DrHighHopes

Why wouldn't he go to sleep yet?

Were the words that ran through her mind. There was absolutely nothing that could've made her understand how exhausting having a child was. The restless nights were terrible. Not to mention postpartum..

Not a regret though.

The smile her baby had, it was absolutely beautiful. The nice feeling of seeing a piece of you in someone else. How sometimes her son would have her eyes, but then his dad's smile. A combination of both of them.

'I'm actually a mother.'

It hasn't fully sunk in yet, even through the nine months of hard work with adjustments. Plus, if you want to add another nine months for the actual pregnancy.

Jeez, time went fast.

Claire got up from the bed, the sound of the mattress creaking filled her ears. The soft sigh of breath left her mouth. Seeing Leon shift his body while still sleeping. Wondering how it would feel to be sleeping instead. The nice feeling of the blanket over her body, while the cold air is just right underneath. But still a sense of warmth from the piece of fabric on top of her skin. Regardless she knew she had responsibilities.

Claire went over to the crib, at the moment she was still weary about having her son inside the nursery to sleep inside. What if something happened? Would practically be the only thing in her mind. Leo needed someone inside the room with him at all times.

“Hey.. Hey.. Hey..” Claire's words came out gently. Picking up Leo, putting the baby inside her arms. Gently bouncing him on her hip.

“Are you hungry?” The redhead asked, her mouth going to give him a small peck on his cheek. Recently getting into the habit to try and really speak to him. The doctors said to have Leo talking soon he'd need to have conversations with others. It was awkward in full honestly, talking to someone without getting a reply back.

Even then they would both do what they had to for him to have the best start on his life.

Claire didn't know how hard being a mom was, at least until she was one herself. Growing up she always appreciated her mom. For the time they had together at least. She was still a kid though, she did not like every choice the woman made that affected her own life. Like getting a stepfather, her mom remarried around the age of seven. Old enough to comprehend the situation around herself. The guy wasn't.. a bad person.

Just didn't like him, if she had been honest it would probably have been that she hated that her parents divorced. She was starting kindergarten, about five years old. That didn't mean the redhead couldn't understand whether her parents didn't love each other. Especially someone her age has decent understanding. Emotions are less complex, but the ones they could understand meant a lot. Like love, not like love any adult would think of obviously.

But she knew her parents loved each other once upon a time.

She'd make sure her son would have the best childhood possible. Giving him the opportunity she never had, knowing her and her fiance already talked about it. How they were raised, being able to relate to losing a parent during childhood. Even then, she knew if something happened it wasn't in her control, considering the jobs they both work. It's already risky enough, but they could make it work.

They already are.

Her eyes went back to Leo's face, seeing how he calmed down slightly after being in his mom's arms. He rested on her hip, using her other hands freedom to pick up the bottle inside the crib. Overtime throughout the almost year since he was born he has been a constant wiggle worm. Surely loving to get around and move at every opportunity.

The kid did not like to be put behind bars.

A small breath of air left the woman's mouth. Before going to the kitchen to make Leo his bottle. Closing the door with a small creak. Letting the light that the kitchen would possess go ahead and reach their bedroom. She knew it was around time he could be put in his nursery, that couldn't stop the natural feeling of worry.

The sounds of people laughing could be heard from the whole carnival. People stood with their loved ones, being able to enjoy the moments and memories to be formed. The same ones they could laugh and smile about later on, in a day or two, maybe even a year, or their last moments. It was the best thing about spending time with someone that makes you day, especially doing something that made both or all of you happy.

The December cold flowed throughout Raccoon City. Claire took a soft breath out, seeing the air she breathed out from her mouth. A small but simple reminder on how cold it truly was.

The man that stood next to her took her out on a date. They've had a couple throughout the time they met. It was around the end of September, when Claire went to meet her brother Chris, one of the STARS members in his building. It was just his first day, she made a comment about him. It was snarky, if he was honest it bothered him at the time.

He definitely doesn't mind the comment she made today.

A month after they met he asked her out on a date. Finding out she lived in New York where her college was, which would mean she wouldn't see him often. Even then throughout that month she was conveniently always in Raccoon. A part of him believed it was because of him, or at least he truly wished it was. The opportunity gave him a chance to learn about who she was. Knowing what she liked,

her favorite color,

her favorite food,

or even her favorite number.

