Chapter 4
Private Room, Metropolis General Hospital

"Lois, you gotta focus. You keep screaming and you're not getting enough oxygen. Sucking in oxygen is going to help keep the blood flowing in your muscles, which will help ease the cramps and lessen the pain."

"You don't know what I'm feeling, Chloe. This thing is going to tear my back in half and split my stomach open starting at my..."

"Lois, squeeze my hand as hard as you want, just breathe," Clark said encouragingly, stopping his wife's tirade before she assaulted their nurse's ears with her profanity again.

"Lois, it's not a thing. It's your baby," Chloe said through gritted teeth as Lois gave her a death glare, squeezing her hand until she felt her knuckles crack. Instead of breathing out, Lois was holding her breath and groaning just like she had for last four hours of contractions. "Clark, please remind her that this is not what she learned in her Lamaze classes, and what she's doing is only going to prolong the torture."

Lois turned on Clark. "If I could hit you without breaking my hand, I would. You did this. This abnormally large child with an even larger head, that's lying on my spine, making my...ahhhhhh," Lois words were cut short and this time she started panting.

Chloe wished that she could pry her fingers from Lois' death grip, just so she could switch hands. She was losing all sensation in her left hand. "What time did you guys get in this morning?"

Clark pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and dabbed the sweat from Lois' forehead with a wash cloth. "We thought her waters broke at around 2 a.m. this morning, but it was just a leak. They checked her when we finally managed to come in which was around 7 a.m. Lois insisted she have a shower, change and double check her bags first. She was only two cms dilated then. They were going to send her home again when she threatened Emil that she'd only be right back in ten minutes, because her back was killing her and she wanted an epidural for the pain."

"So why didn't he give it to her already?" Clark looked like he was about to answer her when he was interrupted.

"Almost there, Lois. You're about nine and a half," the nurse announced happily.

"Only nine..." Lois screeched, before she flopped back on the pillows. Up until lunch her labor had progressed slowly but steadily, and was just a bit of tightening, barely period cramps across her stomach with this nagging ache in her back. But at about twenty past twelve it all hit her at once, severe cramping, spasms in her back and her knees giving way so she could no longer stand. Which was how she now found herself hunch over hugging the top of the bed assaulted with this uncontrollable urge to push. Which was horribly embarrassing because it also felt like she needed to use the bathroom with a room full of people. And now after almost four hours on, she was still in this predicament of fighting her body all the way and holding everything in.

Clark could see how much discomfort Lois was in and knew unless he could get her to relax, there was no way their baby was coming out the natural way, and he couldn't be sure Lois even had the strength to keep going even if she did stop fighting. He could hear both of their heartbeats pounding away, Lois' a lot more stressed than their child's. So he knew despite the nurse's insistence to check the baby's heart rate every few minutes- which drove Lois crazy because she had to lie on her back, which was agony for her - that there was nothing to worry about.

"Do you think you could get Emil for us? There's something I want to try," Clark explained. "I know my wife wants to do this unassisted if possible, but she's getting tired so..."

"I'll go find him. He's been run off his feet today. Although why he's handling your case and not one of our resident OBGYNs is still a mystery to me. Are you sure you don't just want me to get, Dr. Roberts or Dr. Jolly?"

"No," Clark and Chloe said in unison, in which Lois just groaned her agreement.

When the nurse left, Chloe looked over at Clark. "Okay, what's the plan?"

"I need you to warm a couple heat bags for Lois in the staff room, and steal a few hot towels from the laundry, if you can."

"Can't you just..." Chloe made a motion with her fingers to her eyes, then at the blanket around Lois' ankles and Clark shook his head.

"The sheets are really thin, I'll probably just set them on fire."

Chloe nodded and patted Lois' hand. "I'll be right back."

When Chloe returned, Emil was already there and so was the nurse. She had to do a double take, because Lois seemed like a different woman. She was more relaxed and she definitely seemed to actually be going with it now instead being stiff, red faced in rigid determination not to feel her labor.

