Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

To Lin, 

It’s your other self. Hope you’re having fun with our husband. Tenzin better be treating you right, and the kids…well, I’ll let them surprise you. Just like they have to me. 

How do you put up with this Tenzin? He’s worse than a soggy noodle. There’s been a little improvement, but overall he’s still growing into his backbone. You’ll find out soon enough. Did the kids say they’ll try to bury him in the ground and send him to an early sky funeral? 

By the way, what the fuck do you keep in your storage? Booze and jerky? At least put a moon peach in there for sugars. Don’t waste what I got you. Your favorite Twinkletoes will keep you in line if you don’t listen. I would have gotten some fruits, but they’ll spoil by the time you get back.  

I also don’t know how you’ve managed to power through this lifetime, but I have no doubts that you would. Mom would say, “You’re a Beifong. You just deal with it.” But we know that wasn’t what we needed to hear. I can only imagine how much pain Tenzin brought when he broke up with you and I would kill him myself if I didn’t equally love the sap.

Despite what you may believe or how you view yourself, you are powerful and incredibly loved by many. I hope your time in my world has shown you that. The people in your world do too, allow them to love you in their different ways. Kya and Aunt Katara have missed you dearly. 

Uncle Aang would have told us to give advice if we ever wrote a letter like this. I’m not sure what to say, so I’m just going with the first thing that comes to mind. 

Don’t dwell too long in the past. It’ll foster anger. 

Don’t invest too much into the future. It’ll foster worry. 

Be grounded in the present, although that’s easier said than done, I’ll say. 

I hope you find peace and happiness within yourself as you return home. 

Best, 

Lin (the other one) 

P.S. The snake has much more backbone than the one I had to deal with. Whatever sentiments you feel about her, I told her. Ask Bumi and Kya about it. They got a real kick out of it.

Nine months passed since Lin returned to her own reality and the changes that followed her return.

News of Pema and Tenzin’s divorce swept Republic City by storm—a welcomed distraction from the serious talks of rebuilding. Why get depressed over the economic recovery when you can hear the details of why the son of Avatar Aang filed for divorce from his acolyte wife? True to his word, Tenzin kept Lin out of the line of fire from any unfounded and vicious rumors.

A few reporters approached her to gauge a reaction to the Air Nation power couple’s divorce and were met with, “It’s none of my business,” paired beautifully with a sharp glare. Although that reduced the number of nosy journalists, Lin continued to feel the searing stares of the world every time she set foot in public. The world continued to regard all of her whereabouts and tuned in closely to every interaction she shared with Tenzin as if they were gambling on the true nature of their relationship.

Through it all, she held her head high and avoided any unnecessary contact with Tenzin. Frankly, he was not the focus of her life. She had her own share of work to deal with such as readjusting to life without the kids rather than mulling over the airhead that would be one of her greatest loves and pains. That mentality sheltered her from the unwanted pressures that once weighed on her shoulders as a young woman.

And besides, the press would eventually move on to the next scandalous topic within a few months. Which just so happened to be Avatar Korra and Asami Sato’s new relationship.  

Ring. Ring. Ring. 

An eyebrow twitched, hands tightening around the edges of the book. Lin sharpened her focus on the page, rereading how Detective Han recently discovered…

Ring. Ring. Ring.

…something. 

Lin groaned, throwing down the book and walking over to the distracting source. “Who is it?” 

“Lin, it’s me.” 

A low sigh slipped from the earthbender, shoulders sagging as she crossed an arm across her middle. “Security for the World Expo has already been confirmed.” 

“Oh, well, good to know. But that’s not why I’m calling.” 

“What is it then?” 

“I want to invite you to the island for tea.” 

“Tea,” Lin repeated slowly. “You’re calling about tea.”  

“The office said you took a leave of absence and today is the first day.” 

She smirked. “Word finally got to you. I thought you’d hear about it when I submitted the paperwork two weeks ago.” 

“You also could have told me yourself.” 

“Guess it just never occurred to me,” she replied flatly, tongue in cheek. 

A small chuckle rang on the other side of the line. “By the way, Pema and the children are at the Eastern Air Temple for a few weeks, so…you don’t have to worry about any awkward encounters here. But since you just started your leave, don’t feel pressured into coming as I’m sure you’d like to rest—” 

“Sure.” 

“—on your own—what?” 

Lin rolled her eyes. “You’re not deaf.” 

A cough. “Of course not. You said sure to…you meant sure to, uh…” 

“You know what kind of tea I like.” 

“Naturally.” 

“Is there a certain time you’d like me to come over?” 

“Anytime is fine.”

Lin hummed. “Then I’ll be over in about an hour.” 

“Great, then I’ll see you soon.”

“See ya.” 

“Lin…” 

“Hm?” 

“I…thank you.” 

Lin cocked her head to the side. “I’m not even on the island.”  

“It’s…just because.” 

She couldn’t fight against the growing smile on her face, but she could keep her voice firm. “You’re cutting into my time yapping. I’ll be there in an hour, got it?” 

“Got it, Lin.”

A weight rolled into his chest, breath hitching sharply in the back of his throat.

Thankfully, she was too far to have heard the gasp that hiccuped from him. Rather than being blinded by the sunlight reflecting from polished metal, a jade blouse and emerald pants clung to sculpted curves. A dark grey coat layered over the ensemble, the sash tightly emphasizing the hourglass figure Tenzin always knew. How long had it been since he’d seen her in a casual getup? Varrick and Zhu Li’s wedding was months ago and…actually, was that it? Had he really not seen Lin in anything other than her armor in that whole time?

There was nothing sensual in the conservative fashion choice, but seeing Lin dressed in her own comfort and style was a fresh breath of minty air on his tongue. 

Lin threw him a bored glance as she approached. “Got anything better to do than stand there?” 

Tenzin shook his thoughts away and immediately put on a smile. “Just thought I should greet you on the way in.” 

“Thanks, it’s my first time,” she quipped. 

