Desperation isn't new to me. The feeling used to haunt me some time ago, before I knew the life I live today. Every time I woke up alone wondering if the breaking day would be my last or my penultimate, or if I'd need to live some more with this consuming uncertainty about my future. There were people in my life, of course; living, human beings; people who respected me; but no one I could call a family. Nobody would have really cared if I'd just faded away some day. Noticed, yes; but not cared. But everything changed when she came into my life. I got so much more than someone to keep me warm at night. She gave me shelter, a family and a second chance. She is with me and everything is perfect - our own kind of perfect. She is my all, everything I need. The reason why I went through so many complications. After all this time I can't imagine my life without her.

But I feel I'm losing her slowly.

And my sanity along with her.

"Fearless girl?" she whispered in a low voice; a voice she had taken from the girl as she had taken her body. "Are you awake?"

Natalia had often fallen asleep before her. It was funny how easily the girl drifted into slumber, even when her body was still awake. Sharing a shell with Natalia Korda, now Burton, had been a weird but somehow satisfying experience. Alex smiled softly as she remembered all the good moments she and the teenager had shared. Now, their common body was failing, and their future was threatened. What if the experiments failed too? Would she be able to save them both?

Alex admitted, only reluctantly, that she would miss the fellow mind in her head if anything went wrong.

– XXV –

The Why

"Alex?"

She had woken up at 6 am. Moira, who had been staying with her that night, was still sound asleep and didn't notice when Natalia started coughing heavily.

"Can you hear me?"

'Of course, I can hear you. I am inside your head.' The voice in her head sounded dark and angry. 'What is it?'

Natalia smiled.

"I just wanted to tell you that, despite everything, I had a good time with you. Mostly all those times you weren't busy killing people."

Alex chuckled inside her head.

'You feel it too, don't you?'

Natalia sighed.

"I do." Her hand reached up and caressed her own cheek. "I'm sorry my body is so fragile, Alex. I know that you could have done some good things, too; if you'd had the chance to do it."

Alex' laughter ceased.

'Thank you for believing this, fearless girl. But I think I'm not good at doing stuff other people consider righteous.'

The girl leaned back in the bed and smiled smoothly.

"Anyway," she said. "I want you to know that it had been a pleasure to meet you, Alex. I learned a lot from you."

Alex snickered.

She had learned a lot from Natalia, too.

"So, where is Rebecca?" Leon asked.

Doctor Arthur Maddison gave him a chiding glance over his glasses.

"Doctor Chambers had to get back to Chicago to conclude her research there," he said as he flicked through the papers. Leon watched him attentively. He couldn't be much older than thirty, but there was already a clear touch of grey in his brown hair. "But don't worry Mister Kennedy, I have been working with her for many years and I'm fully aware of your medical history."

Leon's eyebrows jumped up at the doctor's statement, wondering of how much he was fully aware.

"Really?"

"Yes. And your secret if safe with me, of course." The man nodded as he snapped the folder shut and made Leon suck in a breath. "Doctor Chambers will be happy to receive some more blood samples from you, as we haven't been able to isolate the G-Manes yet."

The former agent sighed in relief and rolled up his sleeves. "If that's all, take as much as you want, as long as you don't kill me."

"I guess that's supposed to be a joke." The doctor rolled his eyes as he searched in a drawer for the sterile needle and tubs before he slung a rubber band around Leon's upper arm. "Make a fist, please. Good."

"So, do you know anything about the girl we brought?" Leon asked as the silence became too awkward. He hated hospitals as they always insisted on checking on him — and he always had the bad luck to be checked by male staff.

"The pediatrician took care of her, but I ordered blood samples from the infant. We need to secure that she's not contagious, given the conditions you found her in." He smiled. "So, how often do you and your wife go on secret rescue missions in your free time?"

Leon grunted. Right after they had checked that Sophie wouldn't get up again, and after Claire had taken samples from her body, they had gotten out of the basement and into the car with the baby. Claire had notified Jill about their encounter and the blonde had quickly sent a team to the farm. It was surely the B.S.A.A. who had given orders to explore the baby and to discard any risks of infection or an outbreak. Crap. If they found anything unusual in her, they would most probably want to keep her in observation and their whole rescue mission would have been a failure. Another girl in the hands of the government, just like Sherry.

"You'd be surprised."

Once released from the tight grip of Doctor Maddison, Leon walked through the hospital halls towards the ER. He found Claire sitting on one of those plastic chairs in the waiting room, wrapped in a thick blanket, with her head between her knees and her arms folded in her back of her neck.

