Anna was very glad that Hans had arrived in late summer; it meant that he was going to experience Missouri at Autumn, the most beautiful time of year.

Soon, Caleb was starting school, leaving Anna time to spend with Hans alone. He tried his best to be useful, helping with chores where he could. But after a month or so, his health had declined too rapidly. He was barely able to celebrate his fifty-seventh birthday in early October.

Elli had been gracious enough to move in with Ma for the foreseeable future, giving Hans her bed instead. Anna was grateful for her sister's benevolence, as was Hans. She'd even found them on the sofa, reminiscing about Karl and Freddie. Caleb certainly liked having him there; Hans was the only person who didn't seem to tire of his incessant questions.

Even Abe and Hans had spent time together, both of them drinking and having a cigar together, despite Anna's protestation on the matter.

"Let the man enjoy his time," said Abe, Anna finally relenting.

One afternoon in late October, Anna and Hans were sitting on the sofa chatting. Caleb was at school, Elli at work with Aaron, and Abe doing some repair work on the barn. Anna had received a wonderful letter that morning and was showing it to him.

"I can't believe Freda is a mother," sighed Hans, both of them smiling down at the photograph that Freda had sent of her daughter.

"Madness, isn't it?" smiled Anna. "The wedding was lovely, and seeing the boys again was glorious. Even if I did have to suffer seeing Ilse again..."

"You managed to make it over?"

"Sam helped us out," explained Anna. "He and Mavis used it as an excuse to visit Germany, so we all went in their family's plane. Besides, Caleb and their son Tommy get on so well."

"And Elli went too?"

"Yes. They met a few years beforehand when Freda did her tour of America."

"I saw her play in Edinburgh," grinned Hans. "Popped by to see her after the show."

"She said," grinned Anna. "She's so good, isn't she? Helga is so proud of her..."

"Well, she did have a rather wonderful piano tutor," he reminded her, Anna squeezing his hand. "How are Maria and Charles? I've been meaning to ask."

"They're good," said Anna wistfully. "Their bakery is doing really well. I'm sure I'll have a letter from her soon as well...."

Anna was interrupted by Hans erupting into a coughing fit, Anna rubbing his back soothingly as he clutched his handkerchief over his mouth. There was even more blood than usual, Anna sitting him back as he finished, then getting him a glass of water. Her heart hammered in her chest. Every day he grew worse. She knew the inevitable conclusion was drawing nearer.

It was time to show him something she had kept hidden for a long time.

"I have something for you," she said softly, taking his hand and leading him over to the piano. She sat him down on the stool, then darted upstairs, soon returning with a photograph in her hand. It was of the four of them at the party many years ago.

Hans' eyes grew glassy when he saw it, Anna trying to supress tears.

"I've kept them together for years," she explained, pulling the back off the frame to reveal a piece of paper with crudely written music on it. She handed it to him, Hans' heart racing.

"Reina's song," he whispered, Anna nodding.

"That was Elli's suggestion," said Anna, now sitting beside him on the stool. "But I started composing this for your birthday, not long after we had moved in together."

He looked at her, tears welling in his eyes too. He did have a song after all. "Will you play it for me?" he asked, Anna nodding slowly.

She set the music out in front of her, both of them sitting close together as she began to play.

Her fingers were shaky at first; she hadn't played this for so many years. It was light, happy music that transported her back to a time long since passed. She could see her tears falling from her face and splashing on the piano keys, unable to hide just how much she had missed this music. It made her remember exactly how she had felt as she composed it... how she imagined the future that she and Hans might have together... how she had envisioned Hans and Reina together in her dreams... how much she had truly loved him. It was bizarre. She could say with total honesty that she was happy with how her life turned out and that she would not change it for the world. And yet, in this moment, she was filled with regret that the reality she had once imagined would never come to pass. Hans felt it too, pulling himself closer to Anna as she played.

Then she stopped, her hands in her lap.

"Why have you stopped?" he asked, his voice throaty and Anna emitting a loud sob.

"I never finished it," she managed, her voice thick. "You left, and I couldn't face it." She looked at him, Hans' eyes screwing shut for a moment. "I can't hear the music for it anymore," she continued. "I don't know how it ends."

"That seems appropriate," he murmured.

"I'm so sorry," she breathed but he shook his head.

