She's not entirely sure how Carlos was able to score a place like this for them to hide out at. But she loves that they did. When she and the others had realised that Umbrella had paid off and washed over everything they did in Raccoon City and instead turned the public and police against them Jill knew they would have to go into hiding. Have to try and find a different way of bringing justice for everyone that had died in Raccoon City.
Rescuing Alice was the first step. She has no idea what Umbrella was planning on doing with the blonde. She dreads to think what would have happened if they hadn't shown up when they did. If they came a few minutes too late and could do nothing but watch as Alice was gunned down and her body dragged back inside for Umbrella to play with again.
But that didn't happen. They showed up at the perfect moment and Alice was back safe with them... With her. The slight curling of her lips and increase in heart rate gives away her own feelings for the other woman. Feelings that she very happily discovered were shared. She may have needed a bit of liquid courage to admit to Alice that she was attracted to her, but it all worked out in her favour in the end.
Now the five of them are hiding out at this cabin in the woods of Pennsylvania. The cold morning air was bitter and chipping away at her, but she doesn't mind the cold. Growing up in Raccoon City and living her entire life there she never really got into the whole camping and wilderness thing. But she kind of gets it now. It's peaceful out here. Peaceful and beautiful.
Alice had another nightmare tonight and accidentally woke her up. The blonde refused to talk about it citing that she needed a moment and quickly escaped their bed into the bathroom and locking herself in there. She doesn't know what Alice dreams about but given the fact the woman lost everyone she knew one by one, was captured and experimented on, woke up in a city of undead and then watched people die one by one again, her friend was turned into a monster and tried to kill her, a nuclear bomb went off, she was impaled in the chest, was involved in a helicopter crash, died, was experimented on more and brought back from the dead and fucked with even more by Umbrella there are a lot of things that could be infesting Alice's sleep.
And she knows that Alice is struggling. She wants to help. Wants to be there for her as her friend and as her girlfriend... kind of... they never really talked about that aspect. Either way, she just wants to help Alice, but Alice isn't letting her in.
After Alice had fled from their room Jill had laid there for a few moments trying to gather herself and figure out her next move. She had thought about staying there until Alice came back or just going back to sleep and to try and talk to Alice again in the morning when whatever was haunting her wasn't fresh on her mind. A few minutes into doing that Jill couldn't take the silence in their room and left. She thought getting some air would be a good idea which is how she finds herself lying down on the wooden swing bench out on the front porch. The sun had only just started to rise. The dark sky slowly turning from dark purples and soft blues to pale yellow and pinks.
She's out there for about ten minutes when Alice emerges from the cabin as well. Neither woman says anything to the other but Jill can see the underlying guilt in Alice's posture and eyes. It's kind of a sad puppy look which makes Jill's heart melt and shuffle over on the bench. Taking the hint Alice crawls over her into the small gap between Jill and the back of the bench. It's a tight squeeze but Alice rests her head on Jill's shoulder and Jill wraps an arm around Alice keeping her close. Alice nuzzles into her taking a deep breath before relaxing into her hold.
She's noticed Alice doing that a lot. Sniffing the air curiously. Staring off into the distance blinding for a while. Like she's watching something none of them can see. The wincing at any loud or sudden noises. Avoid touch with everyone but her and even then, she seems hyper focused and tightly controlled. Like she doesn't trust herself most of the time. No doubt the aftermath of Umbrella screwing with Alice even more.
Rocking back and forth enjoying the tranquillity of the setting sun and Alice resting on her Jill savours the moment. She knows there won't be more times of this in the future. Not for them at least. So, she best enjoy it while she can. Who knows how long it will be until Umbrella find them or the next disaster happens.
But something presses heavily on her. The way Alice is acting with everyone but her. The distant and almost cold attitude she has to them. Such a contrast to the shy and loving actions she showers Jill in while in private. She's not stupid. She can see the writing on the walls. How closed off Alice is even with her at times. Tonight was just another reminder of that wall she can't seem to tear down despite their budding relationship. "You're thinking of leaving." Jill doesn't ask that as a question. It's a statement. A fact.
One Alice doesn't dispute. "Umbrella is hunting me. It would be safer if I left." Alice mutters into her tightening her hold on Jill as if afraid Umbrella would suddenly appear and rip them apart.
She knows Umbrella won't give up on Alice. From what the older woman has told her she is everything Umbrella has been aiming to create ever since they discovered the T-Virus. Their goal of creating the ultimate soldier and weapon. Alice is everything they aspired to. Letting her escape is not something they would ever tolerate. Another reason they are hiding away from all civilization. Alice is too important to them. They are going to come for her. Today, tomorrow or years in the future Umbrella will find her and come for her.
Which is why she can understand why Alice feels the need to run. To stay away from them. The fear of taking all of them down with her can be paralysing. She's seen that. When the odd helicopter passes overhead or they accidently stumble upon other people on a nearby trail. The panic and desperate jerky movements as she gets ready to run and fight. To protect them from Umbrella. The way there is always a slight trembling when someone talks about umbrella. The way she pales at the mere mention of them.
