*This is a work of fiction. Any similarities between people, places or names are entirely coincidental. I do not own the characters, the book or the movie and I do not profit from this story. I am writing it just for fun.

The Long Road Home

Chapter 1: The Broken Wing

The morning sun dappled the leaves and forest floor with sunlight and already the late September day was warm. Birds sang in the trees as they began to gather in flocks, preparing to make their migratory flights to their winter nesting grounds. Here and there, squirrels and chipmunks scurried about the forest floor, gathering a supply of nuts and acorns to see them through the coming cold months. Suddenly the chirping and chatter of the various wildlife ceased as two men ran along a hiking trail that wound its way through the woods. Running side by side, they jogged at a steady pace.

At age twenty eight, Nathaniel Poe was having a hard time keeping up with his younger brother. Once the star of his high school cross country team, he took state in his senior year. When he reached college, he tried to continue with cross country, but too many late night parties combined with a smoking habit he picked up from his dorm buddies resulted in his getting kicked off the team. He had long since left the party life behind him but smoking still proved to be his one weakness and now that he was trying to resume his favorite sport, he was finding out what an impact that weakness was having on him. This was the first running he'd done in eight years and even though Uncas considerably shortened his own daily run down to less than half a mile so that his brother could join him, Nathaniel was barely making it.

Uncas McKinnon, however, was having no such problems. Quiet and easy going by nature, he had tried smoking once and immediately decided he didn't like it. Wild parties and alcohol was something he never had an inclination for either. He preferred to spend his time hiking alone through the woods and state forest lands taking photographs of the birds and animals native to the Adirondack Mountains he calls home. Although working as a veterinary technician at the wildlife rehabilitation center run by his father, he holds onto a dream of becoming a professional photographer and one day spending a year living alone in the wilderness filming a documentary.

As he jogged along side Nathaniel, Uncas suddenly broke into a full speed run. Racing flat out, he fairly flew along the forest trail while enjoying the feel of stretching his long legs out as far and as fast as he could. His love of running was something he had always enjoyed ever since he could remember. His father, Chingachgook, often told him how at the tender age of two, Uncas always seemed to prefer to run everywhere instead of walk and it was something the twenty two year old still loved to do. It earned him the nickname 'Bounding Elk', affectionately given to him by his older brother, who admittedly was envious.

Nathaniel tried hard to catch up to Uncas, but despite his best efforts he was soon left in the dust. Rounding a bend in the trail, the two came within sight of the nature center they call home. Located in a twelve acre fenced in compound nestled in the woods, The Eagle Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary contained several barns of various sizes, a building housing the clinic and hospital, numerous pens containing a variety of animals and birds and a large cedar sided house with a deck that commanded a spectacular view of Lake George, which bordered the back portion of the property.

Slowing his pace as he neared the house, Uncas stopped at the stairs leading up to the deck. Nathaniel arrived shortly after and collapsed onto one of the steps, totally bushed and soaked in sweat, his long wavy brown hair plastered around his face. Trying to catch his breath, he looked up at Uncas who was standing next to him and he couldn't help but notice that his brother had not even broken a sweat. He also noticed that Uncas was not even breathing hard and he looked away with a laugh while shaking his head.

"I must….be getting old. I can't…keep up…..with you….anymore." Nathaniel joked while gasping for breath.

"What do you mean? You could never keep up with me, even when you were competing in school which, by the way, is the last time you ever did any running. No wonder your half dead!" Uncas joked back with a smile which faded as he turned serious. "It's those damn cigarettes, you know. They're gonna kill you. When are you going to quit?"

"You sound like Dad…..Hey!...At least I gave up the booze! The smoking part's not that easy." Seeing Uncas's concerned look, he took a deep breath and blew it out, then stood up and shrugged his shoulders. "Ok, I'll try, alright? I'll get some of those patches, see if they help. In the mean time I'm gonna take a shower. Do you want to go first?"

"Nah, go ahead. I'm gonna go for a swim." said Uncas as he started walking toward a path that led down to the lake.

"Ok, but you're gonna freeze your ass off! The weather may be warm but that water's gonna be cold!" Nathaniel shouted over his shoulder as he pulled off his shirt while heading toward a patio door under the deck.

