#Trudy/norm

[skylarstark4826]

“You mean, there’s a baby in there? Like, a whole baby?” Lo’ak went to snake his hand over the edge of the bed to poke at the stretched skin of his aunt’s stomach. He pulled it back quickly when Norm gave it an annoyed tap, turning to the man with his own annoyed expression.

Norm rolled his eyes when Lo’ak stuck out his tongue.

The scientist turned his back to the shack’s visitors to lift a jar of translucent jelly up to Trudy’s stomach, spooning a small amount out and spreading it into a thin layer. His wife winced slightly at the coolness of it, but a reassuring hand quickly found its way into her own.

Spider looked to Lo’ak as Norm worked. His stomach dropped at the way Lo’ak’s ears perked up; he could see the boy’s nose twitching and pupils widening like the cats they’d seen on video. Knowing nothing good would come from interrupting Norm again, Spider pulled Lo’ak back by the upper arm when a hand began to reach out again.

Norm had his back to them, but Trudy watched the boys fondly. She hoped her own child would be as fun as those two.

“Yes, Lo’ak, there’s a baby in here.” She patted the sides of her stomach. The uneven firmness below the pads of her fingers, and frequent kicks that had her wincing were confirmation enough that she was expecting.

The white corded device Norm held made its way across her skin. She glanced up to see her husband’s scrunched concentration face looking at the ultrasound monitor.

When he got the angle right, he spoke to the boys, “Yep, and here he is!”

Norm gestured to the fuzzy black and white image on the screen. Both boys leant forwards to get a better look. The alternating lines formed a semi-circle that had them squinting and tilting their heads side to side to decipher what they were looking at. Patterns criss-crossed the screen in esoteric sequences that few could understand.

Spider scratched his chin. “I dunno. Doesn’t look like anything really.”

“Of course it does. See? Here’s his leg, and I think this is a hand?” Norm traced his finger over the outline of a blob of mismatched pixels. Neither Spider nor Lo’ak could see the resemblance.

Lo’ak tapped the screen, ears perking up at the sound his nail made against the glass. “How did this get here?”

The wide eyes and innocent look on his face as he turned to face the others had Spider snickering into his hand.

He started laughing before he even spoke, “Lo’ak, when a man and a woman love each other very much-“

“Skxawng, I know where babies come from!” Lo’ak’s pulled back over his teeth when a mighty hiss came from his mouth. “I meant how did this get onto the screen? How does it see through skin?”

Norm gave Spider a disapproving side glance, but turned his attention to the other, hopefully more engaged child. He pulled the device away from Trudy’s stomach - the image turning to noise on the screen - and held it up for Lo’ak to get a better look.

“This sends out soundwaves that can travel through solid objects, then times how long it takes for them to return. By doing this really quickly millions of times a second, it can make a picture out of these soundwaves, which is displayed here.” Norm gestured to the monitor. “That allows us to monitor the baby’s growth without any intrusive procedures.”

He looked back to Lo’ak, only to find the young boy’s eyes beginning to glaze over. Norm muttered to himself as he turned back to continue his wife’s checkup, “Why do I even bother?”

It was now Trudy’s turn to reassuringly squeeze his hand.

Norm sighed again, but pointed vaguely to one side of the shack and spoke as he worked, “Jake told me to keep you guys occupied for the morning. I’m sure you’ll find something interesting over there. Go through the old Hell’s Gate video logs if you want. Just don’t touch anything that looks fragile.”

That instruction would likely go ignored, but he didn’t really expect anything more from the 13 and 11 year olds. The sound of a metal box clattering to the ground and the halting of rapid steps had Norm using up yet another of his daily sighs.

Trudy watched Norm switch the ultrasound back on and continue working his way across her belly. He wasn’t a doctor by trade, but he’d picked up a few things about foetal development from his occasional work with Mo’at and the other Omatikaya healers; he just hoped that Na’vi-specific knowledge would transfer to humans.

It wasn’t like babies came with a manual, though he wondered if Trudy would approve of him writing one.

Hmm, he’d have to note that down for later. Keep a logbook of his findings. Then again, he fully expected himself to panic the moment his son was born; no idea how he would go about raising a child.

Speaking of children, Norm glanced up to a flash of blue he spotted through the shack’s glass inner door. He couldn’t help but smile at Tuktirey’s wide grin as she waved at him. Once the pressurisation cycle finished and the outside air had been purged, the door hissed open, and Tuk ran through and up to Norm.

“Woah, Tuk, you need your mask!” Lo’ak peered over the top of the monitor when he saw his sister sprint past the rack. Past experience had quickly taught him the importance of the masks.

Tuk whined, “It makes my face itchy. I don’t like it.” She pouted and crossed her arms. Her brother couldn’t tell her what to do, so she stood her ground.

Thankfully, Trudy came to Lo’ak’s aid. “Sorry girlie. If you want to be in here, you need to put one on. Just like us humans have to when we’re outside.”

“But I wanna see the baby!”

Trudy raised an eyebrow, and Tuk sulked over to the rack by the entrance. Lo’ak left his place at the monitor to help her fit the cannister’s strap over her shoulder and secure the head bands in place. She tried to shrug his hands away, but Lo’ak was quick enough to work around her, and she was soon breathing the correct air, albeit with an annoyed scrunch of her nose.

“Don’t come crying to me when you can’t breathe then.” Lo’ak rolled his eyes and strolled back over to Spider, who was watching the interaction with his own exopack hanging from his bandoleer and belt.

Trudy jerked her head in Tuk’s direction to hint at her husband. He looked at her in question. She flicked her eyes across to the girl again, but it still took a moment to click for Norm. His mouth formed an O in realisation.

He placed the ultrasound down and went over to Tuk. Crouching before the young girl, he lifted her chin up to be eye to eye with her, though she was nearly as tall as humans much older than herself.

“Why don’t I show you the baby then?” Norm tilted his head to the side.

He saw her ears instantly perk up and her eyes brightened. Ruffling her braids, he scooped her up and carried her over to the bed Trudy lay on, placing her softly next to his wife. Tuk shuffled backwards until she brushed against Trudy’s legs and turned to face Norm expectantly.

He smiled at her, “I’ll show you how the machine works, then you can give it a go if you want?”

