Sunday
Clare woke up and noticed Link and Luke were still awake.
"Well good morning Angel Eyes did you sleep well?" Luke asked.
"No..." She grumbled and closed her eyes again, but not going asleep.
"What's the matter Angel?" Luke coaxed rubbing his hand over her mark.
"It was a light sleep..." She said and sat up.
"Do you want something to eat?" He asked quietly, so he didn't wake the other nine occupants of the room.
"An apple would be nice..." She whispered.
"Sure thing, be right back..." Luke replied and got up to disappear into the kitchen. Clare shifted over to the coffee table and put her head on it.
"Why don't you go back to sleep Clare, you probably need it..." Link asked as he manuvered Anni and Sophie so he could pick them both up.
"Okay..." She said and fell back asleep. Luke came back out and upon seeing Clare asleep, put the apple on the table. He crossed the room and gently picked her up. The ninja turned into his chest and sighed softly.
"Come on, off to bed..." Luke whispered and followed Link up the stairs. She rested her head against his chest and had her hands on her stomach. Luke gently placed the sleeping ninja on the bed and then pulled off his jacket before climbing in next to her. The ninja groaned and rolled towards him slightly. Luke pulled the blankets up over both of them and then placed his hand on her waist. She sighed then grabbed the fabric of his shirt in both her hands lightly.
"Sweet dreams Clare..." Luke whispered before finally nodding off. Later that morning, Clare woke with a startled gasp then she rubbed her eyes.
"Whoa, what's the matter Angel?" Luke asked a little drowsy but still awake.
"That damned symbol...as soon as I get to a good sleep, it comes back..." She said and looked at the roof.
"Alright, do you want me to go downstairs and make you a cup of vanilla tea?" Luke asked propping himself up on one arm.
"Sure..." Clare said and looked over at him.
"Okay, I'll be right back..." Luke said quietly then kissed her forehead and left the room.
"I'll be here..." She said then stared up at the roof again. Anni yawned on her way by the door, Sophie on one hip and a basket on the other. Luke went down the stairs and into the kitchen, he put the kettle on after filling it and waited. Lira was working that day and offered him a drink.
"Thanks Lira..." Luke said and took the drink and chugged the entire bottle, "Kinda tangy..." Lira smiled and pointed out the kettle was boiling. Luke quickly removed it from the heat and made Clare some vanilla tea. With the cup and saucer in hand he headed back upstairs to their room. Clare heard the door creak open so she sat up. Luke crossed the room after shutting the door and handed her the cup. Just as Clare was taking the cup and when she had a hold of it there was a popping sound and Luke wasn't standing where he was suppose to be. On the floor though, was a brown, gold, and grey coloured ball of fur with red green eyes. Clare started to laughing and fell back onto the bed after putting the tea cup on the nightstand. The tiny puppy barked unhappily and curled up on the cold hardwood.
"Oh come here Luke..." Clare said and picked up the fluff ball dog. He struggled for a moment then surrender to being picked up. She placed him on her lap and pet his head gently as she reached for the tea. Luke settled instantly as he curled up much like Johnny in her lap. The ninja took a sip of the tea and only had enough time to put it back on the nightstand before she fell asleep again. Luke curled up against Clare's stomach and settled down for a nap. An hour later, the ninja woke up because someone was pounding on the door.
"Auntie Clare, is Uncle Luke in there, Lira tricked him this morning and I can't find him?" Anni asked sounding a little frantic.
"Yeah, passed out like a little puppy...He actually suit's his nickname now..." Clare said as she pet the puppy's head.
"Okay, as long as he's alright..." With that Anni headed back downstairs.
"But it does seem like he got bigger..." The ninja said and picked the puppy up. Luke looked at her groggily with his red and green eyes.
"You're eyes are kinda creepy in a cute way..." She said and shuffled over to the edge of the bed. Luke yawned adorably and then conked out again. Clare slipped her sandals on and went to the door. Tetra and Sheik could be heard shuffling down the hall complaining about Anni not warning them to close their windows. The ninja shook her head with a laugh and walked into the hall and down the stairs. Link was just coming up, "Clare, when did you get a dog?"
"Just now...And it's your uncle..." She said and preceded down the stairs. Link snorted and then continued upstairs. The ninja crossed her legs when she sat at her seat and put Luke on her lap. The sudden movement reawoke the napping pup and he looked around groggily.
"Hello, you hungry Luke?" Clare asked smiling down at him. Luke yawned and wagged his tail.
