Dear Korra,

I hope you're doing better. I know that things are difficult right now but you're strong. Everyone here's rooting for you. Tenzin got back a few hours ago and told us that you've began training again and everyone couldn't be happier. I'm really, very proud of you.

As for everyone here, things are very busy for the most part. The airbenders are getting more and more civilian volunteers to help them out in the towns that are still struggling, and many places are already well on their feet. It's still pretty difficult getting supplies out to some of them, although General Kuvira was successful in uniting the majority of the regions. The response from charities and non-profits are astronomical. Last I heard the Earth Kingdom was steadily stabilizing. Also Meelo has managed to train nearly half the air bison, and I wished you were here to see Tenzin's face when they flew in military formations. I've never seen him more regretful of ever insisting that his son take up training Poki. He grumbled about it for days after Oogi practically marched after him everywhere.

Future Industries is also doing well. We're nearly done with the infrastructure and this is by far my favorite project. The spirit wilds are getting more popular and crowded every day, and the spirits are getting used to the people. I see more interaction between them and us all the time now, especially the kids. I still can't believe that Raiko gave me the contract to fix the city. I guess I have you to thank for that. It really does payoff to be best friends with the savior of the world. By the time you get back the city should be all cleaned up and fixed. I can't wait to show you around, I even have a surprise waiting for you!

L Missing You, Asami.

PS Happy Birthday! I really hope it was a good one.

Asami's letters always held news and updates on how things were going back in RC. Asami became Korra's window into a life that she lost the moment Zaheer got out of prison. Every letter Korra received made her entire day brighter, and more than anything she longed for her friend to be by her side. Korra read the letter over and over again, a small smile tugging at her lips and a warm feeling at her heart. Her eyes wondered to the end, the scribbled over 'L', and she allowed herself to feel giddiness if only for a moment. When she first got the letter four weeks ago the scribble looked just like that, a scribble, but Korra had a lot more free time than she ever did before and so after a few long hours of staring at the ink and scrutinizing the page she could make out the shape that was crossed out. It was also difficult to tell what the blotch was because Asami's meticulous handwriting always got more sloppy and quick by the end of her letters, as if she was too excited to keep a neat pace. For some reason, that reason possibly being Korra's endless appreciation and massive crush on the engineer, the thought made Korra blush and her stomach flutter.

Of course Korra also knew about what the surprise was. Asami named the park after her and built her statue in the middle of it. Korra couldn't believe it at first when Ikki spilled the news in a letter she sent Korra a few days after Asami's letter. Apparently the young airbender wasn't aware that it was supposed to be a surprise and in her excitement over the whole thing, she meticulously, although somewhat scatter-brained, described the details of the statue and how big it was, and how crowded it got. Asami's commitment to Korra made her extremely happy, and she was certain that her recovery was this far along because of the support and love her friends showed her through their words.

Asami especially had been such a trooper throughout this whole ordeal and Korra was more than grateful. Whenever the longing for the way things were got too demanding, Asami was always the first one on her mind. She kept her letters closest to her bed, with the exception of the few letters from strangers that she valued so dearly, and in her darkest moments she found that it was Asami's writing that calmed her most, Asami's elongated t's and loopy i's, and the lingering smell of her perfume that stayed on the sheets for weeks after she received them.

It was also the only ones she replied to. She might not have ever sent the letters she wrote, they were too unhappy, too dark, too raw, but she did write. Her gaze went towards the drawer that held all of the letters Korra wrote as replies. All of them full of scratched out words and tear stains. She remembered the first time she wanted to write back. Her hands shook too much as fatigue from exertion set in, and her words were too unfocused, too random and scattered like her thoughts. She couldn't find the strength to send them, nor had she ever re-read them herself, but she felt more connected to her friend when she wrote.

Korra missed Asami so much. She missed the city that brought her friends to her, and she missed the sounds and lights and even smells of the streets that she became familiar with over the course of her stay with Tenzin. She missed the quiet of the island that was always interrupted by the playful chirps and purrs of the lemurs and the bellows of bison. She missed it all, and she wanted to go back.

