A/N: Like my other stories, there's again a Kate in this one, because I really bad at thinking names so sorry about it. This story has a very slow development and might seem repetitive but I hope you can show some patience and enjoy this story, as much as I enjoyed writing it. Special Credits to my friend Shirahane Aikawa for helping me out with the name.

Disclaimer: I don't own Resident Evil or any of its characters appearing in this story. They are property of Capcom.

Chapter 1

(Leon's POV)

I cursed the time, when I faked to be unfit to be a part of Ashley's bodyguard, because it led me to be stuck with paperwork. I hated paperwork more than anything, just seeing it gave me headaches. I guess I wouldn't have to fake my sickness anymore, I would surely end up being sick in the end. It had just been lunch time but I was already thinking of ditching this work and telling Hunnigan that I was more than fit to look after Ashley, but the fact that lately I felt that I was losing my sense of hearing from hearing Ashley scream, shout and yell all the time, held me back from putting that thought into action. I was in middle of thinking this when I heard a knock on my cabin door.

"Excuse me", I looked up and saw a woman standing at my cabin door, I felt as if I met her but I didn't remember when or where.
"Eh… yes", I said pondering on the thought a bit.
"Ah… finally", she said settling herself on one of the chairs in front of me, "It took me ages to find you and you never contacted… So care to go for diving tonight?", she asked smiling, flirting all the same and it was her these words that made me remember her, it was Angela Miller the SRT member from Harvardville.

"Leon, why don't we go diving again?", she had asked.
"Love to", I had answered but I never meant it.

I looked out of my cabin thinking why I had said that because I have got this bad habit of quipping back which I developed working with her, 'Think of the devil and the devil is here', I thought as I watched her walking by my cabin's glass and very unexpectedly she knocked and I allowed her to enter, "Kennedy, have you done with that report on the last mission?", she asked not knowing that Miller was with me.
"I was about to work on it", I said cockily.
"Yeah, when? After I have worked on them?", she said taunting me.
"Then I have to definitely work on them, otherwise you will be writing the whole credit to yourself", I quipped back.
"Which wouldn't be a lie", she said crossing her arms glaring at me and then her gaze drifted to Angela, and maybe it was my imagination but I think Angela was making faces at Cornor, "Oh I didn't know you had a guest", Cornor raised her brows at me in amazement.
"It's not my mistake you don't get them", I again came up with a reply.
"It's useless to argue", she said and moved closer to my desk and picked up a couple of files and without a word began to leave.

"Weird woman", Angela said to me as softly as she could, as Cornor walked back to the door.
"I heard that", Cornor yelled from the door and Angela rolled her eyes and looked up at the ceiling, "You do it one more time and believe me I'll make sure it stays that way only", she sort of threatened, before leaving my cabin.
"No one can do that", Angela almost yelled after her.
"She can", I told her sitting straight on my chair, "It's one of her specialty, she can hit your facial muscles to stay intact blocking any sort of voluntary signal from brain. It's temporary but she can do it."
"You're kidding right?", she asked doubtfully, smiling at me.
"No", I replied shaking my head in negative, "Every bit of that is true. Anyways why you are here again?", I asked her reason for visiting me.
"What do you mean? Why?", she asked in a surprised tone, "I wanted to get to know you better. So, are you free tomorrow evening? We can go to bowling, movie or anything."
"I think I am", I told her thinking about my schedule, "But I can't go…"

(Kate's POV)

I looked up from my work and I don't know what made me look at Kennedy's cabin, "Feeling insecure are we?", I looked sideways it was Claire.
"Claire you scared me? What are you doing here?", I asked her.
"Just visiting you plus we had some business with the Agency; Chris and Jill are here too", she said smiling, "And you didn't answer my question, are you feeling insecure?"
"Why would I?", I asked back getting back to work.
"C'mon I saw the Miller lady going in Leon's cabin", she explained.
"You know there's nothing between us", I told her not looking at her.
"Yeah right, after five years of marriage you say you don't feel anything for him", she said doubting me.
"It can't be called marriage Claire", I said collecting the papers of the report I just completed and putting them in a file.
"So what it is then?", she asked crossing her arm giving me a look of disbelief.
"It's like a mission straight from the god that we are both assigned to and from the looks of it, its nowhere close to being successful", I told her with a smile, joking about it a little.