Uncas paid no attention to Nathaniel as he continued walking down the path. He loved the lake and the forest that surrounded his childhood home and it was here that he was always the happiest. The four years he spent away in college getting his degree as a vet tech had been brutal and he took every opportunity he could to come home. After graduating earlier that summer, he could not return home fast enough. His father and brother barely had a chance to welcome him as he came in the door before he took off for a long hike in the woods.

Reaching the lake, Uncas stood on the shore and watched the sunlight dance on the surface of the water. He then let his gaze drift over the forest on the opposite shore and he was grateful that he lived in this secluded area. Taking a deep breath, he slowly let it out, savoring the combined smell of the lake, the pine trees and the peat from the forest floor, an aroma he found intoxicating.

Stripping off his clothes and leaving them on the ground, he waded out into the lake until the water was up to his chest. Just as Nathaniel had said, the water was brisk, but Uncas didn't mind. He always went for a swim in the lake after he went running if the weather permitted it. This unusual warm spell they were having would probably be the last opportunity he would get to enjoy this simple pleasure before colder weather arrived and he planned to take every advantage of it.

He took a deep breath and plunged himself under, then returned to the surface. Rubbing his hands over his body to wash off, he then spent the next five minutes enjoying a leisurely swim. Knowing he needed to return to the clinic to help his father, he reluctantly swam toward the shore and waded back out. Since his daily run had been drastically shortened for Nathaniel's sake, he planned to go running again after he'd finished in the clinic. Then he could enjoy another swim. Picking his running clothes up off the beach, he held them in one hand and his sneakers in the other as he walked naked up the path through the woods back to the house.

Emptying a bucket of water into the basin in one of the animal pens, Chingachgook walked over to the door of the pen and let himself out. Although commonly known by his legal name of Robert McKinnon, as it was easier for most people to pronounce, he preferred to use his traditional Mohican name whenever possible.

At age fifty four, he had been a veterinarian for longer than he cared to remember. Twelve years ago, he gave up private practice to live his dream of operating a wildlife rehabilitation center with his wife and together they built this sanctuary next to their family home. Two years later, his wife died from injuries sustained in a car accident and Chingachgook felt he would never again feel a pain to equal that which he felt at her loss.

With the help of his sons and a couple of staff members he hired on, he was able to keep the sanctuary going. Then, two years ago his adopted son, Nathaniel, joined him as his new partner after himself becoming a vet. Now his youngest son, Uncas, had also come on board as a technician and his pride in his sons was obvious to anyone who spent five minutes talking to him about them.

After securing the lock on the door of the pen, Chingachgook was bending down to pick up the empty bucket when he heard someone singing softly in a deep voice as they came up the path from the lake. Looking to where the trail exited the woods, he saw Uncas walking naked into the clearing surrounding the sanctuary as he headed toward the house. Shaking his head, Chingachgook smiled to himself.

"One of these days you're going to walk out of those woods and find we have visitors here! Why don't you bring a towel with you when you go for a swim?" he called out to his son, half joking and half serious.

"I keep forgetting to bring one! Besides, people always call before they come here!" Uncas hollered back as he continued toward the house.

The sound of a Blue Jay squawking in the tree outside her bedroom window woke Alice Munro from a sound sleep. Sitting up, she stretched her arms over her head and glanced through the lace curtains at her noisy neighbor as he sat on a branch near the window sill. Sunlight filled her room and she looked at the clock to see what time it was. Nine thirty two. She'd slept late. Usually she was up by eight. Oh well, now that she was home from school what did it matter? There were no classes to hurry to and no grumpy professors scowling at her for arriving late. She was just about to lay down again when she remembered that she and her sister, Cora, were going to go bird watching with their father that morning.

A smile came to Alice's face as she thought about her father. She loved her Papa very much. Colonel Edmund Munro was a former British Army officer who, after 30 years of service, retired from military life and moved to the states to settle in the Adirondacks. He had fallen in love with the region many years ago when he visited an old friend and neighbor who had a summer residence here. Ever since that visit it became his dream to retire here and when that day came five years ago Ed, as he preferred to be called, packed up hearth and home and moved from his family estate near Edinburgh, Scotland to Lake George where he spends his days fishing and bird watching when he is not conducting outings with a local bird society. Although he loves both of his daughters dearly, he and Alice are particularly close and their shared love of nature presented plenty of opportunities for them to spend time together, something they seldom had a chance to do before he retired.

