I woke up to the smell of coffee and bacon, and the sound of children's show's blaring through the house. I sat up with a smile on my face throwing my legs over the bed to stand up. I walked to the bathroom, and hopped in the shower. When I got out I could still hear the sound of the ABC's coming from the TV, and it was comforting to know that my son was in the same house as me. As soo as I walked into the living room, Clare greeted me with a plate of food and a smile. She had on a blue short sleeve t-shirt, and blue jeans, she took my breath away.

"Sit down, eat. We have a big day today Mr. Goldsworthy." Clare sat me down at the kitchen table, and walked over to the counter to grab her purse.

I shoveled a piece of bacon into my mouth, "Oh, we do now?"

"Yes, I have to go to the doctor today, and you and Adam have to go school clothes shopping. Then when I'm done with my appointment, I'll meet you two so that we can drop Adam off at my mother's."

"Drop him off, why?"

"Well tonight is Alli's birthday party, and I think we both owe it to her to attend. Don't you?"

Clare's face was hopeful, I knew she wouldn't want to miss Alli's birthday for the world, but I wasn't sure it was a good idea. "Yes, of course, it's just...Who's going to be there?" It was hard to keep the negativity out of my voice.

"I didn't exactly get a peek at the invite list, why does it matter?" Clare was staring me down, obviously annoyed, she was so beautiful when she was mad.

"We are just so happy right now, I don't want to run into anyone who's going to try and ruin that Clare."

Clare changed her expression to a more sympathetic one, and walked over to give me a kiss on the head. "Eli, the only people who can ruin this, is us. Don't worry about other people, they don't matter."

"I guess you're right, it's just, not even Alli really likes me, and we both know that."

"Admittedly you aren't her favorite person, but she loves me, and she wants me to be happy. That's the reason she stopped you from marrying Lenore, and that's the reason she's giving us permission to announce our engagement tonight at the party. How does that sound?" Clare bit her bottom lip, giving me a questioning look.

"You know I'm not normally a fan of crowds, but any chance to declare my love for you, I'll take."

Clare clapped her hands together, and walked to the front door smiling ear to ear. "Ok good, now eat. I have to get going i'll see you two soon, I love you boy's!"

Adam ran up beside me to sit on my lap, we both began to wave bye when a thought occurred to me, "Wait, Clare. Why are you going to the doctor?"

Clare's face wavered and she frowned, "You know, perks of cancer, I have to get these annual check up's now for the rest of my life."

I looked down at Adam, I knew it must be extra scary for Clare getting these check up's knowing that Adam needed her to be healthy. "Everything is ok though, right?"

"Yes of course, I just don't like the poking and prodding. That's all."

In the most serious tone I could muster I tried to comfort her, "I know. I love you. You don't have anything to worry about."

Clare's smile reappeared and she opened the door, "You better take good Clare of our boy while I'm gone Goldsworthy. Bye Adam, mommy loves you!"

"I lub you too mommy, daddy and I will have so much fun buyin me toys for school!"

Clare looked at me and shook her head, warning me not to really buy him toys. I nodded back and smiled, and she shut the door.

It was just Adam and I, and I was nervous about having him by myself, but it was something I was going to have to get used to. "So Adam Goldsworthy, are you ready for a fantastic day of buying school clothes?"

Adam hopped off my lap and made a disgusted face. "No way."

I chuckled, "Maybe we can get a toy or two? As long as you're good" Adam smiled and threw two thumbs up. I tied his little chucks, and we headed out the door. Clare texted me letting me know she left her car, because it had Adam's booster seat in it. I buckled him in and the whole drive to the mall he forced me to play The Little Einstein's Theme Song, but I didn't really mind, seeing him smile gave me a happiness I never thought I could feel. We arrived at the mall and as we started to walk away from the car Adam grabbed my hand and smiled up at me, his smile was infectious, and my heart felt like it was going to burst. I let him lead me to the stores he liked, and he began picking and choosing the things he wanted. He picked a lot of striped shirts, blue jeans, and converse. It made me proud that he sort of took after my taste in clothes. I went up to pay and after having a mini heart attack at the price, I picked Adam up sitting him on my hip. We began to walk through the crowd and I could see something was wrong. "So, you're all ready for school big guy, are you excited?"