"I'm taking that as a yes..." She said and smiled then stood. Luke flopped in her arms and made no protest to being packed around.
"Let's see what Anni's got in the kitchen for you..." Clare said and went into the kitchen. Anni was once again in the kitchen humming to herself off in her own little world.
"Anni, do you have some food for Luke?" Clare asked as she stood by the door.
"Feed him whatever's on the table as long as it's not chocolate..." Anni replied after whirling around and nearly having a heart attack.
"okay..." Clare said and went back into the kitchen and grabbed a slice of bacon. Luke perked up at the smell of food.
"Does Luke want the bacon...?" Clare asked ripping the bacon in half. Luke's tail wagged about a league a minute as he eyed the bacon. Clare put the bacon on her lap and ate the other half. Luke grabbed the bacon and started to chew on it. Clare smiled and started to dish the rest of her breakfast. Luke was still chewing on the same piece of bacon when Link came down. Clare was only threw half of her breakfast. Anni took Sophie from her husband and went to check on Johnny and her kits.
"Almost done down there?" Clare asked looking down at the puppy in her lap. Luke looked up and still had three quarters of the half of bacon to eat.
"Taking you a long time..." Clare said while picking up the puppy and bacon the going to the living room where she laid on the floor and put him on her stomach with the bacon. Luke continued to chew on his bacon.
"He's still only got his milk teeth Auntie Clare, I don't think he's going to be able to eat that." Anni told her.
"I'm not going to take it away, he's determined to finish it." Clare said. Luke sighed and dropped the chewed on but not eaten bacon on the floor and flopped on Clare's stomach. Clare's immediate reaction was to put her hand on him and stroke his fur, slowly nodding off again.
"Come here Uncle Luke, I'll get you something you can eat." Anni whispered carefully picking him up as not to scratched Clare. The ninja had fallen asleep and groaned when Anni removed the puppy. Anni gave her a pillow in exchange for Luke before heading into the kitchen. Clare awoke an hour later because a certain puppy jumped onto her stomach, and Luke was bigger. Luke barked happily and licked her cheek.
"Ugh...puppy slobber..." Clare said and whipped her face from the slobber before petting his head. Luke wormed his way up under her chin.
"Gah cold nose..." Clare said and moved her head away from his nose, "Let's go outside and play..." Luke wagged his tail happily.
"Okay..." The ninja said picking him up and standing.
"Be careful not to break his teeth if you play fetch or something..." Anni told her from the kitchen.
"I think he's a little too small to play fetch Anni." Clare said as she walked out the door.
"Just warning you now..." Anni called back. Clare shook her head and walked down the porch and put Luke on the ground. Luke did a quick circle and turned around to look up at her. Clare dropped down on her stomach after walking a few feet away and put her hand over one of his paws playfully. Luke placed his other paw on top of hers and fell over. Clare smiled and picked him back up and set him on his paws before grabbing a piece of long grass and started to bug him with it. Luke shook his head and jumped at her.
"He he..." Clare giggled. Luke licked her cheek and barked happily.
"He he you're so cute..." Clare giggled again rolling over and picking him up. Luke barked again and wiggled around in her hands. She put him back on the ground and rolled back onto her stomach. He bounced over and wormed himself between her and the grass. Clare rolled onto her side and let him snuggle into her stomach. Luke flopped down on the grass and yawned.
"Tired already..." Clare said then yawned, "But then again I shouldn't be talking..." Luke nuzzled her stomach. Clare rolled onto her back and fell asleep quickly. Luke curled up against her side and soon fell asleep. The ninja reawoke to Link shaking her shoulder, "Clare, come on, it's lunch time..." Anni laughed from her place on the porch.
"And what's so funny Anni?" Clare asked as she looked from Link to her. Anni pointed to the small lap dog next to Clare.
"He got so big...I can still pick him up." Clare said and proved it by picking the dog up. Luke yawned and stretched.
"Come on Luke, it's lunch time..." Clare said and walked inside, followed by Link. Luke instantly perked at the mention of food. When they got inside, Clare went to her chair and sat down then put Luke on her lap. Luke sat contently in Clare's lap. Clare yawned and waited for everyone to dish up before pulling the meat towards her. Luke sniffed the air, not quiet able to see over the table yet. Clare cut a sliver of steak for him and put it in her palm then lowered her palm to him. Luke took the piece of meat and ate it.
