A/N: I'm writing this as a challenge to my own writing skills, which have changed dramatically since this was first written. I'm more mature and so is my writing style, so I want to explore this story through a more mature eye. This is a story that I always look back at fondly and I think that it deserves to be re-written. I want to recreate scenes and explore new ones. I want to dedicate time into exploring the relationship between Wesker and Claire, and without changing the overall story, I have ideas for new scenes that I want to explore, while also building on the old ones.
I hope that you enjoy taking this journey with me!
Chapter One
Claire sighed and leaned her head back against the seat. She closed her eyes as the air from the air conditioner above her hit her face, it was a refreshing distraction from the stuffy air of the plane. The plane. She smiled. She was sitting on a plane headed for Las Angeles, where she would be taking a small vacation. Chris, Leon and Jill were coming with her, which surprised her. It was hard enough organising to meet them for a coffee, let alone connect with the three for a combined holiday. Her lips tugged up as she thought about when she had organized the holiday, Chris had, surprisingly, been easy to coerce into coming. Once she had Jill on board with her, Chris had quickly agreed. She was glad for Jill; she was good for Chris.
Leon. She inwardly rolled her eyes. Leon had been harder to convince than Chris had been. The main reason being, because he had refused to answer his phone whenever she had called him. Given that he would usually answer or call her back, she had been both annoyed and worried. After several days of failed calls, and calls that she was sure that he had hung up on her for several of them, she had left him a message. A highly passive aggressive message where she detailed what she was going to do to him if he didn't answer her.
In her message, she had also relayed that while she understood that he may be busy, but if he wasn't on a job, she apologised for her constant phone calls, but considering that his personal phone was never turned on when he was a work, she knew that he had no reason to be ignoring her. She had then moved on to explaining that she just wanted to organize a holiday for the people that she cared about, and that as he was one of those people, she wanted to include him. He deserved a holiday as much as any of them. He had called her back some ten minutes later, apologised for ignoring her and agreed to join her.
His only condition being that their holiday did not take place anywhere near Spain, citing a need to 'be away from the place', as his reason. Curiosity had piqued her, and she had enquired as to what his problem with Spain was. This had led him to describing to her, in as much detail as he was legally able to, just what wrong with Spain. His descriptions of what had occurred during his mission were vague and were she not someone who had experienced outbreaks, she would have missed the hidden messages, his quiet ways of telling her. She was, however, someone who had experiences BOW outbreaks, and she was clever enough to see through his wordless messages- what he had said without saying it, and she understood. Spain had, very quickly, dropped off her current and future list of holiday destinations.
Las Angeles, however, was mostly safe. At least, nothing had happened to them there, so it was less likely to trigger any of their remaining trauma emotions.
She let out another sigh and glanced to the centre row, behind hers, to Leon. Her brows quirked up as she caught him sleeping. She was surprised, a plane did not seem like a place where he would feel relaxed. At least, she had been unable to relax in the time that they had been on the plane, so it was surprising that rest found him so easily. However, given the quality of the in-flight movie, perhaps he had simply forced himself to sleep- there were only so many hours that one could watch silly romance movies where the two main love interests were completely toxic with each other. She rolled her eyes as she glanced at the little television on the back of the seat in front of her- how hard was it for two people to simply communicate with each other?
As her stomach made a sound, she entertained asking one of the attendants for something to eat, especially when she caught sight of the man across from her eating from a bag of cheese puffs. She let out a small huff, they looked delicious. The lady beside the man reached into his bag and took some of the puffs before giving the man a kiss on his cheek. Claire smiled, they were sweeter than the in-flight movie. At the thought of blossoming romances, she glanced to Chris and Jill, who were seated a few rows behind her, and caught them leaning close to each other and whispering about something. She wished that she was a little closer, so that she could have a cheeky eavesdrop, but alas, it wasn't meant to be.
Tearing her eyes away from the pair, she continued her look around the plane. She had a book, a good book, a long book that she probably should have been reading instead of staring at the other passengers, but she couldn't find the energy to read her book. Her eyes latched onto a girl, possibly about six, sitting on the window seat in the row across from her. She frowned, she had seen the girl before, when they had first gotten onto the plane and had been concerned for the little girl in the white dress. She eyed the blonde girl who was completely alone. Her carry-on bag resting in the chair beside her with a teddy bear. The girl seemed to be drawing in a book and swaying her feet from side to side as she did so, her white shoes catching Claires attention, they were a lovely pair of buckled shoes.
What was a child her age doing on a plane without a parent? What person would leave their child alone on a plane? A wave of anger washed over her as she watched the girl lift her head and glance around the plane, the girl was adorable. What if something happened to her? She sucked in a breath and paused, perhaps she had just missed the child's caregiver? Perhaps she had simply missed seeing an adult? Her lips tightened. She doubted it, she had been routinely glancing at the girl and had not seen any changes to the scene before her. The girl's shoulders dropped, and she leaned back in her chair, turning her attention away from her drawing and to the in-flight movie.
She took que from the girl and turned her attention to the movie. She watched without paying attention to the story, too distracted from worry for the girl to be able to pay attention to the film- though from what she had been paying attention to, she made a mental note to watch it again with a tub of ice cream, alone in her bed.
After about an hour, she felt her worry for the girl increase, as well as a protective feeling. She felt sorry for the girl. She had long given up any chances of her having someone with her, in the time that she had been watching, the only adults who had approached her were the flight attendants who offered her snacks. Each time the girl had politely declined- what child declines snacks? As Claire thought about it, she had realised that she hadn't seen the girl eat, she hoped that she wasn't hungry.
She wanted to walk over to the girl and offer to sit with her. The only reason that she didn't, was because it would have looked strange, some strange lady going and sitting with a little girl that she didn't know. The last thing anyone needed was Claire being held in detention for acting like a creeper, or some child trafficker- at that thought, a chill passed her. She hoped that the girl was alright.
Closing her eyes, she snuggle into her uncomfortable seat and attempted to sleep. After a few moments she huffed and twisted, turning to her other side, after another pause, she turned back to her original position. She opened her eyes and her lips tightened. Each time she tried to sleep her brain flashed with images of the girl, of something happening to her. She wanted to sleep! She glanced at the girl who had moved back to her drawing- she was fine, there was no reason to worry.
