Like My Other Half

by: Lou

A/N: This is the prologue to my Claire / Quil imprinting story. It's fluff, because I like fluff . I also like reviews.

Disclaimer: Obviously, I don't own the Stephenie Myer universe. If I did, I would be a rich (and happy) woman.

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Quil was my everything – my brother, my father, my mentor, my best friend, my teacher, my play mate, my shoulder to cry on…why shouldn't he be something more? Sure, he was attractive. But had I ever seen him date anyone? Not in the fifteen years I had known him. Maybe there was a reason? I couldn't think of one, and we had no secrets. Or at least, that's what I thought.

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My phone rang, making me jump a little, and reluctantly turn away from my current sentence. Quil. I smiled. He always made me smile, I told myself and answered without hesitation.

"Quil," I breathed.

"Claire," he replied.

"Are you coming over today?" I asked, trying not to sound anxious. I definitely was.

"Anything, for you." Good. That's what I wanted to hear.

"Good," I told him, mimicking my thought. Recently, I had explored the idea of being more than friends with Quil, and had come to the conclusion that I wanted Quil to be mine. Not that he wasn't already; we were constantly together - almost closer than best friends. Almost like my other half. Almost.

He bounded up to my back porch in wolf form some ten minutes later. I loved him like this too. Who wouldn't? As I bent down to pet his shaggy form, he leaned forward and licked my cheek. "Quil," I whined, wiping my face on my shoulder. I caught a glimpse of him rolling his eyes, and hugged him tightly. "Missed you," I told him. As I pulled back, I caught his eyes holding a meaningful look. This was routine. I turned away from him, facing the old screen door.

I listened as he whimpered slightly in his dog form and then took a small gasp into human skin. This was when I wanted to turn around and throw myself into his arms, but as I found out the first time I tried, it was highly forbidden. I was eight when that incident occurred, and it still made me blush when I thought about it.

After a short ruffle of clothing, he said "Alright," gruffly, and I found myself in his waiting arms. He chuckled. "Oh Claire. Love you."

"Love you, too," I admitted, pressing my face into the cotton material of his shirt. I inhaled slowly, taking in his smell. Trees and soap, the same as every other time I had had my cheek against his chest. We stood like that on my old white porch for a long time, my arms around his wide waist, and it started to rain slightly. 'My favorite weather,' I thought, trying to keep my mind from wandering to places that made my heart hurt. Places where Quil wasn't just hugging me…

I squeezed him – and my eyes – tighter, as my head spun. He kissed my cheek and pulled back. "You want Chinese? I'll order and pay." He always ordered and paid. I smiled.

"Whatever you want." I grabbed his hand and pulled him through the door.