"Do you want another one?" Clare asked looking down at him. Luke wagged his tail and watched her. Clare cut another sliver and gave it to him. Luke took a little more time eating his piece. Clare smiled down at him and scooped some food for herself. Link laughed a little and offered Luke a small piece of steak. Luke sniffed it then took it in his teeth.
"He's so cute Clare..." Link said as he carefully patted Luke's head.
"I know." Clare said happily then there was a popping sound and Clare had a dog on her lap, his head reached her waist. Link snorted and bit his lips so not to laugh.
"Just laugh...Then give me a little help..." Clare said looking at the dog on her lap, who's paws couldn't reach the floor. Link continued to not laugh but lifted Luke out of Clare's lap with one arm and set him on the floor.
"Geeze...Men are so weird..." Clare said then set the plate that had the steak on it on the floor for Luke then started on her own lunch. Luke munched happily on his steak. Clare yawned and finished her lunch, pushed her plate forward and rested her head on the table. Luke gently nudged her side. Clare yawned and slid off her chair onto the floor, waking her up instantly. Luke looked at her, his eyes asking if she was alright as Link picked her up.
"I'm okay..." Clare said as she moved out of Link's arms and over to the door where she went outside. Luke quickly ran to catch up with her, afraid she may fall down the stairs. Clare was laying on the grass beside her rock trying not to fall asleep. Luke trotted up and laid next to her, placing his head on her stomach. Clare felt his head and stroked one of his pointed ears lightly. Luke laid his head into her hand, thinking maybe if she relaxed she'd go to sleep. His plan worked because the ninja had conked out soon after he tilted his head towards her. Luke didn't go to sleep but he never left Clare while she slept. Two hours later Clare woke because there was a fly buzzing around her head. There was a snap of something closing its jaws and then silence. She was awake now anyways so she opened her eyes and looked up at the clouds. Luke's head found it's spot on her stomach again. Clare sighed and scratched her head then scratched Luke's head. Luke leaned into her hand as usual, his tail sweeping back and forth across the grass.
"Go get me a stick then we can play fetch." Clare said and sat up slowly. Luke stood up and went and fetched a stick. Clare took it from him and threw it over the pond. Luke ran around the other side of the pond and got then stick then brought it back. Clare took it and threw it farther, getting it in the forest this time. It took Luke about ten minutes to relocate his stick before returning to Clare. That ten minutes gave the ninja enough time go sit down and fall back asleep. When Luke got back he dropped the stick to the side and laid along Clare's side not wanting to wake her. She flopped her head and arm against his side and curled her legs towards herself. Luke shifted so he could wrap most of himself around Clare while she slept. It wasn't until dinner time that the ninja reawoke. Anni ran the dinner bell and startled the ninja out of her sleep. Luke's head kept her pinned so she wouldn't make her head spin sitting up too fast. Clare looked at the huge dog wrapped around her. Luke lifted his head off her stomach so she could sit up.
"Could get put our food on the porch, I don't think you're Uncle can get through the door anymore..." Clare said sitting up.
"Sure thing, are you going to stay out here with him, cause I'll get you a blanket..." Anni asked.
"Yeah but don't bother with the blanket, his fur is a blanket enough..." Clare said standing and stretching. Luke stood beside her, his shoulders reached the bottom of her ribs.
"Okay, if you say so..." Anni said and went inside as Luke nuzzled Clare's side.
"I think I'm more awake now than I have been all day..." Clare said petting Luke's head. Luke leaned into her hand again. Clare smiled and rubbed his ears playfully. Luke's tail started to swish against the grass. Clare giggled and picked up the stick they were playing with earlier and held it in front of his nose, "Want to play fetch until Anni comes with dinner?" She asked him. Luke jumped back a ways and waited for her to throw the stick. She smiled and threw it towards the bay. With his size, Luke was back in a flash. She took the stick and threw it into the forest. Luke glared at her then went to go find his stick. Clare smiled and giggled lightly, "Somehow his glares aren't all that scary as a dog..." When Luke came back ten minutes later he was actually about three inches taller.
"You keep getting bigger and bigger..." She said as she crouched down and rubbed the fur on his neck. Luke dropped the stick and rested his head on Clare's shoulder as if he wanted a hug. Clare wrapped her arms around the scruffy dog and gave him a hug after lowering herself onto her knees. Luke nuzzled her jaw much like he would as a human.
