Hello dear readers. I have a little announcement to make, because I uploaded another story called "extended scenes" and It's just that. Scenes that I have written but felt were too much for this story or not that relevant to the plot but still interesting. The scenes relate to different chapters and mostly give some more fluff or angst or anything at all.

Check it out if you want to read some more. :D

Chapter 18

The following day Jake found himself half buried beneath a pile of children though he distinctly remembered having put them all to sleep on their own mats. Neytiri had saved herself from the puppy pile but gave them a look like she really wanted to take a photo.

That was one of the few Terran things his wife had really accepted from his home world and apparently she liked Tom's song well enough, because she wore the earpiece right now. Knowing both Grace and Norm, there would be nothing else recorded, that could compare to the song. But Jake was biased to be honest.

He decided to enjoy the moment, with Kiri curled into his right side, head pillowed on his arm and his hand was cuddled to Lo'ak's cheek. Tuk was sprawled over his chest, held securely by her older brothers arm, who was buried into Jakes other side, head pillowed on his shoulder.

He saw Neytiri motion with her hands into his opposite direction, where Grace entered the pod, electronic screen in hand. Was taking a photo a universal mom thing? To his absolute horror, Grace pulled Neytiri to her side and they took a selfie with Jake and the kids in the background. He was barely able to hide his appalled face but both of the women laughed anyway. He gave them a faked insulted look that was captured instantly, because they wouldn't stop with the photos.

Their commotion caused Kiri to let out a grumble by his ear and Lo'ak to grab his somewhat numb hand. Neteyam as well woke up, tracing soft patterns into Tuk's calmly raising and deflating back.

"Sully meeting." Jake declared some minutes later unable to ignore how he was now a glorified Teddybear. They slowly released him from their grasp, only Tuk stayed on his chest still fast asleep. He gently shifted her position down to the mat as he sat up and the girl only grumbled a little. Grace started to step out of the tent, but was promptly grabbed by the tail and pulled back by Neytiri as they sat in a circle around the fire. She rolled her eyes but sat between Jake's oldest daughter and wife, giving him an exasperated look. He raised one brow. What where you expecting? He turned to his family, all the humour vanishing from his face.

"I'm sorry for my behaviour yesterday," he began, feeling Neteyams hand grasp his elbow, giving his unvoiced support.

"it was certainly an eventful night and Grace, we are so glad to have you here again." The woman received a round of smiles and agreements.

"We will have to discuss what your plans are and how much of a part you want to take in this family. From my side you are welcome, but take your time to consider it carefully. We won't pressure you in any way." Grace gave him a serious nod, then looked over at the happy Kiri.

"The thing is that Grace told Olo'eyktan, Tsahik and me some more. Actually she came to warn us because it is probable that Quaritch got a trail on us." Jake saw the shock and fear take over the former happiness on his family's faces. He gave the scientist a pointed look and she took over.

"It is true. I've been alive again for around three month now and spent the first month in Hell's Gate. I'm not sure how much you've heard, but the RDA can now install a consciousness into an Avatar body, based on the persons recorded memory." She paused a little to see some confused faces.

"That is the reason Quaritch is back. When the humans first came to Pandora, everyone was asked to do regular video logs and memory updates, or at least some of us. More of the scientists were made to do this but apparently the soldiers were as well. I didn't ask much, because I had other things to do." Grace explained and Jake furrowed his brows, because he hadn't heard of this memory update back then. The only thing he ever did were the bothersome video logs.

"The technology was not jet evolved enough that the memories could be evaluated, only stored so I never paid it more attention. The thing is that I was not the only Avatar they still had a body for. The other one was a decades old stored embryo that is identical to the one of your fathers. The body was grown over the six year journey from Earth to Pandora. They implanted all the memorise files they had of your uncle, Thomas Sully." Jake was careful to look at each of his children's faces, interested in how they would react. Lo'ak's head whipped around to look at his father, eyes wide and mouth slightly open. Kiri looked confused, her brows furrowed and eyes looking down. The wheels in her head were practically visible. His oldest showed his surprise the least, ears perked up and attention switching between Grace and Jake's faces. His fathers calm stare assured him of Jakes knowledge of whatever Grace had just shared with them.

"Was that the reason why you were so stressed yesterday Dad?" Lo'ak's question was surprisingly empathic for his usual brashness.

