taking time to heal

[slayers_desire]

For the next few days, April couldn't help but think of her friend Victor. Who had been captured by the alternate-Lionel Luthor, tortured and injured. It would take a lot of time for Victor to heal her wounds. There were also non-physical wounds too.

Cole didn't trust Clark. And Lionel was still out there. Plotting something.

Today, April was staring out to the city, her mind wandering today. Her PINpoint beeped in her hands. And she looked at it, reading the message waiting for her.

Clark should come home soon. And at least this message was a good one.

Comments

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"Hello Sophie," Clark says once he's back on his feet. He doesn't mind; the enthusiasm is welcome, though unexpected. "How're the twins?"

[slayers_desire]

"Beautiful. Would you like to hold one?" Sophie offers.

Mykal goes over to hug April. Not picking her up of course. "You look beautiful."

"Father told me that I should wear white." She laughed.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"Oh, may I?" It's good to get practice in, although it isn't quite the same as holding his own child, he's happy to give Sophie's arms a break from carrying at least one.

"Where is Spike?" he asks, once she mentions her father.

[slayers_desire]

It is a juggling act, but Sophie seemed practiced at it. She transfers one of the babies -- the boy -- into his arms.

"Spike is waiting at the ceremony area." Mykal explained. He takes April's arm, guiding them towards the area.

As they head that way, they will note other pregnant vampires, all of which are wearing white.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Clark's a little rusty at holding babies, something he hasn't done since the first day they had Evan, but it's like riding a bicycle in that you never really forget. "What does the white mean?" he asks as they get closer.

[slayers_desire]

"Purity. The innocence of the children they carry." Sophie explains, walkign beside Clark. "We do this ceremony twice a year. Ensuring every mother-to-be is involved."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"Twice a year's a good idea," he agrees once he thinks about it. Often enough that a pregnant woman in the community won't miss it, like she might if it was only once a year. It makes sure everyone gets included, no matter when she conceives.

And it's often enough that even in their world, with their strange timeflow, April's pregnancy fell during the right time to be included.

[slayers_desire]

"The women will be guided towards the lake, for their part of the ceremony. And you, as a husband, have a special area to participate."

April glanced back. "What do I have to do?"

"Nothing to difficult to remember."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"I'm sure you'll do fine, whatever you need to do."

[slayers_desire]

They reach the lake. There are a handful of pregnant woman at the shore. Stands to the left, which are filled with husbands. And another area, where the others of the community stand around to watch.

Spike is talking to a dark-haired, pregnant vampire by the beach. He spots Clark and April and heads over to where they wait. "Hey you two."

"Hello father." April smiled.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Clark shifts Sophie's son a little more onto one arm so he can offer up a friendly handshake. "Good to see you again, Spike."

[slayers_desire]

"You look good with a kid in your arms mate." Spike returned the handshake.

"Flirting with another woman, Father?" April teased softly. Spike chuckled softly. Not denying anything.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"I thought I'd give Sophie a hand," Clark says modestly.

And he certainly isn't going to judge Spike for trying to make connections with other vampires either. He knows his father-in-law's last attempted relationship didn't end as well as he'd hoped, so he's taking this as a good sign.

[slayers_desire]

"Get used to it mate. You won't want to let go of your own kid." Spike gently punched Clark's shoulder. Then shaked his hand from the vibration.

"There looks to be a lot of women to celebrate today." April notes.

"And you will be one of them my pet." Spike started to place some flowers into her braided hair.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"I have no problem with that." Already he can hardly wait to hold his own son or daughter, but they still have weeks upon weeks left to go. He doesn't mind holding Sophie's baby for the time being, of course.

[slayers_desire]

Mykal comes over to the couple. "April, we need you at the lake please. Clark, you can sit with the other husbands."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"Certainly." He makes sure to give April a kiss before they're separated, and hands the baby back to Sophie so she can care for her newborns.

[slayers_desire]

Sophie and Mykal head towards a little pedestal, where there is a chair waiting for the new mother and her twins. Mykal takes his place at the pedestal itself, the vampires hushing over the sight of their leader.

"Tonight we celebrate new life. These woman are carrying our future and we owe so much to everything they sacrifice."

The women start to enter the lake.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Clark isn't sure what to expect, so he sits with the other husbands and watches attentively. Of course, he only has eyes for his wife, sending little bursts of reassurance over the bond. She has to be a little nervous about this.

[slayers_desire]

The woman start to dance in the shallow areas of the lake. April has never done this before, but she follows along with ease. Using her voices to tell her what to do. The other woman are good at the dance... because they have seen the ceremony since they were young.

"Tonight we sacrifice for our beloved ones." Mykal rolls up his sleeve. The other husbands do the same. "To give our life for them."

Spike comes close to Clark. He whispers. "They won't expect you to do this mate."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Clark can take a guess on what they're going to do with their rolled up sleeves, something that he can't do under normal circumstances. "Because I'm an outsider?" he guesses, keeping his voice just as low.

[slayers_desire]

"You could say that. I can bleed for you instead, if you like." Spike offered.

"These are our children. Our future. We sacrifice for them." Mykal bares his fangs. So do the other husbands.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

If he'd known beforehand, he could've brought his blue kryptonite along. But he's polite enough not to say anything about it that might insult Spike.

He wouldn't ask Spike to do that. But he has offered. And it seems like it might be rude to leave their part in the ceremony incomplete. "If you're willing, I'd appreciate it."

[slayers_desire]

"I am glad to help my baby girl." Spike vamped out too. Together, all the husbands bite their wrists, and hold their bleeding wrists out. The blood collects and spills towards the lake, where it colors the water.

"Blood fuels us. Blood is our future. We bathe our children in the blood of their past, their present, their futures."

One by one, the woman go deeper so their bellies are covered by the bloody water.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

He feels a bit conspicuous, not doing the same thing as the others, even though he can't. So he focuses on the words, and the spirit of the whole thing, watching April. If he was capable, he would sacrifice in the same way right now, so he has to just hope that it counts.