Title: The Paths We Cross

Summary: Eli Goldsworthy, he's been walking down the same crooked road that contains bumps, cracks and even holes that he can't get out of alone. What happens when the hope of his little girl Lilly and a new "inspiring" woman walks into his life? Maybe she'll get to teach him that if he doesn't like the road he's walking on, to start paving a new one.

AGES:

ELI-25

ANYA-26

CLARE-24

LILLY-3

*PLEASE NOTE LILLY IS NOT YOUR AVERAGE 3 YEAR OLD, SHE IS QUITE THE AVERAGE OF A FIVE OR SIX YEAR OLD!*

A/N From The Cliffhanger Girl: Hey guys! First off, big thank you to Jddcdancer for letting me work on a story with her! Secondly, I want to make a shout out for all of you who are reading this, because you're in for a real treat! Again, big thanks to Jddcdancer for helping me with this story! Please Enjoy it, and don't forget to leave some reviews!

A/N From JDDCdancer1497 Hey all you readers, I am so glad you decided to read this because believe me, you are in for a real treat. Big thanks to The Cliffhanger Girl for doing this story with me! Us combined is going to bring you an epic story, I can promise you that! So read and enjoy then review and let us enjoy those!

ELI'S PERSPECTIVE

I groaned loudly, my eyes clenching tightly together, shaking my head slowly back and forth as I continued to hear my front door being banged on consistently. Every friggin' time I get one second to finally close my eyes, I'm rudely interrupted.

"Who is it?" I called out, opening the door in the process and then seeing Anya standing before me, her face reading everything but happy as she handed me Lilly's bag and said, "I'm going out, I need you to take her for the weekend."

"B-but it's your weekend, you can't just go out, she's your responsibility," I told her, as I felt like I was dealing with two three year olds.

Anya sighed aggravatingly, as she started to tap her foot impatiently which caused my eyes to twitch slightly with every tap and I said, "I'll take her with me, it's not like she enjoys being with you anyways."

"See, this is why I divorced you," she stated and I scoffed, breezing past her to get Lilly in her car as I mumbled through gritted teeth, "Yeah, that's why I divorced you."

The second I opened Anya's car door, Lilly's frown turned into a smile as she clenched her teddy bear to her chest and cheered, "Daddy!" I smirked, taking her out of the car seat and responding, "Hey baby girl, daddy's got you."

Lilly wrapped her tiny arms around my neck, pulling gently at the black strands as she whispered in my ear, "Is mommy mad at me?"

My daughter watched as her mother hurriedly walked by us, her hair picking up in the wind as I shook my head while saying, "Don't worry about her Lil', she just needs some alone time."

We made our way back into my house as she asked cluelessly, "With who?"

I placed her down on her tired two feet, noticing that it was already midnight and Anya didn't even change her into her pajamas so she can sleep. I kneeled down in front of Lilly, placing her teddy bear on the floor and sighing in frustration, knowing that it's almost below zero outside and Anya didn't even put a fucking jacket on her daughter.

"See...your mommy, thinks that it's okay to spend time with other men...because she turned out to be a whore," I mumbled the last part as Lilly's mouth formed into an "O", obviously not getting what I said, thank god.

My eyes bulged seeing a tad bit of "powder" on Lilly's frog shirt as I asked, "What's this sweetheart?"

Cocaine.

"Mommy told me not to tell you," she mumbled lowly, her cheeks turning a tint of red, knowing that she had already said too much by just telling me that she wasn't supposed to say anything.

I quickly hoisted Lilly up in my arms, making her giggle, as I brought her into her room and said, "Hold your breath in baby girl." She quickly took a deep breath, her mouth shutting as her little arms raised in the air, letting me slip her shirt over her head.

"That a girl," I said while placing on her giraffe pajamas in exchange for her cocaine filled clothes that Anya keeps at her house.

When I started setting up her bed, I turned to her and I saw her tiny hands tightly gripping the Little Mermaid DVD I gave her as a birthday gift two weeks ago. Her small smile formed into a huge grin as she stood on her toes, pleadingly saying, "D-daddy can we pleeeeasee watch it? M-mommy said I couldn't with her but please, can me and you watch it?"

