Shane's Pov:

Days soon turned into weeks. Ally was getting bigger and looking more and more like Claire each second. My heart throbbed for my dead wife, if it wasn't for Ally, I guarantee I would've joined her by now but the love for my little girl made it so hard to give up. I had a lot of support too; mum; dad and Lyssa had moved into the house across the road and so were over all the time. I still lived in the glass house with Michael and Eve but they'll be moving out soon. I tried to tell them that I'd go because after all, this was Michael's home, but they were having none of it; saying that Ally and I needed it the most. My days were spent working at the barbeque shop until I could find something better, Ally usually stayed home with mum or Lyssa on weekends, but sometimes she'd come down to the shop with me and we'd have crazy daddy-daughter time. Rad even baby-sits sometimes, he absolutely loves Ally and she loves him too. When I wasn't working I was at home playing with my little angel, the guys would come over most weekends…no one really wanted me left alone. It's been 2 months since Claire died and everyone expects me to stay strong and be ok…they already think I'm recovering but the front I put on to the rest of the world shows nothing of how I really feel. I still cry myself to sleep every night, I still ache for her to be with me and I still have nightmares where I watch her twisted death over and over again, waking up screaming in the middle of the night and waking Ally up in the process.

Claire's parents were still grieving…her dad more than her mum. I've never really forgiven Kathy for what she did to Claire that day and for that reason I don't allow her to see Ally unless it's really urgent. She didn't deserve to be in her life if she couldn't even be there for her own daughter whilst she was dying! As for Tiffany and Tom, I've grown quite close to them recently; they help with Ally, staying over so I'm not alone. We talk about Ally and Claire mostly. They tell be all the stories from what they remember about their childhood and what Claire was like growing up. They feel really guilty about it all, I mean their sister sacrificed herself to bring them back for god's sake…its understandable. Just like me they haven't forgiven their mother either, I think that's one of the reasons why they're always round here; to get away from her. I love having my mum and sister back in my life too, although I'm still annoyed at my mum for what she said about Claire the day she died. I love her and everything but to blame my dead wife for my disappearance and for the reason they couldn't find me was out of order. She was another reason why Claire was dead.

The little funeral we had for her was very hard, it happened about a week after she died and at first I was against the whole idea because we didn't even have a body to bury, but Eve insisted it would help me. So we all filled an empty coffin with loving messages and memories and buried it under the name of Claire Collins. Not only was it closure but it would also be a place where both Ally and I can go if we ever need to be alone.

Not only have I lost the love of my life and have to raise our child alone but those stupid bastards are still after my daughter. Vamp Claire doesn't really know what to do, we all still train and prepare but it's no use, Claire was one of the most powerful withes me had and since she was gone; we really had no chance against these guys. We didn't know when they were coming or how dangerous it was going to be…I'm not even sure I'll be able to protect Ally.

I was walking home from the park; I had the day off today so I took Ally to the park before I was off to see Rad and the guys. My little angel now asleep in my arms, I walked down the streets of Morganville pushing her pram with my spare hand. I finally reached his house, Ally was restless in my arms; I quickly knocked on the door and it was opened less that 30 seconds later but not before Ally woke up.

"Hey man how are you?" Rad asked

"Good thanks, you?"

"Good yeh, let me hold my gorgeous niece!" he smiled at Ally and took her from my arms. A huge smile appeared on her little face as she was thrown up in the air repeatedly. It's funny how when they first saw me pushing her pram a couple of months ago they laughed at how whipped I was. But now I'm standing watching my muscular, footballer friend go all googly-eyed over my daughter. I couldn't stop the laugh that escaped my lips.

"What?" he asked, confusion clear in his eyes

"And you said I was whipped all those weeks ago but here you are pulling faces at my daughter"

"Hey! I can't help the fact that she's just so damn cute! You're really gunna have to fend the boys off when she hits the teens" I sighed, not looking forward to it one little bit

"Please don't remind me, let me have these boy less years to myself; I swear to god she's not allowed a boyfriend until she's 30 years old… or at least until I'm dead and buried"

"Don't worry man, there's plenty of us males to back you up; there's no way I'm letting any spotty, sex-crazed boy near my Ally bear. Isn't that right Ally bear!" she laughed tickling her stomach

"Glad to hear it, now get me a beer!" he wandered into the kitchen still playing with Ally. I made myself comfortable on the sofa, pulling Ally's baby bag with me; she was going to need her bottle soon and then her nappy changed afterwards…I think I'll leave that one to uncle Rad.

