- Previously -

"Beautiful day," she said. "Is that your daughter?"

Lois smiled at the beautiful brunette in sunglasses who appeared to be in her mid-twenties. "Yes."

"She's cute," the young woman said.

"Thank you," Lois replied, staring at the woman. "Do I know you? You look so familiar."

"No; but I grew up here," the woman replied. "I used to play in this park when I was younger but that was ages ago. I don't live in Metropolis anymore."

"Really? What brings you back?" Lois asked, inexplicably intrigued by the woman.

"I came back to attend my father's funeral," she replied solemnly. "It was yesterday," she said and looked out at Clark and Lara.

"Oh, I'm so terribly sorry," Lois replied, embarrassed by her forwardness. "My condolences over your loss," she added.

"Thank you," the woman said.

"Does your mother still live in Metropolis?"

"No," she replied. "She died years before my father passed." The woman paused. "But I have some wonderful memories of her though." She looked at Lois. "She was so much fun and so full of life."

Lois shifted towards the intriguing woman and was about to introduce herself whenClarkcarried Lara over to where they were sitting. The young woman stared atClarkand at Lara, smiling as he approached. "Hello,"Clarksaid and nodded at the woman, handing Lara to Lois. "I think she's had enough," he said. Lara yawned.

"It looks that way," Lois replied. "It's about time for her nap anyway," she added.

"All the fresh air has tired her out," the woman said. "She sure is a pretty little girl."

"Thank you,"Clarkreplied.

Lois stood up and handed Lara back toClarkas she gathered articles and put them in the diaper bag she carried. "Go ahead; I'll catch up," she said. She stared curiously at the young woman. "I'm Lois," she said, thrusting her hand out.

The young woman took it. "I know," she said, gently shaking Lois' hand. "You're a quite famous reporter," she quickly added. She reached up and removed her sunglasses, revealing a striking pair of deep blue eyes. As she did, Lois spotted the unique ring on the finger of her left hand. She had seen the ring before; a rather plain gold ring with a circular emblem containing the letter 'L' within the circle. "I go by Elle," she replied and cocked her head slightly with an arched eyebrow.

The two stared at one another for a moment, each smiling. Finally Lois replied, "Elle; I like that. It's a beautiful name."

"It's in tribute to my mother," Elle replied. She got a far away look in her eyes. "I really miss having her to talk to," she added. "My Dad was really smart and we talked all the time. But Mom's are different." She chewed on her lower lip. "She always seemed to have the right answers but unfortunately she passed away before I knew what all the questions were."

"Look, I have to be going right now but hopefully we can meet again soon when we have more time to talk. Maybe I can help you find the answers you need, Elle."

Elle nodded. "I'd like that very much…Lois. You can count on seeing me again," she added.

"I look forward to it then," Lois said and turned to leave. She took a few steps toward the exit whereClarkwas waiting then looked back to find that Elle had literally vanished.

And now; Divergence

Lois tossed and turned in bed trying to get comfortable. As much as she would like to have fallen asleep, her mind was filled with thoughts of Elle.

Part of her was thrilled that her daughter from the future had promised to return because she felt the need to talk with her mother. Elle was a stunning beauty but even more obvious was that she seemed humble and kind; full of the virtues and characteristics with which Clark and she would imbue their daughter. She couldn't wait to meet up with Elle again and learn more about her and what questions she could answer. Lois hoped that she could help her daughter with whatever questions had driven her to put on a Legion ring and return to the present.

But another part of her was troubled; something wasn't adding up and she couldn't quite put her finger on it. Elle looked no more than twenty-four years old but two years before; Clark from the future had visited her in the delivery room when she was alone. That Clark was 647 years old and he looked twice as old as he did today. Yet Elle would have been no more than 36 years younger than Clark yet looked no older than her mid-twenties. She had not aged.

Elle's appearance also made her remember the future Clark's visit more clearly. Before leaving, he told her that he would like to come back to visit her - that he needed to come back - but it had been two years since giving birth to Lara and she had not seen the future version of Clark since that night.

Since Lois' leap into the future the night Clark fought Doomsday the first time, she had developed a greater understanding of time-travel and the rules that applied to it. The Clark that visited her the night of Lara's birth would now be 649 years old but even a future version of 'old Clark' could have visited her the next day if he had wanted to. He mentioned celebrating his 650th birthday with her but it had been two years and yet, nothing!

She wondered if Clark had died prematurely shortly after she passed away. The pitiful thought of Clark dying of a broken heart over losing her caused her eyes to grow moist. Tears pooled behind her closed eyes and a single one rolled from the corner of her eye and found refuge in the thick black hair just above her right ear. The thought of Clark pining away in depression to the point that he gave up the will to live was heart-wrenching for her. Lois needed to clear that thought from her head.

That scenario, she suddenly realized, did not answer the question of Elle's appearance and why Elle would have said that her mother died many years ago before she had a chance to ask her things. Based on 'old Clark's' visit, Lois had just died in the future at the age of 648. That would have been plenty of time for Lara or Elle to talk to her.

"What's bothering you, Lois?" Clark asked half asleep. He rolled over and put an arm around her, nuzzling the side of her neck.

"Huh? Oh, nothing really Honey," she answered. She felt his warmth and her heart filled with the contentment that being in his arms brought. "I'm just thinking about Lara and the future, I guess."

"What about it?" he murmured.

"I wonder what it will be like for her. Will she have friends and how much of a normal life she'll have."

"She'll be fine, Lois. She'll have us and who knows, maybe a brother or sister some day," he replied softly. "I had friends; she will too. You should quit worrying and get some sleep."

Maybe she'll have a brother or sister some day. She cringed. Lois had never told Clark about the events at the Fortress the day they first took Lara there and that she couldn't have any more children. "You're right," she replied, rolled her head to her left, kissed his lips and rolled to her side, facing him. "She'll be fine." She lay like that until she detected Clark's slow, methodical breathing indicating he had drifted off to sleep.

She gently wriggled out of his embrace, rolled quietly out of bed and padded into the next room. She stood in the doorway looking at Lara, sleeping in the tiny bed they had purchased for her. Lois crept to the foot of the bed and looked at their angelic child, swaddled in bed sheets and moonlit. She smiled, turned and headed for the refrigerator.

****** To Be Continued ******