Alice threw her arms around Uncas and clung to him. Hot tears soaked his shirt as she sobbed silently, her whole body shuddering. Uncas held her, murmuring words of comfort in Mohican.

Nathaniel's throat constricted at the sight of his brother and his sister-in-law entwined in each other's arms. The slate was wiped clean - the couple could finally start their lives together afresh. He sauntered past them, clapping his brother's shoulder fondly on the way into the house. Uncas shot him a grateful smile and returned his attention to the woman in his arms. Nathaniel took a deep breath - he now had his fiesty wife to contend with, who was no doubt primed to pummel him to death for leaving without a note.

When Alice calmed down, Uncas shifted her weight to one side, "Let's go in." She nodded, maintaining a firm grip on him. They entered the house and headed to her room. Uncas tucked her in and rose to leave. "Sleep here." Alice pleaded, snatching his wrist urgently. Uncas hesitated for a few seconds before settling down on the floor beside the bed. "Not here. But I'll stay until you fall asleep." he reassured her, kissing her cheek. Alice looked as if she was going to argue but she did not. She laced her fingers with his and settled back in the pillows. Uncas leaned against the nightstand and sighed. He could now rest.

Cora and Nathaniel finally registered their marriage and held a lunch at the cottage. Reverend Wheelock's two sons and daughter, David, Christopher and Hilary, together with their spouses and children attended the celebration. Alice laughed as she watched Hilary's two-year-old son, Mattie, climbed onto Nathaniel's back and yanked his braids. David's seven-year-old daughter, Gemma, was busy chatting a mile-a-minute to Chingachcook while perched on his lap.

"We grew up together with the Wheelocks." Uncas shared, settling himself next to Alice on the bench in the garden. "They are lovely." Alice commented as Cora and Hilary giggled together like teenagers. "Dave and Chris used to drag Nathaniel and I to school - we didn't want to go at first. But they would come by our cabin every morning, bang our door and force us to follow them." Uncas recalled fondly. "Is that why your family visits Albany often? To see them?" Alice quipped. He nodded, "Yeah. But they come up to the cabin all the time, too. They're family." Alice smiled at the touching description of the relationship between the Wheelocks and the Mohicans.

"We can't register our marriage." Uncas blurted out and caught Alice just in time as she literally fell off the bench in shock at his bald statement. "Are we...we are...I do not know..." Alice sputtered, her fingers twisting nervously in her hair, which was loose around her shoulders. " We are not getting married? After that night in the cave?" He teased mercilessly. Alice turned crimson and buried her face into her skirts with a mortified moan. Uncas grinned and slid closer to her. He delicately yanked her back upright. Gently sweeping her hair off her face, he nudged her ear with his lips and whispered sweetly, "Marry me, Alice."

He meant it. Alice could feel his sincerity, love and yearning, from the way his heart beat faster for her, the way he touched her, the way he gave himself to her in every way. She tilted her face to look at him guardedly, "You deserve better than someone like me. Someone who is -" "Don't want anyone except you. In this life. In the life after." he interjected rawly. He was uttering those words of commitment again. He was not being charming or debonair - he was painfully earnest and mighty determined. He was never letting her go. Alice's eyes glazed with tears, and she nodded.

Chingachcook proudly regarded the handsome couple under the flowered arbor, their faces shining with happiness. His younger son was getting married a mere two months after his elder son. Uncas and Alice had chosen to marry at the cabin instead of Albany. The entire family of Wheelocks had adamantly refused to miss the wedding, despite having to travel in sub-zero temperatures. Alice and Uncas had insisted on a winter wedding, so here they were, huddled in fur, freezing their toes and fingers off as Reverend Wheelock presided over the ceremony, which included both English and Mohican customs.

"They are going to be happy, are they not, husband?" Cora stated, tears running down her face as Uncas and Alice exchanged vows. Uncas said his in English, while Alice recited hers in halting Mohican. "Yes, they are. They deserve all the happiness in the world after what they went through." Nathaniel concurred, hugging Cora. "All the happiness in the world." Cora repeated fervently as the couple sealed their union with a lingering kiss.

"So cosy." Alice breathed as she dropped her travel pack on the ground. Uncas growled, "Too small." He entered the cave with a defeated sigh. They were back in the tiny cave that Alice had fallen in love with. Uncas had wanted to travel farther for their "honeymoon" but Alice had persuaded him to consider the cave instead. She got her way - of course she did.

"Not much space to put our things." he grumbled, dumping his load unceremoniously at the far end of the cave. They had packed enough supplies to last a month and Uncas honestly hoped Alice was not planning to spend all that time cooped up here. Fortunately, there was a stream and waterfall nearby so they would not lack water.

Later that night, they lay curled together on a pile of fur, sated, a fire crackling next to them. Outside the cave, it was snowing, with flakes blanketing the trees. Uncas propped his head on a large stone and stared thoughtfully into the dancing flames. Alice raised herself on her elbows, "What are you thinking about?" His lips quirked in a secretive smile, not replying her.

Alice sat up and wrapped a blanket around her naked form. Uncas had covered the entrance again but a gust of icy chill managed to seep through occasionally. "Uncas?" "Hmmm?" he responded drowsily, trailing one finger down her slim arm. "Do you want children?" she asked shyly. He seemed startled by her question, and a little spooked, so she hazarded a guess, "Was that what you were thinking of? Children?"

