Born to Fly

By Serena Kenobi

Rating: T - just to be safe.

Summary: Sequel to Superman Returns.Superman and Lois begin to get their rocky relationship back to normal, butLois isstarting to get attracted to another man... Clark Kent. Bring the return of Lex Luthor, an angry, resentfulRichard, and a very smart five year old Jason into the picture, and what do you get? We'll see.

Author's note: My first Superman Returns fic, so go a little easy on me. I might come up with a totally different plotline, but I'll start with this one. Thank you! To all the people who are waiting for updates on my other stories - still don't have the files back, but hopefully, soon. So sorry!

Chapter One- Thoughts

Tap, Tap, Tap. Click, Click, Click. TAAAAAAAAAAAAAP...

Clark Kent sighed to himself as he erased, for what seemed the millionth time, his writing on the computer. For the past few hours he'd been trying to come up with a good profile outline or description for Superman. However, writing about one's self wasn't the easiest task. To tell the truth, he'd rather be out saving the world.

Can't always get what you want.

Clark stared at the screen with distaste. He didn't want to make himself out to be this perfect super hero dude, and he didn't want to overly boast about his talents. He pushed his glasses up on his nose and started again.

Superman has saved the world time and time again, battling robbers, saving old ladies' cats, and defeating the criminals of our day. Right now, however, the caped crusader is stuck in his extremely cramped and small office space, wishing he could be doing something other than writing about himself. He'd rather be dodging bullets, for crying out loud. Not that he'd have to actually DODGE the bullets, but I think you get the point.

Oh yeah. That was the perfect front page article, he could see it now.

"Clark!" a friendly voice startled him out of his reverie. He jumped, turning around to see Jimmy Olsen smiling down at him. "Heya there, Clark," he continued, not looking at Clark's computer screen, "I was wondering if you'd like to grab something to eat. Day's almost over."

Clark quickly pressed the delete button, trying to appear nonchalant. He hoped to death that the innocent photographer hadn't noticed his little pity party report. Luckily for him, Jimmy hadn't, and went on rambling about dinner.

"Uh, sure," Clark interrupted Jimmy, "Thanks."

Jimmy nodded. "No prob," he grinned, strolling off, whistling.

Clark turned back to the computer, giving it a rebellious glare. Typing quickly, he started over.

Note to self, he thought, Don't write about Superman.

- - -

Lois Lane was torn in half. Part of her wished that she was still in love with Richard, but the other, larger half told her otherwise. She couldn't help it. Lois Lane, fearless reporter, was in love with Superman. But who WAS Superman? Who was the man behind the blue, yellow, and red suit? He could be anybody.

Another thing was starting to make itself known. She was becoming attracted to Clark Kent. She couldn't help it. He was tall, handsome, had beautiful blue eyes. His personality was kind, unassuming, and sweet. If he only took his glasses off, she was sure he would be extremely good looking, more than he was already. But wait, wasn't she in love with Superman? And what about Richard? Where did he come in?

"I wish things weren't so confusing," she muttered, tapping her pen on the desk.

"What's so confusing, Lois?" a gentle and kind voice asked from her right. She glanced fleetingly at the tall form of Clark, who was gazing down at her with... what was that? It looked something suspiciously like adoration. But that quickly fled from his eyes, and he cleared his throat again, pushing his glasses up self consciously.

Loissmiled at him. "Nothing, Clark," she replied, "I was just talking to myself. Was there something you wanted?"

Clark shifted on his feet, feeling rather uncomfortable. "Well," he said, "Jimmy and I are going to get some dinner. Would you like to come?"

Lois thought about it for a second, staring into his very blue eyes. What had gotten into her? Now she suspected even the innocent Clark Kent to look something like her caped red and blue clad hero. Well, in her defense, they did have a lot of similarities.

"Why not." She turned back to her papers. "I'll be there in a minute." Her thoughts were muddled, and she wasn't sure what to make of them. For the past few days, she had been noticingthatClark and Superman looked very much alike.They both had shockingly blue eyes, dark brown hair, and were almost exactly the same height. "I'm going crazy," she grumbled, tapping her pen extra hard on the paper. Sighing, she began to write again, trying to clear her thoughts.

Richard came up to her as she was getting ready to go to dinner, hands in his pockets. His face wasn't too happy, and she didn't know why.

"Richard, is something wrong?" Lois asked him, frowning as she pulled on her overcoat.

He nodded. "Look, Lois, we need to talk. Let's go into my office." He took her by the elbow and led her through the door, shutting it firmly behind them. He then turned around, sighed, and rubbed his chin. "I need to know, Lois," he continue, staring at her. "Are you still in love with Superman?"

"Richard, now's not the best time, I have to go," Lois interrupted, motioning towards the door. If there was one conversation she wanted to avoid, it was this one.

"Well, when will be a good time for you?" Richard snapped in annoyance. Lois frowned, turning back.

"Richard, I have to go. I don't know what's wrong with you, but obviously you're upset, and we should wait until you've cooled down."

Richard slammed his hands on his desk, furious. "Of course I'm upset, Lois, for crying out loud, you're still in love with another man!" Lois jumped back, startled.

"Listen, we can continue this conversation at home or something; I really have to go," she said, not liking the look in Richard's eyes. Whisking around, she threw open the door and hurriedly strode out of the room, Richard glaring after her.

