The first person Lois Lane encountered after her tryst with Clark Kent was her son.
"Hi Mommy," he said brightly, standing on her chair.
"Jason, get down from there."
"I'm Superman!" He leapt off the side of the chair, fist outstretched triumphantly.
Lois' heart leapt in her throat before a pair of strong hands encircled Jason's waist and gently set him down.
"Whoa there Superman, no flying around in the office," Clark said, an easy grin sliding across his face. "Save it for the skies."
Lois snuck a glance at him from beneath her lashes. "Thank you Clark." She reached out and grabbed her son's hand, pulling him to a corner to thoroughly chastise him.
"Mr. Clark!" Jason shot him an imploring look from his corner before Lois reached out to turn his face back to hers. Jason mumbled the last words, but Clark's sensitive hearing picked it up. "Help."
Clark shot him a sympathetic grin before he blew out his breath.
That was his son there. He scanned the newsroom, past Lois and Jason and finally rested his gaze on Richard White.
Jason may have been his son biologically, but it had been Richard who had been there when he was born, for his first words, his birthday parties.
Richard was every bit of Jason's father as well. He knew this situation needed to be resolved. Lois was still living with him… and Richard deserved the truth. Clark had too much respect for the man to not tell him. And Clark Kent was definitely not the sort of man to see a woman engaged to someone else. His mind flashed to the scene on the rooftop and a guilty feeling snaked around his heart.
Clark felt another's gaze on him and he turned to see Lois watching him, having seen the direction his sight had taken.
Lois' eyes looked sad as she watched Richard. She looked back and Clark and whispered across the room to him. "Tonight. I'll tell him tonight."
The sound traveled finally to Clark's ears and he nodded.
Tonight it would be.
Superman zipped through the skies at light speed, plunging upward to space, then down again, trying to combat his nerves.
This was ridiculous. He was the most powerful man in the world and he was scared stiff. But it was true. He sped toward Earth and finally slowed as he reached his destination. He and Lois had agreed earlier than it would be best if she told Richard alone, but he wasn't prepared to let her do it without support. Normally, he wouldn't have intruded on their privacy, but Lois had asked him to come, unseen, as Superman.
So 10:00 found him hovering above the house, the dark shadows effectively masking him. He trained his vision on the house and tuned out all other sounds but Lois and Richard.
"Richard… we need to talk," Lois started uncertainly, taking his hand and pulling him next to him on the couch.
"Sure, is something wrong Lois?" His blue eyes softened in concern as he tightened his grip on her hand.
"I just… Richard… I have something really important to tell you… and before I do, I want you to promise that no matter what your initial reaction is, you'll let me explain."
A line creased Richard's forehead, but he nodded.
"Five years ago… Clark Kent and I…" Lois closed her eyes and steeled herself for the utter heartbreak she would inflict on the man in front of her. "Well, we were involved."
Richard didn't say anything, but his grip on her hand loosened slightly.
"And… right after he left, before I met you, I found out that I was pregnant."
Richard hadn't gotten to where he was at the Daily Planet without a keen intelligence, and it served him well at that moment.
"You mean… Jason…" His voice cracked. "Isn't… my son?"
Lois wished that the floor would swallow her up whole.
"Yes," she said softly. "He's Clark's son."
"What made you tell me this now?" He asked suspiciously. "He left you! He left you for five years; you aren't seeing him now, are you? You can't."
At that, a spark of anger flashed through her. "I can't?"
"Of course you can't! He left you… he's irresponsible! He's… what kind of man leaves a woman like that?" Richard grasped for words.
"Clark Kent is a good man Richard!" Lois shouted.
"Where does Superman play in all of this Lois? Did you have relations with him too? Was I just a cheap replacement all these years? God damn it Lois, I loved you."
His words seemed to shake Lois out of her rage.
"Richard," she began softly. "Don't think for one second I don't love you."
"But not enough?" he said tightly, and then, with his voice void of emotion. "Of course, I won't hold you to the engagement, then."
Lois slipped her ring off her finger and handed it back to Richard.
"No… no keep it," he sounded close to tears. "Please keep it." He took a breath. "And keep the house Lois. It's not fair to uproot Jason."
"Richard… you don't have to move… Oh god I'm sorry."
Richard's face had taken on a hard expression, but it softened slightly at her broken tone.
"It's alright Lois. I understand… My sister has been begging me to visit for weeks; I think I might head out there tomorrow."
"Goodnight Lois."
With that Richard walked into their bedroom, returned with a blanket and a pillow, and then shut the door firmly to their family room.
Lois strode out the front door, the tears coming freely now.
She didn't want to hurt him. Richard was one of the best men she knew and he didn't deserve this.
Once she was out of sight of the house, a figure landed lightly in front of her, nearly invisible in the dark.
Lois was too exhausted even too jump.
Without a word, Clark gathered her in his arms and she rested her head against his chest, the steady beat of his heart a small comfort.
"I'm sorry," he murmured into her hair and no more words were needed as they held onto each other for dear life.
Richard stared at the two intertwined figures from his vantage point from the deck.
"Lois and… Superman?"
Ok, ok so you guys convinced me not to make it a one shot. Right now I know the story is exactly like every other story posted in this section, but I've just finished working out this elaborate plot. :) I haven't been this excited in ages, lol. Wish me luck on it! This should be a pretty long story, perhaps my longest yet.
Laura