Chapter Text
Chapter 1 - You're heartbeat is what keeps me going.
Leon's POV :
The night air pressed against his lungs like it didn't trust him to breathe. Fire cracked in the distance and smoke hung low and thin over the street. It had a bitter aftertaste on the back of his throat.
He walked through the street, slow, steady but mostly just exhausted. His eyes moved over the many cars, ambulances, police, black vans from other agents and white vans that turned everything into evidence.
It was over, or at least that's what they were calling it. But it never truly was, that's what Leon learned 28 years ago. So no, he didn't believe in “over” anymore, but for now, he just enjoyed the silence. But as always it didn't last long.
An ambulance door slammed somewhere behind him. Radios cracked and orders were exchanged in low, clipped voices. Familiar noises, that in a twisted way, grounded him.
Leon stopped near the paramedics and watched as Grace was guided into the back of one of the ambulances. A medic adjusted the thermal blanket around her shoulders, after checking her abdominal wound. She looked small like that, and smaller than she had during the fight. But she was alive, that had to count for something.
She noticed him standing there and hesitated before speaking. “... Leon?”
He took a few steps forward, standing right in front of her, tall and broad like a shield. “How are you feeling?”
“Better.” A pause, she looked around and her body shook slightly. “But…”
He didn't let her finish that thought. "Yeah, I know. Over time it will get… bearable.”
She nodded, not knowing what to say to that, just hoping he was right. “How are you?”
Leon hesitated for a second. “Alive.” That's all he could give her, because he was far from good, not until—
“Excuse me Agent Kennedy, we got the order to transport her.” A medic said professionally and politely.
He took a step back, giving the man space, while he spoke. “We'll stay in contact. Take care, Grace.”
“Yeah you too, Leon.”
The ambulance doors closed between them with a dull metallic thud. Leon stayed where he was as the vehicle pulled away, red lights flashed in his vision, before disappearing in the distance.
He exhaled slowly and finally pulled his sweaty and dirty tactical gloves off. For a second he just stared at his left hand, that's where it went all down hill. With his other hand he reached into his pocket, pulling out his silver wedding ring. He can finally wear it again, he never wanted to take it off in the first place, but safety precautions were strict.
Right after he put the ring on, Sherry's voice clicked alive into the comm. “Leon. You're still on site?”
"Wrapping up." He said and turned away from everything and everyone. After a couple of steps, he lowered his voice. "How are they?"
On the other end, Sherry didn't answer immediately, which made him hold his breath, without noticing it.
"Stable." She finally said. "No change."
His jaw tightened, teeth gritted together, but his voice stayed even. "And her?"
Another pause, before she said. "Vitals are steady. Dr. Chambers is always monitoring them. But she hasn't adjusted the sedation yet. She's waiting for Elpis to arrive.”
“Elpis works.” He said more to himself than to Sherry. Then he glanced down at his hand, flexing his fingers once before sliding them into his pocket. The ring caught faint light before disappearing again. "I'm heading to extraction." His legs were already moving.
"I'll notify the facility." Sherry replied, then her voice got softer. “Leon…”
He already knew what she was going to say… Don't brace, don't expect the worst, don't—
"I know." He cut in quietly and ended the transmission before it could turn into something heavier.
As he walked towards his Porsche, his mind got lost in the two lives that mattered more than his own. Everything around him started slowly to settle, the cleanup, the agents loading equipment, the evidence sealed into containers. But for him the night and the horror wasn't finished, it just shifted locations.
Inside his car he gripped the steering wheel, fingers curled harder around the leather then necessary. Foot pressed more on the gas, as he drove towards the designated pick up zone. He didn't want to waste any more precious time. D.C. was only a few hours away and for the first time since the shooting stopped, his pulse kicked up again.
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Leon stared out the window, looking down at the city he'd grown to like. Washington, D.C. looked calm from above. Like it had no idea what happened just a few states over.
