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Chapter 8
Epilogue:
Clouds of Glory
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December 25, 1998, 6:30 am
348 Hyperion Avenue, Metropolis
Rachel's eyes flew open and she climbed out of bed hurriedly. It was Christmas! She ran to her parents' room and took a flying leap on to the bed. "Momma, Daddy, wake up. I wanna see if Santa came!"
Clark opened his eyes and regarded his daughter with amusement. It hadn't been so long ago that they'd thought that this day would never come. "Sprite, just let me and your mom get up, and then we can go downstairs, okay?"
Rachel grinned and jumped off the bed. "Okay, Daddy," she said happily. She ran into the guest bedroom next door, climbed up on the bed, and started to bounce. "Gramma and Grandpa," she called, "it's *Christmas*!"
Jonathan smiled and pretended to be asleep for a few more minutes before he reached up, grabbed Rachel and began to tickle her. "Christmas, you say?" he deadpanned. "What's so special about Christmas?" he said, grinning.
Rachel squirmed and shrieked with laughter. "Graaaand-pa," she said between giggles, "I wanna see if Santa came!"
Jonathan released her and reached for his bathrobe. "In that case, we should probably get up, isn't that right, Martha?"
Rachel scooted over to Martha, who had been watching the tableau with amusement, and sat down in her lap. Martha hugged her tightly. "We're sure glad you're back home, sweetie," she said.
Rachel wiggled out of the embrace and slid on to the floor. "I am, too. Let's *go*, Gramma and Grandpa!" she demanded imperiously.
Martha chuckled, got up, pulled on her robe, and reached for her granddaughter's hand. Rachel grabbed both Martha and Jonathan's hands then tugged them out the door. They met Lois and Clark in the hallway and headed downstairs. Rachel raced for the nearest pile of presents and began to look through them for her name. Her eyes lit up as she spotted a small pink bicycle. She ran her hand over its shiny paint and fingered the big, gold bow that adorned the handlebars. "Did Santa bring this for me?" she asked, her voice filled with awe.
Clark reached down and tugged a strand of her hair gently. "Of course he did, sprite," he said with a smile.
Rachel grinned, climbed on the bike, and began to ride it around the presents. "Not in the house, young lady," Lois said
"Okay, Momma," Rachel said agreeably. "Can we go outside to ride it later, Daddy?" she smiled sweetly.
"We'll see, sprite," he answered. "It's getting really cold outside, and we don't want you to get sick."
Rachel thought about that for a few moments because she didn't like being sick either--though it would probably be different with her Momma and Daddy than it had been with Papa Gary. She climbed off the bicycle, and looked at her parents. She was home, Santa had come, and it was Christmas. What more could a girl want?
Rachel reached for a present that had her name on it and opened it. It was a paint set that she had asked Santa for, but it wasn't really what she wanted anymore. She wanted her Momma and Daddy to adopt her; then the Fakedaddy would never take her away again.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
December 25, 1998, 3:00 pm
348 Hyperion Avenue, Metropolis
Lois leaned back against Clark and smiled as his arms automatically came up around her to hold her close. He cradled her against him as they stood back and watched their family and friends gather together in the living room. Rachel was sitting on the floor in front of the fireplace, contentedly playing with her new toys. Lois smiled as she watched Jimmy walk over, crouch down, and start playing with her daughter.
"Rachel," Perry called.
Rachel immediately got up and hurried over to where he and Alice were sitting on the couch. "Yes, Grandpa Perry?" she asked, smiling sweetly.
"I've got a Christmas present for you, kiddo," he said, pulling a flat package out and handing it to her.
Rachel took the present from him and bussed him on the cheek. "Thank you, Grandpa Perry," she said joyfully before ripping off the wrapping paper. She examined the gift carefully and her face lit up. "Is this a *real* invesgative reporter note pad?" she asked.
"It sure is, kiddo," he answered with a smile.
"Cool," she squealed and ran over to Lois to show it off. "Momma, look at what Grandpa Perry got me!" she crowed. Clark reached down and picked Rachel up, holding both of them close as Lois inspected the present.
"It's just like mine, peanut," Lois said with a smile.
"I love you, Momma, and Daddy," Rachel said, as she threw her arms around their necks. Lois turned around and slid one arm around Clark and the other arm around Rachel.
"We love you, too, Sprite," Clark whispered. He leaned down and kissed Lois softly. They stood like that for a few moments, simply holding each other, as their extended family watched.
Sam hugged Ellen tightly. His little girl would be okay. He had been worried about her when he'd found out about Rachel's father showing up, but it looked like his fears would be unfounded. Tempting smells wafted in from the kitchen, and their first Christmas together as a family--all of them would be happy after all.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
January 1, 1999, 10:00 am
348 Hyperion Avenue, Metropolis
Rachel cradled Aimee and rocked her back and forth as she watched Superman prop up a bridge on television. Her daddy had left a few minutes before, saying that he needed to get some more milk. She frowned, remembering the two gallons that she'd seen in the fridge earlier that day. She looked at the superhero closely and decided that she was right. Her Daddy *was* Superman.
Rachel rested her head on her hands and frowned. She had to find out for sure and the only way to do that would be to ask. And then there was Momma. She was tireder than she used to be and kept falling asleep. She pushed Momma's hair away from her face. "Don't go 'way, Momma," she whispered softly. Rachel tucked Aimee under her arm, got up, and stood next to the couch where Lois was napping. She leaned over, kissed her momma and tried to pull the heavy afghan over her. She had heard of people getting sick and dying from getting cold, and she didn't want her Momma to die and leave her… just like her other Mommy had. Rachel walked over and stuck her head through the kitchen door. "Grandpa Kent," she called softly.
He crouched down in front of her. "What is it, munchkin?" he asked.
"I can't quite cover Momma up," she said, frowning. "The blanket's too heavy."
Together, they walked over to the couch and Jonathan helped her tug the afghan into place before leaning down to plant a kiss on the top of her head. "There you go, kiddo. Want to help me make my famous chicken while your Grandma and Daddy are out?"
Rachel grimaced and leaned over to place a wet kiss on Lois's cheek before answering. "You're not gonna make it *too* spicy, Grandpa, are you?"
Jonathan laughed and leaned down to hug his granddaughter. "Not too spicy, munchkin, I promise."
Rachel hesitated, and glanced at Lois before she looked up at him with a touch of fear in her eyes. "Grandpa, will you still love me if I just wanna stay with Momma?"
Jonathan slowly kneeled and put his hands on her shoulders. "Rachel, you *are* my granddaughter, and there is *nothing* in this world that could make me, your mom, your dad, or your grandma stop loving you, and the same goes for your mom's parents, too." He kissed her gently on the forehead. "Got that, sweetheart?"
Rachel scuffed her foot on the floor and looked back at her Momma. "Okay, Grandpa," she answered softly before climbing onto the couch next to Lois.
Jonathan stood, and stopped to kiss Rachel's cheek before heading back towards the kitchen. Rachel watched him go, and snuggled up to her Momma. "Get better, Momma," she whispered. She threw her arm over Lois and cuddled close. This was where she belonged; the only person missing from the picture was her Daddy, and as soon as he got back from pretending to be Superman, she'd find out the truth.
Rachel sat up as she heard a soft whoosh and a thump coming from the patio. It had to be her Daddy. A few minutes later, he came in, carrying a gallon of milk. "Daddy!" She got right to the point. "You're Superman, aren't you?"
"Sprite, why would you think that?" he asked with astonishment.
"I saw you on TV dressed like Superman. Daddy, you *are* Superman, aren't you?" she repeated.
Clark set the gallon of milk on the floor and crossed the room to swing her into his arms. He settled the child on his hip and dropped a kiss on her forehead. "Yes, sweetheart, I am; your mom and I wanted to wait until you were older before we told you."
"Why, Daddy?" she asked softly. "Why do you dress up in a Halloween costume and pretend to be somebody else?"
Clark looked down at his little girl and smiled. "Rachel, you know better than anybody that there are people out there that aren't very nice," he began.
"Uh huh," she agreed quietly.
