A/N: I grateful to all my readers and reviewers, Mercenary Nemesis and Shirahane Aikawa, for their support.

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

Chapter 12

(Leon's POV)

"Are you ready or not?", I yelled to Kate from base of stairs.
"I am coming", she yelled from the bedroom.
"I swear I am hearing this for past one hour", I muttered to myself.
"10 minutes", Kate said from behind.
"It felt like an hour", I said to her, waiting was not my cup of tea.
"Stop arguing let's go", she said moving towards the door.
"Shadow here boy", I called Shadow as she opened the door and we got out, sat in car and drove to Kate's maiden home.

I spared her a look just to see how she was looking tonight. Creamy white colored short dress and high heeled stilettos. Her curls down in a beautiful hair style and that was all to it. She was as usual looking out of her window and the air from her window was bringing her much more provocative scent to my nostrils. She adjusted herself a bit and pulled her hair in front as if she wanted to tell me her dress was backless.

"Why don't you concentrate on driving", Kate said breaking the silence, "Stop checking me out."
"So you noticed", I said tearing my eyes off her.
"Anyone can feel that perverse gaze of yours on them", she said still looking out.
"If that's the case, why are you dressed so provocatively", I asked her.
"I didn't dress for you", she said, "I dressed for my mother's birthday. By the way did you get flowers?"

(Kate's POV)

Leon slapped his head and that was enough to tell me that he forgot, "You can't even do a simple thing", I couldn't help but scold him.
"I forgot okay", he said hitting the steering wheel, "We can buy them on the way."
I raised my brow at him, "Well it has one advantage the flowers will be fresh", I stated sarcastically, "While you're at it, I want to buy something for her. So go get flowers while I get something for her."
"Okay", he replied stopping the car at a shopping district and Shadow jumped out too, "Take him."
"I don't need you to tell me", I scowled at him, "You can't even handle him, c'mon boy."

We parted and I headed to jewelry store. I bought my mother a pretty necklace. When I walked back to car, Leon was waiting for me holding the bouquet in one hand leaning over the hood. The bouquet really looked good, no matter how much we hated each other but we respected each others parents and families and treated them as our own. He straightened as we walked close.

"Here", he said giving me the flowers. I looked at him surprised, "What, I can't hold them and drive and Shadow will ruin it if I keep it in the back seat", he said clearing my doubts.
"Okay", I said taking the bouquet from him. We got inside the car and again headed for my old house, "Don't get on my nerves like the last time you did", I said to him as we neared our destination, "Don't take unfair advantage of the fact that I won't say anything to you in front of mum."
"Like what?", he said getting annoyed a bit.

(Leon's POV)

Kate raised a brow at me, "Like… like don't get saying stupid things to mom", she said.
"You just made it up", I said to her.
"I did not", she said.
"You did, admit it or…", I was saying.
"Or what you'll ruin tonight", she kinda snapped.
"You know I won't do that", I said to her and we reached the front of her house.
"Now it's not the time to discuss that", Kate said looking at her house.

We took deep breaths as we got out of the car and looked at each other, now begins another round of our performance. Kate handed me the gift she bought for her mother and I gave her my hand and she wrapped an arm around my right arm, "I look alright right?", she asked.
"You look great", I told her truthfully, "What you bought?"
"Necklace", she answered reaching to push the door bell.

We waited a bit and her mother opened the door, "Kate honey", she said happily.
"Happy birthday mum", she said giving her the flowers followed by a hug, "and Leon is here too mum."
"Happy birthday", I wished her too giving her the small box.
"There was no need honey", she said looking at her present.

(Kate's POV)

"But it'll look good", Leon said taking the necklace and putting it around mum's neck, "No I was wrong…", he took a dramatic pause in which I restrained myself from hitting him, "it looks great, isn't it Kate?", he smiled at me.
"Yeah really", I smiled and was glad that I didn't hit him.
"You two", mum said a bit embarrassed and we just smiled.

"I thought it'd be you guys", Dad came out smiling to receive us.
"Look what they got me", Mum showed him the necklace excitedly.
"It looks good on you", he complimented her, "And now c'mon everybody is thinking where the hosts are. Leon how's your arm?", dad and Leon walked in front of us.
"You know your aunt Peggy is here with her daughter, Melissa", mom told me.
"Really that's great", I said although I didn't really like them too much, they were totally bitches.

