I'm Looking For Love, I Thought It Was You

Title is from Looking for Love, by Michelle Featherstone. I'm sorry for the delay, and thank you for the reviews. For the people I can't thank, Claire thank you and no need to worry, I'm too much of a ChrisxJill shipper to keep them apart. Jane, thanks for the support. Trust me, I feel like punching Chris too, haha. Finally, Alex, you make me blush boy! They are all stubborn old mules. But thank you for the compliments. All the reviews mean a lot to me. :D

After three weeks, everyone still seemed to be on edge. With no reappearance or word from Alex, they were in a period of limbo. The BSAA and Chris, with as much help ashe was possible to give, tried desperately to gain just the slightest of lead on her whereabouts. As always, they came up short. And that put Jill in serious danger, subsequently worrying the others.

Anna was constantly petrified, not only for Jill, but for Chris. He couldn't lie to her, so she knew just as well as everyone else, that Alex was out for Chris's blood. Hours wouldn't pass without her sending a text to make sure her father was still in one piece. Especially with him being weakened, everyone knew if Alex decided to strike it would be an easy victory for her.

The less obvious worrier was Claire. She tried to keep a supportive and optimistic front for the benefit of her young niece. But she worried just as much as anyone else. And she was in danger too; it was obvious Alex wouldn't just focus on Chris and Jill. She would find anyway she possibly could to rope in and hurt anyone close or involved with them.

A light knock upon the house was swiftly followed by the door opening and a familiar man walking through. Claire glanced over her shoulder and gave a light smile, shutting the laptop in front of her down.

"I was going to pop into Chris's, but I was told Anna was with him at the moment." Luke spoke, stepping into the kitchen. He placed a light kiss on her cheek and left his hands to squeeze her shoulders lightly. "How's he doing?"

"He's getting there. It's going to take a while I think. He's still adjusting to the fact that he has to take it easy. I mean if I wasn't there to slap him on the back of the head constantly, I'm sure he would be up and running around by now."

Claire took it as her responsibility to look after Chris. She spent the majority of her time at his house cooking, cleaning, whatever needed done. But most of all, she gave him company. He was a stubborn man who hated having to be fussed over. But Claire understood her brother, so she let him do the little things he was capable of, without overdoing it.

"Yeah, he always does think he's superman, doesn't he?" Luke joked, taking a seat next to her.

"Yeah. But he does say the pain isn't as bad as it was...That being said, I still see him wince if he has to walk for too long."

"You're great looking after him like this, you know that?" Luke reached over a tucked a stray strand of auburn hair behind her ear. She gave a light, yet unconvinced smile.

"Someone has too..."

He reached over a planted a tender kiss on her lips, which she hesitantly returned. He noticed her unwillingness and quickly pulled away.

"Are you okay?" Luke asked caringly. He was beginning to worry about her, she was getting a lot more distant these days. Whether it was because she didn't like him quite how she used too or it was that something else was on her mind.

"Yeah, it's just...I've been getting these strange emails..." She paused slightly, struggling to find her words. She wanted to pick words that wouldn't make the notion seem quite as crazy as she already knew it was. "Are you sure Steve Burnside was dead?"

"What?" Said person's name never came up in conversation, understandably as it was a touchy subject for her. And on top of that, Luke had already told her all he knew.

"I mean, did you see him? Was he definitely there...and dead?" His face contorted into a frown as she asked. The question really came out of nowhere.

"I've told you, I didn't see him. There would have been no need for me too, considering I was always told he was dead. I'm sorry Claire..." He reached out to clasp her shaking hand, "But this is crazy, where's all this coming from?"

"Actually it doesn't matter. You said it yourself, it's crazy..." She sighed and shook her head. "Just pretend I never said anything..."

Luke frowned. She was protective over her heart and true feelings. It was a difficult feat to get her to admit everything. Besides, Claire didn't want to seem 'crazy', she didn't want to do anything which she thought would push him away. She just didn't realise that her unwillingness to talk was already doing that.

"I have to go Luke. I'll see you later." She gave a gentle smile and leaned down to give a soft kiss on his forehead.

