WARNING: Major Lesbian Processing. I still don't know what happens in this chapter. Much like when I'm lesbian processing IRL. People are rarely on the same page with me.

Chapter 14

…Naked

Claire had woken up to find the vampire asleep on her haunches next to the bed. She wondered if Alice had been in that position the entire night. After reaching out for the bottle of water on the night stand and halving its contents, Claire reached out to gently run her fingers through the soft dark curls of her saviour.

It was an odd emotion for Claire, to feel that protected and desired. It was only the pessimist inside of her that hadn't wanted to count on it, but when she had woken to her fate the night before, her first coherent thought had been that Alice would come for her. It had been such a strong belief that her immediate reaction had been to shove it back to the farthest recesses of her mind and completely ignore its existence. She was far too used to being disappointed.

But Alice had come for her and she'd eviscerated her captors.

Claire had thought that all it would take for her infatuation with the vampire to come to an abrupt conclusion, was to see Alice's more violent nature first hand. Olivia Tate and Michelle Stevens were nothing in comparison to the destruction Alice had caused in that warehouse. And yet, it had made no difference to Claire's growing obsession. Without meaning to, she had already accepted Alice for all she was a long time ago. And it wasn't because the vampire had saved her life, but because Alice had accepted her right from the start.

Claire was certain that a few days in the vampire's company and the elegant woman would lose interest in her. But never did that affectionate gaze falter. If anything, it had grown even more intense over the past few weeks. Alice had seen Claire at her worst and she'd understood and had bothered to look deeper.

Past the impassive, emotionally damaged, alcoholic Claire had allowed herself to become.

Luther had spoken about Alice's 'elaborate courting plan' and the vampire never made a secret of what she was doing. Honestly, Claire didn't see how this 'plan' of Alice's could possibly work given that she was completely aware of it and its purpose.

But somehow it had.

From the very start Alice had been nothing but herself, unashamedly and ostentatiously showing Claire her darker side. Even their 'random' conversations served to allow Claire to get to know the woman as more than just a vampire in the short time she'd lived in the mansion. Alice had come into her life at her very worst and almost effortlessly made Claire feel again.

And now she was there in the vampire's bed, feeling all these feels, and she couldn't blame it on gratitude, because even earlier the day before, she was floating on air at the night she'd spent with Alice. She had been looking forward to their dinner; to just being close to the brunette again.

As if realising that that was exactly what she needed: Alice closer to her, she moved the covers to the side, the brunette moving away to allow her to do so. Heedless of her naked state, Claire bared herself and pulled the vampire into bed with her. Alice crawled up her body with her usual feline agility, settling feather-lightly on top of Claire, ever cautious of any injuries she might have missed during her very thorough examination the night before. But in spite of a few slightly sore muscles and a minor headache, Claire was fine and she felt well rested. The anti-inflammatory Alice had given her helped with her jaw and it was only a little stiff and barely hurt at all.

Swallowing down her nerves, Claire reached out to touch the soft skin of Alice's cheek and the vampire responded by placing a gentle kiss on Claire's bruised wrist. She wanted to say it then; to tell Alice how she felt, but for some reason she couldn't find the words. To even articulate them into intelligible sentences seemed an impossible task. That she was still so confused about what she was feeling, and the legitimacy thereof didn't help at all.

"Why didn't you sleep in bed?" She softly whispered instead.

Alice smiled timidly before answering.

"I did not want you to feel as though I expected anything because I rescued you."

Claire grinned at the statement. Yes Alice was undeniably merciless and intimidating when she wanted to be, but even then, she was always so… proper.

"How old are you?" Claire warmly smiled up at her, asking one of the numerous questions she'd been dying to ask the vampire.

Alice had dated Luther's mother in the 80's, she'd shared quite a few quips from the 60's. During one of her rants she'd spoken about the idiocy of humans during world war two.

"I am four hundred and twelve." Alice smirked at Claire's failed attempt to hide her wide eyed stare. "How are you feeling Claire?" She asked, her eyes settling on the redhead's jaw before Claire could get over her shock and assault her with the flood of questions on the tip of her tongue.

Alice's blatant concern only made Claire's chest tighten with an aching warmth. Was this really happening? Had she really fallen for a vampire?

