A/N: I am extremely grateful to all the readers, who are following this story and a special mention to my dear friend, Shirahane Aikawa, for reviewing the last chapter. Thanks a lot all of you!

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

Chapter 33

(Kate's POV)

I walked out of my bathroom, drying my hair on a towel. It was weekend and since the whole week was very busy for me, a long shower really felt relaxing. My plans for weekend included playing with my nephew and sleeping, though a little childish for me but I didn't really have any elaborate plans about this weekend. I moved to my dresser and started blow drying my hair when I noticed that my phone was blinking on my bed. I had put it on silent mode when I was making Sam sleep last night. I moved to get it but just as I picked up my phone the call got disconnected. And I saw there were no less than 32 missed calls from none other than, my one and only boyfriend. And I was mere a fraction of second away from pushing the call button when he called me back again.

"Hello?", I answered taking up the call immediately.
"Kate, where the hell are you?", Mike asked me in an almost panicked tone.
"At home, of course", I replied sitting down on the bed.
"Why didn't you take any of my calls? I have been calling you for about half an hour now", he said to me still a little anxious.
"Well I was just having a shower", I told him.
"Oh alright, you really scared me back there?", he said finally relaxing and letting out a sigh of relief.

"So why did you call me today?", I asked him cutting straight to business.
"Why? Can't I call my girlfriend?", he said playfully with a sense of pride in his tone.
"Of course you can", I replied smiling, "I just thought maybe you have some business you know."
"Well I do have some business with you", he said in a matter-of-fact tone.
"Please no talking about work. I want to relax at the moment", I said in a bored tone. It wasn't often but sometimes Mike would call me and discuss his cases that were stressing him out.
"Oh no, not at all", he replied on the other end, "Actually I forgot to tell you that this coming week, one of my friends is having an anniversary party and I am invited, so obviously you have to come with me."
"Yeah sure I'll go with you", I agreed to his invitation, "But there is a bit of trouble", I almost whined.

"What?", Mike asked nervously.
"I don't have a dress to wear to that party", I told him with a smile.
"Oh that", he said and relaxed, "I was just about to say that how about we meet this afternoon and go shopping, get ourselves the apparels for the event?"
"Okay, what time you'll pick me up", I enquired of him.
"How about 12:30PM we can go for lunch and then we'd go shopping", he suggested.
"Sounds great", I okay-ed his plans.
"So see you then", he said and hung up.

I set the phone aside and resumed what I was doing before. Once I was ready I headed downstairs and had breakfast with my family, and spent most of my morning playing with Sam or helping Jill with housework. It was just a little before noon I headed upstairs to my room, to get ready to go out with Mike. Mike was earlier than what he said and we headed out the moment he arrived since Chris wasn't really happy about me spending my weekend over with him, when I could be here spending it with them. But with a usual warning about getting me home as soon as possible, he let us off.

Mike took me to a casual restaurant, nothing too fancy and we had our lunch there. And then we moved to the important task at hand that was shopping. As I spent more time shopping with Mike, I realized that his choice and my choice about clothes were totally poles apart. The dresses he wanted me to buy weren't really up to my tastes and the ones I picked; he didn't really approved of them either. Our disagreement on the subject led me to be annoyed as well as tired of shopping for the first time in my life. In the end I just settled for the dress that was somewhere in between, well more tilted toward Mike's choice thinking that it's fine if it's just for one time, after all he was the one paying. And this was also the reason why I didn't feel like getting involved and giving my opinions, when he was buying a suit for himself. I let him go with whatever he wanted.

After we were done with our shopping, Mike offered me to have dinner with him as well and for a movie. But I declined his offer making an excuse about Chris getting angry if we got too late, when the real reason was me being physically, and maybe mentally, too tired to go around and do all those stuff. I just felt like going home and relaxing on the couch, reading some novel or watching some show with Jill or playing a bit with Sam but I just didn't had any energy left to hang out with Mike anymore. I didn't know and I wasn't sure of it either but I was getting this feeling that just being with Mike was too exhausting for me or maybe I was just getting too old.

