AN: Well, It's time to enjoy the sun, the sand, the drama...Oops. Did I forget to mention that? ;) Happy Reading.

And it's sunshine, blue eyes, tan lines, slow tide rollin'
White sand, cold can koozie in my hand just a summertime strollin'
Chillin' breezin sippin singing whoaoaoh
"Beachin'" – Jake Owen

Sun, sand, and good drinks. What more could a person ask for, right? Um….how about not having to take a plane to get there….with a toddler? Oh Lord! I'm pretty sure that Belle suddenly found her reserve tank of energy the second we got on that plane. I had been hopeful that having take off happen not long before nap time would be perfect timing. Dream on. That plane held a trapped audience that Belle just needed to meet. Why did she have to take after me? That girl did not want to sit down the whole flight. I was grateful that Kim was able to at least keep her entertained through the majority of the flight. I swear her carryon bag was a bottomless pit of stuff. Just when I thought she was done and I was going to have to get creative, Kim would pull something else out. Ugh. Thank God the flight attendants were cool. Helped that Kim was friends with one of them. She let Belle wander around the aisles till the pilots were ready to push away from the gate. Huge help. So when did my daughter finally decide to take her nap? Landing. Yeah. Thanks, Belle.

So naturally, Kim insisted on carrying her through the airport to allow me to deal with the luggage. When we reached baggage claim, I figured I would be on my own, but there was Robert waiting. With Cora. She was everything that I would have expected to see. Not so much in looks, but in her demeanor. She was confident and kind. It was obvious in how soft her look was when she looked back and forth between Robert and the three of us as we made our way to them. She was looking for confirmation. Robert took the lead and made his way up to me to give me a hug. Robert looked truly alive as he gave Kim a gentle hug so not to waken Belle. He kissed the top of Belle's head and then helped me grab our bags. The drive to the beach house took a bit longer than I was expecting. I had never heard of Tybee Island, but it was apparently where we were headed.

"I would have liked to have done this somewhere a bit quieter, but I figure we can always take Belle down the beach a bit. Away from all the noise."

I was confused. Till Robert let me in on the area.

"They allow alcohol on the beach, so just be prepared. We'll try and stay away from where the bars are. Oh, and if Steve offers to get you a slushie from Tybee Times….just say no. Everclear. All I will say."

I let out a whistle.

"That isn't your standard frozen drink."

"No, it isn't. If you don't want to nap your afternoon away….I'd stay away. I doubt your tolerance is what it probably use to be before Belle."

"I'll take your advice on that one."

When we arrived at the complex, I knew Robert had picked the perfect spot. The condo was on the third floor of the complex which would be a bit of a climb, but the place had two pools and was literally right on the beach. I could see some nearby restaurants, so we would have options for food. We were unloading the truck as Kim was getting Belle out of her car seat when I heard the greeting.

"Hell, yeah! Chicago is here! Where's Belle?"

I looked up and there was Steve and the whole crew heading our way. Kim came up beside me at that point with Belle in her arms and I could tell that she was trying to keep herself strong. I placed my hand on her back and rubbed it slightly as I answered back.

"That's right, we're here. Could you be any louder? I'm not sure all of Savannah heard you."

Steve just laughed. He came up and immediately swallowed me in a hug.

"Good to see you, Man. Holy crap. What are you feeding this girl? She has gotten big."

Steve ruffled Belle's hair and then he turned his attention to Kim.

"Hi, Kim. Good to see you."

Steve wrapped his one arm around Kim to keep from crushing Belle. I could see Kim relax some and then the rest of the group all began their greetings.

It was a good weekend. Belle sticking her feet in the ocean for the first time was great. At first it was like she didn't know what to make of it. All this moving water. Then it was nonstop fun when she realized that she could splash me and Kim as we tried to make sure she stayed up right. It was playing in the sand and holding her under the umbrella as she took her afternoon nap. It was me having to try and dodge Steve's obsession with Tybee Times and caving one time which ended with me taking a nap with Belle that afternoon. I think Kim was enjoying herself as well. She quickly became close with Cora as both women would take slow walks with Belle to find seashells while the rest of us men would take to playing cornhole or whatever activity had popped up. It was all going so well and had been anything but awkward. Till that one moment. Things could have gone all kinds of different ways.

We had all headed towards the pool since Belle had seemed to be less interested in the beach today. She was having none of the being held by anyone, and had been walking around for most of the day. I thought nothing of it when she began to run some on the concrete till she tripped. Ok, so that wasn't all that unusual either, but this time was different. Belle was usually quick to pick herself up and just keep going. She was always quite resilient. This time was probably the first time that the concrete had won a bit. As she turned over, I could see that this time it had hurt. In the skinned knees and hands kind of way. I saw the crocodile tears and then heard the wail. I started to make my way towards her, but what came out of her mouth stopped me in my tracks.

"Ma-ma!"

