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 fog. Everyone is talking about the sudden fog that is surrounding the west coast of Bohma. A mysterious phenomenon that is part of the local history. Back in the days people used to relate it to the end of the world, an apocalyptical sign from the gods before a torment hit the locals and spread the despair and deaths of many.
Historians mention the presence of the fog before and after important events such as the destruction of Old Arthena back in the 18th century.
Others relate the fog to the mysterious Witch of the Forest as there are several testimonies of people who encountered a lonely woman during their walks through the wood, although some opinions diverge about the woman's appearance as some claim she looks a young woman, or a middle-aged woman, others mention the woman actually looks old and creepy as she always shows up out of nothing and vanishes at the blink of an eye.
Blame the witch or not, the fact is that the fog is real, coincidently or not, it precedes important moments of inhabitants or the own population.
Locals are concerned as for recently there happened important events at Old Arthena such as its outbreak started by a pharmaceutical company owned by the Fleury's and the rupture of an old dam in Old Arthena occasioning on the disappearance of Christopher Redfield, an American soldier and an important member of the American branch of the BSAA who fought bravely worldwide fighting off creatures known as B. . and the bioterrorism. Chris still goes missing and the local community fears the outcome this new fog might cause…"
That was the talk of the town, everywhere, anywhere people only talked about the fog. Locals and their countless theories about the phenomenon. The dense fog at the littoral making ships change their routes to the east coast due to the better visibility to stop at the piers. The fog, the fog, the fog…that was all Kate and Nicholas heard about wherever they went since it started. Only vain theories and no explanation, an unnecessary commotion on the matter.
There were times Bohmans seemed to overreact about minimum things. There were times their beliefs seemed to take all the reasoning from them and the panic starting to get installed at some communities.
"I'm starting to regret my decision to move to this place of freaks" Kate let out a heavy sigh as she licked her ice cream while she and Nick headed to Katarina's house for the meet with the woman interested in buying the property
"We can always go back home" Nick replied strolling the twins
"Yeah, but this is their home…you know…" she said kind of rolling her eyes with a shrug staring at the stroller
"I know, but they're too small to see it that way…actually home is not necessarily the place we're born, but where we feel comfortable"
"Agreed, but I like Bohma when people are not panicking over 'nothing'"
"Nothing to you, but very important to them…they're sensitive over the past recent events…they still deal with the consequences of the Fleury's incident…"
Kate stopped still and let out a long heavy sigh.
Nick looked back with a puzzled look trying to understand Kate's abrupt stop, "You okay?"
She made a face with her left hand on her left hip, "Why are you so annoyingly perfect?"
"I'm not perfect"
"Yes you are! Annoyingly perfect…you always see other side in a better way, you always put others before you, you always watch out for anyone, you even apologize when you're not wrong. You almost never raise your voice on your own, you never fight back in an offending way, you never hurt anyone's feelings because you always see the one's side, you talk about anything and everything, you always have a solution to everything…not to mention how ridiculously hot, handsome, perfect teeth, perfect smile, perfect body, so fit, so in shape, green-eyed, always smelling good, romantic, caring, understanding, patient, present and…awesome in bed! Dang! I try to find flaws in you but I just can't, that's why your perfection annoys me"
"What's it if I can't have one's love?"
"Oh, and flirty! Dammit!"
"Tell me"
"What?"
"What can I do to make you love me?"
"You know I love you…in a different way but I do…and that annoys me!"
"Why do you want to find flaws in me then? If it's annoying…"
"That's why…because we always come to this. You want something from me I can't give you because I'm stupidly conscious that I'm not choosing Mr. Perfect, plenty aware we could be happy because I insist on being a masochist waiting for Mr. Imperfect who gives a fuck at me! I'm a real dumb girl…you don't deserve that"
"I love you the way you are…"
"Stop it!" she snapped give a stepping back, "I have an important meeting that is going to decide the future of the past I'm getting over…don't make me do the same to you…too soon…"
"But you already did get over me…"
"You don't know the secrets of my heart!" she spoke with a sudden "coldness" with an almost daring tone as she remained serious staring at him in an imposing posture
"Sorry…" he replied with a cool tone as he nearly revered her
A cold breeze passed by them, easing down the nearly heated conversation of ex-lovers. They got back to walking again, in silence.
Kate almost biting her lips while she strolled her twins.
Nick controlling his grin as he followed her with his hands on his pockets recalling the day she tug him from looking at Angelina. That day he had a feeling she was actually jealous and now he had the confirmation of it, "So there's still a chance for me…" he broke the silence
"Go to hell!" she snapped
"If you're coming along, I'm looking forward to it!" he replied teasing her
"You see? You're annoying!"
"You see, I'm not perfect and you love it!"
"Fuck you!"
