Melancholy Afternoons (Claire)

[GRIFFIN CARTWRIGHT]

The night Mordecai died had been a rough one for Griffin. Griffin wasn't the sort of man to cry despite his sensitivity. He wasn't an overly emotional man, but upon hearing of his leaders death he cried, and he didn't care that Claire had seen it. Mordecai had been a mentor to them all. He was a good man, an intelligent man, a strong man with solid morals and a love for all living things that exceeded anything Griffin had ever seen. He was larger than life, a living legend...and in a moment he was gone and in such a cruel way. That hadn't even been the worst part.

The tree cracking and the darkness that spread over the city was depressing. Griffin feared what would happen. How would they tame this unknown enemy? What did it do? He learned quickly that it was messing with all of the Guardians. Griffin himself was feeling weak and ill from the lack of sunlight, but the night after the tree cracking Claire had shifted into her feline form. At first Griffin was confused, but it soon became clear she had no control over it. Fortunately he had been around her in that state before and knew exactly what she would need and the evening had been spent together quietly, snuggling close and bonding over books and television.

Griffin had a difficult time sleeping that night. What was going to happen to them all? Was this just how things would be now? Would Claire spend every night in her alter form? Would he continue to grow weaker and weaker? There was even word the Gargoyle's weren't turning to stone and the Blurrs were unable to vanish. It was all so disconcerting, and when she shifted again the following night, he knew there was a real problem afoot.

Currently Griffin was in a deep funk, not his usual optimistic friendly self. He had little desire to peel himself from his mattress, and he was glad that Claire had spent the night with him once more despite her sister's psychotic fit. Even his appetite had diminished. Claire had shifted back into her human form at some point during the night when Griffin had dozed off, still having difficulty sleeping, and he'd made sure while she slept to tuck the blanket tight over her. He certainly had no problem seeing her body, but he also knew she wasn't okay with that just yet. He looked at the clock, waiting for her to stir. Despite it looking like night, it was nearing ten in the morning. Finally, she sighed and moved in such a way that Griffin thought maybe she was coming to. He slid his arms around her and pulled her close, spooning her from behind and nuzzling into her as if she were an over sized security blanket.

"Would it be selfish of me to ask you to stay right here with me all day?" He asked, his tone not his usual one, especially when with Claire. He kissed her shoulder lightly and then sighed into it, knowing it was probably unrealistic. Cheyenne would be freaking out again and Griffin just didn't want to deal with his girlfriends nutty sister. He was even losing his patience with Cheyenne! "Please?" He pleaded near her ear, just loving that he had someone there to hold onto.

[CLAIRE MCLEESTER]

Everything happened so suddenly that Claire had taken a while to actually feel just how serious everything was. She'd been at the tree and she'd helped with Mordecai's body. It had put her into a state of shock that she just kept going, helping with Mordecai, assuring Griffin, explaining it all to her sister.. it wasn't until she'd run out of energy to keep going that she'd finally broke down in the shower. But Claire wasn't a big crier, and she'd only shed a few tears. Mostly her eyes were moist and she'd wiped away at them before they could stain her cheeks. She just got sad in a different way was all.

Seeing Griffin cry.. that had been heartbreaking for Claire. She'd always been nervous and awkward around people when they cried, trying to find any reason to get as far away from them as possible. She just didn't know how to console people without sounding like an idiot and it just made her uncomfortable. She'd only been comfortable comforting her own sister and even that was sometimes hard. But Cheyenne was used to Claire's ways of comforting and usually all she needed was a night at Claire's watching movies, or to raid her closet for shoes. That worked well too.

At first, seeing him cry had made her nervous. But she'd been in the zone, being the person who had to help others that she was able to give him her shoulder. She'd stayed the night and rubbed his back, wiped his tears and kissed his forehead. She knew he had to let it out. He'd lost his leader and she could only imagine how hard that was. Avisailles lived so much longer than Therians did that Griffin had known him for such a long time and losing someone in such a brutal manner made it that much harder.

When the shifting happened the first night she'd panicked. She'd ruined a perfectly good pair of pajama bottoms during her shifting. It wasn't a full moon, why would she be shifting?! Griffin had been there though and was able to feed her and keep her entertained. The second night it happened Claire was terrified. It had to be related to the tree! Was this what life was going to be like from now on?

Claire had grown exhausted and miserable, but then again so had Griffin it seemed, and she couldn't just leave him alone. Seeing him so down was hard on her since he was usually such a cheerful person. She'd ended up staying the night and sleeping in a bit, not bothering to wake up early enough to go for a jog that morning. Jogging was always refreshing for her. She loved to run and jog and just rush around like a crazy lady! But this morning it just wasn't happening.

She began to stir and felt Griffin's arm draping over her which at first made her tense up the way it usually did in the morning. She just wasn't used to it yet and when she was just waking up she wasn't all there. Even with it being dark outside and all doom and gloom in the city, Claire liked waking up next to Griffin. Even if it did mean she woke up naked after a night as a damn cheetah.

