Work Text:
10 February 2021
Romania,
Winters were always lonely in their own quiet way. Whenever the world was draped in them, it felt as if time itself slowed, mourning everything that had withered and faded. The stiffness in the air, the biting cold of the wind, trees left barren and brown, and snow blanketing everything that once lived.
Yet, as cruel as winter could be, it still offered the world a kind of respite. A pause. A full stop for a few months. For some people, it was a time to retreat indoors, to curl beneath warm blankets, sip something hot, and hold those they loved a little closer.
But those comforts weren’t meant for everyone.
Not for the men who fought to keep the world safe.
Not for those who had already lost their lives.
And not for those left behind in the aftermath.
For them, the cold was nothing more than a punishing whip.
For Chris, winter carved a hollow ache in his chest. The memories refused to dull. He could still see the smoke rising from the village, torn into the sky. He could still hear Mia’s broken cries as she clutched the small bundle in her arms.
Chris would never allowed himself to forget this. The cold that settled in his heart on this day could cut through anything.
Ethan didn’t deserve this.
Rosemary didn’t deserve this.
As Chris stared out the window, watching the ruins fade into distant smears of ash and smoke, he refused to let himself rest.
Because he didn’t deserve that either.
Lost in the weight of his thoughts, he failed to notice one of his soldiers quietly approaching behind him.
“Chris,” Rolando said, tapping him gently on the shoulder. “Message for you.”
Chris allowed himself one last look at the ruined village below, the smoke, the shattered homes… the place where Ethan had fallen. Then he turned to face his soldier.
“From whom?” he asked, his voice hoarse, thick with emotions he hadn’t yet swallowed down.
Rolando’s lips curled slightly, a hint of bounce in his voice.
“From Leon.”
Chris straightened immediately, his full attention snapping into place.
“What happened?” he asked quickly, worry spilling into his tone before he could stop it.
A dozen thoughts struck him all at once.
Did something happen to Leon? Was he hurt?
And then the worst thought of all crept in.
Their child.
Were they okay?
Chris couldn’t, no, he couldn’t lose them too. Not when he was so far away. Not when he hadn’t even been there.
Rolando placed a steady hand on his shoulder.
“Calm down, Chris,” he said, giving a reassuring squeeze.
“Just tell me, Umber Eyes,” Chris urged, his voice still firm, but the tightness in his expression betraying the cracks in his composure.
Rolando’s grin finally broke through.
“Congratulations, Chris,” he said. “You’re the father of a healthy baby boy.”
The words carried farther than expected.
Around them, the other Wolf pups heard the news and quietly erupted into celebration.
“Woah– congrats, boss!”
“Congratulations, Captain!”
“Atta go, boss!”
Their voices stayed low, light and restrained. Even in their joy, they were careful not to disturb Mia, whose quiet mourning still hung over the place like the winter air.
Chris, however, stood frozen. For a long moment, the words didn’t quite reach him.
A father.
The thought struggled to settle inside his mind, heavy and fragile all at once. Finally, he let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding, a soft huff escaping him as reality slowly began to sink in.
Tilting his head down, his lips tightening, Chris slowly sank onto the bench. After a moment he covered his face with both hands, a choked sob slipping through before he could stop it.
They were tears of happiness.
But the cruel irony of it wasn’t lost on him.
His child had been born in the dead of winter, the very same day one of those people he swore to protect, had died. The thought twisted something deep in his chest.
He wanted to cry louder.
Wanted to go home to his husband.
Wanted to hold his newborn child.
But did he really deserve any of that?
Not after knowing he was the reason Mia was widowed and Rose was left without her father.
He didn’t even register the approaching footsteps until a quiet voice called his name.
“Chris.”
He looked up.
Mia stood a few steps away, Rose cradled gently in her arms.
“Congratulations,” she said softly.
Chris pushed himself to his feet, giving her a small nod and a tight smile.
“Rose has a new buddy to play with now,” he said, the words slow and careful as he searched Mia’s expression. “If you don’t mind… Ethan did ask me to look after her, after all.”
Mia’s face tightened, grief flickering through her features. Her eyes glistened as they drifted down to the child in her arms.
“I agree with Ethan,” she said quietly. “Despite everything… you still tried to protect us.”
She sniffed, blinking back fresh tears.
“And… I want you to look after Rose too. I have a feeling that once we land, I won’t exactly be free to live my life.”
