New Characters: Claire Thornhart (Cole's long lost sister who came to town her sophomore/cole's senior year of high school); Mac Underwood (Claire's boyfriend from back home, still lives there)
Alright, so I didn't really like the way they ended OLTL, so this is my version of it.
Background info: Ok, so when Claire came to town, she only knew her brother. She quickly became friends with Matthew because she was living with Nora, who was still Cole's guardian. Once school started, she found herself not making friends; especially after they found out she was Cole's brother. The only thing she loved was dirtboarding; so she decided to start a dirtboarding team at school. A lot of kids joined the team, and she kinda talked to them, but her true friends were always Matthew and Destiny. Then once Shane came into the picture, they became very close. She was the one who got him through everything, especially his suicide attempt. Everyone thought they both belonged together, but Claire was very clear that she already had a boyfriend who she loved more than anything on the planet, and that they were just friends.
With her brother in prison and both of her parents gone; she treated all her friends like her family. Even though she had started college with Nate at LU, she was always there for her high school family; especially now that her best friends were about to become parents.
Story starts in the hospital after Cole was shot.
-V-
Starr sat by Cole's bedside, not knowing if he was going to live or die. She was so happy to see him open his eyes. He tried to talk, but before he could, Starr cried and said that everything was going to be ok.
"Find…my…sister." Cole managed to say.
"Don't worry, I'll get her." Starr said, hoping seeing Claire would help her love recover.
She called Claire, and as soon as she picked up she knew something was wrong. Starr told Claire what happened and before she could even finish explaining, Claire was there. She ran to her brother, praying for him to recover. She'd already lost her parents; she can't lose her brother too.
"Starr told me what happened. You better get out of here in one piece. I can't lose the brother I just found." Claire said, trying to hold back the tears.
"You won't lose me; not this easily." Cole laughed, "But I do have something to tell you."
"What is it?" Claire asked.
"It's about our parents…they're alive." Cole said
Claire didn't know how to take the news. Could it be true, or was Cole delirious from the pain meds he was on from being shot.
"Dad sent me a letter saying they were alright. Mom has been getting better and her and dad are finally back together. They miss me and want me to go with them." Cole said.
Now she knew it was true. Her parents were alive and out there somewhere. That made her the happiest person ever; her whole family was alive.
"Will you come with me?" Cole asked. "Mom asked about you and said she misses you. When dad found out that you were ok he's been wanting to meet you."
"Cole, I don't know." Claire said. The fact that her family was looking for her was something she always wished for, but with everything going on in Llanview, she had to think about everything she'd be leaving behind.
"Just tell me you'll think about it." Cole pleaded.
"I will, don't worry." She said.
She left the hospital room, running into Destiny on her way out.
"Hey Claire!" Des said, trying to get Claire's attention.
"Oh hey…sorry I'm a little distracted."
"What's going on?" Destiny asked, concerned for her best friend.
"My brother just told me our parents are alive; and together." Claire explained to Des.
"That's good right? I mean even though your mom is a little on the crazy side, no offense. I'm sure being back with your dad is helping her recover."
"Yeah, Cole said she's doing much better. And I'm sorry that you, and the little one almost got shot." Claire said.
"Thanks, luckily Matthew was there to protect me, and our baby…even though neither one of us knew about him or her yet." Des smiled. She loved the protective side of Matthew, and wished he would come back to replace the flaky dead beat dad that was hiding in DC with his brother.
"Cole wants me to go with him to find them." Claire added
"Are you going to?" Des asked.
"I'm not sure yet. I mean I would love to meet my father, and have my family back together."
"So what's stopping you?" Des asked.
"My Llanview family. I can't leave them; when my real family couldn't be there, you all stepped up, and I can't thank you enough for that." Claire said.
Shaun came around the corner and said, "You ready to go Lil D?"
"Yeah." She said, "I'll talk to you later Claire, call me when you make a decision."
The girls hugged and parted ways. Destiny left to return home with Shaun, while Claire headed to Angel Square. When she got there, she saw a very familiar face. She ran into his arms and began crying.
"What are you doing here?" She exclaimed with tears running down her face.
"I heard what happened and I wanted to make sure the love of my life was ok." Mac said.
"I'm fine…but."
"But?" Mac asked, afraid of what might come out of Claire's mouth.
Claire explained everything that happened with her brother and her family. She didn't know what to do and thought Mac might be able to help. He was always the one to help her through everything.
"It sounds like you have a tough decision to make. I always told you to listen to your heart, so what does your heart tell you to do?" Mac asked.
"My heart tells me to keep loving you will all my heart and to never let you go. How does that help me in this decision?" Claire asked.
"It helps me solve the problem for you"
"What do you mean?" Claire asked.
Mac got down on one knee and pulled a velvet box out of his pocket, "Marry me."
"What?" Claire was stunned by his answer to her problem.
"Marry me. Become my wife and move back home with me."
"You know I love you more than anyone in this world, but I'm not sure if I can." Claire said.
Now she had another choice added to her life. She could either go with her brother, marry Mac, or stay in Llanview. This one decision would affect the rest of her life, and only she could make it.