A/N: I am extremely thankful to all the readers for always encouraging me to write.

Disclaimer: I don't own Resident Evil or any of its characters; they belong to Capcom.

Chapter 38

(Leon's POV)

We kept chatting trivially through the drive about random stuff, people on the road, weather, Sam etc. etc. We reached the boutique luckily on time and the designer immediately brought Kate's sparkling white dress and asked her to put it on so she could see if there were some alternations needed. I sat on the loveseat that was there as Kate went in the changing room to change into her dress. As I sat there I couldn't help but wonder about her wedding, although everything was going well for such a short notice but still one couldn't say it was going as Kate wanted it to be. She didn't buy the rings because Mike would get mad and her dress was chosen by his mother. I really didn't know what was going as per her wishes, since I haven't been that much involved but knowing that Kate's just compromising on every step of it made me a little sad about it all.

I was pulled away from my thoughts when I heard Kate's loud laughter from inside the changing room, "Ma'am are you alright?", the designer asked her.
"I am fine", she replied between the laughs and stepped outside the trial room in her wedding dress laughing hard, "this dress is a bit loose", she made an understatement, since the dress was so loose that she had to hold it up by her hand and if she didn't it would probably fall to the ground, it being sleeveless. And although the dress was loose, she was really looking pretty in that dress that my heart sped up for a moment.
"Ah this is a disaster", the designer said admitting her mistake, "But your mother-in-law said you were as healthy as she was but she's clearly mistaken. But don't worry I can fix this before the wedding."
"Yes, please do", Kate said and the designer called in her assistant.

The assistant held Kate's dress, so that her hands could be free and the designer took her measurements. And then a moment later, the assistant got busy with another customer, who showed up, and Kate was back to keeping her dress in place while the designer put marks on the dress, suggesting alterations to Kate and asking if it was fine. Kate agreed to whatever she was fine with and then just a few moments later the designer got a call as well and she excused herself. Kate sighed out of distress and we both looked at each other.

"How do I look?", Kate asked me jokingly.
"As if you are wearing a tent", I replied in flat tone and she began laughing, and I just smiled at it, "Remember the time I had to wear your clothes? I am having the same feeling now."
"Except that that this dress is a little bit bigger, even for me", I couldn't help but joke. I don't know what her to-be-mom-in-law was thinking but her figure and Kate's figure was nowhere close. She was short plumb woman whereas Kate stood tall and slim.

And just then there was a sound of something snapping and Kate cursed as her hair unrolled down, since it was her hair clip that snapped, "Hey check if there's a spare hair clip in my bag", Kate said to me and I rummaged in her bag for it.
"Here", I walked to her finding one and held it out to her.
"Leon, I know that you'd absolutely love it, if this dress falls to the ground but please it'll be super embarrassing for me", she said turning pink slightly.
I inwardly smacked myself for not taking that into account, "Sorry forgot about that", I apologized.
"It's alright, just grab all my hair and put that into a bun", she said to me in a business-like manner.
"How do you do that?", I asked her totally confused moving behind her.
"Like I said, gather all up all my hair and hold it together with the clip", she repeated and I had no clue whatsoever she was talking about. I knew how to release hair from a bun, since all you had to do was pull the clip or hair pin but how to make it, was a whole different thing.
"Well here goes nothing", I said and tried to gather her locks with one hand but it was too difficult just with one hand, so I held the clip in my mouth and gathered her locks with both of my hands.
"Oww… easy", she said as her hair got pulled in the process.
"Sorry I got carried away with the pulling", I joked and she laughed again, "Now what?", I asked in bewilderment once I had all her hair in my hand.

Kate laughed, "Twist it and tie it on my head, what else?", she said as if was the easiest thing ever, "and you left some hair, it's getting in my eyes", and yeah sure enough, the shorter hair in the front were getting in her eyes. I let go of her hair on the back and moved in front of her.
After about a few fruitless efforts to gather her hair during which her laughter just doubled, I gave up, "I can't do this", I told her sighing in defeat.

Kate laughed even more and I couldn't help but feel annoyed, "Would you rather choose to hold my dress up?", she asked tilting her head to a side and I gave her a serious look, "I am not joking, if you could hold my dress up, my hands will be free and I can tie up my hair", she raised her brows at me in question as if asking, 'so what it will be?'

