Alexander, Alice and Emily were sitting on the train watching the Scottish scenery fly past the window.

Emily had been excited to be on a train for the first time in her life, but even though she was excited, she had fallen asleep.

Alexander and Alice held hands and kissed until the sound of the train put them into a deep sleep.

Alice opened her eyes and found herself staring at the remains of Thornby manor. She couldn't believe her eyes. The whole thing had been flattened to the ground.

She heard a voice call out behind her "Alice, Alice."

She turned to see where the voice had come from. It was George. Or rather, it was the ghost of George. She held out a hand to him but when she tried to take it her hand flew straight through him as though he was nothing but air. 

"Why did you save Mrs Evans?" Alice asked but George didn't reply. He could clearly see Alice but perhaps he couldn't hear her.

Alice watched George walk away down the street. "George, I'm sorry," she called. Even though he couldn't hear her, she needed to say it "thank you." she whispered. The world faded away and she dreamed no more.

In the seat beside her, Alexander was dreaming too. In his dream he was talking to a white shape. The shape wasn't responding to him verbally, it was simply nodding a response as Alexander spoke to it.

"Who are you?" Alexander asked. There was no response. Alexander tried again with a different question. "Do I know who you are? Have I met you?"

This time the shape nodded. "Are...are you...Hans?" No response. "His brother in law?" The shape nodded.

"Do you hate me?" Another nod. "Should I hate myself? I've been beating myself up over what I did to Hans. I just thought you should know that I do hate myself for what I did."

The shape didn't move. Suddenly it spoke. It spoke without moving its mouth. The voice was a hissing slow voice. It echoed all around the void they were in. "Yessssssss...." The voice said. "You ssssshould hate yourssself. You deserve to die. He didn't, I didn't. You killed him and I was killed too. We are both dead becaussse of you."

Alexander woke up breathing heavily. Emily was still asleep. Alice wasn't.

Alice watched as Alexander woke suddenly and began to lose control of his breathing. "It's him" he said.

"Who?" Alice asked.

"Hans' brother in law," Alexander replied breathlessly "he said...he said that I'm the reason they're both dead. That I deserve to die too."

"You don't. Hans' brother in law shouldn't have said that. You are a good person Alex."

"NO," Alexander shouted "I'm not. I deserve to burn in hell. I hate myself for what I did. They have every right to be angry with me."

"No they don't. Alex, I love you and I will always love you but you need to learn to love yourself."

"I can't. I don't deserve you. Or Emily. I don't deserve to be happy. Or have a life."

"Stop it Alex. You deserve to be happy. You deserve to live. If you didn't you wouldn't be here with me now. God clearly forgives you."

"Would you forgive the people who bombed your parents house? Or the manor?"

"That's a different story. You didn't destroy anything. You didn't wreck anything. My parents lost their house and their lives."

"Hans' family lost their son. I did destroy something....I destroyed their lives."

Emily woke up. She saw Alice rubbing Alexander's back and quickly jumped out of her seat "Allie why are you crying?"

She climbed onto Alexanders' lap. He hugged her and Emily hugged him back. "I know what to do" Emily said. She gave Alexander a kiss on the cheek and then she started to sing. It was a simple tune. But Alexander must have recognised it as with every word he smiled. It ran thus:

You and I will always be together

Never apart forever as one

And when you cry I'll be there

To show you just how much I care

Here you're safe and warm

I will protect you from any harm

I will always be here and we'll always be a team of two

And always remember that I love you

Alexander was almost crying by the end. He smiled as Emily looked up at them. Her blue eyes shone in the sunlight that was coming in through the window. "Thanks Em" Alexander said.

"You're welcome Allie."

"Where did that song come from?" Alice asked.

"I made it up when Em was little," Alexander explained "to always remind her that I'll always be here and that she's loved no matter what."

"And I love you Allie. I'll always be here."

"And I'll always be here too...Allie" Alice teased.

"Only Em can call me that, you have to stick with Alex." Alexander replied.

"Alright Alex. I won't call you Allie ever again. I promise."

"Thank you. Both of you. I love you both more than anything in the world."

The train soon pulled into Paddington station. The trio got out and began to make their way to Mrs Evans' small house. This was what was in the envelope Mr Edwards had given Alice. It was a letter from Mrs Evans, telling them where they could find her.

They walked for what seemed like miles before they reached a small house on a dimly lit street. The dark was falling fast.

Alexander knocked on the door. Mrs Evans answered and burst into tears when she saw Alice. She invited them in and Alexander and Emily watched as Mrs Evans asked Alice question after question. Where she'd gone? Who she'd stayed with?

It took a long time for her to remember Alexander and Emily at all. "My dear child," she asked "who are these two?"

Alice laughed. "This is Alexander and his little sister Emily," Alice explained "Alex is my boyfriend."

"Isn't he that boy from the newspaper?" Mrs Evans asked.

"He is. But he's not like they said he was. He's not a coward. He's the bravest person I've ever met."

"Well if he makes you happy then I have no complaints. I will try my very best to make sure he's the right fit for you too." Mrs Evans explained.

"He is, I'm sure" Alice said.

Mrs Evans hugged Alexander and Emily, then they sat down and Mrs Evans made some toast for the four of them. She spent most of the meal asking Alexander all sorts of questions. Whether he'd dated anyone before. Why he liked Alice? Why he wanted her to be his girlfriend? And his plans for the future.

When the end of the meal came Alexander and Emily went to look for a phone box so they could telephone their dad.

"Well," Mrs Evans said "I think you've found the right one, my girl."

"Really?" Alice asked excitedly.

"Definitely. He's a lucky man to be good enough for you. Obviously no man will ever be better than you but he is clearly devoted to you. He barely took his eyes off you. He's in love with you alright."

"And you think he's the one?"

"Only you can know that for sure my dear. But I don't think you'll ever find better than him. He loves you. Do you think he's the one?"

"Do you know what Mrs Evans," Alice replied "I do. I really do."