PROMPT 7: FAMILIES/ALLIED
Synopsis: A family is more than sharing blood...
#not beta read #Post-Resident Evil 7 #Post-Resident Evil: Village
On the left and right of the roadside were trees, a lot of them. The woods were exuberant, regardless it was just covered with densely green with sometimes hints of brown. The sky was painted blue and the air smelled crisp filled with summer scent. Claire got her window opened, head leaning at the window frame of the rental SUV Leon was driving. Her hair danced lively with the breeze as the vehicle cruised to the fairly vacant road.
Next to her, Leon had been driving for half an hour since their arrival from the airport. He was humming some song that she did not know. It amused her how this short drive made him happy because an hour ago he had been irritated on the flight for no reason. Claire noticed he had been prickly lately. Everything did not sit right for him. It gladdened her heart that this short trip might lighten his mood even for a short while.
Leon reached out and placed his hand on her lap. That caught her attention and she turned her head slightly to look at him. He sneaked a peek at her and said, "He'll be there." He gave her a gentle squeeze and offered her a charming smile. She moved away from the door and scooted closer to him. She gathered his hand and interlaced it with hers. "I hope so.", said Claire.
"Oo...he's there. I got a confirmation text from Jill right after we landed.", stated Leon.
With a merry look on her face, she said "Really? Thank you. You're too kind."
He turned to Claire just for a hot second to give her a proud smile and said, "Anything for you."
Looking down at their held hands, she gently stroked her thumb on the back of his hand, "I'm just nervous...You know-"
"Don't worry too much. Because you got me."
She lifted her head and looked at Leon. He tightened their interlaced hand and brought it to kiss them. An endearing smile was evident on her face to show she loved his small gesture.
"We're here.", announced Leon as he turned the SUV to the gravel road.
Then, come view the simple box-shaped wooden country house that stood majestically among the woods surround. Leon maneuvered the SUV to the empty space next to the garage. Subsequently, he put the vehicle in park and shifted his whole attention to Claire. She gave him the assuring nod, and he said "Let's go meet the family."
-*-
They both sauntered down the dirt trail in silence. The argumentative exchanges between Barry and Moira faded as they walked deeper into the woods. Barry and Moira were at each other's throats about their different philosophy on what is the proper technique of barbecuing.
Polly could not stand for long of their bickering and decided to take refuge inside by helping her mother and Jill who were currently busy preparing the other variety of feasts. Meanwhile, Natalia was cooped up in the guest bedroom, engaging in an online discussion in one of the lecture courses. She was in college now, which made Barry and Cathy even more prouder of the young woman.
Sherry was sent out to the nearest town to get desserts since no one had the real talent to fix one. Jake volunteered to tag along with her and had a fancy for a tour around the neighborhood while everybody knew he just wanted to be around Sherry. The only guest that was missing right now was Rebecca, apparently still on a flight back from the West Coast after a week-long academic conference.
Claire moved closer to Leon and grasped his hand. He was grinning broadly and simply gave a kind squeeze of assurance. As they walked further, they were blessed with birds singing, insects buzzing, ruffling leaves by the soft breeze, and more notably accompanied by the soothing sound of the flowing stream. It was like they were walking through a musical symphony.
When they descended the gentle slope, they heard the exciting laugh of a small child followed by the deep voice that Claire missed for the past years.
"Let's go see your Mom and tell her what you got."
"Okay, Daddy.", answered the boy, his arms spread trying to balance himself while striding the uneven floor of the stream.
They watched Chris Redfield one hand holding the fishing rod and the net at the same time the other hand holding a small bucket presumedly with fish in it, while guiding the small boy by the shoulder toward ashore.
"Careful now." He said gently. The boy giggled when he stepped gleefully on the sanded shore.
Leon snickered witnessing the scene; only Chris could multitask like that or maybe because of his new status becoming a father. Besides handling firearms and biohazards in his resume, handling children was definitely a new addition to his many skills.
The boy shrieked with joy the moment he saw Claire and Leon.
"Aunt Claire! Uncle Leon!" He waddled in his yellow boots toward them.
Pointing to the small bucket in Chris's hand he said, "Come look what I've got!"
