A/N: *emerges from secret hidden cave* It's been a couple weeks and I'm sorry for leaving you like that with the last chapter. Finals are now over and I pretty much moved out of my apartment, except for some small things, but I'm back! Also, a heads up on this chapter… I think some of you would like what I do, and I think that there might be some who might not with Lois' reaction to Clark being Superman. But keep this in mind—this Lois only has known Clark for almost a year. Yet, to be on the safe side, I'm going into hiding. Please don't forget to review! *goes back to cave*

Chapter 7

Clark Kent is Superman. Clark Kent is Superman.

And she was married to him.

No matter how many times she repeated those facts in her head the more bizarre it was.

Sure, she dreamt about having a serious relationship with Superman. Being married to him was even better. But the news did not bring her the joy she thought she would have.

Not when, all along, Superman was really her partner and best friend.

She wanted to believe that Clark Kent couldn't be Superman. Clark was from Kansas in a town called Smallville where they worshipped corn and stuff. Clark wasn't an alien from Krypton. He didn't have superpowers. He wore glasses! Superman doesn't need glasses!

But the resemblance was uncanny. When Lois had been under the influence of the pheromone she noticed, for the first time, the similarities between both men. Later she was quick to dismiss it as absurdity. But now…

Now she knew it had been a lie. Clark and Superman was the same person. Who was the real man? The guise? She didn't know anymore, not when the one man she came to tolerate as a partner and who became her trusted confidante and best friend wasn't the person she thought he was. And the highly honorable and morally-standing superhero who stood for truth and justice and who was unflappable and uncorrupted didn't really exist. He… both lied to her. Over and over.

And she was a fool to believe them.

And worst of all… Clark Kent was no better than the rest of the men in her life.

He had been dishonest with her from start. He had convinced her (with his patient and charming words) that he was trustworthy so she could confide in him her deepest secrets and thoughts. He took advantage of her, knowing her feelings for Superman.

The flirtatious looks, the stolen kisses, the late-night visits to her apartment, the romantic flights where no words were needed but just the closeness of the other person…

He knew how she felt about Clark. He knew how she felt about Superman. And he acted on them to get what he wanted: her attention. And, boy, did she give it to him. And never once, in all that time, did Clark or Superman tell her the truth about his identity. It was a violation like no other unlike when Claude had slept with her to get a story. That was mild in comparison. At least, she had known about his reputation, despite her crush.

With Clark… he became her best friend and played her with his identities.

And he was expecting her to be okay with it because the future her knows!?

Never in a million years.

What was her future self thinking in marrying him? Did he trick her? Did he brainwash her? How did he get her to agree?

"Jordan!" Lois had been pacing, silently boiling over Clark's lies, when she looked up to find the toddler in the entryway. "I thought you were sleeping."

"Couldn't sleep," the little boy admitted. "I miss Mommy."

"Uh…" Before finding out, Lois thought the boy took after his mother. She couldn't see any trace of Clark, except perhaps, the dark hair; although, Jordan's was lighter compared to Clark's. Now that she knew where she stood in this future, she couldn't think of anyone on her side of the family that could explain his blue eyes. Not to say it couldn't happen. It could.

Maybe that's how he did it! Lois thought. I got pregnant, so feeling guilty most likely, he married me. Then sometime during or after the pregnancy, I find out about Clark. And as betrayed as I feel, I couldn't leave him not when we had Jordan. As much as I hated him now, I couldn't deny my son knowing his father.

It was plausible, but it didn't explain how her future self was pregnant with twins. She would have put an end to any future intercourse. And, as much as she was pissed off with Clark, she couldn't imagine ever wanting to sleep with him ever again. But they had to for the twins to be conceived.

Or… was there someone else that Clark wasn't aware of? Would she even do that? From her own experience with her father's infidelities, Lois believed marriage was sacred and it was never okay to have an affair. Not even if the other person made you so unhappy or so mad. But would she stay in a loveless marriage? At least loveless on her part?

Then, without warning, Jordan had launched himself at her, hugging her leg tightly. He sobbed into her pant leg, mumbling incoherently.

Lois froze, not sure what to do. She knew she was mommy to this boy. But she didn't know how to be that person that Jordan wanted. Or knew. Then the heart-wrenching words echoed in her ears.

"C-c-can I p-pretend y-you're h-her?"