"I feel…" She swallowed thickly. "Happy." Claire smiled and pulled Alice down for a gentle kiss.

Unfortunately she'd momentarily forgotten the effect the brunette had on her, so the kiss soon deepened and was quickly accompanied by urgent, almost desperate, caresses. They hadn't been kissing long, but Claire had already learned to expertly navigate her tongue around Alice's sharp fangs.

She broke away gasping for air and a grip on her feelings. "Alice..." It came out as a strangled, distressed moan that caused the vampire to pull back and worriedly search her face.

Claire felt entirely naked and it had little to do with her state of undress. Sometimes Alice would look at her as though she could see everything that Claire felt. She wondered if it was possible, and if the vampire could see her now.

Alice smiled perceptively and kissed her on her forehead.

"I am going to get you something to eat and apologise to Doctor Valentine for my brutish behaviour." Alice smirked like she wasn't sorry at all.

Claire was thankful that Alice took it upon herself to relieve the intensity of the moment. She hadn't realised that she was on the verge of yet another panic attack. Perhaps she was still feeling overwhelmed at everything that had happened. Perhaps after she ate something she would feel different. Perhaps it really was just gratitude that Alice had saved her, which fuelled her current state of emotion after all.

….

While she ate her breakfast in bed, Claire was painfully aware of Alice in the shower. The bathroom door was slightly ajar and she wondered if it was an invitation. She felt oddly insecure as to whether the vampire would accept her advances considering she was being treated like she was on her deathbed and Alice had been the one to stop anything physical from happening earlier on.

Of course she had also received two massive blows to the head: First when she was initially taken by Ada's men and then again when she head-butted the fucker who touched her breasts.

Claire cringed at the memory and then sighed heavily a moment later. For every reason she came up with that she had actually developed genuine feelings for Alice, she would think of a few reasons that sought to invalidate them.

Her thoughts were abruptly halted when Alice emerged from the bathroom wrapped in her silky black kimono and strode over to her massive walk-in closet and disappeared inside. She was in there for perhaps five minutes, during all of which, Claire's eyes had been locked on the open door barring her view, her mind drawn blank, save for the few flashing images of the naked vampire and that sexy lingerie she loved to wear.

When Alice stepped out again, Claire had to bite her lip seeing the vampire in her characteristic LBD and fuck-me heels.

"Are you going somewhere?" The sentence came out choked as her eyes compulsively wandered over Alice's lithe body.

It was a senseless assumption, as Claire knew that Alice didn't have to be going anywhere and would still look that gorgeous.

"I made a promise to Ada Wong that I intend on keeping." Alice answered tersely, some of that anger from the previous night seeping through.

Claire discarded the food tray and moved to get out of bed but remembered how naked she was. She wasn't that comfortable with displaying herself so nonchalantly when not in the heat of the moment. She sat up straighter instead, making sure to cover herself, which was still ridiculous since Alice had seen every inch of her body.

"She's already in jail Alice…" Claire tried to explain very carefully and the vampire's look darkened.

"Because of her you were almost raped and murdered!" Alice's anger flared up again. "What do you think will happen if I do not retaliate as I had vowed? Any mercy will be interpreted as weakness. She already knows what you mean to me. I had taken her by surprise yesterday. She'd not expected me to come. Should she wish to use you as leverage again for either her escape or her retribution, she would know exactly what to do. It would be as simple as orchestrating yet another abduction and specifically extort my brother's influence to gain her freedom. Or if she is, as I suspect, the vengeful sort, she could easily just instruct her goons to kill you the next time they have the chance."

Claire was listening very carefully to the vampire's plight, but could she knowingly just sit back and allow Alice to go and kill someone in cold blood? Of course she'd lost her faith in the judiciary system a long time ago. She herself had taken the law into her own hands, and by no means was she intent on acting the hypocrite, but was she not still an officer of the law? Was it not her duty to stop people from doing what Alice is about to go and do?

"I am sorry Claire." Alice looked at her apologetically. "This is not up for discussion. If you wish, you may arrest me again, but we both know it would be futile. I cannot allow Ada Wong to live and be a continued threat to you, and I certainly cannot allow her to live after what she has done."

Alice then strolled over to the bed, bent down and kissed her chastely on the lips, like Claire was her wife and she was about to head out to the office.

