Cast A Spell
Smallville – The Kent Farm
Having smoothed things over with Madame Xanadu, Clark and Zee decided to give it another try at sharing the news. They along with Nimue arrived at the farm to tell Martha Kent and Kara. Zee transported them from New York to the Kent front yard. Nimue stood for a moment and looked around.
"Did we go back in time?' She asked.
"This is the farm Clark grew up on Nimue,' Zee informed her. She added a look as a warning. Nimue nodded and smiled as she turned to Clark.
"Very rustic."
"Um, thanks,' Clark replied, not sure how to take that.
The door opened and Kara came outside. She smiled as she saw Clark and Zee.
"Thank God, visitors!"
She rushed down the steps and hugged Clark. Martha Kent stepped out of the house and stood on the porch.
"No phone out here is like being Amish, Clark,' Kara said. "I'm going stir crazy!"
"They don't have a phone?" Madame Xanadu whispered to Zee. "Are you sure we haven't gone back in time?"
"I'm sure they have a phone, Nimue,' Zee whispered in reply. She glanced around and really didn't see anything except fields stretching out in every direction. "At least I think they do."
Clark looked over and laughed, before turning his attention back to Martha Kent.
"Ma, I'd like you to meet Zatanna and well, her mother, Madame Xanadu."
"Hi, Mrs., Kent,' Zee offered.
"Hello." Nimue added.
"Well, hello,' Martha replied with a smile. "I must say you two look more like sisters than mother and daughter.'
"Thank you!" Nimue said with a big smile. She nudged Zee with her shoulder.
"Oh, don't get that look, she was just being nice,' Zee whispered to Nimue.
"Snot."
"Well, why don't you all come inside,' Martha offered. "I'm just finishing some baking and I'll put on some coffee."
"Sounds lovely,' Nimue offered.
"Her baking is the only good part of being neo-Amish,' Kara explained. Shaking his head, Clark ushered everyone up the front steps and into the house.
They all went through the preliminary, getting to know you chitchat over coffee and homemade coffee cake and then the big moment came.
"Um, Ma, I imagine you're wondering why I brought Zatanna and Madame Xanadu out here today. Well, we have some news."
"The three of you?" Kara asked.
"Actually just those two,' Nimue replied. "I wasn't really involved so it wasn't anything weird or freaky if that's what you're thinking."
Zee elbowed Nimue. Martha looked at them all for a moment.
"So what's the news, Clark?" Kara asked.
He looked at Zee and nodded. She smiled and then took a deep breath.
"I'm pregnant!'
"Well, congratulation, dear,' Martha replied, not quite understanding why they came all this way to tell her. She was happy for the young woman.
"Congrats, Zee, so who's the daddy?" Kara asked. "I didn't even think you were dating."
"Um, that's sort of why we're here," Clark explained. "I'm the father."
"WHAT?" Both Kara and Martha gasped in shock and surprise.
"He knocked her up,' Nimue offered as explanation. This earned her another elbow from Zee.
"How? When? Why?' Martha couldn't seem to form complete sentences; she was so shocked by the news. Clark started to fumble with an explanation, but Zee decided to jump in.
"I asked Clark to help me, Mrs. Kent,' she explained. "I made the decision to have a child. I know it isn't the normal way, but I was ready and this is the best time. I put a lot of thought into this. I realized that I could wait, but I didn't want to. I want to have children, they are very important to me. I asked Clark to help me and he did."
"You're going to be a grandma, Ma,' Clark added with a smile. "And an aunt, Kara.'
"Really? That's so fantastic!" Kara shouted. She rushed over and hugged Zee. "I'll be the best aunt ever, Zee, I promise!"
"Thanks, Kara, I know you will, but you're kind of crushing me right now,' Zee managed to say.
"Oh, sorry,' Kara replied, quickly letting Zee go. "Still, it's fantastic!"
Zatanna took a deep breath and adjusted her clothes, but managed a smile.
"Ma?" Clark said.
