Yeah I know I am taking forever to update. and I'm so very sorry. But I have a life too. I'm currently on vacation and people say they are getting bored of my story because of my scarce updates. That is the last thing I want to happen. So I finished this chapter up for you.I will NOT be updating for another few days. I'm leaving for home tomorrow and I need time to wite and plan another chapter. So for me be patient? I'm sorry that this chapter isn't too long but I hope it is fulfilling. ;)

Have fun reading!

Disclaimer: Legend of Korra belongs to Bryke and all those good people. Plot belongs to SoulLikeABird.

He is creating a draft. Pacing that fast back and forth really shouldn't be healthy. His legs are numb and his heart is thundering in his chest, which also shouldn't be healthy. She is coming home today. Was all his thoughts could process. She had only been gone a day but to him it feels like a couple of lifetimes since that last time he saw those oceanic eyes, and that spunky smile. Sure he was nervous to see him but that wasn't even the start of it. In fact it was only the beginning.

He made a mess of things. He is well aware that he had hurt Korra, and the guilt has been hanging over his head as a constant reminder that Korra wants nothing to do with him. He knows he has caused her stress that she doesn't even need, stress that really isn't necessary. Mako ceases his fast pacing. Feeling a little dizzy he presses his cheek against one of the high windows of the apartment. The coolness of the glass soothing his hot cheek. He sighs.

"Mako? Seriously dude. You're worrying me here." Bolin groans sitting on the couch as he pets Pabu who is lying in his lap. Pabu licks his paw and nuzzles into Bolin's lap with a small squeak.

Mako bites his cheek hard, drawing blood. "I don't know what to say to her…" He chokes out as if it hurts him.

Bolin rolls his eyes at his brothers cluelessness. "Tell her the truth." He suggests. Bolin can't help but find it amusing that his cool headed brother is getting squirming over a girl.

"It isn't that simple Bolin." Mako sighs staring down at the trafficked streets below. The taste of his blood from his cheek grazing across his tongue in a bitter metal taste.

"Mako it is simple. Tell her. It isn't like you haven't already. Seriously what has you so worried?" Bolin responds with a sly smirk.

Mako goes stiff. The kiss. The kiss that happened not to long ago. The kiss that ruined and fixed everything. He hurt Bolin. He knows that. But Bolin is accepting of his brothers feelings for Korra. Mako has always put Bolin first and protected him when he was in trouble. The least he could do was let go of Korra. For Mako. "Bolin I wish it could be that simple. But the things I had said to her…" He trails off as guilt and anger makes his teeth clench. "I don't know if she will ever forgive me."

"You know better than I that Korra is the most forgiving person in the world. She is the Avatar for crying out loud! It is in her blood to be forgiving! You can't be scared of her rejection Mako." Bolin argues making an excellent point.

"I'm not scared!" Mako protests. I'm terrified!

"Please Mako. I haven't seen you this jumpy since…" Bolin trails of pursing his lips. "Well I have never seen you this jumpy." He finishes with his eyebrows raised.

Mako turns around to face his sitting brother. "I'm terrified Bo. What if I really have pushed her away? What if it is too late? What if-" Mako stammers but is but off by Bolin.

"Mako chill! You haven't lost her yet!" Bolin exclaims jumping to is feet and setting the sleeping Pabu on the couch. Bolin stomps up to Mako and shakes him by the shoulder. "Pull yourself together!" He yells staring into Mako's terrified looking amber irises.

Mako's brain rattles in his head as Bolin shakes him. Mako grabs his head when Bolin releases him. "Was that really necessary?" Mako asks with a dizzy glare.

Bolin smirks. "Yes I believe it was. Now what are you still doing here? Don't you have an Avatar to swoon?" Bolin asks with a raised eyebrow.

Mako's heart hastens. "I do? I do!" Mako exclaims then pulls Bolin into a tight hug. "Thank you Bolin!"

Bolin returns the hug. "Hey, even you need to be watched out for too."

Mako releases Bolin then sprints for the stairs. "Thank you!" Mako calls before descending down the stairs quickly and out of the Arena.

She already misses the cold and the snow. The boat had just pulled into the docks. Korra nudges Naga awake who has been sleeping soundly on the deck. The large Polar Bear Dog stirs awake. Korra pets her head. "Wake up girl. We're back." Korra coaxes. Naga yawns widely and rises to her feet with a large stretch and whimpers. Korra rises with Naga and leads her off the boat. She smiles and waves at Tenzin and his family who are waiting for her at the end of the dock.

