Friday
Clare shifted slightly and stretched. Luke was still wrapped around her and the twins were still on her chest. She smiled and opened her eyes. Luke's hand shifted across her stomach. Clare smiled and put one hand over his. He sighed in his sleep and sighed contently. She smiled and nuzzled his head lightly. The twins snuggled close to her and settled, both able to hear her heart beat again. Clare smiled and looked at the window which was still open. Luke muttered something along the lines of wishing they had another. She shook her head and rolled her eyes. He shifted then settled. Clare stretched slowly so she didn't disturb her family. Luke rolled onto his back. Clare absently rubbed her eyes. Luke sneezed successfully waking himself up. Clare glanced at him with a small giggle. Luke rubbed his eyes before curling back along her side trying to return to sleep. She kissed his head and started humming. Luke nuzzled her neck, always the affectionate one in the morning. Clare smiled and let him nuzzle her neck. Luke littered her skin with feather light kisses. She smiled and kissed the top of his head again. He eventually settled again and his hand returned to rest over her naval. Clare smiled and closed her eyes. The twins woke up fifteen minutes later. Clare had almost fell asleep until she felt the twins shift. Flora yawned and shifted accidently elbowing her brother in the temple. Miloh whined then pushed against his sister. Luke chuckled and took the little boy. Clare shook her head as she sat up slowly. Miloh rubbed the red mark on his temple.
"It was an accident Miloh...don't hold a grudge against her." Clare whispered as Flora grabbed Clare's neck. Luke placed a kiss to his son's temple hoping to pacify the little boy. Flora whispered an apology against her mother's neck. Miloh nodded as tears came to his eyes.
"Come here Miloh..." Clare whispered as she took the little boy and hugged him gently. Luke smiled and sat up. Clare nuzzled Miloh's head and kissed his injured temple. Miloh whined and shied away from her touch. She kissed his other temple instead, "Mommy would never hurt you..."
"It's probably quiet sore, if he'd anything like me, his temples are most likely quite sensitive." Luke told her.
"Let's hope I didn't pass on my sensitive hearing." Clare said as she held both infants carefully.
"I thought you got that because of an accident not a gene?" Luke asked.
"I did but you never know." Clare replied. Luke nodded they'd have to keep a close eye on the twins.
"Okay, now, who's up for some breakfast?" Clare asked the two children still attached to her neck. Miloh winced and buried his face in her neck.
"Well that's one out..." Clare hummed as she shuffled to the edge of the bed.
"He may have a headache Angel..." Luke said quietly. Clare hummed and stood. Miloh covered his ears and snapped his eyes shut.
"Listen to my heart...It'll help..." Clare whispered quietly so she didn't hurt her son. It took him a minute before he did as told. Clare used her ninja skill to be stealthy and silently made her way out of the room. When she got down stairs Luke was already on the couch with a cup of coffee. Clare blinked then shook her head muttering something along the lines of, 'I'll never get used to that.'
"You said that about my fazing as well..." Luke pointed out quietly.
"I could sense where you were...I can't now." Clare grumbled quietly.
"I'm sorry..." Luke whispered and kissed her temple, suddenly behind her. Clare meeped and jumped, "I don't know what's worse, this or fazing." Luke chuckled quietly and rubbed her back. She shook her head before going into the kitchen. Luke followed her. Clare got some milk to get it ready, "We should go for a walk later." Luke nodded. Clare sighed and when the milk was ready, put it in bottles.
"What's the matter Angel?" Luke asked quietly.
"Midna's birthday is coming up in another three years...I'm so out of practice." Clare said as she shifted her weight.
"Oh don't worry dear, you're still a wonderful dancer." Luke reassured as he kissed her jaw.
"How did you know I'd be dancing?" Clare asked as she looked up at him in suspicion.
"Wild guess..." Luke replied, "And you always shift your weight when you think about dancing." Clare blinked, "You watched me long enough to figure that out...?"
"Clare, I watch you sleep, of course I've watched you enough to figure that out." Luke replied. Clare hummed then thought of something, "Crap...There's the before show ball we have go to..." Luke rubbed her back as he took Miloh.
"I'll have to make things for us to wear for it..." Clare said giving Luke one of the bottles automatically after filling it. Luke placed his finger to her lips as Miloh whined and covered his ears again.
