Disclaimers: I do not own anything out of Resident Evil. All of the contents belongs to Capcom.

Chapter XX: Slipped Away

'Whatever happens, it doesn't change anything of what I said to you.' - Jake Wesker

Raccoonia Castle, Night

She couldn't understand her tears, why did they fall without her permission?

Alone by the lake, Sherry squat by the water as she stared silently onto the reflection the the full moon. It was round and distorted, yet the resplendence remained like the real one. Her sobs had soften and she suddenly remembered why she had chose to escape here.

This was where she first met Jake. The first time that she mistook him for some creepy guy, it frightened her so much that Sherry wished that she would never encounter him again - until the Queen introduced them. A small smile on her face when she recalled how ironic the moment was, and now here she was as his loyal right-hand.

Jake Muller Wesker was the biggest asshole she had ever met in her whole life; arrogant, dismissive and above all... plain rude. Even after Sherry had became her stewardess, she always reminded herself to always let his guard up around him. For the fear that he might do something to her.

She hated him.

But since when did it turned out to be the other way round? Why was she crying over him now?

"Sherry?"

She jolted to a stand to the wistful whisper around her back. She heard her name being repeated and she wiped her tears away using the sleeves of her gown. The presence behind her grew closer and closer until Sherry was certain that they were only inches away and yet she refused to make a move, she was well aware of whom was calling her.

"Sherry?"

She relented and did as she was silently told. Turning her heels, instead of a very handsome face she had expected to see, she was met with his chest. Jake had gotten ridiculously closer to her that another step and they would be touching, and she had already felt the warmth radiating off him. Both knew that their distance was breaching their circle of comfort, but neither took their step back.

"Y-Your Highness," She tried her best to sound as natural, "aren't you... aren't you with Lady Graham? What are you doing here?

"You ran away." He said simply.

She exclaimed that she didn't, that she need a breath of air. Jake refused to buy it, no way he could. Lifting one hand, his fingers touched her chin and used gentle force against it, making Sherry tilting her head up to meet his gaze. She couldn't feel her chin, his touch was not of warmth, but electrifying instead. "You are crying. I need to know why."

"I-I didn't..."

Jake smirked, removing her chin but his thumb ghosted over her cheek. Pressing onto her cheek, Jake wiped over the smudged mascara ruined by her tears - showing the remnants of what's left of her make up. 'Oh god.' Sherry frantically clasped her face with both her palms, trying in vain to hide her face from him. 'I must look horrible!'
She curved to where the lake was, how she wished that she could wash her face with them.

The Prince had sensed her desire to leave that he quickly held onto her wrist to prevent that, "No, stop that, Sherry." He gave a little pull, trying to pry her hands apart, "You look absolutely okay to me."

Having no other decision, she admitted defeat and removed her hand from his view. Jake gave a small hum of approval and released her.

"Now back to the question," said Jake, "Why were you crying?"

She choked, her tongue tied. All Sherry could do now was to stand still until Jake decided to skip the question or to make a move. The twenty-three sighed in irritation then, "Okay, let me take a guess: Puppy told me that you ran off because I danced with 'Princess'. Is that it?" A gasp to Jake's satisfaction. Oh, that traitor - Sherry felt betrayed by Nivans, to think that their conversation would die there and forgotten. Then again, she recalled that Piers had a big glass of ale in one hand and he was slurring his words slightly in his drunken stupor. Maybe it was the ale's fault that Piers could keep his mouth shut.

"No, of course not. I-I just..."

"Are you jealous that I am with someone else?"

Her breath hitched, he was asking real difficult questions to her that she had a hard time finding an appropriate answer. Up until now, she hadn't given him any serious answers, only those she deliberately make up and jutted words.

Mustering all the courage she had, Sherry shook her head weakly, "No. I am not." Although her mind was screaming the exact opposite, "I am just your stewardess... How could I-"

"You have been repeating this same old words for nearly the bazillion times for today." He cut in, "'I am your servant, I am a nobody, I am just a lowly stewardess.' This isn't you, Supergirl... Was it something happened on this very lake yesterday? Was it what Ashley had said?" Jake pressed her, he knew far better that there were deeper meaning to the phrases that Sherry repeated throughout the day. "Do you think that you are not worthy for me?"

"Yes, it is!" She exploded, shoving Jake by the chest which take Jake aback that his eyes widen. Now Sherry began crying aloud in front of him, not caring if Jake was watching or how ridiculous she would look like, "Lady Graham was right, she was absolutely right. I am not worthy for you, Prince! I don't- I don't want anyone to think that I am using you—"

"What do you mean by 'using' me?"

