I have posted August and September calendars on my page of the DeGrassi Saviors website so check those out.

Welcome to chapter two. I had multiple requests for a conclusion chapter showing the baby coming home and more of Peter and Clare's relationship so here it is. Enjoy!

Ch. 2 Up from Under

(CLARE)

"You did great," Peter smiles as he pushes my wheelchair down the hall.

"I'm exhausted but as soon as I see Nathaniel everything will be better," I comment.

Nathaniel is my son, Eli and I agreed on the name because Nathaniel Hawthorne is one of our favorite authors. He's a month old today but he'll be in the hospital at least another three weeks. I was in the hospital for an additional ten days after giving birth and then went home to be on bed rest again. Mostly bed rest anyway I have physical therapy four times a week. After a total of twelve weeks in the hospital and having to be immobilized from the waist down for most of that my muscles atrophied. Not to mention the twice broken bones that are still healing. I'm at the hospital four times a week for physical therapy and when I don't have to come for physical therapy I'm here to see my son. Eli comes before and after work and we're often here together. The two of us are allowed in the room any time.

Peter wheels me to the NICU and after sanitation and scrubs he wheels me in. Eli is here holding our son and he smiles at us. Eli's been very supportive of the growing relationship between Peter and I. The two of them are becoming friends, Peter and Adam became fast friends since they bonded over music. Adam is home now and will be attending Ryerson with me in the fall. Dallas left for Guelph the day after grad and will soon be leaving for Japan, the farther away he is the better. Drew also left, he left a week after grad, he and Adam haven't spoken and Drew just took off, except for a coupe e-mails to his parents so they know he's alive no one has heard from him. I'm not sorry he's gone but I wish for his family's sake he hadn't just run away.

"Mommy's here," Eli says to our son before handing Nathaniel to me. He only came off the ventilator a few days ago and he's still hooked to a bunch of monitors but we can hold him now. I was so very happy when I finally got to hold my baby boy, it was an incredibly magical feeling.

"Hi Beautiful Boy," I smile at my son.

"I have to get ready for work but I'll be here after work," Eli tells me as he stands up. He kisses our son's forehead and smiles at me and Peter before leaving.

I hold my son and feed him, hold him against my bare chest and I don't want to let him go. I never want to let him go but I know I have to eventually.

"We can cancel dinner but you still need to eat," Peter tells me when I don't want to let go of my son.

"No let's go to dinner I want to spend time with Adam," I reply reluctantly giving my son to the nurse.

Peter wheels me out to the curb and gets the car. I can walk with support but I'm still healing and rebuilding the muscles. I walk the few steps to the car and Peter helps me out of the car and into the restaurant where we're meeting Adam and Alli. The two began dating a couple of weeks ago after Adam came home. I never thought they'd get together but they actually make a pretty good couple, she makes him take some risks and he treats her with respect. And unlike all of Alli's past relationships this one is less physical and more intellectual.

"Nathaniel is so beautiful we went to see him earlier," Alli tells me after I sit down.

"Yeah he is, I can't wait for him to come home I hope he doesn't have to stay longer than three more weeks I want my baby home."

"How was physio?" Adam asks.

"Hard, it feels so weird to barely be able to move anything below my waist. My therapist says I'm doing well but I'll have at least two more months," I sigh.

"Hard to believe all that came from a fall," Alli remarks.

"It wasn't so much the fall as the broken bone and pregnancy, the bone getting broken again and that she couldn't move for ten weeks," Peter says.

"I don't know how you just laid there for ten weeks I would have gone crazy," Adam comments.

"I didn't have a choice, if I moved I could have put me and my baby in danger. At least I had lots of company to keep me from going crazy."

Dinner is nice, it does feel good to be out of the house and the hospital. It feels good to be spending time with my friends in a normal setting without monitors or nurses or my mom fussing around. After dinner we say goodnight to Adam and Alli and Peter helps me to his car.

"I want to go to the hospital and see Nathaniel again. Eli should be there by now and he can take me home, I know you have work tomorrow."

"Okay back to the hospital," he smiles.

Peter takes me back and carries me in. I get a wheelchair after physio but otherwise we have to request one. I walk part way and then Peter carries me. He sets me down just outside the NICU. We see Eli through the window and he smiles at me.

"Eli's here, he'll get me home," I tell Peter.

"Okay I'll call you tomorrow," Peter says placing a soft kiss on my forehead.

I wash my hands and change into scrubs before going in. Eli is doing kangaroo therapy with Nathaniel, that is he has Nathaniel in nothing but a diaper lying on his bare chest. I smile at them and sit down next to them.

