Disclaimer: I don't own Smallville or these characters.
Author's Note: I love Little Clark!
That evening, Clark sat in his little booster seat at the kitchen table eating Maamaa's homemade pumpkin pie while his adoptive parents sipped tea. Jonathan was reading the paper, and Martha was knitting in the living room.
"Honey, I forgot to tell you," Martha called out to her husband. "We got an invitation today for a Christmas party at Nell's."
Jonathan frowned and set his paper and coffee mug down on the kitchen table. "Did she mention anything about children being allowed?"
"No, but I don't see why not. Little Lana will need someone to play with."
Jonathan shook his head. "We can't go, Martha. I don't trust anyone babysitting Clark, and we can't risk Clark showing his abilities off in front of those people."
"Jack Jennings just spent Thanksgiving with us," Martha argued.
"Sweetheart, I've known Jack for years. He loves Clark like a son. If he found out Clark's secret, he'd keep it with us. But some of these people who live in our town-" Jonathan shook his head again. "I know you don't get out too much, Martha, and I apologize. I'm sorry if you're feeling stuck on the farm with Clark, but-"
"I love Clark. I've been sending out his picture with our Christmas cards and telling everyone what a sweet boy we have. But I'm feeling trapped, Jonathan! I can't go anywhere except to town running errands, and half the time I don't even take Clark with me because I'm afraid he'll zoom down the aisle of the supermarket or start bench pressing the laundry baskets." Martha took a breath. "I want to get out. I want to be social. I haven't seen our friends and neighbors in a long time!"
"Maamaa no yell!" Clark cried, a tear running down his cheek. He hated it when his parents argued.
"Honey, just take a breath." Jonathan grabbed a coffee mug and started pouring his wife another cup of tea. "Go upstairs and calm down." He went into the living room and handed the tea to his wife. "We'll talk later, I promise," he whispered. "We can't argue in front of Clarkie."
Martha smiled. "Okay." She gave her husband a warm kiss, mostly to show Clark that everything was all right. "Can you tuck Clark in?"
"Of course."
Martha was considerably calm as she slid into bed a little later, wearing a cotton nightgown and sipping the last of her tea. She loved living on the farm with Jonathan, but she and her husband had always been somewhat socially isolated. Things had gotten even worse when they had adopted Clark; Clark had special abilities that others couldn't know about. Having a cup of coffee at the Beanery or wondering into Nell's flower shop to look at all of the tulips simply wasn't an option anymore, not when you had a three-year-old who could run around the entire store in the blink of an eye.
Jonathan came into the master bedroom and closed the door behind him. He sighed. "I'm sorry, sweetie. I want to go to holiday parties, too, but I think it's too early to introduce Clark to our neighbors. He's a little boy who's having trouble understanding the language and culture—that alone is hard to explain!"
Martha nodded solemnly. "I know, but I need to get out, honey. I'm getting cabin fever. Christmas is a time that we need to spend together, I know, but there are other people I want to share the holiday spirit with besides you and Clark."
Jonathan smiled. "How about you can go to Nell's party, and I can come by later with Clark. I'll say a quick hello to everyone, pick you up, and take you home."
Martha sighed. "I think that's the best way," she admitted.
"It's okay, Martha. Things will get better as Clark grows older, I promise." Jonathan took his wife in his arms and planted her cheeks with several warm kisses. "But at least we never have a dull moment with Clark."
Martha groaned. "You can say that again."
