I'll Wait For Love, I'll Wait For You

Title is from Wait for Love by Matt White. Before I thank everyone, I just want to make clear the immortality thing wasn't my idea. I knew little about Alex, so I have been using the very small article about Alex Wesker on the Resident Evil Wiki page. And on it, it says Alex was ordered by Spencer to get the key to immortality. So assuming that site is correct then Capcom came up with it, not me, because I'm not the biggest fan of the idea either haha.

As always thank you reviewers! The only one I can't thank this time round personally is Jane! As always a big thank you. And I'm glad you found Chris's forgetfulness funny, it was put in just for a little fun. Thank you for the support! :D

An indescribable set of emotions were flowing through her veins; a mixture of fear, excitement and disbelief. This was the moment she thought would never come. Generally when people are dead, they stay dead. But her emailing screamed otherwise.

Claire was seated nervously at a table in the cafe. Luke had insisted they meet in a busy place, and that he would be right beside her. And that he was. He sat with on hand to sip his coffee and the other gently lying on her leg for reassurance. She glanced to her phone again; Steve was a minute later than they had arranged. And she automatically began to think he wasn't going to show.

The door to the cafe swung open, and Claire's eyes were drawn to the man who entered. She couldn't believe it, there he was. Standing before her, was the boy she once knew. She could tell. It may have been years since she'd seen him. But it was definitely the same Steve Burnside she knew.

His hair was shorter and spiked, but still as red as it was when he was a teenager. He had filled out more, not the same scrawny boy, but now a man with a more defined chin and his shoulders had broadened with age. He looked a lot more rugged. The only feature which hadn't changed were his bright blue eyes, the same eyes that gazed at her when he whispered the three words Claire had never heard from any other man in that way. Her heart fluttered faster the longer she stared.

Steve's lips curved into a smile as he immediately recognised the now older woman before him. She had become even more beautiful with age to him. He was unsure how to greet her so merely said an awkward hello and sat opposite her and Luke.

"Steve! I can't believe it's you...This is Luke by the way." Claire exclaimed, still overwhelmed by the person before her. Steve smiled and shook hands with Luke.

"Keep it down though. I'm Nathan Stone to you." Steve joked. She could notice that his voice was deeper than she previously remembered it to be.

"Is that what you have to be called?" He had told Claire previously that he was forced to take up an alias, but Claire knew little about it.

"Yeah. It's a form of protection I suppose. Don't know what lunatics could be out there, and no doubt Alex wouldn't be pleased if she found me."

"So you just have to start a new life? Isn't that crazy after being away from...well normal life for so long?" She asked caringly towards him.

"Well yeah, it's hard. But I've got a job, and you know this is my life now. I should be thankful for finally getting free and stop living in the past." Luke frowned at the calmness of his reply. The whole situation just seemed too surreal to him. He didn't believe a word that came out of Steve's mouth. But Luke himself had been in captivity for many years as well, so perhaps his jealously of Steve made him untrusting of the man.

"Well it's probably not the best talking to me then..." Claire laughed slightly, knowing their past definitely wasn't the best time to dwell back upon.

"No, it's great to see you Claire. You know, you're just as beautiful as I remember." A slight blush flared on Claire's pale cheeks, as she twiddled with a piece of hair. Luke frowned slightly. He wasn't usually a jealous man, but Steve seemed to bring it out in him.

"...Well you two have stuff in common, both of you had to deal with Alex..." Claire said, attempting to change the topic and bring the two men closer together.

"I never met the woman actually. I was placed in cryogenic sleep, and merely tested upon. Probably why us two have never met." Steve replied, pointing between himself and Luke. Luke still stared, attempting to size the man up; he still just couldn't believe him. There was something in the back of his mind telling him this was wrong, but Claire didn't notice this. She was still wrapped up in Steve. This made Luke question his feelings and he started to belileve even more that it was his jealously bringing out these emotions.

"So that's why it took so long for you to be out in the real world after the fall of the research lab? The BSAA had to make sure you were clear?" Luke asked.

"Yeah, it's a long process. But I'm fine, no virus in me anymore." He gave a smile, which Claire quickly returned. "But they told me not to meet anyone from my past, just to be safe...But I couldn't let you go Claire. It really has been great getting to reconnect with you... I never could forget you."

