#awow

Neteyam has officially been your mate for a month or two now, and he just cannot stay away from you.

He has been stuffed in you every which way. Your body is sore, still not used to his large cock, but that doesn’t stop him. If anything, he does all he can to make it easier for you to take him.

The moon shines bright outside, illuminating the expanse of your marui pod, and yet, no sleep was happening.

Neteyam is on his knees on the ground behind you, one hand gripping the skin of your hip, the other stroking his cock firm, and rough. Your core faces him, bare and pulsing with desire. There was not one thought in your mind other than Neteyam, and his cock sliding in you.

The tip nudges against your entrance, precum leaking down your inner thigh, mixing with your slick. Pressure builds, and you can already feel the tears forming in the corner of your eyes.

“F-fuck baby,” he groans, pushing his cock inside of you.

Neteyam pushes in all the way until the tip rests against your cervix, deeper than it has ever been. The burn and stretch are overwhelming, small whimpers leave your lips. Your nails dig into the furs beneath you, gripping onto them to steady yourself.

You squirm, the pressure too great for him to just be sitting there. His hand rubs down your back, soothing you, keeping you in place the best he could as pleasure floods through him.

“So tight around me,” he says, breathlessly as he begins to slide his cock back out.

The friction eases the pain, turning it into pleasure, but the pressure persists.

He leaves only the tip in before slowly sliding back in, pushing against your cervix and resting on your sweet spot. The veins and ridges of his cock slide through your sensitive walls, molding to him, welcoming him in after the constant sex the two of you have been having.

Once he feels like you have had enough time to adjust, he begins to slam his cock inside of you, quick and hard. His fingers grip your skin punishingly, sure to leave bruises the next day, but you couldn’t care less. Your mind goes blank; no words form from your tongue. Incoherent whimpers and moans mixed with his name are the only things that could be made out from your sounds.

“You feel so good baby,” he groans, throwing his head back, mouth hanging open slightly while his hips roll into you.

Your skin slaps against him making wet sounds from the slick pouring from your entrance and down his shaft. Drool drips from your chin, making the furs wet underneath. Your eyes cross, lost in the feeling of your mate deep inside you.

Neteyam tilts your hips upward, allowing him to dig even deeper, and it was more than you could take.

You whimper, moving forward, trying to run from his punishing cock. He was lost, unaware of it until his cock was no longer wrapped by your walls. His eyes snap open, looking down at how you had moved away from him, his tip the only part of him sitting inside you.

He growls low, frustrated by your actions. His hand wraps around your tail, and he yanks you back onto his cock. You yelp out in pain, but it quickly turns into pressure filled pleasure when he slams into you once more.

“What did I tell you about running from it sweet girl,” he asks, voice low and rough.

When you don’t answer, he slaps your ass, the bright blue skin stinging from his touch. As quick as it happened, his thumb was already brushing over the red, irritated skin, soothing it before it really had a chance to hurt.

“Neteyam, f-fuck Neteyam I can’t take it,” you whine, trying to pull away from him again.

He yanks your tail back, forcing your entrance to swallow his cock again. One more slap to your ass, harder this time because apparently you didn’t get the message.

“That is not what I asked,” he growls, drilling into you harder from behind.

When you don’t answer, his thrusts slow ever so slightly, the grip on your tail loosening only an inch.

“You were taking me so good, so deep and fast. What happened babygirl,” he coos.

His hips roll into you, mimicking the waves of the ocean outside, his cock filling every empty space left inside of your core. The tip lingers against your cervix, pressing for too long before you squirm again, trying to get out of his grasp.

Neteyam releases your tail and rubs one hand down the length of your back, pushing you against the furs beneath you. Your aching nipples drag across the fabric, stimulating you even more than you already were.

Without removing his cock, he pushes your legs closed and positions himself where both of his knees sit on either side of your hips. He pushes his cock in, slower, more sensually, but only for a second.

His body crowds yours as he leans down on his elbow, placing one hand under your jaw, he brings your face towards his. His braids brush across his shoulders, sweat beads along his forehead, his pupils dilate at the sight of you so fucked out.

“Neteyam...,” you whimper, unable to see straight from how deep his cock was stuffed inside you.

“I know baby, I know,” he whispers, leaning down to place a soft kiss to your lips.

