SUMMARY: What if, in "Crimson," Clark/Kal never found the invitation to Lex and Lana's engagement party, and therefore, never decided to crash the party and ditch Lois? Clois AU/babyfic. Reviews and constructive critisms greatly appreciated!
DISCLAIMER: I don't own the characters, nor am I in any way affiliated with the show, or with Jerry Siegel and Joe Schuster. This story is purely for entertainment purposes. That said, enjoy!
A/N: As always, thanks to all who patiently awaited the next chapter, and a special thanks to all who took the time to review. :D
Previously...
"We were naked in bed together, and neither of us remember how we got here. Clearly, we were drunk." She laid a hand on one side of her forehead. "Ooh, which would explain the headache."
...
"I'm pregnant."
"Wh- Uh- Wow." He exhaled sharply. Beaming, he added, "Congratulations."
"Thank you. It's yours."
His smile faded at that last bit of news.
...
"Clark, does Lois know that the baby she's carrying is...half-Kryptonian?"
After another quick glance towards the stairs, Clark guilitly replied, "Actually, I haven't...quite gotten around to telling Lois about me."
"Well, I suggest you tell her, and soon. Who knows what effect the baby could have on Lois, or vice-versa?"
...
"You see, I'm...an alien...from another planet," he finished, somewhat awkwardly, knowing how ridiculous it sounded. But, ridiculous or not, it was the truth.
"An alien? From another planet?" Lois didn't know whether to burst out laughing or to have Clark committed. "Smallville, how many hits to the head did you take while I was passed out?"
"Lois, I'm serious," he asserted. "I'm originally from the planet Krypton. My birth parents sent me here as a baby, and I arrived during the first meteor shower. The Kents found me in a field, and took me in and raised me as their own."
...
THE NEXT DAY...
"Are you sure you wanna go through with this, Lois?"
"I'm sure, Smallville, for the upteenth time. Now, get on with it already," Lois replied, with a hint of annoyance.
She and Clark stood before the stone altar in the Kawatche Caves. Slipping an arm around Lois's waist, Clark drew her closer to his side, then inserted the octagonal key into the altar. Immediately, they were engulfed in bright light, and when the light cleared, they found themselves inside Clark's Fortress of Solitude.
"Wow!" Lois exclaimed, staring around in wonder. "You didn't do this place justice, Smallville."
"Kal-El," a disembodied voice rumbled, while Lois pulled up the collar of her parka to ward off the Arctic chill. "Why have you brought this human here?"
"Jor-El," Clark addressed the voice, stepping forward, "this is Lois Lane. I told her about this place because she needed to know about the legacy she's carrying within her. You see, Lois is pregnant, with my child...with your grandchild."
After a lengthy pause that felt like an eternity to Lois, the Jor-El A.I. finally replied, "If that is so, then I wish to congratulate you both."
Clark and Lois exchanged smiles of relief.
"However," he added, wiping the smiles from their faces, "I would have thought you to be more responsible, Kal-El. After all, you've not lived your life even twenty years yet."
After another, shorter pause, it was Lois's turn to step forward.
"Look, Jor-El, what's done is done. Clark has shown amazing maturity in offering to be there for me and for our child, even after I assured him that I was perfectly fine raising this kid on my own."
She concluded, "Now, you can either climb onboard this baby train, or get off the tracks!"
"Lois Lane," the A.I. responded, sounding somewhat taken aback, "I admire your directness and conviction. Perhaps I have been hasty in my judgment. You will make a fine mother to a Kryptonian offspring. And if what you say is true, then I have no doubt that Kal-El will make a fine father."
The smiles returned, but the Jor-El A.I., not content with letting the moment be, continued, "Which is why, now more than ever, it is imperative that you start your training, Kal-El."
About an hour later, after an agreement had finally been reached concerning Clark's training (with special thanks to Lois), Clark lifted Lois into his arms, told her to hang on, and supersped all the way back to Smallville. Once they reached the Kent farm, he set her gently down, just as she noticed a familiar Jeep in the driveway.
As he followed her gaze, she remarked, "That can't be good."
She hurried inside, with Clark not far behind, then the pair were greeted with the sight of Martha Kent and General Lane seated on opposite ends of the couch, facing each other. When Lois and Clark burst into the room, Martha and the General turned their attentions toward the newcomers, then stood.
"Daddy," Lois greeted the man in question nervously. "What are you doing here?"
"Well, Lo," he replied, moving towards her and Clark, "I heard you were pregnant. Is this true?"
When she confirmed it, he then asked, "And who, may I ask, is the father?"
At this, Lois started avoiding eye contact, and Clark guiltily stepped forward, accepting responsibility for Lois's condition.
The General addressed the two ladies in the room and asked them to give him a moment alone with Clark, to which Clark visibly gulped. Though slightly worried for her son, Martha agreed and headed towards the kitchen, and Lois followed, but not before quickly and quietly warning Clark to maintain eye contact with the General and to keep his answers short and sweet.
Once the room was clear, except for the two males of course, General Lane began his interrogation.
"So, Clark. What are your intentions towards Lois?"
"I-I-Intentions?" Clark stuttered, not fully understanding the question.
"Yes. Do you intend to make an honest woman out of her?"
"M-Marriage? I don't - I mean, I hadn't planned on it."
"Oh? And what exactly did you 'plan on'?"
"Well, sir, I was going to help Lois raise the baby, and be there when it's born."
"I see. And just where is the baby going to live, hmm? With Lois? With you? Or are you going to tell me that the three of you going to live here with Martha?"
"Well, sir, I...hadn't really thought about it."
"I see."
And on it went for the next hour, until finally, General Lane, satisified, breezed into the kitchen, thanked Martha for her hospitality, hugged Lois, exchanged goodbyes, and left.
"Whew," Clark exclaimed, once the General was safely out of earshot, "that was rough!"
"Actually," Lois began, "compared to how he normally is, you got off easy."
At that, Clark's eyes widened.
TO BE CONTINUED...