“You’re looking radiant.” 

Lin rolled her eyes. “Cut the garbage, Tenzin.” 

“I mean it,” Tenzin said, meeting her eyes and noting the subtle blush warming her cheeks. 

“Flattery won’t work on me. I’m on leave and there’s nothing else I can do about your request on security.” 

“I just wanted you to know.” 

“I just came for tea.” 

Tenzin lowered his head and chuckled. “Yes, yes. I prepared it. I, uh, well since it’s a really nice day—”

“Yes?”

“I thought it would be nice to enjoy tea outside on the pavilion instead. Is that alright with you?” 

Lin studied him, swirling the taste of the suggestion for a few moments. What is going in that beautiful head of hers? “Whatever works for you. Lead the way.” 

“If you’re uncomfortable, we can just stay inside. It’s not a problem, Lin.” 

“You invited me for tea and as the host, if you think that it’s better to be outdoors then that’s fine with me. I’m not here to critique any renovations. I came because you asked me to. Why are you acting like you need to walk on eggshells around me?”

‘I want this to be perfect for you.’ 

“I’m just trying to be considerate,” he answered evenly. “Is that a crime?”  

Green eyes squinted slightly and then the expression relaxed. “We’re old friends. It’s not like I haven’t known you my entire life.” 

“But we’ve changed a lot and I want to learn about who you are now. I already know the Lin Beifong who used to raise pebbles underneath my feet, snuck into my room in the middle of the night, was top of her class at the police academy, and became captain before hitting 30. Now I want to know about Lin Beifong who arrested the Avatar on her first day in the city, defeated the Red Lotus, and saved her family in Zaofu from a dictator.” 

A flush of heat arose against porcelain skin and the earthbender swallowed hard as they became entranced in each other’s eyes. Lin straightened her shoulders. “Well, here’s your chance then. So are we going to have tea or not?”

Tenzin smiled and motioned toward the pavilion. “After you.”   

As she passed him, their hands lightly brushed against each other and Tenzin’s finger looped loosely between slender fingers. Rather than untangle herself from his touch, she maintained a steady pace as he trailed closely behind her. She wiggled her fingers and Tenzin’s fingertips weaved between soft knuckles. Once they turned the corner, an older acolyte strolled from the opposite direction and Lin effortlessly unraveled herself from the innocent gesture before the woman could spot the playful touches.

Lin and Tenzin politely bowed their heads in acknowledgment to the old woman and the moment she was out of sight, large fingers reached out to smaller ones again. 

A smirk crossed the woman’s face as she swayed right out of his touch, and again, when she felt another attempt. “Keep up, Twinkletoes.” 

“I am.” Clenched teeth almost drowned out the low growl rumbling in the back of his throat as he grasped air rather than smooth skin. 

“Nice try.” 

Just as he was about to stride by her side, they stood underneath the protection of the pavilion. Unlike the other ones sprinkled across the island, this one was semi-hidden amongst the bamboo trees. The flat surface of smooth stone replaced wooden railings that connected to each pillar, allowing guests to sit and rest in the center of nature. A tray with a teapot and two cups waited patiently for the masters, steam slowly dancing from the spout.

They removed their shoes and drifted beneath the cool shade. Lin’s palm pressed against the pillar, closing her eyes and taking in a deep breath of the nostalgia embedded in the wood and stone. As she perched on the stone bench, memories of a lifetime flashing across her mind and speaking beneath her palms.

“It’s been a long time…” her voice barely rose above a whisper. 

“The island has missed you.” Tenzin’s voice danced in her ears, followed by the fresh flow of tea. The air shifted around her in the mist of memories. “Here you are.” 

The green of her eyes escaped the past and returned to the present, a soft blur quickly dissipating. Tenzin offered her the small cup. “Thanks,” she muttered, accepting it gingerly.  

“So how long is your leave?” he asked, filling his own cup and settling beside her. 

Lin leaned back against the pillar, crossing her ankles. Before she could raise the brim to the edges of her lips, a mini tornado grazed her hair and weakened the steam. Her gaze flickered over to the airbender who took innocent sips.

“Six months.”

“That long?!”  

She shrugged, the floral notes with a dash of honey meeting her tongue. “Shocking, isn’t it?” 

“Yes,” Tenzin agreed. “I’m surprised you’re taking that long off. Do you have any specific plans? Are you…travelling?” 

“We’ll see.” 

“You don’t know?” 

Lin shook her head. “No.” 

“This is…new.” His tongue glossed over his lips at the subtle taste of honey. “Is there a specific reason you decided to take a break?” 

“To be present.” 

“Hm?” 

The heat permeated beyond the clay and melted into her palms, sending waves of warmth to help her relax. “I was always worried about the future and lived in the past. It just felt like the right time to figure myself out and do something about it.” 

Tenzin smiled. “I’m happy for you. I know this is a big step and change. But you’ll do fine in whatever you choose to do and this break is also well-deserved.” 

“Thanks.” She took another sip. “What about you?” 

“What about me?” 

“Why’d you call me out here?” 

He coughed lightly. “I just thought it’d be nice to have you here again. It’s been a long time since you came here…” 

Lin raised a brow. “You’re so predictable. What did you really call me for?” 

His hands slightly tightened around the cup, gaze staring into his reflection. “I felt like talking about our other life,” he murmured and Lin’s face slowly softened. He sent her a half-smile. “But if you’re not in the right space to talk about it, I understand.” 

“Well, it’s been what? Nine, ten months already? Feels like it happened three years ago.” 

A low chuckle. “I know.” 

Her hand instinctively touched her bracelet, smooth stones silently affirming other-worldly love beneath her fingertips. The jade in Lin’s eyes slowly detached from the world as she continued, “Our daughter is married now. She’s probably going to have a kid soon, if not already. Areum should have her tattoos now, but I think that’s long overdue and she should have gotten them years ago. Jin is probably taking on his own classes with the airbenders. He even helped you organize the classes based on their progress. And Kang was thinking about taking over the metalbending academy.” 

