A/N: Okay so I've had this desire for a while to write a Quil and Claire story. The one's I've read have been good overall, but there's always something I'd do or write differently. So I thought well hell, why not write my own? This story is going to be rated M for language. Do you really think a bunch of badass werewolves don't go around cursing from time to time? It'll also be rated M for chapters in the way way future. The way it'll work out is that these first couple of chapters will detail the first day of Quil meeting Cliare and how he, Sam, and Emily handle letting Claire's parents know the situation. I never feel like this is done enough in QXC stories. I mean c'mon, he's 16, most parents would have an issue with that, but then throw in the fact that he changes into a giant chocolate brown wolf and what do you have? I think a legit reason to call the Looney bin, but we'll see just how Claire's parents react in the next chapter. After these first couple, the chapters will jump through time, each touching on important moments in Claire and Quils growing relationship until she gets older. Then they'll slow down some. Oh, and I fully intend to have Claire completely in the know about the wolves. I never get it when some people have Quil keeping it a secret for so long. I will keep the imprint a secret until she is old enough to handle it though. So, read it over, let me know what you think of my idea and if you have any thoughts yourself of what you'd like to see in a QXC fic.

I tied the strap back around my ankle for safe keeping. Leaving my clothes in a pile on the forest floor was a guaranteed way to wind up with a tick. It was almost laughable really. I was 6'4", 260 pounds of muscle, I could bench press a car, my cuts healed in a matter of minutes, I never got sick, yet I was scared of ticks and fleas. Their bites didn't hurt, and they couldn't get me sick, but they were annoying, itchy, and just plain gross. For that reason, I kept my hair cut short and tied my clothes to my ankle before phasing.

Not all of the guys had my same opinions, Embry being one of them. Although he'd cut off most of his hair when he phased, it was still much shaggier than the rest of ours. And most times when he phased he'd forget where exactly he left his pants. That had led to quite a few embarrassing moments for him, Emily, and Sue Clearwater. This is the reason Emily got in the habit of leaving extra pants, shoes, and shirts on her and Sam's back porch.

Emily…she was really like a second mom to all of us. She fed us, offered us a place to crash after patrols, and kept us in clean clothes. Since some of the other guys weren't even able to tell their folks about the pack, it really meant a lot. I didn't have that problem, since my grandfather was a council member and all that, but I still appreciated the food.

Speaking of food, I could smell it already. It was 11 am and Embry and I had done the early morning shift. We had just finished up and were on our way over for breakfast, and for some reason I couldn't get there fast enough. I was up for eating, but this morning seemed different. The air was buzzing, like it was filled with electricity, and it was making my skin tingle. I couldn't explain it, but I knew I had to get to Emily and Sam's house, like my life depended on it.

Embry was walking beside me, going on and on about some girl he'd met on the beach the day before. But I wasn't listening; it was all the same old anyway. Embry loved girls, all girls really, but he preferred the girls from Forks; the ones with blonde hair, big boobs, and little brains. And even since we'd phased, they were all over us. Not that I was interested. Don't get me wrong, I like girls, I mean, I LOVE girls. What's not to love? They're soft, they smell good, they have cute little laughs, and they're way prettier than dudes. I just prefer native girls to the girls from town, girls with bronzed skin, long dark hair, and almond eyes. Yeah, that does it for me.

My only two girlfriends in the past both fit that description, but I was currently single. I still thought about girls, hello I'm 16. But there was just too much else going on to focus on girls right now. Exploding into a giant wolf and learning that vampires really exist and shit kind of changes a guy's priorities. Besides, even if I had more time I don't know if I'd want to date, because of imprinting. I definitely don't wanna end up being the next Leah and Sam. It's painful enough reliving that through Leah; I don't need the first-hand experience, no thank you. If I could just walk into a room one day, look up, and suddenly meet the love of my life, why do I need to waste time dating?

