Ashley felt ragged. Her entire body ached and begged for some pleasant sleep. But no. As a parent of a newborn, she MUST forgo the necessity of sleep of helping a baby with whatever problem wakes the youngling in the middle of the night to cry out loud. Be it a bug, one of the toys making noises, or even the baby burping would be enough.

Ashley wanted Ada to come in and help with Nai. It was her baby after all. Of course, Ada actually had a good excuse as to why she didn't drop by. She had to focus on dealing with those pursuers that would kill her and everyone that Ada had ever met in her life. But what Ashley wanted was…something. Anything. She wanted something from Ada. A letter, a photograph, a scrap of cloth, a fingerprint…anything that at least whispered that she was still alive. Ashley feared this would happen around the beginning.

A month seemed far too long. It's how long it took to turn Nai from that angel into a little monster. Crying, pooping, barfing…about every baby trope imaginable came forth to torment poor Ashley. It didn't help that she still hadn't had a decent chance to escape her cellblock and go out and stretch her legs. The tenants of her apartment building knew about the baby thanks to all the crying and offered help, but Ashley politely turned down their offers. Ada would need to approve them first, otherwise unneeded violence would turn the building upside down…and hell, as far as Ashley knew, her neighbors could be working for Neo Umbrella and were just waiting for the opportunity.

Nai started to cry again. Ashley sighed as she turned off the stove and let her bowl of packet alfredo sit cold and went to open up another carton of milk for Nai. It had become a very mechanical motion for her. Listen for crying. Open carton. Take carton to baby. Open the baby's mouth. Feed the baby. Throw the carton away. Repeat every so often, changing out the carton of milk for playing with toys, hug and lullabies, and/or food. But Nai really took a great love for milk and seemed to calm down faster with milk in her system. It did make Ashley wonder if Ada liked milk…

But her thoughts had to wait as she had a visitor knocking on her door. Throwing the carton into the trashbin near the baby's room, she went to door and peered out the peephole. Ashley suddenly woke up when she saw two familiar faces she hadn't invited over nor even expected…"

"Mom! Dad!" Ashley exclaimed as she swung open the door to greet her family. "It's been forever!"

"Ashley!" Her mother greeted her first with her usual big smile and bear-like hug. "You're doing so well! I've been reading about your cases all the time!" Her mother, while a bit shrewd at times, could perk Ashley up with the right movements, right words and the right food. Even Dad acted the same. Looking off in one direction, looking uncomfortable, and taking a few random steps every so often. "And why didn't why tell me about the baby?" Ashley's mom asked while pitching her daughter's cheek."

"Baby?" Ashley asked before realizing. "Oh, Nai! Yes…that baby."

"You forgot about the baby?" Her father soon asked. "Based around those bags under your eyes, I'm saying that you want to."

"Yeah." Ashley sighed as she scratched her face. "Yeah."

"Have no fear, dear!" Her mother giggled at her little rhyme. "We're old hats at this sort of thing!" She scanned the messy room for any sign of life. "Where's the baby?"

"In her room…" Ashley's senses kicked in and got her to think about the obvious facts. "Hey…if I didn't tell you about Nai, how did you learn about her?"

"We visited your workplace." Her dad cleared his throat; another trait of his. Her mother had already gone off in search of a little baby to squeeze. "They had a copy of your adoption papers. They also said you hadn't come in for quite some time."

"Been busy keeping little Nai here occupied." Ashley groaned. Ada would find out about this, and she would have some choice words for Ashley. "I've been making the needed money and ordering out. I just want to spend time with Nai."

"Don't you feel all cooped up?" Her dad asked.

"A little." Ashley needed a good excuse. Her parents shouldn't get this involved. "But I want to really take parenting seriously, and I don't really trust any sort of babysitter with her just yet…"

"This little angel?" Her mom commented on as she held a surprisingly quiet Nai in her arms. "Cute little bug she is!"

"Is she blonde and Asian?" Her father right away asked.

"Yes." Ashley shook her head, having thankfully done some research. "The mother of Nai has some Mongolian heritage…"

"Why, Ashley!" Her mother giggled as she bounced Nai. "She looks a bit like you!"

"Y-yeah!" Ashley spluttered. "It's one of the reasons why I adopted her. A family resemblance, makes things easier for the kid when she gets into school…"

"You're right." Her father joined in on the fun by going closer and taking a good long look at the infant. "She's got her nose…and cheekbones." He waved a finger around as he tried to come up with the proper words. "But you couldn't have gotten pregnant without us knowing. It was…summer and you were still thin…"

"That's enough!" Ashley barked, reaching out to retrieve Nai. Unfortunately, the transfer between soft and rough was too much for Nai and she started to cry. Ashley groaned out loud as her two parents just stood there, looking like complete brainless idiots. "Look, it's been a long month. It's nice to have you over, but I need to handle things on mine own for now. I'm sorry, but I think you should come back some other time."

"We can help…"

"Let me figure this out on my own." Ashley groaned towards her mom. "Really, please."

"We should be getting going anyway." Her dad shook his head and turned around. "Come on, dear. Ashley wants to be alone for now." Her mother let out a silent protest, but eventually joined her husband after waving good-bye to both Nai and Ashley. Ashley felt relieved until she got reminded by Nai that she was still crying and needed to feel better.

