Rose for a Fallen
Kathleen sat before the stone, just staring at it. Odd how this still never felt normal to her, even after all these years. She didn't know if this trip had really been a good idea, and she didn't like the idea that it wasn't just him that she would be talking to.
Kathleen spun the rose in her hand, staring down at it. Doing so made her feel a bit less silly. At least it gave her something to focus on. Her gaze looked back up and she read over the words. Holly, Dante, Kurt. She only knew Kurt, but she wasn't interested in him. She only cared about the last name on the list.
Kathleen looked around to be sure that no one was around before she spoke. If she was going to do something so stupid she at least didn't want to be seen. "I'm so pissed at you. I hope you know that. You were supposed to reach the end of the war." She turned her gaze back to the stone. "It's a bit less fun without you around to keep Fed on his toes."
A smile spread over her face. "You know Fred told me what you did, how you died. I wish I could have been there. Sounds like you went out with a style, a style I could be proud of." She suddenly frowned and sat up a bit taller. "Though you did it all wrong. If you're going to take on a hunter in hand to hand you have to get behind it. It may try to spin around on you, but it is much weaker in the back. You can climb up it. The armor up by the head has that opening and you can just tare the little buggers out of there. If you are going to do it from the front you really should just stick a grenade in them." She relaxed a bit. "Though we're all guilty of, at some point, of forgetting that there are two of them."
Kathleen closed her eyes and focused on more happy memories. "You know you once asked me if I loved you. I didn't answer you back then. I didn't answer Fred back then either. You both always took it as me saying no, like just because I wasn't ready to say it, I didn't feel it." Her eyes opened and she reached out to touch the stone, fingers moving over the carved name. "The thing is, I did. I loved you both, and I knew that I couldn't decide. Guess you really made the choice for me." She looked down to the ground. "No, I'm just trying to put it all on you. I made my choice. I loved you, but I loved Fred more. I feel terrible about it, really. I always told myself that I was clear with you, told you that I loved Fred instead, but really I wasn't. I lead you on, and I'm sorry. I did love you, and I loved the way you made me feel, that sort of special way that even Fred can't match."
Kathleen placed the rose at the base of the tombstone. "I'm sorry, Will, for all time we didn't have, for all the things I did, and for…well for a lot of things. You wouldn't like life after the war anyway. It's so boring. Guess it's why I can't give up combat. Fred can. You should see it. He's got this little house, pictures on the wall, a little kitchen table that we eat at, and even has a fluffy set of sheets on our bed." The smile stayed on her face but her eyes turned sad as she realized that he'd never know any of that, never get the chance to see if he liked peace or if he'd beg her to join her team to keep fighting.
"You would have made a great ODSS, Will." A smirk crossed her face. "I wouldn't have been as shamed to bring you to see my soldiers. You would have fit in just perfect, been a man I could be proud of." She frowned, realizing that she was proud of Fred. She'd just been worried of what her soldiers would think with her being with a man that was gentle. "I love you, Will, and I miss you. I'm sorry I never got to say goodbye." She pulled the chain with the dog tags from her shirt, letting them hand openly against her chest. Her fingers moved to the partially melted tags. "I'll always have you with me. It's the best I can do to let you be with me, to know peace, to see that we're happy here."
Kathleen stood and looked down at the stone. It didn't seem proper, like it wasn't enough for what the soldiers had given. Kathleen stood tall and saluted the grave. She waited a few seconds before her hand dropped. She hesitated for a moment before she turned and walked away. Off to find Fred.
She knew he'd be waiting for her
