It was disorienting to wake up in her old home the next morning. Hannah stirred early to the sound of voices and clattering outside, and was confused at first. Were her parents bantering again? Or was Rio making some sort of fuss? Why hadn't her mother waken her up early for chores, like she always did?

Hannah sat up, rubbing the side of her head until she remembered. No, those days were gone. Her father would not be outside, Rio would not be that restless little boy, and she was not tied to the house and Chell as she used to be. She belonged to Dalen now.

She slithered out of bed, crossing the room to wash up and dress herself. A while later, she emerged to find Kurt and his father carrying things out of the house. Apparently, they'd not wanted to waste any time.

"Good morning, Hannah," Kurt greeted her, and Tom Avery turned around long enough to do a courteous nod. Not as friendly as she would have liked, but she accepted it. She really hoped the Averys didn't blame her for all this. She felt bad enough as it was.

"So," Hannah said, feeling awkward. "Moving everything out already?" Must you ask the obvious, Hannah?

"Yes." Kurt shrugged as his father disappeared out the door with a bagful of clothes. "Thought we might as well."

"Where's Melanie?"

"She's over at the house with my mother, cleaning up my old room."

"Do you even have enough space?"

He paused, giving her a faint smile. "Probably not. But don't worry, Hannah. We'll figure it out."

"Maybe you don't have to move everything back yet. You could leave some things here while you ... figure it out."

"Thank you. But I'd rather we get everything out at one go."

"Right. Of course."

"You should come over before you leave," he suggested, shifting a box from one arm to the other. "Have dinner with us."

Hannah gazed at him, wondering if that invite included her mother. "I'd love to. Thank you."

"Do you know when you and your brother will be heading back?"

"I'm not sure. I'll have to ask him. I got off easier than he did."

"Ah. Alright then." He nodded towards the door. "I'd better get these out."

"Of course." She watched as he turned away, then had a thought. "Kurt?"

"Hmm?"

"I was just wondering ... will you be taking anything from my room too?"

For a moment, he stared at her as if he didn't understand. Then his face sparked, and he lowered his eyes, nodding. "Oh, yes. I forgot about that. Of course. I'll take care of it." He raised his head again, looking sheepish. "Thank you, Hannah."

She nodded, letting him go. She slipped over to the window, watching as he moved down the path towards his old home, thinking that the way he walked looked sad. Did that even make sense?

"Hannah?" she heard her mother's call.

"Hmm?"

"Aren't you going to have your breakfast?"

Breakfast by her mother's hand, just like when she was little. Most likely, it would be bread or soup, with a good cup of tea to get her warm and awake. But instead of feeling comforted, she was sickened instead. She couldn't get accustomed to that feeling of being at home and having her mother care for her again. Not after everything that had happened.

"Hannah?" her mother prompted.

"Later, Ma."

"Later?" she wasn't pleased about that. Probably took it as an insult. Hannah had never put off eating her mother's food before. She glanced out the window, looking for the Averys again but catching no sight of them. However, she did spot someone else, someone she'd been hoping to see again.

"What's so important that you can't eat now?"

She didn't answer, stepping through the door and out onto the path. "Kaye!" she called, waving.

"Yes! You knew I was coming, did you?" her old friend laughed. She was alone, and without her usual load of laundry this morning as she ran up to hug Hannah.

"My goodness," Hannah went, stepping back to examine her friend. "You look different."

"Do I?"

"Thinner."

Kaye shrugged, although her cheeks freshened at the compliment. "I'm still the hugest girl in Chell though."

"Tallest."

"Huge. As an ox."

"Don't be silly," Hannah grinned. "Did you hear about me coming back into Chell?"

"Oh, yes, just a little while ago from the Doones. Rushed over to see for myself. Is it true your mother's here too?"

"It's true."

"You found her? You actually found her?"

"It wasn't easy," Hannah noted.

"But is she alright?"

"Yes, she's fine now. She's inside, if you want to say hello."

"Oh, absolutely." Kaye latched onto Hannah's arm, and as they turned around, they saw Donna Iver watching them from inside the door.

"Mrs. Iver," Kaye nodded at her. "It's good to see you again."

"You too, Kaye. How are you?"

"Good, good. I'm ... I'm married now."

Hannah dropped her friend's hand. "You what?"

Kaye started to blush, which was not like her. "Yes. I'm sorry, Hannah. I know this must be a shock. A lot's happened since you were last here."

"When was this?"

"Just a few months ago, in summer."

