A/N: I am really thankful to all the reader for supporting this story and special thanks to Mercenary Nemesis and the anonymous reviewer for taking out time to review.

Disclaimer: I don't own Resident Evil or any of its characters; they all are property of Capcom.

Chapter 18

(Leon's POV)

I got in the car to head home and couldn't help but hit the steering wheel. I promised Kate that I'd be there for dinner but Hunnigan had so much work cut out for me that it took me forever to get it done. I looked at my watch it was 12:15 am, Kate is likely to be asleep by now. I started the engine with a sigh and headed home unconsciously thinking how the evening would have been if I was able to spend it with Kate. I stopped my car in front of Redfield's place and looked at not leaving my car. All the lights were out, there seemed to be no chance that she's awake by now, plus it was a 30 minutes ride from White House to here. Shadow barked and I looked back at him but he was already jumping out of the open car window and made a run for the house.

"Shadow", I called to him getting out when I saw the front door opening and Kate stepped out, she patted Shadow's head and looked at me. I walked to her and she welcomed me with a smile, "I am sorry, I am a bit late", I apologized to Kate.
"I am glad you showed up", she said smiling whole heartedly.
"You didn't sleep?", I asked.
"No", she replied walking in the kitchen, "I was waiting for you", she came back with some serving bowls, "Take a seat." she said setting the bowls on table.
"Sorry to keep you waiting", I couldn't help and apologized again as she served me dinner.
"Its fine", she said filling the glass with water, "I am really glad you showed up", she added taking a seat by my side.

I looked at the plate and then looked at her clearing my throat, "Won't you eat?", I asked.
"I had my dinner", she replied, "You know Chris", she rolled her eyes, "So how was your day?", she asked.
"It was usual", I replied starting to eat my dinner.
"Boring?", she more of stated than asked.
"Yeah boring", I replied with a grin.
"Still you worked until midnight", she said in a mocking way.
"It's not like I wanted to", I told her in an obvious tone.
"Oh come on! You know this is the reason you don't have a girlfriend", she said and I couldn't help but give her an are-you-kidding-me look, "No seriously, no girl would stay awake for you this late."
"Well you are awake, aren't you?", I said looking at her and for a moment she was taken aback, "If you can do it anyone can", I added getting back to my dinner.
"Well this is just a one time, Leon", she said seriously.
"I am done", I said since I was done with my dinner.
"I can't do it every day", she said taking my plates and walking into the kitchen, "No one can probably", she mumbled putting the plates in sink and turning on the water.
"Not even if we get married?", I couldn't help but ask as I moved to stand by her side.

(Kate's POV)

I looked at Leon, he looked pretty serious about this, "We marrying…", I said softly getting back to washing dishes just to avoid answering his question.
"Yeah its… it's a possibility. If you don't get anyone, which would probably be the case, I could marry you", he said and laughed at his own joke and I hit him, "Give it a thought seriously."
"If I'd be your wife then right about now I would be alone at home", I said to him.
"Why would that be?", Leon asked.
"Well obviously you wouldn't be back from work", I replied, "I know you are early today, you work until 2 am in the morning don't you."
"I do but…", he admitted rubbing the back of his head.
"But what huh?", I couldn't help to cut him in between, "After marrying you, I'd be at home all the time waiting for you when you'd be at work enjoying yourself. I'd make meals for you but you won't have the time to eat them. And whenever we'd get some peaceful time together you'd get a call from Hunnigan", and as if getting the cue his phone rang and he looked at it, "See…", I said proving my point.
"And I'd disconnect it like this", he said disconnecting the call.
"I am surprised you did that", I said really surprised.
"I can do a lot more", he said smiling.
"Like?", I asked with a smile.
"Anything you want babe", he replied.

