21.

*Joe*

I took one last look to see that everything was perfect. I had made my special French toast and my special maple syrup, and everything about the food looked good. I'd even tasted the syrup just to check, and it was wonderful; just as it should have been.

Sure, I'd had to call in some pretty special favors to set it all up so quickly, but it was all worth it. Anything was worth it when it came to Katelyn.

I straightened a wrinkle out of the tablecloth and then checked my watch. I still had about ten minutes. I quickly found a reflective surface to make sure that everything was okay with my appearance. My face looked fine and my messy hair was the same as always. I wore nice jeans and a white polo, along with black shoes. I wore my favorite cologne and I felt ready for anything.

I heard footsteps then and smiled, straightening up just as Katelyn walked onto the platform. "A vineyard? Joe, this place is amazing." She looked at the lit candles and her eyes lit up. "Wow. So amazing. This is really sweet."

I flashed her a grin and went to pull out her chair. In French, I said, "Take a seat. Dinner is served."

"We're in Italy," she said with a smile as she took the seat. "Why are you speaking French?"

"Because," I said as I took off the cover of her plate. "We're having French toast."

"I remember you making that for me!" she said. "With the special maple syrup."

I gestured to the metal container in the middle. "We have that, too." And then I took my seat and smiled at her.

"How long did it take you to set all of this up?"

I reached to hand her the syrup. "Not very long at all. It wasn't any trouble."

She looked out over the rows and rows of vines. "I've always loved vineyards. I visited one when I was little and I was just struck by it all. I saw a lot of beautiful things in my life but for some odd reason, nothing ever struck me like a vineyard."

The food was delicious, and everything went smoothly. We talked for a long time, about training and jobs that we'd been on. Katelyn told me about what she had remembered from Gallagher and that her parents had told her that she was too advanced for that school. Katelyn said that she'd been thinking of writing Leah a letter, and I promised to deliver it if she chose to write one. She asked me about teaching and I told her everything – even the meeting with Zach and my worries about the Circle. She helped me speculate and she was actually a big help. Finally, we had both finished our food and I stood up, holding out my hand. "Let's go for a walk," I said, butterflies starting in my stomach.

Joe Solomon should never be nervous.

But I was.

And the nervousness increased when she smiled, took my hand, and said, "Sure."

*Katelyn*

Everything was perfect about that night. Everything. I wore a simple white dress with brown sandals and my hair was curled again. My makeup was perfect and Joe himself looked like a vision. He always did, though. I wondered how he could love someone like me. Someone so plain. He was obviously so super perfect.

I didn't linger on those thoughts for too long, though. They were the only imperfect thing about that night. Even Joe's voice was perfect, smooth and easy, as he said, "You're not wearing your ring."

I looked down at my left hand, the one that he was holding. I had, indeed, taken Rider's ring off. "It represents a lie," I said softly. "I just couldn't wear it anymore."

He nodded slowly and I walked closer to him, our shoulders bumping with every step. He told me a story about a mission he'd had when he'd had to work on a farm, and I laughed as he recounted his tales about having to milk cows and fix heavy machinery. I realized that I loved just being with him; just talking about simple stuff. I wished for a few minutes that we were normal people so that we could just live our lives.

But when you're a spy, nothing is ever simple.

I told him about killing Antonio and he praised me for a job well done. I then pointed out a constellation, and Joe found one, too. I laughed when he told me a funny made-up story about the Big Dipper and we were still laughing as he stopped walking amidst the plants.

He pulled me into a kiss and I eagerly kissed him back. After a few moments, he pulled away and smiled at me, his green eyes bright. "I love you, Katelyn."

"I love you too," I told him softly, smiling.

He reached out to touch my face and I closed my eyes, letting a breath escape. I wanted to hold the moment forever. And then, he asked me, "Are you happy with me?"

"Yes," I said, feeling like that was a stupid question. Of course I was. "I love you, Joe. So much."

He smiled as if those were the exact words he had wanted to hear. "I know this is crazy, Katelyn; but we can find a way. We can do anything."

I raised my eyebrows, confused. "What do you mean?"

He took a breath, fished something out of his pocket, and got down on one knee.

Oh my God. No way.

He opened the box to reveal a beautiful white gold, solitaire ring. The diamond in the center glinted in the moonlight. "Katelyn, I realize how hard this would be for you; to be with me. But I love you more than anything. I'll protect you and I'll take care of you forever; no matter what happens. Will you-"

"Yes!" I said before he could even finish, and he pulled me into his arms. I hugged him tightly, savoring every single second that ticked by. And when he finally pulled away to slip the ring onto my finger, the only thing that I could think was: This is where I belong. With him. Forever.