"Clare wait here." I couldn't control myself anymore, Zig had gone too far. I felt the hairs on my neck sticking up, and all I could think about was Clare's facial expression when Zig threatened us with court. Clare looked at me with confusion in her eyes as I ran out out of the house, without a word. I started running down the sidewalk calling out for Zig. "Zig! Hey Zig! Hold on!"

I finally caught up to him, and he turned around to face me, annoyance written all over his face. "Please go away Goldsworthy, I've had enough of your face for on nig-" I pulled my fist back slamming it into his face as hard as I could, he stumbled back wards clenching his jaw with his hand. As soon as I did it I felt a twinge of regret that I let my anger get the best of me, even though that had been the exact thing I was trying to avoid all night. "What the fuck is your damage!" Zig spit out blood, as I breathlessly stood in front of him frozen in my anger.

"I just want you to stay away from us. Just stay away Zig." My jaw was clenched, and I was digging my nails into my palms trying to stay calm.

Zig grinned, laughing. "You're even crazier than everyone used to say back in school Eli. You honestly think that punching me is going to make me more willing to give my son up to you? The court is going to love hearing about this." Zig began to clap, blood still dripping from his mouth. "Good job, dad of the year Eli."

His sarcasm caused my anger to boil over again. "He isn't yours!"

Just as I was about to lunge for Zig, I felt her arms wrap around my waist from behind, holding me in place. "Elijah, come back home with me please. Stop for your son, and just walk away." Her voice was was low, but strong and I could feel the desperation in it.

My body was shaking, and Clare's words were the only thing keeping me somewhat sane. I kept my eyes on Zig, "No more visitation, no more anything. Do what you have to do, but you need to know that so will I. I won't let you take him from me."

Zig looked past me to Clare, and his face became soft. "I'll go home right now, and refrain from kick your ass, for Clare."

Clare started tugging on my arm back towards the house, and I reluctantly followed, giving Zig one last glare before turning my back to him. As soon as we entered the house, I could feel the tension. I knew Clare was upset, so I opened my mouth to apologize, but before I could I felt her hand smash into my cheek. I brought my hand up to my throbbing face, with shock in my eyes. "Clare?" I was in disbelief, we had never physically hurt each other in the slightest. I felt like I was staring at someone I didn't recognize, and I could feel my heart begin to race.

She had her hands balled into fists, and tears ran down her cheeks. "How dare you. How dare you do what you just did. You promised to stay level headed for this family, yet you just did everything you could to throw everything away!"

I walked towards her, but she only stepped further away from me. Despite the hurt I felt from her slapping me, seeing her in pain hurt more. "Clare, I'm sorry, I lost it. I get it, I shouldn't have, but I couldn't stand how upset he had made you. I was trying to protect our family, not throw it away. Why can't you understand that?"

Clare threw her hands over her head. "We have so much, just so much going on! What is wrong with you! I'm afraid I'm dying, we're supposed to be getting married, and Zig is trying to take us to court over Adam! All the while, we're just trying to adjust as a family, and your brilliant solution is to punch Zig! Great job Eli, you're doing an outstanding job of protecting us."

I wiped a tear from my eye, "Clare, I'm sorry."

"No excuses this time Eli. They don't work anymore, this isn't like when we were in high school. You can't mess up like that, and then just say you're sorry! There are consequences to your actions now, what if we lose the court case because of this? What if the judge even demands you only be with Adam while supervised? If you can't handle your bipolar disorder then leave, Adam doesn't need someone crazy as a father Eli!" As soon as Clare finished her rant, her eyes became huge in realization of what she just said, and she began shaking her head back and forth. "Eli no, no. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean that, at all. I just was so mad, and scared, I didn't know what I was saying."

Clare took a step towards me, and I stepped back shaking my head in disbelief. "You were just mad, and scared? Yeah, I know that feeling. Guess that makes us both crazy then." Her words kept ringing through my head as I ran back to our room, crazy? She had never spoken to me like that, deliberately hurting me. I pulled my suitcase out of our closet, throwing it onto the bed, and began throwing clothes into it. I didn't know what I was doing, but I kept packing anyways. All I kept playing over in my head head was her hand going across my face, and the words that she spit at me with such anger.

