Yeah, I know. I'm really slow at updating lately. Sorry! Enjoy.

It was Wednesday evening and Clare had not seen Eli all week. She thought when she said she wanted to spend more time with him that he would have taken the hint and called to set something up. So far, nothing. Clare figured it was time to take some initiative. She had a doctor's appointment the next day and Eli had offered to drive her. That seemed like the perfect excuse.

Clare sent him a text message, "Hey, Eli."

Eli responded, "Hi, Clare. What is up?"

"Remember how you said you would go to the doctor's with me?"

"Yes…"

"Well would you mind driving me to my appointment tomorrow?" Clare sent, and then she immediately realized that she didn't want to sound pushy so she sent a second message before he could respond. "But if you're not free then don't worry about it."

"What time? I'm free all morning."

"10 A.M."

"Okay, I can pick you up at 9:30, if that works for you. I'm guessing we won't need more than a half hour to get there."

"9:30 sounds perfect. Thank you so much, Eli. You have no idea how much this means to me."

"Anytime, Edwards."

Clare smiled as she put her cell phone away. She was practically giddy at the thought of seeing Eli tomorrow morning. Clare already started running through ideas of what she should wear tomorrow. She knew it wasn't a date, or anything like that, but she still wanted to look nice when she saw Eli.

The next morning Clare went through her usual routine. She cooked breakfast then she got her kids up and made sure they were ready for school. She woke Jake up from the couch and sent him off to work. Jake's new residency on the couch now added more work to Clare's morning. After washing the breakfast dishes, Clare would now have to clean up the couch and the living room. Also, today it appeared that Jake had taken up late night snacking. There were crumbs everywhere. Clare decided she better vacuum before they got ants, or worse, mice.

By the time Clare finished up all of her chores, she barely had time left to shower and get ready for the day.

As she was brushing her teeth, she looked out the bathroom window and noticed a black classic car parked in front of her house. It was only 9:15, but it HAD to be Eli. Of course he would be early. That is just how Eli was.

Clare was both annoyed and excited that Eli was early, but once she realized that she was ready to go and he hadn't even tried to bug her yet, she just got excited to see him again. She threw on a sweater and her shoes and ran out to his car.

She noticed Eli scribbling feverishly on a notepad and decided to announce herself so as not to scare him.

"Nice car," Clare yelled out. It was the first thing that popped into her head. Her plan did not work very well, though. Eli still jumped a bit; Clare could tell that she had startled him out of his own thoughts.

He looked up and a huge grin spread across his face when his eyes hit Clare. He noticed that she dressed more casual now then she did when they were younger, but he thought she looked as cute as ever in her tight jeans and flowered shirt.

"Thanks," Eli laughed at himself when he realized how long it had taken him to respond. "Do you know cars now?" Eli questioned as Clare moved papers off of the passenger seat and sat down.

"Not too much, but I know a little. I know this is a Mustang, but it's not like any other old Mustang I've ever seen." Clare explained. "And I'm guessing the paint is custom. It's too shiny to be original."

"Wow, I have to say, I'm impressed! This one is kind of rare. How do you know all that? Have you been leading a secret hot-rod like and not told me?" Eli joked.

"Glen, my step-father, is a car guy. I always used to get dragged to car shows so my mom would have someone to keep her company. I guess one day I just started paying attention," Clare revealed.

"That's pretty awesome. Girls that know cars is kind of a turn-on," Eli admitted and Clare would have sworn that she saw a hint of pink grace his beautiful cheeks.

"I should have guessed that you would have a classic car. It is so your style," Clare said, changing the subject back to his car.

"I have five, actually. Cars are my one indulgence," Eli told her.

"Five? Really? How do you find the time to drive them all? I can't wait to see them!" Clare should have known. Eli always was a car guy. She thought back to Morty and how much he loved that damn hearse. She also found herself hoping that he hadn't bought a new hearse. She really did hate that thing, it always creeped her out a bit.

"Well the Mach 1 Mustang is my favorite of my cars. Bullfrog bought it for me for my high school graduation. We restored it together," Eli explained.

"Wait, you did this?"

"Yeah, it took a while, but it was nice to spend that time with my dad. It actually started a tradition. Since then we have restored a different car together every year. Bullfrog had quite the collection of Mustangs now. He lets me borrow them sometimes, but this one is mine all mine," Eli smiled as he patted the dash and reminisced. The time he got to spend with Bullfrog restoring cars was always one of the best parts of his year.