Claire's heart began to flutter again. His words had such charm, even just when they were emailing he was able to flatter her, but now he was here again, the feelings were heightened even more so.

"Listen, Steve. We're going over to a friend's house tonight to catch up, do you want to come? I mean Chris will be there too..." Claire asked awkwardly, she wanted to reconnect with him. And now she knew it really was him, there was nothing holding her back. The man she thought was dead was right here in front of her. She couldn't let such an opportunity pass.

"I'd like that...Thank you, Claire." Steve stood as did Claire and Luke to bid him goodbye. He gave Claire a long look, and she beamed brightly at him. Steve laughed and quickly wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly. Claire smiled and squeezed back.

"It's great to see you again." She whispered, as he let her go and left the cafe.

Claire gave a smile and sat back down, looking up to Luke.

"What do you think?" Claire asked, still smiling. His opinion really did mean so much to her, she really wished to know his view. Luke gave a frown.

"I don't trust him..."

Chris stepped into Rebecca's house. He arrived earlier than the guests were meant too, but he wanted to make sure Jill didn't need any help with organising food before Claire and Luke came. He coughed slightly as he stumbled into the kitchen, his sight clouded by smoke.

"Jeez, Jill. And you used to complain about my smoking?" He joked.

"Ha. Ha. Very funny... I'm not used to Rebecca's oven, okay? I might have turned it up just slightly too high..." She replied, turning on the cooker fan in an attempt to remove some of the smoke filling the room.

"Please tell me that's not our dinner in there?"

"No, it's your dinner. I'm having carry-out." She said, sticking her tongue out at him.

"Though seriously...What the hell are you trying to cook?"

"I had a craving for chocolate brownies, okay? That's the first batch over there." Jill pointed to a tray sitting on the kitchen table. Chris picked it up, and knocked on the rock solid burnt cake.

"Well, you have an extra guest, so I hope you've made more... Plus I am not going to risk eating that." He said, throwing the burnt brownies into the bin.

"The brownies aren't for the guests. Didn't you listen to me? Chris, I'm the pregnant one! I'm the one with the cravings. They're for me alone!" Chris laughed at her. She reached into the oven to check on the next batch currently cooking. "Gah, I've waiting long enough, I'm starving..."

Jill brought out the severly undercooked brownies.

"You can't eat that, Jill. It's barely even warm! Plus you're pregnant! No raw eggs for you..." He joked, poking the raw batter. "Put it in for another five minutes and then go to town on those bad boys."

"Fine." She huffed, placing the brownies back in to cook.

...

"...So who's the extra guest?" She was curious.

"Steve Burnside apparently."

"What?"

"Well I told you about him and Claire. She and Luke met him this morning and it's the real deal. It's really him. I suppose it's not that crazy, you came back from supposed death after all..." Chris was surprisingly understanding about the situation. Claire told him everything about the messages, and he warned her to be careful meeting Steve, but he couldn't deny her the right to see him. It was the same circumstance he had to go through. No one believed him when he thought Jill was still alive, yet her she was.

"I still think it's a little weird, Chris. I just don't see why the BSAA wouldn't tell us about him?" Jill said, taking a seat at the table.

"Well you haven't been at work for a while, and it is pretty big business. They probably knew it would be unprofessional to include me, considering I sort of knew the guy..."

"...I suppose." Jill was still unconvinced; she was a less trusting person than Chris. Besides Chris wouldn't go against what his sister believed, the family had to stay together. So if Claire thought it was Steve, then Chris would have to support her.

...

"I'd say your brownies are ready now." Chris said with a smile. Jill brought it out of the oven, and carefully placed it off the tray onto a plate, setting it on the table.

"I suppose I could spare one brownie for you, Mr Redfield." Jill laughed lightly, and sat next to him.

Claire and Luke arrived as expected, they all now just had to wait for the arrival of one more person.

"Oh! We have something to tell you two!" Jill squealed happily. Claire laughed and sat upright on the sofa, awaiting the good news. Jill glanced to Chris, who was completely confused and had a large frown on his face. Jill sighed and tugged him towards her, so she was able to whisper into his ear. Claire and Luke watched as Chris's face turned from confusion into a big smile.

"You're going to love this." Chris said to his little sister.

...

"It's a boy!" Jill exclaimed, chucking the latest scan picture onto Claire's lap, not that there was that much interesting to see on it.

