RE Project:BURNSIDE FINAL.CH

Final Chapter: To A Better Tomorrow…


December 14th, 2009/ 9:34 P.M
Location- Off The Coast Of The BSAA North American Headquarters…

The plane ride back home carried on it's peace and silence, the plane's occupants sleeping in bliss, aside from Steve piloting the plane, and Carlos observing the slumbering pairs from the co-pilot chair.

First spotting Sheva, never moving the back of her body from Chris' chest, who never budged his chin from resting atop her head.

Carlos smiled as he then turned to Ada, staring out through the small circular window, her right side resting against Leon's left, who slept within the beginning minutes of the ride, but not before he had slipped his torn brown jacket around Ada's shoulders. She tucked it more closer around herself as she let exhaustion take over, falling to slumber. Carlos grinned at the mysterious pair.

After doing so, he observed the sleeping pair of Rebecca and Billy. Catching Rebecca waking up a few times to provide a few wake up shoulder bumps to the snoring Billy. Even so, Rebecca kept beside him, wrapped in both of Billy's arms.

Smiling brightly, Carlos turned his attention to Claire and Jill, both sitting together and chatting in whispers. By way of Claire fidgeting with the ring, Carlos could assume the topic of their discussion was of the wedding. For his staring, Carlos was introduced with fierce gazes by Jill and Claire, which Jill gave along with a grin for intruding during in on a women's chat. Carlos mouthed the word… 'Sorry'

He adjusted himself back in the chair, facing the sky in front of him. From his left eye, Carlos saw Steve removing his right hand from the controlling the plane, letting his left hand take full control as he rubbed his tired eyes with his right hand, even giving a lengthy yawn at that. Steve had to give a double take in looking to Carlos, seeing the man smirking at him. "What?" Steve asked, his right hand coming back to gain control.

"Just ask, man…" Carlos merely said, staring ahead at the sky.

Steve gave an awkward expression, shifting his gaze from the sky then to Carlos multiple times. "What are you--

"Quit the foreplay and just ask, Steve…" Carlos closed his eyes, leaning back into the chair and resting his feet on the panel, attempting to give Steve a hint on what he meant. Not getting anywhere in doing so, Carlos opened his eyes in staring at the confused Steve Burnside. "You're rubbing your eyes and yawning because you're tired. So, just ask me to take over…"

Surprised, Steve shook his head and chuckled lightly, trying not to disturb the others. "No, no. It's not anything like that. It's alright, Carlos. I got it covered." He looked at the former mercenary to see him shrug and tilt the cap that was given to him by Jill more forward to cover his eyes.

With the two mere minutes that passed, Steve felt the fatigue with another yawn and yielded to Carlos' proposal. Steve glanced at him. "Would…you mind?"

Carlos lifted his cap and returned Steve's glance with his own, as Steve still did not ask. "Would you mind asking?" Carlos couldn't resist grinning at making Steve succumb to his offer.

Steve sighed, shaking his head with a chuckle. "Carlos, can you please take over for--

"Yeah, sure." Carlos cut him off. Steve sighed once more as he watched Carlos grab the controls. That's when they switched seats, both tightening their seatbelts.

With a huge smile, Carlos took the reigns of the plane, but something caught his eye over the panel, and he looked to Steve who was in the midst of falling asleep. He was in the same posture Carlos was in, his feet resting on the panel. "Steve…"

Steve looked over his shoulder to see Carlos. "Hm?"

"This plane has a built-in auto-pilot system..." Carlos said lightly.

Steve scoffed. "Don't trust that thing." Those strong words from Steve made Carlos wonder.

"And why not?" Steve looked at Carlos in hearing his words. "Do you have a bad history with this thing?"

Steve lowered his head, his eyebrows furrowed down in remembering where it all went wrong for him and Claire in the Antarctic. The auto-pilot that lead them into the secret facility.  "It's…a long story..." Carlos looked his way, seeing a somber look on Steve as he continued. "I'm just not a fan of the auto-pilot system. So, if you don't mind, don't use that thing…"

"Alright, sure." Carlos accepted, but still curious. "Can I hear…this long story?" Steve Burnside kept silent.

Carlos reached over to smack the back Steve's head. "H-Hey!" Steve whispered loudly. "What the hell was that for?!"

"I said, can I hear this long story of yours?" Carlos asked once more. Steve rubbed the back his head while looking back in the plane to spot Claire, blocking a laugh with her right hand from a joke Jill said.

Steve restored his position, his head bent and his eyes closed as he began… "The year 1998. My father…was an employee for Umbrella…" Carlos' expression softened when watching Steve's expression turn into anger. "He knew of Umbrella's dark secrets and wanted to expose them to the authorities, to the world, but he was stupid in thinking it would work! He never thought about the consequences! He never even thought about much strain it put on my mother!" Anger got the best of Steve when his voice grew bit high than what he intended it to be. It grabbed Claire and Jill's attention, both stopping their conversation to focus on Carlos and Steve.

Steve's eyes flared open, staring ahead at the stars and clouds. "My father's plan failed, nobody believed him. Umbrella soon handed out the punishment, and…I, myself, was also punished. We were both brought to an isolated island that held a prison facility, owned by Umbrella, but controlled by the distinguished Ashford family. It was called…Rockfort…Island. On the first night, I was separated from my father. And from then on out, every night was hell for me. I was just a pretty-boy-youth surrounded by REAL criminals. There were times…where I had to fight back when I never even fought in my life prior to that."

Steve then remembered the living conditions with a much more calm effort, who still had his feet laid out over the panel. "The food was horrible, the prison cells were depleted. And on occasion, men dressed in white lab coats would often come to take a prisoner. Rumors had soon spread throughout the facility that they were being experimented on. With the passing weeks that went by, that's when hell DID break loose. Infected prisoners, infected dogs, and other…experiments. But through all that hell, I met…her…"

Carlos grunted in seeing the snow develop in the sky due to their approach of the BSAA headquarters within the winter climate. But the seasoned pilot, Carlos Oliveira sat more professionally and returned back to the conversation. "Her." Steve glanced at Carlos. "Her as in…Claire…"

Calm, Steve removed his feet from resting on the panel and sat in the chair normally. Carlos continued watching Steve from the corner of his right eye. A plain expression written on their faces.  "Yeah…" Then Steve answered with a smile. "…it was…weird how we met."

