Chapter Ten | Tom Eytukan Sully

'Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.' – Elizabeth Stone

"Come on, I think it's my turn to hold him," Jake chuckled as he watched his wife coo over the small baby in her arms. They were still in the royal's lounge, with Jake standing over his mate and child while they bonded. Kiyeri hadn't had a chance to hold the baby, as the baby needed to bond with Neytiri – its 'real' mother. Jake had felt sorry for Kiyeri, seeing her expression as she looked at the baby. He could have sworn he saw sorrow and remorse in her eyes, but he didn't say anything as he was more preoccupied with the baby.

"Three more minutes?" Neytiri pleaded, never taking her eyes of their son. She still couldn't believe it; they were parents. It was an overwhelming feeling.

Jake smiled. He loved the image of Neytiri with their baby. Their baby. It was so surreal. "Three more minutes, hmm? Didn't you say that... five minutes ago?" Jake chortled, coming up to stand behind his mate. He looked down at the small little creature in her arms. The baby was tiny, but much bigger than a human baby would ever be. He had intelligent topaz eyes, ones that matched Neytiri's perfectly. His facial structure was just like Kiyeri's, and Jake hoped that there was enough Neytiri in him for him to pass off as their child. There would be, undoubtedly, since Neytiri and Kiyeri looked rather similar.

Neytiri looked up at Jake. "You can stop worrying now," she said, guessing his thoughts.

Jake chuckled. "I've been carrying worry for so long. I think I would be lonely without it," he joked. Neytiri smiled kindly and looked back at the baby. They still didn't have a name for him. Jake waited for several drawn-out moments before trying again. "Can I hold him now?"

Neytiri laughed softly and gently passed the baby to her mate. Jake gently took the child in his arms, being so careful. He was so fragile, and seemed so defenceless. Jake didn't want to do anything else but hold and protect him. Jake peered down at the little one in his arms and rocked him very gently. The baby was awfully quiet, but sometimes gave a little chirp or a gurgling sound. Jake smiled and pressed his lips to his son's forehead. "Hey there... little guy," Jake cooed softly. The baby's eyes locked onto his and reached his tiny fingers out to Jake slightly. Jake smiled. "Hey... I'm your daddy." Neytiri smiled as she watched her mate and her son. As Jake looked at the small child, he realised something – he would have no trouble loving this child as his own. The baby had already stolen his heart, and he loved him.

· · ·

A small while after the family bonding session, Neytiri came to visit the other part of her family that was in her room. Kiyeri was sitting up in the hammock, which surprised Neytiri – she would have thought she'd have gone to bed. Kiyeri was wearing a sort of robe to keep her warm, and Neytiri was as well. It was a custom for the Na'vi women to do so after birth, and it sort of followed the human ways of a hospital robe.

Neytiri was holding the child in her arms as she came into her and Jake's section. "How are you feeling?" She asked Kiyeri.

Kiyeri's expression was blank, and her tone held no emotion as she replied, "Tired." She turned her eyes to Neytiri, trying to ignore the gurgling bundle in her arms. "Did Dieln leave?"

Neytiri nodded slowly and came into the room a little more. "Yes, he did. And he swore that not a word would be mentioned of what happened here tonight."

Kiyeri gave small nod and then looked away. "That's good I guess..." Kiyeri didn't know why she was feeling like this, why she had a pit of knots in her stomach that kept getting tighter and tighter as she forced herself to not stare at the baby. Her baby, but not her baby at all. She bit her lip before asking, "How is he?"

Neytiri looked away from Kiyeri to gaze into the eyes of the child in her arms. The baby's eyes were half closed, but he reached out to Neytiri a little. She smiled softly. "He is absolutely perfect," she said, feeling a wave of different emotions wave over her: content, surprise, anxiety, excitement... Neytiri raised her head up to look at Kiyeri, and her heart just fell. She knew it; Kiyeri was regretting it. Neytiri felt terrible. She knew she shouldn't, as it would probably hurt Kiyeri more, but it might just help her a little. "Well he is... all cleaned up now if you want to hold him?" Neytiri looked back at the child so she didn't see Kiyeri give a shake of her head. Kiyeri hesitated and looked up at Neytiri, tears brimming in her eyes. Neytiri looked back to her cousin, and Kiyeri nodded then, holding out her arms. Is this the right thing to do?, Neytiri wondered, but nevertheless, she handed the baby to Kiyeri.

Kiyeri took the small child into her arms and exhaled slowly. Neytiri elegantly sat on the side of the hammock, watching Kiyeri and the baby. Kiyeri felt that interesting sensation of prickling at the back of her throat, and she finally looked at the baby.

And once she had, she wished she hadn't.

Kiyeri felt tears rushing out from her eyes as she looked at her kin. She sniffed, trying to stop herself from crying in front of Neytiri, but she couldn't. "He's so beautiful," Kiyeri sniffed.