Tuk nodded rapidly, reaching out with grabby hands until Norm could demonstrate. Moving the device over another part of Trudy’s stomach, the lines appeared on the screen and Tuk gasped.

“Look! It’s a foot!” The little girl pointed at the amorphous blob, but Norm did have to admit she was right. Five toes, and distinctly foot shaped.

Tuk bumped her curled fist against Norm’s in a gesture her dad had taught her. She giggled when another foot-shaped blob drifted into view next to the first.

“So, if that’s where his feet are, his head must be down here.” Norm said whilst tapping his chin in mock thought, passing the ultrasound to Tuk then gently tapping lower on Trudy’s stomach. “Be gentle.”

Tuk nodded enthusiastically, and Norm once again silently thanked his wife for being so patient with kids. Without her, he would be an exasperated mess, shooing them away from his equipment. Although, Trudy still winced when Tuk’s inexperienced hand pressed the device a little too hard into her.

“Gentle, gentle. It won’t work otherwise.” Norm placed his palm over Tuk’s and carefully guided the device around.

Tuk kept looking up to the screen in awe, then back down to move to a different place. Every time she looked, Norm could see her pupils blow wider than the last, until he was sure they could get no bigger.

Once they had covered Trudy’s entire stomach, Norm gently took the ultrasound and wiped it down, passing more wipes to Trudy. Tuk sat looking at the screen again, but this time there was a thoughtful scrunch to her brow, one that only a young child pondering the universe could possess.

“What is it girlie? You look confused.” Trudy swung her legs over the edge of the bed and pressed her hands into her back to flex her stiff spine.

Tuk didn’t respond immediately, so Norm took the opportunity to press a kiss to Trudy’s cheek and pull up a chair to sit beside them both.

When the question had been thoroughly processed and was ready to be asked, Tuk shuffled off the bed and moved to point at the last displayed image on the screen, then down to Trudy’s belly. “How is the baby so small, when humans like Uncle Norm and Spider are so tall?”

Trudy had to resist the urge to coo.

She gently tapped Norm when he went to explain. Norm acquiesced and sat back in his chair with open ears.

Trudy started, “So you know how Na’vi are generally bigger than humans? Like how your mum is bigger than me, and Lo’ak is taller than most of the scientists, despite being so much younger?” Tuk sat up with the utmost attention, nodding along to Trudy’s words. The woman continued, “So human babies are smaller than Na’vi babies because humans are smaller. The baby needs to fit inside me. I’d pop otherwise!”

Tuk giggled, “Your belly looks like it might.”

“Whoa ho, young lady! Are you saying I look fat?” Trudy put her hands on her hips in mock indignation.

“Maybe a little.” Tuk put her fingers together, leaving a small distance between them. She pulled her hands back to her cheeks and giggled again.

Trudy grinned ear to ear. “I guess we’ll have to ask your dad to find photos from when your mum was pregnant. I can’t be the only fat one after all.” She looked to where the boys were still watching video logs, Lo’ak perched precariously on the back of a chair. She called to them, “Lo’ak, I need your help here.”

The boy’s head perked up, and from the mischievous look his aunt gave him, sprinted over. Norm saw it too, handing an exopack to Trudy and pulling one over his own head. Tuk watched on curiously.

“Right, let’s get you to your dad then. Lo’ak, grab her arms.”

Trudy reached down for Tuk’s legs, grasping them strongly whilst Lo’ak lifted her by her shoulders. Shrieking with laughter, Tuk hung between the two of them as they shuffled into the airlock and out the door.

The young girl kept laughing all the way to the Sullys’ Marui, loud enough that it distracted Trudy from the ache that began to seep into her limbs. Pacing along behind them was Spider and Norm, the latter of which looked slightly concerned. For whom, she wasn’t sure.

At that point in the mid-morning, Jake had finished airing out the clansmen’s grievances for the day, delegating out tasks to remedy the issues that’d been brought up. Now he sat in his Marui with his mate preparing for a scouting flight. The yearly migration of ‘Angtsìk had begun a few days ago, and their numbers needed to be surveyed to ensure only the needed amount were hunted.

The last thing he expected to see was his daughter, looking like she was about to burst from laughing too hard, being held strung between his son and heavily pregnant friend, with Norm and Spider following.

The flick of his tail and raised eyebrow from his mate betrayed their confusion. “Um, hi? Didn’t expect you guys to be done so soon.”

Trudy lowered Tuk’s feet down so she could stand on her own, but not before Lo’ak started tickling his sister’s sides and filling the hut with giggling shrieks. Tuk jumped and wriggled around to evade his hands, but the attempts were futile, and he kept finding a way through her defences.

Trudy’s back cracked as she twisted to the side. “This cheeky thing-” She pointed to where Tuk was squirming away from her brother and pressing her arms firmly against her sides, “Called me fat. I think we should get out some of her baby photos.”

Both Jake and Neytiri could see the mischievous twinkle in the other woman’s eyes, and it brought them all onto the same wavelength.

Neytiri had to hide her grin behind her hand to put on a mask of faux seriousness, “Oh yes, from when shewas all small and chubby.” Cameras were the one Sky People invention the Na’vi woman liked. No longer did memories have to fade from the mind.

The hut’s occupants took a seat, Spider crouched beside Jake as Norm helped Trudy down. Tuk took refuge from her brother’s attack in her dad’s lap, curling into his chest and sticking her tongue out teasingly. Lo’ak nodded conspiratorially to Spider, and they both lunged forward to poke at her again. Her head flicked back as the laughter began anew.

Jake wrapped his youngest child in a protective cocoon, but soon found himself the victim of the boys’ attack. Only after having children did he learn his Avatar body was even more ticklish than his human one.

He started to wriggle himself, until the cocoon was broken and Tuk dashed away to the safety of her mum beside one of their trunks. Neytiri didn’t look up from where she searched for the drive they kept their photos on, but did wrap her tail around her daughter. Neither boy dared make another attempt; Neytiri would tickle them until they were crying with laughter to protect Tuk.

Tuk peered over the edge of the box just as Neytiri grasped the small thumb drive from the bottom. She’d seen her parents plug it into her dad’s laptop before, but was never too interested in its contents. Now, she couldn’t wait to see the old photos.

Moving back to the group, Neytiri and Tuk traversed their way through the afternoon’s scouting preparation that lay forgotten on the floor. The others could go on without them.

