A/N: I very grateful to all the readers for encouraging me to write. I'd like to specially mention Adela for reviewing the last chapter; it's always a pleasure knowing you guys are loving what I write. Thanks a bunch!

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

Chapter 34

(Leon's POV)

I yawned out of tiredness and Shadow yawned too maybe out of its contagiousness, making me let out a laugh. I ruffled the fur on his head and he enjoyed it, wagging his tail. He was both like a brother and kid to me at the same time. He's been by my side always and I couldn't be thankful enough for it. He whined a bit as we neared our home and I looked at him briefly. He was sitting straight looking out of the windshield as if expecting something or someone and as our house came into view, he barked and got a little excited. At first I just thought he was just happy to be home but as we got closer I could make out two people waiting there by the porch. One of them, Kate sitting on the steps of porch, probably Shadow sensed her and was happy to see her again. And the other her brother, Chris, standing by her side with his arms crossed across his chest.

I had no clue, as to what business would bring them here at this hour of the night. Maybe Kate told Chris about the situation we had months ago and they were here to confront me, much like the last time she was here; or maybe Chris had something important to discuss and Kate just tagged along. The possibilities just seemed endless and with a tired mind I couldn't really think what could be the right one. And as my car neared my house, I stopped the thinking process and they both looked in my direction as I pulled my car on the driveway.

I sighed inwardly, readying myself for whatever it was; it had been like a month since I had seen Kate and much more than that since I had seen Chris. Shadow jumped out of the open car window as I got out of the car to meet the Redfield and his sister. Chris moved to me as Kate was being welcomed by my super excited dog, "How can I help you guys?", I tried to sound casual and normal.

"Kennedy, only you can make sense to her now", Chris said urgently.
"What?!", I said confused as Kate stood up.
"She has decided to marry that guy", Chris said and for a minute I felt like I was hit by a lightning strike, "I've been trying to explain it to her that it's a BAD idea but she's not listening to me. Jill and Claire are just too shocked to even say something on it. You are my last hope, Kennedy. Please reason with her reasoning."

"Oh shush bro!", Kate said dismissively, "Jill and Claire have no problems with me getting married", she added to him and then she turned to me and smiled, "Like you've heard from him, I am getting married!"
"That's great, I am happy for you!", I congratulated her, "Congrats!", we moved to hug each other but it wasn't romantic or anything but very brief and friendly.
"I knew you would understand", she smiled looking at me.
"Kennedy?!", Chris said is disbelief.

"It's alright, Redfield", I said to him, "sometimes first meet is all you need to know that it's the person you want to marry."
"You won't say this once you meet her boyfriend", Chris said with a clear prejudice in his tone for her boyfriend.
"I have met him", and Chris was shocked to hear that, "a couple of times actually", he looked at Kate and she nodded in agreement, "He's a nice guy, he cares about Kate a lot."
"I can't believe this!", Chris said running a hand in his hair and on his face in frustration, "I need a moment."

Chris walked away and my eyes followed him; he didn't really seem to be very accepting of the thought of Kate getting married but to me it was a whole different story. It had already been 5 months since I stopped seeing her regularly but I knew my feelings didn't change one bit, I just got good at suppressing them and that's all. And this is what I wanted, for her to move on and have good life with someone, who deserves her and is far better than me. And who knows maybe I'd finally be able to forget her once she gets married, at least I'd have new excuses for my heart, as to why I cannot be with her.

"Is he going to be okay?", I asked Kate looking at Chris, who had just kicked a pebble out of anger.
"He'd be fine!", Kate said casually and dismissively, "He doesn't really have choice. He just doesn't like Mike that much."
"But you do right?", I asked her in confirmation.
"Yes I do", she said with a fake smile.
"I am really happy for you", I repeated giving her my best smile.
"Thanks for your support!", she smiled as well, "But we are not here to just to tell you about the new development in my relationship."