He stepped off the aircraft without waiting for anyone to guide him. A black SUV already waited for him on the tarmac. He sat in the back seat, one finger rubbing over the silver of his ring. It was smooth, cold and the only thing he clung to. No one spoke and no music during the drive. So he was all alone with his thoughts.
The city slowly woke around him, early traffic, streetlights flickering off and people walking their dogs. It all looked so normal and something like envy flicked over him, but only for a millisecond.
Around twenty minutes later he finally arrived at the facility that didn't look like a hospital. It looked like a federal archive building, made out of concrete, reinforced glass and no visible signage. That's the kind of place that didn't officially exist.
The SUV rolled in front of the entrance and Leon was out before the tires stilled. Past the doors, he was greeted by two armed guards, scanners and barriers rising and lowering with mechanical precision.
Leon didn't check in at the front desk, didn't need to. They already knew he was coming.
Inside he took a deep breath, the air tasted differently, filtered, conditioned and clean. All intentional of course, still, it felt wrong.
"Agent Kennedy." A security officer stepped forward. "Level Four decontamination is required before medical wing access."
"Understood." He didn't argue. Instead he surrendered his weapons. Revolver, pistol, backup blade, Ax, even the comm unit. The office cataloged everything.
With big, heavy strides he walked towards the decontamination chamber. In front of it another employee waited, a big plastic box in his hands.
"Remove all clothing and place personal items in the tray.”
Leon did, no time for squeamishness about nudity, but the ring stayed on his finger. That was unnegotiable. Inside, the room was covered in stainless steel. It had overhead nozzles, floor drains and an observation window.
Cold mist hit him first, which made him cough once, then came the chemical sterilization and last cold water. He stood still through all of it, over the years he endured much worse.
But still, this felt different. Because this time he wasn't just cleaning off blood. He was cleaning off the possibility of hurting them.
When it was done, a second door unlocked and he was out in seconds. They didn't give him normal clothes, instead, a pile of fresh scrubs waited for him. He got dressed quickly and without looking at the mirror. No need to see what exhaustion looked like. Wet hair clung to his forehead and back of his neck, he didn't even bother to grab a towel.
When he stepped into the medical corridor beyond, the lighting was softer and warmer than the rest of the building. Someone had tried to make it feel less like containment but it didn't work.
At the far end of the hallway, a familiar figure waited. Rebecca Chambers stood near the sealed isolation doors, a tablet in hand. She looked like she hadn't slept in days, weeks more likely.
He closed the distance in long strides. "Tell me you gave it to her." He said. No time from greetings or unnecessary small talk.
Rebecca didn't flinch, but her eyes softened slightly. "We administered Elpis at 0200."
His jaw flexed. “And?"
"Initial stabilization. The fever reduced and viral markers disappeared.”
His eyes moved towards the sealed doors, narrowing slightly. "So why isn't she awake?"
"Because I haven't reduced the sedation yet.” Rebecca replied calmly. "I wanted the antiviral fully circulated before stressing her system again."
He looked back at her, eyes widening. "She was crashing?"
“Yes.”
That landed heavy, like a punch in the gut, but tens times worse.
"And now?"
"She's stable."
He stared at the isolation doors again like he could see through them. "And the baby?"
Rebecca met his eyes directly. “It has a strong heartbeat and no distress."
The tension in his shoulders eased, just a tiny bit, but it was there. He clung to every good news he would get.
"When do you taper?" He asked.
"Within the hour."
He frowned. "That's too long."
“It's safe."
Silence stretched across the hallway and he looked at her like he wanted to argue. But then he remembered who stood in front of him, it wasn't just some Scientists, it was Rebecca Chambers, she already saved them all, multiple times in fact.
"Don't wait longer than necessary." He said quietly.
"I won't." She answered fast, then her voice got softer. "You can go inside. Just... keep your voice low."
He nodded once, and walked past her. The isolation doors opened and sealed behind him with a muted hiss. His face dropped the tough act the second he saw her laying in the center of the room. And within seconds, he was no longer Agent Kennedy, but Husband Kennedy, trying not to break at the sight of his wife.
