The characters from the game belong to Capcom.
A/N:I'm not english native speaker, so you might find some typos or grammar mistakes, I do apologize for that.
He loved this time as if it was the last
He kissed his wife as if it were the last
And crossed the street with his timid step
He sat down to rest like it was Saturday
He ate beans and rice like a prince.
He loved that time as if it was the last
He kissed his wife as if he were the only one
And crossed the street with his firm step
He went up the street as if it were solid.
He sat down to rest like a prince
He ate beans and rice as if it were the maximum
He loved that time like a machine
He kissed his wife as if it were logical.
He sat down to rest like a bird
And it floated in the air like a prince. (A Brazilian Song with alterations)
(**)
Chris walked slowly looking around that small town that was his home as if saying goodbye to it and his destination now was Dora's Bar. He wanted to thank her and to apologize for his bad behavior all that time. He gave her some money in compensation and the woman finally realized he wasn't really that bad guy that everyone thought.
In there, he thought of everything that happened to him in all those 6 months. He thought of Evana and also thought Piers ending up ordering the meal Piers complimented when they met. With most of his old personality and memories back, he still had a bad feeling about his return, as a matter of fact he wasn't ready to face Laureen after all.
His chain of thoughts were completely interrupted by a soldier informing him they had new orders.
"Better get to it, then."
The men left the bar
Chris's POV
"I can't keep running away, I have to face the truth - accept the responsibility… and maybe get my life back. I guess things are returning to its original place… I can't prolong this and now it's time to go home and face my official wife; to face my infidelity?
I just don't know what infidelity is going to be more painful for me. The one that I fell in love with someone else not knowing I had someone home, or the infidelity of my heart towards the woman I had to leave behind…"
TPOV
It was close to the sunset time when Yana decided to check on Evana. The blonde took a longer time to answer the door, making Yana think that there was nobody home, but when she gave up the waiting, she heard a noise on the door and she turned around to see Evana. Her heart melted in sadness when she saw her friend's devastated face. Immediately she took her into an embrace. Evana busted into tears, "It's over sis… he's gone…" the blonde woman spoke in sobs
"Oh sis… I'm very sorry to hear that. I thought he was back to stay…" the ginger replied
"He wouldn't! He would never be allowed to stay." Evana replied stepping away to let her friend to enter as she closed the door
"Because of his job?"
Evana shook her head in denial, "Because of his wife!" Evana spoke in sobs covering her face
"Oh…" that was the ginger's first response on the matter, "If he really wanted he could leave her…"
Evana gasped, "He's not insane!"
"Well, crazy in love people do crazy things…"
"You don't get it!
"I really don't."
"It was the best for both of us."
"Well…so if this is the classic scenario where he didn't leave his wife and you're pregnant… he's the classical jackass!" Yana spoke rolling her eyes
"He's not! I am the one who told him to get back to her."
"Of course you will defend him… as always!"
Evana sighed in frustration. Yana hadn't changed her mind about Chris.
"I hope he will be man enough to support his child even with the distance!"
Evana looked down with a sigh, "He won't because he won't know."
"What? You didn't tell him?" Yana spoke in shock
Evana shook her head to confirm
"Why? How do you think we will raise this kid, because I know it will fall on my shoulders to bank everything since you cannot work until you have the baby, not to mention the fact you refused the damn reward!"
"Shut up! I got the money…"
"What?"
"He offered me the reward, he insisted and then I decided to listen to you… so I accepted the checks. It's on the counter."
"Are you serious?"
"Yeah… 25% of the total value will be yours."
"Really?" Yana widened her eyes not hiding her excitement
"Yeah."
"Still I don't forgive you for not having told him the truth."
"If you don't stop it, I won't give you the 25%..." Evana spoke to stop Yana's lectures on the subject. Those lectures wouldn't change the fact that it was her choice.
"Oh no, no, I'm sorry… you should be already used to my way of being…" Yana replied taken aback
"I don't want to talk about this anymore and please hold your tongue for today… It was a tough decision and somewhat selfish, but I thought I was the best for all of us… now he's back to his old and happy routine with his wife. She won't need to worry about me and we are spared from all the drama!"
