"I'm off to work, Shawn," Juliet called into the bedroom.

She had just gotten back from her morning run- the one she had taken every day for the past six years. Though it didn't start out as a run. At first, right after her surgery, all she could do was walk, but she did that. But soon she began healing and was slowly able to pick up the pace.

When she was running, she was strong, and independent. The ache in her chest was from her pushing herself past what she'd thought was possible, and the soreness in her legs was a sign that she was getting stronger.

It was the best feeling in the world.

It was freedom.

"Isn't it a little early?" Shawn asked, coming out of the bedroom and giving her a quick peck.

"I have to make a quick stop first."

"Okay. I'll be into the station later. I think I'm scheduled to show up Lassie after lunch."

"Play nice, Shawn," Juliet called as she ran down the stairs and jumped into her little green bug. She backed up and started down the street on the path away from the station and towards the hospital.

She looked at the dashboard to the little picture taped behind the steering wheel. It was the one that her mom had taken after Shawn proposed. She like to keep it there to look at whenever she was feeling down. See how far she'd come, and everything that she had fought against kept her pushing through even the toughest days. Fighting for the day when she would hear the greatest words she could imagine.

"It has been five years," Dr. Miles told her at her last doctor's appointment. "You are officially cancer free."

Juliet felt her eyes fill with tears. She let out the breath that she had been holding for the last six years, and the looming cloud of the horrible possibility of relapse blew away.

"Oh my gosh," she said, pulling her hands to her face and letting the tears flow freely.

Shawn stood up from his seat next to her and crouched down in front of her. His eyes were just as red. He kissed the top of her head and ran his fingers down her long, curly hair that she hadn't cut more than an inch off of since it started growing back.

"You did it," Dr. Miles said, coming around the desk as Shawn stood up. He shook Shawn's hand then gave Juliet a hug. "I'm so proud of you. It's been a pleasure working with you."

"Thank you, Dr. Miles," Juliet said, wiping her eyes.

"Really. Thank you for everything," Shawn picked up.

Juliet pulled her car into a small parking lot in front of a tall black gate. She walked down the sidewalk and stopped in front of a gray marble slab in the ground.

Holli Paige Renoss

Mother, Wife, Sister, Daughter

January 22, 1966 – September 13, 2012

"Hey Holli," Juliet said, sitting down next to the headstone. "I miss you."

She pulled out a rock, one that she had picked up outside of the hospital after her last visit to Dr. Miles, and placed it on the corner of the headstone.

She had read one time while she was in the hospital that in the Jewish faith, it is tradition to put rocks on the grave of someone who has passed away rather than flowers- because rocks never die.

"I can't believe that you have been gone for six years. I can't believe how much has changed since then." She laughed to herself and thought about everything that had happened. "Holli, you should see your boys. Evan just started high school a couple weeks ago. He was so excited to go. And AJ? He hit a growth spurt like you wouldn't believe! But they're doing well. They're strong and they are become wonderful young men- not that I need to tell you that. I know that you are looking out for them from wherever you are. Watching them…"

She slowed down.

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

"And me? I'm doing well. Shawn and I are living the dream. Lassiter and I are still partners, and Shawn is still holding up well with his crazy psychic thing with Gus but, you know, we make it work. And you should see Lassiter's baby! She's three years old now! And Iris just turned 11. It's crazy. Everything just keeps moving forward."

She ran her fingertips along the carving in the headstone.

"But I'm doing it, Holli. I'm living every day to its fullest just like you told me to. And I tell stories of you to everyone I meet. I'm staying strong. For you. For me. And for everyone who was strong before us." She stood up.

"I'll see you next year, Holli."

With the morning sun growing brighter in the sky, lighting up the sidewalk in front of her and warming her back. She walked away towards her car.

Towards another day of living the dream.

Towards her life.

THE END

... and thank you.