Mo'at eyes me, she turns my head, lifts my arms, and even smells my hair. "Vera? Let?"

And i nodded, Jake stood behind me next to Tsu'tey and Neytiri. His arms were crossed as he leaned on the tree trunk of his future mother in law's home. Tsu'tey was sprawled out by the table as Neytiri was the one that stood closest to me. You could already tell there was a palpable tension between all three of them.

"You are beautiful" Mo'at compliments still scanning me over. "Eywa blessed you"

No, the labs did. But i also didn't want to argue with her, i had enough of that from Jake. "Thank you," I responded

"Are you hungry child?" She asks me

"I can find her something to eat." Neytiri offered as Jake steps in.

"No." he quickly answers which triggers Tsu'tey.

"What's the matter Skxawang? You're riled up for no reason" He chuckles and Jake turns his heel to fight Tsu'tey.

"Is that how you speak to your Olo'eytkan?" Jake snarls baring his fangs, hitting him into a nearby piece of furniture but before Tsu'tey could get up Jake had already stepped on his neck.

"Don't make me laugh" Tsu'tey taunts "Our Olo'eytkan is dead I'm just looking at the piece of shit who killed him"

Jake balls his fist up attempting to hit Tsu'tey but is scolded by Mo'at. "Enough!" She shouts at the both often them and yet...her eyes stay so focused on only Jake. "Have you respect for my home?! To think you come here to break things?! Have you not have enough?!"

"Jake" Neytiri chimes in, her tone wasn't yelling but almost...disappointed as he lets out a sigh and gets off of Tsu'tey.

"That's what i thought." Tsu'tey snickers "Know your place bitch"

Jake wants to hit him, i can literally feel his anger boiling, or maybe that's just because i know everything about Jake. Down to his little quirks that i know he was biting his tongue. So he sits, letting them walk over him. As we walk through Omatikaya, the same tension is felt, eyes look at Jake out of utter disgust and a part of me, feels...somewhat bad for him.

Miles never mentioned that he was going through this either. I always thought after the battle of Hometree, he would be praised, a savior. Yet they seem to hold resent for him. He attempts to aid his people yet they don't answer him, they turn to Neytiri or Tsu'tey.

"Is that why you don't want to be an Olo'eytkan?" I ask him bluntly as he turns his head downwards to look at me. He was sitting far from them, not in a way to isolate himself but perhaps to give Neytiri her time to shine, clearly their people see Tsu'tey as the rightful Olo'eytkan.

He doesn't answer me and i don't know what i was expecting him to say.

"Keep your boyfriend between you and me." Jake orders, his tone isn't harsh like it usually is. But it...wasn't soft either. "If you want to keep him alive, that is."

And for some reason i actually trust this, because it seems like that there is a massive disconnect from his future wife and the rest of the colony.

"Do you regret staying?" I started fiddling my fingers as we both watch Neytiri and Tsu'tey speak of law and order. Rationing out food and the rebuild process of Omatikaya. We were all refugees at the moment there wasn't a true home for everyone yet.

"No" Jake replies "I regret lying"

My head turns to him and maybe because i was still an outsider that i also understood how he felt.

"I'm sorry that they don't trust you" I responded from my own sense of guilt, as if this isn't the same man who held me hostage for an entire week. For Jake he never opens up, he is solid and he never complains. He never even once raises his voice to Neytiri outside of their home even when she scolds him.

"I don't care if nobody likes me" Jake responded "This isn't some beauty contest, I'll live. This is their people, their home. I have no right to speak."

Yet he looks back at me, that same desperation in his eyes again.

"You don't see it as your own?"

He should not open up. He should stay solid again. Then i realize that desperation wasn't to prove himself, it was loneliness.

"If you love someone enough, any place is home."

I blink a few times, understanding that too. Because i would sleep in the pits of hell for Miles.

"You're...not what i expected" I admitted and he lets out a chuckle.

"Clearly I'm more meaner in person"

"No," I shook my head "You're more...human"

And he lowers his brows at me. "I mean...i was a human"

"No that's not what I meant." I corrected, being in the earth colony has taught me a lot of metaphors and for Jake he's been gone for so long that i guess he's forgotten it. "I meant you seem more...realistic, flawed, humble, misunderstood."

Golden eyes pick up a soften glint, as he messes with his own hands and for a moment everything seems to slow down as he looks into my eyes. Like he wanted to stay like this forever. But like a part of his self-control kicks back in, as his eyes turn a bit cold again. Or...they tried to.

"Why do you love him?" Jake asks attempting to change the focus.

"Because he's also...realistic, flawed, humble and..misunderstood." I admitted turning the focus back on him again. "Why do you love her?"