"Oh then?", I asked her.
"Well as you already know I am getting married, so I am here to invite you to my wedding", She said to me with a smile.
"I don't know, Kate, if I'll be able to make it. I am running a bit busy as you know", I made an excuse; it would be a little too brutal for my heart to witness her wedding.
"I know", she let out an understanding sigh, "and that's why I am informing you in advance, so you can clear your work and… I don't know, get in Hunnigan's good book", she said with a childish smile, and then she stepped forward and took hold of my hands, "You're my best friend and it would really make me more than happy if you could come. It's just for one day", she looked up at me hopefully, "I know that you're really busy and it's a bother but please", she literally pleaded to me.
"I'd try and ask Hunnigan if she could give me a lee-way", I told her with a constricted throat. It was really a sad thing to know that she thought that she was bother to me.

"Thanks!", kate again hugged me, for a bit longer this time but still it wasn't anything romantic, "Now we should head home; Jill's alone with the baby and you too need to rest, since it's late. Goodnight and take care!"
"Yeah you too", I said as she moved to her brother.
"C'mon bro", she tried to pull him along but of course, she lacked the strength.
Chris let out a deep sigh of disappointment, "Kennedy, re-think this!", he said to me as he started walking away, "good night."
"Goodnight", I wished him too and watched the pair of siblings walk towards their home.

Kate poked Chris a bit, who was acting a little distant towards her, as she tried to talk to him. He kept his silence for a while but eventually after a number of pokes and a few tickles later he gave up. They walked back talking and I could only hear their voices and not make out what they were saying. I could understand Chris's concern; he didn't want Kate to marry Mike because he wasn't really fond of the idea of her not living with him anymore. He was not just a brother to Kate and Claire but almost a father and with them getting married, he has to bear the dual pain of being a brother and a father.

I sighed and moved inside the house. I had a shower and then went straight to bed, seeing Kate happy and normal was really a good thing. Although my heart ached a bit from the thought of her getting married but I knew that it's best for both of us, so I had that strength to bear with it.

(Claire's POV)

I rang the door bell and waited for someone to get the door. It was just a few months ago that I could get in this house, with my set of keys but now I just felt like a stranger in this familiar place. I looked sideways at Eric and he smiled at me, which I couldn't help but mirror. I rang the doorbell again feeling a little impatient since the folks inside were taking too much time to receive us and this time I heard Chris yell that he was coming. The door swung open and Chris gave me a smile, which I guess was both sad and happy, as he let us inside the house.

"Hey bro!", I greeted side-hugging him since he was carrying his baby, "How have you guys been?"
"We've been great!", I told him as we parted, "What about you?"
"I am good too", he replied as he shook hands with Eric.
"Where's everyone?", I couldn't help but ask, the place seemed too much quiet.
"Jill's just got in the shower after readying the baby and Kate's in her room getting ready as well", he answered really unenthusiastically.
I knew he wasn't really happy about Kate getting married and was almost in blues about it, "Give me Sam", I said taking Sam from him, "I'd go see Kate."
"Yeah and try to make sense to her", Chris said as I started towards the stairs, "C'mon Eric let's have some drinks."
"Hey we're supposed to drive", Eric said in resistance but still followed him to the living room.
"C'mon a little beer never hurt no one", I heard him say as I climbed the stairs and Eric laughed at it.

I made my way through the hallway to Kate's room. I knocked at her door, "It's Claire, I am coming in", I said pushing open the door.
Kate was sitting at the dressing table brushing her hair, "Oh you guys are already here", she said keeping her brush down moving to greet me.
"Yeah you said dinner's at 8:00 so we got here a little early, since we'll be heading to restaurant together", I said sitting down on her bed and started entertaining the baby, "You're looking gorgeous, by the way."
"You're looking great as well. I hope Mike's mom doesn't mistake you for me", she joked and we laughed a bit.

