I now pronounce you husband and wife; you may now kiss the bride. Those were the words that started everything. The pain, the few laughs, the issues, the tears and the screaming. This one sentence lead up to a messed up marriage. The question is; was it really worth fixing?

OoOo

"STOP." Clare screamed at the top of her lungs. She and Eli were fighting…again. This was starting to be a regular part of their daily agenda. "Give me the child Clare!" Eli demanded firmly, as Clare clutched the baby with all of her might. "No." She clutched onto the baby even harder, as hot tears gradually stained her cheeks. The tears went down her cheeks, down her neck, only to be absorbed by her light pink pajama top that she was wearing.

Eli reached for the baby, losing his patience while Clare twisted her body to the side. She refused to hand the baby over for anything. Eli forcefully slapped Clare in the face. Clare's neck swiveled to the side; bringing her face along, with all the force that was directed to her right cheek. Clare felt the burn instantly swarm her entire face, as she felt more tears come to her eyes; but she bravely held them back. She didn't want Eli to see that he had already won.

When Eli had hit her, she had lost her steady balance; she toppled to the floor, bringing the baby along with her. She bashed the back of her head onto the hard floor, all 120 pounds of her. The baby felt the slam on the slick oak floor, and immediately started crying along with Clare. "Shhh." Clare said, nurturing the baby in loving arms. She paused, and switched her gaze to the monster towering above her frail body.

"Monster." She hissed, quickly holding her tongue as that word escaped her now trembling mouth. Her eyes were puffy, and inflamed. "Bitch." The word stung Clare's ears, as they entered her eardrum. "You know you deserved that." He laughed at the wife, holding the crying infant. "Deserved what?" She screamed at the top of her lungs; her voice soon cracked. "Don't be stupid Clare; I know you cheated on me!" Eli screamed in defense, not knowing what he was saying. "I see that baby you're holding." Eli almost kneed her in the stomach, but she ran away to the opposite side of the room.

"You're full of shit." Those words dripped like acid off of Clare's tongue. "I haven't slept with anyone." She screamed in defense. "You really think I'm going to believe that?" He chuckled in disbelief. "Just tell me who fucked you up." Eli ordered harshly. "YOU DID." Clare screamed. "Bullshit." He smacked the wall he was standing beside. "We never had a child." He cried; filling with unneeded anger. "Who did you fuck with? Or should I say, how many people did you fuck with?" He couldn't stand the pain that had filled his hand, when he hit the wall. "NEVERMIND." Eli didn't even let Clare respond at all.

Eli walked into the kitchen casually, looking as if he was just cooling down. His face was as red as freshly pumped blood. "Clare. Hunny. I'm sorry! Please come in here. We will handle this calmly." Eli said, with a chuckle on his face. Clare slowly proceeded into the kitchen, clutching the baby, who had now calmed down. "What?" She sauntered slowly, inch by inch into the kitchen.

Eli had his back turned to Clare, she couldn't see his face. "I'm sorry baby." He said with feeling. He secretly pulled a knife from drawer. Clare of course missed that whole transaction. "It's-It's okay…" She stuttered, finally two feet away from Eli's toned back, which was covered with a t-shirt. "Can we just talk about...AHHHHHHHHH." Clare screamed as Eli had turned around with a knife clutched firmly in hand.

Clare had no time to react, no time to run, no time to scream anymore. The dull kitchen knife had already inched slowly into her forearm; going all the way through the bone, to the other side. All she could hear was the laughing husband, the crying infant, and her faint scream, as she fell onto the floor; blacking out.

OoOo

"Morning sugar plum." Eli said, while kissing Clare on her red swollen cheek. He hadn't paid any attention to her wounded cheek that he had covered with his irresistible lips. Nor had he the forearm that was wrapped with gauze and tape. "Morning." The words fell from her mouth, without any meaning. "How are you today?" He asked casually, while kissing Cattie, who was in the high chair happily. She hadn't remembered the other night as well.

"I'm good. Thanks! What about yourself?" She asked, not caring any less. "I'm amazing!" Eli sounded very chipper. "Well, I'm glad someone is in a good mood." Clare said under her breath, rolling her eyes in frustration. "Pardon me?" Eli asked in curiosity. "Nothing, I didn't say a thing." Clare was shaking, as she lied through her teeth. Eli then made his way out the door; going to work.

Clare's POV:

How can he not remember? And why is he so happy? What? I'm so confused. Is there something that I should know about him; that he refuses to tell me? I didn't do anything to him, and he can't even remember stabbing me. What's wrong with him? Clare sighed, as a hot steamy tear escaped her eye.

OoOo

"Honey, I'm home." Rang through the house; as Clare went to greet her significant other in the hallway. "Welcome home hunny." Clare stated, trying to be a good wife. She kissed his lips, loving every second of it.

Though he was an abusive monster, she loved him more than life itself. "Mmmm." Eli closed his eyes, slowly opening them back up; as he pulled away. "Hey sweet stuff. It's nice to see you too." He smiled into her blue lagoon eyes. "Where's Cattie?" He looked around, not seeing her anywhere. "She is sl…" she got cut off by a baby crying. "Well, she was sleeping." Clare smiled at her gorgeous husband, meanwhile running up the stairs to get the crying infant.

OoOo

"So how was your day?" Clare questioned, feeding the baby leisurely at the table. "Great. Great. Great. My sales went up today. I don't know why." He pondered, as he had a glass of wine; sipping it slowly. "But I'm happy that I have the day off tomorrow." He smiled, as he thought to himself. Something that not even Clare would read from his face.