A/N: This is my second story and it's basically a romance and no action or anything. Those who have read my other stories may find that the OC is again named Kathleen, but she has a different characterization here. And Leon might be out of character, so bear with it. =)

Disclaimer: I don't own Resident Evil or any of its character, Capcom does.

Chapter 1

It had been long since Leon had visited his family or it would be better to say what was left of his family. His dad being a cop died when he was twelve, his mum couldn't take the shock and died of illness when he was 15. His grandparents took him after his parents. His grandfather was a police official too and Leon didn't fall far away from the tree and wanted to take on the role of Police man like his father and grandfather. And he went on to become a cop at a small city name Raccoon City, his this decision was the turning point of his like and he could never go back to just being just a rookie cop. He chose be a Government Agent and fight the war against Bio-terrorism and it's been 7 long years since then and a lot had happen during that. He went on to destroy the Umbrella Corp. and almost single handedly saved the President's daughter.

Leon's personal life suffered because of his work. He wasn't able to maintain any proper relationship with any woman, if you count out the platonic relationship he had with the woman in red. But the worst loss was him losing, his grandfather and he couldn't even attend his funeral; he wasn't even in the country to attend it. He hadn't visited his hometown for past 7 years, although he talked to his grandma every once in a while but he really wanted to visit her and so he decided take a vacation just so see her.

Leon wanted it to be a great surprise for his grandmother, so he hadn't told her about the visit. He made the taxi driver drop him a bit away from the house, so that his Grandma won't be alarmed by the taxi's noise. So, he walked towards his grandma place the area had changed a lot as he remembered it, there seemed to be some new residents in the area or so it seemed. He took out his phone as he neared the house and called his grandmother's home phone.

"Hello?" he heard his grandma's voice from the other end.
"Guess who", Leon asked her happily.
"Leon sweetie", she recognized him immediately, "how have you been?", she asked him cheerfully.
"I am good. What about you?" Leon asked her taking long look at his teenage home.
"Never been better, my dear", she told happily.
"So what are you up to", he asked as he started to move towards the house.
"I am at our place having breakfast sweetie", she told him.
"What are you having, is it tasty?", he asked stepping on the porch
"Pancakes and they are wonderful", she replied.
"Mmm… mouth watering", he said as he pushed the doorbell to her house and heard it through the phone as well.
"Oh how I wish you to be here", she said dreamily and he could sense the sadness in her voice.

The door opened and Leon yelled at top his lungs, "SURPRISE!" But it wasn't her Grandmother but a young woman who was giving him looks of confusion and bewilderment, since he had yelled right in her face. He too was a little surprised to see her there and felt a little embarrassed for doing that to a stranger.
"What's the surprise sweetie", his grandmother snapped him out of his initial shock.
"Hey babe what's your house no. again?", he asked his grandma and the woman glared at the mention of word 'Babe' but she didn't say anything.
"Four-o-five dear, why?", his grandma answered.
Leon cleared his throat and checked the house number by the door and saw that it was indeed 405 and then asked back, "What lane or street it's on?"
"Carlton Street", she replied a little confused herself.
Leon looked for sign to confirm that he was on the right place or not but he couldn't find a sign so he said to his grandma, "Babe I'll call you later, bye."
"Bye sweetie", she said cheerfully, "and take care!"

Leon now looked at the beautiful woman, who was still giving him puzzled looks. He cleared his throat again, "Um… miss uh… first of all, I'm sorry. I took you to be someone else", he apologized.
"It's okay", she said calmly and casually but she still seemed a little baffled.
Leon started to move, it was obvious that he was in the wrong place and then he thought that the woman could point him in the right direction, "Uh… can you do me favor", Leon asked turning back and she stopped midway between closing the door and looked at him a little suspiciously, "all I want to know is where would be house no. 405 Carlton street", he asked.
She gave him an even more puzzled look and replied, "This is 405 Carlton Street!"
"No, it can't be my grandma lives here", Leon said shaking his head, mentally crossing his fingers expecting that the woman was joking and hoping that his grandma didn't give him the wrong address.
"Who are you talking about?", she questioned.
"Mrs. Shirley Thomas Kennedy", he answered hoping that if his grandmother made a mistake, then this woman knows her and can take Leon to his grandmother.
"She do lives here, come in", she said opening the door more to let him inside.
"Then you're?", he asked stepping in, he didn't recognize the woman and his grandmother never said anything about a care taker or nurse or whoever she was.
"I live with her", she replied closing the door.

"Who is it, Kathleen?", his grandma asked slowing descending the steps with the help of the cane.
"I don't know, says he's your grandson", the woman said moving to help his grandmother with the last few steps.
His grandma noticed him and he moved towards his grandma to give her a hug. She hugged him back and said, "Oh sweetie I don't believe it you're finally here", she felt warm as always and he was happy to have hugged her cause she was the only motherly figure in his life not to mention his only family and the source of love for him.
"I'm happy to see you too grandma", he said in a hoarse voice.

