The characters from the game belong to Capcom. The OC's and story background belong to me.
Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

A/N: I'm not English native speaker, so you might find some typos or grammar mistakes, I do apologize for that.

The sky was covered with grey clouds, as the sun slowly rose high in the sky, warming up the very first and extremely cold wintery morning of 2013. The temperatures were low enough to freeze up even the biggest lake and the Lake of Bohma was not an exception.

Angelina Schmidt had taken temporary residence at the Lake House, after she broke up with her then boyfriend, George. Their relationship didn't exactly end up on a high note and their break up was quite a dramatic one but despite that they had eventually come to terms with each other and now shared a very cordial relationship. They owed that much to their lovely daughter, Olivia, who was currently staying at her father's place for the holidays, since the couple had her joint custody.

Angelina stayed in her bed, somewhat half-asleep, enjoying the warm blankets and the soothing silence of the area on that cold morning. She had become one of the famous painters in Bohma and made a living from her artworks, which weren't just limited to paintings anymore. She became a well-established author after the success of her book Forbidden Love that she wrote after her disillusion with Chris Redfield. The story vaguely based on the snippets of memories and experiences of her past life dreams became an instant hit and didn't take much time to become a best-seller that her audience demanded a sequel.

For the sake of the book she decided to stay at the lake property, so she could have some peace and inspiration to continue telling their love story from her perspective through a much anticipated sequel. Her work not only put money in her accounts but also served as a vent for all her bottled up feelings.

She yawned and stretched herself as she decided to leave the bed, so she could start her daily routine that basically included cooking and cleaning the house, and then writing. She reheated the soup from last night and took a seat on the dining table that overlooked the beautiful scenery of the lake.

She had almost finished her meal when she heard a noise outside the house and went to check it wondering if it could be an animal. She walked carefully on the snow, and noticed the barn's doors partially open. The fact that she was the only one living on the property and never go to the barn due to her fear of weird snaps, made her certain that the doors hadn't been left open by her.

She gulped letting out a heavy sigh, knowing that she didn't have an animal for an intruder but a person. She was picked up a block of wood and firmly grabbed it as she walked in a slower pace, reaching for the barn's door as silently as possible.

With a loud snap the door was pulled open and her heart jumped to her throat in fear. The person opening the door seemed equally startled. Angelina's eyes widened in surprised, as she recognized the person standing in front of her to be Chris Redfield.

Chris stared at the woman dressed in a white ruffled dress in absolute bewilderment, as if he had seen a ghost.

"Chris!" Angelina smiled in relief, dropping her makeshift weapon.

"Angely?" he whispered.

"What are you doing here?"

"Is that you?" he ignored her question still stunned to see her in person.

"Yeah…I'm me…" she chuckled.

"I can't believe it…"

"What? That I'm me?"

He frowned in confusion, "I thought…" he turned his face to look at the frozen lake and a flash of memories rushed in his mind; flashes of him carrying her in his arms as he left the water after swimming to the shore. He was desperate.

"Chris?"

He swallowed, pulling back from his memories and looked back at the redhead, who just stared at him in puzzlement. She was wearing a very similar white dress to the one she was wearing in his memory.

He raised his hands to his forehead, wondering if he is seeing things right. He knew her to be dead and now he could see her standing before him in flesh. He couldn't help but consider the thought if it was him, who had died and that's why everything had changed so much from what he knew.

His heart was accelerated in his chest, making him wonder if hearts beat in afterlife.

"Are you okay Chris?", Angelina asked in slight concern, due to the prolonging silence.

Just as she finished her sentence, Chris literally leapt forward and took her into a tight embrace. He thought Angelique had drowned and believed her to be dead all this time, but holding her close ailed the ache in his heart.

The man wasn't able to line up the actual order of events; he believed he had only four children but didn't recall Angelique had died many years after the end of Arthena and two years after Katarina gave birth to their twins.

The man's memory had been all jumbled up; not only the ones of Chris Redfield's but the memories of his own as well. There must have a reason for such a discrepancy of his own memories. However that hug worked for his own emotional release and all the inconvenient feelings about the redhead. He needed to solve that subject and as himself, not as Chris Redfield who tends to suppress his emotions and continue living as a mess, oblivious to his own learning.

Christopher Reed somehow worked as a valve to escape Redfield's suppression and that suppression stopped his own evolution.

Nothing is by chance.

On the other hand, Angelina was taken off guard by that hug and had mixed feelings about being in the man's arms. It had been a while since they hugged, last time being when they said goodbyes when he chose to give Katerina a chance. He had freely chosen the brunette of his own accord despite all the turbulence.

