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Eli's POV

She was beautiful, her curly hair primped, her eyes shining brighter than the sun as we interlocked our hands. My heart was racing, faster than normal. My palms were sweating against hers as I smirked, which earned me a shinning smile on her breath taking face.

The ravishing white dress fit her beautiful curves in a way I never thought was possible, and when her lips came to mine, the cheers of the on-lookers went wild. Her lips moved with mine as I cupped her cheek tighter, never wanting to let go.

"I love you, forever," I whispered against her lips as our foreheads touched, and she glanced into my eyes, my love radiating off my body to hers. I gulped, my heart racing as she was silent, not responding to me.

"I'm sorry Eli, but I can't," she said, her voice monotone, showing now emotion whatsoever.

She was like stone.

My throat went dry, my chest tightening in discomfort at her small, yet cruel words. Within an instant, the people who surrounded us had vanished, and before I could question Clare's leave, her body had drifted off into the mist.

I stand there, alone.

That's all I'll ever be…alone.

My eyes shot open, gasping for breath on what looked like an operating table as the bright, white lights from the ceiling blared down into my pupils. The pain weighed me down, keeping my back in contact with the table as I saw her.

She was operating me, keeping me alive. Helping stay here for a longer time, for Lilly, for me, and what I hoped was for her.

I parted my lips to ask her why, why she was trying to save me if she hated me so much. I glanced around nervously as I felt her bone chilling two fingers press up against the veins on my neck as she called out, "We have a pulse everyone! We have a pulse! Can you hear me Eli? Eli? Move any part of your body if you hear me!"

My body felt paralyzed as I tried to move something, anything.

Then, I felt my hand being interlocked with hers as I glanced up into the blaring light. I could hear her sobbing, knowing I wasn't giving her what she wanted. My eyelids grew heavy, and before I could go back into a deep sleep I didn't want, I forced myself to give her hand a gentle squeeze…


Clare's POV

"I can't believe you did it little sis, you saved him," I heard my brother say as I glanced down at Eli as he slept, his eyelids heavy, but his side had been sealed up with the transfusion of his friends Adam's blood.

"Why do you doubt me? Just because my job consists of mainly treating children doesn't mean I know how to heal the ones I lo-," I stopped myself mid-sentence as Owen grinned at me, "Aw, my little sister is finally in love."

When I didn't respond, we both glanced at Eli and I heard Owen say, "It's about time, every relationship you were ever in, you always had to wear the pants…if you know what I mean."

I rolled my eyes as he joked, "Remember that guy who didn't believe in orgasms and you came home, hysterically crying because you didn't get what you wanted! Oh my god and I remember his semen was all over your jacket, classic shooter!"

My cheeks turned red, thinking about a distant memory and as I looked at Eli, I couldn't help but think that no matter how stubborn he was, or how mean he could get in tense situations, I knew that he is just about the best I was going to get in life.

"He makes you sparkle, you know?" Owen asked, and I shook my head, "He's just a guy…"

"Clare, come on. I've been like you, with the awe struck face and stomach churning feeling. Even though I got it when I looked at her, it was still there. No matter how many drinks I down, it's not going to bring her back without her husband's arms wrapped around her, but I smile sometimes, knowing that she was real. Don't let him go to waste Clare, he makes you happy, the rugrat makes you happy, even though she isn't yours. You see how fucked up he is, but I know you don't see that side of him. You see the hard working single dad part of him, I know you do," Owen perused me, trying to get me to cave my feelings for Eli as I glanced at Adam, Eli's friend, who was holding a sleeping Lilly in his lap.

"To see the look on Lilly's face when I wrapped her in my arms and she clung to me like there was no one else in the world she had, was a feeling that I loved. Even though it sounds sick, I just loved being that person to be wanted. Eli is just so tense sometimes and-," Owen cut me off, placing a hand on my shoulder, "He had his little girl in a house with a coke doing whore…did you expect him to pull out a folding chair and watch?"

"No but-," Owen cut me off, "Men will be men Clare…and they have the constant need to protect their family. They feel important and useful when there are times like those back there. Eli loved the feeling of being needed, of being in a dangerous situation because it makes his blood boil. But, when he didn't have the power and I took over, he must've snapped. Just, give him another chance."

I sighed, as Eli's friend, Adam, flashed me a smile, pointing down at Lilly who was squirming in his lap.

"Please Clare, you might've dated a lot of assholes, I'm talking more than I can count, but this guy right here," Owen pointed to Eli who was behind the glass as he said, "Hate to break it to ya', but uh, you aren't getting anything better than that slice of ass lying in that hospital bed."

