The week of the funeral was a long and miserable one as news of Helena's death marched throughout the government. By the time it came around, hundreds of people showed up to honor her for the services she had done and the sacrifices she had made. Her casket was filled to the brink with flowers and many people had a lot to say about her. Surprisingly to everyone, Leon was silent the entire time. He just watched as they lowered her into the ground and breathed as slowly as he could. Claire came over to this side and lightly patted his shoulder; he didn't once make eye contact with her or anyone throughout the rest of the day. Chris and Jill and several others tried to talk to him and offered condolences, but Leon's mood wouldn't budge. He'd only lightly nod to comments or he'd tell everyone to leave him be. As Claire and Chris began to take off, Claire found herself looking back at Leon who was staring at Helena's tombstone.

"I really hate this…"

She muttered as she got into the car. Jill and Chris took in a heavy breath together, knowing full well what she was talking about.

"We have no choice right now."

Chris said as he started up the car and the three of them took off.

By the time everyone had left for the after mourning feast, Leon was the only one who remained at the graveyard. He was on his knees looking at Helena's tombstone and Deborah's. Despite her being gone, Leon was happy she finally had a resting place near her sister. He then gently traced around Helena's name with his fingers and could finally feel his tears coming up. Leon had managed to keep his composure long enough to let it go.

"I'm sorry I couldn't protect you."

He then looked over at Deborah's grave and bowed his head.

"I'm sorry I couldn't keep her safe."

Leon then took out a gun he had been keeping on himself from everyone. It was the same one that went through hell and back with him when the Raccoon City calamity occurred. He took one look at it and loaded it with some bullets. During the week before the funeral as he allowed himself to take in the fact that Helena was gone, he planned this out. Leon placed the gun in front of Helena's grave and got up and left. On the side of the weapon he placed upon Helena's grave, Leon had something inscribed into it: Until we meet again, xx.

For the next few months since Helena's funeral was held, Leon went off the deep end. He quit going to AA meeting and nearly drank himself to death everyday. Leon's apartment at this point was a complete mess minus the spare bedroom Helena was staying in. He couldn't bring himself to go through her belongings and toss them out. Chris, Hunnigan, and several others tried to call him during this time and even visited to get him out of his apartment but Leon was stubborn. He refused to answer any calls after the first couple of weeks feeling like no one was giving him enough space.

Leon was even offered several job opportunities including being offered to become the SURGE team advisor, but he rejected every one of them. He knew that the government was trying to find anyway to get him back into the field again in the hopes that he would forget about Helena, but the truth was he'd never be able to. He'd never be able to let her go from his mind nor the other people he had lost. It would take more than just a job to get him through the pain he was feeling. Before he would have taken these jobs in a heart beat to let go of a partner he had lost, but Helena's death was too potent. He truly meant it when he told Helena he had fallen in love with her, and it took her dying for him to truly realize it.

When the night had come, Leon fell back into the couch and began to drink again. He had already gone through ten bottles of beer among other varieties of liquor. Before he began to drink again, he did talk to Chris for a while and lied to him about going back to AA. Leon told Chris what he needed to hear, then left the conversation. Claire came by for a while prior to that to offer emotional support, but he shot her down. Leon felt like he needed somebody to be around him, but it wasn't Claire he needed. He then recalled Manuela telling him that Ada had escaped from the facility during the commotion. In the back of his mind, Leon wanted to be with Ada more than ever right now during this time. He had hurt her and didn't trust her before, but after he learned about Ada's true intentions towards Helena, he wanted to desperately tell Ada he was sorry and possibly mend their broken relationship. Leon needed someone who loved him to be there, and Ada was the only thing next to Helena he could think of. As he was sitting back contemplating his thoughts, he heard a tap on the glass door that led out to the balcony. Leon rose up quickly and realized who it was: Ada, his wish to see her had been granted.

Leon went over to the door and unlocked it allowing her to come through. Ada didn't hesitate to hug him and Leon deeply embraced her.

"Ada, I'm so sorry about everything."

"Leon don't worry about it. I knew you'd figure it out eventually."

Ada then gazed upon Leon's apartment seeing the devastation. She had picked up a few tid bits here and there about Leon's state of mind, but it was way worse than what she had thought. Leon's hand met hers and they both went to the kitchen counter together.

"I haven't seen you since you escaped. How did you get out?"

Ada nodded and rested her arms on the counter while keeping her gaze fixated on Leon. She could tell he had been crying on and off for a while now, which was something she wasn't use to. Quickly, she drew herself back to the conversation at hand.

"You have Helena to thank for that. Thanks to her I was able to retrieve the documentation the government had on me that you tried hiding. I was able to destroy it so The Family right now assumes I am good as dead at least that is what the documents now say about me in the government records. I heard that during the time of my leave, the agency you worked for arrested a couple hundred people who happened to be related or part of them."

Leon nodded and scratched the back of his head momentarily.

"So you have a clean slate just like you wanted."

