Don't own anything.

Chapter 29: Behati

Claire's POV.

Being away from Quil wasn't as bad as I anticipated. I thought I would be a walking zombie again like the last time we were apart for so long, however, I was able to function normally. Though that was probably because there wasn't even one day when I didn't have some form of contact with Quil.

Thanks to the beauty of technology, Quil and I could talk to each other every day, whether that be over the phone, Skype or simply texting each other. Some days we sat up for hours on a night talking and laughing, while other days our communication was a short text that said "I love you" or "I miss you". They were enough to get me through my day.

I also loved University. My classes were everything I wanted, Quinn and I got along well, and I had Gabby with me when I felt homesick, and I also scored work experience at the local hospital, working under senior nurses I couldn't help but admire. University life was brilliant, the only thing that got me down was that Behati wasn't with Gabby and I.

Behati should have been at the University with us, doing her social science courses. Instead, she was up in Canada with the Cullen's as a vampire. Her missing person's case was cancelled soon after my nineteenth birthday. Her heartbroken family had accepted that they were never going to see their daughter again and held a small memorial/funeral during the winter break. I attended with Quil by my side, offering condolences that seemed almost pointless to say. I had no idea how to comfort them. In a way, Behati had died, her heart wasn't beating after all, and I was positive she was never going to see her family again. She couldn't, it was too dangerous. So I didn't feel as guilty that I knew their family member was up in Canada running around the mountains.

Behati called Gabby and I frequently after we started University, asking questions about what could have been and how we were doing. She was getting better with her vampire instincts, Rosalie had even taken her shopping for clothes and she hadn't tried to attack anyone. The best thing of all was that she didn't sound sad anymore, she was adjusting to her vampire life better than I thought and she wasn't bitter about her new life. She even told me she enjoyed it, but she would have given anything to be a human again.

The day before Spring Break I was in my dorm room packing a small suitcase to go home with when my cell phone rang. I answered quickly and folded up a new top I had bought before placing it on the top of the pile.

"Hey Claire," Behati greeted happily. "I want to ask you something."

"What?"

"How would you feel about coming down to see me?"

I froze and my eyes widened. "Seriously?"

"Yeah! It's been over a year since I turned now and my control it really good. Carlisle says I'm ready…only if you guys want to, though."

"Of course I want to," I replied instantly. "Do I come down to Canada?"

"No, Edward and Bella are going down to Forks soon to see Charlie and they said I could tag along. We would just meet in the Cullen house."

"Even better," I beamed. "I'll see you this week then?"

"Yes! Thank you, Claire. I can't wait to see you guys."

I laughed. "No problem, Bee. I can't we to see you, either."

She squealed and said goodbye to tell the news to Gabby herself. I had just finished packing when Gabby came into the room, her suitcase at her feet. She had a wide smile on her face. "I don't know whether to laugh or cry," she said eventually.

"Do a bit of both," I answered.

"I can't believe we can finally see her!" she giggled, clapping her hands together. "I've been waiting for this for over a year! It can be just like old times."

"Exact this time our best friend is a vampire."

"Well…that's just a minor factor."

I opened my mouth to reply when my phone buzzed, signalling I had a text. Gabby's did the same seconds later.

Outside waiting for you. Love you.

It was from Quil and I smiled widely. We had seen each other a week ago when he ran down with Collin when I text him to say Quinn had gone out for the night. We almost broke my bunk bed, but, still, I missed him like crazy.

His truck was pulled up outside and I ran to it as fast as I could with the suitcase rolling beside me. He got out the car to greet me and I launched myself into his open arms. Shoving my tongue into his mouth, I explored every millimetre and to savour the taste of him. He pulled away when I was onto my last ten seconds of oxygen and left kisses along my jaw line.

Laughing, I pushed him away and he grinned, easily putting my suitcase into the back. Collin and Gabby were still locked in a heated embrace so we got into the front to wait for them to finish.

"Behati just called me," I stated. I didn't know what his reaction was going to be to me spending time with a vampire, the species he was born to destroy and hate. "She wants Gabby and I to go and see her this week."

"I know, she called me," he sighed. "After you said yes she called to make sure I wouldn't go crazy when you told me."

"And?"

