A/N: I am really grateful to all the readers for showing their patience and support to this story. I would also like to thank Adela and the anonymous reviewer for leaving their reviews; and since you two asked about the sequel, I'd like to tell you that I won't me making one and I am really sorry about that. Maybe I'd write and upload more stories with the same pair, since Kate has become more or signature character for me.

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

Chapter 42

(Leon's POV)

I woke up to the sounds of a crying baby and as I got aware of my surroundings, I realized that I wasn't even in my house let alone my bedroom. I sat up trying to figure out where I was but the crying baby again drew my attention. I looked in the direction of the sound; the sounds were coming from a crib in the room. As I was about to lift myself up from the loveseat to aid the baby, Kate hurried into the room. She moved to the crib and took the baby in her arms comforting him. Seeing her and baby made me remember the last night, she and I were trying to put Chris's baby to sleep, so I could head back home but I don't how or when I fell asleep. I was either too tired or the surroundings were too comforting and relaxing.

"Quiet down my baby, see you woke up Leon", Kate spoke to the baby but it wasn't like that it would make him stop crying, "Mom's in shower and Dad's on the phone with Aunt Claire", she talked to the baby again in a very comforting tone, "But aunt Kate is here!", she rocked the baby a bit and it quieted down, "You got scared, didn't you?", she cuddled the baby and it laughed a little, "Good morning!", she wished me, "And Merry Christmas!"
"Good Morning and Merry Christmas!", I wished her back.
"Had a nice sleep?", she asked me with a smile.
"More or less", I replied, my body felt a little sore from sleeping on the couch but it wasn't really the first time it happened.
"Why don't you freshen upstairs in my room and then have breakfast with us?", she suggested.
"No, I'll be heading home", I told her looking for my shoes, "there's barely time for me to have a shower and head for work; I can't possibly squeeze in breakfast."
"You have work?", she asked in confirmation but she didn't sound much surprised and I just nodded in reply putting on my shoes.

"Chris said baby woke up", Jill entered the room in a little bit of panic.
"Yeah here, he seems a little hungry", Kate told her handing over the baby.
"Merry Christmas, Kennedy!", Jill wished me noticing that I was awake.
"Same to you as well", I wished her as well.
"Good for you my baby slept well last night as well, huh?", she commented starting to leave the room.
"Yeah", I could only say, standing up and watching her leave. My eyes drifted to look at Kate and we stared at each other briefly, before I said, "I should be going", and she gave me an understanding nod.

"KATE!", Chris yelled at top of his lungs, even before I could start to move.
"Coming", Kate yelled back and we both moved to head out.
Kate hurried to join Chris who again yelled, "KATE!", as we reached the living room.
"What?", Kate asked moving to him and he looked at her, what seemed to be angrily. I was supposed to be heading my way but my feet didn't move, sensing danger.
"This came", he held out an envelope to Kate. Kate took it and checked the content, it had an air ticket and passport in her name, "Mind explaining what that is?", Chris asked her, crossing his arms like a father.
Her expression solidified, "An air ticket and my passport", she replied.

"I can see that!", Chris yelled moving to her, "You're moving to London after getting married?!"
"Yes", she replied in confirmation and I felt a searing pain knowing that she'd be moving away.
"And you didn't bother to tell us?!", Chris said in what seemed to be a hurt and surprised tone.
"What is there to tell?", Kate said casually, "Mike got a great job there and so we'll be moving there. You don't expect me to stay and work here when my husband's in a different country."
"What about us? Are we not your family?!", Chris said to her.
"Chris, in this age of technology it's not much alright. I'll call you daily and we'd try to visit sometimes too", Kate tried to reason with him.
"It's just not the same", Chris said to her.

"What's all the fuss about?", Jill said stepping in the room with baby.
"She's moving to England after her marriage", Chris told her.
"Is it true, Kate?", Jill asked her in confirmation in an evident tone of surprise.
"Yes", Kate replied nodding.
"Why didn't you tell us?", Jill asked her more calmly than Chris, "And did you know it before Mike proposed to you?"
"Yes, I was fully aware that after wedding we'd be moving to London and that's partially the reason we wanted to get married as soon as possible", Kate explained to her family.
"I can't believe that you hid such a big thing from us", Chris said to her and Jill just seemed too shocked to even comment.
"I am sorry", Kate apologized to him.