"Ooh...wow! Those are big fishes.", exclaimed Leon hunching over to study the content inside the small bucket. Claire snorted with laughter at Leon's exaggeration of the size of the fish.
"Kit." Claire called the young boy by his nickname for his attention. Glancing over at Chris, she continued, "How about you go back to the house first with Uncle Leon and show these to your Mom while I talk with your Dad."
Leon gazed at Claire searching for assurance for her unexpected request. He thought that his company might ease her jitters while she talked to Chris but it seemed that she built her courage from the short walk earlier. He offered his hand to Kit once she provided him with a hopeful smile.
Kit looked at his father likely to ask his permission. As soon as he received an affirming nod from Chris he accepted Leon's offered hand and said "Kay."
It was impressive how the boy just met his father about a couple of months ago and yet he was able to read and understand his mannerisms. Christopher Redfield Jr. was born right after the BSAA declared his father was a rogue operative and working without the commission of the organization. Chris did not see his son until recently four years later.
"Are sure you want to hold the bucket? I can take it for you.", said Leon when he saw the little boy lift the small bucket from the ground.
"It's okay. Nothing too big for me to handle." As a four-year-old, Kit was pretty articulate with words.
"As you wish, big man. So you know what you caught?", quired Leon.
"Okay, that one the silvery one is a common shinner, the other next to it is a sucker. Longnose because it got a long nose. Got it, Uncle Leon?" He chortled at his joke.
His hand was on Kit's back guiding him to ascend the gentle slope. "Yup."
Kit wobbled a bit due to the uneven path, he continued, "I got Tuffy-"
"You named it?"
"No silly. That's what it is. But I named it George." Leon tittered upon hearing Kit's explanation.
"And the last one is Tesses~" Kit struggled to pronounce the word which Leon found adorable. He tried again but ended up slurring the word.
"Tesese~dater. So I got four." He placed the bucket on the ground, with a huffing breath.
They were halfway on the trail to the house. Kit dragged his forearm to wipe the perspiration that was running down his forehead, making the bucket hat that he was wearing fall and hang around his neck revealing his flattened-down dark brown hair. He tried to catch a breather before planning to continue the trail.
Leon smiled at the child. His strong-willed bringing the bucket by himself reminded him of the Redfield sibling. Guess the apple didn't fall far from the tree.
"You did a great job bringing the bucket till here." He kneeled to have the same eye level as the boy, fixing the boy's hat. With him, persuasions behind praises. That was what he learned after knowing Kit since he was born.
"How about I help you with the rest of the way? And you can continue to tell more stories about other fishes too." He spread his arms, inviting Kit to climb on.
"Okay.", said Kit, obediently doing as Leon asked. He clung his arms around Leon's neck for security like usually does.
One hand with the bucket and the other holding the four-year-old, Leon was mirroring Chris's image earlier. He chuckled as he started walking the trail again.
"Something funny, Uncle Leon?", asked Kit with his flat eyebrows furrowed.
"Nothing. Tell me about George more, how did you catch him?"
And the boy animatedly started retelling his experience of catching George. And the other friends; Annie, Pumpkin, and Spikey.
Kit was the spitting image of his father, minus the eyes. His hooded eyes were deep blue rather than his father's hazel. He still remembered those eyes used to falter whenever he asked about his father, but his mother would come to kiss away his gloom and they brightened again. Leon noticed Claire had the same effect on the child as his mother, whenever she did the same.
He had thin lips and his jawline was curved and tapered to narrow cheekbones. He always got his goofy smile when he got his favorite mac-n-cheese. His wide forehead was covered by the fringe of his short hair would crease whenever he tried to concentrate. Currently, his straight nose scrunched while enthusiastically uttering about Spikey's tale.
The snapping sound of the twigs that he stepped on brought him back from reverie. "You really know your fish."
"Yup. Dad taught me that. He said if I wanna get bigger fish, I need to know all the fish." Kit said proudly.
They had reached the clearing where Barry and Moira barbequing, the smell of the smoked brisket permeated the air making Leon's stomach grumble. He peeked at Kit was also eyeing what was on the grill while smacking his lips together. He put Kit down on his feet and returned the small bucket to him.