The room was dim and a bit warmer than the corridor outside. Monitors casted soft green and blue light across the walls. The steady beeping rhythm of machines filled the space where conversation should have been.
Claire Redfield looked peaceful, too peaceful for his liking. Her auburn hair was brushed back from her face. An oxygen line rested beneath her nose and an IV line trailed from her arm.
He checked her left hand, no more visible signs of infection. So Elpis worked on her but— His gaze dropped slowly, towards the curve beneath the blanket. It was a bit round then when he last saw it. Five months now.
For a second, he couldn't move, the thought of Claire and the baby not making it, was unbearable. When he finally crossed the remaining distance he immediately took her hand, carefully, like she might disappear if he held on too tight. Her skin was warm, a very pleasant surprise.
His thumb brushed over her knuckles in slow, absent circles. A habit from nights spent side by side, both pretending sleep came easy.
"I made it, Red." He said quietly, and the machines answered in steady beeps. Leon swallowed and let his free hand drift down, hovering briefly before resting against it at the curve of her stomach. His palm spread gently over the bump. It felt strange at first, touching something that held so much and yet was still hidden from him.
"Hey…" He murmured, softer now. "Guess I'm talking to both of you." A short pause, he thought about something he could say. “How are you, little one?”
The fetal monitor suddenly ticked faster than hers, as if the Baby was responding to the sound of his voice.
"Yeah, I'm here.” He allowed himself to smile slightly. “Daddy is here.”
He closed his eyes for a second, listening to the twin rhythms, to the two heartbeats. One he had known for years, and one he hadn't even met yet.
"You picked a hell of a time, you know that, huh?” He said under his breath, a mild try to lighten up the mood. “But don't you worry. Your mom's stubborn and tough. You'll figure that out soon enough." He took another moment to think. “... I hope you'll become just as stubborn as her, and strong of course.”
Silence settled again, just the beeping of the machines. He leaned forward slightly, resting his forearm against the medical bed, still holding her hand and covering the bump.
One hour, Rebecca said. He had to wait this long to know if they would be okay. This was a whole new level of torture. To keep himself awake and sane, he kept talking, nothing in particular, just words filling the room.
For a moment he let himself drift back to the time when everything had still been normal and perfect.
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Sunlight spilled across Leon's face and woke him softly. He kept his eyes closed until his face was turned towards the side of his beautiful wife. But when he opened them, all he could see was an empty bed half.
“Did I sleep this long…?” He mumbled rolling over, checking the time. It was nine thirty, that wasn't so bad. But he didn't understand why Claire was already up, she loved to sleep in.
A few seconds later he heard the toilet flush, and the bathroom door open. “Claire?”
“Yeah?” She slowly walked into the bedroom, worry was written all over her face.
He straightened in bed. "You okay?”
She didn’t answer right away, just stood there in the doorway, barefoot, and staring at something in her hand like it had personally betrayed her.
"Define okay." She looked up at him slowly, her face clearly processing something.
That's when he fully woke up, one leg already swung out of bed. "What happened?"
She held up the small, white and blue plastic stick between two fingers. He stepped closer, narrowing his eyes. It took him a second to register, then another. Three whole seconds, then it hit him like a brick in the face.
He blinked. “Is that—"
“Yes.”
Silence stretched across the bedroom. He stared at it like it might change if he looked long enough.
Claire let out a short, breathless laugh. "I took two. In case the first one was broken."
He looked at her again. "You're pregnant." He said like testing the shape of the word.
She nodded once. “Yeah.”
The room felt suddenly smaller and so much quieter. His first reaction wasn't fear, it was disbelief, like how could this happen. He knew how, he knew exactly how, but they were always using protection. But still, they have a baby that wasn't planned. They never really talked about this, not with this kind of life they were living.
But it would be their Baby, half him and half… her. His eyes softened, as he stepped slowly closer, like he might scare her way.
"Okay." He said quietly.
Claire searched his face. "That's it? Just 'okay'?"
