Chapter 18: Ocean Eyes

June 1747

Pru laid upside down, her long slender body skewed aimlessly across the long sofa's fluffy cushions. Loose tendrils of her sloppy bun sweeping across the cabin floor. Her bare legs draped listlessly over the sofa's slightly curved back. Feet flopping back and forth as she desperately tried to kick up a breeze. She had pulled her skirts into a clump of pale pink fabric along her center, carefully covering her female parts while keeping her legs exposed all the way up to her thighs. The heat and solitude within the cabin had jointly encouraged her to discard any remains of decorum she might have still possessed. And along with her propriety went the top portion of her dress, leaving her white shift fully exposed from the waist up. Both Sampson and Chingachgook had gone off into town and the boys, including Nathaniel and Uncas's childhood friend Jack, had made like thieves to the lake for a swim. A swim she had not been invited to partake in. Which, in fairness to them, was more of a bath than a swim. Though it annoyed her just the same. She breathed in a deep gulp of hot sticky air and, rather dramatically, flung her arms backward dangling them overtop her head in a desperate attempt to cool down her drenched armpits.

"Ugh...," she whined. "...I am hot, bored and smell like a wild animal!" And after another dramatic inhale, tightly pinched her eyes shut.

"Right you are sister!"

"Uh!" Pru yelped. Suddenly flinging her legs from the back of the sofa. Her abrupt actions caused her to shift too quickly and found herself toppling over onto the floor. Her legs and bottom partially exposed as she landed in a heap on the rough wooden floor to the sound of both of her brother's hysterical laughter. She lifted her head. Her already sloppy bun, a now complete mess dropping slightly to the left of her head, and watched as Nathaniel and Uncas leaned in to each other both held tightly to their bellies as they pointed and laughed at her. Pru could see that Jack, most likely embarrassed by the sight of her half naked, had honorably spun around to give her some privacy. While Martin chose to stare straight at her, his lips curled up into a mischievous grin. Pru playfully narrowed her eyes at him and stuck out her tongue. Watching as he raised his eyebrows and widened his eyes in jest. Then shifted her stare back to her hysterical brothers, rolling her eyes at them in annoyance.

Months had passed since the Huron attack on their village. Months of healing. Physical and emotional alike. While she, Uncas and Nathaniel had yet to go back to the village, their father had gone back and forth several times after their initial reunion. Each time bringing different news of those they cared about, Chaska specifically but also Tarlo, Pala and Tanda. How she was laid to rest and how her family and the village and both grieved and honored her loss of life. Their father told them of Tarlo and Pala had both narrowly survived the attack. Tarlo suffered much much worse between the two with severe burns ravaging half of his body when a wigwam engulfed in flames collapsed on him. He also brought word of Chaska and though alive, he too had suffered multiple injuries. Lacerations to chest, abdomen and, similarly to Nathaniel, a musket wound to his right leg. Pru had cringed listening to his father describe Chaska's state. A throbbing pain etched its way through her heart at the telling of each new wound. Though while he had suffered, he had also lived and Pru took great solace from the knowledge that one day she would see him again and hopefully they could embrace again as beloved friends. Then finally Chingachgook brought news of Enola and how she had taken Tanda's sisters and set off on her own, disappearing like sheep in the night. No one knew where they had taken to and while Pru worried for Tanda's young sisters, the thought of never having to see that vile woman again did please her. It had been difficult for Nathaniel. His inward pain kept him from returning, even well after he had fully healed. No matter his acceptance of what had happened, it would always be there with him, lingering just below the surface. Pru did not envy him that. Though she did acutely understand that feeling of something lingering just below the surface.

She would have thought that the passage of several months, and living in close quarters the entire time, would have given her the courage to openly admit her feelings to Martin, but alas it had not. They were hardly ever alone and if by some miracle they were, either she or he always panicked and clenched up at the last moment. Her mind, doomed to perpetually revert back to dark thoughts of her inadequacies, an internal war she so often waged with herself. Though never did she ever see anything like those demons reflected out from Martin's eyes. Never.

Pru sucked in her tongue and bit down on her lower lip. Her gaze still fixated on Martin, when Jack's voice finally breached through her thoughts and she turned her head towards him. "I'm sorry Jack, what did you say?"

"Can I turn around now?"

