The characters from the game belong to Capcom. The OC's and story background belong to me.

A/N: I'm not english native speaker, so you might find some typos or grammar mistakes, I do apologize for that.

Reed-O'Gregon Palace

"So the day we say goodbye has finally arrived…" Elizabeth spoke with a saddened tone

"You can visit me whenever you want. It will be your home too!" Katarina replied

The blonde woman smiled softly, "I wish I could go with you and be your support somehow… But Pierce has to stay…"

"I know and I really wish you could come with me, my little sister. This is the second time we will stay separated for a long time, but life is what it is… We are no longer the bachelorettes and have our obligations with our husbands" the older O'Gregon replied caressing her sister's cheek

"I'll miss Maddy. I thought I'd be with her for her first birthday"

"She will miss you too and you are already invited for the celebration on her birthdate!"

The blonde looked down with a faint smile. She had a strong bond with her niece. Madeline was the closest feeling to motherhood she had as she couldn't conceive her own child with her husband Pierce. Something, somewhat unfair as Katarina never dreamt of a family and got easily pregnant twice according to her math as she said she had already carried Pierce's child but lost it in early stages and now she was the mother of Madeline, the result of a quick conception within the few months since Christopher's return. While she who always dreamt of marriage and a big family didn't have the same luck.

Life seemed unfair sometimes. Katarina didn't like her own daughter that much and Elizabeth loved Madeline like her own daughter. Why things had to be that way? So opposite and full of contrasts. Elizabeth was worried about the little girl and how Katarina would treat her in the absence of Christopher, the father who loved her immensely as she did… But he was the father, right? He should love his child.

And last but not least, her sister and mentor's future at the side of Christopher. Everyone knew Christopher didn't love his wife and whenever he could he made sure to show that in the often arguments they had. Despite being a good-hearted man, Christopher was temperamental at times. Not that it was his entirely fault, Katarina seemed to provoke that on him. Both were strong-willed and stubborn. Katarina seemed to enjoy teasing his demon despite the sequels. Christopher ended up remorse after his explosions and Katarina laughed at the situation. Elizabeth would never forget the bruises on the brunette's skin after the last fight they had when Christopher threatened to leave with Madeline. Katarina was in a bliss while Elizabeth was horrified. However things seemed to get calmer between them after that, and since then Katarina started being a better mother and the smiles returned to her face and so did her good mood.

"How are things between you and Christopher?"

"We are working on things. You do not have to worry"

"I can't help getting worried. You're my sister…the bruises…"

Katarina smiled and pulled her beloved sister to her into a warm embrace, "Thank you for your concern and everything you did for me… I will be alright and forget the bruises, it was not what you think…"

"But it was worse than the first time…"

"Eliza, cut the drama! It was not so bad the way you are saying! It was just few marks on specific regions…" Katarina spoke starting to laugh, "My little lovely sister… so sweet, so pure! There are things that you have no knowledge and I know it is scary for you to see the results, but please do not think Christopher is a bad man, he is not!"

"He beat you…"

Katarina inhaled deeply, "Slapped, not spanked… those are different things. He has strong hands and I have clear skin… So please… It Is NOT what you are thinking!"

Elizabeth made a face. She didn't know what to say. Better leave things that way. Maybe there were very good reasons for Christopher had treated Katarina that way and in those times, men were permitted to punish the wives and women any way they wanted.

.

.

We are finally leaving this place. I could not stand the imminent threat anymore. The threat called: Vladimir!
In the end… I did end up marrying a Duke, huh! The Duke of Baveen. I am the Duchess of Baveen! I so deserve this title!
I could so had been a Princess or even a Queen if I wanted. But I do not have the competence to play by the others' rules. Much less play by the rules of an old-fashioned man!
My father has no complaints anymore… Well he has no power over me either in a long time!
Though he should be proud, I am a duchess now and his prestige has increased!
Everything is somewhat running as I planned.
Christopher said that he is willing to start over new in the new place and make our marriage work…Even if it includes to treat well that stupid child!
And I will make sure to be the best wife he could ever have because it is how they say 'Behind a great man there is a great woman!'… I should say by his side.
I have big plans!
More than never I am where I should have been long ago!
I am Katarina Reed O'Gregon…Baveen is just the start!