"Claire?" he asked concernedly as he put a hand onto her shoulder. "You're alright? Any news?"

The redhead lifted her head and gave him a weak smile. Leon took a seat next to her.

"No news yet. We're still hoping," she said. "I was just thinking of Sophie."

The blond laid his arm around her as she spoke. Claire sighed deeply.

"If we hadn't shown up there she'd still be alive," she whispered. "And that girl wouldn't be an orphan. That is if she makes it."

Leon frowned as his hand stroked over Claire's arm.

"Maybe, but if we hadn't gone, she would have grown up locked away from civilization, surrounded by B.O.W.s and viruses." Claire, you can't blame yourself for helping."

Claire took a deep breath and put her hand onto Leon's. "I hope they can find some living relatives," she whispered.

"Hopefully Caitlyn is still alive," Leon replied thoughtfully. "Although, I don't know if I would leave her with a woman who abandoned her daughter."

Claire turned to him and smiled shyly.

"Well, Caitlyn must have a biological mother, too. Maybe there is a way they can find her," Claire said quietly as she turned to Leon and smiled shyly. "You know? I miss you too."

A smile and a sparkle in their eyes; it was all they needed to know what they wanted. Claire grabbed Leon's collar and pulled him closer, softly bringing her lips to his. God, she had missed his kisses. Leon cupped her jaw as he turned a little further to her and she opened her mouth to him. They were in the waiting room of a hospital; sweaty, wet, dusty and full of blood and guts; and they made out like two horny teenagers. They didn't even care. Whatever had happened in the past months, days, hours stopped mattering as they caressed each other's lips and tongue with their own. They kissed until someone dared clear their throat next to them and made them look up.

"Oh, uhm. Sorry," Claire excused herself, wiping her mouth shyly as she jumped onto her feet in front of Doctor Maddison and the pediatrician. "I was just… I had… Any news?"

The young man gave her a judging glance which she held bravely. Alright, they were in a public place, but the hospital wasn't a church or a graveyard, and she was in her right to kiss her husband wherever she pleased. The pediatrician, an elder man, seemed more amused about their doing. He greeted her cheerfully and advanced to Claire that he brought good news.

"The girl is alright," he said. "We will keep her in observation until tomorrow, but I think she will fully recover. Well done Mrs. Kennedy. You saved her life."

Claire nodded, close to tears, as she heard the doctor speak. Leon stood next to her and held her hand.

"It's what she does. She saves people," he said and earned a warm glance from his wife. "How about the blood test? Any infections? Do you already know if she has living relatives?"

"Uhm, well, you'll see," Doctor Maddison said hesitantly. "I wanted to speak to you about this."

"To us?" Claire exhaled. "Oh, haven't you found anyone?"

"Well," the pediatrician excused himself. "I have to leave now. Doctor Maddison will answer all of your questions."

The couple stared speechlessly after the man before they turned back to Maddison.

"Please, follow me," the young doctor asked and led them into a small room.

"What is it doctor?" Claire asked worriedly. "What is wrong here? Is she infected?"

"Caitlyn Stiller," Leon added. "That's the name of Sophie's mother. Haven't you found her?"

Maddison put his hands onto the table, asking them both to let him speak, before he took out a file of his folder.

"We couldn't find any virus in her bloodline. She is fine," he said and made Claire sigh in relief before he cleared his throat and continued. "You'll see, Mrs. And Mr. Kennedy, the samples you brought us didn't belong to any relative of that girl."

Claire frowned and closed her eyes in confusion.

"You mean Sophie was not her mother?" Leon asked.

The redhead's eyes ripped open again.

"And Vång?" she asked in a whisper. The doctor shook his head.

"Negative."

"What?" Claire blew out a breath. If the girl wasn't Sophie's nor Vång's, where had they taken her from? "Leon, are there more people down there?"

The blond put his hand on her shoulder.

"If there are, Jill will find them," he replied comfortingly. "But they could have also kidnapped the girl."

Claire and Leon looked at each other. That was indeed surprising news and made Claire ease her guilty conscience. Who knew what dreadful destiny they had saved the child from.

"So, even if it's not Sophie's child, have you found any living relatives in your data base?" Claire asked and Doctor Maddison gave her a soft glance over his glasses.

"Actually, that's what I wanted to speak to you about," he said and handed Claire a paper. "We have."

After one last questioning look at the medic, she began to read, Leon looking over her shoulder.

