A/N: Thanks to each and every reader who are still reading this story. I am highly grateful to my Reviewers Mercenary Nemesis, LoneWolfOfAForgottenForest, YuzuruRenge, LoneGuitarist and lexzly for leaving their inspiring and encouraging reviews.

Disclaimer: I don't own Resident Evil or any of its characters appearing in the story, they all belong to Capcom.

Chapter 27

(Kate's POV)

I felt weak and exhausted once I woke up but definitely better than last night which I didn't remember much after I was pulled into that dark room by Leon. I looked around and wasn't able to recognize the room I was in, no hotel room was like this I knew since I had been to all of them. The room seemed to belong to some teenager. The walls were painted blue. There were many trophies and cups lying on the floor. I sat up and the bed shook a bit telling me to be careful otherwise it would break right beneath me.

I stared out of the window by the bedside and found that I was in some residential area, a dairy van was parked in front of the house, so it must me around 7:00 in the morning, "Ah… you're awake", I looked back as I heard someone say this, it was Leon's Dad, "Marie she's awake get her breakfast."
"Dad", I couldn't help but mutter.
"Must be thinking, how you got here?", he said sitting on the chair that was by the bed, Leon's jacket was hanging on its back, "Leon brought you here 2:00 AM this morning and told us that you both were here for some work but you got sick and he wanted us to look after you, so he could go back but he stayed the whole night, sitting by your side, didn't leave you alone for a bit and when his mother and I are happy that although your sickness brought you here at least we got to see you both, he walks down saying he has to go and leaves without explanation. You really married an idiot."

"Oh Joseph don't bother her, she's sick", my mother-in-law said getting in the room, "How are you feeling sweetie?", she asked me sweetly setting the tray on small bedside table.
"I am okay", I replied weakly with a dry throat.
"Here's your breakfast, I brought it upstairs seeing your weak health and if you wanna have a bath, there's the bathroom", she said to me.
"I have no clothes", I told her, meaning the bath was out of the question.

"Well Leon got everything, your bag should be here", she told me looking around, "Joseph didn't you get her bag upstairs?"
"I forgot Honey, I'll just go and bring it", Leon's Dad said and left us.
"If my stuff is here, I will have a bath first", I told my mother-in-law.
"Are you really fine? I mean can you stand", she asked, "Leon said that you'd be very weak once you wake up."
"I am fine", I told her, "I wanna take shower first", I told her smiling.
"As you wish sweetie", she said motherly, "Oh… I totally forgot, Leon said he took care of the work and he would come tomorrow morning to get you, I don't understand my son a bit now, he's always been a good son and now he's just a son. Tell me is he a good husband or not?"
"Why are you asking her?", Leon's Dad said getting in with my bag, "He's a terrible husband, he works late, doesn't take her out for dinner or movies, for last five years he has imprisoned her in that house."

"It's nothing like that, we both are so busy between work, house and more importantly each other, that we hardly think of going out", I lied to Leon's parents, basically it wasn't a lie since he's busy at work and I am busy at house taking care of things and if we get any time to ourselves we engage ourselves in stupid arguments and spend most of the time ignoring each other.

Leon's mother seemed really happy and was almost in tears, "C'mon Joseph, we have work to do", she said all of sudden excited and started pulling her husband.
"Okay, okay I know", he said getting up and following her asking me to take care, then he stopped between closing the door, "I am glad that there is one person who understands him and loves him even when he doesn't have the time to love himself", he smiled and closed the door and left me wondering.

'Understand him?', I thought sarcastically, the moment I think I know what he's like he proves to me, practically that I am wrong. No matter how many times I try to see around this relationship, untie the knots to make things simple, the knots increase exponentially, not only that they tie themselves around my neck suffocating me more.

I really don't know if I should be thankful to Leon for saving me last night or curse him for saving me last night. The thought of death was a bit scary but it seemed like a salvation from this insane reality. I don't know why he wanted me alive. Did he save me out of humanity? Or did he pity my condition? Was it a guilty conscience?

The reasons seemed to be innumerable but I didn't have any idea about the right one. Only he knows why he wanted me alive even though he hated me more than anything in this world. Leon is like a open book easy to read but he's difficult to understand and decipher, the more I try the more confusing he gets.

I didn't try more to think anything about that and took my dress out and headed to have a shower. The water was really cold but I needed that 'cause I wanted to take many things out of my mind. I shampooed my hair and bathed with body wash but just when I was in the middle of drying myself with a towel, I felt I heard something and then when I was almost dressed I heard him.

