Chapter 22: The Beginning

She pulled him into the room before he could say anything and locked it. "Kai, I'm sorry I-"

He wanted to hug her and scream at her. "I thought you were dead! DEAD! Do you have any idea what that put me through?!" He couldn't believe this. Almost a week had gone by, the worst week of his entire life, and she had been alive the whole time? How could she do that to him?

"I'm sorry," she said again, her eyes pleading. "I thought it would be better this way. I meant to leave earlier, but I couldn't keep myself from coming back just once-"

Kai cut her off, pulling her into a deep kiss. He held her tightly against him, unwilling to let go. As her body relaxed against his and she wrapped her arounds around him in return, he was hit with the beautiful realization that this was real. Not a dream, not a hallucination. She was real, and safe, and alive, and with him.

"I saw you die," he whispered into her hair. "How - how are you here?"

"The trapdoors. The tunnels. A little bit of magic." She pulled away just enough to look at him, and she smiled. "You should know that it takes more than a little bit of water to get rid of me."

Kai almost chuckled, but simply stared at her. It was really her. Kai kissed her fingers, his hands shaking. "Just, promise me you won't leave me. Not again."

Jinora's smile faltered a bit. "Kai, I can't stay in Oz. I was planning to leave after my visit."

"Then take me with you," he said immediately.

"But -"

"I'm not taking no for an answer this time," he insisted. "Not unless you don't want me anymore." He looked at her nervously. What if she had changed her mind for some reason? What would he do then?

"Of course I still want you," she said instantly. "I'll always want you… It's just, we'd be leaving Oz, for good."

"Fine," he said, a bit too cheerfully. "When do we leave?"

Jinora smiled and it lit up her whole face. "I was planning on tonight."

Kai grinned, but his smile faded. "You just…" his voice cracked. "You have to promise you won't do that to me again. Okay? Not until we're old and grey. Not again."

"I promise," she vowed. "For better and for worse, right?"

He took the engagement ring off his finger and whispered a counter-charm to shrink it back down to its original size. He then took her left hand - Oz, he never thought he'd be able to hold it again - and slipped it on her ring finger. "For better or for worse."

Jinora laughed as he picked her up and spun her around, caught up in his joy. He never thought he'd be this happy again. Kai laughed with her, smiling as she pulled him into a kiss. He held her like she was glass, fragile and breakable. He could still barely believe she was here, alive.

"I never thought I'd be able to do this again," he whispered against her lips.

"Neither did I," she confessed. Jinora kissed him harder until his back hit a wall. She combed her hands through his hair. "I love you. I'm sorry."

"I love you," Kai murmured. He thought of how he had confessed his sins to her, of his failures by working for the Wizard, and the unconditional acceptance she had shown, and as much as she had hurt him, it seemed only right to try to return it. "I forgive you, I swear I do." Jinora let out a sigh of relief against his lips. He kissed her longer, harder, as if stopping would make her disappear again. He could barely believe that she was here, warm and solid and real in his arms. Here, in the place where he had fallen in love with her, all those years ago.

He undid the clasp of her cloak to pull her closer to him, and his hands wandered to the zipper of her dress.

Jinora laughed against his mouth. "Here? Really?"

"I don't know about you, but I'm pretty sure this is where I first wanted it to happen," he chuckled. "It's only fitting. Besides, 'To be continued,' remember? Unless you want to hold off…" He looked in her eyes, checking for consent. Jinora smiled and guided his hands back to her zipper. He never thought he'd be able to do this again, either.

Kai kissed her fiercely as she slipped out of her dress, and she had his shirt off in no time. She let out a soft moan as he kissed her neck and she reached for the zipper of his pants. They stumbled backwards towards one of the beds (his old one) and Jinora couldn't hold in her laughter as they fell onto the mattress.

Kai beamed at her as she straddled his hips, leaning in to kiss him, her hair falling in front of her face. He tucked some strands behind her ear, his hands sliding down her the curves of her sides to rest on her hips. She shivered, cupping his face and kissing him harder. He trailed his hand along her thighs, a satisfied smirk spreading across his face when he saw her cheeks were flushed from pleasure.

"My bed now," she panted, sitting up and lacing their fingers together. "I wanted you too." She got up and her fingers slid out of his as she laid on the other bed.

Kai stood at the foot of her bed for a second, treasuring the sight of her lying before him. "And just for the record," Kai said, half-laughing. "I am checking you out."

Jinora laughed so hard she snorted. "Oz, Kai, you dork."

"Ah, but I'm your dork," he teased. He lowered himself onto her, kissing her again. "Now, indoor or outdoor wedding?"

"Someone's eager," Jinora said smoothly, gasping a little as he bit down on her bottom lip.

Kai pulled away, softly kissing her. "Well," he said against her lips. "I am hopelessly in love with you. And you didn't answer my question."

"Outdoor," she answered, running her hands through his hair. "A meadow, or something."

"Or something?" Kai raised an eyebrow.

"Well, I'm a little distracted right now," Jinora pointed out between kisses.

He bent low and kissed her neck. "Come on, this is just like waltzing," he said against her warm skin.

"It is so not," Jinora said, and he chuckled. Her mind drifted slightly, a bit of hesitance coming into her voice when she asked, "Kids?"

Kai froze for a second, before he grinned at her. "However many you want." He turned to rest on his side, her limbs tangled up in his, her chest pressed up against his. She shifted upwards on the mattress slightly so he could rest his head against her chest, to hear her heartbeat.

Jinora brushed his floppy hair off his sweaty forehead and kissed his forehead gently. "I was thinking three?"

"More than one, definitely," Kai said, half-joking. Jinora giggled. "But I have to say, I'm glad we did this. It was very satisfying… in more ways than one." Jinora flushed.

