Athena, being the brash and headstrong young woman she always was, shoved open the door to her father's room as she knocked, not waiting for permission to enter. Wesker's eyes snapped open the moment her foot came through the door. Athena froze at the sight, a hand flying to her mouth to cover the grin that had sprung to her lips. Billy bumped into her, sending her farther into the room. He, too, froze. Wesker sat up and glared at them. Rebecca roused slightly not really waking up until Wesker spoke.
"Athena, common courtesy would be to knock before opening the door, not as you do so."
She nodded, hand still hiding her grin but he could see her mirth in her eyes.
Rebecca sprang up with a squeak and squirmed over behind Wesker. He shielded her with his left arm as well. Her eyes peaked over his shoulder as her skin turned its rosy red. Billy was dumbstruck.
"Are you just going to stand there?" Wesker raised his brows.
Athena lowered her hand and changed the grin to a smirk. "We need to talk about a couple things if you two can pull yourselves togeth… well, actually, apart. We'll be in the living room." She shoved Billy from the room, the ex-Marine still gaping.
Wesker sighed as the door closed. He ran a hand through his hair and looked back at Rebecca. She was still pink. "Well, I guess I'll be locking the door from now on, though I really should not have to sneak around in my own damn house. It's not right!"
She nodded and leaned against his back. "We should see what they wanted, shouldn't we?" She sounded reluctant to move. He chuckled at her.
"Yes, unfortunately we should. Athena would not have mentioned it if she did not think it was important."
"She probably wants to tell you about Ohio." Rebecca slid toward the edge of the bed as she searched for her clothes. She found everything but her bra. She turned red at the thought of asking Wesker where it was. Lost in her search, she nearly jumped from her skin when he hung said article in front of her face. "Thanks." She quickly put it on and slipped into her shirt. She already had her pants on so she stood and waited for him. He slid into his black jeans and a faded blue button down shirt, leaving the shirt unbuttoned.
They made their way to the living room. Billy was nowhere in sight while both Chris and Athena sat with a knowing grin and smirk respectively. Wesker glared at Athena as she began to chuckle. Her chuckles soon turned to hiccups before her hand flew to her mouth. She was off the couch and running for the bathroom.
"I don't know why they call it morning sickness. For her, it's round the clock sickness." Chris shook his head and stretched out.
"What does she wish to speak to me about?" Wesker asked Chris.
"About your fever, the breakout in Ohio, and the baby I assume. She hasn't really said."
"Breakout in Ohio?" Wesker thought a moment. "Which facility? The one along the Little Muskingum, the one at Chauncey, or the one near Stonelick? Personally, I think the one in Stonelick was a stupid idea. It's right out in the open, close to big city…
"And the one that had an outbreak of the t-virus." Athena returned and sat down to curl up against Chris's side.
"Stonelick…" Wesker ran his hand through his hair then crossed his arms. "How bad is it?"
"Brian is suppose to update me every few hours. He hasn't called lately." She checked her watch. "I'll call him shortly if he has yet to get in touch with me."
"And the baby?" Wesker had grown used to the idea that Athena was expecting a child. He was not really old enough to be a grandfather, in his opinion, but he was and there was nothing he could do about it.
"Three months," Athena responded. Rebecca came alert at this.
"Three months!" She was startled by this. "You have to get clothes, a stroller, a suitable place to stay, a name, toys, diapers…"
"Calm down, Rebecca," Wesker set a hand on her shoulder. "Three months is longer than you think. Everything will be taken care of." His eyes landed on Chris and the younger man nodded. "Now then, what about the fever?"
"Patrick said bacteria was fighting with the t-virus. He doesn't know what it is or how it was capable to put up any sort of fight. He needs Rebecca's help to classify the strain. He's at a loss."
Wesker thought this over a moment. "Alright. I'm going to Stonelick. If the virus is loose there, someone who knows what they are dealing with needs to handle the situation. I've been there, I know the layout. I can destroy the facility. Rebecca can help Patrick deal with this bacteria, see if it still presents a problem. Does he have any idea how I came in contact with it?"
"Not really. All he has is supposition. Until he and Rebecca figure out more about the bacteria…" Athena trailed off as she noted the look of displeasure on Rebecca's face. She recognized the look as one of noncompliance. "You want to go with him," she stated. Rebecca nodded. Athena sighed. "The mission will be dangerous. I, myself, wish to go but…"
"Like hell!" "Hell no!" Were the response from Chris and her father.
"But, I know that is not possible as these two would never go along with the idea." She smacked Chris on the stomach and sat up. "If you want to go, you will have to take that up with dad. I cannot tell you yes or no. This is a vigilante operation. I have the go ahead to do what I see fit, but no one is to know of the involvement of Delta Force, as usual."
"She can stay here…"
"Demetrius is going with you," Athena informed her father. "Brian is as well." She leaned forward to rest her elbows on her knees. "Donnelly with be in charge, Dad, in the official capacity. You can do whatever the hell you want as long as it does not endanger the team or the knowledge of their presence. Is that understood?"
