Chapter Twenty Five

Lois awoke the next day to the sound of two children yelling and jumping all over her.

"Come on mommy wake up!" Ellie yelled excitedly. Anyone would think it was Christmas morning from the way she was bouncing around. Lois groaned and threw an arm over her eyes to block out the daylight.

"Get her Martha!" Ellie ordered and the next thing Lois knew, she was being attacked by a two year old tickling her feet.

"Auntie Lo-Lo." Martha squealed as Lois laughed and wriggled her feet out of the little girl's grasp.

"I'm up, I'm up." Lois sat up as her daughter began tugging on her sleeve and leaned back against the headboard.

She barely had time to snake out an arm and catch Martha as Ellie bounced a little too hard and she went flying over the side. Martha just giggled and asked to do it again, to which Lois said no and placed the two year old on her knee.

"Ellie honey you've gotta be a little more careful remember?" Ellie's smile faded a little and Lois felt bad for reminding her but it had to be done.

"Sorry mommy." She said solemnly. Lois reached out and tucked her dark brown hair behind her ear.

"It's okay. Wait what's the time?" She looked over at her alarm clock. "Oh my God, why did I sleep in so late?" She said placing Martha back on the bed so she could climb out.

"Aunt Chloe and Uncle Bruce are downstairs with grandma." Ellie said.

"Okay, can you take Martha down for me sweetie, I'm just gonna grab a quick shower and get dressed then I'll be right down."

"Okie dokie mommy." Ellie said using the phrase that she had recently picked up. She took Martha's hand and led her to the door.

"And be careful down the stairs." Lois called as she watched them go.

"We will." Ellie replied over her shoulder.

Lois went into the bathroom and locked the door behind her. She hadn't slept in this late since, well she couldn't remember the last time she'd stayed in bed until the late afternoon. She turned on the shower and stepped under the soothing spray, letting it wash away her tiredness.

The events from last night slowly drifted into her mind and she couldn't help the smile forming on her face. She was still feeling a little apprehensive about what it all meant for her future with Clark but she could no longer go on denying the truth. And the truth was that she loved him deeply, and she needed him no matter how much she tried to tell herself that she was fine on her own.

It felt good to finally admit it. But where did they go from here? Would they go back to dating? Would she want to start things over? She honestly didn't know but she knew that she wanted something to happen. She had been fooling herself to think that they could just be friends and nothing more.

Fifteen minutes later she emerged fully dressed and ready to go. She walked downstairs and was greeted by the sight of Chloe and Martha sitting in the kitchen and Bruce was in the living room playing with the two girls, swinging them around in his arms, and making them squeal with delight.

"Morning." She said as she headed over to the coffee machine.

"Afternoon Lois." Chloe said with a smile.

"Yeah sorry about that, I had quite a late night last night." She saw Chloe raise her eyebrows and smile deviously. Lois shook her head at her.

"I know Clark told your mom about it this morning." Chloe replied before Lois said anything she would regret in front of Mrs Kent.

"How is your dad?" Martha asked as she took a sip of her coffee.

"He's um… he'll be okay I think. The doctor said it was only a mild attack but he was worried about his blood pressure so he's given him some medication for that. Lucy stayed with him last night but he seemed okay when I left." Lois scanned the room, suddenly noticing there was someone missing.

"He had to go out Lois." Martha said knowing what she was thinking. She made a swooping gestured with her hand and Lois nodded.

"So how was uncle Sam mood wise? I bet he was pretty angry being cooped up in the hospital." Chloe said.

"Actually he was the opposite. I think this has really scared him. He was being way too nice to be his usual self." Lois chuckled as she took a seat next to Chloe and Martha.

"Well it's good that he's thinking positive about this Lois, he needs to because at a time like this it's very easy to think dark thoughts." Martha said sadly.

And then it hit Lois like a tonne of bricks. Last night she had been such a ***** to Clark, hitting him, yelling at him and he had just taken it all in his stride and comforted her. In all that time Lois hadn't thought that being at the hospital with her and sitting outside alone for so long must've brought back some terrible memories about his own dad. She felt so horrible and disgusted at her behaviour. She would have to make it up to him later.

"Yeah but he's got Luce with him so…" She looked over at Bruce who had just walked into the kitchen and wrapped his arms around Chloe from behind her.

