Claire was already awake when Lucas entered her room. Penny is with her and shooting her daggers. Before he could take a step to go to Claire's side, Penny stood up and blocked his path, like a mama bear protecting her cub, preventing him to go further. Facing him head on, she said.

"If you so let her cry, I am going to add to the injuries the brothers already gave you. I will not be so diligent in marring your pretty face. Remember that." Penny's threat before she turned back to Claire, placed a chaste kiss on her cheeks and left, but not before giving him another threatening glare.

When he heard the closing of the door, he cleared his throat before he proceeded towards Claire, who is creasing her forehead while gaping. Her reaction changed as he came nearer, from being incredulous to astonished to irritated.

"They did this to you." Her statement while huffing. He then sat beside her and said.

"It is fine sweetheart. I am-" His statement was cut off by her cry of disbelief.

"It is fine?! You are fine?! Have you seen yourself in the mirror? And how can you walk on your own with only one eye?"

He winced at her question for he knows how he looks and he squirms everytime he looks at the mirror. He knows he is a mess, he is sporting a black and swollen left eye, so swollen that it is almost close. His right cheek is swollen as well, and his lower lip is busted. He also has some bruising on his side and scraped arm from when he fell after receiving a blow. He knows that Oliver, the second eldest, knows some martial arts but he didn't know he is such a master of the art. He took a deep breath which made him winced, he tried not to let it show on his face but he know he failed for Claire clenched her teeth due to exasperation.

"I cannot believe they have done something like this. Are they from another world or era?"

"Hey, it is fine. This is only minor compared to what I have done to you. I actually prepared myself for this and I expected worse coming from your brothers. I guess, they have been lenient enough considering I am the father of your child, maybe they do not want their nephew to be without a father." He said to her jokingly which only made her irk the more based on her raised brow.

"How can you take this lightly?" She asked in disbelief.

Before answering, Lucas took her hand into his. "Claire, I already know they would do something like this and I welcomed it. Please understand that this may be the way for them to forgive and accept me."

"By acting like a caveman." Claire scoffed.

"Sweetheart..." Lucas pleaded.

"I understand Lucas. But, are you really okay?" Claire finally asked in a worry-filled voice while her eyes roamed his face.

"Yes, I am really fine. It doesn't hurt that much anymore, unlike on the day this happened."

"Is that the reason why you came back just now?" At Lucas' questioning look, Claire added. "I know you've been inside the delivery room when I gave birth to our son, but I haven't seen you nor hear from you since then."

"Yes, I needed time to recuperate, otherwise, I won't be able to walk and talk."

"That bad huh?" Claire commented and even placed her hand on his cheek that is not swollen. He cannot stop the warmth that spreads towards his heart at her action. There is still hope, for if none, she should have kicked him out of the room from the very beginning.

He also placed his hand over hers and stare at her eyes intently.

"Claire, I am sorry I left that day. I am sorry I wasn't there when you experienced your first contraction, I am sorry I wasn't the one who rushed you to the hospital, I am sorry I wasn't there to hold your hand while you were waiting for the time. I am so sorry for everything Claire, please forgive me. I won't leave again even if you tell me to. I will not give up on you, on us and I mean it this time, please believe me."

---

Claire, stared back at him and saw the truth, that he is sincere in what he is saying, that he will really stay this time, that he will not give up.

"I have waited Lucas, isn't that enough proof that I am not giving up on you as well?"

With her answer he gathered her into his arms and thanked her repeatedly, he may have silently said his thanks as well to the Lord for she had given him another chance, a chance that he will never disregard.

Claire let go after sometime and ask. "Where have you been this past months?" He smiled at her question and proceeded to answer it by retelling the story the way he did with Anne, he told her everything from the time he left her until his realization of things that he should never neglect, like her love and acceptance of him. Of the hope she had given him, of the family that is waiting for him to accept them including her brothers.

They talked for a while, a deep conversation he can only do with her for there is no judgement on her side, only understanding.

***

Claire and their child stayed for one more day at the hospital before they were discharge. Lucas took them home to his place, to his penthouse where Alvin is waiting ecstatically. He even converted one spare room into a nursery without his consent which he only let pass for it was of good intention and for their child.

He did not allow anyone to visit and declined everyone who came without prior word. This is also the reason why he took his family here, for the security is strict and no one can go up without being allowed to. He knows he is being selfish, but what can he do? He is making up for lost time and he wants them all for himself even for a while, and it is not as if he doesn't have a contender with the attention of his son, Alvin is here, he is treating his son which Claire named as Luke, as if he is his own, which sometimes irate him to no end, like right now.

