To Begin Again

An Avatar fanfic written by ..SEE.

Author's Note: Okay, so this is my first Avatar fanfic. I've tried multiple times to write one...and I always just end up begging off. Hopefully that won't happen with this one.

Just be sure to know: With all the schoolwork and other activities recently, it'll be hard for me to write at regular intervals. I'll try, I promise, to write as often as I can. I'll make sure never to go longer then two weeks without posting, unless I notify you guys first. Here's to hoping you'll come back for more.

Chapter Summary: This story picks up from the moment the movie ends in the mobile link up in the forest, after the fight with Quaritch and after Neytiri saved Jake's human body (as well as his Na'vi one; girl power! haha). I'll expand outwards as the chapters move on, and anything I mention that you can't remember will probably be found in the movie script, which is available online.

Disclaimer: I have never, will never, and do not currently own Avatar. I am merely borrowing the characters and settings for my own amusement.

Enough is enough; I hope you enjoy this!

Chapter 1: Air

"I See you."

"I See you," Neytiri replied, tears dripping down her face. But, for once, they were happy tears. The invaders had been defeated, and she and Jake had been saved. Jake, her Jake, one of the Omaticaya, Toruk Macto—was human. Now, usually, she would hate to be this close to one of the detested Sky People…But this was her Jake.

She knew the other Na'vi people might not see it the same way, but she knew who he really was. He might have different colored skin or a smaller body, but none of that really mattered. Jake was Jake, and she still loved him, no matted what body he was in. Just as she had told him the night they had mated, "This body is real. This spirit is real…When I was first you teacher, I hated all Sky People. But you have also taught me. Spirit is all that matters." Those few sentences had been the truth—and they would always be the truth.

There was one thing that bothered her, though. There was a rather troublesome mask of plastic covering his face. And, in a moment like this, there wasn't really any excuse for something between them.

Just a second after she removed the mask, the two mates shared a passionate and lingering kiss. Even though it was the first time they'd ever kissed while Jake was human, it was still exactly the same. Their lips moved in perfect synchronization, melding to one another…Before they realized that, though it didn't seem any different, Jake was human—and he needed air. Plus, Neytiri realized as she adjusted his oxygen mask with a smile, though they had killed Quaritch, it did not mean that they were necessarily safe. Jake, for one, was stuck in his human body. And though Neytiri was fine with it now, it was going to prove a problem when Jake tried to marshal the Omaticaya and other clans together. Not to mention moving.

First, they needed to get Jake back to his avatar. Now that their mobile link was unusable, Neytiri would have to move him somewhere else for him to get back into his avatar again. Jake tried to communicate through Neytiri's mike, but there didn't seem to be anyone out there.

"Here, can you help me get up? I've got to get to my chair, its over there," Jake said, pointing to the corner he'd knocked it into in his previous rush for air. Trying to scramble through a space that was obviously much too small for her, Neytiri snagged the chair from the corner and, with Jake's assistance, opened it wide enough for him to sit in.

Neytiri stood back as he deftly maneuvered his wheelchair around the fallen debris, a feat that would've proved almost impossible for any first-timer, but, with Jake's years of practice, took only a few minutes.

Neytiri was curious. Though she knew he would explain anything she asked about, Neytiri felt that, just by his body language, this might be a sore subject. Even the way he looked in that contraption was enough to tell her not to bother him about it…At least not until he was back to his other body—the one he was obviously so much more comfortable in.

Once Jake had gotten to the other side of the bunker, he booted up the computer, praying it wasn't too damaged to link up to Hell's Gate's Communication Center. Neytiri came up and crouched behind him just as Max's face came onscreen.

Neytiri had never seen this sky person, and her first instinct was to lash out at him. Jake seemed friendly enough, though, so Neytiri let it go. He even greeted her when he saw her onscreen, but quickly went back to Jake, loudly rejoicing about the battle, and leaving her alone without waiting for a reply.

Just as well, Neytiri thought. How does he even know me? Would Jake have mentioned me to his Sky People friends? Neytiri wasn't sure how she felt about that. Should she be angry or…flattered? That she was that important to Jake that he thought he should mention her to his friends? Even before this whole mess happened? Perhaps before they even mated?

She knew now, of course, what she meant to him (and vice versa), but this Max person acted as if he'd known her for a long time. Had Jake thought about her enough when the first met to mention her to his friends? Neytiri smiled; she'd question him later.

"…So they're still there? Is the linking room still ready? Is there any chance you could get a shuttle out here to take Neytiri and I back?"

Neytiri was drawn away from her thoughts at the sound of her name. When the words she was hearing registered, she lightly bared her teeth, showing disapproval at this plan.

"Yeah, they're working. I think we can get a shuttle, but with the battle and everything there might not be anything left…Let me check…" And with that, Max left the screen.

"I do not want you going back into their machines. They are not safe."

"Neytiri, it'll be fine, I promise. Max wouldn't lie to us anyway; he helped us coordinate battle plans—he's trustworthy, I swear. Plus, I doubt my ikran could carry us and the chair, not even Toruk" Jake assured her. He ran a hand through his hair and turned his face back to the monitor when he heard Max's voice.