"A long time ago, a little while after you were born, I decided that I wanted to stay in Metropolis, but I didn't know how, because sooner or later, people would notice that I was different and I'd have to leave to protect your Grandma and Grandpa," he explained.
"Mommy's smart," Rachel said slowly, "did *she* give you the idea?"
"She sure did, sprite," he affirmed.
"So you're Superman to keep the bad people from hurting Gramma and Grandpa Kent and Momma and me?" Rachel asked.
"That's part of it," he answered. "And it's very important that we keep this a secret, ok?"
Rachel nodded solemnly. "Daddy, I have a secret, too, and it's not a good one. *They* said that if I told, they'd hurt me worser than Papa Gary did, but *you* won't let 'em, will you, Daddy?"
Clark's arms tightened slightly around his precious burden. "You're safe here, sprite, I promise."
Rachel took a deep breath. "The night I ran away, I heard Mister Jared and a blond man talking about needing a drug so that they could get something and sell something. Daddy, I heard them say something about *babies* before they found me and hit me."
"Rachel, are you *sure*?" he asked.
"Yes!" she exclaimed.
Clark hugged her again and kissed her on the cheek. "Sprite, you did the *right* thing by telling me, and we won't let those men get near you."
Rachel laid her head on Clark's shoulder and sighed in contentment. "I love you, Daddy," she said.
"I love you too, baby girl," he said softly. Clark sat on the edge of the couch and settled Rachel in his lap as he stroked Lois's hair back from her cheek. Rachel watched in silence for a few minutes.
"Will Momma be okay?" she asked.
"Of course she will, Rachel--she's just tired lately."
"Okay," she said as she began to squirm out of his embrace.
Clark put her down and watched as she headed towards the kitchen. "I'm gonna help Grandpa make chicken," she called quietly.
He smiled as his little girl left the room. They hadn't wanted to let Rachel know the secret for a long time yet, but it was probably for the best; she wasn't afraid of his alter-ego anymore. Clark leaned down, kissed Lois softly, and smiled as she moved closer to him in her sleep. Every day with his wife and little girl was a precious gift to him; and one he never wanted to do without.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
January 3, 1999, 10:00 am
Daily Planet, Metropolis
Lois sat at her desk and read through the latest information on the SIDS death case. It looked like the children hadn't died after all. From the bank records that Jimmy had acquired, the coroner, Dr. Amelia Samuels, must have been bribed to declare the children dead. The doctor's group must have been bribed as well--their bank accounts were fat with large cash deposits of unknown origins. "*Jimmy*," she called.
"Yes, Lois?" his head popped out from behind his computer. "Where are Clark and Rachel?" he asked.
"Clark's downstairs in the Daycare Center, checking on her," Lois replied. "Do you have those employment records from Coates Orphanage yet?"
Jimmy handed over a stack of files. "Here ya go, Lois," he said with a smile. "I even managed to find pictures of most of 'em."
"Thanks, Jimmy," she said, smiling. "As soon as we figure out which of the employees threatened Rachel, I'm going to need you to run a background check for criminal records--juvenile, too."
"Sure thing, Lois; lucky for you I figured out how to hack into those records a long time ago!" Jimmy winked and headed back towards his desk, whistling.
Lois sorted through the files and immediately set aside the female employees. She pulled out the files of the only two men that were named "Jared" and then three more files of tall, blond men. All she had to do was to get Rachel to identify which of the men she'd overheard. Lois spread the five pictures in front of her and examined them minutely. Before she could finish, the elevator dinged, and Clark walked out, carrying Rachel with him.
Rachel squirmed in his arms. "Momma!" she called. Clark smiled and put her down. She ran to Lois's desk and threw herself at Lois.
Lois laughed and helped Rachel climb into her lap. "I missed you, Momma," she said, giving Lois a big hug. The pictures on the desk caught her attention. She pointed to a picture of a nondescript man with sandy brown hair and gray eyes. "That's Mister Jared," she said softly. "He and *that* man," she pointed towards another picture, "hurt me." Rachel looked up at Lois. "Mister Jared called *him* 'Boss', and said that they'd have to move on soon."
Lois hugged her daughter tightly. "They're not going to hurt you again, peanut," she promised.
"You and Daddy won't let 'em," Rachel proclaimed. She slid off of Lois's lap. "I'm gonna go visit Grandpa Perry," she said cheerfully and ran toward Perry's office.
"No running, young lady," Clark called.
Rachel stopped for a few minutes and then smiled mischievously at him before skipping the rest of the way. Clark sighed and shook his head. At least she wasn't likely to fall and hurt herself skipping as badly as she could running in the crowded newsroom, he thought.
Lois picked up the pictures. "Rachel identified Jared Harrison and Paul Winslette," she said as she read their files. "Strange… both men went through college on scholarship from Cost Mart--so did the doctor who immunized the children, and the ME that did the autopsies."
Clark looked at Lois. "Intergang," they said together.
"It looks like Mindy Church decided to call in some favors," Clark observed.
"It's possible," Lois said slowly, "but they were all well paid for their part in it."
"*Jimmy*," he called.
"Yes, CK?" Jimmy hurried over to join them.
"Jimmy, I need you to look into the bank accounts of these two men," hurriedly, he scribbled names on a piece of paper and handed it over.
"We also need you to see if either of them has a criminal record," Lois added.
"Sure thing," he said as he took the piece of paper and headed to his computer.
"According to what Jimmy already got for us, both men came to Metropolis six months ago; Paul moved in from Nashville and Jared from Boulder." Lois said, examining the files.
"I wonder if there were mysterious SIDS deaths in those cities?" Clark mused out loud.
Lois smiled and pulled up the Boulder Daily Camera and the Nashville City Paper to see if anything had been reported in those cities. "The papers don't have anything," she said. "I guess either this is the first time, or nobody has looked into it before."
Clark reached for her phone and began to dial. "I'm going to check with Henderson and see if any drugs that can simulate death have gone missing recently."
Lois stood, leaned forward, and kissed him softly. "Good idea; I'd better go rescue Perry from our daughter," she smiled mischievously. "I'm betting that Rachel is going to try and convince him to play 'horsie' again like she did last week." She walked over to Perry's office and disappeared inside.
"Metropolis Police Department, how may I be of assistance?" a female voice intoned.
"I'd like to speak with Inspector Henderson, please," Clark said in reply.
"Just a moment, please."
A few minutes later, Henderson came to the phone. "Henderson here."
"Henderson, this is Clark Kent. I need to know if there have been any robberies of pharmaceutical companies lately; especially ones with experimental drugs that can simulate death."
"Nice to hear from you, too, Kent," Henderson said with a chuckle. "Now… why is it that you need this information?"
"Look, Bill. We've got eyewitness testimony that points towards all of the recent SIDS deaths in the foster care system being part of a black-market baby ring, and some sort of drug is involved. I promise that if this pans out, you'll get everything we've got before it goes to print. Are you interested?"
"Okay, Kent, I'll hold you to that. Let me check."
Clark heard papers rustling as Henderson looked through stacks of open cases. "This is more the purvey of petty theft, but yes, we have. A couple of pharmaceutical companies have been working on a variant of phenotripticol to make it time-delayed and to make it knock the person out, and large quantities of it have gone missing over the past few months. They've tried to hush it up, and we've been unable to find any leads. Our best guess is that it was sold on the black market, but whoever did it didn't leave any evidence."
"Thanks, Henderson; Lois and I will let you know if we find anything." With that, Clark hung up the phone and stared at his notepad thoughtfully. They needed to find out more about the drug, but it looked like the puzzle was finally coming together.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
January 9, 1999, 6:30 am
348 Hyperion Avenue, Metropolis
Lois woke to the sound of the alarm and groaned as she rolled over to shut it off. She sighed and pulled the covers up as she started to snuggle into Clark's warm back. She sat up suddenly, slid out of bed, and ran towards the bathroom as a wave of nausea hit her. Lois made it to the toilet barely in time before she lost what she'd eaten for supper the night before.
She'd been feeling under the weather for the past few days, and even thrown up the day before, so the fact that she was now worshipping the great porcelain goddess wasn't too big of a surprise. Lois laid her head against the cool surface and sighed as another bout of nausea hit her. She heaved into the toilet again and wished that the stomach flu had better timing--why couldn't it have hit earlier when the news was slow and Clark's parents had been there to take care of Rachel?