Angelina had a hard time overcoming that loss and respect his choice. She felt she had lost everything, including her own daughter at the same time. Once in this life Angelina had the perfect life and little trouble to handle, still she dealt with a weird sensation of emptiness despite having everything.

She didn't have to struggle much to have things. She had a good life in all aspects. She had a good and supportive mother, the "perfect" boyfriend who was always by her side, and their lovely daughter. She had become a famous painter and now a writer, but she didn't have the very thing or rather the person she thought was meant for her: Chris.

And she talked about that in her famous book: Forbidden Love.

He was her forbidden love and in the book his name was Christian. Somehow some of her readers were able to relate him to Christian from the folktale of Drowned Lovers and Christopher Reed in some aspects at times.

She never confirmed the sources of her inspiration for the story, even though she had been asked about it numerous times. That confirmation wouldn't make much of a difference because most people liked Angelique and the inhabitants always thought Christopher had chosen wrong and that was what she was giving them through her book. A version in which Christopher and Angelique were together based on the snippets of their lives; she being the only one having access to such details.

Her book was her therapy. Her book was her escape valve. Her book was her 'what if' world.

Chris released her and stared deeply in her eyes. He had to be sure she was real. He caressed her face and smiled, making her smile back. Their hearts paced up faster, beating as it weren't two but one. This was a much awaited and a further much needed encounter.

"Oh Angely…" he spoke caressing her cheek

Her legs trembled hearing him address her with that name. It felt as if she had been transported inside her own book, living the alternate version in which she didn't die.

She leapt into his arms with a quick move, enlacing her arms around his waist and looked up at him with a huge smile. He looked down at her and corresponded to her embrace.

Exchanging glances and smiles, the couple stood at the same spot, where Reed and Angelique stood once upon a time and made eternal promises. It felt as if the time had frozen just like the water in the lake.

Angelina raised herself on her toes and kissed his lips, acting on her impulse. It was time to unfreeze the time. Unfreeze the eternal promises. Realize that vow.

With a swift move, Chris stepped back and frowned with a serious expression. The cold breeze of the weather hit their bodies, making Angelina realize that she had forgotten to put her coat on. However, his cold move was colder than the weather. The look on his face made her shiver.

"What are you doing?" he spoke with an astonished look.

"…" she was speechless. She didn't expect his rejection.

Okay, maybe she should've, since he had already rejected her once. The only difference being that this time she managed to reach his lips that coldly didn't kiss her back.

"We can't do this!"

"Sorry…I…I'm sorry…I acted under an impulse because I didn't read right your signs…"

"What signs?"

"Never mind Chris…Again, I'm sorry…"

"Apology accepted, but this can't happen again. I'm married to Kat and despite everything she deserves my respect."

"Married?"

"Yes. Remember? I told you I was going to marry her when our divorced was finalized."

Angelina pulled up a confused expression. Divorce? What in the world was he talking about? Was he married to someone else and she didn't know about it? Maybe Cathy? She couldn't be sure as they just used to chat online.

Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of the bell at the entrance gate. From the distance Chris recognized Piers standing at the gate and immediately grabbed Angelina's arm.

"Angely, please, I need your help."

"Okay…"

"Don't tell that man I'm here! Please! Don't tell him!"

"What's going on?"

"I tell you later, but please, don't tell him I'm here."

Even though she was puzzled, Angelina let out a sigh of agreement and asked him to hide in the barn just in case. She headed to the entrance gate and noticed the concerned look on Piers' face, and greeted him.

"Oh thank God, you're here!"

"What happened Piers? You look so worried…"

"I am indeed…I was looking for Chris but I heard he was seen here. Could you let me in so I can take him back to the hospital?"

Angelina bit her lips recalling Chris's request. Looking down she frowned, "I'm sorry Piers, but…He's not…here"

"What? That's impossible, there's no way he disappeared in this town! The guy in that shop across the street saw him at the gate here!"

She swallowed in distress, "He might have mistaken… I'm sorry but I don't think he can be here."

"Angelina, are you sure he's not here?"

"This is a private property, I'd know if he entered here, don't you think?"

"Yeah, but…"

"No buts Piers. I'm telling you, Chris is not here…"

He continued insisting, "Well, maybe not Chris Redfield, but Christopher Reed…"

She laughed loud, "What?"

"I know it sounds crazy, but…that's the truth…crazy truth…"

"I'm not following you Piers"

"Look, Chris had an accident and hit his head on a mission last week in Edonia. He survived, but he woke up thinking he is Christopher Reed"

Angelina made a contemplative face, briefly recalling Chris's weird behavior and how he called her Angely and not Angie like he always did.

