Sunday's night came in a rush.

Hannah stood at home that evening by the window, waiting to see Kurt and Fadden. They had promised to go with her to ceremony, where her brother should be by now.

She raised her eyes to the sky, a mingling of gray and black, patted with clouds that masked any stars. For some reason, she was nervous, afraid even, to go at all.

"Hannah!" she heard her name, and dropped her head to look. Kurt and his brother were on the street, waving to her. The two looked mostly the same, although Kurt had combed his hair and was wearing a coat.

She held a hand up for them to wait, then hurried outside, hanging onto her dress – Alyssa's dress – as she went downstairs.

"Well!" Mrs. Baines called as she ran past. "Aren't you a sight!"

Hannah stepped outside, pausing a minute. A few heads spun to look at her, and instead of turning away, rested their gaze a little longer, admiring. One of them was Kurt.

"What happened to you?" Fadden spoke up as she walked over.

"What do you mean?" she answered.

"Where'd you get that?"

"A friend lent it to me."

"Your friend has good taste in clothes. And friends," Kurt said with a smile. "You look beautiful, Hannah."

She gazed at him. No one had ever told her that before.

"We look right bumpkins next to you," Fadden said dryly.

"Does it make you uncomfortable?" she said, now self-conscious.

"Of course not," Kurt responded strongly, taking her arm. "You will go as is. Shall we?"

"You don't even know where to go," Fadden said, cracking a smile.

"Oh, right. Um, Hannah?"

"It's the other way," she pointed, and the three of them turned round.

"You must know Dalen like the back of your hand," Kurt remarked, as they walked together.

"Not really. But I have some good maps. I copied them from Magda's library."

"Did you now?"

"I spent an hour last night figuring out the route."

"We won't get lost?"

"Oh, Kurt, trust me a little, will you?"

He laughed. "I'll try."

She came close to saying that she was practically like a local now, but then decided it was better not to. Kurt already seemed to think that she had abandoned Chell and her old life – and for the very city that had claimed her mother.

They made their way towards the assembly hall, where a crowd of people and carriages took up the road. Hannah paused, watchful for anyone she recognized. Next to her, Kurt slicked back his hair.

"I figure we'd better go inside," she said.

"Now or never," he sighed. They strode forward, Kurt reminding his brother to keep close. It seemed a mix of people there for the ceremony – most looked to be average types, families and older guards, with the occasional mess of children. Hannah started to feel too striking in Alyssa's fine blue dress.

She stood with Kurt inside the entrance, looking across the hall to an empty stage. There was a group of young boys in the front, dressed in new guards' uniforms. Hannah clutched Kurt, tugging him along. "There! I see Felix." She plowed forward, and suddenly, her brother emerged, beaming and looking quite handsome.

"Gosh," Hannah exclaimed, shaking her head. She leaned forward, quickly wrapping her arms around him. "I almost didn't recognize you, Rio."

"I'm glad you're all here. I was worried something had happened to you." He took a pause, studying her outfit. "You didn't buy this dress, did you?"

"Of course not. It's Alyssa's. Do you know if she'll be here tonight?"

"Yes, together with Captain Tanner. They might be late though."

Felix popped up behind him then, nodding at Hannah. "Miss Iver. You look very nice."

"Thank you. Kurt, Fadden, have you met Rio's friend, Felix?"

"We're together on the guard," Rio added, as Fadden turned the boy a light sneer.

"Jay should be coming too, with his parents," Rio told his sister.

"I'll keep a look out, but I'm not sure if I can find him."

Kurt nodded, agreeing with her. "I don't think I've ever seen so many people in one place," he said, flinching as the crowd swelled and jostled around him.

"It's not so bad," Hannah tried to say.

"Melanie would have enjoyed this more than me. She loves gatherings."

"Perhaps you should bring her next time," Hannah said, before she could bite back the words.

"Perhaps, after the child."

"Look, they're here," Rio piped up, and they all turned to look.

A train of people had just come in, the high-ranking guards together with their wives and families.

"That's Lieutenant Anders, and Commander Wharton, and ah! He's here! He must have just gotten into Dalen."

Hannah raised her head, following her brother's gaze. As she'd guessed, it was Macks, and escorting him was – Suzanne. Backing the pair were Alyssa and her husband. Hannah had to admit, the four of them looked very well together.

"We'd better get ready," Rio whispered to Felix, and they doubled back. Hannah and Kurt, copying the crowd, parted to make way for the Captains and other men of rank. It was a while before everyone settled down and the Commander stepped up onstage.

"Good evening," he spoke up, raising his glass. "I thank you all for coming today. I am pleased to announce this year's officialization ceremony for new guardsmen. I shall be reading out names, and have First Captain Tanner to do the honor of presenting the insignia."

