A/N: Hope everyone has had a great new year so far! Well, this is one of the longest chapters I've ever written. Enjoy! And please remember to R&R!


Claire never did tell Sam or Emily what was wrong. She hadn't told her mom or Tallin or her best girl friend Cheyenne. She hadn't even told Nessie, and she told Nessie everything.

Leah had been a wolf when I'd furploded after Claire left my house in tears, so naturally everyone in the pack knew what had happened, knew about my word vomit, excluding Sam, Jared, and Paul, the retirees, of course.

I managed to find out through the grapevine that Claire never went on her date with Chris. Tallin had been home from the University of Washington for a long weekend and had offered to help Claire pick out something to wear because Claire had called her excitedly the week before and told her about this boy she thought she liked. When Claire told Tallin she'd cancelled on him, Tallin told her mom, who told Emily, who told Leah. Brady heard it through the pack mind link with Leah and told Seth, who he was pretty tight with, and Seth rushed back to our house to tell me, seemingly hopeful that maybe there was some kind of meaning behind it.

It had been months since I'd really talked to her. She was cordial at pack functions. Her family had no idea what had happened, though I'm sure they knew something was off considering I wasn't always at their house anymore eating their food, helping Claire with homework, watching cartoons with her little brother Fyn, doing odd jobs for her mom and asking Todd all kinds of questions about law, something I'd become pretty interested in over the years. Claire tried not to let on that anything was wrong. I hoped nothing was. I hoped with everything that I was that she didn't feel the sharp pain in her stomach and the throbbing in her head that had become my constant companions. It hurt to be away from her, for her to be so livid at me. It hurt bad, so bad that sometimes it was hard to breath. And it was only going to get worse.

The Christmas after she turned eighteen ( her first birthday since I imprinted on her that I hadn't been with her or taken her on our ritual "wolf-back" ride, might I add) everyone was gathered at the Uley house. All of the wolves, both retired and active, and their imprints or girlfriends and all their kids were there. It was mass chaos from the time the first person arrived, and it would stay that way until everyone was gone.

I was one of the first people to get there. Emily had recruited some of us to come help her set up the tables and the decorations and what not. The Walker family was there early too, since Dena always helped Emily cook. Claire hadn't come, though. When Todd saw me looking for her, he smiled sympathetically.

"She'll be here later, Quil. She hasn't been feeling so great lately. We let her sleep in."

"Oh. Okay. I guess I'll catch up with her when she comes, then." Feeling the overwhelming urge to phase and run to Claire and beg her to forgive me, I turned to walk outside, but Todd called out to me before I made it to the door.

"Quil, I don't know what's going on. Quite frankly, I don't want to know. But what I do know is that my little girl hasn't spoken about you at all in months. Since you're all she's talked about since she was two, you can imagine how extremely weird that is to me." He walked over to me and reached up to place a hand on my shoulder. "I know it must be harder for you than anyone else to see Claire upset, all things considered, but she feels whatever connection you guys have, too, Quil. Just don't forget that."

"Yes, sir." If I thought I couldn't feel anymore horrible before, I now knew that I was wrong. I felt even worse now after Todd's little lecture. He turned to go back into the kitchen, but stopped short and tilted his head back towards me.

"And Quil?"

"Yeah?"

"Don't think that I won't come after you if I find out you've done something to her."

Even though I was bigger, and slightly younger, and a lot stronger than him, I knew Todd's threats weren't empty. And to be honest, they scared the hell out of me.

About an hour or so later I heard the door open and felt the familiar tug in the pit of my stomach. I looked over and saw Claire. If I hadn't been looking for it, or maybe if I hadn't been so in tune with her, I would never have known the discomfort she was in. I let my eyes drift from her now longer, curled hair. I barely had time to register how beautiful she looked in her bright red tee-shirt dress and black leggings before my eyes settles on her pearl necklace, the one that had been my grandmother's, the one I'd given her for her sixteenth birthday. For the first time since our fight, I let hope settle into my chest. Maybe I could take this as a sign that she was getting over her anger at me.

I smiled at her, the first real smile I'd had in awhile, but she just kind of drew her lips into a tight line and asked Jacob, who was sitting beside me, where Renesmee was. My heart dropped. So much for her not being mad at me anymore. I saw a couple of the others in the living room look between the two of us a couple times, clearly confused, but I didn't care. I didn't care what they knew or what they thought they knew or their opinion on it. All I could think about was that my Claire was mad at me, and this time it was legit. It wasn't like those times when she was younger and I did something or said something stupid and she got a little miffed for a day but then got over it. This was colossal. I was positive that this was the worst thing that had ever happened or that could ever happen. My world, no, my sun, no longer wanted anything to do with me. She had stopped shining for me. I was a man in total darkness.

