A/N: OK OK OK, I am DEEPLY sorry about my delay with this chapter. I totally meant to upload it this past saturday but I got stuck between school and college tests... So now, here it is. There's another on its way in a bit :) Don't hate me! Love, Rory-
Chapter 6: The truest truths are what hold us together
"Claire?" My eyes fly all over her face, staring at her with delightfulness. My voice is broken, and filled of fear and weakness.
I must be dreaming... A dimpled smile flashes in front of my face.
"Good Morning Al."
It was a dream, wasn't it? Probably. How did she find me? My eyes scan all over her face, trying to find a clue that this is a dream. But nothing seems to reveal it. I look at her and free her wrist slowly, my face shocked as Claire is sitting right there in front of me. She has watery eyes and that earth quaking smile of hers that drives me insane.
Her head tilts to a side and she cracks a laughter as my face shows a strange mixture of feelings. Sadness, disappointment, happiness, excitement.
Where were you? Are you hurt? Do you remember now? Did you meet som- interrupting my track of thoughts, Claire leans in slowly, pressing her soft and pinky lips against mine, and causing an unbearable download of electricity along my body. Butterflies setting on the pit of my stomach, making me crack a wide and honest smile.
Our lips part and all I see is dots of all the rainbow colors. She laughs as I have the same foolish smile that I portrayed when we woke up that morning after our first time. "Ho-how... How did you..." I ask with a puzzled face, trying to connect the train of thoughts all of a sudden attacking me abruptly. She smiles and presses her lips on my forehead "Wesker fo-" but her talk is suddenly cut by a small person standing in front of us. "Mommy?" Becky says staring at me, fear painted all over her face. I look at her and bite my lip "Come here princess." I tell her, looking at her. Her small feet stomp on the wooden floor while she walked over to us "Who's she?" She signs at me and I smile a little, looking at Claire while I hold her close by her waist.
With a confused sight, Claire looks at me then back at Becky. "I... I am Claire." She says looking down "You are..?" Becky smiles a little "Becky!" I press my lips to her temple and whisper on her ear "Hunn, go get dressed and meet Jill for breakfast." She nods and leaves my side to go to her closet. I snap my head back to a standing up figure of Claire "No! No no! Where are you going?" Claire looks down and then back at me "I... I don't know." She turns on her heels giving me her back. I throw away the duvet and stand up quickly, running (Way too fast if you ask me) behind Claire. I grab her wrist and pull her back, making her turn and bump against my body.
I stare into her big green eyes, looking for an answer for her sudden behavior. She looks defeated, scared and most of all hurt. My hand flies to her cheek, cupping it softly while my other one grabs her waist, pulling her close. She presses her eyelids together, pouting slowly. Her chin trembles and her lips curl. Shaking my head I lean to her cheek, pressing my lips against it "No... No hey... Let me explain, okay? I promise is not whatever you think..." She opens her, now red, eyes and stares at me, chewing on her lower lip.
Becky comes out of the closet, wearing a caqui skirt, white pantyhose, brown shoes and a white shirt with a caqui jacket. Her curly hair falling over her shoulders. I smile at her sight, looking over my shoulder as she makes her way to the front door of the bedroom, opening and closing it in a blink. I look at Claire and bite my lip "Please, let's talk about it. Let me explain you, okay?" She nods, biting her lip.
I pull her to the bed, making her sit there "Let me get dressed and, we'll talk, okay?" She nods again, looking away.
I run to the closet, taking a pair of jeans and a v-neck shirt. On top of it, I wear a grid red and blue plaid. I slide my feet into a black high heeled pair of boots. Once I'm done, I come out of the closet, staring at Claire who's pathing around the room. I walk to her, clearing my throat. She looks at me and her eyes widen "Woah..." She gasps under her breath. I bite my lip and look down, my hands plunging into my jeans' pockets.
"Do you wanna talk here or-" she shakes her head and shrugs. She runs to me, her body bumping against mine as she hugs me tightly "Please... Just, tell me..." I nod, hugging her back. I drive us to the bed, sitting on it. She looks at me, caressing my face "I was so... So scared that I might have lost you... I... I looked out for you, but you disappeared of all over the face of the Earth." I nod, looking at her and caressing her silky face. "Should I start explaining?" She nods and sighs, trying to hold back the tears. "I... I woke up at Umbrella's Corporation headquarters... It was all, weird... I was, naked... And, Jill, Jill Valentine wouldn't stop questioning me why I betrayed Umbrella... Then... There was a reboot of the whole system that helped me out. Turns out the whole headquarter was a re-creation of the most important cities. Moscow, Tokyo and NY..." She nods when I make a pause and I intertwine our hands together "I met an agent named Ada Wong... She and Wesker helped me out of there... But when we reached the trial zone on a neighborhood... Ada told me they use my DNA to create clones of me... There's where I found Becky... She, she was hiding and apparently one of my clones was her mom... So when she saw me, she thought I was her... I..." I take a big chunk of air, looking at our hands laced together "I couldn't let her behind. She had no one in this world... And I know how she, felt... So when the time came, she... Realized I wasn't actually her 'real' mom but... I told her I was now... So... I adopted her..." Claire let out a huge amount of air go out of her lungs and looked at me relieved. I smile ghostly and she leans in to kiss me slowly and passionately. Her soft lips were all I needed. Breaking apart a little bit, I look at her with a cute smile, my eyes glistening with tears. "I missed you, so bad Claire..." I pull her into a hug, nuzzling my nose into her neck, taking in all of her scent. She presses her soft lips against my neck and I breath Claire. All of this scent. It was pure and utter love.
