Runaway Slave

Alexander

A/N: I know I usually do an author's note at the end of the chapter, but this time I wanted to tell readers that this chapter isn't going to be from Claire's point of view but Alexanders. Hence the title being: Alexander, it is done this way on purpose. Enjoy :)

He wakes up from his sleep a little bit later than usual to notice the beautiful woman, he bought almost a month ago wasn't there. In a panic, he throws on some clothes going into town looking for her. He knew he couldn't announce her as anything but his slave because of stupid laws. He never saw slaves as anything but people that needed free. He wasn't part of the underground railroad but knew he could help by buying them and just setting them free. Finding it a lot safer than just helping them escape because that meant they could be brought back to the place they called home where they could be whipped, beaten and sometimes killed. If Claire got caught...there is no telling what could have happened to her. They could mistake her for any number of female slaves then sold back to her old master.

He didn't know what happened to her but knew it wasn't good, any time he went to hug her she would get extremely tense and not move. Just yesterday, she hugged him before shying away feeling like that wasn't okay to do so. He wanted so bad to tug her in for a hug but didn't want to frighten her. So, didn't hug her back he took the couch as to not frighten her as well. He wanted her to feel comfortable, to feel there was a safe place to go if things got to overwhelming. Things have gotten worse, which is why he couldn't let her go. He didn't even look at the note she left or notice the photo was gone. He put on some shoes, grabbed the cabin keys, and got on a horse. He wandered every street corner looking for any sign of her every inch of the city looking into the darkest corners first then in the woods leading out into the outskirts of town. He stops to give his horse some water when he hears chains, he runs over to some slavesellers and recognizes them as soon as he sees them.

"Hey! Wait!" calls Alexander.

They stop confused then put on fake smiles as they see him approaching.

"Ah! Our best customer buying another one so soon?" asks the main one.

"No, did you take my slave don't lie to me I can run your name into the mud!" says Alexander, angrily.

"No sir, we just ran out of time to sell more slaves, we didn't see anyone with her. We told you to keep heavy chains on her! She's a troublemaker, we will keep an eye out for her," says the main one.

"...Thanks.." Alexander says, sourly.

"I'm sure she will turn up, call for one of those slave hunters they will find her," says the main one.

Alexander turns three shades of pale as he runs off getting on his horse after thanking the gentlemen. He goes looking for the slave hunters wondering where they could be hoping not a single one of them has Claire. He would hate to punish her right then and there and undo all the process he has done so far. He wants her trust knowing that alone will be long from gone if he punishes her. He didn't see a reason to punish her for this, she could have gotten frightened for a number of reasons. That doesn't matter what matters is that she is safe that is all that matters at this moment. After looking around the outskirts of town he goes inside of town looking for anyone that has any information on Claire. He looks into every shop coming up empty handed he goes back to his cabin to get hit with a tree branch.

"Who are you?!" calls a familiar voice.

"C-claire?" asks Alexander.

He gets hit hard this time with a scream coming for the same voice.

"How do you know my name?!" asks Claire.

"It's me Alexander! Please stop hitting me," says Alexander.

"Alexander? Where did you go, I have been looking everywhere for you," says Claire.

"I was looking for you, where were you?" asks Alexander.

"I was getting something fixed for you, come back home well...your old home and the door is locked..I stayed here waiting for you to -" starts Claire.

Alexander hugs her close not caring what she was talking about just glad that she wasn't dead.

"I don't care, I am just glad that you are alive," says Alexander.

This shocks Claire, what shocks Alexander is that she lifts her arms up and hugs him back. The two of them just stay there for a minute enjoying this moment before he feels Claire let go then he lets go to respect her wishes of not wanting to be hugged anymore.

"I'm sorry, what were you getting me?" asks Alexander.

She takes out the newly framed photo, he looks at it in shock.

"You fixed it.."

"I'm sorry if I crossed any lines, it just looked so sad..but you said this was your favorite place..I just found this photo and decided to fix it for you..."

"Thank you so much, I love it. *sigh* That is enough adventure for one day, let's go home."

Alexander and Claire gets their stuff even the photo she went to all the trouble to have fixed. They go back to the house where Claire excuses herself for the night to go to bed. Alexander looks at the picture for hours before putting it on the mantle in the living room finding it a perfect place for his mother to sit.

"Welcome home, Mama."

He pats the photo before going to bed for the night. He couldn't wait to see what ideas Claire had to brighten up the house, he was starting to feel that home wouldn't be so bad to stay at anymore. Claire was making the house feel like a home and he doubts she even knows it.