Besides there wasn't anything more that could be done here, she was stuck in the same stage of her recovery for nearly a month now and it was wearing on her more than she thought she was able to handle in her still fragile state. She was sure of it, going back was the best course of action for her, and she decided to tell her parents about her plan to return at dinner.

She re-read the letter one more time, and then carefully placed it on the ever growing pile of papers. It sometimes broke Korra's heart that Asami's letters were the most numerous. She wrote every day, and she didn't sound like she expected Korra to ever reply. Well she did at first, and at that time there was usually a week between the letters to give Korra a chance to get back to her, but after several months the frequency of the mail increased and the questions that asked for a reply ceased. Asami no longer asked how Korra was, or how everything was moving along, and Korra hated that she made Asami settle for that routine.

She wondered how everyone was still so patient with her, and why no one grew apart as much as she figured they would. Yes there was some strain showing up in some letters from Mako and Bolin, the kids stopped sending drawings, except Meelo who always sent her amazing ones, and letters from the Beifongs became rarer than ever, but she felt their love in each and every envelope that made it to the south. Bolin's were probably the most entertaining, with him recounting the adventures he got into with Varrick and the good deeds he and the army did in the troubled towns. Mako's were familiar, she could practically feel the awkwardness and goofiness radiating off of them, and when he didn't joke about the weather he was always able to make her feel better, even occasionally sending in new one-liners he planned on using when he got back to his normal job and no longer had to babysit a prince.

She missed her friends and she was going to go back. She collected her thoughts, stood up off of her bedside and began making her way to the dining hall to speak with her parents. On the way there she thought back to the letter and remembered her own excitement when Asami wished her a happy birthday. She still wasn't ready to send another letter, sending the last one took so much out of her that she couldn't do it again just yet, but just seeing that Asami still remembered and cared enough to send her a care package of gifts Tenzin's kids made for her, and Asami's horrid attempt at homemade taffy, which she profusely apologized for in the next letter she sent, right after Kai apparently voiced what everyone else was to kind to say and called them death-lumps.

Korra nearly choked when she first tried one, and wondered how Asami didn't realize that she created a weapon more dangerous than almost anything the team faced off against in the past. Even Naga wouldn't come near them, whining softly after Korra tried to feed some to her. But Asami made the candy, and Korra loved it even if it did almost poison all the guards that had the misfortune to come upon them. She snickered at the memory and thought about the birthdays they celebrated together. Mako's was celebrated at a Pro-Bending game, while also somehow being serious although very fun especially when he nearly fell over the balcony while shouting at his loosing team, and Bolin's was held at a local bar, which was apparently run by the Terra triad and the night ended with Mako calling in nearly his whole precinct when they all found out. Asami's was a little different, but it was her absolute favorite celebration because that's when she truly made the first step to becoming her friend.

*0*0*0*

It was shortly after Korra stopped Asami from leaving to the United Forces that she learned that Asami was turning nineteen soon. Birthdays were always grand celebrations for Korra, with her parents visiting the compound and all the guards getting together for a grandiose feast. The presents weren't an issue either. Katara always gave Korra the coolest gifts, like one year she gave Korra a vial of healing water from the sacred waters in the North, and another she gifted a beautiful saddle for Naga that Korra still used to this day. Korra always seen birthdays as happy days filled with wonderful memories and spent with her family, and it was one of the few times that she didn't argue with any guards since they always gave her slack and let her roam the snowy expanse surrounding the compound without issue.

She only found out about Asami's birthday because Lin asked her to come in for another round of questioning, since Hiroshi's trial was nearly done and she was a witness in the court, and gave Korra a file on him, which included basic information on Yasuko and Asami, information such as the date of Asami's birth, which was only a little over a week away. Korra profusely cursed when she found out, pissing Lin off in the process, and virtually sprinted towards the island after she was finally free to go. She just had to inform Pema about the surprise party Korra planned on her way back from the precinct.