(Kate's POV)

I got out as Mike got the car door for me like a gentlemen as we arrived at the anniversary party, "Thank you!", I smiled thanking him.
"Pleasure", he smiled charmingly closing the door and locking up his car, "May I?", he gave me his arm.
"Of course", I said taking his arm and we made our way to the area where the party was being held. It was a beautifully decorated garden, "You didn't tell me the party was being held outdoors?", I couldn't but say in concern.
"Well I didn't know it either", he said as he waved to a friend, "Why?"
"What Why? It's November and it's getting very cold you know", I reminded him, "I might have worn something warmer."
He looked at me revoltingly, "Oh come on you look gorgeous in this dress and besides it's not that cold", he said rolling his eyes as if I was exaggerating.

"Hey Mike!", a couple walked to us.
"Hey Brandon! Happy Anniversary", he wished him and his lovely wife.
"Happy Anniversary!", I wished them too.
"Is she your girlfriend?", Brandon asked looking at me.
"Ah yeah totally forgot, you don't know each other", Mike said smiling, "Kate, this is Brandon and Denise Daley, the couple of the evening. Brandon and Denise, this is Kate my one and only love."
"You look gorgeous!", Brandon complimented me and Denise nudged him, "But not as gorgeous as my wife."
"Of course", I said smiling.
"Enjoy the party", Denise said to us in good will, "We would have stick around longer but we have guests to attend to", she smiled at us formally.
"Yeah sure!", Mike said with a victorious smile.

"They are a cute couple", I couldn't help but say, since they did look good together.
"Ah really?!", Mike said with an amused smile. I gave him a nod and for a mere fraction of second he gave me a distasteful look, "We are much cuter", he added in proud tone, "Anyways let's go over there", he pointed to a huge group of people, "I want to introduce you to my old friends."
"Yeah sure", I said and he again gave me his arm and I again took it, laughing at his antics.

Whole evening Mike kept me introducing to his friends, guy friends, female friends, old friends, you name it. When he introduced them to me, the introduction was pretty much dull but when he did the opposite, his chest filled up with pride as if he was a great artist and I was his masterpiece. Initially it didn't bother me much and I didn't even pay much attention to it, but eventually I noticed that the more people we met with, the more happy and enthusiastic he got about it. The situation was dragged to the point where I didn't want to meet anyone anymore.

"C'mon I'll introduce you to my senior over there", Mike said yet again, pointing to someone in the crowd.
"No", I almost whined my feelings out and he looked at me disappointed, "I mean we are moving from here and there for so long, and I am tired and thirsty a bit. Let's get something to drink first and then we can meet whoever you want."
"Oh okay, I am sorry baby", Mike said getting the fire back in his eyes, "Why didn't you say that you were thirsty before. I'll go and fetch something to drink for you, wait for me here okay."
"Yeah", I said nodding as he headed to get something to drink, "be back soon", I couldn't help but say, because although I have met a bunch of people tonight but the person I could say I knew in this party was solely him.

I tried to blend and not stand out that much as I waited for Mike to get us drinks, "Kate?", I felt someone keep their hand on my shoulder and I turned to see John, "I knew it was you", he said happily.
"John, long time", I said smiling and greeting him.
"How come you're here?", he asked surprised to see me here.
"I came with my boyfriend", I told him the truth, "It's his friend's anniversary. You?"
"I am here with my girlfriend, it her cousin's anniversary", John said rolling his eyes and sounding really bored, "honestly this party is too much formal for me."
"I see", I said with a laugh, "Where's your girlfriend?", I asked him.
"I am trying to find her myself", John said looking around in the crowd.
"What do you mean?", I asked him confused.
"Oh well I am coming here from work", he told me still searching in the crowd, "And she came here before, so I don't really know where she is at the moment."
"Oh I see", I said getting the situation.
"There", John said clapping once and pointed out a group of women to me, "there she is. Wait I'd call her over."
"Yeah sure, take your…", I was saying thinking, John would walk over to her and get her when he yelled at top of his lungs.

