Family Ties
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.
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 Four

Morning at the Kent Farmhouse found Lois and Clark up before dawn, the smell of pancakes and sausage heavy in the kitchen.

Having been awake for hours already, Lois enjoyed the moment as she watched her husband mix fruit into a second batch of batter. She'd chastised him for adding generous amounts of chocolate chips to the first round of pancakes, reminding him that normal people had to watch what they ate. Clark pointed out, however, that she was on maternity leave and should partake in a little caloric indulgence.

Granted, her maternity leave wasn't quite like any other would-be mother's, but she couldn't fault his logic. When the baby arrived in three weeks she would worry about her diet. For now, she would help Clark make his cousin's first breakfast -- her first everything, actually -- as special as she could.

Lois surprised herself by how quickly she was able to accept the presence of her husband's cousin. Yes, her "inner-reporter" -- as Clark called it -- still had a lot of questions, but there was an innocence about Kara that called out to her. She wanted her happiness as much as Clark did.

"What on earth are you two doing up this early?"

Lois turned in her seat to see that Martha had come downstairs and was staring wide-eyed at the food spread out on her counters.

"And what army is coming for breakfast?"

Clark, looking ridiculous in her apron, grinned widely at his mother. "No army, Mom. We wanted to have a few surprises ready for Kara when she woke up."

"Surprise. Welcome to Earth. We're going to feed you to death?" Martha asked, accepting a cup of coffee Lois handed to her and taking a seat at the table.

Lois laughed into her coffee mug, earning a glance from her husband and mother-in-law. She swept a hand toward the corner of the kitchen where a pile of shopping bags sat. "We also did some shopping. I figured Kara would appreciate some clothes that fit in -- and actually fit her."

Martha smiled at the image from the previous evening. The shorts and tee-shirt Clark lent his cousin had been several sizes too big. Practically swimming in excess material, the young Kryptonian had looked even more out of place than in the white spandex.

"Where'd you find stores open so late? Or so early?"

"We didn't actually shop in this time zone." Clark poured batter onto the skillet and, using his heat vision, proceeded to fry the pancakes. "There's this boutique in Switzerland Lois likes. We picked up some essentials to begin her wardrobe."

"I'm sure she'll appreciate it. That little girl is so lost...I'm not even sure where to begin to help her."

Lois set her hand over the elder Mrs. Kent's. "I think just being here for her is the first step, Martha."

"Speaking of which," Clark said, closing his eyes for a moment as he reached out to touch his cousin's mind. "I think Kara's awake. Lois, honey, do you want to --"

"Play dress-up with my own life size doll? You bet." Lois practically jumped up from her seat, grabbed two sacks in each hand, and ran up the steps.

Martha watched Lois' dash with amusement. "She's certainly accepting this all very well."

Clark focused his attention on the pancakes as he used a spatula to transfer them to a serving plate. "Are you accepting all this, Mom? Is it okay?"

Martha looked up from the batter she was mixing. "Is what okay, Clark?"

"This. Everything. Kara. Things have happened kind of fast and I didn't even ask you and Dad how --"

"You can stop right there, Clark. I'll tell you the same thing I told Kara. Any family of yours is family of ours. Kara is our family now, too. Just as much as you are. Your father and I are here for her as long as she needs someone to be. But, if she's anything like you -- and I think she is -- I don't see her needing to be taken care of for very long."

He set the spatula aside and enveloped his mother in a hug. "Thanks, Mom."

"You don't have to thank me for doing a mother's duty." She patted him on the back, returning his affection. "But I wouldn't refuse a box of Swiss chocolate the next time your out that way."

Clark grinned widely, nodding his head toward the one bag Lois left behind. "Already taken care of."

* * *

Kara wasn't surprised to hear footsteps headed toward her room. She had sense that Lois was on her way upstairs from her cousin.

Kal-El.

Superman.

Clark.

She was still a little confused about the multiple names. It was one of the few things she had not had a chance to discuss with the Kents last night.

Her new family.

She fought back tears at the thought of her old family. She didn't know if she was really ready to consider them that way, but it was true. Her life on Argo City was no more. There was nothing to be gained by dwelling on the past.

But, Great Krypton, it was hard not to.

Only days ago, she had walked with her mother in the arboretum.

Only yesterday, she had watched her father work in his lab.

If only she'd known what he'd been doing in his lab for those many months. She would have told him to stop. That she didn't want to go. That her fate was with them.

She hadn't known, hadn't fully comprehended, what her parents planned when they called her into the workshop. Couldn't have said good-bye in those last moments before her eyelids grew heavy and Zor-El laid her in the ship. Didn't understand when Alura pressed a soft kiss to her daughter's cheek.

All she had left of her parents, of that life, were memories.

And even those were taken from her.

Kal-El assured her again that he would find the globe for her. He promised Dr. Klein would oversee the salvaging of her ship. He vowed to show her the wonders Earth had to offer.

Her parents' sacrifice gave her chance at another life. She wouldn't tarnish their actions by wallowing in the past.

No. It was time to embrace her future.

Taking a deep breath, she readied herself to face that future.

~~~~~~~~~~