A/N: Hey you guys! It's the last chapter before the epilogue! I want to thank you all for your continued support! There's a lot of kind of emotional stuff in this chapter and, admittedly, I'm not as good with those but I hope you like them!

The next morning, Claire woke with knots of dread in her stomach.

She was finally leaving Morganville.

She was leaving what had been her family for the last two and a half years.

It was extremely bittersweet. So bittersweet to realize that she'd be gone tomorrow and that this was the last time she'd wake up in Michael's arms, wake up to the smell of Eve's cooking, wake to the smell of Shane's body wash all in the hallway.

They ate breakfast together and tried to keep the mood happy but it was hard to do especially after Eve announced she would be leaving an hour after they finished.

"I spoke to my mom and dad after the twins fell asleep last night." She said. "We never saw eye to eye but now that I'm leaving for good they want to help me out. They are giving me the money they had been saving for me and Jason. Since Jason hasn't been seen anywhere in days the unofficial conclusion is that he either left town during the fighting or that he's dead." Claire closed her eyes for a moment of sadness and pain. Although he'd betrayed them, or whatever had happened, he was still her friend and the father of her children: he was a part, late addition or not, of their family and she'd miss him. Their children would miss him. "Anyways, they want me to leave town as soon as possible and get as far away as I can in daylight so I'm gonna do that." She stood from her chair and looked each of the others in the eyes one by one.

"I love you guys. My family almost gave me to vampires to save themselves and treated me like a traitor when I chose a different path for myself. I was on my own until I moved into what I call home now and got to live with these amazing people. I got to know this impulsive jackass who was loyal to his friends even if he was as stubborn as a bull. I got to know and live with the guy I loved for years who was so sweet, kind, and caring. We became such a tight knit group and I didn't think it could get any better than that until it did. One day I came home to find this girl who couldn't have been older than fifteen or sixteen and was black and blue all over. She moved in and I got to know and live with one of the smartest people I'd ever met, or will ever meet, who was brave, stubborn, nice, comforting, and always tried to find the best in people even if they were loony ancient vampires. Never in a million years would I have imagined meeting such an amazing group of weirdos who would become my best friends and, eventually, my family. I can't imagine how my life would've gone without you three and I will miss you for as long as I live and will never forget you, what we've been through, and all the good times we've had in this house: our home."

"Oh Eve!" Claire cried before hugging her. She was soon joined by Shane and Michael. Claire would have loved to stay in the embrace forever but Natalie called for her attention. They broke away from each other, wiping tears and such.

"Hey Shane," Eve called. "Can you come help me bring some of my stuff down?" Shane looked confused for a moment but decided to follow her.

"What's that about?"

Claire wiped her eyes. "She's saying goodbye to us individually and giving us the time to say our goodbyes to her."He nodded in understanding and cleaned the kitchen as Claire moved the twins to the living room. Sure enough, Shane came down the stairs empty handed with tears in his eyes.

Michael was next. Eve claimed she needed him to reach something at the top of her closet.

Claire and Shane alternated between playing with Nat and Nate and packing up their stuff in the living room. By the time Michael came back looking as Shane had, the living room was almost empty.

"Claire? I need some help with something. Do you mind?" Claire shook her head and followed her up to her room.

Claire's heart hurt at the sight of Eve's room. The walls were clear, closet cleaned out, bed made with only a few things littering it. On closer inspection, they turned out to be a CD and some kind of old looking pictures.

"Michael and Shane gave me those." Claire was startled by Eve's soft voice even though she had known Eve was in the room.

"What are they?"

"Michael gave me a CD with some of the songs he'd written for me when we were dating. He and Shane both gave me some pictures." She handed them to Claire. One looked to be an elementary or middle school class photo. Claire could easily pick out Shane and, after a little bit of searching, found Eve. She couldn't help but smile at a young Eve void of her goth makeup. The other ones were more recent. There were about four of them and all of them included Eve, Shane, and Michael. First was a picture of Eve by herself. She looked to be washing dishes while sticking her tongue out at whoever was taking the picture. The second was a picture of Shane and Eve where they were playing around and Shane had ended up on the floor with Eve sitting on his back looking triumphant and smug. The third was a picture of Eve and Michael where Michael was playing his guitar and Eve was staring at him with obvious adoration in her eyes. The last was a selfie taken by Eve. Eve, Michael, and Shane looked to be crammed on a couch with Eve in the middle and although they were staring at the camera they were laughing at something else.

