"The good news is your baby looks perfectly healthy right now the bad news is we haven't been able to stop your labor from progressing as easily as I anticipated you are still having contractions although mild they are consistent. We are going to increase the dose of medicine in your IV with any luck it will stop things. We would like you to make it to at least 37 weeks to give the baby's lungs a chance to develop more. However just to be safe we are going to give you a shot that will help move that process along. Keep in mind that if we can't stop labor there is a good chance your daughter will spent a week or maybe more in the NICU. Do you have any questions?"

Eli and I both sit silent taking in everything we have just been told over our baby's situation, I'm beyond scared. I I know she will more than likely survive regardless if she's born now, in a week when I reach 37 weeks or if I am able to make it to my due date in a little less than four weeks. With that fact in mind which I am grateful over, I understand some people have to cope with much worse news however I'm still upset I don't want my baby to end up in the NICU having to go through god knows what torture just because my body isn't doing what it needs to; Needles, IVs breathing machines are all possibilities. She would be so small so fragile enduring things that some grown adults have a hard time handling; All of it my fault. Maybe if I had been more careful or hadn't let myself get so stressed all the time over things that seem so trivial in comparison to my baby she wouldn't be in this position right now. I tell the doctor to do whatever it takes to give my daughter the best chance at staying put for the next four weeks; I'll take any amount of pain if it keeps her from feeling it. After the doctor walks out it's once again just Eli and myself alone, I try not to but I quickly lose my composure and warm tears began streaming down my face.

I feel Eli's body weight move into my bed his arms wrap tightly around my severely shaking body "Clare she's going to be okay try to calm down, I know this is hard on you but being upset won't help anyone. Her or you you have to be strong right now" his voice is smooth and soothing . He runs his fingers through my hair delicately as he does I can feel my body relaxing.

"What if something happens to her, this is my fault Eli. I should have been more careful; I let things stress me out too much and for what? None of that stuff even matters anymore I just need her to be okay" I cry into his shoulder.

"shh it's not your fault Clare these things happen. Everything will be okay." he whispers softly in my ear holding me tighter his hands now ghosting up and down my back softly.

Allie and Cece arrive shortly after Interrupting our moment. I love them but I wish they had not shown up so quickly so my time with just Eli could have lasted longer. This time it's not because I love Eli that I wanted time alone with him It's because I love our daughter; the life we have created half of me half of him. I know in my heart as complicated as things have been between Eli and I, she was conceived out of love. Things certainly aren't perfect and I know even after this he won't be able to let himself be fully involved I don't expect a miraculous change. He won't open his heart the way I have to her until the DNA test tells him it's safe to get attached; when that moment happens there isn't a doubt in my mind he is going to be every bit as in love with her as I am already. I've already realized his exceptional ability to love a long time ago a blessing and a curse for him. Our daughter will be lucky to have the best of it.

I fill Cece and Allie in on our most recent update and just like Eli they are able to calm me down. Allie takes on protective best friend action trying to keep my mind off of the possibilities of a negative outcome and Cece holds me in a sweet embrace having them here has really helped. Cece especially her nurturing ways and the motherly comfort she gives is exactly what I need, she may not be my mother but she is my baby's grandmother as well as an absolutely wonderful person she has been here for me as much as I have allowed her never overstepping nor pushing me away; I know exactly where Eli got his caring nature from. While Allie and Cece are busy comforting me I watch Eli pace back and forth around the room obviously anxious himself the waiting seems to be taking a toll on him now that he doesn't have to be strong for me. I wish I could be inside his head he's been distant for months but within an hour he has gone into a full blown worried father state.

Three long hours later and we still have no more information. a nurse came in to check my cervix an hour ago but she didn't tell us anything; I'm getting worried and Eli is getting aggravated.

"They need to let us know something it's been three hours for fucks sake they have to know something." Eli says still pacing around the room like he has the past three hours I'm shocked he hasn't burned holes in the floor only his hands are now making fists.

"Calm down baby boy I'm sure they'll be in soon with news" Cece reasons with him but to no avail.

"If they aren't in here in five minutes with some answers I'm going to find someone, if it was their baby they wouldn't be taking their sweet ass time figuring shit out" He growled I'm not sure what has changed in him over these past few hours but it appears whatever it is it has awoken papa bear and all this waiting is not making him happy. I decide to take a shot at trying to calm him down.

"Eli can you come over here?" I ask him softly.

"Is something wrong?" He replies nervously walking over to me in hurried steps.

I pull him in close by his neck hugging him and whisper in his ear "Calm down okay getting worked up won't help remember? everything's fine right now just sit with me please" I feel him take a deep breath before sitting down on my bed beside me.

