Clark's POV
I woke up and my room was dark. And there were noises coming from outside my window and I think it sounded like rain. Then there was a loud sound. I could have screamed, but I covered my mouth so I didn't.
I knew that the sound was called thunder and it happened when it rained. What I didn't understand was why it had to be so loud and scary. I shouldn't be so scared of a sound. It's not like it can hurt me, right? Mommy always told me that I was being stupid, but I couldn't help it. I didn't like it.
There was a flash of light and then the loud sound came back. I wanted it to stop. I threw the covers my head and held my bear close. I started crying, I didn't like it.
First the dream and now this.
After a few minutes, I didn't feel any better and it seemed like the storm was getting worse and the sounds were getting louder and louder. I took my bear and left my room. I hope I didn't get in trouble for being out of bed, but I was scared.
I went into Nick and Jeff's room. I knew when they said I could come get them when I needed something didn't mean this, but I needed this to stop. Though, I don't think they can control the weather. I saw Jeff sleeping and although, I didn't want to wake him, another sound of thunder and I started to shake him.
Jeff's POV
I slowly open my eyes at the feeling of someone shaking me. Once I'm sort of wake, I see that it's Clark waking me up. I rub my eyes and sit up a little bit. I take a look at him and he looks upset and scared. And then I listened and realized there must be a storm tonight.
"Hey, what's the matter?" I asked. "Did you have a bad dream?" I know it might be because of the thunder, but he had the look I used to have whenever I had a bad dream and would go into my mom's room. Clark nods and then I hear thunder, along with a frightened scream from Clark. I guess the thunder was scaring him as well.
"Shh, it's okay."
"I know, it's only a sound, but—"
"It's okay, it sounds scary, I know." I say as I get off the bed and down to Clark's level. "I just used to hate thunder just as much as you when I was your age. Now, come on, you can sleep with us here." I say and pick Clark up and get him in the middle of the bed. I get back into bed and put the blankets over us.
Another sound of thunder hits and Clark lets out a small frightened scream.
"Shh, come here, it's alright." I say and wrap my arms around him and I can feel Clark shaking. "It's okay, I won't let anything hurt you." I used my other arm and shook Nick awake. I might need his help to get Clark to calm down. And maybe he had some ideas that would work.
"What's going on?" Nick asked and then saw Clark was in my arms.
"He had a bad dream and the storm is scaring him." I tell him. "Any ideas on how to help him calm down?" I asked as Nick put his hand on Clark's shoulder. Clark turned around and saw Nick, but then another sound of thunder, which caused Clark to scream and he then started crying.
"Hey, it's alright, it won't hurt you." Nick says.
"We got you. We won't let anything hurt you. We're here now and we'll keep you safe." I tell him as I rub his back. "I promise."
"Maybe we could try singing to him." Nick suggests. I grin, why didn't I think of that? Surely that has worked on us as kids, and probably most kids, not just us. I then tried to think of a good song and then it came to me.
Hard to find a way to get through.
It's a tragedy.
Pulling at me like the stars do.
You're like gravity.
Even if the wind blows.
Makes it hard to believe.
How are you gonna love?
How are you gonna feel?
How are you gonna live your life,
like the dream you have is real.
If you lost your way.
I will keep you safe.
We'll open up all the world inside,
See it come alive tonight.
I will keep you safe.
I will keep you safe.
I will keep you safe.
When I had finished singing, Clark wasn't shaking or crying anymore. He felt relaxed and then I realized he was asleep. I guess it had worked. I looked to Nick and grinned. I guess the song helped.
"Goodnight Clark." I say softly as I laid back down with Clark snuggled up in my arms and fell asleep.
Nick's POV
I came home early so I could clean up a little before Melinda would make her appearance. She was checking in to see how it was going with the arrangement. I just really hope it would go the way that Jeff and I wanted it to go.
We loved Clark and we wanted him to stay.
It hasn't been long, but now, we couldn't imagine what life would be like without him.
Eventually Jeff and Clark came through the door and I kissed Jeff on the cheek as Clark went upstairs to change his clothes. "How was work?"
"Good. When does Melinda get here?" Jeff asked. Gosh, he sounded more worried than me.
"Soon. She said after 3, so that could be anytime now." I say and then I see Clark come back down the stairs with something in his hand. Wow, he learned how to change quickly. "Hey buddy, what do you got there?"
"I made this for you two." Clark says. "We painted today." I take the paper and see Clark painted a picture for Jeff and me. "Do you like it?" He asks, he sounds worried, as if I wouldn't like it or something.
"I love it!" I say and Clark's spirits brighten up.
