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.
"It hurt a lot...
It hurts to see that beautiful girl lying in this hospital bed after receiving the news that her partner and father of her children had suffered a serious accident and he was currently missing.
I could have avoided this...
The man I hid and tried to take advantage of his vulnerability to my selfish desires, and ignoring the fact that there were people waiting for him at home: a sister, friends, co-workers, two innocent little babies, and she...
We cried together, hugged on the ground, the loss of the man who "united" us. We were the support of the other.
We both felt the same pain. We were both in the same boat.
In the boat of shattered dreams.
In the boat of hope of the survival of that same man we had been fighting for.
But the waters that dragged him diluted my resentment for her and the animosity that we carried for so many centuries for each other.
The pain of the suffering of the beautiful brunette girl hurt in the intimate of my being that felt guilty by my choice.
And that initial cry was the first ice break, until we realized the arms we were in.
And her pain allied with her latent rage at me made her start attacking me.
I, defenseless and deeply sorry for the choice I made, did not retaliate and closed my eyes soaked with tears as I felt the fury of her hands on my face as she screamed, cursed and accused me of all the bad things I had done. Eternal seconds, until only her shouting was heard, and even with my blurred eyes I saw Piers and two other unknown young men and the mysterious man who informed us of what had happened to Chris, held her with great force as she struggled to break free from them.
It was clear the strength that her restrained anger had so it was needed the strength of 4 men to restrain her even though she was so thin and just a girl.
Two young girls helped me up - a blonde and a brunette - and took me further away from Katerina's fury while she still sometimes she managed to break free and tried to come to me.
My eyes were still a little blurry, but I saw in the girls who helped me the faces of adult Maddy and Lilly, and in the men who helped Piers, I saw the physiognomy of Phillip and Beau as adults - the four young people who were the children of Katarina and Christopher - and I also recognized the mysterious informant to be Mr. Lionel.
I was too stunned to see any sense in that, but my attention did not get out of Katerina's focus like a madwoman in denial.
And I understood her.
And the more I watched her, the more I cried in torment and incessantly apologized.
The crowd looked at us, frightened and curious, and I became more and more ashamed.
Until Kate abruptly collapsed.
And as I blinked in shock and fright, strangely the four young people and Mr. Lionel had disappeared and all I could see was Piers trying to wake Kate up.
I quickly rushed over to them and with the help of Chris's land security guard, we put Kate in the car and brought her to the hospital.
Still under intense emotional shock, Kate had to be sedated for her protection, and for everyone's, especially mine.
And even Piers being against my presence, he knew that Kate couldn't stay alone and he couldn't be in two places at the same time.
And here I am watching her sleep while he continues the search for Chris's whereabouts.
Maybe losing Chris was the "best" for me, as painful as admitting to "defeat" is.
If I said I love him, then why not let him be happy with whom he chose?
And seeing to what point my "old sister" arrived in madness is a burden too heavy that I cannot carry anymore...
Once Mr. Lionel said that I was the one who was most able to stop this cycle of rivalry, and for a time I doubted. Until yesterday...
I think Mr. Lionel knew us better than we did, and now I feel ready to try to stop this cycle of rivalry with my old sister.
It will not be easy.
But I will keep in mind all that I do not it to repeat, and I ask for the strength to withstand her storm. I do not guarantee that we will reconcile, but I will try.
My compassion for her pain is greater than my fear..."
Angelina wrote in her diary while serving as companion to Kate who slept soundly in a room in the psychiatric ward of the hospital.
Flashback
A young couple - Christian and Katherine - were walking at a field of flowers as they talked on a sunny spring day.
"So you and your father live in Efret when you're not here in Bohma?"
"Yes"
"And where is it? I never heard of this place"
"It is a small village on the coast of Edonia, it is almost on the border with another neighboring country."
"So it's far from here?"
"Yes it is..."
"And how do you keep that little cottage in Bohma if you don't intend to live there?"
The young man looked sideways to make sure they were not being followed and that no one besides his lover could hear what he was going to say, "Do you promise to keep it a secret?"
"I promise!"
"I'm trusting you!"
"I swear by all that is most sacred to me, including our love! I will not tell anyone!"
"Not even your sister?"
"Not even her!"
"Do you remember that I told you that besides being a fisherman, my father is also a miner?"
"Yes I remember"
He smiled slightly and asked her to close her eyes before he could tell anything else. And without hesitation, Katherine closed her eyes and smiled as she felt his lips on hers.
At the same time the two of them opened their eyes and laughed.
"Is kissing me off guarded a secret from your family?" She said, smiling.
"Not really. But it's because I cannot stand looking at your pretty peach lips and not kissing them when they're so vulnerable in front of me."
