Wednesday
Clare woke up before Luke and he didn't have his hold on her so she kissed his forehead and crawled out of bed. Luke groaned feeling the blanket shift but didn't awaken. Clare backed away from the bed and walked over to the dresser seeing a pair of familiar boxers hanging out of one of the drawers, "Oh...these ones...Good times, good times..." She whispered pulling them out. Luke rolled onto his stomach, muttering something in Sheikhan.
"Sheikhan and Twilight may be similar but I can't understand a word he's saying..." Clare said then got an idea. She pulled the navy blue with sea gulls boxers on and picked up her black shirt off the floor and buttoned it. Anni could be heard heading down the stairs with Sophie. Clare giggled and stepped out of their rooms and closed the door silently. All Clare could see was Anni's dark hair, the tips of her ears and Sophie. The ninja followed after her, the jingle poe on her ankle jingling softly. Anni looked back over her shoulder and smiled. Clare caught up to the young mother and looked at what she was wearing, "Guess I wasn't the only one..."
"All of my stuff is too warm..." Anni replied.
"I just wanted to try them on...Quiet comfy too." Clare said. Anni giggled as she set Sophie on the floor. The younger woman was wearing a pair of green boxers and an oversized t-shirt.
"Now let's hope no perverts or pirates make any comments..." Clare muttered and flopped into the chair by the couch.
"They won't have the chance..." Anni muttered lying down on the couch.
"Our men on the other hand..." Clare said then giggled evilly.
"I don't know about you and Uncle Luke, but the Hero's seen me in less..." Anni mused.
"All you're Uncle's seen me in is the bikini bottoms and top..." Clare said and curled her feet into the arm of the chair. Anni giggled and sighed as her ear twitched.
"You'll get used to the ear twitching...Did you hear something because I didn't..." Clare said and stretched her arms up.
"No my magic's on the fritz, stupid holidays..." Anni muttered.
"Oh..." Clare said, even though she was confused, she just ignored it.
"You're wondering what holiday it is aren't you?" Anni asked as she picked up Sophie and settled the baby on her chest and grabbed a blanket.
"Kinda...I don't remember any holidays in the winter but then again...I wasn't around much during the winter." Clare said waving her hand in the air, brushing the topic off. Anni giggled, "Then you're in for a big surprise..." She said as she covered her chest with the blanket.
"When am I never in for a surprise...?" Clare wondered aloud then her ear twitched when she heard a set of feet on the stairs. Anni giggled, then squeaked in surprise.
"What is it this time?" Clare asked and shifted to look at the stairs.
"Someone's getting her first teeth..." Anni muttered quietly. Clare giggled and saw Link's left boot on the stairs. Anni couldn't sit up or see over the couch just ignored it and winced every so often.
"Maybe it's time for Sophie to start bottle feeding? And it's just Link..." Clare said and shifted again, turning herself around so the stairs were to her back.
"Probably in my best interest..." Anni muttered.
"Got that right..." Clare whispered and heard the half asleep hero walk into the kitchen.
"Every morning, same routine, get up, get dressed, get coffee..." Anni sighed.
"And that's why I like to change it up a bit...One time I moved the coffee pot to a more...convenient location, the night before and that next morning your uncle was the first to get up and let's just say he went three hours without coffee until I dug it out." The ninja laughed. Anni shook her head, "If I did that, I'd never hear the end of it..." She sighed.
"I didn't...I had to put up with his grumpy attitude for the rest of the day...So I leave it in the cupboard next to the teapot..." Clare said. Anni smiled as Link came in with his coffee and moved her feet so he could sit. Clare made a face as she watched Link take a sip then shook her head. Luke came down the stairs a few moments later.
"I wonder if he realizes I'm running around in his boxers..." Clare mused to herself. Anni didn't answer, just turned her attention to Sophie. Clare shrugged and stretched her arms up and over her head.
"Morning Angel..." Luke said and kissed her forehead as he leaned over her chair.
"Morning handsome..." Clare whispered to him so only he could hear. Anni made an unimpressed sound and turned her eyes back to her daughter. Clare rolled her eyes and pulled her arms back to her chest. Luke walked around and picked her up before taking her spot and settling her in his lap. The ninja rolled her eyes once again but leaned against his chest.
"Link get dressed, you need to get the tree..." Anni told her husband. Clare looked around at Luke, "Tree?"
"It's Christmas..." He replied.