Lo’ak passed his dad the laptop and they quickly set it up for them all to see, then plugged in the drive Neytiri handed over.

“Alright, should we go all the way back?” Jake looked to his daughter, who nodded eagerly.

Trudy concurred, “I think that may be needed. Neytiri, did Jake take any pictures when you were pregnant?”

Jake answered for his mate, “Yep, and here they are!”

Scrolling through the list, there were pages upon pages of candid photos of Neytiri going about daily life in their hut; most of them had her rolling her eyes at her mate’s off-screen antics as he took the picture.

In several, Neytiri was crouched over and chopping food, her distended belly getting in her way. Even in the hastily taken image they could make out how annoyed it made her. Another was a more composed shot; a side profile with Neytiri resting her hands gently on her stomach and gazing down fondly.

Tuk burst from her seat when the image appeared, “Wow mum, you’re fat too!”

“Bah! She was way more tactful with me earlier.” Trudy laughed alongside the rest of them.

Neytiri raised an eyebrow and pointed at the screen. “Don’t say that too quick, little one. That is you in there.”

The little girl’s hands flew to her mouth to cover her gasp, “Really?! That’s me?! I made you fat!”

Lo’ak snickered beside the adults. He went to teasingly poke at his sister again, but a quick hand and raised eyebrow stopped him. He glanced up to see his mother’s unimpressed look, then sheepishly brought his hand back.

“Don’t tease too quickly, son.” Jake gently took the laptop from his mate and scrolled to a different set of images. “These are from when your mum was pregnant with you. I don’t know about you, but I think you were even bigger!”

Now it was Tuk’s turn to giggle, much to the enjoyment of everyone, bar Lo’ak.

Jake continued, “And when you all came out, we would wrap you up in the warmest blanket we could find.” He gestured off to a pile on the side of the room. Spider took the cue and passed over the topmost piece of fabric.

Tuk suddenly found herself in her father’s lap, being wrapped up tightly until only her face and the tips of her ears were visible. Her tail coiled around her leg in surprise and stayed there under the blanket, her arms pressed to her sides.

It took all the effort the adults had not to fawn over the startled expression on the little girl. Jake himself didn’t succeed. He cooed at his daughter and brushed a stray hair from her face. With pupils the size of dinner plates, Tuk found herself being cradled by her dad and rocked back and forth as Jake sung softly.

“Hush little baby, don’t say a word, papa’s gonna buy you a mockingbird. And if that mockingbird don’t sing, papa’s gonna buy you a diamond ring…” Jake paused as Tuk’s eyes grew heavy.

She fought with fleeting energy to stay awake, but it was a futile battle against the warmth and slow rocking rhythm, and she was soon asleep.

Jake finally looked up, seeing varying looks of surprise and awe on the faces of the hut’s occupants. He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. “I never learnt the rest of the words.” He looked down to his snoozing daughter. “Never needed to.”

Spider was the first to break the silence, thankfully keeping his voice low, “Did I ever get wrapped up?”

Norm snorted, and Trudy smirked. Jake’s ears perked up at their reactions to the question. He handed the bundled Tuk to Neytiri, who moved to the little girls sleeping mat, then gestured alongside Spider for them to continue.

For the first time ever, Jake saw his friend look smug.

“Yeah, you were a little terror around the lab, and you only got worse when you learnt to walk. We tried to wrap you up like that to stop you from wandering around our equipment, but you seemed to have a knack for escaping.” Norm had pulled out his own tablet and was searching through his own photos. “To this day, I still don’t know how, we once found you bundled up in your blanket on top of a bookshelf.”

The photo he showed to everyone was proof enough of his story. Baby Spider, asleep, wrapped in a blanket, and very high off the ground.

“Still got some of that baby fat, aye?” Trudy reached over to pinch at Spider’s cheek.

The teen squirmed away in an embarrassed huff.

“My wife here thought it was hilarious,” Trudy bumped Norm gently with her elbow, “But you gave Max and me a heart attack. We did our best to baby-proof everything, but you still managed to climb onto desks and shelves. Come to think of it, we’ll probably need to do that again soon.”

“Why don’t you take a look at some of these photos then?” Trudy took the tablet from Norm and passed it to Spider.

The teen looked through the list slowly, Lo’ak coming to sit beside him to look too. Eventually, Spider found one, tapping on the thumbnail to expand it.

A small boy, with an enormous mass of curly blonde hair and the brightest blue eyes, sat on the edge of a workbench, trying to pull the straps of a modified exopack mask over his head. Max’s arm could be seen trying to aid the boy, but only getting more hair in the way.

“I remember this. It was my first mask.” Spider looked up to Norm.

The scientist smiled back, “Yep, that day was the first time you left Hell’s Gate. We didn’t go far, just down to the river. That’s also the first time you met Kiri.” Norm gave him a knowing look.

Spider blushed, and Lo’ak gave him a teasing nudge. Even Neytiri couldn’t help but smile at his obvious crush. Several more photos were flicked through when they heard shuffling from behind them.

Tuk’s head popped up from the wrapped blanket, looking bright and alert. “Dad, is it morning already?”

“Well that’s about right. Five-minute nap, and she’s up and ready to go.” Jake slid his hand down his face. “No, it’s still the same day.”

“Okay! Can I look at some more photos then?”

“You won’t go to sleep again anyway,” He muttered quietly, then louder, “Sure can.” He glanced over to a rather bemused looking Norm and Trudy. “I wish years of sleepless nights upon you both.”

Norm held his hands up in surrender.

Tuk quickly rejoined the circle, this time leaning heavily into Spider’s side to look at the photos, and completely forgetting how he and her brother were tickling her before.

Neytiri joined the other adults on the opposite side of the hut, her tail intertwining with her mate’s. She asked Norm and Trudy, “Why are they so interested in these old photos?”

“Norm was doing an ultrasound, and none of them believed that a baby could fit in here.” Trudy tapped her stomach. “We explained that humans are smaller, so human babies are smaller too.”

“Oh! I’ve got an idea.” The kids turned to Norm at the sudden sound. “Hey Spider, can I please have that back for a second?”

Spider passed the tablet back over, Norm taking it and flicking through several menus and typing in search bars. Jake just shrugged at the boys’ confused looks.

