Archive of Our Own

Grace was tired after such a long day. Investigating the botany of Pandora was rewarding but tiring. She just had to examine just a few more samples for the night and then she could go off to bed. It was good she had recorded her video log for the day, so she didn’t have to worry about it. She could hear Jake recording right in front of her and she didn’t want to interrupt him. 

His knowledge was more important than all of the scientists put together. She snorts to herself, who would have thought the jarhead with no scientific background or Avatar training would be the most important person here and the key to getting in with the Omatikaya people? 

She would never tell him, but she enjoyed listening to his video logs. She missed the people, she missed teaching the children and this is the closest she could ever get. 

“Today was more training. I can feel myself getting stronger and more agile. I can feel myself being more comfortable in the Avatar body. I’m getting better at bow and arrow, I actually caught some fish in the river. I caught enough to give to some of the families in the clan……”

Grace smiles when she hears that, he really has been acclimating to life with the Omatikaya. He seemed to be doing what she had requested originally, learning their way of life. 

“I struggled with the bow and arrow. I’m used to a gun.” Grace muffles a laugh at that. “But it’s a cool weapon to use and it’s fun. It’s not just the weapons, I started riding a horse thing - ”

“A Pa’li” Grace chimes in.

“A Pa’li” Jake repeats, “Yeah those things. I’m not really a horse guy so it’s not really a thing. I just try to hold on and not make an ass out of myself.”

Graces hides her laughs, Tough luck marine, you probably look like a dumb ass. 

“But hopefully I’ll get to ride an ikran.” 

Grace’s eyes widened in disbelief that this man actually remembered the name of the animal. 

“Neytiri said I have to pass certain milestones to even get there, but man are they cool.” Grace tilts her head catching a slight change in his tone when he speaks about this. She can’t put a finger on it.

“I guess that makes sense because there is so much to learn still. I’m still not at the level as some of the older kids who are deemed as ready haha, but I’m getting there. My feet are pretty tough now and I don’t second guess myself when I have to leap from branch to branch. I can’t wait to go on my first proper hunt and test out the new skills I found.”

Grace was happy to hear that Jake was getting stronger everyday. In the clan he must prove himself to the people, that he is able to be like them and provide like them. She wonders if he took into consideration what she said last time, about seeing the world through Neytiri’s eyes. Neytiri, such a smart and amazing woman. She didn’t know if Jake was aware or not, but he was incredibly fortunate to have someone like Neytiri teaching him. 

Before she can even remind Jake of what she told him she hears, “Neytiri has also been teaching me about all the spiritual stuff. At first I didn’t get it, I didn't understand what she was going on about, but it’s starting to get clearer. Eywa provides for us all, and we are all connected through her. We are her children, from the Na’vi of the sea to the Na’vi of the plains to the Na’vi of the forest. It’s not just the people, we are connected to the forest. There’s a perfect balance amongst all living things.” 

Grace smiles as she hears Jake’s words said in sincerity. She knew at the beginning he was very skeptical of everything Neytiri told him, but seeing him see the world through her eyes was wonderful to see. Grace wasn’t sure if she fully believed in Eywa herself, she was a scientist after all, but she was happy at least Jake was taking that leap of fate. 

“Neytiri……….” She hears Jake mumble, “She’s a- she’s a force alright. She’s taught me so much even though she calls me a skxawng,” He chuckles. 

“Neytiri……….” He says her name once again and if Grace was correct there was a hint of something in his tone when he spoke of her. There’s almost a hint of something sweet in his tone that if you didn’t listen carefully you probably wouldn’t be able to pick up on it, but Grace has always been an observer, seeing the little details in things. 

“She’s the best hunter in the clan. I would never tell her to her face, but I’m really lucky that she’s working with me. She’s fierce and tough and expects nothing less than perfection, but I like her teaching methods. It’s not just stuff like shooting an arrow, but she knows what fruit is good to pick, how to properly read the trails, and how to craft. She’s good at everything!” Grace can hear the admiration coming from Jake. He was recognizing how incredible Neytiri is. Grace was glad that Jake was aware of how amazing Neytiri was. She was a student that changed her life and it seemed she was changing Jake’s. 

