Five years later.
A young family sat waiting in the morning sunshine of an autumn day, a beautiful blonde woman, her husband and a pretty, doll-like young daughter sitting on the bench outside the hospital. They giggled, spoke and hugged as they waited.
A graceful black car bearing what anyone would recognise as European numberplates pulled up in the sunlight and the family watched as the doors opened and an elegant, ridiculously-tall man in glasses and an immaculate suit stepped from the car, his hand firmly holding the hand of a five-year old child.
The dark-haired boy spotted the family and a grin crossed his face. He knew them, he remembered them and always would remember the blonde woman.
A smile like sunlight answered him and he was swept off his feet in a warm hug by the target of his grin. The tall man smiled. The family stood and greeted them both.
The blonde looked up and smiled. "Hello Grandad!" she said cheekily in her broad accent.
The tall man laughed and gave her a mock stern look as he stooped slightly to embrace her. "My Nurse Lane."
Cheeks were kissed and hands held as the two families shared a time of memory and news in the warm light.
Bonds of friendship born in adversity would remain for all the days of their lives and their children and grandchildren's lives. Visits would be made, old times remembered and new ones shared, with events celebrated. Like a tide caressing a shore, they would rush away and return to touch each other.
Terms such as "our friends in Sweden", "our English friends" would become common and ties would pass on from parents and grandparents to children and their children.
As every heart truly knows, souls who loved each other and bonded in life travel through eternity together.
As even a bench knows, having been once a tree, forged metals from the earth and other things, nothing every truly dies.
It simply goes away and becomes something else.
[For now, this story is paused as Hanssen has left and writing about him simply reminds me of his loss. But. one day, I may feel inspired to pick up the story again, filling in the gaps between now and this future. Thank you to everyone who's commented and likes my view of this wonderful relationship!]