Again they laughed and kissed for a long time.
They kept walking hand in hand, but Christian had not forgotten her question. He stopped and bent to pick up a beautiful red flower and placed it on the corner of the left ear of the girl who was looking at him smiling.
"Did I tell you that red looks beautiful on you, but I hope you like green too..." he said, gently caressing her face and kissed her again
"What does that mean?"
Looking mysterious, the young man reached into his pants pocket, and with his hand still closed, he took hers and placed the small green object on the palm of her hand.
Surprised, Katherine looked at the small gleaming green stone, "Is it for real?" She asked admiring the object
"Yes! There are a lot more of those there in the cottage"
"This is too expensive!"
"For us, the Greencamp, no."
"As in?"
"That's our biggest secret! No one can know that..." he approached her ear and whispered," There's a mine of that gem underground the cottage's ground"
Katherine once again vowed to keep the secret and returned the gem to her beloved so no one's curiosity would arouse if they saw her with it.
They continued the walk until Christian told her that he would soon would have to go to Efret to visit his father, but he promised he would return soon.
"I will always come back to you, my beloved!"
"And I will always wait for you, my love!"
Shortly afterwards the young couple in love gave themselves completely to the intense and immense love they felt, for the expectation of the return would be long.
A very long wait...
(*)
"I always get worried when you have to go on those campaigns"
"Duty calls me..." Christopher replied by adjusting his clothes as he looked in the mirror and saw the reflection of the beautiful woman in a red and sumptuous dress restless in the back of the room
"I know, but that does not stop me from missing you"
Christopher smiled slightly, walked over to her and stroked the face of his wife Katarina and kissed her lips gently, "I miss you too when I'm away and so I always wear this necklace you gave me. It's a way to always keep you in my mind and close to me even when we're far away physically"
"Our children are my fortress in your absence..."
"That's why you're my biggest reason to always come back home..."
"That is why I always leave our home flawless, so that you always feel you have a Home, Our Home."
The 30-something couple who recently had the blessing of having twin children hugged each other for a long time. The couple and important leaders of Bohma seemed to be living the desired love union within the marriage of more than a decade of duration.
Certainly they were no longer the youngsters so dreamers of long ago. They were a couple who had passed through very turbulent waters, but with much effort still remained together and now felt more united in their relationship.
Christopher no longer doubted that he really loved Katarina and that she was the owner of his heart and the chosen one to live the rest of their lives together with their children.
"I look forward to the day you retire..."
He smiled and gave her a tender kiss, "Until that day comes, I'll always come back to you, my Kat... do not worry about it."
"And I will always wait for you and welcome you with all my love, my Chris..."
They exchanged smiles once more, and surrendered to a long kiss of love.
End of Flashback
Kate opened her eyes and still very stunned with all that was happening, mostly she felt an immense weight in her body without knowing it was due to sleeping medication. Still dizzy and confused, she was slow to notice the presence of Angelina asleep on the couch.
Angelina, being a light asleep, woke up to the noise on Kate's bed and quickly raised her head to make sure she was okay.
They looked at each other and quickly Kate entered a defensive and irritated state, "What are you doing here?" The brunette asked, trying to get out of bed, but then she lay down and realized that her wrists were tied, "What the fuck? Am I tied up?" she mumbled.
"For your safety..."
"My safety?" Kate repeated screaming in outrage.
"Kate, look at your condition..."
"Because of you! It's your fault that my husband did not come home! It's because of you that the father of my children did not come home! It's your fault I'm stuck here!"
"I'm sorry! I didn't want things to be this way"
"But they are! I hate you, Angelina, I hate you!"
"I deserve it this time... I know that..."
"You always deserved everything bad! Envious bitch!"
Angelina did not retaliate against Katerina's verbal aggression, because she knew that now it was the best Kate could do. To spill her feelings out.
Resilient, Angelina listened quietly and thought of Chris so that he was well wherever he was.
Due to the shouting, a nurse entered the room and, realizing the altered state of Kate, she took a syringe from the pocket of her coat.
Angelina realizing that once again the young brunette would be sedated, intervened and stepped in front of the nurse and in front of Kate, "Don't do that. Stop sedating her. She doesn't need it!"
"Look at her condition. She needs to calm down"
"That's not how she'll calm down..."
"Everyone can hear her screams threatening you in the hallway"
"It's all right here... she just needs to vent... because of me she's like this and I deserve to hear everything she says"
"Miss, I'm just doing my job"
"And I'm mine... by taking care of her. Are you seeing her screaming now? You're not! She doesn't need this injection"
The nurse looked at Kate who was sober, though she still looked annoyed, but she sensed she didn't need to sedate her, even though she had not untied her before leaving the room either.
