Disclaimer All characters belong to DC comics accept for Zooey & Nolan. They are from my own mind, and proud of it!
Summary Lois & Clark's future comes to haunt their past. Is it haunting if it's good?

_____________________________________________________


Chapter Four
Admitting is the First Step

_____________________________________________________

A few hours had already passed. After Zooey had spilled the beans about them being her parents, Lois needed time to herself to think. So she had no other choice but to go home with her dad. Even he needed his own time. It consisted of him pacing the living room, arms over his head, and every once in awhile he'd actually sit down deep in thought.

She was beginning to think it was a bad idea for her to have said anything to them. She understood how over whelmed they were. She probably would have been too. She decided as soon as she entered the Kent house door, that she'd leave him be and settle herself into one of the rooms.

She was surprised at how the farm house still looked the same. A few things were different, but it still had the comfort feeling every single time she walked into the old house. In her time, the house had been renovated since it had been severely attacked by termites. Not even Superman himself could prevent such an event. She remembered how her dad had said he needed the house to look the same it once was to the contractors who dealt with the renovations. They had fixed the bathroom, kitchen, and her room. But the living room and dining room was left untouched, and walking into it now, she was surprised at how untouched the house had really been. It must have meant a lot to him. It meant a lot to her as well.

"I'm going to turn in. If it's okay with you, I'll just sleep in grand – I mean..." She trailed off. It came out too late to catch it. She suddenly became worried that it might have struck something within Clark.

Clark was now looking at her as he walked up to her. He made a sudden move as if to grab her shoulders, but quickly realized it was physically impossible. He let his hand fall into his pockets instead, and looked at her sincerely. "I believe you Zooey. As much as it looks like I don't. I do." He said, assurance in his gaze. "My mom's your grandma, so don't feel like you can't say it."

"Okay." Is all Zooey could say. She was surprised at her own lack of words. She always was able to say more than one word to her dad when he was being serious. But, the man in front of her wasn't her dad yet. And she kind of missed him.

"Get some sleep." He wasn't even sure if she could, being a ghost and all. "Just call me if you need anything, I'll be down here for a little while."

Zooey nodded, and flashed him a half smile before running up the stairs. Clark watched as she practically skipped her way up the stairs. He knew she must have been lost, confused and feeling some what sad that Lois and himself reacted the way they did.

Lois Lane was the mother of his child. That thought itself made his mouth widen with a smile. Never in a million years did he ever think she'd give him the time a day. Or a child for that matter. It was apparent that they had chemistry. A lot of it too. As much as they annoyed each other, he couldn't help but feel like she was the only one that actually understood him besides his own parents. It amazed him at how often she never needed an explanation for all the times something odd would happen to him, or what happened to her that obviously was his own doing.

He remembered the time he found out that he had more lung capacity than his body let on when he accidentally blew the barn door off its own hinges by a mere sneeze. Then coming to find out that he almost hit Lois with it when she was running. He had remembered how she completely dismissed it with a shrug and went on like it was normal for the Kent farm door to fly past her, a few feet from her. She seemed to dismiss a lot of unexplainable things that had occurred during the years they've known each other.

He had to admit his feelings for Lois ran deeper then he leads on. Their constant bickering was something he looked forward to everyday. Not because it amused him, but because he thought she was cute when she was annoyed or frustrated. He then kicked himself mentally. He couldn't believe how long he chased Lana to the point that it left him blind from seeing what was really in front of him. Lois.

_____________________________________________________

It had only been a few hours since Clark and Zooey had left Lois to think. To think about everything that had happened so far. But her mind couldn't unravel itself enough to muster up one thought about what went on that day. She felt like she was in some sort of twilight zone that she would wake up from at any moment. But it never came. It was more real then she thought it was. Guilt spread through her, like a bad twister on a cold night. She knew she must have looked like she wanted to runaway, but she didn't. She just wanted time to figure out everything. Mostly to figure out her feelings.

She let out the sigh that was begging to come out, and sat back in the couch, hands on her face. She instantly sat back up, hearing the door unlocking. She didn't remember ever locking that door. H'm, she thought before bracing herself for her cousin to come through the door.

Chloe walked in looking a bit too over happy, and Lois had to grown at that fact. Her day wasn't bad, it was just confusing and out of place. Not your every typical day with Lois Lane sort of way. "Hey." Is all she could greet Chloe with.

Chloe's beaming smile turned into a half smile wondering why Lois was so down. "Hey to you, too. Why do you look like someone just stole your last cookie?" She asked walking up to the kitchen counter to set down her things.