That did it. Lois knelt beside him, taking Jordan into her arms. She stroked his head and back, softly murmuring soothing words to calm him down. Despite her current mood, she couldn't shut him out. It wasn't his fault that his father was… there were too many unpleasant and unfriendly terms she could insert there, but he needed comfort and she could try to give that to him. It was the least she could do.

"D-d-daddy s-said t-to call y-you A-Auntie, but—"

"Its okay, Jordan," Lois whispered. "I know everything now. I know I'm… you can pretend until she comes."

"R-r-really?" He gazed up at her with his tear-stained face and runny nose.

Lois nodded. "Yes. It wasn't fair of your Daddy to have you do that."

"He was only doing what was best," Jordan defended with a sniff. "He always protects Mommy and me."

She bit her lip. There was no doubt of his admiration and love for his father. But she needed to know…

"Jordan? Can you tell me about your Mommy and Daddy?"

"Like what?"

"Oh anything."

He scrunched up his face. "They kiss a lot if that's what you mean. It's gross."

Lois blushed. Not what she had in mind, but the kissing could be to keep up the charade. "What else?"

"They're a team! They do everything together."

"Everything?" Lois repeated.

"Uh-huh! Mommy helps Daddy with Superman. I know lying is a bad thing to do, but Mommy says if it means to help someone or protect someone you love, then a wyatt lie is okay."

"Wyatt? Oh, white," Lois mumbled to herself. "I guess."

"Yup. Mommy and Daddy love each other very much. They say so every day."

"They do?"

"Yeah."

Not what she pictured the marriage to be. But Jordan said his parents loved each other. Did they? Or was it all an act?

"Jordan, what are you doing out here?"

Clark was standing where Jordan had minutes ago, his face pale and fatigued. Something didn't seem right. Lois didn't know how she knew, but she did. But the brief concern was quickly overtaken by red hot anger.

Shuffling forward, Clark got on his knees with his arms outstretched, beckoning his son. Jordan did, wrapping his tiny arms around his neck, as Clark held him as if he was a safety net. The toddler pulled back to look at his daddy with confusion, but Clark kissed his forehead and handed him over to Wells who had been behind Clark the whole time.

"Come my boy! I know some wonderful stories that I think you might like. Once, your father was a brave knight—"

Clark waited until Wells and his son were out of sight before turning to look at Lois. She was already warily watching him, holding herself tight. The pained expression washed over his face as he dipped his head low.

"Lois—"

"No. You don't talk. Not until I said my peace."

Clark nodded. Lois took a deep breath and began to walk around. The silence stretched on until Lois spoke up.

"I never expected this from you Clark. This secret. God, I am so sick by what you did that I don't know if I can ever trust you again. After everything we went through! After everything I told you! As Clark and Superman. You made me believe you were two different people, you made me believe you two were my friends, and you made me believe that good men do exist. As crazy as you make me sometimes, I thought you were a genuine guy. Honest. The boy next door. But that wasn't the case. You were never the person I thought you were. You weren't the Clark Kent I knew.

"You're a stranger to me. I'm not sure if I can even look you in the eye without screaming my head off. Telling you I'm hurt and furious doesn't even begin to explain how I feel about you right now. It's bordering on hate, to be honest. You didn't trust me, you used me, and you betrayed me. As Clark and Superman. I don't care that I know in this time. That doesn't make it okay for me. I can't be okay with it. It's too much on top of everything else. Personally, I don't even know why I would even marry you or stay married to you. Not when you had been lying to me this whole time."

If possible, Clark hung his head even lower.

"But…" her tone softened. "I need to get back to my own time and Jordan needs his real mother. I can only be a substitute for so long. And I can't get back without your help as much as I hate to admit it. So I'll be civil for Jordan's sake. Don't take it any other way than that."

Clark lifted his face relief washing over him. "Okay."

"Good." Lois nodded. "I am pissed with you Clark Kent. This is something I will never forget."

He didn't have anything to say. So he nodded.

"So what did I miss?" she asked.

H.G. Wells's haunting words echoed in his mind, but he couldn't bring himself to tell Lois. He knew withholding this information would further hurt his image in her eyes, yet there was so much she learned in a short span of time that this would be the icing on the cake. He would tell her later. After she processed everything, and hopefully, hopefully, her anger would subside.

"Just the typical stuff. Everything will get out of whack if we don't correct the timeline and everyone is where they should be. Not the first time this happened. But Wells and I are going to do everything in our power to make sure you get home safe and sound."

