Lois slowly turned around to face Lex and set the papers down on the desk. "You wouldn't dare."

"Care to bet on it, my dear?"

"If you murder me, you can kiss your political career goodbye."

"I thought about that, but then I realized that the public would sympathize with me and thereby increase my approval rating."

"Sympathize?"

"Yes. I can see the headlines now. Governor Loses Family When Crazy Fascist Breaks Into Home And Shoots Them To Death. Of course, I would include Jonathan in this. It's a good thing he hasn't inherited his father's abilities."

"First of all, that headline is ridiculously long and I wouldn't be so sure about Jonathan."

"Nice try, but you're just trying to stall me. It's wonderfully lucky that I came home early for once. I had a gut instinct I suppose. Don't worry, Lois. It'll all be over before you know it."

Lex began taking aim. Lois' eyes darted around the room. Lex was in the doorway and the window was too high up. She was trapped. She closed her eyes and heard the gun fire. It never hit her though. Clark caught the bullet with his hand.

"You're lucky I was here to prevent you from shooting Lois, Luthor, or I would have killed you."

Lois shivered a little. He meant what he said. She remembered when he had found Alicia's killer. If she hadn't been there, she didn't want to think about it. Clark Kent was not a cold-blooded killer, but if somebody killed someone he loved, he wouldn't be in control of his emotions or actions. Who would? She could probably say the same thing about herself.

"How did you know, Clark?" Lois asked.

"I didn't. After supper, I decided to visit Jonathan and I heard Lex." Clark turned his attention to Lex. "And you are going to rot in prison. I'll see to that, as will the security cameras that recorded all of this."

Lex smirked. "That will hardly be the case but if I am sent to prison, you can be sure the world will know about your heritage and superpowers."

"So be it," Clark said. "I care more about protecting Lois and Jonathan's lives than my secret."

sss

A few days later, the judge was saying, "Alexander Luthor, I sentence you to life in prison with no chance of parole."

Lana and a number of other people were also going to be serving sentences but not as long as Lex would be.

Clark and Lois were in the courtroom during the sentencing. They had been called to testify. They smiled at each other when the judge gave the sentence.

Lex and Lana would never reveal what they knew for one very important reason. No one would believe them. Lois and Clark had been sure to destroy any evidence they had like the part in the tape where Clark caught the bullet and so it was merely 2 criminal's words against 2 respectable citizens. No one would give what they said a second thought.

A week later, Lois came into the Daily Planet or more specifically into Perry White's office.

She shook his hand and said, "I'm Lois Lu—I mean Lane. Lois Lane."

"I know who you are. Your name practically stays in the papers. How can I help you?"

"I'm sure you know what's been happening in my life. My ex-husband, our marriage was annulled but I don't know what else to call him, is in prison and that means a new governor is taking his place, which leaves me with no source of income. I could have probably gotten something from all of this, but I'm a proud woman and I refuse to take a penny of Lex's dirty money. I'm not exactly on the street. Clark Kent is helping me out. I'm sure you're also aware of his annulment to his wife and the fact that he fathered both of my children and that Anthony was really Lex and Lana's. It's been in the papers and you're his boss. Anyway, I'll be fine I know. Clark is working on adoption papers with Anthony and once some things get straightened out, we're going to get married and find a place to live, a cheap place. Our kids are getting to go to public school and like I said everything's going to work out."

"Did you want to set up an exclusive interview or something?"

"No, sir. I want a job as an investigative reporter, obviously after the baby comes. I've always wanted to work but never really had a chance."

"Where did you go to school?"

"Well, Metropolis U, but I had to drop out."

"I see. Have you ever done any journalistic work?"

"Not officially but—"

"I'd like to help you. I really would. I feel partly responsible for your misfortune, since I gave Clark the story."

"I'm glad you gave him the story."

"Then I'm glad you're glad, but I've got to be objective about hiring and I'm afraid, Miss Lane, that you just don't have the credentials."