Clare crawled onto the bed crying, and throwing everything I threw into the suit case out, and onto the floor. "Eli stop it please, what are you doing? Are are you really doing this!" Clare's eyes were blood shot, and her chest was heaving.

I didn't make eye contact with her, I just kept picking clothes up off the floor and putting them back into the suit case. "Clare grabbed my face, forcing me to look into her her eyes. She quietly sobbed, "Are you leaving us again Eli, really?"

I looked into her eyes, and I slowly pushed the suit case off of the bed. I knew that I couldn't go, I couldn't give up on us the moment things got tough. "No." I sat down on the bed in shame, and Clare climbed into my lap, wrapping her legs around my waist, and throwing her arms around my neck.

I wrapped my arms around her, holding on to her for dear life. "Eli please" she sobbed. "Don't go, don't go. I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have hit you, I shouldn't have said those things, I shouldn't...I just shouldn't have."

I barley chocked out, "I'm not leaving." Clare pulled away from me holding my gaze, and then pressed her lips to mine. I kissed her back with the same hunger, we were both trying to erase the things we said to each other. She grabbed my hair, pulling me closer while moaning into my mouth. I ran my hands through her hair, while running my tongue around the edges of her lips. Clare pushed me flat onto the bed, and while climbing on top of me she began to unbutton my pants. When they came undone I pulled her head back towards me so that I could kiss her again, "Clare I love you so much."

As Clare planted kisses down my jaw line she breathlessly mumbled, "I love you too."

Just as she began to slip my pants off there was a knock at our door, breaking the moment. "Mommy, daddy? I'm scared."

I panicked and rolled her off of me, causing her to fall to the floor. "Eli!" She groaned.

I pulled my pants up and buttoned them, then I helped Clare up, giving her an apologetic look. "I'm sorry, I panicked."

Clare rolled her eyes, and got up to open the door. "Adam, what's wrong?"

Adam put his arms up, reaching for Clare. "I had a bad dweam. Can I sleep with you and daddy?"

Clare picked Adam up, holding him close to her chest. "Of course baby, dad and I are here."

Clare and I lay in bed with Adam between us fast asleep, and I couldn't help but think about what an idiot I was.

She looked at me with sympathetic eyes, "I'm sorry Eli, are you upset? I wanted to, too, but he was scared."

I smiled and tucked a curl behind her ear, "No, it isn't that. I'm just thinking about tonight, and how stupid I am. Why would I do something to lose this? Because this right here Clare Edwards, it doesn't get better." I briefly closed my eyes, flashing back to hitting Zig. "I'm sorry I'm crazy sometimes."

I looked down, and Clare placed her finger under my chin, lifting my head back up. "You are not crazy, I'm the dumb one for saying that, and for making things bigger than they were. Eli I love you, and I'm proud of you, really. You and I are young parents, and we're both going to make mistakes, but he's a happy little boy. That's what's important."

I leaned over giving Clare a chaste kiss on the cheek. "Clare Edwards you're the most amazing person In the world, and I can't believe I have to wait a week to marry you."

Clare smiled, "I was texting Alli about that actually, she's so excited. She says she almost has everything planned, all we have to do is show up Saturday."

I happily sighed, "Wow, that makes it sound so close. Today's what, Tuesday? So in actuality, we really only have four more days."

Clare nodded, grinning ear to ear. "It's amazing. There's nothing standing in our way, I can just feel it Eli, things are going to work out."

A thought crossed my mind, and I frowned. "Did you make your appointment?"

Clare slowly nodded, "I made it for Friday, I don't want to find out until after the wedding."

I shook my head angrily, "Clare your health is more important than anything. You can't put it off another second."

"Eli, I promise you, I have this feeling. I can't explain it, but I know everything is ok. I think I was being a little hasty assuming the worst, I haven't felt bad in a few days. I think I had a cold or something, honestly. Trust me, we're going to get married, work something out with Zig, and live happily ever after. Don't worry so much."

I smiled and yawned while rubbing her cheek. "I always worry about you."

Clare closed her eyes, "Goodnight Eli. I love you."

"Forever and always Clare."