“Did you ever meet Mei’s husband?” 

“No. I only saw photos.”  

“And?” 

Lin cast a suspicious glance at him. “And what?” 

“What do you think of him? Do you recognize him?” 

“I don’t have any opinion on him. I barely know him,” she pointed out before her voice darkened. “If you’re insinuating that I recognize him because of any criminal records, the answer is no. And do you really think you or myself in the other life would allow our kid to marry someone with a serious record?” 

“Of course not! That’s why I’m asking!” 

Lin rolled her eyes. “Didn’t you ask the other me about it?” 

“Not really,” Tenzin grumbled. “I didn’t want to focus on him…” 

“Then why are you bringing it up with me? I trust most of the kids’ judgments.” Lin casually took another sip of her tea. “Areum probably has a boyfriend too.” 

“What?!” 

“You’re so overprotective over the girls,” she muttered under her breath. “The boys are probably dating, too.” 

“That’s nice.” 

Another eye roll. “Hypocrite.” 

Tenzin pouted, avoiding her eyes for a moment. “Do you think…” he shook his head and moved the tray, destroying the small divide between himself and Lin, “never mind.” 

“Spit it out.” 

He waved off the encouragement. “Forget it. Simply my imagination.” 

“What? Just say it.” 

“Do you think that perhaps,” he bit his lip, “the kids might somehow exist in our world?” 

“That would be impossible.” 

“Nothing’s impossible and you know that, Lin. Harmonic Convergence revived an entire nation almost overnight.” 

Lin’s brows creased and she sighed, crossing her arms. “Alright. Let’s say they do exist in our world. Even if that was true, first, they would already have a family. Second, they might have completely different personalities to begin with.” 

“But still, it could be possible.” 

She avoided the longing burning in his eyes, jaw clenching and fists tightening. “I think it might be better if we don’t put too much thought into it,” Lin said quietly. “We’re dwelling too much on what could have been. Thinking about them only makes it bittersweet for us, no matter how much we care about them.” 

A large warm hand touching her knuckles jolted her out of her thoughts, drawing her attention to the tender stare from grey. “Wise words, Lin,” he murmured. 

Lin swallowed hard as a wave of warmth swelled in her chest. Without tearing away from his gaze, she quipped, “I always was, Twinkletoes.” 

“I beg to differ.” 

“You’re really going to challenge me?” she drawled, mischief looming in the sly grin. The lightheartedness in her voice and amusement radiating in her energy became an invitation for him to scoot closer, their legs barely touching. A small spark of electricity coursed through their veins at the close proximity to each other.  

“May I remind you about the time we almost got caught by the principal at school for inappropriate behavior because someone wanted a thrill?” 

“I wouldn’t call that unwise. Maybe careless.” 

“Or the time you let Bumi and Kya bully me into drinking, and we hid under my dad’s statue that night.” 

Lin laughed, leaning closer. “How is that my fault? I only said, ‘Up to you.’ You’re the one who chose to give into their bullying.” 

“You never said it was a bad idea and enabled them.” 

“I can’t protect you from your siblings.” 

“It was either drink cactus juice or take off my clothes!” 

“I still don’t see what that has to do with me,” Lin snickered. “You’re losing the fight you started.” 

“Well, the point is you had your moments!” 

“Yeah, ring me up when you come up with a real one.” 

“I’ll ring you everyday then.” 

Her tongue stroked the inside of her cheek. “If I answer.” 

“You’ll receive a telegram twice a day.” 

“Who knows if I’ll be in the city.” 

Tenzin leaned closer to her, voice laced with a deep darkness. “You can’t run away.” 

“Why not?” she exhaled, warm breaths tickling his lips. 

“Because…” Her heart raced against her chest as his hand cupped her face, thumb stroking her cheekbone. The deep and rich tones in his voice almost sent shivers down her spine and she tried to hold out as long as she could. Why did he have to use that voice on her? An intense darkening of grey eyes captivated hers like a ship facing a storm. Why did he have to look at her like that? His attention faltered for a moment from her lips to eyes once more. “I’ll find you and bring you home.” 

Just as they were about to meet halfway, Lin halted suddenly and gently pulled away from him. She stood up, turning her back to him and leaning against the pillar. Tenzin was instantly on his feet, hand on her arm. 

“Lin, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to cross the line.” 

He heard a low sigh. “It’s not that.”  

“Then what is it?” 

“What are we doing, Tenzin?” The question slipped quietly, dancing in the silence and love tying their souls together. 

“Truthfully,” He turned her to face him, meeting the glassiness cracking in her eyes, “I don’t know.” His arms snaked around her waist at a tortuously sluggish pace in case she wanted to step back and slap him. When she stepped closer into his space instead, his heart sang out to the heavens. “But maybe we don’t need to know.” 

“What are you talking about?” 

He clasped his hands behind her back. “I know what I want, but I don’t know what you want.”

“What do you want, Tenzin?” 

“You without conditions.” Lin gasped at the answer immediately spilling from the heart. “I know it hasn’t even been a year since the divorce and us having a life-changing field trip, but I know that my heart, my life, and my path are with you. I can feel it in my soul, even if you don’t believe me. But I’m not going to force that on you, not like I did in the past. So I will wait for you, no matter how long it takes, and I will fight for you beyond my dying breaths.” 

Lin quickly wiped away the warm tears spilling at the corners of her eyes. “You’re such a sap,” she sniffled. 

“I don’t expect everything to fall into place immediately,” he pressed his forehead against hers, “but I do want to spend more time with you, if you’ll have me.” 

“I want to spend time with you, too,” Lin revealed gently, closing her eyes. “But I don’t think I’m ready for a full blown relationship and neither are you.” 

Their bodies swayed as Tenzin tenderly kissed her nose. “I don’t think I’m ready either.” 

“Then what the hell are we doing?” Her hand travelled over to his heart, the subtle heartbeat pulsing beneath her palm. “We’re not teenagers anymore.” 