"Wow, Lo, you're breathing great."

"Shower," Lois managed to get out between contractions.

Chloe snickered to herself. Clark's hair and t-shirt were a little soaked, not that he seemed to care in the slightest, he was too busy holding Lois' shoulders, kissing her head and whispering words of encouragement to her.

"Chloe, head not tail," Lois bit out.

Chloe scurried closer and deposited the hot towels over Lois' feet, which immediately brought an expression of bliss to her face before the next contraction hit. She inched one of the heat bags behind Lois back and took her cousin's hand again.

"Fully dilated," the nurse announced proudly, withdrawing her fingers. "You're all ready to go."

Lois glared daggers at her. The same thing she did every time the sadistic nurse put her hands anywhere near her swollen body.

Emil felt her stomach and nodded to himself. "The pain in your back isn't as bad now is it?"

Lois shook her head. "Not since the shower."

Emil smiled. "Little tyke finally decided to turn over. It should be a lot easier for you to deliver now too."

Lois scowled at him. "Says the man not squeezing a melon head through a hole the size of a ping pong ball." She managed to suck in a deep breath before she let it out slowly, extending it as much as she could while she rode out the contraction.

"You can start pushing now, Lois," Emil encouraged.

Lois shook her head. "I can't, no way. I..." The next contraction stole the rest of the words from her lips and beads of sweat dotted her forehead before rolling down her face while she missed her next deep breath and lost her rhythm.

Chloe patted and squeezed her hand. "Lois, your mom did this twice. My mom did this. Women have been doing it for generations, in fields, without doctors or nurses or even clean sheets. Watch Clark and listen to me. I breathe, you breathe. Take a long deep pull and then let it out slowly, just like you were doing before. Come on now." She stayed close to Lois' head and waited patiently watching Lois' grim face, big fat pathetic tears rolling down her cheeks while Clark looked on helplessly, at a loss for what he could do but hold her. Another contraction gripped her cousin before Lois actually gave in and followed her example of blowing up an imaginary balloon.

"Good Lois," Emil said again. "Now this time when you breathe in I want you to hold it and when you feel your contraction, I want you to push. Push it all out. It's what your body wants to do, Lois. Just channel all that frustration I know you've been feeling these last few weeks with all those false starts and back cramps and sleepless nights and force it all into that push."

Lois grit her teeth and when she felt that dreaded tightening she'd been fighting up till now, she pushed with all her might. Three more big pushes and the baby's dark head started crowning. She fell back against Clark's arm and panted, sweat falling into her eyes again. Only half a push more, barely even a push and their baby entered the world.

Chloe was too in awe of this little red bundle whom didn't even wail more than this clipped little squawk at being handled, probably by cold hands, before she blinked up at them quietly with prettiest light blue eyes Chloe had ever seen.

"Wow," the nurse said in surprise. "I've never seen a baby with such clear eyes, not so young anyway. She's going to be gorgeous."

"She is gorgeous," Clark murmured proudly and brought her Lois. Lois traced her little girl's cheek fondly.

"I want to call her Elara," she whispered, tears swimming in her eyes. "For our mothers. Elara Martha Kent Lane."

Chloe chuckled softly at the Lane, but brushed the hair back from Lois' forehead. "It's beautiful name, Lo. She's beautiful. You did good."

"Thanks, cuz," Lois said beaming at Chloe.

Lois had delivered almost three weeks early after weeks of worry from several complications from, abnormal swelling, high blood pressure, false labor, followed by what they thought was her water breaking, to the real deal.

Due to their baby's unique genetics they hadn't been sure what to expect entirely but Emil had been confident of one thing the whole way through. They were going to have a big baby. At her seven month scan, the baby had measured four and a half pounds.