(*)

In the aftermath of the Battle of Arthena, Christopher Reed served as Warden of the Bohman Marches, and in the campaign the Bohman force under Prince Charles, was supported by a fleet, which Reed commanded. Reed joined the land force that destroyed Edin, after he had blown the main gate apart with a culverin. In early 18th, the king of Bohma died and his son Charles succeeded him. King Charles entitled Christopher as a Duke and appointed him as the Governor of Baveen.

As a Governor, his tasks were to rebuild the fortifications to King Charles' design and to fend off Edonian attacks by sea and land. As Lord Admiral, Reed was responsible for creating the Council for Marine Causes, which for the first time coordinated the various tasks of maintaining the navy functioning and thus made Bohman naval administration the most efficient in Europe.At sea, Reed's fighting orders were at the forefront of tactical thinking: Squadrons of ships, ordered by size and firepower, were to maneuver in formation, using coordinated gunfire. These were all new developments in the Bohman navy.

Reed was not an old-style peer, despite his aristocratic ancestry and existence as a great lord. He acquired, sold, and exchanged lands, but never strove to build himself a territorial power base or a large armed force of retainers. Christopher Reed was a typical Crown servant, self-interested but absolutely loyal to the incumbent sovereign: The monarch's every wish was law.

Green Hills, Bohma

Maggy and Angelique were returning home after the end of their shift in the shop. They walked the streets talking about the 2-year birthday party of Oliver the next weekend.

"I can't believe he's turning two so quickly, that little rascal!" the older woman spoke smiling hearing children laughter from inside her home and opened the door

"Yeah, tell me about it!" Angelique smiled too as she watched George playing with her redhead toddler.

That was part of her daily routine since she moved in with the Talbot's. with them, she had finally had the opportunity to know how it felt like to live with a family. A good family.

Maggy reminded her of her grandmother, a good-hearted woman and optimistic, and simple. Her other married sons did pay her a visit at times along their children and wives. But George, a widower, resembled more to his mother and not only in his looks, but as big-hearted as his mother.

It was part of her routine to watch Oliver bonding with George and Maggy. He even called the woman "granny". She loved it!

And George? Well… he always took care of him like his own son, with respect and discipline, and always kindly and loving. He was an amorous man. He didn't have the muscular body shape Christopher had, not even his looks. George had an average beauty and body shape. White skin and brown eyes and hair. A family man.

Angelique was aware of his feelings for her and Maggy loved the idea of them getting married, although she respected Angelique's decision to keep away from love. Maggy didn't force any situation between them, while George understood Angelique's rejection.

Everything was going all right until the day, out of the blue, while George was playing with Oliver, the little boy said those words:

"What did you say?"

"Papa"

The man couldn't help his thrill. He didn't teach that to Oliver. No one did. It came natural from him. He melted.

Angelique was now in a crossroads. How would she deal with the twist in her son's head? George was not his biological father. Oliver had Christopher's blood, Christopher's temperament.
Time was passing, very quickly for her tastes! Her son was growing and relating to George, but he deserved the truth. The truth of his origins. How would he deal with the truth that his biological father had abandoned them?
As a mother, she didn't want him to suffer, but he deserved the truth. She owed him the truth. Obviously, it would be easier to just cover it up with her accepting George's proposal to give Oliver his name, or maybe she could marry him and act like he was Oliver's father. Somehow he was… but it wasn't his blood in the redhead's veins. She even had named him after Christopher's father.

Since that day, Angelique spent most of her time in silence, thoughtful. The green eyed and redhead boy was a Reed…too.

"My darling, you are so distant lately…" Maggy commented during a break while they were in the shop

Angelique let out a sigh, "I'm just thinking…"

"Been thinking too much"

"It's an important matter"

"Can you share it with me or…?"