Yana listened to her friend while she played with her hands not to open her mouth, but it obvious she was opposite to Evana's final decision, but as the usual, she ended up having a slip tongue, "I don't think he's happy in his marriage."
"Did his late friend told you that?"
"Late friend?" Yana asked with a puzzled expression
"Yeah, unfortunately Piers died in the mission." Evana spoke with a saddened tone
"No way! I can't believe this!" the ginger spoke holding her chest due to the strong emotion, "RIP Piers, he was so cute and so nice..." Yana spoke with a very saddened expression
"Yeah, he seemed to be a good guy."
"Now I lost my chance…"
"Chance of what? As far as I know you didn't have anything concrete."
"Of course we had something concrete. I didn't have sex with my imagination!"
"Sex and commitment are different things."
"I still can't believe this… Now I know why I had those bad feelings when he left…" Yana lowered her face
Evana took her into an embrace, yet she was surprised about the ginger's reaction.
"We both lost our men…"
"Yeah, but you still didn't answer me, did Piers tell you anything about Chris's marriage for you to have said that?"
"No, he didn't tell me anything. Don't you think if I knew he was married I wouldn't have already told you that?"
Evana made a face
"Your hubby's memory did… or the lack of it!"
"Maybe he just didn't want to tell me because it was convenient to him…"
"You don't really believe this lie you are creating! I can't understand why you are saying this now!"
"Maybe I don't, but…"
"But she was the only one he didn't remember at all or even mentioned since he was a sleep-talker." Yana pointed out
"He spoke so many names… maybe one of them was hers since he didn't tell me her name."
"Maybe you are right, but I still think he's not happy in his marriage. It starts with him being an absent husband!"
"You don't know that!"
"Of course I do! The guy is big in there, I take from the value of the reward!"
"He's a captain, so?"
"He's more than just a captain! I did a little research…"
"You didn't do this!" Evana spoke rolling her eyes in disbelief
"Of course I did, why not?"
"You're unbelievable…"
"Okay, I won't tell you the details not to offend your pride, but he's big and he travels worldwide just like the followed cigarettes he took one after another… This only means one thing… Constant Absence! Unless his wife is a patience saint like you or a cheater opposite to you of course, so I'm sure her tolerance has limits!"
"Every couple has ups and downs, my friend! That doesn't mean she doesn't love him."
"But don't you think that he would prefer to spend more time with her if he really loved her? This is what you should keep in mind…"
"She married a military, completely aware of his absence and he in the other hand could give her quality time when home. That's what matters in a relationship and not the amount of days sleeping together."
"I can see your point, but I'm sure of one thing."
"Of what?"
"Her Chris 'died' in the day he got the PTSD thing; and it's not her Chris anymore who is returning home, but Your Chris! Let's see what will happen…"
"You're so poisonous, get out of here!" Evana spoke making a face
"It's not poison, it's reality."
"Well… I just wish him to be happy with whomever he wants. I made my decision and I won't look back and you will keep your mouth shut! I don't want him to ever know about my pregnancy! You promise that and I give you 30%."
"Okay! My lips are sealed!"
BSAA North America HQ
Chris didn't expect to be welcomed like that, he feel like a Hollywood celebrity on the red carpet. He couldn't barely walk at the great hall of the main reception because it was so crowed. His coworkers complimented and praised him and even made a welcome back decoration with green balloons around the place. So many details he couldn't even pay attention all of it. He felt good in seeing some familiar faces. It was good to be back to this home…
He greeted the coworkers when he felt someone grabbing his arm, turning him around and jumping to kiss his lips. His immediate reaction was to turn his head to the side while frowned in disapproval looking at the light brown haired woman, tied on a ponytail and white skin smiling widely at him.
"My love, I know you don't like public affection demonstrations, but I've been waiting for you for too long to respect your wish this time!" the brunette woman told him and then pulled him back to her grabbing him from the neck to kiss him again
It was evident Chris wasn't enjoying it and once again moved away with an estranged face from the woman who looked at him with an embarrassed expression.
