The cello drifted throughout the house, filling it with melancholy. Elgar's concerto in E Minor had always been Hans' piece of choice when he was feeling low. At the moment, he played it almost constantly. Klara sighed heavily as she tidied away the lunch things.

Hans hadn't come to join them... again. He was so withdrawn. There was a month or so after Kai's release where he had almost seemed normal again. Being around his nephew clearly did wonders for him, as did their arrival in Scotland. The house was wonderful; cosy and full of character. In the highlands in the middle of nowhere, they often went walking to explore their new freedom. Yet, as he grew used to his nephew's presence again, he began to take more and more time away from his family. He went for walks on his own, read, played his cello... anything to be on his own.

His fiftieth birthday a few weeks ago had only made it worse. He was so quiet. He didn't necessarily seem sad, just always deep in thought. It was how he was around strangers; when he was trying to get the measure of them.

Klara hated it. She wanted her happy younger brother back. She knew today that she would barely see him. Not after she had seen this morning's newspaper.

Kai came into the kitchen, foraging for yet more food. He leant against the kitchen cupboard, eating a plum as Klara sat at the small table and drank her tea. They listened to the music, both of them feeling the pull of the strings. Then it stopped. Klara looked up hopefully, but he didn't appear. She sank back into her seat with frustration.

"Have you tried speaking to him today?" asked Kai.

She shook her head.

He sighed heavily, clearly exasperated. "He can't go on like this."

"The paper has him rattled, I think," she said quietly. Kai looked confused. "It announced that a ship leaving for America had the first lot of 'war brides' on it."

"Ah. Do you reckon she's on it, then?"

"This new one she is with is American. If he's a halfway decent man, then she should be."

"Do you think he's worried she's not?"

"I think he's worried either way. If she's on it, he's lost her. If she's not, then he won't know where she is or why. He clearly regrets not talking to her when he found her."

"I'll never understand why he didn't," said Kai.

"Because I did not want to complicate her life," said a voice from the door way. They both looked up to see Hans standing there.

"Hans..." began Klara.

"I would rather you did not speak of me in hushed whispers," he said irritably, going and getting himself one of the plums on the table.

"We weren't whispering," retorted Kai. Hans raised his eyebrow, but Kai was unfazed. "We're worried about you, old man."

"You have no need to be," he muttered, then going to get a bottle of whiskey out of the cupboard. "I am fine."

"Hardly," scoffed Kai. "All you do is drink and sit by yourself."

"I am perfectly fine," he reiterated, going to leave.

"Hans please!" begged Klara, her chair scraping loudly as she stood, stopping him in his tracks. "I can't stand this anymore. You can't go on living your life like this."

Hans said nothing, his breathing deep.

"It's as if you don't want to be here with us," Klara continued.

"Don't say that."

"It's true!" interrupted Kai. "You're off in your head with her all the time. It's not healthy living in the past."

"The past is all I have," he said quietly.

"You have us!" cried Kai, his voice reverberating around the house. "You brought both of us here; why do that if you're just going to drink yourself into an early grave?"

"Then I knew you were safe-"

"And that we could watch you fucking die?!" protested Kai.

"At least then I would have some damn peace!" bellowed Hans, Kai suddenly shrinking back. Hans looked ashamed, instantly regretting shouting at his nephew. He hadn't meant to. He felt tears well in his eyes. "This war was different for me, Kai," he said in a low, throaty voice. "It was bad enough on the Russian front, but then being sent to that despicable place..." He paused, trying to collect himself and failing. "I had to remain strong for Karl... I got him away from the front, but to what end? We were trapped in that God forsaken hell hole, where people suffered and died for no reason all around us. I could do nothing... and then she came along."

He leant against the door frame for support, his heart pining in his chest. "I had never met someone so courageous," he whispered, clutching the bottle of whiskey to him. "And she understood me so well. I had never connected with anyone like that. I wanted to live every moment in the bliss of her presence; I wanted her with me at every turn. And I left her behind... I left her behind..."

His knees crumbled and he sank to the floor, Klara and Kai running to him. He was choking out a sob, Klara trying to put her arms around him. "And I didn't just lose her... I lost Karl, Freidrich, my daughter...." He hung his head, Kai looking at his mother. He had never seen his Uncle this way. "I have to contend the rest of my life with knowing that it is my own fault... all because I was unable to love a little girl that needed her elder sister more than I did."