Tearing her eyes from the girl, she looked back to Leon who was still sleeping comfortably in the chair. How he was able to sleep so comfortably was beyond her. She felt a smile tug at her lips at how peaceful Leon looked. He always seemed tired or stressed, it was very rare for her to see him looking completely relaxed, it was nice. He deserved the peace. Her eyes slid to Chris and Jill, who had followed Leon's suite, and had fallen asleep. She grinned as she observed that they had lifted the arm dividing their seats so that they could snuggle together. It was cute, they were cute.
She wished that she could sleep, but as her earlier attempts had told her, sleep was something that would continue to elude her- hopefully she would be able to rest when they arrived at their hotel room. In an attempt to find something to entertain her, she pulled herself from her chair and reached for her carry bag that was in the above compartments. When she found her bag, she fumbled looking for the puzzle books that lay inside. Collecting her prize, she turned to sit back in her seat. She paused, then turned to look at the little girl whom she had been watching. She was still alone, and had moved away from her drawings and had returned to watching the movie. Her lips pursed and she wondered if she would be able to offer the girl some company, perhaps the girl would like to do some puzzles?
She mulled on her options for a few moments. Were she to approach the girl, there was potential that the girl would be frightened by her, that she would call for help and that Claire would be seen as a creeper who targets children. There was, however, the chance that the girl would see Claire for what she was, a person worried about her. There was potential that the girl would like another person to talk to, some company on the long flight. Sucking a breath through her nostrils, she sent a quick prayer to whomever was listening that she did not get accused of being a kidnapper and made her way towards the girl.
"Hello." She said, catching the girl's attention.
The girl jumped, shocked, and turned her head to her. Wide, bright green eyes met with Claire's blue ones. There was a silence between the two as the girl looked up at her with a deer-at-headlights expression. Doubt formed in Claire's gut as she assessed her options for fleeing the scenario. She should mind her own business, leave the girl alone and get back to her seat.
The girl's expression shifted; her lips curled into a smile, but her eyes still regarded her warily. "Hello." She answered.
Claire lifted her hand, the one free from her puzzle book to her chest. "I'm Claire, what's your name?" she asked. She should excuse herself; she could see one of the attendants watching her, but something inside her told her to keep talking to the girl. That the girl needed a friendly face.
"I'm Annabelle." The girl replied cautiously, before suddenly blurting out. "But no one calls me that, my Daddy calls me Belle."
Claire noticed the way the girl's legs swung faster as she mentioned her father. She seemed excited at the mention of him. It was cute. "Belle." She tested the name. It suited the girl. Whoever the girls father was, the name he had picked for her was a good one.
The girl's father. Claire took another quick glance around the plane. None of the other passengers seemed to be paying Belle any attention, surely if the girls father- or any other parental figure- was on the plane, they would have been paying close watch to her talking to their child. Which raised the question, where was her parental figure? Where was her father? She looked down at the girl, who was watching her curiously.
"Do you mind if I sit with you?" She had no idea how the words pushed themselves out of her mouth, but they were out there now, she had said them.
Tilting her head in response, the girl seemed to ponder her options. She suddenly shifted, turning to grasp her carry bag. "You can sit with me." She grunted as she lifted her bag. The bag proved difficult for her to put on the floor in front of her. She grunted as she pushed it, trying to wedge it past the gap between her chair and the one in front of her. After a few pushes, it landed to the floor with a small thud. She collected her teddy into her arms and held it in her lap. "Here." she nodded to the empty chair.
Last chance to leave the thought left just as quickly as it came, and Claire found herself sitting in the seat next to her. "Thank you for letting me sit with you." She smiled at the girl. "Belle," she tilted her head questioningly. When the girl hummed, she continued. "Where's your dad? Are you alone here?"
Belle bit her bottom lip and her brows creased. "Daddy's waiting for me at the airport." She worked her lip. "I'm, I'm alone on the plane." She clutched her teddy to her chest and let out a sound.
The sound that the girl made sent a shot straight to Claire's heart. She felt for the girl, she must have been part of a separated family, but even still, what parent would allow their child to ride on a plane by themselves? If the girl was a little older, perhaps, but she looked at least six, there was no way that she would allow a child so young fly by herself. What if Claire had been a creeper? What if something happened to the girl? No. Claire was much to paranoid for that sort of thing.
"Are you parents separated?" Claire asked carefully.
The girl shook her head in response. "Nope, my mummy's dead." Her reply was calm, completely relaxed, as though she had said it many times before and there were no real feelings behind her words. "She died when I was born."
Guilt washed over Claire, despite the girls calm countenance, she hoped that she had not brought up painful memories or feelings. "I'm sorry." She offered the girl a smile, trying to make it feel as warm as possible. The last thing she wanted was to make the girl upset.
Belle shook her head. "It's okay," her lips curled into a bright smile. "As long as I have Daddy, then everything's alright!" her face seemed to light up as she talked about her father, but not just her face, her whole demeanor as well, she seemed happy.
"Why aren't you with him now?" she was prying, asking too many questions, but she couldn't help herself. "Don't you live with him?"
Shaking her head, Belle clutched the bear closer to her chest, taking comfort from its warmth. Claire watched as the girl's expression shifted, where she had been happy when talking about her father, she was suddenly now sad- no, she was anxious? Claire wanted to tell her to stop, that she did not have to talk about anything that made her uncomfortable, especially to a stranger such as herself. she was cut off by the girl before the words left her mouth.
"Daddy's work." She bit her lip. "Because of Daddy's work… I can't live with him." she squeezed the bear tighter. "I have to live with my mum's sister and her husband."
Claire caught the way that the girl seemed to shut into herself at the mention of her aunt and uncle. What had happened to her with them? An idea began to take hold, perhaps her family were not very kind- at least her Aunt and Uncle were not, from the energy that the girl gave off at the mention of them, especially when compared to her father. Even the terms that she used for them spoke volumes. What child refers to family as "mum's sister and her husband"?
"Your Aunt and Uncle?" Claire asked for clarification.
