AND DEATH SHALL HAVE NO DOMINION

THE MORNING AFTER ↳ we need to talk... or not

Chris turned over onto his side to face her and reached out to rub his hand along her arm. His voice was rough, still heavy from sleep. "No, of course not." His eyes searched hers. "It was a great night," he admitted quietly, "Don't think I'll forget it anytime soon." The mattress creaked as he shifted, moving closer so he could tangle legs with Jill under the blanket and drape his arm over her. His lips pressed to the side of her neck, her jaw, her cheek and finally, her mouth. Sweet kisses. A hand cradled her waist, tenderly thumbing her hipbone. A whisper as their noses brushed and they shared breaths: "And you...?"

Leon wasn't so much as begging as he was trying to be as gentle as possible with her. He was still trying to learn how he could handle it whenever she broke down in tears like this, caught up in a tidal wave of overwhelming emotion. It appeared that even Helena herself didn't understand why it was happening, becoming distressed as a result and not knowing what to do about it.

His guess? Hormonal imbalance. She was just over four months along and recognizing any symptoms of pregnancy before would have been made difficult due to how sick she'd been after Elpis. There were a lot of changes going on.

"Nothing is wrong with you," Leon told her earnestly. "Your body has been going through a lot. It doesn't make sense and seems irrational, but the doctor said this was normal." He wasn't going to tell her to calm down. Because that was fucking stupid. This wasn't just something she could rein in or switch off; Helena was growing a whole human inside of her and that took a significant toll.

THE MORNING AFTER ↳ quiet afterglow

Leon was lying in his bed staring up at the ceiling. Pensive. Reflecting on the events leading up to the passionate night he'd spent with Helena. Really, it shouldn't have been a surprise given what happened a couple of months back and the growing bond they shared because of it. There was chemistry there... Undeniably so. Sexual compatibility as well. He almost shuddered upon remembering how wild things had gotten last night.

He'd felt strongly about seeing Ada in China but not in the way he expected—they shared history over Raccoon City and Spain but nothing else beyond that. She wasn't meant for someone like him. 'You haven't changed, you just think you have.' She was right on the nose with that one. But the woman in red wasn't the one he was thinking about upon waking up. She was no more than a passing thought in his mind nowadays.

The sound of Helena's voice gently pulled him back into the present. He shifted his arms behind his head as he turned to look at her. "Do I...?" he chuckled. The man rolled over to lie on his side so they were face to face, offering his hand with the palm facing forward so she could make contact in return. Playing with each other's fingers, lacing them and exchanging caresses. Absentminded but gentle touches. A sort of shy tenderness.

This is just a rough summary of the verse and I'd love the opportunity to write more of Ethan.