Kya accepted the hand shake, still feeling a little embarrassed. 

“I feel like an idiot,” she told Chief Beifong. 

“Don't. We appreciate the feedback. Helps me decide who's cut out for field work.” 

“Well, I'm glad I could help.”

“What's your name, you know, for the incident report?” 

“Oh, uh Kya. Kya Cloud.”  Kya watched the gears turn in the police Chief's head as her name registered. There was no way someone of so much status hadn't heard her name before. 

She was the only daughter of Avatar Aang, after all. 

“Well, I reckon it's about time we met, Miss Cloud”.

“Just Kya is fine.”

“Right. Well, is there anything else I can do for you, maybe something that will increase your rating?” 

Kya laughed, pulling her things close to her.

“I think this will suffice,” Kya told her, “you can expect at least three elements from me.”

“I'll take it.” Chief Beifong stated. “I'll see you around, ‘just Kya’.” 

Kya bade her farewell, watching the woman go down the platform. 

She took a deep breath, suppressing her smile, and the butterflies in her stomach as she started the walk home. 

“I can't believe you almost got robbed!” Her mother said, hugging Kya again for good measure. 

“Mom, relax, it ended up okay. You know I could've taken him. If I had been prepared.” 

“Your lucky Lin was there.”

“No kidding. She was very efficient.” 

“She's excellent at her job. The best Police Chief the City has ever seen. Including its first.” 

“Who was the first?”

“Kya, I know I've told you.”

“And you know I'm forgetful. I'm a busy woman, mom.”

“Lin's own mother, one of my best friends, Toph Beifong.”

Memories came back as Kya pieced history together. No wonder Lin had come off familiar, she had been an essential person in Kya's early childhood. Kya was about fourteen when the Beifong's stopped hanging around. It seemed like a lifetime ago despite it being only twenty years. 

“Right, I remember now.” Kya said. 

Her mother didn't seem assured, but carried on with her preparation anyway. Her and Kya were currently decorating the temple for the holidays, making everything either sparkle, or shine. It would be the first Christmas with a baby in the family, and Kya's first time meeting the little one. 

She felt terrible she hadn't seen Jinora, but her career often had her on the road, and she hadn't gotten a chance to stop at Republic City in nearly eight months. 

She took some solace in knowing Jinora was only a month old, so there was still plenty of time for her to become the career-wine aunt. 

“When will Tenzin be by?” She asked.

“He told me he and Pema should be back tomorrow. They decided to break the trip from the air temple into one more day, to give them some time to sufficiently rest.” 

“So just you and me tonight then mum?”

“Actually I have to make a City council meeting. The last one before the holidays.”

“So just me?”

“Sorry dear. You're welcome to come, or you could go out. Spend a night on the town? It's Saturday so it should be alive. Not Friday night alive, but alive nonetheless.”

“Alright. Know any good spots?”

“Hmm, I've heard some friends talk about Rafters. It might be old for you though.”

“Gotta start somewhere. Maybe I can bring a plus one to Christmas,” Kya smirked. 

Katara shot her a glare, so Kya just laughed.

She supposed she was going out tonight.

Her mother was right about the crowd of Rafters being older. Kya didn't mind, it meant more people willing to buy her a drink. At this rate, she'd be plastered before the tides even changed directions. 

She sat at the bar, absorbing the chatter of the crowd. Sipping on a peppermint Mojito- tis’ the season. The TV was set to a pro-bending tournament, which she hadn't paid attention to.

Her attention was drawn to a boisterous chatter at the door. A group of people came in, laughing, and dressed uniformly. 

At the tail end of the group was a woman, in her thirties, porcelain skin, black chopped hair and a pair of scars on her cheek. 

The woman saw Kya, too, excusing herself from the others and coming up to her.

“Are you stalking me?” Lin asked, setting an elbow on the bar and leaning in.

“I could ask you the same.”

“Hah, I always come here on Saturday. Like clockwork.” 

Kya had an inkling her mother may have had some ulterior motives sending Kya here.

It was frustrating, but Kya had to applaud her mother's nonchalance. 

