What the El? - #0 - Empty Nest
a Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - based fan fiction
by: Joycelyn Solo

Author's note: I present to you, what I hope to be, a series of stories set after the end of Season 4. This isn't necessarily a "Season 5" type of deal here, there are lots of other sites for that, but I wanted to try my own hand with the world of Lois & Clark and see how far I could get with the introduction of one of my favorite heros. This prequel to my "What the El?" series takes place immediately after the fade-to-black of "The Family Hour."
Disclaimer: Lois & Clark and associated characters are property of December 3rd Productions who, I believe, had them on loan from from DC Comics. Most any other character we'll run into later are property of DC Comics. I mean no copyright infringement, this story is for entertainment purposes only.

Chapter Three
Metropolis

--
"Perry? May Lois and I talk to you?"

Perry White, editor-in-chief of The Daily Planet looked up from the sheet he was proofing to see his star-reporting team hovering just outside his doorway. By the fact that Lois hadn't simply walked into his office and made herself comfortable, he was sure something was out of the ordinary.

Pushing the proof aside, he gestured for the couple to enter and watched as Clark helped Lois into her seat and, more surprisingly, Lois allowed him to.

When they were seated, Perry leaned back in his chair. "What can I do for you two?"

Clark took Lois' hand in his and rubbed it softly his thumb. The sign of affection was not lost on Perry.

When the couple didn't say anything for several minutes, Perry smiled widely. "Should I just offer you cigars and pretend that you already told me?"

"Mr. White?" Clark asked, his eyebrows drawn together in confusion.

"Aw c'mon, you two. I've been a newshound longer than either of you have been alive." Perry chuckled aloud. "When can we expect Kent or Lane junior?"

"How'd you know?" Lois asked, her look of confusion matching her husband's.

"Lois, honey, the day you allow anyone -- including Clark -- to help you into a chair...Should I be picking out a blue or a pink Elvis jumpsuit?"

Clark smiled widely at Perry's conclusion. "September."

"Blue." Lois provided.

"Four months?" Perry asked, looking even more closely at Lois. "You're five months pregnant? Why didn't you two say anything before?"

Clark took a deep breath, readying himself for the lies that would become common place in the next several months. "There have been complications..." Though he should have been use to the lies since donning the cape of Superman, he wasn't. Clark actually hoped that he never got accustomed to lying, but he knew it was necessary to keep his family safe, including his son.

"We didn't want to say anything until we were pretty sure." Lois finished for him, feeling the stress of the lie and its toll on her husband. She wasn't any happier about it, but they had to have as few questions asked about Jonny as possible. For the next four months they would play the part of expectant parents until August 8 when HG Wells and the baby would arrive in Smallville for an "early delivery."

"Chief?"

All three looked up to see Jimmy Olsen hovering outside the door much as Lois and Clark had done minutes before. "Layout wanted me to ask you..."

Perry waved him into the office. "Jimmy, Lois and Clark have something to tell you."

His cowboy boots scuffed the floor as he came to lean against the Perry's desk. Jimmy gave Clark and Lois a questioning look. "What's up? You guys having a baby or something?"

"Yeah, Jimmy, we are." Clark smiled at the younger man's offhand comment.

"What? That's great. When? Am I gonna be Uncle Jimmy?"

"In September." Lois confirmed, allowing herself to share his enthusiasm. Maybe with the happiness of their announcement, no one will take the time to question the "pregnancy."

In a couple months, they'll just be happy for the edition to the Kent Family.

~~~~~~~~~~