Author's Notes: Here's another chapter. We will continue with an older Kiri and Spider that they have learned to understand what deeper feelings could mean. Miles Quaritch has not been discussed that he's alive, but it will be brought up by Spider with a surprising reaction especially from Jake when you consider the history between them. Read on and I hope you enjoy it.

~o~o~

Chapter 2: Hidden Secrets

Still living with the Metkayina clan:

Together in every way except one, they approached Kiri's family to tell them the truth, not only about their relationship but the fact that Miles Quaritch is alive, and it's highly possible that he's planning a return to their lives to cause turmoil and unrest and soon. They entered their dwelling, and everyone is at home.

"Mother Father, Spider has something important to tell you," Kiri said.

"Mr. and Mrs. Sully, you may want to sit down. This is important and I've wanted to tell you this for a long time, ever since I returned to your family."

Everyone sat down, but Neytiri had a feeling. "Is this about Miles Quaritch that it's true, he's your father?"

"Yes, it's true, but I did suspect it during the battle a few years ago. He left clues for me, and I had several tests to confirm it and… he's my father. My mother is dead, killed during the war months after I was born."

Jake spoke up. "I see and you wanted us to know about your parents, but my wife is speaking the truth. We both suspected it. Is there more?"

He took a deep breath and then, "Yes, my father is alive. He revived after I brought him to the surface. I thought he could still be alive, and he began to breathe again. I'm sorry. I know the awful things he did back then, and I feel ashamed to carry his DNA, but I do."

"Oh, no," Neytiri exclaimed and turned to her husband.

Jake wanted everyone to think and not get carried away. "Please everyone, stay calm." He took Neytiri's hand. "We are sad and disappointed, but we can't blame you for him being alive. No one can choose who their parents are, but knowing you, I know you tried to stop him. He was always determined to find me and my family no matter what or who got in his way."

"But Jake, why is he telling us this now?" Neytiri asked getting upset.

"Spider, please tell us the rest," Jake said.

"You see, I love your daughter and she admitted her love for me too. I don't want us to continue our relationship with this secret hanging over our heads. He's still out there and he will come back, and we need to be ready," Spider said.

Jake had a feeling. "Kiri, you two have a long way to go before you can commit to this relationship the way you want. Your mother and I have made that clear to both of you. Are you willing to wait for the right time to continue?"

They glanced at each other. "Yes, we're willing to wait, and we will help in the fight against Quaritch. He's our enemy and that hasn't changed," Kiri replied.

"My next question will require honesty on your part, Spider. Search deep inside your heart and what you truly feel about this man. Would you choose to kill him if you're faced with that choice?" Jake asked.

He searched down inside, and he knew what to say. "After I found out the truth, that he's my father, the first thing that came to my mind is that I needed to undertake the transformation, to become Na'vi in every way. Kiri is not completely sure that I should do this, but it's what I want more than anything, besides your daughter," Spider said and turned to face her and took her hand to prove his point.

Jake and Neytiri glanced at each other. "I see what you're saying, but I need an answer about choice, and you have to decide whether you would choose to kill him or not."

Kiri squeezed his hand. "It's a difficult decision, but you need to remember what you told me about all the horrible things you witnessed while you were with him?"

"Yes, I remember, and yes, I would kill him if I had a choice," he finally replied.

Jake came closer and touched his shoulder. "Yes, like Kiri said, it's a difficult decision but you will make the right choice when the time comes. We trust you, Spider, we always have."

His eyes watered. "Thank you… father." He tried to smile.

Jake smiled. "I like that." He pulled him close for a moment. "Now get out of here and rest for now. We will have another fight on our hands."

Holding Kiri's hand and they left to be together, always together.

Neytiri watched them leave. "Are you sure you can trust him?"

"Yes, I'm sure." He paused. "What is it about him that has you worried? He's been a part of our family from the first moment we saw him."

She shook her head remembering. "When I first saw him, I suspected that he could be the offspring of Quaritch. Seeing him brought back home tree, how we lost it and our lives in the forest." She paused. "You are right; it's not his fault what happened at home tree, but the memories are there, and he is human. It's not the same when I first saw you, but with him, it feels different."

"Oh, I see, but he's not one of them; he's never been human in the way we see them. I remember the first time I saw him, and if his skin wasn't blue, I thought he was Na'vi, like us, you and me."

She had to smile. "Yes, that's true." She paused and thought of his need to transform. "What of his idea that he wants to transform into one of us? Do you think that's wise?"

"It's his choice, his life and I'm behind him one hundred percent."

"Yes, I'm behind him too. I'm worried though because he loves Kiri completely. They haven't changed but it's clear their love will last; I am sure about that."

"Me too." He thought of their connection. "It is strange, but they do remind me of you and me back then."

Surprised he would say that. "You and me, really?"

"Yes, you and me. When I think about the first moment we met, you wanted to kill me because I'm a human underneath but Na'vi on the outside. You knew it, but if it weren't for Eywa, you would have killed me."