"Would it be selfish of me to ask you to stay right here with me all day?" Even his voice sounded flatter than usual. Claire was making it her personal goal to try and cheer him up. They were in a low place right now but if they didn't try to make due with it then they were going to crack the way the tree had. "Please?" She'd promised Cheyenne she'd go see her and try to calm her down. When did Claire become the rock?! She was usually the one in a panic. But when she saw others panicking she just had to get a grip on herself. Claire Bear to the rescue! Er.. cheetah, really.

"I promised Chey I'd go see her today.. but it can wait a bit." She tried to sound upbeat and rolled slightly into him so she could look over her shoulder to get a good look at him. He'd been so down.. even her nakedness didn't bother her right now. Then again, her Therian side was at its peak. Everyday was like the day before a full moon, and she was just not herself. "We could go for a walk? Get out of here for a little bit." Even that didn't sound good to her, what with all the crazy Jesus freaks outside handing out pamphlets and going on about the apocalypse. Forget that.

"I could make you something to eat! Like.. a tuna sandwich?" She was such a crappy cook.

[GRIFFIN CARTWRIGHT]

"I promised Chey I'd go see her today.. but it can wait a bit." His head moved up so he could look more into her face as she turned to him, doing his best not to pout like a child. Even if the visit to her sister could wait, it still meant she would be leaving him to his own devices at some point that day,

"We could go for a walk? Get out of here for a little bit." Griffin normally would leap at the chance to take a walk with Claire but being outside only reminded him of what happened, he felt ill. He didn't want to walk. He didn't want to do anything. "I could make you something to eat! Like.. a tuna sandwich?" He forced a small smile letting her know he appreciated her effort, but food held no interest to him either.

"Are you hungry?" He asked, not feeling like cooking but if it was what she wanted he would. He pulled away enough to ease her onto her back so he could look down at her. She was the only thing bringing light into his world full of darkness. His hand reached up stroking her messy hair from her face. It always had a tendency to mess itself up overnight, but Griffin found he genuinely like that messy look of Claire in the morning. It woke something almost carnal deep down and he found her more attractive this way. Of course he had no idea what those urges really meant or how to deal with them.

"If you're hungry I can make you breakfast.. or if your hearts set on making tuna, we can have that.." He leaned down, pressing his lips lightly to hers and letting them linger there. He'd never felt like this before; like he wanted to go home when he already was. He pulled away and looked down at her again before kissing her once more, more deeply. Kissing was still so new to him, but he found he enjoyed it more and more every time he did it with Claire.

"I need you." He whispered to her lips looking like a lost puppy when he pulled away slightly, looking down into her face. "I don't want you to leave me.. The very thought makes me feel ill." He didn't want to be alone when the world was like it was, and she was the only safety net he wanted to have. "Cheyenne is welcome to come here..if she wants?" He offered, Cheyenne being the last person he felt like seeing, but his desire to keep Claire there was far stronger than his desire not to see Cheyenne. "We can order food.. anything you want. What would you like? How can I convince you?" He pleaded, having no idea what a desperate fool he sounded like. He didn't think that way. As far as Griffin was concerned he simply wanted Claire and would do whatever it took to get her to stay with him.

[CLAIRE MCLEESTER]

The way Griffin pouted was just so... so cute! She'd never thought someone could pout and look good while doing it. "Are you hungry?" Her body didn't know what it wanted these days. She didn't have much of an appetite but then she'd be starving and just want to eat a bunch of red meat. She'd be exhausted but then she'd need to run around or else she felt like she was claustrophobic. "If you're hungry I can make you breakfast.. or if your hearts set on making tuna, we can have that.." Griffin really didn't want her to leave, she could see that already and the way he kissed her only proved her right.

Griffin was usually soft with the way he kissed her, gentle and his lips were always so light brushing against hers. But there seemed to be more behind his kisses these days. A neediness maybe? As much as she enjoyed them they almost made her squirm, her knees knocking together under the sheet and her hips twisting up towards him. The animal in her desiring him in a much more intimate way than she would if she wasn't shifting every night. And the fact that there wasn't much more than a sheet separating the two of them didn't help.

"I need you." Her heart sank at those three little words and it was all he had to say to get her to stay. She laid there on her back looking up at him and reached a hand up to stroke the side of his face. "I don't want you to leave me.. The very thought makes me feel ill." He looked so sad and Claire had to admit the thought of leaving him didn't sit well with her either.

"Cheyenne is welcome to come here..if she wants?" The thought of Cheyenne coming to Griffin's was a funny one. She'd been there before, but right now with her all panicky and crazed she was afraid she'd be her typical self, come in and start screaming about shifting in front of a hot guy she was about to bang. Or something. Who knew?! "Okay, okay.." she laughed quietly and leaned up so she could give him a soft kiss, letting her lips linger before she put her head back down on the bed. "We'll stay in today. And I'll call Chey and see if she can come over here. I think she's freaking out pretty bad."

