You probably all want to kill me because I left it so long. I am terribly terribly terribly sorry. Please forgive me? :(. The good news is, in another week, I'll have six weeks of free time! So I will be (hopefully) updating a lot more regularly. I've decided to do thank-yous at the bottom, so's that all you readers who don't give a crap what I say can get on with your busy schedule of reading :)

Oh, and please check out my new story, 'A Singular Kind Of Romance'. I must warn you, though. It is an 'M'. But still, please please please give it a go! :)

Love yoooouuuu xxxxxx

'Do All Things Sort So Well?'

Claire's POV

Oliver clicked his cell shut and turned round on his heels to face them.

"Just...calling in the cavalry." He said calmly.

Myrnin growled.

"I do not need help. Claire is nowhere near dangerous enough to threaten me."

He wasn't boasting for once; it was just true.

Oliver raised an eyebrow.

"Au contraire. Claire on her own is not dangerous enough to threaten you. However, the fact that you are unwilling to hurt her to control her suggests you do need help. You should be thanking me, you imbecile." Oliver sighed, and put his cell back in his pocket. "I have more important things to be doing with my time." He paused. "Though perhaps not quite as interesting." He finished, staring intently at Claire. She squirmed under his gaze, fighting the urge to look away. She didn't like the fact that he knew about her now. It made her feel...vulnerable.

Oliver turned and walked away, striding quickly out of the shadows into the midday sun. He disappeared from sight and a moment later Claire heard the engine of a car start.

"Come in, dear." Myrnin murmured. Claire turned round. Myrnin was standing in the dark doorway of the shack, beckoning. She glanced back down the alley, at the bright day and the glimpse of the street she could see at the end.

"Can't I stay out here...just for a minute?" She said quietly.

"Of course." Myrnin said gently. Claire appreciated that he was at least trying to make things seem normal; she knew she wasn't even supposed to leave the lab.

Before she knew it, she was crying. Sobs shook her body and she sank to her knees, covering her face with her hands.

Barely a moment later, Myrnin's strong arms wrapped around her and he picked her up, cradling her against him. Myrnin carried her back inside, and sat down on the couch.

He stroked her hair softly, and Claire cried until her nose ran and her face was puffy.

"Hush, cariad." Myrnin whispered.

The tenderness in his voice only made Claire cry harder. Her chest hurt with the force of her sobs. Ten minutes passed before she had calmed to the stage where only the odd quiet sob caught in her throat. Myrnin hadn't moved, or stopped stroking her hair. They stayed that way for a long time.

Claire didn't know what to say. She didn't know if she could even put what she was feeling into words.

"Myrnin, I- It's too much." She said suddenly, feeling panicked. "I can't- I can't-" Tears, silent this time, slid down her cheeks.

"You can, Claire." Myrnin said softly.

She shook her head, desperately burrowing her face into his shoulder.

"No..." Claire sobbed, clutching at his clothes. "I- never- never should have - come here." She said between sobs.

Myrnin's grip on her tightened.

"Don't say that."

He tucked his fingers under her chin and gently lifted her face up to look at him.

"Claire." He said.

Claire blinked away her tears and met his eyes.

"I am glad you came here." Myrnin told her quietly. His tone was completely serious, and his expression made her heart flutter. Claire shook her head.

"Don't be. Please- please don't be." She begged uselessly, squeezing her eyes shut. Myrnin's lips pressed to hers and she began to cry again.

"Don't, Myrnin..." She said, but her voice faded away as she realised Myrnin was no longer listening. She let him kiss her without moving, and for a horrible moment wondered how far he would go. But he stopped after barely a minute. Claire felt wetness drip onto her lips and realised Myrnin was crying. Tears dripped off the end of his long nose and fell onto her face. He smiled blearily, wiping them away.

"Sorry." He murmured. Claire laughed shakily, pressing her face into Myrnin's chest and breathing in his scent deeply. She let her eyes drift close, and relaxed, listening to the steady rhythm of Myrnin breathing and trying to forget everything that had been troubling her recently.

"Claire?" Said Myrnin slowly after a long while.

"Yes?" Claire answered sleepily.

"I have to -tell you something." He said hesitantly.

"OK." Claire murmured.

"I- I l-...Claire, I lo-..." Myrnin broke off, and sighed. "Don't worry, little Claire." He whispered, leaning down to kiss the top of her head.

Claire stretched, making a small noise of contentment in the back of her throat.

