Hello Clew fans!

Ch. 29 Love Conquers All

(CLARE)

"Shhh it's okay," I try to soothe Mark as I rub his back. He's been crying for two hours straight and won't go down for his nap. I'm pacing just to keep myself awake, although I am hoping it will help him get to sleep. A car ride will put him to sleep Fitz is at work with his car and Drew is at the school since DeGrassi resumes next week the teachers are there getting prepared. Jake's already left for school and Adam's watching Rocky so I don't want to ask him to help get my screaming baby to sleep. "Mark why are you crying so much? So constantly too," I complain setting him in his swing.

He continues crying even with the swing going but I'm exhausted, I sit on the sofa, then I lie down and soon I'm asleep out of pure exhaustion. Mark's four weeks old, he's been home from the hospital for a three weeks and five days and last week he just started this endless crying, for hours on end for seemingly no reason, he's not hungry he doesn't need to be changed and as far as I know he isn't hurt in anyway. If that wasn't bad enough he still wakes up every two hours to eat, even when Drew gets up with him I still hear him crying and wake up. We mostly take turns but sometimes Drew sleeps right through it and I can't wake him up so I end up getting up. I feel like I've had less than eight hours of sleep total in the last month.

"Clare," Fitz shakes me and I jolt awake looking at Mark still crying in his carrier.

"He won't stop I was exhausted," I tell Fitz feeling on the brink of tears.

"I'll take him for a drive you should go take a nap," Fitz offers.

"No it's not your r…"

"Clare go take a nap dammit, Drew's still at work I can take him for a drive," Fitz asserts and starts getting Mark out of his swing.

"Thanks Fitz Drew should be home soon and you can let him take Mark," I yawn.

"Don't worry about us just go get some sleep," Fitz says.

I give him a tired smile and go upstairs falling asleep as soon as I hit the bed. I sleep for four hours which is the most consecutive sleep I've gotten in a while. I wake up and the room is dark, when I open the bedroom door I hear noised in the kitchen, Drew and Fitz are in the kitchen and when I go down I see Fitz making dinner while Drew is feeding Mark.

"Feel better?" Fitz asks.

"Very much, that's the most sleep I've gotten in a while," I grin.

"Good dinner will be ready in a few minutes," Fitz smiles back.

"You didn't have to make us dinner," I tell him.

"I live here too I'm contributing to the household, besides I didn't want to wake you up and Drew wanted to feed Mark," Fitz informs me.

"Thanks that's really sweet of you Fitz," I smile kissing his cheek before I go to the sofa sitting with Drew and Mark.

"It's Mommy!" Drew grins at Mark but he's already eating and doesn't care that I'm here.

Since everyone is taken care of I lie down again but I don't nap this time just lie down and watch Drew feeding Mark. When he's done Drew goes to the nursery to change Mark and when Drew comes out puts Mark in the playpen.

"He didn't wake up that much last night," Drew comments sitting back on the sofa and pulling me to lie down on him.

"Yes he did you just slept through it," I respond.

"Sorry you can wake me up when it's my turn to feed him we're in this together," Drew says.

"Sometimes you're impossible to wake up, I just wish I knew why he was crying so much," I yawn.

"We're taking him for his one month checkup tomorrow we can ask the doctor," Fitz points out.

"He's a baby, babies cry," Drew shrugs.

"Not like this Drew something else is going on I'm sure of it," I insist.

"Dinner's ready," Fitz calls from the kitchen.

Mark lies in his playpen amused by the mirror and mobile hanging over his head while we eat. Drew and Mark talk about work but I'm too tired to talk. I thought people were exaggerating when they said you wouldn't sleep but it's true. You learn to sleep when the baby sleeps, which is hard when he wakes up every couple of hours. After dinner I take a shower while the guys clean up, when I get out of the shower Drew's on the bed with Mark on his lap.

"You should get naked and come lie with us Goddess of Sexy," Drew grins.

I take off my towel and lie in the bed with them, we smile and coo at Mark until it's time to feed him again. Drew gets Mark ready for bed and then the crying starts again. Mark seems to just cry until he totally exhausts himself, three hours later, and then we swaddle him and put him in the bassinet. We both fall asleep entirely exhausted but wake up a couple of hours later when Mark is hungry again. I get up and take him out of the bassinet, taking him down to the nursery sitting in the rocking chair and feeding Mark. I'm nearly asleep by the time he's done and too tired to even go upstairs so I simply go into my room and lie in my bed cradling Mark between my arm and body. When Mark wakes up again a couple of hours later I just sit up and feed him and we lie down again. I'm not asleep for very long before I feel Drew shaking me.

