Title: Hot Mess
Rating: R
Chapter: 14
Fandom: Degrassi: The Next Generation
Summary: Clare uses her womanly whiles to protect Eli. Eclare. Flare. Misfits!
Comments: "Hot Mess" by Cobra Starship.
Disclaimer: I own nothing except the idea.

Clare stood in the kitchen, washing the dishes in the sink by hand. She stood in silence, numbly scrubbing the plate in her hand with a kitchen sponge. She growled slightly, pushing her body into the stubborn stain.

A knock on the door frame between the kitchen and the living room interrupted her. She sighed heavily, setting the plate down in sink to soak in the hot water and dropping the sponge on the counter, and wiped her hands on a towel. She turned towards the person and crossed her arms over her chest. "Eli…"

Eli took a few steps closer towards her, trying to figure out what to say to her after their small dispute the night before. "You look much better," he commented, trying to be polite.

But Clare was not having their bullshit anymore, she rolled her eyes, mumbling, "What do you want, Eli?"

Eli sighed heavily, trying to find his words. He pointed at her accusingly as he shouted, "You have no right to lecture me about monotony, Clare! You slept with me and Fitz; you still are! And you don't know which one of us is the father of your baby!"

"Fitz is your best friend, Eli!" Clare exclaimed, clutching her biceps so tight her skin turned snow white, and he immediately bit his tongue, dropping his arm. "Jenna already took KC from me! You're letting that two-timing, home-wrecking whore take you from me too!"

"What do you care if she does? You have KC. Who, by the way, stabbed one of your boyfriends!" Eli pointed out, throwing his arms in the air. "He's fucking psycho, Clare! He tried to rape you; twice! He stabbed Fitz! And now, he's left you naked in the cold to freeze to death!"

Clare covered her ears, shutting her eyes tightly, while muttering, "Stop it. Stop it. Stop it…"

Eli grabbed her by the wrists, pulling them away from her face, and shook her roughly. Clare's eyes shot open, gasping in astonishment, as her eyes locked with his. "I love you so much. But I can't keep trying to put your pieces back together if you keep throwing yourself on the ground," he said softly, his eyes welling with tears.

"Stop it!" Clare screamed in his face, tears burning her blue eyes. She closed her eyes, shaking, as she started to cry.

"I love you, Mary Clare," Eli whispered, rubbing his hands up and down her arms. He took in a shaky breath; his eyes running up and down her body as if try to burn her frame into his mind. "You are going to be an amazing mom. And an amazing wife, one day. But, maybe, right now you need to be a single mom, Clare. Maybe it's for the best." His eyes found hers and his heart stopped.

Clare's bottom lip trembled as Eli slowly leaned in to her, their lips pressing against each other's. She wrapped her around his neck as his neck as his hands fastened on her hips, pulling her legs up around his waist. She linked her ankles together, hands nails raking down his neck, as he laid her back on the kitchen table. He pulled his lips back from hers, heaving for air, as he clutched her face in his hands. She stared back at him, gasping slightly.

"It's not for the best," Clare stated quietly, shaking her head. She slid her hands down from his neck to his arms, her eyes falling across his chest. "I love you too much to let you do this to us." She blinked before looking back up to him with innocent sapphire eyes; the look of naivety he had fallen in love with.

Eli placed his hands on her wrists, swallowing hard at the lump stuck in his throat. He leaned forward, nuzzling her neck with his face. She sighed softly, wrapping her arms back around his neck, and ran her fingers through his slick, black hair. He placed a chaste kiss against her warm skin, his eyelashes fluttering against her neck which caused her to giggle. He smirked against her pulse point, sliding her closer to him. "I love you," he breathed heavily.

Clare shuttered, her eyes closing, as she clutched onto him as if her life depended on it. "I love you too."

DTNG

Fitz ran his hand through Clare's hair as they lay in her bed, cuddled together. Clare rested her head gently on his chest, wrapped up in his arms, content with the world. He rubbed her bump gingerly, pressing a gentle kiss to her temple. She sighed softly, fluttering her eyes closed.