“We said before how humans are just smaller,” Norm began, “But we didn’t say why.”

He pulled up an image on the screen and turned it around to show the kids. Neytiri too leant forwards to get a better look. There were two circles side by side, one slightly smaller than the other, but both made of strokes of blue, green, and white.

Norm pointed to each of them. “This is Earth, and this is Pandora. See how Pandora is smaller, which means it has less gravity. Only about 80% of Earth’s.”

He paused when Tuk held her hand up.

The little girl asked with bright and wide eyes, “What’s gravity?”

Jake grasped her below her arms and threw her up. She shrieked in delight, and was caught again on her way down. Being placed on the ground once more, Jake said, “That’s gravity. It’s what pulls you back down.”

“Yep, and there’s less of it here than on Earth.” Norm smiled at the giggling girl. “So here, it’s easier for things to evolve and grow bigger.”

Norm pulled the tablet down again, flicking through to another photo. “I forgot that Max catalogued the remaining data we had from Hell’s Gate, so I found these old images from Earth.”

The children and Neytiri cocked their heads to the side at the strange animal he showed them. Jake, however, nodded in understanding.

“This is an elephant, the largest land animal on Earth. I actually have a photo of me with one somewhere… Ah ha!”

Norm stood in dark sunglasses and a wide-brim hat patting the flank of the enormous animal. He was sombre when he spoke, “They had died out to the point that they only really existed in zoos or highly protected reserves, so I was very fortunate to get this photo.”

Trudy huffed a laugh from his side when Tuk’s ears stuck up to the ceiling and her nose pressed into the tablet. They all knew the little girl had an infatuation with what she called fluffy cuddly animals, and it just so happened she thought a lot of Earth’s wildlife fit into that category. Those who had lived on Earth were loath to tell her about the fact that lions and tigers had sharp claws and teeth that could very easily kill their prey.

“Should I look for some more pictures of elephants then?”

Tuk nodded eagerly to the scientist’s question, then focussed back on the screen.

Norm continued, “Alright then. This is the largest land animal on Earth, but it’s still only half the size of the Hammerhead Titanothere, the nearest equivalent on Pandora. We think that lower gravity allows creatures here to develop-”

Looking up from his impromptu presentation, he found the rest of the adults smirking at him, the boys nowhere to be seen, and Tuk still trying to press her nose into the tablet. Norm sighed a heavy sigh; how often he felt like he was talking to a brick wall with the kids.

Jake couldn’t help but smile at his friend’s optimism.

When Norm and Trudy’s son was born, the Sullys soon received an invite to meet the new baby. The children were practically bouncing off the walls in anticipation of meeting him, and Neytiri couldn’t help but concur with their sentiment. She’d never met a newborn human baby; Spider was at least a year old when she first saw him.

The airlock to the medical shack was crowded with all the occupants squished together as the pressure equalised. Jake glanced to Neytiri. Whilst not their own child, the feeling of seeing a new life for the first time was still running high through them. It brought them back to when each of their children took their first breaths, and every milestone that came after.

When the door hissed open, they exited to the interior and quickly went about putting the masks on; Lo’ak somehow managed to get the strap of his tangled in his new braids that Kiri did the day before, and Tuk still didn’t remember which way the tubing was supposed to go.

Kiri rolled her eyes at her brother, and Neytiri helped Tuk right her mask. Then she grabbed the girl to stop her from sprinting and jumping on Trudy.

The sound of the airlock door opening and closing again brought their attention behind them. Spider waved eagerly through the glass, clearly having received the same invitation as them. Removing his exopack and clipping it to his bandoleer, Spider joined them as they made their way to the bed.

Norm sat in an uncomfortable looking chair to the side of Trudy’s bed, his head forward and eyes closed as he dozed. Trudy herself had blanket pulled up to her mid-section, and looked like she was about to fall asleep too. She would’ve if it wasn’t for the small bundle she held to her chest.

“Um… Should we come back later?” Trudy’s head perked up when Jake asked.

“No, no. You’re good.” The yawn the woman let out contradicted her statement.

Trudy dropped her arm from the bundle to her husband, knocking him on the back of his head harder than she intended.

“What, where, how?” Norm sat bolt upright, eyes wide and frantically searching for danger.

Trudy scoffed, “My knight in shining armour.”

Finally realising where he was, Norm sunk back into the chair. He reached over to pull the cloth down slightly from the bundle. Stroking a finger oh so gently across the baby’s forehead caused the infant’s mouth to twitch slightly. Norm grinned brightly to his wife. Their baby’s first smile. Neither of them could believe the fact that this little thing had come from them; two halves put together to make a whole.

Neytiri rested her head on her mate’s shoulder, intertwining their tails together behind them. Kiri, Neteyam and even Lo’ak couldn’t help but coo.

Jake spoke softly to not rouse the babe, “How’re you holding up?”

Norm looked to Trudy to answer. She blinked rapidly to keep herself awake, “Sore, and thankful that is over. Can’t say I enjoyed it.”

Neytiri hummed in agreement, “The birthing process is painful, and can be very long.”

“Yeah, I’m glad my hand still works.” Norm held up his bandaged fingers, Trudy rolling her eyes.

“I wasn’t gripping you that hard.”

Norm winced.

“Are you done talking about grown-up things? I wanna see the baby.” Tuk’s whine pierced the air. Neytiri softly reminded her to keep her voice down.

Like a chain reaction, Tuktirey looked to Jake, who looked to Norm, who looked to Trudy. Rolling her eyes again, Trudy nodded and shuffled her legs to the side of the bed to make room for Tuk to carefully climb up. Sensing her slight wobble, Jake reached over and grasped his daughter gently under the arms to stop her from falling forward.

The rest of them moved around the bed, Kiri standing beside Norm, Lo’ak and Spider with Neteyam on the other side, and Neytiri next to Jake.

Slowly, Trudy pulled the cloth down from around the baby’s head. The cooler air hit his downy hair, and he wriggled slightly in his sleep. A small squeak came from his mouth.

“Oh, Ma Tsmuke, he’s beautiful!” Neytiri’s hand flew to her mouth to hold in the gasp.

Jake looked up to his friends, “Do you have a name?”

“We’ve got a few ideas, but nothing final yet.”

