Author's note: I had to re-upload this chapter due to several mistakes that neither I or my beta picked up – so to the reader who did, thank you! This is what happens when you write at one in the morning for me, and write two different stories at the same time.

I have been meaning to say thank you to you guys for giving me so much support in this fan fiction – encourages me to continue it! I have never received such great reviews. I realise I have bent the Na'vi ways a bit (okay, a lot) and I realise some people aren't comfortable with that. Well, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and I just opted for something different! Anyway, I need some opinions from you guys though (this shall spoil it just a smidge, but not really). Should I keep up the funny side of this, and give it a slightly darker edge in the next chapters (that is, dark enough to make it an M rated fan fiction) or just keep it generally light hearted? My beta and I seem to want to keep it light hearted, since there aren't many comedy stories, but this is your story. Your call. Send me a message or give me a review, all right? Love you guys, and sorry about the long message. On with the story!

Chapter Six | Your Fault

'With lies you may get ahead in the world - but you can never go back.' - Russian proverb

"I will never trust Max again," Neytiri announced as they came back to Hometree.

Norm and Jake laughed. "Well, you asked for it," Jake pointed out. Neytiri rolled her eyes. "Since you're playing the role of expectant mother, I suggest you go upstairs and get some sleep."

"Great. The more boring part of this," Neytiri muttered as she went upstairs. Neytiri wasn't one to relax; she was always finding things to do. All this unneeded resting was driving her stir crazy.

Norm watched as Neytiri left. "But she's only five months pregnant. She doesn't have to rest too much yet."

"Yes, I know. But if I didn't send her up now, we'd be hearing about her babble about Max for the next hour," Jake said flatly.

"Ooh, trouble in paradise?" Norm asked.

"Not at all," Jake insisted. Norm raised an eyebrow and Jake shook his head. "We're fine. I'm going to go visit my ikran."

"Has he forgiven you yet?" Norm asked. Jake's ikran had detested him for the past five months, and deliberately snubbing him for abandoning him to become toruk makto. The ikran thought this anger was justified; Jake felt like he should have let it go already. "I came back, didn't I?" Jake asked his ikran once. He got nothing more than an angered screech and a swift, sharp bite on the shoulder.

Right now, Jake touched his shoulder which had the small, curve-like scar where the creature had bitten him months before, and shook his head. "Not yet. I'll give him another year." Norm chuckled as Jake went up to see the ikran. He gave a whistle when he approached the top of the tree, and the mighty beast came down to him. He gave Jake a look as if to say, 'Oh. It's you. What do you want? Make it quick, I'm busy.' Jake looked at the creature and managed to place a hand on his muzzle. The ikran snorted. "Still, mad, huh?" Jake asked, trying to bond with the creature. The ikran was hesitant, but gave in. He looked at his so called 'friend' as if to say, 'Figured that out, did you?' Jake sighed and petted him.

"Is he ever going to forgive you?" Neytiri asked as she came up.

Jake turned to the voice of his mate. "I thought you were resting."

Neytiri shrugged; something she had picked up from Jake. "I was. I gave up," she chuckled, coming over to Jake's ikran. He greeted her with a snort. He wasn't too pleased with her either, but could stand her more than Jake. It was strange; ikrans weren't meant to hold grudges, but this one did with a vengeance. "He is around you too much, Jake," Norm had told him previously. "You're holding a grudge against Quaritch and everyone still, so obviously he's picked that up and feels like he can against you." Jake had rolled his eyes at Norm, thinking that was absolutely ludicrous, but he was starting to believe his best friend now when he looked into the four eyes of his other winged friend.

Neytiri's eyes drifted over to where the sun was practically gone. Where had the day disappeared to? "Come on, ma Jake. It will be dinner soon." Jake undid the bond, and the ikran shook him off, as if he was glad to be rid of Jake. Jake couldn't help but chuckle a little, as ikran retreated back to the branches. Neytiri gave a longing sort of sigh as she watched the ikran. She missed Seze so much, and she hadn't bonded with another ikran since her death. She wouldn't for a while. Jake took a hold of her hand gently and they walked downstairs together.

· · ·

Later that night, Neytiri's eyes fluttered open and she gave a yawn. She had gone to bed hours earlier, but it was still dark out. She looked over to her mate, who was sleeping soundly. He had his arm draped around her now flat stomach, as she didn't wear the padding to bed – it was remarkably uncomfortable. A smile came to her lips and she kissed Jake, but she got no response. That man could sleep, all right. She wriggled out of his grasp and went downstairs. Everyone was asleep, which was good, but she still tiptoed quietly down the spiral staircase. She went over to the pond to get a sip of water, and she startled some of the Pa'li who were still awake, making the herd scatter a little. "Sorry," she murmured to the animals. They wouldn't understand her words, but they would understand her soft, soothing tone of voice. She bent down to the water to take a sip when she heard, "Neytiri?" Oh, crap. Please don't let that be the person she thought that voice belonged to...

