Felicity was waiting up for James to come back to her by the fire. It was past midnight and she was beginning to worry. When he finally arrived home, she greeted him with a kiss. Felicity immediately detected the scent of Lorelei's perfume on James' body.

"James?"

"Felicity." He took a deep breath and then came out with the truth without delay. "Today, I made it my mission that the Baronness von Rheingarten know the truth. Lorelei is her name. I am ashamed to admit that I had relations with her."

"And here I was going to tell you that the Baron had behaved like a perfect gentleman." She said bitterly.

"Felicity, I swear to you that it was the first and last time that I will betray you. I didn't want to hurt you; I need von Rheingarten to know my pain- to understand what he is asking of all of us. Everything is out in the open now and he and I are on equal ground; we can move forward however Genie wants to now. I love you and ask you to forgive me as I once forgave you."

He reached for her hand, but Felicity turned away to stare at the fire. "Well-played, James."

"You're angry with me, of course."

"Quite." Felicity was seething, yet she remained reasonable. The heated rows of their younger days had long since faded. James had married her when she was young and frightened, pregnant with his child. Later he'd uprooted himself to provide a better future for her child by another man. Of course she would forgive his one indiscretion despite her hurt. "But we've survived worse," she reminded him. "Affairs, at our age? I suppose we should feel lucky."

"I am lucky indeed," he said, remembering their grandchildren. "Luckier still if you find it in your heart to forgive me."

"Go have a shower. I'll put out the fire." Felicity began to jab aggressively at the logs with a poker.

"Let me help you," James reached for the fire tongs and separated the logs. They worked together to extinguish the fire that had been burning for some time, yet the stubborn embers still glowed brightly. Felicity poured a pitcher of water on the hearth and then James stirred it about with the poker. The mix of smoke and steam erased the baroness' perfume from his person.

James took Felicity's hand and together they went upstairs.

The next morning, Eugénie arose from her bed and looked at herself in the mirror, scrutinizing her own face. Do I look like him? She wondered what Heinrich had looked like as a younger man. After a good ten minutes of self-reflection she decided to make her way downstairs for breakfast.

Eugénie found her father at the stove this time tending the eggs while her mother seemed to be staring sullenly into her coffee cup. "How's my little girl this morning?" James asked.

"I'm not a little girl anymore." She retorted, though she instantly regretted her tone as she saw her father's face fall. She realised how insecure he must be feeling.

"Oh, Dad. I only meant that… I'm grown up now."

"I know, darling." He offered her some eggs. "And I only wanted to know if you're all right. How was it yesterday?"

"Fine." She took a moment to push the eggs around her plate before elaborating. "Things make more sense now."

"Things?" Her father prompted.

"Like how you are always so over-protective of me. Or why we never had a Christmas tree."

"Oh, that. You know how it is, Genie. We're so busy with the plants in the shop all throughout December that I don't even want to look at another sprig of mistletoe or another bough of holly by the time the season's over. It's an exhausting time, and Hannah and the children keep the Jewish tradition anyway, so a tree at home hardly seems necessary."

Eugénie saw through his thin excuses. "Oh please, Dad. You always say that it's a German tradition."

James conceded with a nod. "Fair enough, Genie. This year, we shall have the grandest tree of them all. And I am not just saying that to indulge you. I have made my peace with it, our dealings with the Baron. You are, as you said yourself, a young woman now. You are free to make your own decisions. I will support you whatever path you choose."

Eugénie blinked back her tears as they embraced. She suddenly felt hungry for the first time since she'd learned the truth. She at last began to eat heartily.

Felicity, who had been watching in silence, reached over and took James' hand. He looked up and saw that she was crying. "I love you, James," she whispered.

"And I you, Felicity."

Two months had elapsed since the Baron's visit when Philip Dorr intercepted the first letter from the Baron to his sister. It would be the first of many.

"You can't keep it from her," Hannah protested when Phil showed her the offending envelope.

"I suppose not, but I don't like it. I wish he had never turned up here. Why couldn't the Baron have left well enough alone?"

"Phil, I don't like it either, but everyone seeks redemption, even a Nazi commandant- especially a Nazi commandant. He knows that he has a lot to answer for. Your parents too; they're still seeking to redeem themselves all these years later. It's why your mum fusses so much over everyone; she's still trying to atone for her sins that could have torn your family apart several times over. And why your dad's so devoted to Genie; he never forgave himself for Eugène Lasalle's death. They're all just trying to make the situation right."

"I still don't trust the Baron. I suppose there's no way for me to steam this letter open and then reseal it without Genie knowing?"

"Afraid not, my love. The die was cast long ago. It's time to let it play out." Hannah took the envelope from his hands and kissed him tenderly.

Eugénie herself had remained quiet on the whole affair after her meeting with the Baron. She was still treading carefully between love for her father and curiosity about the man who'd sired her. Even her boyfriend Trevor- who was left in the dark about what had been revealed- had noticed that the extroverted Eugénie had become withdrawn and mysterious. She had to find her own way through this.

When Eugénie came to the florist shop after her morning classes to work the afternoon behind the counter, Philip greeted her with a mournful look.

"What is it, Phil?" She asked.

He said nothing yet handed her an envelope. Once she read the return address, she scampered into the back room to read it.

Later that evening, Eugénie went up to Hannah and Philip's flat above the store for dinner. As she helped Hannah do the dishes, she finally shared what was on her mind.

"Hannah, I've been having a think these last few weeks," she started. "I wasn't sure I wanted to ask you this, but this letter I've received has tipped the scales. I need to know more about where I come from. Would you be able to teach me German? Just between you and me?"

Hannah paused for a moment. She hadn't even taught her own children German because she wanted them to be English; there was still a post-war stigma associated with all things German. The idea of having someone to share her childhood memories with appealed to her. She too would have the opportunity to redeem her heritage.

"Gerne, Eugenia. Gerne."

FIN

Author Note: I realise that this may not be the ending that you were hoping for (what exactly is a good portmanteau name for Felicity and the Baron anyway?) but this is how the story unfolded itself to me. Ultimately, Felicity loved them both. She and Heinrich had a special place and time, but her life was with James. The door is open in the end for all three of them to be a part of their daughter's life. Redemption's readers were a precious few, so I want to thank you for sharing in this adventure that I had been writing bit by bit for well over a year before starting the attempt to sew it all together this summer. Over the next few days, I will be finally responding to your reviews and PMs that I've been neglecting. Merry Christmas, and I will see you back on the Lewis page soon!