Hello everyone FINALLY a new chapter. Sorry for the long wait I have had tons of exams to study for. But, they are all done now and I am soooooo happy. I must admit it does feel good to be back. Before I start this chapter there is something I want to clarify. A guest reviewer from chapter 3 said that this story may not work as Hershel and Claire are too old. Well, in this story Hershel is 19 and Claire is 18. Now at first this may not fit with the events in the game BUT my theory is that they were together when young at University, were separated for a while then got back together when Hershel was 27. In the fourth game it does not specify they are in university. This may seem strange at first but hopefully this story and a few others I plan to write will clear this up.

Anyway back to this story. Enjoy!

There was a knock at the door. Groggily, Claire looked at her alarm clock: 5:00am. Who could possibly want to see her at this time?

"Come in," she called, her exhaustion evident in her voice.

The door creaked open to reveal a rather guilty looking Brenda. Claire sat up suspiciously. She knew her better than anyone so could tell when she was hiding something. She gestured to a nearby chair to which Brenda swiftly accepted the offer.

"Now Claire there is something I need to tell you," She began shiftily, rubbing her hands together and avoiding eye contact.

"What is it?" Claire said clicking her fingers to gain Brenda's attention. She paused for a few moments before speaking.

"Um w-well I um…just…sort of um…," She continued like this for a few more seconds before Claire intervened.

"Brenda! What exactly are you trying to say?"

Brenda cleared her throat and brushed her long olive green hair behind her ear with her hand.

"Well, your mother just called and she's coming to visit you…here?" Claire thought for a moment.

"And? My mother often visits me here at the university. It's her way of making sure I stay out of trouble. It's all perfectly normal," Claire raised an eyebrow "Did this news really warrant such an early wake up call,"

Brenda's face was a picture of both amusement and worry "Maybe not but don't you want to know why she's visiting, I wouldn't have told you so urgently if it was just a routine check up,"

Claire thought for a moment before gesturing for her to continue.

"Right…yes…so anyway yesterday I was in here while you were at your lecture looking for my laptop I had leant you," Brenda explained. Claire leant against her pillow preparing for a long-winded story. "And your phone rang,"

Claire looked up at Brenda, brushing her hair out of her eyes.

"And?"

"So I answered it…like any good friend would and…,"

"And?"

And…she may have obtained some information,"

Claire sat up suddenly, her gaze totally locked onto Brenda's worried face.

"What information?" She asked coldly.

"Look Claire I'm sure she'll be fine about it and it is not like I deliberately did anything wrong and…"

"Brenda!" Claire's face turned to fire. She really hoped she didn't mean what she thought she did. "What exactly did you tell my mother?"

Brenda fidgeted on her seat "Look it just slipped out…I really am sorry, I re-,"

"Brenda!" Claire's patience was wearing thin.

Brenda swallowed hard before speaking "I may have told your mother about your little…problem,"

Claire's eyes grew wide with anger "What!" She stood up, fuming.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean it, it's just…"

"How exactly did you manage that?!" Claire began to pace up and down the room.

"I don't know…I mean it sounded like she knew, I thought I was just confirming her suspicions,"

Claire sighed frustrated. "That's exactly what she does…she tries to catch you out, to trick you into revealing things," Brenda held back, she had never seen her friend so angry, before hesitantly speaking.

"Look she was going to find out anyway, aren't you glad that it's now out of the open?"

Claire stopped pacing and slumped onto her bed.

"Yes but…"

"But?"

"You don't know my mother," Claire spoke softly "She is very traditional and this to her would be a great insult," Claire began to rub her hands together nervously. There was a short pause.

"What exactly did my mother say after you told her?"

"Um," reluctantly Brenda continued "She didn't"

"What?"

"She just hung up…maybe the connection broke,"

Claire sighed miserably, like she had been defeated before she had even started.

"The only connection that was broken was the relationship I had with my mother," She made particular emphasis on the word 'had'. Brenda felt guilty and Claire could sense this.

"Look I'm sorry it's just my mother is not the most sympathetic of people,"

Brenda forced a smile "I know but at least you've got Hershel…and me…and all of your friends here, were not likely to leave you,"

Claire smiled. She had to admit she was glad that this burden had finally been lifted. Her mother was not an easy person to talk to and was glad someone had done it for her. However, she knew that the greatest challenges were still to come.

So, what did you think? Sorry for the chapter not being hugely long but I thought this was a good place to stop it.

Anyway, hope liked it and don't forget to review.