Claire just felt so bad for everyone! Herself included. She hated shifting in the first place, always wanting to just be a normal girl. And now that was pretty much shot to hell since she was shifting every night. She wished she could actually go to bed as a human and curl up against Griffin and wake up the same way. But no, she had to sleep as a damn cheetah then wake up as naked girl!

"Food can wait." Her eyes met his and she nodded her head almost as if she was trying to will him to nod along with her in agreement. Movies didn't sound like too great of an idea either at the moment. They'd watch plenty of them later on and the movies they always seemed to pick were sad ones! Everything was sad these days! She just wanted to curl under the covers and hide from the world just like Griffin but if they both did that then they'd just go into a downward spiral and she didn't know if they'd be able to climb out of it. Not with everything that's been happening. Nope, she had to be the happy one! And even if most of it was forced, she knew the only reason she was able to put on a good face was because he was there. If Griffin wasn't with her she'd probably be buried under a pile of blankets on her couch, surrounded by empty junk food containers and watching Lifetime. There was no turning back when you've watched Lifetime!

Reading wasn't going to be any better than the movies. She loved going through Griffin's journals but right now they all just made her want to get away more. And as great as that sounded, it would be hard to go anywhere with her shifting problem and Griffin's I-don't-want-to-leave-the-house thing he had going on. So what did that leave them? A part of her thought of suggesting getting frisky and her face turned red and she had to look away. Maybe they should get dressed before she thought of what to do! Laying there naked wasn't helping!

She scooted away from him just enough so that she could sit up, gathering up some of the sheet and clenching it in one hand close to her chest. She didn't care if he saw her bare back or the side of her, just as long as all her lady parts were covered she was good. Even then she wasn't sure she'd mind if he saw those either.. Stop it brain! She scolded herself internally and shook her head.

She had to find clothes. And she hadn't exactly packed to stay with him for an extended period of time so she figured he wouldn't mind if she just dipped into his dresser. "Let's get dressed first. Because.. yes. Let's just.. let's get dressed." She nodded as if that was the best plan in the whole world! She moved to the edge of the bed and took the sheet with her, wrapping it around herself and leaving him to lay there in his pajama bottoms.

With the sheet all twisted around her and dragging across the ground she moved to his dresser and started to open up the drawers, sifting through his clothes to find what she wanted to wear for now. Maybe she'd call Chey and ask her to stop by her place to pack her a bag since she didn't think she was going anywhere for a while. And a brush would be nice. It was so unlike her to not even bother to ask if she would borrow some of his things but she didn't care right now. And she had a feeling he wouldn't mind as she grabbed a pair of grey boxer briefs and shimmied into them, dropping the sheet once they were on and wrapping an arm around her chest to give herself a little bit of modesty. Not to mention she kept her back to him but she had a feeling that if he really wanted to look all he had to do was check the mirror she was standing in front of.

Next was the shirt. She pulled out a soft baby blue shirt and pulled it over her head one-handed and then threading both her arms through and pulling it down so it would cover up her paleness. For lounging around that was a good enough outfit for her! "Okay!" She scooped up the sheet and brought it back over to the bed and instead of dropping it down she toppled onto the bed, laying on top of it with her face coming close to Griffin's. "What am I going to do with you?" She teased playfully.

[GRIFFIN CARTWRIGHT]

"Okay, okay.." she laughed and pecked his lips, elating him. "We'll stay in today. And I'll call Chey and see if she can come over here. I think she's freaking out pretty bad." The threat of Cheyenne coming hardly phased him now that he knew she was staying put. He nodded lightly, agreeing to any request she made. "Food can wait." There was something almost childlike in the way he watched her, as if she were his parent. He gave a light nod letting her make the decisions, because he was just so relieved she wasn't going anywhere. If she left he would end up calling someone else to stay with him, but he didn't really want anyone else's company. He'd grown fond of curling up with her and clinging.

"Let's get dressed first. Because.. yes. Let's just.. let's get dressed." Griffin moved a little so she could pull the sheet clear from he bed and wrap it around herself. Why did she always rush to get dressed? Griffin was more than curious about her body. He loved the female form. It was soft and beautiful and Claire's curves were delicate and inviting. He wanted to explore her, but in a completely platonic way. Claire was art, and Griffin simply loved art.

He didn't bother hiding his gaze as he watched her get up, admiring her. She didn't seem to mind as much since she was changing in front of him, still hiding her most intimate spots, but it didn't stop him from watching her, absorbing it all in. He had once told her he wanted to know everything about her and memorizing every freckle on her body was part of that.

She looked surprisingly cute in his clothes. He had grown fond of seeing her in them, and it made him love his duds even more. He smiled at her when she turned back to face him, dressed. He hadn't moved form his spot to put his own clothes on. "What am I going to do with you?" She teased, smiling as she plopped on the bed with him and Griffin smiled genuinely at her and shook his head and shrugged at the same time. His eyes beamed with devotion as he sighed. "Everything." He teased back far more gently than she had.

