To my reviewers – you guys all ROCK! Thank you, and I hope you like this... : )

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"Claire, I love you! I've always fuckin' loved you. I know you're scared but I'm not gonna let you pull away, ya got that? I need you..." he gazed at her longingly. "You need me."

She felt herself instantly melt into his arms, wrapping herself around him. "I love you, John." She chuckled softy. "Even when I shouldn't."

She reached up on her tiptoes and placed a tender kiss on his lips. He grinned, deepening the kiss, and she felt her knees begin to buckle. He broke it after a moment, causing her to groan at the loss of contact.

"Don't you ever leave me again -" he looked down at her seriously.

"I won't," she assured, resuming their kiss. She had missed this so much, she had needed this. This feeling of connection.

He abruptly pulled himself away from her, his eyes the brightest she had ever seen them.

"What is it?"

"Marry me, princess."

"W-what?" she stuttered, knowing that she must have misheard.

He grabbed her again, his face flushed with excitement. "Come on. We should do it! We should just go off and do it right now..." she could feel his body trembling with anticipation and her mind was a mass of varying emotions.

"Now? Are you serious?"

"Yes, damn it, I'm serious!"

The biggest smile that she had ever had stretched itself across her face, making her muscles ache in a glorious way.

"Yes! Yes, I'll marry you, John Bender!" He lifted her and spun her around, both laughing madly. This was the absolute happiest moment that she had ever had in her entire life.

"MA'AM! ARE YOU ALRIGHT?"

The fogginess in Claire's brain slowly began to lift as she forced the heavy weights of her eyes open. She looked up and saw a concerned stewardess waiting her response.

Realization crept up on her and it finally hit her – it was all just a dream. Of course it was, she admonished herself.

"Miss?"

"Oh, god, I'm sorry. Yes, yes, I'm just fine. Thanks." Her cheeks were reddened in embarrassment and the uniformed woman moved on. She had been talking in her sleep again, John had often teased her in the mornings telling her ridiculous things that she had muttered in her unconsciousness. She had thought that he was only messing with her for a long time until one day he told her that she had been murmuring about carrots and tomatoes and wondering why they couldn't just get along – she had been having a nightmare about the two vegetables worlds being torn in a civil war. I think some of John's strangeness has rubbed off on me, she thought with a giggle. She had just rested her head against the thick window pane when she was interrupted.

"Long flight, huh?"

She turned to face her plane neighbour, and gave the older woman a slight smile. "Yeah, you could say that again."

"Was it your first time in Paris?"

Claire shook her head. "No, actually, I've been there with my family loads of times. It was my first time alone, though. I was doing a semester exchange program for college."

The leathered woman cracked a smile. "That sounds exciting." She tilted her head, "and tell me, young woman, did you find love during your stay in the city of lights?"

Claire shot her a watery smile, "I didn't find it here, but it followed me."

A knowing look shadowed her companion's face. "A love that won't let go, huh? Maybe even if you want it to?"

Claire shifted in her seat uncomfortably. She squinted her eyes, wrinkling her nose. "Am I that readable?"

The woman chuckled softly. "My dear, when you reach my age, you see things. Things others do not because they are either too afraid to look or they don't want to know."

Something about her made Claire feel like spilling out all of her fears and desires, and they all came pouring out of her. The rest of the plane ride went quickly and she found her self landing much too soon for her tastes.

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Brian glanced down at his wrist for the hundredth time, anxiety causing himto bounce on his feet nervously. Claire was going to be here any minute, signifying the reality of she and John having to deal with each other. Brian hadn't gotten much sleep the previous night, staying up having to endure John's drunken ramblings.

"Brian!" Claire's voice rung out through the busy boarding area and Brian's face lightened.

"Hey Claire!" He hugged her and then stepped back to assess if she looked any different. "You look great."

A genuine grin appeared and she found that she missed him more than she had thought she would. Brian was the rock that held their little group together, and she knew that they didn't always let him know how much he was truly appreciated.

"Thanks for picking me up."

"Sure, I wanted to. Let's go claim your luggage." They meandered through the bristling airport crowds, stopping at the round conveyor belt, keeping a look out for her matching bag set. Both were silent, as is usually the case when you're first united at an airport – travel syndrome.

Claire pursed her lips together, staring transfixedly at the suitcases passing in front of them.

"So..."

Brian glanced over at her seeing her avoid his gaze and he followed suit. "So..."

"How is everyone?"

"Good. Fine. Everyone's good."

She nodded, "That's good." She fidgeted and she felt foolish for making such a huge deal out of asking the simple question that was bursting to come forth from her lips.

Brian seemed to read her mind and merely commented, "He's ok, Claire."

She feigned ignorance, "Who's ok?"

Brian rolled his eyes, "you know exactly who I'm talking about."

She sighed. "Has he talked about me much?"

Brian stiffened and awkwardness trickled over the two. "I think you should talk to him."

She nodded mutely, both still not looking at each other, their gazes glued ahead.

"Oh, that's mine." She motioned towards her oncoming baggage and Brian grabbed them, putting one down on the ground in front of him at a time.

"Geez, Claire, how many bags did you really need to bring?"

"Hey, I was there for 3 months! And you can't exactly go around looking drab when you're in Paris!" she defended.

Brian located a near-by trolley and loaded it up. They made their way back out to the car port, and finally found his car parked after ten minutes of searching. They packed the car and got in, fastening their safety belts.

"Ready?"

"As ready as I'll ever be." She relaxed back into the chair, her stomach turning over in apprehensive knots. And people always thought Allison was the basket case she thought to herself wryly. She looked out of the window, blankly staring at the passing blurs of landscape, trying to prepare herself for whatever comes next.

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Up next...John and Claire's reunion! Review, please, let me know what you think : )