Quils POV

I spent seventeen years lonely and miserable, the knowledge of knowing she was alive being the one thing getting me through it all. Everyone tried their best to understand and give me space but the only thing I found that helped was sleeping with her pink blanket and visiting Maxwell every day to reminisce. We would look at old photos, go fishing or just watch movies together. We were suppose to be the two most important men in her life and her mother made sure that she had no way of knowing that or doing anything about it.

One day after she left I was a wreck. I was frantic. I was pissed. I was confused. I was manic. I was crazed. I paced back and forth on Emily's porch ringing my hands together. Embry and Jacob both watched me neither not knowing what to do for the first time. They had never seen me like this but when Emily told me that Claire was gone I didn't even know what to do. I couldn't even phase, even my wolf was confused.

One month after she left I was still holding on to hope that her mother would bring her and her siblings back. They needed their father too right? I would stay away and just watch from a distance if I had to. I just needed to see her. I just needed to feel her presence around me.

One year after she left I sat on my bed holding her pink blanket. Tears burned hot in my eyes and my heart felt empty. One year of not hearing her voice. One year of not playing hide and seek with her. One year of not watching how tall she got or how longer her hair had grown. One year of not licking any mud pies. I was broken on the inside but I tried my best to stay strong. She'd be back one day and when that day came I would never miss a moment with her that I couldn't help.

Two years after she left I had just clipped out a news article about her group's performance in a talent show in Seattle. They had won first place. I put the clipping in a scrapbook with the date next to it. She was doing okay it seemed so I would also have to do okay. I wonder if she missed me?

Five years after she left I began to worry some when a nine year old Claire called her father for her annual birthday call and sounded near tears. She told her dad everything was okay and that she was just tired I knew it was a lie. When Ben got on the phone he whispered as low as he could that it was in fact a lie and that Mary was withholding food from Claire because she gained five pounds in a month. I told Maxwell to intervene then and get that girl out of there along with Ben but he told me that she would expose us all then. I tried my best to fight him on that but he couldn't bring himself to do it.

Seven years after she left Mary called Maxwell to inform him that Claire would not be able to participate in this years birthday phone call because of her not placing anything in the latest competition. She told him that Claire was working extra hard to become better. Ben told him that Claire was not doing well mentally or emotionally but that her dances were still beautiful despite what Mary said.

Ten years after she left Claire was again in the news paper for a solo act she had won first place in during a statewide competition. She was taller now, around 5'3 and her body was starting to grow in. She was thin, frail looking even. Her long black hair was in a tight bun and she stood along two other teenagers who both held medals. Claire's was gold though. She smiled in the photo but it didn't meet her eyes. She wasn't happy. Something was wrong.

Eleven years after she left I began to feel sick all the time. Weighed down and miserable like weights were tied to my feet. It went on like this for two years.

Thirteen years after she left Ben called frantically one day to tell Maxwell that Claire was in the hospital but that their mother couldn't know. That was the day I felt like death and drowsy out of nowhere, I began to wonder if it was because of how she was feeling. When Maxwell returned that night he wouldn't tell me what happened. He wouldn't tell me why she was in the hospital and why Mary couldn't know. All I know is that night he cried himself to sleep harder then when she was first taken.

Fifteen years after she left I went to visit Maxwell and I caught her scent. It was fresh. She is here or at least was. I rushed out of the woods and up the steps to inside the house and saw Maxwell putting two cups into the sink. He looked at me with sad eyes and shook his head, I had missed her. He told me about how she's keeping herself busy between work and dance. He told me she looked frail but strong willed as ever. I held hope.

Sixteen years after she left Ben came down and stayed entire summer at Maxwells. I stayed away to give them space but on mornings he would go fishing if catch up with him then. I learned that Claire was depressed and miserable, she had been ever since she left. I learned that she has no memories due to her brain blocking them all out because of the trauma of their mother. I learned that she grew up friendless and lonely. I learned that she was forced to practice over and over again until she would throw up or pass out, that she would even pass out during dance routines during competitions. I could only hope she would come back soon. I needed to save her. I needed to do my job.

Seventeen years after she left Maxwell died. I felt like I had lost my own father when he died. I went to visit him and found him still in his bed. I caught the scent of death as soon as I opened his door and immediately called 911. When he died though I knew she would come back.

"There's someone in the water!" Jacob shouted as he threw on his shorts leaving me phased and confused. I phased out and threw on my shorts before running after him. Was that person dead? Who would be crazy enough to be in the water right now?

"It's a girl. Is she alive?" I shouted as I saw the pile of clothes on the beach. It was definitely a girl and she was definitely crazy. I heard the girl whisper as she began to stand. When I caught sight of her face though I knew who she was.