His green eyes moved down from her face to her bare arms and then down to her toes. "Claire?" He asked softly, his eyes coming back to hers. "Are you afraid to let me see you without clothes?" Again his tone was almost childlike, trying to understand. He had little modesty, and if everyone decided that Avisailles were okay and nudity was even better, he would walk around naked everyday and think nothing of it. "If you are, you have no reason to be ashamed.. I think you're magnificent. You belong in one of Lord Frederic Leighton's paintings, hung in a gallery in Paris." His smile grew as if he was teasing her, though he meant it. "I just don't want to reason to be because you're ashamed.."

[CLAIRE MCLEESTER]

"Everything."

That one word threw her off and she wondered what exactly everything entailed. What did that mean?! Everything meant so many things! It was exciting though the more she thought about it. All the things they could do like travelling and fishing and rock climbing and sky diving and.. Claire's animal side was kicking in again and she wanted to just go run! She was going to be bouncing off the walls if they didn't do something and soon.

But before Claire could make a suggestion Griffin was talking, "Claire? Are you afraid to let me see you without clothes?" That... was not what she was expecting. "If you are, you have no reason to be ashamed.. I think you're magnificent. You belong in one of Lord Frederic Leighton's paintings, hung in a gallery in Paris. I just don't want the reason to be because you're ashamed.." Claire blinked a few times and then sat up in the bed, crossing her legs in front of her and grabbing her ankles so she could bounce a bit and keep her balance. She just had to move!

"I don't know," she shrugged awkwardly, but even her awkwardness wasn't as awkward as it was when she was her normal self. "I mean, I'm pale as a ghost and can't tan. But it's not that I'm ashamed I'm just.. not a fan." ...did she just kind of rhyme there? She looked like her own words confused her and then rolled her eyes at herself.

"I don't know." She repeated again and scrunched up her nose and heaved her shoulders up in a very long single shrug before dropping them down again. "I guess it's just that I'm okay being naked around myself most of the time. But around someone else it's just.. that's very intimate. At least to me it is, I know some people just throw their clothes off and want to flaunt their stuff to the world. But I think it's something that should be shared with someone you really really want to share it with."

When she was done talking her eyes opened a little wider as if she realized what she'd just said. Griffin was someone that she would love to be intimate with. She didn't see herself as a form of art the way that Griffin clearly did from the compliment he'd given her. Why was he so damn sweet all the time?!

"It's not just that. Right now.." her hands went up in front of her body and she looked like she was trying to grab at the air with her hands open and her fingers bent, moving them around and looking like she was about to juggle something invisible the way they moved. "..this. With what's going on, with this insane shifting thing that's going on! If I was myself right now then maybe I would be able to lay there and just be fine with that. But around the full moon.. and recently.. I just want to jump your bones like it's nobody's business." Claire fessed up to him and stared at him in awe almost like she couldn't believe the words that just came out of her mouth.

She was so much like her sister and her mother during the shifting times. It was those animal instincts, the heat and the hunger.. it was all those things that she kept bottled up deep down and didn't let out the way Cheyenne and their mother did. She didn't shift on a day to day basis, but she knew Chey enjoyed it at times and would do it just for fun. On a normal day they couldn't be further apart but when it came time to turn.. they were sisters.

"I'm sorry- that- I shouldn't-" she fumbled with words before she just decided it wasn't worth saying anything and shook her hands as if she was trying to dry them in front of her. "Gyah!"

[GRIFFIN CARTWRIGHT]

"I don't know," There were times when Claire acted her age. Sometimes it was difficult for Griffin to remember how much older he was, and he knew that had a large part to do with why he was more comfortable with things than she was. Then again, he was calmer than her by nature. "I mean, I'm pale as a ghost and can't tan. But it's not that I'm ashamed I'm just.. not a fan." Griffin frowned. That had to be the silliest reason he'd ever heard. He loved her pale skin. "I don't know." Didn't she know that paleness used to be considered quite beautiful? Pale woman had the money to lounge around. People with tans were considered lower class since they were out slaving in the sun. Then again it was the twenty first century.

"I guess it's just that I'm okay being naked around myself most of the time. But around someone else it's just.. that's very intimate. At least to me it is, I know some people just throw their clothes off and want to flaunt their stuff to the world. But I think it's something that should be shared with someone you really really want to share it with."

Griffin nodded, understanding. Intimacy was something he agreed needed to be shared with the ones you cared for, and nudity was a very intimate thing for her. She wasn't ready to move into that part of their relationship yet, and he understood. Her eyes widened and she looked like maybe she had seen a ghost. Had he done something wrong by agreeing? "It's not just that. Right now....this. With what's going on, with this insane shifting thing that's going on! If I was myself right now then maybe I would be able to lay there and just be fine with that. But around the full moon.. and recently.. I just want to jump your bones like it's nobody's business."

