This chapter is from claries point of view, to clear some things up

Claries pov

I never thought that this would happen that they would be together. He was never meant to find out, let alone meet her. Anyone who did, that knew both her and john would see in an instant that she was his. No one from her past had met her daughter. Besides the first couple years of her life that she lived with her parents and the nannies, it had been her and Claire on her own. Claire remembers that fateful day like it was yesterday.

She had never seen him like that. Never and if anything it scared the hell out of her. How could she have been so stupid to think that he had left the old bender behind and started fresh with her? She had walked away from him, then. Not looking back to save herself so she thought. The football player that had started the whole mess came looking for her that night.

"Claire I'm sorry for the problems, but you shouldn't be with a guy like that you deserve better." Jeremy Powell was everything that her parents wanted for her. Family money, a nice car, nice things for her future. She didn't want to fight anymore. She didn't have the strength for the uphill battle anymore. She had nodded and smiled at him, thinking he would solve her problems. Their relationship started from there. Nights out at fancy restaurants and nights in the apartment his parents had gotten for him. A month in, Claire had realized she was pregnant. She didn't know what she was going to do. She went to the doctor the next day, hoping on hope that she was wrong but she wasn't. What scared her most is what the doctor had told her. Two Months along. It wasn't Jeremy's which meant it was only one person's. John Bender. She couldn't and wouldn't tell him. She would keep it to herself for a little while longer. Just to figure things out.

It only took two weeks for Jeremy to catch on. He immediately proposed and she said yes. It would be a little tough but she would make it work. They set the date right before Christmas. She wouldn't be showing till right after then. They had agreed that they would be married but both would finish school. Their child would live with claries parents with a nanny till she was out of school. Then she would take over form there. The plan was in place till 3 weeks prior. She had come home early from a class and found Jeremy in bed with their English professor. She was shocked, but not angry this was the out she needed. She grabbed her bag and walked out the door. She went back to the dorms staying with a friend for the remainder of the week to finish out classes and cancel the wedding that never should have been. She didn't see Jeremy again after that. He was removed by his parents to some other school on the east coast. She didn't pay attention when she was told. Her parents were glad for it, her mother stating that she never really liked him. She spent the spring semester that year at home getting ready for the baby she would have. Once she was born the world seemed to tilt just a bit, and Claire became another person. She went back to school in the fall and finished a year early. She headed back to her parents house to take some time off. When she got there, Emma was waiting. She was a wild child she looked like Claire in the way that daughters take after their mother. But everything else was John. The way she acted out and smiled even. Day by day it broke her heart a little more. She would have to find him. If anything to tell him. That much she could handle.

She had gone to his parent's house, Emma in tow. His dad had yelled that he hadn't seen bender for 3 years, and there was no way in hell she could pin the kid on him. Claire tired to explain that she just wanted to "catch up with him" but his dad was having none of it. Claire was walking away, when his mother ran out the door.

"He's living in Chicago above my brothers' shop. I'll give you they address if you tell me the truth about your daughter. I won't tell him, he won't talk to me, but I would like to know." A tear slid down her cheek at this moment. Claire informed his mom, that yes Emma was his and she was trying to make things right. His mom smiled at this. Claire got the address out of it which was all she had wanted. She drove to Chicago that night. Emma asleep in the back seat. She pulled up out side the autobody shop and saw the light in the window. There was a man standing there. She couldn't see his face but she knew it was him. Then the woman appeared. Almost like she materialized out of thin air. And she felt her heart break all over again. She got back in her car and drove off never looking back.

The next few months flew by; she got a job in Chicago. Half the time she would spend in California and half there. She would see John every once in awhile and watch him duck into corners like she couldn't see him. But she did every single time. And it hurt more than seeing him with another woman. She couldn't have him and that killed her a little more each day.

"CLAIRE!" She jumped in her seat. Bender was up in her face yelling.

"What?" she was irritated, now she sat there looking at him, his façade in place. Little did he know she could see right though her.

"Emma here says she wants to go for a walk. I'll take her if you want." His face softened while looking at their daughter.

"No it's ok. I have some people I want to talk to anyway." She stood up, taking Emma's hand. John stood up too and took something out of his pocket.

"Tonight we talk cheery, after the little one is asleep, my room." He handed her a key. She looked up at him then and saw the hurt in his eyes. She felt her own eyes fill with tears, and simply nodded walking away.