Chapter 6:

Madison was busy preparing her soft toys to join her in the living room so they could see Beauty and the Beast with her. She was so excited to watch the cartoon with her daddy for the first time. Claire was in the kitchen getting the popcorn ready when Owen walked in and stopped behind her, without any sexual intention.

'Need any help?' he asked her putting a hand on the small of her back and Claire literally jumped almost dropping the popcorn.

'Holy shit Owen...you scared the hell out of me' she muttered a little pissed off.

'My apologies' he replied as he pulled his hands up in surrender, a smile spreading on his face 'Why are you so jumpy?' he asked her.

'I'm not jumpy' she protested.

'You nearly jumped out of your skin Claire' Owen pointed out.

'I didn't not' she huffed as she pushed past him, almost making him lose his balance, but Owen couldn't help but chuckle.

'Need any help?' he asked her again.

'No I'm ready. You want to get the drinks?' she asked him.

They made their way into the living room and took a seat on either side of Madison, as she snuggled further into Owen, and Claire couldn't help but smile at how fast she was becoming daddy's girl. She was already trading certain moments like the bedtime story, although she does sometimes requests that they both stay next to her, but Claire couldn't really blame her anyway. She wanted her to get close to him, and besides Claire knew that girls tend to get closer to their dads.

Beauty and the Beast started and Madison was already lost in the world of fairy tale while she held onto the bowl of popcorn in her hands with both Claire and Owen taking a handful every now and then, and when their hands touched inside the bowl, Claire gasped silently and looked up to find Owen looking at her. She quickly pulled out her hand and looked away but Owen's gaze lingered on her for a couple more minutes, until Madison got his attention.

Claire couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to have Owen here all the time, being a full time dad, being a family and not having to share him with Jessica. She knew it wasn't fair on her friend, but she couldn't help feeling the way she was. Seeing Madison so happy and enjoying her time with him, only made her wish things could be different. She glanced at the screen and envied Belle. She at least had won the heart of the beast and by the time the tale finishes, he is all hers, but Claire's tale was going to be anything but similar. She was going to loose him once again to her best friend.

'Look daddy, my favourite scene is coming' Madison told him.

He had been staring at Claire, his eyes drifting on their own accord towards her, when Madison got his attention. Having seen this cartoon before, he quickly realized which scene was coming up next. Claire was right...she was a romantic at heart already...his little princess.

'Ohh Madison...you like were they realize they are falling in love' he whispered as he turned to look at Claire as he said the words, only to find her looking at him already, her green eyes fixated on him. She smiled at him and Owen found himself smiling back, that longing feeling to reach out and cup her cheek, let his thumb caress that sweet soft area. And when the famous dance came where Belle was wearing the golden gown and they were waltzing, Owen just wished he could take Claire in his arms and waltz her around, and then he realized that he didn't know Madison's birth date, an idea brewing in his mind. He made a mental note to ask her later on.

'Can we watch another one mommy?' Madison asked when Beauty and the Beast finished.

'Oh pumpkin, it is a bit later, but we can do this next Friday if daddy can make it' Claire suggested, to which Owen agreed, earning a bright smile from his little girl 'Let's just try to watch something else next week, shall we?' Claire asked her and Madison frowned, which made both her parents laugh.

'I want princess' Madison frowned.

'Of course honey…How about we watch – and Claire pretended to think of one cartoon – The Princess and the frog next?' she asked her.

'What is it?' she asked her.

'Oh it is about a girl who falls in love with a prince. It's really nice' Claire tried to assure her.

'Okay. Will you watch it daddy?' Madison asked him.

''Sure princess. Friday night will be just for you and mommy, princesses and falling in love' Owen told her, stealing a quick look at Claire who had slightly her mouth open at that statement 'I mean Princes and princesses falling in love' he corrected himself.

Claire smiled at his silliness and rolled her eyes for good measure and after getting Madison to bed and promise her that she will be spending time with daddy the next day and that they had a surprise for her, the little girl dozed off to sleep. Claire made her way into the living room to find Owen holding a framed picture of baby Madison.

'She was a beautiful baby' he whispered tracing his fingers over the picture.

'Yes she was' Claire replied as she walked over to where he was standing, placing a hand on the small of his back and another one on the edge of the frame he was holding in his hands. She traced her fingers on the image and then turned and walked away, sitting down on the bench at the bay window. Owen placed the frame back on the furniture and walked over to her, taking a seat in front of her, one leg bent, while he kept his balance on his toes.

'What is it?' he asked her.

'I just feel so guilty sometimes. I robbed you of so many firsts and milestones and memories…You can never get those back' Claire told him, as a silent tear escaped down her cheek 'I wish I could go back to that day and never leave in the morning' she whispers.