"How's that?" Carlos asked, peaked with interest.

The memory flashed in Steve's mind, his smile growing wider. "I was using a turret to fire down at her, thinking she was one of those things and it was not a good idea when she was able to fire right back. That impressed me tremendously. We both stopped our firing, and I went down to join her. She instantly aimed her gun to my forehead…"

"How romantic…" Carlos said with a quiet laugh.

Steve joined along in laughing until he returned back to the story. "Claire and I began to work together in escaping the island by air, and we were successful having fought our way through everything and anything. Even the cross-dressing freak Alfred Ashford and-

"Cross-dressing…?" Carlos eyes widened. Steve looked at Carlos when interrupted. "Was it…blond?" Carlos asked, remembering the cabins within the USS STARS. The cabins that belonged to the Ashford twins, and the location in where he wore the wig.

"Yeah, it was blond." Steve answered. "That's right, you were with Chris when he decided to check out the cabins for Claire and I. But how do you know it was-

"Long story…" Carlos bent his head with a sigh, also remembering the punch he took from Sheva. The memory made him wince. "Just…continue your story, Steve…"


Steve eyed him before eventually going to the story. "Anyway, we were free. We were even on our way to Hawaii. We were laughing and smiling, it couldn't get better than what we were feeling at that exact time. But…" Steve's face dimmed just like the beginning of telling his story.

"But…?" Carlos uttered.

"…But I was wrong. The reason I'm not fond of the auto-pilot system very much is because…it was the thing that triggered everything to go wrong. For us…anyway…" Even as whispers, Carlos could still hear the sadness in Steve's voice.

"With no way of gaining back the controls for the plane, we were lead into another Umbrella facility, but this one hidden away in the Antarctic. We worked together again, and like Rockfort Island, we managed to escape through digging ourselves out by using vehicle just for that purpose. However, we were toppled over by something…I couldn't catch it. I couldn't turn back quickly enough to see it. Then…it all went dark for me. I could faintly remember feeling Alexia inject me with something…." Steve turned his head away in shutting his eyes. "I remember…waking up to see Claire."

Carlos adjusted his gaze to Steve's hand, watching them ball up into fists. "Steve, it's--

"I turned into a freakin' monster! I remember attacking her! " Steve kept his shouting voice to a minimum, biting down on his lower lip to help him so.

Carlos, along with Jill and Claire behind him, observed Steve's long hair now draped on each side of his face, also watching Steve raise his right arm to deliver a slam over the panel, but it never came. Steve stopped mid-way through with his arm staying in the air, trembling with anger. "I remember holding that damn axe! Swinging it like a mad-man! I…I…she…was so damn scared of me! I…never helped her at all! All I did was get in the way! I'm worthless! I'm nowhere near as strong as Chris! I'm not as crafty as Leon is! I'm not even on the same playing field when it comes to being calm and collected like Billy! And then there's…you…" Carlos turned his head to see Steve looking at him with expression that held a smile.

It shocked Carlos and Jill, but Claire took her sad gaze to look at the falling snow through the small window. Her ears were focused on Steve as he sustained the praises for his friends, and ending it with Carlos. "There's no way I can handle guns like you, Carlos, and the way the precision you have." Steve's smile vanished in seeing Carlos' swell up with anger and returning his gaze to meet the sky. His words not happily taken…

"Steve, let's get something straight here. I will tell you something I told Chris…" Carlos began strictly. Steve sat back into his seat, his gaze still dead on Carlos, making him unaware that Claire and Jill continued to listen with solemn appearances. "If you ever talk like this in front of the others, I guarantee I will get Jill to smack the hell out of you, got me?"  Steve smiled, he couldn't help it, nor could Jill and Claire. Mostly Jill since it reminded her of smacking Carlos way back when. She heard Carlos continue. "But seriously, Steve…don't sound weak in yourself, because you don't know the happiness Chris felt when he found Claire still alive."

Steve widened his eyes along with Jill and Claire, who didn't know her brother's contentment for Steve.  "You mean…you already knew…?" Steve asked lightly.

Carlos responded with a nod, sending Steve a determined glance. "Yes. The happiness he felt finding Claire. Then the sorrow he felt when he could only hear the muffled cries of Claire's behind some locked door, notifying him of your death through sobs." Steve looked away at Carlos' words. "Don't look away. Look at me, Steve…" He did, and Carlos ended with a smile. "You also didn't know how devastated Chris was at the chance of never knowing the one who took care of his sister throughout all that danger, and how he could never thank him. But all that has changed now, you're now here with us, Steve. You're our friend and it doesn't matter on your combat skills or anything else. You're one of us and that's how it will always be. Is that clear?" Carlos finished, out of air in fact.

Steve let a smile eventually spread out across his lips then his boyish chuckle occurred, and it gained a raising eyebrow from Carlos. "Why so happy…?"

"I have friends like you, that's why." Steve commenced with joy, laying back into the chair and letting his feet rest on the panel as he shut his eyes, feeling better in getting everything off his chest.

Carlos half chuckled and half scoffed at Steve's newfound attitude. "By the way, when and where is the wedding?"

Steve's recently closed eyes were now open. He stared to the ceiling of the helicopter at the multiple and various switches. "We don't know yet. We still have yet to even decide on anything else like the catering and the theme." Steve sighed.

Then his eyes widened when Claire's smiling face appeared above his, both looking at each other through an upside down view. "Just leave all of that to me." Claire ended with a kiss atop Steve's forehead while her hands cupped his face.

Carlos glanced his way to see Steve severely blushing and give a nervous smile. At that moment, Carlos felt his cap being removed. He looked over his shoulder to spot Jill putting it back on. When done, she presented a tender smile down to him. "How far are we from the headquarters? I can't wait till we get back."

