As Heyward and Natalia were on their way walking to the cabin where Heyward was staying, they were laughing happily. They had spent the better part of four hours together.

"So then I told my father, he was crazy for thinking that I could climb a mountain that high." Natalia said with a laugh from Heyward. "But I did."

As Natalia walked away from him a few feet, Heyward grabbed her arm and pulled her into his arms warmly. He kissed her gently on the lips.

"I'm sure you did, you look strong enough to do such a thing." Heyward said.

Natalia laughed and lightly rested her head on his chest and scoffed.

"Looks can be deceiving." Natalia said lightly.

As Heyward kissed her on the top of the head as Hawkeye, Uncas, Cora and Chingachook walked up to where they were. Hawkeye smiled and shook his head. Like he didn't see the romance between Heyward and his sister, Natalia coming, course he did. As Heyward and Natalia were locked in a passionate kiss, Hawkeye cleared his throat, which got the two's attention. Heyward looked at Hawkeye and raised an eyebrow and scoffed.

"Well looks like you two sure have gotten—cozy." Hawkeye said with a smirk.

Natalia laughed as she hugged Heyward to her.

"Yeah, I think its safe to say who I'm taking with me to Kentucky." Natalia said with a smile.

Heyward scoffed and smiled.

"Oh, well now, that's a change I'd have to get use to." Heyward said with a slight sigh and nod. "Oh um, I remembered I have to go see Colonel Munro now."

Heyward gave a quick kiss on the lips to Natalia, which made Hawkeye laugh briefly.

"I'll see you later?" Heyward said.

Natalia nodded with a smile, her cheeks blushing bright red.

Heyward nodded with a smile, his eyes twinkling with admiration for Hawkeye's sister, oh yeah, Hawkeye could definitely tell. As Heyward walked away, Hawkeye walked over to Natalia and wrapped his arm around her shoulder and smiled.

"So, when are you two getting married?" Hawkeye joked, with laughter from Natalia.

Natalia pushed Hawkeye's arm off her shoulder and laughed.

"First comes courting, THEN marriage, big brother." Natalia said with a wink and a smile.

Chingachook smiled and nodded.

"I think you'd be happy with him," Chingachook said, smiling. "His heart is pure like sand for you, as clear as the waters of many oceans for your love."

Natalia raised an eyebrow at her father and looked with surprise. She knew her father was having one of his many discernment visions about Heyward, and Chingachook's discernment visions were always truth. Natalia laughed and quickly went over and hugged her father with a quick but joyful laugh.

"Good, I'm glad father," Natalia said happily.

Cora smiled happily, she didn't want to seem too happy however, but she was relieved that Heyward had found someone else and that finally she was free from his constant unwanted love advances.

"You're lucky," Cora added with a smile. "Duncan's a great man, he'll take great care of you."

Natalia nodded with a smile.

"I'm sure he will, I've already fallen for him, he's wonderful."

Uncas patted Natalia on the shoulder lightly.

"Just go easy on the children for right now." Uncas joked with a laugh from Hawkeye, Natalia and Chingachook. "I'm too young to be an uncle."


Theme Song: "The Kiss" ~ The Last Of the Mohicans {film version}

Later that night, Natalia was lying in Heyward's arms, on Heyward's bed in his room, as Heyward was telling her the story of how he became to be a soldier, the fights and the wars he had been through with Colonel Munro, as a soldier and how he came to meet Colonel Munro, all that Heyward had told her was very interesting to Natalia. He was telling her the stories with such life and vivid descriptions that it was as if she were reading some exciting adventure book.

"And so that's why we're in a war with the French." Heyward said with a sigh, as he gently brushed hair back from her face, with her head on his lap. "I must tell you though, this is quite different than any other war I've faced with Colonel Munro."

Heyward frowned and shook his head slightly.

"This one is more—violent, bloodier." Heyward continued. "Anything—ANYTHING could go wrong during this war, anyone could die. It's almost frightening."

Natalia sat up and turned to face him, she wrapped her arms around his neck and smiled.

"You could handle it though, Duncan." Natalia said in a low voice with a slight smile. "I trust you, wholeheartedly."

Heyward stared at her and then looked away and scoffed.

"No, don't do that." Heyward said with a slight smirk. "That means your life is in my hands, that's too much responsibility."

Natalia nodded and looked at him with seriousness.

"I see." Natalia replied in a low voice as she looked away from him.

He slightly rolled his eyes at her and then raised an eyebrow.

"Although it's a responsibility I'm willing to take," Heyward said in a low voice, "especially since I love you."

Natalia looked up at him with a confused frown.

"What—wait, I'm sorry, come again?" Natalia said, believing her ears truly failed her and she misheard his words.

Heyward laughed briefly and shook his head.

"I said—I love you." Heyward said strongly. "At least, I feel like I do. I know we haven't known each other long, Natalia, but I feel like I've been struck all at once from the moment of meeting you. I love you, Natalia."

Natalia scoffed and smiled as she stared at him. Her heart melting from his words.

"I love you too, Duncan." Natalia said warmly.

Heyward looked away, nodded and scoffed with a brief smile.

"Yes, sure." Heyward replied sarcastically.

Natalia turned his face around to face her, lightly. She stared into his eyes directly with seriousness.

"I mean it, I love you Duncan." Natalia said warmly.

Heyward frowned briefly, and nodded. He looked down and shook his head slightly with a faint smile.

"I'm so glad I met you, I really do love you Natalia." Heyward said sincerely.

Natalia smiled as she passionately kissed him. He kissed her back with full emotion. Oh there they were again-her passionate, powerful kisses that sent his heart afire with every second his lips were touching hers. As he lightly pushed her down on the bed and lied on top of her, continuing their passionate kiss, it was as if nothing else mattered in that moment but she and him. That night would be the night that they would experience a love, a physical love so strong, so powerful that nothing could divide it…..or so they thought…for little did they know of the horrific, fatal tragedy that lied ahead...