Angely was how Christopher Reed called Angelique.

"So, would you let me in so I can search the property? This place is huge, he can be anywhere out of sight…"

Letting out a long sigh she stared him, "I'm sorry Piers. I'm sure Chris is not here. This gate is the only way anyone can enter here and I didn't see him trespass it. I hope you find him and please keep me posted. If I see him in town or around here I'll let you know."

Piers could only nod in conformation, once again he had nothing but disappointment. He wasn't in his country. He didn't have a concrete proof that Chris was inside that property so he couldn't force his entry to "rescue" Chris.

Angelina watched the young soldier leave. She could read the frustration in his expression, and that hurt her. She didn't like to lie like that to anyone, but like him, she was following orders - Chris's orders - or more exactly Christopher's orders.

However she was intrigued by the detail about Chris's memory. Somehow she felt that life was giving her back everything she had asked for, after a considerable wait.

The redhead smiled widely as she realized the great opportunity life had given her: Her Christopher!

And just like in her book, she felt the injustice made towards her for the separation. Angelique was a good girl with a good heart and she gave up her love for him when she agreed for the divorce because he had decided to give Katarina a chane, even after all the bad, imposing and selfish things the brunette had done.

Angelina believed she had given them their so needed chance, now it was her turn to have that same chance. She walked confidently back to the barn but that didn't last too long as she pulled open the barn door. Her eyes widened in distress when she found Chris lying unconscious on the ground.

Flashback

The period following the destruction of Arthena proved to be the most complicated for Christopher and Katarina's marriage. It was a time of full of suspicions that distanced them not just physically but emotionally as well. The usual falling out in a relationship over the time further contributed to their difficult phase.

Katarina was showing signs of weariness. She loved her husband, but his frequent arguments and his indifferent behavior began affecting her too much. Mental exhaustion had only begun to set in, but Christopher's display of jealousy regarding Nicholas, renewed her hopes for reconciliation and the turmoil seemed to be stabilizing.

However, it was not quite the case for Christopher.

Despite all the good heart and humane actions towards people, Christopher was a man with a complicated emotional frame. He was too intense about everything he felt and everything he did. He was not a man to do things half heartedly.

It took him a little longer to accept things. It took him longer to forget and get over some situations as well. The episode with Nicholas and Katarina was no different.

Years of cohabitation with her husband had taught Katarina how to deal better with Christopher's storms and the cave man in him.

Christopher also learned things from his wife due to coexistence, but he still had difficulty dealing with his own feelings.

Katarina had changed her way of dealing with him in the hope of quitting unnecessary quarrels, but Christopher interpreted the change in his wife as disinterest and after her sarcastic words about getting involved with Nicholas, he mistakenly thought that Katarina was in fact interested in Nicholas because he witnessed how much she liked to talk to the informant in the castle gardens. She seemed to have ignored his warning words, and as much as he had said he did not care whether she would get involved with the informant or not, they were bluffs. He did care…quite a lot!

One day, Katarina went out to do the charities she so enjoyed, her sister Elizabeth, the lady-in-waiting Lucy joined her to help her with the distribution, and Nicholas who also seemed to like helping people decided to help them with the distribution and carrying heavy loads since Christopher decided not to go on that occasion.

Christopher's jealousy made him hire a man to get rid of his rival. But it was not as simple a task as he had imagined. It was a holiday season and Nicholas was always surrounded by friends and people, organizing the celebration at the behest of Katarina. Christopher had to wait a little longer to get the plan done.

But it was during the party that Christopher realized the mistake he was about to make. The appointed assassin was also present watching the target discreetly.

Katarina was talking to other people, while Nicholas was surrounded by children playing ball with them.

Two plebeian women approached him. One of the women had a child that seemed to be 3 and the other had a child seemly to be about 5 years old.

Nicholas immediately stopped playing and smiled broadly at the children who rushed to the arms of the kneeling man and called him "father".

Christopher gulped in distress and his throat felt dry. The rival had small children. He was not married to any of the women, but he had a child with each.

Things of life…

Though he seemed to be a good father, and he seemed to be a good man, too.

Seeing those innocent children made Christopher remember his own children and then he approached the hired assassin discreetly, "Abort the plan. Don't kill him."

"I won't give you the payment back"

"No need"

"May I know why the sudden change of plans? Don Juan flirts with your wife... will you leave him unpunished?"

Christopher frowned at the mention of the flirtation, "You know what? Give him a lesson, but don't kill him. Those children clearly need the living parent..."

But things did not go as planned.

