Chapter 28: Fifteen Summers

July 1749

Uncas sat cross legged with his back straight, the rough bark of the tree he was currently leaning against was scraping against his sweat soaked green linen shirt. And while he was desperate to adjust himself, absolutely refused to move. Instead choosing to remain motionless in the darkness. He had taken the second watch, as he always did. Even after being told repeatedly by his father that it was easily the most difficult watch to endure. With the first watch you are still alert from your exertions of the day, not yet plagued with heavy or weak limbs. With the last watch you are rested from continuous sleep. But the second, you have an interrupted sleep pattern that can make even the most skilled and disciplined warriors falter through their watch and even struggle throughout the day. Though not Uncas. He never did need hours and hours of sleep to function at his best, always seeming to have a stash of energy tucked away in his reserves. Not to mention his affinity for nighttime. When he was very small Nathaniel would call him kukhus, because he would be wide awake in the middle of the night like the wooded owls that also took the Delaware village as their home. And just like those owls, he found himself unusually alert in the darkness. As soon as he came of age, he had decided that he would always take the middle watch, giving both Nathaniel and their father an uninterrupted night's sleep.

He peered through the darkness, taking notice of every swaying tree branch and whispered murmurs of the nocturnal animals as they scurried softly around him. His lips curled into a pleased grin as he realized by this time tomorrow they would be sleeping in the loft of Sampson's cabin. The smell of the hearth wafting up the steps and filling his nostrils with its smoky aroma. It was hard to imagine that it had been nearly nine months since they last saw Pru. Almost a full year. Their first separation and it had been even longer than they had planned. One thing after another keeping them all from their desired location.

Uncas shifted his eyes to the sound of a twig snapping. He stilled his already calm breath and waited. Seconds ticked by with nothing. No sound, no movement. Until finally, Uncas was left surmising that there was nothing there beyond the wanderings of small forest animals. He sighed, ever so slightly and allowed his mind to wander a bit, remembering a night much like this one. Though that particular night he was not alone.

Uncas wiggled his back further into the tree as Nathaniel plopped down in the grass a few feet away. His brother's deep breaths filled the air almost immediately. Uncas huffed to himself, he never did understand how Nathaniel could be wide awake and completely alert one moment and the next blissfully snoring like a village dog. He drew his eyes away from his brother and out into the darkened forest and cautiously gave their surroundings a quick scan. Making certain to take note that everything was just as it should be then peered over to his sleeping father. Sleeping was a loose term. He was not sure that their father ever really slept, his body always drifting somewhere between consciousness and unconsciousness. Somehow always seemingly alert. The true mark of a well seasoned warrior.

Uncas's mystified stare lingered until he saw motion coming from his left and quickly, silently, he gripped tightly to his rifle. He swiveled slightly in his spot and took aim. His heart started pounding and he could feel a rush of adrenaline sweep through him causing his brow and palms to moisten. Up until this moment, nothing had ever seemed amiss when he kept watch. He sucked in his breath and just as he father had instructed, waited. Waited for his target to come better into focus. Waited for that moment of ultimate surprise. His heart thundered more and the sweat from his brow was beginning to run into his wide eyes. He could see the shadowy outline of a man and steadied his rifle. Uncas exhaled his breath, placed his finger on the trigger and…

"Uncas?"

Uncas immediately lowered the rifle to his lap. The familiar voice ricocheting through his ears like the shot he almost fired at its owner. "Chaska, what are you doing? You scared the hell out of me."

Chaska crept towards him, his voice no more than a whisper. "I told Nathaniel I would be joining you all. Clearly he didn't tell you that." Uncas shook his head back and forth and Chaska dropped down beside him. "You take the second watch?"

"Always," Uncas softly replied.

Chaska's lips curled into a smile. "The hardest watch."

Uncas merely shrugged and peaked at him through the corner of his eyes silently pleased that Chaska seemed impressed with him. While there were not many people the Uncas cared about their opinion of him, Chaska was certainly one of them. He had been a fixture in his life since he was a small boy and Uncas had always found their spirits to be similar. So much so, that when he had fallen in love with his sister a very small part of him wished to call him family. Then, as if reading his mind, Chaska broke their shared silence.

"How is Pru?"

"She has a son. His name is Elijah," Uncas quietly answered, though talking about the baby had brought a huge smile to face.

"A son…," Chaska began, but quickly trailed off, lost in his own thoughts.

Uncas peered over at the side of Chaska's shadowed face. A rich blend of sadness and understanding stained his darkened features and Uncas's sank into the pit of his stomach. He hated being the one to bear him the news, but he also knew that the not knowing would be eating Chaska alive. Silently he reached over and grasped his old friend's hand in his, giving it a light squeeze. "She told me to tell you to be happy. To open your heart to the world and live. So that you could be free in the way she was now." Uncas dipped his head a little to better look at Chaska through the darkness. He had asked Pru what she meant when she said that, but all he got in response was a smile. "She said you would understand her words." And finished with another light squeeze of his hand before he released it and scanned their surroundings again.

