A/N: Hey, everyone. I decided to write this fic after MA-121 suggested to me that I should write a fic for this pairing after the drabble I wrote about them in Scattered Moments. Anywho, I hope you like it. :D

Once Upon A Time (No One Lived Happily Ever After)

"I Love You Endlessly Not Knowing Why"

Chapter I: Love For One So Small

They say a picture is worth a thousand words but at that moment the young Alexia Ashford was at a complete loss of what to think. She looked at the picture of the two youthful men intently. According to the article coupled with the picture, the two were the new head researchers of the Arklay Labs located in mid-western America. The article had claimed that their names were Albert Wesker and William Birkin. Despite that the older of the two was more attractive with his sense of ageless refinement, Alexia's eyes were glued onto the form of the sixteen year old. Being but only seven years old (though genius she was) she couldn't understand why this William boy held her rapt fascination. Curious, pretty eyes repeatedly traced over all aspects of the photo, over every feature of the scientist, unaware that she was unintentionally in the process of committing all of it to memory.

She wasn't certain of what had caused her to look at the files discarded carelessly on the table, as if the recipient thought the latest news of Umbrella to be of no importance. Alexia had been beginning to learn about the corporation known as Umbrella. According to her father Alexander, Alexia would not only be the best scientist the company had but also be the one in charge of the pharmaceutical company someday in the future. The girl found the idea pleasing, being in charge one of the world's largest businesses seemed like a role that would fit her perfectly. But at that moment, no plans for a future career clouded her thoughts. With the papers in her hands, she couldn't bring herself to concentrate on anything else.

It made her happy to come upon this serendipitous happenstance which caused her tiny heart to beat with warm joy as she sat on the plush chair. Usually, she would have completely ignored the notes scattered about and gone on her way about her day. "William Birkin…" She murmured to herself, trying out the name using her own voice with it's musical lilt and subtle drawl; listening closely as every syllable of the name poured forth from small, delicate lips. An almost hesitant smile formed on her pale face, was it really proper for a stranger to make another feel so inexplicably cheerful?

After a few minutes more of examining the contents which she held in her hands, she determined that it was necessary to learn more about this Doctor Birkin. If someone was to hold her interest so absolutely as he was managing to do, it would not do to have very little known about him. But who would have such knowledge of the recently appointed head researcher? The recipient of the files. Alexander Ashford.

Taking the various papers with her, she went off to search for her father. Passing through frivolously furnished halls and passing frightened servants (she could be a rather demanding little girl), Alexia poked her little blond head into various rooms to search for the current patriarch of the Ashford family. Eventually, she found him sitting in the library reading a book that appeared to be nearly making him fall asleep.

"Father." She called, announcing her presence in the room and stepping into the library with an air of superiority that seemed decidedly odd when cloaking itself on a child.

Alexander awoke fully with a bit of a start, he hadn't even noticed that he was beginning to doze off. But once he realized it was his beloved child calling his attention he immediately ceased being annoyed by the fact he'd been woken up. "Ah! Alexia, my dear, what may I do for you?"

"Father," she repeated before showing him the picture she had been so focused on previously, pointing specifically at Birkin's face, "what do you know about William Birkin?"

Alexander felt a little baffled as to why his precious daughter would ask about someone with no noble blood and had clearly not the intelligence to match her own. He had simply skimmed though the article and tossed it aside. It was just a bunch of meaningless words to him accompanied by an equally worthless photograph. "Not much, I must confess. I've never bothered to look much into anything where that young man is concerned. But why do you wish to know, pumpkin?"

Well, you're as useless as ever. The girl mentally huffed as she began glaring at her father in unhidden irritation. However, she sighed and amended her anger. It would not help her find any information if she was not focusing on the topic. "I was just curious. I mean, sixteen is quite young to be head researcher, is it not?" It was all she could really say since she was still at a loss as to exactly why she was so interested in knowing more about Birkin. It perturbed her slightly that she was rather clueless as to the motivation behind her quest of knowledge that shouldn't have really been important to her at all.

"Well, it is quite a young age to be given such status within any company, let alone Umbrella. In fact, it has been unheard of to happen until now." Alexander admitted reluctantly with a small frown on his countenance. He replaced the expression on his face as he smiled down at his daughter proudly and continued to say, "But that boy isn't nearly as bright as you are, darling."

Alexia smiled in happy child-like manner that seemed to hold all the arrogance of an conceited prima donna. She had heard such praise all her life thus far and though it made her father sound like a broken record spouting empty compliments, it was still an acceptable way to inflate her ego. "I already know that, father." She replied confidently. "Are you absolutely certain there is nothing about him that you can tell me?"

Alexander shook his head, replying in the negative, "I'm afraid not. However, I probably have some files about him in my study. I could try to find them for you if you like." Alexander was not an important person in Umbrella, delegated to simply being a figurehead for the Ashford family. However, he was quite adamant about the fact that as an Ashford he had as much say as his father had where the business was concerned, simply for being the son of one of the Umbrella co-founders. So just to keep him somewhat happy and quiet, Spencer made a habit of sending the man all the information on every employee of Umbrella. While this appeased Alexander he never read the files unless it was necessary. Needless to say, all that the many papers did was take up space.

