A/N: Wow! I'm so surprised by all the love this has gotten. Glad to see there is an audience for a Hakoda fic. The story starts to become more canon divergent here. As a quick reminder, I will be updating this fic every two weeks until after the holidays. Thanks for understanding!

The words Hakoda uttered to himself, "Keep them safe, Avatar", echoed through his mind as he looked upon the lifeless body of The Avatar. The bitter irony was not lost on the Chieftain of the Southern Water Tribe. Hakoda had not only hoped, but had expected, a happy reunion with his children. But this...this was worse than he could imagine. Yes, he had still gotten pangs in his heart when he remembered the cry of his daughter in their village the day his wife was taken. For all of that heartbreak and pain he had endured, he never saw her again. Hakoda wasn't sure which was worse, to know without a shadow of a doubt that the love of your life is dead without proof, or to have the unmistaken, terrible evidence of their death right in front of you.

All of these thoughts ran through Hakoda's mind as he saw his daughter and his son bring the unconscious Avatar onto the ship. The Chieftain wondered how Katara had reacted to not only seeing Aang shot with lighting, but having to carry his cold body back to the sky bison. Hakoda couldn't imagine the strength needed for this. While he still felt compelled to protect his children for the rest of his life, this need was not as great as it once was. Something changed the minute he had heard about his children's part in keeping the Avatar alive.

Hakoda's eyes crinkled with happiness as he hugged Sokka, who was becoming more of a man every day. "Dad...this could be awhile. Katara hasn't left Aang's side since..well you know. She's healing him now but be prepared to basically have her fight you tooth and nail to leave him."

The smile on Hakoda's face faded. He remembered how isolated Katara had become after Kya died. Sokka took his mother's death hard, too, but he distracted himself with learning how to fight. Whereas Sokka compartmentalized his feelings, Katara's feelings were written all over her face. She hardly slept or ate, and could often be heard crying in the middle of the night. The only thing that returned Katara back to a state of normal functioning was Hakoda's mother telling his daughter stories of the Avatar. The stories gave Katara hope again when she needed it most.

Shortly after his kids seemed to be adjusting back to their normal lives, Hakoda left. The decision to leave so quickly after the death of Kya was the hardest thing he ever had to do, but he had faith that Katara and Sokka would be okay. He thought he did the right thing a month ago, when he saw Sokka and heard about how great Katara was doing. But now, his daughter was trying to fix the one person that gave her hope at her lowest point. He knew she would not give up trying to heal Aang without a fight.

Hakoda nodded to Sokka and left to find Katara. He walked below the deck and as he entered Aang's room, was unprepared for what he found. Katara, quiet and filled with exhaustion, was slumped over Aang's unconscious body. Water surrounding her hands as they hover over the scar on his back. She becomes prickly when Hakoda comes over and sits down next to her. "Did Sokka send you down here? I'm fine, Aang just needs more healing."

Katara's anger barely concealed the sadness underneath. Hakoda remained silent, allowing Katara to vent. "I know this can help. I brought him back. He was gone...and I brought him back. This has to work," she choked through tears, "Oh, Aang, please come back."

Hakoda finally spoke, "You really care about him, don't you?" The tears Katara had tried to push down with steely reserve, now surfaced, uncontrolled. She placed the water back in her moleskine pouch and without warning, collapsed her body into Hakoda's shoulder. Whether Katara intended to be vulnerable or not was unclear to him, but the reason didn't matter. He would be there for her whenever she needed him.

Hakoda didn't talk for the next half hour. He just let Katara cry. The audible gasps of breaths after periods of silent sobbing into his shoulder filled the room as Aang lay on the bed unconscious. The scene was surreal to Hakoda. He had a pain in his heart only reserved for his family. No one wishes this life on their children. Hakoda pushed the hopeless thought away from his mind. He couldn't save Aang but he could be there for his daughter. No matter the instability of the world, he could do his best to make Katara feel safe.

3 weeks later

Commotion on the ship took Hakoda's attention away from his men and planning. He heard something he hasn't heard in years: a happy voice from Katara. Looking across the ship, he spots the Avatar with a few inches of dark hair now on his head. Hakoda smiles as his kids make a fuss over Aang, overjoyed to see him awake. Even though the Chieftain wanted to go over and see how Aang was, he decided to wait and let the friends get reacquainted with one another.

After the excitement died down, Hakoda walked over to where Katara and Aang were sitting. Approaching them with a smile, he asked, "Everything okay?"

