A/N: Thanks a bunch to all the guys out there, who are reading this story and extra thanks to the reviewers Shirahane Aikawa and Mercenary Nemesis for always taking out time to review.

Disclaimer: I don't own Resident Evil or any of its characters appearing in this story. They are property of Capcom.

Chapter 7

(Kate's POV)

After yesterday's incident everything went better as I had expected, Leon didn't bother that Jeremy didn't show up even after we had our dinner outside. Liana asked me secretly to make Zach sleep with us and Leon locked the door so that his father won't wake him up rudely like every other day, "At least today let him start his day without crying", he said brushing his teeth as I took my shower, "You're taking everybody to shopping today right?"

"Yes, that is if Jeremy shows up, I doubt that he arrived yet", I said to him pulling on clothes.
"What do you mean", he asked.
"Uh… don't get mad or anything but… " I tried to put everything in words.
"But… what?", he asked as I stepped out of the shower.
"I had a fight with him yesterday", I told him, I wasn't feeling right hiding that from him.
"You what?!", he said surprised.

"I had a fight with him", I repeated and he shook his head as trying to snap out of some dream.
"Really?", he asked and I nodded, "Who are you?", he said as if I was some imposter.
"Leon", I said warningly.
"Okay let me get this straight, you punched him, kicked him", he asked still behaving as if he was in deep shock.
"I am not you", I snapped at him; he was getting me annoyed, "I just gave him a lecture."
"Typical you", Leon said rolling his eyes, "What made you realize that he needed a lesson."

"He crossed his limits okay", I said not looking at him, "Everyday he just said things about us, harassed Liana and Zach but yesterday he insulted Dad and I couldn't take it."
"He What?!", he said in a unbelievable tone and I looked at him trying to read him, "Thanks", he only said, "But it doesn't mean I'll let you leave me out every time."

(Leon's POV)

"You're not mad", Kate asked doubtfully.
"I am mad but not at you but at that bastard but I won't say anything to him now, I know you'd have done that more than perfectly", he said casually, "And I know you didn't tell me because your persuasion methods are different than mine, although mine give sure shot results but its better to use your methods before applying mine."
His words made me smile from my heart and I wanted to kiss him, 'Wait kiss him, nah', I thought, "You really got intelligent Mr. Kennedy", I said and moved out.

(Kate's POV)

I headed downstairs, prepared breakfast and Jeremy showed up. He didn't talk to us and kept his silence. Leon did his breakfast and then headed out to work with Shadow. I, after doing the dishes, took everybody to shopping. Everything was going normal, I think my methods worked.

We were busy looking clothes at an expensive boutique when we heard a crashing sound. We turned around to see it was Zach standing near pieces of what looked like a vase. Liana immediately ran to him and we also followed her and first thing Jeremy did was slap him, "look what you've done, who's gonna pay for that huh?", he yelled and kid began crying while his mother comforted him.
"Mommy", Zach cried.
"No mommy", he pulled Liana and Zach apart and pushed Liana one side.
"Liana", Leon's mum said concerned as she ran to her daughter's aid, "Jeremy", she said with anger in her tone.
"No, Mum don't come in between", Liana warned her crying.
"You two are the one spoiling him", he yelled at both the ladies and then turned to the crying child, "I told him not to touch anything and he… ", he moved to again hit him again but I stopped him.

"Stop it", I yelled at him.
"You don't come in between", he yelled, "He's my son."
"It doesn't give you the permission to hit him whenever you want", I said picking up the small boy.
"Where are you taking him, give him to me", he began to try and take his son from me but Zach clung on to me tighter. And I was not going to give him to Jeremy and then before I know I delivered a punch to him in face.
"He's hurt you idiot, I am taking him to a doctor", I yelled to him angrily, "Who's the manager?"
"I… I am", a man said stuttering.
"How much that thing costs", I asked taking out my purse.
"12.50$", he said.
"Beating your kids just for a 12$", I couldn't help but say as I slammed the money in the managers hands, "Keep the change."

I hurried out, got myself a taxi and asked him to take me to the nearest hospital or Doctor. I showed my ID to get the things done quickly, usually its Leon using his position and I always liked to do things by the book but this was a near emergency to me.