Lois sighed as she felt hands brush her hair back and hold it away from her face . "Honey, are you okay?" Clark asked.
"I just feel lousy," she croaked.
Clark leaned over and gathered her into his arms. "I'll call Perry and tell him that you're not coming in," he said softly.
"What about Rachel?" she whispered as she leaned back against him.
"I'll take her with me, drop her off at daycare, and we'll come home early so that I can take care of you," he replied.
Lois grimaced and moved closer to him. She hated missing work, but at the moment, she just couldn't bring herself to care. Clark leaned down, picked her up, and headed for their bedroom, cradling her in his arms. She leaned her head against his shoulder and sighed. "I hate being sick," she muttered.
Clark laid her down on their bed and kissed her softly on the forehead. "I know you do, honey," he said quietly as he pulled the blankets up around her and moved the trash can next to the bed. "Get some rest, honey, and I'll call in a little while to check on you."
Lois nodded her assent and let her eyes drift shut. The nausea had temporarily abated, but she felt… drained. She studied the backs of her eyelids as she heard Clark get ready for work and the soft sounds of voices as they drifted down the hall from Rachel's room. She cuddled down beneath the blankets and drifted off into a light sleep.
Dimly she heard Clark getting dressed and his voice talking to Rachel's higher one. A short time later, she heard the door shut before she slid into a heavier slumber. A few minutes later the phone rang and Lois groaned as she reached for it. "Hello?" she rasped.
"Lois, honey, is that you?" a familiar voice asked. "I thought you'd be at work by now--I was just calling to ask if you and Rachel want to come to lunch with me tomorrow. I didn't want to interrupt you at work, so I was just going to leave a message. Lois, why are you still at home?"
"I'm sick, Mother," Lois said with a sigh.
"Stay in bed--I'm coming over. I can't believe that Clark would just leave you home alone, so it's up to me to rectify the matter," Ellen said.
"Mo-ther," Lois said in exasperation, "you *don't* need to come over, Clark *had* to go to work, and I'll be *fine*."
"Stay in bed," she reiterated, "I'll be there in a few minutes. Lois, it's me or I'll send your father over to give you a check up. I *was* a nurse, and a damn good one and I'm *going* to come over, sit with you, and make sure that my baby is okay, is that clear?"
"Yes, Mother," Lois replied with a sigh. "You know where we keep the spare key." She listened as her mother hung up on her and pulled the blankets up around her. As much as she hated being sick there were a few things she hated more-- such as having her parents insist on "taking care of her". While it was true that they'd started rebuilding their relationship, things tended to revert to the past when either of them found out that she had come down with something. She was stuck, now. Her mom would be over in a few minutes, asking nosy questions and trying to force her to drink liquids that she didn't want.
Lois grabbed Clark's pillow, pulled it close, and buried her nose in it, inhaling his scent. "Help, Superman, save me," she muttered, her mouth twisting into a wry smile. She yawned tiredly and resumed her interrupted nap.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
January 9, 1999, 8:30 am
Daily Planet, Metropolis
Clark flipped through his notes again as he waited for Perry to get to him in the story meeting. He absently slid his pencil back and forth between his fingers, his thoughts more focused upon a certain brunette reporter than on his current surroundings. He'd taken care of her a few other times when she'd come down with something, but he'd never seen her with nausea that intense.
He knew it wasn't really anything to worry about--after all Steve from secretarial and Clara from travel had both come down with the same illness a few days before. Clark doodled absently on his notepad and smiled as a picture of Lois and Rachel began to appear.
"Earth to Kent," he heard Perry say.
Clark looked up, shaking himself out of his reverie. "Sorry Chief; what was it you just asked me?"
Perry sighed. "Kent, you need to get your head out of the clouds and pay attention in my story meeting. Now, how is the SIDS death investigation coming?"
"We've got some good leads and we're close to figuring out where the kids are being sent. So far we've traced the money trail to Happy Families' Adoption Agency--they seem to be the front for the baby brokers that the kids are being sent to, and they're owned by Cost Mart." Clark replied.
"Good--anything else?" Perry asked.
"The one common thread between everything seems to be connections to Cost Mart, so we've got an interview with Mindy Church on Tuesday." Clark said. "Henderson's done some work at his end; he got a warrant to search the doctor's group where the missing children were treated. He found some vials of the phenotripticol variant and some syringes with traces of the drug that hadn't been disposed of yet at the clinic where the children were immunized. Both the empty vials and the syringes had fingerprints from one of the doctors and both Jared Harrison and Paul Winslette. Henderson's holding off on making the final arrests until after we interview Mrs. Church and the Planet has the exclusive."
Perry grinned. "Good! Just what I like to hear--my reporters one up on the competition. Now all the rest of y'all need to go out and find me some big stories like Clark here did." The room was still as they absorbed what Perry had said. "Well?" he demanded. "What are you all waiting for? Go out and find me some front-page material!" The reporters got up and hurried out of the room and streamed towards the door of the newsroom. Clark stood, gathered up his things, and started to follow his coworkers before Perry stopped him on the way out the door.
"Clark?" Perry said quietly.
"Yes, Chief?" he answered.
"How's Lois, son?" Perry asked. "And what in Elvis's name is phenotripticol?"
"It's probably just the flu--you know that she's been feeling under the weather for a while now," he said, running his hand through his hair. "And phenotripticol is a pretty nasty drug that makes the victim appear to be dead while they're completely aware of their surroundings. The stuff that these kidnappers have been using is time delayed to activate when the kids go to sleep so that it looks like SIDS."
"That sounds like some awful stuff! You take care of Lois for me, son, ok? And if you've written up that story on the college arson investigation, I'll let you off early."
"It'll be on your desk in an hour," Clark promised.
Perry clapped him on the back. "Good! Now, go write me a story--and wrap up that SIDS thing."
"You got it, Chief," Clark said, smiling. He hurried back to his desk and began to type furiously. The sooner he finished, the sooner he could go home and take care of his wife.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
January 9, 1999, 9:00 am
348 Hyperion Avenue, Metropolis
Ellen pulled the spare key out from under the doormat, unlocked the townhouse and hurried inside. She went upstairs and stood in the doorway of her daughter's bedroom, looking at the sleeping figure in the bed. She walked across the room and smoothed the tumbled dark hair back from Lois's forehead. "You should have called and told me you were ill," she whispered. "Somebody has to take care of you if you're this sick; and obviously Clark isn't doing it."
Ellen sighed and pulled the blankets up around Lois. "If Clark *really* loved you, he'd be here taking care of you so that I didn't have to cancel my tea with the ladies at the club. At least that *man* had the grace to take Rachel with him so that she didn't catch whatever disease you brought home."
Lois lay with her eyes shut, pretending to be asleep as she listened to her mother's words. Somehow, she wasn't surprised to hear her mother's opinion of how Clark should be spending his time. She opened her eyes slowly and looked at her mother.
Ellen sat gingerly down on the bed next to her. "How are you feeling, Lois?" she asked.
Lois sighed. "Better--for now. The nausea comes and goes; right now I'm just tired."
Ellen reached over and felt Lois's forehead. "Any other symptoms? Dizziness? Fever?"
"No, Mother. I've been tired all the time, nauseous on and off, and throwing up occasionally. I'm sure I'll be fine in a few days," Lois replied.
Ellen looked at Lois measuringly for a few minutes. "Lois, honey, is it possible that you could be--I mean, have you and Clark been using… protection?"
"Mo--*ther*!" she exclaimed, starting to turn red.
"Lois, your symptoms are much more consistent with early pregnancy than with the flu. If you and Clark forgot to use protection even once, then you could be--"
"Mother! No, Clark and I haven't been using… precautions because we've been told that Clark can't father children, so it's just not likely that I'm actually going to have a baby." Lois explained.
"You *are* going to stay in bed while I run to the store for one of those at-home pregnancy test kits, Lois. And if it's positive, I'm calling your doctor so that we can take care of this grandchild of mine properly. I'll be back in a few minutes--is that clear?" Ellen patted Lois on the hand, stood and tucked the blankets more securely around her daughter.