He exhaled, a small huff of something almost like a laugh. "No. Not just okay." His hands hovered at her waist, unsure, before finally resting there. "We're having a baby?" He said, and now there was something in his voice that hadn't been there before.
Claire's expression shifted, her nerves mixing with relief. “Looks like it."
Leon pulled her into him, burying his face in her hair, which smelled like mangos and oranges. She must have changed her shampoo, he loved it. When he pulled back, he rested his forehead against hers.
"We can do this." He said.
Claire smirked faintly. "You say that like we've ever done anything the easy way."
He almost smiled. “Yeah well, first time for everything.” One of his hands moved from her hip, to her lower belly. It was still flat of course, no bump, not even slightly swollen or round. “We need to make a gynecologist appointment.” He already moved towards his nightstand, grabbing his phone.
“I need coffee first.” Claire sighed in the background.
“No!” He practically launched himself back to her, hands grabbing her hips, not letting her reach the kitchen. “No more coffee for you. It's bad for the baby.”
She slowly turned towards him, eyebrows pulled upwards. “So this is how it's gonna go?”
“Yup.” A proud grin spread over his face. “I will watch over you, like a hawk.”
“Great….” She knew better than to argue with him, so instead, she teased. “... and for that, I'm gonna send you to Macdonalds at three in the morning to get me a burger.”
“Not a problem.” He shrugged. “I might get myself something too, when I'm already there.”
But she wasn't done. “You have to rub my swollen feet.”
“I'll buy massage oil.” His fingers moved over the screen of his phone, opening the Amazon app like its second nature. “What scent would you like?” He scrolled through it. “So many options. How about Lavender? Sandalwood? Rosemary? Or maybe Peppermint? The whole apartment would smell like Christmas. That'd be fun.”
Claire just stared at her Humorous Husband, who had way too much fun teasing her back, and crossed her arms. “Right now you're still laughing. Just you wait until the mood swings hit.”
“I'll handle them….” With his free hand he tugged a strand of her behind her hair, then his palm found her cheek. “... like the ones on your period.”
She tried to play mad, but it didn't even take three seconds before she melted into his warm hand. “.... you do know how to handle those.”
Leon grinned, he knew how to treat his wife right. “Give it up, Red.” His lips pressed softly against hers before continuing. “There's no way you could torture me. I'll be the best husband and dad in the world.”
“... you're gonna buy yourself a stupid mug with this written on it, don't you?”
“Maybe.”
Her head tilted slightly. “You do know that the child is supposed to gift it to the dad.”
"Yeah, I know. I'll let the kid buy it.”
She rolled her eyes almost into the back of her head. Her hand found her stomach, rubbing it softly.
He noticed immediately. “You hungry?” Not waiting for an answer, he already walked past her into the kitchen.
“Yeah, but… Leon, wait.” She held onto his upper arm. “We are in shock and we're trying to cope with it with humor. But we need to talk about this. Really talk. Because this will change so much and it also carries risks.”
Leon stopped and looked at her, noticing the worry in her eyes. Something he rarely saw and only he gets to see. “I know. I'm here. Tell me what goes through your beautiful brain.”
She looked him up and down, as if she was searching for something. “How do you take it so easily? How are you not freaked?”
He huffed softly. “I am. Believe me, but not for the reason you might think.”
She frowned. “What do you mean?”
“B.O.W aside, the whole word is dangerous. School shootings, perverts, psychopaths, cars, traffic, motorcycles, food poisoning, insects— My point is. Our child will always be in danger.” He spoke without thinking twice about it.
“That is not what I want to hear.”
“I— Shit.” He rubbed the back of his neck, gathering his thoughts this time. “.... What I mean is, we can't let fear tell us no. There will always be something to be afraid about. But we can protect them.”
“But you can't protect them from everything, Leon.” Her voice broke a bit.
“... Yeah.” He mumbled under his breath. His hands found her shoulders, to ground her and also ground himself. “... But I will try anyway, and I will teach them how to protect themselves. Look at Sherry. How strong she's grown.”