Katara looked away annoyed, replying with a sour tone, "We're fine, Dad."

Hakoda froze, paralyzed by the ire of his daughter. He felt almost foolish for thinking that they could go back normal. He shook this sunken feeling his stomach away to formally introduce himself to Aang. Turning to face the young boy, Hakoda outstretched his hand, " I'm Hakoda, Katara and Sokka's father." Aang went to shake Hakoda's outstretched hand but was stopped by Katara, who had a hand on Aang's shoulder. The coldness in his daughter's face and tone made his blood run cold. He guessed that this reaction was due to her being a teenager with a possible crush, but the more salient reason, he thought, was that he left her and their family.

Hakoda's wandering mind was halted when Aang gently removed Katara's hand from his shoulder. The boy shook Hakoda's hand firmly but greeted the Chieftain with respect and kindness. Hakoda was taken back by how Aang was able to not only assert himself to Katara, but do it in a way that was peaceful and respectful to everyone. There was a spiritual but grounded quality to the boy. It couldn't be denied that he really was the Avatar.

After an awkward moment with Katara, Hakoda's suspicions that she was angry he had left her and Sokka were confirmed after Aang flew away. At first, Katara ran to Hakoda, tears in her eyes. She was upset with Aang, but Hakoda knew who she also was angry with. To hear all of the hurt and pain finally unleashed by Katara stung him deeply.

"How could you leave us, Dad," Katara attempts to wipe away the tears in her eyes, "I mean, I know we had Gran-Gran, and she loved us, but we were just so lost without you."

Hakoda leaned over to hug her, but she turns away from him. "I'm so sorry, Katara," he states somberly.

Katara finally turns around to hug her father. She cries, "I understand why you left. I really do, and I know that you had to go, so why do I still feel this way? I'm so sad and angry and hurt!"

Hakoda's stomach dropped but he took a quick breath to steel himself. He would always choose being a rock for his children, even if it means he has to push his only feelings aside. Hakoda responds with a remorseful tone, "I love you more than anything. You and your brother are my entire world. I thought about you every day when I was gone and every night when I went to sleep, I would lie awake missing you so much it would ache."

After Katara calmed down, she, Sokka, and Toph went to look for Aang. Hakoda knew they would find him, and that they would all be together again for the invasion. A memory plays inside his head of the interaction he had with Aang before flying away.

Hakoda finds Aang looking over the railing of the ship, staring into the empty sea. He puts a gentle hand on the boy's shoulder. "I wanted to thank you, Aang, for everything you'd done for my children, especially Katara. You've returned hope to their lives." Aang, confused, began to blush furiously, "Katara? Really?" Hakoda lightly chuckled at Aang's reaction. He had only guessed before, but now he was certain that the Avatar had a crush on his daughter. Luckily for Hakoda, a war was still going on so he pushed this revelation to the back of his mind. Hakoda decided to go easy on Aang, telling him stories of their village before he left to fight the Fire Nation. He hid a smile as he noticed the relief on Aang's face as the topic of discussion veered away from Katara.

The memory faded away as Hakoda watched Katara, Toph, and Sokka load up Appa in hopes of finding Aang. Hakoda was left standing in the same predicament as 4 weeks ago on the beach. Whereas he previously wished for the Avatar to protect his children, this time, he had hoped for the protection of the Avatar by Sokka, Katara, and Toph. He saw the vulnerability of the Avatar, that he was still human after all. Bato interrupted his thoughts by handing over new plans for the invasion of the Fire Nation. As Hakoda began to read the map, the laughter of Bato took his attention away from the plans. "What's so funny?"

Bato smirked, "The Avatar. I saw the way he interacted with Katara. It reminded me of you when you first met Kya."

Hakoda scoffed incredulously, "Me? No, I was not that obvious. I was cool as a cucumber."

Bato bowed over with laughter. After a few moments, Bato regained his composure to challenge Hakoda, "Oh, you were absolutely not cool! Blushing and tripping over your words whenever she walked by. You were kind, respectful, and protective of Kya, I'll give you that. You loved a good joke, too. Remind you of anyone?"

Hakoda raised an eyebrow at this question. "Hmmm, I guess there could be worse boys interested in Katara." He smiled briefly before turning his attention back to the map. He took thought of his only daughter dating and pushed it far away from his conscious mind. He wanted to focus on the invasion at the moment. There would be plenty of time to pay attention to his daughter's dating life as the war ends. She had already lost so much innocence from being a part of this war. Just for now, he wanted to imagine she was still a kid.