"It's beautiful." Jeff says when I show it to Jeff. I'll have to hang it up somewhere later. Then I watch as Jeff picks up Clark and puts him on the couch. "Guess what?" Jeff says—oh no, I knew that look. "It's tickle time." Jeff says and then starts tickling Clark.
I watch as Clark starts laughing like crazy as Jeff tickles him. I couldn't help but be amused by watching. Then there was a knock at the door and I got up to get it and let Melinda inside.
"Hello Melinda." I say and step aside so she could come in.
"Hi Nick." She says as I close the door after she walks in. She then follows me to the living room and sees Clark on the couch with Jeff. "Hi Jeff. Hey Clark."Then suddenly, Clark started crying.
"Clark, what's the matter?" I asked as I sat down next to him on the couch and started rubbing his back. I didn't understand, he was fine just a second ago. I looked at Jeff and he seemed as confused as I was. It couldn't be Melinda, could it? I mean, when we first saw Clark, she seemed to be the only person he wasn't afraid of.
"I don't wanna leave!" Clark cried and then got closer to me. "I wanna stay here!" He cried and I wrapped my arms around him and held him close.
"Clark, shh—"
"I don't wanna leave!" Clark cried and I then turned to Melinda. I guess that now that Melinda was here, he thought she was here to take him away from us. I guess that must have happened when he was picked up the first time and when or if he was in another home that didn't work. I think Melinda mentioned that.
"Clark, Clark, listen to me, okay?" Melinda says, getting down to his level. He looks at her and I see the tears fall down his face. I wipe them away. I guess it was pretty clear that he liked it here. "I came to see how things were going here and to see if you liked living here with Nick and Jeff."
"I do. I do. I don't wanna leave." Clark says. "They're nice to me and I like them." I then looked up at Melinda and felt Jeff get closer. "Well, Nick, Jeff, what would you say about having Clark stay here with you permanently?"
I grinned and then turned to Jeff. We then looked down at Clark, he looked worried, as if we wouldn't want him to stay here. "Yes." Jeff and I say in unison.
"Really? You'll let me stay?" Clark asks.
"Of course." I say. "We don't want you to leave." Jeff and I then wrap around arms around him and I feel him relax a bit. I think he was happy with that decision.
"Alright, well, there will be some paperwork and stuff. Nick, I can discuss some stuff with you now." Melinda says and I get up and follow Melinda, I'm sure Jeff has Clark covered for a few minutes while Melinda and I talk.
"Alright, well I have some paper work to go over with you guys first, that you'll need to sign of course. And then eventually when you two are all cleared, we'll get a court date so you guys can officially adopt Clark. But first a few things, I'll need." Melinda said. "Remember when I mentioned Clark's dental and medical charts?" She asked and I nodded. I guess they would need us to take care of that. It would be no problem.
"That won't be a problem." I say.
"Yes, and well when Clark was brought to me, I put out a wide search on anything and the only dental and medical records I could find on him was small, but concerning." I frowned, concerning?
"The only time he has ever seen a doctor was when he was around four or five and it was trip to the ER where he was given an IV for dehydration." Melinda says. Poor buddy, I'm sure that wasn't fun.
"Don't worry Melinda, Jeff and I can handle this. No kid likes those things, but surly we'll get through it." I say. It might be a little difficult, I'm sure, but nothing we couldn't really handle. I mean, Clark's a good kid. What's the worst he could do?
"Alright, well, once we get those out of the way, we can start the process of you guys adopting him." Melinda says. "I'll show myself out. I think Clark will want to spend time with you guys." She says and leaves. I go back into the living room and watch Clark and Jeff.
"So you'll let me stay here?" Clark asks.
"We want you to stay here, Clark." Jeff says. "We never want you to leave." Clark puts his head on Jeff's chest and Jeff wraps his arms around him. "You're going to be a part of our family now." He smiled, it wasn't official yet, but Jeff and I both didn't need a document to tell us that Clark was ours now.
"So you and Nick will be my dads?" Clark asks.
"Yes, you're going to be our son." Jeff says and I then see a smile appear on Clark's face. I think that made him happy.
"I love it here." Jeff and I both smiled at Clark's words.
"And we love having you."
"I…I love you both." Clark says, after glancing up at me.
"We love you too, Clark." I say along with Jeff. I sit next to them and I somehow found a way to join the hug. I never thought I could be as happy as I was right now. I hadn't felt so happy since my wedding day. And now, we had a son. Clark was ours.
I just don't know if I could be any happier.
So Nick and Jeff will start the process in adopting Clark. There will be more chapters, and we'll probably learn more about Clark's past and such.
Don't forget to review.
