"Then where did we go wrong?" Alice beseeched earnestly.

Uncas gazed at her, his eyes swirling with turmoil. He uttered quietly, "No one was in the wrong. Just not meant to be."

Alice flashed a disappointed smile at him, "Are you implying that our past encounter was an accident?"

Uncas' throat worked furiously. No accident. That night under the falls was no accident. He could recall every second of that precious night. Every touch, very kiss, every smile was seared in his memory.

He sighed deeply when he saw hurt simmering in Alice's eyes, her slim form shivering in the chilly night breeze despite the blanket. He let out another sigh as he abruptly gathered her in his arms, arranging the blanket around them.

Alice pressed her face into his warm hollow of his throat and tucked her hands against his chest. Uncas slowly ran his fingers her silky hair and issued gruffly, "Not an accident. Not a mistake." He felt her breath hitch against his skin and he continued, "Not to me. Never."

A tiny, relieved smile tugged at Alice lips and she admitted wistfully, "Every time there was a summer storm, I would think of you, of Ichante. I would run out of the house and stand in the rain, and wonder whether Ichante was doing well, whether you were doing well. Sometimes, I wished… I was back here with Ichante… with…" You. Alice stopped herself in time but she knew he knew what she was going to say. He tightened his arms around her and an easy, comforting silence ensued. Alice burrowed herself deeper into his searing warmth. Heaven.

Three years ago

Uncas grinned fondly as he watched four-year-old Ichante run in circles in the clearing in front of his cabin. When the boy halted at one point and turned to seek his father, Uncas waved him on with a broad smile. His son's eyes mercurial eyes twinkled happily as the boy returned his father's smile, his mouth tilting cutely at the ends. He had Alice's smile.

Uncas felt his heart tug painfully in his chest. Alice. Was she happier and more at peace now since her half-breed son was off her hands and out of her privileged life? Uncas did not resent Alice for her decision – it was probably the most practical one for all of them. He was largely responsible for her unplanned pregnancy and he was grateful her family friend was honourable enough to marry her and accept Ichante.

Raindrops suddenly pelted his head hard and he was going to instruct Ichante to come back to the cabin when he saw the boy stretched out his hand to catch the droplets, a look of wonder on his face. He threw back his head and released a bout of happy giggles.

Alice standing at the top of the fort, her face raised up towards the sky as rain fell freely on dewy skin. Uncas felt another stab of pain course through his body. He jogged towards his son and stood beside him, extending his hand, too. Father and son stood together in the storm, their hands outstretched and their heads elevated towards the driving rain. Uncas squeezed his eyes shut. Alice's shy, guileless smile flashed through his mind. I wish you were here with us.

Four years ago

Alice stepped out into the courtyard, relishing the light, warm drizzle grazing her skin. Callum. The image of her little boy gurgling in excitement as he swiped at falling rain when they were at a park. Three years ago. She had not seen her son for three years.

"Fearless." Uncas low, velvety voice purred in her ear as if he was right behind her in London home, his breath tickling her neck deliciously as he held her snug in his embrace.

"Why did you send him back if you were going to miss him so much?"

Alice whirled around guiltily. Bryan was standing at the door, eyeing her with resigned sympathy. They had left the country manor a few days after Alice had sent Callum away and rarely visited since then.

Alice carefully made her way back to the house and her heart filled with warmth when Bryan automatically offered his hand as she climbed the few steps in front of the door. He was such a gentleman. They remained at the door for a while, lost in their own respective thoughts.

Bryan sighed heavily, "Do you remember how happy Callum was whenever we went swimming at the lake?"

Alice nodded with a fond smile, "He loved the water. He loved swimming with you,"

"Our home does not feel right without the child. It is just so… quiet, "Bryan finished brusquely.

When Alice simply nodded again, he blurted, "We could ask Cora to send him back to us. I know people in New York. I could easily find -"

Alice placed a placating arm on her husband, "No. He belongs with his birth father. His existence in England would only make life difficult for you,"

Bryan glared at Alice sternly, "You know I do not give a damn about the gossipmongers and the Dowager Duchess."

"I do, Bryan. I do care what others say about you," Alice returned with equal measure.

Bryan sighed again and put an arm around Alice, ruffling her hair in the process. He had been doing this since they were children.

Alice smiled affectionately and leaned against his shoulder, "Do not worry, my lord. Our home would not be quiet for long." She stood on tiptoe and kissed his aquiline nose, "I wager there will be some noise next spring…"

Bryan's mouth fell open in shock at the implication of her reply and he was speechless for a few seconds. Finally, he cleared his throat and grinned happily, "This time, I would love to have a daughter just like you."

Present

Ichante yawned and stretched his arms above him. Why was he in Father's room? Alice singing the lullaby… Ichante sat up immediately and headed straight to his room where Alice and Mikayla were supposed to be sleeping. The door was ajar and he peeked in. Mikayla was sleeping soundly on a pile of hides but Alice was nowhere in sight. A quick check of the study revealed his father was missing, too. The kitchen and common area were empty as well. Had they gone to the stream? It was too early though as the sun was not yet up.