Angelina took a deep breath and looked back as she heard the silence being broken by the debauched tone of the young girl tied up.
"Saint Angelina..."
The redhead turned, keeping her cool.
"If you think I'm going to thank you, you're very wrong"
"You do not have to thank me"
"Now untie me!"
"I can't do that..."
Kate laughed mockingly, "Are you scared?"
"No... I do not care if you need to beat me to feel better, but the medical orders were that you had to be tied up until the doctor's release"
"Just because I was out of control... I'm back to normal"
"I'm sorry, but I'll wait for the doctor to release you..."
Kate rolled her eyes and took a deep breath, and began to nibble at her lips.
"Do you want some water?"
"I want you to disappear!"
"I can't..."
"Why? Do you feel like being beat up again?"
"It's not that..."
"Don't you have a life? A daughter to raise? Instead of being my jailer?"
"I promised Piers I would not leave you alone"
"I'd rather be alone than in bad company..."
"You're going to have to stand my presence until he or Yana comes to be with you"
"Suddenly you became Piers's precious friend... Do you want him too?"
Angelina laughed, "What? Where do you get those clueless ideas from?"
"Clueless? Your sly face seems to win over anyone, including Piers who I remember well was very angry with your lie and now you tell me that he trusted you to be with me despite everything?"
"You'll see, it's just the opposite, because he still likes you, so he preferred your safety rather than leaving you alone and being sedated without need..."
"So that shows he does not care about me at all for leaving you here even though he knows we can't stand each other!"
"You cannot stand me... The reciprocal is not true"
"If it was not true, you wouldn't have lied about Chris and you would have let my husband come back home!"
"But it was he who begged me to lie..."
"Oh sure! And you took advantage of his vulnerability! Sly bitch!"
"I know I was wrong, so once again I apologize"
"Your excuses won't bring him back!"
"That's why I'm going to help in everything I can"
"You've helped too much!" Kate said mockingly, "Now get out of here! I'm done with sight of you!"
Angelina took a deep breath, "I go to the bathroom and eat something so you rest a little from my presence."
"Oh please go to hell as well!" Kate almost screamed and turned her face to the other side.
Angelina exhaled at the dark side of the brunette. It was hard to be gentle with a Katerina.
It was still not easy for the two of them to be in the same room, but Angelina was really struggling to show a softer, more friendly side of hers.
It was time for someone to take the first step to change and it did not matter who actually started the rivalry. It was past.
Kate kept pretending not to see Angelina, so she let out a deep sigh and closed her eyes.
With nothing else to do, Angelina looked at Kate's tied wrist and gently began to untie it.
Kate opened her eyes quickly and turned her face as she noticed the redhead's attitude.
They did not look at each other.
Angelina untied only one side and left the room in silence.
Kate watched her only with her eyes and felt numb. Not knowing what to think. Not knowing what to feel. Not knowing how to react.
She untied the other wrist and turned to her side, hugging herself, and began to cry.
Efret, Edonia
One day had already passed since Chris Redfield had been rescued by the fishermen and remained under the care of the wife of one of the local fishermen.
He was being monitored constantly, because even after the treatments to reheat him at the local hospital, he still remained unconscious, and that was worrisome, because it was not known if he would wake up after staying so long with hypothermia.
Flashback
It was Monday morning - the dreaded Monday when all the workers would return to office routines after the weekend - and Chris had only recently arrived at work. There was no coffee at his office, since his personal secretary had not yet arrived, so he headed for the small kitchen where breakfast was always served and the afternoon snack for the staff.
From afar he spotted a beautiful young brunette who was one of the receptionists, and was preparing a snack before going to her function. He had already noticed that she used to arrive earlier to take time to snack before going to work, just like him.
"Good morning," he greeted her and picked up a cup to fill with coffee
"Good morning," she replied before taking a sip of the coffee.
He noticed that she made a disapproving face as she tried the coffee, "Is the coffee bad?" He asked casually.
"It is strong"
He made a face, "Strong?"
"For me yes... I don't like strong coffee... but..."
He tried it and made the same face as hers, "This is very strong, I'll provide a weaker one"
"No need... I'll drink it anyway..."
"But I won't! I hate strong coffee"
"Ah... it's for you..."
"For us... if you want to wait a bit..."
She smiled a little sheepishly, "Thank you, I'll wait."
He made the coffee himself and filled a bottle to take to his office, and filled a cup and gave to the beautiful green-eyed brunette who was surprised by his attitude and grateful for his generosity.
"Your coffee is delicious! Exactly how I like it" she said smilingly.