Chaska closed his eyes as he took a deep inhale of the cool autumn air. "She is happy then?" he breathed.

Uncas turned his back towards him and with a slight nod said, "She is."

Chaska smiled softly, "Thank you."

It had been hard seeing pain in his dear friend's eyes as he so often did, though hoped delivering his sister's message would truly and finally help him move on. Of course that was not what had happened. Chaska, who had always been prone to silent solitude, sank even deeper. It was hard to watch. Chaska had been alone for so long that when Pru stumbled into his life it took not just him but all of those around him by surprise. He would talk, laugh, and even dance. It was as though he had been bit by a bug, a love bug. But no longer and while Chaska receded further into himself, Nathaniel, being back at the Delaware camp, did everything possible to salvage his own spirit. Though the way he chose to salvage it was unlike anything he had ever seen or expected to see out of his brother.

Uncas sighed at the thought as he turned his head to the right. To where the familiar scent of his father filled his nostrils a mere moment before he felt his gentle touch upon his shoulder. "Is it already time father?"

"It is son. Go and rest now…," he whispered as he sat beside him. "…tomorrow will feel like the longest day of travel yet. But it will end with your sister's sweet face."

Uncas's smile went broad across his face thinking of seeing Pru, Martin, Sampson and Elijah after so long. "I can't wait father. Goodnight."

"Goodnight son."

Uncas quietly shuffled away, planting himself down in the grass beside Nathaniel. He rolled onto his back, a wide smile still on his face as his brother's snores lulled him to sleep.


Sixteen more steps and they would be there. Fifteen. Fourteen. He could hear Pru's voice even from just past the tree line. Ten. She was singing. An old Mohican lullaby. Five. He smiled widely. Two. "Pru!" He hollered from the tree line as he began sprinting towards her. "Pru!"

Pru lifted her head away from her son and instantly hopped to her feet as the familiar voice calling her name filtered into her ears. "Uncas!" She yelled, dashing towards him across the glade, her sweet baby boy cradled tight against her chest. She lunged herself through the air and into Uncas's wide open arms. "What, on this holy earth, took you boys so long?" She happily questioned into her little brother's ear as he swung her in a circle so wide that her dress billowed out around her ankles, showing not only her bare feet and legs but her thighs as well.

"I missed you," he said with a laugh as he slowed their spinning bodies and carefully placed Pru back on her feet.

"Pru!" Nathaniel bellowed from behind them.

Pru spun around on her heels just in time to be swept off her feet again and grasped in a near crushing hug. The familiar salty scent of her brother's skin filled her nostrils as his long loose hair tickled her cheeks. "Welcome home Natty," she said, squeezing her free arm tighter around his neck.

"Good to be back," he said, lowering her to her feet and stepping aside for their father to greet her.

"Nooch!" Pru nearly shouted as Chingachgook spread his arms wide to embrace her. She rushed the twenty steps towards him in two and immediately snuggled into the right side of his body.

"You are well my girl?" Chingachgook asked as he peered down at the top of her head.

"Yes…very well!" Pru joyfully declared.

Chingachgook parted his lips to speak, though quickly halted when his eyes fell on his grandson who still lay quietly sleeping in the crook of Pru's arm. A faint gasp slipped from his mouth as he raised his palm to his grandson's head, cupping it ever so gently. Chingachgook stared intently down at the baby, tracing his grandson's little eyebrow with his thumb as he did so. His startled gasp quickly transformed into a soft resigned sigh and slowly he shifted his eye to meet Pru's. "When?"

"When what?" Nathaniel immediately questioned after seeing their father's unusual reaction to the baby and promoting both him and a dumbfounded Uncas to cross over to them.

Pru's eyes went soft and sheepish. Her stare locked on her father's dark knowing eyes. "This past June," she said in answer to her father's question.

"Wait…what?" Uncas blurted out.

"Chingachgook! Nathaniel! Uncas!" Sampson hollered as he and Martin made their way off the cabin's old porch.

Both Nathaniel and Uncas turned their heads towards them. Their eyes gapping in confusion as Martin crossed towards them with an almost toddler size baby resting on his hip. Then quickly they swung their heads back to face Pru. "Who is that?" Nathaniel suddenly demanded, pointing his long tanned index finger in the direction of the little bundle in Pru's arms.

Pru smiled wider and raised the infant a bit higher into the air for them all to see. "This would be your nephew…Ash."

"You had another baby!" Uncas shockingly declared just as Martin and Sampson joined them.

