Tuesday
Clare yawned and shifted slightly before stretching and hugging a pillow. If Clare was planning on sleeping any longer, their growing child wasn't going to let it happen, as she shifted on both sides.
"Please...just a little longer..." Clare whined lightly as she rubbed her stomach. Luke groaned and skimmed his hands across her stomach in turn calming their child. Clare sighed and slowly drifted back to sleep. The infant let her sleep until ten. Clare was about ready to get up then anyways, so she shifted and stretched before opening her eyes. The usual warmth at her back was gone. Clare glanced over her shoulder lightly before stretching again. The bed was empty except for a folded piece of paper. Clare took it and flipped it open. 'Ran up to the Inn, back in a bit – Luke'. Clare hummed and laid on her side, waiting. The little one shifted again. Clare rubbed her stomach lightly, humming softly. The not so tiny infant kicked her hand twice.
"Okay...shh...I'm awake, we need to wait for daddy..." Clare whispered. She settled slightly but still shifted quite a bit. Clare shifted and kept rubbing her very round stomach. The next kick came to the opposite side. Clare groaned quietly and rubbed that side.
"Little one acting up again?" Someone asked from the door.
"A lot..." Clare whispered. Luke slipped back into his usual spot and placed his hands under hers. Clare smiled softly. Luke gently soothed circles against her stomach. Clare shifted slightly and put her hands higher up on her very rounded stomach.
"Any better sweetheart?" Luke asked still soothing circles.
"A little better, what did you need up at the Inn?" Clare asked as she shifted slightly.
"More ice cream for a certain someone..." Luke replied not stopping his circles. Clare smiled softly and stretched. Luke placed a light kiss to her temple stilling his hand for only a moment. Clare smiled softly when the infant stopped her shifting. Luke shifted Clare slightly, "Is she quieting down?"
"She's quieted down..." Clare whispered softly. Luke smiled and kissed her temple. Clare sighed and rubbed her stomach slightly.
"What's the matter sweetheart?" Luke asked.
"She kicked hard..." Clare whispered softly. Luke offered his hand to her, hoping to help her calm their child. Clare put his hand on the spot where the growing infant kept kicking. Luke did what he could to help her settle their child. After a few more kicks the baby settled.
"Any better sweetie?" Luke asked.
"Much...she isn't squirming or kicking..." Clare whispered.
"She's so active, I'm surprised..." Luke replied as he stilled his hand.
"Let's hope she's not too active until she's born..." Clare whispered. Luke chuckled and kissed her temple. Clare sighed softly and leaned against him slightly.
"Do you want something to eat?" Luke asked after a few minutes of silence.
"Please?" Clare replied looking over her shoulder at him.
"Anything in particular?" He asked. She shook her head.
"Alright, I'll be back in a few minutes..." Luke whispered and kissed her forehead before disappearing downstairs. Clare sighed softly and slowly drifted to sleep. Ten minutes later Luke slipped into the room but let her sleep as long as she needed. It was another five minutes before Clare reopened her eyes.
"Hey, still tired sweetie?" Luke asked as he helped her sit up.
"Just a bit..." Clare replied as she rubbed her eyes as she sat up.
"Eat your breakfast then go back to sleep..." Luke instructed. Clare nodded and reached for her breakfast. Luke handed her the plate of waffles. Clare smiled softly and took the plate. Luke returned the smile and kissed her temple. Clare ate slower than she usual did and she did look tired.
"Are you alright Angel?" Luke asked, his concern growing by the minute.
"I feel a little hot..." Clare whispered softly. Luke frowned and placed his hand to her forehead. Clare continued to eat quietly. Luke cursed under his breath, "Sweetheart, I'm sorry this is my fault..."
"Eh?" Clare asked as she paused in her eating.
"Your soup last night, I wasn't thinking..." Luke apologized.
"Luke...If I'm still here, it wasn't enough to kill me. Don't be sad and don't apologize. It's not your fault." Clare said putting her hand on his arm. Luke sighed and hugged her gently, feeling horrible for putting hers and their child's lives on the line. Clare shifted and patted his back gently and soothingly.
"Finish your breakfast sweetheart..." Luke whispered.
"Okay..." Clare said in the same tone and started to finish her breakfast. Luke never released her only held her a little tighter. Clare finished and went back to rubbing his back. Luke sighed and laid down. Clare laid down next to him and curled herself into his chest. Luke ran his fingers through her hair. Clare sighed softly and closed her eyes before falling back asleep. Luke rearranged her and placed one hand on her rounded stomach and the other on the back of her head. Clare hummed softly before nuzzling her nose against his chest. Luke sighed and pulled a book out of the nightstand. Clare sighed softly before silencing again. Luke rubbed circles in her back as he immersed himself in his book. Clare shifted after a while, trying to free her arm from under her hip, since it had fallen asleep. Luke shifted then carefully rolled her over. Clare's free arm twisted around then stretched before curling up beside her head. Luke smiled and stroked her hair before returning to his book. Clare stilled once more and slept on. Luke smiled and continued to rub his fingers through her hair as he read. After a few hours, and no usual stretching to announce that she was going to wake up, Clare opened her eyes. Luke was still running his fingers through her hair as he finished his book.
"What are you reading?" Clare asked softly.
"Oh you're awake...I was just rereading Sophie's journal." Luke replied.
"Why?" Clare asked as she then stretched.
"I find her writing about beginning pregnant with Anni while raiding a few ships to fairly interesting..." Luke replied.
"What's so interesting about that?" Clare asked slightly confused.
"Picture a pissed off six month pregnant woman with a cutlass demanding all your valuables..." Luke replied, "Only to have her run off to be sick."
