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.)
Leon waits outside the door, arms crossed and leaning back on the wall, he had just visited his newborns again earlier in the morning and he was told that they might be able to go home in three days time now due to them being strong for their age and he was delighted by the news. Now, he's waiting for Chris to come out of the room. It's been three whole days since the birth of his children, June 24th 2022 1:35-1:40 p.m. was the exact time they were born and Claire was sedated an hour earlier, and the date today is June 26th but still- she is unconscious. All he wants is for her to finally wake up, to see their kids, and for him to also apologize to her, but to no avail- he's afraid that he can't do it today and maybe another day and another wait until she wakes up...he just wants her back, smile like she always did but- no, instead she's...lying there almost lifeless and he doesn't know if he could handle seeing her like that.
But Leon had to once he flinched to look up at Chris who had just opened the door, staring at each other for a second before one spoke up, "You can come in.", her brother said but he closed the door suddenly from which the other man was left confused, "Actually...can I talk to you for a minute?", he asked Leon unexpectedly and he could only nod correcting his stance, "Sure.", he replied and the man in front of him sighed, facing his head down bobbing it lightly, "Claire- knew all along that she might not survive childbirth...", he paused, the statement caught Leon completely off guard as he wrapped his arms tighter on his chest, he processed the information for a minute, and now...her last words to him finally made sense as it makes him tear up.
"Take- care of our...kids, If ever- I don't...make it."
"Emma- Dr. Scott told her that something might go wrong along the pregnancy- that it was high risk for her and the babies if she didn't give- one up along the way...and she kept it from us.", Chris adds, shaking his head a bit, "But Claire told the doctor that she would keep all of the babies...even if it means her possibly- dying...and that we were lucky enough that they all survived...but Claire took it worst...and I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing- since if she didn't take all the blow...one the babies might have not survived either."
Leon's shoulders suddenly felt heavy, and a lump formed once again in his throat as he sheds another tear, suddenly shaking his head, "What do you mean Chris? Why are you telling me all this? Is something wrong with her?"
"She-", Chris pauses, sniffing as he tries not to break down again, "She's currently comatosed Leon, it might take a while for her to wake up...it may take weeks, months-"
"Stop...no- she's going to wake up tomorrow- this week...she is, you can't tell me otherwise...she needs to.", he stated, trying to appear strong physically despite being crushed deep inside and his voice shaking uncontrollably until he finally have in as he lowers his head to sob, he can't bear for her to be unconscious for another day, week, month...he needs her now. Chris steps once to get closer to Leon to pat his shoulder twice, "I- also want for her to wake up now- I want my sister back...but I'm afraid we'll have to wait a little longer and just focus on the babies for a while...but please visit her, I'll leave you now.", Chris taps him again before walking away.
It took Leon a minute to recollect himself and reach for the door knob of the room where Claire is confined in, she was transferred from the ICU into a regular room due to her stable vitals for the last 24 hours, but still in-comatose- as Chris had said. Twisting the silver material, he pushes the wooden thing as he peaks through the gap...and there he catches his first glimpse of her after days- she was lying flat on her back, wires connected to her body to monitor her vital signs, a dextrose to her left hand, and a mask to supply her oxygen. He steps into the room, taking a shaky breath...he had never seen her like this before, they had been to a hospital before in the years that he's known her and they had gone together with Sherry after Racoon City, he had visited her after the news of her getting kidnapped and taken her from the injuries they've had from past missions where they had been partners, had stitches and surgeries that they have gotten used to...but nothing beats the pain of seeing her lie there with no certainty on when she'll recover.
He walked slowly towards the bed, with only the beeping sound of the monitor making noise, he swallowed heavily taking each step forward to the chair beside her that her brother might've been using for the past two days. Once close enough, he stared at her unaware body, arms and hands on the side of her waist as her head rests on a pillow...he can't help but break down once more as he sits on the stool, thinking about Chris' revelation about her, with a blurry eyesight caused by tears, he gazed at her, shaking his head. She is so selfless, and now it led her here...but if she wasn't- then he wouldn't have one of the babies here, whether it be Christopher, Chloe, or Clarkson...they would have been incomplete if Claire had taken the obstetrician gynecologist's advice- and he knows that that would not have been a better possibility now. But he wants to ask her so badly- why she had to keep it a secret...knowing she won't answer.
"Claire...", he speaks her name and she would always reply with his name back, it had been their thing for so long, but now she can't and how it pains him until he finally sobs his all, he hasn't been this sorrowful since his mother died...always playing the cold-hearted agent around the people who are not close to him, always genuine with his friends, but never vulnerable, he would've drank it all away. But ever since he found out Claire was pregnant, he tried to not return to liquor as a solution- instead facing himself in the mirror to talk it out to himself, he knew he needed to grow up, for her and for their children...for himself, and he succeeded...he hadn't been wasted in months, not even a single drop- and he had no sense of missing the taste of it now, and how he feels healthier. Claire had helped him with that without her knowing and he thanks her every day.
