As predicted, I didn't sleep much. I found it amazing that even after all this time Wesker seemed to think I caught a cold that day. I was somewhat under the impression that he used to know about my feelings, not that I fully understood what I was feeling back then, but I guess not. I understood that back then it wasn't common for men to be gay- I guess it would be more accurate to say gay people hid it at all costs out of fear so people didn't suspect that's what was going on. But I always thought Wesker knew everything and saw through everything. I guess he was more human than I gave him credit for but what was his excuse now? I mean he was obviously reliving it as he wrote and he caught me blushing, did he really still believe I was sick? I guess I wasn't so obvious about it except for that day so maybe it was easy to write off as odd behavior caused by a cold given the circumstances.

All through my workout and my shower, I couldn't stop making mental notes between his behavior when he was human, when he was a monster, and now. The comparisons were beginning to blend together, too many overlaps and bias formed opinions. Human, monster, now. What did that mean? Did I consider him not to be a monster anymore- no, he's done too many horrible things to be redeemed of that. Not by a very long shot. But maybe since I was currently seeing more of his humanish side, I was starting to see him as something else. As I made my way out of my room, I found myself being even more glad that we agreed he wasn't a god. If he changed again and actually became a god, even if it was just in his own mind, he would be too far gone… he would be out of my reach. But… did that mean I actually thought I could save him? What was I supposed to save him from exactly? He was the bad guy. Or maybe I was right before in thinking that he was changing for the better now that he was finally free from Spencer. He was truly evil and he made Wesker into what he was… maybe I could help him change back into a human. Maybe he wanted that too and that's why he set this up.

"Chris?" I was snapped out of my thoughts and was suddenly faced with Wesker, standing too close to me with a strange expression. I was standing in his doorway and he seemed to want out but I was in his way. When did I open his door? How long have I been standing here? "Are you alright? Your mind has often been elsewhere as of late." he questioned and I blinked my heavy eyes a few times before nodding as I rubbed at them.

"Yeah… yeah, just tired." I answered as I stepped out of his way so he could finally exit his cell.

"Go back to sleep." he told me as he stepped into the kitchen for a water bottle. "I'll prepare some food and coffee when you awaken."

"I can't sleep." I shook my head and sat on the couch.

"Perhaps you should try a little longer." he suggested as he sat next to me, a bit closer than usual. When the thought of asking him to come with me entered my mind, I crushed it down in an instant but then it was followed with the words he spoke in my mind last night. The images came back to me now that he was near me and my face was warming up and there was nothing I could do to stop it in my exhausted state.

"Um… yeah, maybe I will." I jumped up and quickly went back to my room, locking the door behind me. Maybe it was better that I just stay away from him today. He was right though, I should try to sleep some more if I wanted to be more vigilant. I crawled back into bed and closed my eyes, forcing away thoughts of a certain blond man.

About an hour passed and I still wasn't any closer to falling asleep despite how hard it was to keep my eyes open. How could I be this tired and still not sleep? It was getting too frustrating to stay in bed like this as if sleep was taunting me and I was never able to catch it. So I got out of bed to find a distraction but I was again faced with the problem of there being nothing to do. So I left my room. Wesker was on the couch with his notebook and raised a questioning brow at my appearance.

"Why are you finding it so difficult to sleep?" he asked as he lowered the notebook from where he had been writing in it.

"I wonder." I shot back and instantly regretted it though I wouldn't admit that to him. He looked at me in annoyance but said nothing as he went back to his writing. I sighed and sat down in my spot as I rubbed my eyes again.

"Are you hungry?" he asked without looking at me. I rested my head back and flopped my arms to my sides.

"No." I groaned, knowing that wasn't what he wanted to hear.

"Can you eat?"

"I don't know." I shrugged.

"Will you eat?" he tried again and I thought about it with a long exhale. I didn't want to but I knew he would pester me about it later if I didn't. I was thinking I would be able to deal with it better later than I could right now but he might try to lecture me now if I said no and that I couldn't deal with at the moment.

