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Chapter Text

The first words Clark ever spoke to Gwen were purely involuntary. He had been coming home from work when he noticed a small blonde woman trying her hardest to drag a heavy cardboard box behind her with a tiny blonde girl seated on her hip, safely nestled in her free arm. Clark had heard from the property manager that someone was moving into the apartment across from his, but he was still surprised to see this woman struggling on her own. Without even thinking, he dropped his suit jacket and bag into his apartment before approaching her.

“Oh, please,” he had said softly as he bent over and hauled the box into his arms without any noticeable exertion, “Let me help you, ma’am.”

“Oh, thank you!” the woman cried out, a grateful smile on her pretty face that made Clark clear his throat and look down at his feet with his shoulders hunched before he gestured for her to lead the way, “I thought I could handle getting everything inside, but someone’s extra clingy this evening…”

Clark nodded again with a warm smile as he caught the little one’s eye over the woman’s shoulder. Like her mother, the girl had soft blonde hair and wide blue eyes. He noticed she had an adhesive eyepatch on one of her eyes, behind a cute, tiny pair of pink glasses with thick lenses that magnified her one uncovered eye, which veered inward toward her nose. 

“Hello,” he greeted her softly as he followed the woman to the apartment across from his own, “I’m Clark.”

“Say hi, sweet girl,” the woman encouraged with another pretty smile as she led him inside the apartment with boxes scattered around the empty common area, “Mr. Clark is being very kind and helping us move in.”

“Hi,” she mumbled before hiding her face in her mother’s neck.

“She’s shy.”

“Oh, no worries,” Clark waved her off with a smile, and he could hear the stutter in the beat of her heart as he set the box down beside the others, “I’ve always been the same way.”

“Well, we’re trying to build her confidence,” the woman said softly as she bounced the girl in her arms before kissing her rosy cheek, “I’m Gwen, by the way. This is Sunny. We just moved here from New York City.”

“Great to meet you both,” he told her with an extended hand, taking extra care to be gentle with her as they shared a handshake, “And welcome to Metropolis. It’s not quite New York, but it’s a beautiful city.”

“It definitely is,” Gwen nodded, “We needed a fresh start, and I couldn’t have picked a better place if I’d tried. Plus, everyone’s been so kind. Thank you again for your help, Clark.”

“Oh, it’s my pleasure,” Clark waved his hand to placate her, “Is there more to bring in? I’d be happy to help you finish up.”

“Don’t worry about it,” she insisted, and he felt his mouth go dry at her pinched brow and pleading blue eyes, “It’s just a few small boxes, I can—”

“Please,” he cut in gently, “I’ll be honest with you, I’m quite upset that I couldn’t help you with the stuff you managed to bring in yourself. I stayed late at work to finish a draft for an article and lost track of time. I really wish I could’ve been here to help you out.”

“Sunny helped a little at first,” Gwen said softly, looking up at him with a sweet smile, “But there was this dog that spooked her, so she’s been clinging to me for a while.”

“Well, she’s being very brave,” Clark nodded and caught the little one’s eye again from where she was poking it out of Gwen’s hair, sending her a soft smile, “And I’d like to be her backup in helping you, if you don’t mind. My ma would never let me hear the end of it if I didn’t.”

He felt his cheeks go hot when Gwen nodded and started leading him back to the moving truck downstairs. Gwen was at least a foot shorter than him, making Clark lean down to hear her better once she started talking.

“Ma?” she giggled, “That doesn’t sound like a Metropolis drawl. Where are you from?”

“Kansas,” he exhaled, “Grew up on a farm in Smallville.”

“Mama’s boy, I take it?” Gwen teased, making him blush again.

“I don’t know about that,” Clark replied with a hand rubbing the back of his neck and a nervous smile, “Pa and I have always been really close. Ma says he’s a big ol’ mush, ‘specially when it comes to me.”

“So that’s where you get it from, then.”

“Get what?”

“Your kindness,” she clarified as they stepped into the elevator and pointedly watched him pressing the button to take them to the basement parking lot without prompting, “You’re a very kind and warm person, I can tell already. And it’s because your parents love you.”

“Some things you just can’t shake, I guess,” he chuckled with his arms crossed over his chest, and he missed the way Gwen eyed his biceps bracing against the sleeves of his button-up, “They definitely made me who I am.”

“Are they really tall, too?” Gwen asked before she could stop herself.

“No,” Clark laughed earnestly, “They took me in when I was a baby, I’m not biologically related to them. They’re actually quite… small…”

“Watching you outgrow them must’ve been a shock,” she commented just before the elevator dinged and the doors slid open, “The growth spurts must’ve been something else…”

“Yeah,” he nodded with an amused smile tugging on his lips, and Gwen had to look away from his dimples as she led him to the moving truck parked in the lot, “Ma kept checking my back for stretch marks; she was concerned I was growing too fast. I think she was just tired of altering my pants.”

“I’m pretty sure every mom thinks that,” Gwen said with another kiss to Sunny’s cheek, “This one's not even three yet, and I’m losing my mind about how big she is.”

“She’s big to you,” Clark joked, “To me, she’s like a little baby doll.”

“I’m starting to wonder what they fed you in Smallville,” she commented lightly and watched as Clark easily hefted the last stack of boxes off the truck.

“Everything had lots of butter and even more love,” he shrugged with the stack of boxes balancing steadily on one hand while he shut the door of the truck with his other, “Ma spoiled me rotten with pie.”

“What kind of pie?”

“All pie is good pie,” Clark said pointedly, smiling when Gwen giggled in return, “But rhubarb pie? Man, I’d eat that every day if I could.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever had rhubarb pie,” Gwen shook her head as they re-entered the elevator, smiling again when Clark pushed the button to take them back up to their floor, “I’m not even certain what a rhubarb is…”

“It’s a vegetable,” he chuckled again, “It’s red, kinda looks like celery.”

“And that’s your favorite pie?”

“They’re sweet!” Clark defended with an adorable lilt to his voice, making Gwen and Sunny giggle, “When they’re cooked, they’re kinda apple-y, little bit of a tartness like cranberries… With the right amount of sugar.. It’s incredible.”

“I’m not entirely convinced,” Gwen smiled before bouncing Sunny in her arms again, “What about you, honeybee? Does rhubarb pie sound yummy to you?”

“No!” Sunny squealed with laughter, her head tipping back in delight when she saw Clark pouting cartoonishly at her giggles.

“Well, I’ll just have to bring you ladies one,” he shrugged, still pouting when the elevator doors slid open, “I can prove it to you, then!”

“No way!” Gwen insisted, despite the stunning smile, “If your ma will let me know her recipe, we will make them ourselves.”

“Them? Plural?” Clark teased with another dimpled grin, making Gwen blush and curl into Sunny to hide the heat on her cheeks as she led him back to her apartment, “You’re already anticipating liking it?”

“No,” she replied shortly, pulling a deep chuckle from his chest, “I’ll make one for us to try and one for you. To thank you for today.”

“Not necessary,” the man insisted as he easily set the boxes down in the apartment, “I’m right across from you two, and I’m always willing to help a neighbor in need.” 

“We still really appreciate it,” Gwen said with her doe eyes looking up at Clark in such a way that he cleared his throat and rubbed at the back of his neck nervously, “And Sunny loves to bake, it’d be no trouble.”

“May I suggest a compromise?”

“Please do,” she smiled and set Sunny onto her feet when the little one began to squirm in her arms.

Gwen was amused as now it was Clark’s turn to blush bright red. Sunny scampered off to dig through a box she had labeled with Hello Kitty stickers, so she knew it had some toys in it. Clark and Gwen watched her fondly as she pulled out a few dolls. 

“I get Ma’s recipe and everything we need for the pies,” he began once he returned his attention to Gwen, “And I can teach you ladies how it’s done. It’ll be my way of welcoming you to the building and Metropolis.”

“Some compromise,” Gwen giggled and tucked some blonde hair behind her ear, which made Clark look down at his shoes, “You turned us thanking you into you into doing us another kindness. Must be that Midwestern hospitality.”

“We actually call it Midwest Nice,” he offered with a sloped grin, “And it’d be great to get to know each other… Y’know, since we’re hallmates and whatnot.”

“So you offer to bake pies with everyone that moves into the hall?” the blonde pouted in jest, “Here I was, thinking we were special…”

“You two will definitely be the first,” Clark chuckled again, “I don’t know… I guess I just want to be sure you guys are… safe. Even Metropolis can be a dangerous place. I’m sure it’s nothing compared to New York, but… It can get ugly out there.”

“Isn’t there a hero here in Metropolis, too?” Gwen inquired with a curious brow, “We have one on every corner in New York, but I heard your guy was like… crazy powerful.”

“Uh, yeah,” he nodded, his arms crossed over his chest again, “There’s, uh, a few. Some group of characters who call themselves the Justice Gang.”

“No, not them,” she insisted with a shake of her head, “Some guy in a red and blue suit…”

“Superman!” Sunny chimed in from the plush carpet of the living room, yanking her mother and Clark’s attention to where she was lining her dolls up against a stack of boxes, “That’s Superman, Mommy!”

“Superman, that’s right,” Gwen nodded, “I read about him when I was looking into Metropolis… I used to work for this newspaper, and—”


“Newspaper?” Clark cut in before shaking his head and apologizing, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to— It’s just that I work for a newspaper, The Daily Planet.”

“The Daily Bugle,” she offered with another smile, “A fellow journalist…”

“What made you leave the Bugle?” he asked curiously, hoping to steer her attention away from any Superman discussion, “I know it’s a pretty big deal.”

“Oh, uh,” Gwen began with a slight crease in her brow, making Clark frown, “My ex is a photographer there, and… After everything, I just needed to get out of there. Change of scenery, and what have you.”

“Oh,” Clark echoed with another light dusting of red on his cheeks, “I’m sorry, I didn’t know—”

“No, I know,” she waved him off, "It's fine, don't worry."

“So, then,” he continued for a second, hesitating before looking over at Sunny, where she was talking to her dolls, “Is she…”

“Oh, he wasn’t her dad or anything,” Gwen shook her head, “He wasn’t really… No, uh, I’ve been a single mom before, so… Moving here was probably the best thing that could’ve happened to us in that situation. We had nothing keeping us there.”

“That must be difficult,” Clark said solemnly, “But it looks to me that you’re doing a wonderful job.”

“Thank you, Clark,” she exhaled with a grateful smile, “Y’know, it’s nice to hear it because sometimes I have my doubts.”

“Well, you shouldn’t,” he smiled in return, “It’s obvious how loved and cared for Sunny is… Even if it’s just the two of you.”

“Yeah, just me and my Sunny girl,” Gwen beamed up at him, which made him look away with a dopey grin, “We’re not talking to my family, we never have… But it’s nice to know we have great neighbors. Really, Clark, I’m glad to know there are people like you nearby. Sunny and I have been needing that.”

“If you two ever need anything,” Clark insisted with his blue eyes boring into hers, “I’m always just across the hall… I do, admittedly, keep odd hours, but I can give you my number just in case…”

“That’d be great,” she agreed with an easy smile, which made Clark beam back at her, “Like I said, Sunny loves to bake, so we always have treats… Too many to eat before they get stale, and we’d love to share them with you from time to time.”

“Gosh, that sounds like a dream,” he snickered with a light blush dusting his cheeks this time as he shoved his hands into the pockets of his slacks, taking a moment to think before speaking again, “Have you two had dinner yet?”

“N-No,” Gwen shook her head, “I was proabably going to head to the market and grab something to stick in the oven once I unpacked a little.”

“What do you ladies like to eat?”

“Sunny only really eats noodles these days,” the blonde chuckled, “Pasta, ramen, things like that. I got her to eat a slice of cheese pizza once; that was cool. Although, no offense, I’m not sure she’d like pizza that’s not from New York.”

“Totally fair,” Clark smiled, and Gwen tried to will him to stop being so charming, “I’ve had a New York slice, there’s nothing else like it. I was there for two days and ate about four pizzas' worth of slices.”

“I figured a Midwestern like you would die by Chicago-style.”

“No way,” he shook his head, “Pizza is pizza, Chicago pizza is more like pie.”

“I thought you loved pie!”

“I do!” Clark defended with another peak in his voice and a goofy grin, which made Gwen and Sunny giggle, convincing him that it was his new favorite sound, “But when it’s honest about being a pie, not a pie masquerading as a pizza!”