And he locks up, pressing that she was a boundary that i wasn't allowed to cross.

"I don't want to talk about Neytiri" He tells me protectively and i narrow my eyes at his muscles. How they tensed. How he changed his tone and his very stance.

"You feel...guilt?" i ask "for...her father?"

And i drop my eyes back at Neytiri who is laughing next to Tsu'tey and some other elders. Then turn back to him.

"And...she feels guilt, for choosing you over her father?" I suggested and he lets out a huff, almost irritated. "That's why you two are fighting? Everything was perfect? Until the colony found out about Eytukan and...they needed to blame someone?"

Which makes more sense why Neytiri is so frustrated. She loves him but she loves her people. Mourning isn't easy either, and the way she looks at him like he will never be her father. Live up to those standards. And Tsu'tey, whom was Jake's ally during the war. Seemingly turned his back, feeling like the death of his leader was done purposeful.

Tsu'tey also feels frustration maybe not exactly like Neytiri, but protective over her. How she chose a man who can't even stand next to her properly. He's angry that he has to take Jake's place to appease for the lack of leadership that Jake refused to own up to. That he was a weak man, weak leader and no Turok Makto title could ever make Tsu'tey believe Jake could be anything more.

While for Jake, he stands to the side for Neytiri. He does try to be a leader, but the people don't want him. They want Tsu'tey, someone they can trust, someone they grew up with. He fears to be the next Olo'eytkan, only proving to the people that Eytukan's death was just a way to get Earth to invade more. Jake doesn't need to be glorified that's for sure, he doesn't mind looking like the bad guy. I actually don't think he minds being one either. But the way Neytiri looks at him, seems to hurt him more to his very core. He left everything behind for her, will bow to her but she refuses to acknowledge him for it. That hurt from her father's death is taking a toll on her, and when she looks at him. All she sees is the very reason that her father isn't here.

"They teach you how to read people in that earth colony?" He spits back at me.

"No, i just..." I started, looking into his golden eyes that seem to flash like Mile's. Jake doesn't even need to pay for his crimes to earth, because he is constantly reminded of it here.

I put my hand on his palm for a moment. It was impulsive and honestly accidental. Jake freezes, knowing he should pull away and yet he turn his hand over and clasp mine. The way he holds me, feels like...he's gone without warmth for so long. But he eventually releases his grip.

"If you need anyone to talk to," I said, tilting my head up.

He just looks at me, refusing to respond. Face of stone.

"You're not...what i expected" Jake admits

And i laugh a bit "Meaner in person?" Repeating his words. But he never really answers me. As Tsu'tey finishes his speech and Neytiri hugs him and walks back over to us. Jake closes back up as she kisses his cheek.

"Did you hear what Tsu'tey just said?" Neytiri asks him and to be honest i also wasn't even listening.

"Uh, no. Sorry." He answers her truthfully and she just gives him a look of disappointment again, but he doesn't try to fix that.

"Jake.." She mutters out, "How do you expect to.."

"It was my fault." I chimed in feeling a bit bad that he was getting scolded for having a conversation with me. Neytiri turns to look at me for a moment. "I was asking him about Omatikaya and how the rebuild was. You've made a lot of progress" I continued on and this little thing does make her feel like maybe Jake recognizes the work she puts in. Enough to tell me that is.

"Oh? He told you about that?" She says smiling up at him.

"I?" Jake starts not wanting to lie to her anymore.

"Yes, he appreciates you a lot" I said and for the first time since I've seen them she does kiss him and it seems like he misses these simple moments with her. When things weren't complicated.

"Well, Tsu'tey is calling the men to help rebuild some more homes. If you could help him?" She says more kinder "Please?"

His head leans on her for a moment, as he kisses her cheek.

"Yeah baby" He whispers before pulling away. He never once looks at me again as he walks off into the crowd of people who absolutely hate him. But as long as Neytiri loved him, everything seemed to be fine. He was going to be fine.

She lets out a sigh turning to me. "I hope he was nice to you."

"As any man who is betrothed could be" I responded and she laughs.

"You remind me of my sister" Neytiri tells me and i think to myself how honestly i would really be the closest thing to a sister. Maybe a twin. "Come, i will show you around and set up a room for you."

And immediately i scoffed. "Uh what? Room? As in your home?"

"Of course. I brought you here. It's my duty to at least give you refugee while the rebuild is happening." She says "Right now shelter is scarce, so we must all squeeze where we can. My mother would offer her home but she is already taking care of the sick and injured and Tsu'tey technically lives with us but he's never around. Too couple like, but perhaps a new face might bring him back. Give him a sense that it's not just Jake and i"

She splits the home, Tsu'tey and Jake were staying on one side while her and i were on the other. Tsu'tey seemed easy so he honestly didn't care other than rooming with Jake. While Jake did somewhat care, but had no voice to fight against his wife. He just wanted to make her happy and if she chose to sleep apart from him. He had no choice but to...agree.