"Oh...what's Christmas?" Clare asked.
"It's a holiday, you spend with family and exchange gifts." Luke explained.
"Oh...I don't have...wait I do to." Clare said happily. Luke smiled and shook his head. Anni stood up and left the room after placing Sophie in her basinet.
"I just have to get them from the ship..." Clare mused. Luke frowned, "What's got Anni so upset?"
"Other than a teething Sophie, don't know..." Clare said. Luke sighed and shook his head before kissing her forehead.
"What?" She asked looking up at him.
"Nothing..." Luke replied with a smile.
"Are you sure?" She asked again.
"Yes." He replied and kissed her temple.
"Okay...." She purred and nuzzled his neck. Anni reappeared dressed, apron tied in place and a box of shinny ornaments.
"What are those?" Clare asked, looking over at Anni.
"Decorations for the tree someone is supposed to be getting..." Anni answered throwing Link a 'get off your ass' look.
"Can I go get it?" Clare asked, truly curious.
"Sure, you can help Link pick it out..." Anni agreed smiling.
"Okay...I just need to get dressed!" Clare said leaping out of Luke's arms and bolting up stairs to get her pants on. Ann shook her head and began to sort the ornaments. The ninja came down fastening her charcoal black belt and and her boots in her hands.
"Link go get dressed for crying out loud..." Anni scolded.
"Yeah Link, get dressed so we can go get a tree!" Clare said hopping around getting her boots on the right feet. Link sighed and went to go get dressed after quickly kissing his wife.
"Lazy..." Clare grumbled as she fixed her boots. Anni sighed and placed a small wooden box on the table. Sheik came down scratching behind his ear to see Clare standing at the door tapping her foot, already in her parka. Sheik shook his head and flopped down on the couch.
"Hey Sheik...did you know there was a Christmas?" Clare asked.
"Yes." He replied.
"I didn't... But then again, I was hiding in Death Mountain during the winter months..." Clare said. Sheik fell of the couch, "That's where you were? In Death Mountain?" Anni shook her head and continued her sorting as Link nearly fell down the stairs.
"About time you got down here." Clare commented and resumed her tapping.
"My apologizes..." Link said with an overdramatic bow.
"And someone's been hanging around Luke too much...I'll be outside..." Clare said and stepped through the door after opening it. Link rolled his eyes and grabbed his cloak before following after Clare. While those two were outside Luke looked over at Anni, "Is there a reason why you're not talking to me?" Anni made a noise of displeasure and ignored him.
"Can't you ignore me after Christmas? It's a time for family not for fighting...I'm deeply sorry that I didn't recognize you..." Luke said, closing his eyes and placing a hand over them.
"Christmas or not I'm still mad and hurt..." Anni muttered.
"I'm deeply sorry...my sleep deprived mind and the fact that you've changed a lot had my mind confused..." The older man whispered. Anni sighed and stopped her sorting. She stood up and walked over to her Uncle and hugged him, "You're the only biological family I have left so I can't stay mad at you..." Luke smiled lightly and hugged her back. A few minutes later Link came in with a tree alone.
"Where's Auntie Clare?" Anni asked standing up.
"She said she had to get something from the ship before she went back up so I didn't wait..." Link said kicking the snow off his boots. Anni shook her head and fished the stand out of the box. Link brought the tree over to Anni as Clare came in the door with a small locked box about the size of tea bag box. With a quick and steady hand, Anni lined the base of the tree up with the stand and helped Link put it upright. Clare hung her parka on the hangers and kicked the snow off her boots before going to stand next to the chair Luke was still sitting in. Luke pulled her over the arm of the chair and into his lap.
"Oi!" She squeaked and looked up at him.
"What?" He asked locking his arms around her waist as Anni wrapped a blanket around the bottom of the tree to hide the stand.
"Nothing...just could have warned me..." Clare whined lightly.
"I'm sorry Angel, next time I'll try to remember..." Luke replied kissing her temple. Clare blushed and turned to nuzzle his chest. Anni scooped Sophie out of her basinet and turned to Clare, "Do you want to help decorate the tree?"
"Sure." Clare said and stood off Luke's lap. Luke whined at her leaving but let her be as it was her first Christmas. Clare walked over at Anni, "So...what do we decorate it with?" She asked. Anni placed a shiny red orb with a wire hook on it in Clare's hand, "Hang it anywhere you want..." Anni said with a smile as Link helped Sophie hang a green bell. Clare looked at it and turned to the tree then hung it on a branch in the middle. Things continued like this until only the wooden box on the table was left.