"Sure." I gave in and he left his notebook and pen on the coffee table to get up and head for the kitchen. "You know you don't have to keep making me food."

"If I didn't, you would surely starve." he said with a smirk back at me and I actually smiled because I caught onto the playful tone in his voice. Funny… a few days ago I'd tell you Albert Wesker didn't have a sense of humor and now I was finding entertainment in his jokes… even when they bordered on flirtatious. Now I was wondering if he actually meant it like that or if he picked it up from how we all used to joke with each other around the office. Maybe he picked it up from other mercenaries he used to work with though I could only hope he didn't learn it from them.

I decided to lay down on the couch and mess around on my phone to kill time as I waited for my food, whatever it may be, to be done.

… … …

My eyes fluttered open to stare up at the ceiling and I was confused for a solid minute before I finally registered I was laying on the couch in the prison. I actually slept and I felt better for it. I yawned as I stretched my limbs, startling when my hand touched a person's head.

"Jesus!" I huffed as I shot upright, staring down at Wesker who was looking up at me in amusement. He was sitting on the floor in front of the couch with a textbook and a pen, his notebook still on the coffee table in front of him. "Fuck." I groaned as I laid back down. Did I really fall asleep with Wesker lurking around? That was dangerous… so why didn't I feel like I was in danger? "How long was I out?" I asked him as I checked my watch to see that it was late in the afternoon. The blond looked into the kitchen probably to check the time on the microwave before returning to what he was doing.

"A few hours." he told me blankly.

"Why didn't you wake me up?" I said that but I was already in the process of rolling onto my side to go back to sleep. I should at least go to my room… but I was comfortable.

"I've been saying you need more sleep- and you do," he stated before I could object. "so why would I then wake you as you were finally getting some rest?" I ignored him since I was cozy again. I closed my eyes and listened to his pen glide along the paper of the textbook in his lap and the crinkle of the pages as he turned them. It only then occurred to me that Wesker was still sitting with me instead of working at his desk- or anywhere else.

"Why are you here?" I asked tiredly without moving.

"I told you that you were not going to get the 'why' so don't fret over it." the blond responded with a sigh.

"No, I mean why aren't you doing… whatever that is, at your desk or something?" I corrected, still not opening my eyes though I noticed the noises of Wesker's writing stopped.

"Would you believe I simply enjoy your company?" he didn't sound like he was teasing me but… what else could he be up to? I opened my eyes to give him a confused look but his red eyes were already set on me. I hadn't been given tons of opportunities to learn the expression in Wesker's eyes but I was learning more and more that I didn't need to because it was all there. Longing red eyes bore into me and I couldn't look away. I didn't know what to make of this… so I avoided it.

"Are you doing homework?" Wesker sighed and turned back to his textbook.

"I suppose though I would be the teacher in that case. I'm correcting the errors and where they've oversimplified things." as he continued his explanation, I leaned closer to look over his shoulder to read some of the science passages. "I'm also adjusting their experiments and incorporating ideas for improved outcomes of the expected results."

"I don't understand any of that." I commented before he turned to give me an irritated look. I should have expected this but our faces were suddenly too close so I hurried to pull back. Ripe for teasing but Wesker didn't say anything about it so I wouldn't either.

"If you wish, I could try going over some of it with you." I stared down at Wesker, surprised by the offer but I was still too drowsy to really give enough attention to this and I didn't want to make a fool of myself.

"Later, yeah." I nodded shortly before resting my head back on the arm of the couch. "Too tired right now but I'll listen." he nodded back in understanding and turned back to what he was doing though now he was speaking his thoughts aloud and reading select passages from the textbook. I closed my eyes and listened to his calm voice, noting the gravelly tone it took when he found something he deemed as an error but the chuckle he would give to an interesting section. His scribbling on the page was rhythmic and his narrating was soothing. I felt calmer like this and though I was still a bit sleepy, I had slept enough that I didn't feel like I was going to doze off. But I totally could have with how comfortable this was- even if that still surprised me. "Wait, wait." I stopped him as I opened my eyes to skim over the textbook, trying to find the section he had just read. Something about the neutrons firing in the brain. "I've always wondered what that would do to you."

