Clare sighed as she sat at her laptop finishing up some school work. She had spent nearly the whole week working non stop, because her due date was drawing nigh. She rubbed her hand over her belly and noticed that the twins had settled down for the night. It seemed that they had developed regular sleep patterns and were awake during the day and sleeping at night. The clock told her it was eleven at night, but her aching back told her she had been hunched over the computer for much longer.

She heard a key turning in the door's lock, since she was sitting on the couch in view of the door. She smiled when she realized Eli was home half an hour earlier than he had estimated. He had been making an effort to leave work earlier, and Clare appreciated it. "Hey, what are you still doing up?", he asked surprised.

Clare looked up from her work and closed the laptop. When Eli was home she could never make herself focus on work. "I was finishing up some assignments. You're early.", she added with her smile growing.

Eli looked at his watch as if surprised. "So I am. Should I leave and come back in half an hour?" Clare rolled her eyes at his sarcastic comment but laughed and waved him over. He sat down and looked like he wanted to say something. "How have you been feeling lately?", he asked.

Clare was confused but answered his question. "Other than feeling like the world's strongest man couldn't lift me, I've been fine. Why?"

Eli smiled at her answer and left the room. Clare turned to see that he had walked to the bed room and re entered the den. "There's an organization that's sponsoring a writing contest. You have to be at least eighteen to enter, and you write at least a twenty-five page horror or scary story and send it in. The advertisement for it has been out since August, and I've been working on a story when I have time. Anyway, the winner receives a cash prize, but all stories have to be sent in two days. I was hoping you would be my editor if you're feeling up to it."

Eli looked so excited, and Clare loved reading his stories. She wondered what he had come up with in two months. "Of course. How much is the prize?" If it were a large enough sum, they would be receiving some well needed help.

"Actually, I don't know." Clare gave Eli a confused look, because the reason for entering contests has a lot to do with the amount won, but he continued. "For every person who enters twenty dollars is added to the prize. A lot of people are going to enter though, because this contest has been advertised everywhere on the internet and in news papers. Here's the story. It's fifty pages, so you might not have time to edit all of it. I know it's short notice, but I forgot that the mailing date was coming up.", he said handing her a binder.

He looked embarrassed that he had forgotten about the contest, but Clare understood. He had been helping her with her own work and with the nursery. He had also bought the baby toys she had wanted. "I'll be able to finish it all. I'm far enough ahead in school that I might be finished a month after the twins are born"

Eli seemed relieved that she was still willing to be his editor, and Clare realized that this was the first sign of "old times" they had really experienced. Everything was so new in their rekindled friendship, but this was something they had always shared and hopefully always would.

Clare wanted to begin reading the story right away, but Eli convinced her she should sleep. They went to sleep soon after, and Clare knew she would be done with the editing by the time Eli arrived home the next day. Eli was gone when Clare woke up the next morning. He left a note on the pillow beside her saying he had an early class and was working that day.

Clare spent the entire day reading Eli's story and was not afraid to admit it had led to her checking around corners or looking in the closet when she entered a room. Eli had a skill of phrasing sentences in a way that made Clare wish she was in the story while also making her feel like she was trying to escape being sucked into it. She finished editing the story after her second read through and still had time to read it one more time. She wanted to be sure she caught everything, because they could use the money with Daniel and Tori on the way.

Clare was trying to decide where to order dinner from that night when her phone's shrill ring tone filled the room. She saw Eli's name on the caller ID and smiled before answering."So, how late are you going to be and what should I order for dinner tonight?", she asked. She wasn't angry, because after Eli had taken off those four days to spend time with her, there had been some issues with paying for dinner by the last night. Eli wasn't kidding when he had told her they were living close to the vest, so she had learned to control her irritation at his "I'll be late" calls.

This wasn't one of those calls though. Eli had a smirk in place when he answered both Clare's statement and question. "Not working late, and we're not ordering dinner anywhere except at the restaurant."