“Sounds scandalous,” Gwen joked, “The Daily Planet should write all about it.”

“They all know I went to college here in Metropolis,” he shrugged, “That’s where I ate most of the pizza I’ve ever had. I don’t really eat it back in Kansas.”

“Why would you when you have Ma’s rhubarb pie waiting for you at home?”

“She made other things,” he chuckled, “She taught me how to cook lots of foods, actually. Said that she wasn’t gonna depend on a spouse to make sure I was well-fed.”

“That’s sweet,” she smiled, “I didn’t start learning to cook until I found out I was pregnant. I knew I didn’t want my kid growing up on crap and that maybe I should be eating better myself.”

“Self-taught?”

“YouTube has everything,” Gwen replied with bright eyes and a cheesy grin, which made Clark flash some more dimples at her, “My little taste-tester has been very patient with me while I learn the tricks.”

“She eats well, then?”

“When she wants to,” the blonde sighed as she carded her fingers through her golden hair, and Clark was aching to know if it was as soft as it looked, “Sometimes it’s a challenge to get her to eat at all, other times it’s like she’s a bottomless pit.”

“Maybe I could give it a shot?” Clark offered with soft blue eyes, “Ma taught me the most filling recipes first, they’re kind of a Kent specialty. She said she had big boys to feed, so she had to fill out some recipes she’d learned over the years.”

“You don’t have to do that,” Gwen practically begged with a soft pout to her plush pink lips, making Clark suck in a sharp breath and look away, “She can be quite picky…”

“She’s a baby,” he shrugged like it was the simplest thing, “All babies are picky. That’s why adults have to help ‘em try new things so they figure out what they want to be picky about. Is there anything she can’t eat?”

“She’s sensitive to lactose…” the blonde supplied with a shrug, “Too much of it upsets her tummy and she hates throwing up; it freaks her out.”

“Noted,” Clark nodded, “Limited to no lactose. Lots of hidden vegetables.”

“Clark, you have to let me make it up to you,” Gwen pleaded, “Let us treat you to dinner tonight, at the very least!”

“No way,” he shook his head, “You ladies just moved in, you have more important things to worry about—”

“We’ll order takeout!” she insisted, “The property manager said there’s a good Chinese place down the street, maybe you could let us know what they have that’s good? Sunny needs to try the noodles Metropolis has to offer!”

“If you’re certain you wouldn’t mind the company…” Clark relented after a moment.

“I’d be thrilled,” Gwen admitted, “It’s nice to have conversations with other adults every now and again.”

“Then, I’d be happy to.”

Chapter Text

Dinner was lovely. Clark walked the two blondes down to the restaurant and held the door open for them every time they encountered one. Despite Gwen attempting to repay him for his kindness, she stood no chance when it came to actually paying for the food. She had to bite back amused laughter when he gently shoved his way to the register as she rifled through her bag for her wallet.

“‘scuse me,” he said softly, quickly tapping his card to the reader when she protested, “I got it, don’t you dare.”

“We’re supposed to be treating you,” she reminded him with a small smile as he led them to a table so they could wait, “Are you ever gonna let me repay you?”

“You have nothing to repay,” Clark shrugged with a lopsided grin, “You’re treating me with your company. That’s plenty. If anything, me buying dinner is evening the playing field.”

“You can’t be real,” Gwen shook her head, giggling when he blushed and looked away, “Let me guess, Ma wouldn’t let you let me pay…”

“Pa,” he corrected with a single nod after a beat, “But, yeah. Ma always put up a fight about him letting her do things like that, but he believed some things were just a gentleman’s job.”

“Well,” she inhaled with a soft smile still on her lips, “You don’t have to be a gent—”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Clark chuckled, “If I weren’t, I just might explode. I don’t care to find out.”

“Thank you, Clark.”

“My pleasure.”

Then, of course, when the food was ready, Clark insisted on carrying the bags in one hand so he could hold the door again as they made their way back. Gwen feared that she’d never be able to repay Clark, especially when he led them back to his own apartment so they would be able to eat at a table with chairs. Luckily, the blonde could busy herself with getting Sunny ready for dinner so she could ignore the way he was making her feel. She took her time helping Sunny out of her shoes and her little coat before helping her wash her hands. When the girls returned to where Clark was setting the table, dinner was ready.

“Fortune cookie?” Sunny asked sweetly as Gwen helped her up onto one of Clark’s dining room chairs.

“Once you finish your dinner,” her mother began with a kiss to her blonde curls, “You can have a fortune cookie.”

“I rarely have company over for dinner,” Clark admitted sheepishly as he joined the two of them at the table, “It’s nice to see other people at this table, the dining set looks quite pathetic when it’s just me.”

“I like your table, Mr. Clark,” the little one admitted with a little hand rubbing at her eyepatch, “It’s tall like you.”

The adults shared a chuckle and dinner proceeded pleasantly. Clark even somehow convinced Sunny to eat a few bites of broccoli, much to Gwen’s surprise. He told the little one that broccoli was a growing food and that the more she ate of it, the bigger she’d be one day. When Sunny eyed him uneasily with a stalk of broccoli on her fork, he shrugged and asked her how she thought he got so big. At that, she took a tiny nibble of the vegetable before deciding it wasn’t too bad and ate the few pieces Gwen had put onto her plate without a fuss. 

Gwen said nothing, just watched Clark over her glass of water as she took a sip. He smiled at her and ducked his head to pick through his chow mein with his chopsticks. After dinner, Gwen insisted that she and Sunny clean up. She practically sighed in relief when Clark relented despite his reservations. Although, it only took a few minutes of Sunny helping her wash dishes before Clark quietly tidied up the dining table and took the trash out. When Gwen turned to him and gave him a warning look, he smiled at her sheepishly and quietly thanked her for her help.

Having lots to do now that they were moved in yet not unpacked, Clark happily walked Gwen and Sunny across the hall to their apartment once everything was clean and put away. He bid them both a goodnight and thanked them for their company as he watched Sunny race into the practically empty apartment and settled back with her dolls. Gwen turned to him with a beaming smile and surprised Clark by throwing her arms around his neck, pulling him down for a hug. It was second nature for Clark to fold around her, engulfing her small frame with his strong arms and patting her back gently.

“Thank you, Clark,” she told him quietly, “I’m so happy to have someone like you around.”

“Pleasure’s all mine, Gwen,” he promised with a smile, “If either you ever need anything… Anything at all… I’m always here, for the both of you.”

“Likewise.”

Pie Day, which Clark had affectionately named it, was just a week and a half later. He was prepping his counter space when he heard a soft knock on his door, no doubt the product of a tiny little unsure fist. Clark couldn’t help but smile and throw the dish towel in his hand over his shoulder as he made his way to answer it. Gwen and Sunny had been adjusting quite well from what he had noticed, having run into the blondes just the night before in the laundry room.

The units each had their own washer and driers, but the laundry room downstairs sold overpriced detergents and softeners alongside stain removers and other household products for the residents’ convenience. Sunny had called out to the man, excited to see the big kind neighbor with a huge smile and an exaggerated wave which Clark returned with enthusiasm.
 
"Hello, ladies,” he had greeted with a loose salute, “I hope Metropolis is treating you both well…”

“It’s been fabulous, Clark,” Gwen smiled up at him, “We’re already loving it here.”

“I’m glad to hear that,” Clark nodded with a smile, “You two certainly make the city shine brighter.”

Little did he know, Gwen had been thinking back to that moment, too. She had seen Clark a lot less than she had anticipated, considering their front doors were mere feet from one another. It was hard for her not to stew on it, but ultimately she focused on getting back to work while making sure Sunny was adjusting well. Gwen still had a few weeks before she absolutely had to return to work and she was hoping that the daycare she had been eyeing downtown worked out. Seeing Clark was just something she hoped would distract her from the stress that came form moving to a brand new state with no familiars. 

Clark had helped settle a lot of her nerves on their very first day in Metropolis, no less. He was kind and strong, someone who was not only capable but extremely willing to help with anything if they ever needed it. It was only a couple of days after meeting before he answered a knock at his door and was greeted by the sight of Gwen in her wrinkled pajamas and adorable bedhead. She was holding a tray of brownies and wearing a shy smile which made him raise his brows at her.

“Good morning,” he said after a moment, his voice still thick with sleep considering he had the day off and decided to sleep in, “Lovely to see you.”

“Stop,” Gwen scoffed and held her hand out in front of her face for a moment before sighing and smiling at him, “Good morning. I brought some goodies because I have a favor to ask… Which I know is insane considering how much you’ve already—”

“Definitely not insane,” Clark shook his head and took the offered tray, “Especially not when you’re bearing gifts… These look incredible.”

“They’re Sunny’s specialty,” she smiled and crossed her arms over her chest, drawing attention to the oversized Empire State University shirt she was wearing, “She prefers them over cake, asks for them for her birthday and everything.”

“Then, there’s no doubt in my mind that I owe you a favor,” he returned the smile easily, “What do you need?”

From there, Gwen led Clark into her apartment where Sunny was splayed out on a soft grey couch with equally wrinkled pajamas and crazy blonde curls, her typical eyepatch and glasses absent from her big blue eyes. The man greeted the little one with a wave and a ‘good morning,’ which she returned lazily, her eyes glued to the television before her.

“Sunny,” Gwen had warned gently, which made the girl sit upright and reply to Clark properly.

“Good morning, Mr. Clark,” Sunny said kindly, “How’re you?”

“I’m great, sweetheart,” he smiled, “Thank you for asking.”

The ‘favor’ had been allowing Gwen to cook him breakfast and make him a cup of coffee while he put together a desk and a play table for the blondes. Sunny had been eager to help, crawling over to where Clark sat on the floor of their living room and looking over his shoulder as he studied the instruction booklets. Clark couldn’t help the warmth spreading in his chest as she asked him questions and handed him anything he asked her for. 

“Mr. Clark,” Sunny began softly with a little hand clutching his white t-shirt and the other pointing to a word on the instruction manual, “What’s that say?”

“That says ‘screwdriver,’ darlin'” the man told her with a smile, “Do you know what that is?”

“This one?” she asked curiously and picked up the screwdriver from the pink toolkit Gwen had supplied Clark with. 

“That’s right,” he nodded proudly, “You’re so smart.” 

“Let Mr. Clark work, sweet girl,” Gwen called out to Sunny as she walked into the living room with another cup of steaming coffee for Clark, “He probably has things to do after he helps us.”

“Sunny’s a great assistant,” Clark insisted, “I couldn’t do this without her.”

“Yeah, Mommy,” Sunny said with an adorable pout, “I’m helpin’!”

It normally would only take Clark about half an hour to put together the tables for Gwen, but he stretched the time out by letting Sunny tighten every screw and even give a few whacks with a rubber mallet for good measure. Gwen watched them fondly, absolutely loving the sight of her daughter getting so close to someone. With her ex, Sunny had felt quite out of place and that was a big reason why it didn’t work out. Sunny was and would always be Gwen’s number one priority, nothing came before her baby girl. It wasn’t that her ex, Peter, disliked kids or anything, he just was uncertain about stepping into a role he had no familiarity with. He had no interest in being Sunny’s father figure which was understandable, but also understandably a deal-breaker for Gwen.

Gwen obviously didn’t expect any man to want to fill the shoes that Sunny’s biological father left behind. But, she wasn’t going to settle for a man who didn’t. Above all else, Gwen wanted to be with a man who would help her parent her daughter. Sunny was born to be a daddy’s girl but never had a daddy to realize it. She clung to her mother but was obviously drawn to paternal figures like Gwen’s old boss at The Daily Bugle who always insisted she bring the little one to the office when she couldn’t find a babysitter. J Jonah Jameson was many things, but he was a father first. It had been in his nature to snap at editors and photographers with an infant Sunny bouncing in his arms, snoozing peacefully as the rumble of his deep voice in his chest lulled her so his star reporter could do her work. And now, Sunny was all over Clark. It didn’t surprise Gwen in the slightest, she just hoped it wasn’t making him uncomfortable and made a note to bring it up to him soon.

“Good afternoon, ladies,” Clark greeted as he opened his front door, immediately stepping to the side to let them in, “It’s great to see you two again.”

“Hi, Mr. Clark!” Sunny said sweetly, her little hands holding a plastic container as she toddled in, “Me an’ Mommy made you cookies!”