"Alright", I said with a nod but I had no idea how to hold her dress up without touching her inappropriately.
"Hold it from the backside", she said blushing probably figuring out my problem.
"Okay!", I said gulping an imaginary lump in my throat.

I moved a bit closer to her, stretched one arm going by her side and holding her dress. Kate let go of her dress for a bit but just as she took her hair clip from me, she held it back immediately since it began slipping off her body, "Grab it with both hands!", she said nervously and I complied. The position we were in made me feel really awkward because we were so close that it almost felt like I was hugging her. She slowly let go of her dress and I felt the weight of the dress as it began to slip away but this time I pulled her dress back tightly. So it stays put. Kate gasped moving closer, keeping her hands on my shoulder out of reflex.

Our eyes met, "Hurry up, it's really awkward", I said to her in not more than a whisper.
Kate held her clip between her lips, gathered her hair with both of her hands and held it together by the clip. She did it super fast making it seem so simple, "All done!", she smiled at me.
"Awesome", I said and she gave me a mischievous grin.
"What?!", I asked her and she hooked her arms on my neck.
"Nothing", she said with a smile.

"Will you hold your dress now?", I questioned in a slightly hoarse voice as my face started to feel a little warm.
"You hold it for a bit, it was heavy and I was tired", she said with a playful smile.
"Kate, this is very uncomfortable", I told her speaking very seriously.
"Is it?", she asked acting oblivious, "You know, you are cute, up close and more so when you are embarrassed, makes me want to kiss you."
"Stop fooling around", I said to her faking at annoyed tone.

"But I am serious", she said innocently, "I really do want to kiss you", she inched her face closer to kiss mine and just when our lips were about to touch she burst out laughing, "God! You should have seen your face!", she laughed some more, "Revenge is sweet!", she smiled broadly at me. And I remembered I had done something like that to her but I was half serious then, and that made me lose my grip on her dress, "Leon!", she said in reflex and clung to me in a desperate attempt to prevent her dress from falling to the floor.

(Kate's POV)

The only thing preventing my dress from falling to the floor was Leon's and my bodies pressed hard against each other. I don't know what made him but he let go off the dress the moment I broke out to him that I was kidding. Was he offended by it? I looked up at him and he grabbed the dress again not uttering a single word. I moved away from him and took hold of it without saying a word either. Once I had a proper grip of the dress, I looked at him again giving him a furious glare but he was already staring at me with an apologetic expression.

"I am sorry!", Leon said regrettably.
"It's fine', I said with a sigh, "as long as you didn't do it on purpose."
"I didn't", he shook his head, "I just…", he ran a hand through his hair. He didn't want to continue and I just looked up at him waiting for him to complete his sentence. I could see he was really tired, "I am really sorry!", he said finally looking down at me being very sincere about his apology.

Our eyes met and we stood there staring at each other for a bit before the designer walked back saying, "You two really make a good couple", and we both looked at her smiling face.
"Oh but we are not", I told her shaking my head.
"Huh?", she said confused.
"I mean we are not a couple; he's my very good friend", I told her looking at Leon, who nodded reinforcing what I said.
"Oh so he's not Mrs. Vaughn's son?", she asked me.
"No", I shook my head and Leon's phone rang.
"It's important, excuse me", he said to both of us, we nodded and he walked out talking on the phone.

"Shall we get back to business?", she asked me with a smile.
"Ah yes", I said becoming her model again, "I thought you might have seen Mike", I couldn't help but say as she noted down stuff on her notebook.
"Well it was long time ago, when our mothers met at tea parties and all", the designer told me casually.
"Oh so you know them closely?", I asked her.
"Well not that closely", she told me taking my measurements, "to be honest of all my mother's friends I was least fond of Mrs. Vaughn. She was very cold and distant with me for some reason and frankly I was really surprised… well shocked when she approached me for designing the clothes for her son's wedding. And don't mind me, but you should have given your measurements to her, this dress is a blunder when you wear it."
"But I did gave her the measurements", I told the designer and she looked at me shocked.
"Guess she's not fond of you either, eh?", the designer said with a smile and I felt my ears burning out of embarrassment hearing that, and she laughed.
"But you can fix this dress right?!", I asked her concerned.
"Yes of course I can", she told me confidently. We chatted trivially as the designer took measurements, noted down alternations suggesting stuff she could do within the time frame to make the dress look even more beautiful, "You can change back now", the designer told me with a smile and I sighed out of relief that I'd finally be out of this shame of a dress.

