Aonung smiled as he watched his mother admire her new child.
She looked to Aonung, raising her eyes.
"Would you like to hold him?"

Aonung smiled, carefully holding the baby against his chest.
He looked down, rubbing his ears.

"Have you thought of starting a family? With Neteyam." Ronal asked, grabbing the silk blanket to rest over her body.

Aonung looked up, his ears fluttering as they reddened.
"Mother-"

Ronal rose her hand, laughing.
"Aonung, you are both of age. Your father and I have blessed your relationship."

Aonung smiled, remembering the conversation they once had.
"We aren't even mates."

Ronal sat forward. Placing a hand on Aonung's knee.
"You love each other. And he is here, with you. He came back for you. What is stopping you?"

Aonung looked back to Fruno, his lips pursing into a thin line.
"Nothing it's just, I'm not sure of his desires."

Ronal carefully took one of her son's hands. Her fingers brushing Aonung's hair from his face.
"Neteyam is a loyal man. Very true to his heart and mind. I could not think of anyone more perfect for you. He is Olo'eyktan, as you will be one-day. He saved our clan and helped deliver your brother."

She sighed, carefully taking Fruno and laying back down.
"Speak to him, he will tell you the truth."

Aonung nodded, kissing the top of her head and leaving her to rest.

°^°^°^°^°^°

Neteyam pet the head of his Ilu, laughing as he chirped happy. Soon, swimming in circles around him.

He closed his eyes as he felt arms wrap around him, a chest firmly pressed against his back.
"This is a different hello."

He turned, his arms wrapping around Aonung's neck.
"Can we talk?"

Neteyam furrowed his eyebrows, nodding.

Aonung looked down, taking a deep break.
Neteyam moved a hand down his arm, pressing their hands together.
"Aon, it's okay. What is it?"

Aonung intertwined their hands, pushing his nerves aside. He had to remember.

This is Neteyam. Someone so trustworthy, he didn't think possible. The man, he loved.

"Do you love me?"
Aonung asked, tightening his hand around Neteyam's.

Neteyam smiled, gently rubbing his thumb along Aonung's palm.
"Of course I do."

Aonung nodded, his hand going on Neteyam's back, gently pushing him closer.
"You are Olo'eyktan...and I will be one day. Our life together, would be difficult. More difficult than either of us signed up for."

Neteyam frowned, nodding to the statement.
He took a step back, moving his hair from under Aonung's arm.

Aonung stuttered, closing his eyes as a blush rose to his face.
"Would you, like to be my mate?"

Neteyam smiled, lifting his arms around the taller.
Aonung opened his eyes, looking down to the other with worry.
"There is no one other than you. I would like that very much."

Aonung smiled, kissing Neteyam quickly before picking him up.
Neteyam laughed as he wrapped his legs around the Metkayina's waist, his hands playing with his let down hair.

Aonung lowered them into the water, his tail keeping them balanced as they just sat peacefully. Holding each other.
"We might beat Lo'ak and my sister to it, then."

Neteyam laughed, kissing Aonung's forehead.
"I thought they would be mates already when I returned."

Aonung smiled, running his hand up and down the shorters back.
"I'm glad they weren't. Lo'ak wanted you there."

Neteyam nodded, quickly jumping down as their Ilu's swam towards them.
Beginning to play with each other.

"He has missed you."
Aonung commented, watching Neteyam give attention to the sea-creature.

Neteyam turned, smiling to him.

Aonung studied him, finally his brain clicked. This whole time, Neteyam seemed off, now he knew why.
"You let your hair grow."

Neteyam nodded, his braids falling Infront of his chest as he did.
"I did. My grandmother preferred my long hair."

Aonung smirked, walking to Neteyam. He fisting the end of Neteyam's braid pulling his head back.
Neteyam groaned, looking up at Aonung. His tail wrapping around the others leg.
"As do I. More to pull."

Aonung leaned down, kissing the O'maticaya.
He finally released his braids, and lips. Taking his hand to lead him back to shore.

°^°^°^°^°^°

Neteyam carefully cradled Fruno in his arms, rocking him back and forth. Ronal Infront of him, preparing dinner for the two families.

She turned to the others, gaining their attention quickly.
"Would you be dears and gather Tonowari and Jake?"

The kids nodded, standing to leave. Tuk turned back to Neteyam, having a confused face.
"Is TeyTey not coming?"

Ronal chuckled, gently pouring water into the pan. Gathering more wood for the fire.
"If that is alright with you."

Netiryi placed a hand on Tuk's head, smiling down to her.
"Your brother is helping with the baby. Go with Lo'ak, he will be here when you return."

