A/N: Cast change for the millionth time: Caiden will be played by Nick Bateman instead because I feel like Wade Poezyn looked too "innocent" I guess you can say. (It's too hard to find a "Caiden like" pictures with Wade. )

Ps. There's a good chance some of you may have a love or maybe even hate reaction to this chapter and you may not understand the meaning behind what happens.Xx

~KittyKat<3

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~Claire's POV~

I looked at the tv, focusing intently on the scene playing on the screen. My eyes were wide and watering from the scene in Les Misérables as I knew what was coming up.

There's a grief that can't be spoken
There's a pain goes on and on.
Empty chairs at empty tables.
Now my friends are dead and gone.

"Gosh, why did we watch this! Ugh, my emotions are so much worse right now." I said wiping my tears.

"You said you wanted to watch something good while we got ready and you love this show," Mia said throwing popcorn at me and I sent her a playful glare.

"You're such a bitch."

"And you're still a hoe." She sent me a wink before passing me the bowl of buttered popcorn. She stood up, wiping the crumbs off her lap and onto the floor.

"If we watch anymore I'm going to cry like a baby and never get my makeup up done," I said clicking the off button, refusing to let myself cry

I blinked away the dramatic tears and finally started on my makeup. I did perfectly winged eyeliner along with some mascara and some matte red lipstick. I already had my dress on and only had to put in my earrings which I quickly did.

"Hey, what time is Nathan getting home?" I asked curiously, taking a piece of popcorn and throwing it into my mouth with my good hand.

It's been exactly one week since I have been released from the hospital. In that time, Liam still hasn't woken up and I have visited my mom. My dad wasn't home at the time, still enjoying his final year as a teacher before he has to retire. I still haven't heard anything from Jeffery which left me with nothing besides anxiety.

I had to go to a special dinner in honor of partnering with Mr. Franklin or as he prefers me to call him, James.

"Who knows." She said lifting her shoulders in a shrug. I raised an eyebrow, pretending to be surprised by her careless attitude.

"I would think you since he's your husband," I said and she snorted.

"Yeah, well, I don't see you exactly understanding my situation since Caiden isn't exactly your husband at the moment." She snapped and my eyes widened. I couldn't believe she just said that to me. She knew that was a sensitive subject to me.

Seeing the hurt cross my face she sighed and sat back down."Claire, I'm sorry." She said placing her hands on her head. "I can't get pregnant. I've seen a doctor and they keep giving me stupid little tips and they try everything they can, but it never works. At this point it's impossible and it just makes me so mad how you accidentally get pregnant. You weren't even trying!" She said looking at me with tears in her eyes.

I set the bowl of popcorn to the side and sat on the bed next to her, wrapping my arms around her petite figure. "I'm sorry, Mia," I whispered rubbing her back.

"You can always adopt?" I suggested and she shook her head.

"I want a baby that's my own. One that I made with passion and love. If I adopt I won't truly love the child. I would never want to put a child through that feeling." I felt my heart clench at her words.

"It'll be okay, Mia. You'll both get through this." I told her and she shook her head.

"No, you don't understand. We've been going through this for a couple of years. I- I don't think I can get through this with him. I know he's your best friend, Claire, but the feelings are slipping. All we do is fight constantly. I can't take it anymore." She said shaking her head and I pulled away looking at her in confusion.

"So what are you saying exactly?" I asked and she gave me a sad smile.

"I'm moving. I'm going back to LA. I went to college there as it was nice. I have an old friend who agreed to let me live with her as long as I pay rent." She said and I stood up running my hands down my face.

"Have you talked with Nathan yet?" I asked and she gave me a guilty look before shaking her head."So what? You were just planning on leaving him?"

"Claire, you accept everyone's flaws. Today, I need you to accept mine as well. I believe what I'm doing is truly right. I've already signed the divorce papers. I planned on leaving them so he wouldn't wait for me to come back."

I shook my head at my friend angrily."Were you even going to tell me?" I asked and she nodded.