"I hope you will forgive me." She whispered sincerely, before straightening up again and walking toward the door.

Claire could only stare after her, her conflicting emotions forcing her into sudden erratic deliberation.

"Alice!" She called out almost frantically as Alice reached for the doorknob, Claire's heart pounded loud in her chest at what she'd finally decided.

The vampire turned instantly regarding her with a vexed look.

"Can Ada wait a little bit longer?" Claire hesitantly asked, feeling physically drained by the willpower it took to not cower away from her intentions. "I was hoping we could… speak… about… stuff." She not so eloquently finished.

Alice's brow lifted slightly but she walked back to the bed, perching on the edge and reached down to take off her heels. Claire watched the movements in fascination as she gripped the sheets tightly against her chest. After placing the pair of heels neatly next to one another, Alice casually leaned back onto her arms, crossed her legs at the knee and turned a curious gaze toward Claire.

The hammering of her heart grew even louder in her ears as she stared at the woman, trying anxiously to make sense of the mass of thoughts and emotions rushing through her.

"If I were to…" She trailed off and frowned. "Let's just say…" She rephrased without any luck and gritted her teeth in frustration.

Alice just patiently sat there, a warm friendly smile on her face, making no attempt to assist Claire in any way. It only added to Claire's growing irritability at her inarticulate mutterings.

"Do you want to bite me!?" She eventually shouted angrily at the vampire, whose back went rigid and she sat upright again, looking understandably disturbed at what appeared to be an accusation.

"Uh. Sorry." Claire sheepishly apologised before trying again. "What I meant to ask was… If I were to… agree… to… uh…" She struggled with how to classify what she was asking exactly, tilting her head as she searched for the right phrasing. "…date you?" Her voice rose as if asking the vampire if that was the proper term. "Would that involve you biting me and would you want me to be a vampire too?" The last part was quickly rushed out. And Claire let out a long breath of relief that she eventually managed to say something that resembled a logical thought process.

Alice's face broke into a brilliant crooked grin, so wide it crinkled her eyes at the corners and her green orbs sparkled with unequivocal elation. Claire thought that it was by far the most beautiful of the vampire's smiles to date.

"The choice of becoming vampire is yours to make." Alice spoke tentatively in a low raspy tone, Claire could see her trying to mask her excitement. "The same goes for whether you would want me to feed on you or not. Albeit once for curiosity sake, or multiple times for the sake of pleasure…" The eagerness in Alice's eyes was very hard to misconstrue.

"Multiple times?" Claire's brows furrowed. "I thought it's you bite me, I'm a vampire or I die?"

It took a few seconds, but once Claire was positive she understood correctly, she jumped out of bed to get some distance between her and the vampire.

"Wait, just so we're on the same page here." She started, glaring angrily at the confused looking brunette. "You can feed from me and not kill me or turn me into a vampire?" Her voice rose as she spoke.

"Yes…" Alice answered puzzled by Claire's reaction.

"I was under the impression that you killed people to survive?!" Claire shouted incredulously. "And here you're telling me that no one needed to die? You just killed them anyway?" She started pacing the carpet, running her fingers through her hair, feeling like a naïve fool.

Obviously she understood that Tate and Stevens were exceptions to that, but still, she never realised Alice could just drink some blood and only leave bite marks instead of dead bodies.

"Human life really means nothing to you does it?" Claire whispered harshly.

The vampire remained seated on the bed, intently watching the distressed naked woman pacing in front of her. She would've smirked at the sight was it not for how genuinely distraught Claire was.

"I have killed many humans for many reasons. I am what I am Claire. I will not apologise for it." She lifted her chin proudly and defiantly. "Human life does indeed mean nothing to me. Aside from you, there are exactly three other exceptions to that. Those would most obviously include Luther and also his grandmother Eugenia, whom I have known for almost three decades and care about for the extraordinary woman that she is and not only because of how well she had raised her grandson. The remaining human would be Dr Valentine, who I took under consideration because of you, but who has earned my subsequent respect all on her own. Notably left out here is Detective Olivera who had the same initial courtesy extended to him as Dr Valentine. I spared him at the pub because you had asked it. But should he not heed my warning and persist in provoking me, I will most certainly rip out his throat without a second thought, as I had promised."