"So you gonna keep them or grill them?" Pointing at Barry, Leon said to Kit, "Like that."
Barry perked by their conversation and interjected with interest, "Somebody said grill?"
However, his curiosity was quickly shot down with a scolding from Moira, who had been helping him tending the grill. "Barry! Keep flipping. You burn them." His attention went to the corn that started to look more charred than they were supposed to be.
Kit shifted his eyes from Barry to Leon with a pouty mouth, he said "No. I'm gonna keep them. I can't eat George and the others."
Leon ruffled the boy's hair amused by his answer. Coincidentally, Jill exited the house with more food containers to be placed on the make-shifted table that was set up in the area.
"Mommy! Look I got fish!" Kit's voice was more chipper than before.
Jill put down the food containers and walked in their direction smiling. The boy hugged his mother's leg as if he had not seen her forever.
"Where's the sibling?" questioned Jill, gliding her fingers through the boy's dark brown hair.
"They still by the stream. Anything I can do to help?"
Jill nodded and looked down at her son lovingly. Kit was still hugging her leg, looking up back to her with an adoring smile plastered on his face. She was confident that she caught a glimpse of Chris when Kit smiled at her just for being playful.
Looking back at Leon, she replied, "You can help by setting up the tents. It's a pop-up tent, should be easy. I'm sure the manual is in the bag."
The fuck is a pop-up tent?
"On it". Without wasting any time, Leon moved to the campfire pit to commence the task given. Subsequently, Jill started addressing the boy and his fish.
"Surely I manage without the manual." He grabbed the tent bag that was propped by the stone bench and brought in the the clearing near the fire pit. He dumped the content and started working out how to set up this pop-up tent Jill claimed about.
After close to 10 minutes of fiddling, the tent was up loose and floppy. The only thing to do now was to peg it to the ground. He took the smaller bag and dumped the content that came along with the stakes, guide strings, and the manual book stated in bold -6-Person Instant Cabin Tent-. He grabbed the book out of curiosity and flipped it open. 1 minute set-up? He huffed in regret if he was not such a smart ass and read the manual, things will be a lot faster.
"Not bad Kennedy. You actually do not suck at this." Jill's arm folded, examining his work.
"Not done yet, need to peg it to the ground. How did you even know about this thing anyway?" He started hammering the stake of one of the tent's corners.
"I don't. Cathy brought them, she said they're gonna be useful. Alright, I'll help.", said Jill, grabbing the tools start hammering the stake too.
"She has two of them?", asked Leon.
Without looking at him, she responded, "Only one. She bought another for today."
"Where's Kit?" He secured the first stake and was ready for the next corner.
"He munching Claire's mac-n-cheese that she brought just for him.", said Jill in a carefree manner.
Leon glanced over his shoulder and saw the boy sitting by the bench near the make-shifted table. Natalia was by his side looking over him. Satisfied, he moved to the adjacent corner of the tent and started pegging it. Jill studied him and mirrored his actions. This went unnoticed by Leon, something was on her mind and it was not about the tent.
"So how are you feeling?" She finally asked.
He finished the hammering with a quizzical look upon hearing Jill's question. He stood up and looked at her for a moment.
"I'm good. Thank you for asking." Leon tied the string to set up the guy lines. He signaled to her to do the same.
Jill did as she told and asked, "How is married life treating you?" When she heard Leon hammered the stake, she did the same.
"Something on your mind, Valentine?" He moved to another corner to set another guy line. Again, Jill followed suit.
"Just trying to make casual conversation."
Once all the lines were secured, Leon took a seat on the stone bench looking at the tent proudly.
"We make a great team."
Jill took the next seat to Leon. "Not bad." She said in agreement.
In a relaxed manner, Leon asked, "Claire talked to you, isn't it?"
"We always talked to each other."
Leon gave an unconvincing look. "Come on Jill. She told you about me considering retiring from active duty, right?"
"She's worried. That's all. And she doesn't want her current condition to influence your decision.", stated Jill.
"I figure she told you about the pregnancy too?", questioned Leon amused. It was their sister talks, he bet Rebecca knew it too.
She looked at him apologetically, "Look, I need to know the whole picture to actually help. Please don't be mad at her."
