Rated G
No Pairings
Author: Lys at lysTYK@hotmail.com

Disclaimer:  The characters belong to Alliance.  Just borrowing them
a bit.  

Grandpere

He sat by the window; his little chin resting on his hand.  The sun glinted
off his dark, curly hair that framed his pale face.  His little legs
swung back and forth, back and forth as he sat on the chair.  

The forest outside his window was giving way to spring growth.  The last
of the lingering snow piles were melting in the dark shadows of the tree
trunks.  The first of the spring birds were arriving daily.  The woods
first growth of green for the year was sprouting.  The air was turning
warm as it swept through the cabin clearing.  

He sat patiently, if a bit on the fidgety side.  His sky colored eyes
roamed the path out the clearing expectantly.  The shoe on one foot was
carefully tied; the other had short laces tied in a knot.  His warm sweater
was sitting just off his shoulders, but he huddled in its warmth.  

With the first glint off of metal he saw down the path, the small boy
jumped to his feet.  Running to the cabin door, he pulled his huge parka
down and threw it over his shoulders.  His little running feet took him
to the edge of the cabin porch.  He perked his ears listening intently.

The whistling was faint and far away, but hearing it the boy bounced
down the steps his eyes alight with glee. He jumped from step to step
and began running down the path. 

The old man trudged the path carefully, his cane at his side, his gun
slung over his shoulder.  He pulled a mini-travois behind him on which
laid a canvas-covered box. The old man's eyes smiled brightly at the
young figure advancing towards him.  Quickening his pace he hurried down
the path. 

"Granpere, Granpere," the little boy yelled flinging himself against
the old man's legs and hugging him tightly.  "I love you, Grandpere."

The old man put aside the travois handle and dropped his cane.  He leaned
over and enfolded the boy in his arms.  "I love you too, mon fil." 

The old man's heart burst with joy.  His grandson.  A boy to be proud
of, a boy to love.   Who would've believed that the solemn little boy
who arrived here 4 months ago after his mother's death would burst into
this lovely child.  

Thank you God, he thought, thank you for returning Benton to us.