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 the crowd. "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?"
The final number was a show-stopping extravaganza, the dancers leaping and twirling in a dizzying display of athleticism and artistry. The final notes faded away and the audience erupted into thunderous applause.
Soon, a tender reunion unfolded before us as Elijah's Daddies arrived to collect their beloved boy.
I watched, transfixed, as the two Daddies swept Elijah up into a fierce, adoring embrace, their faces alight with pure, unfiltered affection. Oliver ruffled Elijah's hair and pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead, murmuring words of praise and pride that made Elijah beam like a miniature sun.
"There's our perfect little prince!" he cooed, bouncing Elijah on his hip like a giggling, wriggling bundle of joy. "Did you have fun tonight, my love? Did you dance and sing and play to your heart's content?"
"I did, Daddy," Elijah chirped, nodding so hard his curls bounced. "I had the best, most fun time ever. And I made a new friend too."
He pointed to me with a grin, and I felt a flutter of nerves and excitement as Oliver and Lance turned their warm, appraising gazes on me.
"Well, any friend of Elijah's is a friend of ours," Lance said, extending a hand for me to shake. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I hope you enjoyed the show as much as this little rascal did."
"Oh, we definitely did," Alex said, grinning impishly. "In fact, I think Clark here might have enjoyed it a little too much. I caught him drooling over those fancy fairy costumes more than once. I think we might have a budding fashion diva on our hands."
"Alex!" I yelped, swatting at him with a mortified laugh. "I was not drooling, you brat. I was just appreciating the craftsmanship and attention to detail, that's all."
"Sure," Alex said, rolling his eyes fondly. "And I'm sure your sudden interest in bedazzling and glitter has nothing to do with all the Daddies you've been making heart eyes at all night, hmm?"
Oliver cut in with a knowing chuckle.
"Ah, young love," he said, winking at me conspiratorially. "Is there anything more magical and wondrous?”
"Daddy!" Elijah giggled, burying his face in Oliver's neck with a happy sigh. "You're so silly. Everyone knows that pillow fights and bubble baths are the most magical things ever."
"Oh, of course, how could I forget?" Oliver said, slapping his forehead in mock-chagrin. "Forgive me, my little prince. I bow to your superior wisdom and expertise in all things whimsical and wonderful."
As the three of them dissolved into a fit of giggles, I felt a pang of wistfulness and longing pierce through me like a bittersweet arrow.
When Elijah left with his Daddies, Alex turned to me with a mischievous, expectant grin. I took a deep breath, squared my shoulders, and nodded with a determined smile.
"Alright, you win," I said, holding up my hands in laughing surrender. "Where do I sign up for this whole membership thing? Because if joining this club means more nights like tonight, more chances to let my Little flag fly, then sign me up for a lifetime pass, baby."
Alex let out a whoop of joy, pumping his fist in the air like a victorious gladiator. "Yes! I knew you'd come around eventually, you big softy. Didn't I tell you this place was pure magic? Didn't I say it would change your life in all the best ways?"
"Yeah, you're a regular fairy godmother," I said, rolling my eyes fondly. "Now come on, let's go make it official before I change my mind and run screaming for the hills."
Hand in hand, giggling like the overexcited boys we were, Alex and I crawled our way to the back office of the club, where Uncle Nick was waiting with a warm smile and a stack of paperwork.
"Well," he said, leaning back in his chair with a knowing twinkle in his eye. "If it isn't the dynamic duo themselves. To what do I owe the pleasure of this late-night visit?"
"Oh, nothing much," Alex said breezily, plopping himself down in one of the plush armchairs in front of Uncle Nick's desk. "Just a little matter of officially inducting my dear friend Clark here into the hallowed halls of Little-dom. He's finally seen the light and is ready to pledge his eternal allegiance to the cause of cuteness and cuddles."
I snorted, shaking my head at Alex's dramatic proclamation. "What he means is, I'd like to apply for membership.”
Nick's smile widened, a look of genuine pleasure and approval spreading across his face. "I had a feeling you'd say that," he said. "From the moment I saw you walk in tonight, all wide-eyed and wondrous, I knew you were one of us.”
As I worked on filling the forms, Uncle Nick listed off the various rules of the club. No running with scissors, no eating paste, no starting food fights in the snack room. I found myself relaxing more and more into the easy, playful atmosphere. It was clear that this was a place where laughter and joy were the highest priorities, where the only real rule was to have as much fun as humanly possible.