spending time with his niece (Haylen)

Lilyana looked at him, not having heard of the place yet, but she trusted him with that choice.
"Sounds like there are a lot of adventures to live." she said with excitement.

Thomas nodded as they got to the car, after it was unlocked, Lilyana got in the front, Thomas put her bag in the back seat, then walked around and got in the driver's seat, pulling out after he buckled up and started the car

Lily watched him and then looked out of the window, thinking about some song she learned when living in Germany.

Thomas glanced over at her every so often as he drove, she reminded him of Colleen in a way

"Uncle Thomas?" she asked after a while, looking at him.

"Yes Lilyana?" Thomas asked, they were on the highway by this time

"Do you think we can go swimming?" she asked. She always liked swimming.

"We can" Thomas replied, "You like to do that?" he asked

"Love it. My... father went swimming with me, we sometimes had small compitions." Lilyana told him.

Thomas nodded in reply, "I bet you can't bet me" he teased

"But it's worth a try." she challenged, grinning at him. "I was quite good."

Thomas nodded, "I'll bet you are" he replied

Lilyana giggled in reply.

Thomas smiled when Lilyana giggled, two hours later, they got to the campsite

Lilyana was getting really excited now, looking around curiously.

Thomas drove up into the first open site he found, which was close to a stream, he parked, then looked at Lilyana, seeing how happy she was

"Looks amazing around here." she said and looked at Thomas with a smile. "But as the scouts in Germany said... build the camp first then go off for adventures."

Thomas nodded in reply, "Thats good advice" he replied, having heard a similar line when he was in the military

"Went with the scouts several times." she said proudly.

Thomas looked at her, "Is that so lass?" he replied

"Aye." Lilyana replied, smiling at him.

Thomas smiled back, then got out of the car and walked around the back, opening the trunk, he got the tent out first

Lilyana quickly joined him, eager to help with whatever she could.

"Can you take this over to the clearing and get it spread out?" Thomas asked her

"Yes, sir!" she said eagerly and got to her task, enjoying the outside and her new surroundings.