“Even if I can never use these skills again back on Earth, I know that the lessons she’s taught me have changed me forever.” Pandora was good for Jake, but it seems Neytiri in particular was good for Jake. 

***

Grace felt like tears were going to fall at any second as she took in her former students. They were all so beautiful and vibrant. She missed them so much. Ten years, she dedicated ten years of her life to teaching them. 

They called her sa’nok as a form of respect and love, but she truly felt like they were all her children. When she was banned from the clan she wept for days. The pain of not seeing her children ever again was so overwhelming it sent her into a depression. 

Now she was back and it was all thanks to Jake Sully. She watched him playing with the children who found him strange, bizarre, and alien. They found his eyebrows funny and were fascinated by his extra digit. 

The children all climb him, treating him like their own personal transportation. He spins them around causing various giggles to erupt from the kids. She looks around and sees many of the adults going about their business, she assumes that they’re used to this already. 

Her eyes land on Tsu'tey who is staring at Jake with a scowl. She knows how difficult this must be for him, after losing Sylwanin he was never the same again. Jake being here was the biggest slap in the face to him.

She remembers when he was a little boy, so bright and curious. He would talk to her after class wanting to learn as much as he could and now he wouldn’t so much as look at her. Her heart pained at the distance, but she couldn’t change the past no matter how hard she tried.

She shifted her eyes to Neytiri who was laughing while looking at Jake being treated like a pack mule. She smiled as she watched Neytiri from what she heard it had been a while since she held a smile. It seems that the smiles and laughs are more frequent these days all thanks to a certain Avatar. 

She slowly approaches her former student, “He’s just a giant kid isn’t he.” 

Neytiri nods her eyes never leaving Jake, “Yes, when I first met him I thought he was like a child but I was unaware how much of a child he was. It is no wonder the children gravitate towards him.” Grace sees a fond smile grace her face. 

“He hasn’t been causing you too much trouble right?” She jokes.

“He was in the beginning. The skxawng didn’t know how to move, he said the wrong thing, and didn’t see. But now he is better. He is stronger, more knowledgeable, and is beginning to see.”

“But he is not ready yet?” She asks, she was aware that Jake wanted to tame his own ikran, but he still had some more skills to learn.

Neytiri nodded, “Yes, he is not ready yet, but he will be soon.” Grace noticed her eyes scanning him from head to toe. “He has surprisingly caught on very fast. I was sure he wouldn’t, that he would quit, but he’s taken every challenge I’ve given him and rose to it. I-” She stops as if she’s contemplating her next words. “I am very proud of him for how much he’s accomplished in such a short amount of time. Seeing him go from a baby to almost a man has been very fulfilling. Although I don’t show it, as I must be a strict teacher, he impresses me everyday. He has a strong heart, and he possesses no fear, it is very admirable. If he were born and raised in the clan I could see him being one of the top hunters amongst us.” 

Grace sees Neytiri’s eyes flicker down a bit and the equivalent of a Na’vi blush appears on her cheeks. She was clearly very shy about saying these thoughts out loud. 

“If only-” She doesn’t continue that thought, but Grace is smart enough to guess what Neytiri was going to say. If only he was born and raised Na’vi. Neytiri had clearly developed some attachment to the man, and it surprised Grace. From her understanding she clearly wanted nothing to do with Jake in the beginning, but it seems things were changing and she wasn’t sure what to make of it.

“Well I’m glad to hear of his progress,” She comments, not wanting to linger on her thoughts. “Jake speaks highly of you as a teacher, says he’s lucky to have you as his teacher so I’m glad to hear the feeling of admiration is mutual.”

She probably shouldn’t have said that, but if Jake was going to be loud during his video logs then he was gonna have to suck it up. Besides, this would help his relationship with the Omatikya clan if they knew how grateful he was. 

“Really he said that?” Neytiri asked with curiosity in her voice. She also noticed that shyness again. 

