A/N: Thanks for reading and supporting this story this far and my heartfelt gratitude to Shirahane Aikawa for taking out time to review.

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

Chapter 23

(Kate's POV)

I descended down the stairs and moved to the kitchen. Jill was busy getting omelets ready for the breakfast, "Good Morning!", I wished her.
"Good Morning!", she wished me back, as I poured coffee for me, "You're not going to…", she paused as if contemplating something, "work?"
"Its weekend", I said in an obvious tone shrugging, "it's burning", I told her seeing that she almost burnt the omelet.
"Oh crap!", she cursed and pulled them out just at the right time, "Claire and I decided to do some baby shopping today, you coming?"
"Of course I am", I said and her behavior seemed awkward, "Why did you ask? There's no two way about it, I always go shopping with you guys."
"I asked because I thought you might've some prior engagements", Jill said and moved out with two plates of breakfast.
"What engagements?", I asked her following her to the dining table.

"Well… you know…", Jill began as she kept a plate in front of Chris and settled with her own next to him.
"What?", I asked when she didn't complete.
"Oh", Chris said in surprise spotting me, "It's been long since I saw you on breakfast."
"You saw me last weekend", I reminded him sipping my coffee.
"Yeah, I forgot. So, everything okay with your boyfriend?", he asked pretty much casually.
I spat out the coffee I just drank, "My what?!", I couldn't help but ask him back. I was really shocked at his casual tone, as long as I knew he threw a big tantrum when it came to my or Claire's boyfriend.
"Yeah Kennedy?", Chris said sipping his own coffee.
"He's not my boyfriend", I told him in a very clear tone.
"Yeah right!", he said sarcastically cutting his bacon.
"Tell him!", I looked at Jill for some support and she shrugged too, "I am not dating him", I said to both to both of them, emphasizing on my every word.
"You do spend a lot of time together", Chris said in a matter-of-fact tone.
"Yeah he carpools you to work, and you have breakfasts together", Jill added in his support.
"Yeah, but we are not dating", I pressed on the fact.
"Tell me what you guys do when you hang out together?", Jill asked me curiously, leaning over the table a little.
"We just talk about stuff like work, life, etc., maybe share a joke or two. We really don't get enough time to be together. He's always in a hurry or tired to even talk properly", I spoke really fast and said it all in one breath.

"Well we just thought… ", Jill began.
"If it comes to that you'd be the first to know", I assured her.
"Okay, that's what I want", Chris said getting up tapping his heavy hand on my shoulder, "I am off to work ladies, take care!"
"You too", we both said to him.
"Did you tell him that I like Leon?", I asked Jill.
"No, I didn't. You guys are so obvious, he figured it out on his own", she told me and then muttered something under her breath.
"Well on brighter side, he won't get mad if I started dating Leon", I said with a laugh.
"Yeah true", Jill agreed with a bright smile on her face.

(Leon's POV)

I made my way to outside café, where Kate and I agreed to meet for coffee this morning. I couldn't help but smile as I spotted her; she was looking as beautiful as every day. Her hair were down and she was writing something; a hot steaming cup of coffee by her side. I approached her and stooped really close to her but she didn't take notice, "Boo!", I said and that startled her a bit.

"Leon!", Kate said shaking her head in disbelief, as I took my seat in front of her, "you are getting immature day-by-day", with that she got back to whatever she was writing, as I called for the waiter and ordered a coffee for myself.
"So what are you writing?", I asked her curiously.
"Reports", she said closing it finally, "You took forever to show up so I started working on it to kill time."
"Well it's hard to get by with Hunnigan these days", I told her, "But I am done with her for today."
"So you'll head home after this coffee?", Kate asked me a bit surprised.
"Sure will; I could do with some sleep, since it really comes hard to me", I told her as the waiter brought my coffee, "What about you?"
"I'll just help Jill", she gave a dry reply.
"Are you mad that I came late?", I asked her doubtfully.
"No, I am not", she said relaxing on her chair.
"Then what's with that dry tone", I asked noticing that she wasn't in best of her moods.
"I am talking normally", she tried to sound casual.
"Well clearly something's really bothering you", I said sipping my coffee, "If you don't want to tell me that's fine."

"Everyone thinks we are dating", Kate said and I spat my coffee, even though it wasn't the first time I was hearing this.
"What?!", I almost screamed and looked around to see if I caught people's attention but fortunately it wasn't so, "What gives them that idea?"
"Apparently us spending time together", she said taking a sip of her own coffee.
"Well you won't exactly call it spending time, would you? I mean it's just like 15-20 minutes at max, that too we talk pretty casual thing", I said while she listened, intently staring at me over her cup.
"Yeah", she said setting her cup down, "Can you drop me home now?", and before I could say anything she added, "I am really tired, I had a really busy day at work."
"Yeah sure", I tried to say it casually. The truth was I wanted to spend more time with her, since I didn't have to go back to work anymore.

The drive to her home was pretty silent, since we didn't talk. She didn't make any conversation and I failed to make any, deciding in the end that it was better to stay quiet. I looked at Kate by my side as we stopped at a signal. She was busy staring blankly out the windshield and I didn't have a clue if that was because she was thinking something or simply because she was avoiding me. I sighed and drove to her house, and the drive seemed pretty long in that awkward silence. Kate at once got out of the car after mumbling a 'thanks' and went on her way without looking back even once. I sighed yet again and head for my home.