Jake nodded; it had taken him and Neytiri several weeks after each of their children’s births to complete their naming ceremonies. As far as he was concerned, he would whole-heartedly perform the same rite for his friends’ son, and he knew Mo’at would have no objections either.

With a weight growing on his arms, Jake felt Tuk lean even further forwards. She had never seen a human baby before. Though her siblings teased her for being the youngest, saying she was still a baby herself, he knew she preened at the attention she got. She was the smallest and had never been anything but the smallest in their immediate circle. A new baby upset that status quo.

But from the chirp she made and the wide eyes she watched the baby with, Jake didn’t think she would mind too much.

“Huh, I think someone has a new best friend.”

Tuk didn’t even hear Trudy’s chuff. All she could see was the tiny nose, soft skin, chubby cheeks and peacefully closed eyes. All warm and wrapped up, it was a sight of such utter safety that had her wishing she was held tightly in her own mother’s arms, keeping her safe as the sounds of thunderstorms rolled overhead, or reassuring her that a bad dream wasn’t real.

That same awe slipped into her voice, “Can I… Can I hold him?”

The look of pure hope in her eyes nearly had Norm agreeing to anything she asked right there and then, but he at least had the self-preservation to glance to his wife.

Trudy nodded, but added, “I think it might be a good idea if your dad helps you.”

Understanding what she meant, Jake wouldn’t fit on the bed with his daughter, so he pulled Tuk up into his side and lowered them both down, crossing his legs. Tuk sat in his lap with her back pressed up to his chest and his arms encircling her.

“So we’ve got to be real careful, alright? We’re gonna hold our arms like this, and have his head resting here. Human babies’ heads are heavy.” Tuk nodded seriously to Jake’s instructions. “If your arms get tired, let me know.”

Taking his son carefully from Trudy, Norm slowly lowered him down until Jake’s longer arms could reach out. The baby was situated snuggly, Jake resting his head in the crook of his elbow. He felt Tuk’s arms come up under his to wrap around the newborn too. He let her take some of the weight, just to get a feel, but sure to keep him secure.

Jake rolled his eyes when Neytiri crouched to double check his hold, Kiri leaning over too to watch.

Hearing a click from off to the side, they all glanced to the source. Somehow having found Norm’s camera, Spider had his eye up to the viewfinder and was pressing the shutter button rapidly.

Lo’ak stood to his friend’s side with his thumbs up and a wide grin spread across his face. “Looking good sis.”

Tuk didn’t even glance up when Neteyam hissed at them to put the camera down.

Trudy managed to swing her legs over the edge of the bed, but gestured for Norm. He pulled her arm over his shoulder and took some of her weight as she leant slightly to the side.

Tuk’s stillness had the whole room watching silently, with Norm holding his breath. She just stared and watched with wide eyes. He couldn’t help the slight increase in heartrate that started to thump in his chest.

“Well, what do you think?”

Finally, she looked up, a cheek-splitting grin on her face.

“He’s so… small.”

[nattikay]

"um.....hi :)"

u know that corny fanfic trope where characters meet their past/future selves ha ha yeah

still can't believe how FAST they CANONICALLY speedran Neteyam Lo'ak and Kiri lol, like that actually happened wow

[lord-eden]

AU where it’s avatar 2 and trudy never died ✨

[luxthestrange]

Avatar Incorrect quotes#54 Tommy vs future Clan leaders

Tommy: Now, Friends we're not gonna sit here and pretend, there's not a big-ass elephant in the room

Trudy*Who was called for a meeting along with Norm...surprised to see Neytiri and Tsu'tey on their knee not looking at Tommy* What the fuck is going on?

Tommy*Grinds his teeth and grabs a frame he has on his desk and turns it around with a picture of Jake and You smiling in a picture*This is what the fuck is going on

Trudy & Norm look confused for a second and look at the picture then back at the Na'vi ...that you and Jake were...very close with... then back at the picture, they are looking back and forth between angry brother, Na'vi and picture stares into space and LIGHTBULB-

Norm: Oh, shit! Oh, shit-

Trudy: Oh, shit! No-That is not happening right now! No!?*Is laughing her ASS off as she looks at the scared Na'vi and walks out of the room*Hey, y'all, they're fucking Tommy's siblings! Yo!-*Is telling her friends and THEN some*

Tommy: Every time she says that shit...

Sam: Oh, my fuck-

Tommy*Glares at your Na'vi*Is making me want to tell Grace...and that's gonna be a foot in your assess

Trudy: Guys, you clearly Yo, this is the best thing ever!!!*is smacking her hands on the window of Tommy's office*

Trudy: The future leaders fucked the Tommy's siblings!~

Trudy: The future leaders fucked the Tommy's siblings!~

Trudy: The future leaders fucked the Tommy's siblings!~ *Coming back into the office and sitting down back* Shit! Fuck- You two fucked Jake & Y/n...I mean I get WHY y/n but JAKE?.... Ok I can see why that too to be honest-

Norm*Looks at her*TRUDY-

Trudy: OH PLEASE LIKE YOU HAVENT QUESTION YOUR SEXUALITY WITH JAKE OR Y/N!

Norm*Was gonna retort but nods*...touche

Trudy: Tommy, what the-Holy shit- Oh, my god! This is!-

Tommy*Is taking out his dart gun and putting it on the table*...

Trudy: It's really not that funny...*Knows when to quit*

Neytiri & Tsu'tey*Knows they f*cked up even more now that Tommy knows*...

Part 2 of:

[onskepa]

Hiii friend!! Could i get a Norm adopts the Sarentu ask kids and also Spider? In this universe the timeline is a bit different, right after the final battle of A1 the Sarentu are still kids and after Ahari’s death, Alma manages to help them escape and send them far away ( aka to where the omatikaya live) so Mercer can’t get to them. And there Norm adopts them after he had already adopted Spider. And then siblings shenanigans ensue.

OOOOOOOOOOOH~!!! YES YES YES~!! TIME FOR NORM TO SHINE ON THIS ONE! HOPE YOU ENJOY~!

P.S: The sarentu player is named paw in this story , also paw and telisi are girls. Yefti is mute and a boy!

-------------

Full house

Norm was just norm. A skinny, nerdy guy with a huge fascination with anything foreign and new. He was just as normal as his name. Norm. He is not much of a warrior like his best friend, or a snappy, demanding director like his old friend and mentor Grace. Yes he is strong when needed to be, not afraid to be in the front lines when it is called. 