As soon as he pulls away, he pounds into you, unforgivingly punishing. Tears stream down your cheeks, moans fall from your lips along with more incoherent words.

“Why are you crying, sweet girl,” he coos, a small grin pulling at his lips.

His cock twitches inside you, excited to see you this way once again, and it was all for him. His thumb wipes away a tear, but when another one falls, he moves closer to your face, licking up the salty tear and placing a kiss against your cheek.

Pounding against you, every thrust brings out a sharp, breathless gasp. Your fingers grip the furs, your nipples rub constantly, heat pools in your lower belly as you walk the line of your climax.

Pleasure runs through your body, you feel drunk off his cock. Addicted to the way his hips roll into yours in a way he had perfected in such a short amount of time. Your clit aches between your legs. You press your thighs together, letting the force of Neteyam’s thrusts rub them together, offering relief you so desperately needed.

Neteyam was close, so close, but he was determined to make you cum first. Your core clenches around him, pulling him in and begging him not to go. The base of his cock begins to swell; his thrusts grow sloppy when he twitches deep inside of you. His mouth runs rampant.

“I’m gonna fill you up until you’re pregnant with my baby. Round and swollen with my life,” he growls, eager to feel your pleasure.

His grip around your jaw tightens.

“You want that don’t you baby? To be pregnant. To have our family,” he whispers, a rhetorical question and begging you to say yes all at once.

“Yes, please N-Neteyam,” you whimper, lifting your hips up, allowing him to thrust deeper inside of you.

He groans, leaning down to place a rough kiss to your lips, and fucks into you harder than before.

“Let me feel you. Please, let me feel it,” he whimpers.

His cock presses against your sweet spot, drawing your climax out of you. You moan loud, practically screaming from the intensity of your orgasm. Your body shakes, legs trembling, tears rolling down your face, drool dripping from your chin, all while the base of Neteyam’s cock swells bigger and bigger.

“Look at me. Look at me when I put my child in you,” he growls, shaking your head slightly.

You gaze at him, vision blurry as your eyes cross from the pleasure running through you still. His eyes burn through you, heating up your insides just from the disheveled look of him.

His thrusts slow when he is forced to push himself past the knot, your entrance barely able to stretch enough around it. You whine, squirming against his cock, twitching during the comedown of your climax.

“F-fuck baby. Shit, so tight,” he groans, voice rough and animalistic.

He pushes in once more, the swell of his cock larger than you could take. He rocks his hips against yours, barely moving an inch before you feel his cum shoot inside you in long, thick ropes. It coats your walls, nothing leaking out past the knot swollen at the base of his cock.

Neteyam rests his forehead against yours, heavy breathing, heart pounding out of his chest. His hand moves to your cheek, brushing away the lingering tears. You squirm against him, feeling the knot just past your entrance, his cock still twitching deep inside of your core.

“Hope it sticks this time,” he whispers, kissing your lips softly, a complete contrast to the way he just fucked you.

“Mmm,” you hum, your mind is still empty after everything.

He laughs softly, leaning down until his body lays on top of yours, his warmth spreading through your skin, and past the surface. You can feel his heartbeat in his chest, the rhythm of his breathing, all mixing the gentle touch of his rough hands.

“Gonna be here for a while,” he says.

“Yeah, I know,” you reply, laying your head down against the furs as your heartbeat slows, and your breathing syncs with his.

Jake and Neytiri found you among the remnants of your home, trembling, ears pinned, tail coiled tightly.

They didn’t hesitate. Neytiri knelt beside you, wrapping you in a protective embrace.

“You are safe now,” Neytiri whispered, voice soft and steady, eyes full of fire and care. “We will not let anything happen to you.”

And they kept that promise.

They didn’t just take you in.. They raised you. They guided you, protected you, and gave you a family to rely on.

You learned to walk, to hunt, to listen to Eywa’s whispers, and to trust again.

They didn’t push you to call them “Mom” or “Dad,” but the love was there, unconditional, steady, and unwavering.

They are Your home. Your family. Your heart.

You remember how it felt the first time Jake smiled at you and said, “You are a sully… you are my daughter ” The weight of his words settled in your chest, a warmth that has stayed with you even now, years later.

Neytiri’s guidance shaped your confidence, her steady presence a anchor in the wild of Pandora.