"Don't ever do that again! Who do you think you are to assault me like that?!" Chris spoke with a disgusted tone
"I am Your Wife!" the brunette woman replied with conviction
"Em…Laureen?" Chris spoke almost mistaking names
"Yes, who else would kiss you like that?" the woman replied slightly annoyed putting her hands on her waist
Chris let out a distressed sigh
Chris's POV
Now that I stand in front of the woman, I remember I have seen her face. She is the woman I saw in my dream falling off the stairs. That was the only time I dreamt about Laureen in all these months. I don't know why I don't feel embarrassed for treating her like that. I still don't feel any connection with her. I can still taste her lipstick on my lips and I don't like that. I feel like I'm cheating on Eva… I didn't like to be kissed in front of the whole BSAA… Yet, I didn't mind about public affections when it was Evana…
I guess my old me is definitely back. Well and so is the guilty conscious is coming to me. I never cheated on anyone before.
TPOV
"You know I don't like public affection demonstrations."
"I'm sorry my love, I know you don't like it, but it's been a bit over than 6 months that I'm waiting for you!"
"I didn't recognize you…"
"I know they said you lost your memory… but do you remember me now?"
"I just recognized your face now. Sorry…"
Laureen opened her mouth to reply to him, but her eyes followed Chris's head move looking to the other side of the hall and the smile on his face.
"Jill!" he spoke with excitement
The blue-eyed and brunette woman smiled back at him and walked to his direction, but stopped at a distance since she caught Laureen next to him looking at her as well
"Welcome back Chris!" Jill greeted him
Chris pulled her to a friendly hug getting Jill tense
"Chris…Laureen is looking." Jill whispered on his ear making Chris step away
"Is there a problem? I haven't seen you in ages and for months I thought you were dead!"
"The problem is that Laureen is jealous, very jealous!"
"I didn't even remember her."
"So my advice to you is: get your memory about her back as fast as you can." Jill spoke with a smile as if pretending to be speaking about something else, while she saw Laureen coming at their way, "She's coming."
Chris nodded, yet thoughtful about her words, "Yeah, I will."
"You will what, my love?" Laureen said coming in between their conversation, grabbing Chris' arm
"I told him to slow a bit the pace down of his missions now that he's back."
"Oh yeah, I agree. Especially because we have little time to plan things for next month. At least you came back on time." The woman replied with a large enthusiast smile
"What about next month?" Chris asked puzzled
"It will be our wedding anniversary. We have to plan the party, the trip…"
"Wedding anniversary? How long are we together?"
"We are officially married for three years next month, but we are together for seven."
"What?" Chris widened his eyes in surprise. They had seven years and he had no memories of her or even them, besides the only time he had a dream about her.
"I believe we reached a new level in our relationship and a new start of good things in our way. I so missed you!" the young brunette spoke resting her face on his arm
Chris looked at Jill astonished, while she just had a faint smile on her face, "Well, Chris and Laureen, I'm going to give you two your privacy. Chris, once again, welcome back! I'm sure all of the BSAA missed you and we are feel very sorry for the loss of our members, especially Piers. In the end, he did fulfill all of his promises and it's our time to make a tribute for his memory."
"Yeah. I will be there for sure. I owe him my life and my duties, but life goes on…"
"It does. Now excuse me." Jill nodded in goodbye
The couple didn't split at any moment, of course just because Laureen wished it that way. Then, after some time, they went together to their home.
(**)
"Now that I think of it. I guess now I know why I had unconscious walls stopping me to get closer to Eva initially. Deep inside, I knew I was taken and felt it would wrong to surrender to the growing feelings for my beautiful blonde, however, in the other hand I got the answer for my first "cheating" and the brief thing I had with Emma. I can see resemblance between them. Now I know why I always thought Emma was so familiar to me…"
Hello Guys, here I am again to thank all you.Thank you Xaori and HerpDerp for the reviews. :D You guys always make my day about your comments! :D
The second season is finally in the air, I'm glad to know you paid attention to Tech Love and once again, thank you!
Combining the stories, we could see some of the essence of Laureen, if this was a soap opera, she could be called a villain xD, however, some people do really change over the times and let's see if that's the case of Laureen. And if it is, what a big problem Chris is into! The woman he loves pushed him away, while the woman he doesn't love wants him badly. Should he try or not to be happy with his official wife?
And Eva, you can be very sure she won't be forgotten by me xD
Plot twists are coming in the upcoming chapters :D
Stay tuned!