Make Or Break

Wesker returned to Claire's room the next day. He decided to wait until Leon had gone home, so now it was late at night. The fact he was silent meant Claire was still asleep. He placed his letter under her pillow but the end of it poking out so she could see it. He gently nudged her and she yawned and woke up. Wesker waited in a nearby room. His mental fight began. Why am I still here? I said I would leave. Legs, move, Claire does not want me! Why the fuck am I not leaving?

"Hmm? Leon?". She looked around but the room was empty. She turned to sleep again and saw a white page poking out from under her pillow. She picked it up and unfolded it. Reading it gave her mixed emotions. Fear, relief, happiness and in a dark recess of her mind, sadness. She tried to battle that sadness but it overwhelmed her. Wesker heard her begin to sob, and something told him to see her, comfort her. But his arms were not allowed to do that. For once in his life, he was the one who was unworthy.

She began to talk to herself, voicing her thoughts. "Dearheart, when I first met you, I admit I thought you were handsome, charming, and that voice made me feel faint. But I never knew you could hurt me like that. I know I provoked you, but that was because I never thought you would hurt me. I was wrong to do that, we were both wrong. You say you love me, but that moment, it felt like every bit of hate you had you threw at me. I feel like you hate me". Her sobs became more frequent.

In the other room, Wesker's stomach wrenched. It felt like he would vomit it out. Hate you? Why on earth would I do that? Oh fuck this. He went into her room but kept his distance. He didn't expect what she said next though.

"I knew you'd be here. Even though you said you would be gone when I read this. I can't call you a liar. I am not innocent myself. I can't call you a fool because I am too. Wesker, I fell in love with you, but then the incidents happened and I never saw you again. I heard you were dead and that hurt, losing my friends hurt. I wasn't over you, so when Leon came along, I grasped onto him, fearing to let him go. I don't love him. I thought I did but it's not what I felt for you. He makes me smile, but not inside, you do. He makes me laugh, but not like you did. He understands me, you don't. I am a fool, you made me plummet down to Earth when I wasn't ready for that. I fell hard, lost my control. But I think you should leave but not forever. I need to think and get all of my tears out. I have to wonder, if I am going insane, still loving a man that tried to kill me".

Wesker, temporarily stunned at her reply took a moment to process it. "I will leave. It's better for both of us. But tell Leon if you don't care about him. Do you wish for me to stay for a while? I will stay here by the door. I won't hurt you ever again, that I swear. Any more deserved insults to award me?"

She processed that and managed to come up with a few. "You vain, violent creep with about as much personality as a plain biscuit. With your sun-glasses on indoors and your all black attire, you look like you are going to a funeral. You horrid, incredibly sexy man, with your perfect face and...ok, that isn't insults anymore haha. I'm done with the insults and the swearing. Unless I stub my toe or bang my elbow, then the swearing may make a return haha". Claire smiled and it was like sunshine piercing the dark outside.

"Please, come here. I will give you my trust for now. I think Leon is cheating. He has been off, well you don't need to know. The past 6 months, he's been acting odd. Always sneaking around. At first I thought maybe he wanted to marry me so he was keeping everything hush-hush. But then I smelt perfume on his shirt collar and it wasn't mine, that's for sure. I am not upset though, he seems happy so if she makes him happy, then I am happy for him". Claire took Wesker's hand and put it on her neck, her pulse point.

Even through his gloves he could feel her heart race. "Now I am in a bed, so no strenuous activity there. It's you that's making that happen. Come here". She pulled his hand down so he lent over her.

"Claire stop. Is this really what you want? Can you forgive me?" His answer came as she pulled him and his face to hers.

"Yes, I forgive you". She put her hand on his sun-glasses and checked his reaction. He nodded and she took them off. Ruby pools of blood looked into her soft sapphire pools of water. "You know, red is my favourite colour". He smiled and she began their kiss.

It felt like it was meant to be, the proverbial kiss that says you have found your Prince Charming. But Wesker was her bloody prince. No shining sword of justice, his weapon was himself. No shining armor, his was jet black. No proverbial prince, Claire didn't like Prince Charming's anyway. In her eyes, he was the one.

The kiss lasted for an eternity. She didn't latch on to him when it stopped. She wouldn't lose him. She nuzzled him and her face burned red with an intense fire. She tried to hide it but he took her small face in his hands and she let her blush show. She felt tired and it was time for her meds. "I love you Wesker". He never thought he would hear those words.

"I love you too my dearheart. I shall let you rest. Be careful with Leon, I would dislike having to hurt him but I will if he tried to hurt you". He kissed Claire again and went to the door.

She waved him goodbye and he left. Now, Leon...