"Are we done?" Clare asked looking at the tree.
"One last thing..." Anni replied as she handed Sophie to Clare and opened the wooden box. Inside lay a perfect crystal star, "You want to help Sophie put it up on the top?"
"Sure!" Clare said and let Sophie get star out of the box before she turned to the tree. She reached Sophie up and the tiny infant put the star on the top.
"There, now we're done and I get to start lunch and dinner..."Anni replied.
"Okay..." Clare said and sat down back on Luke's lap gently. Sophie snuggled into Clare and promptly fell asleep. Clare giggled lightly and leaned against the man behind her. Luke sighed contently and buried his nose in her neck. The ninja smiled and let him do what he wanted while she held Sophie. For an infant that was supposed to be teething, Sophie was unusually quiet and calm.
"You alright Sophie?" Clare asked. Sophie yawned unintentionally revealing she had no teeth coming in. Clare hummed and held Sophie close once again. The tiny blond snuggled into Clare's chest. The ninja hummed again and moved one hand to lace her and Luke's fingers together. Luke squeezed her hand and kissed her neck. Clare smiled lightly and squeezed his hand back. Sophie yawned and fisted her hands in Clare's shirt. The older woman giggled lightly and shifted Sophie so she would be more comfortable in one arm. Link came down the stairs with an armful of wrapped gifts that he tucked under the tree.
"Do I have to wrap the gifts I brought?" Clare asked looking up at Luke.
"No just don't let anyone see them..." Luke replied quietly.
"They won't get to see them unless they can one, get the box out of my pocket and two if they can get it unlocked..." Clare whispered. Luke smiled against her skin and chuckled quietly. Link laid down on the floor and played with little Clare. Clare giggled softly again.
"Aren't you in a good mood..." Luke commented.
"Yes I am. Lovely family, warm fire, handsome boy friend, life's good..." Clare said and turned her head and kissed his cheek. Luke smiled and kissed her full on the lips. She kissed him back. Link smiled seeing his sister happy and went back to playing with Johnny's kits. Clare purred then broke the kiss to get some air and snuggle contently into Luke's chest. Anni came into the room, everyone had finally made their way downstairs.
"Okay, it's cold and snowy so who wants hot chocolate?" The dark haired woman asked. Clare untangled her hand from Luke's since she was still holding Sophie and held up her hand. Anni did a quick count and was pleased to see everyone wanted a mug, "Okay..." She replied. Clare then quickly laced Luke's and her own fingers back together. Luke idly ran one finger across her ring finger.
"Something wrong?" Clare asked, thinking that gesture was a hint that there was a problem.
"Hmm, no what made you think that?" Luke replied repeating the action.
"You keep touching my ring finger..." She pointed out. Luke didn't say anything just shrugged and nuzzled her temple. Clare smiled and leaned back against him. Anni slipped into the room and handed out the polished wood mugs containing Anni's hot chocolate.
"Uh...Anni, could you take Sophie and put her in her basinet please? I'm kinda trapped...." Clare asked. Anni smiled and placed the last two cups on the coffee table and took her daughter.
"Thank you..." Clare said and leaned forward to grab the two mugs. Anni cooed something to her daughter and sat down next to her husband then laid down and rested her head on his back.
"Here Luke..." Clare said holding one of the cups for him to take. Luke slipped the mug out of her hand and quickly knocked back half the contents. Clare rolled her eyes and sipped her drink. This time the ninja actually got to enjoy it as she was still her normal age and height. She smiled and sighed contently. Luke finished his drink and nuzzled her neck. She purred and took another sip of the hot chocolate. Anni passed Sophie to Link and went to check on the cucco in the oven. The ninja kept sipping her hot chocolate till it was gone. By three o'clock the entire Inn smelled of cucco, pie and other foods.
"Now doesn't that smell absolutely delicious.." Clare whispered taking a good sniff of the air.
"Anni's made apple, cherry, pumpkin and blueberry pie..." Luke told her.
"Mmm, apple and pumpkin pie..." She muttered. Luke smiled and kissed her neck. Clare turned and kissed his cheek then his nose. Anni set the pies in the window to cool as she started bringing things out. Clare kissed Luke's nose again before turning back around. Link had fallen asleep and Sophie was starting to fuss.
