English is not my native language and I'm still looking for a beta reader, so if there are spelling or grammar mistakes… I'm sorry! But you can still apply for the job as my beta reader!

Disclaimer: Sadly, I do not own the characters of "Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman"… One Beth Sullivan does… But I do own the characters Jonas "John" Kerrigan and Elena!

Rating: I don't know anything about these ratings, but let's say T or PG-13. Just to be safe...

Warnings: I know that in the official Dr. Quinn timeline Hank's Nana is introduced in Season 4, so after Dr. Mike's and Sully's wedding. However, in my story they aren't married yet, but they already do know Ilse. So, in my timeline the events concerning Hank and his Nana in the episode "Woman of the Year" have already happened. So this story is slightly AU… I hope it doesn't bother you…

This story is the sequel to "Past Fears" and "Child of Mine". If you haven't read those stories I suggest you do that first. Otherwise this story won't make a lot of sense… I think…

Summary: Hank is trying to pick up his life again, with a little help from Elena. However, there still is a man out there who doesn't want to see Hank happy…

Chapter 1

Elena sat at her desk in her room and looked outside. It was late in the afternoon and she knew that in a few hours the saloon would be crowded with people. That also meant that all the peace and quiet she was experiencing now would be over. The sun was shining brightly and as spring was approaching the temperature outside was quite pleasant as well. Elena watched as some children played across the saloon. She smiled at them. She thought about the children at the Denver Art School, the place where she used to work. She hadn't been there for almost three months now. The last time was when Zack died. She closed her eyes at the thought and sighed deeply. Then she looked at the tiny little book in front of her; her diary. She didn't write in it very often, but sometimes, writing in it made her feel better, especially when she was feeling sad or angry. Like today…

Dear diary,

It's been a while since I've written something. Well, I've been too busy to write… It's been almost three months now, since Zack's death. It sounds so long ago, but I remember it like it was yesterday… I'll never forget his still form, the blood… not to mention the incredible sad and desperate look in his father's eyes as he found him. I never knew my heart could truly break until I saw that look… On that very moment was also the first time that I realized that I loved Hank. I couldn't leave him alone… I couldn't let him deal with this on his own… so I decided to help… I believe I've already told you that in the previous entry…

Anyway, it hasn't been easy. Especially in the beginning… One moment he seemed to be alright… the next he was moody, angry… sometimes out of control! He scared me sometimes… yelling at me… I even thought of leaving at one point. But again… I couldn't… I couldn't bare the thought of leaving him alone… I couldn't bare the thought of me being without him either… I know we don't know each other that long yet… we don't even know that much ABOUT each other! But whenever I'm around him it's like I've known him for years! And I know he feels the same… What do I know about Hank? Nothing really… except that he's from Colorado Springs and that he found his son slaughtered in the woods… and that he's gorgeous! Oh God, I feel like a teenage girl again…

What does he know about me? Probably even less… We just haven't had the time yet! The grieving… me helping him to get his life back in order… We just haven't had the time yet to really get to know each other. I hope that that time still comes… And I hope he'll still like me then… I know he likes me. I even think that he LOVES me! He said he doesn't know anything about love… he doesn't know that whatever he's feeling for me is love… or just affection…

He's doing better now, although… he still has his moments… Then he yells at me. It's like I'm the only one he wants to yell at… REALLY yell at… Cursing me, sometimes blaming me… Although it hurts me, I know that he doesn't mean it. That's how it always ends… He falls down on his knees… lowering his head… sobbing… It's like I'm the only person he can cry with as well. He sobs and apologizes to me… saying that he didn't mean what he said… Asking for my forgiveness… The only thing I can do is wrap my arms around him and cry with him… and I forgive him…

But we have good times as well! I love his sense of humour… And I love to tease him! And he loves to be teased… It's amazing how many feelings we share with each other, even though we hardly know each other… I don't even know what age he is… I don't even think he knows my last name… But somehow it doesn't seem important right now… Could this be true love? Yesterday night he yelled at me again… called me some names I don't care to repeat… Afterwards he asked me: "Why do you put up with me? Why do you even bother to help me?" I had asked myself the same questions over and over in the last few months, and I just kept coming up with one answer: "Because I love you…"

Love,

Elena

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The next day Elena was in a very bad mood. Hank had left early in the morning to do some business in a nearby town, which left her to clean up the mess in the saloon! And it was a big mess… The place had been crowded the night before, which had been good for business. However, the more men drink the more annoying they become… especially to women AND each other. Before Hank and Elena had realized it, a few guys had started a fight, which turned the place upside down. Hank had raised his voice a few times, but it had been of no avail. He had thought of breaking up the fight with his bare hands, but there were so many men involved that he had decided to stay out of it. He had sent the girls up to their rooms and had asked bystanders to leave as quiet as possible. Fortunately for Hank and Elena the men had suddenly decided to take the fight outside, however, the damage had already been done. "We'll clean it up tomorrow," Hank had said. Elena had agreed, not knowing then that she would have to do it on her own.

She looked at the enormous mess in the saloon and wondered how she was going to clean this place up before tonight. Because tonight the saloon should be open again for customers. "Men!" she muttered under her breath as she grabbed a broom. There was broken glass everywhere on the floor, so she decided to clean that up first. Her mood didn't improve as she cut her hand on a shard of glass. "Damn it!" she yelled and immediately dropped everything she had in her hands. She sighed before searching for a towel or some cloth she could wrap her hand in.

Behind her Elena heard the doors of the saloon swing open. "We're closed!" she said without turning around to see who it was. "Miss?" she heard someone saying. Elena turned around and saw an old lady standing in the doorway. "Can I help you?" Elena asked her gently. The old lady smiled at her. "Yes," she answered, "I'm looking for my grandson." Elena looked at her questioningly. "I think you should ask somewhere else," she said to the old lady, "There are only ladies living here…" The old lady shook her head. "No, Hans lives here… at least he was the last time I was here…" the old lady said to Elena. "Hans?" Elena answered and gave her a confused look. Who on earth is Hans? Elena thought. She had no idea what the old woman was talking about. She must be demented or something… There's no Hans living here… only a Hank and he… Oh no… "You're not talking about Hank, are you?" she asked a little incredulously. But to her surprise the woman happily nodded. "Yes! Hans!" she answered with a big smile on her face. "I'm his grandmother…"

TBC

Okay, it took a while, but here it is! The first chapter of the final story of this trilogy. It's a bit short maybe, but I'll make it up to you in the next chapters! I think… I hope… Anyway, let me know what you think! R & R please!