"Yeah! And you just got a flaw about me…I don't know the secrets of your heart… and I thought of giving a try with 'sly Angie'"
Kate stopped abruptly again turning away with an evilly eye expression that made Nick freeze, "You never say that again! If you ever touch her you can forget completely about me!"
Nick nodded in consent, unable to speak anything. He knew Kate enough to know she was done with that playful tease of his. Even though in his heart he had no doubts about his feelings for her, now knowing there was still a chance for him, he was sure to not waste it, especially after such a sensitive matter to Kate. She simply couldn't bear to hear the mention of that particular redhead.
Different of Chris he didn't dare to press her buttons and lose her again. He did want to mess up with her infamous jealous.
He had lost her once and he suffered a lot because of it. He did learn to move on, but after having his hope restored about a reconciliation with her, he was willing to do everything on his power to not waste that chance.
"What's again the name of the woman you were supposed to meet?" Nicholas asked as they headed to their destination not much far ahead
"Karine" Kate replied as she lowered the pace of her steps as from afar they could see into the fog the fence walls and the gate to the famous location.
The moving fog seemed to slowly reveal the beautiful imposing building far into the property.
Nicholas stared at it with amazement as he had only seen it from pictures Kate had showed him or at online researches. Seeing it live had a different feeling though, just like the whole town. Despite Kate often mentioning it, what got him really curious about Bohma besides its history and to get to see the famous location of the Lake, it was to be able to visit a different location that used to be known as the Peasant's Village. He had no idea why he had such interest on that location.
"I wish there wasn't so much fog so you could see it better. It's spring now, the gardens must be really dazzling" she spoke with a sigh
"I agree…by the way, do you think the new buyer will demolish the property and turn it into something else?"
"If that's her plan I won't sell it to her then I'll make the deal with Bohma's government even though I disagree of their idea of turning it into a tourism spot and possibly a luxurious hotel. I hope this private sale is a better offer to me because I can't wait much longer to start settling down here so we can leave that hotel room that is getting so expensive to afford with twins and returning home is not an option right now either!"
"You know about that you don't have to worry about. I'll pay the daily rate or any other expense you need"
"I know Nick but I don't want to get depending on you, nor at anyone's! I'm not even comfortable with receiving money from "my" business with Lucy when I'm not even there to help her, but living only with what's left of Chris' salary is out of question right now. I really need the money of this sale so I can find a place to live and be able to pay a nanny when you return home and I get a job"
"Yeah, but I'm already home…with you. Whenever you are will be my home" he spoke as he caressed her hair
"I don't deserve all that dedication Nick…"
"Yet…but soon you're going to get very spoiled by me!"
She grinned softly, "I didn't say we reconciled"
"I know, but I'm not going to waste this chance Kate. I lost you once and I don't intend to lose you again for a petty reason like in the past. Nothing is going to make me walk away from you…but you…"
She looked away a little disturbed. She knew she was having the chance of her life to be happy with someone that was clearly worthy. Nicholas Kennedy had all the qualities she wished for on a man and he even had more that she could ever wish for. Her mind knew that but her heart insisted on waiting for someone that was almost the opposite she wished on a man.
Since the breakup from Nick, he had become the model of man she wanted by her side – more exactly he himself – when she still lingered his presence in her sweetest memories. She suffered for their end of their fairy-tale. She did try to find him when he had to leave without her. She blamed her age and his job for separating them when they were so in love, full of plans of a life together, without any doubts of what they felt for each other and she completely willing to do any sacrifice to stay with him physically, but her jealousy didn't allow her to keep a long distance relationship with him, then her age, her depression, her father and Nick's job separated them. Then her poor financial conditions kept them apart which contributed to all the bad decisions she made afterwards.
They were too young to know how to fight for their relationship. They were too young to know how to deal with themselves.
However there was one thing she had never been able to tell Nick. Like she told him previously, he didn't know the secrets of her heart. He had no clue about this secret of hers about him.
Despite Kate being usually so open about her thoughts and emotions, she still had a remaining trait that made her relate to Katarina: keeping real secrets only to herself.
She knew it was a selfish feeling. She wasn't really proud of it, but she couldn't help but feel it.
Nick was annoyingly perfect for another reason. The annoyance actually related to this feeling of hers that she even tried to hide from herself. It was disturbing to her to admit she didn't forgive him completely for what he did after their break up.
Her fame of jealousy and possessive wasn't by chance! She loved to be unique. The only one.
The truth was that about three years after their breakup she did everything to find him. She borrowed a good amount of money from the Fleury's and Lucy to go on her pursuit after Nick, and she did find him. She intended to make him a surprise, but in the end she was the surprised one.
Her prince charming had become a frog the moment she saw him with a child and a woman – his child.
Her pink world crashed that day. After years crying over him and suffering over their unjust separation there she was witnessing him with another woman and their child.
