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.)
"Hi Rebecca, how's it going? Are you at the lab?", she greets over the phone, while cooking her breakfast of toasts and eggs, she is dressed in a white tank top and over a red polo sleeve that has visible creases, she didn't take the time to iron such clothes as she barely leaves the house from the fact that she does work from home, but just when she has an appointment, and conveniently, her brother brings her groceries every Sunday. Rebecca replies on the other side as Claire serves her food on a plate, along with a glass of milk, "I know, but I'll be back once I give birth, I promise you that.", she grins, she misses bonding with her friend, all the microscope quests that she had to help Rebecca with, and she was the first one to know about her pregnancy, and every time she has the time to talk to Chambers, she thanks her for making her take that test, "Don't worry, you'll also be amongst the first ones to see the babies. And I might even make you one of their godmother since Jill will also be one.", she offered her younger friend and she gladly accepted, but their conversation was soon interrupted by the sound of someone ringing the door bell.
Claire silently curses to herself, figuring that the timing is as bad as it gets, she hasn't eaten and she's catching up with Rebecca after months, "Uhh, Rebecca I'll call you back later, I've got uninvited company it seems.", hearing her friend understand, she ends the phone call. She takes a quick bite of her meal and sip of milk before walking over to her front door. She had to admit that even walking a small distance was heavy enough due to her carrying triplets and she wishes she would just get used to it by now. She peaks at the peephole and there she sees a familiar man waiting in the hallway, "Leon.", she murmurs, before unlocking her door, turning the door knob and opening it.
They meet eye to eye, as the barrier between them swings open, "Hey Claire.", he smiles at her.
"Good morning Leon...showing up unattended now are you- I'm joking...you're allowed to come by whenever you like.", and she greets back smiling, she also notices him hiding something behind his back, "What you got there? Another gift? I think I have enough things in the apartment as it is."
"You're right, but can I come in first before I show you?", she nods, he's really just that unpredictable and annoying, now Claire had no idea why she had fallen for him. Stepping in the apartment and closing the door behind him, he then reveals what looks to be a small indoor plant in a pot, "I figured you might need someone like this little fella around here to keep you company.", he hands her the small plant, she looks at it for second before placing it on the middle of her countertop.
Turning back at him, she replies, "Thanks Leon, but I think there's more than enough company in here that you gave me.", while placing her hand on her baby bump.
Leon scratches his head, "The more the merrier, I guess...and fresh air.", he jokes and she wasn't laughing so he clears his throat, putting both hands in his pockets as a habit whenever he's placed in an uncomfortable scenario.
"Anyways, have you eaten yet? You want anything?", she offers him and he defuses, "No it's okay, I've already had breakfast earlier. And I'm sorry, I think I might've interrupted yours.", he comments, seeing the unfinished food on her counter.
She shakes her head, "That you did, but it's fine really, I can just finish it now if you don't mind."
Leon shrugs his shoulders, "I don't mind Claire, and you should really finish that since you're eating for yourself and the babies.", as he walks over to the refrigerator in the kitchen when he saw from afar that she had displayed the ultrasound pictures of their triplets onto it, he observed, it was still unbelievable to him that these are his unborn babies.
Hearing the man's words however, she makes her way to the counter and sits down on a stool, and she quickly devours her eggs and toasts, then chugs down the milk. Leon thought it was very funny that she ate that fast, knowing Claire, she always seemed elegant when eating, unlike now, but he totally understands that this is another thing that maybe changes because of pregnancy. Seeing her finish up the food and put it away on the side of the counter, he walks over to her and sits on the other side of the table.
"Well, that was fast.", he comments as she wipes her mouth with a napkin, "I was starving.", she says back and Leon giggles, he hasn't been this happy in a while, "Surely, the triplets are full as well.".
"They are.", she throws the tissue away to the trash bin at her side and looks at him, "So, why are you here exactly?", she questioned like she didn't want him there but he ignores the tone.
"I-uhh, actually thought that I'm ready to finally have the talk with you. Not including the triplets in the discussion, just you and I.".
Claire was shocked for a second, it's to not get her wrong, she's as ready as he is, she just didn't expect for Leon to sound so committed by his words, he didn't show any nervousness in his body language, just pure confidence, he looks in her eyes, "First of all, I apologize for yelling at you that morning, I wasn't right in the mind and I regret that I ever talked to you like that. You helped me- that night, like for the many times that you did before. And I hope that we can be friends again, I really miss my partner in crime.", he states, looking down, it was brief but straight to the point, he didn't want to beat around the bush really, he justs wants to have her back in his life, like what they used to be...the relationship they used to have.
