A/N: I am thankful to all the lovely people out there, who are reading this story. Thanks for encouraging me to write. And I am extremely grateful to GrayFox786, hodhod2011danger, Adela and the anonymous reviewer for their priceless reviews; it makes me really happy to know that you all love my work.

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

Chapter 48

(Kate's POV)

I turned off the shower and the realization just hit me that it wasn't interrupted by Leon like every morning. Something told me something was not right, so the first thing I wanted to do after exiting the shower was to check on Leon. He was on bed still sleeping, with his phone silently resting on the side table. He looked really sweet while asleep that it made me smile every time I watched him sleeping peacefully like this. I slowly sat on the bed by his side careful not to wake him up; he was a light sleeper and even the slightest movements woke him up. I hesitated to touch him because of the fear of waking him up but I had to check him for fever, so I kept my hand on his head. The temperature seemed normal and he was just sleeping, maybe he had those rare weekend offs; otherwise Hunnigan's call would definitely had been his morning alarm.

I admired his sleeping for a bit before getting up and heading back in the bathroom to blow dry my hair. I walked to the kitchen and fixed breakfast for myself, knowing Leon; he won't be up before noon but I prepared breakfast for him in case he wakes up before my expectations. I filled up Shadow's bowl and had my breakfast all alone. After that I settled on the couch with one of my mystery novels. It had been not that long when my phone buzzed, I looked at it and it were twins calling, so I took the call.

"Morning sis", the twins chorused from the other end.
"Good Morning to you too", I wished them back.
"What are you doing?", Jessica asked me casually.
"Enjoying a peaceful morning with my novel", I replied with a smile.
"You're such a boring person", Leslie said from the other side, "Anyways we called you about the outing we fixed this afternoon."
"Well I am all ready; just call me half an hour prior and I'd be there", I told them.
"Well about that, we have to cancel the plans", Leslie said, "it's on short notice, so sorry about that."
"It's fine, actually I am really happy, now that I don't have to deal with your tantrums", I said jokingly.
"You're mean!", Leslie said sounding offended as I laughed.
"Sorry about that", I said between my laughs.

"Apology accepted", Leslie said, "But we are sorry too, cancelling at the last moment."
"It's no problem, we can hang out some other time", I said dismissively.
"You sure it's alright? It's really unusual that we don't come hang out with you on weekend", Jessica asked in confirmation.
"Yeah it's fine", I replied in a carefree tone.
"Well okay then but it sure doesn't feel right to leave you all alone by yourself", Leslie said in a regretfully.
"I am not a child and besides I am not alone Leon's home today", I told them and for some reason I felt happy about it.
"What?!", they both shrieked over the phone that I had to pull it away from my ear.
"Yes, he has off today, so you need not worry", I told them.
"Okay if Leon's home, we are just disturbing you guys", Leslie said it her usual mischievous tone.
"Leslie", I said warningly.
"Bye bye, have a nice and alone time with Leon", she said and disconnected.
"Those two will never learn", I said shaking my head and got back to my novel.

The novel gave me company for a few hours since after some time, my eyes started to hurt a bit. So I kept it aside and looked at the time, it was almost noon. Leon still wasn't up and I was in no hurry to prepare lunch; I didn't even feel hungry either. I made myself more comfortable on the couch and closed my eyes for a bit. The next thing I felt was being lifted up in air and that made me open my eyes.

"Morning Princess", it was Leon holding me in his arms.
"I was not sleeping", I informed him in a matter-of-fact tone.
"Oh my mistake", he said smiling but didn't put me down.
"You can put me down now", I told him.
"Do I have to?", he asked getting close to my face.
"Yes", I smiled swinging my arms around his neck almost involuntarily, "It's a very awkward."
"I don't think so", he replied looking at my arms that were comfortably around his neck.

(Leon's POV)

The doorbell rang and I let go off of Kate accidentally, "Leon!", she growled from the couch, luckily she hit the couch instead of floor otherwise I was done for, the doorbell rang again, "Go see who it is?", she said angrily and commandingly like a wife.
"Yeah, yeah I am already going", I told her since I had already started to move towards the door before her telling me to. I opened the door and there was delivery man outside.
"Parcel for Kathleen Kennedy", he said to me and I looked from delivery man to my wife in the living room tidying up the room a bit.
"Kathleen Kennedy?", I queried again.
"Is this the wrong address", the delivery guy asked a bit confused.
"Who is it?", Kate yelled from somewhere inside.
"That's her", I told the deliveryman with a smile feeling happy all of a sudden, "it's the deliveryman", I yelled to Kate.
"Please sign here", the delivery guy said and I signed the delivery receipt and took the box that was addressed to Kathleen Kennedy.