"Michael had found an old yearbook and found that." She pointed at the first photo. "He knew that I wasn't able to take much when I left my parents and Shane had lost so much in the fire so he gave us this." She motioned to the others. "Shane found these when he was cleaning his room weeks ago and was gonna give them to me and Michael for Christmas but since we won't be together…" Claire could hear the tears in Eve's voice and hugged her.

"It's okay Eve."

"I know but I get so sad every time I remember that we won't be together."

"We all do."

"Anyways, let me give you your gift."

"My gift?"

"Yeah, I gave Shane this knife with skulls on it: he always loved it. I gave Michael some of the stakes I carved and a few things that were memories from high school. And for you…" She turned and in her hand was a tiny bear. With fangs and fang marks in its neck, the bear was dressed like vampires from folklore but had a pretty pendant around it's neck. "This was going to be your birthday gift. The bear was a gag and the necklace was for real. Open it."

Claire did so to find a picture of the four of them smiling. Claire forced the tears back. "Thank you. I have something for you too." Claire ran back to her room and grabbed a few of the things she'd set aside earlier. She returned to Eve and held them out.

"Pictures?"

"Unoriginal now, I know, but I thought you'd like them. There's some of Nathan and Natalie from birth til now and some including Jason." Eve locked eyes with hers. "Even though he was crazy at times, I know how much you loved him and how much it must hurt to assume that' he's dead. I thought you would like something to remember him by." Eve nodded and remained silent as she grabbed the other thing from Claire. "I wrote you a letter to say all that I couldn't express: I did for all of y'all. I could never express my gratitude from y'all taking me in off the street when I had nowhere else to go. I don't know how to tell you that you were the best best friend I could ever have and that you mean so much to me. I know we have such a short time together so I'll let you finish up here and leave without making you cry." She pulled her close. "And if you look, my parents' address is in there if you want to keep intact." Eve nodded.

Not even twenty minutes later, they were standing on the porch, so Michael wouldn't burn, she was leaving.

"I love you guys."

"Love you too!"

"Take care of yourselves!"

"You too!"

With another round of hugs and long hugs with the twins, Eve was in her car. She waved as a tear ran down her face and she drove off. Claire felt a piece of her heart go with her.

Soon it was noon and Shane's rental van sat outside, thanks to Michael, and Claire and Michael helped him load it.

"I have a friend up north willing to let me stay with him for a while so I'm good for the next couple of months. If you guys find a way around Oliver's rules, here's his address. I already gave it to Eve." Michael went into the house to check on the twins and Shane and Claire looked at each other.

"You know, you really were my first love."

"I know and you were mine."

He smiled before handing her a bag. "It's one of my old shirts that you loved wearing while you were pregnant and the silver necklace I gave you when we first started dating. I thought they'd be a good way to remember me."

Claire smiled softly. "They're perfect. Here." She handed him the bag she'd brought down with her stuff. "There's a letter and a copy of some of the journals I kept while we were dating: just my thoughts of some of the memories we had and how happy you made me."

He nodded and hugged her close. "Thank you."

"Thank you." She hugged him closer for a long moment, finding it hard to let go but, in the end, she had to.

Michael came out on the porch and after another round of hugs and some manly gesturing, Shane was off. Claire felt yet another part of her heart break off.

Eve was gone, Shane was gone, and pretty soon she'd be gone. Seeing her face, Michael wrapped his arm around her and they walked back into the house.

The twins were asleep in their crib so Claire flopped down on the couch. Michael sat next to her. "When are your parents gonna be here?"

"Around four."

"How did they take it?"

"How'd they take that I'm coming home after supposedly graduating college early with honors? They were ecstatic; my dad especially. Even though I have children, he's happy I won't be under the same roof as two guys." Michael chuckled. "They're also excited to meet Nate and Nat since they could never find the opportunity to come down here to meet them and that I'll be living at home."

Michael pulled her close and kissed her forehead. "It's for the best. I know it hurts right now, it hurts us all, but I know that this is what you and Jason wanted for your children: to get them out of Morganville."