"What do you mean?" he questioned as he looked to where I was now pointing.

"I mean if your brain was destroyed, well assuming you could heal from that, what would happen to your memory?" he didn't answer as he continued rereading what he had just gone over. Maybe he was thinking about it. "Because your physical brain might be able to heal but it can't replicate the exact electrical triggers." I explained a bit more.

"That's… an excellent question." he stated slowly and I guessed he'd never thought about that. "You aren't making plans, are you?" he asked but there was no suspicion in his tone. I chuckled a bit and shook my head.

"No, I don't perform experiments on people for my own gain." I told him though as a surprise even to myself, there wasn't any malice behind the accusation. "I will admit I've wondered about it for years as an alternate way to deal with you." he thought about that for a moment before turning more to fully smirk at me.

"You wanted to save me?"

"What, no- not exactly!" I exclaimed, ignoring the tiny bit of heat coming to my cheeks because yes, I was thinking of ways to stop Wesker from being what he was without killing him. And if I thought that maybe if he didn't have the memories of everything that happened to him or what he was… maybe we could even get him to work on our side. So technically, yes, I was trying to save him… maybe I still was. But that was too immoral of a method, even for someone like Wesker so I never told anyone about these thoughts for fear of someone taking them seriously, not only with Wesker but maybe as a way of mind control. "I just thought if we couldn't kill you, it was something to possibly think about." he hummed knowingly but didn't tease me further.

"I suppose you're right though. Depending on what area of my brain was destroyed, it could theoretically damage my memory permanently. However I doubt even I would be able to survive my brain being completely destroyed so it would have to be done in sections and with careful precision." he explained and I sighed. "What is it?" he asked, looking more interested in the sour expression I wore.

"It's just so wrong." I shook my head. "I've never told anyone about this because well, I didn't want it leading to anything and-" my eyes widened and I suddenly made direct eye contact with him. "You wouldn't do anything with this, would you?" he chuckled at my fear.

"No Chistopher, I wouldn't." he reassured as he put his things on the coffee table and turned fully toward me. He placed one arm on the edge of the couch and leaned his head on his hand as he looked at me, both of us pretending not to notice that his elbow was touching my stomach. "While I'm not above mind control, I wouldn't use such slow methods. What you are thinking of would be much too tedious and the chances of survival for an average human would be slim. I don't have the time to waste replacing one's memories and training them to be loyal to me." I relaxed at his explanation, that made sense and I knew that was more like him. "I have a drug in the works that would achieve that goal much quicker." he added and I tensed again.

"What?"

"P30. It's a mind altering drug that makes the subject more susceptible to suggestion. It hasn't reached the testing phase yet but I was going to work it until it was strong enough that the subject would not be able to refuse an order from me." I glared at him as he talked. "I don't believe I would ever need it, I'm perfectly capable of getting what I want from people on my own. It was simply a project to occupy myself with." I rolled my eyes.

"What, so you experiment with new drugs and viruses for fun?" I asked skeptically more to be sarcastic than anything.

"Yes." he said seriously and I looked at him incredulously.

"Really?"

"I can become bored as well Chris and creating new things is not only my work but also like a hobby to me." he informed me with a smug look. "It's a good way to make money as well." he shrugged. "If something comes of my drabbles, I can sell it to add to my fortune."

"Fortune?"