Now it's officially been the first month, she was out of college for winter break. Since she was staying at his place instead of her brothers for the first time he wanted to spend some quality time with the redhead.

Claire had her fingers intertwined with his, they walked together throughout the park. Looking and wondering whether they should pick another ride.

“Can we get hot chocolate?”

“Whatever you want, Red” Leon spoke, the smile creeping from up under his face. Before slightly shaking his head to cover up his excitement.

Kennedy took his wallet from his back pocket. Turning over to find some cash inside of its contents, “May we please get two hot chocolates?”

.

The two went over to the carnival games, seeing some plushies available to win at the stands.

“Oh shit that's Mr Raccoon” Claire smiled, the ends of her lips turned up. Seeing the animal that represented the city was pretty cool.

Yeah it was practically Leon's goal to win it now, this was a moment she'd remember for every part of their relationship. It's one of the very few first dates. Considering the fact that it's pretty early on, he wants to make it just as memorable as possible.

Plus, once Claire goes back to her dorm room she'll have the stuffed animal with her, to think of him when she looks at it.

.

“He looks so damn weird I love it..” The redhead examined. It was weird, maybe since the guy who won it for her was Leon. Also the thing was cute. It wasn't your average teddy bear.

And yeah, he definitely won it.

Even if that means it took over five times.. she had a good laugh. In the end the college student ended up with a huge stuffed animal to carry around for the rest of the night.

Or.. being the gentleman he was, he offered to carry it for her. Even with the resistance she clearly displayed, he ended up holding it for the night.

And, maybe he was right.

Just maybe when she went back home to her roommate.

Back to her best friend, the same girl she ranted about the whole two weeks she spent with Leon.

A few footsteps could be heard from the otherside of the door. Practically like a broken record, was he going crazy? Not like anyone could blame the blonde. Each time he went onto a plane just to know he may not come back. Why risk it all?

Only if I decided to not go to the RPD.

Those words ran in his mind more than he'd like to admit.

Maybe it was wrong, all of it. It wasn't like anyone cared. Since Leon was little he was alone. No five year old expected seeing the person who they looked up to killed in front of his eyes. He was only a kid, and didn't even start kindergarten yet. People took him, barely could even process what happened. Speaking to him in a language he couldn't understand. Where was his mom? The woman he loved dearly. He was always a mama’s boy since he could remember. He has a good memory of his childhood inside of Italy from how quickly it changed. There wasn’t even a full concept of life and death to him yet. Especially not at the ripe five.

He remembers his mom, his dad.

Would they be proud of what their son became?

It wasn’t his concern, at least wasn't for now. Why ask a question for a non existent answer. Or he was just meant to be selfish. He couldn’t see all he gave to everyone. If he had the choice to never plan to move to the RPD and stay in Pennsylvania. Simply take a job opportunity out there, never know the fucked up shit he does. He would take it, he hated that he knew how selfish it would be. Even knowing he would never meet Sherry or Claire. Maybe he only thinks like this when he thinks about his situation. Even then when he sees the smile on either girl's faces. He surely doesn’t regret it, or at least as much. Why lie, he's sure they both hate how they ended up in the past six years. He is sure they'd be perfectly fine without him. Who wasn’t anyway?

The apartment door opened, revealing a certain redheaded girl. The bags in her hands pushed against one another. Her back pressed against the door to close it.

“You still up for movie night?” Claire asked, the look on her face said everything. The small smile that crept on her lips. The gentle way they curved in his sight. A soft giggle left her mouth. placing the bags filled with snacks she picked up on her way on the counter of his apartment, before going to lock the front door.

“I'm not taking no for an answer, Kennedy” Claire made clear, her voice firm. Leon knew there was no way he'd get to convince her another night. Just for them to cuddle to sleep instead.

“..Assumed so,” He muttered, leaning his head against the couch. He sat onto the couch, his legs spread apart.

“What's up?” Claire asked, moving over to forget about the bags. She went to Leon on the couch. Moving over to him to take a seat.

“Sorry, just a shitty day.. my mood is fucked up.”

“Wanna talk about it?”

“Rather wouldn't”

Claire sat there, she looked into his eyes but it didn't even feel like she was inside the same room as him. He practically didn't include her in his space. Like being in an alone room. Just.. he was sitting right next to her.

“Can you not do that?”

“Do what?”

“Make me feel like I'm unimportant”

“Claire you're not, you know this.”