“You did?” he asked with matched enthusiasm and took the container from her when he saw the little one struggle to carry it, “Oh, sweetie, I’m sure they’re fantastic, thank you so much.”

“Where’s the pie?” she asked with her one visible eye wide looking up at him.


“I was waiting for you two to come help me make ‘em,” Clark chuckled and smiled at Gwen with a large hand gently patting Sunny's head, “Hey, how’ve you been?”

“Oh, I’ve been pretty good, Clark,” Gwen nodded with a sweet smile in return, “Sunny’s been loving the area and we’ve had a lot of fun exploring together.”

“That’s awesome,” Clark beamed and led the two blondes into his kitchen, “Have you ladies been to the botanical garden? It’s incredible this time of year.”

“No,” the blonde shook her head as she knelt down to help Sunny where she was struggling to take her little shoes off, “I’ve been reading about it, though. I’m really interested in their conservation efforts. Sunny loves anything that breathes so I think she would really benefit from learning more about plants.”

“They do amazing work,” he agreed with a smile, setting down the container of cookies to pick Sunny up and help her wash her hands at the kitchen sink when she held her arms out to him, “I’ve learned quite a bit about it over the years. My coworker once wrote an article about their organization and all the charity they do. She took me to see the garden and I gotta tell you, there’s nothing else like it.”

“So, it’s a good date setting is what you’re saying,” Gwen asked, half-teasing to cover up the sudden bout of insecurity. 

“Probably,” Clark shrugged with a dark blush and avoidant eyes, “I’ve only ever been in a professional capacity…”

“You mean to tell me your coworker took you to the botanical garden to discuss… charity work?” 

“Considering that very coworker is a lesbian…” he chuckled, “I can guarantee it.”

“Oh,” Gwen giggled, blushing herself this time and giving him her back so she could wash her hands while he gently toweled off Sunny’s little ones, “I thought you were just rubbing it in that you got a hot date.”

“No way,” Clark murmured and hauled Sunny onto his hip when she whined upon him attempting to set her back onto her feet, “I was actually wondering if you two would be interested in me taking you there… Show you around, tell you about everything I’ve found out from Lois and her work. She’s an incredible journalist, one of the best, so I’m sure she knows everything there is to know about it.”

“C’mere, Sunny girl,” she said softly, holding her arms out for her daughter and hoping he couldn’t hear the way her heart pounded in her chest, “I’m sure Mr. Clark wasn’t expecting to carry you around.”

“No!” Sunny whined and curled up in the man’s arms with her little face tucked under his chin, “I want Mr. Clark to hold me!”

“Baby,” Gwen frowned, which sprang Clark into action.

“I don’t mind,” he insisted and bounced the little one in his arms, “She doesn’t weigh a thing, can hardly tell she’s there. D’ya like the view from up here, kiddo?”

“Yeah,” the tiny blonde agreed with an exaggerated nod, “I’ve never been this high up!”

Clark chuckled and carried Sunny to the countertop where all the pie ingredients were laid out, turning to smile at Gwen when she followed. Gwen looked at the piece of printer paper that had what looked like Ma Kent’s handwritten recipe for rhubarb pie, photocopied straight from her recipe book. Blocky, neat handwriting filled the margins, obviously the doing of her son giving himself notes for baking it himself. 

“How sweet,” she said, taking the paper into her hand and admiring the way Martha Kent’s flourishes in her penmanship told the story of a woman who was once a girl who loved to bake, “You’re both very… thorough.” 

“Baking is a very delicate thing,” Clark replied with false seriousness which pulled a giggle from Sunny where she was perched in his arms, “Especially when following Ma’s recipes… Every granule of sugar makes a difference, that’s what she always told me.”

“That’s what I tell Sunny so she stops eating it from the bowl,” Gwen deadpanned before laughing brightly when Clark gave her a look that was too much like she’d just told him the tooth fairy wasn’t real.

Gwen was, for lack of a better word, impressed. Clark was so patient and caring with not just Sunny, but Gwen herself. Sure, it was amazing to see how good her neighbor was with her daughter, but it wasn’t surprising. It was obvious that the gentle giant was born to nurture and guide little hands with all the encouragement in the world. The moments where Clark came up from behind Gwen with a careful hand hovering at the small of her back without ever making contact as he reached for an ingredient by her were what stood out to her more. While he clearly adored Sunny, Gwen was starting to wonder if he felt something for her too. 

“You’re so good at stirring,” he told the little one despite the flour that spilled from the edge of the bowl which he just dusted away with his large hands, “Those little clumps never stood a chance against your skills.”

Sunny, as expected, was having the time of her life. She was clearly besotted with their tall and kind neighbor. Clark was so nice to her and he told her she was doing a good job even when she made mistakes. He even snuck a few pinches of sugar with her when her Mommy’s back was turned, holding a finger to his lips when she giggled mischievously afterward and smiling at Gwen like nothing happened when she turned back around. 

“Are you two being naughty?” Gwen asked with an arched brow despite the grin on her lips, “Naughty kids don’t get pie…”

Now, on their best behavior, Clark and Sunny worked together to roll out the pie crust while Gwen busied herself with chopping rhubarb. A deep chuckle nearly startled her when she realized Clark had been watching her and, more accurately, the faces she was making as she chopped away at the vegetable like it was from another planet. She looked over at him with a blush and a pretty smile, making him clear his throat and return his gaze to Sunny. 

Once the pies were prepared and ready to bake, Clark insisted on putting them into the oven himself. He didn’t want the two of them anywhere near where they could get burned, so he shooed them into the living room to look over takeout menus while he did that and put away the clean dishes the three of them had washed and dried after all the prep work was done. The melodic sounds of Sunny and Gwen’s voices from the other room put a smile on Clark’s face, one he couldn’t wipe off if he tried. It was obvious how happy he was to share this with them, and to spend the day with them.

“Mr. Clark!” Sunny called out to him just before she toddled back into the kitchen, “Do you like Pad Thai?”

“I love Pad Thai!” he told her as he walked over with a dishtowel in his hands which he tossed aside when she reached for him once again so he held her against his chest once again, “The question is do you and your Mommy like it?”

“We love Thai food,” Gwen answered as she leaned against the doorframe between the kitchen and the hallway, her eyes soft as she watched Clark absentmindedly rock her daughter in his arms, “She only eats the noodles, though.”

“If you wanna be big and strong, you gotta eat more than noodles, bug,” Clark said to the little one as he bounced her in his grasp, “You need protein and fiber, and all your vitamins and minerals.”

“Don’t like minerals,” Sunny pouted with her tongue out in disgust, making him chuckle.

Soon after, the three of them were seated at Clark’s dining room table again as they tucked into their dinner. Gwen was telling Clark about jobs she was considering and asked him about the daycare downtown that she had been eyeing. He told her about a scandal that had taken place there a few years before. Luckily, it didn’t involve any of the children and had just been a large bout of embezzlement between the divorced couple who owned it. Still, Clark understood Gwen’s trepidation and offered a solution before he could lose the nerve.

“The Daily Planet has a daycare onsite,” he said casually with his eyes glued to his plate before he glanced over at Sunny who was swirling her fork around her noodles, “We’d be very lucky to have a journalist who worked for the Bugle and you’d be able to have Sunny close by where you can keep an eye on her. I’m sure it’s hard to think about leaving her with strangers in a place you’re not familiar with.”

“Extremely,” Gwen admitted with a sigh, “I used to bring her into the Bugle with me when she was a baby… She was practically raised in a newsroom.”

“Then, she’ll fit right in,” Clark grinned as he goaded the little one to eat another bite of her food with an encouraging hand on her elbow guiding her fork to her mouth, “She might just put me out of a job. I’ll talk to Perry about it, once you’re ready to go back to work, that is.”

“You don’t have to—”

“Don’t be silly,” he shook his head with his attention still on Sunny, helping her brush some of her blonde curls out of her face as she chewed her food, “I’d be happy to.”

“Clark, you’ll certainly get sick of us.”

“Impossible.”

Gwen studied him for a moment, watching him absentmindedly wipe Sunny’s mouth with a napkin. She couldn’t even fathom how he was even real. Men like Clark Kent did not exist where she came from. All Gwen had known in New York was heartbreak. Her own father had abandoned her when she got pregnant and refused to tell him who the biological father was. It didn’t matter to him how much the topic obviously affected his daughter, he just feared for his reputation as a police captain. How was he supposed to boast about his first grandchild when he couldn’t even explain who it came from? 

Losing contact with her family had almost been the last straw for Gwen; she was ready to accept that love wasn’t unconditional. That all went away after a routine ultrasound and Gwen couldn’t stop sobbing at the first sound of her baby’s heartbeat. But, then again, that led her to giving Peter a chance which just led to heartbreak for the both of them. However, she was starting to wonder if Clark was different. Perhaps big Kansas farm boys were just built differently?

“Clark,” Gwen began softly, bringing Clark’s big blue eyes over to her, “Did you mean about what you said? About taking us to the botanical garden?”

“Of course,” Clark exhaled with a wide grin, “I’d love to take you both there… You ladies might have to deal with my yapping about all the cool stuff Lois taught me… But I promise, we’ll have a lot of fun.”

“What’s a bananical garden?” Sunny asked around a mouthful of pad thai.

Clark and Gwen laughed around her, the former wiping her mouth again before correcting her.

“Botanical garden, sweetheart,” he smiled, “It’s a massive garden that people put together so we can study lots of different plants. Your mommy thinks you’d enjoy it, there’s lots of pretty flowers and plants I’m sure you’ve never seen before.”

“I wanna see the flowers!” the little one cried out, “Mommy can we go? Please?”

“Please?” Clark echoed with a strikingly similar pout on his face to Sunny, his blue eyes begging Gwen just as effectively as her daughter’s.

It was obvious now that Gwen didn’t stand a chance; certainly not with them ganging up on her. But she couldn't find it in herself to mind it all that much. 

Chapter Text

That week, Clark planned a whole day out in the town with Gwen and Sunny the following weekend. He had ideas scribbled on a notepad at his desk which caught Lois Lane’s eye. The brunette smiled and grabbed the pad to read over his ramblings which involved lunch at an Italian restaurant downtown so someone could try their linguine. Not even considering the trip to the botanical garden, it was planned for a lovely day. 

“Who’s Sunny?” Lois asked him from where he was hunched in front of his computer, making him perk up and look over at her.

“My, uh, neighbor,” Clark said with a nonchalant sniff as he returned his gaze to his monitor.

“You’re taking your neighbor to a toy store?” she asked skeptically as her eyes continued down his list of ideas.

“She’s, like, three years old,” he shrugged, “Her mom is technically my neighbor, but she lives there too.”

“So you’re going on a date with your neighbor and taking her three-year-old daughter with you?”

“It’s not a date,” Clark insisted, gently but firmly prying his notepad from Lois’ grip, “They’re new to Metropolis, I want to show them around and help them get comfortable.”

“Is she cute?” Lois asked with a wicked grin. 

“Sunny’s adorable,” he sighed, obviously not in the mood to feed into her games. 

“Her mom, Clark,” she rolled her eyes, “She has to be, right?”

“You think I wouldn’t be kind to a neighbor unless she was attractive?” Clark frowned without looking up from his work, “Does that sound like me, Lois?”

“I’m sure it would help…”

“It actually doesn’t…”

“What do you mean?” Lois raised her brow at him.

“She’s more than cute,” Clark admitted in a mutter, rubbing a hand across his face with a sigh, “Gwen, she’s absolutely gorgeous and it freaks me out. I, like, can’t be normal around her.”

“So it is a date!” his coworker beamed and he tried his best not to roll his eyes.

“Certainly not a date,” he shook his head, “She’s got more on her mind right now than her weird neighbor. I’m just taking them around the city in a neighborly fashion.”

“I doubt she sees you as her weird neighbor, Clark,” Lois said tenderly, “Take this from me with a grain of salt given my sexual proclivities, but you’re objectively hot.”

“Yeah, Clark, you’re a knockout,” Cat chimed in with a smile and a thick manila folder which she handed to Lois, “But why are we talking about how hot Clark is?”

“We’re not!” Clark squeaked out, tugging nervously on his tie, “Lois is just—”

“Clark’s got a new neighbor," Jimmy called out suddenly to expose the fact that he had been eavesdropping, “Total MILF, by the sounds of it.”

“Jimbo, maybe don’t—” Lois practically winced before Clark cut in with a frown.

“Don’t say that, Jimmy,” he said sternly, “That’s quite disrespectful.”

