A vow of love

25.Prologue

"Happy birthday Damien, look dad, where's dad?" Claire pointed at Shane, who was holding a camera aimed at his son, who was clutching Claire's fingers and taking shaky, uncertain steps, grinning with his two front teeth. "That's right, champ, come to dad" Shane removed the camera, crouched down, left it in the grass next to him and held out his hands to his son.

"I can't believe he's already a year old" Shane picked Damian up and threw him high in the air, his son burst out laughing and mumbled something in his baby language, grabbing his father's ears as Shane grabbed him and held him to his chest. "I know, he's growing so fast" Claire smiled and Shane moved Damian into one of his arms, reaching for her.

Claire curled under his arm, wrapping hers around his waist and tickling Damien's belly, making their son laugh again. Shane leaned down and kissed her forehead. "I love you,my love" after the incident with Stefan, he had stopped calling Claire 'princess'. Stefan had managed to shake up their relationship, the fact that Shane hadn't denied a word he said had made Claire back away and even ask for a divorce.

Shane hadn't just refused, he'd begged, he'd gotten down on his knees, he'd agreed to her every condition, just to get another chance. One last chance. Claire had spent several months in the maisonette at the Royal, refusing to live with him and Shane had given her the space she needed, using that time to act like he should have been earlier. He had taken her out on dates, pampered her, given her gifts, and taken her and Damian out for walks.

Claire was still slightly distant, but at least she was back in the mansion and in his bed. "Do you feel nauseous?" Claire shook her head and made a face at Damien, who waved a hand, trying to grab her nose. "Do you want to sit down?" he asked again, his hand sliding around her stomach. "We're both fine" Claire smiled and looked up at Shane, who couldn't help but lean in to kiss her gently and long.

Claire was eight weeks pregnant and claimed it would be a girl. After everything they had been through, he had learned to cherish every moment he shared with his family. The council had asked Claire to defend her title, Shane had refused to put her through it and she had agreed to give it up, something that had never happened before, trying to forget that it meant a few more girls had to go through the same thing as her to become Queen.

"Can I have my grandson back?" Derek came over and held out his arms, and Damien almost flew towards him. "We're not getting it back any time soon" Claire sighed, looking after her father-in-law and her son. "No, we don't, but you have me" she raised her eyebrows and rolled her eyes. "Like hundreds of other women" she sighed and broke away from him, walking towards the table they had prepared to celebrate Damien's birthday.

"I'm not going to get away with it, am I?" he held her chair and when she sat down, he sat down on the grass next to her chair and rested his head on her knee, looking at her like an abandoned puppy. "No, you won't" she breathed and patted his forehead. Shane sighed, bringing his knees up to his chest and resting his elbows on them, closing his eyes. "Will you ever forgive me?" he asked softly and heard her exhale sharply. "I don't know Shane, to hear that everything you ever said to me, all your promises were just part of a game" he opened his eyes and looked at her, Claire was looking somewhere ahead, her expression was sad and his heart sank knowing that he was the cause of her pain.

Over the past year she had tried to forget, she had tried to trust him again, she carried his child under her heart, and Damien adored his father, but she still couldn't bring herself to tell him she loved him again. And every time he told her, she remembered Stefan's words and it seemed to keep the gap between them open. "I don't know how to get over it, Shane" she admitted bluntly and he sighed, reaching up and caressing her jawline with his knuckles.

"I know it's hard for you, my love, and I appreciate you giving me a chance to prove to you that every word I've said to you, every vow and promise, comes directly from my heart, Claire" she looked down and tried to smile, but her eyes were brimming with tears. Shane turned around, got on his knees and cupped her face. "Never in my life did I imagine I could hold and love something so strongly, Claire" he brought her face down and rested his forehead against hers, sinking into the blue lakes of her gaze.

"I was a fool and I will pay any price you put on me but that doesn't change the fact that the world doesn't end with one love Claire. But you are my world, you three are my world and love ends with you my love" he gently pecked her lips. "Even if it takes my whole life, one day I will hear you say you love me again" his voice was heavy with love and tenderness, with warmth and endless need. "Punish me, kill me if you want, but it won't change my feelings, my love, I love you" he whispered and Claire sobbed, biting her lip.

"I'm sorry...I can't" she sniffled and he shook his head, smiling. "Look at your mother, little one" he pulled back slightly and placed a hand on her stomach. "Can you help me get her back?" he leaned down and kissed her belly and Claire laughed softly. "It's cheating" she muttered and Shane looked up, shrugging. "It is, but I would do anything to have you back and see your beautiful smile everyday,my love" a tear rolled down her cheek and Shane reached up and wiped the tear away and caressed her lips.

"But I can wait,Claire,as long as it takes, I'll give and do whatever it takes to hear you say that again" Claire took a deep breath and looked into his eyes. The gray abysses that made her heart beat like the wings of a hummingbird, the warmth that seemed to keep her under control, making everything seem so simple and insurmountable. Shane was also her world, her family, the father of her children, and over the past year, he was doing his best to make her forget what happened.

Shane had never lied to her, never broken a single promise. And even though everything that happened to them was because of his reckless actions during their engagement, he was a wonderful husband, devoted and faithful, always by her side, always supporting and protecting her, always sheltering her behind his broad strong back, ready to take any blow for her and their children.

And Claire realized that her inability to tell him she loved him again wasn't because she didn't think or feel it, but because she was afraid that at some point it might all turn out to be a game again and he would hurt her more than Stefan's words had hurt her. Her gaze flicked to Derek, who was playing with Damian on a blanket, spinning a plastic airplane in the air and making funny buzzing noises.

Maybe it was time to forgive him, maybe she should accept the realization that everyone has a past and the right to make mistakes as well as forgiveness. During their marriage, the two revealed many secrets, experienced many lows, but also reached many heights. Shane didn't give up on her and showed really enviable patience, showering her and Damien with attention. Her heart melted when he lay next to her at night and talked on her belly, read stories to Damien, sitting in her rocking chair in his room, holding their son on his chest, or just holding her as they watched the stars from their bedroom terrace.

And though she didn't force herself to tell him, though Claire had long since begun to trust him again, if only with one mind, she believed him as well as every word he said. And maybe today, the day their son was born, the day he made her a mother, standing between her legs, ready to do anything to help her give birth to their son, was the time she had to make an effort and take her assigned place.

"You better not forget that promise Shane, because otherwise this will really be the last time I tell you I love you" a stone fell from her shoulders and she smiled widely and Shane jumped to his feet and hugged her hard, burying his face in her neck. "Tell me I'm not hallucinating, Claire, tell me I heard what I heard!" Claire wrapped her arms around him, his body shook and he sobbed and she smiled.

"I love you" she repeated, this time the words seemed to slip from her lips more easily. "I love you" she repeated again and he grabbed her and spun her in the air around him. "I love you Claire, God I love you more than you can imagine, my love!" Claire laughed and when he let her step onto solid ground again, his lips covered hers hungrily and hard.