Chris straightened slightly.
“I’ll protect you both,” he said firmly. “No one touches you or Rose unless I allow it.”
Mia shook her head gently.
“I can go into hiding,” she murmured. “But I can’t let that happen to Rose. She deserves a normal childhood… something better than all this.”
Her eyes met his again, full of desperate trust.
“You’re the only powerful and dependable person I know who can give her that. Someone who will keep her safe no matter what.”
Her voice broke into quiet whimpers, her shoulders trembling.
“So please, Chris… I’m begging you. Just this one last time.”
Chris stepped closer, placing a large, careful hand over the small head of the sleeping child.
His throat tightened.
“I promise,” he said softly. “I’ll protect her like she’s my own.”
MedStar Washington Hospital Center
11 February 2021
To say Leon was exhausted would have been an understatement. Giving birth was no joke, honestly, he felt like every woman on Earth deserved a standing ovation for it.
For a while there, passing out had seemed like the easiest shortcut, the body’s way of escaping the pain. But he couldn’t do that to his child. Not when the little life depended on him.
The ache in his lower pelvis was nothing to sneeze at either. If it weren’t for the nurses keeping him supplied with painkillers, his half delirious, pain ridden brain might’ve convinced him a B.O.W. had fucked him over.
When he finally woke, groggy and heavy limbed, his first instinct was to turn his head toward the baby cot beside the bed. Just to check and make sure his baby boy was still there.
Relief softened his tired expression when he spotted the tiny bundle sleeping peacefully inside.
Ever since the delivery, he’d only managed to hold the baby for a short while, long enough to nurse him, before exhaustion had dragged him under completely.
Leon smiled faintly at the sight, eyes lingering on the small cot.
The door opened a moment later.
A familiar head of bright red hair, slipped inside the room.
Seeing Leon awake, she perked up immediately.
“Leon? You okay?” she asked, stepping in. “You seriously passed out back there. Nearly gave me a heart attack.”
Claire huffed lightly as she approached the bed, carrying a baby blue bag stuffed with supplies. He and Chris had packed it weeks ago for moments exactly like this, diapers, spare clothes, wipes, anything the baby might need.
Leon glanced at her, offering a tired smile. His voice came out hoarse and rough, still ragged from hours of screaming earlier.
“I’m good,” he murmured.
Then his gaze drifted back toward the cot.
“Couldn’t be better.”
Claire followed his line of sight and immediately brightened. She leaned over the crib, her voice dropping into exaggerated baby talk.
“Awww, my little cute baby,” she cooed softly. “Who I still can’t believe is related to my brother.” She grinned. “Look at you, being all obedient and quiet, unlike him.”
Leon let out a quiet, almost disbelieving laugh and held his hands out hesitantly. “Can you… give him to me?” he asked, uncertainty creeping into his voice.
He had no experience taking care of an infant. None at all. The weight of it all was already settling on his shoulders, and he wouldn’t lie to himself, he was overwhelmed. Part of him wished he had someone beside him to steady his thoughts, someone to remind him he wasn’t doing this alone.
But his husband was nowhere to be found.
Leon didn’t even know where Chris was… or if he was alive.
He had asked Claire to contact the HWS and tell them the news, hoping they could reach him somehow, but hours had passed with no reply. The silence gnawed at him.
Just waiting.
The hospital room felt strangely quiet around them, broken only by the steady beeping of the heart monitor beside the bed and the faint hum of fluorescent lights overhead. The air carried that familiar sharp antiseptic smell, mixed with the clean scent of fresh linens and baby powder.
Claire walked over to the small hospital cot and carefully lifted the baby, supporting his tiny head with practiced care. The little blanket rustled softly as she adjusted him.
“Here,” she said gently.
The moment the baby settled against him, Leon’s breath caught. The baby was so small and warm, bundled tightly against his chest.
Barely a day old.
Leon studied his son’s face, trying to make out the details, but newborn features were still soft and delicate, not quite settled yet.
Then the baby blinked awake and Leon’s breath caught.
Bright blue eyes looked back at him.
The color was unmistakable, clear, bright baby blues. Even brighter than Leon’s own, almost like looking up at a wide, cloudless sky.
A slow smile spread across his face, something soft and completely unguarded.
He lowered his head, gently brushing his nose against the baby’s tiny temple in an affectionate nuzzle. The faint powdery scent of newborn skin filled his lungs, warm and comforting.
