OMG! I am SO superly duperly sorry that I haven't updated in so long! I have been so busy with school and my sister's baby was born so we are spending a lot of time with the new addition. Anyway here is Chapter 18 and PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW! I need them! I need them to keep me going and inspire me.

Chapter 18: The Fear

Claire's POV:

There was a knock on the door and I froze. I started shaking in Quil's warm protective embrace. His arms tightened and he whispered soothing words. He let me go and I whimpered. I hated loud noises and every time someone visited I felt like he was going to come in and snatch me away again and this time Quil wouldn't be able to save me from whatever Zevran wanted me for. He walked to the door and opened it, it was the mail man. I felt like a baby whimpering and crying over something so stupid. I hate what I have become. While Quil was getting the mail, I slipped out of bed and went into the bathroom. I looked at my reflection in the mirror and saw someone hideous. I was so damaged now. I wanted my mommy and my daddy. I wanted them to have been here to help protect me. But I couldn't protect them so I guess fair is fair.

Quil had walked in and stood behind me. He wrapped his arms around my waist and nuzzled my neck. He pressed a gentle kiss there.

"What's got you thinking so hard?" he whispered. His breath caused gooseflesh to ripple across my skin.

"How I wanted my parents to protect me from Zevran and how I couldn't protect them from the crash and thinking that fair was fair. I couldn't protect them and they couldn't protect me."

He turned me around to face him, I looked into his eyes and he looked into mine as if he was searching for something.

"Quil, what do you see when you look at me?"

He hugged me to him and whispered in my ear softly but passionately, "I see such a beautiful woman. I see a beautiful woman who was hurt and is still hurting because of some asshole. I see my soul mate. I see my best friend. I see everything I have wanted to be and more. I see a woman who doesn't value herself as much as she should. I see a woman who I could never live without."

By now I was in tears. I sobbed into Quil's chest and all I could say was "I love you" and "I'm so sorry". Quil just held me and kissed my hair.

"Baby, I need you to breathe. I love you so much Claire. Don't remember what that thing did to you. What he did was not love sweetheart. I want to show you what real love is, but I am afraid that I will scare you and I don't want to do that. You are my angel that God sent to me and I will protect you until my body has been buried in the ground."

My heart swelled and I knew that I wanted to give myself completely to him but I was so afraid I would disappoint him. I mean, I knew Quil was a virgin and I wasn't anymore. Would he think differently of me? What would he expect me to do?

Slowly, I brought my head up to look at him. He looked down at me and his eyes filled with unshed tears.

"Don't cry Quil," I murmured. "Everything will be alright. I'm here and I love you."

"God, I love you Claire. You and only you. Nothing will ever take you away from me again." He kissed me urgently. I could taste the salt from our tears. When he deepened the kiss I didn't pull away. I lifted his shirt and he pulled it off, groaning in protest when our lips were separated.

"Wait…Wait Claire… Are you sure?" Quil asked breathlessly.

"Positive."