And because of them, you grew strong, capable, and… ready for anything

You and Kiri slip into the mauri, trying not to laugh too loud. “Ma’ey! Pa’ey! Guess what we found!” you call, holding up a messy pile of forest treasures.

Jake raises an eyebrow, smirking. “Hmm… trouble, I assume?”

Neytiri laughs softly, shaking her head. “Still gathering what does not belong to you, I see.”

You grin, tugging Kiri’s hand. “It is not stealing if we found it first!”

You and Kiri had always been inseparable.

From the moment you could walk, you were trailing after her through the forest.. mud on your feet, laughter in your lungs, hands always tangled together as if Eywa herself had tied you side by side.

Neteyam had always been there too.

Not with you… not like Kiri was.. but nearby. Older. Taller.

A presence that blended into the background of your childhood until, one day, it didn’t anymore.

🐾

His siblings saw you as one of them. Another sister. Someone to protect, to tease, to laugh with without thinking twice about it.

But Neteyam never could.

Even when you were younger.. small and bright and always laughing beside Kiri… there had been something about you that pulled at his attention in a way he didn’t understand.

His protectiveness ran deeper than instinct, sharper than duty.

He watched you longer than he should have. Stepped closer without realizing why.

It wasn’t the kind of care you gave a sister.

It never had been.

As the years passed, the distance between you shifted.

You grew into yourself, into someone who made his chest feel tight and his thoughts slow.

He became aware of you in a way that made him restless, careful, quiet.

Neteyam told himself it was wrong to think this way.

That you were family.

That his place was to protect you, nothing more.

But no matter how many times he tried to see you the way his siblings did…

He couldn’t.

And deep down, he knew he never would.

🐾

Kiri noticed neteyam first.

The way his attention shifted without him meaning to.

How his gaze followed you through the clearing even when the conversation had already moved on.

How he positioned himself.. subtly, instinctively between you and anything that felt even remotely like a threat.

How his fingers twitched, as if he wanted to reach out and steady you, and then didn’t, letting you find your balance yourself.

She noticed how he listened when you spoke.

Not politely. Not patiently.

Intently.

And then she noticed you.

The way you went quiet whenever Neteyam stepped into the clearing.

How your fingers fumbled, how your ears twitched just a second too late when his voice joined the conversation.

You, who had grown up fearless, climbing trees faster than the boys, laughing too loud, never shy.. suddenly became all nerves and stolen glances.

Oh, she knew.

You were sitting beside Kiri near the roots of the spirit tree, knees pulled to your chest as she braided a thin cord of fibers.

You were mid-sentence, rambling comfortably, when a familiar shadow fell over you.

“Hey,” Neteyam said casually.

Your brain short-circuited.

“Oh…hi… neteyam.. I mean…” You cleared your throat, heat rushing to your face as you stood too quickly, nearly tripping over your own feet. “I was just… uh”

Kiri bit her lip to keep from smiling.

Neteyam's eyes flicked to you, lingering for half a second longer than necessary.

Something unreadable passed over his face.

like he was cataloging every detail.. the way you avoided his eyes, the flush on your ears, the way your tail betrayed you.

From then on, he made no effort to avoid you.

If anything, he sought you out.. always casually, always with Kiri present.

And every time you stumbled over yourself, he smiled.

Not openly. Not teasingly.

Just a small curve of his mouth. Like he found something quietly satisfying.

Each interaction was small. Innocent.

And every single one left you flustered.

🐾

Neteyam's teasing was quiet. Subtle. Designed just for you.

He started greeting you differently.

Not just a nod. Not just your name.

A hand briefly resting on your shoulder when he passed.

A light squeeze at your elbow when guiding you through a crowd.

Once. just once, he leaned down and murmured a joke meant only for you, his voice low enough to make your ears warm.

You laughed too loudly.

Neteyam's eyes lit up.

He liked that.

And then he started doing things.

Small things at first.

Like sitting closer than necessary during evening meals, his knee brushing yours beneath the woven mats.

Like handing you things directly instead of setting them down.. letting his fingers linger for half a heartbeat too long when you took them.

Like standing behind you while you listened to someone speak, close enough that you could feel his presence without ever seeing it.

At first, you thought it was accidental.

Neteyam had always been kind, steady, calm, attentive in the way the eldest often was. He spoke when needed, listened more than he talked, moved through the forest like it bent itself to him.

