It was 10:00 a.m., and Chris was in the middle of a press conference. His job over the past two decades largely consisted of making the mayor and the police department look good. This role was part program creator, part recruiter and trainer, and part community relations spokesperson. Today, the spokesperson role was front and center. Karen Krane, who had passed away the year before at the age of 93, had left the city, specifically the Palm Beach Police Department, a great deal of money, and named Rita and Chris the executors of her sizable donation. They, of course, got input from all of the big wigs, but in the end, the decision was theirs. Luckily, everyone was on the same page, and today was the day they were breaking ground on the new Krane Community Outreach Center: part Night Moves, part youth sports and enrichment programs, and part counseling/rehab/etc. It was a dream the Lorenzos had for years that could now come to fruition.

Now, the media was present for the groundbreaking ceremony, and all of the major players in Palm Beach were standing around him: Mayor Donovan, Commissioner Hudson, and a smattering of the rich and famous (recruited by Chris and Rita) who were investing in the future of the center. Even Rita escaped her latest homicide to be there since the ceremony was steps from her office.

Chris used to hate these things; it was the part of the career change that took him the longest to get used to. He was no stranger to the press due to his role as a homicide detective investigating high-profile cases, but he would always defer the commentary to Rita whenever possible. She was always better at it: even-tempered, gracious but firm, and knew exactly what to say to keep the reporters at bay and get them out of their faces. However, his "new" job was on the positive side of police and politics; he got to be the bearer of good news, highlighting all of the great things the department was doing to bridge gaps and reach the community in new and innovative ways. That wasn't to say he didn't have his share of criticism; many of his programs relied on taxpayer dollars and there was always a complaint around the bend. And yet, he always found a way. His years as a decorated detective earned him a fondness from several benefactors that were always willing to support the greater good.

He couldn't take credit for this particular endeavor- this was all Rita. Her relationship with the Kranes since childhood, resurrected after the murder of Karen's brother, earned her a special place in Karen's heart. Not only was this outreach program a reality, but Karen also left Chris and Rita in her Will, a surprise to say the least. While they kept the amount to themselves, not even telling their children, they could have retired on the spot last year and never looked back. And yet, they loved the frenzied pace of their lives, loved the routine, loved the work ethic they continued to instill upon their children. They decided to invest most of it and eventually leave it to the kids. Rosie, Ben, and Sam would be in for quite a financial surprise one day, hopefully in the far distant future.

This press conference was a piece of cake; introduce all of the major players, say a few words about Karen, and announce the name of the center. George and Lou would participate in the ceremonial first dig, and that would be that. One of the many things about the job that he would now miss when he retired. He looked around at everyone as he spoke, a smile plastered on his face, but the nagging feeling inside of him that this very well could be his last time behind the podium. He glanced at Rita, and he could see that she was just as misty-eyed and nostalgic. He locked eyes with her as he finished his speech.

"In honor of the late Karen Krane, and on behalf of Mayor George Donovan and Commissioner Lou Hudson, Captain Rita Lee Lance and I would like to announce the official groundbreaking of the Krane Community Outreach Center."

There was gracious applause from everyone in attendance, as George and Lou put on hard hats for good measure and picked up their shovels for the shot that would make the local papers and news stations. Chris again met Rita's gaze, the love behind the sapphires and emeralds the same as when they first met. Their morning coffee date was put on hold due to the hubbub of the day, and he had already missed her tremendously. Just as he was making his way to her, he heard her cell phone ring. He emitted a small laugh as she took the call that would pull her away from him again. The coffee would have to wait. Rita gave him a wave from her vantage point ten feet away and hurried back into headquarters.

Chris continued grinning as he made his way over to George. As Chris was chatting with his lifelong pal, he noticed Lou edging in his direction. On a normal day, he would drop everything to chat with his direct boss, who had also become a treasured friend over the years. However, Chris was stalling on the retirement talk and did not want to discuss it today. He knew that they needed to put a date on the calendar, and he and Rita had said that Ben's graduation would be the right time to pass the torch, ushering out their careers while their son's was beginning. Now that Ben was graduating in less than a month, Chris felt the noose tightening around his neck. Luckily, Lou got stopped by a reporter, giving Chris the out he needed to escape.

