Rachel Caine owns all recognized characters...

I was slightly shocked to see Richard Morrell, standing outside of my house. Through out my pregnancy Richard and I became close, like siblings. Sam and Elizabeth considered Richard another Uncle. They both loved Richard was probably one of the only people who knew about Shane and Monica, having slept together. Richard had even stayed with me for a week during my pregnancy. Of course neither of us realized that I would be giving birth to the twins that week, but he even stayed with me at the hospital to take care of the twins.

Richard had been with me through everything that involved the twins. We had talked about the kids having a stable father figure, but we hadn't really decided on anything. Richard and I both knew that we liked each other. The only problem of this 'relationship' was that I still loved Shane. Richard and I both knew that but we still had wanted to try. No one really knew about that other than Eve, Michael, Myrnin, and Amelie. Then again, those same people were the only ones that knew that Richard was a vampire.

He had been changed right before my eighteenth birthday, no one knew about it other than Amelie, Myrnin, and myself at the time. Richard didn't seem to mind since it allowed him some more power but no one in town knew that he was a vampire. Michael, Eve, Shane, Richard, and I were the youngest of all the other vampires in town and we were constantly having to protect one another, whether they realized it or not.

"Richard, what are you doing here?" I asked.

He let out a chuckle. "Is it wrong for the Mayor to see the town citizens?" Richard asked in a seductive tone with a sexy smirk.

I leaned against the doorway and crossed my arms across my chest. "No, not really. But does the Mayor make house calls?" I asked, with a raised eyebrow.

"Touche," Richard replied. "Can I come in?"

"Sure," I answered. I opened the door wider to let him in. Richard stepped inside and slowly moved closer to me. I gently grabbed his hand and pulled him into the living room. Then we sat down on the couch, not really wanting to talk or kiss. We just cuddled a bit. I knew Richard wanted to ask me something, I was waiting it out. Richard wrapped an arm around my shoulders, while I curled myself into his chest.

We had been sitting in the living room for about four minutes, when Richard leaned his face closer to mine. I felt my breath quicken as he got closer to mine. I knew that what could possibly happen if I didn't stop it. But did I really want this? If I kissed Richard, this would be my life now, I wouldn't try to get together with Shane. Shane wouldn't be allowed in my life anymore. Did I really want that? Did I want that for Elizabeth and Sam?

Right when our lips were about a centimeter apart, a sudden knock on the door interrupted us. Richard and I each let out a sigh.

"I'm sorry, I better-" I started to say.

"No, no, it's fine Claire. I probably should get going too," Richard said.

I nodded my head and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "I'm sorry that we couldn't go any farther," I softly whispered into his ear. I nuzzled my nose against his jaw. Richard got up off the couch and held his hand out for me to take, as we walked to the door. I opened the door to see a very shocked Shane.

"Thanks for stopping by Richard. I'll see you at the next council meeting," I said with a smile.

"Of course. But I have to go so I'll see you soon," Richard said before he nodded his head at me and walke outside. He gave a nod before he got into his car. I gave him a wave as he looked back at me and Shane standing on the porch. I quickly glanced over at Shane to see that he was glaring at Richard as his car pulled out of the driveway and he went back to his home.

As soon as Richard was out of sight, Shane turned to look at me. I didn't bother to say anything to him, instead I just walked back inside my house and shut the door on him before he could say anything. I stopped and waited knowing that he was going to be banging on the door in 5...4...3...2...and 1.

At one, Shane started to pound on the door, I knew that if I didn't answer soon he would, A) break the door down or B) wake up the twins. I decided I would let him bang for about ten seconds. 10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1...0...

I opened the door and glared at Shane. "What?" I hissed at him.

"I want to see them," Shane said.

"See who?" I asked, glaring at him.

"My children," Shane said, his face turning from gentle and kind to hard and cold.

"I've already told you, they aren't yours!"

"Yes, they are. If you don't let me see them I'm going to get Amelie," Shane tried to threaten.

"She won't do anything to help you. No one will let you near my children. You left me, incase you forgot!" I told him through gritted teeth.

"I have a right to see them!"

"No, you don't."

"Yes, I do," Shane insisted.

"NO, you don't. Your name isn't on the birth certificates, you didn't stay in the hospital with them when they had Johndas, you weren't there to see them take their first steps, you didn't hear them say 'Mama' as their first words, and you weren't there when they started to ask me about where their father was! Now leave me and my children alone before, I get Amelie, Hannah, Richard, and Oliver on you!" I pratically yelled at him. With that being said, I slammed the door shut on his shocked face.