"So who is it?" Donna Iver asked the question that was on Hannah's tongue.

"Oh, Hannah, you can probably guess," Kaye answered, with a glance her way.

"David Trent."

"That's right. We've been close ever since ... well, you know."

"I remember. I just never would have imagined – you and the Trents."

"That John character," her mother muttered, shaking her head. And she didn't even know about the incident between him and Rio. Hannah decided she had better not mention it.

"David's a nice man though," she put forward.

Kaye nodded. "And the rest of the family too. When John's not around, things are pretty pleasant. Sometimes I think his own parents are scared of him."

Who isn't? Except maybe Rio.

"Well," Hannah mused. "I wish I could have seen it."

"I wish you could have been there too."

"I should have known it was going to happen. I probably did, at the back of my mind."

"Yes, well. I know it's a little early to say but right now, I'm very happy."

"That's good," Donna Iver said. "You know what else is good? Coming in to sit and having something to eat. I'm not sure why you girls are taking to standing out there in the cold."

Hannah smiled at that, nodding for Kaye to go in first. She followed her friend, sitting with her in the kitchen as they nibbled her mother's bread. She tried to focus less on her mother and more on Kaye, asking question after question – it really was strange for her to imagine Kaye married. Her friend had always seemed so independent and unromantic (much like herself), she had half-expected her to end up a spinster. In fact, she quite felt ... left behind now. Was she really the last of her age from Chell to be married?

"I can't imagine," Hannah murmured. "Actually living in the same house as John Trent."

"Oh, he's hardly around, fortunately. And I'm never alone. Do you know, I think he's actually hankering to get himself a wife too ever since David and I got wedded?"

"I hope you're not about to suggest what I think you are ... "

"Not on your life! I don't think I'd wish him on my worst enemy."

"You don't have enemies."

"I can imagine," Kaye said exaggeratedly, sipping Donna Iver's tea. "But anyway, since you brought it up, how are you getting on with the Dalen men?"

"You always ask, and I always have nothing to report."

"It's a shame. Still, your chances are a lot better there than here."

"I don't think so," her Ma butted in, whirling with kettle in hand. "City folk don't turn a second eye to the likes of us."

"Ma, please," she said.

"It's true."

Kaye did a thoughtful sigh. "Well, I don't know much about Dalen, but David goes sometimes, and he says he likes it there. He's supposed to take me sometime."

"Really?" Hannah perked up. "That's wonderful. You could come visit me and Rio then."

"Oh, absolutely. See where you work, meet all your friends ... "

Behind them, Donna Iver plonked down the kettle – a bit loudly – before walking out of the kitchen. Hannah shut her eyes for a moment, while Kaye blinked, puzzled. "Did I say something wrong?"

"No, it's not your fault, Kaye. It's just that she and I have been arguing about whether I should stay on in Dalen or come back to Chell."

"You're not going to stay?"

"No. Rio and I will be headed back to Dalen soon enough."

"Are you really happy there, Hannah?"

"I am, actually."

"That's good then. But I can understand your mother being upset. She's always relied on you, and now, she'll be alone."

"Well, we were alone after she went away. I don't see why I need to worry about her now. She could have stayed with us, but she said she'd rather come back here."

"There's nothing wrong with that."

"No, of course not. I just feel that she shouldn't have left in the first place. I can't just go back to how things were."

"Of course, you never know. Maybe you'll come back to Chell someday."

"Maybe."

"With a man."

"Um, " Hannah wavered, and her old friend laughed.

"Oh, hush, I'm teasing! Well, not really. I do think you ought to be with someone. No rushing into it, but don't altogether forget about it either."

"I'd rather not think about it, honestly."

"Not to worry, Hannah. If all else fails, we can turn to John Trent as a last resort."

She made a terrible face, making Kaye laugh all over again. This was not a topic Hannah liked however, since it only reminded her of her late age and failing hope. What man, whether from the city or village, would be drawn to someone as poor and dull as her?

"Well," Kaye sighed after she had settled down. "I should go, I'm due to help Mrs. Trent."

"Oh, alright."

"What about you, Hannah?" she asked as they stood. "What will you be doing today?"

"I hadn't really thought about it. Perhaps I'll do up my room a bit, help around the house."

"But you will be leaving soon?"

She nodded. "I have work."

"Right. Where again?"

"I'm working at a tailor's now. I have quite good employers over there."

