Leave me alone

Claire sighed, slamming the door behind her as she got home. It was late at night, around midnight and she knew Aiden would've already been by to tuck the kids in, but she told him he couldn't stay on any occasion because Ashley could come home at any time, popping in and out.
Claire walked into the kitchen to get a drink before going up to bed, but when she walked into the kitchen and flicked the light on, she saw a tall blonde boy leaned up against the counter as if waiting for her.
Claire jumped, holding her heart as she hadn't expected anyone but the kids to be in her house at the moment, "Aiden!!" she yelled in whispered form, so the kids didn't wake.
Aiden smiled, "you're home awfully late"
Claire then frowned, she just dropped her bag and ran into his arms, stuffing her face in his chest as she embraced him. Aiden frowned stroking her short light brown hair, "what's wrong?" he whispered.
"I got fired today" she cried. Aiden just stared at her, waiting for her to talk more about it, "can you believe it?" she chuckled a little to herself as she wiped her tears with the back of her hand, "me.. getting fired from a fucking BOWLING ally?" she shook her head, "I'm such a failure!" she sobbed, laying her head on Aiden's chest again, "but... I... couldn't let him... touch me" she said between sniffles, that caught Aiden's attention.
Aiden grabbed her by the shoulders and leaned down a little to nearly match her height as he got real close to her face, "Claire what do you mean?"
Claire frowned, "m-my boss... he tried to... touch me.." she looked away, "I... I couldn't let him...." she sighed in defeat lightly placing her hands on Aiden's chest, "I knew it would hurt you....." she groaned at herself as she turned away throwing her arms all around in frustration, "hell, I should've just let him fucked me!" she yelled, "not like it would make a DIFFERENCE in my ALREADY fucked up life!!"
Aiden quickly grabbed Claire's arm and pulled her back to him, bringing close to him pressing their bodies together. he lightly place a finger under his chin and tilted her head up, as he leaned down to gently kiss her, "don't you ever think like that" he whispered, "don't you ever let someone other than me touch you" he growled under his breath.
Claire blushed at the closeness of their beings, "Aiden..." she frowned, "but... but.. he.... I wouldn't be fired right now... hell I probably would've got a promotion.." she whispered, "now... I have no other way to bring home as much money as I was.. now most of the bills won't get paid and the kids will suffer because of it and-" Claire began freaking out, but Aiden lightly pressed a finger to her lips.
"Shh" he whispered, then Claire felt a hand slip into her pocket, she looked to see Aiden had stuffed a wad of cash in her pocket.
"Aiden stop" she blushed and glared, "I can't accept this. I won't."
"You can and you will" Aiden demanded, "I know you hate when I do this but.... remember Claire, I'm daddy and that's what daddies are for. So don't fight me on this one. You need it. for the kids."
Claire was about to say something, to protest, but then she saw the seriousness in Aiden's eyes and simply just nodded, understanding this is one battle she wouldn't have won either way, "Aiden" she whispered.
"Hmm?" he looked at her.
"I love you." she blurted, looking away clearly flustered.
Aiden smiled and brought her closer to him, gently kissing her forehead while she continued to look away with visibly bright red cheeks, "I love you too mommy"