“Yes that’s what he told me,” More like she heard it, but same difference.

“Oh I see,” A small smile graced her lips. She stands up straighter, raising her head higher. “We make a good team, it seems.”

“Yes, it seems.” 

Grace’s attention shifted to Jake who had thankfully been freed from the clutches of the children. “If you’ll excuse me I should go and speak to Jake. We must continue our training if he wishes to succeed.” They said their goodbyes, but Grace’s eyes never left Neytiri’s as she followed her to where Jake was standing. 

Neytiri held her hand to help Jake on his feet and they began discussing something that she couldn’t quite make out. It didn’t seem anything out of the ordinary but Grace had known Neytiri since she was a little girl and could pick up the small things when it came to her. Jake wasn’t aware, but there seemed to be a fondness in Neytiri’s eyes when she spoke to him and Jake seemed to look at Neytiri with a similar look.

Yes it seems an attachment was beginning to form between the two. Right now it didn’t seem like anything too serious, but Grace knew that if this attachment got stronger it could pose a big problem when Jake would eventually have to leave. 

***

She wonders if the others could notice what she can. Usually Grace was more observant than the average human and Na'vi, but she was sure that no one needed Grace’s observations to see what was going on. 

They were flirting, full on flirting in front of everyone. 

She had no idea what had transpired other than Jake had claimed his ikran, one he named Bob, but something shifted in those 5 hours they had been gone. That had been 4 days ago and she noticed the two would sneak off to fly together every morning before coming back to home tree laughing and teasing each other. 

At first it was just them taking their morning flights away from the eyes of the clan, but it slowly evolved to them standing closer together, speaking softly with one another, not being able to take their eyes off each other, and flirting. There was so much flirting. It was a bit nauseating if she was honest. 

She notices Jake brushing Neytiri’s hair back and leaning in to whisper something in her ear causing Neytiri to laugh like he said the funniest thing in the world. She shoves him slightly, “Jake!” which causes him to chuckle. Before she can shove him again, he catches her hand, “Uh Uh Uh, you know I’m right.”

“No I think you're a skxawng,” She says, but there is no bite in her tone, the nickname seems to be a term of endearment for her. Grace notices that Jake doesn’t immediately let go of Neytiri’s hand that he caught. Their hands linger together and she sees Jake quickly swipe his thumb over her knuckles before letting go. The two are blushing, looking around as if trying to see if anyone caught them holding hands. 

Grace wants to snort, now they want to be subtle when they haven’t been at all for the past 4 days. She knows the rest of the clan is starting to catch on to these two. The other day when she was gathering samples she overheard two Na’vi women gossiping about them.

“Did you see them this morning? They’d make a lovely pair.” One woman had said. 

“Aish! Don’t speak nonsense, Neytiri is promised to Tsu’tye,” Her friend reminded her.

“I know! But you have to admit how good they look together. Besides, the dreamwalker has brought light back to Neytiri that was taken from her after what happened to Sylwanin. This is the most carefree I’ve seen her in years.”

“You are right my dear sister. Even though we must not think it, Neytiri and Jakesully are good for each other.”

Yes, it was clear the rest of the clan was catching on.

The following day Grace was picking her samples as she had some important testing to do that afternoon when she stumbled upon Jake and Neytiri sitting on the giant root of a tree that popped up from the ground. It seemed like they had just gotten back from flying and were taking a break. 

Neytiri had her face tilted up, basking in the sun, the light illuminating her face and Jake seemed to be absolutely mesmerized, taking in every inch of her face and staring at her with awe. 

Neytiri seems to feel his eyes on her because she looks at him with shyness, “What? Is something wrong?”

“Uh no,” Seemingly embarrassed that he was caught. “It’s just nice out today is all.”

“Yes it is,” She inhales deeply. “But we must go,” She sighs, “We have things to do today.” Jake groans in response and Neytiri laughs as she tugs him along in the direction of hometree. 

Grace just stands there unsure what to make of what she just witnessed, but she resigns herself to getting more samples. She could speak to Jake later about this whole thing he has with Neytiri.

