BJ's POV:
It was strange. Before that night, I was so sure how the rest of my life was going to pan out. But I guess life has a messed up way of throwing the book out the window completely.
All of my training in the Marines couldn't have prepared me for what happened in Raccoon City, but it was that same training that ensured we all survived that night.
Well, that and the amazing partner I had with me every step of the way.
After we had escaped, the military presence that had quarantined the city brought the four of us to the Forward Operating Base where we were put through rigorous testing by the medical and hazmat teams to ensure none of us were infected. The medics even managing to get me a replacement leg so I could move around more freely again.
Once we were cleared, we were separated and questioned about what had happened.
Given Sherry was a minor, she wasn't allowed to be questioned without me present since I was her only adult family left. After several hours, and handing over the evidence my mother had given me, the higher ups on site put us up in a hotel in a town outside the Arklay Mountains where other survivors had been put up.
Sherry, Claire, Leon and I stuck together. Ensuring we had a united front incase Umbrella had anyone prowling around possibly looking for us. With all the attention the incident had caused, none of us wouldn't put it past them to slip undercover agents in to either silence or capture any survivors that could point the finger their way.
A couple days later, the US government realized they wouldn't be able to contain the infection and it was at risk of breaking out of the quarantine zone the longer time went on.
With no other options, they launched a tactical strike on Raccoon City. Effectively wiping it off the face of the earth and putting the infection down hard. It was an extreme…but given what me and the others had been through, it was the only way to ensure the virus didn't escape.
As a Marine, I understood why the higher ups made the hard choice. But my hatred for Umbrella reached an apex as they tried to play the innocent card about their involvement.
But the evidence we brought to the military was damning, and was already passing through the upper echelons. It was only a matter of time before Umbrella was brought down for what they've done.
As for me and Claire, we hung out together a couple of times, just the two of us. Leon offered to watch Sherry for a bit while we did so, a couple of times she came along with us which wasn't any less nice.
It was like we were our own little family, even a few people who saw us together mentioned as such which had Sherry beaming and Claire and I blushing.
However, the peace wasn't meant to last.
When all was said and done, the four of us ended up having to go our separate ways. Leon had been scouted by a government organization that was interested in his skills. He didn't say much about it, but he did say it was a big step up from what he was preparing for in the RCPD. We all wished him the best of luck, and to try and keep in contact if he was able.
But the hardest was Claire leaving as well. She still needed to find her brother. And thanks to the information she collected from a friend of his who was in STARS, a man named Barry Burton, she knew where he was and what he was doing.
And it didn't take her long to get preparations for her journey together.
Honestly, I wanted to go with her. To watch her back like she watched mine in Raccoon. But I had a responsibility to Sherry, I was her legal guardian now and I needed to put her needs and safety before anything else.
Claire understood, though she looked to be feeling as heavy hearted as I was.
When the day came for her to leave, Sherry hugged Claire with everything she had. Making her promise to come back and find us when she found her brother. Even telling her to bring her brother home with her so we could meet him.
I hugged her too, not wanting to let the beautiful, badass woman go but knowing I had to. After trading a few words, I handed her my dogtags. She slipped them around her neck before she kissed me with no hesitation. She then went to catch her flight, and we could only wish her the best and hoped she would return safe.
After watching her plane leave, Sherry and I left the airport. Preparing to restart our lives, just the two of us.
It was at this moment that our mother's final gift to us came into play. The other flash drive she had handed to me contained account information, bank information, last will and testaments and liquidated assets that belonged to both our parents.
Taking the information to a lawyer and confirming everything that the drive contained, Sherry and I were left with enough money that neither of us would need to work for the rest of our lives. Mom really intended on making sure the two of us could continue to live, and part of me hoped that she was resting in peace now.
With the funds, I managed to get a small house for Sherry and I in Virginia in a nice neighborhood where we could live in peace, and finally leave our past behind us.
X
In a small suburb outside Richmond Virginia, in the driveway of a small ranch house, a young man could be seen leaning under the hood of a dark-blue 1998 Pontiac Trans Am. Dressed in a black wife-beater and worn jeans that led down to a pair of work boots.
If he moved just right, one could catch a glimpse of metal through a hole in one of his pant legs.
Grabbing a nearby rag, he wiped his hands off before closing the hood to reveal William 'BJ' Birkin. His brown hair a little longer than it had been that night, but other than that there hadn't been much change in the former Marine.
Although he hadn't changed much, everything else had changed in countless ways.
