*after writing this chapter I feel like a conductor! Instructing the musicians accordingly to make beautiful music! and I am conducting the Tchaikovsky's overture, just before the climax! and those who are confused, PLEASE WATCH V FOR VENDETTA AND YOU'LL GET WHAT I MEAN! I own nothing, I a merely a vessel for pros!*
"Oh I'm so happy for you guys!"Suki squealed with joy and hugged her friends from across the table as her boyfriend stared dumbfounded. Zuko had just announced their engagement. Suki and Katara stood to move to the kitchen, leaving Zuko to face down his fiance's brothers gaze. The two sat there in silence as the girls chatted by the sink. Sokka finally stood up, "I need to stretch my legs, care to join me Zuko?" The offer seemed innocent enough, but Zuko knew Sokka well enough that it was not the case. But he would not back down. "Sure, Tara Sokka and me are heading around the block for a bit..." but his love did not hear him due to the serious girl talk happening in the kitchen. 'Well she'll notice we're gone eventually... I hope...' Zuko thought to himself as he and Sokka exited the apartment.
There was a long silence again before Sokka spoke again. "I guess this means we'll be brothers..." Zuko shrugged slightly, "I guess. In laws at least." Sokka nodded and placed his hands behind his head. Again, an all too long pause before he spoke, "I have to say Zuko..." Zuko flinched, waiting for his objections. But they never came. "... I'm glad. I remember when Tara graduated, Aang had come to me and my father to ask permission to marry her." Zuko gaped at Sokka, he remembered Katara mentioning that she and Aang had discussed it. "Why didn't her father consent? I thought he was all for them being together?" Zuko asked, very confused.
Sokka smiled slightly, "Oh he did, I didn't. My sister means everything to me, she deserves to be taken care of. And even though Aang was my friend, I knew she'd waste the rest of her life taking care of him, and she would never truly be happy." Zuko nodded and smiled a little, "I promise you Sokka, I will do everything in my power to make your sister happy." Sokka stopped walking and held his hand out to him, "I'll hold you to that Sparky, cause fire-bender or not, you hurt my sister I will end you."
Katara sighed sadly as she sat in bed with her laptop working on a school paper. A few weeks after they told Sokka, Katara had called Gran-gran. She congratulated her and Zuko wholeheartedly upon hearing about their engagement. But her father was away and would most likely not be pleased with the news. A small coo called Katara from her work. Ursa lay in a bassinet beside the bed, Katara was baby sitting for the night.
She stood and walked over to the now one and a half month old. Her hair was a rich chocolate brown, long and slightly wavy. She was very low maintenance for her age, a bottle, a burping followed by a quick diaper change and she was out like a light. 'I hope Zuko gets here soon from the store, we're almost out of diapers,' Katara mused as she lifted the child out of the bassinet. "Are you still sleepy from your nappy?" Katara cooed to the infant. She received a giggle and a gurgle for a response. A soft tap at the front door caught her attention. "Did Uncie ZuZu forget his keys again! Did he?" She said in baby talk, causing the infant to giggle again. 'And if Zuko finds out me and Zula call him that behind his back he'll be red hot hehe.' She chuckled to herself as she and Ursa answered the door.
On the doorway stood a very disheveled looking Hakoda Keanu. Five o'clock shadow was prominent over his beard, he almost resemble Sokka the day Aang had been committed to the psych ward. His ice blue eyes drank in her appearance but stopped dead at the site of the child in her arms. "It seems I've come a little late..." he managed to croak out. Katara shook out of her surprise. "Oh no no she isn't mine... I mean ours. She's Zuko's niece... his sisters..." Katara removed her hand that had braced her from the doorway and lightly tapped her forehead with her index knuckle. "Please wont you come in...Dad."
Nervously, Hakoda nodded and accepted his daughters invitation into her home. Luckily Katara had for thought to bring the bassinet downstairs, she placed the infant there, promising her her diner shortly. Katara nervously walked over to the fridge and pulled out the bottle to be warmed. She felt her fathers gaze on her but she could not bring herself to speak. As soon as she could name an emotion, she couldn't pin it down with words. In silence Katara warmed the bottle and tested it. She turned to see her father holding little Ursa, so carefully like she was made of porcelain. "Reminds me of when you were little." He whispered.