"Then let's go to Dover!" urged Kai. "If she is there, you could talk to her. You could set things straight again!" Hans shook his head.

"She needs to live a better life," he murmured. "She has found it in this Abraham fellow."

"How do you know that?" asked Klara gently. Hans looked up at her.

"Anna tried her best to look after everyone. She would sacrifice herself to save the many in every instance I can think of, save for a few. Her sister she would put first over everyone. And the way this man held her sister, the way the three of them stood cuddled together in a happy embrace... that is something I know she has always wanted. He is the giving, selfless man that she deserves. Not me... never me." Kai pulled him into a hug, Hans gripping his shirt tightly as he sobbed into it.

Klara could understand it now. This haven that they lived in was not the release Hans needed. It was a prison of his own making.

***

Anna stood with Sam, looking over the side of the ship. They were days into their week-long journey to New York, and each day Anna felt a little freer. Their journey to England had been relatively painless, everyone happy to be in one another's company. They had stayed in England for a few days waiting for the ship to arrive and for boarding to begin. Boarding had been tense. At first, Anna wasn't sure if she and Elli would be allowed on at all. Even if there were other war brides around, she never held out complete faith that things would work in their favour. But Abe was persistent, and those on duty clearly didn't want to tangle with a six-foot four paratrooper; it was obvious that they were held in high regard in the first place, but Abe's glare just cemented it.

Their lodgings were uncomfortable to say the least; everyone crammed together in army cots or hammocks. Anna was grateful they had been issued cots, even if there were only three between the four of them. It was still luxury compared to their only too recent experience. Anna and Elli shared, and the boys made sure to sleep in the ones either side. It didn't dampen Anna's spirits to be so crowded. Every day that she woke up and saw her husband snoring opposite her made her heart soar. It did seem though, that Abe did not do well on boats. He was very quiet, and Anna got the feeling that it was because he was always trying to stop himself from vomiting. He hated seeming vulnerable, which Anna found entirely endearing.

Sam confirmed as much when they went for their strolls above deck. Abe couldn't handle it up there, so he would remain in his bunk most of the time. Today, Elli had decided to stay with him and distract him; telling him a story, which he very much appreciated.

Sam glanced at Anna, grinning as she closed her eyes and breathed in the salty air. Her hair was whipping around her face, a huge smile spreading across her face.

"What are you smiling at?" she said teasingly.

"It is just nice seeing you so happy," he admitted. "I understand what Abe means about everything seeming worthwhile when he sees you and Elli so happy. It's nice to know we have made a difference."

"You've made a difference to so many people," she assured him.

"Not always for the better though."

"You're so hard on yourself."

"You are a fine one to talk."

"You're a strange one, Sam. But I'm so glad Abe has you."

"Is that just because otherwise he would only have Hollywood for advice?" he asked.

"Yes, a little," she laughed. "You make him think about things. He tries so hard, but he's not always the best at it. I think having you to talk to opened him up in ways he hadn't before."

"Well, thank you," said Sam, shifting uncomfortably at the compliment. "You too."

"Good for us," she said, linking arms with him for a moment. He smiled but said nothing. Sam was so very sweet, and so very complex. "You never did tell me why your rank is so low?" she asked suddenly.

Sam eyed her up. "Come again?"

"Well, your family is so well off," she began, looking at him, "just like Hollywood's. You were offered the chance to be an officer because of that, weren't you?"

"Well, that's what it comes down to essentially. It was technically because we're both college educated." Sam scoffed. "Not that Hollywood ever took it seriously mind you-"

"So why not take it? You haven't even risen up past Private."

"No, and for good reason. I'm not cut out for it. You've seen Abe... he was born to lead people. I couldn't make those decisions... I'd choke. And that helps no one."

"But you are so good at guiding people-" she countered.

"Ethically, yes. But ethics can't play a part in war, or you'd never be able to do anything. I signed up as is my duty as a citizen. Passed that, I just don't think I could do more."

Anna shifted a little through the pause. Money was why Karl's rank had been higher than Freddie's, even though by all accounts, Freddie was the better soldier. It seemed so silly when Sam put it like that. "So... what made you turn it down in the first place?"

