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Chapter 25

"Ellie! I'm home!" Serena shouted as she entered her house, Hanssen right behind her. "Ellie!?" She went through to the living room, returning when she saw it was empty and paused as she noticed a note on the sideboard in the hallway.

Dad's in town, gone for food, my mobile's dead so I'll make sure I'm back by 11 at the latest.

Love you. E x

Serena turned to Hanssen and rolled her eyes, sighing. "The wanderer returns and she goes running!" she commented as she reached down to take off her shoes, Hanssen doing the same.

"Does she miss her father when he's not around?" he asked as she stood up straight and frowned.

"I suppose she must do on some level, even though he's never really been around." She smiled and shrugged as she headed towards the kitchen, calling over her shoulder. "Wine?"

"Yes please." he answered, watching her walking down the hallway swiftly, a smile creeping onto his lips.

"Go on through, I'll be there now!" she shouted back at him, so he did as he was asked and went through to the living room, taking a seat on the sofa. She came back quickly, a bottle of chilled white wine and two glasses in her hands. "Is white okay?" He nodded as she breathed a sigh of relief and sat down beside him, pouring the glasses.

"I'm not thirsty." he said suddenly as she stopped pouring and turned to face him. He had a dark look in his eyes as she slowly screwed the top back onto the bottle and placed it on the floor next to the table. Turning back to face him, she feigned innocence.

"Well I don't know what else I can offer you..." she said as he smiled and placed one hand on the back of her neck and the other on her waist, shifting closer.

"I have something in mind." he said quietly, kissing her neck and trailing his lips across her chest as she leant back, her fingers in his hair, and closed her eyes.

Breathing heavily, feeling that familiar dull ache she had come to love, she looked up at Hanssen as he stared at the ceiling, absently stroking her arm. She smiled, laying her head on his chest, listening to his heart beating. They had needed this, to show each other that everything was okay, that they still loved each other. She had felt closer to him than she ever had before as he had run his hands down her back, moaning into her chest as she sat astride him on the sofa, both moving rhythmically together. She rested her hand on his chest and saw him reach his hand over and link their fingers tight. Closing her eyes momentarily, she opened them again, taking a breath and pushing herself up to sitting. She looked around and saw the discarded clothes and scattered cushions strewn across the floor, and she blushed. Hanssen reached a hand up to her face and pushed away a stray strand of hair.

"I Love you." he said truthfully, as she turned to look at him and felt her heart leap.

"Love you too." She leant and kissed his lips briefly before leaning across him and reaching for the bottle of wine...resting across his stomach as she poured two glasses then sitting back and handing one to him. She dropped her hand behind the sofa and came into contact with soft material. Smiling, she pulled the blanket out and pulled it over them both, hiding their modesty. She sat sipping her wine as Hanssen still lay sprawled along the sofa. She shifted so she was sat at the opposite end to him, legs outstretched alongside his, staring at him. As he took a few gulps of wine, Serena smiled. "Well you're certainly thirsty now." He narrowed his eyes, tipping back the rest of the glass, smacking his lips and replacing the glass on the table.

"Thirsty work." he commented, sitting up and shifting towards her, reaching for her beneath the blanket. Her eyes widened slightly as a smile crept onto her lips.

"What, already!?" He simply stared back at her as she drained her glass, placing it on the floor and pulling back the blanket. His hands ran up her thighs, pulling her down into the sofa as he leant over her and kissed her softly.

"More?" Hanssen asked as she nodded her head eagerly, opening her mouth as he popped a piece of chocolate in gently and sat back watching her savouring the taste.

"Hmm...coconut!" she smiled as he nodded and she turned to reach for one from the bowl, turning back to him. "Open wide." she smirked as he obeyed and she popped a chocolate in his mouth, watching as he tried to tell what the flavour was.

"Hazelnut." he said simply as she nodded and he brought his lips to hers.

"Mmm, and very nice too." she commented as they lay back down in each others' arms, her pulling the blanket back over them. They had relocated to the living room floor after Serena had lit the fire, seeking the warmth. They lay in silence for a few moments until she spoke softly.

"What was your mother like?" she asked him, feeling his heart beating slightly faster. She held him tighter, waiting for him to answer, one way or another.

"She was beautiful." he whispered, thinking back to what he could remember. "She had very long dark hair and it was always loose and flowing, unless she was worried. When she worried she would tie it up in a tight bun, wanting nothing to get in the way of her thoughts." he smiled at the memory of his mother sat in the garden with her hair tied tightly in a bun, her face etched with concern. A seven year old Henrik had wandered up to her and handed her the biggest, brightest yellow snapdragons he had ever seen. Her eyes lit up as she gazed at the beautiful flower, looking up at Henrik and smiling. She reached her hand up to her hair and removed the band, allowing her hair to tumble freely as she reached for him and pulled him towards her, tickling him. He sighed as he brought his mind back to the present and realised Serena was looking up at him, a loving look on her face.

"Go on." He smiled, thinking back again.

"She would bake on Tuesdays and Fridays. I remember this because those were the days my grandmother would visit. She would bake 'Pepparkakor', essentially a spiced cookie, for me and 'Kryddkaka', a spice cake for herself, my father and her mother." He stroked Serena's shoulders as she lay on her front, resting her chin on her folded arms on his chest, looking up at him. "The entire house would smell for days after, smell like home. I have never smelt anything like that since." he admitted, looking down at Serena. "She used to have a wonderful way of making me see the wonder in everything. In many respects, she saw things the way a child would, with awe and innocence. We would take walks along the lake at the bottom of our garden and watch the wildlife all around us. We'd lie in the grass and listen to the crickets and the bees as they flew overhead." Serena watched him, noticing how relaxed he was, thinking back to a happier time. She didn't want his mood to end, but inevitably it did. "It was only a few weeks later that my father disappeared. Mother was beside herself with worry. She contacted the 'Polisen' on a daily basis, but no one could locate him. She convinced herself that he was dead, that he had been attacked and killed somewhere." he paused, taking a breath. "Each day that passed, her hair remained tied up for longer, until one day, she couldn't face life without him anymore." he said sadly, running his hand up and down Serena's back, causing her to quiver. "I remember my grandmother telling me...all she said was "She isn't here anymore.".Serena reached her hands up and placed them on either side of his face as she bent and kissed his lips gently. Pulling back, she looked deep into his eyes and turned serious.

"I'm here." In that moment, he loved her more than he had before. He pulled her down to him and wrapped his arms around her waist, holding their bodies together.