"No, I'm not mad. Even, I'm just glad that she has someone that she can trust. Rely too." He exhaled with relief.
"And you should too."
"What makes you say that?"
"Your thoughts on backing off from something that you are passionate about. Claire knows and respects that. Even if it's difficult and maybe she didn't favor it, she has to accept it. That's the first thing she has to consider when she enters a relationship with you.", explained Jill.
Leon squirmed unconsciously in his seat displaying his discomfort. He felt like he was in one of the after-mission psych evaluations and being read through about his personal life by some people with clipboards and smart clothes.
Jill added, "It's just that she doesn't want you to decide that just because you feel the need to be around her more. Because we're all here with her too."
"Maybe I did that because I like spending more time with her." Leon retorted, trying to make sense of the situation.
"Yes, nothing wrong with that."
Jill continued with prudence, "But you see, we shouldn't only care about the numbers of time spent together. Instead, why not put extra care on the valuable moment in each of those times spent together? Even if there aren't so many. Because that's when you grow the desire to make every single moment in your time count."
"What if I can make every single time count?"
"You know you can't guarantee that."
With a frown face, Leon quickly countered her. "You don't know that."
"Yeah, but I can guarantee you that if you're being an asshole all the time you not gonna get any of it. Neither more times nor the good times."
Leon grunted in vexation, what Jill said was like a slap to his face. Claire and him currently were entering a new phase in their life. Parenthood. He knew he not handling the situation very well. He thought that watching Sherry grow up and having taken care of Kit recently would prepare him to be a parent of his own kid. That was his thought initially. But in honesty, he was just afraid same as any new parent would be.
"I know you're afraid, and I bet you Claire feels the same too."
"She told you that also?" His ear perked up whenever his wife's name was spoken.
"No. I know because I felt the same when it happened to me too."
Leon sighed, staring vacantly at the woods. "It does feel like an asshole when you got thrown into a zombie-hoarded city and feel nothing. But instead, when come to deal with something normal like this you got scared shitless to the whole thing."
"And so, you started searching for the correct way of doing things and tried to fix it." Her remark got Jill an inert nodding of admission from Leon.
"But the truth is there is no correct way. Because in life, it's impossible to have that. And the only you can at least settle with is the right way.", added Jill.
"What's the right way then?" His question was hinting at his despair.
"I don't know. Only you can figure this out because it's your life."
Jill felt like she half-assing the previous explanation, therefore she continued. "But I can share with you this. When I found out that I was having a baby; I freaked out and thought that I need to get Chris to me, so that we can raise this child correctly."
Jill noticed Leon now shifting his attention to her.
"Then, you all came along with all the support and unintentionally showed me the light on how to do it right. And with what Claire has done, and you also, I'm even more sure that Chris will come back to us. But not just yet. I have to let Chris deal with whatever he hung up on and put my full attention on the child about to have."
"You know Chris is really crazy for you." It sounded bogus but it was all true.
Jill grinned, "I could say the same to you about Claire too."
He shook his head incredulously, thinking about his wife and her brother, "Those two sometimes can be enigmas."
"And we both insanely fell for them.", Jill and Leon smiled hearing her reply.
Then, Leon jokingly said, "For someone who's not married you sure know how to counsel married couples."
Jill chuckled, "I know, Chris and I built a family somehow unconventionally. But it doesn't mean is not the same."
Leon looked at her with raised brows, pursing his mouth in a sardonic smirk.
She added, "Leon, I don't just drop into this world and be like this. I speak from experience. Chris and I, it's not just sunshine and rainbow. We also have our darkest time."
"I believe you.", Leon nodded.
"You're a smart man. I'm sure you're gonna figure this out quickly."
"Thank you, Jill. Much appreciated."
Jill nodded, "Anytime. And Leon, place your faith more on us, we're all your family. Don't forget that." Jill spoke very motherly, he thought. Maybe having a child did soften her a little.
"Will do."
"Now can you get the sibling here? Rebecca will arrive in any minute."
"Tent?"
"Leave it. I can do it myself. Ahh...Sherry and Jake are here, I asked them to do it. Go."