"Because they did." Lois said with a huff.

"Whats wrong sweetie?" Chloe now was concerned. The last time Lois looked like this was when she found out Santa Clause wasn't real.

Lois got up, her hands waving in front of her, "You'd never believe me if I told you."

"Don't be so sure of yourself Lo. You'll be surprised at how much I do believe." It was fact that Chloe believed a lot of weird things in Smallville. If she didn't already meet Santa in person, she probably would have believed him to be real anyway.

For the second, but not the last time, Lois let out another sigh. "It's a long story."

"I have all night." As if showing her she had all night, she sat on the couch and lounged.

"I don't know where to start." Lois wanted to come up with as much excuses as she could, but she knew it wouldn't fly with Chloe.

"Why don't you just start from the beginning." Chloe patted the spot on the couch beside her, signifying were Lois should sit.

Lois had explained everything she could to Chloe. She told her the events of finding out that her future daughter had made an unexpected wish, and found herself in the past. She left out the tad bit of Clark being the father, and he knew if Chloe wanted to know that certain detail, she would have to tell her.

Several minutes later a gaping wide eyed Chloe was starring at her like she had grown two heads. "Oh. My. God. Lois. That ghost is your daughter?!"

"Yep."

"How?!"

Lois had already been pacing when she had told the tale of her events that happened a few hours ago. So she needed to sit down, and sitting is what she did. "Apparently 'doing the nasty'." She used her daughters words in quotations.

"Oh my god." Chloe then laughed at the phrase then composed herself. "Did she tell you with who?"

Lois narrowed her eyes, and couldn't find the words to come out. Chloe nudged her, trying to get her to say it. "Promise not to laugh?"

"Promise!"

"Clark."

That was it. Chloe belched over in fits of giggles almost falling off the couch. All Lois could do was glare at her cousin who looked like she was dying. "I..I am soooo sorry. I just... you have to admit. It's funny."

"No. No it's not. It's Clark!" She through her hands up angrily. "The most annoying man on earth. The guy who wears plaid flannels as his signature look. The baby blue eyed guy who understands me more than I do myself. The guy who saves me, and don't even get my started on that body of his!" She was doing it again. Pacing not realizing the ears in the room.

Chloe had stopped laughing, and now looked at Lois with a side glance. "Oh my Lo. You like him..."

"No I don't. We can't stand each other." Her voice broke nervously.

"If you say so." Chloe knew better. If Lois actually heard herself speak about Clark, she'd believe it too.

Admitting to something that she never thought would happen, cut her pride just a little bit. Admitting it to a relative or friend, left more than a cut in her pride. It left a dent in it too. For so long she had denied her feelings for Clark, that even she believed it. It was obvious; eventually; she'd give into her feelings because the proof was within reach. Lois Lane and Clark Kent had a daughter...

_____________________________________________________

A light beamed through the window, waking a sleepy Zooey in it's path. She stretched her arms out, letting a yawn escape her lips as she did so. Getting up seemed harder than she thought. She spent last night thinking, till she couldn't think anymore. She must have passed out hours after she settled into her grandparents room. She gave herself a tour, looking at things that were on top of a dresser and a few night tables. She remembered picking up the framed photograph of her grandparents with her dad, and them looking in complete happiness. It made her wish she was in that photo too.

She looked over her shoulder to see the bold red numbers on the clock reading 12:14 in the afternoon. Good one. You over slept! Not wanting her dad to be gone already, she ran expecting to pass through the door, only to slam right through it instead, breaking it in pieces as she did so. "Holy shit...."

Clark hearing the ruckus, ran out of his room to see a broken door, and a shocked teenager in the hallway. "Wha...what happened?" He asked walking up to her concerned. Nonchalantly he placed a hand on her shoulder then taking it back as if he got burned. "Oh. You're..."

"Solid." She finished. "I'm me!" She couldn't contain her excitement any longer, and did her usual jig of a dance when something wonderful happened to her. Clark couldn't help but chuckle watching the happy teenager. She stopped mid dance, looked at Clark, and as fast as he could blink, hugged him.

He instantly was taken aback by the sudden physical contact that the impact of the hug made him step back. He balanced himself, noticing the strength the petite girl possessed. His arms found their way around her, giving her a hug in return. The embrace itself felt warming, as if it wasn't an unfamiliar feeling.

Zooey was the first to break the embrace, already having fulfilled her itch to hug her father. She looked up at him, her eyes never leaving his. "Sorry. Force of habit." She explained, now letting her head fall in embarrassment.