Tuk nodded, smiling to Neteyam before calling out to her brother. Grabbing his and Tsireya's hands as they walked through the paths.

Netiryi walked to Ronal, helping her clean the food before placing it into the metal pan.
Making dinner quickly.

They looked to Neteyam, both silently observing him.

He had the young baby against his chest, an arm under him while the other held the silk blanket together. His feet moving him side to side.
He was looking down to him, admiration on his face.

Ronal smiled, clearing her throat as she handed Netiryi a knife.
"Neteyam?"

He looked up, moving closer to the two women. Keeping the baby a safe distance from the heat of the flames.
"Yes?"

"Aonung talked with you? About mating."
Ronal asked, looking up to Neteyam for confirmation.
He gave a quick nod, his eyes darting between the two women.
"Sit with us."

He hesitantly moved forward, sitting on a extra chair.
The baby on his legs, still moving his upper body to soothe him.

"Have you, thought of a family?" Netiryi asked, eyeing her son and the Tsahìk's child.

Neteyam flushed, his ears twitching.
"Perhaps.."

Ronal smirked, sharing a look with Netiryi before she began to speak.
"I have observed you with Fruno. You do well with children. And you can bare your own."

Neteyam smiled, tilting his head.
Ronal quickly continued, not giving him a chance to respond.

"In our eyes, you and my son are already intertwined. So, is there a reason you have not spoke of having your own?"

Neteyam sighed, his ears turning down as he thought on it.
"No, not exactly. I just, never planned to have children of my own."

Netiryi gently cut the fruit, looking to her son through the corner of her eyes.
"Why is that?"

"I didn't think I'd be around long enough to have too."

Ronal and Netiryi both stilled. Memories of his earlier wound flashing through their heads.
They put down their knives, turning to Neteyam.

"I grew up in the war. I'm still fighting it. I grew up, preparing myself that I may die young. I didn't want to have children in that..world. It would be unfair to them."

Netiryi carefully put her fruit in the pan, wiping her hands as she relaxed again.
"Did it feel unfair to you? Being born in the middle of a war?"

Neteyam frowned, his eyes narrowing as he thought.
"Sometimes. When I was young, I often blamed you and dad. For raising us to be warriors. Not children. But, I am more so thankful as well."

Netiryi nodded, picking up the knife and her half of the vegetables they would use.
Ronal did the same, both returning to their earlier task.
"But, now, would you? Have children with Aonung?"

Neteyam smiled at Ronal's eagerness for an answer. Laughing at how his mother's ears twitched.
"Yes, I would, someday."

Netiryi and Ronal both smiled to each other, their questions answered in a way that satisfied them.

Ronal smirked, quickly turning her head to the younger Na'vi.
"Good. But hurry, your mother and I will not be patient forever."

Neteyam's eyes went wide. His face still frozen as the others walked in.

Tonowari quickly noticed, a broken chuckle escaping his lips as he turned to Jake.
"I think our mates interrogated your son."

The others leaned to the side, confused as they saw his face.

Netiryi smiled, standing to take the fish from the two men.
"Now, now. Neteyam is fine."

Ronal hummed in agreement, turning her head to him.
"Aren't you?"

Neteyam nodded, smiling to her and his mother.
Silently praying to Eywa it was the last he would hear of having children for a long while.

°^°^°^°^°^°^°

Aonung carefully sat after dinner. The two families around him. Only talking.
Neteyam by his side, their arms wrapped together.

"So, Neteyam,"
His father began, setting down his drink as everyone directed their attention to the two.
"How was it, returning to the forest?"

Neteyam sighed, looking down before he began his story. Everyone's ears burning to listen.
"It was nice, seeing everyone and hearing about things I wasn't there for."

Tsireya leaned into Lo'ak, smiling as Tuk played with her hair.
"What was it like?"

Neteyam tensed, knowing the mood would change.
"When I first got back, it was very different. The people were scared. The first thing I did was move them deeper into the forest, helping them make new homes."

Kiri sat forward, leaning her hands on the Rotxo's legs.
"Was there many sky-people."

Neteyam tilted his head back and forth. Nonchalantly beginning his story.
"There were many. They had made posts in the woods and cliffs. Many times, our days would consist of just fighting. Pushing them out."

Netiryi clasped Jake's hand, a frown on her face.
"Were you injured?"

Soon everyone began to wonder. Since he had been back, he had worn sky-people clothes. Covering his upper body.

He glanced around, taking his bottom lip between his teeth.
"Hey Tuk, close your eyes okay?"

Tuk nodded, covering her eyes as if it was a game.