"—I promised the Queen that I will change you to the good Prince you used to be. And you did listen to me... people starting think that I seduced you to it. Lady Graham said that I even got you to fight with the King—"

"That was for a good cause, the doctor would have been executed if I..."

"—After you changed for the better... my point of view changed too. I began to look up to you more so than a vile and defiant rascal Prince. You became a friend to me... and I'm afraid..."

He asked, "Afraid of what?"

Sobbing, Sherry ducked her head to her feet and admitted, "That I saw you more than I friend. Ever since we went to Arklay together and you cared about my past... I..."

A gulp, "I think I fell for you."

She was never to live it down to this embarrassment.

Did she just confessed to the royal prince of Raccoonia that she had feelings for him? The worst part of all was that Jake didn't say anything out of it, not even a witty comment of his. He always had something to say about everything but not to this. Jake just froze on his spot and blinked blankly onto her hectic face.

With a loud sigh, Sherry was ready to dart off and just disappear somewhere that she could cry her heart out and be ready to face her consequences for the next day. Her heels turned and her momentum was enough for her to run off. Until one hand locked onto her forearm with much strength and she was pulled backward. Both her wrist collided with his chest as Jake confined her within his arms by ringing her by the waist. He held her firmly against his chest, disallowing any struggles from her.

"Mom asked me once- about me and you." He started abruptly and Sherry showed no move of protest, "She asked me if I like you, more than a friend."

Her sudden intake of breath indicate that she listened to him and thus, he continued, "I told her that I don't have a clue."

She felt faltered, but waited for him anyway, "Then she started asking me a series of question. By the end of it, she said she had an answer of her own. But later tells me that the absolute answer lies within myself. From then on, I kept asking myself: Who is Sherry to me? I... considered about everything. And when I thought about how vulnerable you were at Arklay, I knew I had the answer all along."

He exhaled slowly, "When you drowned yesterday, the thought of losing you... I just... lost it. I couldn't imagine how it would be if you were to stop breathing ever again. And now... when you confessed yourself that you... fell for me."

There was a long pause.

"I am too."

Her lips parted slightly, and on that moment Jake wondered how those balmy lips of hers would taste like. Well, he did get to feel her when he saved her from the lake incident yesterday, but it wasn't the same - he wanted to feel the real thing.

Slowly, he inched in. And his heart soar when Sherry showed no sign of protest or resistance, in fact, her eyes fluttered close as she waited for him. Her hands were not bunching in onto his cloth, but she was palming his chest softly there.

Their upper lips touched...

"PRINCE!"

The shock made Sherry literally shoved Jake aside and he stumbled backwards a few steps. They sprang apart from the scare, and hell, Jake was ready to tear whoever it was apart. His mouth was open, curse words ready to run wild in the air, but before he could do so, his intentions dissipated when he saw that the culprit was not just anyone.

Jill Valentine.

She wasn't present on the party to care for the Queen, and she was dashing madly to the Prince's direction, her eyes pooled with salty tears.

"Prince... I've finally found you..." She breathed in between relief and urgency, apparently she had pay no mind to whatever enfolded between the two earlier. Jill panted alternatively in between what she was trying to say, "Prince... go to... The Queen... now!"

Sherry didn't even manage to ask for the typical 'what happened' and Jake had already sprinted away to his mother.

Queen's Chamber, Night

Jake Wesker was miles ahead of the two women since he had a better start than both of them. It took him only mere minutes that he had already dashed up to flocks of stairs and turned every corner leading to Gabrielle's chamber. As soon as Jake turned his final corner, his feet stopped so suddenly on the sight of the close door to Gabrielle's bed. The air felt so heavy of all of a sudden, no, everything felt heavy - his footsteps, his breathing, his heartbeat.

He just hope that his intuition was wrong.

No longer running like a mad man, Jake made his way slowly to the door on the far corner. He heaved his hand to the cold doorknob, and his soul screamed for him to not open the door. But he did anyway and pushed the door open completely.

Gabrielle was there on her bed.

Her eyes closed shut, sleeping away peacefully.

Al piece of letter next to her pillow.

But he could no longer feel life in the room.

The young Prince felt numb, it's like his blood had frozen in his veins. Quietly, he hovered over to next to his mother and reached for both of her hand. Cold. So cold that it stung his skin, so much colder than the snowy hill of Edonia. Gently, he pressed his lips to her hands, praying that the warmth will reach her, then he placed one hand on top of another and laid them on her stomach.

