3
"Perry, I just can't come in today," Chloe said and she knew it was stupid to try whisper when her husband and son both had superhearing, although Kon's was terrible. Clark was out checking on the cows and the great advantage of dealing with him was that he was easily distracted. He'd tune out his hearing so he could focus on the animals.
She was taking that opportunity.
"Sullivan, something's wrong, isn't it?"
Of course Perry could tell. The Pit Bull had a built in lie detector. She could smile for Clark and set out the cereal for Kon (who frankly didn't notice anything until about 11 AM; he was not a morning person). But she had no chance of hiding things from Perry. He saw too much or, in this case, heard it.
"It's nothing life threatening."
"Nothing for your more colorful associates in spandex to deal with then?"
Chloe sighed and leaned against the kitchen wall, her hand wrapped around the cord of the phone. "Nothing that will even make a dent on the Daily Planet classifieds. It's a personal day, Chief."
"Don't call me that and, forgive me for prying."
"It's what you do."
He laughed. "It is indeed. Sullivan, what's actually going on and please don't tell me it involves any bald mutual acquaintances."
"Not that. I guess you were going to have to know this anyway so you could help Lois and Jimmy and me cover, just a heads up."
"Is Clark sick?"
"Only a little to start," she replied, swallowing. "I... we're expecting."
Perry whistled on the other end. "Great shades of Elvis. I never thought I'd see this first hand."
"Perry!"
"Well, I didn't know that you two were going to try for another child. Kon's so old already. I figured you two kids enjoyed the extra time with him in high school."
"No, I've been...we wanted one after I won my first Pulitzer because there's more time then."
He coughed. "You were expecting to take off?"
"I was supposed to be the one this time, Perry. Long story short and genetic engineering gone awry, Clark only does this when the woman he's with can't."
"Chloe, I'm sorry. Are you alright?"
"Fine, I just need a few hours. The next few months are going to be really tough and add in the part where Connor's not expecting it at all and Clark's going to need me strong. I just wanted a few hours to myself."
"Do you need me to talk to him?"
"No, I think any special assignments you gave me for the day miraculously in Smallville, he'd see right through. I just need a moment to breathe. I'm happy, believe me. I love Connor so much, but I always wanted him to have a little sister or brother...I just thought I'd be the one.
"Sullivan, you spend 14 hours a day here if I let you. You're the best reporter I have, when you listen to me."
"Ha-ha."
"If you need a more than a day-"
"I can't. Like I said, Clark needs me and I can't make him feel bad. I'm not mad at him."
"I didn't think you were but if you need time, you've never had a sick day since I was editor."
"It's the meta metabolism."
"Just, take as much time as you need and we'll start thinking of ways to work around this for Clark. A lot of fathers take paternity leave. They don't usually give birth but it's Lowell County. I wouldn't bet that Clark's completely unique in this."
"Thanks, Perry."
"I try and make it normal. It's fine, you kids-and I mean Lois and Jimmy too-are like family."
"And you say that because you still wish you could marry Martha."
"Lionel doesn't deserve her."
"Dream on, Chief. So, I'll be in tomorrow and I'll be ready to work then."
"Sullivan-"
"Tomorrow," she finished, setting the phone back on its cradle, just in time for Clark to come rushing into the house.
"Where's Kon?"
"He left early to help Cassie do layouts."
Clark nodded and started toasting some bread with his eyes for his post-chores breakfast. "And you're in fuzzy bunny slippers and a bathrobe?"
"You're not dressed yet either and no fair," she groused and Clark (from her perspective) flickered and appeared back in front of her washed, cleaned, and in a three piece suit.
"I'll be ready to help you beat the morning commute," he said, quirking his head back at her. "But that's not what you want. Are you sick?"
"Never dies and raises the dead, but the stupid flu has got me this year. At least I got it before Christmas."
Clark frowned. "Chlo, look, about last night. Are you sure you're okay?"
"You're the second person to ask me that today. I'm fine, Clark. I just have a little cold."
He sighed and reached out to touch her hand. "I am sorry."
"You don't have to be. I'm just screwed up. Whatever happened, it's probably because I'm infected and don't even get into how that's your fault because Zod caused the shower and no infant can keep rocks from following him. I'm just glad one of us can do this."
She put every ounce of sincerity she had into it. Mostly it was true, she was jealous of Clark a little just like she was jealous of Kara or Margaret down in the basement whose shower she'd gone to last weekend. They got to do something that she never could and it hurt cause she'd always assumed she could.
The meteors sometimes took more than they gave.
But she couldn't say that, couldn't hurt Clark like that because while she hurt, she also was as thrilled as she'd been the first day he'd ever told her about Kon. Clark would get everything confused, make it about him and it wasn't. She was the one who couldn't do such an important thing, not him. And it wasn't like with Lana. She wasn't repelled by what was about to happen nor was she secretly hoping to adopt completely human children. She was more than excited for whomever they had growing between them.
The reporter in her was already curious to see how their child's abilities would line up.
Maybe they'd be immune. Kon in Smallville was complicated. He'd had more than his share of scares with old patches of woods Gerald had dragged him to or the meteor rock astronaut candy that Cassie had bought for him. Once or twice they'd had to go to Oliver's Dr. Hamilton for help because eight year old boys had a genius for getting into things they shouldn't have.
It would be nice if the baby didn't get sick like Clark, Kara, and Kon.
"I know but-"
"Go on off to the Planet. One of us needs to bring home a paycheck and before it takes you by surprise, I told Perry everything. He'll probably have some cigar waiting and a pages thick plan for your leave." She smiled and leaned down to kiss his cheek. "Just go, I'll be waiting."
"I love you."
"Love you too," she finished, feeling her hair blow in the familiar breeze. Sighing to herself, Chloe walked over to the refrigerator and dug out the Rocky Road she had hidden behind the frozen liver. Today, just for today, she'd curl into bed, watch bad tv, pig out on ice cream and think about what she'd never do.
Because one day was all she'd allow herself, for Clark and Kon's sakes.
Chloe was half way through a Lifetime movie, something fifteen years old with Shannen Doherty as the lead and one woman's struggle against something. After five hours, they'd all started to blur together. The phone ringing was shrill enough to shock her out of her funk and to, unfortunately, send the last of the carton tumbling to the floor.
Swearing lividly, Chloe picked up the phone. "Kent residence, Mrs. Kent speaking."
"Mrs. Kent? Thank goodness. We tried your husband's work phone but he didn't answer."
"He's hard to track down on the beat and even harder in press conferences. What did you need?"
"This is Nurse Harding from Smallville High."
Chloe found it harder to breathe, felt her lungs constrict. There was no good reason why Kon would ever be at a nurse's office, even if the one at Smallville High specialized often in kids with unique afflictions. "Is he alright."
Dear God, no one could know.
"Mrs. Kent, we're calling because Connor passed out in History class. He's awake now but he's complaining of a migraine. We called you to come get him."
"Migraine. I...it's not class ring day again is it?"
"No ma'am. He was in history class like always and his friend Cassie said he just start clutching his head and passed out cold. He's up now, but unsteady. We'd like it if you could be here soon to pick him up."
"I'll be there yesterday," Chloe said, hanging the phone up.
It was a little after 1 PM. Worrying about what might have been was over, taking care of Kon, which had always been a full time job, had just resumed. And, with that, Chloe rushed to Smallville High and to her son.