“Clark, it just means she’s hot,” Cat lightly tried to diffuse his anger, “And… older? Or an actual mom?”

“Actual mom,” Lois supplied, which made Clark huff and bury his face in his hands, “She’s got a 3-year-old so she could be Clark’s age… Maybe even younger…”

“Can we please talk about something else?” Clark practically begged.

“Oooh!” Cat grinned with bright eyes as she leaned against Clark’s desk, “Hot young mom and adorable kid? It’s got you written all over it, Kent.”

Clark said nothing, just quietly ascended from his desk and made his way out of the bullpen, muttering something about archives under his breath. Jimmy couldn’t help the smirk on his face as Lois watched him leave.

“So, he’s totally going to be a stepdad by the end of the year, right?” he asked the ladies hovering by his desk.

“The month,” Cat corrected with a chuckle, shaking her head and walking back to her desk while miming the crack of a whip.

Lois rounded the back of Jimmy’s chair, her hands firmly on his shoulders as she stage-whispered into his ear.

“I need to know more!”

“So do I,” Jimmy agreed, shrugging her hands off of him, “I mean… She’s his neighbor and we know where he lives…”

“We can’t just ambush Clark’s hot mom neighbor where they live,” she told him flatly with her arms crossed over her chest, “She’s got a kid and I’m sure she would appreciate her neighbor's coworkers staying out of her business…”

“Right…”

“But I did just read their itinerary for this weekend…”

When Friday night rolled around, Clark was still thinking about that conversation at the Planet. He was worried that his attraction to Gwen was overwhelmingly obvious. If his coworkers picked up on it so easily, had Gwen? Clark paced around his apartment worrying whether or not he’d made the young mother uncomfortable. It got to a point where he was even considering canceling the plans he had made with the blondes the following day. Just as he was tugging at his raven curls in turmoil, a knock at his door startled him out of his spiraling. Opening the door revealed Gwen and Sunny in their soft pajamas and matching damp heads of hair, clearly having just bathed before getting ready for bed.

“Hi, Mr. Clark!” Sunny greeted cheerily, launching herself toward Clark who caught her effortlessly.

“Hey, sweet pea,” he said with a gentle smile, the subtle sigh of relief only perceptible to Gwen and not the little one in his arms, “You look awfully cozy. Ready for bed?”

“We’re winding down,” Gwen told him with a small smile of her own, “Sunny and I like to have cookies with milk and watch a movie before bedtime and it sounded like you could benefit from joining us.”

“Oh, I’m sorry girls,” Clark sighed again, “I didn’t realize I was being so loud, I—”

“It’s seven-thirty on a Friday, Clark,” the blonde woman giggled and Clark sucked in a sharp inhale when the lingering scent of her shampoo wafted over to him, “You walking around your apartment isn’t worrisome because it’s loud…”

“I,” he floundered for a moment before sighing once more, resting his cheek on Sunny’s head where she was tucked under his chin as he considered for a moment, “What movie are we watching?”

The worry that had plagued him since that day at work bled away now that he was practically melting into Gwen’s couch with Sunny laying warm and heavily into his side. His hand was absentmindedly combing his fingers through her blonde curls as he focused on the movie in front of them. It was a Disney movie that Clark hadn’t seen yet even though it had been released back when he was in college. At first, it was enjoyable given the way Sunny sang along to the catchy songs and the way Gwen glowed as she watched her. Now, Sunny was fast asleep against him and Gwen was in the bathroom. Or, more accurately, Clark was pretending to think that she was in the bathroom. In all honesty, he could hear the way her heart sped up upon her silent return. She stood in the doorway, hiding in a dark shadow as she watched her daughter and neighbor. 

Gwen could not help but worry whether or not Sunny was growing too attached to Clark. While she could tell that her neighbor was good and trustworthy, the young mother could imagine that he had no intention of taking on such a big role in Sunny’s life when he offered to help her move on that day. Even the pie making was just something that was easily explained by his Midwestern kindness. Offering to help her get a job at his workplace was something Gwen couldn’t so easily rationalize though. How could Clark be so willing to invite them into his place of work, when he already spent so much time with Gwen and Sunny when he was at home? Surely, he was just being nice and the blonde was worried about the possibility of her taking advantage of his kindness, even if only accidentally.

“I can put her to bed, Clark,” Gwen offered quietly once she decided the soft domesticity before her was too much for her to bear at this time of night.

“I got her,” he insisted before gently and with a surprising amount of proficiency, gathered the sleeping toddler into his strong arms and stood from the couch, “Lead the way.”

She looked at him for a moment, studying his face and the way the light from the television made him look in her dark living room. With a single nod, Gwen turned on her heel and led Clark to Sunny’s bedroom. He smiled at the soft pink walls and the little princess bed in the corner, a strong blue glow illuminating the room. Clark turned to see a nightlight plugged into the wall which was that of Superman’s crest. The symbol of hope that Clark wore proudly on his chest as he did what he could to make the world a better place was what helped Sunny sleep at night. With an unexplainable feeling crawling up his throat, Clark focused on tucking the little one into her bed once Gwen peeled back the comforter which he noticed had the princesses from the movie they’d watched on it. With gentle hands, he plucked the glasses and felt eyepatch that covered one lense off her nose and placed them folded on her nightstand. 

“Goodnight, my love,” Gwen whispered with a kiss to Sunny’s cheek as she tucked the comforter snug around her daughter, “Have the sweetest of dreams, baby girl.”

“Goodnight, Sunny,” Clark echoed with a gentle hand on her tummy before he followed Gwen back into the living room. 

“Thank you for tonight, Gwen,” he told her with a small smile, wordlessly assisting her with cleaning up the living room, “I guess I really did need it.”

“Oh, don’t worry about it,” she smiled in return, “Sunny had been asking about you all week, and when she overheard you, it was decided she absolutely needed to share her bedtime ritual with you.”

“Wait, really?” Clark asked her after he froze in his tracks, straightening up and looking over at her, “She was—”

“Sunny adores you, Clark,” Gwen chuckled at his reaction and took the small plates that they’d eaten their cookies off of from his hands, “And she’s two-and-a-half years old, she doesn’t know what day of the week it is. All she knew was that we were spending Saturday with you, but not quite when Saturday is. That meant she asked about you every day.”

“That’s…” he sucked in a breath, his head ducked as he considered the week he had too, “Gosh, she’s such a sweetheart. I’ve, uh… I’ve been thinkin’ about the two of you too.”

“Oh, really?” she asked with a sparkle in her blue eyes.

“How could I not?” Clark breathed out a laugh, suddenly feeling incredibly pathetic in front of her, “When I leave for work in the morning, I can hear the two of you singing as you make breakfast. When I come home, you’re reading to her to help her wind down… It’s almost like you two are part of my daily routine now.”

“I didn’t realize we were so loud,” Gwen chuckled softly, her eyes downcast as she took the dishes to the sink and sucked in a breath when she heard him follow.

“You’re not,” he promised, “I just have really sensitive ears… Sometimes it’s a curse, especially living in the city. But, ever since you two moved in… It’s been the best.”

Gwen turned around from the sink and looked at him with an unreadable face. Clark swallowed hard and returned her penetrating stare, wanting more than anything to hold her close and tell her more. He can’t even imagine what he would say… All Clark knew was that it would be true and raw, something that he could never take back. The two of them were the most beautiful sunrise and the most breathtaking sunset of his each and every day. Despite the short amount of time he’d known them, Clark was unsure what to do with himself whenever they were not around. It was like the distance between them and himself physically pained him in the way that he felt pure relief in their presence. 

“Clark…” Gwen whispered, her round blue eyes shining at him in the low glow of her stove hood light, “It’s just been me and Sunny for the longest time… Even when I had a boyfriend… I am… and have always been… the only family she’s ever known.”

“Was he…?” Clark frowned as the idea of not being totally enamored by Sunny confused him deeply, “Why wouldn’t he—?”

“He just wasn’t that kind of guy,” she shrugged, “He was fine being my boyfriend but he practically tried to pretend Sunny didn’t exist at times. I thought his offering for his aunt to babysit was him trying to be helpful but then it became a frequent thing… It was like she was a part of my life he didn’t want any part in. That’s why we didn’t work out, because—”

“Because she’s not part of your life,” he finished with an understanding nod, “She is your life.”

“Exactly,” Gwen smiled somberly at him, “I’m telling you this because I know she’s gotten really attached to you… She already sees you as part of her family because she has the biggest heart ever, but I know that it can put people off.”

“Not me,” Clark assured her quickly, quick enough that she sighed and rolled her eyes playfully as if she didn’t believe him, “Honest… You and your little girl have brought a light into my life that I didn’t even know I needed. I’ve made friends here in Metropolis and I love the people I work with at the Planet… But the two of you have given me a feeling of home that I thought only existed in Smallville…”

“Clark…”

“I mean it, Gwen,” he insisted with a shy smile, “I’m really grateful to know the both of you.”

“We’re the grateful ones,” she promised.

The two of them shared a look in the peaceful silence, small smiles curling on their faces. Gwen couldn’t help but wonder if this was the height of what she could find in the people of Metropolis. She also couldn’t banish the question of whether or not what she had with Clark could evolve into something more. There was so much of Gwen that wanted to prioritize Sunny and her work over entering a new relationship. It was just impossible not to consider a future with Clark and what that would look like. He already adored Sunny and was amazing with her which meant the little one was already attached to him. But, there was no way Clark was seeking out a single mom. That was all that Gwen was certain of. 

“I should probably get ready for bed,” Clark said, softly breaking the silence, “Maybe we can stop by the cafe on Camden Street on our way to the botanical garden in the morning.”

“Definitely,” Gwen nodded with a smile that Clark noticed suddenly didn’t reach her eyes and he worried if he’d done something to cause that, “Sunny loves their cocoa.”

“So do I,” he nodded, “Goodnight, Gwen.”

“Goodnight, Clark.”

At nine the next morning, it was Gwen who was answering a knock at her door amid the chaos that was getting Sunny ready for the day. She hardly spared him a glance and didn’t say a word, just nodded him in. Clark gave her a wide smile, ducking into the doorway when she blew out a breath and turned around to get back to wrestling her daughter into some socks and a pair of shoes. He chuckled quietly and followed her into the apartment, shutting and locking the door behind himself. Upon entering the living room, Clark’s greeted by the sight of Gwen watching Sunny run in circles on the carpet with her hands on her hips and a pair of little white socks poking out of her sweatshirt pocket. 

“Look who’s here!” the young mother said pointedly to her little one, getting her to stop sprinting and look up with wide blue eyes, “So it’s time to—”

Before Gwen could finish, Sunny squealed and launched herself toward Clark again. Giggles filled the apartment as Clark caught her with ease and hauled her onto his hip which finally drew Gwen’s attention to the bouquet of flowers in his free hand. She watched him bounce Sunny in his arm and smile when she wrapped her little arms around his neck in a hug.

“G’morning, Mr. Clark!” the little one greeted sweetly as if she hadn’t given her mother a headache over the last hour.

“Good morning, Ms. Sunny,” Clark replied with a chuckle, “It’s quite early to be giving your Mommy a hard time, but you’re not doin’ that, are you?”

“No!” Sunny shook her head with an adorable pout before looking at her Mommy with her puppy dog eyes, “I’m bein’ good!”

“You’re always good,” he affirmed with a nod, “I think you’re just excited for the fun day I have planned for us… But if you let Mommy help you with your socks and shoes then we can go even faster!”

“What’s that?” her little voice asked instead of acknowledging his logic, a finger pointed to the bouquet in his large hand.

“I got these,” Clark began, turning to show her and Gwen the bouquet, “For the two of you. They’re the state flower of Delaware, they’re called peach blossoms.”

“Peach blossoms?” Sunny echoed curiously and reached out to gently run her finger across the fine pink petals.

“They represent happiness and good fortune,” he told her while sparing Gwen a glance, “You’ll learn about them and all the other pretty flowers they have at the botanical garden. We can’t take those flowers home, though, so I figured I could bring these for you and your Mommy to keep here.”

“Thank you, Clark,” Gwen said softly, her eyes glued to where Sunny was finally allowing her to put socks onto her little feet from where they hung around Clark’s waist, “They’re beautiful.”

“They represent longevity too,” Clark added, which made her look up to see him already looking down at her with a soft smile, “A promise for the future…”

“Clark…” she exhaled.

