I do not own anything in the twilight universe. I only wish I did.

Bright Futures

Quil flopped over and placed the pillow over his head. The bright sunlight, so unusual for this area, was burning a hole right through his eye lids. Just five minutes more, thought as he vainly tried to recapture sleep. But it was evasive as he tossed again. At least what little sleep he did accomplish, was beneficial. He sighed as he turned onto his back again.

Running through the forest, searching for her, he did not panic this time. An awareness, he was beginning to recognize pulsed in his temple. His body with a mind of its own, seemed to know the way, freeing his mind to plan. A strategy that was what he needed. Every time he made it this far and saw Claire, he got sidetracked. Not this time. If it took everything in him, he was going to find out where she was. There had to be some sign that would point the way. Something the five year old saw, even if she didn't understand. As if following a maze, his feet found the correct path. Right, left, right, right. All at once he was in the clearing. She was on her knees looking at the ground. Her little shoulders ram rod straight. She stood up, her chin tilted up, and her heated eyes moved over him, giving him the once over. Abruptly she crossed her tiny arms over her chest and turned her back to him. Uh oh, he was in trouble.

Quil phased and ran over to her. "Hey Claire-bear!" He waited for her response. She kept her back to him, silent. Quil's smile dimmed as apprehension tensed his shoulders. " Claire, somethings wrong. Can you tell me why you're so upset? I came as quickly as I could. I'm trying to find you. Please don't be mad at me." He went to his knees, pleading with her.

Claire turned around, accusation blazing in her eyes, "Who is she?" Quil blinked,thrown for a curve. What did she mean? Who was who? Quil opened his mouth before his mind could form a coherent thought. What was she accusing him of? As an after thought he closed his mouth and tried to reason. She just stared at him, waiting for his reply? His reason? His excuse? He wasn't even sure what he was being accused of. He only knew she was more than upset. She was angry! And a Claire that was angry was a Claire to be reckoned with.

"You know who I mean," she said her curls bobbing around her head. Her freckles, on her nose, seemed to glow brighter. He eyes focused on them, while his mind frantically tried to guess who she meant. He would never purposely try to hurt her. There was no She. No other girl. He just didn't see anyone else. Could a five year old possibly feel jealousy? Maybe he was reading way too much into this situation.

"Claire, I'm a little bit slow today. Could you explain to me why you are so mad at me. I don't know what I did wrong. Her little lip trembled and in a rush she let it all out.

" I saw her! You were making faces at her, and kissing her and holding her hand. You said you would wait for me! You promised! Daddy takes me away and you forget me," the last was said through huge crocodile tears. " You promised me."

Quil reached for her and her resolve crumpled. She leaped into his arms clinging to him. Unable to control his own tears, he tried to reassure her. " Baby I don't know what you saw, but I told you the truth. I will wait for you. There is no one else for me. I don't see anyone else. " His eyes pleaded for her to understand, but she was just a child. This was so complicated that he had a hard time keeping up. How could he expect her to do more than what he could. She looked into his eyes, her miniature fingers traced the tears on his face. Confusion marked her face and doubt made her reply. " But I saw you."

Quil knew that this was important. He also knew he had to be careful how he asked her, or she would go hysterical again. Then he wouldn't get any information from her. He needed her at her peak. " Claire, where did you see me and her?" Instead of answering, she raised her hand and placed it on his wet cheek.

Impatient to get to the bottom of this, he fidgeted, rubbing her tiny back. He would rather stick a dagger in his own heart then to see tears shed because of him. Then the images took his breath. It was First Beach at twilight.

All of his friends and family were gathered around him. They were smiling at him. He was wearing a monkey suit, one of those you would see at a lawn party. He was putting his thumb inside the too tight collar. Embry grabbed his hand away, " Man, don't mess up your tie, it took us an hour to get it right." Jacob interrupted, " It took Carlisle only a couple of minutes to fix the mess we created." It took a moment for Quil to catch up with Jacob and Embry's merriment, and he found himself laughing when they had stopped. " Good one," Quil said, and pulled at his collar again. " What is taking her so long!

"You know women, well maybe you don't, but we know women and it's worth the wait, right Jake? Embry turned to Jacob for support, but he was preoccupied, staring at a long legged beauty in silky blue number. Her deep bronze tresses falling softly over her bare shoulders. She was walking on a bed of bright velvet rose petals, coming towards him in a slow swaying gate. Her hands filled with fragrant white orchids. She only had eyes for Jacob dressed similar to Quil and Embry. " Oh yeah," Jacob said, and Quil couldn't tell if he was commenting to Embry's remark or the at Nessie's appearance. They had been married for three years, but the honeymoon was still going strong.

Embry's gaze kept going to his wife sitting next to Emily and Heather. She smiled back at him. Christmas day it will be 10 years that they had been married. The twins were playing in the background teasing the girls, making one of them squeal. He was going to have his hands full in a few years. She looked up at him and the smile turned mischievous. Tonight would be a lucky night . She was always turned on by weddings. That's how the twins were conceived. Who knows maybe this time triplets. Embry met Quil's gaze and breathed under his breath, " thank you." Quil's asked what for, but Jacob punched his arm for attention, he turned and froze.

She was on Sam's arm. Her white flowing dress scattered the rose petals, lighting them in the cool breeze. Her dark hair was intertwined in an intricate pattern of braids and curls. It made her look sophisticated. Who was this woman? Where was his Claire. The woman slowly made her way between their family and friends, at last standing before him. The veil shadowed her face in the dusky light. But he could see her smile. Claire's smile and he returned one in relief. Sam turned her and lifted the veil, then gave her a kiss and placed her hand on Quil's arm. Her dimples increased when she winked at him and then squeezed his arm. Now he was staring at the freckles that decorated her nose. Yes, this was his Claire.