He is not a lot of things. That much is certain. What norm is, is a nature loving, gentle soul, loyal, respectful, kinda, and above all, loving. 

What norm is not, or more over, what he never thought he would ever be, is a parent. 

Not a parent to one child, he never expected he would be a parent to 9 children.

One human, and 8 na’vi children.

“You’re kidding” norm says, not really believing what he just heard. 

“I am not, believe me norm, I almost didn't believe it at first either” Jake says. 

“No, I have to hear it myself. Replay it” norm says, max nods, replaying a message they were sent just an hour ago. 

It was an audio, a bit scuffled but loud and clear was the voice of a woman. 

“Hello? This is Alma Cortez. I am a researcher and Co director of TAP. An education branch of the RDA. I don't have a lot of time but I am seeking help from the RDA rebels, more specifically Jake sully, aka Toruk Makto, and Grace Agustine. There are na’vi children here being held against their will. They need help and I alone cannot do it. I need-God damn it! Grace if you are hearing this, please! I need your help! They are not all dead! I repeat! The Sarentu children are alive!” 

Norm can say he has been into battles and raids enough times to see some patterns, alternatives, can even predict how it will end. Call it cheesy but he is the man of loyalty and would do anything to protect those he cares about. 

Among the people he has come to care about more than his own life, was his newly adopted son that enjoy being called “spider” 

Bright, crazy, and will try different ways to kill himself simply by being curious of the world he was born in. A walking happy, stress inducing little being spider is for Norm. Full of surprises, and norm enjoys that. 

The biggest surprise was him being born. 

And norm is always grateful for that, always thanking Eywa everyday. Yup, parenthood sure is something not many today plan for. 

“Well, each of us can watch over him, like that old saying goes, ‘it takes a village to raise a child’” Max suggests. A group of the science guys have found baby spiders in the old dormitories for the female soldiers. Only a few months old, skinny little guy. 

It wasn't long before they did a DNA scan of who he belonged to. The results were both scary yet unsurprising. It was after that many did not wish to get involved with the baby. 

“I will do it” , the norm says, more like announcing it. 

Picking up spider, wrapping him up in his little blankie, he says it again, “I will be his parent” 

“Does this count as a reverse kidnapping?” Max asks. 

It was night, using nature to cover the scorpion plane, waiting for an important package. Jake, Norm, Trudy, Max and Grace were all waiting patiently for Alma to come to them with the sarentu children that were being held within the human facility. 

“I see it as a rescue mission” Trudy says, her eyes not being away from her port. 

“It is a rescue mission” Grace affirms, her eyes scanning through the foliage for any movement. Being silent and listening carefully for any sounds of footsteps. Her concentration was a bit out of character for her. None have seen her this serious before. 

“It will be a huge cultural shock to these poor kids” max says, filling out the silence of the soundless night. 

“Cultural? More of a world shock, metal walls and holograms is all they ever knew” Jake replies. All of them have heard the tragic news of a fallen na’vi clan, how there were no survivors and even more tragic there was no way to help them. Grace was more hit on a personal level, felt more helpless, as feeling that it was somehow her fault when really it wasn't. 

“They will struggle, a lot of struggling, getting back to their roots and relearn everything. It's very sad " Norm comments. His thoughts drift to spider, thinking what it would have been like for his son. To be brainwashed and never been allowed to do things that he was born to do. A hell no child should go through. 

“I know I am thinking ahead but…..who will take in these kids?” Trudy asks suddenly. 

“Hi! Im spider! And I am your big brother!” little spider proudly points to himself as he talks to the newly arrived na’vi children. He was so excited to meet them the moment norm told him who was coming. New friends and new siblings! 

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Jake asks, he and his friends huddle on the farthest corner of the old hells gate. Everyone watching the sarentu children carefully. 

“They seem very comfortable with spider” Max points out. 

“Its because he is human, didn't you see their faces? Seeing native na’vi? They looked horrified, "Grace whispers. 

“STAY AWAY!! LEAVE US ALONE!!”

“ENGLISH!! WE DON'T UNDERSTAND YOU!!”

“THEY ARE GOING TO KILL US!!” 

8 sarentu children huddled together, tears flowing down from their eyes, little bodies trembling in fear. Circling the younger ones, as they all scream and cry in utter terror. Surrounding them was what was supposed to be a welcoming celebration to these unfortunate children. What was supposed to be loving, cheerful, and harmouns, the children only feared things that they don't understand. 

And what they dont understand is the native na’vi are right in front of them, speaking in a language they dont understand.

“And what is your name…?” Norm asks softly to the sniffling children, after what felt like forever with a touch of a miracle, the sarentu children have calmed down. A great thanks to Norm. Using his already experience with spider, he flawlessly managed to gather the 8 children and have them stop crying. 

“M-my name is nor…” the little boy stutters out as he wipes away his tears. Holding hands with little teylan and ri’nela. 

“That is a wonderful name, and you” norm compliments as he turns to one of the little girls. Looking down shyly as she plays with her hands, “my name is paw….”

“Im t-telisi….” another little girl says, being slightly more confident. Holding her hand was one of the older children. He was trying to look tough, brave and tall. Norm knew he too was scared inside but rather not show it. 

“This is Yuayt….and-” 

“ACHOO!!” 

Telisi was cut off from a sneeze, coming from another little girl. 

“And she is okni, she gets sick easily,” Telisi informs. 

Okni was rubbing her nose when another little boy, ripping a piece of his shirt to wipe her nose. 

“And that is yefti….” 

Norm took a good look at all of the sarentu children. He was about the make the more bizarre choice ever in his life. Perhaps more bizarre than all of the bizarre ideas. He was gonna make all of these sarentu children into Spellman children.

“Come on slow pokes!!” 

“Yeah! I'm smaller yet faster than any of you!!” 

“Telisi! Spider! Be Careful!” 

9 little spellman children were exploring the vast forest that was now their forever home. There is always an adventure to explore, little mysteries to solve and skills to hone. 

Spider and Telisi make way for their other siblings as they fearlessly go ahead. Not far behind was nor and ri’nela with teylan between them. Nor trying his best to keep while ri’nela takes her sweet time. Behind them yuayt giving okni a piggyback right while paw was holding okni’s hand and yefti being comfortably silent beside them. 

