"Why are you here Superman? Did you come to go to the playground with us?" Jason asked innocently, staring up the tall, costumed man.
Clark glanced at Lois, who shrugged. "We usually make a stop at the park on the way home."
He weighed his options. There was nothing in the world he'd like to do more than to go to the park with Lois and Jason, but he couldn't go as Superman. Not when he had accumulated so many enemies. It was risky enough that the world knew of the bond between him and Lois. He'd never forgive himself if anything happened to them because of him.
Lois seemed to instinctively notice his slight battle and stood on her tiptoes to whisper in his ear.
"Go change into Clark Kent and meet us at the park on Elm, ok? After Jason burns off some of that energy of his, we can go back to my plac—" She paused. "Well, perhaps we had better make it your place. Richard hasn't come back to the house since he left, but I don't want to take the chance of him doing it now."
Clark nodded and felt a small hand tug on his arm.
"Superman, why do grownups always whisper? I'm right here!" Jason said indignantly.
Superman laughed and bent down to hug his son. "I have to go now, but I'll see you later ok?"
"Aww, man, you won't come with us?"
The look on his face nearly broke Clark's heart. He managed to repeat "I'll see you later," before he jumped and flew off, speed changing into Clark Kent and sliding into a park bench on Elm, not two minutes later.
Fifteen minutes later, Jason and Lois appeared in the park, much to Clark's delight. He stood up and made his way over to them, keeping his voice in the tenor he used as Clark Kent.
"Lois! Jason! What a surprise!"
"Clark!" Lois beamed at him, her eyes sparkling. "What a coincidence."
"Hi again Mr. Clark," Jason said. He gave Clark a friendly smile.
Clark looked at Lois in alarm over Jason's head, but she shook her head.
"Come on munchkin, what do you want to do first? Swing?"
Jason surveyed the playground, which was mostly empty, for a moment before he turned back around.
"Mr. Clark can you come play lava tagwith me?"
Lois started and looked embarrassedly at Clark. "Jason, Mr. Clark doesn't—"
"Yeah! Of course Jason. Just tell me the rules."
Excited at his new partner, Jason grabbed Clark's hand and pulled him away toward the structure in the middle of the park.
"Ok, you can't touch the sand, that's the lava, if you do, you're out." Jason thought for a moment and then reached out to tag Clark's arm. "YOU'RE IT!" He jumped on the wooden deck and ran off giggling.
Clark immediately followed after, his deep laughs mixing with Jason's high pitched squeal.
Jason jumped on a ledge and skirted around the sand, while Clark chased him, pretending to tire. Jason continued to run around and Clark dove after him, purposely misstepping and falling onto the "lava"
Jason turned at the sound and jumped up in excitement.
"You're out!"
Clark laid still on the sand, his eyes closed. Jason cocked his head sideways slightly and looked over at him. "Mr. Clark?"
Clark lay unmoving and Jason hurried off the structure and bent over him. He lightly shook Clark's arm. "Mr. Clark?"
"You're it!" Clark suddenly scrambled off the sand and tagged Jason back, leaping onto the playground and taking the monkey bars to the other side, careful to keep his long legs from touching the sand.
Lois watched the two run around, fascinated. Clark was so good with Jason, being a father came naturally to him. Seeing her son interact so easily with the man who hadn't raised him, but was his father nonetheless made her feel warm to the tips of her toes. The only thing that could have kept her from utter bliss with Clark was if Jason didn't like him
But as Clark grabbed Jason and swung his around, Jason's delighted shrieks told her that Jason was just as enamored of Clark Kent as she was.
Twenty minutes later, Clark and Jason trudged off the playground, the latter sweating profusely, the former with a broad grin across his face.
"You two looked like you were having fun out there," Lois said, fondly brushing Jason's sweaty hair behind his ear. She looked up at Clark, who's hair was messily strewn on his forehead and quenched a sudden longing to do the same thing.
Not here in front of Jason, she told herself. She couldn't help reaching out to brush imaginary lint from the arm of his jacket. The rock sold muscle under the soft leather made her heart beat a little faster.
"Would you guys like to come order Chinese at my place?" Clark offered magnanimously.
"We'd love to—but Jason is allergic to some of it," Lois said, bundling Jason in his jacket as she spoke.
Clark frowned, upset at himself for not remembering such a detail of his son's life. Richard would have known it. "Of course, I'm sorry," he said.
Something in his voice made Lois look up just in time to see the pained expression that crossed his face. As Jason ran up ahead, she grabbed Clark's hand in her own and brought it to her lips to kiss.
"It's alright, Clark," she said softly. "You'll know everything about raising Jason in no time." She held onto his hand a minute longer, but when Jason turned to impatiently hurry them up, Clark and Lois were an innocent distance apart.
Clark and Lois hurried to catch up with their son and they ambled down the street, making their way to Clark's apartment. On the way they stopped and picked up some Chinese, making sure they ordered steamed rice and veggies for Jason.
As they finally reached Clark's apartment for the second time that day, Clark's heart was beating uncommonly fast. He was nervous. This was it. How would Jason react to all of this? He was suddenly plagued by doubts.