(Kate's POV)

I changed into my sleepwear and moved to my bed, just as I sat on my bed somebody knocked at my door, "Come in", I said, thinking it be Chris but it was Jill, "I thought it was Chris, since you never knock."
"I thought it be better to knock, since you have boyfriend now", Jill said with an air of mischief.
"He's NOT my boyfriend", I said, it was a reflex to me now after telling that to nearly everyone every day.
"You alright?", Jill asked sitting by me on the bed.
"Yeah, why you ask?", I asked her.
"You seemed down since you returned", she replied, "Did you and Kennedy fight or something."
"No", I told her, "I am just tired, I need sleep", I said pulling my blanket.
"Oh okay then", she said standing up, "Goodnight!"
"Goodnight!", I wished her back as she existed my room.

I stared at the ceiling for some time pondering over the conversation I just had with Jill, before shutting my mind to it and switching off the lights to sleep. I woke up with a start as my phone buzzed; once my vision became more focused I saw it was Leon who was calling. I looked at the time it was over 2:00 AM in the morning.

"Hello?", I answered without further ado.
"Hey", he said from the other end.
"Leon its 2:00 AM in the morning", I couldn't help but say with a yawn.
"I know but could you just open your front door", he said and I sat up on my bed.
"You're here?", I asked getting out of my bed pulling on a coat over sleeping dress.
"Yes", he gave a short reply as I hurried out of the room.
"I'll be there in a moment", I said descending the steps and he disconnected. I pulled open the door and sighed in relief, seeing him in one piece and unhurt, "Leon, you scared me back there. I thought for sure something bad has happened to you."
"I just wanted to see you", he told me with an apologetic smile.
"Leon", I really felt at loss of words and just stared at him.

Leon really moved fast and captured my lips in a kiss. And after initial moments of shock overtook me, I kissed him back wrapping my arms around his shoulders, as he wrapped his around my waist. When we parted he said, "I am sorry", and left me.
"I am not sure if it's the right three words", I couldn't help but say.
"I know", he said pecked my lips once more, "I am sorry because I have to go now. I just wanted to see your face before I left but I promise you that we will be having a proper date when I come back", he kissed me once more for a little longer this time.
"Where are you going?", I asked him once we parted.
I already knew the answer before he said it, "Work", he smiled and backed away.
"Leon, take care okay!", I wished him from the porch as he made his way to his car.
"Yeah, take care for Shadow for me", he said and I noticed for the first time, that his dog was standing at my heels and I nodded. I watched him get in the car and disappear round the corner once again, before moving back in the house.

The first thing I saw was Jill smiling broadly at me, "You saw that?", I asked her going red, feeling extremely embarrassed.
"You two were too busy to notice me", she said smiling warmly.
"How come you're awake?", I asked her trying to escape the situation.
"Had this midnight craving of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches", she told me, "I was in the kitchen when you rushed down to open the door and whatever happened I saw it. I see you guys made up and you said you weren't dating."
"Well officially we are not. You saw that yourself that he didn't say he loves me; he didn't even say he likes me", I said to her.
"He would probably on this next date of yours", Jill said starting to move towards her bedroom.
"Maybe, I won't believe it until it happens", I said starting to climb the stairs, "Oh and Jill, just to be on safe please don't tell Chris about it until it's all official."
"Sure", she said and we headed to our respective rooms without any further words.

(Kate's POV)

It felt like the best morning of my life. I hardly slept after Leon's visit at night but I didn't feel tired or sleepy at all. I descended the steps and wished Chris cheerfully placing a kiss on his cheek, "It's been a while you did that, what do you want?", he asked me suspiciously.
"Nothing, I am really happy today", I said taking a seat next to him.
"Something I should know?", he asked me and then looked at Jill.
"I already said its nothing", I told him once again and there was a bark.
"You must be hungry too, here", I said giving Shadow my omelet and toast.

"Isn't that Kennedy's dog?", Chris asked in surprise.
"Yeah", I replied buttering a toast.
"May I ask what's he doing here?", Chris said eyeing him.
"Leon left him in my care for a while. Don't worry he'd be back by the evening", I informed Chris.
"Thank god, I'll be at work", he sighed in relief, "but you better stay home and look after him. I don't want him to ruin this place up while you're at work and I guess pets aren't allowed in hospital."
"Okay, sure", I agreed without giving it a second thought.

The conversation after that was pretty much trivial and soon after breakfast Chris left for work. I called at work and told my superior that I won't be showing up at work today. Jill and I spent enormous amount of time doing chores and discussing things from her baby to Leon and from last night incident to my upcoming date. Jill was suggesting me stuff as if it was my first date, she seemed to be as excited as I was; it was only in the afternoon when she retired to take nap. I got back to my room and spent my afternoon with Shadow; he was really a super smart dog and was fun to be around.

A/N: Thanks taking out time to read, I really hope you liked the story so far. I apologize for any mistakes in the text that might have caused an inconvenience for you. If you have anything to say, just leave your comments behind or you can message me on my account.