"Part of it, son. There is more to it." Jake agreed, looking back to Grace.

"Yeah. Tom and I stayed with the Omatikaya for the longest time. At some point we escaped Quaritch and I can assume that Tuk has even met Tom once. He helped her hide somehow, from Quaritch. At least that was what he said." This fact surprised even Jake and Neytiri. So Tom was this Angel the girl had been talking about. The one with a striking resemblance to Jake. Warmth flooded his chest at the thought of his brother already taking care of his family before he even knew it was them. That was just like him.

"We had hidden ourself in the forest and stayed at the tree of voices for the night before Mo'at found us the next day around noon."

Kiri grabbed her mothers arm, to look her in the eyes. "That means we left only hours before you came to the clan?" She was clearly frustrated and Jake took a second to share the feeling completely.

His one chance to meet his brother after a lifetime, lost because he had fled as fast as possible. What if he never got the chance again? What if Tommy got himself killed again before he could see him at least once? Jake regretted being such a coward and not having the patience to wait a couple hours. Was it Eywa's justice for not trusting her?

"Ma Jake you couldn't have known. No one knew of them being alive." Neytiri held his neck in a comforting way, whispering to him. He didn't even need to look at her for the big: But what if? Question.

Grace gave him some moments before continuing her tale.

"Both of us received permission to connect to the tree, at least the sheer amount of Atokirina told us so. Tom went first and did not really tell me what he had seen except some of your memories Jake. I on the other hand had a longer rendezvous with Eywa. She gave me back my soul, planted it in this body along with all the rest of my memories." Neytiri and Kiri gasped at her news, connecting if to her missing presence within Eywa some weeks ago.

"Tom went through some training for the time I was unconscious. Apparently I was out for two and a half weeks after regaining my soul. Mo'at cared for me for the time and taught Tom some of her Tsahik stuff. Unsurprisingly he was pretty good with all the plant and paste stuff." Jake was unable to suppress the dry chuckle at those news. Trust his brother to train from a shaman as soon as he was revived. Had they spent any more years on earth he'd probably have started a cult or something similar.

"We integrated ourselves into the clan to some degree and came up with some crazy ideas on the way because some hunters found Quaritch running through the forest with this Spider boy-" Grace found herself interrupted by two glaring teens.

"You've seen Spider?" "How is Spider?!" Kiri was practically in her face and Lo'ak looked like he wanted to jump right after her, begging Grace to tell them more about Spider NOW.

"I have not seen him myself, only small hunting groups came by them. Mo'at received reports about him from time to time, that he was leading a group of Avatar soldiers through the weirdest parts of the forest, no clear pattern was detected. He looked unhurt so far. They went out on irregular times, what made it hard for them to anticipate where he would lead them next."

Jake thanked Eywa for small mercies but was again reminded of his own decision to leave the boy behind. He had not given away the camps location and even lead Quaritch on a merry chase, biding time and doing his best. Jake was so proud jet felt so guilty. He should not have doubted Spider, they could have remained in the forest, met up with Tommy. Tommy was always good with plans. They would have found a way to get Spider back. Maybe that could have spared Norm and Maya and now even Tom their time with Quaritch.

He knew his own guilt and worries started to take a toll on his family. Neytiri was always there to calm him down and Kiri was probably scarred for life because of his stupid stunt out in the reef. Neteyam clearly noticed that he was not feeling good and he was sure Lo'ak was not far behind.

He was meant to protect his family from worries, not cause them. No stress of his should burden his children. Jake wound his tail to the front and grabbed its end in his fist, squeezing hard so the pain would keep him alert. He was done hurting his children, so very done. He schooled his face into passiveness, concentrating on his blunt nails digging into his flesh. Grace couldn't tell them any more about Spider because he was seen only three times before Norm and Maya were captured. He was glad that Grace skipped that part a little and just finished off that Tom was now also taken by Quaritch along with Norm and Maya.

"Will they come here now?" Kiri asked after hearing her mothers story.

"We do think that Norm might have given them a clue for Maya's safety. Even if they don't come, we wanted to make sure you were fine and had some extra protection. Mo'at sent three warriors with us but we could always ask them to scout the perimeter and warn us of any incoming danger." Grace's words let them contemplate for a while.