I excused myself from her and walked to Mr. Trapp's, who's my boss, cabin to drop off the report, "Here's the report of the mission one that we completed recently", I said, handing the file to him.
"Isn't this the one Leon was supposed to complete?", he asked flipping the pages.
"It's been two days and he wasn't even started with it", I stated the fact.
"Well looks like he wrote something", he said setting the file down.
"The only thing he wrote are Objectives, status and personnel assigned to the mission", I told him in an obvious tone.
"Oh Kate you're so funny", he said with a laugh, "You may leave darling!", he spoke in a friendly tone.

"Thanks David!", I said and walked out but something hit my mind, "Uh… David?", he looked up from the file he was working on, "I wanted a favor actually."
"Go on", he said relaxing on the chair, giving me his time.
"Can you ask Ms. Hunnigan to not ask Leon to do paperwork, if she wants to get them done, at least for our team missions? I'll do it, since he delays everything anyways", I put forth my request.
"Okay I think I can do that", he said with a nod.
"Thank you!", I said with grateful smile as I left his cabin, and bumped into Leon, who was entering into the cabin.

"Can't you see where you're going", I asked him a little annoyed.
"I could say the same thing", he smart mouthed.
"It's useless to argue with you", I said cutting off the argument, walking past him to my desk and busied myself with the work.

(Leon's POV)

I watched her walk back to her desk and I got in my boss's cabin, "You called David?", I said getting in his office.
"Yeah Leon, I was wondering why don't you take a break or something", he said while reading a file.
"Why are you saying that? Did she say anything?", I asked a little confused, looking back at Cornor.
"I didn't know you two discussed problems", he said leaving the file intertwining his finger smiling up at me.
"We don't…", I said running a hand in my hair, '…she always figures out', I thought to myself.

"Oh I see…", David said smiling more, "So your family visiting this weekend?"
"Yeah", I told him.
"I hope you two can live up to their and Mrs. Cornor's expectations, they still don't…", he was saying.
"I know… and she knows it too", I said to him and my phone buzzed, "Hunnigan is calling, I have to go and I don't need vacation", I put a weight on the fact that I didn't need any vacation and David just nodded, as started to leave.
"Uh… Leon", I stopped at door and looked at him, "Kate, did ask me not to bother with you reports", I didn't know what to say to him, "I just felt like telling you", I just nodded and exited the room.

(Kate's POV)

I looked at my watch and it was time for me to get home, so I collected the papers of my unfinished report and put them in a file and looked towards Kennedy's cabin, "Ready to leave?", I jumped as Claire spoke these words.
"Claire, you scared me again", I said as I pulled my overcoat, "Yeah, all done for now. I'll deal with the rest later, if I am not assigned a field mission."
"What is the record?", Claire asked and I gave her a confused look, I wasn't sure what she was asking of me, "I mean what is the longest span of time in which you hadn't been assigned any mission.
"One month, I guess", I lied promptly as if I knew I had to lie right now, "The time I was injured a couple of months ago."

"Yeah the time Leon had to go rescue President's Daughter", Claire said remembering about it, "You know what the strangest thing is?"
"That he made it out with only a scratch on his perfect face", I tried to joke.
"No, the thing is that, you were paired to go on that mission too. I mean we all know you two give a success rate of 93%, but it doesn't mean that you should be paired in each and every mission, and even when one of you is hurt. By the way, is there any mission you have done without him?", she asked as we moved together towards elevator.
"Yeah many of the missions I have been partnered with other agents and don't forget my solo missions", I told her pushing the elevator button.
"Yeah, well Leon can't go on your undercover or double cross mission with you, and the mission you do with other agents are usually protective detail", the elevator arrived as she completed her sentence, "I am just saying whenever it concerns dangerous, you're together."
"I never gave too much thought about this detail", I said laughing the matter off, "Really interesting observation made", at this we both laughed, stepping in the elevator.

