•Thicker Than Blood•

•Chapter 25•

Genevieve  watched as the entire thing went down. A smile appeared on her face, a small one at that. While she was very much happy for Sherry, something nagged at her heart from the inside. Carefully, she stood up, taking her now empty bowl with her. She took it to the sink and cleaned it out. Then she set it in the sink and headed outside.

It was a sunny day, humid as usual in Oklahoma. Despite wearing long sleeves and layers, the heat wasn't really an issue for her. Cos die ring she had grown up in Oklahoma and all. She sat down outside in the grass, watching as the chickens walked around the field. Even with only each other, they seemed alright in the world. Genevieve almost wished she could have been a chicken at that moment. Weird, am I right?

Genevieve looked up towards the sky. The delicate white clouds drifted overhead. Small birds and vultures circled the skies while the breeze blew gently. The grass could be heard rustling with every gust of wind. The birds sang their song and the cicadas sang along to their tune. Nature was in balance. That was enough to ease her mind off of her own insecurities.

Don't get her wrong. She was very happy for her friend. Sherry deserved to find her forever home like that! They had already been through so much together. It would only make sense for them to stick together in the end. It was such a sweet way to go. Sweeter than all the honey and ice-cream in the world. But even then. Too much sweetness would make your stomach turn. Especially when you're not used to such sweetness.

Much like Genevieve. She wasn't used to such sweetness. Her father died when she was so young that she hardly remembered him. When Umbrella snatched her dad away from her, she barely knew him. She hadn't even reached age ten. Not even eight. Her memories of him were fuzzy. The image that comes to mind isn't even in motion. He's merely a photo she had hung in her room.

Not only did she lose her father young. She already lost her mother to her grueling career choices. She was never really around for Genevieve much. That really hurt her now that her mother was wiped off the earth as well. She hadn't even been able to say goodbye to her mother before she passed. She had been struggling to leave her grasp right before she died. Was that really her final impression? That snapped her heart in two. Like a thin, brittle twig.

Before she knew it, the waterworks had started up again. Tears dropped down her cheek. Meanwhile... click. The back door clicked open... then shut. Genevieve froze for a moment, keeping her breath in her throat before letting it leave moments later. She didn't want to sound as though she were crying. But, it wasn't long before a shadow appeared in her vision, right beside hers.

Fresh cologne wafted in the breeze. She cringed and scrunched her nose at the pungency of the smell. She could practically feel the other person's dampness radiating off his body. She already knew who came out to check on her was Chris. She had admittedly attached to him as the first person she saw when the crisis had gone through. She was in hysterics where the situation broke loose. He was there to comfort her, calm and collected despite being held captive.

"You okay, Vieve?" Chris asked, his voice taking on a slightly softer tone.

A nickname? She had never had one of those before. In her household, everyone was always very formal with names. At least from what she remembered. It was always "mother and father" because her mother insisted there was a sense of maturity in using language like that. She would nag her father for trying to use pet names like "kiddo" or "honey". Not even "speckles". Her father tried to call her that to reference the freckles on her face. But no. She wouldn't allow that. She was only Genevieve to her. Without really noticing, she seemed to freeze.

"What's wrong?" He spoke again.

"Sorry, I wasn't used to having a nickname... uh. Did you hear the news?"

"Well, I don't have to use nicknames if you're not a fan. Sherry being adopted?"

"No! It's actually refreshing to hear. But, yeah..."

"Well then, Vieve, I'm here to listen if you need a shoulder." Chris told her, smiling.

"Okay... well..." Genevieve hesitated. "It's not that I'm not happy for Sherry. It's just... maybe call it jealousy or just bringing up old emotions. It just... hurts for some reason. Like, I don't have that same security she does. I don't have that forever home at all.. and the three of them are so clearly meant to be a family. It's been clear since the beginning, based on what Sherry told me. I just wish I had that, yknow? Whether it had been growing up or just... getting the chance to have a good family."

Chris set his hand on Genevieve's shoulder, having a firmer grip already, yet he still gave it a squeeze. She jerked slightly and moved her hand to hold onto his. A little anxious from the issues she spilled out to him, she tried to catch a glance through her peripherals. Chris didn't look too happy. If anything, he seemed to be more upset than anything. Almost like he could understand where she was coming from in a way.

"Y'know. When Claire and I were younger. We lost our parents too." He said. "We grew up in an orphanage and eventually aged out of it. We had refused to be separated from one another. That was a deal breaker to a lot of parents. Not everyone was looking for two at once. Even foster homes would have been a nightmare. I was very clear in making sure Claire and I never had to get into those. But, when I turned eighteen. I took Claire and we set off on our own." He said. "Her and I really never had that sort of family either. I did everything I could to be that good family for her... and I think that definitely reflects on all the effort she put into finding me." He smiled.

Genevieve listened with wide eyes, her mouth falling agape. Maybe he really did understand where she was coming from. If anything, he would understand exactly how it felt. She was orphaned. Maybe that was the reason Claire connected with Sherry so fast too. She definitely would have understood... she would have wanted to be what Chris was to her for Sherry. She craved that sort of attention, that sort of affirmation herself. Chris turned to face her completely, rather than sitting beside her.

"You'll always have a place with the Redfields. You hear?"

Shakily, Genevieve nodded her head. She tried her absolute hardest not to let the dam that held her tears break again. Though, just like before, it shattered behind her eyes. The water spilled out from her eyes and she threw her arms around the man in front of her. Her arms hooked around his neck and she buried her face against his shoulder, sobbing heavily while she did. His hand rested on her back, returning the hug. Giving it a reassuring pat while he was at it.

"Thank you... thank you so much." She hiccuped.

"Anytime, Vieve. How about we head back inside?"

Rubbing her eyes, she gave another nod as she let go. "I'd like that."