"Not now. In a few years." Uncas said, nuzzling her bare shoulder. "Why?" she probed, threading her fingers through his silky hair. Uncas pulled her down on top of him and declared achingly, "I want just the two of us now. Just you." Alice's heart turned over at the awe and wonder in his eyes as he traced her mouth, nose and cheekbones. He still could not believe they were married and were going to be partners for life. He had admitted as much many times on their way to the cave. "In a few years then. I want you to myself for now, too." Alice agreed, hugging him tightly. Uncas gazed at her through hooded eyes, his hands roving up and down her back possessively as he clamped his lips on hers hotly. " I want you now..."

Five years later.

"Where are you two running off again?" Cora exclaimed, slapping her hands on her hips in mock exasperation though her eyes twinkled with amusement. "Alice found another cave she wants to revisit." Uncas supplied matter-of-factly, cradling his daughter with one arm. Alexa was two years old and a miniature of Alice though her hair was ash-brown and her eyes were coffee coloured like Uncas. Nathaniel rolled his eyes heavenward, "I can't understand her obsession with caves." Uncas shrugged helplessly, "Neither can I." It was true. Alice had developed a passion for caves ever since they came across that tiny one all those years ago. Every summer, she and Uncas would go cave-hunting and return to those she liked when they had time.

Alice came up behind her husband to kiss his cheek playfully, "Do not lie. You like the caves as much as I do." Cora reached out for Alexa, who went to her aunt willingly. "Uncle Uncas, can you bring back another funny-shaped stone for me?" Dakota, Nathaniel's four-year-old son, begged, tugging his uncle's leg. Uncas swept his nephew up in his arms and tossed him in the air, "Of course I will. I'll get one for Enola, too." Enola was his three-month-old niece, who was currently being rocked to sleep by her grandfather. Dakota squirmed and argued, "She's too little." "She'll grow up soon." Uncas refuted, tweaking Dakota's nose. "Like Alexa?" Dakota quizzed, pointing at his cousin. Uncas grinned, "Like Alexa."

"This one's bigger than the last one." Alice observed as she studied the cave that would be their home for the next few days. "They are all the same." Uncas countered smoothly as he perched on a ledge and watched his wife survey her craggy surroundings animatedly. Alice. His life. His love. The past five years felt like a dream; every day felt like a dream to Uncas. He always pinched himself to prove Alice was actually next to him, waking up in his arms every morning. He loved her so much he simply could not imagine a life without her.

When Alice was done examining her temporary abode, she went to Uncas, who opened his arms to her. She smiled brightly and leapt into them, arranging herself on his lap. "Happy?" he asked her quietly. She snuggled into his chest, "Very." Just saying she was happy was an understatement - Alice thought she led a very fulfilling life, with a wonderful husband and a beautiful daughter.

Alice begun their favourite conversation, one which they have had dozens of times.

"Stay with me... as long as I live in this world."

Uncas captured her lips and swore, "For as long as I live. In this life. In the life after."

London 2016

Alice hurried down the wet pavement, her trusty umbrella clutched in one hand. It was yet another rainy day in London, but it was pouring like cats-and-dogs this evening. "Cora and Nathaniel had to pick the last house on the street." she groaned aloud as she stepped into a puddle, drenching her boots. If getting squashed like a can of sardines while riding the tube during rush hour was not bad enough, she was getting drenched like a drowned cat with each passing second.

Her sister had twisted her arm to get her to attend supper at her place tonight. Her American brother-in-law was hosting a welcome party for his best friend, who had also moved from the US to London a couple of days ago. Like Nathaniel, his friend was an investment banker. Alice did not know why it was so urgent for her to meet the newcomer but she succumbed to Cora's persistent persuasion.

Alice was about to open the gate to Cora's townhouse when she tripped over a stray pebble. She managed to regain her balance, but her bag went flying, so did her umbrella. Muttering under breath that she was going to kill Cora, Alice decided to salvage the items in her bag first, which was strewn all over the pavement. Raindrops pelted her ruthlessly, as a generous gust of wind blew her hair into her face. Crouching, she quickly gathered her belongings, stuffing them clumsily in her bag. She was reaching for her forlorn, fallen umbrella when someone swooped down to retrieve it. In the next moment, she was again sheltered from the rain.

She slung her bag over her shoulder, dusted her hands and stood up. She found herself face-to-face with a tall, tanned man. An incredibly handsome tall, tanned man, Alice wisely revised upon taking in his shoulder-length jet-black hair, deep brown eyes and chiselled features. He gazed at her steadily, his expression unusually warm and keen. Alice felt her breath catch in her throat. Strange. She felt a sense of deja vu, as if she stumbled upon a similar situation before. She sensed the man felt the same, and he seemed as disconcerted as her.

He grinned disarmingly and extended the hand that was not holding her umbrella, "You must be Cora's sister, Alice. I'm Uncas, Nathaniel's friend."

Alice took his hand dazedly and felt a jolt of electricity as it closed over hers, "Yes, I'm Alice." They continued to stare at each other, huddled closely under the umbrella, with the rain and wind raging around them. She finally returned his greeting shyly, "Hello, Uncas." He smiled, took her arm and gestured towards the house, "Shall we?"

"As long as I live. In this life. In the life after."

- The End -

Author's note

...And that is the end of Tender Promise and the Tender trilogy. I personally don't fancy reincarnations but so this will be the first and last time I would include such an element in a story. I just thought Alice and Uncas deserved this much in this version. I can't express how appreciative I am for all the reviews and your enthusiasm and support. Kept me chugging on :) This isn't my last fanfic - I've actually already drafted the first chapter of my next Alice-Uncas story. I'm taking a break from the historical period and going to pen something modern. It will be much shorter than my colonial pieces since the premise will be entirely different. Do keep a lookout for it. :) THANK YOU ALL.