Hi everyone, happy early Tuesday morning. My goal was to have posted this before midnight on Monday and well, better late right. A couple of things first before I continue, Imhooked, you were my 100th review, funny my son pointed that out to me today, Hot-Choxolate329, NiomiBlue, Gladius Grim, LoisNClark4Ever, and RebeccaC, thank you all for taking you time to write a review. I love your reactions to the chapters, and honestly the best part of this whole experience.
Now, as for this chapter, there were some revisions, which is why I am late posting this. As I have said before I wrote this in June and well when I first wrote it, I had the first part going very differently and then as I was typing it yesterday afternoon I realized that it NEEDED to be that incredible scene from Abandoned. Normally, I do not like rewrite scenes from the show but it was NEEDED. Anyways, I hope you all will forgive me and understand why and where I was coming from.
As always, happy reading and let me know what you thought.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but my thoughts and the stories I create.
In Medias Res
"Into the middle of things"
"Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars." Kahlil Gibran
Chapter 37
You Couldn't Have Known
Clark stood in the fortress holding the suit, he stared down at his family crest and smiled. Lois had been right, Jor-El was able to help with the costume. He came this morning to ask the AI for help; little did he know Jor-El had been ready for this moment for years. He did not know why he was surprised, since the first time he had found out about his father's artificial consciousness; his future had always seemed pre-destined. His father had provided for everything he would need to be whom he was sent to Earth to be.
Yet, here he was still unsure if any of this would work, if he could be the savior the world needed as well as the man his family needed. He did not want Clark Kent to fall victim to his hero persona, he needed to be Clark Kent, JJ, his parent, Lois they needed him, and he needed them as well.
"I sense your reluctance Kal-El."
The AI exclaimed, startling Clark out of his train of thought. Clark shook his head,
"It's just that I never thought about a costume, for years I've been able to do my saves without one."
"True, however, the time to step out of the shadows is now. Your destiny to lead the people of this world in a new age of peace cannot be realized Kal-El if you are not willing to let go of your fear."
Clark let out a heavy sigh,
"Jor-El, how could you have been so sure, sending me here, you couldn't have been so sure."
Suddenly the lights went out, darkness, and then just as quickly it was gone, as a ring of lights formed around him. To his surprise stood his father and a beautiful blond statuesque woman whom he quickly realized was his mother Lara.
" My son, I've only had the joy of knowing you a few weeks, (tremor)I wish I could be with you always to guide you and protect you."
Lara begins.
"We don't have much time."
His father explained. Lara nodded and continued,
"My dearest Kal-El, our love will always be with you. I can already see that you carry with you your father's independent spirit."
"And more importantly your mother's never ending bravery and her compassionate heart."
His father added, there was another tremor and his mother moved closer to his father.
"Your father tells me, the new world you're journeying to, Earth, is full of complicated beings full of great emotion."
He walked forward and reached out to his mother and his hand went through the hologram.
"My wish is for you to live a full and wonderful life. But I need you to know you were born of a great love, and your brilliant father has devised a way for you to carry on that love without us."
His mother explained as another tremor hit.
"The ship I designed to carry you to your destiny could only hold one Kryptonian, one who has so much potential, so unlike your father."
His father went on to explain, Lara shook her head, turned and touched her husbands face, he leaned into her touch.
"Your mother and I cannot come with you, to do so would only serve to burden your innocent soul with our frailties and failures. But you have within you the best of the both of us. I am sending with you all of my knowledge and none of my ego or regrets, they will die with me here on Krypton."
Jor-El declared and another tremor,
"What ever trials they put you through, I will never lose faith in you."
He finished.
"Quickly before it's too late."
Lara whispers to her husband as mother tremor hit. Looking back at Clark,
"We may not have been able to save our planet."
She admitted sadly.
"But we are confident you will become earth's greatest savior. And never doubt that, just as you are a part of us, we will always be a part of you."
Jor-el proclaimed with great pride in his eyes. There was another tremor,
"Farewell my son!"
He finished sadly.
"Farewell!"
Lara whispered her voice heavy with emotion. And just like that the ring of light and the holograms of his parents disappeared. Clark stood there for while letting the multitude of emotions that were running and rushing through and around his mind and heart sort themselves out. He looked down at the suit.
"Thank you Jor-El."
He whispered and with took off into the sky.
How Do I Look?
"How do I look?"
A familiar male voice exclaimed behind her. Lois turned to see Clark Kent, AKA Smallville dressed in his favorite primary colors. Of all the sketches she had sent to Chloe, none held a candle to this. 'God,' she thought, she knew it would be "impressive" but 'damn it's completely another thing to see it on him.' She stared at him speechless.
"Lois!"
He called out to her; Lois' mouth had dropped open, and the coffee cup in her hand almost tipping over. She shook her head, her eyes sliding down to his…
"Hum…wow…you're…big!"
He frowned and looked down at himself; he looked back up at her blushing.
"I know, it leaves nothing to the imagination."
He admitted shyly. Lois nervously closed her mouth swallowing, 'god reign in the libido Lois.'
She chided herself, 'this is nothing, he is not the first…oh who was she kidding… man he looks hot.' Her mind screamed as her eyes roamed the tall impressive Adonis before her.
"You don't like it, I'll tell Jor-El to come up with something else."
Lois blinked a couple of times, he was talking to her, her mind slowly registered, it was probably wise that she rejoined the waking world, she concluded.
"Uh…"
She begin again, she cleared her throat and quickly raised the coffee cup to her lips and took a gulp of her coffee.
"Lois its okay, you hate it."
He exclaimed disappointedly turning away.
"Wait!"
She called out him; he turned around and faced her. He watched as she set her cup on the counter and moved towards him. He did not know what to expect, Lois Lane was fiercely unpredictable, brutally honest and well she hated the suit.
"I don't hate the suit."
She declared as if reading his mind. She stopped before him, reached out, and ran her hand over the S shaped symbol on his chest.
"It's my family crest!"
He explained, and she nodded.
"I know, it stands for hope, right?"
Clark smiled happy she knew that. Lois had been studying his family's history along with JJ. She looked up at him, then reached up and took off his glasses. Taking them from her, he watched as if in slow motion and holding his breath as she reached up and ran both hands through his hair. She smoothed it back as best she could but a single unruly curl lay on his forehead. She bit her lip,
"Better."
She whispered as her hands came and rested on his shoulders. He searched her face and she met his gaze, startled by what she saw blazing in his eyes,
"Much better"
He repeated almost breathless, as her eyes glued them selves to his lips. She remembered those lips, slowly they were leaning towards each other, 'I'm gonna kiss Clark!' she thought, 'I'm going to kiss Lois' he thought and them suddenly his son's voice interrupted them as Lois's cell on the counter started going off with JJ's personalized ringtone.
"Mommy, Mommy, Mommy, Mommy, Mommy, Mommy, Mommy."
They pulled apart and Lois quickly went to the phone.
"Hello, JJ."
She answered, the child was supposed to be on a play date,
"Hi, mommy, David wants to go to his grandma's now, can you pick me up now?"
Lois looked over at Clark,
"I'll go get him."
He volunteered as he turned away; he walked out unto the balcony and burst up into the sky. Lois let out a heavy sigh,
"Daddy is on his way baby, see you soon."
"Okay mommy, bye."