A/N: I am very grateful to all the readers for their support and I would like to specially mention GrayFox786 and hodhod2011danger for reviewing the last chapter. Thank you all for all your encouragement! This is a double update so be sure to read both the chapters!
Disclaimer: I don't own Resident Evil or any of its characters; they belong to Capcom.
Chapter 52
(Leon's POV)
I sighed out of relief as I made my way to my car; I was done with looking after Ashley for today at least. I looked at my watch it was a little over 8:00PM, way too early for me. I might have the pleasure to have dinner with my wife and just thinking about which made me smile. I was in middle of this thought when my phone rang. I took it out and saw that Leslie was calling me.
"Hello", I answered, taking the call.
"Hey Leon!", Leslie said from the other end, "Are you busy?"
"No, I am not. I was just heading home", I told her, "How can I help you?", I asked her unlocking my car.
"Well we were thinking if you could pick us from our place, we want to spend some days at your place", she said stating her business.
"Yeah sure, I'll be there in a few so be ready", I agreed to her demand.
"Yeah we are ready and will be waiting for you", she said happily.
"Okay so see you in a bit", I said getting in the car.
"Yeah", she said and disconnected.
I straight away drove my car to Kate's maiden home to pick up the twins. When I rang the door bell I was greeted by their mother, who was super surprised to see me, "Leon, what a pleasant surprise! Kate's not with you?!", she said looking over my shoulder.
"No, I am coming straight back from work", I told her as she let me in the house, "Hank's in the living room, looking after Kevin", she told me and then yelled to Kate's dad, "Hank, Leon's here!"
"Leon, what a pleasant surprise, everything fine at work?", he asked casually not letting his concern show.
"Yeah everything's fine!", I told him and Kate's parents looked at each other in an awkward silence, "I am here to pick up twins", I told them getting the point that they might have been a little concerned with my odd hour visit.
"Jess, Leon is here!", Leslie yelled to her twin, "Give us a second Leon we'd get our stuff."
"Leslie!", her mom yelled after her, "Excuse me a bit", she excused herself, almost making a run after her daughter.
"Take a seat Leon, it might take a while", their dad said offering me a seat and I sat down on one of the sofa chairs.
"Thank god I thought you and Kate, decided to split or something", he sighed in relief, as he resumed playing with his grandchild.
"Not yet", I tried to humor him.
"So how's she doing?", he asked me with a laugh, getting my joke.
"She's fine", I assured him.
Her dad looked over his shoulder and then spoke in almost a whisper, "And I hope you two don't fight too much?"
"Things have been a bit smooth for us now", I told him the truth.
"That's great!", he exclaimed and then turned his attention back to Liz's kid. And I looked at grandfather-grandson pair for a bit too, "So I can be hopeful you'll be having one of these little guys soon", he smiled at the baby, pulling him up on his lap.
"As much as you'd like to think it that way, things are not like that between us", I told him and he gave me a look of confusion, "We are not that intimate", I stated the fact.
"So you are saying there are no weak moments between you two?", he asked very much surprised.
"Umm… well a couple of times", I answered recalling the incidents. Her father looked at me hopefully, so I had to add, "It was nothing more than a few kisses and hugs, just in the heat of the moment."
"Just kiss?", he asked and I nodded, "Oh my I thought that it was…", he broke off as we heard the footsteps of twins and their mom, making their way to us.
"C'mon Leon let's go", Leslie said pretty much formally.
"I don't understand why are you bothering them on weekdays?", their mom asked them as we started to move out.
"Well we miss Kate a lot and want to see and spend some quality time with her", Leslie lied through her teeth acting all melodramatic.
"Haven't both of you seen her just yesterday?!", her mom asked in surprise as we got out and headed towards the car.
"And that made us realize how much we miss her", Jessica said following Leslie's lead.
Kate's mom began to say something and Leslie's shushed her, "No, mother don't stop us because we won't stop", she said continuing her act and hugged her mom as if she was going on a very long trip.
"Yes it's very difficult to leave you behind", Jessica said hugging her too, "we entrust the Cornor family in your hands mother, take care!", she added as her mother gave them a confused look.
"Kevin you'll be missed", they both chorused and baby in their dad's arms chuckled.
"Leon, take us to our loving and caring sister", Leslie said to me and they both got in the car.
Their mother looked nervously at them and then she turned to me, "I am sorry for the bother, Leon", she apologized to me.