A few days passed after the party, it was almost night when Christopher and the assassin hurried off to a place far from the city and into a dilapidated house, where the young informant's body was lying on the ground.

"What did you do, idiot? I told you to not kill him!"

"The guy knew how to fight! Look at me! I was beaten too! It was either him or me!"

"I'd rather see you dead than him!"

"But I did not kill him because I wanted to! I just pushed him, and that's when he fell and hit his head on that rock"

"Asshole! Now get rid of his body and keep your mouth shut or I'll kill you myself!"

"Yes, my lord!"

Christopher exhaled deeply, out of irritation. After the anger came remorse and the image of those plebeian children caused a slight torpor in him.

"Milord... he is still alive…"

Christopher frowned and knelt beside the bloody body of Nicholas. He was still alive and breathing, but it did not look like he would live long.

The pairs of emerald eyes looked at each other. Indignation and remorse met.

Nicholas had realized who had commissioned his death and stared at him for a few seconds, but it was about his children the last thoughts and words he whispered.

Christopher felt immense pain as he heard the rival call his children before the last breath and apologized even if Nicholas had not heard him.

After being certain that Nicholas was in fact dead, Christopher ordered the henchman to bury his body in the woods and waited until the last moment to be certain that the henchman would obey him, and on a breaking impulse he dug his sword into the henchman, killing him instantly.

He wiped his sword before returning home and acting as if nothing had happened, and reconciled with Katarina.

To ease his conscience, Christopher anonymously helped Nicholas's family, especially his small heirs until they became adults.

End of Flashback

In the 21st century, the old rivals were reunited, and now Nicholas was the brother of his best friend, Jill Valentine's boyfriend.

On one rare occasion, some of the Raccoon City survivors reunited for the Thanksgiving at Jill's apartment. Despite all the setbacks and low moments that everyone had experienced so far, they also had things to thank and celebrate, especially Jill ,who had finally been released from rehab and had returned home a few weeks ago and was still adjusting to life away from the facility.

Barry and his family, Claire and her boyfriend, Leon, Jill and Chris were talking in the living room. It was an atypical day for each of them, especially for field agents Chris and Leon and even Claire who had gotten used to a solitary house-work routine.

Being reunited with friends as a big family was something they missed. It was something they had sacrificed when they chose to fight against Umbrella's legacy.

They missed being "normal".

"How is your brother?" Claire asked Leon.

"He is fine."

"He's already a father, isn't he?"

"Yes. He has a girl of 5 and a boy who's turning 3 in January"

"Oh that's so cool! The mini Kennedys!"

"Indeed" Leon replied with a smile befitting a proud uncle.

"Everyone thinks they're Leon's when he posts pictures with them," Jill commented.

"It's been a while since I've seen my social networks... Has he figured out the reason of his severe headaches or has he been cured of it?" Claire asked

"Doctors haven't discovered the cause yet, but I guess the migraines have subsided. I know he started doing therapy, but I don't know if he's still doing it"

"Ah I see..."

"His "therapy" is currently being "hiding" in Hanover again..."

Chris was taking a sip from the beer bottle and immediately stopped at the mention of that town and began to pay attention to the conversation as discreetly as he could.

"Hiding?" Jill asked.

Leon laughed, "Yes, it's a joke we have. It is a small town that he has lived in when he was a teen with a relative of ours. You still don't know him but when you do, you will realize that Nick is a big city rat, although there are times he decides "to hide" in places that sometimes you don't even know exist on the map!"

"Oh what an exaggeration!" Claire commented.

"Haha, I may have exaggerated a bit, but it's true! Nick is a metropolis guy!"

"Hanover exists on the map..." Jill let out a shrug.

"I know, but Hanover is the exception because of "who" he met there…"

"Hmmm, I smell a woman in the air..." Claire said teasingly.

Leon nodded in confirmation, "I only saw her once, she was around 14-15 years old and he was 17-18 at the time and I didn't like the age difference. I thought she was a little brat to him, but he was crazy about her and she was his first serious girlfriend and if I'm not wrong he was her first boyfriend."

I remember he suffered a lot when they broke up and he never managed to forget her. But she's living there again and he went after her when he learned about it, and… I think the flame is still there after years. He says they're not together and they're just friends... but I doubt it! He's a Kennedy after all..."

"Kennedys..." Claire commented with a shrug.

"What did you mean by that?" He snapped.

"Nothing..."

Everyone was laughing at their playful provocations, except for Chris. He was too "focused" on the history of Hanover.

"What's her name?" Jill asked casually.

"I only know her as Kate."