He nuzzled his nose against hers. “We’re being leaves in the wind…just seeing where life guides us while we heal and grow.” 

“Neither of us even know how to do that, idiot.” 

“I know, and that’s okay. Let’s figure it out together.” He grasped her hand and planted a kiss along her knuckles. “It’s scary, but it’s time for us to take that risk into the unknown.” 

“Us?” 

Tenzin nodded. “Yes. You and I.” 

Lin leaned back, studying his face and searching for any deception in his eyes. Instead, truth bled into his touch and stood confident and strong. “Can you keep up with me?” 

“I’ll do my best,” he vowed, pressing a kiss to her palm. 

“We are not dating.” 

“No.” 

“We are learning about each other and supporting each other, however that might look.” 

Tenzin smiled. “Yes.” 

“Yet here we are being lovey dovey.” 

“We’re complicated, aren’t we?” 

“That’s an understatement,” Lin remarked deadpan. A small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. “Guess you and I never liked things easy, huh?” 

“I suppose not,” he hummed in agreement. “Lin…” 

“Yes?” 

His eyes beamed. “Thank you for coming to the island today. I really missed this and I’m happy we're having tea together.” 

“I missed this, too…” she admitted softly, hand crawling up to his beard. The hairs tickled her fingers as she grazed the edges. “More than you think.” 

“Most importantly, I missed you, Lin. I missed our conversations and the way we joke—” 

“You don’t know how to joke.” 

“Wha—yes, I do.” 

She smirked. “Jokes don’t run in the family.” 

“Then how do you explain Kya and Bumi?” 

“They took after Uncle Aang and Uncle Sokka.” 

“And me?” 

“You take after Aunt Katara,” Lin answered. “Don’t you think you should be aware of all this?” 

Tenzin sighed, rolling his eyes and jutting his lip out. “Anyway, back to what I was saying,” Lin’s amused expression was contagious and he couldn’t resist the lightheartedness transferring to his voice, “I missed spending time with you. But I know I’ve hurt you badly and we could never go back to how things were before…perhaps we can create something new with some of the pieces that still feel like home to us.” 

Lin leaned closer. “And what is home?” 

“Unconditional love,” he murmured, drawing her deeper into the spell. “Learning about each other. Proving that the other is always enough, no matter what…” His hands trailed up and down her spine, until one slithered to the nape of her neck and fingers drew the swirls belonging to the Air Nomads on her skin. 

“Still a bit vague, I’m afraid.” One hand rested on his arm, while the other trailed up to his shoulder. Her fingertips soon ghosted over the back of his neck, the Earth Kingdom symbol tracing over his tattoo. 

“I’ll show you then…” 

They didn’t rush, heads automatically tilting to the right as their lips barely met in a proper kiss. Lin slowly exhaled and the warmth of her life glossing over his mouth sent shivers down his spine. Rather than dance around timidly, he captured her lips against his, short nails now scratching along the nape of his neck. An airiness encircled them, swirling around Lin’s hair and tickling their cheekbones.

It took a moment for them to realize the magical atmosphere was Tenzin’s doing, albeit uncontrolled. He felt her smile against him, inflaming the need to hold her closer. 

Much too soon for his liking, Lin pulled away and he could feel the longing, love and hesitation clouding her gaze. A few curls were tousled out of place and Tenzin tenderly raked his fingers through the strands, combing it down into place. Silver strands fell in front of Lin’s face, blurry lines obstructing her view. Rather than tuck it behind her ear, Tenzin smoothed it out and allowed the streaks to naturally frame symmetrical cheekbones and sultry lips. 

“I lo—” 

Step. Step. Step. Step. 

They both pulled apart instantly, straightening in their spots as an acolyte entered the space and dispelling any remnants of emotions that manifested moments ago. “I’m sorry for interrupting, Master Tenzin. But you have a few guests here.” 

He raised a brow and shot a glance at Lin before returning to the acolyte. “I didn’t have any guests planning to visit other than Lin.” 

“They’re new airbenders and wish to speak with you.” 

Tenzin tilted his head curiously. “I see. Thank you for informing me. I’ll be there in a few moments to meet with them.” 

The acolyte bowed and briskly walked away, leaving the duo alone once more. Tenzin and Lin peered at each other. “More airbenders?” 

“Maybe they’re the ones who originally rejected our offer when we were looking for them,” he offered. 

“Almost four years later?”

Tenzin shrugged. “They might want training after a few years.” 

Lin eyed him carefully. “Well, I guess that’s my cue to leave.” 

His hand caught her wrist. “Don’t go, Lin. I don’t think it’ll take very long to speak with them and you can sit in with us.” 

“How is that related to me?” Lin crossed her arms. “Anything related to airbenders is in the jurisdiction of the Air Nation.”  

“Yes, but you’re also well-versed on Air Nation culture and airbending forms. You don’t need to say or do anything, but I’d really like it if you stay.” 

“I can tell them what it’ll be like training with you,” she pondered  

“I’ve gotten better,” came the low grumble. 

“Daily meditations at dawn, vegetarian diet, hard beds—” 

“Those are good for your back and you know it.”  

“No one likes them.” 

A low sigh escaped the airbender. “Join me today,” he urged. 

Lin raised a brow. “Give me a good reason why I should stay instead of go back home to read my novel.” 

“I’ll buy you dinner at Yuxuan.”

She pursed her lips together. “The hotpot place?” 

“Yes, with your favorite bone broth soup and peppers.”

She coughed lightly, raising her chin up. “The old owner retired years ago.” 

A sly grin curled on his face. “I met him recently and he agreed to cook for me as a special favor. All I have to do is give him the word.” 

They stared at each other, neither blinking as silence descended in the close space between them. The deep breaths Tenzin inhaled kept him grounded and tethered to the earth, while Lin’s jaw slowly released the tension collecting there. Neither slipped even as a gentle breeze rolled around. It wouldn’t be long until the sting would produce tears in their eyes.