He gave her a curious look. Jump his bones? He searched his mind but it soon became evident exactly what she'd meant by her reaction. "I'm sorry- that- I shouldn't- Gyah!" They'd had the sex talk before, a very long time ago. He'd been waiting for someone special

"Claire.." He said it gently, not wanting to get her even more frazzled than she seemed she already was. He sat up, sitting across from her, their knees practically touching. His wings drooped low, nestled behind him in his bed. "It's all fine.." He said softly, reaching out and taking her hands, cupping them in his. "I hadn't thought much on the subject of... bone.. jumping, but that's because that's me. I'd like to do that with you. One day, when we're both ready, I want to make love to you. Didn't I say everything when you asked what you were going to do with me?" He smiled gently, wanting to ease her mind.

"Come here.." He reached out and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close onto his lap and cradling her so he could kiss her and nuzzle her. "One day you'll believe me when I tell you how remarkable you are. And I hope one day you'll want to be more intimate with me, and trust me to see you without your clothes." He kissed her again and then smiled against her lips, getting lost in how happy she made him. "And then maybe you'll feel comfortable teaching me more about this whole bone jumping business." He teased with a soft chuckle as he nuzzled the side of her face with his.

[CLAIRE MCLEESTER]

When Griffin tried to reassure her she was still flustered. And when he said that everything meant everything she felt her cheeks heating up. Why did she have to be such a freak sometimes and go all bananas? "Come here.." When Griffin pulled her into his lap she leaned against his bare chest and put one hand on it. She just wanted to touch him, running her fingers down his chest to his stomach and then stopping.

"One day you'll believe me when I tell you how remarkable you are. And I hope one day you'll want to be more intimate with me, and trust me to see you without your clothes." When he kissed her she laughed softly against his lips. She could probably just kiss him for their entire relationship and that would be perfect! "And then maybe you'll feel comfortable teaching me more about this whole bone jumping business." When he nuzzled her and chuckled she playfully tried to act like she was going to swat him away.

"Hey, no laughing!" Claire teased and started to laugh and pulled away enough so she could look at his face. "You're a goofball, you know that? Now sit up straight." She instructed and shifted her weight and moving off his lap just for a moment so that she could readjust herself and swung a leg over his lap so that she could straddle him but she didn't sit back down on his lap. She stayed up on her knees and pulled him closer until his chest was pressed against her stomach and she leaned to the side a bit so she could look over his shoulder and get a good eyeful of his wings.

Reaching over his shoulder she started to brush down some of his wings that got tousled during the night while they slept. She was careful of the feathers and stroking them in their natural direction so that she wouldn't accidentally pluck one of them. "So what are we going to do today? We could play cards in bed? Or Sorry! which is still the best game ever." She said quietly while she fixed his wings. They'd played Sorry! once and Claire had a blast. She loved that stupid game and as lame as it might have been to others for some reason it had her rolling on the floor laughing. Everyone got so mad when she knocked them back to home plate!

[GRIFFIN CARTWRIGHT]

"Hey, no laughing!" She shot back when he teased lightly, and he nuzzled her again seeing she wasn't being completely serious. "You're a goofball, you know that? Now sit up straight." She had pulled away to look into his eyes and he felt at ease for once. He did as she commanded, sitting up straighter, unsure what she was going to do, but completely fine with whatever it was.

She climbed back onto his lap facing him and his look showed his confusion. What was she doing? He looked up and over his shoulder as she seemed to be looking over his shoulder at his wings. Reaching a hand over she slowly stroked his feathers, grooming them back into place. It still felt so strange to have her touching them, but he didn't mind it. He reached his hands up and placed them on the back of her thighs, holding her there and resting his head against her hips, allowing his eyes to shut as he focused on the gentle combing of her fingers.

"So what are we going to do today? We could play cards in bed? Or Sorry! which is still the best game ever." He hadn't thought that far ahead as to what to do today with her, and he was so content feeling her fingers through the feathers that he couldn't even focus on making other plans. His hands absentmindedly ran up and down the length of her thighs, from the bottom of his boxer briefs she was wearing to the back of her knees nestled on either side of him. His lips found her shoulder again and he kissed it lightly.

"You are a master at Sorry, my dear. I would be honored to lose against you again." His tone was lighter now than it had been when he woke. It was easy to get lost in her, and the more he focused on only her, the less he focused on everything else in the world. "Cards sound like a lovely idea, too. I have some puzzles, and my guitar, and there's movies but I suppose those are best reserved for when you don't have opposable thumbs. Maybe we'll make a pot of soup.." Griffin sighed, his hands still tickling their way up and down her leg. "I'm not used to having my wings touched.. I like it. It feels nice the way you glide your fingers through the feathers; I can feel them on my wings and it feels so.. I don't know.. exciting I guess? Like it gives me chills." He stopped stroking her legs and wrapped his arms around her midsection and squeezed her tight to him. "I can get used to all of this, Claire... waking up curled beside you all day with the promise of staying put with you beside me all day..stroking me like this.. I'd like very much to bottle this feeling. You bring me so much joy, I feel so foolish for not seeing this all sooner."