Belle shook her head, her fingers brushed through the worn fur of the teddy. "By blood only. Me and dem don't get elong." Her voice was deadly serious, and despite her mispronunciation of two words that Claire would have normally found cute, caused Claire to inch back. In that moment, the girl seemed like someone else, someone scary.
Her lips pursed. "You don't get along?" she pressed.
The girl shook her head again. "Nope." She popped the 'p', and her legs swung lightly as she spoke. Her feet sped up in their movements and she continued to worry her fingers through the bears fur. "They only let me live… live with them because of my mummy…"
Claire noticed that the bear seemed worn in the spot that Belle ran her fingers through. Clearly the bear had been with her through some things. At the sound of a sniff, her eyes snapped to the girls face, her eyes locking onto the girl's watery eyes and the tears prickling at the corner of her eyes. She frowned, she wished that she could pull the girl into a cuddle, she seemed to need one. However, she understood that that was probably not the best decision, so she instead reached out and placed her hand on the girl's shoulder.
"It's okay," she grinned. "You get to see Daddy soon!" she let some excitement slip into her voice. It was worth it, for the grin that took the girl's face at her words.
Belle squeezed her bear tighter, pulling the creature to her chest in a tight squeeze. "You're right!" she laughed. "I love seeing Daddy, he always makes it the best week ever!"
Claire paused. Her brows creased. "Only a week?" she breathed.
The girl nodded solemnly. "Only a week." She repeated. Her feet swung fast for a brief moment, before slowing down. "Every month, Daddy takes a week off work to spend time with me." She squeezed her bear again. "I wish that it was more, but my time with Daddy always makes it the best week ever!" she grinned and bounced in her seat.
"What do you do in your week with your dad?" Claire asked. From the way the girl lit up at the mention of her father, she could only imagine the fun times that she had with him.
Belle licked her lips. "Well…" Her eyes rolled up as she thought. "Daddy sometimes takes me to the movies-" she jumped in her seat. "- he buys me lots of popcorn and chocolate!" her feet kicked excitedly. "Sometimes he takes me to the park," her teeth flashed as she grinned. "he chases me and goes down the slide with me! He also pushes me real high on the swing!"
Claire felt her lips pull up further as she pictured the girl playing happily in the park with her father. She imagined a man who looked like her, a happy man who grinned as he chased her. "Your dad sounds like he loves you very much." She said. It was nice to see a girl who loved her father as much as Annabelle. It reminded her of herself with Chris.
Belle nodded in agreement. "He's never said it, but I know he does."
Claire frowned. "Sorry, what do you mean?" her father had never told her that he loved her? From the way that the girl spoke of him, the idea that he had never said that to her seemed completely unbelievable.
Belle shook her head. "That's what Daddy is like," she said simply. "He doesn't talk about how he feels, but I can see it in his eyes. He loves me."
Claire could not believe the level of maturity that she was seeing in the girl before her. There were adults that she knew who would not be able to comprehend the idea that the girl was suggesting. The idea that a person can show something through actions, or expressions, rather than using words. She wasn't sure if it was normal for a six-year-old to have that level of comprehension, but she could see that the girl had the ability to do so, and if she were to hazard a guess, she would link it to time spent with her father.
Belle kicked her feet impatiently. "I wish this plane would hurry up!" she smacked her fist on the chair. "I just wanna see Daddy!" her lips pursed, and she twisted her neck so that she could look out the window. When all she could see was clouds, she turned her attention back to Claire.
Claire huffed out a chuckle and looked around. She glanced at the puzzle book that she had brought with her, perhaps she should offer to share it with the girl, if for no other reason than for something to do. As she moved to give her attention back to Belle, her eyes caught the initials on the girl's bag. A.W. rationally, she knew it was silly, but she could not help the way that her mind latched of an image of a man who haunted her brother, a man who had down horrible things, a man with red eyes.
"Annabelle," at the girl's hum, she looked up to the girl who was watching her curiously. "I don't think I've introduced myself properly," she pressed a hand to her chest. "I'm Claire Redfield, and you?"
The girl offered her a wry smile before placing her own hand to her chest. "My name is Annabelle Whittman, nice to meet you."
Claire felt a gush of relief wash over her, relief, and embarrassment. Embarrassed that she had felt so paranoid at her thoughts. Perhaps she needed the holiday more than she had thought, if a little girl's initials were reminding her of Rockfort, of him, then she really needed some time for rest, quiet reflection, and a massage. If none of those worked, then perhaps she should consider therapy. At least the girl hadn't thought her actions weird, the last thing she wanted was to make the situation awkward, or the girl uncomfortable.
"So," she began, moving the subject away from her own paranoia and the memories that it brought back to her. "Do you know what you and your daddy are going to do this week? Or is it a surprise?"
"It's a surprise." Belle answered easily. "I hope he takes me back to his house, back home." her eyes went bright and held a contagious happiness that Claire was quickly catching.
"Home?" Claire prompted. It was nice, listening to the girl talk about her life. About her father and the things in her life that make her happy. Claire felt a wave of nostalgia. She had once been like this girl, she had once been this bright.. before Umbrella, before Raccoon city. She pushed back the dark thoughts that prodded at back of her mind.
Belle nodded. "Yup-yup, Daddy always pick me up at the airport we're going now when he's going to take me home. We ride a helicopter home, though sometimes he takes me to a hotel for the night- he lets me order food if we do." She shook her head. "But I want to go home right away today, I miss my bed- I miss my doggy."
"You have a dog?"
Belle nodded excitedly. "His name is Licker and he's the biggest and fluffiest and bestest puppy in the whole world!"
Claire resisted the urge to blanch. "Licker?" she repeated, her smile going tight. Memories flashed through her. Memories of a large, red, creature and a long tongue.
Belle nodded again and bounced in her chair. "I love Licker, he's such a good boy!" she pulled a face. "I wish he wouldn't slobber as much though." She kicked her feet excitedly. "I'm so excited to go home! there's so many games to play, like uno and monopoly!" she leaned forwards and held her hand to the side of her mouth in a conspiring way. "Though, I don't think daddy likes monopoly that much, cause I always win."
"You do?" Claire giggled. She loved it when parents pretended to be bad at a game so that their children could win. She hadn't even met the man but she had a feeling that she would get along with Belle's father. From the way that the girl talked about him, he sounded like such a nice man.
