Title: Parachutes
Author: tenzins
Disclaimer: oh well then, blah

A/N: soooo, this wasn't what I first set out to write, although the over version is surprisingly similar. Just... less... weird, in my opinion. But it's long, and it makes me happy, and I'm satisfied, so let's go! And you have no idea how much time I spent figuring out the math for the years in here. I'm horrible omg.

He settles.

After their yearlong adventure, he has to go back to his work, and returns to the flow of his everyday life. He likes the flow, and it gives him comfort and happiness. He's grounded, and his friends come back to him and he's happy. He keeps in contact with his brother, Korra, the airbenders, all except one. And something is missing, a hole he can't fill.

So he decides to fill it.

He walks down the street, past some fruit stands and children playing tag. There's a happy sense in Ba Sing Se. Everyone is preparing for the upcoming festival, the anniversary of the day Ba Sing Se was saved, liberated from Fire Nation rule. It's been 82nd years, and the city is in full swing for a big party. He was on his yearlong trip with Jinora for the 80th, and in Republic City for the 81st. He's ready for the week long party.

He stops at a shop to pick up some food, paying the cashier with a grin. He takes his time walking back to his apartment. The night sky is a bright pink, and it makes the city look even more beautiful. He wanders back, and smiles as he hops up the stairs.

As soon as he's inside, he sets out to make himself dinner. He's almost finished chopping the vegetables when there's a knock at his door.

"One second!" he shouts as he wipes his hands off and sets the knife down. He hurries over to the door and throws it open without looking through the peephole. He stares at the person standing there.

"Jinora," he says, and she smiles meekly at him. He steps aside and lets her inside, and quickly closes the door. She stands in his living room, holding her bag with a meek smile.

"I know your letter said this weekend, but I… came early," she trailed off. He watched her closely.

"That's okay. I was just making dinner. Do you want to help?" he said, taking her bag tentatively from her and placing it on the couch. She follows him slowly, and then finds her place next to him at the counter. They're quiet, uncomfortably slow, before she lets out a long sigh.

"I'm sorry," she mumbles, and he pauses in his cutting before continuing. If he knows anything about Jinora, it's that she needs to ramble before he cuts in.

"I'm sorry I've been out of contact with you. I should've called. I was just so… confused and busy and life became hectic, and I didn't want to talk to you for the longest time, and then I found myself wanting to, but I didn't know if you'd let me in. I was so upset with myself, and you, that I just shut everything out. I'm so, so sorry," she finished in a whisper, and he looked over to see her crying. He set down the knife, took the spoon out of hers, and made her face him. She didn't look up, and he wasn't surprised.

"Hey, why the tears? It's okay," he says, brushing off her cheeks. She pushes his hand away and he feels a burst of wind flare around him.

"It's not! I was… stupid, and childish. I made a mistake, I pushed you away, and I felt horrible about it for months. I have been missing so much, and when your invitation arrived, so short and cordial, I didn't know what to think, and I talked to mother about it and she urged me to go and the only reason I'm here early is because if I didn't leave when I had the confidence I would've never made it here. I would've locked myself back up in the library."

He listens intently, and when the mood she is emulating calms, he reaches up and holds her shoulders.

"I forgave you a long time ago."

She still doesn't look up.

"That's what you do, when you're in love. You forgive and forget."

Her head shoots up, her eyes red and confused. She stares into his face, her mouth slightly agape. She stands shocked for longer than he expected, and when she moves again, it isn't what he expects either.

She jumps up, wrapping her legs around his torso and her arms around his shoulders, burying her face in his neck. He stumbles back slightly, and then holds her tightly. He can feel her shaking slightly, and he rubs her back soothingly. He ends up plopping down onto the couch, where he sits for almost ten minutes with her in his lap. He waits, as he'd been waiting for a year.

Ten more minutes can't hurt.

And when she looks up at him, a hint of a smile in her eyes, he captures her face and kisses her soundly. She doesn't hesitate, her arms back around him in a second.

"I'm sorry too," he mumbles when their lips part and she take in a sharp breath.

"No, no, it was my fault, I freaked over nothing," she argues, and he just smiles at her.

"It wasn't nothing Nora. I asked you to move in with me, to make a commitment and settle," he emphasizes, "and you're the person who wanted to go on a yearlong trip because you were feeling flighty. You've always been flighty, and needed to constantly be on the move. I realized ten minutes after our argument that I probably should've come and talked to you in person."

She gives him a sheepish grin, and kisses him again.

"And, you meant what you said, about… being in love?" she questions feebly, earning a soft smile from the earthbender.

"I think I've been in love with you for a long time," he confesses, and she blushes a deep red, "and I'm starting to think it's mutual."

She blushes even deeper, and he chuckles at her. She hugs him again, her face finding it's home in the crook of his neck. She sighs.

"Is that offer still on the table?"

"Which offer?" he teases and she looks up and glares at him.

"You know what I'm talking about," she counters, and he attempts to look confused.

"I have no recollection of any offer," he says as she slaps his shoulder, anger flashing across her face.

"Does the offer to move in still stand?" she finally sits out, and he grins.

"What do you think?" he says with a grin, and she laughs happily and kisses him happily.

They stay like that, forgetting the food on the counter, for over an hour, talking and apologizing again and again, sharing kisses, and smiles.

A/N: DO NOT WORRY, this fic still has some chapters left. I still have some of the songs on Parachutes left to go through, and I've got some ideas.

And if the tense changes in here, I'm sorry, sometimes that happens to me and I try to fix it all the way through! Don't feel ashamed to point parts out to me!

Reviews are, as always, appreciated!

-tenzins