Tuesday
Clare finally fell into a deep sleep around 9 in the morning. It was Luke trying to cough up his heart a half hour later that unfortunately woke her. She sat up and rubbed her eyes, which were starting to develop black rings around them, then rubbed Luke's chest and shoulders. His coughs calmed after a few minutes. Clare rubbed the back of her neck before changing the clothes on Luke's forehead. He rubbed his throat, "Go back to sleep Angel, I'll be fine on my own..." Clare is very blunt when she is just first woken up and hadn't slept in a while, "You sound like a toad...Do you want some tea?" Luke shook his head and weakly forced her to lie down. Clare shifted slightly so she was facing him before closing her eyes. Luke sighed and after a few minutes looked over at his children. Both were sound asleep and were leaning against each other. Luke smiled and shifted them over to him, "I missed you all so much..."
"Daddy..." Miloh whispered in his sleep. Luke smiled and stroked his cheek weakly. Miloh quieted but smiled softly as Flora shifted closer.
"Sleep tight my Angels..." Luke whispered as he slipped off again. Clare woke a couple hours later and shifted to stretch. Luke was still asleep the twins now snuggled close to him. She smiled before slipping off the bed and disappearing into the wash room. Luke opened his eyes the moment she left. Clare came back a few minutes later before crawling back into bed. Luke smiled weakly and slowly wrapped his arms around her. Clare nuzzled her husband's neck before closing her eyes. Luke rested his cheek against her head, "I missed you so much..."
"I did too..." Clare whispered softly. His heartbeat was still a little rapid but otherwise he was recovering very quickly. Clare resisted a sneeze coming and just shook her head before going back to nuzzling Luke's neck. He stifled a cough that threatened to escape him. Eventually Clare fell back to sleep. Luke waited until she was completely asleep before slipping out of bed, he need a bath among other things. Clare shifted a little while later and stretched before wrapping Luke's coat tighter around herself. She was shocked and worried to find the bed empty sans the children.
"D-did I...d-dream him..." Clare whispered quietly. It was someone gasping to catch their breath in the door frame of the bathroom that dispelled that notion. Clare stood and walked over quietly. Luke was sitting on the floor leaning against the door frame struggling to catch his breath, but he was clean and freshly shaved. Clare wrapped one of his arms around her shoulders, "Back to bed with you..." Luke nodded weakly, Clare had absolutely no idea where his strength had gone. Once she got him back in bed, she started to cut the apple up, "Can you eat anything?" He shrugged his shoulders, his voice was shot. Clare hummed and put an apple slice in his mouth. Luke chewed slowly but ate it all the same.
"Do you want another slice?" Clare asked as she cut another slice. Luke nodded slowly and tried to sit up. Clare pulled him up and stuffed the pillows she usually had behind him before laying him against them. She then slid the apple slice in his mouth before turning her head and sneezing lightly. Luke finished his apple slice then gave her a look that said, 'great, now we're both sick.'
"It was just a sneeze..." Clare said as she cut an apple slice in half and popped on half in her mouth.
"Which is the first sign you're getting sick..." Luke whispered.
"Or I got dust up my nose, now eat." Clare said popping the other half of the apple slicing in his mouth. Luke did as told amazingly. Clare cut the rest of the apple and gave most of it to Luke, she would every once in a while eat one herself. Luke motioned for her to grab the small bag that was in his cloak. Clare got the bag and gave it to him. Luke slowly opened it and pulled out something she hadn't seen in years. Clare gasped lightly.
"I didn't know if you liked them or not so I only brought back one..." Luke whispered.
"I thought the orchards were whipped out in the flood..." Clare whispered as she pealed it and tore a chunk of the fruit and ate it.
"Apparently not..." Luke whispered before he started coughing again. Clare rubbed his chest lightly and tore a piece off for him. Luke was left gasping to catch his breath again.
"Just relax and take it easy..." Clare whispered as she smoothed his hair back lightly. Luke relaxed under her touch and his breathing calmed. She started to massage his shoulders gently. He was tense, even worse than when she'd fixed his back the first time. Clare had to use a little more force to get the muscles to loosen. Luke groaned as her fingers glazed over a few spots that were still tender.
"Sorry..." Clare apologized softly. Luke shook his head to say, 'don't worry'. After a few minutes, Clare tucked his head under her chin. Luke relaxed against her as he resisted another coughing fit. Clare rubbed his back gently as she shifted to lean against the headboard. He could only resist so long and soon doubled over coughing. Clare rubbed his back gently and soothingly. Again the poor Levian was left gasping for air. Clare looked sadly at him as she rubbed his back, 'what happened to him...' There was a knock on the door.