'Oh Claire…how were you supposed to know you were going to get pregnant? I'm sure if you did, you wouldn't have left' Owen started telling her 'Do you really think I don't wish I asked you your name or asked for your phone number? But I didn't, and that played a part in all of this' Owen told her 'We both messed up in a way or another that night' Owen told her.

'Is that why you are not angry with me?' she asked him.

'Angry? Maybe…I don't know' he shrugged 'Or maybe I'm still too happy that I have finally saw you again, and that you are apart of my life now…well and you will always be I guess' Owen told her. Claire sighed heavily as she pulled her legs up to her chest, wrapped her arms around her knees and dropped her head to hide her face. 'Claire…look at me' Owen told her as he stroked her head, letting the feeling of her red locks wash over him, and slowly she started lifting her head 'I promise I will never hold that against you. There is no point. We can't go back in time…but what we can do is build a future for our daughter, create new memories and take new photos…as a family' Owen told her, his hand resting on her hands.

'Is that why you planned this weekend?' she asked him.

'I guess. I just want to spend as much time as possible with her' he told her. He wanted to tell her that he wanted to spend time with her as well but figure he better not 'And not just this weekend but every weekend, and every moment possible' he continued and Claire smiled 'Come here' he whispered as he took her hand and pulled her to him wrapping his arms around her, he held her tight and Claire wrapped her arms around his neck 'You look like you need a big hug' he told her, his cheek resting against hers.

'I do' she chuckled through her tears.

'All you have to do is ask' he told her, still holding her.

'Thanks Owen' she replied as she tightened her arms around him that little bit more. She really did need a hug…his hug, and God only knows what else she needed.

'Can I ask you something?' he asked her 'But if it is too personal don't worry' he assured her.

'What is it?' she asked as she slowly pulled away from their embrace, trying very hard not to look in his eyes or at his lips when they were so close to each other.

'How come…you are still single?' he asked her, and Claire let out a dry laugh 'Do you want a beer because I need a glass of wine' she told him as she got up and made her way into the kitchen with Owen following behind her.

'Wine or beer?' she asked him, already noticing that he prefers beer to wine.

'Beer' he replied with a smile.

'Figured' she replied and Owen chuckled at that comment, as he watched her grab a glass and pour some wine. She turned around then and hopped up on the counter 'Cheers' she told him before letting the liquid wash down her throat. Owen grabbed a chair, turned it around and sat down his legs open on the sides of the chair, arms resting on the back of the chair.

'So…spill' he told her.

'Well let's see. I am a woman with quite a demanding job, a child, an ex-husband not to mention I can be quite difficult apparently. Oh and according to some guys I had dates with, I'm also a control freak and a nightmare' she told him.

Owen chuckled and drank some beer at that 'Well you didn't ask this guy…or don't I qualify as one you dated?' he asked her.

'Not really I guess. I mean we didn't actually go out on a date. We just fucked the hell out of each other and that was it' she told him.

'That's one way of putting it' he told her dryly.

'No seriously, we didn't go out on a date, and you are just getting to know me while being engaged to my best friend and being the father of my daughter' she went on.

'Oh come on Claire…you can't be that bad' he told her.

'According to the ones I dated, I am' she replied 'So I decided I don't need the disappointment or the heartache. It's better this way. I can focus on Madison and my career and that is it' she told him, while pouring the second glass of wine, having drank the first one at some point.

'Well that is until Mr Right walks into your life and sweep you off your feet' Owen told her.

Claire laughed at that comment 'Well I'm afraid Mr Right might be already taken' she replied without even thinking about what she was saying, and then he recalled how she had referred to him with Jessica 'Hell even you will run away probably and take Madison with you and leave me all alone with just my wine and design programmes' she told him shooting down the glass of wine at one go.

'I wouldn't Claire' he replied as he got up from his chair and was suddenly standing right in front of her.

'You wouldn't? What run away or take my daughter away from me?' she asked him, feeling like she was suddenly drowning in sorrow.

'Both' he replied 'I would never do that to you. You are an excellent mum Claire. I can see that in our daughter. In every little thing I watch you do for her…I would never take Madison away from you and not just because she needs you…but because I need you too' he whispered truthfully. He must be drunk just by the smell of beer or wine or both he thought. What the hell was he doing? What was he saying?

She turned to grab the bottle of wine and Owen watched her drink the wine straight from the long glass thing instead of pouring some in the glass. He took it out of her hand then and drank down the remaining liquid and when he removed the bottle from his mouth, her eyes were staring deep in his eyes before moving down to look at his parted lips. He watched her swallow hard, her chest rising and falling with each breath she was taking and Owen wasn't sure if he was breathing at all. All of a sudden, his head was spinning, her scent making him dizzy, pulling him in as his hand found her thigh and he has no idea what happened with the wine bottle he supposedly had in his hand. He watched her leaning in, her eyes fixated on his lips, as her tongue slipped out and licked her lips as if getting ready. She was nearly there when…

'Mommyyyyy' they heard Madison screaming from her room and they jumped away from each other, Claire almost slipping from the counter, but Owen caught her. Making sure she was standing, he ran upstairs and hurried into his daughter's bedroom, while Claire tried to compose herself.

