(You better be damn well happy! I'm staying up all night to finish this! Lol. I'm kidding. I love writing. Keep reviewing!!)

CPOV

I realized, after walking into my house, that I wouldn't be able to see anything. All the power was out, and my family didn't even have band-aids for every day cuts and scrapes half the time, let alone a flashlight for an earthquake that might happen once every 10 years.

I made out a few shapes. A big rectangle-shaped thing had smashed my TV. My fridge had toppled over. A huge chunk of something had blocked off the entrance to the upstairs completely. My couch was smashed in from a large object, and it was really cold inside. I looked up and saw the moon... where the roof was supposed to be. I knew that I wouldn't find anything else in the dark, so I grabbed a cotton throw blanket from the hall cupboard and wrapped the thin material around myself as tightly as I could, but not noticing much warmth as I walked into my backyard to sleep on the grass. I wasnted to be away from anything that might fall on top of me, and knew I was probably safe from the stars above me. Before I knew it, my lids were getting heavy and I drifted off to the sounds of sirens around my neighborhood.

222222222

I woke up a while later, and noticed two things. One, I no longer felt the wet grass benath my cheek. Two, I was way too warm to just be wrapped in a throw blanket.

Scratch that. I noticed three things. Third, I could smell a musky scent, my favourite scent in the world, coating my hair. I turned my head a little after noticing my head was the only thing I could turn. Two copper arms were constricting me, holding me close in the dark, protecting me. Though I could probably guess we were entering the wee hours of the morning and there was still no hint of light to be seen, I felt a springy bed beneath me that was most definitely not mine. I struggled a little, trying to get my bearings, when the slow, steady breathing I was hearing suddenly became alert. Quil's dark eyes opened, and he smiled at me.

"Hey," I whispered. "Um... where am I, and why am I here?" I was scared; I was known for doing crazy things in my sleep. Like saying awkward things, or sleepwalking.

He giggled softly. "Well, after the earthquake yesterday..." Right. The earthquake. Shaking. Broken house. Bedroom blocked off. Slept outside...

"I came back at around ten. You were already in a deep sleep. You must have went to bed early," he commented. He was right. I must have shut my eyes at what, eight at the latest?

"Anyways, I found you after searching FRANTICALLY through your house, and lifting up every piece of furniture to make sure you werent underneath," I grinned a little- I knew the extremes Quil went to sometimes, as well as his overreactions to ensure my safety- "and when I figured you probably weren't in the house, I found you outside, sleeping, shuddering uncontrollably."

"I wasn't THAT cold," I defended myself. God.

"Well, it sure looked like you were. So I scooped you up and tried to find somewhere for you to sleep- the only houses still intact were Jacob's and Leah's, both of whom were completely full of people, and mine- and I ended up back at my place."

I loved Quil's house. It wasn't huge. It had a kitchen, a bathroom, a bedroom, and a living area. But it was so homey and warm and inviting, so I came over whatever chance I got to hang out and kick his ass in video games. Quil continued.

"I put you on the couch, but you started grumbling in your sleep about being 'wet, soaking wet'. I admit, I got a little embarrassed." I blushed even though I didn't remember it. "But then you started peeling at your clothes, and I realized the grass had gotten your clothes drenched."

I looked down at myself and saw a pair of his cutoff sweats that went down to my shins, as well as a sweater that had the sleeves rolled up numerous times. My face turned dark crimson, knowing what that must have meant. I was glad he couldn't see me in the dark.

"SoIgotyouclothesandhereweare," he continued. Yeah, right. Nunna dat BS.

"Quil, tell me. What did you do after you decided I needed a change of clothing?" I inquired, loving to watch him squirm. Whatever I said couldn't have been that embarrassing.

Boy, was I wrong.

"Um... so, I got you some new clothes to wear, and gave them to you. You said, 'You change, too tired move.'. I kept on telling you that you should change yourself, but you were half-asleep this whole time, so you just ended with..." He covered his face in his hands. "You're sure you want to know?"

I nodded, even though now I was worried what I had said in my dreamy state. It couldn't have been SO bad...

Quil took a deep breath. "You ended with, in such a lucid voice, 'Quilcakes, you've changed me as a baby. And I don't doubt you're going to see it all again someday.' Then you fell back into a deep sleep."

Let's just say I wasn't expecting that. My jaw dropped to the ground, horrified. Not because I thought I was nonsensical and insane with my dreary logic, but because honestly? I didn't doubt what I'd said one bit. I found no lie in my...er... statement from the night before. That's what horrified me the most.

"Umm..." I said, still shocked.

"Calm down, it was just meaningless sleep talk. Pretty funny, though. Especially since Sam had been here as well."

Oh. My. God. My uncle had heard me say that. Things were going to sure be awkward.

"Haha...Umm, so what did you do then?" I asked, nervous. Not because I was scared Quil had seen me in my 'altogether' anymore, though. More because I didn't want to know what Uncle Sam had done.

"Silly Claire. He just whispered, so you wouldn't wake up, 'Man, I'd really not like to see my neice like that. Ever. Especially now that she's... um... older. This is the one time I will ever consent to you seeing her like that. But you had better not try anything or so help me I will kick you out of the p-' " Quil stopped himself and bit his tongue. What the... p-WHAT? Oh. I bet I knew.

"Haha. Well I hope you didn't try any funny business because then you wouldn't be allowed to help the p-ARTY PLANNING COMITTEE for Embry's baby!" I exclaimed, laughing. I knew all the guys were planning a baby shower, and the girls weren't supposed to know, which would explain why Quil stopped himself. And he thought I was oblivious!

