A/N: I am really grateful to all the readers and reviewers, mlivingston1432 and Shirahane Aikawa, for support and encouragement.

Chapter 11

(Leon's POV)

I pulled my car to a stop in front of Lauren's workplace, and called her on her cell phone to let her know that I was here to pick her up. She told me to wait a little and, so I did. Within some 10-15 minutes, I spotted her making her way out of the office building, and towards me. She got in the car and kissed me, smiling beautifully. We talked trivially asking about each other's day at work, as I drove her to a nearby restaurant to have a cup of coffee. We spent some quality time with each other and then I drove her back to her home after half an hour, since I had to get back to my work.

"Here we are", I said stopping the car in front of her apartment.
"Leon, what about the rent money?", she asked me in a concerned tone.
"Oh yeah I totally forgot", I said getting my wallet and retrieved the money, that I had withdrawn on my way to her workplace, "Here's your rent", I added holding it out to her.
She took the money, "Thanks!", she said giving me a hug and kiss.
"You're welcome!", I said, as she backed away.

"I'll return it as soon as I can", Lauren said counting the money. Once she was done she turned in her seat and smiled at me once again, "There's one more thing."
"What?", I asked her puzzled.
"I saw this beautiful dress yesterday and I was thinking maybe I can wear it tomorrow for the dinner, but I don't have money to buy it", she told me her little problem, "So I was thinking maybe you can lend me some money to buy that as well. It's just 400$", she looked at me hopefully.
"Alright!", I said handing her more money from what I had in spare.
"You're the best boyfriend", she said and hugged me once more.

I couldn't help but smile; Lauren really looked more gorgeous when she was happy. She counted the money once again with a cat like smile that almost stretched ear to ear. She thanked me once again, putting the money in her purse. She kissed my cheek once again as I told her it was nothing, after all as her boyfriend it was my duty to help her out when she was in trouble. We didn't share any more words after that, and she got out of the car. She waved me goodbye, and I drove back to my work.

(Leon's POV)

I used my keys to unlock the main door and entered the house. As always, Shadow was at the door to welcome me back home. I couldn't help but smile at him, as I bent down to pet him once. The lights in the house were still on, since it was just 10:00 PM, but it was exceptionally very quiet considering the fact that there were two women in this house. Thinking that they must be busy with something, I made my way to my bedroom to get a shower before I have my dinner, for a change.

I entered my room, loosening my holster, and threw it on the bed. I sat at the end of the bed and started to untie my shoelaces, when I felt a presence, and I looked up to see Kate was entering my room, carrying clean clothes in a laundry basket. She froze at the room door, when she noticed me in my room. It felt like a déjà vu, since something like this had happened before, and I remembered the last time.

Kate smiled at me, "I didn't know you were home, I'll set these clothes later", she turned to leave, closing the door behind her.
"You can set them now, I don't mind", I told her in a casual tone, getting back to undoing my shoes.
"I'll be really quick", she said hurrying to my wardrobe.
"It's fine, I understand it's your job", I told her pulling out my feet from the shoes, standing up and emptying my pockets.
"Yeah but it feels like I'm intruding your privacy", she said in response, keeping my clothes in the wardrobe.
"It's nothing like that", I told her unbuttoning my shirt; midway doing that I got checking my mail on the phone.

I removed my shirt reading an important mail, "My god!", Kate's voice startled me and I looked back at her puzzled, "I am still here!", she said and her face started to change color. She held the laundry basket up to obstruct her view and I looked down at myself.
I couldn't help but let out a laugh, "Why are you so surprised? This is not the first time you're seeing me shirtless. I mean you used to bandage my wounded shoulder and I was shirtless then too", I said in a matter-of-fact tone, as she started to move out.
"It was different then, it's just too uncomfortable now", she said exiting my bedroom.
I let out an amused laugh once again, and couldn't help but say, "Women!", shaking my head a little.

I took a clean towel and headed straight for the shower. I took a leisurely shower to release the tension off my muscles. It was really very relaxing after a hard day's work. After the shower, I just needed to eat and have a good night's sleep. I put on my nightwear and headed to the kitchen to get my dinner. When I entered kitchen, I found Kate heating up the dinner for me. I took a seat on the counter chair and she served me hot dinner with a smile.

"Thanks!", I said gratefully, starting to eat.
"It's my job", she said with a smile and started to set dishes in their place.
"Where is Claire?", I asked her, it seemed she was not home.
"She and John went out for a movie", Kate replied not looking at me, still busy with her work.
"You didn't go?", I asked her casually.
"No, I had to do housework", she told me moving to fill Shadow's bowl.
"How come you're still doing your chores?", I couldn't help but ask; usually she's done with her work by now. Whenever I showed up home by this time, she was either watching TV or just reading a book.
"Claire and I went for shopping, and it got delayed there", she told me with a sigh.

I watched Kate work a little around the kitchen, while I ate my dinner and we didn't talk anymore. She exited the kitchen and I was left to eat alone. I don't know why but it felt odd eating alone, all of a sudden. Maybe because other times I was too tired or busy to take note of such a thing, but today it definitely felt a little weird. I took out my phone and started to check my schedule, as I had my dinner. It wasn't much but I was almost finished with dinner, and I knew that schedule would be enough to fill the idle gap that I was feeling while having my dinner.