"Oh... ahh...," and Pru began scanning around the floor for her discarded top.

"Here," Martin said, passing the pink floral top into her hands.

"Thank you," Pru said, smiling up at him.

"Don't you think you should be turned around Martin?" Jack asked, arms folded across his chest at Martin's blatant disregard for Pru's privacy.

"Ha! This...isn't anything Martin hasn't already seen!" Nathaniel exclaimed, smacking Martin hard across his back.

"Still...'" Jack began, though was swiftly cut off by Pru.

"I'm covered Jack. You can turn around now," Pru said, adjusting the hem of her top along her hips.

Jack slowly turned, revealing a small bouquet of wildflowers gripped tightly in his palm. He flashed a wide smile at Pru and crossed the cabin towards her. Nathaniel raised his eyebrows to Jack's efforts and took a seat next to Uncas at the kitchen table to watch the scene unfold. Martin had moved over to the sofa, arms crossed and leaning against the back of the long sofa. His eyes shifted slowly between Pru and Jack.

A month had passed since Jack came to stay at the farm. After a long and dormant winter and spring, the Mohicans had finally gone out on an extended hunting trek, coincidentally near Jack's family home. They had stopped for a short visit only to discover that Jack's mother and father had both succumbed to illness only a few short weeks before. While Jack was certainly a man, being the same age of eighteen as Nathaniel, he was still very lost and lonely. Seeing the boy that way and knowing Sampson's response, Chingachgook immediately invited him to come stay at the farm for the harvest. An offer that Jack had happily accepted. Martin had no doubt that Jack was lonely, though he was certain that the presence of a certain dark haired blue eyed girl had helped sway his decision.

For weeks Martin had been forced to watch Jack's aggressive pursuit of Pru. Jack's presence silently terrorizing him. His levels of discomfort vary between semi-annoyed and wanting to punch him in the face. Jack was certainly a nice person, but watching him swoon over Pru was quickly becoming more than he could handle. And only making matters worse was his father's mocking attitude towards the situation. If he thought Nathaniel was bad with his sideways glances and snickers, Sampson was torturous. Almost every night after supper he would ask Pru to read aloud from a book of his choosing, usually love sonnets though the past two nights had been William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. It was utterly annoying to be part of his father's entertainment. Though even worse was having to bear witness to Jack's love sick eyes gaze longingly at Pru lips while she read. Why couldn't Jack see it? Wasn't it obvious? Even now, while he sauntered over to hand her the flowers, Pru was standing next to him, both of them leaning against the sofa. Their bare elbows touching. They always did that, bridged the gap of space between them. Always, they found a way to be near one another. Whether it was consciously or subconsciously made no difference at all. Because no matter where they were, somehow they found their way next to each other. Just like they had right now. Martin shifted his eyes away from Jack and peered down at Pru, his thoughts forcing a sudden desperation to see her reaction to Jack's statement of affection.

Pru could feel everyone's gaze upon her. Nathaniel snickered at her from his seat at the table, Uncas too sheepishly smiled from below his dipped head. Brothers were infuriating, she thought. She smiled brightly as Jack crossed the room, not daring to shift her glance sideways to Martin. There was a tingle in her elbow where the skin just around the bone touched. She felt it, did he? While she had yet to say anything to him about her feelings, so did Martin remain silent. So silent that if not for his behavior and mannerisms towards her she would be left to believe that there was hardly even friendship between them. Pru blinked away her thoughts and focused her attention back on Jack, reaching out and gripping the flowers he sweetly had plucked for her. A kaleidoscope of vivid colors dangling from her wrist.

"Do you like them?" Jack asked, rolling back and forth on his heels.

Pru lifted them up to her nose, breathing in their sweet fragrance and very politely said, "They're lovely Jack...thank you." Then breaking her light physical contact with Martin crossed the room and began rummaging for a pitcher to put them in. She dipped the pitcher into the barrel filled it with water and carefully placed the flowers inside it, taking an extra moment to properly arrange them. Then placed the pitcher in the middle of the kitchen table and strode silently away into Sampson's bedroom.

Nathaniel eyed Jack curiously and whispered, "Were you expecting a kiss?" To which Uncas quickly began making kissy noises into the air.

"Of course not! Stop it Uncas, before she comes back in and sees you!" Jack whispered back.