Getting out of bed, Alice pinned up her long blond hair and took a quick shower before slipping into a pair of jeans and donning a light blue tee shirt. Deciding to leave her hair pinned up as is, she headed downstairs and found her father and sister waiting in the kitchen.

"It's about time you got up! I thought I was going to have to play my bagpipes to get you out of bed!" Ed said in a Scottish brogue as he gave a wink to his oldest daughter Cora, who smiled in return.

"There was no need." Alice said in a soft voice as she poured a glass of orange juice. "A Blue Jay took care of that task quite adequately."

"Ah! Good old Harold! You can always count on him to roust any late sleepers out of bed! He's better than a bugler. How he knows which window to pick, I'll never know."

"Harold? You named him?" she asked.

"Oh aye! He's one of my neighbors, comes here all the time."

"Lovely. Well, so much for catching up on my sleep." said Alice dryly as she finished her juice.

"Come on girls! It's a beautiful day and the birds are waiting! Grab your binoculars and cameras and let's get going!"

The Brown Creeper flitted about on the trunk of a large pine tree. Spiraling his way up the trunk, the tiny brown and white speckled bird periodically poked his beak into crevices and pried loose pieces of bark while looking for tasty tidbits to eat. He had no idea three pairs of eyes were watching him closely.

Concealed in a bird blind, one of several he built around his property, Ed and his daughters watched the little bird make his way up the pine. Cora put down her binoculars and began flipping through the pages of one of her father's many bird books in an attempt to identify their subject.

"I can't find it in here. I don't even know what I should be looking for. It's not some sort of woodpecker, is it?" asked Cora, getting frustrated at her lack of knowledge regarding birds.

"It's a Brown Creeper!" replied Ed as he focused the lens on his camera. "They're common around these parts and you'll often hear them chirping, but it's rare that you'll see one. Ah! This photo is going to be a great addition to my collection!" Setting the camera on his lap, he picked up his binoculars and resumed scanning the forest foliage.

"Now that the fall semester has started, Alice, have you made any decisions about what your new major will be?" he asked.

"No, Papa, not yet. I know that I don't want to go back to school in Boston and continue studying business. I want to get my degree in something I enjoy doing, like being out here." she said as she gestured toward the woods.

"Well girl, there's lots of different choices there. Ornithology, biology, conservation, the forestry service, the list goes on."

"I know, Papa. That's why it's so hard. I want to make the right choice."

"You'll sort it out. You've only just turned nineteen. Sometimes it takes a bit to find your life's path. Now, Cora here, she always knew her calling. Why I remember her playing nurse ever since she was a wee lass! I don't think I ever saw a single doll or stuffed animal that didn't have a bandage on it. Ha! Why I remember once when I fell asleep in my chair reading the paper. When I woke up, your sister had me wrapped up like an Egyptian mummy!" said Ed, laughing at the memory.

"Oh Papa, really! It wasn't that bad." scolded Cora as she tried to be serious, but then started laughing herself.

"How do you like your new job, Cora?" asked Alice.

"I love it! From the very first day I felt like I belong there. It's where I plan to retire from when the time comes."

"I don't know how you do it, working in the Intensive Care Unit. All that pain and suffering?" said Alice.

"Yes, there is that. But I can help do something about it. I can help save lives. Alice, it's the most rewarding feeling when someone who was at death's door is released downstairs to the inpatient unit and then eventually goes home. And you know you played a part in that happening!" Cora enthusiastically answered.

"I couldn't do it. I don't think I could stand to be in a place like that even if someone I loved was lying in the bed. I know that sounds terrible, but I just couldn't bear it." Alice said with a shudder.

"You'd be amazed at what you will do for someone you love, girl." Ed said softly, remembering his late wife. "Hello! What's that out there? Over by that maple tree!"

All three focused their binoculars under a distant maple and could make out something flopping around on the ground below it. Too far away to see what it was, father and daughters cautiously walked over to the tree and found it was a ruffed grouse which appeared to have a broken wing. Suspecting it might turn out to be an injured bird, Ed had brought a large burlap sack with him and he threw it over the exhausted grouse and wrapped the sack around it to secure it and calm it down.

"The poor thing!" said Alice.