Claire walked into her house after school, throwing her backpack down on the ground near the doorway and beginning to her room for a quick nap before the kids got home.
"So I heard you got fired yesterday"
Claire froze hearing the low, groggy, raspy voice of her mother behind her. She sucked in a breath turning to her mother, then let it out in a frustrated sigh as she took in the smell of cigarette smoke and empty beer cans spread around the couch in which her mother was sprawled across, "yeah, so?" Claire glared.
Ashley smirked and sat up, "I also see you've been taking money from my purse when I'm not looking." Claire's eyes widened, she felt her knees tremble as Ashley made a tsk tsk tsk noise, "Someone has some sticky fingers" Ashley sang as she stood and began towards Claire.
Claire just stood perfectly still, trying her best to keep up a poker face, Claire felt her knees shake more with each step Ashley took towards her until she was so close she smell the beer off her breath.
Then Claire was shoved back against the wall, and her hair was tugged at. She opened her blue eyes to Ashley's own piercing blue eyes glaring at her, holding her up against the wall by her short light brown hair.
"Ow!" Claire hissed, "Let me go!" she tried to struggle, but she felt Ashley grab onto her chin and make sure she was looking at her. She felt as Ashley's long nails pierced her cheek, and the blood trickle from the pained area.
"I want it all back" Ashley growled, "In case you haven't noticed, you, are in fact, paying me to live here under MY roof"
Claire flinched, "that's pretty fucked up considering I'm your BLOOD daughter and it's YOUR FAULT I was ever BORN!" she yelled.
Ashley just glared at her eldest child, she shoved her face hard, and watched at Claire toppled over to the ground in front of her feet, "So I see you're going to be a difficult little girl." she muttered, kicking Claire's side. Claire let out a small gasp of pain and grabbed her side. Claire felt the pressure in her side again and again until it all became numb, "so if you're not going to pay up I want you out" Ashley growled, spitting on Claire.
Claire just looked up at her, finding it increasingly hard to move a muscle without the pain shooting through her entire body, "If I go the kids go with me!!" she yelled.
Ashley bent over to her, grabbing up a handful of her hair and throwing her head back into the hard tile covered floor, "you will not take my kids from me" she hissed.
"The hell I won't!" Claire spat, "you're a terrible mother, not just to me but to the kids too. And they HATE you almost as much as I do, but no one can ever hate you like I do.. no one" Claire said in a low whisper with Ashley's face in hers.
Ashley just stared at her daughter, she then stood back up into form, "fine. take the little brats" she shrugged setting a cigarette stick in her mouth and lighting it, "you'll all be dead within a month anyway" she smirked, slipping her fur coat on and grabbing up her purse. She fixed the strap of her purse on her shoulder, then plucked the white stick from her mouth, blowing a puff of smoke out with it, "I'll be back by midnight. I trust you'll all be out by then." she rolled her eyes, opening the door and stepping a foot out when she looked back over her shoulder, down to Claire holding her side in pain, her black eye closed and her swollen lip bloody to match her cheek, "and don't come back." she told her, then in one swift movement bounced out the door and slammed the wooden door behind her.
Claire just laid there in the ground, staring up at the ceiling. She felt the tears stream out of her eyes and down her temples. She was scared, and she didn't know what to do. She didn't know HOW her and the kids would manage on limited money, and she certainly didn't know where they would live or how they would react, and the last thing she wanted to see right now was the kids crying because she just couldn't keep her hands to herself and her mouth shut.
She closed her eyes, trying to blink the tears away but it didn't help. She laid her arm across her eyes and sighed, feeling the pain with each movement.
"Claire!" she jumped at her name suddenly being yelled, she looked up to see Aiden slam the door behind himself in a panic to hurry to her side. He fell down to his knees beside her and scooped her up into his arms, lightly kissing all across her face, clearly worried for her, "Are you alright? What happened? Why are you crying? do you have a black eye? why are your lip and cheek bleeding?" he asked all these questions in a panic.
Claire giggled and sat up a little in his arms, using his shoulder for support. She lightly touched her fingertips to his cheek as not even an ounce of worry dropped from his face, "I'm fine," she choked out, only to find that her throat hurt too.
"Yeah, I can see that" Aiden frowned, gently tangling his fingers into her hair and smashing their lips together.
Claire blushed, and Aiden gently pulled away from her lips, clearly reluctant to do so. Claire smiled weakly at him, then frowned seeing his frown, "what?"
"You're mom did this to you, didn't she?" he whispered, never taking his eyes from hers.
Claire didn't say anything, her eyes just darted off in a different direction as she frowned, so that she didn't have to say anything and Aiden would get his answer.
"Claire!!" she then looked up to see her two younger siblings standing in the doorway, staring at her and Aiden in horror.
Colin quickly closed the door, and he and Alice began throwing off their backpacks, scarves, gloves, coats and hats on their way to them. They got down on the other side of her and frowned, Colin gently hugged Alice as his little sister began weeping. Alice wiped her tears with the back of her hand and flung herself across Claire, wrapping her arms around Claire's neck and hugging her tightly.
Colin did the same with Claire's waist, and Aiden made a small smile at the two kids and lightly hugged all three of them. Claire blushed at the three smothering her in love and hugs, all very concerned for her safety at the moment.
No one spoke, all of them knew exactly what had just happened, and they didn't want to speak of it again. Seeing Claire in pain was enough, "I don't like mommy" Alice whispered into Claire's chest.
"neither do I" Colin followed.
"She hurts you" Alice frowned, sitting up and gently wiping at Claire's eyes.
Colin nodded, "in more ways than one"
"And we don't want to see her do it again" Alice pouted crossing her arms.
Claire smiled, and lightly sat up, hugging her small siblings close, "I love you guys" she whispered kissing the top of both of their heads.
Aiden smiled and hugged Claire from behind, the kids looked up at him and smiled. he looked at the three of them in his arms, "well you guys" he whispered and gently kissed Claire's temple, "pack your things. you're gonna stay at my house"