“Our Baby will not become an agent.”
His jaw tightened, that's not what he meant, that thought did not even cross his mind. “Of course NOT.” A pause to let the words sink in. “But I will train them. When they're old enough.”
She nodded slowly. “But in secret. No one will know. And I mean no one.”
“Of course. With a few exceptions. I bet Chris would love to meet his nephew or niece. And Sherry, she'll be a great big sister.”
“Chris…” Her eyes widened. “... and Sherry. We need to tell them.”
“Jill and Rebecca too. While we're at it.” He added.
She stayed silent for longer than he liked, but he knew she had to wrap her head around everything. “So we're really doing this, huh?”
“Yeah.” His forehead found hers. “We're gonna be parents.”
“It still feels so… unreal.” She whispered, closing her eyes for a moment.
“Yeah.” He did the same and just focused on her warm breath against his skin. Then a new thought crossed his mind, he was on his knees in a second. He lifted her PJ top slightly, giving her belly a quick kiss. “Hey there, little one.”
“You're talking to it already?”
“Just introducing myself.” Another quick kiss followed. “...Hi, I'm your dad, and I will do anything I can, to protect you and your mom. So don't you worry. Just grow big and strong.”
She poked his head. “Not too big. I still have to push it out.”
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(Two days later)
The paper on the examination table crinkled beneath Claire, every time she moved her legs. The room smelled faintly of disinfectant and something floral that tried a little too hard to make the place feel welcoming.
Leon leaned against the wall near her, arms crossed and scanning the room out of habit like it might suddenly turn hostile.
Claire noticed, of course she did. "You know this is just a doctor's office."
"Doesn't mean something can't go wrong."
She smiled faintly. "You're already doing the paranoid dad thing."
He didn't deny it, even though he did it without really thinking about it. It was like a reflex or new habit.
The door opened a moment later and the gynecologist stepped inside. She had a warm and professional smile on her face. "Good morning Mr and Mrs Kennedy.”
Leon straightened slightly. "Good morning, ma'am."
Claire shot him a look. "You don't have to call her ma'am."
The doctor chuckled lightly while pulling on gloves. It wasn't her first time seeing nervous parents.
"So…" She said gently, glancing at Claire's chart. "... first pregnancy?"
Claire nodded. "This obvious huh?”
She shook her head, her voice calming and reassuring. “I've seen much worse parents. You two are quite calm.”
Leon and Claire shared a look, and both laughed softly. They were everything but calm, just way better at hiding it.
The doctor noticed the look but didn't comment on it. "Let's see how far along you are." She dimmed the lights slightly and wheeled the ultrasound machine closer.
Claire slowly laid back, lifting her shirt slightly while the doctor applied the cool gel to her lower abdomen. Leon pushed himself off the wall, almost immediately and stepped closer to the table.
His hand found hers automatically and she squeezed it once as the doctor moved the probe slowly across her stomach, eyes focused on the screen. For a few seconds there was nothing but shifting gray shapes.
Leon stared at the monitor like he was trying to decipher a coded message. "...I have no idea what I'm looking at." He admitted quietly.
Claire huffed a small laugh. “My Uterus."
The doctor smiled, without looking away from the monitor. "It looks all a bit weird at first, I know. But let me just show you." Slowly she adjusted the angle slightly, then pointed to a tiny dark circle that appeared out of nowhere on the screen. "Right there."
Leon leaned closer, like an old man needing glasses, but would never admit it. "That… little thing?"
Claire squinted at the screen. "That's it?"
The doctor nodded. "That's your baby."
All eyes were on the black dot and silence settled in the room but not the unpleasant kind. Just the one that happens when the brain needs to digest the information it just got fed with.
Leon stared at the tiny shape like it was the most fragile thing he'd ever seen. "It's... really small.” He thought out loud.
Claire laughed softly. "Leon…”
“It's four weeks old, that's totally normal.” The doctor explained, like she said that so many times already. After a moment, she adjusted the settings on the machine. "Let's see if we can pick up cardiac activity."