"What?" he hissed.

"Wait," Claire said as she blew out a breath. "What does 99,89% mean and why is my name on this sheet?"

Her look jumped to the doctor as she held Leon's hand tightly. Maddison huffed out a breath.

"She's yours, Mrs. Kennedy."

It was one of those messages you needed to hear twice to even start believing them. Claire was sure she had stopped breathing when she'd heard the news, but she soon regained her speech.

"Sorry, what?"

Doctor Maddison smiled and cleared his throat.

"I checked it twice, just to make sure I wasn't giving you any false hope." There was another paper sheet in front of him and he slid it over to Leon. "The match is positive in both your cases. Congratulations. You have a healthy baby girl."

The former agent's look was drawn to Claire's face the moment the truth sank in. His redhead was still staring at the sheet on the table in front of her, but her hand held his tightly and he had never felt so connected to her; nor to anyone. They had a daughter.

"But," Claire whispered as her look drifted to Leon. "How? I mean… I didn't give birth to her." She shook her head as a disbelieving hint of a smirk ran over her lips. "How can she be my daughter?"

The face of the doctor in front was a mystery itself. He tilted his head, shrugged a shoulder and frowned.

He had no fucking idea.

"I'm just telling you what the DNA test says," he replied. "Blood doesn't lie."

She could have sworn this was a line from CSI. Leon raked his fingers through his hair as he sat back.

"So," he said chewing on his lower lip, eyebrows shot up. "Can we see her?"

She was probably the smallest something that had ever survived an attack of an angry B.O.W. The doctors said she was about two months old, although nobody could really determine when exactly she had been born as she had, apparently, been cut out of Claire while she was with Vång. Jill had called to tell them that they'd found notes about the procedure the scientist had followed, putting the child into a high-tech incubator for months after cutting her out of Claire's womb during her recovery. Nobody would have ever survived being born that early, but there was a chance that the little thing had made it thanks to a G-Manes infection. If so, someone had administered her the antidote as well, but that was barely possible to prove. Whatever had happened, the little girl was a miracle herself.

And she was fucking beautiful, Leon thought as he watched her sleeping in the bed, linked to all those monitoring machines. Her cheeks were rosy and soft, like a peach. It was curious how much she looked like Claire and him, all of a sudden. She had Claire's full lips and her chin, but everything from the tip of the nose upwards was his, including the hair. His daughter; Leon chuckled at the thought and looked up to Claire, who was standing on the opposite side of the bed, letting the girl hold her finger like a trophy.

"Can you believe it? We're parents now," she whispered as the warm expression on her face began to ebb. Leon perceived that something wasn't right.

"Claire? What's wrong?"

But the woman just shook her head, a faint smile on her lips, as her free hand curled tightly around the metal bedframe.

"It makes me a little mad that I owe this to him," she mumbled with a shaky voice. Her body stiffened and her voice was low. Claire breathed in before she kept speaking. "Shall I forget that he stole my body and did with it whatever he pleased to hurt the people I love? Maybe he didn't touch Sophie, but he manipulated her to the point that she infected herself with Uroboros. He killed and burnt innocent people and Wesker would have taken over the world hadn't we known that there was an antidote to the G-Manes." An expression of pain appeared on her face as she spoke. Leon reached for her hand. "And even so, our daughter wouldn't be here if it wasn't for him. And I'm a little afraid, Leon. What if all this keeps me from loving her like she deserves?"

Leon huffed out a short laugh and took her hand.

"Claire, you're being so stupid right now. How can you believe you won't love her?" he whispered headshaking and smiled comfortingly at her. "You already loved her when you still believed she was Vang's own child with Sophie. Or will you seriously deny that you thought about adopting her yourself if they didn't find any living relatives?"

That statement stole a smile from her. He knew her so well; better than anyone and, as he had stated once, even better than herself. Claire's hand turned in his until their palms met and their fingers entwined.

"You will just do what you always do," Leon kept speaking as they held gazes. "You survive and you live on, taking things as they are, but accepting the good things you find among the ashes. Like the friendship that was born a night of terror."

Claire felt her eyes water as she heard him speak.

"Oh, Leon..."

The blond smirked satisfied as she was responding to his insistence.

"Claire, everybody would agree that Raccoon City was the worst night of our lives. The night everything changed and we lost the world we knew so far." He smiled at her. "I'd thought I was prepared for anything Claire, but I wasn't prepared for what I found in that city that night. And, of course, I wish it hadn't been this way, for the sake of all the people who died and for those whose lives were destroyed. But every time I wish Umbrella hadn't messed with us; one single thought comes to my mind: how would my life be without Claire in it? And you know what? I don't really want to know."