"It's about Olly…"

The older woman inhaled making a face, somehow guessing the situation, "You don't like that he sees my son as his father?"

"It's not that I don't like…"

"But?"

"But I know that in my moment of anger and disappointment I had promised that Christopher would never know about us. it was easy to say it when my son was inside me and I could protect him and "hide" him from the world…" she made a pause looking distantly, "But I can't hide from the truth forever… it's not just about me… for me I still keep my promise but Olly… Olly didn't make that promise…"

"So let him decide"

"But for that Christopher needs to know…" she inhaled deeply, "I don't think I can face him again! It still hurts! A lot!"

"I understand, but it's not about your pain, but the truth of Oliver… That's the paradigm of mothers. They do have their personal limitations, but for their children they find strenght and courage from unknown places… And you have to make that decision. Olly is growing fast and soon he will get in the phase of curiosity and ask you all types of questions. You have to be prepared… and boys…" the woman made a pause inhaling and letting out a long sigh, "Boys have a thing for their fathers…It's like they never lose connection even miles away… or in worlds apart…" she added with a vague tone

Angelique reflected on the woman's words and wisdom she acquired from life.

Castle of Bohma, Some Time Later

Kitchen

"This place is so scary when the king and his family are not here" a female servant commented

"Or the other noble people" another servant agreed

"The king might come in a few weeks and his cousin's family is coming tomorrow…but I particularly like the emptier place" Pierce commented as he took a bite of the bread

"Not scared of ghosts?" the servant asked

He laughed, "Ghosts?"

That moment a guardian entered the kitchen

"Northman"

"Yes"

"Come to the gate"

"What happened?"

"There's a woman. She's looking for you"

The royal knight headed to the gate and at distance spotted the redhead woman standing, alone, playing with her hands.

"Good morning" he greeted her politely

"Good morning, are you Mr. Pierce Northman?" she asked a bit awkward

"Yes, this is me. Who are you?"

She bit her lips, "I'm a - friend - of Christopher… Is he there?" she spoke hesitant

Pierce lifted an eyebrow grinning, "A friend?"

"Yes, a friend… May I speak with him?"

"Hum, I'm sorry but you cannot…"

"Why?"

"Because Christopher doesn't reside here anymore. He was relocated to another province"

Angelique let out a disappointed sigh and thanked for the information. Under apprehension, her brain couldn't really process things not even work properly as she had forgotten to ask where. Destiny seemed to be showing her the answer. They weren't meant to be. Olly was only hers, and perhaps a fruit of a distant dream. Fruit of a distant illusion.

Pierce watched the redhead woman disappear in the streets among the crowd of the commerce. He considered telling her where to find Christopher, but she didn't ask. And he thought of Katarina and Christopher. The couple lived a good phase of their marriage and were even expecting another child. Pierce didn't want to ruin what Katarina had fought so much for as he had a feeling that the redhead woman had been some adventure of Christopher's.

(**)

"Five years have passed since I married Katarina. Since I have been in the Lake Manor. Since I have been in the land of broken dreams. The land where I had set a plan of a beautiful dream. A bright dream. Of a family, children, a simple cottage, with the woman I most loved in my life, my angel, my Angely.

It's been five years since all those dreams has become dust. Dust in the wind. The cottage I started building is now a bunch of dirt and…, slowly being destroyed by the force of the time. Turning into ruins. Taking away the bright future. Burying the past and its memories.

But I did have a good 'future', which now is my present and my past. The bright 'future' has become a bright past. The best months of my entire life.

It's not like I reject my life as it is now. It's just not so bright like I wished for. Like I had envisioned. Like I had dreamed.

I do have a home, a nice home. A wife and beautiful children. Katarina gave me three beautiful children, two girls and one boy. My three precious jewelries. Katarina has proved to be a good wife. We have enjoyed a reasonably happiness accord with periods of calm and affection. Katarina's sharp intelligence, political acumen and forward manners make her unique. She runs our home and some political affairs in defense and progress of women mostly. But nothing is so simple like I dreamed. There's nothing simple in my life.

