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]

He smiles at her, and uses a mild version of his heat vision, almost like drying off in the sun after a swim. He finishes it with a kiss. "Better?"

[slayers_desire]

"Much better. Thank you." She kisses him again.

They walk to the village square, where there are some tables set up. The wives are sitting at the tables. The husbands aren't currently. There is a chair waiting for April.

"I get the sense there is still more to this ceremony."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"I guess you'd better take your seat, then," he says, escorting her over.

[slayers_desire]

April sits down with a soft chuckle. She watches as the husband prepare to serve their wives. Spike goes with Clark, to help him learn the ceremony.

"We serve our beloved ones. We ensure that they are healthy. That they have the nourishment needed." Mykal speaks again. He is at another table, one with him and his wives.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Clark welcomes the assistance, since mimicking what he sees the others doing will only get him so far. And while the vampire community here has been perfectly accepting of him not knowing their ways, he'd still like to avoid making any embarrassing mistakes of etiquette. "Thanks," he whispers, to avoid interrupting the ceremony.

[slayers_desire]

"No problems mate. This one is easy. Just choose healthy foods for your wife, and serve her." Spike explained. The table was full of fruits, vegetables, cheeses and milks. And there was blood there too.

"Husbands, serve your beloved ones." Mykal instructs. There are some husbands who just place the plate in front of their wives. Some who lovingly feed their wives. April watches them all, amazed at how well connected the community is. No one is left out.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Clark takes a balanced selection, choosing things that he knows she'll like, and brings it over to the table. Guess I get to spoil you some more, he teases her, offering a morsel at a time.

[slayers_desire]

You already spoil me a lot April mentally replied. She felt a little shy about this. But did like the caring gesture of Clark offering her the food. And gently took the food from him.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

He doesn't want to hand-feed her like she can't feed herself, but neither does he want to simply put it in front of her and make her do all the work. So it's a good middle ground, passing each bit of food to her as she wants it, and making sure she gets a good serving of blood as well. Hey, most girls would love to have their guy wait on them hand and foot.

[slayers_desire]

I didn't say that I didn't enjoy it. I am just a little... April can't express the shy feelings. But she knows he will understand.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

I know. Even without the bond to make things clear between them, he thinks he'd probably still get it.

[slayers_desire]

After ensuring that their wives are fed first, the husbands can sit down at the tables themselves. And the meal turns into a community feast of visiting and socializing.

Spike sits by the couple. "How are you two doing?"

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"Better," Clark says, not wanting to drag down the tone of the evening by mentioning the latest troubles, focusing instead on the positives. "We've settled into our new apartment. You should come by sometime."

[slayers_desire]

"A new apartment huh?" Spike knows about the attack on the farm. April had told him after all. "Feel safer luv?"

"I do. We have made the apartment our home."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"And we're not at risk from government action anymore," he adds. "Not officially sanctioned, anyhow."

[slayers_desire]

"It is difficult when you have to deal with government interference." Spike acknowledged. "That is why I like it here... the government is less strict."

"This is a beautiful community. It looks like you have made it your home." April replies. Reaching out to touch Spike's hand.

"Yah luv... I think I could stay here. But we still have to take care of some things back in our home universe too."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"Have things gotten any better?" Clark asks.

[slayers_desire]

"Without the Seed of Wonder, things are still bad." Spike speaks softly. Regret in his voice. "The Zompires are tough enemies to fight."

April squeezed her father's hand. "We will fix it."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"Is there anything we can do to help?" Even if there isn't, his sense of honor and duty to help people compels him to ask. He may not know April's world as well as his own, but it's important to her, and there are innocent people caught in the crossfire who never deserved to be there.

[slayers_desire]

"Not yet." It is not Spike who speaks, but April. She has that far-away look in her eyes. And she touches her belly. "We can not embark on the mission to find the Seed of Wonder, until after our child is born."

"You see something Pet?" Spike knows that look.

"We do play an important part in restoring peace to our home universe, father. You and me. And Clark too. But right now... would just be a risk to my child. And I can't take that risk."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"I guess that's fair enough." He's not eager to put their child in danger either. He just regrets that the people of her world will be forced to endure until then. But if it will take them all to be successful... they have no choice but to wait until April can come.

[slayers_desire]

"We are making headway. We still protect those who need it." Spike knows that would be important for April to hear.

"Just like the Darkness." April whispered. "We work against it. But it is not quite time to stop it."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"Waiting for the right time is one of the hardest parts of the job." It's something he thinks he's finally gaining a mastery of, though he's been trying for years. Patience can be invaluable to a hero.

"We'll put a stop to it. In both worlds," he promises.

[slayers_desire]

"And little Acorn will have a brighter future to be grow up into."

"Acorn?" Spike chuckled.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"Just saying 'the baby' was getting a little awkward," Clark explains with a smile. "And a baby oak tree is an acorn, so..."