A/N

Two songs for this chapter.

Wolf Larsen - If I Be Wrong

Amber Run - I Found

/

Slowly, Erin made her way to the big event space, hauling a bag and a rolled blanket over her shoulder, determined to get used to the weight before she returned to her tent to sleep later.

Erin had taken to wearing her stays, underclothes, skirts and bodice, and all its belts, bags and extras, whenever she practically could. It had given the baking class she had attended for the last few weeks quite a talking point, but the re-enactors of her area had welcomed her quirks and choice of clothing with open arms, and through them she had learned everything from basic fire making to hunting and preparing game. Laundry had been the absolute worst chore to master and she didn't think she'd ever grow to enjoy it, but everyday tasks carried out in an 18tth century appropriate manner were somehow comforting and reassuring now, because Erin found she could actually do them, even if extra effort was often required.

She'd taken her time in the meadow, soaking in all around her and savouring it. Now, sunset was quickly fading, leaving a nostalgic rose hue to the sky. Merriment was prevalent, the music stage had been fully set up for this last night's entertainment. She watched a moment as a man in an English officer's uniform belted out 'Don't Stop Believing', and it was not the first time it had been sung over the last few days.

Erin allowed her eyes to linger upon the path that went to the campsite, her mind going over a mental list of what lay in a folder there, within her tent. Letters to various friends, and documents that would allow any money she had saved to pass to her parents. That had been the hardest part of all her choices, knowing she would be leaving them behind.

She had so many grand plans of sitting down and telling her mother and father everything, but always abandoned actually doing so, knowing her mother would have never entertained the notion of such fantasy. Jenine was practical down to her very marrow and she would have fought Erin every step of the way, insisting she see a doctor or get some diagnosis to explain just what Erin thought had happened. The end of it would have been that Erin still would have gone on her journey tomorrow, only with the weight of arguments and disappointment on her shoulders too. She didn't want that to be her last memory of them, or them of her.

In that folder lay a long and detailed letter that would give them no choice but to listen, and perhaps at some point understand why she had chosen to go down this path. It didn't make any of this feel easier or right, but life seemed to give so many choices that would result in one party or the other losing something. Erin had spent months weighing each outcome until the answer was bright and clear and undeniable. If she stayed for her parent's sake, she would always feel bitter regret and resentment until it ate away any love she had left.

Erin had also agreed with Ada to leave a letter in the care of a bank in Virginia that had existed in the 1750s and was still in business to this day. With Ada's historian friend Brian's help they had gathered together anything they knew would fetch a good price and was easy to carry; spices, loose tea, coffee beans and a bag of sugar, as well as a few trinkets of costume jewellery that, while very pretty, held no true value, but would be very appealing to anyone in the 18th century at a fair trade. Erin had also bought some silver and gold nuggets with her savings, enough that she would be able to pay for a very strange bargain of keeping a small lock box in her name for the next 300 years in that Virginia bank. Within that vault would hopefully be a well preserved letter that would tell her parents that she was safe and well, and most of all, happy. She hoped one day, they would forgive her. She had written a well worded will that would also be kept in the bank's documents, one that stipulated the contents of the small vault would be available to any ancestor of her name who wished to open it. With Ada's help, her parents would find their way to that vault.

Erin got herself a beer and sat down, watching as children flitted about swirling sparklers, and people clapped along to the music. It was a haunting call back to the last time she had been here the year prior and she turned to look beside her, but this time she was fully alone, no beautiful soulful deep dark eyes met hers with a secret smile playing upon lips.

Applause was sent up and Erin was knocked out of her memories, back into the present, as more music began to play. The familiar melody sent a jolting shot up Erin's spine that stilled her a moment. A voice began to sing, her eyes flew to the source, nerves on end as if this was a sign from above. A woman in a beautifully made silk brocade gown was now on stage, accompanied by a man with an acoustic guitar. Erin thought she had seen her on the arm of one of the many men dressed as an English Colonel.

The tone and beauty was pitch perfect and Erin couldn't help but laugh, remembering her own disastrous karaoke attempt of 'I Will Always Love You'.

She closed her eyes, enjoying the memories, recalling Uncas' face, his smile.

