I'm really sorry to all you faithful readers who were positively begging for Clare and Eli not to give up Luke. This is the chapter where it happens. *Frowny face*

Over

"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened." ~Dr. Seuss

Clare knew it wasn't safe to be holding Luke whilst driving to the Bauman's house a week later. But she wanted to spend as much time with him as she had before giving him up. He was fast asleep in her arms, so content. He was completely unaware that his entire life was going top be altered in only a couple hours.

They pulled into the driveway that was familiar now. Eli looked over at Clare after pulling the keys out of the ignition.

"You sure about this?" he asked, his voice already breaking slightly. But Clare knew he was going to stay strong throughout the whole thing. That was him being Eli. There was no way he was going to show weakness,

She looked down at her baby, "Yeah. I'm, sure."

They entered the large house for a second time, after being let in by Tim this time. Laurie walked in from the kitchen that had a door leading to the living room. Her face looked so happy at seeing Luke. There was no way neither of Clare nor Eli could take it from her. Luke had been hers from the beginning.

"He's beautiful," the older woman said, looking down at the sleeping baby.

"Do you want to hold him?" Clare offered, changing his position. Laurie nodded and gently lifted him out of Clare's arms. She held him perfectly and close to her heart.

"Hey Luke, baby," she whispered to him, using the fingers of the hand supporting his head to run through the barely-there hairs on his head. He smiled in his sleep, bigger than ever.

Eli looked over at Clare, who reached out her hand to him. He grabbed it and they both smiled. It was going to be hard to let go, but it was the right thing. He belonged there.

They were granted an open adoption, meaning that they would get yearly updates on Luke and how he was doing. Laurie was even gracious enough to allow them visitation, so they could see him every couple years. For that Clare was eternally grateful.

The weeks after were hard, but they stuck to their promise. They stayed together through it all. Through the tears, the laughs, the frowns, and the smiles. They missed Luke greatly, but the best thing they could've done for him was give him up. The Bauman's were really going to love him.

For the rest of their high school lives and beyond, Clare and Eli were together. As time wore on, the hurt of giving up their baby waned. Soon, it was like he wasn't there's anymore. He never really was.

The two of them ended up getting married when Clare was 25 and Eli was 26. They knew by then that they could make it through anything.

A year later, Clare had another baby, a little girl named Madison.

And this time…Eli was ready.

There's going to be an epilogue after this, where you can meet Madison and older Luke. I'm really glad everyone has liked this fic as much as they have. The support I've gotten is really inspiring. So thank you for that.