Dieln walked out of Hometree casually, totally oblivious to Neytiri's panic. Boy, he was everywhere. "Oh, hi. Dieln." Neytiri placed a hand on her stomach, and her eyes widened when she felt just the fabric of the shift she wore and her flat stomach. In her tiredness, she had forgotten about the padding; it was still upstairs. Eywa, she was screwed. Neytiri quickly turned away from Dieln, hoping he wouldn't notice. That would be impossible; he noticed everything. "I did not know you were up..."

Dieln came closer to Neytiri, and she winced. How was she going to get out of this? She looked over at the Pa'li herd, and an idea came to mind. She stood up and walked over to one of them, stroking its muzzle while trying to only show Dieln her back. She focused on the animal, trying not to look at Dieln. "I just came to get a drink," Dieln said, his eyes narrowing as he watched the Tsahik. She'd been acting strange around him for a time, but he'd never seen her like this. Neytiri would usually go out of her way to say hello, but for the past few months she hadn't. Dieln had chalked it up to being with child, but now he wasn't so sure. "What about you?" He asked.

"The same," Neytiri replied. She thought quickly. If she could just walk past the Pa'li and quickly turn her back on Dieln as she walked back upstairs, she'd be fine. "Well, you do that. And I will head upstairs." Neytiri was walking past the heard of Pa'li when Dieln said, "Are you okay, Neytiri? You're acting... strange."

Neytiri forced a smile as she looked slightly over her shoulder at him. "I am fine. Thank you for your concern," she said as she quickly turned around and headed upstairs. Jake was still fast asleep in their hammock, and Neytiri slipped in beside him when his eyes opened. "Where have you been?" He asked.

Neytiri hesitated. "How long have you been awake?" She asked.

"Answer the question. Where have you been?" Jake asked, turning to look into Neytiri's eyes.

Neytiri sighed. "I went to get a drink." She paused. "And I may have run into Dieln."
Jake sat up. "And you weren't wearing the padding, were you?" He asked. It was right beside him, under the bed, and he picked it up and held it. Neytiri shook her head slowly. "Neytiri..."

"Jake, calm down – " she began, but he cut her off.

"If this was any other person, I would be worried. But this is Dieln. I'm really worried!" Jake growled softly, putting the padding down. He then got out of bed to look at her; she copied him, looking at him from across the hammock.

"It was just a mishap," Neytiri said softly, using a soothing tone as if she were trying to tame a wild animal.

"How many more mishaps can we put up with?" Jake growled in reply, keeping his voice and frustration down. He never got mad at Neytiri; she always got mad at him. It was an interesting role reversal. "First it was the arrow in the stomach that took your fabric out and now this. Dieln must know something is up!" Neytiri sighed and Jake shook his head. He looked at her. "We could go on a trip. And say you miscarried while we were away." Neytiri would be humiliated that way as well, but it was better that way than the clan finding out that there was no such thing as a baby with Jake and Neytiri's blood running through its veins.

Neytiri looked at him in shock, gaping at him. "And what would happen to the baby?"

"Kiyeri would keep it!" Jake exclaimed.

"Do you think Kiyeri could raise this child?" Neytiri asked Jake in shock. Jake was about to say something when Neytiri cut him off. She turned away from him. "Jake, you have seen her! She is shallow and self-centred. She would ruin the child's life!" Her eyes looked back to Jake, sorrow in them.

Jake let his anger fade a little as he watched his mate say those things about her cousin. Neytiri never said a bad thing about anyone. "What makes you so sure?" Jake asked her.

Neytiri hesitated, tears brimming in her eyes. "Because I am her family. And we know what we have created and that is the real humiliation..." Jake felt his ears fall a little. He walked over to Neytiri, going around their hammock. He placed a hand on her shoulder, at a loss of how to comfort her. Neytiri looked up at him. "Jake, this child deserves better. And Kiyeri would destroy him. Please... Please let us try."

Jake sighed and kissed the top of her head. He smiled a little. "You're going to be a great mother."

Neytiri sniffed a little and smiled, resting her head on his shoulder. "I love you. Thank you... And you are going to be a great father." Jake let a smile come over his face, which Neytiri couldn't see. And he was glad, for it wasn't genuine.