"This way ma'am", the nurse showed me the way to the doctor's cabin.
"Uh… yes Miss Cornor, please take a seat and tell me how can I help you?", the lady doctor asked.
"He was playing and accidentally got hurt by glass pieces", I told him in short.
"Let me see", she said to me but Zach was still clinging to me.
"It's okay sweetie let Doctor see it", I said pulling his hand that was hurt in front of doctor and she examined it.
"Well luckily the cut isn't deep but there's a piece of glass, I think", she said, "Can you bring him to the examination table please."
"Yes", I said and made Zach sit on the examination table and he started crying again, "Don't worry honey, it won't hurt, I am here", I tried to distract him.
"Done", Doctor said and I clapped smiling at 4 year-old.
"See, it didn't hurt, did it?", I said to him and he stopped crying.
"Really Miss Cornor parents should be like you", the doctor said bandaging Zach's finger.
"Aunt Kate I want a lollipop", Zach said happily.
"Sure honey", I said to him and picked him up once the doctor was done with him.
"So you're his aunt?", she asked a little surprised.
"His mother was sick and father was…", I tried to think of a lie, "out."
"Out of his mind", she smiled at me maybe my disgust for his father gave away my lie, "You are not good at lying Miss Cornor by the way I am Rebecca Chambers."
"Kathleen K…. Cornor", I introduced myself.
"Nice to meet you", she smiled and there was no exchange of words and I walked out of the hospital once I was done with paying bills and doing formalities.

When I got out I called at home phone. Leon's mom picked it up and I could hear Jeremy shouting at them. I asked if everything was fine but then Leon's dad asked me to entertain Zach and that they will handle Jeremy. The idea didn't sound perfect but yeah he was right and I agreed on one condition that if anything goes wrong they would call either me or Leon.

After that I took Zach to a candy store and got him a Lollipop as promised and then took him to a restaurant and we did our lunch there. Then while walking back to get a taxi Zach already started feeling sleeping and as I am travelling to my house, he's sleeping sitting on my lap, "Cute kid", the elderly taxi driver said and I just smiled.

(Leon's POV)

I opened the door and got inside way before than my usual time and as past one week I heard someone yelling and when I entered living room I saw my Dad holding my mum, sister crying and Jeremy yelling, "We have to talk", he said spotting me.

"Okay", I said and I noticed his blackening eye, "Let me guess Kate did this."
"Yes", he said shaking in anger.
"You got worse of her angers", I said, "Good for you it was a low level punch."
"We're not here to discuss the punch that your wife threw at me", Jeremy said not making an effort to keep anger of his tone.
"Then what exactly", I asked him crossing my arms.

"Well that bitch not only yelled us yesterday but she insulted me today in public, plus she hit me and ruined my perfect face. I wasn't going to tell you this and I decided after long thinking session yesterday that I'll keep everything to myself but today she just crossed the line", Jeremy said angrily but I think I might lose my patience too, to begin with I don't have any when dealing with people like him, "That woman I tell you is a bitch, she doesn't know how to give respect to other people, she speaks as if she is doing everything here."

"She is doing everything here", I said to him. I tried to remain calm thinking about my sister, Zach, mum, dad and Kate.
"You know what else she did?", he asked.
"Jeremy", Liana sobbed trying to stop her husband.
"She took Zach away and there's no sign of those two in past couple of hours", he said enraged, "God only knows how my kid would be, I know she hates me I hope she doesn't take it out on Zach. I hope he's alright Kennedy", just then the door opened and Kate came in carrying a sleeping Zach in her arms.

(Kate's POV)

Liana moved to take her son from me, "Kate, Jeremy wants to know where were you?", Leon asked me and he was angry.
"Leon…", Liana began but Leon raised his hand to make her stop.
He walked to me, "Did you took Zach away?", he asked and I tried to read him, "I said Did you took Zach away?", he literally yelled at me.
"Yes", I replied and he held my hand and dragged me to Jeremy.
"Did you punch him? Answer me Kate did you punch him?", he yelled.
"Yes", I said as tears began to form in my eyes.

"I didn't expect this from you", Leon said leaving my hand and before any of us knew he punched Jeremy and he fell to the floor, "You should have punched at least this harder."
Leon walked away to his parents and asked about their well being, "You all a bunch of morons", Jeremy said standing up and then he looked at me, "And you whore…", and before he could complete his sentence Leon punched him and he didn't walked away this time when Jeremy was down but he bent down to pick Jeremy up and I just stood frozen to the spot, the thing I feared most was in front of me.