(Leon's POV)

"Where are twins?", Kate asked her mother.
"Entertaining the guests", she replied.
"Leslie… Kate is here", Jessica Kate's younger and elder among the twins yelled.
"Picture time", they both yelled they both pushed me and Kate together and took a snap and laughed and just then the door bell rang and Kate's mother excused
herself.
"Look, this is Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy", Jessica said, "after 4 years 4 months 21 days…", Leslie looked at her watch, "… 7 hours 56 minutes after their marriage and what do you know Jess they are still alive."
"Yeah Les two highly incompatible people living together for so long", Jessica said.
"They might be setting some record", Leslie said.
"Leslie", Kate said holding Leslie's ear. Yeah they both came to know that we hated to be with each other, only her step mother and elder sister didn't know the truth, both of them caught us fist fighting once and that's how they know.
"Kate, I am sorry… I am sorry… it hurts", Leslie said squealing in pain and Kate left her ear, "Geez Leon how do you stay with her?"
"Yeah she's so short tempered", Jessica said.

"4 years 4 months 21 days 7 hrs and 59 minutes of Practice", I answered them, "And still I don't know how I managed it."
"Because you didn't I manage it", Kate said flaring.
"Argument Alert!", twins chorused. Kate looked at them and walked away to avoid the argument that just started to surface. I spotted David passing by and excused myself from the twins.

I walked with David to rest of my friends and began talking with them. The party can be called as a formal one. It was more of a get together, "Leon where's Kate?", Rebecca asked.
"There", I pointed to her, she was talking with a couple of guests. She was entertaining them, I guess. She tried to fake a smile but in actuality she was getting
irritated every moment.
"She looks beautiful", John said to me.
"Come on John is that how you appreciate a true beauty", Claire said unimpressed.
"Okay, she looks hot and sexy", he said as if he wasn't and Claire just laughed.
"Yeah you really got yourself a really beautiful woman", Rebecca said, "both inside and out."

"Leon, come over here dear. I want you to meet someone", Kate's mum yelled.
"Coming", I said and walked to her smiling and she introduced to the two women whom Kate was talking to earlier. It was Kate's mother cousin and her daughter, the two elderly women parted and the young woman and I began talking.
"Let's sit somewhere and talk", she suggested smiling and I accepted, "So tell me Leon what do you for living?"
"I work for the military", I lied, I can't tell her that I am the US Agent working directly under the President.
"So you and Kate work together", she asked again.
"Yeah sometimes", I replied.
"So what do you like in Kate", she questioned looking at me over her glass.
"Everything", I said because nothing came in mind at that point and she laughed.

(Kate's POV)

"Hey guys have you seen Leon?", I asked Claire and John.
"Yeah he's with that chick over there", Claire pointed him out in the crowd.
"What's he doing with her", I said surprised.
"Ooh… somebody is jealous", John said trying to chorus with twins and I glared at three of them.
"That's my cousin and she's like those women with whom you just say hello and next you meet them they say they're pregnant", I told John walking towards Leon and Melissa.

I cleared my throat once I got near them and they didn't even look at me, "Excuse me, Leon I need you", I said to him and he cast a brief glance at me.
"I am bit busy", he said resuming his talk with Melissa.
"I want you to come with me now, honey", I said glaring at him.
"You go, I'll follow you in a bit sweetheart", he said smiling at Melissa. I hit him in leg and moved away.

"What happened? You nervous?", Claire asked she was with Rebecca.
"Look at him, laughing and enjoying himself with her", I said annoyed at Leon a bit.
"Feeling insecure?", Rebecca asked, "It happens sometime", she smiled.
"No, its not that I already told you guys the case with Melissa haven't I?", I said looking Melissa put her hand on Leon's leg.
"Why don't you just go and tell her whose husband he is", Claire said and I gave her the look.
"That was the most idiotic thing I've ever heard", I said to her.
"Well it works in daily soaps", she shrugged.
"There's no time for jokes, Claire", I said as Melissa whispered to say something in Leon's ear.
"Look how much stupid it seems but Claire is right", Rebecca said, "If you go there, she might not be able to seduce him anymore."
"Come on use some of your talents here, babe", Claire said and yeah maybe she was right.

