"Mum, I'll be fine. I'm not a kid anymore.", I say to my mother as she rants over the phone about how careful I should be right after I inform her I'll be out of the country for a few days working on a case. "I know you aren't but what you do is very dangerous and your dad and I just want what's best for you."

Throughout my life, I have dreamed of helping people in any way I could. 22 years later, it still holds true what I feel about helping others and I intend to continue to do so until I reach my limit. My parents haven't been the biggest fans of me being an agent since it's dangerous.

"I know but I've got this, trust me", I say as my mum responds, "Of course we trust you." "Thanks mum, I've got to leave now, I'll talk to you later", I reply as she bids her goodbyes before ending the call.

I then grab my keys and bags and head to my car. Then I drove to Grace's apartment to pick her up. I waited for her to leave her apartment. As soon as I spotted her dressed in biege pants and a white shirt, I opened the car door to the passenger side. She stared at me before saying, "You're here again?"

"I'm going to be here everyday during your time at NSA so you'll get used to me." "I get my car next week", she says as I reply saying, "I was assigned by the director to pick and drop you off everyday." She sighed as I helped her put her bags into the car and we drove off to the airport.

Now what I said was a lie. The director hadn't assigned me to pick her up or drop her off. I just wanted to see her first thing in the morning and last thing before I go to bed at night. Grace and I were partners for eight years before she left NSA seven years ago. No one knows why she left not even the director. I tried to reach her for almost a year but failed. At some point I just stopped trying until she came back again and all I wanted to do was make sure she didn't leave me again.

I've loved her since the first day I set my eyes on her but when she left, I wished I had confessed before she did. Maybe things would have been different. There were different emotions coursing through my body. Anger, guilt, frustration, love. My heart hurts knowing I didn't even get a goodbye. I felt guilt that she may have left because of me, and frustration over failing to reach her. Yet I wished to see her again to show her my love.

Now she's back and I don't plan on letting her go anytime soon.

Upon arrival at the airport, I looked beside me to find Grace sleeping soundly. I smiled as I tucked a strand of her dirty blonde hair behind her ear.

She moves slightly and I sit up straight, clearing my throat as she opens her eyes slightly.

"We've finally arrived," I say as she nods and we both get down from the car. I grab our stuff and meet Theo and a few other agents to check in. After about an hour, we're on the plane to Japan.

We enter our hotel. Theo's talking to Vanessa on the phone, Grace is talking to her friend, and I'm just checking us in. I looked up at the receptionist to find her staring at me with a flirtatious look on her face. Green eyes, blonde hair, bright smile. She looks gorgeous, just not for me.

I immediately pretend to be on a call. I pick it up and say, "Hey babe, just landed, yeah I'll talk to you later. Love you too." I look at the receptionist to find her earlier smile replaced with a slight scowl on her face as she hands over our hotel key cards. After thanking her, I turned around to find Theodore Grace and Rachel talking to each other.

I handed over Grace and Rachel's key card. "You guys would share a suite together. Our plan says Theodore and I will share the other. We will have dinner together in the restaurant downstairs later." I said and we bid our goodbyes as we proceeded to our separate rooms.

I entered and immediately plopped down onto the sofa as Theodore moved into the bedroom to unpack. I looked around the suite in awe. It had a kitchen, an en suite bathroom, two bedrooms, and a laundry room. I then texted my mum telling her I had arrived. I'm certain she would love this place.

After unpacking, Theo and I headed to the fourth floor restaurant to meet Rachel and Grace for dinner. We enter the fine dining restaurant and I spot her sitting quietly looking around the restaurant. As soon as we make eye contact she says something to Rachel that makes her look over her shoulder.

She waves us over to their table as I nod and walk over to their table alongside Theodore. I sat beside Grace, who looked elegant in her beige dress and sleek ponytail. Theo sat beside Rachel who chose a black sequin dress. We ordered dinner and ate while chatting with one another enjoying this moment before our big mission tomorrow.