Chapter Text
The water broke.
It happened in TerraSave's office in New York. Gina was screaming in painful screech when she saw it the first time. Claire really didn't realize it until that screeching sound and saw what Gina had pointed. "Oh, no..."
"Moira! Come here! Claire's getting birth!" Without a cue, Gina shouts and everyone can hear it. In unison, they all get up, and Moira runs toward Claire's office room. "Prepare the car, fool!"
Well, if it is normal situation, Moira will glare to Gina, but her brain is not functioned properly. She frantically went nowhere, before realizing she should hail a cab. "I'll call Chris, too."
"The father, fool!" Again, Gina's favorite word today seems to be 'fool', "he should've known this first before her brother!"
"Just calm down, you two," Claire, suprisingly isn't panicking, says, "Call Sherry. She shall inform my husband and brother. Just hail the cab, Moira. We need to go to hospital." Ah, some logical suggestion, at last. Those three are going down while the others are trying to get the elevator; one male co-worker does stop the elevator, and it earns glares from those who inside, before realizing what he does is a noble thing. One big pregnant woman being accompanied by two female co-workers. It even brings most of those people inside getting out from the elevator, to give exclusive access to whom they can see, a birthing mother.
The lobbyman sees the whole thing upon their arrival at lobby floor, quickly understands what happens, and sprints toward the front, to call the cab. Claire sits between the other two, and Gina glares to Moira. "Call Sherry, fool."
Wow, three times.
Moira, though, doesn't think about it too much, and she takes out her phone. The call is not that hard; Sherry must have been in alert mode. Moira, thankfully, manages to say that Sherry should call Leon and Chris to inform this situation, and Sherry will come to the hospital.
Leon isn't even in New York.
After California, the government tasked him to go to Greenland. Some kind of facility preserving the new virus is suspected to be built secretly there.
Great.
Well, the husband was very reluctant to go, but Claire pushed him too. She definitely didn't and doesn't want him to abandon his work for her. And if he is succeeded, it's brighter future ahead, meaning the world where their kids will live still has hope.
Chris should be in London, so that means, he might have not even arrived timely for the delivery. Again, he proposed that he would be around and in New York, but Claire flat-out rejected it. Claire, just like the usual Claire, doesn't want everyone's lives to stop just because of her.
"Breathe, Claire, breathe."
Claire looks to Moira funnily. "You seem to be the one who needs to breathe properly."
"Why are you so calm? Isn't it painful?" Claire just smiles, "what?"
"You want me to scream? Okay." And she screams the loudest thing everyone might have heard coming from fully-normal person, not zombified one. And it even makes the taxi driver feels like his heart jumps out from his ribs. "Do you want to know how I feel? I am alone here, my husband might be fighting those zombies and tyrants and anything that is new--God knows what--he might not even be available to be called, and my brother, the only blood-relative I have so far, is in London and the plane is not gonna deliver him magically in one second to be here. You think I am not panicking like crazy lady? YOU ARE GODDAMN WRONG!!!! AND IT HURTS LIKE S**T!!"
Gina and Moira instinctively get away from Claire and gulp. They are staying silent while Claire, after she screamed like that, whom they can see is trying her best to keep the pain inside her. That taxi driver even doesn't do much and just try his best to get to the destination.
Upon arriving to the hospital, where Olga is also working, the medics are quick to take care of Claire. Olga, who is there already, is examining her. "Well, it's still not that large. We need to wait."
"How long?" Sherry, who has come also to that hospital, asks. "We can't be sure. It can be quick, it can take long hours."
"Can you give me some kind of painkillers?"
"I can, but don't hope too much; they just push aside the pain, not 'killers'." Olga even has any audacity to make a joke, and she herself laughs for it, "I will get it ready. In meantime, you should be in your room. Your husband and his connection can secure you some VVIP room here." And the doctor leaves, while Sherry does catch a jealous tone from her before. "Why did she sound jealous?"
Claire blurs out, "maybe because I promised her to set her up with Leon and here I am, his wife and carrying his children."
