Calm Before The Storm, Jake Sully

031, Protect.

"How's the baby?" Asked Jake.

He sat outside Mo'at's tent.

Keeping a close eye on his injured son.

Denahi had walked out with a hand on her stomach.

"They're strong.. healthy. Giving momma a hard time with the sickness though," Denahi smiled before sitting next to Jake.

He flinched once feeling her hand graze against his shoulder.

This comfort being unusual after battles.

On Earth, you're taught to deal with death— that is the meaning of war, anyways.

Death.

Jake sighed before placing his free palm onto Denahi's hand, stroking his thumb.

"You have to be more kind," Denahi stated.

Jake flicked his eyes to look into hers.

She could see the sadness in them.

How scared he was.

Your kids being part of this, getting injured in this, was frightening.

"They are only young, Ma'Jake, and you treat them like they are a warriors. They are our sons," Denahi explained.

"It is okay to be afraid," She finished.

Jake's eyes began to gloss, "I thought we lost them."

Denahi curled her face into emotion before crawling on her feet, squatting in front of Jake.

He dropped his head into the crack of her shoulder, arm wrapping around her waist as he held onto her tight.

She could only comfort him.

Denahi couldn't imagine losing another family member to those demons.

"We will never lose them," She comforted.

Their kids were strong, safe in their arms.

"What are parents, if they cannot protect?" Denahi asked Jake, lifting his head to meet hers.

The silence filled the air as Jake went back to working on his gun.

"You scared Malhua, do you know?" Denahi asked before Jake sighed.

He didn't dare to raise his head to meet the stare of her mothering eyes.

Scolding his parenting was normal.

And, he didn't want to face the wrath of this.

"You must go apologise," Denahi added on.

Jake nodded and stood to his feet, settling the gun on the stones.

He walked over to Malhua, "Hi, darling."

She opened her arms, "Daddy!"

He smiled before picking her up and taking her to the playing part of High Camp.

She began to run around and play with the wooden figurines, Jake smiling brightly at that.

"Mal," He said, calling her over.

She ran up to him, almost falling over her feet.

He laughed.

How much joy his littlest one brought him.

Jake wanted to keep this innocence forever.

He didn't want Malhua to grow up and learn what was happening in her beautiful home.

He wanted to keep her safe and out of the bad light, as long as he possibly could.

"You know daddy didn't mean to scare you," Jake said before picking her up, playfully bouncing her on his knee as she played with the figurine.

Malhua nodded her head, "I know. Daddy was scared."

Jake sighed.

He is scared.

Scared for what could happen to his family- his children and wife.

They were all that mattered to him.

They were all Jake had.

All that Jake needed.

He hadn't felt pure happiness since meeting Denahi, her fixing his life for the best.

"Daddy would never mean to scare you. Ever. If he does, you scare him back," Jake warned.

What went through Malhua's mind was, she'd give him a little fright of a jumpscare.

"I will!" She exclaimed at his offer.

"Good. When we get back, you want some treats. That's if you don't tell momma," Jake offered.

Malhua placed her finger over her lips.

Jake laughed, "C'mon, darling."