In the morning, Hannah woke early, although she couldn't tell as she washed up whether Kurt and Melanie were still asleep or simply hiding.

How long would they be like this? She could only be here two more days. She wasn't sure if they'd be at all recovered by then. She went into the kitchen to make some breakfast, setting the plates outside Kurt's door and doing a knock to let them know it was there. She went outside into the yard behind the house, looking over the plots of her father and the baby, thinking about her mother. Should there be a plot for her here as well? Was it finally time for Hannah to stop searching, hoping?

After a while, she went back inside, and found Kurt in the kitchen, by the window.

"How are you feeling?" she asked, standing with him.

He glanced at her, not answering her question. "I was watching you."

"You were?"

"You are too good to us, Hannah. I don't know what to say."

"Well, you're my friend. Friends."

"You shouldn't be doing this though."

"But I want to. I want to take care of you."

"What about Dalen?"

"Well," she went, hesitating. "I do have to head back soon."

"Yes. You should," he agreed, nodding solemnly. "You should go now, if you can."

"Not if you need me."

"I thank you but we don't."

She blinked, a bit struck by his words. He seemed to be pushing her away. Why? Was it for her sake, or his own?

"Go on, Hannah. We each have our own lives, after all. You shouldn't be here."

"I just want to help."

"And you have. I thank you, both Melanie and I thank you," he said, clamping a big hand on her shoulder. "But you've done enough." He moved, taking away his touch, and she watched him return to the bedroom. To his wife.

Hannah wrapped her arms around herself, thinking over her friend's words. Finally, she shifted, packing up her things and heading out the front door. She went to the Averys', finding Fadden and his father standing by their patch of farm. "What happened?" Mr. Avery asked.

"Nothing. I had to leave. I'm sorry. I wish I could have done more."

He paused, looking over towards the old house. "What do you think then?"

"I think they'll just need time."

"Time?"

"And each other. They'll need each other's comfort."

"I don't like this, waiting and worrying about them."

"I know. But Kurt is strong. I believe he will come to you as soon as he's ready."

"I hope you are right." He sighed, heading back into the house and motioning for her to follow. Hannah went, not knowing what else to do. She stayed in the Avery house for a while, then decided to take a walk before dark. She wanted to find Kaye, or at least someone who wasn't part of the Avery family, someone outside of this grief.

"Hannah!" Kaye was more than welcoming, and let her into the house. Hannah had been inside before, but that had been years ago. No longer a little girl, the house seemed small and crowded now, with messes and furniture and trinkets fitting of a large family. Kaye led her into the only place untouched by her sisters, the kitchen, where they sat down to drink some bitter tea.

"I heard about Kurt and Melanie," Kaye said, nodding. "Everyone has. I heard you went over to their house."

"I stayed a night."

"Did they speak to you?"

"Only Kurt. And not very much. Do you know what happened, Kaye? To the little girl?"

Kaye shrugged her broad shoulders as she lifted her cup. "I only know it happened during the night. By morning, it was too late."

Hannah sat back, unsettled. What if her old home really was cursed?

"I'm sorry, Hannah. It's horrible, I know. I only hope it was no fault of the mother's."

It took her a moment to realize what Kaye was saying. "What? Melanie? Why would you say that?"

"It was her first child after all. Yet she and Kurt didn't seem to want any help from their parents."

"Are you saying it was their fault?"

"Of course not. But perhaps they took too much on themselves."

"They were trying to become independent, make their own lives." A little like Rio and me.

Her old friend reached out, laying a hand on her arm. "What will you do?"

"There's nothing more I can do. Kurt made it quite plain he didn't want me there anymore."

"I'm sure you did as much as you could. And you came all the way from Dalen for them."

"I only wish Rio had come too."

"Yes, David told me about that."

"David? David Trent?"

Kaye nodded.

"You spoke to him?"

"Just yesterday. He told me you came into Chell together, although I'd already heard about that."

"I suppose everyone has."

Kaye did a smile. "He's very different from his brother, isn't he?"

"David? Yes, I suppose." She looked over as two of Kaye's sisters ran outside, squealing and laughing together. It made her miss her brother even more.

"When are you going back to Dalen?"

