Chapter 6: Reunion (part one)

The evening hour approached 5 o'clock as Leon Kennedy turned onto the last street of his destination. The neighborhood was clean with lawns trimmed and free of weeds and young people played a game of basketball in one of the driveways.

As promised, Chris Redfield's house was at the end of a cul-de-sac and his red corvette sat just outside the open garage. The A-frame house gleamed with a fresh coat of pale yellow paint and the bright white windowpanes welcomed guests in the true middle class fashion.

Chris stepped out of his front door and extended his right hand to Leon. "Dude…" he said in a welcoming manner, "It's been too long."

Leon smiled and shook Chris' hand, "God, it's beautiful here. Nice house by the way."

Chris nodded toward the open door, "Come on in, can I get you a beer? I've got sandwich fixings for a light supper. The gang will be here tomorrow for a cookout. They all made sure that their day was fee."

Leon placed his duffle bag down next to the staircase and followed Chris into the kitchen. The countertop had a display of cold cut sandwich meet and condiments.

"Sounds great. I can't wait to see everyone."

The two sat leisurely in front of the large screen television while they ate and talked well into the night about what they had been doing over the past two years. When neither man could keep from yawning, they called it a night and Leon retired to one of the guest rooms on the second floor.----

time passes>

The Florida weather was outstanding in the early morning and Leon was going to take advantage of it before the sun filled the sky. He crouched briefly into a runner's stretch and allowed his mind to wonder freely. The crisp morning air was filled with scents of freshly cut grass and over night dew as he began his ritual morning jog. He wanted to get a feel for Chris' neighborhood and city.

In the zipper pocket of his windbreaker, Leon carried a city street map, just in case he misjudged the direction of his route. He checked his watch and set off at an easy pace.-----

time passes>

Chris poured a cup of coffee and called his sister, Claire. "Hey, sis. Sorry for calling so early, but is everything set and ready to put together?"

Claire laughed and replied, "Yep. Everyone's coming with food and we'll be over around 11:00."

"Great. Leon's out jogging, but from the note he left, he should be back within' the hour."

The two spoke briefly before Chris put the phone down and went to his room to take a shower.-----

time passes>

Sherry and her boyfriend, Clark, were the first guests to arrive with an assortment of potato chips and soft drinks in their arms. She unloaded most of her items into Chris' empty hands and asked excitedly, "Where is he?" Her eyes scanned the foyer, the living room, and the kitchen door. She was off in a dash almost before Chris could call out, "He's in the kitchen…" Chris sighed and glanced at Clark, almost disappointed that he didn't get his sisterly hug from his adoptive sister. Clark greeted Chris and was shocked when he heard a shrill cry of excitement and a commotion that led him to believe that Sherry must have leapt into Leon's arms like a missile.

The two men entered the kitchen to find Leon pushed up against the sink's counter top with Sherry wrapped in his arms.

"My God, Sherry," Leon said as she pulled away to look into his face. "You are hardly the skinny little 12 year old I remember leaving with Claire."

Sherry proudly stepped back and did a slow turn for him to notice that she was an adult. "I'm almost 20 now," she said with a smile.

Chris added, "Yeah, almost 20 going on 32."

"Where the hell is Claire? I'm getting hungry," complained Jill Valentine. She finished arranging a vegetable tray and placed it on a serving bar for the café style cookout.

Sherry glanced at the digital clock on Chris' microwave, "She's only 20 minutes late." It wasn't something new Claire was usually always late. Her job as a Para Legal called for long hours and there were days where Sherry wouldn't even see Claire. The two had been sharing a house since Claire was granted custody of Sherry after the incident in Raccoon City.

Jill rolled her eyes and nodded, "You know her best…" She turned to look out the kitchen window at the three men, Chris, Barry, and Clark, standing around the lit barbeque grill. She smiled at the site of her old friend, yet new boyfriend, Barry. They had known each other for years and been team members on the S.T.A.R.S. tactical force. Jill had been a support for Barry and helped him through the unfortunate death of his wife. Barry's daughters were now grown and living on their own, leaving Barry to seek a life of his own. Jill couldn't help spending so much time with him and she found herself falling in love with him.

The doorbell rang and Sherry giggled gleefully, "We can eat now…" She jogged to the door and helped Claire carry food to the kitchen. She hugged Jill and claimed, "Sorry I'm late, I had to wait for the brownies.

Jill handed Claire a clean empty plate, "Would you mind taking this to Chris for the meat that's ready to come off the fire? Besides, there is a certain hotty outside anxous to see you."

Claire smiled, she too was anxous to put an older and wiserface to the voice she had spoken to on the phone for the past two years. She wanted to look into her friend's pale blue eyes again.