Finally, after sitting outside with some others in the patio, she looks up to see Leon, shaking hands with a passerby, congratulating him on all he has done in service for the country and world. He is completely decked out with a black suit jacket.

"Leon!" She calls out. Leon is alarmed at first, but calms down when he sees Ashley is fine. That squeal even now seems to trigger memories of fear. He relaxes and looks out to see her running in high-heel shoes to him. "Ashley." They embrace. "I was worried I wouldn't get to see you, after everything that's happened." Ashley panted from sprinting, giving Leon a slight chuckle.

Leon and Ashley continued to talk about the recent past, for with their different roles in government they had not been able to see each other for so long. Ashley missed having him around when she did as the presidents daughter having Leon for her protection. Leon said he'd always look out for her whenever he could. If something happened to her, he would be there in a heartbeat. It was a lot to say to someone, and even if he didn't actually "love" her, she got the feeling that he at least cared enough about her as a friend. Ashley hoped so at least anyway that it all wasn't about the job that had kept them close together, albeit figuratively, this while time years later.

He joked about not getting paid for it now, and she laughed so hard she cried a little. Leon volunteered to get her a tissue. Ashley went back and forth in her mind about making a move. Finally, she decided to be brave after everything she had been through and do it when he came back.

"Yeah, I've been super busy, but it's really good to see you." Leon continued when he returned.

"You too, Leon." She smiled and went to kiss his cheek when the man on the communicator came on.

"Saved by the bell." Ashley thought, being upset, as her male idol had to bid her farewell so quickly and abruptly ending their heartfelt conversation.

Did he not care? Was hd trying to avoid her? Was Ashley just a responsibility, or even a pain in the ass to Leon?

Or was Leon just being an ass?

Ashley calmed herself, realising the importance and sacrifice of his line of work. It's quite possible that upon seeing so much death and not having barely any free time that Leon tried not to get involved too much with people.

Later on, she finally found Leon again... As well as Claire... the tramp!

Acting all weird about how Ashley behaved yet being the exact same way about Leon, despite how sincere it appeared to look.

She could just barely make out the start of heir conversation:

"Well, did you... Find out where?" Claire asked, a bit scared to hear the answer but desperately emotional to know at the same time.

"...I'm sorry Claire..." Leon said briefly at first, almost emotionless as he looked down, like he was trying to be... and Claire seemed to fall for it hook line and sinker as she gasped out a little bit, beginning to bite her bottom lip and tremble in pre-sobs as Leon continued, looking her in the eyes now.

"...but I hope you like Europe."

"Ahh!"

A few people turned and half expected to see Ashley squealing, but the source was coming from Claire as she embraced Leon in an almost painful-looking hug Leon struggling to smile and breathe at the same time. Ashley saw Claire playfully smack his arm, accidentally hurting him. "Don't you scare me like that!?"

Ashley had no idea what was going on, but somehow she got the feeling that whatever this was, Leon had never been that close to her in their conversations.

...Oh well, at least she tried...

Ashley walked back in the main hall afterwards through the screen door of the balcony that looked down onto the pool sulking a little, where the party seems to be going strong. She looks around for Claire an Leon again a little bit later on, but the blonde bombshell didn't see her anywhere.

Who she did find, however was one of the last people that Ashley "knew", but had never expected to see.

While looking and talking with family, friends and contributors, she sees a familiar looking burnet with short hair and a pink dress.

"It's her!" Ashley thought to herself!

Now, Leon would never answer Ashley as to who this Asian woman was that had appeared with him toward the end of their long ordeal.

Not wanting to get Leon's hopes up at first, she decided not to bring it up to him initially and continued with the party.

I mean, why would "she" be here of all places? Maybe she was mistaken... No. The woman's image standing on a platform will stay with her forever, like the rest of the trauma she experienced in her kidnapping.

The woman had stood high above her that day on the same level as Leon. Ashley patiently waited for Leon by their tunnel for his safe return, as always hoping for the best but fearing he worst. This was stained into her brain trough all the drama in the event.

For some reason, she also seemed to have a memory... More of a dream... That this woman had helped to save her from Saddler's hold directly, giving her time to escape with Leon.

She almost felt like a little something that remained from that horrific land still was nestled inside her, an not just in her memories either. She couldn't forget, no matter how much she trained or tried.

She seemed like the spy type that had connections from what Ashley remembered seeing her as being like stereotypically. One thing was certain though: she was not suppose to be hear. Claire at least made some sense being there with all she did as one of the surviving members of Terra-Save, but some stranger? Either she was dating someone with connections...

or...

"I have to go tell Leon!"