That night I'd gotten up to look out at the stars.

"You always just out here at night?" Jake voices from behind me as i turn to look up at him.

"Oh? I didn't even hear you" I responded

"Didn't mean to sneak up on you" he says as i moved over and patted the ground next to me, and he sits down. Not even realizing he sat down either.

"Did you have fun with Tsu'tey?" I ask

"So much fun" He chuckles a bit "What about you? Have fun with my wife?"

"So much fun" I repeated, smiling back at him. There is silence between us for a moment.

"Thank you" He says out of no where, as i turn my head to catch his eyes.

"What?"

"For...saving my ass today" He adds on, "From being chewed out."

"Well I'm sure you'll have plenty of other times to get chewed out again" i joke and he does laugh a bit.

"I'm betting she's already plotting a way to be feisty tomorrow." He playfully teases.

"You should show her this side of you" I remarked and he pauses for moment.

"What side?"

"Your vulnerable side" i corrected "Maybe she thinks you have it all together. Maybe you should tell her that you're struggling too."

Then he looks away from me and up at the night sky. Maybe he knew that my heart was taken and that made it easier to talk to me. That it wasn't like anything was going to come out of it.

"I can see why he loves you" Jake says "it must be nice to have someone understand you completely."

"No, we have our moments" I admitted. Miles was...cold too. Plus i didn't want to come off as better than Jake. "He's still flawed but...you love someone past those flaws."

"You don't seem flawed to be honest" He replies and not in a sense where he felt like i was more amazing.

"You hardly know me Jake." I sighed

"Well i could say the same for you right? You don't know me and yet...you defended me? After what? I threaten to kill you?" He suggested "I'm not good at reading people" he says turning to look back at me. "But, you don't seem flawed to me and...even if you are flawed, i guess.." Jake plays along. "I'm suppose to look past them right?"

"You're quite...funny actually" I remarked not ever knowing that part of him from all my studies.

"Just quite? That sucks" He shrugs "I think I'm pretty funny"

He smiles at me and a dimple is pressed in.

"Thinking you're funny and being funny isn't the same" i remark shifting my body to him.

"True, true. But you did think i was funny so...i'm still right"

"Is that it? You like being right"

"No actually" He corrects me which is truthful "but it would be nice to win one argument. Clearly I'm at a losing battle during the day."

He was being sarcastic, playing off how much it bothers him.

"it's just me Jake, you don't have to pretend" I joke "I know you like winning"

"A little"

Then there is silence between us again.

"I would love to tell Neytiri how i feel, believe me. I would. If..it didn't cause more turmoil" He admits "Because what is the man who got her father killed going to say? Hey stop being mean to me, even though I'm not the reason for it. But don't bring it up anymore." He tells me and i can see why he doesn't say anything now.

"Give her time" I suggested. "But...i think you're taking it well"

An acknowledgement, that he never gets.

"With everything you have to endure, for the one you love," I tell him as he looks down at me. "You are..doing the best you can. Flawed but...atleast you try"

"If...you were Neytiri," he suggested "What would you want me to do?"

And i blink a few times, "I'm not. That's the thing." I corrected him "I can't...tell you what to do, or...how she may take things, i can suggest." I tell him. "And hope...that things turn out ok."

"Right" he replies.

"Can i ask you something?"

"What?"

"Why didn't you kill me?" I ask "It's not because of Neytiri and i don't believe that you didn't wanted to."

He looks at me for brief moment, taking in my features. "I don't know." He answers truthfully. "But...a part of me...is glad i didn't."

"Thanks" I laugh "I'm glad you didn't either"

I curled my legs up to my body, wrapping my arms around them.

"If you did, I would've never found out you're pretty funny" i tease and he just grins at me.

"If you want an apology I'm not going to give you one" He remarks

"Oh? Are you too manly for that now?"

And he scoffs at me. "You're...much more than a pretty face that's for sure"

This makes me freeze for a moment, but i guess we both did.

"I'm sorry i didn't.." Jake fixes "I'm not trying to overstep"

"No," I reassure him "We have our respective partners, i don't think you'd ever.."

"No, i wouldn't." Jake confirms "I would never disrespect my wife."

"Then it was nothing, see?" I say to him, he carries so much guilt for no reason.

"Yeah nothing" He agrees. "It's was nothing." He convinces himself. "It's nothing."