"Sorry is not going to cut it you know", Chris said sounding really hurt. They looked at each other and then Chris shook his head with a sigh of disbelief, "If that's what you want then have it your way. I won't stop you but don't expect my help anymore."
"Chris…", Jill tried to say something but Chris raised a hand to stop her.
"I'll only do so much as walk you to the groom and that's it, don't expect anything anymore", Chris said in a determined tone.
"If that makes you feel better then I won't force you, you've already done enough", Kate said and moved out of the living room.
"That brat!", Chris flared at her and moved out as well.
"Chris!", Jill called after him, "I'll talk to him. You go talk to her, Kennedy", she sort of ordered me following Chris.

I was getting late and it was none of my business what happens in this house and I wasn't obliged to follow Jill's order either, but even then I felt that I should try and talk to Kate and make some sense to her irrationality. I moved to the entrance hall and up the stairs to Kate's room, where she supposedly walked to. I knocked on the door and then let myself inside her room. Kate was sitting on the bed looking down on the tickets and it didn't take a genius to figure out that it was hard for her to leave her family like this, and that her heart wasn't totally into it. She sighed and shoved the tickets in the envelope as I walked to her. I took a seat in front of her and she spared me a weak fake smile.

I didn't know what to say or how to begin but I had to start somewhere and so I said, "Chris really seemed hurt, you know?"
"He'd get over it", Kate said with a sigh keeping the envelope in her bedside drawer.
"It's not the point and you know that", I said to her and she looked at me.
"So what's the point?", Kate asked me acting oblivious.
"Kate, you're not like this. You don't want to leave…", I was saying when she cut me in between.
"I do want to leave", she said to me emphatically and I felt as if I was stabbed right in the heart, "Chris is happy with his son and wife. Claire is really doing very well in her married life. They don't need me", she paused for a moment, "For what reason should I stay here?", it felt she was asking me to give her a reason to stay.
"They need you as a sister, Kate", I gave her the reason.

Kate let out a brief sarcastic laugh, "That's not a good enough reason to be here anymore, Leon", she said sounding hurt, "And besides in this age of technology I won't be that unreachable and we could always stay connected even if we are physically at two different ends of the world. Plus it's not like that I won't visit them at all."
"Kate, you loved your family and now…" I took a pause, "you moving like this would break their hearts", I got straight to the point as I felt my own heart getting shattered.
"I still love them, Leon", She looked at me with teary eyes, "It's… it's just that I started loving someone more than my family. I know it breaks their hearts but it's not easy for me either", she sobbed shaking her head as tears streamed down her face.
"And that's why I am asking you to stay", I made my point as my eyes burnt to cry too.
"Don't ask me to stay, Leon", she shook her head crying, "I can't… I can't stay here anymore. DC is a wonderful, wonderful place and I love this place but I don't want to be here no more. I just can't stand this place anymore, it's suffocating and it just pains me to breath in this air. Every moment that I spend here, I am on brink of losing my mind. I need a change of air, Leon", she cried even more, "I need to get away from here and that's what you want too, to get away from me."
"I just want you to be happy, Kate", I told her the truth, feeling a painful lump in my throat, "Have a good married life!", I wished her standing up and starting to leave.

"Leon!", she called out my name as I grabbed the door handle, "I know you won't come but my wedding is on January 1st, hope to see you there… for the last time."
"I'll be there", I could only say in response and pulled open the door. Chris and Jill were standing outside, probably listening to our conversation, "I am sorry I couldn't convince her to stay."

They didn't say anything and I didn't bother to stay back to listen to them, if they had something to say. I walked down the stairs and out of the house with Shadow following me closely and silently. I got in the car and hit the steering wheel as hard as I could. Kate was right; this is what I want, this is what I always wished for, for her to get married to a guy she loves and move on with her life, so then why it makes me feel so angry, restless, sad and heartbroken at the same time. Maybe I never thought that she'd move as far away as to UK. I always assumed she'd stay in DC, where I could always watch over her and know how's she doing from our common links but if she moves to UK, I'd even lose that fine bond that I had with her.

