"Two weeks ago I would have killed for the chance to hear you even considering this, but this isn't two weeks ago. I've been told on more than one occasion now that I should be careful and not jump head first into the relationship I nearly killed myself for. I care about you, but I don't think I'm good for you. You literally outshine the sun and make the most heinous person strive to be better, but I made you more cynical. I suffocated you and manipulated you. I think this is you missing the happy feelings that come with relationships, and we've both changed. We may not be compatible anymore." It hurt Eli as much to say it as it hurt Clare to hear. He had pined for her from afar for so long, but he couldn't go back to where he had been after all the progress he had made toward being happy.

Clare forced her tears back as she was slapped again and again by his words. "You're not jumping in head first, because we were laughing and having fun together just like we used to. And you made me a better person. I was always smiling with you, and you made me laugh all the time. I said those things, because you scared me, and I wanted to make sure that you were hurting like I was. I shouldn't have said that, because you never manipulated me and the anniversary of Julia's death was right there, so of course you were being a little clingy. I should have seen that, and you're better now. Adam told me your room is completely clean, and you've been doing really well with your medication."

This was nothing Eli hadn't told himself before. He had been looking for arguments against everything, but they had changed and that was his strong hold. "We have changed. You can't say that you're the exact same person you were then. You started a relationship with Jake weeks after you left me in that hospital. I was still using a cane! That's how long you waited to decide you had gotten over your feelings for me, and that was after yelling at me for being heartless! I never would have thought you could do that. There's also the matter of what you said that night at Jake's cabin." Clare had been preparing her protests, but his final statement had left her dumbfounded and she stared him in confusion. "I was going to make sure you were okay when I heard you talking to Jake. You said that you had considered kissing me to get back at him."

Realization mingled with humiliation in Clare's face. She had been sure they were completely alone that night, and she recalled being serious about what she said. "I was stupid to even think about that! Jake had just kissed Alli, and I was so hurt and you were being so sweet. I waned to kiss you, not just to get back at Jake." Clare knew he wouldn't believe her, because she wouldn't have believed him had their positions in the argument been reversed.

She looked at him through tearful eyes and silently begged his forgiveness. The worst part was she saw it. He had already forgiven her, and she hadn't had to ask for it. "That's my point though. The Clare I pined for and thought about non stop is not the Clare standing here talking to me. If Jake hadn't showed up when he did, if you had kissed me for revenge and then gone back to him, did you even think about what that would do to me? If you were willing to do that to me, how can I trust you again?"

The air around them was silent. Clare was trying to make him understand that she was the Clare he wanted, and Eli was trying to contain his anger and hurt. She saw the feeling of betrayal written in his eyes, and he saw how sorry she was in hers. Clare finally realized that, while she had been yelling lies at Eli, he was yelling the truth at her when they broke up. She had ripped his heart out and, even if he didn't say it, she had stomped on it, put it in a blender.

"How can I fix this?", she asked. She was laying her heart out in the open, and it was his turn to do the ripping if he chose.

Eli knew he wouldn't stay angry with her, because he did care about her and probably always would. "I'm not putting all of the blame on you, because I hurt you too. We both said things we shouldn't have during and after our break up, and I still care about you. I propose that we hold off on jumping back into a failed relationship. We've changed, and we should get to know each other again first. Besides Adam's been bugging me about when the misfits reunion is, and you know how I hate to disappoint. So, friends?"

Clare wanted to cry harder. Eli had just taken her heart, dusted it off, and put it in a protective barrier for her, always for her. He had every right to hate her, and he was asking her to be his friend and not giving a definitive no to a future relationship. "Friends. Should we go tell Adam?"

"No need! I've been listening to you two ramble on for forever!" Adam sprang out from behind the door he had stumbled in earlier. He seemed no more sober but more aware. "The misfits are back to take the world by-" He cut off quickly and returned all of the alcohol he had consumed that night.

Clare and Eli laughed together at the sight, and they knew that the misfits were going to survive. "Okay, buddy. Time for bed.", Eli said in between laughs

"I'm not tired yet!" Adam sounded like a small child talking back to his parents.

Clare stepped in to help. "Come on, you don't want to be too tired tomorrow, do you? And Eli and I were going to do something tomorrow, if you'll join us.", she cooed sweetly. She looked to Eli with the question on her face. He nodded that they would be seeing each other the next day, and both smiled.

"Okay, but I want ice cream and I better not be a third wheel!", Adam whined. Eli took pictures while Clare scolded him jokingly, and together they took Adam to his room and put him to bed. They would be okay.

So, that's the end. I hope they weren't too OOC for anyone, and tell me if I should do some kind of sequel.