*Little shorter than normal but still full of emotion!*

"Damon! Damon!" Claire said jogging down the hallway leaving Madelyn with Sarah. The vampire comes to a stop and turns to her. He had just left Caroline's room after helping heal her.

"What's up, Shortcake?" Damon asked giving her a lop sided grin. Claire smiled at him.

"Thank you" She whispered. Damon's face softened and he gave her a more genuine smile. He gave her a shrug. "I mean it Damon, you don't know how much you helping her means to me."

"You're welcome" He said lifting his hand rubbing her arm lightly. "Just, do me a favor and relax a little bit? Go home, shower, get some sleep. You look like your head is going to explode, not a good look on you." He said. She smiled laughing tiredly.

"I guess you're right" Damon laughs.

"Can I get that in writing?" He teases. Claire smiles more brightly and punches his arm lightly. "Go get some sleep, I'll see you around Shortcake." Damon said ruffling up her hair. She gives him a playful glare before shoving his hand off her head.

"Do that again and I'll stab you with something bigger than a pencil" She threatens pointing at him. He smirked holding up his hands before the two of them went their separate ways. "Alright, I'm going to take Madelyn home, let her sleep in a comfortable bed" She said walking over to Sarah. "I cannot thank you enough for your help."

"Don't worry about it, Claire. It's my pleasure" Claire smiled at Sarah. "I'll see you later?" She asked. "You have my number right?"

"Yes I do" Claire said nodding.

"Please do not hesitate to call me if you need me. I don't have much to do during the day so, it's no problem if you need me" Sarah said and Claire nodded.

Sarah had told her she runs an online shopping business. It's not a nation wide website, though she does get some orders from a couple states over but she keeps it small and manageable from her home which makes it easy for her to nanny as well.

"I'll call you if I need you, I'll see you later." Claire waved. Sarah smiled waving back before they both went their separate ways.

"Elena?" Claire asked answering the phone call the next day. "What's up?"

"Did you know Tyler's dad died?" Elena asked knowing Claire's been so focused on her sister that she probably didn't know. Elena was right, Claire hadn't heard. The younger twin sat down at the kitchen table.

"No, I didn't know that" She said quietly. She didn't particularly like Tyler's dad but he was always decent to her when they were dating. She felt her heart clench for Tyler. She may 'hate' Tyler right now but the piece that still loved him wanted her to go and comfort him.

"They're having a gathering at the mansion, I didn't know if you wanted to go." Elena said treading carefully knowing Tyler and Claire haven't been close since they dated.

"I don't know, Elena" Claire muttered. Claire put her hand on her forehead feeling conflicted.

"Don't feel pressured, I just wanted to let you know." Elena said gently.

"Thank you" Claire said before saying goodbye and hanging up. She sat at the table for a few more moments before Madelyn started crying snapping her out of her thoughts. Claire instantly gravitates to her daughter. "Shh, I've got you, mommy's here" She whispered picking Madelyn up. "Damn it" Claire whispered after feeding Madelyn.

Claire hopped into the shower and put on something nice. She then put something nice on Madelyn before getting in the car and driving to the Lockwood mansion. She parks the car and looks at the home.

"What are you doing, Claire?" She whispered to herself. Madelyn made various noises, moving around in her seat. Claire smiled softly before getting out of the car. She grabbed Madelyn's carrier and walked to the door. She stood there for a moment before knocking.

"Claire" Tyler said surprised.

"I may be very close to hating you, Tyler. I am nowhere near forgiving you but" Claire sighed. "There's still a part of me, a very small part, that cares about you." She told him.

"I'm glad you came" He told her honestly with a small smile. She doesn't return the smile and enters the house. Tyler quickly moves out of the way. He cranes his neck trying to get a good look at Madelyn. "I have some stuff to give you" Tyler said hoping she would follow him.

She looks at him hesitantly. She then nods and follows him to his room. She sets Madelyn on his bed and he takes a moment to look at her. A ghost smile on his face.

"What did you want to give me?" Claire said not wanting to stay in here longer than need be. Tyler looked away from Madelyn before nodding. He walked into his closet.

