Hello! Happy new year ¿shopethat 2021 brings us better days!

Here's an update for these story. Also, I made a discord to interact with readers, so if you are interested to join, feel free to DM and I shall give you the link.

27. Chris

Barry and Jill had decided to join Chris in his visit to Leon's apartment. Both Ex-STARS were anxious to see how the younger Redfield was doing, too, so Chris had seen no harm in letting them come. Now, however, he was starting to regret it as the conversation in the car was taking a twist that he wasn't really liking.

"So...those two have, almost, a month of being married…" Barry said, " How do you think they are handling that?"

"What do you mean, Barry?" Jill asked.

"Well...we have Claire who pretty much likes Leon, and then we have Leon who pretty much likes Claire…" Barry shrugged, "Two and two living together, pretending to be married...come on. Something has got to pop in there. "

"Barry, you're probably watching too many tv shows with Kathy…" Jill laughed

"Ah, come on. You gotta be fu}cking blind if you don't see that there's something there. I love Claire as a daughter, and if she's to tie the knot with someone, I think Kennedy would be a good candidate…"

"The marriage is a lie, Barry…" Chris said, rolling his eyes.

"Maybe, but if there's something I know by heart is that some things need a fucking push like that to make it count. Just look at you two…"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Jill glared at Barry.

"Ya know what I mean…" Barry snorted.

Jill glared at the older man again, but all she achieved was to have the man laugh louder.

"Let's be honest here, Chris...if Claire decided she wanted that little marriage arrangement to be permanent, would ya complain?"

Chris choked. If they ended up dying in a car crash, it'd be Barry's fault for distracting him. The older Redfield chose not to answer that question, but he had to admit it was a thought that had crossed his mind a couple of times.

Claire had told him more than once that she was over her infatuation with Leon. She had even gone on and tried dating some men a few times, but those relationships didn't get too far, and in some cases, Piers's, to be more precise, it had ended up as a close friendship. Claire was always too busy with her things, and by the end of it, she would just drop the whole idea of dating. Chris had no problems with that, if Claire wanted to live as an independent woman, he was alright with it, but he knew Claire. Like their mom, the woman was a family person, and Chris would be disappointed if she didn't get the chance to have a proper family.

Claire was his baby sister, and no matter how much older she got, he'd always be able to read her, and he knew that the only reason Claire denied her infatuation with Leon was that she refused to accept it. Why she did that was beyond him, but he had to admit that those lingering feelings between his baby sister and the government agent were one of the main reasons he had reconsidered Leon's offering at first. He didn't know about the blonde, but he knew Claire's predicament.

SO what if what Barry suggested was real? What if their arrangement actually made those two end up together?

As long as he keeps her safe and happy, that should be fine. Right?

Leon had his reputation with women: but to be fair, most of it came from rumors, and Chris couldn't tell if those things were real or not. Claire had defended the blonde plenty of times before, and he trusted her judgment.

The problem there was that judgment could get fogged when you're biased.

And Claire could get easily biased. Well, at least before she became the neurotic person she was, ever since the Fisher mess.

"Barry...you are a little too straight forward with that…" Jill laughed.

"I just want to know? Kennedy has my thumbs up, but the other 50% is up to Big Brother bear."

"Can we discuss that if it actually happens?"Chris groaned.

"Better be prepared. You know what people say, forewarned is forearmed."

Chris pulled the car into the parking spot without comments. The trio walked into the lobby, and the guard told them the Kennedys were waiting for them.

The Kennedys. That made Chris want to slam himself against the table, especially when he saw Barry burst into laughter and Jill snicker.

"Well, the guy has a nice place." Jill said, impressed, "and a secured one, too. I mean, we saw the blueprints and all, but it looks nicer in real life."

"Yeah, at least she must be comfortable here…" Chris said, ringing the doorbell.

The group waited patiently in front of the door, and then they heard laughter. Chris unconsciously smiled at hearing his sister's familiar laugh as the door flipped open, and Leon stood in front of them with an amused look.

"Chris...Jill, Barry…" he greeted them.

"Hello again, Leon. I hope you don't mind if we tagged along."

"Not at all. I believe Claire would prefer it that way. Come in…"

Leon stepped aside to let the group walk in and then closed the door. Chris looked around the place, and he could immediately see the small things that revealed Claire's presence in the house: plants on the shelves, biology books on the coffee table, and a cat curled on the corner of the couch.

"Huh...Claire persuaded you to let the furball into your house?" Chris said, staring at the cat.

"You mean, Midnight?" Leon asked with a frown, "I'm not much of an animal person, but I don't mind…"

"Midnight? That's its name?" Jill asked, scratching the cat's head.

"That's how Claire calls that thing, but I always called it furball," Chris shrugged.

