Claire made sure to keep out of Jack and Kelly's way as much as possible the first couple of days after the wedding, claiming she had to concentrate on her homeschool assignments and they needed time together after being separated, before Kelly went back home. She spent more time in her bedroom, rearranging things to her tastes a little more, and some time exploring the house that had been in Dean's family so long.

She hadn't been able to escape them at mealtimes, where Kelly asked warm questions with a kind smile, and Jack was his usual considerate self. She also couldn't avoid them when her father Facetimed them, topless on a beach somewhere with Dean lurking just in shot.

Seeing her father and new stepfather so happy in another place was upsetting in a way she wouldn't have felt when she first moved to town. She missed them both, missed the barbs she shared with Dean, the love that Castiel bestowed on her so easily. Watching Jack and his mother made that feeling worse. Aunt Kelly was like another version of Jack, so patient and kind that Claire felt more out of place than she ever had before.

It was slightly easier on the second evening, when Sam and Eileen stopped by. Claire knew her father had arranged it, but it was good to have more people there to dilute the loneliness. Eileen had always been welcoming, and Sam was someone she trusted, even if she didn't know her new uncle as well as her stepdad.

"How do you like it here, Kelly?" Sam asked as he passed a bowl of salad across the table. He and Eileen had taken seats either side of Claire in a move that hadn't felt subtle at the time. She grabbed a bread roll and started slathering it with butter.

"It's nice, I can see why Jack likes it so much. But I do have my own apartment to go back to, my job too. But it's been so nice to see my baby." She accepted the salad bowl from Sam with one hand, and stroked Jack's cheek with the back of her hand with the other. He grabbed his mother's hand and pressed it closer. Claire concentrated even harder on buttering her roll.

"It's been good to see you too, Mom. I'll miss you when you go home." Jack promised. Eileen passed Claire a plate of steaks, and she took one before passing the dish along to Sam, barely looking up from her own meal. "Claire and I will just have to think of some way to pass the time until Uncle Cas and Uncle Dean come home."

"If you're going to throw a party, make sure you do it the day I leave. It gives you more clean up time." Kelly teased.

"Or, more time to party, right Claire?" Jack chuckled. Claire bobbed her head, and stuffed a forkful of dinner in her mouth rather than actually answer. Sam started telling a story of a time he and Dean had thrown a party when he was in eighth grade and Dean was in twelfth, and Claire was grateful for the subject change, listening instead to the story of Dean and his then-girlfriend Lisa getting busted by Bobby returning home early while Sam was shut in the attic with his friends, playing Dungeons and Dragons.

Kelly left two days after Sam and Eileen's visit. Claire waved her off with Jack, knowing that as soon as her car disappeared from view, things would become awkward, and she would have to try and figure out some way of getting through the rest of the time that her fathers were away.

Jack started speaking the moment the taillights disappeared around the corner.

"So, I guess we should plan the party?"

Claire looked at her cousin, and he grinned innocently at her.

"I promise not to lock you in the attic. Or the basement."

"Do you even know enough people to invite to a party?" Claire tried to tease him back. He clutched his chest, over his heart.

"Wow, Claire!" He pretended to stagger back, into the house. She followed him, half wanting to be with him, half wanting to keep avoiding him. "Okay, okay, so I know a few people from my class, and your friends, and that's it. It could still be a good party? It doesn't have to be a crazy, call-the-cops-to-end-it thing. Just a few friends, some good music, food, whatever?"

"I don't know," Claire shrugged.

"Or, we could have a movie night in, just us. Pick something on Netflix, we'll order pizza and just hang out."

"I have some classes to catch up on," she mumbled, and made to turn away. He caught her shoulder gently, the heat of his palm burning through the cotton of her shirt.

"Are you avoiding me? Did I do something?" Jack asked softly.

"No. I just don't feel like partying."

"Okay. So, let me know when you're caught up and we can do the pizza and movie thing?"

Jack sounded so hopeful. She turned back to him, and tried her best smile.

"Sure, sounds good."

"Cool. I'd better do some of my college work too."

Claire nodded, escaping out to the room she normally studied in, spreading out her notebooks and clicking onto a lesson. Jack appeared a couple of minutes later with a milkshake each, and his own laptop. He passed one of the drinks with a smile and no words, then settled down to his own work.

They were silent except for the scritch of pen on paper, and the constant tapping on Jack's laptop, and Claire started to remember why she liked being near Jack. There was something about him, some force that just made you feel at peace when he was near. She finished her math problems, and watched as he focused on his studying, his head moving as he typed furiously, his brow puckered in concentration. Claire's conversation with Kaia played on her mind, and she could see what her friend had been saying. Jack was her favourite person, any potential crush aside.

He glanced over, and then did a double take as he realised he was being watched.

"Everything okay?" He checked. Claire did an impression of his expression when typing, and he pretended to hide his face. "So embarrassing."

"Not really. I wish I could focus like that."

Jack leaned on one arm, cupping his face as he looked at her.

"Claire? Can you be honest with me about something?"

