Cece stared at Clare and then at her bags. "Baby boy, what's going on?" Cece was almost sure she hadn't been told about a reunion between the two ex-lovers or about a new house guest, but she waited for Eli's explanation.

Eli decided to ease her in to the situation. "Um...Can Clare stay with us for a while? Her mom kicked her out, and she doesn't have anywhere to stay." He knew that if he had started with Clare being kicked out Cece would have made the same offer.

She looked at Clare with compassion and an open heart. "Oh, sweetie. Why would she do that?" Cece had already decided that if Clare had nowhere to go, she could stay, but she wanted answers too.

Clare blushed a light shade of pink and looked to the floor in shame. She couldn't meet Cece's eyes, because she didn't want to see the disappointment that would be buried in them. "I'm pregnant, and she said I can't keep the baby. I told her I am, and she kicked me out." Clare was surprised her voice had remained steady and her eyes remained void of tears, but she had.

"Elijah Goldsworthy! We have told you countless times that can have sex all you want, but you had better not bring home a pregnant girl. And what do you do? You bring home a pregnant girl who isn't even your girl friend!" Cece was really only angry, because she and Bullfrog had always told Eli to be safe so this wouldn't happen.

Eli opened his mouth in defense, but Clare spoke first. "It's not his. When I told my boy friend and refused to get an abortion, he dumped me. Eli's just helping me. I can leave if you're mad. I didn't mean to upset you!" Clare was edging towards the door in preparation of her exit, but Eli's hand found her's and held her in place.

Cece's face immediately changed to one of pride at the realization that Eli was being so kind to Clare. "No, Clare, that's okay. You can stay; I was just upset, because I thought Eli was being irresponsible. You can stay as long as you'd like, but I'm sure you remember we don't have a guest room." Cece had picked up right away that Clare and Eli were standing only platonically close to each other, and they hadn't acted like they did when they were a couple, so she wasn't sure how Eli had planned this out.

Eli sheepishly spoke up this time, because he had thought about living arrangements during the mother/daughter fight. "Clare's going to sleep in my room." Clare looked at him as if he were insane before he continued quickly. "Alone! I'll take the couch, and she can sleep in my room. I'll just need to borrow it to get clothes in the morning." He tried joking but noticed Clare's protests forming.

Clare couldn't believe Eli had just kicked himself out of his own room. The couch would be okay for her, since he had already done so much, and she was going to tell him as much. "I can't take your room. The couch will be fine. If I remember right, it's very comfortable, and I don't mind. In fact, I insist. Eli, you can't give away your room."

A smile tugged at Eli's lips, because he knew he would win this argument. "I slept on the couch every night before my room was clean, and I'm guessing any person with half a brain could tell you sleeping in a bed is better for a developing baby than a couch." He saw it, she was caving.

Clare wanted to argue for the sake of arguing at that point. She wanted to ask Eli how long he intended to play the "it's better for the baby" card on her, but she knew he was right...again! "Fine.", she answered glumly. Another question peaked her interest. "Will Bullfrog be okay with this?"

Bullfrog was still asleep after working until three that morning, and Clare was worried that he wouldn't like so many decision being made before he was there. Cece laughed her sweet, light laugh at Clare's question. "He would be angry if we had to wait that long to tell you that you're always welcome here. If Eli's giving up his room for you, this must be important."

So, Clare's bags were moved to Eli's room, and she began unpacking. She hesitated before unzipping the first suitcase, because unpacking made everything more real. She was pregnant, kicked out of her home, living with her ex-boy friend, and she hadn't thanked him yet. "Eli! I- I can't believe that in all of this I've barely thanked you at all.", Clare admonished to Eli as he was moving some items around to make space.

He turned to her and smirked a little. "Technically you still haven't. Now you've only acknowledged the fact that you haven't thanked me, but I'll blame it on the hormones and accept your gratitude." He was joking again, but Clare felt better knowing he had told her he accepted it. They unpacked all of her clothes and books and put them in the drawers Eli had cleaned out for her use. Dinner was exciting to put it mildly that night. Bullfrog and Cece laughed and told stories of concerts and baby Eli. Eli smiled at the majority of the stories, because he didn't remember most of what had happened in them anyway, and Clare enjoyed her first night at the "hotel Eli", although it wasn't how she would have planned. The next nine months were going to be crazy.

I know this chapter was shorter than my others, but they'll get longer. I'm planned on continuing the story by months until the birth of the baby. So the next chapter will be month 1. Hope you're ready!