"Opps...sorry Miloh..." Clare whispered softly as she began to feed Flora. When Luke offered Miloh the nipple of the bottle he calmed and removed his hands. Flora finished first so Clare had to burp the little girl. Miloh finished soon after and Luke gently soothed circles against the tiny boy's temples. Clare was amusing Flora quietly.
"We're going to have to watch him when he starts school so he doesn't hit his head..." Luke said quietly.
"When do they go to school?" Clare asked since she was from the past and was only taught when everyone realized she was a sage.
"Most children start at age six, Anni started a year early because she was bored and Sophie wanted her out of her hair." Luke replied.
"Okay." Clare sighed softly.
"You don't want them to go do you?" Luke asked.
"I'd rather keep them as long as possible to myself, but if they must go then they can go." Clare replied as she let Flora spin like a ballerina, using her arm as balance.
"They don't have to go, I was home schooled." Luke told her.
"But it would be better if they met kid's their own age and develop their social skills." Clare said, always looking out for her little one's best future.
"Are you saying I have no social skills?" Luke teased.
"Yup, that's exactly what I'm saying." Clare hummed. Luke gasped and turned his back to her. Clare snickered and laid on the floor, watching Flora dance. Luke muttered something to Miloh as he continued to soothe the young boy's headache. If this was the game he was going to play with her, she'd play it. Luke laid on the couch as Miloh began to nod off. Clare smiled as Flora yawned and curled up on her mother's lap.
"Well at least he got something from me...even thought I wish it wasn't this..." Luke whispered. Clare looked at him to see what he was talking about. Luke was gently running his fingers across Miloh's temple which had a light bruise on it. Clare shook her head, "Guess I'm the only one with thick skin..."
"Oh come on Angel, he's still just a baby..." Luke defended.
"He's two...let's see, when I was two....I was outside for two winters." Clare hummed, "I never bruised, unless someone chucked a rock at me..." Luke reached down and took her hand, "You didn't have a family that cared about you yet."
"Yet, that didn't stop until...I was eight..." Clare hummed leaning her head against his arm. Luke stroked her cheek.
"Anyways, that's all in the past." Clare said off handily. Luke leaned over and kissed her head. Clare smiled lightly and kissed his cheek. Miloh whined when his father accidently bumped him. Clare took Miloh gently and smoothly laid him on her chest, after putting the sleeping Flora on her father's chest. Miloh snuggled into her trying to hide from the world that was causing him so much pain. Clare grabbed a blanket and draped it over him carefully.
"Mama, my head hurts..." Miloh whined, the first thing he'd said all day. Clare smiled and blew on it gently, letting her magic heal it slowly, "How's that?" Miloh whined and snuggled closer to her. Clare put her hand on his tiny back lightly. Luke shifted as Flora yawned. Clare smiled lightly and rubbed Miloh's back gently. Luke sighed feeling bad for his son. Clare stretched lightly as her magic washed over Miloh to ease him of his headache.
"Our poor little boy..." Luke whispered.
"I'll take care of him..." Clare whispered softly and Miloh snuggled into her neck.
"That's the last thing I wanted him to get from me..." Luke mused.
"But you don't bruise like a peach." Clare hummed as she poked him. Luke shook his head, "He's still tiny Clare, go easy on him."
"The only one I won't go easy on is you, Link, Sheik and Oni, if he shows up again." Clare replied. Luke chuckled quietly and then smiled as Miloh finally fell asleep. Clare smiled softly.
"Shall we go for that walk?" Luke asked.
"I've got a little problem..." Clare hummed as she pointed to Miloh. Luke sat up slowly then carefully picked up Miloh. Clare sat up then and stood. Luke shifted Miloh carefully. Clare took Flora and held her carefully.
"Let's put them to bed." Luke whispered. Clare nodded and went to the stairs. Luke followed her. She went up the stairs and over to the nursery. Luke made sure not to jostle Miloh in any way as he followed her. Clare slipped into the nursery and laid Flora down in the crib. Luke carefully slipped Miloh into her arms. Clare gently laid him down next to his sister but far enough way that they wouldn't hurt each other. Luke looped his arms around her waist and nuzzled her neck. Clare quietly covered them before turning to Luke. He kissed her gently as he laid his hands against her back. Clare kissed him back softly. Luke placed one hand to her cheek. She put her hands on his chest lightly. Luke broke the kiss and nuzzled her jaw. Clare kissed his temple before turning him around, "Let's do this somewhere else..." Luke smiled and let her do as she pleased. Once they were both out of the room, Clare closed the door with a soft click before turning to him. Luke was still smiling.
