Chapter One:

Hakoda x Kya

Gone…

She's gone…

Kya's gone…

Hakoda could not believe it. His wife of ten years was dead. He was never going to talk to her again, never going to hear her laugh again, never going to see her again. He clutched her engagement necklace in his hand, the one he had carved so many years ago. His thoughts continually played memories in his head. They flashed behind his eyelids.

He thought about when they first officially met. They were five at the time and she didn't show much interest in him.

"Hi, I'm Hakoda," he said, walking up to her. She was sitting outside her hut, playing with a doll her grandmother had made for her.

"Yeah, I know who you are," Kya responded, not looking up at him. "I know everyone here—there's not many names to remember."

"Oh…well…do you want to be friends?"

"Nah, maybe we can be friends some other time. I'm busy today."

Her point was proven when her mother hollered her name. "Kya! Dear, it's time to come inside!"

"See?" said Kya as she gathered her and her doll's things. "Busy."

Kya was always adorable and, even up until her death, she was the cutest person Hakoda had ever seen. He didn't know what he would do without her…

"Hakoda?" The thirteen-year-old Kya said gently. Hakoda heard her approach, but didn't say anything nor did he turn around. "I brought you some stewed sea prunes. Your mom said it was your favorite." Kya set the tray down on Hakoda's lap. She brushed the snow that had collected on his shoulders off. "I heard about your dad. I'm really sorry."

"It's not your fault," Hakoda replied stiffly, "so don't apologize."

"But I understand. My granddad died a few years ago because of the war, too, remember?"

"Yeah."

"Now, eat your sea prunes; it'll make you feel better. Then we'll get you inside. You must be freezing."

"I'm not cold." That was the truth. He'd been out here since he woke up this morning. His body was numb to the cold now. He couldn't feel it. He couldn't feel much of anything, really.

"Well, you can still eat." Kya took the spoon off the tray and dipped it in the soup. She brought it to his lips. He reluctantly drank it.

"Thanks," he said once the bowl was empty.

"Now, c'mon, I'll walk with you to your house."

Kya had been with him almost his entire life. They'd help each other through the ups and downs. They had the best of times together. Especially when they were fourteen: when Kya wanted to go on a fishing trip with them.

"You're taking Kya fishing with us?" Bato asked, loading up the canoe.

"Yeah. She wanted to come," Hakoda replied. "I didn't want to be rude to her. And, who knows—she might actually be good at fishing."

Bato snorted. "Yeah, right."

"So…what do I do?" Kya asked, sitting unsurely on the canoe.

"Hold the spear like this," explained Hakoda, demonstrating with his own spear. Kya mimicked him. "Hold it still, above the water…you don't want to startle the fish…yeah…like that. When the fish is right there, strike." Hakoda waited for a fish. When one swam tauntingly underneath the spear, he quickly jabbed his spear into the water, narrowly missing the fish. "So, do what I did."

"Except hit the fish this time," Bato added.

"Okay, got it," said Kya. She gripped the spear tightly. When a fish appeared, and her timing was right, she thrust the spear into the water, effectively stabbing the fish. It wriggled on her spear. "I got one! I got one!" Hakoda and Bato were shocked. As practiced as they were, they still had to wait and hour or two before catching one. "I can't believe it!" Kya, not really thinking, stood up abruptly. "I caught a fi—" Suddenly, the canoe capsized from Kya's movement.

"Way to go, Kya," Hakoda said, laughing, as the three resurfaced.

Then there was their first kiss when they were sixteen…

A snowstorm had unexpectedly hit the small village that was the Southern Water Tribe. The storm was so bad, Hakoda could not walk the few hundred feet back to his hut. Plus, Kya had welcomed him to spend the night there, if he could not make it home. Even if there was the chance that he could get home, why pass up the offer?

Hakoda and Kya's family sat around the fire after eating one of Kanna's amazing dinners. They talked and laughed until eventually, it got late and Kya's parents went to bed. "Are you going to be alright?" Kanna asked.

"Yes, Mom," replied Kya, "we'll be fine."

"Hakoda, here's your sleeping bag. You'll be sleeping in here tonight and I'm sorry we don't have any more mats."

"No worries," said Hakoda. "I'm perfectly fine here."

Kanna handed him the rolled up furs. "Well, goodnight, you two," she said, kissing Kya on the forehead before retreating into hers and husband's bedroom. "Don't stay up too late!" she called.

"We won't, Mom," said Kya. "Goodnight, Mom, love you!"

"Goodnight, Kanna!" Hakoda said.

Everything was quiet as they stared into the fire, not having much to say. The wind outside began to pick up. Lightning was heard as a rare thunderstorm occurred. Kya looked up, fear in her eyes.

"Are you alright, Kya?" Hakoda asked.

"Yes, I'm f—" She jumped when thunder struck again. "I'm perfectly fine. Why wouldn't I be?" she said quickly and added a nervous laugh.

"You just seemed scared of the storm. Are you?" Reluctantly, she nodded her head. Hakoda smiled and scooted closer to her. "There's no reason to be." He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. "It's just a storm, like any other, except this one's just a bit…louder."

"Thanks," she said. She rubbed her eyes, trying to get rid of the tears that had formed there.

"Kya?" Kya's head turned to look at him. He began to lean forward and he closed his eyes. His lips touched hers, but Kya didn't pull away. In fact, she kissed him back.