"That we did!" Martin chimed in.

"Don't you know what keeps causing this?" Nathaniel snickered as he leaned in and kissed Elijah atop his head.

"I'd say I'm fairly aware of what keeps causing this," Martin finished with a snicker and a hard smack to his chest from Sampson.

Nathaniel laughed and turned his attention back to Pru. "Ash…huh? That's an interesting choice of name." His eyes followed the sleeping baby as Pru passed him into Chingachgook's extended arms.

"We named Elijah after my grandfather, so I wanted Pru to pick something this time," Martin said.

"And Ash is what you came up with?" Nathaniel raised his eyebrows high into his forehead as he directed his question to Pru.

Pru pursed her lips at him in annoyance. "Yes brother. Ash is what I came up with," she said, widening her eyes. "Because both me and you rose from the ashes of our former life." She paused a moment, taking in her brother's surprised expression. Then, satisfied with his shock, continued with, "We rose to be loved and cared for by the same incredible family. So… I chose Ash as a way of honoring us all."

"That's beautiful Pru," Uncas breathed as he began toying with his new nephew's bare feet.

"Pru…," Nathaniel began though trailed off as words failed him.

"Speechless…huh brother?" Pru mocked.

Nathaniel was speechless. Speechless and honored to have been a part of his nephew's chosen name. Pru had clearly given it a great deal of thought and consideration in regards to them all. And he could see the happiness in both their father and brother's eyes as they stared in awe of the baby. This was no small thing to any of them. Though watching Pru waggle her eyebrows at him over his shock was honestly too much for him to bear and so said, "I was merely wondering what was wrong with simply naming him Nathaniel?" His signature smirk curling up his lips.

Then as quickly as the words left his mouth, so did two separate palms collide with the back of his head.

"Ow! Why is everyone always hitting me!" He demanded as his gaze moved swiftly between Uncas and Martin and his hand rubbed at the back of his head.

"Because you are an ass," Pru sweetly said, taking Elijah off Martin's hip and turning on her heels. Her thick dark braid swayed back and forth as she made her way back towards the cabin.

"Ahhhh…," Nathaniel began. A wide grin stretched across his face. "It's good to be home."


The orange and yellow flames puckered and licked at the wooden kindling, charring the brown wood an ashen grey as it snapped and cracked from within the bonfire. It's warmth radiating out into the glade and engulfing their skin just as the sun brutally did during the day. Though regardless of the summer's hot humid air, they had insisted on celebrating this homecoming in their most favorite way. The four of them splayed haphazardly around the stone walls of the bonfire. Only this time with two tiny additions. Elijah sat on Uncas's lap, happily slapping his hands together as the flickering flames mesmerized his youthful eyes. While Ash laid peacefully sleeping against Pru's chest, every so often softly cooing as he made his little way through his dreams.

"I still can't believe you had another baby," Uncas said, playing with Elijah's little palms.

Both Pru and Martin began to chuckle. This was now the fifth time Uncas had absently said those exact words since they arrived at the farm only a few short hours ago.

"Well Uncas…babies happen when you can't control yourself," Nathaniel snickered. "You would think that the demands of the farm would tire them out but apparently they have energy in spades." Then before Nathaniel had a chance to move, a long thin stick flew over top the fire and collided with his chest. "At least your aim has gotten a bit better!"

"Ha…ha…ha!" Martin mocked.

Uncas raised his eyebrows to his brother's snarky comments. While Pru and Martin might be ignorant of Nathaniel's meanderings, he most definitely was not. He had sat back and watched as Nathaniel drowned his loneliness in woman after woman. Never staying any longer then was necessary to forget. And while Uncas was certain that Nathaniel was honest with the different women about his intentions, it did not stop a few of them from attaching themselves to him. Which made for quite a bit of awkwardness around the Delaware camp. When their father finally announced it was time to head back to the farm, Nathaniel had packed up not just his belongings but everyone's in hopes to expedite their departure. The memory of an impatient Nathaniel scurrying around their wigwam hastily shoving this and that into their travel bags made Uncas chuckle softly to himself.

"What? What is it you know brother?" Pru questioned. Her uncanny back of reading them had her quickly picking up on Uncas's inner thoughts.

"Me?" Uncas innocently replied.

"Yes…you," Pru said with narrowed eyes as she raised herself into a seated position and scooted across the grass towards Uncas. "Tell me what you know," Pru whispered.

Uncas shifted his eyes between Nathaniel and Martin, watching as they engaged in their own conversation. Then deciding that neither one of them was paying any attention to him or Pru, slowly turned his head to face his sister. He leaned in very close and whispered, "While we were away from your quizzical eyes, our brother turned into quite the village whore."