So when he lingered near you longer than necessary, or chose to walk beside you instead of ahead, you told yourself it meant nothing.

But then it kept happening.

Every time you were around him, your body reacted before your thoughts could catch up.

Your ears flicked back when he spoke too close.

Your tail curled when his shoulder brushed yours.

Your voice stumbled when he looked at you directly for too long.

And at first, you were too busy being embarrassed to notice him.

Until one evening, the three of you sat beneath a tree as the forest settled into night.

Kiri leaned back against the roots, calm and comfortable.

You sat across from her, knees tucked in.

Neteyam dropped down beside you... closer than he needed to be.

He stretched his legs out and rested his arm behind you, palm flat against the moss.

Not touching you. Just there.

You could feel the heat of him.

Kiri glanced between you both. Said nothing.

The silence stretched.

Your heart pounded so loud you were convinced Neteyam could hear it.

Kiri leaned forward suddenly, resting her chin in her hands, eyes darting between the two of you. "You know," she said innocently, "she gets really nervous around you."

You nearly choked. "Kiri!"

His eyes flicked.. not to your face, but lower. To your tail. To the way it had curled tight around your leg.

Then back to your eyes.

And there it was. That quiet, satisfied look.

Your chest tightened. Wait.....

Neteyam hummed softly, pretending to consider this. His hand playing with the moss behind you. "Does she?"

Your ears burned. You heart thudded. You tail flicking uncontrollably behind you.

His gaze flicked down again brief, deliberate, then back to kiri. And this time, he didn't hide the smile.

Small. Warm. Absolutely unfair.

That was the moment it became clear.

He wasn't teasing by accident.

He wasn't unaware.

You glanced at him and saw it.

The way his eyes softened. The way the corner of his mouth twitched like he was holding something back.

The thought hit you so suddenly you almost gasped.

He likes this.

he enjoyed watching you unravel a little at a time.

Not in a cruel way. Not mocking.

But... entertained. Amused. Patient.

From then on, you started paying attention.

And you realized he knows exactly what he’s doing.

‘He’s…. Testing me’ you thought.

It became so obvious neteyam was intentionally teasing you.

Not with words. Just proximity. Light touches that could be explained.

Your shoulder brushing his arm, fingers barely grazing, thighs close when navigating narrow paths.

Each time, your tail curled tighter. Your ears flattened. Your heartbeat raced.

He noticed.

And he definitely wasn't going to stop.

🐾

The first time he tested it, it was almost accidental.

The three of you were sitting together near the training grounds.

You and Kiri were sharing fruit, shoulders pressed together, when Neteyam approached and dropped down across from you.

His movements were easy, confident, completely unaware, it seemed, of the way your spine straightened the second he sat.

He leaned back on his hands. Relaxed.

Your fingers stilled mid-motion.

Neteyam's eyes flicked to your hands. Then slowly he smiled.

"You going to eat that?" he asked, nodding toward the bitten fruit in your hand.

Your mouth went dry. "I.. yeah.. I mean-"

Kiri elbowed you lightly. "She was."

Neteyam hummed, amused. "Was."

You shot him a look, flustered.

He met your eyes easily, unbothered and held them just long enough for your heart to start racing.

You hesitated, fingers tightening around the fruit before, without thinking too hard about it, you held it out toward him.

“I.. if you want it,” you said quietly.

Neteyam’s features lifted slightly. Just a flicker of surprise.

Then he leaned forward. He didn’t take the fruit from your hand.

He bit into it.

Right where you had.

Your breath hitched. Your tail stilled completely.

He pulled back slowly, chewing, eyes never leaving your face. There was a pause.. brief, heavy before his lips curved into something small. Satisfied.

“Thanks,” he said, voice low.

Kiri made a soft, knowing sound beside you.

And just like that, it wasn’t accidental anymore.

You stared at the fruit for half a second too long.

He’d bitten it. Right where you had.

“He’s testing me..’ You think again.

The marks were still there.

Your ears burned, heat creeping down your neck as you became painfully aware of Kiri watching you from the corner of her eye.

Neteyam didn’t say anything. Didn’t move. He just leaned back again, relaxed, gaze settled on you like he was waiting.

Testing.

You swallowed.

Then, before you could talk yourself out of it.. you lifted the fruit and took another bite.

From the same place.

Your teeth sank into the softened edge, his bite still there, unmistakable.

