4. Earth

Korra had always known she'd have to go home. Although, as she faced the ship that would take her back to the South Pole, she wondered where 'home' really was. The beautiful landscape of snow and ice that had once been her sanctuary now seemed bleak and desolate, with only a few loved faces calling her heart to the place. Most of her soul belonged in the city behind her – to the place where she'd found herself and a spot she'd never dreamed she could have.

"Korra." Tenzin, already on the ship, beckoned to her patiently. "The captain wants to leave."

With her heart feeling like it was made of rock, Korra started up the gangplank, not paying attention to whatever Meelo and Ikki were destroying on the deck that was making their father suddenly go bananas.

"Korra!"

A smile broke across her face and she whirled back, immediately making her way over to the two late arrivals.

"About time! I was beginning to think you guys would let me leave without saying goodbye."

"I wasn't going to come, but he made me," Mako told her in a deadpan, indicating Bolin with his head.

"Jerk," Korra shot at him, grinning widely. He smirked back.

"Come back soon. We'll miss you," Bolin told her shoulder as he hugged her. "Mako's such a pain in the ass to me without you around to be his target."

"I'll be back as soon as I can." She vowed it with all her heart. "Take care of yourself, alright? And Pabu. And don't eat the two of you out of house and home." Then she turned to the Firebender and raised an eyebrow. "Well?"

He shrugged nonchalantly. "Don't freeze into a popsicle."

She frowned to hide her amused smile. "And?"

"Work on your Waterbending for next season's Probending."

"And?"

"Korra! They want to leave!" Tenzin yelled at her, less calm now.

"Yeah, I'm coming!" Now there was a note of desperation in her as she looked at Mako. "And?"

"And I'm going to get a proper job." He seemed just as desperate. "They'll hire me now, after everything. That will get Bo and I a proper apartment. I'll be worth something."

That was still not what she wanted to hear – he had always been worth everything to her. "And?"

Mako hesitated but then bent down and kissed her. It was short, chaste and standard but it still sent thrills through her body.

"That's better," she told him smugly, before hugging Bolin once more and scampering up the gangplank.

Every step away from her boys made the rock in her chest intensify. By the time she was on the deck of the ship and it was casting off, all she wanted to do was jump overboard and swim back to the land. Bolin and Mako didn't make matters easier for her; both of them stood at the very edge of the dock and watched as she grew smaller and smaller.

Suddenly, Mako cupped his hands and yelled something to her.

"What?" she yelled back, leaning right over the rails to try and catch his words.

"I'll wait for you!" Mako bellowed.

Stone melted into flesh again and suddenly the whole world seemed so much better, brighter, more beautiful…

"You'd better!" she bellowed back, heart soaring, chest burden free and cheeks aching from the size of her smile.