It had been about two and a half months since the Raccoon City incident. And in that time a lot had changed.
With the money he and Sherry had gotten from their parent's estate, he'd gotten this house and furnished it along with the car he was currently working on. The neighborhood was quiet, out of the way and had a good school system. And for the first time in a long time, the Birkin siblings could finally be at ease.
Sherry had flourished in this new place. She still had occasional nightmares from their time in Raccoon, but in the time since they moved here she already established herself as one of the brightest kids in her class and had several new friends she enjoyed spending time with.
In fact, she had called a half hour prior to let him know that she was going to be at one of said friends' houses after school. BJ had smiled on his end before telling her to be careful and to let him know if she needed to be picked up. As protective as he was, seeing her come out of her shell and having a life of her own took a load off his mind after everything they've been through throughout their lives.
Shaking his head, BJ went back under the hood to check the rest of the car's engine. Life was going good…but he still thought about Claire.
After escaping the city, and being interrogated for several hours, they had managed to go on a couple of what could have been considered dates together. They even had a few moments with Sherry coming along with them, several people commenting that they looked like a happy little family which had him and the beautiful brunette blushing.
Their last moment, sharing a kiss before getting on her plane to Europe to find her brother, replayed in his head off and on. He'd wanted more than anything to go with her and watch her back, given that Umbrella was still a very real threat, but he had obligations to his little sister and Claire understood that.
BJ hadn't heard from her since that day. Leaving a metal ball of anxiety in his gut with each passing day that he buried deep so that he didn't worry Sherry. But his little sister was also worried about the woman who had been there with them through all the horror.
As for the situation with Umbrella. BJ had been paying close attention to the news and talking with a few friends he had in Washington.
The evidence they'd brought forward had put more than a 'couple wrenches' in their plans. The whole Raccoon City incident was brought to light and Umbrella faced the full brunt of the fallout. All of their dirty secrets were coming out of the woodwork and had no way to stop it. It was only a matter of time before the conglomerate collapsed in on itself for their hubris.
Good riddance.
Finishing with the car, BJ closed the hood before heading over to the garden hose hooked to the side of the house. Washing his hands and getting a drink from it before running the cool water over his head to fight off the 80 degree weather of the warm day.
One of the many differences compared to where they lived before was the fact that it was always warm in the south. Even when it was almost December.
With the water rushing over his head, the former Marine failed to hear a car pulling up to the driveway and letting someone out before driving away.
Turning the hose off and putting away, BJ ran a hand through his now wet hair when he heard footsteps coming up to the house. His muscles tensed, old habits coming to the front as if preparing for anything.
"Hey stranger."
BJ's eyes widened and he stiffened for a completely different reason. That voice…
Spinning around, the former Marine was greeted to the sight of a familiar and beautiful young woman. Long brown hair tied up in a ponytail wearing a red t-shirt, skinny jeans and a pair of running shoes. A smile on her stunning face that made her blue eyes shine ever brighter.
"...Claire?" he asked in stunned disbelief.
Claire's smile widened, "Were you expecting someone else?" she asked coyly with her hands on her hips.
BJ's smile nearly split his face as he closed the short distance in two strides and hoisted her in the air with his arms tight around her waist. The younger Redfield laughed, wrapping her own arms around his shoulders as he spun them around.
"I can't believe you're here!" he said while setting her down, foreheads touching and eyes locked.
"Sorry I didn't call. Things got a bit…rough over in Europe." Claire admitted, "It took me a while to find out where you and Sherry went. And when I did, I caught the first ride I could."
She reached into her shirt and pulled out the dogtags he'd given her on the day she left. The metal clinked softly as they hung around her neck. "Kinda figured you'd want these back."
The former Marine looked at the tags for only a moment before going back to her eyes again, "Far as I'm concerned, you're the only thing I wanted to see come back." Without missing a beat, his lips met hers and received no hesitation in return. The duo taking in the feel and taste of one another for the first time in almost three months and making the most of each second.
Time became a fleeting thought until the need for air took priority and they were forced to pull apart. Heavy breaths passing between them, but the matching smiles stood out more. The rest of the world nothing more than white noise as they lost themselves in each other.
"Wanna come inside?" BJ asked once their breathing was back under control.
"Thought you'd never ask." Claire replied, slipping an arm around the former Marine's waist while he put one around her shoulders as they headed inside the latter's home.
X
The duo spent the a couple of hours catching up. BJ explained how things had changed since they went their separate ways and how Sherry had been doing since they moved into their new home.
