This is my very first Resident Evil fanfiction. I haven't written anything in a long time and I am defiantly open to suggestions. Critique is welcome. I am also looking for someone to beta my stories if anyone is interested :) Please enjoy.

Claire looked at her brother from across the table and gave him a small smile. He returned it with one of his own, but it wasn't nearly as happy or sincere as she always remembered it. He had bags under his bloodshot eyes, and with flecks of grey in his hair and his drooping face he looked much older than 35. He had been through so much, but he was still standing, and now he wasn't just her hero anymore, he was the world's hero. The man who stopped a potential Armageddon. The man who had finally killed Albert Wesker.

She reached over and cupped his hand in hers and squeezed. To the other patrons at the restaurant it might have looked as though the brother and sister were a couple. Chris insisted that he take her out, convincing her that since he was gone that everything would go back to normal, that they could catch up every week like they used to, without fear, without constantly looking over their shoulder. Claire wasn't sure if he was trying to convince her and himself of that though.

"So," Claire broke the silence, "Have you spoken to-"

"Not yet Claire," Chris cut the younger sibling off, "I don't want to talk about that right now."

Claire pursed her lips together,

"I just think she'll be able to help is all," She continued, "I only want to help you Chris..." she said meekly, not wanting to push her brother too far.

He sighed and jerked his hand away from her, averting his eyes,

"I know Claire, just... just let me have dinner with you tonight without going on about my, my... 'problems' okay?" he grunted out quietly, making air quotes with his fingers when he said the word problems.

"Sorry," She said quietly, "I'm just..." She started before getting a glare from her older brother, "how's Jill doing?" She asked, hoping to change the subject to something other than Chris. Chris gave her a look, a mixture between frustration and sorrow. He reached out and grabbed his beer and taking a gulp before answering.

"You've been talking to her more than I have, you would know better than me." he snapped.

Claire looked slightly hurt but held her resolve.

"Look Chris, I'm just trying to have a conversation with you, if you just invited me out to make me feel bad ill just leave, I do have work to do." She said, voice slightly wavering. She stood up, but before she could move felt her brother's hand around her wrist. she looked down to see the top of her brother's head, he was staring at the table cloth.

"Don't leave," he whispered, "I'm sorry, I just want a night with my sister where I'm not reminded of my condition, or Wesker, or the fact that my partner and best friend of 10 years won't even talk to me right now... I just wanted to pretend that none of this happened."

That was the most emotion she had gotten out her brother in three months, she sighed.

"No, I'm sorry Chris... I just worry, you never talk about it, about what happened... I just thought if you-"

"Talked to a complete stranger about my feelings I would be cured?" he asked sarcastically.

"What about me?" she asked, "why can't you talk to me? I'm your sister, we have always helped each other through everything. We used to talk about EVERYTHING Chris and now... now if I even bring anything up that has to do with Raccoon city, or Jill, or Wesker you just tell me that you don't want to bring me into it..."

"And that's right, I don't want to bring you into it," He replied, "Why would I want to subject my sister to this?"

"I already have been Chris... I have been for a long time." She replied stubbornly.

"That's different Claire... I know you've seen the horrors of Umbrella and even fought against it, but Claire... It's different for me... I knew Wesker before all of this, or at least I thought I did. The only person I feel like can understand is Jill, but even if she did return my calls I don't think she wants to talk about the man that held her captive." Chris said looking into Claire's eyes, begging for understanding.

Claire starred at him for a few seconds before replying, "you want to talk about Wesker?" She asked, almost afraid of the question. Afraid that her brother would go into another fit like he has been recently. she was surprised when he just looked up at her with tired eyes and let out a long breath.

"I looked up to him Claire... I-" he paused, she said nothing hoping he would see it as encouragement to go on, "I know I wasn't his favorite, I know I drove him insane but, Claire he reminded me of Dad."

Claire eyes widened a bit. She always never thought of the man that way, she felt so stupid for not realizing that had before.

"Dad died before I could show him I was worth his effort, you know?" He asked without giving her room for an answer, "and when I met Wesker I just felt this need to impress him... to make him proud because, because if he was proud of me that would mean that dad would have been proud too." Chris rambled out while looking away from his sister, as if he was ashamed. "and I guess I did impress him to some point, he did say he was proud of me, pretty screwed up huh?" Chris asked only half joking.

Claire reached back over the table and grabbed Chris' hand. He sighed and gave her a cocky smile, "Now who's babying who?" he laughed.