“No matter what happens,” he told her and smiled when Sunny cuddled into him with a small thanks coming from her lips, “I’m here for the two of you, for as long as you need me.”

Gwen was quiet for a bit after that. She got away with it for a few minutes, trimming the stems from the bouquet and putting them into a vase with fresh water while Clark tried showing Sunny how to tie shoes. Her shoes didn’t have laces on them but she found an old sneaker from the hall closet to try with, his large fingers doing their best to guide her tiny ones with all the patience in the world. The young mother watched them silently as she just let the water from the kitchen sink run, pretending to be busy with the flowers as she tried not to psyche herself out. Clark was a good man, a great one who she was so happy to know and for her daughter to learn from. Everything he did and all of the things he said made it harder for her to deny the burning desire she felt for him. It took the sound of Clark praising Sunny and the clap of a shared high-five that ripped Gwen out of her stupor. 

“Everything alright in there?” he asked her with an easy smile, watching her nod and grab Sunny’s coat from the rack by the door which made him reach for the little one’s hand, “Let’s go, bug. Since you did so well tying shoes, I think you deserve a treat. But we have to be good and listen to Mommy, right?”

“Right!” Sunny squealed and happily let Gwen help her thread her free arm into the coat, pouting when she had to relinquish Clark’s hand from her grip even if only for a moment to put her other arm through.

The walk to the train station was easy with the way Sunny skipped in between Clark and Gwen, her tiny hand engulfed by the former’s much larger one. Her little voice chirped as she pointed out fluttering birds and colorful flowers, even a dog-walker with six dogs on leashes surrounding her. Gwen smiled at her daughter’s enthusiasm, loving the way Sunny enjoyed the city. Metropolis was nothing like New York, but it still felt familiar. Clark nodded along to all the words tumbling from Sunny’s mouth despite the way they came out too fast for her brain to really know what she was saying. When it became obvious that it would be difficult for her to keep up with his strides given how small her legs were and how small his legs were not, he swung up and onto his hip with a practiced ease. It was hard for Gwen to watch sometimes, how Clark interacted with Sunny like he’d always been a part of their little family. As if they were always meant to have him walking alongside them.

On the train, Sunny sat between Clark and Gwen with her little legs kicking as her wide uncovered blue eye looked around the train car. Clark looked over at Gwen to see her watching Sunny with an unreadable look on her face, a subtle frown on her pouty lips. He hated seeing her feeling anything less than elation and he was starting to worry if it was his own fault. Before Clark could lose the nerve, he reached over to put a gentle hand on her shoulder.

“You okay?” he asked softly over Sunny’s head.

“Fine,” Gwen nodded, but Clark didn’t like the way her eyes only briefly flicked up to meet his and how it was just long enough for him to see the smile on her lips didn’t reach them.

“Did…” Clark tried again once he plucked his hand from her shoulder, “Did I do something?”

“No,” the blonde insisted with a shake of her head and a furrow of her brows, her blue eyes pleading for him to believe her, “No, no. Clark, you haven’t done anything wrong… You’ve been… the best. Sorry, I’m just—”

“You don’t have to apologize,” he promised with a smile and leaned back in his seat as Sunny climbed into his lap to point at whatever caught her eye through the window on his side, “I just want to be sure. I would hate to be the reason behind any of your unhappiness.”

“You could never,” Gwen told him after a moment with a quirk of her lips, “You’ve only been good to us.”

“Good,” Clark sighed in relief with a smile and a hand on Sunny’s back keeping her steady as the train came to a stop, “That’s good.”

As expected, Clark made sure to open the door for them as they entered the cafe. He guided them to the line to wait, hoisting Sunny into his arms again so she could see the fall decorations around the cafe and the baked goods behind the glass. Gwen rolled her eyes playfully and couldn’t help but giggle when Clark and Sunny turned to her with matching pleading looks on their faces after the little one asked if she could get a chocolate croissant. 

“You will have to put her to bed if you plan on spoiling her with sugar,” she warned Clark with a lighthearted glare which softened when he instantly agreed with a smile.

It was another battle for who got to pay for their drinks and pastries once they ordered, which Gwen won with a surprisingly forceful bump of her hip that made Clark yelp. She bounced in excitement and squeezed his arm when a beep came from the card reader after she tapped her phone against it. Clark tried and failed to hide the blush on his face as Gwen continued to celebrate her victory while they waited for their order. 

“I’m paying for your admission then,” he shrugged, chuckling when her excitement halted and she gasped in exasperation, “Sunny gets in for free, so I have to at least do that.”

“You don’t have to do anything!” she argued despite the grin on her face.

Before Clark could respond, someone clearing their throat from behind them cut in. Turning around, all the color drained from Clark’s face when he locked eyes with his coworkers and friends, Jimmy Olsen and Lois Lane. The two of them had mischievous grins on their faces and Clark could feel Gwen look up at him with a confused stare.

“Who do we have here?” Jimmy greeted with a paper cup of coffee in one hand before he extended the other to Gwen, “Hi, I’m Jimmy. Clark’s best friend and favorite coworker.”

“Guys,” Clark tried as he lamely watched Gwen shake his hand, adjusting Sunny on his hip, “What—”

“I’m Lois,” the brunette smiled and shook Gwen’s hand herself, ignoring Clark’s turmoil, “Clark, you didn’t mention that you were spending the weekend with these beauties.”

“I’m Gwen,” his neighbor cut in with a kind smile despite her confusion, “This is my little girl, Sunny. We just moved into Clark’s building from New York City and he’s showing us around.”

“Hi, Mr. Clark’s friends,” Sunny piped up with a little wave, smiling shyly and burying her face in Clark’s neck when they waved back at her.

“Well, she is absolutely precious,” Lois smiled, her eyes studying Gwen in a way that Clark recognized all too well, “She must get that from you.”

“Oh,” the blonde blushed with a giggle which made Clark need to step in, “Thank you.”

“Well, it was nice running into you guys,” he said without much sincerity which made Jimmy have to choke down a laugh, “But we have plans that we have to get to…”

Upon hearing her name being called, Gwen excused herself to the pick-up counter to collect their drinks and pastries. Clark called after her to assure her that he’d be right there to help. Without missing a beat, he turned back around to glare at his friends.

“Do not flirt with my neighbor,” Clark practically begged Lois, huffing when she just chuckled in return, “Please stay out of this…”

“Good luck on your date,” she teased, continuing when he turned on his heel to follow after Gwen, “We’re rooting for you!”

He turned around to send them a final glare before catching up with Gwen to help her grab their order. Sunny looked over Clark’s shoulder at his friends as his steps carried her away from them. She sent them another little wave which they both returned with amusement. It was obvious to Lois and Jimmy why Clark was so smitten with the mother and daughter duo. Gwen was absolutely stunning and Sunny was the cutest little thing they’d ever seen. Both were also sweeter than candy, obviously much kinder than what they expected from big city girls. Lois would have to monitor this situation closely so she could decide whether or not she would have to step in when Clark chickened out on pursuing Gwen romantically. For now, she led Jimmy out of the cafe and back toward the park they were going to discuss this at. 

“Sorry about them,” Clark sighed to Gwen with the tray of hot drinks balanced in the holder in his hand, “I didn’t think we would run into them…”

“They were nice,” she assured them with a smile as she followed him to a table with the warm pastries in hand, “Lois is the coworker who told you about the botanical garden, right?”

“Yeah, that’s Lois— Lois Lane,” he confirmed with a nod, settling down in a booth and dropping Sunny down beside him before helping her get up onto her knees so she could lean over the table, “Jimmy’s a photographer, so I’m sure he’s been there more times than he can count. But, Lois does impressive research and asks the right people the right questions… She’s one of the best.”

“I’m not sure how I could compare,” Gwen teased lightly as she took Sunny’s small hot cocoa and took the lid off to see if it was cool enough for her to drink, “If I end up at the Planet, I’d be competing with the works of Clark Kent and Lois Lane?”

“You’ll do great,” Clark said with certainty, “We need a perspective like yours, New York is so much bigger than what we see out here… I’m sure Metropolis doesn’t see in a month what New York City sees in a day.”

“Yeah, it was another reason we left,” she nodded, handing the cocoa over to Sunny and ensuring she had it steady before grabbing her own drink, “There was too much going on for me to feel safe as a single mom with a disabled little girl. I could use a little less excitement these days.”

“I can imagine,” he exhaled, “I’m glad you ended up coming to Metropolis.”

“Me too.”

Chapter Text

It was no surprise that the three of them enjoyed the time they shared. Clark was practically drunk on the sound of Sunny and Gwen’s bubbly laughter and every word they spared him. He also found himself having to constantly make sure both of his feet were planted firmly to the ground given how Gwen suddenly seemed to be offended by the idea of any amount of space to exist between them. There was no way to hide his delight with the way she leaned into his side or grabbed onto his hand as they made their way through the bustling streets of Metropolis toward the botanical garden. Sunny, as always, did her part as the warm weight which kept him grounded from where she was perched in his arms. Her little head rested on his shoulder with her tiny hand clutching the collar of his shirt as she narrated all the things that caught her eye.

“Lookit that!” she squealed, pointing at someone walking their pet cat on a harness, “The kitty is walkin’!”

“Kitties need to stretch their legs too, sweetheart,” Clark chuckled and absentmindedly wrapped an arm around Gwen’s shoulder to pull her closer as they came to a stop right before a crosswalk, “It’s a nice way to enjoy the day.”

“Mommy,” Sunny began with a tone that Gwen was all too familiar with, making the young mother smile before she could even continue, “Can we get a kitty? I can take him on walks!”

“We’ll see, baby girl,” Gwen replied easily and Clark could tell this wasn’t the first time they’d had this conversation, “If we come across the right kitty, then we can see if he likes walks.”

“Mr. Clark, do you like kitties?” 

“I love all animals, sweet pea,” the man told her with a smile, “Every life on this Earth deserves love and respect, don’t you think?”

“Yeah!” Sunny agreed with an enthusiastic nod which made her mother beam up at the both of them, “Even the little bugs! And the pretty plants!”

“That’s right,” Clark praised softly, “You’re so smart, Sunny girl.”

He couldn’t help his blush at the feeling of Gwen linking her arm with his, her dainty hand gripping his bicep through his coat and shirt sleeves. Looking over at her and seeing a content smile on her lips as she looked ahead made his heart speed up like never before. Her hair was glowing in the morning sunlight and the pink gloss sparkling on her lips enticed him even before she looked up at him with those round blue eyes. She was so beautiful every time he looked at her. Clark had never felt for a woman the way he does for Gwen, not even in his lovesick days at Smallville High and MetU. 

“She must get that from you,” he said to Gwen quietly, remembering the way Lois had made her blush earlier, “Her smarts, her heart, her beauty… That’s all you, darlin’.”

“I like hearing you sweet talk me, Kent,” Gwen smiled as she snuggled into his arm considering her head barely reached his shoulder when they stood side by side, “It makes me think you have eyes for me.”

“Of course I do,” Clark replied with a quirk of his lips, “I can’t think of a single person who wouldn’t… You’re perfect.”

“Keep saying things like that,” she purred, “And you just might have trouble on your hands.”

“You’re worth the trouble,” he returned easily, “As long as you’re my trouble.”

Gwen said nothing, just continued walking alongside him. When they stopped for another crosswalk, she looked up and studied his face. Without giving it much thought, she reached up and brushed her knuckles against his jaw which made him look down at her again. Before Clark could ask her what was up, she grabbed his chin and pulled him closer so she could press a kiss to his cheek right at the corner of his mouth. He was about to sputter out an apology for some reason, but the light indicating pedestrian crossing grabbed his attention so he led them to cross. Then, Clark couldn’t help but melt when he felt Sunny press the sweetest peck to the apple of his opposite cheek, her little arms hugging his neck again.

The rest of the walk to the garden went by quickly, but Clark still savored every second. He did that with every moment he shared with the two of them. 

“Thank you!” Sunny squealed to the attendant who placed a wristband onto her little wrist, showing it off to Clark and Gwen, “Lookit! It’s pink!”

“Is pink your favorite color, peanut?” Clark asked and wordlessly allowed the little one to fiddle with the green wristband on his free hand, “They gave us adults this nice green one.”

“I love pink!” she confirmed with a beaming smile, “But I think blue’s my favorite!”

“Oh, really?”

“Yeah!” the little one nodded before sticking one arm straight up, “Like Superman!”

