APOV

One night, I could ask how one night could change things between us so much but it had been just one night that had changed things so long ago.

I had always loved Christian, been in love with him that's why his actions back then had hurt so much. That was the past though and that and those in it except those that we care about could stay there otherwise we would never move forward, move on.

Waking up this morning, I could hear the noise of the locals in the distant starting their day at first light, it was the man whose chest I lay upon whose sound was loudest though, his heartbeat so soothing as were the kisses he placed upon my head.

"I love you" he whispered, probably unsure if I was awake. Upon hearing my declaration of love to him, Christian moved us so I was laying on my side facing him as his hand came up to stroke my cheek. "I will never tire of hearing that" he stated.

"I should hope not. I've been telling you that I love you ever since I was a child."

"I know that Ana, telling you now though, it feels like so much more."

"I agree," I replied, placing a kiss upon his lips before I attempted to get up.

He would have none of that though as his lips, his body soon held mine in place, underneath him.

We had to meet Philipe soon but for just these few moments it was the two of us as our kiss continued. Would we make love again, I hoped that we would and I knew that come the morning after there would be no regrets. To make love here though with no protection to stop a pregnancy from occurring, we would both need to be sure that that was what we wanted or decide it's better to wait.

"I caught sight of the bottom of this when you fell asleep on me on the flight over, I never knew what the image was until I got to see it first hand the second morning we were here as you slept," he told me, running his finger over my tattoo.

"I wanted something so that wherever I was in the world, they were still with me. Despite the pain of losing them, I never want to forget that they were there" I told him as he smiled sadly before nodding his head.

Upon kissing his lips once more, Christian finally let me sit up, the sun already beating down above us. There would be no morning wash in the cold, albeit used water. Today it was straight to work, breakfast would have to wait.

Once we had arrived back into town, I call it that because no matter what the homes were made of, this was a community all trying to survive together. Meeting up with Philipe, I started to help him in the clinic, losing sight of Christian for a while.

I worried about him being here because at the orphanage Christian had Sanyu and Akiki as back up should trouble start. Despite welcoming us or more the aid that we brought, out here in Keffi, Christian was at the mercy of those around should anyone take offence to what they would class as a stranger, one they may think was here to try and take their food.

"Ana, take a break," Philipe told me later that day. It must be afternoon now as the sun had moved over the sky and with weighing babies, young children too and seeing many malnourished despite the aid I had brought not only now but before, with making sure vaccinations were given while Philipe tended to the sick, a job I had panicked over in the past as I am no doctor or nurse, the time had gotten away from us.

I emerged from the tent, seeing the flatbed truck empty except from some of the children now using what had been my bed last night as a seat. The cab was empty too and I could see no sign of Christian either.

"Mariat, have you seen Christian," I asked an elderly lady, one not much younger than Dembe. She was trying to keep the children playing outside her home together although she would probably have much more luck herding cats.

"He,… he down there" she told me pointing to further down the hill we were on before I felt a pull on the hem of the shorts that I wore.

"Hello young man, what can I do for you," I asked, squatting down in front of a boy who couldn't be more than four.

He held his arms out for me to pick up so looking to Mariat to make sure it was alright, I stood with him in my arms. With all the children running around, it is hard to know who has a parent here and who has not. I didn't want to offend anyone by holding their child, seeing the smile that was now on his face though would've been worth any trouble if it came my way.

Ekon, I found his name was, was happy to cling to me when I went in search of Christian as Mariat confirmed he was one of the many children she looked after, some whose parents had left in search of food, of water or were hard at work already planting the seeds that I brought. I found Christian like I had seen him most of the time while we've been here, helping out with the locals and doing anything he can.

Anyone can sign a cheque and think they've helped out with a cause but being knee-deep in the dirt as he was now, helping to mend the side of one of these houses even though he was surrounded by children and the woman whose house it was, it didn't stop him from achieving his task.

"How long have you been stood there for," he asked, turning to me with grubby hands and mud smears on his face.

"Only a few moments, long enough to know you belong here more than in an office."