"Mary…" Fitz whispered, his nose rubbing against her ear.

Clare could not help but giggle from his tickling tactics as she replied, "Mark…"

Fitz laughed slightly, pulling his head back bashfully, "Sorry. I know you don't like being tickled."

Clare shook her head, looking up at him, and grabbed his neck gently to pull him back. "No, Babe. It's okay. It's a good tickle," she assured, rubbing the nape of his neck. "C'mere." She tugged him down to her into a gentle kiss.

Fitz pulled back from her immediately, sighing, "Clare, seriously…" He looked down at her, his eyes welling slightly. He ran his fingers across her face tenderly, taking in the beauty of her pale skin, her azure eyes shooting right through his heart, her delicate pink lips; she was so mesmerizing.

Clare blinked, her smile twisting into a frown, "Fitz… what's wrong?"

Fitz shook his head, giving her a small smile, "Nothing." He leaned down, kissing her cheek reassuringly. He sighed softly, whispering against her jaw, "I have never felt so mushy for someone in my whole life. I really love you, Clare. I do." He took in a deep breath, hesitating, but continued. "I know you love Eli, but I wanted to tell you there's more than just Eli here for you."

Clare nodded, brushing her hands through his hair, "I know, Fitz. I love you too, Babe." She pecked the corner of his mouth with a small smile. "And this baby is going to love you as much as it loves Eli." She laid a string of soft kisses on his jaw, pulling him down slowly against her.

DTNG

Clare pulled her backpack over her shoulders and groaned, her back kinking in pain. She gasped slightly, muttering under her breath, as she grabbed her purse off the floor, "Only going to get worse." She pulled herself together, heading out of the library only to bump into a tall, lanky body. She gasped in surprise, stepping back, and looking up at the person before her.

Wesley stood in the doorway, gazing down at her awestruck.

Clare blinked back to reality, a sympathetic smile tugging at her lips, "Wesley, I really need to…"

Wesley shook his head, cutting her off, while looking down at the ground sheepishly. "B-b-b-but I wanted to talk to you."

Clare's eyebrows knitted together, wringing her tote bag in her hands. "Wesley…"

"It's about… about biophysics!" Wesley blurted out, pulling his backpack off of his shoulders to get his book. "I-I-I'm failing…" His cheeks turned red with bashfulness.

Clare could not help but smile, ease rushing through her body. She nodded willingly, "Okay."

Clare turned away from him, starting for a vacant table. She pulled her biophysics book out of her backpack as she tossed it on the table with her tote bag. She looked up at Wesley as he took a seat beside her. "What do you need help with?" she asked gleefully, excited to actually be talking about science instead of the recent drama surrounding her life.

Wesley bit his bottom lip, staring at the hardwood tabletop. His pale cheeks were turning a dark crimson. He turned his head, quickly leaning into Clare, and took her lips with his.

Clare gasped in astonishment, jumping out of her seat to get away from him. Before she could control herself, she slapped him across the face. "How dare you," she grinded her teeth together, feeling violated.

Wesley winced as he rubbed his swelling cheek. "But KC said…" he started.

"KC's a pervert," Clare stated, staring down the boy before her. "And a delinquent, at that." She shook her head disapprovingly, "And I can't believe a boy like you would ever try to defy me, Wesley Bettenkamp." She grabbed her bags and book, storming away from him in disgust, while wiping her lips with the side of her arm.

DTNG

Clare zipped up her jacket as she walked down the streets of Toronto; she still had to get her Christmas shopping done and barely had two weeks left to finish it all. Thankfully, her list had shrunk this year.

She turned to her left, the Tiffany window display catching her eyes. She swallowed hard, trying her hardest not to look at the shining engagement rings longingly. Fifteen, pregnant with an unknown father… She bit her bottom lip, her hands slowly creeping onto her stomach. If only she knew who the father was…

"Clare."