Ichante tugged the door open and blinked furiously at the scene in front of him. Alice was propped against a beam, her head falling to her shoulder, deep in slumber. His father was stretched out along the step, his head on her lap, looking as if he naturally belonged there. One hand was clamped possessively on Alice's waist, his face turned sideways, deep in sleep.

Ichante had never ever seen his father lay on a woman's lap before. He had never seen his father so relaxed before. It was bewildering. Even more bewildering was the fact that his father had not stirred even when Ichante was opening the door. Father must had been exhausted by the journey. Either that or… he felt at peace with Alice. So much so he unloaded all his burdens and worries and could sleep in peace, without a care in the world. Ichante stared his parents thoughtfully.

To be honest, he could never imagine his father being with a white woman, a genteel one at that. He had been stunned at how shy, gentle, soft-spoken and docile his birth mother was. She was nothing like Aunt Cora. The notion was so perplexing that Ichante often pondered whether he was truly an offspring of mixed heritage. He had seen how fancy English ladies dressed whenever he was in Albany and for the life of him could not comprehend his birth mother was someone like those women with frilly clothes.

But now as he gazed at his parents sleeping together on the steps of their family cabin in the middle of a deserted forest, he felt all his earlier doubts melt away. So this was how they had been when they first met all those years ago. This was how they comforted each other in the midst of war raging along the frontier. They were each other's shelter in the storm. Alice's words reverberated in his mind – how she was never cold then because Father was her shelter.

Ichante observed Uncas' softened features with a pang and concluded that Alice had been just as much of a shelter to him eight years ago. He recalled all those times he had stood in the rain with his father, who always seemed to have an unspeakable sadness etched in his eyes whenever it rained.

Ichante had just figured that the rain brought back bad memories of Alice for Uncas. But Ichante realised now he was wrong. His father had not been dwelling in hate or resentment towards Alice. He had been thinking of something, yearning for something far away… beyond reach. He had been missing Alice. Missing her even though she had sent their son back to him, and married another.

It struck Ichante that he never thought his existence and presence would remind Uncas of Alice – because well, he looked nothing like the English girl who had given birth to him. But Ichante was a blatant, everyday reminder that Uncas had once loved and lost a woman… who was no longer with him. It had probably pained his father but the older man had never acted such.

But now here was Alice again… and despite the rather noncommittal circumstances that brought them together again, Ichante could sense his parents' need of each other had not abated over the years. For the first time in his life, he actually felt his existence was neither an accident nor a mistake.

Ichante carefully crouched beside Alice, noting her long, feathery lashes. He had her lashes, he discovered, feeling absurdly pleased. Uncas' lashes were shorter, thicker and spiked. Ichante leaned closer to peer into Alice's face. His mother was quite beautiful though she was as pale as milk, he admitted grudgingly with pride. The lullaby… he had dreamt about it a few times over the years, but could never guess the origin of the haunting melody.

Ichante hesitated before reaching out to stroke Alice's hair lightly. It felt like Mikayla's hair. He stayed that way, unmoving, for a few moments. Instinctively, he dipped his head and saw his father staring at him from below. A look of profound understanding passed between father and son, and Uncas' eyes fluttered close again. Ichante rose to his feet, retrieved the fallen blanket from the floor and covered Alice with it. His heart feeling lighter than ever, Ichante went back into the cabin with a skip in his step.

Alice's eyes flew open at the sound of tinkling laughter. Sunlight scorched her eyes and she winced. Her legs felt like lead… and squawked when she saw Uncas gazing serenely up at her from…her lap? Her lap? Her head swung in the direction of the door, which was wide open. She could see Mikayla and Ichante munching on biscuits at the table, with Ichante making faces at Mikayla to make her laugh. Suddenly, Ichante swivelled to face her and sent a shy smile her way. Mikayla mimicked her brother, throwing in a small wave for good measure. Alice waved back feebly, as hot embarrassment engulfed her.

Flustered, Alice shoved Uncas off her lap, hissing, "What are you doing on my lap? The children can see us!" Unperturbed, Uncas sat on his heels, eyeing her in bemusement. "All they saw was us sleeping because we were tired," Uncas refuted mildly as he rose to his feet. He pulled Alice up and dusted her hands meticulously. "Besides, this isn't the first time we – "Uncas began nonchalantly and had to swallow down his laughter when Alice cut him off primly, "Do not say another word or I swear I will smother you with this blanket!" She flounced off into the cabin, and Uncas finally allowed himself to smile.

Eight years ago

"This is beautiful," Alice gaped, her eyes wide with awe as she took in the majestic view in front of her, below her. At Uncas' insistence, Alice had agreed to sneak out of the camp with him, albeit very reluctantly. Uncas' Delaware cousins could not reconcile why a warrior like him would choose a white woman. The couple were never explicit in their behaviour but everyone knew how they felt for each other implicitly. Getting caught together past midnight would not help.