Then as if on cue, Pru walked out of the bedroom, a large basket of laundry resting on her hip. "Well boys...since you've interrupted my...my...," Pru furrowed her brows trying to think of exactly what they had interrupted.

"Your moment of peace from us boys," Martin finished for her, a tiny smirk curling up his lips.

"Yes...thank you. My moment of peace from you boys and since that peace has been sufficiently disturbed...I'll be off to do some laundry," she finished and began casually weaving her way in between Martin and Jack. Her eyes shifted for the briefest of moments to the tiny patch of blonde hair that peaked its way out of the top of Martin's white linen shirt, momentarily distracting her from her route and accidentally stumbling over her own feet, bumped rather ungracefully into the end of the sofa. Martin and Jack both quickly reached out to steady her. "Oh...," Pru breathed as Jack's hand gripped her right elbow and Martin's palm grasped onto her hip. Pru's cheeks flushed pink from their efforts and promptly she wiggled out of both of their hands. "I'm alright boys," she stated. Then after collecting herself, shuffled out of the cabin with the laundry basket perched high on her hip. Suddenly overwhelmed by both boys' actions, she desperately required the solitude of her own thoughts. As at that moment a million different reflections seemed to bombard her mind all at once and with great urgency demanded to be sorted out.

"I think you scared her!" Nathaniel said mockingly to neither one of them specifically.

Jack immediately turned to him and said, "I certainly hope not! I was just trying to keep her from falling." Then crossed over to the table taking a seat across from Uncas.

Martin's eyes followed Pru, watching as she disappeared down the cabin steps and around its side. The soft sway of her hips was too alluring not to notice. Finally he dropped his gaze to the floor when she was no longer in his sights. He hated seeing her uncomfortable. Which of course, he knew she was with both of them touching her like that. Her usual smart mouth tongue twisted into silence as all she wanted to do was escape everyone's attention. She had always been affectionate with them growing up. Never guarded or reserved physically or emotionally. But ever since they returned with Jack, he had felt a shift from her. She was not as playful as she always had been or as outspoken. Somehow Jack's presence had changed her and Martin was desperate to find out why.

"Martin...come sit," Uncas urged him over to the table with the rest of them.

Martin swiveled his head over towards them, listening as Jack poked and prodded Nathaniel and Uncas for more information about Pru. Just as he always did when it was only the boys together and not having the stomach to listen to even one more word of it said, "I have to piss...I'll be back." And as casually as possible exited the cabin in search of Pru.


"I've been watchin' you for some time

Can't stop starin' at those ocean eyes

Burning cities and napalm skies

Fifteen flares inside those ocean eyes

Your ocean eyes

No fair

You really know how to make me cry

When you give me those ocean eyes

I'm scared

I've never fallen from quite so high

Fallin' into your ocean eyes

Those ocean eyes

I've been walkin' through a worls gone blind

Can't stop thinkin' of your diamond mind

Careful creatures made friends with time

He left her lonely with a diamond mind

And those ocean eyes

No fair (No fair)

You really know how to make me cry

When you give me those ocean eyes (Those ocean eyes)

I'm scared (I'm scared)

I've never fallen from quite this high

Fallin' into your ocean eyes

Those ocean eyes

(Seye naeco esoht)

(Seye naeco ruoy otnı 'nillaf)

Da-da-da-da-da, da-da-da-da (Hgih siht ettiuq morf neliaf reven ev'l)

(Deracs m'l) Da-da-da-da-da-da

Da-da-da (Seye naeco esoht em evig uoy new)

Mmm (Yrc em ekam ot woh wonk yillaer uoy)

Mmm (Raif on)

No fair

You really know how to make me cry

When you give me those ocean eyes

I'm scared

I've never fallin' from quite so high

Fallin' into your ocean eyes

Those ocean eyes"

"Ocean eyes" - Billie Eilish (Live)

(For Martin)


He rounded the right side of the cabin with long deliberate strides, squinting his eyes against the brightness of the sun until he saw her. Martin chuckled to himself at the sight of her, not minutes after putting her top back on she had already discarded it. Her skirt was knotted up high on her left thigh and she undone her messy bun from earlier. Her long dark hair loosely falling in waves down her back found itself ensnared in the warm breeze and wafted lightly over her shoulders, just barely covering her breasts. He watched her for a moment as she carefully drew a clean sheet from the clothe's line, folding it this way and that before depositing it into the laundry basket. Then dragged her arm across her forehead, relieving her skin of the excess sweat that had pooled there. She was beautiful. Beautiful. And without any effort at all. Then suddenly Martin's feet were moving towards her slowly at first and then in a bit of a gallop.