"Kate, Kate!", Liana shook me, "save my husband please, stop Leon."
"I… I can't…", I said looking at Leon as everything seemed to move in slow motion, I was shivering like a cat but Liana was right, only I could stop him because he never hurt me, no matter how angry he was. I ran and grabbed Leon's arm before he hit Jeremy, "Leon no", I stepped in between still holding his arm, "Don't do this, calm down", I said as tears streamed down my face. Leon calmed down as Jeremy cowered at our feet.

I looked at Leon and I wanted to hug him but I was afraid of him. I was simply afraid of him. He was a different man when he was angry, he lost all his reason. I am seriously thankful to god that we didn't get to see that face today. I had stopped him before he got worse; I stopped him when his anger was at his low levels because when it reached high levels I am just crushed under his anger. There had been a few unfortunate moment I had seen that anger of his and I doubt that many of our friends knew anything about it. They all knew his anger had a bad face but they never really saw it, those who saw that don't have courage to speak about it like me.

(Leon's POV)

"Jerry you okay?", Liana asked crying.
"He's fine", Kate told her, "He just needs to be patched up… There's a first aid kit in the kitchen."
"I'll get it", Dad said and moved to the kitchen.
"I'll take Zach upstairs", Mom said hurrying up the stairs, I really lost my temper this time.
"Come on", Kate said holding my hand, she dragged me up to the bedroom and closed the door and let go of my hand as if I would explode. For a moment she just stood facing the door, "Why can't you control your temper?"

(Kate's POV)

Leon didn't reply, 'Say something, damn it', I said mentally.
"I… I don't know why", he replied softly, "…but I was angry… I couldn't stand him…"
"He's your sister's husband, she loves him…", I was saying.

(Leon's POV)

"… but he…", I began cutting in.

"It doesn't matter who, what or how he is… she loves him the way he is… he's her husband… she has a kid with him… she spent her many precious moments with him… no matter how bad he is she'll always love him", Kate said softly, slowly, maybe she was crying. It had been really long since she cried like this, when a couple fight it always ends up with the women crying, whether she is right or not but our argument, fights never ended in her crying but always when she no more responded to me or others breaking the fight and rarely when I realized I was wrong from the start of the conversation.

(Kate's POV)

I felt like falling to my knees and crying but I couldn't, not in front of him. I have never felt this much weak, maybe five years was all I could take, and pretending to be strong when I am not is hardest thing ever. It took all my energy to make this relationship moving the way it was; telling everybody that I am fine and making them believe when actually I am not, took every bit of my effort and it was getting harder and harder as days passed by, maybe…

"I… I'll apologize to him", Leon said and I felt that he had moved close, "just… just don't… cry please", he turned me to look at him, "I'll apologize to him", he repeated getting those tears off my face.

(Leon's POV)

I wanted to pull Kate in a hug. It was not easy for me, five long years, it had been five long years and it was getting hard for both of us. It was not like we didn't try to get along, we tried every day, we kept trying even when we got hurt… the moment we could make ourselves stand we tried hard to blend with each other but the harder we tried the more we got hurt and the pain was getting unbearable, I don't know about Kate but it was really painful for me. Trying to make two opposite ends meet wasn't this much hard; it looked easy when it came to get our relationship work. I just…

"Kate? Leon?", Liana knocked on the door.
"Yes, a moment", Kate said just loud enough so she could hear. She wiped her tears on the back of her hand turning and opened the door.
"We'd like to apologize", Liana said, Jeremy was standing by her side.
"I was a fool but now I know what I've been doing wrong. I… I promise… I'll keep your sister and Zach happy. Thanks for beating sense into me, Leon otherwise I wouldn't have known Liana loved me so much that she would stand by me even when I am wrong", he apologized to me, "And Kate I am sorry for everything… I just couldn't seem to enjoy Leon and yours successful relationship… I said all those things because I was a bit jealous of his success and perfect life."
'Heh perfect life', I thought sarcastically, 'It is as messed up as you can think of.'

(Kate's POV)

"So I beg you guys to forgive me", Jeremy dropped to his knees crying the tears of guilt.
"I am sorry… I shouldn't have hit you", Leon said to him and he looked up at Leon.
"You forgive me?", he said looking at him then to his wife who was smiling crying tears of happiness as Leon nodded.
"Just do us a last favor I wanna take you all out for dinner, please don't say no", he said swinging an arm around Liana.
"Okay", we both said at once.
"Okay, be ready by 7:00", Liana said, "don't be late", and we only were able to fake a smile.

A/N: Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I apologize for any inconvenience you had whilst reading.