Promise You Won't Leave Me

In this story, there are some shots from the original show and it's like flashbacks to Claire what Alex did for her in her life, how he was always there for her. You'll see what I mean. Anyway, when this story starts, Claire is 8, Alex is 10, Nick is 7 and Tess is 6 years old.
I wrote plenty of C&A stories, but this still holds special place in my heart, it shows how would I like to see things on show happened...Hope you will like it!

Lots of greetings from Vesna

Chapter 1: Promise given

Claire was running, following Ruth's car and yelled:

"No! Come back! Come back!", cried child.

Meg ran toward her.

"Claire!", exclaimed Meg. She kneeled beside child who hanged up on her for dear life, sobbing into Meg's shoulder.

"Why, Meg, why?", cried Claire.

"Sssshhh... ssshhh, little one", Meg tried to sooth her, carressing Claire's brown hair.

Jack stood at verandah, fighting back his tears. He walked toward Meg and his daughter.

"Claire...", he called his daughter silently.

Claire turned furiously, yelling:

"Why did you let them go?! Why didn't you stopped them?!"

"Claire...", he couldn't find right words. He looked desperately at Meg.

"Claire, honey, listen to me...", Meg tried to calm down crying child, but Claire jumped away from both of them, exclaiming:

"I hate you! I hate both of you!"

With those words child ran down the field, crying.

Harry and his family were having lunch in the garden. Nick was talking about his day at school.

"And than I said to teacher that I know more about sheeps than she does!", said Nick, stuffing sandwich in his mouth, grinning.

Liz looked at him, shocked.

"Nick!!!!", she exclaimed.

Harry and Alex laughed and Nick smiled devishly.

"Well, he does, Mum", Alex giggled.

Liz was about to say something, but than they heard Claire's voice.

"Alex! Alex!"

They all turned around and saw Claire running while tears rolled down her cheeks.

Seeing his best friend like this, Alex jumped from his chair and he ran toward her.

"Claire! Claire, what's wrong?", he reached his best friend and hugged her protectively. Claire cried even more. Harry and Liz ran toward them and Nick followed them.

Harry kneeled beside children and tried to hug Claire, but she pushed all of them away, holding only to Alex.

Alex looked to his parents and whispered:

"Go, I'll take care of her."

Liz nodded; she knew how good friends Claire and Alex are. He was always very protective about her. She got up, took Nick's hand and three of them went to the house.

Alex waited for them to go away and than he asked:

"Claire? What happened?", he asked with worry.

Claire was still crying and barely could reply from tears.

"Ruth...Ruth went away...and she took Tess with her...", she bursted in tears again.

"WHAT!?", Alex couldn't hold back his shock.

"It happened, Alex...It really happened...", whispered Claire, choking in tears. "First my mum left me...Now Ruth and Tess..."

Alex held her tightly, not knowing what to say.

"Everybody are leaving me...", she whispered through tears. And than...than she snapped out, frightened.

"Alex..."

"What is it?", he asked, looking at her.

She took step back, wiping tears away, but new ones flew down her cheeks.

"Claire, don't cry...I don't want you to be sad. I would give anything to make you feel better", said Alex, feeling his heart breaking at sight of his friend so sad.

Claire was looking at him, holding her lips tight connected. And than she said:

"I need you to promise me something...", she whispered.

Alex nodded.

"Name it."

Claire bursted to tears.

"Promise you won't leave me, Alex!", she cried.

Alex hugged her tightly and caressed her hair.

"Of course I won't leave you, Claire. I will always be here for you."

Claire calmed down a bit.

"Promise?", she asked.

Alex nodded.

"Yeah, I promise", he replied.

"Because...I don't have anybody else than you now. I hate my Dad for not stopping them...", she whispered through tears.

Alex knew that Claire was wrong about her father, but he also knew that now it wasn't a time to discuss it. He took his friend's hand.

"Come on", he led her to the table, but Claire didn't wanted to eat. She just sat there, crying.

Harry, Liz and Nick came back. Claire wiped her tears away and looked to Alex's Dad.

"I am sorry for behave like that, Mr. Ryan", apologized Claire.

Harry caressed her hair.

"That's okay, Claire, no worries", he said gently, wondering what was wrong.

Liz touched Claire's hand with her palm.

"Wanna tell us what happened?", asked Liz.

Claire just sat and stared to her hands, not saying anything. That's why Alex took over.

"Mrs. McLeod went away and took Tess with her", said Alex.

Harry and Liz gasped in shock and color drained from Nick's face.

"Oh, my God!!", exclaimed Liz."When did that happen?!"

Harry gave a look to his wife.

"Liz!", he whispered, pointing to Claire with his head. Than he continued "Claire, I'm sure they just had small fight. She will come back", he tried to ease a pain for little girl, but she shook her head and sadly whispered:

"No, they won't come back, Mr. Ryan I know that", she got up from the chair and ran to the house.

"Claire, wait up!", exclaimed Alex, getting up from the chair and following her.

Harry shoot a look to Liz.

"Well done, Liz!", growled Harry.

"I'm sorry, but I was so shocked!", said Liz, shattered.

Harry got up from the chair, saying:

"Come on, lets go to Drovers to check on Jack."

Liz looked at her husband:

"But, what about Claire?"

"She'll be fine as long as Alex is around her", replied Harry.

They got up from their chairs and went toward the ute, leaving Nick alone. No one noticed how pale his face became. He just sat there, staring into space...