Belle covered her mouth and chuckled into her hand. "Daddy get's so grumpy!" she laughed. "He sits in his chair sulking whenever I win!" she suddenly sat up straight with a serious expression. "He's such a baby sometimes."
Claire grinned and leaned back into the chair. While her father may have been losing on purpose to her, from the description that Belle was giving, her father sounded like Chris. Claire could remember a time when she was little, and Chris used to do the same for her. Her father had never had the time to sit with her and play, whereas Chris had. Chris had pretended to lose and had put on dramatic displays of being upset to make her laugh. She loved hearing about the girl and her father. There was love there. She could tell.
Suddenly, the girl stopped in her laughter and let out a yawn. Her body arched forwards as she stretched with her yawn. The girl was tired. She could hardly blame her. It had been a long flight and there was still time left before they would reach the airport. She watched as the moment Belle finished yawning, another yawn pushed its way past her lips.
"Why don't you get some sleep?" Claire suggested with a smile. "I can wake you up when we get to the airport?"
Belle rubbed at her eyes before turning her tired, green eyes to Claire. "Can you stay with me Claire?" she asked quietly.
Claire felt something inside her melt at the question. "Yes, yes of course." She watched as the girl lifted the arm of the chair between the two seats.
"T-tank you, Claiiiiirre…." She trailed off with a long yawn before snuggling next to Claire.
Claire blinked as the girl snuggled into her side and she adjusted herself so that the girl could make herself comfortable. After several adjustments, she eventually found herself settled into the chair with Belle's head snuggled into her side and her arm holding the girl securely. She watched as the girl clutched at her teddy with one arm, and Claire's hand with the other. She could hardly believe what was happening. The girl had only just met Claire and she was comfortable enough to snuggle with her. She remembered Belle talking about the family that she lived with, and her heart ached. The girl was possibly touch starved and wanting some kindness. She brushed her hand along the top of the girl's head and felt something in her stomach clench as the girl snuggled closer to her.
She smiled softly and leaned back into the chair, her eyes closing gently as she felt herself finally relaxing. A few seats away, Leon, who had been watching the pair for some time, smiled. Claire was such a good person, always looking out for others, especially children. She was going to make a good mother one day.
X
"Annabelle." Claire's voice was soft, gentle, as her hand gently pushed against the girl's shoulder. The plane had come to a stop. They had finally arrived at the airport. The other passengers were shuffling off the plane and Claire had taken the opportunity to wake the girl while waiting for the plane to clear. She leaned down as the sounds of the other passengers became louder. "It's time to wake up." She gently pushed the girl again.
The girl's eyes twitched and she shuffled closer into the chair. Her arms clutched at the bear as she shifted away from Claire. Claire raised her brow with a roll her eyes. With a wry smile she brushed the girl's hair out of her face before placing a hand on her shoulder and rocking her again. "Come on Belle, I know you're awake."
"Claire," Claire jumped and turned to see Leon looking down at her. "everything okay?"
A quick glance around the plane told Claire that the three of them were the last passengers left. That had been a quick transition. She looked back down at the 'sleeping' girl, rolled her eyes again, and turned her attention back to Leon who was studying the sleeping girl. She was taken back to when they had both cared for Sherry together, it had been so long ago now, so long that Sherry would be an adult by now… she frowned. She wondered how Sherry was doing, the last that she had heard, she had been taken to a safe family and was being well cared for, she would like to find out. She made a mental note to see if Chris or Leon could find out for her.
"We're okay." She answered Leon's question. "Just a bit sleepy. I'll be out in a few." When Leon looked as though he was going to say something, she continued. "Go on, it's alright." When he nodded, she watched his retreating back before turning back to the sleeping child.
With a groan, Annabelle's eyes blinked rapidly. Her face scrunched as she opened her eyes. Blinking a few more times, she rubbed at her eyes and pulled herself up to sit. She continued to blink until her eyes locked onto Claire. For a brief moment, there seemed to be an expression of fear in her eyes, before she blinked again, and the fear was replaced with recognition.
"Hmm, Claire?" She rubbed at her eyes again.
Claire smiled and nodded. "You were sleeping," she explained. "the plane's stopped-" before she could say anything else, the girl's back straightened as she jumped in her seat.
"We're there!" she squealed. When Claire nodded again, she clapped her hands together. Excitement flashing across her face. "Let's go!" she scrambled to grab at her bag and other things. Claire collected her own things and guided her from the plane.
XXX
"Who's the kid?" Chris asked, his lips thinning. He stole a glance at Leon who was watching Claire and the girl with a soft expression. Paranoid thoughts clawed their way to the back of his mind. He tried to fight the thoughts, there was no possible way that Leon and Claire had had a child and managed to hide it from him. It was strange, however, that Claire had insisted on inviting Leon and then had spent the flight sitting with some child. He scowled.
Jill rolled her eyes with a side grin. From the way that Chris was staring at Leon, it seemed as though he was paranoid about something to do with the child. There were days where she just did not know what to do with Chris, especially with his relationship with Claire. As damaged as it was, there was no way that she was hiding a relationship with Leon, or a secret love child, or whatever it was that put that expression on his face. She folded her arms over her chest and shook her head.
"Claire met her on the plane." Leon replied easily. He turned to look at Chris, his arms folded over his chest. "She seemed worried about her, the two sat with each other for a large portion of the flight." He grinned. "Perhaps you were too busy with Jill to notice." With a wink at Jill he turned and sashayed towards Claire.
Chris blanched, his mouth hung open in a small gape. He felt a hand pat his shoulder but did not react as Jill chuckled and stepped past him. He remained frozen in place as Jill followed after Claire, Leon and the girl who were walking towards the luggage retrieval. The three looked quite cute together, especially with the girl at their side. The girl who was looking at up Claire, laughing at whatever Claire had said. Chris remained motionless for a pause before shaking himself from his stupor. With a grumble under his breath, he shook his head and followed after the group.
When they arrived at the luggage ramp, Claire looked around, scanning for her luggage. When she could not see their luggage, she turned with a sigh. She blinked as her eyes landed on Chris. "There you are!" she chuckled. "When we got off the plane, I didn't see you guys, I assumed you'd be here," she chuckled. "Glad to know that I was right!"
