Disclaimer: I do not own StarGate or it's characters I'm just borrowing them.

Author's Note: This one is dedicated to TriceNorthman

Daniel's Flashback...

Daniel placed his bags into the trunk of the car and slammed it closed. It was taking every ounce of his self control to not look up at Clair's bedroom window. He knew she was most likely watching. It wasn't like he wanted things to be this way. He opened the car door and got in the back.

Wilson the driver looked back at him. "Wilson drive." Daniel ordered. He was going to do his best to focus on college and he hoped the Clair would do the same. The car started and Daniel again had to fight the urge to look back. He had a feeling that if he did it would cause all kinds of trouble because he would end up trying to take Clair with him.

Daniel knew that Clair's future was already planed. He knew that it wasn't what Clair wanted, but there wasn't anything that could be done about it. There was no way Clair's parents were going to let her leave. Daniel felt horrible for having to leave Clair behind. Daniel punched the back of the seat in front him.

"Did you at least tell her?" Wilson asked. It wasn't a secret amongst the de Lune's staff that Daniel and Clair were involved. Some of the staff had even helped to keep things covered up. Wilson had this feeling though that his boss already knew about the two young lovers.

"Everyone is forever plaguing me to tell her. Why? What good is it to tell her she in my every thought from the time I wake? What good can come from my saying that I sometimes cannot think clearly or do my work properly? What gain can rise of my telling her the only time I feel fear as others do is when I think of her in harm?" Daniel replied. He didn't think that telling Clair how he felt would solve anything. It would have only made having to leave that much difficult.

"If you don't tell her how is she supposed to know?" Wilson wondered. He could only imagine how heartbroken poor Clair must be. It was obviously difficult for Daniel as well. Wilson only hoped that someday Daniel and Clair would be able to be together.

"I really don't want to discuss this right now. I'm sure that Richard doesn't pay you for your input." Daniel said. He already felt like the worlds most horrible person and talking wasn't going to make him feel any better. He was glad when they finally made it to the bus stop. He was going to do his best to leave this all behind him and focus on his future.

Flashback End...

Daniel stood in the doorway of Clair's studio. Clair was dressed in a Ramones t-shirt and a pair of skinny jeans. She had on a pair on Converse that went up her calves. Her hair was french braided off to the side. She had her knees drawn up to her chest with her arms wrapped around herself.

It was easy to tell that she was deep in thought. Daniel walked towards the chaise lounge and sat down next to Clair. He put an arm around her. She must have slept here even though she promised she wasn't going to stay up late.

"Do you like the painting?" Clair asked. She gestured towards the painting of Sha're that was on the easel. She hoped that Daniel would like the painting. She really put her all into it. She didn't burn the midnight oil for just anyone.

"It's beautiful, and so are you." Daniel told Clair. He was amazed at Clair's ability to be so understanding. The painting really was beautiful and Daniel was surprised to say the least. There was a time when he had thought he wouldn't be able to get over Sha're's death, but he was at a place now where he believed that he could.

"I know I probably shouldn't have stayed up late, but it was worth it." Clair smiled. She had to admit it was one of her best pieces. She was glad she was able to finish it before Daniel had to leave. Clair sighed and frowned slightly.

"What's the matter?" Daniel asked. He knew that something had been weighing on her mind. Daniel could read Clair like an open book. He had a feeling that he knew what was bothering her. "You don't need to worry I'm not going to leave you behind again." he added.

"Daniel I can't just leave yet. There are things that I need to take care first. I will be on the first flight to Colorado as soon as I take care of business." Clair promised Daniel. There was still her father's funeral that needed to be planned. She also wanted to talk to Lila if it was allowed. She wasn't sure if the prison would let her have visitors yet.

"Like hell you will." came Charlotte's voice from the doorway. She couldn't believe that her daughter would abandon her in her time of need. She had been visiting her sister in England when she got the phone call about her husband's death.

"Mother you will not stop me. I will help you with making arrangements and I will attend the funeral, but that is all. You aren't going to control my life anymore." Clair told her mother. Clair wasn't afraid of her mother. Her mother was more verbally and emotionally abusive than physically.

Daniel looked at the woman standing in the door. Charlotte hadn't changed much. Her blonde hair was only slightly graying. She still held on to the beauty of her youth. She was dressed in an elegant black dress with matching Manolo Blahniks. A rope of pearls adorned her neck.

"Is this how I raised my daughter? To be disrespectful to her own mother? You're all I have left now and you want to just leave me." Charlotte sobbed. She dabbed her green eyes with her handkerchief. She didn't think that her daughter would be so cruel.

"Dispense with the drama Charlotte. Clair can make her own decisions. Why don't you take a Prozac and get over yourself." Daniel told Charlotte. He wasn't going to sit there and let Charlotte guilt trip Clair. It was just like her to try and play the sympathy card. Charlotte was a master of manipulation.

"Daniel this is none of your concern." Charlotte told her former foster child. She wasn't surprised to see him. Richard had told her of Daniel's and Clair's sordid affair. She had wanted to put a stop to it immediately, but Richard had decided that Clair would suffer enough when it was time for Daniel to leave them.

"Mother rather you like it or not I will be going to Colorado once everything is settled. If you can't accept it I will leave with Daniel tonight and I would love to see you stop me." Clair threatened. She wasn't going to let her mother ruin her chance for happiness. She wanted to finally live a life she chose for herself.

"What did I ever do to deserve such an ungrateful child?" Charlotte cried. She turned around and left Daniel and Clair sitting in the studio. Charlotte thought that she had raised Clair better than to behave this way.

Clair got up without saying a word and gave Daniel an apologetic look. She rushed out of the room after her mother. Daniel understood there was nothing that Clair needed to feel sorry about. No matter how horrible Charlotte and Richard had treated Clair they were still her parents. Blood is thicker than water after all.