A/N: I thankful to all the readers for taking out time to read this story and I'd also like to mention hodhod2011danger for reviewing the last chapter. I'm updating two chapters, so just enjoy!

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

Chapter 46

(Leon's POV)

I switched off the TV and headed to kitchen where Kate was preparing dinner for our friends. Once we reached home Claire called, since John had already told her about the dinner plans and Redfields wanted to join in too and Kate gladly welcomed them. Then we called up our other close friends and Kate's parents, and invited them on dinner too, hoping that it'll be more of a get together, under the cover of celebrating Kate's birthday; after all it had been more than a month since we all last saw each other, at Claire's birthday.

When I stepped in the kitchen there was no one there and it looked like all the cooking had been done. I moved to the refrigerator to get water and drank straight from the bottle. I refilled it and put it back, and looked at my watch, it was a little over 7:30 PM. I walked to the living room and up the stairs into the bedroom, hoping to find Kate there but she wasn't there either. As I was about to head back I noticed the flowing curtains of the balcony, telling me Kate was out in the balcony. I couldn't hold myself from walking in her direction.

It was a full moon night and it looked extremely beautiful, but more beautiful than all that was Kate. She didn't have any clue that I was behind her. She was enjoying the cool breeze, her long hair flowing freely with the wind and maybe she was smiling. I walked further and she turned to look at me, noticing my presence, "Hey", I said smiling.
She smiled, "Has anyone come yet?", she questioned.
"No", I answered, "I came looking for you."
"You needed something?", she asked.
"I was bored and wanted to have an argument", I said joining her and she smiled, "or talk…"
"Latter one is a better idea I guess", she said smiling, reaching to tidy my collar a little.
"I like the former one though", I smiled at her and we both turned our heads to look at the scenery from our balcony for some time, "Happy Birthday!", I said after a while not looking at her.
Her head turned to look at me, "Thank you", she said with a soft smile then resumed to look at the sky.

We stood in silence and I adjusted my hand on the railing and accidentally touched Kate's hand. I looked at her as she looked at me and I withdrew my hand, "Sorry I couldn't get you anything", I apologized, feeling bad about it.
"It's absolutely fine. I am not a kid to expect presents", she replied casually and smiled at me, lifting that guilt off me.
"So what are you doing here in balcony?", I asked clearing my throat in an attempt to change the subject.
"Nothing just enjoying the breeze", she told me and as if on cue the breeze blew her hair, making her pull it to one side, "you really came looking for me?", she asked.
"Believe it or not… Yes", I replied giving her a brief look and smile.

"So, it's okay with you that Rivette is coming to dinner?", Kate asked me.
I looked at her and she raised her brow expecting an answer, "Honestly no", I replied and lines of worry ran across her face, "but anything for you", I said smiling leaning close to her face.
"Get me a birthday present then", she smiled pushing me back.
"What do you want?", I asked standing straight.
"What can you get?", she asked back.
"Just like I said anything", I said tearing my eyes off her. I was going dizzy just looking at her; she looked so damn beautiful tonight, "Just name it."
"Um…", Kate thought for a bit, "that expensive diamond ring?", she said and I looked at her and she laughed, "Just kidding", this time she looked away, "I just want you to…", she began after a while and weighed her options whether she should say it or not, "Take care of yourself, don't kill yourself by working day and night", she said not looking at me and I felt there was more to it.
I sighed running a hand through my hair and she bit her lower lip in contemplation, "But then… won't you stop caring for me?", I asked her.

We stared at each other without speaking, winds were really playing with her hair, "I'd always care about you", Kate replied earnestly, looking deep in my eyes; and within fraction of seconds her eyes widened in horror, and she ran to my arms almost screaming.
"What?!", I asked her panicking a little myself and looking around for whatever that scared her.
"That bug", she pointed to a hovering moth.
"It's just a bug", I said dismissively.
"It's this big", she said holding out her index finger and thumb to show me an estimate of its size.
"Pfft, it's not", I said and couldn't help but laugh at her exaggeration and I don't know for some reason it was hovering close to Kate only.
"Keep it away from me", she almost cried holding onto my jacket.
"What do you want me to do", I asked her and before she could reply the bug settled on her back, and she buried herself in my chest even more letting out another feminine scream. I had never ever seen her like this.
"Get it off!", she almost pleaded but I was already shooing it away and it flew in a different direction.
"It's gone just relax", I said wrapping my arms around her, "I can't believe that you are scared of bugs, of all things."
"It was huge bug", she said pulling away and I noticed that tears had welled up in her eyes; she was really freaked out beyond my imagination.

