A much longer update for you all. I got a fair amount of feelings during this chapter so I hope you like it!


Neither of them really remembered that there were other people in the cafe until the sounds of whistling finally hit their ears. Claire pulled back and a red blush covered her cheeks almost immediately. Elle smiled at Claire, her eyes shining with happiness. Claire couldn't help but smile back at the other woman.

"Come on. Let's, you know, talk about this." Elle stretched out her hand to Claire who took it and together they walked out the door. They held hands all the way to the apartment, both amazed at just how right it felt. It was a much longer to get to back to the building then getting to the cafe because instead of getting a cab they walked all the way back home. Of course they had two very different dialogs going on inside. Claire's jumped back and forth from thinking about what Micah had said to the kiss and how much she had been wanting Elle to kiss her. Elle's thoughts merely were about how nice the kiss was. Both of their trains of thought slowly stopped as Claire unlocked the door to the apartment. An awkward silence feel between them, neither knowing exactly what was going to happen.

"Listen Elle," Claire said as they made their way to the kitchen, "I really really like you, but I don't know if I'm ready for a serious relationship with all of the stuff going around. I want to be with you though. If that makes sense."

Elle laughed at Claire's hurried speech. "It does make sense. We'll take it slow, ok? No need to rush these things. Plus I'd rather catch the baddies first and then get the girl."

"I'd say that is a rather simplified view of things, but alright then. I just..." Claire trailed off muttering something under her breath.

"What was that? I didn't quite catch that, Cheerleader."

Claire flushed and repeated what she said. "I said I just didn't want to hurt you so yeah. Let's have supper and try to figure out what exactly Micah was hiding from us. Good? Good." With that Claire turned from Elle and started to cook a simple meal of spaghetti. Elle chuckled at the absolute adorableness of Claire and figured she would actually be helpful and set about getting glasses and silverware. As they set about their business they conversed about things that didn't really matter, like the next presidential election and TV shows, until they finally sat down to eat.

"I think Micah is working for a company of some sort." Elle stated after she sat down next to Claire.

"You really think he would do that after what happened with his mother?"

"Believe me when I say those companies can convince you to join no matter what your past is. I've seen the inner workings of them. Hell, my expertise is probably what got me locked up into the metal hospital."

Claire looked at Elle, shocked that she would mention the time she had spent in the hospital. She had never mentioned it before and Claire had always been to unsure of her feelings for Elle too try and bring it up. "I suppose you would know."

"You only suppose?" teased Elle.

"Well I just can't believe that he would join one. He was such a nice boy."

"Well he isn't really a boy anymore, Claire."

"Oh yeah. You're right. God. Sometimes I wish I didn't have these abilities and my life turned out normal."

"Well... You can't really change the past, Claire, and I, for one, am glad for my powers. Without them I would have never met you."

Claire smiled at Elle's serious face. "That's right. I don't even know why I try. Clearly you are always right and I should just do whatever you say."

Elle's serious face turned into a smirk. "Well if we did that then we certainly wouldn't just be sitting around here."

"Elle!" Claire cried, shocked at the innuendo.

'What! It's true."

Claire got up and grabbed her plate, trying to hide her embarrassment. "Yes, Well. You don't need to say it just because it is true."

"Aww I'm sorry, Claire-Bear. Did you want to talk about serious things some more?"

"No, not really. It's rather tiring having to figure out who I can trust and who I can't. I would love to just have a time of peace. Like the past couple of months." Claire explained while putting her dishes away.

"Yeah, the past couple of months have been pretty nice." Elle said getting up to clear her mess.

Claire gave a bitter laugh. "Why can't the rest of the world just go away? Responsibility sucks."

"So people keep on telling me, but I've yet to find out." quipped Elle.

Claire smiled at that. "Alright you. Finish cleaning up and then let's get working some more. I don't want to let those of us who are missing down."

Elle nodded. "Agreed. Now that I have the power to help I really do feel like I should. All of us with abilities are connected in a way. Because we're different." Claire nodded and turned to her files. They were already filled with reports of missing people. Elle wasn't sure how exactly Claire got those reports as she was sure they were supposed to be confidential, but she didn't think she really wanted to know. Claire insisted that if she went over them enough she would be able to find a similarity or something that linked the people besides matching the DNA profile for having an ability. There were many different colored sticky notes poking out of different places in the files, Claire also claimed there was an organization to them, though Elle tried and failed to understand what it was. As Elle cleaned up the pots and pans she couldn't help looking over at Claire one or two times. The dedication with which Claire threw herself into the task of trying to help these people she had never met made Elle fall just a little bit more in love with the girl. Elle almost wanted to walk over to Claire and just reach out to touch her, to make sure that such a person actually existed in her world. She had never truly had someone who cared so deeply, not just for her, but about for the general welfare of it seemed everyone else. Elle sighed and closed her eyes. The best thing she could do was help Claire. That was pretty much her purpose now. To support the one she loved. Elle then opened her eyes and they almost flared with determination. There were many things in her life she regretted, but she had found a way to repent for her wrongs and also help others. She had found a place where she felt at home instead of a place that was just another cage. Elle planned to do just about anything to protect her home. She turned with a smile and she put the last plate in the dishwasher and turned it on. As she turned off the light she felt the light switch give off a spark, almost as if the apartment was welcoming her, though she had already been there for so long, and Elle smiled, forming a ball with the small spark. For a minute or two she just watched the electricity play between her fingers and then she shook herself out of her reverie. With a smirk she sauntered past Claire.

"I'm headed to bed, in case you care to join me." She called to Claire who was still hunched over the files. Claire looked up and reached for a blank sheet of paper which she crumpled up and threw in Elle's direction.

"You stop that. I'm not prepared yet!"

"I know. I'm just waiting for the day you will be." Claire shook her head at Elle's bold statement.

"Just go to bed."