Leah says imprinting takes your free will, turns you into a lobotomized puppet, but I disagree. How could I not after seeing the way Sam looks at Emily and Jared looks at Kim? They complement each other so well. I don't think imprinting robs us of anything. I just think it takes the work out of it. Say you meet someone, you think they're great, but you still have to go through all the motions before you realize if you're right for each other. Some people waste years trying to figure this out. But with imprinting, you just know, immediately, that this person is it, she's your everything, all you'll ever need. Yeah…so why date?

"Quil…dude are you alive in there?" I knocked away the hand the Embry was waving in my face and grunted in response. I couldn't remember what the last thing he'd said was, so I didn't really have a better response than that.

"So were you totally tuning me out or just partially?" See, that's the thing about Embry, we'd known each other for so long, our whole lives just about, that I really couldn't hide anything from him.

I looked at him and shrugged, the age old sorry equivalent of "sorry dude."

He just rolled his eyes and mumbled an "asshole" before jogging off ahead of me.

I knew he wasn't really offended. Embry was the most laid back guy I knew, he'd be over it by the time he reached the clearing in front of Emily and Sam's house.

Not wanting to give him a chance to start eating without me, I took up jogging as well and made it to the clearing just seconds after him. It was at that moment that the buzzing got louder and the tingle turned into an icy flame over my skin. I felt as if I was being pulled, compelled to go in the direction of the front of the house. Instinctively I started sniffing the air, checking for any signs of bloodsuckers. I'd never had this kind of reaction to one before, but I had to make sure. But there was nothing, not even a slight residual scent. Which would make sense because there hadn't really been any leech action around in months, other than the Cullen's that is.

So with vamps ruled out I really had no idea why I was being pulled towards the front yard, we usually always went in through the kitchen entrance on the side. Fastest way to get to the food and all.

Embry was already heading that way himself, walking up the steps towards the door. "Hey Quil, foods this way."

I looked back over my shoulder at him and gave him a nod, as if to say "you go ahead," but continued around towards the house.

I heard it before I actually saw her, a laugh, more like a giggle really. The sweetest, most innocent sound I'd ever heard and I knew I wanted to hear it again. I quickened my pace and just as I turned the corner into the front yard I noticed Sam step out of the house and onto the front porch. But that was quickly forgotten, along with just about everything else in my life; everything except her.

She was so tiny and perfect, standing their watching Emily blow bubbles and reaching up her chubby little arms to try and catch them. She looked directly at me as I'd come around the side of the house and I felt as if the wind had been knocked out of me. I couldn't stop starring. She was straining so hard to reach the bubbles and I wanted to yell at Emily to blow them lower, or just rush over and pick her up so she could have a better chance of getting them.

I was so transfixed that I didn't hear Sam calling my name. I didn't notice Emily stop blowing bubbles, I just saw her…until I was nearly knocked over by Sam. He'd jumped over the porch railing, wrapped his arms around my chest, and starting pulling me backwards. All I could do was strain to keep my eyes on her, but gave up once we reached the back of the house.

Sam let me go after a minute and I stayed, but what I really wanted to do was run back to her.

He moved around, blocking my way, looking down at me with heated eyes and a hard face of stone. "What the hell was that Quil?"

It took me a second to respond, to be honest, my head was pretty foggy and words just didn't seem possible. But with Sam looking down at me like he wanted to kill me, I knew I'd better come up with something.

"She…her…who is she?" was all I was able to come up with…thanks brain. As if it were being pulled, my body leaned to the left in an attempt to see around Sam's shoulder, even though I knew I still wouldn't be able to see her.

Sam just kept staring at me; I knew he wasn't going to let me go anywhere. "Tell me I'm mistake Quil. Tell me you did not just imprint on my niece."

I could hear him, but what he was saying just wasn't important, I just had to see her again, and I said as much. I think that was a mistake.