Wesker nodded. He recognized the tone of authority Athena's voice had taken. She was the major of a Delta Force special operations team for a reason. "Very well. The mission should only take one night if I can get in and out without any problems."
The ringing of Athena's phone interrupted them. Chris, who had pocketed it after she had shoved it at him before running to the bathroom at the hospital, handed it to her. "Major Wesker… Yes, Brian… He is… That's correct… Any idea what it is… That sounds interesting. Bring the stuff over. We need to go over it… Correct… See you in ten and bring Greer with you… Yes, he is. So are you… No, I am not joking… Donnelly," she growled in warning. She rolled her eyes and closed the phone. "He'll be here soon with further information."
Rebecca stood and stretched before disappearing into the kitchen. Athena winked at Chris then followed. Chris shook his head. "Your daughter is nothing but trouble, you know that?"
"I am well aware. You are going to have your hands full." Wesker smirked. "Have you thought of a name?"
"Athena swears up and down it's a boy, so Torin Christopher."
"And if she is wrong?" Chris shrugged. Wesker snorted. "She won't accept that fact that she could be. What would you name a daughter, Redfield?"
Chris thought for a moment. "Sabia."
"That is an interesting name. I don't believe I have heard it before. Where did…" A knock at the door cut him off. He glanced at his watch and knew it could not be Donnelly and Greer. He stood and approached with a small bit of apprehension. He opened the door to find a tall, slender but toned African woman standing before him. She was at least five-ten and no more than a hundred and twenty pounds, by appearance. She wore tight light blue jeans and a tight white t-shirt tucked into them. "May I help you?"
Her chocolate brown eyes swept over him. "You must be Athena's father Albert." She held out her hand. "I am Ramla Kamaria, a friend of Athena's." Wesker took her hand and noticed the firm, strong grip belied by the professional manicure and soft skin. "Is your daughter here?"
"Yes. Do, come in, Miss Kamaria."
"Dr. Kamaria, but please call me Ramla." She smiled and walked into the house. Her eyes immediately landed on Chris. Wesker watched as she gave the other man a once over as well. He noticed also that her hair was long and pitch black, hanging down her back like a living shadow.
"Please, take a seat, Ramla, while I fetch Athena." Wesker walked from the room leaving Chris on his own. The younger man watched the exotic woman as she sat down and eyed him.
"You must be Christopher Redfield. Elizabeth tells me you are the father of Athena's child."
Chris nodded. "And you are?"
"Ramla!" Athena rushed into the room. Ramla stood and they met in an embrace. "What are you doing here?" Athena pulled back and looked up at her friend. "You're wearing your damn heels again."
Ramla chuckled. "Yes, I know how much you hate me being taller than you." She sat back down, Athena sitting beside Chris. "I am here because Elizabeth called with the most unbelievable news. I had to come see for myself."
"Well, it's true." Athena placed a hand on Chris's thigh. "Ramla, this is Chris Redfield. Chris, Dr. Ramla Kamaria. We are old friends from college."
"So, Athena, tell me all about Mr. Redfield and this child you are going to have."
Athena grinned great big and went into how they had met and what had lead to them getting together.
Rebecca knew trouble when she saw it, and the wide smirk and merry eyes of Athena Wesker were trouble. The major walked into the kitchen behind her and crossed her arms. Rebecca gazed back in curiosity. "What?" She demanded.
"Well, was it everything you hoped or more?" Athena sidled closer to her. Rebecca flushed faintly and shook her head.
"I am not about to discuss it in detail." She turned back to the cabinet and rummaged for something to fix to eat.
Athena's smirk turned to a grin. "Great!" She grabbed Rebecca and spun the younger woman around. "So, tell me. Do I get to call you mom?" Athena squeaked as she was hauled up into strong arms before Rebecca could fathom an answer.
"That depends on your behavior, I believe," her father told her. He jostled her lightly before dropping her to her feet.
"Aw, Daddy," she pouted up at him. He rolled his eyes. He had no idea why she and Rebecca had such a habit of doing that to him.
"Don't," he stated simply. She growled up at him only to be cut off as she started to say something. "A friend of yours is here. A Dr. Kamaria." No sooner had the words left his mouth than his daughter disappeared into the living room. "Interesting," he mused.
"You realize you have a troublesome brat for a daughter?" Rebecca asked as she once more tried find something to fix to eat.
"You wouldn't have her any other way, and neither would I."
"As true as that may be, I am four years younger than her. She can't go around calling me mom!"
"She's just jesting. Calm down." He wrapped his arms around her from behind. "Besides, you may as well get used to it. I figure the baby will have a Grandma Rebecca instead of Aunty Rebecca." Rebecca froze in his arms. Her next words had him laughing out right.
"Great. Not even twenty and I'm already a grandmother. What will that make me when I'm eighty. A great-great-great grandmother or something? Guess that means you are my boyfriend after all." She smiled and shook her head in despair, elbowing Wesker as he continued to laugh at her expense. "Hush you. You'll still be around, too."