Later that night when everyone was de-linked, Grace was in her usual spot examining all her samples while Jake was doing his video log. Jake had been looking rough in his human form for a couple of weeks now, he had an overgrown beard and he was losing so much weight from lack of eating. But there was one thing or rather two things that brought life back into Jake’s eyes, flying and Neytiri. 

He was explaining the flying he had done that day, when he mentions something that piques her interest. “And then out of nowhere Toruk began chasing us,” He laughs, “I almost shit my pants.”

“You saw the great leonopteryx?” She was shocked, she had never once seen one. 

“Uh the toruk? Yeah we saw him, he almost ate me, but me and Neytiri escaped.” He said smugly. 

“It was so cool,” He says back into the camera. “Me and Neytiri couldn’t stop laughing after. It was possibly the best day of my life if I’m honest.” Grace wants to laugh, a near death experience would be something Jake would find fun. Grace was glad he was making good memories.

“Neytiri has really become my best friend if I’m honest. It’s just so easy talking to her even with my crap Na’vi, although I am getting better. We talk about anything and everything, we joke around, we fly together, we hunt together. She gets me better than anyone I’ve ever met. It’s like………..meeting someone I’ve known my whole life which is strange cause she definitely tried to kill me when we first met,” He laughs softly. 

Grace swallows when she hears this, she suspected for a while that the two had grown some sort of attachment, but it was clear that their feelings for one another was much stronger than she had originally suspected. She wondered if Jake was aware of his feelings for Neytiri, but a part of her hoped he wasn’t. It would be hard enough for him when he eventually left, he didn’t need the added heartache of knowing you were in love with someone you couldn’t have. 

“Neytiri is amazing. It’s not only because she’s a fierce hunter, but also because she’s so kind and full of heart. She cares so deeply for her people, her culture, and all living things on Pandora. It’s no wonder many of the younger hunters look at me with envy ha! I mean I can’t blame them really,” He mumbles the last part, “not only is she amazing, but she’s extremely beautiful. If only……………” 

Oh Jake , Grace thinks, You are so in love and you don’t even know it. It pains me that the two of you can’t be together. 

***

Grace wanted to strangle Jake for his stupidity. She tried forbidding him from doing the dream hunt, the final step, but Jake was adamant that he would be going through with it. She watched him make his way to the link pods. He reminds her about what she said about science, but it’s still difficult for her to support something that will most likely get him killed. 

“Jake no matter what you prove out there, you are still in here,” She squeezes his shoulders in the hopes that he sees what she’s trying to say, “You are right here.”

Jake looks up at her, “I need to do this, just become one of them.” It is that, that breaks Grace’s heart because she knows Jake wants to be one of them more than anything, he’s fallen in love with Pandora and the Omtikaya people, but for his own sake she needs to hit him with reality.

‘“Damn it Jake! You can never be one of them,” She reminds him of the money, the machines it takes for him to even support his life out there. “You can never truly be with her,” She tells him. If he’s surprised that she’s aware of his feelings he doesn’t show, but she sees pain in his eyes as she reminds him what he wants but can never have, Neytiri. 

He confesses he’s been working for Quaritch, but she tells him she’s known. She’s known the whole time, she sees things better than most people. She hears the shakiness in his voice when he informs them of  his dilemma about confessing his sins, no matter what happens he’ll never see Neytiri again. There is no happy ending for Jake and Neytiri and it pains her. She can see how in love he is, but sadly this love story will end in tragedy. 

Jake decides to go through with it, and she has no other choice than to get into her avatar and support him. She’s never been religious, but she prays to Eywa to protect Jake. She patiently waits for him to complete his vision quest with the rest of the clan. It takes about an hour, but thankfully she sees Jake walk out in one piece. She wants to run up to him and give him a hug, but she refrains. 

She follows the rest of the clan as they encircle Jake. She sees Eytukan proclaim Jake as a son of the Omatikaya and part of the people. She sees Neytiri put a hand on his shoulder and one on his chest. She is looking at him with so much pride and adoration. There is so much love in her eyes as she watches Jake be accepted fully into the clan. 

