For Lewiatan Risika, who wanted this

Claire/Richard

I don't own anything

*it is set after Carpe Corpus, where, in this version, Shane dies*

He moves closer to Claire, wondering why on earth he is doing this until he remembers the past few months, the time when he and her have spent every day together. He helped her through the loss of Shane, made her realise, like she later did with Amelie, that there was a reason to live for. He made her realise that even though Shane had died, she still had so much good she could do for the world.

He may be the mayor and have the power to change the entire town, but it seems as if helping Claire is the most important thing. He can't do anything without consulting her to make sure it is what she wants as well, doesn't want to do anything without her approval – it's caused more problems with Oliver, who has taken on more of a power role since Amelie lost Sam.

Gradually since he died, Claire has come out of her shell and returned to being herself, all the time with Richard's help. Part of him realised, as time went by, he was probably supposed to be with Hannah but he didn't feel that way. The relationship was, is, platonic – he realises that they're friends and nothing more.

But him and Claire… it's strange and probably wrong, for she is so much younger than him – almost half his age – but it seems so right. He only sees light as he looks at her, even though he knows she must have been in so much pain since her boyfriend died. He could see her clearly at the beginning but by now, now he is so obviously in love with her, all he can see is perfection, her angelic features intoxicating him. It's hard for him to continue to work, to make sure that he has a reason to keep her coming back everyday besides just to hang out, when all he wants to do is tell her how he feels.

Yet he can't. He has it in his mind that if he did such a thing, she wouldn't feel the same way, that it would be unreciprocated love if he tells her that he loves her. He doesn't want to lose her, so he decides that he would rather keep it under wraps…

… but she feels the same way. She feels that he is the one who has helped her through the past few months and that the feelings she has for him have evolved. She knows he is older than her, more mature, looking for someone his age to marry and have kids, but she can't help how she feels.

She wants to tell him but she knows that if he doesn't feel the same way, she wouldn't be able to face him again and she would lose the friendship she has come to adore, the friendship which is the thing that evolved into love.

"See ya later, Richard," she sighs as she stands up to leave his office, her hour time with him over for today. He stands up, looking professional in his suit, and he longs to kiss her, to tell her how he feels – or to show her – but she is the one who makes the move.

As he shows her to the door, which is sort of pointless since she knows where it is but it means he can be near to her, she turns and reaches up to his cheek, to kiss him. Her lips linger for a moment and he feels the warmth of her touch seeping through into his skin. She adores the feeling of her lips against his smooth skin and wants to move her lips to his, but then she lets go.

"See ya," she repeats, stepping away and whirling through the door to head to Myrnin's, to work. Yet her heart remains with Richard whilst his makes the trip to the lab with her, protecting her in a way.

Both of them love each other, but will they ever show each other it?

Review please

Vicky xx