Friday
The couple was awoken to the sound of Sophie making a fuss across the hall.
"Are we going to be able to sleep in?" Clare asked as she buried her face in a pillow.
"Don't think so..." Luke replied from the window.
"What are you doing over there?" Clare asked as she looked up.
"It's cool over here..." Luke replied, his shirt as loose as it would go.
"Let me guess, you're boiling..."She asked.
"Yeah..." Luke replied leaning his head against the open window frame.
"Why don't you take your shirt off..." Clare yawned.
"Too cold that way..." He replied.
"Mmm..." She hummed and slid her arms under her pillow. Link could be heard running down the stairs on his way to bring in the nets.
"He's so loud..." Clare whispered and put her head on the pillow.
"Isn't he though..." Luke replied as he listened for Anni. The ninja sighed and closed her eyes again.
"Shh...shh...you're alright..." Anni cooed from the other room.
"I think I'm going back to sleep..." Clare whispered and yawned. Luke sighed and closed his eyes while he listened to Anni sing her song from the other day to Sophie to calm the fussing baby. Clare yawned and cuddled into her pillow before falling asleep. Nine o'clock Anni knocked on the door to tell them to get up and downstairs for breakfast.
"Okay..." Clare said and pushed herself up. Luke was still perched in the window. Clare sat up and yawned, stretched and reached back to tightened the ties but she couldn't get the bottom since she was still half asleep.
"Need some help Angel?" Luke asked from his perch.
"Much appreciated..." Clare yawned. Luke climbed out of the window and crossed the room to the bed. Clare yawned again and have her head a shake. Luke sat on the edge of the bed. The ninja scooted over to him and turned her back to him. Luke tied her top, his fingers brushing her skin were warm like the spring last night.
"Oh...I like you're nice and warm..." Clare said and leaned back. Luke looped his arms around her waist, "And tomorrow I'll be freezing again."
"Then I'll warm you back up..." She said and turned her head and kissed his jaw.
"I suddenly adore fall..." Luke whispered as he kissed the corner of her mouth. Clare giggled lightly. Luke smiled and the first real kiss in two days. She kissed him back. Luke gently pushed her back onto the bed. She wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned back. Luke placed both hands on the bed for balance as he pressed into the kiss. She pressed back and played with his hair on his neck. Luke broke the kiss and nipped the underside of her jaw. She gave a light moan and tilted her head back slightly. Luke rumbled in approval as he nipped down her neck, now leaning on his forearms. She purred and kissed the top of his head, moaning quietly. Luke smirked and nipped at her collar bone. She moaned in response. Luke nuzzled her jaw, letting some of his weight rest against her. She moaned and purred lightly as she nuzzled the top of his head. He nipped the top of her breast bone in a teasing manner. She moaned lightly and ran her hands across his shoulders. Luke smirked and nipped a little lower. Her moan got louder. He smiled this time and nipped before licking back to the top. She moaned, shivered and groaned lightly. Luke's response was to nip lower and repeat the pattern. She gave the same reaction to his teasing. Luke nipped lower a smile still plastered on his face. She moaned loudly and groaned in the same intensity. Luke nipped the middle of her breast bone, not caring if he'd get smacked as he ran one finger under the edge of her top. Clare moaned loudly, her mind fogged over. Luke smirked and nipped a little lower seeing how far he could get away with. Her response; moan, groan, gasp and shiver, all of which were good signs for him. Luke traced his finger under the edge of her top then down her stomach while he nipped a little lower. She moaned, groaned and gasped loudly as a shiver came across her back. Luke returned to her neck and stilled his hands giving her a chance to breathe while he plotted his next attack. The ninja took whatever air she could and cleared her fog addled mind. Luke smiled and nipped lightly at the tip of her ear. She moaned as her ear twitched. Luke rumbled in approval and skipped down to her ribs where he resumed his nipping. She moaned and shivered lightly. Luke continued to nip at her bottom ribs while he ran one hand up the inside of her thigh. She moaned and shivered. Luke smirked and nipped the edge of her naval while his hand went back to her knee. She gasped, then groaned then moaned as her eyes slid shut. Luke, the devious man that he was, licked her naval quickly as his other hand slipped under the edge of her top. She moaned loudly and shivered. Luke added a nip to the bottom of her top. The fog invaded her mind once again as she moaned loudly. Luke nuzzled the bottom of her top.