Neytiri bit her lip. "He looks just like you," Neytiri murmured softly.

Kiyeri shook her head and looked up at her cousin, smiling through her tears. "No... Just like you." Neytiri gave a smile and felt tears start to run down her face. Kiyeri looked back at the baby for a moment before looking at Neytiri. "I'm sorry for all the trouble I caused..."

Neytiri shook her head and patted Kiyeri's hand. "Don't be," she murmured softly. "It was all fine in the end."

Kiyeri sniffed. "No, I still shouldn't have done what I did... I could have destroyed everything," she sobbed softly.

Neytiri felt tears run down her cheeks and she moved to hug her cousin. "Shh, shh... It is all right, sweetheart..." Kiyeri awkwardly hugged Neytiri, wrapping one arm around her neck, since she didn't want to disturb the baby. Neytiri pulled away after a bit and sighed. She knew she was going to possibly regret the answer to this question, but she had to ask. "Do you feel like you are making a mistake?" Neytiri got a real kick from saying that; what if she said 'yes'?

Kiyeri hesitated before shaking her head, and Neytiri felt relief wash over her. "No it's... it's the right thing to do by everyone," she smiled.

"Kiyeri... do you want to be alone with him? Should I stay or... should I go? What should I do?" Neytiri asked. Kiyeri hesitated and she shifted the child in her arms gently, holding him out for Neytiri. As she did, it felt like her heart was being ripped in two. "You should take him..." Neytiri hesitated before gently picking up the baby and holding him close to her chest. "But you were right." Neytiri looked back at her cousin. Kiyeri gave a small laugh, trying to stop crying, but she couldn't. "It is just... awful." Neytiri nodded slowly. Kiyeri looked at her. "You're going to be a great mother to him... I know it."

Neytiri felt a fresh tear run down her cheek. "Thank you," she replied softly.

Kiyeri nodded. "I think I'm going to rest now."

"Okay," Neytiri said softly, standing up from the hammock. She gently cradled the child, cooing over him softly as she left the room. Kiyeri watched with a heavy heart as Neytiri went with her child. Kiyeri knew she would be nothing but an aunt to him, and it killed her. Neytiri had been right all along – no one should have to go through the pain of giving up a child. It was the worst feeling in the world.

· · ·

The next day, Norm, Max and Mo'at came to coo over the Sully baby. Kiyeri had left at dawn, to go back to her own clan. Neytiri had been the one to wish her, and they hugged for a long time. All the while Neytiri couldn't help but worry. What if Kiyeri came to regret her decision? She didn't know what would happen then.

For now, Mo'at held the small baby as she sat beside her daughter. Jake hovered over them, and Max stood beside Jake with Norm beside him. Mo'at fussed over her first grandchild. "He is so beautiful," she tutted over him. Neytiri and Jake exchanged smiles; they certainly thought so. The baby reached up to his grandma, and Mo'at took his tiny hand. "Hello! I am your grandma." Jake smiled softly. The child had really melted Mo'at's heart. Jake had seen her smile and all, but never to this extent. It was an emotional day for them all.

Norm smiled and examined the little baby with adoring eyes. "And I am your uncle Norm. I'm gonna spoil you rotten!" Jake and Neytiri laughed at this, and Jake gently bent down to kiss the top of Neytiri's head, placing his hands on her shoulders. Neytiri looked up at him with love in her eyes, and kissed his lips softly.

"Okay, now," Max began, "No fighting. But we still need a name for this little guy."

Norm thought. He then looked at Jake. "Well, I came up with one."

Jake groaned. "Oh dear," he laughed. "If you suggest Norm again..."

Norm shook his head. "Well, what is wrong with that name?" He asked, appearing offended. He smiled to let Jake know he was kidding. "Well, I came up with a full name for him – middle name and all."

Neytiri looked at Norm. "All right, let us hear it."

Norm smiled. "What about, 'Tom Eytukan Sully'?" Jake and Neytiri exchanged glances. Why hadn't they thought of that before? "It's great, right? After your brother, Jake, and your father." He looked at Neytiri when he said the latter.

Neytiri smiled. "I really like that."

Jake looked at the baby. "Yes, I do too."

Max smiled and looked at his little nephew. "Hey, Tom. Tom?" He asked the baby. The child made no reply. "Nothing. I don't think that's his name," he joked. Jake nudged him gently and laughed.

"No roughhousing around the baby," Norm chastised. Jake chuckled. Mo'at smiled and looked back at the baby. She felt so touched to know they were naming him after her late mate. She really missed Eytukan, just like she missed Neytiri's sister. So many of the people she cared about had been taken from her. It was good to know she now had someone to lavish all her attention on. Tom really was going to be spoilt.

Neytiri smiled and patted one of Jake's hands. "We will have to let him meet everyone soon."

Jake chuckled. "They're going to love him." Jake just knew they would. Tom was the perfect little prince.