"Hey Bruce how's things?" Lois asked, glad of the interruption, she wanted to shift the subject away from fathers and heart attacks before she upset Martha.

"I think these two are trying to kill me." He said looking down at the innocent faces of the two girls.

"If you can't handle two children now what are you gonna be like when this one comes along?" Lois laughed and patted Chloe's bump gently.

"Very happy." He beamed proudly. "Plus he or she will be too small to try anything like these two, I swear they plot these little attacks on me, it's like an ambush and I have a good idea who the ring leader is." He smiled, looking directly at Ellie.

Ellie looked up at her mother and held her hands out in a 'who me' gesture. Lois just laughed and went back to her coffee.

"So how you feeling cuz?" She asked as Ellie took Martha's hand and led her back over to the couch; their favourite cartoon was just coming on. Well it was Ellie's favourite cartoon but because Martha spent so much time with Ellie, and she seemed to idolise the girl, it had become her favourite too. Ellie sat on the end of the couch and Martha snuggled close up to her. It was a heart-warming sight.

"Better then ever Lo, I had my scan yesterday," She pulled out the sonogram picture and handed it to Lois who then handed it to Martha. "Everything's going along nicely."

"That's good, so have you thought of any names yet?" Lois asked but she didn't know why she bothered. Chloe and Bruce had been very secretive about Martha's name and this time wasn't any different. They wanted it to be a surprise.

Chloe however was saved from answering as Clark walked in the door. He was wearing his usual blue t-shirt and red jacket; Lois hadn't seen him wear that thing for years. He must've known that Bruce was already there because he was wearing his glasses, something he hadn't done whilst around the farm. Lois preferred him without them.

But he didn't yet know that Bruce knew his secret. She would have to tell him later. He caught her eyes as he walked in and smiled, things must've gone okay this morning for him. She smiled back and watched as he gave his mom and Chloe a kiss on the cheek and came to a stop just in front of Bruce.

He seemed a little surprised at the sheer size and presence of him and Lois had to suppress a laugh as she wondered what Clark thought he would look like. He held out his hand and Bruce shook it.

"You must be Bruce Wayne, I've heard a lot about you." Clark said politely, though she could've sworn she saw Clark puff out his chest a little and stand a little taller. Bruce was almost as tall as Clark, about half an inch shorter maybe, and his hair was almost the same colour.

"Yes, I've heard a lot about you too Clark." Bruce said focusing his penetrating gaze on Clark's eyes.

Lois and Chloe smiled at each other, they could clearly see what was going on. The two men were sizing each other up. Even Martha had a grin on her face.

"Well if it's from Chloe I hope it wasn't all bad." Clark replied, shaking his head. Lois could see that he was a little unsure of Bruce. But then again, Bruce had that effect on a lot of people.

Before he had settled down with Chloe he was seen as a bit of a playboy, always showing up late to the parties that he himself had thrown and always with a different girl on each arm every time. That image of him was partly what had put her off him when they had gone out for their one and only date. Another very large reason was standing in front of him.

"No not at all, it's been very interesting." Bruce said with a little smirk. Clark wasn't sure what he meant but that statement clearly had a double meaning.

"Well that's good. So uh… how's business?" Clark asked, he didn't know what he was supposed to talk about with him.

He sat down next to Lois, quite closely, and she felt him take her hand and entwine his fingers with hers under the table. It made her stomach tighten, it was a simple gesture but very effective.

"It's very good thank you. I hear you got a job at the Daily Planet."

Bruce placed both his hands on Chloe's shoulders and she leaned her head back against his chest. It became quite obvious to the women in the room that both men were sending a statement to the other. Though no one knew that Clark was holding Lois' hand, they had however, noticed that he had sat very close to her. It really was quite comical to see.

"Yeah it's nice to be working with these two I've really missed them." Clark said sincerely. Chloe sent him a grin as Lois squeezed his hand under the table. The conversation seemed to fizzle once the pleasantries were done with so Chloe cleared her throat and called Ellie and Martha into the kitchen.

"Daddy!" Ellie yelled and grabbed Martha's little hand excitedly waving it up and down.

"Martha this is my daddy. Daddy, this is my cousin Martha. She's only two years old."

