Weak rays of sunlight peeked through the curtains of the dark bedroom, chasing away the shadows that still lurked in the corners.  Cordelia rolled over in her bed, and pulled the blanket over her shoulders, sighing contentedly as she snuggled deeper under the deliciously warm covers. She was vaguely aware of the empty space behind her and scooted over towards the middle of the bed, reveling in being able to stretch out her limbs and enjoy the bed alone. She slept soundly, peacefully, totally oblivious to the world outside and enjoying herself immensely.

Until the blissful silence was ended by the slam of a door from  downstairs.

Grimacing she burrowed deeper, pulling the blankets and sheets over her head as she heard footsteps quickly pound up the stairs.

She wrapped the blanket around herself tightly and willed him to just stop making so much noise.

Squeezing her eyes tightly she felt herself still drifting in between worlds, still able to return to her dreamland and just….

Her eyes fluttered as he opened the door to the bedroom and rushed in. She was safely tucked underneath the covers and couldn't see him, nor could he see her. He breathed heavily as he moved around the room, one loud thud, which she knew was a shoe, sounding as it hit the floor, then another thud as he took off the other one. Groaning, she curled up into a ball, pulling the blankets tightly around her, trying to keep him out and hold on to her blessed, beautiful sleep.

She could feel him staring at her, but neither of them said anything. A small smile tugged at her lips as she heard him grunt and walk around the bed towards the bathroom. The door clicked shut and a moment later she heard the shower being turned on.

Relaxing once again she uncurled her body, stretching out once more and enjoyed the peace and quiet of the room. She felt herself drifting off once again, her mind clouding as she was sucked back into a blissful slumber…

She should have known better. Her eyes snapped open as she felt the cool air of the room hit her as he pulled the blanket off her , destroying her warm cocoon. Even in flannel pjs it was cold and she desperately  tried to pull the blankets back down over her. She managed to grab them from him and pull them back down, but he had  moved under the covers with her and became trapped underneath them with her.

"Gotcha," he smiled into her ear as he snaked an arm around her waist. She groaned and pulled her pillow down under her head, hugging it tightly and trying desperately to ignore him.

"Cor," he whispered playfully. She didn't react as his hand snaked underneath her shirt, his fingers slowly running up her back. "Cora," he whispered again as he began drawing little circles and squiggly lines on her skin.

"Sleeping," was all she said as she hugged her pillow tightly and kept her eyes shut. She shivered slightly as his hand inched up to massage her shoulders. Damn him and his seductive hands!

"You aren't sleeping," he murmured into her ear, "If you tell me that you are sleeping." She inhaled sharply at the slight tickle of his lips as they grazed the back of her neck. She wanted sleep, darn it, sleep!

She grunted in reply and kept her back to him, which was a mistake because he resumed rubbing her back, his fingers now gently sliding over her ribs. Sleep was rapidly becoming a lost cause. She clamped her arm down on his hand.

"Ouch!" she heard him mutter as he pulled his hand back. " That hurt."

She smiled to herself and snuggled against her pillow, determined to resume sleeping.

A moment later  she felt his hand again.

"Get your sweaty palm off my butt," she grumbled, swatting behind her at his hand. Her hand hit his chest and she felt the soft material of his t-shirt and quickly took her hand away. Pushing the covers back and sitting halfway up she looked over at him sleepily. "You're still in your workout clothes? I thought you were taking a shower?"

"I am," he smiled at her, "but I couldn't help but come out and give you your wake-up call."

She gave him a knowing look and raised an eyebrow at him. "My wake-up call, huh?" she murmured huskily. His smile widened as she leaned over towards him, placing her lips inches from his.  "Well how about I give *you* something?"  His smile vanished as she gave him a nice shove and sent him sprawling onto the floor. Satisfied she turned back over and pulled the covers back over her head.

"I cannot believe you did that," he said in shock from the floor. "You pushed me!"

She just grunted.

"You know you could've really hurt me. I could've broken a hip or something. Then where would that leave you?"

"Able to sleep," she mumbled.

