width of two chairs apart. A few people, like Korra's parents, had already claimed a seat while Kya and Pema chatted nearby.
"You really wanted us to watch these, huh?" Opal asks as they head toward some empty chairs. "But when the heck did you set this up?"
Opal spies Hong, Asami's family butler shuffling toward the seating area from the direction of the docks. He wasn't at the dinner but had must of just shown up. Hong carries a bag in one arm and goes to the front of one of the sides of the chairs. He pulls out what looks like two frames. He places one per seat, the images facing forward, so she can't make them out. The older man takes the next empty seat beside them.
Bolin holds Opal's hand to guide her to a seat, but as she sits but does not join her. He moves to the yin and yang circle to address the group. He turns to his left and waves. Not long after his signal, four acolytes shuffle toward him with a bamboo canopy covered in all kinds of flowers. Petals drift on the breeze as it arrives. Bolin directs them to place it over the ancient symbol.
"Everyone, if you could please take a seat, the event is about to begin! It doesn't matter where you sit; we're all friends and family to both brides."
"Brides?" Mako mutters as he takes a seat next to Opal.
Opal covers her mouth and turns around back to the temple. "They couldn't be…"
No sooner did Opal utter the words did Ikki enter the courtyard from behind the main temple hall in a little teal dress. She wears a crown of firelilly's and carries a small basket full of petals. She walks between the two sections of chairs, dropping the occasional petal. Not far behind her came Jinora. She wears a similar dress but has an orange Air Nomad sash around her left shoulder and waste. Together they stand on either side of Bolin in front of the small audience.
Ikki flinches and quickly scurries up to Bolin. She pulls a flower from her basket and motions him to bend over. He obeys, and she tucks the Firelily into his breast pocket like a corsage.
Once the girls and Bolin settle, Asami and Korra appear from behind the building, hand in hand. They also changed outfits. It was the same formalwear they had from Bolin and Opal's wedding, with the addition of flower crowns made of a mix of fireflies and blue Saxifrage, a flower that grows in the south in the summer.
Pema nudges Tenzin in the side. "Did you know this was happening?"
Tenzin shakes his head furiously. "I'm as shocked as you are." He turns to look at Korra's parents. "And as they are."
Pema leans over Tenzin to get a view of Senna and Tonraq on the other side of the aisle. She's relieved to see a broad smile on Tonraq and even a small one on Senna. Senna catches her eyes, so Pema flashes a grin and a wave as she mouths, "Congratulations." Senna replies with a little bow.
Pema sits back up as Korra and Asami come up the aisle between them. The couple drops their joined hands to shake Bolin's and exchange a few words the rest can't hear. Bolin positions Korra and Asami to face each other and to retake each other's hands.
Bolin clears his throat and gazes at the small group of friends and family. "Thank you all for being here tonight as witnesses to the union between Avatar Korra and the industrious Asami Sato. They wanted me to let you know that after much careful consideration, they decided what they wanted for their wedding was just an intimate gathering amongst their closest family and friends. So please know you are some of their favorite people because you are here tonight."
Bolin gives the audience a few seconds to take in their compliment and the other big wedding bomb he just dropped before reaching out his hands and waving his fingers to get them to focus on him again. "We also ask if everyone would like to take a moment for us all to think about those who could not be here, despite Korra and Asami very much wishing they could be."
Asami sneaks a look back to Hong, who she had spied on her walk to the alter. On two chairs to his left were individual photos of her mother and father.
Hong senses the uncertainty in Asami as she looks at her parents. She has no way of ever truly knowing how they feel about her choice of partner. He catches her eye and mouths as clearly as he can. "They love you."
Asami takes a moment to let the thought in, and when it does, she replies to Hong with a little nod.
Korra gives Asami's hands a little squeeze, bringing her back to the moment. Korra's heart skips a beat as Asami faces her again. She's beautiful, even with the twinge of sadness in her eyes.