"Well, this-this is all surprising news,' Martha offered. "Congratulations, dear."
"Thank you, Mrs. Kent,' Zee replied.
"Please, call me Martha, since we're going to be related."
"Okay, Martha."
"So I take it you two aren't getting married?" Martha asked.
"Um, no." Clark replied.
"I see."
"It's really not like that, Ma,' Clark offered.
"So you got this young lady pregnant and you're not marrying her?' Martha asked her son. Now both Clark and Zatanna were uncomfortable.
"I, um, wanted to get pregnant, Martha,' Zee said.
"And your son knew this from the outset, "Nimue added. "She wasn't trying to trap him or anything, if that's what you're wondering."
"You're not helping, Nimue,' Zee whispered.
"So how is this going to work,' Martha asked. "I know Kara thinks I'm ancient, but I am aware that people don't always get married when they have a child. I take it you asked my son to help you get pregnant, Zatanna?"
"Yes."
"So you were together once and managed it?"
"Well not exactly once,' Clark reluctantly replied.
"Oh, really?" Martha said. "So you two have been together 'trying' for a while now?"
Clark and Zee looked at each other.
"Well, not a long while.'
"Right, just a few weeks, really,' Zee added. This wasn't going any better than it had when they told Nimue, she thought. In her mind it seemed like it would go smoother telling people she was pregnant.
"Several weeks, really?" Martha said. "So what exactly are you two? Boyfriend girlfriend? Lovers? I just want to be clear on this.'
The uncomfortable feeling hung over the room.
"We-We hadn't really put a name on it, Ma.' Clark finally answered. Frankly, Clark was a little uncomfortable discussing his love life with his mother, actually, very uncomfortable discussing his love life with his mother. Martha nodded her head and then turned her attention to Zee.
"So do you want to marry my son, Zatanna?"
"Excuse me?" Zee replied, squirming in her seat.
"She asked if you wanted to marry her son,' Nimue said, repeating Martha's words. "I've been wondering that myself."
Zatanna flashed a dirty look at Nimue, but she only smiled in return.
"Zatanna?" Martha said.
"We, well, we haven't really talked about anything like that, Martha."
Martha nodded and then turned back to Clark.
"And what about you, young man? You were willing to slept with this young woman, is that all you were thinking about too?"
"Awkward,' Kara said with a snort.
"No, ma, that wasn't the only thing I was thinking about,' Clark replied. It was a big part, but he wasn't about to tell that to Martha Kent. "We were trying to get Zee pregnant that was sort of the main focus."
"And I am,' Zee added. "I'm pregnant, yeah!"
Martha smile, but didn't reply to Zee. Instead she turned her attention to Madame Xanadu.
"You're her mother, Nimue, how do you feel about all of this?"
"Well, Martha, I'm not her biological mother, more of an adopted mother, really,' Nimue explained. "I've tried to do my best but you know kids these days, they have a mind of their own. What are you going to do?'
Under the table Zee kicked Nimue.
"You threw me under the bus,' Zee whispered in Nimue's ear.
"I'm you're mother here, I'm allowed to,' Nimue whispered in reply.
"Ma, I want to be in our child's life, if that's what you're worried about,' Clark said. "Zee and I have discussed this and agreed."
"Yes! Yes,' Zee jumped in. "I want you all to be apart of this, if you want to be. I want my baby to have a family, with grandmas and aunts, the whole schmear!'
They all just looked at her for a moment.
"What? Too ethnic?"
"Come on, Ma, you're going to be a grandma,' Kara said to Martha. "I get to be an aunt! This is great news!"
Martha looked at Kara and then at Clark and Zatanna. Finally she smiled.
"I guess you're right, I'm just sort of old fashion about these things,' Martha admitted. "This is wonderful news, honey. I'm very happy for you Zatanna."
"Thank you, Martha."
"We should have some champagne to celebrate!" Kara suggested.
