Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Resident Evil characters, Capcom does. (this doesn't include the OC's that will be mentioned along the way.)
5:30 am and Leon is already awake, he is laying down in his bed, arms outstretched to support the back of his head as he is leaned on his bed headrest, his meeting with Chris is still three hours away and he wasn't able to sleep anymore, not after what happened yesterday. He is going to be a father, this just occurred to him and it made him smile from ear to ear, it came to be in the most unexpected way possible but he knew his long time wish just finally became his reality. He was so obsessed daydreaming about becoming a dad that he didn't even stop to think about the consequences that come along with it.
First of all is the fact that him and Claire aren't married, nor are they even romantically involved in any shape or form, therefore, their baby will be considered an illegitimate child, second is the fact that he is an agent, a very dangerous job, and now he is adding an innocent child to the mix that can possibly be used as hostage against him by enemies, he didn't want to risk their life just because of him, so it is either he quits his job or hide the truth that he's ever had a child and let them live by fake identities for as long as they need it. Third and last is...Ada, he loves her, and he doesn't know if she will take this news positively or not, the fact that he had cheated on her, sure, he had flirted with girls he encounters then and there, but to have a baby with another woman, well- not just any woman but Claire Redfield, his occasional work partner and close friend, but then again, he and Ada had no label, but the mutual feeling is there, platonic as what most calls it.
Thinking again, he had known Claire longer than he had known Ada, yes it was the same night but she came first, and he didn't know why he had fallen for Ada Wong instead, not for the reason that she helped him because he aided her as well that night of September 30th, also all the other times they've came across each other in the past, but something was just unique about her that no other woman has. Claire on the other hand, he remembers the times of Racoon City when she was 19 and he was 21, the chance they met on the fence that separated them, the letters she left for him to know her condition and to also tell him to stay safe and survive, when they happened to have contact over the monitor in the Umbrella laboratory despite being choppy, and when she seemed so joyful to see him in that train, her helping him officially defeat William Birkin's final form, how she talked to him and Sherry with a positive look on her face, and then arriving at the place where she lived, they stayed late awake to guard Sherry who was deep in her slumber, they conversed- got to know one another more- and it's where they also first slept with each other...he found comfort in her that night and she did as well...but they talked to forget about that night.
Reminiscing about that, maybe it was kind of obvious that Claire had feelings for him and he just didn't really see it at the time, but it was understandable due to the circumstances that he was too focused on the enemies, but then again, he thought that if he and Claire hadn't been separated that night, he would've fallen for her as well. However, that's all in the past now, and he has to focus on the present situation at hand.
Yesterday, Claire had told him that she lost her job at Terrasave due to their policy, for women like her will be forced to sign a resignation paper, for now, she had found an online job as a virtual assistant, and it pays quite well, but he felt very bad for it, she had been working at the organization since 2005, 16 years, and everything went to waste all because of him, she had told him that it was okay though, that the baby is her top priority now, and thought that she could use a break from the dangerous field work. He knew she was lying about the need to retire from her job, it was her fulfillment to help other people, and she always told them that Terrasave aided her with that. Anyway, he also told her that he will give her a portion of his income as support for her needs, but she denied and told him that she will be okay and that her brother also somehow provides for her aside from her new occupation.
After that discussion with her, he left due to his mission with Chris and assignment at the White House. He informed her and she lets him go, told him that he can come by again on Saturday morning if he wants, since it was her schedule for the 2nd ultrasound appointment at the OB/GYN, and he gladly accepted, promised her that he will come, and it will be the first time he sees his baby, he wouldn't miss it for the world, also considering that Claire is halfway along the pregnancy, 20 weeks already...and he missed most of it, now he won't let that happen.
Going back to Chris, he recalled him mentioning something to Leon when he asked about Claire a few weeks ago and yesterday.
"Apparently, I know more about what you did than you'll ever do."
"And the way it has been affecting Claire lately."
"Well you better be, knowing that you're 20 weeks in."
"Alright alright, I'll see you as soon as I can, take care of yourself and you know- them."
