Okay, so I feel horrible that all of you are having to wait for updates. I'm just having major writer's block. I'm hoping after this one, I will be good to go, but we shall see. I'm on spring break in two week so maybe it I can work more on this. This chapter isn't very long, but there's some DRAMA in the beginning and a flashback in the middle, so enjoy!

What Matters Most

After the emotional altercation with the one person that she deeply loved, Claire found herself automatically heading for the boarding house. It was like her body was on auto-pilot and her heart was directing her home, but could she really call it that anymore?

Isn't a home a place where you feel wanted by those that occupy it?

Would Damon and Stefan welcome her back with open arms?

"Not likely," she uttered as she stared at the dark oak door, willing herself to just open the damn thing already.

She finally reached for the door knob just as a voice behind her spoke up, "What the hell are you doing here," it asked.

She spun around to face her eldest brother. "It's my home," she whispered. "I didn't think that I needed a reason to come by."

He eyed the bags at her feet suspiciously before smirking up at her, "What happened to mooching off your Original Sugar Daddy?"

She felt her muscles tense as the sadness mixed with anger filled her. "I need a place to crash. I don't want to get into to right now, Damon."

"Can't help you," he stated simply as he walked past her, opening the door and stepping over the threshold. "You made your choice and you chose that prick over your family."

Her eyes narrowed, "I've done nothing of the sort. My family is still important to me."

"Says the woman that didn't let her brother know that her boyfriend abducted the hunter," he pointed out harshly.

"His reasons seemed justified," she explained as calmly as she could.

"And what reasons would that be," he questioned heatedly. When she remained tightlipped by her struggling need to be loyal, he scoffed. "Yeah, you're just all about your family, Claire." He eyed her. "Why are you really here? Did you two have a fight?"

"It's my business," she told him wearily. "Can I stay or not?"

He stared at her, contemplating it. His head moved side to side as he responded, "Not. You were idiotic enough to fall for the bastard, so now you can deal with the consequences—alone."

Swallowing, Claire nodded slowly, "You bitch and moan about how idiotic I am for falling for him, but look at you, Damon. Yet again you've fallen for a woman who loves Stefan more."

She barely had a moment to take in the fact that his face had quickly vamped out before he suddenly flashed forward and shoved her across the porch. Her back slammed against a bricked post near the stairs and faintly heard the crumbling behind her as her body made contact with the hard surface.

With a groan, her eyes met his bloodshot ones, "Did I hit a nerve, brother?"

"Shut the hell up," he seethed. "You are pathetic, do you hear me? You chose that bastard after all that he's done…"

"You mean to Elena, right," she questioned and found a surge of strength and shoved him off. "Again, it's all about her!"

"What the hell is going on here," a voice asked and both turned to find Stefan standing there taking in the scene with Elena standing beside him.

"Nothing much, brother, just our sister wanting a place to crash because she's had a fight with her psycho boyfriend," Damon answered coldly as his face returned to normal. "I think she's stupid if she thinks she can mosey on in and act like she never betrayed either of us by screwing the prick." He shook his head vehemently. "No, you decide right here, right now." He pointed a finger at himself, "It's either us or him. You can't have both."

"That's what it's come down to," Claire questioned in disbelief. "I have to choose between you both and him?" Granted, she had just had a horrible fight with Klaus just a half hour ago, but it wasn't over by any means. She just needed space.

"That's right," Damon confirmed with glaring eyes.

Claire's eyes went straight to Stefan, "Stefan? Do you concur?"

He stared at her a moment, seemingly having to fight his inner turmoil over the thought, but he finally made his decision. "It's harder to trust you now that you're with him."

She snorted at the absurdity of his statement considering what had just gone down tonight. She let out a strangled laugh, "Okay. If I have to choose then it's only fair that the two of you do the same." Her eyes passed over Elena's quiet form before continuing. "It's me or her." When neither of her brothers seemed to be able to utter a word, she looked at them both wildly. "If I have to choose between you two and someone that I love then you need to pick as well."

"This is ridiculous," Damon barked. "The situations are nowhere comparable to each other."

"Claire," Elena finally said. "I don't what I've done presently to make you dislike me so much, but your brothers are only trying to do what's best for you."

Claire's eyes flashed to young vampire. "What's best for me? I think I should be the one deciding that, Elena." Her eyes went to each of her brothers. "So what's it going to be? Her or me?" When neither answered yet again, her eyes took in both their faces. Stefan looked remorseful. Damon looked unlikely to be swayed. Neither of them looked like their decisions were in her favor.

