Claire's Pov:
I was finally being discharged even though they still don't know what's wrong with me, but right now I don't care; all I want to do is go home and eat. I was getting changed out of my hospital gown and into my baggy tracksuit that Ryan had brought in from home. I was still really sore, the doctor said that I would be for a while but he did give me some painkillers for the pain. I wasn't going to know my results for another week so he said that if I had any more pain to take these tablets. I'd just pulled my tracksuit top over my head and Ryan was packing my bag when my mobile rang. I checked who was calling, it was Eve; I flipped it open and pressed reject. God I'd been having phone calls all morning, most of them from Eve and Michael but I did get some from Amelie; I hadn't answered any of them, I just couldn't talk to any of them right now. The only phone call I'll answer is from David Jones. I was so nervous about what the answer would be…and speak of the devil. My phone was ringing again and it was him! I looked up at Ryan.
"It's David!" I shrieked in excitement
"Answer it then" he laughed
I nodded, my hands were shaking as I clicked the accept button.
"Hello" I whispered
"Hello Claire this is David Jones"
"Oh hey" I replied even though I already knew who it was
"I'm phoning about the decision…"
"Yeh I thought that's what it would be about…so?"
"Congratulations, we want to sign you"
I blinked in shock, was this really happening? I pinched myself just to make sure and then screamed down the phone in joy making him laugh.
"I thought you'd be happy, anyway I know you're still in hospital so I'll leave you but tomorrow if possible I'd like you to come down to the studio so we can sign the contract"
"Yeh of course and thank you"
"You're welcome; I'll see you tomorrow at about 4pm?"
"Yep I'll be there"
And I hung up. Ryan was looking at me with a huge smile on his face. I forgot about how sore I was and ran into his arms, he spun me around and kissed my cheek.
"Congratulations babe, I'm so happy for you"
"I can't believe it, I'm gunna be famous and be able to look after my babies" I squealed
"You deserve it, after everything you've been through; you deserve a break"
"Thank you, I wouldn't have got this without you guys taking me to karaoke"
"Trust me with your talent you would've been spotted eventually"
I crushed my lips to his; they were so warm and moist, taking my breath away.
"Thank you for being there for me, I couldn't have done any of this without you and I'm sorry for snapping at you the other night about Shane" I said as I hugged his chest
"No need to apologise I deserved it, I had no right to say those things and any time; I'll be there for you"
"Thanks" I kissed him again
"Anyway you finish getting changed and I'll go put your bags away"
"Ok" I replied watching as he left the room, after everything that's happened recently I was finally happy and I wasn't gunna let anything spoil that. I turned around to pick something off of the floor that Ryan had obviously forgot to get and when I turned back around Shane was standing in front of me. Was it really him? Or was I seeing things? I gasped and stepped back.
"Hey Claire" he smiled
"Get…get away from me…now" I chocked out, putting my hands out in front of me to keep him away
"I'm not going until we talk"
"I'll scream Shane, I swear; just go away"
"I can't do that Claire, they're my babies too" he said and pointed to my stomach, I followed his eyes to my stomach and put my hands protectively around it. My heart was pumping fast and my head was spinning. I staggered forward a bit and nearly fell to the floor but Shane had caught me just in time.
"Claire, are you ok?" he asked, I could hear the concern in his voice
"Get off me!" I yelled and tried pushing him away but I was too weak
"Claire, just talk to me"
"I don't want to talk to you"
"Yeh well I'm sorry Claire but I don't care anymore, I'm going to talk to you whether you like it or not because I am their father and I will be apart of their life…I just hope I don't have to make that happen"
"Are you threatening me?" I asked and I pulled away from him
"If that's what it takes to be in their lives then yeh I am"
"And what are you gunna do?"
"I'll get legal help if I need too"
"Really, and who do you think they're going to give custody to? Me, the one who's carrying them or you, the person who cheated on me? You can't look after them Shane, you can't afford them; your job doesn't pay that much"
"Do you really want to talk about being able to look after yourself because correct me if I'm wrong but I swear we're standing in a hospital and hey at least I have a job, do you?"
"Ok first off, it wasn't my fault I started bleeding; I didn't do this on purpose and second yeh actually I have a job, as of today and I promise you that I'll be able to support them a hell of a lot better than you"
"Oh really and what is this well paid job then?"
"I got signed, David phoned me earlier and I'm going down there tomorrow to sign the contract"
There was silence for a minute.
"Wait you mean…as in you got a music deal?"
"That's exactly what I mean Shane, so who do you think will win this legal battle?"
He didn't reply so I carried on.
"And have you even thought about this Shane, you've got a new girlfriend every other day; do you really want that for your kids? Never really having a stable family, watching you go from girl to girl, what sort of example would you be setting? Can you really see yourself stuck at home day and night looking after them, watching all your friends going out and getting pissed; do you really want that?"
"I want my kids and hey aren't you going out with Ryan?"
