Lois was about to spring into action when suddenly the door was ripped off by its hinges, revealing a pile of groaning protesters. She went towards the exit, Perry followed.
Clark noticed Perry coming out and was about to fly off when Lois told him to wait. He looked at her.
"I'll meet you in my hotel room." She said, as she grabbed Perry and sped him upstairs. Clark just watched in amazement and followed her.
Lois let go of Perry who was about to topple over with dizziness. "Lois, I get travel sick. You should know that." He smiled.
Clark looked at Lois for clarification. "What just happened?" he asked, gesturing towards Perry.
"I know about your powers, Clark.." Perry exclaimed.
"I don't know what to say."
"You don't have to say anything. It is not like I just found out."
"How long have you know?" Clark asked in shock.
"For about 9 years, since my first visit to Smallville."
"But I thought we had put you off the scent."
"I was a seasoned alcoholic, day in day out. I knew exactly how alcohol affected me and I never had hallucinations, so to see a tractor landing next to me could not be written off to my imagination. I pretended I fell for all the excuses because I could see how desperately your parents were trying to protect you."
Lois smiled. "Thanks Perry, you're amazing!" she went and kissed him on the cheek making him blush.
"I know but don't tell everyone. I assumed Lois somehow had your powers via her pregnancy, especially when she pulled that door off the hinges."
"So where does this leave us?" Clark asked.
"It doesn't change anything. I mean if you ever want to go into detail about your origins and things, I am all ears, but that's up to you. It is actually lucky I know because you would have been fired by now. Not many employers would put up with one of their staff running off all the time during work time." Perry smiled.
"You're right, Perry." Clark smiled back.
"I think it's great what you do, Clark?"
Lois joined in. "I hate to break up this mutually appreciation society but what about the protest."
Clark walked over and switched the TV on. There were pictures of protesters being led away. "I put an end to it."
"What time is it? We have to catch our flight in a few hours Lois. We'd better pack." Perry explained.
Clark looked at Lois. "Do you want to take Perry or the luggage?"
"I'll take the luggage."
"What do you mean?" Perry asked with a worried expression.
"We will fly you back. It will only take a few minutes. Just go and check out." Clark explained.
Perry was nervous but intrigued. "Ok, give me ten minutes."
Soon they were landing at the Kent Farm. "Mom, will want you know you are both alright."
Martha was overjoyed and relieved when she saw them come in the door. "Thank god you are both ok. I have been so worried."
"We're fine." Perry said. "Thanks to Clark and Lois."
Martha suddenly wondered how they had got back so quickly. "How did you get here so fast?" she asked.
"Flew! Don't worry, Perry knows everything about me."
"You told him then." Martha said looking at Lois.
Clark looked at Lois puzzled. "Clark, I'll explain later." Lois told him.
"I have known for years but I didn't say anything because I wanted to wait to be told officially." Perry smiled.
"That makes things easier." Martha felt relieved. "Are you all going to stay here for lunch? I have enough food for us all. In fact stay the night if you want"
"Ok, but we will have to leave early to be in time for work." Perry stated.
"Not when we can fly there." Lois added.
The four of them finished their lunch, even though it was only 10am. Their body clocks were all off kilter with the time difference. Lois noticed that Clark was having an in depth discussion with Perry but she was busy talking to Martha.
"Lois, do you fancy a ride?" Clark asked.
"Ok then." And they headed off over one of the pastures on their horses. Clark had never really been into riding until he met Lois. Lana used to drag him but he never enjoyed it that much because she always wanted to show off she was better than him. With Lois, it was time away from things.
They eventually reached the top of Sanders Hill where they liked to sit and talk. Clark put a rug out and they sat down.
"So Lois, do you mind telling me why mom assumed you had told Perry?" Clark jokingly chastised his wife.
"I was talking to her a few weeks ago about how I was going to ask you if we could tell Perry your secret."
"And why didn't you?"
"I guess with all the stuff going on with the pregnancy that I never got a chance. What would you have said?" Lois asked.
"I would have agreed because I was thinking about it anyway since mom and Perry were getting so close and it would have made life so much easier." Clark explained.
"What was Perry talking to you about?" Lois inquired.
Clark went red. "He told me that he knew it was me who was there at the hotel last night and he was telling me I owed him big time for footing the bill. I owe him $75. Trust me to pick the most expensive channel and I thought it was such a good idea at the time."
"I was so embarrassed when I saw what you had done but I must admit it was a good cover plan."
Clark and Lois both laughed.