"What?" Clare asked as she tilted her head to the side.
"Nothing..." Luke replied as he placed his hands on her hips. Clare shook her head good naturedly and put her hands on his shoulders. He smiled and placed another kiss to her lips. She smiled into the kiss before kissing him back. Luke kept it short and then interlocked their fingers, "Shall we?"
"Let's." Clare responded with a smile. Luke smiled and led her out of the house. She followed as she usually would. Once they were down on the beach, Luke looked at her, "So is there a reason behind this walk?"
"Nope." Clare replied smiling. Luke chuckled and pulled her snug against him. She leaned her head on his shoulder. Luke smiled and stroked her cheek. Clare smiled and leaned into his touch.
"We should go tell Ann' we're leaving tomorrow..." Luke said after half an hour.
"Okay, we can go wander up there now..." Clare replied as she stretched. Luke nodded and kissed her temple, "Think Sophie's going to be the problem this year."
"Most likely, she so timid right now." Clare hummed.
"She's just like her mother..." Luke muttered. Clare nodded and turned them towards the Inn. Luke followed her lead. Clare stepped over several roots before getting onto the grass. Luke smiled for a moment before scooping her up.
"Hey!" Clare exclaimed as she automatically wrapped her arms around his neck. Luke chuckled and kissed her temple. She relaxed and let him carry her. Luke shifted her and carried her up to the Inn. Clare rested her head on his shoulder again. He set her on the deck. Clare's skirt got ruffled when he picked her up so she smoothed it back. Luke smiled and kissed her forehead before opening the front door of the Inn. Clare slipped in before him and looked around. Luke mimicked her confusion to see only Anni and Sophie.
"We're missing three people..." Clare hummed as she looked around. Sophie heard her voice and looked up from her place on the couch were she was wrapped up in a blanket.
"Is everyone but me getting sick..." Clare muttered to herself as she walked over, "How are you Sophie?"
"I don't feel good..." Sophie whispered. Anni came out with another blanket and wrapped it around her daughter.
"Miloh and Flora got sick yesterday." Clare replied as she rubbed her shoulder. Anni tucked Sophie's hair behind her ears as the tiny girl curled in on herself. Clare glanced at Luke.
"Probably not the best time to stay this then but, we're leaving tomorrow." Luke said quietly. Clare waited quietly for the reaction. Sophie looked upset but was too sick to really react and Anni just shook her head and hugged her Aunt. Clare hugged her niece back before releasing her.
"You probably already know what I'm going to say but still, come home safe okay." Anni said quietly.
"I promise, we'll come home safe." Clare whispered.
"Mama...I think I'm going to be sick..." Sophie whimpered.
"You go tend to your sick one...I've got to check on Miloh." Clare said turning Anni towards Sophie. Anni instantly scooped up her five year old daughter and carried her away.
"Let's go check on our own little munchkins." Clare replied turning Luke around. Luke nodded and glanced back to where Anni had disappeared.
"Or you can stay here to say good bye but I'm going back to the house." Clare said. Luke shook his head and followed her. Clare's ear twitched so she sped up her pace. Luke followed her by slipping in and out of the shadows. Clare opened the door when she got to it and hurried up the stairs. Luke was now worried. Clare opened the nursery door and sighed, both children where awake and had been calling to her. Luke shook his head when he noticed Miloh was sitting in the corner of the crib. Clare walked over and leaned on the railing, "Are you okay little guy?"
"My head still hurts..." Miloh whined. Clare smiled softly and picked him up gently. He immediately snuggled into her. Clare shifted him before picking Flora up. Luke disappeared downstairs. Clare went downstairs to lie on the couch. Luke returned with two bottles, a cup of tea and a cup of coffee. Clare smiled, but didn't bother sitting up. Luke took Flora because he knew he'd never get Miloh away from Clare. Clare swiped a bottle from Luke then offered Miloh the nipple. He whined and hid his face in her neck.
"If you drink up you can go to sleep..." Clare whispered softly. Miloh relented and did as asked. When he was done, Clare put the bottle on the coffee table before putting her hand on his back. Miloh relaxed and drifted off to sleep. Clare smiled lightly and shifted slightly so she could sip her tea. Flora had long since gone to sleep. Clare sipped her tea lightly as she rubbed Miloh's back gently.