“Well you got me. Take me away, officer,” Kya said, holding out her wrists. 

Lin smiled, looking at the table of her colleagues, then back to Kya.

“Why don't we pretend you weren't drinking alone, and you come join us?”

“Saving me twice today? Someone is looking out for me.”

“Seems to me you're still owed a proper Republic City welcome.”

“Your rating just went up, Beifong.” 

Lin smiled, ushering Kya to their table. 

“Everyone, this is Kya Cloud.” Lin introduced. Kya watched the same gears turn in their heads as she had with Lin earlier. 

“She'd like to join us tonight, if that's alright.”

No one protested, and Kya slid into the booth next to Lin. 

She absorbed their stories, shopping recommendations, restaurant recommendations and tourism tips for RC. By midnight she had a comprehensive list of everything Republic City had to offer.

She had also had another Peppermint Mojito, a Gingerbread Martini, and a shared pitcher of Apple Cranberry Sangria. 

“Have a good night everyone!” Lin said, watching her coworkers leave. The two of them were left in the booth. 

“You didn't want to go with them?” Kya asked.

“No.”

“Why not? And don't say because I needed a walk home.”

“Hah, I'm wasted. As soon as I stand up I'm going to hit the floor. Didn't want them to see me like this.” 

Kya laughed, sliding out of the booth, offering her own dizzy hand to Lin, who took it. 

“You got cash?” Lin asked. 

“A bit, why?”

“Tip the bartender. I used all mine on the pitcher.” Kya pulled her cash out, leaving it on the table as the two of them headed outside for the sobering cold. They walked a ways, shivering slightly at the brisk air, before Lin pulled a cigarette from her pocket, using a lighter to ignite it. 

“You know those are terrible for you,” Kya told her.

“Yup,” Lin replied, handing it to her. Kya accepted  taking a puff before handing it back. 

“So, you're back for the holidays?” Lin asked her.

“Yeah, my brother had a baby. Figured it warranted a visit.”

“Really? Which brother?” 

“Tenzin, the younger one.” 

“Wow, I remember going to school with him. He always wanted a family, so that's good to hear.” 

“Yeah. A little girl, Jinora.” 

Lin nodded, taking another puff.

“And what about Bumi?”

“Still with the United Forces Navy. He's coming back in a couple days. His service will be over in… a couple years I think? Got a couple medals, and don't ask because I'm terrible at that stuff.”

Kya watched as Lin took another long, contemplative puff before handing the cig back to Kya. 

“And you?” Lin asked. 

Kya scoffed on her exhale, relishing the warmth of the smoke on her face.

“I move around a lot for work. I'm a doctor, wherever a patient needs me to be one. Just came from Ba Sing Se.”

“How's the patient?” 

“Dead.”

“Jeez, I'm sorry.” 

“Don't be,” Kya said, handing what little was left of the cigarette back to Lin, “she was old, she knew it was coming. I was there easing the pain.”

Lin seemed satisfied with that, and her cigarette had run out, so they kept walking. They were making their way towards the ferry, and as the alcohol wore off, Kya was starting to feel the real effects of the cold. 

“Can I ask you something?” Kya asked as they walked.

“I got them on duty. Apprehending a getaway driver for a triad.”

“Oh, uh, I'm sorry.” 

“Don't be, I haven't even told you the worst part.”

“Oh.”

“The driver was my sister.”

Sister. That was right, there were two Beifong children… Lin and…

“Suyin.” Kya stated. Lin seemed impressed, and nodded.

“She was young, dumb, and fell  in with the wrong crowd. We've… made up, sort of. I visit once a year, if just to see the kids.” 

“She has kids?

“Yup, four with one on the way.”

“Wow.” Kya said, unsure of what to make of that. She didn't even know what Suyin looked like anymore. It was hard to picture the toddler she once knew with five kids. 

They were coming up on the pier, and Kya was getting tired of seeing her frosty breath in front of her. 

“You don't have to come on the ferry,” Kya told her, “I get it's a hassle, really I'll be okay.”

