See first post for disclaimer.
Chapter 14
The sun's heat warmed Clark's bedroom with lazy precision, raising Lois' temperature to the point of wakefulness. She stretched languidly, marveling at the absence of repressing fatigue hanging over her. As her body continued to heat up, she was forced to throw back the covers and rouse herself fully.
A giant green 11 stared back at her with glaring disappointment. She shot up from the soft comfort of Clark's mattress and pillows and looked into an empty bassinette. Running her hands through wavy, air dried locks; she pulled the strands into a messy bun.
"Mrs. Kent?" The hardwood stairs creaked under her bare feet.
She glanced around the empty kitchen, following her eye's line into the living room where Martha was lifting Ella into her arms.
"Good morning." She dealt Lois a bright smile.
"You should have woken me," Lois admonished.
"And miss getting to know this little angel?" she kept one hand behind Ella's head; the pads of her fingers playing at the soft blonde down they found there. "I thought you could use the sleep."
"Thanks but when I came here last night I didn't mean for you to have to take care of her for me."
"Families are there for each other when someone needs help. Clark spent some time earlier this morning with Ella and now it's my turn." Martha winked at the younger woman.
Lois crossed her arms self-consciously across her chest and glanced down at her pearl painted toe nails. "Thank you. For not slamming the door in my face last night," she smirked. "Considering it was two in the morning, I wouldn't have blamed you." She bit down on the inside of her cheeks, annoyed that she was at such a loss for words.
Martha's gaze tracked her movements closely. "Lois come here." She called her across the room, sitting on the sofa with Ella in her arms and patted the cushion next to her. "I think it's time you and I had a good talk." Her voice filled the silence as Lois took the seat tentatively.
"I'm sorry Mrs. Kent," she began immediately "you were one of the only ones who actually thought I could manage caring for a newborn….and I let you down. My father would say that my mission was poorly planned and the execution was even worse and I should be lucky this isn't combat because I'd be dead and have left my team vulnerable to a similar fate." Her speech was a rush of words, her haste causing some of the syllables to be slurred together.
"Lois," Martha spoke her name as a warning, forestalling any further diatribe "no more apologies. They aren't needed. You're right; I did believe you could care for Ella and I still do," she assured. "And Lois, in no way have you let me down. A few rough days doesn't amount to a failure." She reached for Lois' hand to ensure she made her point. "What would have disappointed me is if you had struggled in silence and not come to Clark and me. I know what it meant for you to come here last night and I've never been prouder."
Confusion warred with surprise on Lois' face. "Two years ago you wouldn't have accepted help if it was offered but now….now you were willing to seek it out. It shows me how much you've matured and I admit I'm elated that you came here when you needed help." Martha grinned with self-satisfaction. "And besides, I love having this little angel around the house; I never got these early years with Clark," she confided.
Lois frowned, watching Ella rub her face back and forth against Martha's shoulder. "Chloe mentioned Clark was adopted, I guess I never really thought about when he would have come to you and Mr. Kent."
"He was three. He was the cutest little boy I'd ever seen but he was a handful," Martha reminisced.
Ella chose that moment to grow impatient with her handler and cried out as loudly as her young lungs allowed.
"Sounds like someone's unhappy," Martha smiled. "She's probably looking for you." Martha held Ella out for Lois take her.
"I doubt it; she screams every time I hold her," Lois said doubtfully but took Ella in her arms anyway.
The baby stopped crying as soon as she recognized the new arms she was cradled in. Tear filled blue eyes stared at Lois in the face a beat, and then those same eyes drooped as she relaxed. Holding Ella to her chest, Lois felt triumph course through her.
"See, she was just missing you. She could likely hear your voice but not understand why she wasn't with you." Martha encouraged.
"Thank you Mrs. Kent." Lois' eyes conveyed the enormity of her gratitude, of which she felt her words would fall short expressing.
"Lois, I have no doubt that you're the best thing that ever happened to Ella. But I hope you'll consider moving in here with Clark and me." Lois favoured her with a stunned expression. "That saying….'it takes a village to raise a child' is true in more ways than one and while there isn't a village, I'm hoping you'll let your family do our part."
"Mrs. Kent, I couldn't-"
"I know Honey," she interrupted. "Lois" she attempted to make her point another way "how you feel about Ella, wanting to protect her, ensure she's happy and healthy; it's how I feel about you. I want to be able to do everything in my power to make things easier for you." Martha's sentiment succeeded in stealing all coherent thought from Lois. "Just promise me you'll think about moving back to the farm." She received a shaky nod from Lois in answer.
"She's got your mouth and nose." Martha nodded to the child who was content to settle halfway between sleep and wakefulness in her guardian's arms.
