Ada 10:15 a.m.

I breathed in the brisk Pacific air and leaned against a bench on the pier. It was October, warmth just clinging on in California.

I walked down the pier and back to the fair that was going on, trying to relax. My leg still hurt from the glass injuries at WilPharma. But it was healing, so I couldn't complain too much.

I bought funnel cake, cheese fries, and an orange soda. I sat down inside the small restaurant I'd bought my food in and relaxed. I could finally do this, after so long of running around and working for Wesker, it seemed like it was finally done.

Thank the freaking man upstairs. It was about time…

I sighed and rubbed my calf, fingering the scar. What am I going to do now? I've spent so long working for Wesker…I don't think I know much else. I couldn't even go to Leon anymore. I knew Katherine was there, and I knew Chris Redfield (his boyfriend) was with him. He didn't need me, an added burden.

Nobody needed me.

Nobody wanted me.

I got up and threw away my trash. Instead of going back to my hotel, I stayed on the boardwalk, wondering what I should do—what I could do. I kept thinking something was going to jump out of an alleyway and throttle me, or throw me into a suddenly appearing lava pit, or rip off my head, or bit me and infect me, or kill Leon in front of me, or…

I really had to stop this.

I ran my hands through my short hair, frustrated above all.

Freedom wasn't as good as what I'd always envisioned. It was lonely. It was pointless. I almost wanted to go and beg Wesker to give me something to do, but I was sure he'd throw me out of the house in a split second.

I was walking, looking at all the happy people, enjoying the last bit of vacation-esque time before school really got into swing.

I watched as a young couple walked with their toddler in between them. I found small comfort in the fact that they must've had a lot of sleepless nights. I mean, anybody with a child must've not slept at some point in time.

Family…was pointless.

I shook my head. But it suited Steve and Wesker so much! Even Kollin had gotten used to Manuela, Sherry, and Katherine…

Somebody bumped in me, causing me to stumble forward. Somebody else caught me, and I looked up.

"Hello, you alright?" he asked me. Latin American; light green eyes; hair kind reminiscent of Steve mixed with Luis. Not to mention an undeniable accent.

"I…yeah, fine. Just lost my balance, that's all." I told him.

He smiled at me. Even though he was most likely a few years younger than me, he seemed to think he had a chance with me…Interesting… He reminded me of Luis Sera…

"Can I offer you dinner?" he asked me. "I own a place right off the boardwalk. Best fish in Trixie," he offered.

I was not good at any sort of dating. I was good at missions that involved faking feelings for another person, but not legitimate dating that involved dinner dates and sappy movies and why was I thinking of this when he was only offering dinner?

"Sure," it couldn't hurt, right?

"I'm Carlos, by the way," he told me as we walked together, off the boardwalk.

"I'm Nikita," I told him. No more lies (for the most part), I decided. No more lying to anyone about who I was—no more fake IDs. I've given up on Ada Wong…I have to.

Carlos took me to his little restaurant. He let me choose anything on the menu and it would be on house. I found myself drinking sparkling wine and eating Maryland styled crab cakes.

"So, where are you from, Niki?" He asked me.

"Quick to give me a pet name, aren't you?" I smiled at him, trying to spare myself some time. "Massachusetts."

"You're a far way away from home, right?" He asked me.

I shrugged. "I lost my jobs and I have no friends. You can't ever be too far away from that." I explained to him.

"That's awful! So you came to California for a new start?" He asked me, leaning forward with his elbows on the table.

"I guess so," I responded.

"We have an opening for a bartending position. I know it's not the best job in the world, but it's better than nothing." He told me.

"You'd really hire me? But you don't know me…" I felt more than shock…

"So? How do you get to know someone? And meanwhile, there's a room above the restaurant." He told me. "It could just be til you get back on my feet—I'm sure you will—or it could actually turn into something." He offered.

"Thank you," I said softly, knowing I had a pink tinge to my cheeks. I felt embarrassed, but he'd been the one to offer…

So, for the rest of the day, he showed me around the bar, told me about the regulars, and helped me get my things from the hotel to the apartment above the restaurant.

I had my first shift that night, and I watched as the sleepy restaurant finally woke up—new couples, old couples, families celebrating a good math grade, families celebrating a third birthday, people drinking by themselves—and it felt like a mash pit of everyone from Trixie, California.

"A Bloody Mary, please," I looked up at the gruff voice, and I felt my heart nearly stop as I looked up at the man.

