Disclaimer: I do not own the Twilight books. I'm only borrowing the characters and will return them mostly unharmed… except for Quil. He might need some therapy by the time I'm finished with him!

"Do you think duty could really stifle love?"

Claire snuggled into the couch in Quil's living room, waiting for her half-human to come back from the kitchen. Since it was a very stormy Friday night, the pair had decided to stay at home and watch a movie. It was Claire's turn to pick the movie, and she had decided on one of her favorite romances: Pride and Prejudice. Having seen it dozens of times, Claire wanted Quil to share in her love of the story. Though Quil had grumbled about her choice and hid behind his macho façade, Claire knew that he was sensitive enough to at least appreciate the film. She sighed to herself as she thought about Elizabeth and Darcy's kiss at the end of the movie, her mind automatically replacing the two lovers with her and Quil. She could see them now, their heads poised as their faces moved closer together until―

"Popcorn's ready!" Claire's train of thought screeched to a halt as Quil's large body squeezed through the doorway. Setting a soda down in front of Claire, he plopped down next to her and offered her the popcorn bowl. Smiling and shaking her head no, she curled her legs under her and slightly leaned into Quil.

"Let the chick flick torture begin. You ready?" She nodded and he pressed the play button on the remote control, watching as the screen flickered on and the opening credits began. The pair watched the movie in silence, Quil occasionally asking a question about the characters or laughing at the pitiful Mr. Collins. Eventually, they reached the scene of Mr. Darcy's first unexpected proposal to Elizabeth. Claire sighed at his hasty, nervous speech and enjoyed the intense chemistry between the couple. As Elizabeth began her contemptuous refusal, Claire looked over at Quil. His face had gone slack and his eyes grew wider and wider as Elizabeth's tirade continued. After Mr. Darcy had stalked off camera, Quil grabbed the remote control and hit the pause button.

"I thought you said this was a romance?" Claire giggled at Quil's disappointed expression: he was much more interested in the movie than he would ever admit.

"Don't worry," she said. "Just keep watching. It all works out in the end."

"How could it possibly work out after everything they just said to each other? She just went off on him without giving him a chance. He just proposed!" Quil huffed and crossed his arms.

"Relax! Just press the play button and find out how it ends!" She reached over his chest to the table on his left side, grabbing the remote control and starting the movie again.

Soon after, Claire was smiling happily at the ending scene as she cuddled under Quil's warm arm. He looked down at her affectionately, an upwards tilt to his lips. She guessed that even he was susceptible to watching love grow on screen. He stretched his arms above his head, arching his back, and she tried not to stare at the two inches of his abs revealed from his shirt pulling up. She snapped out of her heated thoughts as he started talking about the movie.

"It wasn't bad," he conceded. "I was worried when Elizabeth first rejected him though. That was a nasty blow."

"Yeah. Her reaction always bothered me a little. She couldn't have been that surprised that he was interested in her!" Claire folded her arms and settled further into the couch.

"What do you mean?" Quil asked in surprise. "How would she have known what he was feeling?"

"Well," Claire began. "The signs were there: he was always staring at her or arguing with her or something. He only danced with her and 'coincidentally' visited his aunt's house while she was there."

Quil snickered. "So she is supposed to know that he loves her because of how he argues with her? How does that make sense?"

"Maybe 'argue' isn't the right word. 'Banter' is more like it. The chemistry and passion were definitely there. The way he looked at her said everything. She just didn't pick up on the signals."

"I don't agree with that. He was purposely hiding his feelings for her. There weren't any solid signs from him. It's very possible to hide that kind of love."

"I don't think so. It's either there, or it's not. If someone doesn't feel that way about you, you can pretty much tell. And the opposite is true: you know when someone is into you." Claire felt her heart sinking as she thought about what she had said. How could someone fail to notice another in love with them? She felt saddened at her realization that Quil obviously would never think of her in a romantic way. Sometimes when he would look at her a certain way, she thought he could love her. Frankly, nothing was really clear. Her cheerful mood from the movie vanished and her heart sunk. She was hopeless.

"He had to pretend that he didn't love her. He thought he had a duty to his family."

"Do you think duty could really stifle love?"

Quil got a strange look in his eye as he answered, "Yes. Undoubtedly, for a little while at least. I think the love would come out eventually."

"Ah, I see," Claire blushed, impressed at this romantic side to Quil. "I didn't know you were such a sap," she teased.

"I'm not a sap," Quil said seriously, looking at her intently. "I'm only speaking from what I know."

Claire puzzled at the serious turn the conversation had taken. "I am, too. Maybe we should just agree to disagree."

"Sure. Let's just say that some people need more obvious signals than others." Claire's eyebrows rose at Quil's emphasis of "some people": who was he referring to exactly? He smirked and stuck his hand out.

"Agreed." She grabbed his hand and giggled as he gave her hand a businesslike shake. Feeling playful, Quil pulled Claire towards him. Caught off guard, she clumsily fell across his lap with her hand clutched to his chest. She breathed heavily at the minor fright she had experienced and looked up at Quil. Her eyes widened as she realized that their faces were only breaths apart. Her eyes darted to his lips before returning to look at his eyes. He was looking at her in a way that made her stomach tingle.

Her heart started to pound as she saw Quil lean forward, his eyes watching hers intently for a reaction. When she didn't back away, he brushed his lips gently against hers, wrapping one arm around her back and cradling her cheek with the other. Claire pulled away slightly and looked at Quil, not sure if she was awake or dreaming. Ignoring the urge to pinch herself, she returned her lips to his and smiled at the tiny growl he made as she pulled him even closer. She hoped that this was Quil's way of giving her a more obvious signal.

Review!