"My Dad's." Lois nodded. "Chloe hasn't seen her yet." She commented offhandedly, a smile gripping one side of her mouth. "I never would have guessed it but I think my adventurous cousin is afraid of babies." Martha chuckled then they both fell silent. "Clark's really good with her" Lois ventured, a far off look in her eyes.
"Clark is head of heels in love." Martha replied vaguely; she kept to herself that his feelings likely encompassed both Lane girls sitting on her couch. The time was not yet for revelations of that magnitude.
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Kerala, India
Smoke billowed from the giant stacks of the world's second largest condom factory, the pollutant serving as a signal for residents and visitors alike that the state was industrious. A handful of miles from the city center and the largest employer of the Indian states existed a surreal environment of ocean views, expansive white beaches, tropical growth and luxurious hotels. It was here, amoungst golden riches, that Lex Luthor was conducting his latest business meeting.
"Mr. Luthor, it is very good to see you again Sir." The Indian man's accent was thick around his pleasant greeting as he stood to shake hands with the young business mogul.
"Mr. Dhalla, I always look forward to our meetings. They're generally very profitable for me." Lex smirked and took the seat across from the middle aged man.
"Very good Sir. Are you liking Kerala – it's a beautiful place no?"
Lex hardened at his companion's enthusiasm, not having the patience to deal with him; the heat was stifling and made him long for the winter of Metropolis. "The scenery is magnificent but what I'm interested to know it whether my proposal is accepted." He relaxed into the chair, hoping to impress upon the man that the deal they were negotiating was a mere inconvenience to a man of his wealth.
"I spoke to some people that I trust implicitly and we will be able to accommodate you Mr. Luthor."
"The highest standard of pharmaceutical lab and production; in one building?" Lex recited skeptically.
"Oh yes Sir. I'll take you on the tour of the facility myself right away. Our ability to produce and study in one place was what drew you to Kerala was it not Sir?"
"And you can arrange it so that no one will be aware of what we're producing?" He was impatient to see the facility but thought better than to waste his time if Mr. Dhalla could not accommodate all or his stipulated needs.
"It will not be a problem Mr. Luthor." Dhalla assured.
"Dhalla you've wet my appetite. I'm anxious to see what you're got for me here." He raised a sardonic eyebrow and stood from the chair to follow his newest business associate to the place of future production.
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
She cursed the bitter wind after every snow crushing step that took her in the direction of the large red barn. She hated winter. Everything died in winter and all you were left with was a bleak sky and a barren landscape that froze so deep no death could be laid to rest because no grave could be dug.
That was what spring was for.
Rains rushing from that once bleak sky, chasing away the death by bringing new life and warming the earth so that winter could be properly buried. Yes, spring was a time to heal.
But for now it was still winter.
Lois shook her head, her bangs catching in the wind, trying to rid her consciousness of her despondent introspections. If she spent enough time alone with her thoughts they invariably turned philosophical; she would end up reading more into her surroundings than one ought to. She reasoned that it was with good cause the term was pathetic fallacy. She double timed her steps in order to arrive at the barn sooner and distract herself.
Standing next to the horse stalls was her distraction.
"So this is where you're hiding Smallville." Shelby approached her when he heard the familiar pitch inciting a succession of sneezes to erupt from Lois.
"If by hiding you mean working, than yep." Clark put down the pitchfork he was using to bail hay for the horses, a smile playing at the corners of his lips. "What finally roused you from the land of the dead?"
"I could sense someone brooding – you wouldn't happen to know anything about that would you?" She crossed her arms under her breasts, wishing she had grabbed a heavier coat before heading outside.
"For your information, the farm has been pity party free for days." He opened one of the stalls and led the horse out to be brushed.
"Oh how could I forget your date with Lana! Chloe mentioned your sojourn in Metropolis," she rolled her eyes. "So I assume based on your Mr. Sunshine routine the two of you worked things out and you'll be back on the fast track to making people nauseated." She kicked a piece of hay from the toe of her boot and moved to the other side of the rather beautiful animal he was grooming.
"That isn't quite what happened." Clark masked his frown by furrowing his brow contemplatively.
Lois leant one ear to the conversation while she searched the immediate area for another brush. "No? Did you two skip the dramatics for once and go right to nauseating?"
"Lana and I are done." He saw the surprise in her eyes over the horse's broad back.
"After all her whining she actually had the nerve to end things. I would've thought she'd give you a chance to meet her list of demands." Her incredulous tone gave way to sarcasm, poorly masking the rage and disturbing sense of pleasure hiding beneath the surface.
"I broke up with her," Clark clarified. "I just couldn't take the way she looked at me anymore. It was so…." he trailed off; unable to grasp the word he wanted.
"Recriminating, " Lois supplied and she could make out the nod of Clark's dark head on the other side of the horse. "I've seen her give you that look."
"If it was so obvious how come no one said anything before now?" He stepped around the animal and joined Lois on her side.
