So thanks for all the reviews I've received. I was thinking that maybe I can try to update this every day, so I won't be working on it all year. Also because I have a lot of inspiration right now.

Legitimate

"A prince never lacks legitimate reasons to break his promise." Niccolo Machiavelli

The only thought racing through Clare's mind as she sat in the downtown OBGYN office was that it smelled like antiseptic. She thought it would be different than the normal doctor's office; well, at least its smell. But no, it was just like being in Dr. Wilson's office when she was 5 years old, getting her kindergarten check-up.

The blond looked up and over at her friend who sat next to her. Adam looked back, his hands clutching the clipboard and pen they'd received. Clare was too chicken to fill it out herself and asked if Adam could help her. He had simply nodded and grabbed the items.

"Are you ready yet?" he asked, his voice calm and normal. This time she nodded and turned to him, letting out an extended breath.

"Okay…I'm ready."

They went on filling out the usual information like her age and the like. When Adam turned the page however, the questions got more difficult.

"Have you been having any morning sickness?" he asked, scripted. He looked up at Clare and smirked. She shook her head.

"Not really…" she thought back, "Unless you count that bag of spicy jalapeño Doritos I ate and then promptly puked up."

"Okay…morning sickness…yes…cravings…yes," Adam wrote out. Clare laughed quietly and looked back down at her lap. She was glad Adam was there with her. But part of her still wished that it was Eli who was sitting next to her.

She pushed that thought away quickly. She had told him she didn't need him to be there for her. She wanted to go it alone. The truth was that she wanted the opposite. She wanted him to be there forever, with her. She wanted him to tell her it was going to be alright and that things would work out. She wanted him to hold her until she felt better. But that would never happen…

Clare blinked and went back to finishing the questions. What felt like ages went by until she was finally called back by one of the nurses. She reluctantly followed and was brought into a room that was even more antiseptic than before.

Out in the waiting room, Adam looked up as the front door opened and closed. In walked Eli who looked completely out of place and awkward. He looked around until he finally came upon his best friend and almost sprinted over to him. He sat in the seat Clare had previously been in.

"Dude, don't act so obvious," Adam rolled his eyes as he flipped the page of the Parenting Magazine he was glancing at. Eli sighed loudly and settled into the chair.

"Did she already go in?" he asked, twisting one of the rings on his fingers nervously.

"Yeah…just left," the other boy set the magazine down and looked lover at his friend, "She's really freaked, you know."

"I know," Eli whispered, quieter than usual, "I feel like an ass for doing this to her."

That being said, they sat there in silence the rest of the time. Eli was still trying to think things all the way through. He came so he could prove to Clare that he wasn't going to be a deadbeat. He was going to be there for her the entire time. He's support any decision she made. He'd have to.

Finally, Clare came back out. Her eyes widened when she saw Eli sitting there. She walked up to both of her friends and smiled. "You actually came," she noted.

He shrugged like it was no big deal, "You know…thought I should be here for you…and my kid."

Adam noticed their exchange and raised an eyebrow. "I'm gonna walk home. Eli…you should drive Clare," he excused himself. They said their goodbyes and he left. The other two headed out to the hearse.

The car ride was silent and awkward at first. Clare was staring out the window while Eli stared straight ahead at the road. But finally the blond couldn't stand the silence anymore.

"Um…the baby's healthy from what they could tell. I'm about 7 weeks along," she informed, tugging on the hem of her shirt. He nodded and continued driving on. She nodded to herself and continued staring out the window.

He dropped her off, but before she got out of the car, Clare turned to him again. "I'm really glad you came today. But you really don't have to. I don't want to stress you out too much."

Eli looked back at her, his eyes serious. "I want to be there for you. And our baby…" he looked her in the eyes, "I'm going to do the right thing."

Clare felt her eyes welling up and quickly wrapped her arms around him. He returned the embrace, which was over too quick. In seconds she had disappeared out the door and into her house.