“It won't affect the rating, will it?” Lin teased, sticking her hands in her coat. 

Kya laughed, shaking her head. 

“Of course not. Assuming I don't get mugged aboard.”

“Well, if you do, you know where to find me.”

Lin said. The Chief removed a single cold hand from her coat, offering Kya a handshake, which Kya accepted. 

They bade their farewells and Kya continued on to the ferry, opting to sit indoors and warm up. 

She had to wait ten minutes for the change of the hour before the boat departed, but the journey across was only twenty minutes. 

She used the time to reflect on her night, how it had immediately improved upon Lin’s arrival at the bar. She wished she had a better way to express her gratitude. 

When they docked she tipped the ferryman, and made for the warmth of the temple. 

As expected, her mom was already asleep. Kya went for the pitcher of water and poured herself a glass, hoping to curve the hangover she was going to have tomorrow. 

She made her way up the stairs, pausing at her mother's door, but moving on.

She laid in bed, her mind once again drifting to the events of the day, and how circumstances had guided her interactions with Chief Beifong twice. 

How many times before she could stop the coincidence excuse?

“Coming!” Kya said, walking to the door. The bell had gone off, and her mother's hands were full with bed sheets as she prepared for the prodigal son’s return. 

“hel- Lin?” 

“morning Kya,” the earthbender said, her arms crossed. 

“did I forget something or-” 

“Actually, I'm here for Katara. You don't mind if I borrow her for a moment, do you?”

Kya was caught off guard, and she was well aware of her processing delay crossing her slow response. 

“right, of course, come on in.”

“Katara?”

“Chief Beifong in the flesh! You aren't fed up with me and Kya yet?”

“fed up with you? Me? Never. I brought those papers you inquired about last night. I know you won't have another order of business till after the holidays, and it seems you have your hands full here, or you're about to, so I figured I'd bring them over early. Take your time, I just need them back before the hearing on the second.” 

“Absolutely it's no problem Lin, and thank you so much. I'm surprised you didn't send one of your ‘henchmen’”

“my ‘henchmen’ are far and few right now. No one wants to work over the holidays.”

“and you shouldn't either,” 

“heh, I've had my fun. I went to Zaofu last week. I just got back yesterday- when I ran into Kya actually.” 

Kya allowed herself to drift into the conversation at the mention of her name. 

“good for you! How are Su and the kids?”

Kya could see Lin bite her tongue, and she wanted to ask for the tea, but refrained in fear of coming on too strong. 

“as good as they'll ever be.” Lin replied after a thoughtful pause.

“and you?” Katara asked, surprising Kya by placing her hands on either side of Lin’s face.

“good as I’ll ever be.” Katara didn't seem convinced, but she released the earthbender. Lin looked at Kya, a shameful look on her face. Like a guilty puppy. 

“Why don't you come for dinner tonight?” Katara asked. 

“I shouldn't. Kya tells me you're getting the other thirds this afternoon. You've got a full house.”

“Really it's fine,” Kya interjected. “I mean, there's plenty of food, and you've been such a help.” Lin looked torn. Like her heart said yes but her head said no. 

Kya told herself she would accept either verdict. 

“Alright, but just for dinner. I refuse to disrupt your family anymore.” 

“Of course, we will see you tonight then, Lin.” 

Katara said. 

“I'll walk you out,” Kya offered. The door was only a few meters behind them, but Kya walked anyway. 

“Thanks,” Lin said, placing her nimble fingers on the doorknob.

“It's no problem, really.” Kya assured her. “Holidays, right? No one should be alone.” 

Lin nodded, her hands turning the knob slightly. 

“Right. Um, last night… you had fun, right?” Lin asked nervously.”

Kya looked at her, not in an inspection way, but in the most honest way she knew how. 

“Of course. My mom can't stop teasing me about it.” 

“We should do it again sometime,” Lin suggested, and Kya felt her heart skip a beat.

“Yeah, totally.” 

Lin's hand finished turning the knob. 

“I'll see you tonight, Kya.”

“See you tonight,” Kya replied, watching her step out into the snow, closing the door behind her. 