"Are you having fun Kitten?" Luke purred. Clare nodded and moaned loudly.
"Let me hear you say it Clare..." Luke purred as he nipped the bottom right side of her top.
"I'm having fun Luke..." Clare said and moaned loudly.
"Good girl..." Luke rumbled as he continued his assault on her skin. She moaned loudly in response to his attack. Luke, as much as he loved teasing the living daylights out of the ninja, stopped to let her catch her breath. The poor ninja was breathing deeply her chest heaving. Luke chuckled and nuzzled her stomach affectionately. She purred and took a nice deep breath. He nipped at her naval. She gasped and moaned. Luke quickly resumed his teasing by licking her naval and tracing the edge of her top. She moaned, groaned and gasped then shivered. He smirked and managed to slip a finger under her top and trace a circle while the other hand trailed lightly up the inside of her thigh. Clare moaned, groaned, gasped, shivered and panted. Luke repeated this pattern for a few minutes, "Say my name Kitten..."
"Oh...." She moaned her eyes closed.
"Come on Kitten..." He purred still repeating the pattern.
"Oh...Luke..." She moaned softly.
"What was that Kitten?" He coaxed still teasing her.
"Luke..." She moaned louder.
"That a girl..." Luke purred and stopped his teasing. She took that time to breath. Luke chuckled and nestled his head under her chin. The ninja then rolled them over so he was on his back and she started to tease him. Luke was stubborn and refused to crack. She slowly kissed what flesh she could get to then brought out one of her kunai and traced circles with the point being careful not to cut him. Luke just shut his eyes and refused to give her anything, he always had to work for it, now it was her turn. She kissed his chest as her kunai cut his shirt open then licked her way back up to the underside of his jaw. Still nothing from her Captain, if anything he was determined. She then kissed her way down to his naval then kissed around it. Luke's hand twitched but he stayed silent. She then smirked and licked around his naval then over it. Both of his hands fisted in the blankets but he refused to crack so easily. She kissed his naval gently then nipped the edge. Clare heard his knuckles crack in his effort to stay silent. She smirked and nipped down to the waist band of his pants. Still he refused to cave. Her hand trailed down his leg and came back up as she nipped along the waist band of his pants. Finally he cracked and a quiet groan escaped him. She kept up her attack though.
"And you...say I'm...evil..." Luke managed to say before a groan escaped. She stopped her assault on him and moved back up and kissed his lips. Luke pressed into the kiss while his hands un-fisted themselves and came to rest just under the bottom of her top. Clare pushed back and let her hands run up from his stomach and across his chest to his shoulders. He nipped her lip and at the same time purposely grazed the twins as he brought his hands to the middle of her shoulders. She moaned and gasped as she opened her mouth. Luke smiled cockily and deepened the kiss while trailed one hand down to the small of her back. She kissed him back. Luke smirked and quickly pinched her rear. She gasped and squeaked. Luke broke the kiss and smiled cheekily.
"That ass is mine..." Clare said.
"Ohh can't we share...?" Luke cooed nuzzling the underside of her chin.
"Maybe...if you don't pinch..." Clare said. Luke smiled, "I can do that..." He agreed.
"Fine..." She said and nuzzled the top of his head. Luke nuzzled her neck affectionately while a low rumble crept up.
"Are we going to get up anytime today?" She asked.
"Technically we're up, we're just not out of bed..." Luke replied as he pulled her down onto his chest. Clare smiled and laid on his chest, kissing it lightly.
"...I love you Clare." Luke said quietly as he nuzzled the top of her head.
"I love you too Luke..." Clare said nuzzling his chest. He sighed contently and tightened his hold across her back, in turn keeping her warm against the autumn chill. She nuzzled his chest and put her cheek on it.
"Comfy luv?" He asked tracing circles on her skin.
"Very..." She said and smiled to him. There was a sharp knock at the door, "Come on you two, I let you have your fun now come down or you'll miss lunch too."
"Should we go?" Clare asked picking her head off his chest.
"We better, I can tell by her tone if we don't, next time we'll be on the ship..." Luke told her propping himself up on his elbows.
"Want me to fix your shirt?" She asked pulling on the cut edges.