Sherry opts to ask about it more later, in regard to Claire's current condition. Not long after that, she is transferred to what the other three suspect as the largest and most luxurious room this hospital could've had. Moira and Gina turn to her. "How much does a government agent get paid?"
"His definitely is larger, much, much, larger than mine," Sherry answers honestly, "but then, saving President's daughter, catching the killer of that said President, opening the case which the dirty higher-ups are covering to, I mean, it's either having many enemies or zeros on your paycheck."
"He gets both, trust me," Claire says, but she's panting. "I really think the babies are coming, though."
"I'll call the doctor." And Olga comes back, only to say that it's not ready and she leaves again. "Why am I getting this situation is the same with Rachel's getting in that Friends' episode?" Claire stares in horror, "at least Ross was with her. My Ross isn't here--aaaaahhhh!"
Sherry takes her phone again and calls Hunnigan. "Hi, yeah, he's--what did you just say? Are you sure? Okay, great!"
"Good news?" Claire manages to ask while Moira and Gina are trying their best to calm her. Sherry nods. "Hunnigan can reach Leon. He'll be here."
But when?
Leon was a nerdy kid. There, he says it.
Well, it's not like it's a secret, but for years, especially after he became an agent, his 'nerd' persona is covered by this 'suave, cold, and cool' aura that girls love so much. And he's keeping that facade as much as he could, so that he could get as many girls as he wanted.
Well, now, he doesn't have to.
One big reason: he's married. That gold band circling his finger is the evidence. Claire said he didn't have to wear that band (she said it could interfere his work), but he wants to show the world he's taken and happy about it.
One particular reason: he's nervous beyond anything. He just finished his work in Greenland, when Hunnigan--he's sure she kept this thing so he could focus working and finishing the work instead--said, "congratulations, you finished your mission. Oh, by the way, your wife's in labor. New York. Set the course for you. Good luck!"
His heart was jumping out. No kidding.
He's in the plane right now, carrying him to New York. At least, Hunnigan is nice to give him private plane instead.
Or the President? Leon could only hope that man has some decency. After all, his daughter was the one who created 'mess' between him and Claire back then. Yes, Mary-Ann is the one who sent those Ada's pictures to Claire, in order to 'break' them apart. It was almost worked, though. She pushed her Secret Service's agents to do her bidding. First Lady, upon finding the report gathered by Leon and Ingrid (thus, why Leon has to keep her cats when she takes a break, which is postponed from her original planning), scolded her daughter.
Or maybe that First Lady gave the access. Either way, Leon is grateful but he's still feeling nervous.
That is why he's bitting his nails. The habit he hasn't done after he did his first mission as government agent, as his instructor said his persona should be 'cool, cold, and suave'.
He just hopes the delivery is...wait, poor Claire, but he's seriously hoping that he doesn't miss anything.
It's almost midnight when he arrives in New York, and he doesn't waste any time but to hop on the vehicle served for him (again, who arranges these things?) and it delivers him to the hospital.
Chris is already there, but it seems that he's just arrived. Jill is with him too, and she looks so happy seeing Leon. "Leon!"
Chris' face is like seeing the Santa Claus alive and coming. "Thank God you're alive and here!"
Leon runs toward them and is panting when he reaches them, "am I too late? Where is she?"
"Labor. In the delivery room," Chris points to the obvious-neon sign of the room, "that is why you are led to be here, by the nurses."
"The father should be inside," Jill says, "and Sherry's there."
"You?" He turns to Chris and the older man shakes his head, "I'll have my moment. You, seize yours right now. How many times do you think you will have twins as children?" Leon does catch a weird thing about Chris' statement, but he chooses to put his attention to more pressing matter: his wife is in labor, and he should be really inside the room. He goes inside and is greeted by the nurse. "I am the father--uh, Kennedy?"
"Oh, you're here, finally," she instructs him to get ready, and after using surgical mask, he is allowed to enter the room. Sherry's eyes are lit when she sees him. "He's here!"
Claire turns and clearly, she's in uncomfortable position, her sweats are everywhere, and she's tired as shit. But for him, she looks more radiant than ever. "You...you're here..."