While Rebecca was at work, Jill had the house to herself. Though she had become pretty sick of seeing the place, it seemed all she did was stay there. Occasionally she would go out, see friends. But for the majority of the time, she just didn't have the motivation or energy. The pregnancy was far from blissful, and her morning sickness hadn't calmed down either.

Jill sat at the kitchen table, flicking through another random pregnancy book given by one of her friends. This one seemed to be talking more about calming exercises that could be done later in the pregnancy and which can involve the father too. It was a shame she hadn't seen the father for three weeks. It really made no sense to her; everything seemed to be going good with them. And she knew he would be annoyed that she didn't tell him, but honestly she never thought it would take this long for him to come around again. Hell, she hadn't even got a call or text from him to see if she and the baby were okay.

The front door rang, and Jill shouted to say it was open. Claire carefully opened the door, and ran over to give Jill a large hug.

"It's great to see you, kiddo!" Jill exclaimed, a broad smile playing over her lips. Claire would pop over occasionally just to check up on her, and it was nice to know someone still cared for her. "How are you?"

"I'm fine, it doesn't matter about me! You're the important one, soon to be mom." Claire laughed and took a seat next to Jill. "How's my little nephew or niece doing?"

"Okay, I think. I haven't had any problems so far."

"And you? You're looking quite pale, Jill." Claire was concerned for her. She'd been friends with Jill for almost as long as Chris was. She always saw Jill as an older sister, definitely part of the family.

"I'm always pale." Jill shrugged and laughed it off. "But it's probably the morning sickness. God, I don't know why they call it morning sickness, because I can tell you, it's never confined to just the morning..."

"That must be irritating. But make sure you keep yourself healthy, because you're looking pretty thin too." Claire just worried about her. After all, Jill was pregnant; she had to be careful about what she did.

"I wish people would stop saying that... I'm not trying to lose weight, I've never been that way inclined. But I don't feel much like eating, and anytime I do, I just feel sicker. And even before this, I guess splitting up with Chris just made me lose my appetite." As Claire always said Chris did eat like a horse. So whenever they were still together Jill would just eat the bigger portions too. But now, she just couldn't bring herself to eat anything much.

"We're just worried about you. You know, it's not healthy to be thin. You have to eat for two, remember?" Claire joked.

"Actually, I think they denounced that idea."

"Well whatever, you still have to eat." The two laughed. And this is what Jill had missed, the fun banter between the two.

...

"...How's Chris doing, Claire?" Jill's voice became more sombre as she mentioned him. Whatever he may have felt towards her didn't matter, she still cared and worried for him. She wished she could have been there to help him through his recovery.

"He's getting better. He just has to take slow..." Jill nodded as the young girl spoke. "You know, I'm so sorry he hasn't come over here. And that he hasn't been there for you like he should have."

"You don't have to apologise on his behalf..."

"I just don't think he understands what he's doing. His head isn't in the right place. And I'm not trying to give excuses. He just hasn't thought through what he's done...But I know he loves you. He really does, you don't have to doubt that." Claire said sincerely.

Jill appreciated her words, but she still questioned why it was Chris's little sister telling her this, and not him himself.

"Claire, about why I didn't tell him... I was just scared." Jill thought Claire should know the reason, she actually thought the young girl would too have been annoyed at Jill keeping it quiet. "I mean if you were going through tough times with Luke and then suddenly found out you were pregnant...I doubt he would take it too well."

"Well considering we haven't slept together yet, no, I don't think he'd be best pleased." Claire giggled.

"You haven't had sex with him?" Jill didn't mean to sound so surprised, it was just they seemed to be getting along great.

"No, not yet... I just...I don't like to rush into things." Claire was slightly embarrassed about it, she didn't want to seem prude.

"Well that's great Claire. I really commend you for that...Besides, with blue balls, he might have more respect for you." Jill joked.

"Is that how you got Chris under your wing?" Claire was kidding, but Jill's face darkened. He was still a very touchy subject for her. "...I'm sorry I didn't mean to upset you or anything."

"It's okay. It's just upsetting that we can't seem to be together, especially now, when I need him more than ever."

"In a perfect world, what would things be like for you?" Claire asked. It was a random question, but made Jill really think about what she'd always wanted.

"In a perfect world? I'd be married and happy to know that I'm bringing a child into a loving family." She replied.

"Married to anyone? ...Or married to Chris?"