"It's nothing, it's fun when they are around plus Kate loves their company too", I told her the truth.
"It's very nice of you but I just hope they don't cause trouble for you two. I am incapable of reading their motives", she admitted looking at the twins that were already in the car waiting for me.
"Don't worry about it", I said to her and she smiled, "We'll take your leave now", I added getting in the car myself and drove towards home.
After getting a considerable distance the twins sighed in relief, "I thought she won't let us off", Jessica said dropping her melodramatic act.
"Yeah thank god! We were so close to being held back", Leslie agreed with her.
"But now it's good riddance", Jessica said relaxing on the back seat.
"I feel bad for Kevin though", Leslie said sounding sad.
"Yeah but he'd be with mom and dad tonight", Jessica said resounding her sister's sadness.
"What are you two talking about?", I asked them because they were not making any sense.
"It's Liza's anniversary today", Leslie told me.
"So?", I still didn't get what they were talking about.
Jessica slapped her up the head, "He doesn't know it", she said to Leslie.
"Oh yeah, sorry about that", Leslie apologized realizing something.
"Well you see Liza is really loud", Jessica said trying to explain.
"She sounds normal to me", I said confused and doubted my ears for a bit, "I mean Ashley, she's loud."
"Not in Ashley sort of way loud", Leslie said shaking her head, "Liza's really loud in bed."
"Yeah and our room is next to hers", Jessica added on the info, "She's so loud that she disturbs everyone's sleep."
"And since Sam got a dinner planned for the anniversary, so she got a surprise planned for him too", Leslie explained, "you getting what I mean, right?", and I nodded in confirmation.
"And for the sake of our sleep we decided to go to your place for some time", Jessica finally concluded.
"I see", I responded getting the whole situation and tried to block the flashes of last night's incident.
"If our parents knew the real reason they wouldn't let us come for sure", Jessica said.
"Yeah and our sleep's very important", Leslie said making a point.
The whole way they talked about something or the other, with them around someone could hardly get bored and it also kept me distracted of the incident. I pulled the car on parking and the twins ran with their bags to the porch but instead of ringing doorbell impatiently like they always do, they just stood there waiting for me,"Ring the door bell", Leslie said giving me a wide smile.
"No need I have keys", I said reaching for it and showing it to them.
"No, we want to surprise Kate", Jessica said revolted.
"Please!", they both requested.
"Fine", I said rang the door bell and both of them hid behind me.
We waited for Kate to open the door and when she did twins jumped in front of her yelling, "Surprise!"
Kate's face turned red and she grabbed hold of their ears, "What were you guys thinking?!", she let them in but didn't let go of their ear.
"What are you talking about, we just wanted to surprise you", Jessica spoke up, "it hurts let us go!"
"I am not talking about that", Kate said letting go of their ears and we moved to the living area, "I am talking about the… about the thing you put in my shopping bag."
"Oohh", they both chorused, "we just thought Leon would like it", and they both looked at me as I took a seat on the couch.
"I loved it!", I told them the truth, with an appreciative smile.
"Thanks!", they both chorused.
"Don't encourage them!", Kate said to me furiously.
"I am just telling the truth", I told her shrugging.
"Urgh… I can't deal with you three now", she said walking away and my eyes followed her.
"We'll get our things settled", twins said rubbing their ears and left for upstairs too.
I rested my head on the back of the couch trying to relax a bit, since now that I was alone the incident was already open. It was hard to put a cap on it as I found my thoughts drifting to Kate, Kate in that dress and how Kate is in bed, "What are you thinking about?", I heard someone ask.
"How's Kate in bed", I sort of blurted out and when the realization hit me I looked to my side.
To my left was Leslie giving me her infamous Cheshire grin and to my right was Jessica, "Don't ever let Kate know of it", Jessica said as if parting valuable wisdom.
"Well she's probably a virgin", Leslie added casually, "so no one knows."
"How'd you know?", I asked her sitting up straight.
"She's just guessing", Jessica said dismissively.
"I have a logical explanation", Leslie said sounding important.
Both Jessica and I gave her a surprised, more of a shocked look, "You?! Logical explanation?!", I said.
"Oh c'mon first hear me out", Leslie said throwing her hands in air.
"Okay go on", Jessica encouraged her.
"First, we never saw any boyfriends either going in or coming out of her bedroom and she didn't have that many suspicious night outs either. Second, she was never caught in bed with anyone, when her room is just across mom and dad's room. I mean think about it, Liz was caught so many times", Leslie said.