"Twins", I called my sisters who were chatting with some friends.
"Yo Sis", they chorused happily.
"Go get that idiot", I said pointing at Leon.
They looked back to see who I was pointing at, "OOOhhh… he's with the she-devil", Leslie said.
"Yeah Kate Leon looks totally impressed by her", Jessica said.
"That's why I am telling you two to go and get him", I said to them urgently. They looked back at me dramatically and then at each other and then began laughing.
"Must make a note", Leslie said taking out a notepad while Jessica provided her with a pencil, "Kate is jealous of Melissa."
"I am not", I argued.
"Yes, you are", Leslie said looking at me over her notepad like a strict teacher.
"Just tell him that I am calling", I said to them as she put back the notepad, "I'll give you 50$", I waited for response.
"No", they said together.
"Each of you", I said to them.
"You are trying to bribe us", Leslie said acting dramatically shocked.
"That's so bad, let's go little sister", Jessica said to Leslie.
"Yeah big sister", she replied and they both walked away. I knew they wanted me to go myself but I tried already he won't budge from that spot.

(Leon's POV)

With a weight shift, I felt somebody on my other side but I didn't pay too much attention. But then the woman flipped her hair and it hit me in the face and I smelt it, I immediately recognized the sweet smell as Kate's. I looked back she was bent over undoing her stilettos, she removed them and then flipped hair once again and this time it was more effective.

"Oh I am sorry, I didn't mean… ", she began her apology.
"It's okay, what're you doing here?", I asked her.
"Relaxing a bit, you two carry on with your chat", she said but it felt like she meant it otherwise.
"Okay, tell me something about yourself, I can't see your boyfriend or husband", I asked turning my attention back to Kate's cousin.
"I don't have any", she said, "Actually I was in search of a really good guy to marry."
"You should get someone from work maybe, by the way you didn't tell me what you do you do for a living", I asked her.
"I am dancer", she said shaking her body a bit.
"Wow that's great", I said surprised, "You doesn't look the type."

"Kate", somebody yelled.
"Yeah coming", she said but there was something about her tone that bothered me. She put on her sandals and was walking away but she stopped and held her head and I grabbed her before she hit the floor as she fainted.
"Kate?", I called her, "Kate?"
"What happened", her mum came rushing.
"Oh our sister", the twins faked a melodramatic tone.
"I think she just fainted", I said trying to wake her up.
"Leon why don't you pick her up and get her to a bedroom", David said, "Relax everybody, she just fainted due to exertion", he said to the crowding people as I lifted her up in my arms.

She is pretty light for me or maybe she was light for everybody but never the less she had a perfect body and rarely got sick. I set her softly on the bed and removed her sandals, "I'll just go and get her something to drink, Leslie tell your father, he's with his guests by the swimming pool and Jessica help me in the kitchen", her mother said.

"Okay", they chorused, "We fully believe that Leon will take good care of our sister."
"Yeah", I replied covering her in a blanket.
"I'll just send somebody to give you company, Okay?", her mother said and I nodded.

Each of them exited the room and I sat by Kate. I touched her forehead to check her temperature and my hand almost involuntary slid to her cheek caringly. Kate slowly opened one of her eyes and then both and sat as if nothing happened, "You're okay?", I said surprised.
"Yes", she told me looking in the direction of the door.
"Why you pretended that you fainted", I asked her surprised.
"Because you just won't listen to me when I was asking you to get away from Melissa and the twins won't help", she replied with a snap.
"What? Why?", I asked her.
"Because she's kinda a girl who won't even consider the fact that you're married to her cousin before hitting on you and then saying that you were the one hitting on her", she said seriously.
"Maybe she just do that because she's alone; she doesn't have a boyfriend or a husband", I said to her.
"It's because she had three husbands and I don't remember her boyfriend count", she told me.
"You are lying; she's really a calm and simple girl. She's a dancer", I told her the fact.
"A strip tease dancer at some strip club plus she gives you a private show if you're willing to pay more and she do you if you're willing to pay for that", she hit me with the hard truth, "I was dropping so many hints and you just won't understand. That woman is a gold-digger, she'd just say and do things that would get her money, including falsely accusing you and stuff", Just then we heard footsteps and she kept her head on my chest again pretending she was weak. I wrapped my arm around her, "Who is it?", she asked to me in barely a whisper.
I looked from the corner of my eyes that it was Melissa, she didn't enter the room but she was more of spying on us, "Melissa, she's spying on us, I guess", I told her.

"Hold me tight in your arms", Kate said, "Make sure she sees it", she said and I did what I was told.
"She's shaking a bit", I told Kate.

