Title: For Those Nights I Can't Remember

Rating: PG-13

Chapter: 4. Broken Strings

Fandom: Degrassi: The Next Generation

Summary: It's been almost a year and finally, Clare's back at Degrassi, but she won't talk to anyone, but Alli. KC will do anything to figure Clare out, even break up with Jenna. Klare. Kenna. Jalli.

Comments: Listen to the song "For Those Nights I Can't Remember" by Hedly. It reminded me so much of KC and Clare and fitted this story.

Disclaimer: I own nothing except the idea.

KC shook his head, waiting for his coffee at The Dot. "Spinner," he said, looking up from the bar top he had been staring at for the past few minutes. "Why are girls stupid?" he asked.

Spinner laughed, "Girls. Girls aren't stupid. Just… hard to understand. If anything, we're stupid, Dude." He handed KC a coffee in a to-go cup with a protective sleeve. "Jenna problems?"

KC shook his head, his eyes drifting to the window and his eyes went wide, "Clare…"

"Clare?" Spinner questioned, furrowing his brow. "Edwards?" Spinner followed KC's gaze to the front door as Darcy and Clare Edwards walked in.

Darcy and Clare looked straight at them.

"Darcy, maybe we should go somewhere else," Clare suggested at seeing KC and Spinner before her¸ holding Kent close to her in her arms.

Darcy shook her head, giving Spinner a smile, "No, Clare. We'll be fine here." She nodded to her ex-boyfriend. "Latte and a chocolate milkshake, Spin'."

Spinner nodded, mock saluting Darcy, "Yes, ma'am." He went to work.

KC shaded his face, turning away from the Edwards sisters as they took a seat on a leather couch on the opposite side of the restaurant.

Clare blew the baby in her lap a kiss and then settled him in her arm.

"He's gotten really big," Darcy stated, brushing a finger over his arm.

Clare smiled, nodding, "I know." Kent looked up at his mom with a smile and reached his hand out, grabbing Darcy's finger.

Darcy smiled, "C'mere, Cutie." She took him from her sister and placed him against her chest, rubbing his back.

Clare smiled, running a hand through her hair and watching her sister dote on her son. "He's a real heartbreaker."

Darcy gave her sister an amused look, "Who? Kent or his father?"

Clare frowned, thinking about the answer. His father sure was a pain in her ass. Even though she loved him, he wasn't, he'd never stand up and be a father. That's what her parents told her. She glanced across the room at KC and tilted her head to the side. "His father," she whispered on reply.

Darcy followed her sister's eyes and frowned, cuddling Kent close. "Clare, he should know," she said softly. "He has the right to know."

"Bullshit," Clare snapped, turning to look at her sister in disbelief. "He couldn't handle it. He'd walk out." She took Kent forcefully from her sister.

"You made him walk out," Darcy stated, pushing her bangs out of her face. "I think the one who needs a second chance here is you. Not KC."

Clare's jaw dropped, "Excuse me?" She held Kent close, covering his ears to shield him from how loud she was about to get. "I spend nine god damn months without him!" she shouted. "And I'm not about to let him fuck me over now."

Darcy shook her head, "Obviously, Clare, he already fucked you over." She grabbed her purse. "Stop being so ignorant, and talk to him." She stood up and started to leave, but stopped. "Oh, and it's almost been a year since he fucked you over." With that, the older Edwards child walked out.

Kent screamed out as he started to cry. Clare frowned, clutching him close and rocked him gently. She kissed his forehead and shushed him,

KC sighed, closing his eyes, thankful they were done talking or rather in this case shouting. God, those Edwards sisters were loud. He got up from where he was sitting and walked over to his ex-girlfriend. "Clare, you okay?" he asked softly in concern.

Clare refused to meet his eyes as she soothed her son. "Fine," she answered icily as Kent quieted down.

KC smiled a little when he noticed Kent. "Who's this little guy?" he asked.

"Umm… my brother," Clare lied quickly after searching her mind for a lie good enough to sustain him from questioning her further.

KC looked at Clare and gave her his charming smile, "Can I hold him?"

Clare looked up at him and if she wasn't holding Kent, she swore she would have swooned at the look on his face. She nodded a little, "Sure." She carefully handed the infant to KC, situating his arms so Kent was comfortable.

KC smiled down at Kent in awe, "He's so tiny."

"Well he's nine weeks, KC," Clare couldn't help but laugh at his comment. "He's bigger than he was right after he was born." She leaned over, kissing Kent on the top of his head.

KC looked at Clare. "You must really love him. I mean, you love Darcy a lot so a little baby brother. You must be psyched."