"It's time for you to go bed," I whispered while pecking her on the cheek and trying to pry the DVD from her hands.

She shook her head as she said, "Please Daddy, just a little."

"Alright baby girl, go into the living room and I'll be in soon," I told her as she happily skipped off into the living room when I pulled out my phone, calling the one person I knew would love to stay up and watch The Little Mermaid with us.

"What dude?" I heard Adam say annoyingly on the other line of my phone and I responded, "Hey Eli, how are you? Horrible, great."

"I'm sincerely apologizing for the heart for the attitude dude, but you just kind of woke up Fiona and me so, what's up? Is there anything wrong with Lilly? Is she okay?" I smirked, a place in my heart warming up knowing that my friends always put Lilly first in their minds and said, "Lilly's fine...but, I need to ask a favor of you guys."

"Sure, anything," he said and I smirked, scratching my head, "Can you and Fiona stay the night with me and Lilly? We're going to be watching The Little Mermaid and I got beer in the fridge, just...please, I need my friends over."

"Anya again?" Adam asked and I gulped through forming tears, "Yeah."

"We'll be there soon."

As The Little Mermaid credits went on, Lilly was already fast asleep.

I sighed, looking over at Fiona sleeping soundlessly between a passed out Adam's legs, their hands were interlocked and Adam had his nose pressed up against her hair, breathing in every scent that she possessed.

He was so lucky to have a girl like Fiona, she was so lucky to have a guy like Adam.

I remember when Anya and I were like that, close to perfect and at times, we couldn't stop being around each other because it would hurt too much to be apart. But now, being alone is what I craved for…a lot.

Is it sad that being alone is what I crave?

Considering all the time I spend with an actual girl is my little baby girl, Lilly, not saying that I don't like it...I sometimes wish I had something like Adam and Fiona again.

But, then I remember what happened between Anya and I, which makes me scoff every time knowing that I was put under her "spell" and was tricked. My mind was constantly messed with beyond repair, making me believe that my feelings for her were stronger than her flaws.

They weren't.

Although, maybe having someone like Anya used to be, might be pretty nice one day...some day...down the road.

"Come on baby girl, time to go to bed," I whispered lowly as my hand came in contact with her heated cheeks.

My eyebrows tightened together in confusion as I glanced down at the sleeping angels in my arms, pressing both my hands on her forehead as I mumbled confusingly, "Shit, what do I do?"

As I continued to speak to myself, going quickly into panic mode, Fiona's eyes slowly fluttered open slowly as she whispered lowly, trying not to wake Lilly up, "Eli, what's wrong?"

"I-I think she has a fever, I don't-I don't know what to do Fiona, she was never sick with me before! What do I do? Last time s-she was sick, Anya was here and she did everything...but, I should've paid attention, I should've-," Fiona cut my nervous rant off and she grabbed my hand, "Eli, relax. We can guard your house for you while you're gone, take her to the hospital. I know this really great doctor and she's really good with kids, I'm pretty sure she works the night shifts."

"Oh thank god," I said, breathing out in relief.

I smirked when Fiona dug through her bag, pulling out a card as Adam turned around on my couch, facing the wall. Fiona smiled, handing me a card with the doctors number and I whispered, "Thank you...thank you so much Fi."

"It's fine, let me go upstairs and I'll get her coat," she said, touching my shoulder as she ran upstairs and I gripped Lilly tightly in my arms. She readjusted to the height by moaning my name lowly and whispering unexpectedly, "Daddy...it hurts."

"What hurts baby? Tell me," I whispered as Fiona came back from downstairs and carefully slipped her coat on.

"Thank you, Fiona," I said as without thinking about money, she handed me my wallet and I said, "Thank you again, please just make sure Adam doesn't clear out my fridge when I'm gone."

My eyes glanced back down, noticing that Lilly had once again gone back into a restless sleep.

"No problem," she said and then ordered, "Now go...make sure my baby is okay."

Fiona placed a light kiss on her temple, smiling when she looked up at me and I said, "Thank you for being like a mother to her, she doesn't...you know with Anya and all, she doesn't really have a female figure in her life."

"She'll always have me," she added once again and then ordered, "Please, go."