Pru caught sight of him through the corners of her eyes and turned towards him. She raised her palm to her forehead to block the sun from her vision and stared into his springtime eyes, greener now in the bright sunlight. "Mar...," she began, then sucked in a breath when Martin took hold of her hands, twisting her body around and silently guiding her into the barn. He shepherded her through the creaky barn doors, closing them tightly behind her and still holding her hands indicated with a nod of his head for her to climb the ladder into the hay loft. Pru furrowed her brows, curious what had spawned such strange behavior but did as he requested and climbed the ladder up to the hay lift. Martin followed right behind her. She watched as he paced back and forth, his right hand nervously raking through his shaggy blonde hair. His demeanor is wildly unusual. Then not being able to take the suspense any longer, asked in a flurry of words, "Martin...what is the matter? What's going on? Are you alright?"

Martin froze in his spot, lifted his eyes to her and stammered out in an almost hysterical rush, "I can't take it anymore. I can't stand watching him fawn all over you. Doesn't he understand? Can't he see it…that we belong to each other?" Then suddenly his throat went dry and he swallowed hard. His lips had taken on a life of their own. Years of being disturbed before he could ever truly, properly confess his love and adoration for her abruptly washed away with his frenzied tirade. It was not how he ever planned to tell her, upset and ultimately suffering from a bout of momentary madness. He sucked in a deep breath, hoping to calm his spastic nerves. His sweaty hairline began dripping into his eyes, forcing them wide open as he stared back at her perfectly unreadable face and quickly he forced his eyes downward to the hay, searching for what to say now. His heart was thundering inside his chest. The indecipherable expression on her face made him question himself for the first time ever where Pru was concerned. Then shaking his head back and forth lifted his eyes up, still slightly hooded from his long lashes and said, "I mean, don't we?"

Pru blinked her eyes, trying to snap herself free of her shock at the words he had just spoken. He had said it, ushered it out into the world and it made it all real. A small solitary tear slipped from her right eyelid as she rushed into his arms, pressing her body flush against him. Her palms slowly slid along his chest, up his neck to his cheeks. She could feel his left arm snake around her waist and his right gliding up her back and under her loose flowing hair until his large palm cupped the back of her head. Pru titled his head slightly up from its downcast position, his raspy breaths bathing her in their warmth. She had embraced him many times over the years, though this moment felt like no other. Their eyes met and she whispered into his face, "We do. We always have." Martin's lips curled into the widest smile Pru had ever seen. His bright white teeth gleaming in the darkened hay loft. Then without any hesitation felt Martin's lips upon her. Their kiss quickly escalated from soft and sweet to tongues dancing wildly within each other's mouths.

Pru could feel her body tingling all over. Her heart was racing and her legs were weak. She felt a throbbing between her thighs that instinctively guided her hips closer towards him. Then softly moaned when she felt the bulge in his pants press against her pelvic bone. She could feel his fingers twist in her hair and she flung her head back into his palm as Martin kissed and caressed her neck with his lips and tongue. It all felt so normal, so natural. His touch, his warmth, even the feel of his desire as it pressed firmly into her. The way his hands gently stroked the skin of her arms. How his fingers dipped beneath the straps of her shift, softly exploring her bare skin. His gentle touch is intoxicating. Carefully she fingered the waist of his trousers. The pads of her fingers lightly brushing along his waistline. Until she felt bold enough to fist his shirt in between her fingers, tugging at it until the fabric was completely free from his trousers. His sharp intake of breath made her smile against his scruffy cheek. Both of her palms linger on his hips beneath his untucked shirt. The heat from his body radiating up into her hands. Slowly she inched them up, gliding them along his hot skin. When suddenly she halted her palms travels as she felt his fingers skim along her soft white skin towards the disfigured flesh that zigzagged across her back. Pru froze, paralyzed with shame and embarrassment. Her body instinctively recoiled ever so slightly from his tender touch as his fingertips lightly grazed against her scars.

