Chapter 26: Quil- Quarrelsome Quil and Claire

We ate breakfast quickly heading to Sam's to find the rest of the pack. When we got to the door the sounds were bursting through the window, it was a full house and we entered to find wolfs, imprints, and their "mega spawn'" laughing and enthusiastically retelling war tales.

Seth, was wrapped around a very uncomfortable looking Natalia, telling Emily and Sam's boys Mark and David about beheading two ancient vamps in one swipe.

Jared, who was now holding Kim tightly, looked envious as Anna and Michael told him and his sons Taylor and Ethan about tag-teaming a giant Volturi guard, taking him apart as a tag team.

Embry rushed over smacking my arm and kissing Claire's forehead.

"So, Quil survived. I guess we won't be exploring our relationship any further young Ms. Claire," he said winking at Claire who stood dumbfounded at my side.

Smiling widely she asked, "what are you talking about Embry?"

"Well, you know, naturally in the case of Quil's death in the battle field, we would be free to investigate other aspects of our relationship." Her face was priceless as she stared at him, mortified but amused.

"Hmm, and Embry was my only option Quil?" She asked looking up at me.

"Well who else would you want?" Embry wailed, "I'm all a girl needs!"

He was obviously offended, which was amusing but I started to get uncomfortable as her eyes searched the crowd. If she had a choice would she want another wolf?

"Solace," she said quickly. She turned up to me and winked but I couldn't help glaring at Solace who had turned at the sound of his name. He was handsome in that James Dean way and I had the urge to punch him repeatedly.

"Solace? How stereotypical, way to follow the trend. I would treat you like a queen! I would—"

"You're not doing anything," I warned pulling her towards Sam, who had Kim's daughter Amber and Paul's girl Trisha on each of his arms. Sam didn't hide the fact he wanted little girls, and they laughed as he spun them in circles.

"I hope we have girls," I whispered kissing her cheek softly.

"I hope we have boys," she said mashing her eyebrows together.

"Why?" I asked as we reached the porch.

"Because, I want them to be wolves and live with you forever." I had been thinking about that since Kim mentioned it in the morning. Thinking about the day I would stop phasing, but I was hoping it had gone by unnoticed by Claire, it had not.

"I'm going to stop phasing when you turn 30," the words came out of my without thought but once they were out I knew I meant it.

"What? Quil, no!" she stomped her foot.

"Claire, it's what I want," I said quietly.

"Well it's not what I want. I want you to live forever. The world's a better place with you in it," she said trying to make me look in her eyes.

"Claire, we'll talk about this when the time comes. And I want girls because, I want little baby versions of you running around. You were the most beautiful, amazing, adorable, lovable, smart, perfect baby I—"

"Quil, it's a little weird to hear you talking about me as a baby now that we've had sex," she said scrunching up her face adorably.

"Sorry," I said kissing her smirking lips as I smelled Edward and Jake approaching.

The Cullens arrived a few minutes later, Nessie among them, clinging onto Jacob like a shirt. Claire left my side, rushing to Nessie and pulling her away from Jake. I watched as they headed to the corner of the room where they chatted too quietly for me to hear over the racket.

Jasper and Jordan were reliving combat moves for Sam and Jared's boys and I watched as Nessie threw her arms around Claire smoothing out her hair. After another five minutes I couldn't handle her absence from my side and I headed over, but it seems they were over the subject of her capture and were now in full wedding planning mode.

"Claire, you and my mom are going to look so great in green and gold! Oh I'm so happy," Nessie said smiling widely. She was a beautiful girl, but she had nothing on Claire.

"I'm so excited for you," Claire said still holding Nessie's hand. There was something about the way they looked at each other, a kind of understanding or bond that I couldn't really grasp. Jake walked over placing his hand on her shoulder. I must have looked confused because Jake took the time to fill me in.

"We moved up the wedding, it's the week after next," he said raising his eyebrows.

"And Nessie wants us to be in it, isn't that great?" Claire beamed.

"Us?" I asked looking between Jake and Nessie.

"Yeah you man, you're my cousin, one of my best friends," he said smacking my arm. I saw Claire and Nessie look at each other briefly then look away grinning, they were adorable together, and I realized their connection then.

They had always been friendly of course. As toddlers they played nicely, Nessie was always good at sharing, and when Claire was learning how to read, Nessie much bigger than her at that point enjoyed helping her sound out the words. Then later when Claire became interested in boys and didn't want to chat with me about it Nessie was her go-to girl. They skyped and facetimed often but they were never together long enough to form a bond that I could understand till now; they were like a special sect of imprinted girls.

They were not like the other wives, they never knew a life without their other halves and maybe that difference gave them a different perspective on life, an understanding of each other's lives that no others could.