Claire sniffed.

"We might have met anyway," she whispered but Leon shook his head.

"I came to Raccoon City for a reason, Claire and you know that. If it hadn't been for the murders in the Arklay Mountains, I would have chosen another town to work in and I would have never met that fiery, bossy redhead that was so courageously searching for her missing brother."

They held their looks until Claire huffed out a laugh.

"Was I really bossy?"

Leon laughed.

"Oh, fuck, yes you were," he said. "But you were also the most caring person in that shithole." They laughed together until they ran out of breath. "Claire, I know that you've been through more shit than many people, but, look at her," Leon whispered as he turned his head to the sleeping baby in the bed. "You know perfectly that you will love her, no matter how she was born, because it's what you are. Unconditional love." His hand let go of hers and rose to cup his wife's chin in a soft grip. "You're a mom now; it's what you were always meant to be."

Claire whimpered as she shut her eyes and a tear rolled down her cheek. He talked so well. It was really hard to believe. Had anyone told them some months ago that they would be standing there next to their daughter, he would have taken that someone for an idiot. But there they were.

"I want to thank Ada for this," she whispered and Leon agreed. Ada had helped him many times through the years, but only if it suited herself and her plans. This time, she indeed deserved some gratefulness. However, Ada Wong wasn't someone you just sent a card, an email or even a text message...

"Let's see when she shows up next so we can say thank you."

Claire smirked as her look drifted to Leon's face.

"So... Are you planning on coming back to the States anytime soon?" she asked timidly as crystal eyes threw a pleading look into his direction. Leon huffed out a laugh. He was about to answer when the door behind him opened and Jill and Chris came in.

"Oh, here's our little blonde princess," Chris squealed as he stepped closer to the bed, a bratty smirk on his face. "And his beautiful daughter in the crib."

Jill rolled her eyes as Claire gave her brother a nervous look. Only Leon smiled at his brother-in-law.

"Stop bullying me Redfield, I'm not the one to blame for your tiny penis. That's the roids!"

Chris grinned half-offendedly as he walked over to Claire and pulled her into his hug.

"Congratulations. What a surprise! We couldn't believe it when Maddison told us." He kissed his sister on the hair and rubbed her shoulders. "Well done, Claire."

"I didn't do anything!" the redhead yelped under the pressure of her brother's arms on her. "We just found her, like an Easter-egg."

Jill smiled and put her hand on Leon's shoulder as the sibling hugged.

"Welcome back and congrats, daddy!" She smirked and earned a laugh from the blond.

"Thanks, Jill. Have you finished the clean-up?"

The B.S.A.A. officer nodded and turned to the baby in the bed. "Damn, she's beautiful," she praised and looked at Claire. "Just for you to know, Sherry is overexcited with the news."

"How does Sherry know?" Leon asked, furrowing his eyebrows. "Has she sent Jake to spy on us again?"

Jill chuckled.

"Hunnigan called me to verify that their best ex-agent was fine," she said chuckling. "And I had to give her a full update."

Claire smiled shyly at Leon, who huffed amusedly.

"I don't remember the B.S.A.A. and the government so cooperative," he hissed. "You should try that on the field."

"So, Leon," Chris called before he cleared his throat. "Given the circumstances, you're going to stay in New York for a while, I assume."

"Chris, stop!" Claire was trying to get out of his grip as she snarled at her brother. Her look tightly set on Leon, she begged Chris would give up pressing him to give her an answer. Luckily, Leon didn't mind.

"Well," he muttered and looked amusedly at Claire. "If your sister wants me to stay, I don't think I have any reason to leave again."

A warm look spread over Claire's face as she heard him speak. It seemed that, after so many struggles, they were finally granted the happiness they had wished for.

"So," Jill broke the silence. "When can you take her home?"

"Tomorrow," Claire answered and the blonde nodded.

"I see. Knowing you, you'll stay the night here, won't you?" She asked her friend, getting a determined nod from her. Leon did the same.

"We both stay."

Jill shrugged as Chris gave them a proud but slightly disapproving nod. Honestly, both of them looked dirty, wasted and overtired. But he understood that they had other priorities than their own needs.

"I will get you some fresh clothes for the three of you, then." With those words, Jill turned to the door, followed by Chris. "And Summer's old buggy. Since she started walking there's no human being able to put her into that thing."