He had to at least calm down a bit before talking again, "I know- you might not want me here after how I left you alone for a week without telling you the real reason, but- I will only be here for a short time.", he paused and sighed, "I- know you need to rest...but we miss you- your brother, your friends, our kids...I miss you Claire- we need you."
"And the triplets are almost three days old now...and despite being premature, they're very strong...you did a great job in taking care of them while they're still in the womb. And I know that you'll do even greater as a mother to them once you wake up.", he lifted his left arm to reach and rest it on top of the back of her hand gently, "They'll be going home in three days...and I hope that you'll also get to- go home with us...please Claire- I know you need to recover but- I can't do this without you anymore."
"I can't go on another day, week, month...without you.", he shakily states, gazing at her, "And I'm guilty that I got to hold them first before you did- every day I get to see their beautiful faces...but their mother hadn't even seen them once since they're born."
"I-I know it's my right as their father but it feels- wrong...that I get to enjoy these moments with them without you.", he drops his head, looking at the floor as he closes his eyes, controlling his emotions once more, but still his palm is on her hand.
"I also miss my old friend...the strong, brave, independent, honest, joyful Claire Redfield that I know, that 19 year old college student I met in Racoon City...the girl Sherry looks up to, the woman who protected Rani, the Terrasave rescuer who wants to get hospitals built for people- most importantly children...who was also determined to publicize that chip knowing damn well that she would have been hunted by the whole United States if she did, the woman who tried to save another life despite being infected in Alcatraz...", he paused as he breathes for a minute, "And...the mother who had sacrificed her own self to give all three of her kids the chance at life...our kids."
"But yet- you still question yourself if you've done enough for others...you don't know how selfless you are to everyone you come across. You're enough Claire- more than enough.", Leon then lifts her hand carefully to kiss it gently, more of a damp of his lip on her skin briefly not wanting to move the dextrose in a way that the blood will backflow, "To me...you've helped me in ways you don't even know, you cared about me enough to contact me months ago about your pregnancy despite us not being on good terms...when you could've kept it from me...but you didn't. And now- you gave me three beautiful children...you gave me a family- that I've always dreamt and longed for...I couldn't thank you enough- Claire- I..."
He stopped, he had no right to say it, not after what he did, instead he apologized, "I'm sorry...you didn't deserve the treatment I gave you, not after every good thing you did for me, I shouldn't have been so weak those days when I knew you were near childbirth...I left you alone...it was my responsibility.", he lowered his head ashamed, bowing with closed eyes as he loosens his grip on her hand...he didn't deserve to touch her- he doesn't deserve her, "I- love you, I want to be with you...but I know I don't- deserve you.", he broke his own rule, said it in his most sincere voice despite the unstableness. He finally showed his most vulnerable state as he cried his all beside the woman he completely cares for...realizing it all now that she is the one he loves with all his heart...no one else.
Because of the man's focus being on the unconscious woman in the room, he didn't even notice that the other woman he loved before her had been listening and watching the whole time, eyes peeking through the gap in between the wall and the door as she wears sunglasses, hearing those words come out of Leon's mouth broke her deep inside, as well as the anger seeping as she balls her fists forcefully until her knuckles turned white, that after all she had done for him...he will just leave her like nothing, replaced his love for her to his old friend- mother of his children...jealousy, Ada couldn't take any of it anymore and just abandons the spot she was eavesdropping from...as she walks for the exit of the building, heels clacking against the tile floor until she catches a glimpse of the nursery at the side of her eye, halting, tilting her head to see three newborns on the other side of the glass. Leon's children, she thought as she saw his surname written on the side of their small bassinets.
She wouldn't lie either, they looked exactly like him...but she somehow saw her own- in those kids as well...and it in some way warmed her cold heart a bit. But thoughts were interrupted by someone. "Ada.", she tilted her head to see the tall muscular guy before her, the brother of her rival, the man who wanted to kill her years ago- Chris Redfield himself and all the warmth she felt grew cold once more, anger anguishing as her thoughts became the opposite, the sister of the man before her is too lucky...she hates it. He showed an intimidating look directed at her like she was gonna hurt the kids and she quickly walked past him not uttering a word or even looking at him again as she exits the hospital...he didn't stop her either, she can't handle anymore of this atrocity- what she needs now is a secluded place to be herself...to cry and let out all the sorrow she simply cannot show people. Chris on the other hand could only watch as the woman exited the premises, and he wouldn't mention this incident to Leon until years later.