Welcome to short story month! The first in 2016 and in an effort to get through some of the short stories and knock some off my list there will be three this year.

We moved into the new house but are still unpacking and work is still busy and will remain so until after tax season so expect some short chapters. I'll try not to skip any but it's likely some chapters will be short.

Ch. 16 His World, My World, Our World

(FITZ)

"I want to bring Clare here tomorrow night. She wants to spend the night with me in my room and I promised her that when her leg was better I would bring her here. I don't want to just hide her in my room I want her to be able to meet people. Everyone knows what Clare means to me I know people want to meet her too," I tell Doc while we eat dinner Friday night.

After ten weeks of her leg in a cast she got it taken off last week. Her leg was still weak and she needed the use of a cane or crutches a lot of the time. Her arm was better now, fully healed and she'd been working with a physical therapist and with Owen to get it stronger. Even her nightmares had mostly passed at this point although she still had the occasional nightmare about the crash but I was always there to hold her and tell her she was safe. She still refused to see Eli, not that anyone blamed her. Eli was at home now but paralyzed for life and was having to learn to live in a wheelchair. From what we heard from the people who had been to see him Eli was angry about being in a wheelchair and was refusing to do a lot of his therapies.

"I know how important she is to you and I know that she's aware of the fragility of our world and the severity of this secret. You can bring her and introduce her to anyone that wants to meet Clare. Some people may not wasn't to be seen at all, I will announce that Clare is coming tomorrow night and anyone that wishes to can remain hidden. Keep Clare to your room and the public areas so that anyone that doesn't want to meet her or wants to stay hidden can do so," Doc tells me and I smile.

I finish dinner and help clean up then I leave for Clare's house. Even though it's dark outside I still take the tunnels most of the way and then remain in the shadows all the way to Clare's house. The basement door is unlocked and Clare is on the sofa with Drew, Adam and Bianca. They're watching TV and Drew seems to still be doing homework but the others are just watching TV. Clare smiles when I come in, I walk over and give her a quick and gentle kiss, and Clare's head disappears into my hood when I do so. Adam moves over and I hop over the back of the sofa to sit next to Clare. When I hear sounds on the stairs and know that one of their parents is coming downstairs I quickly hide in Clare's room. Audra tells the kids she's going to bed and reminds the boys to be in their rooms by eleven. For a long time Drew, or Owen when he was sleeping over, would sleep down here on the sofa, because Clare couldn't move very much and had trouble getting to the washroom so they were down here to help her. Of course I was always here sleeping in her bed and I could help her but her parents didn't know that.

"I spoke with Doc," I tell Clare when we're alone in her bed, "and he said you could come to my room tomorrow night and spend the night. I'll introduce you to people and show you around a little."

"Thank you I can't wait to see your world," Clare smiles and turns to kiss me.

"I know you have physical therapy tomorrow afternoon and family dinner but I'll come get you after it gets dark."

"My parents will be meeting friends for breakfast Sunday morning pretty early so I doubt they'll check on me. I'm also sure Bianca will stay the night again and she and my brothers will cover for me," she says.

I smile and kiss her temple, she nuzzles into me and we fall asleep together. I wake up with the sun, when I'm away from home I always wake up with the sun so I can get back to the shadows before anyone can see me. I kiss Clare and quietly leave before the sun has risen. Knowing Clare is coming I tidy up my room and spend most of the day doing that and telling the kids how wonderful Clare is. The adults and other teens down here either tell me they're very excited to meet Clare or would rather not meet Clare. Not that they have anything against Clare but a lot of people down here came from truly terrible situations in the world above. Many of them were abused even worse than I was and it made them distrustful of people from the world above and skittish around them. Clare already knows this and I'm sure she won't be insulted or hurt that some of the citizens don't want to meet her.