The world didn’t end. No one gasped. No one said anything.

But Neteyam’s posture changed. Just slightly.

His eyes darkened, focus sharpening in a way that made your stomach flip. He didn’t smile this time.

Kiri’s eyes widened. Just a little.

‘Two can play that game.’ You think to yourself.

You chewed slowly, forcing yourself to stay calm even as your heart pounded in your chest.

When you looked back at him, your gaze didn’t waver.

Barely.

Neteyam exhaled through his nose. He swallowed. His face a purple hue.

kiri laughed, tail flicking with amusement. "Ohhh, there it is," she teased, grinning. "Look at you, Neteyam! The mighty warrior, flustered!”

His head jerked slightly, eyes narrowing but not in anger. Just... embarrassment.

Warmth spreading across his face and neck, even though he tried to hide it.

"Ohhh, don't think you can hide that! I see it!" kiri adds.

Neteyam's jaw tightened but the faintest curve of a smile betraved him.

you both sit there, flushed and wide-eyed.

Kiri’s little laughs echoing through the forest.

I hope you enjoyed, let me know what you think!

I see you guys asking for a “Not now. Not ever.” part 2 and that is coming soon!!

I’m also in the progress of writing a Tonowari x reader so yay!

“A baby…” Jake muttered over your shoulder. 

“A baby,” you agreed, blinking in dumbfounded joy and surprise.

“What a blessing,” Mo’at noted, although you didn’t miss the underlying sorrow. If her daughter was still here, if she was still alive, then Neytiri would have been the one carrying Jake’s child.

You let go of your mate and reached out to place a hand on her arm, nodding to convey your thanks.

“How far along is she?” Jake asked his former mother in law. 

She smiled briefly at your gesture, “I would say 6 weeks, but these things are not exact, it is hard to tell. I leave you to discuss this,” she answered as she got up to give you and Jake some privacy.

Jake gripped your hands in his. “Another kid…” he muttered in wonder. 

“Eywa is testing us, four children…” you murmured.

Jake sat up straighter, “You don't want another?” he asked, his brows low on his forehead.

“I do! I do, it's just… well we will really be outnumbered now,” you laughed.

He closed his eyes briefly at the thought, “I just hope it’s another girl,” he smiled, and you huffed a sardonic laugh. 

“Can you imagine 3 boys?” you groaned, resting your forehead on his wrist as he laughed harder.

“I don’t want to,” he shook his head. 

-

You and Jake had gone back and forth about when to tell the kids, but after another month, you both agreed you couldn't wait any longer.

“Sully family meeting!” Jake called, gathering your small children around him in a circle. Jake reached out to pick up Lo’ak who was attempting to run past him to the basket of toys in the corner.

From where you were sitting next to Jake, you were directly across from Kiri and Neteyam. “Sa’nu and Sempu have something to tell you,” you started.

“Is it good or bad?” Kiri blurted in worry, already interrupting your train of thought. 

“It’s good, babygirl,” Jake told her. Lo’ak sat in his lap, squirming until Jake handed him the orange Toruk toy. The boy was like a wild nantang, ever hyper and ready to play.

“Are we in trouble?” Neteyam asked, shrinking back.

“No! Why would that be a good thing!” Kiri exclaimed, rolling her eyes at her older brother.

“You’re not in trouble, Mommy is going to have a baby,” you said, waiting as all of their faces filled with shock and then slowly morphed into varying emotions. 

Kiri looked purely skeptical, probably hoping desperately that she wouldn't get another brother. 

Neteyam looked happy about the news in his own quiet way. He smiled to himself, watching his family in excitement. 

Lo’ak on the other hand, was overjoyed. “WHAT?!” he exclaimed, jumping up from Jake’s arms and running over to you. “A baby is in here?” he asked, patting your stomach.

“Yes, there is,” you nodded as his jaw fell open in shock.

“A boy?” he asked hopefully, his eyebrows raised in the same way Jake’s often did.

“We do not know yet,” you answered.

“When do we find out?” Neteyam asked, finally speaking.

“Max and Norm can do tests to see what it will be in a few months,” Jake offered. 

“We did not know what you would be until you were born, your mother wanted you to be a surprise,” you explained, smiling at the fond memories of her insistence that she did not need any help from humans. 