Claire stood slack-jawed and just gaped at the vampire. She should've been surprised. She wanted to be surprised, but she had known it all along even if she never wanted to admit it to herself. The vampire wore her impassivity wherever she went. She kills humans without doubt or hesitation and she feels no remorse. But Claire could hardly see her as cold and unfeeling… Not after yesterday. Not after this morning. Fuck, Alice wore her emotions on her fucking sleeve around Claire.

"So is that what it means to be a vampire? Humans are just food to you?"

"No Claire. That is what it means to be me." Alice held her gaze steadily. She could see that the vampire wasn't trying to upset her, that Alice was answering her questions as openly and as honestly as she could, both women were well aware of how this conversation could undo all the progress they had made.

"Like humans, vampires are not all the same. I keep a handful of people close to me, vampire or human, it does not matter. I will not actively seek friendships, as I do not have an inherent need for social acceptance like most. I do not seek validation through the amount of people I surround myself with. Instead I wholeheartedly care for the few I do allow into my life. The rest mean nothing to me." Alice looked at Claire, still desperately trying to absorb and understand what she was saying.

"Tell me who other than Doctor Valentine and that imbecile do you care about?" She softly asked Claire who seemed to register exactly what Alice was saying.

For the last three years she had cared about nothing and no one. She did her job, she found a fleeting rush when she was beating up a suspect here and there. She kept going mainly because she didn't want to let Jill and Carlos down. There were those she tolerated, like Leon, who she was sure was a wonderful guy, but she never bothered to find out more about him. She'd never been to his house, she doesn't know if he has a girlfriend or a pet even and yet they'd gotten drunk together quite a few times. Alice was making it seem like it was okay to have only two people to care about and not give a flying fuck about the rest of the world. That that was enough. Was it? Is it supposed to be? Isn't everyone supposed to all be a big happy family? Isn't it the normal thing to have a group of friends who you go out with? Love thy neighbour and all that shit. Wasn't it the mentally sane way to live your life? Surrounded by as many loved ones as you can get your hands on?

Claire wasn't sure she knew the difference between right and wrong anymore. Her feelings for the vampire for example, were entirely wrong, but also felt completely right. That she had just managed to understand why the vampire didn't care for human life – not that she agreed with Alice's killing of course, but she got it. She understood Alice's indifference on the matter. She kinda knew the feeling to a considerably lesser extent.

Alice sighed heavily, looking disappointed in Claire for some reason the redhead couldn't fathom. When had she suddenly become the bad guy in this conversation?

"I do not recall ever having stated that my sole motivation in ending a life was sustenance, Claire." Alice sounded tired and on edge. "In spite of that, disposing of those we feed on does serve its purpose." She continued, gritting her teeth, frustrated that Claire still didn't understand her nature. "Draining one body will lessen the frequency in between having to feed. What do you think would happen if instead of missing person reports and isolated cases of bodies with unidentified bite marks, you had hordes walking into the precinct demanding you sharpen your pitchforks and light your torches? How do you think the media would respond?" Alice cocked her head to the side, studying Claire. "There would be wide spread panic. What do you think would happen if people actually started to believe their tales and came after me?"

"You'd kill even more people." Claire sighed, her shoulders slumping in defeat.

"Undoubtedly." Alice laughed humourlessly. "Do you think my brother enjoys the spotlight?" She asked seemingly randomly.

A confused Claire studied the vampire's neutral expression before she simply shrugged. She didn't know Albert Wesker at all.

"We are not immortal." Alice said turning her gaze from Claire to stare at the carpet with a faraway look. "We may have been provided with the gifts of longevity and accelerated healing to create this perception, but we can most certainly die…"

Claire walked over to the bed and went to sit beside her, concern already etching her features at Alice's forlorn intonation.

"Bullets do not kill us, but they can incapacitate long enough for other more… permanent measures to be taken." She looked over at Claire. "Decapitation, fire…" She murmured with a grimace.

The redhead was surprised at Alice's full disclosure. She'd forgotten that her initial plan had been to find out how to kill vampires and here Alice was telling her exactly how to do it and giving her that sagacious look, revealing that the vampire somehow knew of her intentions.

