Graduation Day

Author's Note: Ah, well, it's been a while since I've updated this one. Let's see where this is going eh? Here's chapter 7.

Chapter 7- Sorting Things Out

By the time Leon and Ashley had returned from their afternoon outing, Chris had arrived at Claire's place and was changing the flat on her car. Getting out of the car Ashley made her way over to get a closer look at what he was doing. Leon smirked as he put a hand on her shoulder.

"Hey Chris, let Ashley put that on for you?" Leon's teasing caused her to turn around with a indulgent look on her face. She scoffed at his remark.

"Leon!" At that Chris chuckled from his spot on the ground.

"Hey Ashley, can you see if Jill needs anything in there. She was complaining about being hungry earlier." Ashley acknowledged his request and proceeded inside. Leon however sat down on the ground next to Chris.

"Chris, can I ask you something?" He asked as he looked at the sky, admiring the slight cloud cover that protected them from the blinding sun. Chris put down the wrench he was using to look at his friend. Picking up on the faraway distress in his voice Chris threw him a questioning stare.

"Yeah man, what's on your mind? Or better yet who's on your mind?" Leon had to laugh at that. Anything that related to his sister required intense interrogation on Chris' part whether she was aware of it or not. Taking a breath Leon proceeded to tell Chris what was bothering him.

"Okay, first of all Chris, yes this has to deal with your sister. What I wanted to ask you was about her boyfriend." Chris rose an eyebrow.

"You mean that Sean guy?" Leon nodded. Chris scratched his head and shrugged in return.

"Eh, I really don't too much about him either. I mean, he and Claire graduated together and the next thing I know Claire's talking about how she's met this wonderful guy. I didn't think too much about it. At the time, me and Jill had just gotten married. Anyway, why'd you ask? You don't trust him or something?" Chris asked with his interest in the conversation growing. Leon clasped his hands together causing Chris to raise his eyebrow yet again. Leon decided to stop beating around the bush and just spill it.

"Chris, I think I'm falling for your sister." At this Chris squinted his eyes in confusion. Leon expected this reaction and just waited for Chris' reply.

"Huh?" was all he could muster. Leon groaned.

"You heard me. I never even thought about pursing Claire romantically until a few weeks ago. After hearing from her again, I realized how much I missed her." As Leon started to daydream Chris put a rough hand on his shoulder.

"You should talk to Sherry about Claire. Cause I'm not trying to be rude or anything but the thought of discussing my sister's love life and stuff sickens me somewhat." Leon nodded his head laughing.

"Yeah, Chris I get it. Speaking of Sherry shouldn't she be outta school by now?" Chris nodded as he pointed to a car coming around the corner. Coming to a halt infront of Claire's house, Sherry Birkin proceeded to get out of her car book bag in tow. Chris smirked.

"Well, speak of the devil."

Getting up Leon dusted himself off to receive the oncoming hug that was about to greet him in full force. He made an ummmph sound as Sherry practically jumped at him and latched on to him.

"Leon!" Leon only smiled as he returned the hug.

"This is a hell of a greeting Sherry considering I just saw you last night." Slowly releasing him she gave him a look. Leon just ruffled her hair as he took a chance to admire her. She had matured so fast Leon couldn't believe it had only been about 3 years since he saw her last.

"Yeah, I love you too Leon. Oh yeah, how would you like to make yourself useful tonight?" Leon faked a taken back expression.

"Who me? Why I don't know Miss Bourbon.? I feel awfully tired." Sherry narrowed her eyes at him and attempted to step on his foot but Leon easily dodged. This cause Sherry to get even more pissed off and Leon to laugh harder.

"Sherry Bourbon? How dare you refer to me as a brand of liquor!" Leon only laughed harder before playfully pushing her into the house.

"Oh come on you know I was just teasing. Anyway what do you want me to do?" Sherry still gave him a pissed off look but a mischievous smirk was making its way across her face.

"You're going to help me cook dinner. For everybody. Claire's working late tonight so I'm going to surprise her with her favorite. Do you know what that is?" Leon could only grin in response.

"Chicken Parmesan with a hint of lemon." The two said simultaneously making both of them break into a fit.

"Well in that case you two are going to have to make a trip to the store because Claire never shops. She only has the bare essentials." Chris called from by the car. Leon looked at Sherry incredulously.

"She still doesn't shop! I'm guessing you guys are over here a lot more often now since I left." Leon wondered out loud. Sherry grinned from ear to ear.

"You have no idea. My aunt used to even make me come and check up on her. Now Sean shops for her. Ooops." Clasping her mouth Sherry gave him a look of embarrassment. Leon just shook his head.