-*-
Kit took the hand that Leon offered and started walking on the dirt trail to the house. His small voice eloquently started explaining the fish that he caught to Leon. She chuckled hearing the exchange between them, it was too funny. She always knew that Leon was good with children and Kit was just too adorable not to love.
She saw Chris take a seat on the wooden bench when she turned to him. He had propped the fishing gear and net by the nearby tree.
"You really got a bright kid.", said Claire, seated next to him.
Chris snickered at his sister's remark, "And you really got a reliable husband."
"Proud of me?" A triumphed smug showed on her face.
His face softened, "I've always been proud of you, Claire."
Chris was a lot better now than the last time Claire saw the pictures in the copy of BSAA's disciplinary personnel report. Of course, it was courtesy of her husband. For once in her life, she was so grateful for Leon's connection to the government.
Both siblings had not seen each other for five years without any nature of contact. Claire was not even certain if it was the longest they had ever been apart, but how the situation turned out made it even worse for her to willingly accept his disappearance. A surge of mixed feelings brought her to fully engulf her dearest brother in a big loving hug.
"I missed you so much." Her eyes were welled with tears, now have fallen wetten her cheeks.
He held her embrace with a smile on his face. He rubbed her back to comfort her, "I missed you too, Claire."
After a while, they let go of each other embrace, and Claire gave a toothy smile to her brother. He rubbed her tears away, and she laughed. She was already in her forties but felt like twelve when she was around him. Under the shade of pine trees looking over the stream, they sat in silence for a moment.
"How are you?" queried Claire.
Chris cast his vision to the flowing stream. "Being home feels good. I never thought I missed it."
"How you feel?", said Claire earnestly. She grasped his arms looking for his attention.
Chris proffered a look that Claire understood too well. Remorse, regret, and sorrow. Chris could not lie to his sister because she always knows. Her question was not because she was ignorant, rather it was a gesture of her loving self.
"I'm..." He sighed, not sure how to convey his feelings.
"I know, it's okay. You don't have to explain. Just remember, we're always here for you. Me. Leon. Everybody. Especially Jill."
Smiling, he patted her hand on his arm. "Thank you, Claire." He added, "It's tough to be honest. Yeah, Jill helps a lot."
"When your life partner is in the same circle as you, they understand more. And every time you look at Barry and Cathy, it doubles your hopes."
"Yeah. Surprisingly having the little one helps too."
"You not surprised when you found out?"
"What would I be? I know exactly what I did.", implied Chris, letting out a grin. Claire groaned in discomfort knowing behind his brother's grin.
"God's sake, Claire. You know, you got a husband. Plus I got needs." Chris laughed even more after looking at Claire's reaction.
"Yeah but still. You don't have to be so crude." Turning away from him, Claire huffed unimpressed. Chris was enjoying the jester. He missed this. He shoved her lightly in a playful manner with his shoulder but nearly caused her to slip from her sitting.
She clutched onto the bench handle and then slapped Chris's arm, "Jesus, Chris! I nearly landed on my ass."
And the two of them started to giggle silly.
"Overall, I can't thank you enough for what you all did when I wasn't around. Especially you and Leon. Both of you like Kit's second parent. Did you know he favors your mac-n-cheese rather than his mother's?"
Claire laughed, "I did. Jill told me."
"I was shocked at first when he just blatantly said that right in front of Jill."
"How does she react?"
"She already gave up."
"Lucky he has me. I flew his mac-n-cheese just for that little cutie pie."
"You did not?!" Chris astonished.
"Yes, I did. Who's the best aunt now?", said Claire in delight.
Chris looked back to the stream and shook his head in disbelief. Claire regarded him, trying to anticipate affirmation of his well-being.
To distract Claire from her thoughts, he blurted, "How's work?"
"Considering the shenanigan still happening for more than two decades now, I'm grateful for the people and resources I have. A lot of shit was dropped on us, but it takes a lot of shit also to break us off.", stated Claire.
Chris nodded, "TerraSave did a great job, and a lot of us in BSAA recognized your roles as important as we are. Plus, your position in D.C. did wonders dealing with those government higher-ups. I still remember you being skeptical when they appointed you to lead the team, but I was confident that you gonna do just fine."
Claire chuckled, "I will fight them if they want me to move somewhere else."
