WARNING: contains angst & character death.
With thanks to Bella for betaing this chapter - well, prologue - and Becs, for just being awesome.
I own nada at this point; the characters belong to Anthony Zuiker & co. Please don't sue.
K . I . A
(killed in action)
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"I want to fall in love with you. I want you to let me fall in love with you. I - I love you Stel… I want you to believe that and I need you to let me love you."
She would never admit it, but there had been tears in her eyes as he had made his declaration. There had been tears in her eyes when, after two years of proper, traditional courtship, he had proposed; and yet again as they had exchanged marriage vows just another year later.
She'd deny it profusely when it was mentioned, but she had sobbed with a passion to equal the wailing of their daughter as she had arrived into the world on their first wedding anniversary. And even he had cried when she suggested they name her Claire.
Yet she'd freely admit to the tears she had cried after she had received that phone call. She may only have heard three single words, but those words were enough to bring her whole world down about her; its entire construct falling as effortlessly as the tears now cascading down her face.
"…killed in action."