XYK
Chapter 2. 'Two's company'
Lois shut the oven door with her elbow and put the Roast chicken on the work top. She appraised her work "Not bad. Not bad."
Out of nowhere Lois could feel the bile rising in her throat, along with the pounding in a her head. She grabbed the work top to steady herself and closed her eyes.
"You ok?" Clark asked coming out of their bedroom buttoning up his black shirt
"Just morning..." Lois pressed a bag of frozen peas to her cranium "...afternoon and evening sickness, nothing I can't cope with.."
Clark made a move to come closer ,but Lois quickly raised her hand "I'm fine, Clark. Really, I'm fine."
Of course they both knew that wasn't completely true ,it had been almost two months since they'd received the news from . Almost two months since they'd had a conversation that didn't end in shouting or tears, and almost two months since they'd been able to sit in the same room together without the atmosphere being burdened with their opposing feelings. Too bad they were hosting a dinner party tonight, Lois would have cancelled it but it had been planned for the last four months.
The door bell rang, Lois quickly took off her apron and straightened her black dress. Clark stepped aside to let her pass. She flung open the door and squealed as did Lana who was holding a squirming chubby toddler. Lana grabbed Lois with her free arm and the two women embraced. Pete who was left with the stroller came in second, the two men's eyes met as they shook their heads with a smirk and a look that could only mean "Women!".
Once the women had embraced ,Pete handed Lois a bundle of Tulips, "Thank You ,Senator Ross." She said as she kissed him on each cheek.
Lana tip toed to Peck Clark on the cheek "Lovely to see you Superman." She whispered.
Clark smiled " Same here, Mrs Ross." Clark gently took his godchild out of Lana's arms and gently tickled him "And how's CJ today?".The baby giggled with delight.
"Trouble as usual."Lana said with a smile "But he'll fall asleep in a little while."
Lois took the coats and hung them up, but turned just in time to catch Clark play with Pete and Lana's gorgeous little boy, something inside her broke. She could feel the tears forming and the lump at the back of her throat "I'm just gonna go freshen up, Clark get everybody a drink." She quickly made her way to the bathroom and locked the door.
Seeing Clark coax and mollycoddle that little boy made her more certain than ever that they could achieve that. She mopped up her tears with a piece of tissue and with shaking hands reapplied her silently cursed her hormones,never before had she cried so much. She took a few deep breaths and slowly opened the door.
The three friends were in what appeared to be a deep conversation about politics.
"What we need is a new referendum."Pete was saying.
Clark still had CJ in his arms and was rocking him gently, as the little boy appeared to be falling asleep. Lana was sipping from a glass of red wine "Oh yeah, like that'll happen."
Pete turned to Clark "Have you met my wife, the eternal optimist?"
All three laughed, although Clark stopped as soon as he noticed Lois. He could tell she'd been crying. She immediately looked away and busied herself in the kitchen.
Once dinner was served and CJ was asleep on their bed, the conversation and laughter flowed easily. Lois had never had much of a family, for the most part it had been just her and the General with Lucy away at boarding school, with of course the occasional Christmas spent with her Uncle Gabe and Chloe, but since they'd moved around so much she'd never really made any lasting friendships, until she'd met Lana and Pete, they had accepted her unreservedly and without question. They weren't just Clark's friends, they were hers as well.
"...So, I said "well, this IS Washington DC." Pete chuckled.
Everybody laughed. "That can't be true." Lois dabbed at her mouth with a napkin.
"Believe me, we've met some characters out there." Lana verified her husband's hilarious anecdote.
Lois picked up the wine bottle and topped up her guests before pouring herself a glass.
"Do you think that's wise?" Clark asked from across the table. The intensity of his voice made Lana and Pete pause.
"It's only one glass of wine, Clark."Lois said. "Not even a full glass, just a sip. See.", She held up the glass in an exaggerated manner.
And just like that the atmosphere was back to what it had been for the last couple of months. Lana looked at Pete, Pete looked at Lana and shrugged.A shrug that wasn't completely lost on Lois.
"I'm pregnant."She blurted out by way of explanation.
"Oh."Pete said.
"Congratulations?" Lana asked ,trying to comprehend the atmosphere that was anything but joyous.
"You would think so,wouldn't you?But not according to my husband here." Lois said forcefully putting the glass down.
"It's not like that and you know it." Clark put his fork down and glared at his wife.
"Then why are you being like this?Why can't we just enjoy it,like other couples?" Lois stood up and and placed her hands on her hips.
"Because we're not like other couples!" Clark roared.
Lois and Pete of them had ever heard Clark raise his voice.
"You don't say,Superman!" Lois picked up Pete and Lana's plates "...I've never doubted or questioned you,I've always supported you and you can't do the same for me." She stomped towards the kitchen,Clark followed having seemingly forgotten about the guests they were meant to be entertaining.
"You think I don't see what this pregnancy is already doing to you,how ill you're getting.."Clark crossed his arms.
Lois practically threw down the plates in the sink "It's just pregnancy sickness..."
Clark shook his head "I thought Lois Lane always dealt in harsh realities,but when you do denial you do it are you going to start being honest with yourself?"
Lois stood in front of her husband,close enough to feel his breath on her face and hers on his "Why would I do that,when you're honest enough for the both of us!"
"Maybe we should go."Whispered Lana to Pete from across the table where they were still seated.
Pete got up and headed to the kitchen "Guys! Maybe we should go,we'll call you."
Clark and Lois stopped arguing.
"No!" Lois feigned a smile and picked up what appeared to be a fruit tart. "No,don't haven't even had dessert yet!" Before she could gage anybodys reaction,Lois quickly went sailing into the dining two men slowly followed.
Lois began to slice the tart.
"So when are you due?"Lana immediately bit her tongue,she really hadn't meant to bring up the issue that seemed to result in their arguments.
"December." Lois said picking up a plate and placing tart on it,she handed it to Lana.
Clark sat down,teeth still clenched "Lois probably forgot to tell you that there's only a 2% chance that our baby..." he took a deep breath "will make it."
"I'm just so sick of your pessimism!"Lois yelled as she threw the remainder of the tart to the floor in anger "Just go, GO!"
Clark clenched his teeth "Fine." He picked up his coat and flung the door open but didn't look back,instead he slammed the door shut .
The whole apartment shook, forcing Pete to grab hold of the wall,and Lana to quickly grab a vase which seemed set to topple to the ground from the effects of the mini earthquake.
"Go after him",Lana mouthed to her husband.
"I'm already on it." Pete picked up his coat and raced straight out of the door.
Lois slumped to the floor in tears and gently helped pick her friend up,she reached for a napkin and dabbed at Lois's tears. "Well,you two certainly know how to throw a dinner party."