As it turned out, Lois had absolutely no reason to worry. Everything was perfect. The menu consisted of Lemon Herb grilled chicken, home made macaroni and cheese, corn on the cob and fresh raspberry iced tea. Jor, Jon and Clark had a couple rounds of Budweiser's and much to Lois' surprise Jor and Jon did a joint toast to the family. During which she and Martha exchanged a confused glance. There had never been any open hostility between the two men but suddenly they appeared to be the best of friends.
The conversation flowed like a river from one subject to another without those awkward gaps of silence that everyone dreads. Martha and Jonathan told story after story about Clarks childhood which turned him twelve different shades of red, but Clark managed to turn things around by revealing a few embarrassing facts about his parents as well.
Then they moved into Clark's pre-Metropolis travels and Jor was impressed by his son's extensive knowledge of foreign cultures and customs. Jor told a few travel stories of his own that had everyone clutching their sides in laughter. Including one where their friend Ree-Jai and himself were visiting a strange planet and Ree, who apparently had chronic motion sickness threw up all over the front door of the embassy.
Somehow they managed to get on the topic of Lois and Clark's courtship. Of course Clark told his version about the poor lovesick boy and the evil witch who called him a hack from nowheresville. And then he moved on to tell the story of Lois' first visit to Smallville and how she called Jonathan a cross dresser. Of course Lois vehemently denied those allegations and soon Jor was treated to Lois and Clark in full banter mode.
And then it happened, they shouldn't have been so surprised, they knew eventually the topic would come up. It was right around the time when Jonathan was telling his famous beaver story when Clark popped his head up and got "the look". Seeing the troubled expression Jor crunched his face in concern.
"What's wrong, son?" he asked.
"Uh, I don't know how to say this.. but.." Clark stumbled and then realized that for the first time he wasn't dealing with an average human. This time he could change gears. "Did you just happen to hear that siren?" He asked.
"Well, yeah. There's a structure fire in Montana, why?"
"Well, when that happens, that's sorta my cue."
"You're cue to do what?" Clark rose to his chair and walked over to the clear part of the kitchen floor.
"This." Clark began to spin and in a matter of a few seconds Superman stood before the family. Jor's eyes grew wide and his jaw dropped. He immediately recognized the symbol adorning his son's chest.
"Impressive. But why are you wearing that?"
"Because I'm Superman."
"Superwho?"
"Superman. I rescue people who are in trouble. You see most of the time I have to pretend to be human, plain average Clark Kent and can't use my powers but when I put on the Suit I'm Superman. I can stop plane crashes, put out fires, just about anything."
"It sounds like something your mother would have done." Just then a second wave of sirens caught Clarks attention. Jor smiled brightly. "Go."
"Are you-"
"Clark, your father said go!" Jonathan bellowed. The two older men exchanged a bright smile and a wink as their son flew away. He was back quickly and was eager to rejoin the conversation but everyone insisted he take a shower first since he smelled like smoke and chemicals.
After dinner the family retired to the living room with a round of coffee. They continued to tell story after story, some of them were jolly, some of them were scary, some of them left the family in tears, and some of them left them rolling in the aisles. Before they knew it, it was 11PM.
"Look at the time!" Jor exclaimed when he finally caught sight of the clock.
"Oh my! We should all head to bed." Martha declared. "Lois, Clark, you still have clothes in Clark's old bedroom don't you?" They nodded.
"And Jor, you can camp out on the couch." Jonathan added. Martha and Lois both eyed him suspiciously.
"That's a kind offer, but I don't want to intrude."
"Your not." Jonathan answered. "Please say that you'll stay, I was hoping the boys could go fishing tomorrow." Jor shrugged his shoulders. He knew he was welcome to stay with Nul and Ree, but this offer was so much more inviting.
"If you're sure you don't mind, then I consider it a privilege to camp out on the couch."
...........................................................................
"You and Jor seem to be getting along." Martha finished putting on her pajamas and slid into the bed next to her husband.
"He a good guy. Smart, funny, easy to get along with."
"I heard you two talking on the porch. I couldn't hear what was said, but I saw you hug him. Are you going to tell me what you talked about?"
"It's simple really. We both love Clark and want what's best for him. He's not trying to take my place, it's as simple as that." Two lamps on either side of the bed clicked off and for a while there was silence.
"Have I ever told you that you're a damn good father?"
"A few times."
"Well, you are."
"You're one hell of a mother, Martha."
"I love you, Jonathan."
"And I love you."
................................................................................