The next time Sam said my name it was in the deep double baritone of the Alpha, and I couldn't deny it. My body jerked upright, I looked straight at him, and the next thing I knew I was on my ass.

He'd punched me, hard. It wasn't overly painful, but it did hurt. I could feel the blood inside my mouth and I reached up to check that my nose was still straight. It was, thank goodness. Having to pop it back into place would not have been fun.

I looked back up at him and yelled as I stood, "what the hell Sam?" But I could see it, he was shaking. He was trying to control himself, I could tell, but it looked like he was fighting a losing battle. Sam hadn't lost his temper and phased in a long time, not since Emily. But it looked like his streak was about to end. I panicked. She was so close, if she ran around the side of the house with Sam mid-phase, he'd kill her, accidently of course.

That was it, that one thought was all it took, and I lost it as well, exploding just a second after him. Wanting to lead him away from her I turned and hightailed it into the forest.

I was half way there when I finally started paying attention to what was in his head instead of what was going on in my own.

Sick, perverted, bastard. Going to kill him. Just a child.

I was confused for all of two seconds before I saw it; Sam replaying in his mind what he'd seen from the porch when I imprinted on her. His mind's eye went back and forth between me and her, and then stopped on me. The goofy, awe struck look on my face said it all. And then the picture disappeared and only the thoughts were left. But it allowed me to put two and two together.

Why Sam had dragged me away, why he'd punched me, why he was thinking I was a sick perverted bastard. Oh God, I hadn't even thought of it like that. She's just a child, and I imprinted. I'm a pedophile.

But, wait, I'm not, no, I don't feel that way about her. Suddenly I stopped and screamed at Sam. Wait, this is crazy Sam.

But he didn't stop, he tackled me, and I didn't even put up a fight. She's my niece and she's only two years old dammit.

I know, fuck Sam just listen to what I'm thinking. I swear to you I'm not thinking about her the way you think I am. You'd know if I were lying, I can't hide anything.

He stood over me, not letting me up, snarling and growling the entire time…but he was listening. I went through it all. I started with earlier today, describing what I'd been feeling, the compulsive pull to get to his house, hearing her laugh for the first time, and then seeing her. I went over and over that moment, so Sam could see everything I'd seen and know everything I'd felt.

She was adorable, precious, and innocent. I wanted to protect her, I wanted to make life easier for her, I wanted to hear that laugh over and over and over again. But that was it, nothing more. Nothing like what he had with Emily or what Jared had with Kim. It wasn't sick, it wasn't perverted, and I wouldn't let anyone think that it was.

To his credit he let me get through it all. When I was finally done he lowered his head and touched it to mine before backing off and allowing me to get up.

I'm sorry Sam. I don't know how else to explain it. But I hope you understand. I just want to keep her safe and get the chance to be near her. I would never do anything to hurt her. I pushed all of these thoughts at him. He had to understand, if he didn't, I'd never see her again. My heart constricted painfully at the mere thought.

Alright, enough, I get it. He snarled and then turned, heading in the direction of his house. Are you coming?

I took off after him, quietly walking behind him through the forest until we got to the edge before the clearing.

Stay here, I'll run over and get some clothes from the porch.

I gave a nod and he took off. I'd completely forgotten about my shredded clothes until he'd mentioned it. Those were my favorite shorts too.

He was back in less than a minute and we quickly changed. But just before he took off into the clearing he turned and faced me. "I'm going to have to explain this to Emily. Wait over by the back porch. I'll come and get you."

I knew he was right. Emily must have noticed the exchange, and I'm sure she had questions. She wouldn't let me near her any more than Sam would until she was assured that I wasn't some sick pedophile.

I strode quickly over to the back porch and took a seat on the swing, waiting for Sam to come back. With each minute that passed, I grew more and more anxious. I knew she was over there; I wanted nothing more than to make sure she was okay and having fun. Didn't Sam know this was killing me?

