The quiet can be disconcerting ((tag Clark))

[slayers_desire]

It has been a few hours since Clark took April home. In that time, she fed. She bathed. And she tried to lie down for a little bit.

But she can not close her eyes for long. She can not go into a deep slumber. The quiet in her mind is like a blank canvas. Plus, it just gives her more time to go over and over again everything that she experienced.

Slowly, she is remembering the others using her fears against her. The claustrophobia. The flames and the heat of the fire. The fear of losing her children.

"Clark?" He was checking on the children for her, when she got cleaned up.
But April knows that she doesn't have to call out loudly to get his attention.

Comments

[kalel_ofkrypton]

He nods. "I'll get the kids around." Their two children are by far the most demanding task of the morning, by virtue of the boundless energy of youth.

[slayers_desire]

In a fashion, she can't wait to see her little bundles of energy. Jon always has a way of making her smile, no matter what. And Laura is finally out of teething stages, and is starting to explore more and more as a baby.

April takes the time to get dressed, and get a small breakfast ready. She and Clark don't need to eat a lot. So it is just an assortment of cereal, fruit, some toast, and babyfood for Laura.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Clark makes sure the dogs get fed this morning too, though Ree shoves her way under the table to sniff the floor for any dropped tidbits regardless.

He also calls in to work sick, providing an easy excuse for his absence today. He has a feeling that whatever they accomplish today, he's not going to have time for the Daily Planet.

[slayers_desire]

One nice thing about owning her own business is that April doesn't have to worry about calling in sick. She can go days without heading into the office, since she does most of her work at home.

"Ree... you pest."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Ree looks up at the sound of her name and wags her tail, happy for the attention. Clark ruffles the top of the dog's head. "Troublemaker."

[slayers_desire]

"We use that term so much, I wonder if she thinks it is her second name."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"Ree Troublemaker Kent has a nice ring to it."

[slayers_desire]

It is very relaxing to sit around the breakfast table with her children, and just spend a nice morning with them. It will be after they clean up, and set the children down by some educational toys, that April will finally settle on the couch. "Should we have someone just to watch them, when we do this?"

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"Might be a good idea. We should be able to concentrate on what we're doing." Clark loves their children, but they do demand a lot of attention.

[slayers_desire]

"We could call Chloe." April paused. Then remembers something. "There was a Tess in the Nexus, who told me that her Chloe and her Oliver had a child. They named him Jonathan."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"...popular name." Clark hadn't really expected it to be unique, but it does seem to be a name they run across often.

[slayers_desire]

"They named him after your father." April pulls out her PINpoint to make a call.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"Really?" Although it's an alternate Chloe and Oliver, Clark's still a bit touched by that.

[slayers_desire]

After making arrangements with Chloe for her to come over, April continues her conversation. "I met him. The Tess was babysitting him."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"I wonder when our Chloe and Oliver are going to have one of their own," Clark says, smiling a little. He thinks they'll both be good parents.

[slayers_desire]

They would be good parents, that is why April trusts them so with their children. "When they are ready... Mister Wants a Big Family, But I am Okay with That."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"If I remember right, someone else in this relationship wants a big family too."

[slayers_desire]

"Sure sure, that troublemaker seductive blonde." She winks at him, teasing slightly. "Of course, before we get to that step, we have to move first."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Chloe PINpoints in and smiles at them. "Hey, sorry to keep you waiting."

"It's all right," Clark assures her. "We don't expect you to be as quick as Bart."

[slayers_desire]

"We just need you to watch the children for a little bit. I don't think we will even be leaving the house. But perhaps you can take them out to the park?"

[smallvillians]

"Sure, I can keep them occupied. You two do your thing," Chloe says with a nod. She doesn't know what they're doing or why, but it sounds important and she's only interested in making sure they can do whatever it is.

[slayers_desire]

"Thanks."

Once Chloe has left with the children, April is able to turn her attention to the situation at the hand. She concentrates on the tree in her mental mindscape. "I'm ready, when you are."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Clark focuses on it too, joining her thoughts in the bond. "All right."

[slayers_desire]

Entering into the mindscape, April and Clark now stand near the oak tree in her mind. The illusion is so real, that April can reach out and touch the tree.

She is a little concerned about the welfare of the tree, since it had gone through a traumatic experience. She walks around the tree, just running her hand over the bark, until she comes to a point and stops. Her hand traces an engraved heart in the bark, with their initials.

"This is new."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Clark raises an eyebrow a little when he sees the new addition too. "I don't think I put that there."