"You're still Luke Vaan Linebeck and I love you no matter what you look like on the outside..." Clare whispered to him and kissed his furry cheek lightly. Luke nuzzled her jaw affectionately since it was the best he could do as a dog. She giggled and ruffled the fur on the top of his head then her ear twitched to the sound of Anni opening the front door. Luke licked her ear and went to see what Anni had brought for them. Clare giggled and followed. Anni had already handed over half a steak to Luke and was holding dinner and a blanket for Clare.
"Thanks Anni." Clare said taking her plate and the blanket.
"Just in case the temperature's really going to drop over the next couple of days." Anni said and headed back inside. As if to reinforce Anni's words a freezing cold wind blew by. Clare shivered, sat down on the porch steps then wrapped the blanket around her shoulders. Luke curled around her back and continued to munch on his steak. Clare ate her food slowly, the cold already making her hands cold and thus sluggish. Luke had finished his dinner and flopped his tail across her bare arms.
"Thanks Luke..." Clare said and put a piece of her steak in front of him then ate the rest. Luke ate the steak then curled tightly around her. Clare finished her dinner then leaned against Luke's side. Luke grabbed the blanket in his teeth and pulled it around her so her arms and legs were covered. She snuggled into his furry side and sighed. Luke licked her cheek and then nuzzled her jaw. Clare giggled then fluffed his neck, "Let's go for a walk..." She said and stood. Luke stood up and leaned against her now bare legs. The ninja wrapped the blanket around her upper body tighter and walked down the steps and onto the grass. Luke trailed right next to her. She walked down to the bay and kept her feet away from the cool water. Luke grabbed a crab that was threatening to pinch Clare and threw it into the bay. She smiled and pet his head and continued down the beach. Luke stayed close even though he could've taken off at anytime.
"Come on...You got bigger..." Clare said. Luke's head reached her shoulders now. Luke nuzzled her shoulder and then nudged her back towards the Inn, the temperature dropping still.
"But I don't want you to stay outside by yourself..." Clare said and turned to look over her shoulder at him. Luke nudged her a little harder wanting to get her somewhere warm and quick. Clare sighed and let him push him to where he wanted. Luke led her up to the Inn, where he nudged her towards the door then flopped down on the porch. Clare shook her head and plopped down beside him. Luke nudged her in the back.
"No." She said and curled up in the corner of the porch. Luke whined and curled himself around her not wanting her to get chilled.
"Don't even think about it, I don't want you out here all by yourself." Clare said and let him curl around her tossing the blanket over herself. Luke whined again but didn't do anything further. Clare shook her head and leaned her head on his side. Luke sighed and draped his tail across her feet while resting his muzzle on her waist. She snuggled into his side and fell into a light sleep. Luke moved as little as possible. Clare woke later to the sound of the floor boards of the porch creaking, as if the weight on them was too heavy. Luke had once again gotten bigger.
"You're too heavy for the porch..." Clare pointed out with a yawn. Luke's ear twitched in her direction.
"Come on, let's get you off the porch before you break it..." She said and pushed his tail off her legs. Luke stood and proceeded off the porch. Clare followed after wrapping her blanket back around her. When she stood beside Luke, his shoulders were up past her head. Luke laid down next to the porch, the twin moons already high in the night sky. She smiled and laid the blanket on the railing before running down to the ship. Luke sat up and chased after her. Clare skidded to a stop in front of the ship before climbing aboard. Luke sat down on the shoreline.
"There it is..." Clare said and then came running up from downstairs with her parka in hand. Luke was waiting patiently on the shoreline. Clare pulled on her parka and jumped off the ship and onto him. Luke stood up and turned to walk back to the Inn. Clare sighed and jumped off his head and onto a tree. Luke growled in a 'get back here' way. She giggled and jumped out of the tree then landed on a different one. Luke shook his head and followed her on the ground. Clare jumped into a clearing and flew across the clearing. Luke laid down on the edge of the clearing and yawned, he hadn't slept the last time she did. The ninja landed in the tree on the other side of the clearing and sat there, watching him. Luke stood up sluggishly and went to find his ward and girlfriend. Clare sat in the tree, against the trunk asleep. Luke placed his paws on the trunk and gently lifted Clare down before heading home once more. The ninja shifted slightly and groaned. When they reached the Inn, Luke took up his previous spot by the porch and placed Clare next to him where he wrapped himself back around her. Clare sighed and leaned against his side, her hands buried themselves in his fur. Luke sighed and covered her legs with the blanket. She hummed and pushed her face into his side. Luke licked her cheek and settled down for the night.