"Kate", I looked up at the mention of my name. Mike was here with his mother, entering the dress trial area. Mike hurried to me while his mom took her time walking at her own pace, "what are you doing here?"
"Having a dress fitting", I told him in an obvious tone feeling extremely uncomfortable in his presence with this slipping dress.
"You look really beautiful", he said eyeing me from head to toe.
"Thanks! I am done so I'd change", I said and hurried away.

I stepped in the changing room, took off the wedding dress and sighed out of relief; it sure was a bit heavy. I couldn't help but think if I'd be able to wear something like that for one whole day, but keeping all those thoughts aside I pulled on my more comfortable dress. And just as I was gathering that wedding dress, I heard a knock at my changing room door. I walked and pulled it half open. It was Mike standing outside holding his grey colored groom suit, smiling widely at me.

"Other changing rooms are full so I was wondering we can share", Mike said with a smirk and gave me a wink.
"Well not necessary, I am done so you can use this room", I said pulling open the door even more, so he could see that I was all dressed.
"Too bad", he said sounding disappointed as I walked past him and chose to remain silent and indifferent about it. He grabbed me by arm, "But nobody has to know", he grinned.
"Mike, please!", I said very unenthusiastically and uninterested.
"C'mon Kate, we are getting married. Stop being so distant!", he pulled me to himself and leaned in for a kiss but I blocked it with my hand.
"Your mother is here", I whispered to him nervously trying to push him away.
"She won't know; I know you're good at keeping your voice down", his grin widened as he tried to pull me in the changing room.
"Mike NO!", I said putting all the weight in my voice.
"Hey Chris wants to talk... to you", Leon said walking in the changing area.

(Leon's POV)

Mike looked at me and slowly let Kate go. Kate almost hurried to me and took her phone off my hands, which I had received on her behalf when she was changing out of her dress. She mumbled a 'thanks' and for a mere fraction of a second I thought I saw tears in her eyes. She exited the changing area talking on the phone. Mike was giving me death glares and for the first time I couldn't help but return it back because I was more than sure that those tears in her eyes was because of him. I didn't want to cause trouble so I exited the area too, as Mike headed inside the changing room. I walked back to Kate who was replying to Chris with Yes and No.

It was not before Mike's mom showed up in her custom made dress, she might have ordered for the wedding ceremony. And the designer and assistant got busy with all the complaints she had about the dress. Soon thereafter, Mike also walked in the area clad in his Grey suit that was probably his wedding suit. He walked straight to the Kate, who just got off the phone, and she turned her attention to him as well.

"Wow, you look really great!", Kate complimented him and he just smiled, "Anyways I already got our wedding rings!", Kate turned to her bag and retrieved the ring box.
"Woah, how much it cost?!", was the first thing Mike asked totally taken aback by the rings, "You didn't spend more than necessary right?", he looked at her speculatively.
"No, I didn't it's under budget", Kate said and pulled out the cash receipt, "See!"
Mike took the receipt from her, looked at it in confirmation and then looked back at the rings for a better look, "They look perfect for us", he said content with her choice.
"I know you'd like it", Kate said with a smile of excitement.
"I did! I did!", he said with a smile, "You have a great choice."
"Thanks! But Leon helped a lot", she told him looking at me and his smile faded as he turned to look at me.

"Kate, can we talk?", Mike said looking at her straight.
"We are talking Mike", she said in confusion.
"Yeah but I'd like to have a word with you in private", he said emphasizing the last word, looking from her to me.
"Yeah sure", she said to him, "Excuse us a moment", Kate said to me smiling either oblivious or ignorant about the seriousness of the situation.

