Summary: Leon is getting married and on his bachelor party something happens that changes his plans forever… AU

Characters: Claire/Leon, Chris/Jill, Rebecca/Billy, Ashley, Barry, Carlos, Sherry, Ada, Wesker, Steve

Rating: T - but it might go up, haven't decided yet.

Warnings: Language, mild violence, Steve-bashing, sexual undertones/themes, Alternate Universe,

Disclaimer: Capcom owns all the characters and concepts from Resident Evil. Any new people, and the SI are mine so don't steal them, thanks.

AN: Sorry that it's taken so long. Hope you enjoy this and please review!

Italics thoughts

AND INTO DREAMS; COME CLOSER, COME NEAR

Chapter 3: An ordinary day

The next morning Claire felt much better. Her long luxurious bath the night before had really helped her feel better. The encounter with Steve was but shadow in her mind. But her rescuer, Leon, on the other hand had not left her mind for more than a moment. She truly wished she would meet him again.

It was Sunday so there wasn't really much she needed to do. Simply Irresistible was closed on Sundays so she wouldn't need to go there. Chris might give her a call and invite her to come to dinner at his house. It was a family tradition they tried to keep up, it went back all the way to before their parents had died. These days Jill was usually there too, and sometimes some of the other guys. They were after all her new family. That might sound weird to some people, but she didn't care. She loved them for who they were, not for what they did. And it wasn't like it was something to be ashamed of, she danced to put herself through college. It was good money after all. She had tried working at a diner and such before, Chris had not liked the idea of his baby sister even thinking about dancing but he had come around when he saw her struggling to pay the rent let alone put food on the table. And he liked to say that this way he could keep an eye out for any creeps that might try to get too close.

When Claire had looked in the mirror that morning she had been glad to notice that she only had an angry red mark on her cheek, it hadn't turn into a bruise and with any luck it wouldn't. People would ask questions if she showed up at school all black and blue in the face. It didn't even hurt that much anymore, unless she smiled big or touched it, and for that Claire was very thankful.

Chris called later during the day, as predicted and dinner was set to start in a few hours. Claire had decided to go early and help, but had some doubts about it. She wasn't sure about what she should do about the whole "Steve-thing". If she told Chris he would freak out and lecture her about it before going off to find Steve and beat him into a bloody pulp. The last part she didn't mind that much but the first one. And then there was the look he'd give her. The I'm-your-brother-you-should-listen-to-me-I'm-always-right one. She really didn't like that one. But maybe there was someone else she could talk to about it, someone like Jill. Jill would understand, she was sure. Yes, she'd go early and wait for a chance to talk to Jill alone, away from her nosy and overprotective brother. Sure she loved him for it but sometimes it just drove her nuts. Decision made she grabbed her jacket, helmet and keys and was out the door.

The dinner had gone a little wrong when someone, it was still unclear who was the guilty party, had started a flour-fight. Yes, they were all adults but sometime the little kid in you just gets out. So, with most of dinner ruined, the gang had decided to order Chinese instead.

Currently they were all sitting in front of the TV watching a movie Rebecca had rented. Claire had yet to get a moment alone to talk with Jill and was now having second thoughts. Maybe I'm just overreacting, nothingreally happened anyway. As was true, no one had even looked at her like they had noticed anything.Maybe it would be best to just forget about the whole thing. A small smile appeared, well, maybe not the whole thing. A certain knight in shining armour came to mind. No, she would definitely not forget some parts.

"So, when's Ada getting back anyway?" the girl had a slightly irritated tone to her voice.

"Not for a few more days. They seem to be having some problems so she wasn't really sure when she'd get to come home." Leon's voice held understanding but still there was something else there.

"Good." Before she would get reprimanded for that she added "Then we get to spend some alone time. Just you and me." A pause. "You can take me shopping."

Laughter burst through from the other end of the line. Like most males, he hated shopping. "We'll have to see about that." Leon was still smiling at the thought. She loved to drag him to go shopping, or topay would probably be the right term. "So, when is your plane going to get here again?"

There was some rustling and then "looks like three hours. It's still delayed. But you should still show up early, you never know with these planes"

"OK, I'll be there early. Give my love to Barbara."

"I will. See you soon."

"Bye."

Yup, just a short irrelevant chapter this time. Next one should be better.