Wednesday

Clare stifled a groan when she twisted her wrist wrong. Ely's soft breathing ghosted across her skin. Clare shifted slightly and got the pressure off her wrist before snuggling down with the infant. The spot beside her was empty; Luke was gone. Clare cracked one eye open slowly. There was a note in his place. Clare picked it up and flipped it open to read it, 'Downstairs making lunch, fed Ely already, up to check on you soon.'

"Let me sleep in..." Clare muttered softly. Ely yawned and snuggled closer to Clare. Clare held her as close as possible as she rolled onto her back. Ely's soft even breathing continued to ghost across her skin. Clare smiled and stared up at the roof. The bedroom door opened a little and Luke slipped in with more soup, a little stronger than the day before. Clare smiled at him, "Would you look at that, room service." Luke smiled and sat on the edge of the bed.

"Trade ya, lunch for Ely?" Clare asked smiling lightly. Luke placed the bowl on the nightstand and gently took Ely. Clare sat up and reached for the soup. Luke shifted Ely and slipped a pillow behind Clare. Once the ninja got her soup she leaned back against the pillow and quietly ate it.

"Feeling better?" Luke asked.

"Getting back to my top form..." Clare said after swallowing her soup.

"Good to hear." Luke replied cradling Elyon before kissing Clare's temple. Clare smiled and kissed his cheek before finishing her lunch. Luke placed the empty bowl on the nightstand and handed Ely back to Clare. Clare gently held the infant close to her as she leaned against Luke. Luke placed his arm around her waist, "This shirt needs to be fixed sweetheart."

"Go get my sewing kit then..." Clare said. Luke smiled and kissed her temple, "Where is it?"

"In the library I think..." Clare said softly. Luke nodded and slipped out of the room leaving Clare with Ely. Clare smiled at the infant and held her gently yet close. Ely shifted then opened her eyes and looked up at Clare.

"Hello Little Miss..." Clare whispered softly when the boys came and jumped up on the bed. Ely yawned and glanced at Lucas. Clare smiled and sat the infant on her lap. Lucas shifted to lay next to Ely. Clare smiled and watched as Bane tried to get up on the bed. She bent and scooped him off the floor. Luke slipped back into the room and handed Clare her sewing kit. Clare smiled and took it before opening it, she pulled out the required needle and thread before closing it and putting it next to her. Luke sat down and offered Clare her robe. She took it with a smile and slipped it on before taking her shirt off. Luke took Ely so she could fix her shirt and not worry about the infant. Clare smiled and started to fix her shirt. Luke ran his fingers though Ely's hair. Clare smiled softly as she sewed, carefully making sure she didn't prick her finger. Lucas seemed to find Ely fascinating as he never took his eyes off her. Clare smiled as she glanced over at him then started on the other rip.

"Mom, how come she doesn't look like either of her parents?" Lucas asked.

"She has Tetra's eyes..." Clare said.

"Not really mom, Tetra's eyes are ice blue, Ely's are softer, like the sky in the morning." Lucas replied.

"Hmm...Not sure then." Clare said as she looked over at the infant. Ely was watching Lucas with soft opal blue eyes.

"Well...She's here anyways." Clare said softly. Lucas shifted up to rest his head on Ely's chest. The tiny infant smiled and placed her hand on Lucas's head. Clare smiled and finished fixing her shirt so she slipped it on then took the robe off. Luke shifted back to his old position and wrapped his arm around her. Clare smiled and leaned against him. Luke rested his cheek on her head and adjusted Ely. Clare smiled softly and closed her eyes. Luke traced light circles against her side before slipping his hand under the edge of her top to lay his hand against her skin. Clare smiled and shook her head lightly. Luke smiled and kissed her temple. She smiled again and picked up Bane to put him on her lap. The pup yawned and licked her palm. Clare smiled lightly and rubbed his ears gently. Luke shifted Ely again and tightened his hold on the ninja. Clare nuzzled his shoulder lightly.

"We have to give her back soon..." Luke whispered.

"I know..." Clare whispered softly.

"If they don't come back we can take her next year but for now we have to wait." Luke replied moving his hand to run his fingers through her hair. Clare nodded then smiled softly. Ely reached for Clare starting to whimper. Clare carefully took her from Luke and held her close. Ely settled and cuddled into Clare's warmth. The ninja smiled softly and put her head against Luke's shoulder. Luke placed both arms around her and kissed her temple. Clare smiled and bumped noses with him.

"Get some more rest sweetheart you need it..." Luke whispered.

"Okay..." Clare said then slowly slid down until she was lying on her back. Ely stayed quiet as Luke covered them up. Clare smiled to him then closed her eyes. Luke placed a quick kiss to her lips then took the dishes and slipped from the room. Clare smiled lightly then slipped from the waking world. The boys curled up on either side of her. Clare had Ely on her chest and had both hands on the infant's back. Luke continued his habit of checking on her only now it was every half hour instead. Clare kept to her back but every once and a while she would scratch one of the boys behind the ears before returning her hand to Ely's back. Luke smiled and left them to sleep only taking Ely long enough to feed her. Clare hummed softly before turning her head to the side. Luke returned the infant to her twenty minutes later. Clare hugged Ely and shifted slightly. Luke smiled and slipped downstairs to make dinner. Clare hummed softly again and turned her head. Ely was awake and not quite ready to go back to sleep. Clare hummed again before stretching her legs out. Ely snuggled into Clare but remained awake. Clare put both hands on Ely's back then yawned. The boys shifted at her sides. Clare slowly started to wake up. Ely still stayed quiet. Clare groaned then slowly eased back into sleep. Ely yawned finally falling back to sleep. Clare shifted her legs before settling. Luke came up an hour later and sat on the edge of the bed and placed the bowl on the nightstand. Clare groaned quietly and turned her head away from him. Luke placed his hand on her shoulder, "Angel, wake up..." Luke whispered. Clare groaned quietly and cracked an eye open and turned her head to look at him.

"Hey, I brought you some dinner." Luke whispered.

"...Thanks." Clare said after she yawned.

"Feeling alright?" Luke asked taking Elyon.

"Yeah." Clare said sitting up, "Been sleeping too much..."

"You'll be back on your feet soon..." Luke replied.

"I know...Hopefully tomorrow." Clare said and held out her hands for the bowl. Luke smiled and handed her the bowl. She took it with a smile and started eating it. Luke shifted Ely. Clare smiled as she ate and was finished quickly. Luke took the bowl and handed Ely back. Clare smiled and laid back down. Luke smiled and ran his fingers though her hair. Clare smiled to him and put Ely on her chest.

"Go back to sleep, I'll be back up in a little while." Luke whispered.

"Okay..." Clare whispered back and closed her eyes before drifting off. Luke smiled and kissed her forehead before slipping out of the room with the dishes. Clare slept on quietly. Three hours later Luke slipped into the room and changed into his night clothes before climbing into bed beside her. Clare turned her head to him slightly. Luke wrapped his arms around her and settled down for a good nights sleep.