Her own slightly sad smile was still upon her lips as she refocused on those about her, watching as they swayed and sang along to the lyrics, some couples were cuddling in the romantic air and her heart pulled at her own loss, she closed her eyes again, wanting to save herself the pain.

"'Rin?" Ada's voice made Erin open her eyes and she saw her friend standing before her, looking jittery. Ada was never jittery.

"You okay?" Erin asked, leaning forward in concern.

"Fine." Ada's tone was so abrupt as to be a little unnerving, then she sat down next to Erin as if her legs couldn't keep her standing a moment longer. Her eyes lingered a little too long over the large bag by Erin's feet.

Ada had helped Erin design it and make it out of deerskin and cowhide, it was built to last. It acted like a backpack but looked 18th century appropriate. Ada also knew it was filled with all manner of goods, instant food, pans, various tools, and a startling array of medical wares. Ada's eyes flicked to the wide leather belt wrapped around Erin's waist that they had both fondly termed her 'Bat Belt', it held everything from a knife to an old replica pistol. It couldn't fire shot but it looked real enough to make anyone faced with its barrel question their next move.

"What's wrong now? Look, we've been over this, you aren't changing my mind-"

"I know what you said," Ada hesitated, her eyes once again lingering over her friend's array of items, the blanket roll ready to casually be swung across her middle. "But you also promised you'd wait until I heard back from Brian. You said we had until dawn right? It's not dawn."

"Yes, yes. It's why I'm still sat here, drinking beer instead of hiking into the woods." Erin sniffed dismissively. "It's been months since Brian started looking and so far nothings turned up, I think if there was anything, we would have found it by now." She did her best to give a reassuring smile. "I know you are worried that things will be different, or Uncas won't feel the same way, but I feel... I feel it's the right choice. Can you try and understand? It's not about being logical or practical, it's about believing in something more than any of that. Something more than me. It's so hard to explain. It didn't feel right a year ago, I was so unsure. Now I have no fear, no matter what happens, because I am making this choice for me, and I hope it's a choice he'll want too, but... I can't foretell the future this time, and I'm okay with that."

Ada took in a deep intake of breath, her hand reaching out to tuck a stray dark brown curl into the silk cloth wrapped about Erin's head. The cloth was Ada's idea, hoping it it would act as protection from the sun and a bandage should Erin need it. Ada winced at the memory of that conversation, and the mere thought of her friend being hurt. It had also been Ada's idea to allow Erin's hair to grow back to a more natural colour and dye the rest to as close a match as could be made, the bright red would only draw too much unwanted attention.

"Yes, I know what you said!" Ada repeated loudly, and took a small moment to glance about as if concerned she was drawing too many eyes with her raised voice, she adjusted the volume to a normal conversational tone as she continued. "'Rin, I know this is awful timing, but I did hear back from Brian. He arrived this afternoon with some documents he thought might help and, well, as you know, he's been looking into every historical account he could find in that period for a Todd Copper, someone connected to Nathaniel Poe. I'm sorry I didn't tell you right away, but I had to make sure, it's why I haven't been around much this afternoon. I went into town to use my laptop and research myself and see if the dates and locations added up-"

"Wait!" Erin's face was alight, a pink hue coming to her cheeks. "Ada, did he... find him?" Erin grabbed onto Ada's arm, excited. "Is he okay?"

"It's not much to go on, but I think it's enough. It's not great news." Ada pulled out a piece of paper from her skirt's pocket, holding it out to Erin with an uncertain hand.

"What do you mean?" Erin felt a stone drop into her stomach, heavy and full of the promise of utter destruction, her eyes widening at what this could mean. "Is he-"

"No, no, he's alive. Or was, back then... I think you should read it 'Rin."

Erin took the paper with a small tremble of fingertips. She glanced over the photocopied text, the handwriting was hard to read, but with growing confidence and comprehension she began to make out names, places, dates. Erin realized this was was from the private notes of that explorer that had come across Cora and Nathaniel and had included them in his story, but this text had not been in his book. Erin frowned.

"What is this?"

"Extracts from his diary that he decided not to have in his published work. It was in an old museum's archives, the name rang a bell with Brian, and well, he's like a dog with a bone once he's asked to find something out. He found the pages logged in some system of old explorer texts of the 18th century. I don't think his estate wanted it released publicly either, because it is full of bigotry, so I suppose it had just been forgotten."

