Warning: Everything in this chapter is my imagination. And this is the LAST chapter of Bite the Bullet. Thank you so much for your support. I hope you still read my other stories and keep supporting me.

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~*The soldier is the Army. No army is better than its soldiers. The Soldier is also a citizen. In fact, the highest obligation and privilege of citizenship is that of bearing arms for one's country~*

 "Are you crying again?" his small voice asked me. I turned my head to see him sitting on the kitchen counter, looking at me with weary eyes. Eyes that looked exactly like mine. 

"No, I am not," I lied, putting the dishes on the counter, and wrapping my hands protectively around his small body. Quickly he embraced me with his small hands and squeezed my neck. "Did you eat well?" I asked, walking away from the counter. 

"Yeah, but you always say you are fine when I see tears in your eyes " he complained in my ear.

"That is because I had something in my eyes," I lied, again. 

"Just like every time?" To this I wasn't able to say a thing so I didn't reply only tightened my grip around him. 

"Why don't you go play outside so that I could finish my work and join you?" He laughed, forgetting everything; his innocent laugh was from heaven. 

"Will you play with me?" he pulled back, staring at me with big green eyes. I nodded, making him jump from excitement in my arms, which made me smile. 

I bent and put him down, without wasting another second he ran for the back yard. I sighed then grabbed the tea towel to dry the dishes. 

They say when someone is gone, far, far away from your reach the memories fade away and only some linger behind, like a nightmare or a sweet dream. But I disagree, losing Blade was like I was dying every day, I missed him so much that it shattered my heart into uncountable pieces and it will take years to collect the piece back with my bleeding hands. 

It has been four years I lost everything I had, my life, my soul, my love even my smile. His memories were so bright that sometimes I felt he was around me. Before meeting my husband I lost my family, losing him threw me in the world of misery. 

 The only reason that pushed me to live and keep going on was my child. When he was born I had something to live for. He looked amazingly like his father but not his eyes they were just like mine, not the beautiful blue ocean ones like his father. Blade's father 'Marshal' accepted me when he was satisfied. Troy made sure to stand there for me when I needed him on every step. They were so helping and welcoming. 

 I kept rinsing the dishes, lost in my train of thoughts that is when I heard a voice call me. Turning around my eyes fell upon someone that made me smile. Troy was here, along with Maya. I hugged him and Maya the people who were my family now. 

"How are you?" Troy investigated, eyeing me. Apparently he knew and understood me more than Maya, and he always knew when I was crying even though my eyes never showed it when I shed a tear or two.

"Perfectly fine," I smiled; well at least physically my mental state was a mess. "How long are you going to stay here?" I asked as we walked out of the kitchen to sit in the living room. 

"Couple of weeks," he replied. 

"I came here because we have to go and shop, you know for the wedding, you are my bridesmaid," Maya smiled at me.  She fell in love with a soldier, they knew each other since childhood he had asked her to marry him, and Maya agreed and suggested that I would be her bridesmaid. She protects me a lot, Maya loved Blade so much and that love was now shown for me.

"Where is our little hero?" Troy asked, looking around and I saw the new spark in his eyes.

"Playing in the backyard with the new toys his grandfather brought yesterday," I replied, looking at Maya who smiled. Affection was hard for Devin to show but his grandson brought the best in him.

Troy stood up,"Blade," when he called him I closed my eyes. I named our son after his father it brought peace to my heart every time someone called him. "Come here buddy," upon hearing his uncle's voice Blade came rushing in, as fast as his little feet could take him, seeing Blade brought smiles to our faces. God he looked so much like Blade, so much that it shocks me every time I see my son. 

Blade rushed passed the tables hands stretched, Troy bent a little and picked him up. "Troy you are back," his words weren't clear enough but I understood him. 

"Yeah I am, so how is our little hero?" Troy sat down on the couch and sat Blade next to him. 

"Just like you had left me, I kept my promise too," Blade said enthusiastically, looking up at Troy in adorable eyes. I crooked an eyebrow. Troy glanced at me then back at him. 

"You sure did," he then beamed at Blade, who started rocking his feet back and forth as he sat on the edge of the couch.

"It's ironic how attached he is with you Troy, even though you are not present half of the year," Maya stated looking up from the magazine she was reading. 

"That is how it is, when you are away they miss and need you, but when you are next to them it's a different case," Troy laughed. 

"Hey Troy, did you bring me what I asked last time?" Blade demanded, grabbing hold of Troy's sleeve. 