"Yeah, we've got one or two Samsons here…But they're just leftover civilian ships from earth, I'll have to find a pilot."

"Okay, call it in. We'll be waiting here," Jake signed off and turned to Neytiri.

"So," he said matter-of-factly.

"Yes?"

"I'm guessing you've got some questions," Jake said, gesturing to his wheelchair. Neytiri was torn—should she go along with what he was saying and ask him what she wanted to know, or be polite and stay silent for who knows how long? Being characteristically bold, Neytiri chose the former.

"I do, actually. What is that? And why do you use it?" Neytiri asked, looking at the wheelchair supporting him.

"It's a wheelchair, and I use it because I lost the use of my legs in a battle a long time ago on my home planet. I have to use it as a human, but, as an avatar, I got the use of my legs back. That's actually why I came here—to be able to use my legs again. And to make a difference. Thankfully, I achieved both of those goals," Jake finished with a smile. "Plus a few more," he added, stroking her cheek.

"Is that why your human legs are so small then?"

Jake grimaced, but wasn't offended by her bluntness. It was one of the reasons he loved her. "Yeah, it is. Since I can't use my legs, they lose all of their muscle and they shrivel, like rotting fruit."

Neytiri looked down, feeling guilty for pressing him on a subject that seemed sad for him to recount.

"Hey," Jake said, touching her face. "I asked you if you had questions, remember? I've gotten used to giving these answers over the years, and besides…I wanted you to know. It feels like you know the human me a bit better now. That's nice," Jake finished with a smile. Jake wanted to kiss her so badly, and he would've, if it weren't for that damn mask. Instead, he decided they should get moving; Max might be here soon.

"Want to head outside? I bet it's really cramped in here for you, and I think Max'll have a pilot here soon."

Once they were outside, Neytiri listened for the sounds of incoming aerial ships. After a couple minutes, they heard the sounds of an approaching aircraft.

"Don't worry, it's Max." Jake could see his hand waving from the co-pilot seat, and a bit of his scruffy beard hanging out the side of the Samson.

"Hey Jake!"

Max hopped out and greeted Jake, unsurprised that he was in his chair—he's noticed Jake's human form on their video feed, but had waited to ask him about it until he saw Jake in person.

"Uh, Neytiri, this is Max; Max this is Neytiri," Jake extrapolated as the new Sky Person walked closer. "He helped us during the war—he's the guy on the inside who sent us all the information about the Sky People's plans."

"Ah. Um, hello…Mahx."

"Hey, Neytiri, nice to finally meet you," Max said with a smile and a quick look towards Jake that was not missed by Neytiri. "Okay, so we should get you guys back to Hell's gate. We can pack up your avatar; you'll need it to deal with everything. And trust me, there's a lot to deal with."

"Great. Well, we better get going then," Jake said as he wheeled himself over to the Samson. Just as he was about to ask for a little help, Neytiri was behind him, lifting the whole chair into the copter.

"Thanks, Neytiri," Jake said, blushing faintly.

"It was nothing." She was obviously enjoying making him blush. Jake looked away and addressed Max.

"Do we know who survived? No one was responding on my feed before Eywa's intervention…Did any of them survive? Norm? Tsu'tey? Mo'at?" Jake knew not to mention Trudy's name…He'd known she had already died, but with all the suffering, it was hard to process the loss of even more life.

"I'm not sure about any of the Na'vi, but I know Norm's okay. His human body is at least," Max answered.

"His human body? What happened to his avatar? Is it still alive? If we hurry, I bet we can pick it up somewhere!"

"He got shot," Max explained as Jake winced. The idea of even a temporary Norm getting shot was a shaky subject—Jake could barely imagine Norm going into battle. It had seemed like such an unrealistic and unusual feat during those first few months on Pandora. Jake was just happy Norm was alive. For Norm, having one body was just as good as having the other.

"Will the avatar be okay? They can survive more damage then humans, right? With the carbon fiber or something?"

"He'll be fine, I think—We already got a team to go out and pick up his avatar; they're scouting for survivors now. By the way, we told them that if any RDA survivors are found, they're to be sent back to Hell's Gate. While you guys were gone, we set up a temporary holding area to deal with all staff members. We weren't really sure what you guys wanted to do with them," Max looked at Jake, hoping for a clear solution.

"Well, we'll have to think about that…Should we ask The People? Do you think Mo'at should decide? Tsu'tey?" Jake directed these last few questions at Neytiri. Neytiri thought about the dilemma for a minute before answering.

"They must leave. Now. It's been our outlook since all of this started. We must send them back to their world. Sa'nok and olo'eyktan will agree. I'm sure," Neytiri stated with finality, and a warm look toward Max (as he had just helped save their planet), "that a few may stay."

"All right, then," Jake said, turning to Max before sparing a broad smile to Neytiri, "send 'em home!"

Laughter could be heard inside the Samson as it raced towards "Hell's" Gate—Pandora would finally be theirs again.

Translations:

Toruk Macto: Rider of Last Shadow (or, Great Leonopteryx); is said to be able to save the Na'vi clans from times of Great Sorrow; aka Jake.

Sa'nok: Mother; Mo'at.

Olo'eyktan: Clan leader; aka Tsu'tey in this story.