Disclaimer: I do not own Resident Evil.

A/N: Okay so I'm pretty sure I am the most awful person in the world for taking so long between updates. I really don't have an excuse which only makes it even worse. I am very sorry.

A/N2: Name of this chapter is from 'The Strokes.'


Alice's feet dragged across the hospital parking lot as she made her way to her truck in the early hours of the afternoon. She knew it would take some time before she would adjust to a normal sleep schedule again. After a month and a half of dating Claire she had made the decision to give up working the night shift at the hospital. Their work schedules had only allowed them slivers of time in the evenings to spend together and they were both starving for more. It hadn't taken Alice much thought to figure out that the easiest solution would be changing her work schedule. So a couple of weeks ago she requested the move to day shift, surprising everyone at the hospital except Betty. She hadn't told the redhead yet that she was now working during the day and sleeping at night like a normal person. Alice wanted to make sure that this was what she really wanted both for herself and for their relationship.

She found it surprisingly easy to be with Claire. The redhead never pressured or pushed her for more than she was ready to give. Alice could clearly see the disappointment on her girlfriend's face every time she had to leave for work instead of staying the night, though Claire had never voiced her feelings, knowing how much Alice enjoyed her job. And while the blonde appreciated Claire's understanding, she too was growing frustrated with the limited amount of time they were able to spend together.

Still, Alice had struggled with her decision. Not more than two months ago Alice would have said with certainty she was completely content with her life. She was a loner, but never felt any shame in that fact. And now it felt like she was a completely different person. Alice was someone who lived based on her own wants and needs and it startled her to think about how those wants and needs had changed over the last several weeks.

Alice could replay the morning after their second date a thousand times and the memory would still bring a smile to her face. There had only been a few occasions since then where she'd woken up with the redhead in her arms and it almost scared her how much she missed Claire's presence on the nights they spent apart. Unlike her brother, Alice had never before felt the need for companionship, she had never even wanted a pet and she was very tentative about letting her feelings for someone change the way she lived her life. But every moment she spent with Claire, and even K-Mart only proved how much happiness others could bring to her life when given the chance. She felt herself looking forward to the most trivial things; telling Claire about her day, or hearing K-Mart relay the daily high school gossip. Most of all, Alice liked the way Claire's face would light up every time she came over. Alice knew her face probably mirrored the look whenever she saw the redhead but she couldn't help it.

For the first time in years Alice felt like she was ready for a serious relationship. She knew it was what Claire deserved and that she needed to step up if that was ever going to happen. For too long Alice had lived her life with only herself in mind but now she wanted Claire to be included in it as much of it as possible.

Alice yawned as she made the drive home, deciding that a nap was in order before she headed over to the Redfield's apartment later that night. Her and Claire had planned a stay in date night and Alice figured that would be the perfect time to relay the news about her change in work schedule. The blonde grinned despite her fatigue, she was always anxious on days she knew she'd see Claire and even after almost two months of dating those feelings of nervous excitement remained.


"Princess Peach."

"You're shitting me."

"Nope."

"Alice your favourite video game character cannot be Princess Peach!"

"Why not?"

"Because that's just ridiculous!"

Alice chuckled. "I don't think you're in the position to judge me. You're favourite band is KISS, I'm pretty sure that means you're not allowed to ever say shit about anything anyone else likes, ever." Her girlfriend's indignant huff only caused her grin to spread wider.

The blonde was having fun. They were sitting opposite on the redhead's couch, the movie they'd put on long forgotten as they debated the merits of each other's favourite things.

"Ok, fine." Claire relented. "My turn to pick." Her face scrunched in contemplation. "Favourite tree?"

"Oh that's tough. I think I have to go with Japanese Maple."

"Nice," Claire replied. "I think mine would have to be umbrella trees."

"Didn't you get enough of umbrellas from that diner?" Alice teased. "I would have thought you'd be glad to never see an umbrella again once you got out."

Claire shrugged. "It wasn't so bad. My new job is much better though."

"I'm glad."

"What about you? How are things going at the hospital? Did they replace that guy they fired for stealing morphine?"

"Kind of," Alice hesitated, not sure if she should mention that it had been herself who had given up midnights to take the vacated day shift. But she was spared from deciding when Claire spotted the clock on the wall.

"Shit Alice, it's after 10:30," her girlfriend pouted. "Don't you need to leave?"

Alice grinned. "Not tonight."

Claire responded with a matching grin. "You mean to tell me that you are mine for the entire night?"

"That is correct."