I eat dinner with everyone and then go to Clare's house. No one is in the basement but I see lights on upstairs in the dining room so they must still be eating dinner. The basement door is unlocked as it usually is and I go in. Just in case one of Clare's parents come down first I go into her room, I lie on her bed and read a book. When I hear several sets of footsteps coming down the stairs I know they're done with dinner. I hear Drew talking with Bianca, his steps are heavier and he's breathing just a bit harder than the others, but I'm sure he's giving Clare a piggyback down the stairs as he has been since her cast came off. I intend to wait a moment before coming out just to be sure Audra and Omar haven't come downstairs. Of course Clare already felt my presence here, Drew must set her down right outside her room because she steps in the room throwing her arms around my neck and capturing my lips.

"I packed a bag and I'm all ready to go. Bianca's sleeping over and she and my brothers will cover for me if Mom or Dad come down at any time," she says when her lips detach from mine.

"Then let's go, where's your bag? I'll carry that and you," I tell her. She points to her bag and I pick it up then kneel down so she can get on my back. Drew, Adam and Bianca are on the sofa watching TV.

"Have fun," Adam smiles.

"No sex," Drew warns me.

"Drew," Clare admonishes her brother shaking her head.

"Have a good night," Bianca smiles knocking Drew in the back of the head for his comment.

"We'll see you tomorrow, don't worry about a thing," Bianca assures us opening the basement door so I can go out with Clare on my back.

I take the easiest way to the tunnels that won't require any climbing. Once we're in the tunnels I set Clare down to get a break from carrying her. She can walk a short ways, linking her arm with mine we walk slowly until her leg begins to shake and I pick her up again. I carry her the rest of the way to my room and set her down. I set her bag by my bed and look at her; she wears a huge smile and runs her fingers along the wall.

"It's beautiful, almost castle like. I pictured more like old sewer and subway tunnels when you told me," Clare says.

"The subway tunnels lead into natural caverns and when Doc began this society he used what was here, just carved away a little to make rooms."

"It's wonderful, so much like a fairytale."

"I suppose it is. I've never really thought about it before. When I was first brought here it was just a safe place and then it became home."

"It's beautiful I can't wait to see more," she grins taking a couple more steps into the room. "Look at all the books," she says and her mouth curls up more into a further delighted grin as she runs her fingers along the book spines. "You have more classic books than some libraries," she comments taking my copy of Don Quixote from the shelf. "Mark this is a first edition," Clare exhales with awe after opening the leather bound cover.

I grin just watching her fingers run along the edge of the book cover and gently caressing the pages. I delight in watching her marvel at the book when most girls, most people our age probably wouldn't even care.

"Doc's family collected rare books, he brought his library with him and others have added to it. We have an actual library I'll show you tomorrow, the ones in here are just my favorites."

Clare sits on my bed and begins to read from the book. I sit next to her and listen to her read. Every word from her mouth is like a melody, every sentence a symphony played so exquisitely by the instruments of her lips and tongue. She doesn't just read the words from the page she brings them to life. I listen to her read two chapters before she puts the book down.

"Where's the washroom?"

"That is not so fairytale like. Come on I'll show you," I reply getting up and pulling her up with me. I take her down the hall and up the stairs to the washroom for this area, it's very medieval like and Clare grimaces a little when she sees it. "It drains into the sewer system but there's no flush or anything. There is a sink fed by a motorized water pump and soap and toilet paper."

"I suppose down here there are not a lot of options for plumbing," Clare comments.

"Yeah that and none of the people that started this place knew anything about plumbing."

Clare smiles and closes the door. I wait for her outside the washroom and when she's done and she's emerged I pick her up and carry her back to my room. We stay up late reading to each other, she reads a chapter and I read a chapter. When we become too tired to read we get ready for bed and I hold her in my arms. She runs her fingers over my scarring but it doesn't bother me. She doesn't do it in a way that would make me think she's disgusted by it. Rather when she caresses the scars I feel she feels their beautiful.

"I can't wait to meet everyone tomorrow and see your world," she says sleepily.

"I can't wait either."

Clare kisses my chest and we drift to sleep. We wake together late the next morning and we change for breakfast. Everyone else has eaten but I take her into the kitchen and we get breakfast. Some of the kids are in here and I introduce them to Clare. The kids ask her a lot of questions but she's patient with them and answers their questions.

