TWO YEARS LATER-
Lois Lane Hall stared at the costume that hung in Carter's special attic 'office' The wings looked off white, as if they could use a good dip in some bleach.
She shook her head and began peering on Carter's desk, knowing she should stay out of here, but unable to help herself. The boys were down for a nap and now that she had a moment to herself, before the barbecue, Lois felt like she needed to snoop.
She spotted a copy of her best selling book 'The Final Days Of Krypton' peeking out from under other files, as if Carter had never gotten around to reading it. Lois pulled the book gently out from underneath the pile. She didn't blame him. Lois had told the truth about everything. Including the love affairs she had had with both Kal-El and Zal-El. Those parts alone helped sales go through the roof.
Carter didn't like reading about them. But then again, Carter needed to be realistic about what their relationship was. It would never be what she had had with the men from the House of El, but it was not without it's own passion. Just a different, low key type.
Lois didn't bother putting the book back where it was, as she turned to look back at those dingy wings again! As soon as Carter and her had returned to Earth he told her the truth about himself: that he was a 'Thanagarian'...and he had died over and over again and that he was some kind of superhero.
Carter was very open about the 'superhero' part and he had formed an alliance with the 'Batman' of Gotham City'. That is actually where she and Carter had moved to after the twins were born.
Lois did not like to think about the birth. It had been beastly and she cried not from the physical pain, but because Kal-El could not be there with her. And it took tremendous effort to stem the guilt she felt for sending Zal-El to his death. He had been on Krypton when it blew up, she knew that now.
Kal-El was in the Phantom Zone and after two years, had been unable to find a way out. Not a safe way for himself or his family. Lois couldn't imagine what things were like for them in that hellhole.
Lois's father had cautioned her to put Krypton, Kal-El and Zal-El out of her mind. She had children to think about raising, and a man that was willing to marry her and be a father to them. Plus she could still find a way to work at The Daily Planet.
So Lois Lane came back down to Earth, figuratively and literally, and married Carter Hall.
Lucy was upset, of course, claiming that she had secretly loved Carter all of these years and not Lor-Zod! But Lois couldn't be mad at her younger sister. All of this started with her. And she would not be a best selling author, working in journalism, or the mother of twin boys named, Adam and Eric, if it had not been Lucy's Kryptonian theft.
And Shelby took quite awhile to warm up to Carter. Carter pretended he didn't care if the golden retriever ever took to him, but Lois saw him trying. And eventually his patience was rewarded. Shelby loved Carter as much as the boys or Lois.
They both favored their real fathers, looks wise. And unfortunately, Lois suspected that Adam was Kal-El's and Eric was Zal-El's. And that was just from the way they behaved.
Adam was so sweet! He was always concerned about whether birds would get to eat and Lois and Carter helped him set out food for them. Adam would call to them to come back to eat, then look puzzled when they would not come towards the food. Just thinking about it made Lois smile.
Eric...was not Adam. Not only did Eric not give a damn whether birds ate or not, but he wanted all of Lois's attention and punched at Adam when she look too long with him. Carter forced him to take time-outs in another room, and he would emerge looking sorry and teary eyed and then go back to re-offend!
Yes, Lois strongly suspected that Eric was Zal-El's son and Adam was Kal-El's. There probably was a way to prove it, but at this point and time, she did not want to. Her father was the only person that Eric did seem to listen to and there were times when Lois thought that about just dropping him off with 'The General' for a week, just to see if he could shape his grandson up.
There was a framed picture of Carter with the boys, also sitting on the desk. Lois picked it up to stare at it, just as Carter entered the attic room. He knew she had been snooping but they had no secrets from one another.
Well, Lois knew mostly everything about him. He could not tell her, for example, that Bruce Wayne, who was coming to their barbecue today, was Batman. Lois had written a few stories for the Daily Planet about the the hero via e-mail to Perry White. But it was obvious Lois didn't think much of him and she didn't like Carter working with him.
And it would probably make things doubly worse if Lois knew that Bruce's girlfriend, Barbara Gordon was Batgirl. Lois had once said that she suspected 'Batgirl' was some jump off of Batman's and probably couldn't really even fight!
So some things, were better not known.
"I thought I might find you in here." Carter said, now walking over to meet her at his desk.
Lois glanced up at his Hawkman uniform, before moving to walk out of the room. Carter threw up his hands!
"I thought we were past this!"
Lois turned around.
"We were until I realized you were working with Batman. I thought you were going out and fighting crime by yourself. You know who he is and you won't tell me!" Lois protested. Carter walked up to her and rested both hands on her waist.
"You know I can't tell you that. And you know why. That's what comes from doing what we do. I need your support on this."
"Hey!" Lois snapped, pulling out of his grip. "I am supporting you by pretending to people that I have no idea who Hawkman is! You'd think you could trust me with Batman's identity!"