Chloe laughed, she had been about to introduce them herself but evidently Ellie wanted to show her father off. She was very protective of Martha at times and the two of them acted as though they were sisters instead of cousins.

"Well hello there Martha, that's a lovely name." He said as he got off his stool and kneeled down in front of the two girls.

Martha seemed a little hesitant as she hid behind Ellie. Clark wasn't surprised, he had learned that his presence alone could be quite intimidating, he was very tall and thought he must look like a giant to someone Martha's size.

"Come on Martha he's not going to hurt you. He's very nice, he's my daddy."

Clark still felt the butterflies in his stomach every time he heard Ellie call him that. It was taking time but he was slowly becoming used to the idea of being a father to this amazing little girl.

He couldn't imagine a world without her now but he remembered very well, all the time spent wondering and fearing that he would never be able to have this at all. He just hoped that he could be a good father to her, like his dad had been to him. His one fear was that he would screw it up though.

Slowly Martha popped her head out and looked up to Bruce who picked her up so that Clark could stand back up.

"Martha now don't be shy this is your uncle Clark." Bruce said with a laugh that made the little girl brighten, she looked at Clark with curiosity in her eyes.

"Uncle Lark?" She said, she still hadn't gotten used to the c's of the alphabet. Those two words seemed to break the tension in the room and everyone laughed at the sweet little girl in Bruce's arms.

"Yes it's your uncle Clark sweetie." Chloe said wiping a little chocolate off the corner of the child's mouth.

"Do you wanna give him a hug? He's been waiting to meet you."

Martha seemed to take her time deciding but after a few moments she held her arms out to Clark who smiled nervously and took her from Bruce. She still wasn't sure about this new man so she held herself a little rigid in his arms as she stared at him.

He made a silly face at her and after a couple of minutes she burst into a fit of giggles. She looked so much like Chloe; she had Bruce's hair colour and Chloe's eyes.

He was so happy for Chloe, she really did deserve the family she had been blessed with and Bruce seemed like a good guy, Clark could see how much he loved her just from the way he looked at her.

He let Martha down gently and she went back into the living room with Ellie. Clark could hear Ellie saying "See Martha I told you he was nice." As they sat back down to watch the TV.

"She's never usually that trusting with strangers but she really took to you Clark, I'm amazed." Bruce said.

"I'm not, Clark's a natural with kids." Lois chimed in, throwing him a wink. "Besides, no girl could ever resist the Kent charm." She laughed then stopped as she realised that she'd thrown herself in with that group. She noticed the smile on Martha's face so chose to change the subject completely.

"Hey Chloe why don't we go for a little walk? It's a gorgeous day." Lois stood up and gave Chloe a look that didn't give her an option.

"Oh right okay, I'm just going for walk honey," She kissed Bruce as he rubbed her bump lovingly and then left with Lois.

Martha caught on to what the two women were up to so she stood and walked into the living room.

"Who wants to help grandma plant some flowers in the garden?" She asked. Since Martha didn't have a grandmother on either side anymore, Martha had taken it upon herself to become her surrogate grandmother. She treatd little Martha the same as she did Ellie.

"I do, I do," Martha cheered and Ellie stood up with her and followed her grandma out of the front door, leaving Clark alone with Bruce.

"So uh…" Clark didn't have a clue what to say. "I think it's safe to say we were just set up."

"Looks like it." Bruce replied. They both sat back down at the table and eyed each other curiously.

"I have to be honest with you Clark cause you seem like a decent guy." Bruce started.

"Okay?"

"I was a little reluctant to meet you today. I didn't really know what to expect. All I know of you is what I've been told by Lois, Chloe and your mom."

"My mom?" Clark looked surprised. Why would his mother tell Bruce anything about him?

"Yes. You see Clark I met Lois about a year after you had left and she probably already told you that we had a date." He stopped and waited for a response from Clark. When Clark only nodded he continued.

"She's a wonderful woman but I could see that her heart wasn't really in it. She had no interest in me and we rightly decided that we would just be friends. I'm pleased that it happened though, otherwise I wouldn't have met Chloe, and I can't imagine my life without her now. But I have to be honest and say that I was more than a little angry with you myself. The day you came back Lois was in such a state, I'd never seen her like that before."