"Yeh I'm going out with Ryan, one person; not a different one whenever I get bored, but from what I heard there's been loads with you hasn't there, I mean there was obviously Olivia, Sarah and I think Eve mentioned another one called Jade"
"Forget about that, do you really want the kids to be without a father? Because I sure as hell know what it's like to have one parent, I found my mum dead in a bath tub and then my father became a more abusive drunk, it wasn't fun and hell if I could go back and change that I would because I hated being alone. They need me just as much as I need them"
I didn't know what to say.
"Please Claire just give me a chance, I just…I really need them Claire; they're all I have left and I can't not have them in my life…it hurts too much"
"Shane…"
"They need a father" he cried out
"And they'll have one" another voice said, Ryan had just come in
"Stay the hell out of this, it has nothing to do with you" Shane said
"Oh doesn't it? Claire's my girlfriend isn't she?"
"They aren't your kids, they're mine and I won't tell you again; stay the hell out of this"
"And I won't tell you again, she's my girlfriend so I am involved"
And that's when Shane lunged for him, even though Ryan was 2 years older than Shane and about a head taller, Shane was a lot stronger. He had Ryan up against the wall, his hands wrapped around his throat; Ryan's face was turning red and he was struggling to get free but he was failing…badly.
"Shane stop it!" I screamed and ran to him, I put my hand on his shoulder causing him to shiver; I was trying to pull him away but I'd forgotten how strong he was.
"Shane please stop ok, we'll talk just let go" I whispered, my tears wetting my cheeks; Shane let him go and Ryan coughed violently, dropping down the wall. I got down on my knees and kissed him, pulling his body to mine.
"Let's talk then"
"I can't believe you just did that; you can't expect anyone to let you look after children if your first answer to everything is violence! What if one of the kids was disobeying you? Would you punch him or her too?" I yelled
"How can you even think that?"
"Well when I see you do that what else do you expect me to do?" I shouted at him
"Look I'm sorry but he was pushing me and I..."
"Kids push Shane, they don't understand; what are you gunna do then huh?"
"You know I wouldn't hurt a child"
"I dunno anymore"
"Do you really think I'd do that? My dad was a violent prick, I was always on the other end of his punches; do you really think I'd want my child to go through that too?" he whispered the last bit and turned around "Please Claire I'm begging you just let me apart of their life, keep me involved; I'll do anything…please"
I was just about to reply when the door burst open and in came Amelie and her followers. They could've run vamp speed over to him but Ryan was in the room, Amelie had him dangling in the air, and she was a lot stronger than Shane so Ryan looked a peachy colour compared to how Shane looked now. I'd never seen anyone that colour before and Shane really couldn't do anything, he wasn't even trying to stop her; I wasn't sure if that was because he didn't want to or because he physically couldn't.
"I should've killed you the other night when you begged me too" she growled, her mouth so close to his neck. Wait what did she mean by 'when you begged me too'? Had Shane asked to die?
"Amelie…" Oliver started, Amelie snapped her head in his direction and slapped him; sending him halfway across the room before turning back too Shane, who wasn't moving.
"How dare you disobey me, to come to see Claire! You've already hurt her enough"
Did she really care that much for me? When I was back in Morganville it sure didn't look like it.
"Amelie stop" I whispered but she didn't listen
"I said stop!" I screamed at the top of my lungs making everyone cringe, I immediately regretted it because I got another pain in my stomach.
"Ahhhhh" I shrieked and grabbed my stomach with one hand and grabbed the bed railing with the other. Amelie and Oliver were over by my side in seconds. Shane sank to the floor, at first he didn't move and I thought that he was dead but then he sucked in the biggest breath I'd ever seen.
"Claire, are you ok?" Amelie asked worriedly
"Yeh I'm fine" I panted "Shane?" I asked
"Yeh I'm here" he coughed and came closer to me, Amelie growled at him
"Stop" I pleaded
"Shane, are you ok?" I asked
"Yeh I'm fine, let's just worry about you three; you're more important"
"You're the one who was nearly strangled to death" I said seriously
"Like I said, you guys are more important"
There was silence for another minute.
"I'm sorry Claire; I thought this is what you would've wanted as you told me you didn't want to see or him from him"
"I know it's ok…just don't hurt or kill him"
"I'll…try"
"Thank you"
"Mr Collins, get up; we're leaving"
"What! No I'm not finished"
"Don't make me break my promise" she snarled
He was grabbed but her guards, they were all pulling him backwards and because they were vamps; they were obviously winning.
"Stop! Please I need to ask her something" he bellowed
"Claire?" Amelie asked
I nodded and they released him, he came up to me; we were only inches apart and I could feel my heartbeat quicken.
"Can I be in their lives? Will you keep in contact?"
I didn't know what to say and when I did my throat blocked up and I couldn't get my words out. He grabbed my face and kissed me, I felt all the memories come back to me; my whole body burned with passion, something I haven't felt since I left. He pulled away and I just wanted his lips back on mine but I knew I shouldn't. Ryan looked angry and he headed for Shane, Shane though just smiled his fighting smile and clocked him one; knocking Ryan to the floor, blood gushing from his nose.
"Will you?" he asked
"Yes" I replied and watched as he was dragged out of the room by vamps.