"Clare I'm messed up I can't do this" Eli was yelling at her he couldn't believe he was raising his voice at her.

"Eli I love you that's all there is to it I can't just walk away now!" Clare had given him every part of her she began to cry how could he take something from her something she cherished and then leave her in the cold.

"You deserve better Clare and that's not me." He said the snow falling lightly in his hair the street lights making the snow glisten. "So everything was a lie…" she said as she trailed off her voice a deep crack.

Eli took a deep breath the cold air showing him exhale.

"Eli answer me…" she said looking up her blue eyes slightly red from her tears. "If I say yes" Eli said without hesitation Clare felt like her heart had been split in two the warmth in her chest was gone all of Eli and her memories together flipped through her mind. Their first kiss as Romeo and Juliet the time in his car Vegas night she turned away from him she didn't need to hear anymore the crunching of the snow under her sneakers and her sniffles was her soundtrack for her walk home.

3 years later…

Clare Edwards Eli thought about that December night wishing he could go back. He had dialed Clare's number but hung up after the first ring he was ashamed. He called Adam occasionally to check in on her Eli would say he wanted to come to town but he was filled with empty promises. He finally called Clare and this time he did not hang up.

"Hello?" her voice was sweet and clear

"Hum Hello Clare" Eli said his voice cracking

"Elijah, is that you?" she said her voice shocked and not sure if it was really him

"Yes it's me…I'm coming to town tomorrow and I'd like to see you." He said hoping she wouldn't hang up

"Um…Sure I suppose that can be arranged." She said his heart rate went up

"Great I'll be in around noon." Eli was excited yet nervous as she gave him directions to her place

"Great Clare I'll see you then?" he was afraid to hang up the phone in fear it would just be a dream

"Yes you will bye now." She said as she hung up the phone Eli was in shock he had finally gotten to her and was going to see her after all this time.

"Hey Adam…I'm coming to town." Eli called Adam as soon as Clare had hung up the phone

"Dude why?" Adam said with a sharp tone in his voice wondering why he would come back just to jerk Clare's chain he had done more than enough.

"I just need to see her talk to her tell her why." Eli's voice was strong he really could care less what Adam had to say he was going back either way.

"Fine dude but I'm not cleaning up your mess anymore." Adam said as he hung up Eli sighed he was afraid if Clare thought that he didn't love her she would give him up and make her move on Eli remembered their last night as a couple:

"Eli quit it you goose." Clare said with a giggle as he kissed her neck and grazed her ear "come on Edwards how can you resist me?" her skin was getting hot as she began to blush "I can't Goldsworthy" she said with a slight smile he kissed her plump pink lips moving in perfect synchronization she moved herself over him kissing him into the couch.

Running her hands over his chest and his hands through her golden curls "Eli I love you." She said in a heavy whisper he looked at her "I love you too Clare."

The love was there. It had never left it was still there he wanted Clare but knew she would never forgive him. His fear his stupidity is what made them drift apart after that night Eli stopped calling texting avoiding her he knew it was wrong but he had given himself to Clare as she had to him. But why was his inner battle stopping him from doing what was right for Clare and him he got in his car and drove to Clare's apartment she had since moved out of her parents house and began life on her own.

He knew that it needed to be done he pulled up to her little apartment on the corner of the street he walked up to the buzzer and found Clare's number with a shaky hand he reached up to press the button "Hello?" Clare's voice was crystal on the other side he felt his knees go weak when her sweet voice met his ears. "Hello Clare this is…" he was cut off but the buzz of the door opening. He went to it and walked up the steps it was nice sort of a loft like place he made it to door 137 and knocked three times. He heard her rummaging around and finally reaches the door

"Eli…I hey" She said not able to form a sentence her curly hair was just as he remembered her eyes the prettiest shade of blue he was mesmerized her lips the plush pink and he just wanted to kiss them.

"Um hey do you mind if we go to the dot or something?" she said quickly he looked behind her seeing her apartment was white and clean he nodded his head quickly she brushed past him and to the elevator he went inside and stood next to her.

The silence so thick you could cut it with a butter knife her smell was sweet and made Eli hate himself for giving her up. "So how is your mom and dad?" he said trying to make light conversation "fine they are fine." He could feel her guard in her voice she didn't want to seem vulnerable.

"What are you doing these days?" he wanted to know if she was happy what was happening with her

She took a deep sigh "I'm just working for a publishing company I'm working to get my own stories published but I'm not sure if that's going to happen."

Eli Looked at her she kept her head down.

They made it down to the street and he followed her to the dot which was just a block away. "Is this rain normal it was sunny when I got here?" He said She kept her distance from him as they made it inside she found a seat as a waiter took their order she looked up at him her eyes still the same baby blues he left behind.

"What is it you want Elijah?" she said her tone sharp and quick

"Clare I'm sorry for everything I shouldn't have done that." He said his words running together. "This is me swallowing my pride I'm sorry about that night I wish I could go back and change everything the way I ended it I never sleep anymore I just think of you I remember our car rides and our first kiss that night we spent at my parents cabin." He stopped himself her face stayed cold with just a hint of remorse "you played your cards Eli you made your decision." She said "I know that night when we both cried and made love under the stars." He said his voice beginning to quiver she shook her head as she looked back down he looked as her curls shook lightly from side to side.

"Clare you have to listen…I was terrible I have been telling myself…I miss you all of your texts your sweet forgiving smile I want it all back if you just let me love you again I will love you right I wish I could go back and fix things I know this apology is long overdue."

He was nearly out of breath he felt tears forming in his eyes her eyes had she had given him everything and all he did in return was say goodbye. "I hated you for so long Elijah." She said he put his hands on hers the warmth making him hurt and ache more "please Clare I was wrong I was afraid." He said a pleading in his voice "afraid, you were afraid?" she said raising her tone Eli knew she was hurt but hoped she would understand "Afraid of what?" she said shifting in her chair "Clare, the last time I had loved someone she died she left me what we had was so real I was afraid to lose you I knew that if I gave you up then…" he trailed off "it all sounds so stupid when I say it out loud…" He looked up at her his hands still on hers. "Eli you should have said something to me anything, instead of making me think what we had was a lie." She was clearly hurt all over again.

"I love you Clare that has never changed." She looked up "I love you Elijah." He felt a relief he smirked tears falling from his eyes "But you made a mistake…" his heart stopped he thought he had won her back he opened his mouth to protest she leaned over the table and kissed him he was surprised he touched her cheek and kissed her back.

"Clare I…" she stood up and grabbed his hand giving it a light squeeze "You know Eli you talk too much."

She said with a smile pulling him up from his seat and out of the restaurant and into the rain he pulled her close and kissed her passionately. The raindrops hitting their skin

"So am I forgiven can we love again?" he said brushing his nose against her cold skin she pulled away and smiled at him "this is your last chance."

"Trust me I'm not going anywhere." He said as they walked back to her place hand in hand.