Jake, the chief of the forest na'vi, walked among his people. He gazed around the lush forest with pride. His people were happy for the first time in a year. Their home was settled. The losses of the past were thoroughly grieved, but all the na'vi felt peace once again in their home.

"Ma Jake," Neytiri called from within their house.

Jake smiled as he turned to walk toward his wife. She held a large shallow basket against her stomach filled with leaves that would wrap around meats to be smoked. Her radiant eyes sparkled as she met his eyes.

"Neytiri, my wife, what has you beckoning me here?" Jake said with a large smile. He leaned down across the bowl and kissed his beautiful wife.

"I wanted you to watch Neteyam while I take these to my mother," Neytiri said as she shifted the weight. "I'll be back soon. Don't do anything stupid."

"Alright," Jake quickly agreed. He kissed her again as she left. Jake headed into the grass-woven house to find his infant son.

Neteyam lay sleeping in his blanket-lined wicker basket. His little blue hands were scrunched up to his chin. His tiny eyes, nose, and frizzy hair always amazed Jake. Jake knelt by his son and looked down at him with the utmost pride. He gently laid his big hand over Neteyam's little stomach. He breathed steadily like a strong baby and his warmth soothed Jake's hand.

Jake couldn't help but let a wide smile crack over his face. There laid his pride and joy. Safe and protected. Neteyam brought out the patient and gentle side of Jake. Even when he cried all night or spit up his mother's nutrients all over him, Jake couldn't be anything but gentle and caring.

Only three weeks ago Neytiri brought Neteyam into Pandora. His bright blue skin was wrinkled and covered in Neytiri's fluids. But that didn't matter to Jake when Mo'at handed the wailing baby over to Jake. He cradled him to his skin as he gazed down at the little face. Neteyam was a small baby during the first week. He had barely filled Jake's hand. But in the last two weeks, Neteyam grew exponentially. He happily drank his mother's milk. His wide eyes would stare up at Neytiri as he sucked at her bosom. Jake would sit nearby and look on at the phenomenon. He dearly loved his new family member even if he could yet hold a knife or speak.

Jake rested his cheek on the rim of the wicker basket and watched his precious firstborn peacefully sleep. It seemed too short of a time alone with his son before Neytiri came back. He lifted his head to see her come in and smile upon them. She came to sit with Jake and look down at Neteyam. Jake wrapped his arms around his wife and rested his head on her shoulder. He closed his eyes and listened to her breath and felt her run her hands slowly up and down his arms.

"There is peace in you," Neytiri whispered.

"I feel peace," Jake sighed as he turned his head to kiss his wife's soft shoulder. "I am in love."

"So am I, my handsome mate."

"Oh yeah?" Jake said in a sleepy tone. He felt the comforting warmth of his wife molded to his body. Jake let his arms relax around Neytiri's stomach, "When will we be able to be real mates again, Neytiri?"

"We are mates forever, but in two weeks will I be able to please you in the way I was able to before," Neytiri said as she leaned back into Jake's embrace.

"Not so much as to give me pleasure, but for me to gift you pleasure. You have been an amazing mother and wife," Jake lifted his head to look into Neytiri's hooded eyes. "I love you."

Jake brought one of his hands up to guide Neytiri's chin towards him. He lightly pressed his lips to her full, parted lips.

"I'm proud of you. For being a leader. For being what the people need," Neytiri said as she took his queue and hers. She connected them to help him feel her love. Jake bent to kiss her neck. He enveloped her with his long arms and pulled her onto his lap.

"Thank you," Jake whispered past the emotional lump in his throat. He could feel every loving thought coming from his wife. He let a tear slip and land on her blue skin.

He did not deserve her.

"Ma Jake," Neytiri whispered. She turned around in his lap and wrapped her long legs around his torso. "There is no one else who deserves more than you."

Jake smiled away his glassy eyes and cupped Neytiri's cheeks with his five-fingered hands. He pressed his forehead to hers in a sign of gratitude.

"I have to get back to work, my love," Jake whispered. He kissed his tender wife's lips before pulling her up with him to stand. "I'll be back in time for dinner."

"Alright," Neytiri waved her mate off as he made his way out the door to perform chiefly duties.

"Your father is a great na'vi, Neteyam, and you will grow strong just like him. I am sure," Neytiri whispered to her still-sleeping son.

Hours passed and the eclipse fell to cover the Pandora forest with darkness, yet the bioluminescent forest came to life in the dark. The na'vi people migrated to their respective homes to settle in for the night. Neytiri tried to do the same, but she found herself distracted by looking out the window to watch for Jake's arrival. She nursed Neteyam, made dinner, and set the fire to light their home. After every chore had been done, Jake still had not come home.

"I might have to hunt him down," Neytiri said to herself. She looked toward her bow and arrows, then to the swaddling net that would attach Neteyam to her back for easy movement.