They could always put it off a few more months. Sam wouldn't start high school until the end of summer, and they could take vacation time to check out the different schools and cities before then. But why postpone the inevitable? Why was this decision so difficult?

His thoughts turned to the trio that owned his heart. Rosie, their beautiful eldest child, probably understood him the best. She worried about him way too much but knew how much he loved the job. Whom he caught listening at the door five years ago when he and Rita were discussing his latest sting operation and realized he broke her heart and her trust by not including her in the truth behind his actions. Those same haunted eyes mirrored his wife's whenever he held out on her during their partnership, which wasn't often, but when she caught on he'd see her eyes and feel like they were slicing his soul in two. Rita, of course, knew that his Captain's title included a part-time stint in Vice to orchestrate raids, and while she wasn't thrilled with it, she understood Chris' need to still be a part of the action, to still feel like a cop. And because he was the one in charge, he was never on the front line of fire. Similar to Rita's role as Captain, their fieldwork was more protected over the years, although the danger was always lurking. Rosie made it known often that she couldn't wait for them to retire.

Then there was Ben, who was so much like him it was still a revelation at times. Chris looked at his son and was instantly transported to his first days as a cop. Ben was humble and hungry. Chris maybe wasn't so humble in the beginning, and he'd gladly attribute that personality trait to his beautiful wife's innate character. He was hungry, a typical hotshot rookie that turned into a typical hotshot Vice cop, always wanting the roughest and toughest cases. It wasn't until he met Rita that he realized he had some growing up to do if he was ever going to win her over in both friendship and love. The humbleness grew over time, his grandmother's upbringing returning to his soul, realizing he didn't have to prove himself to the world, only to Rita. Ben already had that trait embedded in his being, and while he had some stubborn tendencies like Chris, he knew Ben was going to be a terrific officer. It was selfish, but Chris wanted to stay on for a while, just to marvel at his son in action.

Sam. His baby girl. The curveball that rocked his world in the best ways. The child he didn't know he needed until he was blessed with her existence. The one that bittersweetly reminded him so much of his mother in beauty and elegance, and his Grandma Rose in spirit and zest for life. He laughed to himself, thinking about how his third child was all him; Rita's complete opposite in so many ways. His Sams were alike in regality; in the brave way they carried themselves through life. But their daughter was the one at two years old that ditched Rita's beloved Radio Flyer tricycle because she wanted to ride a "big kid bike" like her older siblings and succeeded within a week. At three years old, she was taking shots on the heavy bag; emphatically shouted "yes!" at the age of four when Chris suggested a pee-wee basketball clinic; who worked on his project car alongside her brother, frequently covered in grease from head to toe. She was fearless, always wanting to try new things, and she took to every new endeavor like a moth to a flame. She was a natural, a born leader, every triumph came with a sense of ease. He reminded himself that they were doing this for her; to see her basketball dreams come true. And yet… he was so damn conflicted. He knew he wouldn't do the job forever, but didn't realize how much it would hurt to say goodbye.

Then there was Rita. While his children owned parts of his heart, this woman owned his soul. His first Sam. What a lifetime of memories they've made together. From colleagues to friends, to best friends, to partners, to lovers, to family. Marriage, children, house, white picket fence, dog; they were able to have it all. Their lives were not without risk, but they always ensured that they were comfortable with each other's roles. No amount of discussion could ever stop a bullet, but after a decade of being on the front lines, they earned the right to let others step in first, the next generation of Lances and Lorenzos.

They had visited the retirement issue numerous times. Their house a mere two blocks from the Atlantic, they would walk their favorite sandy spots and discuss all of their hopes and fears. In some ways, they felt the years tremendously, and in other ways, they felt like they were just now hitting their stride. They loved their careers, but the bottom line was that they needed to put their children first. To relieve Rosie, to give Ben some breathing room, and to make Sam's future a reality. He'd have to have a heart-to-heart with Rita later. It was time.