Clare wasn't sure she had heard him correctly. She had been wanting to get out of the apartment for something other than grocery shopping but hadn't expected it. "I don't follow.", she said honestly.

Eli laughed a little and was glad he could still surprise Clare. "I thought we should get you out of the apartment for a night of fun, and I need a break from school and work. I took off a little early and am on my way to get you. Since you can't drink, and sex seems like a bad idea when you're pregnant with twins, we're going to have to bend the definition of the word "fun" tonight."

At first Clare laughed and was excited to be going out, but then she caught on to what Eli had just told her. "You're on the way to get me? I have to shower and change and do my hair. Why didn't you give me more notice?" She wasn't really upset, but Eli could have told her in the note or called earlier.

Eli couldn't hold back another laugh at where Clare's mind automatically went to when he told her they were going out. "I'm sure you look beautiful no matter what, but we're not going anywhere fancy on the budget I have. It's just some local dive that a friend at work recommended, so you'll have plenty of time to get ready before we leave."

Clare hung up the phone soon after and let out a girly squeal. It may not be official, but in her mind she was going on a date with Eli. Eli would never admit it, but his invitation was intended as an offer to go on a date without having to say the exact words.

He walked into the apartment and noticed his story sitting on the counter. Clare had left a sticky note attached to the first page telling him she had finished and he better not let her have nightmares from reading it. He laughed a little and read through some of her notes. They were well thought out and profoundly helpful as always. He was so involved in his reading that he didn't notice Clare step out of the bed room.

She was wearing a black dress that accentuated her breasts more than one she would have normally worn, but she couldn't help it. Alli had picked it out along with the flats she was wearing and had told Clare she would look sexy no matter how many babies she had inside her. She would have worn heels, but she decided being pregnant gave her a pass. Her hair was curled as always and looked as pretty as always too, and she wore only mascara and some lip gloss. "You ready?", she asked when Eli didn't look up.

Upon hearing her words, Eli looked away from his edited story, and his mouth dropped open. He couldn't stop staring at her, and she blushed darker than ever when his stare continued. He seemed to realize that he had been staring but hadn't said anything to her. "I- uh- yeah, let's go. You look..." He was trying to find the word to describe how absolutely flawless she looked. Sadly, there was no word in the dictionary that meant beautiful, magnificent, breath taking, gorgeous, sexy, lovely, and so much more. He settled for, "perfect."

Clare smiled, because she deciphered the meaning behind his word. He made her feel like all of those things and more. They took a taxi to the restaurant that was both affordable but nice. It wasn't fast food, but it wasn't filled with people who bought their way in instead of waiting for a reservation. They sat, ate, talked, and enjoyed spending some time together.

It felt like a date to both of them, and when they reached their apartment, Eli had to restrain himself to keep from kissing her. He wanted so badly to tell her how he felt, but it was too soon. The twins would be born soon, and it wasn't the right time. Clare had thought Eli was going to kiss her when he stared so deeply into her eyes she was sure he was looking into her soul, but he didn't. That night they went to sleep without kisses but with dreams of kisses and what could be instead.

The next day Eli left for work early in the morning, because he had no classes that day. He would be working until six, and Clare was very happy about it. She loved days when he either only had class or only had work, because he was always home by six on those days. That day he would be revising his story when he got home, but just having him in the same building made Clare feel happier and more upbeat.

Just as she had expected, Eli stepped in the door and went to work. He was determined to perfect his story before the next day when he would mail it off. They needed the money, because home schooling was fairly pricey. Once Clare graduated, they would have some extra money, but until then they could use the prize from that contest. Eli sat up all night editing and re-editing his creation. Clare knew how he was when he was writing, so she didn't try to bother him, but she hoped he would finish in time.

At seven the next morning (October 15) Eli had finished the last revision for the final time. He put the story in an envelope, sealed it, and mailed it. If they won, a call and email would be sent telling them where to go to collect their winnings. The call and email would both arrive on the day of Halloween.