Pru's eyebrows shot up high into her forehead, her eyes nearly popping out of their sockets. She almost gasped out loud, but stopped herself short knowing any verbal surprise would immediately halt their conversation and managed to keep her shock intact by biting down on the inside of her cheek. Natty was a whore. The words swirled through her head at least ten times in the seconds that passed. Until finally her mind was able to settle and her thoughts resonated within her. She huffed quietly to herself upon realizing she actually was not that surprised at all and whispered, "Of this I have no doubt. It was only a matter of time and proximity to women until Nathaniel began searching for that missing piece of himself. I'm worried for him. A great deal of time has passed since Tanda's death and yet he still remains stagnant." Pru shifted her eye across the glade, her bright blue eyes clashing for a brief moment with Nathaniel's. Their stare lingering a few moments allowing her to see him in this new light. And while she smiled widely at him, her heart hurt understanding what it was he was he had been doing. Finally Nathaniel winked at her and returned his attention back to his conversation with Martin and she turned to Uncas and whispered, "Has anything come of it?"

Uncas huffed out a small laugh and said, "No. Nothing aside from the…the…the…"

Pru giggled at her brother's sheepishness and placed her palm on his knee. "I understand little brother. There is no need to force the words," she said in her most soothing voice as she understood her little brother's reservations towards talking about sex. Her eyes lingered on the shyness that had swept across his face. Shyness and something else. Something almost somber peeking through the warmth of his eyes. Something that told her there was still more left to be revealed about their time away from the farm. Perhaps not now, but soon. And so she scooted closer towards his body, nuzzling her head against his shoulder. In the hopes of putting him more at ease.

Uncas smiled solemnly and diverted his attention down towards little Elijah still nestled in his arms. Pru had not one child but two children and was all but legally married to his oldest and closest friend. Nathaniel had already loved and lost. All the hopes and dreams his brother had once fleetingly had shattered by the strike of a musket ball. And now here, years later, moving through women at a breakneck pace. While he, at fifteen summers, sat awkwardly awaiting his own demise. A resigned sigh slipped from his lips as he turned his eyes up to the sky, only slightly feeling the gentle kiss Pru placed on his cheek. Too lost in his own thoughts even to speak, he merely stared up at the hundreds of twinkling stars and replayed in his mind the last conversation he had had with their father before leaving the Delaware camp. A conversation that, every time he thought of it, had him silently calling out for his mother to help give him the courage to embrace his fate.


The sun's fiery rays blazed through the wide open cabin door, filling the room with an unbearable heat and Martin found himself shuffling through the cabin opening up every closed window. Hours had passed now since Sampson and Chingachgook had gone off to town and Martin could not help but giggle as he thought of how times had changed. The last time they had all been left alone like this, he and Pru had just come out to her brother's and Jack about their relationship. And now here, years later, they are living as husband and wife with two children. The thought of Pru made him turn his head towards their bedroom door where he had left her feeding Elijah. A feeling of warmth instantly settled in him as he knew he could not possibly be any happier in life as he was in this moment. That warmth radiated up his face and turned the corners of lips up into a wide grin as he still, even years later, contemplated his good luck. Though his train of thought was suddenly broken when he heard the soft coo of his infant son's tiny voice waft into the cabin. Martin turned his head towards the door, spying Uncas on the porch cradling Ash in his arms as he whispered soothingly to him in Mohican and promptly swiveled on his heels and out onto the porch.

"He likes you," Martin said, rubbing Ash's little foot between his thumb and forefinger after taking a seat beside Uncas.

"I still can't believe you have another child," Uncas said, not taking his eyes off of the little bundle in his arms.

Martin softly sighed, "She had been sick before you all had left last fall. But neither of us guessed that she was with child again so soon after having Elijah. If we had…,"

"We might not have left," Uncas finished somberly for him. The subject still a bit of a sore thought for him.

Martin furrowed his brows at the discontent laced throughout Uncas's voice. It was clear that Uncas was struggling with not being on the farm throughout Pru's pregnancy and Ash's birth. Though after speaking with Pru last night, they had both concluded that there was much more swirling around inside Uncas's head then they had previously thought. As Martin mulled over exactly what was to be said next, Nathaniel appeared from around the side of the cabin.

"Where have you been?" Martin asked, momentarily distracted by Nathaniel's presence.

"Fixing the loose boards in the barn. The new ones should last at least a few years if the weather is forgiving," Nathaniel said as he sat down in the open space to Uncas's left. His bright blue eyes narrowing into thin slits after taking in his little brother's expression. "Why so forlorn?" He asked, nudging Uncas with his elbow.

Uncas shifted his eyes between Nathaniel and Martin. He knew that they were both onto him and, no doubt, Pru as well. And while his demeanor made it clear that he was upset about being away from the farm with such monumental things transpiring in their absence, he still found himself reluctant to voice the deeper concerns that plagued him. Even with those closest to him. Slowly he side eyed Nathaniel and Martin, his inner thoughts still refusing to budge from his lips.

