Helmut was sipping on a coffee when Amelia finally came around the next morning and graced him with her presence. She trudged into the sitting room, her hair a mess around her head and her body still covered in the green dress from the night before. Her makeup was smudged and she looked an utter state. Helmut couldn't deny that, but he also couldn't deny that he found it rather entertaining as he watched her sink down onto the armchair across from where he sat on the couch.
"I take it you don't want any breakfast?" he asked from her.
She held a hand up. "If you mention food again then I think I might vomit on this carpet," she warned him.
He chuckled and placed his cup of coffee down. "What a lovely image," he said. "And please don't do that. The cleaning bill would cost me a fortune."
"Ha ha," Amelia said sarcastically. "But I will have some coffee if there is any."
"I had a pot brought up. Let me pour you a mug."
"I can get it."
"I insist."
Amelia didn't even bother fighting him as he moved to his feet and headed over to the dining table where the pot sat. He arched a brow as he poured another cup.
"You didn't even argue with me, you must be ill," he commented and she rolled her eyes as he handed her the mug and she cradled it in her hands. "Do you even remember what happened last night?"
"I remember you getting me drunk," she said to him. "Insisting on trying nearly every whiskey in that bar."
"You were more than agreeable to continue drinking," he said to her and she scoffed.
"You corrupted me," she insisted.
"Believe me, if I wanted to corrupt you then I would other methods," he said to her and she didn't know what that meant as she looked to him and he wondered if she was thinking what he was thinking. She swore she saw his gaze dart down to her lips as she licked them with the tip of her tongue. Placing the mug to her mouth, she took a big gulp of the coffee and he looked back to the newspaper he had been reading.
"Selby will be expecting us tonight," Helmut informed Amelia. "I have spoken to my contact from EKO and warned him in advance."
"Good," Amelia said with a nod. "And do you think that Selby won't want to kill us after what happened to Jacob and his goons?"
"I think if she has any sense then she would see that they were loose cannons and we did her a favour by taking care of them," Helmut said. "No, I think Selby took a shine to you especially. She liked your spirit. I think she appreciated it. But, if things do turn south, then we will get out of there as soon as we can."
"So you're not insisting on going alone?"
"I believe my words would just fall on death ears," Helmut said.
"You're not wrong," Amelia agreed with him on that point. "And you're finally realising that."
"It's taken me a while," he drawled back to her. "But as soon as we have the information from Selby tonight, we are on the first flight back to London, is that understood?"
"I'm not going to argue with that," she assured him and took another sip of her coffee. "So I have another full day to sober up before we go and see her?"
"Well, you have about nine hours," he said. "So I suggest you start drinking lots of water."
"Got it," Amelia said. "But firstly, I'm going to go for a bath because I need to clean up. Are you doing anything today?"
"I had no plans," he said. "I'll be here."
"Alright then," Amelia said and she stood up, putting her mug down on the coffee table and moving back to her room as Helmut watched her go and he shook his head, a hand running down his cheek as his eyes darted down her back, lingering where he knew they shouldn't and he cursed himself, knowing that he had to do something to clear his mind and he had to do it soon.
…
Amelia had left the buttons to her red jacket undone, letting it hang down her body loosely as she stuffed her hands into the pockets of the matching red trousers. The black vest top had been tucked into the waistband and she had left her engagement ring on her finger this time, fully intending on keeping her hand in her pocket. They had packed all of their belongings and checked out of the hotel.
Their luggage was currently in a car that Helmut had paid to wait for them just outside of Lowtown. As soon as their business with Selby was done then they were going. They were booked on a two a.m. flight back to London, cutting their trip to Madripoor short. While they had anticipated being there for five nights, Helmut didn't want to stay for any longer than he had to be and so he had paid for their flights to be changed, not caring about the extra expense.
