JANUARY 25TH

I walked with my hands in my jacket pockets, being grateful for the sun being out even if it's cold. Being 23 feels no different than being 22. 

"We should come back here again in the summer," I smiled at Aero who was walking beside me.

He shrugged, "You're just saying that because I kicked your ass when we went ice skating yesterday."

"That was unfair! My shoelaces weren't as tight as yours," I replied as he started to laugh.

I bumped into him gently as we continued to walk to do the last thing before we flew back to Philadelphia. I had saved this for last because it only felt right, and because I wanted to delay it. But I couldn't delay in anymore.

We walked onto the bridge and stood in the middle of it, leaning against the railing and looking at the water below us. Aero placed a hand on my lower back and said, "We can come back in the summer. Whatever you want."

I smiled at him, placing a quick kiss on his cheek. I turned back to face the water, taking a deep breath to prepare myself. 

I pulled Reids ashes out and held them in front of me. I found it only fitting to scatter his ashes in the place he wanted to visit most, Amsterdam. 

I held them close to me one last time. It was a very bittersweet moment, but I knew that this is what he would want me to do.

I scattered his ashes in the water, happy that he's finally able to visit Amsterdam.

Aeros hand rubbed my back up and down and I whispered to him, "I miss him so much, Aero."

"I know baby. I miss him too."

I leaned into his chest, wrapping my arms around his torso. I breathed in his comforting scent to try and stop myself from crying. I took a deep breath before pulling away, knowing that Reid would probably make fun of me if I cried.

Aeros fingers laced into mine and we started to walk back to our hotel room. Our flight was in a few hours, so we had to head to the airport now. We walked along the sidewalk, nearly getting to the end of the bridge before he suddenly stepped in front of me to stop me. He put his hands on my cheeks and pressed a long kiss against my lips.

I looked at him with a smile as he pulled away. I went to ask him what that was for when my breath was snatched from me seeing him get down on one knee.

He pulled a box out his pocket and opened it, revealing the ring inside.

A lilac coloured ring.

"Hailey Romano," He started while smiling, "I've been waiting to ask you this question for so fucking long. All I want in this world is you, and as long as I have you, nothing else matters. I could never imagine a world where you don't exist. Sorry, I sound like I'm rambling like a fucking idiot, I just love you so much. So, Hailey, will you marry me?"

Oh my god I'm going to need CPR. I feel breathless. 

"Yes!" I quickly answered him, and he wasted no time sliding the ring onto my finger.

He shot up, picking me up in his arms. I wrapped my arms around him tightly as my feet dangled in the air. I'm engaged!

We hugged and kissed for as long as we could until if we did it any longer we'd miss our flight. We got our stuff from our hotel before making our way to the airport. Aero really helped me get over my fear of flying on the way here by telling me, 'Don't worry, we won't crash. Unless we do and then we'll die.'

When I didn't appreciate his humour he let me sleep on his shoulder while he stroked my hair so that I could just sleep through it, and I plan on doing the same thing for this flight. Because of the time zone difference, we're going to land in the afternoon in Philadelphia. 

I stared at my ring as we walked through the airport. My eyes fell onto the tattoo on my middle finger. Aero and I got matching 'R' tattoos on our middle fingers. I was worried about getting a tattoo that I'd regret before, but I knew I wouldn't regret this one.

I managed to sleep for our entire flight back. Aero is the best pillow in the world. 

When we landed we got a taxi to drive us back home, but there was one stop I asked to make first. Both Aero and the driver agreed, going where I asked them to once we got closer to our house.

I got out of the car and walked to where I wanted to go. I took a seat on the cold grass, grateful that it hadn't been snowing here. I smiled at the tombstone in front of me, "Guess what, Reid. I'm engaged!"

Even though I knew his body wasn't here, it still felt like a part of him was. Aero and I have been taking care of his grave for the past 10 months, and we will never stop. I excitedly gasped and added, "And guess what. I got accepted into the University of Pennsylvania!" 

I knew he would be happy for me.

I took a deep breath, standing up. I told him, "I'll be back with flowers tomorrow."

I got back into the taxi, Aero instantly kissing my cheek softly as I did so. The driver drove us to our house and as beautiful as Amsterdam was, I was grateful to be home again. 

The second we walked through the door, Teddy started barking instantly. He hopped off of the couch and ran over to the two of us, running back and forth between us excitedly. I pet him while saying to Aeros dad, "Thank you so much for staying with him."

"Oh, it was no problem at all. The little guy is the sweetest," He said while getting up off of the couch and walking over to us.

Aero gave his dad a hug and thanked him. I gave him a hug too and told him we'd see him Sunday. After what happened in March, Aero told his dad everything he'd been keeping from him. With the 50 million dollars Aero got, his dad was able to quit his job and Aero bought him a nice house in New York. But he comes over for dinner every single Sunday without failure.

My mom is still recovering from her surgery that we were able to pay for, so she hasn't been able to come yet. Once she's able to drive on her own again she will be coming every Sunday too.

I started to take my jacket off but Aero quickly stopped me, "Wait, there's something that I want to go and show you first birthday girl."

I smiled and kept my jacket on. He made me keep my eyes closed while we drove, and he also made me keep them closed until we entered whatever building we were in.

He told me, "Okay, you can open them."

I opened my eyes and looked around.

A E R O

She looked around and asked, "The Philadelphia Museum of Art?"

This was the art museum where I told her that I loved her for the first time. I nodded my head, "But there's something different about it this time."

"And what's that?" She asked while smiling.

"I own it."

Her eyes widened and her hands went to her mouth. She excitedly almost yelled, "Oh my god! You finally bought an art museum!" 

She jumped up and hugged me while saying, "I'm so happy for you!"

I smiled to myself as I put her back down. I told her, "That isn't all I wanted to show you."

Her eyebrows lowered in confusion and I took her hand, guiding her to the main room. In the center of the wall, hung above all others, was her black and lilac painting she made on March 5th. Below the painting was the name that I gave it,

'The Night I Fell In Love.'

Tears started to form in her eyes and she whispered, "Oh my god. I love you so much."

"I love you more," I promised.

She turned to face me and wrapped her arms around my neck and I put my hands on her waist. I kissed her with nothing but love, still unable to believe that she's mine. 

With Hailey, I'm good. The thought to do things that I had done before, like killing innocent people, no longer crossed my mind. She made me good. She scratched the stone-cold exterior of my heart until it melted, and then she quickly became its reason for beating. 

I no longer cared about money. I no longer wanted to be the best assassin in the world, that everybody is afraid to look in the eyes.

I want to be hers. I want to wake up with her and Teddy every morning, and see my father when he comes for dinner. She repaired my relationship with Reid, who I'll always carry with me. She touched my black and white vision, and made me see color. 

She made my heart begin to beat.

And my heart beats for nothing but Hailey Black.

The End. 

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♡ 𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤, 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐦𝐲 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬. 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐥𝐨𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦. ♡