A.N: I know it has been a while since I last update, please forgive.

I make it up to you with this rather long chapter.

I hope you enjoy...

Chapter 5: Save him, please just save him.

Two weeks passed and Claire found herself forgetting all about Nathan and the upcoming wedding, trying instead to focus on her studies. Harris, along with Gloria and Ray had convinced Claire to take up a course in music over at Harris's music and art college. Harris had been surprised one night to come over Claire's and find her singing; quite well, to one of his covers. The bell rang; bringing Claire back to her surroundings, picking up her books Claire and the brunette next to her began to make their way out of the auditorium.

"Ms Bennet, can I have a word with you please?"

Claire hesitated looking back at the brunette, "Sure, I'll see you tomorrow, alright Ashley,"

Ashley nodded and waved goodbye, leaving Claire and Mrs Gordon alone.

"Ms Bennet, I hope you don't mind me holding you up…"

"No, it's fine really, what is it you wanted to discuss with me, have I done something wrong?"

"Hardly, I just wanted to discuss whenever or not you would be interested in joining one of my advance classes,"

Claire stood back shock, never in her life had she been good at anything, and here she was being asked to join an advance class.

"I'll of course understand if you can't, I mean…"

"No I would love to," Claire interrupted and ran over and pulled the startled Ms Gordon into a hug, "Thank-you, thank-you."

Ms Gordon laughed and gently pulled away, "It's quite alright, now don't you have someone waiting for you,"

Claire smiled, "Yes, see you next Wednesday I guess, thanks again."

Claire ran out of the auditorium, and to the entrance of the school, where she saw Harris leaning up against the twin doors.

"Harris," Harris spun around, smiling.

"Guess what? I'm joining you in your class, Ms Jordan just ask me too," Harris's smile grew bigger, adjusting his guitar, Harris ran towards Claire; picking her up and spinning her around, shouting his happiness for her.

"Claire that's great," Harris finished and put Claire back on her feet.

"Thanks, you ready to go home?"

"Yeah"

After discuss it for awhile, both Harris and Claire had decided to get themselves a place, close to the college. However both Claire and Harris had agreed to stay just friends.

Harris fumbled with the keys, before stopping remembering something.

"Claire come here, I got you a surprise," Harris covered Claire's eyes with one of his hands, while taking her hand in his other and opened the door to their apartment pulling her inside.

"Ok you can open them," Harris dropped his and hand and waited nervously for Claire's reaction.

There standing in front of Claire was a small golden retriever pup, a loose red bow tied clumsily to it's head.

Why did Harris have to be so like Peter, why?

"Barney get down will you,"

The retriever looked up at Peter and brought a paw to Peter's lap.

"Ok, ok come on up," If it was possible Peter would have thought he saw the dog smirk, before jumping up on the bed; almost pushing Peter off, in his goal to get close to Claire.

"Hey there Barney, how is my boy," Barney buried his head into Claire's chest, and Peter sighed the dog was practically fondling at Claire's breasts.

"Easy there Barney," Claire laughed

Barney opened is big mouth and covered Claire's face with big sloppy kisses, while Claire continued to laugh and push weakly against the dog.

Peter watched as Barney continued to waste precious minutes with his Claire.

Tonight was meant to be for Claire and him to say there goodbyes, before Claire went away for a week with Niki to Paris.

"Claire?" Peter almost whined out.

Both Claire and Barney stopped and turned to face the begging face of Peter's.

"Tonight was meant, you know… for me and you to you know? Say goodbye"

Claire let out a small laugh and if it was possible Barney did too.

"Awww Peter is someone jealous? I thought I might say my goodbyes to Barney first, but I'll understand if you'd rather me wait to later tonight, I just thought me and you would be busy then," Claire replied to Peter's whines.

"Ah no you can say your goodbyes to Barney now … I'll wait," Peter smiled at the thought of what was to come.

Claire laughed and leant over to capture Peter's lips with her owns.

"Now Barney, you look after Peter here while I'm gone ok," Barney looked over at Peter and barked his response before jumping back onto to Claire, to once again cover her in his sloppy kisses.

"Ok Barney, Claire is going to be home soon and I thought we would get you dressed up in nice red bow for her,"

Peter watched as Barney stared up at him giving him one of his 'you have got to be kidding me looks'

For the next 10 minutes Peter tried to successfully tie his red ribbon, around the disobedient dog.

"Finally," Peter sighed as he stared at the crooked bow on top Barney's head.

There was a knock on the door and Peter almost jumped over his couch to get to it. Meanwhile Barney pulled of the ribbon, with a slight shift of his pull, before bounding towards Claire who was in a tight hug with Peter.

"You know what, you want to go for a walk … we can take Barney," Peter suggested

"Are you sure, I mean I just thought you know you might want to…"

"We got plenty of time for that later; come on Barney hasn't been walked today,"

Claire sighed wrapping her scarf back securely around her neck, "Ok let's go"

Peter fumbled with the ring in his pocket, he had been trying to find the perfect place to ask Claire, and nothing he thought of seemed to be good enough. Truth was, this walk was more for Peter then it was for Barney.