"Nah, I'm going to need a lighter one today anyway..." He replied kissing her quickly. She smiled goofily and sat up and climbed off him and the bed. Luke sat up and stretched before also getting off the bed. She smiled to him and went to the door. Luke dug out a light blue light cotton shirt and pulled it on before sneaking up behind her and sweeping her into a kiss. She squeaked and kissed him back. They could hear Anni sigh on the other side of the door and then head downstairs.
"Alright, let's go..." She said breaking the kiss. Luke sighed and set her back on her feet.
"You can play tonight..." She whispered and opened the door. He smiled happily and followed her out the door. They went down stairs both smiling and sat in their usual seats. Link looked up from his daughter, "Finally decided to join us I see..."
"Eh..." Clare said and crossed her legs. Sophie blinked then reached for Clare, having not seen her Aunt for the entire morning made her miss Clare.
"Come here Little Sophie..." Clare said reaching back for her. Link handed his daughter to Clare and went to go help Anni in the kitchen.
"How's Little Sophie?" The ninja asked putting Sophie on her lap. The tiny nine month old snuggled into Clare's chest, "I missed you Auntie..."
"Did you miss your Uncle too?" Clare asked.
"Yes..." Sophie answered but continued to snuggle her Aunt. Clare smiled and held the child carefully. Sophie yawned adorably and started to nod off in Clare's arms. The ninja smiled again and cradled the little girl.
"Auntie, I'm tired..." Sophie said while she yawned.
"Go to sleep..." Clare whispered. Sophie yawned once more then slipped into a peaceful sleep that only an infant could fine. The ninja smiled lightly.
"You can't keep her Clare..." Luke teased as he looped an arm around her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder.
"I know that...And I want my own..." She said and nuzzled the side of his face. Luke smiled and fingered something in his pocket, "Soon enough Angel, soon enough..."
"Soon enough for what?" Clare asked looking at him curiously; a tilt to her head.
"Don't worry about it, just thinking out loud..." Luke replied as he kissed her neck. She giggled and shivered slightly. Sophie shifted and tried to latch onto some sort of fabric like she usually would.
"I'm going to go ask Anni where Sophie's blanket is...Okay?" Clare asked the tanned man snuggling into her neck.
"Alright..." Luke replied and released her. Clare stood from her chair and went to the kitchen to ask Anni where Sophie's blanket went. As she walked into the kitchen she picked up a quiet conversation, "No Link, Sophie isn't even a year old. We'll have another one I promise, just not yet..." The ninja sighed and kicked the door, letting those inside know she was coming. Anni glanced around her husband, "Hi Auntie Clare, did you need something?"
"Sophie's blanket...I don't wear as much clothing as you and she's grabbing so..." Clare said showing her the sleeping child.
"It's on the back of the couch, last time I checked Lucas was sleeping on it." Anni answered swatting Link's hands away.
"Thanks." Clare said and walked out the back of the kitchen and out of the main room. The last thing she caught was, "Link, no."
"That kid is going to get smacked..." Clare whispered and went to the couch. Just like Anni had said Lucas was curled up and covered with Sophie's blanket as a way to keep warm while Johnny was out with the older kits. Clare pulled up a different blanket and wrapped Sophie in it. The nine month old latched onto the fabric and settled down to sleep. Clare smiled and walked back over to her chair, with Sophie.
"You look so cute with her..." Luke said as she sat down. The ninja blushed and smiled lightly. Luke smiled and returned to their previous position. Clare kept Sophie close as she nuzzled Luke's cheek. Luke sighed contently and locked one arm around her while the other stroked one of Sophie's tiny hands. The ninja smiled lightly. Anni slipped back into the room and gently scooped up Lucas so he didn't get sat on and then went over to Clare, "Trade you, I need to feed her."
"Alright." Clare said holding Sophie out to her and taking Lucas. Anni gently look her daughter and cradled the nine month old and headed up to the bedroom. Clare held Lucas in one arm and he immediately cuddled into her stomach.
"I think that's the closest to your own as you're going to get luv..." Luke whispered as not to wake the youngest of their daughter's litter.
"For now anyways..." The ninja whispered lightly and crossed her legs.