As they watched, Rio and the other new guards lined up beside the stage. Hannah spotted Macks nodding at them in encouragement.

The first name was read, and one of the young men went up, drawing applause. Hannah clapped along, but barely listened to the names as one boy after another rose to meet with the First Captain.

"Rio Iver!"

She seemed to jolt awake at the Commander's voice, watching as her brother climbed the stage. She followed his rushing walk, the curve of his mouth as he looked up at the First Captain. She thought suddenly of her Ma and Da, wondering if they could see.

Look at him now. After all these years.

She watched as Rio hopped off the stage, right into Macks. The two shared a shake of hands, laughing like old friends.

Hannah turned, suddenly remembering Kurt, but he wasn't there at her side anymore. She looked around, breaking through the crowd and trying to find him. It was a while before she spotted him in the shadows outside, his broad frame cocked against a tree.

Hannah left the hall to go to him, finding herself in the middle of a cold wind. "Everything alright?" she asked gently of her old friend.

"Fine."

"Are you sure?" She gestured around, shivering against the air. "It's cold out here."

"Not too cold."

"Wouldn't you rather come back inside?"

"Not really."

She blinked, and he gave her a more apologetic look. "I just don't like it in there, I'm sorry."

"But ... we came for Rio, after all."

"No. I came for you."

She leaned back, surprised at him.

"I wish I knew how to bring you back to Chell," he lamented, looking off down the road. "I miss you. I miss our talks."

"Well, things have changed."

"I know. Look at you."

"You changed first," she turned back on him, and that caught his attention.

"Oh? Tell me what you mean."

"You got married. You're having a child. It's as you said – family is your life now."

"But you have always been like family to me too."

"Not enough."

He widened his eyes, but didn't answer. Hannah could only guess that he knew what she really meant. She looked away, checking the ceremony through a window. They were still calling names, young men were still proudly receiving rank. She could see Suzanne's head-feathers somewhere through the crowd, floating about. She waited until the ceremony came to a close, a final applause going up for the new guards.

"I'm going to go in now," she said. "Rio could be looking for me."

Kurt didn't speak.

"Please come?"

He paused for a while, then nodded. He started for the doors, his hand finding hers. Hannah kept quiet, wishing it was more than a friendly gesture, and knowing it couldn't be so. She bowed her eyes as they went in, as if she felt embarrassed or guilty. How could she be here, thinking this way about another woman's husband?

Inside the hall, the crowd had mostly spread out amongst themselves, enjoying the food, wine and music. Some couples had taken the floor, moving together in that slow, romanced way Alyssa had shown her. She recognized one of them – Macks and Suzanne. It was so strange, seeing the older woman in his arms, smiling softly to his words. She looked almost like a young girl. A lovesick young girl.

Hannah didn't even realize herself staring at them, until Macks ended up facing in her direction. He lifted his eyes, and his gaze drew straight over Suzanne's shoulder to her. His eyes were naked in that moment – she knew he hadn't forgotten her words to him before he left.

Hannah tore her eyes away, facing Kurt. "Do you want to try and dance, Kurt?"

"Not a chance. I'd rather have a drink. Come on." He led her away, even as Macks kept an eye on them. They found her brother and Fadden by the wine, taking a taste.

"Hannah," Rio stopped, coming to her side excitedly. "Did you see me?"

"Of course I saw. You did very well."

"I was so nervous, I mean, with all these people."

"Well, anyway, I'm very proud."

"I'll get to come home every day now."

"Really?"

"The hours and the pay will be better."

"And you have the dashing uniform to impress girls," she teased.

His face changed at that, and Hannah suddenly realized why. Shelby. He still hadn't forgotten her.

"Hannah?" Kurt offered her a cup, but she she shook her head.

"Well," Rio cleared his throat. "Macks and the others are going to go and celebrate after this. I think they're going to take us round the city. He even said Fadden could come."

"Sounds exciting," Hannah nodded.

"I might not be back till tomorrow."

"Alright. Enjoy yourselves then."

"Let's go and find them," Rio decided, taking Fadden with him.

"They will be alright?" Kurt asked, eyeing her.

"I'm sure there's nothing to worry about. Macks is responsible enough."

"Who's Macks?"

She turned, a little jerkily. "Um, one of the Captains on the guard."

"So, there's not much else for us here then, is there?"

"Well ... " She looked around, wondering where Alyssa was. Over there – talking to a big group of older noblewomen. She didn't even dare try looking for Suzanne. And she knew Kurt was uncomfortable here, so there really wasn't anymore need to stay. "Alright," she relented.

"Let's take you home then," Kurt said, one arm circling her shoulders.

They went off together, seemingly unnoticed by the rest of the crowd. Unnoticed by all, except Macks Droy.