A/N: 18/7/2014. I edited another chapter again. I sincerely hope that this is significantly better than it was. Although, I don't think it would be free from grammatical errors. *Nervous laughter* Oh well readers, enjoy! =)

CHAPTER 6

The icy water seeped through her clothing, hugging tightly at her skin from head to toe. She hadn't counted how long she had been running in the relentless rain taking this 'outdoor shower', but she could tell that it has already been awhile since her escape, judging from the sore in her feet.

After the horrendous ordeal she experienced in her apartment, she was forced to throw herself out of the window. Ada carried Ian in her arms, while she clumsily roamed the streets looking for a shelter while dressed in her bathrobe which was hanging heavily on her body. The chest pain from the fall hadn't subsided either. Physically worn out, she wearily scanned through her surroundings searching for possible places to take refuge as she adjusted the cardboard she put over Ian as a portable umbrella.

'It's no use, the shops won't take us.' She thought, recalling how the bar "cloud 7" refused her entry, 'no wonder it's cloud 7 and not 9'

She wasn't capable of thinking strategic solutions right now, it was more of pushing her physical self and letting her instincts do the job. One moment, she saw an opened-air shelter but figured that it would make herself visible to her enemies. She would run into hostile dogs when she tried to take cover behind, some abandoned alley...'fucking dogs'...she thought to herself.

It doesn't help either when Coral city's culture stinks too. "People not properly dressed are disallowed." No stores, bars or restaurants would agree to take Ada and Ian in since they were both "dressed inappropriately". No one had it in them to take pity on a lost mother and her four year old.

She had no choice but to continue dragging her body to the next street where 'hope' was. The nearest petrol station was about four kilometres away, and that's where she could probably rest and heat herself up. A clinic and some non-air-conditioned shops can also be found situated around the same district.

As of now, she had to endure the zombie-walk for at least another fifty minutes. Along the way, she had met with no pity or compassion. People merely gave her attention to her bizarre outfit and passed her by after their apparent astonishment. There was also this extremely filthy old man who stared at her head to toe with the utmost disgusting smile ever.

"One day I'll make them pay for my humiliation..." Ada cursed under her breath as she simultaneously pictured herself crushing the filthy man's skull, making sure his blood washed the floor of Coral city.

"Dude... I won't be back till like 4 days later..."

"They have a facility down south and err... I was just told that I'll be posted for training."

"Kay. Any details about that?" Leon questioned. Jasper had just called to inform his partner of his latest order from the agency.

"Nahh... It's more of those IT technical stuff. Maps... software... you know, whatever Hunnigan does back in DC."

Leon figured that their government doesn't trust Coral's capabilities of handling the situation and they needed someone to understand the entire operation to avoid getting caught off guard. However it kept him wondering if they were prepared to make him go on a solo mission - again.

"You mean they don't plan to let you do the hands on?'

"I don't know bud... but I heard that there's some new technology we could use on the mission" Jasper replied

"New technology huh?" Somehow he wasn't even the least impressed. Who cares whatever new gizmo they had installed for him, not like it could prevent him any encounters with those creatures he had seen in Paul's documents.

'Sigh... the rain's getting even heavier...' his eyes squinted as he fought to see the blurring road.

Ada held on to Ian tightly, hoping she could at least keep Ian warm with her body temperature. To her, every minute felt like hours and she was beginning to worry that she may drown in the storm forever. Her teeth were chattering and her steady breath began to wobble as she felt her body freezing.

Finally, fatigue had taken its tow on her and she collapsed to the ground. She placed her palms parallel to the ground hoping to gather and absorb the energy from earth. Ada struggled to stay focus as she moved body over Ian acting as a human shelter.

'God, why are you doing this to us?' 'Please... if you can hear me, save us...'

The woman had never felt as helpless before as to actually pray to god so desperately. In fact, she had never believed in god at all. All this years, she had only believed in her own independence. As a spy, she had only depended on herself and had never once sought reliance on anyone.

"In life, you will only deserve what you work for and you have to fight for everything you seek. There's no such thing as miracles". Yet, she wanted so much for a miracle to happen. May it be teleportation, a mere nightmare... or whatever it may be.