"We'll have one of our own one day..." Luke replied and placed a kiss behind her ear. She smiled lightly and kissed his cheek. Lucas shifted and his twin tails brushed Clare's chest. The ninja giggled lightly and shifted herself slightly. Anni came back downstairs and placed Sophie in the basinet by the window. Clare leaned against Luke and shifted Lucas to her other arm. The tiny kit yawned and rolled so he was on his back, tiny paws pulled against his chest.
"He's just so cute..." Clare whispered softly.
"The little ones always are..." Luke replied just as quietly. The ninja smiled and turned to show him that fact.
"Almost as cute as that..." Luke said and motioned to where Anni stood watching her daughter sleep with a soft smile on her face.
"Almost..." Clare agreed.
"At times I think her and her mother are completely different and then I see this and I see my sister doing the exact same thing..." Luke said with the same smile as he cuddled Clare.
"I'll tell you this, I won't be like my biological mother..." The ninja said and held Lucas closer to her.
"No, I can't see you doing that to anyone, you're more like you're adopted mom..." Luke replied as he gave her an extra squeeze. The ninja leaned against him and snuggled into his shoulder. Johnny and Jessie came back in with their litter in tow.
"Hi guys..." Clare said waving to them.
"Hi grandma..." They all said quietly seeing their littlest brother sleeping. The ninja smiled and stretched her free arm forward. Anni kissed Sophie's forehead and went to go check on her soup while Link fed Johnny and Jessie. Clare switched arms and stretched that one before holding Lucas close again. Luke nuzzled behind her ear again and fixed his eyes on Sophie's basinet. Clare crossed her legs and shifted to make herself more comfortable. Lucas shifted again, this time so one of his paws hung over Clare's arm and his head rested in the bend of her arm. Clare smiled and giggled lightly when Lucas's tails brushed her stomach. Johnny came in looking about the room.
"Who are you looking for Johnny Girl?" Clare asked looking over her shoulder.
"My little boy, do you have him?" The young vixen asked.
"Yup right here." The ninja said.
"Can I have him?" Johnny asked, "He hasn't eaten anything in the last couple days and I'm starting to worry..."
"Alright, here you go..." Clare said bending down so Johnny could grab Lucas. Johnny gently took Lucas, who made no protest to being moved or the loss of his heat source. Clare sat back up and stretched her arms up.
"Hope he doesn't get sick, he's so tiny he might not pull through..." Luke said watching as Johnny fussed over her youngest.
"Don't say that..." Clare whispered gently. Luke knew what was going through her head and hugged her tightly. Clare snuggled into his chest and wrapped her arms around his torso.
"I'm sure he's fine..." Luke reassured.
"I hope you're right..." Clare whispered and snuggled deeper. Johnny continued to fuss over Lucas, she just couldn't get him to wake up long enough to get him to nurse. The ninja tightened her arms around Luke asking for a hug in return, one that she, at the moment, needed. Luke held her close and pulled her into his lap. The ninja snuggled into his chest and tired to keep herself from crying.
"He'll be alright..." Luke whispered and rubbed her back.
"He's not eating..." Clare whispered.
"We'll figure something out and he'll pull through..." Luke told her hoping to reassure her.
"Are you sure?" She asked and looked up at him.
"No I'm not but in here," He said placing his hand over her heart, "I believe we can get him through this."
"Okay..." She said and nodded her head. Luke hugged her again. Clare hugged him back. Johnny whimpered and curled around her youngest, fear starting to creep into her heart.
"Let's go get Lucas to eat..." Clare said and pulled away from her hug.
"I'll see what Anni can whip up..." Luke said as he let her go. Clare nodded and went to the two keatons.
"Come on sweetie..." Johnny whispered nearly in tears.
"Johnny I'm going to check how fast his heart rate is going okay?" The ninja said sitting beside the basket. Johnny nodded and gently nudged her youngest.
"Lucas, you've got to wake up..." Clare said as she put her pinkie finger on a pulse point gently. She received no response from the tiny kit other than a weak whimper.
"You got to tell us what's wrong..." She whispered gently nudging the Keaton kit. Still nothing other than whimpers, Anni and Luke came back. The young brunette had an eye dropper and a bottle of something yellowish white in one hand.
"Come on Johnny..." Clare said picking up the Keaton mother. Johnny whimpered in worry for her kit.