You and Jake had decided right off the bat that you would never hide Neytiri from her son. He deserved to know his entire story, and you honored her by keeping her alive in him. Her memory was everywhere in your marui. You wore her jewelry nearly everyday, had her bow hanging on the wall waiting for Neteyam when he was older, and her stories had become a favorite during bedtime.

“Why did she not want to know?” Kiri asked Jake.

Jake pursed his lips, “Well, she wanted to do things the Na’vi way. Only humans like to know what the baby will be before its born. She said that she would be happy if you were a boy or a girl,” Jake said, noticing his son looking down at his knees, nodding in thought.

“She loved you very much, so much, she already had a feeling you would be a boy. She told me many times,” you nodded.

“How did she know?” he asked, looking up curiously.

You smiled a sad smile and brushed a braid away from his cheek, “Because a mother always knows, Parultsyìp.”

-

The next week, you rolled over in you and Jake’s hammock, and the swaying of it caused your eyes to fly open at the nausea that tore through you.

You got up and stumbled to the door, fighting with the cover before it finally came undone just in time for you to sink to your knees in the wet dew and lose your stomach all over the grass. 

Heavy footsteps pattered behind you, “Deep breaths, baby. Deep breaths,” Jake said, falling to his knee at your side as he pulled your hair out of your face and rubbed your back. He must have felt you getting up to have met you out here so quickly.

“What do you need?” he asked. One hand moved to rub at your shoulder as you sat up and leaned against his chest. His heartbeat pounded against your head, his arm draping over your middle.

“Nothing, I am fine. Just give me a minute,” you muttered, your face towards the sky but your eyes were closed.

Small footsteps hit the woven kelku floor behind you. “Is mommy okay?” Neteyam’s voice asked. You peeked an eye open to see him rubbing his eyes groggily as he stumbled outside. 

“Yeah, she's gonna be okay. The baby just needs some water. Can you get her some?” Jake asked sweetly in his husky morning voice.

“Yeah,” Neteyam nodded, suppressing a yawn and running back into your home only to return a moment later with a gourd of water.

“Thank you, baby boy,” you smiled, taking the gourd he offered you and squeezing his hand as you drank from it.

He opened his mouth to speak but hesitated. Finally he said, “I had a nightmare,” he confessed, nearly too quiet to be heard. You paused, putting down the water and your nausea was forgotten.

You held out your hands and pulled him into your lap. At 8 years old, he was almost too big to fit. “Do you want to tell us about it?” you asked, leaning your cheek on his forehead.

He nodded and Jake sat down at your side, his arms propping him up with his legs splayed out behind you. “What happened?” 

“There was a giant spider monkey chasing me,” he muttered and your forehead wrinkled in confusion. 

“What is that?” You asked. Jake’s stomach brushed against your arm as you heard his chuckles, you and Neteyam looked to see his father shake his head at the sky and say, “Spider monkeys are small, boy.” 

“Well this one was big!” Neteyam insisted, holding his arms wide to demonstrate. 

“I do not understand. What is a spider monkey?” You asked and both of your boys laughed when you butchered the name. 

“It’s an animal from earth, like a syaksyuk, but a lot smaller,” Jake explained.

“Norm and Max showed us different creatures they have on earth. We watched a video and the monkey ran around and screamed very loud,” Neteyam muttered, looking off in the distance as if he was traumatized. 

“Oh my poor boy,” you tutted, holding Neteyam’s head to your neck. You shared a smile with Jake over your son's head. Jake fought hard to suppress his laugh, but ultimately ended up covering it with a cough. 

“Well if it is like a syaksyuk, that does not sound so bad,” you said. “Maybe this monkey creature is actually very friendly.”

“No mama, it was very scary. He was chasing me through the forest and he caught me right when I woke up!” Neteyam said, as he looked at you with wide eyes. You smoothed down his hair, but Jake did not hold the same sympathies.

“Sempu, why are you laughing?” Neteyam complained as Jakes body was racked with laughter.

“I’m sorry, ‘teyam. It’s just, Spider Monkeys are about this tall.” He said, holding out a hand at what would only be hitting the height of your mid calves. 

Neteyam rolled his eyes and pursed his lips. “No dad! This one was huge!!” He exclaimed again and Jake nodded, resigning to just agree with your son and his silly nightmares.

“Okay, okay. You’re right, that’s scary.”