"Is is not my secret to tell, Lois! I don't get why you can't understand that?" Carter asked, his mood on edge. Bruce and Barbara were coming over today and with the way his wife's mind was working, he didn't want her to even suspect she was barbecuing with Batman and Batgirl!
"Alright," Lois said lightly, pretending to agree, "don't tell me then."
Carter raised a brow.
"And that would be alright with you?"
Lois's response to that was for to walk over to the attic door and lock it. She then turned back to face her husband before pulling off the sleeveless sweater she had been wearing. She did it quickly, causing her breasts to bob up and down fiercely, before she threw it aside.
Carter felt the same chasm of lust well up inside of him, that always showed itself whenever he looked at Lois naked.
"Don't. I'm not going to be swayed..."
"You don't have to be swayed, Carter. Why would I be swaying you? I just want to make love to my husband. Right now. Why would you think my wanting to know Batman's identity and our lovemaking, were even REMOTELY related?" Lois asked innocently as her pants disappeared. She then hooked her thumbs into the inside of her underwear and slowly brought them down...
"Oh damnit!" Carter cursed as he quickly removed his clothing! His erect manhood sprang into view once he dropped his pants. He was not telling her a damned thing! He owed it to the Justice League and was going to consider this a test of his loyalty, that was all.
It was less than a moment later that Lois helped her husband find the right angle, while hoisting her right leg up against his shoulder as she bucked feverishly upon his swollen rigidness. Carter quickly matched her almost punishing pace while kneading one of her firm buttocks. They stared at one another with hungry passion.
But it would be Carter Hall, after almost losing himself in mindless pleasure, that would end up telling Lois that Batman was Bruce Wayne.
Lois eyed Bruce Wayne when he wasn't looking at her, then smiled when she caught his eye. Good God! Who would have ever thought that someone that appeared to be nothing more than some rich, spoiled, womanizing billionaire, was secretly a hero in disguise?
Still, Lois wondered what made him do what it was he did, nightly here in Gotham? She suspected his parents being murdered right in front of him, might be part of this whole thing. But she would love to interview him.
But alas, she could not, hence her promise to Carter. She watched as Bruce and Carter disappeared someplace inside the house. Her husband had left the meat on the grill unattended so she took over cooking duties.
Meanwhile, Carter was getting some news that he did not want to hear...
"Are you sure?" Carter asked.
"Yes, unfortunately. The satellites I own have discovered 'something' that left the area where the Phantom Zone is purported to be. And whatever it is, it landed in Smallville."
"Okay but you said there was another 'something' as well?
"Yes. Something else came out of an area that from what I can tell, has nothing in it. No planet, craters, anything. It landed at the same time in another part of Smallville as well."
Carter ran a hand through his hair. If these things had been meteors or something large, they'd know about it by now. Bruce could see his friend was upset and tried to offer some comfort.
"I think one of those things is Kal-El. Or God forbid, a real criminal that deserves to be in there."
"And the other blip? I mean what the hell could that be?" Carter asked, feeling agitated.
"Whatever it is, we'll deal with it. And so will Lois and you." Bruce said quietly.
"I'm getting ready to lose everything here, Bruce! And I knew this day was coming. I knew once Kal-El figured a way out of the that prison...but I was not prepared to be so happy. I was not prepared to become attached to children that I love as my own! All of that could be gone in a couple of minutes with what Kal-El can do!"
"Okay, but you have to let Lois deal with it. She had a good head on her shoulders, Carter. And I think that she's through with all of this Kryptonian excitement. She has Adam and Eric to think about now. Bringing Kal-El into their lives would totally turn their world upside down."
"Does General Lane know?" Carter asked.
"Probably." Bruce replied. "Look, let's get back. I'll take over the barbecuing and you talk to Lois. You're right. Kal-El could get here at any time."
Meanwhile, Eric had decided that the Paw Patrol action figure that Grandpa had given Adam, was better than his. It was one of the action figures named 'Chase' and he wanted it! He made his way over to his twin and snatched it away from him!
"NO!" Adam cried out. Lois handed over control of the barbecue to Barbara, then moved to break up yet another fight between her sons. She got down on their level.
"Eric! Give Adam back Chase!"
"No!" Eric yelled. Lois snatched the figure from him and he hit her on the arm! Lois swatted him on the arm in kind, and he began bawling, just as Carter and Bruce returned.
"Alright, alright, what's going on?" Carter asked, picking up Eric. Shelby came out of the house as well, dove into the pool and swam to the other side. He then got out using the steps and shook out, before joining Barbara by the barbecue.
"Mommy is mean!" Eric sobbed. Lois looked at Carter.