They let go of each other and his grandma examined him from head to toe, "You have grown my boy. You are no more that skinny kid I used to see. Anyway, Leon this is Kathleen Cornor, my friend's granddaughter and Kathleen this is my grandson Leon, the one I talk about a lot", she said introducing them.
They said hello to each other and Kathleen went in kitchen. Leon left his luggage by door side and walked with his grandma to the living room, "This place, hasn't changed at all", Leon said taking a seat on the couch. This house was exactly as he remembered; even the walls had the same color.
"Yes thanks to Kathleen, she cleans the house and organizes everything. I no longer can do those", she said as Kathleen walked out of kitchen and placed a plate of pancakes on the coffee table for him. He thanked her and she gave him a nod and smile. He started his breakfast as he hadn't had anything since time he had boarded the boarded the airplane. He watched Kathleen walk up stairs and then back to his grandma, who was watching him eat with an un-faltered smile on her face.
"These are yummy grandma but more tasty than before, your cooking has improved", Leon complimented her, just to start a conversation.
His grandma laughed in response and Leon didn't know what was so funny, "I didn't make those, I can't make those. Kathleen's the one doing everything here", his grandma told him as her laughs died down.

Kathleen walked down the stairs, with her handbag. She took her over coat from coat hanger by the door and said, "Grandma I'm off to work now, take care and if you need anything just call me", and then she turned to Leon and said, "Please call me, if you need anything."

Leon just gave her a nod and she left for work. He finished his breakfast with his grandma telling him about stuff, mostly cherishing her old memories. Leon moved to the kitchen to keep the dirty plates and almost instinctively opened the drawer where his grandmother used to keep the silver cutlery. And he was glad that everything was in place.

Leon walked back and sat next to my grandma, who was busy watching a show, "So, why is this Kathleen living with you?", Leon tried to ask her grandmother as casually as he could. As far as he could see, Kathleen had a job and could support herself, so her living together with his grandmother was a little suspicious.
"Because I am old now and I need someone to look after the house", she replied not taking her eyes off the TV screen, "And besides I promised my friend that I'd look after Kathleen, when my friend was in her death bead but it's more like Kathleen looking after me than me looking after her."
"So what is she like?" he asked trying to know what exactly was her motive in staying with his grandmother.
"Oh Kathleen is a very fine girl. She take cares of me, the house, bills and almost everything, dear", grandma told him.
"And she takes money from you to pay those bills", Leon asked, maybe his suspicions about Kathleen were true.
"Leon!", his grandmother looked at him in shock, "Are you doubting Kathleen?"
"Grandma, it's not like that… I was just trying to be cautious", he tried to explain.

"Oh Leon, Kathleen is a really nice girl, she's been taking care of everything perfectly without complaining or anything", his grandma told him sounding very convinced and she seemed very pleased with Kathleen, "And to answer your question, she hasn't asked for a single penny of me for any sort of expenses, she pays it off of her own pocket. I wonder what I'd do when she gets married and leaves", his grandma sounded a little sad as if talking about her own daughter.
"So she has a boyfriend then?", Leon couldn't help but ask. He was convinced that Kathleen wasn't an immediate threat and he could keep any eye on her while he's here to know more about her background.
"Oh no, no, no, absolutely not", grandma answered him shaking her head wildly, "I don't know why but she seems somewhat reluctant at the thought of marriage, says she won't leave me alone, stupid girl", his grandma gave an amused laugh, "Maybe you can convince her", she said suggestively.

Leon cleared his throat, "So where would I be sleeping", he asked changing the topic.
"I'm sorry dear but I thought you never going to come back", she replied sounding a little sad and Leon couldn't blame her since it was his fault for staying away for so long, "I gave your room to Kathleen."
"Oh alright", he said understandably, "I'd sleep on the couch, I suppose."
"That's very sweet of you dear", his grandma said.
"But I need to keep my luggage somewhere and do need a shower", he said pointing to his luggage by the door.
"Oh keep it in my bedroom and you can use the bathroom in my room. And if you want to rest now you can use my bed, since I'll watch a couple of shows now", she told him.
"No I'll just have a shower for now", Leon said moved upstairs to his grandparents room to get a shower.

The rest of the day Leon spent reminiscing his good past with his grandmother, as she told him about all the stuff he troubled her and his grandfather with and how he had changed so much from what she knew both physically and personality wise. Leon asked her about all the unaccounted years he's been away and all she could tell him about was Kathleen this and that, and he couldn't help but wonder how come his grandmother didn't mention her when he called. The only reason he could think of was that he probably called during Kathleen's work hours and the conversation were never more than 5-10 minutes because it was all he could manage within his tight schedule.