Less than a minute later, Rad returned with Ally in his arms chewing on teething ring.

"So, what time are the other's getting here?"

"Err…I told them to come over about half 6 so you can bath and feed Ally"

"Ok, well after I drink this I'll go to the cemetery"

"That's fine man, take as long as you need, me and Ally bear will have a great time; won't we princess" he cooed tickling her stomach. Every month on the same date I would go and visit Claire because it would be exactly another month since she left us. I never took Ally with me because I didn't think it was right for a child to be in a cemetery…Claire's funeral was a different matter.

Sitting in front of Claire's headstone was always hard, no matter how many times I'd visited. I hated having to 'communicate' through a lump of stone but it was the only way. I placed the bunch of roses on her grave and began speaking.

"Hey babe, it's been 5 months since you've left us and I still can't feel happy. It doesn't seem fair to smile and laugh when you're god knows where. Ally's getting bigger and she looks like a mini version of you, so beautiful it hurts. She's teething too, keeps me awake most of the night but I don't mind, I like to feel needed because in a few years she won't need my help, she'll be all grown up begging me to let her see her boyfriend and I'll be the mean parent who doesn't let her out on school nights. Everyone misses you, especially your dad; we're pretty close these days which is kinda cool I guess. I still haven't forgiven Kathy and I know if you were still here you'd hate me for it but I don't see how I can forgive someone who wasn't there for you when you needed her! Anyway, enough about her; time for more depressing matters. They're still after us. Your death hasn't changed that, Claire just says that they'll take her and wait until she's old enough to have a child of her own and then they'll break the curse. I can't have that, I won't let them hurt our baby; I promised you I'd help you and that's exactly what I'm going to do." I was silent for a few moments, not knowing what to say next when my phone buzzed in my pocket.

'Hey mate, Ally's getting tired; do you want me to bath and feed her?' Rad asked

I quickly typed a reply 'Can you get started; I'll be back in about 10?' and snapped my phone shut, just as I was about to put it in my pocket I got another message

'Sure, see you then'

I looked back up at Claire's headstone. "Sorry babe but duty calls. I'll come visit you soon though. Love you with all my heart Claire Collins…forever and always" I whispered and kissed the cold stone.

I returned to Rad's in exactly 10 minutes, knocked on the door and waited for him to answer. The door opened to reveal Billy.

"Hey Shane"

"Hey" I replied

"How are you?"

"Alright I suppose…" I wasn't one for sharing my feelings so there was an awkward silence between us until Ally's voice? Or should I say gurgles/ noises interrupted us.

"There's my gorgeous girl" I took her from Rad's arms "Has she had a bath?" I asked

"Yep, hence the reason she's only in nappy" he laughed "She really wouldn't let me put any clothes on her…I guess she really is your daughter" he laughed and took a sip from his beer

"Why don't you want your jimjams on?" I asked her, holding her above my head and blowing raspberries on her bare stomach "Come on princess, you'll get a cold if you don't put them on" I said turning serious. I placed her on the sofa, forcing Billy to move over in the process and grabbed her sleepsuit from the coffee table. It didn't take me long surprisingly; so I don't know why Rad had so much trouble. After putting her booties on and her bib I heated up her bottle and fed her until she fell asleep.

"Your so good with her man" Billy said breaking the silence

"Thanks, I kinda had to be really"

"Yeh but even so, you've done a lot better than most people would have in the same situation"

"Thanks"

The night dragged on slowly, I'd taken her upstairs to the spare room and placed her in the cot we always kept here; she was sleeping quietly, I wasn't really paying attention to the TV; I was more focused on the baby monitor. I sat on the sofa for a few seconds, trying to process the sound that was now coming out of the baby monitor. It sounded like soft whistling and…a man's voice.