"GO get it Barney," Peter watched as Claire chucked Barney's favourite ball over her head, and worked out that now she was more beautiful then ever. Claire's cheeks had a slight pink blush over them; due to the cold windy weather. Her hair was slightly obscuring her eyes from view; as she leant over to pick up Barney's returned ball, before chucking it forward once again. Peter decided that now was the perfect moment, the perfect moment to ask Claire to share the rest of her life with him. Peter rushed over to Barney securing the ring to the ribbon; Peter had once again put on Barney, before leaving the house. Now when Claire called Barney back over she would see the ring and hopefully give Peter the answer he had been praying for. Claire caught up with Barney and chucked the ball back over her head, this time however the ball went a lot further then it had before. Ok so maybe Peter's plan hadn't gone so well, time for plan B.

"Claire?"

"Hmm?" Claire hummed her answer

"Claire I…" Peter was interrupted by aloud noise of car horns blasting and sounds of metal colliding with metal.

"BARNEY," Claire yelled out and ran towards the sounds of the accident, Peter closely behind.

Peter stood back stun by the grey smoke pouring into the air, by the two cars which had slammed into one another, the two passengers seemed uninjured as they were in the middle of a heated argument; something about insurance. Peter's eyes then were drawn over to a small yellow heap in the middle of the two cars, and Claire's shaking body covering it, Barney. Peter rushed over and pulled both Claire and Barney into his arms.

"No NO NO," Claire's cries replayed over and over in Peter's ears as he took the both broken bodies into his arms.

Her small hand was clasped so tightly to Barney's collar, that the knuckles had lost all color in them. Peter rubbed tiny circles along her shaking back, as he to tried to stop the pain in his throat from escaping.

Barney's shakes stopped and Peter felt and heard Claire cry out. He was gone.

Peter tucked the ring back into his pocket, hoping that Claire hadn't seen it. Peter then felt the lump in his throat shift and he felt like he was suffocating.

"No Barney, please don't die" Claire's pleas went unnoticed as the dog continued to lay motionless in her and Peter's arms.

Harris began to swing back and forth; he was nervous, Claire had been staring at the puppy for little over a minute now and still no reaction.

"Claire?"

"Hmm?"

Claire's tear streaked face turned to face his, and Harris's heart broke.

"Oh Claire, I'm sorry I'll take her back right away, I didn't know this would upset you," Harris pulled the broken Claire into his arms.

Claire pulled back away, "No Harris its fine, I just use to have a dog like that and it brought back some sad memories… wait it's a girl?"

"Yep," Harris eyes lit up when his saw a small smile appear on Claire's face.

"What's her name?"

"I thought I would leave that part up to you" Harris smiled back.

"I like Kate," Harris seemed to ponder this for a moment

"I like it, come here Kate," Claire watched as the puppy continued to ignore them, finding Harris's guitar to be much more interesting.

Both Claire and Harris laughed and walked over, taking turns to pick up and cuddle the young puppy.

Peter looked over at Nicole's who had once again surprised him, by making another one of Claire's recipes. Peter had planned to make up and excuse, to run off before having to eat it, "Peter dear, I was wandering if you wouldn't mine picking up my friend Ashley from the airport in 2 weeks from now?"

Peter sighed, another one of Nicole's quirks; always be prepared, even if it is 2 weeks in advance, she would practically make the scouts look disgraceful.

"2 weeks from now, why don't you just tell me a week before?"

"Because you'll forget or you might have already made plans, now will you be able to pick her up or not?"

Peter sighed, "Yeah I can do that,"

"Thanks honey, oh Peter you have to try this," Peter tried to hold back his automatic reflex to gag at anything that reminded him of Claire's cooking.

"Actually I promised Eric that I would drop some of my notes, so he could catch up his been sick for awhile now," Peter tried to think of anything that would get him out of eating dinner.

"Oh ok, I'll live some in the microwave, for you to heat up later"

Peter nodded and got up, walking over placing a small kiss on Nicole's cheek before making his way outside in to the cool refreshing air. He hadn't realised how suffocating it had been in there.

Peter decided that a walk around his block was the best thing to do at the moment.

As Peter started walking down his street, he started to recollect everything that had been happening lately.

Nathan had announced that he was in or had been in loved with Claire, Peter wasn't quite sure, and both however were rather disturbing. Then Peter would find himself thinking that he too maybe was still in love with Claire, so he was just as bad.

Peter screamed into the empty night, why did his life have to be like this? When only 3 years ago it had been perfect, or very well near too.

"Claire?"

Claire shifted in her seat, but made no move to acknowledge Peter's voice.

"Claire?"

"What?" Claire gritted between her teeth.

"I'm bored," Peter sighed and pushed the hair back off his face.

"So?"