For her answer, Carlos observed the projection display atop the panel. "It should be about thirty to fifty minutes. I suggest you get some more rest, Jill. For me…please?" She could not help but to smile at his concerned words and how serious he was about it. Jill leant over his seat to slip her arms around his neck. Carlos turned to see her chin leaning on his shoulder, their eyes fixated on one another.

Steve and Claire looked to the side, observing Jill whispering things into Carlos' ear, the blush over Carlos' cheeks said it all. Then to top it off, Jill ran her right hand down his bronze chest and slid it inside his green shirt. Carlos' blush developed into a brighter red at feeling the tip of Jill's tongue graze along his right ear.

"Get a room you two for goodness sake…" Steve said in his laying position, and it brought Claire to laugh quietly along with him.

Flushed and all, Carlos smiled and gently laughed with them, but Jill sent Steve a glare, a serious one at that. Following this, Jill gave Claire a smirk. "Claire, do tell your forthcoming husband to mind his own business, would you?"

Claire leant down to Steve's left ear and whispered…albeit seductively. "Mind your own business, sweetheart."

Steve glanced into her eyes, then she winked. He looked past her at the smirking Carlos and gestured with his index finger to himself and Carlos. "And I thought we were the flirty ones…" Him and Carlos laughed quietly, but it only resulted in Jill to pinch Carlos' ear, and for Claire to pinch Steve's, both cringing in pain and both switching painful groans for painful hisses.

It didn't end till Jill demanded a favor. "Steve, take over the plane while me and Carlos chat a few things over." Steve nodded in wincing, and his ear was soon released by Claire to take over the plane, observing Jill hauling Carlos away by the ear back to where she and Claire were sitting.








December 14th, 2009/ 10:12 P.M
Location- BSAA North American Headquarters: Airfield


The headquarters was now in close view, and the group had now returned to their climate, which was currently snowing and freezing. Steve had trouble maneuvering but was no cause for concern, due to his confident nature. Through the hours of traveling, most slept and others talked, mostly done by Carlos and Steve.

"Oh…great. The ten o' clock news…" Chris ran a hand down his face, sighing at the media waiting in numbers all over the airfield. Some prepared their cameras while the reporters stared at the incoming plane

"This will take a while…" Sheva said, feeling the same way as Chris did. Another mission done, and another heroes welcome. "I wonder if they know that we're sick of this…"

"I agree, Sheva…" Rebecca placed her hand on the window, looking out for a quick second until her mind returned to the money. "Um, what are we going to do about this money?"

"We can't keep it, that's for sure." Billy started. "Even though you and Claire had so much fun with it." Claire and Rebecca stuck their tongues out at him.

"It'll be going to charities, that is all." Chris confirmed with a strict tone. Rebecca couldn't agree more, she smiled with a nod.

Claire, back in the co-pilot seat, also accepted, giving her brother a smile. "It took us forever getting the money back in the bag, and I'm sure everyone will appreciate the polite gesture, Chris."

"Yes." Ada spoke softly, still sitting to Leon's left. "Making it out alive, defeating Wesker, and sinking the Uroboros missiles are a good enough award for me." Leon, his arms crossed, released a smile that came with a soft laugh. Ada raised her right eyebrow. "What is it?"

"Nothing." Leon turned his head to look into her eyes. "Just pleased to see how money is not a factor. Not only to you, Ada, but to all of us. This mission presented a lot of surprises, and made us grow closer to each other. It's much better…than what money could give us." Leon looked to all his friends, until stopping on Carlos with Jill resting her head against his shoulder, her eyes closed when Carlos suggested her to get more rest along the way. "What say you, Carlos?"

Carlos blinked, raising his head to look at each and every one of them, his heart instantly warming up. "Yeah…" Carlos then looked at the agent. "You're right…"

"Back to the awaiting reporters out there…" Chris and Sheva glanced towards Billy when he spoke. "I would appreciate it if you kept me out of the discussion…" Rebecca gaped, grabbing onto Billy's arm.

"But, Billy, you deserve praise for what you've done!" Rebecca pleaded, but Billy smiled with the shake of his head. "But--

"I know my name has been cleared, but I would still very much like to be left in the dark, if that's alright with you, Chris…?" Billy asked the captain.

Chris accepted without hesitation. "Of course, Billy."

"Everyone, get ready to land!" Steve advised, turning the plane to the right until aligning the plane with the runway. Shifting the lever back to decrease the speed, and to decline the altitude. "God, I can't see a thing with all this snow!" That's when Steve was able to catch the BSAA runway personnel light up the runway, the multiple red light bulbs lined up on each line. After that were the workers waving the emergency lights to point out the width of the strip.

"Steve, there it is! Take it easy, now!" Claire pointed out, and Steve saw it for himself as he aimed right for it

"Take it easy' huh? Just like in bed…?" Steve looked through his peripheral at the blushing Claire Redfield, her cheeks blossomed red.

"What was that, Steve?!" Chris shouted from the back, and it made Steve cringe.

"Nothing, nothing!" Steve cleared his throat. "Alright! We're preparing to land!" With the obstacles in his way, snow, the strong gusts, and the lack of vision within the dark of night, Steve only smiled at such things.

Steve pressed the switch to initiate the landing wheels, the plane landed and the impact sent a jolt to the passengers inside. Free and clear of the air, Steve now pulled off the successful landing, the plane gradually slowing down to a halt. The media filled with reporters surrounded the plane in a matter of seconds.

Everyone gave a sigh of relief, Steve laid his head back, looking up to the ceiling of the plane before Claire leant over his head to place a deep unexpected kiss over his lips. Their lips smacked at the end as Claire broke it off with a sweet smile, cupping Steve's chin to shake it. "You are just good at everything, my knight."

"Heh…" Steve smiled shyly, removing his seatbelt to stand up in joining Claire to head to the back. Claire approached her brother's and Sheva's side. Billy and Rebecca also removed their seatbelts  to stand up, ready to face the media which was more frightening than any BOW. Ada unfastened her seatbelt, watching Leon do the same and quickly taking the lead to slide the plane door open, exposing the flashing light bulbs to go off, and for thousands of questions to be yelled out in a fashion where the heroes couldn't make out a single word.

