Invisible String - Jake Sully

8

Tawn cringed at the memory, "yea, with what happened with him and Lo'ak, I don't think we should cross the outer reef," she said sheepishly.

Jake cocked his head in confusion before realising what she meant; great, now she'd probably think he was dense, "oh yeah, I forgot about the Akula, I thought the Akula problem was sorted out."

Tawn shook her head, "don't worry about it I should be the one apologising to you," she said, looking down at the bouncy material they walked on.

Jake stepped down to the shore and held his hand for Tawn to take. She accepted his offer and grabbed his hand, carefully stepping down the bridge. The simple touch of his hand ignited tingles inside her. She felt giddy and nervous.

Tawn thanked him wordlessly and walked towards the water. When they were waist-deep she called out ilus, "I know you've been training with your Tsurak, so this should be as easy as your ikrans." She teased.

He threw his head back laughing. He loved her childish side. He smirked and turned his head slightly at her, his eyes a little bit hooded, before saying, "sweetheart, this is going to be a piece of cake," he winked and then, with a confident stride, he dived down and rode the ilus effortlessly.

Tawn felt a little odd, she didn't know what that was, but it ignited some fire inside of her, she felt frustrated with what she didn't know, but she sure wanted it gone. Her heart was beating twenty miles per hour; it felt like beating out of her chest.

She squeezed her thighs together before doing the same thing as Jake, diving down and connecting her tsaheylu with the ilus kuru.

She chased after him, laughing along by his side. She ushered Jake towards another excellent fishing spot near the reef and stopped to dive down.

They spent half of their day in hunting. When they finished, they went home with a heavy fishing basket that Jake, the gentleman he was, carried for her.

Tawn took some for both of them before giving the rest to the family in need. She was okay with it. Besides, she didn't need that much fish for her meal. When Jake invited Tawn to his tent, she hesitantly agreed, she knew she shouldn't do this, but Tawn wasn't ready to let their day end.

"The kids are still out, and it's almost eclipse," Jake sighed tiredly.

Tawn offered him a warm smile, "I'm sure they're okay. They have Tsireya and Rotxo with them. They are probably just heading out to the cove of ancestors," she assured.

Jake nodded.

Tawn smiled sadly. It was touching how he cared for his children, sure he could be tough on his kids, especially his two sons, but Tawn understood that they were at war. They fled because the demons came back, and they were being hunted. Any harsh treatment from him was for their own good. He didn't want to lose anyone anymore.

"Jake, what about we cook them some comfort food? I know a recipe that always warms my body after a long day of exploring," she said, pulling him out of his reverie. She gently touched his bicep and kept the contact to a minimum, not letting the rest of her hand lay flat on his bicep but enough to let him know she was there.

Jake nodded, following her to the bonfire. She chopped some fish they caught and immediately got to work, with the occasional questions coming from Jake.

"Should I put this here too?" Jake asked, showing her a fruit. 

Tawn laughed, "please don't. That's a fruit, Jake. I don't think it belongs in the stew," she giggled.

Jake smiled fondly at her, and he lowered his eyes towards his chopping board, "Sometimes I even wondered how we are still alive with how stupid I can be," he said suddenly, startling Tawn.

Tawn looked at him confused, "what do you mean, Jake?"

Jake sighed dejectedly. His shoulders dropped from carrying his burden all this time. His gaze was different, and Tawn noticed he looked so exhausted now, "Jake?"

He laughed humourlessly, "you know I've been trying so hard to be there for all of them? To be their mother's replacement?" he said.

Tawn's heart broke at the sight of the broken man before her. She didn't want to say anything, she knew he needed someone to listen, and that was what she'd do.

"When their mother died, all I wanted to do was follow her. I didn't think about them. I left them with their grandmother for two weeks. They were an orphan for two weeks." Jake smiled sarcastically, "I was a bad father to them for that long, but then a friend of mine back in the forest knocked some sense into me. He said that my children were out there, crying for not one but two parents because they lost me too."

Tawn bit her lips in agony, she wanted to comfort him and take the pain away, but she held herself back.

"I went back for them, and when they saw me, they ran straight towards me; I forgot they were children. They hadn't experienced anything like that. Losing their mother was their first grief, while it wasn't for mine. Neteyam and Kiri were only fourteen, Lo'ak was thirteen and baby Tuk was five; she was five when she lost her mother to the skypeople," he clenched his fist hard, "and then as if it's not enough, now, a year later, they hunted us like a deer."

"Their mother died when she ran into some of those men in full suit armour, she wasn't prepared for that kind of ambush, and she couldn't do it alone, not when she was out with someone that needed her protection. She died protecting her people and her kids. It was my fault, I wasn't there for her when she needed me. I left her to die," he cried, startling Tawn.

"I should have been the one taking that bullet, not her. She would've been better for the kids than me," Tawn couldn't take this, seeing him break into pieces. She ran towards him and hugged his large figure.

She put her hand around his chest and nestled her head in the crook of his neck, "shh Jake, it's okay," Tawn said shakily. Her eyes were wet with tears.

"Tawn, I bring harm to all of them, and I hate it, first Grace, then Trudy and Tsu'tey at the great war and now my mate, the woman I loved, was gone because of me. I took everything from them," Jake whispered.

Tawn shook her head in defiance. She cupped her hands on his cheeks and looked him straight in the eyes, "you didn't bring harm to your children, Jake Sully. Even if you did, you make it up to them by being their father, Jake, I saw how you cared for Kiri and Tuk," Tawn assured. "Neteyam and Lo'ak? They look up to you and love you so much that they would do anything to finally let you see them as who they truly are, mighty warriors," Tawn smiled, tears falling down her cheeks.

"all you need to do is see them, Jake, see into them, understand their flaws and mistakes and help them grow from it, not punishing them because of it," Tawn soothed, her eyes still wet and her heart aching so badly. She felt for him, she did.

"Your mate died valiantly. She died a hero, Jake, and you should honour her memory that way. She died protecting her people and her family," she assured, putting her head on his shoulders and holding him tight, letting the man cry on hers quietly.

Tawn snuggled into him, offering her comfort to him. They stayed like that for a moment, forgetting about everything. It was only the two of them in their world.

But just like they said, happiness was really a butterfly. When you chased it, it'd fly away from your grasp.

"Dad!, Dad! It's Kiri!" 

----

Hey, i'm back

I was so exhausted yesterday that I forgot to upload this chapter. Anyways, some of the details from Avatar: the way of water were hazy to me so I might miss some things, but I don't think it's going to affect the story anyway, and it's also my fanfiction, Reality can be whatever I want ;)

A little background on Neytiri's death, it was actually pretty sad. And it was three months after the return of skypeople, you know, the date scene. Yeah, and then I believe they did like a time jump, and it was like a year, so yeah. 

anyways, enjoy this new chapter, 

see ya, wlfstrwife.