"Thanks, but I think I'll have to wake up earlier and have breakfast at home very soon"
"Why?"
"My secretary just found out she's pregnant and I'm not going to put up with this strong coffee for so long and I cannot always make coffee…" he commented.
"Is that only the reason why you're going to have to make the sacrifice of waking up earlier?"
"Yes"
"So the problem is solved, I'll happily make it and take it to you in a bottle and everything"
They laughed.
Actually, that girl was different, although until that time they just said hello and talked a few stuff during encounters like this one in the hallways, he had already noticed that there was something different about her, especially when he gave her a ride home.
He already knew that many co-workers talked about her and knew that she and Piers had something going on, but unconsciously he began to watch her, but avoiding as much judgment about her he could.
She was cool.
He knew she was hard working and courteous, and he had just found out that she was caring and kind.
And they had something in common: the taste for coffee.
They parted ways. And he returned with the coffee bottle to his office. As he went in he noticed the presence of a woman with an older appearance, close to his age and her face was not friendly and her arms were crossed as she stared at him.
"Good morning to you too," he said with a little sarcasm and set the bottle on the coffee table
"How long have you been comfortably laughing with that gold-digger receptionist?"
"Comfortably laughing? Is that what they told you?"
"Nobody told me anything, I saw it! I saw you seemly very comfortable with each other. You even served the coffee for her"
"Are you going to start with jealousy this time in the morning? She's my co-worker, I treated her well as I treat everyone!"
"You treat her too well! I've seen you looking at her before, she's coming earlier, like you..."
He took a deep breath rolling his eyes. His girlfriend's jealousy had grown stronger since the receptionist started working there.
"I called you several times last night, I sent you messages and you did not answer me"
"I told you I was going to my apartment"
"You did not even go home last night..."
"I fell asleep! I was very tired and the phone was in silent mode"
"You never leave it in silent mode!"
"But I left last night! I was exhausted, I wanted to rest, can't I do that?"
"You should have told me you were going to sleep in your house"
"I didn't know I was going to fall asleep when I sat on the couch!"
"Speak the truth, Chris!"
"I'm speaking it!"
"You were with her, were not you?"
"What?"
"You were with Kate and that's why you were so happy next to each other this morning"
"For God's sake, look what you're saying! This is crazy! I was not with anyone, dammit!"
"You even gave her a ride home! I'll never forget her perfume in your car and on you!"
"I needed to help her!"
"Help her? You treat her differently! Why do you look different at her if you say you don't have anything?"
He took a deep breath and stared at her seriously, "Cathy... If I had anything with Kate, you'd know for sure and everyone as well because I'd be parading with her in the hallways and I'd be bragging about her instead of making her my secret! If I really had anything with her I wouldn't even be here arguing with you! Now please leave, I need to work and for the last time stop seeing things that doesn't exist!"
(*)
Maybe outsiders perceived us better than ourselves because of our own self-denials, especially mine. It took me a long time to admit that I fell in love with the pretty emerald-eyed receptionist the first day my eyes caught sight of her.
But time and destiny approached us in different ways, and also in several ways separated us so that we realized how much we really wanted to stay with each other, and we could finally make the relationship work.
And it was during her pregnancy that I decided to be completely committed to her and would never doubt her again. I decided that not because she was pregnant and our love was multiplying in two, but the creation of a family was a new story for me and the end of a cycle of mismatches that I was already tired of living in.
It was a fresh start. And at the same time a new beginning.
Since the discovery of her pregnancy, our concern was about how her body would adapt to physical changes, and especially how her uterus would support not just one but two babies being generated at the same time. It was a high-risk pregnancy.
It was April 2012, Kate and I were invited to the engagement party of her best friend, Lucy. It was a party reserved only for close friends and Kate would be one of the bridesmaids and did not want to miss the party for any reason.
As it would be at Lucy's parents' house, then there would not be so much trouble if Kate was feeling good and did not make much effort and not walk much.
It was already darkening when other guests were coming and heading for the property's ballroom.
"I'm going to the bathroom," Kate told me.
I sat on the couch and my cell phone vibrated incessantly, until I decided to answer it. It was Henry.
"Where are you?"
"At Lucy's house, why?"
"Where is it?"
"Why do you want to know?"
"I have a bad feeling about Kate."
"Everything is fine with her and the twins too."
"I need to see her! Where is the house?"
"Here in New York... you really don't..."
"I'm leaving the airport already!"
"What? Are you here?"
"Yes and tell me the address..."
I didn't know what to think about that call, and I had not realized that Kate was taking too long to come back and that's when I decided to check on her.