-

“Baby, put him down,” Jake exclaimed, rushing over to you to pluck Lo’ak out of your arms. 

You had been carrying the 6 year old while cleaning baskets in the stream, your other two children laid out behind you watching the clouds go by on the bank. Jake had just come to join you after a long day of fulfilling his duty as Olo’eyktan.

“Hey!” Lo’ak squealed as Jake held him away from you as your arms reached out for your youngest.

“I am fine, Ma’ Jake. You treat me as if I am the baby,” you huffed. Jake swerved out of your reach, spinning in a circle so that Lo’ak giggled in glee.

“Of course I am when you’re carrying my child,” he replied even as Lo’ak demands another spin, “Put down the baskets, I'll get it,” he ordered as he swept Lo’ak around.

You laid a hand on your barely round stomach at the reminder. You were only 3 months pregnant, but despite the ability to still be able to do most things, Jake was acting just like he had for your first pregnancy. You could barely lift a finger without him swooping in to stop you.

“Sempu!” Kiri yelled, running up to Jake. “Me next! Spin me!” 

“Alright babygirl,” he laughed, picking her up with his other arm and spinning the both of them around and around. 

You shook your head as Lo’ak screamed, upset that Kiri had taken some of Jake’s attention. 

“Momma?” Neteyam asked wading in the water to come up to you. 

“Yes baby?” You asked, ignoring Jake's early demand and sloshing water into the baskets before using a cloth to scrub at them. 

“What are you gonna name the baby?” He asked, grabbing another cloth and basket to follow your motions. 

“Hmm, I don’t know. Have any ideas?” You asked, looking over to him as he had his eyes cast down at the water.

“I like Tuk, like the beginning of Tukru. I think they will be a very good warrior,” he suggested. 

You smiled at the sound of it, it already felt right. “That is beautiful, Neteyam. I think that is a good name.” 

Neteyam smiled back at you for your compliment. “Baby, put it down! Neteyam, help me out. Get that basket,” Jake demanded.

Neteyam leveled his eyes at you, but looked bashful as he held out a hand to do as his father asked. You barked out a laugh his expression but handed the basket over to your son.

“You are just like your father,” you complained, pushing his chin to the side playfully as Neteyam grinned at the water. He clutched both baskets and cloth's in his arms as Jake sloshed over to you.  

“Good job, 'Teyam. What are you guys talking about?” Jake asked, holding both of your youngest children perched on his arms. 

“I said I like the name Tuk for a baby,” Neteyam shrugged. Lo’ak squirmed and Jake set him down. Kiri on the other hand was content to hang in her fathers hold, giggling as he swayed side to side to make her squeal. 

“I like it,” Jake nodded, swinging Kiri up to sit on his shoulders, her gangly legs hanging down to rest on his chest. 

“Baby Tuk,” Lo’ak exclaimed, splashing in the water, “I like it too!”

You smiled at your youngest’s enthusiasm. “Well as long as Lo’ak approves, then I suppose we can use the name,” you teased. 

“Right!” Lo’ak said matter of factly, but shrieked when Neteyam dropped the baskets and ran over to pull his tail. The boys ran around your legs, Kiri laughing maniacally from her safe perch.

Your eyes slid to Jake so see him already looking at you with a content and joyful smile. 

-

“Gah,” you groaned, the ache growing along your lower back. 

You had been trying for the past few hours to redo your hair since the growth had pushed the braids away from your scalp, making your baby hairs stick up and annoying you to no end. You knew your tired body would struggle to withstand the hours of contorted arms it took to braid your hair, but it bothered you too much to let it go undone. 

You had really only managed to finish braiding about half of your head when Jake ducked into the kelku, surprisingly alone. 

“Where are the children?” you asked, concerned. Mo’at had offered to take them off of your hands for the day while Jake led a hunt with some of the other warriors and you rode with them.

“Mo’at had them all asleep when I got there, said they could stay the night if we wanted,” Jake said, unlatching his cumberbund and his knife sheath and hanging them on the wood carved hooks on the wall.

“That was kind of her,” you murmured, hands still twisting strands of hair into a braid. Your back and legs dully ached as you sat uncomfortably.

“She must have put them to work. They were snoring like an Angstik, you should have heard them,” he chuckled, sitting down beside you and you noticed he was holding a length of string and a berry sized orange pebble in the palm of his hand. 

