Sunday

Silence crept into the ninja's subconscious and that was not what she was waiting for. Luke tightened his arms around her and nuzzled her neck. She yawned and rolled over to snuggle into his chest. Yet still silence reigned over the Inn.

"It's quiet..." Clare muttered.

"I know...it's not right..." Luke whispered.

"We're leaving today aren't we?" She asked in a whisper.

"Yes..." Luke replied quietly as he carded his fingers through her hair.

"No wonder it's quiet..." Clare whispered.

"Might as well get dressed and get this over with..." Luke sighed.

"Yeah..." Clare muttered and sat up slowly. Luke rolled on his back and sat up. The ninja sighed and slipped out of bed to get her shorts and top on. There was the almost inaudible sound of someone passing their door. When the ninja was dressed she slipped out the door and down the stairs, quietly. Luke not far behind, Volvagia on his shoulder. Clare peaked around the corner into the dining area and looked at all the sullen faces. But two people were missing, Anni and Sophie.

"Wonder where she is?" Luke mused.

"No clue...I can't hear her unless she's bare foot..." Clare said and walked into the dining area, the six pirates spotted her and all of them hugged her wishing a safe trip. Link walked over to Luke and surprisingly hugged him.

"Uh...Link...you feeling alright?" Clare asked worriedly.

"I'm going to miss having you guys around, house always feels so empty when you leave..." Link replied as he pulled her into a hug as well.

"I'll miss you guys too..." Clare whispered and hugged Link back. Link released his sister and sometime next year Aunt. She patted his shoulder and turned to Sheik and Tetra. Sheik promptly hugged her and Clare shook Tetra's hand.

"Come back soon alright?" Sheik whispered.

"Count on it, gotta come back for the wedding anyways." Clare smiled softly. Sheik smiled and released her, before going to Luke and pulling him into one of those brotherly hugs. Clare shook her head and looked over at Tetra who looked like she wanted to say something, "Yes Tetra?" The pirate shifted uneasily.

"Take care of Sheik for me...alright?" Clare asked of the pirate princess.

"Sure thing..." The younger blonde replied quietly.

"And don't worry about me, I'll take care of myself..." The ninja said patting her shoulder lightly. Tetra smiled faintly and pulled the ninja into a loose hug.

"You better come home in one piece." She whispered.

"Planning on it." Clare replied and hugged her back lightly. Tetra released her and gave her a light punch in the shoulder.

"Get going..." Tetra said as she was taken into Sheik's arms.

"Alright I'm going I'm going..." Clare muttered and walked out the door while looking back over her shoulder. Everyone waved goodbye as Luke looped his arm around her waist and led her out the door. Clare took a deep breath and tilted her head to the sky.

"Ready?" Luke asked.

"Yeah, I'm ready..." She said and walked down to the ship. Standing on the dock with the sea breeze playing through her hair was Anni with Sophie. She was dressed in a navy dress with deep gray cuffs, a black turtle neck underneath and her white apron tied in place.

"So this is where you've been hiding..." Clare said as she walked up to the young mother.

"I wasn't hiding...just waiting..." Anni replied quietly.

"Do you want a hug?" Clare asked tilting her head to the side. Anni nodded and adjusted Sophie. Clare wrapped her arms around the two and nuzzled the top of Anni's head lightly. Anni wrapped her free arm around Clare and hugged her tightly. Clare hugged her then released her to hold out that one picture that was never given out, the last one she drew when she was two, "Here..." Anni gently took the picture. It was a picture of the four adults, Link, Anni, Clare and Luke, standing on the docks, all older, around mid seventies and eighties, "Just a little glimpse of the future..." Clare whispered. Anni smiled and started to tear up, "Thank you..."

"You're very welcome...Keep the Inn safe, actually I should rephrase that, Keep Link and Sophie safe, Uh, change your underwear, keep the Inn clean, uh...what else..." Clare said trying to lighten the mood. Anni smiled a little and pulled Clare back into a hug, "Take care of yourself."

"I will..." Clare whispered and hugged her back. Sophie placed one hand to Clare's collar bone, "Auntie, where are you going?"

"Out to sea Sophie, where exactly we don't know, but we'll be back in a year's time, so don't forget us alright?" Clare said and nuzzled Sophie cheek lightly.

"Okay..." Sophie said out loud and hugged Clare. The ninja smiled lightly and hugged her back gently, before letting Anni take her back.

"You guys come home safe okay?" Anni said quietly as the silent tears ran down her face.

"Already planning on it." Clare said and patted Anni's and Sophie's head gently before boarding the S.S. Linebeck.

"Be careful Uncle Luke..." Anni said squeezing his forearm gently.

"There's only two people I got to watch out for Anni, one's Jolene and the second is your Aunt on a bad day..." Luke said but hugged Anni, "I will..."

"Just come home in one piece..." Anni said as she released him.

"I will." Luke said and kissed Anni's forehead and the top of Sophie forehead before boarding his ship. Anni turned to watch them go as a breeze blew past once again, playing through the ends of her hair. Clare waved as the ship lurched forward and out of the bay. Anni waved until she couldn't be seen any longer and the mainland, home was a line on the horizon.

"And so...we left again..." Clare whispered then let her ear twitch. Luke looped his arms around her, "We'll be back we always are..."

"I know...And I'm more or less surprised you haven't gone and hid yet because..." Clare said pointing to the dot that was steadily getting bigger. Luke sighed and disappeared below deck. As soon as Jolene was within shouting range, "Go away Sea Cow!" A cannon when off but over shot and a very sloshed Jolene stumbled to the prow of her ship.

"Who are you...calling' a cow?" The black haired pirate slurred.

"...It's okay Linebeck you can come out now...Jolene is too drunk to hit the broad side of a barn." Clare shouted down to the cabin. Luke poked his head out the door just as Jolene tossed up straight alcohol.

"That's just gross...No self control..." Clare grumbled and turned away from the pirate. Luke frowned and walked onto the deck, "She's never been this drunk..." He muttered.

"Then leave her to her own problems..." The ninja said and crossed her arms.

"Alright let's go..." Luke said as Jolene collapsed over the railing of her ship, practically sobbing. Clare sighed then scratched her head before vaulting over to Jolene's ship and took the pirate to bed before coming back.

"Is she going to be all right?" Luke asked, he may not like her but he's still a nice guy.

"I took her to bed, she's not going to remember what happened or why she drank herself into a stupor...do you know how many bottles of vodka where on there...fifty!" Clare said.

"Wonder what set it off..." Luke mused as they sailed away.

"Don't know and have no intention of finding out...And I'm going to need a bath." Clare said as she smelt herself and made a face.

"First island with a hot spring?" Luke asked as he kissed her cheek.

"Please and thank you." She said and kissed his cheek. Luke smiled and went to go find the closest island. Clare sighed and plopped down on the deck to think.

"What's on your mind Angel?" Luke asked when he came back.

"Eh nothing..." Clare muttered. Luke sat next to her, "Are you sure?"

"I wouldn't sit too close if I were you, I smell like three day old vodka..." Clare grumbled again.

"I don't mind..." Luke said and pulled her close. Clare scrunched her nose then sighed, "I wonder where Jolene's kid is..."

"Hmm...maybe that's why she's so sloshed..." Luke mused, he didn't need to finish the sentence to get what he was think across.

"Maybe..." She said and sighed again. Luke wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close.

"How long till we get to the spring?" Clare asked breathing through her mouth.

"Three hours..." Luke replied resting her head on his shoulder.

"Ugh, that means I'm going to be smelling like stale vodka for three hours...Gross!" Clare whined but leaned against him. Luke chuckled and ran his fingers through her hair.