Carlos shielded the flashing lights from Jill, trying to preserve her rest, but failed  as she awaken in his arms, instantly raising her right arm to develop a barrier against the lights. "W-What the hell is this?!" Jill exclaimed angrily, her once tired eyes now enveloped in fire as she rose up to her feet, brushing Leon and Chris aside that they stumbled back into their respected lovers. The team observed  the revitalized Jill Valentine leaping out of the vehicle, and was quickly trapped by reporters asking various questions.

"Ms. Valentine! How does it feel rescuing the world once more?!" A male reporter asked.

"Oh, Ms. Valentine! Is it true Albert Wesker was the one behind all this when he was supposedly deceased?!" The constants flashing from the camera were irritating her more than the questions.

"Ms. Valentine! Are the Uroboros missiles still active!?"

"Ms. Valentine! Are the rumors of you and Chris Redfield dating true?!" A female reporter asked. This got one everyone's attention, even her fellow reporters.

Jill simply walked up to her, a expression with no emotion written on Jill's face. She grabbed the little notepad of the reporter's and threw it in the air, where Jill showed off her reflexes in grabbing her TMP to unleash the rapid bullets into the tiny pad while in the air. It fell onto the runway with a splat shortly after. Jill then walked past the silent media, resting her TMP against her right shoulder in the usual same posture Carlos initiated with his Assault Rifle.

Within the plane, Rebecca, and Billy gave Carlos a grin. "She looks fine, wouldn't you agree, Carlos?" Rebecca said in leaping out.

Carlos and Billy followed right after. "Oh, yeah. I definitely agree." Carlos said, his gaze never leaving Jill. He watched as she stopped at the door leading into the headquarters, she turned back and waved her index finger for him seductively. Jill entered, letting the door close behind her. Carlos was on his way to her. "Uh, I'll leave everything to all of you guys. So, if you'll excuse me…" Billy and Rebecca heard Carlos speak while he sped off in Jill's direction.

Billy softly laughed, but Rebecca quickly returned her focus back to Billy. "In spite of everything…" Rebecca stopped to sigh. "…we're still not sure if the antidote worked. Jill looks fine, but we still need to run tests. And if it is successful, then the cure John left us can be a miracle to this world…"

Billy could only nod. "Yeah." He began. His eyes on Rebecca whilst walking to the headquarters, sliding his hands into the pockets of his pants. "Let's head inside, shall we, princess…?"

Rebecca smirked as she caught up with Billy and leapt all over his back for a piggyback ride. She kissed his neck and buried her face in it, which Billy only sighed with a smile in supporting her for the ride.

Ensuing them were the rest of the group, and the media once again returned to their work as they closed in on Leon S. Kennedy, Sheva Alomar and Chris Redfield, which Chris could not stand for the reason of not having a shirt in the winter, and the same old questions they kept repeating. But it went on, Chris answered a few, and Leon answered a few, as did Sheva. Then came the cavalry, the BSAA medical assembly with multiple ambulances arriving onto the airstrip. Once reaching Chris and the others, the medical staff stepped out in numbers in quickly got to work.

Claire and Steve were sitting side by side within the open end of an ambulance. Steve kept his eyes on the patching around Claire's leg that was done by Rebecca herself, and her assistants agreed that Claire would be fine. Rebecca was truly a medical genius…

As for Leon, he declined Rebecca's medical assistance back in the USS STARS, but now had to deal with the persistence of anonymous medics. Though, this time Leon agreed and was now sitting at the end of another open ambulance while one medical doctor assisted the three massive gashes on his forearm with Ada sitting right beside Leon.

Sheva and Chris sat in another ambulance. A female medical assistant appeared behind Chris to lay a white cover around his shoulder, and smirked at Chris in seeing his exposed upper body, but Sheva snatched the cover away from the woman and wrapped it around Chris' broad shoulders with her own hands. The woman huffed, and Chris could only thank Sheva.

Then a black limousine driving onto the airstrip caught Leon's attention, and he winced at knowing who was inside. "Oh, god…"

Chris and Sheva approached the ambulance Leon and Ada were in. Chris wrapped the cover around his shoulders tighter and asked… "What's up, Leon? What's with the look?"

Ada joined along as some reporters were now flocking away. "Leon, what is it?" Still no answer.

Ada, Chris and Sheva glanced Leon's way, and watched the limousine coming to a screeching halt. A federal agent in a black suit wearing black shades stepped out of the passenger seat and walked all the way to the back door. He opened it to reveal…

"LEON!! I just knew you would be involved!!" …the re-elected president's daughter, Ashley Graham, dressed in the same outfit. She was joined with Ingrid Hunnigan stepping out the same vehicle behind her. Ashley sprinted his way and lunged with looping both arms around the neck of the stunned Leon. "I knew it! I knew it! I knew it!"

"Alright! Alright already, Ashley!" Leon winced out, setting her down after the twirl with his good arm. "Ashley, can you tell me how in the world did everyone found out about this?"

"Well, Ingrid can explain all of that." Ashley said almost cheerfully while releasing the agent.

Ingrid arrived at Leon's front while hearing him ask, and she simply laughed. "This mission involved the hero Chris Redfield, and the world's best agent Leon S. Kennedy. You didn't think the world would just let this go by, did you? Also, the president wants to be informed of all the details." Ingrid smiled at Leon smacking his own forehead.

Chris and Sheva arrived by him and Ada. "It's good to see you, Ingrid. And may I ask you something?" Ingrid nodded to Sheva's request.

"It is good to see you too, Sheva. And of course….ask away…"

"The government." Sheva began. "How do they feel about all of this? All that transpired…and about us, the BSAA. Do they still see us as some little petty organization? "

Ingrid delivered the truth with a hint of sadness, even Leon hated how they held the BSAA in their eyes. As if they were nothing. "You and I know, Sheva, that it will never change…no matter what the BSAA does." Ingrid stated softly. "It is unfortunate…but maybe one day there will be joint operations. Don't lose hope for that yet…"

Sighing, Sheva closed her eyes and soon felt Chris hands resting on her bronze shoulders. She glanced up and found a smile over his lips, and she never hesitated in showing her own. "Let's go inside, Sheva. We have a lot of things to report to the BSAA committee."