"Not very soundly," he replied in a suggestive tone. "I wouldn't be my usual limber self and be able to help you relax enough to get a good night's sleep."

She couldn't help but laugh.

She felt the bed sag behind her again. "And if I were out of commission my running mate would be very disappointed to lose her partner."

"Since when do you have a running mate?" she mumbled.

"Oh, off and on for a while now. Pretty girl she is. And fast too. Beat me around the block today." He sighed and slowly pulled the covers back, resting his head on her back.
 

"Sleeping," she murmured in exasperation.

He laughed and kissed her shoulder. "Well there is someone waiting downstairs for you. My little mate is eagerly awaiting breakfast."

"You couldn't do the entertaining this morning?" Cordelia mumbled, finally turning over towards him.

"She likes your cooking better," he smiled down at her. Kissing her quickly he got out of the  bed and a moment later she heard the click of the bathroom door once again. Blinking her eyes she exhaled and sat up.

"Kooky man," she mumbled as she got out of bed. Rubbing her face, she absently grabbed her robe and pulled it on, not bothering to tie it as she padded out of the bedroom. She paused as she heard a familiar collection of noises from downstairs and prepared herself for what awaited her.

Stopping at the bottom of the stairs, she smiled fondly as she watched her sleepy little boy begin his morning routine. She went over to him and sat beside him on the couch as he squinted at the television screen, his favorite cartoon show just beginning.

His head rolled to the side to rest against her. "Morning sleepy guy," she smiled as she stroked his mussed hair. "Your sister drag you out of bed?"  He nodded and rubbed his eyes, words not coming to his fuzzy brain this early in the morning. She knew better than to try to put him back in bed. His favorite show was on and he would be greatly disappointed to miss a minute of it-even if he was nearly about to drop. He'd wake up eventually and be a ball of energy before long. It took a while for Jake to get going, but once he did it didn't end until bedtime.

Cordelia rubbed his head again and leaned down to kiss him. "I'm gonna go help your sister in the kitchen. You want berrycakes?" He looked up at her and she was rewarded with a sleepy smile that made his green eyes twinkle. "Berrycakes it is then." He lifted his head and yawned again, keeping firm hold of his stuffed animal, as she got up from the couch and braved what was waiting for her in the kitchen.

"Hi mommy!" Cordelia's eyes widened briefly as her daughter juggled several eggs in her small hands. Quickly lunging forward, she was able to grab a fallen egg before it crashed to the floor.  "Good catch," she breathed and Cordelia smirked and took a few more eggs from her and set them on the counter.

"Good morning Miss Mere. Looks like you've got things organized down here."

"Yup," she bounced as she put the remaining eggs on the counter. "I got the eggs and the milk and the pancake mix and even," she paused as she went over to the sink and lifted up a bowl to proudly present to her, "washed the berries."

"Well gee,' Cordelia put a hand on her hip. " You've done all this by yourself. I bet you could cook all this up without little ole me. Why don't I just go sit with Jake." She began backing out of the kitchen.

"No!" Meredith wailed. She quickly  grabbed her mother's hand and pulled her back into the kitchen. "I stir, you cook. Remember?"  Cordelia rolled her eyes as she was led to the counter. "I'll get a spoon," she chirped and ducked off.

"O-kay," Cordelia laughed. She began combining the ingredients in the bowl that was already set up. " I heard that you were quite the Olympian this morning." She glanced over as Meredith climbed up on the stool next to her, spoon at the ready.

"I beat daddy around the block," she grinned. "He almost caught me a few times, but I stayed in the lead the whole way."

Cordelia looked at her in surprise. "Really? I'm impressed.  I can never keep up with him. You must be really fast." She pushed the bowl over towards her, popping a blueberry into her mouth.

"You should come with us," Meredith suggested as she pulled the bowl to her and dipped her spoon into the mixture and began stirring with intense concentration. "You and Jake can watch me and daddy race."

"Oh, I *so* don't think so," Cordelia said sweetly. "Jakie and I are not morning people. You and daddy like getting up with the birds." Cordelia went over to the refridgerator and took out butter, whipped cream, and syrup. "I like to be snuggled in my warm bed and not huffing and puffing out in the dark and cold."

