Next morning, Clark was having breakfast. His parents had gone into town to do some shopping. Lois appeared from upstairs.
She saw Clark. "Smallville, you're back?"
"10/10 for observation, Lane." Clark replied.
"Missed me, did you?" Lois teased.
"Yeah I hate to admit it but I did."
Lois felt a pang of jealousy. "I bet the Pink Princess kept your mind off things."
"Lois, she is called Lana and we're history."
For some reason, Lois could not stop this flirtatious conversation that was building. Clark did not seem in a hurry to end it either.
"Really. I don't believe you. Prove it."
Clark got off his chair and walked over to Lois whilst never breaking eye contact with her.
"Ok then." He pinned Lois against the kitchen wall and started to kiss her neck. Lois was giving out little moans. Clark teased her with his lips, kissing her chin and working his way up to mouth.
Lois whispered in his ear. "Why don't we finish this upstairs. I bet Clark Jr would like that."
Clark was getting seriously hot under the collar. He couldn't say no. "Ok then..." He picked her up and was about to carry her upstairs when he heard a car pull up.
"My parents are here." Clark put Lois down and went to sit back down. Lois sat at the other end of the table.
Jonathan and Martha walked in. "Hi guys. Nice to see you are up Lois. I was wondering if you were still interested in taking that job at the Talon. If so there is a shift going until 10pm tonight."
Lois looked at Clark. He was like a eager puppy willing her to say no, but Lois knew she had to earn some money somehow. She did not exactly have a glittery career ahead of her after dropping out of Met U.
"Ok then. I'll just go and get ready." Lois ran upstairs.
She came back down, noticing Clark staring at her all the way down the stairs. "Listen Smallville." His ears perked up. "My car battery is gonna die soon. Could you pick me up from the Talon tonight. I will take my car into the garage in the morning."
Clark decided to play a game. "Lois, I'm still jetlagged. It's a bit late."
Lois glared at him. Jonathan interrupted. "Of course he will, Lois. Won't you Clark?"
"Looks like I have no choice." Clark put on a smile at Lois.
The shift at the Talon dragged for Lois. She was looking forward to Clark picking her up at 10pm. She thought it might take them longer to get home than planned.
Lana was home and so was Jason. They came down for a coffee and sat in the corner all giggly and all over each other.
"Lois, come over for a coffee." Lana gestured for Lois to join them.
"It's a little busy." Lois remarked.
"Lois, you can spare 10 minutes. I know the boss..." she said and then did one of those annoying laughs.
Jason excused himself. "Look, I have something to deal with. I will see you later. Enjoy your girlie chat."
Lois felt herself about to grimace and then stopped herself. "So how was Shanghai?"
"Interesting..."
"Why so." Lois inquired.
"Don't breathe a word of this but Clark tried to come on to me. He was quite persistent but I told him I wasn't over Jason yet. He was so upset."
Lois got up. "Look Lana, I have to get back to work, someone is waiting to be served." She was angry – either Lana was lying or Clark was coming onto any girl that moved.
At 9.30pm, Clark arrived early.
"You're early..." Lois remarked.
"I thought I would grab a coffee and help you lock up." Clark smiled.
Clark went to sit down on the corner sofa. "Lois, why don't you join me?"
"I don't think that is a very good idea in the circumstances."
"Why not?" Clark propped himself up.
"It seems you cannot keep your hands to yourself. First me and then Lana." Lois replied sharply.
"Lana? What has she been saying now?"
"She said you made a play for her on the plane."
"That's bull, Lois. I have told you I have no interest in her."
"Then why have you come on to me three times."
"Excuse me Lois. – first time I was drugged, second time was a kiss goodbye and if I remember rightly the third time you came onto me. 'Why don't we finish this upstairs' were your exact words this morning."
Lois blushed. "Well, maybe I did but I am wondering who to believe."
"Look Lois. I am not here to play games with your emotions. I spent enough time with Lana playing emotional cat and mouse and I won't allow us to do the same. Believe who you will! But just know one thing – I would love to date you, take things slow and see where that takes us, but you need to take that next step."
Lois looked at Clark. She could see in his eyes that he was pouring his heart out. She realised she had spent too long hiding behind the barriers she put up a long time ago.