"Now I'm sure you're all thinking, Korra, Asami, I didn't even know you were engaged?" Bolin starts, recapturing everyone's attention. He comically puts a hand on his hips and the other thoughtfully on his chin. "I learned about this myself only a few weeks ago. Apparently, it hasn't been that long, so don't feel left out! Considering how public everything in their lives have been, they determined a private wedding was what they wanted. And once the news finds out, it's gonna be everywhere, so savor this moment ladies. So without further delay, let us begin!"
Bolin turns to Jinora, who stands beside Korra. "Jinora, please dispense the rings."
Jinora hands each of the women the other's platinum ring.
Bolin places a hand on the Avatar's shoulder. "Korra, do you take Asami to be your wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer," Bolin cracked a smile and gave Korra a little nudge. "For richer, for sure," he mutters.
Korra rolls her eyes and nudges him back.
Bolin composes himself and continues "in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, from this day forward?"
Korra flashes Asami a big grin before saying, "I do."
Asami takes the ring Jinora gave her and slides it on the ring finger of Korra's outstretched left hand.
Bolin turns to focus on Asami. "Asami, do you take Korra to be your wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health…"
As Bolin says the words in sickness and health, Asami's heart clenches for a beat. She thinks back to Korra's room on the island, not far from where they stand now. Korra is sitting dejected as Asami prepped her for Jinora's celebration. She loved her even then; she loved her especially then.
Asami sneaks a glance out to the water. She recalls the time on the beach when Korra returned from saving Kuvira. Korra kneeled on the sand before her. She reached out and grasped both of Asami's 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 fulfill that promise. I am here, I am present, and I am healed."
"...to love and to cherish, from this day forward?" Bolin asks, his voice coming back to focus.
Asami looked down at Korra's smiling face. It suddenly becomes blurry from a wash of tears. Asami moves to wipe them away, but Korra beats her to it. Korra's soft fingers nudge away the two small trails threatening to wreak havoc on her makeup.
"I've dreamt of this moment for so long," Asami says at a volume only Korra and Bolin can hear.
Korra reclaims Asami's hands and squeezes them. "I have to."
"I do," Asami finally replies, loud enough for everyone to hear. She holds out her left hand to Korra, who in turn reciprocates, placing a ring on her ring finger.
"By the power vested in me and in the eyes of the United Republic, I declare you wife and wife. You may now do the thing."
"That's not our catchphrase…" Korra mutters as she puts her arms around Asami's hips.
Asami moves her own hands to Korra's shoulders and leans down."So his material is a little recycled."
The pair meet in the middle, their lips press together, and everything and everyone around them is forgotten. Until they felt a barrage of Firelily petals rain down on them. They separate, and petals flurry between them.
"Sorry, I air-bent them a little too hard!" Ikki squeaks.
They both let out a sigh as they kiss again. A few more quick pecks, and then they turn to meet the applause of their friends and family. Everyone rose from their chairs to congratulate them. A small crowd cheering of acolytes and airbenders had formed a small way away from the ceremony.
Korra takes one of Asami's hands as they move into the crowd.
***Friday Night present time***
"I don't think my mom has ever gotten over you not inviting her." Opal recalls her mother's frantic call only a few weeks after the wedding. Someone at the county clerk's office must have spilled the news to the papers when the couple filed the marriage license. The news spread through the different periodicals like a brushfire.
"I know, but she was the frickin President of the United Earth States. How were we supposed to get her to casually ask her to show up in Republic City for no reason? We barely got my parents up without tipping them off." Korra moans.
Opal bruskly turns her head and takes a little sip of water. "I dunno; you didn't have to make it a surprise wedding to keep it small."
"You know." Korra's eyes narrow. "You're agreeing much more with your mother as you age."
"I am not!"
"You kinda are," Bolin adds, joining the argument.
"Bolin!"
"I'm sorry, Honey, but it's true," Bolin rubs Opal's back. "We're not saying it's a bad thing."
Opal covers her face with her hands. "But it is!"
"These cheeks are so chubby!" Yanmei, Ikki's girlfriend, squeals as she dangles Kimmi over her lap. The baby's chunky legs kick, and they try to take little steps. She then settles for bouncing up and down. Yanmei is a couple years younger than Ikki,with oak brown hair and eyes. Third generation Republic City, so she has a very modern look.