"Of course!"

I let out a sarcastic laugh. "Nathan loves you. He always has. He doesn't deserve this. As your friend, I'm telling you that you're fucking up."

"Claire, c'mon." She sighed and I shook my head.

"You're better than this. What happened to you?" I asked grabbing my jacket and throwing it over my dress. I lifted my hair so it wasn't under my jacket.

"If Nathan was the one leaving me I'm sure you'd stand by him." She said and I looked her straight in the eyes.

"No, I wouldn't because no one deserves to just be left. They deserve a notice. Hell you know his parents got divorced and left him a wreck and here you are reliving his childhood. You're just leaving him as his father did." Mia shook her head with angry tears filling her eyes.

"Don't even pull that card with me! I'm not happy here. You're busy doing who knows what with Caiden and getting yourself into accidents while I'm just sitting here all the time with no one."

I scoffed,"Good luck with your life in LA, Mia. I truly hope something works out for you there and feel free to visit me if you ever come back. Maybe we can grab some dinner. That's all. I'm a forgiving person, but I won't ever truly forgive you for this." I said grabbing my keys off the dresser.

"I'm sorry." She whispered before I left the room.

I paused in the doorway," I'm not the one who needs an apology. Try the loyal husband you're about to leave." I exited the room and grabbed my purse off the couch.

"Claire-bear, you okay?" Nathan asked entering the house and I gave him a sad smile.

"I'm fine. I have a dinner to get to. I'll see you soon." I said slipping on my heels. I placed a lingering kiss on his cheek before leaving out the front door. I wasn't surprised when he came out after me.

"Isn't Mia going with you to that?" He asked and a wry smile appeared on my face.

"She wasn't feeling well. You know cramps and stuff." I said and he nodded a look of understanding crossing his face.

"I should probably go get her chocolate or something, huh?" He asked and a sad smile appeared on my face.

"I think she'll be okay. She said she was feeling sick so she probably wouldn't eat it." I said before wrapping my arms around him. Unlike before we were now the same height because of my heels.

Nathan seemed surprised by the gestured, but still wrapped his arms around me. He squeezed me tightly against his chest and I felt tears well up in my eyes. He loved Mia so much. He went through so much just to get to where he is now with her and it's all falling apart. Everything in both of our lives was just slowly falling apart.

"I love you, Nathan. Gosh, I truly don't know what I would do without you." I said and I could only picture him frowning.

"I love you too, Claire. You know this. Now tell me what the hell happened?" He asked pulling back a little.

"I'm just hormonal and being dramatic. Really, it's nothing." I said and he narrowed his eyes at me.

"We tell each other everything. We have for over twenty years. Let's not change that now." He said and I squeezed his hands.

"It's not my place to say anything. I just want you to know I'm here for you and if you ever need me I will still drop everything I'm doing and will be there." I reminded him and he looked at me directly in the eyes looking for the secrets that hid behind my eyes.

"Okay." He said nodding in understanding before kissing my forehead.

"Go have fun at your dinner. You deserve a night of celebration." He said and I'm smiled.

"I'll text you later, okay?" He said as I pulled away from him completely.

"Sounds A-okay." I winked and he shook his in amusement.

"Once a loser, always a loser."

"You know it." I winked again.

That's not something to be proud of.

"Is there something in your eye?"

"Besides, the love I'm looking at you with? No." I said seriously before my expressionless faced turned into a grin.

"Why are we still friends?" He asked shaking his head.

I let out a dramatic gasp, "Are you implying you want to be something more? Nathan, I told you I have a boyfriend."

Nathan narrowed his eyes at me and I stuck my tongue out. "Yes, which is why I need to tell you. The baby is yours." He said placing his hand on his stomach.

I burst out laughing and smacked his arm."Man, I've missed you. We need to do something soon." I said with a light smile still playing on my lips.

He let out a dramatic gasp,"Claire, are you implying we should have sex? I told you I'm a married man." This made my smile waiver for a second before it was back in place again.

