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A new beginning

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Claire kissed Leon back for a few seconds. Until her reasonable side spoke louder and she remembered that this was an area where she should not step back. She soon remembered the long time it took her to forget that night with Leon. His scent accompanied her for many days and she did not like the questions that inhabited her mind at that moment. Now that everything was normal again, she knew she would have to deal with the memory of that kiss for the next few days and that made her angry.

By pushing Leon, Claire once more exploded with rage. But this time she did not feel angry at him, but at herself.

How could she allow such a mess with her feelings? Claire could take care of everything and everyone, but she could not take care of her own feelings. In that moment she realized she would prefer the man in her room was a kidnapper instead of Leon. Claire would rather face an outbreak in a third kidnapping than facing that situation.

Still irritated with the situation, Claire sat down on her bed and could not prevent tears of hatred to run on her face.

"Claire?"

Leon walked and knelt at her feet, totally baffled.

"Claire, what happened?"

"Leave me alone." Although visibly upset, her voice was soft.

Leon tried to hold her hand, but she avoided the touch.

"Claire ... I did not expect ..".

"That I knew how to cry? Yes, I know to... Although in Raccoon City and Havardville I had more reasons than I do now ..." Claire wiped her face, preventing new tears to form.

"That's not it ... I did not expect that I would do what I did."

Claire brushed a strand of hair with her hand.

"Don't worry, this is not a big deal. Now leave me alone."

"I hurt you, didn't I? I screwed up once and for all, right? Forgive me ... I don't know what happened to me"

" Are you trying to play the good guy now? Ok ok, I pretend that I believe you and you get out of my room."

" I cannot ..." Leon stood up and sat beside her.

" Huh?"

"I cannot leave without knowing how you feel ... if you're fine."

Claire looked at the opposite side from Leon and sighed. What was Leon thinking about her? Did he think that Claire was in madly love and that's why she reacted that way? Was he sorry he couldn't correspond to her love? That thought left her disturbed. She didn't want him to think he was in control of the situation. She didn't want anyone to feel sorry for her, especially Leon.

"I'm not in love with you, conceited..." she thought.

"I'm fine. I just had an explosion of rage. Many concerns, too much stress ... I ended a relationship recently and have no provision for games like this, specially with a friend like you, but it seems you never understand that..."

Leon looked at her with a shocked expression.

'I'm so sorry ... for not respecting this... It must be hard to finish a strong and long-therm relationship ..." Leon lowered his head "You both must have lived many things together."

"Yes..." Claire did not seem sad, but indifferent "But if you allow me, I can concentrate on more important things like my children right now."

"I'm sorry, Claire. I have been selfish. I wish I could apologyze"

"A little selfish. But tomorrow I know a way to make you apologize and practice your altruism."

"I will accept that."

Claire smiled but looked at Leon.

"Now..."

"Yes, I know ..." Leon stood up and walked to the door "Good night, Claire."

"Night, Leon." She said, still avoiding his gaze.

When she heard the noise of the door being closed, Claire closed her eyes for a few seconds and felt the tears returning to her eyes. Not sure if Leon had believed her excuse, but she failed to convince herself.

Her tears actually represented anger, but anger by realizing that she had feelings for that annoying and conceited guy. She did not want to feel that.

Leon had always been a dear friend and she wishes she could keep things that way.

Trying to avoid those thoughts, she decided to take a shower hoping that they could get away with the warm water.

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" More Leon."

"Again ."

The children surrounded Leon, while Claire helped him stand up from the armchair in the living room.

" Leon" Dylan shouted enthusiastic "That was the best story I've ever heard."

"Another one, please " Barbara asked.

"Tomorrow, sweety. Leon is tired and Mariane will take you all to the bedroom, it's bedtime." Claire said.

While many kids grumbled following Mariane, Claire guided Leon to his room.

Claire realized that Leon was quiet that day, he did not say anything along the way and even when he accepted her help to lie in bed.

"Good night, Leon." She said when she was preparing to leave.

"Thank you for that, Claire.

Surprised by that phrase she looked at him and realized he was watching her with a different gaze.