Lin blinked. 

“I also want almond cookies and fruit pies after.” 

“Done.” 

“Ugh, get that stupid grin off your face.” 

Tenzin couldn’t conceal the growing smile as she pushed past him, the subtle fragrance of earth and jasmine dancing in his nostrils. He followed her steps, catching up and right when he was almost at her side, Lin’s pace quickened. As the gap grew larger, Tenzin fought to keep the distance short. 

Lin refused. 

“Stop it.” 

Lin casually peeked over her shoulder, strides quickening. “Stop what?” 

“It’s not a race.” 

“I asked if you can keep up with me.” They were halfway through the hallways, footsteps drumming against the wooden floors. Lin stifled a chuckle as Tenzin attempted to cut her off, but she elegantly side stepped his move and maintained the lead. “Looks like age has caught up with you, old man.” 

“That was nothing.” 

“Sure.” 

As they approached the main room, they stood side by side. A current of electricity flashed through their veins, begging them to tangle their fingers together. But in the face of responsibility, both kept their hands to themselves. Lin nudged him. “Ready for new students?” 

"The faster we get through this, the faster we can return to enjoying our tea." 

"Do your job properly." 

Thud. 

Tenzin’s jaw fell open and Lin’s eyes widened, heart skipping a bit as she silently greeted grey and green eyes. She blinked hard, hoping the dizzy spell that was slowly rising wasn’t the cause of those familiar faces. Awe and wonder glazed their eyes, the small glints of sunlight hitting at the perfect angles. Lifetimes they shared before now brought their hearts together and Lin could have sworn time stopped to admire the reunion of her soul family. 

But why were they so young? 

The twins couldn’t be older than five years old. 

Kang and Areum eagerly peered up at their older siblings, eyes wide and bright. “It’s her! She’s real!” they whispered excitedly, only to be silenced by the older two. 

Jin appeared scrawnier than she last remembered and almost matched his older sister’s height. Spirits, he must be hitting that lovely puberty stage. And his hair seemed thicker than she thought from photos. Has he seen himself? He doesn’t even have the arrow anymore, but he definitely must be a master. 

Scanning over to the tallest one, Mei and Lin’s eyes met and it felt like their hands finally touched Fate. The youthfulness still remained and Lin could only guess that she stood at the cusp of adulthood. Lin’s heart fell at the long and faded scar streaked across her right cheekbone. She resisted against the escalating urge to walk up to her and examine the scar for herself to ensure that her eyes weren’t playing tricks.

There’s no way she or Tenzin in the other world would have allowed the scar to manifest. 

What did that fucking spirit portal do to them? 

The longer Lin stared at their faces, her smile slowly began to drop as a heaviness crawled from the pit of her belly and into her chest. There was a distant and unfamiliar energy swirling in their eyes. As they were absorbed in the presence of Tenzin, they remained calm and attentive. Rather than wrath flowing into their bending and striking the son of Aang, curiosity and wonder glimmered in their eyes. 

The four guests stood and bowed politely in the presence of the masters.

“Jin, Areum, Kang, Mei...what brings you here?” Tenzin finally managed. 

“We—” 

“They know our names!” The twins bounced up and down, almost tripping over the table. But the quick reflexes of their siblings prevented disaster. While they were distracted for a moment, Lin sent Tenzin a dejected look and he seemed to catch on. The twins’ attention averted back to Lin and another animated gasp fell from their mouths as they narrowed in on Mei. Both traced two small fingers along their right cheeks. 

“Mmhm,” Mei hummed quietly, pulling a pouting Kang tightly to her side. Tearing her attention away from the youngest ones, Mei politely addressed Lin and Tenzin. “I guess you already know our names?” 

“Um, why don’t you have a seat first?” Tenzin motioned down, gently nudging against Lin’s arm and settling on the pillow. The rest followed and once they gathered their bearings, he continued carefully, “My name is Tenzin and this is Lin. She’s an old friend.” 

A small gasp. “You shouldn’t call her old,” Areum pointed out. 

Tenzin chuckled. “Okay, then Lin is my friend I’ve known my whole life.” 

The girl nodded, pleased. 

Kang suddenly wriggled out of Mei’s lap and inched closer to Lin. “How do you know our names?” 

“Kang!” Mei hissed, leaning stiffly to snatch him out of Lin’s personal space. He escaped right at the edge of her grasp and crawled into Lin’s lap. “Get back here!” 

“It’s alright.” Lin smiled, gently picking up the boy and allowing him to settle comfortably on her legs. “Just a lucky guess.” 

“You smell really pretty.” 

Areum quickly snuck out of Jin’s hold and slinked beside her twin brother, shoving him aside. “I want to sit with her, too.” 

“Go away! I got here first!” 

“I’m so sorry,” Jin apologized sincerely, glaring at the two and receiving amused giggles. “We didn’t come to play!”

The twins held onto Lin’s neck as their older siblings scrambled to their feet, and Lin’s heart swelled. How many times did she dream about them being this tiny and hugging her, only to wake up with hot tears streaming trickling down to her ears and a pillow replacing their weight?

She raised her hand. “Don’t worry. It’s not a problem. Maybe they can hang out with me for a little bit while you talk with Tenzin about your business.” 

Mei and Jin inhaled deeply as the youngest ones smugly stuck their tongues out at them, cuddling closer to Lin. The eldest daughter glanced hesitantly at Tenzin and he offered a reassuring smile. “They’ll be fine. Lin is the Chief of Police.” 

Instantly, a new emotion wavered over the guests’ faces, jaws dropping. “Lin Beifong?” 

That was all she and Tenzin needed to know. Tenzin managed a brief glance in the corner of his eye and he could feel something coiling within the earthbender, although her expression never faltered. 

Jin peeked over at Lin. “You’re Toph Beifong’s daughter.” 

Lin nodded, deep breaths containing the subtle pains in her heart. “Yep...” 