Claire paused, she usually didn't hear him say her actual name. Unless she's being difficult or something. There were a few exceptions, “So we're throwing Red out the window?”

“No, I never said that”

There was absolutely no need for a reply. The redhead couldn't even be bothered. He randomly wanted to treat her like this so be it. She gently got up from the couch. Moving over to their bedroom. Ignoring the bags on the table, meant for them to have some snacks. Lightly pressed the door shut, letting go of the door handle. Pulling her pants off, moving over to her side of the dresser. Finding a pair of shorts to wear. Then a drawer down there was a tank top she wouldn't mind using as pajamas.

.

A couple of hours passed, and a light but delicate knock could be heard. The blonde wasn't in his mood anymore. He felt slightly guilty for pushing his feelings onto her. She just wanted to hang out with him, isn't that what girlfriends do?

Sometimes it was mind blowing to Kennedy she actually loved him. Considering we were talking about Claire Elizabeth Redfield, he couldn't truly believe it. More so because everything he sees in her. A year ago that would have been his best friend living somewhere in California. Recently, it has been rocky. Claire at first was hesitant on moving to the other side of the country. It's a huge change, not to forget with the humidity in the east. Even then she was willing to make that sacrifice for Leon. She didn't expect for the change to hit her as hard as it did. She grew up in the east, inside New York. It wasn't much different from humidity wise.

Leon came from a mission a couple weeks ago, it's the main reason why he's so irritable. She knew he meant no harm, he's just isolating himself. It's a natural tactic they both use every once in a while. It's just.. hard. She just made a big change, now she's living with him. Plus she transferred departments.

Leon entered their room, after knocking, just to make her aware he'd be entering. She seemed awake, just faking being asleep. If anything, at least trying to actually go to bed. He slipped his way under the covers. Wrapping his arms around her waist from behind the woman. Her heat radiated to him. He didn't have to dream or fantasize Claire being his.

She was his.

Just like he is hers.

Leon had no idea that he'd be in a relationship again. He had hookups occasionally. If he was honest not many, he didn't like sex without emotional connection.

His breath caressed her neck, moving his lips to release a gentle whisper, “You up?”

“Yeah” Claire replied, her voice didn't seem sleepy if anything. The emotion coming from it was more hurt than anything.

“I'm sorry, for being difficult”

“Don’t worry about it” Claire mumbled, turning her body around to face him. Leaning over his frame, before going in for a soft peck. His hands moved over to her waist. Leons fingers rested on the soft skin they possessed under them. His hands guided her onto his hips, the movement encouraging the blonde to sit up against the headboard. Feeling her thighs wrapped around him, Claire remained in a straddling position. Her hand rested on his face, leaning in to kiss him once more.

First it was one kiss.

Then two.

And then three.

A soft groan left Leon's mouth. Any of the stress he built up from the couple past weeks was gone. The woman broke the kiss, moving over to pull off her shirt. The piece of clothing was discarded onto the floor with no ounce of regret.

She looked amazing with it, but even better without it

.

The thin piece of sheet that covered Claire’s body felt comforting in a sense. The feeling of being protected and held safe. It wasn’t something she got, since late childhood she was practically alone. When her parents passed away Chris made the choice at seventeen to go to the air force since he knew he had to be the one to support his little sister. In the meantime Claire was only in the 6th grade. The day before she had her mom and dad, she had her parents. They loved each other, and in one night it was taken away. At first she had denial, it was like a situation you'd see in movies. My mom and dad are dead? No way. They were just alive this morning. Once it hit that she’d never see either of them again it sunk. That she really was moving in with her aunt. At first it wasn’t a problem, she loved her aunt. Even then everything was different, so different it hurt and wasn’t fair. Waking up, not seeing her dad sitting on the couch. Neither could have seen her mom cooking breakfast once more. It was a memory she could have never imagined to be taken away so quickly. Afterwards she became angry, upset, mad, jealous, envious.

It wasn’t fair

Nothing is fair, Claire

Throughout the years she learned no one really cared. She only had herself to depend on. She liked taking care of herself. It made her feel powerful with an advantage. No one had the right to tell her what to do and what she should do. Picked the wrong group of friends, learned habits she wished she didn’t. It made her feel… better. She had a place to finally fit in, even if it meant at fifteen constantly being caught with alcohol.

