Joshua Bam Bam Brown: Collection of Short Alaskan Bush People Fan Fics

Driving Towards the Daylight. Part 4

You held lightly to Alina's right hand and Ami held tightly to her left as your little group tromped up the muddy trail toward Brown Town. You kept an eye on Ami as she walked along to make sure she didn't walk into a tree or trip over a stump because she hadn't taken her eyes off of Alina's for a second.

"Up." You sang out.

Ami's arm went up at the same time as yours and you and Ami lifted the little girl's arms until her tiny feet cleared the ground, swinging her forward over the loose roots on the path. Her giggles sounded like music.

Billy and Bam whispered together quietly and seriously a few feet behind you. Birdy took a step closer to you, her voice soft in your ear.

"Surprised isn't a big enough word to describe this, is it?" Her smile told a story of its own.
"Shocked. Stunned. Dumbfounded. Pick any one. Or all of them." You laughed.
"OK. All of the above." She replied.

Birdy leaned her head forward and down to peer into Alina's face one more time. It was so odd yet beautiful to see so much of her brother's features on this tiny little face.

"My turn?" She asked you with raised eyebrows.
Stepping back, you slid Alina's hand into Birdy's and stood still until Bam and Billy caught up with you.

"She's beautiful, Bam." You let your husband drape an arm over your shoulder and you wrapped an arm around his waist.
"Thanks." His response was proud.

The anxious pounding of your heart almost made you blurt out all of your questions right there. But you forced yourself to wait. There would be so many questions from everyone and you knew your time with Bam would come soon.

Looking up at your husband's handsome face, it was painful to accept that he had been in an intimate relationship before you. He had shared some of his past, but you had told him his past didn't matter to you at all. Bam had smiled with relief that night and slid his hand behind your neck and kissed you so deeply you forgot everything except his lips on yours.

Continuing along the muddy path, Bam's eyes stayed on yours as the small group moved down the trail toward Brown Town. He watched as you smiled at the back of Alina's head as she toddled along between her grandmother and her aunt. When she giggled again and your smile grew, Bam squeezed you to him.

"You love her already, don't you?" He asked.
"Is she ours, or will we have to give her back?" You whispered your own question instead of answering his.

"We're going to take Alina to the main cabin with us for a little while." Ami suddenly announced before Bam could answer your question. "That will give you two some time to talk and you can meet us there later." She glanced back at Bam.

"Thanks, Mom." He said gratefully. "Have fun, Chicken." He called out to Alina.

"Chicken?" Birdy asked with a tilt of her head as Alina swung her head around to smile at Bam.

"She's my little chick." Bam shrugged with a half-smile. "Plus it's the main character in her favorite bedtime story."

"Cluck! Cluck!" Alina grinned and chirped and stomped her feet in the mud, sending the wet droplets flying.

**********
You sat on the bed watching Bam unpack his bags. Out tumbled Alina's brightly colored pink and yellow shirts and pants and a pile of her favorite toys. You didn't ask your questions. You waited for Bam to speak first. His hair was so long now and he brushed it back from his forehead as he turned to face you.

"It's not like you think." Bam crossed the room and sat on the bed next to you, capturing your hands between his.

"How do you know what I think?" You challenged. "Tell me the truth and we'll work through this."