Albert knew the moment he saw the jean vest that it was meant for Claire. While she was not a woman of material weakness he knew she would appreciate the gesture. The vest was hardly a fashion statement; it was designed by a local artist, not some famous designer, but there was something in its appearance that could not be ignored.

The vest was a bold shade of crimson, a perfect contrast to the decal of the angelic warrior who stared back at him in defiance; the bomb in her hand a silent warning. A better symbol for his lover he could not have found. It was quintessentially Claire Redfield and Wesker would be damned if he left the shop without it.

It was his first gift to his fiery lover; it would not be his last.

"Open it," he encouraged with a smile that would have been mistaken for a smirk by anyone else. Claire was more surprised, than uncertain as she carefully opened the box. In silence he watched on feeling both confident and pleased. The wrapping fell to the floor of his living room with a gasp and a grin.

A short time later, the rest of their clothes joined it.

The vest became Claire's trademark; Albert's need to hide his emotions behind lavish gifts became his.

Wesker's betrayal of S.T.A.R.S and his responsibility for the demise of thousands of innocent lives did not keep them apart. Claire continued to wear the old vest religiously, just as Albert continued to scour the world for expensive trinkets worthy of the one who would never wear them.

Everything seemed to hang in the balance and for a time Albert was almost confident that his work would never again interfere with their relationship; that was until Raccoon City.

"Birkin's daughter was last sighted with a young woman; a biker I believe.. I've been tracking them for a while now."

Ada's report normally would have annoyed him. Wesker had no patience for unexpected complications and inaction. Yet all he felt was a strange sense of emotions he once equated to dread.

Claire had mentioned in passing that she would be returning home for the summer during their last meeting. He could not imagine anyone else surviving the virus's release, certainly not one fitting that description. He would have to choose his words carefully.

"Do you have any visuals?"

"Of course. The tracking device has been activated on the child. The transmission has been downloaded to your channel."

A moment later the transmission sent was activated revealing what Ada had promised. His mind could barely register what he saw. The visual though barely visible was enough to confirmed his fear. It was not the sight of the child steadily making her way through the Raccoon Police Station that caught his attention; it was the vest that she wore.

Claire had made her return to the hot zone that had once been Raccoon City. Suddenly all of his priorities changed.

"It is of the utmost importance that Birkin's little brat and her keeper are not harmed."

"I have enough on my plate already, I don't need to be playing babysitter too. Sherry will be fine, there is no need to pursue the matter further for now."

Albert knew the child was in safe hands but it was the little girl he was concerned about. Sherry, like Ada, were disposable; Claire however was not.

"You have been given a directive Ms. Wong. I would suggest you follow it through."

"Of course. I will keep you updated," her sickly sweet voice did not hide the fire in her eyes.

"As you should."

The connection was cut off before Ada could have the pleasure of the final word. The grudging respect Wesker had for Ada skills as an infiltrator did not extend in so far as to consider her an ally.

Staring ahead to the snow filled skies of Russia he calculated the amount of time Raccoon city have left before the quarantine process would begin. It would only be a matter of time before the bomb would be dropped; a few hours was not much but he could only hope it would be enough.

Thousands of miles away a young Valkyrie and a scientist's daughter set about their escape unaware that a simple gift had just ensured their lives.