Aftermath
Over the next two months, Aconite found it hard to adjust to living without her father.
She still worked at the R.P.D. as an operations manager but no longer managed S.T.A.R.S. as it disbanded.
Of the remaining members, she only saw Chris, Jill, and Barry outside of work.
For the first week, she stayed in her and her father's apartment. It wasn't until she woke the morning after the mansion incident and already made breakfast and coffee for two while sitting at the table that it hit her, her father was gone.
She burst into tears as she stared at her father's chair, "Oh Daddy, why did this happen?" she whimpered when she heard a knock at the door.
"Hey, little sis! It's Chris and Barry!" Chris's voice rang through the door, making her raise a brow as she stopped crying.
'What's Chris and Barry doing here?' she wondered and went to the door.
Opening the door, she was greeted by twin devilish grins.
"Hey, Half-pint, we thought you could use some company." Barry greeted holding up a box of danishes Aconite knew his wife made.
"Wha?" she muttered, and Chris laughed.
"Come on, Nite; we know that you most likely made breakfast for two by the tear stains on your face. You shouldn't be alone right now, little sis."
Chris said, making her smile.
"Thanks, Chris, Barry. Come in; there are eggs, bacon, and toast with coffee on the table. What flavor of Danish did Kathy make this time?"
Aconite asked, making their stomachs growl.
"She made your favorite, wildberry. You're not eating what you made?" Barry asked in concern.
"Yeah, its..."
"Hard to sit at the table you shared with your dad?" Chris offered; a sympathetic look in his eyes.
"Don't worry, little sis, but why don't you take up my offer?"
"Give her time, Chris; she still has a lot to absorb."
Barry said, smacking the back of Chris' head after he put the box of danishes on the counter.
"Sorry, sis, we should eat before it gets cold," Chris mumbled as he sat down and dug in while Aconite grabbed a danish.
"Hey, Barry, Chris, can you teach me about firearms? I think it's time I get a gun of my own," she asked as she refilled Barry's coffee.
"Sure half-pint, what kind are your thinking, standard Glock, or something else?" Barry asked only to receive a blank look from her.
"I know how to handle a pistol, thanks to Chris. But I want to learn about all firearms," she said, and Barry smirked.
"Sure thing half-pint, so what are you going to do now that S.T.A.R.S. is no more?"
"Cheif Irons is having me stay an operations manager slash secretary, SWAT division. I'm even getting an actual badge instead of just being a, how did he put it back then, ah yes," Aconite explained as she started giving air quotations, "he called me a "liaison for tactical operations." I believe."
She finished with a shrug; she was happy that she got to stay with the others, but felt it was out of pity.
"Sweet! So we'll still be working together!" Chris cheered as she nodded.
"Indeed, but don't think I'll cut you any slack Chris, I'm still a task manager. With or without Daddy, I'm still making you do your paperwork." She warned, and Chris pouted.
That had been a month ago, the remaining S.T.A.R.S. members congregated at either Chris' flat or Barry's house seemingly every morning for breakfast and swiftly fell back into a routine.
Aconite was slowly healing the wounds to her heart when one day, she went back to her and Wesker's apartment.
Looking up at the window of my apartment, I wondered what I was doing. At this point, I had lived with Chris for three weeks, and not once had I returned here.
I wasn't sure if I was afraid or ashamed of this place. Logically I knew I had no reason to be either, but something within me kept me from returning.
Mrs. Hicks, the landlady, greeted me when she saw me enter the building.
"Hello, Aconite, it's good to see you. No one has been in the apartment, so everything is as it was," she said, handing me the key I'd given her for safekeeping.
Thanking her, I ascended the stairs to my apartment.
Once there, I unlocked the door and opened it feeling silly as I held my breath like I was expecting to be attacked.
When my combat boot-clad foot landed inside the threshold, I heard a soft crinkle and looked down.
There was an envelope addressed to me laying innocently on the floor.
'Strange, the mail goes through Mrs. Hicks, and she forwards my mail to the R.P.D., why is this here?' I wondered as I looked around the hall before leaning over and picking it up, flipping it over; I saw a wax seal with both the Umbrella symbol and a biohazard sign. 'What's going on, Umbrella is contacting me?'
Quietly shutting the door behind me, I walked over to the hall table to retrieve the letter opener and carefully opened it as to not break the seal, I found that there were two letters inside.
Moving to a chair in the living room, I decided to read the thickest letter first.
Aconite,
I don't expect you to remember me, but my name is William Birkin. I was one of the people who experimented on you, for that I am sorry. But that is not why I write this letter. Before S.T.A.R.S. left for the Arkly Mansion, Albert visited me, quite a shock as I hadn't seen him since he took you from the lab.
He asked that should he not survive the mansion, and you do that I was to give you the second letter to you. I know that it will not undo what he's done, he told me he knew the mission would hurt you, but I hope it helps.
I'd like to request a meeting with you, Albert named me your godfather as I named him my daughter Sherry's godfather. I just want to know you are doing well.
Sincerely,
William Birkin
P.S. If you want to meet, meet me at the Rose Caffee on Sunday at 3
I reread Dr. Birkin's letter a few times to digest what it said, I remembered him, he'd also been kind to me during those years. At the time when he left after discovering his wife was pregnant, I didn't understand him at all, but now that I had loved ones, I respected his decision. Even if he just transferred to another branch of Umbrella that focused on improving the T-virus.
I had no idea that he named Daddy his daughter's godfather, and thinking about his request, I decided to indulge him. It would be nice to see him again after all these years.
Looking at the letter with Daddy's elegant script, I steeled myself before reading it.
