Disclaimer: I do not own Moana, all rights belong to Disney Animation. Any references to Polynesian culture that I make, I hope I get right. There was no malicious intent in the making of this fanfic to any cultures portrayed, and any mistakes made will be apologised profusely for. WARNING: THE CHAPTER MAY CONTAIN TRIGGERS! READ WITH CAUTION!

The first clue that Maui got was when he arrived. Moana was not there to greet him. She wasn't excitedly running up to greet him, she wasn't dancing or anything like that. She wasn't there. When he dropped on the beach it was Sina who greeted him. Sina, who stood there proudly and smiled. She awkwardly told him that it was traditional for the Chief to be married before they ascend or just after. To help ease the burden somewhat, she explained. They'd been trying to get Moana to pick a suitor. Sina grimaced when she explained that Moana had had her heart broken and had vowed to not look at a man other than her father for an entire year. Maui had laughed disbelievingly, picking up on the immediate lie, but sensing he shouldn't call her out just yet. Sina said they'd tried to dissuade her, but Moana was stubborn. That had been four months ago. Maui had paused and stared deeply at the Chief's wife and the mother of his best friend. The petite woman stared up at him with hope, and he hesitated, nodding, accepting the lie as she presented it. He gave her a look that said he knew she was lying, but he didn't press it. He greeted the villagers as usual, greeted Tui, helped out the coconut harvesters, the fisherman, told the children stories and laughed around. And he observed Moana cautiously. She was never alone, always surrounded by women, or with her mother. She was quiet, subdued, so unlike the Moana he knew that he'd had to ask Sina just where she was. Sina had pointed her out, looking like her heart was breaking to do so.

A quiet, waif of a woman had been surrounded other woman, weaving. She had no flower in her head, and she was quieter than death. Maui had stared disbelieving, and had turned to Sina asking if they were sure Moana hadn't been cursed. Sina shook her head. It was Moana alright, but so different he didn't know how to feel. He'd stayed though, and had continued helping out, mostly with the fishermen. He noticed other things though. How carefully people avoided talking about Moana, how the men of the village would look at her with pain on their faces, particularly some of the elders. He noticed the women clustering around her, patting her back and looking concerned. He noted that Moana who was normally slim, athletic and lithe, looked more heavy around her belly. He noticed how she held her stomach sometimes, how the women would noticed and look pained. He particularly noted how Tui would hold his girl, looking like he wanted to kill someone and he couldn't, looking like the world had robbed him and there was nothing he could do. Maui reached a conclusion within a month. He pulled aside Sina after the coconut husking one day, and asked her to help him with his net. They both knew it was an excuse. He tried to go for tact and then bluntly asked what had really happened. He told her what he'd observed, and told her that what he'd seen told a different story to the one she'd told him. Sina stood there, suddenly looking her fourty-six years.

She told him, hesitatingly how a tribal chief had come. He'd brought his brother and his wife, three advisors and two guards, gifts and food. They'd been courteous, offering a suit for Moana's hand for the chief's brother. The brother had been charming, and suave. He'd joked and laughed, playing around with the children. Moana had clearly admired him. He'd showed off his knowledge of tribal politics and the world, and had appeared to admire Moana. It had looked like a match made by the gods. They'd spent three weeks there, letting the brother bond with Moana. The entire village approved of them, and then they'd had the leaving feast for them. It had been a fun night, dancing and joking and laughing. Merriment had been high. Moana had been exhausted after the feast, like she usually was. Sina told him how she'd seen her daughter slip away, knowing she'd leave for the ocean or to see the forest at night. Maui nodded knowing it as a Moana thing. But no one had noticed the brother slip away to follow her. Sina visibly prepared herself. Hesitantly, she told how some of the fishermen, who'd been repairing their nets, had heard screams, and the sound of a fight. They'd not been able to find anyone so they'd reported it to Tui. Tui had quickly taken account of his villagers and noted that only Moana was missing. The brother they found at the edge of the village, looking concerned. He'd heard the screams, he'd said. And so they searched for Moana, both Chiefs and their parties. Tui and Sina had gone with four of the village elders and six fishermen. They'd searched the forest up by a clearing. There, Sina hesitated, grabbing Maui's hand and squeezing it as tightly as she could clearly hoping she didn't have to go on.