"Alright Anni..." The ninja said while she held the mother in her arms. Anni sat on the floor next to Clare and gently scooped up Lucas who was limp in her arms. She placed the bottle on the floor and filled the eye dropper. Gently, in a way only someone who worked with animals could, she force fed Lucas. Johnny watched on from Clare's arms, she wanted to go to Lucas but knew her claws would cut into her mother's arms. Eventually Anni set Lucas back in the basket a quarter of the bottle gone.
"I don't know what's wrong, but this should keep him with us until I can figure it out." Anni told them. Johnny instantly scrambled out of Clare's arms, scratching them slightly and curled around Lucas.
"He'll be okay Johnny, I'll make sure of it." Anni said as she stroked the other mother's fur, "I promise..."
"Ow..." Clare said as she turned her arms over revealing the cuts, but she got up and after petting Johnny's head went up the stairs to go tend to her arms. Anni followed Clare upstairs and slipped into the library, immediately setting to work to figure out what was wrong with Lucas. Clare disappeared into their room and into the bathroom, digging for the first aid kit.
"Looking for something Angel?" Luke asked from behind her, the first aid kit dangling off his finger.
"No wonder why it's not where it's suppose to be..." Clare said and turned to him.
"You're shoulder..." He reminded.
"It's arms dough head." She told him and took the first aid kit.
"No, your shoulder was the reason it's not in the usual spot..." Luke reminded.
"Ah, right..." She said and popped it open and got the necessary things out.
"I'll be downstairs with Johnny if you need me..." Luke told her and slipped back downstairs to offer some comfort to their terrified daughter.
"Okay..." Clare said and put the antibacterial cream on her arms then wrapped them as tightly as she could.
"Yes!" Anni's voice came from the next room and then the sound of someone darting downstairs. The ninja had one end of the bandage in her arm in her mouth and was tying the ends together.
"I'll be back in ten minutes!" Anni yelled as the front door swung open. The ninja looked out the window as Anni left then walked down the stairs. Luke was on the floor next to Johnny's basket reassuring her while rocking Sophie's basinet with his foot, who says men can't multitask. The ninja shook her head and sat down next to Luke, cross legged. Lucas was still lying on his side where Anni had placed him, his breathing becoming laboured and shallow.
"Anni hasn't gotten back yet..." Clare said as she let her ear twitch, listening to Lucas's heart beat.
"She'll be back, she'd never once broke a promise..." Luke replied quietly.
"Then it hasn't been ten minutes..." She said and her ear twitched again. Anni came flying in the door and disappeared straight into the kitchen. Clare's other ear twitched when the doors to the kitchen slammed shut.
"I'll go see what Anni found out..." She said standing. Luke nodded. Clare went over to the kitchen window.
"What does he have?" She asked the hurrying mother.
"There's no actual name for it but it's common with the runts and if I don't hurry we'll lose him." Anni stated quickly. On the counter sat a bottle of glittering silver blue liquid.
"Want some help?" Clare asked.
"No time, just make sure he doesn't stop breathing." Anni replied as she pulled a blue and silver bottle from the cupboard.
"Okay..." Clare said and walked back over to the basket, Lucas's breathing was still shallow but he was breathing.
"He's getting worse..." Johnny whispered gently nuzzling her kit.
"Don't smother him Johnny...He needs all the air he needs..." Clare said.
"I'm just so scared..." Johnny whimpered and laid her head next to Lucas's.
"He'll be fine...Anni's making up a potion right now..." Clare whispered stroking Johnny's head.
"Hang in there just a little longer sweetie..." Johnny begged. Clare started to wring her hands after a minute.
"Ow ow ow, hot hot hot!" Anni yelped from the kitchen, then there was the sound of steam and Anni came into the room, in her hand a small bowl of an odd silver liquid.
"Here's Anni...Do you want to come here..." Clare said opening her arms for the Keaton mother. Johnny jumped into Clare's arms shaking badly, this was every mother's worst nightmare. Clare stroked her daughter's fur gently, humming gently. Anni sat back on the floor, settled the bowl of silver liquid next to the basket and picking up Lucas before cradling him in her arms. She filled the eye dropper with the silver liquid and once more gently force fed the fading kit. Clare hugged Johnny to her chest and tried to keep the mother from crying. Then, as by divine intervention, Lucas started to come back. His breathing deepened and evened out, his heart rate slowed and he ate eagerly. Clare let go of Johnny and she went over to Lucas. Anni set Lucas back in the basket so Johnny could nurse him. The ninja smiled and stroked both their heads before standing. Anni sighed and flopped backwards onto the floor.