Grace joins the rest as they all link together. She notices that while Eytukan is speaking Jake can’t keep his eyes off of Neytiri. It's as if everyone around them had disappeared. In that moment as she watches she prays to Eywa again, she prays that the great mother may find these two a happy ending. 

At the celebration held in Jake’s honor later that night she can’t help but notice Neytiri’s outfit. She’s wearing a top that was gorgeous and accentuated her chest. She let her hair down from her braids and she put it half up with some beautiful white feathers. She looked stunning, and many of the clan seemed to agree because wherever she walked, eyes would follow. Neytiri didn’t seem to pay attention to the stares, her eyes were focused on one person and one person only. Her eyes never left Jake during the entire celebration, and it seemed like the feeling was mutual as Jake couldn’t keep his eyes off her. 

They had not left each other’s side all day. They stood closer to one another than ever before and they were being more bold with their touch. It seemed like they didn’t care anymore about hiding their feelings, and Grace would put money that Jake becoming one of the people certainly made them more bold. They felt more free to show how they were feeling. 

As the celebration died down and many returned to their home Grace prepared herself to unlink. She went to call Jake, but as she was about to call him she saw Neytiri tug at his hand towards the depth of the forest. Grace sighed as she realized he wouldn’t be unlinking with her and Norm. 

She tucked her Avatar in a safe place and unlinked. As she excited her pod she sighed at the events of the day, so much had happened. She sees Norm exit his pod; they both silently make their way to put things away for the night. 

“Jake isn’t back yet?” Norm asks as he looks at how late it is outside.

“No, he’s out with Neytiri,” She doesn’t elaborate because she really can’t. She’s not sure what they’re up to.

She records her video log for the night and decides it's time for bed. She checks Jake’s link pod one last time, but it seems he is still in there. She checks his brain scan to make sure all is well and the idiot hasn’t gotten himself into any trouble. 

Huh that’s strange, She thinks as she notices a spike in brain activity and his reward center was all lit up. His heart rate was also all over the place. They’re probably doing some night flying , she reasons as she shrugs and makes her way to get some much needed sleep. 

The next morning she sees him with his head buried in his hands at the table while Norm is reading a book. “Good night last night?” She asks as she fetches them breakfast, he seriously needs to eat.

“Huh?” He looks up disorientated, “Yeah, it was a good night.” There’s something in his voice and tone like he’s far away. She wants to ask, but she feels like he won’t open up. 

“Norm?” Jake calls, he motions him with his head to the link pod. He climbs in as Norm readies to link Jake in. 

“Don’t force me to force feed a cripple,” She scolds him before stopping the link.

“Hey!” 

She glares at him, making it known that he’s not linking until he eats. Jake rolls his eyes and starts shoveling the eggs into his mouth. She laughs, he really wants to get back to Neytiri. 

Once she’s seen he’s eaten all his food she allows him to link. It’s time like these she feels like his mother instead of his boss. 

After finishing her breakfast she thinks she might as well join Jake in village life. They probably need help after last night's celebration. As she wakes in her avatar body she hears cries of grief, anger, and war. 

She runs out to see the entire clan running to hometree. She stops Ninat, one of her former students and asks her what is going on. 

Ninat turns to her, tears and sorrow in her eyes. “Sa’nok” She wails, “They have destroyed the tree of voices. Those demons have torn down our most sacred place.” She cries as she takes off. 

Grace feels her heart sink as she takes in the news. Fucking Parker , he’s done it. He’s ruined it all again. She wants to cry in frustration, but before she can do anything she hears Eytukan announcing to the crowd that this is a call to war. She knows this is a bad idea and she tries to reason with them, to make them see how this can end in terrible tragedy. Tsu'tey is having none of it, she can see how determined he is to hurt the sky people for all they’ve done to him and his people. 

Grace doesn’t know what to do, and in that moment she wishes Jake was here to help. It’s as if Eywa had her because at that moment Jake walks in …………….. holding hands with Neytiri?

