Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: the Last Airbender, it's owned by its creators Michael Dante DiMartino & Bryan Konietzko and Nickelodeon.
Hakoda decided to be honest with Zuko.
"Fire Lord Zuko, I don't know how it's done in the Fire Nation, or what you've heard about Water Tribe customs, but marriages are not arranged in the Southern Water Tribe," said Hakoda.
"I see," said Zuko. "Sokka had told me that before."
"Have you talked this over with Katara? You will need her approval since she is the one who will decide," said Hakoda.
"I understand," said Zuko.
He walked out of the tent and in front of the the the igloo where Katara was.
Katara came out and asked, "How did it go?"
"Not very well," said Zuko.
Katara sighed and said, "I'll talk to my dad."
"Who's there?" Kanna asked in the background.
"It's Zuko," said Katara.
"Invite him in," said Kanna.
They went inside.
"Zuko, this is my grandmother. Gran Gran this is Zuko," said Katara.
Zuko immediately bowed and he said, "I apologize for when we first met."
Kanna eyed Zuko seriously. She said, "Pakku has mentioned your Iroh's nephew. He speaks highly of Iroh. I also heard how you helped Sokka break Hakoda out of that Fire Nation prison, so I forgive you. What brings you here?"
"I am hoping to marry Katara," said Zuko.
"I see," said Kanna, as she eyed Zuko.
"Gran Gran, I'm going to talk to Dad about it," said Katara.
"Okay," said Kanna.
Katara went to her father's tent.
"Dad, can I talk to you?"
"Sure," said Hakoda.
"Zuko said you didn't approve. Why?" Katara asked.
"Well, I wasn't sure he even talked to you about it. You don't need my approval to marry. I hope that you'll marry someone you love and who loves you," said Hakoda.
"We have talked about it, and I agreed to marry him. Zuko wants your approval," said Katara.
"You're not rushing things?" Hakoda asked.
"We aren't getting married right away. The engagement will last a year, and I'll spend that time with Zuko. I know what I'm doing," said Katara.
Hakoda sighed. "I never doubted that you did. I just want you to be happy."
"So you'll agree?" Katara asked excitedly.
"Yes," said Hakoda. "Has Zuko been ice dodging yet?"
"I don't think so," said Katara.
Meanwhile, Zuko and Gran Gran stayed inside.
"How are you doing?" Zuko asked.
"I'm doing much better," said Kanna. There was a pause and then she asked, "Why do you want to marry Katara?"
"I want to make her happy," Zuko replied.
"Do you think marriage will make Katara happy?" Kanna asked.
Zuko furrowed his brow, then said, "I don't know. I know I'll do everything in my power to make her happy, even if it's not with me."
"I was a few years younger than Katara is now, when my parents arranged a marriage for me and Pakku. At the time, I did not love him and didn't think I could so I traveled halfway around the world and came to the Southern Water Tribe. After a while, I met Sokka and Katara's grandfather. We fell in love and married. After he died I didn't think I could love again. When Pakku came with the other waterbenders from the North, I was surprised. We talked things over and we married," said Kanna.
"That's unexpected," said Zuko.
"I know," said Kanna. "It is hard to say what the future holds. I think if you work at it you and Katara can be happy together. It won't be easy, but most things worth having aren't."
Zuko smiled. "Thank you for your wisdom."
Katara returned to her Gran Gran's.
"He agreed to it," said Katara, as she entered.
"Really?" Zuko asked.
"Yes, but I think he'll want you to go ice dodging," said Katara.
"Ice dodging? What's that?"
"It's a rite of passage in our tribe," said Katara. "You have to sail a ship safely through dangerous iceberg filled waters while my dad is onboard observing."
"I can do it," said Zuko.
"It will be on a Water Tribe ship," said Katara.
"I'll do it," said Zuko.
"Let's go talk to him together," said Katara.
Stay tuned...