I'm practically grown. Who cares?

Now she's a decade older and realizes how young she truly was to be fifteen. How she was making so many ridiculous choices for what? She had all the time in the world. She learned how much she truly was just a kid.

How she gave her aunt a hard time, she could tell the woman didn’t like her as much throughout the time she lived with her. In full honesty, shocked she held out until Chris came back. Allowing her to live inside her house until Chris arrived home. To Claire's surprise, he wasn’t even there his full time. They discharged him. There was no more back in forth notes. She would miss them in full honesty. Notes were like the one thing that kept her feeling like she had someone that cared for her. Still she knew there was no missing the letters if it meant seeing Chris again.

Claire noticed the absence of space next to her in the bed. Before sitting up, looking at the floor to find her clothes.

Weird, Leon's must've already got dressed.

Her feet hit the cold hardwood tile. Standing up from the bed. Picking up her clothes, before moving over to her closet. Putting them in the dirty clothes basket. Looking over to the bathroom. Opening the door, before turning on the turning the switch up. The light filled up the room. Before turning on the shower, waiting a couple of seconds for it to get warm. Moving over to grab her towel. Setting it on the bathroom counter.

After she got into the shower she closed the curtain. The redheaded girl felt the warm water on skin. She tilted her head back, letting her hair get wet in the process. A breath of air left her mouth. Showering was probably her favorite part of the day. The water caressing her skin, each drop ran down her whole entire body. Giving a sense of comfort, the action made her feel better each time. After fifteen minutes her hand went to turn off the water, each drop hit the tub. Before she grabbed her towel and stepped out of the bathroom. Putting on the clothes she set out for herself prior to taking a shower. Once dressed Claire went back into the bathroom do to what she usually did,

Brush her teeth.

Wash her face,

And put on deodorant.

This time she felt like straightening her hair. She's always had loose curls. It became a normal habit to straighten her hair. Even if she didn’t do it much for work. At least when she was on missions, there was not a need for her to just sweat her hair out. If there was an event or possibly a meeting she liked having her hair straightened, it made her look prettier in her own opinion.

Obviously Leon would have disagreed.

She was beautiful no matter what, one of the prettiest women he knew.

“You know what.. I'm still up for that movie?” Claire turned around, her body now covered in clothes. The tank top that stuck to her skin like glue, then the pair of shorts she put on.

“Really?”

“Yeah, your pick”

“..Okay there's this movie that came out a couple of months ago and I wanted to watch it with you.”

Claire smiled, before continuing, “Did you get the chance to see The Notebook?”

.

All the lights were turned off, the blinds were closed. Everything except the light from the TV. Including the reminder of daylight with the small bits of light seeping from the window. They sat together looking at the screen, having a moment just purely with one another. Leon was less focused on the movie itself, if anything he was focused on the woman next to him. Taking subtle glances at her face. Even if he wasn't a total big fan of romance he'd watch it if it meant making her smile. Just getting to spend some time with the woman he loved was enough, and truly all he could've asked for. Especially with how much he knew she loved spending time with someone. Not just that, but the people in her life she genuinely cared for intensely.

The redhead had her head on his shoulder, his arm rested around her waist. The blanket carefully draped around both of them. Every moment she was with Leon she learned how much they could relate to one another. Not only from the past, the feeling of losing a parent so young. Being failed by everything you knew and having to be there for yourself. Knowing the struggle mentally and emotionally. It wasn't an experience many could relate to.

As well with how they met, meeting in a time in life where everything went upside down. It was where they both needed someone to rely on and trust.

That there was a sense of trust they gave each other.

Leon would be lying if he said he didn't wonder how he would've met her, if not Raccoon City. There wasn't a doubt he wouldn't have met the woman he fell in love with. The same feeling he's never felt so intensely, the same one he never thought he could feel like he did today.

She made it possible.

He knew she could relate to him with childhood, the pain they both faced at the time. Not only that but understand how the Raccoon City Incident affected them both. How they went through it together. The emotional roller-coaster was difficult, but having someone else by your side makes it better.

Leon turned his head to the side to look at her face, shifting his body slightly so Claire would look up at him. Moving her head from his shoulder, her eyes moved to his face, curious.

“You alright?” The redhead asked, before being met with a warm feeling against her lips. Leon pressed his lips on hers once more, before letting go.

“Yeah, I'm fine.. I love you, Red.”