"I'm sorry as well.", Claire clutches her hands together, "That morning, I regret ending our friendship, I really was just in a state of anger when I said that, but I was too embarrassed to contact you again too, so I stuck with my words, even though it was against my will- I know we've gone our different ways before and we managed to fix it...and I hope as well that we can be best friends again this time around...I miss my old friend.", she sniffs before it turned into a mild sob as tears start to fall down her cheeks and onto the countertop. Leon also starts to get emotional as a single tear appears in the corner of his eye, he wipes it down and returns his fist onto the table, Glancing at Claire who seemed so vulnerable hurted him, he swallows the lump in his throat and stands up, walking over her and wraps his arms around her. She whimpers on his shoulder and also hugs him. At that moment, he desperately wanted to admit that he is catching feelings for her as well, but figured that it was the wrongest timing, they've just reconciled and apologized as people and now maybe as friends, he didn't want to ruin it now and maybe...just maybe- Claire had gotten over him, which he secretly hopes not. But still it was wrong, because how could he have forgotten about Ada?
She closes her eyes, his sandalwood smell entering her nostrils, and to be in his embrace when he's the one who approached her is different from whenever she did, feeling more comfort to know that he wanted to hug her. They stayed in the presence of each other physically for minutes before they knew that they had calmed down from their meltdown. Leon pulled away first, and Claire did as well, they both wiped their eyes and cheeks as they laughed at themselves, it died down a bit.
"Didn't expect for us to look so pathetic right now.", he states and they both giggle.
Claire took a tissue to wipe her face with and threw it away once again, "We've always looked pathetic Leon, we're agents. Well- now...only you are I guess.", Leon nods his head defeated.
"You've got a point.", he points at her shakily, grinning, "But- speaking of it, do you have any plans to go back to Terrasave after...you know.", he asks, gesturing to her.
She thinks of it for a second, "I never really thought of it yet, but knowing that I have three kids to take care of by then, I don't think I will.", she says realistically speaking, and he bobs his head, "I'm pretty much retired at this point."
"But you know I'll be here to help, and if you want to go back, I'll be here- I'll even give up my job and possibly get a less demanding one so I can help more with the kids.", he tells her, and she was taken aback for a second hearing what he spoke about, "Leon, what? you can't be serious.".
Leon puts his hand on the countertop, "What if I am, I told you, I'll give my all."
"Stop, I can't possibly make you do that, that's too much.", she leans her right arm on the furniture as well, as she places her left on her midsection, as she felt the babies move for the first time today.
"Alright- I'm sorry, I think we shouldn't talk about that now, I promised that we focus on us today.", he interrupts, changing the topic.
Claire got confused by his wording, "What about us- exactly?", she asks, it is a very general statement.
He sighs, freezing in place, realizing what he just said, did he mean it as a friend or something more?, "I-I mean, can I take you out for dinner tomorrow? it's been a while since the last time...and maybe go shopping for the baby's stuff...so at least we can bond again?", he slightly cringed at himself, it was all he could think of as an alibi.
"You really can't advance in a conversation with anyone without asking them out for dinner, do you?", she stares at him and he smirks, lowering his head, "But the shopping idea, I can accept, so sure...I would love to "have dinner" with you.", she giggles. He thought that this reconciliation went rather chaotic and well, "But can I ask?", he lifted his head, "Are we friends again?"
Claire smiles at him, "After everything that happened today, I think we are."
10:51pm, lying on her side, in the comfort of her fluffy and soft double-sized bed, she browsed through her phone and on social media, looking at pictures of people she knows of and follows, then sometimes don't. She couldn't sleep due to the heavy movement of her unborn babies that at times hurt a bit as they then also hit her ribs occasionally and it causes for her to jolt back awake from her slumber every time. Despite from this, she's still thankful that they are active, she thinks of it as a reminder that they are alive and healthy. Going back through scrolling on the app, a notification popped up at the top part of her screen, she somehow received a message from none other than Leon.
"Can't sleep? Are the triplets somehow keeping you awake?"
He asked, and Claire smiled at his concern, he must've seen that her status was active.
"Yeah, one of them kept kicking my insides, or maybe it's all of them...I don't really know."
"Wish I could be there to scold them."
"Very funny, Scott...what about you? Why are you up?"
"No particular reason...but- do you mind if I chat with you while the three misbehave?"
"If you don't mind-"
"I don't, not when it comes to you- Red;)"
Claire giggled at Leon's emoticon on his last reply, a wink, he may be corny at times but he is also funny, and it was nice to have her best friend back.