"What are you two doing down here? Was I snoring?" Drew whispers sitting on the edge of the bed.

"No I don't think so, Mark was hungry and I was too tired to go upstairs, he sleeps pretty well close to my body," I whisper back.

"Anyone would sleep well next to your body," Drew smiles, "you've taken two feedings now I'll take over."

"Thanks," I grin kissing him gently.

I carefully get off the bed and Drew takes my place. I go upstairs and sleep for several hours before Drew wakes me up again with a crying Mark cradled to his chest.

"I hate to wake you but I have a meeting at the school tomorrow at nine," Drew says.

"What time is it?" I yawn.

"A little after three," Drew replies.

"Five whole hours of sleep that's a record. I'll take him downstairs again he likes being next to us," I comment.

"He can sleep between both of us in the bed tomorrow night," Drew replies with a yawn.

He kisses my temple and is asleep before Mark and I leave the room. I feed Mark and we lie in the bed together cradling him on my chest this time. I feel his breathing and his heartbeat, both of us fall asleep pretty quickly but of course he wakes up after a couple of hours to be fed again and he also needs to be changed. It's almost 5:30 now and Mark has decided he doesn't want to go back to sleep so I get up, putting Mark in his swing and go into my room to get some clothes and get dressed. I doubt Fitz will be up this early unless he's opening and even so he has a little kitchenette downstairs and rarely comes up to use this one in the mornings unless we're all eating together. I know he's not opening today, he's not working at all today and we're taking Mark to his one month checkup.

I make myself some hot chocolate and sit on the sofa watching Mark in the swing. Drew gets up at seven; he comes downstairs to kiss us both and then goes back up to shower. I feed Mark while Drew's in the shower and then put him in the playpen while we eat.

"I'll be home by noon, I'll make us some lunch and you can tell me what the doctor said," Drew comments as we're eating.

"The appointment's at eleven we'll get home around the same time, unless the doctor's office is really backed up," I tell him.

"Be good for Mommy and Uncle Fitz," Drew says kissing Mark's forehead before he leaves. "Bye Goddess of Sexy I love you," he tells me before kissing me softly.

"I love you too Mr. Sexy Pants," I grin and Drew leaves.

I try to clean the kitchen a little after breakfast but I don't get much done between attending to Mark's needs and then it's time to leave for Mark's appointment. The whole thing takes an hour and we get home just as Drew is getting home.

"How was the appointment?" Drew asks when we all get inside.

"He said everything was good but he's probably crying so much because he has colic. He gave us a probiotic to give Mark and a whole list of things we can try," I tell Drew.

"Poor little guy," Drew says taking Mark.

"I have to change my diet too but he said to put the powder on our finger or my nipple and let Mark suck. It should help but there's a whole other list of remedies he gave us," I inform Drew.

"I'm going to make some lunch are you guys hungry?" Drew asks.

"Actually I'd like a hot shower," I reply.

"Then you go do that, we'll make lunch and it will be all ready when you down," Drew says kissing me gently. "I love you Goddess of Sexy."

"I love you too Mr. Sexy Pants," I smile.

(DREW)

"I don't think this is a good idea, what if he needs me?" Clare asks hesitating to zip her suitcase.

It's Friday November 1st and Mark is now 14 weeks old. Two days ago was my birthday and Clare's parents took Mark for the evening so we could celebrate. Yesterday was Halloween but we didn't do anything, well Fitz went to a Halloween party but Clare and I stayed home with Mark. Clare has returned to school and is doing well in her classes despite the lack of sleep, we both feel it but at least Mark's colic is a little better and we now ways to soothe him now. The doctor told Fitz and Clare that it should clear up by the time he's six months old. To celebrate my birthday and surviving three months of parenthood and take a breather we're going away for the weekend. My dad came down for the weekend, Fitz is going to be here of course and Adam, Dallas and Clare's parents will be hoping too. Driving to Niagara Falls where no one knows us and it's unlikely anyone will ask about ages. We don't look all that far apart in age and since no one knows I'm her teacher there no one will ask.

"Clare you're his mom he's always going to need you, we won't be gone that long we check into the hotel tonight and it will be almost nine by the time we get there. We'll have all day tomorrow and then tomorrow night and then we'll drive home Sunday morning and be here and holding Mark again by the early afternoon. You won't be away from him for long and you're already away from him when you're at school," I remind her.

"I know," she smiles zipping up her suitcase. I grab our suitcases and we go downstairs, Dad is holding Mark and heating a bottle for him.

"Enjoy yourselves this weekend we'll be just fine won't we buddy," Dad coos to mark who is happily sucking on his fist.