"Because it didn't seem fair to have a higher rank just because I have money. Rank should be earned. Not that Hollywood isn't good at what he does, mind you. But still... he should have done the honourable thing and worked his way up to it."

Anna sighed, squeezing his arm before she let go.

"You understand what I mean, do you not? You came from money... and yet you do not see yourself as a cut above the rest."

"No," she said with a smile. "You're quite right." Another pause. "I think you are entirely admirable."

"Thank you, Anna. You too." He sighed and glanced behind him. "I'm just going to find the bathroom. Wait here and we'll continue our stroll?"

"Of course," smiled Anna, watching him walk away before she turned her attention back to the sea.

Anna had never had much desire to be around the ocean. She had liked playing at the seaside in Jersey when she was small, but it had never called to her in the way other places had. She pondered what Abe's home would be like... what her new home would be like. He had described it as rolling fields and small towns, somewhere cosy and safe. She couldn't wait to be there with him and Elli.

Someone came to stand beside her, so she turned around. It wasn't Sam. It was an American, though she had no idea who he was. He was glaring at her.

"Hello," she said politely. "Can I help you?"

"Fucking Nazi bitch," he slurred at her.

Anna was completely taken a back. "Excuse me?" she said, taking a step away from this drunken fool.

"You heard me," he continued, pointing at her. "I heard you and that blonde one speaking German. How good must you be at sucking his cock for him to marry you then?"

"He's my friend," she corrected him. "My husband is below deck."

"Screwing both of them then?" he said, reaching out to try and grab her.

Anna moved out of his grasp which only seemed to annoy him further. She glanced around her at the other people around her. None of them doing anything; all watching awkwardly.

"Excuse me," she mumbled, and went to leave but he managed to get hold of her.

"You think the rest of us Americans are just gonna bend over for you?" he spat, Anna struggling against his grip. "Nazi's ain't welcome in America-"

"I'm not a Nazi," she snapped, trying desperately to pull away. She hated his foul breath on her face, his whole body pinning her into the railing. "Get away from me!"

"Of course, you would say that!" he laughed, his fingers grasping her dress in his fist. "Come on... I won't tell anyone if you use that magic mouth of yours on me."

"You're sick!" she snapped, now giving him one hard shove so that he stumbled back. She gripped the railing tightly to steady herself, her heart racing as he came towards her again.

"You, fascist bitch!" he said, then spat on her face. Instinctively, her hand wiped it away, her cheeks burning hot with humiliation.

Before he could do anything else, Sam stepped between them, shoving the man away from her. "You fucking ass hole!" he yelled, glaring at him.

"We were only having a bit of fun, weren't we girly?"

"Fuck off, before I make you!" warned Sam. It was strange hearing any threat in Sam's voice. Perhaps he would have made a better battle commander than he realised.

"Whatever," huffed the man, then pushed into the crowd and disappeared. He turned to Anna. "Are you all right?" asked Sam, handing her his clean handkerchief.

Her face screwed-up as she wiped it repeatedly. "Fine," she mumbled, continuing to rub her cheek until it was raw.

Sam placed his hand on her back for comfort then turned to all the onlookers. "What the hell is wrong with all of you?" he shouted, all of them looking embarrassed or avoiding him completely. "Why wouldn't any of you help?"

They didn't respond. Anna knew why. It was because she was German. "It's all right," whispered Anna. "Just leave it."

"No," said Sam. "It's not fair. You should all be ashamed of yourselves."

He steered Anna away, her breathing deep as she tried very hard not to cry. She didn't want any of them to know that they got under her skin.

"Anna, I'm so sorry," Sam said gently.

"It's not your fault," she mumbled.

"Come on, let's get you back to Abe."

"He's going to be so angry," she sighed. Really angry. He wouldn't deal with this well. "Perhaps we should just keep it between ourselves?"

"No, Anna. You can't keep something like that from him! He'll want to make sure you're okay!"

"What's he going to do?" she snapped, stopping in her tracks so he did too. "Fight the entire world for me? You saw them all today... they think I deserve it. It's always like that. No matter what I bloody do..." She hung her head, her tears getting the best of her. "I'm so sick of everyone thinking that I'm a monster," she managed. Timidly, Sam put his arms around her and hugged her. It was awkward... he didn't much care for physical contact. But she appreciated the gesture.

