"I'm not sure I can tell you…." Quil said, sauntering over to me, getting slowly closer to me than he had been in two weeks. Lately, all he had been doing was running around in the forest, jumping on anything that moves, and trying to avoid me. I was tired of it. He closed the ten foot space between us in fewer steps then I thought humanly possible. Well, it was werewolfishly possible, I suppose. I stepped up to him, and looked him straight in the eyes. He hadn't been around to hear about my day, to hold my hand, or to kiss me good night in a full fourteen days. I had to corner him at Jake's house just to get a straight answer from him.

"Quil, you know I love you more than I can describe to you. I mean, I know you're a werewolf, there isn't much more worth hiding from me," I said, looking deeply into his dark brown eyes. "We're going to be together forever." I turned my face down when he didn't reply, examining the scuff marks on the floor, left probably by billy's wheel chair. I felt his hand on my chin, and he pulled my face up to where I could see he was smiling.

"I was going to wait…but I've been avoiding you because I was thinking," he said, blushing slightly. He let go of my chin, and started bending down. I thought he was going to kiss me, when he went lower than I expected, and took a knee, right here on my kitchen floor. I backed up, not knowing exactly what to expect, till my back was against the sink. At this point he was about 3 ft away, so he awkwardly scooted towards me on his knee. A giggle started deep ion my throat, and I couldn't stop it. He heard it, and though I must have looked ridiculous, standing there, with my back against the counter, laughing while Quil was on one knee, and he started laughing too. We laughed so hard, that I bent over, and he picked me up, but me on his unbent knee, and we laughed till we were both in the floor. When the fit subsided, he tried to put on a stern face, and tried to make me stand up. While he was doing this, he was removing a tiny black box from his pocket. Before I realized what I was doing, I grabbed the box, and ran to the living room, where the pack along with Nessie, Emily, and Kim were sitting, rewatching this months date movie. Quil and I had offered to get the refreshments, while the rest of them lounged around. I jumped on to the couch, stepping on Paul and Kim, trying to maneuver away from Quil's grabbing hands, trying to reclaim the box. Sure as the world, the rest of the pack tried to help him out, but the girls caught on quicker, passing the box around. Quil lounged for the box one last time, right as it came back to me. He bent to avoid me, but nudged me in the side, sending me flying down on top of him, where he landed on the now crushed coffee table. Jacob jumped up from his goggly eye session with Ness and kicked Quil, still laying there on the coffee table, in the shins.

"That was messed up Quil! You know that was the only thing in this house billy asked us not to touch! It was his moms Quil! His moms!" He wasn't as angry as he sounded, so Ness stood up, put her arm around him and led him back to the couch. Quil stood up, while I stood there shaking the little box in my hand, being careful not to drop or break what ever was in there. He looked at me desperately, then looked at Sam. Sam snatched it from behind me, quicker than I could move, and tossed it to Quil. Quil grabbed my hand, and started to lead me into the kitchen again, when Embry tripped him, and I once again landed on him.

"Well, I guess that that's a sign. Claire likes to be on top." Chuckled Jacob, causing Ness to hit him playfully. I blushed, and stood up, brushing myself off. Quil looked up at Sam again, trying to convey some kind of message. Sam just shook his head, and turned off the movie, then turned to the others.

"Our little Quil here, has something he wants to say." Quil went white and red in the face. I turned to him, and so did everyone else. Quil stood up, cleared his throat, and looked down at his shoes, trying to stall. I touched his cheek, encouraging him to tell me, and he looked at me the most intimate gaze, freezing me, and making it impossible to breathe. He got down on one knee again, and looked up at me with the same gaze. Even on his knee, his head still reached my elbow. He took my hand, and kissed my hand, and pulled out the black box. He flipped it open, and the sparkle of the diamond was second only to the smile on his face. I guess my mouth dropped open at some point, because I had to close it. He stood up, took my face in his hands, and in the huskiest, most passionate voice I had ever heard, said,

"Claire, will you marry me?" My mouth dropped again.

"Quil, I'm only 17, I don't think…" I said, stammering for words. I closed my eyes, to block out the hurt I know that would be on his face. Instead, I heard him stand, and move closer to me. He moved my hair out of my face, and whispered in my ear.

"It's a promise ring. With this ring, I promise to never leave your side, as I never have. I promise to hold your hand, day and night, and never, ever, hesitate to protect you with my life. I will look into your eyes, every moment of our life together, and tell you I love you." I opened my eyes, and saw his smile, and knew that I wouldn't, couldn't, and would never allow my self to live with out him.

"Yes."

He scooped me up, nearly crushing me, then put the ring on my finger. He took my face in his hands, and kissed me, in front of the entire room, who I had forgotten was there. I heard the pack begin whooping and hollering, and I heard some one sniff. When he released me, I got attacked by all of the "wolf girls." I would have to stop thinking of them as such, since I was officially one of them. I had been in love with Quil as long as I could remember, even when I thought of him as a big brother. I wasn't till to years ago, on valentines day, when he told me everything. Including the imprinting story. Since then, I have been his, even before this ring made it public. I gawked and gapped over the ring, and looked up at my handsome protector. He smiled back, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw Nessie stand up, and turn away from Jake.

"Whats wrong, my love?" Only Ness could soften the refrigerated cream cheese that was Jake. She looked at him, almost angry, and stamped her foot.

"When do I get a ring?"