Chris nearly choked on the beer upon hearing that name, and Claire instinctively looked at her brother who tried to disguise the tension.

"Have you seen a recent picture of her?" Claire asked investigating it.

"I think he posted a picture with her a few days ago... let me take a look" he replied taking out his cell phone.

Strangely, Chris did not need the photo. He seemed to feel that his Kate was the same as Nick's, since he remembered Kate's reaction when she saw Leon for the first time while working as his secretary. At the time he thought they had had something, but now he knew with whom she actually had a story. And without waiting for any confirmation, he stood from the couch and headed to the balcony to clear his head. But even so, he could hear the conversation in the room.

"Wait a minute... I know this girl..." Leon commented looking more attentively to the photo.

"It's Kate..." Claire commented loud enough to Chris listen to her.

At that moment the room was silent and subconsciously they all looked at the man on the balcony with his back to them.

That uncomfortable atmosphere was formed.

Leon had met Kate a while ago, but he had not recognized her because of the natural aging of her silhouette along the years.

"I'm sorry... I..." he said embarrassed by the situation.

"It was not your fault, Leon. Coincidences happen..." Claire assured him and stood up to join her brother.

Chris was still overcoming the frustration of yet another failed betrothal, but it seemed that the longer the wedding date was approaching, the more tormented he was getting. Anger had passed, but resentment and pride still kept him from going after Kate despite all the longing he felt for her.

And it was this longing and the need to leave his apartment that only made him remember her which made him accept the invitation to spend the Thanksgiving with friends at Jill's apartment. But of course he wanted to celebrate her freedom as well.

But it seemed that everything he did to forget Kate made him remember her even more, and on several occasions and in very unusual ways like this one. Who'd say that Kate could one day become a Kennedy?

The world with billions of people and it all came down to one: Kate.

Claire approached her brother who drank and smoked non-stop, while keeping a distant look.

Claire was not much of a fan of Kate from the start for no apparent reason, but she had given the vote of confidence to the brunette who seemed to do so good to lonely Chris.

In fact, Claire had learned about Kate's lie about her parents' deaths long ago. It was Cathy, Chris's ex-fiancée who had told her, and she later confirmed it, but since she saw her brother so happy, she ended up prioritizing his happiness, rather than telling him the truth.

Chris had been very upset to find out that his sister and Cathy knew that truth and did not tell him, and it intrigued Claire. Chris had forgiven her easily and so quickly for omitting the truth, but his reaction towards Kate seemed to be extreme because he had not yet taken the courage to try to reconcile with Kate, despite desperately missing her.

"How are you?" Claire asked, being supportive.

"I'm fine..." he replied in a cold and monotone.

"You seemed to know it was her..."

"Unfortunately I felt it was her"

"You two have a very strong connection..."

"Stop it Claire! The coincidence of life is over here! Alas, it's all over! She's already with Kennedy guy and I'm going to move on too..."

"She didn't reconcile with him..."

He gasped, "Please Claire, don't be so innocent. Leon is right! There's no way they're "just friends" now after they've loved each other so much! Especially Kate, who likes that 'sport' so much... what would prevent them from "doing it" again?"

She could sense the sarcasm in his tone, "Her love for you..."

He laughed contemptuously, "It doesn't exist and it never existed! In the worst case she only used me, and in the best case she really liked having sex with me!"

"Wow, I've never seen you pitying yourself like this."

"It's no pity, it's the truth! She just wanted someone to pay for her treatment to get pregnant and probably to live on with child support! Now she's got an idiot to bank her."

"Do you really believe what her brother told you?"

"Claire, why do you care? You don't even like her! You should be happy that now I know the truth and I can defend myself from it."

"I care about you because you are my brother! I love you and it hurts to see you suffer like this!"

"Would you rather see me as the deluded jerk?"

"Chris, we already talked about this! Stop being such a mule!"

"You're the mule that keeps insisting on seeing me with that bitch! Accept that she has already moved on! By the way, she wanted children, now she has his children to raise and be the happy family she says she dreams of!"

"Now I see it...You're jealous"

"I'm not jealous!"

"You so are!"

Annoyed with such accusations, Chris walked hurriedly through the room where everyone was staring at him and ignored their stares and headed to the door, "I'm sorry Jill, I'm not in the mood to celebrate anything, but I'm glad you're finally home...Happy Thanksgiving"

"All right, Chris... Take care..."

Moira ate a handful of candy while watching the Thanksgiving show.

Thank you McTamale for the review! And special thanks to JennaWilliams for the enhancement.

Tell me your thoughts on the chapter so I can improve on the next ones.

Stay Tuned!