“Feeling any better okni?” paw asks, giving her sister a gentle squeeze on her hand. Okni nods, giving a reassuring smile. 

“That medicine better work, or else we will use the medicine that humans use” yuayt says. 

Paw frowns a bit, “don't be like that, the tsahik is a master of healing. It is her life's job, why do you still doubt her skills?” she asks her brother. Yefti also gives a disapproving look to his brother. 

“It's been a year already and Okni is still sick. In my eyes, there hasn't been any changes” yuayt replies. 

“She stopped having accidents at night. Not puking as much and can now sleep through the night without any interruptions. I see that as major progress” yefti signs. Trying to points out the positive outcomes from mo’ats medicines. 

“He is right, and okni can eat more now!” paw adds. 

“Not enough” yuayt scoffs. 

“Dont be meanie” okni whispers as she gently pokes her brother's cheek. 

Yuayt stopped complaining after that. 

“Spider! Telisi! Slow down! Ma’eywa!” nor shouts, giving up on telling his siblings to not go that far ahead. 

Ri’nela giggles as she helps Teylan go over a big tree root. 

“It is futile brother, they are just too energetic” she says. Nor sighs, she is right. Out of everyone, his two older siblings are such a chaotic duo. They were slowing down for the other trio to catch up. 

Teylan looks over to see yefti and smiles, “YEEYEE!!” he shouts excitedly. 

Yefti smiles, seeing his baby brother and runs over to him. Teylan reaches out his little arms, wanting to be picked up, to which yefti happily complies. 

“You spoil him brother” nor says. 

Yefti merely shrugs, “it makes him happy. Also he wants to copy okni” he signs. 

“Speaking of, I can carry okni if you are getting tired yuayt” ri’nela offers as her brother gets closer. 

Yuayt shakes his head, “im fine, okni is lighter than that little fatty” 

Okni hit him in the back of the head, “done be a meanie, teylan isnt fat, just squishy” she gently scolds. 

“Eerr….teylan’s appetite is growing…” paw says. 

“Its fine, with all the running and climbing, he won't be squishy forever” ri’nela says as she gives teylan a playful pinch on his chubby cheeks. 

“He won't if yefti keeps carrying him like a baby” nor comments. 

“Teylan is a baby” yefti signs. 

“I'm gonna beat you spider man!!” telisi teases. 

“NEVER!!! They don't call me monkey boy for nothing!!” spider shouts. 

Both laugh and cheer to their hearts content as they run through the vast forest, not caring to stop. Letting the wind hit their faces, overcoming any obstacle and quick thinking. 

Climbing to the floating mountains do they see their goal. 

“I'm gonna win~!!” telisi shouts enthusiastically. 

Spider summoned all his strength and went even faster, going past telisi and makes the leap of faith. 

“SPIDER!!!” his sister screams, stopping to witness him jump from the edge of the cliff and flying towards the nearest landing. 

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!!” 

 Spider braced for impact, his side landing first on the rocky ground. Grunting in pain, and a bit dizzy, he shakly gets up. Dusting off the dirt and rubble, he laughs. 

“HA!!! I WIN!!” he cheers. 

Telisi shakes her head, huffing loudly. 

“Dad is going to skin you…” 

“OOOOOOOWW!! OWOWOWOWOW!!!” the spider squeaks in pain. 

Ri’nela sighs, trying to gently tend to his bruising and scratches. 

“You are lucky dad is busy with Jake, he will be very angry when he finds out what you did” she scolds her big brother. 

Spider chuckles a bit, “I couldn't let telisi beat me, my record would be broken” 

“I like competition brother, but never when it comes to risking our lives” telisi shouts across from the room they are in. 

Okni hears spider in pain, and quietly goes over to him, silently offering some of her medicine. Spider gently denies. 

“I'm ok sis. Don't waste your medicine, you need it more than I do” 

Okni slight frowns. Offering it again. 

“Spider is right. It is not easy for the tsahik to make that medicine, okni. Only you can use it” ri’nela says as she adds the last bandaged on spider’s side. 

“Kiri can make some. We can ask her” okni finally speaks, clutching her herb pouch. 

“Kiri is too busy looking at pretty flowers to make medicine” yuayt scoffs. He and teylan were messing with some old technology equipment. More like yuayt trying to make sure no small piece gets into teylan’s mouth. 

“Can anything positive come out of your snarky mouth?” nor asks a bit sarcastically. Earning a glare from yuayt, “When you stop bitching like a-” 

“Ok that's enough you two” spider interrupts what could be another round of word fighting. 

Yuayt rolls his eyes, lifting teylan from the table, handing him over to yefti who gladly accepts. Grabbing his knife and gun, he makes his way to the exit. The other kids following his movement. 

“And where are you going?” telisi asks. 

“Somewhere” yuayt replies and leaves. 

Almost everyone shakes their head. 

“I will get the fire started, no doubt he is coming back with some good yerik” ri’nela informs. Telisi and Paw quickly helped her.

Norm walks into his home after saying his nightly farewells to Jake and his family. It was a long day with so many things to do, but happy he will come home to his kids. Chuckling to himself, norm cant help but smile widely. It has been a year since the kids were rescued from the hellish TAP facility and already have grown so much. 

A lot has happened, overcoming trauma is not an easy thing. The Sarentu children were easily scared when starting to live here. Scared about everything, even seeing other na’vi. Norm still couldnt believe a lot has progressed over one year. Though not all is perfect and not every wound is healed. 

There is still a lot left to do for these kids, his kids. 

And speaking of his kids, norm opens the door and- 

“TOO MUCH SALT IS BAD!!” 

“NO! IT MAKES IT TASTY!!” 

“WHERE DID YOU EVEN GET THAT?!”

“FROM YOUR ASS! WHERE ELSE IDIOT! THE KITCHEN!” 

Yup, another round of spellman chaos. 

“HEY!” 

All the spellman children stopped what they were doing and stared at norm. 

“DAD!!” they all cheered. Forgetting about their argument, everyone ran towards their father. Jumping on him, hugging him, shouting so many things at the same time. 

“Easy! One at a time!” He tries to settle down the kids. 

“Dad! Nor added too much salt into the stew!” 

“So what?!” 