Leon had his dinner, which he had to order from a restaurant since Kathleen didn't show up at her usual time, which made Leon suspect her even more but he didn't mention it to his grandmother and just enjoyed the dinner with her as she worried a bit about Kathleen, reassuring herself that Kathleen could be late sometimes. She retired to her room around 9:00PM and Leon settled on the couch watching a movie. The movie was at its climax when the home phone rang and Leon moved to get it.

"Kennedy here", Leon answered monotonously.
"Leon?", there was a woman at the other end.
"Who's this?", he asked suspiciously, no body that knew this number knows that he was here.
"Hey, its Kathleen", she spoke and he realized that yeah she was the only knowing that he was here, "Uh… can you tell grandma that I'll be coming home after 11'o clock, I had to do an extra shift?", she asked.
"Yeah sure", Leon agreed to it and his suspicion level came down just a bit.
"And please make sure she has her meds", Kathleen almost pleaded on the phone.
"Alright, will do. Anything else?", He asked her.
"No, nothing more and thanks", she said sounding really relieved.
"It's okay", Leon replied getting a feeling that his suspicions were spineless.
"Alright I have to go now", she said and he hummed in response and then she hung up.

Leon looked at the receiver; he just couldn't make his mind up about Kathleen. He thought she was very suspicious living with his grandmother but it didn't seem like that. Some of her behaviors were very suspicious but at the same time they were all pretty normal as well, maybe it was all in his head. He sighed, thinking although he was off work but his mind was still in work mode. He kept the receiver back and headed up to his grandmother's room.

"Hey grandma did you take your meds?", he asked opening the door.
His Grandma was lying on bed, reading a book; she looked at him then said, "Who told you about my meds dear?"
"Oh, it was Kathleen she just called and asked me to make sure you have your meds", he told her walking further in the room.
"Is she coming late or something", grandma asked him concerned.
"Old lady how do you know all that stuff, now where are your meds", Leon asked her.
"There", she pointed out the cabinet to him and then answered his question, "because she's the one who give me meds you see when she gets back from work."
"Do you do anything without her?", Leon asked giving her a glass of water and her meds according to prescription.
"Yes, a couple of personal things", she replied and gulped all meds down in one go.
"Grandma", Leon said sighing at her sense of humor.

"Leon she's so dependable and trustworthy. Now I can't imagine my life without her", she told him looking at him dreamily, "Hey I've an idea why don't you two get married", she spoke excitedly.
"What?! What was in those drugs", Leon said surprised, "I can't marry someone I barely know."
"Oh… I'll tell you all about her", she cleared her throat as if about to make a speech and then started, "She's is beautiful as you can see, an excellent cook, caring and loving person. She can adjust herself almost anywhere."
"Grandma I'm not ready for it", Leon told her laughing a little at the idea.
"How long are you going to wait, 3 more years and nobody will marry you, strike the iron when it's hot", his grandma spoke seriously canceling his excuse.
"She's not my type", he said making another excuse so that his grandma might drop the topic.
"Oh… she's definitely your type I know", his grandmother emphasized more on the topic.
"But Grandma…", Leon tried to speak.

"Oh alright", she said sadly, "I know you don't want to get married. You have changed a lot, you both have. You both have lost yourself somewhere in between", she added in disappointment.
"What do you mean by both", he asked confused. He knew what changed her, was there something that changed Kathleen too.
"From both I mean 'You' and 'Kathleen'. You have changed after Raccoon city incident and she have changed after her grandparents' death. You know there was a time I just love to see her laugh all day and now I sometimes I don't realize that she's in the same room with me", she said with sadness in voice, "She's always concerned about me and stressing over my health. Its like she fears loneliness."

Both Leon and his grandmother sat sharing the silence. Leon couldn't help but empathize with Kathleen, although they had different reason but they both didn't want to end up lonely. And for Leon the only person keeping him company was his grandma. His friends were there too but Grandma was the last person he could call family and someone who was able to look through his secret agent persona. And if she'd leave him too then he'd definitely feel lonelier than ever.

"Grandma, Kathleen said that she would be working till 11 o' clock", Leon told her shaking aside that discomforting feeling.
"What?! That girl is completely gone mad, it's not safe to roam around in this area in middle of the night, there are thugs, thieves and god knows what. Leon you have bring her home safely", she said panicking.
"Yeah sure", Leon agreed, after all it would be a best chance to know her background at work, "Where she works?", he asked.
"Community hospital; she goes by the name of Dr. Kathleen Cornor", his grandma told him and he was surprised to know that she was a doctor.
"Okay then I should get moving its 10:30 now", Leon said getting up and heading out, "Good Night, Grandma!", he wished her as he exited the room.
"Good Night sweetie", she wished him back with a smile.

A/N: Thanks for taking out time to read. I hope you enjoyed the chapter. I tried my best to eliminate the mistakes and typos but if even then you had some trouble because of it, then I sincerely apologize.

Next Chapter...

Leon grabbed her hand and pulled her back to couch almost instinctively, "Come on I can use some company and besides what are you going to do up in your room all locked up", he tried to convince her.