(Kate's POV)

"Good, now rub my arm gently caressing it", I told Leon and he did that too and as he was doing that I felt Goosebumps on my arms and felt suddenly cold and I clung to him.
"What next?", he asked huskily. I wasn't able to reply as he pushed my hair out of my face caressing my cheek now. My hand held his shirt tight as he kissed my forehead really lovingly, yeah lovingly, I could feel that, even if it was momentary I didn't want it to last. He lifted my chin up and kissed my cheek bone and my eyes closed and breath became short as his hand moved up my leg. I shivered coz his touch was cold but his kisses were warm as he moved down to get my lips.

(Leon's POV)

I looked at Kate, she looked extremely beautiful tonight, she always did but today she was beyond all heavenly beauty tonight and anything that anyone could even conceive of. I couldn't help but stare at her beautiful juicy lips as every second I inched closer to them. She closed her eyes when I was a mere inch away and I closed mine when they touched. At first it took me time to take in that I was kissing Kate and it took me more time to realize that kissing is not about touching lips.

(Kate's POV)

It felt amazing, more than amazing to be kissed by Leon. His lips on mine, it felt like drug, it felt as if time stopped. And it was taking both of us time to register that we are suppose to kiss and we both reacted at the same time to that touching of lips but before we could actually kiss Melissa ruined it for us.

(Leon's POV)

"Ahem, your mother sent this for you", Melissa said to Kate looking at me but glaring at Kate, I was more than sure she wished that Kate was never born.
"Hmm… set it down… I'll have it in a bit", Kate said softly not looking at me but moving away from me.
"Fine", Melissa slammed the tray on the table so hard that the juice spilled off the glass. She walked away and then turned and looked at me, glaring at me too.

Just when she left Claire came in followed by our other friends closely. They started asking Kathleen's well being, "You know Leon really got worried when you fainted", Claire said looking at me smiling, usually I glared at her for saying something like that but I didn't today and Kate smiled.
"By the way how did you faint?", John asked.
"I felt weak", Kate replied softly.
"Maybe you are pregnant", Jill said happily.
"Oh my god my daughter is Pregnant", Kate's mom almost yelled happily.
"Yay!", the twins said, "Have to tell Dad."
"What? No", Kate said, "Wait!", she stopped the twins.

(Kate's POV)

"I too fainted when I conceived twins, I didn't have any idea until then", my mom said excited, "Oh I must tell Hank."
"What? No mom, I am not pregnant", I said to her.
"It's been five years, you two can make mistakes sometimes", she said smiling.
"You are getting it all wrong", I said to her, I looked at Leon for support.
"Well I am a doctor, let me check you", Rebecca said.
"Fine", I said a bit irritated from this baby stuff.
Rebecca checked my pulse and smiled at me, "Congratulations you are pregnant", she said leaving my hand.
"It's impossible", it was not me this time, it was Leon, "How can that be possible when we haven't… "
"Calm down I was just joking, Sorry Mrs. Cornor she's not pregnant", Rebecca said sighing.

"Oh my bad", mom said sadly. After that we all had dinner that we were supposed to have at living room but because my act we all were having it here in my parents' bedroom. After that Dad, twins and Leon went to see everybody off while I stayed with mom.

I pulled my sandals on and adjusted my dress a bit while my mother rummaged in the closet, "Mum what are you doing?", I asked and she turned and walked towards me smiling, hiding something.
"I have something for you", she said smiling even more.
"What", I asked smiling with curiosity.
"First sit down", she said to me and I sat down on bed and she settled herself in front of me, "This is…", she began opening a small jewelry box, "Is one of my most prized possession", she said showing me a beautiful Platinum bracelet with precious diamonds embedded in it, "My elder sister, your mother gave me this and I want you to have it."
"But…", I began my objection since it was her most prized possession.
"No buts, I want you to have it", she said forcing the box in my hands; "Your mother gave me this as a lucky charm when she died. Liza was 4 and you were only one year old. Liza has her memories but she wanted to make sure that you don't forget her, so she left you letters and gave me this, telling me to take her place in your father and you two's life as replacement. I always saw you longing to be with your mother and this bracelet tells me she is with me, I hope it tells you the same."
"Thank you mom", I said to her.