"Still waiting…," Nathaniel said in a slightly sing-song voice.

Uncas flared his nostrils a bit at his brother's persistence.

"Martin…"

Uncas sucked in a deep soothing breath as Pru had unknowingly rescued him from a conversation he was in no mood to have. The smile that quickly stretched across his face at her presence earning him a jab in the side from his brother. as if reminding him that the the conversation was far from over.

"Hmmm?" Martin answered, swiveling his head and rising to his feet at the same time.

"Both of the boys are fed. I'm going to go to the lake to bathe. I won't be too long," she said, passing Elijah into Martin's open arms and leaning in for a quick kiss before squeezing past him as she made her way down the steps and off the porch.

Uncas watched as Pru nearly ran away from them towards the lake, clearly in need of some time alone. Then turned his attention to Martin, who gazed intently as Pru untied her braid letting her dark mane fall in waves down her back. The look of longing in his eyes was almost too much for Uncas to bear. He did not believe that they had had much time to themselves lately. Not with two young boys in need of constant care and quickly said, "Why don't you go with her." Realizing what he was implying, cleared his throat and added, "In case she needs protecting."

Martin reached out and gripped Uncas's shoulder, giving it a tight squeeze and passed Elijah into Nathaniel's arms. "That is an excellent idea brother!"

"Hey now…wait just a moment…I didn't offer…"

Though before Nathaniel could even finish his sentence, Martin had jumped to the ground from the step he had been perched on and began jogging towards the tree line. His body only halting when he heard Elijah's all too familiar cry and quickly spun around on his heels. He looked over to see Nathaniel bobbing Elijah up and down in the air frantically waving at him to come back. Martin scrunched up his features in disappointment and made to take a step back towards them when Uncas grabbed his brother's hand and promptly pushed it down at his side. He flashed Martin a wide toothy grin and waved him off towards the woods again.

"Go!" Uncas hollered.

Martin needed no further encouragement and took off in a sprint towards the lake.

"Why would you do that?" Nathaniel demanded.

"These are our nephews. And we are both perfectly capable of taking care of them…alone."

Nathaniel grumbled something under his breath and continued to bob a crying Elijah against his chest.

"What was that brother?" Uncas innocently asked.

"I said…at least yours isn't crying!"

Uncas burst out laughing. "Let's go inside before Pru hears him and throws another broom at us!"

Three and a half minutes later….

"Shhhhh…shhhh…shhhh…please stop crying. PLEASE Elijah…I promise to overlook any and all youthful discretions as you grow up…if only you'll stop crying!" Nathaniel pleaded with the toddler as he paced vigorously back and forth across the cabin bouncing Elijah up and down against his chest. While Uncas sat in the soft chair closest to the fire softly chuckling with Ash still sleeping soundly in his arms. Nathaniel's nostrils flared at the annoying sound and spun around on his heels, fury twinkling in his bright blue eyes. "Why is it exactly that you are laughing? It's not my fault he doesn't like me!" His usually even toned voice is electric with a mix of panic and angst. "Why are they always so good with you?"

Uncas smiled widely, "I'm calm brother. They can sense the energy of the people around them, just like animals. If you stay calm…so will they," Uncas quietly rose to his feet and placed Ash into the cradle that rested beside him. "Lay him in the cradle beside Ash."

Nathaniel hesitated for not even a split second before he was crossing the room, laying a wailing Ash in the cradle beside his little brother. "Won't he wake him up?"

"Nah…Pru showed me this trick this morning. Watch."

Nathaniel leaned over the cradle and his eyes nearly popped out of his skull. Within seconds of being placed beside Ash, Elijah had turned his head towards his brother and fallen soundly to sleep. "And you just thought to do this now after I've been trying to soothe him for hours?"

"It's been five minutes. Stop acting dramatic," Uncas said with a smirk.

"Well…," Nathaniel began as he plopped himself down on the sofa and stretched his long legs out, crossing his feet at the ankles. "Now we can talk about what you so sneakily avoided outside on the porch. What is on your mind?"

Uncas huffed out an exhausted sigh, thinking that perhaps he should have let Nathaniel suffer longer with a wailing Elijah and he most certainly would have had he known an interrogation was looming. Especially since he was still digesting the troubling thoughts himself. Though he knew letting it out would only help to smooth the edges of it and while Nathaniel was quick to tease him about his growing up, Uncas knew that this conversation would not be one of those times. So he raised his eyes away from the scratch in the floor he had been fixated on to meet his brother's stare and cleared his throat. "It's about father…"

Uncas stood completely still knee deep in the gently flowing stream that ran to the west of the Delaware camp. A long stick with a sharpened point gripped tightly in his right hand. His eyes patiently followed the small school of fish that traveled in all directions around his legs. Watching and waiting as they weaved seamlessly around him. As if he statuesque body had always been a fixture in the stream. Until finally, Uncas felt a series of slimy scales glide up against his bare leg and quickly he struck his stick into the water. Piercing not one but two fish. He smiled widely to himself and pulled the stick from the water, taking a better look at the size of the fish he had just caught.