There was a bathroom outside and I noticed drops of blood on the floor and immediately ran to the bathroom shouting for Kate's name, after hearing a faint moan that I thought was hers.
I was right.
When I opened the door and turned on the lights, I realized that I was stepping on a pool of blood and I saw Kate lying on the floor in agony all covered with blood.
Desperately I ran up to her and then I noticed the big cut in her belly and soon I realized that someone had attacked her, and our unborn children.
I felt an immense pain spreading in my body, impotence, fear, despair, and trembling as I was I took the towels that were in the bathroom and placed on the cut in an attempt to staunch the blood.
I could not lose my Kate, nor my children. I picked her up and carried her out and screamed for help.
People coming in and heading into the party room were gazing at the scene, and the damn security guards that allowed someone to come in to hurt my Kate and my children were astonished.
It was when I saw a taxi from a distance, parking in front of the property's gate, and then I recognized the albino figure inside, and my heart filled with hope.
"Henry! Henry!" I shouted hurrying to the entrance.
The security guards soon closed to prevent him from entering, since he was not invited. And then I put Kate on the floor and shouted to them, "Damn you, you've already failed, and she's dying because of you, bunch of assholes. Let him in!"
"Sir..."
"Shut up and let him in! He's her doctor!"
And without waiting for a reaction from them, I soon leaped over them and pushed them away, letting Henry in quickly.
It was still day and there was sun, which clearly affected Henry, even though he was wearing his special clothes and products.
"I need the dark" he said.
Once again I took Kate in my arms and took her to the bathroom where everything happened to allow their privacy.
I locked the door and turned off the lights. I could not see anything, but I could hear Henry talking to her and the babies. And at that moment I realized that her fear of losing the twins was greater than the fear she had had when she first saw Henry in the cottage and thought he was a ghost.
I could hear her cries begging our children not to die.
"Do not worry miss, I came to save you, and my siblings too…"
"Please, save them…They are my dream..."
"I know Mom, I know... and do not worry, you'll be fine and I won't leave a scar. I promise you!"
"Why do you call me Mom? Who are you?"
"My name is Henry..."
"Henry?"
"Yes... Henry O'Gregon Reed"
"Henry? Aren't you dead?"
"I cannot die mom... you made me special... and thanks to you I'm here to save you and my siblings too..."
Henry's crying voice was clear, and I knew this meeting with her was what he wanted most, but of course it was not that way he expected it, none of us. But even under such circumstances, it was his dream to be there re-encountering his "mother".
I still had a bit of resistance to accept that one day I had been Christopher Reed, his father, but at that moment, there in the dark, unable to see physiognomies and just feel the emotions in the air, I began to feel that we were reunited as a family.
I knew the story of Christopher and Katarina and knew it had not been a beautiful fairy tale. I was aware that at some point or even at various times there was love between them.
And I loved Kate even after so many ups and downs, so many encounters and mismatches we'd been through, and maturity and having had so many experiences had taught me so many things about relationships, and how to deal with differences better.
And even with the age difference, Kate has always been strenuous and willing to accompany me at everything. Just like Katarina did with Christopher.
But unlike him, I always valued every effort Kate made for me, and unlike him I did not allow myself to have doubts about who I wanted to be anymore, and unlike him I would not lose my Kate for anything or anyone!
"My sister was hit, but she'll be fine. I just finished working on her."
"Henry... will we be special like you from now on?"
"No, Mom, you're still be normal. I could never bear to know that there is someone else like me, especially my dear ex-twin sister...and you…"
"Mel?"
"Yes, Mom, it's Mel who's here alongside Christian..."
"One of each?" I asked in surprise
"Yes"
"We didn't know yet... we were just going to find out the babies' sex next week," Kate said.
"Ooops, accidental spoiler... I think I blew the surprise..." Henry said with a comic tone
"No problem Henry... and forgive me..." Kate spoke before losing her consciousness
"Dad... Chris, I'm finishing up here, but she lost a lot of blood. She'll need blood transfusion, but their blood is rare... I could sense it's O negative."
"Same as mine. I'm going to give my blood to them!"
And so it happened. Kate was taken to the hospital and I donated my blood to her and our children.
What about Henry? We kept him hidden in our apartment for some time while we investigated who had attacked Kate.
End of Flashback
"Henry..." Chris whispered as he still kept his eyes closed and while he was still intubated.
It was the first and only word he uttered since he began to regain consciousness.
Thank you McTamale for the review!
I must say I laughed when I named this chapter because it reminded me of my other fic name Bonds of Blood, lol! And who has read it knows that there are many references from it here as well lol xD Nick is one of them xD
Anyways, thank you all for read my work and as always
Stay Tuned!