Nothing but talk for this chapter! Hope you enjoy it, even though absolutely nothing happens. But if you have any questions that popped up, this chapter night help answer them. Also, at this point in the pregnancy, she is about 19 weeks along, I think. Or twenty. I can't remember and I don't feel like going to get my journal to see what it really is. Anyways, I hope you like it. Remember to review!

Oh yeah almost forgot. They talk about adult themes, but I assume at least 98 percent of the world's teens know where babies come from. So just... uhh keep an open mind, and read through it fast if it makes you uncomfortable, okay? Okay.

The next few weeks were bliss for both Shane and Claire. Claire grew slowly bigger and less moody as Shane spent most of the days at work, taking more hours so he'd be able to take off more time once the baby was born.

On one such day, Claire went over to the Glass House to hang out with Eve. "My God, you're huge!" she exclaimed as she saw Claire.

Claire laughed. "You ain't seen nothin' yet. Just wait a few more weeks."

"You tired? You wanna sit down?" Eve asked, eyeing an exhausted Claire.

"Yes," Claire sighed, relieved. She walked into the living room and promptly plopped down on the couch. "Hey, do you have any kettle corn? I know you love it and I'm craving it now."

"Yeah, I'll just go pop some, real quick." Eve went into the kitchen while Claire sat on the couch, steadying her breath and re-doing her ponytail. Four minutes later, Eve came back with a bowl of popcorn and sat down next to Claire. "You're really tired for a short walk," she observed.

"I know. But my feet and back are killing me." To emphasize these words, she propped her feet on the coffee table. "Where's Michael?" she asked as she reached her hand into the popcorn bowl and promptly began eating.

"Out. Top secret vampire stuff." She quickly changed the subject. "Hey, when is the baby due?" Eve asked, also taking a handful of popcorn goodness.

"About September 15th, if everything goes right."

"So, you conceived…"

"Around Christmas," Claire knew it was just better to answer the questions rather than resist them.

"Eww, that was a bad question," Eve said, making a face. "Time for another one. Did the… protection break, or did he forget to use it?"

"Eve, we're not stupid," Claire gave Eve an annoyed look. "We don't know what happened. After all, condoms are only like, 94 percent effective."

Eve pretended to retch. "Okay, this is gross. Change of subject." She gave Claire an eager smile. "Let me take a look at that ring."

Claire crossed her arm over her body so Eve could look at the ring on her left hand.

"Wow," Eve said, her eyes widening.

"That's what I thought when I first saw it," Claire was smiling, as she always did when she looked at her ring. The little band had a line of small diamonds running up the sides, three smaller ones on either side of the center, which was occupied by one big diamond.

"Looks expensive," Eve observed.

"It most definitely was. You know what's engraved on the inside?" Eve shook her head. " 'To infinity and beyond'," Claire laughed at the startled expression on Eve's face.

"That's not very romantic," Eve said as she returned Claire her hand. "A plastic toy says that, and it can't even fly. And how did all of that fit on that ring?"

"He used the sign for infinity rather than the whole word. And it is romantic because Toy Story is one of my favorite Disney movies, and it's the same as if he's saying 'Forever and Always'." Eve looked at her like she thought she was crazy. "Shut up, I like it."

There was a short pause, then Eve, her voiced changed wholly, said, "I wish Michael would get up the nerve and ask."

"Oh honey," Claire felt instantly bad. She reached her arm around to drape over Eve's shoulders and pull her into a one-armed hug. "I'm sure he wants to. Maybe he just doesn't know if he can. There's probably a law saying vampires aren't allowed to marry humans."

Claire's reassurances didn't seem to be helping though; Eve still looked upset. "I think I almost found a ring," Eve confessed.

"What?" Claire's tone demanded details.

"Well, I was looking for something in one of his jackets, and he caught me and freaked out and took the jacket away. And I just got wondering. I went to check again later, but I didn't find anything." Eve still sounded unhappy, despite the possibility that Michael wanted to propose. "Where do you suppose he went today?" she added.

Claire shrugged. "I'm sure he went to talk to Amelie… to ask permission."

"You're just saying that," Eve said. Then she scoffed and shook her head. "Next we'll be needing to ask if we can take a shit."

There was a second of silence and then they both started cracking up. "Speaking of Amelie," Eve said once they'd finished laughing, "how did she react when you told her you were preggers?" She poked Claire in the stomach on the last word.

"Well, I can't say she was too pleased," Claire answered truthfully. "She was the same cold bitch she usually is. Told me to take time off from school if I needed it and to get out of her sight. I've only seen her once since them to tell her Shane and I are getting married. Told me she was happy for us and to get out of her sight." They both laughed. "That's all I've seen of her recently. So I guess she's either mad, busy, or both. Whichever way, at least she's not manipulating my every move."

"And Myrnin?"

"I still have to go in once or twice a week." The look on Eve's face meant that that wasn't what she'd been asking. Claire rolled her eyes but continued anyway, "He took all of the news very cheerfully. Even wanted to make a toast, but I told him I couldn't drink and he went ranting about his time. But anyway, he's very excited for me."

"Oh yeah how's that portally-Ada thingy coming along?" Eve asked.

Claire groaned. "It has to keep getting rebooted. It's not as powerful a system as Ada was, but it's enough."

They were both silent a moment as Claire realized the popcorn was gone. She pointed this out and Eve suggested they watch a movie. She went to pop another bag as Claire checked out the movie selection.

Yeah, I know, bad closure. I agree. But I couldn't think of any other way to end it. Also a picture of the ring is available on my profile. It's a link, just so you know. :D