"I'll be right back..." Clare whispered before slipping out from behind him. Luke leaned against the headboard as he fought to regain his breath. Clare went to the door and opened it. Anni was standing there with a basket on her arm.
"Come inside..." Clare said stepping to the side. Anni slipped inside but made no motion to sit.
"If you're looking for Luke...master bedroom." Clare said.
"No, I'm here to give you a few things to help him recover..." Anni replied.
"Oh...okay..." Clare said. Anni placed the basket on the table and fished a few things out. She placed a small leather bag, a jar of silver and gold liquid and a small packet of yellow leaves on the table.
"I hope you wrote down the instructions for all of these..." Clare gestured to the things on the table. Anni pulled a piece of folded parchment out of her pocket and handed it to Clare.
"Okay...thank you Anni..." Clare whispered, stifling a yawn.
"Take care of him and then get some sleep..." Anni said shortly as she left.
"Will do." Clare said as she waved bye to Anni. The door shut with a sharp snap. Clare gathered the stuff up and went back upstairs. Luke slipped from consciousness due to the fact he couldn't catch his breath. Clare set the stuff on the nightstand before opening the folded parchment. It said to burn a hand full of the blue leaves in the leather bag and mix the silver and gold liquid into tea made with the yellow leaves and make him drink it.
"Sounds easy enough to do." Clare replied as she got her burning kit ready. It was unnervingly quiet, she could barely hear Luke's breathing. Clare grabbed a hand full of leaves out of the leather bag and started to burn them then went to make the tea with the other things. When she came back up, his breathing was much stronger and even. She sat on the edge of the bed and shook his shoulder gently, "Luke..." After a moment his eyes opened a crack.
"You need to drink this..." Clare said offering the cup. Luke pulled himself up weakly and took the cup. Clare waited patiently. Luke slowly drank the tea. When he was done, Clare took the cup and set it on the nightstand. Luke motioned her over to him. Clare scooted closer. Luke pulled her against his chest and soon slipped from the waking realm. Clare smiled lightly and draped her arms across his chest to rest her head on them. His health improved tremendously over the next hour. Clare shifted slightly to make herself more comfortable. Luke locked his arms across her back and nuzzled he top of her head. She looked up and smiled lightly. He was still fast asleep. Clare sighed softly and closed her eyes, ready to join him. The twins snuggled up with them. The family of four sleep peacefully for a whole three hours before Clare shifted, waking up. Luke groaned, her knee landed somewhere extremely tender. Clare sat up and rolled off Luke to stretch. Luke settled and wrapped his arms around the twins. Clare stretched again before rolling her shoulders. Flora snuggled into her father's side. The ninja went over to the bathroom and came out a few minutes later, it was still raining outside. Luke shifted in his sleep. Clare sat on the window seat and watched the rain come down. Luke groaned and opened his eyes, "Angel...?"
"Yes dear...?" Clare asked looking at him through the reflection in the window.
"What are...you doing over there?" Luke whispered.
"Watching the rain fall..." Clare replied in the same tone. Luke sighed and shifted so he could sit up before crossing the room to her. Clare turned her head towards him in confusion, "You should be resting."
"But I want to be near you..." Luke whispered as he sat behind her and wrapped his arms around her. Clare leaned against him, "How's your stomach?"
"Fine..." Luke whispered as he nuzzled her neck. Clare sighed happily and closed her eyes after nuzzling his temple. Luke was soon back to sleep with her in his arms. Clare smiled softly and went back to watching the rain. Luke shifted to hold her tighter. She nuzzled his cheek lightly. Luke settled and shifted his hands across her stomach. Clare nuzzled his cheek again before putting her hands on top of his.
"Mama..." Miloh whined. Clare looked over, "We're over here Miloh." Miloh whined and slid off the bed to totter over to her. Clare shifted and picked him up. Miloh snuggled into her arms. Clare smiled lightly before yawning slightly.
"Go to sleep mama..." Miloh whispered not wanting to wake his father.
"After this roll of thunder..." Clare said just as the thunder banged over head. Flora awoke with a squeak.
"We're over here Flora...Come over." Clare said as she waved her daughter over. Flora was quick to follow her brother's lead and go to mom. Clare set Miloh down on her lap to quickly scoop Flora up and set her next to her brother. Flora buried her face in her mother's stomach. Clare smiled softly before closing her eyes. Luke groaned and woke up unhappily. Clare had yet to fall asleep so she turned her head and gave him a confused look, "Something wrong?" Luke gingerly rubbed the scar across his midsection.
