What the El? - #0 - Empty Nest
a Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - based fan fiction
by: Joycelyn Solo

Author's note: I present to you, what I hope to be, a series of stories set after the end of Season 4. This isn't necessarily a "Season 5" type of deal here, there are lots of other sites for that, but I wanted to try my own hand with the world of Lois & Clark and see how far I could get with the introduction of one of my favorite heros. This prequel to my "What the El?" series takes place immediately after the fade-to-black of "The Family Hour."
Author's dedication: (you don't have to read this, it might get kind of sappy) I don't usually do dedications, but this prequel goes out to the lovely and talented Polish Goddess. My best friend who will soon be leaving me for a better place: Colorado. Okay, maybe not better, but several hundred miles away for a new job. She may not truly understand my fanfic obsession, but she supports it just as we've supported each other in every endeavor since that day on the swing-set almost fifteen years ago.
Disclaimer: Lois & Clark and associated characters are property of December 3rd Productions who, I believe, had them on loan from from DC Comics. Most any other character we'll run into later are property of DC Comics. I mean no copyright infringement, this story is for entertainment purposes only.

Chapter One
Metropolis, May 1997

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As Lois Kent presented the baby she and her husband found in the den of their Metropolis brownstone moments before, Clark heard movement in the kitchen and, lowering his glasses, looked through the door to find another surprise.

"I should have guessed." he muttered to himself. At Lois' questioning glance, he explained, "We have another visitor. Why don't you all go sit in the living room and I'll see if I can get some answers."

As he pushed open the door, Clark couldn't help his quiet laugh at the site of HG Wells in his kitchen with a frilly pink apron -- a gag gift for Lois' birthday -- tied over his tweed jacket as he warmed milk in a saucepan on the stove.

Looking up at the sound of the Kryptonian's chuckle, the author-cum-time traveler smiled in greeting. "Ah, Clark, excellent. Could you be so kind as to pour this? I can't seem to find a potholder and, well, since you don't really need one..."

In much the same way as he'd accepted the presence of the baby inside the den, Clark didn't question as the older man handed him a baby bottle. Securing the lid, he squirted a few drops onto his forearm to measure the temperature and handed it to the visitor.

"I'm sure you have questions," Wells said, his smile widening at Clark's paternal action. "Perhaps we should join your family in the living room and I can explain?"

Clark nodded and allowed the Englishman to precede him out of the kitchen.

"I took the liberty of preparing dinner for the young man." Wells said, passing the bottle to Lois.

Like Lois and Clark, the site of HG Wells in the house did not raise new questions for Martha and Jonathon but actually answered them.

Sam and Ellen weren't so reassured by the older gentlemen making himself comfortable on the couch next to their daughter while Clark took a seat on the arm rest on her other side.

"Just who the heck are you?" Sam asked, eyeing Wells suspiciously.

"Of course, Mr. Lane, where are my manners?" He stood again and bent forward at the waist, tipping his hat to both of Lois' parents. "Herbert George Wells at your service."

"You're HG Wells?" Ellen asked, disbelief evident in her voice. "Oh, I get it, you're another one of the nut jobs Lois and Clark hang out with from that newspaper."

Before Wells could defend himself against being labeled a "nutjob," Lois explained, "HG Wells built a machine that allows him to travel through time and space."

"Oh." Ellen nodded, as though that made perfect sense.

With the identity of their unexpected guest taken care of, Clark, his attention on the baby in his wife's arms, asked the next question. "Who is he?"

Wells smiled gently. "He's yours."

"That's not possible," Lois said, even as she felt the rightness of the words. The little boy in her arms certainly felt like hers. She'd held babies before, but never with this type of connection.

"He is indeed the son of Lois and Clark." Wells reassured. "Just, not the Lois and Clark here in this room."

Lois, having the most prior experience with this sort of thing, was the first to figure it out. "A parallel us."

"Exactly right, my dear." He smiled warmly. "Since our last adventure, I have been fascinated with the differences between the parallel worlds. It's extraordinary how one outcome can affect the path of an entire world.

"During my travels, fate or coincidence placed me in one dimension just as news broke that Lex Luthor had murdered Lois and Clark Kent and Superman." He saw the dark look that passed over Clark's features and his voice turned grave. "That dimension's couple had a child, and fearing for the boy's safety, I brought him to the only place I felt he could truly be safe."

Lois looked down at the now-sleeping baby. "Since I picked him up, it just felt...I don't know...right. Like he's supposed to be here."

"It's the same for me," Clark agreed, tracing a finger down the baby's cheek.

It was as Wells had hoped. "His name is Jonathon." He informed them, nodding to Clark's father whom the baby had obviously been named for. "Jonathon Clark Kent."

Despite the bizarre situation, Jonathon-elder couldn't help the proud smile that spread across his features as he wrapped his arm around Martha and held her close to him.

"I'm having a much easier time accepting this than I think I should be, but I do have one question." Ellen said, her brow furrowed. "Why is the baby wrapped in Superman's blanket?"

Both Clark and Lois froze, unsure how to deal with that question. To their surprise, it was Lois' father who answered. "Because Clark is Superman, Ellen."

"Daddy..." Lois looked puzzled, "How did you know that?"

Sam's eyebrows furrowed together. "Why, you two told me just a few days ago. When you and Clark asked for my help."

"But Dr. Mensa's machine...You forgot your negative memories..."

"How many times have I told you, Princess?" Sam explained, "The mind is a very complex mechanism. We don't fully understand it. That machine may have repressed certain memories, but they'll come back when I need them. The minute I saw you and the 'S'-shield, I remembered."

Martha and Jonathon shared relieved smiles. As closely as they had guarded Clark's secret for more than thirty years, it was nice to finally be able to share it. Though they never grudged the burden, it would be less stressful not to have to lie anymore to family.

"How do we explain the sudden presence of a bouncing baby Kent?" Martha asked.

"Actually, Mrs. Kent," HG Wells said, clearing his throat, "I think I may have an idea."

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