"Hello? She was loud as hell", Jessica said reminding her.
"Yeah but my first deduction is true and adding to the first two the third, is that she would even hit Leon if he tried to get close to her. Fourth, despite the weak moment nothing actually happened between the two of them", she counted on and briefly looked at me for confirmation.
"True", I said standing up, "I agree with her, there's a 90-95% chance", I added walking backwards.
"Of what?", Kate asked as I bumped into her. She was holding up a laundry basket with freshly washed clothes.
"Nothing!", the three of us chorused, she seemed pretty much furious; still it didn't deter any of her sex appeal but more of added on to it.
Kate narrowed her eyes as she scanned each of our faces, "You guys are up to something, aren't you?", she asked giving me particularly, an inquisitive glare.
"We were just wondering if you are a virgin", I came out with it. I didn't see the reason I should hide it from her, "and we all came to the conclusion that there is at least 90% chance that you are."
Kate's face turned red and again I couldn't figure it out if she got even more furious or just started blushing, "What gives you that idea?", she said walking away.
"Well you awfully behave a lot like one", Leslie said it before I could.
"Exactly!", I supported her.
"You guys really!", she started to move away shaking her head in disbelief.
"See she didn't even deny that", Leslie said to me making a point.
"Think whatever you want to think", Kate said keeping the suspense.
"So you're not going to tell us?", I couldn't help but say and she stopped to look at me.
"You want to know?", She asked raising her brow.
And before I could say answer Leslie spoke, "Leon, it's more than obvious that…", she was saying when it all happened fast and she stopped in middle of her sentence.
Kate dropped her laundry basket, grabbed my collar and kissed me as passionately as ever. As surprised as I was in the beginning I responded to it as fast as I could, pulling her impossibly close and returning that fiery kiss. She wrapped her arms around my neck and I wrapped mine around her waist. The deep kiss lasted at least a big whole minute before we pulled away. Kate gave me a smile as if saying 'Now you know', before picking up the laundry basket and moving away, leaving me and a pair of shocked twins behind.
"What just happened?", Leslie finally spoke totally dazed about the scenario, she witnessed.
"She's definitely not a virgin", I told them looking at Kate as she climbed the stairs. Her mere kiss was enough to prove it to me. Sure we had kissed before but they all were tender and sweet but this one was plain hot and sexy. It sure made me more curious about her, but I knew for sure that this was nothing more than a teaser compared to what she really had in store.
(Leon's POV)
I just tried hard to throw the kiss out of my mind but it was corrupting my mind like a virus. As if the incident with nightdress wasn't enough Kate had to go ahead and kiss me. I found myself drifting to thoughts about Kate and the kiss whole evening. Fortunately I am an agent so it didn't quite as much show on my face. I sighed staring at starlit sky as I lounged on one of the chairs in the balcony, "Are you alright?", I looked in the direction of voice and saw Kate standing by my side. Unfortunately for me Kate could always read me like a book.
"I am fine", I replied as she reached down to check my temperature.
"So what happened?", Kate asked taking a seat by my side facing me.
"Nothing", I told her sitting straight, "Where are the twins?", I asked changing the subject.
"They are watching prime-time shows as always", she told me. We looked at each other for a moment, without sharing a word caught in a moment.
I cleared my throat, "Pretty awkward moment", I couldn't help but say.
"Yeah", she said and meant to get up but before even my mind could register it, my hand grabbed her arm.
"Sit with me", I requested her and she resumed her position.
"You sure you're okay?", she asked again looking deep in my eyes and I nodded.
"I was wondering…", I began but didn't know how to say it to her.
"What?!", she asked with weakest of her smiles, her eyes still trying to read me.
"How long can we…", I tried to choose the right words, "…can we… uh…"
"Can we… what?", she encouraged me.
(Kate's POV)
"Can we not have an argument and live", Leon said and broke out laughing.
"Idiot", I couldn't help but say but I was sure, he didn't want to say that, "I am going inside", I told him getting up.
"Don't like to be with me?", he asked as I began to move away.
I looked back at him and he was very serious, "Okay so… what's going on in your head?", I asked him again sitting by his side.
"Just read my mind, like you always do", he said shrugging.
I didn't know what to say to him and just then my phone buzzed and both of us looked at it. It was Leon's mom calling, "Hello", I answered before the call disconnected.
"Hey, Kate sweetie! How are you doing?", Leon's mom asked.