When they entered Selby's bar this time, there was no one who questioned who they were. They were led to the back room without any question and Helmut was surprised to see Amelia so calm and collected. There were no deep breaths or threats of hyperventilating. She almost looked like she belonged as she confidently sat down across from Selby.
"You two make quite the couple," Selby drawled. "You come to Lowtown and cause a scene in my bar with Jacob and then the next thing I hear is that he's dead down some alley with no one to blame."
"A tragedy for you, I'm sure," Helmut drawled to her. She continued smirking as he folded one leg over the other and leant back as Amelia sat forwards, an arm dangling over her leg and the other hand holding her chin.
"He was an idiot," Amelia said to her and Helmut wondered just what the hell she was doing as she spoke. "He followed us out of here and intended on killing us. We presumed you hadn't ordered him to do that."
"You would presume correctly. We had a business arrangement and I had intended on honouring that arrangement."
"Then you need men who will obey you and not kill your colleagues," Amelia said to her. "Jacob followed us and fully intended on killing us, but not before taking me somewhere and raping me. You'll appreciate why I put a bullet in his chest, I presume?"
Helmut was quiet, his teeth grinding together. He didn't want to make a scene by telling Amelia to be quiet because he knew she would just argue back. Instead, he remained stoic as Amelia and Selby continued their conversation, almost as if he wasn't even there.
"If there's one thing I hate, it's a man who thinks he can force himself on a woman."
"I agree," Amelia said. "And Jacob had intended on doing just that and so I showed him the error of his ways. And, even if Helmut had paid for me, that doesn't give Jacob the right to think that he can do the same. Women aren't pieces of meat. In fact, unlike men, we have the ability to think with our brains more than they sometimes do or can."
Selby chuckled and stood up, moving around the room and heading to her drink cart. She poured herself a shot of tequila and downed it in one. Looking to the couple on the couch, she let her eyes move over to the Baron.
"You've got yourself a firecracker there, Baron," Selby said to him. "But I like her."
"I'm rather fond of her myself," Helmut said and Amelia suspected he had said that simply for display. She remained mute, wondering just what was going to happen now. "But we are here to conduct business."
"All business with you, isn't it?" Selby checked, downing another shot. "But you'll be pleased to know that I have the information that you want."
She fiddled in the inside pocket of the striped jacket she was wearing and pulled out an envelope. She slid it across the table and towards Helmut. He reached for it and Amelia watched him peel it open and look inside. He tugged out the piece of folded paper and looked down at the address.
"He's been apprehended?" he checked.
"The Avengers got to him before you could," Selby said and Amelia looked at the newspaper clipping, wondering how they could have missed this. It was that morning's news and it showed Captain America leading the man away with an arm behind him back, clearly having detained him. "No doubt he'll be locked up in a prison cell, so you won't get to him."
Amelia almost felt deflated. They'd had a wasted trip.
"But that doesn't mean I don't want my information. A deal is a deal and I did hold up my end of the bargain," Selby said and Helmut nodded, now feeling nothing at all over betraying her. He reached for the white envelope in his own jacket pocket and slid it over to her.
She picked it up and read the information with intrigue, her eyes scanning over it slowly. "Excellent," she drawled and then left the envelope on the space next to her. "Well, it's been a pleasure doing business with you both. I would invite you to stay for a drink, but I get the feeling you have other places to be."
"You would be correct," Helmut said and moved to his feet. He offered Amelia his hand and she took hold of it, his fingers engulfing hers as she stood by his side and he looked down to her, finding himself entranced by the way she held herself so confidently. "We have done our business and now we have no reason to stay in Madripoor."
"And do you typically hold hands with all your associates?" Selby wondered, picking up on the gesture. But Helmut didn't let her hand go. Selby's brow arched. "Perhaps Jacob had been right with his assumption?"
"Can associates not just fuck?" Amelia asked and Helmut almost clucked her tongue at her crude language. "This is the twenty-first century, women can be with whoever they want to be without being thought of poorly."