"Ao'nung said that there was another person that came with you. Who is it? I have not seen them yet." Lo'ak asked Grace when they all had pause to go through the new information she had just shared.

"Obviously it's not our uncle..." The silence became a tad more heavy with the subtext and the disappointment in the youths voice.

"It's the next best person besides Tom. I brought his meaner half." That earned Grace some confused stares and Jake's eyebrows rose at the typical human term.

"I'm not sure if you know her, because she seemed to have lived a pretty secluded life for what I understood. Her name is Tanu'ley." Jake and Neytiri did a double take when they heard her name.

"Tanu'ley?! You mean that was Tanu'ley and I didn't recognise her?" Jake exclaimed.

"She returned to the clan? Is she well? The last time I have met her she was about Neteyam's age." Neytiri questioned with worry in her eyes.

"Woha guys!" Grace leaned back with raised hands at the sudden avalanche of questions.

"Tanu'ley is fine! Well I guess she's not but you can ask her for yourself." Grace snapped a little surprised. Who would have guessed that the young woman would cause such a commotion.

"Who is this Tanu'ley?" Lo'ak intervened, confused at his parents expressions.

"Tanu'ley te Rongloa Soley'ite is the younger sister to Tsu'tey." Neytiri explained and all of her kids new that name by heart.

"But wasn't she on some kind of journey?" Neteyam asked, brows furrowed in thought.

"She pretty much came and went as soon as she got her Ikran when she was 12 years old. I nearly died of a heart attack that day when her aunt told me she was missing. We feared for her life for hours when she came flying in, telling uns she wanted to travel. We hadn't allowed her to go but she did it anyway." Jake rubbed his eyes at the memory.

"I asked permission from our allied clan, the Ikran people from the eastern sea, if she could learn from them for some time. Somehow that kick started the exchange program." That got him some majorly impressed looks from his kids.

"Well that was the only thing I could do to know her safe somewhere. She was so headstrong, she'd have probably run away otherwise." He continued.

"You forget ma Jake, she did run away when she was sixteen. She left us with a message telling us she would not return for some years." His wife added annoyance lacing her voice.

"No chance of forgetting that. She looked so different yesterday and her Ionar covered up her forehead. As bad as I am with the markings, I'd remember hers." He sighed again.

"Yeah that sounds like her. Stupidly independent and stoic that one. I'm not sure if I ever saw her smile in all the time I've known her." Grace agreed, shaking her head a little.

"But what does she have to do with Tommy? Why is she here? She said she was his teacher but not much more." Jake asked, he wanted to know what he had to work with now, before explaining some more who exactly this even bigger troublemaker was.

Grace winced a little at that question. "For the specifics you should probably ask herself, but I'm very sure that should Tom die, there will be a literal hell to pay." That elicited a wince from about everyone else.

"Why would she go so far?" Jake asked, but regretted it soon after.

"Might I remind you where you and your teacher ended up." She stared at Neytiri and him. Jake faceplanted into his hands.

"The bloody Irony."

Grace gave him a pitiful smile and a pat across the fire. "Yeah, if it eases the awkwardness, she was the one who started it."

"Of course she was, because Tommy is as oblivious as they come for such things. She could have all but thrown herself at him and he'd think they're just friends." Jake said, somehow overwhelmed with how he should feel about all of this. He looked up again into the confused faces of his family, dreading already that he would have to explain this all over again.

"Dad? Do friends not jump at each other? And who is Tomi?" Asked the tired voice of his little girl, who sat behind him, rubbing her eyes.

Grace had the audacity to laugh at his dilemma.

Tsireya arrived at their door around midday startling Lo'ak out of his confusing thoughts. He was glad to follow her outside along with his little sister even when Kiri and Neteyam chose to stay behind for some reason. Personally he needed a break of seeing his parents so upset. His father's face the day before was one of the most scary things he had seen this far.

Lo'ak felt much better in the water, like it washed some of his troubles away. The waves moved his body as he let himself float amongst them, making him feel lighter than ever. No worries pulled him down here and Tsireya was kind enough to just let him be while she explored the reef for the fifth time with Tuk.

Ever since he was left outside the reef he was able to hold his breath much longer. Maybe knowing Payakan had changed something, because his lungs just felt deeper and his movements now swayed with the water. He wasn't fighting against it anymore.