"You suck." I pouted knowing he was mocking me.

"No, I bite." He winked and I smacked his arm.

"Damn, when did you turn into such a horny bastard," I asked and he shrugged.

"When I fell for a prude." He said and I couldn't help but laugh knowing he was referring back to our college days when my mother thought a prude was a "sex goddess."

"Whatever. I really have to go this time. See you later." I said giving him one more quick hug.

"-Alligator."He finished and I pulled away from him.

"I'm not responding to that."

"You just did." He called out, a smirk playing at his lips.

"I hate you."

"Love you too."

"Go to hell,"I yelled back, opening my car door.

"Will you be there?"

"Definitely not," I said flicking him off and he pretended to catch something as if I blew him a kiss.

"Claire, please, my wife is inside. Stop trying to seduce me." He yelled and I looked around the pretty empty neighborhood in embarrassment.

"Goodbye, Nathaniel."

"Hey, that's not my full name."

"I swear-"

He cut me off with a loud chuckle as he raised his hands in surrender,"I'm done, I'm done. Goodnight, Claire."

"Mmhm. Goodnight Nathan." I said before finally getting in my car.

The fifteen-minute drive to the five-star restaurant quickly turned into a twenty-five-minute drive due to traffic. I groaned lightly slamming my head on the steering wheel. I glanced out the window to the left and saw a woman already starting me down.

Talk about awkward.

Ignoring her I only turned up the music in my car. Looking to my right I saw two men standing in front of a corner store fighting on the sidewalk. I decided to be nosy and watch the argument. The one man looked so familiar, yet I couldn't place my finger on it.

Yeah, you wanna find love then you know where the city is.

I glanced at my ringing phone and noticed it was Caiden. I put him on speaker as I noticed traffic was finally starting to move again.

"Hello?" His deep voice sounded through the speaker making me smile.

"Hey, can you tell Elena to apologize Mr. Franklin for me? Traffic is awful and I'm still ten minutes away." I said checking my black watch on my right wrist.

"Yeah, I just called to see when you'd be here. Drive safe. I'll see you soon." He said and I nodded before remembering I couldn't see him.

"See you soon. I love you."

"Love you too." He said before ending the call.

Glancing over to the where those men fighting were I continued to watch curiously. The one with the hat caught my gaze and sent me a glare.

"What the fuck do you want bitch?" He yelled and I shook my head and held my hands up in surrender to show I was innocent. He only spit on the ground before focusing back on the guy he was with. Suddenly a woman walked up to the both of them. Her brown hair was long and curly.

"Boys, let's play nice now." She insisted and the other guy snorted.

"He owes me money." The one without a hat yelled causing people to intently watch them.

"So you decide to cause a scene? You were taught better than this." She hissed, her ice blue eyes sending chills down spines.

"I did as you said and came to complete the deal, but he won't give me the money."

"Did I say to talk?" She asked and he immediately shut his mouth. Realizing there were another few feet I could move up still I let my car move forward, still keeping my eyes on the scene and only glancing up once to make sure I didn't hit the car in front of me as I came to another stop.

"Good, darling. Glad to know that you still remember your place. Now, what's this about you not wanting to pay, hmm?" She asked and the man noticeably took a step back.

"The job was completed. The woman won't steal pot from you again. She's dead. You saw her dead body first handily and pictures of the scene were sent to you before we disposed of the body. Therefore, the only problem I'm seeing here is that there is still fifty thousand dollars missing from my bank account." Every thing about her tone was condescending.

"I promise you'll get your money." He said and I noticed his hands shaking as he held up his hands in surrender.

"The payment plan was clear. We were nice to let you pay after. I won't be nice again by letting you go another day without handing me the money. " She hissed and I was surprised by the fear the man showed. She was a woman by herself. Surely she couldn't be that hard to take down with her short skirt and her five-inch heels.

Just one good yank on that curly hair would take her to the ground.