Martin felt her body stiffen and immediately he suspended his pursuit, not wanting her to feel even a moment of discomfort with him. While he had hoped this would not happen, he knew there was a distinct possibility that it could. He took a deep breath, his face now buried in the nape of her neck and slowly he lifted his face up and away from her body. His shaggy blonde hair tickled her cheek as he did so. He tilted his head back and gazed into her ocean eyes. Her beautiful cerulean blue eyes, vanished from them, was her passion from only a moment ago, now replaced in their depths was utter despair. It was heart wrenching to look at her like this. He slid his hands back to her shoulders, carefully caressing down her arms until he lightly gripped her palms in his hands. Then gently he raised them up to his chest, laying them just above his heart. "Do you feel that?"

Pru nodded her head, blinking back tears as his heart pounded into her palm. "Yes," she softly murmured.

"You are here inside of me. Every beat of my heart, every inhale of breath, every choice I make...you are with me. I feel your joy...your happiness...," he trailed off, his voice barely above a whisper as he peered intently at her through his long eyelashes. "...your pain. I feel everything that makes you...you. And I embrace all of it. I love you Prudence Poe, please don't ever feel you need to hide yourself from me."

Pru blinked her eyes, fallen tears moistening her satin skin. He loved her. Truly loved her. All of her. She tilted her head to the side, glimpsing her reflection in his sanguine eyes. It was time, she thought and carefully she slipped her hands out from beneath his large palms. Taking a small, weak step away from him as she did so. His face suddenly a swirl of heartbroken confusion. He would see. Slowly, she wiggled her fingers under the shoulder strap of her shift and even slower she began lowering it, until she had completely freed first her right then her left arm. She stared at Martin, her blue eyes boring deep into his own as she slid the top portion of her shift down to her waistline, exposing her perfectly curved bosoms for him to see.

Martin's eyes unconsciously drifted down to her chest. Her skin was a soft golden brown, sun kissed from hours of swimming alone and naked in the lake. Her breasts were fuller then her physical frame would suggest and in the center her erect nipples colored a delicate blush pink. He parted his lips to speak when slowly she swiveled around, her long dark hair falling in loose waves along her back. He watched spellbound as she reached behind and gripped her hair, gradually pulling her mane across her back and over her shoulder, exposing her furious scars for him to see. They were redder and rougher looking in the brighter light. The slightly raised mound where the lashes over lapped more swollen than he remembered, most likely from the sweltering heat that was currently plaguing them. Martin moved closer towards her, gently placing his palm atop her wounds and his forehead against the back of her head. He had no idea what reaction she was expecting from him, though he was determined to give her an honest one and after breathing in her pine scented hair whispered, "I love you...all of you. There is nothing that would ever make me shy away from you. Nothing Pru…ever."

Pru dipped her head further down, a now steady flow of silent tears gliding down her cheeks. She could feel his palms sliding up her back, lightly they gripped her shoulders and slowly he turned her around to face him. She tilted her head back, her long dark eyelashes saturated and boldly slid her hands beneath his shirt. A desperate need to feel his skin against her own overtaking all of her thoughts. His hands cupped cheeks, his thumbs wiping away the sadness from her face. She glided her palms around to his back and pulled him flush against her. His body was trembling with an endearing nervousness that radiated up through her palms and into her very soul. With their faces only inches apart, she softly sighed, "I love you Martin. You breathed life into my broken spirit, unconsciously mending me from the outside in. I never want to be parted from you again. Never."