"What are we going to do with it, Papa? Is there a veterinarian we can take it to?" asked Cora.

"Aye! We'll take it to the Eagle Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary. It's run by a father and his two sons, good men they are. I've brought a few creatures to them over the years. If anybody can help, they can."

"But Papa, don't you have a speaking engagement at the senior center in a few hours?" asked Alice.

"Oh, damn and blast! Your right! I completely forgot. You girls will have to take it there yourselves. I'll call them and let them know your coming. They like advance notice so they can be prepared for what you're bringing them."

Try as he might, Ed Munro was unable to find the phone number for the sanctuary in the jumble of papers on his desk. Writing down the directions, he sent the sisters on their way, telling them someone is always there and to apologize for showing up unannounced. With the injured bird secured in a cardboard box which Alice held on her lap, Cora drove to the sanctuary. She was glad her father wrote very detailed directions, as the location was so remote, she doubted she would have found it otherwise.

Turning off a paved road, she followed a dirt road for several miles before coming to a large metal gate.

She was just about to honk the horn when a man exited a small building and saw their car. As he walked over to open the gate, Cora was struck by how ruggedly handsome he was. Driving into the compound, she parked where the man indicated, next to a large building. Getting out of the car, she went around to the other side and opened the passenger door for her sister.

"I apologize for showing up unannounced, but we couldn't find your phone number and it was an emergency." she told the man as Alice handed her the box before getting out of the vehicle.

"No problem. My name is Dr. Nathaniel Poe. How can I help?" said Nathaniel as he held out his hands to take the box from her.

"I'm Cora Munro and this is my sister, Alice. We found an injured grouse. We think it's wing might be broken."

"Munro? Any relation to Ed Munro by chance?"

"Yes! He's our father. " replied Cora.

"I know him. He often brings us new patients. Come on into the clinic and I'll take a look and see what I can do for our feathered friend here."

As Cora followed Nathaniel into the clinic, Alice paused outside the door and looked around the compound. Seeing all of the various animal pens and a large house located in this wooded location, she felt it would be paradise to live and work in a place like this. 'This is how I want to live.' she thought to herself as she went inside.

Entering into the reception area, Alice heard voices coming from a room straight ahead and found Cora and Nathaniel in the exam room. Nathaniel reached into the box and removed the bundle in the sack, then carefully unwrapped the grouse.

"You're right about the wing, Ms. Munro. It is broken. I'm going to need another pair of hands to get this gal fixed up though."

"Are you here alone? And please, call me Cora." she told him, much to the surprise of Alice, who raised an eyebrow as she looked at her sister. Cora was usually reserved around men she'd just met. What was going on here?

"No, not really. My father, Dr. McKinnon is here, but he's working on another patient at the moment. And my brother is off in the woods somewhere."

"Well, I'm a nurse! Perhaps I could help you, Dr. Poe, although I must confess, my patients don't have feathers." Cora offered with a lovely smile, feeling an instant attraction to this intriguing man.

"I think you'll be able to assist me just fine, Ms…ah, sorry….Cora. And call me Nathaniel" he replied as he smiled back. Looking at her closely, he thought she was the most beautiful woman he'd ever met.

Cora met his gaze for a moment before she looked away somewhat shyly. Alice's other eyebrow went up. Shy? Cora? Oh, she really likes him! Covering a smile of her own with her hand, Alice cleared her throat.

"Would it be alright if I looked around outside at the animals?" Alice asked, suddenly feeling like a third wheel.

"Sure! Just don't open any of the cages or pens. The occupants may look cute, but they're wild."

"Thank you! I'll be careful." said Alice as she left the exam room. With Cora holding the grouse, Nathaniel examined the bird.

"You said you're a nurse? Where do you work?" he asked, trying to keep his attention focused on his patient and not his assistant.

"I work in the ICU unit at Adirondack Regional Trauma Center. I just started working there a few months ago after graduating from school in Boston.

"How do you like the job so far?"

"I love it! It's what I always dreamed of doing." said Cora as Chingachgook stuck his head in the door.

"I thought I heard voices. I'm Dr. Robert McKinnon." he said with a smile as he stepped into the exam room and offered his hand to Cora.

"Cora Munro." she replied as they shook hands.

"She's Ed's daughter, Dad. Her sister, Alice, is outside checking out the pens."