In an unsteady voice she told him how they'd found Moana slumped against a tree, bloodied with cuts, and marked already by bruises. Her lava-lava had been out of disarray, revealing her bloodstained thighs. Her entire body was trembling, and her face was soaked in tears. She'd flinched when she'd seen them, people she'd known her whole life. Sina wept as she told Maui, how Moana had cried when her father had picked her up. Her head had been bloodied by a flat rock, so she'd had a headache. The elders had wept, and one of the fishermen had vomited when he realised what had happened to the young woman. They'd carried her back down to the village to the healer's fale. On the way, they'd met the other Chief and his search party. Moana had screamed the moment she'd seen the brother. She'd flinched and pushed and tried to get away, falling to the ground and wrenching her ankle. She'd pulled her father between herself and the brother. The Chief and his wife had turned to the brother and stared. Moana's reaction was undeniable. He was her rapist. They'd taken her to the healer's fale, and left the punishment to the other Chief. It was early in the morning when they heard the screams. They'd burned the brother's tattoos so they were no longer visible. He'd been exiled, and sent out on a boat, to survive where he could. Two months later, they'd realised he'd left Moana with a child. And that, Sina wept, was where the injustice lay. Because now Moana would forever have a reminder of the sheer cruelty that life sometimes held. Maui held her, trying desperately not to cry himself. Which was how Tui found them, Sina weeping for dear life clutching the massive hand of their resident demi-god, who also looked like he'd like to cry. He knew immediately what had transpired. Tui had crouched beside them and wrapped an arm around his wife, laying a hand on Maui's shoulder as he contemplated the injustice of life. Life was cruel, and Moana knew it well.

That night, Maui determined to help his friend anyway he could. And in the morning when he delivered a basket of coconuts to the huskers, he made sure to approach Moana. He stayed carefully within her line of sight, and cracked a few jokes with the other women there. He made sure to nod a greeting to her. And that was how it went. Every opportunity to approach Moana he took it. He always approached the same way. Well within her line of sight, and with a big, friendly smile. The village realised what he was doing, and made sure that they had something to help him along. He was getting Moana used to being approached by a friendly man in the safety of her circle of women. It was slow going, and they saw the pain every time he'd walk away. But it was more than worth it, when a month in Moana finally greeted him. He cried by the beach with the fishermen, happy that she felt safe enough to greet him. He kept it up, his inherent stubbornness pushing for the ultimate goal. Gradually, she opened. She'd talk to him, when he greeted her, and eventually she would walk around by herself. The village men would greet her, and chat a bit, but they never talked too long the moment she looked remotely uncomfortable. Her first smile after the attack occurred at seven months pregnant. Heihei had tripped him, and he'd taken down a basket of coconuts and two village men with him. Moana had been passing. All three men were thoroughly angry with the chicken and had turned to it in anger when they'd heard movement. They'd turned and seen Moana standing there with a smile. She'd scooped up Heihei and had promised to keep him out of trouble. Maui cried in the Chief's fale telling Tui and Sina. He inserted himself back into every spot in Moana's life where he could be. He'd be seen, hovering behind Moana, not quite touching her, but just close enough so she could feel his body heat. Slowly, oh so slowly, the entire village and Maui began to coax her back to life. She smiled more. They were pathetic smiles, pale imitations of the real thing. But they were better than nothing. She would also walk around the village more, despite being nearly nine months pregnant and ready to give birth. Twins were predicted, due to how swollen she was, and Tui and Sina were anxious. A pregnant, unmarried Chief-to-be was one thing, as Moana could be married off. But an unmarried, Chief-to-be with children would be almost out of the question. There wouldn't be a single island, but one that would trade with Motonui from then on, not with a disgraced Chieftess, unless Moana gave the child or children up. And somehow, Sina knew Moana never would.