Clare gasped, spinning around quickly on her heels, and nearly slipped on the icy sidewalk. But a set of strong hands reached out, gripping her arms to steady her. Once she was fully balanced, she looked up slowly, her breath catching. "Daddy…"

Randal stood before his daughter, his eyes filled with the desperation to hold her. "Clare…" he sighed in relief, running a hand through her messy curls. "D-D-Darcy told me your mother kicked you out. I am so sorry, Princess."

Clare shook her head assuredly as she gripped at her tote bag, shrugging, "Its okay. I'm in a safe place." Her eyes were hopeful, praying her mother had not told him the full details of her situation.

Randal shook his head, "You should have come to me when you found out you were pregnant, Clare. I wouldn't have turned you away."

Clare smiled sadly, her eyes filling with emotion, as she looked away from him, "Dad…"

"Mary, I love you, Pumpkin. I would never turn you away," Randal confessed before pulling his daughter into his arms.

Clare buried her face in his chest, struggling not to cry. She wanted so desperately to wrap her arms around him, to milk every bit of comfort out of him that she could receive, but she could not bring herself to do such actions. Instead, she pulled back, looking up at him bravely. She shook her head, "You already turned me away. You didn't just walk out on Mom when you left. You walked out on me too."

Randal frowned, sighing heavily, "Clare, you know you could have left with me…"

"I don't want to leave with you!" Clare snapped, cutting him off. "I wanted you to at least have the dignity to tell me you were leaving. I'm your daughter, for Christ's sake!"

"Clare, please… just calm down," Randal begged, grabbing her bicep gently in his hand.

Clare tugged out of his grip, shaking her head, "No. I am fifteen and pregnant and you left me and Mom kicked me out." She looked up at him, repulsion inching through her being. "You don't think I have a right to be mad at you, don't you?"

Randal shook his head, holding his hands up in defense, "I didn't say that."

"You didn't have to," Clare stated. She took in a shaky breath, looking at her feet. "I know I'm a disappointment. I'm not like Darcy. I'm not pretty. I'm not popular. I'm not pure. I'm not a cheerleader. I'm not talented. I don't attracted good boys like Spinner and Peter." She dared to look back up at him, rubbing her stomach comfortingly. "But I'm an intelligent girl and I'm your daughter. I'm your daughter."

Randal's mouth hung agape at his daughter's words as he watched her walk away from him, disappearing into the cold winter's night. He swallowed hard, his eyes drifting toward the window display she had been eyeing and sighed heavily.

DTNG

Eli pulled up in the driveway of Clare's old house, shutting off his car. He looked over, stealing eye contact with Fitz, who was propped up against the passenger door with an exhausted Clare wrapped up in his arms. Her head rested lazily against his chest, passed out from working all day at The Dot. Eli hated the idea of sending Clare inside her old home to be attacked by her parents after working a nine hour shift, but he knew it was the only good time for the parties involved. He glanced at his watch; 12:34.

Fitz gave Clare a solid squeeze, whispering comfortingly in her ear, "Hey Baby. Wake up." He placed a soft kiss behind her ear.

Clare groaned, rubbing the makeup from her tired eyes. She shook her head, mumbling against his chest, "Carry me…"

Eli smirked at the sound of her reply. He shook his head, looking back at Fitz. "I don't like this," he stated.

"Get over yourself, Elijah. I had sex with both of you yesterday," Clare retorted quietly, cuddling closer to Fitz while gripping the sides of his shirt in her hands.

"Clare, you need to wake up, okay?" Fitz informed, carefully pushing her back.

Clare gave a small smile, leaning back against the seat they all sat on. "What is this? A game? Guys, I'm really tired and…" She trailed off as she looked out the window, her eyes adjusting to the house before them. She swallowed hard, her stomach sinking. "This isn't our house…"

"This was his idea," Eli stated, gripping the wheel in his hands until his knuckles turned white.

Clare looked at Fitz, her eyes filling with tears of betrayal. "Mark, how could you?"

Fitz frowned, reaching out, and cupped her cheek gingerly with his hand, "Blue eyes, you need them right now. And I know you want to talk to them. They promised to be good while they're around you." He leaned in to peck her cheek, but she turned away from him as she started to cry. He sighed, whispering in her ear, "Your kid needs at least a grandma."