"I see. Ed's a good man! I've known him for quite a few years now." Chingachgook said cheerfully. He noticed Uncas was not present to assist with the new patient. "Where's your brother, son? Isn't he back from his run yet?"

"Yeah, but he's taking his post run swim in the lake."

Chingachgook's smile faded as his face fell.

"He's what?"

Alice was in heaven. Exploring around the compound, she thought this was the greatest place in the world. How wonderful it would be to live and work here. While her father lived in a rural location, he only had a house and a garage and the property was mostly fields with a little bit of woods. This haven, however, was deep in the pine forest. How lucky the family who lived here were, to be able to call this little piece of Eden home.

As she walked over to a pen containing a red fox, she noticed a path leading off into the trees. Having caught a glimpse of the lake as they pulled in, she thought the path must lead to it and she decided to go down there for a look.

Strolling leisurely toward the lake, Alice was thoroughly enjoying herself as she gazed around at the pine forest surrounding the trail. Her attention was caught by the raucous cry of a blue jay and she looked up over her shoulder at the bird, wondering if he was a friend of Harold's.

Not looking where she was going, she suddenly collided with something solid and unmoving and she instinctively placed her hands on it to steady herself. Turning to see what she'd walked into, she found herself staring straight at the bare chest of a man. What's more, she had her hands on his chest! Embarrassed, she immediately shot her eyes downward and, in doing so, she discovered it wasn't just the man's chest that was bare, he was completely naked! Quickly removing her hands and looking up, she found herself staring into the handsomest face she'd ever seen. Long black hair hung down over his shoulders in wet strands, and as she gazed into his dark brown eyes, she saw that he was Native American. His expression showed he was just as surprised and embarrassed as she was and the two of them stood frozen for a moment before both comprehended their situation.

"Oh!" Alice said as she took a step backward and averted her eyes. Try as she might, however, she could not help but steal several covert glances back at him as he darted behind some bushes alongside the trail.

"Geez! I'm sorry, I…I didn't know we had….I mean…I didn't know you were….Oh shit, Dad's gonna kill me!" Uncas stammered as she watched him bob up and down behind the bush as he hopped on each foot while struggling to pull on his briefs and jogging shorts. Quickly pulling his tee shirt over his head, he came out from behind the bushes and stood in front of Alice, not knowing what to say.

"Uncas!" he said as he thrust his hand out to her.

"I beg your pardon?" she softly asked with a questioning look in her eyes.

"Uncas…Uncas McKinnon...um….it's….my name. It...means fox. Uncas does. Not McKinnon." 'Oh great, nice introduction! Good going, dude! Real slick! Oh my God, she's cute!' he thought to himself.

"I'm Alice…..and…it's backwards." she replied with a shy smile as she accepted his handshake.

"Backwards?" he asked, puzzled as to what she meant.

"Your shirt. You have it on backwards….and inside out." she said with a nod of her head toward his chest. 'Oh God, he's absolutely gorgeous! And that deep voice and those beautiful eyes!' she thought to herself.

Looking down, he was suddenly aware that the fit of the shirt didn't feel right. Pulling the front of his shirt out, he saw the manufacturer's tag under his chin.

"Oh…um…sorry." he said as he removed it in order to put it on correctly.

"You don't have to put that back on on my account." she impulsively blurted out, surprised at her own brazenness.

Uncas stopped as he was about to raise the shirt up to slip it over his head. Her compliment suddenly broke the tension and made him feel a little more at ease, and he gave a short laugh when he saw the pink in her cheeks betray her bold statement.

"No, I think I'd better. My Dad'll do a back flip if he sees me walking around half dressed with a visitor. Please don't tell anyone about this? I got a bad habit of not bringing a towel with me when I go swimming after a run and I hate to put my sweaty clothes back on. Dad's always afraid of something like this happening and he'll really be pissed if he finds out. Plus my brother will laugh his ass off for the next two years!"

"I won't tell. I promise! It's my fault really. I should have been looking where I was going. I thought this path might lead down to the lake and I was just heading down there to see it."

"It does go to the lake. Come on, I'll walk you down there." he said with a nod of his head toward that direction. Walking side by side down the trail, the two began to get to know each other.

"So what brings you here?" he asked her.

"My sister and I brought an injured grouse that we found while birdwatching with our father, Ed Munro."