"I remember" she said looking at me into my eyes with a cute smile. I look at her shocked, and I gasp for air cracking a heartily smile. Tears are now streaming down my face; Happiness fills me, and I cannot help but to crash my lips against hers. She holds my face close, and our heads lean against each other.
Hand-in-hand we walk to the breakfast area, smiling widely. Becky snaps her head and looks at me a bit scared as she sees me with Claire. I gulp, and Jill, who's sitting next to her, looks at me and back at Becky. She slides her arm around my little girl's shoulders, caressing her side softly. I sigh, looking down. Claire caresses my back waist and presses her lips to my shoulder, before walking to pick up some coffee cups for both of us. I walk to Becky and kneel down in front of her "I'll take you for a walk and we'll talk... I promise kid." She nods and I kiss her forehead softly. She smiles at me and I wink. I see Claire walking over with two steamy cups of coffee, and I stand up, kissing her cheek thanking her for the gesture and she smiles at Becky, giving her a cute wink.
Becky looks at me and I raise an eyebrow. She sighs and keeps drinking of her juice. I look at Claire and she smiles to a side, taking seat next to Becky. I glance at Jill and she looks between me, Claire and Becky, who are talking, getting along so far. I sip my cup of coffee and stare at Jill as she stands up and starts leaving. Becky looks at her and I place my free hand on her shoulder, nodding. She looks at me and nods back. "I'll be right back." I tell Claire who smiles at me. I smile back and start leaving, setting my cup of coffee on the table as I pass by.
I catch Jill faster than I thought, to find her with watery eyes. I make her look at me, sighing "Hey, what's up?" She shakes her head, looking around, and avoiding my gaze. I fold my arms; looking at her "You know I won't fall for that." She keeps ignoring at me and I roll my eyes "Cmon Jill. We've been through a lot together, I know you. Is this about Becky? Are you jealou-" but she cuts my rambling "I like you, Alice. I thought it was evident... But, then you'd not stop talking about Claire or... Crying. Because I heard you crying every time I passed by your room every night to make sure you two were... Fine... I'm not an idiot. I know you were depressed because you didn't have her." My eyes grow wide and I sigh, looking down as this took me by surprise. I expected everything but this. Suddenly my boots seem quite interesting. She pulls my chin up and intertwine our gazes. She leans in, and presses our lips together. But before I can react, Claire's sob cuts the deep silence, making me jump back. I look at Claire over my shoulder and she portrays a defeated and broken look. I shake my head, turning on my heels to catch her before she leaves "No... Alice, leave me alone." She says running away as I try to catch her hand. Taking my head between my hands, I glance at the roof, cursing under my breath. I turn to look at Jill who's there shocked. I gulp and sigh "Thank you." I speak through my gripped teeth, as she looks down, avoiding my eyes.
Running back to the salon, I look at Becky, who's playing with her dolls over the table. I walk to her, signing at her. She glances at me "Have you seen Claire?" But she shakes her head. I look away, sighing, as I'm really concerned about where she is at. I tell Becky to stay here, and she nods, as I leave running to the control room.
As I finally get there, I open the door to find a crying Claire, looking through a window to the outside. I gulp, looking down. When I finally manage to look at her, I clear my throat "I've been alone with you inside my mind. And in my dreams I've kissed your lips a thousand times. I sometimes see you pass outside my door. Hello! Is it me you're looking for? I can see it in your eyes. I can see it in your smile. You're all I've ever wanted. And my arms are open wide 'cause you know just what to say. And you know just what to do. And I want to tell you so much I love you." She looks back at me as I sing at her, with one of her arms holding her, and the other one resting over it. I walk over to her "Hello! I've just got to let you know. 'cause I wonder where you are. And I wonder what you do. Are you somewhere feeling lonely?
Or is someone loving you?. Tell me how to win your heart. For I haven't got a clue. But let me start by saying I love you." She starts pouting and her chin trembles, as she tries to hold herself together. I place my hand on her cheek and she sighs, closing her eyes and leaning against my touch "You didn't forget it." I smile softly and shake my head "It's our song. How could I've forgot it?" She opens her eyes and looks at me, tears threatening to escape again. I shake my head and tilt my head, taking in Claire's face. It's been a lot of time, since the last time I got to see her. Even knowing she's hurt, she's the most beautiful person in the world to me. "Why?" She breaks the silence, looking at me. I gulp shaking my head "I didn't do it..." I say looking at her "I was asking her what was wrong and... She confessed at me. She told me she likes me... And she kissed me. Before I could even react you came out of the blue... But I swear Claire, I didn't want to kiss her. I didn't correspond it. I swear... I've been crying all these days over your apparently loss... I wouldn't, do that to you. I love you." She lets out the second relieved chunk of air of the day.
She grabs my shirt, pulling her closer to me. I kiss the very top of her head, caressing her waist as I hold her against me. "I missed you." She says, not moving from her safe place. I nod, resting my chin on her head "I missed you too Claire." She sighs, letting tears flow down her beautiful features.
"What are we going to do with Becky?"
She looks up at me while I look down right into her eyes "Yeah. What I mean for her?" I crack a big smile and press my lips to hers. "You're her mommy too." I say as she smiles widely at me.