Title: Remembrance
Author: Night_Lotus
Rating: PG
Word Count: 495
Disclaimer: I neither own Chuck nor its marvelous characters. They are the creations of Josh Schwartz and Chris Fedak and are owned by NBC/Universal.
Summary: Sacrifices are honored and remembered.
Author's Note: This contains spoilers for Season 3 of 'Chuck.'
The dark-haired man and woman walked slowly, side-by-side along the manicured rows of austere white headstones dotting the immaculate, lush grounds of Arlington National Cemetery.
As they walked, her eyes drifted over the names and dates etched onto the white marble markers, the various emblems of faith carved at the top of each stone catching her attention. Some she recognized, including the Christian cross, the Jewish Star and the Muslim crescent and star. Many she didn't. In preparation for their visit to the cemetery, she had read about the rich history of the military burial ground, recalling that there were almost 100 different faiths and teachings represented by the emblems and over 300,000 people interred here.
The verdant grounds were immense and sprawling, and she was sure she would have gotten lost had it not been for his guidance, for he knew exactly where to go. After a brief walk, they arrived at the grave they had journeyed here to visit.
They paused in front of the final resting place and bowed their heads in respect, remaining silent. After a few moments, she allowed herself to look at the headstone in detail. The simple black outline of a Christian cross decorated the top of the alabaster stone, which was shot through with strands of dark carbonate. She bent over slightly and reached out her hand, tracing the name engraved there with her fingertip. The marker read: Alexander Matthew Coburn, March 21, 1968 - August 8, 1989, Beloved Son, Fiancé and Soldier.
Tears slowly streamed down her face and she began to shake, weeping silently. She felt a strong, warm hand rest gently between her shoulder blades.
Gathering herself as best she could, she rose and met his gaze. She looked into eyes that matched her own in color and emotion. Her lower lip trembled and the pain revealed on her face was his undoing, and he gathered her into his arms without hesitation.
They held each other and mourned what they had lost. He grieved for the young man who never realized the dream of marrying his fiancé and for the lost opportunity of being a father to his daughter as she grew up. She grieved for all of the time they had missed together, for the lingering ache his death caused her mother and for all of the sacrifices he made to become the man who was holding her in his arms right now.
How long they stood like that, neither knew, but when it came time to go, both laid a single white rose at the base of the gravestone, the stems crossing, forming a "V," the top points crowned by newly-opened ivory flowers.
"We have now," he said, cradling her face in his hands and smoothing away the remaining tears from her cheeks with his thumbs. She looked up at him and smiled. "I love you dad." "I love you too, Alex." They strode away, hand in hand, walking into their future.
A/N: I want to express my deepest and most heartfelt gratitude to the men and women who have sacrificed and continue to sacrifice to keep us safe and free. Freedom comes with a steep price, and I humbly honor and remember all of you for that.