He placed his hand on her shoulder, squeezing it as if trying to comfort her. "Don't apologize, I understand." He gave her a side smile, then as if trying to get her out of the uncomfortable silence that was sure to follow, ruffled her hair playfully.

"Arg! Quit it! You over sized bear!" She growled out, playfully pushing his hand away from her now messed up hair.

Clark chuckled at her, as she quickly started fixing her hair, trying to get strands of hair to go back to their usual spot on her head. "Lets eat breakfast." He suggested.

"Oh yeah. I'm hungrah." She observed, making small circles around her tummy with a huge smile on her face. Clark had to admit, she was different.

_____________________________________________________

Lois decided that morning that it was in her best interest to visit the farm, not wanting to make the new comer who claimed to be her daughter feel as if she was unwanted by her own mother. Leaving Chloe a small note, she had grabbed her morning coffee cup, and left the apartment.

Now her car headed down the dirt path that lead to the Kent farm house, a certain butterfly feeling, filling up her stomach. She was more nervous than she thought she'd be. She didn't know what awaited her at the farm. She just knew she had to be there. She finally pulled up in front of the Kent house, and shut the car off. She opened her car door, and slipped out letting herself walk up to the door slowly. She was about to open the door, but a certain teenager beat her to it.

Zooey knew as soon as the car hit the gravel of the Kent farm, that it was no other person except her mom. Who else could it have been? She jumped from her seat, running to the window not noticing Clark eying her as she did so. He soon got up and followed behind her. When she had moved to dart out the door, he looked outside from the kitchen window and noticed Lois's car parked. He quickly went back to his spot in his chair of the dinning room, not wanting to look too eager like his young daughter had been.

She quickly opened the door to a surprised Lois. "Hey!" She greeted happily.

"Hi." Lois greeted with a nervous wave. She then noticed that the teenage girl in front of her was able to hold something solid. "You're..."

"Whole again. I know. It's great!" She knew she was a bit too chirpy but she couldn't help herself. It's not every day that something good happens. First she got the chance to meet her mom, and she gets the chance to see her younger version of a dad. Secondly, she was no longer Ghost Zooey. Then as an added bonus, she got her abilities back. What more could she ask for?

"How did.." Lois trailed off still shocked at the display before her.

"I'm not sure, actually.." Zooey pondered. "I think it might have been a temporary dilemma." She then shrugged. "Come on in." She now was waving her in.

Lois entered the house cautiously. She noticed the lack of a certain farm boy, "Is Clark awake?" She asked trying to look around.

"Yep. In the dinning room." She pointed toward the entrance to the dinning room, and watched as her mother walked towards that direction, following in the process.

Clark's head looked up to the two females who had just walked into the dinning room, and gave Lois an inviting smile. He slowly rose from his spot, never taking his gaze from Lois. God she was so beautiful, he thought not noticing his smile broadening. "Want some coffee?" He offered.

"Uh, nah. I already had some this morning. Thanks." She answered shoving her hands in her pockets.

He nodded, still holding her gaze. He was looking at her in a total different view. More with feeling to to be exact. Zooey liked the way her parents looked at each other. She could tell neither of them really knew how much their gazes really meant. She suddenly had an idea, and if they noticed her face, it would have shown. "Uh, I think I should do some chores and let you two talk."

Hearing the small brunette suddenly talk, Clark broke his gaze from Lois, and now was looking at his daughter. "Chores? I can do those."

"No. I will do them. Trust me." She didn't give him time to protest, she grabbed her last toast and winked at her mom before heading out of the dinning room.

"I see shes got your determination." He observed now looking at Lois again.

"Really?" She asked thoughtfully.

"Yeah." He answered now making his way so that he stood before. "I think we should talk."

"Agreed." She followed him to the living room where he had say on the couch. She decided it was best if she kept her distance, so she sat in the other lonely couch that Mr. Kent used to sit reading his daily newspaper.

Neither of them knew where to start. How do you start a conversation about something they still didn't fully understand? It was something that only happened in Sci-Fi movies, or TV Shows. It's not an everyday assurance when the future decides to haunt your past. It's usually your past haunts your future.

"Do you think she's telling the truth?" Lois said finally breaking the silence. She had no reason to disbelieve Zooey, but she wanted to know if Clark did.

"Yeah. I do." She could see the belief in his voice. His gaze wanting to say more, but couldn't. He couldn't help but look at her. Those hazel eyes made it impossible to look away from.