"Well done son."

Uncas whipped his head around to see his father sitting with his back resting comfortably against a Willow tree. "Thank you father. How long have you been sitting there for?" He asked as he began to trudge his way out of the water.

"Long enough to admire your patience, son."

Uncas softly smiled at his father's praise. While he knew that Chingachgook felt pride in him, the older he got the less his father voiced it. It was something he sometimes struggled with, especially when he would over hear that praise being bestowed on his older and in many ways superior, brother or so Uncas thought.

He agilely climbed the slippery rock covered stream and made his way over to the small basket he had brought with him in the hopes that his patience in the stream would be rewarded. He dropped into a squat and pulled the two fish from the wooden spike, carefully placing them in the basket.

"You do that with such care son. Almost as if they are still alive," Chingachgook softly spoke.

Uncas turned his head towards his father, "You taught me to honor all creatures both living and dead."

"That I did and I truly appreciate that those lessons were not lost on you. Now come…sit beside me. There is something we must discuss." Uncas rose to his feet and crossed the small stretch of grass between them. Then as eloquently as a doe lowered himself into a seated position beside his father. Where he respectfully waited for his father to begin.

Long minutes passed by as father and son silently took in the nature around them. Spring had bloomed and splashed her vibrant colors across the land. Every direction is alive with the bright lively green of the forest. A variety of yellow, red, blue and pink flowers swaying back and forth against Mother Nature's caressing breeze. It was truly beautiful. However, even with a rainbow of color surrounding him it was the tiny white and yellow flowers that grew wildly across the grass that always seemed to fill Uncas's eyes. The little flower reminded him so much of the farm. Where it grew in abundance all across the glade, waving hello to them in the morning and goodnight in the evening. He could not help but think of home whenever he saw it. Then as if reading his mind Chingachgook spoke, "It will not be long now before we return. I have long missed Pru as I am certain both you and Nathaniel have as well. But I will need you present for this conversation, not dancing on the farm with your sister."

Uncas immediately shifted attention to his father. "I am here with you father."

Chingachgook smiled and lightly nodded his head. "I remember the day you were born as though it was yesterday. Your tiny feet and hands. The way your mother looked into your eyes. How Nathaniel was frightened to hold you." He paused, suddenly overcome with emotion and diverted his eyes away from Uncas. His stare falling on the same white and yellow flowers that had only a moment ago occupied his son's attention and with them an image of his wife appeared. Her long raven hair donning the same tiny flowers woven into her long braid. Strange where the sight of certain things took your thoughts. He sighed and continued, "The day you were born, later that night, Nathaniel and your mother had all fallen asleep and I came down to this exact stream. The sun had long ago set and the moon shone full and silvery in the sky. I walked to the edge of the stream and fell to my knees. I wept. I wept in pure happiness as I thanked The Great Spirit for giving us the precious gift of a blood born son." Chingachgook once more met Uncas's steady gaze. "I love Nathaniel. Your mother loved Nathaniel and he will always be my oldest son. And while he is these things to me, he is also a child of two worlds…not of my own blood. Pru as well, is my daughter and yours and Nathaniel's sister. Though she too is a child of two worlds and not of my blood. And while all three of you are gifts to me, you Uncas…you are the legacy of your people. The son of a chief. You are one of the last of the Mohicans. You are who will continue the Mohican blood line and culture. And you will do this through your marriage to a Delaware girl and the children that she gives you."

Uncas's mouth went completely dry as his father's words marriage and children sounded again and again through his mind. He was only just turning fifteen summers and not at all ready to choose a wife and start having babies with her. He himself was still learning who he was in this world. How was he supposed to understand a wife and children? The thought shook him to his core. As these new thoughts crashed further upon him one resounded like a canon in his eyes. Delaware girl. His father had been very specific. What if he did not want to marry a Delaware girl? After all, Pru had chosen Martin and not Chaska. And Nathaniel being white had chosen Tanda. Their choice in a partner hardly fazed their father at all. His siblings had been able to choose, though it was clear he was not afforded that same opportunity. Uncas suddenly found himself more annoyed in that moment then he had ever been at any other time in his life. Then before he could stop himself words were flowing out of his mouth, "I am only about to be fifteen summers. Most men are a bit older when they wed. Why should I need to settle now?"

