The Prayer
Most of that summer passed in a haze of fear, hope, and anticipation. On the final weekend before Logan started third grade, the family returned to Raleigh once more. Clay's mother had spent a lot of time with them in Tree Hill, but they all felt the pull and safety of home calling. It had been six weeks since the ultrasound that left a voice of doom ringing in Quinn's ears around the clock. As the babies grew, so did her fear, and it was all she could do to keep breathing as she toyed with the seatbelt strapped across her belly on the drive to Sam and Lil's.
"You're squirming worse than Logan today," Clay commented, squeezing her fingers when the car paused at a traffic light. "Everything okay?"
"I'm squirming because the girls are training for the ballet in there," she laughed. "Sorry if it's distracting."
"Not at all. It's magical," he smiled. "I'm more amazed that Logan isn't joining you in the hyperactivity for once. He's not normally a car sleeper."
"To be fair, he did get shot two months ago," Quinn reminded him, wishing she hadn't when Clay went very pale. "Hey, don't worry about Logan. He's fine now; everything is better in Raleigh. He's always so happy around his grandparents."
"That's true." But Clay still looked troubled, and at the next lull in the traffic, Quinn took his hand and placed it against her belly.
"We're fine," she repeated. "Let the girls convince you if you don't believe me."
"They're certainly convincing." To her relief, his lips finally curled into a crooked grin. "I love you, Quinn James."
"That's Evans to you, dude," she laughed. "I love you more."
"I know it was just a figure of speech, but I kind of love the irony," Clay confessed. "Sara was a ballerina in college, you know. She used to make me dance with her all the time, and it worked because she was so damn good, and I was hopeless. These babies will have zero dance skill in their genes."
"Excuse me, you said my cheerleading routine was hot! No taking it back now, babe."
"I would never take that back. Like I told you back then, you had me falling head over heels from the second you hit the mat in that gym. It was insanely hot…and totally goofy, but that's why we're such a good match." Smiling to himself, Clay fell silent, letting the thought of the faint fluttering sensation against his fingertips earlier transport him back in time.
May 2008 – Eleven Years Earlier
By the time Clay and Jessica's combined efforts had coaxed Sara out of the girls' bathroom, it was nearly time for the graduation ballet performance. Even after washing her face and fixing her make-up, Sara felt unprepared, tense, and overly anxious compared to her classmates. The rest of her class was already warming up when the three of them returned to the group. "I don't think I can do this," she whimpered, reluctantly letting Jessica tug her out into the hallway by the elbow. They returned to the stage slowly, every step feeling like her ballet flats were filled with lead.
"Of course you can," said the British girl encouragingly. "We've all got your back, girl." She pointed in relief. "And check out our adoring public over here; what could go wrong?" Jessica only let go of Sara when they were close enough for her to shove the blonde into Clay's arms. "Your turn, Evans. I think she needs a kiss or something to calm down. Do your worst."
"You're a piece of work sometimes, Parker," Alex laughed, drawing the brunette close. "How are you feeling about performing? Hard to believe this chapter of our lives is almost over, isn't it?"
"I wouldn't say no to a kiss either," Jessica whispered seductively. But when Alex obliged, he could sense her distraction. "I really hope she can pull this off," she sighed. "What a bombshell to get just before the show. Poor Sara."
"She's in good hands," Alex reminded her. He put his arm around her, and Jessica leaned into the touch, the two of them watching Clay and Sara how they had since sophomore year.
"I can feel your butterflies in there," Clay whispered into the kiss he had greeted Sara with. "It's going to be okay; I promise. What your father told you earlier is awful, but you know this dance backwards. Jeff totally has your back, you know that."
"I know he does." Sara nodded, but she was chewing on her lower lip nervously. "Will you dance with me? Right now, I mean?"
"I don't know your routine," Clay reminded her. "Or ballet in general. Leave the fancy footwork to Jeff." The next second, there was the strum of an acoustic guitar, and he spun around. Jessica had cued up Sara's favorite song on her phone.
"Please?" his girlfriend begged quaveringly, and Clay felt his resistance vanish in the time it took to reach for her hand. He saw Alex pull Jessica to her feet out of the corner of his eye. The British girl winked at Clay and let Alex twirl her effortlessly a few times. "I never said it had to be ballet," Sara reminded him, returning his attention to her.
Clay resisted the urge to look down at his feet as the two couples danced around in the space backstage. "I love you, Sara Kay," he said softly. "You're the bravest, most beautiful girl I've ever met. You're going to slay that routine, you hear me? You're the only one who could ever make me dance, just so you know."
"And you're the only one I want to dance with," she replied solemnly. "Forever." She rested her head on his shoulder, swallowing hard to keep the tears from flowing again. "Thank you," she said in a choked whisper. "I'll be watching for your fingers in the crowd, okay? On the count of two."