Lois managed one cuddle before she promptly passed out. Clark fretted over her, but Emil waved him off after checking her blood pressure. "She's just exhausted. Considering she's been up since 2 a.m. and she just delivered that big baby, I think she's allow to clock out for a bit. Give her a couple hours and her maternal instincts will jump in and she'll be tearing down the hospital for Elara."

Clark and Lois only trusted one doctor to handle the pregnancy and the birth and Emil got his OB certification just so he could look after Lois and their baby properly. A brilliant scientist and certified MD already, Emil Hamilton was the only one they knew who could not only handle the challenge of a half-Kryptonian, half-human baby, but he could also keep her father's origins a secret.

Chloe watched as the little girl was weighed and measured, her details recorded in the birth records. Elara weighed in at a very healthy nine pound twelve ounces, she had a full head of dark looking hair, which Chloe was sure would turn light judging from the way it was glinting with golden streaks under the overhead lights.

The nurse offered her to Chloe. "I'm all done, would you like to hold her?"

Chloe felt a twinge of anxiety before the bundle was thrust into her arms. She found once she got over her awkwardness and Elara settled against her chest, the feeling of nervousness bloomed to a feeling of overwhelming joy. Tiny hands grasped the air and she offered her finger to Elara who immediately latched onto it with one perfect little hand. And even at ten minutes old, she demonstrated that she was already taking on Clark's unique physiology, Chloe had lost all sensation in her right index finger with Elara's grip.

Tears burned behind her eyes and she had to work back a lump in her throat as this tiny precious bundle stared up at her with large, trusting clear blue eyes. "Hey there, precious. I'm Chloe."

"Aunt Chloe," Clark coughed and fixed her with stern look. "Gotta teach them about paying proper respect young."

Chloe smirked at him, her lips stretching into a wobbly proud grin as she saw him fluffing Lois pillows and pulling up the covers to tuck her in firmly. He was the world's greatest superhero, a model citizen, a good friend, perfect husband and now a father. This blessing couldn't have happened to two people she loved more.

:::

The next morning, Chloe arrived early and she noticed Oliver exit the elevator from the other end of the corridor leading to Lois' room with an enormous bunch of flowers, a stuffed bear and a large take out bag from Lois' favorite bakery. She looked down at her arm load, a gift bag full of freshly laundered baby clothes, and the same bakery bag.

They stared at each other from across the way and then smiled. It wasn't forced and it as followed by a shared laugh at how they'd both anticipating Lois' cravings.

"At least Lois won't be in short supply of her favorite pastries," Chloe said with a grin, shrugging with her bags.

"Why not, she deserves it," Oliver said, returning her smile. "Man, I'm kinda relieved she didn't want anyone else in there. I spent half the time wondering if I was supposed to be there, getting shouted at or strangled as best friend and support person." He shivered involuntarily. "Don't tell her, but we could hear everything out here in the waiting room. Lois admitting weakness, I think she'd kill any witnesses. I had to stand in once for Clark at one of the Lamaze classes. That so didn't sound how they said it would."

Chloe chuckled. "Wimp. I had to put ice on my hand last night."

It was only then that he noticed that she had a bandage on it. Lois had inherited a very thick skin, which was why she couldn't get any pain meds during labor, Clark had explained after the nurse was out of earshot when Chloe had asked yesterday. She'd also acquired super-strength. Emil said that it was likely due to their sharing blood via the umbilical cord. Chloe had forgotten about that while offering her hand to Lois during labor. She hadn't been around much for Lois during her pregnancy, busy on various assignments. Before she'd gone home last night, Emil had X-rayed her hand for her. There was a tiny fracture in her little finger, and a small bone in her left hand, but nothing that warranted a cast. He just told her to keep it strapped up and not to use her hand for a two weeks.

Oliver winced in sympathy as he had a pretty good idea how it had happened. "I hope it's nothing serious. I've heard more than once about how some people felt like they had their fingers broken while they were helping out."