Chris' nostrils expanded as he sucked in a breath. "That's because you walked off with some kid." Chris replied, sarcasm dripping from his tongue. He was tired. Even though he had napped on the plane, all he wanted was to collect their luggage, go to their hotel, and proceed to nap for a few more hours. Then when that was done, he wanted to spend some time with Jill. Maybe dinner. The last thing he wanted was to be chasing after Claire.
Claire's shoulders shook with silent laughter. "Her name is Annabelle." She clarified before pushing her hair behind her ear.
She tilted her head to get the girl's attention so that she could introduce Belle to the others. She frowned as the spot beside her was empty. Blinking, her head snapped from side to side as she rapidly scanned the airport for the girl. There were people everywhere. Where had the girl gone? Had she been picked up by her father? Had something happened to her? She was so small. Her heart hammered against her chest as she pushed past Leon. Where was she? As her breathing became heavier, she pressed her hand against her chest and let out a gush of air. She was a few meters away. She was safe. She was sitting by herself on a chair with her luggage. She was safe. A shuddering breath escaped her lips before she dashed towards her.
"I'll get your luggage!" Chris called after her. His arms crossed over his chest and his lips pursed in a pout. "Don't you worry about getting your things, there's clearly more important things." He was being bitchy; he knew that he was being bitchy. He especially knew that he was being bitchy as he watched his sister kneel beside the girl's chair.
"I overheard the girl talking about waiting for her dad." Leon explained with a shrug. He hadn't being paying too much attention to her conversation but when Claire had sat with some random child on the plane, he had taken it upon himself to at least listen to some of their conversation- as hard as that had been with the other passengers.
As Chris sent him a scowl, he shrugged again. "They seemed to get along, she probably doesn't want her waiting alone." He glanced to the luggage and smirked as his bag came through. Winking at Chris, he collected his bag and headed towards Claire and the girl.
Chri felt his lips tighten as he watched the other's retreating back. He tilted his head to Jill as she patted his shoulder. "She'll make a good mum one day." she stepped to the ramp and collected her bags before following after Leon.
"Just going to leave me here?" Chris tilted his head with a tight smile. When he received no answer but a giggle, his shoulders slumped, and he turned back to the ramp to wait for the remaining bags.
X
"Hey," Claire knelt beside the chair. Her hand clutched the arm of the chair to steady herself. "You gave me a fright." She grinned. "Thought you'd gone before saying goodbye."
Belle turned to her with a small smile. She cuddled her teddy tighter. "I'm sorry."
She slumped into the chair and looked out to the mass of people walking around. She was silent for some time, her eyes simply gazing out at the others. Claire observed her quietly. Every now and then she would look out at the people, watching as some scurried away, eager to get to their destinations, while others stopped for long and warm embraces. Whenever she glanced back at Belle, she caught the way the girl would clutch at her teddy whenever she saw the embraces. Something was bothering her. Where was her father?
"Hey," she caught the girl's attention. "where's your dad?" she grunted as she pulled herself up to stand, her knees protesting from her extended time kneeling. She was getting older, her bones weary, she inwardly rolled her eyes at her thoughts. She was hardly an old woman yet.
Belle frowned, her fingers clutching at the bear. Worry lines formed on her brow. "I don't know." She replied quietly. A sob. "He's… he's never this late…" she bit at her lip. "I hope nothing's happened."
Claire held her hand out to the girl, when she took it, she squeezed the clammy appendage. "Do you want me to stay with you?" she ran her thumb along the top of the girl's hand. "Until your dad gets here?" even if the girl said no, she would stay somewhere where she could keep an eye on the girl. Or at the very least, find an officer who could stay with her, there was no way that she was going to leave the girl alone. Especially in a busy airport where something could happen to her.
She need not have worried, with a sniff the girl nodded and squeezed her hand. "Y-yes pweese."
Claire rubbed soothing circles on the girl's hand. "It's alright." She moved to sit on the arm of the chair. "I'm not going anywhere." When the girl tried to climb into her lap, Claire pulled her up and sat on the chair so that the girl could sit with her. Belle nuzzled her head on Claire's shoulder, sniffing as Claire rubbed her shoulder gently.
"I want Daddy." Belle sobbed, nuzzling her damp face into her teddy.
Claire moved to say something, only to pause at the sound of Jill's voice. "I've got your bag for you." She turned to see Jill walking towards them, in each hand was the handle of a travel bag, the two bags rolling behind her. She wheeled the bag to the Claire and rested it against the chair. She then adjusted her own bag beside the chair.
"You did not!" Came Chris' voice from the distance. "Don't take my credit!"
Claire giggled and looked up at Jill. "Thanks, Jill."
Jill nodded in response and knelt beside the chair. She tilted her head to get a better look at the sobbing girl and sent a quick glance at Claire before turning her attention back to the girl. "Hello." She said, catching Belle's attention. "I'm Jill, what's your name?"
A sniff. "I'm Annabelle." She did not look up from her bear and seemed to press herself further at Claire- if that was possible.
Jill hummed. "That's a beautiful name." She grinned when she was awarded with a small smile. She glanced around the airport, before turning her attention back to the girl. "Where's your mommy?" she asked.
"She's dead." Belle replied simply.
Jill's eyes widened from the shock of the complete calmness of which the girl had replied to her. Claire understood, the way that she talked about her mother was so relaxed, but she also understood, if the girls mother had died when she was too young to remember then perhaps her response was completely normal. Claire could not relate however, her parents were gone, but she had known them, had loved them, but she could understand the girl.
"I'm sorry." Jill said quietly. "How did she die?"
"She died when she gave birth to me." Annabelle ran her fingers through the bears fur. From how fresh the bear looked, Claire wondered how many bears she had gone through. How many bears her father had bought her. "Daddy always said that she was happy she got to have me before she died."
Claire felt a warmth in her chest at the girl's words. That was beautiful. What a wonderful thing to say to your child. She knew that she was loved even if she never got to meet her mother. She wanted to meet the girl's father! He must have been such a wonderful, kind, and loving person to say such things to her. The girl spoke so lovingly about him. It worried her though, that someone that sounded like such a wonderful person was taking so long to pick her up. Why would he allow his child to be left alone in an airport?