She meticulously planned the party, sent the boys out on errands, and helped Pema with the food when the time came. Everyone kept the party a secret from the birthday girl, which was easy considering Asami was always at work, and on the day of, Korra went to Future Industries to collect her.

Everything was going perfectly, the weather was sunny and bright, the traffic was light and she made good time. Asami's security let Korra pass without much trouble once they realized she's the Avatar and she made her way to Asami's office.

"Asami, you here?" Korra asked with a light knock on the office door.

There was a muffled reply, "Come in."

Korra stepped through the threshold and looked around the large room struggling to look passed the piles upon piles of papers and the occasional blueprint stacked everywhere. Her gaze finally landed on Asami's back and the girl looked through a filing cabinet frantically.

"Hey 'Sami."

Korra was met with no answer, but heard Asami mumble to herself. She took in her disheveled appearance and finally noticed the tension practically radiating off of the young CEO. She looked like a wreck and it was a sight Korra never thought she'll see. She walked over to her, and gently placed her hand on Asami's shoulder, making the girl jump.

"Spirits! Korra you scared me," she said, holding a palm over her chest.

"Sorry," Korra chuckled.

"What are you doing here?"

"Pema made an awesome lunch and I figured you would want some, so I'm stealing you and taking you back to the island to eat with us."

A saddened look made its way to Asami's features, and she turned her attention to the papers on her desk and the floor surrounding it. Korra realized that Asami thought that no one knew about her birthday and inviting her to a family lunch was probably only rubbing salt in her wounds. But as much as it broke Korra's heart to make her think that her special day went forgotten, she knew that the payoff would be worth it. If anything, Korra wanted to see the look on Asami's face when she came in and everyone shouted 'surprise' at her.

"I have a lot of wor-"

"Nope, you need a break. No one's seen you for ages cause you're always here. Now come on, up and at 'em." Korra practically pulled Asami out of the room and shooed her out of the building. Asami was perplexed the whole time, her knuckles tight on the wheel of her satomobile.

At the ferry Asami looked even more downcast, while Korra got giddier and giddier but tried her best to suppress it. Korra pulled Asami off the boat by her arm, excitedly hauling her up the stairs leading to the dining hall. Urging Asami to go in first Korra finally allowed herself a grin, and waited for the loud greeting that Asami was about to receive. Asami grabbed the door and slid it open just as a chorus of voices could be heard.

"Surprise!"

The shout was deafening, and Korra watched attentively as Asami froze. Within moments Asami was enveloped in a group of people, all congratulating her and wishing her well. Korra stood in the threshold and watched the scene with a smile. Asami looked completely overwhelmed and shocked. Tenzin rested his arm on Asami's shoulder and led her to the table that held a massive cake with nineteen candles lighting up simultaneously, curtesy of Mako's bending, and everyone surrounded the table as Asami stood there looking at her cake. She swallowed hard, and after a moment of complete silence from everyone else she took a deep breath and blew out the candle, laughing and grinning as everyone crowded excitedly around her.

For the first time, Korra saw Asami carefree and happy, and realized that seeing her this way made Korra feel good. She didn't know when it happened, but somewhere along their journey together Korra realized that she wanted Asami to be happy. She took a few more moments to observe the engineer interacting with everyone, chuckling when Bolin lifted Asami into a tight hug and spun her around, and then made her way towards the table to join in on the festivities.

The party lasted into the late evening, until Mako and Bolin had to run to catch the last ferry of the day and to their brand new apartment, and Pema had to take the kids to sleep. The acolytes, Tenzin, and Bumi began cleaning up the mess they all made, so Korra took advantage of the moment and went up to congratulate Asami personally.

She was sitting on the floor holding one of her presents in her lap, a blueprint of the first blimp ever built that Bumi acquired from his travels and kept for nearly twelve years before giving it to her because 'you're the first person I've met that might actually be excited about the thing!'. Korra walked over to her and took a seat by her side.

"Hey," she greeted Asami softly.

"…thank you Korra," Asami whispered.