Leon laughed and turned to Claire, who rolled her eyes.

"Because she's too fast. Nobody catches her," she whispered and Leon laughed even harder. "No shit. Remember the Cerberus? Summer is faster than those."

"Oh my god," he howled and pointed at the baby on the bed. "I hope those are the Valentine genes. I wouldn't want to rush after this thing here."

They chuckled together and made Claire's heart jump. How long had it been since she'd laughed that jauntily for the last time? Way too long, that was sure. She thought of Natalia and how happy the girl would be to hear about their reconcilement and their recent discovery. Just as the teenager came to her mind, someone opened the door. She believed it was Jill or Chris who'd remind them that they had to eat properly before leaving the hospital for good, but who stepped into the room was another well-known face.

"Moira!" she called out in joy before she saw the bitter look on her friend's face. "What's wrong?"

"Claire, oh my god," the black-haired woman shook her head in disbelief as she watched the pair standing next to the bed. "So, it's true. Chris told me you were here and… oh… that is… I'm so happy for you two."

Claire took her hand in hers. Moira was shaking; her make-up ruined. She had obviously been crying, and there was only one reason the cheerful girl would be so broken.

"Moira," she whispered. "Natalia?"

The younger woman grimaced in pain as she slung her arms around Claire and cried into the spot between her neck and shoulder. Claire had, definitely, never seen her like that before.

"She passed away this morning."

So, there went their chance to be entirely happy for just one single day. Claire closed her eyes as she embraced the heavily sobbing Moira.

"I'm so sorry." It was all she managed to say. Natalia was dead. She herself had been given the chance to be a mother the day another woman lost her chance to ever be anything again. Claire opened her eyes and locked them with Leon's, who gave her a sad, yet comforting glance. Moira took a deep breath and freed herself from Claire's grip to turn to the bed.

"Wow, she's…" she whimpered. "She's really cute. Congratulations, you two." She turned back to Claire and sisterly put her hand onto the redhead's cheek. "We need to meet and catch up, okay?"

Claire nodded and sniffed a little.

"I can't believe it," she whispered. "We knew she wasn't doing well, but it's still hard to understand that she's gone."

Moira nodded and turned to Leon.

"I know." She hugged the blond as he gave her his condolences. "Thank you, really. It's good to see you're back, Leon. We were all worried about you two. You're meant to be together, you know? Life is too short to just be mad at each other." She wiped away her tears and turned back to the baby as Leon and Claire exchanged warm glances. "So, does she have a name already?"

The man next to her was about to shake his head at the young woman, but Claire cut him.

"Hannah," she whispered as her eyes darted to her astonished husband. "If you agree, I would like to call her Hannah."

Hannah Kennedy. Didn't sound that bad, he thought, and before he could ask her how she had made that decision all on her own, Moira revealed the reason for Claire's choice.

"Natalia would have loved that name," she said smiling and the redhead nodded.

And just as Claire had chosen the name for Chris' daughter; their own child owed her name to Natalia Burton.

It was already late afternoon when they came home after a horrendously long day. In the morning Hannah had been released from the hospital after a quick check by the funny old pediatrician and they had rushed to Natalia's funeral right afterwards. Hannah had been the sunshine that helped lift the mood among the grieving. Even Barry, who was taking Natalia's loss worse than anyone, had smiled a little when he held the blonde bundle in his arms.

Claire's apartment was exactly as Leon remembered it; clean, but not entirely tidy. Usually, Claire didn't care much about stuff that lay where it didn't belong as long as it wasn't going to grow a new ecosystem on it. They had quick showers and started preparing the apartment for Hannah's first night home. Chris had come in the morning to arrange the unused travel crib they had gotten for Summer for all those long-planned but never-made weekend trips to the woods. Jill was happy someone would finally use it; for Claire and Leon it was the perfect solution before they decided what to do next.

"So, maybe we shall continue the search for a house where we left it last year," Leon suggested as he tried to make Hannah open her mouth to the baby bottle. "Oh come on, precious! This looks so tasty!"

Hannah laughed at him and made his heart melt.

"I get it, you want pizza, right?" he said nodding and made Claire laugh. The redhead was just bringing her homemade pizza to the table and proceeded to cut it into slices.

"Well, I don't think that the houses I saw back then are still available, but who knows." She served each of them a generous slice and pushed the full plate towards Leon, who had finally managed to make Hannah drink.

