"The One" – Part 93

Summary and additional notes in part 1.

Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews guys! This one starts off with a long flashback in italics! Btw, heavy doses of Dare (or Clave?) ahead! Haha.

This is not related to my Degrassi timeline fics. (See my Author's profile for details!)

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Degrassi!

-oOo-

*10 Months Earlier*

.

Adam had a good feeling about today as he skipped up the steps and knocked on the Turners' door. He was happy to be back in Toronto and looked forward to spending time with them. Clare told him to swing by the first chance he got. She had something she wanted to discuss. He wasn't sure what it was but he didn't have to be asked twice. Clare was his best friend. He considered her the sister he never had.

"Adam!" a voice he knew all too well happily exclaimed.

"Clare!" he responded with a huge grin as he carefully pulled her into a hug. "You look great! You're glowing!" he told her when they pulled apart.

She and Dave were expecting their first child. Clare was four months along. It was hard to believe it had been almost a year since their wedding! It had been such a glorious day. Everyone in attendance had beamed with happiness. He was single at the time and went with Alli as his 'date'. Both had been in the wedding party.

"Thanks!" Clare said with a laugh. "You don't have to humor me, though."

Despite the numerous compliments she received, these days she always felt frumpy and fat! She was wearing a green, flowy maternity shirt with a denim skirt. Her curly auburn hair was loose and fell to her shoulders. Her husband assured her that she looked beautiful this morning but she had shrugged him off.

Adam gave her a look. "I mean that Clare!" he insisted. "I wouldn't have said it otherwise."

"Right…" she motioned for him to follow her inside. "So, how was your flight?"

He snorted at her quick change of subject. "It was alright. My folks met me at the airport when I got in. They're babysitting Kaylie and the four of us grabbed breakfast."

Adam and Clare sat down on the couch.

"I hope you didn't eat too much!" she playfully scolded. She had prepared lunch.

Adam chuckled. "I didn't. I was saving space for meeting you guys!" He glanced around the room. "Where is Dave by the way?"

"Right here," Dave answered as he walked into the room. He was fiddling with a digital camera. "Just replaced the SD card," he informed his wife. "We didn't lose any photos because everything was already backed up."

Clare nodded. "Good!" They had photos from a recent dinner with both sets of parents that she didn't want to lose. Last month they disclosed that they were expecting, having passed the first trimester.

Dave walked over to Adam and they shared a small hug. "Good to see you, man!"

Adam nodded. "Same here, bro!"

Their friendship was solid, but it hadn't always been that way. There had been tension between the two for years dating back to the 'threesome incident'. Adam wasn't happy when Clare and Dave first began dating, but he remained cordial for her sake. However, after the couple got engaged Clare pushed both men to resolve their differences for good. She refused to have Dave, the man she chose to share the rest of her life with, and Adam, her best friend who was like a brother to her, just barely tolerating each other due a misunderstanding and hurt pride! Surprisingly, once they finally put the past to rest, Dave and Adam realized they had quite a lot in common!

Dave took a seat next to his wife and kissed her cheek.

Adam smiled at them. "Now that we're all assembled, what did you want to talk about?" he asked curiously. Clare had been irritatingly vague on the phone.

The married couple shared a look.

"So, we're making plans for the baby shower," Clare started. Adam nodded. She had mentioned that before. "And getting everything else in order as well."

"Do you guys need any help with that?" Adam asked. Boston was a long way from Toronto, but he was willing to provide any assistance he could.

Dave shook his head. "We got it covered." His cousin Chantay was an event planner and she offered to throw their party.

"Cool," Adam responded.

"You know how excited we are for this baby," Clare continued. She looked at her husband and he sent her a knowing smile. They couldn't wait to be parents! Starting a family was something they talked about within first handful dates they shared! At the time, they did so in very general terms but Clare knew he was right guy for her after their fifth date.

Adam grinned. "No, really?" he joked.

"However, there are a lot of important and sometimes difficult decisions that come along with it," she noted. "Things we'd rather not think about, but we have to."

Adam took on a more reserved expression. "Right," he acknowledged. He knew having a kid wasn't all fun and games. There was a lot of responsibility involved too.

"Like, if something happens to us who would look after the baby." Clare paused. Her next of kin was her sister Darcy, who lived in Ottawa with her husband and three children. "It's not fun to consider, but it led us to think about all the loving people in our lives, and those who we know will look out for our baby and provide support and guidance as the years go on."

