They just stood in front of each other, completely fixated on one another's eyes. Jill was set on keeping her eyes dry, though the thought this could be the last time they ever saw each other was eating away at her composure, as it was his too. Anything was possible. Jill could be assassinated while she stayed in Raccoon City, and Barry and Chris had a million other dangers facing them in Paris. She let out a ragged sigh as they announced his plane boarding. He tucked the airplane ticket in his back pocket, and took her hand in his, still locked in a stare.
The emotion between the two was felt in the entire airport, so many unspoken words and quiet affections. There was so much between the two that they had simply grown accustomed to the tension between them. Everything in Jill told her this was wrong. She should be with him, she should be going...but Chris insisted that she stay to monitor Umbrella's activites and in the meantime Chris and Barry would lay the groundwork for going after Umbrella's secrets. When they felt they had a grip on things, they would send for her.
She still didn't think that justified them leaving her. She had spent so much time with Chris since the Mansion incident, rarely leaving each others' sides even in sleep. They had even started dating...which Jill had grown to love. She flinched inwardly at the word. Love...could it be?
Although the two were staring in each other's eyes, Chris couldn't read her expression this time. He tried desperately, taking her hand to get something, anything at all from her...but instead she only squeezed his hand. He was confident he would see Jill again, but on the same token should something happen--he couldn't bear the thought. She had become exactly what he had only dreamt she would be: his girlfriend. He wanted to just take her and run as far away as he could with her, forsaking the rest of the world. As long as he had her, he felt as if he could do anything. He was fighting a tidal wave of sadness, as he knew there would be no correspondence between them until he sent for her, and no one knew how long that would take. He wanted to tell her the depth of his feelings...he wanted to tell her that it was so much more than 'dating' to him...that he loved--he stopped. Love?
Their eyes were still deadlocked, hands were still clasped together tightly...but words had yet to come to them.
Jill blinked, and listened to the woman call out the boarding announcement for his fight. She just couldn't bring herself to say goodbye, even when she would see him again. She didn't want him to be away from her; she wanted him there to make her laugh when she doesn't want to, she wanted him to wrap his arms around her and pull her close, she wanted to feel like nothing would seperate them. Most of all, she wanted to see him smile.
"Well...That's my flight." Chris said flatly.
She could see the feelings she felt reflect in his eyes. How could she be so stupid? She would see him again. After all, he's Chris Redfield...working with Barry Burton! They would be fine.
Determined azure eyes softened to eyes of a woman in love--a woman who was already missing her better half. Chris watched before his very eyes as Jill transformed from the girl he had a thing for to the woman he could see himself with forever. The concern in Jill's eyes was overflowing into perfect little droplets at the corners of her eyes. Her soft bottom lip began to quiver as her determination refused to lose to tears.
Holding her hands, and still yet maintaining their gaze, he leaned closer to her. He put his arms around her waist and her shaky hands slid up his arms and around his neck. The tight embrace faltered a bit as Chris moved his head to face her, literally eye to eye. He gently and protectively kissed her eyelid, and a tear escaped from her eye.
"We WILL see each other again, I'm certain of that." Chris said to her, reassuringly.
"And when we do finally meet up, we'll never part again."
She nodded, looking into his eyes.
He nuzzled his nose against hers, and like magnets their lips met.
Their first kiss was bittersweet, and unexpected. Jill had never imagined kissing him in a situation like this. She had always imagined it completely differently.
It seemed to last forever, and they held each other as tightly as they could. His lips felt softer than she had imagined. Chris always surprised her, and for the better.
After what seemed like an hour, their kiss ended. The two of them took a deep breath, and released it.
"That was a hell of a parting gift." Chris said, flashing his ever electric smile at her.
He reached up and wiped away the tear on her cheek. She smiled, seeming relieved.
"I'll be seeing you, Jill. I always will."
Jill's eyes welled up as she smiled and broke her silence. "Don't you forget about me, Chris Redfield."
He scoffed. "Of all the things I can do, I could never do that."
He pulled the ticket out of his pocket, and picked up his suitcase. He gave her one last squeeze and reassuring smile.
"See you, Valentine."
She wiped a tear from her face and smiled.
"Ciao, Redfield."
(Sniffles) Okay, It's been decided. One more chapter, and then I will begin my next story. I'll give you the details when the last chapter is submitted. Until then, friends! Keep reading and reviewing!