I couldn't help but laugh at the irony of it all. I wanted her to be happy but all I did was made her cry. I wanted her to be safe and all I did was hurt her. I wanted her to stay but not with me. I hit the steering wheel again and Shadow whined as if concerned and this time I didn't have anything to say to him or to my heart to fool them. I knew this day would come when I'd no longer be able to fool my heart and end up feeling miserable. It just came earlier than expected and I just wasn't prepared to face it. I had no idea how to deal with this and just then my phone rang. I looked at it, it was Hunnigan calling like usual.

'Well there is always work to get absorbed into', I thought and took the call, "Kennedy", I answered.
"Leon, you are late", she spoke on the phone.
"Yeah I apologize. I'd be there in an hour", I told her looking at my watch.
"An hour and not later than that", she said with a sigh.
"Thanks", I thanked her.
"Well its Christmas so I can give you a slack", she said a little joyfully for herself, "Anyways see you then."
"Yeah", and with that I disconnected the call.

I started the engine and headed for home. I was still feeling miserable but that was something I called upon myself. Kate was already trying to forget me and so I should try my best as well, and what's better than work to get yourself deluded in and forget about other stuff. All I had to do was stay strong, like I've been until now and things would sort themselves out. I had a life before Kate and it won't stop if she moves to UK. It would be hard for me to see her go but all I have to do was skip the wedding, it's not like she has too many hopes on me showing up or I hadn't lied to her before.

(Kate's POV)

I got down the bags so I could pack my things, the day after tomorrow I'd be leaving for UK and since tomorrow is my wedding there won't be any time left to do any packing. Chris still didn't want me to go and usually he finds it hard to stick to his words when it came to me and Claire, but this time he was determined not to really help me out with my wedding. Even so it wasn't much of a trouble since he had already done most of his part and there was hardly anything left to take care of and whatever was left, it was Mike's mom's share of work. Claire was staying here till the wedding to help out, and with Jill had tried countless times to make Chris more warmer towards me by trying to emotionally blackmail him in many ways but Chris was doing a really good job in keeping his ground. I wanted to leave DC being on good terms with everyone but I knew Chris was too much hurt and it won't be easy for him to forgive me for hiding about my moving to London. I was more than glad that he would at least walk me to the groom.

I opened my wardrobe and realized there were just too many things and I just couldn't take all of it. So I began separating them into two piles, the things that I would take and the ones that I would leave behind. I started with my personal belongings; books, jewelry, shoes etc. and it took me so much time because I just couldn't decide which things I really wanted and which things were more important, so it took all of my morning sorting those things. Once I was done with it I moved to sort my clothes, which was a much easier job since it only took me a look at them to know if I'd be taking or leaving them.

'Dress from Claire, a must take… Jill's got a really good taste, definitely going with me. Mike's choice… ah… not really my type leave back', I thought as tossed it in the pile. I skimmed through more of my dresses and then there was that beautiful dress that Leon got me, "Should leave this behind", I muttered tossing it next to the dress Mike got for me.

I looked at the rest of the dresses that were hanging in the wardrobe, wondering if they were worthy enough to go along with me. And then my eyes fell on something among my clothes that didn't belong there. My hand literally froze over it and for a moment I contemplated if I should take it out or leave it there, but my body moved on its own and my hand grabbed the leather pulling it out of the wardrobe. It was Leon's Jacket, which he had given me to keep myself warm and which I had totally forgotten about. I hadn't heard from Leon or about Leon after Christmas and I wasn't expecting to hear from him either, for all I know it was the last time that I saw him. And as that thought ran across my mind I suddenly felt cold and before I knew I was hugging that jacket. I felt tear run down my face and I realized I was crying. I dried my tears just in time as someone knocked and opened my room door.