"Oh," Erin managed, and turned back to reading.

Day 22 Winter 1878.

I asked once again after the fair maiden and brought her pretty wild flowers. She thanked me, but seemed far more interested in drawing her new obsession, some savage who lords around the place as if he owns it. A close friend of the Poe's whom I have heard termed as Mr Todd Copper, although I very much doubt that is his real name at all. He watches me with sullen, hostile eyes, just like his father. I feel I have become very unwelcome in the home and, alas, I fear upon my next visit, my fair maiden will be resigned to a pitiful life as Mrs Copper! I wish I could rescue her from such a horrid and lurid fate, but I must accept I cannot be Hercules to those that do not wish to be saved. I will leave on the morrow and never return to this place of vice. To think I thought the Poe's a Godly people, when they allow such filthy morals to roam unchecked in their own household.

Erin took a long moment to take in the words. "Okay, I guess this jerk could be talking about Uncas... but..."

"'Rin, it's the alias you both agreed on, right there, with Nathaniel and Cora!" Ada tapped the paper in insistence of her words. "And the 'fair maiden', who I assume is Alice Munro, is there too. There is talk of marriage and-"

"No, there isn't, it's some pompous ass's one-sided view because the woman he's been pestering isn't interested. This whole thing has 'nice guy fedora' energy. It doesn't mean Alice and Uncas are together," Erin argued back.

"It doesn't mean they aren't either."

Erin could feel herself bristling at all this stupid logic, she didn't have time for doubts, she had to hold on to her courage. She let out a humpf of displeasure and crossed her arms over her chest.

Ada gave her a long look before speaking again. "You know I'm not happy with what you want to do-"

"Yes! You've made that very clear for the last two weeks, every time I talk to you!" Erin turned to her friend, eyes narrowed in accusation. "I thought you understood? I've told you all my reasons, Ada-"

"I know you have, and I understand the way you feel, that you have this 'feeling', but giving up everything when you don't know what you will find... if he even feels the same way. It's crazy!"

"Then I'm crazy," Erin mumbled.

"I'm scared, 'Rin. I'm so afraid for you, that you won't find what you want there, that you won't be able to come back, you already said you don't think you'll be able to. That means you will be trapped in that time, alone!"

"Even if that happens, I won't be alone, Cora will be there, Alice too, maybe. Cora said I always had a place with them. The rest... is a risk, I admit. He's worth the risk. If it doesn't work out, I can accept that and live with the consequences and find my own life there. I can't accept not trying at all," Erin said, slightly distracted. There was one thing Erin hadn't told Ada yet, one thing that should have been obvious, but Erin had never said the words out loud, maybe that's what Ada needed to hear to fully support her choices. She closed her eyes, reaching for them. It took her a moment to push them out, words she never thought she'd say in relation to another man ever again. "I love him."

"Oh Erin!"

When Erin reopened her eyes, Ada's were brimming with tears, and she pulled Erin into her arms, overtaken by her own emotions, chest heaving with breathless sobs.

"What's gotten in to you?" Erin said, pulling back, holding onto to Ada's upper arm in concern. "I get you are worried, but that scrap of evidence doesn't tell us anything more than what we already knew, which is basically nothing about Uncas or Alice."

Ada wiped at her wet cheeks. "I'm sorry, I haven't told you everything. Brian found more. It was buried in a miscellaneous section of some old computer hard drive, scanned in the late 1990s." Ada reached once again into her pocket and pulled out another piece of paper. "I think you have to read this too, I hoped... the explorer's notes would be enough to make you think twice and I wouldn't have to give you this. Silly of me, I knew it wouldn't, you are too stubborn."

Erin wanted to stop her friend saying any more, but found she had suddenly lost all will to speak.

"I never want to hurt you 'Rin and I have to save you any more pain, but it's still going to hurt." Ada passed over the paper and Erin took it, feeling an uncertain shiver run through her hands. "Brian searched in all databases, even ones on the other side of the world, for the name Todd Copper in any archives from this time period. He found him, he's one of the accounts the author used for the novel 'The Last of the Mohicans', do you remember the account that was destroyed with only the name Todd Copper left? Someone must have copied it down or written it from memory."