"Nah, they not gonna do that. They know you're too valuable to them."
Claire grinned hearing Chris's praises.
He added, "How's married life to the government agent treating ya? Not to mention you married to their favorite."
"It's okay, I guessed. Since he is their favorite, that means I've to learn how to share. I can't complain about the good stuff though."
"You can't always get what you want. The important things are those that you need."
Claire nodded in agreement.
Chris said remorsefully, "I'm sorry I couldn't be there for you." Claire knew he was talking bout the day she tied the knot with Leon.
"Not a big deal, don't worry about it. We just registered at the courthouse. There was no ceremony."
Claire leaned back on the bench with her legs stretched forward. She was enjoying the gentle breeze that had just blown by. Chris turned to her upon hearing her response, "Leon's family okay with this?"
She closed her eyes, the light air was still blowing. "He talked and explained to them. Maybe when things die down a little bit then we can plan to do something small."
"This thing will never die down, Claire. Look at it, Wesker's dead but there be another Wesker."
When Claire was only hummed to respond, he grasped her arms and continued, "Come on, don't wait till it died down, don't wait next year, don't wait next month. Oh heck ... do it tomorrow. And do it here. Just friend and family."
Her eyes opened, a pucker between her eyebrows. Claire looked at Chris, contemplating what he just said.
"I think about it. Not tomorrow though.", said Claire as she sat up straight. Her response got Chris smiling from ear to ear.
With raised brows, she asked him, "You so fixated bout my wedding, then why you didn't marry Jill?"
The question felt like a challenge.
Chris stuffed both his hands into his fishing vest and leaned back on the bench. Without realizing he copied the exact action as Claire did just now. This showed how much the siblings could act alike when they were asked about each other love life. It got her to chuckle.
"Look, our perspectives on relationship is different from you and Leon's. All I want is to have someone who understands me, loves me, and spends the rest of my life with me. Jill dreamed of having a set of her own family that she could adore and cherish without finicking on customary vows. To bring in context, Jill and I want the same thing. But it doesn't have to be the traditional manner.", said Chris.
"Mmm..." She nibbled her lower lip and took a glance at his brother.
Chris smiled and added, "In which this has no means of stating that one's is truer than the other. For that reason, you two are not in the wrong either. In the end, both courses envisioned the same which is companionship and love."
Claire gazed at him, she missed this kind of talk with his brother. And Chris tried his best to tackle the conversation in order not to mess the whole thing up. He did not want to end up being hunted down by one anger-infused government agent because his wife did not agree with their lifestyle anymore. As a result, he explained in terms of what he knew best. Bioterrorism.
"Like this, as we deal with these biohazards fuckery, I choose to be a fighter while you're the rescuer. These two are different, but they share the same common ends."
Her whole body turned to face him cause some of Chris's statements caught Claire by surprise. Fighter. Rescuer. Those were the exact words that were Leon's, that had been thrown to her a few times before.
"How-" She dodged his hand when he reached out intending to ruffle her hair. Due to his failure to lighten the mood, he cut her with pouted lips.
"We didn't talk work all the time when we occasionally met. Sometimes we talk about other stuff and usually, it involves you."
Smirking, he continued to explain when he saw the surprise on her face, "Do you think I let him get cheeky with you just because you think he's special? I need to fact-check him first."
"Oh my god, you didn't-" Her face looked mortified remembering what Chris had done to every man that showed interest in her. Leon must gone through the same or even worse, considering how volatile some of their past encounters were.
"I have to. You're my baby sister."
"He's my husband. Not somebody from my blind dates or other ... shits.", retorted Clare still flabbergasted.
His unperturbed response was, "But he's somebody before he becomes your husband. That is more of a reason too."
Too stupefied, Claire lost her words and let out a half-suppressed laugh.
Calmly, he continued. "He's a good man. He has flaws like everybody else. But I'm sure you're the only one who can straighten him up."
To hear something like that from Chris about a man was very rare. In fact never. She was filled with shock at first but it was replaced by warmth in her heart.
"Just like Jill for you?" It was not a question, it was simply a statement. And he could only giggle when he heard that from his dear sister.