A few seconds passed then a soft rhythmic sound filled the quiet room. It was quick but steady. Claire's breath caught, and Leon's grip on her hand tightened slightly.
"Is that...?" He asked carefully.
The doctor nodded with a smile. "That's the heartbeat."
Claire turned her head toward Leon, while he was still staring at the screen. His eyes were fixed on the tiny flicker that pulsed with every beat. For someone who had faced things like bioweapons, monsters, getting shot, multiple times infected and warzones without blinking, he suddenly looked completely stunned.
"That's our kid." He said quietly, finally looking down at his wife. She nodded, throat tight and eyes watery.
“... Stupid hormones.” She muttered under her breath as one tear rolled down her cheek.
Leon's thumb brushed it away, kissing the trail it left behind, which left a soft salty taste on his lips. He exhaled slowly and something soft broke through the tension he usually carried.
“It's okay.” His lips found her, short but still full of love. “It's gonna be okay. We got this.”
She smiled faintly while wiping another tear from her cheek. “Yeah, of course we do.”
The doctor cleared her throat, which made both of them look at her. “Do you want the Ultrasound picture printed out?”
“No–”
He cuts in. “Yes.”
She frowned at him. “It's just a black dot.”
“It's our black dot.” He said defensively, but not firm. “So yes please, and could you make two copies of it?”
The doctor nodded, pressing the button on the computer, waking the printer up. “Of course.”
“Besides, I want Chris to have something in his hands, before he decides to wrap them around my throat.”
“Leon….”
“Just to be sure.” He winked, pressing another quick kiss onto her mouth. Claire rolled her eyes while the doctor snickered with her hand covering her mouth.
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(A few days later)
They talked about this at least five times by now. There will never be the right moment to tell Chris Redfield the news.
“So, no time like the present, right?” Leon asked, as he cut some tomatoes, and onions for the salad. Because since he knew about the pregnancy, he made sure she ate healthy three times a day.
“... I don't even know if he picks up. He might not even be in the US.” She rubbed her forehead.
He nodded. “You'll never know, if you don't call. Or do you want me to call?”
“No. He has to hear it from me.” She took a deep breath, leaned against the kitchen counter, and pressed her phone against the ear while it rang.
“Put it on speaker.” He asked munching on a tomato slice. She hesitated for a second but pressed the screen anyway. It rang for a long moment, she was about to hang up, when a familiar male voice cut through the room.
“Claire?”
She smiled faintly. "Hey, Chris."
"Everything okay?" He did not even make an effort for small talk.
Claire rolled her eyes automatically. "Do I only call when something's wrong?"
He stayed silent for a few seconds. “Usually, yes.”
Leon snorted quietly behind her. She shot him a look before turning slightly away from him. "Are you busy?"
"Always. Why?"
"Where are you right now?"
Chris paused again."... Why do you need my location?"
"Chris."
"What?" He said defensively. "You're asking questions like that out of nowhere."
Leon grinned and spoke a bit louder. “Relax, big guy. It's nothing bad.”
“Leon, is that you?”
“In the flesh. So, where are you? France? Italy? India? Or–”
Chris cuts in. "Virginia. BSAA training facility. Running drills with rookies who think they're indestructible."
Claire and Leon looked at each other, that was closer than they expected. She asked quickly before something came up and Chris had to hang up abruptly. Wouldn't be the first time that has happened…
"Can you come by later?"
Silence settled on the line a third time, like he was managing his time. "... Alright." Chris said after a moment. "But what's going on?”
"Nothing bad, really." Claire said. "I just... want to tell you something in person."
Chris exhaled slowly and loudly. "You're not in trouble, right?"
Leon laughed quietly behind her, finding the whole conversation way too amusing.
"No.” Claire sighed and rubbed her left temple. "I promise."
"Good. I'll swing by after training."
"Thanks." She hung up and turned towards Leon.
"Well…" He said casually. "... that went better than expected."
