Pairing: Leon/Claire

Timeline: Alternate Universe

I know you're still angry with me.

I never meant to hurt you.

I never meant to say the things I said.

Things were…complicated between us.

I didn't know what to think, or how to react when you told me we lost the baby. The only way I knew how to cope was drinking it away.

It was hard for me to control my emotions.

I never meant to lose my temper that night.

I just wasn't thinking.

You have every right to be angry with me. I ruined everything between us. I should have support you. We could have adopted. We had the money and resources.

We could have made this work.

I was a selfish bastard and I take full responsibility for my actions.

Still…it would be good if I could see you again…on Christmas. Even if a glass separates us, it would…be good to see you again.

December 25th, 2010

She didn't recognize him.

She was used to him clean shaved, with his boyish good looks, however brown stubble marred his face now, as if he hadn't shaven in days. Strands of equally colored hair hung over his face, his right eye hidden from view. He was dressed in the pale orange garb prisoners were prone to wear in the facility. He was still in shape just as she remembered, if not seemingly a few pounds lighter.

Guards were situated behind him, six in total. They were dressed in riot gear, with automatic rifles. From what she learned, he was considered dangerous and was thrown in solidarity confinement a few times after getting in brawls with other prisoners, resulting in serious injuries. Now, he was in a cell by himself, guarded closely.

As much as she wanted to believe him that they provoked him, she couldn't.

She knew about his temper all too well.

Yet, despite everything he had done, she couldn't let him go.

"Claire…"

She watched as his right hand pressed against the glass separating them.

His rasped voice filled the small empty white walled room they were in.

"…it's good to see you…"

She nodded, acknowledging his words. "…You don't seem half bad yourself…"

A soft laugh emerged from his lips, as his hands lowered from the glass. "…I guess not. Been doing my best to stay good. I'm already in enough shit."

She didn't respond.

His laugh soon faded. "…How is everything?"

"…Everything is fine." She found her voice. "…Chris invited everyone over for Christmas dinner tonight."

"I'm not surprised. Every year is a party when it comes to Thanksgiving and Christmas. Tell him not to overdo it."

"He won't."

Silence prevailed between them once more.

"Claire I…" He began.

"…Leon…I have to move on." She cut him off mid-sentence. "…I can't keep coming here…pretending that everything is alright. Chris told me not to come—"

"Chris isn't the boss of you." His sharp tone plugged the air. "You came here on your own."

"Yes…I came only because I have to end this."

"Well Claire, I'm not surprised by that either." He said with the cold smirk she also knew too well. "You moved on. It was only a matter of time. How long it's been—five years? Who's the lucky guy anyway?"

"Leon—"

"I wanted to see you on Christmas and you ruin the moment by telling me you're moving on. It's fitting, isn't it? Just to rub it in my face that I hurt you that much—"

"You're unstable Leon. I can't keep seeing you like this. It brings up too many hurtful memories between us. You can't possibly think—"

"Then why are you still sitting there?"

His rage was building.

She remembered the night he attacked her.

"…Merry Christmas, Leon." It was faint, but she was certain that he heard her. "That's…the only reason why I came to see you. Merry Christmas…and goodbye."

She didn't hear him when she got up and left her seat.

She didn't hear the guards grab him the minute he pounded the glass and shouted her name.

For the first time since her failed marriage, she was free.

Author Notes

Okay, so this wasn't one of my feel good Christmas one-shots. It was just something that was on my mind. I just want to wish everyone a happy and healthy Christmas and a New Year. I know I haven't been doing any updating, but I've been recovering from a sinus infection that got pretty serious with the first time occurrence of a pink eye. As you know, I work as a teacher assistant with children so that pretty much led to my sickness. I do have plans to update Liberator later on today so please be patient.