Polt: Claire's heart string has been pulled by a small blond angel for a long time. And now she wants to show her that She'll always be there.

Characters: Claire Redfield and Sherry Birkin

Humor/ Hurt/ Comfort/Family

…...

Claire was woken up by the sun rays peeking through the creak in the blinds. She sat up and stretched and read the clock. It said 6:45

Time to get up.

She got out of bed and went into the bathroom. Turning on the light; she turned on the shower. Claire was about to undress when she heard a soft tap on the door. She opened the door to saw the little blond haired angel walk in. The girl' hair was sloppily as she let out a small yawn causing her polka dot pajamas to ride up showing her pale belly. Claire kneeled down towards the her.

"Moring Share Bear. How'd you sleep?" She asked.

The girl yawned, "Okay." She replied.

"Looks like someone still trying to wake up."

"Yeah." She nodded.

Claire smiled and said, " Well how about you go get ready. While I finish and I'll make us some waffles."

The girl beamed. "Really!"

"Yes Sherry unless you want something else. You just let me know."

When She left. Claire jumped in the shower. A few minutes later she got out and got dressed. Quickly buttoning her shirt as she brushed her teeth. Then she applied some make-up. As she was applying mascara. She remembered there was one small problem.

She didn't know how to make waffles.

Claire stared at the box of frozen waffles.

Where do I even start? She wondered.

So she started to read the directions carefully.

Step one: Take waffles out

Ok no brainer. I'll make two. That should be enough for Sherry.

She continued.

Step two: Place in toaster oven

The toaster oven! Is it meaning the toaster or the oven? I'm not using the oven.

She went over and put them in the toaster.

Did you forget, Claire? Remember the time you try to toast a bagel. Did you forget about the burns.

She shuddered, and and pushed it down. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

Ok what's next?

She read the box.

Step three: wait sixty seconds for waffles to finish cooking or wait till golden brown.

Well how the hell am I supposed to know when they're golden brown. She mentally swore. I just wait till they pop out.

She waited.

Sixty Seconds later she still waited. Another minute went by and she swore. She quickly grabbed a fork. And stuck it in.

Come on dammit! Give my Sherry her waffles!

She kept scraping around and when she struck batter. She wanted to sing triumphly. But she suddenly felt a jolt of electricity flowed through her body. Then she collapsed to the floor.

"Claire? Claire?" Sherry taped her. "Are you okay?"

Claire opened her eyes to see the worried girl hovering over her. She sat herself up.

"I'm ok." She grimaced.

"Your hair's frizzy." Sherry pointed out.

Claire stood up and used the toaster to stare into her reflection. She groaned when she saw her red strands sticking up all over the place. She noticed Sherry's head was hung low. She placed the toaster down and kneeled in front of the young girl.

"Sherry. What's wrong?"

"Your mad at me." She cried. "You got hurt because of me." Then she sobbed harder.

"Oh Sherry no." She insisted. "I'm not mad at you. Besides the toaster's the one that tried to kill me." She quickly glared at the machine, and spun back over to face the sobbing girl.

"I promise I'm not mad at you."

"I should've let you make whatever." She cried. " I should just stay out of the way and not cause you any trouble."

Those words made Claire's heart clench. She knew Sherry's story all too well. Her parents were scientists and they were often too busy to take care of her. She spent most of her time in her mother's office. She didn't have a warm, safe, nurturing childhood. Her parents would use her and then push her away when she became a nuisance. Then she lost the very people she knew as her parents were killed.

Claire knew this feeling all too well. Her father was in the military and her mother worked long hour so she could provide for her and Chris. When her father was home he was often drunk and abusive. And her mother was too tired to care. So the only real family she had was her older brother Chris.

She didn't want Sherry to feel that way anymore.

She grabbed the sobbing girl and embraced her. She felt her body stiffen, but slowly the she hugged back. Claire nuzzled her hair. She could smell the strawberries form the conditioner that she used. Claire closed her eyes and pictured Sherry standing in front of her in a snow, white dress. Her blond hair blowing and her smile that shone like the sun.

She pulled away. "I love you, Sherry."

"You too." She sniffled.

She smiled and stood up. "How about some scrambled eggs."

Sherry gave a faint ok.

Ounce Claire dropped Sherry of f at school. She headed to work. When she got there fifteen minutes later. She sighed and tried to fix her hair but after a few minutes of trying she gave up and threw her hair back up. Then she headed into the building,.

She opened the door to the government Bureau. She noticed a scruffy man talking to the secretary at the front desk. She glanced at him and sighed. She strolled into the lounge room and poured herself a cup of coffee. She sat herself down and started to think.

I want Sherry to be happy. I want her to be in a warm, nurturing environment. Have someone to support her. She deserves someone who will always love, protect, and make sacrifices for her. I want to be the one that's there for her. Watch her smile. Watch become a beautiful young woman.

She stopped.

Sherry. I want to be there for her. Watch her grow. Have be happy.

She smiled.

That girl has been pulling my heartstring for so long. I love her like my own.

Claire turned a deep shade of red. She never even had a serious relationship, and she knew nothing of raising a child. She only cared for her for seven months and it wasn't an easy road. She was no real parent. She had no real experience with children.

But I'll always be there for her. I'll never hurt her. I refuse to yell or raise a hand towards her.

She was gonna be there.

To see Sherry's smile.

Three years later

It took a long time but Claire's dream finally came true.

She was decorating the small kitchen with ribbons and glitter. She took out the cake and set it down on the table. The cake's words made her smile.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND WELCOME HOME!

She pulled on a party hat over head and waited for Sherry to arrive. When she did; she stood up and yelled.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" Throwing her hands up in the air.

Sherry glanced up surprised. She gave a smile, and gently placed down her book bags. She glanced over at the cake and whispered "Thank you."

"Your welcome Sherry. Happy birthday." Claire smiled, "I have a surprise for you, Sherry."

"What is it?" She asked.

"Well a few years ago. I decided to do something very important. It took some time, but I'm happy to say. From now on you will legally be my daughter."

Sherry stood there. Silent. That worried Claire. Maybe she should've told her earlier. Maybe she didn't want to be with Claire. She felt like an idiot.

"Look Sherry I'm s-"

"No Claire don't." She interrupted. "I believe this is THE HAPPIEST DAY OF MY WHOLE LIFE!"

She cried and run into Claire's arms, and squeezed her so hard she had trouble breathing.

"I love you Sherry. I love you more than anything."

"Even more than your brother." Sherry giggled.

"Well the about the same." She replied.

"Look you can still keep calling me Claire. Okay. You don't have to call me mom."

"I love you mom"

She did it again. She tugged her heart string. But no matter what she would be there. To watch fight and grow, and to watch her become a remarkable woman. She smiled and said.

"Welcome home, Sherry."