"You have no idea of the joy that brought me," he said, their gaze locked now as he cupped her face, Anna holding his hand to her cheek. "I'm so grateful for you, Anna. So truly grateful." He bent her head down and kissed her lightly on the forehead, pausing there for a moment. The music was something he hadn't known he had ever needed. He should feel sad and guilty, yet truly, for the first time, he felt at peace. "Will you do something for me?" he asked, both of them pulling back a little from the other.

"What is it?"

"Will you read to me?" he asked, Anna taken aback by the request. "I feel so worn through, and I loved it when we used to do that."

"Of course," she said, both of them smiling. "Lie on the sofa. I know exactly which book we need." He did as he was bid, watching her run to the small, tatty book shelf in the corner. She soon came and sat on the floor by the sofa, letting him lie down.

He glanced at the cover. "Is that my New Kingdom book?" he asked, Anna smiling up at him.

"Not the exact one," she admitted, "but Freda sent it to me for Christmas a few years ago. She remembers me showing it to her and wanted me to have a copy."

Hans smiled as she put on her reading glasses, settling further in as she began to read. He watched her for a while, a small smile spread on his face. This felt so perfectly familiar, as if she really was his Anna again. Yet, strangely, it felt just as wonderful knowing that she wasn't. She was so strong, so confident. She had blossomed from the young woman he had first met, to become this incredible force. She had made a good life for herself, surrounded by the love she had always wanted. She loved a good man who doted on her in return. She had her sister, and her little boy to love and cherish. He was so immensely proud of her. Perhaps, finally, he knew what it was to love unconditionally. He closed his eyes, listening to the soothing pull of her voice as his mind began to drift. This was the moment he had been hoping for; that true, resounding serenity as he slipped away into the safety of nothingness.

***

When Hans had fallen asleep, Anna left him napping on the sofa as she got on with the day's work. He seemed peaceful, and she didn't like to disturb him. She looked out at the smattering of dark clouds in the distance. She hoped it would rain this evening, then perhaps all of them could sit out on the veranda and enjoy it after dinner.

Soon, Elli and Caleb had returned, Anna hushing them as they bounded in.

"Hans is asleep on the sofa," she explained.

"Well how long has it been?" asked Elli. "You know he doesn't like to sleep for more than a few hours."

"That's true... it has been a while."

"Besides which, there is no way your son can keep quiet for more than a minute or two."

"That's not true!" protested Caleb loudly, both of the women giggling as Elli's point was made.

"I'll go and wake him," sighed Anna, now wandering over to him. "Hans," she murmured, reaching out to stroke his head. He felt cold. Her stomach plummeted, her hand feeling his forehead. "Hans?" she said again, kneeling in front of him now. His eyes were shut, a small, contented smile on his face. He seemed completely serene. "Hans," she repeated more frantically, now shaking him a little. She got no response at all. Her eyes brimmed with tears, her head bowed so that it rested against him. "Please," she managed. "Not yet, Hans." She tried shaking him again, but it was no use.

He was gone.

She heard soft footsteps making their way towards her as she sobbed, her thumb stroking his cheek.

"Caleb," said Elli quietly, "would you go get your daddy? Tell him mama needs him right away."

"Is Hans all right?" he asked, his own voice a little shaky.

Elli cupped his face and kissed his nose. "Go get your daddy," she repeated, Caleb doing as he was told. As he ran off, Elli came and sat beside Anna, her arm around her shoulders. "Anna," she whispered, Anna's sobs now audible and pained.

"I never finished it."

"Finished what?"

"His song," she managed. "I never finished it for him." She pulled his hand to her lips, crying into it.

Elli felt tears sting her own eyes, but she knew she had to be strong for her sister. "Did you play it for him?"

"Yes."

"Then that's the main thing," she assured her, stroking her back soothingly. "Look at his face," she continued, Anna just managing to open her eyes enough to see. "He's happy, Anna. He's where he wanted to be."

Anna couldn't reply, her heart too full of hurt. They stayed beside him for a while, until Abe's heavy footsteps crashed into the house. He ran straight over, realising immediately what had happened.

He sucked in a long breath. "Elli darlin'," he said softly, "would you take Caleb on up to Ma's. I think he needs a good hug. Maybe call Doctor Burke from there for me?"

Elli nodded, kissing Anna's head as she got to her feet. She left them alone, taking a confused and saddened Caleb away as Abe took her place.