"Wow! That really is awesome. So I take it your parents are still around. Where do they live now?" Clare was truly interested in everything Eli had to say.

"Same house. I offered to buy them a new, bigger house, but they wouldn't move. So I just bought Bullfrog some land outside the city and we put up a nice garage and workshop for the cars. I also bought Cece a beach house on Cape Cod. It was her idea, but they rarely go," Eli told Clare.

"Oh, I've never been to Cape Cod. I hear it is beautiful," Clare said.

Eli just smiled in return. He wanted to tell her he would take her. They could leave right now. He wanted to tell her that he would take her anywhere she wanted to go, but he didn't think that would be acceptable right now. So instead, he just smiled and changed the subject.

"I brought you a coffee," Eli said as he finally collected his papers from Clare and put them away in the back with his notepad. "Do you like milk or cream?" Eli asked as he picked up the two coffees.

"Milk, please," Clare said in a voice so sweet it melted Eli's heart.

"Good because both of them are milk. I got sugar on the side, though. I couldn't remember how much you like." Eli handed her a paper coffee cup and a handful of sugar packets.

Clare couldn't believe how thoughtful Eli was being. Of course he would remember that she liked milk instead of cream, and of course he would get it for her without being asked. Clare was overcome with emotion over such a simple gesture. She just wanted to jump out of her own seat and give him a hug.

Simultaneously, on his own side of the car, Eli was having similar thoughts. He was thinking of how easily it would be to just lean over and kiss her. She probably wouldn't mind, but it didn't seem right to him. He was always taught to wait until the end of a date to kiss a girl, not the beginning. Plus, this wasn't even a date. This was just a friend being supportive of another friend.

It was just then that Eli remembered why he was here. Clare was going to the doctor's right now to get checked for STDs because her husband cheated on her. This was no time to be thinking about taking advantage of Clare. She must be so scared right now. He just had to be the supportive friend right now, not the creepy guy. He was determined to be there for Clare no matter what. Life had given him a second chance and he wasn't going to screw this up. He wanted Clare around, even if they could only ever be friends.

"Okay, we better get going. Just point me in the right direction," Eli said, shaking the both of them out of their daydreams.

The ride to Clare's doctor's office was pretty quiet. Eli figured she didn't want to talk right now, so he turned on the radio to listen to Bullfrog's morning show. They both laughed at Bullfrog's stories and sang along to the classic rock songs he played.

Eli pulled up to the doctor's office and parked his car. As Clare started to get out of the car, he noticed the Ob/Gyn sign in front of the building. Eli knew what that meant, and he wasn't sure why, but the thought of bringing Clare to her "lady doctor" instantly embarrassed him. He decided that if he didn't get out, then maybe Clare would just go inside and let him wait in the car. With that in mind Eli stayed put.

"Are you coming?" Clare asked as she reopened the door to talk to him.

"Why don't you go ahead? I'll wait right here," Eli offered, hoping it would be that easy.

"Please?" Clare asked with puppy-dog eyes. "The waiting room is the worst. I just need you to keep me company."

Eli could not resist that face. He begrudgingly got out of his car and silently followed her to the office.

"Okay, Mrs. Martin, you and your husband are all set. Feel free to have a seat and we will call you in a few minutes." The nice receptionist told Clare and Eli.

"Oh, no, I'm not-" Eli started to clarify that he was most definitely not Clare's husband.

"Elli! Just go sit!" Clare cut him off and led him to the waiting area.

"I'm sorry, that was awkward. I just… Are you sure I shouldn't just wait in the car?" Eli offered again, visibly nervous.

"Relax, Goldsworthy," Clare giggled. "It's just a doctor's office."

"But all these women are pregnant. What if someone sees us and thinks I knocked you up?" Eli whispered.

Clare let out a snort. She couldn't help it; he was being so overdramatic right now. "Is that what you are worried about? My doctor is not just for pregnant woman. We'll be fine."

"Well… yeah. I do have to worry about things like that, sometimes people do recognize me, but it's not just that. This place kind of creeps me out. They won't expect me to go in there with you, will they?" Eli whispered again.

