Shane's POV

Shane was left standing there with Michael and Eve, both giving him an awkward look. After a moment where the look on his own face clearly said he was feeling sorry for himself he turned to his two friends and whined. "Look what you did now."

Eve flashed him an incredulous look. "Us, how the hell can you blame just us. And besides a moment ago you were more worried about what would happen to you."

"With good reason, whenever anything happens Claire you immediately blame me or my supposed bad influence on her. Which she obviously doesn't need judging by the fact she came home inked before I'd even mentioned the word tattoo." Shane defended.

"Something I have to admit as a shock." Michael piped up. "Never would I have imagined Claire to be into anything like that and-"

"What the hell was she thinking?" Eve interrupted. "Doesn't she realise that it's always going to be there now and how much of a mad decision it was?"

Michael put a hand on Eve's shoulder and smiled slightly. "She knew what she was doing, she always has. And she's right, we need to stop treating her like we did two years ago. It's time we stopped denying the fact she isn't a kid and hasn't been for a long time."

Running a hand through his hair Shane let out a sigh. "That goes for me too, otherwise Claire might end up killing me. I mean it says a lot when she feels like she needs to keep secrets."

"Well you might want to do something about that now." Eve said with a smirk. "You're already in the dog house. You've got a lot of appreciating to do before you get back in her good books." Shane was already rushing out the door so Eve shouted to him. "By the way I won't lie so tell her that I do actually love her tattoo."

Shane did hear Eve along with half the street and had to agree with her. Getting over the fact that his sweet and innocent girlfriend had a freaking tattoo it was in fact a very hot tattoo, one that he planned to- as Eve and Claire put it - appreciate a hell of a lot when he was back on Claire's good side.

He shook his head free of several mental images that weren't appropriate for the moment as he reached Claire's door and lifted his hand to knock. He stopped when his knuckles were an inch from the wood, deciding on a different tactic. Instead he quietly opened the door and slipped inside. The lights were off and Claire appeared to be asleep though Shane suspected she wasn't. Tiptoeing over to the bed he slipped in beside Claire and tried to put an arm around her but she rolled over to face away from him. There was movement under the quilt and Shane knew Claire had folded her arms around herself. Uh oh.

Shane moved closer to Claire until there was hardly room for air between them and began pressing slow, gentle kisses to the tattoo now completely visible on her back. Her shoulder relaxed to the sensation which told Shane he was heading in the right direction. Between kisses he murmured to Claire. "I'm really sorry about earlier. It was just a bit of a shock that's all."

"I wonder what would have happened if it had been the other way around?" Came Claire's reply, laced with anger. "If it had been you who had come home with a tattoo? Oh wait I know, nothing, because I respect that you're an adult and your ability to make your own decisions."

"I know, I know and I'm sorry. Eve, Michael and I had a little conversation downstairs and we know you're right, we should treat you like the adult you are."

"That conversation was due a long time ago." Claire muttered.

"You're right about that too." Shane acknowledged with a nod. "But please I just need you to understand what it's like to-"

At this Claire rolled back over and looked Shane square in the eye. "No, I need you to understand what it's like to feel like I need to keep secrets because you don't seem to trust me enough to look after myself."

"Of course I trust you."

"Let me finish. I have been through so much since I came to this town, things that I don't like to think about and I know that if I wasn't mature enough to be considered an adult I wouldn't still be here." Claire knew that what she was saying hurt Shane as he didn't like all the suffering she had faced but she also knew it had to be said. "I've been kidnapped, practically tortured, I've seen people I care about die right in front of me and I died myself."

Shane pressed his lips to hers and whispered. "Stop."

Claire pushed him back gently. "My point is Shane that I'm supposed to be your girlfriend and it's time you decided whether that's how you actually see me or as a little kid who can't be trusted despite my age or what this towns thrown at me."

Shane could see her point and understand stood that it didn't just anger her the way she was being treated but it hurt her. With a deep sigh his arms wrapped around Claire and pulled her against him. "I would say girlfriend but that isn't all I see you as either. You are literally everything to me, you're my life. I love you more than anything in the world and as I was saying before I need you to understand that I was only trying to protect you."

Claire now smiled at him warmly. "I know but a tattoo isn't going to kill me and to be honest from the way you were kissing it a moment ago I'm guessing you realise that."

"Well, Eve did tell me to let you know that in all honesty she does like it." Shane chuckled. "And I must admit that I agree with her, though some of my reason may be different to hers."

Claire's eyes now had a slight twinkle in them, with a mischief playing at her lips. "Oh really?"

"Yes really."

Shane turned Claire over so he could see the tattoo again and it wasn't long before his lips where working their way along every inch of the intricate colours and patterns. Soon after that Shane's lips were trailing down another perfect and beautiful piece of art, one he planned to explore for the rest of his life.