"Yes Chris," he took on a complacent smirk. "I have the wealth to fund my own projects. I worked as a higher up in Umbrella since my teenage years and then also as the STARS captain while maintaining my position as a spy. I made good money back then and I still do. With my knowledge, skills, wealth, good looks, and alluring charisma I can have whatever I want." I continued to stare dumbfounded at him. Everything he said was true, I just couldn't believe he was rich since he didn't really show it yet at the same time it made sense. We made decent money in STARS though as our captain he probably made more than the rest of us and he was also working as an Umbrella spy at the time and god knows how much that paid. But his apartment was average and lacked anything aside from the basic necessities and he owned a modest car back then. From what I could tell the only thing he owned that would have been any dent into his budget would have been his wardrobe as he had rather classy taste in clothing and I knew everything was fit to him. I didn't doubt that's most likely still how he lived though probably more extreme now that he didn't have as much emphasis on human needs.

"I thought you got funding from the companies you worked with." I stated dumbly and he nodded.

"I do, it's one of the ways I've been able to accumulate so much for myself." I shook my head in disbelief with a deep breath as I looked up to the ceiling. "How about yourself?"

"I do okay." I shrugged, suddenly feeling underachieved compared to him.

"I'd venture that you mostly stay at the BSAA headquarters working or waiting on a mission." Wesker started and my eyes narrowed at him in annoyance at his hit on the head of the nail. "However I would think you have a small apartment you use to get away from everything. Although I can't imagine you spend much time there." my gaze left him and I sighed at my own darkening thoughts.

"Actually… I've been spending more time at home lately." he cocked his head to the side slightly at my admission. "I haven't told anyone else about this so I don't know why I'm telling you but…" I sighed again, still staring at the ceiling. "I keep wondering if the fight is worth it. Every time we stop an outbreak or a corrupt company, another one- or a dozen come up. It's like fighting a hydra but there's no source to stop them all because the whole thing is built on an idea." I rubbed my eyes. "I'm getting so tired of it all and I'm sick of losing friends. Thinking Jill was dead, well I would have given up if I actually believed it."

"Why don't you retire?" Wesker asked and my gaze returned to him with a shocked expression.

"And leave the fighting to everyone I love? Jill would never even think of quitting and my own little sister is continuing with this too. We save the world- already have a few times, I can't just back out of that." I told him as I watched him look me over.

"There are plenty of other dedicated soldiers that can fight in your place."

"But they're not me." I stated with a hard tone. I didn't actually think I was above anyone else, I trusted everyone in the BSAA to be able to do the right thing on the job to save lives. But… I just felt like I had to be the one to do it.

"As the perceived villain in your story, I can agree with that. You make it much more entertaining for me." he offered me a playful smirk that I returned and shook my head at him.

"Is that why you wanted me here?"

"Partly." I was about to ask what that meant when he changed the subject. "I was a little surprised you were considering a scientific approach to dealing with me." I scoffed and folded my arms again.

"You don't work against bioterrorists without knowing at least the basics of biology and virology." I was about to sit up but stopped myself, not wanting to disturb the comfort drifting nicely between us so I just adjusted how I was laying. "Me and Jill actually purified a new virus on a mission not long ago. It turned out there was a whole set up by our director- well, he just stepped down. He's a good man and had a good reason for what he did but it was still wrong and cost lives."

"Are you referring to BSAA Director O'Brian exposing FBC Commissioner Lansdale's involvement in the Terragrigia Panic?" we stared at each other for a moment and now I was a bit suspicious.

"I guess you know all about it." I prodded cautiously and he raised one shoulder in a half hearted shrug.

"I know the summary of what happened as I was too preoccupied with tracking Spencer to read through the full report. I was going to get back to it later. I'm aware of what occurred but I wasn't aware you were directly involved."

"Report? How did you get a report?" I asked suspiciously.

"I'm very resourceful and well connected Chris." he reminded me with a smirk. "However the company I'm currently working with did have spies aboard to retrieve a sample of the T-Abyss virus and that's who I have reports from."