Even now as she was still in her bed, Jake thought that she was still beautiful nonetheless. He brushed away her bangs away from her forehead, that he gave the same kiss too.

And he fell onto his knees, next to her deathbed.

"I love you, mom."

Gabrielle Muller Wesker had returned to her Maker.

Meanwhile Sherry and Jill had finally climbed the last stair. With Jill already thoroughly exhausted prior to finding Jake, Sherry had to pace with her so that they can both reach the Queen's chamber at the same time.

They did.

Jake was down on his knees, his head lowered right next to Gabrielle's lifeless body. Simultaneously, they both knew that the Queen had slipped away in her sleep. Devastated, Jill broke down on her knees and she wailed loudly for her mistress, crying her name repeatedly. Tears were spilling right out of Sherry's blue eyes, she too was horrified by the fact that her beloved Queen was gone, but she knew that her love for the Queen was nothing compared to Jill.

Jill had been with the Queen even before Jake was born, the term of 'the Queen's stewardess' was nothing but a term - they were best friends, they were sisters.

Sherry knelt beside Jill and soothes her by holding both her shoulders. She knew how much it was for Jill to endure of the fact that Gabrielle was gone.

But Valentine was not the only one she was worrying about, because there was another person who will miss Gabrielle far better than anyone else on the castle, surpassing even the Queen's right-hand, Jill Valentine.

The immobile Jake Muller Wesker.

He was still there, silently mourning for his dear mother. He was completely still - like a statue - unlike Jill who was sobbing hysterically, Jake kept his kneeling position on as if he had drawn to the state of semi-catatonic.

Although Sherry knew that Jake was the one who had the hardest time to accept the truth that the Queen of Raccoonia, and Jake's mother, was gone forever.

Raccoonia Castle, Night

Later on, it was Jill Valentine who volunteered that she will deliver the news to King Albert Wesker and the rest of the guest on the hall downstairs, it was to fulfill her final duty as the Queen's stewardess. As reluctant as Sherry might be to leave the still in shock Jake Wesker alone (whom Sherry assumed that he would not leave no matter what), she had to accompany Jill to the task, since the latter was staggering on her footsteps and she was mostly unfocused onto her surroundings. In her current state, Sherry knew that Jill will never make it to the hall without her help.

After all, Sherry reckoned that Jake might need some time alone to say his goodbye with Gabrielle.

She herded her along the way, holding firmly by her forearm to support Jill's wobbly legs.

Chris was in-charge of the current shift, guarding the double door leading to the party inside. The sight of the overly fatigued Jill shook him, as he quickly jogged over the two. It wasn't a pleasant sight for him, both Sherry and Jill were tear-ridden, he knew that something big was up.

"Jill...? What... What happened?" It appeared that Jill was still in too much shock that she was not responding to Chris. So, Sherry was the one who helped Jill to answer.

"I'm so sorry, General Redfield... But... we need to deliver a news to the King... May we enter?"

The curiosity got over Chris that he blurted out "What news?" to Sherry in a heightened tone.

Sherry couldn't find proper words to answer, but Jill had already released herself from Sherry's assistance and slumped into the roaring party by herself. The action made two other knights by the door stopped her, but Chris quickly stepped forward and allowed access for Jill, claiming her to be the Queen's stewardess. "I'll escort her to the King myself," he offered, "The King's safety is assured. Now stand down, men."

Under Chris Redfield's care, Sherry knew that he would fare better than herself in taking care of Jill. She watched as Chris walked Jill to where the King and Simmons were, Jill was treated by Simmons' annoyed look of interruption until Jill's mouth moved, perhaps breaking the bubbles of what had become to Gabrielle. The King's stoic face had melted into what of bewilderment, and so did General Redfield when he stared at Jill open-mouthed. Even Simmons were equally as surprised, and so the lady in red on his side but she did a great job not to show it.

The King stood then, announcing the party to be halted immediately. Every guest present could do nothing but to obey, and they wordlessly made way for The King as he went for the exit, where Sherry was standing.

He flashed past her without a word, closely behind was Chris who decided that he will send Jill to infirmary (since he already had Jill carried up in bridal style). Excella was now in charge of taking care of the guests.

Sherry followed The King to the bedchamber, for the sake that she could see the Prince.