"Oh! So your one of Ed's daughters! He said something about you and your sister coming to live with him. You were both in Albany before this, right?"

"No, Boston. Cora graduated from nursing school this past May and she just started working as a trauma nurse in the ICU unit here at the hospital. I just finished my first year in college, but I'm taking some time off to rethink my major."

"So, what do you want to be when you grow up?" he jokingly asked. 'Oh nice going! Could you possibly say anything more stupid than that? Idiot!' he berated himself.

Alice gave a little giggle before answering. "I don't know. That's the problem. I thought a business major was what I wanted to pursue, but I was about two months into classes when I realized I hated it. I don't want to be cooped up inside of an office building all day wearing uncomfortable dresses and suits. I want to be outside in a place like this, wearing blue jeans and tee shirts!" she said. "I think you're so lucky to live here!"

"Yeah, it's is pretty neat. I was born in that house back there. Dad was out in the woods releasing a fox back into the wild when Mom went into labor and by the time he got back it was too late to drive to the hospital. That's how I got my name, after that fox."

"I like it. It suits you." Alice said as she again smiled shyly at him. Every time she looked at him she couldn't help but smile. She had always been very shy around boys while she was growing up and as much as she hoped that would change when she got older, it didn't. As a result, she was almost never asked out on a date and the few times that she was had been total disasters. Always nervous and on edge, she could never think of anything to say and could hardly make eye contact with her date. It was no wonder the young man would cut the evening short with some excuse as to why he had to get back to his dorm and he would never ask her out again. But with Uncas it was different. Something about him made her feel very comfortable and relaxed and she was enjoying every moment with him. She wanted so badly to put her arm around him as they walked or touch him in some way, but she couldn't muster up the nerve. 'Why can't I be bolder like the other girls at University were? He'll lose interest just like the others and I don't want him to.' she thought to herself.

'Put your arm around her. No, don't do that, she'll think your coming on to her. Just hold her hand! No, that's no good either, it's too soon. You only just met her and she just saw you naked for Christ's sake. Oh God, why didn't I bring a towel!' Uncas was no stranger to women and he'd had several girlfriends in the past, but something about Alice was different. She was special. She made him want to say and do everything just right. She seemed very well mannered and the last thing he wanted to do was offend her in some way and make her not want to see him again.

"No disrespect intended, but McKinnon seems like an odd last name for a Native American. Are you part white?"

"No, I'm a full blood Mohican. I live here with my father and brother. You probably met them back at the clinic."

"I didn't see your father, but I saw Dr. Poe. He's your brother? He doesn't look Indian."

"He's adopted." he said as they walked out onto the shore of the lake and stopped at the water's edge.

"I see. How did your family get McKinnon for a last name?" she asked.

Uncas stooped down and picked up a handful of flat stones which he skipped, one by one, over the surface of the lake.

"Back in the 1800's my great, great grandfather was sent to an Indian boarding school in Pennsylvania. They gave all the students white first names to replace their traditional ones, which usually became the surname. In my ancestors' case, they couldn't pronounce his Mohican name so someone decided for him his surname would be McKinnon. Nobody in the family ever bothered to change it to anything else."

"That's so sad, to take away someone's identity like that. I'm so sorry." said Alice, surprising herself when she put her hand on his arm.

"Thanks." Her hand felt so soft and warm on his arm. He watched her take a deep breath and let it back out as she admired the scenic view around her. 'I love her voice! I could listen to that soft English accent all day!'

"It's so beautiful here. This is where I'd spend all my time if this were my home." Returning her gaze to meet his, she looked into his eyes for several moments before lowering her face with another shy smile. 'I wonder if it would be appropriate to come back and visit the bird? Then I could see Uncas again.' she wondered.

'Go ahead, ask her! The worst she can say is no. Ah man, she can't say no, she's gotta say yes. Hell, she might say yes. Ok, just take a deep breath and do it. Ask her!' Uncas thought as he tried to muster up some courage.

"Would you…?" they both said at the same time. Looking at each other for a moment, they started to laugh.

"You first." he said.

"No, you." she replied.

"Ha! Um…well…I was just wondering if…maybe you'd like to go out with me tomorrow night? There's a great barbeque place near town that has some kick-ass chicken and they always have a live band. It'll be closing up for the season pretty soon so this might be one of last times we could go there. That is, if your not busy?"