"Ern..."

"Ian? You ok baby?" Ada put her hands under the cardboard to feel her son. The boy's obviously freezing too. She bit her lips and fought all the pain that was plaguing her body, in order to stand up. There was no room for waiting, no one was coming to save them and she had to digest that fact.

"Mummy's going to find us somewhere warm darling... hang in there sweetie..." Ada spoke as her voice trembled in the harsh temperature. For her son, Ada continued the walk to salvage the both of them.

There goes another clap of thunder, threatening to swallow both mother and son, not showing the least empathy to the shivering two.

"Rain, rain, go away... come another day..." Ada began singing. She knew her little boy was terrified of the loud crack of thunder, like she was as a child. Her mother would then sing to calm her down. One day she'd learn 'No need to fear the peril, just play along with it... sing along with it.'

"Wish I may, wish I might..." Her voice was weak but it possessed determination. She needed to endure; however, she could feel that her body was at its limit. Her mind was drifting and she was moving like a toy with a wound up key, she could barely see what was up ahead. It was only when the skin beneath her barefoot felt the rough pavement on the ground did she recognised where they were standing at. 'The road' her mind registered slowly, as she continued taking a step forward. She looked up only to see how whitish the scene was in front of her. White strokes of rain water colouring the view... and it seem to get even whiter, or rather brighter. Why was that?

Her mind took its time to process all of this information while she struggled to keep up. 'So bright...' she thought, 'Could it be that god has answered my prayers?' she smiled mockingly at herself, she felt like she had swallowed shots of rum or tequila. 'I see the white light...'

"Holy shit!" Leon screamed before hitting the brakes.

'Crap! Did I just knock someone down?' his hands quickly unfasten the seatbelts and within seconds he threw open the car door.

"Hey! Are you alright?" he said loudly trying to overpower the crashing sound of rain as he got off his car to check if he had hurt someone.

"...kill me already..." Ada spoke in an inaudible cry of defeat. At this point in time, she actually began crying, but she could no longer tell apart the tears from the rain water washing down her face. She inhaled heavily as the knowledge of her survival suddenly pained her; she'd rather die now then suffer any more of this turmoil. Of course it was easy to end her pathetic life... but she could never leave Ian alone. What is going to happen to him if she died? 'Stay calm Ada, stay calm... No matter what happens, you can't let anything happen to your baby.'

"God... I'm sorry ma'am... Are you alright? Can you stand?" His voice, ever so soft and gentle rang into her ears. Her heart felt as though it had been struck by an arrow. She looked up to see his charming face that she had once loved so much but had never wanted to face again.

"You?" She said with a twist of sarcasm in it.

"Ada!" She curled up into a position of defensiveness. The last thing she wanted was for Leon to see her in such gravely ugly state.

Surprise, surprise.

Leon kneeled and shifted forward to reach out to her only to be rejected by a slap is his hands.

"I don't need your help." Leon's heart sank as he observed how wounded they both were. All tired and worn out. Her words were obviously an irony to the situation both she and her son were in, and Leon was not about to give in to her statement.

"Quit being silly Ada, you're going to die like this." Somehow, her pride returned to her in his presence. Though she was still shaking all over, she threw him a smirk and turn to face the other way. She hated him. Hated him for not having faith in her, directly destroying her last ticket out from

"Think about the boy Ada..."

He was right, if she let her pride get ahead of her, she'd be letting down Ian. She took a deep breath closing her eyes like she was preparing to surrender... that's right, she was too tired. How long more before she can finally end the fight? She needed to let go... once in a while. She then exhaled through her parting lips before she felt a pair of strong arms wrapped around her shoulders, supporting her up to her feet.

'Warmth...'

Leon's breath brushed against her damped hair and she could feel his body heat, transferring its energy to her life force. She witnessed how his strong arm easily scooped up Ian as they began moving closer to the car. The steps she took seemed so like a dream. She realised that for the first time, the three had shared a somewhat intimate bonding together and she could have sworn that somewhere in her heart, there was this strange tingling feeling that she had not felt before in her entire life. The next thing she knew, she was already seated in his car beside the driver's seat.