"Come on I'll show you around before I have to take you back," I say offering her my hand.

"Can we go to the library first I want to see it," she requests.

"Of course."

I take her down a staircase that's been carved into the rock. Clare's leg is still weak so she leans heavily on me but she's able to walk the whole way. When we get to the library Clare makes a happy gasp and looks around at the many shelves which have been carved into the rocks and filled with books. She smiles with delight and looks at some of the books.

"More, I want to see everything you can show me," she insists with an eagerly excited smile.

I take her to the dining room and show her the waterfall cave and what we refer to the whisper corridor where you can hear people talking from above. Clare delights in everything, every sight, every sound, every sensation. Her excited and delighted grin never leaves her face. I introduce her to many of the people down here and Clare always smiles and says nice to meet them but she has the sense not to ask them any questions. When she can't walk I carry her and when she can't stand she leans against me.

"I should take you back now it's almost late afternoon I don't know how long Drew, Adam and Bianca can make excuses for you," I comment after noting the time.

"Is it that late already? I hadn't even noticed, my leg is shaking though I don't think I can walk," she replies and I pick her up into my arms.

"I'll carry you back to my room and you can rest while I pack your bag. I'll give you a piggy back to your house after unless you want to walk," I tell her.

Clare kisses my cheek and I take her to my room setting her on the bed. I pack her bag and she gets on my back, she walks a little but I carry her most of the way. When we reach her house everyone is out but the basement door is unlocked. I take her in and set her on her bed and she sends a text to Adam that she's home.

"Thank you for taking me to your world it was so wonderful to get to know that part of you. I wish you didn't have to hide so much in mine and I was thinking perhaps you don't," Clare says and I tense up slightly. "I'm not suggesting you re-enroll at DeGrassi or anything but perhaps you could meet my parents so you don't have to hide when you're here. I'd like them to meet my boyfriend. You wouldn't have to take your hood down I'd explain to them. Owen and Bianca could be there too and my brothers already like you."

"If you tell them about me and they want to meet me but I won't take my hood down and I don't want them to look for my family or ask where I live. I know your parents are good people I mean they adopted you and took you in, but you know my fear abo…" I'm saying when Clare cuts me off with a kiss.

"I know and I promise I'll explain it all and tell them that they can't meet you unless they agree to everything. I'll have to tell them a little so they know why."

"Then I hope they agree because I would love to meet your parents," I reply and Clare grins giving me a tender kiss.

(CLARE)

I stand in front of the washroom mirror and run my fingers along my scars. I'm getting cosmetic surgery today to fix the bone around my eye and minimize the other scarring. Of course they told me that there would be some faint scarring from the surgery but it wouldn't be as noticeable as the large gashes on my face. I'd almost gotten used to them at this point but after eleven weeks of having people stare at me and gawk at the cuts and misshapen eye socket, conjecturing on how they got there I was quite happy for them to be going away.

"You alright?" Adam asks appearing in the mirror.

"Yeah just looking at them again, soon they will be gone," I reply turning to my brother.

"Mom says it's time to go," Adam says and I smile.

We go out to the van and Mom drives us to the hospital. It's a bright sunny morning and as much as I'd like Fitz here at my side he couldn't be. I know he's close though I feel him near and I smile. My surgery will take several hours so only Mom and Adam are coming with me to the hospital, I'll have about an hour of recovery and then I'll be home and recovering for a couple of days and won't be at school Monday. Owen, Bianca and of course Drew and Dad will be at the house when I get home.

"Hello Clare we're going to prep you for surgery. Mrs. Torres you'll need to sign some paperwork," the nurse says.

Adam comes with me into the room, the nurse takes my vitals and I change into a gown. Then I get in the bed and they hook me to an IV and begin the anesthetic, because they'll be working around my eye and having to restructure the bone I need to be out. Mom comes in just as I'm drifting to sleep and she kisses my forehead.