They had met in the city; one night when Ikki was out "rehearsing" is what she told her parents, when she wanted to go have some fun with people her own age. Despite Ikki being in her mid twenties, her parents still fussed over her doing anything off the island.
The couple had just finished putting Ai and Wan to bed and were now enjoying a crackling fire in the living room with Kimmi for a few moments before it was time to put her down too.
"I know, she's so fricken cute," Ikki sighs, reaching out and grabbing Kimmi's legs as they bend and shake.
"So she got a different dad than the other two, right?"
"Different mom, too; she was adopted."
"Ah, that answers it." Yanmei swung Kimmi's legs up so she could plop her down on her lap. "It's crazy how much the other two look like Mrs. Sato and Avatar Korra."
Ikki nods. "You have to promise you don't say anything; this is privileged information."
"Who the dad is?"
"Yes."
Yanmei leans closer to Ikki, her eyes large and serious. "I promise."
"He's a cousin of Korra's. Not one she's close with, like a second cousin or something. He lives in the South. My Aunt Kya made the arrangements and performed the insemination."
Yanmei picks up Kimmi's feet and playfully makes them kick a few times. "They wanted more kids. Obviously, cos they got this little bundle of chubs!"
Ikki relaxes on the couch. She's never forgotten the day Ai was born. She had turned eighteen only a week before and felt very confident in her adulthood. All it took was something scary to happen to make her feel like a little kid again. "Asami had a difficult birth with Ai. Korra got called to go to the Earth Kingdom, so Asami spent most of the time at the temple with me. She was close to her due date and one day just started bleeding."
"Yikes, I hear that can happen."
"They're both fine, obviously, but it was pretty scary for a moment. I never saw someone go so pale so quickly. Fortunately, my aunt Kya was at the temple." Ikki feels Yanmei take one of her hands and squeezes it. Ikki smiles, comforted.
"Asami told me she would have had as many children as Korra wanted, but Korra wouldn't let her get pregnant again. Something easy to avoid when you're two women."
"It is kinda a perk." Yanmei chuckles. "What about Avatar Korra? She coulda popped out another kid, or is that not possible for Avatars?"
Ikki shrugs."Strongly discouraged."
"Fascinating."
The two girls go quiet and listen to the crackling of the fire. Kimmi leans back into Yanmei's chest, her eyes starting to droop.
Ikki turns her body to face her girlfriend and the baby. She dares to squeeze one of Kimmi's little toes. She just couldn't resist them. "Kimmi kinda fell into their laps, and I guess they couldn't say no."
"I wouldn't say no to you falling in my lap," Yanmei tries to say seductively. The two young women stare at each other with serious looks, and then both sputter into laughter. They giggle for a moment but continue holding each other's gaze. They start to lean together, their eyelids heavy, when the sound of the front door opening startles them.
They jump away from each other as two sets of footsteps draw near.
"Hey, girls," Korra says with a cheeky grin.
Ikki sticks out her tongue. "Hey, Korra, Asami. How was dinner?"
Korra reaches out her hands, clenching and unclenching her fingers in an effort to steal Kimmi back from Yanmei. The younger girl clutches the baby closer. "Are you sure you must take her back, Avatar Korra?"
Ikki gets up from her seat and moves into the hallway to join Asami."Yeah, you two are home earlier than I thought you'd be? Didn't feel like taking a joyride after?"
"Joy ride?" Asami cocks her head. "I think I'm getting a little too old for that these days."
"You're only thirty-seven, which normally I'd say is a million years old, but you're my best friend, and I would never want you to feel self-conscious about your age."
"Thank you, I think?"
"You don't look a day over twenty-eight, Mrs. Sato."
Korra finally wrestles Kimmi from Yanmei and sways back and forth to keep her asleep, hopefully. "Asami is like a fine wine; she just gets better and better as she ages."
"Alright, I'm sorry I said anything about feeling too old to go joyriding. Korra, next time, we're staying out past midnight."
"Whatever you want, dear."