"Since when did she start using my last name", I muttered under my breath, checking for the sender's name.
"Who's the parcel from?", Kate asked from inside the kitchen.
"Don't know", I replied, "Have no idea about the sender or the receiver."
"You took someone else's parcel!", Kate asked me surprised, walking back with a tray, which had cup of steaming coffee and a plate of eggs and toasts.
"Well it is big", I said shaking it, trying to figure out what was in it, as she set my breakfast on the table.
"Leon, go return it", she said standing up straight.
"Nope", I said with a slight shake of my head.
"I'd return it, give it to me", she meant to grab the packet and I pulled it away from her, "Leon, stop being childish. Return it", she scolded me.
"Well the delivery guy is gone", I informed reaching for my coffee and settling on the couch.
"Then read the name for whom it is, we are agents its not hard to find someone", she said crossing her arms, looking down at me furiously.
"Umm…", I pretended to read the name, "Some Kathleen Kennedy", her expressions changed from furious to surprised, "know her?", then back to furious.
"Give that", she snatched it from me in a flash, "It must be from your mom", she sat beside me, "the only one using my real name", she muttered under her breath and sounded sad about the fact.

(Kate's POV)

"I use it too", Leon whispered in my ear and I looked at him, I didn't expect him to hear that, "Mrs. Kennedy", he took a pause, "Mrs. Kathleen Leon Scott Kennedy." I didn't know if I should blush or smile but since both comes naturally I knew I smiled turning a hundred shades of red. And I didn't know when that smiled turned into mutual laugh, "You really look beautiful when you laugh like that", he said and placed a kiss on my cheek stopping my laugh and making me gasp in surprise. I glared at him for stealthily kissing me while he only smiled like an idiot, "C'mon let's see what mom sent you."

"Well it's a birthday present from her, I guess. It must have gotten late in the mail but she said it's something for you too", I told him.
"For me?", he asked and I nodded unwrapping the parcel, "What?"
"She didn't say", I replied, "said it wouldn't be a surprise if she told me", I opened the box.
"A book?", Leon said dumbly confused.
"Scrapbook", I corrected him taking it out.
"I am a little old for that", he said scooting closer to have a look as I kept it on my lap.
"It's just a photo album", I said to him opening the album. The first picture was Leon's parents holding a baby, "Is that Liana?", I asked Leon.
"Um hmm", he nodded in affirmation, "how did you figure it out?"
"They probably won't keep you wrapped in a pink blanket", I said to him in a matter-of-fact tone.

I flipped the leaf and there was a picture of Leon's parents, his mom holding a baby and dad holding a four-year old girl. I looked at Leon then at the baby suspiciously, the baby had blonde hair but somehow it didn't feel like it was Leon, "Liana and my cousin", Leon huffed clearing my doubts.
"Rivette?", I asked and he nodded, "Aww he looked so sweet", I commented.
"Pfft… yeah right!", he said sarcastically and flipped the page.
"That's me", he pointed to a toddler in his mum's arms, "this is Liana", he said pointing to the girl in dad's lap, "She was always daddy's girl", he chuckled.
"You mamma's boy?", I teased and he let out a laugh sportingly, "whatever it is you were cute."
"Thank you", he said and we flipped through his birthday and holiday pictures as he grew up. This album for sure was a treat for both of us. I was enjoying this visit to his past and he was enjoying reminiscing about it, since he had a story for almost every picture in this album. I really liked listening to Leon.
'Your mother really did give me one of the best birthday presents ever', I thought looking at him.
"This is the Shadow's first day at home", Leon told me laughing and I looked down at the picture.
"Why are you laughing?", I asked him confused since there was nothing funny about him holding a Labrador pup in his arms.
"He bit Rivette that day", Leon doubled up with laughter and I rolled my eyes.

I flipped to the next photograph, it was him in a blue uniform standing by his truck smiling, the letters RPD written on the uniform, 'My RPD batch number', his words rang in my mind, 'Cop for a day', I thought looking at him. He wasn't laughing anymore but staring at the photograph building walls again between me and him, "You…", I began.
"I remembered I have some work", he said cutting in and stood up, "I am in study if you need me", he added monotonously and walked away.

I looked back at the photograph of him in RPD uniform, somehow this picture opened his unhealed wound and I could sense his restlessness. This has something to do about his past, which he always hid from me. Dad also said he was a rookie when they hired him, 'Cop for a day', I thought again, "What did you do in one day that made you special in eyes of Secret Services?", I muttered to myself closing the album.

(Leon's POV)

I just sat at my desk in the study and stared at the blank screen of my notebook. I have been avoiding any sort of confrontation from Kate and it seemed like she sensed that and keeping herself out or simply stopped caring about me. The latter option seemed somehow more appropriate, I haven't been fully honest with her. I wanted her to tell me everything, if she didn't tell me I'd found out somehow but I didn't tell her about my gruesome past, the Raccoon Incident or the similar.

It was not like I didn't want to; keeping it from her was more painful because I knew she was the only one who can soothe that pain that I've been carrying for 7 long years. But I never wanted to involve her in anything related to Raccoon. She made my life normal and dragging her into it, will be like taking away all the happiness I felt with her. All the fights and arguments I had with her kept me sane kept me warm and convinced that she'll always see me as an idiot and not as a hero that everyone sees in me.

I sighed and kept my head on the back of the chair closing my eyes but couldn't keep them close for long as the gruesome tape of events started playing. I started the notebook so that I can occupy myself with some work and forget about it, and face Kate eventually. The screen had just loaded when Kate stepped in the room with Shadow at her feet; she looked at me but I avoided her gaze and pretended to work opening folders and closing them randomly.