"I'll go clean up the kitchen..." Clare said and went into the kitchen. Amazing the only things out where two jars, a spoon and a pot. She shrugged her shoulders and got to work cleaning up. Luke slipped in behind her while she was washing the dishes. "See, he's alright..."
"Gah!" Clare shouted and tossed the spoon she was washing in the air. She turned around faced him then caught the spoon, "How many times do I have to tell you...Don't sneak up on me."
"I don't try to, it just happens..." Luke defended as he pulled her against him.
"You've said that before..." She said and let herself be hugged.
"I'm sorry I startled you..." Luke apologized.
"Yeah, apology accepted..." Clare said then turned around to finish the dishes.
"I think our little girl nearly had a heart attack today." Luke mused as he put the two jars in the cupboard.
"I think your right...for once..." She said and finished washing them now on to rinsing. Anni slipped into the kitchen, quickly grabbed some meat scraps then disappeared back into the living room.
"Lucas should be able to eat meat here soon..."Clare mused as she started to dry the dishes.
"Yeah, he's probably going to be a little sluggish for the next few days though, that was some strong magic Anni put in him..." Luke agreed as he put the dried dishes away. Clare nodded and handed him the last of the dishes. Johnny came into the kitchen with a pained expression on her features.
"What's wrong Johnny?" Clare asked immediately worried.
"I hurt." Was all Johnny said. Clare smiled, then giggled, then laughed. The stress of the day finally kicking so she broke down in hysterical laughter. Luke wrapped his arms around the hysterical ninja and picked her up, "Yeah time for mom to take a nap..."
"That...that sounds like a ... a good idea..." Clare said a she took deep breaths to try to quell her hysteria. Luke cradled her against him, "That goes for you to Johnny, you should get some rest..." He suggested.
"Will do dad..." Johnny said walking out to curl in her basket.
"Come on you, time for a little R & R..." Luke said heading up the stairs.
"It's not like I have a choice or nothing..." Clare muttered but snuggled into his chest, yawning slightly. Luke shook his head and shouldered the door open, the kicked it shut behind him. He placed Clare on the bed and pulled the covers on the bed and went and pulled the curtains. Clare had rolled to her usual spot and waited for him to finish. Luke sat on the bed next to her and easily rolled her onto her stomach. The ninja didn't make an objection or anything. Warm hands found the small of her back and started to work out knots she didn't even know where there. She relaxed as his hands worked on her back. Clare sighed contently and closed her eyes after propping her head on her arms. Luke kissed her shoulder as he worked the knots out of the middle of her back. She purred lightly and started to fall asleep. Luke finished her shoulders and then lay next to her before pulling her back into his arms. She, in turn, snuggled into his chest and did fall asleep.
"Exactly what you need after today..." Luke whispered and held her close. She snuggled into his chest and sighed.
"Sleep tight Angel..." He whispered and settled in for a nap. Five hours later there was a light yet heavier tapping at the door.
"Come on guys dinner." Link called.
"Hmmm..." The ninja groaned and buried herself in Luke's chest.
"Anni's giving you five minutes then she sets the grandkids on you..." Link told them as he left. The ninja groaned again but opened her eyes anyways.
"Sleep well luv?" Luke asked tucking her hair behind her ear.
"Yeah, you?" She asked and sat up.
"I only slept for an hour...but I still slept good." He replied.
"Why only one hour?" Clare asked while stretching.
"Wasn't tired..." Luke replied as he sat up.
"Oh..." The ninja said and shuffled over to the edge of the bed. Luke locked his arms around her waist and pulled her back against him, "Are you alright?" He asked quietly.
"Yeah, I just got a leg cramp...must of did something while I was asleep." She explained.
"That's not what I meant Angel and you know it..." He replied.
"Alright alright, I'm not all that stressed anymore..." Clare told him.
"Are you sure, you were in hysterics downstairs?" Luke double checked.
"Yes, I'm sure. You're magic hands solved most of the stress issues..." She said.