For Clark it was as if he was five again and was waiting for Christmas morning to peek around the all too distant corner. He lay flat on his back in his old bedroom. One arm wrapped around his wife and the other arms tucked under this head. Lois was sound asleep. She had been almost as soon as they had collapsed in heap after an extremely soft and romantic round of lovemaking. Usually the sound of her steadying heartbeat and even breathing would have lulled him to sleep as well. Like a lullaby. But tonight his mind was sabotaging him. It was as if he were sitting in front of the TV trying to watch the big game and some unseen force was constantly clicking between the channels. Soap Operas, Talk shows, infomercials, cartoons and back again. Flipping so fast and random that before he could even register the picture in his mind or hear even a blip of dialogue the scene had been switched four more times. Such was the chaos of his thoughts. Sporadic, tedious, and distracting.
Dinner had been the thing that dreams are made of. Not only because his mother had prepared an amazing meal, but the atmosphere in the kitchen had been incredible. Even from the moment Clark sat down he was amazed to find how natural and easy it was to be there, with his natural father on one side, his wife on the other and the people who had raised him sitting directly across the way. Conversation had moved effortlessly, and he didn't remember a time were he had laughed so hard. Well maybe except the office Christmas party when Jimmy and Perry had one too many Screwdrivers and sang "Rockin around the Christmas tree". But the thing that made it all worthwhile, the icing on the cake, was watching his two fathers move in unison. As evidence by their joint toast and the happy looks they threw in each other's direction every once in a while.
All throughout dinner Clark had been struck with a case of Déjà vu, and for the life of him he didn't know why. Every once in a while shards of past events would click on in his memory. It wasn't until he had to take his leave as Superman that it hit him. He was upstairs taking a shower after a simple fire extinguishing when he remembered the dream. It was a long time ago but suddenly it seemed like just yesterday.
He started having the dream a couple months after his parents told him that he was adopted. He was eight years old and doing well as a second grade student. But he began to dread the nighttime because the same thing happened night after night. He'd lie down and his mother would tuck the covers tenderly under his chin. Then as soon as he had relaxed and fallen asleep he'd have the dream. In the dream he'd wake up to the smell of fresh bacon and the sounds of brewing coffee. The sounds of laughter would filter up to his ears as well as a voice he didn't recognize. He was anxious to find out who had come over for breakfast so he dressed quickly and went running downstairs. There was a man at the table. A man he had never seen before and yet when Clark saw him he'd run straight up to him and give him a big hug, sometimes even a kiss. Then the whole family would sit down to breakfast and talk as they ate the delicious food.
It was a simple dream but it always churned up such complicated emotions, most of them were negative. He remembered that when he would wake up and realize that the strange man wasn't there he'd feel empty inside. Hallow. Like a chunk of himself was missing. Sometimes he'd even cry while he was getting dressed for school. A lot of times he felt anger as well. How dare a stranger disturb him like that? Intrude on his life with him family. And then there was shame. Any kid would be happy to have been adopted by such loving and warm people, how could he be so spoiled that he could wish for more then that.
At the time Clark had nothing to compare the dream too and he was much too young to even begin to think about the possible meanings of it. But now the almost premonitory nature of the dream was astounding, and was the very thing that kept him from joining his wife in blissful sleep. In the dream, Clark did not recognize the man and yet he immediately hugged him, it was the same feeling of completeness that he felt the first he saw his father at Star Labs. An instant love and affection. And that feeling of unity and family he felt as everyone sat down and ate breakfast together was the same feeling Clark had that night. As he listened to his parents swap dating stories.
But the thing that really bothered Clark, and he seemed to be stuck on was the fact his father was the only one that appeared in his dreams. Lara never made an appearance. Nul had said that they'd buried her body long ago, but how could Clark have known that she was dead and wasn't coming back? Was there some kind of psychic connection between he and his father? Something deep rooted and unbreakable that allowed him to learn certain things without realizing it? And if so, could he send messages to his father the same way? Had he?
Once Clark opened up the floodgate the evidence was overwhelming. He knew his mother was dead, Nul had told him that, but for some reason instead of being sad or angry, he was relieved. Somehow he knew that her death came as a mercy that it stopped her suffering. Wouldn't most people grieve? Especially after seeing your very much alive father? And then in the hospital room when he heard Nul speak in Kryptonian it seemed to click somehow. Even if he didn't understand the words, he could have sworn he recognized them. Nul said that his father always preferred speaking Kryptonian, so were these psychic messages sent in his native language? Was this a superpower that he never realized he had, or was this something that happens between all parents and their children?
Suddenly Clark felt like crying. So many questions. Too many questions. He'd never get to sleep now. He felt Lois stir in her asleep, and her brow crunched in confusion. Clark turned onto his side, a task which would have been complicated if they were still in his twin bed. Thankfully his mother had picked up a full sized one from the thrift shop a few months ago. He leaned his head down and kissed his wife lovingly on the lips.
"I love you so much Lois. I don't know how I would have survived all of this if I didn't have your love and support. I'm gonna go downstairs and grab something to eat, but I'll be back." He slipped out of the bed and pulled the covers up to her chin. He quietly made his way down the hall and towards the stairs. Perhaps a tall glass of milk and a sandwich would help clear his mind.