Korra wrapped her arm around Asami's shoulder for a half hug and smiled at her happily. "Well what are friends for? Besides, I think you deserve to have some fun Miss Big-shot."

"I mean it. Thank you, for everything. I don't know where I would be if it wasn't for you."

"Probably getting whipped into shape by some loud and obnoxious drill sergeant."

Asami snickered and leaned onto Korra. This all felt strange, this weird affection, but Korra couldn't find it in herself to care. She liked Asami and her only regret was not giving her a chance sooner.

"Hey, I got you something. I mean, I didn't exactly buy it or make it or whatever, but I think that you'll really like it."

Korra reached into her pocket and took out a small and thin frame clasped shut. She passed it over to Asami and waited for her to open it up. Asami's thin fingers fumbled with the small clasp for a second, before she opened it and gasped, bringing a hand over her mouth as tears shone in her eyes. She looked at the picture nestled in the case, and her tears fell down her cheeks as she began crying. Korra hugged her closer and let Asami grip her by the shirt as she cried in Korra's arms.

"Thank you," Asami choked out mid sob.

"You're welcome," Korra said as she looked at the picture of Asami's family from when she was a little girl. When Asami asked her how Korra got the picture she almost didn't have the heart to tell Asami that it was Hiroshi's and that she took it from his personal stuff in prison, but couldn't think of an excuse so she settled for the truth. She expected Asami to cry more, or maybe get angry at Korra for giving her something of her father's, he was a sore subject and she didn't even go to his trials, but instead she just nodded. Korra gave her shoulder one more squeeze and excused herself to help out with the cleaning, leaving Asami to give her some time to admire the photo.

*0*0*0*

Korra watched as her armband floated away and sank beneath the shimmering waves. She stood by the water for several more minutes, looking down at her reflection, ignoring the glare from the sun hurting her eyes. The face staring back felt foreign to her, but that was the point. She made her decision the second she saw her ghost. She was not okay and returning to the city was not something that would help her heal. She had to do this on her own.

She took a deep breath and turned away from her reflection, sheathed the dagger, and got back into her boat.

"Raava…please… just say something. Please," Korra tried one more time. When Raava's comforting voice didn't make an appearance she grit her teeth and clenched her jaw so that the stinging in her eyes would stop. "Okay…I'll find you again. I promise."

*0*0*0*

Korra wasn't here. She's been missing for six months now and no one knew where she was or that she was even gone in the first place. For the first time in months Asami didn't eat dinner with everyone else, she just said her polite goodbyes and got onto her boat. The spray of the waves wet her skin as she raced through the water, and all the hope and eagerness that she'd built up for this day over the years came crashing down much harder than she ever thought possible. Silent tears roll down her face, mixing with the ocean's spray, but she drove over the waves like nothing was wrong.

Korra was not coming back. Asami waited for three years, longed for her. She nearly sailed down to the South dozens of times, it was a constant thought that infiltrated her mind nearly every day. She cried herself to sleep more than she could count, and her nightmares got much more creative and imaginative after she witnessed Korra nearly die. Asami had breakdowns, and Bolin even had to send his girlfriend to get Asami to pull herself together. No, this wasn't healthy, in fact it was the worst Asami had ever felt. The fight left her, and thoughts of pursuing Korra fled with it. If Korra ever came back Asami would be there, but she would no longer chase her. She was done.

It was nearly midnight by the time she got to her house and Asami was exhausted. She hadn't been so tired since before she began staying over on the island on occasion, but this time there wasn't enough work to distract her. She lay in bed of her empty mansion, staring at the ceiling. Everyone she ever loved left her. Her mother, taken too young, Hiroshi, for his own mistakes, and now Korra was taken from her too. Her gaze shifted to the small desk in her room. A pile of envelopes were hidden away in the back of the lowest drawer. She shifted on her bed towards the phone and dialed a number she knew by heart but never had found the strength to call.

"Republic City Prison. How may I help you?"

Asami shut her eyes and spoke, "This is Asami Sato, I wish to visit a prisoner."

"Hello, Miss Sato. I'm assuming you'll want to see your father?"