(Kate's POV)

"Don't blame it, it might have mistook you for a flower", Leon said wiping my tears and making me smile.
"It was a moth, they are attracted to light not flowers", I told Leon looking up at him, in a matter-of-fact tone.
"Tonight, you outshine everything", he compliment looking down at me and again we were caught in a moment. I looked in his sky blue eyes; it always made my heart flutter. His gaze shifted a little and he cupped my face, maybe to kiss me but as if to pull us out from that trance the door bell rang.
"I guess the guests are here", I said and Leon let go off me.
"Yeah", he said as we took a step away from each other.

Without a further word I moved to get the door with Leon following close behind me. I hurried down the stairs and pulled open the door for Chris, Claire and Jill.
"Happy Birthday!", Claire wished me with a hug, much like the way I wished her on her birthday. Although it was already a month it seemed like just yesterday.
"Thank you", I said to her.
"Here is your present, Happy Birthday", Jill said giving me a hug and a neatly wrapped box.
"There was no need", I said taking the gift.
"We know but take it anyway", Claire said warmly.
"Hey, Happy Birthday", Chris also wished me with a brotherly hug.
"Thank you, thank you all for coming", I said to them, I was really happy to see them.
"Where's is Kennedy?", Chris asked me.
"He was…", I turned to look back, "I thought he was behind me. I'd go get him."
"Oh its fine, he can find his way", Chris joked and we laughed as we entered the living area.

The doorbell rang and I excused myself to see who was at the door. I opened the door and John nearly squeezed me to death with a bear hug, "Happy Birthday!", he yelled wishing me once again.
"John", his girlfriend hit him warningly, "Happy Birthday, Kate!", Rachel pushed her boyfriend away as if he was a clingy cat.
"Thank you both!", I said smiling, "Please come in", I invited them in the house.
"Where's Leon?", John asked, "I got a little something for us men", he showed me a champagne bottle and beer bottles.
"He's upstairs, I was going to get him when you guys arrived", I told him closing the door, "You head in the living area, Redfields are there only", I said climbing the stairs.
"Yeah okay", they said as I climbed the stairs.

"Leon, the guys are calling you", I said stepping into the bedroom and almost bumped into him.
"Yeah I am coming", he replied, grabbing hold of my arms to help me regain my balance from almost bumping into him.
"What were you doing here anyways?", I asked him since I didn't notice he stopped at some point.
"Oh I got a call", he replied monotonously.
"Ah I see", I said as we started to walk down the stairs.

We went in the living area and within just half an hour rest of Leon's friends and my family joined us while I kept running between guests and the door. The doorbell rang again, and again I darted towards it. I opened it just to find Rivette, the last of all the guests, "Sorry I am late", he said to me with a sheepish smile.
"Oh it's fine, please come in", I said opening the door wide to let him inside.
"These are for you", he presented me with a huge bouquet of red roses.
"Thank you", I said taking the bouquet, "Leon!", I called out my husband.

"Seems like a party to me", Rivette said to me as I closed the door.
"No, just a couple of our friends and family", I told him, "Leon!", I called him again.
"What!", I jumped when he replied monotonously from behind me.
I turned and accidentally the bouquet hit him, "So sorry", I said to him.
"It's okay", he replied and didn't seem in a good mood.
"Rivette is here", I said to him.
"I can see that, so?", he replied in an inconsiderate tone as if Rivette wasn't there.
"Introduce him to your friends", I said to him; he looked at Rivette not hiding the unhappiness that's because of him but even then sighed in agreement, "That's great then", I said and turned to Rivette, "Go with Leon", I said to him.
"Sure", he smiled at me.
"Oh… it's our buddy Rivette", it was John; he probably came looking for Leon, "Come I'll show you around", he said pulling Rivette along.