She was used to a touch here and there, a linger hand hold, but this is different. They are walking in with their hands clasped together as a united pair. 

She sees Jake approach Tsu'tey, but the other man is not having it. She watches Tsu'tey attack Jake in utter shock. Tsu'tey has never been shy about his hatred for the marine, but to outright attack a member of the clan was unacceptable. 

“You mated with this woman,” He points to Neytiri and it all falls into place for Grace. The sneaking off, being gone for hours, the unusual brain and heart activity, the desperate need to link in the morning, the holding hands like they were a pair…………….. a mated pair.

“Oh shit,” She exclaims. What the hell did you do Jake? This was bad, this was really bad. Of all the dumb and impulsive things Jake could have done this wasn’t on the list. 

It all goes to shit as Tsu'tey begins to attack Jake and as he tries to explain she is forced out of her link. She doesn’t have much time to talk to Jake about the mating after that, but when she does he is in big trouble. 

***

They imprisoned them, they were officially race traitors and if it were up to Quaritch they would have been murdered on the spot. 

Grace felt angry, enraged, devastated, but most of all helpless. She was mourning the loss of hometree, the loss of many people she grew to know and love. She wanted to scream and shout and punch a wall. 

She looked over at Norm who had a sad expression. She knew he felt guilty for not being able to stop Parker and his guys from yanking them out which was ridiculous since it was 1 of him and about 10 of them. 

She looked over at Jake and her heart gave a painful squeeze at the look on his face. She knew he was riddled with guilt, and she couldn’t tell him it wasn’t his fault. He played a role in the whole ordeal, but she knew he regretted it. That he tried everything in his power to make it right because he fell in love with Pandora, the people, and most of all with Neytiri. 

She didn’t even know how to even approach that subject as they haven’t had time to discuss it, but since they were in prisoned here for god knows how long she might as well take a shot. 

“Jake, I’m sorry,” She reaches to squeeze his shoulder.

“What are you sorry for?” His voice sounds so defeated. “I did this. I caused all of this.”

“Jake no you didn’t,” She sees him begin to protest but she raises her hand, “I’m not absolveing you of your wrong doings. You played a part in this, and I really don’t blame the Omitkaya for banishing us. I would if I were them, but you didn’t cause all of it. Parker and Quaritch would have done this with or without you. You did a bad thing, but you realized what you did was wrong and you are doing everything in your power to make for it.” 

“And all good that did them,” He grumbles. 

“Now is not the time to mop in self pity Jake. We need to put our thinking caps on and figure out a way out of this mess. You have a lot of making up to do, especially to your mate.” She raises her eyebrow at him. Jake blushes and looks down, but she’s not going to let him hide. Nope, they are going to talk about it. 

“I’m sorry did you say mate?” Norm asks, looking between both of them.

“It seems our Jake here mated with Neytiri.”

“What?!” 

Jake buries his head in his hand with a groan, “Can we please not talk about this?”

“Nope, marine this is huge, so we are talking about it. It’s not like you have anywhere else to be. You mated with Neytiri who was promised to Tsu'tey breaking almost every protocol. I’m just trying to understand what the hell you were thinking?”

“Oh man Tsu'tey! What was his reaction,” Norm looked worried at his friend.

“He was angry of course. He challenged Jake, but then we got unlinked.” She recounted. 

“Jesus Jake what were you thinking?”

“I wasn’t”

“Clearly,” She said sarcastically. “Jake mating is a big deal if you were just looking for a night of fun……” Even as she says it, she doesn’t believe it. She knows Jake like if he were her son, and she knows how he feels, but she needs to hear him say it.

“Of course not!” He sounded offended, “I wasn’t aware of the ‘for life’ part, but I spent the night with Neytiri because………. because…………..”

“Because……………….” She urges him to continue. 

“Because I love her,” He sighs, “I fell in love with her, and I wanted to be with her even if it was only for a night because I knew I couldn’t have her. She’s everything to me, Grace.” He looked up at her with so much pain in his eyes. “She’s my whole world now, and she hates me.” He croaks out causing Grace’s heart to break. 