"Whom!" Claire replied, empathizing the word. Chris laughed.

"Whatever College dropout." He continued to laugh and she shook her head, lightly kicking him under the table.

Chris shook his head and smiled. Claire smiled back, not willing to ruin his sudden good mood with more talk of Wesker. She was surprised though when he continued.

"It was never that I didn't want to talk to you about Wesker, Claire, but you didn't know him... Jill and I did. We looked up to him, we all did. We all thought that we were going to be the shining light on Raccoon City, we were going to clean up the city and make it safe again. We were the good guys led by Albert Wesker, a hero among the crooked cops we all worked with... turns out he was much worse than anything those cops or Irons ever was. We trusted him and tricked us." He choked out, trying not to get angry, "He was so good at making us want to please him, we all wanted his approval, and he knew all along that we were just his play things." Chris finished in a hushed voice, spotting the waiter walking over with their long overdue order. The waiter placed a bowl of chicken pasta in front of Claire, and a well done steak in front of Chris.

"You just... you didn't know him like we did Claire." Chris finished once the waiter left, "I'm sorry."

Claire let out a breath and licked her lips, "I understand Chris." Claire said, "Jill is not avoiding you either, she's just, dealing with everything as well." she told Chris sympathetically, "give her time."

"Yeah, I know."

With that the two ate in silence, Chris seemingly feeling a bit better than at the beginning of the night, but Claire now had a nagging feeling in the pit of her stomach. She forced herself to stay quiet, stopping herself before telling her brother just how well she actually knew Wesker. The redhead twirled some pasta on her fork with no intention of bringing it to her lips. She was deep in thought and her brother didn't seem to notice. She thought of the first time she met Albert Wesker, outside of the Raccoon City Police Department, November of 1996.

A 17 year old Claire Redfield stood in the three inches of snow that had settled on sidewalk outside of the Police Department. She decided to walk to the RPD, hoping to get a ride from her brother after school instead of walking all the way to their apartment in the cold. It was pretty late since Claire usually stayed after her classes for tutoring. She looked down at the thin black leggings and blue cut off jeans she was wearing. She had a matching jean vest on over a Ramones t shirt that looked as if it had been used a rag on more than one occasion. Claire never prided herself on being stylish, she just wore what she had. Her brother often made fun of her choice of apparel, which she never took to heart. She wished has had listened to him that morning when he said that it was going to get a lot colder that day. In fact the only thing she wore that seemed appropriate was a pair of brown riding boots and didn't seem to match the rest of her outfit, but was doing a fine job of keeping her toes warm.

She looked around, the city seemed dead. only a few people here and there. as she was admiring the silent white city, she heard something behind her. Turning her head hoping to see her brother exiting the large building, instead she saw a much taller man exit. He had a blonde hair and was wearing a pair of sunglasses. He pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his shirt pocket when he noticed her. He paused. Claire noticed that he had a S.T.A.R.S uniform on, she smiled at him before turning around, not giving him a chance to smile back.

'That's probably Chris' Captain... Walker?' she thought, trying to remember what Chris had said his name was. 'He talks about his enough you should know th-' her train of thought was cut off by the sound of a man clearing his throat right behind her. She jumped and turned around quickly, successfully knocking the pack of cigarettes out of the man's hand, who was now standing about a foot away from her. She looked at his shocked face and gave him an embarrassed smile. She bent down and grabbed the red and white box out of the snow and handed it back to him with a small "Sorry."

"It's okay," the man replied smoothly, "I wasn't aware I was so terrifying." he continued. She could hear the slight annoyance in his voice. Claire shrugged, "I didn't hear you is all." she said.

The two sat in silence, Claire started to feel a tad uncomfortable with the man in her presence. She couldn't tell what he was looking at with the sunglasses over his eyes.

"Is Chris Redfield in there?" she broke the silence, "Or am I just waiting out here for nothing?" she chuckled nervously.

"And you are?" he replied, without answering her question.

"Claire." she said simply.

"Claire as in?" He asked her again, the annoyance level rising in his voice.

"Claire as in Claire Redfield, Chris' sister." She replied with a bit of an attitude. She couldn't help but think how easily this man could annoy her.

"Well, Claire Redfield, as in Chris' sister, do you not think it is a bit rude to ask a question a stranger without introducing yourself, and asking whom you are speaking with?" he asked, still not answering her question.

She rolled her eyes.

"I apologize," she said sarcastically, "Let me try again."