She felt his eyes burning holes into her soul, and looked away not wanting to get lost in his blue eyes. Clark noticing her reaction to his stare quickly kicked himself for being so foolish and showing a little too much emotion.

"Sorry." He suddenly felt the need to apologize for his actions.

"Don't be. It's obvious you have little crush on me." The words slipped out of her mouth before she could catch them. She didn't bother taking them back either.

Clark's eyes widen at the observation, "Lois.."

"Save it. I'm just trying to lighten the mood." With that she nervously chuckled.

"For all I know, you probably have a crush on me." Two can play that game. He thought mischievously.

"Pfft as if." She replied back defensively. Clark gave her one of those 'yeah right' looks and she instantly went on defense mode. "Like I'd ever have feelings for you."

The words would have stung if Clark didn't have evidence of the fact. "Who said anything about feelings?"

"I...I.." She stuttered, "I...you are twisting what I said!" She accused.

"No, you are." He smiled, folding his arms to his chest. "Admit it Lois. You have feelings for me."

She got up from her spot on the recliner, "I won't admit it!" She then she stomped her way out of the living room, knowing Clark was behind her.

"So you admit it then. You do have feelings." It came out more of a statement then a question.

"Yes. I mean no. NO!" She swung around angrily, only to face an up close and personal Clark Kent. Her heart suddenly started pounding within her chest. She could feel her breathing quicken and cursed under breath for making it so obvious that he had an effect on her.

He didn't even hesitate before swooping her closer to him by hooking an arm around her face, not caring if she protested against it. Only nothing came. Her eyes were busy glued to his lips. He let his head dip, catching her lips with his. It was soft, and endearing. They were both amazed at how well their lips fit together. Clark had kissed her before when he posed as the Green Arrow. But he was taken aback by it, and didn't think too much into the kiss. But now, thoughts filled his mind. She tasted of both mint and coffee. Her tongue had suddenly slipped catching his. He brought his hand up, cradling it against her face as they both deepened the kiss. Clark could feel her heart beating against his chest as she wrapped her arms around his back bringing him even closer.

Zooey had walked in to get something to drink when she noticed the lip locking couple before her. She had to do it. She'd regret it later, but how many times do you get to catch a kissing couple in the act? "Finally." She interrupted with a hand on her hips.

_____________________________________________________

Meanwhile in the Future....

"Any luck?" A tall dark haired man asked walking into the Kent farm house.

Clark got up, worry still on his face. "No."

Following behind the tall dark haired man, was another man, only with short blonde hair. "I checked every where she ever hung out at. No sign of her."

Clark sighed, giving up wasn't an option. He looked at the two men, and nodded. "Chloe should be here in a minute. She said she found something, and was on her way over. Hopefully it's a lead."

They both both nodded at the information given to them. "You don't think she's at the fortress do you?" The blond asked.

"No. I already checked there." He then lifted his head up hearing a car door slam, and running foot steps coming up the porch steps. "She's here."

Chloe opened the screen door gripping something in her hand. She quickly smiled at the three men who had anxious looks on their faces. "Bruce, Oliver." She greeted walking past them. She handed Clark a necklace that had a red ruby within a vintage pendent.

Clark took it, examining it. "What is this?"

"It's a ruby pendent. Gypsy's used it to grant wishes. Only no one really came across one. So therefor it just became a lost myth in books." She was glad for her super smartness, and thanked the no good Brainiac for that.

Clark long ago gave up trying to fix Chloe's problem with knowing this that no human could possibly know. And thanked himself for not trying. If he did, this bit of information that she had given him, wouldn't have made it to him.

"Where did it come from?" Bruce asked eying the necklace closely.

"Well it came from under the guest bed, but if you want to get technical it came from a gypsy shop in Metropolis." She pulled out a piece of paper. "This is the address. Only when I went there, the shop was empty."

"Empty?" Oliver took the piece of paper from Chloe's hand, reading it. "This is right next to the building that mysteriously set on fire a year ago. We had to save everyone in that building. "

"She wished something." Clark stated, sitting down on the bar stool behind him.

"What would she wish though?" Bruce asked wondering now what on earth would a girl her age wish for when she had about everything here.

"I don't know. But we need to find out before something bad happens to her." Clark tried to keep his emotions down, but it was evident to everyone else in the room that he wasn't taking this well. Who could blame him. He had lost his one true love, and now his daughter who had kept him from falling to pieces. Without her, he didn't know who he was.

_____________________________________________________

TBC...

Sorry for not putting the next chapter up. I will be posting one every week. Well try to any way. Sorry for any mistakes!