Well this is comming to the climax within the next two or three chapters isn't it? No more than five left at that. Plus Epilogue. Huzzah for a long fic comming to an end. Thanks for reviews, and for reading. This chapter...is well...read it and you tell me. I was unhappy with it, but couldn't become any happier with it. Let me know if I should take it off and rewrite it.

"I think you're amazing Gray…"

I don't remember how many times I heard her say it. How many times I saw that large smile that followed the phrase. Every time I was feeling down, every time I belittled myself, and every time I felt embarrassed.

But the first time I heard it, really heard it I mean- when I was sure she meant it…

Of course I'm sure she meant it all the other times as well. I'm sure she did, because that was just the type of person Claire was. She wouldn't say something for the sake of making me feel better. She truly thought I was amazing.

But the first time I heard it had been in the late Autumn. On her birthday…

The farm house that Jack and Claire resided in was crowded, filled with friends of the siblings and small party favors. Mary's mother had sent a small floral arrangement with a happy birthday balloon tied to the vase. Rick and Popuri had come over, a basket of eggs with a bow in tow. It was predictable of course but still thoughtful. May was there, and she had brought one of the puppies Hannah had recently had. It was asleep in a box, existence unknown by the birthday girl. Stu and Elli had brought a tin of cookies, though I'm sure Stu's random disappearances had to do with him sneaking some of those cookies out.

Claire was smiling at all the bustle and hustle around her, her head turning in the direction of louder sounds. She looked somewhat silly, sitting there with May at the table, both wearing pointy birthday hats at May's insistence. Jack was sitting at the table as well, somewhat distraught and covered in flour from when he had been trying to make a cake, while Stu kept blowing the party whistle in his ear, laughing when the paper rolled out and hit Jack's ear.

Ann and Mary had banished Jack from the kitchen for reasons that were not shared. Something about an entire bag of sugar had been heard being shouted by Ann early in the evening, and I presumed that was what it was.

Grandpa had found me a jewelry box, and I had crudely wrapped it with some bright pink paper Ann gave me. It was stuffed in my jacket pocket, as I was somewhat embarrassed by it. I was pretty sure there was more tape than wrapping paper on it, and compared to all the other presents mine was somewhat lacking in visual beauty.

The party was being delayed do to the fact that it lacked a proper cake. Ann and Mary had come to the rescue, but evidently you cant just slop some sugary icing on the cake and call it done. Evidently there is a cooling process…otherwise the icing just melts and drips down the cake. So while we had to wait the 'at least an hour' the cake had to cool, we decided to do the party backwards and open presents first.

Jack sat next to Claire, handing her the gifts and leaning over after she freed them from wrapping paper, whispering in her ear lowly so no one could hear. Mary had gotten her books on tape, which she seemed enthralled about. Ellen had sent a hand knitted pink pair of gloves, a hat, and matching scarf. The wool had been provided by Barley.

"This gift is from little May," Jack said with a chuckle, picking up the half asleep puppy and placing it in Claire's hands. She furrowed her eyebrows as she took it, a confused look coming over her face.

"It's warm…" she commented, her eyes shutting as she tried to figure it out. She smiled gently and hummed. "It's soft too…" she added, squeezing the pup a little tighter. The puppy seemed to wake up, turning its head curiously up at the person that held him. Then he clumsily jumped up, paws resting on her chest as it licked at her chin.

Claire let out a small yelp, which in turn caused the puppy to bark in response. She blinked at the spot in front of her before she started laughing, carefully holding the puppy close.

"Thank you so much May. I love it…" she whispered, hand coming up to rub the puppy's head. May beamed brightly at Claire, toying with her left pigtail as she blushed.

"I'm glad. I read in the library…that the dog can help you," she trailed off and looked at a sulking Stu, who was muttering about wanting his own puppy.

Claire smiled at the little girls thoughtful words, and held the wiggling puppy closer to her. She leaned over closer to Jack who was whispering somewhat frantically in her ear, and Claire bit her bottom lip, obviously trying not to laugh at her brother. She shook her head and said something lowly for him to hear only.

Jack patted her shoulder and took the puppy, sticking it in the bedroom as he walked into the kitchen, probably checking on Ann and her slowly cooling cake. There was some muttered cursing and bickering before he came back out, frustration clear on his face.

"Well it seems that we still have to wait thirty minutes for cake. So we can socialize…walk around outside, whatever you want to do until then."

The room began to buzz with chatter, everyone trying to occupy themselves and take their minds off the cooking cake. Stu and May went to the TV and began to watch something. I stood up silently from my chair, hand shoved deep in my jacket pocket as I clung tightly to the small box.

Jack saw me and raised an eyebrow before leaning down to Claire and whispering something. She nodded and carefully stood up. She looked apprehensive and I turned my head to the side curiously before is dawned on me…that she couldn't maneuver through the crowded house. I squeezed in between the wall and the table, hearing chairs scratch against the wood floor as the occupants scooted in for me.