Claire turned around and cleared her throat, then did an about face with a wide smile on her face.

"Hello Sir, my name is Claire Redfield, I am the sister of one S.T.A.R.S member Christopher Redfield. May I ask who you are so I may better know how to address you?" She finished with a smirk.

The tall blonde removed his sunglass to reveal a pair of amused blue eyes. He smirked, "My name is Captain Albert Wesker, I am Christopher Redfield's boss, and yes, he will be out shortly depending on his typing skills." He replied, "He is finishing up a report. In the mean time maybe you can adjust your attitude while speaking to me young lady, considering I am the person who decides Christopher's place on my team." He finished with a harsher tone, smirk never leaving his mouth.

"My attitude has nothing to do with my brother, if I have offended you so badly, I should receive the punishment, not him." Claire said, getting cockier by the minute. She knew she was being a brat, but she couldn't help herself.

"Perhaps you are correct, Claire," Wesker said as he stepped closer to the redhead, "what kind of punishment do you think is in order?" he asked her with a low growl.

Her eyes widened and her already flushed face reddened even more. Her mouth hung agape as she tried to think of something to say. She was unsuccessful. He smirked and backed off.

"Didn't your brother ever teach your not to flirt with older men Claire? There are some real creeps out there, dear heart." He said before bringing a cigarette to his lips and lighting it. She watched as he took a drag, processing what he has just said.

"I wasn't flirting!" she defended wide eyed, "I wasn't!"

Wesker chuckled, seemingly taking pleasure in her embarrassment.

"Why would I flirt with a dinosaur like you anyway?" she asked, trying to redeem her control over the situation.

Wesker made an 'Mmmm' noise as he took another drag, "Old jokes, wonderful Claire, almost as witty as your brother." He said with satisfaction, blowing the smoke away from her face. Claire glared at him.

"Whatever, if you have to pick on a teenager to make yourself feel better that your purgative." She finished, looking away with a pout. She felt his eye on her still, she could see a small smirk on his lips as he studied her. She sat for a few minutes as he continued to look her over. She looked at him with an annoyed glare.

"What are you looking at?" she snapped, completely annoyed and embarrassed at this point, begging whatever god that her brother would come out already.

"I'm looking at a very lovely young woman," Wesker said sincerely. Claire felt hot in her face, she smiled a bit. before she had a chance to say thank him he cut her off, "Despite the obviously lacking fashion sense, and inability to check the weather before leaving the house." He finished while gesturing towards her shorts.

She opened her mouth in shock, "You..! Ugh, you jerk!" she exclaimed while stopping her boot in the snow, "you're so... you're such a..." she was at a loss for words.

"Jerk?" He ask smoothly with a small smile on his face. He brought his sunglass back to his face and licked his lips. "I guess redheads really are fiery, I must say I've never met a real one before." He said offhandedly, "you are a true redhead, are you not?" he asked with a self satisfying gaze.

Claire honestly didn't know what to say, she had never been so worked up over a conversation in her life.

"I. REALLY. Hate you, you know that?" She asked.

He chuckled, "Well that didn't take long, you wound me dear heart."

"Blow me!" she replied childishly, but before he could reply with any retort she heard her brother.

"Hey Claire!" Chris shouted before jogging over the two. "What are you doing here?" he asked.

"I think she was hoping to get a ride from you Redfield." Wesker answered for her.

Chris looked at his captain, then back at Claire, "You didn't have to wait out here Claire, there is a lobby inside." Chris said.

"She was keeping me company while I was waiting for my ride, Christopher." Wesker said to Chris again, annoying Claire further.

"Oh," Chris said, not even thinking to argue with his boss, "well I'm glad you two met." He said happily towards Claire.

Claire locked her eyes with Wesker's amused gaze. "It was a pleasure, sir." she said in a sickeningly sweet voice.

"Pleasure was all mine, Miss Redfield."

Claire turned around and headed for her brother's Jeep. He heard Chris say goodbye to his captain before fallowing him. They both got in the vehicle before Chris fired it up. He immediately turned the heat up on high.

"I can't believe you stood out in the cold Claire! You're going to ger sick!" Chris said, but Claire wasn't listening. She starred out the passenger side mirror at Wesker, who was looking right back at her. Just as Chris began pulling away she saw him blow a kiss towards her. She growled.

"What was that for?" Chris asked, rising an eyebrow at his sister.

"Just clearing my throat." she replied, still glaring at the image of Wesker getting smaller in the mirror.