"Very good," he exclaimed laughing and turned to Claire. "I don't entirely suck at this."

The redhead laughed. Of course, he didn't. Generally, girls of any age adored Leon Kennedy; how would his daughter be an exception?

"Anyway," she said. "By now this apartment fits the three of us."

Leon nodded.

"Yeah, at least until she starts crawling. But that doesn't mean that we shouldn't begin searching."

"Yeah, tomorrow," Claire replied and yawned widely.

After dinner, they bathed Hannah together and chose one of the cute rompers Jill had brought for her niece before putting her to sleep. Luckily, Hannah seemed to be even more tired than her parents. She closed her eyes as soon as she put her head against Leon's chest as he carried her to the crib.

"Sleep well, darling," Claire kissed her daughter's forehead, before Leon laid her down. A part of him hoped she would keep sleeping, the other one wished she'd wake up so he could see her eyes once again before he went to bed himself. She didn't wake; Claire smiled.

"She's exhausted," Leon said chuckling and a little disappointed before he turned to Claire and smiled at her. She looked almost majestic under the impact of the recent revelations. He couldn't resist taking her hand and kissing it. "I'll get ready for bed now," he said as he slowly turned to the door. "You stayin' awake?"

Claire nodded softly.

"I don't think I can sleep yet. Too many things have happened these days."

Leon gave her a smirk. He'd have suggested a glass of Scotch or two to make her sleep, but Claire was the one who dealt with these things rather with a cup of tea than with drinks.

"If there's anything I can do for you, let me know," he said and grabbed the handle.

As she heard his offer, Claire, who'd turned back to the crib for a second, could only think of one thing she'd want him to do for her. Clearing her throat, she took a deep breath and gathered all her courage.

"You could sleep with me tonight."

The silence that followed was awkward, almost frightening. Leon slowly shifted back toward her and checked how serious she had been about her petition.

She was goddamn serious.

He had never loved and feared anything so much. Swallowing down the saliva in his mouth, he let go of the handle and lowered his hands as he stood still. Claire gave him a curious look over her shoulder and turned toward him

"I mean," she whispered. "If it's not too much to ask and if you feel like it, but I understand if you don't."

A smile rushed over his lips, barely touching it.

"Aren't you tired?" It was all he could ask. Claire shrugged a shoulder.

"Exhausted, but I think I've waited long enough."

There was so much pain in her voice, but also so much hope. Leon smiled as he slowly walked towards her, looping his arm around her waist when he was close enough. Pulling her into him, he took the chance to remove some hair from her white face and gently brushed her temple with his lips.

"Of course, I feel like it, Claire," his speech was hardly a breath. Claire shut her eyes and he took the chance to place a smooth kiss onto her lid. "I always want you." The redhead breathed in deeply as she slowly looked into his face again. "But what I said back then is true. I don't want to hurt you."

She wetted her lips. Leon's arms still held her comfortably close.

"You won't. You can't," she replied and shook her head. "I love you, Leon. You can't hurt me; not you. I love you. I want to be touched if it's you." Her hands ran up his chest and around his neck, pulling him down until her lips reached his. "You were right back then. I wasn't ready. But I am ready now. Please," she breathed against his mouth. "Let me get rid of the thought that you're not the last man who touched me." Those words made him shiver a bit, but it was what she said afterwards that simply destroyed him. "And that I'm not the last woman who touched you." Claire caught his lips in a deep kiss, rolling her tongue gently into his mouth, searching for the touch of his. They kissed until they ran out of air, until they nearly choked on their pleasure, and Claire pulled back, completing the caress with one last peck onto his mouth. "I want to be your last one, Leon. I want to be your only one."

His both hands ran up her body, from the waist, over her chest and shoulders up to her neck, and cupped her jaw. As he stared into her eyes, so determined and strong, he thumbed over her lower lip.

"You are the only one, Claire." He reached for her hands around his shoulders and put them onto his chest. "Where it matters, you are the only one."

She let out a little sob and pressed their mouths back together in another desperate and hungry kiss. Leon let go of her hands to touch her waist again, pushing their bodies together as if they were meant to be one. And maybe they were. The redhead let out a gasp of surprise as Leon pushed her backwards onto the mattress and climbed onto her.

"Claire, I missed you so much."