It started as simple as handling the baby right, which he can say that he is not used to considering this his first child, and into changing the diapers correctly. Alvin has been in his toes and peeking over his shoulders if he is doing it correctly, he can only sigh in exasperation at his butler's constant side comments. If not for Claire, who has been very supportive, he may have kicked Alvin out of his house permanently.

He allowed everyone in his home two weeks after Claire and Luke was discharged from the hospital. It was a sort of a welcoming party and everybody is invited, he knows he did something right for how the way Claire laugh and smiled. He knows he is really whipped but he doesn't care, he only live for his wife and family and not for anyone else, and he just hopes that Claire will accept what he planned to do tonight.

---

Claire is having a good time preparing their home before their visitors arrive. Lucas finally heeded her request to let their family and friends to visit. He had been adamant to keep them under lock and key for two weeks, which she can understand. He has been a hands on father to Luke, waking up before her at the first whimper their child will make, and diligently changing diaper eventhough he is not used in doing so which Alvin comments every now and then. Though Lucas knows that the older man means it halfheartedly and only as a joke, it irks him to no end, providing her daily entertainment.

Her attention was caught by Nate and Ally, Ellie's twins, who came first with their mother accompanied by Drake. Ellie hugged her and apologized.

"I am sorry I didn't visit you at the hospital, the twins had a mild flu and I was busy with a wedding."

"It's okay Ellie, I am happy you were able to come today."

"I am excited to see the baby, the kids were excited as well and had been bugging me for this day to come. They were asking me everyday to make each day faster. As if I have the capacity to do that." Ellie said incredulously at her children's antics.

The kids were both excited about the baby as shown by how they wanted to hold him, which, as expected, Lucas declined nicely. The kids were making a quiet ruckus with Drake about a game when her family and friends came with the exception of Ethan who is still travelling from the airport. Helena and Anne came in shortly after. She hugged and welcomed everyone who came.

She was introducing Ellie to her family when the twins shouted in unison.

"Grandma!"

Claire was shocked but Ellie was shell-shocked at the twins outburst. At everyone's questioning gaze, Alessa offered an explanation.

"Oh, everyone, I met them at a wedding me and your father attended last week, and these wonderful kids asked me if they can call me their grandmother, in which I wholeheartedly obliged."

Claire, let out a relieved sigh, for she thought for a second there that the kids are related to them. She was about to let it go but she saw Ellie and Lucas shared a look, like they are communicating about something. She was about to ask him but he suddenly knelt on one knee and took out a ring from his pocket.

"Sweetheart, I know this is quite a bit late but I wanted to make everything right. I already asked everyone present, including Ethan for your hand in marriage, an actual marriage, a legal one with your consent." Lucas started, took a deep breath and continued.

"Claire Marie Sullivan, will you do me the honor of becoming your proper husband?"

At Lucas' question and expectant gaze, she looked at their loved ones, everyone has misty eyes and a smile on their faces. She returned back her gaze to the man who made her his wife without asking first, who turned her world upside down, who made her feel how to love, who made her upset, hurt and hopeful. The man who made her a woman and a mother. The man she love and will only love. With that thoughts, tears fell from her eyes and she answered.

"Yes, Lucas, it's a yes, it will always be yes."

At her answer, Lucas stood up, took her into his arms and kissed her, in front of everybody who cheered and wished them well.

They shared a good meal and now having wine when Ethan came. He immediately went to Claire, hugged her and offered a congratulations at Lucas when he saw the ring on her left hand. Ethan roamed his eyes on everyone else and greeted them but he stopped midway when he saw Ellie at the doorway coming from the kitchen, who also wears the same look of shock that eventually turned into anger.

"Ellie?" Ethan's question made everyone turn to look. Chatters stopped at the scene, Elle was the first one to come into sense and proceeded to leave. Ethan tried to follow but Lucas blocked him. At Lucas interference, Ethan's jaw tightened while saying.

"Get.out.of.my.way." At Ethan's words, Lucas made way, but not before he whispered something which fueled Ethan's anger more. But instead of having a fistfight, Ethan let it slide and followed Elle out of their home. With everybody's dumbfounded look, Lucas laughed and said to let them be for now, which everybody did, though a little forced.

"It is not my story to tell sweetheart, you'll know when the time comes." Lucas said at Claire's questioning look. "For now, let's celebrate our own story. I love you sweetheart."

"And I love you too." Was Claire's only answer before Lucas kissed her again.

Yes, this is their story, which is something to celebrate. She never knew a year ago that things like this will happen, that she will be married and will have a family of her own. Yes, she dreamt about it one day but she never thought it will come sooner. Not in a million years she thought that because of a fake marriage contract, she will meet this man who made that dream come true. The marriage contract that begun their story...