Claire's mouth opened to say something, but then she closed it again guiltily averting her eyes. Alice didn't call her out on it, and instead just smiled sadly at her.

"They tend to target one of us, to try and get to the other. My brother and I have been on the run for centuries." She dejectedly hung her head. "That was until he noticed that we had found ourselves in a world where your status and wealth determined your fate. Humans kill each other indiscriminately to gain power. Few care now how we sustain ourselves as long as it's not any of them who suffer it. My brother knows this. He has made it possible for us to have a home. To settle in one place." She smiled proudly.

"But when the general public see him not aging…" Claire started. "… not everyone knows how to play the game, they'll notice and they'll come after you!" She stated desperately grabbing hold of Alice's hand, clutching it in her own.

Her fear of innocents dying dissipated and was instantly replaced with worry for Alice. She didn't know what Alice could do if the National Guard showed up with machine guns and flame throwers. No matter how fast Alice was, they wouldn't even need to aim. They could just surround the house, block each exit, disperse smoke bombs and flash bangs and Molotov cocktails indiscriminately.

Her chest heaved under the strain of her dread at the thought. Alice was walking around threatening politicians like it was nothing. They knew what she was, and where she lived. They could just come there when she was asleep and… and…

Claire glanced up into Alice's eyes carefully searching her face, her hand still clutching onto the vampire's so hard it would've hurt anyone else.

"You can't die too." Claire's voice broke and she tried to hold back her tears at just how distraught that prospect left her.

She was frustrated at how emotional she'd woken up – from up then down to yes then no to right then wrong – she couldn't keep up any longer. She didn't want to think anymore and decided to do just stop thinking.

"I've only just met you Sparkles." Claire's smile was a weak attempt, mirrored by the vampire's own as Alice reached out to brush a strand of red hair behind Claire's ear. She let her finger travel down Claire's jaw, to settle under her chin tilting it up.

"We are safe." Alice gently assured. "Safer than we have ever been. My brother is very adept at playing this game. We are untouchable when it comes to the laws that dictate society. Our only enemy now is leaving loose ends to plot their vengeance…"

"Ada Wong." Claire breathed, understanding that Alice needed to dispose of Ada for both their sakes.

"Trust me, when they come for us, it will not be to persecute against some perceived moral misconduct, it has almost always ever been to procure for themselves what is rightfully ours." Alice sneered distastefully. "The majority of humans are avaricious and corrupt. They blindly follow the hand which feeds them. This has been the longest that my brother and I have been able to live as ourselves without any retaliation." Alice shook her head slowly like she couldn't believe how easy it's been. "We keep their pockets full, they keep their mouths shut. The fact that we could easily snap their necks also aids us of course." She smirked, but her features sobered and her heart warmed at Claire's worried eyes staring back at her.

"I promise to protect you Claire." She whispered with conviction. "Whether you choose to remain human or become vampire, your safety will take precedence above all else. And I will cherish you till my very last breath." Alice swallowed thickly, unable to look away from the large blue eyes looking back at her – completely unmasked for the first time - glistening slightly with unshed tears.

Claire said nothing as she pressed their lips together.

It was indescribably intense.

Claire's chest was tight and aching, yet her shoulders sagged with relief. She pulled Alice back onto her, while clumsily unzipping the vampire's dress, which disappeared with a few garish tearing sounds when Alice's decided to help and seconds later they moaned in unison as their naked bodies finally melted together.

It had been a long morning of confessions and confusion. Claire didn't want to think about anything other than the gorgeous creature writhing on top of her. She focused solely on the feel of Alice's lean back muscles flexing beneath her fingertips. Alice's soft breasts pressing against her own; Alice's wetness moving along Claire's thigh... She groaned at how aroused the vampire clearly was and rolled her hips up into Alice's palm, where two long slender fingers, were buried deep inside of her. Claire moaned again, lazily rocking against Alice, clenching around the two digits, feeling content with finally having Alice filling her like that.

They moved together. Slow and hard. Claire knew it was her sweat coating their bodies as the vampire's laboured breaths were entirely caused by her arousal and not the strain of any physical exertion. Claire laughed dizzily as she canted her hips, scratching down Alice's back. She wasn't even doing much, yet Alice had managed to consume her very being.

