I lay a bouquet of flowers on the passenger seat of my car, from her favorite shop. Red and Tea colored Roses, mixed with Rue. I hope she likes them; it took me a long time to pick out the right ones. A while ago, I checked her phone and trash to find her favorite flower shop, and never forgot.

"Tony! Did you go through my trash again?" she yells, furious

"What? No! Of course not!" I weakly disagree

"Yes you did! Why do you keep doing these childish things?"

"I just wanted to know where your favorite flower shop was!" I answer, gesturing to the Bouquet of Lilies on her desk.

She looks at it, then back at me.

"Fine. Don't do it again." She sighs

I don't miss how she hides her smile as she smells the lilies.

I get out of my car and ignore the way my expensive shoes get soaked in the dewy morning grass. I walk around my car and open the passenger door, rescuing the flowers before I shut the door and lock the car.

As I start the trek across the grass, I catch sight of a garter snake sunning itself in a small sunny spot. I can't help but smile slightly, as I remember when I 'saved' Kate from a snake.

"I hope it's not poisonous." She moans

I look at her horrified face, and decide to have a little fun.

"I think it is." I answer

She lets out another moan. "What's it doing now."

"Wrapping around your leg." I answer truthfully.

She squeals, and continues looking away.

"I'm going to get it off. No sudden moves, okay Kate? They do this on Discovery Channel all the time."

After another moment of me trying to remove the snake, she whips out her gun

"Move! I'm just going to shoot it!"

"Hey! Put that away! You're going to shoot your foot off!" I argue.

As I'm still removing the snake, she mutters

"My life in your hands, I always knew it would end this way!"

Another moment, and I got it off, holding its head to show her.

"Is all forgiven?" I say, looking at the snake and back at her.

"You do have your moments." She answers, a brief smile flashing across her face.

I chuckle slightly as I continue walking, the snake slithered away as the sun disappeared behind the rapidly accumulating clouds. I take a deep breath as I weave through the small pathways. Muscle memory takes over, just as it has for every May 24th. I wander for a few minutes more as the air becomes heavy with moisture, not quite ready to become rain. I finally stop, where I always do, right before I get there.

I look down and tears fill my eyes as I stare at the stone in front of me.

Here Lies Caitlin Todd

Best Sister, Daughter, Friend, and Agent

Died Protecting Her Country

Receiver of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
May She Rest In Peace, Always and Forever

I drop to my knees in front of it, ignoring the mud that will surely stain my suit. I place the flowers on the ground against her grave. I lean forward and placing my head against the stone, which is cold and unforgiving so like the bullet that took her.

My tears drip down my cheeks as rain begins to fall, slowly at first, but then heavily, as choking sobs are ripped out of my chest, my fingers running rivet along the words, the rock, that is all I have left of her.

Despite my suit sticking to me, soaked through, my lips, cold, as the rain and tears mix dripping off them, I manage to speak.

"I'm sorry Katie. I'm so, so sorry. I should've protected you and I should have saved you. I should have told you, but I never had the courage, and now, it's too late. I love you, Katie, I love you and I have loved you since the moment I met you on Air Force One. I never could tell you, so I tried being your friend, and we bickered like crazy. I only annoyed you because your angry face was so adorable. I loved every time you smirked at me when you were right or elbowed me for something I said. I love you, and I lost you and now you'll never know. I don't know If you can hear me, but I will always love you, Always and forever, and no matter what happens, I will wait forever until I can tell you that face to face again. Wait for me Katie, because I will find you. Wait for me, Katie, because I love you."

The shocking cold rips every thing else I want to say from my lips as I press them against the stone, sealing my promise.

I don't know how long I remain that way, forehead pressed against her grave, rain running through me, mud coating my palms, shoes, and knees.

Then, tentatively, I reach into my chest pocket of my jacket and pull out a photo of us. It's one from long ago, wrinkled by use and time as I watch the rain distort our smiles. I press another kiss to the image of her face, before I place it back into my jacket. I get up, numb, and stare at the flowers I picked out, just for her. Red Roses which means Love, Rue, for Regret and Tea colored roses, which mean I will remember always, which I will. I will remember and love her always and forever.