Clare closed her eyes painfully, nodding in agreement, "Okay…" She snapped her head back in his direction, pointing her index finger at him, "The second they start to argue, I'm leaving and I'm not talking to you for a week."

Clare turned to Eli, shooting him a dagger-filled glare to move. Eli gladly obliged, getting out of the driver's seat. When she stepped out, he swooped her into his arms, crushing his lips against hers. She gasped at the sudden action, but kissed him back, wrapping her arms around his neck quickly. He pulled his lips away from hers, pressing his forehead against hers, and stared into her eyes. "You can do this," he stated softly.

Clare nodded, closing her eyes, as she clutched tightly to him. "If I don't come out alive…" she started quietly.

"You will. Your parents don't believe in abortion," Eli reassured jokingly and smirked slightly when he felt her smile against his cheek. He slid a thick piece of paper in her hands, hoping it would help.

Clare turned her head, kissing him one more time, before pulling back to head inside. She stood at the top the porch stairs, reaching to open the door. She hesitated, dropping her hand. Was that a bad idea? Would that get her yelled at since she did not live there anymore? She took in a deep breath, her whole body shaking, as she opened the unlocked door and stepped inside.

Clare closed the door behind herself, gripping the paper tightly in her hand. She looked down at it, standing in the doorway of the house, and smiled sadly. She held it out, finally looking up at her parents who were sitting as far away from each other as possible; her mother in the rocking chair and her father on the loveseat. "I have my eight week ultrasound," she offered timidly and then looked at her feet as her shoes shuffled nervously beneath her.

"Clare, take a seat," Helen stated coldly, gesturing toward the couch across from her parents.

Clare shook her head as she chewed on her bottom lip, "I-I-I really don't think that's a good idea." She looked down at her ultrasound picture, tears quickly filling her eyes, as she spoke, "I know Daddy hasn't seen any of these yet and I have a new one and thought you would like to see y-your… gr-grandchild."

Randal could not help but smile sadly at his daughter as he got up to go by her side, "Clare…" He stopped when he stood before her and reached out for the picture. "May I?"

Clare looked up at him in wonder, tears trailing out of her bloodshot blue eyes, and nodded frantically. She thrust the picture into his hands, taking in a deep breath, "Of course!"

Randal took the picture and stared at it, his eyes going wide in amazement. "I just… I can't believe my little girl…" he trailed off, taking in a shaking breath.

Helen stormed over to her ex-husband, pointing at their daughter the whole while. "See what you get?" she asked, snatching the photo from him. "Let her turn around, you said. And she's turning into a delinquent!"

Randal felt something snap inside when his ex-wife shouted at him. He glared down at the tiny woman, shouting back, "I'm trying not to harp on her!"

"Stop it!" Clare shouted. "You two can argue about whatever the hell you want," she snapped her picture back into her own hands, pressing it to her chest protectively, "But you are not bringing my child into it." She looked up at them bravely, sobs shuttering her entire body, "Neither of you deserve this."

"Clare, you're not ready for this," Helen sighed softly, her hands resting on her hips.

Clare nodded frantically, gasping painfully between sobs, "Yes, I am!"

"Mary," Randal frowned, looking down affectionately at his daughter, while pursing his lips together in thought.

Clare looked up at her father hopefully, whimpering, "Daddy…"

Randal blinked back the few tears lingering in his eyes as he explained gently, "I will support you. So will your mother. But we know how hard it is. A child is a big commitment…"

Clare nodded, tears cascading down her face, crying out, "I know that! I-I-I have a job and two committed relationships and I'm getting good grades in school and…"

"Clare," Helen shook her head, placing her hand on her daughter's shoulder and gave the child a squeeze. "You know that's not enough."

Clare looked at her mother, sobbing wholeheartedly, as Helen's arms wrapped around her. She clutched tightly to her mother. Her eyes fluttered closed at the feeling of her father's strong hand on her shoulder, thanking God she had finally come to something that would stop the fighting.