"I am getting older my son. I need to see you and our culture secured before age takes its best of me."

"And why does she have to be Delaware?" The moment the question left his lips he regretted speaking it as his father's usually calm demeanor darkened slightly.

"Do you know what the English world would do to you if you settled with a white woman?"

Uncas pinched his eyes tightly shut as tales of horror flooded his mind. "I'm sorry father," he quickly said, not wanting to hear his father utter even one word of how he or whoever his beloved would be would most likely be tortured and killed.

Chingachgook sucked in a deep breath of air. The sight of his son's anguished face quickly evaporated the surge of anger he felt at his son's question. He reached out and squeezed Uncas's shoulder. "I never want to see anything bad happen to you. And if you were to choose a white woman, I am certain something bad would. It is best for you and our culture that you take a Delaware woman as a wife. And the sooner you do, the more at ease I will feel."

Uncas stifled the urge to vomit at the demise of his childhood and desperately tried to smile at his father's words. Chingachgook, sensing Uncas's unease, squeezed his shoulder a bit tighter in reassurance. "Everything will be well my son. We will return to the farm soon and stay throughout the harvest. Then when we return to the Delaware camp…you will choose your bride."

Uncas felt his heart plummet into his bowls. His palms had gone sweaty and he could feel panic tingling in each and every fingertip. And as much as he wanted to scream and run away, instead he merely nodded his head in understanding.

"…now you know."

Nathaniel stared at Uncas with furrowed brows. The idea that his brother would not be truly free to make his own choices hit him harder in the gut than a grown man's fist. And at the same time, he understood their father's reasoning. Which made his feelings about it all the worse. "That's why father wanted us to keep going back to the Delaware camp. I had assumed it was to preserve our culture and traditions but now…," Nathaniel's words were interrupted by Uncas's near hysterical laughter.

"But nothing brother. That's exactly why we're going back and will probably continue to go back again and again. Father wants to preserve our culture and traditions and he's using me to do it. I am the reason we can't stay and live on the farm. If we did, I'd mostly likely end up marrying a white woman or no one at all. And father can't have that either way," he finished with another roar of hysterical laughter so loud it startled not one but both sleeping babies.

"Well now your craziness has done it!" Nathaniel exclaimed as he rose to his feet and fished Elijah out of the cradle. Normally he would be giving Uncas grief for waking the babies and forcing him to face off yet again with sweet little Elijah, but knowing now what's been tormenting his little brother's mind, he chose instead to shut his mouth and silently bear the crying of not one but two adorable babies.

"I'm sorry…," Uncas sheepishly said as they both began pacing the room with their nephew's in hand.

"Ah…don't worry about it. I'm determined for this little man to like me even if I have to hold him wailing all day everyday until we leave again."

Uncas smiled widely, thankful for his brother's easy attitude and teasingly said, "Brother, I think Elijah is going to break you much sooner than you are going to break him!"

"We'll just have to see about that…won't we Elijah!"


Pru and Martin climbed the steps to the cabin hand in hand. It had been nearly two hours since they had left for the lake and only returned when the pressure in Pru's breast told them it was time for their boys to be fed. They crossed through the open doorway, with the summer breeze helping to shuffle the both in together. Though stopped abruptly as they soaked up the scene in front of them.

"Martin…," Pru trailed off as she rested her loose hand upon his chest.

Martin smiled widely and chuckled to himself. "I'm not sure who broke who here," quickly dropping his voice to a whisper.

Pru giggled and tiptoed towards the long sofa. She gripped the back with her fingers and leaned over spying Nathaniel sprawled out on his back with Elijah laying atop his belly, arms and legs draped around him as though he was hugging his uncle just before he dozed off. Nathaniel's wide palm stretched out across Elijah's little back. Pru bit down on her lower lip so as not to make a sound and shifted her eyes towards Uncas. He sat in the soft chair closest to the fire with his feet stretched and spread out across the tiny table that rested between the chairs and sofa. His long body scrunched in the chair with his face slack and tilted down towards her infant son and little Ash cupped in the crook of his arm so that he could not wiggle free. All four of them slept soundly to the soft crackle of the fire. The sight was so beautiful that Pru nearly wept gazing at them.

Martin crossed the room and wrapped his arms around her waist from behind. He pulled her tighter to him and rested his chin on her shoulder. "It's nice having them home."

Pru snaked her arms around his, gliding her fingers gently back and forth along his bare skin and leaving a trail of goosebumps in their wake. She smiled to herself. They had spent the past two hours split between making love and talking while they laid naked in each other's arms. Something they hadn't been able to do much of since Ash was born as the demands of two children under the age two was often overwhelming. She turned her face into his, pressing her nose into his cheek and whispered, "It is. Everything seems as it should be when we are all together."

