As Clear As Day

Claire was stressing out. The catering company were getting in touch to finalize how many people were attending her wedding, if that was even going ahead, so they could prepare all the food. Claire said she would call them back. Then the venue got in touch to make sure that she knew all the times, and told her to get everything ready, including her vows.

Her vows...her vows!

Claire hadn't even thought to write any, since her relationship was threatening to burn out, she hadn't written anything down.

But she knew, deep down that the embers of her relationship were still there, they just needed to be rekindled, and grow into the burning desire she had for Wesker, and he had for her.

Then the phone rang about her dress, the final fitting was today. The wedding was supposed to be happening in a week. So if any alterations needed to be made, now was the time.

What made matter worse was, Claire's period had started, and it was a bad one. She had thrown up, passed out, blacked out and had to change clothes due to perspiring so much. All in the space of three hours too.

Today was not going to be a good day.

Not at all.

Until Wesker called, when Claire finally felt well enough, after painkillers and a hot water bottle on her abdomen, and was in her car. She pulled over and answered the call. Hearing his voice again threatened to make her cry, but she grit her teeth through it.

"Wesker, hey. I was just on my way to the dress fitting".

Wesker knew all the dates and times of the preparations, leading up to the wedding, so he already knew where Claire would be going.

"Are you okay Claire? You sound, unwell".

Claire found herself smiling. Wesker mentioned her health, instead of making a smart comment about going to a dress fitting, when there may not even be a wedding taking place. He had picked up on her slightly raspy voice. After vomiting, Claire's throat would hurt, and it affected her voice.

"Threw up a few times earlier. Took some tablets though, and now I feel much better. I am okay, Wesker. Trust me".

Wesker made a sound that made Claire panic. It sounded like a sob, and that was something that Wesker would never do. Even if he stubbed his toe, then banged his elbow, then whacked his head against something. Emotions were alien to him, and yet now, he sounded like he was about to burst into tears.

He coughed and grunted before answering.

"I still worry about you Claire, you know I will. Please take care of yourself. I can't help you if you end up ill now, and that thought is killing me".

Claire choked and grabbed a tissue from the box on the dashboard and wiped her eyes with it.

"Wesker, oh sweetheart. Okay, tell you what. After the dress fitting, I will come and see you. Is that okay?"

Although she could not see him, Wesker nodded eagerly.

"Of course it is".

Claire smiled and he could hear that she was happy in her voice.

"Okay, I'll see you in, hmm, about an hour or so? The dress doesn't need changing, I haven't gained any weight, so I should be in and out fairly quickly. See you soon".

Wesker mumbled goodbye, which worried Claire even more, before curling up on the couch.

Claire checked herself in the bathroom of the dress shop, to make sure she wouldn't leak on the dress. How disgusting, her mind thought. But to make sure she didn't, she wore tights and short pants over the top of those.

When she had collected herself, she walked out of the bathroom, and saw the long, grey dress bag that had her wedding dress in. She had asked for some of the beading on the breast fabric to be taken off, and only a thin line of beads were now there.

When the bag was opened, Claire felt ecstatic, elated and overjoyed. It was perfect, perfection in dress form. She was eager to put it on, and so slipped into the dressing room and got undressed. She slipped into the bottom half of the dress and loved how it looked. It flared out slightly, so it gave her a little more curve in the hip. The dress did not touch the ground, Claire had asked that it didn't. The top was slipped on next when Claire realised something.

Due to the corset back, she could not wear a bra.

She blushed wildly and undid her bra so the dress could be laced up. The top of the dress was simple, with a thin line of beading that was elegantly stitched into the fabric covering her breasts. The dress covered them, and was snugly under her collarbone. The sleeves were three quarter length, and made from lace that looked extremely delicate. But they were dainty, feminine, and Claire had liked how they looked when she saw them.

Stepping out from the fitting room gave Claire a sense of anticipation. And a sense of longing. Wesker was all she had for so long, and he never treated her badly. If anything, it was her that argued, and ended up bringing him in to it.

It was her fault that Wesker was alone, and sounding like he was hurting. She had been selfish, and only thought of her own needs.

That had to change.

She needed to talk to Wesker, be completely honest and open.

No fighting, no games, no childishness, no creating problems, or causing hassle.

Claire thanked the shop assistants and left, uncertainty lodged itself in her gut, and she shuddered at the thought of Wesker, struggling to do anything.

And all because of her.

Claire arrived at Wesker's house, and knocked on the door. Wesker answered but walked away, before Claire could see him. That stung her inside, but she persevered and walked in to see that he had clearly been procrastinating, as the house was a mess.

Claire frowned and walked up to Wesker, who had his head in his hands, that were upon the kitchen worktop. She tapped his shoulder and when he did not respond, she put her arms around his back. He stood up straight and put his hands on top of hers, before turning around and hugging her, so tightly that Claire felt the wind being knocked out from her.

But she didn't care about oxygen she was breathing him in. He smelt natural, no aftershave masked his natural scent. He smelt of sweat, the kind that was only just starting to smell. But far from being repulsed, she buried her head against Wesker's chest. Pheromones was part of what attracted her to him, something he had, his smell, uniquely his.

When Wesker buried his nose into Claire's hair, she whimpered and felt her eyes well up.

"Shhh, Claire, it's alright. We are going to be alright".

Claire looked up at him and agreed.

"As long as I don't mess things up again then yes, we will. Look at you".

Claire giggled playfully and smoothed down Wesker's blond hair, which was usually slicked back, but today, some of it had gotten unruly. She did not mind his hair being mussed up. God knows in the morning, her hair looked like she had been dragged through a bush backwards. Besides, Claire thought the different look gave him an edge, a sleeker edge.

Claire looked down and put her hands in his. She looked back up and saw tenderness, fondness in Wesker's eyes, and that made her very happy.

"I am so sorry. I messed everything up. It was never you. I just convinced myself that it must be you, all because of what happened in the past. But that was in the past, not now. I was dumb, worthless, fallacious, and feeble. Not anymore though. Wesker, no, Albert. I want to marry you, if I am still worthy of you, and your time, your love".

Wesker answered her with his eyes and smile that she had missed so badly.

He put his arms around her waist, and kissed her. Slow and soft, exactly what both of them needed in that moment.

"You always were worthy, dearheart".

Claire balled against his chest, but he knew she was happy. It was tears of loneliness, and he knew what that felt like. For so long, he busied himself with work, never letting anything, or anyone in.

But letting Claire in had been the best thing he had ever done.

The best part?

The best thing he had ever done in his life returned his affections tenfold, and gave him something that, years ago, he would have scoffed at and made a snide remark.

Love.