Quil laughed a little awkwardly. "Yeah..." he cleared his throat. "Anyways, I kept my eyes shut, as did Sam. We were kind of scared. But we got it done without jostling you too much, and Sam said he would head out. Then, as I put a blanket over you, you decided you weren't sleeping on the couch. You sat bolt upright and walked into my room, then started snoring again within seconds. I realized that there was no moving you, and there was no way I was going to fit on my couch. So... here we are," he finished.

"How... interesting," I said. "But I'm tired. Sleeping time. Thank you for bringing me here."

"Anytime, any place. You know I will always be there for you, Claire. You mean everything to me."

And after that, I don't quite know how it happened. But I saw, with the aid of the sliver of moonlight coming through the window, that Quil was looking at me like that again. My insides churned. I felt like my body was on fire. I looked deep into Quils twin dark pools of eyes, and got lost in them. He gently cradled my face in his hand, like he did all the time. But tonight, instead of letting go, he gently guided my face toward his, pressing his lips against mine.

My reaction was, by all means, involountary. But suddenly, my entire body felt like electricity was going through it, my head started spinning, and I didn't know what to do with myself. So I pushed myself even closer to him, not caring about anything, and parted my lips slowly, tasting him...

He suddenly wrenched himself free of me, looking disgusted with himself. "Claire, I-" he was panting, just, as I noticed, I was, "I don't know... I don't think... No. I'm sorry. So, so sorry. I don't know what to do anymore." He was sitting on the opposite side of the bed from me now, back to me, his feet on the floor.

"Quil..." I scooted toward him and gently placed a hand on his shoulder, feeling an electric current pass between us as we touched. He didn't flinch, but didn't turn toward me, either. "I'm the one who should be sorry. I don't know what I was thinking."

"Here I am, saying that no one should kiss you without your permission, and then I go and kiss a fourteen year old. I am sick." I shook his head.

"Quil... I'd rather you kiss me than anyone else, ever. And don't get all worked up about it; it's just a kiss, isn't it?" I asked, trying to bring a little humor into the situation. It worked. He turned his face toward me, grinning my special grin, looking at me better than he'd ever looked at me before.

"Was it really just a kiss for you?" he asked in a teasing tone.

I sighed. "No..." then I giggled. "What about you?"

"Let me say this, Claire- if you were a few years older, that kiss would have been the best thing that ever happened to me, and I wouldn't have wished I waited longer." He was still grinning, though.

"So how do you feel, seeing as it happened sooner rather than later?" I asked.

He thought for a moment. "Well... I just wish I could have waited, then," he decided.

"So kissing me was the best thing that ever happened to you?" I pressed.

"No. It was better." and with that, he smiled and tucked me back in.

222222222222

As I walked outside, back to my house after Quil told me he had to work, I couldn't stop thinking about Quil. Mulva was a toad compared to him. And Mulva was my first kiss, but I'm telling you, Quil was my first kiss.

Suddenly, I heard a loud roar slash growl. It echoed through the forest, making a few children cover their ears, and caused a few elderly citizens to murmur 'Rowdy teenagers'.

What was going on? Was there a bear or what? It sounded almost like a wolf, but bigger...louder...stronger. It was strange. I walked toward the edge of the trees and saw a slight rustling in the bushes before it was silent. I shrugged, and continued toward my house.

QPOV

I realized, after waking up and seeing Claire, just what I had done. Sure, I acted sixteen. I had the body of a twenty year old. I wasn't aging. But that didn't change the fact that Claire had been on this earth for 14 years while I had been on it for 28. But it was the most wonderful, amazing sensation I'd ever had. A gentle caress of her lips brought me more satisfaction than my old girlfriends had, back before Claire (and believe me, what went on between me and them was a hell of a lot more than a little kiss).

I knew I couldn't think about it. I needed to get away. I was glad that when I told Claire I needed to work, she happily told me to have fun. I needed to think about this without her. Clear my head.

I phased, running through the forest and weighing my options. It was seven a.m, so I doubted any of the pack would be out to hear me. I thought about kissing Claire, and about-

WHAT?!

I heard Sam's exclamation rip through my head, and the woods. He let it out, not caring if all of La Push heard.

Are you insane, Quil? I tell you not to get any crazy ideas. So you kiss my 14 year old neice? Couldn't you have waited a while? I mean, I understand your hormones, but I'm sure you could have supressed them enough so you wouldn't take them out on a young girl.

By now, the other wolves had transformed after hearing Sam's little outburst. Jacob quickly rushed to my defense.

Look, Sam. You know better than anyone that its more than hormones. Claire is growing up and Quil isn't getting any older. We all know that lately Claire has been experimenting with boys, and who better for her to choose than the person who will always care and protect her? Would you really rather Mulva Richrichardson start putting the moves on her?

Then Jared jumped in.

Look, Sam. We all know that Quil could have waited a year or two. But come on, it's not like they were doing it or anything. And you and I know, just like Quil knows, how strong this bond is. If Claire asked Quil to torture himself to death he would do it, so he'd definitely be willing to smooch her if she was up to it. Right now, what Claire wants from Quil, she'll get from Quil. And no order you give will be strong enough to stop it.

Sam started getting agrivated.

Stop attacking me! It took a while to get used to, but you don't need to smother me with your views about imprinting. I understand it extremely well. I realize Quil did nothing wrong. It's just a little early, is all. Claire is my little girl, and it's just hard for me...

We all giggled inwardly at Sam's little breakdown. Take on two dozen vampires, no problem, but god forbid his neice kiss a BOY...

I knew that Claire and I couldn't have a relationship yet. But at least I had a better idea of where our relationship stood.

(There! That's three days in a row! I am expecting many reviews...)