" Claire, I-Look, my life is one long series of screw-ups and bad decisions, and I know that. I own that. But you...I just want you to be happy. And it cuts me when you're not." " I'm happy with you." She heard the smile in his voice this time. " So what do you really want? A storybook life in Vampireville, with your life on the line every day and a half?" " I'm considering it," she said. And she was. "