Author's Note: Thanks again for all of the reviews and alerts. I am glad you guys are enjoying this story. I'm sorry I left you on a cliff hanger on the last chapter. I am also sorry for the delay. I hope you like this one!

Chapter 11

Clare?

Fitz quickly turned away from Owen and looked behind him. Sure enough, she was standing in the middle of the restaurant. He couldn't believe it. He pinched himself on the arm to make sure he wasn't dreaming.

He wasn't.

A smile quickly spread across his face. She was really here. He glanced behind him, at his friend. He was waving Clare over. That was odd. Since when were they friends?

He ignored that thought and turned back to face Clare. She slowly approached the table. She almost looked like she was nervous.

"Hi Owen. Hi Fitz."

"Hi Clare," he told her softly. He watched as Owen motioned for her to sit down. He smiled as she pulled out the chair and sat. He couldn't believe his luck. The girl that had been in his thoughts for months was sitting at the table with him.

Clare briefly looked at Fitz, before turning her attention to Owen. "I wanted to thank you for earlier today," she told him softly. Owen shook his head and smiled at her. "It was no big deal," he told her. Fitz looked between the both of them in silence. What had happened earlier?

Clare returned Owen's smile and focused her gaze towards Fitz. He sucked in a breath. "I had no idea you were released," she told him. She gave him a small smile and he released the breath he was holding.

"Yeah, I was released early this morning."

"That's good."

He nodded his head at her and smiled. "It's really good," he told her. She gave him another smile. He still couldn't believe that she was sitting at the table with him. And smiling. He really liked her smile. It was something he had dreamt about the last couple of weeks. Among other things.

Owen cleared his throat, interrupting his thoughts. Fitz turned to face his friend. He was holding his cell phone and had a huge grin on his face. "I'll be right back. I have to make a phone call," Owen told them, before he got up from his seat. Fitz watched him walk towards the front of the restaurant, before turning back to face Clare.

He wasn't sure if Owen really had a phone call to make. But he wasn't going to waste the opportunity to talk to Clare. Alone. He had a few things he needed to get off his chest. Things he wanted to tell her since he had been in juvie.

He took a deep breath, "Look, Clare, I'm really sorry about what I did to you… and Eli."

She opened her mouth to say something, but he quickly interrupted her. He really wanted her to hear his apology. "I've had a lot of time to think about what I did and I know it was wrong," he continued.

He took a deep breath and slowly let it out. "I was embarrassed about what happened and I let my anger get the best of me," he told her.

She shook her head and looked down at the table. "It's not entirely your fault," she told him softly.

"What are you talking about?"

She slowly looked up at him, "I should have never pushed Eli to apologize to you."

He couldn't believe what he was hearing. He shook his head, "Clare, it's not your fault."

She gave him a small smile, before looking away. But he wasn't sure if she believed him. "Honestly Clare, I never blamed you," he told her.

She turned her gaze back towards him and took a deep breath. He watched her as she slowly let it out. It was probably only a few seconds, but to Fitz it took forever. He held his breath as he waited for her to say something. Anything.

"I appreciate your apology, Fitz. I really do."

'Yes,' he thought to himself.

She smiled at him, "I forgive you."

He sighed in relief before returning her smile.