"For what?"

"Thanks for the chance you gave me to apologize and for the opportunity to learn how to make someone smile."

" Be thankful to yourself. The kids loved it"

"I don't know how I was able to get their attention."

" You only did and that was great!"

"But I only told them one of my missions. Nothing else. How can that make someone happy"

"Because you did something for them, not for your ego. Charity is when you offer a little of what you are or have with love."

" I'm not good at it. Difficult to think about charity when you are before Biological Weapons holding a gun, specially when you have people pushing you to finish the job quickly."

"I understand what you mean. But I believe in all sectors it is possible to do charity, Leon. Charity is when we do something for the good of someone, not for our ego, for money or just to fulfill a mission. It is to put feelings in what you're doing. And I can say that my brother and Jill are great examples for me, because they had to face a very difficult period with the end of STARS and in the early years of B.S.A.A. They had to face distrust, betrayal and low budget. Yet they did not give up, because they were not doing that for themselves or by orders, but for every life that could be rescued and for every family that could be saved. I decided to join Terrasave to do my part and although we also had to face difficult moments sometime ago, my brother always inspires me to come back and try again" Claire smiled for the first time "I'm not saying that you do it wrong. I'm just telling you a little of what I have learned."

"I know, Claire. I understand. Sometimes we act automatically and forget the feeling. So it's good to think over our lives and actions."

"Yes. We all need to."

"You don't. You already give your life and feelings for others."

"That doesn't mean I don't have to keep learning."

"You have much more to teach" Leon took her hand gently. "I need you."

"Leon..."

"No no no. Stay calm. I say that as a friend. I need you to help me be a better person, more altruistic."

Claire pulled her hand back gently.

"You saved many people, you kept your promise today and you made several children laugh. That's a good start." Claire chuckled.

"I'm Glad."

"Good night, Leon." She said walking towards the door.

"Good night, Claire."

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Hi people.

First I'd like to apologize for the long time without updating. Sometimes it may take a while, but I will finish this story, relax guys! Thanks for coming! :)

NerdGirl4Life: Thank you very much my dear ficfriend! Besosss and have a wonderful week

abby45: Thank you very much for the review and for the hints. I had some problems, but I'm back. So although i cant update as fast as before, I'll do. Hehehe have a great week.

Cleonakacloti : I totally agree with you... Leon feels something for her but he can't deal with that. Thank u for coming dearrr.

koizumi sefty: Thanks a lot for the review

just VIE: He's flirtatious, but that can change. Thank uuuu.

Darkstar2010 : Here I am. Thank you a lot for coming.

The95will : Yeah. I think you are right, Claire and Jill had a similar behaviour, which was getting away from "danger", which meant the guys in both cases lool. I believe that can be a characteristic of independent women when I compare some of my friends. Because the ones who have strong personality can easily play indiferent and try to control the situation. So I think Claire and Jill can be alike in that, but not about speaking. Claire is moody and she can easily speak her mind at any cost, different from Jill who saves many things to herself. (Not in MLSG where she is a little moody too, as a gypsy). I hope I could be clear, cause women's mind are a mess loool. Feel free to give me your opinion always Will. Thanks for coming and have a great week.

Spartan10007 c Yeah! Im writing more! Thank you a lot for the review

Bounty Hunter Vincent Vega : I didnt try to fool people. I just didnt remember that some "minds" could get it the wrong way. So I changed that from preventing those minds to come. Cause this is a true love story with values!

Mister Valentine: Ooooh Thank you so much for coming! I never imagined you would, so I'm really happy! You surprised me.

Well, when I had some requests for a Cleon story, I got myself imagining how I could make things happen in a realistic way. So my challenge is to make everything coherent and for that I needed to analyse Ada and Leon relationship, Claire's attitude with guys and specially some small hints between them, which I found in Degeneration, which made everything easier for me.

I'm glad Cleon fans are happy with my story, and to see you here makes me ever prouder, since you never bought this relationship before.

I really hope you enjoyed this chapter, specially Claire's words about her brother.

Thank you dear. Kiss kiss!