Clark stayed silent, not knowing where Bruce was going with this but also because he wasn't sure he would be able to speak without the jealousy he was feeling coming out. He was jealous because this man had gotten to know the woman Lois had become, had gotten to see his own daughter grow up while he hadn't been there. But mostly because this man before him had been a part of their lives while he had been alone.

"I hated seeing what your return was doing to her. I couldn't understand why you left her in the first place. But a couple of years ago, around the time Martha was born, Lois told me the truth."

Clark froze. No, surely Lois wouldn't have told him his secret? She wouldn't.

Bruce could see the cogs turning in Clark's head.

"Yes Clark, I know that you're Superman." He said. Clark frowned, he felt a little disappointed in Lois.

"Before you go blaming her I should tell you that Lois didn't want to tell me. But when I married Chloe I told her about my secret and she knew that she could trust me and she couldn't bare having anyone think the worst of you. I would never betray your secret to anyone Clark, it would serve no purpose and it would only hurt the people I care about."

"What exactly did she tell you about why I left?" Clark wasn't sure he wanted to know the answer but he needed to know just how much Lois had confided in this man.

"She just said that it was something that you had to do. It was your destiny; she used that word a lot. She kept telling me that we shouldn't blame you, you never knew about Ellie and if you had you wouldn't have left." Bruce straightened up and offered Clark a brief smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

"I guess I just couldn't get my head around the fact that if you loved her, why leave? I know that I could never leave Chloe."

"It wasn't that simple Bruce. No one on this planet knows or understands what it's like to have this kind of power; to be able to do the things that I do. I did the one thing that I never thought was possible, I hurt her. I'm not proud of it but it happened and I can't change it, and I can never really forgive myself for it either. But I love her."

Bruce nodded, seeming to understand.

"I know all about the darkness Clark and you can't let yourself stay there for too long. Otherwise you may find that you can't get out." Clark looked at him, puzzled.

"When I was a boy, I watched as my parents were shot right in front of me. I grew up a very angry and very lonely child. My butler has been the only father figure in my life and though he tried, there was just no way to pull me off the path that I had started. I was so bitter and angry throughout my teens and I couldn't bring myself to take over my father's company like he would've wanted me to. I was just so hell bent on revenge. So, like you, I left. I went through years of vigorous training regimes and I learnt a lot about myself. I learnt to forgive myself, to stop blaming myself for the deaths of my parents and even though that memory will never leave me, I won't live in the past anymore. I returned to Gotham a different man. So you see, we're a lot more alike then you think."

"I guess we are." Clark said, mulling over what Bruce had just confessed. Clark knew that it would've taken a man like him a lot to say what he had and Clark felt sorry for the boy that had lost his parents in such a brutal way.

"I'm telling you all this Clark because I think that we could both make a real difference in this world. Help make it a better place to live."

"How? Clark asked.

"Have you heard of Batman, Clark?"

"Yeah he's the guy who dresses up in a bat suit and takes on the criminals of Gotham. The police call him a vigilante but I think he's just trying to help make a…" Clark's voice trailed off as he registered the smile on Bruce's face and it hit him.

"You?" Bruce nodded. "Batman…really?" Clark frowned.

"Hey it's no worse than wearing tights Superman." Bruce said defensively.

And just like that both men broke out into laughter. This conversation seemed so crazy. But Clark felt like he knew Bruce a lot better now. It all seemed to fit, the hint of darkness he had seen in his eyes earlier, Lois mentioning that Chloe had managed to pull Bruce out of his brooding ways.

They really did have a lot in common. He chuckled to himself as Bruce's expression turned serious.

"Clark I just want to ask you one thing."

"Okay?"

"I know that it's probably none of my business but Lois and I are good friends and I don't want to see her get hurt again…"

Clark put up his hand to stop Bruce.

"Bruce you don't have to worry. I know you're only looking out for them and I'm grateful to you but I promise that I will never hurt her again. I can't say what's in the future but I'm gonna make sure that I'm there every day for my family."

"That's all I wanted to hear."

Once again there was silence, neither of them knowing what to say now. Clark's mind was still reeling from learning that Chloe had married Batman. It was strange. But he guessed, no stranger than being Superman.

"So…what it's like to fly?"

"Come on Lo, out with it." Chloe said as they continued walking in the field next to the barn.