Selby laughed again as Helmut's grip on her hand tightened. Looking to the woman, Amelia took charge of the situation once more, needing to get out of that place before she finally cracked.
"Anyway, if that's everything, we'll be leaving. A pleasure as always," Amelia declared.
"I hope I'll see you around sometime. We could always use more women with guts in Lowtown."
"Never say never," was all that Amelia offered her and she began to leave the room, giving Helmut no other option but to follow her as she dragged him by the hand. He was about to complain, but he kept his thoughts to himself as they left the bar and headed back along the main road. Her hand not once left his, but this time it was her clinging tightly onto him as though she was too scared to let him go.
He didn't mind as he ran his thumb over her knuckles and they approached the car. He held the door open for her and she climbed in before he did the same, slamming his door shut.
"Airport," was all he said to the driver and then turned to Amelia. "What the hell was all of that?"
"What?" she asked from him.
"You…taking charge…what you said…it could have gotten us in trouble," Helmut said.
"I just did what I thought was right. You said yourself, Selby took a shine more to me than to you," she reminded him. "And I knew how to work her. I understood her more than you did and what she was about. I just did what I had to do to get us in and out of there as quickly as possible. Don't tell me you're mad with me."
"Would you care if I was?"
"Not particularly," she drawled, sitting back in her seat and letting her arms flap down by her side.
"I'm not mad," he said to her. "In fact, I'm more than impressed with you. Where did all of that come from?"
"You want the truth?" Amelia wondered.
"Always," he said.
"I think I'm still a bit drunk," she confessed and looked to him, fully expecting him to be annoyed with her. But he wasn't. He began chuckling and shaking his head as Amelia's own lips arched upwards with amusement and she looked out the window as Helmut looked over her face and he knew he was getting in way too deep.
…
The air was turning colder as November came to a close. The Norfolk coastline was particularly bracing and Helmut had found himself going out for early morning runs whenever he could, always eager to try and clear his head. Being in the apartment, he was consumed by Amelia. His every thought went back to her whenever he was there and he couldn't stop himself. He would look to the photograph of Heike on his bedside table and he would question what he was doing.
It was loneliness. He told himself it was loneliness why he found himself watching her and letting his gaze linger far too long on her. It was loneliness why he found himself laid awake at night, imagining her in the room next door and wondering if she was thinking of him like he was thinking of her.
"What is that?"
It was a Saturday morning and Amelia had been out early, Helmut not bothering to ask her where she was going. She would often go out for space on her own and Helmut couldn't blame her for that. There was also the fact that she didn't need to run her every movement by him.
Amelia was stood by her dining table, a roll of wrapping paper next to her and a paper bag there as well. She picked out a jigsaw and Helmut's brow furrowed at the sight of it. The jigsaw was of the Norfolk coastline and was a thousand pieces. The box was quite big as Amelia cut the paper and began wrapping.
"What on earth are you doing with a jigsaw puzzle?" Helmut questioned from her.
"It's a gift," she said to him.
"For who?" Helmut wondered.
She finished her wrapping and peered to look up to him. She bit down on her bottom lip and he tilted his head. He always did that and, for some reason, Amelia found it difficult to ignore. It was almost like a power he had, a questioning gaze and intimidating head tilt to make people tell him anything. But Amelia didn't know how to tell him because, unlike Helmut, she still did have someone.
"Come with me," Amelia said and Helmut confessed himself intrigued.
She tucked the gift underneath her arm and grabbed her coat. She shrugged into it as Helmut did the same. He followed her without question, wondering just what she was hiding from him and where she was taking him as he followed her into her car without a single word. She drove slowly along the streets, heading further inland and through small villages where she had to weave in and out of lanes considering they were too narrow for two cars to pass.
Finally, she pulled up in a car park. Helmut looked out the window onto a grand building. He saw a woman in a wheelchair being pushed outside by a woman dressed in a nurse's uniform and his attention turned to the board that read Old Oaks Care Home.
