5 YEARS LATER
"Look mama!" Elijah exclaimed and I looked up to see Elijah playing with Asher.
As the years went by the children got bigger and more beautiful. Adah and Evi were now about ten, the same age Shem was when he found me, Elijah was seven, and Naomi and Asher were five. In that time Na'el and Ham had another child, a daughter named Rachel who was three, and Jonas was five just like Naomi and Asher. Japheth had also changed. He was now eighteen and quite good looking, taking after father's rugged looks. He was quite lonely though, since he was the only one without a partner. Mother, father, Shem, and I had discussed frequently with him how once the girls were older one of them was to be his bride, but he found it to be strange since they were his nieces. Shem and I weren't too fond of the idea of one of our daughter's lying with and bearing Japheth's child but we knew it was the creator's intention.
Shem and I had decided after the twins were a year that we were going to wait a while before having children again and those had been quite peaceful years. As much as I loved being pregnant and having a baby around, it was nice to not have to go through the pain of childbirth or breastfeed. Shem had been dropping a few hints lately that he was ready for another, but I wasn't so sure that I was ready. Naomi and Asher's births had been a bit traumatic on me and almost losing Asher was a terrifying thought that still haunted me to this day. I did not know what I would do if I lost another baby.
Adah brought me out of my thoughts by sitting down next to me and speaking.
"Are you alright Mother?" She asked.
I turned my head and stared into her beautiful blue eyes, the same color blue eyes her grandfather had. She and Evi were beautiful. They were the perfect combination of Shem and I, my nose, his lips, my tiny body, his eye shape, but they both had blue eyes and the same color blond hair I had as a child.
"Yes Adah I am alright, just lost in thought I suppose." I replied.
"Father wanted me to tell you that he is taking the boys and to fish with Uncle Ham and Jonas. Evi is going with them as well, since she insisted." She informed me, "He says they will make camp and return tomorrow."
"Did he tell you when he is leaving?" I asked her.
"Now." I heard and turned to see Shem behind me holding Asher, who was asleep.
"Are you sure he will be alright?" I asked Shem, stroking Asher's beautiful raven black hair.
"Yes, Elijah's just worn him out." He responded.
He leaned over and kissed me on the lips, "I love you. We won't be gone long, I promise love."
"I love you too. Be good. Do you have food? What about clothes for the children?" I asked frantically.
"Ila!" Shem yelled, "Calm down, I have everything!"
"Of course you do Shem; I just don't like the thought of you being away for a night." I said to him.
"I don't want to be away from you either, but the boys are excited and so is Jonas. We will be back in time for lunch tomorrow. And Evi promised to make sure we do not starve." He joked and pulled Adah into a one armed hug, "I will miss you."
"I will miss you too Father." She told him.
"Will you miss me too papa?" Naomi asked Shem.
"Of course I will miss you, I was getting there." He told her and picked her up with the arm he had removed from Adah's shoulder, "I will miss you the most."
"Even more than mama?" She asked.
"Especially more than mother." Shem replied and I swatted is arm with the back of my arm.
"Come on Shem we should leave now. Hello sister, girls." Ham said, walking over with Jonas on his back.
"Ham." I said hugging him.
"Alright we are coming. Bye Ila, and good bye Adah and Naomi." Shem said and kissed me again.
"Enjoy and be careful Elijah." I told my son, hugging him close.
"I will miss you mama." He told me and ran after Shem after I released him.