"Out here," he asked taking hold of Ekon who held his arms out to him.

"Out here, out anywhere. Living instead of hiding away."

"I like living," he replied before placing a kiss upon my lips before a laugh left his own when Ekon started to play with the mud on his face.

I loved the Christian that was stood before me now, the one who didn't hide away, didn't care how he looked. The one who wanted to help with no chequebook insight.

The woman thanked Christian profusely for fixing the hole in her house, one that should we ever be gifted with rain, would've let it in.

"Have you eaten?" Christian asked me.

"A little that was brought in to the hospital tent for us by some of the locals, sharing their own food what little they have is such a big thing here," I told him as we walked back in the direction of the truck, Ekon still held in one of his arms while the other was wrapped around me.

"I know, the lady whose house I helped fix, gave me a bowl of rice. At first, I thought about telling her to eat it herself as I didn't want her to go hungry but I thought I might offend her if I refused her gift."

"They have so little and what they do have is precious. When I get back to uni, the fundraising will start again to get more aid over here."

"Ana, this sounds strange even to me as I've been away from it for so long but I have money, so much of it that I didn't know what to do with it before, now I do. I don't want to take anything away from your fundraising but I can send whatever they need back here."

"I know, and I don't have a problem with that, it might save me from sitting in a bath of cold custard all day. You could do it instead, or even better a bath of baked beans, no that sounds stupid when I think of the waste. All I'm saying is that even you've seen while you've been here that sometimes all they need is encouragement, a little help to fix their homes and the knowledge of the best way to prepare the earth and plant their crops as money here is useless with no stores and nothing to buy. You will also find should you want to take part, that fundraising can be fun too."

"I look forward to it then Ana," he told me, placing Ekon down who then ran towards the others, gaining his bowl of food too while we both received back his smile.

Christian stayed with me for the remained of the afternoon, helping Philipe and I pack up before the two of us were soon on our way back to Dembe's for our final few days there.

"Where are we going," I asked as the walk Christian and I had been on started to become a climb.

There were no ropes involved today, not like when I had abseiled or bungee jumped for charity. Today's climb led us up to the top of the large hill behind the town, leaving my team with Dembe in the distance.

"Have you not been up here before?" he asked me as we took a seat on the blanket we had brought, one that made the thinnest of barriers between us and the soil and dust beneath.

"No, I usually stick to the town," I told him. "It's not advisable for a woman to go off on her own around here."

"You were going to go and meet Philipe on your own" he stated.

"No, I wouldn't have. If you had chosen to stay behind, Jasper was going to come with me."

"I'm glad I came," he told me before placing a kiss upon my lips.

"So am I" I mumbled before our kiss continued until we needed to take a breath.

"Two more days" he stated sadly.

"I know, it feels like a lifetime since we've been home. I miss Grandma even though I've spoken to her often and she tells me she's doing well. We might have some new additions when we get back."

"What, who," he asked.

"The girls are due to have their cria soon."

"Cria?" he questioned.

"Yes, the alpaca's babies. Grandma said they have yet to give birth as the weather's been miserable and they will only give birth when it's fine."

"How can they choose when they give birth," he asked.

"Alpaca's only have teeth on the bottom. Unlike a sheep with a lamb, or most other animals, alpaca's cannot lick clean their young so for the cria to survive they have to be born during the day, a nice day is preferable and be dry long before night-time otherwise they will need bringing inside. Our girls could predict the weather because when they've had cria in the past if they're not interested in giving birth, it's going to rain."

"I wouldn't mind a bit of that rain now," he told me wiping the sweat from his brow.

"I don't think you will be the only one here who thinks that."

Christian opened the package he had brought with us, pulling out our water bottles and a little food.

"When we get home I will treat you to all of your favourites, especially dessert but for now, this is what we have."

"A feast then" I stated, taking the little tub of boiled rice from him that had some of the vegetables mixed within. This had been our meal most nights while we've been here, and even though I was looking forward to going back especially to grandma's favourite meals, I told Christian to take it easy as his stomach will take a while to get used to rich foods and if like me, too much too soon could repeat on him.