After a moment of hesitation, Neytiri wrapped Neteyam and put him on her back and grabbed her bow. She headed out of the village in search of her lost mate.

Neteyam babbled to his mother as she trekked through the glowing forest. She could feel a small stream of slobber trailing down her back as her son talked about the interesting plants and creatures he was seeing.

Neytiri followed the scent of her mate until she reached a lake Jake and she often went to escape the village and be young lovers. A small smile graced her lips as one particular day passed her mind. Perhaps the very day that the little one on her back had been conceived.

"Neytiri," Jake whispered. She turned instantly at his voice. She looked to where he was up in a tree.

"What are you doing? You said you'd be back by dinner, Jake," Neytiri said.

"I know but I wanted to show you something," Jake jumped down from the tree and landed in front of Neytiri.

"And you couldn't have told me? You worried me," Neytiri hissed. Jake's eyes widened a bit but he nodded in understanding. He took her hand and guided her toward the tree.

"Come," Jake said. He turned and scampered up the tree and out of sight.

Neytiri sighed and started to climb the tree. Neteyam babbled his interest in this strange activity.

Once Neytiri reached Jake he pulled her to him and kissed her passionately. She hummed into his lips at the unexpected, but pleasant, action.

"You are beautiful," Jake whispered into her ear.

"Is that the only reason you lured me into this tree?" Neytiri said with a raise of her eyebrow.

"No, it is not, but I would say it would be a worthy cause enough," Jake smiled. The glowing dots on his skin pulled on his cheeks as he smiled down at his wife. "What I really wanted you to see was this," Jake pulled back a layer of vines behind him to reveal a wondrous view of the forest and night sky.

"Ma Jake. This is gorgeous!" Neytiri stepped out onto the limb the vines had been hiding to get a better outlook on the forest.

The view showcased the hallelujah mountains in the distance. There was glowing fog at the base of them because of the full moon. The stars showed bright even with the bright moon taking over the black sky. The forest appeared blue and white as it was cast in the moon's light.

Neytiri brought her fingers to her mouth as the view overtook her vision. It took her breath away. Even though she grew up in this forest and planet she wasn't sure she had seen such a beautiful sight. The air was cool and damp but her body felt relaxed in the slight breeze. The wind smelled of salt and fresh sweet fruit.

"I will sing a bead onto my cord this night," Neytiri said into the wind as she closed her eyes and felt all the sounds, movement, and smells around her.

"I would be honored to hear it," Jake said from behind her.

"Jake! Neytiri! Sully! Where are you?" A voice was calling somewhere along the shore of the lake.

Jake's ears twitched in the direction of the urgent voice. He raced to the bottom of the tree to find Norm cupping his mouth for another shout.

"Norm," Jake said.

The man, who was in human form at the time, turned around with big eyes and a pale face.

"What is wrong?" Jake asked as he approached the distraught man. Neytiri came down as well just in time for Norm to stammer out his explanation.

"I-...Grace…The baby! Grace is in labor!" Norm said through quick shallow breaths.

"Grace is in labor? Well, come on! What are we waiting for?" Jake grabbed Norm and started sprinting toward the base where Grace was being kept. Neytiri followed while holding onto Neteyam behind her back. It was quite a struggle to not jostle him so much as she ran. She tried her best to be light on her feet so as to not make her son cry.

Jake, Norm, and Neytiri entered the lab where Grace was encased in her tube. Norm was set down and Jake briskly made his way to inspect his friend. Grace's belly was large and looked to be ready to pop. It had taken longer for the baby to emerge than Neytiri had to deal with. Perhaps it was because Grace and the baby were kept in a medical tube.

"We'll have to transport her to a bed and do a C-section just like we talked about," Norm said quickly. Three nurses, two doctors, and Neytiri were enough people to go through with the procedure easily.

"Alright. Let's get this show on the road," Jake said. They carefully drained the tube, still leaving her nutrient cord connected, and Jake lifted Grace onto the nearby operation bed. Next, Jake helped Neytiri unhook Neteyam so that she could easily help when needed. She was the tribal healer after her mother. The rightful place the mate of the chief would have.

Jake and Norm took Neteyam with them as they went into the hallway to wait. Jake sat against the wall with his legs stretched out to rest against the other wall. Neteyam yawned in his father's arms and closed his eyes to get some sleep. His little fists balled up under his chin as he turned his face to his father's chest for more warmth. Jake looked down at his son and sighed. Soon he would have two babies to look after. He would be glad to do it too. Oh how dearly he loved his son and soon his second child, from adoption, would inherit the Sully name.

Norm fidgeted and paced up and down the hallway as he kept glancing at the door. He'd sometimes stop pacing and lean against the wall but one minute wouldn't pass before he pushed off again and walked more.

"Grace and the baby are going to be fine, Norm," Jake said in a hushed tone. "There are good people taking care of them."

Norm looked Jake in the eye and nodded. His lips were pressed together in a thin line. His hands wrung and his feet were restless.