“It’s an honor to meet you, Chief Beifong.” Jin bowed his head, eyes gleaming and smile widening. “Our grandmother was also blind, and she taught my sister some earthbending. Although it’s not the same as learning from Toph Beifong, you have no idea how much this means to us.” 

“I’m sure she’s very proud of you. Along with your family.” 

A solemness suddenly cast over their faces and they nodded slowly. “Ah, hope so…” 

The slow drop in their smiles was enough to inform Lin and Tenzin not to venture further on the conversation. Intuition soon hinted that they would find out the answer to the shift in emotion sooner than later, but both kept that intuitive message to themselves. Before the shift in atmosphere could overwhelm the welcoming ambiance, Lin gently patted the twins on their back, directing their attention to her. 

“Come on, we'll get a snack in the kitchen.”

“Yes!!”

Out of all the words to describe Lin Beifong, “softie” is not one that she would select. 

She would never admit that feeling the twins holding both of her hands intently while she led them to the kitchen actually stirred a blizzard of butterflies in her stomach. Or that every moment they clung to her neck, she had to resist squeezing them in her embrace and peppering their cheeks with kisses. Or that she devoted her undivided attention to their stories of climbing trees and finally being able to hang upside down from the branches. 

Areum cheerily swung Lin’s arm with her hand as they entered the kitchen. “Miss Lin, what’s a Police of Chief? Does that mean you’re a police officer?” 

“Chief of Police,” Lin corrected gently. “It means I’m the big boss of the entire police force.”  

Their eyes widened, shining brighter as the light reflected off the silver and green orbs. “So you put bad guys in jail?” 

“Yep.” Lin hoisted them both onto the counter, side by side with tiny legs swinging enthusiastically over the edge. How could their cheeks be so round and cute? Damn it, where the hell did these sappy thoughts come from? She must have spent too much time with Tenzin in the other world that his sentimental worldview rubbed off on her.

Kang held his fists up. “Wow, you’re so cool! Do you beat them up too?” 

“Sometimes.” 

“Is that how you got the scar on your face?” 

Lin half-smiled, gently patting his hands. “No, it’s from something else.” 

“You’re like our sister.”

“Huh?” 

“She has a scar, too,” Areum clarified. 

“Oh yeah…I noticed that too.” 

“Guess how she got it!” Their wriggling almost sent them tumbling over the edge and with one sharp look from Lin, they immediately stopped. She gave them a look that commanded them to keep their balance as her back turned, immediately extracting a knife, cutting board, and plates. 

“Miss Lin, guess!” 

What could possibly make them excited to talk about a scar? A voice in her head calmly reminded her that not all experiences are the same, so she cannot project her own views onto someone else. Lin almost rolled her eyes at the thought, but decided to go along with it. “Hmm, I’m not sure.”  

“Guess!” 

“I don’t know.” 

“She was playing with a ball and fell on her face.” 

Lin pivoted from her spot and peered at them, brow raised. “That’s it?” 

They nodded. “She said she cried because her ball popped.” 

A swell of relief settled in her chest. So she wasn’t hurt because of something traumatic or painful. It was simply an accident. “...That’s not fun.” 

“She always laughs when she tells us the story.” 

“Well, at least she finds joy in telling you about it.” Did the acolytes rearrange the pantry or something? Why can’t she find them? In the midst of her search, Lin continued, “So which one of you two is an airbender?” 

“Guess,” the twins replied in unison. 

She barely glanced over her shoulder as she finally found the basket and grasped from the bundle. The knowing smile on her face remained concealed from youthful  excitement. Slender fingers dug at the bottom, examining each weight for ripeness. Once she confirmed the perfect health, she turned and pursed her lips together, scanning thoughtfully between the two. Mischievous giggles bubbled from them as a few moments passed.

Then, she gestured to Areum. “You’re the airbender.”

“How did you know?!” 

She shrugged casually, cool water rushing over her hands as her own pleased smile grew. “Lucky guess.” 

“Can you see the future? I heard air people have spirit powers!” 

“No, I’m an earthbender.” 

Peel. Peel. Peel. Peel.

“But how did you know?” Kang pouted and narrowed his eyes at her. “You got two lucky guesses!” 

“Do you know us?” Areum leaned closer. 

“Don’t get too close, I might cut you.” 

Thack. Thack. Thack. Thack. 

“Miss Lin?” 

“Yes?”

“Do you know us?” the young girl repeated innocently. 

Thack. Thack. Thack. Thack. 

Lin released a heavy breath as quietly as possible. Calmly, she looked at the twins beside her. “You just remind me of a few good kids I care about.”

Peel. Peel. Peel. Peel. 

The twins met each other’s gaze, remaining silent for a minute. They turned to Lin again as the knife beating against the board filled the brief silence. “Are you a mommy?” 

‘Shit!’ Lin reacted quick enough to avoid the blade nicking her thumb.

She swallowed the hard lump in the back of her throat. “No, I’m not.” A dizziness swirled around her head and she returned to slicing to gain a hand on clarity and before her eyes stung. Baby soft hands touched her arms and she paused. “Don’t come close, I might cut you,” she repeated almost wearily. 

The contact slipped away and instantly she yearned for the touch again. “Sorry.” 

Lin cleared her throat, throwing away a few peels into the waste bin. “That’s alright. How old are you two anyway?” 

“Almost five, Miss Lin.” 

“It’s Mo—” They blinked at her curiously, seemingly unaware of her insinuation and waiting patiently to complete her sentence. Lin’s shoulders lowered slowly as she gazed into their eyes. Quietly, she uttered, “You can just call me Lin…”

The twins simultaneously peered at each other, then the earthbender as she carefully plated the ingredients. “Lin?” 

“Yeah?” 

Their arms extended out to her, hands opening and closing repeatedly. 

Lin raised a brow. “What is it?” 

They waved their hands inwards. “Come, come.” 