"Next time he wakes up he'll be fine..." Luke whispered as Flora surprisingly snuggled into her father. Clare smiled, "That's good." Flora shifted and fisted her hands in her father's shirt.
"Guess someone likes sleeping on you..." Clare whispered.
"Which is odd, because I thought I'd be the last person she'd want to be near." Luke mused.
"Kids need their dad, whether it's for comfort or a pillow." Clare said, "And if even if you both are naturally warmer than the rest of us." Luke smiled and ran his fingers across their daughter's cheek. Clare smiled in his direction before finishing her tea. Flora only snuggled closer to her father at his touch. Clare smiled lightly and gently brushed Miloh's darker bangs off his forehead. Luke yawned and began to drift off in his chair. The ninja smiled and started humming softly. It wasn't long before her husband joined their children. Clare smiled and continued to hum. It was now Clare realized that Marie, Lucas and the kits were gone.
"Probably back with their own kind maybe...or they could've made their own little pack..." Clare whispered, but she'd miss them. Irian suddenly dropped into her lap. Clare smiled, "Well...at least we've still got you..." Clare said as she picked the kit up.
"Mommy said it's too dangerous for me to be with them..." Irian sighed, you could tell her mother's words had hurt her.
"Well the wild is pretty dangerous, but you've got a place here." Clare said rubbing her ears, "Oh, I just realized something, whenever you're near me, you don't faze randomly."
"Mom said it's because your magic stabilizes mine." Irian replied.
"Oh, well that's a lot of things my magic does unbeknownst to me..." Clare hummed as she stretched absently. Miloh whined at her movement. Clare rubbed her back lightly as she relaxed. Irian sighed and turned the same gold as her eyes.
"You can stay with us, Little Irian, we don't mind." Clare hummed as she rubbed the kit's ears as she rubbed her son's back. Irian nodded and soon joined the others. Clare smiled and hummed slowly. The peaceful silence was slowly affecting her as well. Clare yawned and closed her eyes, slipping off into the same realm as her family. It was as the sun began to set did her son wake up. Clare felt him shift so she opened her eyes slowly.
"Mama..." Miloh said quietly. Clare looked down at him and smiled, "Yes, my little Miloh?"
"I'm hungry..." Miloh replied.
"Okay." Clare said as she set Irian on her head to sit up. The tiny kit instantly slid to the couch. Clare picked her up again and stood, putting Irian on her head again. Miloh yawned and rubbed his eyes. Clare went into the kitchen smoothly to get Miloh something to eat. Miloh shifted to get comfortable in her arms. Clare shifted him higher before getting the bottle ready. Miloh settled and watched her. Clare waited patiently for the milk to warm as she scratched her neck.
"Mama?" Miloh asked.
"Hmm?" Clare hummed looking down at him.
"Are we going somewhere?" Miloh asked.
"Yeah...we're going somewhere...Out to sea tomorrow." Clare replied as she poured the milk.
"Okay..." Miloh said. Clare nodded and gave him the bottle. He suckled happily as he settled in her arm. Clare smiled and carried him smoothly out to the living room, still keeping Irian on her head. Miloh as usual, drank himself to sleep. Clare smiled and sat on the couch before taking Irian off her head. Luke shifted and Flora snuggled even closer to him. Clare smiled and propped her feet on the coffee table. Miloh mimicked his sister's actions and snuggled into his mother. Clare smiled, her little ones were getting bigger and bigger. It seemed like just yesterday Anni had told her she was having twins. Clare smiled softly as she leaned her head back, "Maybe another one won't be so bad..." Miloh shifted and snuggled closer. Clare smiled and nuzzled his head. Luke shifted as his head lolled to the side. Clare sighed softly and started humming. A few minutes later Luke slowly opened his eyes. Clare had closed her eyes and was on the verge of nodding off again. Luke smiled and silently slipped out of his chair to sit on the floor next to her. Clare slipped off as she shifted. Luke kissed her temple. She shifted before relaxing. He ran his fingers across her cheek before covering her with a blanket. Clare relaxed even more.
"Sleep tight Angel because there will be tear tomorrow..." Luke whispered. The only response he got from her was the slightest twitch of her ear. Luke smiled and placed Flora in her arms before picking her up. Clare instantly wrapped her arm around her tiny daughter. Luke carried her upstairs and into their room. Clare shifted slightly and turned her head into his shoulder. Luke smiled and gently laid her down before lying along her side. Clare shifted slightly and nuzzled his shoulder. Luke sighed contently before joining them.