Olga, who is sitting at the end of the bed, takes a peek and shakes her head, for Leon is still standing there like a sculpt. "Mr. Kennedy, you should hold your wife's hand to encourage her or something."
"Uh? Oh," he reacts and goes toward Claire's right side, while Sherry is on her left side, "I can't believe I will have brothers!!!!!"
The older ones are chuckling (well, Claire is chuckling and in pain) hearing Sherry's squeal of excitement. "I am so sorry for being so late."
Claire shakes her head, "hey, better late than never. It does take us more than a decade to get married." Leon laughs but his tears are forming in his eyes.
"We'll be a family."
"We are family," he assures her and kissing her right hand. He then kisses her forehead and wipes the beads of sweats on her. Sherry even squeals more; she's been dreaming this ever since she was twelve.
Olga, takes a peek again, and seems to be so happy hearing those words inside the room, "I see his head, Claire. Now push."
He nods to her and she takes a deep breath. By squeezing his hand, she pushes at her most strength. Leon does feel the pain from the squeeze, but he ignores the pain. This is nothing compared to her pain. Sherry's hand isn't being gripped but she can see Claire's left-hand knuckles are turning white.
"Push! I have his head, Claire! Push!" Claire's other hand is now on his grip and he nods, assuring her (who stares worriedly to him, because she knows she grips his hand too hard) that she doesn't have to ignore the 'pain' she gives to him, and to that, both of those hands give Leon the most possible hard grip a human can give.
And a baby is coming to this world. Olga cuts the cord and gives the baby to the nurse, who quickly checks his condition. Claire takes a deep breath, and Leon guides her to breathe normally, for there is another baby coming. "He's healthy."
"You hear that?" Olga asks, and the parents nod in happiness, "but the journey's not over! We need to take care of the other one. I haven't seen his head, now. So, let me help that a bit, okay?"
"Can I see the baby?" Sherry asks and they both nod. She goes toward the nurse and is amazed to see the baby. "Oh, he has Leon's eyes!"
Claire looks to Leon, who smirks happily, "as you wish, mini-me." If she has power, she will slap that smug face that she dearly loves, but she knows she can do that later. Olga does her magic and then she shouts again, "I see the second baby's head. Be ready, Claire!"
And they both take a deep breath, again, and she pushes, again.
Everyone is standing at the window, where they can see the twins. Baby 1 Kennedy and Baby 2 Kennedy.
Why the parents haven't given them names is not what inside their minds. They are all exchanging glances and know for sure: those babies are definitely Leon's. Like, there's no trace of Claire, let alone Chris, whatsoever.
Chris is happy, but he can't conceal his annoyed feeling. "At least, those babies should inherit any little bit of Redfield's. They are not solely result of Leon's work."
Jill really tries to hold her laugh when he complains about it, since he pouts like a child when he's pushing the age of someone who should probably have a grandchild (Jill is certain there are parts of this world where those fourties already have grandkids).
Ignoring Chris' childish pout, Rebecca questions the audience, "do you know the names? I want to know!"
"I bet they put Chris' name on one of them," Barry says, and Moira nods, "Leon will get punished by Claire if he doesn't allow her to."
And they don't have to wait long to know that. The time for Claire to breastfeed them is arrived, and once she is finished, everyone is gathering inside that VVIP Room. Claire is holding baby number 2, while Leon is standing and carrying baby number 1.
"What are their names?" Rebecca, the ever-happy one, bursts to ask before Claire or Leon could speak. It should be Sherry who takes that role, but she has known the names, so she just keeps her silence.
"Well," Claire begins, "baby number 1's name is Christian Scott Kennedy," and Chris is looking so proud of himself and really makes Jill wants to laugh since he grins so widely; Barry gives his congratulations to that happy uncle, "whereas baby number 2 is Marvin Gillian Kennedy."
That name brings people's attention, and those formers S.T.A.R.S' members are choking from the air.
Marvin is from Marvin Branagh, and Gillian is the male-form of Jill's name. "Well, we almost name him 'Marvin Charles Kennedy', but nah, I rather have a daughter named 'Clara' to honor myself."
