faux_prada - Thank you for the interest. I haven't quit decided when to end this but I think I have found a good stop. As this is my very first fiction, I would appreciate any criticism. I'm new to this realm of the internet and I am learning as I go. Thanks again and I hope you stay interested!

John rang the door bell berating himself yet again for not just letting sleeping dogs lie. He had no idea what to say to her. He had no idea what her reaction was going to be to his sudden appearance. He was open to anything, except what happened. John watched as Claire froze and caught her breath. He watched as her eyelids fluttered and her beautiful doe eyes rolled back into her head. He reacted catching her just before her head hit the entryway tile.

What the fuck! Definitely not what I was expecting!

"Cherry? Cherry, honey?" John called as he carried her to the couch and set her down. "Hey, Cherry, wake up. CLAIRE!"

Claire's eyelids fluttered open and focused on John's deep brown eyes. John, uncomfortably, watched as a vast range of emotions raced across her face. This was definitely not what he was expecting.

"John?" she whispered as she raised her manicured fingers to his face. She stopped just sort of touching him but he could feel the electricity pulsing from her fingers. "John?"

"Yep, it's me Cherry. You alright?" he asked pulling away and moving to sit at the end of the couch, throwing his jacket at a chair.

"I…I'm.... I'm fine, just a little light headed." Claire stated pulling herself to a sitting position. "Wha….What are you …..How did you…"

"Why don't I get you something to drink and then we can answer all of those questions."

Claire watched as he left the living room in search of the kitchen. She still wasn't sure of what had just happened.

Did I fall asleep at the pool? Am I suffering from heat exhaustion? Is that really John? John Bender? My John Bender?

Claire felt her heart rise to her throat and her breath catch. Her eyes crazily ran around the room taking in her surroundings. She looked at the picture of Andy and Allison. The canvas that Allison had given her just a few years ago; the surround sound system Brian had installed just a few months ago; the picture of new born twins with Andy and Allison; Brian in his wedding tuxedo…..

The sound of someone rattling around in the kitchen brought Claire out of her daze.

What the fuck! Seven years! Seven years and John was here! What the fuck!

John left Claire on the couch and headed toward what he thought was the kitchen. He went straight to the sink and splashed water on his face.

What the fuck! John, what the hell are you doing? She fucking fainted! One look at you and she faints! Goddamn it! This was not supposed to happen. What the hell am I going to do? Water! Ger her some water, make sure she is coherent and then get the fuck out. This was a huge ass mistake!

John flipped through the cabinets until he found a glass. Filling it with water he looked up just as he turned to leave the kitchen and froze.

"What the fuck, John!" Claire shouted from the kitchen entry.

"That is just what I was thinking." John replied with that all too familiar smirk gracing his face. Claire's arms fell to her sides lightly slapping her thighs. "Look, Cherry, I was just in the neighborhood and I thought I would drop in."

"You were just in the neighborhood?" Claire repeated, her eyebrows shooting to the roots of her auburn hair. Her large brown eyes watched as John's face closed and prepared itself for battle. "You were in the neighborhood and thought you would just drop in."

John leaned against the sink and folded his arms over his chest. "Yeah."

"John, I haven't seen you in seven years and you just decide to pop in for a visit?"

"Well I couldn't very well come for a visit any sooner now could I?" he bit out, his eyes slicing through her heart.

"Don't go there, John. That was not my fault. You have no idea what happened, what was happening." Claire warned as she paled at the past, pulling a hand through her hair.

"You're right, I had no idea what was going on! How could I when you wouldn't even come see me? How could I when NO ONE would come see me!"

"John…."

"Don't! Don't "John" me! I lost my mother, my father, you and my freedom all within hours of each other and you were no where to be found! Where were you, Red? Where were you?" John yelled and was immediately sorry. He hadn't meant for this to happen; not this soon. He couldn't see straight he was so furious. He watched as Claire wrapped her arms around her middle, the anger leaving her face. "Don't do it Claire! Do you fucking do it! Don't you fucking cry! You have nothing to cry about. You went on with your pretty, petty little existence while I was rotting away. You got to enjoy being with your friends and celebrating birthdays. I got shit! So don't you fu….."

The force of her slap jerked his head around to the right. He looked at her from the corner of his eye and saw tears sliding down her face.

"What the fuck!" Brian cried.

Claire jumped and turned as John glanced to the entryway to see the rest of the club staring right back at them. John smirked as he took in the sight of Andy, Allison and Brian all staring back at him.

"Well, hail, hail the gangs all here." He replied sourly before storming out of the kitchen, avoiding Claire's hand as she reached for him.