She shook her head, stealing a slice of tomato. "He's suspicious.”
"He's always suspicious."
Claire huffed a small laugh while eating the tomato. "Are you ready for this?"
Leon took a step closer, rested his hands lightly on her hips and moved his thumbs in circular motions over the fabric. "We've handled worse."
Claire smiled faintly. "You say that about everything.”
"Because it keeps being true. We handled so, so much worse.” He guided her carefully towards the next chair. “Now, sit down and rest, I'll keep cooking.”
About an hour later, a truck pulled onto the parking lot. Leon glanced through the window just in time to see Chris climb out. He still wore his BSAA training shirt, the sleeves rolled up, posture straight and alert even when he wasn't on a mission.
The doorbell rang and Claire was there in seconds, opening it with a bright smile. It's been quite a while since they last saw each other.
Leon didn't know about normal siblings, but those two were not really sentimental. So when Chris stepped inside, there was no hug, no small talk. Instead his eyes scanned the room, the same habit Leon had.
When Chris' eyes settled on Claire, his face was still stern but not unkind. “You okay?”
Claire nodded and one hand moved slowly over her stomach, like she was already protecting the Baby inside. "Yeah."
His gaze shifted to Leon. "You look way too relaxed."
Leon shook his head and huffed. "Nice to see you too."
Chris ignored that and looked between them, still tens. "Alright, spill it. What's going on?”
Claire hesitated for a second before stepping forward and holding the Ultrasound picture up. “Chris, I'm pregnant.”
The room went silent, and Leon watched how Chris’ eyes first stared at the pic then at her face. He blinked two times before asking quietly. “Are you serious?”
“Yes.” She paused, her voice got softer. “Very serious.”
His eyes dropped briefly to her stomach before he took a slow breath. It looked like he needed a moment longer to process the news. But then he stepped forward and pulled her into a tight and big bear hug.
Claire laughed softly, hugging him back, just as tightly. Leon notices how small she looked
in her brother's big and muscular arms.
"Easy." He warned his brother in law, big chris ignored him.
When he pulled back, his hands rested on her shoulders for a moment as he looked at her again. “How are you feeling? Any bad symptoms? Morning sickness?”
“Nope. Nothing.” She shook her head, one hand covering her stomach. “And I don't claim any of it. This pregnancy will go smoothly.”
Leon stepped next to her, one arm around her waist, pulling her closer. Hearing her say that, made him just want to keep her safe in his arms forever.
“And everything else is normal too?” Chris just had to make sure, but Leon liked that about that man. Both of them want the best for Claire.
“Yeah. The doctor said it's a perfect and normal pregnancy.” She looked down at the Picture and her brother's eyes followed.
“So…” Chris pointed at the black dot. “... this little dot is the baby?”
Leon smirked. "Yup, that black pixel is your future niece or nephew.”
Chris looked between them both. “Do I get promoted to uncle immediately, or do I have to earn that?"
"You're already the uncle, no need to earn anything." Claire said.
“Then I must fulfill my obligations.” He started to walk around every room. “You need a bigger apartment. Or even better, a house.”
“There he goes.” Claire mumbled rolling her eyes.
“Our apartment is fine.” Leon protested, letting go of Claire's waist to follow Chris.
“Oh yeah?” He lifted one eyebrow. “Where is the kids room supposed to be?”
“Right here.” He opened a door to a room which was mostly for storage. It was packed with boxes, an old lamp they never used, two folded chairs leaning against the wall and more things they didn't really need. It looked nothing remotely like a nursery.
Chris walked inside, towards the window at the end. "It's near the main road.” He turned around. “You two will never sleep at night.”
Leon lifted one shoulder. “It will get used to the noises. Like we all did.”
But Chris just shook his head, moving a few boxes out of the way, to get a better look at the room. “It's too small anyway.”
He stepped inside after him, crossing his arms a little defensive. “It's enough for a baby.”
“That baby will grow into a toddler, who needs space for its toys.”
Leon's eyebrows lifted. “How many toys do you think we will buy?”