"Would you drop me to work every day?", I asked him.
"Why not, it's in the way", he replied casually.
"And pick me up too", I asked him. I know he won't be able to do that because although we start work at the same time but I end it way earlier than him.
He thought for a bit, "Hmm… well I think I can make them give me off for a bit so that we can go for a coffee and then I'd drop you home", he replied and quite cleverly I must say. The fact that he would make time for me between his tight schedules was more than enough but him taking me to coffee was something I didn't expect.
"And then go back", I said with a bit annoyance in my tone, "What if I need you when you're at work."
"Call me and I'll be there as fast as I can", he said in an obvious tone.
"So you'd come running for me?!", I asked again a bit surprised.
"Of course you'll be my wife, why wouldn't I?", he told me as I dried the dishes.
"And if I fall sick?", I asked smiling.
"I'd stay home and look after you", he replied.
"What if I am sad?", I asked him putting the dishes in the cabinets.
"I'd cheer you up", he replied as I filled the bottles with water.
"What if you can't cheer me up?", I asked moving to set the bottles in the fridge.
"Then I'd hold you till you feel better", he replied more seriously than ever and I looked at him, "I'd give you everything you want and need", he said not taking his eyes off my face.
"Will you come home early", I asked him, "If not everyday then some of the days?", for some reason I was really serious about it.
"Yeah, I'll come home early everyday", he replied and then added, "but then you'd have to treat me good", he replied bumping his head against mine, "I think you know what it means, right?" and I couldn't help but blush.

(Leon's POV)

I moved back and admired the look on Kate's face, "Hey you came!", we looked in the direction of voice, "Did I interrupt?", it was Jill standing at the kitchen door.
"No, no, no… absolutely not. We were just talking about…", Kate tried to explain.
"About?", Jill asked.
"About stuff", Kate said moving to do something else, "How come you're still awake?"
"I was having this craving for chocolate almond ice-cream, do we have that?", she asked moving towards the fridge.
"Yeah, Chris bought it this evening", Kate replied cleaning the counter while my eyes just followed her.

"Isn't she cute?", Jill said to me and I looked at her.
"Huh?", I said pulling up an oblivious expression.
"You were just admiring her or perhaps having dirty thoughts about her", Jill said putting a huge scoop of ice-cream in her mouth.
"What?! No!", I said a bit surprised.
"I am just kidding. There is no way you'd fall for her, she's not your type", Jill said enjoying her ice-cream.
"Why not?", I said, since the situation was completely opposite.
"Why would you like her, you tell me?", Jill said catching me in a deadlock.
"Didn't I ask first", I said so that she answers first.
"She's nothing like your old girlfriends", Jill replied, "Your answer now."
"Maybe for the same reason", I looked at Kate as she washed her hands, "She's beautiful", Kate turned and looked at me smiling, "She's modest, loving and caring. That's a lot of traits to fall for."
"Aww… that's so sweet", Jill said walking up to me, "You two look so good together too", she said pulling Kate to my side, "But anyways you don't want it so it's impossible", she said as she walked out of the kitchen leaving us behind.

We looked at each other briefly and then as if we knew we had to say it we said, "Nah", together moving away and laughed a bit at the fact.
"So anyways, thanks for the dinner. I have to head home now, have work early tomorrow", I said to her.
"It's no big deal; I was really delighted to have you on dinner. And I know about your work plus its late too", Kate said as we both walked to the main door, "Don't forget you have to see me off at the airport, day after tomorrow", she added as she pulled open the door.
"Yeah, I won't forget", I said and she gave me a quick hug.
"Goodnight and take care!", she wished me with a smile.
"You too", I said with a smile and walked to my car.

I held the car door open for Shadow and then rounded off to driver's side. I spared a look at Kate and she waved me goodbye from the porch and I returned it. I got in the car as she walked back inside the house and I drove off to home. All through the drive I kept smiling thinking about the moments I spent with Kate. I wanted to tell her that I loved her but I didn't want to lose the friendship if she doesn't mirror my feelings. I don't want to lose her anyway, anyhow, anyway or anytime.