"You don't drink when you're pregnant, Kara, everyone knows that,' Martha said. Madame Xanadu leaned forwards and looked at Clark.
"Not quite everyone, Martha,' Nimue said.
"What?"
"I may have opened a bottle of champagne to toast with Zatanna the good news,' Clark reluctantly told Martha. "It was just a sip, really."
"Kara, hit him for being stupid, would you?" Martha said. Kara immediately punched Clark in the arm.
"Ow!"
"Could you hit him once for me too?" Madame Xanadu asked.
"Sure!"
"Ow!
The Watchtower – Later
Zatanna transported in and practically hopped off the transporter pad. She couldn't wait to tell her friends the good news. It had to go better this time than the first two.
"You look very happy tonight, Zatanna,' Jonn observed.
"I am, Jonn! I've got wonderful news!"
"Congratulations on the pregnancy, Zatanna."
"What? How did you know?" She asked. "Did you read my mind?"
"No, of course not,' Jonn replied. "You're not exactly shielding your thoughts at the moment. You're practically shouting I'm PREGNANT at the top of your thoughts. As I said, congratulations."
"Oh, right, well, thanks, Jonn,' Zee said. "Where are the others? I want to tell them the good news!"
I believe they are in the cafeteria at the moment. They arrived back from a mission just a short time ago."
"Thanks!"
"Oh, if you will, please tell Madame Xanadu I had a wonderful time,' Jonn called after her. "Also that I look forward to Friday night."
This stopped Zatanna and she slowly turned around.
"Friday night?"
"Yes, we're going out to another restaurant together."
"Another date?" Zee asked.
"I suppose you could call it that,' Jonn offered.
"Lovely,' Zee offered. Inside she was cringing at the very thought, but hoped he couldn't read that too. "Um, well, see you."
Zee exited as quickly as possible. Jonn just smiled and went back to his work.
The Cafeteria
Most of the heroes were at assorted tables. Their attention was drawn to Plastic Man, as he had turned himself into a unicycle and was juggling for Dinah. She had both her hands in her hair just staring at the table. Zatanna came into the room and walked over to Plastic Man and tapped him on the shoulder.
"Circus girl, how can I help you?" Plastic Man said.
"Stop."
"Okay."
He transformed back into his usual shape and sat down. Zee moved over to the center of the room to make her big announcement
"Everybody, if I could have your attention, I've got some big news!"
The other members all stopped what they were doing and turned towards her. Zee was practically bursting with the news.
"I'M PREGNANT AND I'M HAVING A BABY!" She screamed.
The entire room went into an uproar. Dinah, Shayera and Mari jumped up and raced over to hug her. Screams and shouts of joy overlapped each other so that you really couldn't make out anything anyone was saying, but you could tell they were all very happy. More members came over to hugged and congratulated Zatanna. Wally hugged her and then every other woman in the cafeteria. For once they didn't hit him, too caught up in the excitement to protest. He was just hugging Zee for the fourth time when things slowed down enough for questions to be asked.
"So when did you find out?'
"Just the other day, isn't it amazing,' Zee replied.
"Do you know whether it's a boy or a girl, yet?'
"No, it's too soon, but I'll be happy with either, as long as it's a girl,' Zee replied. Everyone laughed at this.
"So who's the father,' Dinah asked.
"Hmm? What was that?' Zee replied.
"The father,' Dinah said. 'You know, the man that made the baby with you. Who is it?"
"Is that really important right now?" Zee offered. "I'm going to have a baby!"
This brought more hugs and screams all around. Wally hugged everyone again.
"So seriously, who's the father,' Dinah asked when they all calmed down again.
"Why do you care, Dinah, the important thing is I'm pregnant,' Zee replied. Jeez, she always does that, ask the annoying question. No wonder Ollie's such a cheating lout. Yeah, he's a nice guy and charming, but you can't trust him further than you can throw him, Zee thought.
"What's the big mystery, Zee,' Dinah pressed ahead.