"I have some other options for daughter's names, but it is for later," Leon speaks, "and I still keep his knife, for your information."
"Give the baby to me, Kennedy," Rebecca demands, and Leon does what she instructs, for that he goes toward the others, and Chris, Jill, and Barry hug him dearly, for honoring their fallen comrade with giving his name to one of his babies. Sherry smiles happily and hugs Moira, who tries to hold her tears, seeing her father hugs the new father and everyone is happy all around.
"Thank you, rookie." And Leon smiles as he's trying to hold his tears, when Barry calls him like that, "he must be so proud of what you've become."
"We've all become," Jill adds, "although, he might be complaining about how big Chris has become and calling him 'muscle-man' or such." They all are laughing, and Jill pats Leon's shoulder, "thank you, Leon, for putting my name on your baby."
"And for that, I will hug you."
"No, Chris, you don't have to--ugh!" For Leon, it is not hugging; it's more like he's trying to crush him by hugging, and Claire laughs seeing her husband is struggling inside her brother's 'embrace'. "And thank you for planning to have a daughter, at least. Perhaps Redfield's DNA will be winning with her. I will not lose hope. Redfield bloodline must continue!"
"Hey." Leon turns to see Ingrid is approaching him. Leon is tidying his desk, for he will take three-days vacation.
He did buy the house Ada told him about, and the preparation is completed. No more commute route to New York, too. "You come here? How surprising. I thought you've gone to your vacation."
"And leaving my favorite agent here? No way," she smiles a bit, "about what you said."
"What I said?"
"Leak in B.S.A.A.," Leon now gives her his full attention, "I have some findings you might want to see, Leon. But, if you ask my opinion, be careful to give this information to your brother-in-law." She gives him an USB driver, which she puts on his desk.
"Why is that?" Leon takes and puts it inside his breast pocket.
"It might dig his past. If what I've found is correct, it's about new power combined with old people."
"New power?"
"Like 'Las Plagas', Kennedy. It's not virus, per se, but it is here in this Earth and people are using that." Leon gulps; Hunnigan is never lying, so with her saying that with this tone, it means something legit to look at. And to remember the horror of Las Plagas, Leon knows exactly he will not want to relive that time ever again.
"And you mean 'old people', it's--"
"There might be old players for this game, and I found that those players might have relation to Chris Redfield."
"You're implying that there could be poeple who work with Chris, who know this?" Ingrid just nods, "as I said, be careful to spill this to him. He might be doing things harshly. Or that he might be infected personally."
"I'll make a note to it. Thank you, Hunnigan."
"And now, I'll take my vacation," she says, "I'll send my cats to your place. I hope the babies are not allergic to them."
"Well, if they are, as our agreement before, I will pay for the pet hotel," Ingrid smiles and turns back. "Goodbye, Leon."
"Goodbye, Ingrid." Patrick, who then comes to Leon's office, says goodbye to the older lady, and approaches Leon. "Ready to go?"
Helena and her fiancee have already inside the new house and put some of Claire's belongings (in the box) inside the house. Helena now really aspires to become like Leon, or reaches the level of paycheck of his, because that house is beautiful with personal caretaker as well.
And her fiancee should have Claire's paycheck. Maybe working for NGO doesn't seem so fancy, but Claire has reached the top management level; her payment must not be underestimated.
Leon and Patrick come inside after parking Leon's car. Moira, who is following Claire to work in D.C., is upstairs with Claire and the babies. She will also sleep inside the guest room for a while, before finding her own space in the city. "Your house is amazing."
"With reasonable price, too," Patrick says, and Leon just smiles. He makes mental note (and will share it with Claire, too): he has to buy some sort of thank-you gift to Ada for the information of this house. Oh, well, maybe pictures of his babies wearing her gifts might amuse her a lot.
"I should go upstairs," he excuses himself from his friends and goes toward his family. After Leon cleans himself, he goes to the nursery and exchanges glances to Moira. She takes the cue and leaves the family inside the nursery; Leon takes care of Marvin, while Claire is breastfeeding Chris, Jr. (at this rate, they call him 'junior').