Jack Krauser was standing in front of me.

In one piece.

And very, very alive.

"And a Cosmopolitan for my friend," he added. He didn't recognize me? I guess I should be thankful.

I got to work with the drinks, and turned around and set them on the bar in front of Krauser. I was then delivered another shock as I saw Luis Sera next to him.

"And so, she thought she could just do it that way!" Luis finished whatever story he'd been telling. It'd been good enough to get Krauser smiling…

How where they alive? And since when were they friends?

Luis looked up at me and smiled. "Thank you," he told me. It had to be him. He had the same blue eyes and rather cute Spanish accent.

I wanted to do a face plant.

Neither recognized me throughout the rest of my shift. Carlos came over and greeted both by name; Luis and Jack. They were regulars. All three of them were friends. And I just wanted to hide off and die in a corner.

The past would not let me go.

Claire 7:38 p.m.

I laid out on my couch bed in my living room. I could hear my boyfriend in the kitchen, doing whatever it was he'd decided to do tonight.

He came in and kissed me softly, tasting undeniably good. I groaned into his mouth, and then he broke away and nuzzled my neck.

I giggled as his beard tickled my neck. I smiled at him as he pulled away slightly to kiss me again.

"Do you want to watch a movie?" He asked me, lying next to me. He put his arm around, letting me get even closer and I was able to put my head on his chest.

"What do you have in mind?" I asked him.

He was silent for a moment. I wasn't sure if he had heard me, so I lifted my head and was about to ask him again when he spoke.

"Sorry, I was trying to find something that didn't have zombies, anything that would annoy and/or bore you, or women with overtly large cleavage. How about Monsters, Inc?" he asked me.

I smiled. "Sure, that sounds great. Do you want me to get the concessions?" I asked him.

He gave me a quick peck on my forehead. "Yeah, I'll get the movie set up."

We got off of the bed and I went to the kitchen. I put in the popcorn and searched around for the candy that we liked. After I found the Twizzlers and Reese's Pieces, I went back into the living room.

Aaron came over and was quick to get the popcorn bowl from me before I dropped it. He set it down on a tray on my couch bed, and then went back into the kitchen. He came out with a Sprite and a Coca-Cola.

"Now, wouldn't it have been bad if we'd forgotten the drinks?" He asked me, putting them on the tray before sitting down next to me.

I was quick to curl up next to him as the movie started. I listened to his heartbeat; the comforting rhythm soothed me and reminded me that Jill had actually trusted me enough to leave me alone in our house.

So I was going to try as hard as I could not to have sex with him.

A Twizzler dangled right in front of my nose. I unconsciously reached out with my mouth and tugged on it, taking a piece of it.

I cuddled against Aaron as the movie continued. He didn't push me to do anything. Maybe he hadn't thought that far ahead? I mean, we'd only really just started dating, if you could call it that…

The movie ended and for some reason, Aaron didn't move. My heart stopped for a moment, and I looked up at him. He smiled at me and just gently kissed me again. One hand went into my hair, and his other hand found its way to one of my thighs.

I found myself in his lap, our kiss deepening and not seeming to end. When it finally did, I felt embarrassed. Or angry with myself. I couldn't really tell.

"Are you alright?" He asked me, tucking hair behind my ear. "I didn't hurt you, did I?"

"No. I mean, I'm fine. You didn't hurt me. Really, it's just…It's stupid." I told him.

"You can tell me anything. That's why we're together, remember? We get to have a completely open, no lying relationship." He explained to me.

I took a deep breath before speaking. "I just think that Jill is trusting me, by leaving me at home, and I think having sex would…" I paused to find the right words. "Kind of ruin the trust?"

He smiled and kissed my forehead again. "Alright, we won't do that tonight, if that makes you feel better." He told me.

We cleaned up and Aaron kissed me goodnight. I watched from the window as he drove away, wondering if we'd ever have a normal relationship where he could spend the night. I thought about that for a moment.

That would hopefully be soon.

Author's Note: It feels like it's been forever since I've done a chapter for this, but it's only been a couple of days… I hope you like the new OC, and find a bit of humor in Claire's movie night (by the way, I do not, in anyway, own Twizzlers, Reese's Pieces, or Monsters, inc) and also in Ada's new job (should I keep her fake ID?) So, I think I could get another chapter out of this idea, but I still need help, so if anyone has ideas, PM please. Oh, and also review!

~HolleringHawk65