[CLAIRE MCLEESTER]

"You are a master at Sorry, my dear. I would be honored to lose against you again." Claire laughed softly at this, knowing it was true. The game was based on what you rolled with the dice but she always seemed to get the best rolls in that game. That, and because she didn't get mad when she had to go back to home and start all over again.

"Cards sound like a lovely idea, too. I have some puzzles, and my guitar, and there's movies but I suppose those are best reserved for when you don't have opposable thumbs. Maybe we'll make a pot of soup.." She heard the sigh and shuddered from a surge of chills she got from his hands sliding over her legs.

"I'm not used to having my wings touched.. I like it. It feels nice the way you glide your fingers through the feathers; I can feel them on my wings and it feels so.. I don't know.. exciting I guess? Like it gives me chills." "Well good, because I like doing it." She said and smiled to herself then felt his arms wrapping around her tightly. "I can get used to all of this, Claire... waking up curled beside you all day with the promise of staying put with you besides me all day..stroking me like this.. I'd like very much to bottle this feeling. You bring me so much joy, I feel so foolish for not seeing this all sooner."

Claire didn't know how she found someone so perfect. And that was exactly what Griffin was.. he was perfect! In a way it was a little intimidating because she knew she was anything but. She was a hot mess most of the time. But he seemed to like it when she was a hot mess and complimented her on it all the time. So if it was good enough for him then it was good enough for her! She didn't think he'd actually want to just stay in bed all the time though, and had a feeling that was mostly because he was just feeling down because of everything that had happened.

"I think the timing was just right to be honest," Claire told him and she stopped grooming him for a moment so she could hug his face to her body, running her fingers through his blonde hair. They were a pair alright. "And it would be even better if I didn't have to shift every night. Oh! I have to call Chey! Or maybe I'll just text her." Her phone was on the nightstand, she'd put it there the day before and now she needed it. She grabbed Griffin's shoulder and leaned towards the nightstand, not wanting to actually get up and get it but just lean instead. It took a few long reaches and some grunting but she grabbed her phone off the table and used Griffin's shoulder to pull her back up so she wouldn't fall over.

"Let me just text her and have her come over later. She just needs someone to yell at and then she'll feel better and be on her way." Claire really wanted to talk to her sister too though.. she hadn't seen her in a few days and with how things were she just wanted to be sure that Chey was alright.

When she finished typing out and sending the text message she dropped her phone onto the bed and leaned down to give Griffin a soft peck on the lips. "I really like the time we spend together too. My favorite part of the day has been coming to work to see you for the last year.." she admitted and rolled her shoulders in a playful shrug.

[GRIFFIN CARTWRIGHT]

"I think the timing was just right to be honest," He turned his head a little when she stopped touching his wings and leaned into her gentle embrace. It felt nice too have his head cradled in her arms, her fingers dancing through his hair instead. Claire ignited him in ways he didn't even understand and he sighed contently at her gentle caress. He had to agree the timing was just right. He was ready for something like this in his life, and he supposed Claire was, too.

"And it would be even better if I didn't have to shift every night." It would.. he would like to be able to tangle himself with Claire before sleep as well as when he woke up. "Oh! I have to call Chey! Or maybe I'll just text her." He tried not to show his contempt for her having to bring her sister into it, but he knew he was being selfish and he didn't want to be selfish with Claire. They hadn't even been a true couple for all that long. He chuckled as she reached for her phone, finally leaning a little to the side so she could grab it easier. He didn't like the idea of Cheyenne yelling, but he supposed he could excuse himself for a bit while she was here. He could use a shower and he would also need to preen the feathers some. He hoped that would help keep them healthy so they would stop falling out, not that they were falling out much. Yet. That would be a good activity for him to do while Claire and Chey had some gripe time.

He sat patiently as she texted, hearing her fingers move rapidly over the cellphone's buttons. His hands remained up on her hips, holding them lightly in place as trying not to touch them too much. He wanted to run his fingers under her shirt, to feel her soft skin in all the places that she didn't want him to see, but he didn't want to push her. He knew she wasn't ready for that, and he couldn't even fathom what sort of feelings it would stir up in her. Griffin certainly wasn't ready to jump on that train; the train he didn't even fully know existed.

When she was finished she dropped the phone and he smiled as her lips came to his. "I really like the time we spend together too. My favorite part of the day has been coming to work to see you for the last year.." It was something she wouldn't have admitted normally, but Claire had been very bold since she began shifting every night.