The redhead quickly crawled across the length of the couch to where Alice was sitting. "Then I am really happy K is out tonight." She said before her lips descended on the blonde's. Alice briefly considered pausing things to tell Claire her news but all thought was pushed aside as hands snaked their way up her shirt and the only thing interrupting their kiss was the smile that spread across her face, knowing that giving up the night shift was definitely going to be worth the trade of nights with her girlfriend.


The ringing of a phone woke Alice and she groggily stumbled out of the bed. Putting a long t-shirt on to offset the loss of the warm bed, she went in search of the device as she recognized the tone of her own cell phone. When it was dislodged from the pocket of her pants that had somehow managed to end up in the far corner of the room, Alice, though still groggy was prompted to answer as K-Mart's name flashed across the screen. Considering the ringing had woken her from sleep she knew it was far too late for the younger blonde to be calling, and Alice instantly became anxious. A quick glance at Claire confirmed that the noise hadn't woken the redhead and Alice quickly moved to the other room before answering.

"K-Mart?"

"Alice?" The teenager replied. "Is this the right number? I think you're first in my contacts, but if this is Amanda I'm sorry..."

"K-Mart it's Alice, are you okay?" Alice spoke slowly and clearly, having heard the teenager's slurred greeting and what she guessed was the thumping of a bass in the background. "K-Mart?" Alice had a suspicion on why the blonde was calling but needed to be sure.

K-Mart made a few attempts to speak but it resulted in a burst of random noises, one of which appeared to be an impression of a dolphin. Next there was some shuffling, the sound of K-Mart whining in protest, and then a voice Alice didn't recognize spoke into the phone.

"Hello? Is this Alice?" There was a slight British accent to the female voice but Alice didn't take the time to analyse it.

"Yes, what's wrong with K-Mart?"

"I'm afraid she is rather drunk. We went to a party and got separated. When I found her she was completely wasted–" the girl's explanation was interrupted by K-Mart making loud elephant noises in the background, followed by giggling. "K, please be quiet for a second" Alice could hear the teenager unsuccessfully try to control her drunk friend. "She was supposed to be sleeping over at my house but she's really out of it. I wanted to call Claire but K refused and started crying, then she started saying your name over and over and called you instead. I don't know what to do."

The girl was clearly distressed so Alice did her best to reassure her. "It's okay kid. This is Angie right?"

"Yes."

"Where are you guys? I'm coming to pick you up." She listened as the sober teenager recited the address. "Okay, I'm on my way. Stay where you are and wait for me."

Alice hung up and headed back into Claire's bedroom and began to search for her clothes. As she pulled her t-shirt over her head and spotted Claire still peacefully asleep she contemplated whether or not to wake her girlfriend. Undoubtedly Claire would want to know that something was wrong with K-Mart but she didn't want her to be upset before the teenager was even home safely. Alice thought the best thing to do was pick up K-Mart as soon as possible so she silently left the apartment and headed out into the night.


It wasn't hard to find the address Angie gave her and Alice easily spotted the two teenagers on the sidewalk as she pulled up to the house. K-Mart was walking backwards around her friend but abruptly stopped and waved excitedly when she spotted Alice. The older blonde was relieved to find that aside from being completely intoxicated, K-Mart appeared to be fine.

"Alice! I'm soooo glad you could come!" The girl greeted loudly as she pulled open the passenger door and eagerly climbed inside the truck, Angie right behind her. "Have you met Angie? She's my bestest friend in the whole world! Even though she kind of talks funny." K-Mart loudly whispered the last part as if it were a secret, causing her friend to roll her eyes. "Angie this is Alice! She and Claire are getting married one day, I just know it!" She smiled brightly up at Alice, who was at a complete loss for what to say. Instead she offered K-Mart's best friend a polite smile, which came out more like a grimace before driving off, hoping that by the time they returned to the Redfield's apartment K-Mart would be a little more in control of her verbal functions.

She dropped Angie off at home first, the girl apologizing profusely for K-Mart's condition, and it was well after two in the morning before they made it back to the Redfield's apartment.

Alice climbed out of the truck first, walking around to the passenger side and opening the door for the teenager who had yet to even move. K-Mart had been giggling for most of the drive but after dropping off her friend had become silent.

Alice waited patiently for the younger blonde to move. "Come on K-Mart, you're home it's time to get out of the truck." She coaxed but the girl shook her head.

"Please- " the teen hiccupped, "don't make me go in there Alice. Claire is going to kill me!" She sobbed.

"No she won't."

"Yes she will! You don't understand. She's going to hate me!" K-Mart folded in on herself, her body shaking as the tears fell.

Alice watched the girl cry, not sure what to do. She knew Claire wasn't a fan of drinking because of how her parents had died and even though she was still drunk K-Mart seemed so ashamed of herself, but Alice had no idea how her girlfriend was going to react.