“What’s that?” you asked, tying off the braid you finished and putting your arms down to rest.

“A pebble I found at the river the day Neteyam named her,” he said, holding the rock up so you could see. “I thought I would make it into a bead or totem for Baby Tuktirey’s songchord.”

“It is perfect, Ma’Jake,” you smiled, and he nodded, happy that you approved. He took the string and looped it several times around the rock before creating a tight knot. You got back to work too, your tired arms and aching back screaming in protest.

“You look uncomfortable,” Jake said, noticing you wince. He lowered the craft in his hands and turned the full force of his attention on you.

“My back is killing me, the baby does not want me to have nice hair,” you complained, pouting as you already gave up on the braid you had barely started.

“Let me do it,” he suggested, laying down the pebble and rising to his knees to scoot closer to you.

“No Ma’jake, you braid like a child,” you groaned.

“Hey!” Jake exclaimed, gently flicking you on the shoulder. “You were the one to teach me.”

“And I must be a bad teacher,” you admitted.

“You are an excellent teacher, let me prove it to you,” he offered, taking up a section of your hair and combing through it with the small bone comb you had sitting by your side.

“Fine,” you relented, “But you’re on laundry duty if it is bad,”

“I’m already on laundry duty,” he lilted and you rolled your eyes. He had taken nearly every chore possible out of your hands as soon as Mo’at confirmed the pregnancy. You were lucky that his Olo’eyktan duties took up so much of his day because he would have probably not let you out of bed if he was not so busy.

As his fingers tightly wound each section into braids, your eyes drifted closed at the sensation. As a mother, you were always so busy taking care of everyone else, but Jake never let you go long without doing something for you. Even if it was just distracting the kids for an hour so you could breathe, he always made sure you had space to be your own person too. You hoped you did the same for him, you always tried your best.

“Are you nervous this time?” he asked quietly, not wanting to disrupt the silence too much. It was precious to you both.

You knew what he was speaking of. You had been so scared of birthing Lo’ak after the trauma of Neteyam’s arrival. Neytiri had been so strong and surefooted, if she couldn't survive it, what hope was there for you? You had thrown up repeatedly in the days leading up to going into labor and it had nothing to do with the physical toil of pregnancy. 

Neytiri’s eyes and last breaths were still stuck in your mind years later. You were terrified of something going wrong.

You had refused to give birth in the metal can that was Norm’s lab, but you had requested that Max and the other scientists with medical training be there in case something happened. It was a rocky seven hours of labor, the pain excruciating and seemingly neverending. 

Jake had held your hand through all of it, never leaving your side once. You knew he was deeply scared from what had happened with his first mate, he had told you as much, but even the blind could see it. He had fretted over every move you made for months leading up to the birth. He had refused to leave your side and forced you to go have checkups with Max every few days in the weeks prior.

“Yes,” you admitted and it felt like a bruise being poked. 

“Me too,” he agreed, “I know that what happened to her wasn't in my control, and if Eywa decided to take her, it was her time. But even all these years later I still feel so… so heavy about it. Like if I had just been there… maybe…” he trailed off and your heart sank.

“No Ma’Jake,” you denied, “I was there, and I can tell you for certain there was nothing anyone could have done. What happened is in the past. We cannot change it however much we wish to, so we can not dwell on what we did or did not do.” You affirmed, feeling the gentle tug on your scalp as he tied off a braid.

“You did not know she was so close to giving birth, or you would have never left. We all know that, you are not to blame,” you continued, hoping your words were a comfort.

“I know, I’m just terrified that something will go wrong again. I can’t lose you, I can’t go through losing my mate again,” he muttered and even without seeing his face, you knew he had started crying.

You turned toward him, reaching your arms around his neck and pulling him to you. His grip fell away from the braid he was working on and found your body instead, wrapping his arms around your torso as he buried his face in your neck.

“I will be okay. I am not going anywhere, Yawnetu,” you whispered to him.

“This baby is a blessing,” he murmured, as if reminding himself.

“This family is our fortress, Jake. We are only making it stronger,” you added as you pulled away to wipe the tears from his eyes with your thumbs. He nodded, eyes closed as you framed his face in your hands.

“I see you, Jake,” you said, tears threatening to fall on your own face, “You are not alone.”

His golden eyes opened to you, “I see you, baby. I love you.”

Join my taglist here.