"Before I would have laughed." Clare said.
"I was looking to see if I could find anything to help make things easier for you..." Luke told her.
"Everyone is different in how they handle pregnancy's Luke..." Clare said then yawned, "Something might work for Sophie but may not for me."
"It was worth a look..." Luke replied and placed his hand to her forehead. She was just a little warmer than she should be.
"Do you want a drink or anything?" Luke asked as he stroked her cheek, a slight frown gracing his features.
"Some water would be nice..." Clare replied, smiling softly. Luke nodded then kissed her forehead before getting out of bed and disappearing downstairs. Clare laid her head on the pillow and stretched again. The infant shifted in an upset manner. Clare rubbed her stomach lightly and soothingly. Luke came back with a glass of water for Clare. Clare looked over her shoulder and smiled softly. Luke sat next to her and helped her up, "Something the matter Angel?"
"I hope our little one didn't catch onto my allergy..." Clare whispered rubbing her stomach lightly.
"Do you know if Poe or Serenity had the same?" Luke asked as he handed her the glass. Clare shook her head and took the water, "Only dad would know."
"We'll just have to watch her then..." Luke replied. Clare nodded slightly. Luke kissed her temple reassuringly. Clare smiled and sipped her water. Luke wrapped his arms around her even though he was still feeling horrid about making her sick. Clare sighed and kissed his temple reassuringly, "I can take a little of it..." Luke muttered something that sounded like an apology as he buried his nose in her neck and shoulder. Clare sighed and shook her head, "You're forgiven." Luke sighed as well as he still nuzzled her neck. Clare slowly finished her water before sighing softly and closing her eyes.
"Back to sleep with you..." Luke whispered.
"Already going..." Clare whispered in return as she yawned and fell asleep. Luke smiled a little and shifted her to sit in front of him. Clare leaned against him and let her head loll to the side. Luke shifted down a bit so she wouldn't get a kink in her neck, that was the last thing she needed. Clare sighed softly and pulled the blankets up around her shoulders. Luke placed his arm around her to keep the blanket in place. Clare shifted again before relaxing and going to sleep. Luke smiled as he pulled a thick novel from under his pillow. Clare stayed still and quiet for the rest of the afternoon and late into the evening. Luke was beginning to worry that maybe things were more serious than they appeared. Clare shifted and rubbed her stomach lightly before rubbing her eyes.
"Hey, you alright sweetheart?" Luke asked a slightly worried edge to his quiet question.
"Having a good dream...didn't want to wake up..." Clare whispered as she tried to wake herself up enough. Luke smiled and kissed her temple. Clare smiled warmly and nuzzled his cheek lightly.
"Are you starting to feel any better?" Luke asked as he gently rubbed her stomach.
"Yeah, better..." Clare whispered as she stretched. Luke placed his hand to her forehead just in case. No more fever. Luke smiled and replaced his hand with a kiss.
"I missed out on lunch and supper..." Clare said softly as her infant kicked lightly.
"Do you want me to make you something sweetheart?" Luke asked.
"Just a quick dish if you would please?" Clare asked in return.
"Anything for you Kitten..." Luke replied as he slipped from behind her. Clare shook her head, "I thought that nick name was for when we were sparing or playing?" Luke shrugged, "Can't really do either at the moment now can we?" He replied as he slipped from the room. Clare shook her head slightly. The infant shifted and in a way that caused her mother a great deal of discomfort. Clare groaned quietly and shifted slightly to compensate. Lucas hopped up next to her, "Mom are you alright?"
"No...she's sitting wrong..." Clare whispered in slight pain as she shifted and rubbed her stomach once again. Lucas frowned not knowing what he could do to help comfort his mother. Clare slid down and rolled onto her side, rubbing her stomach lightly. Lucas whined and nuzzled her cheek. Clare put her other hand on his head as she closed her eyes to get over the major discomfort. Luke slipped into the room, "Clare, honey, what's the matter?"
"She's sitting wrong..." Clare whined softly.
"Can you lie on your back for me honey, I can see if I can move her..." Luke asked. Clare slowly rolled onto her back. Luke kissed her forehead, "Where's she sitting sweetie?"
"Feels like on my spine...can't be sure...." Clare whimpered. Luke kissed her temple and placed his hands to her stomach and gently began to shift their child into a better position. Clare sighed when the infant was in a less painful spot and smiled lightly. Luke finally settled their child in a spot that caused her no pain. Clare sighed softly and smiled, "Thanks..."
"Never a problem sweetheart..." Luke whispered and helped her sit up. Clare sighed and leaned against the headboard, it was harder to stay sitting up now. Luke placed one arm around her before offering a bowl of stew. Clare took it and started to eat. Luke rested his chin on her shoulder as he rubbed her side. Clare ate at her usual speed and sighed softly when she finished, "That was good, thank you."
"You're welcome sweetie..." Luke replied as he took the bowl and placed it on the nightstand. Clare leaned her head on his shoulder lightly.
"Still feeling tired?" Luke asked rubbing her stomach gently.
"No...well not as much." Clare replied. Luke nodded and kissed her temple. Clare sighed lightly and rubbed her stomach gently.
"Is she still sitting wrong?" Luke asked quietly.
"No...It's a habit now..." Clare whispered. Luke smiled and kissed her neck then laid both of them down. Clare smiled and nuzzled his chest lightly.
"Go back to sleep sweetheart...you know I'll be here in the morning." Luke whispered. Clare nodded and closed her eyes before falling asleep.
"Sweet dreams Angel..." Luke whispered and recovered them before joining her.