"I couldn't sleep last night and I didn't want to stay in the house. So early this morning I went to the store." Tyler said loud enough for her to hear. Claire frowned her eyebrows and inched towards the closet. "I know how expensive a kid is and I thought if I just gave you money, it would insult you and I didn't want to do that."

"Tyler" Claire breathed out and he walked out of the closet with a couple of bags. In them were filled with diapers and other essentials.

"I honestly didn't know what I was looking at or looking for" Tyler admitted with a small, nervous laugh. "I just... I hope this helps." He said setting them in front of her. "I know this doesn't make up for what I did to you, not even close. I know that" He stressed looking into her eyes. "I just hope it's a start."

"It's the smallest start in history" She told him and he grinned slightly wider.

"But it's still a start" He said and she sighed heavily. "I'll take these out to your car" He said grabbing the bags.

"If you takes those through the party, people are gonna talk." Claire told him. He tensed as he thought about it. Then he slowly turned to her. It was clear he was scared but there was also a sense of determination radiating off of him.

"I just stood by while people talked about you. While they called you those terrible names. While they shamed you for something that wasn't completely your fault. I loved you... I still do." Claire closed her eyes as a tears slips down her face. Tyler wanted nothing more than to comfort her but restrained himself. "And I was so horrible to you and I never defended you. I never stood up for you. I just let them talk because I was scared kid who didn't want to take responsibility."

"You hurt me more than any of those people ever could" Claire whispers opening her eyes. "You ripped my heart out and tore it to shreds." She reminded him. Tyler looked down shamefully.

"I want to make things right" He whispered. "I know there isn't a chance in hell you'll ever give me a second chance between the two of us. I know I ruined that." He admitted looking back at her. "But I'm hanging on to the thread of hope that I can still have a relationship with my daughter." He whispers. "And the only way to do that is if I can somehow mend the pain I caused you. I know I can't heal it completely and I cannot tell you how sorry I am."

"I want you to have a relationship with Madelyn because I know you will be a good father but I just.. I don't trust you to not hurt her." She whispered.

"I hope I can regain that trust" Tyler whispered. Claire just sighed. "And to start, I'm going to walk through that party with all my moms friends watching me, with my mom watching me and carry these baby things to the car" He said looking to the door taking a deep breath. "And if anyone asks, I'll tell them the truth."

"What happened to not wanting to ruin your reputation? To not want-" Claire went to remind him of the things he said to her.

"Madelyn is more important than my reputation" Tyler told her strongly. "I'd rather face the scrutiny of my mother and her friends than not be with her." Claire smiled softly.

"Scrutiny, huh?" Claire asked smiling a little wider. "That's a big word for you" Tyler laughed shaking his head.

"Is your car unlocked?" He asked smiling at her with a little hope in his eyes.

"Yeah" She said nodding. "Oh, and Tyler" She called out before he could leave completely. "About your dad-"

"Thanks" Tyler cut her off giving her a small nod. Claire smiled at him and returned the nod. Tyler glances at Madelyn before walking down the steps.

"Well, that went... well" Claire muttered walking over to Madelyn. "There maybe hope for him yet" She whispered.

"At least you have an open mind" Claire whipped around. "Sorry" He said holding his hands up. "Didn't mean to scare you" He said.

"Who are you?" She asked him.

"Mason" He said holding out his hand. "Tyler's uncle" Claire hesitantly reached out and shook his hand. "Head my nephews a daddy now." He said smirking. "Can I see the little girl?" Claire hesitated but stepped to the side. "Wow, looks just like you." He commented.

"Yeah, she does" Claire nodded. She grabbed the carrier when she noticed Mason getting too close.

"Protective?" He teased. She didn't give him an amused look. "Look, you're family now. You need anything, anything at all, you let me know" He told her seriously.

"I'll keep that in mind" She said quietly. He smiled and nodded before leaving the room. She lets out a breath before leaving as well. After her confrontation with Mason, she decided to leave feeling emotionally overwhelmed.