A/N: I would like to thank all my readers and reviewer, Shirahane Aikawa, for always encouraging me to write.

Disclaimer: I don't own Resident Evil or any of its character, they all belong to Capcom.


Chapter 29

(Kate's POV)

When I returned to the hospital this morning, after my vacation, I had too much of work cut out for me that I literally didn't have any time to breathe. The day was as busy as it could be with me running between the wards and patient rooms, tending or checking on them. And since I had been out for a week some of the patients were already out and some were still there. I had been assigned to a few more new cases and shifted to look into the cases in absence of other doctors as well. Even when I wasn't running from room to room, I still had immense amount of paper work, that had piled up during the week, to keep me busy; not to mention the medical charts and patients' case history that I had to study all over again because I had been out of work for so long that I had no idea how much progress had already been made. So by the end of the day, it was but obvious that I was super exhausted and drained out of energy but on a brighter side I only worked in shifts so it was a relief as I dragged my feet through the lobby to head home.

I walked outside the hospital building and fortunately got a cab right away, "Where to Miss?", the driver asked as I got in the cab.
"Emily's", I replied subconsciously and I must have been really tired to have called out the name of the café instead of my resident area.
"The café?", the driver asked in confirmation.
"Yeah the same", I confirmed thinking I might as well go there, now that my body feels like grabbing a cup of hot coffee. I might as well take some cakes and pastries home to Jill, it has been awhile since we enjoyed something like that together.

The cab took me to the said destination and I wasn't really surprised to see it was very much crowded; the November was starting and the evenings were getting colder already and it was the perfect time to enjoy a steaming cup of coffee. I looked at the café and couldn't help but feel, a little nostalgic about it. It felt like just yesterday when Leon and I used to meet here for breakfast, lunch or coffee almost every day. We barely met for 10-15 minutes at most but still I had so many good memories associated with this place. I shook my head smiling and sighing at the same time and moved to get an empty table, which seemed to at the very end of this outside café. And as I grabbed the back of the chair to pull it away from the table, at the same time someone else grabbed the other chair directly in front of it and we both turned up our heads to look at each other.

"Leon!", I said out his name in surprise as he stared at me in shock too. He wasn't expecting me much like I wasn't expecting him. It's been so, so long that I had seen him but it felt like just yesterday that we were here. We both pulled out the chairs we were holding on to and sat down without any word or greeting to each other. Our lips almost involuntarily curled into the weakest of our smiles, "It's been long", I finally managed to find my voice.
"Yeah...", he said in his infamous monotonous tone.

The conversation died down, even though there were a lot of things I wanted to ask him and a number of things I wanted to tell him, but I could already make out the answers of the questions and I wasn't sure if he wanted to know anything about me. He looked tired much like the day I first met him or maybe even worse, guess he really has been busy. There was a bark and I looked down at my feet it was Shadow, I bent down and patted him once and then looked back at Leon.

"I am sorry, I'd take a different table", Leon said and started to move.

(Leon's POV)

"We are friends, right?!", Kate's these words made me look at her again, "We can share the table, besides all other tables are full", I looked around and yeah it was true, there wasn't any vacant table and that made me sit back in my chair. Shadow settled near our feet and the waitress came to get our orders and once that was done, we were again at loss of words to say to each other, "So how've you been?", Kate asked me breaking that awkward silence between us.
"Busy", I replied sighing out of tiredness.
"You haven't changed a bit", she commented smiling slightly.
"You haven't either", I couldn't help but say and I was glad to know she was doing alright.
"So you come here often?", she asked me raising her brows.
"No", I shook my head, "You?", and she replied by shaking her head as well and the conversation died down again.

I just looked around at the other tables to avoid looking at Kate. The café was filled with couples, who were just busy laughing, talking or just lost staring at each other. There was a time when Kate and I were like that, laughing, making fun of passersby or just talking rubbish, teasing each other and the time just froze when I was with her, because those few minutes felt like an eternity to me. The time I spent with her, I could say, it was the best time of my life.

"Here's your order, anything else?", the waitress said pulling me out of my thoughts as she set our coffees on the table.
"Ah yeah can you pack about a dozen of cakes, for me to take home?", Kate asked her politely.
"Yeah sure, please collect it from the counter", the waitress said with a smile
"Yes I'll, thank you!", Kate said gratefully.
"No problem. What name shall I put on the packet so the person at the counter knows?", the waitress asked again.
"Kate", she replied and with that waitress left and I looked at Kate she had got out a book as big as old phone directories and was reading it. She looked as beautiful as she did back then, she did look a little tired though. She looked up at me, "Is there something on my face?", she asked me a bit puzzled and I realized I was involuntarily staring at her.