“Sunny loves Superman,” Gwen told him with a knowing look.

Clark found out that Gwen had looked into the Daily Planet and had come across his work. Then, she noticed some of Clark’s framed front-page articles in his apartment which his Ma had convinced him to put up. Gwen had only alluded to him having a personal relationship with Superman given he was the only reporter to ever get an interview that made it to print. He had blushed and squawked out some excuses to try and dispel that theory but she had looked unconvinced. It was hard enough keeping his secret from Lois, and now he had to try and fool a renowned reporter from the Daily Bugle too. At the very least, Clark could be grateful that Gwen hadn’t given Sunny any indication that he might know Superman. Of all the people he found it arduous to lie to, Sunny was definitely toward the top of the list. 

“Is that so?” he asked, smiling despite himself, “What about Superman do you like?”

Instead of the expected reply about Superman’s strength or ability to fly, Sunny surprised Clark.

“Mommy said Superman is nice to people and animals,” she began earnestly, her little head bobbing involuntarily as she bounced in time with Clark’s steps, “He gives us hope, so we still feel safe even when we’re scared.”

Clark swallowed hard as he kept his gaze forward for a moment, leading the two toward a path that took them through the garden. Sunny’s attention got pulled to the colorful flowers surrounding them, her wondrous gasp tugging smiles onto Clark and Gwen’s lips.

“Superman has helped Sunny a lot,” Gwen chimed in after a moment, threading her fingers with Clark’s while her gaze remained ahead, “Lots of things have been scaring her lately, but Superman shows her that even when she’s scared, she is safe. Being safe helps her be brave.”

“Good,” Clark replied softly with a nod, sucking in a breath when he felt her squeeze his hand, “I’m sure seeing her Mommy being so brave helps too. Probably moreso… You’re the most important superhero in her life, Gwen.”

“Mommy’s the bravest,” Sunny agreed with a nod which made her mother soften and look up at her and Clark, “Braver than Superman.”

“Without a doubt,” Clark confirmed and drew Gwen closer to press a kiss to her hair, “Braver, stronger, more noble… Much more beautiful.”

“Now, I’m starting to think you’re the trouble here, Smallville,” she crooned and cupped his chin to bring his face closer to hers, “Tall, strong, kind, handsome… You were born to break hearts.”

“Doesn’t matter what I was born for,” he countered with steel eyes, his face tilting down to nearly brush his nose against hers, “Because I was raised to be better than that. I would never break your heart, Gwen, because then I’d be breaking my own.”

Without another word, Gwen drew him in from the back of his neck to press her lips to his. The kiss was brief but the electricity was incontestable. Clark wanted to pull her back in when she pulled away but then Sunny chimed in.

“I wan’ a kiss too!” she announced, leaning in to kiss her mother.

Gwen giggled and peppered the little one’s face with smacking kisses, taking her from Clark’s arms. He couldn’t help the dopey smile that usually bloomed over his face whenever he was around them, listening to Sunny’s squealing laughter. The two of them always brought him so much joy and he felt so lucky to be able to try and repay them for it. Then, Sunny puckered her lips up at him so he leaned in to give her his cheek. With an exaggerated ‘Muah!’ Sunny kissed Clark’s cheek once again.

“Thank you, honey,” Clark beamed, “You’re just the sweetest.”

“Now it’s time for you to walk, baby girl,” Gwen said to her, setting Sunny onto her feet and watching her toddle through the garden, “Lead the way.”

Sunny trilled in delight and tottered along the paved pathway, her head constantly swiveling side to side to see all the plants on either side of the path. Clark and Gwen watched her with fond smiles on their faces, the former wrapping an arm around her waist and bringing her hand to his lips to kiss her knuckles. The blonde smiled and looked up at him again while his eyes stayed on Sunny, making sure she stayed close and was safe. She couldn’t help but gleam at the look on his face as he looked after her daughter, it felt like being able to exhale for the first time in three years. 

Gwen had chosen to be a single mother after the way Sunny’s biological father had treated her. Even if her reasoning had been valid for their safety, Gwen sometimes blamed herself for choosing to raise Sunny alone. No one knew about the abuse, about the way Sunny’s father had threatened to kill Gwen when she refused to have an abortion after he raped her and she told him she was pregnant. By the time Sunny was born and he raped Gwen again, just three weeks after giving birth, there was no one left to tell. Her parents had cut off all contact with her during her pregnancy and her other family didn’t know enough of the story to extend any sort of olive branch. And any friends she’d made at school or at her job decided she was too much drama despite her keeping her personal matters private. It had just been Gwen taking care of the little one ever since she got a restraining order and had her daughter’s father stripped of any and all parental rights. Sure, there were legally documented allegations of abuse and enough evidence for Gwen to have been granted those protections… But, she was still alone in raising Sunny. That’s why the move to Delaware after breaking up with Peter had been so important to her. While Peter was nowhere near as damaging to them as Sunny’s father was, it was enough to make Gwen flee. 

Now, she was hanging around and practically throwing herself at Clark. Clark, who looked at her and Sunny like they had built the sun from their own luminance just for him. He showered them both with affection and attention, always having more than enough time in his day and space in his heart to dedicate to them. Gwen couldn’t even blame herself for falling for Clark, it was impossible not to. All she could do now was hope he was a man of his word and had no intentions on hurting her. She figured nothing could be as bad as it was before, and that Clark had an advantage because of that. Still, Gwen was going to ensure that Sunny was always prioritized and if she needed her Mommy all to herself then there would be no conversation about it. No matter what, her daughter’s needs would decide for Gwen what would happen. Nothing else mattered if Sunny wasn’t safe and happy.

“I want to give us a try,” Clark began softly as if he could hear Gwen’s thoughts with another featherlight kiss to her hand, “I want to show you the kind of treatment you deserve, the way you should always be adored. It’s just been you and Sunny for so long, and I don’t doubt that her love is more than enough… But, I want to shower you with some of my own, if that’s okay.”

Gwen looked over at Sunny and watched her get up on her tip toes to look at a butterfly perched on a bright flower. Clark’s eyes were on Gwen now, his lips still brushing against her knuckles and his hand curling around her hip with a light squeeze. All he wanted was an opportunity to give Gwen and Sunny anything they could ever ask for and be part of their lives in any capacity they needed. With another kiss to her hand, he spoke again.

“You don’t have to answer right now,” he promised, “I’m not lookin’ to rush this… Just know that I’m interested… entirely…”

“I am too, Clark,” Gwen insisted with a pout which he so badly wanted to kiss off her face, “I just… Dating’s been hard for me ever since I got pregnant…”

“It’s more than dating to me,” Clark assured her, “I know what it means to let me be part of this with you… And I’m all in.”

“You can’t be real,” she mused like she did the day she met him, “You’re too good to be real.”

“Just good enough for you.”

“Lookit this one!” Sunny shrieked as she bounced on her toes, her little pointer finger gesturing toward some bright chrysanthemums, “It’s so pretty!”

“You like those ones?” Clark smiled and knelt down to get closer to her eye level, still towering over her despite it, “Those are called Chrysanthemums and bugs love them.”

“The butterf’y is drinkin’ from it!” the little one giggled with her hand clutching onto his shoulder as she continued bouncing in her little shoes.

“Those are pretty,” Gwen said softly, her fingers gently carding through her daughter’s blonde curls, “We have to remember which ones are our favorites by the end of the day and I think these ones definitely go on the list. What do you think, honeybee?”

“The flowers Mr. Clark got me are my favorite!” Sunny answered adorably, absolutely melting the two adults’ hearts before making Gwen giggle at the way Clark’s lip jutted out at her words, “Because he gave ‘em to us!”

“Those are my favorite too,” her mother smiled down at the two of them.

“Well, you girls need to give me ideas of what flowers to get you in the future,” Clark added as he got back to his feet and took one hand from each of them into his much larger ones, “So we have to decide which your favorites are. Give me some variety to choose from.”

From there, Clark walked the girls all throughout the gardens. He happily pointed out all the plants and flowers and gave whatever tidbits of information he remembered hearing from Lois. It didn’t take long before Sunny held her arms up to him so he could lift her closer to see the butterflies, caterpillars, and ladybugs hanging out on the plants. Gwen was over the moon just watching them interact, then Clark would pull her in and dote on her for too which made her head spin. The two blondes, much to Clark’s insistence, had a nice and varied list of favorite flowers which he already had memorized by the time he escorted them to the gift shop. There were already plans forming in his head for each occasion he could spoil them with flowers, most of them being the most mundane days ever. Maybe the next time he saw a butterfly on his way to the Planet, he’d get Sunny and Gwen flowers. Or perhaps the moment he thought of them throughout his day when they weren’t even with him… Although, that was a daily occurrence. 

Of course, it was predictable that Clark had a hard time telling Sunny ‘no.’ Gwen had much more practice with it, so it was easier for her to turn down all of the little one’s frivolous requests in the gift shop. Every time Sunny looked up at Clark with those eyes, he melted completely even with the eyepatch covering one. Still, he knew the toddler didn’t need a massive potted plant nor a checkbook cover despite her darling insistence. 

“Look at these, sweetheart,” Clark said to entice the little one out of a tantrum after Gwen said she couldn’t have a venus fly trap, kneeling before a bookshelf lined with colorful children’s books about nature, “These look like some really fun reads… This one is about hummingbirds, isn’t that neat?”

“I like this one!” Sunny insisted through her pout, her finger pointing up at a book about butterflies, “Butterf’ies, Mr. Clark.”

“Right, butterflies,” the man nodded with a smile and plucked the book off the shelf to show it to her, “How silly of me.”

“Silly Mr. Clark,” she murmured in confirmation and patted his arm with one hand and carded through the book with the other, “‘sokay.”

“What a good idea,” Gwen smiled, “Sunny can always get new books. I’ll never deny you knowledge, baby girl.”

“I want this one, Mommy,” Sunny said and raised the book up to her mother to take before pointing back up at the shelf, “Bees!”

Clark grabbed the book with cartoon bees on the cover and opened it up to show her. Sunny gently tugged his arm so he let go of the book with one hand just long enough for her to settle in his hold and look at the book with him. He smiled and pressed a kiss to her blonde curls, the lingering scent of baby shampoo and soft lotion emanating from her. Gwen crouched down to be more level with the two of them and look over their shoulders at the book.

“I like that one too,” she added, “We need to get that one for my honeybee.”

After they picked up a couple more books, Clark carried Sunny in his arms throughout the rest of the store as it was getting closer to her nap time. He was more than happy to hold the little one as she got heavy against his chest, talking low into her ear to show her some flower magnets on his way to the register. It was, admittedly, a few minutes that he spent buying Sunny’s books and a set of the magnets in which he didn’t realize Gwen wasn’t by his side. It wasn’t until the lady ringing him up spoke that he noticed.

“Such a beautiful girl you have there,” she said softly as she smiled at Sunny curled up in Clark’s arms with her sleepy face resting on his collarbone, “A little snugglebug, huh?”

“Oh, yeah,” Clark chuckled, “She gives the best hugs.”

“It must help that she has a big teddy bear for a daddy,” the woman mused before telling him his total.

He floundered for a second, looking down at Sunny to see her eye flutter shut with a sleepy sigh and her little hand clutching the collar of his shirt. Should he be correcting this woman? Clark was not Sunny’s parent and he did not feel entitled to take any credit for the amazing kid she was. Clearing his throat, he paid without a word and avoided her eyes to look around for Gwen. Before he could find her, the lady ripped his receipt from the register and stuffed it into his bag. With a smile as he thanked the cashier and took the bag of his purchase, he turned to see Gwen approaching with her own bag and a mischievous smile.

“What did you get?” Clark whined with a pout, “You should’ve let me buy it.”

“Then, it wouldn’t be a surprise,” she pouted in return and leaned into him, wrapping her arm around his waist and brushing some hair from Sunny’s face, “We should probably get her back. I think the weather’s perfect for some homemade soup.”

“I’ll make Ma’s famous pot pie casserole,” he nodded, “The last time I was there she helped me make the perfect biscuits and I’ve been dying to try them again.”

“I’ll always eat Ma Kent’s cooking,” Gwen agreed giddily, “She managed to get me to like rhubarb pie, she could never steer me wrong.”