“Daaaaaaaaaaad!! Yuayt called nor a bitch again!” 

“Dad dad dad!!! Spider did a dumb move today!!” 

“Why are you snitching on me!? Dad I know who telisi’s crush is” 

“DON'T YOU DARE!!”

“OK OK!! QUIET DOWN!!” norm shouts. 

Everyone dispersed, giving norm room to get up and observe what is going on. From the smell and obvious pot cooking, it smelled like yerik meat stew. Knowing instantly, norm turns to yauyt. 

“Did you hunt today?” he asks. 

Yuayt shrugs, “why ask if you already know the answer” 

Yefti slapped his arm, “really?” he signs. 

Paw tugged on norms shirt, eagerly wanting to say something. 

“Yes paw?” norm turns to her. 

“Can we watch a movie after eating?” she asks, trying to look cute to convince him. Ruffling her hair, norm smiles, “lets eat first then we shall se

“Dad,” Telisi calls. Now turning to her, norm lets her continue. 

“Spider jumped off a cliff and almost died” she tattles. 

“SPIDER WHAT?!” 

“SNITCHES GET STITCHES!!” spider warns. 

“WHO IS WEARING THE STITCHES RIGHT NOW?!”

“Finally…..” norm can breathe in relaxation. After a hearty meal the food coma hit everyone. 

Norm tucks little teylan between paw and yefti. Beside paw was Okni, who was also beside yuat. On the other side of yefti was nor and ri’nela. Spider and Telisi were sleeping over their other sleeping siblings. As if to protect them even as they slumber through the night. 

Norm quietly observes the children. Everyday he gives his best, gives his thanks as he couldnt believe his luck. 9 beautiful children. Chaotic and rowdy but good kids. 

Many wonder how norm does it. Every time he is asked, “how do you do it?” or “have you lost your mind yet?” 

Many times was norm close to losing his mind, but knows better. Constantly reminding himself that his children could have been in worse situations. That they wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the call for help. 

Jake at times would say “got a full house there norm” 

Yeah, he was right. A single man trying to raise 9 kids does insane, lunatic, but norm enjoys all of it. And there is nothing in this world or the next would norm trade it for anything. His kids are not just sarentu or human kids, no, they are spellman children and norm be damned if others say anything else. 

Aaaaaaaand that is it for this one! This fic took me a good while because I was trying to get every scrap of information about the other sarentu children. See what personalities I can create.

Until the other sarentu children are properly shown in the frontiers, this is what I cam up with. So I hope you guys enjoyed it! Until next time! See ya!

[eywaseclipse]

The realization that if Trudy lived she would’ve LOVED those Sully kids with her whole heart.

Her and Norm would’ve spoiled them rotten.

They would’ve undoubtedly taken a responsibility for Spider and looked after him at the lab with the other scientists.

I have no doubt in my mind Lo’ak would be her favorite!!

She’d give Tuk packs hubba bubba gum and have bubble blowing contests.

I feel like Kiri would love collecting rocks for her.

And Neteyam probably would’ve thought she was really pretty.

Neytiri and Jake would let the kids call her auntie Trudy 😭😭🩵🩵💔💔💔

[be-the-glenn-to-my-maggie]

Spider that technically lived longer on Pandora than Jake: What if it was a lot longer? Like maybe Grace decides one day to bring Baby Spider(with a tiny mask) to one of her classes to teach the Navi kids about what human babies look like. The Navi kids love this baby. Especially Neytiri and her sister. Tsutey takes longer to warm up to the baby. The baby is incredibly sad when the classes stop and can't vist anymore. What if the whole tribe knew about this human baby? And when Jake convinces the tribe to let Grace back in she brings toddler spider too.

SUPER INTERESTING IDEA.

This makes it seem like Spider is Grace's baby though?? Like, even if Quaritch isn't involved, Paz is just letting Grace walk off into the woods with (who they think are) the savages with her baby? Seems very unlikely. So maybe for all intents and purposes, they were neglectful or bad parents, or they kept leaving him places so Grace did her thing and stormed in and yelled at them and took Spider.

But then I am absolutely on board, like then you know the Na'vi already knew and liked him. He'd be more Kiri than Kiri is, he was the kid they always saw Grace with and raising and teaching about them. He'd probably be the most welcome human in the Omaticaya.

[beautyofattolia]

[skylarstark4826]

I really absolutely love this beautiful fanart of Avatar of the ship of Norudy/Trudorm of the characters of Norm Spellman and Trudy Chacon together especially because although it is a little sad to see Norm crying because he is still hurt and he felt guilty about the death of the woman he loved while watching the photo of him along with his beloved Trudy at the same time if they think about it it it is also something very beautiful because that they show us that regardless of the time that had passed since the death of Trudy Norm still the beloved and she kept missing her and sincerely although I am aware that in the Avatar 2 movie Trudy did not come back also as a Recom despite that I still imagine that it would have been if she had returned and that at the same time Trudy would have had the luck and happiness of having been able to meet his beloved Norm again and how would his reaction have been to see her again sincerely and if they ask me the truth I would have been very happy to have seen that the truth

By the way, this beautiful fanart of theirs is not mine and the credits are not for me but I warn you that right here I am going to leave you the link of the true creator of this beautiful masterpiece on Instagram

[zrinathesarentu]

How I imagine, Norm, Trudy and Jake would entertain themselves in that camp, out of Hellsgate.

[timetravellingshinigami]

I keep saying that Quaritch's dialogue in Avatar 1 was pretty harsh but turns out that it was the censored version 😳 because the original is..

Gah damn sir okay

Mans really said 'pu$$y'. I can't get over it 💀

[lord-eden]

HC: Norm still grieves over the passing of Trudy even 15 years later. He’s usually optimistic most of the time even in the midst of war but sometimes he takes a minute of his alone time to remember the woman he once loved.

[poisonousrain222]

a little jake-centric oopsie

part one part two part three part four part five

[thehufflepuff02]

I realized I forgot a few people once I already finished it and I’m too lazy to go back and fix it so…..enjoy😅

[this-world-of-beautiful-monsters]

"the original a2 script--" who gives a fuck. what about the original a1 script. what about my pain and suffering, huh.

[incurably-cynical]

i will never forgive James cameron for scrapping Norm and Trudys relationship in Avatar