recovering from an ordeal

[slayers_desire]

Clark and April had stayed in her home universe. It had been a day since the whole ordeal with the kidnapping and everything. April was still not talking about anything.

In fact, for the last couple of hours, she had stayed in the guest bed that the others had given the couple.

Comments

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"Why wouldn't I be?" There's a small bit of frustration at himself. Hasn't he made this clear before that he loves and accepts her? Is he not saying or doing things right to prove that he loves and trusts her? He doesn't understand what he's doing wrong to make her doubt his faith in her.

[slayers_desire]

April looks up at him, sensing his frustration. She places her hands on his face. "Because of what we learned about Drusilla when she was pregnant. I just... damn... I just freaked out knowing I could do that."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

He reaches up and puts his hands over hers. "April... I love you. I trust you, unconditionally. Our baby could not have a better mother than you."

[slayers_desire]

She moves to hold him tight, releasing some tears that need to be cried. "And you are going to be a great father. You are always supportive of me."

"I should have talked to you about this sooner."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"We agreed to be honest with each other. You're telling me now... though I wish it'd been sooner too." He's not mad at her, not in the slightest. A little hurt that she kept this to herself, but well aware that it's not about him.

[slayers_desire]

"I saw what Drusilla went through. Felt her pain. And I was scared for it."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"You're not her. And what happened to her won't happen to you. I won't let it."

[slayers_desire]

"Can it be 'we'?"

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"Of course," he replies immediately. "Sorry."

[slayers_desire]

"Thank you." April kisses him lightly. "I love you Clark. You know that... right?"

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"I've never doubted it for a moment."

[slayers_desire]

"Good."

There is a knock at the door, and Spike pokes his head in. "Hey you two."

April smiles softly. "Hi dad. Come on in."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Clark looks up, and tilts his head slightly in invitation. "You're not interrupting, don't worry." Not that Spike necessarily would... but it seems the polite thing to say.

[slayers_desire]

"One good thing for that..." Spike sat on the edge of the bed. "I wanted to apologize for you both."

"I should have been in touch sooner about this whole mess."

"Oh dad..." April whispered.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"You probably should've," Clark agrees. "But we won't hold it against you."

[slayers_desire]

"I really didn't know how to say the girl I loved screwed up our world, and April's effort were for naught." Spike grumbled.

"Dad... what happened?"

"Buffy deactivated the other Slayers."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"How? And... why?" He can't imagine it was on purpose, and if it was... she must have thought she was doing the right thing. Right?

[slayers_desire]

"She destroyed the Seed of Wonder. Broke all magic in this world. All vampires created since then have been mindless and feral. Potential Slayers can't access their powers."

"And it is a mess. A bloody mess." Spike whispered.

"Dad... we could have helped."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"Why did she do it?" He's not sure if Spike is refusing to answer the question or if he just forgot.

[slayers_desire]

"Because she was angry. Giles... Giles got killed." Spike knows it is not a good answer. But that answer isn't an easy one to give.

"You said she left. Where is she?"

"With Angel. They are back together."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"Giles is dead..." It's a shock to hear that. Clark had only met him a few times, but he genuinely liked the man. He seemed to act as Buffy's Chloe, giving her guidance along the way. Without him...

"She didn't come back when the world went to hell?"

[slayers_desire]

"She didn't want to. She wanted to... be on her own and live her own life. And is now living it with Angel."

"Oh Father... this sounds all horrible."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"So she broke the world and went off to live in denial instead of fixing the problem?" Buffy may not be a superhero in name, or held to the same standards that he holds himself, but the idea is anathema to Clark. Even if you don't choose to take on the burden of doing what you can, you have to clean up your own messes. And you certainly don't doom the world so you can run off and ignore it.

[slayers_desire]

"She has done it before mate." Spike went for a cigarette. April coughed, gesturing to her pregnant bump, and he put it away.

"But Willow says there is a way to grow a new Seed. So we have hope."

"That can make all the difference," April smiles softly.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"That doesn't make it right." If he knew where Buffy was, and if he was willing to leave April's side, he'd want to go and give her a piece of his mind for this. But he doesn't, and he isn't, so he's going to stay here.

"Do you know how?"