I smiled, grabbing my keys and then making my way outside, hopping quickly into Morty, placing Lilly into her car seat and then quickly starting the car. As I passed the traffic lights, I checked my mirror much too often to glance at my suddenly sick baby girl, my heart started to break, feeling her physical pain…

I ran into the hospital as fast as I could once I parked the car and quickly grabbed my sick little girl out of the car.

"Daddy," she whined groggily, pulling at the collar on my shirt.

I looked at her worriedly, as I tried to get attention from the "too busy" nurse at the front desk. I had Lilly placed on my right hip with my arm wrapped around her tightly. I banged on the counter top until the lady finally looked at me with an annoyed look.

I scoffed, "You think you're annoyed? Try coming to a damn hospital with a very sick three-year old in the back seat of your car and I can't even get any help!" I might have been overreacting just a tad, but I mean come on! It is Lilly after all, and if she is hurt or sick no one should mess with me, because if they do, I'll give them hell.

I'll show them a whole new fucking definition to hell…

"Sir, you need to calm down," she stated calmly, as if I didn't have a sick child in my hands.

I barked a laugh, "I need to calm down? Why don't you do your friggin' job!" Towards the end of my impatient statement, I was screaming.

She was about to say something, but a clear of the throat stopped her. I turned around and saw a woman around my age with an empty clipboard in hand. I couldn't see her well, considering her bangs fell lower than her eyes.

I looked at her whole body and sighed in relief, realizing that she must be a doctor.

"Hello, I'm Dr. Clare Edwards," She stated while extending her hand to shake with mine. I took her hand and shook it gently while saying nervously, "I'm Eli Goldsworthy, and this is my daughter Lilly. She's sick…" The doctor nodded her head approvingly.

Lilly tugged on my shirt with her tiny fist, burying her head into my neck when the doctor reached for her hand, touching it lightly and saying, "Hi Lilly…I'm Clare."

In return, she only gripped onto me tighter and then I apologized for her, "She's very shy…I'm sorry."

"It's fine, follow me," She said with a caring smile on her face while giving me the 'follow motion' with her hand. I started to follow before that rude nurse stopped us. What is this lady's problem? I mean seriously.

"Yes Betty?" Doctor Clare asked, grinning.

Her name is Betty? I don't like it, well I don't like her. Great, she just ruined all Betty's out there for me!

"You have other patients, Dr. Edwards," She stated.

I rolled my eyes impatiently…Why is she even a nurse if she can't see that my kid is very ill?

"I can tell this little girl needs to be looked at, she looks quite sick and I'm not going to take the chance of making this situation into a real emergency. Now would you like to take that chance?" She asked the 'Betty' with a sarcastic grin on her face.

Whoa…whoever thought a doctor would act like that? I mean like really, just wow.

"I didn't think so," She said to "Betty" once she didn't respond.

"Come along, Mr. Goldsworthy," I smirked and followed her, and this time, without any interruptions from anyone. She took us into room number thirty-six.

I couldn't tell if Lilly was shaking from being sick or just because she was slightly frightened by the way the room looked or the situation she was in. I decided that it was probably a little of both. I placed Lilly on the examining table and took the seat right next to her.

I smiled when the Doctor tried yet again to try to get Lilly to be comfortable around her, by introducing herself once again.

"Hello, Lilly, I'm Dr. Clare," The woman said in an angelic motherly tone.

I already can see why Fiona would recommend her for kids. Lilly smiled but reached for my hand and once I placed my hand in trembling hand, she held on tightly. I leaned over to her and whispered in her ear, "It's okay…She's not going to hurt you, she's going to help you get better."

She looked at me with widened green eyes and asked in her little, uncertain voice, "Promise?"

"Promise," I told her reassuringly, followed by a kiss on her stomach. A little something we do every time she asks me promise, I always kiss her tummy, and she loves it, giggling every time.

"Well, I can see she is in good hands," I heard Dr. Edwards say, so I looked up and saw that her hair had been moved from her face…and I could swear, I almost died right then and there.

Her big baby blue eyes were not only gorgeous but, they were quite intoxicating. I could probably look at them, stare at them, memorize them…forever and ever and never get tired.