Leon pressed a careful kiss to the baby’s cheek.
“Hey there, handsome,” he murmured quietly.
The baby made a soft, sleepy sound and shifted in his arms, instinctively curling closer against Leon’s chest. His tiny fingers flexed weakly against the blanket.
Claire watched the moment unfold from beside the bed, her expression softening. The sight warmed her chest in a way she hadn’t expected.
Chris was going to lose his mind when he saw this.
She sat down on the edge of the hospital bed near Leon, the mattress dipping slightly under her weight.
“Oh wow,” she said with a grin, leaning closer to peek at the baby. “Yeah… when he grows up, he’s definitely going to be breaking hearts.”
Leon huffed a quiet laugh under his breath, still staring down at his son like he couldn’t quite believe he was real.
After a moment, though, the smile faded slightly.
Leon finally lifted his eyes to Claire.
“…Chris?” he asked.
The single word carried a lot more weight than he intended.
Claire immediately reached over, resting a reassuring hand on his thigh.
“Hey,” she said softly. “Don’t worry.”
She squeezed his leg gently.
“He’s fine. He’s on his way.”
Leon let out a long, shaky sigh.
The kind that came from somewhere deep in his chest.
Claire noticed immediately how his eyes glistened under the harsh hospital lights, the faint sheen of tears catching in the corners. He looked exhausted, physically and emotionally wrung out in a way she’d rarely seen.
She looked away for a moment.
There were things she hadn’t told him. Things she couldn’t tell him right now.
Not while he was sitting there with his newborn in his arms.
Romania wiped off the map. BSAA mess. Ethan dying.
But those were Chris’s burdens to explain. Not hers.
Leon continued gently rocking the baby in slow, careful motions, instinctively swaying back and forth as if he’d been doing it for years.
The room was quiet again except for the faint hum of the hospital ventilation and the occasional squeak of the rocking bed.
After a moment, Claire spoke.
“So…” she said lightly, leaning back in the chair beside the bed. “Have you decided on the little guy’s name yet?”
Leon hummed softly in response, still staring down at the tiny bundle in his arms.
He didn’t even look up.
Claire watched him for a moment, a small smile tugging at her lips.
He’s completely besotted, she thought.
Leon finally answered after a pause.
“Since Chris is coming,” he said quietly, “I want him to hear it first.”
He glanced up then and gave Claire a small, tired smile.
Claire groaned dramatically.
“Oh great,” she said, throwing her hands up slightly. “Now I have to call my asshole of a brother and tell him to hurry the hell up. My baby nephew can’t go a whole day without a name.”
She stood up again, continuing to fuss around the room while she talked, adjusting the baby bag, straightening the blankets, checking supplies like an overly attentive aunt already settling into the role.
Leon listened, almost half of it.
He nodded here and there, but his focus kept drifting. Between the exhaustion of childbirth and the emotional whirlwind of the last twenty four hours, his body was beginning to give out.
His eyelids drooped.
Claire noticed the change, immediately coming to his side.
“Leon,” she said gently, glancing over. “You should probably sleep for a bit. I can hold him if you want.”
Leon immediately shook his head.
“No.”
The response came so fast and so firmly that Claire blinked. His arms instinctively tightened around the baby. Ever since the birth, Leon had been acting like a fiercely protective, clingy mother.
Not that anyone could blame him. So Claire let him be.
Hours passed quietly after that.
At one point, Claire sat on the small couch near the window, folding the tiny baby clothes from the hospital bag. The soft fabrics, little socks, onesies barely bigger than her hands, made faint rustling sounds as she stacked them neatly. Across the room, Leon had finished nursing the baby and now held him upright against his shoulder, gently patting his back.
“C’mon, little guy,” Leon murmured sleepily. “Work with me here.”
The baby let out a tiny burp.
Leon chuckled quietly.
Then suddenly the door opened. Both of them looked up.
And there he was.
Chris.
Standing in the doorway in all his battered, exhausted, fucking glory.
The black coat, pants, and black turtleneck stood in stark contrast against the sterile white walls of the hospital corridor. If it had been anyone else walking in dressed like that, broad shouldered, imposing, carrying the weight of war in every step, security might have already been escorting them out, alarms quietly raised.
He moved across the room with heavy breaths, his gaze locked on Leon and the small bundle in his arms. Nothing else existed in that moment.
