Chapter 20

Love

Eli walked into Clare's hospital room,holding his polaroid camera. "Eli!" Clare whined. "I look drab and pathetic right now, please don't take my picture" Clare begged,stretching her IV cord to put her hands up,in attempt of blocking the camera. "You're always beautiful" Eli said,putting the camera down.

"And those doctors think you're strong enough to come home." Eli rolled his eyes. Clare shook her head. "What do they know? Eli,I'm tired,and weak and in a lot of pain,and they could care less." Clare groaned. "Mom isn't going to let me come home. They discharged me,and I'm sitting in a wheel chair." Clare complained,trying to keep her eyes open.

"Then why don't you come home with me? I'll take care of you,until you're feeling strong enough to face the world." Clare smiled. "You're sweet Eli,but that could be weeks,or months Dr Ingles says if after 30 days,my heart is..." She yawned. "Then I'm in good shape" Eli smirked,after missing half of her sentence. "You, baby blue need your rest." Eli said. He walked out of the room,finding Dr Ingles (Bullfrog) "So Doc..." Eli walked over to Dr Ingles (Bullfrog)

"Eli you know after this,Clare's Mom thinks it's better for Clare to go off to a rehabilitation center." Eli shook his head. "no,my dad went to one of those. They're terrible. He was miserable!" Dr Ingles looked at his chart. "Eli,that's too much for you to take on. What about school,work a life?" Eli gave a mean stare. "She is my life!" He spat. "I can't release her into the care of a minor." The doctor said.

"She's been discharged,we just can't provide anymore for her." Eli rolled his eyes. "yah,I know how hospitals work." Eli said disgusted,catching a glimpse of Mrs Edwards in the hall. "Mrs Edwards,why are you sending Clare to a nursing home?" Her mother sat down. "I have to work,Eli. I can't be there to help her,and Clare's dad has to get treated for drug addiction." Eli rolled his eyes. "Please let her come home,don't send her to one of those places. Please don't." Eli nearly begged.

"And who's going to stay with her,while I'm at work?" Eli gave a small smile. "me" Her mother let out a breath. "Oh,Eli what about school,what about...?" Eli once again rolled his eyes. "Please,Mrs Edwards,I can handle it."

"Alright,Clare can come home,but you have to promise me,that while I'm at work,you look after her." Eli nodded. "Promise" Eli agreed. "Okay,don't ask me how,but you can come home,you don't have to worry." Clare smiled. "How did you pull that off?" Clare asked,fatigued. Eli smirked. "You just completely missed my speech,didn't you Baby Blue?" Clare nodded,and fell into her chair. "Hold on,I got ya" Eli said,cradling her. Mrs Edwards soon walked in to push the wheel chair to the car,where Clare slept in the backseat all the way home.

"You're sure you don't need anything?" Clare gave a tiny smile. "I don't know how you keep smiling through all this,Clare you're an inspiration you know that?" Her mother said,helping her to the couch. "Now,anything you want me to bring you?" Clare shut her eyes,letting out a yawn. "A teen magazine,and some gummy bears?" Her mother laughed. "Okay," She put the cordless phone on the coffee table. "Now you call me,if you need me,and I will rush right out of the office."

"Ms Edwards,it's okay go to your meeting,I've got this." Eli assured Mrs Edwards. "She'll probably mostly sleep anyway." Mrs Edwards grabbed her purse and went out the door. "I love you Clare" She said,and trailed to her car.

"Okay,Baby Blue. She's gone. Let the fun begin!" Clare gave a low laugh. "Eli,I'm really tired,this medication is ..." She let out a yawn,and fell fast asleep. Clare woke up about an hour later. "Hey sleepy head" Eli sat on the sofa,Clare's feet laid across his lap.

"hey" Clare said,slowly sitting up. "You know,you're amazing right?" Eli smiled. "Mama dropped off teen vogue and gummy bears" He set the magazine on the table and opened the gummy bears. He dropped them in a bowl and picked out all the green ones. "You're the only one I know,who doesn't eat the green ones." Clare laughed. "Well, they're gross" Clare sighed,picking up the bowl,her hands shaking a little. "Whoa,whoa easy there." Clare let go as Eli took the bowl.

"So,you know you don't have to baby sit me. I can take care of myself." Clare stated. Eli laughed. "It's girlfriend sitting... it's different,Edwards" He put his hand to her fore head. "Hey you're running a fever,let me just apologize for being so hot." Clare blinked.

"Sure Eli, see,I could of caught something at the hospital,and you don't need to be exposed to it." She mumbled. Eli got off the couch and went into the kitchen,finding a dish cloth,and running it under the cold sink water. He rung it out and walked back to the sofa. He placed the dish rag on Clare's fore head. "To bring down your fever" He said sweetly.

* a few months later*

Winter soon turned to Spring,then Summer. June became July,and it was a day before the 4th. Eli had been taking care of Clare after school,and spending most of the night at her house until her Mother got home from work. Clare was finally strong enough to do things on her own. She didn't feel any pain anymore,had rosy cheeks and was planning on making up her sophmore year in summer school.

"Good morning Edwards" Eli sat up from Clare's bed. "Did you stay the night again?" Clare asked,her eyes bright blue,her skin flushed. "Only cause I didn't want you falling down the stairs or something." Clare laughed. "You have the best excuses."

She gave him a peck on the lips,and climbed out of her bed,pulling her bathrobe closed. "So breakfast,coco puffs,lucky charms?" Eli asked,walking up from behind her,putting his arms around her waist,as Clare looked into the mirror of her vanity. She turned quickly and gave him a kiss.

