Regrets (Complete)

Chapter Eight

"Dad!"

The three of them landed on Air Temple Island, Rohan running out to meet them. He jumped into the air, perching himself on his father's shoulders and hugging his head. Lin was helping lower her and Kya to the ground when the young airbender caught sight of them.

"Aunt Kya! Aunt Lin!"

He launched himself off his father jumping for Lin but Kya intercepted him, grabbing him around the middle and pulling him close to her in a big hug. Meelo appeared not long after, doing a loop around their heads with his new flight suit and Pema and the girls came outside, taking turns hugging Tenzin. Jinora pulled away, looking from her father and then to Lin and Kya.

"Are you finally going to tell us what's going on?"

Tenzin held Ikki close to him, absentmindedly stroking her hair as he stared at Jinora. She looked like Rei. And she was only a few years younger than her. Pema watched him sympathetically and Lin wouldn't look at any of them. Finally it was Kya who broke the silence that was getting more awkward by the second.

"Why don't we all go inside?"

She shifted Rohan onto her back as they all made their way inside. Tenzin had already told Pema some of what was going on and he decided that they all deserved to know the full truth. He asked his children to sit quietly while he told them what had happened, Lin reluctantly chiming in as needed. There were a few seconds of silence when they finished before they all broke into a stream of questions.

"So we have another sister?"

"Does that mean Aunt Lin is our mom now too?"

"Are you going to live with Aunt Kya and Aunt Lin now and leave us alone?"

"Is she an airbender like us?"

"Why didn't you or Aunt Lin try to find her before?"

"Okay! Kids, that's enough questions."

Pema had put her hand over Meelo's mouth as she eyed Lin nervously. Tenzin took in a deep breath, answering as many questions as he could.

"I know it's a confusing situation. Yes, you have another sister but I'm not going anywhere. She's actually a little older than Jinora and an earthbender like Lin. And we didn't know she was alive until a couple days ago."

Tenzin looked over to Lin who hadn't said anything in several minutes, her eyes staring determinedly at the floor. Ikki walked over and sat down next to her, taking her hand in her own.

"It's okay if you didn't know she was alive, I'm sure everything will be okay now."

Ikki smiled brightly and Lin looked to her. She studied the girl's face for a full minute before she finally lost her composure, pulling her hand from Ikki's and standing up quickly. They all stared at her as she her breathing became uneven.

"I don't need sympathy from any of you!"

Lin walked across the room, crossing her arms and turning her back to them. Ikki's eyes filled with tears that she tried to stop from falling by blinking rapidly and looking down.

"Lin!"

Kya brushed a gentle finger against Ikki's cheek as she walked to Lin, looking angry for the first time.

"I know you've got a lot going on but that was rude. Ikki is just a kid and-"

"I really don't need a lecture from you right now. Just leave me alone."

"No. Lin, I'm not-"

"JUST GO, KYA. I DON'T NEED YOU! I DON'T NEED ANYONE!"

Kya visibly flinched as she recoiled, slowly stepping away from the earthbender. She turned and made eye contact with Tenzin, pleading with her tear filled eyes to try and help. Even after all these years he was still important to Lin. He was her best friend. Pema caught on first, snatching Rohan off the couch.

"Hey kids, let's go outside and wait for Korra. Kya, could me with this lot?"

They left quickly, Kya pausing for a moment to squeeze Tenzin's arm as she looked back to Lin one more time before leaving the pair of them alone.

"Lin..."

"Don't you start with me too, Tenzin."

He didn't push further as she started pacing, purposely not looking at him as she thought out loud.

"What kind of mother doesn't know her own kid is still alive."

She stopped dead in her tracks as the weight of her own words hit her. She quickly covers her mouth as a sob comes out. It's the stone that finally broke the dam and she dropped to her knees, letting out loud gasps as her entire body shook from the emotional breakdown she had been building to for days. Unsure of what else to do Tenzin moved to her, kneeling down and pulling her into a hug.

She clung to him, burying her face against his chest. He just held her, several minutes going by before her breathing started to even out. Now she only hiccupped slightly every time she swallowed, finally pulling away to look at him.

"I did regret it, you know. Not trying again with you."

He wasn't sure what to say to that as he watched silent tears still leaking from her eyes. She let out a small laugh at the look on his face.

"Don't worry. I'm glad things worked out the way they did with me and Kya. It's just... I'm so scared for her, Ten."

He smiled at her, taking ahold of both her arms as he got them both on their feet.

"KORRA'S HERE!"

There was a loud commotion from outside and the pair of them just stared at each other for a moment. Tenzin took her hand and brought it to his lips in a gentle, but quick kiss.

"We'll find her."