I have status and a high position in the kingdom, only below the King's family. Although, for some villagers I have more appreciation than the king himself. Nothing of that really captivates me. All I care is to secure a good place and future for my children, for the people and for the ones who have supported me all the long.

I try to be the best husband I can. I try to be the best servant I can. I try to be the best father I can. I try to be the best friend I can. I try to be the best fighter I can.

Life isn't any simple… life isn't bright.

I miss my angel. My sweet Angely. She lighted my days. But the soon she entered my life. The sooner she left…

I feel like we didn't have time. We didn't have enough time together. We couldn't be a family.

Sometimes, when I'm alone, like now, I so miss the lake days. Her smile and purity. Her shyness and kindness. Her gracious bravery. Her blushes. Her angelic voice when she sang. Her nurture. Her energy. Her talent. Her presence. Her simplicity. Her love.

She loved the stars and the moon. She loved the animals, the flowers, and the nature. She loved the colors. She loved the lake. She so loved that lake!

And so do I!

We were bright together when everything was darkness around us.

This is the first time I could return to where it all began and has gone. Now this ruined land is legally mine. Privately mine. All that's left of it…

The fireplace seems to be the only intact thing, but I'm sure the wind of time will take it away someday and vanish all the almost memories until nothing is left but the sand.

My treasure.

Our Treasure.

The ruins of a broken dream…"

21st Century, Airplane

"I can't believe that! When you finally found someone that interested you, she ends up married!" Piers spoke trying not to laugh, "And dragged me to art thing..." He added

"She's not married!" Chris spoke with a single tone, "And you had fun...with Katarina" he stated the obvious

"Sorry, committed. Correction… I enjoyed the art history the old man told. Katarina was just the beautiful portrait to look at."

Chris exhaled looking to the window, "Still had fun... By the way. Is there a problem for you if I accepted the girl's invitation?"

"No, not at all… you liked her but you know... You're committed too…with work. So I guess you're even"

"It's all that's left for me. At least I'm not the man of several women…" Chris shrugged

"What is that supposed to mean?"

Chris smirked, "Come on! Does Sophie know you're flirting around with the new girl?"

"What?"

Chris grinned, "I may be committed to work, but I'm not blind! You and the receptionist? Don't fool me!"

Piers made a face, 'It's not like that! The receptionist is very sociable and full of smiles. A cool girl, but that's all. I don't flirt her! I do respect my girlfriend!"

"Right! You don't reject her advances either…" Chris teased him

"What advances?"

Chris grinned, "Don't play dumb with me. I saw you in the parking lot one of these days…"

Piers swallowed looking away

The day in the parking lot in the end of the shift. Katherine, the new receptionist, needed help with her car. Piers was on his way to his car when she asked for help. When he finished, she smiled largely and her beauty stunned him. Before his reflex could work, she thanked him with a hug and gave him a quick peck on the lips.

After that day. Piers walked a longer way to avoid meeting Katherine. Since the first day they met, he was strongly attracted for her. Her beauty and way to be captivated him. Since then, his relationship with Sophie Home seemed to get disrupted with the constant jealous behavior she presented. And since the day at the parking lot, Piers started having doubts if he should continue with Sophie – a good girl.

Chris Redfield laughed inwardly. He managed to take the focus from his personal life. That was a habit he became an expert. His personal life and disappointments wasn't anyone's business. Disappointment in the love field had become a natural thing for him. That didn't really matter anymore. He was used to his solitude.

Thank you Pin for the review! :D

So the transition of years has finally happened. The destiny managed to keep Christopher and Angelique away with their memories. Both with different truths. But the final truth still was lingering in the time waiting for the right moment to be exposed.

I hope you enjoyed the chapter and have been enjoying this journey.

Thank you for your time! :D

Let me know your thoughts and...

Stay Tuned!