"Oye Rachel!", John called out to her that it startled the people in the party and everyone looked around to know who Rachel is. John's girlfriend looked at him and shook her head in disbelief, "Get over here!", he yelled again beckoning her and she excused herself from the company of her friends and walked to us.
"John, for once would it hurt to maintain the decorum of the party", she said scolding him, although she didn't really seem bothered about it from the smile she was carrying.
"Why? That's no fun", John said like a kid and his girlfriend just shook her head crossing her arm in disbelief, "Anyways meet my friend, Kate", he introduced me to his girlfriend, the very first normal introduction of the evening I must add, "Kate this my girlfriend Rachel, she was out doing some research in Africa", he informed me, "And Kate's the Redfield sister I told you about."
"Oh so you're Kate", Rachel said as if she knows me for long, "John talks about you a lot."
"And he mentions you often too", I told her with a smile.
"I know he doesn't", Rachel said dismissively and too casually.
"But he does", I assured her, "I mean he's not like I miss my girlfriend 24/7 but he does mention you often", I told her the truth.
"I see", Rachel said looking at John impressed.

"So anyways here's my girlfriend, where's your boyfriend?", John asked me and it was my turn to search in the crowd.
"He went to get us drinks", I told him looking around for him, "Oh there, that's him."
"He looks like an interesting guy", John said with mischief in his tone.
"No John, no jokes here please", Rachel said to him warningly.
"Yeah I'd advice you against it too. Mike is not really into jokes", I told him and sided with his girlfriend.

"Hey", Mike said approaching us, trying to figure out if he knew John or Rachel.
"Mike, this is my friend John and this is his girlfriend Rachel", I introduced them, "John and Rachel, this is Mike my boyfriend", they all greeted each other and we stood there talking to them for a bit.

Mike seemed to be a little bored but I was enjoying some known company for once this evening. And just as Mike opened his mouth to say something, one of his friends dragged him away saying that he was hopping groups since he came and it's about time, he should hang out with his old buddies. And I was peacefully left with John and Rachel, but John got bored a bit later and headed to the bar to get some drinks but Rachel was very nice and she kept me company. She introduced me to some of her friends and as we chatted about trivial stuff, I finally started to enjoy the evening. This is what I needed, to be introduced to a couple of people and talk to them and not to a bunch of people that I didn't even remember as I went over with next introduction. I was really glad that John showed up here for my rescue.

I rubbed my arms feeling a bit cold, 'If only I had something warm to pull over', and then I remembered I did have a shawl with me, which I unfortunately left in Mike's car. I looked at my watch it was a little over 10:00PM, "Oh look at the time it's getting late", Rachel said looking at the time too.
"I think we all should disperse and find our boyfriends or husbands", one of the ladies said.
And with a final good bye everyone headed their own way, "it was nice meeting you Kate", Rachel said, "Let's catch up some other time."
"Yeah sure", I replied with a smile and we headed to find our respective boyfriends.

The crowd was pretty much thinned and I found Mike immediately. I walked to him and tapped on his shoulder and he turned to look at me, "Kate!", he said happily.
"I need to talk to you", I said to him and he excused himself from his friends and we got, a considerable distance away from them, "I was thinking it's getting late and a bit cold, so we should head home?", I asked him.

Mike looked at his watch, "Its only 10:20PM baby, we can stay a bit longer", he said to me.
"But everyone is leaving see", I pointed to Rachel and John who were planning to leave.
"Well then join us, my friends wouldn't mind and look their girlfriends are joining them too", he pointed to the group.
"Okay then, give me your car keys", I said to him shivering a little.
"Why?", he asked me confused not even reaching for the keys.
"I will go get my shawl, I am cold", I told him.
"Now you'll be warm", he said throwing an arm around pulling me close. I couldn't help but let out a laugh, "No, seriously give me the keys. I am really cold", I told him impatiently.
"Oh c'mon it's not that cold", he said in an almost whining tone.
"I'll go get it myself, just give me the keys", I said trying to persuade him.
"But you look so beautiful tonight, why do you want to cover yourself up?", he asked me a bit revolted.
"Because I am cold", I repeated to him yet again.
"But just imagine how funny you'd look with that shawl on", Mike said in a joking way but I knew he was quite serious.
"I am not here to show off my skin", I tried to say it as calmly as I could.
"Well I am just saying it's not presentable", Mike said disapprovingly.
"I am cold, Mike! And I don't care about outer appearances in the least at the moment", I almost yelled out to him, "You know what? I am leaving!", I said angrily and walked out.

I walked fast out of the venue; Mike treating me like a show piece was something that wasn't tolerable. If it was him just being proud about me I would have felt a bit happy about it but Mike was taking it on a whole different level. He simply didn't care about me but was more concerned about his personal image in front of his friends. I stopped and looked for cab on either ends of the roads but it was all deserted. I rubbed my arms and shivered a bit closing my eyes trying to feel just a little bit warm.