"No! And anyway, they will probably just do a blood test or something. I already had my yearly checkup," Clare explained.

"Okay, enough. You already told me way too much," Eli all but begged her to stop.

Clare giggled at how cute Eli was being. She had never seen him so uncomfortable over something so silly.

"Clare Martin," a young nurse called out.

Eli looked around. He thought that it was quite a coincidence that there happened to be another Clare here right now. Until his Clare stood up. "Oh," Eli thought to himself, "right."

"I'll be quick. Behave," Clare smiled and sashayed away.

Eli watched her wiggle her hips right through the door. After she was out of sight, his mind began to race. Clare was still married. How could he let himself forget that fact? He should not be letting himself have these thoughts.

He was now mentally kicking himself for that pregnancy comment he made before. It was Cece's fault. She begged him to give her "grandbabies" practically every day now. It was her fault he had babies on the brain.

He couldn't blame everything on his mother, though. He had to admit that Clare was the only girl that he had ever pictured himself starting a family with. She wasn't even with him. She technically wasn't even single. She was still married to someone else. And even if by some miracle she decided to give him a shot, she would never want to have kids with him. She already had a family, surely she was finished having children.

Eli wanted to stop himself. He knew he shouldn't let his mind wander too far away from him like this. Letting his thoughts get away from him always ended up getting him into trouble. He couldn't help it, though, the only thing he could picture right now was Clare holding a baby; his baby. The sun streaming in from a window was lighting up her hair like a halo. It was the most beautiful picture his brain had ever created.

Eli had his eyes closed, and was still enjoying his vision, when Clare returned.

"Whatcha thinking about?" Clare asked, innocently.

"What? Oh, nothing," Eli defended.

"You had a pretty big smile on your face to be thinking about nothing."

Shit, Eli had to make up an excuse quick, "I was, uh, just thinking about some stupid videos Adam showed me. A dog playing a piano, can you imagine?"

Clare smiled politely. She may not have seen him in years, but she still knew him well enough to know when he was lying. She just didn't know why. No sense in making it into a fight. Maybe it was something personal. Clare understood that she would need to work to gain that level of trust.

"All set?" Eli asked.

"Yeah," Clare sighed.

"What's wrong?" Eli demanded.

"Nothing. I just won't know the results until the end of next week. I'm going to be stressing out until I know," Clare explained.

"Well, I guess I'll just have to keep you distracted then," Eli joked. Then, when he noticed the huge smiled that immediately spread across Clare's face, he hoped that he might actually get to make good on that offer.

"Let me buy you lunch," Eli asked, surprising Clare.

"Eli, it's only 10 AM," Clare laughed.

"Well, then either let me buy you breakfast or start thinking of something we can do until lunchtime," Eli smirked.

Clare enjoyed this flirty Eli. He was being so nice to her and she couldn't understand what she did to deserve all of his attention and friendship. Clare couldn't help herself. The tears just welled up in her eyes. She tried to blink them away, but that just made them run down her cheeks.

"Please don't cry," Eli begged as he ushered Clare out of the building and towards his car. "I can just bring you home right now if you want. We don't have to do anything else. I know this must be a stressful day for you. You probably just want to go home and relax."

"It's not that. It's just; you are being so nice to me. I forgot what it was like to have someone care so much about me that they would do anything to make me happy," Clare explained.

"Oh, you're welcome then, I guess," Eli said as he helped Clare into the passenger seat, then ran around the car to get in the driver's seat next to her. "Okay, no more tears. You think of something fun to do before lunch while I drive. I have to stop by Cece and Bullfrog's house real quick, but then I'm all yours."

When they pulled up in front of Eli's parent's house a wave of memories flooded Clare's mind. She remembered distinctly how she had tried to throw herself at Eli and how he had known her better than she knew herself. She wondered if she would have regretted sleeping with him that day. In this moment, she wasn't sure she would.

"Hang tight. I'll be right back," Eli jumped out and jogged up to the front door and let himself in.

"Hey, kiddo, is that you?" Bullfrog called from somewhere upstairs when he heard the front door.

"Really, Bullfrog? Still with the kiddo? I am thirty-five years old!" Eli yelled back.

"You'll ALWAYS be my kiddo," Bullfrog told him as he bounded down the stairs. "You don't complain when your mother still calls you baby-boy."