Oh, yes, he had missed her. Claire could feel every inch of longing pressing hard against her hips and she loved him for it. Get hard for me, she had begged in that hospital room, and now he was. With a grunt, Leon drove his teeth into the silken curve between her neck and shoulder and stole her breath — but not her voice. A short, high-pitched shriek found its way out and made her freeze. She had nearly forgotten that they weren't alone in the room. Leon pressed his hand onto her mouth and put a finger onto his own, smirking lips. They waited, listening, but the baby in the crib kept snoring quietly.

Claire giggled in relief.

"I think we can't do that here," she whispered and Leon nodded.

"Couch?"

Claire chuckled.

"Want to feel nostalgic?" she asked smirking as she ran her fingertips over his upper arm. Leon laughed. The couch always made their first, clumsy time come up again. He climbed off the bed and pulled Claire after him out of the bedroom.

They turned out the lights and let the room bathe in the bright shine of the moon as they knelt on the couch. Claire's eyes fell shut as Leon pulled her closer, cupped her chin and kissed her forehead, her cheek, her nose and eventually found her lips again. She held onto his strong shoulders; otherwise, she'd faint, she thought. Their lips still locked, she gave in to the pure pleasure he was offering her. When she couldn't press him harder against her own body, she dug her fingernails into his flesh until he yelped into her mouth. Satisfied, she led her hands to his collar and began unbuttoning his shirt.

Torturously slow; that was how she undid his shirt button by button to reveal his smooth skin. Leon, in the meantime, kept stroking the curve of her neck and went over her shoulder blades and down to her waist. How perfectly the curve fitted his grip. Once the last button was undone, Claire broke their kiss and twirled her tongue over his collarbone down to his chest as her hands pushed the shirt off his shoulders. Leon moaned as the redhead found his left nipple and bit it gently. He used his chance to hook his finger into the left straps of her top and bra and pulled them down. Bending over, he kissed her shoulder as soon as Claire sat upright.

"Touch me," she whispered and took his hand to lead it to her breast. She tilted her head back as Leon traced a line of kisses over her collarbone as he thumbed over her still covered nipple. A moan released itself from her throat as he removed the straps on the other shoulder too and rolled her top down her breasts. Afraid she could feel cold, he quickly covered her with his mouth and hands.

"I love you," he gasped against her skin and climbed off the couch. Kneeling in front of her, the turned Claire's hips to his face and smirked. Her hand reached for the backrest of the couch as she saw him unzip her pants and peel them off her thighs. "You're so beautiful."

She laughed and closed her eyes, shivering in expectation as Leon tossed the clothing away and slid his hand up to the back of her left knee and held it up. That look; that hungry look of his; it drove her crazy. Claire sucked in a breath as Leon turned his mouth to the inner of her thigh and began to kiss his way down; from her knee to the edge of her cream-colored panties. Leon chuckled as she gasped his name and carefully slid his hands down the curve of her bottom to remove her underwear. The tension of the moment stole her breath and made her cry out as Leon lowered his mouth onto her belly button and ran his tongue over the line to her delicious mound, held in a curly, dark red.

"What are you doing?" she gasped as he inhaled deeply, so close to her spot.

"I want to breathe you in," he whispered before he gave her a soft bite right upon her slit. She still smelled like he remembered her. Vanilla and Patchouli; the scent of her shower gel lingered on her skin and captivated him. How often had he dreamed of having her like this again? He hovered his lips over her labia and made her cry out.

"Oh, god!" Claire yelped as Leon stroked his tongue over her spot up to her clit, suckling on the sensitive nub. Claire panted out a breath as she scissored her legs around his shoulders and he lifted her butt to his mouth. He wanted to drown in her, dip his tongue into her hot wetness and savor her entirely. Claire raked her hand through his hair and, not really accidentally, pushed him a little deeper into her. His beard stubble scratched and tickled over her exposed skin and the pain and pleasure of it nearly made her come. Leon chuckled against her spot as he heard her moan and licked once again over her lips before his teeth sunk into the flesh above her clit again. "Oh, god, right there." And right there he went. His hands travelled over her stomach and up to her breasts, cupping them gently. One in each hand, he rolled his thumbs over the tip. She cried out, and she couldn't have made him feel prouder. Claire curled a fist into the cushions of the backrest as her ankles hit his shoulder blades and pushed his face further into her. She came screaming for more.

Leon looked up, his lips and chin completely infused in her, and gave her a wide smile.

"Good?" he asked and she opened her eyes to him, lust and desire written all over her face.