She swallowed the sudden lump in her throat and she sniffed as tears stung her eyes.

"So there it is," she replied weakly. "I now know where I stand. To hell with the person that has been there for both of you on multiple occasions! After everything that we've been through, you are choosing her over your own sister?"

"Don't act like the victim. You did this," Damon growled.

She stared at him steadily. "No, I didn't. You're the one making me choose and right when I turn things around and insist that the two of you do the same—it becomes suddenly clear…" Her eyes went to stare at the other woman directly across from her. "What makes you so damn special? Huh? Why can't they both see that you are the worst possible thing to happen to them? You ask why I presently dislike you, Elena." She closed the distance between them and continued. "Here it is—you will be the end for both of them. And for that, I can't stand the sight of you…and your incessant need to be in middle of everything so furthermore…"

Her eyes lost focus as she stared dangerously into the brown ones before her. Her body filled with sudden rage as she eyed the woman that her brothers had chosen above her—the woman that Nik needed to create more of his hybrids. Without even giving it a second thought, her hands flew up and wrapped around the other woman's neck then gave a quick jerk.

When Elena's body flopped to the porch below, Claire looked down and spoke again, finishing her statement, "I think perhaps you should just stay out of this one."

While Stefan immediately knelt by Elena's body, Claire wasn't surprise when Damon rushed forward to retaliate, but she was quick to dodge his attempt and blocked his advancing hands. She grabbed him and threw him a few feet where he came crashing down onto the porch, sliding across it. Both brothers were bewildered by her sudden strength.

"Just to throw it out there," she spoke up, breathing heavily with her face void of any emotion. "I've been drinking his blood for nearly two weeks now—about the same capacity as a blood bag. I'm stronger than both of you, but if you want to keep going at it, Damon than let's go then. I apparently have nothing left to live for. After all, my own brothers have decided to kick me out of their lives." Her eyes watched as Damon regained his footing and glowered at her. "No rebuttal?" When neither brother said a word, she nodded slowly. "Well, okay then. I guess I will just leave you both with the woman who will ultimately kill you both. I hope she's worth it—you are losing a sister for her."

"Go," Stefan said lowly, not meeting her gaze. "Don't come back here again."

Tears pooled her eyes as she sniffed, "Fine, but I really hope that this isn't the end because you both need me. You'll always need me."

"Go, before I rip out your tongue," Damon growled. "You are dead to us."

Swallowing, Claire turned and walked away from them, walked away from her home. She didn't know where she was heading, but she was alone now.

The next day, Klaus found himself surrounded by compelled humans as they slaved away digging up various places around the church that Rebecca had mentioned. Even though finding the church was simple, finding the exact location of Alexander's body was a bit more challenging especially without there being a headstone to aid the search.

It didn't matter. It wasn't as if he was giving the sword much thought. No, his mind was on, and always will be on Claire.

As he boarded the private jet to Italy the previous evening, he had felt every fiber of his body hurt miserably indicating something seriously emotional had occurred to Claire.

He had tried calling, just hoping she'd want to talk to him, but she never answered. That hurt him terribly. He wanted to be there during her time of need. He knew that she was okay—his hybrid Dean, who had been ordered to keep watch of her had relayed to him that there had been a very heated altercation between the Salvatore siblings and Claire was sent away without a place to stay for the night.

She was alone. Her brothers had turned their backs on her because him. He himself had disappointed her and scared her away. What was she to do now?

He was shaken from his thoughts when one of the human's called out to him, indicating that they had found something. As he walked over to inspect where they had been digging, his phone went off signaling that he had a text. He pulled it out quickly hoping that it was Claire responding finally after his several failed attempts, but found it was not her. With soft growl, he noted that it was from Dean. When he opened the message, he was not expecting what he saw. The hunter has escaped. He killed Nate—ripped his head off. What do you need me to do?

"Perfect," he spat and opened up another message, quickly sending it.

In a matter of seconds, his phone rang and he pressed it to his ear.

"How the hell did Connor escape," Stefan questioned crossly.

With a tight smile, he answered, "I'd blame my numbing incompetence, but pointing fingers isn't going to help me, you're going to help me."

Stefan snorted, "Well, he could be anywhere now."

Rolling his eyes, Klaus countered, "Think, Stefan. He took the hybrid's head which means he wants werewolf toxin. He's not going anywhere."

"He's staying in town to kill vampires," Stefan said getting it and releasing a sigh.