"That kid is a lazy bum..." Clare said and shook her head.
"Yeah, just go get her so Anni can finish with dinner..." Luke agreed and gently nudged her out of his lap. Clare stood and fetched Sophie off Link's chest then went back to Luke. Sophie shifted until she was comfortable in her aunt's arms. Clare hummed and sat on the arm of the chair. Luke glanced at her in a 'what you doing up there' kind of way. She glanced at him and smirked slightly. Luke sighed and laid his head in her lap. Clare shifted Sophie to one arm and stroked Luke's head gently. Luke leaned into her hand out of habit. The ninja hummed the song of destiny and stroked Luke's hair away from his ear. Luke looped one arm around her waist and nuzzled her stomach. Clare purred and continued to hum.
"Dinner's ready..." Anni told everyone as she took Sophie from Clare.
"Come on Luke..." Clare purred and let her hands stop their stroking. Luke sighed and sat up. The ninja giggled lightly and kissed his cheek before she stood. Luke stretched, having not moved from his seat since eight. Clare hummed as she made her way over to the table. There was a cucco and another large bird, a ham, potatoes, stuffing, corn, you name it, it was probably on the table. The ninja gaped and sat at her seat. Anni smiled, "Merry Christmas everybody..."
"Wow..." Clare said and blinked at all the food on the table. Anni walked by and patted her shoulder as everyone started to dish up. Clare grabbed the stuffing and put a spoonful on her plate. Luke sat next to her and snagged a cucco leg. The ninja grabbed a chunk of the cucco and put it on her plate beside the stuffing then reached for the potatoes. Luke had somehow managed to fill his plate already and was currently ripping a piece off his cucco leg.
"Yeah, that's attractive..." Clare muttered as she cut her cucco meat into smaller pieces then mashed her potatoes. Luke rolled his eyes and finished striping his cucco leg then started on his stuffing. Clare ate much slower than him, savouring the taste and eventually started on her own stuffing. When everyone was finished, Anni stood at the head of the table next to Link, "Alright who's ready for dessert?" Clare's hand shot up, along with half the pirates and Luke.
"Okay, I have apple, pumpkin, cherry and blueberry, so who wants apple?" Anni asked. Clare's hand fell but the other's were still up.
"Okay, pumpkin?" She asked next. Clare's hand went back up and the other's but Luke's fell. Anni nodded and slipped from the room to return with everyone's orders.
"Thanks Anni." Clare said and the three pirates chorused after. Anni yawned and shook her head then went to cuddle with her daughter on the couch. Clare smiled lightly and started on her pumpkin pie. Luke finished both pieces of pie and went and laid on the floor. Clare sighed and shook her head then after finishing her pie went and sat on the floor next to him and the fire. Luke rolled over and looped his arms around her so he could snuggle into her stomach.
"Is my stomach really that comfortable?" Clare asked as she ran her fingers threw his blond hair.
"Yes..." Luke replied quietly.
"Okay then..." Clare whispered and shook her head good naturedly. Luke rumbled quietly and gently tightened his hold on her. Clare smiled and continued to run her fingers through his hair. It wasn't long before Luke was starting to fall asleep.
"Hey Anni? When are we suppose to start giving gifts...?" Clare asked her fingers running through the hair behind Luke's ear gently.
"As soon as everyone's done eating..." Anni replied from her spot on the couch letting Sophie have her dinner.
"Okay...Luke...don't fall asleep on me now..." Clare whispered into his ear gently.
"But it's so hard not to..." Luke muttered nuzzling closer to her.
"Want me to wake you up when we're ready?" She whispered.
"Sure..." Luke replied and let his eyes slip shut. Clare giggled lightly and let her hands keep running her fingers threw her boyfriend's hair.
"He's always like that this time of year, unusually cuddly..." Anni told Clare as she shifted Sophie.
"Winter is slowly become my not so much hated season now..." Clare whispered to Anni with another giggle. Anni smiled and threw her spoon at Gonzo as he belched loudly.
"And men will be men..." The ninja muttered as her fingers brushed Luke's temple delicately. Anni shook her head and shifted Sophie so the infant was closer to Clare on Anni's left side. Clare rolled her right shoulder and stretched her arms up. Link sat on the floor in front of Anni and Sophie with his back to them. The ninja put her hands on the floor behind her and stretched backwards waiting for her spine to pop back into place before returning to her position and occupation of grooming Luke's hair with her hands. Naturally Luke leaned into her touch and sighed contently.