"My grandma was sick when I was engaged to Lukas," Amelia said, her hands gripping the steering wheel as Helmut turned his eyes to the side to look at her. "She is my mother's mother…and she…she's been diagnosed with cancer. There's nothing the doctors can do for her. She's too frail to be operated on and so it's just a question of how long she has left."
Helmut watched as Amelia's hands ran over the steering wheel and she bowed her head.
"Her mind is as sharp as it ever was," Amelia said. "She was so upset that she couldn't come to Sokovia and visit Lukas's home and be there for his birthday or even make the wedding. And…my mum really didn't think she would live this long. They had been struggling to afford to keep her in this place. They sold her house, but the fees for care homes are insane. They used their savings and Lukas offered to help, but my parents were too proud. They said they could manage."
Still, Helmut remained mute, letting her tell him everything that she clearly wanted to tell him. His eyes moved over her face as she looked back up and over to the building, looking at the ivy-covered brick walls and the grand bay windows.
"When they died, I used most of the money Lukas's family gave me to pay to keep her here," Amelia said. "I…I have just about enough money left for a little while or so if I spend conservatively, hence why that shopping spree was something I was so opposed to."
"Why did you not tell me?" Helmut asked from her.
"Because I'm too proud, I guess. I get it from my parents," Amelia confessed, shrugging her shoulders. "And if I really have to then I can sell Lukas's house in Paris that his family gave me too. Anyway, the only thing that matters is that my grandma is here…she's cared for and she's comfortable."
"Why did you not tell me about her before?"
"Because I only went to see her the other month," Amelia confessed. "I blamed myself for my parents death. You know that. I…Lukas…I asked them to come out to Sokovia. If I hadn't have done that then they would still be here and my grandma and my mum were so close. I didn't want her to blame me for her losing them. What was it she said at the funeral? A child should never go before their parents. That resonated with me and for a long time I was scared of coming to see her in case she blamed me."
"And I can imagine that she didn't," Helmut replied and Amelia smiled over to him.
"How did you guess?"
"Because she's your grandmother," he said to her. "Why would she hate you? You're her family. What happened in Sokovia was not your fault and she would have known that."
"I know, but you know what it's like…the guilt eats away at you," Amelia said and he did know. He knew just as well as she did. "But I thought that you deserved to know that this is where I come when I sneak out…and also…I haven't lost everything. I still have her, but I know that it won't be for much longer."
"Do you know how long?"
Amelia shrugged. "The doctors called me and told me it could be a matter of weeks or months if we're lucky," she said. "And I just hate myself for not visiting her more often. I should have come back from London more to see her because we just don't have that much time anymore. I don't know what's worse sometimes, knowing that someone you love is going to die or not knowing."
"I don't think either one is easy," Helmut whispered and he saw her begin to cry.
She leant forwards, her forehead brushing against the steering wheel as she gripped hold of it. He moved his hand to her back, rubbing it gently as he tried to soothe her. She shook for a few moments before inhaling a breath and straightening herself out. She brushed her eyes with the back of her hands, looking into the rear view mirror to make sure she looked appropriate still.
"I was going to take her that jigsaw as a present for her birthday tomorrow," Amelia said. "You can take the car back if you want. I can get a cab home."
"And leave you in the middle of nowhere?" Helmut asked from her. "I am going nowhere. I'll wait for you."
"You don't have to."
"I want to," he retorted. "I don't want to leave you."
"Well…I mean…you can always come in," Amelia said. "My grandma isn't exactly a sweet, old grandma, but she's funny and pretty dry witted. You know what, forget I asked. Why would you want to-"
"-I'd love to come," he interrupted her, not entirely certain why he was agreeing to this. But then he saw Amelia smile at him and nod once, almost as though she was relieved he had stopped her from babbling.