"Thanks for doing this Omar," Clare smiles kissing my dad's cheek and taking Mark from him. "Goodbye Mark I love you, we'll be back in a couple of days we love you," Clare says holding Mark and not giving him back to my dad instead she's kissing Mark all over his face and head.

"Bye Buddy be good for Grandpa and all your uncles and aunts, and your other grandparents," I tell him taking Mark from Clare. I kiss Mark and give him back to my dad. Fitz is at work and we already said goodbye to him.

I grab Clare's hand and the suitcases and we go out to the car. After about an hour we stop for dinner, Clare calls home to make sure everything is okay and Dad assures her it is. We reach the hotel a little after nine and check in. Our room is simple but all I care about is the bed. I pick Clare up and carry her to the bed, laying her down and attaching my lips to hers. She slips off her shoes and parts her lips for me as she begins unbuttoning my shirt. She gets it all the way unbuttoned and open ripping it off my arms and tossing it across the room. I turn us over so she's mounted over me and get her top off, her bra quickly follows and I sit up taking her mounds of sumptuous breasts in my hand. She moans and whimpers as I squeeze them tenderly, enveloping her right between my lips and suck softly. Clare arches her back and moans with a purring breath, she moves on me, her hips grinding and she whimpers a little. Her breasts are still tender so I know I have to be gentle but I know they're filled with milk again and I can give her some relief. I've tasted her breast milk before it's kind of sweet actually.

I suckle on each nipple for a couple of minutes and then turn us again lying Clare on her back. I slide off to the end of the bed and take her skirt and panties off. When she's entirely naked she sits up grabbing my belt and slipping it through the belt loops. I get my shoes and socks off then Clare rapidly takes off my jeans and boxers. I grab a condom from the bag and very quickly put it on. I pounce back on the bed and open her legs, ensnaring her lips with mine, softly petting her pussy lips and then slipping a finger into her slit. Clare moans, gripping my biceps and arching her back pressing her body into mine. My erection grows a little stiffening and begging to be inside of her. When Clare is dripping wet I remove my finger and quickly replace it with my cock, she whimpers slightly and arches her back more. Her nails scratch lightly down my biceps, her head craning back into the pillow as I glide into her and begin pulling out.

"Faster," Clare begs after a few minutes of me thrusting slowly.

"As you wish Goddess of Sexy," I grin kissing her chest and increasing my speed.

Clare's moans become more rapid and deep, my name drops from her lips and she bucks her hips. She lifts her legs, bends her knees and I'm able to get in even deeper. She grips to me tightly, panting and begging me to go faster and deeper. Her entire body tightens around me and I know she's close; I speed up as much as I can and as soon as Clare screams in release I release and call her name out. I slow down until we've ridden out our orgasms and then pull out collapsing next to her.

"That was amazing Goddess of Sexy," I smile kissing her softly.

"Feels like forever since we've done that," Clare says.

"A couple of weeks, not easy with an infant in the house," I reply.

"No it's not and I want to do that again but not tonight, tonight I want to sleep all night without being woken even once by a crying baby," she tells me.

"Anything you wish Goddess of Sexy," I grin pulling the blankets down and kissing her temple.

I hold her in my arms and we fall asleep happily, in love and very tired. We wake up very late the next morning, both of us enjoying the chance to sleep in and lay in bed we don't even get out of bed until nearly one. We're both starving now so after getting dressed we go out and find a restaurant to get some breakfast. We spend the day seeing the sights but we stay out of the casinos because Clare would get carded. I see a few people giving us looks like they're trying to discern our ages but most people don't pay any attention to us. Clare does call home ten times throughout the day to make sure Mark's okay and every time she does they assure her that he is and everything is fine and we should enjoy our trip. Rather than eat at a restaurant we order room service, eating on the bed cuddling and watching a movie. We watch the entire movie, just being together and letting our food settle; as soon as the movie is over I turn off the TV and roll over take her lips with mine.

I pull her dress up, sliding my hand up her thigh and into her panties. It doesn't take long for us both to be totally undressed. I move my fingers between her legs slipping them in and moving them, strumming her insides to get her wet. She's dripping in a few minutes and I pull my fingers out grabbing a condom and getting it on fast. I glide into her and she moans, her back arches and she moans gripping onto me. Her hips start to buck, I slide my arms under her back and lift her up, her arms go around my neck, I lift her up and cross my legs under her as her legs go around my waist. She takes a minute to adjust to the new position and then her body begins to move, undulating in wonderfully sexy waves. Her lips attach to mine as she moves faster; she kisses me deeply and with much passion. It doesn't take long for her to be ready to explode like this, she starts to shake, breaks the kiss, her body shaking and she cries out in orgasmic rapture.

