The Cuckoo's Song

Chapter Forty-Four

Anna felt so incredibly heavy as she began to come to, her eyes only managing to remain open for a brief second. She caught a flash of the hotel ceiling, her head swimming with a thousand thoughts. She allowed herself to take everything slowly, her hands flexing a little as she finally managed to open her eyes fully. She squinted into the rising sunshine pooling in through a gap in the curtain.

Hans was there, staring out of the window. She could see he was fighting the urge to sleep, his gaze fixed on something outside. Why on earth was he here?

She looked over to her other side to see Abe, passed out in the armchair, snoring lightly. A small smile flickered on her lips. Caleb was curled on his chest, Abe's arm resting across himself to support their son. It was one of the most beautiful things she had ever seen. She watched them for a while, using the sound of Abe's strange breathing pattern to rouse herself. Hans and Abe together in the room alone? How long had she been asleep?

Anna finally shifted, trying her best to sit up.

Hans heard and looked back from the window. "Anna," he breathed in relief, immediately moving to her side.

"Can you help me sit up?" she asked, her voice croaky.

He nodded, supporting her so that she could sit against the pillows he gathered for her. He sat down on the bed, facing her, her hand still resting lightly in his.

She smiled weakly at him, Hans returning it whole heartedly. She looked over at Abe and Caleb, her heart swelling. Abe's snoring had reached a new level of loud, yet Caleb remained nestled happily against him.

Then she looked back to Hans. "Have you stopped fighting, then?" she asked, Hans' thumb rubbing her hand.

"In a manner of speaking," he murmured, squeezing her hand now. "How are you feeling?"

"Tired," she said with a huffy laugh. "You?"

"Same," he replied, both of them smiling at one another.

"Did you stay here the whole time?" Anna asked, Hans nodding. "Thank you."

"I couldn't leave you," he admitted. "Not again."

"Hans..."

"I was terrified, Anna," he cut across. "Seeing you like that... it made me think about what you've been through. Everyone you've lost."

"Everyone we've lost," she corrected, squeezing his hand. "I wish they were all here with you."

"Karl and I reconciled before he died," he said suddenly, Anna taking in a sharp breath. "We had a plan to get back to you. I just wanted you to know that."

"I never gave up on either of you," she admitted. "Neither did Freddie." She looked away for a moment, wiping away her tears. "I'm so glad you're alive," she whispered. "They don't seem so far away when you're here."

He brought her hand closer to him, looking down at it. He seemed to be building to something, Anna curious as to the words burning in his throat. He finally let his gaze meet hers, tears welling in his eyes.

"Hans?" she breathed.

"He's a good man, Anna," he said quickly, the words tumbling from his lips. They both glanced over at Abe, then back at one another. "I know what I said before, but I was being selfish... again." She placed her other hand over their entwined fingers, tears now trickling down her cheeks. "I know you don't need my endorsement, but I wanted to tell you whilst I still could... whilst the moment still belonged to us."