Klaus gave a half-chuckle, "Which is a pity, as I'm half the world away digging up a dead hunter, you'll have no access to my blood and therefore, the antidote." He paused as his mind thought of Claire. Was she still in town? Shaking his head, he continued, "Nevertheless, his tattoo is our only map to the cure, so your task is quite simple; find him, catch him, and above all, keep him alive. He's no good to us dead."

Stefan cleared his throat, "Damon's been looking everywhere for him, if they cross paths…."

Klaus scoffed, "You'll need to keep Damon in check then. You're a smart man, Stefan. Figure it out."

"Be a lot easier if I could just tell him the truth."

"You trust Damon with the cure?" Klaus questioned in mild amusement. "I imagine he prefers Elena the way she is."

Stefan snorted in response. "Nice try, Klaus. But I trust Damon a hell of a lot more than I trust you."

Klaus' jaw clenched, "And I trust no one. Which is why my sister is lying daggered in a box."

"And what about Claire? You don't trust her either?"

"Keep your sister out of this," Klaus threatened dangerously. "Speaking of you, what have you two bastards done? I know something happened between the three of you."

"That's really none of your concern now is it," Stefan threw back.

"Very well," He remarked tightly. "Look, the more who find out about the cure, the more who will go after it. Nations have gone to war over less. You mark my words, tell one soul and I will throw the hunter's sword in the Mediterranean and we can end this quest right now. Am I understood?"

"Fine," Stefan stated firmly. "I will see what I can do. I may have to recruit Claire to help…"

"No," Klaus interrupted sharply. "You will not include her in this, do you hear me?"

"She's the only other person who knows about the cure. I can't exactly go at this alone, now can I? Have fun in Italy, Klaus." With that he hangs up leaving Klaus livid.

The very last thing that he wanted was for Claire to be anywhere in the same vicinity as that hunter. He felt helpless this far away from her. What if she comes in contact with werewolf venom? She'd die before he could get to her. Or the worse could happen, Connor could successfully kill her. She was strong, yes, but against one of Connor's contraptions?

Swallowing, he lifted his phone again and quickly called back Dean, who answered on the first ring. "I need your help, mate."

Claire stared out ahead at the ruined Salvatore household with a look of sadness upon her face. After what all went down the previous night, she felt nostalgic and wanted to return to the place that once was her home.

She was currently standing in front of the house where she remember fondly of her younger self waiting on one of the steps for Damon to return from war, clutching one of his many letters in her hands.

It has dreadfully hot day in Virginia in the summer of 1862 as the young fourteen year old Claire sat fanning herself with her laced fan that had once belonged to her mother. It was one of very few of the personal effects that her father allowed her to keep in her possession.

She had just finished with her studies and was now anxiously awaiting the return from her older brother Damon who would be returning from where he fought for the Confederate Army in the midst of the Civil War.

He wrote to her often and she found herself always looking forward to the arrival of each of his letters. He would always write so candidly about his time away from the Salvatore Estate.

Often she wished she could leave this place. Her fifteen year old brother Stefan made this place bearable, but that was just barely.

Before she could think about being ignored by her father, her ears perked when she heard the sounds of an approaching wagon.

She immediately shot to her feet and her eyes squinted into bright sun and her face broke out into a grin when she saw her older brother's upper half hanging out of the window of the wagon he rode in and he waved at her wildly. Over her shoulder, she shouted, "Stef, he's here!" Not wasting another moment being still, she shot down the stairs with her skirt pulled up and she ran towards the wagon.

When it came to stop before her, Damon hopped out and pulled her up into his arms, spinning her around. "My beautiful little sister—oh how I've missed you terribly!"

"I've missed you," she cried happily. When he placed her back down upon her feet, she immediately asked, "What'd you bring me?"

"Is my presence not enough for you," he asked jokingly.

"Don't play with me brother," she stated poking at him with a grin. "You promised in your last letter to return with a gift, so let me have it."

"Very well, little sister," he grinned at her as he pulled a small velvet box from his coat pocket.

When he held it out to her, she took it eagerly and opened it up. "Damon," she gasped as her eyes took in the exquisite ring. "It's the most beautiful thing that I have ever seen."

"The moment I saw it in Charleston," he began as he wrapped an arm along her shoulders. "I immediately thought of you, Claire. Do you recognize the flower in the middle?"

"It's a Forget Me Not," she answered softly as tears filled her eyes and she smiled a little. "Mother's favorite, right?"

He smiled sadly at her, "It was. Put it on."

She does so and smiled up at him, "I love it. I'll never take it off."