"A little." Adam made a sad face

"Why only a little, talk to me."

"I just want the kids to like me dad. One time at the park my friend Lucy Simmons called me a nerd because all da kids wanted to play on da swingd' set but I wanted to color pictures of my spider man. I don't wanna be a nerd." Adam had a tear fall from his cheek, and he wiped it away embarrassed.

"Adam, it's ok to be different. I was really different in school, but I had a few good friends and a really pretty girlfriend. School was a great time in my life, it will be for you too, as long as you know who you are, that's all the matters. It wont always be perfect, but I'll always be here when you need to talk to me." Adam gave me a weak smile. I didn't want to be that parent that bribes their kid, but I just wanted him to be happy. "So, I hear this mall has a playground for kids, and maybe even ice cream. It's only for happy boy's though, so I don't know if they'll let us go."

"Oh I am da happiest boy in the whole Canada! Can we go play dad please!"

I smiled, I was wrapped around his finger. "Of course Adam." Walking with a five year old on one hip, and a bag of clothes sitting on the other wasn't an easy task so I was relieved when we reached the play area.

"Eli." I heard my name and turned around, Lenore was standing in front of me. She was frozen in place staring at Adam, I could see tears start to fall from her eyes.

"Dad who's that? I want to play!" Go on and start playing, dad will be there in just a minute ok buddy. I didn't have to tell him twice he ran over to the other kids and began to play without me. Lenore began to walk towards me slowly, when she reached me she put a hand on my cheek. I slowly and gently pulled it off of me, I didn't want to cause her any more pain, despite what she did to me.

"Lenore, don't. Please." My voice was soft and gentle as well.

"Don't? Eli, this is madness. We were just going to get married, h-how could y-y-you do this to me."

Lenore was hysterical, and part of me felt so horrible, but I couldn't apologize for being happy, I would never apologize for loving Clare. "Lenore, I am sorry you're hurt, it's my fault for going on in our relationship when my heart was with Clare. No words I say are going to make you feel better, but I truly did care about you. I'm not heartless, you know that."

Lenore looked over to the swing set at Adam, "If I had told you about him, would things be different?"

It took me a minute to think about it, because in all honestly if Alli hadn't told me the truth, I probably would be married to Lenore right now. "Yes, we'd be married right now, on our honey moon somewhere. That doesn't mean that it would have been right for either of us. You would of been married to someone who didn't love you, you deserve someone that loves you. I wouldn't know my son, and I'd be unhappy without Clare. Our marriage would have been based on a lie, what I have with Clare and my son, that's real. They are my family now Lenore, I hope one day you can be happy for me, and I hope that one day you yourself can be happy."

"Eli I never wanted to lie about Adam, I was just desperate to hold on to you. I guess the truth is I never really had you though did I, it was always her." Lenore wiped away her tears. "I hope one day you can forgive me for not telling you about your son Elijah."

"I forgive you Lenore, you got me through some terrible times." Lenore's head shot up in shock.

"You forgive me? Why?"

"Our time together wasn't all bad, I'll forever be grateful for you, because without you I wouldn't be here to see my little boy grow up."

"Well, I guess this is goodbye then Elijah Goldsworthy. Who knew we'd be saying goodbye in a mall?" Lenore hugged me, and I hugged her back. For a moment I was sad I'd never hug her like that again, she wasn't a bad person, she had been the only friend I had at one point in my life. Lenore whispered in my ear, "I will always love you Elijah Goldsworthy, be happy." and ran away leaving her engagement ring in my hand. I stared at it for several minutes deep in thought, when I felt a tap on my leg.

"Daddy I'm done playin, where we goin now?" I picked Adam up, and he looked at me confused while wiping a tear from my cheek, "Are you ok daddy?"

"Yes, I am so so happy Adam. We are going to meet with mommy son."

"That makes me very happy too dad."