"Don't worry Sherry I already met him. Anyway, let's go get that stuff first. Let me go tell Ashley."

Walking back inside Leon found Ashley sitting next to Jill and the two looked like they were having a very intimate conversation. On what Leon couldn't tell you. Sherry sat her books and stuff on the kitchen bar as she greeted the two.

"Hey Ashley, Jill." The other two women replied likewise. Leon glanced at his watch before getting their attention.

"Ashley, me and Sherry are going to store to get some stuff. You want anything?" Ashley took a second to think.

"No, but Jill said she wants some fruit. Lots and lots of fruit." Ashley told him as she was a doctor giving a prescription. Leon looked to Jill as if to seek agreement. Jill only nodded before responding with a smile.

"Please?"

Moments later Leon was sitting in the passenger's seat of Sherry's car discreetly holding on to dear life on the door handle. A mix of pure horror and an attempt to plaster on a grin was displayed on his face. Sherry realized that the car in front of her was coming closer very quickly so stepping down on the gas she accelerated before switching the lane just a few feet from the rear of the car. At this, Leon gasped as he clutched on tighter to the handle. All the while thinking how his death would come not in some Godforsaken village or bioharzardous war zone but inside Toyota Corolla. Now in the fast lane the smile on her face grew wide. Tossing a glance to Leon, she smirked at the expression on his face.

"Who taught you how to drive?" Leon asked in a voice unlike his own. It sounded as if the wind had been knocked out of him. Sherry pressed on the accelerator a little harder before responding.

"Claire." Was her sole reply although it came out as more of a laugh. Leon groaned as he let his head fall back onto the headrest.

'I should have known.' He thought to himself.

Sherry noticed the way Leon reacted to the sound of Claire's name and look at him worrying why that would bother him. She knew that whatever it was about Claire bothering him, it had to do with Sean.

"Are you okay over there? You're not acting like your overprotecting annoying self. What's wrong?" Leon turned to look at her and gave her a weak attempt at a reassuring grin.

"Nothing, I'll tell you later. Just ease up on the gas a little for me will ya?"

After somehow arriving at the grocery store in one piece Leon and Sherry quickly gather their items but not with out some jokes, teasing, and threats from Sherry along the way.

Arriving back at the house, Leon noticed Chris and Jill were still there. Apparently Claire must have been lonely after he and Sherry left cause this seemed like an everyday thing now. Well, until what's his name showed up. Sherry popped open the trunk and proceeded to take the bags inside. Leon told her to go on ahead and that he would bring in the rest. Pulling out his cell phone, he opened up the phonebook and scrolled down until he reached the number he wanted. Seconds later he was greeted to the sound of a female voice on the other line.

"Hello, this is Ingrid Hunnigan. How may I be of service to you today?" Leon grinned. Even on her home phone Hunnigan still sought to perform everything in a professional manner.

"Hunnigan it's Leon." He chuckled causing her to scoff.

"Why oh why did I give you my number?" She asked herself outloud perfectly aware that he could hear her.

"We all know how irresistible I am but seriously I need to ask you something. You seem to be very reliable when it comes to advice." This cause Hunnigan to smile on the other line.

"Ok, shoot."

With a picture of Claire and Sean earlier that day forming in his head Leon let his thoughts be known.

"I think I'm falling for my best friend. What's the best way to handle the situation?" After a second's pause Hunnigan relayed her answer.

"Pursue the subject. Is that all?" She asked feeling somewhat disappointed it was that simple.

"No, there's an obstacle. She's in a relationship. And I don't want to neutralize it. Therefore, I have two choices to make and both have consequences I'd rather not think about."

"Like what?" Hunnigan asked truly intrigued by the situation being conveyed to her by her colleague/friend.

"I've told her that I have feelings for her and she says it won't change anything but I already feel different around her. It's like I want to be with her and I don't know why. I mean God it's been close to 3 years since I've last seen her. Why do I feel this way?"

"Well Leon. Don't you think it's possible that you may have had feelings for her before you left. Remember in training, you all were taught to leave all feelings and wants behind in order to complete you missions. Perhaps this feelings you have are simply resurfacing since being reunited with her." Leon pondered this for a minute.

"Okay, that sounds plausible. My other choice of action is to let her be because I don't know if I can go back to just friend status. She has already admitted she felt something for me too." At this Hunnigan jumped up from her sofa.

"What? Well, that changes everything. Leon, all you have to do is make her realize why she feels the way she does for you. I hate to tell you this but the choice is ultimately Claire's." Leon sighed.

