Clawen • What comes next

|| CHAPTER 59 ||

           

After leaving Claire alone with Charlie to get some sleep, Owen went downstairs to Maisie. He knew that the unpacking was most likely done, but he had promised her a ride as well. As he turned the corner into the kitchen, he saw Maisie putting the last thing away. He ever so silently made his way up behind her. His plan was to do a sneak attack and pick her up and go from there, but he stopped to think about it, right before he was about to strike. Maisie would probably scream and wake up the tired girls upstairs. So, before any of them could regret anything, he stood up straight and walked up next to her and simply asked if she was still up for a ride. She smiled up at him, looking like the definition of sunshine.

They walked outside on the front porch. Owen closed the door behind him and saw his opportunity when Maisie had turned her back to him, looking out at the woods in front of them. He quickly bent down and pulled her up to hang over his shoulder.

She yelped in surprise and started kicking and laughing. He tried his best to shush her, knowing that the walls of the house weren't exactly sound proof. Thinking about it, he should probably have done something along those lines, for more than one reason.

He took off towards the forest, carefully repositioning Maisie to sit on his shoulders. As they walked through the forest, that they had come so familiar with over the past 8 months or so. Maisie seemed to enjoy the height. She could reach her favorite branches on her favorite trees. Looking around in wonder as Owen made his way down the shallow path.

Maisie seemed extremely relaxed. The woods seemed to calm her down a lot. The Lockwood manor was surrounded by a forest so maybe she spent a lot of time outside, exploring.

After wandering around the woods with an 11-year-old girl on his shoulders, for what felt like forever. Owen slowly started to feel the pull it had on his not so young body. He suggested they made their way home on their own feet and Maisie agreed. Quickly climbing off her father's shoulders, to run around the trees and in between the bushes to explore on foot.

When they were able to see the house again, Owen got reminded that he told Claire, that he would take Charlie if she woke up. Hating himself for forgetting it, he stormed inside the house to find both girls still fast asleep. At first, he was impressed that none of them were awake but then again, he had no idea of how long him and Maisie were in the woods. 20 minutes? An hour? No clue.

He slowly walked over to lean over the crib, to have a look at his sleeping daughter. Too afraid to touch her in case he woke her up, he just adored her from afar. Charlie didn't have a lot of hair, but he swore that the few hairs he could see, were red. Like Claire's. He would have no chance if Charlie turned out to be a mini Claire. He couldn't help the smile that appeared on his lips, when he started imagining a mini Claire. He was pretty sure it would be one of the most adorable things he would get to see. A little redhead with green eyes and just as stubborn and determined as Claire. 

As he stood there, leaning over the crib, Claire was watching him from the bed. Him unaware of her loving eyes, taking in his adoring smile, as he looked at their daughter.

Claire shifted a little, switching Owen's attention from one redhead to another. Claire sat up straight, tilting her head at him as she smiled, like he was her whole world. In most cases he was. There was no one out there that she would rather have run from modified hybrids with, than him. Twice. No one she would rather take care of Maisie with, than him. The few times she let herself imagine having kids, she let herself dream of it being with Owen. Even before they were together. Their date was a mess and the time that followed wasn't great either. But she knew he would be the one to do it with. It was either him or no one at all.

And here they were. In a house in the woods. With their two perfect daughters. Claire was just waiting for the whole thing to go up in smoke. It seemed too much like a fairytale, too unreal.

Owen slowly made his way over to her side, when he noticed her glowing eyes. He wore the same adoring smile when he looked Claire in the eyes, as he did when he admired their newborn daughter. He slowly let himself crawl onto the bed until he was one hundred percent above her. Covering her whole body with the shadow of his. Looking him in the eyes, she bit her lip while reaching her hand up to his neck. He could see the longing in her eyes. The need. When he went down for a kiss, he could feel the hunger on her lips, with the flicks of her tongue.

There wasn't much he could do and it turned his insides around. All he wanted to do in that moment, was to please Claire in every way possible. To make her feel appreciated and loved. They both knew it wasn't possible. They had to wait. One single word sweeping the smiles off their faces.

He carefully removed himself to sit next to her. She leaned into his body when he put an arm around her, inviting her to be as close to him as possible. She sighed, frustrated and annoyed. But the simple touch of him, calmed her down in ways she never thought was possible.

He slowly turned his head to look down at her. Waiting for her to turn hers. When their eyes met, they both felt the love, the absolute love and care that they felt for each other. As if on a timer, Charlie let out a loud cry just as Claire moved her body up to feel his lips again.

Both of them pulled away, chuckling. Claire was about to get out of bed, but Owen put an arm out to stop her. "I told you, I was going to get her" He said, swinging his legs out of the bed and making his way over to Charlie. As soon as the girl felt her father's arms, she seemed to calm down.

Owen slowly walked back to the bed with a half-asleep Charlie in his arms. Claire smiled up at them, taking in the picture in front of her. He sat down, one leg still on the floor, to hand Charlie to Claire before he got himself settled again.

Claire took Charlie into her arms and cradled her, leaving a few kisses on the girl's forehead. Owen leaned back against the headboard again and put an arm around Claire's shoulder. It was like instinct to him, like a reflex. Being close enough to Claire to be able to touch her, meant he had to touch her. He couldn't help it and lucky him, she never told him to stop. She simply always let him take her into his strong protective arms and let herself lean into him. The calm and at home feeling they both felt by those small actions and the small touches, was indescribable. There was nothing like it and both of them were well aware that they would never be able to be without the other, ever again.

People were asking for Clawen moments, plus Charlie. I delivered – Don't worry if this didn't satisfy your needs, I understand. There's more to come ;)