I hold her a minute, waiting for her to breathe again and then I lie her on her back. I bend her knees up and pound into her, fucking her hard and fast and she begs me to go faster still. She might climax again at any second but I'm nearly at my peak too. Clare's hips move, her back arches, she tightens around me and that's all I can take I release with guttural grunt. My body is quivering and so is hers, we're both panting and sweating, I pull out and lie next to her pulling her into my arms. We lie together and breathe for a few minutes.

"I love you Mr. Sexy Pants but I need a shower now," she says after a minute.

"Do I get to shower with you Goddess of Sexy?"

Clare simply smiles and crooks her finger at me to follow her. I get up and follower her to the washroom, I turn on the water and kiss her body while we wait for the water to warm up. We step into the shower and I take some of the little hotel body wash in my hands and wash her body, then she does the same to me. I watch Clare wash her hair; I wash mine and then massage her shoulders under the hot water a few moments before we get out. We dry off but climb naked into bed watching TV until we get tired and we fall asleep. I set a wakeup call so we'd have enough time to pack up and be out by checkout time. We checkout and get breakfast before making the drive home, I pull into the garage and we walk into the house. I expect to see my dad or Fitz in the living room with Mark. I drop our suitcases to the floor when I find my mom on the sofa feeding Mark and Dad in the kitchen making lunch.

"Mom what are you doing here?"

"Audra," Clare gasps. And then I'm not sure if she's really happy to see mark or afraid that my mom's going to hurt Mark but Clare runs over and takes Mark. He fusses a little when his feeding is interrupted and then he smiles when he sees Clare and touches her face. She sits in the armchair and continues feeding Mark.

"She found me here this morning; she came to tell me to come home until she met Mark. She completely melted once she saw her grandson," Dad informs me.

"He's beautiful, he looks so very much like Drew when he was a baby," Mom grins as I grab our bags and close the garage door. "Of course I still have concerns about your relationship but Mark is amazing. I've also been hearing all morning from Dad and Clare's brother as well as Fitz all about your relationship. I admit I may have been wrong, I suppose you'll have to prove me wrong and I'll have to be more open minded and see your relationship for myself."

"Does that mean you want to be a part of our lives? All of us and that includes Clare, I know what you think of her but I'm in love with her mom and she's an amazing mother."

"Yes I want to be a part of all of your lives, I want to know my grandson, and my future daughter-in-law," Mom says but the last part is somewhat of an afterthought.

"I'm going to put Mark down for his nap and let you guys talk," Clare tells me giving me a soft kiss.

"So you're on our side now?" I question Mom.

"A part of me has been regretting the decision I made that day to cast you out. I've been thinking about you all a lot but I was also convinced that I was right. I was sure it was for your own good, I worried that you would get caught and sent to prison ruining your life and your career. I didn't let myself think about my grandson or anything else just convinced myself I was right and you'd come around. I still worry that you'll get caught; it is my greatest fear that your true relationship with Clare will be discovered. You know what will happen to you if you're caught."

"Yes Mom I'm well aware but it's a risk I'm willing to take, it's a risk that's worth it. Clare and Mark are worth everything to me, they are my world, my entire life and I would sacrifice everything for them and if we're caught I might have to. But we're doing everything to make sure that doesn't happen, we're being so very cautious and our friends and Clare's family along with Dad have been helping us. I fell in love, fast and hard and so deep I don't think I could ever come up but I don't want to I've never been happier Mom and I want you to be in our lives but I need you to be happy for us and to accept Clare."

"I know and I'm trying, it will take time. I need to spend more time with you, all of you. I'm sorry for my reaction; it wasn't done to be mean. It was very stubborn of me, it was not right but it was done out of love and concern but it wasn't right and I'm sorry."

"Thank you Mom that's nice to hear," I smile and hug her.

Dad says lunch is ready and I go get Clare from upstairs. We eat together and Mom tells Clare everything she told me. Clare smiles and says she welcomes Mom to be a part of our lives but I think she's still worried, or at least cautious. After lunch my parents leave to drive home but we have plans for them to come back the week after next.

"I never thought it would happen but even your mom is behind us, I do think we're going to be okay," Clare smiles when my parents leave.

"Because Goddess of Sexy love conquers all and I love you Clare Edwards."

"I love you Drew Torres," she grins and our lips connect for a heated, passionate and deeply loving kiss.

Update next Tuesday which will include Clare's graduation and that will likely be the last chapter for this story.