Sheva laid her hand over his, the one that was currently on her left shoulder. "Yes. Let's…" She entwined their fingers, then turned and walked side by side with the BSAA north american captain.

"Ew…" Leon, Ada and Ingrid turned with awkward expressions in hearing Ashley distaste for the couple. "Why Sheva?! Him and Jill are so great together!" Ashley exclaimed with a stomp of her foot.

"I will not be surprised if you were the one responsible for the Chris and Jill rumors…" Ada smirked ensuing her own words, since they resulted in Ashley pointing her index finger at her.

"How dare you, Ada?! I'm not the one to do such a thing!" Ashley shouted, ending it with her chin held high.

Leon brushed the back of his head, a smirk spanning his lips. "Women…"

"What was that?" Ada, Ingrid and Ashley spoke at the same time.


Watching the scene, that consisted of Leon backing away from the women, were Claire and Steve, still sitting within the end of the ambulance. "Looks like Leon is in trouble…" Steve acknowledged.

Claire leaned her head on his shoulder while laughing along with Steve at the scene of Leon checking his watch and making a break for it, with Ashley chasing him down and leaving Ingrid and Ada to sigh.

Claire herself sighed. "Poor Leon. He has so many women to handle."

"True." Steve agreed. His eyes watching everything dwindle down to the point of the media staying behind in doing their late night work. They were the only pair still out in the cold. Next, he took account of weather. Steve stuck his hand out, letting the small specks of snow drop onto his palm. "Do you think this is all over?"

Claire only chuckled in hating that term. She only let her head slid down off his shoulder to where she could partly rest her head on his chest. "If it's not…" Claire started with a content sigh, falling into a peaceful slumber. "…then we'll fight again…and again…and…again."

Steve glanced down at her happily, watching sleep take her over during her words.  "Until…it's all…over, right…Steve?"

Placing a kiss atop her head, Steve slid his arm under her legs, while his other cradled her upper body.

Their destination…Claire's personal room…









December 24th, 2009/ 7:55 P.M
Location- Mansion Of Sheva Alomar and Chris Redfield

Several days later…

"Oh my god! That's their home?!" Carlos spoke with wide eyes that spotted Chris' and Sheva's two-floor-story mansion coming into view. He was currently driving Jill's car that they had to airlift from the plateau of the Arklay Mansion. Jill was seated in the passenger seat, who was not at all surprised from Chris' home. Both were well dressed. Carlos wore a black suit with a black tie. For the cold, he wore a brown jacket and gray gloves.

"Yes. That's their home. I didn't think Chris was the type to have a mansion." Jill answered Carlos with a smile, staring out of the window as they were now approaching the main gate. She was sitting with her left leg crossed over right, letting the high-split of her two strap blue dress expose more of her leg. As for the cold, she chose her long black coat with her favorite blue scarf.

Back at their house, Carlos was surprised when Jill stepped out of their bedroom to unveil herself to him. The cheery red lipstick, the gleaming loop earrings, and to finish it off was normal makeup. Her dark eyelashes gave way to show how bright her blue eyes can be.

Through the snowy drive, Carlos glanced over to Jill countless times, taking in the beauty of his partner. He was doing it this very moment, however, he couldn't' see that Jill watched his reflection off the window. She raised her right hand to her mouth and covered her small chuckle, her left hand stayed atop her stomach where their child slept. "How long do you keep planning on staring, Carlos?"

Carlos blinked his eyes and lowered his head in defeat. He quickly returned his gaze to the road with a smile. "So you knew, heh?" She nodded and busted out with her laugh, which Carlos loved so much.

"You cannot get anything past this chica here…" Jill chuckled her words out, and Carlos did not refuse to agree with her.

"Yeah, yeah." Carlos said. He brought the car to come to a slow halt at the main gate of the mansion. Carlos lowered his window and reached outside for the intercom to his left. He pushed the button and awaited for Chris or Sheva's voice…it was Sheva's.

"Alomar and Redfield residence, who is it?" Before Carlos could reply, Jill reached over and past him, giving him a wink on the way as her body brushed up against his.

She pressed and held the button down prior to speaking into the intercom. "It's Oliveira and Valentine. Open it up, Sheva."

"Ah, of course! Everyone is already here!" Sheva pronounced. Next was a buzzing sound that initiated the gate to open.

The gate completed it's process, and Carlos drove up the single driveway till it led to a intersection splitting to the right and left. Taking the left route, Carlos spotted Chris' jeep, Billy's black truck, Leon's sleek silver car, and Steve's brand new red Porsche, which Carlos parked right behind of. Both he and Jill stepped out of the car and walked along trail leading up to the doorstep.

Before having the chance to knock, the door opened by the hands of Claire Redfield, wearing a red dress. "Jill! Carlos! You guys made it!" She quickly hugged Jill, who returned it by hugging Claire.

Carlos smiled at the women as they released each other, he slipped Jill's coat and scarf off her shoulders to hang on the nearby coat hanger, and was soon thanked for it with a kiss. She cupped his chin. "I'll be with Claire and the other girls. Go and be a good boy with the other guys."

"I'll try." Carlos said with a grin.

Jill released his chin with a chuckle. She turned to Claire. "Lead the way, Claire."

"Of course." Claire spoke happily. "Follow me into the dining room."

Carlos watched them head off, giving him time to take in entrance of the mansion. He hung his jacket and closed the door behind him then observed the foyer ahead of him. The flight of stairs in the middle, a doorway on the left, and a doorway on the right, which Claire led Jill through. Carlos took the left where he could faintly hear the audio of a football game playing over a TV.  Once through doorway, he found himself within the living room.