Clark had heard the entire conversation, and he was a bit enthused when Lois didn't deny that she wasn't in love with Superman. But he wasn't just Superman, he was also Clark Kent. What were the chances of Lois ever falling in love with HIM as well?

Lois walked into the elevator with Clark and Jimmy, who was whistling cheerfully, not having a clue about what was going on. Lois and Clark, however, were somber and quiet. They continued in that fashion the entire way to the restaurant. Clark wanted to comfort Lois, but that meant he would have to tell her that he could hear everything through the wall. Nope, he didn't see that happening.

"Oh, no," Lois blanched, and Clark, surprised, jammed his foot on the brakes. The car skidded to a stop, and the three occupants inside breathed shortly, startled into silence.

"Sorry about that," Clark apologized, starting the car up again. Lois put a hand on her forehead, and Jimmy made a sound of relief.

"It was my fault, "Lois returned, looking at him, "I just forgot that I have to pick up Jason from school. Do you mind if we stop there first?"

Clark glanced at her, giving her his crooked smile. "Not at all, Lois," he said, eager to see his son again. "I'd love to."

They drove a few miles down the road to Jason's school, where Jason was waiting for his mother. When he opened the car door and saw Clark, his eyes lit up, and he grinned broadly at the driver. "MR. CLARK!" he exclaimed, incredibly happy to see him. "What are you doing here? Did you come with mommy to pick me up?"

Clark was warmed by his son's welcome, and Lois watched the interaction with interest. She didn't know that her son liked Clark so much, but she'd didn't mind it. Jason spent a lot of time with him at the office at his desk, drawing.

Poor Jimmy was forgotten in the back seat for the moment.

"Yes, Jason," Clark answered, "We came to pick you up before going to dinner. Do you mind?"

Jason shook his head eagerly. "Nope," he said cheerfully, plopping into the back seat next to Jimmy. "Could I get a hot dog, mommy?" he pleaded.

Lois laughed. "Oh alright," she replied, "Since I know how much you love them. French fries with that, right?" Her son nodded in return.

"What are you getting, Mr. Clark?" Jason asked his unknown father. But he didn't wait for an answer and dove right back into talking again. "Oh, I drew a picture for you!" He fumbled around in his backpack and held out a picture for Clark. Lois took it from him, as Clark was driving. Clark took a glance at it and smiled. It was a picture of Jason, Lois, and Superman, all flying together.

Lois wondered why Jason hadn't put Richard in there. "Hey honey," she spoke up, "Why didn't you put Daddy in there?" Calling Richard 'daddy' wasn't easy for her, but she had to for Jason's sake. She then noticed Clark's hands close a bit tighter on the steering wheel, and his back stiffened. Hmm...

Jason just giggled, choosing not to answer. Looking at Clark in the rear view mirror, he winked at him. Clark raised an eyebrow, wondering what Jason was implying. Did his son somehow know that his real father was Superman? No. That was impossible. Lois didn't tell him, that was obvious enough. She still referred to Richard as 'daddy'. So what was going on?

Jason chatted with Jimmy the rest of the way to the restaurant, and talked with Clark as well. Superman was the constant topic.

"He's so awesome," Jason went on, "He threw a whole piece of... um...um..." he was at a loss for words.

"Land?" Clark put in helpfully.

Jason nodded, continuing on. "Yeah, land, into space! After he'd been hurt, too. Mommy, isn't Superman the best!" He leaned forward closer to his mother's seat.

"Yeah, he's great, honey," Lois smiled, glancing back at her beloved son. Clark shot her a sideways look, to which she returned. A small grin formed on Clark's face, which wasvery handsome, she mused. Lois shook her head, grinning. She didn't know why, but it felt good to smile. It wasn't something she did very often.

Jason turned to Jimmy, who was taking pictures of the city. "Don't you think he's the best, Mr. Olsen?" he inquired, cocking his head to one side.

"Uh-huh," Jimmy replied. "It must have been cool to actually meet him in real person. What's he like?"

Jason thought for a second. "He's very nice," he remarked, "He's tall, and he likes to come and see me when I'm in bed sometimes. He tells me great stories! Oh, and we saved him after he saved us. He got hurt, but he's all better now. Right, Mr. Clark?"

Lois raised her eyebrows as she looked at Clark, who had turned rather pale.

"Uh... I hope so," Clark stammered, "I don't really know." Jason merely giggled again, causing Lois to frown in confusion. Her son seemed to know his real father very well. She hadn't known that Superman was reading Jason bedtime stories. Had Superman told Jason who his real father was?

Jason, very smart for a five year old, was having a very good time. His mommy didn't know that he knew that Superman was his real daddy, and Mr. Clark didn't know that he knew it, either. Clark, of course, was Superman, his father. He had known from the beginning that Clark was Superman, and he had learned that he was his real father at the hospital. He had heard his mommy tell Superman herself. He was Superman's son, and therefore, Clarks' son. Now the grownups had to figure it out.

Sheesh. Sometimes grownups were clueless, really.

Well, there it is. The first chapter of my first Superman Returns fic. Feel free to review, but I don't tolerate flames. Thank you!

- Serena Kenobi