Katara handed him the bottle and sat down on the couch, "before or after believing me to be another mans daughter?" Hakoda sighed, he sat down in the armchair closest to the bassinet. "Can you ever forgive me for the evil my jealousy caused me to do to you? Not only did it steal your mother away, it caused almost a year long rift between us." Katara felt tears well up, "why didn't you just talk to me? Gyatso said until matters with Aang were settled, that had nothing to do with me!" Hakoda nodded earnestly, "I realize this now. Katara... "
"... I've been receiving counseling and it's helped me see that I was not angry at you at all. But myself, for putting you in the situation with Aang that I did. I put a lot on your shoulders. I've missed you Katara, I will do anything to make up for the suffering my jealousy caused."
Katara allowed the tears to flow freely, "Dad, I can forgive the silent treatment, and canceling my school payment, but there is one thing I don't understand. Moms word wasn't enough for you? Or the fact that I look exactly like you! Why would you take out your anger at your late wife, my mother! On me? Why dad, please explain it!"
Ursa began to cry, Katara quickly stood and retrieved her from her fathers arms and began to pat and rub her back. "I'm sorry Ursa, I didn't mean to raise my voice, shh shh." After a minute of this a small burp was heard from the child and she was silent again. Hakoda watched her with pride and awe. "Because Katara I am a selfish man. I wanted everything for you and your mother, I worked hard everyday to provide for my family. All your mother ever wanted was my attention for Sokka and you. I was to naive and pigheaded to realize that. When she found the attention else where I was green with envy. I drove her away, and I suppose part of me felt that by leaving Aang you were trying to run away from me too..."
"I now realize just how silly that sounds. Malie has helped me greatly through the many hurt feelings I hadn't known I'd repressed for so long." "Malie?" Katara inquired, Ursa dosing softly on her shoulder as she bounced on her heels. Hakoda tensed again, "I've recently met someone..." He paused to judge his daughters reaction. I could care for almost as much as your mother, but the entire time I've only been able to think of you. Would you like her? Would you even approve?" His eyes implored her to not be angry.
Katara bit her lip, she felt a little angry. One because Sokka never mentioned this, neither did Gran-gran. But if this woman has helped her father cope with his issues she couldn't be all bad. "Neither your brother or Gran-gran know. I felt... To be honest I'm not sure myself why I hadn't told them yet. Maybe because I wanted your input more than anyone." Katara took a deep breath and allowed Ursa's peaceful breathing to calm her. "I think if it makes you happy then its fine dad... just like I'd hope you'd want me to be happy."
Hakoda released his breath, "you've no idea how happy you've just made me Katara. She asks about you often and I am unable to really tell her anything." Katara nodded, also releasing her breath. The awkwardness seemed to leave the room instantly. She had her father back, and he his daughter. She sat down and moved Ursa so she was cradled by her breasts. "Tara! What happened to your mothers pendant!" Hakoda exclaimed, though more quiet due to the sleeping child. One of Kataras hands reached up to cover it, her heart pounding again. 'Well its now or never. We just talked through the past, I guess its as good a time as any to talk about the future.'
"Zuko and I... got engaged last month, on Ursa's birthday. I love him dad, and he loves me." The air seemed thick again, Hakoda stared at her. "You are sure this is what you want? You both are so young..." "We plan for a lengthy engagement. Both of us wish to finish school, start our careers before we marry." Hakoda nodded and smiled. "Sokka was right." Katara tilted her head quizzically. "Aang, a few days before you two graduated, came to us and asked for your hand..." Katara gasped in surprise. "I agreed but Sokka felt it was too soon. Aang wanted to marry by the middle of summer, so you would have to attend Ohmashu with him. Sokka later explained his refusal, I now see what he meant. He feared you'd spend the rest of your life taking care of Aang and never really be taken care of in return... Will Mr. Be Fong take care of you?"
Katara nodded with a smile and stood with the baby in her arms, "yes he will. He always has, sorta. We take care of each other... I really do love him dad. I'm glad your here, so that I was able to tell you in person." Hakoda stood and gently embraced her, "So am I little one." Their tender moment was interrupted by loud banging on the front door. Katara glanced at her father and handed Ursa to him, "who could that be... Hello..." but she was silenced by the barrel of a pistol held in her face. "Now Miss Keanu I believe we have some things to discuss." Ozai's venom like voice dripped as he pushed her back into the apartment. Hakoda went to move, but the child's weight in his hands made him stay put.