Asami slides her purse from her hip to her front and fishes around inside. She pulls out a small envelope. "I don't want to give this to you now, but here is a gift certificate to the Sunset Lounge. A thank you for watching our children on a Friday night when you two spring chickens should be painting the town red."
Ikki accepts the envelope. "Thank you!"
"You really shouldn't have; it was my-our pleasure," Yanmei stammers.
"Don't feel bad; she owes me for three gigs, one right after the other."
Asami puts a hand on her forehead. "That reminds me, we need you to watch the kids next Wednesday if you can. Zhu Li is having a fundraising campaign dinner, and we really should show up for that."
Korra grimaces. "I hate those."
"No problem," Ikki says in her sugary sweetest tone. "I should be free. Just call me next week with the time. Oh, that reminds me, I forgot to tell you; I heard back about the part!"
"She got it!" Yanmei squeals.
Korra covers Kimmi's ears to keep her asleep, hopefully. "What part?"
Asami shoots Ikki a look, but it's too late.
"Varrick is doing a big mover of the Badgermole-men invasion, and Ikki will play Asami!" Yanmei says gleefully bouncing on her heals
Korra's face falls. She clutches Kimmi to her chest and swings her body away from the group. "I wish they'd give that one a rest," Korra mutters as she goes to the stairs to put Kimmi to bed.
Yanmei looks around, confused. "What did I say?"
Ikki slaps a hand on her forehead. "Shit, Asami, I forgot I wasn't supposed to discuss it. I just remembered I didn't tell you and got so excited."
"It's fine. Korra would have heard about it eventually."
Asami drives the girls to the docks since Yanmei, of course, couldn't fly back to the temple like Ikki could have. She noted the two young women appeared to be getting along well. Asami was a bit surprised when Ikki arrived at their home with her in tow. Their conversation earlier that week seemed like they were on the verge of breaking up. Asami knows she can't say much, given her on-and-off relationships in her youth, but she outgrew that behavior by Ikki's current age.
"May I ask why Avatar Korra was so upset about the mover?" Yanmei chirps from the back seat. "I remember when it happened. She saved the city, like always. It was amazing."
Ikki shrugs her shoulders. "We honestly don't know why she doesn't like talking about it. Unless you're holding out on me, Asami?"
"It's something Korra won't even discuss with me."
As Asami drives back home, she recalls those first weeks after the event in question. The papers still dedicated most of their news to details of the invasion and the recovery efforts. Asami was very pregnant with Wan and on forced maternity leave, despite her desperately wishing she could help the city planners in reconstruction.
She asked Korra to bring home papers to keep her apprised of what was happening, but she always forgot to pick up certain publications that day. Asami solicited her assistant Kali to pick up the newspapers Korra "missed" and noticed a pattern; all those papers covered Korra's big heroic moment when somehow she managed to save both Asami and a building from collapsing at the same time, bending two different elements from each hand simultaneously. The city loved Korra for it, but the Avatar was reluctant to accept the praise.
Asami wondered if maybe it was the kiss some lucky photographer snapped. Much of that particular invasion is documented because it happened so suddenly that no one evacuated. Citizens watched it all unfold from their balconies.
After Korra bent Asami into her arms from the Badermole-men holding her captive, while still holding the spirit vines to hold the skyscraper upright, she gave Asami a big kiss. Asami, still scared out of her wits from her near death, wasn't feeling romantic or particularly much of anything but was melted by the passion Korra expressed in that kiss. And, of course, that moment when Asamis knees went out, swooning in Korra's arms, got captured, forever preserved in the public's memory, on every cover for two solid weeks.
When Asami arrives home, Korra is waiting for her. Her legs kicked up on the couch, enjoying the simmering embers left of the living room fire. "The last kid is now all tucked in her bed."
"As should her mother's," Asami teases.
"But I still want to go joyriding." Korra slides her feet to the floor, making room for Asami next to her on the couch. She pats the now free space beside her.
"When she said that." Asami slaps her hands on her cheeks, drags them down her face, and groans. "For a moment, I panicked that she finally figured out why we'd go driving after dinner some nights."
"There's no way. Besides, you have the perfect cover, the inventor of the fastest-moving vehicles known to man. Who wouldn't believe you'd like the thrill of speeding along the hills of Republic City at night."