"He'll remind you that they're in the wrong," he said resolutely, Anna looking up at him and sniffing. "And he'll show you how loved and valued you really are."

She managed a small smile. "Thank you, Sam," she said.

He simply nodded, then continued to guide her back to their sleeping quarters.

***

Anna was right. Abe was apoplectic with rage when they told him; he wanted to hunt the man down and beat some sense into him. She cautioned against it. She had no idea who he was any way. Elli wanted to hit him too. Anna couldn't help but smile at her sister's glare... Elli was just as ferocious as Anna when she was upset.

Anna insisted she was fine... even though she wasn't. She had been ignoring the nagging feeling in the back of her mind. The one that told her that the people in her new home might not accept her and Elli. Abe had already warned her that they could be closed minded and ignorant... what if that man screaming at her only foreshadowed what was to come?

More days passed, and they only had one more night until they reached New York. They were all heading to the mess hall for dinner. Abe had actually come with them this time. Normally they brought him back a few things, but he was finally starting to get his sea legs. He still looked peaky as they waited in line, Anna grinning up at him.

"Promise me something," he said, his arm wrapped around her shoulders

"Anything, my husband," she vowed.

"Let's never take another fucking boat trip," he murmured, all three of them laughing at him.

"I like boats," piped Elli, Abe grimacing. "They're fun."

"Nope," said Abe firmly, shaking his head. "It's a plane or nothin'."

"No more boats," confirmed Anna, stretching up and kissing his cheek. He grinned down at her. He let Elli and Sam fall into conversation before he leant down and brushed her ear with his nose.

"I can't wait 'til I get to have you in my bed again," he whispered, Anna's breath catching in her throat. "It's been all I can do not to grab you and drag you off somewhere quiet-"

"Then why didn't you?" she teased, kissing his cheek slowly, then his ear. "I wouldn't object."

"Sure, now you tell me," he said sarcastically, then winked at her. "I'm excited to see Sam's place in New York."

"You are?"

"Didn't get to see a whole bunch of the city last time," he said with a sigh. "I know we wanna be on our way, but it might be kinda fun to see the sights."

"Almost like a honeymoon," she thought aloud.

Abe's smile filled his whole face. "Exactly like a honeymoon. I think we deserve one, don't you?"

"I do," she agreed, kissing him lightly before she surveyed the mess hall. The line had moved quickly so they were nearly ready to collect their meals.

Abe looked queasy again.

"We could just share if you wanted?" she offered.

"Yeah, that might be an idea," he sighed. "Can't stand this fuckin' boat."

"One more night," she soothed, rubbing his back.

They collected their meals, finding space at a table right at the other end of the room. Abe only took very small bites of the strange brown slop they had been served. Anna couldn't help but giggle at the thought of him on dry land again. He'd probably eat Sam out of house and home within the first day.

Anna glanced at Sam opposite her, wanting to share her thoughts. But his brow was furrowed, and his gaze fixed on something else. He was barely listening to Elli babble to him; entirely out of character. Anna followed his gaze, looking at the table behind her.

The man who had assaulted her was sitting at the table, laughing with another few men.

Anna turned back, looking at Sam. He seemed worried. She mouthed at him not to say anything, and he silently agreed. They carried on distracting the other two, hoping that he wouldn't spot them. But as they made to leave the table hurriedly, he did.

"Look who it is," he shouted, Anna pretending he wasn't talking to her. "It's that fucking kraut bitch."

Abe stopped dead in his tracks. His expression was thunderous as he turned to look at this man. "What the fuck did you just say?" he asked, his voice low and throaty.

"Abe," said Anna, taking his arm. "It's all right. Let's just go-"

"Oh fuck!" laughed the man as Abe ignored Anna and stepped closer to him. "Don't tell me you are the husband?!"

"What's it t'you?" spat Abe.

The man's friends looked sheepish as Abe loomed over them, but the man was undeterred. "Didn't expect a big fella like you to be taken in by a damn Nazi," laughed the guy, looking around at the other men for support. They all seemed uneasy.

"You're the one who spat in my wife's face, ain't ya?" growled Abe, Anna still trying to get him to leave as Sam held Elli back.

"What's it t'you?" repeated the man, mocking Abe's accent.