"I'm fine," Chloe said quickly, "It's just a small bruise...in a few days it'll be as good as new. But anyways," she quickly, changed the topic, pasting a smile on her face, "I'm sure you'll want to see Lois and Elara now."

Without waiting for Oliver to answer, she turned around and knocked on the door to Lois' room.

"Hey, guess who decided to come and visit," she said brightly, before moving aside so Oliver could enter.

"Oliver!" Lois greeted him with a smile.

"Lois, how are you feeling? I stopped by last night, but Clark said you were resting so, I thought I'd just leave you to it. Bought your favorite. Maple donuts." He shook the bag and watched Lois' eyes brighten further.

"Gimme, gimme," she said waving him closer. "They gave me breakfast an hour ago. How hey think those pitiful servings give enough calories to support a nursing mother I'd like to know. You're the best."

She glanced over to look at Chloe and noticed her hand, and immediately felt guilty. "Chloe, I'm so sorry. You should have told me to take it easy."

Chloe waved off her concern. "It's fine, Lo. Emil checked it out, I'll be good as new before you know it. Besides, it comes with the territory. Dena, your nurse from yesterday, once told me that she was working with another girl who got her boob bruised. The woman just grabbed the closest thing and twisted."

Lois grabbed her chest and winced. "Ouch."

Chloe chuckled. "So sprained wrist, I think I'll keep my injury over something like that any day. It just sucks that I can't hold her," she said with a pout.

"You could sit and I could give her to you," Oliver suggested, "use your good arm?"

Chloe looked over at him in surprise and found herself swallowing back a sudden lump in her throat at his thoughtfulness. "I wouldn't have thought of that. Thank you. If you think it's okay, Lois."

"Pft, you were here with me the whole way through. I feel like you did the hard yards with me, you've certainly still got the pain to show for it," she said guiltily. "There's no one I trust more to take care of my baby than you, cuz. Besides, Clark of course," she slotted in with a grin. "The man's probably read every baby-child rearing book on the planet. He's a walking encyclopedia of unless, or useful information. Depends on who you ask. I prefer to learn on the job. It's my thing."

Oliver deposited the little dozing bundle in her arms and Chloe was struck speechless again for the second time in as many days at the sight of her.

"You're feeling clucky aren't you," Lois teased.

"Oh shut up," Chloe countered. Although, honestly, she couldn't deny it. This little girl had stolen her heart the second they'd laid eyes on each other.

Oliver watched Chloe with Elara and wondered why she would have lied to Lois about how badly she had been injured. Lois knew Clark's secret, she was married to him and had just delivered a half-Kryptonian baby. Covering to him, made sense, but why lie to Lois? Unless she just didn't want her to worry. Clark never spoke much about his past, only that he grew up in Smallville and that he'd known Chloe since he was a kid. It's possible that she knew Clark's secret already and that's why she's covering. Not for Lois' sake but because of him. Because she doesn't know that he already knows Clark Kent is their Boy Scout in red and blue.

He'd been intrigued by her before, seeing this side of her had him falling into this like-dislike thing they had between them a little harder. Knowing she not only kept Clark's secret, but supported his work stirred something inside him, it felt a lot like envy but he wasn't going to go there. Watching her with Elara, made him shift uncomfortably. She looked so natural and at ease with the kid. Like she was born to be a mother. Looking at her he could forget that she was a hard-nosed, gritty journalist that had no qualms about ruffling the feathers of the powerful and well respected, and even those with shady dangerous connections. A woman that seemed to have formed an opinion on him and had decided she didn't care to know him at all. Although she had been considerably less frosty or acid-tongued since they'd met up earlier and she hadn't even given him one distasteful look. Perhaps she was warming up to him.

Chloe felt eyes on her and saw Oliver watching her with what could only be described as a wistful expression. She straightened and narrowed her eyes at him.

Oliver sighed. So much for the ice queen thawing.

to be continued...