"No, that's not true. I watched you fight that night, and it touched me that you had no fear only to stay alive, but truly it was love at first sight," she said then got that look and she ran. He caught her easily, now outside and no one else was around. They kissed sweetly but it didn't last when Tuktirey and Lo'ak left the hut watching them.

~o~o~

Meanwhile back at the RDA:

Miles Quaritch had a lot to think about that his son is living with Jake Sully and his family. He had no choice but to accept it and move on, but he could not do it. He had heard that one Sully kid had died during the battle, but being the person that he is, he had no sympathy for him.

Now that he knew the truth about his son, he thought of his continued hatred for the Sully family but inside he knew he could not continue. His superiors at the RDA were not happy the way everything had turned out during the battle. His vendetta against them had let him to do terrible things he was not proud of, especially now that he had gained an affinity for those people. He could not deny these feelings especially after his son had saved his life. He called me 'a son of a bitch,' and he could not deny that it's true.

After the battle, he returned to home base, where he was reprimanded and placed on probation for several years for his part in the battle. His superiors had told him that because of his search for the Sully family, the islands and its inhabitants were threatened, they reported that their plans for peace had been ruined. They had worked for years to bring peace among the indigent population the Na'vi and now that peace has been damaged beyond repair.

His superiors had told him the only reason he had been brought back to life through his memory implants and transformed into a Na'vi was because of his status with the Marines a long time ago, but now they are worried that they may have made a mistake.

That admission woke him up. He had to find a way to bring peace into his life not only in the way he saw this planet but his son that he would accept him as a changed man in every way. The memories of his life before his transformation would not leave him alone meaning to seek revenge against Jake Sully was still there teasing him; he tried to fight it, but it felt useless.

~o~o~

Six months later:

Kiri and her family are waiting outside the RDA lab for Spider to wake up. His transformation had occurred without any trouble at all. Because of his love for Kiri, this planet, and her family since he knew the meaning of it, his transformation is complete. Spider as a human, no longer exists. He's just Spider, now a Na'vi in every way.

He opened his eyes not knowing where he was, but awareness appeared. He blinked and tried to sit up, but the doctors pushed him back down. They asked questions to decide how his brain is functioning and his coordination is also doing well. He answered them as best he could and looked around then he saw Kiri and his eyes brightened at seeing her again.

They let him sit up and moved his toes, legs and hands and they moved fine. "Kiri?" He managed to speak.

She banged on the glass. "Spider, can you hear me?"

He managed to walk, but his tail is in the way, constricting his movements. He made his way to the glass. "This is great."

She pointed to go toward the exit, and the doctors let him go. Still wearing a hospital gown, he reached the outside and Kiri is there waiting for him. Now the same height, he's a little taller, they hugged and kissed loving being together like this.

She pulled away and looked him over. "Look at you," she said. She couldn't stop touching him; he felt firm and strong. "Your hair is still the same; I wondered about that; I love your hair."

He reached up and touched it. "Yes, it's still the same, but my mother said she would style it differently."

Then seconds later, the rest of the family came out to see him. Congratulations, handshakes and hugs all around.

"How do you feel?" Lo'ak asked.

"I feel great, only a little tired," he replied.

"He's so tall," Tuktirey commented smiling.

"Well, you should go back inside and get dressed and we'll wait for you here," Jake said. "We're proud of you, Spider."

"Thanks, Dad," he said, squeezed Siri's hand and headed back inside.

"He hasn't changed, has he; he seems the same Spider," Neytiri commented.

"Yes, he does appear that way," Kiri replied thoughtful.

"What are you thinking?" Jake asked his daughter.

"I don't know, but it felt tough to think of him this way, but he wanted so much to be like us, and I couldn't deny him," she replied still thoughtful.

"It will be an adjustment for all of us, but he'll be fine; you'll see," Jake said feeling hopeful.

Lo'ak is also thoughtful. "It feels strange, but I was thinking of Neteyam; I know he's gone, but it feels like we have gained a brother, but Spider didn't feel that way towards us, but now, he's our brother. Isn't that strange?"

Jake shook his head. "No, it's not strange, but it's true; we have gained a brother… and a son."

Neytiri felt worried, but it's true, a son in every way.

Minutes later, Spider appeared wearing Na'vi garments given to him by Kiri and his mother. They fit perfectly. They left the RDA, each on their own banshee, except Tuktirey and Spider who rides with Jake and Tuktirey rides with her mother.

~o~o~

Back in their dwelling:

Now back home, Jake decided it would be Lo'ak to help him adjust because they're close in age. They left them alone, while Jake, Neytiri, Kiri, and Tuktirey went in search of dinner.

Spider still feels strange and a little out of place. Self-conscious, he sat down not sure how to behave. "I feel strange," he said to Lo'ak.

"You'll be fine, but it will be an adjustment, especially the tail and how it feels."

"What is it for actually, no one told me?"

"It's hard to explain. Kiri never told you?"

"No, I never asked; I thought it was for balance because we're tall, a lot taller than humans."

Holding in a laugh, he said. "Yes, indeed we are, but I can show you. Pull it from behind you; that's it."