"Out with what?"

"I know you didn't drag me out here to look at the awesome farm scenery so what is it?" Chloe stopped walking and crossed her arms in front of her, fixing her cousin with a stare.

"I don't know Chloe I'm just a little confused that's all." Lois stood with her back to Chloe so that she couldn't see her face as she spoke. She didn't want anyone to know about her and Clark yet but she had to talk to someone, it was starting to get to her.

"About Clark?" Chloe offered and Lois nodded.

"Last night we kind of had this…moment." Chloe said nothing and waved her hand for Lois to carry on.

"I kissed him. Well we kissed anyway that's not important. After we got back from the hospital I laid into him, I mean really laid into him. Suddenly all this anger came from nowhere and I was hitting him and shouting. Then we sunk to the floor and he was holding me so tight, I didn't feel alone anymore. I know you're going to say I told you so but I needed to get this off my chest. I know that I still love him and I need him now more than I ever did but what if we can't go back there Chloe? What if we've lost what we had for good?" Lois took in a deep breath, needing oxygen after her rant.

"You done?" Chloe asked with a smirk. Lois nodded.

"Lois do you love him?" She asked; again Lois nodded. "And does he love you?"

"Yeah, he does." Lois smiled.

"Well I already knew that. Anyway look; if you two love each other, what's stopping you from having what you once had? Sure it won't be the same because circumstances change, people change, but that doesn't mean that you can't have something even better than before. You're both still hurting and it will take time to get past that but you can't let the fear of getting hurt again stop you from living your life and being truly happy. You and I both know that Lois and Clark are meant to be Lois, you know that in your heart."

"I do. But what if…"

"No! No buts, stop living in the past Lois. He's back and he loves you and I know that he'll do everything in his power to make sure that he never hurts you again. You just have to trust him Lo."

"I do trust him Chloe."

"Then let him in Lois. He needs you just as much as you need him. Simply trusting him isn't enough, you have to trust him with your heart." Chloe said rubbing Lois' arm supportively.

"I don't know if I can." She whispered.

"You were the one that built that wall around your heart and I understand why you did that Lo, I know you don't want to get hurt again and I don't want that either. But you do know that the only person who's capable of breaking that wall down is in that house don't you?" Lois nodded slowly.

"I'm not asking you to run off and marry the guy but just at least give him a chance. Take things slowly and see where they lead. Huh?"

"Yeah I guess." She pulled her cousin into a hug. "Thanks Chloe, I needed to get someone else's perspective on things. I've been such a fool,"

"No you haven't Lo, you're just protecting yourself, and I completely understand that. We do what we have to do to survive. But Lois, don't throw away the one thing that could make you whole again." Lois nodded and smiled.

When did her cousin get so smart on matters of the heart? Then again, Lois had never really had these kinds of conversations with her before now.

They linked arms and walked back to the house, they both burst into laughter at what they saw.
Two six foot tall men were hopping around the yard, throwing a basketball into the air, and yelling like a couple of teenagers instead of two grown men. They had both shed their jackets and Bruce was wearing a black t-shirt while Clark was wearing his usual blue. It seemed very fitting.

"Wouldn't be using those super powers to cheat now would you Kent?" They heard Bruce say as he hunched down ready to attack Clark for the ball.

"As if, besides it's not like I need to use them against the likes of you Wayne." Clark replied.

Chloe and Lois looked at each other and shook their heads.

"Boys."

But as Clark prepared to throw the ball, Lois saw an opportunity. Feeling a little better for her chat with Chloe and a little devious, Lois walked past Clark and just as he was about to shoot for the hoop, she grabbed his butt with both hands and squeezed hard.
Clark was so surprised, he lost control, and the ball went flying into the air and out of sight. Bruce watched as it disappeared, looking impressed.

"Lois!" He blushed. He didn't know what she was up to. She said that she didn't want anyone to know about them yet so what was she playing at? Especially in front of Bruce and Chloe.

But as she made her way back to the house with Chloe laughing beside her, he didn't care. She looked over her shoulder and winked at him and he did the same.

He was mesmerised by her swagger, his eyes travelling a little lower as she continued to walk.

"So uh…you gonna go get the ball?" Bruce asked with a chuckle, snapping Clark back to attention.