Invisible String - Jake Sully

4 (Edited)

He smiled softly at the exhausted woman. He noticed that her girls were more at ease now because of Tawn, she made all his children feel at home and he was grateful for that. 

Jake also found it endearing that the kids loved her so much. 

He wasn't complaining that she took most of their attention because, thanks to her, he could unwind and rest for a few moments, trying to find his centre and focus on integrating himself into the culture without worrying about his children. She often stopped by their tent and gave his family fruits and vegetables or warm meals. She was like a gift from Eywa herself. 

"Tuktirey, you need to share her with others," Jake said, announcing his arrival.

Tawn was startled by Jake's presence.

"Tuk, come here. Let me help," Jake said behind her.

Tuk whined while Kia, who finally got her to herself, giggled victoriously.

She turned to Jake flashing him a grateful smile, "Thank you so much."

Jake smirked and bent down to Tuk's level.

Before she could step away from the father and daughter pair, Kia pulled her down beside Jake harshly that she would almost fall on Jake if it weren't for the man himself catching her before that could happen.

Tawn muttered a thank you before scolding Kia, "Kiki, please don't do that again. I almost fell over Tuk's father by accident."

Kia's grin got wider for some reason, "I want Tuk to see how great my necklace is because you helped me."

Tawn rolled her eyes at the kid and let out a huff of laughter.

Tuk and Kia waited patiently for the both of them to finish the necklaces for the kids. Tawn peeked slightly at Jake, whose face scrunched up in concentration. The thin and slimy seaweed made it harder for him to tie.

Tawn noticed his tongue peeking out from his lips. His forehead formed lines from how much he scrunched it. Tawn smile to herself before giving Kia her necklace, "here you go Kiki."

"yeah!" she squealed, making Tuk whine at his father's lack of craftiness, "look, Tuk, mine is prettier."

"Dad!!" Tuk whined, tears brimming in her eyes.

Tawn noticed the unshed tears that Tuk's holding in and gently grabbed Kia's arm, "Kia. It is not nice to feed off someone's sadness like that," she told her firmly.  

Knowing she was in trouble, Kia sighed and apologised to Tuk before she ran away to show her mother the lovely necklace she had made.

Kiri, watching the scenes from afar, was amused. She stood up and walked towards the three of them.

She looked down at the necklace in her hand. She wished she could give this to her mother. She missed her so much, sometimes, she prayed to Eywa to give her mother back to them, to make her family whole again, but fate was cruel.

Kiri sighed at her thoughts and looked up to see Tawn leaning over Jake, trying to help him with the necklace, while Tuk sat in Tawn's lap, leaning in her embrace and hiccupping lightly.

Kiri stopped for a moment.

The gentleness in Tawn's eyes mirrored her father's. She watched as her father gave the necklace to Tuk, urging her to stop crying. As if Eywa was playing a cruel joke, Kiri saw the motherly glint in Tawn's eyes when she looked down at Tuk to wipe her tears. She whispered something only the three knew, eliciting a burst of laughter from Tuk. Kiri noticed how Tuk looked at her with such longing that squeezed Kiri's heart.