She could've expected him to have other women – sexually speaking. He was too handsome to not have ladies crawling over him. She understood that. She could be fine about that after some breaking therapy or something. She couldn't blame him for having intercourse with other women as a single man, as for she herself had had other men as well. She was not that too possessive that couldn't share her men physically. She actually liked that kind of game at times, but there were rules for that. The other women could never feel all of him. Unprotected sex could only be with her. Only she could have him (her men) all to herself. The rule applied to her as well.
However he had a child with someone else and that meant that he had broken that "rule". Obviously she didn't blame the child. The problem wasn't the child, but the broken rule that only existed in her mind.
Besides, back in those days she still had her damaged womb and the diagnosis that she could never support a pregnancy until the end.
So in her mind the other women were better than her because they didn't have that flaw she had. They could give him something she couldn't.
She knew one of his dreams was to have a family as well – that was part of their sweet plans before her diagnosis -, and after learning about it he told her they shouldn't give up and he'd stay with her until the end and he promised her to stay by her side no matter what with or without children of their own.
And there he was playing with his little rascal that was made not too long after their breakup. He was a happy father now. His dream of being a parent had become true.
However he broke his promise. Crashed and disappointed she left without him ever know she had been there.
Then she learned he had tried to find her, but she made sure to not be found by him. She didn't want to have to deal with his children that were a constant reminder of her "broken womb". She didn't blame him, or maybe she did as the children existed out of his "betrayal" and his lack of protection when fucking others.
Years passed, she grew over that and became a mother too despite all the odds. But as a true Scorpio girl (there she was blaming the zodiac) she had a problem with forgiveness. Letting go. She really had problems with that, but she was trying really hard to change that about herself.
They reencountered, she got over his children issues, and had him always by her side. But there was her pride as well, (damn zodiac!) and she had problems admitting her flaws, especially the ones she didn't want to admit to herself or became embarrassed of ever feeling some disturbing feelings about petty details.
But for her, a reconciliation had to be 100% clear, and that was one of the reasons why she and Chris were still "working on" things and hadn't reconciled fully. Now the same was being applied to Nick.
If she ever decided to really stay let go of Chris and stay with Nick she'd have to be fully honest about that past event that hurt her so much because now she couldn't blame him at him as for she had children with another man as well.
She let out a sigh and turned to him, "Look…we talk about this later. Now I'm really focused on the meeting…" she spoke letting out a soft smile – another remain of Katarina on Kate's personality
Nick smiled back with a nod, "Sure!"
As they walked closer to the main gate, they spotted the back of a dark blonde Caucasian woman with braided hair to the back. She wore a soft pink dress and didn't seem to have noticed their presence behind her.
Out of sudden Kate's heart accelerated, she started sweating cold as her legs and hands trembled at the sight of the woman staring into the property. Having difficulties to stroll her twins, she simply stood still trying to recompose herself.
Nicholas noticed Kate's behavior and got concerned, "You okay?"
"That hair style…" she whispered as her mind filled with the little albino girl she had dreamed of
The woman finally turned around, noticing the pair and the twins staring at her. Graciously she smiled at them and greeted them with a friendly tone.
Under a near panic attack Kate thanked inertly the twins becoming the center of the attention as they seemed to enjoy that woman's presence, including "grumpy Mel" was smiling at that gracious woman that looked the same age as Kate's.
"I'm sorry…I gave more attention to them than at you, but I couldn't help those sweet little smiles at me" she spoke as she stood up clearly a bit embarrassed
"No problem…we're used to that" Nick replied with a friendly grin
"What beautiful babies you have!" she spoke with a smile that made her look even more gracious. The thin and delicate traits of her skin and bone structure made her look so feminine. Her moves always so gracious. Her expression always so kind, and her eyes so blue like pools
"Thank you, Miss…" Nick replied like a proud father
"Oh…sorry, I forgot to introduce myself to you. My name is Karine Johassen"
"I'm Nicholas, nice to meet you Miss Johassen"
"Call me Karine, or even Kari"
"Okay, Kari"
Simultaneously Nicholas and Karine turned at Kate who remained still, with a perplexed expression that she simply couldn't disguise.
"Are you okay Mrs.…?" Karine asked
"Kate?" Nick poked her softly
"No…hum…Yeah…Yeah…"
"Are you sure?" Karine asked in concern, "You look pale…"
"I'm fine…hum…thank you for your concern…Kari…ne…it's just…the weather…"
"It's kind of cold, right?"
"Yeah…by the way, my name is Katerina, but call me Kate. I'm the owner of the house"
Karine smiled friendly greeting Kate with a handshake, "Nice to meet you Kate! I'm glad we finally got to meet!"
Kate's cold hand felt Karine's. So soft, warm and trustable touch.
No words were needed the following seconds after that handshake. Their brains weren't aware of it, but their souls were fully aware of that long missing touch. A long and waited reencounter of formerly mother and daughter.
A perhaps clumsy first meet, but so full of inner emotions.