"Yes, Mother," Lois said with a groan and watched as Ellen left the room. "Just what I need," she muttered, "my *Mother* asking about my sex life."
"I heard that!" Ellen's voice floated in from the hallway.
Lois groaned again and buried her face in her pillow. If what her mother suspected were true, then Rachel would soon have a baby brother or sister--she just wished that her mom had come up with another way to voice her suspicions. She sighed and cuddled up under the blankets.
The last thing she had expected at her age was a lecture on safe sex; it wasn't like she was a teenager anymore, she'd been married for over two years, and she hadn't exactly been a virgin on her wedding night. "Help, Superman," she whispered again as she thought of her mother's imminent return. Lois sighed, reached for a magazine from the stack next to the bed, and started to read.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
January 9, 1999, 10:00 am
Daily Planet Daycare, Metropolis
Clark walked through the front door, stood at the front desk, and cleared his throat. "Cheryl?" he said softly.
Cheryl looked up from the stack of papers she was studying. "Hey, Mr. Kent," she said with a smile. "Sorry I didn't notice you come in; I was looking at our checklists because the state inspector is coming in on Monday and I wanted to make sure that we've cleaned everything again."
"That's okay, Cheryl--I just need to pick up Rachel," he grinned. "My wife and I have been putting in some long hours lately and Perry told me I could go home and take care of her because she's not feeling well."
"Tell Ms. Lane that we hope that she feels better soon--you can go back and get Rachel. She scraped her knee and her hands earlier, but she's been good today." Cheryl said.
"Thanks, Cheryl," Clark said. He waved, headed towards the four and five year old room, and knocked on the door. A young, blonde woman opened it to let him in.
"Hey Mr. Kent," she said with a smile. "Rachel's outside, playing; let me go get her." She walked through the room, grabbed her coat, and let herself out into fenced play area. "*Rachel*!" she called.
Rachel ran up to the woman, her eyes sparkling. "Miss Megan, you called for me?" she asked, brushing snow off her mittens.
"Rachel, sweetie, your dad's here, lets go get your stuff, ok?" Megan said.
"Okay," the child agreed cheerfully and followed her inside. "Daddy!" she called happily, running up to him and wrapping her arms around his legs.
Clark swung her into his arms and hugged her gently. "Hey sprite--what's this I hear about a scraped knee and scraped hands?"
Rachel pulled off her mittens to show him the red marks. "I wasn't wearing my mittens, and I tripped and fell on the trike track," she explained. "Daddy, will you kiss it and make it better?"
Gravely, Clark kissed the marks lightly. "Better?" he asked, a smile playing around his lips.
"Uh huh. Kiss my knee, too?" she asked.
"Which one, Rachel?" he asked.
Rachel reached down, pulled the leg of her jeans up and pointed. "That one," she said, indicating her left knee. Clark bent down and kissed that, too.
"Sprite, why aren't you wearing your warm clothes?" he asked. "It's *freezing* outside, and you should be wearing more sweaters and your snowpants."
"Da-ddy," she groaned, "s'not *that* cold!"
Clark carried her over to the coat rack and began helping her into the clothes stacked in her bin. Rachel sighed and helped put them on. A few minutes later, Clark grabbed her backpack; they walked out to the Jeep, and headed for home.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
January 9, 1999, 10:30 am
348 Hyperion Avenue, Metropolis
Lois walked out of the bathroom, holding the stick in front of her. "Mother," she said softly, "you were right; but I want to tell Clark myself."
Ellen stared at Lois for a few minutes. "Honestly, Lois!" she said reprovingly. "Why does it matter who tells Clark that you're pregnant, or who tells your father, too for that matter? And Rachel deserves to know that she's getting a sibling!"
"Mother, I *will* tell everyone, but *I* want to be the one to do it. Until I do, please, just don't tell anyone?" Lois implored.
Ellen threw her hands up in the air in exasperation. "All right," she said. "You always *did* have to do things your own way."
Lois walked over to the closet and began to rummage around inside, looking for clothes. "Lois, *what* are you doing?" Ellen asked.
"I'm getting dressed, Mother," Lois said rolling her eyes. "I'm not sick, but since I now have the day off, I thought I'd run some errands. I still have to set up an appointment with Rachel's social worker for her home visit before the adoption can be finalized."
"Lois, you *should* be taking it easy and staying in bed. You haven't even seen your doctor yet for heaven's sake!"
"Mo-ther! I'm pregnant, not *dead*. The last time I checked, women have been getting pregnant for thousands of years, and because I'm having a baby is *not* a reason for my entire life to grind to a halt. " Lois said as she yanked on a long sleeved shirt and one of Clark's sweaters. She slid into a pair of jeans and fastened them before reaching for socks and shoes.
"At least wait until you tell Clark where you're going, Lois. You know as well as I do that trouble just seems to follow you. You've been lucky since you got Rachel, and you haven't given me cause to up my medication lately, but you know as well as I do that things can change at the drop of a hat." Ellen fastened a stern glance on her daughter, placed her hands on her hips, and moved to block the doorway.
Lois rolled her eyes. "Fine," she snapped. "Clark should be home soon and I'll wait for him to get here before I take off. Will that suffice?"
"You always *were* stubborn," Ellen said with a resigned sigh. "I *am* staying until he gets home to keep you out of trouble, is that *clear*?"
"Yes, Mother," Lois said with a grimace.
Ellen turned, walked out the door, and headed downstairs. "Maybe Clark can make her behave--goodness knows that *I've* never been able to make her do *anything*," she muttered.
"I heard that!" Lois called as she followed Ellen downstairs. Fervently, she hoped that Clark could hurry home before she managed to strangle her mother. She just wasn't sure how she had managed to deal with her own dysfunctional family before Clark had come into her life. Actually, she did--she avoided them. It was only after she and Clark had come together that her family started trying to repair itself, and they were beginning to succeed.
Lois laid her hand over her abdomen. "Hello, little one," she whispered. "You don't know how happy I am that you're coming to us--you are our miracle, and we love you. Baby, we even have an older sister waiting for you, and I know that she'll love you as much as I do." She closed her eyes and smiled at the mental picture of the four of them together. Their dreams of a family of their own were finally coming to pass, and she just couldn't see how life could get any better.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
January 9, 1999, 11:00 am
348 Hyperion Avenue, Metropolis
Clark juggled two bags of groceries while he struggled with his keys to open the door as Rachel caught up and grabbed on to his coat. "Daddy," she began, "is Momma okay? She's been sick for a long time and I don't want her to go away."
Clark put the grocery bags down, turned and picked Rachel up. "She's not going anywhere and neither am I," he promised. "Sprite, your Momma just has the flu and she'll be better soon, ok?" He hugged his daughter tightly then set her down and opened the door. He picked up the groceries and headed inside, ushering Rachel in front of him.
"Are you sure?" Rachel asked, struggling out of her coat as Clark began to head for the kitchen.
Lois looked up from the magazine she was reading and glanced over at her daughter. "Is he sure about what, sweetheart?" she asked softly.
Rachel ran across the room and threw herself at Lois. "Momma, you've been sick for *days* and I don't want you to leave like my Mommy did and Casey's Mommy got sick and went away *forever*. Momma, I don't want you to go away!"
Lois wrapped her arms around Rachel and hugged her tightly, then freed one hand to run it though her little girl's hair. "Rachel, I'm not going anywhere and your Daddy isn't either. We love you, peanut, and we're *not* going to abandon you."
"Really truly?" Rachel asked.
"Really truly," Lois affirmed. "And in a few months, it will be official--you're *our* little girl, peanut, and you *always* will be."
Rachel cuddled up against Lois. "You're the best, Momma," she said softly.
"You are, too, peanut," Lois said, hugging her back. "Your Gramma Lane is upstairs waiting for you--I think she's got something that she wants to show you."
Rachel smiled and slid off the couch. "Cool!" she said happily. She ran upstairs and out of sight before Clark re-entered the room.
"Honey," he began, walking over to sit with her and pull her close. "Thanks for taking care of that--Rachel doesn't always believe me still."