Martin swiveled his head so that his lips were almost touching hers, "I promise one day we will all live here happily together."

"Hmmm…," Pru murmured in agreement as her eyes wandered from his beautiful forest colored eyes down to his plump pink lips. "It feels like home when they are here," she said and bit her lip mischievously. "Do you know what is also nice? Having two live in nanny's," Pru knew better than to waste this elongated moment of quiet and slowly she shifted her weight in his arms. Her lazy movements brought them belly to belly as she ran her eager palms up his arms, past his neck until she was able to twirl his hair between her fingers and she could hear the sweet sound of his husky groan as she tugged gently on his blonde locks. "I love that sound," she breathed into his face.

Martin's eyes flashed with heat. Today had most definitely been a gift given to them by their brothers and so long as their sons were still being cared for, he intended not to be wasteful with their stolen time. "There are many sounds you make that I love," he whispered as he quietly lifted her up off her feet. Her legs instantly wrapped around his waist. "I think I'd like to hear some of them right now…," his voice trailed off as Pru dipped her head down, muffling his words with a kiss. Martin smiled widely against her mouth as his feet carefully shuffled along the creaky floorboards towards their bedroom until they disappeared into the depths of the room, shutting the door tightly behind them.

Nathaniel smirked to himself from his position on the sofa, eyelids still closed as though he was sleeping and began gently rubbing the length of Elijah's tiny back. He had stirred at their movements even before they had made it into the cabin. The distinctive sound of their individual steps telling him it was them. And while he wanted to triumphantly hop to his feet and declare that he had indeed won over their oldest son, instead he followed his gut and remained silent and still as if he was sleeping. His inner voice whispering to give them just a wee bit more time before the spell they were under would be broken.

Slowly he peeled back his eyelids and peeked to his left, his gaze falling on a still very much asleep Uncas. His smirk vanished as he thought of his brother's earlier words and a soft rumble of discourse spread within him. Uncas, he thought as he watched his brother's chest rise and fall in slumber. Each breath ragged breath as though the weight of the world sat atop his chest. Nathaniel furrowed his eyes for a moment. While he would not go against his father's decisions he also would not openly support anything that brought the unhappiness he saw in his little brother's eyes today. Especially since both he and Pru were able to follow where their hearts had led them, at least in the end. Perhaps Uncas would as well...in the end. Nathaniel nodded to himself and made a silent vow in that moment to do everything within his power to ease the burden placed on Uncas's beautiful heart. No matter what may come...

His thoughts were abruptly interrupted when the sound of sheets shuffling and wood creaking filtered into his ears from behind the closed bedroom door. "Ugh...," he whispered under his breath. He pinched his eyes tightly shut and began vigorously praying to The Great Spirit to grant him temporary deafness. Then huffed out a slight laugh, knowing he had created this moment of unease for himself. At least he knew this moment would give him plenty to tease the two of them about and thought to himself, for hundredth time in twenty-four hours, damn it is good to be home.


Author's Note: First of all...my apologies for taking so long to post this chapter. With my new work schedule, I am losing a ton of writing time! Thank you for your patience!

This chapter starts the beginning of Uncas's storyline and will bring us into canon. I was considering many different paths to take with him, so fingers crossed you all enjoy the path he led me to! I have much in store for him :)

I threw in the reflection about Chaska because I thought it was definitely something that would have been brought up when the three of them returned to the Delaware camp. Also, I wanted Uncas to be very real about his feelings on the matter. He loves Martin as a brother and dear friend but there was a small secret part of him that would have loved to see Chaska marry Pru. The message Pru has Uncas convey for her about finally being free is in reference to the rape. As it is now, the only person she has outright spoken to about it is Chaska. I know his fate seems sad but this is not the end of sweet Chaska! There is more in store for him in this story and beyond.

This chapter also saw the birth of Ash (One of my favorites!). In the last chapter Martin mentions that Pru has not been sleeping because she has been sick...well she was really unknowingly pregnant with Ash and since it took them longer to arrive on the farm then usual, Pru was pregnant and gave birth without them having the slightest idea. This situation affecting them all differently. Though Uncas took it the hardest. He can't help but think if only they had known. And then later when the two brother's watched the boys...poor Nathaniel!

Speaking of Nathaniel...I know I said he had become a bit of a whore, but it is only because being back at the Delaware camp is so hard for him without Tanda. And because of that he is seeking solace in random women to help take away that pain and as you can see that's not fairing too well for him. Since he was in a mad dash to leave the camp!

Thank you to everyone who viewed/reviewed but especially, Hazel222, AsterLaurel, ELY72, BrynnaRaven, BlueSaffire, MohawkWoman, your support is endless!

And to those who celebrate...Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanks for reading :)