true_writers Prompt 24.A.5 [Quote]
5. Give a little love to a child, and you get a great deal back. - John Ruskin, The Crown of Wild Olive, 1866
Claire had meant to keep her promise to Molly earlier but life had gotten in the way, distracting her from everything as she tried to deal with what Peter had told her and with the realization that Sylar was related to her. That the man, who had once tried to kill her and Peter twice, was actually her uncle. She had gone for coffee with him and surprisingly enough, it had been a rather mature and easy going conversation. There had been a few tense moments but she also found moments where she identified with him, moments where she realized they actually had some things in common. But dealing with real life made it hard to do other things but finally she made the time to take Molly out.
To say she was fond of Molly was putting it mildly, she really did view the younger girl like a little sister. There was a lot that they shared in common as well, the fact that they had both seen too much for their age though Molly had seen far worse as far as Claire thought. The girl was lucky though, she had two men who loved and adored her, as well as others who wanted to look after her. Like Claire, she had already decided that she would do anything to protect Molly and she took such decisions very seriously.
Standing outside the apartment and waiting, Claire had already talked to Matt and told him that she wanted to take Molly shopping for a little bit. So she was just waiting for the girl to get home from school, smiling as she leaned back against the wall beside the door and listening for the click of Molly's shoes against the stairs. When she heard someone bounding up the stairs, she pushed away from the wall and smiled as Molly came into view.
"Claire!" Came the excited squeal as Molly spotted the blond, her eyes lighting up as she flew forward.
"Hey Molly." Claire smiled warmly, "I just talked to Matt, he said it was okay if you wanted to go shopping now."
"Really? Okay! Let me put my bag inside!" Molly ran to the door, flinging it open and rushing inside. Claire laughed a little, stepping into the doorway as she watched Molly drop her bag and launch herself at Matt for a hug. Claire felt a little pang, recognizing and remembering all the times that she had been that happy to see her dad. It made her throat close a little as she watched Matt kiss Molly's forehead before setting her down. Claire waved at Matt as Molly hurried towards her, "I'm ready!"
"Let's go then." Claire nodded, walking out into the hallway and towards the stairs. She had borrowed a friend's car since she didn't have her own since moving to New York and she didn't want to drag Molly around on the bus, not when they were shopping. Unlocking the doors, she slid into the driver's seat and waited for Molly to get in before making sure they both put on their seatbelts, then she pulled away from the curb after starting the engine.
It was a fun afternoon, more fun than Claire had thought it would be. She loved it every time Molly's eyes lit up about something, every time she got excited about a gift idea or whatever they were talking about. Claire's cheeks were aching a little from smiling so much as she carried a couple bags, laughing as she made her strides a little longer just to keep up with Molly. It was amazing how much energy Molly had and how fast she could move despite having shorter legs. Once they had quite a few bags, Claire motioned for them to enter a small restaurant and they found a table. Dumping their stuff into the booth seats next to them, both girls took their seats and Claire smiled, "So, milkshakes?"
"Yes!" Molly beamed, bouncing a little as she peeled off her jacket. It was no surprise that Claire ordered a chocolate milkshake, she never drank regular milk or vanilla milkshakes, not since she was little. Molly ordered a chocolate milkshake as well and managed to coerce Claire into letting her get a big one, "Fine, as long as we keep it between us." The blond laughed and then ordered a large plate of fries in the hopes that it would balance things out. She wasn't sure if that was true but it was a good attempt, right?
Somewhere in the middle of drinking their milkshakes and snacking on fries, Claire grabbed one of the bags, "Okay, so I got you something. It's not your present for Christmas but I thought we could get you started early." Reaching into the bag, she pulled out a gray teddy bear that had "Me to You" stitched on one foot. It was soft and cuddly, she thought it was perfect and obviously Molly did too as she nearly bounced right over the table.
"Oh Claire, thank you!" Molly took the bear, clutching it tightly against her and Claire felt a little tug on her heart strings. Especially when Molly slid out of her seat and rushed around to Claire's side to hug her. Claire held on for a moment, smiling as Molly babbled her thank-you's over and over.
It was in that moment Claire became more determined not to let the future that Peter saw happen and it was also the moment that she was sure that everything was going to be okay in the end.
wc: 953
(Molly is humanmapquest and used with permission of her mun!)