She sat next to him. "Ok Clark, you're on."
Clark and Lois started to kiss each other but the minute it started to get heated, Clark backed off.
"Lois, I do want to take it further, but not yet. I am a bit old fashioned and you know I've never...you know... Can we just go out on dates and have some fun together without any pressure?"
Lois would have seen those words coming from any other man as rejection, but not Clark. He was just traditional and that is what she liked about him.
"Sounds like fun, Clark." She kissed him.
Thirty minutes later they were driving home, just passing Evan's field when they noticed some red lying in a ditch near the road.
"Clark, pull over."
The truck came to stop. Clark and Lois got out...
"Lois, be careful." Clark said as he saw Lois running towards the object.
Clark caught up to her and looked at the same thing that Lois was staring at.
"Oh my God, it's a baby." she announced.
There in front of them was a baby wrapped in a red blanket. "Clark, get the truck. We have to get the baby to hospital. Who knows how long it has been lying out here."
Clark went off. Lois bent down to pick up the baby up and a piece of paper fell out from the blanket.
Clark pulled alongside Lois and got out. He could see by the look on Lois's face that something was not right.
"Lois, what is it? I wonder what a baby is doing out here."
Lois turned and gave him a strange look. "maybe we should ask you."
"Why would I know." Clark asked starting to worry about the tone of her voice.
She handed Clark the note and read the few words...
Clark, Take care of your son. He is your destiny and your future...
Clark gulped, realising this must be the challenge that Jor-el must be referring to.
Clark looked down at the baby boy. He had gorgeous blue eyes and he could not explain it, but he felt overwhelming love for this child, even he had no idea where he had come from or who is mother was, if indeed he was the father.
He held him. "Lois, could you drive us to the hospital."
Lois should have been confused and perhaps even angry but she wasn't. The sight of Clark and his son looking at each other was enough to melt her heart.
She would have questioned paternity but when she looked at the little baby closely, the resemblance left her in no doubt – he was Clark's.
"Of course I will, Clark." Lois replied.
They drove along the road in the truck. Lois kept looking at Clark out of the corner of her eye. She did not have a clue what to say. Who was the baby's mother and how could she leave the baby with Clark.
Lois did not know much about babies but had seen enough on daytime TV to work out that the baby was a few weeks old and that he must have been conceived during Clark's time away.
In the six months she had known Clark, she had never seen him so quiet and pensive, in fact he looked like he was in a state of shock.
"Clark, are you okay?" Lois asked, putting her hand on his knee.
He let go of his son with one hand and put his hand on top of hers. "Just a bit shocked to say the least. There are so many questions." He turned to Lois. "And you must have a few yourself."
"Clark, I do but you need to come to terms with what have happened first. I can wait. The main thing we need to do is get this little fella to Smallville hospital."
"Lois, thank you for being so patient."
Ten minutes later, they pulled up at Smallville hospital. It suddenly hit Clark that they needed to just get his son checked out quickly and get him out of there.
They went to the reception.
"Excuse me, could we get this baby looked at. We found him dumped by the side of the road."
"I'll have to take your details and then ring Child Protection Services." The nurse smiled.
"There's no need. I'm his father – Clark Kent." He said proudly.
Clark went onto explain that he had found a note with the baby. Clark explained he did not know the identity of the mother, as he could not remember being in a relationship. The nurse pointed them into a room and said the doctor would not be long.
Clark still had hold of his son. "Did you see the disapproving looks that nurse was giving me."
Lois laughed, "well, she probably thought that you had a drunken one night stand with the baby's mother."
"Maybe I did. I cannot remember it. Maybe this is Alicia's doing." Clark explained.
"Before we get into all that, can we give this little fella a name."
Clark smiled and started to think. For some reason a name just came to him and it would reflect the name of the house of El.
"Elijah Jonathan Kent."
"Whoa, how did you pick that name so quick."
"It just came to me." Clark smiled and looked at the newly named Elijah. "It may not matter anyway if his real mother comes along. She may already have a name picked out for him."
A doctor walked in. "Hi Mr Kent." He looked at Lois. "Would you mind if I talked to Mr Kent in private."
Clark smiled at Lois. "Lois, it's okay. Could you ring my parents and tell them I need them at the hospital. Tell them we found a baby, but don't give them anymore details."
