elysian (a.m.)

025. just not home

Clark's room at Ashley's isn't as big as his old room. Ashley shows him around the small apartment. It's different, less homely than Addison and Charlie's place. He's unsure what to call them; he hasn't called them by their names in a long time. He has a single bed pushed up against the wall and barely enough room for a dresser. He puts his duffel bag on the floor and sits on the bed.

"What do you want for dinner?" Ashley says in the doorway. Clark smiles and sits on the corner of the bed.

"Can we have spaghetti?" He asks, and Ashley makes a face.

"Oh...I'm not sure I have much in the cupboards, and I'm not that brilliant at cooking." She laughs, and Clark smiles.

"We can order pizza?" He offers an alternative, and Ashley nods her head and leaves Clark alone in his small room. He empties his bag and puts his clothes in the dresser; his baseball glove sits on top, alongside a photo of him, Addison and Charlie. He doesn't feel at home, and he doesn't want to feel at home. To Clark, home was two cats, a dog, an annoying little brother, and his two moms who would do anything for him. That was home, and he wanted to go home.

"What pizza do you want?"

Clark usually shared a pizza with Charlie, always ham, pineapple, and extra large.

"Can I get a small cheese?" He says in a quiet voice.

Clark is quiet for the evening and eats his pizza on the couch. Her TV is small, and they watch reruns of some trashy medical drama. He doesn't feel right; he needs to talk to her.

"Can Olivia bring my dog when she brings the rest of my things?"

"Your dog?"

Clark nods and then explains about Red and his time at Charlie and Addison's; Ashley rolls her eyes at mentioning them.

"They're not your mom's; I'm your mom. You're staying with me now." Ashley gently tells Clark, and a smile fills her face, and Clark feels uncomfortable. He finishes his pizza and then excuses himself to his room. He cries when he gets into bed; this isn't what he thought it would be.

"Eli!" Addison calls out as she chases the very wet 4-year-old out of the bathroom. He's giggling and screaming. Red barks and follows him, also soaking wet. He runs down the stairs straight into Charlie's path, opening the front door.

"Woah!" Charlie says and scoops up the small boy into her arms. "Why are you running from your mom?"

"Red got in the bath!" Eli giggles, and Addison stands at the bottom of the stairs with a slight smile. "Hi, mama." He cuddles into her, and she kisses his head. His language had improved, and he knew more words and phrases than he had come to them with.

"Go and put your pyjamas on," She puts him down, and he runs up the stairs.

"Hi," Addison says, stepping the last few stairs closer to her wife. Charlie pulls her wife closer and kisses her. "I missed you today," Addison says, wrapping her arms around Charlie's neck.