"I just wish you were coming with us."

"Me, too, but I'm better off here in the long run. There's no risk of exposure here, no worry of food, and I'll be relatively safe. Don't worry about me: I'll be fine."

"But-"

"No buts Claire. I'll. Be. Fine. Leave this town, make new friends, live your life: Carpe Corpus or whatever it is."

Claire smiled through her tears. "It's carpe diem: seize the day."

He smiled and wiped a stray tear away. "Seize the day then. Seize everyday. Think of me but never worry about me."

"I'll try, but I'll still worry."

"I will too." They hugged and Claire couldn't bring herself to let go.

Eventually, Claire's parents called to tell her that they were an hour out and Claire and Michael bought all of her stuff downstairs. Looking around her now empty bedroom, Claire felt such a loss and sadness. Despite all the bad things that had happened in Morganville, in this house, this had been the best time in Claire's life. She had learned so much, done so much, went through so much, laughed countless amounts of times. She'd made three best friends, found an inspiring teacher and friend, fallen in love twice, and experienced the joy of motherhood for the first time. She could never bring herself to regret her choice to attend college here. It had been some of the scariest years of her life, but still some of the best. Wiping away a tear, Claire grabbed the last box, all the things Shane and Eve had given her, and took it downstairs.

"You okay?" Michael asked as soon as she hit the last step.

"Yeah, I'm just gonna miss this house." A warm sensation flowed over her and Claire wasn't sure what was happening until she saw Michael smile.

"It seems the house is going to miss you too." She sometimes forgot that the house was almost...alive.

She smiled and patted the wall before continuing. "I'm also gonna miss some of the others in town like Hannah, Grandma Day, Richard-"

"And Monica?"

Claire laughed. "No...well, maybe a little. Even the mean is more wanted than the unknown."

"It's only unknown for now: you'll get to explore and find lots of other stuff."

"That sounded wise until the 'lots of other stuff part." He chuckled and Claire used this to grab something out of the many boxes. "I've been thinking of what to give you since this morning."

He tried to wave it off. "You don't have to-"

"I want to. I was thinking it over and having a really hard time. I mean, what do you give to someone who means so much to you when you know you'll never see again? I had this problem with Shane and Eve too."

"How did you decide?"

"I decided that it should be something that means a lot to both of you and remind one another of each other when you see it. I couldn't quite find anything that fit us. Eve and I are best friends and are connected by blood thanks to the twins so I gave her something to those effects. Shane was my first love and a good friend so our gifts reflected that. But you. We were such good friends and then you helped me through all the bad stuff with Oliver and, somewhere along the way, I fell in love. What could I give to the person who did this for me? I'd give you my heart but you already have that." Claire's shy smile was hidden by Michael placing his lips over hers. The kiss was so passionate and long that Claire was panting by the time he pulled away.

"You have mine too."

Still a little dazed, Claire said, "What?"

"My heart, even though it doesn't beat. And the fact that you gave me yours is enough for me: I don't need anything else."

Claire smiled. "I figured you feel that way so I just decided to give you this." She held up an envelope. "Actions speak louder than words but I figured since we wouldn't see each other anymore words would just have to be enough. There's also some pictures in there. I never figured our house was one to take so many pictures but there are so many on my phone."

He laughed, tears in his eyes this time, and took the letter from her. "I'm not as good with letters so I made you this." Claire felt something pressed into her hand and looked down to see a CD case.

"A CD?"

"I've been writing some new material and I want you to have them."

"Why?"

"Because you inspired me to write most of them." Claire was a little shocked at first and then pleased before finally settling on touched.

"Thank you. I'll listen to it non-stop."

"I hope so." They embraced and Claire, once again, did not want to let go. He was her last goodbye. He was the one to make it final. Once she let go it would all be over and she'd be gone. She would no longer be a member of the Glass House. Instead, she hugged him closer. She wasn't ready to let go of this dream within a nightmare within a dream within a nightmare, but, like with most things in life, she was forced to let go before she was ready.

The doorbell rang and it turned out to be her parents and they were ready to get a move on it. With his hat and thick coat on, Michael helped them load the tiny U-Haul van with all of Claire's things and keep-sakes. They were finished within an hour. With the twins, having just had a long goodbye with Michael, strapped in their car seats and Claire's Dad and Mom in the car, it was time to go.