They fell asleep together in each other's embrace.

Hakoda smiled. He ran his thumb over her engagement necklace, his mind instantly jumping to the night he proposed.

Hakoda walked across the village to Kya's house. He knocked on her door. Kanna was the one to answer. "Is Kya home?" he asked. His stomach twisted as his nervousness increased.

"Yes, she's helping me make dinner."

"Can I speak with her?"

Kanna got a knowing glint in her eyes. "I'll get her right away." She retreated into the house and returned moments later with Kya.

"Hey, Hakoda," Kya said.

Hakoda searched his mind for something to say. Just say "hey," you idiot, he thought. He struggled to make his mouth say that one simple word. "Hey," he finally managed.

"What's the matter with you?" By now, Kanna had walked back into the room, leaving the two alone at the threshold of the house.

"The matter with me? N-nothing's the matter with me. I'm fine."

"Uh-huh."

"Would you like to take a walk with me?"

"Sure, just let me go get my coat." She disappeared inside the house. When she got back outside, she grabbed Hakoda's hand and followed him as they walked around the small village that was the Southern Water Tribe. Hakoda searched for someplace private. He found it and led Kya in that direction. "What's this about, 'Koda?"

He didn't respond. Hakoda had never been this nervous before in his entire life. Not even when he asked Kya's father permission to marry her. Not even when the Fire Nation made another raid on the village a few years back. He was definitely as nervous as ever now.

"'Koda?" Kya asked again. Hakoda took Kya's hand in his own. He pressed the necklace into her palm and curled her hand around it before letting go. A look of confusion passed over Kya's face. "Hakoda, what is it?" She was about to say something else, but stopped short when she realized what it was. "Is this…is this…and engagement necklace? You're trying to propose to me? How sweet." Hakoda gulped. Was that girl language for yes? Or was it no? "Hakoda, of course, I'll marry you!" She jumped up and slung her arms around his neck.

Their wedding wasn't much. It wasn't as extravagant as he heard the Northern Water Tribe's could be or how his own Tribe's wedding used to be before the war. It was simple and quick and almost everyone in the Tribe attended. The actual wedding part was short, but the reception lasted most of the night. They never got to go on their honeymoon, since Hakoda was now old enough to take part in the war…

"You shouldn't have to leave," Kya mumbled into Hakoda's neck. Her arms were tight around his torso; she was afraid to let go and never see him again.

"Kya," Hakoda said, detaching her from himself so he could look her in the eyes, "I will be back. I promise. I will return and I'll be as healthy as an ostrich-horse."

"But what if you don't?" Tears formed in her eyes and began streaking down her cheeks.

"No 'ifs.' I will be back, okay?" He kissed her one last time, squeezed her hand, and walked off towards his boat. He smiled at her as the boat sailed away.

He returned home, as promised, nearly a year later. Nine months after that, his son was born.

Hakoda remembered little about Sokka's birth. He remembers focusing on their joined hands, how hers was squeezing his surprisingly tight. He remembers how he felt like he was going to pass out, but willed himself not to, for Kya's sake. But then he was born. He never felt prouder. Sokka was quickly wrapped in a blanket before handed to Kya.

"A beautiful baby boy," said Kanna from the opposite side of Kya.

Hakoda looked at Kya's face. She was smiling and had tears of joy in her eyes. Her gazed was focused on Sokka's, just as his was on her. "Here, hold him, 'Koda," said Kya.

"Me? Hold him?" Hakoda asked, surprised. What if he dropped Sokka?

"Yes, you, silly." She placed Sokka gently in Hakoda's arms. "See? Not that bad, right?" Hakoda smiled at the baby swathed in blue. He gently rocked Sokka. A few minutes later, Kya said, "Give him back to the healer; he needs to be washed." Hakoda reluctantly handed his baby over to the nurse.

He turned to his wife. "How are you feeling?" he asked.

"Fine and dandy, considering I just gave birth." They both smiled.

"You should rest. You look tired."

"Do I?" She proved Hakoda's point when she yawned. "I guess I do. I'm going to change first, and hold Sokka a little while longer, then I'll try sleeping."

Two and a half years later, Katara was born.

"Mommy! Mommy! I wanna hold her! I wanna hold her!" Sokka said excitedly as he knelt by his mother, looking at his sleeping sister.

Kya smiled. "Go sit on your daddy's lap, okay? Then you can hold her." Sokka rushed to his dad's side. He sat in Hakoda's lap and held his arms open wide, waiting for his baby sister to be placed there. Hakoda took Katara and helped Sokka hold her. (And this time, he was a little more experiencedand less nervous when it came to holding babies.)

"She's so pretty," said Sokka quietly, afraid to wake the newborn.

"Yep, she sure is…," said Hakoda. Kya then began humming a traditional lullaby until Sokka, too, fell asleep.

Four years after Katara's birth was the day Kya was murdered…

"Dad, it's Mom!" Katara said, fear evident in her features. "I think she's hurt."

Panic had never struck him harder.

So, send me your requests for a couple (and possibly (a) scenario(s) for that couple) and I'll try to make it a chapter. I want to try and do one chapter for every possible pairing I can think of, but if you want your favorites done first, you should let me know in a review. Oh, and I would expect regular updates, especially since this is something to help me out of my writer's block. (But please still alert the story…please?) Thanks for reading!