"Just let me talk to Jesse," He insisted and the name immediately interested me. He could only be talking about Jesse Farone, right?

"Jesse nor I have time for this."

"You're the one that takes people out, aren't you?" He accused and I couldn't remove my eyes as I waited for the answer. We needed this detail. We could finish this for sure if that's the case.

"No, but when I'm done with you- you'll wish I was." She said sickly sweet before grabbing his arm, her long colored nails digging into his skin.

The man with the hat suddenly looked over again and saw me watching still. He pointed over to my car making me silently curse. The woman looked over and instead of giving me the cold look she was giving everyone else she smiled at me.

"Turn around, doll. Trust me, you don't want to see what happens next." She said as she pulled something out of her pocket. Of course just at the time a horn beeped from behind me. I noticed traffic was finally started to move and quickly slammed on the gas.

Who was that woman? If they were talking about the Jesse I know then she must have some importance.

Taking my thoughts in a different direction I turned up my music and took the rest of the drive to the restaurant with only a few more random stops in traffic.

Once I parked I got out, locking my car and rushing to the front doors. I was officially forty-five minutes late. I rushed to the front doors, surprised to see Elena standing outside.

"Oh, Elena! Is Mr. Franklin still here? Please tell me he didn't leave." I asked nervously going through my clutch for my phone. Did I seriously leave the stupid thing in the car?

"Uh-" She started, but I shook my head cutting her off and throwing her my keys which she easily caught.

"Forget it. Can you go grab my phone out of my car? I think I left it in the cup holder." I told her before quickly sending her a thank you and smiled in appreciation when a man opened the door for me.

"Hello, is it just one?" The hostess asked and I shook my head.

"I have a group already here. Thank you, though." I said scanning the room and catching sight of Caiden. I took a deep breath before walking over to where he sat at a table of twelve. There was no sitting there beside him.

"They all left?" I asked running my hand over my face stopping as it landed on my head. Still being careful not to mess up my hair.

"It's okay, just you and I can have dinner. Just send Elena home early and pay for spending the night here and talking with Mr. Franklin." Caiden suggested and appreciation for my assistant filled me as I thought of how great she really was.

"I guess that's fine. I still feel terrible." I said sitting down across from him. It was awkward sitting down at a table with 10 more empty seats, but we were in a pretty private area.

"Just reschedule another night. He knows you got caught up in traffic." He said waving me off and I narrowed my eyes.

"What's up with you?" I asked curiously. Caiden simply shrugged.

"I'm just nervous about this business deal I have going on. If it works out I can be making ten million more for this company, if it doesn't I'd lose at least five. " He said and I rolled my eyes.

"You're Caiden Anderson. You don't miss a business deal. It will all go smoothly as always." I assured and he grabbed my hand squeezing it.

Suddenly a high pitched squeak interrupted the moment as a man wearing a black suit similar to Caiden's sat down next to me. I glanced at Caiden who stared at the man as well."Excuse me, can I help you?" I asked politely.

"We both know why we're here." He said and my eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"I'm sorry, but -" I was interrupted as a hand smacked against the table.

"There! Right! There!" A random woman said wearing a nice white and black dress making my eyebrows furrowed. What the hell?

"Look at that tan, that tinted skin. Look at the killer shape he's in."

Another man appeared next to the woman wearing an all gray suit."Look at that slightly stubbly chin. Oh please, he's gay, totally gay." The man finished pointing at Caiden making my eyes widen. I would have been in tears laughing right now if I actually knew these people talking to us.

I looked to see Caiden's reaction only to see him staring blankly at the guy. "Who the fu-"

"I'm not about to celebrate every trait could indicate the totally straight expatriate. This guy's not gay, I say not gay." Another woman said jumping up to sit on the table. This one was in a maroon pants suit.

Suddenly all four of them started singing quietly. Even though we were in a private area we were still only separated by everyone else by a simple wall. "That is the elephant in the room. Well, it's relevant to assume that a man who wears perfume is automatically fay?"