"You want to hold him?" Eli asks.

"No you hold him I just wanted to be with him, he looks so comfortable and at peace," I grin holding Nathaniel's tiny hand and stroking the back of it.

I look at Eli and he smiles before looking back at our son and softly stroking his head.

(PETER)

"I can't believe he's finally coming home," Clare smiles looking down at Nathaniel as I wheel them both out in a wheelchair. Eli walks next us carrying a bag of Nathaniel's things.

"He's happy to be coming home, to be with us," Eli grins.

Friends and family will be waiting for all of us at Clare's house. She's improved a lot in the last month, Nathaniel's due date was last week but they kept him in the hospital an extra week because of his low weight and under developed lungs.

"I'll sit in back with him you sit up front with Peter," Eli tells Clare when we're at my car. Eli sets the bag in the trunk and I put Nathaniel in his car seat while Clare slowly sits in the front seat. She's moving better now but she's still a little weak and still moves slow sometimes.

I drive us back to Clare's and Eli gets the carrier out to take Nathaniel in. I grab the bag and help Clare into the house. Of course everyone crowds around to see the baby and Clare sits in an arm chair to get comfortable. Her bone has finally healed well and her muscles are getting stronger but some movements like sitting are still hard and painful for her. When Clare is sitting, and Adam is with her so I know she'll be taken care of, I take Nathaniel's bag up to his nursery. They turned Jake's old room into the nursery, he's thirteen weeks but he'll still be sleeping in Clare's room for a few weeks. Eli will also be sleeping here for a few weeks but he has a bed in the nursery. He wanted to be here to help welcome his son home and to help Clare, and her parents, take care of the baby. He'll stay here most nights until the summer is over. When they know their school schedules they'll discuss the best custody arrangement to work around school schedules and Eli's job.

"So Nathaniel is home now do I still get to take you to dinner?" I ask sitting on the arm of Clare's chair.

"Yes," she smiles taking my hand and interlacing our fingers, "yes I would love to go to dinner with you."

"Good, tomorrow night then I know you want to be home with Nathaniel tonight."

Clare smiles and puts her head on my arm. She watches everyone fawn over Nathaniel but only Eli and Adam hold him. When he's hungry Eli feeds him with a bottle. Everyone stays for hours, they eat and talk and see the baby. They leave by early evening, I kiss Clare's cheek and tell her to call me if she needs anything. Then I say goodnight to Eli and Clare's parents before I go home. I want tomorrow night to be perfect so I spend all night planning. When I go to pick up Clare the next evening my jaw hits the floor. She's wearing a short sleeve wrap dress that's scarlet in color, it comes to her knees and shows off her bust while beautifully outlining her other curves.

"You look incredible," I grin.

"Thanks," she smiles softly. "Mom is watching Nathaniel for now but Eli will be home from work soon. They told me to have a good time and not worry about Nathaniel. I have the feeling that I will still worry though."

"That's because you're a good mom," I reply offering her my arm.

She smiles taking my arm and I escort her to my car opening the door for her. I knew tonight should be calm and romantic so I found a quiet restaurant and reserved the most private table. The restaurant has private booths with curtains and everything, I asked them to put colored roses in the booth and they were happy to do it. When we arrive at the restaurant I open Clare's door and offer her my arm, she takes it and we walk into the restaurant.

"Reservations for Stone."

"Right this way," the hostess smiles picking up two menus. She takes us back to the booth and Clare smiles when she sees the flowers. The waitress sets our menus down and Clare kisses my cheek before slowly sliding into the booth.

"They're beautiful thank you Peter."

"They're not half as beautiful as you," I tell her and she grins biting her lip shyly. Before she picks up her menu I reach over and take her hands in mine. "I know you've been through a lot and there will be a lot of adjustments in the coming months. I know all that but you know how I feel about you, and I think you know that I will be there to support you and hold you through all of it. I've spent the last few months falling in love with an amazing woman and I want to be with you, and Nathaniel. I know we've been together in a way for the last few months and you needed time but I'd like us to be official and you to be my girlfriend."

"I know how much you care about me and Nathaniel and I know how happy you make me and how I feel when I'm with you. Yes, I will be your girlfriend," she grins.

I smile wide and move over to sit next to her, I cup her face and gently bring our lips together in a blissful kiss.

Hope you enjoyed this conclusion chapter. One Shot Week continues tomorrow and Monday and then it's Short Story Month!