I'd just like to thank the people that read and the few who reviewed. Sorry it took so long for me to get this chapter up, but I've been really busy lately and I wasn't even too sure if anyone really liked it since I didn't have any reviews. Anyways… On with the story:

Lap of Luxury Chapter 3

"Hahaha, oh my goodness Claire! I don't know where you get it!" Lady Sylvia breathed in between laughs.

"Well I must have gotten at least something from my big sister." Claire shrugged in response.

Sir Langdon laughed again and patted Claire on the back "You really are something."

"Well I do try, Sir," She bowed graciously. "I just wish I could find someone else, who would think that too, like my sister. It still amazes me that my loud-mouth sister could get such a great catch!" She glanced over at Sylvia for a split second and winked, then looked back at Langdon and tried to keep from bursting out into laughter. "Good job big sis."

"Oh, that reminds me of something, actually!" Sylvia pulled out a small picture from her bag and passed it to Claire. "This is Darien." She explained.

Claire looked over it with a dumbfounded expression. "And I need to know this because…?" She asked

"Right, sorry. He's to be Sophie's betrothed. At least that's what we're hoping for in the near future."

Claire was beyond shocked but maintained her composure. "Why the near future of all times? The girl's 17. She has all the time in the world to worry about things like that."

Real reason Claire knew Sophie shouldn't be getting married, not because of the age, but because she knew what Sophie's parents didn't. She had known for some time in fact, about three years to be precise.

----------------------------------------------------Flashback----------------------------------------------------

Sophie and Lea walked down the stairs, obviously nervous about something. Claire, still sitting on the couch, looked up from the book in her hand to the two young girls.

"Aunt Claire? Can I have a few words with you?" Sophie took hold of Lea's hand and pulled her to sit next to her on the couch.

"Um…am I in trouble?" Claire teased; thought partially serious considering the looks on both of their faces.

"Ha, you are so funny, Aunt Claire!" Sophie looked over at Lea. "Isn't she funny?"

Lea was unsure what to say, so she just responded, "Uh, yeah. Right. Funny, eheheh…" She pulled Sophie a little closer and whispered, "What are you smoking?!"

"Shh, just let me handle this. Okay."

Aunt Claire was still in the dark about this whole thing, but she knew she'd find out sooner or later anyway.

"Aunt Claire, we came to tell you something."

"Really? I wouldn't have guessed. Now what is so important, sweetie?"

"Before we tell you…you have to swear you will not tell mom or dad as long as we wish to keep it our secret. Once we decide we want them to know, we'll tell them ourselves. So all you need to do is not say anything about it."

"Whoa, I don't even know what this is and already I have to swear a vow of secrecy?"

"Well if you actually think of a pinky promise as a 'vow of secrecy', then yes. That's what I'm saying."

"Just so long as I know. Alright, I promise—"

"Swear." Lea corrected.

"Geez, okay. I swear to keep whatever you're telling me between us. Now can I actually know why I'm taking an oath of silence?"

Sophie took a deep breath and calmly…

"Sophie and I are dating each other!"

Then: awkward silence. Well of course! How exactly would a person react in either position? I mean, you just found out your niece is a lesbian and is secretly smitten with her father's help! And on the other hand you just told the one person who has always taught you the right thing about your long-term hidden sexuality and about your not-as-long-but-still-considered-long-term affair!

"Well…um…wow. By the sound of it you've really thought this whole thing over. But if you say it any louder you won't have to worry about me telling your parents, they'll be able to hear for themselves. Lea quickly clasped her hands to her mouth with a bit of a blush rising to her cheeks.

"Is that all you're going to say?" Sophie asked, totally confused.

"Yea, nottin' else you wanna tell us or warn us 'bout?" Lea was just as confused as to why they got such a subtle reaction.

"Well you know I've never been one to judge. And I get the feeling it won't make a bit of difference what I say anyways. You kids have evidently made up your minds, all I can do now is support you and hope this whole thing doesn't blow up in all of our faces."

Sophie and Lea were absolutely shocked at how little Aunt Claire was concerned about them. They didn't expect, nor want, for her to forbid them from it or scold them. But at the least they expected her to flip out and ramble on about it being those 'good-for-nothing tourists' or something! Ok, so they really didn't. That's basically why they told her instead of anyone else; she was just really cool about most things.

"Thank you, Aunt Claire! You are the best relative I have ever known!" She gave her a great big bear hug, feeling her admiration for her aunt grow even more.

"Well even though I know you've only ever known me, your grandparents, parents, and that really obnoxious cousin of yours, I'll take that as a compliment."

For some reason Lea felt like joining in the hug, guess it was all the screaming that gave off that kind of magnetic vibe. "Yeah, Aunt Claire, you're the greatest!" That was a bid of a moment-ruiner but everyone just ignored it and continued discussing the when, where, why, and how's of the situation between the ecstatic hugs and squeaky, high-pitched voices and squeals. (A/N: don't even ask why Aunt Claire is so curious about these kinds of things)

-------------------------------------------------End Flashback-------------------------------------------------

"…Claire? Hello, I know you're still in there, right?" Aunt Claire had just snapped back into the present, reality. How depressing is that?

"Um, I'm just fine, Sylvia. Just…reminiscing is all."

Sylvia noticed the ear-to-ear smile Claire wore and couldn't help but wonder. "Care to share your memories with us? We'll be glad to listen." Sylvia's cocky grin accidentally shown.

Claire only smiled again. "Oh, don't worry. When the time comes you'll know all about it. I'm sure of it." She whispered while sipping her tea and slightly chuckling.