"Baby," he whispered, Anna looking up at him as he cupped her face. "I'm here now, it's gonna be all right."

"I'm not ready, Abe," she managed.

"I know," he said, "but he was. It was his time." He glanced at him. "He's smiling..." Anna bowed her head, her tears spilling over Abe's fingers. "Why don't you let him go now, baby."

"Abe, I can't..."

"He's gone, Anna. That ain't him no more." He got to his feet, holding his hands out to her. Trembling, she reached out, gripping him tightly as he pulled her up and into him. She buried her face in his chest, clinging to him as he soothed her. "I gotcha, baby," he said quietly.

"What's going to happen to him?" she asked as he led her outside.

"Don't worry," said Abe, kissing her forehead. "He ain't gonna be far away from you; I promise." They let the door bang shut, now wandering up to Ma's, the fading light hovering over Hans' face for a brief moment, before it disappeared behind a dark cloud that burst and covered the yard in thick, heavy rain.

***

Anna closed the book, letting out a very long sigh. She looked at the cover with a furrowed brow, her nose wrinkled disdainfully.

"They completely missed the point of the myth," she sighed irritably, now looking up. "You'd be glad you weren't here to read it." She brushed the fallen leaves from the headstone, making sure Hans' name was visible. Anna sat back, admiring it for a moment.

Abe was right, he wasn't far away at all; he'd had Hans buried in the family plot. Anna still staunchly believed that she didn't deserve her wonderful husband, though he begged to differ.

Klara, Kai and Daniel didn't make it over in time for the funeral, but they did come to visit several months later. Klara was so grateful for her brother being so happy, and Anna was all too happy to show how loved he would always be.

As the months had drawn on, Anna had found his graveside a quiet place to sit and read. Sometimes she would read him passages of her book, but mostly she just took the time to be beside him. Caleb would come too, trying to explain to Ma that "the Egyptians didn't fear death, so neither do we!"

Today though, she was alone, though her choice of book was poor. It was a supposed insight into Greek Myths, though Anna maintained they had completely missed the original allegorical implications of Hades and Persephone's story.

With a sigh, she got to her feet. "See you soon," she said quietly, and began to wander back towards the farm.

She breathed in the spring air, her head fallen back as she listened to Caleb squeal with delight as he ran around the yard. She could hear Abe chasing him, now looking as her husband tried to throw a bucket of water over their unruly son.

She grinned. "I see bath time is going well," she called, Caleb now running straight for her.

"Mama! He's trying to wash me like one of the pigs!" cried Caleb, Abe grinning at her as he rung out his wet t-shirt.

"Well that's what you get for getting naked in the yard again!" she insisted, Caleb giggling and hiding behind her as Abe made his way over.

"I blame you for his stubbornness," chastised Abe with a devilish grin, kissing her and drawing her in close. "How was the book?"

"Terrible," she sighed. "Complete waste of time."

"Ah well," sighed Abe, "I still want to hear all about it over dinner."

She smiled at him again, kissing him tenderly as his arms wound around her waist. "I love you," she whispered.

"I love you too," he returned, Caleb now darting off.

"Daddy! Catch me!" he called, Abe rolling his eyes.

"That boy don't ever stop," he grumbled. "I'm too old for this."

"Then tell him," she said, Abe looking at her quizzically.

"And admit defeat?" he said, now drawing back. "No way in hell!" He pecked her cheek, now running off after Caleb with his arms outstretched as he tried to catch him.

Anna chuckled, then made her way into the house.

Elli was at the kitchen sink, washing a few dishes. Anna inhaled deeply. Something smelled incredible.

"Dinner is in the oven," said Elli. "Aaron gave me a cut of beef someone didn't want, so I made pot roast. Ma's going to join us too."

"That's wonderful," sighed Anna contentedly, now wrapping her arms around Elli's waist and kissing her cheek.

They stood together like this, Anna's cheek resting on her sister's back. Elli watched Abe and Caleb run around, now setting the dish she was washing aside. She gripped Anna's arms, Anna now looking over Elli's shoulder so that she might watch them as well.

"What is it?" Anna asked.

"I'm just so happy," whispered Elli, their heads resting together.

"As am I," replied Anna, both of them perfectly content as they carried on with another wonderfully ordinary day in the life they had always wanted.

The End