Claire sat in the passenger seat pouting as Aiden drove, she didn't like this one bit. She hated having to depend on Aiden in situations like this, and she argued with him over it too. She told Aiden she couldn't put all her problems on him and his family, they bickered back and forth, Aiden pulled her close to him and insisted that she stay there, and in her nervous frustration, she agreed.
Claire felt a light tap on her leg and looked over to see Aiden rest his hand on her knee, he smiled "Oh come on Claire. Cheer up" He smiled at her, "It won't be as bad as you always assume"
Claire glared and blushed, "yeah well remember what happened LAST time....." she looked away.
Aiden chuckled lightly and nodded, "don't know why you want to forget it so badly, I liked it" he blushed a little and looked at her, waiting for a reaction.
Claire didn't look his way, she just kept quiet, she didn't want to admit it to him, herself, or anyone else that she actually did enjoy it. She loved it, just as she loved Aiden. But, that was one more thing she'd never admit to anyone including herself.
Aiden pulled up in the driveway and got the kids bags from the backseat. The kids followed him inside with Claire reluctantly walking along far behind the line they had going.
They all made it in, Aiden set down the bags and leaned down to CJ and whispered something in his ear, he nodded and smiled to Colin and Alice, as they followed him upstairs.
Aiden looked back at Claire and smiled, she only blushed and looked away. then Keegan came in, "CLAAAAAIRE!"
"BAAAAAE!!" she yelled jumping on him.
Aiden walked into the kitchen to find Selena, after a few minutes Selena came running out and hugged Claire tightly, "Claire it's nice to see you!!" she smiled and patted Claire's cheek, "OOF your HAIR it's still so FABULOUS!"
Claire smiled and chuckled a bit nervously, "er.. thanks"
Selena nodded grabbing her hands up, "and you and the kids are welcome to stay AS LONG as you want!" she smiled, "our door is always open for you three"
Claire opened her mouth to blurt out that she had no intention of staying past tonight, but seeing the hope and happiness in Selena's eyes, then the hope in Aiden's as well, shut her up. She just gave Selena a weak smile, "thank you. I appreciate it." she whispered.
Selena gave her another wide smile, hugged her once more then hopped back into the kitchen.
Claire sighed looking at Aiden, "I can't believe I let you talk me into this"
Aiden smiled a gently kissed her forehead, "neither can I" he smirked and grabbed her hand, "come on. I'm sure you're tired"
Claire frowned, what she wanted was to run away with the kids and never look back. She hated making her problems apart of Aiden's. But, he didn't seem to mind, which made her question how he was so strong through everything that came his way. Claire just sighed brushing it off, it was true she was pretty tired. so for now, she'd accept Aiden's offer.

Claire's blue eyes gently fluttered open later that night, she sat up as the ice pack Aiden had gotten for her fell off her eye.
She held the no longer freezing cold ice pack in her hands and blushed as she got to thinking more and more about Aiden without realizing it.
She frowned, knowing what she had to do, and soon.
Then she heard the door creak open, she looked up to see Aiden smiling, "oh, you're up"
Claire nodded ever so slightly and looked back down at her hands, or, at least, the ice pack in them.
Aiden walked up beside her and sat on the bed next to her, "SO you're upset" he whispered.
"What?" she looked up at him.
He nodded, "I can see it in your face. You're upset."
Claire frowned, but she didn't speak. She wasn't going to deny it, she had a lot on her mind. A lot that was upsetting and stressful, "well.... my mom and I were really fighting about how... she kicked me out of the house to live on my own...." Claire whispered.
Aiden frowned and gently wrapped an arm around her, pulling her a bit closer to him so her head rested on his shoulder, "just what mom had said earlier... you always have a home here" he whispered in a low tone.
Claire blushed, but she didn't even make an effort to push away. She just lightly sat up, propping herself up on her legs. She leaned forward and lightly pecked Aiden on the lips. Then that peck turned into an embrace, and that embrace turned into repeated kisses.
Claire blushed and leaned back a little, finding her arms were wrapped around Aiden's neck, and her body was pressed up tight against his as she sat on his lap. She smiled, "I really do mean it when I say I love you" she whispered.
Aiden smiled at her words, "I know." he gently kissed her, "I love you too"
That was a mistake. A big one. Aiden and Claire sat there hugging each other close, Claire laid her head on his shoulder looking the other way. She frowned, she didn't mean to blurt out that she loved him, it just came out. And at the moment, she only wanted to be able to take it back, more than anything.
Because Claire knew, she knew she wouldn't see him again. And she was going to make sure she didn't.
"I bet you're still tired" Aiden whispered breaking the non-awkward silence between them.
"A little"
Aiden pushed Claire back onto the bed a little. He towered over her and smiled at her, Claire blushed. Aiden leaned down and gently kissed her, Claire wrapped her arms around his neck to keep him there longer than he had intended. She hated how much she loved him, and she wanted to enjoy this for as long as she could.
Then Aiden pulled away, wiping his cheek a little. Her looked down at Claire and chuckled lightheartedly, "Aw, Claire. You're crying" he smiled wiping her tears away with his thumbs. Claire frowned, not realizing she had, "Claire you don't have to cry anymore" Aiden said laying beside her. He wrapped his arms around her and gently kissed away a stray tear on her cheek, "I'll always be right here. And I'll always protect you and the kids." he whispered and cuddled closer to her.
Claire gently turned over to face him, she kissed him one last time and stuffed her face into his chest. he wrapped his arms around her holding her close, Claire smiled to herself and laid there and laid there, waiting to hear Aiden fall asleep.