When I was finished with my meal, Kate walked back in the kitchen with an empty jug. She washed and filled it, and I realized it was the jug that sat on the side table next to my bed. There were a lot of things she did for me that I never failed to notice, but as I watched her keep the water jug on the counter and take my dirty plate to the sink, I realized there might still be a bunch of minor things that I missed. At that moment, I felt somewhat like an ungrateful person.

As she grabbed the jug, I took hold of it as well, gripping it over her hand and that sudden action made her look at me, "I'll take it back to my room", I said to her and she let go off the jug, "Thanks for everything!"
"It's my pleasure", she said with a humble smile.

I got off the kitchen chair and we both headed up the stairs, not speaking to each other. She headed to her bedroom, while I headed to mine. I closed the door behind me, but did not lock it. I put the jug on the bedside table and sat on the bed, checking my alarm clock, if it was working and had batteries or not. I was about to lie down when I heard a knock at my bedroom door, which made me instinctively look at it.

"Yes?", I said still looking at the door.
The door opened and Kate entered my room. She walked to me saying, "Umm… I hope I am not bothering you but umm… I got you this", she held out a gift wrapped box to me.

(Kate's POV)

Leon looked at the present that I got him, for one long minute, and very slowly took it from me saying, "Thank you!"
"It's not much but I hope you like it", I couldn't help but say, a little nervously.

I really didn't know what was I thinking when I bought a present for Leon. I was just supposed to accompany Claire, but when I saw this on the display I knew that it would look great on Leon, and the next thing I knew I was buying it already. I had my moments of regret once I bought it and thought I would just keep it because the store had a no returns policy, but there was no point in keeping it with me. I could definitely not use it, so I just decided to present it to Leon. Watching him contemplate his present made my heart beat like crazy. I bit my lower lip in anticipation, as Leon tore up the packaging and opened the box to see what was inside. The expressions on his face were unreadable, as he retrieved his present.

(Leon's POV)

I held up the leather jacket that Kate had got me and didn't really know how to react. It really looked very expensive, "I love it!", I told her the truth.
"I am glad you liked it", she said with a very beautiful smile.
"But you didn't have to do this", I told her keeping the jacket aside.
"Well I felt bad for not getting you anything so I bought you this", she said with a shrug and then smiled once again, "Besides you're my boss, so I have to make you happy. After all, you sign my paychecks", she almost sang the last phrase.
I couldn't help but let out a laugh, "A very nice way to ask for a raise", I told her, a little impressed about it.
"Well it's about time you gave me one", she carried on with that joke, "Anyways, I'd just leave you to sleep now. Good night and take care!"

(Kate's POV)

I started to walk out feeling relieved that Leon liked the jacket that I bought for him. It felt something like an accomplishment, "Kate!", he called out my name and I turned to look back him, "Thanks for the cake!"
"Huh?", I looked at him a little puzzled.
"The chocolate cake you baked for me, thanks for it", he repeated himself again.
"You knew?!", I couldn't help but ask, extremely taken aback by it.
"Yeah", he gave me a nod of affirmation, "Lauren can't even make omelets, making a cake is a distant thought and I know Claire cannot make cake. So, that just leaves you."

I didn't even know how to react to this situation. Even though I knew he was perceptive with such things, but I really wasn't expecting him to see through the perfect lies that Lauren said to him this morning. I couldn't help but feel extremely jealous of that woman, because this guy loved her so much that he not only saved her face but also didn't let her know about it. Lauren was really fortunate to have him and I could give just about anything to switch places with her, even if it's just for a few seconds, just so I could be loved the way she was being loved by the man, who I loved.

I felt a little overwhelmed by emotions and couldn't find words to respond to Leon. I wanted to maybe cry but not in front of him, and I just couldn't leave when he was looking at me, possibly waiting for my reply, but I didn't know what to say to him.

(Leon's POV)

"I… just wanted to make you happy", Kate told me with a heartwarming sweet smile.
I took in her words and thought over them for a bit, "You did", I told her with a smile as well, "My grandma used to make chocolate cakes on my birthdays", I added remembering the old times.
"So, mission accomplished on my part", and then there was the sound of the doorbell, "Oh it must be Claire", she said looking out of the room, "I'll go let her in; have a nice sleep and sweet dreams", she wished me once again stepping out of the room.
"You too", I wished her back, as she exited the room.
"Oh and let me know whenever you miss your grandma, I can bake a cake for you", she said closing the door behind her.

I stared at the closed door for a while, before looking at the expensive jacket that Kate had bought for me, and it made me smile. I lifted myself off the bed and moved to put the jacket in my wardrobe. I got back to my bed, turned off the lights and lied down on it. The little birthday surprise that my friends gave me this morning really made me miss my grandmother's loving and caring warmth, and all the good times that I had forgotten about, over the long span of these past few years. Those were some bittersweet memories but really best of the memories so far, and it was thanks to my friends that I was reminded of those lovely times. Today, in all essences I truly felt like Leon Scott Kennedy and not Agent Kennedy, and I was thankful to Claire, John and Kate for that.

A/N: Thanks for reading the chapter and I hope you all enjoyed it. I apologize for any typos and grammatical mistakes that might have caused an inconvenience for you in understanding the context. Please feel free to comment on the chapter, I really look forward to hearing from you. I'll see you all next chapter and hope you have a great time!