"But look at his quiff and crispy looks!" A man holding a blue suit jacket that went with the rest of his attire appeared next to the woman. Filling the last seat on my side of the table.

"Look at his silk translucent socks."

"Uh, I'm pretty sure these aren't silk." Caiden's deep voice interrupted, but they kept singing the familiar song.

Suddenly the man directly next to me stood up,"There's an eternal paradox. Look what we're seeing."

"What are we seeing?" I asked slightly amused and slightly creeped out. Something tells me that Mr. Franklin was never actually going to show up.

"Is he gay?" Nathan asked appearing at the end of the table making my eyes widen.

"Of course, he's gay." The woman in the pantsuit exclaimed.

"Or European?" Nathan asked and the table went silent.

"Caiden, what the hell is going on?" I whispered quietly and he stared at me with wide eyes.

"Hell if I know."

What a good liar. He obviously planned this.

"Why are they singing songs from Legally Blonde?" I asked with a raised eyebrow and he shrugged honestly looking confused as me. I looked back at the table and looked directly at Nathan.

"Nathan, why are you-" suddenly I was caught off as he interrupted me.

"You see I had this little problem," Nathan said making me stop talking. Of course, he could tell me anything, but I literally just left his house.

"See, I really couldn't sing. I could never really sing. What I couldn't do was-" Another woman said joining the end of the table on Caiden's side. My eyes widened in realization with the familiar words. 

"-sing." A man sang finishing for her. Unlike everyone else who was dressed all nice, he was wearing a green tank top and some brown pants while the girl was wearing a bright pink off the shoulder shirt with leggings.

"I have trouble with the-"

"-note!" The man sang completing her sentence.

"It goes all around my-"

"-throat!"

"It's a terrifying-"

"-thing!"

Suddenly another woman appeared joining. This one wearing an all black blouse and a black skirt. "Oh, I know what you're thinking what a crazy -"She sung, skipping a few lines.

"-Ding-a -ling." Caiden suddenly said making my eyes snap to him. He sent me a smirk.

"What? You made me watch A Chorus Line a hundred times."

"I've made you watch all of my favorite musicals a hundred times! This doesn't make sense. As amusing as this is -"

"Shh!" Someone said loudly, but not so loud that they were yelling. The room fell silent.

Someone suddenly joined us. He would've filled the seat at the end of the table between Caiden and I if it wasn't for the fact that he used the chair as a stool and stood up on the chair and then stood on the table that only had drinks on it. This man was dressed in black dress pants and a black button up shirt. Around his neck was a bright red bandana."Hey, look out." He whispered.

 "We will step in, step in-" He whispered bending over a little as the table went silent.

"Step in time." The table sang together before the man motioned with his hands for everyone to get quieter.

"We will step in, step in-"

"Step in time."

"Never need a reason, never need a rhyme. We will step in, step in time." He sang quietly. He continued to sing the lyrics before he started tap dancing on the table.

"I swear if you planned this flash mob thing I will-" I started, but Caiden put his finger to his mouth, shh-ing me. I was slightly glad that this had all been a setup and Mr. Franklin wasn't actually coming because I would have no idea how to explain this.

Suddenly the last man jumped off the stable as Nathan made a loud 'shh' noise. Every paused, sitting down in their seats looking dramatically at Nathan.

"Omigod, Omigod, you guys. Looks like Claire's gonna win the prize." The girl wearing the bright pink shirt suddenly yelled standing up and clapping her hands together.

"Shh!" Nathan said standing up.

Slowly all the girls around started to get out of their chairs in sync singing together."If there ever was a perfect couple, this one quali-"

"Shh! Omigod, guys I'm serious!" Nathan said putting his hand on his hip and I couldn't help the scoff that left my lips as he said the words in a high pitched voice.

"Claire and Caiden were meant to be." The woman wearing black and white said putting her hands on the table.