After all of the work Eli and Clare had put into that story, it felt odd when there was nothing else to do. Eli felt like he was supposed to go home and write, but there was nothing more to be done to the story. It didn't take long for their lives to return to normal. Eli went to classes and worked late, while Clare continued getting ahead on her school work. The weeks rolled by, and both forgot about the contest in favor of more pressing priorities.

October 31

"Clare, I'm home.", Eli called when he entered the apartment. He looked around and saw Clare sitting at her laptop. "More school work?", he asked dramatically.

She smiled and looked over to where he was. He seemed tired, and Clare was glad winter break was close. "I'm sending Alli a picture of my belly. She demanded monthly pictures until Daniel and Tori are born, which is when she wants real picture of the babies. I also send her the ultrasound pictures from my doctor's appointments."

"Sounds like you've been having a productive day. How is Alli?", he asked. Eli had been keeping in touch with Adam and his parents, but he wasn't close to Alli.

Clare knew he was asking to be polite and make conversation, but he asked, so she answered. "She's good. She said everyone's talking about how we eloped, and a few said we joined the circus with the gay clown who actually knocked me up. Did you know we have a threesome every night?" Clare was amazed by how out of hand the rumors had gotten since she left. Alli had tried to talk them down at first, but that only made for more rumors. "Mom said she wants me to come home.", Clare stated sadly.

Eli felt bad for her, because her mom had made at least one comment about wishing she were home in every email sent. He knew Helen blamed him for taking her daughter away, but it wasn't like he had kidnapped her. "Do you...want to leave?" He had paused, because he was scared of her answer. He couldn't say that he wouldn't understand her reasoning. He wasn't home enough, and she missed the familiarity of Canada, but he'd thought she was happy with him.

"I actually think it would be easier if everyone just came here.", she said jokingly. "I wanted to come here with you, and that's not going to change just because you're doing everything possible to provide for us- all of us." She knew Eli felt guilty about not being there for her enough. He had missed all of her doctor's appointments after the one when they were told about Daniel and Tori. "I want to be here, with you."

Eli smiled and sat beside her. He looked at the shelf beside the television set and saw many movies piled there. "How did you know I want a movie night?", he asked her. He hadn't mentioned it before walking in the door, so he was shocked.

Clare laughed quietly, because this was amusing and odd. "I didn't. I wanted movie night, so I got some for us to watch. Great minds think alike, right?"

Eli laughed too and looked through the DVDs she had procured. He saw a few romantic comedies and rolled his eyes, but he also saw some horror and action movies. "Nice, you got some stuff we both like.", he commented while looking at the movies again.

He was trying to decide what they should watch first when Clare called to him in excitement."Eli! Eli, look at this! I was going to send Alli the pictures, but you left your email up. You have an email from that organization that had the contest!" She looked at him and passed the laptop, so he could see.

He was reading over the congratulating email when his phone announced that someone was calling him. He saw an unfamiliar number and answered the call. "Hello?", he answered.

The voice on the other end of the line was overly cheerful. "Hello, Eli Goldsworthy?", the woman asked in a perky voice.

"Yes.", he answered quickly.

"Hello, we would like to inform you that your story was chosen from nearly five hundred entries as the winning story in our contest. You can come by our building tomorrow to collect your ten thousand dollars. Will that work for you?", she asked.

Eli sat in shock for a moment at the amount of money this woman told him he would be receiving. "Yes, that's perfect. Thank you.", he said reflexively before ending the call. He looked at Clare who was asking what had happened. "We won. Ten thousand dollars. We won ten thousand dollars!" He had to say it a few times before he started believing it was true.

He and Clare celebrated that night with movies, and Clare called to tell Alli who was sure to announce it to everyone. Then it could be turned into a rumor that Clare and Eli had robbed a bank like a modern day Bonnie and Clyde, but they didn't care. Life was finally going their way, and it would only get better.

Don't hate me. This was really just a filler chapter, and I hope it was up to your standards. Clare's having some babies next month...and another surprise is coming up.