Once Isabella was doing her homework, Clare went upstairs to check on Eli.
She walked into their bedroom to see him clutching a picture of Julia and crying.
Clare had only seen Eli cry once before, back in high school when Fitz came back and he thought that he was gonna lose Clare.
Clare walked in and sat on their bed.
Clare planted kisses on Eli's forehead.
It broke Clare's heart to see Eli like this.
Eli didn't say a word, but noticed Clare and hugged her and cried into her chest.
Clare rubbed Eli's back trying to soothe him.
Clare sighed, "Eli, what happened? You were doing so well when I went to pick up Bella."
Eli moved himself off of Clare and dried his eyes.
He sighed a shaky sigh, "When you were gone, I had a nightmare about Julia."
Clare looked at Eli, "Do you wanna talk about it?"
Eli nodded, "Julia came and said that I was replacing her with you and she killed you, Bella, Mason, Roman, and Adam."
Clare pulled Eli into a tight hug, "Eli, everyone is fine."
Eli looked at Clare sadly, "I know. I'm also scared that you're gonna find someone better. Someone without all this emotional shit that I have."
Clare sighed, "Eli, I could never find someone better. I love you. And you're emotional shit is what makes you you. And I couldn't imagine myself with anyone else."
A sad smile spread across Eli's face, "Really?"
Clare smiled, "Really."
Clare and Eli looked at each other for a minute before sharing a passionate kiss.
The kiss was broken when Mason and Roman started crying.
Clare blushed at Eli before getting up.
Clare walked into Mason and Roman's room and went up to Mason's crib and said in a baby voice, "What's wrong, Masey?"
Clare stopped once she got a whiff, "Ooh, you poo-pooed."
Clare changed Mason and brought Mason and Roman into her and Eli's room, "Someone wants their Daddy."
A smile spread across Eli's face when he saw Clare bringing his boys to him.
Clare put Mason and Roman on their bed, "Can you watch them for a second so I can make them bottles?"
Eli said, "Yeah."
When Clare returned with two bottles and put Mason and Roman on their feeding pillows, so she could feed them both at the same time.
Eli said, "Clare, I'll feed Mason."
Clare sighed, "No, it's okay. I'm used to feeding them this way. This is the way I feed them when you're at work. I know how hard today is for you."
Eli gave in knowing he wasn't gonna win this.
After Clare was done feeding them, Clare asked Eli, "What do you want for dinner?"
Eli said, "Tacos."
Clare smiled as she carried Mason and Roman downstairs and put them in their playpen and walked up to Isabella and asked, "How's the homework going?"
Isabella shrugged, "Fine."
Clare sighed, "Bella, are you feeling neglected? Like me and daddy don't pay attention to you anymore? That we only pay attention to Mason and Roman?"
Isabella nodded and Clare continued, "Why didn't you tell me or you dad that you felt this way?"
Isabella shrugged, "I dunno. I tried a couple times. But you and Daddy were always busy with Mason and Roman. It seemed like they were more important to you than me."
Clare ran her fingers through her hair, "Isabella, you are seven-years old. You are just as important to us as Mason and Roman. But your Dad and I aren't mind readers, so you need to tell either Mommy or Daddy when you feel like we love your brothers more than we love you. Okay?"
Isabella said, "Okay, Mommy."
Isabella hugged Clare, "I love you, Mommy."
Clare smiled and kissed the top of Isabella's head, "I love you, too."
Once dinner was ready, Isabella sat down at the table.
Once she saw Clare serving dinner, she asked, "Mom, aren't we gonna wait for Daddy?"
Clare shook her head, "Daddy doesn't feel good."
Once Darcy and Isabella was served, Clare took a plate of food and put it on a bed-and-breakfast/tray table and Isabella asked, "Mom what are you doing with that?"
Clare said, "I'm gonna bring your father his dinner."
Clare walked into her and Eli's bedroom, "Eli? Babe, you hungry? I brought you a taco."
Eli sat up and said, "Thanks, Clare."
Clare smiled, "No problem. I'll be in bed soon."
Clare walked downstairs to eat dinner with Isabella and Darcy.
After dinner, Isabella finished her homework and Clare was tucking Isabella in.
Clare sat on Isabella's bed and finished reading her a story.
Clare closed the book, "Okay. Bella, goodnight."
Isabella sighed sleepily, "Goodnight mom. I love you."
Clare kissed Isabella's forehead and tucked her in then shut the light and closed the door quietly.
Then Clare walked into her and Eli's bedroom.
She changed into her pajamas and crawled into bed next to Eli and got under the covers.
Eli stirred and saw Clare in bed, "Hey baby."
And started planting kisses on Clare's neck.
Clare pushed Eli off, "Eli, we need to talk. You know how I was late leaving Bella's school?"
Eli nodded and Clare continued, "Well, Ms. Davis wanted to talk to me because she had the class write about their home life. And Isabella wrote about how she feels like all we do is pay attention to Mason and Roman. Like she doesn't matter to us. I talked to Izzy about her feeling neglected, but I wanted to just let you know what was going on."
Eli sighed, "Why didn't you tell me when you got home?"
Clare said, "I didn't wanna tell you any potentially upsetting news today."
Eli pulled Clare to him, "Look, no matter what kind of day I'm having, she my daughter and you're my wife. I don't want you to keep any secrets from me. Okay?"
Clare rested her head on Eli's chest, "Yeah, I can do that."
Clare and Eli smiled at each other for a moment before sharing a passionate kiss.
Eli reluctantly pulled back and noticed it was after midnight and a grin spread across Eli's face.
Clare looked at Eli and saw his facial expression, "What're you so happy about?"
Eli kissed the top of Clare's head, "I'm in bed with my perfect wife."
Clare blushed and Eli continued, "And I still have the same effect on you that I did in high school."
Clare punched Eli's shoulder playfully, "Shut up."
Eli continued, "And we got through Julia's anniversary."
Clare kissed Eli's nose, "This is why I love you, you pretend you're this hard-core bad-ass, but you're really just a big teddy bear."
Eli wrapped his arm around Clare, "Just don't tell Adam, he'd never let me live it down."
Clare laughed because she knew it was true.
Clare and Eli just cuddled all night knowing that they can make it through anything fate throws at them.
That's the end of the Story :(