"As beautiful as England?" Uncas quipped casually. His head was on her lap as she sat at the edge of a cliff. Alice tilted her head down at him, "Why are you posing such a question to me? You know it matters not at all," Uncas answered coolly, "Of course it matters."

Annoyed, Alice muttered churlishly, "Stop talking about England." Uncas grabbed her chin and forced her to look him in the eye, "England is your home. You would want to go back someday."

Alice's expression tightened, "I am not going back." Her pride was smarting from the inference that she returning to England would not affect him too much.

"How are you going to make a living here? There's no one here to listen to you play the harp. Or least no one is going to pay to see you play the harp," he pressed on. Alice jerked her head to the side and remained stubbornly mute.

"What are you going to do then? Live with me? Have my babies? Raise them in the wilderness? Your hands all scrubbed raw and peeling? I know Cora truly wants that with my brother. But is that what you want?" He asked fiercely. Alice's face whitened and she gulped. Babies? She had not thought about that. Surely that one night under the falls could not have gotten her with child. Her friends in England told her it usually took more than once to get pregnant. The thought of having a half-Indian child sent a chill down her spine. From Uncas' cynical expression, she knew he had figured out what was presently on her mind.

"I have not thought about that. I just like us together as we are now, "Alice confessed shakily. "How long is 'now', Alice?" Uncas inquired tiredly. When Alice did not answer, he resumed detachedly, "I want a family. I want a wife, children… I want to spend a lifetime with them." He locked his burning gaze on her, "Tell me you want the same thing and I'll stop asking you about England."

Alice stiffened. She felt cornered. He sounded so righteous at the moment that she felt a surge of anger overcome her, "Were you thinking of that when you bedded me under the falls? Do not lie. We let desperation… and lust overtake us. We lived for the moment then and have been ever since. So do not preach to me about your honourable motives!"

Alice knew the words were horribly wrong the second they flew out of her mouth. Uncas' face became as hard as granite and his jaw clenched. A crackling silence ensued before he uttered emotionlessly, "You think lust was why I took you under the falls? Do you mean lust drove me to save you from Magua? You think lust is the reason why I am hoping you would stay here with me?"

Alice wanted to drown in shame when she saw the hurt, despair and reproach in Uncas' eyes. "If that's how you feel, maybe you don't belong here," Uncas concluded calmly as he rolled to a sitting position and stared unblinkingly into the darkness ahead of them. This was Uncas' most favourite place on Earth – but that night, its beauty failed to move him.

Present

Alice could not believe that Uncas had fallen asleep on her lap in full view of the children. Granted, they had kissed on the horse and it was she who initiated it but… why did this man unravel her so? She had just bathed at the stream and marched past the clearing, where Uncas was with the children. She promptly ignored him and stomped into the cabin.

Grabbing a cloth from the kitchen, Alice decided to clean the study. She wiped the table and shelves to expend her frustration, and dusted all the books. She was going to start on the walls when Ichante walked in.

Alice felt some of her anger dissipate at the sight of her beautiful son though he maddeningly was a carbon copy of his sire. "Hello. Are you looking for something?" she asked warmly, stilling her movements. He cocked his head to the side and replied a little nervously, "Father brought Mika to the stream. I want to show you something that Father doesn't know I know, "

Alice frowned a little at his cryptic response, "Is it something dangerous that you should not be involved in?"

Ichante shook his head and crossed to the table. There was a one drawer carved into it and he yanked it open to reveal documents and other knick-knacks. Plunging his hand deep inside, he rustled about for a few seconds before pulling out a stack of parchments tied with a red string.

Ichante untied the string and unrolled the parchments. He arranged neatly on the table before gesturing for Alice to go over to where he was. Curious, Alice glanced down at the parchments and stopped breathing completely.

The parchments were sketches of Uncas, Ichante at different ages… and her. Uncas was obviously talented since the sketches of each person was almost life-like in appearance. Her stomach churned and her hands shook. She could barely make out Ichante's words when he remarked pensively, "I think he drew one every year on my birthday. I only found this last year."

Alice wanted to bawl not because she found out Uncas had drawn her over the years but because Uncas had not sketched the three of them individually at all – each picture contained the three of them on one parchment.

"I want a family." His words from long ago from that terse conversation on that cliff echoed around her head. She had simply wanted him then but he had wanted a future with her – a family with her. He had carried that in his heart for the past eight years as he singlehandedly raised their son, reality mocking at his dream at every turn.

"Father rarely mentioned you. If he did, it was to tell me something about you. But never how he felt about you. I thought he had forgotten you and never once thought that he missed you …" Ichante divulged haltingly, his fingers tracing the sketches.

Ichante looked up at his mother, whose eyes were glimmering with tears, "But I was wrong. I think Father missed you… very much."

Author's Note

So sorry for the long break! Was really busy with work and preparations for the holiday season. Have no fear - I am going to complete the story. ;) Thanks to all who dropped messages of encouragment during this brief hiatus and hope you'll enjoy the new chapter. XXXOOO