Dave glanced at his wife. She was stretching this out. He loved her prose – he thought she was an excellent writer – but he preferred to get to the point. He could tell Adam had no idea where they were going with this!

"We want you to be our baby's godfather!" Dave proclaimed.

Adam blinked. "Really?"

Dave smiled. "You're already going to be an uncle, twice over," he chuckled. "We have no doubts that you're the best man for the job."

Adam grinned broadly. "I… I don't know what to say!" he laughed. He was elated at the prospect!

"Say yes!" Clare playfully urged him.

"Of course!" He gently pulled her into a hug. Dave wrapped his arms around them making it a group hug.

They were all laughing when they pulled away.

"How did you get Dave to agree to this?" Adam teased her. It was amazing how far they had come. This time last year Dave balked at including him as one of his groomsmen!

Dave and Clare laughed.

"He knows what I know. You'd move heaven and earth to protect our little girl," Clare stated.

Initially for godparents she was going to pick one close friend and Dave was slated to pick the other, but ultimately they went with who trusted would be there for their daughter, no matter what. Adam and Alli were at the top of that list.

"You know I would!" Adam affirmed with conviction. Clare was family to him, and so was this baby. "Wait, did you say you're having a girl?" he questioned with a huge smile.

-oOo-

"Oh, what's this? We're falling again!"

Adam softly laughed as he held Sierra tightly in his arms and executed a small drop. She giggled happily in response. All of the adults laughed at the sight.

Fiona turned to Clare. The two women were relaxing on the couch, looking on as Adam and Eli took delight in entertaining the baby. Dave had left to meet relatives at the airport not long ago, whom had flown in for the christening this weekend.

"She's absolutely beautiful," Fiona stated once again. She knew she sounded like a broken record, but she couldn't help herself! It was the truth! Sierra had adorable chubby cheeks, bright brown eyes, curly black hair, and she loved to laugh.

Clare smiled at her. "Not to be smug, but I wholeheartedly agree!"

Fiona grinned. "You have every right to be!" she remarked in jest.

They both laughed.

Fiona, Adam, and Eli had arrived about two hours ago. She was thoroughly enjoying their visit. It was fun catching up with Clare after so many years, and she adored her baby daughter!

Between spending time with Haylie and Sierra, Fiona could almost envision what motherhood would be like for her someday! However, her mind wouldn't let her fully travel down that road yet. She was grateful for the mental block, because she felt it was way too early to go there. She and Adam still needed to sort out their living arrangements!

"So, how does it feel to be back in Toronto after all these years?" Clare inquired. Their days at Degrassi had been such a long time ago! It was funny how much things had changed...

Sophomore year she held quite a bit of hostility towards the woman sitting next to her. Fiona had broken her best friend's heart and Clare didn't trust her as far as she could throw her! Yet, over time Fiona proved she truly cared about Adam. Once Clare saw that the love between them was real, she was open to giving Fiona a chance and they became genuine friends.

The two lost touch a couple of years after Adam and Fiona broke up. They hadn't seen each other in over five years, but they easily struck up a good rapport this time around!

Fiona smiled as her eyes fell on Adam. He was making silly faces at Sierra as Eli held the little girl in his arms. "It feels right," she responded.

.

tbc

A/N: Oh, I think Eli called it in the last chapter - cuteness overload, indeed!

We got some interesting bits of backstory in here - revisiting past tensions between Adam and Dave, tidbits about Clare and Dave's early relationship, and updates on fellow Degrassi alums Chantay and Darcy! - and we witnessed some heartwarming moments as well!

I've been AWOL as of late, but I'll update this fic soon. Reviews are lovely to read, y'all!

In the next chapter - updated 8/22/11:

Okay, finished writing chapter 94! Will post it on Tuesday! We'll learn what prompted Adam to leave Toronto, see more Degrassi characters (!), and there's lots of backstory! Plus some Fadam kisses! :D

To the folks I cannot directly PM...

MeganGil - Thanks so much for the review! And for other stories too. I usually respond in the next chapter, but I haven't updated in awhile :) Anyway, I appreciate the kind words on the last chapter. I am still writing Fadam stuff and will publish when they're ready. Though, I can't keep up daily updates anymore. (Fell behind after I went on vacation and offline life has be hectic this month!). Cheers!