Chapter 7 – Void


-- Smallville - March 2010 (Present Day) --

Clark looked up from his hands as he finished the censored version of the Cuba story. "I found out later that the American reporters had immediately been deported when the civil war between the supporters of Raul and Fidelito went into full swing. By the time I had gotten the girl to the hospital, there were a number of other people that needed help. We, um, lost contact after that… Lois and I, that is."

"We remember you talking about being in Cuba when the war started, but we had no idea that Lois was there," Martha remarked.

Jonathan rubbed the bridge of his nose and sighed. It was all quite hard to believe. "Clark, why didn't you say anything about you and Lois?"

Clark shrugged and rose from the table. "I don't know why I didn't tell you guys. It was just so personal… magical. It was almost like a dream, and I guess I didn't want to diminish the memory of it."

Martha and Jonathan exchanged a glance. They weren't sure what to say.

"And I knew what you guys would say if I mentioned what had happened," Clark added, noticing the look that passed between them.

"Clark, you're an adult. We understand that, we just thought we taught you to be careful," Martha said, her brow creasing.

"It's not like it was some stranger. We really hadn't meant…we were careful… I don't really know what to say…" Clark's voice trailed off. This was not a conversation he'd ever planned to have with his folks.

"I'm going to go put this little guy to bed," Jonathan announced, getting up to release a drowsy Cole from the high chair.

Clark's eyes followed his father as he picked the little boy up and headed for the stairs. He had a son.

Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Clark faced his mother. "I'm… uh… sorry."

Sighing, he walked into the den, leaving Martha alone to clear the dishes. She didn't immediately follow behind him, realizing that he needed some time to come to terms with what he'd just learned, and the memories he'd just relived.


Clark studied the pictures that lined the mantle. He could see that his mother had taken up photography. There were a large number of framed black and white photos of Cole in various poses and settings. A large stack of prints sat on the coffee table next to an empty photo album, waiting to be organized.

From one of the framed pictures, his father smiled at the camera while holding the laughing little boy upside down. He could tell that his parents were happy. He was glad that they were enjoying being grandparents, but why did the cost of their happiness have to be Lois's safety?

"That's one of my favorites," Martha said softly, sitting on the couch.

Clark sighed and turned around to face her. "How can she go missing for nine months and the police have nothing to go on?"

"Perry has been keeping us posted, but it seems like they are trying to keep the investigation quiet."

"Quiet? What does that mean?" Clark asked, mildly alarmed.

"They haven't publicly released that Lois is missing," Martha replied sadly.

"What!" Clark moved to sit next to his mother. "Who all knows that she's gone?"

"Well, Cat, as we mentioned earlier, Perry, your father and I, the police… and you."

"That's it? What about her father? Her family? How can they really be looking for her if no one even knows that she's missing?"

"I don't know, honey."

Clark's shoulders slumped and he leaned forward to cradle his head in his hands. Martha reached out and stroked his hair.

"Why didn't you go find her again… after Cuba?"

Clark didn't know how to answer. Guilt was gnawing at his gut. When the war had begun, causing them to separate, he had succumbed to the belief that his destiny was out of his control. In the midst of a pity party, he had come to the conclusion that fate didn't want him to be happy, and it didn't want him to be with Lois Lane.

Those had been drastic thoughts, but by the time he had come to his senses, too much time had passed. As he had continued to chase the path of the sacred crystal, he'd decided that he needed to finish what he'd started. He'd convinced himself that it would be selfish to pull Lois into this journey, when she could be put in danger. And so, he'd decided he would come back to her when this whole thing was over. When he could focus only on her.

But he had been too late. He had misjudged fate. He and Lois were meant to be together, regardless of what else his destiny had in store for him. The little boy in those pictures was living proof of that.

"I'm going to Metropolis," he declared, sitting up. He defiantly faced his mother. "I know you don't agree, but I'm going anyway."

Martha sighed. "It's not that I don't agree. I think you should go… just not right away." She shook her head as he started to protest. "You need to make sure that you have a clear head before you go. You'll be no help to anyone if you haven't thought this through. Besides, you have to think about someone else's welfare now, sweetie. You're a father."

At those words, Clark's demeanor softened. "I know. I want to do what's best for my… Cole. I just think that the best thing would be to find his mother."

"Oh, honey," she said, pulling him into her arms.

Leaning against his mother's chest like he used to do as a little boy, Clark closed his eyes. "Mom, I'm scared. I need her."


Upstairs, Jonathan stood, looking down upon the sleeping toddler. Clark's old room had been converted to a nursery, complete with a crib, toy chest, and rocking chair. A twin bed was set up against the opposite wall, ready for Cole when he grew too large to sleep in the crib.

However, much as Jonathan had been surprised by Clark's admission of meeting Lois in Cuba, he was three times as relieved that the little boy in front of him could never be taken away. He didn't wipe the silent tear that escaped from the corner his eye. Visualizing another little boy with darker hair, he was too overcome with the realization that this was the second time he'd been able to come into this room and know that the boy inside would always be his.


tbc