Lois walked up and kissed Clark. "Ok, I'll be along the corridor if you need me."
"Mr Kent, I am Dr Emil Hamilton."
"Dr Hamilton..." he shook his hand.
"Call me Emil. So getting back to this little guy. Has he got a name yet?" Emil asked.
"Yeah he is called Elijah." Clark said proudly.
"Before you start, Emil. I just want to know if my son is healthy. I do not want tests on him."
"Mr Kent, we both know that probably isn't possible anyway."
Clark looked shocked. "What do you mean?"
"Look, I will tell you what I know. One night six months ago when I was doing a nightshift, I started to hear a voice. He called himself Jor-el, your father I believe. He told me that he needed me to help him cover up for baby Elijah's arrival on Earth. I honestly thought I was hallucinating but as time went on, I realised that I wasn't. He introduced me to a man called John Jones. He is a well respected detective at Metropolis Police Dept. Apparently he was sent to Earth to protect you and he uses his job to watch over you from a distance."
Clark was going to deny everything, but then he realised Emil was telling the truth.
"That's one hell of a story, Emil. Maybe you can tell me who the mother of the child is, then?"
"I did ask , but have been met with silence. Jor-el says the truth will be known when you are ready. Apparently his mother is human, so we do not know what baby Elijah will have in the form of your powers."
"So what now?"
"With John Jones influence in the police dept, we have forged a birth and death certificate for his mother. We can revoke this at a later date if need be. His mother was called Kyra Shaw, but she never existed. No one can trace her. You are named as a father on the birth certificate. The story you are gonna have to use is that you got drunk one night and got her pregnant."
Clark felt a little relieved. The last thing he needed was the police and children's services sniffing around baby Elijah.
"Here is a copy of the birth certificate." The phone rang.
"Listen Clark, your parents have arrived and are a little stressed to know what happened. You can have my office if you want some privacy."
Clark extended his spare hand. "Thanks Emil."
"We will be talking a lot more." Emil smiled and left.
Clark liked Emil and had no choice but to trust him.
Emil showed his parents in..
"Clark, are you ok? What happened?"
Clark turned around with baby Elijah in his arms. "Lois and I found him in Evan's field."
Jonathan looked at Clark. "He is gorgeous and he seems to like you, but I'm sure child services will be here to take him any time now."
Clark hugged Elijah tightly. "No they won't. Mom, Dad. I don't know how to say or even explain this, but I would like to introduce you to your grandson, Elijah Jonathan Kent.
Jonathan just looked at Clark. "Yeah right, Clark. It's not April Fools Day."
"Dad, look at him." Martha and Jonathan walked over and their face said it all.
"Oh my god, he is yours." Martha started to cry. Even Jonathan had tears in his eyes, alongside his look of confusion.
"How? I thought we had taught you to be more careful than that. Who is his mom?"
"I don't know..." Jonathan looked at his son with disappointment.
Clark went on to explain all about Jor-el, Emil Hamilton and John Jones.
"Well that's quite a story Clark, but do you know how hard it is to raise a baby?" his dad lectured.
"No, I don't but I want to find out." Clark smiled.
"You won't be able to go out like normal seventeen year olds and your school work will suffer." Jonathan continued.
"Look dad, it doesn't matter to me, all that matters is Elijah." Just then, Emil came in.
Clark introduced his parents to him.
"Clark, you can take Elijah home. I have brought some stuff you may need." Emil went to his cupboard and gave him a bassinette, car seat, milk, nappies and other things to keep Clark tided over until they got to the shops."
"Emil, we don't know what to say." Martha thanked him
"Clark, here is my number in case you have any problems. Call me anytime of the day or night. John says he will pop over tomorrow to introduce himself. It's going to be a steep learning curve but from what your father tells me you should be able to cope."
Clark and his parents left the room, arms full of baby stuff. "Lois, we're going home now."
Lois was amazed. "Where did you get all that stuff from?"
"Just a gift from the hospital, stuff they didn't need..." Clark tried to convince her.
"Remind me when I get pregnant to give birth here." She laughed.
"Look Clark, do you want us to take the stuff. You can drive Lois and Elijah in the truck. Take care with my grandson." Jonathan said, definitely softening.