"Your grandfather brought you new toys yesterday," I protested. They both ignored me. 

"Yeah big guy, in fact it's in my car, go check it out," before more words were spoken by Troy, Blade jumped and darted outside. I narrowed my eyes at Troy. 

"You are spoiling him," he chuckled. 

"No Blade is just like his father, he gets what he wants," his smile flattered from the look that crossed my face, anxious he glanced at Maya who shrugged. "You know he would like you to move on Avalina," becoming serious at once and that scared me. 

"None of that nonsense any more, please!" I said averting my gaze. 

"It has been four years, how long do you plan on living your life like this?" he asked sitting straight. 

"Stop it Troy, this is not the right time," Maya argued. 

"No Maya it's time she should know, it is the right time, it's been years and I have to leave again if I don't tell her now I have to wait with his burden on my heart for few more months," Troy growled, at once getting frustrated confusing me. What is the matter with him? 

"Troy you agreed you will tell her later at night," Maya spat. 

"I can't wait," he said through gritted teeth then turned to face me, "You need to know something Ava," he called me by my nick, I frowned. 

Slowly as though he was having an inner battle, he reached his jacket pocket and pulled out something in his palm.

Maya grunted in annoyance, "Now is not the right time,"

"You say that every time I come here,"

"Because I know she is not ready," Maya threw her hands in the air. 

"Four years! Four years I can't hide it anymore," Troy spoke sadly. 

"Yes but-" Troy shook his head for her to stop and I kept staring at them. He then met my gaze his eyes they were sad, hurt and lost. 

"You need to know something," he repeated opening his palm. I gasped and sprung to my feet.

"How is it with you? It wasn't there on his finger, I thought it was lost," my voice shook as memories of his funeral came rushing back. 

Troy looked at me like he was miserable, "Blade gave this to me when he died," as the words left his mouth the air around me vanished and my head felt dizzy, pushing it aside I turned to run away from them. Before I could take a step, Troy stood up in such remarkable speed, and his large hand grabbed my shoulders, gently. 

"Let go you back stabbing bastard," I screamed pushing his hands away from me. He stared at me like I burned him. 

"Avalina, what on earth are you saying?" Maya asked standing, she was shocked and angry. 

"Blade gave him the ring, his wedding ring! Maya what is the meaning of this? How dare he say that," I hollered, glaring at Troy who simply stared back.

"Before setting your mind why don't you listen to what Troy has to say," Maya ordered, with such an intense gaze it terrified me.

"No leave, both of you. Please!" at this Troy took a step forward and looked down at me. 

"I will not leave Blade's house before I tell you what he said to me when he died, and you will listen," he told me in a deep voice that reminded me of all he has done, and how pathetic I sounded at this moment cursing him for back stabbing me when if it weren't for him, I would have be destroyed by now. 

Running a hand over my hair I walked to sit on my place a second or two they followed. Troy was on my right side, he grabbed my hand and placed the ring on my palm when the metal touched my skin the threatening tears escaped from my eyes and I bit hard on my lip. 

"He gave that to me when he knew he had no chance of surviving and," Troy told me everything, how Blade himself had taken out this ring from his finger and handed it to Troy. Blade had made him take an oath of protecting me not just as a guardian but as my life partner. Troy even told me how Blade was worried about others, how he didn't trust other men around me. Troy was his option for me. 

Sobs racked my body when Troy told me everything. I could see a huge burden was lifted from his shoulders but a hurricane was rooming in my heart. "Ava dear calm down," Maya said rubbing my hands. 

"I am sorry, I am sorry I yelled at you, all this time you were keeping your word and I cursed you," Troy shook his head, stood up and kneeled in front of me, grabbing my hands now. 

"No I get it, it's okay Ava trust me I feel much better seeing you angry for the first time," he said. 

There was a moment's silence in which I debated on what to tell him now. He was trust worthy I knew this; my son was attached to him more than anyone, but me! I closed my eyes and pictured Blade's face, it was there so clear his memories were so fresh it would be impossible to remove them. 

"I can't Troy, not now I need time please," I told him, without meeting his eyes. 

Troy tipped my chin and made me look at him, he smiled, "Take all the time you need, I promise I will always be here for you."

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Wow its been a YEAR and Bite the Bullet is done! I will miss writing it, I loved writing, thank you so much for the comments and votes thank you all.

Going go give my best to my other story "Arrange marriage to an Assassin"