It was night and the home tree was quiet. But Jake wouldn't have noticed if a pack of thanaotors had come charging through the forest. From his neighboring hammock, he watched her, "You're not asleep are you?"
Her blank face curled into a smile, "Since you came to us, I have found I only sleep when you do."
"The burdens of being bonded to an insomniac."Jake sat up to study his mate. A rush of fondness raced through him as he looked upon her. His eyes looked upon smooth blue skin, a long lithe body and a glittering pattern of markings across her torso and face but he saw his lover and closest friend. He ached to be closer to her but even if he went over to her bed, he couldn't stay. The hammock wouldn't hold them both now and he would be forced to leave.
His eyes, moving on their own accord, lowered to her abdomen where the product of their frequent mating was growing. Their child.
Neytiri opened her eyes and followed his gaze, "If only you could feel her too Jake. She is strong but gentle, only the best of you and I."
"You are connected to her?"
Neytiri nodded, "By the cord which allows me to nurture her inside of my body."
"Describe it to me."
Her hands went to protect her precious burden, "I do not sense her in a physical way but I can connect to her like one can connect to the voices in the Tree of Life."
"I always wanted a daughter," Jake admitted, "Even when I was a warrior or as a kid growing up in a house with brothers. Someone who would need me in a way no one I ever knew had."
"You have me," Neytiri said, "And you have The People."
"I know. I can't forget my responsibilities or my loyalties that easily," Jake searched his minds for the right words, "I mean like something to…protect?"
"What makes you so certain you will be the one protecting her?" Neytiri's eyes were closed now and she was curled up into herself, her eyes closed but her face joyful as if she saw something pleasant in her mind.
"Well she's half of you so obviously I wouldn't be her keeper but," he sighed, "It's hard to explain."
Unable to resist the temptation any longer, Jake pulled himself up on the branch holding his hammock and swung himself over to Neytiri's swinging bed. He landed feet planted on both sides of her body, carefully putting equal force on both sides so not to sway the bed and knock either of them out.
He moved slowly until his body was curled into Neytiri's and nestled his head between her shoulder blades, wrapping his arms around her, "She'll be my reminder of how far I've come and how pleased I am to be here in this new life."
Neytiri breathed contently for a bit, soaking in her Jake's presence. Then she reached over and took his braid in her hand and laced the delicate ending with hers.
Jake was overwhelmed at first by his mate's bond with his mind. Then her reveled as he felt her emotions and thoughts embraced him. He felt love, admiration, attraction, warmth, wonderment, and desire. He saw happy memories and future hopes. Then he felt it.
The baby. Their tiny unborn child was reaching out for him. Her gently pulled away from Neytiri and reached for her. He felt her curiosity first as if she couldn't quite understand who he was. He was aware of her recognition and then he felt nothing. His heart clenched as he thought his child thought and felt nothing for him. Then there was a sudden rush of affections and he saw her tiny life. Her warm womb, the light and sounds of the outside world, her mother's voice.
He saw images of himself with Neytiri, others of The People and some of the glowing forest. With these images came a rush of almost giddy happiness.
"Yes," he felt himself say to her, "It's a beautiful world."
Then he saw other things, he saw deadly beasts, sorrow and other negative human emotions, the dark sides of the mind, death. The tiny soul was afraid of these.
"Don't you worry about that little one," he replied, "I will guide you through those trials."
He saw her briefly, her hair dark and unbraided, her face and body and mannerism like Neytiri but his eyes. She mesmerized him, this creature of both himself and Neytiri.
He looked at her face and searched for a name. Kinza? That had been the name of Neytiri's closest friend, a victim of the times of sorrow. Susan, his mother? Tamsin? Matai? Romar?
No she was none of these. She wasn't the remnants of another nor was she meant to have an earthly name. She was entirely herself.
"You can name her," he whispered in Neytiri's ear, "But I get to hold her first."
Neytiri fell asleep and the image began to fade. Their daughter gave him one last smile before she disappeared.
His daughter's face was burned into his mind. He raked his brain for something, word or an idea that would describe her. Something that would make her more real to him. He could find none. He would have to wait for her to come before he could see who she truly was. Or, as he suspected, what she decided she would be. He had an itching feeling no one would choose or have any say in the matter but her.
"I can't wait."