So slow to catch on

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Jill gave Leon a little push, then smiled. "Believe me, these things can last days." She assured him. "Besides, I want the chance to grill you myself."
"You doubt my suitability as a mother?" Claire asked thinly, folding her arms across her chest.

Jill was quick to realise she was staring when Chris removed his shirt, and felt a sudden blush creep over her cheeks. Quickly the shapely brunette shook her head, the rain a little heavier now as it began to drip off her nose. "I am hungry..." She confessed.

Chris nodded as if he'd known all along. "Me too. I could go for a steak about now." He told her as he dropped his shirt over her head. "We'll get you in your own stuff and head over to that river joint. Hopefully the food will remind you of at least your favorite place."

It was frustrating for Jill, having the ghost of a memory form in her mind, then have it simply pass through her fingers when she tried to reach out and on it down with words. Now was no different as Chris dropped his shirt over her head, his scent so familiar, so intoxicating and warm, that in itself made her feel safe again. "If we're engaged, does that mean you have my ring then?" She asked, obviously not remembering that she had been the one to pop the question.

"You wouldn't let me get you one." Chris said with a gentle smile. He continued to lead her to their car, still smiling. "You said you could wait. And besides, you asked me." He chuckled.

Jill tugged in Chris' hand, pulling him to a halt. "I didn't want a ring? What kind of freak was I?" She asked with a frown. "Why did I ask you? Did you not really want to get married? Was that why you never asked me?"

Chris shook his head. "That's a really long story. Maybe we'd better stick to the basics for now. Right?" He asked as he stopped in front of their car and opened the trunk.

Jill silently agreed to this, waiting a few feet away as Chris rooted in the trunk of their car. "Do we still work as police officers?" She asked after a few moments.

"We've taken a... sabbatical if you will..." Chris grunted, digging under a pile of blankets. "We're on to saving the world not just cities." He added, tossing another t-shirt over his head.

Jill peered over Chris' shoulder and saw the many things in the trunk. "Why? Isn't that what the army and other such organisations are for?" She asked, wondering why they would need to have so many supplies in their car.

"That's kind of what we do...Jill, babe, you're getting ahead of yourself again..and if you had your memory you'd be yelling at me for making a mess right now." Chris informed her.

"You know, the thought has occurred to me... You could just be feeding me a load of bullshit, and the moment we're far away from a public place... That's when you try it on with me." Jill suddenly informed Chris, though it was in her usual 'I am right, and you are wrong' tone of voice. "You have yet to actually show me any proof that we do really know each other."

"Oh. Yeah." Chris lifted his head, looking extremely flustered. "Here." He handed her a picture of them together.

Jill took the photograph, her fingers shaking slightly as she traced them over the image in her hand. They looked so happy, by a mountain somewhere, they had gone there skiing maybe. Chris was carrying Jill piggyback, and she was pulling his hat down over his eyes as the picture was taken. She didn't recall it yet, but the picture had obviously been taken before the incident in the Arklay mountains.

"It's my favorite one of us." Chris said softly, pausing to watch her look over the photo. He was simply happy to have Jill alive. He could handle her not remembering. All he cared was that he had her with him.

"Were we happy?" Jill whispered, finally seeming to accept that she and Chris had indeed had a life together before something horrific happened to her and robbed her past from her.

"Most of the time. Except the times I was being an ass. I'm good at that. I don't think that will ever change." Chris admitted. "The sex was good. But not necessary. Well...it was...but..." He gave a sheepish laugh.

This time Jill couldn't help but smile too, even if she was blushing again. "I'll bet you're a real good kisser too, aren't you?" She found herself asking before she could bite her tongue.

"Who me?" Chris asked, shaking his head. "I don't think so. You've never said anything at any rate." He finally found clothes for her to wear and held them out. "Want me to stand guard while you change?"

Jill took the clothes and held them close, her smile once again gone. Silently she moved around to the other side of the car, glad that the darkness and the rain meant there were no people around anyway. If Chris caught a glimpse of anything at all as Jill changed, it would be that she still bore the angry wounds Rebecca had inflicted upon her.

"One thing I wish you remembered...is what happened to you." Chris whispered, a deep sigh escaping him. He was looking at her, he just didn't want her to know it. It would be hard to explain.

Jill had paused in pulling her clothing on when she caught right of one of the wounds across her abdomen. For a long moment she lightly traced her trembling fingers around it. It looked so angry, and made her wish even more that she had her memories. "I thought you could have answered that one..." She whispered. Either Jill didn't notice that Chris was watching her dress, or she simply didn't care.

"I think I know." Chris breathed as he continued to watch her. He couldn't help himself. With everything that had been happening to them lately, there had been no time for one another. He missed her. "But...I'd rather not remind you of that stuff right now. I just...want you to remember being with me."

Jill pulled her t shirt on, then a jacket too before moving around the car again to face Chris. For a second she simply looked up at him, searching his handsome face for some memory of being with him, anything that seemed familiar. Before she realised she was even doing it, Jill's fingers had reached up, brushing lightly through his longer than was usual hair. "This must be so hard for you..." She breathed. Even if Jill didn't yet remember her long time lover, it didn't mean the attraction wasn't happening all over again.

"Actually, it's a little bit better than the last time." Chris told her, giving her a sheepish grin. He closed his eyes as her fingers touched him. "At least you came back to me. I have no doubt I can make you remember. I just...I couldn't stand the thought of losing you. But I tried...for my sister and Leon...I tried. I wanted to make you proud of me. It's been so long since you've been proud of me. I was trying. But god, Jill. Without you it's damn near impossible."

Jill's heart broke to hear those words. "I must have been so cold... To make you think I wasn't proud of you." She whispered as she gently let her fingers slide away. "And you said again..." She cast her eyes downwards, feeling she was the worlds biggest bitch, and didn't even remember it. "I truly am sorry for any pain I caused you, you seem like a genuinely nice guy."

"You've caught me on a good day." Chris laughed, shaking his head. "I'm a giant asshole more often than not."

"I don't believe that for a second." Jill replied with a smile of her own. "I'll bet you pull kittens out of trees and everything."

"Nope. I kick puppies and fed kittens to snakes." Chris shook his head though he was grinning widely. "I thought you were hungry? Do we really need to stand around and debate the truth behind my character?"

"Maybe." Jill replied, though her stomach did growl loudly. "However, I find it hard to believe those eyes belong to a man who kicks puppies." She added with a smirk, already moving ahead of Chris.

"Awww, babe!" Chris whined as he jingled the keys at her. "Memory or not you're never going to let me have my bad boy image, are you?"