"Alright, shall we go check on the family and get something to eat?" He asked.
"Let's..." She purred and slid out of his arms and off the bed. Luke went and opened the door to find Anni about to knock. Clare looked over his shoulder then ducked under his arm, "We know we know, dinner's ready, we're coming."
"Actually I was going to tell you dinner won't be ready for another ten minutes, Link's a little ahead of himself." Anni replied.
"Why is he a little ahead of himself..." The ninja asked suddenly very wary.
"Cause he's hungry, but come down anyway Johnny need someone to distract Lucas for a bit..." Anni said and disappeared down stairs.
"Okay, for a second there I thought Link had cooked dinner and in that case I refuse to touch whatever he cooked..." Clare said then went down the stairs. Johnny was lying on her side in her basket with Lucas against her stomach for warmth, every so often a pained wince would cross her features.
"Hey you two..." Clare said walking over to the basket.
"Hey mom..." Johnny replied then let her head drop back onto the cushion of her basket.
"What no Hi for me Lucas? Oh I'm so hurt..." The ninja said then fake stabbed herself and fake died.
"He's out like a candle..." Johnny told her mother.
"Oh...Want some help with him?" Clare asked as she sat up. Johnny nodded with a tired sigh. The ninja scooped Lucas out of the basket and held him close to her as she shifted. Johnny stood with a wince and went for a walk. Clare crossed her legs and made herself comfortable. Luke flopped down on the floor near the open window as Johnny slipped out the ajar door. Clare scooted over to a chair and leaned against the legs. Lucas shifted but didn't wake up. Clare slid down so she was lying on the floor again and let Lucas curl up on her stomach. Anni came in and set a pot of tea on the coffee table with a few cups. Clare shifted before stretching. Lucas yawned and opened his eyes a little.
"Hello..." Clare said.
"Where's momma?" Lucas asked, his words slurring together.
"Out for a walk." Clare told him and propped herself up slightly.
"Okay..." The tiny kit said and dropped his head on his paws.
"How are you feeling?" She asked him. His response was to roll on his side and whine.
"She'll be back..." She told him and put her head back on the hard wood floor
"I feel like I got sat on..." Lucas moaned and rolled further, in turn falling off Clare's stomach.
"Be careful..." Clare said and picked him up while sitting up to make sure he didn't roll out of her arms.
"My stomach hurts..." Lucas moaned. The ninja stood and went to find Anni. Anni was putting the finishing touches on dinner.
"Anni, Lucas says his stomach's hurting..." Clare said walked through the doors.
"Which is normal when you go two days with no food or water, especially with someone his size, just rub his stomach and he should be fine..." Anni told her as she tossed some all spice into the pot.
"Okay." Clare said and rubbed the kits belly as she went back into the main room. Lucas instantly settled and his whimpers died down. Clare went back to her old position of lying on the floor by the chair. Luke sat on the floor and shifted over to lie beside her. The hand that wasn't rubbing Lucas's belly went and twined her fingers with Luke's. Luke idly with her fingers while he watched Lucas. Clare shifted and crossed her legs.
"Dinner." Anni called as she put the pot on the table. Clare looked over at Luke then sat up. Lucas made small protest to being moved.
"Sorry Little Lucas...But I'm hungry..." Clare apologized as she let go of Luke's hand to stand.
"Okay, just don't move to fast or my stomach turns over." Lucas whined.
"Sorry..." Clare said and stood a slowly as possible. Lucas sighed and closed his eyes against his nausea. The ninja moved smoothly over to her chair and sat down smoothly and slowly. Anni shook her head, "Here let me take him..."
"Okay..." Clare said and held Lucas out for Anni. Anni gently took Lucas and cradled him much like Sophie and went to sit on the couch, smooth gait not making a sound on the floor as she walked. Luke was just standing up when Anni past him. As Anni sat down Luke took his seat at the table. The others came from where ever they were that day and sat in their usual seats as Clare pulled her right leg and tucked it under her left. Lind dished out supper and then sat down. Clare ate her soup and kept glancing over at Anni. Luke gently squeezed her free hand. The ninja took a deep breath and ate more of her soup. Anni was quietly singing Sophie's lullaby to keep Lucas calm. Clare finished her soup and sat back unfolding her legs. Luke looped one arm around her side and gently rubbed her arms.
