Okay, so again I don't really know where to go from here in the story. I think there are only going to be a few more chapters. I have gotten 1 review for the past three chapters. Have you quit reading? Do you hate the story now? Sorry for the long update time span. I have been really sick. I had a viral infection a couple weeks ago and a few days ago I was diagnosed with a bad sinus infection. Today, I went to the doctor and he said I had an eroded esophagus. So I can't eat or drink so I have been down on energy but I will try to update sooner. Please keep reviewing! I'm grateful for the ones I have received and the advice you put in them.

Chapter 17: Progress

Quil's POV:

Claire has gotten a lot better in the past few months. She is able to eat now. She still throws up sometimes but it isn't every time she eats. She is sleeping much better too. Sometimes I lie next to her and just watch her. I had thanked all of the Cullens and my pack brothers relentlessly. It was about ten in the morning now, and Claire was draped across my chest, her hair fanning out across my side. I gently weaved my fingers through the silky tresses. She stirred against me and her eyes opened.

"Sorry," she whispered and tried to move off of me, but I held her against me.

"Don't be. Go back to sleep baby," I said kissing her forehead.

"Quil," she whispered.

"Yes sweetheart?"

"How did you feel when I almost died?"

I squeezed my eyes shut and held her tighter to my chest. I can't answer that. Please don't make me answer that. There are not words to describe how it felt for me to have almost lost you, my love. And not once, but twice.

"I pass. Moving on to the next question," I laughed nervously.

"Quil, please I have to know. I have to know if you felt the same way as I did when I couldn't talk to you. When I couldn't see you. I could hear your voice, but I couldn't ease your pain. I couldn't tell you how much I loved you and how sorry I was for running away and putting you through all of that for me just being a stupid selfish little child!"

"Claire," I said, taking a deep breath. "There really aren't words to describe how I felt. My heart it was still there but with every beat it hurt worse. I couldn't eat or sleep when you ran away. I couldn't cry because I needed to be...I needed…I needed to be strong for you." My voice was cracking and tears were welling in my eyes. I felt like such a girl. I was crying all the time now. "And I just…I wanted to tell you I loved you one more time, I wanted to have another conversation with you, I wanted to hold you and protect you, but I couldn't! I couldn't do anything while you were in that god damned coma! Six days! Six DAYS, I spent by your bed clutching your hand, dozing with my head by yours. I prayed constantly-"

Claire cut me off by putting her hand across my mouth.

"I'm so sorry. I thought that you didn't want me like I want you. You pushed me away and I didn't know about the promise you made Sam. The whole time I was with…I was with him. I kept thinking of you. The first time he…you know…I kept screaming for you, but you didn't come. He said… he said you wouldn't ever come for me. That you hated me and that you only imprinted on me because I was the most likely person you could pass the gene with."

I'm sure I looked like an idiot with my mouth hanging open.

"Did…did you believe him?" I whispered.

She nodded slowly, "At first. I thought you hated me Quil. I thought the pack hated me and now Brady is dead because of me because I was a selfish bitch who wanted what I wanted when I wanted it. God, and now I am so mad at myself that I really should have died instead of Brady. He didn't do anything wrong-"

"STOP! God, Please Claire…Don't talk like that. I couldn't live without you here baby." I was trembling. I was so tired of her doing this to herself. I gently rolled over so I was on top of her. I saw panic in her eyes.

"Claire, I will never hurt you. Do you trust me?"

She nodded.

I gently pressed my lips to hers. This was the first time we kissed in weeks every time I tried she would panic and I could see him in her eyes. I pulled away and looked into her eyes, I saw fear, but I also saw love. I pressed my face into her neck and breathed in her scent.

"It still should have been me instead of Brady, Quil. You will never convince me otherwise," She whispered into my hair and I stiffened. I rolled off of her and sat on the edge of the bed. I stood up slowly forming a plan in my head for her to see what it was like when the one you love was/is hurting.

"Stay right there. Don't move a millimeter. I'll know if you do."

I walked quietly into the kitchen and grabbed a sharp cutting knife. I brought it back into the bedroom with me and sat down beside Claire. I grabbed her arm and held it out next to mine. I pointed the knife deeply into the skin of my forearm and drug it across.

"Quil! Stop! Don't do this to yourself!"

When the cut was all the way across my arm I stopped and sure enough, on Claire's arm at the same spot I cut a bruise was forming. She was crying. I pulled her into my chest and held her tightly. Now she could see what an imprint bond really felt like. Now, maybe she knew how much it hurts to see her in pain. Whether it is physical or emotional. It still hurts. A few minutes later she stopped crying and there was a knock at the front door. Claire froze.