} closed

[livemoore]

Who: Liv Moore, Claire Fraser
Where: Claire's room
When: 10-11
Rating: PG-13? Maybe? Mentions of death and such.
Summary: The way Liv sees it, she was late to work that day.
The Story:

Liv went home before she could ever talk to Claire. She should have done it right away, but after Claire woke up and Liv made sure she got back to her room all right, she could face her. That morning she'd detoured, gone to get coffee. She doesn't even need coffee, so what even made her go? If she hadn't, she would have been in the clinic when Claire was alone.

She can't stop thinking about it, so after a quick text to Claire to make sure it's okay, Liv heads over, knocking. Once she's inside, she doesn't know what to say for a second, looking down and swallowing heavily.

"Claire, I'm sorry. I'm so...I'm sorry."

Going home, being responsible for her boyfriend's death (at least, that's how she sees it for now) has made her feel like the blame for more than that is squarely on her shoulders.

"I wasn't there, and I should have been."

Comments

[beautifullies]

"Jesus Christ, Liv." With that, she's back in Claire's arms, forehead creased in a deep, deep frown. Without even really thinking about it, she rocks her back and forth gently, keeping her close.

"We can't choose what cause people will stand up for or what they think is noble. He didn't die because of you. He died because he believed in whatever you were doing and took a stance. That isn't something you could have known he would do." Though he likely went into it knowing full well what it would mean.

[livemoore]

She's never wanted to cry this much before, and she hides her face against Claire's chest, listening to her.

"I know. I know that, logically. But he didn't deserve that. No one who's gotten hurt because of me deserved it. I don't know how to stop it, how to stop feeling like somehow everyone gets the fall out of my shitty life."

[beautifullies]

"You can't help the decisions other people make," Claire says firmly. "Since I've known you, you've been nothing but kind and generous with your time. What happened to me had nothing to do with whether or not you were on time. What happened at home...I certainly can't speak for him. But you were important. You are important. It doesn't mean you did anything wrong."

Claire has no idea if her words are helping or hurting, she just wants Liv to know that there is nothing she blames her for.

[livemoore]

Liv looks down, not even realizing that she's holding onto Claire's hands tightly.

"You...are a good person. And I hear what you're saying, I really do, I promise. Which is how I know you're good. You've done things, but I guess we all have. It's how we live our lives around those things, right?"

[beautifullies]

Claire gently tips Liv's chin up and smiles softly. "That's exactly right, Liv. Some things happen that we wish hadn't but there isn't anything we can do to change them. I've even traveled back in time and tried to prevent a war. Sometimes things that are meant to be, will be."

Now, she squeezes Liv's hand with her free one. "All that matters is what's in your heart. And I know you have a wonderful one."

[livemoore]

Swallowing heavily, Liv tries not to cry but a part of her just needs Claire to know how much this means to her.

"I haven't talked to my mom in...in a really long time. She doesn't know I'm this. I couldn't tell her or my brother but because of the way my life looked from her perspective, she shut me out." What she's trying to lead up to, Liv can't quite say out loud and brushes at a stray tear.

"I needed this. Someone like you."

[beautifullies]

Those words are enough to make Claire's eyes blur with tears and she clears her throat, blinking quickly. "Well, you'll always have me, as long as I'm here," she says gently.

And she would have a few choice words for Liv's mother if they ever met face to face. Even if Liv hadn't been able to tell her mother she was a zombie, there shouldn't have been any reason to cut her out.

"Would you like to stay here for a little while?"

[livemoore]

Maybe if Claire knew the entire story, she wouldn't be so understanding. But now isn't the time to bring up the intricate details of her life.

"That'd be okay with you? I just...I mean with everything you've gone through, I don't want to be some kind of burden."

[beautifullies]

"Burden? Please. You aren't a burden, certainly having you sleep over a few nights isn't one either. If it were, I wouldn't have offered. You belong here, as long as you'd like," Claire says gently.

[livemoore]

"Thank you," Liv says, leaning in for another hug and just resting against Claire, letting her new mom hold onto her.

fade!

[beautifullies]

Claire just wraps her arms around Liv, holding her close and running her fingers through her hair, letting her take all the time she needs.