I felt someone pull their jacket over me and I immediately knew who it was as I asked, "How come you are always around when I am in a tight spot?"
"I just am", Leon replied in his monotonous tone and stepped in front of me to face me, "You okay?"
"I am cold", I told him smiling weakly as we both instinctively stepped closer as if we were about to hug each other.

"Kate!", I heard Mike calling me and Leon lifted his head to look at him but I didn't turn to face Mike but tried to read Leon, "Kate", Mike stepped in between Leon and me, and Leon stepped back, "I am sorry for acting like a jerk. I am really sorry, it won't happen again", he pleaded guiltily.
"It's okay", I said looking at him sighing and he smiled.
"Let's head home. You're cold and we don't have to stay here anymore", he said grabbing my hand and kissing it and I nodded, "Thanks man!", he added hurriedly to Leon as we started to move away.

(Leon's POV)

I watched as Kate's boyfriend steered her away from me towards his car, that was parked a further away. He was telling her something but she wasn't really listening to him and as she walked away. She turned and looked at me; the look in her eyes shook me to my core. It was a look of longing and deep hurt. It was as if she was asking me, 'Why did you abandon me?' Her boyfriend swung an arm over her shoulder making her look at him as he again said something to her. He held out the car door open for her, she got in the car and he hurriedly rounded to get in himself and drove away.

"I can't believe it, John!", I turned to the voice as Rachel scolded John, "You called in Leon? Where is your car?"
"It's in garage", John told her, "You told me about it at such a short notice, I had already made appointments for it and besides Leon is the one who dropped me here in the first place."
"John, you're really too much sometimes", she said furiously, "Leon, I am really sorry about John. I know he's such a bother."
"It's fine, don't worry about it", I said in response, "I was just heading home, when he called and it's in the way so…"
"See it's in his way", John said before I could complete my sentence.
"Be a little less shameless, John", Rachel said to him, "Thanks Leon you're such a nice person", she added to me in a much calmer tone.
"So shall we go then?", John asked her and she only huffed getting in the car's backseat. He looked at me shrugging and we both got in the car.

As I drove towards Rachel's apartment, John tried to make up with Rachel but she seemed too furious and he gave up sighing. And after a couple of minutes of silence he spoke to me, "Hey you know I met Kate at the party", John informed and I kept quiet, concentrating on the road and trying not to think about the look she gave me as she left, "She's got a boyfriend now, you know?"

John waited for my reaction so I said, "Yeah I've met him a couple of times."
"You have?!", John said surprised.
"Yeah he works with her, so I've had a couple of run-ins with them", I replied thinking it was better to keep engaged in talk to get Kate out of my head.
"So what do you think of him?", John asked my opinion.
"He seems a nice guy", I just said not wanting to pass any opinion on Mike. I didn't even know him enough to say anything about him.
"Pfff… he was weird. He didn't even laugh at any of my jokes", John told me relaxing on his seat.
"You're the weird one", Rachel commented angrily from the back seat, which made him sit straight, and I pulled my car in front of Rachel's place.

Rachel got out of the car and John followed, so he could see her off but I just decided to stay in the car. Rachel showed her disagreement with John for a while but eventually John made up with her and they kissed each other good night. John got back in the car and I drove to his home. The drive wasn't silent as John always had something to say, asking me to respond once in a while, but he didn't mention Kate or her boyfriend again. I dropped him home and then headed to my own.

I had a shower and lied down to sleep but I just couldn't toss Kate out of my mind. Every night I told myself that she was fine or she would be fine but today I witnessed that it wasn't the case. It seemed she was not happy with her boyfriend and my mom's voice rang in my head about her being happy when she sees me. But then again it was not unusual for couples to have arguments. John and Rachel too had a disagreement and they sorted it out there and then, plus Kate's boyfriend apologized to her and she too forgave him as well but then that look…

I looked at my phone and wondered if I should call her. I needed some sort of reassurance that she was doing fine and is happy. But I wasn't in a position to call her anymore, it wasn't like it used to be before and I was the one responsible for it. I kept the thought aside along with my phone and closed my eyes trying to sleep, hoping I was tired enough that thoughts about Kate won't keep me awake.

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