The airbending children race as the sprint up to Korra. Jinora and Ikki throw themselves at Korra's legs Korra stumbles back from the impact but quickly regains herself. Meelo climbs on top of Korra's shoulders and grabs her head. "You're back!" Jinora exclaims hugging Korra's leg.

"It was sooooooo boring without you here! Don't leave ever,ever,ever,ever,ever,ever,ever,ever again! Ok? Please!" Ikki pleas

Korra giggles pats the girls head and removes Meelo from her shoulders. "I missed you guys too." She smiles. The girls rerelease her and run back to Tenzin and Pema who is holding her belly. Korra walks up the docks and Tenzin smiles warmly. "Good to have you back Korra. I trust your trip went well?"

Korra returns the smile. "Yes. It was quiet relaxing. I'm guessing because of my break we're going to have to jump right back into training huh?" Korra asks gloomily.

"Yes. But I understand traveling if tiresome. Go eat something, and get settled in. Training will resume tomorrow." Tenzin explains patting Korra on the back before sending her on her way.

Korra falls and face plants onto her bed with a groan. "It's good to be back…" She says into the sheets that muffle her voice.

Yupp. Time to jump right back into hell. Korra pushes herself up and off of her bed and unpacks her duffle then stares out her window across the bay to the golden Arena with a green dome of glass that seems empty. She wonders if it really is empty.

Something walking up the docks below adverts Korra's attention. Her eyes widen and she feels her heart stop. She lets out a ragged breath and before giving it a second thought Korra is running out of her chamber and down to the docks. Her heart skips a beat as she skids to a stop.

Mako swallows the large lump in his throat as he sees the Avatar slip to a stop several yards away from him on the docks. Her aqua eyes wide but soon begin to smile with a twinkle. Mako lets out a breath. Here goes nothing… Mako begins to walk forward. Korra does the same. Their eyes never breaking the gaze.

They meet in the middle of the dock. The wind blows their hair and the sun blazes down on the two in scorching rays. They stop a foot away from each other and a thick silence fills the air.

Korra finds her voice. "Hi." She squeaks shyly. She feels oddly nervous. More than she did the night of her first kiss. Oh spirits I want to kiss him. Snap out of it Korra! You are supposed to be mad! I can't be mad anymore. I don't have that kind of energy!

Mako stares down at Korra, his voice non-existent.

"You alright Mako?" She asks in a whisper.

"Can we talk?" Mako asks hoarsely, his eyes never leaving those pools of blue.

Korra nods slowly barely registering her movement.

Mako takes a deep breath. "Korra I'm so-"

Korra puts her hand up to stop Mako. "Can we talk somewhere a little more private? I think we have an audience." Korra shrugs pointing at the staring and intrigued airbending kids behind her.

"Sure…"

Korra grabs Mako's hand and a blast of warmth shoots through them. A sensation of warmth that not even their firebending can give them. Korra pauses and gives Jinora, Meelo, and Ikki a hard look. "Follow us at your own risk." She hisses. The kids swallow sharply and scatter back to the temple. Korra grins with satisfaction.

Korra pulls Mako up a series of slopes and hills before cutting through a mound of bushes that lead to a cliff that overlooks the city's shore, and Avatar Aang's statue that stands mighty and strong.

Korra releases Mako's hand and sits on a boulder in front of Mako. "Ok. Talk." Korra says with a straight expression.

Mako inhales a deep intake of oxygen then lets everything out. "Korra I'm so sorry. For everything you're not a mistake. You are incredible and amazing. No one out there is like you and I was blind to see that. And-oh spirits! When I got drunk…I'm sorry you had to see me that way. It was irresponsible for me to do that. Korra I can stand here and apologize for how I have treated you but I know it will never be enough. I just needed you to know that." Mako babbles with strain in his voice and tears pooling in his eyes. Suddenly he feels dizzy and is out of breath

Korra absorbs every word, and it sinks into her like a punch to the face. But it wasn't the bad kind of pain. It was a pain of relief. Korra shakes her head and bites her cheek. She stands to her numb feet and strolls over to Mako. Tears sting her eyes.

She slowly raises an open hand then swings it; slapping Mako hard in the cheek. And to Korra it felt good.

But to Mako it hurt, a lot.