"That's been my favorite part of the day, too." He told her honestly, smiling. "I've always enjoyed the museum, but having you there has always made it better." He admitted, grabbing her hips and pulling them down so her face could be level with his again. He gazed into her eyes, then looked over the splatter of freckles on her pale face. He simply admired for a moment before kissing her again, the hand on her left hip dragging up to cradle her face just under her jaw, his thumb gliding over neck. He kissed her deeply, his other hand wrapping around her torso to keep her close. Did she have any idea how deeply he cared for her? It was an entire year of building up until he finally realized this was what he had needed all along. He'd needed her. The thought of kissing her all day was a nice one, but he couldn't be sure it was what Claire wanted. Before it could get too heated he pulled away a little, his nose still nuzzling hers. "Hey, know what we should do today?" He started with a smile, pecking her lips again before he continues. "We should start planning our first adventure. Where can I take you first, Claire?" The hand that had been cradling her face ran through her messy hair as he smiled at her excited for the idea of getting away from there. They probably couldn't leave until the darkness was over since they were Guardians and their posts were there at the city, but as soon as this was all over with he saw no reason not to get away for a bit. It would be very well deserved.

[CLAIRE MCLEESTER]

"That's been my favorite part of the day, too." Well she was certainly glad to hear that! "I've always enjoyed the museum, but having you there has always made it better." When Griffin pulled Claire's hips down she had no choice but to sit on his lap and looked right at him. She expected him to say something but he was just looking at her and gave him a look as if to say 'what's going on' but stayed quiet. Then he was kissing her. She wasn't used to getting kissed so much but she wasn't about to complain! She shut her eyes and rested her hands on his bare shoulders. They were so firm! He didn't peg her as the type of guy who worked out, but he was very active. And he was always moving things around the museum so she figured that was probably how he stayed in such good shape.

The more Griffin kissed her the more she just wanted to text her sister back and tell her nevermind, that she was busy. When Griffin pulled away and nuzzled her nose she wiggled it at him playfully. "Hey, know what we should do today?" She let out a gasp, her eyes going wide and acting like he just told her something amazingly exciting, "what should we do today?" she asked, enthused in her usual quirky way. "We should start planning our first adventure. Where can I take you first, Claire?" Now that could be a great idea! It would distract them both enough from the crazy stuff that was going on around them and it would give them something to look forward to. She grinned at him, nodding her head. "Yes! That's a GREAT idea!" She praised him and then rolled off of his lap and off the bed onto her feet. She knew he had a trunk in his room and she was going to go through it! It would help her think of where she wanted to go.

When Claire got to the trunk she propped it open and started to sift through his stuff, trying to look for anything that looked familiarish.. something that she could look at and know exactly where it was from. She found some fabric that was against the side and pulled it out to see that it was big and.. she had no idea what it was actually for. A drape? She didn't know! But the brown and purple bird pattern on it was interesting and it made her think that maybe it was from somewhere in Africa. It was Indonesian, but she didn't know that! "Uh.. we can go to Africa!" She draped the fabric over her head like a scarf or a bonnet and held the corners down near her chin, showing him and even doing a little skip around the room. "Yeah, and then I can run with the cheetas! HA! And you can ride an elephant! How cool is that?!"

[GRIFFIN CARTWRIGHT]

"Yes! That's a GREAT idea!" Griffin loved her enthusiasm and it made him feel even better. This was exactly why he didn't want her to leave him. She was the only sunlight in his life and if she left he feared he would be cast in complete darkness, which bothered him. He watched her roll of the bed, admiring the graceful way her body moved and found she was very cat like in her movements. When she wasn't a klutz she came off as limber and delicate, moving with the ease of a wild creature which again stirred those odd feelings in him that he couldn't place.

When she pulled open his trunk he scooted to the edge of the bed, his legs dangling off the sides as he held the edge with his hands, watching to see what she would pull out. What in there would excite her? She pulled out the batik he'd gotten from Indonesia and placed it on her head like a scarf. "Uh.. we can go to Africa!" Africa? He tried not to laugh at her, but she looked so cute as she started to hop around the room draped in the batik. "Yeah, and then I can run with the cheetas! HA! And you can ride an elephant! How cool is that?!"

"Very cool." He agreed with a nod unable to pull the smile from his face. "But that's a batik, Claire. It's from Indonesia, not Africa... but they make vibrantly colored fabrics in Africa as well. We'll dress in dashiki's and kanga's and dance to drums, live in a hut.." He could hardly keep the excitement from his eyes. Riding an elephant would truly be magnificent and for Claire to truly feel what it's like to run with animals like herself would be beautiful.

"Is that where you would like to go first?" He asked with genuine curiosity. If that was the case they could plan their route now and figure out all the small details later. Africa was an enormous continent with many countries and wonders hidden within. "Africa? Morocco is a wonderful country to visit there... and Kenya? Tanzania was amazing! You would love it, Claire.."