Sunny was still asleep in Clark’s arms by the time they returned to the apartment. He was gentle and efficient in taking her coat off and slipping her into bed without waking her. With a kiss to her forehead and a once over to ensure she was tucked in snugly and sleeping deeply, Clark left the little one to rest. Then he joined Gwen in the kitchen to look over what he would need to grab from his apartment and maybe even the corner store just down the street. Gwen had all the baking materials and most of what would go into the pot pie filling, he just had to grab chicken stock, some carrots, and an onion from his place since they both knew Sunny wouldn’t go near the dish if it had peas so they could easily omit them. When he returned he found Gwen preparing all the ingredients she already had, a sleek green apron tied around her waist. Clark smiled as he watched her, setting the ingredients he brought down on the counter and kissing her temple before going to the sink and washing his hands.

“Thank you for today, Clark,” she said with a smile, “We had a lot of fun.”
“Good, because we haven’t even gotten to everything I wanted to do,” he warned her with a playful smirk as he joined her at the counter, “I still have plans for you two.”

“Like what?” 

“There’s a big toy store downtown,” Clark tried to say casually and he almost broke when Gwen turned to look at him, “I promise I won’t spoil her rotten…”

“You can’t promise me that,” Gwen giggled knowingly, pulling a guilty smile on his face, “We need to work on your ability to say ‘no’ to her.”

“I don’t know how you do it,” he sighed, making her giggle again, “I can’t imagine looking at Sunny’s little face and saying ‘no’ to her.”

“Well, you’re going to have to learn to,” she told him with a look on her face that made him lean in and steal a brief kiss, “I will not let you make me out to be the only one to tell her ‘no.’”

“You’re right,” Clark nodded and kissed her again, “We’ll have to alternate between good cop and bad cop so she doesn’t associate either role with either of us. The toy store will be the perfect place to practice.”

“You’re impossible.”

Clark and Gwen worked in tandem with a comfortable quiet chatter flowing between them. He mentioned the time he helped his Pa milk a cow for the first time and that led to Gwen musing over the differences of their respective upbringings. Gwen grinned and told him she’d be useless on a farm given the way she grew up surrounded by smog and concrete. It was easy for Clark to assure her that she and Sunny would love the farm out in Smallville and that she could do anything she put her mind to. 

“Maybe I can take you girls there sometime,” he offered with a fond smile, “Sunny would love chasing the chickens around. Ma and Pa are already asking to meet you.”

“You told your parents about us?” Gwen asked with a surprised look on her face, making Clark freeze for a moment and turn to her.

“Of course,” Clark shrugged, “I told Ma about you two when I asked for the pie recipe. Now she and Pa ask about you whenever we talk.”

“Really?”

“Yeah,” he nodded as he approached her and wrapped an arm around her waist to pull her closer, “I think they can tell how special the two of you are to me. They’ve always been good at that.”

“At what?”

“Recognizing family when they see it.”

“Clark…” she choked out with sad blue eyes, making him draw her into a warm hug, “I’m not sure why I’m surprised… You are the way you are because of them.”

“I am,” Clark affirmed with a kiss to her head before he cupped her face with his hands and made her look at him, “Which means that if I ever do anything stupid like hurt either one of you, even accidentally… I’m gonna have to answer to the two of them too.”

“We haven’t really ever had that,” Gwen admitted with tears welling in her eyes, “A family. Sunny doesn’t even know what that’s like… And maybe I never did either…”

“Well, you two will get the full experience now,” he promised, “You will come to find that being loved by a Kent can be overwhelming… But that’s all it is… love…”

“Love,” she echoed with a nod before pulling him in for a kiss, “I can deal with that.”

With a dopey grin, Clark leaned down and kissed her again. It was deeper this time, as if he was trying to put all of his affection into it. He was gentle in the way he cupped her face and steadied her waist but so desperate in the way he kissed her. Gwen’s sigh was so close to a whimper that Clark had to bite back a groan, never daring to pull away from the kiss. His thumbs brushed away the tears trailing down her cheeks, a silent vow to never let her cry without being there to comfort her. Clark was determined to give Gwen and Sunny what they’ve always deserved, a loving family. 

Chapter Text

Clark got to revel in even more sleepy snuggles when Sunny woke from her nap and insisted only he held her. Gwen couldn’t help but laugh after a straight ten minutes of every time she looked over at him, he was smiling and rubbing Sunny’s back or resting his chin on her messy mop of curls. It was so refreshing to see a man be around her daughter and actually connect with her. Sunny wasn’t a particularly nervous child, but strangers were not her favorite. 

Growing up in New York City, it was obvious that the safest way to go about your day was to mind your own and not associate with people you do not already know. While it wasn’t the best way to have a child learn how to keep themselves safe, it sure was effective. Metropolis was different, though, Sunny could tell. New York City never brought her a man quite like Clark. A man who loved to give her hugs and play dolls with her, who kept her favorite fruit snacks in his pantry so he always had some to give her, Sunny had no idea men like him existed. 

Once the little one woke up a bit more, Clark got her to eat some food and have a cup of water. The only way she agreed was if Clark let her stay in his lap so he sat at the table with her, coaxing her to finish the last of her carrots before praising her for eating all her vegetables. She even let him wipe her mouth and hands with a napkin before she squirmed so he put her back onto her feet. Sunny toddled over to Gwen and gave her a hug and a kiss before sprinting over to her toy chest, pulling out some dolls to play with. 

Gwen made her way over to Clark where he was washing the dishes from lunch, wrapping her arms around his waist and kissing his shoulderblade. She smiled and rested her cheek against his back, giggling when his deep chuckle vibrated throughout him. Clark turned the water off and dried his hands off on a dish towel before turning around in her hold and wrapping his arms around her. 

“You are a cuddly little thing, aren’t you?” he teased with a kiss, brushing her cheek with his nose when she giggled again against his lips, “Lucky me.”

“You just make it hard to keep my hands to myself, Mr. Kent.”

“You’re one to talk, Ms. Stacy.”

With another giggle, Gwen pulled him in for another kiss. She sighed against his lips when she felt the way his big strong hands gripped her waist, her fingers clutching the curls on the nape of his neck. Clark smiled because he couldn’t help it, not while he was kissing her. He had been craving her from afar for weeks and now he was allowed to kiss her, touch her, feel her. Of course, Clark would always respect her boundaries no matter what they were. Martha and Jon Kent would have his head if he even thought about behaving otherwise. Gwen knew Clark to be nothing other than a gentleman and trusted him deeply which he could detect. It made him feel pride alongside an immense sense of responsibility to never break that trust.

After he and Gwen enjoyed a few more kisses and snuggles, Clark sat with Sunny and helped her dress her dolls up for a tea party while Gwen worked on her portfolio to bring to Perry White. Clark had been encouraging her to just come into the Planet with him so they could all chat about her work and what she could bring to the table. Gwen was too neurotic to be comfortable with that, though. She was convinced her best shot at getting the job would be by showing Perry her work. At the Bugle, Gwen had made the front page regularly and was a finalist for a Pulitzer the year after Sunny was born. Perry White would be a fool not to hire her on the spot, Clark was sure. Although, being a young mother meant needing flexible hours and the aforementioned onsite daycare. That was grating on Gwen’s anxiety, making her wonder why any employer would want to take that on. 

“Mommy,” Sunny called out as Clark helped her tug her sparkly princess dress over her head and straightened it out over the cozy clothes she had on underneath, “Can Mr. Clark sleep over?”

“I don’t know, honey girl,” Gwen replied before looking up from her binder and pushing her reading glasses up onto her head, “Mr. Clark can’t spend the entire weekend with us.”

“Why not?” the little one whined with a pout which Clark mirrored at Gwen as well.

“Yeah, why not?” he echoed.

Gwen gave him an unimpressed look despite the smile tugging on her lips. She pulled her glasses off her head and set them down before she walked over to them in the living room. It was almost involuntary the way she threaded her fingers through Clark’s curls from where he was sitting on the floor looking up at her with soft eyes. Sunny pouted up at Gwen and wrapped her arms around Clark’s neck possessively.

“My Mr. Clark,” she insisted with an adorable glare without her glasses and eyepatch which made Clark chuckle, “He has to stay.”

“I’d love to stay, sweetheart,” Clark crooned, pressing a kiss to her temple, “I love spending time with you two, my favorite girls.”

“Fine,” Gwen pretended to huff despite the way she bent over to kiss his lips, “You can stay, we’ll bake cookies after dinner.”

“Yes!” Sunny and Clark cheered together, sharing an enthusiastic high-five much to Gwen’s amusement. 

Dinnertime came quickly and Clark insisted on taking the blondes out to get Italian. Gwen got Sunny and herself ready while Clark went back to his place to grab some stuff for spending the night. Upon his return, he heard the melodic sound of Sunny and Gwen calling his name from the little one’s bedroom. So, Clark set his things down in the living room and made his way to them, knocking softly on the door and only opening it when Sunny called his name again. Opening the door revealed Gwen sitting on the bed with Sunny sitting in between her legs as her mother brushed through her blonde curls gently. The little one squealed at the sight of Clark and clapped her hands excitedly, beckoning him over. Clark complied with a smile, walking toward the two of them and crouching in front of them.

“Hey, pumpkin,” he greeted with a kiss on her rosy cheek, “Are you helping Mommy with your hair?”

“I’s pretty!” Sunny beamed.

“Your hair is so pretty, sweet girl,” Clark confirmed with a soft smile, tucking a blonde tendril behind her ear, “You and Mommy always do such a good job with it.”

“Sunny girl wants pigtails,” Gwen told him with a smile, “She was wondering if you know how to do those.”

“Mr. Clark do it!” the little one added with a nod.

“Gosh,” he chuckled, “I’ve never tried to, but I can give it my best shot.”

With a beaming grin, Gwen motioned for Clark to sit on the floor and helped Sunny climb into his lap. She sat behind him on the bed so she could guide his large nervous hands. Clark looked up at her when she handed him a hairbrush, his face flushed and his lips glossy from chewing them nervously. 

“Please don’t let me hurt her,” he practically begged with wide eyes, “If I hurt her even a little bit, I’ll never forgive myself.”

“You won’t hurt her, Clark,” Gwen promised with a hand on his shoulder, “I can guarantee that you won’t pull her hair tight enough for her to even feel it.” 

“We’re trusting you, Gwen,” Clark warned lightheartedly, “Both me and her.”

“You two can always trust me.”

Gwen was right, Clark was far too gentle to even possibly hurt Sunny. His thick fingers fumbled with the hairbrush which looked like a toy in his hand and Gwen had to help him with the hair elastics repeatedly. Sunny was perfectly still in Clark’s lap much to his relief, he knew kids could be wriggly and he wanted the best chance to do this properly. With Gwen’s dainty hands guiding his much larger ones, he managed to tie Sunny’s blonde curls into two crooked pigtails which her mother had to tighten herself to ensure their longevity. The little one squealed in excitement at the sight of them in a mirror, turning around in Clark’s lap to give him a hug and a sweet kiss to his cheek.

“I’m glad you like ‘em, bug,” he hummed as he rubbed her back, “I’m not as good as Mommy, but I’ll keep practicing.”

After Sunny was helped into her little boots and a thick coat, Clark and Gwen walked to the restaurant with her toddling between them. As badly as Clark itched to carry her on his hip to keep her warm and safe, Gwen reminded him that it was good for her to walk on her own so she could gain some confidence. To ease his anxiety, Gwen threaded her fingers into his and pulled him close to rest her head against his shoulder. She smiled as she watched her little girl bumble down the sidewalk, her melodic voice chirping about whatever crossed her mind. Sunny’s crooked pigtails swished in time with her steps which made Gwen giggle and lean even further into Clark’s side. 

“You did great with her hair, by the way,” she praised him with a smile, “Especially for your first try.”

“It looks nothing like when you do it,” Clark countered despite the dimpled grin on his face, “She’s just so cute that you can hardly tell.”

“Oh, I can tell,” Gwen replied, pulling a chuckle from his chest, “But as someone who’s never attempted it… You didn’t pull any hair out and the parting isn’t half-bad. You just have to work on the conviction it takes to pull it tight enough for her to not shake them out.”

“Well, I’m sure Sunny will help me practice,” he nodded, “Hopefully on her dolls until I perfect the pulling.”

“You’re so good with her,” she exhaled with a smile, “I have never seen her love someone like that who isn’t me.”

“It’s an honor, Gwen,” Clark said, bringing her hand up to his lips again to kiss, “To be around her… To love and be loved by her… The same goes for you.”

