Through His Eyes

Chapter 7

The mast beat wildly shading the chilly air. As it waved noisily upon the boat, Hakoda yelled for Sokka.

"I've got something here!" He yelled in great excitment as the line on his fishing line pulled tight.

Sokka, covered in layers of fur, ran over to his father, who was leaning back while trying to reel in something heavy.

"Whoah, Dad! You've got quite a catch there," he said in happy disbelief.

"Not yet, Sokka. Help me stay firm," he commanded.

The young Water Tribe boy did as his father asked without hesitation. A few seconds later, he felt a big jolt from his father, toppling them both to the ground. As Sokka came to, he looked over to see his father flat on his back.

Hakoda opened his eyes slowly. A mischievous laugh grows from his mouth, "No one can stop us!"

Raising the wiggling fish up in triumph, the two men lay together on the floor of the boat with smiles in tow.

Walking back into their village, Hakoda smiles at the realization that they are two men now bringing fish back home for their family. Whenever he thinks of the times before the war, the memories become more and more faded from Hakoda's mind. He never gave up hope, but from time to time the thought that he might not see this day popped up. At this moment, he is snapped back to reality by his son.

"Uh," Sokka's voice quivered, "Dad, I have a question."

Hakdoa's eyebrows raised in curiosity, "What is it, Sokka?"

"Sometimes I think...I mean I don't. Ugh!" A loving hand placed on his shoulder by his father seemed to relax Sokka a bit. "So, what I meant is, what do you think Mom would've thought about the war ending?"

Eyebrows still raised, Hakoda tried to read in between the lines from his son, "You mean, do you think Mom would be proud of you?"

The two men stop. Sokka sniffles and looks away from his father. Quietly, he admits, "Yeah."

He pats his son on the back and gestures to keep walking. He reassures his son, "Sokka, there wasn't a day that went by where your mother was not proud of you. Both of you made her so happy. She always knew you would do great things. And so did I."

Finally turning his head back to his father, Sokka's icy blue eyes were now full of joy. He leaped to his father and gave him a big hug. The squeeze nearly took Hakoda's breath away. After a moment, the two pulled away from each other. They carried their fish back to the hut with a quiet pride between them.

Back at home, Hakoda and Sokka walk into the hut. The only sound to be heard is in the kitchen. It was the sound of Katara laughing continuously to the point she sounds out of breath. Sokka shrugs and sighs, "I bet Aang is in there."

They both peer into the kitchen to see that Sokka was right. Aang, in a deep lunge, is furiously airbending vegetables one by one to Katara. A leek in a basket is blown high in the air. Changing his stance, Aang used airbending to slice the leek finely into many little pieces, only to softly land in the bowl in Katara's hand.

His daughter giggled, "Thanks, Aang."

Sokka groaned, "Well, my appetite is RUINED!"

Katara furrowed her brow and faced her brother, face glowing red, "SHUT UP, SOKKA!"

Hakoda ran between his kids, "Hey, hey. Sokka, apologize."

Sokka's face was now as red as his sisters, "UGH!" He looked at the sternness in his father's face and then felt genuinely remorseful. "Okay! Okay, sorry Katara."

Katara, still mad, fired back, "And apologize to Aang, too!"

Sokka opened his mouth to almost argue but gave up. He looked at Aang, "Sorry, Aang. I would prefer you around over Katara any day."

Katara waterbended water from the pot in the sink and sent several drops to land right on Sokka's head.

Hakoda shook his head. He decided that even though he was a great warrior, the endless battle between his kids would never be won.

"Uh, thanks, Sokka. Uh...I guess," Aang replied sheepishly.

Sokka dropped the fish on the counter and looked at Aang seriously, "Actually, Aang, I need to talk to you. Got a minute?"

Aang replied in earnest seriousness, "Sure, Sokka." He walked over to Katara where they both stood in awkward anticipation. He started to move his body close to Katara but pulled back, instead opting to bow. "I'll be right back, Katara."

She grabbed Aang's hands and gave them a squeeze, "Okay." They both blushed furiously as Aang left the kitchen with Sokka.

Hakoda walked over to his daughter and gave her a hug. He could see how hard it was for her and Aang to be themselves in front of him. Sokka leaves it as no mystery the amount of kissing they do in front of him. While he did not feel it was needed, he appreciated the kindness in Aang. He could tell the boy was considerate of different cultures.

After breaking away from the embrace, he noticed his daughter had a solemn look on her face. Nervous, he asked, "Katara, what's wrong?"

"Dad," she said in a serious tone, "What did you and mom do for dates?"

Hakoda nearly laughed but stopped himself, "Oh, Katara, I was expecting the worst!" He smiled and continued, "Any reason you ask?"

Katara looked down shyly at her feet. After a moment she looked at her father, "I just..wanted to know. Aang and I have done so many exciting things together since the war ended. We've been dancing and sailing and eating at restaurants, but since being back home, Aang has had Avatar duties start-up and I don't know what to do. We don't see each other as much."

Hakoda nodded, "That can definitely be tough. The more responsibilities in life you have, the harder it will be to find time to remember what you meant to each other. It's important to remember, because that will keep you together."

Katara nodded to indicate that she understood. Hakoda took a long breath in, and as he exhaled, felt the memories flooding back. "

"Well, growing up together, I had known your mother for all of my life. But around age 12 I started to like your mother as more than a friend. I didn't get the courage to tell her about any of this until I came back from ice dodging when I was your age. I jumped off the ship, so excited to tell my family and there she was. Your mom was the first person I saw when I finished. She was smiling the brightest smile I had ever seen. All of the noise in the village had stopped when I saw this smile. And, almost as if someone else was controlling me, I blurted out, "Do you want to eat food together?"

Katara and Hakoda both burst out in uncontrollable laughter. Katara, holding her stomach, said after the laughter died, "That's almost as bad as Sokka asking Yue to 'do an activity together." Both father and daughter laugh again, this time at Sokka's expense.

After the room quieted again, Hakoda resumed, "Sokka and I aren't that different in many ways. But your mother said yes, which always takes me by surprise when I think about it. So, the next day, I collected some fruit, whale jerky, flatbread, and a canteen of jasmine tea in a basket. I met her on the hill at the edge of the village. We ate and talked while watching the clouds move across the sky. And ever since, she has been in my heart."

Katara had tears in her eyes but they never fell. She said in a whisper, "Wow, I never knew that." In the silence, Hakoda felt tears of his own appear and disappear in his eyes. Even though it was nearly 20 years ago, it still felt like yesterday.

Hakoda, now calm, said to his daughter, "I know it's not as exciting as you finding Aang in an iceberg, but I love our story in every way."