He barely acknowledged Claire standing nearby. Not that she could blame him.
Chris stopped in front of his husband.
“Chris…” Leon stuttered softly, clearly caught off guard by how suddenly he had appeared.
“Leon… oh God.” Chris almost lunged forward to pull him into an embrace, stopping himself only at the last second not to squash the baby between them. “Are you okay?… Is he… okay?”
Claire glanced between them, feeling the fragile, intimate tension in the room. Without a word, she quietly slipped out, giving the new parents their moment.
“I’m fine. We’re fine,” Leon said gently, adjusting the bundle in his arms.
He looked up at Chris with a small smile.
“Wanna hold him?”
Chris nodded immediately.
Carefully, Leon placed the baby into Chris’s strong arms, guiding his hands with patience.
“Support the head first.”
The sight was almost surreal, those large, battle worn hands holding something so impossibly small and fragile. Chris felt the warm weight settle against his arms.
Only then did he finally look down.
His son was sleeping soundly, his tiny face scrunching slightly in protest at being moved from the warmth of Leon’s chest before settling again.
“He’s sleeping,” Leon said softly, watching them both. “But just so you know… he has blue eyes. Like mine.”
Chris let out a quiet chuckle.
“Well… looks like I won our bet,” he murmured, careful not to disturb the little one’s dream.
It was a strange sight, Chris Redfield, the towering alpha wolf, the hardened soldier feared by many now standing completely still and gentle in the presence of his tiny pup.
Chris leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to the baby’s cheek, then another to his forehead.
“Erik…” he whispered the name tenderly. “Welcome home.”
A name could mean many things.
Sometimes it was simply something passed down by parents.
Sometimes it was a gift.
Sometimes it carried the heavy weight of memory.
But in the end, a name was only a name. It was the person who grew into it that gave it meaning.
Neither of them cared much for fancy names. When they learned the baby was a boy, Leon had spent days struggling to decide what to call him.
Then Chris had wrapped his arms around him from behind and said the name quietly.
He had named their son after his late father. Leon hadn’t needed a second thought to agree.
Erik Redfield.
Leon couldn’t think of a better name to fit Chris’s son.
Chris had stood up at some point, the baby bundled carefully in his arms, and now he paced slowly across the room. His heavy boots made soft thuds against the hospital floor as he moved back and forth, instinctively rocking the tiny bundle.
Leon watched them quietly from the bed.
Chris looked rough more than just tired. His clothes were creased and dirty, his face lined with exhaustion. But Leon had noticed something the moment Chris walked in.
The tension that had been locked into Chris’s shoulders had eased the instant his eyes landed on Leon.
There had been warmth there.
Relief too, at seeing his family together but beneath it… a faint sadness that Leon couldn’t quite place.
Leon chose not to ask about it.
Not yet.
Instead, he let the quiet moment stretch, simply watching as Chris rocked their child with surprising gentleness for a man built like a tank. Chris looked completely absorbed, eyes lowered to the baby like nothing else in the world existed.
Leon smiled faintly to himself.
But then a knock sounded at the door before it swung open.
Claire burst in with her usual dramatic flair.
“Alright! I’ve given you two enough time,” she announced, stepping into the room with exaggerated impatience. “I’m developing distance phobic syndrome from being away from my precious nephew.”
She marched straight toward Chris.
“Hey, bro,” she added, eyeing him up and down. “I won’t even ask how you’re doing, because you look absolutely battered… but hey, you’re alive.”
She slipped an arm briefly around his shoulders in a sideways hug, careful not to bump the baby.
Chris rolled his eyes.
“Thanks, sis,” he muttered dryly.
Claire ignored the sarcasm completely.
“So,” she continued brightly, peering down at the baby, “have we decided on a name yet, or are we just going with Claire’s New Best Friend?”
Leon chuckled softly from the bed as he watched the two of them.
Chris glanced down at the baby again before answering.
“Erik,” he said simply.
Claire’s face immediately lit up.
“Welcome to the world, Erik,” she said warmly, reaching out to gently poke the baby’s cheek. “You are going to be so loved—”
Chris quickly shifted the baby away from her hand.
“Hey,” he warned quietly. “Don’t wake him up.”
Claire straightened with a dramatic eye roll.
“Oh please,” she scoffed. “You act like I’ve never handled a baby before.”