"Where is your dad?" Jill asked gently.
Belle shook her head. "I don't know." Her eyes watered and she rubbed her face against the bear again. "I hope that he gets here soon." Claire hushed her gently as she let out a sob.
"Hey, hey, it's alright." Jill soothed. Her fingers twitched as though she wanted to reach out to the girl, but she refrained from doing so. "We'll wait for him with you," she pulled herself up to stand and turned to Chris and Leon who were walking towards them. "won't we?"
Chris blinked. "Okay?" he was unsure as to what he had just consented to, but from the way that Jill and his sister's faces lit up, he was sure that he must have at least made the correct decision. He stole a glance at Leon who was sniggering under his breath at him. He frowned. What had he just agreed to?
Belle sniffed. "Thank you."
X
An hour. It had been an hour since they had arrived at the airport. An hour since they had collected their luggage. An hour since they should have climbed into a cab and made their way to their hotel. Instead, they were waiting. Waiting for a father who should have collected their child. A father whose child was currently playing a game of 'eye spy' with Jill and Claire. A father who was supposed to have been waiting for their child at the airport but had not arrived, and it was now their job to supervise them. Chris crossed his arms over his chest and glared off to the people walking through the airport. Beside him, Leon was reading a book that he had picked up from the newspaper stand.
"Belle," Jill began, catching the girl's attention. "What's your father's name?"
Before Belle, or anyone could say anything, a voice cut through them. A shout. A shout that cut through the sounds of bustling people. "Son of a bitch! Wesker!" Their heads snapped to Chris who had a gun drawn and aimed to the crowd. Claire gaped, where had Chris gotten a gun from? Her eyes followed to Chris' sight, and her gut sank. She could not see his eyes, but she knew him, would know him anywhere. Wesker. It was Wesker.
Her eyes locked onto the crowd, frozen in place and staring at Chris. Leon was beside him, his own weapon drawn, Jill too- when had she moved from beside her? How did they get their weapons through the airport? To the best of her knowledge, guns and other weaponry was not allowed. In fact, if one was caught with anything that resembled a gun, they would get into serious trouble- how then, did her brother and other companions manage it? Leon she could perhaps understand, perhaps his work allowed him some sort of special permission? But the others? There was no way that Chris and Jill would be allowed a weapon without some sort of legal intervention. Perhaps Leon had offered them some sort of protection? How then, had she not noticed? Or were they about to have police on their hands and be in serious trouble?
Belle shifted in her lap. "Daddy!" she hastily moved to climb from her lap.
Claire scrambled as the girl jumped from her lap, and jumped forward, wrapping her arms around the girl's waist to prevent her from charging to the crowd. Obviously, she had spotted her father at the same time that Chris had spotted Wesker. The girl struggled in her arms, and she grunted as she struggled to keep the girl in place. The last thing she wanted was for Chris to accidentally shoot a child, or for Wesker to take her hostage.
"They're aiming guns at Daddy Claire…" The girl sobbed, her eyes not moving from the crowd. When Claire loosened her hold, she did not move, but she did not tear her watery eyes away.
"It's going to be alright." Claire whispered, rubbing a soothing hand up and down the girl's arm. She sent a wary glance to her companions, then back to the man dressed in black. "Just stay with me, that man's dangerous."
Belle sobbed. "B-but Daddy…"
"Christopher." Wesker's cold voice cut through the silence like a knife. His thin lips curled into a smirk. Behind him, the crowds' eyes snapped to him, and they shifted uncomfortably. "What a surprise," he sounded almost delighted. "it has been far too long."
Chris hissed, his hold on his gun remaining firm. "Not long enough!" he spat back. When a civilian made a motion to run, he took a hand away from his gun and held it up. "Don't move, this man is dangerous!" When they remained still, he returned his hold to his gun.
"Dangerous?" Wesker smiled. "Says the one pointing the gun at an unarmed man." he held his arms up, and his brows rose above his glasses mockingly. When Chris said nothing, he lowered his arms and glanced to the person beside him.
"Mr. Kennedy," his lips did not change, but somehow his smile seemed to grow as his eyes landed on Jill. "Miss Valentine." His lips shifted, curling downwards as gaze seemingly landed on Claire. "Miss Redfield," her name falling from his lips caused a chill down her spine. "interesting…" his brows lowered, seemingly into a frown.
Chris, not liking the way Wesker's attention had landed on his sister, let out a sound of frustration. "What are you doing here!?" he called out, satisfied when Wesker turned his attention back to him. Were they anywhere else, he would have fired on the smug bastard and his smug fancy suit, but they had civilians to worry about. He stole a worried glance to the crowd that was watching him worriedly.
"Believe me, Dear Chris," Wesker crossed his arm over his chest. "seeing you here is something of a surprise." A delicate brow rose. "I am merely here to collect something."
"You expect me to believe that!?" Chris snapped, resisting the urge to run to the man and attack him. he wanted to shoot him, take him into custody, end the man and the suffering he causes. "What chaos are you here to cause this time, bastard!?"
"He's aiming his gun at Daddy…" Belle whimpered and moved to run again. When Claire again held her back, she sobbed and clutched at both her and her bear.
Claire glanced down at the girl in her arms. "He's aiming his gun at a bad man," Claire said but as she said it, something began to eat at the back of her mind. If Belle's father was in the crowd, why was he not looking at her? Surely if her father was amongst the crowd he would looking at, or for her? "I'm going to keep you safe.." she reassured.
Jill, ever the one to pay attention to the goings on around them, unlike Chris, glanced down at Claire and the girl. Her lips curled into a profound frown. She glanced back at Wesker, at the crowd, then back to the sobbing girl beside her. She linked eyes with Claire, something flashed within her eyes before she turned her attention back to Wesker. Her frown deepened, as did her grip on her weapon.
Wesker chuckled, a cold sound that was not filled with the humor that the action would indicate. "Believe what you will. However," somehow, his voice became colder. "as tempting as it would be, I do not have the time to play with you, Chris." His lips curled into a cruel smile. "Perhaps next time?" He shook his head with a chuckle as neither Chris, or the other two, lowered their weapons.