Another hour slowly ticked by. It's now four in the morning Cece and Allie left half-hour ago to get some sleep. Eli is currently lying beside me both of us drifting in and out of sleep. My head resting on his chest, one of his arms under my head and his other around me so his hand rests gently on my giant baby belly. I'm not sure how we ended up like this but I'm enjoying the security of his body surrounding me it always has offered me comfort unlike anything else. As we are lying here quietly I feel Lianna start kicking around she's always active at crazy hours of the morning hopefully that's not the case once she's born. I look over noticing a smirk on Eli's lips his eyes still closed but obviously awake and aware of our daughters stirring seconds later I feel his fingers lightly rubbing my stomach Lianna kicking in response they continue going back and forth and I can't help but smile at the adorable moment that came from this terrible situation. I don't say anything just embrace the phenomenal feeling I'm getting from this moment of father daughter bonding I never thought I'd experience.

Finally the doctor walks in with a smile on his face and I feel relief run through me knowing he's got good news this time.

"I have great news for you two or three I should say. We were able to stop the contractions everything looks perfect. You are going to have to take it easy no strenuous activity or stress or you may end up here again. You can work but only if you can take frequent breaks unless something occurs that causes concern in the meantime you are free to go home and I'll see you Monday to make sure everything's going smoothly." The doctor smiles.

We shake his hand and thank him before he exits the room. Eli offers me a ride home and I graciously accept since the ambulance brought me I do not have my car and I would hate to call Allie back here so late for a ride. Eli helps me out of the bed and watches me intensely the whole time never taking his eyes off of me or wandering far from me when we reach his car he opens the door and helps me in. I can't help but giggle at his sudden protectiveness.

"something funny?" He questions cocking an eyebrow once he's taken a seat behind the wheel.

"just your sudden watchful eye you know I'm not going to break getting in a car" I reply still laughing.

"it's almost five in the morning and you are kind of clumsy you never know" he smirks glancing at me before pulling off.

Most of the ride is quiet it's not awkward in anyway it's just been a long night. Halfway back to my house I can feel myself falling asleep with my head against Eli's shoulder until he speaks waking me up immediately.

"You and Jake; are you sure you guys are just friends?"

"yes we are just friends as of right now." I tell him truthfully.

"What does that mean as of right now?" he asks his voice getting agitated.

"it means exactly what I said. What concern is it of yours?" I ask becoming annoyed myself.

"I don't know maybe the fact that you are supposedly pregnant with my daughter and I don't want him playing father to her or being involved where he shouldn't"

"our daughter not yours and I'm not going to stay single forever just because you can't handle the idea of another guy in her life"

"I'm perfectly fine with you dating but I'm not going to sit Around while some guy spends more time with her than I do or tries to push me out"

"What do you think is going to happen when I get married to someone eventually? This is part of life in our situation when a child is involved and I don't know why you think you can suddenly decide how much time I spend with someone. Jake's been more involved and more of a father to her already throughout my pregnancy than you have" the moment the words come out of my mouth I regret them.

"well then why don't you and Jake raise her be a happy family since that's what you want you make it pretty obvious you don't need me anymore Clare. I'm sorry I can't trust you after all the shit you pulled. You told me there was no way she was mine until the other guy died what was I supposed to think? Fuck! what did you want me to do? Be there open my heart to you and a baby then look like a fucking fool while getting crushed when it turned out to be a lie and you ripped everything I had from me."

As he finishes his outburst we pull into my driveway I'm not sure if i should get up and leave or try and fix this if that is even possible after what I said as true as it was it was uncalled for and rude of course I decide to say that when he's actually attempting to be involved we sit in his car not saying a word for at least ten minutes.

"I'm sorry I didn't-"

"don't bother go in call Jake and have a wonderful life"

"why are you being like this! So I said a really messed up stupid thing but you crossed a line you don't see me telling you what to do with your life. I never asked you about Imogen!" I yell at him having enough of always being the bad guy.

"no you just had a jealous outburst in the middle of the dot then had your boyfriend rescue you" he said coldly

"you know what fine, I give up I don't want you involved. I'll raise this baby with Jake like you want so much. Have a nice life with Imogen but use protection considering you're a fucking coward!" I don't care how wrong what I just said was right now I storm away slamming his car door as I exit.

As I go into my house and up to my room I'm still fuming from my argument with Eli. I take out my phone and send a text without a second thought.

Clare- you were right I don't think Eli is good for the baby and I think it's best he isn't involved. Do you want to talk about us still?