a/n: So, like every review I got was asking me to continue. Here you go, hope it measures up!

World's Best Proxy Parent

Chapter 2

"Lois?" Clark called for his wife from the sliding doors of the balcony. "You home? You would not believe the day I've had." He made a languid beeline for the shelf by the door and tossed his keys into the ugly clay bowl sitting on it. Lois had made it on one of her sojourns with Lucy into one of her many hobbies; it had not been a successful venture.

Lois didn't answer. Instead, she waited for him to find her. She stood leaning against the counter in the kitchen sipping a full glass of white wine and contemplating her poor husband's annihilation.

He knew he was in trouble instantly upon seeing her.

"How was your day sweetie?"

Uh oh. 'Sweetie' was never a good sign.

"It was… eventful. How was yours?"

"Very informative."

Uh Oh.

"Really? Why don't you tell me all about it while I run us a nice warm bath?" He didn't mean to be patronizing, but even he could hear how it would sound to her steam-emitting ears.

"I met the most interesting young man today."

Clark froze. Whatever way this conversation was going, it was going to end very badly for him. Scenarios ran through his brain ranging from Lois leaving him for this younger guy, all the way to her finding out about that night in Monte Carlo with Bruce, which he was not party to planning.

"What was his name?" she paused to tap her finger against her chin. "Oh yeah! Connor. Kent. Something you wanna tell me sweetheart?"

"Lois, I-"

"I don't want to hear it."

"But I-"

"Zip it, Kent. This can only end badly for you, you might as well sit there and take it like a man."

"Lois, he's not what you think."

"He is exactly what I think he is."

"You're jumping to conclusions."

"I hear you can break an ankle that way. I'm a journalist though, so I wouldn't know what that's like."

"I didn't mean to accuse you of-"

"Ask me what I think he is."

"Ok, what do you-?"

"I think he's the product of a cloning experiment conducted by a secret subsidiary of Lex Corp. using both yours and Lex Luthor's DNA. I also happen to think he's a good kid who you're neglecting."

"It's not like that."

"Isn't it?" she sighed in frustration and ran a hand through her hair. "I get it, you don't know what to do with him. You suddenly have this kid that you never asked for, wanting more from you than you're willing to give. You didn't choose him, but Clark… it doesn't matter. You don't always get to choose your responsibilities. You of all people should be able to see that." She crossed her arms tightly over her chest the way she did during any emotional conversation that made her uncomfortable. "The man I married would never act this way."

The old one-two punch of shaming and guilting.

Lois had learned from the master. The master being his mother.

"Might wanna take the glasses off Honey, we have company for dinner."

"Why would I take them…? Oh."

Devious, the woman was.

Ding dong.

"Uh, hi Ms. Lane."

"Thanks for coming Connor."

"Oh, it's no problem. No imminent crises, you know."

"I do, I'd have probably known before you." She laughed a little at the thought. Clark skipping out suddenly was usually a good sign that she should be on her way wherever too.

"Oh right, reporter."

"Sure."

"So uh, is this about the team? 'Cause I can go get one of the others, I'm not so great with words." He stood in the middle of her living room looking out of place and self-conscious.

"No, this is of a more personal nature."

"Oh." This information did not make him any more comfortable. If anything he stiffened to the rigidity of a steel rod.

"Clark! Get out here!"

Connor looked confused for a moment when a tall, broad shouldered man slouched into the room.

"Connor, I'd like you to meet my husband."

"Pleased to meet you sir," he stuck out a hand, ever unsure of himself.

Clark finally looked up and, with a sigh, took off his glasses. Patiently he wiped them with a cloth and stuck them in the front pocked of his button up. When he finally looked up Superboy was still gaping open mouthed at him.

"Hi," he said.

"Hi back."