Clark and Jason set the table, Jason setting down the napkins, Clark putting the silverware and plates on, while Lois unpacked the food.
Finally they sat down and Lois opened her mouth to speak, grabbing Clark's hand beneath the table.
"Jason, honey?" Jason looked up innocently from his food, some rice sticking to his mouth.
Instinctively, Lois went to raise her napkin to brush it off, but Clark already had it done. This fatherly thing had come automatically to Clark, and the thought gave her the courage to tell Jason everything.
She gripped Clark's hand tighter under the table, stifling a giggle as he pretended to wince in pain.
Jason glanced curiously at the two, before poking his head under the table and seeing their interlocked hands. The grownups hadn't even noticed him looking under the table.
Hmm.
"Jason, honey," Lois began again, tearing her eyes from Clark's. "Before your Daddy and I were together, Clark and I were together."
Jason nodded his understanding, his face solemn.
"And when we were together… we made you. But then Clark had to leave before Mommy even told him I was pregnant with you."
Jason nodded again, looking back from his mother to Clark.
"So you really have two daddies now, do you understand honey? Clark is your real dad, but Richard is your daddy still too."
Jason blinked and Lois ploughed on.
"And there's one more thing sweetie, I'm sorry. You have to promise me first that you'll never tell anyone, do you understand? If you do, you might get hurt, or mommy might get hurt."
Jason's eyes widened before he resumed his stare.
"Clark, your Daddy, is really Superman."
Jason stared at Clark for a moment before he started giggling. "I already knew that silly." He slid off of his chair and made his way over to Clark.
Clark bit his lip unconsciously, praying his son would still love him after what he had just absorbed.
Father and son looked into each other's eyes for a moment before Jason hopped on Clark's lap.
"Will you take my flying Mr.--" Jason paused, unsure of what to call him. Contrary to what his mother might have thought, the news didn't wholly phase him. He still had his Daddy and Clark would be his other Daddy. He'd have two! And one of them was Superman! "Daddy?" Jason finally concluded his sentence with the word, unaware of the change it would cause through Clark.
His son had just called him Daddy. Clark thought wildly, his heart full. For a moment his throat choked up, and as he looked over to Lois, she looked similar.
"Y-you'll have to ask you mother about that one," Clark managed to get out.
An hour found the three lying on their stomachs, playing Clark's old Candyland game.
"I can't believe you still have this game at your big city apartment," Lois said, shooting a sideways glance at Clark.
Clark lightly touched her bare foot with his own while Jason drew his card.
"I'm called the city's Big Blue Boy Scout you know. Always be prepared," Clark said lightly. He looked at the clock.
"It's getting kind of late, would you two like to stay here for tonight?"
Lois looked over at Jason, who was nodding off while he waited for Lois to play her turn.
"I think we had better, thank you Clark," Lois said.
"Excellent! Let me go change the sheets on my bed for you and Jason."
Clark left the room and Lois walked in after him, wrapping her arms around his waist as he tucked the sheets into the bed.
She rested her head on his back, listening to the steady heartbeat.
"I love you." Clark turned around in her arms and gave her a kiss.
"I love you too. But let's get Jason settled," Clark said, stealing another kiss as he did so.
Lois trailed after him as Clark picked up the sleeping Jason, tucking his head safely in the crook of his shoulder.
"Where will you sleep tonight?"
"The couch," Clark said easily, grabbing a pillow and a sheet out of the closet with one hand, keeping Jason aloft in his arms in the other.
Clark gently tucked Jason in and dropped a kiss on his forehead before he turned back to Lois.
"Goodnight sweetheart," he said softly into her ear, unaware of Jason watching from his vantage point on the bed.
Clark was about to turn and leave when a small voice came from the bed.
"Daddy where are you going?"
Clark turned to his son. "Hey buddy, I thought you were asleep."
Jason shrugged and unsuccessfully stifled a yawn as his mother slipped into the bed beside him.
Clark came back over to the bed, unable to resist giving his son a hug goodnight.
"Goodnight Jason," Clark said softly. He turned toward Lois who smiled at him in the darkness.
"Goodnight Lois," without Clark being entirely aware of it, his voice had reverted to the deep tone he used as Superman.
"Stay with us, Daddy!" Jason said wiggling over slightly toward his mother to make more room.
"No, no I'll just be outside on the couch," Clark said, straightening up.
"Pleaseeeee?" Jason wheedled. Clark was about to refuse again before Lois took up the plea as well.
"Pleaseeee Clark?"
That Lois wanted him to stay made it an entirely different matter. He acquiesced a moment later, hopefully not seeming to eager.
He slid in next to Jason, who had burrowed beneath the covers.
Clark eased his head on the pillow, looking into Lois's eyes over their son's head.
"Goodnight," he whispered softly.
"Goodnight."
Yay! I'm back! I was thinking about this fic the entire time I was gone. I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter and that it was an ok one. Also, about that last chapter, a certain reviewer was right, I DID have the mugging scene from Superman in my mind. :)
Laura