And finally, after what seemed like a lifetime of waiting, he reappeared and told me to follow him. And there she was, standing in the grass just on the other side of the house. I was in awe, she was so small, but her laughter was so joyous as she played with another girl in the yard. I hadn't even noticed the other girl last time. She seemed to be a few years older, but they were getting along well, and that made me happy. Happy that she had someone to laugh and play with.

As I stood there taking all of this in, I completely missed the fact that Emily was standing there staring at me, at least until she spoke. "Quil, is it true?"

I just looked at her and nodded, and then focused my attention back on her.

Unfortunately, Embry chose that moment to emerge from the house, one of Emily's super huge muffins in his left hand and the phone in his right. "Hey Emily, phone for you, someone named Beth."

Emily just stood there for a second longer before she turned and walked up the steps of the front porch to take the phone from Embry.

I stayed where I was, watching her as she played; the ghost of a smile on my lips.

And Sam stayed watching me, likely making sure I didn't cross any lines.

And Embry, although he could be aloof at times, clearly picked up on that fact that something was going on. "Hey Quil, what's up man? You haven't even come in to eat yet."

I didn't answer, didn't know what to say really. I glanced at him, but no words came. But Sam didn't seem to have that problem. "He imprinted."

For the first time in his life, Embry Call looked speechless. Standing there, a muffin halfway to his mouth, and his eyes wide open. He seemed to recover after a moment, long enough to comment in typical Embry fashion, "no shit?"

My head snapped towards his and I nearly let out a growl as I replied, "watch your mouth."

He just stared at me again. I'd never been one to have a problem with curse words in the past, but that was before she'd come along.

And as my eyes left his and landed back on her, he finally seemed to catch up. "Who are they? And who'd you imprint on?"

Again Sam stepped up, offering Embry the answers he'd been looking for, "they are my nieces, and Quil imprinted on that one."

He pointed to her, and Embry's gaze followed. I held my breath for a second as he took it all in. I expected a lot of reactions, I mean, I imprinted on a baby for crying out loud. Predominantly I expected people to act just the way Sam had. But Embry, always one to surprise, didn't react at all as I'd expected.

He took a last look at me, my eyes looked on her, before belting out a laugh so loud he actually startled both girls and had them looking in his direction. He kept the laughter up, bending over and clutching his stomach as well. "You imprinted on a baby? That has got to be the funniest thing I've ever heard. How the hell does that even work?"

He didn't stop, keeping up his commentary from the porch I decided it was best to employ my ability to tune him out.

But when Emily came back out from using the phone, the look on her face made him quite down real fast. "That was Beth, she's on her way here with John."

She was looking at Sam, but I answered first, "Who's Beth?"

Emily looked from Sam to me as she descended the porch steps and came to stand beside me. "Beth is my sister Quil, and Claire's mother."

As soon as she said it, the name played through my head over and over again. I couldn't stop it if I'd wanted to.

Tentatively, I said it aloud, "Claire."

As soon as it was out, she looked up at me, and she smiled. My heart felt like it was going to melt away, her smile was so beautiful. But then she started walking. I thought maybe she'd go over to Emily, or even Sam, but no, she got to me and she stopped.

Claire looked up at me with her impossibly wide eyes and help up her hand. Instead of reaching down I decided to get on her level, so I squatted down and took what she help out to me.

"fower." And she smiled. Her voice was just as sweet sounding as her laugh, and I took the flower and examined it. It was nowhere near as perfect as she was, but I'd cherish it forever.

"Thank you Claire, that was very sweet of you."

She bestowed another heart melting smile on me which I returned, "We-come." And with that she turned and went back to playing.

When I woke up that morning I'd had the typical expectations for my day. Patrol, have breakfast at Emily's, hang around with Embry and Jake, and then crash.

Never did I expect that today would be the day that my life changed forever, that my center of gravity would shift, that I'd meet the one person who had complete power over me, and that she'd only be two years old. But would I change it if I could? Not a chance.