"Spies? Who? There were only a few of us on board and- Jessica?" I shouted in shock and his smirk widened. "I thought she was Lansdale's spy?"

"She was double crossing him to work for us as well. Technically they're still under our employ should we need them again."

"I can't believe you worked with someone so unprofessional." I grimaced, remembering how she wouldn't stop flirting with me.

"I've never met her, it wasn't my operation to oversee." he replied. "I've never seen you act like this with a woman, what happened between you two?" there was a dark edge to the way he asked.

"Nothing she wanted." I huffed and rolled my eyes. "She spent the whole mission coming onto me despite me showing no interest, she never took the hint. Sure she's pretty but she's too vain and promiscuous, I wasn't about to become another of her conquests." Wesker smiled, seeming pleased with this. "Anyway, who else was working with you? I know it wasn't me or Jill and the only other people there were Parker, Raymond, and a woman -Rachael- that was killed." before he could answer, I continued. "It's Raymond, isn't it?"

"What makes you say that?"

"You said the spies are still 'under your employ' which means they're alive so that rules out Rachael. I trusted O'Brian and he seemed to trust Raymond but the only times I encountered him were under suspicious circumstances." I replied, sure of myself. "When Parker was assigned as Jill's new partner, I was sure to meet him and size him up. He's a good man and I trust him."

"You are correct." he nodded and I groaned. Raymond was still on the loose and no one suspected him of being a bad guy since he was working with O'Brian.

"Shit. I need to warn everyone else." I pulled my phone out of my pocket but Wesker grabbed my wrist with his free hand to stop me.

"Do it later, I'm enjoying our conversation." he still wore a satisfied smirk and I looked at him in bewilderment. 'Do it later' did he realize what was at stake if we continued to let him roam freely without suspicion? Jessica was already known not to be trusted and when we found her she was to be arrested but Raymond still had access to things he shouldn't. What if he stole something? "You can't arrest him without the evidence from my phone and I will not give that up until the end of the month." I groaned again, knowing he was right. Still, that didn't mean we couldn't keep an eye on him just to be sure he didn't try anything.

"I'll just text Jill." I told him and he slowly released my wrist. I sent my best friend a quick message to let her know that Jessica and Raymond both worked for the same company Wesker was with and stole the virus. I told her to get eyes on Raymond but not to spook him since we couldn't make a move on him until we got into Wesker's phone. She sent back an affirmative and told me I did a good job getting that information from him so I put my phone away. That was a good point, I hadn't even thought I was going to be getting anything from him but now I thought maybe I could get bits of information here and there. Hopefully he'd give me enough to make an arrest or two.

"Tell me more about your last mission." Wesker continued and I thought about it. The mission was kept under wraps due to the scandal but it wasn't like Wesker didn't already know about all that and he did have reports from both Jessica and Raymond. But it would still be wrong for me to disclose mission details to the enemy.

"Let's talk about something else." I said as I scooted up just a bit to sit up a little, Wesker didn't move so his elbow now pressed into my hip though not uncomfortably.

"Very well." the blond accepted the change though he tapped my legs as he stood up. Taking the hint, I bent my legs closer to me so he would have enough room to sit on the couch. He took his seat, sitting closer to me than he needed to and tapped his thigh. I watched him for a second, understanding that he was telling me I could put my legs across his lap but I wasn't comfortable with that so I pretended not to notice the invitation. "I apologize that you had to deal with Miss Sherawat's unwanted advancements." it wasn't entirely 'something else' but it wasn't anything that would have me talking directly about the mission so I allowed it.

"She wasn't the first person to put moves on me that I wasn't interested in but she definitely was the most persistent." I only shrugged though I noticed Wesker roll his eyes with an irritated expression. "What's wrong with you?"

"I too know the frustrations of persistent women." he sighed and I laughed. Not because I didn't believe it- he was very handsome, skillful, powerful, and apparently rich so of course he would have people falling for him left and right. But it was astounding to me that someone wouldn't back off the moment he set a glare on them.

