Chapter Nine | Now He Knows, What Do We Do?

'Childbirth is more admirable than conquest, more amazing than self-defense, and as courageous as either one.' – Gloria Steinem

Jake was planning, very wisely, on them and Kiyeri staying out of the spotlight until Kiyeri delivered the upcoming child. Unfortunately, the clan had other ideas.

Neytiri was walking with Nikti out of Hometree, and they were conversing in Na'vi rapidly. Jake was sitting on a log, cleaning his bow. He looked up as the two women approached. "Kaltxi, you – " He began, but Neytiri cut him off with a "Shh!" Jake looked at the two women, bewildered, as they continued their conversation. He could understand sixty percent of it – something to do with a party. Wait, what? Another one?

Nikti gave a laugh and then turned to her leader. "Sorry, sir," she said in English now.

"We are just discussing a baby shower," Neytiri smiled to her mate, moving to sit beside him on the log. She rested her hand on her swollen fake stomach, and beamed at him.

Jake looked at Nikti and Neytiri. "But didn't you have one a few months back?" He spoke his thought from a few moments ago.

Neytiri nodded. "Yes, but this is a royal baby," she explained, "And thus it needs an Eywa shower."

Jake looked at Neytiri, somewhat confused. "So, sort of like a christening?" He asked. It was now Neytiri's turn to look confused. "Never mind. But couldn't you have done that in the baby shower? I mean these things go on forever..." Jake trailed off as Neytiri arched an eye ridge. "I mean, sure. We can do that."

Neytiri smiled once more. "Excellent!" Her reaction was basically the same as Kiyeri's when they discussed it that night. Jake and Neytiri had been talking privately, but Kiyeri had been eavesdropping.

Kiyeri came into the royal's lounge and exclaimed, "A party? Cool! Can I come?"

Neytiri's eyes widened. "Are you out of your mind?" She asked. She couldn't believe Kiyeri had made such a request.

Kiyeri frowned. "If you think about it, it's my party," she pointed out. Jake sort of saw the logic in that, but mainly he saw the stupidity of the idea. How would they explain Kiyeri's pregnant figure?

Neytiri snarled softly. "You are eight and a half months pregnant. Until you give birth, no parties! And you should be resting!" Kiyeri groaned and stormed off back to Jake and Neytiri's room in a huff. Neytiri shook her head and looked at Jake. "You said that these sorts of things were boring before."

Jake sighed. "Okay, I admit that came off badly. But it is."

Neytiri couldn't help but agree. She just had to frown before at Jake since Nikti was around. "Well, what if we had some... entertainment? Someone put on a skit."

"And how, pray tell, would we find someone this late?" Jake laughed.

Neytiri shrugged. "Well then. We shall just have to sit through it. But trust me, this one will be a lot of fun." Jake was sceptical, but he didn't say anything else.

· · ·

The party was an exact replica of the one they had a few months before; more speeches, more boring. Jake was just glad Mo'at didn't stand up and make the audience ill with her private family stories, like she had done before. As they had before, everyone came up to rub Neytiri's stomach, and she gripped Jake's hand as they did. She was so worried they would shift fabric. It would be terrible for someone to ruin the whole charade now, when they were so close. Neytiri was wearing a different shift this time – one that was stained red. She explained to Jake that it symbolised blood, but he had already figured that out. Everyone was wishing them good luck, since they wouldn't see Neytiri much after the birth – she would be so busy with the little one, and would barely have time for clan life. Nikti came up to Jake, Neytiri and Norm, and hugged Neytiri. "I am going to miss you, Ney Ney," she said.

Jake frowned at that. "How come she gets to call you 'Ney Ney', then?" He asked his mate softly. Neytiri shrugged in reply and hugged Nikti back. "I am going to miss you, too. But I shall make sure I put some time aside for my family and friends."

"You say that now. Just you wait till the little ankle biter arrives," Nikti laughed.