“Holy shit,” Norm mumbles. He looks a little surprised, and Grace assumes he was not aware of the depth of Jake’s feelings. 

“I betrayed her, and I can never forgive myself. No matter what I do now, I’ll never forgive myself for what I did to her.” 

“Jake, look at me,” She whispers, “I don’t know what is going to happen with Neytiri but she clearly loves you. She would have killed you otherwise if she didn’t. I’m sorry that you two will probably not get your happy ending.” She reaches over to give him a hug. She lets him mourn the loss of his love. 

“Tell me about her.” She says. 

“Huh?”  

“Tell me about the Neytiri you fell in love with. When did it start? Was it right away?” 

“No of course not, she tried to kill. Or maybe……..” He looked down, “Maybe it was. I remember just being fascinated by her, not because she was the first Na’vi I met, but because there was something about her that intrigued me. She saved my life and proceeded to call me stupid. For some reason it made me smile. She thought I was the biggest idiot and yet I think she was fascinated with me too,” He smiles fondly at the memory, and Grace can’t help but do the same. 

“She wanted nothing to do with me at first. I don’t blame her, I was a hopeless mess. She still tried her damn hardest because she thought I had potential. She slowly started to let her guard down with me, and I got to see new sides to her. She became my favorite person to be around. All I wanted to do was be around her, and spend time with her. I loved being with the Omitikaya people and that’s why I was always in a rush to link, but I was also in a rush to spend my day with her. God this is going to sound cheesy, but I felt like I had found someone that I had been searching for my whole life and I didn’t even know it.” Grace smiles as she reaches over to squeeze his arm in support. “It also didn’t help that she was the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.”

What a sap, She thinks. 

“As my feelings grew, it killed me that she was promised to Tsu'tey. I would find myself wondering if I was Na’vi, if I was one of them then maybe I’d have a chance. I tried not to think about it too much, it was dangerous to think like that. Then I got the feeling that maybe she was feeling the same. I felt like the luckiest person that Neytiri even so much as glanced my way. She's way out of my league.” He chuckles.

“Well I could have told you that,” Norm teases. 

“The mating…………….. I don’t really want to get into it because it is something very private between Neytiri and I.” 

“I was aware when I saw your brain scans marine, I can guess,” She says dryly. Norm chokes back a laugh. 

Jake blushes and looks down seemingly not wanting to look Grace in the eye and Grace just laughs in response. “I don’t mean just that,” He mumbles.  “It was a special moment between both of us. It was the best night of my life, and something I’ll keep close to my heart forever.” 

“But you weren’t aware that it was for life?” 

“No, not until Neytiri told me after, uh…. just after. It kinda scared me how content I was with the idea that I had essentially gotten married. Actually I was more than just content, I was really happy. I don’t think the repercussions actually hit me until I unlinked. None of it matters though. I betrayed her,” He sighs. 

“I can feel her. I can feel her pain and sorrow.” He announces. 

“Through the bond?” 

He nods, and Grace is shocked that Jake could feel the bond in his human form. It was unprecedented, a mated pair between a human and Na’vi there was just so much she wanted to know. Out of respect, she wouldn’t ask more………………for now. 

“Well it looks like you’ll have to get in her good graces again.” She announces.

“Grace……”

“I’m serious, I believe what you two have is special. I saw it early on, and I know that we can kick some RDA ass and then you are going to make it up to her somehow.”

Jake looked at her skeptically like he wanted to protest what she was saying, but she shut him down with just a look.  

“Ok, but I’m not doing this only for Neytiri. She’s a big reason why, but I’m doing this for the Omitikaya people and most importantly I’m doing it for Pandora,” He says with so much conviction. 

“Hell ya!” Norm shouts, “For Pandora!”

“Idiots,” She says with affection, “Alright boys, guess we need to come up with a plan.” 

It seems they didn’t need much planning for escape because thank Eywa, Trudy shows up to save the day. 

***

Grace was dying, she could feel it. It also didn’t take much of a genius to figure she was dying as she had gotten shot. 