"You're welcome, now all I want is a grandson or granddaughter, Liza fulfilled my wish it's your turn", she said smiling.
"Mum, that's impossible", I said not making an eye contact.
"Is Leon…", she began.
"No, no, no", I said repeated.
"Then you….", she asked again.
"No mom", I said as tried to think of a way to dodge this situation.
"Oh my god, both of you", Mum concluded by herself and before I can defy that she pulled my head to her chest, "No worries now a day's medical technology had advanced."
"It's not the problem mom", I said before she could say anything, "Don't interrupt me this time", I added quickly before she makes any false assumptions, "Both Leon and I…"
"You don't find each other interesting, is he rough to you. He seems rough", she began babbling again.

"Mom", I said as a warning, "We both are fine. It's just I am not ready to have a child."
"Of course you are haven't I seen you looking at other people's kid wishing that you could have your own," she said rubbing my back, "Since the time you began to understand this world you've always loved kids. You know when you were three and saw one of my friends' babies you wanted to get one of your own and when I said you have to get married first, you said you have to marry now and have a baby."
"I really said that?", I asked mum weeping silently.
"Uh huh…", she said rocking me a bit.
"It must have me so embarrassing, I feel so embarrassed now", I said to her, feeling the same.
"Actually it was cute coming from a three-year-old", mum said.

"Mother and Daughter having a girl talk", Dad said walking in.
"Go don't bother us", mum said as I pulled away after wiping my tears.
"Well Leon is waiting for you, Kate. Its late", Dad said to me.
"Yeah", I said and got up but mum grabbed my hand and put on the bracelet.
"Have it for good luck", she smiled and I smiled at her too.
"Come on he's waiting", Dad said and I walked with him in silence.

I looked at the bracelet mum so hopefully gave me, 'Huh luck for a child, first it must have to fix things between us', I thought dropping my hands to my side. Although it had been 5 years Leon never showed interest in me, as if he didn't want me. Who am I kidding he really don't want me, 'Like I want him' I thought again. There was absolute lack of chemistry between us. Living and working together we had our weak moments in which we sometimes came close to kiss like tonight but one of us is bound to come of senses before anything major happened. We haven't seen each other in their underwear, having sex was a distant thought. We never even hug to show off our love to others how are we supposed to have kids.

I watched Leon talking with the twins and he turned to look at me as I approached him, "You crying?", Leon asked.
"No, I was just…", I began my explanation.
"Don't even care", he shot my attempt.
"Like I really was going to tell you", I sort of screamed at him.
"Relax no point in screaming", he said patting the air in front of me.
"I am not screaming, I am not fighting; its you, its always been you. You start the fight always, do everything that annoys me", I did screamed as, I needed to let go of my emotions.
"Relax Kate your mom…", dad tried to calm me down.

Before I can say even more Leon pulled me to his chest and I struggled to get lose, "Easy, easy", he said holding me tight, "What's bothering you sweetie", he said patting my back, caressing my hair and kissed my head. I held his shirt and cried on him.

"What happened? Why is she crying Hank, Leon; tell me why is my child crying", mum said in a pained voice and now I understood why he pulled me in a hug, it was not to comfort me but to cover up our argument in front of mom. The fact hit me like freezing water in winter and I cried more and more.

(Leon's POV)

'What's the matter with her', I thought, Kate never encourages any arguments and now just a simple comment made her start the argument, it was first time in five years.
"Love birds", twins chorused sighing and her mother looked at her, "Leon is going out on a risky mission and Kate doesn't want him to go", they lied flawlessly.
"Oh, I was really worried", her mother sighed in relief, "C'mon sweetie, it happens sometimes", she pulled Kate away from my embrace.
"But mum he might get hurt", Kate lied too, "His injuries from previous mission haven't recovered yet."
"I promise I'll come back", I said getting in the performance and she looked back at me, "Now it's getting really late, I think we should go."
"Yeah", Kate replied nodding.

There was not more to be said and done. So we got home and Kate was upset about something. What? I wanted to know but didn't dare to ask; maybe it was the fact that I crossed limits and tried to kiss her again. Yeah there were weak moments when I couldn't control myself and just wanted to kiss her, maybe it happened when I grow a bit needy. After all it's been five long years I have been loyal to her for no reason and she had been loyal to me for no reason. Women like Angela tried to get their hands on me and men were always after Kate but we are aware about the situation we're in right now. When we got married I thought it would be few days before we get along; days summed up to weeks, weeks made up months and months turned five long years that we have spent without any kind of social compatibility and as for professional… no one can beat us at that.

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