Leon recalled, something along those four lines, it's just now that he realized that Chris tried to tell him in the most indistinct manner possible, but when he was talking to Claire over the phone was the most obvious, he is the top of his class back in the late 90's, how could he have overlooked this, but then again, it was not that definite so he let's the self reflection go. It was just very regretful for him to think that Claire went through such a hard thing alone for 5 months, yes, there's her brother, Jill, Rebecca and many more mutual friends they have that have known about her pregnancy before he did, but they are not the other parent, he is, and he's only known for a day. He understands that Claire did need some time to think and gather up the courage, she did mention that she at one point considered abortion as an option due to her situation, this made him even more anxious, because what if she did continue on with the abortion without him knowing or his opinion? It would've broken him completely if that happened. But he really needs to stop lingering on the negativity, and it is all done- Claire didn't do it...not ever, so he shakes his head, clearing his mind on such views and sits up on the side of his bed, 6:58 am is displayed on his digital clock. "Already?", he comments to himself, as he rubs his eyes and stands up to prepare for the day.
Later in the noon, after all his agent shenanigans, Leon finds himself looking at a shop window in the mall, it caught his eye due to the fact that it displays and sells baby clothes. He smiles at the tiny onesies, hats, and shoes, both boy and girl outfits are looking cute to him, and now he wonders what gender his baby is going to be, Claire might already know but didn't mention it to him. He wanted to buy one so badly and give it as a present to her on Saturday, but like he said, he doesn't know if they are going to have a boy or a girl yet. Contemplating for a few minutes and he decides to give into the temptation, stepping into the shop as he is welcomed by a colder wind than in the outside as he pushes the glass door, looking around for a while as he scans through and observes all the outfits, he would just buy both gender clothes, besides, he has the money that he might as well spend it.
While picking out suitable outfits, he recalled the negative thoughts he lingered on earlier, he is an in demand agent, yes- his job is...dangerous, but it's not all bad. First of all, he earns a lot of money from it, more than enough to raise a child, so financially speaking- they are very much secured, second is that, Leon is a skilled marksman, he can protect his child from any danger, also including their maternal uncle, Jill, and a lot more friends who also has experience in combat, his kid is probably going to be the most secure baby in the US of A...their own mother can also fight although she's not fully an agent...she can very much kick ass. Leon grinned at those thoughts, at least he found a reason to not worry about the future of his kid, and he can check out the fake name thing out of his lists of concerns.
After checking out newborn outfits carefully, he had decided on one pink, blue, and red onesie with prints, he picked three for luck and for the word "I love you.", he had to admit though, his fashion tastes are not the greatest but he chose the ones that looked comfortable enough for them, simple, and as gender neutral as possible, he can only hope that Claire will at least like it since she's the more fashionable one. He brought the clothes over to the cashier to finally buy them, putting down the three in front of the counter and the cashier swipes each clothing to the scanner, price was displayed and he takes out the amount from his wallet, and he was taken aback when he heard the cashier ask, "Gender reveal gift?", she said casually as if she knows him.
He replies, putting his hands in his pockets, "Uh no, it's for my baby."
"First time dad?", the cashier starts a conversation by questioning with a smile on her face, while bagging the items.
Leon didn't expect to be bombarded by questions in a small talk from just buying, but he answers, "Yup, first baby...but they're not here yet- still 4 months to go. This is just a small gift for their mom.", he smirks awkwardly, and the stranger nods.
"You got a lucky wife and future kid.", she comments as if she glanced at his left ring finger and it doesn't have a wedding ring, his eyes widened and he was about to deny the fact that his baby's mother is his wife, but she beats him to it by speaking again, "Well- good luck to you when the baby comes out, they're such small beings but they're a handful.", she hands him the bag and he just decided to nod thankfully, grabbing the paper bag handle, he proceeds to exit the shop and maybe grab another fast food take out before he goes home. What he doesn't know is that someone had been observing him from afar, someone he had been waiting for so long had finally come back.
"What are you up to Kennedy?", the unknown person mumbled to themselves as they watched Leon happily walk away.