"You? I bet you could easily put a stop to it if you wanted to." that was right so… why didn't he? It was obvious he wasn't interested so why put up with it?

"She serves a purpose so I can't get rid of her yet." he told me, still wearing that sour expression.

"So you just let her hit on you?"

"It's still early in our partnership but I see where she's trying to take it." he finally looked at me before he smirked. "Come now Chris, don't look at me like that. I won't allow her to actually try anything with me." he stated playfully and I blushed as I quickly turned my face away from him. I didn't realize I was making a face but I must have been for him to start teasing me again. It was true I got a little upset hearing about this but it wasn't like I was jealous or anything. I knew Wesker wasn't like that and I didn't have… what? Competition? That would imply I was pursuing Wesker myself and I wasn't- never would be.

"Whatever." I grumbled before silence drifted between us. A few minutes had passed and neither of us broke the silence so I pulled out my phone to check the news for anything important I should know about. I knew no one would want to tell me anything that was happening outside because it would only rile me up and make me more anxious to get out so I had to find out for myself.

After a while of browsing, I decided there wasn't anything worthy of looking into so I tucked my phone back into my pocket with a sigh. I needed something to do, the anxiety of just sitting around was getting to me again but I will admit that spending a good chunk of the night talking to Wesker helped to ease that. Not that I'm saying it was preferable, just that it was a good enough distraction for a time.

"Would you mind retrieving my letter?" the blond asked, finally disturbing the quiet and I just nodded before moving to go get it from my room. I handed it over and he went to burn it as I watched from the couch. This was becoming something of a routine and I found that I didn't mind, having some daily recurring events was good for my stability. Once Wesker was done with that, he stepped back over to me. "It's late, I think I'll retire to my room now." he stated as he gathered his things from the coffee table. I mentally corrected him about it being his prison cell but didn't speak it aloud.

"Okay." I nodded but didn't move as I watched him tear a few pages out of his notebook to leave out for me.

"Your food is in the fridge when you're ready for it." he told me as he turned to walk into his cell. I watched him reorganize things at his desk before beginning to strip off his shirt. My eyes widened and my face heated as I realized he was probably going to take a shower. I had a clear view of his shower from here and now the thoughts I had about him yesterday were flooding back into my head and I couldn't watch this! I darted into the kitchen where I couldn't see his bathroom and distracted myself with the food he made for me earlier. I hadn't realized it before but I was pretty hungry now.

I tried not to listen to the shower running or pay any attention to my wandering thoughts as I ate. The food was good, as it always was. As I've said before, I'd never seen the man cook before now but I couldn't imagine he would be bad at anything so I wasn't surprised that he had talent in the kitchen too. He lived alone and always had to take care of himself his whole life so it would make sense for him to be able to cook. After my parents died and I was suddenly responsible for myself and Claire, I learned how to cook but it was mostly just basic stuff.

The shower turned off and there was a small tug in my mind that wanted me to peek into his cell to watch him dress. I shook it away, blushing at the thought. I think I undressed him in my mind more than enough for the day.

"Chris." he called from his doorway and I looked up to see he was shirtless. I looked away and cleared my throat.

"What?" I asked as casually as I could while I picked at the remainder of my food.

"Are you going to lock me in?" I thought about it for a moment before shaking my head though I still didn't meet his gaze.

"You could just break the locks anyway and it's getting annoying. You can close your door if you want." I told him and noticed him studying me over the edges of my vision. I peeked up at him to catch him nod in understanding and go back into his cell. I slowly released a breath I didn't realize I held. I quickly finished my food and took care of my dishes before grabbing the papers left for me on the coffee table. Wesker hadn't closed his cell door so I peered in to see him lying on his back in bed. I couldn't tell if he was trying to sleep or just relaxing but his eyes were closed so… my eyes raked over his exposed torso, following the paths carved in his skin by his well defined muscles. I double checked that his eyes were still closed to ensure I hadn't been caught staring. I hadn't, so I made my way back to my room. I was feeling tense and hot again but didn't go over drills this time. Instead I just gave Wesker's most recent letter 'William' my full attention.