"Kate, are you ready?", Leon yelled getting in the bathroom and I can't believed he got in even when I locked the door the more unbelievable thing was his timing.
"Leon she's your wife it doesn't mean you can't give her privacy", I heard his mother as I zipped up my dress.
"Are you ready or not", he asked once more but this time he pulled the curtains to side and I punched him hard out of reflex, "You could answer some other way", he said rubbing his nose, "C'mon you have to get back and report if you want to keep your job", he pulled me by hand.
"She hasn't had her breakfast yet", Leon's mother said as he dragged me out of the bathroom.
"I'll make sure she gets that mom", Leon said moving towards my suitcase meanwhile I grabbed the hair dryer lying there and began working on my hair, "What are you doing let's go, let's go", he said hurriedly to me.
"I have to do my hair", I said to him, "And these are my home clothes, I need to change."

"So what are you waiting for? Change them quick", Leon said but I was already closing the bathroom door to change into my alias's work clothes.
"Are you done?", Leon asked me.
"Almost", I yelled to him.
"C'mon be quick", he yelled to me.
"I still have to do my hair", I said getting out.
"There's no time", he argued.
"You go keep my bag I'll catch up", I said to him starting to brush my half dried hair. It wouldn't matter if my hair looked wet as much as they looked perfect in a hairstyle.
"Are you done?", he said coming after a second just when I was beginning to actually do my hair.

"Leon at least let her have her breakfast", his mother said to him.
"Mum I said I'll take care of it", Leon said.
"I know if I'll let her go like this believing you she might even miss her lunch too", his mother argued.
'Thanks Mother-in-law', I thanked her mentally for buying me time with the little argument.
"Are you ready or not?", he asked me again between his argument with mum.

"No", I replied since his constant asking was making me take more time and then the most unexpected thing happened as he lifted me up off the floor like I was a lifeless mannequin, "What are you doing put me down", I screamed as he moved towards the stairs, "Leon we'll both fall put me down", I panicked as he hurried down the stairs his parents were shouting something to him.

"Yeah love you too Mom and Dad", he yelled to his parents putting me in the car seat and pulling on the seat belt and then rounded off by jumping over the front hood and then jumped in the seat, "Here eat", he gave me packaged food, "And get ready for the drive of your life", he said smiling starting the engine.

"What are you saying? Where did you get this car?", I asked him annoyed and then I couldn't say anything as he almost violently backed up the car barely avoiding his parents' neighbor's car and then drove off while I heard his parents and their neighbor yell at him. Throughout the drive he drove as rash fully as he could but I might give him the credit that the two policemen were only able to follow him with a huge distance between us, "We've got Police behind us", I told him in case he didn't know.

"I know honey", he said and directly parked the car in front of the hotel, "get out, Get out fast", he said getting out "fast", he said already out of the car.
"Okay, okay", I said but I kinda fumbled on seatbelt, Leon had to round off and help me. He pulled me out of the car the closed the door and just then the two policemen who were following us stopped him.
"Not so fast", one of them said.
"Secret Services", Leon said pulling out his ID and their jaw dropped, "Come on", he pulled me.

(Leon's POV)

"Good Morning Miss Jones", the manager wished Kate.
"Good Morning, Mr. Campbell", she said smiling.
"Where had you gone early this morning?", he asked her looking from her to me.
"Mr. Kennedy took me out for Breakfast apologizing for last night's event", she lied as if she knew she would be asked this question.
"Oh… that's good", the manager said nervously, "Its almost 8:00 AM and it is scheduled for the President to have breakfast at 9:00", he said wiping his sweat.
"I get it Mr. Campbell", Kate replied and followed the old man without thinking anything and I had to follow.

"What're you doing come with me", I whispered to her.
"Look it is my job to look after President's family and make sure they feel like home, this is the reason they got me here", Kate said to me.
"Yeah but you have to report to him", I told her.
"I know, I just have to give Chef the Menu then we can go", she told me and then spent a whole 10 minutes what should be there on the Menu and what should be not.
"Can we go, now?", I texted her for the 100th time.

"My God, YES!", she replied walking back to me, "Mr. Campbell, Mr. Kennedy wants to discuss something about the breakfast, I'll just come, okay", she made an excuse and we hurried to the elevator.

(Kate's POV)

"Just tell him I took you out for breakfast and I'll handle the rest", Leon said and I nodded. He sighed looking at the watch and I too saw the time at his watch, it was almost 8:30 in the morning, the time I give a report of the Hotel activities.
"How did you know I had to report at 8:30", I asked him getting out of the elevator.
"I know everything about you, sweetheart", he replied smiling, "Now just lie like we always do", he said opening the door to President's Suite.