"Oh...let's get you lying back on the bed." Clare said as she moved to sit up. Luke sighed and let her go. Clare picked the children up and set them on the bed before going back to him, offering her hand. Luke shook his head and stood on his own. Clare closed her hand before turning to the bed. Luke groaned and sat back down. Clare sighed softly and went over to him to sling his arm around her shoulders.
"I'm alright..." Luke whispered.
"Then why can't you stand up straight...?" Clare asked as she shifted her weight. Luke sighed, knowing he was lying to himself by saying he was alright.
"Come on, back to bed with you...You'll get better." Clare said as she stood and pulled him up with her. Luke sighed now he knew how she felt when she was pregnant with the twins. Clare walked slowly with him to the bed before lying him down. Luke panted slightly, he was worse than he wished to admit.
"Do you want something to eat?" Clare asked as she sat beside him. Luke shook his head as he calmed his breathing.
"Something to drink?" Clare asked next as she brushed his bangs off his forehead lightly.
"No, I'm alright..." Luke whispered.
"Okay, get some rest then. I'll be right here if you need something." Clare responded as she pulled out her sketch pad. It wasn't long before he slipped away again. Clare sighed lightly and shifted to check on her ankle, swollen even worse. Luke rolled over in his sleep and draped his arm across her lap. Clare moved her sketch book and threaded her fingers with his before kissing his knuckles lightly. Luke sighed contently and curled around her. Clare smiled before wrapping that one arm around her stomach lightly before picking up her sketch book. Luke shifted to wrap his other arm around her. Clare smiled and continued to sketch, she thought the S.S. Linebeck could use a flag and was coming up with designs for it. The warmth that had eased her cramps earlier in the week spread across her injured ankle.
"He shouldn't do that...that's not resting..." Clare hummed lightly. Luke only snuggled closer to her. Clare reached over and smoothed his hair back before going back to sketching. He finally looked peaceful and he settled and relaxed. After an hour, Clare yawned and her head bobbed. Luke shifted and rolled over pulling her down onto his chest. Clare didn't resist and laid her head on his collar bone contently. Luke settled, still sound asleep. She yawned and finally fell asleep.
"I love you Clare..." Luke whispered just before she fell asleep. Clare sighed contently and shifted to nuzzle his chest lightly. Unfortunately she hit a tender spot and he groaned quietly. Clare shifted away slightly. Luke's arms locked tightly around her. Clare rolled over and stilled. Luke whined in his sleep. Clare shifted to roll on her side to nuzzle his temple. He settled and tucked his head under her chin. She settled after wrapping one arm around one of his. They all stayed quiet until well into the evening. The twins were hungry and were tapping their mother's arm lightly. Luke groaned and tightened his hold on their mother. Clare opened her eyes slowly and peaked at them, "Yeah?"
"Mommy, we're hungry..." Flora whined lightly. Both their stomachs growled to enforce their statement.
"Okay...I just need to get your dad to let go of me..." Clare whispered and lifted herself up, "Luke, I need to go get something to eat for the twins..." Luke's arm slipped away effortlessly. Clare kissed their heads then went to get the twin's bottles ready. Luke remained quiet and unmoving sans the rise and fall of his chest. The twins watched their dad until their mom came back. Luke was still in the same position she'd left him. Clare smiled lightly before sitting on her side of the bed and giving the twins their bottles. They laid down and drank themselves back to sleep. Clare smiled lightly as she took the bottles and kissed their heads. Luke shifted slightly, his head lolling to the side. The ninja brushed his hair off his forehead before kissing it gently. He groaned and rolled onto his side before draping his arm across his stomach as a pained expression crossed his face. Clare sighed sadly her fingers twitching slightly. Luke shifted trying to ease the pain gnawing at his midsection. Clare's magic ran over her fingers and drifted lazily over to Luke to ease the pain. He relaxed and slowly opened his eyes. Clare smiled lightly. Luke smiled sleepily.
"Go back to sleep Luke." Clare whispered to him. He shook his head and pulled her back into his arms. Clare smiled lightly and let him do what he wanted. Luke buried his face in her neck as the pain began to return. Clare smoothed his hair back as her magic ghosted across his stomach. He relaxed again and settled. Her white magic remained even as she fell asleep.
"It's good to be home..." Luke whispered as he joined her. Clare sighed in her sleep and nuzzled his head lightly. The twins woke up just long enough to settle between their parents before going back to sleep for the night.