~ ... ~ ... ~ ... ~

It wasn't in my nature to be very competitive. As a scientist I worked alongside a team to reach our shared goals. Of that team, only Birkin was ranked as my equal and though we often didn't see eye to eye, we didn't compete so much as settle our differences with various tests to see who yielded the best results. At least I never viewed it as competition since it was a win no matter who had the better experiment. So long as it would progress our efforts even if it was not my experiment we were using to achieve it, I was satisfied. Though I've always been sure of myself and my actions, I cared more about the work than about my personal achievements. William however didn't like losing even if it was for the betterment of the project, he was at times overconfident in his work and always wanted to be on top. This was yet another difference between William and I, he wanted to be the best in every way and would become jealous and spiteful if anyone were to stand above him. He became distraught when I proved him wrong in a theory or he had to admit I had the more impressive findings following a debate. Despite our differences, we respected each other and he even fondly referred to me as his friend. I never shared the sentiment but I would admit he was as close to what one would refer to as a friend than anyone else I've known. I trusted him and that said a great deal.

William grated on my nerves as he courted Annette around the lab and often it would interfere with our work which always only accomplished to sour my mood. He even asked me for advice, knowing I had studied psychology since my earlier years. Seeing it as the only way to eventually get everyone's minds back on work, I helped him. He referred to me as his 'wingman' and I aided him in his attempts, something she always found amusing. They both knew of each other's feelings by this point and were merely toying with one another to see who would break first. I ended up playing both sides for my own entertainment. I only partook in this childish dance if I happened to be near one of them while working as I seemed to be the only one competent enough not to allow useless feelings to distract me. A sly word to her, a false hint to him. I pulled them together. An arrogant tone, a repulsive habit exposed. I kept them apart. I was stringing them both along, keeping them at bay from each other until the tension grew in the lab so everyone felt it. I wanted one of them to explode. Once they did, not only would it be a show of my own orchestration, but they would finally either drop the courtship or get together. Either way, silence would fall upon the lab once more and we could all return to work. I also predicted that they would trace it all back to me and know not to interrupt my work again for I was not only a genius virologist but I enjoyed psychological warfare.

And it all went according to plan. It was William to finally burst the tension and admit his feelings and they did hook up. Over the course of a few days, they shared what I had been saying to each of them and realized things didn't line up as they wanted them to. They tried to confront me about my disruption of their game. I simply told them that if they didn't want their game to be ruined, maybe they shouldn't play in the lab and disrupt everyone else because the rest of us had work to do. That shut them up. We did have to go through a period of them flirting and thinking they were so stealthy in stealing kisses around the lab. I once caught them having sex in a storeroom which deeply embarrassed both of them as I insisted on lecturing them first before leaving. They didn't do it again. It did eventually pass the longer they were together and they were no longer new and exciting to each other. Things were finally back to business as usual.

The two eventually married and brought a daughter into the world. William was so proud to be a new father and Annette was a glowing new mother. I had visited them at their home a few weeks after their daughter's birth. The pair had insisted that I meet the girl and while I saw no point to it, I complied since it seemed important to them. I watched the married couple gush over the newborn as Annette lifted the bundle from her crib to gently pass her to her father. The man then turned to me and gestured for me to take the infant.

"I would rather not." I simply told him and the blonde woman behind him giggled slightly.

"I think he's intimidated by her." she spoke conspiratorially to her husband and he laughed.

"She's small but she won't break." William reassured me and my eyes rolled behind the cover of my sunglasses.

"That's no worry of mine." I corrected them. "I simply don't wish to hold your infant child or any for that matter."