"You're welcome, sweetheart," Lois said quietly. "Clark--I don't have the flu."
"Is it something worse?" Clark asked urgently.
Lois grinned. "Oh, I wouldn't say that it's *worse* precisely--in fact, it's something that we've both prayed for and wanted for a long time. My Mother suggested it and we got one of those home test kits…" She reached for his hand. "Sweetheart, the doctor hasn't confirmed it yet, and my appointment isn't until next week, but we're going to have a baby."
Joy lit up Clark's face. "Really?" he asked incredulously. Wordlessly, Lois nodded. He leaned over and kissed her enthusiastically before he laid a gentle hand on her abdomen. "Hello, kiddo," he whispered. "I'm your Daddy, and your Mommy and I want you very much." Clark kissed Lois's stomach through her clothes. "I can't wait to meet you," he said.
"Honey, what a marvelous gift you have given me," he said, wonder on his face. "My entire life, I've *never* met anyone who's related to me by blood, and now we've created a new little person that's both you and me." He smiled and squeezed her hand. "I love you, Lois, and I love our new family." Clark pulled her close to him and held her tightly. "Now we are truly complete," he whispered. "We have a beautiful little girl, a new baby on the way, and because of *you*, I finally feel like I *belong* here."
Lois wrapped her arms around him and turned her head up for a kiss. Clark complied with her unspoken request. He kissed her, softly at first, then demandingly as it escalated. After a few moments of exploring each other's mouths, they broke the kiss off lingeringly. "You've always belonged here, Clark--you belong here with *me*." Lois's eyes darkened in remembered pain as recollections of the New Kryptonians flashed through her memory. "You'll always belong here, sweetheart." She leaned back against him and they fell into a companionable silence for a few minutes.
"Clark," Lois began, "I want to wait until we're *sure* to tell Rachel; I don't want to disappoint her if it's a false alarm, and the appointment with my doctor isn't until right after Rachel's home visit Monday morning."
"So it's right after we get her to school?" he asked.
Lois nodded. "Yeah, so we should know for sure in a few days; I was lucky that Dr. Allred had an opening so soon."
Rachel came running down the stairs. "Momma, Daddy," she said excitedly, "Gramma wants me to go shopping with her next Saturday, can I go?"
"Sure, sprite," Clark said with a smile.
"Gramma says that it's time us girls went out together to celebrate my 'doption, so we're gonna go out to eat at a fancy restaurant, even though the judge-lady hasn't made it final yet," Rachel offered with a grin before she climbed up between them. Clark leaned over and kissed Lois, sandwiching Rachel in between them.
"Yuck," Rachel said, wrinkling her nose. "You're *kissing*."
"Yuck?" Lois inquired.
"Yes!" she said. "Long time ago, my friend CJ said that kissing is icky, and I think he's *right*."
Lois started tickling Rachel. "You'll appreciate it someday," she informed her laughing daughter.
"Nuh-uh!" Rachel insisted in between peals of laughter.
Clark watched his girls' antics with a smile. A conversation he'd had with his father years before drifted through his head. It had taken him six years, but he'd finally gotten everything he'd told his dad that he had dreamed of. He had a good job, a wife, and now a couple of kids. He rescued Rachel from Lois and hugged her before leaning in for another kiss. "Thank you, honey," he whispered. "You've given me everything I've ever wanted."
Lois smiled and laced her fingers through his. Rachel wiggled out of Clark's encircling arm and cuddled down between both of them. "Momma and Daddy, this is the best time ever," she proclaimed. "The only thing that could make it better is if Daddy reads me a story," she said with a charming smile.
"Your wish is my command, milady--we're going to spend all day today together and *you* are going to be on your best behavior when the people from Social Services come on Monday, is that clear?" Clark planted a kiss on the crown of his daughter's head.
"Yes, Daddy," Rachel said obediently. "I guess that means that we need to clean my room up today." She sighed, climbed reluctantly off the couch and held out her hand. "Come and help me, please, Daddy?" she asked.
Clark hugged Lois and surreptitiously caressed her stomach before standing up and taking Rachel's hand. "Of course I will, sprite," he said and they walked toward the stairs.
Lois watched them go, smiling before she picked up a baby furniture catalogue off the coffee table and started to thumb through it. There was a *lot* to do before the baby came, and not much time to get it done in.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
January 11, 1999, 7:00 am
346 Hyperion Avenue, Metropolis
Clark hurried to answer the door and let Samantha and her boss, Adam, in. "Come on in," he said cordially before taking their coats and hanging them up.
"Where's Rachel?" Sam asked.
"She's in the kitchen with Lois, eating breakfast," he said with a smile.
"Mr. Kent," Adam began, "Sam and I have talked about it, and she'll interview Rachel while I take a look at the child's room. Considering what Rachel's been through, we thought it best if she was interviewed in regards to her situation here by a woman, and I'm afraid that neither you nor your wife can be in the room with us. We'd like to get started as soon as possible."
Clark nodded. "I'll go get Rachel," he said quietly. Clark walked into the kitchen just as Rachel was finishing her breakfast. "Sprite, Samantha and her supervisor are here. Remember what we talked about?" he asked.
"Yes, Daddy," Rachel said, looking up at him. "I'm to do what they ask and not to use any of the bad words that Papa Gary liked to use, and to be nice to Ms. Samantha and Mister Adam."
Clark chucked. "That's my girl," he said encouragingly. Lois dried her hands off on a dishtowel and joined them at the table.
"Peanut, let's get the ketchup off your face and then we'll go in to talk to them," she said, holding out a damp washcloth. Rachel submitted to having her face cleaned and grabbed her parents' hands as they walked toward the door that separated the kitchen from the living room.
As they approached the social workers, Rachel hung back shyly, putting her parents between herself and them. Samantha crouched down and held out her hand. "Rachel," she called softly. "It's okay--Adam and I just want to talk to you to make sure that you're happy here."
Rachel slid out from behind Lois and flung herself at Clark. She clung to his legs, refusing to let go. "Daddy, don't let them take me away," she pleaded.
Clark gently disengaged her grip from his pants and scooped her up. He hugged her close as her arms found their way around his neck and grasped him in a strangle hold. "Sprite, they're just here for an interview," he said soothingly.
Rachel looked at Lois for confirmation. "Baby, it's all right," Lois said, caressing Rachel's hair. "We'll be right here if you need us--all you have to do is to show Samantha and Adam your room and talk to them for a little bit, okay?"
"Daddy?" Rachel said, her eyes wide with fear.
Clark kissed her on the cheek. "We'll be waiting down here if you get scared--and I can be upstairs really fast if you need me, okay?"
Rachel nodded slowly and released her death-grip on Clark's neck. She allowed him to put her down and slowly approached Sam and Adam. "My room is this way," she said anxiously, leading them upstairs.
Clark lowered his glasses and watched Rachel show the social worker around her room and begin to answer their questions hesitantly. After a few moments of watching Samantha and Adam take notes on their clipboards, he re-focused his attention back to Lois. "She's doing fine," he said quietly.
"Good," Lois answered. "I can't help but wonder what if something goes wrong? What if they take her from us again?"
"It *won't* happen, honey," Clark said forcefully. "Rachel *is* happy here, and that's what this visit is supposed to be about."
"I hope so," Lois said with a sigh. Together, they crossed the room and sat down on the couch to wait. A few minutes later, Rachel bounded downstairs while Samantha and Adam followed at a more sedate pace.
Adam checked his notes one last time. "Mr. and Mrs. Kent, based on our observations and what Rachel has told us, we're recommending that the adoption go through. You still have at least five months to change your minds if you like, but Rachel is yours barring that and the paperwork."
"We're *not* changing our minds," Clark said firmly.
"Thank you," Lois said as Rachel ran over and scrambled up into her lap. Rachel threw her arms around Lois's neck and hung on lest they try and take her away. Clark stood and saw them out, thanking them for their time. "Rachel, sweetheart, it's time to leave for school," Lois said softly.
Rachel buried her face in Lois's shirt. "I wanna stay with you and Daddy, Momma," she said.
