A Love That's Built To Last
This story is Claire and Kane fanfic and is set after Kane went away for the first time (when he left money bag to Tess) and two years after Claire's death.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters, they all belong to McLeod's Daughters! The name of the pub is actually the name of Cpt. Sparrow's ship from the movies "Pirates of the Caribbean". In this story there will be lots of parts from the original series "McLeod's daughters".
Best regards from Vesna
Chapter 1: Need a job?
The doors of the pub opened in front of Kane and he entered, not hearing the noise and the music...Hearing nothing than his bleeding heart filled with painful emptiness...
He just arrived to Canberra two days ago...Having no clue how to start all over again...Completely alone this time. Even Luke was away... He missed his brother terribly and the worry for him almost drove him crazy...He only hoped that Jodi will be supporting Luke now – when he can't do that.
Letting out the deep breath, he looked around, catching an eye on unfamiliar faces...People who he didn't knew...And they didn't knew him...
How many times did he change the place of living to start all over again? He couldn't even count them...But, he was sure of one thing...
It was different now.
He will start a new life. No more stealing cars, no more bad jobs...If he really wanted to provide secure family life for Stevie, Rose and Luke – he has to change his entire life.
And, that's when he will go back. Once he is certain that he can become a good man.
But, one thing worried him...
Will she wait for him?
Will Stevie wait for him?
And will Alex keep his nose out of it?
He let out another deep breath and sat down at the bar. He waved to a waiter and ordered a beer...
Staring at the table, he didn't even notice when waiter brought him a glass of beer... Absently, he moved the hand across the table and glass fell down, smashing into pieces.
„HEY!!"
Yelling from the waiter snapped Kane out of his trance and he looked up to see that he accidentally pushed his glass.
„Sorry", he quickly apologized and kneeled down to pick up the pieces of the broken glass...
And, as he did, the waiter showed him toward the recycle bin behind the counter and rushed to serve few customers.
Kane looked confused ; what was he suppose to do – just jump over the counter and risk that the boss of the pub thinks that he is stealing something?
He waited a bit, but waiter didn't come back. Letting out the breath of frustration, Kane jumped over the counter and threw broken glass in the recycle bin.
As he turned around, he saw two men starting to fight with each other. It was only the matter of time when fists will start to work.
Not thinking about it, Kane rushed toward them, still on the other side of the counter.
„Hey, hey, HEY!! Enough, you two!", he exclaimed as he tried to separate them, but as they ignored him, Kane quickly looked around himself. Noticing the can beside the sink, he got an idea.
Quickly, he filled the can with water and without one single word to two heated war sides he splashed the water over them!
Gasping loudly, two men turned around stunned toward Kane – and he took two beers from the bar and handed them to two, exclaiming:
„It's on my cost. Now, shoo!", he wiped his hands, placed the money for beers on the sink and looked at left to see where's the exit from the bar.
And it was than when he heard female voice from the right side:
„You were good with those two."
Kane flinched and turned around to see brunette woman. She could be in her early 30's and gave an impression of a fighter, strong, independent woman.
She was dressed in black tight jeans and red top, her brown tail was picked up in a pony tail.
But, the only thing that didn't fit in the image of strong and brave woman – were her eyes. Blue as the sky in the summer afternoon...and full of pain and desperation.
„Thanks for sending them away", she smiled, poring the whiskey and handing it over to the customer.
„Sorry for this, I...", Kane started to apologize, but young woman brushed his apology away with words:
„Don't be. They would wreck the bar if you weren't here", she took a shaker for cocktails and poured the drinks from two bottles in it.
„I was just throwing broken glass to...", Kane started to explain, afraid that she will call the police for him jumping over the counter.
But, she threw some ice in the shaker and closing it, she started to shake it, saying:
„Can you please get me two cocktail – glasses from that closet?", she narrowed her eyes toward the closet on Kane's right side and he got her the glasses.
„Five beers, mate", the guy in front of him said and Kane looked at the woman beside him, uncomfortable.
„Can you get them from the fridge? Thanks", she said, pouring the cocktail in two glasses.
He nodded and turned toward the closet.
„Two more beers!", came the shout.
„Three red wines!", came another shout.
„Double scotch!"
Kane pushed seven beers on the counter and without thinking, he started to pour the scotch.
„Where's my wine?", came the shout.
„Still on the tree, mate, waiting for people to pick up the grapes!, yelled Kane and brunette woman laughed, pouring three more whiskeys.
„Mate, you sure got a way with people, I give ya that!", she laughed and Kane chuckled as well, replying:
„Was born with that!"
„Could use such talent here!", she smiled, taking the money from the customer.
Kane's head shot up and he looked at her, surprised, sparkle of hope rushing over his face.
„Need a job?", she asked.
„Are ya offering?", he replied and she chuckled:
„Are ya accepting?"
His face lit up with happy smile.
„Yeah!", he exclaimed, not believing his luck.
„Excellent! Two days free in week, no bad music in CD player and we will discuss your pay - check when crowd goes home. How's that?"
„Perfect!", he replied, throwing empty beer bottles in recycle bin. „Thanks!", he offered his hand to her and she accepted it „Kane Morgan."
„Claire Williams", she smiled, adding „Welcome to the Black Pearl, Kane!"
My friends from high school
Married their high school boyfriends
Moved into houses in the same ZIP codes
Where their parents live
But I, I could never follow
No I, I could never follow
I hit the highway in a pink RV with stars on the ceiling
Lived like a gypsy
Six strong hands on the steering wheel
I've been a long time gone now
Maybe someday, someday I'm gonna settle down
But I've always found my way somehow
By taking the long way
Taking the long way around
Taking the long way
Taking the long way around
I met the queen of whatever
Drank with the Irish and smoked with the hippies
Moved with the shakers
Wouldn't kiss all the asses that they told me to
No I, I could never follow
No I, I could never follow
It's been two long years now
Since the top of the world came crashing down
And I'm getting' it back on the road now
But I'm taking the long way
Taking the long way around
I'm taking the long way
Taking the long way around
The long
The long way around
Well, I fought with a stranger and I met myself
I opened my mouth and I heard myself
It can get pretty lonely when you show yourself
Guess I could have made it easier on myself
But I, I could never follow
No I, I could never follow
Well, I never seem to do it like anybody else
Maybe someday, someday I'm gonna settle down
If you ever want to find me I can still be found
Taking the long way
Taking the long way around
Taking the long way
Taking the long way around
"Taking The Long Way Around" – "Dixie Chicks