"I'm not sure. Probably tomorrow. Will you come to see me before I leave?"

"Of course, I'd be happy to."

Hannah nodded, finishing the rest of her tea. "I should go. The Averys are expecting me back for dinner."

"If you want, you could eat with us instead. We could always squeeze you in, you know. What's one more?"

"Thank you," Hannah answered. "But I'd better stay with the Averys, keep them company."

"I understand."

She headed back to the Avery house, immediately feeling the change from the bright, noisy air over at Kaye's. She helped to set the table, although Mrs. Avery refused to let her do anything else. Not like her own Ma, she thought to herself.

It was a mostly quiet dinner after that, with only Tom Avery opening his mouth – either with farm comments or questions to Hannah about Dalen. She was beginning to feel the strain of being with them, and the more she was with them, the more she was becoming part of their dull misery.

After dinner, she sat outside on the step with Tom Avery, feeling full and drowsy as she watched him light a pipe. "Normally, Kurt would sit with me," he told her. "But it's been a while, you know."

"You must miss him."

"Every day." He paused, and both of them looked towards the house, which looked dark and shadowy, almost haunted. "Do you miss him too, Hannah?"

"Sometimes," she admitted.

"Do you think you'll ever come back to us, to Chell?"

She thought for a moment, watching ash and smoke sputter from his pipe. A small cloud swirled around Tom's head, like a white play of shapes. "I used to think I would. But not anymore. I don't think I could ever be away from Rio."

"You're going to have to let go of him sometime, my dear. The way we let go of our son."

"I suppose," she murmured glumly.

"Has he met anyone yet? In Dalen?"

Hannah thought of Shelby, then shook her head.

"Have you?"

She slid her eyes away, trying to ignore the face, the name that entered her head. "No one ... suitable."

"You're good at taking care of others. But you should have someone to take care of you. I'm sure it's what your parents would want."

Hannah stared at the house across, shaking her head. "I never imagined things would end up this way."

"None of us did."

That night, Hannah slept and dreamt only of Dalen – walking through the colored, winding streets, owning a tailor's shop just like Christopher's, and living in Magda's except, instead of nuns, it was filled with her friends and family. Even her parents. Kurt and Melanie were there too, cradling the prettiest, brown-eyed baby girl. When she woke, she shuddered and hoped only to forget it.

She spent the morning with the Averys, and after lunch, offered to help Tom in the field. He politely refused, so she took a walk instead, going by her old home again. She wanted to speak to Kurt, but felt awkward after he'd told her he didn't need her. Thinking about the words hurt a little. It was as if she had no place in his life anymore now that he was married. But then again, she was the one who had left the village. Perhaps it was both their fault.

Hannah turned away, and spotted someone coming up – Kaye, as promised, together with David Trent. They were walking side-by-side, talking in low, whispered voices as if they were the oldest of friends.

Hannah moved to meet them, and Kaye showed a bright smile. "Hello, Hannah. I just got done with chores. I came to see if you were leaving yet?"

"Yes, I think I should be going."

"How are the Averys?" David asked, and she shrugged.

"Much the same. I think it will be a while before they're their old selves again." She turned back to fetch her things, and the pair followed. At the sight of them, Tom Avery offered that all of them come inside and rest for a bit, but Hannah said no, that she wanted to head back to Dalen.

"Already?" he sounded disappointed.

"I have work, and I need to see how Rio's doing."

"But you'll come again soon?"

"I will try, yes." She got her bag, thanking them before walking towards the gate with Kaye and David. She realized that for the first time, she was glad to be returning to Dalen. She had always thought of Chell as her real home, but now it seemed that had changed.

"Well," Hannah said, looking back at the two. "It was good to see you, Kaye."

"I suppose this is how it'll be from now on. I'll see you only once or twice a year."

"I suppose so." She glanced over. "What about you, David? Will you be visiting Dalen again soon?"

"It's likely."

"Perhaps we'll run into each other again."

"Maybe next time, I'll catch sight of your brother."

"He always was hard to get hold of," she muttered. "Like a slippery trout."

Kaye hid a small laugh. "Take care, Hannah," she said warmly, taking her hand for a moment.