"Forever can start right after you knock this show out of the park," Clay told her. "I'm all yours, babe, I promise! Fingers, toes, and everything else." Sara stopped abruptly, shivering, and he gripped her shoulders firmly. "What are you thinking?"
"Izzie," Sara whimpered. "I'm not ready to lose her yet. I don't know how to do this! I've literally never known life without her. How am I supposed to let go, Clay?"
"You don't let go," he pointed out wisely. "You live both of your dreams from now on. Do what she can't and remember all the special times. I know that my dad not being here today kills my mom. But I promised myself long ago I'd be an agent like him. Nowhere near as amazing, but forever trying to be. That's the dream."
"Beg to differ on the not-amazing part," said Sara softly. "You are incredible. I wouldn't have made it through the last few months without you. Losing my best friend slowly has been the worst kind of torture."
"Not to be cheesy, but it's hardly that incredible. I would do anything for my best friend." He shot her a lopsided smile, and Sara buried her face in the crook of his neck to keep herself from bursting into tears again. The show had to go on, and she finally felt ready for it.
"You know what I really feel I need to do today?" Quinn mused, her voice interrupting Clay's reminiscing.
"What?" Keeping one hand on the wheel, he stroked her hair affectionately.
"Talk to Sara," Quinn confessed, biting her lip when Clay removed his hand from her head. "Is that okay with you? You always say she's like a guardian angel for Logan, it couldn't hurt to ask for a little extra protection for our girls. What do you think?"
"I usually only talk to Sara when everything is going wrong," said Clay dubiously. "It wouldn't be my first thought when we're praying for a smooth delivery soon. Are you sure?"
"You told me once you used to call her a lucky charm," Quinn reminded him. "I think our girls deserve a bit of a lucky start to life with all the odds against them, don't you? Logan believes in his mother's magical powers, doesn't he?"
"Both of his mothers are magic," said Clay pointedly, only releasing her hand long enough to park the car in front of Sam and Lil's house. "Maybe you're on to something there. Alright, let's do it!"
Logan did not take kindly to being left at home with his grandparents. "Dad, it's not fair! I want to see Mommy, too. She listens when I ask for things, you know. Don't you want her to protect the babies?"
"So you were listening in the car, huh?" Clay met Lil's gaze, grimacing as Logan squirmed weakly from her grasp. "You need to rest, buddy. I promise I'll take you to talk to Mommy another time. It's not like she can go anywhere; she'll still be there when you feel stronger."
"You can help me with my baking," Lil proposed. "You love giving the babies a sugar high, don't you? Come on, it'll be fun. Your parents will be back before you know it."
"But Grandma," Logan whined, still protesting as his grandmother steered him firmly indoors.
She waved over her shoulder at Clay and Quinn. "You two go ahead; he'll be fine here. See you later, alright?"
As a result of Logan's objections, Clay found the usual sadness that lingered when he visited the cemetery weighing slightly heavier that day. Quinn was usually a steadying and encouraging force at times like this, but now the fingers tightly clutching his arm quivered with her heightened emotions. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I know you normally only come here when things are going wrong for you. I just feel like we need some good vibes from the universe right now. That is what guardian angels are for, right?" She handed him the bouquet of white roses they had bought from a florist on the way to the cemetery. "If I try and bend over, I think I'll be stuck there. Do the honors?"
Clay reluctantly bent towards Sara's headstone, plucking a few stray weeds before placing the roses against it. "Hi, angel. I know it seems like I only come around when I need something lately. I'm sorry about that. The thing is, Logan came really close to joining you wherever you are, a couple of months ago. Before anything else, I just need to thank you for keeping our Wolverine safe." He paused, a shaky gasp escaping involuntarily. "It doesn't seem fair to ask for anything more than that…but I…we…really need to, anyway." A lump lodged suddenly in his throat, and Clay turned to Quinn with pleading eyes. "I can't do it, Q. You'll have to ask her yourself; this is some mother-to-mother thing. I just…I can't even say it out loud; I'm sorry."
"I shouldn't have tried to make you," sighed Quinn apologetically. Still holding on to Clay's arm to keep her balance, she stepped closer to the grave. "Hi, Sara," she said quietly. "I probably don't have the right to ask you for anything since I'm living the life you deserved, every day. But the thing is, our son really believes that you have magical powers. I know you're the reason Logan survived his recent ordeal. What I'm getting at, I suppose, is could you please put in a good word for our little girls' souls up there? This family is already off to an amazing start with the life that you created. All I'm praying for is my chance to add to it. If you're listening, someone watching over my baby girls until they're here with me is all I'll ever need…please."
"That was beautiful," said Clay in a choked voice. Quinn looked up at him, her vision blurred with unshed tears. She leaned her back against his solid frame, letting his hands slip over her belly where their two angels were fighting to survive. "She's never let me down before, you know. Everything has to be okay now…it has to!"
A/N I always love the chance to express my multi-shipper heart, enjoy! xx