“You are an evil woman mother,” she said, shaking her head. 

“I have no idea what you are talking about.” 

“Mhmm, so you just sent me to the random cop bar last night?”

“It's the only bar I know about.” 

“Right and it happens to be a cop bar?”

“Lin's the only person in the city that I know goes to bars.”

“And inviting her over?”

“She's a friend Kya, we see each other all the time. I helped her with her… accident a while back. You get close in a situation like that.” 

Kya eyed her mother suspiciously but decided to let it slide.

She was onto Katara, but truthfully, she didn't mind. 

In fact, she was hoping things went well tonight, even if it meant her mother had to do a little meddling. 

Things were just as exciting as Kya had anticipated when her brothers arrived. They were both coming from different directions, but their arrival times appeared to be coordinated with Tenzin and company arriving fifteen minutes after Bumi. 

“How was your trip?” Katara asked, embracing her youngest in a hug.

“It was fantastic, mother.” 

“Mm, so we can expect baby number two in nine months?” Kya teased, earning herself a swat from Katara. 

“I prepared the rooms for you guys, washed your sheets and everything. Little Jinora's nursery is all ready for her upstairs.”

“Perfect, I think this one could use a nap, inside a real house, with an actual crib.” Pema stated, taking Jinora inside.

With all of them together the absence of their father was more noticeable. It had only been ten months since his passing, and the first holiday season without him. Kya could see the pained look in her mother's eye, but she knew that offering a hug would only make it worse.

At least they had a baby to help fill the void of Avatar Aang. 

Kya helped Bumi and Tenzin carry their belongings inside, like the good sister she was, while she thought about what it would mean for them to have a festive dinner without her dad.

Surely Bumi would take over the toast because he was the oldest? Or Tenzin because he was also an arrowhead? 

Either way she was off the hook, which meant she could focus on the chief. 

“Lin will be joining us tonight,” Katara told the boys.

“Lin? I haven't seen her in…well it has to be over a decade,” Bumi said. 

“How did you manage to convince Lin to join us?” Tenzin asked, looking up the stairs for his wife. 

“Oh you are too hard on her Tenzin. She was happy to come. Plus I owe her one for taking care of your sister.”

“You got arrested?” Bumi asked, directing his inquiry at Kya.

“Excuse me? I got robbed at the train station and she caught the guy. Why did you automatically assume I was the perpetrator?”

“It wouldn't be the first time,” Bumi stuck his tongue out and Kya wanted to slap him. 

“You got robbed? Kya are you okay?” Tenzin asked, and Kya nodded her head.

“Bumi, see how he was concerned for my well being? Yes Tenzin I am fine, I didn't even lose anything. The guy tried to make a run for it and Lin stuck her arm out and basically throat-punched the guy as he sprinted down the platform.”

“Badass,” Bumi commented, earning a glare from his brother and mother. 

“Anyway,” Katara interjected, “I invited her for dinner, it's bad enough she has to work this time of year. The least we can do is offer her a warm meal and some company.” 

“Didn't she make up with her sister?” Tenzin asked. 

“Yes, but she went last week to see them. As the Chief she's kind of expected to be here over the holidays.”

The others seemed convinced and Kya leaned into Bumi's ear.

“Plus, Lin is super hot now,” she said, earning a raised eyebrow from her older brother. 

She caught her mother's smirk, and Kya realized she may not have been as quiet as she'd thought. 

Dinner time came, and with it so did snow, and of course, Republic City Police Chief Lin Beifong. 

She came in, an impressive bottle of wine in her hand, and allowed Kya to take her coat. 

They exchanged small greetings before Kya led her to the dining room. In the better lighting Kya was able to make out more of her features and clothing. 

Her pants were gray Khaki's which she paired with a black turtleneck and a black and gold belt. 

Kya felt underdressed in her corduroys, but she took solace in knowing she was still more put together than either of her brothers. 

“Welcome Lin, please take a seat.” Katara greeted, gesturing to the chair next to her, in between Katara and Kya. 

“Thank you for having me everyone,” Lin said as she sat down.

