Calm Before The Storm, Jake Sully

040, Success.

♯┆calm before the storm  .ᐟ
━━━━━━━━━━

He was proud of himself. It had taken a couple of months. But, Jake could finally ride a skimwing smoothly. All he had to do was be patient with himself, and listen to Denahi's words. "What has gotten you so happy?" Denahi asked her mate who walked into the empty pod with a bright smile.

Jake kneeled down and kissed her swollen stomach. During these couple of months, Jake got to watch her pregnant belly grow. Although she was only three months, she still had a little bloating. A tiny bump that their little one was growing within.

And his perfect wife keeping them strong and healthy. "I did it, baby. I rode the skimwing..." He was so proud. Denahi's hands clapped together before smushing his cheeks into her palm. "I told you! All you have to do is wait," She reminded him, kissing the top of his head.

He sat down next to her, Denahi rested her head onto his arm, "Do you think they will be born a boy or, perhaps, a girl?"

Jake looked down at her stomach. He memorised the differences between Denahi's pregnancies. And this one was leaning more towards the boy gender. Her small bump was low and her skin was more glowing than dull. Either way, she still looked beautiful.

He was lucky to have her. Jake was still in disbelief, fifteen years later, that Denahi had chosen him to be her mate.

"Mom! Mom!" Their sweet moment interrupted as Lo'ak ran into the pod. Jake did not know how to react. When Lo'ak comes running, it is either because of trouble or something he wanted to tell Denahi.

And when Denahi saw his smile, an expression the two hadn't seen often enough, she knew it would be fine, "What have you done, Ma'Itan?" Lo'ak sat in the middle of his parents, Jake smiling down at him.

Lo'ak was not one for affection. Words of affirmation and small touches here and there. But, he was the troublemaker son. And a good one. He reminded Denahi a little of Mukata and a lot like Jake.

"I have learned how to dive. I can hold my breath for six minutes..." Denahi gasped at his announcement. Her arms immediately latching her son into a warm hug. Despite his teenage detests and shoves, "Ma'Itan, I am so proud of you!" He was learning fast. Pulling his weight like Jake had asked them to.

"Good work, son..." Jake responded to Lo'ak. He was glad Lo'ak was learning quick. And better compared to his other children.

"Dada!" Malhua exclaimed as she jumped into the pod. The rest of their children following close behind her. Jake opened his arms to allow his daughter to run into them, laughter falling from her small mouth.

"Ao'nung taught us how to fish," Neteyam announced as he dropped a woven basket of fish onto the makeshift table.

Tuk sighed, "Fish? Again?" Tuk was struggling with Awa'atlu. Yes, she liked the animals and the people. But she missed her home. It had been a concern for Denahi.

"Come here," Denahi opened her arms for Tuk to enter, "It is alright."