Martin could wait no longer, her words baptizing him, and he pressed his mouth into hers. His plump lips devoured her. Then once more began their frantic dance of love and desire. Their bodies only parted when Pru hastily lifted his shirt over his head, carelessly discarding it into the hay. They pressed their chests together, savoring the feel of the others' bare skin. Pru reached behind her, gripping onto Martin's hand and guiding it down to the tie at the back of her skirt. With her permission given Martin tugged at the strings until they fell helplessly apart and her skirt dropped from her hips. While Pru fingered the waistband of his trousers. He leaned his hips into her touch, encouraging her to feel as much of him as she wanted too. And she wanted to. Pru dipped her fingers between his trousers and skin, stroking her thumbs along his waistline before she began yanking the fabric down from his hips. Tugging and pulling until it was past his bottom and easily slid down his thighs. Martin stepped haphazardly on the fabric, jerking one foot then the other from the confines of his trousers, until finally they dangled lifelessly from his right foot and he flung them across the hay loft. His sweaty body glistened against the dim light. Pru could see everything, everywhere. His muscled abdomen, his blonde cover chest and legs but most intriguing was his hardened manhood between his legs. She sucked in a deep shaky breath as her eyes rolled all along his nakedness. The tingle between her thighs made her squirm and quickly she began pushing away the final barrier between them. Martin laid his palms atop her own and together they began sliding the remainder of her shift into the hay. His fingertips stroking lazily along her satiny skin and carefully he held her hand, helping her step out of the forsaken fabric. Then there they were, fully exposed for the other to gaze upon. Both standing silently enamored.

"You're beautiful," he whispered, watching as she blushed bright crimson and sheepishly lowered her head. Martin stepped towards her, cupping her chin and raising her eyes to meet his, "Beautiful."

Pru melted into his arms, their bodies wrapping seamlessly around the other and slowly their legs buckled. Completely entwined, they lowered themselves into the hay. Martin, gently guiding her onto her back. Instinctively, Pru spread her legs around him. Her heart began thumping harder and faster in her chest as she did so. Martin hovered above her. His firm penis pressing lightly against her soft folds, patiently waiting for her permission. She peered up into his springtime eyes and very gradually raised her pelvis to him, silently giving him admission into her body. And then he was inside her, barely at first but then she felt the pressure from his body as he filled her more and more and gasped. Tears prickled at the corners of her eyes as it all came swarming back. Her fear. Her pain. The darkness of that night. Her breathing shifted and her body tensed, legs and arms trembling. She felt Martin freeze atop her, then carefully he began to withdraw himself from her body. Pru clutched at the flexed muscles in his arms, momentarily pausing his movements. No…This is not that, she told herself. This is beautiful. This is Martin. She chose this…with him. Shaking free of her panic, Pru tangled her legs in his and slid her palms up his arms and past his neck, tenderly caressing both of his cheeks with her fingers. His usually dazzling eyes, layered with sorrow as he looked down at her. She flattened her palms against his skin, lightly twirling his shaggy blonde hair in her fingers. "All I see is you...," she whispered, her voice trailing off as she leaned up, lightly pressing her lips against his. She could feel his hesitancy, his pained concern for her and it only made her love him more for it. She shifted her left leg up along his back, pressing down upon him, hoping the act would guide him further inside of her.

Martin hesitated as he gazed into her eyes, torn between physically succumbing to her will and morally feeling as he was somehow betraying her in the moment. Her words the closest she had been to telling him about that night. To confirming his worst fear. He must have shook his head no, because as he looked down on her, she smiled and nodded her head yes. Though still he could not move. Not until he felt her fingers rake through his hair and her hips move around his stationary form did he finally yield to her and slowly, carefully began to move himself inside her. His internal battle was lost. His body and mind completely succumbed as he stared down upon her. He gasped almost instantly, the feel of her soft and warm encircling him. Martin lowered his head, pressing his forehead against her as he lovingly gazed into her eyes, memorizing every layered shade of blue. He snaked his arm under her back, pulling her closer to him. The rapid beat of her heart as it pressed against his chest, electrifying his senses. Martin blinked the sweat from his eyes, his body delirious with pleasure as he breathed in a deep steadying inhale. He widened his eyes utterly awed by her and just as he had a thousand times before, found himself lost in her ocean eyes.

Pru arched her hips into him, her eyes keenly focused on the green and golden brown of his own. She twirled her fingers in his hair, listening as he softly moaned at her touch, her feel, her everything. And she embraced it. The beauty of it. His breath in her face. The way he held her against him. The sweat that dripped from the tip of his nose, softly splashing onto her cheek. The feel of him inside her. All of it. She knew he was holding back, being careful. His one desire above all else, for her to feel safe, to feel loved. And Pru did. How could she not, she was with him. Then her eyes pinched shut for the briefest of moments as she fully surrendered herself to him. A sudden burst of carnal pleasure coursing through her insides as he erupted within her. Her head curved backward into the hay, arching her chest upwards, her nipples skimming across his chin and wailing loudly. The sweet vibration from his release pushed her to climax all around him. Finally allowing both her mind and body to be free.