It seems as if they took you in and grabbed your heart, while running away so the only choice you had was to follow.

I stared at her for who the hell knows how long, until I was brought back to reality when I heard Lilly whimper my name in alarm, then followed a sound that disgusted and horrified me.

When I noticed that my shirt was getting wet, it made it all the more worse as I cursed while looking up at Dr. Clare, "Shit."

"Oh no," The she gasped, and ran to her sink.

I looked at Lilly as she had tears in her eyes, uncontrollably falling down her slightly red cheeks and my heart not only broke into two, but it also sunk way deep down into my gut.

"Baby girl, it is alright, it isn't your fault at all. You couldn't help it, you're sick. Everything is fine," I swore repeatedly in my head, but kept a good show going for Lilly, and thank the Lord it worked. She smiled and laughed a bit, but then I noticed that the doctor was handing me some wet paper towels while she called for some people to come and clean the room.

"You stay here and clean yourself off, I'm going to take Lilly into the next room and see what the problem is, okay?" She asked while picking up Lilly.

The strange thing was, Lilly didn't seem scared but…she did seem shy, that is abnormal for her, but this is an environment she really hasn't been in, at least not to my knowledge. I nodded, but made a mental note to hurry so Lilly wouldn't start freaking out, like she did every time Anya left her, or gave her to me when it was clearly her turn.

I love Lilly with all of my heart, but Anya still has some custody and it seems like every time it is her weekend I still have Lilly. I don't mind for me, but for Lilly, I know she gets upset even though she doesn't know what is going on.

After five minutes went by, I helped the janitor clean up Lilly's mess and even though there was a huge damp spot on my shirt, I just shook my head and looked around nervously, in search of Lilly's room.

I sighed, smiling from the doorway as I looked at Dr. Clare, touching her tummy as Lilly licked a pink lollypop, making her giggle uncontrollably.

"Now, was that so bad?" She asked teasingly, making Lilly shake her head and then her eyes widened with happiness when she saw me and waved me over to come inside.

I made my way in, as the doctor smiled at my appearance and pulled out her note pad, writing down a prescription and then asked Lilly, "You see that big room full of toys over there?"

She bobbed her head up and down and then Dr. Clare lifted her off the table, placing her on the floor and then said, "You can go play with the chalkboard."

"Really?" Lilly asked, flashing her missing teeth.

The Doctor nodded, gently patting her on the back as Lilly hesitantly walked across the hallway, joining the room full of toys.

"Thanks," I said and then she smiled, "No problem…she's a really great kid. Now, onto what's the problem with Lilly. I wrote down some medicine that'll definitely work on her, she should be better in one to two days."

As the Doctor handed me the prescription with a shaky hand, I took it, smirking and then I asked, "W-what's wrong with her?"

"She has a touch of the stomach flu, just a touch…so, it's not too bad. This is what caused the slight fever, the red cheeks and her tummy is very sensitive, so try not to touch it too often until you know she's better," Dr. Clare told me, smiling faintly.

I smirked and said, "I see…I'm sorry about that, I just, I don't like seeing her upset and that usually makes her laugh so…"

"Oh I get it, don't worry," she said while continuing, "But…I think you should come back on Monday and, since I'll be working here the night shift, if you want to come around ten p.m., I'll still be here. But, if you want a different doctor then…"

"No!" I shot back too quickly and then I coughed, "I-I uh, I mean that Lilly seems so comfortable around you and this is my first time bringing her to the doctors without my wi-, ex wife and I just want to thank you for your kindness towards her."

"It's my job," she stated, "Don't worry about it…now, just please take care of her and give her this medicine," she pointed to the prescription in my hand and smiled caringly.

When she started walking in front of me, I glanced at her as she talked to Lilly, pointing to her scribble on the chalkboard, grinning from ear to ear.

I couldn't help but want to stare at the scene before me, and there was another part of me that wanting to stand here forever…but, I guess I'll just have to take the visit back here on Monday night...

Hey everyone! The Cliffhanger Girl and I want to thank you all so much for reading this and we do hope that you really enjoyed this. Leave us review please, we will be internally grateful! I think Toy Story said that….hmm, okay well leave us a review! Thanks~