Just a warning for you all. I cried writing this. And I rarely cry.

"It's been ten years. God, time flies, huh?" Shannon shifted her feet and looked towards the ground. It was a cold September day, but not rainy. It didn't feel right.

"I haven't been to visit for ages. I know. I'm sorry." Sighing, she sat on the dewy grass, not caring about the dampness that slowly spread through her clothing as she hugged her knees to her chest.

"Christian's doing well. After Annie popped out baby number four, she threatened to have him castrated if she got pregnant again." She paused and chuckled. "So now she's got another on the way. I'm pretty sure it's twins this time. He's delighted - you know how he is with kids."

"Kerry's moved up in the world - again. She's Deputy Commissioner now, I think she'll be headed for top job soon enough. It's perfect for her, instead of running around after us all the time. A lot less mess to clean up too, I'm guessing. I don't think she intended to be a paper pusher, so she's out on the street a fair bit. It's good. I saw her on the way here. She sends her best, by the way."

"Leon's in jail. Naw, just joking. But he's in serious trouble - when is he not? He's living with Kerry and James now. It'll be good for him. He's still single. Always the charmer, huh?"

"I saw Audrey a while back. Like, a few months? I hadn't seen her since Michael's funeral. She's married. To some guy, Ashley? I think that was his name. He seems nice. Not that it worries you, I guess."

"Sandrine's going really well. Gigi's all grown up now. She's twelve next month."

"We found Josh. Or rather, he found us. He lost his job - not long before the rest of us. Hell, he got off easy. Redundancy payouts are a bitch to claim. He just shrugged it off and became a security guard. You should see him; he's certainly stacking on the kilos. I find it ironic, considering how he used to make fun of you." Shannon stopped, gathering her thoughts. "He couldn't love again, not after Tash."

"Lawson - Lawson and I got married about three years ago. He wants kids." Shannon wiped away tears that fell relentlessly. "But I never wanted kids with anyone but you. It was always you. And he was just there when no-one else was." She was crying in earnest now. "I love him. But I'm still in love with you, even after ten years. Ten goddamn fucking years."

Shannon stood up, attempting to cuff the tears from her eyes, as she pulled a velvet box from the pocket of her jacket and opened it, pulling out the ring contained within.

"I still have the ring. Like I could ever get rid of it. It's my last link to you. To us."

As she knelt down and placed a kiss on top of the simple headstone, Shannon couldn't help to trace her fingers over the engraving.

Stella Dagostino

September 12, 1986 - January 23, 2012

"And the songbirds are singing, like they know the score."

"I love you, Stella. See you next year." With that, she stood and walked away, not looking back.

If she had, she may have seen the slight swirl of mist appear, and take the form of her beloved.

"I love you too, Shannon." As Stella watched her walk away, she knew her sacrifice hadn't been in vain.

Because of her, her friends were still alive. When she'd thrown herself over the live grenade, she knew that Tactical Response would be disbanded. Four deaths over as many years was simply too many. She knew that. And that's why she'd made the snap decision that day, to protect her closest friends - her family. So Christian's children could have a father. So Leon could grow up. So Kerry wouldn't be grounded in a thankless unit.

And so Shannon could move on.