"And I'm fine with it as long as I can sit around in the woods near the house. I'm not taking any chances if she…relapses. I'll sit outside the door with Collin."

I smirked. "Okay, fair enough. I wanted you to be around, if I'm honest."

Collin and Gabby climbed in the back, done with their make-out session. Quil dropped us off in Makah, I had promised my parents I would stay with them for a few days before I went down to La Push and Gabby was going to see her siblings and grandparents. I kissed Quil softly, took my suitcase from the back and then ran into the house. My parents were at work so I caught up on some assignments and essays and took a shower. As I pulled on my tracksuit bottoms, I heard the front door slam shut. I flew down the stairs and hugged them as they placed the two pizzas they had picked up on the way home onto the table.

"So your place in the hospital is good?" dad asked.

"It's amazing, I'm learning so much and it will look good when I'm looking for a job."

"They're always looking for experience now," mom agreed, pausing to glance at the pizza uncomfortably. "How's Quil?"

I swallowed and gulped. "He's good…just working and stuff."

"And…and how are you doing…together?"

"Really well," I answered quietly.

"I know you think we don't like Quil," mom said and my dad snorted. "But that's not true…on my part anyway. He's a good guy it's just the age gap and how he used to look after you and now you're…together that made me uncomfortable," she paused. "I was thinking about it, though, and he makes you happy, he always has, so who am I to do or think anything? All I want is you to be happy, Claire. Does Quil make you happy?"

"Yes," I breathed. "Very much so."

"Well, then, I'm okay with it. More than okay with it. He's always looked after you and he certainly doesn't look his age…I'm happy for you, sweetie."

"Thank you, mom. That means a lot and I know it means a lot to Quil, too."

She nodded and we both looked at my dad. He shuffled awkwardly and my mom hit him.

"Ow!" he snapped and then sighed at her glare. "And…I suppose I'm okay with it too…he has always looked out for you…and he makes you happy. That's all I've ever wanted for you and Nora."

I smiled and leaned over the table to hug them both. Though they had their faults, my parents were amazing. I knew from their perspective Quil and I's relationship would be incredibly strange and some parents would have banned me from seeing him a long time ago. However, they had always put my happiness above their feelings and I loved them an unbelievable amount for that.

I jogged up the stairs after the heart-to-heart and called Quil.

"Hey, guess what?" I said after he answered the phone. "My parents have just gave us their blessing to be together."

"What? Really?"

"Yeah, they said you make me happy and that's all they want," I spoke giddily. I paused on my bed and licked my lips. "Quil, do I make you happy?" I asked curiously. I knew he loved being with me as much as I loved being with him, but I wondered if I made him as happy as he made me.

He chuckled. "Claire, you are my happiness."

Yeah, my heart pretty much melted.

We talked every night I was in Makah and then on the fourth day Behati told me she, Bella and Edward were running down that morning. I told my parents my Aunt Emily wanted me to babysit (I couldn't tell them I was going to see my supposed dead best friend, could I?) and headed down to Forks in my car, picking up Gabby on the way. My nerves were getting to me as we passed the 'Welcome to Forks' sign. I hadn't seen Behati for over a year, which meant I hadn't seen her as a vampire at all. I was anxious about how much she had changed…not to mention that I didn't know how good her self-control was. I assured myself Behati wouldn't risk it if she didn't believe she was ready, though that only calmed me a small amount.

I pulled up outside the mansion and took a deep breath. Feeling a sudden urge, I looked over at the forest to see two giant wolves walking out of the forest. I recognized the chocolate brown one as Quil and the reddish-brown one had to be Collin. They sat outside the front door and yipped at us as we passed them. Smiling, I pushed the door open and peered around the massive rooms. A shadow at the top of the stairs caught my eye and I saw a small figure shuffle out of the darkness. It was Behati, but she looked different. Her once tanned skin was now ivory and her reddish-brown hair shined and bounced as she walked. Behati had always been pretty, but now she was gorgeous.

"Hey girls," she said, her voice like chimes.

"Bee," I breathed, taking a step forward as she began to walk down the stairs. "Hey."

She got to the bottom of the stairs and I noticed her bright golden eyes, a sharp contrast to her previous light green.

"Do we smell…good?" Gabby gulped, crossing her arms.