Kate moved back to brushing her hair and I looked around her room a bit, it hadn't changed much unlike the person it belonged to, "So you sure about this?", I asked her after sometime, "I mean marriage and stuff, the ultimate commitment?", I tried to disguise my original question.
"Yeah I am pretty sure", she replied acting oblivious, "You went with it, Jill went with it, so why can't I?"
I was a little bummed at her question, "But don't you think you should have waited till Chris would have been a little happy about it", I tried to frame it another way.
"I tried to wait for Chris's approval, and Mike and I both agree that this is as much a approval our relationship is going to get of Chris", she said rolling her eyes and laughed a bit.
"Yeah I guess you're right", I couldn't help but sigh agreeing with her, "So your wedding is dependent on tonight's dinner?", I asked again.

"No it's pretty much fixed. Mike said he just wants his parents to meet me and it doesn't really matter to him if his mom approves me or not, he'd marry me anyway", she told me casually.
"His mom?!", I repeated a bit confused, "He doesn't have a dad? I mean is he no more?"
"He has but his Dad already likes me. I did internship under his dad only", she replied, "I haven't met his mom though."
"Oh I see", I said a little thoughtful about it.

"So how's it going with Eric?", Kate asked taking a seat next to me.
"Oh it's nothing much, just usual", I said in response as she tickled the baby and it giggled.
"Aww… He's so cute I already want to have like a dozen of babies like him", I couldn't help but say in awe.
"A dozen!", Kate said in surprise, laughing a bit as Sam laughed with her too, "that's a little too much don't you think?"
"Well over time I can have a dozen", I joked sounding pretty much serious and we both laughed.
"I am not sure if Eric will let you have as much as that", she played along.
"Of course he will, he loves kids", I told her happily, "What about Mike?"
"He's not that fond of kids", she replied not looking at me, "But I don't think a kid or two would be too much of a problem for him."

"Of course", I agreed with her, "Oh by the way, did you tell Leon yet?"
"Yeah I did", she said taking Sam in her lap.
"What did he say?", I asked her curiously, "Is he coming to the wedding?"
"It took a little bit of persuasion but he agreed", she said as she made faces for Sam.
"And how did he react?", I asked her in a concerned tone and she looked at me.
"He was happy about it, wished me luck", she said with a slight smile, "He's really a great friend."
"I know", I couldn't help but say as Jill walked in the room.

"Chris told me you were here", Jill said and I got up to give her a hug.
"You're looking great", I complimented her.
"Yeah no one would say you're Sam's mom", Kate said in conformity.
"Thank you!", Jill said with a humble smile, "You two are looking great as well."

Kate's cell phone rang and she took the call, "Hello?", she paused for a bit, "I can't hear you, wait a bit", she said to the person on phone handing the baby over to Jill, "I'll get this, it's from work", she said standing up as we gave her a nod and she exited the room talking on the phone.

Jill and I stared at each other in silence for a while before letting out a sigh of distress together, "Do you think, what I think about this marriage?", I asked Jill.
"I think it's too rushed up", Jill said sighing as well, taking a seat.
"I think so too, it's so sudden. Mike dating Kate, his proposal, her accepting it and now her getting married", I told her sighing, "Should we try and talk to her?"
"Well Chris did try and talk to her", Jill said in a matter-of-fact tone.
"I was there, he yelled at her", I said rolling my eyes.
"But he did say, she was not thinking straight, rushing it, Mike's not the guy and bla bla bla", Jill pointed it out, "And she had all the counters for it already that she knows Mike for years and they dated for a year and half before, and adding it to this time now is almost two years."
"Kate always has a way with words, no one can really win with her", I couldn't help but say, "I mean even Leon listens to her."

"You know I was hoping that Kennedy would do something, now that she's getting married but no, he really disappointed me", Jill said sounding disappointed, "Even Chris was hoping for that!", she added sounding obvious.
"Well I hope he shows up at dinner and they realize they love each other and Kate leave Mike and live happily after with Leon", I said making castles in the air.
"You're being too hopeful", Jill spoke honestly, "but even so I am hoping something along the lines as well."
"Yeah let's keep our fingers crossed", I said crossing my fingers childishly.

