Early Shift

by a campbell

Smallville, Martha Kent

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When Martha came downstairs, it was still dark. Milk was delivered to the Talon before dawn, so she had to rise even before Jonathan did in order to be there to meet it. Plus get in and out of the bathroom before Lois used all the hot water.

A light snore from the couch reminded her that Clark still slept. Martha kept forgetting that he’d let Lois have his bedroom. Very generous of him, considering that they couldn’t seem to stand each other! But, thought Martha with an indulgent, small shake of her head, things like that could change.

Coat and handbag over her arm, she tiptoed into the front room, gaze focusing through the gloom, discerning mussed dark hair and a gleam of wristwatch from an arm thrown over the pillow.

She drew closer, looked down, her mouth curving into a smile. Clark looked almost like a child, innocent and untroubled, as he dozed. Beautiful boy. How in the world could he have grown up so fast?

No matter. He'd always be her baby, no matter how "grown up" he was.

Resisting the urge to gather him into her arms, Martha bent down and planted a soft kiss on his warm cheek, then on his brow, reached to smooth back a lock of mussed hair.

He stirred, then started, eyes opening briefly into slits dark with sleep, peaceful face screwing up into a scowl. “Mommm!!” he protested in something between a whine and a grumble, huffily flattened the pillow and yanked the cover over his head.

“Sorry!” She chuckled with a roll of her eyes. “But you’re always so busy! I have to catch a kiss whenever and wherever I can.”

Another huff before he turned over on his side and away from her.

Poor boy, always so grumpy before breakfast. She could get a better hug later, a cheerful one before dinner, when he’d give her that stellar grin and fold her into strong arms. She should have let him sleep now, but she’d just had to steal one caress, so the memory of it could get her through the long day of work ahead. Sometimes that was all it took.

She’d just bet his real mother would’ve done the same.

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