The elevator began to close, "Should I drop you home today…", Claire was saying but just then somebody put their foot between the elevator doors and it parted again and it was Kennedy, "Guess I don't have to today. Hi Leon!", she said smiling as he stepped in.
"How are you doing, Claire?", he asked her smiling one of his fake smiles that he put up to show the world he could smile but personally I doubt that he hit his head hard and forgot to smile.
"I am absolutely fine", she said beaming at him genuinely, "So why did Miller come to see you?"

(Leon's POV)

"Uh… she wanted to go on a date", I told her and I heard a snort and my gaze drifted to Cornor, who was suppressing her laugh.
"What did you say?", Claire asked in a concerned tone, sounding a little displeased, as her eyes traveled from me to Kate, who was pretty much neutral about it.
"I said this Friday would be fine", I told her casually.

Claire was about to say something but she closed her mouth again and there was a moment of silence, "Kate, your in-laws are coming this weekend?"
"Yup", she told her smiling.
"Who all are coming?", she asked again.
"Everyone I guess", she told her, "Just Liana's husband won't be coming, I guess."
"Liana's coming?", I almost yelled in surprise and she looked at me giving me an obvious look, "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I told you this morning", she said monotonously.
"No, you didn't", I said totally denying her claim.
"Yes, I did, when we were driving here", she said to me narrowing her eyes.

"No, you didn't", I said pushing Claire away moving towards my so-called wife.
"I did", she flared.
"No, you did not", I repeated again and my voice raised a bit.
"I did, you never listen to me", she said crossing her arms.
"Don't make excuses, you didn't tell me", I argued as the door opened and we all stepped out and Kate literally made a run for the car.
"Look I told you this morning and that's that", she said again as I walked by her side saying the same thing.
"When?", I asked and my voice raised more.
"This morning when we were arguing about you not paying bills", she snapped and I remembered that it was only this thing that stopped our argument.

Kate looked around and everyone was looking at us only, luckily it was only those people who knew about our relationship, Redfields, Andrews and David. Besides these people only a few people, that's Kate's father and her twin sisters, knew the situation between us. Other people at work didn't have any idea of us being married; the main reason being we never talked too much about our marriage, never called each other by first names, when at work, and our fingerless gloves hid our wedding rings most of the time. She pulled the door open and got inside banging the door close hard. I rounded off to driver's seat as other also got in their cars too; it was not new to them after all.

Sometimes we would land a few kicks and punches, if our argument heated up too much. No matter who started the argument but it always ended in silent denial. It's been five long years and our relationship only worsened. We both don't know the reason why it's like this and we never try to walk on those broken glass that's called our marriage. I looked at Kate as we stopped at a signal; she was looking outside thinking something. She looked at her watch and just then the signal turned green and the rest of the drive also went in silence.

I pulled my car on the driveway and got myself released from seatbelt, "I am…", I began but she was already out, "Sorry", I completed as she closed her side door and I got out too. She walked hurriedly to the porch and fumbled in her bag for house keys and just then we heard my dog whine from behind the door scratching the floor.
"We are here boy", she said getting the key unlocking the door. Our dog welcomed us and she patted him once, "I know you're hungry", she said keeping her handbag at the foot of stairs, as I patted him, and he whined in agreement.

Kate moved to the switch and I made my way to the couch flopping on it and reached for the TV remote, "Did you pay the bills?", she asked flipping the switches, "Wait don't tell me", she said shaking her head, I had again forgot to pay electricity bills, "Leon, this the third time this year and I have been reminding you what… everyday."
"I forgot", I only said.
"What are we supposed to do in dark tell me?!", she said in a complaining tone, "I can barely… no I can't see a thing."
"I can see everything", I lied, it was dark and since the place was known to me, that's why I knew my way around.
"Stop the argument please", she said with a weight in her voice, "Just call them and make up something okay… I have to feed Shadow."