I shook my head in negative and then I didn't know what made me but I asked, "I was wondering since when did you become a bookworm?", sipping my coffee.
Kate's expressions changed within seconds, "I am not a bookworm", she said offended, "it's a medical book, I am reading it for a case."
"Yeah doesn't look like something one would read for pleasure", I commented and she gave me a furious look.
"Are you mocking me?", she asked me closing the book with an audible thud.
"Oh no, I don't want to get in trouble. One hit from that book and I'd be a goner", I joked.
"You?!", Kate said and lifted the book to hit me but it slipped off her hands and fell on her foot making her curse in pain.
And then we laughed as I lifted the book off her foot, "See I told you to be careful", I couldn't help but say.
"Shut up, you!", she said faking an anger, nursing her foot a bit and then a sudden realization hit me.
I abruptly rose from my seat and Kate gave me a surprised look, "I have to go", that was the only thing I could say to her and she looked down at her coffee.
"I understand", she said in a barely audible voice, not looking at me.

I got out my wallet and stuck some dollar bills under the half finished cup of my coffee that was my share of the coffee. Kate didn't say anything and I couldn't make myself say good bye to her either. I just slowly turned and walked away from her, resisting the urge to look back at her with every step. I shouldn't be here in the first place, it's just that my head hurt so bad from all the paper work today that I thought a strong black coffee would make it all better and I was here before I knew it. I was facing Kate and having a good time with her before I realized it. My headache was gone but it was now replaced with an even worse heartache.

I got in my car and finally looked at Kate, who I could easily make out even from such a distance and despite the heavy crowd. She was sitting all alone at the table, sipping her coffee. Meeting up with her today was unexpected and even though I left the meet abruptly, I was glad that I got to see her. And I was more than glad to know that she still considered me her friend, which I wasn't so sure about from the way we parted that day. And it really put my heart at ease knowing she was doing alright.


(Jill's POV)

I put my baby in the crib, careful not to wake him up, since it was really troublesome to get him to sleep. I bent down and tucked him nicely, it was getting cold outside and I didn't want my baby to fall sick. I put the small lion stuffed toy, that Kate bought for him, by his side and he immediately threw his hand over it, grabbing it with his tiny fingers in his sleep. I slowly bent down again and lightly placed a kiss on his forehead lovingly. I stepped back a bit, admiring his cute sleeping form. And as I watched him sleep, I thought these were the moments I really lived for; these were the moments that made this new phase of my life worthwhile. I smiled and turned off the lights and put on the night lamps, so it's not completely dark. I checked the baby monitoring device if it was working properly and then headed to the living room with the receiver in my hand.

I flopped on the couch and turned on the TV and kept the volume as low as possible, so I could hear it but not loud enough that it would wake up the baby. A little while into that I heard the front door open and soon enough Kate walked into the room, with a packet in her hand, "Hey I brought cake!", she said cheerfully setting it on to the table, "Where's Sam?"
"I just put him to sleep", I told her turning off the TV.
"Aww… I thought I'd play with him", she said sounding disappointed, "Anyway put these in the fridge for now. I'd go and have a shower and then we can enjoy it."
"Oh okay", I said and I couldn't help but notice something different in her behavior, "Kate?", I called out her name following her as I realized what was new in her behavior.

"Yes?!", she said with a smile, stopping on the stairs to listen to me.
"Something happened?", I asked wanting to know what brought this change all of a sudden.
Her brows lowered and she looked sideways giving it a thought, "No nothing", she shook her head, "Why?"
"Well you look happy", I pointed it out to her.
"I am always happy", she said to me smiling widely, something she didn't do now a days.
"Yeah", I said with a smile too, seeing her smile made one mirror it back no matter who they were.
"I'll be back in a bit", she said and hurried up the stairs.
"Yeah take your time", I called after her and I really felt really happy, since it was the first time in 4 months she wasn't faking her happiness.

I walked back to the living room and as Kate had asked me to, I put the pastries in the refrigerator. I waited for Kate in the living room wondering what really happened that Kate was so happy, and no matter how much I thought I couldn't think of a reason that would really cheer up Kate like that, unless of course…

"Hey let's eat cake", Kate's voice pulled a chain on my thoughts. I watched her head in the kitchen and come back with plates, spoons and cakes, "It's been so long since we had pastries."
"Yeah", I said smiling, not able to decide which pastry I should go for first.
"Leave the chocolate for last, it's just too good. I had it while I was there and it's really yummy", Kate told me excitedly taking vanilla pastry for herself.
"Where are these from?", I asked her finally deciding on the strawberry pastry.
"Emily's", she replied eating her pastry like a happy kid, "Wow that's beautiful!", she said spotting the bouquet that arrived this morning, "Chris got it?"
"No", I said as she moved to check it out closely.

"Oh who's that late to wish you about baby?", Kate said puzzled.
I contemplated whether I should say it or not, I didn't want to ruin her good mood but then I decided to just come out with it, "It's from Kennedy."
"That guy?!", she said looking back at me surprised and I was surprised to see her happiness sort of getting doubled rather than being halved. She looked back at the bouquet, "He really sent some beautiful flowers."
"He really did", I couldn't help but agree more.
"Anyways let's move on to another one", Kate said happily referring to pastries and I didn't have a single doubt in my heart that it was because of Kennedy that she was this happy. I don't know what really happened but I guess our prayers were heard finally.