"You too, both of you. Goodbye." She left, waving and looking over her shoulder at them. After she'd gone some way, David said something to Kaye, who nodded agreeably. This was the second time they'd spoken that Hannah knew of. It seemed they were becoming friends. Imagine if David were to actually woo her good friend? John Trent would be Kaye's brother-in-law. Imagine that wedding, especially if Rio had to be there?

She grimaced at the thought, rounding a green-lined bend. She looked up, running a gaze over the drooping trees all around her. A lone bird, wings spread straight, passed by high above, sailing gently. Two travelers about their way, she thought to herself. There was nothing on that day to frighten her, unlike the night the kidnapper had left her here in the cruel dark.

She suddenly got a panicked thought – could Alyssa and Stefan have left for Dyon already? She knew they had meant it to be soon. Oh no, she hoped she hadn't missed them. She quickened her pace, making it to Dalen by late afternoon. She was quite tired as she headed for Magda's. How she wished she had her own carriage or horse so she could get around easily.

She stopped at the church, washing up and changing her clothes, before taking the walk over to visit Alyssa. Her stomach gurgled hungrily – she would have to get some dinner soon. Already, she felt half-weak. She reached the street, standing uncertainly in front of the Tanner house. It wouldn't be the Tanner house for much longer, would it? She wondered who would move into this place once they were gone. Probably someone like the kind of women who shopped at the tailor's.

She spied a light in one of the windows upstairs, and felt encouraged to knock. "Miss Hannah," it was the same servant.

"Yes, it's me again," she said, smirking. "Alyssa has not left yet?"

"They are due to leave this week, miss."

"Hannah!" she heard a voice, along with Alyssa's noisy footsteps coming down. For such a small girl, she really sounded heavy.

"I just came back from Chell."

"Chell?" Alyssa was surprised.

"Yes, but I'd … rather not talk about it at the moment." She paused, releasing a sigh of relief. "I was afraid you'd already left."

Alyssa shook her head. "I couldn't leave without saying goodbye to you."

"Oh," she said quietly, feeling warmed. "Thank you."

"Do you want something to drink? You've gotten all pale again."

"I'm just tired."

They made themselves comfortable in the sitting room, while servants stoked a fire and fetched a sweet red wine that made Hannah feel sleepy. She told Alyssa this, who offered her a bed in the house for the night, if she wanted.

"You wouldn't mind?"

"Of course not. We have packed quite a few things away though, so you'll find the rooms a little empty."

"I'd be honored to stay here. You know I love your home. What about Stefan?"

"He told me he'll not be back till late. So? What do you say? Keep me company, Hannah?"

She yawned, not thinking to cover her mouth. "Why not? But I'm not sure how long I can keep awake."

"Come on. We'll go upstairs. I'll find you something you can wear."

It was a strange feeling, sitting in one of the guest rooms later, cross-legged on the bed while Alyssa showed her some flowy nightdresses. It took Hannah a minute to understand what the strange feeling was. It was like she had a sister, a real sister. The thought made her want to cry, and she did, patting at the sides of her eyes.

"What's the matter with you?" Alyssa asked cluelessly. "They're not that hideous, are they? It's just for the night."

"No, no," Hannah replied, her head feeling thick and foggy again. "It's just the wine doing funny things to me."

"Are you sure you're alright, Hannah?" she asked, pushing aside the clothes and sitting next to her on the bed. The candlelight gleamed prettily off her shoulders, and the messy braid one of the girls had done for her.

"Yes. I'll just miss you, is all."

"I'll miss you too. But we'll see each other again, I promise."

"I've lost so many people."

"Who?" Alyssa frowned.

"My parents. Friends."

"You have your brother. And Macks."

"Ha," Hannah went. "That fellow."

"I thought you liked him."

"Well, I ... " She paused, getting confused. In her dizziness, she couldn't remember if she was supposed to like or dislike him. "I don't know."

"I know he likes you."

"I know too," Hannah said, waving an arm like it didn't matter.

"Then what's wrong?"

"I'm not going to let him win."

"Win what?"

"I don't know. Something."

"Hannah, you are acting strangely."

"I told you, it's the wine."

"You only drank one glass."