Clare smiled sadly, pushing her short hair out of her face and shrugged, "At first, I was terrified and until the last month that fear started to scatter. Then there were some… complications."

KC furrowed his brow in confusion, "Complications? Like what?"

"He was breached, for one thing. So… my mom had him induced, but he wouldn't come out so she had a C-section," Clare informed softly, trying her hardest to keep her emotions limited while still replacing her name. "His… my dad wasn't there to hold my mom's hand and help her through all this either."

KC frowned, his heart break as the intensity of her emotional level changed as she went further into her explanation. "I'm so sorry, Clare."

He leaned his head down, tilting it to the side and brushed his lips softly against hers. Clare took in a sharp breath at the soft touch of his lips on hers. After the shock of his lips set in, she stepped closer to him, pressing her lips back against his.

She pulled back, tears stinging her eyes and took Kent back in her own arms. "I have to go, KC," she said softly and walked past him as fast as she could.

KC watched her walk away in awe and painful longing. "Clare," he sighed softly, biting his bottom lip.

Clare started walking down the sidewalk. She pulled out her phone as she rushed down the sidewalk and found Alli's number in her contacts, calling her. She sighed in relief when Alli answered. "Alli? Hey. Can you come get me? I'm at The Dot… Thanks."

D:TNG

When Alli pulled up to The Dot, Clare got into the front seat, Kent still in her arms.

Alli raised an eyebrow. "Is that safe?" she asked skeptically.

"Just drive," Clare replied, rolling her eyes and looked down at Kent, rubbing his arm.

Alli shrugged and continued off down the street. "Where to?" she asked. "I have to meet Johnny in, like," she glanced at her clock, "twenty minutes." She stole a look at Clare and saw the anger in her eyes and smiled, "Or I don't. I'll just… call and cancel."

"Yeah, because trust me, Alli, you don't want to have a boyfriend," Clare assured, rocking her son as much as she could while sitting in the car.

"But Johnny is my boyfriend," Alli reminded in a 'duh' tone.

Clare glared at her, "Oh, yeah. I forgot you lose brain cells when you're with him."

Alli frowned, "Clare, just because you ditched KC, doesn't make him a bad guy and that doesn't make Johnny a bad guy either."

"Johnny's always been a bad guy, Alli. You're just too stupid to realize it," Clare informed, shaking her head at Alli's idiotic manners.

Alli felt a lump form in her throat and her bottom lip trembled, "You… you think I'm stupid."

Clare frowned and looked at Alli, "No. Alli, I… I didn't mean it." She sighed, shrugging, "I just… I'm upset and… after what he did to you…"

"That was almost four years ago," Alli reminded. "And I don't see why you hate him so much."

"Hmmmm, Alli. Why do I hate the guy who sent my best friend's naked body to his friend?" Clare asked sarcastically. "I need to think hard about this one."

Alli shook her head, rolling her eyes, "Stop being such a bitch, Clare. Just because you don't want to have a relationship with KC even though you had his son, doesn't mean you can tell me that there's something wrong with my relationship. You're just as fucked up as I am."

Clare closed her eyes, shaking her head, "No I'm not."

"You not that same good little Christian girl you were when you first came to Degrassi. You're a teenage single mother, who's afraid of the guy she's in love with," Alli continued on.

"I don't love anyone," Clare stated, looking up at Alli as she tried not to cry. "I don't love him at all."

"Who are you trying to convince, Clare?" Alli asked, pulling into Clare's driveway. She looked at her friend and sighed, "Because not even you believe that you don't love him."

Clare bit her bottom lip and closed her eyes again, starting to cry.

Alli frowned and scooted over on the seat, wrapping her arm around Clare's shoulders. She pulled her friend closer as she cried.

"What do I do, Alli?" Clare sobbed, looking at Kent. "Jenna owns KC. I could never get him back."

"Jenna isn't you. And she only seems to own KC," Alli reminded. "Jenna's just a cold heartless bitch with flash pom-poms and revealing clothes. She's only with KC for social and sexual reasons."

"And what about him? Why is KC with her?" Clare asked, wiping at her own eyes before she could bother Kent too much. She leaned her head down and kissed her son's forehead.

Alli sighed, giving Clare's shoulder a comforting squeeze, "I dunno."

Clare looked up at Alli with sad blue eyes that were still shining with tears and bloodshot from crying. Alli smoothed out Clare's hair and kissed her cheek. Clear gave the smallest hint of a sad smile. Alli sighed, leaning her head against Clare's, "We'll figure it out. I swear."

Clare nodded, closing her eyes, "Okay."