The Smell of rain on dry earth always made her think of him. How much he loved it even when they were light years away from the place they called Home.

The drops of rain raced down the windshield just before they were wiped away by the wipers. Turning on her turn signal, Katie turned into the parking lot. She pulled right up to the fenced area, placing the car in Park. She paused gazing through the black metallic bars that surrounded the area. The rain continued on a steady reminder of what she had lost.

Today was his birthday….He would've been twenty eight. The thought came rushing back to her the reason why the both of them were here.

From the backseat came a cry of impatience from her four year old son. "Momma!"

"I know buddy." Katie said, glancing back into the rearview mirror. Sitting in the backseat with a headful of brown hair and ocean blue eyes was Arye. He looked so much like Lance it was hard to look at him sometimes, but even through the heartbreak she kept looking because that was the one thing she had left. "Just give momma a minute." Katie lowered her head as her eyes filled with tears. Her left hand that still gripped the lower part of the steering wheel grabbed her attention. Still on her finger was the wedding ring she refused to take off. Doing so would only feel like a betrayal to Lance.

Taking a deep breath she wiped the tears from her eyes and shut the car off. "Alright my little lion you ready to go see daddy?"

"Daddy!" Arye cheered. He squirmed in his seat, his feet kicking the back of her chair. Katie had never sugarcoated the fact that Lance had died, in fact she encouraged her son to ask questions about his father. The last thing she wanted was for him to have no idea who his father was.

The rain had calmed to a sprinkle as Katie stepped from her car. Shutting the driver's door she turned to get her son out.

The child sure did have Lance's spirit Katie noted as he ran ahead of her. Per her instruction from previous visits Arye stayed on the sidewalk, walking past rows and rows of tombstones.

Eventually the two made it. Lance's tombstone was a simple grey stone. His name was in the middle with the Paladin symbol above. Katie could see the fresh dirt in her mind, though by now fresh green grass has covered any trace of burial.

"Hi, daddy! Happy Birthday!" Arye chimed. He was sitting before the tombstone, eyes wide as his little hand traced over the lettering. "Mommy took me to get ice cream today! She told me about the time you two got ice cream in Hawaii. She said that if I'm good I'll get to visit someday!"

He was always so excited to talk to his dad. And Katie allowed him a little time to talk before she had her time with her husband. Arye turned around with a big smile only to have it disappear.

"What's wrong momma?"

Katie shook her head, hand covering her mouth as tears flowed freely. "Momma's just missing daddy at the moment."

Arye stood and walked over to Katie wrapping his arms around her legs. After a moment he released her. "You should talk with daddy, momma, it will make you feel better."

Katie ruffled his hair and his laughter filled the air as he tried to scramble away. He managed to break free and wandered off just a little ways away. Satisfied that he was still close enough Katie settled down next to Lance's gravestone.

"Sorry I missed coming last week." she started. Why was she apologizing? It's not like he could tell the difference...she could however. "Happy Birthday Lance." She continued on. If she stopped talking for too long she feared that her tears would get the best of her.

By this point the sprinkling had stopped and the clouds were parting to allow sunlight to filter through.

"Arye, is starting kindergarten in a few weeks," Pidge paused long enough to look over at her son who was staring in awe at a squirrel a few yards away. "You should've seen him, how excited he was to get his backpack." She smiled at the memory, her hands running through the blades of grass. "He told me he liked the color blue because that's what his favorite hero wore. And when I asked who, he said it was you Lance." Her voice cracked. "Oh babe I wish you were here to see this little boy who looks so much like you."

Lance smiled down at his wife, a hand on top of her shoulder. The summer dress she wore billowing slightly in the breeze as she sat in the grass with her legs curled tightly against her. Her hair was blowing across her face and he moved to brush the few strands that covered her hazel eyes. To her it would be nothing more than the wind changing direction.

He pressed a kiss to her temple, something he hoped she would feel in her heart. Then as he settled next to her transparent hand above hers he watched as his son chased the squirrel up the tree. His son stood and looked up, as the squirrel scampered out of reach. Then Arye turned a big grin on his face as he ran towards his mother, arms wide.

"I am watching my love, always and forever."