Claire stood and dragged her arms around both her brother and Jill, smiling brightly.

"You did good big brother! You did so good!" Claire chuckled. She was almost as excited as the parents for this child, she was ecstatic to become an aunt again.

"Congratulations both of you. That's really great!" Luke said chirpily. Although he didn't have any children himself, he was always very fond of kids. He got along great with Anna, and always hoped someday to have some of his own.

"He's going to be a beautiful boy, just like his dad." Jill said smiling. Her comment made a smile appear on Chris's features as well. The two were just still being friends for the mean time, but it was nice to know she still looked at him affectionately.

"I'm sure he will...Who is the dad by the way?" Claire joked with her, receiving a death stare from Chris.

"I don't know Claire. It could be me, but I don't know what sex is..." Chris replied sarcastically, with a sly smile forming, "I could go through the details of what we did, and then you could tell me if that was sex and I'm the dad? ..I mean first off, I took my shirt off, and then off came Jill's, so then I would begin to kiss down..."

"Stop! Ew! Okay, I get it. I shouldn't joke about the paternity of the kid, I get it..." Claire said. Chris just laughed at her; he knew how to keep her quiet.

"Right, well I'm going to go get drinks before you kill me." Chris chuckled, making his way to the kitchen.

"I'll help him I suppose." Jill replied, leaving Luke and Claire sitting.

"Ew...Brother sex is disgusting..."Claire shuddered.

"Well, you started it." Luke joked, receiving a joke punch from Claire. "So did you tell Steve a time? Or why is he so late?"

"Yes, and I don't know. I'm sure he's coming though...So I'm going to ask again, why don't you trust him?"

"Claire...How many times? I just don't. It's just a feeling, I'm sorry that I'm not as excited about this as you are..." He replied.

"It is him though. It's the same boy I knew."

"I'm sure it is..." Claire looked at him worryingly. She could tell he was jealous, or something was getting to him. She wanted to make sure Luke knew she still cared for him.

"Thank you for being her for me through this." She spoke softly, placing her hands on his face to bring him into a tender kiss.

The front door was opened, and at the sound of the door, Claire quickly pulled away from Luke. She stood up, and quickly wiped her face to ensure no lipstick had smudged, and brought Steve into an embrace.

"Sit down Steve, I'm glad you came." Steve complied and sat on the arm chair beside the sofa. Claire walked to take her place back beside Luke; he couldn't help but notice she sat slightly further from him than before.

Chris and Jill stepped back into the room. And Chris gawked at the man in front of him. Of course with time Steve would have changed, but Chris just couldn't imagine him as anything more than a young teenage boy.

"I just can't believe it's you." He said, still in shock. "Claire told me everything that happened. I'm sorry you had to go through that man."

"It's okay. It's great to see you Chris... And this must be?"

"Jill Valentine." Jill held out her hand to Steve. "I've heard a lot about you."

"You too. Thank you for letting me come here tonight." He said sincerely.

"You're welcome. A friend of Claire's is a friend of ours."

...

Jill ensured everyone had their drinks and sat at the armchair opposite Steve. Claire and Chris caught Steve up with their lives, and he talked a little about himself. Jill didn't feel very comfortable though, she didn't feel the sincerity in Steve's words. But it was hard to decipher if her emotions were justified or merely pregnancy heightened emotions.

"I still can't believe Chris Redfield is to be a father? And Claire's going to be an aunt...again." Steve exclaimed laughing. "I just remember you as a careless nineteen year old... It's crazy. I can't imagine a Redfield settling down."

Luke frowned at his words. From what he understood, Steve didn't know Claire for that long, and Chris for even less. Yet he seemed to talk like they had been best buddies for years. And in his eyes, he saw himself and Claire settling down eventually, he didn't see her as someone opposed to that.

Jill had noticed throughout their conversation, Luke occasionally furrowed his eyebrows at Steve. She could tell Luke wasn't comfortable with him.

"I'm going to get some more drinks." Jill said, standing up. She stopped momentarily to place a hand on Luke's shoulder. "Could you help me, Luke?"

"Of course."

...

"What's up, Jill?" He asked, once they were in the kitchen well out of ear shot.

"You don't like Steve, do you?" She asked abruptly. "I can see you aren't comfortable in his presence."

"Yeah, you could say that. There's just something about him..." Luke said cautiously.

