Resident Evil: End of Days

All the King's Men

Mia takes Cristiana and I all the way to the States and into Colorado, the last place I remember as clearly as I can. She stays with us for a night, but by morning, I watch her leave the baby and I in the safekeeping of the inn. 

Not that I mind, but I also know she has her reserves for Zakros. She has to check on him, as any proper significant other would do. 

Lucky her...but it's not my place to feel a touch of spite even when I have my own circumstances to worry about, like Cristi.

Hell, I've lost track of how many times I've had to nurse her, changer her, burp her...I don't pay attention to how much time passes. All I know is that I'm practically running on auto-pilot, giving Cristiana my fullest attention just to not focus on worrying over Chris, or contacting anyone for help. I know it's selfish, but it's all I'm doing to not break...

I can't. I have to just hope and wait. Hope that Chris is alive, and wait for him to come home...

~

Another week goes by, and no sign of Chris. Not a phone call from the BSAA, even though I'm checking for any recent headlines of their activities. Nothing from DSO, even though Hunnigan has recently gotten a hold of me and learned that I'm back in the States. However, I'm in no mood for company. All I can think about, all I can ever want, is Chris.

Where could he be? I know I'm bad about keeping in contact with him from time to time, but even so...he does a hell of a better job than I could have about staying in touch.

My heart drops. Maybe things in Italy are getting worse than just inside the Vatican City...what if there's an outbreak? Worse...what if Hell managed to capture Chris? Then that'd leave me and Cristiana next...

Worse...what if he's dead? What if Wesker managed to kill Chris with a concoction of viruses in one toxic injection? 

I can't stop thinking about the worst-case scenarios playing in my head. No matter how much I try to push it to the back of my head, no matter how much food I have to down just to keep a steady supply of milk going for Cristiana, I can't help but stress and worry over him. 

...I just want him back. 

~

Yet another week, and still no sign. None of the recent headlines tell me of any BSAA activities other than an investigation taking place in the Vatican City for their missing captain. The DSO's also sending their own agents, Sherry, Jake, and Helena, to help with the investigation. Claire's called to ask if I heard any word of him, but even I struggle to respond to her, since I don't know what to tell her.

My thoughts eat away at my well-being. My supply's dropping, and I'm resorting to formula, much to my broken heart, to keep Cristiana happy and full. She's staying awake more, and I find myself leaving my room for longer periods of time. I walk around the inn, even taking to the pool to dip my ankles into the cool water for relief from the heat of a dying summer. 

But all the while I can't stop thinking about Chris. Every night tears leave me in anger, heartache, and furthermore, loneliness. At this point, I feel as though I'm coming to a dark reality.

Maybe...maybe Chris really is gone...maybe Wesker overtook him and managed to either take him to the Devil, or killed him with a  concoction of viruses...maybe Zakros is too late to save him and bring him back to me, back to us...

While I find myself completely lost in thought, absently rocking a sleeping Cristi in my arms, a hand rests on my shoulder. I freeze in place.

"Even all the king's men and all their horses couldn't bring me home fast enough to you."

Chris?!

I stand up sharply and turn, my chair clattering noisily behind me. Cristiana wakes and whimpers in fright, but a gentle rocking soothes her. There he is, blood-stained, exhausted...but happy. Happy to have found me and the baby...

...GOD DAMN IT YOU BASTARD!

I don't know whether I want to tackle him, punch him one good time for scaring me, or just stare. Hell, I don't even know if this is a dream or if it's real!

He smiles at me and rests a hand on my face. It's real...his touch is real...

Chris is really here....for us.

He reaches for the baby, and I slowly give her over. He holds her close, running a hand over her forehead, his smile genuinely happy to see her.

Every ounce of doubt, every ounce of sadness I held shatters with the sight. He's here...he really is here...! He looks at me, and I feel heat sting my cheeks. I'm not aware I'm crying, but Chris sees this, as his smile is replaced with a face of worry. He asks, "Leon? What's wrong?"

I laugh awkwardly and wipe the tears from my eyes. I answer, "It's nothing..." Shit, words escape me. I can't even form a sentence because of how happy I am to see him. 

Chris smiles and nods. He asks, "...show me to your room? I need a shower, and I need some time with my family."

Damn right you do...
~
When I have Cristiana down in the hotel crib, and Chris finished with his shower, I tackle him as hard as I can. He falls back on the bed, but I leave him no room to talk. His lips are mine to savor, to remember every inch of him, his skin, his taste, his touches, all of him.

I need him. 

"Leon, hold...!" He huffs but I push him down. I yank the towel off his waist, and I wriggle out of my clothes. I see his eyes widen, and he holds me back. He's realizing how thin I've gotten, and how much weight I've lost (and it's a combination of both stress and breastfeeding, thanks...) He looks at me.

"What's happened to you?" He asks me. He's worried sick, but I shake my head.

"I don't want to talk about it. Just let me love you, please."

"Leon," He tries to counter, but I take his lips in kisses. He and I tangle in a tango of unspoken romance, but when he pulls back, my heart shatters. Every fear I held back surfaces in tears, and they dampen his thumbs when he holds my face. He frowns.

"...you've been worrying about me."

"...shut up," I grumble, but they keep coming. I struggle to take steady breaths, but Chris holds me close. My nose to his chest, listening to the quiet drumming of his heartbeats.

I become undone, fall apart just like that. I weep in his hold, silent but agonizing sobs in his arms. He holds onto me, letting me cry in his hold. He knows I need my sense of reality in his arms, that he's really here with me, holding me tight, silently letting me know that everything is okay now. I don't know how long I cry, but once i've gathered my breath, i try to resume my kisses.

"No," he stops me, "Let me. You've been away from me too damn long, Leon. Let me give you the love you rightfully need."

I meekly nod, and our lips reconnect. It's...softer, far gentler than the usual hungry, primal kisses that he used to give me. It reasserts his emotions for me, how much he loves me. As I love him. It;s enough to wring tears out of me again, but this time, these are happy tears. Happy that he's back to me and the baby safe and sound. Happy that my beloved, my Chris Redfield...is home.