Pru's body sagged beneath Martin as he gently collapsed on top of her. Their raspy breaths puffing in and out of their lungs, bathing each other in warmth. They laid motionless. Still. Their eyes transfixed upon the other. This was their beginning, their middle and their end. Their lives forever entangled together from this moment until their last moment. Then as if both understood that very fact, their lips embraced. Soft and gentle. A kiss solidifying now and for the rest of their lives, an utterly perfect and unconditional love between them.


Uncas stared across the supper table, watching as his sister snuck tiny glances up at Martin. Her eyes twinkling brighter than perhaps he had ever seen, cheeks still flushed pink from the afternoon heat. And Martin too, wearing a smile bigger than his face, trying his best to pass it off as a humored expression brought on by their supper conversation. Uncas smirked sheepishly to himself, thinking of how he had accidentally walked in on them earlier in the barn. Their raspy breathing and soft moaning wafting its way down to him. Forcing him swiftly out of the barn and back to the cabin. Where he casually announced to Sampson, who had thankfully returned from town before their father from the Delaware village, that he had been unable to find either one of them, least of all in the barn where he searched thoroughly for them. Sampson had narrowed his eyes to his unusual account and lifted his head towards the back of the house. A knowing look ghosted across his face as he placed a palm on his shoulder and silently nodded his head in understanding. The two quickly went back to the day's chores. Uncas chuckled to himself, eyes drifting back and forth between Martin and Pru once more, a feeling of indescribable happiness filling his heart as he did so. This is as it should be...as it should always be, he thought and went back to munching casually on his biscuit and, completely unbeknownst to Pru, continued to silently pluck tiny pieces of hay from her long dark locks.


Author's Note: This post marks my one year anniversary joining FF. I nervously posted the first chapter of my first story on the Friday before Memorial Day and it has been a wild ride ever since. I am now three stories in...with one more (and possibly the last in the Mohican/Blackwood saga) still to come. And to honor that anniversary, I wrote by far the hardest chapter yet. The delicate handling of Pru and Martin's first time making love was extremely tricky. Especially since so much of this chapter needed to mirror what I had originally written in The Ties That Bind.

Months have passed since the conclusion of the last chapter. And they all moved forward and began healing in their own way. Though the intimate status of Pru and Martin's relationship was still left blowing in the breeze. She had acknowledged her feelings for Martin a long time ago now and so had a lot of time to dwell on the possibility of them making love one day. And the same can be said for him. Pru trusts him entirely, though it did not stop her from feeling self-conscious about her scars. Nor did it stop her, at the moment of penetration, from thinking of that night. I tip toed around the rape as much as possible, because I really wanted to be more of a moment of beautiful surrender for both her and Martin. I truly hope it came off that way ;)

And yes, Jack is back and offered the much needed push for a totally annoyed Martin to finally declare his love for Pru. Thank goodness their papas were away. Though at the end of the chapter we know that Sampson came back before Chingackgook. Sampson, who has been wise to those two kids feelings for quite possibly as long they have! I ended it with Uncas reflecting on hearing them in the barn. Utterly happy that two of the most important people in his life are finally together...while he silently plucks hay from her hair! While this might seem cut and dry...I can assure you it is not. As nothing ever is...

On an added note...Nathaniel, Pru and Uncas will all have their own individual story lines. Story lines that shaped movie Nathaniel and Uncas as well as Pru. Nathaniel's while almost complete with the death of Tanda...will continue to weave its way through to his siblings story lines...and you will notice that Pru and Uncas's will do the same. I decided to develop their individual arcs from oldest to youngest, giving each character the time needed for them to grow up to an age that fit into their individual plot line. So now we are officially onto Pru...before you know it Uncas! I wanted them all to get the proper and individual attention they all deserved:)

Also, I know Chaska was only briefly mentioned but he will most definitely be back...and before you know it!

BTW... if that one bridge in the song makes no sense...just listen to it and it will become clear!

A huge thank you to everyone who viewed/reviewed... your comments and support are always greatly appreciated...and to AsterLaurel, BlueSaffire, ELY72, BrynnaRaven, MohawkWoman, Hazel222...Where the hell would I be without you?!

Thanks for reading ;)