"Hey need some help?", Claire entered the room smiling but her smile faltered and she asked, "You alright?"
"Yeah I am fine", I told her smiling looking away keeping Leon's jacket aside, "and yes I need help packing my stuff", I said picking up the pile of clothes that needs to be packed.
"Is this jacket for Mike?", Claire asked me noticing it, "looks really great!"
"No, it's Leon's", I told her starting to fold my clothes and put them in the bag, "Can you put those books in that bag?"
"Oh", Claire said in realization, "What is it doing here?", she asked carrying my books to the bag I pointed out earlier.
"I forgot to hand it back to him, can you do that some time later?", I asked her casually.
"Yeah, yeah sure", Claire said. We didn't talk much after that and got busy with packing stuff, the few words we exchanged were about what stuff was packed in which bag or to ask each other to pass stuff.

We both stopped when my phone started to ring and we tried to figure it out where it was among my other things and luckily we didn't had to search much since it was lying on bed, "It's Mike", I told Claire smiling.
"He probably can't wait to get married now", she said as I took the call smiling at her comment.
"Hey Mike!", I spoke on the phone sitting on the bed taking a break from all the packing.
"Hey babe, what're you up to?", he asked me.
"I am packing my bags", I told him, "What about you, you got your packing done?"
"Yeah a little of it is left but most of it is done", he told me and then I heard his mom say something to him, "Oh Mom's asking if you got the wedding dress?"
"Yeah got it the day before yesterday", I told him and he told it to his mom.
"It's fitting nicely or not?", he asked me on behalf of his mom again.
"Yes it's all nice and pretty", I told him and he conveyed it to his mother.

"So anyways I didn't call for that", Mike said dismissively.
"So what then?", I asked him casually.
"Make a guess", he said sounding pretty excited.
I really drew up a blank; I had no clue what it could be about, "Mike, don't play games, just tell me already", I played safe trying not to upset my groom just a day before the wedding with my wrong guesses.
"I am at the chapel, where our wedding is supposed to take place, and the decoration just looks awesome", he told me, "I wish you could see this place, your brother really chose a great place and with my mom's taste of decoration this place looks amazing. Our wedding is going to be such a success!", he spoke really fast; usually it's the brides that are excited about their weddings and here my groom was more excited than me about it.

"Calm down, why are you ruining all the surprise for yourself?", I couldn't help but ask with a laugh.
"Well I just can't wait to get married to you", he told me happily, "I am really looking forward to tomorrow. I just hope nothing goes wrong and it could be a wedding that we would remember for years to come."
"Yeah", I said with a slight smile and I again heard Mike's mom say something to him.
"Hey I have to go now, mom's a little cranky about me not helping her with decoration, so see you tomorrow", he said to me.
"Yeah see you tomorrow", I said and he disconnected the call.

"He's pretty excited huh?", Claire said trying to tease me, the moment I pulled the phone away from my ear.
"Of course after all he'd be getting me as a wife", I said being a little snob about it and we both laughed.
"You're such a calm bride. I was really nervous the day before my wedding", Claire said to me.
"Oh I am nervous alright", I told her, "I don't know if this would work out or not", I spoke out my fears, "I mean… what if I wasn't a good wife or something."
"You'd be a great wife!", Claire said throwing an arm around my shoulder warmly, "Can't say the same about Mike though", she muttered audibly again teasing me.
"Hey", I said pretending to be offended a little and threw a pillow at her.

"Oh hey look", Claire said suddenly pointing out the window, "It's snowing!"
"Yeah!", I said in surprise, seeing the white flakes.
"You always wished for a snow wedding, isn't that great!", Claire said happily.
"Yeah at least one of my wishes came true", I said with a smile.
"Hey lunch's ready", Jill said opening the door with the smile.
"Just in time I was really hungry", Claire said getting up and I followed her to the last lunch that I'd be having with my family.

We all sat down to have lunch together and for a change Chris wasn't that much distant to me like he was for past couple of days, maybe his will was deterring as the time for my departure drew near. Whatever the reason I was really glad about this change. After lunch, we did some more packing and whatever time I had left I spent it with my family, well more correctly speaking, with Sam. The snow storm really took up pace and by the dinner time; everything was covered in snow more or less. Chris got happy and even commented that now the wedding would be canceled, but much to his dismay I reminded him that there was no possibility of it happening since both the ceremony and party is taking indoors and not outdoors, so even the snow wasn't enough to stop this wedding.

A/N: Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed the chapter and I apologize for all the grammatical mistakes and typos, if there were any. See you all next week with the final installment of the story!