Then Claire joined the laugh realizing the figurative commentary that Chris said earlier, "I can't believe you put marriage and fighting zombies in the same subject matter."
"Well, you said it. It has been more than two decades. Long enough that it feels like it has been in our whole fucking life." Not only his repugnant remarks was not bothering her, but also got her nod in approval.
They gave a vacant stare toward the woods remembering the reality of the world they living in. It was so silent now, that they could hear the bristle of the leaves that were ruffled by the wind matching the sound of the flowing stream.
Claire broke the silence and said, "Now our children gonna face them too. It's so unreal."
Initially, Chris gave no reaction to what she just said, and then his face puzzled. "Our...? You mean Kit?"
"Mine too, Chris."
Chris looked at her, his face was beaming with a smile. Claire's simple reply was to nod and ask, "Jill didn't tell you?"
"No. Maybe she wants you to tell yourself.", said Chris. "How far along?
"10 weeks."
"Congratulations, Claire. No doubt both of you and Leon gonna be a great parent."
"Thank you, Chris." She exhaled and added, "It's hard to believe Jill didn't spill it with you."
"I really have no idea. Maybe you three have a mutual understanding of what to keep and what to tell.", remarked Chris, not missing Rebbeca in the equation.
"Although think about it now, Rebecca seems to have kept a secret on her own. She's careful it feels like she hiding something."
With a questioning look, she continued, "A ghost, maybe?"
"Maybe she is." He smirked with a hidden meaning that Claire failed to interpret. Shrugging his shoulders, he added, "Hiding a ghost or ... something."
Claire felt like she missing something and followed the sight of Chris who moving to retrieve the fishing gear.
She shifted in her seat, still looking at Chris, "For what it's worth don't worry too much, Claire. I'm here now. If I'm gone, best believes I'll come back. No matter how fuck up things can be. Cause this where I am supposed to be, with my family." said Chris.
He bent down and gently placed his hand on the back of her head for support. Attentively, planted a kiss on top of her head. Still looking at her brother, she could not stop smiling as watched him walking towards Leon who just arrived.
Chris grasped his brother-in-law's shoulder and gave him an encouraging squeeze. "Congrats, Kennedy.", said Chris.
Leon gave a cordial nod to the older man and said "Thanks. And Chris, welcome back."
Chris nodded and started heading back to the house, while Leon took a seat at the place Chris seated earlier. Claire slid closer to him and intertwined their fingers together.
Leon pecked on her temple and asked, "What you two talk about?"
"Mac-n-chesse and wedding.", answered Claire placing her head on his shoulder.
His eyes were looking afront to the flowing stream, "Interesting ."
"What are you doing while waiting for me?"
"I learned something called a pop-up tent."
"Wow, that's ... something new. Yup, anything else?"
"Now I realized after hearing Kit lecture on fishes, he's the mini-me of Chris with Jill's attitude."
"How so?"
"Since I got a little pep-talk from her just now about us."
Claire grimaced in amusement, she knew what he meant.
"Oh...Kay"
Leaning back, he outstretched both his arms and rested leisurely on the upper back rail of the bench. He looked like he was hogging the space on the bench. She turned fully to him, her blue eyes sparkled with a smile as adoring as ever. He knew this woman was enchanting him to do something that he could not control.
"I will reconsider it."
"You're not the kind that can be easily swayed. Are you sure?"
"If it's for my wife, then yes. That woman gonna be the death of me, am telling ya."
"Lies." Claire laughed and playfully slapped him across the chest. Leon smiled at her reaction.
"Yup, he knew me too well. But it's a half lie though. Rather than death, I choose to live for her."
Hearing that made her heart swell with comfort and pride. Because at the end of the day, he going to make sure he would fight back from whatever predicament he got into only to return to her again. She scooted over him and hugged him by his side. He reciprocated by encircling his arm fully and resting his chin on her head.
"But still, I just want you to be sure." She was so close, she could hear his thumping heartbeats.
"I'm sure. There are a lot of sons-of-bitches that need my handling. If putting the end to all of this was far-fetched, maybe I can at least try to provide the world with a lesser evil. Not just for our children, but for the future generation too."
She tilted her head up and looked at him with admiration, passion, and love. This was indeed the man that she fell in years ago when he was a mere rookie cop. Others argued and doubted him by saying he had changed.