(Jill's POV)

"Kate, if you don't go through the check-in you're going to miss the flight", Chris tried to make sense to his younger sister.
"Leon, promised that he see me off today and if he doesn't show up I am not getting on that plane", Kate said persistently.
"He's a busy man, he's in charge of one of the tightest security in the world", Chris reasoned again.
"I don't know, you are a busy man too you showed up so why can't he?", she argued.
"I am your brother and it's not much of a big deal", Chris said looking at the flight schedule.
"And he's my friend and I am his, I mean he never said that or anything but he promised, he can't break his promise like that", Kate said a bit stubbornly.
"That's kind of childish of you", Chris said to her.
"Don't you talk about childish", Kate flared at him, "Crying over a ripped comic is childish."
"That was a collectible", Chris argued and their argument totally took a different direction.

"Quiet you two", I raised my voice a bit, "Kate he's right. Kennedy must be busy and this conference is important, just go."
"Urgh… fine. Tell that idiot I am going to kill him when I get back", she said angrily.
"Come here, give me a hug", I said and she gave me a goodbye hug.
"Take care of yourself and the baby", Kate said as we parted.
"Take care of Jill", she said a bit dryly to her brother.
"You don't have to tell me that", he said in a similar tone, "And take care of yourself."
"You too", she replied and took a deep breath, "Okay so I'd call when I get there."
"Yeah you do that", I said to her smiling.
"So bye then", she slung her handbag on her shoulder and moved to get to the flight but turned all of the sudden.

"What happened?", Chris asked.
And before she could reply we heard, "Kate!", and turned to see Leon hurrying towards us, "I am sorry I am late", he said panting keeping his hands on his knees.
"Your Boyfriend finally showed up", Linda, Kate's colleague said.
"He's not my boyfriend", Kate told her, "if you couldn't make it, you should have told me so."
"Well I wanted to see you off", Leon told her and Kate's and her colleagues names were announced on the speakers.
"That's us Kate", she said pulling her.
"Wait Linda!", she tried to resist but Linda was more powerful than her, "Bye", Kate yelled waving when she couldn't release herself from Linda's grip.
"Bye", we all said together and I couldn't help but notice that the bye was only for Leon because she was looking at him as she was being dragged away. I looked sideways to Leon and he sighed.

"I should be heading back guys", Leon said a bit monotonously.
"Yeah thanks for keeping her childish wish", Chris said a bit huffing and Leon looked at me.
"They had a small fight about who is more childish", I told him smiling and that he didn't need to worry about it much.
"I see", he said as we started to walk out together and Leon headed his own way and we headed home.

"Leon, sure loves her", I said to Chris.
"Of course he does, he's been doing things that we thought he won't do ever", Chris said in an obvious tone.
"Yeah, you know he showed up that night for dinner", I told him, I totally forgot to tell him about it, "And you know they were a bit surprised when I showed up in the kitchen, almost jumped."
"What were they talking about", Chris asked casually.

(Chris's POV)

Jill gasped and I hit the brakes, "Are you alright?", I asked her concerned.
She pouted, "I don't know but I want to know. Stupid, stupid of me not to listen in to their conversation", she said hitting her head.
"You got me scared back there", I said pushing the accelerator.
"This is serious Chris, what if Kennedy confessed to her and they kissed", Jill said and again I hit the brakes.
"What?!", I screamed in surprise.
"I am just saying, I don't really think it happened otherwise Kate wouldn't deny him being his boyfriend earlier", she said and sighed, "Guess this love story would go really slow."
"Well I don't care if it's fast or slow. I just want that Kate is happy", I said, "and for some reason I think she'd be happiest with Kennedy."
"You bet", Jill agreed smiling at that.

I didn't really know whether I should be happy about my sister finally getting a good guy for her or be a sad about her finding a guy. Marrying off Claire wasn't really that easy for me but somehow I sailed through, since it was something inevitable. And Kate's moving away was same too but I was more than relieved that it was Kennedy, since she'd only just moved away a few blocks but even so it would be hard for me as a brother but at least I'd have Jill and our baby to keep me company. And of course it wasn't like they wouldn't visit once they get married.

A/N: Thanks for taking out time to read. I hope you had fun reading it. I apologize for any sort of mistakes that caused a hindrance in whilst reading.