The dream Claire hit him to get his attention, " See you are marrying someone else. You lied to me." Quil tried to catch his breath. The scene that she showed him was still playing in his head. The future event only gave him hope and a happiness that left him light headed. He could not think of a way that he could explain this to Claire, that she would understand. So he tried to reassure her in the only way he could. " Claire I love you and I promise you that I will wait for you. You are my life and there will never be anyone else. Ever."

Claire, refusing to give up the argument in true Claire fashion, poked him in the chest and said, " But you married her, and you kissed her and you danced with her." Both were caught in a staring contest. Neither backing down. Then Quil stood up, swooping her into his arms. He solemnly kissed her on the cheek and started twirling her in his arms. " I only dance with you Claire." Staring into his serious eyes, she searched for something. The hurt look disappeared, even if she did not quite believe him, then she rested her head against his shoulder.

Now Quil was awake and no closer to knowing where she was. Giving up on being able to continue sleep, he got up and took a long hot shower. He had a few hours before his shift, maybe he would stop by the Cullen's and see if Alice had seen something. Humming as he dressed, he realized that he hadn't been this happy in a long time. Seeing Claire grown up, just made him more positive that this nightmare was almost over. He needed to call Heather, she needs to know. Well, maybe he should wait until he had something more concrete. She might not understand his feelings. But he was riding on a serious high right now. He needed to expend some of this energy. Maybe he should phase and run his way to the Cullen's.

As soon as he phased he made his way toward Forks. His path intercepted Jake's half way there. The pack was unusually quite. It seemed almost eerie. But Quil was flying in his own world at the time. He gushed over and over about the dream. Even though all the others were privy to the whole scene in his mind, he repeated every detail. Jacob was floored at his first glimpse of Renesmee. Working a double shift, Embry was unusually silent, even when Quil questioned him about Leah's appearance in the dream. Vainly he tried to think of anything, to mask his whirlwind of thoughts. He was up to his elevens in his time tables. Quil's questions caused him to lose count. Again he started one times one is one... Knowing he was in a losing fight while in wolf form, he dropped back, said he was through for the day and phased back, slowly making his way to La Push,head bowed to the ground. Both of them asked each other what was up with him. He seemed so sensitive lately.

Quil paused in his bragging of how beautiful Claire will be when she grows up, to ask about Alice's progress. Jacob's mind went totally blank. Quil repeated his inquiry, still Jacob hesitated, "She's just got flashes, they don't make sense. You can't put stock into any of it yet." This was so opposite of his endorsement the other day, that Quil stopped running. What was Jacob not telling him? " What is going on? What did she see?" Jacob continued running a ways before he stopped. " What!?" The question boomed through the whole pack, each one flinching. Jacob forced his mind to go blank. But the rest of the pack were not so successful. That was the problem with a pack mind. There were many holes that the secrets leaked through. And although everyone was trying to ignore the"pink elephant"in their minds, it charged forward, demanding to be seen.

Seth was frantic with apology, racing behind Quil who was burning a path, through the woods, to get to Alice. She alone could explain the thought haunting the pack. The thought that the search for Claire was over. Now the search for her body was all that was left.

Quil stomped up the steps, clad in a pair of jogging shorts. His chest heaved with pent up anxiety. He forced the door open, cracking the drywall behind it with the impact. The people inside froze, not quite knowing how to take Quil's appearance. His eyes wildly raked across the room, desperately searching for her. Jacob and Seth burst into the room next. They took their place on either side of Quil. Edward's intake of breath warned the others that Quil was not in his right mind. Edward made to block Quil's path. " I just need to talk to Alice," Quil said as he spotted Alice, head on the dining room table. Jasper hovered over her in a purely defensive manner. He growled putting his body in front of her. Quil tried to sidestep Edward, but he matched his stride and his steel fingers locking on the Quileute's shoulder.

"This probably is not the best time to interrupt her." Quil tried to shake his hand off of him, and continue to Alice's side. Jacob and Seth moved closer to help. " Just let me talk to her. She got it wrong. I saw her future, our future. She's not de...," he couldn't finish. Edward's look of pity tore at Quil's heart. His chest refused to release the air it was holding. His voice, barely a whisper, " Please, Edward, I need to know what she thought she saw."

" She saw a conversation with Micah, Jane and Demetri. Micah confirmed that Claire was killed. She did not see Claire in the vision. We did not want to tell you because it was just a flash. She is trying to backtrack to pinpoint the moment in time that Micah is referring to. It's not definite."

" You're damn right she got it wrong!" Quill wiggled under Edward's relentless hold on him. Edward used his persuasive powers, " You need to calm down, and see reason. You will not help by attacking her now. Let her do her job." Edward stared Quil down. Still Quil held his own, panic not letting him back down. Slowly a numbness flowed over his taunt body. Suddenly he remembered Jasper's ability to manipulate emotions. Calm seeped into his bones causing him to slump, to lose his footing. Jacob and Seth each took him by the arms and helped him to the couch.

" Jake she's wrong, she's wrong," Quil pleaded to Jacob as he lost consciousness.

There is a purpose to my madness, really there is just bear with me and try not to get lost. there will be a light at the end of the tunnel. Why? because I love happy endings.