However, Claire was the only one who knew that he was the man brimming with fire to bring justice and protect the innocents with all of his heart and his life. And her heart did not lie, she had fallen for him over and over again like the love at the first sight.
The summer sun in most northeastern states was warm and inviting. The soft sunlight that landed on her deeming her looking ethereally. Her pale face was glowing, her blue eyes were gleaming and her hair was shining. At some point, her head looked like she was crowned with a halo.
Looking down directly into her eyes, they were full of emotions. Nervous, he did not know which to perceive first. His hand was playing with the end of her ponytail now. Because of his love for her, her expression was so alluring and seductive that he could not bring himself to restrain.
So, he dipped and crashed his mouth hard on hers, consuming all of her fervor and love. His act looked like an assertion that she was all his, and no one else could not have her. He felt her faint smile between the kiss, calling for her victory of capturing his heart. In admission, his heart was hers.
During their first meeting did flipped his heart. He was crushing on her, yet he deflected his feelings thinking it was all momentary. And what went on with his life seemed to confirm his decision to deny his feelings for her was sound. For her safety and her protection, he could never have her.
Nonetheless, he was wrong. Their cherished friendship established something more than just a crush. There were moments he just wanted to see her without any reasoning, sought her approval in every choice he made, and hoarded her attention when she was not looking at him. The worst was when his jealousy surged whenever others were interested in her though deep down he knew it was not his place to feel such a way in the first place.
What terrified him the most eventually manifested without him knowing, was the thought that he could not continue living without her. And right then he realized he was already truly madly in love with her.
His hand was splayed on the junction of her jaw, neck, and nape; guiding her. The other hand pushed her small back as she curved against him. He groaned when she accidentally nudged his crotch as her body shifted closer to be more accessible. They were so close was like they were being glued together. He managed to slip his fingers into the hem of her jeans and she whimpered in pleasure when he grazed the skin just above the dimple on her back.
They were both stealing breaths in between without showing any sign of stopping. She relented as he opened his mouth boldly and devoured his desire for her. Both of their hands were in each other hair now. Somehow, he managed to slip through his fingers into her hair that a while ago was tiedly secure with a ponytail. It was not ponytail anymore and his hair faced the same condition. Disregard and disheveled.
"Hey! Lovebirds!"
Their fiery kiss abruptly stopped. Claire shied away in the crook of Leon's neck seeking shelter. Leon groaned in exasperation at the damned interruption.
"Stop canoodling and get up here. We're taking pictures and gonna start eating since the gang is all here.", shouted Moira unperturbed, while Sherry looked red-faced abashed by the whole scene that she just witnessed.
With a collected look on her face, Claire broke away from Leon's embrace. She untied her hair and redoed it again. Looking at the two of their unforeseen guests, she said calmly, "I thought people take pictures during the end of the event."
Licking his lips, his fervent eyes still on Claire as she walked toward them. Instead of Moira, Leon responded to her comment. "Yup, but why wait till the end? Why not just grab the chance while we are all here now, while it lasts."
Claire turned to him and jokingly stuck her tongue out. He let out a gleeful laugh upon seeing her playfulness.
"Exactly! Smarty pants. While it lasts.", stated Moira. "Come on!" Urging Leon to follow Claire's suit.
As Claire reached the two of them, Sherry quickly hooked her arms around Claire's. Claire seemed to have spoken something to Sherry, only to have the young woman nod. Subsequently, Claire chortled while Sherry placed her head on Claire's shoulder as they both walked back in arms together.
Moira on the other hand gave Leon a condescending look as he fixed his hair and started moving in their direction.
"What?" Leon asked, trying to play dumb.
"Really...here? What are you...sixteen?" Arms folded, she shifted her weight on one leg while the other tapped disapprovingly on the ground.
Then, he replied nonchalantly while passing Moira, "I just want to make each time the most of it. Like what Jill has suggested."
With a puzzled look, Moira also started walking back with the motivation to ask Jill later regarding what was Leon on about.
Notes:
I'd have fun writing all of these. Maybe I should consider adding filler stories/series in between these seven stories. Hurrmm...