"That's settled then", Leon said looking at John and Rivette, "I mean I don't have to show him around now?", he asked me.
"Yeah you are saved", I said to him smiling.
"Rivette brought those?", he asked me about the bouquet.
"Yes", I said looking at the roses and then at Leon; he looked a little sad. But before I could ask anything, the door bell rang again and we both moved at the same time to get the door and bumped into each other, "I'll get that, you take these flowers", I said to Leon.
"Okay", he replied rubbing his head where my head hit his.

I opened the door rubbing my head too, "Delivery for Kate Cornor", the delivery boy said; he was holding a huge bouquet of beautiful Red Orchids, much bigger than any that I had received all my life.
"It's me", I said taking the bouquet, "Who's it from?", I asked him looking from the gorgeous flowers to delivery guy.
"Didn't give his name", he replied uninterested, "Your signature please."
"How did he look?", I asked signing the paper.
"The order was made by a phone call", the boy said, "but he sent a card to put on the bouquet."
"Oh okay, thank you", I said still speechless about the bouquet.
"You're welcome", the boy said leaving and I closed the door.

(Leon's POV)

"Hold it", Kate almost commanded, seemed like she didn't like this huge red orchid bouquet.
"My hands are full", I said to her since I was already holding Rivette's bouquet. Kate almost snatched the bouquet from me and placed it on the chest of drawers by the door and made me hold the bouquet and began searching for the card. She pulled out a folded blue card and I could read a mix of emotions on her face. She wanted to maybe cry, she was excited, she was worried about something and a little hesitant to open the card.

'Thought you'd like it', I read it as she read it too, her expressions now became unreadable.

"Hey guys what's taking you…", Claire was saying when she came in the hallway. "What happened?", Claire asked me reading the atmosphere.
"This bouquet came", I told her keeping the bouquet on the chest of drawers.
She looked at the bouquet, "Let me guess anonymous bouquet, like every birthday", she asked me and I nodded.
"Claire, you were supposed to bring them", John said joining us with twins at his sides.
"We have more important issues, you remember the anonymous flower sender", Claire told him.
"He sent her flowers here?", Twins chorused in shock looking at Kate, who was looking at the flowers thoughtfully.
"Yes", Claire replied gesturing towards the red orchid bouquet and they moved to check it out closely.
"So he knew that the bouquet he sent her at work didn't get to her", John said thoughtfully.
"What do you mean?", Claire asked.
"Well Rivette took the bouquet and presented it to her saying he brought it", John answered keeping his voice down so the other people and especially Rivette don't come know about it.
"So that's the reason he sent flowers here", Claire said conclusively as we looked at Kate.

"Whoever he is", Kate finally spoke tearing her eyes off the flowers, "he sure knows what I love", she smiled at me briefly before looking at others, "Let's not delay the dinner now since everyone is here."
"I was about to say this too", John said to Kate, now that the situation seemed much better than what we initially thought it to be.
"I'll help you set the table", Claire said as we all started to move.
"I'd gather everyone and grab the best seat", John's voice trailed off and twins took off with him as well.

I couldn't help but smile at his comment, "Leon", Kate called softly.
"Yeah?", I answered that I was listening.
She looked at me as if searching for something then hesitated and said, "Nothing."
"Kate", Claire called and she hurried off to set dinner, before I could ask her about it.

The dinner was set in a blink of the eye with so many women around. Rivette seemed to want to sit by Kate's side but Shadow kept growling at him, so John took the seat by her side and other side rightfully belonged to me. There had been so many men hitting on Kate but none of them got me this much protective about her. I know Kate holds no feelings for Rivette but I always feel a little insecure when he's around. My heart always wished to be with Kate but I knew it was getting near to impossible as years went by. She sure understood me and we were doing a great job getting along well now, but loving was a different matter.

A/N: Thanks for reading. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and I apologize for any grammatical mistakes and typos.