Behati laughed brightly. "No, actually," she beamed. "I thought you would…but no offence, you both stink."

"What?" I sniffed myself. "I just had a shower!"

"Not of sweat or anything," Behati assured me. "You smell like Quil and Collin…they smell like wet dog, so you both smell like wet dog, too. Their scent must be on your clothes."

Gabby giggled loudly. "Oh, Collin told me about that."

Behati smiled and with the time it would take me to blink, she had crossed the room and brought us into a tight group hug. I sucked in a surprised breath and then wrapped my right arm around her slim frame. She had always been petite. She took us over to the sofa and sat down on the puffy cushions.

"So, you two, tell me about University! Is it awesome?" she questioned excitedly.

We told her everything about Seattle University and our classes while she stared at us with wide, eager eyes.

"How's life as a vampire?" I questioned softly.

She shrugged. "It's alright, I guess. It's got easier over the past year…I miss being a human, though," she confessed. "The simple things like the thump of my heart and sleeping, and then there's the harder bits…I'll never grow old, have kids, get married. And I can't even cry about it! Vampires can't cry."

Gabby patted her cold knee. "You'll find love one day, Bee. Remember, you have forever now."

"I don't want to have forever," she whispered almost guiltily. "I know most people's dream is to live forever…but I don't want to. I would give it all up to have what you guys have. I want to grow old and get a job and struggle for money. The things I worried about when I was human are the things I long for the most now. I was terrified of death…now I'd give anything to have only sixty or seventy years left."

I bit on my lip and ran my hand through her hair. "You can play with my kids," I promised. "You'll be the best Aunt in the world."

She looked up at me sparkling eyes. "You'd seriously let me around your kids?"

"Well, yeah. I know you wouldn't hurt them, Bee."

"Thanks, Claire," she beamed. "Anyway, with Quil being their dad, they'll probably stink, too."

I flushed brightly, knowing Quil would be able to hear her outside the door, but I also smiled. The thought of Quil and I having a family, a house, some pets…my stomach fluttered.

"Aunt Behati," Gabby nodded. "I like that."

Behati gave a throaty laugh. "Me too."

"Do you remember anything…from that night?" Gabby asked later in the night as we got onto the topic of vampires again.

"Not really," Behati admitted. "When you turn, you forget most of your human memories. Most things are a blur. I do remember him saying something about the wolves though. It freaked the Cullen's out."

I frowned. "What did he say about the wolves?"

"Something about revenge," she answered. "That it would show them to mess around with vampires. I suppose he could smell them on you, and just reckoned I was associated with them, too."

"Why would he say that?" Gabby questioned.

"Edward thought it might have something to do with them helping the Cullen's when the Volturi came for Nessie. Maybe he agreed with them or is even one of them and just wanted to hurt the wolves somehow."

Gulping thickly, I couldn't help the worry that tickled my insides. Quil had explained to me many times that the Volturi would never really get over the embarrassment of being 'defeated' by the Cullen's, and that there was always a danger of them returning to finish what they started. Whenever I thought about it, my stomach would churn. If that person had been from the Volturi, that meant that they were more involved in our lives than we thought. Everyone believed that the Volturi had only been watching the Cullen's, but what if they had been watching the wolves, too?

Shaking my head at my ridiculous thoughts, I took another sip of my water. If they Volturi had been watching us, the wolves would know. They could smell vampires from ten miles away.

We stayed until the evening when Quil came into the house to tell us it was time to go to Emily's for dinner. I hugged Behati goodbye and pounced into Quil's arms. What Behati had said had made me realize how lucky I truly was. I'd had Quil around since I was two-years-old, he had loved me and kept me safe. And now we were going to be together for the rest of our lives. My problems were nothing compared to Behati's, at the end of the day I was human, I was loved and I always would be.

"Can we watch movies and eat popcorn tonight?" I asked Quil as he walked to my car with me on his back. "We haven't done that for a while."

"Sure, we'll pick it up after Emily's."

I smiled and kissed the back of his ear. "I love you, Quil."

He kissed my arm that was around his neck. "I love you, too, Claire-bear."

Even after all this time, those words still made my head cloud…and I hoped they always would.

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Around five-ish chapters left...wow. I can't believe it. Also, the next chapter is a big one! :)

-Laylax