Metamorphosis – Chapter 41

The house was empty when Clark finally arrived home. His parents were probably at the Farmer's Market or the Talon. They ran out of milk back in the car, so Clark reached into the fridge and took out a carton of milk and poured it into Cameron's bottle, and then he heated it up in the microwave.

Clark spent the next minute and a half talking to his son.

"You're lucky you're only three months old. You don't have to worry about adult stuff for many more years"

Cameron bounced in his seat and Clark couldn't help but think it was the cutest thing he has ever seen.

"He wasn't always mean, you know." Clark sits on a stool while Cameron sits comfortably in his carrier right on top of the table. "I wish things were different." Cameron smiles widely and it makes Clark smile in return. It only took one look at his baby to make him forget about the bad in his life. "You are so amazing," he proclaimed just as the back doors opened and Martha Kent appears with a bag of groceries.

"Mom!" Clark exclaimed.

"Oh, hi Clark. I wasn't expecting you." Clark quickly helped her with the bags and his dad appeared right before his mom did.

"Son, did you hear about that big trucking accident right along the interstate?" Jonathan asks absentmindedly.

Before Clark had a chance to answer, he hears his mother speak out. "Clark"

"Yeah, mom?"

"Why is there a baby on my table?"

Jonathan turned.

"Baby?"

Clark turned uncomfortable and Cameron starts to cry at the tension that suddenly sparked out of nowhere in the room. Martha's shocked expression immediately softens, moving towards the baby's side and lifting him up from his car seat.

"Oh, I'm sorry sweetheart," she soothed as his mother carried Cameron like a pro. Clark had to smile but Jonathan was still confused.

"Do you mind explaining what's going on, son?" his father says sternly.

Cameron stops crying and Martha throws her husband a careful look. "Not too loud, Jonathan. You're scaring the baby"

"Cameron," Clark says.

"What?" asks both Jonathan and Martha.

"His name is Cameron," he repeated.

Martha smiles. "Cameron. That's a beautiful name," she says, holding the baby safe and close against her shoulder. "And so is he." Jonathan joins her side, greeting Cameron by shaking his tiny hands with his fingers.

"Whose kid is he?" Jonathan asks.

Clark opened his mouth to answer when again; someone else beat him to it.

"Mine"

All three Kent's turn their heads to rear door and see Lois standing by the doorway.

For several minutes now, Lois and Clark sat side-by-side in the living room sofa while they're being scrutinized under the intense gazes of Jonathan and Martha Kent. Cameron is in the dining room sleeping with Shelby looking over him. The mutt has already taken a liking to the newest member of the family.

"How could you two not be careful?" said Jonathan.

"We taught you better than this," added Martha, her words directed straight at her son.

"You're just kids," said Jonathan.

Clark stands up. "But we're not!..." he argued fruitlessly when he felt Lois's hand grab his arm to lead him back down on the couch. She shook her head indicating that he should let his parents vent.

Jonathan and Martha glared at their son.

"… kids, I mean," Clark ended a little more lowly.

Martha went to Lois's side and sat besides her, grabbing the young woman's hand and holding it in between hers.

"Lois, why didn't you tell us? We could've helped," her voice was soft, caring… motherly.

"That's what I said!" Clark interrupts.

"Clark…" Jonathan warned and Clark immediately obeys.

Lois looked towards Martha, the woman who has done nothing but treat her like she was her daughter. Her eyes glisten with tears ready to fall.

"It was a bad call... It seemed right at the time," Lois answered regrettably.

Despite everything, Martha could relate.

"Were you alone?"

Lois shook her head. "My dad was with me the whole time"

Jonathan made his way in between Lois and his son and sunk in between the two, mostly on Clark's side, shoving Clark out of the way. Clark looked at his dad with a 'come on' expression while Jonathan simply waved his complaint away.

"Well, Lois, I don't think I need to tell you this, but you know you're welcome here any time"

Lois breathed out a sigh of relief, and so does Clark. Now it was time to let his parents know about Lex Luthor, and how, just a couple of hours ago, nearly killed their son.

Clark went ahead and did some farm chores to clear his head of everything that's happened in the last several hours. The revelation of what happened at the interstate with Lex didn't go too well with his parents.

"You can stop now, son. It's okay to head back inside"

Clark puts on a brave face. "Are you guys still disappointed in me?"

"Son," Jonathan began, moving past him as he watches the sun set out in the horizon. "We're not disappointed." He looks back at his son who was watching him anxiously. It didn't matter how grown up Clark Kent would be, he'll always be his son. "It surprised us, that's all"

Neither was sure if they were referring to Lex or Cameron. Most likely it was Cameron. The subject of the Luthor's tend to be quite sensitive with his dad.

Deciding that they were talking about Cameron, "Yeah, tell me about it," Clark empathized. He had just learned about Cameron too so the surprise definitely went both ways.

A chuckle was shared between the two.

"We've all made our share of mistakes over the years…" Jonathan closed the gap between them and pulled him in his embrace. "…and even if you tried, you'll never disappoint me"

Clark buried his face in his father's neck, taking in the familiar and safe feeling of being protected by him.

After a moment, they move apart and Clark wipes some tears out of his eyes as his father does the same.

"Where's mom?"

"In the house with Lois getting to know her grandson," answered Jonathan with a large smile. "He's beautiful, son"

Clark looked at his father proudly.

"He's a miracle"

"Clark's powers developed over time, so I don't think we have to worry too much about Cameron getting it any earlier"

"Well, I'm not too concerned about that now. I just want him to be happy"

"We all want that for our children," Martha agreed thoughtfully. "What are your plans now?"

"With everything that's happening, especially with Lex… I don't… I really don't know."

"I know you'll figure it out," said Martha supportingly. "And we're here for you, always."

Lois smiles graciously. "Thank you"

Cameron is now sleeping peacefully in his grandmother's arms. Lois looked on thoughtfully.

"It's amazing how easily he's gotten used to this family," Lois says. "This past three months, it's only ever been me and my dad. My baby is such a socialite," she beamed at the knowledge.

Martha laughs.

"He's quite easy to fall in love with, that's for sure"

Lois smiled again.

"It's gotta be that Kent charm. It's been working its magic since the moment he was born"

Both ladies laugh.

It was nearing midnight and Clark couldn't sleep. He slowly crept his way up the stairs and made his way slowly into his bedroom in which Lois and their son were now occupying.

Next to where Lois slept was the small portable baby crib that they brought along after they left Metropolis to head to Smallville, and inside was their child.

Cameron.

Wide awake and looking around curiously in his surroundings. Clark smiled.

"Hey buddy, what are you doing up?" he whispered down to him. Clark lightly brushed his forefingers across his baby's soft cheek. "Are you watching over mommy?"

Cameron giggles lightly his response making Clark chuckle. He couldn't wait until he starts to crawl and walk all over the place. It's going to be an eventful future for them; a future he never thought was possible until he fell in love with Lois.

"I've only known you a day and already I love you so much," Clark softly admits emotionally, a single tear falling from his eyes. He doesn't wipe it away.

So many things have happened in so little time. Lois's sudden return. The knowledge that not only did they conceived a child together, but he's here now, alive and well and he's the most beautiful thing he has ever seen next to his mother.

And then there's Lex Luthor.

Where did it go so wrong with him?

To be continued…