The next day, Leon didn't show. Wesker thought that odd. He knew he had work but still. And the next day, and the next day. Rebecca would visit when she could. For the next 5 weeks it was Chris, Jill and Wesker that visited her. No sign of Leon. When Wesker visited her they'd kiss and hold each other. One day he decided he would tell her the truth about the mansion. She listened intently. In a week she would be let out. Her nose had healed, her bruises were gone and so was the tenderness. When Wesker had saw the damage he had inflicted on her porcelain skin, he choked. Normally, inflicting pain on someone, he would enjoy. But Claire wasn't just anyone, she was his dearheart, and nothing would ever make him violent towards her again. She heard distant noises, it was Leon's footsteps in the corridor. Wesker disappeared before he spotted him.

"Claire I am so sorry. Work asked me to do overtime, I refused, but then the rent went up and the bills and I needed the spare cash. I am so sorry honey. What's up? You seem angry". Leon's mask was transparent to Claire.

"I am a bit. I guessed you had been busy. That isn't the problem. Leon, are you seeing someone else? I won't get mad or hit you".

He couldn't hide it any longer. "Yes Claire, I am, for about five months now. I just felt like this was going nowhere, but when I wanted to let you go, my heart would skip a beat and I would panic. You are like a comfort blanket to me, and letting that go was far too hard. But I am here to end it, end us. I was trying to work out a way to say that without you hating me forever. I'd still like to be friends". His voice became shaky.

"I'd like that too. I don't hate you, I fell out of love with you, but I was too weak to say anything. It seems that this other woman makes you really happy, so I am happy for you". Claire sat up and hugged him. He smiled and wiped his forehead.

"Phew, well. There was me thinking you'd slap me. Chris will punch me though. Damn".

"He won't. I'll talk to him. If I tell him what I told you he should be fine. He may do the brotherly scowl at you and maybe curse but he should be fine. No need to put your dukes up haha".

They both laughed and Leon thanked for her for understanding, said his goodbye's and left. Wesker came back in and told her he had seen Chris in the car-park. She nodded and he went in the other room again. She heard a loud thud and looked in the car-park to see Leon talking to Chris. When he told Chris that they had split up and he was seeing someone else. Chris saw red, he slammed Leon against a pole and swore at him. Claire sighed. Chris, I know you want to protect me, but this isn't how you go about it.

"What the fuck?! Did Claire mean anything to you? Or did you just want her attention for one thing you bastard". Leon was dropped and he stood back up.

"Claire meant everything to me. But I only liked her, the love had faded. Talk to her Chris and you'll see why she didn't hit me when I told her". Chris pondered that and turned around. He took a few deep breaths and walked to Jill who looked at Leon and mouthed 'why?' and 'sorry'. Leon straightened his jacket and walked to his car.

Chris and Jill arrived in her room a few minutes later, Chris' anger seemingly now under control. Jill had always been good at talking him down. Claire spoke carefully.

"Chris, Leon told the truth. I am not in love with him. He seems really happy with her, so I am happy for him. You know me, if I was angry, I'd have decked him by now. He'd end up in here with a broken nose". Chris laughed a bit at that.

"You are right sis. I guess I shouldn't have hit him. I just care about you, you know?"

"Yes I do. The Redfield hotheadedness haha".

"The Redfield hotheadedness". Jill and Claire said that at the same time.

Chris laughed again. He took Jill's hand.

"Chris? Oh my god, you finally took the plunge didn't you?" Claire was ecstatic.

Jill turned her hand and she had an engagement ring on. Claire squealed.

"Ahhhhhh! Yeah! Brilliant! Come here sis!" Claire was clapping. Jill laughed at the word sis, and hugged her. "Congratulations!".

"Thanks Clairebear". Chris beamed.

"Thanks sweetie". Jill smiled back.

The doctor then knocked on the door and came in. "Sorry to disturb. I have some good news. We are letting Claire out today. The out-patient forms are being filled in now". He smiled and left.

Claire was almost high, she was that happy.

"We have to go, get back to work. Sorry, we tried to get the day off but our bosses are arseholes. We barely take days off but they still said no". Chris now held Claire's hand.

"No, it's fine. Seriously though guys, I cannot be happier for you two!"

"We'd like you and Rebecca to be the bridesmaids. I know you both hate dress though haha". Jill giggled.

Claire smiled "I'll make an exception. Right, I love both of you. Now get back to work, you slackers haha". She feigned authority and they all laughed.

"Take care Claire. Rebecca will check up on you at home, and Jill, Barry and I will do too. Love ya little one. Bye!". He knew that would annoy her. Jill stifled a laugh and waved.

"Monkey brains! Hehe, you too. Seeya!"

When they had gone, Wesker came back in her room and saw sitting on the edge of the bed and stretching her legs. "Careful dearheart. I shall take you home if you wish".

"That would be lovely, thank you". He let her lean on him and she took a few tentative steps. Being in bed for 5 weeks meant her legs were a bit unsteady. She soon managed to walk unaided by him.

"Jill Redfield. I wondered when Chris would ask her to marry him. I saw it coming when they first met. And you in a dress, now that has potential to be a deliciously naughty thought". He raised and eyebrow and smirked.

She blushed vividly. "You naughty thing!" She laughed and a nurse knocked and brought in her clothes.

Claire was going home, part of her was happy. The other part was scared. That place, that day, the pain...