There, he saw the men watching the football game that was currently in commercials. Carlos shifted his eyes over to Leon, sitting back on a lone black sofa to the right, tossing a football nonchalantly into the air and catching it multiple times. Steve, back to his short hair style, was sitting to Billy's left on a black sofa, both in a conversation. Carlos switched his focus onto Chris Redfield, sitting on a gray recliner while taking a drink of his beer.

Carlos took account of all of them wearing black suits, and then decided to make his presence known by using a joke. "I didn't think we were going to a funeral."

They all stopped their actions and smiled at seeing their friend Carlos Oliveira leaning his right shoulder against the entryway. "Hey, Carlos!" First to greet him was Steve. He stood up and walked over to Carlos, who already had his hand extended out for shake, but Steve paid no heed to it and hugged him. "Glad you made it, man!" Steve said in releasing Carlos.

Chuckling, Carlos saw Billy and Leon approach him as well. "No kidding!" Billy began. "This mansion is isolated at best…"

"Couldn't say it any better." Leon commented with a grin and tossed the football to Carlos. "Think fast…"

Carlos caught it without any problem. Soon enough, Chris approached him, only to give chokehold around Carlos' neck. "You don't agree with these guys, do you, Carlos?" Chris took another drink of his beer. "Tell them my mansion is built in a perfect spot…"

Leon, Billy and Steve laughed at Carlos' painful motions, and at his attempts of trying to release himself from Chris. "I-I would…t-tell them….b-but, Chris…let go…." Carlos groaned out, but Chris let out his growling laughter.

Taking another drink of beer, Chris released Carlos, but not without sending a few strong pats to Carlos' back. "It's good to see you, Carlos." He observed Carlos adjust his suit before continuing. "Maybe it would've been a better idea to have the Christmas party at your place after all…"

Carlos quickly disagreed. "Don't think so." He scanned the size of the living room. "This place is much…much…much bigger than mine and Jill's."

Leon joined him in scanning the mansion. "Yeah, and I'm a agent. My payroll is ten times more than that of a normal BSAA operative, and I can't even afford something like this. "

Billy brushed the back of his head. "None of us can." He sighed.

The topic now begun to make them suspicious, and Steve took the lead. "So, how did Chris… wait…"

"THE MONEY!!" Leon, Carlos, Billy and Steve shouted.

They turned to see Chris Redfield taking a nervous drink of his beer. He gave a nervous chuckle after that and rubbed his short black hair. "I…only took a little, fellas…" Chris was soon tackled by his friends.







December 24th, 2009/ 8:12 P.M
Location- Mansion Of Sheva Alomar and Chris Redfield: Dining Room.

"So…he still…hasn't proposed?" Sheva, wearing a tribal white dress, asked Jill in the midst of placing plates and silverware atop the long table that was covered with a white sheet.

A gloomy Jill assisted her while also placing plates and silverware on the opposite side. Done with the last set, Jill sighed in closing her eyes. "I don't know if Carlos scared of marriage or if it's something else…" Her sadness switched to frustration. Jill opened her eyes and gazed down to her hands, where she began to rub her empty ring finger. She moved her hands down to her stomach, where the little one continued to rest. "I…I just want to be his…truly his. Not this simple…girlfriend boyfriend fling. I'm tired of it. I'm about to become forty in a few years, and…I want a family of my own."

"Jill…" Saddened for her friend, Sheva wrapped her right arm around Jill's shoulders, letting the sides of both their heads come together. It gained a humble smile from Jill as Sheva spoke. "If he does not propose, we can smack him together, how does that sound?"

She laughed at along with Sheva, and nodded for her answer. "Yeah. That sounds wonderful."

"Hey, you two." Jill and Sheva turned their gaze to the kitchen entrance to spot a smiling Rebecca Chambers, wearing a yellow dress. "Me and Ada have our hands full with the mashed potatoes, the cranberry, the biscuits, the stuffing, and even the corn. Would you come help Claire cook the turkey before she burns this entire mansion down."

"I HEARD THAT, REBECCA!!" Claire shouted from the kitchen, and it caused the trio to laugh with bright smiles. They entered the kitchen. Jill and Sheva quickly spotted Claire flinching away with a yelp from the stove. Then their eyes spotted Ada, who wore a black dress. She was leaning  her lower back against the counter in watching Claire for herself.

Ada turned her focus to Jill, Sheva and Rebecca, and gestured her hand over to Claire. "As you all can see, Claire has things taken of…"

"SHUT IT, ADA!!" The others laughed in seeing Claire's outburst towards Ada, and for that split second, they began to smell something…burning…

First to notice this was her own brother, who popped his head out from the entrance and gazed into the kitchen. "Claire, you didn't!" Chris exclaimed in passing through the women to reach his sister. He opened the stove to unleash the contained smoke. Everyone began to cover their nose, giving a few coughs until it cleared up. Chris slipped the handy cooking glove onto his right hand to haul the turkey out, after doing so, he placed it atop the counter for everyone to see.

It was definitely burnt, and Chris grasped his head in awe. "No…the…the turkey. It's…it's--

Entering the kitchen were the remaining men, led by a smiling Steve. "Do you guys smell something burning or is it just…" He stopped when finding the turkey burnt, his smile now gone. "…me…?"

"Claire!" Leon went pass Steve to join Chris' side, also shocked. "What did you do to the turkey?!"

"It's not my fault, Leon!" Claire huffed out with crossed arms.

Billy, Steve and Carlos went up to the counter to have a better look. "Oh, man…" Billy sighed out. "I was in the mood for turkey too…"

The women and men observed Carlos grabbing a nearby knife, he then began to cut into the rough surface of the turkey. Once cutting a piece off for himself, Carlos tossed the piece into the air, letting it fall into his mouth. Everyone saw him chewing the piece, and he gave a thumbs up to Claire. "Tasty!" Claire smiled, while the rest were astonished…even Steve.

"WHAT?!" Everyone joined together in shouting at Carlos.









December 24th, 2009/ 11:35 P.M
Location- Mansion Of Sheva Alomar and Chris Redfield: Balcony

With the two hours gone by, which were hours full of feast and chatting. Carlos was now exploring the second floor of the mansion. He was currently trekking through the long hallway that were filled with pictures and even tribal vases.

