We had just ordered lunch – even though I wasn’t sure I could eat anything – when my phone rang. It took me a second to dig it out from the bottom of my purse.

 

“Quil!”

 

“Claire. It’s so good to hear your voice.”

 

“Are you alright?”

 

“Yeah. A little banged up, but okay.”

 

“So, it’s all over?”

 

“It’s all over.”

 

“And you guys got them all?”

 

“Every last one. Where are you?”

 

“We’re at a restaurant in Port Angeles.”

 

“I can’t wait to see you again.”

 

“Me neither. We just ordered, though, so we might be a while. I’m sorry.”

 

“It’s all right. I could use some food myself.” Quil paused for a moment. “Listen. I’m going to drive to Forks. Have your mom drop you at the café where we ate the last time we were there.”

 

I couldn’t help but smile at that memory. “You mean the café where you took me after you’d rescued me from that nasty vampire?”

 

“That’s the one,” he said with a laugh.

 

“I love you, Quil.”

 

“I love you, Claire. I’ll see you soon.”

 

I could tell Mom had gotten the gist of our conversation from hearing my end of it. She had a big smile on her face – although I’m sure it wasn’t as big as mine.

 

As much as I wanted to get back to Quil, I was glad when our food came – my appetite had miraculously returned.

 

 

When we pulled up to the café in Forks, Quil was standing out front by his truck. He must have already eaten. I barely waited for Mom to stop the car completely before I jumped out and ran to him. I practically threw myself into his arms and he lifted me off the ground and spun me around before he set me back down. I could tell by how he held me that he didn’t want to ever let go – and neither did I – but Mom and Karl were waiting in their car. Quil said hi to Karl and thanked Mom for getting me out of town.

 

“I’m just glad you’re okay,” she told him before she pointed the car back toward the main drag and took off.

 

We kissed and held each other again for a while before we got into his truck.

 

“Where to, Sweets?”

 

I smiled. “I’d go anywhere with you.”

 

“Hmm. How about my place then?”

 

I nodded. “There’s no place I’d rather be.”

 

On the drive back, Quil told me all about the fight and how Gary had tricked him by mimicking my voice. And about how Jacob, his pack, and Edward and Bella had showed up to help and how it made the difference between what had been an even match up and what ended up being a lopsided win. I even had him tell me about how they set the dismantled vampires on fire. I was just so relieved and happy to see him that nothing could have bothered me.

 

When we got back to Quil’s house, I realized I hadn’t had a shower all day. Neither had he, so we took one together. That must have been the best shower I’ve ever taken. We spent the rest of the day lounging about. Then we made dinner together. I’d never been happier in my life and, judging by the look on his face, neither had he.

 

*        *       *

 

Autumn turned to winter, and Quil drove me to Seattle for my appointment so I could get a prescription for birth control pills. Then, true to his word, he took me to dinner and a movie. Although it probably qualified as our first actual date, it didn’t feel like a date. Being together felt so completely comfortable in a way that’s not possible when you’re still getting to know someone. But it still felt special. Like a celebration of us.

 

Winter turned to spring and Nessie gave birth to a baby boy. Despite being incredibly tired all the time, she and Jacob were happier than I’d ever seen them. The school year came to a close and I graduated. I signed up for some basic, pre-law classes at Peninsula College in Forks and was able to convince Quil to sign up for a couple of classes as well.

 

Later that summer, when I turned eighteen, I told Quil the only gift I wanted was to move in with him. It only made sense since we’d be commuting back and forth for classes together in the fall. And I already spent most of my time there anyway. We spruced the place up with some fresh paint, Quil hung some shelves, and I gave it some homey touches. It was wonderful to be able to spend so much time alone with him before the fall semester started. Mom still insisted that we come home for dinner at least once a week and, I have to admit, it was really nice to all be together again. It was also nice for just the two of us to leave together at the end of the night.

 

Quil gave me a beautiful ring that had belonged to his grandmother when he asked me to marry him. I said yes, of course, although we decided to wait a while on the whole wedding thing. It’s not that we didn’t want to make it official – we just both knew we were already tied to one another by bonds that were as permanent as they were unbreakable.

​

End