"I am fine", I answered and looked at Leon.
"How's that fool of a son?", his dad asked, as Leon got up and began to walk away.
"He's….", I was about to answer but my eyes followed Leon and I didn't reply.
"Kate, are you okay?", his dad asked as Leon went back inside.
"Yeah I am fine and Leon is fine as well", I answered and all of a sudden felt a bit cold.
"Are you busy? We are not disturbing anything are we?", his mom asked concerned.
"No, not at all", I answered her, rubbing my arm a bit for warmth.
"So he's home yet", Leon's Dad asked me hiding his concern for Leon, "He must be off at work right now, isn't he?"
"No, actually he's home", I answered him.
"Oh, let me talk to him", his mother said excitedly.
"Ah yeah let me find him", I said and turned to walk inside but came face to face with Leon, didn't he just walk back inside, "Leon, you scared me!"
"I forgot my Jacket", he said moving to take his jacket.
"Your mom wants to talk to you", I told him stretching out my arm to hand him the phone.
Leon looked at me briefly and took the phone, "Hello?", he answered, "I am fine mom", he answered monotonously. He waited for his mom to speak and then said, "I get busy with work and when I am home it just slips my mind", he sighed throwing his jacket back on the balcony chair moving next to the railings. He again waited to listen to her, "No, mom it's not like that", he turned to face me, "I don't know, you ask her", he looked at me. He again waited for her mom to speak, "Oh she said that", he gave me an amused look as his mother spoke on the other end, "Okay I'll do that", he replied, "Yeah you too take care and goodnight!"
Leon disconnected the call and handed back the phone, "Why are you so happy all of a sudden?", I couldn't help but ask. A moment ago he was a poker faced doll, which got me really worried, but now I could say he was back to himself.
"Nothing", he replied flopping back on the balcony chair again still smiling, "Want to join me?", he asked and I took the adjacent seat. He stretched his arm offering his jacket to me.
"Won't you be cold?", I asked him taking the jacket and pulling it on my shoulders.
"I am not cold right now", he answered, "Besides I know you'll look after me if I fell sick."
"Leon!", I said warningly and then there was a moment of silence between us in which we just looked at each other as if in some sort of denial but it wasn't anything negative.
"You know, when I offered my jackets to other women they said, 'thanks Leon! That's really sweet.' And you… you scold me, I can never understand what you want", he said looking at me in disbelief.
(Leon's POV)
"You provide me with everything I need without me ever telling you to", Kate said to me warmly, "What more could I ask for?"
"But I still need to know what you want", I reasoned with her, "I am your husband."
"Umm… let's see", she thought for a bit, "I want you to eat healthy, sleep well and of course pay the bills."
"That cannot happen", I couldn't help but say smiling at her, "And you know that."
"I know", she said in an understanding tone, with a smile as well. Just then Shadow came and gave a bark.
"I better take him for a walk", I said, "He doesn't get enough time for walks", I added getting up.
"Hmm", Kate got up too, "Here take your Jacket."
I took my jacket from her and then came another bark and Shadow slightly pulled at the hem of Kate's dress, "I guess he wants you to tag along", I told her smiling and Shadow gave another bark in confirmation.
"Okay", she shrugged and we descended down the stairs. She informed the twins about it, who were so absorbed in TV that they only said a yes.
We walked in silence, without exchanging any words. Shadow was as usual running some distance ahead of us, where we could easily see him. I looked at Kate briefly before looking on ahead. There were times when we remained silence because we just wanted to avoid arguments and then there were these awkward silences, where we both, well at least I do want to talk, but I don't know what to say. Maybe I should start an argument; no it might have its negative effects. Maybe I should just flirt but then she'd eventually tell me stop, even when she likes it. Maybe I should share something with her, something trivial as… like work maybe, well that would just bore her to death. I sighed out of distress.
"…. Phone", Kate said something.
"What?", I asked her; ironically I was too busy with my thoughts of her that I couldn't pay attention to her.
"Your phone is ringing", she repeated.
"My phone?", I repeated and indeed there was the ringing sound of my phone. I took it out and it disconnected.
"Is something bothering you?", Kate asked again.
"No", I replied shaking my head in negative, "What made you think that?", I asked her with a smile.
"Well I don't know, you look a little lost", she answered shrugging, "If you tell me maybe I can help."
"Actually sweetheart you're only one who can help", I thought out aloud kicking a pebble.
