You have decided, bravely, to continue reading this story. Good for you! Don't stop now.
CHAPTER 2: YOU'VE BEEN WARNED
And so there he was, sitting in the cozy living room facing two pairs of loving eyes that quietly expressed that they were there for him, no matter what he was about to say. It was as though everything that had been building up inside him for the last few weeks was about to be unleashed.
"Mom, Dad," he started. "Why don't we ever talk about the baby?" He watched, not really surprised by the pained look that passed between his parents.
"What exactly do you want us to say, Clark?" his Dad finally managed. Clark stood up and began to pace without meeting their eyes. "It's not that I don't know how painful this is for you, but I don't like the way we pretend it never happened. That I never had a brother or sister that, while I never got to meet them, will always be a part of this family." He paused, "At least to me." He sat down, dejected. The silence was uncomfortable. Clark felt somewhat better having spoke his mind. He waited for his parents to realize their error and tell him that it was going to be OK. That they needed to talk about it just as badly as he did. Yeah. Then they'd have cookies and milk as they laughed about it. It was his mom that finally spoke.
"Clark, I know this has been difficult for you. It's been difficult for all of us." Suddenly Martha's usually strong face faltered and she seemed different some how. "But it's not something I like to remember." Jonathan placed a protective arm around her as she continued. "Not being able to bear children, I've never been able to experience what other women go through. What it means to be a women in the fullest sense of the word. When I remember the baby all I can think of is how complete I felt and that I can never feel that again. That pregnancy was miraculous and when I lost it, I knew there would be no second chance," Martha finished as she choked back a sob.
Clark felt awful knowing he had caused, if only by accident, the unfortunate miscarriage. Jonathan hated seeing his wife's troubled state. She was usually so strong. "Son, I think it would be best if we closed this chapter in our lives. Move on and focus on the good we've been given. Besides, we've been lucky enough to have one great son and that's enough for us."
Clark's look was clouded. He wanted badly to leave it at that but he couldn't. He had to continue. "I thought the ship healed you. The accident shouldn't have undone that, right? Why can't you have another baby?"
Jonathan got a strange look in his eyes as if the idea had never occurred to him. Clark watched as his features brightened. Turning to his wife, Jonathan said, "I'm embarrassed to admit it, Martha, but I think Clark has a point. With all the upset it never really occurred to me that we could simply try again." His voice was gentle, soothing.
Martha's silent sobs stopped abruptly as she turned white. Was that nervousness on her face? She looked to be quickly calculating something. Clark shrugged it off–his mom was under a lot of stress.
With no warning Martha quickly stood up completely agitated; her face aghast with horror. "How could you both be thinking such a thing? This is not like a puppy that's died and we go down to the pound and get a new one. We lost a child and it's never coming back! A new one doesn't change that."
"Mom!" Clark quickly met her. "That's not what Dad and I meant. You were just so happy then. All of us were."
His Dad cut in. "Martha, nobody's trying to replace the baby we lost, but that doesn't mean we should forget the possibility of another child altogether."
Martha was unusually livid. "It's not possible for me to have a child!" she screamed. "It never has been. I don't know what happened with the spaceship, but it wasn't natural and it's not going to happen again. So get over it everyone!" With that she stormed up the stairs leaving Jonathan and Clark to stare at her retreat not knowing what to say. They heard the distinct sound of a door slamming upstairs.
"What just happened here?" Clark asked.
"I have know idea, Clark. But I think it would be best if we avoid this topic in the future. For all our sanity." He paused, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I know you meant well, but the mysteries of pregnancy and childbearing have always been sore spots where your mother is concerned."
"Do you think it's true? What she said about not being able to have children?"
"I don't know, Clark. I didn't exactly go over her medical files. Maybe she's just not ready emotionally. We have to trust her."
"Right," was all Clark could muster. Still something didn't feel right. He needed to find out more. Knowing that his Kryptonian heritage had something to do with the events that transpired made him all the more curious to find out what part it had played. He hoped that Chloe would come up with something that would give him some answers. He certainly was going to get any here.
No. No, it just couldn't be. Lionel Luther thought over and over again to himself as he sifted through the latest report given to him by Chloe Sullivan. He held a hand over his mouth as if to ward off the sickness he was feeling. Why hadn't he seen this before. He needed a drink. Now.
"Impossible!" They were the perfect family. Respected by the whole community. Chloe must have been mistaken. She was a bright girl, yes, but quick to jump to conclusions. Her fascination with the weird was well known, but then...it had usually been justified. He felt the anger surge in him. He was frustrated. She was playing a trick on him. This had to be a part of their little game. She was toying with him; messing with his head; trying to get him off balance. He let out a long sigh.
But what if she was right? What would that mean? For him? He didn't want to think about it. He had to verify these facts quickly and discreetly. He wouldn't let Chloe know she had gotten to him. There was an easier way to get information that wouldn't leave a trail of paranoia behind it.
There was only one person who knew more about the Kents than he did. Did he know about this? He tried to imagine the casual encounter they would have. Lionel could subtly bring up the curiosity in question. Not revealing to much, or how badly he needed to know. He scowled to himself. He could just image the smug look on his son's face if he came to him asking if the women he had been so infatuated with had really been a.......a man. Lionel stared out his office window in silence, pondering Martha. Sweet, lovely Martha. A really hot man......Damn!....... He needed that drink.
A/N: Have I confused anyone yet? Unsure? A bit scared? Please don't take my story seriously---I'm just playing. Intriguing though, isn't it? Come on, she looks like a man! I can't be the only one who thinks that. Give feedback.