Coming past the balcony, Carlos halted as soon as his right peripheral caught a woman's silhouette. He retreated back with one step and peeked to the balcony. There, he observed Jill, who now had her hair down to flow in the gentle breeze. Her arms were folded atop the railing while she raised her head to the snowy night.

Jill gave a sigh, her warm breath showing in the cold. She continued to trace her left index finger across her right ring finger. "Something wrong, Jill?"

With shocked eyes, Jill turned around to spot the former mercenary smiling at her. "N-No…" She turned back to the sky. "Nothing is wrong…"

His smile now gone. Carlos approached her and stood right behind her, then began to take in the night just as she did. "It's getting close to Christmas. Where I was born we never had snow. Saying that, I do appreciate this weather. Making snowmen, and making snow angels. Though, I can't stand shoveling!" Carlos laughed at his own comment, but his real aim was to make Jill laugh, but failed in doing so. He became concern. "Jill, is there something really--

"Carlos, may…I ask you something?" Jill's sudden question raised Carlos' eyebrows, stunned at Jill even having to ask.

"Yeah. Anything. Y'know you don't have to ask, Jill." Carlos joined her side with now being able to have a clear view of her face…and found it saddened.

"How do you feel about marriage, Carlos?" She turned her head up at him, and saw Carlos going into deep thought. She quickly regretted her words with a blush over her cheeks. "I-I'm sorry….I shouldn't have-- wha…?" She was interrupted when seeing Carlos go down on one knee. Jill raised her right hand to cover her gasp, which Carlos only smiled at. "C-Carlos?!"

"I had this plan for Christmas, but…" He began. "…looks like I'm going to have to give you an early Christmas present instead..." Jill observed his left hand digging inside the left pocket of his suit, then pulling out a small black box with a red bow on top.

"Jill Valentine…" He said lightly while looking up to her. Spotting a shaky smile and teary eyes.

"Y-Yes, C-Carlos…" She spoke through shuddering breaths that were filled with happy anticipation.

He grabbed her right hand with his, and his left hand flicked the box open to reveal a crystalline band with a blue jewel gleaming. "Will you marry me…?"

"YES!!" Jill lunged herself down to him, causing Carlos to fall back laughing lightly as Jill buried her face in his chest. Faintly sobbing, Jill raised her head up to Carlos, who smiled back down at her. She was coming in for a kiss, but only Carlos assumed this and was soon greeted with a smack across his face.

"OWW!" Shocked, Carlos rubbed his cheek. "What was that for?!"

Jill only laughed, those happy tears finally shedding. "That's for making me wait!"








December 25th, 2009/ 12:00 A.M
Location- Mansion Of Sheva Alomar and Chris Redfield: Living Room

"Alright…" Chris started with a smile while standing by the Christmas tree that was surrounded by a mountain of presents, with Sheva at his side. He looked to his friends to spot Ada resting herself on the right arm of the couch Leon was currently sitting on. Chris shifted his gaze to Billy and Rebecca sitting with Claire and Steve on the long sofa.  Then Chris observed Jill and Carlos   standing right behind the sofa.  "Who's first people?!" Chris asked.

"ME!! ME!!" Rebecca pleaded out with a raised hand. Not one of them refused.

Chris grabbed a wrapped small box from the pile and read the label. "It's from Billy."

She gave a look to Billy on her left. "It better be something good, Billy!"

Billy only sighed and saw Chris toss the gift over to her. Everyone watched how Rebecca began tearing into the wrapping, but she only yelped in shock at what was inside. She instantly buried the wrapping inside the gift. Billy only laughed it up at her reaction, but it was even greater at everyone gazing at Rebecca strangely.  

"So, what'd you get, Rebecca?" Claire asked as her hands went over to inspect the gift in Rebecca's lap, who kindly smacked Claire's hand away. "Ow! Rebecca!?"

"No one will see this!" Rebecca jolted up from the sofa and slammed her gift over the lap of the laughing Billy. Rebecca groaned out her annoyance. "How dare you, Billy Coen?! Giving me something like that! I will NEVER put that on!"

Taking a few deep breaths, Billy dug into the gift to unveil it to everyone else. "Don't you even think about!" Rebecca shouted, then gasped as soon as Billy raised a black thong.

It fell silent in the room as Billy spoke with a huge grin. "I think it will look great on her right, everyone?"

"Wow…" Steve simply uttered. Carlos, Chris and Leon blinked.

Claire reached past him and snatched the thong out of Billy's hands. She smiled. "Oh! It's going to look so cute on you, Rebecca!"

"What?!?!" Rebecca laid both hands on her hips. "This is so not right for everyone to see!!"

Ada covered her chuckle and spoke from where she was still sitting. "I do agree with Claire. I'm sure Sheva and Jill would also agree."

They nodded. Sheva crossed her arms and gazed with a smirk to Rebecca. "We're all adults here. And I just want to add that the color of the material is absolutely seductive."

"Sheva!" Rebecca complained with a now even darker blush. She turned to smirk that was now on Jill's face. "Please, not you too, Jill!"

"Well, what do you want me to say, Rebecca?" Jill began. "I agree with the other ladies. It will look wonderful on you…on that little cute butt of yours that is…." Her comment brought laughs all around.

Rebecca was at her limit. "Alright! Enough of me! Get to the next person, Chris!" She growled while plopping herself back down in a harsh movement beside Billy, who tried to contain his laughter and received a elbow brush from Rebecca.

"Okay." Chris dusted his hands. "Now, since that little…debacle is over, who's next?"

"I don't mind." Carlos said from his stance beside Jill. "Just make sure it's not from, Billy."

Chris nodded, and gently laughed as he bent down to pick up another gift. He got back onto his feet and read the label. "It's from…oh, from your chica."

Chris tossed it over to Carlos in the same time Jill commented to Carlos. "Hope you like it."

With all eyes now on the smiling Carlos. He tore into the wrapping slowly and dug into the box. "Let's see what Jill got me."  He pulled out a…video game with a young Jill and a young Chris on the cover, both wearing old STARS outfits. "Resident…Evil?"