"Like this?" He asked and lifted it in front of him. "Now what?"

"The tip has feathers, they serve a purpose, and…" Lo'ak tried to explain.

Spider tried to place it inside his ear.

"No, you don't listen to it; come with me," Lo'ak said, and Spider followed him.

Now outside and in the water, he showed him how to connect to the water by riding an Ilu but also to use his tail to connect to him and feel what he feels. It's called Tsaheylu, but it's also called the bond.

"Tsaheylu…the bond; did I say that right?" He nodded yes. "Ok, I can connect to him with my tail and his feathery thing?" He held it up and looked at it closely. "I'll try it, but I've heard that once you connect with an Ilu through a bond, it's yours forever?"

"No, not on the water Ilu but you're thinking of a mountain banshee which were used to ride over high mountains and the forest. You can still ride him, but it feels different when connected through Tsaheylu to know how it feels inside and you can direct him which way to go." He appeared confused. "Watch me, Ok?"

Spider watched him connect his tail to the Ilu through Tsaheylu and it worked, and they rode under the water then up and down outside and back, loving it, he thought.

Minutes later, Lo'ak came closer and slid off the Ilu. "Now you try it. Take your time."

Kiri and Tuktirey both watched as Spider caught on easily enough. "You want to take a ride?" Kiri asked her sister.

"Sure," Tuktirey replied.

Soon, they were each on an Ilu and rode closer to Spider and Lo'ak as the older ones each had an Ilu as they rode further away, enjoying this family time.

"Will you look at that?" Neytiri asked and watched them riding and having fun.

"Yes, he caught on quickly and Lo'ak is a good teacher. I'll remember that." Jake replied watching them.

~o~o~

Soon after and while his hair is still wet, Neytiri took Spider aside. She styled his hair with braids, the same as Neteyam, feeling a mother's love to do this for him.

A little while later, time to eat. Spider loved his new hairdo, Kiri did too. Everyone appeared happy and relaxed. Jake had words to bring them back to the issue at hand, meaning Miles Quaritch.

After eating, Jake explained where he's been for the past few years; he felt they should know.

Spider knew it's inevitable that he would be out there waiting. "Where has he been?"

"In a military compound locked up for the past two years. They needed to punish him for the way he acted not only against us, but tribal clans on islands far from here, they also suffered through threats, confusion, and turmoil. He broke the peace," Jake replied.

"Two years, but where is he now?" Spider asked.

"According to Norm and Max, our friends at the RDA, he was given a squad but only to keep an eye on certain tribes who were retaliating against them for all the damage, injury, and loss Quaritch caused during that time," Jake replied hating what he had done.

"Does that mean he no longer wants to hurt us? We can live our lives without worrying about him and what he may do to Spider, and all of us?" Neytiri asked hoping for the best.

"It does appear that way; we can breathe again at least for now," Jake replied.

Spider is not sure about this change. "I don't think we should let down our guard. He may have a plan to come back. I don't trust that he's forgotten about us, not at all," he said.

"You mean you; he hasn't forgotten about you?" Lo'ak asked.

"No, he hasn't forgotten," Spider replied head down thinking they would meet again.

Jake spoke up. "I think you're right; we can't let down our guard. I'll inform the Metkayina clan to keep watch and to stay alert." He turned at the door. "Spider, Lo'ak come with me."

They followed him. Neytiri stood at the entrance watching them, needing to help in some way.

Kiri is close by. "I know that look. You want to go with them, don't you?" She asked.

She turned with a smile. "You know me too well, but no, we'll be ready when the time comes."

"Do you think he will come back… for Spider?" Kiri asked worried and upset.

"Yes, Spider is right, he won't forget about him; he did save his life."

Her eyes watered. "I know but I could lose him again; he'll come for him and take him away. Now that he's like him, a Na'vi, he'll want him back." She paused. "This is what I feared; this is my nightmare."

She saw her tears and tried to reassure her then touched her shoulder. "No, I think you're wrong. He will see his son as an enemy, the same way he sees Jake and all of us. He didn't change after he transformed, and I don't think he has it in him to forgive and forget."

"I hope you're right. I can't lose him again; I can't." She said and tried to hold it in, but the tears fell.

She pulled her daughter close and stroked her back, then pulled away. "Your Spider, he's a strong one; don't ever doubt it; he'll be all right." She had more to say about her love for him. "He made you feel you weren't alone in this world; he was sweet to you; he took that weight off your shoulders. You believed him when he said he would always be with you. Isn't that right?"

"Yes, all of that is true, but then he was kidnapped. It wasn't his fault, but it hurt not seeing him every day." She thought of meeting him. "We felt a connection from the day we met, even as children and I do have hope." She remembered all the fun times growing up together without a care in the world, only them and how they felt.

TBC!

~o~o~

Song Inspiration: Love on Your Side, Whitney Houston.

A/N: This chapter felt slow going, trying to decide how to write Quaritch after the battle. He's still the villain, but has he changed? Now that Spider is Na'vi, will that have influence on him? Now tell me what you think. A kudo or a favorite would be nice as well. Thanks for reading.