Leon watched the scene unfold, a soft smile lingering on his face.
A long time ago… he might have dreamed about something like this. A warm family that welcomed you without question. friends who understood you. And a lover who stood beside you no matter what.
And now–
A tiny new life added to that picture.
Someone he could call his own.
Ever since Raccoon City, Leon had believed his life had been traded away the moment he stepped into that nightmare. Like everything afterward had simply been the price he paid for surviving. That life had been spent saving a little girl back then and now somehow, it had led him here.
To Erik.
And Leon knew with absolute certainty, this was something he would never regret.
He leaned back slightly against the pillows, letting the warmth of the moment settle deep in his chest.
Silently, he made a promise.
A quiet vow.
He would protect this family, this fragile happiness, for as long as he lived.
11 February 2021
Today was the day Leon was finally being discharged.
Claire had already left earlier that morning to prepare the house for the baby’s welcome. She had insisted, stubbornly and with complete sincerity, winning the debate with a dramatic wave of her hand and the argument:
“It’s not like I’ll be getting nephews every second day, so let me have this.”
Chris helped Leon ease himself out of the hospital bed and into his clothes, careful and quiet in his movements. The room still carried the faint sterile scent of disinfectant, but the atmosphere felt lighter than it had in days.
A moment later, the doctor arrived to give the two new parents a final rundown on how to care for their newborn. Feeding schedules, sleep positions, signs to watch for every small but important detail.
Both Leon and Chris listened intently.
When the doctor finally left, Leon moved toward the small crib beside the bed. He carefully lifted Erik into his arms, the newborn barely stirring, his tiny breaths soft and steady. Cradling him close, Leon made his way out into the hallway.
Chris followed behind, carrying their bags. They stopped briefly at reception so Chris could sign the discharge papers and settle the remaining finances.
Soon after, they stepped out into the cool afternoon air and made their way to Chris’s jeep.
Erik slept through the entire drive home.
Neither Leon nor Chris spoke.
After eight years of marriage, silence between them had never been uncomfortable. Words were not the only language they shared. Sometimes a glance, a quiet breath, or the simple presence of the other said far more than anything spoken aloud.
Chris, who had finally begun to relax after seeing both his husband and newborn safe and healthy, felt another weight settling quietly at the back of his mind.
There were still things he needed to talk to Leon about.
Rose.
Mia.
Ethan.
But the moment never felt right. Perhaps there hadn’t been time. Or perhaps Chris simply couldn’t bring himself to drag such grim, complicated matters into the fragile peace that surrounded them now.
Not with their son sleeping softly in Leon’s arms.
Chris’s hands tightened around the steering wheel.
The familiar urge for a cigarette crept up on him, sharp and persistent. Normally he would have already lit one by now, the smoke giving his restless mind something to cling to. But things were different now.
He would have to cut that down too. At the very least, he wasn’t going to smoke anywhere near the newborn waiting for them at home.
Beside him, Leon noticed the tension immediately. He reached over and rested a hand on Chris’s thigh, thumb brushing lightly in a quiet attempt to ground him.
“I can practically hear the gears in your head turning,” Leon murmured. “Does this have something to do with Romania?”
Sometimes Chris forgot that Leon was far too observant for his own good. Trying to fool an agent like him had always been a losing game.
“Yeah,” Chris admitted after a moment. “But we’ll talk later.”
He offered a tight smile, one that didn’t quite reach his eyes.
Leon studied him for a second longer before humming softly and letting the matter drop, for now.
The rest of the drive passed in comfortable silence.
Near the end of the trip, the small bundle in Leon’s arms shifted. Leon immediately looked down, his expression softening as tiny blue eyes blinked open.
He almost cooed. “Well, look who’s awake,” Leon whispered, his voice warm with amusement. “Rise and shine, little man.”
Chris glanced over, his chest tightening for an entirely different reason now.
The baby’s bright blue eyes were fixed on Leon, and a small, adorable whimper escaped him as he squirmed slightly in the blanket.
Chris felt something inside him shift.
To think it was possible to fall in love all over again.
By the time they pulled into the driveway and stepped inside, Claire was already waiting.
The moment the door opened, she turned toward them with an expression that was equal parts excitement and fierce protectiveness.
“Oh my god, you’re finally here,” she said, already ushering them inside as if they might disappear if she blinked.