"Not once ever has he hit on me!" The girl in the pants suit said and all the girls scoffed.

"He's hit on me."

"And me."

"Once he even too me and this other girl and -"I snorted at this added part to the song.

"Okay, shut up!" Nathan yelled holding up his hands.

Suddenly Nick walked in the room with a bouquet of red roses in his hand and a nice black suit on. "How 'bout a dance? What do you say? I've got some moves that I'd love to show you." Nick's voice asked and I glance at Caiden to see him perfectly fine. Nick was here quoting Bonnie and Clyde, yet he was still calm. Did he really plan all of this?

"Nick, c'mon we're serious." Nathan insisted and I couldn't hold back my smile. But as a sweet melody started planning through the restaurant I wasn't sure what to do. Suddenly the first man who sat at the table started singing sweetly to the song until it was time for a break and just the music played.

"Will you share your life with me for the next ten minutes?" The man sang and I felt goosebumps appear on my arm.

"For the next ten minutes. We can handle that." Caiden said suddenly. Not singing, yet still saying the words with a sweetness I've only seen a few times.

"We can handle that. We could watch the waves.

We could watch the sky or just sit and wait as the time ticks by."

Caiden cut in again," And if we make it till then can I ask you again for another ten?" My heart started beating faster and faster. The man started singing again, but my eyes wouldn't leave Caiden's. His hazel eyes were locked with mine, silently demanding me not to look away.

I didn't even look away when a female started singing. His eyes held emotions that I was unsure of what to say to. They held passion. They held nervousness. They held fear. They held love.

"I don't know why people run.
I don't know why things fall through.
I don't know how anybody survives in this life without someone like you.

I could protect and preserve
I could say no and goodbye
But why, Caiden, why?

I want to be your wife,
I want to bear your child,
I want to die
Knowing I
Had a long, full life in your arms
That I can do." The woman sang loudly and I felt tears well up in my eyes. The words suddenly hit a special spot more than I ever expected it to. Caiden stood up and grabbed my hand. I stood up and watch as he dropped to one knee.

This time, Caiden started speaking again over the man who's singing turned into a slight him in the background. "Will you share your life with me-"

"Forever." The girl sang quietly in the background.

"-for the next ten lifetimes?" He pulled out a black box causing my breath to hitch.

"Forever, Caiden."

"For a million summers till the world explodes?" He opened the box.

"Till there's no one left who has ever known us apart."

At this point, I didn't even try to stop the tears from slowly, but surely sliding down my face. This was it. We're here. Never did I imagine him to go through all of this.

I thought he'd be the type to just slide the ring on your finger and say you're marrying him.

Oh, didn't we all.

The singing in the background got even quieter. "Claire Martez, will you do be an honorable favor by taking this ring and agreeing to spend the next ten lifetimes filled with mysteries and who knows whatever else married to me?" He asked and I felt my heart stop.

My mouth opened and closed like a fish. I couldn't find words. So I did the only thing I could think of. I bent down and slammed my lips down on his.

Hard.

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A/N: Ello Loves! I don't think many of you will understand the emotion of this chapter, but it's been pretty well known that Claire loves musicals. Even in her story (the third book) it was mentioned multiple times how much she loved them. Therefore, by Caiden doing this, he was using an original proposal that he knew wouldn't be plain. Something that she would love and always remember. Feel free to check out the songs. I listed them somewhere below. But I have an essay to write so I'll make this as quick as possible.

What were the thoughts on Mia and Claire's argument? Do you think Claire made the right argument?

What did you think about that argument on the street with possible gang members?

Thoughts on the proposal?

Overall opinion?

Anyways, blah blah blah

Comment,

Share,

Vote,

Fan,

~KittyKat<3

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Musical songs used/referenced in chapter:

'Serious' from Legally Blonde

'There Right There' Legally Blonde

'Sing' A Chorus Line

'Step In Time' Mary Poppins

'Omigod You Guys' Legally Blonde

'The Next Ten Minutes' The Last Five Years