Mako recoils to the hot stinging blow to his cheek. The feeling of pain can closely be related to the feeling of fire slowly igniting on the bare skin of his cheek. He cries out in pain. "Ow!" He yelps staring back at Korra in shock while he holds his red cheek. She just shrugs.

"Like you didn't deserve it. You have no idea how long I have been waiting to do that. My turn to talk." She says bitterly. She strides up to him. He backs up. "You have toyed with me, hurt me, made me feel down about myself, said hurtful things to me, rejected me…"Korra trails off and Mako cringes at the hardness in her voice. "The list can go on and on…" She continues still backing Mako up. Soon he finds himself up against the trunk of a tree. Korra stops in front of him and looks down at her boots. A fierce wind whips past her. A lonesome tear rolls down her cheek. She looks back up at Mako and swallows tightly. "But for some reason through all the hurt you have caused me I still don't know why I am finding I can forgive you." She finishes her rant staring into those watery orbs of molten framed in long black eyelashes.

Mako sighs in relief. "You forgive me?"

Korra wipes the tear away. "For now. It's going to take a lot for me to jump back into this." Korra explains with a gesture.

"I will take what I can get." Mako says with a smile still holding his burning cheek. She forgives me.

Korra smiles small. "So…" Korra says awkwardly as she rocks back and forth on her heels.

Mako straightens up and huffs. "Korra there is one last thing I need to tell you." Mako blurts.

Korra raises an eyebrow. "Ok?" She breathes confused.

Here goes nothing… "…" Mako's throat closes up.

Korra rolls her eyes and falls back on a rock. "I'm waiting…"

JUST TELL HER! "I love you!" He shouts. His voice echoes and swirls through the trees and bounces off the leaves, propels into the sky and through the thick clouds, reflects off the sun and drifts back down and frolics into Korra's ears.

Her head spins and she starts to shake and her chest constricts. Her throat locks and her palms begin to sweat. Her face grows hot and even the breeze that hits her can't cool the fire that spreads throughout her body. The world around her goes white and all she sees is Mako. A golden happiness shoots through her veins. "What?" She chokes out of breath.

"I love you Korra."

"I-I-I-" Korra stutters trying to find the right words to say. Say 'I love you too' you idiot! Korra screams in her mind.

His eyes of puddled gold shed a tear. "I'm sorry-"

"Don't be sorry… It's just… what about Asami?" She asks in a small weak voice.

"We broke up."

Those three words made Korra soar. .Up. "Oh. I'm sorry Mako."

"Korra…" He breathes advancing towards the almost hyperventilating Avatar that sits on a grey flat rock.

Korra jumps to her feet. "I'm not ready…" And that is the truth. She already gave her heart and soul to Mako but now things are getting real and this is no longer a fantasy, and she isn't ready.

"Oh…Well then I will wait until you are." He says sweetly.

A large smile pulls at Korra's lips. "Thank you." She walks up to him stretches on her tippy toes and grabs Mako's hand from his cheek before placing a lingering kiss on the fire. His cheek is hot against her cool lips. She pulls and smiles before turning away.

Mako reaches out for her and catches her warm wrist. "Korra wait! Do you think maybe I could take you out for dinner tonight?" He asks nervously as her heart beats against his ribcage. Say yes?

Korra smiles with a blush creeping across her cheek bones. "I would like that." She breathes happily. Am I dreaming? Did he just ask me on a date? Before she could figure out if this was real or not she runs through the bushes and is gone and out of Mako's sight.

He touches his cheek. The feel of her lips still fresh against his skin. The red handprint was still there, but it no longer hurts.

Korra slams the door shut behind her and sinks to the floor. Her mind still can't register what just happened. She is still waiting to wake up with her face against the pillow in a puddle of tears. She starts to hyperventilate with the largest smile plastered on her face. "He loves…me…" She whispers choppily. Then it really hits her. The gleam that once sparkled her eyes returns and all the rest of her troubles melt away.

The young Avatar jumps up to her feet and begins to dance around the room. She hugs Naga and sings and twirls. "HE LOVES ME!" She cries before falling back on her bed with a heart that is no longer broken.

And it all comes out. ;) Did you like. What do you think? Was it rushed? Did I do a good job? I find this all a little bitter sweet. AHH! I can't wait to read your reviews! So next chapter will be the date. You will love it. I will be back soon. Not tomorrow or the next day but soon. Drop me a review! Thank you for sicking with me! I appreciate it!

Make my day and REVIEW PLEASE AND THANK YOU!

~Megan~