"Can we go for a walk later?" Clare asked Luke as she turned her head to him.
"Sure thing Angel..." Luke told her and kissed her cheek.
"Thanks..." She said and nosed his cheek.
"Are you finished Auntie Clare?" Anni asked.
"Yeah?" She said and kinda questioned.
"Can you take Lucas, Sophie's waking up and she missed lunch..." Anni replied.
"Okay..." Clare said then kissed Luke's cheek before slipping away over to Anni. Anni gently slipped Lucas into Clare's arms and stood up to go tend to her daughter who now just started crying. Clare sat down in Anni's spot and held the kit close to her. Lucas whined, "My stomach still hurts..."
"Shh..." Clare shushed and rubbed the kit's belly. Lucas whined for a short time then settled. Clare hummed lightly and stroked Lucas's stomach. Lucas still and pulled his paws against his chest.
"Still feeling sick?" Clare asked the kit.
"Kind of..." Lucas whimpered.
"You're mom should be getting back soon..." Clare whispered. Lucas whined and curled into Clare. She just stroked his furry belly. There was a tap at the door before Johnny fazed through it and walked over to her basket. Clare stood slowly and put Lucas in the basket as Johnny was climbing in.
"Hey sweetie how you feeling?" Johnny asked as she licked his temple. Clare stroked both their heads gently before standing back up. Luke was leaning in the door frame with an extra jacket, "Ready for that walk luv?"
"Sure..." She said and walked over to him. Luke draped the jacket around her and led her into the cool night air. Clare pulled the jacket close to her body and stayed close to Luke.
"What's on your mind Angel?" Luke asked as they passed the pond and he looped his arm around her waist.
"Nothing...Just need to get out..." Clare said and looked off into the forest.
"Are you sure?" He asked rubbing a circle against her side.
"No I'm not sure..."She said her face turning red slightly. Luke stopped and pulled her around in front of him, "What's the matter Angel?" He asked getting down to her level.
"Nothing..." She said looking down at the ground.
"Come, talk to me Clare..." Luke coaxed bringing her eyes back to his. She gulped loudly and took a deep breath, "I've been thinking..." She whispered. Luke quietly coaxed her to tell him what was bothering her. The ninja dug into one of her pockets and pulled out a bag with a rupee on it, "Happy Birthday..." She said looking at anything else but him. Luke kissed her forehead, "Now what's really bothering you?"
"How much longer...?" She whispered.
"Hmm...?" Luke replied a confused expression on his face.
"How much longer till...you ask..." She whispered and turned her head away.
"You won't have to wait much longer Angel, I promise." Luke said pulling her into his arms. She snuggled into his chest. Luke squeezed her gently and kissed her temple. Clare wrapped her arms around him in a hug. Luke nuzzled the top of her head, "Just a little longer."
"Okay...I can wait a little longer..." She whispered.
"You want to head back or do you want to walk a little more?" He asked.
"Let's keep walking..." She said and pulled her head out of his chest.
"Alright then..." Luke replied and looped his arm around her waist. She turned and started to walk towards the bay. Luke followed her lead but wouldn't let her get more than three inches away from him. Clare and Luke walked down to the far end of the bay before turning around and heading back. Luke snagged her left hand and laced their fingers together. She leaned against him on the way back.
"Tired Angel?" Luke asked.
"Yeah..." She said. Luke smiled and gently picked her up. She didn't squeak but instead snuggled into her guardian's chest.
"Get some rest Angel, you've had a stressful day..." Luke whispered.
"Okay..." She said and closed her eyes slowly. Luke tightened the jacket around her so it covered her legs and continued his trek up to the Inn. Clare snuggled deeper into his chest and sighed contently. Luke carefully shouldered the door open and slipped upstairs. She shivered lightly and pulled the coat up to her nose. Luke set her on the bed and carefully unwrapped her before covering her with the blanket. Clare pulled the blankets up to her nose and sighed lightly. He hung the jacket up and closed the window. He pulled off his shirt and boots then climbed in next to her. The ninja turned and reached for him, her fingers lightly brushing his chest. Luke smiled and shifted closer as he wrapped her in his arms. Clare sighed contently and fell deeper into sleep.
"Sweet dreams Angel..." Luke whispered and soon fell asleep himself.