"I certainly hope so," she teased, pressing a kiss to his jaw. Kai rested his hands on her waist and pulled her closer, their legs tangled up together. He buried his face in the crook of her neck, breathing her in.

"I love you so much," he whispered. "I hope you know that."

Jinora smiled faintly. "I do. I'm staying with you, for good."

goodness knows the wicked die alone

The police ruled it as a freak accident, a Satomobile crash gone wrong. Their beloved Captain Kai, was dead. Korra, Asami, Opal, Bolin and Mako alone knew the truth, that the two lovers had left Oz together. Opal held the final letter they'd written them, delivered by Godfrey right before he, too, had opted to leave Oz. At least till the excitement had died down, he'd said.

"I'm going to miss them," Opal said during one of their group coffee dates. Everything had been hectic since they'd all taken their respective positions of power. After all, undoing all the damage the Wizard had done wasn't easy. But with the Animal Adoption Center being completely renovated, the munchkins being given new freedoms they'd never even dreamed of, and the people of Oz safer than ever, they decided that all the added responsibility was worth it.

"I never even got to meet Jinora in person," Korra sighed. "It's a shame. For some reason, I feel like we would have gotten along really well."

"You would have," Mako confirmed. "She's a brave girl."

"Still, I'm so happy for them," Bolin sighed. "Even if we probably won't get to see them again, they're finally happy." He sniffled a little bit. "My little bro, all grown up."

Naga sleepily walked into the living room, holding a blue blanket. "You didn't tell me everyone was already here, Mommy," she whined.

"Sorry, Naga," Asami said. "We got a little distracted." Korra pulled her child into her lap as she wiped the last of her afternoon nap out of her eyes.

"Where's Uncle Kai?" Naga wondered aloud. The adults in the room paused for a moment, till Korra finally spoke.

"Sweetheart, remember when we were talking about a lady named Jinora?" she asked.

Naga nodded. "Yeah." Then, her eyes lit up with excitement. "Is she coming with Uncle Kai, Mama?"

Korra paused, careful to to choose her words. "No," she said finally, "Uncle Kai won't be joining us anymore."

Naga's face fell. "Oh."

"Hey, but it's not so bad," Korra said. "You see, he's in love with Jinora. And they're going to get married, and live happily ever after."

Naga beamed again. "Like you and Mommy? And Auntie Opal and Uncle Bolin?"

Korra glanced at Asami, then back to Naga, and smiled. For once, Kai and Jinora would get to be like an ordinary couple. "Yeah. Something like that."

i couldn't be happier

"We should be there soon," Jinora said, with Kai wrapping his arms snug around her waist, enjoying the broom ride. "It's just over that little hill."

Jinora was glad she had known the place, far, far away from Oz, where Animals had been traveling as refugees. Some of the families had been there for many, many years. And it was a good land, rich in resources. A good place for her and Kai. For a future, a family.

A little village came into view as they flew over the hill. A few Animals - a sheep and some goats - looked up as they landed. A pair of Badgermoles smiled at them, and Jinora realized she knew them.

"Oma, Shu!" she greeted, dismounting from the broom. She grabbed Kai's hand and pulled him along with her as the Badgermoles met them halfway. "It's so good to see you."

"It's good to see you too," Oma said. "Well, smell you. I was worried, with everything that was happening in Oz."

"We're fine," Jinora said, giving Kai's hand a squeeze, and it felt good to say the truth. To know it was true. "Is Godfrey here? We were hoping he could do something for us… He's certified to officiate weddings, isn't he?"

"I do believe so," Shu said. "Oma, or Bleat, could one of you go get Godfrey? I'm sure he'll be pleased to see his friends."

Jinora hugged the Cat Owl as soon as she saw him, Godfrey wrapping his feathery wings around her. "It's good to see you, Miss Jinora. And you too, Captain Kai."

Kai grinned. "Just Kai is fine, Godfrey. Although, there is something you can do for us."

as long as you're mine

"And do you, Jinora Thropp, take Kai Upland to be your husband, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for better or for worse?"

Jinora smiled, her eyes unusually bright as she looked at Kai, her heart swelling with affection and love. "I do."

Godfrey's feline features curved up into a smile. "And do you, Kai Upland, take Jinora Thropp to be your wife…"

Kai couldn't stop staring at Jinora as Godfrey repeated the words to him. Even in her old, black, weather-worn dress, she was an absolutely beautiful bride. His bride.

"I do," he said when Godfrey finished, squeezing her hands.

"Then, by the power vested in me," Godfrey said in a bold, ringing voice, "I now pronounce you husband and wife. Finally," he added with a good-natured smile. "You may now kiss the bride."

Jinora threw her arms around Kai's neck, kissing him eagerly. He caught her in his arms, tightening his grip around her waist. The cheers and well-wishings of the Animals in attendance faded into the background, and all Kai knew was the feel of her lips against his as he pulled her closer.

"Nine months later and they'll have a baby," Godfrey muttered. Jinora laughed against Kai's mouth. The old cat owl probably wasn't too far off the mark.

"I don't know about you," Jinora laughed, pulling away. She had never been happier. "But I'm feeling particularly wicked." It felt nice to say that, knowing it was true, knowing it wasn't something nasty or wrong, but good. Amazing actually, to stand here with her husband's arms wrapped around her, knowing they were finally safe. Knowing that they could have a future, together.

Kai kissed her. "That sounds good to me, love."

We've finally reached the end and I hope you all enjoyed this as much as we enjoyed writing it! The sequel, titled "Somewhere Over The Rainbow", will be up in a couple of days. It's set 17 years later, when Kai and Jinora's first child, Kotta, travels back to Oz behind their backs in order to discover everything they haven't told her, and the truth about her family.

Thank you for all your feedback and support! :)