"Shh K, it's alright." Alice made an awkward attempt to pat the girl on the back which in reality was more of a thump. "I'm sure Claire will just be happy to have you home safe."

K-Mart looked at her, dry sobs still racking her body before she nodded weakly and slid ungracefully out of the truck. She only made it a couple of steps before she started to wobble and had Alice not been there to catch her would have crashed onto the sidewalk.

Alice was pretty certain the teenager wouldn't be able to make it up three flights of stairs and was forced to carry the girl bridal style into the building. K-Mart was out like a light almost as soon as her feet left the ground. It was difficult to manage, but with experience of dragging Carlos' drunk ass around Alice soon found herself standing outside the apartment she had left not even an hour ago. K-Mart undoubtedly had a key but with her passed out in her arms Alice had no choice but to knock on the door with her foot and wait for Claire to answer. Movement could be heard on the other side of the door before it flung open and a shocked looking Claire took in the sight of Alice carrying her passed out little sister in her arms.

"Is she alright? What happened?" The redhead panicked as she helped Alice get the teenager into the apartment.

"She's fine, just sleeping." Alice reassured as she carried K-Mart into her bedroom and placed her carefully on the bed.

"What happened?" Claire asked again, tugging on Alice's arm as soon as it was free.

"She called me for a ride-" Alice's explanation was cut off as K-Mart promptly rolled over and threw up onto the floor. Then with surprising agility, the young blonde leapt passed both women and a moment later Alice heard the bathroom door slam shut.

"Is she drunk?" Claire demanded, anger and disbelief clear on her face. Alice merely nodded and immediately wished she hadn't as her girlfriend's face hardened in a way Alice would not have guessed was even possible had she not seen it herself. Claire stormed out of the room, "I'm going to kill her!"

Alice quickly caught her wrist.

"What?" The redhead snapped.

"I think you need to calm down."

"Don't tell me what to do!" Claire yanked her hand out of Alice's grasp. "She knows… I've told her a thousand times…" she trailed off. "I can't believe she would do this!"

"She made a mistake. K-Mart didn't do this to hurt you. She was so scared to face you, worried herself into hysterics over how you would react."

"She was right to be scared. She won't know what fun and freedom are by the time I'm done with her." Claire stood with arms crossed, still seething.

Alice was torn between what to do. She didn't want to interfere but she'd also never seen Claire this angry. They could hear K-Mart dry heaving through the door and when Claire made to move towards it again Alice called out.

"Don't be too hard on her Claire, she's a kid, she's allowed to make mistakes. Don't say something you'll regret."

"She's my sister, I know how to deal with her."

"I know you do but-"

"There are no buts! She knows how I feel about this. She knows first hand the kind of pain these kinds of poor decisions can have. You wouldn't understand Alice."

Alice felt a flame of anger spark within her. She had seen first hand the brutal effects of alcohol everyday when she was a child. Coming home from school to find her mother passed out on the couch and hiding in her room most nights as her parents screamed at each other had not made for a happy childhood.

Her moment of anger passed about as quickly as it came though. Claire looked so broken hearted and Alice knew the redhead was thinking of her own parents. Despite her own past and her parents' problems Alice would never compare her experience against Claire's. Alice had not had her parents stolen from her, they had walked out freely on their own. So where her feelings were marred by anger and abandonment Claire's were shrouded in pain and loss.

Taking a deep breath, Alice tried another approach. "What I do understand is that K-Mart is home and she is going to be fine. Why don't you focus on that?"

"Yeah, about that. How could you not tell me what was going on? She called you and asked for a ride right?" Alice nodded. "Did you know when she called that she was drunk?"

"Yes," Alice replied, realizing her mistake in not informing the redhead what was going on. "You were asleep when she called and I didn't want you to worry before she was even home. I probably should have told you what was going on but I'm kind of glad I didn't tell you. When I got here you were worried if she was alright. But if you had known ahead of time that she was going to be coming home drunk, you would have been ten times as mad as you are now, probably with a list of punishments already made up. K-Mart was so scared about how angry you would be and I can see why. She doesn't need a warden, she needs her caring older sister."

"It's not for you to decide what she needs." Claire retorted. It was then that the bathroom door opened to reveal a dishevelled looking K-Mart. "I can handle it from here." Claire said and Alice knew what that tone meant. Dismissal.

She was surprised at how much the words hurt, like getting punched in the gut. But Alice was good at hiding pain, so with her face impassive she turned around and left. She could faintly hear K-Mart call out a thank you but Alice didn't allow herself to look back as she let the door shut behind her.