"So, does that mean you're stuck with me for the next sixty or so years?" He kissed her neck. She nodded briskly and cocked her head to give him better access. She could quickly get used to the attention he was giving her.
"Al, about this mission…"
Athena and Ramla were deep in a discussion about birth when a loud voice from the kitchen made everyone quiet. Wesker stormed out of the kitchen and toward the stairs. He was not happy, and Athena had a pretty good idea why. Rebecca had made her decision. She was going with them to Ohio, and she was not going to let Wesker decide if she could like Athena had told her to.
Rebecca came out of the kitchen a second later yelling at Wesker's back, "I am not a child anymore. I am a S.T.A.R.S member and have the right to go on this mission. You will need someone certified to take care of any wounds…"
Wesker turned around angrily. "I am a doctor, if you had not become aware. I can take care of anything that would happen to the other members…."
"And you won't take care of yourself! Dammit, Albert, it's not like I want to go so I can sight see. I know what is out there…"
"You have no idea! The Stonelick facility houses some of the worst…"
"Then you will need the extra help! Don't start sheltering me just because…"
"Because what? Because we slept together?! Fuck, Rebecca if…"
"Albert Wesker, you so much as think to finish that sentence, I will come over there and kick the shit out of you even if I am pregnant!" Athena was on her feet and glaring so hard at her father, Chris wondered if she had taught him instead of her getting it from him. "Now, sit your asses down and talk like civilized people while I get the goddamn door you didn't hear being knocked on." She stormed over to the door and let in a weary looking Brian and slightly intrigued Demetrius.
"Such a loving family," Greer commented.
"Shut up, D'mitri," Athena warned. He glared at her. He hated being called D'mitri, which meant she did it all the time and was the only one that could get by with it.
"So, did we come at a bad time? I don't think this can wait, but…"
"Get on with it, Brian. Tell us what you found out that was so interesting." Athena sat down on Chris's lap so Demetrius would have a place to sit as well as Wesker, as Rebecca had monopolized the remaining arm chair.
"Well, from the data we have compiled, it seems that they were experimenting on something new. The name of the project is about all we have been able to ascertain. The codename is Kismet, but we found another name as well. We aren't sure what it means, if it is a person on the project or what. We do know that the name is a key element…"
"What the hell is the name, Donnelly?" Athena broke in.
"Kyna Marsden…"
Athena was on her feet with her hand on her mouth. She looked as pale as a ghost. Her eyes were wide as she fought to untangle her feet and make it to the bathroom. Wesker was on his feet and after her as soon as she started from the room. The others watched in confusion.
"What just happened?" Chris asked no one specific. He was torn between following and letting Wesker take care of her.
"The name was familiar to them. I wonder…" Ramla seemed to zone out as she dove into her mind. She recognized the name. It can't be… She's suppose to have died twenty-two years ago.
"Do you know something?" Chris asked her, his eyes hard and demanding. She shook her head.
"This is not for me to share. Athena and her father must divulge this information and only when ready." She peaked her hands before her. "I fear that if they do not, this could tear them apart as well as away from you."
They all eyed her. What was she getting at? Who was Kyna Marsden? Why did both Athena and Wesker react so to the name? And, what was Kismet?"
Wesker waited outside the bathroom door as Athena emptied the contents of her digestive track into the toilet bowl. He felt like joining her. Kyna… Twenty-two years I have went without the mentioning of her name and now it comes up during a discussion about Umbrella. Why am I now surprised? His inner debate was lost as Athena came out of the bathroom and walked into his embrace. "Are you alright?"
"Yes, I'm fine. I never even knew her. Why should I be so upset that…"
"We don't know why her name is mentioned, but I fear…" He could not bring himself to say what he feared. Athena nodded against his chest knowing full well what he feared. He feared his first true love had become the test dummy for Umbrella's Kismet project, whatever Kismet was.
"I… I know I have to stay here, but… I want you to promise to end whatever suffering she may be in. Can you do that, for me?" Athena looked up at him. He nodded once then pulled her more tightly against his chest. He may not be the most loving, open man on the planet, but his daughter's mother could still be alive. He had thought her dead years, decades before.
"Come on, Sunshine. Let's go back to the living room. I'm sure there are a lot of questions that have now arisen." He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and steered her toward the others.
"Sunshine? Where did you get that?" She leaned against him. The nickname was unexpected from him. He was not the type for such things.
"You have always been the light at the end of my tunnel. I made a pact with the devil and bargained for eternity in hell, but I knew my saving light would be the sacrifices I made for you. Even if they don't save my soul, I would do them a thousand times over for Umbrella to have actually kept their word."
"They don't know how." They fell silent as they walked back into the living room. Everyone was watching them. Athena sat back down on Chris's lap as Wesker sat down beside them.
"So, who is Kyna Marsden?" Brian asked bluntly. Everyone but Athena glared at him sourly.
They shared a glance before Athena decided to share only part of the truth. "William Birkin's half-sister."