AU Tess Mercer never died and continued on as CEO of LuthorCorp and Chief Editor of the Daily Planet

I have this fascination with Clark Kent and Superman's immortality, and if Clark lives forever and how do they deal with his agelessness and his life beyond Lois. Most of the stories in this set will deal with Clark's apparently never ending life. Also fair warning the only thing I know about the Superman lore is what I watched in Smallville. I've never read any of the comics, feel free to correct me if I get something horrendously wrong.

Standard Disclaimers

Although technically both Lois and Clark worked at the Daily Planet, Lois was the main moneymaker in their household. After all, she was the Pulitzer Prize winner and world-renowned journalist. Clark was around the office so little that the new interns barely recognized his face; they only knew his name because it was under Lois' on their office door. And although Lois made a very good salary, the only reason they weren't constantly looking over their expenses was because Superman had a lot of very wealthy benefactors who were very interested in his success. The only reason Clark hadn't been fired from the Daily Planet yet was because Tess was still their boss, and she knew he had more pressing demands then the next day's headlines, she also just happened to be one of Superman's wealthy benefactors.

However, they had been employees of the Daily Planet for around 32 years now, and Clark's face was beginning to become more and more recognizable, not because they were connecting the geeky, clumsy Clark Kent to Superman but because he hadn't visibly aged in the last 25 years. It was becoming a big problem and Clark, Lois and Tess all knew it.

Eventually Tess called Clark into her office at the Daily Planet.

The two of them sat in silence for a while after Clark had taken his post in the leather chairs opposite her, both of them sensing that this would be the last time they would be in this position.

"I guess it's time," Clark finally said, breaking their silence.

"I'm afraid so. Your youthful appearance has become too noticeable," Tess replied.

"Is this meeting you officially firing me?"

"You're opting for an early retirement."

There was a moment of silence then Clark said, "I feel old."

"At least you don't need to look for a backup job." Tess quipped back.

Clark grinned then sobered, "You tell Lois?"

"We both agreed that this was for the best last night at Watchtower."

"Making decisions about me, without me?"

"It's for your own good."

"I could always start again at the bottom."

"Not at the Daily Planet, not in Metropolis, not with the name Clark Kent. You can try again in a couple decades with a new name."

Dead silence greeted her words as they both thought about the implications.

"I guess I've always known I will outlive everyone, but it's becoming so real."

"You better have Chloe make you a couple fake identities." Tess responded pragmatically.

Clark opened his mouth to respond but before any words could come out there was a knock on Tess' door.

"Come in." She said lifting her voice only slightly.

Clark was already rising, sticking his hand out to shake Tess'.

"It's been a pleasure working for you Mrs. Mercer."

"Thank you for all your years of hard work Mr. Kent. I am positive you will go above and beyond in all your next endeavors."

He gave her a slight grin in acknowledgement and then turned to go, passing Tess' assistant as he whooshed out the door.

He was sitting at the kitchen table when Lois finally got home late from work. She sighed when she saw him and sat down next to him.

"Tess and I talked today. Why didn't you tell me?"

"Oh Smallville, We both know what is happening, and we need to start preparing for the future now. I know that, even if you are unwilling to accept it.

"Lois." Clark turned to look her and caressed his hand down her face as he admired the grey streaks in her hair and felt the fine creases that had begun to develop along her laugh lines. "How could I ever be willing to accept the fact that one day you will be taken away from me?"

Lois looked back with the same steadiness she's always had into the handsome face of her husband that hadn't changed since he was 30, "Clark I will always be with you, just maybe not physically, and now you need to take a step back from your dual lives and focus on being Superman, because I can't risk Clark Kent's secret being revealed because he looks too young for his age."

"What am I going to do without you?"

"We don't have to worry about that yet. And besides you won't ever be truly alone, the kids will always be around."

Clark smiled at Lois, "I love you," he placed a light kiss on her lips, "I will love you forever."

The End.