"Then you're lucky. I do hear some nasty stories of our kind of folk trying to find money in the city. Terrible hours, back-breaking work, sleeping out in the streets ... "

Hannah thought of her mother cooped up in the Williams home, worked sick, ignored, ready to die until her children found her. Bad things did happen, but so did good. "I'll be sure to say goodbye when we leave," she promised.

"Come to the Trents'," Kaye reminded her.

"Oh ... right, I suppose so."

"It'll be fine," Kaye promised. "No one will bite, not even John."

Hannah smiled, leading her friend out the door. They stood together at the gate, and Hannah was pleasantly surprised when Kaye pulled her into a heavy, tight hug. "I've really missed having someone to talk to!" Kaye told her. "I mean, I have my sisters, and some of the other girls, but it's not the same at all, you know?"

"I know," Hannah answered, meaning it. "I have yet to meet anyone like you in the city."

"A girl as huge as me?"

"A girl as silly as you."

"Yes, yes," she went, with mock seriousness. "They are both so rare."

Hannah laughed, nudging her in the shoulder. "Alright, on with you. We'll talk again, Kaye."

They waved at each other, and Hannah watched as her friend took off – in a different direction than she used to, bound this time for the large wooden house that belonged to the Trents. Would that ever be her one day? Would she get to love, marry, and have a family as she wanted? Looking at herself, she would probably be lucky just to get the last two.

Later that evening, dinner among the three Ivers was silent and awkward. Rio had been missing most of the day, and Hannah had helped her mother around the house, but had avoided conversation.

"This is our first night together in a long time," their Ma noted after a while, looking between them. "Why do you both look so miserable?"

Hannah shook her head. "We're not miserable."

Her mother paused, stirring her food. "Do you miss Dalen? All your friends?"

"A little."

"What about your friends here?"

"Of course. But things are different. Everyone's got their own life now. Their own family."

"And soon it'll be your turn."

Hannah sighed. "Not that soon. And why is everyone saying that to me anyway? What about Rio? Couldn't he get married too?"

"Why?" she asked, cocking her head. "Is there someone, Rio?"

"Um, no," he mumbled, not looking at them.

Donna Iver raised her brows, while Hannah tried not to smile. No one said much else for the rest of the meal, but later, just before heading off to bed, Hannah caught sight of her brother slipping out of the house instead of going to his room. Curious, she followed, popping open the front door to find him sitting right there on the step.

"What – " he started, then relaxed when he saw it was her. "Oh, it's you."

She smirked. "I thought you might be off to pick another fight."

"Ha ha."

"Everything alright?"

"Fine. Why?"

"Shouldn't you be turning in?"

"In a minute."

She pursed her lips, a bit of a silence bobbing between them.

"Kind of funny to be here, isn't it?" he finally spoke again, which she was glad for.

"Why do you say that?"

"You know. All the memories."

"Good or bad?"

"Both," he nodded, turning his green eyes up to her.

"Mmm. I know what you mean."

"Are you still mad? You know, about Kurt and all that?"

"No. Why should I be mad?"

Her brother did something of a snort. "Because it's Kurt."

She decided to ignore that comment. "I can't blame Ma for wanting to come home."

"It's alright, Hannah. Look, it'll be better this way."

"What do you mean?"

"We won't have to worry about her. Here, she has a place to stay, she has people to look out for her. We can still have our own lives, and come back to visit when we choose."

Hannah did a sigh. "I suppose you're right." She did a small laugh, gazing down at her brother. "Since when did you get so wise?"

"Since I was born."

She stuck out her tongue, and he laughed her off.

"Alright, seriously," she said. "How long are we going to be here?"

"In Chell? Well, I need to leave morning after tomorrow. Early."

"Really?"

"No later. Are you coming with me?"

She nodded. "In that case, I'll probably spend tomorrow with Kaye and the Averys. Do a bit more catching up."

He shrugged, not responding.

"And you? Where will you be?"

"Not here, that's for sure."

"Some things never change, do they?"

He shrugged, pushing himself up to his feet. "Are you going to be sad when we leave?"

"Not so much sad as … guilty."

"Why?"

"I still feel like I'm leaving Ma behind."

"That's the thing about you, Hannah."

"What? What thing?"

"You always were too eager to please her."

"What? That's not true!"

"Oh, yes, it is. You want to be the perfect daughter, don't you? Why else do you care so much about what she thinks?"

"She's our mother."

"But we're not children anymore. Especially not you." He turned, putting his hand on the knob. "Do things for yourself. Not for her."