"I return to school today" Clare said,breaking away. "And you've been spending so much time here,I swear the neighbors think you moved in." Clare smiled. "Seriously Eli,I'm fine. I've never felt better. I can do things on my own now."

Eli put his hands up. "okay,say no more. I'll see you later." He slowly backed away. Clare giggled. "Well,okay I can't drive..but" Eli laughed and ran back,grabbing her waist. "Oh so you need me now?" He asked kind of accusatory. "yes,but I want you to need me too." Eli looked up with a smirk. "Not like that." Clare hit him with a decorative pillow. "So we're back to this now? Clare,you and your dirty mind." The two got into a pillow fight.

"So,Clare before I completely ditch you and run off with Adam to the comic palooza,there's something I want to ask you...tomorrow night" Clare looked up,wide eyed. "Really,and what might that be?" Eli smirked,trying to think of a lie. "Stuff" Clare laughed. "Oh you want to ask me stuff,for an interview or something?" Eli snickered. "Tomorrow's the fourth of July..." Clare rolled her eyes.

"So you want me to hold your hand,you scared of the fire works?" Clare teased. Eli again,laughed. "No it's just...something..."

"Okay,I think I know what you're going to ask,and since I'm feeling up to it,and there's a zero percent chance of me dying...Yes,Eli I want to make love with you on the dock on the fourth of July" Eli's eyes popped. "Wow" Clare gasped.

"That's what you were going to ask, right?" Eli stuttered. "uh...yeah...yeah.." He let go. "Just one second,baby blue" He walked out of Clare's room,and into the hall broom closet. He shut the door. "Oh my God!" He screamed,and walked out of the closet as if nothing happened.

"You okay?" Clare asked. "never better" Eli went down the stairs,and out the door and got in Morty and left. "Adam!" Eli knocked on Adam's door early in the morning. "What the hell,man?" Adam walked out,tugging his hoodie over his T-shirt,and plaid pajama pants. "She wants to have sex!" Eli exclaimed. Adam rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and looked at Eli,still half asleep. "Wow,and you're at my door at 6 in the morning telling me this,because?"

Adam couldn't really comprehend. "How far did you even go with her?" Adam asked in a yawn. "Well,I gave her a sponge bath." Eli admitted. Adam rolled his eyes. "only cause she had a high fever,and she made you wear a blindfold! it doesn't count" Adam reminded and threw his hands up in the air.

"Yah,and I almost used shaving cream instead of soap,don't remind me" Eli rolled his eyes. "I'm going to ask her to marry me" Adam's eyes shot open. "Wow,you sure you didn't inhale something?" Eli shook his head.

"No,I don't feel right about this,I don't want her to give up her beliefs for me." Adam shut his eyes. "this is the part where you ask me to help you pick out a ring..." Adam acted like he dreaded that. "yup" Eli nodded. "How much did you save up?" Adam asked.

"$7.50" Adam rolled his eyes. "So you're going to get her a ring pop?"

Eli shook his head. "a temporary place holder,just until I can get her a real ring..." Adam's eyebrows went up. "It's official,you're insane!" Adam yelled.

*One day later*

"I love this" Clare sat on the harbor wadding her feet in the water. "I miss this" She looked up. "July 4th,the first time you've seen the fire works in over 3 years." Eli said. Clare smiled,looking over at the mansion. "I miss the little dark haired boy standing in his balcony window..." The two looked up at the sky. "Wonder when they will start..." Clare smiled. "pretty soon,baby blue" Eli kissed Clare on the top of her head. "So what did you want to ask me?" Clare asked. "Well..." Eli started,sweating nervously.

"Alright,so I went over your list,and we have a long time to complete it. But,there was something else we both had the same on our lists." Eli reached into the pocket of his leather jacket. "Now,I can't afford a real one right now,but I'm hoping you can except it as a place holder?" Eli was so nervous. Clare grinned from ear to ear.

"Clare Baby Blue Edwards, I don't want to ever go through what I did when I thought I lost you. I don't want to lose you ever again. I love you so much,and part of me thinks I always have,so I know tonight you wanted to make love,but I want to stay true to your beliefs,and um do something first..."

Eli caught a breath as he got down on one knee,kneeling on the dock as barge boats carrying fireworks moved into the harbor. "Will you marry me?"

Clare covered her mouth in shock. "Oh my God are you serious?" She looked at the adorable plastic baby blue carved rose ring. Clare jumped up and hugged him. "yup,so will you?" Eli shook,as the fog horns sounded. Clare nodded uncontrollably like a bobble head. "Oh my God,yes,Eli!" She giggled heavily. She slipped her promise ring off her fourth finger,and put it on her opposite hand,allowing Eli to put the temporary engagement ring on her fourth finger.

"Okay,Mom,Bullfrog she said yes!" Eli yelled. Bullfrog and CeCe walked onto the beach with a picnic basket. "So then..."
"I'm getting married." Eli said,and cuddled Clare as the fireworks started. "I'm so happy for you baby boy." His mother caught a tear,as Clare stared at the ring,smiling. "I love you Eli Goldsworthy." Clare said. The fire works started to fill the sky.

"How cheesy would it be, if I kissed you right now,just to say that when we kissed there were fireworks?" Eli asked. Clare smiled. "You're exceptionally cheesy,but I love that about you." The two kissed passionately, and as the fire works lit up the sky,CeCe snapped a polaroid picture.

to be continued...

Okay,so one more chapter to go. I'm really going to take my time with the wedding scene,any requests before it ends? Oh,and bout the complaints on my spacing. I'm working on it. I get up at 5 am every morning to get the computer while I can,and sometimes I overlook things. :)

xoxo-ShootingStarOnTheHorizon