"To Chris." Jill's voice broke as she replied quickly, she hadn't a shadow of a doubt. When they were together, she always dreamed of the ways he would ask her for her hand in marriage. He just never did. She didn't know if it was because he didn't believe in the commitment, or he just didn't think Jill was the right woman. "I'm really scared to have this kid alone..."

Claire began to see the side of Jill Valentine that only Chris had seen before. It was her vulnerable side. Tears began to well in her blue orbs. Her emotions were heightened even more with the pregnancy hormones. Claire grabbed the sides of Jill's face and smiled at her.

"You will never be alone. No matter what happens, you and the child will always have help. You have Rebecca and Carlos...And me!" Claire said, receiving a light chuckle from Jill. Claire wiped away her stray tears. "Perhaps most importantly, Jill, you have Chris. It might not look like it at the moment, but he's always going to be there for you."

It seemed hard for Jill to believe her words, but looking in Claire's eyes she had complete faith in what she spoke. Jill just prayed the young woman spoke the truth.

"Gah! No! Sit down, now!" Anna squealed at her father as he was about to stand up to get his soup. She had come around to visit him, and under Claire's instructions, to forbid him to lift a finger. Chris let out a chuckle at her anger and sat back down in the sofa.

"I can walk into the kitchen you know?" He called to her, as she fiddled in the other room.

"I'm sure you can, but that doesn't mean you're supposed too." Anna replied, walking into the living room with a bowl of soup in her hands. She set the bowl on the coffee table in front of him. "Here, if chicken noodle soup won't help your healing, then I don't know what will."

"Thanks," Chris laughed and took a couple of spoonfuls of soup. Anna looked to his arms to see the wounds.

"Your arms are looking better. They look like they're healing well." She said, looking at the areas where the stitches once were. "And how's your stomach?"

"You and Claire need to stop babying me...It's better, I swear!" He joked.

"So...if I were to poke you in the tummy, you wouldn't mind?"

"Not at all." Chris replied calmly. Anna smiled and quickly moved her finger to prod him. Before she made contact, he grabbed her hand to stop her.

"Yup, that's what I thought." She said smugly, now knowing his abdomen was still very painful for him. Chris merely sighed in defeat.

...

"So I haven't seen Jill visiting here recently?" Anna asked. Chris let out another sigh, and placed his bowl of soup back down, bringing his whole attention to the young girl.

"That's because I told her not too."

"...Okay. Why?" She was completely surprised by his response; to her it made no sense whatsoever.

"I don't know... I thought it was the right thing to do. It was a brash, stupid decision. I mean, bearing in mind I was just coming out of anaesthesia when I did it..." He closed his eyes, as he spoke. He was just as confused as Anna was. "I just...I want to protect her, so..."

"So you pushed her away." Anna finished his sentence.

"It doesn't make much sense, does it?" He let out a humourless laugh.

"No, not really." Anna replied truthfully. "It seems to be tit for tat. You do something wrong, she does something wrong. You both got to stop playing these childish games, especially now she's pregnant...I mean, what do you want, Dad?"

"I want Jill." It was embarrassing that his daughter was more mature than was; at least she was able to knock some sense into him.

"Well then, go get her... Are you happy she's pregnant?"

"Yeah, of course I'm happy. But her being pregnant doesn't erase everything which has happened between us."

"You're right, it doesn't...But it's a good place to start. It gives you two some time to spend time together again, and realise why you fell in love in the first place." Anna gave him a slight pat on the shoulder for encouragement.

...

"You're sixteen? You are far too wise for your age, missus." He joked.

"You can't protect her if you're not with her, Dad. With Alex still on the loose, you two really need to be careful." Chris nodded. Anna was right; he couldn't protect Jill and the child if he wasn't even speaking to her. And despite everything, they were still so important to him. The thought of anything happening to either of them, scared the man to death.

Jill picked up a small blue onesie off the shelf, admiring the smallness of it. It was crazy to think, in some months, she would have a little baby who would fit into such a cute item of clothing. It made her heart swell with happiness.

"I think it's a little bit soon for that." Carlos joked, placing the clothing back. Unlike most men, Carlos didn't mind shopping and so he decided to go out with Jill. It gave them time to do catching up.