Feeling a last flash of sadness and panic and loss, Claire threw herself at Michael.

"Thank you so much. Thank you for all you've done for me over the years: for saving me so many times over the years."

"You've helped me so many times; saved me so many times. I'll miss you and the twins so much."

"I'll miss you just as much." They clung to each other until they heard the honking of her parents impatience. They pulled away laughing. "My dad's probably ready to go."

"Yeah." She pulled away but kept hold of his hands.

"Be brave. Don't let Oliver get to you. I'm sure Amelie will be on top once again sometime in the future."

"Mabye. Hopefully, then Shane, Eve, you, and I will get to see each other again." Claire nodded.

"I love you." They didn't say it often, they didn't have to/feel the need to, but this was the last time they'd ever get to say it face to face and they both felt the heaviness of the moment.

She smiled. "I love you too."

Sharing a quick hug and a last kiss, despite her parents being there, Claire climbed into the van. Her dad started up the car and they started moving. Another piece of her heart fell away as Michael waved and she waved back. She wasn't sure she had anything left until she felt it clinch as the Glass House, her home for nearly three years, disappeared from view.

Since the exit was on the other side of town, Claire got a view of the town one last time. She got to see the stores that were now open again including Common Grounds. Seeing Oliver's place of business, Claire couldn't repress the shiver that ran down her spine. She would hate him for as long as she lived for what he had done to her and her friends and what he had threaten to do to her children.

Unfortunately, they stopped at a stop light right near Common Grounds and her parents tried to break her out of her silence.

"Wow, this town has changed. It seemed more...lively the last time we were here." Her mom said.

"We just recently had…" Claire searched for an easy way of describing the war and take over, "a change in leadership: there's a new guy in charge."

"Oh."

"Is he a good leader?"

Claire barely held in a bitter laugh and shook her head. "He's definitely The Lord of Misrule."

Claire's parents, not knowing what that meant or how to answer it, did not respond.

They started moving again and Claire noticed they were passing town hall and town square. Vivid memories of Shane and his dad being in cages awaiting death flashed through her head and she felt worry seep in for Shane. She hoped he'd be able to keep himself out of trouble since neither she nor Eve nor Michael could do it anymore.

As they passed the police station Claire spied Hannah, Richard, Monica and her followers on the steps. The group noticed the passing car and looked up. Richard smiled, just a little, as he waved, Hannah gave her a salute, and Monica and her gang sent her off with a sneer and Claire had to admit: she wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

They passed the building where the feast for Bishop had been held, or the Feast of Fools, as Myrnin liked to call it after the dust had settled. They passed the row of houses, one of which had hosted The Dead Girls' Dance, a night Claire didn't like to think of often. They passed the street that led to the Day House and, though Claire would never admit it out loud even now, one of her favorite places: the Midnight Alley where the trapdoor spider had once resided. Such a small town held so many big memories. The town had always been small but it never felt smaller as she rode through it.

When they hit the edge of town, the border was clear except the big sign:

YOU ARE NOW LEAVING MORGANVILLE. HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN!

'Not likely.' Claire scoffed.

As they crossed the border and made their way, Claire didn't, couldn't, stop the tears. She'd miss the friends she left behind, the family she left behind, the home she had built with said family, and the empty house it was now.

She was relieved to be going but a part of her was nervous and uncertain. What would she do? What would it be like in a new place with new people? Normal people? Without vampires? How would she fare without the people she'd come to depend? The people she'd come to need? Would she ever meet anyone who could compare? Could she ever find what she was leaving behind somewhere else with someone else?

Claire wasn't sure but all she could do was hope. Hope that somewhere out there was someone as unique and as individually beautiful as Eve, someone as stubborn and as loyal as Shane, someone as sweet and as charming as Michael, and a place like the home she found with them in a Glass House. All she could do was hope that somewhere out there, anywhere out there in that big bad world, was a city full of Glass Houses.

A/N: Again, thanks for reading this and staying for so long. It's been a long three years and, although I still have a epilogue (which could potentially be split in two) left, I want to give y'all so many thanks and all the kudos. Please stay tune for the last little (or not so little, lol) piece of this!

Read & Review Please!
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