"Where are the cats?"
"She'll send them later," Claire just hums and when Junior has finished, she pats his tiny back, and he's burping. "Let me feed Marvin."
They exchange the babies and Leon coos Junior while Marvin is in Claire's care. "And for Ada," Leon says, "we should really take pictures of them wearing her gifts as thank-you present for giving information of this place." Claire laughs and nods to that, "and I have to write some rebound note on that. If she's thinking she's woman with words, I'll show her who's her biggest competitor."
Leon does think he has to talk to Claire about Ingrid's finding, but the image of her breastfeeding the babies is worth more than that information. Maybe, when they are alone, they can talk about that.
"Something in your mind?" Claire asks, since he doesn't reply back to her remark before. Leon smiles a bit, "later. I'll tell you later."
She gives him a nod of understanding, "we'll be alright, right?"
"Yes, we'll be alright."
She stares to him, "I love you."
"I love you too," and he reaches to kiss her, only to make those babies squirm, "ah, forget that they are here. And they're so possessive of their mother."
"Trait taken from their father, I presume. Remember how mad you were when I said I wanted to get someone else's sperm?"
Leon frowns, "I was not mad."
"Oh, yeah?" She replies, "you said no and suddenly you said yes when I mentioned someone else. Admit it, you were jealous."
"Oh, who's creating the scene inside New York City Hall when you said I was allowed to be with anyone I wanted? Now you're saying I was jealous?"
She scoffs, "yeah, you're dumb enough not to say no to a sexy girl. Didn't you say you have fallen for me before Ada Wong swayed her hip to you in Oslo?"
"Well, that is correct and I am wrong for it, but I want to say this: you didn't know my feelings to you, so you didn't have any base to be angry to me."
"But then you were a mess. Chris punched you, right?"
"I have my own defense, okay? Why would I punch Chris back, when he's doing that for his sister? It should be his sister who came clear to me if you didn't want me to be involved with someone else."
"Ah, but you should just tell me you loved me after our initial meeting with The Mayor of New York."
"You should be the first. Who asked me to be her sperm donor in the first place?"
"Who wanted to have sexual intercourse first, Mr. Kennedy?"
"Who was tempting me to have mini-Kennedys first, Mrs. Kennedy?"
And the babies are crying in unison, seemingly trying to also get in action in that silly argument. And to that, they both laugh to their own silliness, before trying their best to calm their babies down.
After those babies calm down a bit, they exchange glances in same understanding. "We are together now, aren't we?"
"Yes, Claire, we are. And I will not even want to change anything about it. Except maybe another kid, maybe a daughter?"
"Calm yourself down. We have twins; our hands are full to the best if we have another kid."
"Or another twins."
"Oh, my head, I can't deal with that," Claire says dramatically and Leon chuckles. "Maybe doing the same method can create twins, or maybe triplets." Claire just shakes her head, before getting up from the rocking chair, and puts Marvin inside his crib. "Don't even think about that, Kennedy."
"I know you like traditional way better, Kennedy," he replies to her, as he puts Junior inside his own crib. He then turns her around to embrace her, "besides, there's an empty room for two children, at least. We can work on that."
"I smack your head if you bring that topic ever again."
"Really?" He leans closer, "what if we wait for a year?"
She seems to be thinking, "no."
"Really?" He snuggles to her neck and it makes her giggling, "stop it! The babies!"
"A year, Claire."
"No."
"Please."
"I'm the one who gets pregnant, so I have say on this: no."
"Please." He even makes googly-eyed expression and it makes her heart melt.
She shakes her head, "one and a half year, and then--" she is stopped by his kiss and they both giggle while kissing; someone knocks on the door and they all get surprised. Sherry is the culprit; she comes by a bit late because of her work-out schedule, "babies shouldn't know how they were made this early, you know that."
"They don't seem to complain--ouch!" Claire hits her husband's right shoulder. Sherry sheepishly smiles, "come. We need to make dinner for our guests. They are all left there while you two are making out. That's not a good host." The new parents then joins their adopted daughter, holding hands, and are sure that they face this world, together.
THE END