"Take him inside for a time out. And not in the play room." Lois instructed. Carter shook his head at Eric, who was wailing all the way into the house. Shelby jumped up onto a chaise to wait for the meal. Bruce stared after Carter and Eric. He now knew why he did not have kids!
Meanwhile, Lois smoothed Adam's dark hair.
"There. Mommy wasn't going to let him take Chase from you. Now why don't you put that away before he ends up in the pool or lost, okay?"
"Okay, Mommy." Adam agreed. Shelby ambled off of the chaise and followed Adam back inside. Lois noticed Bruce was looking at her and she wondered if that private chat Carter had had with him before, concerned her knowing his true identity?
"You know, Lois, I was re-reading your book the other day." Bruce said.
"Really? That's two more times than Carter has actually read it."
"Carter is busy...you know how it is."
"Hmmm." Lois said in response, trying not to let her eyes wander over his features. No, she could not say could've guessed that under the Batman mask, it was this man. Then again, that cowl, facially, covered up a lot.
"Anyway, I thought the part about your sending Zal-El to help evacuate Krypton was interesting."
Lois stiffened.
"Why would you find THAT part interesting? Zal-El died."
Bruce folded his arms.
"But did he? I don't mean to dredge up unpleasant memories, Lois. I don't. But Carter said he took his craft to escape. There was one left behind for him to use."
Lois just stared at him as if he were stupid!
"Okay, but if there had been a ship left behind that he could 'use', then he would have come back here. The only way he would not be in his child's life, is if he couldn't. Because he was dead." Lois said, now looking around him as her cousin Chloe and her boyfriend, Jimmy Olson, came out by the pool. They both lived in Smallville, in her former apartment over the The Talon. Lois excused herself from Bruce to walk over to them.
Barbara motioned Bruce over to the barbecue.
"What was that about?"
"We're going to have to cut this gathering short," Bruce said, "I think Kal-El managed to escape the Phantom Zone."
"Oh." Barbara said. "Carter can't be too pleased. I mean I know he didn't want to see him or his family locked in there, but Carter has to be wondering what this means for him and his own family?"
"He is. And we need to go to the spot where Kal-El landed."
"Okay, but what was all that talk with Lois about Zal-El?" Barbara asked.
"Because something else landed here at the same time Kal-El did, but from a completely different direction. And I can't help but think it's Zal-El." Bruce said grimly.
Meanwhile, Lois glanced over at Bruce and Barbara.
"Bruce is being a real wipe today. He said something rude about my book and now suddenly, I am not in the mood to be nice to him." Lois griped. She noticed Jimmy and Chloe had funny looks on their faces.
"Okay...what's up? You look like you have bad news that you don't want to tell me."
Jimmy put an arm around Chloe, as she spoke.
"Kal-El escaped the Phantom Zone and came to our apartment, thinking you still lived there. We sort of told him what had went on during his imprisonment and he is less than thrilled. You'd better go to him, Lo, before he comes here." Chloe advised.
Lois peered out of the window. Chloe, Jimmy, Barbara and Bruce seemed to be having a good time, though Bruce glanced towards the house every once and awhile.
"So," Carter said resignedly, "Bruce, Barbara and I need to get to the spot where Kal-El landed. I think we should do all we can to help him get his family out of there. You know, they asked me to go in there with them and I chose to take my chances. If I hadn't, I don't even want to think about what could have happened."
"I know." Lois said, stroking his arm. "But...why is Barbara going to the site with you?"
Ooops.
"Well, she's..."
"She's 'who', Carter?"
"Look, can we discuss this later. Don't ask me about Barbara Gordon and I won't ask you what you plan to tell Kal-El."
"What I plan to tell him is that he can see the boys whenever he likes, but that I'm a married woman now." Lois told him.
"Do you think it will be that easy? I was there, Lois, remember? You two were pretty intense."
"I'm done with intense, okay? Just go. Go see what's going on. Hopefully Kal-El just brought only himself out of that prison."
"That's what's we're going to find out." Carter said grimly.
Lois got Jimmy and Chloe to agree to watch the boys and she drove to Smallville, filled with dread, excitement and fear.
At least she did not have to tell Kal-El the news that she had married Carter Hall. But knowing how demanding Kal-El was, she didn't honestly think that he would agree to any kind of custody agreement. He would want the boys and her.
She turned down the street where The Talon was and found a rare, nice parking spot. She slowly got out and walked into the restaurant.
To her surprise and shock, the first thing she saw was Lex Luthor, ringing up! When he finished with the last customer, he stared at her with an expression she could not read.
"Lois Lane Hall. As I live in breathe."
"Lex...you're working here?"
"I do still own it. I have been unable to keep good help."
"You had good help that you fired. Now if you will excuse me..."
"Chloe and Jimmy left out of here awhile ago. They aren't home." Lex huffed and walked off towards a store room. Lois waited until he disappeared, hurried up the stairs and opened the apartment door...