"What happened? Why are you dressed like that?"

"You don't need to know..." she replied. He could tell that she was freezing from her quivering voice, Leon turned to look at her before changing his attention to Ian.

'They are going to get sick at this rate.' He stretched his left arm behind to grab the jacket left at the backseats. It was the one Barbara had given to him before leaving Washington DC and the agent used the jacket to cover Ada and Ian. He then turned the air-con down.

"Okay... you don't have to tell me. Let me guess, you've been attacked."

"Clever guess Kennedy, I wonder if a three-year-old kid's your match." She replied, trying to act as if she was fine and fully capable of bickering.

A tiny smile flashed the corner of his mouth. "Still in touch huh? Ada."

This time Ada kept silent. He turned to face her again, only to be enchanted by the image he saw... her anxiety was beauty. He noticed how weary her eyes were, yet it held undying love and care for her baby... their baby perhaps. 'I'm falling in love all over again... I am hopeless.'

She tried squeezing as much rain water as she could out of Ian's clothing, then she pressed her palms against his head, stroking his hair back and then she kissed him on his forehead.

'We got lucky this time...'

She pulled the jacket a little higher, ensuring that it covered Ian's neck; she then wrapped her arms around the boy, ignoring her skin that was being exposed to the air. He could tell that nothing could stop her from protecting her son and giving him the best that she could, even if it means her life.

Leon drove the car back to his place and he invited them into his apartment. It was not exactly a large place, but it was clean and well furnished.

As soon as they stepped into the apartment provided to Leon by the agency, Ada wasted no time to scan the area. 'A relatively small living room furnished with pink sofa completed with a coffee table on white carpet... a small T.V set. The kitchen is conveniently located on the left from where I'm standing... Two doors behind the living room. No Cameras seen. Doesn't look like this place has anything to hide...'

"Ada." Leon interrupted.

"Wait Here"

She did not respond but merely looked down as he disappeared into one of the doors, leaving her to wait. It was not her place after all and she had nothing on her, except for the bathrobe she was wearing and it was still dripping wet.

"We're save now" She whispered softly to Ian.

Leon emerged again with a couple of towels and some of his own t-shirts in his hands passing them over to Ada.

"The bathroom is inside... you can make yourself at home." She looked him in the eyes and briefly let hers dance in them for a little while, conveying gratitude, before she nodded and took the towels from him. And then the T-shirts.

"I don't have a smaller size. But at least they're dry." Leon stated with a slight smile hoping that she wouldn't mind.

"Thank you. They're good." She muttered. It was nothing to be complaining about really. Being here was a hundred times much better than being out there stuck in the rain. She could obviously make do with this. It's just that the gesture had stirred a tiny storm of emotions within her and she was afraid that she may show it.

She closed the doors behind her, but did not lock them. The memories of her past came flooding back to her.

A cruel history of how her entire family got annihilated in a plane crash, followed by her rescue after staying afloat in the ocean for days.

The people, who saved her then trained her to be a ruthless top fighter, taught her how to snoop up on others and steal from people. She would then become a rogue when she turned 16, before she was recruited by the Organization, where most of her skills were put into use.

Her job gave meaning to her and she would put her life on the line in all missions. It was mostly entertaining... but someday, she'd get tired of it.

Then the meeting of Leon... it changed her.

Knowing him didn't exactly make her happier, but it taught her something else more valuable. Too bad their objectives were always clashing and their little gathering never lasted for long. She cursed that their fates were constantly so intimately entwined yet it bears no happy ending.

'Leon... back then, I wanted to give up everything for us. But you never believed in me did you?' She remembered being thrilled when she first learnt of her pregnancy. It was of great significance to her, a symbol of their bond and their connection. Yet, he had her chased down by his entire squad 'Why? Leon.'

She finally got out from her chain of thoughts when little Ian sneezed. Returning to reality, she quickly got over to Ian and removed the wet clothes off her son and herself.

"Sorry sweetie... mummy's a little tired..." She told her son as she noticed how tired he was too. "We'll be strong okay? Just one warm shower and we can all rest! You can do it sweetie."

