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"Now Ma" Neteyam tilts his head at her, his eyebrows scrunched in confusion.
Neteyam, Aneysa and Neytiri were stood in the kitchen, whilst Efe was sat down next to Orla.
"Look, I'm not telling you to make a decision right now. He has a weeks time, top. But please, think about this" Neytiri says.
Neteyam looks to Aneysa to see how she felt but could only see a blank face in return.
"Look, I've been making improvement with Efe. A child like him does not deserve to go into the system. And Aneysa was the one to bring me to the hospital that day. You could be great parents to him" Neytiri says.
"Have you asked anyone else?" Neteyam asks.
"No" Neytiri replies.
"We'll think about it" Aneysa finally speaks up.
Neteyam looks at her.
"We will discuss about it more, and when we come to a decision we will let you know before the end of the week" Aneysa smiles and then turns around to walk away.
"Have you only asked us, just because Aneysa can't have kids?" Neteyam asks.
"No. It's nothing about that. In fact, I just think he deserves to have someone like Aneysa to be a mother figure to him. She's strong and independent. Tsireya is currently crying, and having a mental breakdown, from what I've heard from Lo'ak. Kiri is still in university and doesn't have the time on her hands for responsibility like this. You and Aneysa.. you're both stable. You're both strong willed and I know that you'll be great" Neytiri says.
Neteyam sighs, looking down.
"I'm a mother, Neteyam. I know what's best for children and I know that she will be good for him" Neytiri says.
"She had a breakdown, yesterday" Neteyam says to his mom.
"Who? Aneysa?" Neytiri asks, surprised to hear this.
Neteyam nods, letting out another sigh, "I found her on the bathroom floor, Ma. I don't know if she will be able to handle this stress. She just lost another person. Her best friend is treating her differently because she can't be a mother. I don't know what to do."
"You just have to be there for her Neteyam" Neytiri replied, "she needs your support and your love. You made her breakfast so that's a great start."
Neytiri smiles as she positions her head to get a view over his shoulder.
Neteyam turns his head around, to see Aneysa laughing, as Efe got a drop of chocolate on his nose, and Orla, who was stuffing her face with turkey rashers.
"Just give it a thought son. This might actually help her forget the bad and move past it. Positively" Neytiri tells him.
-
"Hurry up and get in" Neteyam tells Aneysa as he's laying down in their bathtub, his back leaning against the edge as he watches Aneysa get undressed.
"Stop eyeing me like I'm candy" Aneysa replies, as she's taking off her shorts.
"I can't help it" Neteyam smirks, "you're my wife. Unless you want me staring at other naked women?"
"Teyam, you know damn well if you even glanced at another woman I'll pop both your eyeballs out" Aneysa replies, untying her hair gently.
"Then hurry" he whines.
"I'm coming you big baby" Aneysa chuckles, as she turns around to see her pouty husband waiting for her.
Orla had gone with Neytiri, over to her house to see Tuk. Which left just Aneysa and Neteyam in the house.
Alone.
She got in to the bathtub, one foot at a time, before she slowly sat down.
And then felt Neteyam pull her back towards him.
"Finally" he sighs, keeping his hand on her torso, his arm still around her, as she laid her head on his chest.
"I can feel your boner" Aneysa chuckles.
"Feel it. Touch it. You're acting like we haven't been married for two years" Neteyam chuckles back, "first time?"
"No.." she smiles, taking his hand into hers.
He looks down at her, watching the way she admired their hands locked with one another.
"What is it?" Neteyam asks.
She smiles, before looking up at him, "thank you."
"Thank you? For what?" Neteyam looks down at her, puzzled.
"For being here for me when i need you" Aneysa replies.
He lets go of her hand, using that hand to cup on to her cheek, "I told you, don't thank me. I'm your husband. I love you. Being there for you when you need me is the bare minimum. All you have to do is..?"
She smiles and nods, "stay close to you."
Neteyam smiles, "that's all I ask."
As their eyes met, a magnetic pull seemed to draw them closer, neither one able to resist the growing anticipation. In an intimate dance, their bodies gravitated towards each other, a delicate sway as they closed the gap, their breaths intermingling in the charged air.
Their noses brushed against each other, adding an innocent touch of tenderness that contrasted beautifully with the building intensity. Fingers found the contours of cheeks, caressing ever so gently, conveying an overwhelming tenderness and adoration that words could never capture.
-
Tuk and Orla were sat down in their sitting room, the house to themselves as everyone else had gone off to work.
"So, Orla. Shall we order some takeout?" Tuk asks.
"Whatever it is, I don't mind. I just thought I should come over, to give Aneysa and Neteyam some time to themselves" Orla replies.
"Time to themselves? Boo hoo, as if they cared if they were alone or not. The things I heard, as a child?" Tuk scoffs, "you wouldn't even believe it."
Orla chuckles, "well, they are husband and wife. I don't wish to get in the way of them wanting to spend some time together."
"That's thoughtful I suppose" Tuk replies.
"Honestly, I would love to have a relationship like theirs" Orla tells Tuk.
"It comes with a lot of pain, if I'm real with you" Tuk says, "and I mean a lot."
"I know" Orla nods, "nothing is ever clean. Relationships will forever have problems on the way. But I noticed that Neteyam has always been there beside her. And I hope to have a relationship where I have someone beside me. My mother didn't do a great job at it."
Tuk looks at her sympathetically but Orla only shrugs with a laugh, "she was pathetic anyways."
Tuk let's out a snort, laughing along with her, "oh. Okay then."
"I don't like to see it as a pity party" Orla says, calming her laughter, "she just couldn't be a good mother and that's that. Some women are good mothers. Some are not."
"That is true" Tuk nods in agreement.
