Song Lyrics by Nickelback-Never gonna be alone. and Characters belong to the resident evil series, but you already know that.. :)

I was on a plane, like ones I'd been on countless times.. But this time, the destination was different.

Instead of flying into the deepest, darkest corners of the feuding world, I was going home.. Or the home I'd known for a short time. But this would not be the homecoming I would have wanted.

I clenched in my hand the small envelope, my thumb brushing over the torn corner. Inside was an invitation; but not one to a banquet thrown by the president or some other trivial event.. This one was to an event far, far worse. And one I'd never imagined myself attending.

My hand began to tremble as I pictured the words on the invitation inside. The silver, script print lining the face of the embossed card.

'You are cordially invited to the wedding of Ms. Claire Redfield and Mr. Mark Donahue. Please RSVP as soon as possible'. And the date came next, which happened to be just a few days away.

My heart began to thunder in my chest as my glanced out the small window.

Claire was getting married, who would have thought? Well I mean, surely a lot of people could have seen it, but I'd never given much thought to it really.. Or actually, given no thought to her marrying someone else.

I'd always pictured Claire as being eternally single, and not willing to settle for just any man. No man would have been good enough for her, and certainly not this Donahue character.

I'd researched this man just after receiving the invitation in his P.O box in D.C. He was a senator, following in the footsteps of his father, grandfather, and several uncles. The Donahue name was a well established one in D.C and this 'Mark' was thought to be a possible candidate for president in the future. He was an eligible bachelor and philanthropist, and often spoke in the senate against the Bio terrorism policies of other countries, not to mention he was an adviser to the president. At thirty two, this man had a life planned out for him, rooted in greatness.

And then there was Claire. The headstrong, resourceful red head that I'd met in Raccoon City. Who would have ever pictured someone like Donahue and Redfield getting together? Certainly not me..

I let out a sigh, my eyes shutting as I fished out the other letter in the envelope. Opening my eyes, I looked at the scribbled handwriting of Claire's older brother Chris.

'Kennedy, it's Chris." It wrote before leading into a quick explanation. 'If you received this, I don't really know what to say. I never intended for you to ever hear about this. Not because of anything that my sister has done, or anything against you, but because I didn't think it was appropriate. But your name was listed in one of her books, and one of the bride's maids thought it'd be funny to send you an invitation. I apologize. If you would like to attend, I would greatly appreciate it, and Claire would also. But if you don't I understand.. I just figure that maybe you being here can give my sister something to think about.. Just saying..'

I sighed again, thudding my fist against my forehead.

What a complicated, stupid situation! What would Chris possibly expect me to do? Show up at his younger sister's wedding and make a scene? Or perhaps steal her away during the rehearsal dinner and profess my love for her? No.. That wouldn't be appropriate at all..

There's been countless opportunities to do so already and I hadn't. And this was the result.

I was stupid to think Claire would wait for me when so many other men were falling all over themselves to be with her. Why after all should she wait for the reclusive government agent, obsessed with destroying every person and agency who threatened peace in the Western world? When she could have the senator Donahue?

Oh..Such a mess I'd gotten myself into.

I let out a groan , looking out the window as the plane descended toward the small airport.

Well.. If I had been so against coming, why would I be on a plane in the first place? I guess it's because I was stupid, and liked causing myself further pain.. That had to be the reason. And that could be the only outcome for this.. Further pain.

There wasn't anyway that I was going to ask Claire to forego a future with such a catch for me. What life would she have in that? Waiting around for me to come home, being alone for several months at a time while I went deep into the underbelly of society? No.. I couldn't ask her to take on such a life.. She deserved so much better than that.

I leaned back in the chair, dropping the invitation into the side pocket of my bag.

What was I going to do? I folded my hands on my lap as I stared up at the small light above my head.

I should have done the right thing all along, and not what my head said was right. I should have just told her that I cared for her, maybe even loved her.. I should have stayed with her after the Raccoon city incident, and formed better memories than those involving the mutated undead. Or at the least I should have stayed with her after the Harvardville incident. Instead of jetting off back to work. Now look.. She was getting married.

Time is going by so much faster than I. And I'm starting to regret not spending all of it with you.

We dropped further out of the sky and more and more of the airport came into view. As the plane touched tarmac and slowed beside the terminal, I felt myself growing sick..

What was I going to say when I saw her? Especially looking as beautiful as I always pictured her being on her wedding day.. I wonder what she would say to me..

Probably just smile, and not allow me to see anything beyond those deep blue eyes.. She would wear a placid expression and greet me politely as she stood beside her soon to be husband.

The lights clicked off and I watched as the stewardess' went to open the doors. I rose shakily to my feet, finding it hard to stand on my numb feet.

Well.. It was now or never..

I walked slowly down the aisle, standing behind the other passengers as the filed out into the terminal. The stewardess smiled at me widely as I passed, her eyes flickering over my face briefly.

As I walked out into the small boarding area, I saw him, Chris.

He was standing by the glass doors, his arms folded tighty over his chest as he looked out to the parking lot blankly. His hulking frame cast as shadow over the much smaller humans who trickled by him silently. I watched as his eyes flashed toward me, his hand raising slowly into the air.

Taking a long breath, I adjusted my bag on my shoulder as I started walking, weaving in and out between buisness men who were muttering into their cell phones. As I reached Chris we exchanged a silent look. His expression suddenly turned somber as he shoved his hands into his pockets and started walking. The two of us must have looked like we were going to a funeral rather than a wedding.. But that would be pretty accurate.. Something was dying in the coming days, and it was my chances of ever having a life with Claire.