"Man, that's really quick," I said shaking my head at Jake.

"Yeah, well—"

"Quick? We've been together for seven years Jacob Black!" Nessie said with on hand on her hip the other still in Claire's hand.

"Yeah, you better not expect me to wait that long, lover boy," Claire said looking at me with a half-smile.

"Well, we have to wait five years at least, so-"

"What?" Claire pulled her hand out of Nessie's crossing them over her chest and resting her weight on one foot, this was not good she only did that stance when she was serious!

"You have to go to college before we-"

"Why?" Oh god! Why ask why?

"Because," I answered the only way I could think of.

"Because why?" she continued, and I could see a potential hour of why based arguing ahead of me. I grabbed her arm and pulled her away from the house, exiting out the side door.

"Claire-bear, because I'm not ready. I'm just getting used to the idea of being IN love with you, of kissing you, of… making love to you," I whispered the last part in her ear.

"I need time. Do you know it's only been two months since I realized that I even wanted you in that way, and only 8 days since we first kissed!" I reasoned with her, she shifted her weight again, which was a good sign, but her arms were still crossed.

"Okay, we'll compromise. One year," she said smirking.

"Can we just talk about it when the time comes?"

"No, Quil! I'm not going to just let you say that every time we disagree on something. This is all new to you but do you know how long I've waited, dreamed, prayed for us to happen? Cuz I do, I remember the exact date my feelings for you changed, when you went from being my best friend to my love interest. Iremember every single shift in our relationship, nanny to teacher, teacher to brother, brother to best friend to fantasy… I could write a timeline for my life using the changes in our relationship!" That was a pretty long speech for Claire who was more the strong silent type, and I had no idea how to respond, but she continued.

"Okay, well, I'm going to travel Europe for a year or two before I go to college so we can wait three years. But I swear Quil, we will be married before I step foot on campus or you better be ready for my crazy college sexual experimentation," she said looking at me sternly and I think she might have only been half joking, but I brushed it aside, because something she said was crushing me.

"You're going to Europe?"

"Yeah, mom and I are already saving, and Nessie says Alice owns a house in Portugal I can stay in— they have amazing architecture there Quil, I can't wait!" her eyes sparkled so beautifully that I didn't even try to argue, even though my heart had fallen to my stomach thumping fast and uncomfortably.

"Oh, okay," was all I could say as I walked back towards the house. Esme had at some point in the afternoon ordered catering and a huge truck of gourmet looking food arrived just as they were leaving.

I hugged Bella and Nessie, and patted Jake on the back as they went. Jake whispered "good luck with that girl of yours," as Nessie jumped on his back and they sped away.

I ate lacklusterly with Paul's daughter Trisha next to me, telling me enthusiastically about all of her new school supplies. I tried to pay attention but all I could think about was Claire going away, hundreds of miles away from me.

I couldn't stop her, I didn't want to, she always wanted to go to France and Italy, to see the museums and paint historic sites… but I felt miserable at the thought of her absence.

"You okay, Uncle Quil," Trisha asked placing her tiny hand on my knee.

"Yeah, I'm fine sweetie. I'm excited about your scented markers though, I used to have those. Blue smells the best," I said smiling at her.

"Blueberry? Yuck, I like lemon best!" she squealed running towards Sam who had cupcakes. Claire came took Trisha's vacated seat and held my free hand.

"I won't go if you don't want me to," she said with no preamble.

"No, I want you to go. You're young, I want you to see the world and do all the things I couldn't."

"Well can't you do them now? Couldn't you come with me?" she asked quietly searching the room.

"I have responsibilities, Claire."

"You had responsibilities. There are enough wolves to take on an army, which you've done three times! And look you're all still here. I've heard the legends, the wolves before you didn't stay wolves forever, they retired at some point, which like I said don't want you to do, but I think a good one year vacation is definitely deserved, Quil."

"I agree," Sam said coming around the corner and dropping a half dozen assorted cupcakes in my lap.

"And my shop?" I asked skeptically, the funds from my shop, Embry's part time garage, Jared's construction contracts and the boys Ebay sales kept the pack afloat.

"The boys can look after it, they need something to do now that things are settling down," he said looking at Seth and Phil who were wrestling playfully in the lawn.

"I'll think about it." I don't like being ambushed.

"Good," they said in unison.

When we had eaten more than our fill, I said my goodbyes and headed to my truck exhausted from all of the bickering and a night of little sleep. Claire hopped in the van and I headed down the road towards her house.

"Let's go to your place," she said with a smirk, and even though I was exhausted, I couldn't imagine anything I would rather be doing. I was not going to argue about that!