The house had been transformed into soft decorations, a few balloons, and little touches Claire had clearly spent hours arranging.
After the brief celebration and Claire’s endless fussing over the baby, the house finally settled into a calmer quiet.
Later, they laid Erik down in the baby blue crib beside their bed, a gift from Jill.
Leon lingered there afterward, standing quietly over the crib. His eyes followed the slow rise and fall of Erik’s tiny chest, watching as the newborn slept peacefully. For a moment, the world felt still.
Then he felt two strong arms wrap around his waist from behind. Chris nuzzled lightly into the side of his neck, breathing him in. Leon relaxed instantly, settling back against the solid warmth of his husband’s chest.
Neither of them spoke for a while, until Chris voice rumbled.
“What are you thinking about?” Chris asked quietly.
His lips brushed small kisses along Leon’s neck, lingering on the familiar mole at the side of his skin as if it were something precious he’d memorized long ago. Leon let out a soft breath, tilting his head to give Chris better access.
“Just thinking…” he murmured. “I should probably visit my doctor soon. Start the meds again. I need to get back in shape. Vacations over after all”
Chris hummed against his skin, continuing his slow trail of kisses until he reached the spot just behind Leon’s ear. One of his hands slipped under Leon’s shirt, warm fingers brushing against the soft curve of his stomach which was softened by the pad of fat beneath it. He gave it a gentle squeeze.
“Looks like I’ll have to mourn this softness,” He said teasingly.
Leon chuckled, turning around in Chris’s arms. He cupped his face in both hands, thumb grazing the roughness of his beard before leaning in to kiss him.
The kiss was deep and familiar, the kind built over years together. They moved carefully, instinctively quiet so they wouldn’t wake the baby sleeping only a few feet away.
Leon slowly pushed Chris backward until the back of his knees hit the bed and he fell onto it with a soft thud. He climbed onto his lap, still kissing him with quiet intensity.
When they finally broke apart for air, their foreheads rested together, breaths mingling.
Leon’s voice dropped to a murmur.
“What happened, Chris?”
Chris exhaled heavily. The weight in his chest returned. He gently guided Leon off his lap and sat him beside him on the bed, taking Leon’s hands in his own.
“Leon,” he began quietly.
“Ethan… is dead.”
He paused, watching Leon’s expression crumble into something pained and shocked. But Leon didn’t interrupt. Instead, he squeezed Chris’s hands, silently urging him to continue.
“Miranda’s been dealt with,” Chris continued. “And Mia… she’s in a secure location with Rose.”
Chris swallowed.
“I know I made this decision on my own, but I owe it to Ethan now, Leon.” His voice softened. “He asked me to look after Rose. And Mia… she entrusted her to me too.”
Leon frowned slightly.
“Why?” he asked. “Mia can’t live with her?”
Chris shook his head.
“She’s too deep in all of this. Until everything is completely resolved, she believes Rose will be safer with us.”
Chris’s grip tightened slightly.
“Leon… I’m sorry I made this decision without talking to you first. If you want to ba--”
“Hmm,” Leon hummed thoughtfully.
“Looks like Erik’s getting a new sibling.”
Chris blinked.
For a moment, he simply stared at him, not fully processing what Leon had just said.
“You… you agree?” he asked, disbelief clear in his voice.
Leon raised an eyebrow, a small smirk forming.
“Of course. Why wouldn’t I?” he said lightly. “Besides, I practically have more experience in that department than you, Chris.”
Chris let out a breath that sounded half like a laugh, half like relief.
Then he tackled Leon back onto the bed, kissing him with unrestrained happiness.
Leon laughed softly between the kisses, one hand gripping the back of Chris’s neck.
“I love you so much,” Chris said breathlessly.
Leon snorted softly.
“News to absolutely no one,” he replied. “Love you too.”
Chris eventually pulled back, though his expression grew serious again.
“I’ll have to leave tomorrow,” he said quietly. “Need to handle the paperwork. And visit Mia.”
He glanced toward the crib.
“I’ll be gone for a while.”
Their son had just been born. And tomorrow, Chris would already be pulled back into the chaos of work.
Leon studied him for a moment before lifting a hand and brushing his thumb along Chris’s cheek, feeling the rough hair of his beard beneath it.
“I know,” Leon said gently. “but it looks like we’ll have to build another nursery.”
Chris gave a tired smile.