"I know you do, baby, but we'll come and get you as soon as school gets out, I promise." Lois stroked Rachel's hair gently. "I know you how much you like school, peanut," she said.
Rachel climbed reluctantly off of Lois's lap and walked over to the coat tree to get her coat and her book bag. Clark grabbed her snowpants and helped her into them before handing her mittens and putting her hat on her head. "Daddy!" she protested.
"Rachel, I *don't* want you to get cold," he said, as he helped her put her coat on and zipped it up.
Lois grabbed her own coat and her briefcase and waited as Clark gathered his stuff. "Everybody ready?" she asked. At their nods, the family left, locking the doors behind them.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
January 12, 1999, 10:00 am
Daily Planet, Metropolis
Lois flipped through her notes one last time. The only thing missing was an interview from Mindy Church, and they were planning on interviewing her in an hour or so. She smiled and laid her hand over her stomach as she thought about the previous day's appointment. She had wanted to be absolutely sure of the results, so had insisted upon a blood test rather than the standard pregnancy test. Dr. Allred's office was to call with the results of her test as soon as it came in, and she hoped that it would return a positive result.
Family. Children. Five years ago, those words would have scared her silly. Now she was married, had a daughter, and their second child was hopefully on the way. It wasn't flawless; Rachel still had problems, and Clark was about as far from perfect as you could get, but it had become what she wanted. She already had a successful career, now she had a family to go with it. After all, Kerth Awards were cold bedfellows and no substitute for Clark and their children in her life. The phone rang and startled Lois out of her reverie.
"Lois Lane," she answered.
"This is Dr. Allred's office, we've got the results of your test. Ms. Lane, congratulations, the test came back positive."
"Thank you!" Lois said joyfully, interrupting the secretary.
"Ms. Lane, you need to schedule an appointment as soon as possible for a sonogram and get a prescription for prenatal vitamins--you've put that off long enough."
"I'll try and be by this week," Lois promised before ending the call. A huge smile spread over her face as she thought about breaking more good news to Clark. A baby! They'd have to talk to Perry about her work. It would also probably be a good idea to let Dr. Klein in on the secret; after all, this *was* a half-Kryptonian child that she was carrying.
Lois glanced at the clock and, noticing the time, stood and began to gather her things. "Clark," she called.
Clark looked up from his story and ran his hand through his hair absently. "Yeah?" he asked, glancing at his watch. Without another word, Clark grabbed his coat and hurried over to her side. Wordlessly, they walked over to the elevator.
"Sweetheart," Lois said quietly as the doors began to close. "That was the doctor on the phone and the test results are back; they're positive."
A brilliant smile spread over his face as he leaned in to kiss her soundly. Clark wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tightly before capturing her lips for another kiss. "I take it you're happy, then?" Lois said breathlessly between kisses.
Clark leaned his forehead against hers. "You have to ask?" he said, his brown eyes twinkling. Before Lois could answer, the door slid open and deposited them in the parking garage. Hand in hand, they walked to the Jeep, climbed in, and headed to the Cost Mart Corporate offices.
Lois glanced over at Clark. "So do you want a boy or a girl?" she asked. "I mean, I don't want you to be disappointed, and we already have a daughter, so I'm thinking that you probably want a boy so that he can follow in your footsteps and be Superman Jr. I mean, after all, that's what my father wanted, and most guys want little boys to carry on the family name or something like that."
"As long as our baby is healthy, that's what matters," Clark said quietly. "If we have a little girl, I just hope that she's as beautiful as you and Rachel are. And if it's a boy, that's good, too."
"Clark--shouldn't we tell Dr. Klein that he was wrong and let him in on the secret? I mean, we're pioneers in this area--I can't say that this pregnancy will be entirely… normal."
Clark nodded slowly. "We'll have to tell him just in case," he said quietly. "I can't say I like having him know who I really am, but we don't know what my genetics will do to you or to the baby."
Lois pulled into the Cost Mart parking lot and into a space. They got out of the car and began to walk towards the entrance. Lois straightened her coat and began to fidget with her wedding ring. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself as the realization finally hit--they were having a *baby*. In a few months, they'd have a little person that they'd be completely responsible for. Lois smiled as Clark reached out and took her hand in his. He kissed it softly. "It'll be all right, Lois," he said. "I promise."
A few minutes later, they entered Mindy Church's office. "Mrs. Church," Clark said, nodding to the blonde who sat at the desk in front of them, filing her nails.
"Lois, Clark!" Mindy exclaimed, giving them a vacuous expression. "I hear that you two snuggle bunnies are having an itty bitty baby of your own to go with that *adorable* little girl that you're adopting." She cooed, batting her big blue eyes at Clark and smiled vapidly before taking a quick glance at the pile of papers on her desk. "Tell me the due date and I'll send over a little gift for the widdle one and for your new daughter as well!" Mindy's mouth tightened almost imperceptibly as she began to slide the nail file in between her fingers.
Lois and Clark exchanged a glance, but before either could say anything, Mindy continued. "My hunky and I never managed to have a baby bunny of our own, due to his unfortunate incarceration, so I am so happy for you!"
"Mrs. Church, we just found out ourselves--*how* did you find out so quickly?" Lois asked, slightly annoyed.
"Well, my secretary's brother plays tennis with your doctor and she told me the happy news this morning," Mindy said, smiling. There was a glint of slyness in Mindy's eyes that Lois had never liked.
"We'll just have to have a talk to him about patient *confidentiality*," Lois muttered, growing more aggravated by the minute. "Mrs. Church, we wanted to know if you recognized any of the names on this list," she said, louder, as she handed over a list of parties involved in the baby ring.
Mindy glanced over the list, intelligence briefly flashing in her eyes. "I'm afraid not."
"Each person on that list is involved in a black-market baby ring," Clark explained, taking the list back. "And they also received Cost Mart scholarships to put them through school--we wanted to know if you know anything about that."
"My incarcerated husband was still running the company then," Mindy said with a winning smile. "I'll tell my business manager to contact you if you wish, but I think it was just part of my pooky's efforts to help the less fortunate, you know, his *charity* work."
"Mrs. Church--are you aware that Happily Families' Adoption is *also* owned by Cost Mart Industries?" Lois asked.
"It *is*?" Mindy clapped her hands together. "I shall have to take the children there some new toys--they're just poor little orphans, you know."
"Thank you, Mrs. Church, for your time," Clark said as the couple stood up.
"Oh, you're very welcome," Mindy replied. She watched them walk towards the door. "Don't forget to let me know when that widdle baby of yours is due," she called as they left. A sly smile crossed her face as she picked up the phone and began to dial.
"Albright, cut ties with the adoption scam--we don't want it connected to Intergang, " she said. "They already know about Happy Families', so don't bother with that, just make sure that Harrison and Winslette take the fall."
Mindy hung up the phone. The blonde bimbo act had completely disappeared and she grinned deviously. "Lois and Clark, you've just cost me a lot of money--again. Next time… You made a mistake having… children."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
January 12, 1999, 5:30 pm
348 Hyperion Avenue, Metropolis
Lois and Clark sat on the couch, watching Rachel play. Dinner was in the oven, the bad guys had been arrested with Superman looking on, and there was only one more thing that needed to be done--tell Rachel the good news.
"Sprite, we've got something to tell you," Clark called.
Rachel came over and smiled. "Yes, Daddy?" she said.
Lois held out her arms. "Come on up here with us, peanut," she said quietly.
Rachel clambered up on to the couch and settled down in between her parents. "Sweetie, your Daddy and I have some good news--you're going to have a little brother or a little sister."
Rachel glanced at her parents and then smiled. "Are we gonna adopt a baby like you're adopting me?"
Lois caressed Rachel's hair. "No, baby. Sweetheart, remember when your first Mommy had your half-brother?"
Rachel nodded hesitantly. "Uh-huh." she answered.
Lois reached out to grasp Rachel hand and then placed it on her stomach. "Peanut, your daddy and I made a baby because we love each other, and that baby is growing inside me."
Rachel nodded calmly. "Ok," she said. "Can I go play now?"
"Of course you can," Clark answered, flummoxed by her calm acceptance of the good news.
