Author's Note: As much as I love Bato/Hakoda, I have a wonderful soft spot for Hakoda/Kaya. There simply isn't enough love for them in fandom, unfortunately.
If you couldn't tell from the title, this is based on the song "You Are My Sunshine".
It had been a week since he had lost her; the longest week of his life. Sleep had not come easily, and, when it finally did come about, it was fitful and restless. His conscience refused to give him a moment of reprieve; his guilt only doubled when Katara looked at him, broken and lost, crying for her mom who she would ever see again. Sokka tried to comfort her and, if he were in his right mind, he would have commended the boy for taking care of his sister so well.
It was dark now, as dark outside as he felt inside. Never in his life had he felt this all-consuming depression- a grief so deep it threatened to swallow him up at any second. A sharp wind whipped outside; it didn't look like sleep was coming any time soon. He should be thankful.
He had nightmares of her. His beautiful Kaya, burned alive, a charred corpse sprawled on the floor of the hut he once called home. It was empty now, would be destroyed soon. No one wanted to be reminded of that night. Not his people. Not his children. Not himself.
He listened to the wind, watched the shadows dance across the floor as the lantern outside swung in the breeze. An indeterminable amount of time passed, his eyes drooped. He shifted, got comfortable and waited for another restless night to melt into bleak morning.
---
"Hakoda!" Kaya laughed, rich, bubbling, and alive. Spirits did it sound so wonderful. She pressed her hand against his chest lightly, that beautiful smile causing his heart to burst with joy. He hugged her close to him, kissing her forehead lightly.
She buried her face into his neck, nuzzling lightly as Hakoda ran his hands down her back, tracing the contours of her body. "I missed you."
She looked up at him, cupping his cheek, stroking it with her thumb. "I never left."
"I love you."
"I know."
He pressed his lips against her, glad to notice they were just as soft as he remembered. He began to believe he had just been having a nightmare and now he was finally awake. Kaya wasn't dead; she was here, in his arms. Still alive, still alive.
---
"Kaya?" He called softly as he woke up, groping the spot beside him. It was empty. This was reality. Kaya was gone.
It ached; he broke. Long, shuddering sobs filled the air around him, tears streamed down his face, into his beard, leaving frozen trails in their wake.