“I won’t be gone long,” he said. “But even after I come back… things might still be complicated.”
“I know,” Leon whispered.
He pulled Chris closer, their fingers intertwining.
“Shh… let’s just stay like this for a moment.”
Leon squeezed his hand.
“We’ll figure everything out.”
Chris looked at him for a long moment before leaning down to press a soft kiss to his lips.
“Together,” Chris murmured.
“Together.”
12 February 2021,
Claire was in the kitchen the next morning, aggressively whisking pancake batter like it had personally offended her. The house was quiet except for the occasional soft baby noises drifting from the bedroom. Leon had insisted Chris get a little rest before leaving, though Claire suspected neither of them had actually slept much. Thanks to the new addition in the household.
She poured batter into the pan and flipped a pancake with unnecessary force.
Chris walked in a moment later, already dressed for travel. The moment Claire saw the duffel bag over his shoulder, she frowned.
“You’re leaving already?” she asked.
Chris rubbed the back of his neck.
“Yeah. I have to go handle some things.”
Claire gave him a suspicious look. That was very Chris speak for something serious happened and I’m not telling you yet. She slid a plate toward him anyway.
“Sit. Eat something before you go save the world again.”
Chris obeyed, without any arguments, sitting at the kitchen counter while Claire continued cooking.
For a few minutes, the only sound was the sizzling pan.
Until Chris cleared his throat.
“So… I might need your help with something when I get back.”
Claire snorted.
“Oh no. That tone never leads to anything normal.”
Chris hesitated.
“Leon and I might be… taking in another kid.”
Claire froze mid flip.
The pancake landed half on the pan, half on the stove.
“…Another kid.”
Chris nodded cautiously.
Claire stared at him for a solid five seconds.
Then-
“CHRIS REDFIELD.”
Her voice echoed through the entire house.
From the bedroom, Leon’s muffled voice could be heard:
“Claire, the baby!”
She immediately lowered her voice to an intense whisper.
“You two JUST brought Erik home yesterday!”
Chris raised his hands defensively.
“I know.”
“And now you’re telling me there’s another baby involved?!”
“It’s complicated.”
Claire dragged a hand down her face.
“Of course it is. When is it ever easy with you?”
Chris sighed.
“It’s Ethan’s daughter. Rose.”
That made Claire pause. Her expression softened slightly.
“…Ethan Winters?”
Chris nodded quietly.
Claire leaned against the counter, thinking. She had heard enough about Ethan from Chris to know the man had gone through hell.
“So what exactly happened?” she asked more gently.
Chris told her the short version of Miranda, the village, Ethan’s sacrifice, Mia needing to stay hidden for now.
By the time he finished, Claire’s arms were crossed again. But this time it wasn’t anger. It was resolve.
“So basically,” she said, “you and Leon just accidentally adopted another baby.”
Chris winced.
“…When you say it like that it sounds bad.”
Claire pointed a spatula at him.
“It is bad, Chris!”
Then she sighed heavily.
“But also very you.”
Chris looked cautiously hopeful. “So… you’re not mad?”
Claire scoffed.
“Oh I’m mad. I’m definitely mad.”
She turned back to the stove and slid another pancake onto the plate.
“But I’m also the world’s most overqualified aunt apparently.”
Chris smiled faintly.
Claire turned again, narrowing her eyes at him.
“Let me get this straight,” she said.
“One baby.”
She held up a finger.
“Then suddenly TWO babies.”
Another finger.
“And you’re still planning to run off on missions.”
Chris looked guilty.
“…Yes.”
She wanted to smack him with the spatula she was holding, but settled with rolling her eyes and pointing both fingers at him at same time
“Congratulations, Chris.”
He blinked.
“For what?”
She smirked.
“You just promoted Leon to full-time dad of two. Now he can’t run off on missions, so smart big bro”
From the hallway, Leon appeared in the doorway holding Erik against his shoulder. He looked tired, hair messy, baby blanket draped over him.
“…I heard that.”
Claire’s eyes immediately lit up as she rushed over.
“Look at my favorite nephew!”
Leon raised an eyebrow at that.
“You have exactly one.”
“For now,” Claire said, grinning mischievously.
She looked between them.
“Guess I better start shopping again.”
Chris groaned.
Leon just laughed softly as Erik let out a tiny sleepy noise between them.
And somehow, despite everything waiting outside their door, the house felt just a little fuller already.