"Claire!" Belle gripped at Clarie's jacket, her knuckles white. "He's going to shoot Daddy!" she released her grip on Claire and moved to charge away. She let out a cry as Claire clutched at her, holding her back.
"I'm not going to shoot your dad!" Chris called back. "Just let me get Wesker, then we'll be fine!"
Wesker grunted. "Chris I am not in the mood for your tantrums," he snapped. "unless you wish to die by me snapping your neck, I suggest you allow me to move on." He smirked. "We will pretend that this did not happen and can kill each other next time?" While his words were surprisingly negotiable, placating, his tone was anything but.
Chris blanched. "What the fuck is going on?" he shouted, his gun waving, causing a stir in the civilians. Chris huffed, he wasn't going to shoot the civilians, gods knew what Wesker was going to do if they kept reacting behind him. "What are you planning!?"
"Nothing Chris." All tone of calmness had left his voice and he sounded irritated. Dangerously so. "I am here to collect something," his gaze turned to Claire. "It is my week off."
It is my week off. Those words. With those words Claire felt her stomach drop and her heart pulse. Memories of her conversation with Belle shot through her mind. The girl had told her that her father would take a week off to spend time with her. There was no way. There was no way that the girl in her arms was his daughter. That the man that sounded so kind, so loving, was the man across from them. She stole a glance at the girl in her arms. Her wide green eyes were watching Wesker with such worry, such panic that there was no denying it.
Leon, who had heard part of their conversation on the plane, hesitated. He glanced to Claire, to the girl in her arms, then back to Wesker. He studied the mans face, then glanced back at the girl, studied her face, and then turned his gaze back to Wesker. Through the corner of his eyes, he noticed that Jill seemed to be having a similar internal debate.
Chris, seemingly unaware of his companions' internal debates, as well as the implication behind Wesker's words, hissed. "Don't give me that shit!" he shouted back to the man. "Just tell me why you're here and we can do this without hurting any innocents!" This had been going on too long, they needed to get Wesker away from the civilians.
Wesker sighed, his shoulder's slumping. He seemed almost disappointed. "I have no intention of harming any civilians, and I have no intention of repeating myself."
"Please…" Belle whimpered. "Please stop." Her voice went ignored by Chris, but Claire, as well as Leon and Jill, gave pause.
"Kid." Chris sounded irritated, at her, or Wesker, was unknown. "I ain't gunna kill your dad. Just let me deal with Wesker and then we'll get you to your dad." He sounded tired. For a holiday that was supposed to relax them, it was starting on a bad note.
Wesker's brows rose above his glasses, and he tilted his head with a small smile. "Are you sure you wish to shoot me?" there was something teasing in his voice. "What if, by shooting at me, you shoot the girl's father?" the corner of his lips pulled up.
"No!" The girl gasped, the hands holding Claire turning clammy. "Please!" she called out to Chris. "Please don't shoot my dad!" she stiffened, her whole body poised to charge forwards. Claire found herself adjusting her position to ready herself to stop the girl from charging forwards again.
"Shut up!" Chris growled. "Just shut up!" beside him, Jill and Leon eyed him warily. "Only you!" he growled at Wesker. "You're the only one who's getting shot, and trust me, I'm going to enjoy it." something in his voice twisted, a rage held deep within himself breaking free through his voice. He meant it. He would enjoy it.
Brows raised, Wesker seemed as though he was going to say something, what, however, was unknown as the loud shriek of 'Stop!' echoed through the airport. The group, and the civilians froze. Time seemed to freeze as the girl pushed herself from Claire's hold and charged forwards. The only sound heard was the sound of feet tapping against the tiles as her little legs raced her towards Wesker. They watched, horrified as the girl collided with Wesker, her arms snapping around the man's leg.
"Stop aiming that gun at Daddy!"
"A-Annabelle.." Claire called, but her voice came out in a gasp. She sent a silent prayer that Wesker would not harm that girl, that she would be safe. She knew however, that the girl would be fine. In her heart of hearts, she knew that Wesker wasn't going to hurt her, as much as that voice in her head sounded completely insane.
There were many things in their lives that they had been unprepared for. Raccoon city, Rockfort Island, Chris after he had had a full body wax at a friend's bachelor party, and then there was this. The sight of Wesker, rather than hurting, killing or being otherwise vindictive to the girl attached to his leg, he merely lowered his hand and placed it gently on her head in a pat- the sight would stay with them for a very long time.
"Hello Belle." He said. His voice was soft and filled with something that Claire could not name, though that could be because the distance between them made it difficult to understand him. She watched as Belle clutched at his leg tighter and buried her face into his black trench coat.
"Belle…" Claire gasped. My Daddy calls me Belle. Realization hit her like a freight train. She had had suspicions, but had been trying to ignore them. It seemed, however, that that voice in the back of her mind had been correct. That he was her father. "You…" she looked to Wesker. "You're her father?"
He smiled. "Apparently one of you has some intelligence."
"W-What…." Chris' arms felt week and his grip on his arm faltered. Wesker had a child? "When… When did you have a kid?" Was it even physically possible for the man to sire a child? Surely the virus would have done something to him that would make it impossible to father children? Perhaps this was some sort of ruse? A way to distract them so that he could kill them… he tried to rationalize the scene before him.
"I'm sorry Claire," Belle called out, pulling her face away from her father. "Daddy told me to never tell people my real last name." she tightened her hold on Wesker's leg.
Claire nodded, understanding the situation. One could only imagine what someone would do to Belle if they found out who her father was. Her eyes widened as she realised that they now knew the secret. If Chris or Leon told their superiors about Belle then there was a chance that she was in danger. She needed to talk to Chris, get him to leave Belle out of any of his reports. The girl was innocent. She did not deserve to be targeted because of who her father was. Her father. She was struck by how sweet it was that Wesker would tell her to not tell people her name out of some way of protecting her. She smiled.
"It's okay, Belle." She called out. She noticed, through the corner of her eyes that Chris and Leon had lowered their guns, but seemed stiff, as though waiting for something. She understood their caution, but she doubted that Wesker would start a fight now- something inside her told her that they were safe.
"A father…" Jill gasped.