"Sure, I guess," Claire conceded, knowing what might be coming.

"Have I done something? You always seem so jumpy around me these days. I was worried you were going to avoid me all week. I miss this, Claire."

She looked away, unable to look into those innocent blue eyes any more.

"I miss it too."

"So? What did I do?"

"Nothing."

"I'm not trying to take over your dad. Cas has been good to me, but you're his daughter. It's no contest."

She looked up sharply.

"What?"

"You're not jealous? Of Uncle Cas and me getting along?"

"No. Are you kissing? I'm so glad you came to stay."

"You are?" He gave that sweet smile.

"Of course. You're my favourite person."

Jack's grin widened, and he glanced at his screen for a moment, before closing the lid of his computer.

"Come on, we'll get on that pizza and movie night."

He held a hand out, and Claire took it, letting him lead her into the front room, where she grabbed a take out menu and he started scrolling through Netflix for something they could agree on. They sat side by side on the sofa, a short distance between them, and the negotiations for pizza toppings and movie choices resolving quickly. Jack ordered the food through his phone and they both settled down to watch Apollo 13. There was a quiet calm that hovered in the air between them, changing to a contented one when their pizza arrived and they tucked in with gusto.

As the movie wound up, they looked at each other across the sofa, Jack giving his happy smile, Claire a little more reserved.

"Are you going to see Patience some time this week?" Claire asked. She hadn't been intending to ask anything like it, and she wasn't sure what it was that made her ask it, but suddenly it seemed important to ask.

"Patience?" Jack seemed confused.

"Yeah. My friend? The one you spent most of the wedding with? She's kind of into you."

"Oh. I mean, I knew you meant your friend. I just wasn't sure why you meant I'd be seeing her. We only danced and talked at the wedding. She was nice. But, it's not going to happen."

"It's not?" Claire felt a stupid stabbing of hope in her chest.

"No. She's your friend, I wouldn't want to make things weird for you. Besides, she's a little young for me."

And that hope plunged right back down. If Patience was too young for Jack, Claire definitely was.

"She's a senior." Claire found herself defending Patience.

"I know. But the difference between high school and college … besides, I'm an adult, you know? There are laws and rules."

"So, maybe next year?"

"No. Like I said, she's your friend, that would make things awkward for you. You're my favourite person too. I wouldn't do anything that I thought would hurt you."

Claire didn't respond. Kaia had said something like that, and she had no idea how far Jack felt those feelings. It was too scary to consider what might be.

"Besides, I'm not really past Maggie yet. You get it, right? After what you were saying about Alex and all."

"Actually," Claire felt lightheaded as she forced the words out. "I think there might be someone."

"Yeah?" Jack's tone was cautious. "Do I have to check she's good enough for my cousin?"

"He."

"Oh. Okay. Are you worried he'd want more than you can manage?"

Claire shook her head, curling in on herself.

"Hey, it's okay," Jack shifted closer, wrapping his arms around her. "He's a lucky guy, whoever he is, Claire."

She let herself lean into his hug for just a moment, just long enough to feel some comfort, before she unleashed hell.

"He's too good for me."

"Not possible," Jack shook his head.

"You are."

It seemed to take an age for the words to penetrate Jack's understanding. He slowly let go of her, shifting on the sofa until there was a safe distance between them. Claire couldn't stop watching his face, as he seemed to think of a thousand different things to say before discarding them.

"Claire," he choked out eventually. "I don't … I'm not … you're my cousin."

"I know."

"It can't happen."

"I know."

He looked away, though Claire could still see some of his expression from the angle she was at. And suddenly, it was too much. She couldn't be in the same room as him as he tried to find ways to let her down gently, there was no air in the house. She bolted for the front door, escaping even as she heard him calling for her to come back inside.

It was dark in the street, and Claire wasn't sure where she was headed. She couldn't go to Alex, things were better but still strained between them. She didn't know where Kaia or Patience lived. Mostly, she wanted her Mum or her Dad, but neither of them were options at that moment. She could bother Charlie at the bookstore, but that didn't seem like a good option either. So she kept walking around, wishing she hadn't told Jack the truth. Eventually, a car started idling next to her, and she looked over to see Sam in the driver's seat.

"Jack called. Do you wanna stay with Eileen and me tonight?"

Claire nodded, and Sam unlocked the door so she could get in. Sam drove off, his demeanour behind the wheel completely different to Dean's, and he spoke with his eyes on the road in front of him.

"Cas said you were going through something. You don't have to talk to me about it, but you know you're welcome to come stay with Eileen and me? I mean, we should arrange it first, but you're welcome any time."

"Thanks."

"Did you want to stay with us until your dad comes home?"

Claire nodded mutely. Sam glanced away from the road for a moment, and caught it.

"Good. Eileen will love it. She thinks you're awesome."

Claire forced a small smile, and then watched the town slide by as they wound their way to Sam and Eileen's place, her attention only distracted when Sam called Jack on speakerphone and let him know the plans for the following few days. Jack's voice sounded strained, and Claire closed her eyes as she heard it. She should never have said anything.