New Beginnings

Chapter Eleven

Ao'nung walked into his marui and saw his mother and father sitting with Jake and Neytiri.

"Did I interrupt something?" He asked when they all looked up at him.
"Son, we need to talk." Tonowari said motioning for Ao'nung to sit.

When he sat down all eyes were on him.
"What's going on?" Ao'nung asked.
"We need to discuss options of women for you, Son." Ronal said.

He looked at his parents confused then looked at Jake and Neytiri.
"Then, why are they here?" He asked.

Ronal looked at Tonowari and nodded. "Son, we have decided it was best for you and Laiena, Jake and Neytiri's daughter, to stop seeing eachother."

Ao'nung looked at them in disbelief. "Were not even together?"
"Yes, but he hear word that you two are getting, close." Ronal said.
"So? What does that have to do with anything?"

Tonowari let out a sigh and looked at Jake for help.
Jake nodded and looked at Ao'nung. "She's been getting into a lot of trouble lately, and we believe that if she takes a break from you her attitude will, improve."

Neytiri looked at Jake with pure anger on her face, and so did Ronal.
"Ma'Jake. That was not the decision." Neytiri whispered harshly at him.

"Dad how is that fair?" Ao'nung said standing up, causing Tonowari to stand as well.
"Ao'nung. Do not push any further about this."
"No your not listening. For the first time in months, I feel completed."

"Ao'nung. Listen to me." Ronal said calmly standing up. "She's an Omatikaya, and you're Metakyina. That's something that not even Ewya can change."

Ao'nung looked at his mother, then to Jake and Neytiri and took a deep breath. "But, I love her."

Everyone in the marui just looked at eachother, and Ao'nung couldn't believe he'd just admitted out loud not only to his parents or hers but to himself the feeling he'd been trying to push away for the past three months.

It felt like only yesterday they'd met on the shore but now today he felt it deep in his heart that he loved her.

Jake walked over to Ao'nung and placed a hand on his shoulder and smiled. "Then tell her."

Ao'nung smiled and looked at his parents only to see the disapproving look on his mothers face, but the giant smiled plastered on his fathers.

"Mother?" Ao'nung said quietly.
Tonowari looked down at his mate and she looked at him. "We can't control who he loves."

Ronal looked at her son and smiled.
Ao'nung smiled back then left the marui to go find Laiena.

——

After Laiena had her visit with Payakan, she made her way back to Awa'atlu.

When she got there, Ao'nung seemed as though he'd been waiting for her.
"Can I help you?" She asked once she walked up to him.
"Come with me, please." He said grabbing her hand and leading her to her marui which was empty.

"Is everything okay?" She asked.
"Laiena. I've been trying so, so, so hard not to say anything but it's driving me insane."

Laiena just stood there and looked around. "Okay?" She let out a nervous laugh.
"Laiena. I've spent these last few weeks trying to push these feelings to the bottom of my heart, but I can't ignore them much longer."

Laiena looked at him confused as he paced around. "Ao'nung, what are you talking about?"

He stopped walking and turned to face her. "I'm gaining feelings for you, Laiena."

She just stood there in complete shock. She couldn't believe it.

"Ao'nung."
"No, please don't say anything." He said, his voice raspy as he spoke.
Laiena looked down at her feet then back at him.
"You like me?" She asked softly.

Ao'nung looked at her and smiled. "I love you."
"You love me?"
He nodded. "Of course I do, I'd be a fool not to. You may as well take my heart Laiena, it's already full of you."

Laiena was speechless. He loved her and he'd only known her three months.

Laiena couldn't do it, not right now. "Please go." She whispered.
"What is it, what's wrong Lia?"
"You know nothing about me. You've only known me three months."
"Three months? Laiena I've know you all my life."

Laiena paused and looked at him for a moment and smiled. "All your life?"
"It's true." Ao'nung smiled back at her. "When I heard beautiful music I thought you'd like that. I'd look at flowers and know that one day, I'd give them to you."

Laiena felt a tear roll down her cheek as she continued smiling. "Oh Ao'nung." She said softly taking a step closer.

"Please tell me you feel something too." He said softly as they were now only inches apart.

She smiled and nodded. "I do feel something, Ao'nung." She then got on her tippy toes and brought her lips up to his.

"May I?" She waited for his response.
But he didn't answer her, instead he moved forward causing their lips to connect.

They instantly melted into eachother and their hands lost all control. Traveling all over eachothers bodies.

She shuddered as she felt his hands around her waist.

They pulled away to catch their breath and were instantly connected again.

Laiena felt sparks going off in her heart as they deepened the kiss.

She pulled away first, gasping for air and he smiled at her.
"I sure do know how to take your breath away." He whispered moving a piece of her hair out of her face.

She smiled and rested her head against his.
"Ao'nung?" She said softly.
"Yes?"

She took a couple breaths before looking up at him.
"How long have you felt this way?"
He smiled at her. "From the very first moment I laid my eyes on you."

She smiled again and he kissed her forehead.
"Laiena te Suli Tsyeyk'itan" He said softly.
"That's me." She let out a giggle and he smiled at her.

They stood there smiling at one another as he became lost in her eyes and she became lost in his.

He smiled at her again and brought his hand up to cup her cheek.

"Laiena."
"Yes?" She whispered.
"I see you, Laiena te Suli Tsyeyk'itan."
She smiled at him and moved closer to him.
"And I see you, Ao'nung."

———