"Come on, you'll love her." he pressed so with a slow exhale, I reached out to carefully take the baby from his arms. I adjusted her into a comfortable position on my arm and looked down at her. "She's our greatest creation." William stated proudly and his wife beamed with agreement. My eyes studied the miniature person I held with a critical eye. Sherry was asleep so I couldn't see her eyes though I'm told they were blue and she had small blonde hairs poking out atop her head. Her cheeks were round and her hands balled into little fists. She weighed almost nothing and I thought only of how fragile she was. An accomplishment, she was not. Anyone in the world is capable of bringing new life in this way but only select gifted people were able to do what we did. I have seen William's creations, my own hand aided to bring new life to such strong creatures. Sherry was weak and the only attribute this child had going for her was the superior intelligence she would hopefully gain from her parents but it would be much too long before she would reach an age in which to utilize it.

"She's…" I paused as I searched for something appropriate to say at a time like this. "beautiful." I finished as I handed Sherry back to her mother who took her with an annoyed look, knowing I didn't mean it.

"Don't worry honey, it's nothing personal." the other man chimed in with a smile. "He just doesn't like kids but the fact that he tried says something." I nodded when the woman looked to me for confirmation and for once I was glad for William's interpretations into my thoughts. It wasn't exactly on point but it was good enough to keep the woman from being angry with me. I wouldn't care if she didn't allow her feelings to interfere with work and since I worked with her, well, it was best to keep everyone amicable.

"I'll be taking my leave now." I stated as I turned to the door but was stopped.

"Wait- already?" William called after me.

"Yes. I said I would stop by to meet Sherry and I have." regardless of knowing this was exactly how this would go, he still seemed disappointed. "I have work to do since the two of you have taken time off." I explained which I knew would silence any further complaints and it did so I was able to make my escape.

It was around this time that I began to grow more annoyed with my colleague as he was more insistent that I should find a wife and have a family as well. He persisted regardless of my continued statement of not being interested in leaving a legacy. Though it was under this persistence that I later had a one time fling with a foreign woman during my time in the US Army. Nothing 'sparked' as William said though he was sure it was just a result of it not being the right woman but I had lost interest in the nonsensical pursuit of 'love'. It did mercifully pass however and William delved back into his work, often even neglecting his child. It only strengthened my belief that 'family values' were worthless. Of course it was never in doubt that they still loved Sherry but all that talk just to leave her on her own a great deal of the time in favor of work.

Even after we went our separate ways, we kept in touch and continued to work together. The last time I saw him was when we were overseeing the reopening of the executive training school we had both previously attended. With the termination of two squads, we found it best to destroy the school. It was I who made the decision first to abandon Umbrella and encouraged William to do the same. We made a plan and set it in motion. That was the last I saw him. I later found out he was assassinated over his work but infected himself with it much like our former mentor. The G-virus had mutated him beyond recognition, he even attacked his own daughter as a way of reproducing the virus. The fool. I told him it wasn't controllable and the infection rate was practically zero, it was unstable which made it useless. Sherry was alright in the end, thanks to my pointman's younger sister Claire Redfield. I wondered how the G-virus would adapt in her body but never pursued the girl.

I never regret the things I do as I think carefully about my plans before acting. But in this instance… I regret what I didn't do. I should have aided William in his escape, knowing Umbrella would be coming for the G-virus as they were going down. Having to retain my cover of being dead meant I couldn't go myself but I could have hired another agent to see him out of NEST safely. Maybe then he wouldn't have succumbed to his work, killed his wife, attacked his daughter… maybe then he wouldn't be dead. I should have done more for my friend.

Another chapter done! No trick I see, what a shame. Just a warning, this is the point where I start to run out of finished chapters so I might be slowing down on updating a bit- but fret not for I am a passionate writer and nothing will stop me from seeing this through! I do at least have about half of the next chapter done... and I know what I'm doing for it... so yeah. Not in a great mood so not much to say, my deepest apologies.

See all you lovelies later! Arren out!