Infirmary, Midnight

For tonight Chris Redfield chose to abandon duty, Leon had Piers had both agreed that they will watch over the safety of the castle while he stayed there on the infirmary (although Leon will be checking onto Claire soon, she had been hiding away since Jill delivered the news). He sat silently by the bed warding a horribly stricken woman, the trauma was too much for her to bear that Jill Valentine had pass out on the spot as soon as the news were carried to the King.

He heard sobbing on the desk where Chambers and Cindy had been, they too mourn for the lost of the Queen.

Who could have known that Queen Gabrielle - who rarely spoke to anyone - would have so much impact onto so many people in the castle? Almost the whole Palace mourned over their beloved Queen.

Except Excella.

The rustling of the white sheet made Chris budged from his stiff sitting position, Jill was regaining consciousness. She moved her arms, propelling herself to sit up and blinked several times, as if she was trying to get a grip of reality around her.

Her stare was as blank as white paper, but Chris could tell that Jill knew where she was. The smell of the chemicals and medicine were distinguishable to everyone in the Palace.

"It's not a dream, right?" She asked Chris softly.

The General pursed his lips, it hurt him that lying to her was not an option. He nodded once firmly, that was all he could afford to say for now. She didn't break into the hysteric cry she was in earlier. Her eyes were dry of tears, her ability to cry inhibited.

"I'm sorry, Jill. I'm sorry that the Queen had passed, she will be missed dearly."

"She will," Jill snapped, "Queen Gabrielle was the best Queen a kingdom could have."

He agreed wholeheartedly, the younger Queen Gabrielle he knew was once a benevolent queen to all people, she was the one who helped the King to listen to the people's petition and to solve them and to keep the citizens happy before Excella took over at some point.

All that woman know was to flaunt her status as the King's shoe polisher.

"I-I miss her." Jill hugged her knees against her chest tightly.

"Jill," Chris shifted in his seat, now he sat on the bed with the woman, "Her Highness would not want to see you like this."

It wasn't very convincing, much less a consolation. At least now, as Jill had her arms wrapped around his shoulders and buried her face in his burly chest that Chris thought that he didn't need words to comfort her.

He just hoped that holding her like this was enough.

Queen's bedchamber, Midnight

Jake was still there, kneeling beside his mother by the time Albert Wesker opened the door to see his wife one last time.

Only then Jake stood back up on his feet and turned to his father, and Sherry. His usual crispy blue eyes now had redness all around it, but there were no tears at all, it was dry-looking and it didn't seem like Jake had cried.

"Mother is gone, Albert." He said dryly.

"I know, Jake." His head tilted to where Sherry was behind him, "You, go bid the Prince to his room, see to it that he is rested."

Even without the King's order, that was what Sherry had planned to do from the start. She bowed silently, heading to Jake and touched his wrist experimentally, it was colder than she remembered when he held her on the lake. She cooed Jake so that he would be responsive, and he did; Jake took Sherry's hand into his and squeezed them, as if expecting some kind of comfort. Sherry obliged by squeezing back, offering a small smile of comfort to him and he nodded.

They were out of the room together, and the door shut behind them as soon as the past the trigde of the now vacated bedchamber. Albert Wesker too want his moment with his wife, whom he was so careless for.

Now alone, Jake quietly walked over to his own room beside his late mother's. The gloomy atmosphere was making him choke, all he wants now was some time alone, so when he slipped past into his room, Sherry made no move to follow. Before he closed the door though, he turned back to Sherry in a sudden and gave her a kiss to her cheek.

"Thanks for standing by me." said Jake.

She sighed deeply, at least she know he will he was okay on his own, "Call me if you need anything at all, your Highness. Anything at all."

"Yeah, and Sherry?"

"Hmm?"

He squashed her into a hug, to her surprise. But she found herself returning the favor by winding her arm around his waist.

"Whatever happens, it doesn't change anything of what I said to you."

No words came from her as she pressed herself closer to his neck. She hummed softly, to tell him that she understand. He was holding her like this not only to seek comfort from the devastation of his mother's death, but he had wanted to show that she still was something to him. Although she knew that they will never worked out, due to circumstances existing in every angle. Things will not change even if they knew that each other held something respectively.

For now, all Sherry wanted to do was to provide Jake as much comfort as she could so that he wouldn't be traumatize of everything that had happened so suddenly.

A.N: I hated myself for not updating sooner. :(

Truthfully, I had never written anything as depressing as this chapter right here. I bet you guys didn't see that coming. From a romantic Jake/Sherry then...yeah. But that was what I had planned from the beginning.

RFF! :)