"Weren't you nervous when Neteyam was born?" Norm asked.

"I was…but is it perhaps the same relation as Neteyam and I with you and the baby?" Jake asked hesitantly.

"No!" Norm whispered in surprise. "No, she and I were friends and colleagues. Nothing more."

"If you are certain you trust us with Grace's child then we will take care of it as one of our own. You have my word," Jake said in all honesty.

"I know you will, Jake. You and Neytiri are and will be great parents."

"Thank you."

The next thirty minutes passed by at a snail's pace. Norm kept up his anxiousness and Jake had to calm Neteyam's crying more than three times without the supplement of Neytiri's breast.

When it had seemed like forever, the men in the hallway heard the cry of an infant through the thick grey walls.

After hearing the crying die down and the voices inside grow quiet, Jake stood and waited, not knowing if they should attempt to enter or wait more.

He needn't worry any longer when Neytiri came out with a tiny, bright blue baby in her arms.

"Meet Kiri. A girl," Neytiri said as she approached the men.

"Kiri. Ma baby girl," Jake whispered as he peeked over his wife's arms to see the wrinkled little face. Neytiri knelt so that Norm could see Grace's daughter. He smiled and reached out to lightly touch the wet, purplish-black hair. Her little hands and feet beheld five digits. She curled and uncurled them as she scrunched her face to cry again.

Neytiri lightly hushed the girl and held her flush to her warm skin.

"Grace did wonderfully. She will recover nicely and Kiri is strong and healthy. She will come home with us tonight," Neytiri said. She went back into the delivery room and grabbed a light blanket to wrap the new Sully member in for the long walk back to their grass-woven hut.

Norm stayed at the lab to watch over Grace while the Sullys made their way through the glowing forest. The ground and plants seemed to know they held a new life as some plants drifted to see the new na'vi, or the ground glowed extra bright beneath them.

Jake gently bounced or rocked Neteyam back to sleep the best he could. He would need to be fed soon as well as Kiri. Jake suddenly had pity on his mate for having two babies to feed at once now. He hoped she would be up for the challenge. She had a strong heart. There would be more than enough room for the two babies in her life.

Back in their hut they ate their cold dinner and enjoyed the ambers of the fire. Neytiri fed Kiri first. Kiri fussed and didn't latch on as quickly as Neteyam had but eventually, Kiri figured it out. She sucked strongly for a newborn. Neytiri smiled at the strength her daughter had.

Jake watched silently as his wife fed his children. She smiled her wide, beautiful smile as she looked down at them and she would whisper encouragements and loving words. Her touch was of a natural mother and carer. Jake would not have guessed this would be his life a year ago. The woman before him a year ago had changed. She had changed into a mother tiger. Her fierceness before did not measure up to how fierce she might be now if her young ones were in possible danger. Her eyes would turn dark and her body would tense in order to defend her children.

"Ma Jake, take Neteyam and put him in his basket," Neytiri said. Jake took the now-sleeping baby from his mate's arms and tucked him gently into his linen blankets. Neteyam's fisted hands rested under his chin as always as he slept.

Jake turned around to see Neytiri making up a basket for Kiri as she tried to hold Kiri to her breast at the same time. Jake reached out to help Neytiri, but as he glanced up at her face he saw tears in her eyes.

"What is wrong?" Jake asked. He touched her back warmly and tried to look into her eyes. She slightly turned her face so that she couldn't make eye contact. "Please, Neytiri, tell me."

"What am I supposed to do? What if I go dry and don't have enough milk to feed both babies? What if I am not capable of raising two?" Neytiri said as she let an emotional sob escape her throat. She set Kiri down and turned fully to Jake. She suddenly grabbed his shoulders for support as she buried her face into his chest. Soon his skin was soaked with salty tears. Tears a mother should not shed for such a doubt.

"Neytiri," Jake whispered. He wrapped his arms around her back and pulled her to him in a comforting hug. He also let a tear slip into her hair as he contemplated her fears and doubts. He rested his cheek on the top of her head and held her tighter. Her sobs shook her slim body against his in a vulnerable manner as she let her emotion waterfall. She turned her head so that she could breathe, her wet cheek stuck to his wet chest with tears. Jake softly stroked her hair with one hand as he held her quietly. He learned that sometimes he doesn't need to tell her what he thought and how he could fix the problem, but instead let her just cry and rely on him for support.

Once her sobs stopped and she continued to sniffle, Jake led her to their sleeping mat and helped her lay down with him. He let her snuggle up to his side and rest her head on his shoulder as she drifted off to sleep. He bent his neck to look down at her tear-stained face and gently wiped at her soft cheek with his thumb. He kissed his wife's forehead fervently before he too fell asleep.

Hello! This is my first Avatar fanfiction. It is obviously placed at the beginning of Avatar: The Way of Water.

Let me know if you want another chapter about the young Sully family. 3