"Correct. Don't get me wrong, I am still in another business but it's much better. I don't have to worry about working for sociopaths who hide themselves among the powerful countries in the world. Now that the US is taking better measures to find out who the leaders are in The Family, they are doing everything they can to not be discovered. I think they are going to have a hard time trying to come into power now that this whole scandal with Kent blew up to the public."

Leon recalled that Manuela allowed the media to do a full coverage on the events that happened with Kent Withrow. She wanted to strike fear into The Family for if the public was aware of what had been going on under the people's noses, it would be that much harder for anyone in that family to rise into power. It did cost the government a bit at its credibility however, and many battles would rage about the government keeping secrets from its citizens, but Manuela deduced that it was a fair price to pay considering the long term goals.

Leon then snapped out of his thoughts and went over to Ada again to hug her. He kissed the top of her forehead and whispered.

"I've missed you more than you can imagine."

Ada nodded; feeling like everything was going to be alright.

"We can finally be together now Ada."

"Not quite."

"What do you mean?"

"Leon, you should sit down for this."

Leon went back to the couch and was now flustered with curiosity. He was hoping Ada wouldn't be caught up in another scandal and he braced himself for the news. Ada took a seat across the coffee table from Leon and sighed.

"There is something about Helena that you should know. She made me promise to be the one to tell you once everything cooled down after Kent's passing."

Leon adjusted his posture and could feel his heart beating quickly.

"What did she tell you before she died?"

"That's the thing. Leon she is alive."

Leon's eyes widened and he could feel his body shiver.

"No, that can't be. I saw the footage myself of Kent shooting her. I buried her next to her sister, she can't be alive."

"Leon, you were unconscious for a week during the time you were in that cell block. During which agent Carter told everyone what Kent had planned out. He revealed everything to Helena, Redfield, and Valentine and they brought the news to Hunnigan. There they all devised a plan: they were going to prove Kent's guilt by using Helena as bait. She offered to be the sacrifice of course. Helena took the time to get close to Kent and earn his trust. She went to your cell and chewed you out after you regained consciousness and got Kent to believe that she had no trust for you anymore. There she went on to follow Kent into his office, knowing from Carter he was planning on killing her on the spot. Helena managed to get the documentation about me from Kent. He then shot her and assumed he had killed her, but Helena was wearing a bullet proof vest the entire time. She shot Kent and came to let me out of my cell, giving me the documents ensuring my key to freedom, and then she took off to Europe with the tickets you gave her."

Leon couldn't believe the news he was registering in his mind. He felt confused and belittled but at the same time, once everything clicked into place, he felt happy. Happy to know that Helena was alright and that he didn't fail her.

"Why didn't anyone bother to tell me what was going on?"

Ada took in another sigh and pieced her words together carefully before telling Leon the rest. She knew this must have been hard to take in, and she didn't want to make it any worse.

"The Family knew that Kent told you everything about his schemes. Kent was planning on having you killed with no trial. Helena had to fake her death so that The Family wouldn't come looking for her again, and also it was to protect you. If The Family could see that you were legitimately in mourning, they would know you had no part in the fiasco. Also with the commotion going on surrounding Kent's death, it would be unwise if they were to suddenly silence you since they are trying to keep their necks safe."

"So then everyone was on it the entire time?"

"Correct."

Leon could feel his body tremble and his mind went to Helena. He smiled to himself, knowing that she was alright. Then he became slightly angry.

"Why didn't Chris or anyone else tell me?"

"Helena made them promise not to. She made it clear she wanted me to be the one to tell you in person. Also it had to be as realistic as possible Leon; she couldn't have any loose ends."

Leon nodded then could see there was another piece of news Ada had to deliver. He braced himself and kept his emotions in check as Ada looked upon him with sadness.

"She made me promise one more thing Leon."

"What would that be?"

Ada gulped and looked down at the floor momentarily, trying to keep herself together.

"In exchange for my freedom, I have to give you yours."

"Ada, what do you mean?"

"Fifteen years is a long time to wait on somebody to love them. Helena told me to let you choose. You can either be with me now that I have my clean slate, or take the trip to Europe and go find her. She wants you to be happy Leon. I already promised her I'd let you have these options and I intend on keeping my word since she went through all this to set me free."

Leon could feel himself pondering deeply. For the last couple of months he had assumed Helena was dead and wanted to try to mend his relationship with Ada. Now that she was finally free at least from The Family, he had his chance to be with her after so many years. Leon wanted that more than anything but he found himself thinking about Europe and finding Helena. He motioned for Ada to come over to his side, and they held each other for what seemed like hours. Ada could tell from his embrace that he had made his decision and he slowly kissed her. Leon then broke contact and rubbed the side of her cheek tenderly.

"A part of me will always love you Ada."

Ada nodded and returned another kiss before getting up and heading towards the balcony. Leon followed her and they smiled at one another.

"Where will you go now?"

Ada winked at him as she launched her grapple gun.

"Trust me, I'll be around. Until we meet again, have fun in Europe."

With that Ada disappeared and Leon rushed into his room packing only what he needed. He then ran out of his apartment with a small bag of things and hurried for the airport.