"Owen!" I gasped at his language, "And besides, I'm pretty sure that he loves you back."

"I want Clare," I heard a tiny voice say from across the waiting room and I grinned from ear to ear, hearing Lilly plead for my presence. Owen smiled at me and said, "Go ahead, you know you want to."

The moment I took Lilly into my arms from Adam's, I thanked the hospital for letting me operate on Eli, letting me have the chance to save his life. I remembered how I entered the operating room; I put all my emotions aside for this man, for his child.

"A-are you and my daddy ever going to leave me there again?" Lilly asked, her voice was low, so low that I was about to ask her to repeat her question until it finally processed and I smiled. She buried her head in my neck, soft cries escaping her lips as her body shook, "I-I don't want to go back there. M-my mommy isn't like you Clare, s-she's so mean."

I raked my fingers through her hair as I felt her frantic breaths hit my skin, "Don't worry Lilly, we'll never send you back there. We're going to gain full custody of you, I'll make sure of it sweet heart."

My heart fluttered as I carried Lilly over to her dad's room, just so she could see him through the glass and she smiled through the tears streaming down her face, "W-when is my daddy going to wake up?"

"Soon Lilly, soon," I whispered as Lilly rested her head on my chest, her eyelids growing heavy, but some tears slipped down her cheeks. "How soon is soon?" She asked, with a whimper in her throat.

That was a tough one, one that I really didn't want to answer.

"Well, honey, soon is-"

"A few seconds?" She looked up at me with her big blue eyes, which had a intoxicating green ring around it. "Maybe…but it could also be a few days, even weeks. We don't know for sure, but the good thing is that he will be okay and that he'll wake up sometime."

"This waiting is hell!" I gasped and looked at her face, she looked very disgruntled.

"Lilly Goldsworthy, you do not say that word, it is a very bad word," I raised my voice like any mother would to their daughter if they heard them speak in such a way. Lilly looked scared that she had done something awful, she looked mortified, upset even.

"Mommy says it all the time," I scolded her in a playful way, "And you listen to your mommy all of the time?" She moved her upper body away from my face and shook her head. She seemed ashamed, and that was the last thing I wanted her to feel. I didn't mean to make her so very upset.

But with Eli out cold for who the hell knows how long, I have to be responsible, and I will not be the one to let Lilly use such foul language. I mean Anya says it all the time? Yeah, sure, Eli and I and every other adult in this universe says it, but not in front of children, especially your own children!

"Clare, my head hurts a lot," I smiled warmly at her, "Well, then to the front desk we go! We have some medicine that will take it right away! And then you can have a lollipop and a toy or sticker!" She got super excited about that, just like every child should.

"What if I want both?" I pursed my lips together and pretended to have a thinking face on, "I guess you can since you are a very special patient to me." Her eyes lit up brighter than a Christmas tree. "You know, Clare, I really wish you were my mommy."

At that moment, my heart swelled with love.

All this time, through my past relationships, I've been desperately trying to find a guy to tell me they love me or make love to me with such passion. But, what I really needed, was just for someone to admit that they wanted me-, no, needed me to be around.

To feel wanted, and loved, even if it was just by Lilly, the feeling was indescribable.

The second I put Lilly down, she darted into Eli's room and stood beside his bed, glancing up at it curiously while not saying a word. I didn't know whether she was in shock, or was just taking in the appearance of her father looking the way he does.

"I-is it-t okay to touch him?" Lilly asked shakily. I laughed lightly and smiled, "Of course you can touch him, just be gentle, like he is with you when you don't feel well." She smiled at me and said an 'okay'. I grabbed onto the sleeping figures hand, Eli. But of course, still felt no response.

I sighed as I watched Lilly be extra careful with her daddy. She looked as if she was frightened, but I knew she was okay because of the big smile playing on her lips. Then, she laid her chest on his and her face was right on top of his. I couldn't help but laugh because the way it looked, just too frickin' cute.

"I love you, daddy," She pecked his lips and sniffled

"And, Clare loves you too," Lilly glanced at me for approval, grinning evilly.

"Lilly!" I gasped, and right after I said that, I felt the sleeping figures hand respond to mine. But I stayed frozen in my seat, looking over at his eyes closed and the smirk, slowly but surely creeping up on his pale face…


END OF CHAPTER 11

So, 90 reviews for next chapter?

It's going to be Christmas themed…you never know what happens on Christmas, especially an Eclare/Lilly-filled Christmas :P