Chapter Text
It was a year after Mia died when Chris made himself known again. Ethan was talking with Mia's mother; she couldn't get a flight to where Ethan and Rose were but she could call. He was just finishing up the call when the knock came, and when Ethan opened the doors he almost closed it again.
"Ethan." Chris looked at him, the military man looking like a normal civilian. Tsk. Ethan knew better.
"Chris Redfield. Didn't think I'd see you here anytime soon. What do you want."
"I want to talk with you. Please, can I come in?" Ethan could hear Rose in the livingroom, giggling over a tv show Ethan had put on some time ago. "Ethan?"
"Sure, whatever. C'mon in." Ethan allowed the man to enter, leading him to the dining area before sitting down infront of Chris. "What do you want?"
"How have you been holding up since-"
"Are you seriously going to bring that up now?" Ethan's hand flexes, and Chris glances down at it. Ethan had lost his hand in the Baker family incident, and even though when they found him his hand had been stapled back on, Chris had made sure Ethan was given a robotic arm to compensate from coming into contact with something as dangerous as Eviline.
"Yes. Are you feeling safe here, in the states? Has anyone come to find you? I mean, they shouldn't, I'm sure my team covered everything up but-"
"Mias family hounded me for a bit. Just wanted to see how I was doing after... Anyways, they just wanted to see Rosemary. But other than that, no."
"Good." Chris places his breifcase on his lap, shuffling through it before pulling out papers. "Here." Ethan took the papers from him, skimming over them.
"Romania? Chris, wha-"
"I think you should move there."
"What?!" Ethan glances over to Rose, who looked unbothered, before lowering his voice. "I-what are you talking about? Moving to Europe? Are you crazy?!"
"Just think, Ethan. It'd be a brand new start for you and her. Even if you like it or not, you have to start working again, and Rose is going to have to go to daycare, and someone is going to tell her eventually. Even though my team tied up loose ends, there's still people out there who probably know." Ethan glances off. He knows Chris is right. People will talk, and Rose... His rose.. will listen.
"I... Alright, what do you want?"
"I want you two to move to Romania. I can have most, if not all of your things packed up and moved to a house in the village you'll be starting your new life in. My team can get a house built there for you two and that's it. Your new life awaits." Ethan hesitates again. It sounds so... Freeing, but at the same time, terrifying. He looks down at the papers again.
"How long...?"
"A week to build the house and to get all your stuff packed up. And then after that, nothing, really. I'll help you pack, make sure you get to the village and you settle down alright, and then after that-"
"You'll leave?" Chris nods.
"I'll always be on call though. Mia didn't make me the godfather for nothing. If you need anything, supplies, more clothing, hell, even weapons, I'll be there."
"Thanks Chris." Ethan says, and Chris smiles- Ethan had never seen the man smile before. It was almost a crinkily, happy feeling.
"Its no problem Ethan."
-
And that's how they had ended up in the middle of actual fucking nowhere, Romania. He sat on his horse, having it tied to Chris's. Behind him was a carriage, with Rose in it, who was sleeping, along with some of their stuff. Most of their things were already were, the rest of it they had to bring.
"So, how much farther to this village, and... What will I be doing there?"
"You, Ethan, are a Sheppard. You know how to milk cows?"
"Yeah. My uncle owned a farm when I was younger." Ethan holds onto the horse a bit. "Its pretty easy."
"Good, that's what you'll be doing here. You'll be helping provide the village with milk, butter, cheese, and bread. Once you can handle the cows, we'll give you chickens."
"Arnt chickens easier to handle than cows?" Chris ignores him, continuing.
"I've done the liberty of setting up daycare for rose. Don't worry, it's with the most respected woman in this entire town. Her name is Luiza, she runs a daycare in her house with the other village children. Her husband runs the school, their well respected and very nice."
"Right, where's her house?"
"That one. It's the second biggest in the village. The first is the school house." Chris points as they enter the village, Ethan staring at it. The village was huge, beautiful, and in the distance, a wonderful, pretty mansion, just peaking over the hill.
To his right was what looked like a ruined castle, with what also looked like a modern factory a little bit away from it. He shifted his gaze from it and found himself in awe at the giant castle looming over there. It was almost overwhelming. Finally, Ethan turned his head to his left.
A reservoir filled with water, house boats on the river and a couple of houses sat along the shore of it.
"Damn." Ethan hummed, and Chris chuckled.
"Welcome to your new home, Ethan. I hope you like it."
"I already do." He continues looking around, spotting his house quickly. It was a nice thing on the edges of town, right by what looked like a stream, and a medow. The town seemed to be bustling already, and Ethan felt overwhelmed this was going to be his new home, and he already felt scared. Chris noticed his hesitation, nudging him a bit
"Hey, don't worry. Everything's going to be alright."