When he came up for breath he watched the shape of an Ikran fly above his head, going in the direction of the clan. It was an unfamiliar one and his thoughts jumped right to this woman his parents had talked about.

Tanu'ley, sister of Tsu'tey and a bigger pain for his father than he had ever managed to be. How much good would it bring for her to be here? Would his father stress even more?

A sudden anger overtook his mind and he found himself diving back to the beach without any real plan.

The Ikran had landed on one of the smaller trees behind the beach and Lo'ak walked over with a deep scowl on his face.

He could see her now, and she certainly did not look much like an Omatikaya except for her skin tone and the bow she held in her hands. Her Ikran saddle was typical to the eastern tribe, which affirmed his fathers story of where he had parked her off when she wanted to leave. Her legs were partly covered by a dark brown leather, as were her lower arms. Typical gear for an Ikran hunter as they had to fly long distances and protect their skin from the harsh wind or even the string of their bow. His mother wore a similar garb sometimes. Her chest covering was simple and modest as were her bracelets on her upper arms. The things that really stood out were the bright read tassels in her hair and the crown of teeth and talons on her head.

Lo'ak had never seen such accessory before but he found she looked like a pissed of palulukan when she turned around with a blank face.

She fixed her gaze on him, then jumped from the branch she had been standing on to come closer to him. Lo'ak had at some point stopped on the beach, when? He had no idea.

Tanu'ley stopped to stand only a metre before him, studying him with her slanted eyes. Lo'ak felt uncomfortable under her gaze but the saw her expression soften with one look to his forehead.

"I see you child." She greeted him with the appropriate hand movement. The curtesy caught him somewhat off guard but he reciprocated the gesture soon after, loosing his scowl halfway through.

"Are you Tanu'ley? Grace spoke of you." He asked, embarrass when his voice cracked a little from his nervousness. That woman was intimidating just standing there.

"Yes, my name is Tanu'ley." She affirmed. For all the questions he had had just moment ago, Lo'ak was unable to recall one of them now. Now his silence made him even more uncomfortable, because she didn't look like she wanted to talk, but she didn't walk away either.

"You are Lo'ak, correct?" He had not realised he hadn't introduced himself, so he just nodded. Another moment of awkward silence.

"Why are you here?" Lo'ak was able to ask, regretting it soon after when her face twisted into a scowl. Of course he pissed her of with only his second question.

"I'm here to protect you child. For me you are my family and my responsibility. No harm shall come to you." She said, her voice much warmer than her demeanour. Lo'ak looked at her a little dumbfounded.

"But you don't even know us. Why would you want to protect us?" He decided his question was a really logical one.

Her scowl faded again and she gave him a critical side eye. "Because I have decided that you will be." She replied.

"Shouldn't we have a say on this too? I mean we didn't just adopt you into our family." Duh! What was that woman thinking?

"You didn't, but another one did." She said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world. Lo'ak started to feel a little frustrated.

"Then that makes you their family, not mine!" He exclaimed taking a threatening step forward.

She merely raised a brow. "Then tell me, fierce one, what does it take to become your family?"

He was taken a little of guard with her question. "Don't you know that? Family are the people who raise you. Your parents and siblings."

"And if you take those away, who is your family then?"

"Grandparents? Uncles and aunts? Those are family too." He spat, his former anger boiling up again.

"And if you take those away as well, who would you call family?" She continued to ask, face unreadable.

"Why would I take them away, aren't these enough?" He threw up his ands in exasperation turning around so he would not have to look at her face anymore.

"Because all these people you have listed… all of mine are gone. I consider you family because the only person I truly want to call my home, loves and cares for you. You are his family, that makes you mine as well." Her words were soft, but Lo'ak felt like she had screamed them at him, with how they continued to echo in his head. All her family was gone?

"Don't you have friends?" He asked, anger leaving him as fast as it came.

"I am respected, but not often liked. There is no one I would call my friend except for Somi." She motioned her hand to the light blue Ikran behind her, that gave her cooing noises as if in pain.

"I preferred to be alone once, still do most of the time, but now I can only rest with you safe and sound." She continued, her gaze had turned to her original warmth, as if she were smiling without doing so. Lo'ak was lost for words, but he felt guilty for screaming at the woman.