Clark put his son in the Truck and carefully strapped him in the back seat. Lois sat in the back with Elijah.
"He is gorgeous, just like his father." Lois smiled. "What did the doc say?"
"Lois, can we talk about it later. I am so tired."
"Clark, forget later. Tell me when you are ready. As long as you know I am here for you and I always will be."
When they got home, his dad had already set up the bassinette.
"Look, what are we going to do about the sleeping arrangements." His dad asked.
"Elijah can sleep next to the sofa with me." Clark smiled.
It was not until later that Clark realised it was a bad idea. He was up every hour with his son, pacing the floor. He had fed, winded him and still changed him but he still wouldn't settle. His mom and dad offered to help but he wanted to do it all.
Lois came down. "Clark, why don't you have the bedroom. It will be all the noises keeping him awake down here."
"Lois, I won't let you sleep on the sofa."
"I don't mind." Lois smiled.
Clark and Lois set up his bedroom for Elijah who sparked out for a few hours.
His mom and dad were waiting for Clark when he got up. "Look Clark, we want you to go back to bed and we will look after him."
Clark had dark bags under his eyes, and considering he didn't need as much sleep as humans, it must have been a bad night.
Clark was about to protest until he was pushed towards the stairs by his mom. He went up and collapsed on his bed. It took him a while to turn off his superhearing. He kept trying to get up to see to his son but was just too tired.
Seven hours later, he woke up. He felt so much better. He ran downstairs. His mom was in the kitchen. "Where is he?"
"Clark, look out on the veranda." Clark looked out to see dad looking adoringly at his new grandson. Even more amazingly, he was singing to him.
Jonathan turned around to see Clark.
"Come on, have a seat. We need to have a talk." He offered Elijah to Clark.
"No, its ok. He seems pretty settled with you." Clark smiled.
"I'm sorry for the way I went off at you in the hospital. I can see you are going to make a great dad. Ideally you should have waited until you were in a relationship and a little older, but that is not your fault."
"I wish I could remember what happened and how Elijah came about."
"Your mom thought that maybe you said something to Lois about the Elijah's mom when you met her. That could be why Jor-el wiped yours and Lois's memory. Maybe he didn't want you to find out what happened. Elijah was obviously conceived whilst you were Kal-el.
"That's what I thought dad, but there is only one person will be able to tell you about that."
Jonathan and Clark were interrupted by a car pulling up. A large dark skinned man got out of the car.
"Can I help you?" Jonathan asked,
"Hi Mr Kent, I am John Jones. I believe Emil told you about me."
"This must be Elijah. I can see Jor-el in him."
"You knew Jor-el." Clark started to get excited.
"Yes, I did Clark. I worked for him before Krypton was destroyed. He sent me to watch over you, something I have been doing for the past 15 years. Mr Kent, you and your wife have done a fine job of raising your son. He is a credit to you."
"Well, I hope so...So Mr Jones, are you Kryptonian." Jonathan asked.
"No, I'm from Mars."
"Of course you are..." Jonathan laughed. Elijah woke up and started to cry for his milk. "Clark, I'll give him his bottle. You two can talk."
John and Clark discussed their pasts and talked about Jor-el. Clark was thrilled that he had found someone who knew his father.
"John, do you know who Elijah's mother is? I need to find out. He needs her."
"No, I don't. Give Jor-el time to tell you when he feels the time is right. He must have his reasons for concealing the information."
"I have to get back to the police dept. Remember to contact me or Emil if you need any help."
"Thanks,"
Clark walked back in the house and found his dad asleep on the sofa with Elijah lying on his chest.
Martha smiled. "He is besotted Clark and so am I."
"I hope you and dad are still going away to Metropolis tomorrow like you always do." Clark announced.
"We don't feel we should."
"Lois is here and I have invited Chloe around to introduce Elijah. She has no clue." Clark remarked.
"It's lucky you are off for the summer now." His mom said.
"I know. I can spend the whole summer with Elijah before I start college. I am glad I have decided to go to Central Kansas. Luckily the course is only 15hrs per week."
"I proud of you Clark. You have taken on the responsibility of fatherhood so easily. I forget you are only 17 years old."