Hesitation steeped into her footsteps as she stepped closer to the children and aligned herself in between them. As she entered their territory of personal space, both leaned forward and wrapped their arms around her, a small gasp escaping her as they tried to tighten their embrace. A subtle sting in the back of her eyes emerged and Lin’s vision began to blur as she slowly wrapped her arms around the twins. 

Thump, thump…Thump, thump… 

Thump, thump!...Thump, thump!... 

Closing her eyes, Lin listened to the way their heartbeats danced against hers. ‘It’s almost the same…’   She felt a hand gently pat against behind her shoulder, their breathing hard and shallow as it tickled the back of her hair. They buried their faces into her. 

“Are you sad?” Areum muttered warmly. 

Lin shook her head, a few tears falling down her cheeks. She sniffled. “No.”

They pulled away and Kang motioned to her face. “But you’re crying and you made the sniff sound too when I cry.” 

Areum’s lip quivered. “Did we make you sad?” 

“No.” Lin wiped at the stray tears with the back of her hand. “I’m really happy I got to meet you.”

“I’m happy we got to meet you, too.” 

“Me too!” 

“I’m glad and no more tears from me. See? Nothing to worry about.” Once they nodded in acknowledgement to her statement, Lin presented the plate to them. “Try this.” 

“What is it?” 

“Moon peach and ginger.” 

Kang frowned, judgment immediately hazing over his gaze at the peeled slices. His attention flickered over to Lin for a moment and back to the plate. “Ginger?” 

“Don’t judge it before you try it.” 

Cautiously, tiny fingers grasped the freshly peeled and sliced moon peach and ginger slices. Lin smiled as they bit into it, waiting patiently for their reactions to emerge.

One…two…three…four…

“Oooh!” 

“Ahhh!” Kang grimaced, some of the chewed up bits almost dangling off his tongue. Lin grabbed a small towel and brought it under his chin, allowing him to spit it out. “My tongue burns!” 

“Alright, calm down drama queen.” Without missing a beat, Lin poured a glass of milk and handed it to the boy. “This should help.” 

While he was washing away the sting on his palette, his twin sister bobbed her head side to side happily with a moon peach and ginger slice in each hand. 

‘Well, would you look at that?’ A smug grin curled on Lin’s face. As Kang sighed, Lin returned to the cupboard to see if there was anything else she could sneak them. The subtle aroma of coconut piqued her interest and upon further digging, she left victorious.

“Here, have some of these.” 

“Coconut cookies!” the twins exclaimed, snatching at the treasures in Lin’s possession and immediately stuffing them into their mouths. 

“They’re called macaroons.” She leaned against the counter, stealing her own slices before Areum could devour the fruits and cookies mercilessly. 

“Thank you,” Kang and Areum beamed, tilting their heads to the side. 

“You’re welcome.” Lin dusted the crumbs at the corners of their mouths. “Grab the plates and we’ll go sit in one of the other rooms.” 

“Okay!”

No matter how many times she would scoot even a small distance, the twins closed the distance and crawled over her lap. A small voice in Lin’s head quietly reminded her that they were not her children from the other world and it didn’t silence the voice when these two rascals bore the exact resemblances. If that weren’t enough, what are the fucking chances that they have the exact same names? What a way to rub it in. 

The voice also failed to paralyze the growing anger in the pit of her belly. Even if they’re not hers, how dare the universe isolate them and force them to fend on their own without any support? They deserve a loving home and family who cares for them unconditionally, protects them from dangers, and takes care of their basic needs. 

Would you become their family? 

Lin’s body froze. The memories of their older selves flashed across the forefront of her mind, smiling in her presence. Swiftly, it transitioned into a mover of their childhoods that the portal once revealed to her. Squishy legs shifted in her lap and an innocent face inches away from her own pulled her out of the thoughts. Upon blinking, she realized it was the sweetheart.  

“Lin, do you have a mommy and daddy?” Areum asked simply.

If Lin knew that kids often asked the most random questions, this was certainly not one that she expected.

“Well,” she shifted in her seat, “I have a mom.” 

“What about a daddy?” 

“I never met him.” 

“Oh…” Both of them bobbed their heads as the information slowly settled in. “What is it like to have a mommy?” 

Lin’s eyebrows scrunched together. “Uh, my mom wasn’t like other moms. She gave me a lot of tough love so she’s not really good with talking about feelings. We were never really lovey dovey about it and…I kinda wish she tried to talk about it more. But she taught me to always protect the people I love.” 

“Oh…” 

Why was it so difficult to read them? She’s a damn detective and reading body language is one of her strongest assets in negotiation. “...Why do you ask?”  

“We don’t have a mommy and daddy.” 

Kang stared at his hands as if trying to figure out why his hands had five fingers. His back leaned against her side and his head fell into her lap. “They died when we were babies.” 

“Ah, I’m sorry to hear that.” Lin attempted to steady her breathing and placed the plate on to the side. Without realizing it, her fingers tenderly combed through the edges of silky black hair that spread across her legs. “So who took care of you?” 

“Our Popo. But she’s in the stars now, so it’s our brother and sister.” 

“I see…” 

Areum gently tapped the woman. “Lin?” 

“Yes, Areum?” 

“Do you live by yourself?” 

“Yeah.” 

“Is it scary?” 

“Not really. I like it because people don’t really bother me.” 

“Can you ask the Master if he can let our sister stay with us?” 

Lin’s arms closed around the girl. “Of course he’ll let your sister stay. She’s your family. Why wouldn’t she be with you?” 

“Because she has to work.” 

“Even if she works, she’s going to live with you. She’s your big sister.” 

“She won’t stay with us,” Kang reiterated firmly, shifting so his eyes met Lin’s. 

“Why not?” 

“Because she’s not an airbender. The monks won’t let her stay, so she has to live away from us.”

“Listen to me.” She pulled Kang up so that he was sitting and facing her. Until bright green and grey eyes had their undivided attention centered on hers, she continued, “I won’t let Tenzin separate you guys. And if he says something stupid like that, then you’re all going to stay with me and I’ll bring you to the island every morning for whatever Air Nomad training he wants you to do.”  