"Geeze he's making me tired..." Clare said after yawning behind her hand.
"No, that's the result of Anni's cooking..." Link snickered which earned him a light smack.
"I'm not in the mood to smack you..." Clare yawned.
"Are you pigs about done?" Anni asked sitting up and buttoning her last button.
"We were done a few minutes ago...Just wanted to let you have some privacy Miss Anni..." Niko said and stood from his chair.
"I've been doing this for nine months boys, I've learned to work around you..." Anni sighed.
"Eh..." Niko said, adopting Clare's word and the shrug of the shoulders.
"Whatever just get over here..." Anni sighed. Everyone still at the table stood and walked over. Clare started to try to wake Luke up, "Luke...time to wake up..." Luke groaned and opened his eyes a crack.
"That a boy...come on..." Clare coaxed. Luke groaned and nuzzled her stomach.
"Luke...you need to get up." Clare said.
"I am up, I'm just not sitting up..." He muttered.
"Okay...good enough for me..." The ninja said and turned to face the others. Luke sighed contently and relaxed.
"Alright, who goes first?" Clare asked looking around.
"Who wants to go first?" Anni asked.
"Uh...If nobody else will I guess I could..." Clare said looking around at the reluctant others. Anni rolled her eyes, "I'll do it..." She sighed and stood up after passing Sophie to Link.
"Okay..." Clare said but pulled out that little box anyway. Anni sat next to the tree, "Tetra..." Anni said and tossed the pirate princess her gift. Said princess unwrapped it and it was a key.
"Now take your boyfriend and get out of my Inn..." Anni stated flatly.
"Thanks Anni!" Sheik said and grabbed his girlfriend before fading away.
"Niko..." She said after rolling her eyes and tossed the mousy pirate his gift.
"New clothes...thanks Miss Anni." He said.
"Welcome...Gonzo, Nudge, Senza, Mako, and Zuko..." Anni listed off as she tossed the corresponding gifts.
"New clothes...Thanks Miss Anni!" They all said. Anni shifted for a moment.
"Auntie Clare, Uncle Luke..." Anni said and passed them their gifts. Clare opened hers, "New knives...I'll test those later...and a set of...good pencils...for drawing..." The ninja picked one out of the package and held it up for inspection.
"Of course..." Anni replied.
"I'd hug you right now...but I've got a Luke Vaan Linebeck attached to my waist." Clare smiled to the girl. Anni rolled her eyes, "Uncle Luke someone just lit your ship on fire..." Anni said.
"Don't care...so long I've got my ninja with me..." He muttered.
"Alright, I'll just keep your gift..." Anni said taking back the present. Luke's one arm un wrapped itself and held the hand out to Anni.
"Nope, all the way or you don't get it..." Anni stated flatly. Luke sighed heavily before sitting up.
"That's better..." Anni said and handed him the thin gift. He unwrapped it and held a rapier in his hand.
"Good, now I don't need to keep saving you from Jolene." Clare commented. Luke rolled his eyes and flopped backwards into her lap while inspecting the blade. Clare shook her head and watched as Anni kept handing out gifts. Eventually she'd handed out everything she had. The pirates handed out gifts next and Clare told them they would un wrap theirs later. Anni had returned to her spot on the couch and had her arms around Link's shoulders. It eventually became Clare's turn to give gifts.
"Luke...you gotta get off my lap." She said poking his forehead.
"But Clare, I'm comfy..." Luke protested.
"So...I can't hand these out if you're in my lap." The ninja said emphasizing her words with pokes. Luke sighed and laid on the floor next to her. Clare rolled her eyes and popped the lid open on the little box after putting it on the table. She then stuck her arm in it and pulled out a sword. Anni and Sophie yawned and were almost asleep on Link.
"Komali..." Clare said handing the sword to him then pulled out a frying pan and a rattle, "Anni and Sophie...Frying pan is undentable..."
"Thanks Auntie Clare..." Anni yawned and set it on the table.
"Don't worry about it..." Clare said already digging out the next gift. A handful of bandanas, "Boys...And make sure Tetra and Sheik get these..." Clare said handing them two separately wrapped packages.
"Of course Miss Clare." They all chorused making Sophie fidget in her father's arms.