Claire's side of things…was a lot less pleasant.
She talked about how she'd snuck into Umbrella's HQ and ended up captured and imprisoned on a place called Rockford Island. Things had gotten worse when another viral outbreak overtook the island and she had to fight her way through the infected prowling around with the help of another prisoner named Steve Burnside.
Sadly Steve didn't make it. And if it wasn't for her brother Chris arriving in time she wouldn't have either.
BJ was tense, a menagerie of 'what-if's' playing in his head. But the brunette had held his hand and reminded him that she was there and that everything worked out in the end. Time continued to slip by as they caught up, the former Marine ordering a couple of pizzas for dinner as they settled in comfortably.
Neither of them knew who initiated what, but at one point they were kissing again. Things getting heated quickly, clothes being shed as they stumbled into BJ's room.
The next couple of hours was spent with very little talking. But a lot had been said between them.
X
Laying on his back, staring up at the ceiling of his bedroom, BJ could only feel utter contentment at that moment. Like a piece of his life he was missing was now back in place.
Not wanting to sound too corny, but he was pretty damn sure it was the drop dead gorgeous brunette curled up naked on his chest.
"You know, I could get used to this." Claire said softly, nuzzling closer to the man under her.
BJ smiled while drawing random patterns on her bare back with his finger, "I could too." he leaned down and kissed her on the head. "If you want, you don't have to go right away."
Claire turned slightly and looked up at him, "Really?"
"Yeah. I know Sherry would love to see you. And if I'm being honest," the former Marine wrapped his arms tighter around her. "I don't wanna see you go again."
The young Redfield smiled, "Why BJ, are you asking me to live with you?" she asked coyly.
Feeling his face heating up, BJ swallowed and pushed forward. "I mean…I wouldn't mind. I know for a fact my baby sis wouldn't either…" he was cut off by her laugh.
"I would love too," Claire looked hesitant for a moment, "To be honest…I was supposed to be back at college months ago. So I…kinda dropped out without meaning too. And with Chris off with his former STARS friends hunting down the rest of Umbrella-"
It was her turn to be cut off, this time by a kiss from BJ. "Good to know, because I intend on making sure you're right here with me."
"In your home? Or here in your bed?" Claire asked with a saucy smirk.
"Yes." was the former Marine's reply as he kissed her again, rolling them over so he was on top of her in preparation for another round.
The sudden ringing of the phone on the nightstand broke them out of their private bubble. BJ rolled to the other side of the bed to answer it.
"Hello?"
"Hey Billy." his sister's voice emitted from the other end.
"Hey Sher, having fun over there?"
"Yeah. Tina's family invited me to have dinner with them, is that okay?"
"I'm cool with it. Just stay out of trouble and call me when you're ready to come home, okay?" BJ looked over at Claire who was now sitting up with the sheet pulled up to her chest. "By the way, I got a surprise for you when you come home."
"A surprise? What is it?" Sherry asked with excitement in her voice.
"Wouldn't be much of a surprise if I told you, baby sis. But trust me, you're going to love it."
"Oh, okay. Love you Billy."
"Love you too Sher." BJ hung up before turning back to Claire who was smiling back at him. "Be prepared for a little blonde missile, she missed you like crazy."
The brunette laughed, "I missed her too. I'm glad she's doing well."
A bit of light through the window caused something to glint off of Claire's chest, BJ realized in their haste she didn't take off his dog tags which were nestled comfortably in her cleavage. Noticing where he was now looking, the young Redfield dropped the sheet to pool at her waist to give him more of a view.
"See something you like?" she asked with the tags clinking softly between her breasts.
BJ gave her an impish grin, "Oh, I definitely do Miss Redfield." In the next moment he was on top of her again. Claire giggled before they became lost in a haze of pleasure again.
A while later, they both went to pick up Sherry, who all but tackled the brunette off her feet when she saw her. The three of them returning to the house soon after…
Only now it truly felt like a home. With a bright future on the horizon.
X
A/N: And this story is finally put to rest. It's been a long journey, but I'm happy to see this story finally get it's ending. I'm just sorry it took so long for me to pull it off.
Like mentioned in previous chapters, I intend on making a series of OCs that are being put in the RE series. BJ was only the first. I have one that will cover RE1 and RE3, and another that will be part of RE4 with all of them coming together and crossing over at various points to bring everything all together.
So BJ, Claire, Sherry and Leon will return in the future.
But for now, I'll focus on my other stories before starting on the next step. So thanks for sticking with me guys!