"And that's exactly why he dislikes you," Claire replied, coming out from the kitchen.

Claire smiled brightly at her brother as she rushed to hug him and Chris almost felt like when they were younger, and he'd just returned home for holidays. She was looking a thousand times better than before, but she was still a little too thin and too pale for his comfort. However, she'd obviously had a few good meals and rest. Leon was taking good care of her, after all.

"That fight sure didn't leave you unscathed, huh?" Claire said, looking at his bandages, "I read the report. You guys were lucky. Bruises and scratches are nothing compared to what could have happened…" she quickly added when she saw the way Chris was staring at her

Chris already expected Claire to know about the monsters, but he was still hoping to spare his sister the bad memories.

"You knew those things?" Chris asked softly, and he saw his sister nod.

"Only a fleeting memory. I remember seeing and running away from those monsters once."

"So you faced them," Jill said, and Claire nodded.

"I'll write down everything I remember. It will come in handy."

"Would that be okay? If it's tough, you don't have to do it."

"No, I have to. Not remembering is as much of a burden as remembering, and honestly. I can be more useful if I remember. I'll write down everything I remember..."

Jill smiled sympathetically.

"Right...let's not talk about that." Chris said, shaking his head, "How have you been?"

"Peachy, can't you tell?" Claire laughed, "Having serious issues of an identity crisis with everyone calling me Clara or even worse, Mrs. Kennedy, but hey, I can't complain, can I? I mean, half of the female population in the office probably wants to kill me, but you know, compared to fighting a giant mutant monster, that's cool…"

"You're sarcastic as ever…" Chris laughed, messing her head.

"Ah, would you ever stop doing that?"

"Big brother's right...never gonna happen." Chris chuckled.

Claire rolled her eyes but smiled nevertheless.

"Well, it's good that you are back to your sense of humor, Claire. " Barry nodded, "So Kennedy therapy works fine, huh?"

Chris frowned at the man, and Jill elbowed him, but Barry just laughed louder.

"Since when is Leon considered therapy?" Claire looked at the blonde, and the agent only snorted, "You need to check your concept of therapy, Barry. This guy only puts me on my nerves. He gets worse than Chris sometimes. I'd never imagined he could be someone that could match Chris in overprotectiveness.."

"I'm just keeping you from getting into trouble…"

"That's what he says. Did Chris give him any sort of seminar before we came home?" Claire asked Jill, and the blonde woman laughed loudly.

"No, at least not that I know. Maybe it's innate…" Jill replied, smiling, " You're looking a lot better, so he's done a good job so far. I don't see reasons to complain…"

Chris chuckled. It was funny that Jill had somehow said the words that he didn't want to say out loud. That was good, though. He didn't have to say it now.

"Yeah, I guess you got that right. I'm making dinner. It should be ready in half an hour, and Helena just texted me saying she was on her way back home and that Sherry has self-invited herself. Not that I mind…"

"She comes and goes whenever she wants anyway, I don't see why she shouldn't come. "Besides, she probably still has lots to talk to her big sister/mom…"

"You mean Sherry Birkin?" Chris asked, remembering the young agent he had met back in China. He knew the girl had a close relationship with Claire.

"Yeah. Lovely Sherry, she's a sweet girl…"

"Moira was asking about you too…" Barry said, "she wants to see ya…"

"Oh...we will have to arrange a meeting someday. Sherry would love to meet Moira, too…" Claire replied, tilting her head before adding in an amused voice. " Somehow, I am surrounded by girls all the time...That sure won't make me look any younger. Alright. I'm going to check on the food. I'll be right back…"

Claire headed back to the kitchen as Chris stared at her back. Claire was, indeed, surrounded by young girls. All of them looked up to her. Claire had always had that innate maternal instinct, whereas it was a kid or an animal. He remembered when Claire joined their mother in her rounds around the animal care center. Little Claire would act like a sweet little nurse to the poor animals, and their father had often teased, saying that the girl would end up being a vet just like their mom. The memory drew a smile on his lips.

"Need some help?" Leon asked.

"Nah, you be a nice host and entertain the guests, would you?"

Chris saw them talk between them. Claire seemed relaxed and happy, and Leon, well, he didn't know that man that well, but there was a hint of care in his eyes. Chris couldn't help but remember Barry's words from the car ride. What if the older man wasn't wrong after all?

Don't get ahead. Claire and Leon are friends. Naturally, they get along. He thought, but the possibility still bugged him. Maybe he'd need to ask the agent in conversation, man to man.

"So...Claire is officially you cook now?" Jill asked.