"That's different!"

"Yeah, yeah, you always have been a momma's boy!" Bullfrog laughed and Eli rolled his eyes.

"Where is mom?"

"See," Bullfrog said smugly.

"She asked me to stop by," Eli defended.

"She went out, but that box is what she wanted to give you," Bullfrog explained to his son.

"Sweet, a present! For what?"

"For you to deliver to Imo and Fi next time you go to the city; a housewarming present or something, who knows. Your mother likes shopping for girls WAY too much. She will use any excuse she can get. You better find a wife soon and start popping out some kids. Make you poor mother happy!" Bullfrog demanded.

"Oh god, not you too. I'm leaving!" Eli laughed and grabbed the huge box with pink wrapping paper and headed out the door.

Eli placed the box on the ground behind his car and pulled out his keys to open the trunk. If he had seen Bullfrog follow him outside, he would have made an attempt to stop him.

"Whoa boy! You holding out on me?" Bullfrog yelled as he made his way down the front walk towards Eli's car.

Eli could feel his cheeks burning from embarrassment and his stomach starting to churn from nervousness. Things were starting to be okay with Clare and now Bullfrog was going to mess everything up.

"Go back inside, Dad!" Eli all but screamed.

"Don't be rude, son. Introduce me to your friend," Bullfrog insisted as he continued on towards Eli's car.

"Inside, Dad!" Eli yelled this time.

"Clarebelle?" a very confused Bullfrog asked.

"Hey Bullfrog," an extremely pink-cheeked Clare squeaked.

"Clarebelle! How the helluv you been?" Bullfrog asked as he leaned into the passenger side window and smothered Clare in a hug.

"Good," Clare's muffled voice said.

"Okay, Bullfrog, that's enough. She's good. You're good. I'm good. We have to go!" Eli grabbed his father's arm and pulled him away from the car.

For once, Bullfrog took the hint. He walked back up to the house and stood in the doorway.

"I'm sorry, Clare," Eli said, defeated, as he got back in the car. "I didn't mean for that to happen. I didn't know he was going to follow me out. He never does."

"It's okay," Clare offered, but Eli still hung his head in shame. "Eli, look at me. It really is not a big deal at all. It was nice to see Bullfrog. I had forgotten how much I missed your parents," Clare smiled. "Plus, if we are going to be friends, then we are going to have to get used to eachother's families."

Clare wasn't really thinking of Eli's family when she said that. It had just hit her that, if they were going to continue to hang out, then he was going to have to meet her family. Now she was scared of how he was going to react to her messed up family.

At that comment, Eli began thinking the same thing. He wondered what Clare's sons would think of him. If they were anything like that asshole father of theirs, then they would probably hate him. And what would Jake say when he finds out? Eli hoped that Jake didn't still harbor ill feelings toward him. He didn't even want to start thinking about what Clare's mom would say.

Just then, Eli's phone buzzed. He read the message on the screen and rolled his eyes.

"What?" Clare asked.

"Nothing," Eli tried to brush it off, but Clare pursed her lips and he caved. "Fine."

He handed her his phone and she burst out laughing when she read "Details xoxo Bullfrog".

"X-O-X-O?" Clare questioned.

"Yeah, he doesn't realize that is his automatic text signature and I haven't told him," Eli said with a devilish grin as he started the car.

As Eli pulled away from the curb, he waved goodbye to Bullfrog, and when Clare wasn't looking, he flipped him off.

"No that that's over, where to, darling?" Eli asked, relieved to finally be away from his father.

"I can't really think of anything good. Maybe just go for a drive? Unless you have any better ideas."

"Any movies you want to see?" Eli suggested.

"I don't even know what movies are out," Clare admitted.

"I would suggest the book store, but they always recognize me there. I don't want to put you through that. Hmm… picnic?" Eli tried.

"It is still not lunch time," Clare giggled.

"I know, but we would have to go to the store, buy food, then find a place to picnic. Plus, we wouldn't have to eat right away. We can just enjoy the outdoors. I never get to just sit outside. Come on," Eli begged.

"Okay, okay. Take us to the store, Sir," Clare admitted defeat.

"Eli pretended to tip his non-existent cap to her, "As you wish, Madam."