Ada did most of the job, showering the both of them with hot water... drying their bodies and putting on the dry clothes.

Ian fell asleep as soon as he got settled in bed with Ada still busy drying his head with the towel.

'Is it my fault? Maybe I should have aborted the mission…' Ada began thinking that maybe things would have been different if she had listened to Leon just that once. If she had just left, then Ian would have never been involved with the Z-virus and they would not be in the predicament they are in now.

All of a sudden, she felt hot tears rolled down her face.

"Ada?" Leon called as he slowly opened the door. "Can I come in?"

She lowered her face and tried to hide it from his view. The darkness made her glad that she would be less visible to him. She did not reply. So he assumed that she has no objections and he allowed himself in.

The child was already soundly asleep. He had wanted to touch him but his uneasy relationship with Ada deterred him to do so. It was good enough to watch him up-close for now.

He then shifted his attention to Ada, intending to complete his purpose of coming inside in the first place. Remaining silent, he made his way to the plug built-in beside the bed. He plugged in the appliance and turn on the switch. Still, no words were spoken as he stood by the bed and directed her to turn back facing him with his hands. He was this close with her now. Her eyes fell on the shadow he casted on the sheets; the familiar cologne filled her nose, calming her down like aromatic therapy. It was just like before... five years ago, her hair was still dripping wet and patches of water were forming on her back of her shirt, but she was just too tired to be bothered. So he would help her... she felt a warm tingling sensation run down her spine as Leon slid his fingers behind her hair and lifted them up a bit. She heard the hairdryer when he turned it on and started blowing dry her hair as she allowed herself to slowly drift off to sleep...

Sweet dreams Ada Wong…

She slowly moved her arms and gradually reached her face to brush off strands of hair tickling her nose as she began regaining consciousness. There were birds chirping and she could hear sounds of passing vehicles outside. Her eyelids cracked open as she rolled over the soft sheets under her skin to face the ceiling. Soreness plagued a huge area of her body when she attempted to sit up. 'Where am I?' Ada took a second or two before she remembered what had happened the day before. Looking around her surroundings with unease, she realised that her son was nowhere in sight.

"Ian." She uttered the first word of the morning "Ian?"

She quickly got off the bed and exited the room since her son was clearly not in the room. The ordeal from the previous day had left some of its weight in her thoughts. It was like a surreal nightmare and one can never know what absurdity could happen next. Losing Ian was one of them.

Outside she heard him; Leon's voice. Her heart started to pace back to its normal rhythm as she realized that things may not be so bad after all. Ada followed the noise which led her to presumably Leon's kitchen. She let her presence remain unannounced, not wanting to disrupt any activity going on in the kitchen as she merely look on in bewilderment.

"You naughty little rascal, now I got flour on my nose! You're not getting away with this…"

He's having fun. Unbelievable. Ian, you hardly ever interacted with the world around you…

"Ada! You're awake." He greeted her with a welcoming smile when he spotted her.

She paused for a while wanting to return the smile but she didn't feel right about it.

"Are you hungry? Ian and I… prepared pancakes for breakfast." He wasn't sure how comfortable she was about being around with him, but he offered anyway.

Ada set her gaze upon the table and saw the spread. She didn't know what to think, the scene felt so impossible that it confused her.

'I've envisioned this many times in my dreams… but it's just so different now. I could do this once though. Then maybe I have something good to remember.' She thought to herself.

A simple morning like this with Leon and Ian everyday would be the perfect blissful life, but she hate to know that they were only here because of consequences from the betrayal. It wasn't because they were happily married. 'I'd be lying to myself to consider this a beautiful memory. I hate you Leon.' Finally Ada decided that she was not hungry and she was going to decline the offer. Leon tilted his head trying to read the facial signs while he waited for her response.

"I…"

"Come on Ada… you gotta try the pancakes Ian and I made together." He didn't let her finish her sentence, deciding that he didn't want to receive a rejection. He walked up straight to her and grabbed her shoulders, pushing and guiding her to the table where the pancakes were. Fazed, she let him did as he pleased. It was that easy to wash away that so-called conviction of hers.

