Chapter: 3

A terra save official came to visit Claire the next day, asking her how she was holding up, and offered his help in any way, shape, or form. They seemed to not ask about the silver case or anything of her objective, making her believe maybe they had just completely forgot about it or that it wasn't that important to begin with. She sighed out, looking out from her window, rubbing her wounded leg, her mind absent from any thoughts. She got a call from Chris the same day of her arrival, asking her if she was okay and if anything else other than the accident went down. Of course she kept to herself of her findings, feeling as if she failed herself and her work, simply dismissing her brother.

"Claire you sure you're okay? It doesn't sound like it."

"Yeah Chris, I'm fine. I'm just a little shaken up, that's all." Claire frowned, biting her nails a dirty habit she never seemed to give up, looking out at the empty apartment.

"Well I'm stuck here for few days, unless you don't feel comfortable by yourself, I can have Jill handle this one on her own."

"No, it's fine Chris. Don't worry, I'm fine." She reassured him, running a hand through her hair and disregarded the older Redfield. "Besides your still coming to my graduation, right?"

"Of course, you know I wouldn't miss it for the world." Claire smiled, dismissing herself from the conversation, hanging up she decided to grab her coat and run errands, hopefully getting her mind off that stupid vial. She still needed to pay for her cord and realizing although this was a bump in her life, she'd have plenty of opportunities to redeem herself.

"I can't believe my baby's all grown up." Chris said whipping a tear away grabbing his sister into a deathly tight hug. Claire gasped for air, looking towards Jill who laughed, shaking her head towards Chris.

"Let her go, I'm sure she'd like to live a little after her big ceremony." Jill hugged Claire next after, her smile bright, her blue eyes glittering against the morning sunrise.

"Congrats Claire, you made it."

"Thanks. It sure does feel good knowing I won't be having consecutive sleepless nights." She laughed and nodded towards Jill's words.

"Claire! Come take a photo with us!" A few girls yelled her way as Chris backed away from his younger sibling.

"Hold on let me just take a quick picture with my brother!" She smiled and Jill held a small kodak camera aiming towards the two.

"Cheese!" A bright flash blinded Claire for a moment and clung onto her brother tight who smiled brightly, his dimple showed which was something Claire only ever saw when he was truly happy.

"I'll catch up with you guys in a bit, it'll be a while." She rolled her eyes towards her colleagues and Chris and Jill smiled.

"Don't worry we'll make sure not to wait for you for dinner." Claire's eyes rolled with this comment, a small smile warmed her paled face, holding her diploma tightly in her hands. After what seemed an hour of just photos with different people of every kind, some she didn't even know but they knew her for some odd reason, Claire began to walk back towards her home which wasn't too far off. Her leg healed and only had a scab decorating the area, already patching itself up. She wore heels which after just 15 minutes ached her feet from how rare she ever wore them, her gown unzipped and showed her white sundress that swayed the same way her hips would. Rebecca came into town just days before and the young medic insisted that although she wouldn't be able to go, they had to get her dress before she left back to New York.

"Well would you look at who it is." Claire turned to see a familiar buzz cut sandy haired man who's hazel eyes ascended up and down the young girls body. "Never thought I'd catch you in a dress."

"HUNK?" She said and he gave a snide smile and scratched the stubs of his clean cut beard. He was dressed slightly formal, a black tie with a plain royal blue shirt and black slacks with dress shoes. "Never thought I'd see you out of uniform... again."

"Yeah, well, the occasion called for it." He chuckled and brought out an envelope as well as a box. "And boss said if I don't go in a nice attire he might just have to rip my head off. Just came to deliver some things for him." Claire froze and looked at the items in his hands, taking them carefully as if they were a bomb, looking towards the mercenary in suspicion.

"Although I was curious, I didn't take a peak." He reassured her gave a genuine smile. "Congrats." He walked the opposite direction before Claire could snap back to reality and looked at the items at hand. She shook her head frowning, looking back up to see the mercenary was long gone, blending in with the small crowd. Turning on her heel she walked the clean concrete.

What the hell was that all about? Claire bit her lip, her forehead creased in confusions as she gripped the items.

She noted the city was surprisingly cool today, which struck her odd since the prediction was for the weather to be extremely humid and in the high 80's to which was the complete opposite today. She arrived to the siblings apartment only to find it to be vacant. Chris had insisted on having a party for the young graduate but she refused, only since she knew it'd be a pain in the ass to just plan out, let alone the cost. She was supposed to go to dinner with just Leon originally, until Chris and Jill luckily got the day to escape work and celebrate the milestone in her life with her. She dropped onto the couch, wishing to just take a nap before going to dinner but she knew better as she felt that if she slept now, she might not wake up until the next morning. She sighed out, looking towards the card and black box which seemed to just stare at her back. She grabbed the envelope first, opening the folds and saw a plain red card that had a golden vine design around the folds that read 'congratulations' she opened up the card to see almost too perfect hand writing, the cursive falling perfectly with each letter as if it were typed.

'Congratulations. Seems like you took my advice, for once. It's satisfying to see you advancing in life, and I deeply regret that I couldn't hand deliver this personally to you; as you know, business gets in the way. I look forward to our next encounter, hopefully under good circumstances. With best regards, Albert Wesker.

P.S. Don't worry about your financial situation, it's taken care of.'

"Well isn't this a hallmark moment. " Shes snorted, tracing her fingers over the ink. She heard the door knob rattle, quickly gathering her belongings and went towards her room, putting the card and black box beneath her pillow, coming back to see Jill and Chris walk through the door.

"Ok Claire, tell Jill how you just want pizza and wings." Claire smiled, biting her lip, glancing at her older brother who crossed his arms across his chest, looking at Jill with a eyebrow raised.

"We're taking you to a proper dinner, not Sunday football."

"Yeah Chris, I think Jill's right. Besides Leon made reservations at this fancy restaurant downtown." Chris shook his head unconvinced.

"You told me last week wings and pizza." He complained, frowning at the duo. Claire shrugged, going towards the fridge to get a cold bottled water, looking between the two.

"Sorry Chris."

Turns out Leon treated them to Italian, commenting how Claire deserved her favorite. The young girl returned home with only her brother, who drank a tad bit more wine than he should have. She tucked her older brother in bed, his incoherent mumbles sounded the home for an hour until a loud snore replaced his voice. Claire changed quickly into her usual sleeping attire, laying into her soft pillow, feeling a hard object. Puzzled, she reached into her pillow, feeling the hard object, pulling out the black box, completely forgetting about her gift. She opened the box, revealing a diamond heart necklace with a royal blue sapphire in the middle of the already expensive item. Claire chocked back a gasp and quickly closed the item, knowing she'd never wear such a thing out in public, she'd just be asking to get mugged. She opened the card again, re-reading the mans words and gave a small smile. If she told her other brother about her gifts, he'd probably burn them in front of her with no remorse what's so ever. It felt wrong to hide it from Chris, but knowing him he'd make the worst scene to date if she told him, not to mention tell just about the whole world about it. The young girl quickly put them in a antique box her mother gave her when she was younger before passing, knowing Chris or anyone would never think to look in the little box. She layed in her bed that night, a throbbing in her leg from her wound appeared every once in a while that night, to say the least she got little to no sleep.

Reviews:

Thatonefemalewriter: thanks, sorry for the delay, hope you enjoyed this chapter! I'll try to update quicker this time around!

A/N: sorry for the late and short update guys. School just started and this semester I have no days off from school... Tragic. I'll try and work on it during my break tomorrow and hopefully give you guys another update by Wednesday! Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, and Wesker should be making his appearance soon :3. R&R, favorite and follow guys!