"Not that I haven't tried to persuade her from doing that. She just seems to enjoy cooking." Leon shrugged. "She sometimes lets me help, though…"

"That's because the girl likes cooking for crowds..:" Barry said, "I overheard talking to Kathy once on Natalia's birthday. She was helping out in the kitchen, and Kathy was telling her she probably cooked often, but Claire said she only cooked when there was someone to cook for, and she didn't like cooking for herself…"

"I bet she is used to cooking for you, Chris…"

"She did often when we were younger. I am not exactly a cook…"

"No joke at that. I remember our squad hung out often at Chris's place on the weekends off. Little Claire was adorable…"

"You knew them when they were kids?" Leon asked, surprised.

"Barry and Chris were in the same team when they were in the air forces. When Barry joined S.T.A.R.S he dragged Chris along…" Jill explained, "But seriously, a young girl surrounded by a bunch of foolish men…"

"Hah, Claire could kick any of those fool's asses without troubles." Barry laughed, "But if she couldn't, there was Chris to do it for her. The whole squad was fond of the girl, so it wasn't necessary."

"I've never seen any of Claire's child pics. Now that I remember. You had one of her high school graduation on your desk, right?" Jill asked Chris, and the man nodded. The picture was now safely in his new office at the BSAA headquarters, along with a newer one from Claire's college graduation.

"Graduated with honors that one…" Barry laughed, "Chris wouldn't shut up for a week…"

"I am a proud brother, so what?" Chris shrugged, "What's wrong about bragging about your cute and smart sister…"

"I'd never picture you at that, Chris…" Leon chuckled.

"Those were other times…" Chris sighed, "Easier ones…"

"Ah, come on, we shouldn't get depressed now. Let's enjoy today, shall we?" Barry said, patting the younger man's back.

For today he would do so. He wouldn't think of terrorists, viruses, or unhappy memories. Today he'd enjoy an evening with his friends and family. Nothing else.

With dinner over, the group had moved back to the living room and seemed now engulfed in a happy chat with coffee, beers, and in Claire's case, tea. Her medications had her on coffee and alcohol abstinence.

After some minutes of listening to the ladies talk, Chris stretched his arms over his head and walked out to the balcony. The view was impressive. He could see the small light from the city flicker like tiny stars. The pound of the sliding door behind him made Chris look back as Leon walked out. The agent offered him a bottle of beer and stood by his side, looking at the view as well.

"Got tired of the girl's talk?" Chris asked, taking the bottle.

"Nah…" Leon replied, "Thought you could use some company."

"I see. What are they talking about now?" Chris asked, looking at the group of people laughing inside the apartment.

"Something about the Burtons' summer vacation in the Bahamas…" Leon replied, "This is so normal that it's almost scary, don't you think?"

"Only we can see normal things and be scared, but face monsters like it was nothing…" Chris snorted, "But yeah. Though I wouldn't complain if things could be like this more often…"

"I can see what you mean…" Leon nodded.

"You two seem to be getting along well. I thought that Claire might be a little difficult to manage, but you two seem okay…"

"We know each other; that makes it easier…" Leon admitted, "Claire is, by far, the most pleasant person I've ever had to escort."

"She hadn't been torturing you then?"

"Depends on what you consider torture…" Leon smirked, "She filled my office with carnivorous plants this morning…"

"She what?"

"She had said she was going to play the "wife card" and redecorate my office. I expected some cheesy flowers with colorful petals and ribbons, and instead, I came to find flowers with teeth that eat flies…"

"Huh, sound like something she'd do…" Chris admitted, "She gave me one once, too. It didn't have teeth, but it was one of those trap-one things. The ones in which the insects get sucked or something like that? I had it on my table, and everyone in the office looked at it weirdly. You can't imagine how my neighbor reacted when I told him he should check if it got enough insect supply when I was out…"

"That poor man…"

"Did she name yours yet?"

"Not that she has told me…"

"She named mine...Sandy. I just called it Plant, but whenever she called me, she would go and ask how Sandy was doing. Before I even realized it, I was calling the thing Sandy as well. Jill and Barry mocked me for weeks…"

"Sandy the bug sucker…" Leon said, "Sounds catchy."

"Wait until she names yours...it won't be that funny anymore…"

The men fell silent for a while, both busy with their drinks and thoughts. After a few minutes, it was Chris who finally broke the silence.

"Thanks…"

"What for?"

"When we found Claire...she wasn't quite herself. She tried, probably for us not to worry, but I knew she wasn't quite herself…" Chris said, taking a sip from the beer, "Now looking at her, she's much more like that original her. Barry was right when he said you'd helped…"

"Claire doesn't quite need help to get back on feet. I just keep an eye on her and try to keep her safe…"

" I have this feeling that things will get difficult soon with the new virus and everything. So either way, whatever you're doing, Kennedy, just keep doing it."