"Y'know standing here brings back a lot of memories."

Leon , Chris and Jill were standing in front of the Raccoon City memorial at the national mall, It had only been recently constructed, the design was simple, it was the Raccoon City Police Department building with a large star behind it. Etched under the statue were the words "They're sacrifice made us all safe."

"Like what, there weren't many people who made it out of there alive, there weren't big ceremonies or days of remembrance like 9/11…. The world didn't notice. Maybe it was too hard to remember, or maybe no cared. But I think that it lives through us, it's our duty to be the best we can be, for them."

They stood next to each other in silence reflecting on Leon's words. It was a rare serious moment for the usually wisecracking group.

Chris wiped a tear from his eye and looked at Leon.

"Guess I shouldn't be surprised that an emo can get all deep all of a sudden.

And just like that, the moment was gone.

Jill smacked the back of Chris's head in disgust.

"Shut up!" she said with a scowl on her face. Jill looked at Leon.

"Hey, where's Helena, she ok?"

"Oh! Yeah, she's fine. She has some things she wants to take care of. I'm going to meet her in a couple of hours."

Jill frowned, "Too bad, I wanted to hang out with her again."

Leon laughed, "You'll see her again tonight, unless you two found someplace else."

Chris scratched the back of his head. "Nah, we're too lazy to look. Anyway Jill and I have to report to headquarters, we'll see you guys back at your place."

"Sounds good." Leon said giving Jill a hug and shaking Chris's hand.

Leon sighed as he watched them leave. Sometimes it was hard to come to terms with the things he'd seen and done. As he watched them go he wondered how he had gotten along before he had Helena.

Short answer, he didn't.

Alcohol addiction, Anxiety, stress, nightmares. He was a mess, and he was tired. He knew that the work he did was important. Well, he knew it was while he did it, But in between his horrifying adventures he felt like a tool. If he wasn't saving people he had no purpose, what was there for him; desk work, training for the next job, and drinking.

He looked around at the people walking around the Mall, all oblivious that a hero stood amongst them.

Leon cracked his thumbs. He was getting sick of it, at times he would dream of getting the call to service again.

And saying no.

To just shirk his responsibility and quit, what would happen then? The world in flames, Armageddon.

The consequences made him feel like Atlas holding the world on his shoulders, If he quit they could kill him, or just send some green recruit out to get killed in the most gruesome way.

A thought caught him.

They could send her..Alone.

Helena would be alone, with god knows what. He could hear her screams in his head.

Leon couldn't let that happen, he WOULDN'T let that happen.

"Mommy, what he doing?"

A voice shook him from his thoughts. He was on his knees in front of the memorial tears streaming down his face.

He knew what it was all for.

Her.

He got up and wiped his eyes before walking to the memorial. He eyed the names of the fallen for a minute before pounding his fist against it.

"I don't do this for any of you, as hard as I try I can't make it about any of you." Leon took a shuddered breath. "I do this for the people I care about for the ones I Love." Leon turned his back to the statue. "And If any of you got a problem with, that then I'll see in hell." Leon turned back one last time." Although I already know one of you Are."

With that he turned and walked away.

Helena walked down the street with several brown paper bags in her hands. She had just gone grocery shopping for dinner. And was on her way back to the Flat. As she walked down the streets of Washington she thought about the last year of her life. The horrible crime she committed, The price she paid, The horrors she had witnessed. Helena stopped, a smile tugged at her lips.

The man she came to love.

"Christ, my life is getting crazy."

Helena saw a florist out of the corner of her eye, She smiled and walked in. an elderly lady with her graying hair in a loose bun and fearsome green eyes, smiled and greeted her.

"Hello, dear, what might you be looking for?"

Helena smiled at the women "Do you have flowers that mean goodbye, but lingering affection…"

The women nodded her head serenely. "Mourning a lost loved one I see."

Helena's smile faltered and she blinked back tears, she nodded. "Im finally ready to say goodbye."

She tried wiping her eyes "Sorry, it's hard y'know I didn't mean to make a scene."

The old women reached over and rubbed Helena's back. "To get over the death of a loved one is a terrible burden dear, don't be ashamed of tears."