"I'd love to!" Alice said softly as she gave him a beautiful smile. Uncas could have looked at that smile all day and it was beginning to seem like he would as the two of them stood staring at each other, neither one willing to break the moment.

"ALICE!" Cora's voice came drifting down to them from the direction of the compound.

"That's my sister. It must be time for us to go." she said, still unable to take her eyes off of him.

"I'll walk you back." he said, still looking at her too. Taking hold of her hand, they began to walk back up the path, each turning to look at the other more than they were looking at where they were going. Alice felt like she was floating on air at the feel of his hand around hers. When Uncas walked into the bush he'd recently taken cover behind, he realize they were drifting off the path.

"I guess we'd better pay attention to where we're going. I don't think there's anymore naked guys running around the forest, but you never know!"

Alice broke into a fit of the giggles and the two strolled back to the compound. Once they entered the clearing they found Cora waiting for them by the car, along with Nathaniel and Chingachgook, who looked pointedly at his son as he and Alice walked over to them. After briefly introducing Alice to Chingachgook, Cora flashed another wonderful smile at Nathaniel before getting into the driver's seat. Uncas held the passenger door open for Alice.

"I'll pick you up around 5:30?" he asked her.

"I'll be waiting! Do you need directions?"

"No. I know where your dad's place is. I'll see you tomorrow then."

"Bye!" she said softly.

"Bye!" was his even softer reply.

Uncas stood up straight as he watched the car pull out of the compound and drive down the dirt road out of sight. As Nathaniel closed the gate after the sisters left, he too, stood watching the car disappear from view. When Uncas turned back toward the house, he nearly ran into his father, who glared at him with a very direct look as he stood with his arms folded across his chest. Lowering his chin ever so slightly, Chingachgook raised one eyebrow in a silent question to Uncas, who knew exactly what his father was getting at. Glancing down at the jogging clothes he was wearing, he looked back at his father before heading for the house.

"What?" he asked as he walked past the man.

Both sisters were silent for some time as they drove back home, each lost in their own thoughts. Glancing over at Alice, Cora saw the dreamy look on her younger sister's face and she finally broke the silence.

"Was that Uncas?" she asked.

"Yes!" Alice answered a bit too enthusiastically.

"He seems nice." Cora probed.

"He is! We met on the path to the lake. He was coming back from his swim as I was heading down there."

"I see." said Cora, trying hard to conceal the grin she felt twitching at the corners of her mouth. "Nathanial was telling me a little about his brother, about how he likes to go for a swim after he comes back from his run." Cora paused for a moment before continuing. "What was he wearing?"

Taking another quick glance at her sister, Cora could see Alice's face turning crimson as she smiled while biting her lower lip before answering.

"Absolutely nothing! And we walked right into each other too!" she said in a soft voice.

It was quiet in the car for about one full second before both women burst into laughter. Finally calming down, Alice proceeded to tell Cora about the rest of her first meeting with Uncas and about their upcoming date the next evening.

"Oh Cora, he's so cute! And he's the first man who doesn't make me feel like a nervous wreck! I hope I don't screw up tomorrow night. I really want to continue to see him."

"Well don't worry. After what you just told me and from what I saw back at the sanctuary, I think your going to do just fine. This could get interesting!"

"How do you mean?" asked Alice.

"I also have a date tomorrow night. With Nathaniel!"

"I knew it! You've never acted like that before with someone you've just met! I knew something was happening between you two! 'Well, I'm a nurse! Perhaps I could help you, Dr. Poe, although I must confess, my patients don't have feathers.'" Alice said as she mimicked her sister. As they broke into another fit of laughter, Alice suddenly sat up straight in the seat as a thought occurred to her.

"Wait! Did you say you're going out with him tomorrow night?"

"Yes, why?" asked Cora, wondering why Alice suddenly got serious.

"What about Duncan?"

*Author's note: I hope you all will enjoy my latest story about Alice and Uncas. I had two different stories in mind, one modern and one a period version. Try as I might, I could not work out some plot issues with the period piece so I have put that one on the back burner for now. I am already having fun with this new story and have a lot of things planned for the characters in this modern version of LOTM that will follow the movie in current time and situations. Again, I hope you enjoy it!