She felt soft lips kissing down her neck, stopping to suck at her pulse point and instinctually tilted her head to the side, to allow the vampire more access. Alice's initial growl at the submission, turned into a needy whimper, causing Claire to convulse tightly onto the fingers eagerly stroking inside of her. Sharp fangs gently scraped over her sensitive flesh, doing no harm, yet leaving Claire feeling as though she'd turned into a puddle of liquid bliss.

Her hand moved up and cradled the vampire into her neck.

"Do it." She whispered breathlessly. Mindlessly.

In spite of the force she'd been using to keep Alice's head down, the vampire effortlessly lifted her gaze to look at Claire. She saw Alice's hesitation and she saw her hunger. Claire moaned at the want and love she found there and pressed Alice's head to her neck again, roughly tangling her fingers into the vampire's silky hair, eliciting another deep growl that made her shudder as it echoed into her own body. Alice allowed herself to be manhandled, absently sucking on Claire's neck again, but going no further.

Instead the vampire resumed her slow, purposeful strokes as their bodies moved rhythmically together.

Claire lost herself for a while in the renewed pace, she was so close…

"I just wanna…" She moaned breathlessly into Alice's ear as the brunette started slamming harder and curling deeper into her body. "Oh god..." Every gasp, every movement of her hips felt like pure pleasure. "Alice… Just… fuck… I want to… give you… a part of me." Claire bit her lip, breathing sharply through her nose, trying to fight her orgasm for just a little while longer as her body trembled uncontrollably in anticipation of her release.

The resulting effect was an intense, almost painfully pleasurable ache, spreading up her abdomen and settling there. She could feel Alice's pace had plateaued as she listened intently to her lover making her request.

"Even if it's just a taste…" Claire husked, letting her teeth graze over Alice's ear.

The response was instant.

A loud whine precipitated an even louder growl as Alice unclenched her jaw and punctured Claire's neck. The redhead screamed out in pain, which lasted only seconds before her cries turned more guttural as she was overcome by a sudden dizzying rush spreading heavenly heat up her spine. She hadn't thought it possible, but her already tightly coiling body experienced another wave of almost crippling arousal.

She clung to Alice as the vampire started purposefully moving again, one hand clawing between the brunette's shoulder blades, the other hooked onto a taut ass cheek, attempting to draw Alice even deeper inside of her, while she rode Claire's thigh.

It was devastating and all consuming, as Claire felt herself being stripped down to absolute nothingness. All she could feel was Alice, everywhere. Around her, against her, inside of her. Claire felt terrified yet liberated in the same breath. She could tangibly feel herself trusting the vampire completely, giving herself to Alice entirely.

Claire's resulting climax crashed through her without mercy, and though the vampire had removed her fangs, she didn't stop pumping into Claire as she licked over the redhead's neck with her own loud rasping moans.

"Mine..." Alice growled almost savagely and Claire could feel the wet throbbing against her thigh and the tensing of the vampire's muscles indicating Alice' own release at the statement.

Her head was swimming, but she was by no means unaware of what was happening and being said. If anything she was hyperaware of it, she didn't stop at Alice's words, nor did she stop her climb to her second orgasm.

"I'm yours." Claire cried out, biting at Alice's cheek, her hand fisted tightly into the vampire's hair again. "God, Alice…" She whispered hoarsely, clinging to her lover with all the strength that she had left. "… I'm so yours." She breathlessly reaffirmed, blindly placing kisses against Alice's hair and the side of her face.

She smiled when they finally slowed their movements and that familiar low purring started up. She kept her arms wrapped tightly around Alice, feeling utterly contented and completely delirious.

…

A/N: Most of us have gay panic, Claire has vampire panic. I don't understand her. Alice just blatantly told her humans mean nothing to her and Claire goes and finds a way to understand and somehow relate.

Sorry for all the emotions. It's Monday and late and I'm exhausted and I need to pack 'cause I'm working out of town this week. I didn't get to spend as much time on this chapter as I would've liked. Please inform me of mistakes and things that don't entirely make sense so I may fix it when I have the mental capacity to do so. Story's almost finished. I will properly respond to reviews tomorrow okay? Sorry 'bout that. Mwah thanks for reading and reviewing.