Jake had won back the trust of the Omitikaya people and now they were going to help her it seems. She thought it impossible, but if there was one thing about Jake was that he was going to do the impossible which included…………

“You’re what?!” She tried sitting up at the news over what Jake had done. 

“Shhhhh” He sat her down and pressed a cold damp towel to her forehead. “Don’t over exert yourself.” 

“You rode the great leonopteryx?” She was shocked and a little in awe. 

“Yes I am Toruk Makto.”

“Jake, that's incredibly dangerous! You could have died! You could have…….”

“Can you relax, Jesus Grace. You literally got shot and you are scolding me.” 

“Because someone needs to scold you marine,” She huffs out. 

“You told me to get back in their graces and make it up to my mate so that’s what I’m doing. It’s killing two birds with one stone or I guess three since they’ve agreed to help you.”

“They have?”

“Yes of course you know they love you Grace. They have always respected you and many view you as a mother. They all care for you.” He smooths the hair out from her face. 

“Thank you Jake. For fighting for me,” She says softly.

“Of course Grace, you’re my friend,” He said simply. 

After a long beat of silence Grace asks what she needs to know, “Jake, how exactly are they going to help me?”

“They’re going to perform some sort of ritual to transfer your consciousness into your avatar body,” He says simply as if he were commenting on the weather. If she didn’t know him well enough she’d have thought he was joking, but she saw how much he truly accepted what the Na’vi told him as fact.

“Jake, I'm a scientist, I don’t believe…..”

Jake raises his hand to stop her, “I know Grace, but this one time I need you to trust me and believe. Believe in the Great Mother, believe in Eywa.”

She looks into his eyes and she sees how much he believes. He may be in his human body, but Jake Sully had the heart of a Na’vi, he was really one of them now. He truly believed. 

“Grace you’ve seen this place, it’s not far fetched to believe.” 

Her scientist brain is screaming at her that what he’s saying is unbelievable and delusional, but her heart, the heart that’s been with these people for 10+ years knows. “Ok Jake, I’ll believe.”

He sighs in relief and it makes her chuckle. She’d miss him if this failed, he really became her family. 

“Jake,” She calls to him, “I’m so proud of the man you’ve become.”

“Grace…..” He looks down shyly. 

“Also, take care of Neytiri. Take care of each other. She’s been through so much, and she tries to be strong but she needs someone to lean on. She needs someone to tell her it's ok to not be strong all the time. What you two have is very beautiful and precious. ”

“Grace, you say it like you’re dying,” He scowls. “You said you’d believe.”

“I am, but I’m still me and I want to tell you this just in case. I once believed that you and Neytiri would never be able to get your happy ending, but the more time passes the more I think I’m wrong. The two of you will get there. You will win together because together you are unstoppable.”

“You really think so?” He asks in a small voice, like if he was a small child asking a parent for support.

“I do,” She smiles softly, “You two will win and then go off and have three or four kids.” She teases him which causes him to blush. 

“They’ll be cute, those kids. I hope I get to meet them, but if not just know I’ll love them with my whole heart. They would be my family.”

She sees Jake cry, and she wants to comfort him but she’s too weak to do so. “Jake, do me a favor and don’t name them after me. Grace isn’t a good Na’vi name.” 

To that Jake barks out a laugh. “Deal Grace. I think I’ll leave the naming up to Neytiri.” 

“The smartest idea you’ve ever had,” She laughs. 

They spend the rest of the time just in each other’s company until Norm is set to fetch them for the ceremony. Trudy helps prep her and Jake comes to fetch her in his avatar body. As she’s being taken through the Tree of Souls she couldn’t help but stare in wonder. She really wanted to take some samples. 

In the end, it wasn’t successful much to Jake’s hope. Grace had realized her fate when she met Eywa in the afterlife. There she watched the battle, she watched her theory come through. She watched Jake and Neytiri win.

She knew they’d achieve the life she envisioned for them, one full of love and many little ones. She knew they missed her, but she also knew a piece of her would join them soon.