And so she watched her twenty-two year old daughter, waddle about the village with her heavily pregnant belly. She watched as her daughter relearned how to smile. She watched her daughter dance by the ocean, so much like her Gramma Tala. Moana would be the village crazy lady when she was old, Sina knew. Just like she knew Moana was struggling to dance, despite her graceful movements. And when she hunched over gripping at her belly, Sina was the first to move. She ran down to the ocean and supported her daughter, helping her back up the beach. And it was Sina who called out for Tui, and for Maui. They came, running down the beach as fast as they could. Tui pulled Moana away from Sina, and Maui scooped up Moana, and began running towards the falema'i, Tui and Sina hot on his heels. It's a long labour, and Moana only has the healers, and Sina to help her through it. Tui represses his anxiety into pacing long into the day. The entire village is aware. They can hear her grunts of pain, and the sounds of Sina encouraging her. It's still early in the afternoon. Maui joins Tui, but this time they carve random pieces of wood. Some of the elders join them, bringing more wood and more tools. The women of the village, smile and bring around fruit, knowing with the certainty of mothers just how these things go. It's hours before the labour progresses, the sun is barely setting and then the screaming starts. Most of the men in the village wince, Moana is a screamer born with a good set of lungs. The women nod, it is progressing at a decent pace. This is how it goes. So late in the night when the moon is at it's peak, Moana screams her loudest only this time another cry joins her. It is strong, and violently demanding. This is a good sign. Sina comes out, covered in blood, and nods. It is a girl, she says. A girl as lusty and violent as Moana was when she was born. She looks like Moana in everything except her eyes. Tui smiles and holds his grand-daughter, for Moana has begun screaming again, and the twin is on its way. Within minutes there is a weaker cry, and Sina disappears inside, and comes back out with a boy. He is a lot smaller, but he also looks like Moana. Tui cries with relief. Moana will not be cursed with children looking like her attacker. Sina takes the children inside so Moana can feed them and name them. Two minutes later, Sina comes back out crying. She reports that Tala and Kaikoa Waialiki are now peacefully sleeping in their mother's arms. The elders smile and nod at Tui, congratulating him on his grand-children. Maui asks if Moana is okay, and Sina smiles in relief. It was a good labour, there were no lives lost.

Tui walks about with Maui the next day. When they see Moana in the shade of a well-placed coconut tree, they both stop. It is one of the most serene pictures they've ever seen. A mother nursing her two children patiently while she watches the world around her like a hawk. Tui felt tears welling up in his eyes, and Maui was almost in shock. Moana looked like a good mother, and he could tell she loved the children already. When they greet her she smiles. It is a tired smile. Tui holds his grand-son with proud eyes, despite Kaikoa being so much smaller than his sister. When Maui mentions that Kaikoa will find it hard to live up to his name, Moana laughs. "He will be the thinker." She says with the certainty of a mother. Tui smiles at her happily. Despite this they know. Moana will never be able to rule the same way again unless she gets married soon or gives up her children. But the children aren't going, and they know that. Maui knows that. He'd held Kaikoa in his massive arms, watching the bright, inquisitive eyes explore everything they could see. He'd felt the tattoo on his back tingle, and he'd looked at Moana so intently she broke off her sentence to Tui and turned to him. She read the question so palpable in his eyes, the fear in his eyes, the way he held her child so closely. She straightened her back and shook her head. He relaxed. There was no way Kaikoa would be thrown in the ocean. He was Moana's son, her child. He relaxed his grip and bounced the baby boy. It was how Sina found them. Clustered under the shade of a coconut tree with the children giggling happily. She hesitates, and watches them. Watches how Maui holds Tala so cautiously before he bounces her. Watches how Tui smiles at the helpless demi-god enraptured by the two babies in front of him. Sina joins them, plucking little Tala out of her 'Uncle Maui's' grasp. She sits next to her daughter and leans against her husband's legs, and plays with her grand-daughter, knowing that Moana will choose marriage rather than lose these treasures. And she smiles when her daughter quietly assures her of exactly that.

Tala: The name of the Goddess of the stars in Tagalog mythology, and was said to be the eldest daughter of the moon. Also Gramma Tala's name.

Kaikoa: Kai meaning "sea, sea water" and koa meaning "soldier, warrior, fighter" Kaikoa is sea warrior.

Lava-lava: A single piece of cloth worn as a skirt, traditionally worn by Polynesians and other Oceanic peoples.

Falema'i: A Samoan house. Refers to house of the ill. The hospital.

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