He climbed out of the car as she did the same and then grabbed the present and card from the backseat. He followed her into the care home where she signed her name and chatted with the woman behind reception. The walls were lined with landscape artwork, a grand staircase in the middle of the room with a stair lift alongside it. The carpet was a bright red and there were reed diffusers dotted around everywhere on the old, oak furniture that had books piled on it and games.
A nurse led them through to a large room that had high backed chairs and sofas dotted around. Helmut looked around, noting that there were nurses talking to the elderly residents, none of them were alone. None of them were alone except for one. Looking to the old woman by the patio doors that overlooked a freshly mown lawn, Helmut couldn't help but think how much she looked like Amelia in the eyes.
She had the same wide gaze and the same pinched nose. Her hair was permed and white. She was dressed in a white shirt and a long, pleated brown skirt with brown shoes. A string of pearls hung around her neck and her face held all the signs of aging.
"Grandma," Amelia beamed widely as she bent down, her purple shirt dress riding up her thighs. She sat down on the couch next to her grandmother, tugging at her thick black tights and crossing her legs, ankle boots knocking together as she shrugged out of her coat. "How're you feeling?"
"Still alive and kicking," her grandmother said.
Helmut unbuttoned the long, black coat he wore to reveal his black turtleneck jumper that he had tucked into his dark jeans.
"Glad to hear it," Amelia said. "I brought someone with me today. He's a friend…Grandma, this is Helmut Zemo. Helmut, this is my grandma, Margaret."
"A pleasure to meet you," Helmut said and he offered her his hand. She took hold of it and he shook it gently, sitting down on the couch next to Amelia.
"Well, he's a charming young man," Margaret said. "And is that a Sokovian accent?"
"You have a sharp ear," Helmut said.
"I have these to thank," she said, pointing to the hearing aid that she was wearing. "Without these I'm as death as a post. It's helpful whenever Jonathan over there starts talking though. If I have to listen to his thoughts on the current government one more time then I won't be held responsible for my actions."
Helmut chuckled. He could finally see where Amelia got her spirit from. It was becoming increasingly clear.
"Grandma, you can't be making enemies in here," Amelia teased her.
"I don't need anymore friends at my age, darling," Margaret said and placed her hand on top of her granddaughter's. "Besides, when you reach my age I think you're entitled not to put up with bullshit."
"Grandma," Amelia hissed and Margaret rolled her eyes.
"I am sure you gentleman friend here has heard much worse," Margaret said.
"My gentleman friend?" Amelia questioned.
"Your boyfriend then?"
"No, grandma," Amelia laughed softly and shook her head back and forth as she turned to Helmut and mouthed 'I'm sorry'. He shrugged back to her, silently assuring her that no harm had been done. He was finding Margaret to be quite refreshing. "He's not my boyfriend. He's a really good friend from Sokovia who is visiting."
"That's a shame, he's a handsome young man."
"I'm flattered," Helmut said to the elderly woman.
Margaret let her gaze roam over him and she noted the wedding ring on his finger. She could remember her daughter telling her about a man named Helmut before. She swore that he came from some kind of Sokovian royalty. Clearly, he had been married or he was still married. Then again, Margaret saw that Amelia still wore her engagement ring on her finger, refusing to take it off for any reason.
"I doubt an old woman like me could flatter you," Margaret said. "So, what is it you are doing over here in this remote part of the world?"
"I came to visit Amelia," Helmut said. "We became quite good friends after what happened to Sokovia. She has been kind enough to let stay in her spare room while I am visiting…and she has shown me some of the sights."
Margaret rolled her eyes. "Are there many sights to see around here?"
"Grandma, come on," Amelia urged from her.
"I told you to get away from here," Margaret said to her granddaughter. "You lived in London and travelled the world for you job. You were going to move back here when you were married and why? What is there for you here? You could have travelled…and now you can go anywhere you want. There is nothing keeping you back."
"Except for my grandma," she deadpanned with her and the woman scoffed.
"Darling, we both know I'm on the way out."