Norm chuckled. "Ankle biter? That's not real – " He was interrupted by Nikti's next statement. She was looking over Neytiri's shoulder as she hugged her, and Neytiri almost fainted when she said, "Hey, is that Kiyeri?"

Jake paled and he whipped around. Sure enough, there was Kiyeri, standing by herself in the sea of people. Heavily pregnant Kiyeri. Neytiri wasn't the fainting type, but she was pretty sure she could keel over just now. The blood drained out of Norm's face as well as he spotted Kiyeri – was she out of her mind? Norm answered his own question; of course she was. Nikti waved to Kiyeri and went to hug her. "I expressly forbid her to come tonight! Who does she think she is?" Neytiri snarled under her breath. Norm peered at Kiyeri and took in the clothing she was wearing. It was the Omaticaya maternity wear, but the slight embroidery on the shoulder gave it away. "Apparently, you," Norm answered his friend. Just like the Na'vi often marked their bow to make it theirs, the women often did the same to their maternity wear, and the embroidery was clearly Neytiri's.

Neytiri growled and marched over to Kiyeri with Jake as Nikti greeted her. Norm stayed behind; he didn't want to get into the middle of this. Nikti hugged Kiyeri and said, "What is with the costume?"

Kiyeri laughed. "I'm the entertainment for tonight. I'm being Neytiri." Neytiri paled rather visibly; she was going to murder Kiyeri.

Nikti gave an 'aww'. "It looks so realistic!" She said, placing a hand on Kiyeri's stomach. "Wow, I could have sworn I felt a kick!"

Kiyeri smiled and said in Neytiri's voice, "You stop that, baby Sully. We do not kick people – unless they are humans!" Kiyeri was in for a world of pain. Neytiri gasped as Kiyeri 'acted' her. She didn't sound anything like that, and she never said anything like that! Neytiri came to her cousin's side and entwined her arm around hers, giving Nikti a smile and saying, "Excuse us." She hauled Kiyeri off over to where Jake was. He looked at Kiyeri with a disappointed frown. Neytiri let go of her cousin and growled at her. "What the hell do you think you are doing?" Neytiri exclaimed. She was praying this was a bad dream; unlikely, though.

Kiyeri smirked. "Well, you did say to be more like you, did you not?" She asked in a smart ass way.

"That is not what I meant, and you know it," Neytiri growled. "Now go back to bed."

"Like hell! This is the most fun I have had in eight months," Kiyeri growled.

"Do not test me, young lady, else I will drag you out of her myself!" Neytiri threatened.

Kiyeri gave an exaggerated yawn. Jake's jaw tightened and his tail flicked agitatedly. How could she be so rude? He wanted to slap and shake her, but of course he restrained himself, as he was once a marine – he learnt self control. Kiyeri turned her gaze to Neytiri. "Ha, you? Make a scene? That's a laugh!" Kiyeri smirked, but then it faded. There was a sloshing sound.
Neytiri rolled her eyes. "What now?" She asked. Jake's eyes widened and he patted Neytiri's shoulder. "Not now, Jake! I am scolding!" Jake shook his head and pointed to the floor. Neytiri's eyes widened.

Kiyeri bit her lip. "I think my water just broke."

"Oh sweet heavenly Lord," Jake gasped.

"Hey, what happened to the floor?" A young child asked. At least no one really noticed the young child's exclamation, but they would. Jake and Neytiri exchanged glances. Crap.

Neytiri quickly laughed. "Kiyeri! You were meant to save that till the end of the night!" Kiyeri was clearly in pain, but now she looked at Neytiri, perplexed. Neytiri smiled. "The best part of the skit where she pops the water balloon!" Oh, that had to be the crappiest lie of this whole thing. Neytiri quickly turned Kiyeri around and snarled, "Norm! Sa'nok!" At the sound of their names, Norm and Mo'at came quickly. They hurried away from the party, going around. By some miracle, no one noticed their departure. Jake and Norm were supporting Kiyeri by placing her arms around their necks and helping her walk. "Do you think we have time to get Txep'tey?" Norm asked.

"No, he's coming!" Kiyeri cried in pain.