When I reached Claire, I took her hand and tugged her in the direction to the door. But Jack caught my eye and gestured to the bedroom. I felt my face turning red but understood it would be easier than leading the woman back around the table. It was a tight fit after all. I waved at Jack in appreciation, but the backwards hat wearing man simply pointed at a non existent watch on his wrist and held up five fingers.

I guess he was still a protective older brother.

So I lead her to the other room.

I had never been so scared to be alone with someone in my life. I didn't know if she would like what I made her, let alone if she would even be able to get the wrapping paper off from it. And the feeling that a homicidal older brother would walk through the door at any moment didn't help my nerves. I wasn't scared of Jack, but he could be a little crazy at times.

But in all honesty it was one of the most terrifying moments in my life. Because I had put my heart and soul into this gift…

If she rejected it... she rejected me.

I begrudgingly pulled out the box with one hand, the other taking her hand I was still holding and turning it palm up. I pushed it somewhat forcefully in her hand, my face heating up the entire time to the point that my hair was pale in comparison.

"I...uh…I got you…that. For…you.." I muttered out all tongue tied, my eyes sealing shut and fists clenching at my wonderful ability to articulate. Claire didn't say anything, but after a moment there was the sound of a frustrated sigh and a small ripping sound.

"Ah…sorry. It's hard to get into," she whispered quietly as she was able to tear some of the tape with her fingernail. She opened it with great difficulty, sliding the top of the box off and clumsily placing it under the bottom part. "I'm sure…that is beautiful," she added with a thoughtful smile.

I didn't say anything as she took her fingers to the gold pendent, softly brushing the tips over the shape and frowning. I rubbed the back of my neck nervously and gave her a nervous smile that she couldn't see.

"It's a charm," I whispered, my large fingers coming to take the delicate necklace out of the box. "Grandpa helped with the chain…I couldn't get mine to keep from breaking…" I explained softly, taking the box and tossing it carelessly over to the bed as I dangled the charm in front of her. "I've been working on it since the summer…and its not the greatest thing in the world," I began to ramble, my eyes suddenly finding the floor very interesting. Claire's small hand rested on mine as she smiled up at me, her eyes shut.

"It's amazing Gray," she assured me, and I frowned at her comment.

"You don't even know what it is," I muttered dejectedly. She narrowed her eyes at my comment and let her fingers trail down to the charm again. After several moments of silence she sighed and gave an unsure smile.

"I think it's a funny shaped key," she offered, her face blushing as she turned her head. "But I'm not sure." I blinked down at her embarrassed posture and couldn't stop the adoring smile that came over my face.

The woman had always been too adorable for her own good. To innocent and kind…

I let out a relieved chuckle and clumsily undid the clasp, stepping closer to her and trying to put it on her. My fingers were large and made it hard to hold the clasp open. I finally got it after a few minutes of struggling. I looked down at the thin golden chain that rested over her blond hair and without thinking let my hands slide around and under it at the back of her neck, pulling it up and over the chain so it rested in its appropriate place.

I pulled back and examined my work, eyes resting on the sapphire set in the bow of the key, sparkling at me knowingly. Claire's small fingers came up and slid over the smooth gold key, her eyes shut and a small smile playing on her lips.

"There…is a sapphire," I offered when her finger slid over the stone.

The same shade of blue as my eyes. Dark blue…because I would always watch over her…

At least that was what I had promised myself.

I was bad about making promises I couldn't keep.

"I love it Gray. It's beautiful. And you're amazing," she murmured, closing the distance in between us and wrapping her slender arms around my waist. I stiffened some at the unexpected contact, but immediately relaxed as I brought both my arms around her shoulders, closing my eyes and simply enjoying the contact between us.

I had come to care for this woman so deeply so quickly that I was already in to deep before I realized it.

I opened my eyes at the sound of growling, and looked down between us. There was a little pile of brown fur, milk teeth bared at me as it wiggled in between Claire and myself. I stepped back, watching the pup with narrowed eyes.

"Well…at least he's protective of you," I muttered out, scratching the back of my head and not quite sure what else to do. Claire simply shook her head and squatted. She didn't have to search for the puppy as it had jumped on her as soon as she was low enough.

"I think he's just jealous," she said with a giggle, ruffling the pups ears and then turning, placing it on the bed when she reached it.

Jealous…jealous would take on a whole new meaning to me in a little over two seasons.

Because over the winter and the spring…over the next two seasons and before the summer…Claire was with me. Where she should have stayed.

There were a few shinning moments that I would never forget. And one giant screw up I would have to live with for the rest of my life.

It's hard to stay in line…to write in the order it happened. Because what bothers me the most is how it ended. But to understand how it ended, the whole story must be told.

It doesn't make it better…but I want it to be clear…that I didn't mean for it to end like this. But I had been too late.

Fifteen minutes…fifteen damn minutes could have changed the ending.