She walked away and it didn't give me time to argue and I made my way to the phone bumping into a few things in the darkness, maybe I didn't know the place too well, but I didn't even let the air escape from my mouth otherwise I have to hear an hour long lecture from Kate about not paying the bills.

(Kate's POV)

I felt so exhausted working in the dark and in this hot environment, as I made dinner for both of us. But what else can I do, my husband is bad at remembering that he has to pay bills even after he has been doing that for last five years. I wondered how he managed before we got married. I again cursed him whilst chopping the vegetables and looked at his dog enjoying his meal. It made me smile seeing him drink water from his bowl and then settle himself in his bed, "Ouch", I screamed in pain as I cut my index finger, "Shit", I said as I put it in my mouth and reached to get band-aids.

Leon walked in at that moment, looked at me briefly and got himself some water from the refrigerator. I searched for the band-aid but they were not there. I put the first-aid box back and resumed making dinner and just then the electric power was turned on and I sighed in relief.

(Leon's POV)

"Dinner's ready", Kate called from the table and I switched off the television and settled myself in my usual seat. She served me dinner as always, why she did that whenever we had dinner together I don't know, and it never seemed to bother me. After serving me, she sat on her usual place by my side and we began eating our dinner in silence like always. After that as usual she collected all the dirty dishes and took them away and began cleaning up the place a bit.

I walked to our bedroom took my pajamas and had a shower. As I was walking back to watch TV, I almost bumped into Kate, as she was entering in the bedroom. I couldn't but think that she was unusually fast today for washing dishes. She walked to the cupboard and began getting her clothes and I walked downstairs. I don't know why but I walked into Kitchen and saw that all the dirty dishes were in the sink, maybe she decided to do them later after the cut on the finger gets a bit old, since it would really sting in the soapy water.

(Kate's POV)

I took extremely long to take a shower and shampoo my hair. I wrapped a towel around myself and stepped out of the shower and moved by the basin to brush my teeth and when I opened the small cabinet everything came tumbling down. I again cursed Leon for this as I put everything back, and as I was putting his shaving things back I found band-aids and it made me look towards the bathroom door.

I put the band-aid around my finger and brushed my teeth, dried my hair enough so that water may not wet the bedding, when I sleep, then pulled on my night dress and walked out, and to my surprise Leon was asleep. Isn't it time for him to watch the news, he already knows. I switched off the bathroom lights and turned to walk out of the room to check whether everything was securely locked or not. After checking that, I walked back to my room with Shadow tailing behind me. As I got on the bed and settled myself within the covers, he jumped up on the bed and settled himself near our feet. I could only smile at his habit of doing that every day.

I lied down facing Leon but his back was towards me. I stared at him a bit and turned to my other side as well. I felt uneasy when I slept facing him even after sharing the same bed with him for five years. My gaze rested on the wedding photograph in which we both were smiling.

I clearly remembered that day, when we got married or rather we were forced to marry, clearly stating accidentally got married. We never liked each other's way of working and never would have gotten married. But my Dad was Leon's mentor and he always wanted me to get married to him, because he had the feeling that Leon was the right guy for me and then everything happened very fast… and we were married.

It didn't take us long to realize that we couldn't stay together. It was only because Leon's family and my mother that we were together for past five years. I clearly remember how happy Leon's parents were, when they met me, and how happy mum was when she came to know that I got married. I sighed pulling the blanket over my shoulders and closed my eyes to get some sleep.

(Leon's POV)

I looked back to Kate and smelled the fresh scent of her hair, it always made me wonder what that smell was; her shampoo said it was rose but I knew it was something different, I just knew. I turned and stared at her back for a bit, my life… her life… our life actually was more complicated than anything else on this earth and I don't how much long we can keep up. I turned back to resume my previous position and then closed my eyes to get the much needed sleep.

A/N: Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I apologize for any inconvenience you had whilst reading and please feel free to share your views about the chapter!