She Came Between Them. (Norman Reedus & Sean Patrick Flanery)

Chapter Nine

Sean held Claire for what felt like eternity, although she had wanted to be in his arms since the day she found out he had died, she had since fallen in love with Norman and could not stop thinking about him in all this. "Lets get home. Where is Norman?" Sean asked breaking the hug. Trying to hide her guilt she felt was showing, she gave him a smile and pointed to the door to leave. Finding Norman on the other side with his head in his hands Sean pulled him into a hug "baby brother!" He sighed in disbelief at seeing in Norman. Claire couldnt avoid eye contact with Norman during their hug. It was awkward eye contact.

"Aah i tell you this, it feels so good to be home" Sean beamed in the car on the way home, Claire kept catching eyes with Norman through the rear view mirror. Sean pulling her onto his shoulder in the back seat. He could sense Claire was tensed up. "I know this must be strange for you kitten, and im so sorry you thought i was dead. I cant imagine what that was like for you...for both of you" Sean said stroking Claire's arms. He called her kitten, Her favourite pet name from
Him. Her stomach was in knots. "Here we are" Norman said nervously as he pulled onto the driveway. "Still looks the same" Sean said letting out a small laugh, "feels weird man. Didnt think id see it again" he mentioned shaking his head.

As they got inside Sean looked at the changes in disbelief "it was too much...without you" Claire explained tears rolling down her cheeks. Sean nodded, he understood her reasons "i dont think i could stay here if it was you" he replied. "Come sit down" Claire said motioning to the living room, Sean sat down as Norman chewed his thumb in the doorway "catch me up on the NFL then brother!" Sean teased sinking into the sofa. "Ill make us some drinks" Claire exclaimed heading for the kitchen. Exhaling and holding onto her stomach as she entered the kitchen and leant on the work top. Norman coming in made her jump "you ok?" He whispered, Claire shot a look behind him looking for Sean "he is jumping in the shower quick" Norman said "what the fuck do we do? He doesnt know about us..he doesnt know you live here? What sort of person does that make me?" She cried.

"Claire Bear! Where are the towels?" She heard Sean call down to her from upstairs. Squeezing Norman's hand she left him and went up to Sean. Seeing his naked body made her mouth open as she shyly handed him the towel. "I keep them in here now" she said trying not to look at him. "Norm shower here from time to time then?" Sean asked pointing to the shower gel on the side. "Er yea!" Claire quickly answered. "Good to hear he has been looking after my girl" Sean smiled pulling Claire into a kiss. She couldnt help put her hands on his wet chest and feel his body. "What did..what did they do to you?" Claire asked pulling away from Sean "thats a conversation for another day kitten" Sean said looking down at the ground shaking the water from his hair. "Ill be down soon" he added kissing her on the cheek.

Going back downstairs Claire found Norman on the sofa looking upset. "Im going to go stay in a motel tonight...we cant tell him about us yet and we certainly cant tell him i live here...in your bed" Norman sighed reaching for his keys. Trying to stop him Claire held his arm and whispered quietly "no! You cant, please dont leave" "we cant drop this on him now Claire" Norman replied, Claire could feel her heart crack into a million pieces. She was so torn.

"Tell Sean ill be back in the morning" Norman said kissing Claire secretly in the doorway. Claire watched him leave and felt herself pine for him. This wasnt supposed to happen, her and Norman had plans for their future, but then so did her and Sean at one point. Heading back upstairs she found Sean in the bedroom looking for clothes "you changed it round in here too? You did keep yourself busy!" Sean joked filtering through her clothes "didnt take you long to fill your stuff in my side" he teased, not concentrating and finding Sean edging ever so closer to Norman's side of the closet she had to stop him. "I put your stuff in the attic." She replied quickly shutting the closer door in front of Sean. "I have this t shirt and your old sweats in there" Claire pointed to the bottom draw she could feel beads of nervous sweat forming on her hands. "Its okay darling, you thought i was dead. We are all going to have to get used to this" Sean explained affectionately. God he was so understanding and sympathetic to her and he was the one who had been through it "i know" she whispered sitting on the bed.

"Sean, i have to talk to you" Claire began as Sean got dressed in the clothes she set out for him "whats that kitten?" He asked sitting next to her. "I thought you were dead....i buried you...i cried for you night after night" Claire said wiping tears from her eyes, "i had to change the house to try and get over you..." She added Sean pulled her to lean on his shoulder "im back now baby, you dont have to cry anymore" Sean told her wiping the tears from her eyes as he turned her head to face him. Claire couldnt look at him, pushing herself off him she stood up and paced the room "no you dont understand" she began explaining but stopped herself. "What are you trying to tell me?" Sean asked with seriousness he could sense something was up. Shaking his head and letting a small laugh out "there is someone else isnt there?" He asked smiling with disbelief. Claire didnt respond instead she looked at him, her face said it all, she didnt need to answer "who is it?" Sean asked choked. "Baby, you thought i was dead, i cant be mad can i?" He asked being supportive considering what he was finding out. Claire shook her head and walked out the room and downstairs.

Following her downstairs Sean looked around the living room, he smiled sadly at his and Claire's wedding photo, she still had it on display. Taking Claire's arm to get her to look at him he asked bluntly "Its Norman isnt it?"