Mike and Kate walked a safe distance away from me, so I couldn't hear what they were saying. I knew, it was better to leave them alone to sort their personal matters but I decided on staying behind, within Kate's reach, in case she needs my help. Mike looked angry and although Kate hid it very well but there was something going on when I walked in on them earlier. I watched them as they had their conversation; it seemed Mike was asking her some things and she was explaining it to him. With each passing minute they were getting angrier and more frustrated.

"He's doing what you're supposed to be doing, taking out time to help me out", Kate yelled at Mike losing her calm. Mike didn't say anything but he sure looked guilt ridden now, "C'mon Leon, we're leaving!", she said walking back to me.
"Kate!", Mike tried to stop her as she collected her things and grabbed her bag.
"I don't want to talk to you", she said and dragged me out.
"How dare you talk to my son like that!", Mike's mom yelled after us as we exited the shop.
"Kate?!", I called out to her as we made our way to my car.
"Let's just go home", she said not looking at me, her face was clouded by her hair.
"I'll get the car then, wait here", I said and she responded by nodding.

I dragged my feet away from her, when I just wanted to hold her in my arms and comfort her. I wanted to close my eyes to the fact that Mike wasn't the right person for Kate. Every time I crossed paths with him, there was no such time when he didn't hurt Kate. I kept telling myself it's alright, that happens between couples, it's normal, it's natural, it's okay, it will be fine, Mike regrets his mistake, Kate would pull through, Kate would work it out, Kate can do this; but for how long does my rationale wants me to fool my heart and give it false hopes that Kate is happy or would be happy with Mike, 'but well she'd be much better off with him than me', I thought sadly and let out a sigh.

I unlocked my car blocking a thousand thoughts floating on my mind. I got in the car and drove to the place, where I left Kate standing, waiting for me and as I drew nearer I saw she was with Mike. Mike was facing me and Kate had her back towards me; he was saying something to her and then they hugged. I felt my world crashing down seeing Kate in arms of another guy but this is what I wished for right? So why do I feel so miserable? I snapped out of my thoughts and looked away from the scene, even though things were going the way I wanted them to, but it wasn't bringing me any happiness.

Shadow whined and I looked at him. He lightly nudged my arm with his head and then looked through the car windscreen at Kate as if saying, 'go to her, you know you want to.'
I just smiled and patted his head, "You know I can't", I said to him and he whined in response.

There was a knock at the car window and I looked up to see Kate smiling at me. She signaled me to unlock the door for her and I did. She pulled open the door and I heard Mike say, "You sure? I can always drop you home."
"Leon is not my chauffeur, Mike. I came with him so it's much more appropriate if I leave with him", she said to Mike pretty monotonously for being herself.
"I understand", He said with a nod and she got in and the closed the car door.
"You can leave with him if you want to, I don't mind", I told her keeping my tone emotionless.
"It's fine", she said care freely waving her hand.

"Kate just now he got mad because of it", I tried to beat sense into her again.
"It was his fault for not giving me his time", Kate said to me, "you don't worry about it. He's kind of obsessed about me but I have to fake my anger so he doesn't over do it."
"So that was you faking your anger?!", I asked her in confirmation because it didn't seem that way, she seemed genuinely angry.
"Of course!", she lied to me, "you know I never get angry. Don't tell Mike but I actually kind of like this obsessive-possessive behavior a bit!"
"I see", I said in response, giving her a piercing look that could easily see through her every lie.
"Shall we head for home now?", she asked me, looking ahead avoiding my gaze.
"Yeah", I replied turning the keys, starting the engine.

Kate waved Mike good bye as I pushed down the accelerator and the car started to roll into motion. All through the drive we kept on talking and joking as if no drama took place a few moments ago. I felt that it was my duty to make her feel happy, in her stressful moments. It was the last thing I could do for her; it was the only thing I could do for her without making situation any worse. It was evident that our friendship was suffering from something like a terrible, terminal disease and would die out once she gets married. And the only thing that could be done was to make enough happy memories during its last breath.

A/N: Thanks for taking out time to read the chapter. I hope you all liked it and I apologize for any sort of grammatical mistakes or typos that might have caused a hindrance. Just five more chapters to go before the end. See you all next week, may all you have a great time!