the good times he had up there, so he at least had that to hang on to.
Mika was sitting down on the couch when Rikko came into the living room. It was late by now.
"You okay, Mika?" she asked. "It's after midnight."
"I couldn't sleep, Rikko," Mika said in response.
"You've been holding that picture for quite a few nights lately," Rikko said. "You miss Nome in anyway?"
"I don't know," Mika replied. "I do have some good memories from up there. This photo being one of them."
"You said Kaj took this one, right?" Rikko asked.
"How could the four of us fit in there if it was me taking the picture?" Mika asked in response. "Yes, he did take it."
"It sure is a good one," Rikko added.
"I know," Mika said in followup.
Mika had often talked about his experiences up in Nome - both the good and the bad - with Kevin and Rikko, so it wasn't like they didn't know. And by sharing it with them, it kept the memory alive and well. Lately, though, Rikko in particular was very intrigued by those stories and often tried to imagine herself as a witness to those events as they happened.
"I tell you, Mika," said Rikko after a brief moment of silence, "you sure do a good job recounting these events and telling of them. Makes me wish I was there to see them as they happened."
"Really?" Mika asked.
"Yes, indeed," Rikko replied. "In fact, hearing about them has even made me want to go see the place myself."
This last sentence caught Mika completely by surprise.
"You mean that you'd want to go there?" Mika asked.
"Yes I would," Rikko answered enthusiastically, although she did have to keep her voice down so that she didn't wake Kevin, who was asleep by now. "The way you tell those stories makes seeing the place so exciting! I'd love to go there! I just wish there was some way I could work such a trip into my schedule. I know if I had your kind of work schedule, I could easily fit one in.
"Maybe we can," said Mika.
"Really?" Rikko asked. "But how?"
"I'm sure there's a way," Mika responded. "So, you really want to go, eh?"
"Only if you come with me," Rikko replied.
"Of course I will," Mika added.
Even though it hadn't fully materialized yet, Rikko could already imagine such a trip happening and even what it might look like. And having already heard that Mika said that he was going to go up there with her made her look forward to it even more.
"Do you think that Kevin would want to come?" Rikko asked.
"I don't know," Mika answered. "He's so much of a Detroit man, I doubt he'd want to be away for more than a week."
"How long do you think we can be away on such a trip?" Rikko asked.
"You know," Mika replied. "Let's not worry about that right now."
"Good idea," said Rikko as she put her left arm around Mika and lay her head on his now healed right shoulder. She then looked over at him, the look on her face clearly saying that she wanted a kiss. Having seen that look numerous times before, Mika knew well enough not to ignore it, and he happily returned the kiss. Seeing how late it was, they both eventually headed off to bed. But not before sharing another kiss, which was only slightly longer than the one they shared while on the couch.
"I love you, Mika," Rikko whispered softly.
"I love you too, Rikko," Mika whispered back.
Before heading off to bed, the two shared one more kiss, this one being just a quick peck on the lips. Now it was off to bed for the two Finns. As she drifted off to sleep, Rikko couldn't keep from thinking about how such a trip up to Nome might play out. It was a pleasant thought for her, and it would help her make it through the night.

What awaits Mika upon his will return to Nome? How will Rikko fair in her first trip up there? Find out in Chapter 2: Nome-ward Bound.