A/N: I was going through my handy-dandy 100 themes notebook (yeah, I write most of these drabbles in said notebook), when I noticed this one that I had written a couple months ago. It was one of those that was close to being put on the chopping block... But it's alright enough to share, I suppose.

This drabble is very obviously set during book 3, episode 1.

Leaning back against the railing around the observation deck, Hakoda let out a sigh. He had thought being reunited with his children would be a more joyful event and, with Sokka, it had been. But Katara… She seemed so distant, so detached. They couldn't even hold a conversation without her passing some snide remark or giving him the cold shoulder. It just wasn't how he remembered her; his sweet little girl had become so bitter that he'd only be fooling himself if he said it didn't frighten him. "I just don't know what I'm going to do with her…"

"I'm sure she'll warm back up to you. Just give her time." Bato leaned on the railing beside him, placing his hand comfortingly on his friend's shoulder.

"If I just knew what was wrong- what was going on inside her head!- I could fix it!"

"Hakoda, you left them both to go fight in a war where there was only a slim chance you'd return. Not to mention they had lost their mother only a few years before that. How would you feel if you were in her situation?"

Hakoda frowned as he glanced up at his friend, realization dawning on him at the words. The pieces fell into place: Katara was hurt because she felt as though he had abandoned her. In her mind, he had left for stupid reason and had been afraid she may never see him again, that she had lost both her parents in a breif amount of time. She wasn't angry at him, she just hated the decision he had made.

"You should talk to her about it."

The chief nodded and pushed himself off the railing, heading to the door leading to the stairwell. As he approached the threshold, a thought crossed his mind and he turned back to Bato with a questioning look. "How do you know that's what Katara is feeling? Have you talked to her already?"

"No, I haven't. But I hace experienced a similar feeling." Bato stepped forward and hesitantly placed his arms around his companion's middle, hugging the shorter male to himself. This level of affection was new to the pair, seeing as the had only recently began to define their relationship in a romantic sense. "After you left me at the Abbey, I felt as though you personally had abandoned me. The ache I felt was unbearable and after I was able to rejoin you, I found that I harbored resentment towards you for leaving me there. I, however, realized that I had no legitimate reason to feel that way and handled it in a mature manner rather than just lashing out at you."

"Ah… So that's why you avoided me at first and then called me a jerk when I asked what was wrong!" Hakoda grinned as he teased his friend, earning a playful glare from Bato.

"Just go talk to your daughter."

"Thanks, Bato." He kissed the taller man in appreciation.

A clanging echo from the stairwell notified the men that someone was headed up their way. Bato stepped away from his partner as both men waited to see who was coming. Katara emerged, her eyes brimming with tears that threatened to spill over at any second. Bato gave Hakoda an understanding look.

"I'll leave you two alone." With that, he left Hakoda to talk things out with his daughter.

***

Bato was there when Hakoda watched his children leave to relocate Aang.

"It's hard watching them go."

"I'm sure they'll be fine."

"I know… they are my kids after all. They just grew up so much while I was gone."