Rachel slid off the couch and went back to her play corner, carefully staring at the floor. As soon as her parents stopped looking, she glanced back at them. They'd give her back for sure, now. Papa Gary'd always emphasized the difference between *blood* children and *step* children. Why should it be any different with the Kents? Sure, it'd been different every other way, but why would they want her after they had a kid of their own? She was extra now; they didn't need her anymore.
At least the bad men at the orphanage had been taken to jail where they couldn't hurt her for tattling. Rachel picked up Aimee and CJ, hugged them to her and sighed. She was on her own again, but at least this time, she had *two* children to take care of. Her bear and her doll were her family, and they were all she needed. Rachel began to softly sing something that her momma had taught her a few months ago as she rocked the toys back and forth.
She looked up to see Lois standing over her. Lois crouched down and kissed her on the cheek. "What are you doing, peanut?" she asked.
"I'm putting CJ and Aimee to bed, Momma," Rachel answered softly. "It's their bedtime." She looked up at Lois and smiled, avoiding eye contact and carefully hiding away her pain and the knowledge that they no longer would want her.
"It's dinnertime, baby," Lois said, as she stood and held out her hand.
Rachel laid her toys down on a chair carefully and took Lois's hand. "Okay, Momma," she said as she walked into the kitchen, still looking at the floor.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
January 16, 1999, 1:00 pm
348 Hyperion Avenue, Metropolis
Rachel sat at her table, carefully writing her name on her homework. Her teacher had asked them to draw pictures of their family, and she had finally gotten it right. Momma, Daddy, a baby were standing in front of their house while she stood behind the gates of the orphanage. She studied her drawing critically before making the smiles on her parents' faces bigger and adding some tears to her own face. Perfect. That's the way it would be--dumb old Rachel back at that scary orphanage after the baby showed up because she *still* wasn't wanted.
Rachel began to put away her crayons as Clark flew in the window. He strode over and picked her up, tossing her into the air in a maneuver that had never failed to make her squeal and giggle--until now. "What's the matter, sprite?" he asked.
"Nothing," she muttered, burying her face in his spandex-clad shoulder.
Clark dropped a kiss into her hair. "Yes there is, kiddo, or you would have laughed like you usually do when I toss you." He looked around and caught sight of her picture. He picked it up, walked over to the couch, and settled her in his lap. "Rachel, can you tell me about your picture?" he asked.
"Nuh uh," she answered, her face still buried in his chest.
"C'mon, sprite," he said, gently stroking her hair. "*Please* tell me about the picture you drew? I'd really like to know."
Hesitantly, she turned to look at the drawing. "That's you and Momma and the new baby," Rachel whispered, pointing towards the trio. "And that's me back in the orf'nage, 'cause after the baby comes, you won't want me no more."
Clark put a finger under her chin and tipped her face up to look at him. "Oh, sprite, now why would you think that?" he asked.
"Papa Gary said that blood meant everything and that if I were his *real* little girl--by blood, then he wouldn't never hit me. He always treated Timmy nice 'cause Timmy was his *blood* son." She explained, looking away. A single tear trickled down her face as she stonily tried to repress the feelings of not being wanted.
"Rachel," Clark said suddenly, "did I ever tell you that *I'm* adopted, too?"
Rachel looked up at him, surprise on her face. "You are, Daddy?" she asked, incredulous.
"Uh huh," Clark answered, nodding. " My first set of parents sent me away because their planet was getting ready to blow up. Your Grandma and Grandpa Kent found me when I was a baby in a spaceship in a field and took me home with them. Your Grandma says that when she saw me, she knew that I belonged to her because she loved me."
"Just like that?" Rachel asked.
"Just like that, sprite. You see, I know something that means more than blood--love. And the first time your Momma and I saw you, we wanted to keep you forever." Clark hugged her gently. "And as soon as the paperwork goes through, you'll belong to us legally because we love you and we want you. Sprite, you belong to *us*."
"Really?" she asked, still skeptical.
"Really," he confirmed. He stood up and settled her on his hip before heading into the kitchen. "Now," he whispered, "let's see what your Momma's burning for dinner that we have to eat."
Rachel tugged the top of his cape, so he inclined his ear towards her. "Momma's just making something that you froze last week," she whispered.
"Maybe it'll be edible, then," he said conspiratorially.
"Maybe," the child agreed as they headed into the kitchen, leaving the now slightly-crumpled drawing on the couch behind them.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
May 25, 1999, 5:00 pm
348 Hyperion Avenue, Metropolis
Lois rifled through the mail and smiled joyfully when she found the envelope. She opened it quickly, noting that the court date was June 6--adoption day. It was also right before Rachel's birthday, so perhaps they could find something special for her to signify her change of name. Luckily, her mother had taken Rachel out shopping for more toys to put in the baby's room, so she and Clark were alone.
Lois levered herself off the couch and waddled into the kitchen to find Clark. At seven months pregnant, she felt huge. "Clark," she said.
Clark flipped the burner to low and turned to face her. A large smile spread over his face at her entrance. Her pregnancy had progressed normally, and the whole family had been happy to hear that not only was the baby healthy, but it was to be a boy. "Yes, honey?" he said. Lois held out the papers. He took them and read through at superspeed. "So it's two days before Rachel's birthday?"
"June sixth," Lois confirmed, nodding. "I thought that we should do something special for her adoption--I know her birthday is two days afterward, but since we're just planning a family party…"
Clark thought for a minute. "I saw some little silver ID bracelets when I was stopping that train in Germany last week. We could get one of those or something like it and get her new name put on it."
"Sounds good," Lois said, stretching to relieve the tension in her back.
"Are you okay?" Clark asked, concerned.
"I'm fine," Lois said with a wry smile. "My back just hurts a little and *your* son has been playing soccer with my bladder all day."
Clark walked over and pulled her into an embrace before he massaged her back muscles, sending short bursts of heat vision along her spine. Lois moaned quietly. "That feels so *good*," she said with a sigh. He leaned down and kissed her softly.
"Do you have any idea how beautiful you are?" he asked.
"Clark, I feel like Shamu," she protested.
"You're *beautiful*," he insisted. "You're carrying *our* child, and soon he'll be here with us. But we still haven't decided what his name is; we can't go around calling him 'hey you' forever."
"Rachel was easier," Lois grumbled, "she *came* with a name." She thought for a few minutes. "We could let Rachel give him a first name… within reason."
Clark smiled. "After that conversation we had about the baby a few months ago, that might be a good idea. I think she *still* worries that we won't want her after he's born." He picked her up carried her into the living room, and deposited her on the couch. "I love you," he whispered before he kissed her and headed back toward the kitchen to stir dinner.
Lois smiled and laid her hand on her abdomen. The baby quieted, then pushed against her hand a few times before resuming doing somersaults. She yawned and reached for the afghan at the foot of the couch, glad that her pregnancy leave would be starting in the next month or so. Even tied to her desk, work was becoming exhausting. She let her eyes drift shut, knowing that either Clark or her stomach would wake her for dinner.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
June 6, 1999, 1:00 pm
Metropolis City Courthouse (AKA Hall of Justice)
Family Court
Rachel sat in between her parents, swinging her feet, clad in their lacy socks and shiny mary janes, as the judge read through the papers of the people in front of them. Finally, their names were called. She skipped up to the table, scrambled into a chair, and waited for the judge to read through their papers.
She grinned as her parents sat down on either side of her and looked expectantly up at the judge. The judge looked over his glasses at the trio. "Rachel Pierce. I have documents here in front of me that say that the Kents wish to adopt you."
"Yessir," she said cheerfully.
The judge cracked a smile. "Rachel, there is one thing on here that hasn't been addressed--do you want the Kents to be your parents?"
"Yessir!" she crowed happily. "I want them to be my Momma and Daddy *forever*."
"Rachel Kent," he began, affixing his signature to the papers. "You are now, officially, the child of Lois Ellen Lane-Kent and Clark Jerome Kent--and it looks like you'll be a big sister pretty soon, too."
"Yup," Rachel said proudly, looking at Lois. "My baby brother's gonna be born next month and *I* get to name him."
The judge laughed. "Enjoy your new family," he said with a smile before the next case was called.