"If you don't want me to be your family, maybe we can become friends instead? You could teach me how." Tanu'ley offered, and Lo'ak was so surprised at the sudden offer that he dumbly nodded.

This time there was an actual smile on her face. "Great! How do we become friends?"

It took him an embarrassing long time to recover his thought and speech. "Hum, we can uh, spend time together? Share interests? I dunno, is there anything you like doing?" He stammered out, asking himself how he had ended up in this situation. Tanu'ley on the other hand looked deep in thought.

"I love flying with Somi. I'm good at hunting and singing too. Oh, and I love scaring other people in funny ways." She listed off, before giving him a side glance.

"I can help you become even more fierce little one." Tanu'ley said, like it was just a stray thought. Lo'ak perked up a little.

"Really? And what would you teach me?" He asked as if testing her.

"I warn you I'll be scary." Tanu'ley countered, taking some steps back in preparation, a grin lining her lips.

"Yeah sure, I'll believe it when I see it." He dared her, now interested in what this freakish woman had to offer (freak used in the best ways, because he knew what it took to be called a freak).

She gave him a challenging look, before she vanished from his sight. Lo'ak took a stunned second before he looked around, rustling sand behind him had his swirling around to see Tanu'ley on all fours, tail raised, ears flat and teeth bared before she let out a roaring hiss, similar to that of an Ikran.

Lo'ak actually fell back on his butt, to shocked at what just happened.

"The fuck?! What was that?" He shouted out, staring at Tanu'ley who got up to brush the sand from her hands.

"Traditional start of a duel in the Ko'bamay clan in the wide plains. They imitate their clans animal, a creature similar to our palulukan. Very fierce people who can hide in plain sight." She explained as if they were talking about the weather.

"And when have you been there?" Lo'ak asked as if he was accusing her.

"When I finished 15 cylces I left the forest to search for other clans beyond our allies. Their clan lives way further then the Taipani horse clan." Tanu'ley said. Lo'ak actually took a moment to calm his raiding heart and to stand up himself.

"Dad said you spent much time outside the clan." He told her to which she nodded.

"Your father is correct. In my travels I visited seven different clans and I stayed for longer at three of them." Lo'ak refused to show how impressed he was.

"You stayed with a reef clan as well?" He asked, but she shook her head.

"No, I only visited the reefs, but soon found they had little use of my skills." She said, sparking Lo'ak's excitement.

"How about I teach you what they have taught me and you tell me of all the cool stuff you have picked up over the time? You can make sure I'm safe while doing so." Both of Lo'ak's brows were raised in question as he held out his hand in a handshake. She looked a little lost with the gesture but took his hand anyway.

"I find myself intrigued by your offer." She agreed, making Lo'ak grin in excitement.

"Good my new friend, how should we start?" He asked pulling her along down the beach. Tanu'ley gave him a soft smile and let herself be pulled.

"I think I would like a demonstration of your skill." She decided, making Lo'ak all the happier.

That night Lo'ak came back with a huge smile on his face. He wasn't even phased when his parents gave him a stern look because he had run off somewhere.

"I made a new friend." He stated, looking extremely smug.

"Tanu'ley is epic, and really good at fighting. We caught a lot of fish and a yerik in the forest. We gave it to the cook and she was super happy with us. She said she would prepare it for tonight's communal dinner." He told them proudly. His parents and siblings were impressed. Even more so when they walked to the beach for dinner a saw Rotxo approaching the younger Sully boy.

"Yo Lo'ak, are you okay? I think I saw you falling off your Ikran at that last spin." He said, his worried expression deepening when Lo'ak frantically moved his hands to stop his talking. The boy understood when he saw Neytiri's furious face.

"Lo'ak, explain, now." He slowly turned around with a very nervous smile. The group startled when a slim arm slung around his shoulders.

"Lo'ak was teaching me to become an epic aunt. Don't worry I caught him in time." How no one had seen her approach them was unclear to all but Lo'ak who gave her a bright grin.

"It was hella scary though." He said, ignoring his families stares.

"Just scary?" Tanu'ley looked short of pouting.

"Nah, it was fun, when can we do that again?" She presented him with her best evil smirk before giving his parents a side glance.

"Soon my friend, very soon." She promised.

I really hope I could raise the spirits more. Feedback is always welcome.