"Don't say that."
"You know it's true."
"And I don't want to think about it," Amelia retorted and her grandmother knew when to drop a conversation. She knew as soon as she saw Amelia looked at her with narrowed eyes that threatened to brim with tears. "So I'm not going anywhere and you're stuck with me."
Margaret's lips arched and she shrugged. "Could be worse," she commented. "I could have been stuck with a worse granddaughter."
"I'm your only granddaughter."
"Exactly my point," Margaret said and looked to Helmut as Amelia began talking, filling the silence with idle conversation. She saw the way he didn't take his gaze from her face, his eyes darting around her features and his lips slightly upturned as Amelia occasionally turned to face him when she mentioned him in conversation.
"Ms Baker."
Amelia looked up as she saw a nurse approach her. "Yeah?" Amelia questioned.
"Would you mind if I had a word?"
"Of course," Amelia said and looked to Helmut. He nodded silently, assuring her he would be fine before she turned to her grandmother. "Be nice," she demanded from her and Margaret held a hand up defensively.
Amelia placed the gift she had bought her grandmother onto the floor and followed the nurse away from the room. Helmut leant forwards and clasped his hands together as Margaret spoke.
"You're married," she commented.
Helmut looked down to his wedding ring and shook his head. He turned to look back to her as his finger toyed with the band, spinning it around slowly. "Widowed," he responded and she gave a knowing nod. "My wife was killed in Sokovia…my son too."
Margaret nodded again and closed her eyes for a moment. "I know how that feels," she said to him. "The fact that Daniela, my daughter, went before me…it's not right, is it? We're supposed to watch them grow and then leave them, not the other way round."
Helmut looked to her and wondered just how much this woman had witnessed. She was clearly in her late eighties. She must have loved and lost before. She had lost her child, just as he had lost his. She knew how it felt and he doubted that the pain was any lessened because of how old Daniela had been.
"My Joe, my husband, he died when he was only fifty-five. It was a car accident. Amelia had only just been born…she never really knew him so she could never really miss him, but I know how it feels to be widowed as well."
Nodding his head, Helmut wondered if he could talk, a lump forming in the back of his throat. Leaning forwards, Margaret felt her limbs ache with the movement as she came closer to Helmut.
"Just know that the pain…it will always be there," Margaret said, a hand going to her chest. "Nothing will ever replace those who you have lost, but that doesn't mean you have to go through life letting it consume you."
"How can you not?" Helmut asked, looking her in the eye.
"Because if you do then you stop living," Margaret told him. "And the people who loved you…the people who cared for you…it isn't what they would want for you. I know it is easier to think that than actually to move on, but it isn't betraying them if you do."
"I…I doubt that I could ever move on," Helmut admitted. "Heike, she was everything to me. Her and Carl were my world."
"Just as Lukas became Amelia's," Margaret said. "And I know she is in pain still. I know that months…years…might pass…and the pain will still be there. But I want her to move on. I want her to have a chance at happiness and I don't want her to be lonely. She acts like such a tough girl, but there's softness on the inside of her."
"I know," Helmut said to her.
"Do you?" Margaret questioned him. "Because in my experience that girl rarely opens up to anyone."
"She is strong," Helmut admitted. "I can see that and I know it, but I can see where she gets it from now. It all makes sense."
Margaret chuckled. "You don't get to my age without learning how to be stubborn," she said. "And I'm not going to be around forever. When I'm gone then she'll have no family left. She'll struggle and I'm not pretending otherwise. I know she avoided me after Sokovia because she felt guilty, but she had no need to. I need to know that there will be someone there for her when the time comes…someone to take care of her."
Helmut wondered what the woman was saying to him. His gaze met hers and she watched him for a few moments, trying to weigh him up. He opened his mouth, shaking his head.