I managed to eat enough food to keep Emily off my back, and made it through the Secret Santa gift exchanges without any pitying looks. I watched as Claire subtly picked up the gift I'd gotten her and put it in one of Tallin's already-opened bags, and I felt as though she'd stabbed me in the throat. I realized that I'd be doing good if I made it through the day without crying like a baby at her rejection.

When all the gifts were unwrapped, I thought about making up some kind of excuse to leave early before we had dessert and eggnog, but decided that I'd make the most of Claire's presence near me as long as I could.

As soon as Emily began passing around the steaming liquid and plates of cookies and cake, Claire stood up, and a horrible, horrible feeling overcame me.

"Excuse me, everyone." She sounded formal. Very quiet. Very NOT Claire. "Umm, if I could have your attention for just a sec, I have an announcement to make."

My mind was racing. What could it be? Was she sick? Was she engaged? Was she…pregnant? Was she in financial trouble? Was she dropping out of school? Was she-"

"I sent tapes of some of my softball games and training sessions to a few schools about a month or so ago, and I got a reply back from Georgia Tech."

"Oh, Claire, honey, that's great!" Emily said. "What did they tell you?!"

"Well, the people in the athletic department said they had to clear it with undergraduate admissions, but they think with my athletic record and my grades that I could get a full scholarship. They want me to come catch for them." She was beaming by now and Jake and Embry were up doing some kind of weird victory dance around her, whooping and carrying on and making a big fuss.

I was too shell-shocked to move.

"What do ya think about our girl, Quilly?!" Embry screamed at me. All I could do was open and close my mouth like a stupid fish. I looked like an idiot.

"Well, Quil?" This time, it was Claire asking me. She looked hopeful, so maybe she was looking for my approval. It was more than I would ever dare to ask for.

Great. The first time in months she's directed any kind of words toward me at all and I can't come up with an intelligent response.

"Quil?" she said again.

"It's…umm…Georgia? But that's in…Georgia?" I tried to mentally calculate how far it was from here to Georgia, and whether or not I could run there in less than two hours to patrol around her room like I've been doing ever since I met her.

"Yeah. It's in Georgia, Quil," she replied with a bite to her tone.

Everyone was watching our exchange, but I couldn't look anywhere but her eyes-her beautiful, currently smoldering eyes that appeared to be challenging me, daring me to say something, anything, that would go against her going that far.

I slumped in defeat, mumbling 'Georgia.' I stood and went over to her. As I pulled her in for a hug, I felt her stiffen, but I went ahead and kissed her on the forehead, anyway. If she was going to go to Georgia, to the other side of the continent, then she could give me this. "Congrats, Claire-bear," I whispered, and at that moment I knew I couldn't take anymore. I left the house without another word and without looking behind me.

I decided not to phase. I didn't feel like ripping my good clothes or taking the time to tie them to my leg, so I just started walking towards the beach. It was too cold for normal people to be out, so it would be quiet there. I would be able to clear my head. I would be able to brace myself for letting my Claire go all the way across the country without me.

I hadn't gotten far before I heard someone running towards me.

"Quil!"

I whipped around at the all-too-familiar voice.

"Claire?"

"Quil!" She was running full force at me.

"Claire, where's your jacket? It's freezing out here!" I yelled to her.

I stood rooted to the spot as she barreled toward me. I waited for her to stop but she didn't. She slammed into me, throwing her arms around my neck , sobbing.

"Claire? Claire, what's wrong?!" I went from being dismal to frantic immediately. Claire never cried. Never.

I gathered her up in my arms and let her cry, rocking her back and forth as she held on tight to me.

"I've *hiccup* missed *hiccup* you!" She sniffled and I could feel tears and snot pooling on my shoulder where her head rested, though I couldn't have cared less at this point.

"I missed you too, Claire-bear. I'm such an idiot."

She laughed a little, drawing in a shaky breath. "I know."

"I'm so sorry. I was too much of a coward to tell you before, I guess. I just wanted you to have a normal life. I wanted you to go out with your friends and date and stuff, but I ruined it anyway. A whole sixteen years worth of effort down the toilet in sixteen seconds." I shook my head and she nuzzled her nose into my neck.

"I'm still mad at you, Quil. I'm still SO disappointed in you for not telling me. But you've been my best friend for so long and-"

"Claire, you don't have to-"

"Let me finish. You've been my best friend for SO long, Quil. I wasn't gonna leave here with things how they are. You've been a part of my life for as long as I can remember and you've always been there for me even when you probably had better things to do. I love you, Quilly, even when you piss me off so bad I can't even think straight. So I'm forgiving you. This is the only get-out-of-jail-free card you're ever gonna get, so don't mess it up, 'kay?"

"Claire-"

"Okay?!"

"Okay, Claire. I got it."

"Good."

As I stood there embracing her in the middle of the deserted road, I felt myself coming back to life. No more stabs or jabs or aches or pains anywhere. Claire had forgiven me.

"So, what'd you get me for Christmas?"

I laughed. "Well, maybe if you'd have opened it-" I stopped when I saw her glaring at me.