"Leon; Agent Cornor", the President addressed us as we got in, "I was tired of calling you two", that's when I remembered that I don't have my phone and just then Leon stepped in front of me and held my phone behind his back.
"Ahem…", he cleared his throat, "Well, Sir I took Cornor for breakfast and…", he got stuck at his lie.
"And I lost my phone at the café and we had to search for it, luckily a kid took it out of curiosity. I am really sorry due to my carelessness you had to face inconvenience", I lied beautifully.
"Oh no problems I can cut the slack since I owe you two too much. By the way Cornor you look beautiful today", the President said and I felt a bit odd and wished nobody notices that I am blushing.
"Thank… Thank you, sir", I said trying really hard not to go even redder.

"I'll just go and see if Ashley is ready or not", he said and left to go look for Ashley.
I sighed out of relief and looked at Leon, he was looking at me, "You're looking beautiful, Cornor", he teased mocking the President's tone.
"It was just an honest compliment", I said but started blushing again.

"Leon! GOOOOOD MOOORRRRNNNING!", we both jumped as Ashley came yelling.
"I thought there were only two O's in good", Leon joked under his breath, "Good Morning, Ashley."
"Agent Cornor is here too Ashley", the President said.
"Yeah good morning, Miss Cornor", she wished me and I repeated the exact same words.
"Now I think we should call for the breakfast", the President looked at me.
"Yes Sir everything must be ready by now, all that you wanted for today", I told him and then he ordered his breakfast, which was served immediately.

(Leon's POV)

"Leon, Ashley wants to see the place. I have to attend this important meeting. I want both you and Agent Cornor to escort her on this trip. I hope it's no problem", the President asked me.
"Not at all", I answered and couldn't help but cry inwardly but at least I am not going to the boring meeting and well I am not alone.

After the breakfast the President talked to manager so he could let Kate come along, after all she was working here as the Hospitality Manager. And when the first man asks himself how can the manager disagree, so the President, Ashley, Kate and I headed down the elevator. The President headed for his meeting with a bunch of Agents and we took Ashley with us.

"So where do you wanna go Ashley?", I asked her.
"I have visited here before, there is this big amusement park, lets go there", Ashley said excitedly.
"You okay with it Cornor?", I asked adjusting the rear view mirror so I could look at her, she was reading a book.
"I am fine wherever you go", she said not looking up from the book.

So we went to amusement park and on different rides, played different games and had a whole lot of fun, "Leon get me that", Ashley pointed to huge teddy.
"Piece of cake", I said and positioned myself with the rifle.
"It's not easy as it looks", the owner said to me.
"Let's make a deal, if I get the all the targets you'll give each of the ladies a price", I suggested to the owner.
"Deal", the owner said confidently.
"Okay here goes", I gave him the cue to start. The dummies appeared and I shot them effortlessly, "So what do you say old man", I said putting the rifle down. He was in total shock.

"How did you get all those", he asked giving me two teddies one which Ashley wanted and the other which I chose for Kate.
"It was easy, even my friend here can do this", I said giving the teddy to Kate but her arms were crossed and she didn't accept it.
"Now that's impossible, women can't do something like this", the owner said and I smiled more. I looked at Kate who seemed totally uninterested.
"Why don't you give it a try", I said to her.
"I am not interested", she said a bit furious about something.
"Afraid you can't beat me Cornor", these word made her glare at me.
"I can try", she said taking position as I knew already she shot down every target and won herself another Teddy. Then I had to play one more time to get another Teddy for Ashley, otherwise she would have bugged me about Kate having two teddies and she having only one.

"Wow you are totally brilliant Miss Cornor", Ashley said to Kate, clapping for her...
"Thank you", she said cutting the formality.
"Now where to next?", Ashley said and just then Kate rubbed held her head, "Are you okay?"
"I am fine", she told her.
"Did you have breakfast, you know it happens to me when I don't have anything in my tummy", Ashley said and I remembered I was to take Kate for breakfast and I forgot and that made me slap my head.
"Its almost lunch time, let's grab lunch", I said and Ashley agreed.

"I am so sorry", I whispered to Kate as we walked back.
"Its okay", she said sighing, "But I am feeling a bit dizzy."
"Don't worry, I am walking close to you, if you feel really dizzy you can tell me and I can carry you", I said to her teasing.
"I think I am getting better", she said with the same sarcasm.

We went to a five star Restaurant and had our lunch, the staff kept giving us curious looks because of the first daughter with us but they weren't sure since both me and Kate were dressed casually and talked casually with Ashley as if she was really close, at least this keeps both of our covers.

After that we went for movies and Ashley cried over the drama, which made me laugh in the beginning and bored towards the end. Kate took the plot as it has to taken not too much and not too little. After that I suggested them a horror movie since I really enjoyed it and since Ashley agreed Kate had no option but to follow.