Whatever they did to her terrified her. And Alice isn't one to scare easily. So to see her so anxious and jumpy because of Umbrella speaks volumes to what they did to her. What fate might be in store for them should they get captured. So yeah, she can understand why Alice thinks running might be for the best. That it would protect them from Umbrella's wrath. But what's she forgetting is that Umbrella doesn't like being crossed. And as a group, they have crossed Umbrella multiple times and have no intention of stopping. Something which she relates back to Alice. "They would come after me anyways. I am one of the only people who can expose them. I stood against them after the cannibal massacre, during the fall of Raccoon City and the aftermath, I stole you from them, Alice. They want me dead and gone nearly as much as they want you back." Jill softly argues back. "I'm safer with you."
They will also want Carlos back. His betrayal and turning against Umbrella would be enough to rile them up. They don't accept traitors to their cause well. And Angie... She's similar to Alice. And whatever horrors Alice had to endure Angie will most likely succumb to in the future should she ever be captured. LJ will suffer and die just like all of them. Whether any of them admit it or not their normal lives are over. It's run and hide gathering what scraps of evidence they can or Umbrella. Alice being here or not doesn't change that fact. It might buy them a little more time if she leaves but in the end, they will all end up in the same place.
She would rather spend what precious time they have of their freedom together then hiding alone in misery.
A conclusion Alice also seems to come to. As she tries a different argument. "I'm not human." She tries.
Earning nothing more than a scoff from Jill in response. "More of a reason to keep me around. I can be your humanity. Be the thing that keeps you grounded. Attached." Alice once said she doesn't feel human anymore. Yet around her Alice is more human than she feels sometimes. And she loves that. Loves she can bring that side out of Alice. She's used to bringing out the worst in criminals not bringing out the best in someone she deeply cares for.
"I'm dangerous," Alice whispers loosening her hold on Jill expecting her to recoil away from her. The threat of what Alice can do and her growing abilities isn't lost on any of them. they noticed the shift in Alice. How her powers seem stronger then ever and odd things happen around her. Like books falling off the shelf or bottles spilling over.
But all that is a part of Alice is. And Jill wouldn't change a thing about Alice. Her faults and imperfections aren't something to be cast away or discarded. They make out who Alice is. And she was aware of all of this before she first bared her heart to the blonde. "I know. I knew that back in Raccoon City. But I never turned away from you. Not then and not now." Tilting her head downwards she looks over to Alice who has tears welling in her eyes. She hopes they are good tears. A reminder that Alice isn't alone in all this. Jill is here and the others are as well. they are a team. A dysfunctional team but a team nonetheless. "Besides. The world is a dangerous place. I would rather be in danger with you by my side then alone. We can't live in the what ifs and maybes Alice. Not anymore. I'm asking you to stay. Stay with me."
Jill cringes at herself for the sappy pleasing in her tone. She's never asked someone to stay before. She always figured if someone wanted to leave then they should leave. If they can't a reason to stay why should lower herself to make them put up with her for longer. But Alice is different. She doesn't want to leave because she's done with all of them. She's trying to do what's best for them.
Alice doesn't answer her for a while. The two of them go back to watching the sunrise letting Alice think over what she's told her. She ignores the way her own heart race has kicked up a notch. The worry building in her stomach that Alice will still leave. Slip away in the middle of the night never to be seen again.
She prays that doesn't happen. That Alice won't hurt her like that. That she will find the reasons to stay outweigh the reasons to leave. But even then, she still feels the prickle of tension as the silence drags on.
In the back of her mind, she quickly tries to think of more reasons to get Alice to stay. More points and arguments she could make to entice the woman to stay. However, it turns out she doesn't need to think too hard about it as Alice mutters a quick and quiet, "Ok."
"Ok," Jill repeats wearily. What does that mean. Is that Ok I've made a decision or Ok I'm going to stay in the woods with you.
Alice pushes herself up so she's now leaning over Jill and presses a gentle but lingering kiss to her lips. Something sweet telling Jill everything she needs to know and then saying the words so there are no doubts lounging around in either of them of what this means to them. "I couldn't bare leaving you before. I don't think I could do it now. I'm not going anywhere unless you're with me."
"Promise." Jill timidly asks wincing and closing her eyes in shame at how small and pathic she sounds.
Alice kisses her again a bit longer this time but cradles her face like she thinks Jill is worth more than anything else in the world. "With all my heart I promise I would never voluntarily leave you, Jill Valentine."
Relief floods her system upon hearing the words. Having the confirmation. Smiling and pressing a quick kiss back against Alice she quickly tries to fall back to a more laid-back attitude. Jokingly she tells Alice. "I'll hold you to that Alice Abernathy. Now shut up you're destroying the peace and quiet."
Alice laughs quietly hearing this falling back down on Jill and embracing her some more and the two of them get comfy on the swinging bench. "You're the one who broke the silence." She reminds Jill.
"Shhh." She starts to stroke up and down Alice's back. "Don't ruin this moment." Neither of them knows what the future has in store for them. But they are stronger together. That they know as much as the feelings they possess for each other. Feelings they now have the time to fully explore.
With Alice resting on her chest the sun has washed away all the remnants of darkness leaving a bright day ahead. Overall, it's a good way to stay the day. And many days in the future with nothing but her and Alice lying together entwined and hopeful of what is to come.