They stood and walked to the back of the courtroom where Rachel's grandparents were waiting. As soon as they got there, Clark dropped to his knees, pulled a small box out of his pocket, and opened it. "We've got an early birthday present for you, sprite," he said quietly.
Lois pulled a small bracelet out of the box and fastened it around Rachel's wrist. Rachel looked down at the bracelet and ran her finger along the engraved name. "Rachel Elizabeth Kent," she read softly.
"That's your name, sweetheart," Ellen said.
"I know, Gramma Lane," Rachel replied with a huge smile.
Jonathan laid his hand on her head. "I told you that you were one of us Kents," he said softly.
Rachel hugged Lois and Clark before moving on to her grandparents. Martha reached into her bag and pulled out a doll's dress. "I thought that Aimee should have something special to wear for your birthday party," she said quietly.
"Thank you, Gramma Kent," Rachel said before giving her a huge hug.
Sam came hurrying in the door, looking harried. "Am I too late?" he asked.
Rachel put her hands on her hips and frowned. "You missed my 'doption," she said scoldingly.
"I'm sorry, sweetheart," he said apologetically. "There was a small fire in my lab that I had to put out, and then I was all sooty so I had to change clothes."
Rachel looked interested--she'd been to her grandpa's lab and he'd barely stopped her from combining chemicals that would have caused a large explosion. "Did anything blow up?" she asked eagerly.
"I'm afraid not, angel," he began, "we just spilled a chemical on a burner that should never have been near the fire."
Rachel stuck her lower lip out in a pout. "Not fair," she said.
Sam laughed and messed up her hair. "Princess, are you *sure* that we've only just adopted this one? I remember loving explosions when I was just a little older than she is." He reached in his pocket, pulled out a dollar, and handed it to Rachel. "That's for candy," he whispered, leaning down close to her.
"Ok," she agreed. "Momma, I know what I think I wanna name my brother--I like Matt and Jamie."
Lois reached for Rachel's hand and led everyone out of the courtroom. "Matt or Jamie?" she asked.
"Uh huh, but I wanna call him Jamie."
"How about we name him Matthew James and call him Jamie?" Clark suggested.
"Okay," Rachel said with a smile.
"Now," Jonathan began, "I think that it's time that all new members of the Lane-Kent clan got ice cream, what do you think?"
"Yes!" Rachel exclaimed. Clark swung her up on his shoulders and carried her out to the car. Together, the family left to celebrate the newest addition to their clan.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
July 20, 1999, 10:00 am
348 Hyperion Avenue, Metropolis
Lois pulled on some loose clothes from her closet and padded downstairs to the kitchen. Rachel was sitting at the table happily making her way through pancakes and scrambled eggs when she came in. "Hi, Momma!" she said through a mouthful of eggs.
"Hi, sweetie," Lois said, as she sat down heavily at the table. She leaned her head against her hand and pushed away the glass of juice that Clark set down in front of her.
"No thanks, Clark," she said quietly. "I'm not hungry." Lois sucked in a breath and squeezed her eyes shut.
"Braxton-Hicks?" Clark asked leaning over to massage her lower back gently. Lois nodded and let go of the breath she was holding.
"What's Brakston-Hicks?" Rachel asked curiously.
"Remember how we talked about how babies are made?" Clark asked as Lois tried to relax.
Rachel nodded. "Uh huh."
"Remember how a mommy has to go through 'contractions' so that the baby can come?" he asked.
Rachel thought for a minute. "Yeah," she agreed.
"Well," Clark began, "Braxton-Hicks are special contractions that get the mommy's body ready to deliver the baby."
Rachel leaned over and patted Lois's stomach. "Be good, Jamie," she whispered. "You're hurting Momma."
Lois chuckled, then sucked in another breath. "Honey, that last one wasn't more than five minutes ago," Clark said worriedly. "I think this is for real--we're taking you to the hospital." He picked up Rachel, took her over to the sink, washed off the remnants of breakfast, and turned off the stove on the way back.
On the way to the door, he grabbed Lois's suitcase and ushered both of his girls to the car. It wasn't long before they arrived at Metropolis General Hospital and had gotten Lois admitted. After six hours of labor, Lois gave birth to a healthy baby boy who was, to all outward appearances, completely human.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
July 20, 1999 8:30 pm
Metropolis General Hospital, Labor and Delivery
Lois leaned back in her bed and smiled as Clark and Rachel came in, the nurse wheeling a plastic bassinet behind them. "Hi, Momma--are you okay?" Rachel asked, concerned.
"I'm fine, peanut," Lois said, holding out her arm.
Rachel climbed up on the bed and gave her a careful hug. "Good--can I hold Jamie?"
Clark picked the baby up out of the bassinet and kissed him gently before exchanging a look with Lois. "If you sit very still on your Daddy's lap, I guess it's okay," Lois said.
Clark sat on the bed next to her. "Are you sure, Lois?" he asked.
Lois nodded. "They'll be okay with such a 'super' dad holding both of them," she said quietly.
Rachel climbed into Clark's lap and held out her arms. "Please, Daddy?" she said pleadingly.
Clark nodded hesitantly and settled Jamie into her arms. "You have to support his head, sprite," he said as he put his arms under hers for added support.
Rachel looked down at her baby brother and smiled. "Hello, Jamie. I'm your big sister, Rachel." She leaned down and gave him a kiss on the forehead. "I'm gonna teach you everything--and I'm gonna make sure to keep the bad people away," she promised. "They'll never hurt you like they did me--I love you, Jamie," she said softly.
Clark freed one arm to wrap around Lois. "Welcome to the world, Matthew James Kent," he whispered as the sun set, bathing the occupants of the room in brilliant orange and red light.
The End. (For now eg)
End Notes:
Child abuse has been a problem for centuries, but has only been recognized since the 1960's. In fact, in the past, due to laws such as the Disobedient Child Act, it was legal for parents to have a child executed for not obeying them. The first child ever to have been rescued was Mary Ellen Wilson in 1874. However, there were no laws protecting children at the time, so the ASPCA (Yes, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.) stepped in, and had her declared an animal so that they could remove her from the situation. From there, the New York Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children was formed. It was the first of many organizations worldwide whose mission was to protect children from maltreatment.
We only ever hear about the most severe cases--the cases in which the child dies. Many of the children who are rescued from their abusive situations end up as the "Lost Generation"; they disappear into the foster care system. Sometimes, their situation improves, but not always--sometimes, it gets worse. Rachel was lucky--not all abused children are.
Every day in the United States alone, more than three children die as a result of child abuse. In 1998, it's estimated that more than 1.400 died as a direct result of being maltreated by a parent or caregiver. One third of these children were under the age of six. In fact, more infants and young children die from being abused than from *any* other cause of death. Some of these children die while in *state* custody.
Every year, more than three million cases of child abuse are reported in the United States. These cases range from neglect, to physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. In many cases, the abuser in the family picks one child in which to abuse. And these are only the *reported* cases. Every ten seconds, a case of child abuse is reported, but it's estimated that for every reported case, there are three more that are *not* called in. Of these cases, about one third of them are false reports, but the other two thirds are real.
It's also estimated that one out of every three children is the victim of abuse--that's one-third of the children around you. The effects of long-term abuse can also be severe. Survivors can become suicidal, withdrawn, and many have a host of problems associated with the severity, the duration, and type of abuse. Ten percent of maltreated children continue the 'cycle of abuse' and become abusers themselves. Even 10% is too many. How can we let this continue?
The statistics are sobering, the reality is stark, but we *can* do something about it. We can help *end* the abuse. If you know of a child who is being abused, visit for your local reporting hotline (US only), or call 1-800-4-A-CHILD in North America. In the UK, call Childline at 0800 1111.
The subtitle of Chapter 8 comes from William Wordsworth's poem, "Intimations of Immortality,"
Statistics come from .
The rest of the information comes from "Child Abuse and Neglect" taught by Dr. Monica McCoy, Chair of Psychology, Converse College, Spartanburg, SC, USA.
Remember, together we *can* make a difference.
/me steps off her soapbox.
(c) 2003 Laura Davies All Rights Reserved