"We'll be here when you wake up," Mom tells me and then I'm out. Waking up several hours later and it's dark now, one of my eyes is covered by a bandage but I open the other. "Welcome back Honey how do you feel?" Mom asks.

"Tired and my head feels big," I reply.

"That will pass; you should be ready to go home in about an hour. You should rest for now," Mom tells me.

"We'll be right here," Adam assures me.

I nod and close my eyes; the anesthesia is making me sleepy still. For the next hour I drift in and out of sleep until the doctor comes in. He checks my vitals and bandages and says I can go home. Mom signs some papers and Adam gets my clothes to help me get dressed. Adam helps me to the car, my still weak leg feels very weak after lying down and being drugged most of the day. The drive home feels odd, it must be the drugs. When we get home Owen comes out and carries me from the car, I could have walked but I don't mind being carried, frankly my head still feels quite large and my leg is shaking. Owen takes me to my bed and sets me down.

"Clare won't eat but I'll order pizza for the rest of you. Bianca do you think you could help Clare into her pajamas?" Mom requests.

"Yeah of course," Bianca nods.

Dad hugs me before going upstairs with Mom. Bianca shoos the boys out and closes my door so she can help me into pajamas. She does just that and I take a pillow and blanket to go out and lie on the sofa, I don't feel like eating but I would like to be with everyone. I'm still quite tired however and I spend most of the evening drifting in and out of sleep until while watching a movie I fall asleep entirely. When I wake up later that night I'm in my own bed and Fitz is with me.

"I was wondering when you would come in," I yawn sleepily and grip him a little tighter.

"I've been in here a couple of hours but you were fast asleep. You should go back to sleep it's very late, Drew and Owen are sleeping on the sofa down here and Bianca is in Drew's room. Go back to sleep I'll stay with you until sun is up," Fitz says and kisses my forehead tenderly.

I yawn and fall asleep again, but I wake up before the sun and Fitz is awake or perhaps awakens when I stir. We don't say anything just lie there holding each other. Fitz kisses me before he leaves and says he'll be back tomorrow night. I get out of bed and get dressed but with Drew and Owen on the sofa I can't exactly go out and watch TV so I sit on my bed a while to read. After a couple of hours everyone is awake and we watch TV. Mom brings down pancakes for breakfast and we eat together with the TV off.

"Mom," I venture while we're eating, "when my bandages come off I'd like for my boyfriend to come to dinner."

"I didn't know you had a boyfriend," Mom says slowly while the others look at me in shock that I'm even suggesting this. Dad looks as confused as Mom because of course he didn't know I had a boyfriend either.

"His name is Mark but he likes to go by Fitz and you didn't know about him because most people don't. Something terrible happened to him and he's been living in secret."

"Like witness protection?" Dad asks.

"Something like that. I want you to meet him but there's a few caveats and conditions."

"Caveats and conditions to meeting your boyfriend?" Mom questions with a cautious and suspicious tone.

"Yes for one he's going to wear a hoodie that covers his face and gloves all through dinner. You can't ask him to take them off and you can't ask him why. You also can't ask anything about his past, family or where he lives. I know this is a lot to ask but he's a wonderful boy, he's done a lot for me, for all of us."

"You said he wears a hooded sweatshirt that covers his whole face? Adam aren't you making a comic with a character like that?" Dad questions.

"Yeah where do you think I got idea, everything in the comic happened," Adam replies.

"Bianca and I have known Fitz a long time Mrs. Torres and he really is a great guy. He went through something awful and went underground. He really cares about Clare, he's the one pulled her out of the car when Eli crashed," Owen says in defense of Fitz and I smile.

"Well he's obviously important to you, to all of you. We'd like to meet him, he can wear anything he likes and we will be careful what we ask," Mom replies.

"Thank you this means a lot to me," I grin widely.

I eat with a smile on my face, I took a couple steps into Fitz's world and now he can take another step into mine.

The next update on Tuesday March 8th will probably begin with Fitz coming to dinner. It's also very possible the next chapter will be the last, if it's not the last there's probably only one chapter after that.