By the time Nai had finally quieted down, Ashley found herself with a massive headache and hitting a breaking point. She laid down on the couch and shut down her brain and just her let mind go blank to calm herself. It last a good five minutes before the phone started to ring right in her left ear. Eyes opening in shock and annoyance, she took the receiver and yelled into the speaker, "Yeah? What!"

"Your parents are getting noisy."

Ashley's rage died down as soon as she heard Ada's voice. She sounded a bit ticked off. "Ada!" Ashley exclaimed.

"Keep it down." Ada said through clenched teeth. "Look, it's a good thing you got your parents out as soon as possible, but they're going to be suspicious of you now. Asking questions about Nai, asking about how you obtained her…you need to memorize those papers I sent you. They're your excuses to keep unneeded attention away from Nai and you."

"Are you in town?" Ashley immediately asked. "Or do you have spies placed around my building and they report to you within seconds?"

"One man, names Lester." Ada filled in, drawing in a short breath. "A genius at radios, he's the one person capable of contacting me without the fear of being tracked. He's been helping me get into contact with you. Also, we both would greatly appreciate it if you didn't try to talk with him. He's not anti-social, he prefers to remain anonymous and out of direct affairs."

"Fine, but I wish you would contact me a bit sooner next time. I know you have been on the run, but I do want to know if you're okay. And so would Nai."

"I know, I know." Ada repeated. "I wish I could talk with you every single day! Honestly I do! But I want to live with you, and not spend the rest of my life running around trying to survive…" She started to choke. "…but this will take years."

"Why don't you get help then?" Ashley asked. "Find Leon…or anyone who survived Raccoon City. Ask for help."

"I wish it would be that easy." A sound familiar to someone pounding their fist against something metal could be heard in the foreground. "But I believe there's a warrant out for my arrest due to the bombing in Kansas City."

"Neo Umbrella made…" Ashley started, but stopped with a long sigh and completely letting her body go lax and slipping off the couch and onto the floor. "Maybe I should contact Leon or the BSAA…"

"Please don't. "Ada sighed. "They will only complicate things, Chris still believes I'm responsible for his team being killed those years ago, and the BSAA will make me disappear off the face of this earth. I want this to end." She started to choke up. "Goddammit…I just want to stop…"

Ashley didn't know what to say. Ada was clearly over her head, and Ashley knew very little about Neo-Umbrella to offer any advice on the matter. A rather cruel thought entered Ashley's mind, but she quickly dismissed it.

"Could you…" Ashley started. "…could you afford spending one day with me?" Ada went quiet. "I mean, yes, you're being hunted down…but maybe Lester could fake something to distract your enemies long enough to buy you time…"

"Noble concept." Ada plainly stated. "But it needs more than that."

"Why don't you contact Lester then and ask him about possible details.

Ada went silent for a good long minute. Ashley gathered her strength and got up and walked over to the baby's room. Nai for once slept quietly. Ashley leaned against the doorframe and waited for Ada's answer. Ashley felt a bit guilty. Ada was going through a lot on her own, she didn't need the women taking care of her baby guilt-tripping her. But maybe a short visit would do her some good…

"It's possible." Ada finally declared. "I can make Lester fake a couple of radio calls that could draw Neo-Umbrella to Canada…but don't worry, they won't dare risk another zombie outbreak just to get me now. I'm far too important alive now." Ashley could hear the sound of fingers tapping against a phone. "During the last month, I spent it planning out a raid to steal some important documents…as long as I have them, Neo-Umbrella can't kill me."

"What are they?" Ashley asked.

"Codes to various…things." Ada sounded unsure. "I know they're codes, but there's nothing indicating what the codes are for, just some symbols. But I've hidden the papers somewhere that Neo Umbrella won't find them, and they know that. They want me now more than never…but at least I plan a escape if I'm captured."

"So you can afford to spend time here?"

"…a few hours at most. Lester isn't that great, and he's scared of getting killed. Neo Umbrella will figure out the ruse very fast, so I need to plan out a schedule. But it will be next week for sure. Four, six hours tops." Ada then sighed and put on a warmer tone of voice. "And I think we could do a bit more often. Like…every month? If I'm lucky."

"Ada." Ashley let out a small chuckle of relief. "You're a great spy. I'm sure eventually you'll be able to do this every week, with what damage you've been causing to Neo-Umbrella. This might not take all that long. You will be around to hear Nai's first words, I'm sure of it!"

Ashley could practically hear Ada smile, a impossible thing and yet so rewarding. "I'll send you a note by next week. It will have a set of instructions that will prepare for my visit. And please…keep your parents away when I come. I'm pretty sure your Dad will recognize me."

"What about mom? She can take of Nai…and I would really like to leave this blasted apartment."

"…you'll have my answer by next week." Ada then regained her usual serious demeanor. "See you soon." She then hung up. Ashley did the same and put the phone down onto the changing table. Ashley just leaned against the wall and watched the sleeping baby.

The moment Ada hanged up; she realized she forgot to ask for a photo. Of course, she was going to see the two, and could just get a photo then. Looking around the office building, she noticed that a zombie was crawling towards her, despite having a pipe imbedded in his back. Ada withdrew her pistol and shot out the remaining mass of brain to finally send the poor slob into his truly final rest. After making sure she wouldn't get bit, she rifled through the building for various things. Food, writing materials, some first-aid supplies…and she found a disposal camera in a desk belonging to a manager of whatever the hell this place used to sell.

According to the number wheel, the camera had at least twenty shots left. Ada smiled as she safely pocketed the camera. Now, to escape and contact Lester to arrange a date…