Thank you all for your comments. So glad you liked it, I was a bit worried it might be confusing. Because the last chapter was so long in coming I decided to post the next and not keep you waiting to find out how that meal with Nils and Maja went. Nothing shocking to happen yet but brings us back to the original timeline. I do hope you enjoy.

Lika barn leka bäst.

Alike children play the best.

Serena picked out a top and a belt for Eleanor at the shop Maja had brought her to. On their walk there they had made polite small talk about the weather, the flight and Maja had told her about the designer whose shop they were going to.

Serena paid for the items and followed Maja out of the shop.

'Well, that should get me into Eleanor's good books. For once!' Serena said brightly. Maja smiled. 'Do you have children?' Serena asked.

'A son.' Maja answered. 'Fredrick. He's twenty-six.'

'Ah, I always imagine there must be quite a sense of achievement getting through the teenage years.' Serena joked.

Maja laughed. 'We were lucky, I suppose, Fredrick has always been a sensible boy. An old head on young shoulders I think is the saying?'

'Oh I wish I'd had one of those!' Serena said wistfully. 'What does he do?'

'He graduated medical school last year. Top of his class.' Maja's pride was obvious. 'He interns at Karolinska.'

'Oh! That's where Henrik and I are going tomorrow.' Serena said. 'We've been working on creating an exchange programme for interns with Prof Karl Andersson.'

'Ah.' Maja nodded.

Serena raised an eyebrow at Maja's knowing look.

They joined Hanssen and Nils at the restaurant. Serena couldn't figure out Hanssen's relationship with these two. When they arrived at the restaurant Hanssen and Nils appeared to be getting on quite well, despite Hanssen's cool behaviour when they first met. Maybe it was a Swedish thing, Serena thought.

'Did you find something for your daughter?' Nils asked.

'Yes.' Serena raised the bag as proof. 'As I told Maja, that should get me into the good books for a while.' Serena took a seat near Hanssen and left the bag on the floor between their chairs. 'Want to see?' she asked him jokily. He simply raised his eyebrows at her. 'Until you guys rescued him, Henrik had to help me shop!' she said to Nils and Maja.

'He didn't look like there was a gun to his head.' Nils joked.

'To be honest I think he secretly enjoyed it!' Serena whispered loudly, throwing Hanssen a teasing look.

'Yes, you're both very amusing.' Hanssen commented dryly.

The night progressed amiably as they discussed everything from current affairs to telling Serena about Stockholm and every now and again teasing Hanssen. Serena was surprised at what good company Hanssen could be and how relaxed he appeared to be, although she felt that his three glasses of wine had probably helped. For his part Hanssen was not surprised that Serena had charmed both Maja and Nils. Particularly Nils, he noted. He was relieved that they had managed to avoid broaching anything even remotely personal all evening. As he and Nils had waited for the women to arrive, Hanssen had stressed they he wanted no talk of the past and Nils had agreed.

Hanssen watched fondly as Nils examined Serena's phone, after it had come up in conversation that it had not worked since she arrived in Sweden. Nils had been a good friend all those years ago, Hanssen thought. He was a good man.

'Oh my goodness!' Serena exclaimed as she saw the little bars appear on her phone's screen indicating that she had network coverage. 'Thank you. How did you do that?'

'I have no idea.' Nils admitted and they burst into laughter.

Maja was quieter Hanssen noted. She was watching Nils and Serena just as he was, with a fond smile. Hanssen checked the time and Nils noticed him.

'Are you going to say it's time to go home?' Nils asked.

'It is getting a little late.' Hanssen replied. 'We have a meeting tomorrow morning.'

'Oh yes.' Serena said. 'I almost forgot…'

'Almost forgot our reason for being in Stockholm?' Hanssen quipped.

'Nooo!' Serena rolled her eyes. 'It's Maja we have to thank for this whole exchange idea.'

'What?' Hanssen asked.

Maja shook her head. 'Not really. I know Prof Andersson. He mentioned wanting to set up an exchange with a hospital in the UK, I simply suggested he should contact you Henrik. I haven't seen him since and had forgotten all about it. I am glad it appears to have worked out.'

Hanssen nodded almost imperceptibly as he processed this information. He had wondered why Andersson had contacted him out of the blue and the Professor had made no mention of Maja.

'And Maja and Nils' son is an intern at Karolinska. Unfortunately he won't qualify for the programme as it stands but maybe down the line he could pay Holby a visit. Wouldn't that be nice?' Serena said. She wasn't sure, but she suddenly detected a change in the atmosphere.

'Fredrick is away this week with his girlfriend.' Nils said. 'So you won't see him tomorrow.'

Still no one spoke.

'They have gone to Paris.' Nils continued.

'How nice for them.' Serena smiled. 'Young love eh?'

'Yes. Oh to be young again!' Nils said. 'Her name is Maria. Her parents are Italian. She's a nice girl.'

Maja made a slight face.

'Yes she is!' Nils insisted.

'It's a mother's prerogative not to approve.' Serena said with a smile.

'She's highly strung.' Maja said. 'I don't know why they are still together, all they do is fight.'

'All they do is make-up!' Nils said grinning.

'The only good reason to have an argument!' Serena said with a knowing look.

'Exactly! The boy knows what he's doing.' Nils winked. 'Fredrick is almost too sensible sometimes but he has a definite weakness for fiery women.' He glanced sideways at Maja. 'I cannot blame him!'

Hanssen listened but remained impassive during the conversation. Taking advantage of the lull he checked his watch again and moved in his chair.

'It really is time we were going.' He said.

During the journey back to his apartment Hanssen was quiet and Serena wondered what had brought about the change.

'I enjoyed myself today.' She said as they walked into the apartment.

'I am glad.' Hanssen replied, although she could not tell from his tone whether he meant it or not.

She stood awkwardly in his living room waiting as he locked up.

'Would you like a glass of water, some tea?' he asked when he appeared.

'A glass of water would be good.' She said and he disappeared again to the kitchen.

She thought back over the evening's conversations. There was something about Nils and Maja and Hanssen's relationship with them. Nils had not said what he did for a living but from a few throwaway comments she had guessed he had something to do with pharmaceuticals or medical supplies. She pulled out her phone, glad it was still working and googled 'Nils Johansson'.

Her eyes widened at the results.

'Here you go.' Hanssen returned and offered her a glass of water.

She forced a smile as she accepted it. There was something strange going on.