Annie looked around Washington Dulles International Airport content to be back home, then to her wonderful best friend by her side,

"Want a ride home?" she asked.

Auggie barely shook his head before answering, "No. I need to catch the next flight to Eritrea."

Annie's stomach dropped and her eyes fluttered shut momentarily as she took a silent breath to steady her voice, "You're still proposing…?"

She asked, trying to sound happy without giving a clue to her true feelings. It seems to have worked though, or Auggie was too excited to notice or care,

"Yeah, wish me luck."

"You don't need it. But could I take…could I peak at the ring?"

Auggie's smile widened, "I was hoping you'd ask that. No one has seen it, so I don't know what it looks like. Just a blind guys guess here."

Annie forced a breathy laugh before holding her breath as Auggie slowly opened the ring box. All the air left Annie and caught in her throat when she saw the single, small pearl on a gold band sitting in the satin. She tried to find words, but nothing came out. After a few tense moments of silence she finally exclaimed,

"It's beautiful, Aug. She'll love it."

"I hope so. Now I have to go and find a flight, before I chicken out."

He said with a laugh he moved into a hug Annie, but she stopped him. Auggie looked at her confused, and slightly hurt, before Annie spoke,

"Speaking of chickening out, I have to say something before you leave, because I know I won't have the guts to when you get back if I let you walk away from me now."

Auggie's heartbeat quickened when the blonde agent stepped closer to him. His mind was moving just as fast as his heart. He knew he shouldn't have this reaction to his best friend, especially when he was just hours away from proposing to his girlfriend of 4 months, but he couldn't help but breathe in her scent of Jo Malone grapefruit. He forced himself to focus on her voice instead of their proximity when he heard her speak,

"Auggie, you're my best friend, my handler, and I don't want to lose you, but this is a risk I have to take…"Annie paused to gather all her courage before continuing, "I love you. You are my sun. You brighten up my day with a single smile and my world revolves around you. With just one look from you, I know everything is going to be ok and you are there to save me. I know I shouldn't be saying this now as you hold Parker's" it took everything in Annie not to spit the name like it was toxic "engagement rings, but I need to try and stop you, to keep you for myself, so I can tell myself 'at least I tried'".

Annie closed the now minimal distance between her and Auggie and in a surge of confidence, let her lips touch his. The kiss was soft and fleeting but she poured every ounce of her emotions into it. She back away slightly to look at Auggie's face and gauge his reaction. He shows no emotion as he moves in to hug her tightly and whispers goodbye in her ear before walking away; never looking back.