"Dembe said something about our last night."

"Yes, a celebration," I told him.

"What does this celebration entail," he asked as we lay back on the blanket.

"Food, a little music, dancing, a few tears because we will soon be saying goodbye, those are usually from the children as well as me. Telling these people here no matter how old they are that I will be back as soon as I can may be months to us but to them when you live like this it's a lifetime away. That's why the fundraising must begin because even though I might not be here, they still need to eat."

"I've already spoken to Ros, the next shipment of aid will be arriving on the plane which we will be leaving on. I sent it back last week."

"Have you told Dembe?" I asked unable to control my smile at what he'd done.

"Yes, I made her cry."

"Me too," I said, as I brushed away a happy tear. "Dembe's an amazing woman. She was taken away from all this but chose to come back to help in any way she can. I'm glad we can help her."

"You're an amazing woman too Ana, all you've done."

"It's only the start," I told him.

"Well whatever you do, wherever you and your work go from here I want to be a part of it."

I was unable to stop myself as I threw myself at him, so happy that he was here and sharing this journey with me. Crashing my lips to his, all talk ended except for four small words that meant everything, "Make love to me."

He pulled back, his eyes looking into mine, imploring me to be certain that this is what I wanted.

"Are you sure?" he asked seeing the nod of my head. "There is no protection here Ana, what if I get you pregnant again."

"There is always the risk, although if my dates are correct as they regularly are, now is not the time. Should it happen again whether by some miracle now or in the future though, I know you will be with me throughout, I won't be on my own" I replied, stroking his cheek with my fingers.

His lips met mine once more, as what few clothes we wore in this heat were removed. Under the late afternoon sun which faded away showing us the stars up above, Christian made love to me.

….

I had come to Africa, happy that I was helping others, bringing aid and watching the work that I had done in the garden here flourish. For now, the water continued to flow from the tap outside, each drop as precious as before.

I will be leaving in the morning sad to be saying goodbye to those here I call dear friends but I was also leaving happy. The love had always been there between Christian and me but the words had been spoken now and there were no barriers in our way and that love had never been felt more than when we had come together last night and the tears that had been shed between us of what we had now gained but also lost had flowed freely.

Christian did not hide his emotions from me, he did not push away his tears when they fell as we stood in the memory garden looking down at the stone that represented our child, one he had just placed a kiss upon next to mine. I hope the bulbs, the flowers that I had planted in this garden did grow, flowers not only for our child but all others that were remembered here.

"Are you ready for a party?" I asked as we walked back towards the building, hearing the music coming from the other side.

"I am, I never thought joy would be found in such a place as this, one that goes without so much but there is so much here I've learnt as I've cherished every smile I've received."

"This place will stay with you long after we go home," I told him, as he stopped me just before we entered the main yard where all the others seemed to be having some fun.

"It will, especially the moments we've shared."

Christian brought his lips down to mine with only the briefest of touches when I heard Jasper shout.

"Put her down for just a minute and come and join the fun" he called out laughing as he was being used as a horse by the children.

"You're only jealous as you never get the girl" Libby teased him before Fyor who was clinging onto Jaspers back laughed loudly when they took off after her.

"Come on Ana, let's go and have fun" Christian smiled as we joined the group.

I laughed, I danced and I cried, all things to do here on a final night. Sanyu got Christian up, showing him some real African dances while I filmed it all arm in arm with Dembe. I felt like I was leaving one Grandma to go and see another but I know whichever I'm with, the other will be just fine. I will be back here soon enough but until then I do so with the knowledge that all who enter those gates, will be looked after, loved and fed.

Thank you for reading, reviewing and following my story. They are back to Seattle next chapter.

I know I said in an earlier chapter that my posting schedule will be Monday and Friday but as the world has gone mad, I may not be able to stick to that.

I will try but as a mother of four, two who have special needs and the schools now closed, my attention will be taken with them so please understand if the chapter's a day or two late, it will be there eventually.

Wherever you are in the world, please stay safe.

Until next time, take care.

Caroline.