Despite still being one of Republic City's most wanted criminals in due of sentence, Yakone was not a light sleeper.

His wife, Sura, had made several rather truthful prods about it within the expanse of their marriage, telling him that he slept sounder than a baby polar bear dog with a full stomach. He never believed her.

Even as the years pressed on, she still made the playful tease all the while, and he never believed her. Not even when she had to smack him quite forcefully on the nose, in order to pull him out of slumber to tell him that their first child was coming. He had always been like that he supposed, he had never really had need to be a light sleeper, even when he had half the police force and the Avatar on his case. But even though he wasn't a light sleeper, he considered himself quite aware of his surroundings, even in slumber.

Which is why he was sickeningly surprised to wake one night to find his and wife's bed raided by two intruders.

Two little intruders.

Yakone had heard that it was quite common for small children to take comfort in their parent's presence; naturally, Yakone remembered his own fondness of his mother's presence as a child. But what he hadn't expected was for the child to become fond of their parents bed as well, now he had never done that as a child. Which was why he was shocked slightly to find both of his sons snuggled in bed with him and his wife.

Four year old Tarrlok had chosen to lie in between himself and Sura; whereas seven year old Noatak had lain on the bed beside him, nearly hanging off the edge. Yakone reached out a hand in an attempt to pull the boy into a more safe position, but grimaced slightly as the gesture instead made him curl into his father's side, laying an arm across his midsection in a half-hug. Yakone breathed heavily through his nose, which elicited a giggle from beside him.

Yakone turned to find Sura wide awake beside him, a fond hand laying on Tarrlok's head, a grin playing on her lips. Yakone frowned.

"What is so amusing?" He whispered.

Her grin broadened, "Your discontent to be condemned to such cuddling." She whispered back

"Who said I was condemned? I could easily wake them and send them back to their own rooms." He replied. It was her turn to frown, but amusement was still lingering behind the disapproving look.

"I will not allow you to perform such an act. They are at peace, leave them be Tuma." Yakone grinned a little. 'Tuma' Was the name he had started going by when he arrived at the pole. He'd figured he'd change it often, as not to be recognized by someone who had helped him publicly, but when he had arrived here and met Sura the name had stuck.

"I never said I'd carry it out." He said, with a fake little pout, "However I must say I'm a bit surprised Noatak had sunk so low."

Sura raised her chin a little as Tarrlok's head shifted beneath hers, "I'll have you know, Tarrlok came first. Noatak got up for some water, and I'm guessing he got a little jealous when he saw."

Noatak hummed a little, unconsciously responding to his name. Yakone brushed a stray strand from his fore head and wrapped his arm a little protectively around his eldest's shoulders.

"Still, you think he would have out grown this by now."

"I like it." Sura said, gently touching his cheek, "At least he still finds us a consolation. Just think, maybe by coddling them we can avoid the defiant teenage years."

Yakone snorted slightly, leaning into her warm hand, "Yeah right."

"A little hope never hurt anyone, even when the hope is fueled by a ludicrous proposition." A small smile had formed Sura's lips, showing contentment.

"Mm," He hummed, "Well then I suppose I will let you suffer the consequences of that hope."

"I'm glad." She leaned forward over Tarrlok's little form and kissed him softly on the lips. He returned it with passion. He would have liked nothing more than to take her right then, but they were currently sharing a bed with two innocents. Sensing the growing urge, she pulled back, pressing a finger to his lips.

"Not with the kids." He groaned, she grinned.

"I'm afraid the only intimacy you will be experiencing tonight is familial."

He pouted at her and Sura rolled her eyes. She ran a hand down Tarrlok's little face, before reaching across and doing the same to Noatak. She repeated the motion to her husband's face.

"We should get some sleep. You promised you'd take the boys fishing tomorrow." He nodded, pressed one more small kiss against her forehead, and looked back up to the ceiling. He wasn't even the slightest bit tired, so he settled for his thoughts.

Noatak was seven years old, the age that most water benders were discovered. Yakone had not felt the urge to bend in a long time, having come to terms with the fact that, no matter how hard he tried, he wasn't going to do it. He hadn't been able to keep hope out of his heart for Noatak and Tarrlok, though he was increasingly concerned about how, if either of them did turn out to be benders, he would reveal his true identity. He could wait until they were older, but bending developed the most when they were young, and it was hard to teach an old dog new tricks. Yakone had decided upon Noatak's birth that, despite his own loss, he would find a way to teach his son's blood bending if they were benders. But he would not tell them to use it to harm like he had. He wanted his son's to have a better life than he did, for his past life was not a good one.

He looked down at his two sons, and the now asleep form of his wife. This was a good life. He had gotten away from crime and made himself a good life. There was a strange sense of pride as Yakone thought that. Good, such a funny word good was, it could be used to so many concepts. Yakone decided that he liked this concept, and he repeated it to himself until he fell asleep.

This is a good life. I have a good life.

My son's lives will be good too.

I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE THIS CAME FROM. I imagine that Yakone was a relatively loving father to both Tarrlok and Noatak, but when he discovered that they were both benders his cold personality returned. Please read and review, feedback makes me smile like this :D
-PoisonBones