"About?", Kate asked as she stepped back in the room.
"What?", I asked her back pretending to not get what she was saying.
"You said something about keeping your fingers crossed?", she repeated a bit confused.
"Ah well that… nothing much trivial stuff you know", I told her waving a hand airily, "But anyways what was the call for?", I asked changing topics to divert her attention.
"Oh I took an off today, so one of my patients thought they changed his doctor and he got mad, so I had to assure him I was on leave and will be back tomorrow", she told me rolling her eyes.
"So all settled now?", I asked, hoping that she'd say that dinner is cancelled now and that she has to go to hospital for such a trivial reason because for some reason I wasn't really looking forward to this dinner.
"Yeah all done", she said with a smile, "Anyways I just got a call from Mike, informed me that he is leaving with his parents for the restaurant, so I guess we should head for it, as well."
"Yeah, sure let's head out then", Jill said standing up and I followed too.

The three of us made our way back to the living room, where Chris and Eric were having a casual chat about something. Kate informed Chris about the call and an evident frown broke on his face, which he didn't bother to hide from Kate. Kate on the other hand wasn't that much bothered about it either and smiled like usual. All of us headed for the restaurant with Eric and I in his car and Chris drove the rest in his car.

"You look a bit troubled?", Eric said sometime between the drive with a smile on his face.
"That's because I am troubled", I told him letting out a sigh.
"Something happened?", he asked me keeping his eyes on the road.
"Ah well you know, it's currently happening", I told him tilting my head to a side; there was no reason to hide that I was little irritable of the fact.
He let out a laugh, "You're cute when you're angry", he said and waited for bit, "But don't you think Kate should decide who she is suppose to marry?"

"You know very well I am not bothered about that", I said making a point.
"So why then?", Eric asked me, with a slight tone of surprise.
"Well Kate is just running away", I told him huffing a bit.
"Maybe she is just moving on", Eric said in reasoning tone shrugging, "I mean how long do you want her to wait on Kennedy?"
"Like forever", I said in an obvious tone and he laughed again.
"It's not really a romance novel is it?", he stated stopping at a red light.
"But don't you think she's marrying Mike to get over Leon?", I gave him my point.
"I don't think she's doing that", Eric shook his head, "otherwise she would have agreed to Mike's first proposal."

"What first proposal?", I asked him confused and his ears went red, looked like he blurted it out accidentally.
"Ah well about 3 weeks ago, you remember we had that house warming party when we moved to our new place?", he said and I nodded in response, "on that day Mike proposed to her in our kitchen, I sort of walked in on them so I know."
"And you're telling me now?!", I said in a tone of disbelief as the lights turned green and he pushed the accelerator.
"Well Kate said not to mention it to anyone and my mom taught me not to gossip", he said and laughed at his own joke.
"So what she said while putting him off?", I couldn't help but ask, wondering how she feels about this whole thing.
"She said that she wasn't ready for it and needed time plus she wanted Chris's approval as well", Eric said seriously, "I think she still loves Leon but since she doesn't know what she has to do so he returns her affection, she decided to move on."
"Yeah right! Move on…. by getting back with her ex", I stated sarcastically as we reached the restaurant.
Eric gave a laugh again and kissed my cheek as he pulled the car in front of the hotel, "C'mon babe have a little faith and it will all turn out well", he said with a warm smile.

I hummed in response and we both got out of the car, and a valet came to take the car to the parking. Chris and rest closely followed behind and another valet took their car. It was pointless to wait for Mike and his parents standing outside, so we decided to get ourselves a table and wait inside. Mike and his family didn't take much long either. When he arrived he introduced everyone happily. Chris even shook hands with his father with a slight smile. But once dinner started his expressions reverted back to his usual slight frown that he has been carrying since Kate announced she'd be marrying Mike. We all wanted to support Kate in her special time but we just couldn't bring our hearts to support her fully because all of us knew that she belonged with Leon and if Sam could speak, he would have said the same thing. It doesn't take a genius to see that she still loves Leon, because if she didn't she would have been smiling wholeheartedly through all this.

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 the country).