"What did you want us to do? Draw you a map to all your relationship problems? Do I look like Dr. Phil?" She hadn't intended for her response to be quite so biting. "It wouldn't have done any good anyway," she shrugged "you can't help who you love." She chanced a look to her left at Clark's face but quickly ducked her head when their happened to meet.
"No, I guess you can't." Something in his tone spoke of a deeper meaning; one Lois wasn't sure either of them was ready to examine too closely.
"I gotta say Smallville, I'm impressed. I thought for sure you'd do something ridiculous like ask Lana to marry you, if for no other reason than you thought that's what you're supposed to do."
She deposited her brush on a work bench and picked up a shoe pick. Long fingers ran down the horse's back leg and urged him to lift it so she could clean his shoes.
Clark was thankful Lois' attention was on the horse's powerful legs as her comment caused him to blush in embarrassment at his youthful foolishness. Not wanting to dwell on his motivations for ending the relationship he quickly changed the subject. "Where's Ella?"
"Asleep. Your Mom's doing some work in the kitchen and said she'd keep an ear out for her," Lois answered.
Clark put the reigns on the horse standing outside his stall; ensuring he was content; he opened the stall for the second horse, preparing to lead them both to the paddock.
"Your Mom asked me to move back to the farm," she blurted out suddenly.
"I know," Clark responded easily "she told me she was going to talk to you about it this morning."
"And you're okay with that? I mean I would be kicking you out of your bed again, I'm not bothered by your inconvenience but I would have thought you'd have something to say about it. Not to mention Ella will be taking over every room in the house."
"She's a Lane; I'd expect nothing less," Clark smirked. "The farm's seemed empty for a while now." Lois nodded at the reference to his father's absence. "And it's been especially quiet since you moved out." He pursed his lips at the taunt. "Having you and Ella around could be nice. And it would mean you have people to help you out with her."
"Right. Cause I proved I obviously couldn't take care of her on my own. I was waiting for you to throw that back at me. You got me Clark, I had to come to you for help but getting to say 'I told you so' isn't going to be such a treat when having a baby living in your house starts cramping your newly single lifestyle."
"I don't get you Lois!" Clark held two sets of reigns in his hands but stopped leading the horses out of the barn to address the woman beside him. "You take over my room twice, no three times and couldn't care less if it was inconveniencing me but now, when I'm trying to be gracious and understanding you think I'm gloating! Why do you have to make everything so difficult!" He turned to take the horses to the paddock.
"Hey! Wait a minute. You don't get to rant and then just walk off Smallville!" She trailed after him. "Excuse me for actually caring how my living here would affect you. I'd rather not be Clark Kent's next humanitarian project! I don't care who you are or what you're capable of – my well being is not your responsibility."
"What are you talking about!" His eyebrows jumped to his hairline.
"I'm talking about you Clark! You mope around like everyone's safety and contentment rests solely on your shoulders. You say two words to someone and somehow you get it in your head that you're responsible for them. Well whether you believe it or not, I got along just fine before I met you; I don't want you helping me out of some weird sense of obligation."
Clark unhooked the reigns on the horses and let them trot into the paddock before closing the gate behind them and facing Lois.
"Did you ever stop to think that people want to help you because they care about you? That I care about you?" His stomach lurched uncomfortably when he realized what he had admitted and to whom.
"Yeah, yeah, we find a baby together and now we're the bestest friends." Her sarcasm was darker than he was used to. "Do yourself a favour Clark – figure out who you are before you try to help anyone else."
"I know who I am Lois." Clark stood straight, his large stature suddenly very evident.
"If that were true you would be doing something that you want to do instead of putting your life on hold in order to run this farm….and helping me take care of Ella." She shot back.
"Something that I want to do…" Clark's fists tightened, Lois' words filling the space between them. "Here's something I want to do."
Lois had barely enough time to comprehend what he was saying before his hands clamped down on either side of her face and angled her lips up for his own to cover them. Her eyes widened in surprise for a moment then slipped shut of their own volition as his lips skillfully danced atop hers. Fear ran hot on the heels of the desire that flooded her limbs and she pushed Clark away from her, swollen lips gasping at air more for a distraction than to fill her lungs with oxygen.
"Wha….I…" her entire body flinched when Clark took a step toward her. "Don't!" She held out her hands.
"Lois!" The voice that called her name did not come from the lips that had been pressed against her own seconds before. "Lois! Ella's waking up!" Martha called from the back door of the house.
"Coming!" She shouted back to the other woman, not taking her eyes from Clark; watching him as though he were a criminal preparing to attack. "I have to….I um…" she spun on her heel and strode as quickly as she could to the house without breaking into a full sprint.
Left behind outside the paddock, Clark dropped his chin to his chest worrying that he had spooked Lois to the point of no return.
TBC
Please R&R if you get the chance.