"Perfect, so far," she panted and grabbed his neck, pulling him into a wet, deep kiss, and licking her own flavor from his lips. Eager hands reached for his belt. Not without stroking him through his pants before, she carefully undid his zipper and pulled down both remaining layers with a determined nudge. His erection jumped right into her waiting hand. Leon moaned into her mouth as Claire laid her fingers around him and began to stroke. "So, what's next?" She giggled against his lips. "You're ready? I'm waiting."

And he didn't want to leave her waiting any longer. Reaching for her thighs again, he pulled her closer to the edge of the couch and knelt between her legs.

"Will you tell me if there's anything you don't enjoy?" he asked, giving her a dark look. He was so goddamn serious about not hurting her that it made her heart speed up. Claire smiled and kissed him passionately.

"I will," she promised and clung to him like a koala as he drove his length into her burning heat. His hands on her hips, he led her into his own pace; a deep, steady rhythm that intended to break them both with pleasure. Claire turned her head and bit his ear, suckling on the lobe until he gasped. Their bodies reunited and felt like they had never been separated. Soulmates they were, and they knew each other so well that no words were needed between them.

Leon dropped her onto the couch again and his head onto her chest, catching her breast and licking over it. Claire let out a soft cry when he used her tongue on her. She arched her back and lifted a leg over the blond's shoulder to feel him deeper inside her. She wanted more; every single inch of him. He looked at her like she was a goddess. Yes. Everything about him screamed he was hers; and she definitely was his, too.

Claire dropped her head back and squeezed her eyes shut and Leon couldn't bear it. Stroking her cheek with his fingertips, he began to speak to her.

"Claire, darling, don't." He leaned into her and kissed her mouth; a kiss to which she responded eagerly. "Don't. Look at me." And she opened her eyes again. "I want you to see me when I come in you; when I fill you up."

Could she have loved him more? She laughed out loudly as he spoke to her in his dark, husky voice. She looked at him; right into those beautiful, blue eyes. The same eyes he had given to their daughter. Wasn't he perfect? Could she have wished for anything else? Claire cried out loudly when he turned her slightly to her right and bent over her again, giving the right amount of friction to her clit and making her cry in pleasure. She bucked against him as she held his gaze in the moonlight, waiting for the heat to burn them both away.

"Oh, Leon, yes," she moaned as she felt her climax approach. She slung her arm around him again and scratched over his shoulder. Claire crowned the moment with another loud moan as her second orgasm ran through her body. "Come on, baby! Fill me up!"

And Leon laughed. He laughed as he came, holding on tightly to Claire's stretched leg. He rubbed his pelvis against her with every one of the last deep thrusts, until he finished deep inside her with a low grunt.

He hadn't stopped watching her.

They gasped for air. Leon let go of Claire's leg and leaned down to kiss her again.

"Thank you," she whispered and he gave her the sweetest smile she'd ever received. "I love you."

"I love you too," he replied as he nuzzled her neck. "I can't believe we're here."

Claire laughed as she slung her arms around him.

"Believe it," she whispered as her fingers stroked softly over his hair. They held each other in the shine of the moonlight, cherishing those small moments of intimacy. Leon was still inside her, growing soft as they both relaxed. They could have stayed like that forever hadn't they remembered that it was a freezing night in January, that they lay naked on the couch and that…

"Fuck, Claire, we forgot the condom."

Leon hissed at their mindless behavior, raking nervously his fingers through his hair as he looked down onto Claire. Damnit, he had never been that stupid. However, the redhead just chuckled.

"I thought you wanted to fill me up, Mr. Kennedy." She laughed; he didn't. Of course, he didn't. The last news Leon had about a child in her body was that it would be mutated by a virus and eat her from the inside out. As soon as she saw the fear on his face, Claire quickly sat up, taking his hands in hers. "It's okay, darling. It's okay. We didn't have the time to catch up, but…" She smiled widely at him. "I'm clean, don't worry."

Leon frowned at her, headshaking.

"Clean?"

Claire nodded smiling.

"Rebecca believes it was the antidote to the G-Manes. It cured or neutralized or whatevered the T-Phobos in me. I'm virus free now. 100% human and I can get pregnant again without risk."

Leon blinked at her. A smile appeared on his face as the news sank in and he pointed to the bedroom.

"Does that mean we could have just made another one of those?"

And Claire laughed as she pulled him closer and kissed him.

"Well," she said as she broke the kiss. "I'm pretty far from ovulating right now and given my age, that will be a difficult task anyway. But, well, there is no goal Leon Kennedy couldn't achiev, right?"

Leon nibbled on her lower lip as his hands drifted down her curves.

"Challenge accepted!"