'Hey princess what's wrong?' he asked her quickly sitting on her bed and pulling her onto his lap.

'I had a nightmare' she replied burying her face in his chest.

'Do you want to tell me about it?' he asked her…

Downstairs Claire was opening another bottle of wine and drinking straight from the bottle. She knew this was going to happen when Owen asked her about her love life. What love life? She thought. She had no love life whatsoever. She just sucked in that department period, and the only man she has ever wanted was taken by her best friend, who is currently in her house, taking care of their daughter because she is too drunk to do that. She assumed it was a nightmare, but since Owen was still there and he was already running up the stairs when her mind started functioning on reality, she figured she'd let him handle this one for a change and continue with her own party of sorrow.

She made her way to the couch and plopped down almost falling again, before she managed to actually sit down. Owen walked into the living room to find her with the bottle attached to her mouth. He walked over towards her and took the bottle from her hand 'Hey give me that back' she protested.

'I think that is enough for tonight young lady' he told her.

She got up to try and snatch the bottle away from him, but instead she lost her balance and went to hold onto Owen but instead she pulled him onto her as she fell on the couch with Owen on top of her and this time she was too drunk to think about what she was doing. She wrapped her arms around his neck and crushed her lips hard against him, immediately finding her way to his tongue, her hand fisting his hair. It was happening so fast, Owen barely had time to register what was happening, his body following her lead on its own accord. His hand grabbed her thigh, his fingers pressing into her flesh, his left hand cupping her cheek as he kissed her hungrily. It was only when Claire's hands grabbed his polo shirt and tried to take it off him that made him realize what was happening.

It was so easy, so easy to fall and let her lead him, let himself make love to the woman he has dreamt of making love to for the last five years, but he couldn't, not in the state that she was in. He couldn't take advantage of her, because he knew that deep down she was going to regret this later and feel more guilty for betraying her best friend and so was he. If they were going to do this then they both had to be single. He didn't want any regrets because he doesn't want anything to taint something so beautiful and sacred. Not this time round. It was bad enough they had stolen a couple of kisses, but making love was too much. It was just something they couldn't go back from.

He grabbed her hand and broke the kiss, resting his forehead against hers 'Claire…Claire stop…we have to stop' he told her, his eyes shut as he kissed her forehead, before he started getting off her, letting himself stay on his knees next to her, his face in his hand.

She covered her face and stood still, her head spinning, feeling fresh hot tears sting her eyes 'Go' she whispered, and Owen lifted his head slowly to look at her.

'Claire' he whispered.

'Go' she repeated.

'Claire please. Let me help you go upstairs' he told her, as he tried to take her hand in his but she pulled it away from him almost in anger.

'I can go upstairs on my own' she told him stubbornly as she sat and tried to push at him so she could get up but as soon as she tried she almost lost her balance and Owen had to catch her before she hurt herself. 'Let me go' she protested hitting his arms, wanting desperately to get away from him.

'Claire you are drunk. Let me take you upstairs and I leave, I promise' he told her. She knew he was right and she hated it, but if she doesn't let him take her to bed, she will either sleep on the couch or fall down the stairs trying to get up. She stopped protesting and Owen took it as a sign to go ahead and take her to bed.

He picked her up, one arm around her back and another under her knees, he walked them upstairs into her bedroom, her arms wrapped around his neck. He could smell her scent mixed with vanilla and the smell of wine and Owen really had to dig in deep to hold onto his words and be able to walk back out of this house without falling into bed with Claire. He pushed the door open and walked into her bedroom, stopped by the bed and laid her down, resting her head on her pillow. He covered her up, leaned down and pressed his lips against her forehead feeling his heart ache as he pulled away, after lingering there for a brief moment. There were so many things he wanted to tell her but as he pulled away, he realized Claire was already asleep. He stayed there for a couple of minutes looking at her, sleeping so peacefully, free of her worries. What he wouldn't give right now to slip into bed next to her and hold her in his arms for the rest of the night and wake up in the morning inhaling her scent, watching the morning glow on her beautiful body…but he can't. Sure he could leave Jessica and that would be it. He would be free to be with her, but would she do it? Would she want to be with him then after he dumps her best friend for her? Something within him told him that it is not that simple. This situation was such a headache. He felt so torn and it wasn't just about Claire but also about Jessica. He has been with her for so long now and before Claire walked back into his life, with his daughter no less, things were fine between them more or less. He loved her and he wanted to be with her, but the minute Claire showed up, it was like everything changed and now he seems to be questioning everything, or rather try not to think about anything and live in the moment but with some sort of perspective.

He gave one last look at the sleeping form lying in bed, kissed her forehead once again, his hand cupping one cheek and went on his way.