"Yeah, come to think of it, I didn't even know you were dating anyone,' Shayera added.
"Well, I'm not technically,' Zee offered. "I asked someone to help me have a baby, cause I knew this was the right time for me."
"A stud?" Dinah replied. "So you're not getting married?"
"What are you writing an article for the Enquirer, Dinah?' Zee snapped. "I'm having a baby, let's focus on that. Big picture, okay?"
"You asked someone to be a stud for you and didn't ask me,' Wally said. "I'm hurt, Zee, I thought we were friends."
"You're in love, remember?'
"Oh, yeah, that's right,' Wally replied. "Well, then I guess it's okay. Congratulations on having a baby!"
"Thank you, Wally, but you've already hugged me like six times, that's the limit,' Zee informed him.
"I was just caught up in the moment,' he offered.
"Sure you were," Zee snidely replied. "You were being your usual pervy self, but I'm too happy right now, so I'll let it go."
"Wow, I kind of wish you'd gotten pregnant more often,' Wally said with a big smile. "Ow!"
He turned around to see Shayera staring at him.
"I'm not pregnant, so stop being a perv,' she said to him.
"Did you want to be?"
Shayera started to take a step towards him, but Wally quickly moved over behind Diana and Karen.
"So who's the father, Zee?" Dinah asked again. "Is it someone in the League?"
"Um, yes,' Zatanna reluctantly admitted.
"Who?"
Now everyone was interested in who the father was. Zee suddenly felt everyone's eyes on her. She especially felt Diana and Karen's eyes on her. Why does this always go better in my head then it does in real life, she absently wondered.
"So who is the father, Zatanna,' Diana asked.
"Yeah, we should probably congratulate him too,' Karen added.
"That's what I'm afraid of,' Zee muttered under her breath.
"Just tell us, Zee,' Dinah said.
Zee whispered something, but it was so low nobody heard her.
"Who?"
"Um, well, it's Clark."
"WHAT?" Diana and Karen shouted at the same time.
"Jonn, get ready for emergency beam out,' Zee whispered into her communicator.
"Way to go, Big Blue!" Wally said with a laugh and a fist pump. Karen and Diana turned and looked at him. Wally gulped and quickly moved over behind Shayera.
"You know I'm still going to hit you, don't you?' Shayera asked him.
"Yes, but rather you than them,' he replied.
Everyone waited for the two super powered women's reaction. They both seemed extremely angry and more than a bit shocked by the news. Finally, Karen turned to Diana.
"Could I have a word with you, Diana? In private.'
"Yes."
The two walked quickly out of the cafeteria. Something about the look on the two's faces made everyone a bit uneasy. Well, almost everyone uneasy.
"Wow, your pregnancy even brought those two together,' Wally offered. "It's like a miracle!"
The Watchtower – Much Later
The in-betweeners are just as important to an organization as their more flashy associates. In Baseball it would be said of them, they do the things that don't show up in the box score. Whenever you get people spending a lot of time together there are bound to be irritations and conflicts. Everyone gets bored. The in-betweeners help take the edge of things. They're the ones that on a rainy Tuesday bring in home baked cookies or tell a stupid jokes just when everyone is especially down and provide that much needed laugh. They do a million little things that somehow help everyone else making it through the day.
The lounge on the Watchtower is another place for members to relax between missions. It had a panoramic view of space, plus a few video screens and some comfortable chairs and couches spread out. During the down times, if they are not in the cafeteria or their quarters, you could usually find the members here. At one table, Dinah was sitting with Wally and Ollie.
"He won't take a hint,' Dinah groaned. Her head was down resting on her crossed arms on the table.
"He likes you, what's so bad about that?" Wally asked.
"I can't stand him,' Dinah replied. "I've tried, believe me, I've tried to at least tolerate him, but something about Plastic Man just annoys me. I really think I'm starting to hate him. He's like accidently walking into a cobweb and having it brush against your face. It just sends this horrible shiver through your system. It's just something on a genetic level with me, I think, I can't stand him!"