They continued on to the restaurant and Clark pulled Sunny closer with one hand on her shoulder as he held the door open, ushering her and Gwen in. The latter scooped Sunny up onto her hip, kissing her cheek and allowing Clark to guide them toward the hostess. He chatted with the hostess for not even a minute before they were being led toward the back of the dining room. Sunny ooh’d and aah’d at the sparkling lights and the old photos on the walls while Gwen wondered how they got a table so quickly when the place looked busy.

“Your server will be with you in just a minute,” the hostess told them kindly as the three of them settled into a circular booth with Sunny between Gwen and Clark, “Enjoy your meal.”

“Thank you!” Sunny said brightly with a wave as the woman retreated and beamed when she got a wave in return. 

“I think Sunny will like the linguine,” Clark said to Gwen over the little one’s head, “But, you definitely know better than me so if you have any questions about the menu… I’ve been here more times than I’d like to admit, so I can help.”

“Is that how we got this table so quickly?” she asked with an amused smile as she watched Sunny scribble with crayons onto her paper kid’s menu, “This place is packed!”

“The owner has this table reserved for me,” he admitted with a shrug as if that were normal, “His staff know me at this point, they’re a really nice bunch of people.”

“Does this have anything to do with a man wearing blue?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Clark returned with a false look of indifference despite his dimples giving away his amusement as he pretended to scan the menu.

“Help!” Sunny pouted and offered Clark the sleeve of her coat that she had tried getting out of, “Stuck!”

Without hesitation, Clark dropped his menu and helped her out of her coat before setting it down on the booth seat beside him. Then, he reached over and took Gwen’s coat from her too before placing it with Sunny’s. Now that everyone was comfortable, Clark was able to take the crayon Sunny offered him and scribble alongside her on the paper provided. Gwen watched the two of them with a smile on her face, listening to the way Sunny’s little voice trilled against Clark’s deeper one. It always amazed her how easily they seemed to get along, like it was second nature.

Back in New York, Sunny had only ever really known to get along well with her Mommy and some of her Mommy’s coworkers. Miss Betty always wished her a good morning and asked Sunny to help her keep the boss out of trouble. The boss, Mr. Jameson, had always been really nice to Sunny and even gave her snacks whenever she found her way into his office. He never raised his voice around her and always softened at the sight of her. Mr. Eddie once brought her a stuffed seal back from California when he returned from a photoshoot and always gave her a high five when he saw her. Then, there was Peter. 

Peter was kind and gentle with Sunny, he just seemed to be uncomfortable when he was around her for long periods of time. It was obvious that at his age, he was not prepared to take a big role in Sunny’s life. Gwen had Sunny pretty early in Peter’s eyes, but he also knew she came from suboptimal circumstances. Later, Gwen realized Peter thought it was too early because they were the same age. Being in your early twenties and having a kid feels early in the moment, but Gwen never regretted having Sunny for even a second. Clark was just about five years older than her so he saw no issue with Gwen being a ‘young’ mother. There was no shadow of guilt or fear looming over Clark’s youth the way there had been for Peter. Clark actually found it exceedingly impressive that Gwen was doing as well as she was at her age in spite of the rough hand she’d been dealt. She amazed him everyday. 

Of course, Gwen never blamed Peter for being unprepared. She blamed herself more, she felt bad for dragging him and Sunny into that. So, when she offered him an out and he accepted it with haste, it was enough for her to move on completely. Gwen was hoping that was enough for her to justify falling for Clark the way she has. She had never met a man like him, he was just so good. Maybe it was enough; maybe she was enough. All Gwen could do was hope that she wasn’t dragging Clark and Sunny into the same circumstance she had with Peter. 

“You look like you’re thinkin’ real hard, beautiful,” Clark said to Gwen as he tucked some hair behind her ear, “Care to share with the group?”

“I’m just really grateful,” she shrugged with a smile as she locked eyes with him, “For her, for you. For being as happy as I am even after everything.”

“Well, then I will do everything in my power to make sure you’re always as happy as you are right now,” he promised, “For as long as you’ll let me.”

“Until you’re sick of me, Mr. Kent,” Gwen challenged with a smirk, making him lean in over Sunny’s head to kiss her.

“Never happening, Ms. Stacy.”

The food came and Gwen helped Sunny roll the sleeves of her shirt up as the little one eyed her pasta and then Clark’s, then Gwen’s. Clark grinned down at Sunny and gently patted her head before helping her put a napkin over the front of her shirt since the tomato sauce would likely stain. When he saw Gwen then reach over and begin to cut up Sunny’s food, he stopped her with a gentle hand on hers.

“I got it, sweetheart,” he told her and gestured to her plate with the fork he took from her, “Go ahead and eat.”

“I can do it, Clark,” she reminded him despite doing just as he said, “I’ve done it ever since she started eating solids.”

“Well, now I can do it,” Clark replied with a shrug as he cut up Sunny’s pasta into bite sized pieces like he’d seen Gwen do many times before, “You don’t always have to do everything yourself anymore. I’m here to help you now, whenever I can.”

“Mr. Clark do it, Mommy,” Sunny nodded, “He can help!”

“That’s right,” the man grinned down at her again, “It’s good to ask for help whenever you need it.”

Gwen watched as Clark finished cutting up Sunny’s food before placing the plate in front of the little one. They had ordered her linguine with a red meat sauce that had hidden veggies mixed in which the server had recommended when she took their orders. With Clark and Gwen watching, Sunny scooped up a large spoonful and stuffed it in her mouth, her opposite little hand messily poking the noodles in and smearing sauce around her lips and chin. Clark chuckled and made sure he had a clean napkin handy to clean her up in a bit. Sunny hummed in approval with a little nod and went for another spoonful of her cut up pasta.

“Yummy,” the little one murmured around her food.

“You like it, hon?” Clark asked with a dimpled grin.

“S’good,” she nodded again in response before slurping up a stray noodle.

“And yours?” he turned to Gwen, “What do you think?”

“It’s so good, Clark,” Gwen nodded and dabbed her mouth with a napkin, “I was worried I would miss New York’s Italian food, but this really hits the spot.”

“Good,” he smiled, “I’m glad. Metropolis has really great places to eat, they can just be hard to find.”

“Good thing they love you here,” she hummed with a pleased grin, “I’m definitely going to take advantage of that from time to time.”

“You ladies will be my plus two from now on,” Clark promised, “They’ll love you both too in no time.”

“What’s that?” Sunny asked with her little sauce-covered finger pointed to Clark’s steak fettuccine alfredo.

“That’s steak,” he said and tapped a piece of steak with his fork, “The noodles are fettuccine which are a bit wider than what you have on your plate and the sauce is creamy. Want to try it?”

“Clark, she’s okay with her food,” Gwen insisted when the little one nodded, “I don’t know if she’ll like steak very much.”

“Just a little bite,” Clark pleaded with wide blue eyes and a pouting lip as he cut up a small bite of steak and pasta for Sunny, “Here you go, sweet pea. It’s okay if you don’t like it, just give it a try.”

Clark and Gwen watched Sunny intently as she carefully took the offered bite. When she reached out to brush a pigtail off her shoulder, Clark intercepted her saucy hand and did it for her before taking the clean napkin he’d reserved and wiped her fingers. Sunny hummed in delight and nodded as she chewed the mouthful of food. Gwen smiled at the sight and was still thoroughly impressed with the way Clark was able to get Sunny to try and eat all kinds of foods. It was clear how the little one trusted Clark implicitly, that she believed he would never steer her wrong. He had only ever encouraged her to try things he thought she would like and never made her feel bad when she didn’t.

“Is that good, baby?” Gwen asked with a proud grin, straightening one of Sunny’s pigtails.

“I like it,” Sunny nodded before poking at her linguine, “But mine’s better.”

“That’s perfectly fine,” Clark reminded her with a gentle pat on her back, “I’m just proud of you for trying it.”

It was a nice meal the three of them shared, and Clark got to practice saying ‘no’ to Sunny in his own roundabout way. When the little one gave him her best puppy dog eyes with her bottom lip stuck out as she begged for ice cream after she cleared her plate, Clark was firm but ever so gentle. 

“We can’t get ice cream, honey girl,” he told her right to her pouting face as he helped her wipe her hands and face, putting an impressed look on Gwen’s face, “We’re gonna help Mommy bake cookies at home, remember? You gotta save your sweet tooth for those, right?”

“And you’ll eat them with me?” Sunny murmured hopefully, worming her way into his arms and snuggling his chest, “You’ll stay?” 

“Of course I will,” Clark promised with a kiss to her hair and his hand rubbing her back, “I’ll be there when you go to bed and I’ll still be there when you wake up. You can help me make Mommy pancakes. How’s that sound?”

“With blueberries?” the little one asked with her pout still prominent, making Clark pull her closer and kiss her cheek.

“With all the blueberries you could ask for.”

Then, Clark paid the tab, giving Gwen an unimpressed look when she tried handing him cash for her and Sunny’s portion. He gingerly slid the bills back to her and didn’t give her another glance as he sent the server off with his card. Once they tipped and got everyone’s coats back on, the trio left the restaurant. Clark had noticed during dinner that the rain had picked up and it was pouring outside so he’d already ordered an uber back to the apartment. The driver was pulling up just as they exited the building so Clark was quick to pick Sunny up onto his hip and guide Gwen toward the car with a hand on her back. Luckily, there had been an option for ordering a car with a carseat available. Gwen promised to show Clark how to secure Sunny properly another time when they didn’t have a driver waiting on them and insisted on buckling the little one in herself. With a pout, he allowed it and just slid in after her. 

They got back to the apartment fairly quickly considering the evening traffic. Sunny watched in awe at the raindrops sliding down the windows of the backseat, her little finger pointing up at them and babbling to her heart’s content. Clark had to cradle her in his arms to get her out of the car and bounced her to get her to smile again as he carried her into the building. 

“Thank you for dinner, Clark,” Gwen smiled as they waited for an elevator, looking at her daughter expectantly.

“Thank you, Mr. Clark,” the little one parroted, wrapping her arms around his neck in a hug, “Dinner was yummy.”

“My pleasure,” he insisted with a smile as he pulled Gwen closer to kiss her temple, “I’m glad you girls liked it.” 

At Gwen and Sunny’s apartment, Gwen took her daughter into her bedroom to help her clean off any remnants of the day and change into comfier clothes. Meanwhile, Clark was in the kitchen getting things ready for the cookie baking that would take place. Gwen returned without making him wait long with a cozy Sunny on her hip. Clark had shed his jacket as well as the flannel he’d been wearing throughout the day and the thin white t-shirt he had on was making Gwen’s head spin. Fabric stretched and pulled taught over his muscles and the softness of his stomach, almost pulling an involuntary purr from her. He beamed at the two of them and took Sunny into his arms when she reached for him. The two of them got to work on the cookies and Clark convinced Gwen to take a few minutes to get herself ready for a restful night in. 

“I’ve got her,” he insisted when she looked over at Sunny, “You can relax, hon. We’re okay in here, I’ll get you if we need anything. I promise.” 

Almost reluctantly, Gwen went to her room to indulge in some self-care that she rarely had time for these days. She took her time doing a full skincare routine with an audiobook playing quietly and even changed the bedding in her room since she hadn’t had time to do it that morning after the laundry was done. Gwen realized she’d been on her own for much longer than she expected to be and her mom brain started to invigorate her anxiety. Without missing a beat, she dropped the pillow she had been fluffing onto the bed and walked back out to the kitchen. Upon being greeted with the sight before her, she felt silly for overreacting. In the kitchen, Clark was watching Sunny roll out little balls of cookie dough in her tiny hands while he tried getting the sizing right. His massive hands always grabbed too much dough or flattened them down too much to get a proper cookie shape. But, Sunny seemed to do it expertly every time. 

“You’re a natural, peanut,” he praised softly as he tried copying her to the best of his ability, “I’m sure your cookies will be a lot better than mine.”

“All the cookies will be good!” the little one insisted, “Because we made ‘em with love!”

Gwen smiled as she approached them, pressing a kiss to Sunny’s cheek and then Clark’s. There was no reason to worry when he was around because everything he did, he did with love. Sunny would always be safe with him, as would Gwen. It would take some time getting used to, but Gwen was starting to accept that Clark was theirs. He would always be there to love and protect them. She just hoped he knew that he was so loved and appreciated by the two of them. All she could do was pray that it was enough; that she was enough.