[CLAIRE MCLEESTER]

"Very cool." She liked that Griffin was sitting at the edge of the bed and watching her. "But that's a batik, Claire. It's from Indonesia, not Africa... but they make vibrantly colored fabrics in Africa as well. We'll dress in dashiki's and kanga's and dance to drums, live in a hut.." Well apparently Claire was wrong about the origin of the fabric and was probably wearing it wrong but she didn't want to be right! She could care less about how it was suppose to be worn at the moment, she just wanted to make him smile.

"Is that where you would like to go first?" She looked up to the ceiling as if she were deep in thought and then her eyes fell back on him and she nodded enthusiastically. "Mmhm!" "Africa? Morocco is a wonderful country to visit there... and Kenya? Tanzania was amazing! You would love it, Claire.." "I would love anywhere you took me, sailor." She teased him and brought her made up scarf over to drape around Griffin's neck and still holding onto it she tugged him close so she could plant a playful kiss on his lips.

"What else do you have in here?" The girl went back to the trunk and rummaged through it some more. He had so many things packed in there so neatly and there she was pulling them out and making a mess on the floor. She found all sorts of souvenirs and gadgets from all over the world. Somewhere close to the bottom she even found a fake grass skirt that she could only imagine he'd gotten from Hawaii. Or maybe somewhere else. She didn't know, but she was pulling it out and putting it around her hips in no time.

It took her a little while but eventually Claire had anything that she could possibly wear on. Anything that was either a hat or fabric, a pin.. anything! She found somewhere to put them on her body, and even had some braided rope wrapped around her arm. When she was content with her radically awesome new look she hopped up on the bed and stood there towering over him with her hands on her hips. "I am Awesome.. Possum.. Cultural Girl! Okay so my super hero name kind of sucks and I look ridiculous but still kind of awesome at the same time." She shrugged and laughed at herself.

She started to bounce a little on the mattress and shook her hips and moved her arms from side to side like she was trying to do a hula dance in all her garb. It was weird. It was funny. It was awesome. "We should go to Africa first. Most definitely. All the places you listed, and Cairo." She let out a loud, exaggerated gasp. "We should go now. Like, not now now but this week now! We could just run away. From everything! Though that might be a little irresponsible.." She stopped dancing like a tard and looked like she was seriously debating. She couldn't just leave like that but man did she wish she could!

[GRIFFIN CARTWRIGHT]

Griffin felt so young as he watched Claire bounce around. She had so much energy, and though he was feeling lethargic he couldn't help but feel like her happiness was rubbing off on him. He couldn't stop smiling at her and laughing as she acted like a goof in his bedroom. As much as he enjoyed watching her, her behavior made him ache to kiss her again which was strange because he was so content watching her jump around like a lunatic!

She looked silly in the grass skirt and he shook his head at her. Soon she was hardly recognizable under all his souvenirs from his travels around the world. He watched her jump onto the bed, his head turning upwards to get a better look at her. He was amused but also felt his heart melting.

"I am Awesome.. Possum.. Cultural Girl! Okay so my super hero name kind of sucks and I look ridiculous but still kind of awesome at the same time." She shrugged and laughed at herself. He tried to look serious and not. "No, I think Awesome Possum Culture Girl is an excellent name and suits you well." He nodded, the corners of his lips betraying him as they curved upwards unable to contain himself. Her bouncing made him move a little as he sat on the bed, stuck in a fit of soft laughter as she did a poor hula dance. There was no denying he loved being with this girl. He got up and moved to the trunk and fished out a ukulele. "We should go to Africa first. Most definitely. All the places you listed, and Cairo." He nodded, moving back to the bed with his silly grin as he sat back down, this time putting his feet back up and sitting against the headboard so he could look up at her, his feet crossing at the ankles. She gasped and he raised an amused brow. "We should go now. Like, not now now but this week now! We could just run away. From everything! Though that might be a little irresponsible.."

He liked that idea... A lot. His fingers strummed over the tiny guitar as he looked up at the girl he adored and nodded, his eyes bright and wide with wonder and adoration. "We should." He agreed, his voice kind and content as he continued to nod. "Yes. Yes, we can put a rush on your passport and you can make sure it's okay with your leader and.. we'll just go! Let's just go!" He had never done anything so spontaneous and he began strumming on the ukulele until it had an actual tune to it. There was a longing in his eyes as he kept strumming, his eyes intent on her and all her goofiness and he laughed again. "We'll book our flights today.. draw out a map, make a plan. We'll order whatever supplies we need and put a rush on it. We can be out of here in five days, tops." His grin only broadened as the words he spoke almost went with the tune of the song in a bluesy kind of way.

"If you're more interested in site seeing we should stay north; Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Morocco.. if you're more for a walk on the wild side then Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Uganda and Senegal are what we should do." He nodded, knowing they wouldn't have time to do both.

He sat up and watched her in her silly get up and kept strumming his little tune. "Don't stop dancing.." He pleaded playfully. "Do you wanna hear a song? Here, I'll play a song and you dance. I can't really sing. I have to sing goofy." He warned, still grinning up at her, unable to pull his eyes away.