"That's a little dramatic, isn't it?" Ollie asked. "He's harmless. You should be flattered."
"This is your fault in the first place, Ollie, so I don't want to hear it from you!"
"How is it my fault?" Ollie asked.
"If you were a better boyfriend, he wouldn't think he had a chance,' Dinah informed him.
"She does have a point there, buddy,' Wally added. "You gave him the opening and he's running with it."
"Thank for the help, Wally." Ollie sarcastically said.
"Anytime, pal, that's what I'm here for,' Wally said with a smile.
"If you weren't such a shitty boyfriend, I wouldn't be in this mess,' Dinah grumbled.
"I'm not that bad,' Ollie protested.
"Do you remember the 'gift' you got me for my last birthday?" Dinah asked.
"Yes, flowers and something really nice from Victoria's Secret,' Ollie replied. "I picked those out special! What was wrong with that?'
Ollie leaned over to Wally.
"The outfit was from page 87 in the catalog. Just amazing."
Wally thought for a second and then a big grin came to his face.
"Page 87? Seriously?" He suddenly turned and looked at Dinah and his smile got even bigger. "Wow!"
She smacked him.
"Don't look at me like that,' she said and then turned her attention to Ollie. "Do you also remember the card as well, Ollie?"
"That was a mistake." He squirmed a little bit.
"What did it say?" Wally asked.
"It was supposed to say can't wait to see you in this, love Ollie,' Ollie replied.
"Well that sounds nice,' Wally offered.
"Actually the whole message was, Lola, can't want to see you in this, love Ollie." Dinah corrected Ollie.
"Ouch!" Wally groaned. "That had to hurt."
"There must have been a mix up at the florist, I told you that, Di,' Ollie said in his defense. "You can't blame me if somewhere in the distribution chain things got mixed up."
"The card was in your hand writing, Ollie,' Dinah fired back.
"A forgery?" Ollie offered.
"Douchebag! This is what I was talking about; you need to step up your game, Ollie. I'm tired of your crap,' Dinah informed him.
"Well we all can't be Superman,' Ollie snidely remarked. "You seemed to just love when he told you how beautiful he thought you were. Why don't you tell Plastic Man you're in love with Clark? I'm sure he's a much better boyfriend. Maybe he'll even knock you up like Zee."
"You did have a big smile on your face, Dinah,' Wally added. "If I'd have been betting that day, I'd have bet on you being the one he knocked up first."
"You're still pushing that smiling theory of yours? He complimented me, what was I supposed to do?' Dinah asked.
"Well, have you seen Zee lately, she's smiling so much she's making the Joker jealous," Wally replied. "You can poo-poo my theory, but they scoffed at Tesla too, and he still went on to form a rockin' heavy metal band."
Dinah looked at Wally for a moment.
"That isn't the same guy, oh just forget it,' she said. "If it wasn't for Zee I just might tell Plastic Man that I'm in love with Clark! I'll bet that would work better than telling him you're my boyfriend, Ollie!"
"Well, if I understood it right, Clark was only helping Zee get pregnant, wasn't he?' Ollie countered. He was a little pissed by her accusation, even thought it was probably true. "So the field's clear, Di, tell Plastic Man anything you want!"
"Okay, maybe I will!" She shouted back.
They stared at each other for several moments, the anger plain in both their expressions. Wally suddenly felt very uncomfortable sitting with them. The silence just continued.
Across the lounge, Mary and Courtney were playing video games. It had been Mary's turn to choice and as always it was Barbie themed. This time it was Barbie Sparkling Ice Show and Mary was winning by a large margin.
"I hate this game, Courtney said in frustration. "I'm a girl and this is too girly for me. I mean Barbie and ice-skating? Let's play something else."
"I wanted to play Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, but you said no,' Mary replied.
"Well, everyone thought you got a little too carried away with the airport attack segment,' Courtney explained.
"That's part of the game!" Mary exclaimed.