"You done pretending to work", Kate asked me moving closer. I looked at her briefly and then turned back to my notebook, "I am bored", she added, "very, very bored", she waited for my reply but I didn't know what to say to her, "Twins thought you'd somehow keep me company today", she told me; now standing next to me, "I am talking to you", she said with a weight in her voice, "That's it", with that she powered off my notebook and flipped it shut. I looked at her surprised, "All you care is about is damn work which doesn't even exist and not about your beautiful wife who wants you to take her out", she sort of complained like a wife. And now when I took her in details she was indeed dressed to go out. I was so busy avoiding her that I didn't notice that she looked so beautiful now.

(Kate's POV)

I waited for some reaction from Leon. It's been hours and he's been avoiding me while I kept worrying about him and giving him his space. All these years he kept building walls whenever I got close to him and I receded but it took me time to realize that just because he's building walls doesn't mean that he doesn't need me. This time I decided to run to him and hold him in my arms before he could complete that wall. But I guess like every other time I misunderstood, since it was not working. I looked down in disappointment thinking what else I could say that would cheer him up. If I was good at starting arguments then it would be the thing I'd do but the expert is sitting in front of me sulking.

"Slap me", I looked at Leon when he spoke, "Slap me hard, I must be dreaming."

(Leon's POV)

Kate really did slap me hard when I wasn't actually expecting it, "Convinced?", she asked raising her brow as I rubbed my cheek where she hit.
"That hurt", I told her.
"It was meant to", she said walking away, "You were not listening and ignoring me."
"Well you never slapped me before for that", I said as my eyes followed her.
"Umm… well unlike today I was sure you would have stopped me then; today your guard was down", she told me not looking at me, "Get ready you are taking me out to dinner", she spoke more like girlfriend than wife now.
"I am not taking you out", I said and to that she turned to look at me.
"Why?", she asked.
"Because you slapped me", I said in an obvious tone.

She gave me a furious look and then shrugged going normal in the next instant, "Okay, Rivette will be more than happy to take me to dinner", she turned pulling her hair to front revealing her sexy back to me, "Bye bye!", with that she exited the study.
"Now she's really asking for it boy", I looked at Shadow and spoke, to which he replied with a woof, "Kate!", I yelled and ran after her.
She turned and asked, "What?", hiding her smile behind the frown that I loved.

(Kate's POV)

Leon grabbed my shoulders and kissed me, kissed me passionately and so unexpectedly that before I could register the kiss he pulled away, "Don't you dare go with Rivette because I am taking you out with me", he spoke smiling and I nodded smiling, "Wait for me, I'd go change", with that he almost ran up the stairs.
"I definitely did a little bit too much", I muttered to myself, "but it was fun."

I waited for Leon in the living room but he was taking too much time than usual so I climbed up the stairs and entered the bedroom. He was dressed but not to go out with me but to get to work, "Hunnigan called, an important mission needs me", he said checking his guns and putting it in holster.
"Where are you going?", I asked him as my heart raced all of a sudden.
"Some small town , I am forgetting it's name", he pretended to think, "I'll let you know, once I get back", he said the last sentence very doubtfully, "I am getting late. I am sorry I couldn't take you for dinner."

(Leon's POV)

Kate didn't say anything in reply and looked away. I really wanted to take her out but at the last moment Hunnigan called giving me info about an infestation in a small village and that the BSAA requested for my assistance in the case. And I had to leave to investigate the severity of the infestation. I moved past her, there was nothing I could say to her that she would understand and let me go, and the worst case scenario she would want to tag along.

I descended the stairs and was about to pull open the door when Kate called my name, "Leon!", I turned to look at her, "You forgot your jacket", she hurried down the stairs and smiled weakly.
"Thanks", I said as she helped me with my jacket and then she tidied its collar for me.
"It's nothing dangerous, right?", she asked concerned not looking at me.
"A bit", I made an understatement but she looked through it, "but I'll be alright", I assured her, looking her straight in the eye.

I don't know when I pulled her in a hug and she wrapped her arms around me tightly. We didn't say anything and just held each other, "Be careful and stay safe", Kate said as we pulled away.
"I will", I said cupping her face, placing a kiss on her lips and she smiled very weakly.

(Kate's POV)

Leon smiled and kissed me once more before stepping out and I watched him get in the car. My heart was beating ten times the normal and I was worried for him, and for some reason I was scared. I always was whenever he left me to go for any mission. I don't know whether to call him lucky that he always made out alive or unlucky for almost getting himself killed, whenever he left for missions. He turned on the ignition and looked at me and I waved at him smiling again, making him concern about me when he's leaving for a dangerous mission was the last thing I wanted. He smiled briefly before driving off. I watched his car disappear and wished him luck with his mission, as a tear rolled down my face.

A/N: Thanks for reading. I hope you all enjoyed it and I apologize for any grammatical mistakes or typos. See you all next Tuesday/Wednesday(depending on country).