“You…” Chris turned around again. “... will spoil it rotten.”
He huffed. “Speak for yourself.”
A loud crunchy noise cut through the room, and both men stared at the door. Claire stood there, with a bag of potato chips on hand, munching on one loudly. “No, go on. I enjoy the show.”
Leon and Chris shared a look, and then stared at the Bad of chips. Claire immediately pulled it out of reach. “Nuh–uh! Don't you dare! I ate healthy today! But I need my snacks and as long as you are not growing a life inside you, I can eat what I want, and when I want it.”
He watched her turn around disappear down the hallway, not even waiting for an answer. The chip bag crinkled with every step, and a second later they heard the couch creak as she dropped onto it.
Chris exhaled slowly through his nose and nudged one of the boxes with his boot. "But you're still not convincing me this works as a nursery.”
"It will, we still have time. Kid is the size of a bean."
Chris didn't even look at him. "Exactly. We're already behind schedule.” He looked around the room again. Leon knew that look, the man was measuring it with that tactical brain of his like it was a mission briefing.
"The crib goes there." He pointed at the wall. "... The changing table near the window and the shelves higher up so the kid can't reach them."
Leon blinked once. "... You've thought about this before, haven't you?.” He noticed how the other man avoided his gaze, which only made him smile slightly. “I was wondering why you were so calm about this. … You're happy, aren't you?”
“Of course I’m happy.” He locked at him, his face not so tense anymore. “You two will be good parents.”
Leon's chest tightened a little, hearing this for him meant more than he will ever admit. He let out a quiet, teasing laugh. “Aaaaaww.”
Chris shot him a glare, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Don't get all sentimental on me."
He shrugged, letting his hands fall to his sides as he glanced toward the corner where the crib would go. "Alright, Uncle Redfield. Where do we start?”
☕︎☕︎☕︎☕︎☕︎☕︎☕︎☕︎☕︎☕︎☕︎☕︎☕︎☕︎☕︎☕︎☕︎
The hummed hiss of the sealed doors tore him out of his thoughts. His head snapped to the side, his heart picking up speed, but it all eased away when he recognized Chris' face.
“It's just me.” Chris said quietly, rubbing his wet hair with a towel. He walked closer and looked Leon up and down. "Scrubs don't suit you."
"That's something Claire would say." Leon muttered, his voice rough. His eyes flicked back to Claire, he wasn't in the mood for friendly banter or Dad jokes, even if he appreciated Chris' try.
"How is she?" Chris' voice got his stern undertone back.
Leon glanced up at the monitors. "Everything seems normal. Heartbeat, vitals... all steady, from her and the Baby, but…." But his chest still tightened despite the reassurance.
Chris slowly walked around the medical bed, standing opposite of Leon. One Hand found Claire's shoulder. "... There's still a chance she won't wake up."
Leon exhaled slowly, rubbing his thumb over her knuckles. "Yeah."
A long pause stretched between them, heavy with unspoken fears. Leon's fingers flexed slightly over Claire's hand and her stomach.
The baby's faint movement pulsed under his touch, it was stubborn and alive, but that only made the risk feel sharper.
"... Did we make a mistake?" Leon asked finally, voice low, almost a whisper.
Chris didn't answer immediately. He looked at Claire, then back at Leon. "We did what we had to do." He said finally, firm but quiet. "All we can do now is be here."
Leon nodded slowly, jaw tight. “Thanks for saving my ass out there.”
“Can't let my niece or nephew grow up without a Father.” Chris' words cut deeper than Leon wanted to admit.
He coughed loudly, like it physically hit him, but instead he just tried to suppress his tears with all the strength that was left. While he stared down at his sleeping wife, he noticed his body betraying him, as one tear rolled down his left cheek.
“.... i'm sorry.” Chris whispered but Leon only swallowed hard.
The room sank back into a silence, filled only with the soft beeps of the monitors and the faint hum of the facility. Outside, the world kept moving, but in here, time had slowed, waiting with them.