She was pulled into Kal-El's hard arms before the door could be closed, and his demanding mouth searched hers for a response that she could not afford to give him. She broke off the kiss.
"Hey. You look great for someone that was in the Phantom Zone." she said meekly, knowing that that wasn't much of hello.
Kal-El just stared at her for a moment before speaking.
"Your cousin told me everything. I sensed that Carter Hall's interest in you went beyond what it should, the moment I met him."
"Kal-El, I want you to listen to me: this isn't his fault. I was pregnant and alone. You were gone, Zal-El died on Krypton because of me! I begged him to go back and help evacuate and he did that-for me! My father was not going to let me walk around this planet, unmarried with Kryptonian children. Carter stepped up. He is a great husband and father. The boys..."
"Chloe showed me a picture." Kal-El allowed, his eyes traveling over her. Lois could not figure out if what she was saying was really sinking in.
"Then you understand why I did what I did?"
"I understand. I am just not hearing what your plans are to end this."
"My plans to end what?"
"Your sham of a marriage, Lois. I am grateful to Carter Hall for all they has done for OUR family, but that is over. I need to see my sons."
This was going worse than I expected, Lois thought.
"My marriage is not a sham, Kal-El. And we need to find a way to work things out between us, for the boys sake. Carter is willing to cooperate in anyway. Chloe said that you need help getting Jor-El, Lara and everyone else out of the Phantom Zone. We could get Lor-Zod out as well." Lois said.
"Lor-Zod perished. He was killed by one of the other prisoners." Kal-El said quietly. Lois gasped and instinctively put her arms around him to embrace him. They held one another for a long while, before Lois ended it.
"Lucy will be upset when she hears about this. Look, why don't you come to dinner tonight? You can meet Adam and Eric and we can begin anew."
Kal-El said nothing to that. Those names would have to be changed, of course. And he was not unaware that he would need to tread carefully on this planet. Krypton's destruction had scattered radioactive remnants over three states in this country. His people were distinctly unpopular.
The penthouse at the Vellagio was still owned by the House of El. He would stay there and begin his plan to get Lois and his sons back.
"Fine," Kal-El said, resting his hands on her shoulders, "I would like that very much."
Lois drove home feeling very positive about what had taken place between herself and Kal-El just now. He seemed to want to cooperate when it came to forming a blended family.
But why was her writer's intuition telling her that Kal-El was full of shit? And she still didn't know how he managed to get out of the Phantom Zone, while no one else did? She would have to call Lucy about Lor-Zod...if she answered her phone.
It was as she was driving past the old Kent Farm house, that Zal-El had once declared 'theirs', that Lois hit something! She lost control of her car and careened into a cornfield!
Shocked and stunned, Lois slowly got out of her car and took two deep breaths. She didn't know if her car was totaled or what! Lois reached into her car to get her cellphone out when she heard a noise. Raising her head, she looked around uneasily. She was in a cornfield. Who the hell would be hiding in a cornfield? Maybe someone saw her accident and was here to help?
The 'help' revealed itself as Lois watched stalks of corn flatten to reveal non other than Zal-El!
Lois gaped at him, backing back a bit.
"I...I...I don't understand...why...how..."
"That will all be revealed in time," Zal-El said darkly, "let's go into our house and discuss how your husband will be leaving my children and your life."
Lois took another deep breath.
"I'm going to tell you what I told Kal-El..."
"He is here?" Zal-El asked coldly.
"He escaped from the Phantom Zone...probably when you returned from where?" Lois asked suspiciously. It had just never occurred to her that Zal-El had left her! But what else could she think?
"I was taken to another realm."
Lois snorted!
"Right! You know, here I was feeling badly because I thought I had killed you by sending you back to Krypton! Where were you really? On another planet someplace?"
Zal-El smiled.
"You were concerned."
"I was mourning! I was feeling guilty and I was pregnant and alone! Carter Hall stepped forward and married me! He is a father to your child and Kal-El's and I'm not walking away from that! And just so you know, Kryptonians don't have such a good rep around here! When Krypton exploded many parts of the planet landed here and either killed people, or the radiation poisoned them! You will see the boys when Carter and I say, okay? And you'll have to find work, sorry!" Lois huffed.
Zal-El's response was to put his hands on her shoulders, then rip her shirt down to the waist! He tore off her bra before she could gasp and cupped her heavy breasts within his large hands, kneaded them sensuously, all while staring into her eyes.
"We will see how married you are to Carter Hall, Lois Lane." Zal-El told her, before releasing her breasts from his hold and flying off. Lois stared up at his flying form until he disappeared from sight.
Oh God, Lois thought. What was she going to do? Kal-El, if he was telling the truth, could be handled. But Zal-El...it had just never occurred to her that he could actually be alive! What the hell were they going to do now?