"Yes, Hiroshi."

"Visiting hours start at one but for you we can make a private visit."

"Thank you very much, is noon okay?"

"Yes, come in tomorrow."

"Thank you." She hung up the phone, and a new dread settled deep in her heart. She was going to see the man that singlehandedly ruined her life.

*0*0*0*

Korra walked into her old room, dragging the tips of her fingers over the furniture, as a smile settled on her lips. She was finally back, she was home. Everyone had been crowding her for the past half an hour and now she was finally allowed to escape to the comforts of her room. Everything felt the same as before, no one really changed except Rohan who, after seeing everyone greeting Korra, managed to climb onto her back and stayed there the whole time she was talking to everyone. Yes, everything felt the same, but at the same time absolutely everything was now different. She had spent the past six months alone, and all this socialization was tiring her out. Physically she felt great even after the beat down she received just yesterday. She felt so light and free without the poison, especially after traveling almost everywhere she went on foot. She had wondered for these past three years about why moving around still felt so stiff and demanding, but now a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. Still at the moment all she really wanted to do was take a nap, but the only thing on her mind was her friends, waiting for her, just a short ferry ride away. She nervously tapped her foot, against the floor, and after psyching herself up stood to go to the radio room.

She asked the operator to connect her to the Police Headquarters and after asking around for Mako, ended up calling a hotel where Mako's charge was staying.

"Hello? Mako speaking." At the sound of his voice Korra grinned and her eyes teared up at the premise of her seeing the most important people in her life again.

"Hey Mako."

"Korra?!" His surprised, shrill response got a laugh out of her and she heard him laugh too.

"I'm back."

"I can see that. What-how are you? Where have you been? We were all worried."

"Yeah, I know. I'm sorry. Hey listen, I'm planning on coming into the city today and I figured we can all have lunch. Just you, Asami, and me. You know, just to catch up."

The happiness was practically radiating through the speaker as Mako spoke, "of course! Okay there's this really nice place a few blocks over from the Hotel. I think you'll love it," Mako gave her the address happily.

"Sounds great. Meet you there in an hour?"

"Okay. It's really great to hear your voice again."

"…You too."

"I'll see you later Korra." The happy lilt to his voice made the guilt inside of her grow tenfold.

Korra reconnected to the operator and this time with much trepidation asked for Future Industries. After several holds and four separate secretaries she finally had gotten to Asami's personal assistant.

"Let me check if Miss Sato is free Avatar Korra." She heard him speak something and after a long pause she heard her.

"Hello?" Asami's voice was hesitant, nearly a whisper.

"Hi." There was another long silence and Korra decided to be the one to break it. "I'm back 'Sami."

"Korra?" she asked with a shuddering breath, and the avatar realized that Asami was still unsure if she really was back.

"Yes."

"You're really back?"

"Yeah," she replied with a guilt ridden chuckle.

"Hi Korra."

"Hi Asami."

"…I don't really know what's happening right now," Asami said with a nervous chuckle.

"I really want to see you Asami."

"I want to see you too."

"I called Mako just now. We're getting lunch, and I want you to be there. Is that okay?"

"Yes," Asami said weakly.

"Asami? Are you okay?"

"I'm- I'm okay, yeah, I'm uh- right now I think I'm really really great," Asami said with a laugh and Korra couldn't help but grin.

"That's great. So lunch?"

"Yes! Yes lunch sounds great." Finally Asami sounded like her old self, even with the awkwardness between them on the phone call.

"I'll see you soon then."

"See you soon."

Korra ended the call and changed into her spare clothes, shedding the Earth Kingdom green that she lived in for the past six months. She took a deep breath and stepped out her room and towards the dock, a blinding smile adoring her face. She would see her Asami soon.

Whew! So I finally got through the gap between the two books and now the real fun begins! This was sort of hard to write because I want to write Korrasami dammit, but they were apart for three years. From now on there should be much more interaction between the two and not just them thinking of each other. If you're still here, thanks for reading and sticking around!