Claire.

Her long wet black hair hung around her body. Her tan skin looked cold with goosebumps forming. Her body was fully grown in with beautiful curves and lean limbs. Every moment she made was graceful even as she marched through the water. I turned out the bantering between Jacob and her. I just was trying to make sure this wasn't a dream. My heart was tugging at her like it was the first time I had ever seen her all over again. When I heard her shout her name to Jacob though my heart froze. I was really right and I wasn't dreaming, she was really here. She was the crazy girl in the water?

"My name is Jacob Black, I was friends with your dad but my brother next to you was better friends," Jacob said directing her attention to Quil as she tried her best to get dry clothes on. She looked up at me underneath her long eyelashes but she only met my jaw. I needed her to keep looking up. I needed her to meet my eyes.

"Neat," was the only thing she said before she went back to dressing. I glances at her feet and saw how damaged they were. How broken they were. Did Mary really did a number on her after all these years?

"What happened?" I asked before I even knew my mouth was moving. She looked up and met my eyes this time. I saw her eyes flash quickly into something I didn't recognize but she quickly recovered.

"Ballet," Claire answered before finally giving a wave and leaving. I stood still watching her go. She was back. She was here.

"Dude," Jacob let out a sigh he didn't know he was holding. His eyes trained on the wood line just like mine were.

"She's back," I felt a sob leave my throat involuntary. All these years of only seeing her in news clippings and listening in on the once a year phone calls she was allowed to have with Maxwell, she was here. My emotions started going haywire. My wolf told me to run after her and never let her leave again. My scared part told me to hold back, ignore her and keep an eye from afar incase she leaves again. My brave part told me to keep her around for as long as I could and not to waste a second without her around just incase she leaves again.

The funeral was going to be packed according to Emily even though Maxwell had only been cremated, he was a loved man. When we arrived Emily yelled at Claire to spit the cigarette out of her mouth, I couldn't help but laugh as she quickly did so because she had always hated when Emily scolded her. Finally I worked up enough nerve to say hello to her but all she did was shrug me off. She gave me the peace sign though as she left, that was enough to make me believe somewhere inside her mind still held all her memories of them.

The first cliff dive made me realize how reckless Claire really had become. She was always free spirited but this was new to me. I told it was too dangerous and she just shrugged it off. I also learned that she overdosed years ago which made me believe it was when Maxwell had to go see her in the hospital. It made sense now why he cried so hard, he thought he was going to lose her forever and he didn't want to alert me because I was then go take her myself. When we hit the water I had to pull Claire up because she was letting the calmness of the ocean take over her broken mind. I would have to tread lightly with her.

The night I watched her dance made me cry through the whole show. I was so proud. I had seen her when she was just starting out with sparkles in her eyes about what dance was. I also saw the pictures of her dead eyes years later holding up medals. I couldn't see her eyes when she danced on stage in front of me but I could bet they were the same.

The second cliff dive made me realize I was right all along. She hated dance. She had thought it was fun at first but now it was just hell for her which is why she quit. As we got ready to dive again I saw her tiny tattoo and made a note to ask about it. I also saw her ribs which made my gut drop. No wonder she looked so small, it's because she was. He also realized for the first time how much her memories were coming back. He was scared when the big memory came back. He was worried she would leave.

The breakfast seemed to go well until Embry told her who he was. I watched a memory flash through her eyes until it was done. She remembered who he was. I watched as she panicked and made up a lame excuse so they could leave. Ben apologizes but followed as a loyal brother does. We all followed out on the porch and watched as they pulled away. Her memories were coming back more and more now everytime she was around us. It was only a matter of time.

Saturday night I watched her dance again. I left daisies at her dressing room door before running out to find my seat. I wouldn't let Maxwells tradition die.

Sunday night I dropped off the daises and made my way to my seat. I cheered and clapped when the show ended. I cheered louder in my head because I knew her freedom had finally come. She was done. I went out front to wait to make sure she had a ride home but after awhile she didn't come out. Ben wasn't out there waiting and her mother had already gone. The cabs and ubers were already pulling away when I got up off the curb to go inside and check on her. When I knocked she flung the door open like she was about to yell but instead invited me in. When I told her that her mother was gone she just said okay and got her belongings. When we got outside it was snowing and I told her I would just drive her. She followed like I knew she would. The imprints properties were growing stronger between us again. She brought up the truck which shocked me but I fed in and confirmed she wasn't crazy but nothing more. I had to tread lightly.