"She's just a friend-"
"-I'm not blind, young man," Margaret interrupted. "You might be able to fool her, but you've hardly taken your eyes off her since you sat down here. I know it is hard and I know that she can be stubborn, but I do know that you're the first person I've seen her smile around since what happened in Sokovia."
"She was my best friend's fiancée," Helmut whispered. "I'm just looking out for her."
"You can keep telling yourself that," Margaret assured him. "But don't tell yourself it forever. You both deserve a chance at happiness and if you can have that then you shouldn't push that feeling away."
"I don't know if I can make you that promise," Helmut said. "But I can promise you that I will look after her."
"What're you two talking about?"
Amelia's voice entered their ears and Helmut watched her sit down back in between them, looking at the two of them expectantly. But he could tell that there was something wrong.
"I was just quizzing Helmut here over what he thinks of Norfolk."
"And I was telling your grandmother that I found it to be rather quaint and picturesque."
Amelia knew they were lying to her, but she didn't push. She just put on a smile they all knew was forced and went back to giving her grandmother the present she had bought her with the birthday card. Helmut listened to Margaret recount tales of Amelia as a child for the next hour as Amelia contradicted everything she said. Soon enough, Margaret began yawning and Amelia suspected she was tired. She called for a nurse who promised Amelia that they would take Margaret back to her room.
"I'll come and visit again in a couple of day's time," Amelia said to her grandmother, standing up and crouching in front of her, holding her hand tightly.
"Alright, dear," Margaret said and Amelia kissed her on the cheek.
Helmut squeezed her shoulder as he walked by and she patted his hand. Amelia watched from the door as a nurse helped her grandmother into her wheelchair and took her back to her room. She only left when she saw her heading down the corridor towards her room, moving outside with Helmut next to her. She shrugged into her coat as they stepped over the gravel-covered driveway, Amelia's boots crunching against the loose stone.
"What's wrong?" Helmut asked her as they approached the car once more.
"They…the doctor has upped her medications," Amelia said to him, folding her arms over herself as she felt a sudden chill take hold of her.
Looking to Helmut as she stood by the driver's side, he remained by the front of the car, giving her some space. She unlocked he car and tried not to break down in front of him, but he could see her bottom lip quivering and he understood what had happened. He moved towards her, not once thinking as he wrapped his arms around her and she didn't hesitate to throw her own arms around him. His hand moved to the back of her head, cradling it softly as she cried against him, her cheek pressed just by his neck. He moved his other hand up and down her back.
"How long?" he dared to question.
"Four weeks…seven maximum," Amelia said. "They said that she tries to hide the pain, but it's getting worse and the cancer…it's spread even more."
He squeezed her tightly as she tried to stop herself from crying. Shaking her head, she managed to move an arm from around him so that she could wipe her eyes.
"It's not even a surprise. I knew this was going to happen," Amelia said.
"It doesn't mean that it hurts any less," Helmut told her and she stepped back from him.
"Sorry," she said. "You didn't sign up for any of this when you came here…to me…"
"I signed up for standing by you through everything," Helmut retorted. "You're my friend, Amelia, and that means I'm going nowhere. Just tell me what you want and I will help."
"I can see why Lukas loved you," Amelia said and he let his own lips arch as she wiped her eyes once more. "Come on, let's go home."
"Let me drive," Helmut said. "And please don't argue with me."
"Wasn't intending on doing that," she said and willingly handed him the keys to the car. He insisted on following her to the passenger door and held it open for her. He shut the door once she was sat down and he went to the driver's side.
He pushed the seat back to give him more room before sitting down and closing the door. Putting the key into the ignition, he started the engine as Amelia stared back at the care home; a hand clenched into a fist and sat by her chin and mouth. He moved his fingers to the hand on her lap and gave it a quick and silent squeeze before putting the car into reverse and driving them back home, Margaret's words still running around his head.
...
A/N: Thanks to the guest reviewer on the previous chapter. We'll be getting back into the action at some stage soon but in the meantime do please let me know what you think!
