Page 5 of Saving Little Clark

"Oh no!" Alex gasped, clutching his chest in horror. "Not the dreaded tantrum spiral! How ever did you escape its clutches?"

Elijah grinned, a wicked gleam in his eye. "Well, eventually, Daddy Lance just goes,Breathe with me, baby boy. In and out, nice and slow.And I'm still hiccupping and sniffling, but I try to follow along, right? But then Daddy Oliver chimes in with,That's it, sweet pea, you're doing so good. Just focus on my voice and let all that yucky frustration melt away."

I bit my lip, trying to imagine how overwhelming it must have felt to have two different voices, two different approaches coming at him in such a vulnerable moment.

"And I just I lost it," Elijah said, shaking his head with a rueful laugh. "I was like,No! Too many Daddies! Too many voices! I can't do it, I can't breathe, it's too much!And then I just threw myself on the floor and started kicking and screaming like a little banshee, just totally overwhelmed and overstimulated."

"Oh my god," I breathed, my eyes wide with sympathetic horror. "That sounds intense."

"It was!" Elijah agreed, giggling at the memory. "But you know what? They handled it like absolute champs. Daddy Lance just got real quiet on the phone, and Daddy Oliver came and scooped me up into his lap and started rocking me back and forth, shushing me all gentle-like. And after a minute, Lance started singing this soft little lullaby, just a low, soothing hum in the background, and between the two of them, I just melted. Went all boneless and sniffly and just safe, you know?"

I nodded, feeling a fierce pang of longing pierce through me. I couldn't even imagine what it must be like, to have not one but two people who loved you that fiercely, that unconditionally. Someone who knew just how to bring you back from the brink when everything felt like too much.

God, how I wanted that.

Chapter 3: Clark

Elijah, scanning the room with a mischievous sparkle in his eye, suddenly perked up and pointed towards a set of large, ornate doors on the far side of the playroom. "Oh, I bet my Daddies are in the lounge. That's where all the Daddies go to relax and socialize while their Littles play. It's got these big, comfy couches and a fully stocked snack bar and everything."

"A snack bar, you say?" Alex said, stroking his chin with exaggerated interest. "Do tell me more, my good sir. Are we talking goldfish crackers and apple juice, or something a little more sophisticated?"

Elijah giggled, shaking his head fondly. "Oh, they've got all the classic Little favorites. But they also have grown-up stuff too, like fancy cheese boards and stuff. Gotta keep those Daddies happy and well-fed, you know."

"A Daddy buffet," Alex said, waggling his eyebrows suggestively. "Sounds like Clark's idea of a perfect Saturday night, am I right?"

I felt my cheeks flush hot, and I reached out to swat at Alex's arm with a huff of indignation. "Hey, I'll have you know I have interests outside of ogling cute Daddies, thank you very much. And what about you, huh? Why are we focusing all this Daddy-hunting energy on me, when you're just as single and ready to mingle?"

"Excuse you, I am not single," Alex said, putting a hand to his chest in mock-offense. "I'll have you know I am in a very committed relationship with my stuffed octopus, thank you very much. Ollie and I have a bond that transcends mere human connection."

Elijah and I both burst out laughing, shaking our heads at Alex's ridiculousness. "Wow, I stand corrected," I said, holding up my hands in surrender. "Far be it from me to come between a man and his cephalopod soulmate."

Before Alex could open his mouth, a sudden chime sounded over the playroom speakers, drawing our attention.

“That’s our cue,” Elijah said. “It’s time for the event.”

We crawled out of the playroom, following Elijah’s lead into the large event room. Thanks to Elijah’s connections, we got the front row seats. Soon, the room began to fill up. Some Littles crawled in, while the others were in their Daddies’ arms.

Standing on a small raised platform, was a tall man in a glittering purple suit, a bright, infectious smile on his face.

"Hello, everyone," he called out, his voice warm and booming. "And welcome to our Enchanted Evening extravaganza!"

A cheer went up from the assembled Littles, a ripple of excitement and anticipation passing through the crowd.

"My name is Nick, and I'm the owner and head mischief-maker of this little slice of paradise," the man continued, winking roguishly. "And let me tell you, we have quite the treat in store for you tonight.”

Beside me, Elijah was practically vibrating with glee, his hand clutching mine in a vice-like grip. "This is gonna be so good," he whispered, bouncing in his seat. "Jenna told me they've been planning this event for months. It's gonna be the biggest, most spectacular show they've ever put on."

"Jenna?" I asked, raising an eyebrow curiously.

"Uncle Nick's girl," Elijah explained, nodding towards a girl with who was perched on Nick's lap, beaming out at thecrowd. "She's the one who got us these amazing front-row seats. Perks of being besties with the boss's baby girl!"

I felt a pang of envy mingled with admiration at the easy, casual way Elijah spoke of his connections and friendships within the community.

Nick introduced the first act of the night - a whimsical puppet show depicting classic fairy tales with a Little-friendly twist. As the curtain rose, the first adorable felt creatures took the stage. The puppets were intricately detailed and masterfully crafted.

The next act was a dazzling dance routine performed by a troupe of Littles dressed as classic storybook characters. Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Dorothy from Oz. They twirled and leaped across the stage in a riot of color and motion, their movements perfectly synchronized and impossibly graceful.

"Ugh, I am so jealous of their costumes!" Alex sighed, eyeing a particularly sparkly pair of ruby slippers with covetous eyes. "Do you think they'd notice if I snuck backstage and stole a few pieces for my own wardrobe? I could totally rock a pair of fairy wings and a tiara, don't you think?"

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