"If you run, it isn't cold," Mere mumbled. Suddenly she glanced up at her mother and then back down at the bowl, snickering to herself.

Cordelia frowned. "What's so funny?" she asked suspiciously.

"Nothing," Mere giggled as she continued to stir the batter.

"Uh huh," Cordelia narrowed her eyes. "Are you gonna tell me what's so funny or am I gonna have to resort to my special methods?"

Mere looked up in smug challenge. "What special methods?"

Cordelia looked around as if thinking to herself. "Oh I dunno….perhaps… tickle attack?"

Mere shook her head. "I'm not ticklish."

Cordelia shrugged. "Well  ….perhaps…." her hand inched slowly to her left and Meredith's eyes followed the path, widening as she realized what she was reaching for.

"Mommy you wouldn't," Meredith froze. Cordelia gave her an innocent look all the while picking up the can of whipped cream and taking off the cap.

"Maybe. Maybe not. Tell me what's so funny."  Cordelia began shaking the can, her amused eyes locking with Mere's

Mere blinked. "Daddy said that you run like a duck," she blurted out.

Cordelia's mouth dropped open. "He said - I run -like a duck?"

Mere stifled her giggles at her mother's expression. "He said that you waddle. Like this." She jumped off the stool and circled around the kitchen, waddling like a duck indeed. She stopped in front of Cordelia, unable to control her laughter now.

Cordelia looked down at her daughter in shock. "Oh so you think that's funny?" she quirked an eyebrow at Meredith who could only nod since she was so overcome with the giggles. "Well ha ha to you too!' Cordelia laughed as she let the whipped cream fly.

Meredith shrieked and tried to dodge away from the cream that came at her, but couldn't escape her mother's good aim. She finally just ran towards her, both of them tumbling to the floor in a heap of giggles and whipped cream.

"You little sneak," Cordelia laughed as she wiped a streak of cream from her cheek. Meredith wrinkled her nose at her and Cordelia smeared the cream on the tip of her nose.

"You sprayed me!' Meredith defended.

"Well you said I ran like a duck. That hurt my feelings," Cordelia sniffed.

"I didn't say that, daddy did." She began patting her hair and grimaced. "My hair's all icky," she whined.

"Icky?" Cordelia gasped and squinted her eyes at her. "I can make it way more icky," she grinned as she aimed the can at her again. Meredith shrieked again and tried to make a dash for the doorway, with Cordelia up and after her as well, but both stopped short at the two sets of shocked eyes peeking inside.

Giles and Jake both stared open mouthed and wide eyed at the two giggling piles of whipped cream. Glancing down at his son, who looked up at him with the same confused expression, Giles warily spoke.

"Um. May I ask what is going on here?" He looked down at Meredith who began vigorously shaking her head and waving her arms in warning. Glancing back up at Cordelia, he took a step back.

Cordelia quickly hid the can behind her back. "Oh, Mere and I were talking about running. You know running around the block, running in the morning, running like a duck." She cocked her head slightly.

Giles looked down at Meredith who looked up at him with a sorry expression. "She got it out of me."

He looked back up at Cordelia who had stepped closer to him, a very wicked gleam in her hazel eyes. He immediately smiled "Well, now dearest, I didn't really mean you run exactly like a duck….it's actually more of a swaying waddle-"

"A swaying waddle?" Cordelia cut in.

"Well," Giles blustered inching away slightly.

"Oh you are *so* dead!' Cordelia said , bringing the can out and taking aim. Giles turned and took off with Cordelia at his heels. Meredith and Jake quickly jumped out of the way and onto the couch as Cordelia chased  Giles around the couch spraying him a few good times.

The children watched their parents in disbelief, Meredith laughing at the scene, Jake staring in sleepy puzzlement. After a moment Jake turned to his sister.

"Mommy does run like a duck." he laughed.

Cordelia suddenly stopped running and turned around. "What?!" she said in mock outrage.

"Run for it!" Giles called out and he and the two children took off in different directions, leaving Cordelia looking around her in exasperated amusement.