The whole group froze. Kim was off to my right with Cora and I realized quickly that Belle was reaching for her. Kim didn't even hesitate. She was there immediately. She scooped Belle up in her arms and just began to rock her. Kim looked back to me and I knew she was trying to tell me something with her eyes, but I was too shocked.

"I'll take her upstairs and clean her up."

Kim spun around and headed for the condo. Cora followed her and left me with Robert, Steve, and the rest. I could feel them. All the stares. Robert put a hand on my shoulder and squeezed. I could hear him take a breath and he was about to speak, but Steve's voice was not something that was easily drowned out.

"What the hell, Man?"

"Steven.."

The warning in Robert's voice was appreciated, but I knew I was going to have to deal with this.

"Steve, if you have any feelings on what just happened. I don't care. My daughter knew what she wanted. She needs me right now, so if you will excuse me."

I headed for the condo. I really didn't care if Steve didn't like the fact that Belle had apparently decided that Kim was her mother. What I cared about was how she was doing now and how Kim was handling this. I got into the condo and found Cora feeding Belle ice cream as Kim was cleaning Belle up. Apparently, the distraction method was working since Belle was not crying despite Kim swiping the cuts with antiseptic.

"Hey. How's my brave girl?"

"Daddy!"

Belle reached out with her arms and Kim and Cora backed away. Kim was putting the supplies away as Cora excused herself and left me with the ice cream. I sat the bowl in the sink and hugged Belle to my chest. I watched Kim as she began to fiddle with the first aid bag's zipper.

"So when did that start?"

Kim finally looked up at me and she looked like she was being caught doing something wrong.

"It only happened once. It was a day that I got to the apartment before you. Your Dad was playing with her on the floor and when she saw me… She called me that. It was only the one time. Your Dad figures that she has been hearing the other kids at the playground calling their mothers. I don't know. I never encouraged that. I was going to tell you, but I figured it was a fluke since she hasn't said it again till now."

I took a deep breath and kept rubbing Belle's back.

"It took my breath away. I'll tell you that. You are the only mother figure she has known besides Kevin's mom. I told you that she loves you."

Kim looked down at that and then back up. She was trying to hide the love that she felt for Belle because she thought she was wrong to feel good about that.

"She doesn't know what it means."

"Yes, she does. She knows exactly what it means. If she picked it up on the playground, Kim. She knew that is what you are to her. Belle, whose ma-ma?"

Belle lifted her head up off my shoulder and turned in my arms before reaching for Kim. Kim's eyes immediately teared up and I walked to her, so I could hand Belle over. Once she was in Kim's arms, I wrapped my arms around the two of them.

"Kim, I love you. Yes, it hurt some to hear her call you that, but only because Belle will never get to know Rachel. However, you are her mother, if you want that."

I could feel Kim absolutely lose it at that point. I just held the two of them to me. Maybe all of this would seem to be happening too fast for some, but for me. It was the way it should be. It was right. As Kim was starting to calm down, Robert made his way into the room. Kim looked up and I could feel her stiffen in my arms. Robert's gentle eyes held a bit of sadness, but his actions spoke so much louder. He walked up to Kim and wrapped her and Belle in a hug. He began to whisper something into Kim's ear and she just nodded. He gave her one last squeeze and pulled back. They were both smiling and they then looked to me. They were okay. I knew I needed to go talk to someone.

I made my way down to the pool and the group just nodded towards the beach. I could tell that they were all doing ok. A bit raw I'm sure, but okay. I headed towards the beach and could see Steve sitting on the sand watching the waves as the sun was beginning to set. I sat down next to him and just waited. Steve took a swig from the whiskey bottle he was holding and then he passed it to me. I knew it was a peace offering so I took it. I handed the bottle back to him when I was done and that's when Steve finally spoke.

"I'm sorry. I guess I wasn't ready to really deal with reality. I know Rachel is gone and I know that it is natural for you to move on. I guess I just never really thought about how Belle would be doing that."

"Steve, Belle will always know that Rachel was her mother. I will tell her all about her. I show her a picture of her all the time, but you are right. Belle will consider Kim to be her mother. We are headed in that direction. I hope you can understand that."

Steve nodded to me.

"I like Kim. I really do. It's just that Rachel was like my little sister. It's hard to not want to protect what I felt was hers."

I just smile.

"Well, Belle will be lucky to have someone to come to when she has questions about what her mother was like. I can tell her some of it and Robert can tell her his side of things, but somehow I imagine you have some pretty good stories."

Steve began to laugh at that.

"Oh, man. I have stories that Rachel will be screaming down from above for me to keep to myself. That will be a fun day."

I slapped Steve on the back and got up.

"Come on, Man. We only have one day left. I really don't think you want to spend it out here."

Steve took the hand I offered and we both headed back to the group. We had a dinner to get to.

Post note: Well, I hate to tell you that you have one chapter and an epilogue to go. This Journey is almost to an end.