"You just seemed a little too enthusiastic about mowing down the civilians, Mary."
"I was supposed to be undercover as a terrorist in the game," Mary explained. "I wanted to establish my cover and get some street cred with the terrorists!"
"Didn't you try and figure out a way to challenge the terrorist leader for control of the cell?"
""Well, if he wasn't going to step up, someone had to,' Mary said in her defense.
"Maybe we should just put the games away for awhile."
"You're just saying that cause I was winning,' Mary replied. "My Barbie was figure skating circles around yours."
The door to the lounge opened and Zatanna came walking in. She glanced at the table where Wally, Dinah and Ollie were sitting but could instantly feel the negative vibe coming from there. She was in a good mood, a great mood and didn't want anything to bring her down. There was an old jukebox that sat in the corner of the lounge. With Pandora and all the other options out there a jukebox seemed like something from another time. Everyone had their own MP3 players, so when they wanted music they put on their headphones and played their own music.
Music is meant to be shared, though.
It has the ability to cut through any language barrier and speak to something more elemental in all of us. It taps into emotions and moods. Zatanna walked over to the jukebox and scrolled through the selections. Putting a quarter into the slot, she punched the number for a song. It was an old song, but some tunes no matter how corny they might seem, just make you smile. Zatanna selected Brenton Wood's Oogum Boogum.
As the piano started and then was joined by the drums, Zee began to tap her foot. The vocals began and her hips began to sway as she stood in front of the jukebox.
Oogum oogum boogum boogum
boogum now baby you're castin' your spell on me
I say, "Oogum oogum boogum boogum
boogum now baby you're castin' you're spell on me."
You got me doin' funny things like a clown
just look at me.
They hadn't spoken for several minutes, but slowly Dinah, Ollie and Wally began to tap their feet along with the song. Sitting on one of the couches, Mary set the game controller down and began to bob her head along with the tune. Courtney smiled and shook her head.
When you wear your high heeled boots with your hip hugger suit
its all right, you're outta sight
and you wear that cute mini skirt with your brother's sloppy shirt
I admit it, girl that I can dig it
well then I says...
Zee began to swivel on her heels back and forth, as her head bobbed to the tune. Wally began to move his shoulders back and forth to the beat, leaning to one side and then the other. Ollie began to nod along, moving forward and backwards. Dinah began to do a little modified twist in her chair.
Oogum oogum boogum boogum
boogum now baby you're castin' your spell on me
I say, "Oogum oogum boogum boogum
boogum now baby you're castin' your spell on me."
You got me doin' funny things like a clown
just look at me.
Mary stood up and pulled Courtney with her. They began doing the Frug and the Swim, laughing as they got into the song. Zee raised her arms over her head, waving them as she moved her body. Ollie began snapping his fingers to the beat, dancing with his head and shoulders.
When you wear your bell bottom pants
I just stand there in a trance
I can't move, you're in the groove
would you believe little girl that I am crazy 'bout you
now go on with your bad self.
Wally broke out his best water sprinkler, while Dinah let her whole body do the Twist while sitting in her chair. Mary and Courtney climbed up on one of the tables showing off their moves.
Ooooo my my my babys got that spell on me
Ooooo now mercy, mercy on me
when you wear those big earrings, long hair, and things
you got style, girl, that sure is wild
and you wear that cute trench coat and you're standin' and posin'
you got soul, you got too much soul.
Zee had her eyes closed as she slowly spun around, dancing. Wally couldn't sit any longer and got up and moved over to where Mary and Courtney were dancing and joined them. He added his robot to the mix. Dinah and Ollie sat across from each other smiling as they chair danced to the song.
I just say who got the blues say who got the blues
say who got the blues now castin' your spell on me
Well I say, "Who got the blues say who got the blues..."
The door to the lounge opened. Batman stood watching all of this with an incredulous look on his face.
"It's like Charlie Brown's Christmas in this place.'
He shook his head, turned and walked away.