"Well can't we go and make out somewhere?" Peter pleaded

Claire sighed, ever since their first REAL kiss, that's all the two had wanted to do, but today Nathan had invited the reluctant couple to watch him deliver a speech to his senate.

"No your brother will get mad, if we miss this," Claire replied with out turning around.

"Aww come on Claire, when have you ever cared what he thinks?" Peter said while, allowing his hand to brush past Claire's neck, making small circles along the back of it.

Claire shivered against his hand, but continued to not let it faze her.

"Come on Claire, I saw a cosy janitor's closet when we walked in, it seemed unoccupied," Peter smirked and moved his hand down to Claire's thigh, where it continued to rub small circles across Claire's skin.

Claire gasped, as Peter's hand it a ticklish spot, this of course only encouraged Peter on further.

"Stop it Peter, come on stop it" Claire tried to push Peter's hand away from her, she didn't like the way this was affecting her at all.

Peter leant over, his breath sending shivers down her back, "But you really don't mean that, do you?"

Claire sighed it was pointless trying to pretend anymore she didn't, getting up from her seat she pushed past Peter.

"I'm going to get some air," Claire said before leaving Peter with a rather lustful smile, causing Peter to count to ten before hurrying after her.

Peter looked desperately around for the blonde cheerleader, when he felt a arm grab him from behind, pulling him into a rather small room.

"Claire?"

"Shh…" Peter felt her lips connect with his and he couldn't help but agree.

Peter sighed against the happy memory, even remembering when Nathan had found them later; much in the same position had caused him to laugh too himself in the dark. Peter sighed and turned back around; Nicole was hopefully asleep by now, so Peter would be able to sneak in unnoticed. Peter made his way back towards his apartment, with only Claire and the happy memory on his mind; making Peter's strides more joyful then they had been for a long time.

Claire's head began to fall; as her eyes began to close, the fall was cut short by Harris's soft shoulder. Claire was content and let out a small sigh as she continued to stroke the small puppy's back. Harris shifted slightly and Claire immediately thought she had done something wrong. Harris had been acting quite differently towards her lately and Claire knew it had to be something serious. Was he beginning to regret their friendship? Truth was Claire was beginning to regret it too, all though not in the same way she believed Harris was. Claire turned her head slightly so it re-connected with Harris's shoulder, she was beginning to fall for him, and she knew it was selfish; she had broken up with him, but lately she had been finding herself dependent on him. Harris shifted again, this time causing Claire's head to completely fall off his shoulder. Claire sat up blinking, now completely awake.

"Sorry," he mumbled and Claire moved her head, so it was slightly touching his cheek.

"It's ok," Harris turned away.

"Please stop."

Claire froze, was he sharing her pain too.

"Harris…" Claire paused; there was no going back now "I think I'm falling in love with you."

Harris stopped and got up from his position on the couch, deciding it was better to stand at this point; she already had so much power over him, no need to give her any more.

"Please don't," Harris breathed out barely, Claire witnessed his pain in his eyes and felt guilty for ever putting it there, she too came to the conclusion it was better to stand.

"Harris, I can't stop you need to know, that I love you."

Harris fought back the lump in his throat and managed to reply, "Claire I love you too, but I shouldn't, I can't, we can't."

Claire shifted uneasy between her two feet; this was beginning to sound all two familiar.

"No Harris I made a mistake before, please give me a second chance," Claire's eyes began to tear up as she thought about never being able to hold Harris again.

"No Claire," Harris only just choked out.

"Why?"

"Because Claire," Harris paused and looked directly into Claire's eyes, "I'm dying."

Claire stopped; the tears in her eyes stilled, how had she been so naïve thinking this was about them, about her.

"NO you can't die, this isn't fair you can't leave me," Claire realised how selfish she was sounding, but nothing was silencing her, "NO you can't just die and leave me alone, you can't."

Harris had known that Claire's past was no picture perfect story and so far they had avoided talking about it, but seeing her like this, he knew she had lost someone and here he was putting her through it again.

"NO, NO, NO," by now the lump in Claire's throat was throbbing and the pain stopped Claire's yells. It was choking her. She fell to the ground, gasping for air, gasping for him.

'Not again'

Harris rushed over and pulled the broken body towards him, in a desperate lung to be close to her. Maybe it wasn't being selfish to want to be with her, if she wanted to be with him. Her tears continued and for the first time since he had hear the news, he found himself crying too. His cries came to a sudden stop when he felt his face being covered by Claire's soft, wet lips.

"Claire stop," Harris managed to choke out.

She was vulnerable at the moment and he was too, nothing good was to going to come from this.

"Please I want this, I need this, I need you," Harris crumbled and brought his lips to her, that was it there was no going back.

Claire shifted from her place next to Harris; his snores were a quite comfort to her, in her thought filled silence. She moved her hand, so it was slowly began to fiddle with his dark curls.

'Save him, please just save him.'

A.N: thanks all who read this ... I hope you all enjoyed it.

next chapter ... more surprises.