"It's not that difficult of a decision. Turkey or Roast Beef, just decide," Eli was getting a bit frustrated at Clare's indecisiveness.

"But I can't decide," Clare whined.

"Then get both," Eli offered; he thought that would be a simple solution.

"Don't be silly, we don't need both," Clare shot down.

"Then decide," Eli demanded.

"You pick."

"Okay, Roast Beef."

"Oh," Clare said, deflated.

"We'll have half a pound of TURKEY, please," Eli said to the kid behind the deli counter.

Clare smiled at him and rolled her eyes. Typical Eli.

"You go pick out snacks. I'll grab drinks and meet you at the check-out."

"Okay, but you aren't paying."

"Yes, I am. Lunch was my idea," Eli told her. Clare huffed and Eli smirked at her cuteness. "Snacks, woman. Go!"

Eli walked the opposite direction and scolded himself again. He hated what he was doing right now. Well, actually, he loved it, but he was so scared of what might happen. He was scared of how easy things were with Clare, of how easily he was slipping into flirting and taking care of her. He didn't know it yet, but he was falling in love with her all over again.

"So, where are we going now?" Clare asked as they headed back to the Mustang. They were so close to holding hands, but neither of them would acknowledge that fact. Eli had tried to grab the shopping bag from Clare, but she had refused to let go. Now they walked through the parking lot, both of the carrying the same bag.

"Oh, I have an idea, but it's a surprise," Eli wagged his eyebrows at her.

"You have to tell me," Clare whined.

"Nope, I don't," a smug Eli told her.

"Yes!"

"Okay, okay, you caught me. I'm kidnapping you and taking you to the backwoods to have my way with you," Eli joked.

"Eli!"

"Clare!"

When Eli got on the highway, Clare actually started to get worried.

"You aren't really kidnapping me, are you?" Clare nervously laughed.

Eli just glared at her and turned up the radio.

Clare took that as her cue to keep quiet. She just stared out the window and smiled at the off-key singing coming from the other side of the car.

When Eli pulled off the highway and then onto a dirt road, Clare had to ask again, "Seriously, where are we?"

"Just one of my favorite places. Sorry about the dirt driveway, we haven't gotten around to paving it yet," Eli explained.

"You own this land?" Clare asked, amazed yet again.

"Technically Bullfrog does. Remember, I told you I bought him some land?" Eli asked.

"SOME land? Eli, this is more than SOME land. We've already been driving in for, like, 2 km."

"Well, he likes to hunt too. There is a cabin way back on the other side but I thought I'd show you his car collection today. Plus, the cabin is a dirty man cave with no indoor plumbing," Eli laughed.

"This place is gorgeous, and so rural. I can see why you would love it so much. It's probably nice for you to get away from the city," Clare said.

"Yeah, that and the cars!"

"Boys and their toys!" Clare giggled. "Oh my goodness. I thought you said you guys only had a garage here. That looks like a warehouse."

"Where else do you store fifteen Mustangs? Bullfrog calls it the stable. You know, for his pony cars… yeah, he's pretty lame. Anyway, let's make lunch. I'm starving. Then I'll show you the cars."

"This is the best day I've had in a very long time. Thank you so much." Clare was truly thankful for everything Eli had done for her today.

"I wish you would let me take you out for dinner," Eli was not ready to say goodbye just yet.

"I wish I could, I really do, but I have to make dinner for the kids. They will start scavenging soon if I don't get in there," Clare sadly explained.

"Maybe some other time then?" Eli asked hopefully. He was looking for any sign that it would be okay to ask Clare out on a real date.

"I'm not busy Saturday night," Clare offered hopefully.

"Then I'll pick you up at seven, but I wouldn't mind seeing you before then," Eli let his hand find Clare's and intertwined their fingers.

"I am free during the day tomorrow, I'll be waiting for your call," Clare leaned in closer.

"Well I'm a busy guy, I'll have to see when I can fit you into my schedule," Eli joked and leaned in to match Clare's posture.

"I forgot I was friends with such a famous author. Mister Big Shot doesn't have any time for me," Clare breathed.

"There is always time for you," Eli whispered, letting his words tickle Clare's cheek.

Just then a truck pulled into the driveway. The moment was lost.

"I, uh… I need to go," Clare reluctantly said. "Really, Eli, today was wonderful. I will be waiting for your call."