Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer...Twilight...she owns it..

Authors note: Considering people asked to see the next chapter so quickly and I'm still awake (it's 1am here I decided to update again...and don't worry Quil will be returning to the story very very soon it's important to see what Claire is like too!! The story will be told from both of their perspectives and that is all that I am saying on the matter:O...Review again please:D

Chapter Seven

C.P.O.V

I could feel my breathing grow slightly strained as we waited for someone to answer the door, I quickly began counting my breaths, a method that I had used at times when I didn't want to use the inhaler. Before I could think further about this the door swung open widely. Standing there was a woman who undoubtedly was my aunt, I could tell from the three long scars the ran down along one side of her face. I had been told about Emily's face by my father once when he was drunk; he said that she had been attacked by a bear and he had then proceeded to laugh at this as though it was some kind of joke. I had thought that strange but was glad now that he had told me because even though I was prepared I still found it difficult not to stare.

Emily despite the scars was beautiful and wore a warm welcoming expression on her face, she smiled at both of us and I couldn't help but smile in response. "Jane it's so good to see you!" Emily exclaimed before lunging forward and pulling her into a hug. Jane seemed slightly taken aback by her enthusiasm but patted her uncertainly on the back in response. "Hello Emily…its nice to see you too.." Jane trailed off. Emily didn't seemed abashed at my mother's severe lack of enthusiasm, and quickly turned to me and was beaming at me, I grinned back at her which made her face light up. "Claire…. Oh look at how much you've grown….you're a woman now…" Emily looked as though she might cry at this before she grabbed me into a bear hug. I couldn't help but smile her happiness and enthusiasm was positively infectious.

"Come in, come in.." Emily was waving and exclaiming to us " Don't stand on the doorstep!". The inside of the house wasn't quite what I had expected from the outside. It was clear to me that there had been an extension here, there was no obvious signs to someone the normal eye, but having spent time around my father on building sites and the like I had learned about different structural properties.

The kitchen was the first room that I saw it was huge and was made of pine with a green finish , with an old stove against the back wall. Everything had a rustic, natural feel to it, there was a lot of wood running through the kitchen and the living room that was attached to it. The living room consisted of a large widescreen TV, and a battered brown leather couch, with a mix match of armchairs and bean bags. It was a far cry from our designer kitchen and living rooms back in London where everything had a hint of chrome or glass running through it. But the rooms here made me smile, they felt like a real home, and I was suddenly jealous of my aunt.

"Please sit down and I'll get us some drinks!" Emily exclaimed. I watched as she quickly ran into the kitchen grabbed some different foodstuffs from different cupboards and watched in amazement as she carried a tray laden with food and drinks over to the coffee table in the middle of the living room. I could feel my mouth water at the sight of some muffins on the tray and reached hesitantly before a warning glance from Jane stopped me. Emily noticed and smiled at me sympathetically before winking at me unbeknownst to Jane, "Claire would you like to try one of my muffins?.. Made them this morning should be fresh still!" she exclaimed before pulling one out and placing it on a napkin and handing it to me. I smiled in thanks and quickly tucked in ignoring any bad looks that Jane was probably giving me.

We spent what seemed like hours just chatting and making up for years of absence. Jane who started off reluctant gradually became warmer and seemed to be enjoying herself. I thought that I could see what they would have been once like as younger closer sisters. Emily told us about her children my cousins Hannah , Caleb and Riley. Caleb and Riley were the oldest and they were identical twins, Hannah on the other hand was the youngest and was in constant opposition with her brothers who liked to gang up against her. But according to Emily that they were despite this so close that they had may as well have been triplets. I could imagine from the way Emily acted and spoke about each one of them that her family was entirely different from that of my own now broken family.

Too soon for my liking Jane decided that it was time to leave, and I reluctantly said goodbye to my aunt. Emily looked upset at Jane's decision to leave and could see from my expression my reluctance to leave. "would you rather stay for dinner?.." Emily exclaimed with a slight note of desperation "the kids and Sam would be here and I'm sure they would love to see you both!". Jane looked surprised at this, but shook her head with a small smile on her face. "I really think that it would be best if we leave ..we've put you out for long enough" Jane said with that same smile on her face. Emily looked upset and continued to plead with my mother. "It would be no trouble really it would be a pleasure to have you both… and I'm sure that Claire would like to meet her cousins wouldn't you Claire?" Emily said turning in my direction. I quickly nodded and smiled and turned pleadingly to Jane. "Careful Emily.." my mother whispered "I still haven't forgotten…". I looked dumbfounded at Jane; unable to understand what had caused this outburst. It had a similar reaction on Emily who looked as though she had been slapped, "Alright then.." she said sadly "maybe some other time then.." Emily trailed off uncertainly wringing her hands nervously. Jane nodded absent- mindedly and made her way out the door towards the car calling me after her.

I looked at Emily and smiled apologetically, "It was really nice to see you aunt Emily…I really would have loved to stay and meet everyone really…" I trailed off feeling genuinely upset that I couldn't stay and talk more. Emily smiled at me and had an odd expression on her face but quickly gave me a hug and released me when a horn was heard blaring outside. I glared in the direction of Jane's car, "Come back any time you like alright…." Emily started "Day or night I don't mind…I would really like to get to know my niece and for her to get to know her cousins" she said smiling again. I nodded and felt tears well up in my eyes, I always got tearful when I was upset which I silently cursed for the thousandth time. Emily smiled at me sympathetically as I made my way quickly to the car and got in before Jane screamed away.