Chapter 9

5 months later

"Tess, I'm home." Clark walked through the door, hanging his coat and hat on the hooks on the wall.

"Dada!" Jonathan super sped towards him and flung himself up into his father's waiting arms.

Clark easily caught him and swung him around. "I swear you grow more and more each day. Soon you're gonna be taller than me and Tess."

Jonathan giggled and jumped down, grabbing Clark's hand. "Come look." He almost dragged Clark down the hall to Tess' room. "Essa pretty."

Clark looked down at his son, bemused. "Tess is always pretty."

Jonathan looked at him like that was obvious. "Essa really pretty." He knocked on the door and pushed it open without pausing.

"Jonathan, you're supposed to wait for an answ…" Clark trailed off, seeing Tess sitting at her dressing table, applying her make up. She wore a long green silk dress that matched her eyes perfectly. The cut of the gown emphasised the curves Clark had previously been blind to. "Wow."

She smiled at him in the mirror, blushing slightly. "Thanks."

"See," Jonathan said accusingly. "Essa really pretty."

"You look… amazing. What's the occasion?"

"Oliver needed some arm candy for a Thanksgiving charity gala in Gotham. He called me this afternoon. I can cancel if you need me here…"

Clark shook his head. "You go have fun."

She pursed her red stained lips. "It's a rubber chicken dinner. It's hardly going to be fun. The only reason Oliver is taking me is that he wants someone to hold him back from getting into it with Bruce Wayne. You're late coming home."

"Cat and I finished the article." Clark said cautiously, referring to the night that they had fought. "Perry wouldn't allow any mention of Lex's involvement. Said he didn't want us committing career suicide so early." Clark said, leaning against the doorframe. "It'll be in the Planet tomorrow."

"I'll have to read it then" Tess said as she picked up two different shades of blush. "Which one?"

Clark frowned. "Aren't they the same colour?"

"You're such a man." She laughed then held them up to Jonathan.

"That one." He pointed at the paler one. Jonathan clapped as she applied it. "Pretty Essa. Princess Essa."

"You do look like a Princess." Clark agreed.

"Too bad I haven't found my prince," Tess joked but Clark could see the pain behind the humour. She wanted so badly to be loved.

Jonathan tapped himself on the chest Tarzan style. "Me prince." Tess laughed and picked up him, rubbing noses with him until he laughed too. There was a knock at the door.

Tess put Jonathan on the bed. "That'll be Oliver. You be good for Daddy." She looked at Clark. "And no ordering Pizza."

"How did you know that's what I was planning?"

"I was Watchtower for a reason, Clark." She reminded him with a smile. She ran a hand along his broad shoulders as she walked past him. "See you later."

"Bye Bye!" Jonathan yelled after her. He looked up at his dad hopefully. "Pizza now?"

Clark laughed. "You want me in the doghouse don't you? How about pasta instead?"

"Kay," Jonathan agreed. "Essa gone."

"She'll be back. But for tonight: it's boy's night in."

It was 2 in the morning when Tess walked through the door, torturous high heels in hand. She padded lightly through the kitchen when a shadow in the lounge room caught her eye. She edged closer, trying to determine what it was. It was Clark lying on his back on the floor, fast asleep. Jonathan was sleeping on Clark's chest, a fistful of Clark's shirt in his little hand. Tess smiled – it was adorable.

She grabbed her I-phone from her handbag and took a picture. Clark woke at the shutter's noise. "Tess?"

"Yeah, it's me." Tess whispered back, knowing he'd hear her. "You look so adorable right now."

"I must have fallen asleep." Clark realised groggily.

Tess put her things on the table and went to pick up Jonathan. "I'll put him to bed."

"Mm Kay." Clark agreed; sleep regaining control over the Kryptonian.

Tess gently put Jonathan to bed and made her way back down the stairs to grab her bag. Clark hadn't moved. She leant down and shook him gently. "You gotta get yourself to bed. I can't carry you like I could Jonathan."

"Mm," He rolled onto his side. "You could always join me."

Tess froze, not knowing if he was awake and on red K or dreaming of Lois. "Not tonight."

"Tomorrow then Tess?" His slurring words informed her he was half asleep.

"Your mother's coming for Thanksgiving tomorrow." She reminded him. "What would she say?" Clark didn't reply. She shook him again. "You have to get up or your neck will be sore."

Clark stirred. "Tess? When did you get home?"

"5 minutes ago. We were talking, you don't remember?"

"Nope." He stood up and offered her a hand up. "What did I say?"

"Nothing important." He was probably thinking of Lois, she told herself.

"Ok, Good night then." Clark left her standing in the lounge room.

"Good night," she echoed.

The next morning was a flury of activity as they readied the house for Martha's return. "Clark, where do you want the flowers?" Tess addressed the blur of movement in the lounge as he vacuumed the floor at the speed of light.

He paused for a second. "On the table and the mantelpiece."

"Okay. Jonathan, watch the pie ok Baby?" Tess told him as she put the wildflower assortments in place.

"Kay Essa." The little boy avidly watched the oven, taking the woman at her word.

"Well aren't you busy." Martha commented walking through the door.

Clark stopped vacuuming. "Mom, you're early!"

"Is that any way to greet your mother Clark Kent?" Martha asked with a smile.

Clark walked over and gave her a hug. "I've missed you Mom."

"Me too, Sweetie. Me too."

"Granna!" Jonathan was a blur as he ran to his grandmother.

"Hello Sweetheart." Martha hugged her grandson tightly. "You're so big now."

"Like Dada n Essa!" Jonathan said, grinning.

"Yes. Like Daddy and Tess." Martha replied with a smile.

"It's good to see you again, Senator Kent." Tess smiled at the older woman.