"Look, I know Chris and Claire seem in awe at him, but I feel the same as you. It just doesn't add up..."

"Well I'm glad I'm not the only one." Luke laughed. He didn't feel quite as crazy now since he wasn't alone.

"We could be wrong. But I think we should just stay on guard, you know? Especially since those two are distracted with their infatuation." Jill joked. He nodded in agreement; he would have hated to see Claire get hurt and wanted to protect her.

"Also, Luke, I have to talk to you about Alex." Jill said.

"Go ahead." He sat at the kitchen table, swiftly followed by Jill.

"I found out information from the Spence Estate... Apparently the virus she has holds the key to immortality..." Luke frowned at her words, it seemed impossible. "I know it sounds crazy, but Spencer instructed her to acquire it, and she got it."

"Well she mustn't have it perfected... Otherwise why would she need test subjects." He replied.

"Exactly... I mean, do you think this information is right?"

"It could be."

"But then why would she need my antibodies? Is there any reason, microbiologically, why she would need them?" Jill asked, hoping he would have a better understanding than herself and Chris.

"The virus mustn't be stable. I don't know I was withheld information about the viruses she was working on. But I would guess, at the moment, perhaps the virus is too powerful, you know? If its job is to replace cells quicker to heal quickly or whatever, then maybe it's working too well, and obviously then the cells would multiply too quickly and almost create a tumour like mass of tissue. And if this is happening abnormally quickly in large masses it will result in death. So maybe you're antibodies will be slightly immune to the virus, and so control the rate..."

"...But I could have sworn Alex's wound re-healed. Wouldn't that mean she has already perfected it?" Jill said, receiving a shocked look from him.

"Well, then, maybe the virus works in small doses for minor injuries. And then your antibodies could stabilise the virus enough to allow more to be added to the body, subsequently meaning the virus could re-heal bigger, more dangerous wounds..." Luke paused. "It's the only thing I could think of. Whether it's right or not, the most important thing is that Alex never gets to you or your son."

"Yeah... Thank you Luke." Jill smiled, and the two went back to join the others.

Chris said his farewells to Luke, Claire and Steve, and began to wipe the coffee table to help Jill as much as he could with the tidying. He walked back into the kitchen to see Jill. A cheeky smile appeared on his lips, as he watched her backside appreciatively as she leaned over to fill the dishwasher. He still loved her, and he still loved her body. The 'just being friends' arrangement was hard on his desires.

Chris couldn't resist any longer. He sidled up next to her, and placed a gentle pat on her backside. Jill gasped and stood abruptly up. He busied himself by putting glasses away, so not to have to see her annoyed face.

"I didn't think friends slapped each other's asses?" She shouted jokily at him. Chris mumbled an apology and leaned up to put away the couple of wine glasses used previously. As he reached, Jill smacked her hand against his ass, smiling at the loud noise she was able to make.

"OW!" He reached around to hold the wound.

"See not much fun is it?" Jill smiled slyly, as he pouted at her.

"Jeez, I didn't hit you that hard! ...I was just letting you know, I still find you sexy..."He said defending himself. Jill's smile faded, making him frown as he thought he'd done something wrong.

Jill shoved herself unto him, latching onto his lips. The force of her body sent him backwards in shock, almost stumbling over if it hadn't been for the kitchen worktop. Once stable, he wasted no time to wrap his arms around her, kissing her with just ferocity as she did to him. Anna was right. They could never just be friends. Jill brought her hands firmly to run down his chest, feeling the toned muscle beneath the shirt. Her nimble fingers quickly wrapped around his belt, and started to undo the buckle and zip of his jeans.

"You don't waste time..." Chris breathed huskily, breaking their kiss.

"I love you." It was all she needed to say, it was all she wanted to say to him.

"I...I love you too...But are you sure you want to do this?" He asked breathless. Chris yelped when she grabbed him unexpectedly in a certain sensitive place. "Oh God... I take that as a yes..."

She smiled slyly and planted another kiss upon his awaiting lips. He lifted her bridal style, and carried her to her bedroom, setting her carefully upon the bed.

Not an inch of her body went untouched, and the two spent the night showing each other how much they loved one another.

All Luke's medical mumbo jumbo, I am a scientist at heart (none of this arty farty writing for me!), so I tried to make it sound as believable as a bloody immortality virus can!. Hope you enjoyed. :D

Artichoke,

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