I seated myself between both the women and Ashley wrapped her arm around mine saying, she really get freaked out during horror movies even though she likes it. The movie began like a typical horror movie slow in the beginning but as story paced up various horror scenes occurred but at this really scary scene that made all of the women in the hall scream, I heard a gasp as Kate grabbed my jacket and I looked at her.

"I am sorry", she apologized and withdrew her hand and during rest of the movie, I was no more interested in the plot but I was in wait of any scene that would scare Kate, so I could understand what I felt when she all of a sudden touched me but it didn't happen and after dinner at another Restaurant we headed for the Hotel.

I pulled one of the Teddy that I got today close me, I was bit shaken by the horror movie, I never liked those but since majority wins I had to watch it, "It was great day, thanks guys", Ashley said yawning.
"Your Welcome", Leon replied but I could make out he didn't mean it, "So Cornor enjoyed your day with Ashley?"
"Yeah I did, thanks", I said more to Ashley than to him.
"Why don't you guys use your first names, it really feels awkward when you guys use last names", Ashley said turning in her seat so she could look both at me and Leon.
"We do use first names sometimes", I answered her.
"If you use it sometimes, use it regularly or at least when you're with me", she said turning back.
"Well its become more of a habit to address other agents by their last names", Leon replied as we stopped again in front of hotel.

Leon gave the car keys to the valet so that he could park the car. Ashley carried her teddies in each of her arms and I too held both my teddies which both me and Leon won respectively. Since it was really late at night and also because Ashley was with me nobody asked me questions about huge teddies that I carried. Firstly we dropped Ashley to her suite and then both me Leon headed for our rooms. I don't know when but the manager moved me up in the same floor as the President and rest of the Agents saying that President was really impressed with my service and wanted me to shift on his floor so its convenient both for him and me. He had called me when we were having lunch and told me that my stuff was shifted in room no. 1209.

Mine and Leon's rooms were situated opposite to each other and we had to turn to get to our rooms, the corridor was empty and I stood at front of the room thinking how to get it open with two teddies in my hand, "I'll help, where's the key?", he asked and then before I could tell him he began fumbling in my purse.
"What're you doing?", I said irritated, "Here hold this", I held one of the teddy to him but he didn't listened.
"Why in the hell are there so many partitions in your handbag", he closing one and opening another.
I literally had to push the teddy in his hand, "Don't take out anything, they're some important papers", I told him and closed that partition and took out the key to my room.

I unlocked the door and got in with Leon following behind me. I set the teddy I was carrying on one of the couches and then took the one Leon and set it beside the first one, "Nice room you have here", Leon said looking around.
"Where you are not allowed", I told him, "so please just go to your room", I held door open for him so he could go out.

"What if I say I wanna be here with you", he said walking to me and closing the door and pushing me against it. I was totally against the door as he closed in on me looking me straight in the eye and I for some reason tried to read his eyes. He pushed the hair hanging over my eyes and looked deep into them, "I am sorry for last night", he said smiling wearily, he was tired, he was always tired but the weariness I was reading in his eyes wasn't because of work but it was because of the relationship we shared. We both were tired of this relationship, we desperately needed to move on but we knew it was not happening.

"Its okay", I said leaning back on the door closing my eyes, I could not look at them any more, my heart ached whenever I read the ever existing pain in them, "You didn't do it on purpose."

Leon bent forward and whispered in my ear, "You really looked beautiful today, Mrs. Kennedy", he pecked me so softly that it couldn't even be called a peck but it was passionate. Before I could register any of this and respond he turned the door knob and exited saying, "Good night."
"You too", Kate said promptly and I turned to look at her, she had unexplained tears in her eyes but her smile told me it was something good, "…have a very Good Night."

Her simple wish made me feel light, lifted every guilt off my chest that was suffocating me since last night. I don't know why it mattered to me what she thinks about me. She gestured me to go inside my room but I leaned against my door and smiled flirtingly at her, she rolled her eyes and closed her door at my face saying, "Idiot", with disbelief in her voice.

I closed my door too getting in and then all of a sudden I had this urge to open it again. I did open it again and found Kate peering from a small crack, "Have sweet dreams", she said smiling.
"For that you have to come in my dreams", I told her flirting, "or in my room."
"Go to sleep now", she said furiously scolding me and closed her door for sure this time.

I felt more than happy in a longtime as I got out of my jacket and headed to have a shower to relief the work stress off my muscles. I lied down on the bed and turned sideways to look at the space that's usually filled by Kate. I felt really tired but I was glad that things between Kate and me turned well. And this thought was enough to put me to sleep. And after a long time I went to bed with a smile on my face.

A/N: Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed. I apologize for any inconvenience due to any mistakes in the text.