Thank you all for your reviews. I'm so glad you're enjoying it. A slightly shorter chapter this time but hopefully I will get the next one up tomorrow.

Allvar och gamman trives gärna samman.

(Seriousness and pleasure should thrive together.)

They walked along the pedestrianized street until they reached a department store called Ahlens. They entered at the cosmetics department and walked through until they reached some escalators. Serena paused and looked around. Hanssen looked rigid and out of place amongst frivolity of the perfumes and makeup.

'You can leave me to it and I'll meet you somewhere when I'm done.' She suggested.

'And risk losing track of each other when you have no phone?' Hanssen raised an eyebrow. 'No, it's fine. I have no other business to attend to.'

'Right.' Serena gave an unenthusiastic smile. Having Henrik Hanssen trailing around after while she shopped was not ideal.

She was tempted to go to the lingerie department and test his embarrassment threshold but decided not to be mean. She was after all, somewhat at his mercy for the next few days.

They found her a pair of gloves first and as she paid for them she thought again about how he had taken her hands in his. For a man who was so aloof and frigid it had been a remarkable act of intimacy. She chose to believe that the shiver his move had elicited in her was simply due to the cold and perhaps surprise at the unexpected move. Henrik Hanssen was certainly a chivalrous man, she had become more and more aware as the day wore on of his small but gallant gestures and she had to admit she enjoyed it. It had been a long time since she had been the object of a man's chivalry and it made her feel ridiculously special.

Hanssen watched as Serena paid for her gloves. He had enjoyed her company today. Serena had a lively curiosity and as they had walked around the Old Town he had explained the history and culture of the area and she had listened and questioned with interest. It had been such a long time since he had enjoyed the company of another like this, particularly that of woman. He was surprised by how much he enjoyed the role of attentive companion and the little excuses to touch her arm or place his hand in the small of her back to guide her. He had not realised how much he had missed this kind of interaction.

As they made their way towards the escalator a man hurried up to Henrik holding out a 100SEK note.

'Din fru tappade den här.'

'Hon är inte ... tack.' Hassen replied, not bothering to finish correcting the man that Serena was not his wife.

Serena looked at him curiously.

'You dropped this.' He said, handing her the money.

'Oh.' She took it. 'Thanks.' She smiled.

He smiled back and they made their way to the clothing department upstairs. They walked along pausing every now and again so Serena could look at various items she thought Eleanor might like. She asked opinion every now and again just to make conversation and because she quite liked the way his eyebrows would arch into that slightly mocking look of his.

They were paused in a section devoted to Swedish designer Flippa K when a male voice called out.

'Henrik! Vad gör du här?'

They turned and saw a bald headed man and a blonde woman approaching them. Serena didn't notice how Hanssen's face froze.

' Varför inte du berätta att du var i Stockholm?' the man continued and reached out to shake Hanssen's hand when he reached them. 'Hej.' the man added with a curious look when he noticed Serena.

'Nils. Maja.' Hanssen nodded and shook both their hands.

'Vad gör du här?' the man repeated.

Serena noticed the woman said nothing but looked Hanssen up and down before turning her curious gaze to Serena.

'I'm here for a few days on business.' Hanssen replied. Reluctantly he introduced Serena. 'This is Ms Campbell, a colleague of mine. Ms Campbell this is Nils and Maja Johansson.'

Nils shook Serena's hand enthusiastically. Maja less so but still polite and smiling.

'It's nice to meet you.' Serena said.

'So...' Nils grinned. 'What kind of business do you do in ladies clothing departments these days Henrik?'

Serena smirked at the look on Hanssen's face.

'You should have told us you were coming.' Maja said.

'It's just a short trip.' Hanssen replied. 'Ms Campbell wants to purchase a gift for her daughter so...' he began to move away. 'It was nice seeing you both.'

All three stared at him in surprise.

'Uh... must you rush off?' Nils asked.

'Ms Campbell...' Hanssen began.

'Is in no rush if you want to have a catch up.' Serena cut him off before he could use her as an excuse.

'Well...' Hanssen tried to think of another excuse.

'How old is your daughter?' Maja asked.

'Fifteen.' Serena replied.

'Then I think I know the perfect shop for you to get her something. A young Swedish designer who is a big hit with that age group.' Maja said.

'That would be great.' Serena replied.

Maja turned to Hanssen. 'Why don't I bring Ms Campbell to that shop and we can meet you and Nils in say half an hour?'

'Good idea!' Nils replied.

Hanssen did not look as though he thought it was a good idea. Serena wondered why he seemed so reluctant to spend time with these people they seemed very pleasant.

'Maja and I were going to a restaurant nearby for dinner. Why don't we all go?' Nils suggested. 'Henrik and I can go and get us a table and you ladies can meet us there.' He noticed the look on Hanssen's face. 'Unless you have other plans. We don't want to bully you!' he smiled.

Hanssen relented. 'No, it's fine. We were going to look for somewhere to eat soon anyway.' He smiled stiffly.

'Right,' Maja said cheeerfully. 'We'll see you there then.'

Maja and Nils began to move on but Serena hung back to whisper to Hanssen.

'You sure about this? You didn't seem very keen to spend time with them.' She asked. 'Who are they?'

'It's fine.' He said. 'They are... old friends. We went to university together.'

'Right.' She gave him a strange look. She really could not figure this man out. Perhaps she could get some clues from Maja.