Helena looked up at the old women and nodded lamely.

The women walked to the door and flipped the sign that said open to closed. Before shuffling back to Helena who eyed her curiously.

"Yes I can make a nice arrangement for you, but only after your willing to let go."

"W-what-"

The lady shushed her and ushered her upstairs to where Helena assumed she lived. The lady offered her an old wooden chair at a small table with a white tablecloth and a golden edged flower with a red center in a vase in the middle. the lady put a teapot on the stove then shuffled back to her.

"Tell me about this person…..

"Helena." she said extending her hand to the woman.

"Tabitha." the old woman returned before settling into her chair.

Helena rested her elbows on her knees and sighed. "My sister, Deborah."

Tabitha nodded "Sisters share a special bond."

"Yeah.. We were real close, I blame myself for her death, I just feel like she's in a place she doesn't want to be right now."

Tabitha raised her hands, signaling her to stop.

"Dearie what kind of person was you're sister?"

"She had a big heart, and was always smiling, curious as all hell too. And she trusted everyone, she was a little too trusting at times."

Tabitha sat and listened to Helena ramble until the teapot whistled.

After she returned with the tea, she left Helena to go take care of some business downstairs.

An hour later she returned upstairs to see Helena sleeping at her table. She smiled and gently shook her awake.

Helena slowly opened her eyes, then sat up bolt upright. "Oh my god I'm so sorry! I didn't mean…"

Tabitha chuckled "Its quite alright dear, I had some business to take care of anyway." she put a bouquet of flowers on the table.

Helena looked at the flowers with an open mouth. "My god these are beautiful. what do they mean?"

Tabitha pointed to the flowers, "These pink ones on the outside are cyclamen, they mean goodbye these reeds, are from sweeping willow, they mean mourning, these small indigo flowers are statice, they mean sympathy and remembrance." She paused at the flower in the middle.

"And this…is a mixed zinnia. It means thinking or in memory of a lost friend."

Helena looked at flower in the vase and instantly understood. "Your mourning too."

Tabitha smiled lightly and nodded. " A story for another time perhaps. Right now I think you have a farewell to take care of."

Helena nodded and stood up. "Yes I do. Thank you Tabitha, I needed this." she reached into her back pocket for her wallet.

"How much do I owe you?" Helena asked

Tabitha shook her head, "Nothing. I can't charge you for this. No buts!" she interjected as Helena opened her mouth.

"Now get out of here and say goodbye."

Helena smiled and hugged the frail women. "Thank you Tabitha I will be back sometime, and I'll do you a favor."

Tabitha smiled "I'd like that, now take care dear, and be strong."

Helana smiled brightly and said simply "I will." before turning and walking down the stairs.

After the door closed Tabitha sighed deeply and sat down at the table, thinking of her new friend. Tears came to her eyes as she thought of the younger women's pain, while gently caressing the petals of the zinnia in her vase.

Helena stood silently at the cemetery's entrance. She had been staying there for 15 minutes not daring to take a step closer. She felt like she was standing on the edge of an abyss about to fall.

Helena stared at the flowers in her hands, It would be her last farewell to her beloved sister.

Helena raised her right foot, and took the hardest step of her life. She held her breath as she felt her foot move through the air, when her foot felt the ground, she felt relief wash over her. She could do it.

She silently trudged through the cemetery, walking slowly and carefully, as if not to disturb anything.

The she saw it.

Helena froze at the sight of her sisters grave, tears instantly flooding her eyes. With great care and deliberation she knelt down in front of her grave.

And with great care gently laid the bouquet at the base of the headstone.

Sorrow overtook her as she broke down into sobs, crawling to the headstone and wrapping her arms around it, as if it were her sister itself. She stayed in that pathetic state for almost an hour before she pulled herself up in front of the stone.

she kissed the tomb of her deceased sister with the tenderness only family can bring. before getting to her feet and whispering one simple farewell.

"Goodbye."

At that Helena turned and ran from the cemetery, not once looking back.

Ok ill keep this short, I am Immensely sorry for how long this has taken to come out , there really are no excuses. but i made a promise never to abandon this fic, and I don't plan on breaking that promise. again i am very sorry, please review, favorite and follow.