Wednesday 20th June – Week 18
Perry had offered Lois a few days off to overcome the trauma of the last few days but she turned them down. She needed to get back to work and now three weeks on she was relishing being back at the job. Clark and Perry were even letting her go on undercover stories because they knew she could look after herself and the baby.
Today was the day of the 18 week scan, the time when an eager Clark would find out the sex of the baby. Lois had always been notorious for being unable to keep secrets but she had managed not to let Clark know her little secret about the fact their baby was a girl. She had been annoyed with Jor-el at first and felt like pulling his plug, but now she could plan ahead.
Lois decided to let Emil tell Clark the sex and then she would take him out for lunch and tell him she already knew. She just hoped he would not be too mad.
Clark came back from a save in Metropolis. "Are you ready to go to Watchtower? Emil is waiting for us. I will race you there."
He gave her a headstart so she would win because although most of her mood swings were gone, she was still known to have a strop if she did not get her own way sometimes. It made his life easier to let her come first.
"Hi guys." Emil smiled.
Lois went to climb on the bed. "Emil, can we get on with this, I am busting for the toilet. Having a full bladder is not fun."
Clark helped her on the bed.
"This will take about 20 minutes and I will record some 4d footage for you to take home."
He placed the probe on her stomach and the baby came up on the screen. It looked amazing, the baby had its hands across its face at first so Emil did the abnormality screen and measurements he needed to do.
"Well, everything seems normal. I will now see if we can convince it to do move its hands from its face." Emil moved the probe around.
The baby gave what looked like a pout of annoyance.
Clark laughed. "The baby looks annoyed. Check out that pout, they obviously takes after their mother."
He turned to see Lois glaring at him. "Shut up if you know what's good for you." She joked.
They watched in awe as the baby started to get hiccups.
"Clark, do you still want to know the gender?" Emil asked.
He looked at Lois for permission. "Is that ok with you?"
"Of course." She smiled. "I will pop to the toilet whilst he tells you."
Lois came back five minutes later and Clark had the biggest grin on his face.
"Guess you know now."
"Don't worry, Lo. My lips are sealed." Clark smiled.
"Thanks Emil." Clark and Lois said in unison.
"Ok, let's go for lunch Clark. We can have a proper look at the photos and go back to work this afternoon. Perry said to take the whole morning off."
They headed to their usual cafe for lunch. Clark ordered and then came to sit down opposite.
"I think the baby has your nose." Lois laughed.
"No it doesn't.. Let's hope he doesn't have his mom's mouth." Clark said without realising his mistake.
Lois picked up on it, but brushed it to one side as an error on Clark's part. She pretended she hadn't noticed.
"These photos make the baby seem more real. I can't wait to watch the DVD later." Lois remarked.
"Yeah, just think in about 5 months we will be parents."
"Clark, I wonder if it will be able to fly." Lois grinned.
"Maybe he will."
"Right, that's it. Why do you keep referring to the baby as a him?"
"Oh sorry. I knew keeping this a secret would be impossible. I think of the baby as a boy now so I don't even realise I am doing it." Clark explained.
"But why are you saying the baby is a boy." Lois pushed him.
"Because it is." Clark could not grasp what Lois was getting at.
"Did Emil tell you that?" Lois asked.
"Yeah, why?"
"Ring Emil and tell him we need to see him back at Watchtower now."
"He is still there. He said he had some work to catch up on there." Clark replied.
"Okay, let's go." Lois put the money for lunch on the table and dragged Clark out. They supersped to Watchtower.
Emil was surprised to see them. "Did you forget something?"
"Well Emil you obviously did?" Lois exclaimed.
"Like what?"
"The difference between the male and female species for one." Lois replied sarcastically. "I thought you were a medical professional."
"What are you getting at?" Emil asked, looking at Clark for support.
"Scan me again." Lois demanded as she climbed on the bed.
"Ok, but could you tell me what this is all about." Emil said as he put the gel on her stomach.
"Could you tell me what sex we are having?" Lois asked.
She watched his face turn red. "Its...it's a girl."
Clark joined in. "you told me it was a boy. How did you get mixed up?" Clark asked in amazement.
Emil gulped. "I must have got the umbilical cord confused with another part of the baby's anatomy."
Lois got off the bed. "Emil, you haven't got a clue what you're doing, have you?" she shouted. "Call yourself a doctor."
Emil snapped, he had put up with enough insults from Lois. "Lois, I am a doctor but I never claimed to be an obstetrician. I have never had anything to do with pregnancy and childbirth, and have never even seen a baby scan before you became pregnant, let alone done a scan. I am doing the best I can and if that is not good enough, I suggest you start looking for another doctor." He stormed out.