“It's no problem dear. I owe you one for keeping Kya safe, and busy the other night.” 

Kya immediately blushed, sure of the insinuation her brother would read into. 

Sure enough Bumi smirked at her, and she forced herself to look away.

“Just doing my job, Katara. Tenzin, Pema, Katara tells me you just got back from the Eastern Air temple, how was it?”

“It was beautiful,” Tenzin told her.

“But no place for a newborn, the building is far too drafty. Trying to get Jinora to sleep when the wind is echoing throughout the entire place was a nightmare.” 

Kya chuckled a bit, satisfied with Pema's honesty. Tenzin had good intentions, but he was the kind of willfully naive type. 

He was optimistic, without the necessary caution. Something he'd learn as a father no doubt. 

“And Bumi, I've heard much word of you over the years, Rear Admiral.” 

Kya was aware of her brother's status in the Navy, but truthfully she had no idea what rankings meant. She remembered when he was made Lieutenant, and that was a good thing. “Rear” made it sound worse but “Admiral” sounded like a promotion. 

Lin was congratulating him, so Kya took it as an improvement. 

“You sure know how to make a guy feel special,” Bumi said, “I appreciate that Lin. Take notes, Kya.” 

Kya waved him off, plucking a piece of her meal onto a fork and stuffing her mouth. 

“Well Lin, we've heard the story from Kya, but we would love to hear your perception of what happened at the train station the other day.”

“Of course,” Lin said, placing her utensils gently on either side of her plate. 

“I'm getting off the train, I'd just come from a long, and I mean LONG week at Zaofu. I step into the republic city air, honestly I was looking forward to it. Then I hear this woman shouting, pulling a suitcase behind her, flailing her arms. And a man she's running behind and instinct kind of just kicked in. I stretched out my arm and he hit it. I will never forget the look on Kya's face though. Jaw agape, sweat coating her brow and her eyes shocked and relieved. Went through all of the emotions in a single moment.”

The table burst into laughter, and Kya did too. The whole thing seemed so silly and spontaneous now. 

“I owe you one, Lin,” Kya joked, “next time you need a bad guy apprehended and you're double booked let me know. Can't promise it'll be as clean as what you are used to, but it'll get done.”

“Mmm, it's very tempting Kya, don't make a promise you can't keep.” 

“I can keep it.”

“Wonderful to hear, you want to go to work for me tomorrow?” 

“Can't, holiday plans,” Kya grinned. The look on Lin's face was… confusing. 

Captivating, titillating, flirtatious. 

Uh oh. 

Kya was now well aware of the table watching their banter and she wanted to excuse herself but doing so would confirm what they were all thinking. 

She side eyed her brother's smirk and returned to her meal with a blush. 

Luckily her mother offered to get the dessert and the conversation continued to flow smoothly for the rest of the meal.

It was nearly 9:30 pm before they were wrapped up. After a glass of wine (or two) Lin was ready to leave so Kya offered to walk with her to the ferry. 

“You know,” Lin started, “you don't have to make excuses to come see me.” 

“What do you mean?” 

“I mean, if you wanted to stop by the police station sometime you could say it's to follow up on the train station thief. Or you could say you wanted to see me.”

“And why would I say that?” Kya played along. 

“Because you wanted to ask me on a second date.” 

“Think you skipped a step there, Lin. The wine get to you? Or was it my gingersnaps?”

“On the contrary, Kya, I think it was you. My head hasn't been quite right since the day I saved your purse.” 

“Anything I can help with? I'm a healer after all.” 

“Probably. I have some free time Saturday at seven. We could go to  Zoryu's Palace at seven-thirty.”

“Why not seven?” Kya asked.

“I need time to pick you up.” Lin replied.

It was something about the nonchalance, yet the nervousness. All of the personality, but the withholding words that tempted Kya into saying yes.

One day, Lin would ask her why she agreed to get dinner with the Chief of Police and Kya would tell her it was because she wanted to say thanks, or that Lin's charismatic charm had won her over. 

But truthfully, Kya had known she met her match from the moment she saw her throat punch the thief at the train station.