HOLY SHIT I HAVE EXPLANING TO DO. BUT LONG STORY SHORT, MY LIFE WAS FUCKED OVER BY A DEATH OF A FAMILY MEMBER AND FINALS. Anyway, stories will be posted on the normal schedule. Hugs, love, kisses, and sex. What. Okay, start reading.

I never liked the smell of hospitals. I believe that started after my first few visits to the hospital for my cancer. They had a mixed smell of cleaning supplies and soap. But this time it smelled different. Maybe it was because of the dried blood under my nose, or the several ointments my mother and Eli would cover me with so that some wounds would heal faster than others. Occasionally, Cece's perfume would mask the smell, and for a few hours, instead of blood and ointment, I would smell pomegranates and Moroccan roses mixed with Eli's cologne. Personally, that was my favorite scent. His cologne, which was peppermint and cinnamon.

"Beautiful? You alright? You look lost." Eli quietly asked as he squeezed my hand but laid his head on my shoulder.

"Don't you worry your furry face. I'm absolutely fine." I was referring to the fact that Eli hasn't shaved in a while and he was starting to grow a beard. And honestly, it made him look hotter. So much hotter. I just wanted to pull him onto my bed, rip off his clothes and have him—

"Now your cheeks are red. Babe, are you sick? Do you need me to get you something?" Eli leaned in closer and I stared at my lips and his scruff. I wanted to pull him in for a kiss, but my mother was at the foot of my bed and on the phone with my father. Who I haven't seen in months. Except for my accident. "Clare?" My eyes met his worrisome pair.

"I'm fine. I just want to get out of here." Eli pulled me in for a hug and I embraced him fully, scent and all.

"I know. The doctor is just giving you your prescription for your daily medicine. You'll be out of here soon. I'll even take you home or we could go get something to eat, if you want. Whatever you want." He ran his fingers through my hair, which was no longer stained with my blood. The bright, auburn color and small highlights returned and hopefully they were there to stay. He soon pulled away and looked at me in the eyes. He gave me that look. The look that you would give to someone who was sad and kinda sorta not your friend. That broken toy look.

"Don't look at me like that."

"Like what?"

"Like I'm a broken toy. Pity, more or less." His eyes met mine and he started to curl some strands of my hand with his one finger.

"Clare Edwards. You are nothing close to a broken toy. Never have been, never will be." The light in his eyes made me smile so wide that I thought some stitches would break open.

"Then what am I, Elijah Goldsworthy?" His smiling eyes locked with mine.

"You, Ms. Edwards, are my amazing, loving, sweet, and," He leaned into my ear to whisper. "Unbelievable sensual girlfriend." I could feel my cheeks redden and my neck felt hot. But Eli placed his cold, yet familiar fingers on my neck and pull me in for a kiss. It hurt. I could feel him biting my lip a little and slowly have his tongue make his way into my mouth.

"Alrighty, Clare." Eli and I both away as Doctor Turk made his way into my room. Eli coughed a few times and squeezed my bruised hand as Doctor Turk flipped through the papers on his clipboard. "So I wrote 2 prescriptions for you. You are to take them an hour apart and only twice a week. You've made quite a rapid recovery, which is amazing. Just be sure to check in with your doctor for checkups and if there is anything wrong, come back here, and I'll be sure to take care of you." He smiled at Eli and me but walked close to us, so that only we could hear him. "And uh, be careful. Your body isn't in the best shape to be active, but if you two are risk takers, always remember-"

"Yes, yes, thank you." Doctor Turk laughed a little but he waved us off before going off to his next patient. My mother finally turned to us and she sighed heavily as she sat down on a chair nearby.

"Your father is probably one of the most difficult men I have ever met. But I have a little proposal. How about you and Eli come to a brunch with Jake and me? Glen is taking care of moving things out of Jake's room." The way she looked at me was definitely a broken toy look. Her eyes were watery, and a bit red. I could hear her faintly crying when Eli and I slept. I heard her cries of pain. She looked at me in a way that said 'My poor baby. My poor, poor, little baby.'

"I think I can make that. And as much as I don't want to leave for New York, I must. So I will spend my final moments here with you guys." My mom played with her hands as she studied Eli.

"Will you be there for Clare's graduation?"

"If I don't get expelled for missing too much, you betcha. I'll be the one crying and taking pictures."

"Right. And I will be the one cheering and whooping before I sweep Clare off her feet and carry her off to my…Truck."

"Not quite. But you were close." I enjoyed how Eli and my mom were a bit closer than before. She kinda hated him in the past. Well, strongly disliked was the word. But at least they moved past it.

"So it's settled! Brunch in 30 minutes? Jake and I will meet you guys at the nearest iHop or something." Eli smiled and nodded as my mother left. He then turned to me and pulled me in for another passionate kiss. With his tongue pulling mine in for a dance. Making me shiver with every second his tongue moved or when his hands gave me goose bumps every time he ran his hands up and down my sides.

What a time to be alive. God damn.