"Fine, fine. C'mon. I have a spare one at my house."

"What? You have a spare Christmas present?" She looked up at me, confusion spreading across her face as she let go of me and wiped the trails of salt water and the smeared make-up off of her face.

"Yup."

"Well, that's not weird. I have something for you too, y'know."

"I didn't know people got gifts for people they hated."

She smiled my favorite crooked, mischievous smile and said, "Well, USUALLY they don't, but I had to make an exception."

"Well, what is it?"

"Close your eyes and hold out your hand."

"But you don't have any pockets-"

"Shut up, Quil, and do what I asked!"

"Okay, bossy."

She laughed. I closed my eyes and placed my hand palm-up in front of her. She placed it in my hand and I closed my fingers around it, feeling something thin and leathery.

"Okay. Open your eyes."

I looked down to see what she had given me and I felt like I was gonna throw up from sheer happiness. In my hand laid a wooden wolf charm attached to a leather necklace. The carving was almost identical to the ones all of the other wolves had given to their imprints.

"Claire, what-"

"Look, before you say anything, I know you're supposed to be giving me one of these eventually, but I thought I'd mix it up a bit. I'm not trying to imply anything by this, at least not for now, but I thought it would be more suitable for me to give this to you instead of vice versa. It just seemed right."

I didn't even know what to say. This was obviously an olive branch-both a peace treaty and a recognition of the magic that existed between us. "Claire, I-"

"Ah, Quil, I'm sorry. I knew it was stupid. Imprints don't give these to wolves. You can't even wear it all the time. I didn't even think about that! I'm-"

"Claire-"

"-sorry. Really. It isn't even that good. We both know-"

"Claire-"

"-how bad I suck at crafty things, but I just thought-"

"Claire!"

"What?"

"I love it. It's beautiful. In fact, it may be the best Christmas present I've ever gotten."

"Really?"

"Really, really."

She smiled again, and I thanked whatever deity was listening for giving her that simple yet fascinating facial expression.

"I hope it fits, then. I tried to cut the strap longer 'cause I know what a meat-head you are."

"Gee, thanks! I love you too, Claire."

She blushed.

Wait. She BLUSHED. I've never seen her blush before!

It was captivating.

She recovered quickly, though, much to my misfortune. "Soooo, how about MY present?"

I laughed and grabbed her hand with a squeeze. "C'mon, peanut."

We walked in silence back to my house, our arms swinging between us the whole way there.

"Wait out here."

"Okay. But don't keep me waiting. I'm very impatient."

"I know." I ran into the house and rummaged through a couple of drawers in the kitchen before I found them in a small basket next to Embry's cigarettes. As soon as I had them in my hand I ran out the door and straight past Claire, yelling out at her to follow me.

As soon as I reached the shed I turned around to face her.

"Quil, you're ridiculous, " she said smirking.

"You may not think that when you see your present. Now close your eyes."

"Why do I feel like we've been in this same situation before?"

"Because we have. Now close your eyes, woman!"

"Fine, fine." When her eyes were shut I turned and pressed the code in for the shed, sliding open the door as I had many times over the past few months, having nothing else to do but mourn over Claire while overhauling her once (but no longer) rust bucket of a car. "You're not giving me another clunker, are you?" she laughed.

"Not unless you call this baby a clunker. Open your eyes, sweets." I tossed the keys to her as she peered into the dark garage.

"You didn't."

"I didn't what?" I said, flipping the switches to all the lights.

"Quil, no you freaking didn't! Oh my God! No way!" She was jumping up and down just outside the shed.

"Well, are you gonna come check out the fruits of my hard labor or are you just gonna stand there squealing?"

"Quil! You are OFFICIALLY out of the dog house. Oh my GOD! And it's black, too!" Now she ran towards it, much like she had when she was thirteen, running her hands over the sleek exterior.

"And it's chromed! QUIL! How did you afford all of this?! I'm gonna go bankrupt trying to pay you back!"

"Don't worry about it. Think of it as your birthday present for the next, oh, ten years," I said, knowing good and well that I would still be getting her gifts for every holiday that came up.

"Can I drive it?!"

"It's yours. I don't see why not."

"Hey Quil?!"

"Yeah?"

"I freaking love you."

I couldn't even say anything back for smiling as she hopped in the driver's seat. I lingered behind, ready to let her take it off by herself, but before she cranked it she motioned for me to get in.

As soon as I shut the door, she turned the key in the ignition and squealed when the motor roared to life. "A V8, Quil? Seriously?!"

"Seriously."

She squealed again and slowly pulled out of the garage, creeping down the gravel driveway at a snail's pace.

"Why don't you open it up, Claire-bear? I've only driven it once to make sure it ran alright. Let's see what this baby can do."

"As you wish, Quilly."

And with that, she pushed the gas pedal to the floor and we headed towards the 101.

Hope you guys enjoyed it! R&R!

~darkgoddess