"Shh..." the ninja shushed them and kept digging in that tiny box pulling out a neck lace and a leaf mask, "Medli and Makar..."
"Thank you Clare..." They both said quietly.
"Welcome..." She whispered and dug then pulled out a Hyrulian shield, "Link."
"Thanks Clare..." Link replied and shifted Sophie to take it without waking Anni.
"And last but certainly not least...Luke," Clare purred then pulled out a package of new needles and a carved silver dragon.
"Thank you Angel..." He whispered and sat up to kiss her cheek.
"And I think that's everybody...And somebody should go to bed..." She whispered and motioned over to Anni.
"Not until I'm finished..." Luke replied tossing three gifts into Link's lap. Clare rolled her eyes and placed her gifts in the small box for later. He tossed all the pirates their gifts, then Medli and Komali and lastly Makar.
"Now are we done?" She asked looking to check to make sure everyone had their gifts, feeling slightly left out and not knowing why.
"Just one left..." Luke said quietly and pulled her back so she fell into his lap. Clare meeped softly as she fell and her head landed in his lap. She looked up at him with a slight blush staining her cheeks. Luke took one of her hands and fished through his pocket with the other and then placed a small navy blue box in her hand. Clare looked at the box and opened it. Inside lay a silver and gold heart locket with the Triforce in the center and gently loops and spirals radiating from it. Clare fingered the locket gently with her finger tips. Luke hadn't said anything yet, waiting silently for her reaction. Clare sat up and picked the locket out of the box with careful hands and fingers. As she removed it from the box it made a quiet clinking sound as though there was something inside. Clare put the box on the floor beside her and opened the locket to find a silver and gold engagement ring inside. Clare turned slightly to the left and looked at Luke then at the ring then back at Luke before clutching it tightly in her hand. Luke smiled and cocked his head to the side.
"Yes..." She whispered. Luke quickly took her in his arms. The ninja hugged him back, the locket in one hand, the ring in the other. Luke pushed her back long enough to slip the ring on her finger, "Read the inside..." He whispered.
"Okay..." She whispered back and looked at the inside of the locket. Delicately engraved on the inside was the words: 'You're my Angel even without your wings...Luke.' Clare smiled softly and closed the locket before grabbing the ends to latch them behind her neck. Luke's nimble fingers took over and clasped it behind her neck before pulling her back against him. She hugged him and cried silent tears of happiness and joy. Luke ran his fingers through the ends of her hair in a soothing manner.
"I love you Luke...With all my heart..." Clare whispered and leaned away to look at him in the eye.
"And I you Clare, more than words could ever express..." Luke replied and kissed her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed into the kiss. Luke was slightly taken aback by her forwardness but got over it quickly and returned the gesture, looping his arms around her waist. About twenty minutes of this, a portal appeared above the ninja's head and a box dropped out of it, landing squarely on her head. Luke grabbed the box before it fell causing further injury and cradled Clare's head against his chest.
"Ow...What in hell's name hit me..." Clare whined.
"A box..." Luke replied gently rubbing her head.
"From who?" She asked leaning into his hands.
"I don't know, I don't read Twilit well..." Luke replied soothing the offended spot.
"It's from Midna...She's the only Twilight that I know that would send me anything..." Clare explained and sighed contently as his hand soothed away the pain.
"I'm not going to asked...Shall we had for bed Angel?" Luke replied.
"Yes, let's..." Clare said and leaned back to grab her little box. Luke nodded and stood up tucking the other gifts under one arm and offering his free hand. Clare smiled to him and put her hand in his. Luke pulled her to her feet and wrapped the same arm around her waist and headed for the stairs as Link placed his sleeping daughter in his also sleeping wife's arms and picked them both up. Clare yawned covering it with her free hand then leaned against Luke's side. Luke smiled and led her upstairs into their room where he placed the contents of both their hands on the table and nudged her towards the bed.
"I'm going I'm going..." She yawned and sat on the bed, kicked her sandals off and flopped onto the bed. Luke pulled off his shirt and kerchief and scooped her up before shifting her further into the bed. He laid next to her and ran his fingers through her hair from her temple to the ends.
"Love you Luke..." Clare yawned as she looked at him with eyes at half mast.
"Love you too Angel..." Luke whispered and kissed her lightly. She kissed him back but that only lasted so long before she truly went to sleep. Luke smiled and pulled the blankets over them and pulled her against him.