"Okay, Myrnin." She closed her eyes again, her head in his lap.

After a moment, Myrnin began to sing softly in Welsh. It was a beautiful, lilting lullaby, and Claire smiled as she listened, opening her eyes. Myrnin was looking down at her with a passionate look on his face, and she felt herself blush.

Myrnin smiled at her. He looked so beautiful when he smiled genuinely. Claire was surprised at the realisation that he could still affect her like that, even though she was a vampire, and blushed even deeper. Myrnin stroked a thumb along her blush, continuing the motion to sweep it across her lips.

Claire didn't protest as he readjusted his position on the couch, somehow moving so that she was underneath him. He braced an elbow on either side of her, still stroking her cheek with his thumb. The other hand was brushing back her hair from her forehead.

Claire stared up at Myrnin with something between wonder and desire. Something about his touch seemed to take away all her worries, one by one, until there was nothing left to think of but him.

Claire realised that she wasn't in control of what was happening between them anymore. She never had been, she thought. Myrnin was one of those inexplicable, unstoppable forces.

She had, in effect, the choice of swimming against the current, or (as she would inevitably have to) going with the flow. It was beginning to seem like Fate.

Claire brought herself back to the present with that thought ringing in her mind.

She lifted both hands up slowly to Myrnin's face, placing them on either side. The soft pads of her fingers trailed over his smooth skin, ghosting over his lips.

Myrnin held completely still, his eyes locked on hers. Claire dropped her gaze to his mouth, perfectly sculpted and slightly curved in a crooked smile.

Her heart was beating faster than a hummingbird's.

She didn't know what she wanted. She knew she loved Shane. She thought she loved Shane. But she could no longer deny the strong attraction she felt for Myrnin.

She stared into his eyes, trying to find the answers to her questions on their depths.

Claire felt so lost with him. She'd always been sensible, able to make good decisions, but Myrnin always seemed to turn everything upside down. Normal rules didn't apply to him.

And yet he felt...compatible. Claire didn't even know if that was the right word to use, but she suddenly knew with absolute certainty that she didn't want what they had - whatever they had - to end.

In some way, she had needed this. Myrnin was dangerous, passionate, tender, and brilliant.

Oh my God, Claire thought. Eve was right. I've... fallen for Myrnin. She couldn't even bring herself to think of the consequences of that revelation.

"Claire?" Myrnin said softly.

Claire focused on him again, smiling sheepishly.

"Sorry. I was...thinking." She whispered.

Myrnin leant closer, sending Claire's heart racing again. She had no doubt that he could hear it.

"And?"

Claire didn't answer for a moment, instead closing the short gap between them and kissing him on the lips as softly and sweetly as she could.

She pulled away ever so slightly, so that their foreheads were still touching.

She spoke hesitantly.

"I- want you."

I know, she finally admitted it! It's not exactly a declaration of love, but I'm getting there! :)

Anyway, a big thank you and a chocolate bunny to the following people:

'vix vik' - for reading every single chapter, and their amazing review!

'Honora' - another amazing review! Made me feel better about my writing :)

''ZoiPavi' - again, thank you for cheering me up about my writing! :D

'devilthroughandthrough' - thank you for your lovely review! :)

'Albeotrix' - :D thanks so much, I'm really trying to keep them in charcter as it irritates me when people don't! At least one person thinks I'm doing a good job. :P

'Charm1997' - thanks for the great review :) It made me feel special! Haha x

'RavenAlabaster' - Well, I did update in the end! Thanks for your comment and support x

*One person didn't leave a name, but thanks all the same. I'm glad you decided to read my story, even if it is long!*

'holz1313666' - thank you! Glad you like 'Vampire Claire' :)

'Lewiatan Risika' - Thanks for favouriting my story! :D

'qreh' - Your review made me smile :)

'RacheyBlack' - thanks for the review - I know, I am dragging it out :) And thank you thank you thank you for adding me to your favourite authors! :D

'dancing jordan', 'Twitch1995', 'southernbelle0812' and 'Nicehoneybuns' - thanks for adding this to your favourite stories :)

'maggers10' - thanks for the multiple reviews and adding me to your favourite authors and stories! :D :D xxx

Phew! That was a lot of people to thank! I doubt I'll be doing that again! From now on, I'll only do it if you give me an EXTRA special review, or add me to either of your favourites, 'kay? Also, I'm sorry if I missed anyone out! :) xxxx