Martha put Jonathan down and held out her arms. "Come here." Tess obeyed with a smile. Hugs weren't common for her. "Now has my son been taking good care of you?"

"Mo-om." Clark complained, slightly embarrassed.

"Clark's been good Senator Kent." Tess answered, getting the pie out of the oven. "Is blueberry still your favourite?"

"Yes." Martha smiled at the detail Tess remembered.

"It's not as good as yours..."

"Are you kidding? It's amazing." Clark gushed then realised what he'd said. The two women turned gave him a pointed look. "I mean… not as good as yours…" He realised he couldn't say anything without offending one of them.

"Stop digging Clark, you're about to hit China." Tess told him, smiling at his blunder.

Jonathan laughed. "China!" The rest of the sentence was incoherent. The three adults smiled at him. The phone interrupted them and Clark went to answer it.

"Hello?"

"You shouldn't have written that article, Mr Kent." An electronically disguise voice told him menacingly. "Not if you value the lives of your son and girlfriend."

"Who is this?" Clark demanded angrily.

"Someone who didn't appreciate being called a fraud. You have till Wednesday to recant the article or someone gets hurt."

"Are you threatening me?"

Martha and Tess looked at him, concerned. "Clark, what's going on?"

"No, just telling you what's going to happen." The person on the other end hung up. Clark stared at the phone for a minute before putting in back in the holder.

"Clark, who was that?" Martha asked worriedly. It wasn't like Clark to react like this.

"Someone that's angry over my last article. Tess, I don't want you or Jonathan to leave the farm until Thursday."

Tess paled. "Did he threaten Jonathan?"

"And you." Clark nodded. "I'll call Perry now and get the police onto it just to be safe. Don't worry," He put a hand on her shoulder. "He sounded like a nut job. And I won't let anything happen to either of you.

Martha watched the interaction with interest. She wondered if either of them could see what was happening to them. Probably not, she thought, knowing Clark. "Why don't you do that and Tess and Jonathan can take me on a tour of the extensions.

"I know I should have asked first…" Clark said apologetically.

Martha waved it off. "You two needed the extra space and besides I'm never here anyway so why should it matter?"

"This is your home, Mom."

"It's your home, Clark." Martha replied with a sombre smile. "Come on Jonathan, let's see your room."

The little boy grabbed his Grandmother's hand and led her up the stairs.

Tess sidled up to Clark. "How bad is the nut job on a scale of one to ten?" She whispered so Martha didn't hear. She knew Clark didn't want to scare his mother.

"He knew to use a voice distorter. He means business, Tess." Clark whispered back. "I think I'll get Oliver onto this. Can you keep my mother busy for ten minutes or so?"

"Of course." She nodded. "And bring Oliver back. He shouldn't be alone on Thanksgiving."

"Didn't you invite him before?"

"He said no. Don't let him this time."

Clark smiled and zoomed out the door. Tess ran up the stairs to occupy Martha.

"I don't see why I couldn't stay home and talk with Jonnie." Oliver complained as Clark pushed him through the door.

"Because Jonnie Walker is a type of alcohol, Oliver." Tess replied from the kitchen where she and Martha were finishing up the roast turkey. "Not company."

"It works for me." Oliver retorted. Jonathan ran out of the kitchen to Oliver and Oliver picked him up. "I've got something for you."

Jonathan's eyes lit up. "Me?"

"Yep. I promised you a tiger didn't I?"

"He doesn't mean a real tiger, does he?" Martha asked Tess softly.

"With, Oliver, who knows." Tess whispered back. "As the only non super powered resident, I hope not."

"Go show your Essa." They heard Oliver say.

"Essa, look at Kitty."

Tess turned to see a plush tiger larger than Jonathan standing in the kitchen. Martha laughed. "Where on earth did you get that?"

"The zoo." Oliver answered, sitting at the table.

"If you think that's outrageous, you should see the other toys Oliver's gotten him." Clark walked into the kitchen. "What is there?" He tried to remember the names

"Pengi the penguin." Tess supplied for him. "Then Wolfie the wolf, Firestarter the dragon and now apparently Kitty the tiger."

"Thanks. And all of them are bigger than he is. It's kind of funny." Clark said. "Do you want some help?" He pinched a roast potato of the serving plate.

Martha slapped his hand. "Clark, I raised you with manners."

"Sorry Mom."

"Bad Dada." Jonathan chastised him father, waggling a finger at him.

"Hey, Jonathan come here and help me with some music." Oliver called from the lounge room. Jonathan ran, eager to help.

"He seems happy." Martha commented lightly.

"Oliver or Jonathan?" Clark asked.

"Both." Martha finished putting the dressing on the turkey. "Ok, Clark can you take that in?"

Tess picked up the salad and started to walk but Martha caught her arm. "When the time comes, take a chance."

Tess shook her head, confused. "What are you talking about?"

Martha smiled knowingly. "You'll see."

"You ladies coming?" Oliver called. "Jonathan's getting impatient.

"Jonathan's getting impatient?" Clark asked. "Pot meet kettle."

"Ha ha." Oliver said sarcastically.

"Don't get your tights in a tangle." Tess told them both.

"They're not tights!" Both men said indignantly.

"They're tights."

Martha laughed. "It's true, they're tights but lets just share a meal without starting world war three."

"Yes Mom." Clark said obediently. "I'll like to take the time to reinstate a family tradition. We didn't do it last year because, well, we weren't feeling very thankful. But now I'd like everyone to take the time to say one thing they're thankful for."

"My family." Martha said immediately.

"Friends." Oliver followed, raising a glass.

"I'll toast that." Tess clinked her glass with his. "To Friends and Trust."

"To Jonathan and Tess." Clark raised his glass. Tess blushed, looking down at the table. "I don't know what I'd do without you both."