Leon put her in the chair and forked a couple of pancakes onto the plate in front of her before spreading butter and maple syrup over it.

"Go on, try it!"

Her amber eyes settled on the food, and then to Ian; to Leon; and then back again on the pancakes. It was like throwing herself into the Oasis after wondering helplessly in the desert for so long. Everything seemed so fine and you thought that by doing so, you'd get refreshed instantly… but never did you expect to be fooled by a mere illusion. But she was born brave. Ada never chickened out from anything that was dangerous… but this time, she had fear. The fear to dream again. Afraid that she may lose her will to fight once she tasted bliss.

"Ada…" Leon called gently.

And he had to call her name. His voice melted her instantly and prompted her to take the plunge. She leant forward and bit off the pancakes from the fork Leon held. He smiled.

It tasted sweet… really sweet. This strange feeling that started to gather in her chest… she couldn't comprehend it, wasn't even sure if she liked it. It was probably one of the most magical pancakes she has ever eaten in her entire life. They seem to be causing her body to feel emotionally warm. Ada's thoughts were away rewinding about the many things she had encountered as she slowly chew on breakfast.

"Mummy?"

Ada blinked and sprung back to reality that seemed so surreal as well.

"What did you say? Did you just called me mummy?" This time she couldn't hold back any longer. Tears that had stored up beneath her eyes started rolling down. 'I'm crying.'

She laid the fork down and lifted her hands shakily, putting them over her mouth reacting in disbelief.

"Ada… What's wrong?" Leon said in concern.

She shook her head and responded to him.

"It's nothing… It's just that… Ian has never called me 'mummy' before… He's four, but he has never spoken a word since birth. Never. It was only recently he…he actually said "Duckie" the plush toy." She paused, wiping away the tears and sniffs.

"I'm so happy Leon. He's talking. I think he's starting to talk!" an exhilarated Ada exclaimed.

Leon didn't know how to think. For one thing, he didn't realize that Ian suffered from autism. Even though he knew that Ian didn't utter a word to him, he merely thought that Ian was a quiet child and was probably too shy to interact with him. Then he had a thought and unknowingly smirk to himself 'That's a clever boy Ian! Scoring points for daddy~'convinced that they had an undeniable connection to each other.

"Well, it looks like Ian's going to be saying more things soon. You said that he said his first word only recently right? He's probably going to say more words soon Ada. Don't worry." He reassured her.

She nodded in agreement.

"It's going to be fine Ada, as long as we're together, it'll all work out fine." The agent then scooped the boy up and began conversing with him.

"Ian~ Mummy's sad and tired, won't you make her happy? Let's teach you how to say "Daddy" ok?" deciding that this was one of the best opportunities to provoke Ada into affirming his belief.

Disgusted by what he said, she quickly disrupted the little interaction by standing up and taking Ian away from Leon's arms.

"Thank you for taking us in for the night, we'll be on our way now." She turned and hurried to the front door.

"Ada!" He rushed up to her and caught her by the arm. "Did I say something you didn't like? I'm sorry… I'll take it back alright. Just don't go like that."

"My guns and stuff are still there. At my place. I've got to go get them."

"You can't just go back there now! Those guys who were after you could be right there waiting!"

"Leon. My IDs and certain important documents are still there! I need to retrieve them! You have no idea how much time and trouble all of these had cost! Without them, it'd be impossible to get around and stay hidden from my enemies."

She had no idea how she got so tensed up nor did she understand why she raised her voice. It was all so ugly. Her emotions were unstable and it made her look crazy. She closed her eyes trying to calm herself down as she panted heavily.

The next thing she knew, she found comfort in his arms again… just like the day before.

"Relax Ada… I was worried. If you really have to go… I'll go with you. Don't argue with me on this ok? Now before we leave, will you finish breakfast with us?"

She let herself indulge in the embrace for a moment before letting out long breath and essentially calmed down.

"Ok."

Somehow, she felt that Leon's body was like magic too… It calmed her down and made her feel like everything will be fine.

A/N: Thank you so much for dropping by! =)

Ada X Leon for life!