(Leon's POV)

I dragged my feet to my mother's place and rang the door bell. She opened the door immediately, seemed like she was waiting for me. She looked a little concerned and sighed in relief, "Leon you called me 2 hours ago that you left work", she said hugging me and it really felt comforting.
"Sorry mom, I went for a coffee and then I kind of got detoured", I told her as she let me in the house.

"Oh that's alright but you should have informed me. I was worried sick for you", mom said as we walked into her sitting room, "I thought you got in an accident or something from the way you drive. Anyways you'd have dinner now or later?"
"Now will be good. I'd catch some sleep if I head home earlier", I told her feeling tired.
"Of course, Of course… sleep early of course", mom said sarcastically, eyeing me with a little of her motherly anger, "get to the dining table, I'll get the dinner there."

I did what I was told and took my usual seat at the dinner table, the plates were already set and a few moments later mom brought the dinner and started serving me or more of filling my plate, "mom I am not a monster to eat that much", I couldn't help but say with a laugh.
"Shut up and eat!", mom scolded me, "look how boney you've become", she added poking my biceps and I didn't argue with her.

Mom too filled her plate and sat next to me and we didn't talk anymore. My eyes fell on the empty spot my dad used to occupy and for a moment I saw a ghost of him smiling at me, "Missing your dad?", mom said reading me and I gave her nod, "So how's everything at work and home?", this was my mom's usual question.
"Good", I replied gulping some water, "How's it with you? You going for checkups regularly and you're not skipping your meds, are you?"
"Yeah I am doing fine, taking meds on time and all", Mom said to me in a sing-a-song manner.
"Good to know, call me if you want me to take you for checkups or anything", I said to her, I was busy but I wasn't that busy to not take care of my only family.
"Leon stop it, you make me feel like an oldie", Mom said almost pouting and I let out a laugh.
"You an oldie?!", I said acting all surprised, "Nobody would believe me when I say I am your son, someone could mistake you for my older sister."
Mom started laughing, "Boy, you're just like your dad", she commented and I gave her a weak smile, "He would have been really proud."
"I know you've told me countless times", I said looking down at my plate feeling the gap of a father figure in my life.

"Anyways change of topic, how's Kate doing?", mom asked another of her usual questions. There wasn't a time when I was here and she didn't ask about Kate.
"She's doing fine", I kept my reply short.
"So you met her finally then", it wasn't a question but more of a statement, "since you didn't say 'you think she's alright', so it must mean that you met her", mom said conclusively and I gave her a nod, "And?", she asked expectantly.
"And?", I repeated acting oblivious.
"Did you talk? What did she say? What did you say? Did you tell her that you love her?", she was saying when I cut her in between.
"Mom, we are just friends", I told her pressing on the fact.
"Leon, I don't know what you are trying to do? She's a great girl and a lot better than all the other women you've dated so far", my mom said giving me some words of wisdom but it wasn't like I wasn't aware of it. But I chose not to say anything in reply and make it even worse, "And for your information, she's not that fine that you believe her to be."

"She seemed pretty happy when I met her today", I countered her argument.
"And have you thought that maybe she was happy to see you?!", mom reasoned with me and I kept my silence. Mom let out a deep breath to calm herself down and continued, "I thought I wouldn't tell you but she hasn't stopped visiting me and she's just a shadow of what she used to be, that girl barely smiles now", and I felt like dirt when mom told me this, "and although she never mentions you or asks me anything about you, but I know she wants to know how you're doing every time she's here. Is it too hard for you to see that she loves and cares for you?!"
"Mom can we stop discussing Kate", I couldn't help but say, the more we talked about Kate the more miserable I felt. I always knew she loved and cared for me and that's the reason I am still not over her yet but it was hard to explain it to mom that it was because I loved her I didn't want her to be involved with me because it won't ever do her any good.
"Alright we will stop discussing about Kate but I am telling you, Leon Scott Kennedy, you're going to regret letting her slip by when she was just an arm's length away", mom said in a matter-of-fact tone, expressing her displeasure.

Mom didn't mention Kate again and for a while we ate our dinner in complete silence and I didn't mind it a bit, I was too much used to silence. But guess mom wasn't since she started to talk about something or other whenever it became too much quiet but yeah she was careful not to mention Kate again. After dinner I hung out with mom a bit, I didn't want her to feel that it was a formality to me to have dinner with her when it was not so. It was around 9:00PM that I decided to head back home. And as I drove home I was clouded by the thoughts of Kate.

I just wished whatever mom said, about her not smiling anymore and everything, to be a lie. And it wasn't like, I like avoiding her or anything, there wasn't a day when I didn't think about going to her place just to meet her, talk to her or just see her. Every day I thought I would just walk up to her and talk like we used to before. But I knew it wouldn't be this simple, mid way between playing friends I would find myself again, the one who loves her deeply and end up hurting her even more. And I didn't want to do a damage that couldn't be undone or repaired. I'd rather regret not having her than to regret hurting her over and over again.


A/N: Thanks for taking out time to read and I hope you all enjoyed it. I apologize for any mistakes in the text that might have caused inconvenience to you all. It would be great if you could check my collab with Shirahane Aikawa, called Undercover, and give us your feedback.