Neytiri quickly thought. "Okay. Everyone upstairs. Now!" They did so, and the moment they were there, Norm tried to lead Kiyeri to Jake and Neytiri's bedroom. "Not our section! Go to the lounge!" Neytiri commanded.

Jake let go of Kiyeri. "Norm, take Kiyeri to the lounge. Get some water and fabric. Don't worry, I am a doctor!"

Neytiri's ears flickered at Jake's somewhat slurred speech. She whirled around to him. "You are a leader! What if there are problems?"

Jake blinked. "Should the need arise, we will simple call an ambulance."
"A what?" Neytiri asked anxiously.

"Ambulance!" Jake smiled.

Neytiri peered at her mate. "How many of those alcoholic drinks did you have?"

"There was drink in that alcohol?" Jake asked.

Neytiri put her palm to her forehead. "I am going to get Dieln." They had no choice. Neytiri hurried down the stairs and back to the party. Dieln had been socialising with some friends of his and Neytiri popped in, saying, "Sorry. Need to steal Dieln for a moment!" She grabbed his elbow and whisked him away.

Dieln stared at Neytiri. "Neytiri! Neytiri, what is wrong?" He asked as his leader pulled him away. She seemed to be in a frantic hurry.

"I need your services as a healer," Neytiri explained hurriedly, in an anxious tone. "But you must promise that not a word of this gets out!"

"Would this have anything to do with the pregnancy you and Jake have been faking?"

· · ·

Neytiri held Kiyeri's hand as she pushed. "Come on, Kiyeri," she encouraged. Kiyeri cried out in pain. Jake had always wondered what was more painful – being kicked in the privates, or birth. From Kiyeri's anguished screams, he could guess that it was the latter.

Kiyeri panted hard, sweat dripping down her forehead, tears streaming from her eyes. "Let it be over...!" She yelped. Jake took her other hand, and closed his eyes as Kiyeri's nails dug into his skin. He quickly reminded himself that the pain he was experiencing was nothing compared to what this girl was going through.

Dieln nodded. "I can see the head," he announced.

"Let me see!" Neytiri exclaimed, going around. Her eyes widened when she saw what Kiyeri was going through. "Oh... dear Eywa, Kiyeri, how the hell are you doing this...?" No wonder Mo'at always used the excuse that she struggled giving birth to Neytiri. She had always shrugged it off; she never would again.

Kiyeri snarled. "YOU ARE NOT HELPING!" She roared at Neytiri. Neytiri quickly came back to stand by her head, taking her hand once more.

"Okay, Kiyeri, I need you to give one big push," Dieln quietly ordered.

"I can't!" Kiyeri sobbed. Neytiri felt her heart breaking as she watched Kiyeri. She would gladly swap positions with her to take the pain away.

"Yes, you can," Dieln said in a soothing tone. "On the count of three. One, two, three." Kiyeri gripped Neytiri's hand more and pushed hard, her face scrunched up in pain. Jake closed his eyes as Kiyeri dug her nails into his palm more, and then his ears flickered as he heard the sound of a baby crying. Neytiri looked up, over Kiyeri's knee.

Dieln smiled and took the small child. "It is a beautiful baby boy," he said, handing him to Neytiri. Neytiri took the child gingerly, and Jake came over to her. Neytiri felt her eyes brimming with tears as she held her son. After months of conniving and trickery... it was all over. They had their baby. He was absolutely perfect. The child opened its eyes and looked at Jake and Neytiri. Jake smiled. "Oel ngati kameie, my son," he whispered.

Kiyeri managed to raise her head to look at the child, but she stopped herself. She couldn't. She turned away. Dieln patted her hand and, before Kiyeri could protest, Dieln picked her up to take her away to rest, leaving Jake and Neytiri alone with their child.

Neytiri looked at the small baby in her arms. "Jake... we did it," she smiled, kissing the top of the child's head. She turned to her mate. "Thank you... for everything."

Jake looked into the topaz eyes of his love and smiled. "No. Thank you."