Eywa's Gift

Purpose

Eywa has a plan for all her children, his mother had once said, curling around him as he fights sleep, while running her fingers through his short black locks. It was late and his mother had been fighting him to get to sleep. But no matter how many times he shut his eyes and willed himself to sleep, he couldn't. Too excited for the next day. His father offered to let them leave their home to go out and explore - one of his favorite things to do. And they were going to go as a family.

Well, mostly. Lo'ak is too young. He's only four. So, he was going to stay with their grandmother while his parents and sister get to go explore. Lo'ak is going to hate it, but after the last time he just wondered off quietly, scaring their parents to death, he's being held at home in the caves until he's just a little bit older.

Mom promised, despite his angry pout and watery eyes just a few short hours before. He cried himself to sleep.

"Neteyam," Neytiri said softly, draw large golden eyes up to his mother's. "Are you ready to go to bed now?"

"I want to," Neteyam murmurs back just as softly, conscientious of Lo'ak sleeping a few feet away and Kiri being rocked to sleep in their father's arms as he walked around the tent, rubbing her back. Neteyam isn't the only one that is super excited about tomorrow. But where Neteyam was still bright eyed and alert, Kiri is almost completely unconscious, arms wrapped around her father's neck with her head on his shoulder.

Neytiri ran her fingers through his hair, pushing away the strands that were tickling the tip of his nose. She promised to braid it for him in the morning. But in order to get there, he would have to go to sleep. "But..?" She prompted, smiling softly.

"My eyes won't stay closed," Neteyam said, tucking in closer to his mother's warmth. "Maybe Eywa isn't ready for me to sleep?"

His father huffed, shooting his mother a playful grin that makes Neteyam smile bashfully. Neytiri shook her head, a smile pulling up the corners of her mouth as she looked back down at Neteyam. "The Great Mother plans a many things for her children, Neteyam, but not even she would keep a sweet boy from his much-needed sleep."

Jake stepped over to Kiri's bed next to a sleeping Lo'ak, tucking her in safely before straightening up and making his way over to Neteyam. His lips curled up into a gentle smile reserved for inside their home, when he didn't have to be Olo'eyktan. When he didn't have to be Toruk Makto. Here, he could be Mate. Here, he could be Father. Here, he could be Jake.

"I have an idea," Jake said easily, still keeping his voice low as to not wake the other two kids.

Jake held out his hands to his eldest son. For a split second, Neteyam stared back, confused before reaching out to wrap his hands around his father's. Before he could ask what his dad's plan was, Jake pulled Neteyam up into his arms, just like he had Kiri just a few minutes before. Neteyam recoiled slightly, cheeks darkening in embarrassment, staring onto his father's nose, unable look him in the eye.

"Dad," he whined softly, embarrassed but still conscious of his sleeping siblings. He could hear his mom giggle from behind him. Jake flashed long white fangs at his eldest son in amusement. Neteyam wrapped his arms around his father's neck, dropping his face to bury it into Jake's neck while his father slowly rocks back and forth, running his hand up and down Neteyam's back.

Neteyam could feel the rumble of his father's laugh against his chest and hear it faintly in his ear as Jake paced around their home, turning at one point giving Neteyam the chance to see his mom sitting next to his bedroll, leaning back on her hands, belly already beginning to swell with his new baby sibling. Neteyam was so excited for another little sibling. He already had a brother and sister that he adored, so it didn't matter to him which ended up growing in his mother's belly, but Jake and Neytiri had their bets.