a growing son, a happy family

[slayers_desire]

It was another good day for April and Jonathan. Their growing infant was learning more words, which was good since they didn't have to explain the S'man as much anymore.

Right now, Jonathan was trying to play with Shelby. But the older dog was just lying there, as he rolled a ball towards her. And called out... "B'll!"

April watched with interest. Definitely there was a connection there, between infant and dog. But the disconnect was that Jonathan had a lot of energy, while Shelby did not.

Comments

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Shelby still has his moments of energy, but he's getting old, and enjoys just lounging around with his family. He wags his tail once or twice, but doesn't move to chase the ball, choosing instead to watch the baby playing near him. Jonathan is a new pup in the family, and Shelby sees it as his responsibility to keep him out of trouble, but he's playing harmlessly right now. All is well, in Shelby's world.

[slayers_desire]

"B'll?" Jonathan tries again, tossing the ball towards Shelby.

"I don't think he wants to play sweetie."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

The sound of the door opening has Shelby's ears perking up a bit, and he raises his head to look at who's coming in. It's Clark, home from a long day at the Daily Planet, glad to set aside his human job for the rest of the day and just be himself with his family.

"Hey there, kiddo," Clark says to Jonathan with a smile.

[slayers_desire]

"Dede dede!" Jonathan starts crawling towards his father, the ball forgotten.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"Hey, look at you!" It makes Clark proud to see his son's progress, even though it doubtlessly means that he'll be getting into everything, now that he can get around. He picks up Jonathan once eager little hands and feet get him close enough to Daddy. "You're going to be zipping around before we know it."

Shelby wags his tail, seeing who it is, and gets up to greet him, moving a little stiffly.

[slayers_desire]

"At least he isn't literally zipping around." April chuckles lightly.

Jonathan puts a hand into his mouth. He looks down at Shelby. "B'll!"

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"Not yet, anyway." Clark follows Jonathan's gaze. "Were you playing with Shelby?"

[slayers_desire]

"He was trying. Mostly it was rolling the ball towards Shelby. Jonathan getting the ball. And rolling it again."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"At least he can entertain himself." Clark reaches down and gives Shelby a pat with his free hand. "Not in the mood for fetch, huh boy?"

[slayers_desire]

Jonathan reaches out for the dog, at the same time as his dad does.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Clark kneels down a bit so that Shelby's furry head is in the baby's reach, and Shelby licks Jonathan's face in a doggy kiss, almost as if apologizing for not wanting to play with him.

"He looks all right." Clark was a bit worried that maybe Shelby was sick, but the dog seems fine to him.

[slayers_desire]

"He just is getting old." April notes softly. "Doesn't have a lot of energy for a little baby."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"You're right... it just seems like he's been around forever." It's been over eight years since Shelby became part of the Kent family, and LuthorCorp records put him around three years old when Lex released him to Clark's custody. And now that Clark's looking for it, he can see a bit of grey around the dog's muzzle and ears, showing his age.

[slayers_desire]

"And he has been such a good boy this whole time." April joins in with the petting of Shelby.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Shelby wags his tail, not sure why his people are paying such close attention to him, but not minding one bit. Especially when he hears the words 'good boy.' He is a good boy, and he knows it.

"The best dog a family could ask for," Clark agrees.

[slayers_desire]

"A great dog, who deserves less baby time." April gently stops Jonathan from pulling a doogy ear.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"He doesn't seem to mind too much." Shelby's always been very patient with the baby, even when curious fingers start pulling on fur a bit too hard. And Clark's sure that Jonathan will learn how to use a soft touch before too long.

[slayers_desire]

"With all the baby time he gets, he is used to it." When Clark goes to work, it is generally just the three of them at home.

"B'll?" Jonathan looks at Clark.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"He's pretty patient though. If he didn't want to put up with Jonathan, he wouldn't." Clark gives the dog an extra scruffing around the ears.

"Ball?" he repeats to Jonathan. "Where is the ball?" He knows perfectly well, of course, but he loves testing their son to see what he remembers.

[slayers_desire]

Jonathan squirms slightly in his arms. He wants down, so he can show daddy where the ball is.

"He is pretty patient with me too."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Clark obliges, putting their son down on the floor so he can go get it. Or try to, anyway; it's hard to hold onto things and crawl at the same time, for someone Jonathan's age.

"We are pretty lucky to have him. Not all dogs are so well-behaved."

[slayers_desire]

The difficult part will be remembering where he put it, and Jonathan pauses when he is placed on the ground. Looking around for the ball.

"We are lucky. I dread the day when we don't have him anymore."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"Me too. He probably has at least a few more years in him." Clark's a bit worried that Jonathan will be old enough to understand that Shelby's gone, by the time that happens. He wants to keep their son sheltered from that sort of concept until he's older, but he knows that it isn't likely to happen, and he has to learn sometime.

"I think this place would feel emptier without a good dog like him around."

[slayers_desire]

"Definitely. Jonathan has bonded so much with him."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"Maybe we should consider getting a puppy." This was most certainly not something Clark had considered before this very minute, nor something he expected to suggest. Their apartment is spacious enough for another dog, having been bought with a family in mind, but he hadn't thought about needing another dog before.