"Yeah, it is…….hey wait, how'd you know it was Claire?" Hunnigan smirked as she reached for her glass of tea.

"Let's just say I did a personal background check on you after hours one night. Just for future reference. But in all seriousness, was I of any help to you?"

"Yeah, you were very helpful. I'll be sure to treat you to that dinner when we get back. Oh speaking of which tell President Graham that Ashley's doing great and she's really enjoying herself. I promise to bring her back safe and sound."

"Alright. Let me know if you need anything?"

"Yeah, talk to you later. Bye." Leon told her as he waited for her reply before ending the call. Feeling loads better than when he had gotten into the car he got out of the car with a cocky grin plastered on his face. Getting the remaining bags he went into the house.

While Chris was watching t.v with Jill sleeping peacefully on his shoulder, the wacky trio consisting of Leon, Sherry, and Ashley were putting the finishing touches on the evening's meal. Ashley was being instructed by Sherry on how to brew the perfect batch of iced tea while Leon laced his marinara sauce with spices. He was also trying to catch the essence of a true chef by placing a chef's hat on his head.

"Ashley, you want to try some of my famous marinara sauce? It'll knock your socks off." He asked with a chuckled. Sherry made a noise of indifference.

"Don't eat any Ashley. Leon's marinara sauce tastes more like toothpaste." Ashley laughed at that. She could see why Leon was so knowledgeable about restaurants to eat at. He must eat out a lot. Unknown to them Sean had just dropped Sean off and she was just opening up the door. Leon heard the sound of the front door closing and the sound of feet quietly approaching. Sherry went to go greet her in the living room. Seconds later Claire made her way into the kitchen.

"Hey you two." Claire greeted as she sat her nursing bag down on the counter and proceeded to fix herself a glass of juice.

"Hi Claire." Ashley greeted as she started to walk out the kitchen. Sherry was about to walk back in but Ashley subtly pushed her back out towards the living room. Leon could see Sherry giving a look of realization as she turned and followed Ashley. Well, it seemed as if everyone knew he had it bad for Claire. Claire looked around before turning to Leon and smiling.

"You made Chicken Parmesan?" She asked obviously excited about the welcome dinner she was receiving. Leon smiled back at her.

"Yep, with a hint of lemon just how you like it. Sherry and I figured you'd be tired so we decided to do something for you." At this Claire grinned even harder before wrapping her arms around him.

"Aww, that's so sweet of you. I'm exhausted." She told him as she took a seat at the bar. Leon leaned over the counter to continue the conversation.

"So, you got any plans tomorrow? I was thinking that me you and Ashley could do something if you weren't working?" Claire shook her head.

"No, not really. Sean and I were going to look around for some stuff for Sherry's Graduation party. He wanted to take me to the bay. I'm not sure it depends. Why? Were you and Ashley bored today?" She queried as she rested her cheek on her hand. It was as if she was anticipating something. Leon shook his head.

"No, I guess I just wanted to spend some time with you before this trip is up. I mean I have been gone for almost three years." Claire nodded silently.

"Don't worry about that. We're gonna spend some time together. Right now let's just eat. I'm hungry." Leaning back Leon yelled into the living for the others to come and eat. He turned back to see Claire looking at him with a look that could only be described as pure amusement.

"Why do you have that ridiculous chef's hat on?" Leon patted his hat self-consciously.

"Hey it's a nice hat."

"Yeeeaaaah." Was Claire's slow reply. She broke into a huge smile over her and Leon's innocent banter. After coming home from a long day's work she had to admit that this was the best that she had felt in a long long time.

Leon too was enjoying to innocent banter between the two. He was finally ready to admit to himself that he was interested in Claire. As more than friends. But right now, only being friends mattered.

Sherry and Ashley watched from around the corner at Claire and Leon's obvious flirting. A grin spread across both of their faces. Sherry grinned somewhat harder. She had been wanted to see the two get together since she was 12 years old. Although the chances of them actually getting together was slim to none, nonetheless the thought of it made her excited. It would definitely be one hell of a graduation present.

Author's Note: Okay, I know. That chapter was all over the place. I just hope you got the gist of it. I want to make it clear that this story was not intended to be solely a romance it just ended up that way. The little quality time scenes that Sherry and Leon will make more sense as the story progresses especially when it gets closer to the actual graduation. Anyway, my only request to you all is that you please review to let me know how I'm doing. Perhaps give me some ideas. The response from previous chapters has given me a boost of inspiration and I don't know how long it will last. And now, for those last few words. Until next time…… Hell Yeah!