Lois felt guilty almost immediately. Emil was right, he was doing the best he could. She had some major grovelling to do.
"Lois, do you mind telling me how you knew it was a girl." Clark enquired.
"I am sorry I did not tell you sooner." Lois looked guilty. "Jor-el told me when I went to see him a few weeks ago that we were having a baby girl. I didn't want to tell you because you were so excited about finding out at the scan. Are you mad?"
"No, but I know who is. You have got some work to do to get Emil back on side."
Lois's guilt about Emil was subsiding and the Lane stubbornness was starting to take over. "Well, I am not going to apologise. He is the one who agreed to look after this pregnancy."
"We didn't have much choice. It may be difficult to explain to another doctor why you are having a half alien baby."
"He'll be fine, he will have calmed down in a few weeks."
"You are so stubborn, Lo."
"I know and this pregnancy has just made me worse." Lois smiled.
4th July - Week 20
"Sis, I am so excited about tonight." Lucy exclaimed. "It is the first July 4th celebration we have been to for years. Remember when Uncle Gabe used to visit and take us with Chloe."
"Yeah, dad was always too busy." Lois replied.
Lucy had arrived that afternoon to stay for a few days. Lois was thrilled to have her sister visiting and tonight they were attending the annual Metropolis firework display to celebrate Independence Day.
"So who else is coming tonight?" Lucy asked.
"Chloe, Jimmy, Perry and Martha." Lois explained.
"Don't forget Emil. He's coming too in case you forgot." Clark reminded her.
"I'd rather forget. He is taking this row too far. I tried to apologise to him."
"No you didn't. You asked Jimmy to tell Chloe to tell Emil you might say sorry if he apologises first." Clark smiled. "I don't think that counts Lois."
"Who is Emil?" Lucy asked.
"He is my doctor but he told me I was having a boy."
"But you're having a girl." Lucy exclaimed.
"Yeah maybe you could tell him that. He thought the cord was a ..."
"I get the picture, Lois." Lucy interrupted her.
The gang arrived in time to enjoy the pre-fireworks festivities. Chloe was there. Even though she was only two weeks behind Lois, her stomach was as flat as ever. Lois on the other hand had gained a pot belly and felt all swollen up.
"How do you do it?" Lois asked Chloe.
"Guess it is just genetics." Chloe smiled.
"I am going to be a size of an elephant at this rate. I have put on 10lbs already." Lois explained. "Clark will be going off me soon."
Clark piped up. "I would never go off you Lois."
Lois turned around to see Emil approaching them. "Oh no, he is coming this way."
She grabbed Clark's arm and dragged him to go and look at one of the stalls. Lucy turned around to see what Lois was running away from. She saw Emil approaching her.
"Hi, you must be Emil." Lucy shook his hand. "I'm Lucy Lane."
"Oh you're Lois's sister. I thought you would refuse to speak to me as well. You're not as moody as her, are you?" he said sarcastically.
"No, that's just her. She is an acquired taste. I am the nicer sister." She laughed.
"Well, that's not difficult. So are you visiting for long?"
"Just a few days, any longer and my dad will be sending a search party for me. I am in my final year of college and my dad has arranged a summer job for me starting next week. Have you met the General?"
"I met him a few years ago at the wedding."
"That's funny I don't remember seeing you there." Lucy smiled.
"I wasn't there long. My allergies played up as soon as I got near the roses so I had to leave early, in fact I missed the whole wedding ceremony."
"Where will you be working?"
"At the local retirement home. I am majoring in Business Studies, but I have a sudden calling to go into nursing."
"What does your dad think of that idea?" Emil asked interested.
"He thinks it is a great idea! It's amazing, for the first time ever he has approved of something I want to do." Lucy explained.
"I'm sure you will make a great nurse." Emil smiled.
Lucy did not know why but she thought Emil was quite attractive and endearing in a geeky type of way. She decided she wanted to spend some more time with him.
"Maybe we could do dinner sometime before I go back... I mean if you want to...You could give me some tips before I start my course next month." Lucy was actually nervous.
Emil went red. "I would love to. But you better not tell your sister, she may get mad."
Lucy grinned. "Let's make it our secret then..."
"Ok then. Where do you want to go? How about Italian?"
"Great...Here's my cell number to let me know where and when. I would choose but I don't get to visit very often so don't know the best places."
"I don't either. My work does not give me much time for a social life."
Chloe came over. "Hi Emil, Lucy. Where is Lois?"
"She walked off when I arrived. Guess we haven't made up yet." Emil explained.
"I will come and find her with you." Lucy smiled at Chloe. Jimmy went to get a beer with Emil...