"No, that's all right. It isn't as if it is urgent or anything of that nature. Don't trouble yourself." She lied, offering him a fake but gently sweet smile before exiting the room. Once in the empty hallway, she gazed again at the image that seemed to be returning her stare. I've seen father's study and I don't think I'll possibly find the file I want as quickly as I would like if I searched by myself. I can't get a servant to do it because they'll most definitely tell my father that I was poking around in that room, which he wouldn't be too pleased with. Though he would never mention that to me. Hmm… who can I..? Oh yes! Alfred! My dear brother would help me without any fuss.

With a grin, the girl headed off to her twin brother's room where she had last seen him. She knocked on his door briefly before walking in without any assent but she knew Alfred wouldn't mind, he never did. Her brother looked up from the schoolwork he was studying. Although they were twins and both of higher than usual intellect, Alexia was a few grade levels ahead of her brother. In fact, she had already finished all school-related assignments allotted to her that day. Alfred, on the other hand, was still working away and trying in vain to catch up to Alexia academically. Where most siblings would be envious of such a sister, Alfred wasn't jealous at all. Quite the opposite in fact. He was amazed at his wonderful fortune of being blessed with such a perfect sister. Alfred beamed upon seeing that it was Alexia that had arrived in his room.

"Alfred, I need your help with something." Alexia announced immediately. She didn't bother with any idle chatter or any greetings, they weren't needed. They never were with anyone she spoke too. She may have only been a young child but she greatly disliked wasting time with meaningless talking. "I need you to come with me to father's study and look for a file on someone named William Birkin."

Alfred was only too happy to help his sister with anything, especially when he specifically was the one who was needed. But he couldn't help but feel curious as to why Alexia would need to research some random man. "All right." He replied getting up from the chair he had been occupying. "Who is William Birkin?"

Alexia gave a slight grimace. She loved her brother dearly but the name didn't sound right when Alfred said it. Her twin shared the same subtle drawl however the same was not true of the melodious timbre her voice held. Instead Alfred seemed to stress certain words as if speaking in some pseudo iambic pentameter and made sure that every consonant was defined. Despite this almost harsh way of speaking, the boy was rather talented at mimicking the voices of others, affording Alexia with many moments of amusement when she was aggravated at their father or one of the maids.

"I'm not entirely sure. That is why I want to find out more about him." She offered as an answer as to her search for a profile of the man. "And…" She wanted to explain more to her brother but it wasn't possible as she herself still couldn't quite comprehend why she was so insistent to find out more. She shrugged gracefully, finding herself with a lack for an end to her sentence. She handed the picture she still had in her possession over to Alfred. "All I know right now is that he was made head researcher of the Arklay Labs and he's only sixteen."

The boy looked over the picture with some interest. It wasn't this often that his sister appeared to be affected this strangely. He simply nodded in response. "Well, let's go to father's study and look. I don't like the notion of being caught in there." Although Alexander doted on Alexia, he was not nearly as fond of Alfred and it showed rather noticeably.

"Do not worry, I'm sure with the two of us looking it shouldn't take us too long to locate what I seek."

The twins went straight to Alexander's study, avoiding and sneaking past various household servants. Although they were told not to snoop around the room the door was left unlocked all the time. The two slipped into the room unnoticed and started to search around, feeling as if the shifting through the piles of paper would be an endless task. They kept speaking to hushed tones and to a minimum to avoid being heard.

They had been searching for quite sometime and Alexia's short patience was wearing very, very thin. However, Alfred proved to be her savior from the tedious work. "I found it!" He exclaimed cheerfully in a whisper, holding the folder marked with the words 'BIRKIN, WILLIAM' in his hands. His sister gasped and immediately hurried over to see for herself. A large smile spread across her face.

Alexia took the folder into her hands and looked up at her brother with the smile still plastered on her features. "Oh, Alfred. I thought we would never find it! Thank you so much." She bestowed a quick hug as thanks, which was all Alfred needed as any recognition for his efforts.

Alexia sat in her room alone and poured over the contents of the folder. She didn't completely understand why Umbrella needed so much information that would be mostly useless to them for the most part but for her part she was thankful. She drank up every word, studying the sentences with more attention than she gave to any of her school lessons. It felt as if every letter was more significant as the last the more she learned about the young man.

And as her knowledge of him increased, realization was dawning on her. She was beginning to understand, to comprehend the reason behind her need to know all of the words on the paper and the need to know everything about William Birkin. It wasn't something she was well-versed in as this was her first stumbling attempt at what she supposed was known as a 'crush'. She thought it wasn't of any use to her but it wasn't an entirely displeasing situation. In fact, she hadn't been aware that puppy love could be such an elating experience.

A/N: And there you have it, the first chapter. I hope you enjoyed the start to this story. And if you liked it (or didn't) please leave a review. :D