Title: Angel's Kisses

Category: Book – Morganville Vampires

Character: Michael x Claire

Disclaimer: I'm not the brilliant mastermind of these characters.

Okay, don't kill me. As you know that I follow incidences according to the book and manipulate them. As I said don't kill me. This story is dedicated to MichaelxClaire fans. So, I had to "recreate" incidences from the original. I hope everyone will enjoy the story as a story. Thanks!

Chapter 4: The Only Way

As the Danvers left, Michael dropped his façade with relief and turned to the rest of his housemates, to be more specific, Claire. He knew that she had been uneasy for the whole evening. Things had not gone the way she wanted it to be. Her parents have come to pay a surprise visit after learning that she had an accident in class. Michael had played his part well as usual as a trustworthy landlord and roommate. They were ready to leave the matter of Claire staying in the same house with teenage boys aside until her father found beer in their refrigerator.

Knowing Claire, she would not want to leave, not especially when one of them is in danger. But perhaps, Michael thought selfishly, it would be the best choice. To keep her safe, it was for the best she leaves this place. She can still leave this place and find a new beginning. Leave and be safe. The thought of her save and far away from danger gave him peace. It is the right thing for her. But the thought of her leaving them, far from them, him, hurts. But it was for the best…for her.

Eve had gone back into her room as her parents left.

"I don't want to leave," Claire said stubbornly. Her posture stood in firmness and her jaws set and eyes glared at him stubbornly, tears pouring down her cheeks. He loved every actions and expression she expressed, even the ones that set his teeth on the edge. But it was not time to admire that.

"Claire, until you're eighteen, you don't have a choice," Michael said, putting his hands on her shoulders. He knew she hated to be reminded of her age. Sixteen. It means she practically has no freedom to choose.

"But what about-," she started to argue but Michael pulled her into a hug, "I'm sorry," he said softly, barely a whisper, but she heard it. He brushed his lips to her neck briefly and felt her body stiffened. He reluctantly let go and forced himself not to drown in her eyes that he had come to love and depend on so much. In a short period of time, she had come closer to him than his two life long friends.

'I can't afford for you to get hurt,' were his secret thought.

He walked into the living hall, leaving Shane with her. Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw that Shane and Claire had begun talking softly and then Shane pulled her into a hug. The way he hugged her spoke loudly to Michael, the way he was afraid, somewhat afraid of holding her. If he wasn't a half dead, he would have held her there.

"I know she's not Alyssa," Shane had said coldly that night. To Shane, she's not Alyssa. His heart gripped at him tightly. He should have known. Michael closed his eyes as he hung his head back on the couch and sighed.

Eve returned to the living room when Michael settled on the couch and began to discuss about the matter. To Eve, he looked tired. But in truth, he didn't know what to feel. He was rather frustrated about it. He knew he shouldn't be having this sort of feelings. He was after all, half dead, half alive, and she is underage, although the age issue didn't matter to him, she was only a couple of years younger than him.

The time passed and soon they decided it was best to sleep it off. Everyone was in a gloomy mood because of the latest event that took place. They knew they would have a hard time getting even a wink of sleep, but they needed time to calm down.

Eve, Shane and Claire excused themselves while Michael chose to stay in the living room a little longer. He spread out on the couch and tried to sort out his thoughts and feelings.

As much as he knew that Claire would be safe away from Morganville, it hurts to know that she will not remember any of them. 'It was best for her,' his mind argued. Claire, who came to his house in need of his help, is leaving soon, 'It's for her safety,' his mind reassured. She was the first he opened up to since a very long time. She regarded him, accepted him, and offered him her trust, asking for his in return. She was the first that got to him in such a short period of time. In the matter of days, she became close to him, now even closer compared to Eve and Shane as she knew his secret.

He didn't know how long he had spent brooding on the couch. With a deep sigh, he decided to go back to his room. He was in front of his room when he noticed something. Claire's door was ajar. She had always kept it closed, locked while she sleeps. He thought it wouldn't hurt to check and went towards her room. Low murmurs reached his ears. He stopped in front of her room and his heart shattered at what he saw. He should move, but he couldn't. Memories of their first kiss surfaced and it hurt. He felt pain and betrayed.

When they had broken apart, he was finally able to free himself from his invisible binding and went almost numbly into his room. He felt helpless all because of his condition. He was supposed to die but he didn't.

"Why did you bring me back?" Michael asked to no one, but the house. He had believed that the house had brought him back to life, allowing him this accursed half life. He should have died. Or if the vampire that had killed him had done it properly, he would have been turned. But no. He is half alive, dead throughout the day, alive at night. This was the painful process he had to go through daily.

He cursed the vampire who did it to him. He cursed himself for being careless in a town such as this. He should have known. Didn't he grow up in this town? He should have been more careful.

He buried his face into his palms, rubbing his face as if it could rub away his troubles.

And then a thought came to him.

Why had he remained alive? Was it really the house that had allowed him to live? He used to doubt it but since this is a vampire's house, he had come to the conclusion that the house had brought him back to life.

The vampire that had killed him had not intended to kill him. He had intended to make him into one of them. Why? He must have known how to turn a human into a vampire, but why had it failed? Since it was a process, it must have a procedure to follow. Suppose he only knew the process, but not the whole, would not the transformation fail? Perhaps it was so.

Then another thought came to him, his grandfather, Samuel, who had been turned into one of the vampire. Amelie. Amelie was the one who had turned his grandfather. She was the oldest vampire still existing. He was then met with another dead end. Amelie is out of town. Even if she is, he has no means to contact her. For the first time in his entire life, he prayed to the higher being (if there is one) to grant him this one prayer. He wants to be free, dead or alive. Even if he hates it, even if he will be hated, it's the only way for him. It's the only way.