The Sound of Silence, A Resident Evil Fanfiction

Kindred Soul

"Are strollers safe for newborns?"

"Of course. In fact you can get one that reclines like her carseat if yours has a handle. It'll allow her to face you, and it will have a cover to keep the sunlight out of her eyes. I use one for my son all the time!"

Leon's grin tugged at his lips the more he listened to Mia's wise words. It seemed strange, having met someone just moments ago, and steadily beginning to feel at ease the more the other mom shared her child's upbringing. Normally he was more uptight and wary of help, but his need for learning how to be a proper parent overruled his cautious approach.

After all, no one had heard of a man having a baby, and trying to raise one by himself yet.

"Is he your first?" He prompted Mia. She shook her head no, and she answered him, "I have twins, they're turning seven in three weeks. So in a way, he's both my second and my third."

Leon's brows rose. He asked, "Really now? Then their father...?"

That was the question that made the woman pause, her hand rising to her throat where a wedding ring rested, on a small silver chain. "Passed away a month after Kal was born." She said quietly. "He was a mortician, and got a late night call to come in. Struck by a distracted driver...…"

She took a deep breath. "The therapist said discussing it helped, but even now, it feels as if it happened last night."

The agent's heart fell. He lowered his head apologetically and muttered, "Sorry...I didn't mean to pry."

Shit, he couldn't imagine what that was like. He had lost friends before, and for a little while he believed he lost Ada, but losing a spouse, someone very dear, it wasn't a sensation he was exactly accustomed to. Still...the weight of her words weighed on him...

"I don't mind that you asked." Mia informed him, this time with a smile that didn't reach her green-gray eyes. "Everyone does, usually. It's not exactly common to see a woman at a store with two six year olds and a four month old. It just.... Aches to discuss. Like an old wound that hasn't quite sealed over."

She looked at her son, who's babbles pulled a more genuine smile from his mother. "At least he got to hold his son. That's what I'm most grateful for, he got to see Kal and hold him for that first month."

Leon nodded. He frowned and watched Cristi for a moment. Well...Mia certainly had one thing over him; she had a husband, the boy a father who was there long enough to hold his child. He was there for his little girls to spend time with when he was finished with his work. She had something, and here she was trying to make the most of it as best as she could.

Maybe he could do the same as well. If she could keep going strong, maybe he could too.

His stomach growled, and Cristi also started to fuss. He made a face, then turned to Mia.

"I'd love to stay but I have to feed the baby. She, uh...she won't eat around people."

That was a bold-faced lie. He knew that, but he couldn't risk it. Not publicly.

Mia nodded in understanding. "Kal used to be the same way. Here, before you go."

She pulled a pen out of her own diaper bag, writing down her name and a phone number on a napkin. "If you ever need someone to talk to, or someone to keep an eye on her. I work from home so it's not like I'm ever busy too awful much."

Leon nodded. He smiled and tucked it into his sweater, just as Cristi started to fuss more loudly. He muttered quietly his thanks, gathered his things and headed to his car.

As soon as he set his things down, he carried Cristi to the front seat and let her nurse. He sighed in relief, but peered back at the coffee shop where he had just spoken with Mia. He hummed in thought; she had been so helpful and so kind. But if she knew, she wouldn't have been. He knew that he had to keep his secret under wraps as much as possible. No one could know...

He caught movement at the corner of his eye, just as the next car over was pulling out of the parking lot. Their passenger window was rolling up as they left, and Leon's stomach twisted uncomfortably. However, the vehicle had gone, no trace of it left.

He frowned and peered down at Cristi. She was hungry, really hungry today...

And so was he. He whined, "As soon as you eat, I need to eat too."

He stared at the shades of the car for a moment before his phone rang. He peered down, catching sight of Hunnigan's text. He frowned and read her message...then his jaw dropped as he clicked on the link.

"Man who had baby at hospital found weeks later!"

"...FUCK ME..." Leon groaned. His head slammed back as his phone rang. He looked down; it was Hunnigan. His stomach twisted with dread as he answered her.

"...yes?"

"You saw the news headliner right?!" Hunnigan harped at him. Oh great, the ol' Hunnigan was back. He grimaced, "I was trying to be tactful thank you!"

"They saw you breastfeed! Like pulling up a shirt for a baby was the most revealing thing a man can do in public!"

"Oh!" Leon rolled his eyes and grumbled, "They must have been one of the few who were at the hospital that day we were getting out."

He shook his head, peering at the empty spot the car was in just moments before. He hissed, "Damn it. Cristi was hungry, I couldn't have waited until I got home to feed her."

Hunnigan frowned. She told him, "Leon, we have to be a LOT more careful now. If the public catches sight of you and Cristi again there's no telling what can happen."

"And if other government faces catch wind of this," Leon sighed. He shook his head. His phone pinged, and he glanced down. He frowned.

"...they got a picture of us at the hospital too. Crap..."

Hunnigan sighed at the agent. She told him, "I wish I knew what I could do to help..."

Leon shook his head. He told her, "There's nothing we can do really...let's just ride it out for now. Surely being an internet sensation can't be that bad..."