Claire laid in Aiden's arms for about 40 minutes after she was pretty sure he was asleep, just to make sure. She gently got out of bed and grabbed her bag, slowly opening the door and stepping out. She looked at Aiden sleeping one last time and frowned, trying to hold the tears away. she then finally got the courage to close the door, tiptoeing to CJ's room and quietly getting the kids. She frowned, this all seemed like deja vu. Her leaving in the middle of the night, with no intention to see Aiden again.
she took them out to the car, sitting in the drivers side and sighing as she stared up at the house.
"where are going Claire?" she heard Alice say in her sweet little sleepy voice.
Colin yawned, "yeah, I'm tired. I want to go back to sleep.." he pouted.
Claire nodded, understanding where she had to go at the moment.

Claire pulled up in the parking lot, guided the kids inside and walked up to the desk, "one room please" she whispered, patting the kids heads.
"How long is your estimated stay?" The woman behind the desk asked her with a smile.
Claire sighed looking down at he kids, "I don't know." she whispered, "awhile"
Claire got the kids up to their room in the hotel, their temporary home. Claire set all their bags down and set the alarm, as the three of them were super tired, the first thing they did was get under the covers.
Claire tucked them both into one bed while she laid in the other, staring at the ceiling. Then she felt her bed shift a little, she propped herself up a little and saw the kids crawl in on each side of her, snuggling close to her getting comfortable.
Claire smiled and kissed the top of their heads, falling back and cradling them both to sleep, unprepared for tomorrow.

Claire stood at her locker, rummaging around inside, fumbling with her normally neat and tidy locker, but today it was a mess, matching Claire's life.
Claire closed her locker and looked up, the first thing she saw was the bright smile of Aiden. She sighed, "what.." she muttered under her breath.
"Where'd you go last night?" he frowned, "I lost my cuddle buddy"
Claire sighed, "I left, Aiden"
Aiden chuckled leaning against the lockers, "do you know what the term 'staying the night' is? cause... it doesn't seem like you do"
Claire glared, "go away"
Aiden pouted, "Claire, come home"
she snickered, "please, Aiden. that wasn't my home. I was a guest that left a bit earlier than I was supposed to.."
"yeah, a bit" he whispered.
"listen Aiden." Claire sighed, "I need you to leave me alone. You don't want to get involved with me and in my life right now"
Aiden sighed, "trust me Claire. I'm well aware of what I sighed up for the day I told you I loved you"
Claire looked away, "aiden I don't want to see you again. ever" she hissed, but the words truly hurt her to say.
"What?"
"you heard me, Aiden. don't make me say it again" she turned to walk away, but Aiden grabbed her arm.
"what do you mean you don't want to see me again?"
"I MEAN" she growled, ripping her arm from his grip, "I'm done. whatever we had is done... I just don't want you near me anymore"
"Claire don't..." Aiden whispered.
"Don't what?" she sighed, "LEAVE? WELL I'm sorry Aiden but I must take after my mom in the sense of that always leaving bullshit." she rolled her eyes and went to walk away again.
"Claire!" Aiden yelled after her.
"What?!" she turned back around and yelled in frustration.
Aiden stood there staring at her for a moment, "...I love you" you told her.
Claire sighed, "goodbye Aiden"
"don't you remember when you said you loved me too?!" Aiden called after her.
Claire groaned, stopping in her tracks "no"
Aiden frowned, "Claire that was the greatest feeling in the world.... I felt like I could move a thousand mountains everytime you said it! you can't just... leave!"
"well then this outta come to a shock" she rolled her eyes and turned away taking a few more steps.
"you can't just stop loving me like that!"
"WATCH ME!!" she finally shouted stomping her foot and glaring at him, "Aiden stop! I hate you! I hate you so much!!" she hissed, hating the words dripping from her tongue, "I can't stop loving you just like that because I never LOVED YOU in the first place!" she yelled, hoping this would get to him, "so.... goodbye Aiden... don't EVER talk to me again!" She yelled, turning on her heels and running away down the hall.
Aiden stood there, he wanted to run after her but he didn't quite understand what just happened. And he knew it would be no use. say he ran after her, caught up to her, and then what? she was the type to just keep running and running. Aiden sighed and just stood there, it felt like moving muscles were impossible, and he wasn't quite sure of what to do now.
So what he decided, was to leave Claire alone.
For now.