Erin's eyes reluctantly went to the paper, another photocopy of hastily scrawled writing, in a different hand, but her eyes were instantly drawn to the name, the alias, and there it was, an account told from Uncas' own mouth, although he was pretending not to be Uncas.

I heard it said that the Mohican warrior loved that Munro girl with all his spirit. He would have pushed the world back with his own body if it meant protecting her. Did they die? So I heard, but I also heard they survived, moved away together, fell in love all over again and found happiness. I like the happy ending better.

"Oh," Erin said, unexpectedly blinking back the sudden threat of tears. "So, you think this is his way of telling me he's happy?"

"I think so, he used the alias you agreed on, and he's deliberately got himself in a record relating to that story, just as he told you he would. He says they fell in love, that he wanted it to be a happy ending. 'Rin, I'm so sorry."

Erin shook her head. "It's not exactly what it says." She felt a tear escape her eye and knew part of her was just trying to find any defence that those written words weren't true; but they were as plain as she sat here, silently trembling with creeping grief at what this all meant.

"There is more." Ada continued.

"More?" Erin's shaky voice tried to sound amused but she ended up only sounding desperate.

"Do you remember, you asked him to leave you a note? To come back to this place on the same day and let you know he was okay?" Ada said.

Erin wanted to stubbornly say, no, she didn't remember them agreeing that at all, but it was a complete lie, a lie she wanted to speak so she could prevent the cold, dull hurt seeping into her soft, open wound of growing heartache. "Yes, he said he'd leave it in a water skin, but I went there right after he went back, and again when you came with me to see the amulet... and again when we arrived yesterday, and there was nothing, not a single damn thing."

"No, there was. It's just, it was found decades ago and given to a museum. Historians presumed it was a tracker's note, a code of sorts. Brian found it after he decided to delve into other sources of this area... here." Ada held out another piece of paper with a photograph of a very tatty looking note, some of it completely eroded away, the writing barely legible at all. "The water must have got to it, it was found in the 1960s and preserving things back then was harder, so it's pretty much crumbled to nothing now, but this photo exists and..." Ada's voice trailed off as Erin's eyes settled over the words, curled inked script, faded from years of improper storage, the bulk of the message missing, smudged or flaked away, only fragments remaining.

De- E-,

I writ- th- t- y- -n - n- - - pro- - - I - c- - t- -u.

I can- - i-t- - -w - h-e m- y- - I know - what - be -.

Alice - me see, I m- -ave - o-n li-. It - - - best. M- f-th-r rejoices. F- now my line contin-s - I - - the -.

M- -, - f-r -. Do not come back. -.

I - not - -s this. I - wan- -.

If I - not -, know - only - -s - - w- - a-. I - - re-

Y-s - t- d-pest reg- and - -y -,

T. Cop-er.

"Please, stay here, Erin? Please don't go!" Ada's desperate voice pierced through her dazed mind.

Erin felt as if she had been frozen in place, her eyes wide and fixed upon that broken script, garbled and useless to make much sense of, but there was one section that haunted her, grabbed onto her and wouldn't let go...

'Do not come back...'

"Erin? Please." Ada continued to tug at her until she had no choice but to come back into reality with a harsh bump, blinking hard from the fall of her lofty ideas.

Erin turned to her friend's ashen face, her own feeling drained of blood. "What choice do I have?" Erin said, and allowed Ada to scoop her into a consoling embrace.

A duo had taken the stage and had begun a rather dreamy rendition of a sweet love song to the sorrowful strains of a fiddle. Erin closed her eyes, letting the music wash over her as she let go of all her plans and a future that had contained him.

/

A/N

Hello all. Welcome back, to what? Well, it doesn't look great for Erin, but perhaps Uncas did find his happily ever after. I think in Erin's position this would completely shatter me, I originally had so much anxiety writing this chapter because in Erin's shoes I would have fallen apart and gone straight home to bed lol, but Erin isn't someone easily shattered. Maybe she can make the best of the situation and find her own way after all. Let's see what happens.

These last few chapters have been hard to get through as I really don't want to finish this story again, I have so enjoyed re-discovering it with you, thank you to anyone who has come along for the journey, I hope you'll give this until the end to make your final thoughts. I am trying to make myself do the final push to finish the last few chapters, but I'm not going to lie, it's hard to let go. Thank you again for your patience, even if I do need some small breaks, I will always be back.

Until next time!