"Do you like it, Carlos?" Jill asked softly, taking the game kindly from him. "Chris and I gave the go ahead for a certain company to make a video game about the mansion incident. You get to play as me, Rebecca, Chris and our good'ol friend Barry. Remember him?"

He nodded in response, but it was Billy who spoke. "What about the rest of us? Are we in it?" Chris shook his head. Billy countered in bending his head. "Aw, man. I was hoping to take down Wesker…"

"Actually…" Claire began with a honest tone. "I was also contacted by that same company. Me, Ada and Leon were all notified of our own video game. It's about what we experienced in Raccoon City."

Steve glanced over to his right at Claire. "Really?" He saw her nod, and it was his turn to ask. "What about me? Am I in that one?" Leon and Ada shook their heads that possessed huge grins. Steve sighed. "I can't say I'm disappointed. I don't want to play knowing I'm going to die in it. But man I could've attracted women who love to play these games."

"I'm positive they will make one of us, Steve." Claire assured him with lightly pinching his cheek.

"Unfortunately…" Sheva commenced. "The last one will show the events I shared with Chris, Jill and Josh in Africa." Her bad news brought glum faces to Steve, Billy and Carlos.

"Includes…Mercenaries Mode…" Carlos said while reading the back of the video game case. "Who's the mercenary in the game?" Carlos held a light of hope in wishing it was him.

"No one." Chris answered almost half confused. "I really don't know why they named it mercenaries."

"Great…" Carlos responded in defeat. "I'm the only mercenary between all of us…and I'm not in this mode. That makes no sense…"

"So…you don't like it?" Jill softly asked, and Carlos quickly shook his head.

"It's not that! I love it, Jill. It's just…I was hoping everyone could witness the slap you gave me in Raccoon City."

She could not resist to laugh at that. "I definitely side with you on that, Carlos." He smiled at regaining her happiness.

"Who's next?" Chris' answer was Leon raising his right hand in the air nonchalantly.

"It'll be me." Leon was tossed a long gift from Chris.

Leon grunted at how heavy the gift was when he caught it. Ada broke in before Chris to confirm the identity of the person behind the gift. "It's from me, handsome."

While opening the big gift, Leon already had an assumption. "Hm, I won't be surprised if it's a grappling hook you always use, Ada…" Everyone saw Leon unwrap the gift to reveal just that. A sleek black grappling hook. "It is a grappling hook…" Leon confirmed. Neither content or disappointed.

However, Ada grinned. "How do you like very own, Leon? I'm sure it will come handy in some of your upcoming missions."

"Are you sure it can support my weight?" Leon asked in the midst of his right hand running across the grapple hook.

"Yes. It will. You should also keep in mind to thank Ingrid for assisting me in having to make this one specifically for you." Ada ended softly and examined how Leon was demonstrating his aim with his new gift.

"Great! Thanks Ada. And I'll be sure to thank Ingrid." Leon raised the grappling hook and aimed it to where Steve and Claire were sitting. He earned suspicious looks from the two. "So, how does this work, Ada?"

"It easy as using a handgun. Simply aim and pushed down on the trigger." Ada advised him.

"Oh." Suddenly, without intending on doing it, Leon pressed the trigger, unleashing the grappling hook to whistle past the diving pair of Steve and Claire, and it finished by hitting some of Sheva's valuable African vases in the background. "Whoa…" Leon merely said under the stunned gazes of his friends. Ada only sighed.

"LEON!! Damn it! What's wrong with you?!" Steve shouted while raising himself off of Claire.

"Exactly! Using something like that within a home is utterly ridiculous!" Sheva offered her anger while heading to the shattered pieces of her vases.

"Leon! You bonehead!" Claire also got up in gripping a sofa pillow to throw at the laughing Leon. With his quick instincts, Leon smacked it down before it ever had the chance of hitting him.

"Oh, come on, guys. I just wanted to test out my new toy." Leon glanced up at Ada still sitting on the armrest of the chair. "And I love it, Ada."

Chris sighed in wondering of having another Christmas party in his mansion before his friends destroy it.  His own sister almost burning the mansion down, and now Leon breaking vases.

Chris rubbed the back of his neck. "This…is gonna be a long Christmas…"






December 25th, 2009/ 12:52 A.M
Location- Mansion Of Sheva Alomar and Chris Redfield: Master Bedroom

The special night passed. Exhausted, Chris was sitting on the end of his and Sheva's king sized bed, while Sheva was currently within their personal bathroom.

Chris took in the sounds of everyone's vehicles starting up and driving away. It was a successful party, but he noticed one thing… "Hm, I didn't receive a gift from Sheva." He sighed in disappointment and buried his face in his palms. "God, I'm tired. I should get some rest for--

"Oh, Chris Redfield…" He heard the bathroom door creak open. Chris lifted his head from his palms to spot Sheva in a white robe. She undid the bond of her ponytail, then untied her robe to let it fall to the ground around her feet.

"S-Sheva…" Chris shuddered her name quietly at the sight of her. Wearing a white lacey bra that hugged her breast, and a white g-string. She also wore a gold waist chain wrapped that hung loosely around her firm abs.

Smirking, Sheva Alomar traced over seductively to Chris. Once there, she looped her arms across his neck, and sat herself upon his lap, where she could feel his bulge in his pants grazing against her. "Looks like someone's excited about their gift…" Sheva chuckled a seductive one at Chris' swallowing nervously.

Sheva gripped his chin and took seize of his lips with her own…both closing their eyes. Chris began to lay back on the bed as Sheva moved down along with him,  undoing his tie and unbuttoning his suit at the same time.

The kiss never broke, and Sheva reached out her right hand for the bedside lamp. She pulled down on the string…and off came the lights. Throughout the night, the room became filled with kisses, moans and the sounds of their bed creaking. It seemed one time was not enough for this pair.

For the two of them…it was a night that will lead to a better tomorrow. Not just for them but for their friends and the world…

To a better tomorrow…and to a better future…