CHAPTER 1

Previously:

He watches her until the door closes behind her. Then he's about to sit down on the bench when it suddenly hits him.

Pregnant?

His eyes roll in the back of his head and he collapses onto the floor in a dead faint.

"So what did the doctor say?" Chloe asks Lois when she returns to the table and sits down.

Lois looks around to make sure nobody could hear her, then leans over and whispers, "I'm pregnant."

Chloe stares at her wide eyed. "Did you just say that...that..."

Lois nods her head. "I just told Clark outside," taking a sip of wine, but immediately spits it out. "I almost forgot," pushing the glass away from her.

"How did he take it?"

"He was shocked at first, but then he said how we were going to love this baby as much as our other kids," she says with a smile.

"That sounds like Clark all right," Chloe remarks.

"I know," picking up a glass of water and taking a sip.

"Have you seen dad?"

Lois looks up at her daughter. "I just saw him outside," she replies. "I'm not sure if he's still out there though."

"Okay, thanks," walking towards the door.

"How do you think the kids are going to take it?" Chloe asks.

"I think both Jason and Debra will be shocked at first, but ultimately I think they'll be happy about a new baby."

Chloe is about to reply when Debra comes rushing back in. "Mom, you better come outside...now," grabbing her hand and pulling Lois out of her chair.

"What's wrong honey?"

"You'll find out in a second," pulling her along with her until they reach the door. They step outside and find Jason patting his father's cheek.

"What happened?" immediately rushing over and kneeling down next to her unconscious husband.

"I don't know," says Debra; coming over with a damp washcloth and handing it to her brother. "I came outside to find him and here he was," shrugging her shoulders.

"It's not like him to faint," says Jason as he lays the washcloth over Clark's forehead. "I wonder what happened," heaving a sigh.

Lois bites her lower lip nervously because she thinks she knows why he fainted.

I guess I'll have to tell them.

She stands up and takes a deep breath. "I think I know what happened," she says at last.

Jason stands up next to his sister. "What is it, Mom?" a concerned look on his face that matches his sisters.

"I just found out some interesting news tonight and immediately told your father. He seemed okay at first, but apparently him fainting was a delayed reaction."

"What is the interesting news?" Debra asks.

There's no way to sugarcoat this one.

"Alright," she finally says. "I'll just have to say it straight out," pausing a moment. "I'm two months pregnant."

They both stare at their mother. "P-pregnant?" both their eyes widening with shock.

"Yes. I'm pregnant."

"I thought the doctor told you that it was peri-menopause?" a perplexed look on her daughters face.

"Apparently not," Lois remarks; shrugging her shoulders.

"Well no wonder Dad fainted," looking down at his father.

"This wasn't the way we were going to tell you," a wistful look on her face. "We wanted to tell the two of you together, but sometimes you don't get what you want."

"That's true," agreeing with his mother.

"What happened?"

They all look down at Clark and they all immediately stoop down to help him up. "You fainted," Lois replies. "Are you okay, sweetheart?" she asks as they bring him over to the bench.

"I guess it just hit me," looking over at his wife. "I'm sorry," reaching out to caress her cheek.

"There's no need to apologize," smiling back at him. "It's perfectly understandable."

"Do they know?" cocking his head towards his children.

"We know," sitting down on the bench next to him.

Chloe comes outside. "Is everything okay? I was getting a bit worried."

"Everything will be okay, Chloe," Lois replies. "Clark fainted at the news."

Chloe quirks her eyebrow. "You fainted?" looking curiously at him. "I don't think I've ever known you to faint in all the years I've known you."

"There's a first time for everything," he remarks as he slowly stands up. "I think I'm going to go home and lay down. I'm feeling tired all of a sudden," turning to his wife.

"I think that's a good idea," kissing him on the cheek. "I'll see you later."

"Okay," turning to his kids and giving each of them a hug. "I hope I didn't ruin your party."

"You didn't," Debra replies; giving him a peck on the cheek.

"Ditto," winking at his father.

He smiles back at them, then super-speeds away; leaving a gust of wind behind him.

"It certainly has been an interesting evening," Lois remarks.

"That's an understatement," Chloe remarks in a slightly sarcastic tone.

"We should get back inside," Jason says as he walks towards the door.

"Right," following her brother inside; leaving Chloe and Lois standing outside by themselves.

"We should probably join them," says Lois.

"Okay," wrapping her arm around Lois' as they go inside.

At the farm

Clark sits down on the couch while still in his suit and just stares into space. Pregnant, muttering the word to himself over and over again.

So much for Fiji, closing his eyes and laying down on the couch with a sigh. So much for a lot of things. His eyes pop open when he suddenly feels something cold on his cheek.

"Hey, Clarkie," sitting up and ruffling his ears. "Come here boy," patting the couch. The dog immediately jumps up to curl next to him and rests his head on Clark's thigh. He begins to stroke the top of Clarkie's head. "If it were up to me, I would have given you a different name," continuing to stroke his head. "Lois just had to name you Clarkie because she loves to get under my skin," sitting back against the couch with a sigh.

He picks up the remote control to the television and presses 'play.' He continues to flip through the channels, but finds nothing good. He shuts it off and tosses it onto his father's old recliner. He stares at the old chair and remembers his father sitting there reading the paper.

His eyes well up at the memory and pulls out a handkerchief to wipe his eyes. Then he makes a decision.

I'm getting a brand new recliner, walking over and picking it up. He carries it outside and plops it down in the bed of his truck. No time like the present, climbing behind the steering wheel and flooring the accelerator.

An hour later...

Lois comes home to an empty and darkened house. "Clark?" calling out his name as she flips the light switch on. "Clark?" calling his name out again. Where is he? she wonders. Then she looks in the living room; her eyes widening with shock when she sees the new recliner. What shocks her even more is her husband sitting in the recliner dressed only in his boxers and chugging down a beer. "Clark? What the hell is going on?" walking over to him.

"I felt like a beer," finishing up the one in his hand and reaching down in the built-in cooler for another one.

She continues to stare at him as he finishes it off. "Looks like beer as in plural," a frown on her face. "It's a good thing that alcohol doesn't affect you, otherwise we'd be in big trouble," grabbing the empty bottles on the floor.

"Thanks for reminding me that I'm not normal," glaring at her as he grabs another one. "In fact, I wish..."

She puts her hand up. "Don't even finish that sentence," she warns him. "Do I need to remind you what happened the last time one of us accidently made a wish?"

"No you don't," flipping on the television.

She grabs the remote control from him and shuts off the television. "What happened to your Dad's old recliner?"

"I got tired of looking at it and decided I deserved a new one," sitting up and staring at her.

I wonder if he's been affected by red-k. Nah, he wouldn't be acting all moody if he were. "I think you should go to bed and get some rest. We can talk about what's bothering you in the morning, okay?"

"Okay," he replies.

"Good," leaning down to softly kiss his lips. "Are you going to come to bed now?" she asks him.

"I'll come up in a bit."

"Good. Because I need my 'electric blanket' to keep me warm," winking at him before turning around and making her way up the stairs.

He watches until he hears the bedroom door close, then gets up from the chair and stands in the middle of the room.

"I wish I could get drunk just like anybody else."

His words are heard from miles away.

Wish granted.

TO BE CONTINUED...