Abe's fists were clenched in anger, his breathing deep. "Apologise to my wife. Now!"

"Fuck you," said the man, turning back to his dinner.

As quick as anything Abe grabbed his collar and smashed his head into the table. Dazed and confused, he could only emit a groan as Abe pulled him from the bench and held him up in front of him. He had a bloody nose, his eyes blinking in confusion.

"I said, apologise to my wife!" bellowed Abe, the entire hall now falling quiet.

Anna hated everyone looking at them. She didn't want to draw attention to herself at all.

"S-sorry," managed the man.

Anna nodded hurriedly, tugging at Abe's arm. "Please Abe, can we go?" she urged him.

Abe still looked furious but nodded before he turned back to look at him. "Learn some God damned manners," he growled, then threw him back into his table so that he tumbled to the floor. He stalked out, the other three following him.

Anna was so angry it was palpable. Sam let Elli run ahead, cheering Abe for his gallantry. He fell in step with Anna so that he might soothe her.

"What was he thinking?" hissed Anna.

"You know what he's like when he's angry-" began Sam.

"I'm so embarrassed," she confided. "I don't need any more attention on me than there already is!"

Abe turned to look at them. "If y'all are gonna talk about me at least do it in English."

Glaring up at him, Anna folded her arms. "Fine. What the hell was that?"

"A bit of well-deserved justice," he countered.

"Anna, he deserved it!" said Elli.

Anna rolled her eyes. "Sam, can you put Elli to bed?"

"But I'm not tired!" protested Elli, as Sam made to take her.

"I don't bloody care," snapped Anna. "Now go!"

Huffily, Elli left with Sam, the couple now staring at each other.

"What am I going to say?" probed Anna.

Abe took a deep, calming breath. "That y'all don't need saving."

"If you know that, then why did you do that?"

"'Cause you're my fuckin' wife!" he bellowed. "I won't have anyone disrespect you like that."

"It was not your fight to have!"

"Of course it was! He needed to be taught a lesson!"

"Not like that! Why did you have to draw attention to it?"

"'Cause all them fuckers needed to know!" he retorted. "They all just sat back and watched as he attacked you. That ain't ever gonna happen again-"

"It might!" she screeched. "And you will have to accept that!"

"No way! I ain't gonna let anyone do anythin' to you ever again!"

"So what, you're going to spend every waking moment with me in Missouri?" A deathly silence fell. "Wake up, Abe. You know as well as I do that that is going to happen again when we get there. You said it yourself, the locals will probably hate Elli and I-"

"That ain't what I said!" he protested.

"Do you think that beating them half to death is going to bring them around to our side?" she pushed, stepping closer to him. "That kind of attitude doesn't help!"

He looked anguished; his head hung low. "I know," he admitted with a big sigh. "But I'm worried that's what's gonna happen." He looked up at her, taking her in his arms as Anna cupped his face. "What if I've dragged you half way across the world for a better life, and you end up bein' miserable?" He rested his forehead against hers, breathing deeply. "I hate this. I hate that people are so fuckin' blind. I just want you and little'n to be happy."

"Of course we will be," she promised. "We'll be with you! Fuck everyone else-"

"That's easy to say now," he countered, "but if you spend years living with that kinda hatred towards you, it might be too much. What if you end up wishing you'd never come along?"

Anna's heart panged. "Abe, look at me," she said softly, her thumbs brushing against his cheeks. "You are my miracle. I love you so much... and nothing will ever make me think otherwise." She sighed heavily. "We have already been through so much hurt in our short time together. And we have survived it all!"

"You and Elli mean more to me than anythin' else," he murmured, pulling her closer. "I'd fight the whole world to make you happy."

"I know you would," she promised. "But that would only make things worse. We will get through this... but you must stop taking matters into your own hands. We have to tackle them together. Do you promise me?"

He looked reluctant.

"Abraham Coleman... promise me you will not let your fists do the talking anymore?!" she said sharply.

"Fine," he grumbled. "Sorry." Abe pulled her close, Anna's arms winding around his neck as she stretched up on her toes. "I'll remind you of this next time someone is rude to Elli-"

"Just hold me, will you?" she breathed, Abe grinning as she nestled into him. They gripped each other tightly, neither one wanting to focus on just how apprehensive they now were about their future in America.