Claire had meant to keep her promise to Molly earlier but life had gotten in the way, distracting her from everything as she tried to deal with what Peter had told her and with the realization that Sylar was related to her. That the man, who had once tried to kill her and Peter twice, was actually her uncle. She had gone for coffee with him and surprisingly enough, it had been a rather mature and easy going conversation. There had been a few tense moments but she also found moments where she identified with him, moments where she realized they actually had some things in common. But dealing with real life made it hard to do other things but finally she made the time to take Molly out.
To say she was fond of Molly was putting it mildly, she really did view the younger girl like a little sister. There was a lot that they shared in common as well, the fact that they had both seen too much for their age though Molly had seen far worse as far as Claire thought. The girl was lucky though, she had two men who loved and adored her, as well as others who wanted to look after her. Like Claire, she had already decided that she would do anything to protect Molly and she took such decisions very seriously.
Standing outside the apartment and waiting, Claire had already talked to Matt and told him that she wanted to take Molly shopping for a little bit. So she was just waiting for the girl to get home from school, smiling as she leaned back against the wall beside the door and listening for the click of Molly's shoes against the stairs. When she heard someone bounding up the stairs, she pushed away from the wall and smiled as Molly came into view.
"Claire!" Came the excited squeal as Molly spotted the blond, her eyes lighting up as she flew forward.
"Hey Molly." Claire smiled warmly, "I just talked to Matt, he said it was okay if you wanted to go shopping now."
"Really? Okay! Let me put my bag inside!" Molly ran to the door, flinging it open and rushing inside. Claire laughed a little, stepping into the doorway as she watched Molly drop her bag and launch herself at Matt for a hug. Claire felt a little pang, recognizing and remembering all the times that she had been that happy to see her dad. It made her throat close a little as she watched Matt kiss Molly's forehead before setting her down. Claire waved at Matt as Molly hurried towards her, "I'm ready!"
"Let's go then." Claire nodded, walking out into the hallway and towards the stairs. She had borrowed a friend's car since she didn't have her own since moving to New York and she didn't want to drag Molly around on the bus, not when they were shopping. Unlocking the doors, she slid into the driver's seat and waited for Molly to get in before making sure they both put on their seatbelts, then she pulled away from the curb after starting the engine.
It was a fun afternoon, more fun than Claire had thought it would be. She loved it every time Molly's eyes lit up about something, every time she got excited about a gift idea or whatever they were talking about. Claire's cheeks were aching a little from smiling so much as she carried a couple bags, laughing as she made her strides a little longer just to keep up with Molly. It was amazing how much energy Molly had and how fast she could move despite having shorter legs. Once they had quite a few bags, Claire motioned for them to enter a small restaurant and they found a table. Dumping their stuff into the booth seats next to them, both girls took their seats and Claire smiled, "So, milkshakes?"
"Yes!" Molly beamed, bouncing a little as she peeled off her jacket. It was no surprise that Claire ordered a chocolate milkshake, she never drank regular milk or vanilla milkshakes, not since she was little. Molly ordered a chocolate milkshake as well and managed to coerce Claire into letting her get a big one, "Fine, as long as we keep it between us." The blond laughed and then ordered a large plate of fries in the hopes that it would balance things out. She wasn't sure if that was true but it was a good attempt, right?
Somewhere in the middle of drinking their milkshakes and snacking on fries, Claire grabbed one of the bags, "Okay, so I got you something. It's not your present for Christmas but I thought we could get you started early." Reaching into the bag, she pulled out a gray teddy bear that had "Me to You" stitched on one foot. It was soft and cuddly, she thought it was perfect and obviously Molly did too as she nearly bounced right over the table.
"Oh Claire, thank you!" Molly took the bear, clutching it tightly against her and Claire felt a little tug on her heart strings. Especially when Molly slid out of her seat and rushed around to Claire's side to hug her. Claire held on for a moment, smiling as Molly babbled her thank-you's over and over.
It was in that moment Claire became more determined not to let the future that Peter saw happen and it was also the moment that she was sure that everything was going to be okay in the end.
wc: 953
(Molly is humanmapquest and used with permission of her mun!)