"What do you mean?", she asked in a confused tone.
I slapped my face, "I said that out loud, didn't I?", I couldn't help but say and she nodded, "Well I was thinking about the kiss we had earlier this evening."
"What's so special about it? It was nothing different than any other kiss, was it?", she asked me in a very casual tone.
"Of course it was special. It was our first mutual kiss and the one I didn't have to steal from you", I told her.
"Umm… not really", she said thinking a bit.
"What do you mean?", I asked her.
"Well our first mutual kiss was even before we got married, when you came to see me that night", she reminded me, "Actually we had one to many mutual kisses."
"Those were in the heat of the moment", I couldn't help but say.
"True", she answered thinking, "but they were far more, better than the kiss you are talking about. Even the kisses you steal are far better than that one", she said seriously making a point.
I realized that indeed what she was saying was true. The kiss that had been in my mind was just an act to prove something to twins but the kisses I stole and ones we had in the heat of the moment plainly conveyed our feelings to each other. Even if it was in the heat of moment, there were some suppressed feelings involved. I couldn't help but remember our very first kiss. It was one of the most passionate kisses of my life, that I wasn't able to throw it off mind for weeks, "It's funny how awkward and sudden our first kiss was.", I thought out loud.
Kate gave me a nod, "Well more importantly, let's head back home. I am kind of cold", she rubbed her arms.
"You should have said so", I said taking off my jacket. I whistled to Shadow signaling him to head home whilst handing my jacket to Kate.
"Won't you be cold?", she asked not taking my jacket.
"You can thank me by looking after me", I said pushing my jacket in her hands, "However, like I said before, if you fall sick I can't possibly look after you."
"Yeah you'd rather be at work than look after me", she said pulling the jacket on as we walked back.
"It's not like I don't care about you, it's more like Hunnigan won't let me off", I told her sighing.
"I was kidding! I know you care", Kate said to me, "It's just that you have a weird way of showing it."
(Kate's POV)
Leon smiled for some unknown reason, "And that's why you love me?", he flirted again.
"Don't be so full of yourself", I replied a bit annoyed.
"So you don't then?", he asked, what I think, seriously.
"That is for me to know and you to find out", I said to him smiling.
"Now how am I supposed to do that?", he asked throwing his hands in the air.
"Think", I said shrugging and walked ahead.
"Can't you be more obvious?", he asked catching up to me.
"I can't be more obvious", I told him and mentally smacked him for being such an idiot.
"I suck at this you know", Leon stated the obvious.
"Doesn't take a genius to figure out", I said rolling my eyes.
"Yeah, so just tell me already?", he said being a bit impatient.
"What?", I asked playing dumb, as we stepped on the porch.
Leon slapped his forehead, "Don't go in circles", he almost scolded me.
"Why are you yelling at me", I acted innocently.
"Just forget about it", he sighed in defeat and the look on his face was really cute. He pushed open the main door and just as we entered the house Leon's phone rang, "Hunnigan", he sighed seeing her name on the screen.
Leon walked away to answer the call while I just joined the twins. They were watching some movie. A few minutes after I joined them, they both were more interested in the walk for which Leon and I just went. Since I was as usual annoyed by their questioning I pretended to be sleepy and headed to our bedroom. I changed into my sleepwear and settled with a book on the bed. It was just a little into it when Leon entered the bedroom and I looked up briefly to acknowledge his presence. He didn't say anything and proceeded to bathroom to change into his sleepwear. He lied down beside me moments later and let out a heavy sigh.
"When are you going to sleep?", Leon asked me.
"It would take me a while", I told him concentrating on my book and added, "But I know you're tired, so just sleep", I dimmed the lights knowing full well that he couldn't sleep with too much light.
"Maid is the killer", Leon said spoiling yet another plot for me.
I sighed saying, "Thanks!", in an obvious sarcastic tone.
"You're welcome!", he replied with that annoying grin of his.
"I can't believe that you have read all the novels that I read", I couldn't help but say unbelievingly.
"Pfft… I don't read crap!", he said taking the book from my hands and keeping it aside.
"How do you know the end?", I asked him puzzled as I switched off the lamps and lied down next to him.
"Don't have to go through whole book to know the end, I just read the end for moments like this", he told me closing the gap between us, "Good night!", he added closing his eyes.
"Good night and sweet dreams!", I wished him trying to get some sleep as well.
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. See you all next week, may all you have a great time!