He let go of Aonung's hand, standing and removing his shirt.

Time froze as he turned. Showing his body.

His bullet wound was still visible, sitting over his heart.
On the right side, was a cut. Most likely from a knife.
On his back, was a arrow head shaped scar, hovering on his shoulder blade.
Down his spine, was the worst. A thin line, starting below his neck and stopping at his tail.

He quickly pulled the shirt back over himself, sitting back down comfortably.

Rotxo leaned forward, wrapping his arms tightly around Kiri.
"Bro, what happened?"

"It was right before eclipse. Gu'man, a warrior, and I went out for a patrol. We both got blindsided, and taken to one of their posts."

Aonung wrapped an arm around Neteyam, swallowing hard as images flashed through his head.

"They ran tests. Wanting to see how we evolved from earlier.. subject is what they called them."

He placed a hand over his hip, right where the band of his loincloth would sit. If he ever wore one.
"Gu'man was the first to escape. He came with others right after my testing."

Tonowari leaned forward, sympathy crossing his face to Jake and Netiryi.
"Did they find anything?"

Neteyam skimmed Ronal and Netiryi's faces, hoping he would spark a new conversation.
"They found out I could reproduce. But, they were killed before they tried anything."

Aonung kissed Neteyam's temple, his ears turning down at the thought of anything happening to him.
"Good."

Neteyam smiled, turning to Aonung. He gave him a quick kiss, separating as Ronal and Netiryi both cleared their throats.

"Ma Jake."
Jake turned to his mate, seeing Ronal do the same with Tonowari.
The two men shared a look, fear racking through them.

"Netiryi and I, have come to a agreement."
Ronal stated, smiling to everyone. Mostly Aonung and Neteyam.

"And that is?"
Tonowari asked, tilting his head to her.

"Since Neteyam and Aonung are both of age, and about to be mates. They should get their own hut."
Netiryi suggested, sending a knowing wink go her oldest.

Neteyam blushed, feeling the four parents look to him. A realization hitting the two men at once.

Jake covered his laugh, his eyes closing to help keep his composure.
Tonowari smiled, narrowing his eyes to the fellow Olo'eyktan.
"I think that is a wise decision. We can choose one for them tomorrow."

Neteyam hid his face in Aonung's neck. Flushing as his siblings began to cheer and ask a multitude of questions. Questions they most likely will never get answered.

Aonung turned his head down, thankful for the noise.
"Are you comfortable with that?"

Neteyam looked up, planting a gentle kiss on Aonung's neck. Silently hating his oblivious mind.
"Our mothers talked to me about our future children. They are impatient women."

Aonung's eyes widened as a lightbulb clicked in his head. Finally noticing the look the two women were giving him.

Lo'ak interrupted the silent stare-down, a smirk on his face.
"So, when will they officially mate?"

Tonowari shrugged, picking up his glass.
"That is for them to decide. But, hopefully, soon."

Ronal hit his shoulder as she stood, walking over to the two boys.
She leaned down, giving Aonung a hug as she handed Fruno to his future mate.
"Nonsense. They will mate like any other couple. When Netiryi and I see best."

Neteyam inwardly groaned, knowing the sooner they mate, the sooner the two mom's would badger him for grandchildren.

Ronal smiled, her arms stretching from the freedom of her baby.
She must admit, she enjoyed how Neteyam would accept the child with no complaints.

Netiryi tilted her head, a smile forming on her lips.
"There is an open hut, walking distance from the woods."

Tonowari agreed, wiping his lips from his drink.
"Then that is what they will use. They can move there tonight."

Neteyam and Aonung both tensed, not speaking of how fast their parents were moving their relationship.

Ronal continued, placing a hand on Tonowari and Netiryi's shoulders. Silently thankful she found a friend in the former Tsahìk.
"Netiryi and I have already discussed. They will mate tonight. The ceremony will be held in three days time. Do you agree?"

She asked, looking to her mate and Netiryi's.
Both men smiled, nodding in agreement.

Neteyam and Aonung turned to each other, their eyes widening.

Aonung let out a sigh, carefully putting his mind to ease.
Though, he has no doubt Neteyam was panicking in his mind.

It had been a week since he returned, and now they had already set a date for the ceremony.
Oh how Eywa works.

°^°^°^°^°^°^°

Now hear me out-

HEAR ME OUT

I know this book is moving faster compared to the first but, after the roller coaster of emotions in His Angel Eyes I thought we could all use some wholesome sweet content.

Now, this book will have its own up and downs but it is a very happy book, in my evil opinion.

Just bear with me ;)