"What about you?" Orla asks, "do you ever think of your future? The type of relationship you want?"
"Of course" Tuk responds, "I want a man who.. who's soft hearted. Understanding. Me being sarcastic most the times, I want a man who will be able to handle that. Instead of taking offence to it."
"Sounds a bit like Ethan" Orla chuckles.
"What?" Tuk looks at her.
"You always make snarky comments at him, but he always laughs about it. If you ask me, he takes it because he likes you" Orla smirks, nudging her shoulder with Tuk's.
"Ha ha" Tuk rolls her eyes, "someone has been hanging out with Tiana too much."
"And you've been hanging out with Ethan too much" Orla let's out a giggle, "I don't know how you see it. He clearly has the puppy eyes for you. And you only."
"Me and Ethan? It's never going to happen. Ever" Tuk shook her head.
"But he's a hot guy!" Orla protests.
"Then have him" Tuk laughs.
"He doesn't want me!" Orla laughs, "he wants you. And you only."
-
Aneysa giggles as Neteyam holds her up from her waist, the two of them walking back to their bedroom, after a nice bath together.
"Orla is not here, we have the whole day to ourselves" Neteyam replies, his soft lips against her collar bone, before he puts her down slowly.
"I know, and I can't wait" Aneysa kisses his cheek before she roams through her wardrobe to get out her clothes.
Neteyam pops on some shorts, not wanting to wear a shirt on, when there a knock on the door.
"I'll get that" Neteyam kisses her cheek before walking out the bedroom.
"It better not be a woman!" Aneysa shouts back, before she turns around, muttering to herself, "don't want her perving at that body."
-
Neteyam opens the door, to his little brother walking in, looking as though he could really use a nap.
"Lo'ak?" Neteyam asks.
"Please put a shirt on. I'm going through enough" Lo'ak lets out a sob, before walking in.
"Whats happening? Why are you at my door looking like.. that?" Neteyam asks.
"I have a crying baby, a crying, hormonal wife, a messy house, and I am on 2 hours of sleep. Literally cancelled a shift today!" Lo'ak replies, in an agitated tone.
"Alright alright. Take a seat" Neteyam looks at Lo'ak concerned, as he helps him to take a seat on his sofa.
"Please, for the love of god, put something on so we can speak. I can't talk when your nipples are out" Lo'ak sighs.
Neteyam looks around, before grabbing a tea towel, covering his nipples.
"Right, what's happening?" Neteyam asks.
"I need you to apologise.. to Tsireya" Lo'ak says.
"Apologise? For what?" Neteyam asks.
"She told me what happened when you came over" Lo'ak replies.
"Okay. And I stand by what I said" Neteyam shrugs.
"Neteyam. My wife is pregnant. Yes, I agree, she should have dialled it down a little. But she meant no harm. She loves Aneysa and you know that" Lo'ak says.
"I'm sorry that you knocked her up and got her pregnant. You know pregnancy comes with hormones right? What did you expect?" Neteyam asks.
"I don't know" Lo'ak sighs, "please, apologies to her so she'll feel better and stop crying. Please!"
"So, because she's pregnant, I'm meant to feel sympathetic for her?" Neteyam asks.
"Yes?" Lo'ak asks.
"No!" Neteyam responds, himself in disbelief, "just because she's pregnant, that doesn't mean she can make Aneysa feel crap about herself. No real friend treats you differently, just because you can't have kids. That's not how the world works."
"Why are you so.. angry about this? Has something happened? Is Aneysa okay?" Lo'ak asks.
"Of course she's not okay. She lost someone. She kept her feelings bottled up for the last two weeks. Tsireya was the last straw, before I found herself sat on the bathroom floor in tears, Lo'ak. I am not apologising" Neteyam replies.
Lo'ak looked a bit taken back, not knowing that Aneysa was a lot more effected than he expected.
"Look, I understand that you're angry. But she does feel really bad, Tsireya does. It was all taken out of context, she didn't mean to" Lo'ak tries to explain.
"Tsireya is a grown woman. If she really felt that way, she should apologise for disrespecting my wife" Neteyam replies.
"Who's here? What's going on?" Aneysa walks in to find Lo'ak and Neteyam.
"Oh Lo'ak.. you look a mess" Aneysa squints her eyes at him, "what happened?"
"Tsireya. She's been upset" Lo'ak tells her, "I came here hoping that you'd.. talk to her. Apologies?"
"Oh no. Is she okay? Is it the baby?" Aneysa asks.
"It's about what she said, yesterday" a Lo'ak sighs, "she continually keeps saying that she didn't mean to let that all out and that she feels that she's hurt you and I just.. I don't know what to do or how to make her stop crying. I thought that maybe if you talk to her and tell her you're okay..?" Lo'ak asks.
"But you said apologise? Why are we apologising?" Aneysa asks.
"Not you. Just.. Neteyam" Lo'ak responds.
Aneysa looks at Neteyam, "why are you covering your nipples with a tea towel?"
"He was triggered by my nips" Neteyam points to Lo'ak.
"I don't even know why I asked" she sighs, "and what did you say? To Tsireya."
"To not disrespect you ever again" Neteyam shrugs, "and I stand by my statement."
"Oh god" Aneysa sighs, resting her head in her palm.
"What? I'm not wrong" Neteyam stood up.
"She's a lot more emotional because she's pregnant Teyam. You need to be more careful with the words you use towards her" Aneysa replies calmly.
"I told her the truth. No sugar coating. Just the way she did to you" Neteyam replies.
"And I appreciate that. But you're not pregnant" she smiles, touching his stomach.
Aneysa then turns to look at Lo'ak, "we'll talk to her. And apologise. Don't worry about it."
She puts on a smile, but Neteyam knew deep down, she was unhappy.
Which made him, unhappy.
-
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