They perked up. “We could stay with you?” 

“Only if you want to,” Lin answered gently.  

A new life bloomed in their eyes and they pounced on her, hard heads narrowly missing a good hit against her jaw. Their arms wrapped around her neck and she fell back on the tatami floor. They wiggled as if the suffocating hugs weren’t close enough for them. “Now I want to stay with you!” 

“Why? I’m pretty boring.” 

“We like you!” 

“But you don’t really know me,” Lin pointed out. “I’m scary.” 

“You’re not scary.” 

“How do you know?”

“I just know!” Kang exclaimed confidently. 

“Sure.” The sleeve fell down her arm as she raked the loose tendrils of hair out of her face. 

Suddenly, Areum gasped, clutching Lin’s wrist to her face. “We gave this to you! It was in the dream!”

“What are you talking about?” 

Kang pried Lin’s wrist away from his sister and inspected the bracelet. “Yeah, we made this!” 

Lin glanced between the two, raising herself into a sitting position as they gently crawled out of her lap. “What do you mean it was in your dream?” 

“You were in our dream, but we were grownups.” 

“You…saw that?” 

“Yeah, but you had to go away. We made kimchi together and we made you a really pretty bracelet because we didn’t want you to leave us.”

Sniffle. 

“We’re sorry, Lin! We didn’t mean to make you sad!” 

Areum grabbed a napkin and softly dabbed at Lin’s face. “Please don’t cry,” she whispered as tears filled her own. “I don’t want you to be sad.” 

“I’m not sad.” 

“But you’re not happy too…” Her face lowered and she avoided Lin’s eyes. “Do we make you feel bad?” she asked softly.   

Lin shook her head. “I just…have a lot of feelings going on right now. But it’s not your fault, okay?” 

Kang patted her cheek and cuddled up to her, while Areum wrapped Lin’s arms around them. “Then we have to play until you’re happy again.”

“I’m too old to play.” 

“You cannot say that.” 

“Well, I am.” 

“Shhhhh!” 

“I don’t feel like playing.” 

“Okay, then we’ll just do this.” Both of them cuddled up to Lin, small arms trying to rub up and down her back. “Hugs make us feel better when we’re sad. So we’ll chase away the sad feelings.” 

Lin half-smiled and nodded, gently patting their backs. “Thank you.”  

“It’s not them.” 

Lin shook her head. “No. What’d you find out?” 

“Apparently, Korra and I did try to recruit Jin, but it was their grandmother who answered and turned us down. She passed away last year and they were living off the small inheritance for a while, but it’s almost gone. Mei brought them here hoping that Jin and Areum could work on their bending since she can’t support their schooling much longer.” 

“You can’t separate the twins, they’re too young,” Lin said sharply. 

Tenzin shook his head. “I won’t.” 

“You’re also not going to separate Mei from her family.” 

“What?” 

“She doesn’t think she’s allowed to stay here because of her bending.” 

“She said that she planned to stay with a friend.” 

“I don’t care what she said. We are not breaking them apart. It’s either all of them or none. If you’re going to act like an airhead, then they’re staying with me and I’ll kick your ass.” 

“Lin, I’m not going to separate them.” 

She shifted, and crossed her hands behind her back. “Good.” 

The airbender and earthbender remained in their spots, neither uttering a word as the atmosphere shifted and began to harden. 

“They look exactly like them…” Tenzin murmured. 

“I know,” Lin agreed softly. As a few moments passed, short nails dug into the flesh of her palms, knuckles whitening. Fiery green eyes avoided warm grey eyes. “Why would the universe do this to them? They deserve a stable and happy home, yet they have no one. How could the spirits do that to them?!”  

Tenzin sighed, shaking his head. “I’m not sure, Lin. But there’s always a reason…just like what we both went through when you went through the portal.” The silence informed him that he either reopened emotional wounds or Lin was deep in her thoughts to respond back with a sharp comment. He took a step forward and froze as she spoke.  

“We’ll take care of them.”

Did he hear that correctly? He opened his mouth and was met with a raised brow. 

“Spit it out already, Tenzin.” 

Warmth flushed on his cheeks and he could feel the pink contrasting against his skin. His ears almost burned and the edges of honorable tattoos tingled. “You said ‘we.’” 

“Well, who else is going to take them in? How am I supposed to handle an adult, a teenager, and toddlers on my own?” 

“Five years old is not toddler age.” 

“They’re four.” 

“They’re still not toddlers.” 

An eye roll and crossed arms. “Whatever.” 

Tenzin stepped forward, standing within her personal space. “Are you sure you want to do this, Lin? You mentioned before that even if our kids existed in our world…they might not be the same.” 

She narrowed her eyes. “I’m not losing them again.” 

“Taking in kids is a huge responsibility.” 

“I’ll learn. I figured out how to become a police chief and keep the city mostly safe, didn’t I?”

“Raising children is different from protecting a city, Lin.” 

“I said I’ll learn, didn’t I?” 

Tenzin’s face softened, a small smile in the face of stubborn determination. “There’s no stopping you, is there?” 

“You’re only figuring that out now, Airhead?”

Areum was right. 

She truly kept her promise and they finally found her. The universe gave them back to her, although not in the way Lin anticipated. The impossible became possible, and she wouldn’t give Tenzin the pleasure of being right. Originally, she thought that she would finally see them again as hazy visions in the days leading up to her journey into the spirit world. Of course the universe puts them back into her life right when she takes a break from work.

But how could she be picky when she finally got what she asked for, yearned for? Moving forward would be full of its own challenges, especially since they were not from the other world and she couldn't assume that everything would be the same. 

Rather than feeling intimidation at the idea of motherhood, her alternate children filled her with faith.

Just as seasons change and the cycle repeats, these four children have once more become a part of her life. 

Unlike her first meetings with them in another universe, Lin would forge a different path in her world.   

A path with them.