An acorn grows into a mighty oak ((tag Clark))

[slayers_desire]

In the past few weeks, Clark and April have been helping to mentor the Dryad spirit in her mental mindscape. They took the opportunity whenever they had free time -- which didn't come very often in their busy lives. But step by step, moment by moment, the Dryad was learning more about the world.

And with each visit, April felt a little piece of herself heal and get stronger.

The Voices were still not quite completely back, and there were times when they would have been a great assistance to the situation at hand -- but they took each day at a time. They handled each emergency the best way they could, using the strengths and abilities of other members of the JLA team.

Usually, Clark and April found time right before bed to take a moment in the mental mindscape. It seemed to suit their schedules. The children were asleep. And the their day was done. The only thing that would come up -- was the occasional need for Superman.

Tonight was one of those nights when they had no emergencies to handle. April was sitting on the bed, brushing out her hair quietly to herself. She felt they were closer to resolving the issue -- so she could have those abilities back in her life. In truth, she missed them.

Comments

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Clark watches her from the door, before he enters their room. Each night, they make progress. And each night, they have to stop before she's truly whole again. They have to go slow, this can't be rushed, but he still wishes that they could find the one thing that will bring her voices back in full strength.

And he's confident that eventually, they will be. It just calls for lots of patience.

[slayers_desire]

Each time they do this -- the Dryad does get a little older. When they enter the mental mindscape today, she looks to be in her 20s now. It is a comfort for April to see that progress.

It means her mind is getting stronger too.

Daphne always smiles seeing them. "Hello!"

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"Hi, Daphne," Clark greets her. "How've you been today?"

[slayers_desire]

"The tree has blooms!" Daphne points up to flowers that are starting to bud. "Isn't it wonderful!"

April gets a really good feeling about this. "Yes. It is."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Clark does too. "It's springtime," he agrees.

[slayers_desire]

"Once they all open, they will be able to speak again." Daphne smiles softly.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"New growth has to take place for the tree to be renewed," Clark says with a nod.

[slayers_desire]

"Is there anything we can do to help the tree be renewed?" April asks, a little hopeful that this time they will be able to do something.

"We need love."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"We have plenty of that."

[slayers_desire]

"Yes you do. And you have been so nice to share it. Do you think that I will find my own to share with?" Daphne asks.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"It's possible." Clark isn't really sure how that would work, but he's seen some strange things, enough that he won't say for certain that the answer is no.

[slayers_desire]

"You have your love for the tree." April steps forward. Touching the carving on the bark. Daphne watches her carefully.

"I wish to help it become more..."

"You want to help the tree to finally bloom. Yes. How?" April figures that a direct question might result in answers.

"A symbol of true love."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

It must not be as simple as it appears, Clark thinks, because otherwise the tree might have fully blossomed already. At the same time, he's also reminded somewhat of several years ago, when April was losing her soul, until she realized that he accepted all of her, vampire or not.

"There are many symbols like that."

[slayers_desire]

April nods in agreement. There are so many symbols, that she is not even sure where to start. "Even this engraving is a symbol," She touches the heart-shaped engraving.

"Yes. That is new..." Daphne replied.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"It first appeared when you did," Clark says to her.

[slayers_desire]

"No wonder I don't remember it. What does it mean?"

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"It's something that mostly young couples do. They carve a heart with their initials into a tree, and as long as the tree grows, the carving stays behind."

[slayers_desire]

"Does everyone get to be a couple?" Daphne asks.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"Not everyone." Clark won't lie to her about that. "Most people do, eventually. But for many people, the first person they love isn't necessarily the one they'll end up with for the rest of their lives."

[slayers_desire]

"That sounds sad. Did you ever have one of those?"

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"I loved a few other girls before I met April. I probably would've ended up with someone else, if I hadn't found the Nexus."

[slayers_desire]

"Our lives would have been much different without each other. We have both felt it..." April expresses the memory that the Partners had given them. The one of their lives without their love.

Daphne tilts her head. "You still loved each other, despite not knowing each other."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"You don't have to know someone to be attracted to them. And besides... even if we couldn't remember each other, I think subconsciously we knew."

[slayers_desire]

"Tell me about when you first knew?"

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"I'm not sure there was ever one single moment where I knew I was in love with her. It was gradual, something we grew into over time."