Asami sits down beside her wife. She kicks off her shoes and tucks her feet up onto the cushions. "That's all true, though; she just doesn't know we stop at the top most of the time."
"Best view in the city, Ching-Longs Point, or as the youths call it, make-out-point." Korra flashes her lopsided grin and leans closer to Asami. Asami playfully pushes her back to her side of the couch.
"It would probably be even more of a fun spot if we were still youths. It seems silly sometimes when I think about the home and bed we could go to instead. We don't need to sneak around."
"I like experiencing those awkward teen things I didn't get to do with you." Korra's arms rise, cup the back of her head, and leans back. She conjures the fantasy she goes to when they're up on the cliff; they're teen sweethearts having this secret love affair. Asami's car and the remote look out the only place they felt safe and alone. They never hid their relationship. Hours after confessing, they were at the temple telling it to their closest friends and then all of Republic City a few months later. Korra now knows that having to hide is an unfortunate reality for many people, and it's not fun.
Korra knows she has this fantasy of it likely because their relationship has been so public. And perhaps a part of her wishes she had clued into her feelings sooner. Even after fifteen years together, Korra regrets wasting time being a mixed-up teen. But Zhou Rhen always reminds her that every decision has led her to the person she is now. Had things been different, her life with Asami might not have come to be. But still, Korra liked to pretend, and a little pretending never hurt anyone.
"Regardless of how old we are, I always feel twenty when I'm with you."
"You make me feel young too, Babe." Asami tucks a lock of hair that escaped from the tight bun she had done up for their dinner date. " I just sometimes wonder how you can still want me after all these years…."
Korra jerks up from her relaxed position. "You still want me, right?"
"Of course, but you're still cut from stone and the most magnetic person I've ever met."
Korra's palms go to the couch seat, and she crawls closer to her wife.
"Asami, when you told me you liked me back, this aching pressure in my chest that there was something fundamentally wrong with me evaporated."
Korra takes Asami's legs and pulls them so they are flat along the cushions, turning Asami's body in her direction. "To me, you are the wildest and most thrilling flame, and I'm a helpless moth. I've never told you this before, but I hear a whisper from my past putting to words that feeling that I have. It says, 'like the moth to the flame to the coal'."
Korra collects both of Asami's hands and brings them to her lips. Pale and elegant in her darker and stubbier ones, but both were scarred from hard work and many battles. Korra kissed every pale scar she could find. "It feels like I have loved you for centuries, but it's the love of a thousand lives who have loved and know what love is and are affirming to me without a shadow of a doubt that is what I feel for you."
The last words barely escape Korra's lips as she feels Asami unexpectedly pins her to the couch. The hands once holding her wife were now pinned to the armrest. Asami's lips were everywhere on Korra's, and she'd happily suffocate this way.
Korra's wrists struggle to free themselves, eager to touch, grasp, and explore, but ultimately must submit. Asami has the upper hand of gravity, keeping them pressed down. Frustrated, Korra bucks her hips, then chest, a repeated lapping wave of her body into Asami's. Asami reciprocates with her own body, quicking, losing herself in the rhythm.
Korra can feel Asami's grip loosen and seize her moment to free her hands. They move right to Asami's hips. Korra pulls herself up into a seated position, Asami now in her lap. Korra rises, taking her wife with her. She turns around to drop Asami back onto the couch and kneels before her.
"You carried two of our children and mother our third. Every day I want you more than the last."
Korra brushes her fingers along the sides of Asami's right ankle, teasing the skin before gripping the back of it. As she bows her head, she pulls Asami's leg closer until her lips press to the freshly shaved smooth skin. Korra looks up to ensure Asami is watching, and she is intently. "The thought of you not in my life and sharing my bed takes the air from my lungs."
Asami leans forward and grasps Korra's face in her hands. Icy blue eyes sparkle back at her. Even after all this time, she still sees new shades, new depths in her Wife's eyes. "We need to go there now."
"To that bed we share?"
"Yes," Asami whispers as she brings their faces together.
To be continued...