"It was really nice. Thank you."

"Oh gosh," Alyssa sighed, getting off the bed. She held up one of the nightdresses. "Come on, I'll help you change and then you can go to sleep."

Hannah nodded, obliging. Soon, she found herself in different clothes, lying on her side on the massive bed. She was dozing within minutes, and the next thing she knew, it was morning – early – and she couldn't remember where she was. She sat up, fingering the unfamiliar nightdress, and wondered if she had just become someone else, with someone else's life. She looked out the window, and suddenly remembered the tailor's. "Oh no!"

She washed up, quickly brushing out her hair and putting on yesterday's dress. Alyssa emerged as she was about to run off. "I have to go, I don't want to be late," she explained, Alyssa following her as she headed for the stairs.

"You should eat something first," Alyssa nagged.

"No time for that. Thank you for letting me stay the night. I'll come again soon."

"Hannah!"

"See you!" She flew out the door, running down the walk. The sun wasn't high at all. Perhaps she'd make it in time. She hurried through the streets, zigzagging like a panicked insect. She tried to think about her conversation with Alyssa last night, just before she fell asleep, but couldn't remember anything. It seemed that she and wine were not a very good combination.

She reached the tailor's, bumping into some of the other women outside the door. "Hannah," one of them piped up, staring at her red cheeks and wild hair. "What happened to you?"

"Nothing," she wheezed.

They opened the door, and Hannah trailed in after them, hoping to blend in. Christopher was standing behind the counter, and he lifted a brow as she slunk in. "There you are," he greeted. "Welcome back, Hannah."

She nodded, exhaling heavily.

"Did everything go alright in Chell?"

"Turned out there wasn't much I could do."

"I'm sure everyone was happy to see you," he said, gripping her shoulder for a moment. "Just as we are."

Hannah cocked her head, searching for Ginia, but her former friend wasn't there yet. Late, as always.

"You know, your brother came in here yesterday."

"Rio?" she perked up.

"Yes, that's right."

"What did he say?"

"Well, he was looking for you. He talked to Ginia first, but she didn't seem to know anything, so I went and spoke to him. When I told him you had gone back to Chell, he seemed surprised."

"Surprised? That can't be. I sent him a message."

"Apparently, it didn't reach him."

"No wonder he didn't come."

"He was supposed to follow you?"

"I'd hoped he would."

"I'm sure it was just some misunderstanding."

"Ugh, those stupid guards."

"Anyway, I assured him you would be back by today. Perhaps he'll come by."

She nodded, feeling glad at least that Rio hadn't received her message and ignored it. She'd thought he hadn't wanted to come, because he didn't care about Chell as much as she did. "Thank you, Christopher," she made sure to tell him.

"Not at all."

"I know my brother can get a little anxious."

"I'm sure he was just concerned."

For the rest of the day, Hannah worked and waited, expecting Rio to show up again. But he didn't, and as she left that evening, she wondered if she should try asking for him at the station. After the botched message though, was that such a good idea? She wasn't so sure she trusted those guards.

Instead of going home, she walked around the nobles' neighborhood, which felt peaceful but lonely at the same time. She and Rio were working so hard to better themselves, but would more money really make them happy? She remembered Alyssa and her family troubles, and knew it could not be true. She wandered around, finally ending up at the church. The night air felt cool and mild, and she sat on Magda's steps, thinking to herself. She must have sat there for a long time before she saw a shape coming up the road. She squinted, and saw a glint of light brown hair. "Rio," she called, as he came through the gate.

"Well, if it isn't the magical disappearing Hannah."

She held up her hands in innocence. "I left you a message at the station before I left. But it seems the guards never gave it to you."

"Mmm, no, I didn't get any message."

"I wanted you to come with me. When you didn't come to meet me, I just thought ... " she stopped, sharing a look with him. "Well, you know."

"I believe you," her brother said, after a moment's thought. "But you should have waited."

"I couldn't." She raised her eyes to his, eager to get rid of the awful news sitting inside her. "Kurt and Melanie lost their child."

His face changed at that, becoming pale with shock.

"That's why I had to go back and see them right away."

"When did this happen?"

"I think about a few weeks ago."