The Sound of Silence, A Resident Evil Fanfiction

Hard Knock Life

"You want to explain to me exactly what happened, Agent Kennedy?"

Leon cringed at the accusatory tone from the President. He answered as calmly as he could manage, "It was just a slight accident, sir. Nothing serious."

The President sighed from the laptop screen. He told Leon, "I would have expected more tact from Benford's favorite DSO agent, Kennedy. A lot more tact. So I ask you this: how do you plan to fix this?"

Leon frowned and stayed quiet. Truth be told he didn't know how to answer that question. The news media was not something he could fix overnight. Furthermore, the people behind the articles would be hard to convince to drop the subject matter over, even if it were true. And he doubted that bribery would suffice to keep them quiet over it.

He replied, "I...don't know how I'm going to fix this, sir..."

The President watched Leon. His gaze hardened on Leon, as if expecting a more legitimate answer from the man. Leon frowned. He countered, "Sir, that's the best answer I can give you. I don't have a plan, I don't want to resort to illegal cyber activities either. If the media wants something new they're going get exactly what they want, however they want it. Their perceptions are purely for gossip, we know this well enough. Once it's out there's nothing more than I can do except wait it out and hope it becomes old news."

The President sighed and sat back in his seat. He rubbed about his upper lip and chin, as if in thought. Leon swallowed a hard lump; he hoped his explanation was sufficient to reason. While the man in office was new, no doubt starting into his tenth month, his power was very limited while the rest was in Congress, the Senate or the Legislature.

Finally, and as Leon could tell, reluctantly, the man nodded. He told Leon, "Lay low for the time being. If you have to find a babysitter for your child then I suggest you find one if you head out into the city. A man with a child beckons a lot of questions and assumptions as is. A man who has been pregnant and gave birth in a hospital is a whole other mess that, to be frank, I don't want to dirty my hands into."

Leon shuddered; it wasn't a scolding, he knew that, but it felt like it. Furthermore, Leon was not one to tell anyone. He kept his secrets to himself, but even then that would be difficult. Especially for Cristiana's well being. He loved his baby girl, and a babysitter, while it was a good idea, didn't sit well with the agent. Who knew what could happen if he found a babysitter...

He signed off and stared at his black screen for a moment. He rubbed his face in frustration. It wasn't like he wanted to get pregnant in the first place. He didn't want to be infected with the Omega Plagas. But that was how it was...and he had to accept that.

He turned and watched Cristiana on his large bed. The newborn was fast asleep, worn from her afternoon endeavor. Plus it had been much more hotter lately; maybe the late summer temperatures didn't agree with her frail state. He knew he had to be careful, super careful, with her for the summer. Fall and winter he could worry about later...

He considered the telephone number he received from the woman he met at the coffee shop. Mia, was it? And her little boy, Kalvarryn...

Maybe having some friends would not hurt...

~ ◇ ~ ◇ ~ ◇ ~

Never in his life had he considered a Parenting Class. Ever.

But as he stood in the doorway, holding his now five-week old baby girl in front of a building within a local shopping square, he swallowed a hard anxious lump in his throat.

Mia had recommended it after he talked to her that day. His message to discuss with her about how to properly raise a baby came as a surprise even from himself. He was accustomed to having to handle situations on his own, and asking for help as minimally as possible. However, after that fiasco at the coffee shop, he knew that being an internet sensation would come with it both backlash and admiration.

So with that in mind, he knew he had to take steps. How to protect her, and how to keep her happy and healthy. Furthermore, how to be a good, well, "mother" at this point. It was something he had to come to terms with, whether he wanted her to call him Mommy or Daddy. Preferably he wanted Daddy, but given the circumstances, Mommy had to do for now.

After all...he was pregnant with her, and carried her to full term (impressively enough). If a single dad could raise a child from a newborn to a toddler, and endure childhood to teenage years, then why couldn't he do the same? It was not hard, right?

He tentatively opened the door and stepped in the lobby. He glanced up and spotted two very confused receptionists, both with quirked brows at him. God he wanted to balk and go back to the car.

He braved a face; no, he told himself he would do this. He would do it for Cristi's sake. He inhaled a steady breath and announced, "I'm here to take parenting classes. I'm taking care of a five-week old daughter."

The women at first stared at him. Finally, one asked, "Are you the one they called the Pregnant Man?"

Leon grimaced. Of course they would gnaw on that old story wouldn't they? After three weeks of trying to lay low...

He finally answered, "Yes, Yes I am. Is that a problem? I'm just here to raise a child due to unusual circumstances. I need help and I have no idea what I'm doing..."

The receptionists blinked and looked at each other, at first surprised. Finally, they peered at Leon, and one asked, "All right...what can we do?"

Leon let out a breath. He smiled and answered, "I need help. I have just the basic ideas of feeding her and changing her, but that's about it. I'm completely lost and I feel like I'm making it up as I go."

The women nodded. One told him, "We have openings, and our class is about to start in a little bit."

Leon nodded. He asked, "What do I need to do?"

"We have enrollment fees," the receptionist explained. "It covers the courses and some provisions from the classroom. We provide refreshments and snacks for parents as well, especially for mothers who're nursing."

She paused and asked, "Is your baby, uh...formula or...?"

Leon's cheeks warmed. He answered, "Uh, breastfed. It just...seems like a healthier alternative."

The woman nodded. She told him, "Well, feel free to use our restrooms if you feel you need to nurse. We understand that some moms don't like to nurse in public, and others like to use veils to keep it discreet."

She gestured to the lobby seats. "If you want to, you're welcome to take a seat and fill out the paperwork."

Leon relaxed. He nodded, took his seat and promptly got to work. All the while he watched his little girl snoozing away in her carseat. He smiled; he was thrilled to get a headstart on her better upbringing. Truth be told, he was thankful Mia recommended this.

He would have to figure out a way to thank her later.

He finished the papers, got up with Cristi in tow, and gave it back to the ladies. They went to work putting in the data, and finally they charged for his enrollment fees. He gladly gave over the amount, and he sat down in the lobby to wait on the other moms, and hopefully dads, taking the course. He let out an anxious breath; he sure hoped that this was the right thing. He needed all the help he could get at this point, and any help was better than none at all.