Jill laughed, and the two walked out of the shop, back into the corridor of the mall.

"How's Sophia doing, Carlos?" Jill asked as they continued to walk.

"She's good. It was her first scan a couple of days ago. It's a crazy thing seeing the tiny baby, I tell you. I never thought I'd be the paternal one, but honestly, its mind blowing." A large smiled played on the man's lips. Already he had grown to love his unborn child.

"Bet you never thought that we'd be having this conversation." Jill joked. "Are you and Sophia okay?"

"Yeah...I know the pregnancy can put a lot of stress on the relationship, but if anything, we've got stronger through it. I think it's made us grow up a little bit more."

"Well it's about time you did." She laughed, and received a playful jab in the ribs from Carlos.

"What about you, Jill, when's your scan?"

"I told you it was later on today." She scolded him for his lack of memory, "My first one too, eight weeks..." Jill paused slightly, as she was overcome briefly with light headedness.

"Have you told Chris?" He asked.

"No. He hasn't contacted me, so I've taken that as a sign that he doesn't really care." She didn't fully believe her words, she knew he cared. She was just too stubborn to be the first one to make contact. She grimaced when the light headedness didn't disappear. She got it quite often, case of hypotension when she stood up. But usually it would disappear in a matter of minutes. She became more worried when her peripheral vision clouded over with black.

"Hey, Jill, are you okay?" Carlos asked, placing a hand around her back to keep her upright, as he noticed her sway.

"Yeah...I just need to sit for a while..." She replied weakly, reaching out to sit on the bench nearby. Before she could reach it, she was swallowed by the darkness and fell into Carlos's arms.

"Jill? I was about to call you." Chris exclaimed when he saw his phone was ringing from her. He hadn't contacted her, but neither had she contacted him. So it truly was a pleasant surprise.

"Chris, it's Carlos." Chris frowned slightly at hearing the man's voice. "Jill's collapsed. You have to go to the hospital."

"What? ...Is she okay?" Chris pushed himself upright and quickly grabbed his keys, before his sister had a chance to protest at him for leaving.

"We don't know. I'm not with her; I think you should go to her..."

"Thank you for telling me Carlos, but why..." He hadn't spoken to the man in months; there was still the underlying animosity. And Chris always figured the man still hated him. He never thought Carlos would actually reach out to him.

"I'm going to be a father too, Chris. And if anything ever happened to that child, I would hope I would be the first person there..."

Chris hobbled to the car as Carlos spoke. He winced at the pain his fast walking had caused to his wounds. But, his suffering was the least important thing on his mind.

"On top of that, I may not like you, Chris. But Jill does, I know she would want you there. So hurry."

Chris hung up the phone and went on his way.

After having slight altercations with unhelpful nurses and the occasional swearing towards them, Chris was finally led to Jill's room. Despite the pain the driving had caused to his abdomen, he was still determined to walk as fast as he could to get to her.

As he stepped into the room, he was happy to see her sitting upright in a hospital gown, with her legs dangling of the side of the bed. She cocked her head up, and her jaw opened at the sight of him standing before her. The sheer look of worry in her blue azures broke his heart right there on the spot.

"Chris?" Jill croaked out, as he had to lean slightly on the doorframe to curb the sharp pain in his wound. She was overwhelmingly happy to see him, the fact that he came meant the world to her. He obviously did care for her and their child.

Chris pushed himself off the frame and walked over towards her, pulling himself up onto the bed so he sat next to her.

"Are you okay? And our baby? ...I've been so worried, Jill." He asked, staring intently into her scared eyes.

"...I don't know." Her voice trembled and suddenly her barrier broke, and the tears poured down her face as she let out cries. Chris's face dropped.

"It'll be okay...I'm here for you." He brought his large hand to sit gently on top of hers, giving her a reassuring squeeze as he did so. She moved her hand slightly to allow him to intertwine his fingers with hers. She moved her head to the side so it rested carefully on his shoulder. Jill continued to sob onto his shoulder as the two waited together.

There, I'm a little more pleased with this chapter. Still haven't fully got the motivation back, but we're getting there. Kinda hope you like the last little scene, I tried to finish it a little bit like the ending of the first Resident Evil game. So hopefully someone caught onto that, haha.

Artichoke,

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