"Clark told me that you would hire me anytime I wanted."

"He did?"

"Yeah, because of that art theft story that I helped him with."

"That was you?"

"Yeah."

"I thought you were a man."

She looked puzzled for a moment and then cast her eyes over herself. "Nope. I'm pretty sure I'm a woman."

"I can see that! I just—oh, never mind."

"Being the male dominated profession that this is you automatically assumed I was a man, especially because it was a good article."

"There are plenty of women reporters that work here. It's not like Kent bothered to correct me."

"I forgive you," she said with a smile that showed she was partially teasing. "So does the offer still stand?"

"Of course, and I won't put you on assignment until after the baby is born, but if you want to hang around the newsroom to help out and get a feel of things, I'll start paying you right away."

"That's really kind of you. If I was the girly type, I would throw my arms around you and kiss your cheek for giving me such a great opportunity. Thank you, sir."

"You're welcome, but it's you that got yourself in here."

"Or more like Clark. Is it true that you're always yelling?" she asked with a twinkle in her eye.

"No, it's not true! And you had better be here at 7:00 in the morning, Lane!"

"Whatever you say, Chief," and she left his office.

Perry sat back down at his desk. He had a feeling that woman was going to make his blood pressure even higher, but her stories were sure to be worth it.

"Smallville, I got the job," she said, heading straight to his desk.

"I told you that you would."

"I've also got some more good news. I found out at my doctor's appointment today that it's going to be a girl."

"That is good news," he said, giving her an affectionate hug.

"I just realized that my Clark doesn't even know we're having a baby. I just hope he doesn't miss out on too much. Do you think he's okay?"

"I kind of figure he's in some sort of limbo until he gets back or he's in my world. That wouldn't be a good thing if he were in my world. I left Lois pretty angry at me. Either way when I leave, he's sure to get his body back and find himself in a better situation."

"I'm sure you're right. By the way, I kind of already have a name in mind for the baby, but I hate to name her without Clark's input. You two have the same tastes, right?

"I guess."

"What do you think about Destiny?"

He smiled. "I think it's pretty and definitely fitting."

"It's not too corny?"

"It's perfect."

"I was thinking of making her middle name Martha. I figured it's the least I can do, since she missed out on so much with her first grandchild."

"I think she'll like it. She's going to come visit pretty soon. You can tell her then. She's going to help you out for a little bit when the baby is born. You won't have that Mrs. Ferguson to help you out, since she went to live with her niece. It was a good thing for her all this happened. She's been wanting to retire for ages, but she didn't want to leave you high and dry. I think it would be nicer though if you named the baby Destiny Martha Ella Kent."

"That's 2 middle names."

"A lot of people have 2 middle names."

"I do like it. Let's see that would make her initials DMEK."

"Why do you care what her initials are?"

"You have to be very careful. They could easily spell out a cuss word."

"What cuss word ends in K?"

"Well, there's one in particular that I can think of, but what if we named her Destiny Olivia Rachael Kent? Then her initials would be DORK. You have to be careful." She glanced at the clock. "It's almost 3:00. I'm going to go pick up the boys from school. They've been amazing during all this. Jonathan loves that you're really his father. I've never seen him happier. Anthony is taking it harder I know, but he loves you, genes or no genes and he likes his Aunt Lois thankfully. We really need to find an apartment soon though. Two rooms at the Holiday Inn begin to add up over time. If you were my Clark, we could have gotten married by now and all have one room. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad we decided to set a good example concerning marriage, if that's still possible with everything that has happened, but morals cost money. "

"I know. I keep hoping I'll get sent back any time now. What's there left to accomplish?"

"I don't know. Remember that needing to straighten out this universe was only a theory. We'll find a way to get you back though. We have to."

Clark got a far away look in his eye, as he thought about the whole thing. Lois patted his shoulder and told him that she'd see him later.

The more Clark thought about it, the sleepier he got. He laid his head down and fell asleep on his desk.