Claire blinked and stared down at her right hand where the very same ring was still on her index finger. She had kept her promise. She has kept this very ring on her finger for nearly over a century and a half now. It was a prized possession of hers.

It was constant reminder of her love for Damon and how their relationship used to be prior to becoming vampires.

Now she wondered if she would ever be able to salvage her relationship with either of her brothers. It didn't seem likely at this point in time.

"Reminiscing," a familiar voice questioned behind her.

To say that she was shocked to hear Stefan's voice was a bit of an understatement. She turned around to face him. "Let me guess…you need my help with something." When he gave her a simple nod, she snorted. "And why would I help you? You chose Elena over me."

"You chose Klaus," he countered.

Her eyes widened, "I did not choose Klaus over my family. You two were the ones that insisted that I make a choice and when I asked the same—you chose Elena!"

He released a heavy sigh. "Connor has escaped."

With a bored look, she questioned, "And?"

"He's a threat, Claire. A threat that could easily kill any of us, but I'm here because your boyfriend has recruited me to find him and capture him before Damon can kill him."

"Again, I'm waiting for the part where I'm supposed to care? He's a threat, fine. I'll take off and get as far away from here as possible."

"And what would happen if he kills Damon and me? You claim that you care about us, but yet you'll run and protect yourself?"

"I'd say the two of you could come with me, but you both wouldn't leave precious Elena alone now would you? I mean she's struggling, right-with feeding directly from the source?" She snorted. "I'd thought she'd be stronger than that, you know able to withstand the bloodlust since she's so perfect in both your eyes."

"Fine, don't help me or Damon or Elena, but Connor has taken Jeremy hostage at the Grill along with potential other hostages. He wants us, Claire, and he will do anything to get to us. Are you really going to let innocent people die without at least trying to help?"

Stefan knew very well how to manipulate her. It worked. Even though she was on the outs with her brothers, and she despised Elena, she had no problems with Jeremy and certainly didn't want any humans to die because of her.

With a sigh, she relented, "Fine, but I have a condition."

He eyed her wearily. "Which is?"

"I want to know where you hid Rebekah's body," she said simply.

"Why?"

"I don't have to tell you why, Stefan. If you want my help then you will tell me where Rebekah's body is after all of this is over." She looked up at him expectantly, "Deal?"

"Fine," he answered. "Come on. We've got work to do."

With the phone pressed to his ear, Klaus questioned heatedly, "And you're sure that you saw her with him?"

"Yes," Dean answered. "I was coming into the Lockwood Mansion as he and your girl were walking out."

"Damn it," he growled. "Call me back when you are outside the Grill." He quickly hung up and resisted the urge to kill everyone around him. That stubborn woman! Couldn't she just stay out of danger?

He brought his phone back up and dialed Claire's number. When his rings went unanswered yet again, he nearly broke his phone into a million pieces. He ended the call and then called Stefan's number shortly after.

Luckily, Stefan answered on the second ring, "What?"

"Put your sister on and before you try to convince me otherwise, I know she's there. Now give the phone to her now, Stefan."

He heard the other man sigh and soon heard a few exchanges between the siblings.

"He wants to talk to you," he heard Stefan say.

"I don't want to talk to him," Claire argued.

"Just take it," Stefan insisted.

"No," she stated firmly.

"He'll just keep calling."

"Then turn off your phone," she fired back which angered Klaus.

Finally, he had enough of being on hold and he shouted out, "Take the damn phone, Claire!"

"What," she asked sharply a moment later.

"Don't do this," he pleaded. "Don't go after this hunter. Get out of town and get somewhere safe."

"Sorry, I've already committed myself to this mission," she said with very little emotion in her voice. "I guess you're just going to have to stop me yourself, no wait a second…you're not here. No, you're off searching for a sword that will help you decipher the hunter's mark—the same sword that you callously daggered your own sister for after finding out its whereabouts."

"Claire, please…"

"If I mattered at all to you, you wouldn't be there right now. I wouldn't have to worry about my life if you would have cared less about your hybrids. Yet here we are. I'm here and you're there. What's left to say, huh? Nothing that's what. Goodbye, Klaus."

The call ended and he angrily swiped at his eyes where the tears had formed and threatened to fall.


Check out a picture of Claire's ring from Damon as well as other pictures from the series. I started this photo album as a way to inspire me. Enjoy & please review

albums/u611/kelli1983ann/Never%2BLet%2BMe%2BGo/b32dc647901d60c682b26105a043 f2ce_