Wesker ignored those around him in favour of looking down at Belle. "It's time for us to go." His voice left no room for argument. Not that the girl seemed to want to as she nodded eagerly at him.
Claire watched with wide eyes as Wesker leaned down and placed his hands under the girl's armpits. Her mouth fell open in a gasp as he lifted the girl from the ground and placed her securely to his hip. The girl's arms wrapped around his neck, and she pulled herself close to him in a cuddle. Claire felt a piece of herself melt as Belle nuzzled into his shoulder. Whoever Wesker was, whatever he had done in the past, did not matter in that moment. No, in that very moment he was not the man she had met on Rockfort. Not the man who had taken Steve. Not the man who was at constant odds with Chris. The man before them was a father. A beautiful girls father.
Claire's eyes caught sight of the bear on the ground a few feet away from her. Seeing the bear caused her to remember the girl's luggage. Looking to her side she saw the travel bag that had fallen in the struggle. She weighed her options, debating with herself as to what she should do. Eventually her better nature won out and she picked up both the bag and the bear. As she brushed past Jill, she heard her brother hiss her name. She ignored him.
"Belle." She called out, catching the attention of both Wesker and his daughter. As she reached them, she held out the bear to Belle and the bag to Wesker. She heard her brother call out her name, but she continued to ignore him, her eyes locked onto Wesker's glasses, onto her reflection within them.
"Thank you Claire." Belle said as she accepted the offered bear.
Wesker tilted his head, in an almost thankful way. "Thank you, Miss Redfield." As he reached out and accepted the offered bag, his gloved fingers brushed against hers.
Claire felt a shiver run down her spine. She licked her dry lips. "Y-You're welcome." She inwardly cringed at herself- why was she acting so bashful? Perhaps it was because of who he was and what he had done? Perhaps being close to him sent her nerves on edge? She tried to push her thoughts away, she could think about it later.
She willed her feet to move, when they did not, she tried to convince her legs to move. Her legs seemed to ignore her in that moment and she found herself unable to move. Unable to turn to her companions whom she was sure were watching her with mixed expressions of horror- the civilians watching her certainly were. She licked her eyes again and found herself looking back up at him, at her reflection in his glasses, at the eyes she was sure were looking back at her.
"Daddy," Belle prompted, causing Wesker to turn his attention to her. "where are we going?"
Wesker was silent for a moment and Claire wondered if he was going to disclose his plans in front of them, or if he would hold back. "Now," he reached up and brushed hair out of his daughter's face. "we're going to a hotel for the night," his lips curled into the tiniest of smiles. "then tomorrow, we're going to the zoo."
Claire heard Chris let out a sound and an image of his swaying in horror flashed through her mind. She pictured Jill and Leon placing a steadying hand on his shoulder to keep him upright. A quick turn of her head showed that her internal imagery had been correct. She looked back two the father and daughter, she watched as Belle let out a squeal and bounced in her father's arms. Her arms wrapped around her father's neck in excitement, and she said the words that would haunt the rest of Claire's, and Chris', night.
"Can Claire come with us tomorrow?"
"Well, that's up to Claire." Wesker replied, tilting his head to Claire.
It was incredible that Clarie was able to hear the smug tone in his voice over the sound of her heart hammering against her chest and the blood pounding in her ears. Go with them? Go to the zoo with them? Go to the zoo, with Wesker. Wesker. The Wesker who had caused so many problems for herself and her friends. The Wesker who could kidnap her and use her in sick experiments or as bait against Chris. That Wesker.
Her eyes glanced between the two before settling on Belle. The girl was watching her with her big, pleading eyes. She was innocent. She had done nothing wrong, and she was trying to be friendly by asking her to come. She wanted to spend time with her. There was no ulterior motive in her question. Wesker had clearly not planned for this to happen. But should she go? Would it be safe for her to go? On any normal day she would say no. No, it would not be safe for her, but now?
"I erm.. suppose I could?" she found her mouth replying before her brain could catch up with it.
"What!?" she heard Chris shout, followed by a series of grunts, presumably from Chris struggling against Jill and Leon holding him back.
Brows raised, Wesker studied her for a few moments before passing the bag to the hand that was holding his daughter. Supporting the bag and his daughter with each, he reached into his trench coat. Claire had a brief moment where she thought he would pull out a gun and shoot her for her stupidity, but he did not. He instead pulled out a business card and held it out to her. She hesitated briefly before accepting the card, her eyes caught the name of a hotel before she looked back at him. His face seemed a strange combination of surprised and serious.
"We will be outside this building in the morning, ten o'clock." His voice was even, as though describing the weather. "We will be there for fifteen minutes. If you are not there we will leave." his lips thinned. "Don't bring anyone with you." His voice left no room for argument.
She looked down at the card, her finger brushed against the card. His words, the way he told her not to bring anyone, would have angered her any other day. Had Chris spoken to her in such a way, she would have fought with him, argued for her safety. How dare he tell her not to bring anyone? At least, that was how she would have reacted on any other day, with any other person, but today was hardly a normal day. She looked to him and nodded slowly, understanding his words.
"Good." He replied. He inclined his head. "Goodbye, Miss Redfield."
As he turned to leave, Belle waved excitedly. "Goodbye Claire! See you tomorrow!"
Claire winced internally and raised her hand to wave back to the girl. She could hear her brother, both internally and externally. Internally he was calling her all sorts of names, telling her that she was stupid, that she was being stupid, that Wesker was going to murder her and she was allowing him to. The real Chris, the one behind her, was saying similar things to the one in her mind. She paid him no mind, her eyes locked onto the retreating back of the man who she was going to the zoo with tomorrow.
She felt her lips curl into a smile despite it all. Despite Chris, despite her worries, and despite what sounded like the authorities who had finally arrived at the scene- they were too late, Wesker had disappeared into the crowd. It was strange, she was… excited to go to the zoo.
A/N: Please let me know what you thought of it, this is a fic that I'm so fond of and I want to give it the love it deserves. This story won't be a complete remake, I want to add new scenes and explore new aspects of the characters relationships while also maintaining the soul of the original story. So I'd love suggestions of things you may want to see in this fic that were never covered in the original.
Thanks guys!