Hello, wonderful turtles! I'm trying to do a mostly dialogue fanfic here, but let's just see how it goes. I recently reread Last Breath, and remembered that Amelie had tried to get Claire killed. Multiple times, once in Midnight Alley and once in Last Breath (I'm not counting the time in Ghost Town, since Amelie's memory was 3 years in the past and she didn't recognize Claire). I ship Claire+Amelie a lot, but I felt like this Amelie-tried-to-kill-Claire-twice thing had to be brought up at some point. Also, the italic writing signifies whispering.

"Claire, sit down."

"Yes, Amelie."

"Do you know why I've called you here?"

"Um...Bishop's back?"

"You mistake my intentions, Claire. This isn't a negative occasion."

"..."

"I.. well, what I mean is… I-I have an important… bear with me…"

"Are you OK?"

"Yes, I am fine, thank you for asking."

"You can tell me why you're nervous. I won't tell anyone."

"I would never let you tell anyone."

"..."

"Ok, I must say this now."

"..."

"Claire, you have been a true help to Morganville and myself, many times over. I cannot control my feelings, only hide them. I made the mistake of hiding them too long with Samuel, and now there is no going back from that. I now realize that I must tell you this."

"A-are you saying…"

"Believe me, Claire, that by telling you this, I am breaking every rule and barrier I have made myself. This is of all importance to me. I need you to understand."

"..."

"I have feelings for you."

"..."

"..."

"No…"

"You must understand, I needed to tell you this-"

"NO! This-this isn't a thing! You can't love me!"

"Claire-"

"I'm female! I'm married! I'm-"

"Do NOT interrupt me."

"And you - you hate me! You've always just had me around when I was useful to you. You have tried to have me killed! Twice! Did you think that I'd just forget about that and fall into your arms?!"

"That was a long time ago."

"So you think I'm just OK with it?!"

"I think that you are a forgiving person. You forgave Myrnin for all the times he tried to kill you."

"Myrnin was insane! He had no choice, and you did!"

"Do you really think I did? That I was truly in my right mind when these things happened?"

"Yes!"

"Claire, would you like to try running a town?"

"W-what?"

"Running a town isn't just making rules and everyone follows them. In regular towns, there will be problems. People will hate you, despise you. You will be expected to deal with anything and everything that comes up."

"Why are you-"

"Morganville is not a normal town, as you know. Ruling it is quite a bit more difficult. We have not just two groups of people, but two separate species trying to coincide. They are likely to kill each other, to revolt. I haven't even brought up the outside evils that are coming in. Claire, this town has lived through Bishop and the Draug and Naomi and the Daylighters. And that is only in the short amount of time you have been here. There have been countless other evils, vampires and humans alike. Whether from outside or inside this town, someone will want to overthrow me. Most of the people I am risking my life to protect are fighting against me. It is a whole world of impossible feats that I have had to and will continue to have to accomplish. Now, tell me again, Claire. Do you think I was in my right mind when I thought to have you killed?"

"... No…"

"You see now that I had to tell you this. If one holds too much in, they will eventually let loose and ruin everything."

"I-I understand… but I don't love you. I'm sorry."

"I know that you don't. I just needed to tell you. If it ever comes to it-"

"It won't."

"-I will be there. Just remember that."

"..."

"You may leave now."

"Um, Ok."

"Do not tell Shane or anyone of our talk."

"... I won't."

"Goodbye, Claire."