"Pull over," Claire commanded randomly as we pulled on the main way to La Push. We were almost home. I looked around us and saw woods on one side and an open field on the other. I pulled over the best I could and put the car in park. I watched as she flung open the door and jumped out the truck before running into the perfectly white field. Once she was out far enough she turned and fell backwards with her arms spread out, she was making snow angels. I could hear her laughing and it filled my heart with a joy I didn't remember I could feel. I grabbed a blanket from behind the seat and walked through the snow to her. I stood silently watching her act like a child again. I stood silently watching her be carefree. I stood silently watching her face light up all the way to her eyes. She was so beautiful. She was mine.

The week after I didn't get to see Claire at all. Sam took off all week to fix up the house some so I pulled extra shifts. I kept tabs on Claire though through things the other boys would pick up and relay back to me. She was doing good apparently at work. She was running herself down though by keeping herself busy. I would watch her every night leave the house and run for hours until she then went home and bathed. She was distracting herself from not dancing.

Sunday morning arrived and Emily sent me with a container of goodies for the twins. I had just gotten off the night shift and wanted sleep but I was happy to go see Claire. I wasn't complaining. When I knocked on the door though I was greeted by Claire in a way I wasn't expecting.

"Doing some cleaning?" I asked as I set the boxes down on the counter and saw the list. Her hand writing was neat but crooked, it had been crooked even as a child so that didn't change. I watched as she took a cinnamon roll out and then handed me one.

"My room still looks like a toddler lives in it so it's time to revamp it," Claire explained her answer ending with how her dad never threw anything of theirs out. My heart squeezed itself for a moment before thinking of an honest answer back.

"He kept all this stuff because he wanted to relive the memories of you all here," I understood because I still slept with her pink blanket and had the noodle necklace on my nightstand. I tried to keep things light between us whenever we saw each other. I tried to act like a friend with her and not a babysitter like I once was. Claire needed a friend right now. She needed to know she wasn't alone. The whole pack was surprised about how well I was taking her being back, how relaxed I was but they didn't understand that it was all the imprint. It knew what she needed and I was just acting upon it.

Soon Claire roped me into helping her clean and rearrange the whole house. I was happy to do it. I spent my Sunday morning and half of my afternoon helping her and Ben both. By the time I was 3pm the house looked brand new. Shelves were dusted and neat. The table was cleared off with nothing but a candle burning on it. The couches looked fluffed and vacuumed. The kitchen was spotless and even had a sparkle to it. The fridge was neat and organized, even the magnets on the outside of it were on the side out of the way. The carpets were vacuumed and looked white again instead of the dark beige of years of neglect. Bens room looked better now that all the random trash and dolls he had stolen as a child were gone. He vowed he was going to paint the whole house by the end of the week. Claire's room looked more bare then it ever had. She wrote a list of things she needed like curtains, sheets and blankets. She tore the ballet shoe painting off the wall and threw it away without even thinking. I watched as she put the wolf stuffed animal on the nightstand though before she closed the door. She still had it even if she doesn't remember why it didn't matter, she still had it.

"We need to get up to Seattle now," Claire finally told Ben as she tucked a few different lists into her purse. Ben came walking down the hallway pulling on a heavy black puffy coat. He nodded before grabbing car keys off the hook by the door.

"Why Seattle?" I asked as I followed them outside into the cold of the afternoon. Claire pulled her navy trench coat closet to keep herself warm.

"Christmas gifts. We always wait until the last minute," Ben shrugged as he unlocked the doors to the car. I stood still for a moment but then realized what he just said. Christmas.

"Are you guys gonna be around on Christmas?" I asked looking between them two. I knew that Claire would never agree without Ben coming too. They were a package deal even as adults.

"Not on Christmas. Sarah is coming in with her fiancée," Claire rolled her eyes as she opened her door on the passenger side. I felt my heart squeeze tight for a moment.

"But we'll be back that night. Why?" Ben asked when I said nothing and Claire didn't make any more effort to either.

"Oh, Christmas Eve at Emily's is a big thing. We would all love for you to be there, no gifts required," I gave a sincere smile in hopes they would say yes. They both looked at each other and I knew they were doing the twin telepathy thing, something that always killed me. After a few minutes Ben nodded and smiled.

"We'll be there," they both said at the same time. I nodded and let me smile get a little bigger. I would get to spend a major holiday with my imprint for the first time in seventeen years.

"Oh, by the way, thanks for helping today," Claire stopped herself before she shut her door all the way and Ben waved goodbye. I stood and watched as they left for Seattle. Things were falling into place somehow but a part of me could only wonder how long would all of this stay like this?

So, what did we think? More of Quils POV? Or back to third person? Review. Follow. Favorite. Thank you for reading. I have other stories. Enjoy.