Little Star,
If you are reading this, then I did not make it out of the Arklay Mansion for some reason. It also means that William kept his word. I am sorry for the pain I have caused you.
When you asked me if I was leaving Umbrella, I wanted to tell you the truth, but I wanted to protect you as well. I know I promised never to lie to you and that I have broken this promise.
As the years past, I intended to come clean; then, I saw how you bonded with S.T.A.R.S. and Dear Heart and decided against it.
There is nothing I can do to make up for my deceit; I won't try either.
Live for me, Little Star, and follow your path.
I told you once I wanted to make the world a paradise for beings like you, but right now, all that matters to me is for you to live your life and be happy.
Remember, no matter what you do, I will always be proud of you. Nothing will ever change that.
It truly is my one regret that I betrayed your trust and that I won't see you do so many things.
Never change Little Star, be proud and strong about yourself, and never let anyone bring you down.
I never said this much, but I love you, my dearest daughter.
Your Father,
Albert Wesker.
When I finished Daddy's letter, I cried for what seemed like an eternity before I walked to his room and grabbed one of his shirts. It still smelled like his cologne, and for a moment, he was still with me.
But I knew his scent would fade quickly, so I grabbed his cologne bottle and sprayed the shirt with it to renew the smell before curling up on the couch with it. Closing my eyes, I allowed the soothing smell to lull me to sleep.
I woke to the sound of my cell ringing with the theme Coming Undone by Korn and instantly knew it was Chris. I had different ringtones for every one of importance on my phone.
Chris is Coming Undone
Barry is Bad to the Bone
Jill is Sexy, Naughty, Bitchy Me
Brad is Who Let the Dogs Out
Rebecca is Ring a Bell
Daddy was Moonlight Sonata
Chief Irons is Bullshitter Alert (heaven help me if he found out)
Answering my phone, I asked, "Is something wrong?"
: No, you've just been gone all day. It's eight in the evening, sis, you still at the apartment?:
"Yeah, fell asleep on the couch, I'll stay here tonight and meet you at the R.P.D. Sorry for worrying you."
: Night then, call if you need anything.:
"Night, Chris."
Hanging up, I stretched before moving to Daddy's room; I wanted to be surrounded by him at the moment.
Before I closed my eyes, I decided that I'd tell Chris about Daddy's letter but not Birkin's and that I was meeting with him until I figured out what I'd do.
Sunday, Rose Cafe, 3 pm
Aconite walked into the cafe in a form-fitting black t-shirt and biker shorts, scanning the area for Birkin behind her shades. If her hair wasn't styled to hide her red eye, then it was normal for her to wear her pair of black lensed shades identical to her father's but more feminine.
Spotting her quarry off by himself, she walked over to the man absorbed in his work and greeted him, "Hello Dr. Birkin, contrary to what you thought I do remember you." before sitting down, enjoying how the man jumped at her voice.
"Oh my, Aconite, terribly sorry for not noticing you, thank you for coming." Birkin stammered as he placed the files he was reading in his briefcase.
"Don't be; no one ever sees me coming. How have you been? The last I saw you, you were arguing with Spencer about leaving because your wife was pregnant, I assume Sherry is that child?" Aconite aksed as she told the waitress she wanted Earl Grey with milk and honey.
"Ah yes, Spencer wasn't happy at that, and yes, Sherry is that child. I'm sorry for your loss." Birkin said, and she waved him off.
"It's alright, let us not dwell on sad matters, how are you, Dr. Birkin?"
"William is fine, Aconite, and I have been well. Though if you were to ask Anette and Sherry, I work too much." William said with a blush.
"Could be worse, William, at least you are happy, and that is all that matters. Is there something, in particular, you wished to discuss?" Aconite prompted as she placed her elbows on the table, steepling her fingers.
"As I stated in the letter, Albert named me your godfather, and I wanted to see you were doing okay and if you needed anything or will need anything that you can contact me." William offered as he sipped his coffee.
"Thank you for the offer, as of the moment I am doing fine, but if something comes up, I'll think about it. How would I contact you?"
"My cell, the number is 1XXX-XXX-XXXX." He explained before the conversation turned to talk about their memories of her father.
When Aconite left the cafe, she felt lighter than she had in months, it was nice to remember the good things about her father. As she walked back to the R.P.D., she had a bright smile as she thought about the joy William had when he spoke of Sherry and Anette.
It was clear that Sherry was William's world, and he was proud to admit it. Walking into the R.P.D., she waved to David, the doorman, before ascending the stairs to the old S.T.A.R.S. office where she greeted Jill and Barry.
"Good afternoon Jill, Barry."
"Hey, half-pint, saw you at the Rose with some guy on my way here, who was he?"
Barry asked, making Jill and Chris, who'd just arrived, look at her.
"Oh, Dr. Birkin? He's an old friend of Daddy's not connect with Umbrella, he heard about Daddy's death and wanted to check-in." Aconite said with a shrug as she moved to her desk, stealing one of Kathy's danishes on her way from Barry's desk.
"Dr.? Does he work at Raccoon Memorial?" Jill asked as she grabbed a cup of coffee.
"No, he's a virologist who works freelance with the C.D.C. if I recall correctly. Right now, he is working on the T-virus to develop a cure." Aconite lied, knowing the others hated all things Umbrella and feeling guilty for it.
"That's good, do you think you could be cured?" Chris asked in interest.
"No, the T-virus has been a part of me for too long Chris, if a cure is created and used on me, it will kill me. Also, the T-virus is bonded to my very D.N.A., so it's futile even to try." Aconite said as she looked over some reports and Chris winced, he'd forgotten about that.
"Well, at least the government is trying?" He said cautiously before returning to work.