"Okay." Lois had a feeling he was leaving other details out, and judging from the exhaustion in his eyes and features; she wasn't ready for another fight. As much as his betrayal stung, she knew he had a missing pregnant wife that was weighing heavily on him with worry. She wasn't the only victim in this situation she had to remember.

"When do we leave?"

"Now is good as any."

"Works for me." She went to the door and noticed he wasn't following her. "You coming?"

Clark nodded. "Just give me a sec."

She didn't answer as she closed the door behind her. Clark gripped the iron railing and stared out at the stars as he replayed the conversation with Wells in his head.

"I—what?" Clark repeated, not sure if what he heard was correct.

"I'm afraid you die Mr. Kent," Wells said, sorrow in his eyes. "And as a result, the twins will cease to exist."

The younger man gulped. "How?"

"I'm not sure only that it happened in mid-1994. No body was ever uncovered and Superman had disappeared from the face of the earth. It was at that moment, your wife will miscarry the twins.

"As for her fate, I don't know exactly what happened only that she would be trapped reliving the years she went through. The same with this Lois, only she will be missing five years of her life. As for your son… he would be a lost soul. There would be no adoption. The Kryptonians would have stayed since Superman wasn't here to defeat them. And he would be raised by his biological father to enslave the humans. Utopia would never be created and I mean the forever-never."

"If that's how things become, then why am I still here? Maybe I am alive and—"

"My boy you are not. As for your presence, I cannot predict when time will suddenly change with this new reality. Yet, we both know we cannot take that risk. We must restore the balance as it should be to keep these tragedies from coming to past. I only pray that we have enough time to get there before you disappear from this world forever.

How could this have happened? Today had started off like any other day, he woke up next to his loving wife and they went to work… and it ended like this. Lois was trapped in the past and he was dead. Or soon to be dead if they don't put things to right.

Three years of peace. Three years of no disruptions.

That had been too good to be true.

And to top it off, the past Lois hated him. Hated him. Clark's worst fears had been confirmed. This was why it took him so long to tell her. He would have all these nightmares of her leaving him for good and there was nothing he could do to fix it. Everything she said had been right about him and his stomach churned with a sour bitterness. It was all his fault. If only he had the courage to tell her before…

His heart was arguing that his wife eventually forgave him and she understood his need to hide it. It all worked itself out in the end so why was he feeling like it was the end of the world?

One, Lois had a day to let it sink in before confronting him. Two, his parents helped them see they were behaving a bit childishly. And three, their lives were endangered and they had to drop it in order to stop Bill Church.

There was a lot of time within those days for both of them to come to terms with his secret and that space apart allowed them to see that they needed each other no matter what.

Despite the happy ending they did get, Clark was beginning to think that maybe Lois had no choice. Maybe she felt obligated in some way and to prove her trust, she thought marrying him would prove it for certain. Maybe deep down there resided a little resentment towards him for his secrets. He couldn't blame her if at one point she did hate him but…

Was he living in a masquerade that he wasn't aware of?

The Man of Steel trembled. Actually trembled. He was afraid he lost his wife. He was afraid… that the twins weren't his.

"Okay, snap out of it Kent!" Clark firmly said to himself. "You know the twins are yours. This is ridiculous. You know Lois loves you. You know she's faithful to you."

Shaking his head to rid himself of anymore negative thoughts, he strode back into the brownstone. Determination was set on his face as he found Jordan and Lois listening to Wells's story about the Fox.

Biting back a grin, Clark announced:

"Let's go!"

xxXXxx

The plan was for Clark to fly Jordan to his parents' where he would be safe. The little boy refused to leave, wanting to help to save his mommy, but Lois took him aside to explain this was a grown-up situation and that his mommy would want him to stay with his grandparents. He didn't like it and not even his pout worked on her. Sometimes his mommy would allow him to do things when he pouted, but that wasn't often. And it wasn't going to work this time.

Clark was ready in the Suit with Jordan, his teddy, and a small bag in his arms. After dropping the tike off at Smallville, he would meet Wells and Lois at the time machine.

When he was gone, Wells took her arm and smiled. "Let's go my dear."

The walk wasn't far as he kept it somewhat close to the Kents' brownstone. They turned down an alley where a couple dumpsters provided enough shield to block the time machine from passersby's eyes.

Lois grimaced as garbage stunk up the air. "Nice parking."

Wells sheepishly chuckled. "Well, I wouldn't want my machine to be found by the wrong person."

"No you wouldn't Herb."

TBC…