This chapter is dedicated to Captain Jack Sparrow for looking oh-so-sexy in his new movie and KD Skywalker, just because she's awesome!

Clark chuckled as he and Jason walked down the street together, hand in hand. Whenever Jason would laugh, he would squeeze Clark's hand and looked up at him with twinkling, bright blue eyes. The laughter only made his eyes shine brighter and it tugged at Clark's heart. He had never heard a more beautiful sound that his son's laugh.

Jason had just told Clark a joke about a tomato and a banana that didn't make any sense whatsoever, which was what made it so hysterical. Clark was still completely baffled on how a little four year old could make him laugh so hard. Not even the best of comedians could reduce Clark to tears. He sighed softly as they neared the Chinese restraunt.

"Here it is." Clark announced as they stopped in front of the small building. The neon OPEN sigh was flashing colorfully and Jason stared at it intently for a few seconds, swinging his and Clark's linked hands back and forth. Clark's heart soared and he beamed down at Jason, a wide grin firmly in place.

"Cool!" Jason exclaimed finally once he looked the place over. He tugged on their joined hands and tried to pull Clark toward the door without much success. He sent Clark a searching look, his forehead creased with a quizzical frown. "Come on, Clark!"

Clark laughed as he gave into his son's demands, allowing himself to be pulled into the restraunt. Almost immediately, they were met by the overwhelming smell of steamed rice and sesame chicken. Jason pulled Clark over toward an empty booth and struggled to climb up onto the seat. Clark was about to help him when Jason shook his head and finally managed to scramble up onto the leather seat.

Clark sat down across from him and smiled at Jason, who shot back a toothy grin. A short, dark haired waitress came over to their table with a false smile set into place, although Clark could tell by her body language that she really didn't want to be there.

"Hi, my name is Sara and I'll be your waitress for this evening." She said as she looked Clark and Jason over. "Can I get you something to drink?" Sara asked as she handed Clark an adult menu and slid a kid's menu with some crayons toward Jason.

"Can I have some juice?" Jason asked Clark, sticking out his bottom lip in a pout. "Please?"

Clark opened his mouth to say something, when Sara let out an 'aw' and smiled at Clark. "I don't know, can you?"

Jason nodded. "If it's apple juice I can!"

Clark looked at the waitress in question and she nodded. "I'll get you an apple juice right away, young sir. And what would Dad like?"

He froze suddenly as he opened and closed his mouth a few times. Clark knew he probably looked like an idiot sitting there with his mouth agape, but he could care less. This young woman had just thought that Clark was Jason's father and, for some reason, he didn't have a problem with it. He knew that he had to set the waitress straight so Jason wouldn't get confused or say something that may make it seem like he was a kidnapper or something.

"Oh, he's not my son." Clark explained hastily. "I'm just watching him for his parents while they attend a gala across town." He looked at Jason and smiled. "Isn't that right, Jason?"

Jason grinned widely and nodded excitedly. "Yep! And we're going to have lots of fun!"

Sara laughed as she glanced between the pair of them. "Really? He's not your son?"

His heart felt heavy as he bobbed his head. "No, he's not my son. Just a buddy."

The young waitress chuckled as she sighed. "You could've fooled me. You guys have the exact same eyes and smile. But, you must get that often, right?"

Clark shook his head and pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "No, actually, we haven't gotten that at all." He admitted somewhat regretfully. Why was it that a complete stranger could notice the truth, when his friends and colleagues were so blind to it? He almost laughed at the irony.

"Well, you're both pretty cute if that means anything to you." Sara implied with a wink. Clark shifted uncomfortably in his seat as he felt Jason's foot kick his shin. He sent a worried look at his son, but was shocked when his son didn't cry out in pain. The kick had been pretty hard and, him being the Man of Steel, would've hurt Jason.

"Oops, sorry," Jason apologized, breaking his gaze away from his coloring and looking at Clark.

"It's okay." Clark replied with a smile. He turned back to the waitress to see her grinning at the sight. "I'll just have a glass of water."

Sara chewed on her pen, giving him a small nod telling him that she got his order. She cocked her head to the side as she asked, "Are you sure that he's not your son and you're not trying to be polite as you blow me off?"

Clark cleared his throat at her rather long question and swallowed the lump in his throat. "Umm…no, Miss, I'm not."

"Because your smiles are identical and anyone with a full functioning brain could see that your eyes are the exact same shade of blue." Sara said.

"I assure you, he's not my son." Clark replied, glancing at Jason. He was surprised to find that Jason had a confused expression on his face, about to open his mouth to say something. Clark hoped that he wouldn't open his mouth.

"If you say so," Sara sighed, glancing once more between Clark and Jason. "I'll get your drinks out to you as soon as possible." With that, she turned on her heel and walked away, a bit haughtily. Apparently, she wasn't one who liked to be proven wrong.

Clark shifted around into a more comfortable position, the leather seat squeaking as he moved, making Jason grin for a split second, before the bewildered expression returned to his face. "What's wrong?"

"How could you told the lady that I wasn't your son?" Jason asked innocently.

"Because you're not." Clark answered slowly. "But you are my good pal."

Jason seemed satisfied with that response and returned his attention back to his coloring, swinging his feet back and forth as he hummed under his breath. Clark smiled fondly, softly, at his son as he drew. He looked so happy, so content with drawing that Clark almost picked up a crayon himself to see if it would bring him the same happiness that it brought his son.

Lois sighed tiredly as she took a sip of her wine. She laughed falsely at something one of Richard's pilot friends said, acting like she was paying attention and having a wonderful time. In truth, she was bored to tears. She would rather be at home with Jason, laughing about one of the cartoons they watched. She smiled to herself. Lois wondered what Jason and Clark were up to.

Clark's probably taking good care of him. The two of them get along like old buddies, so they're probably having a blast.

Lois found it a bit odd that Klutzy Clark Kent had such a way with children. And, although she found it odd, she also found it quite endearing. She knew that he would make a wonderful husband and father to any lucky woman. Not that she would ever admit it aloud, but Lois would bet a pretty penny that she would become jealous of that lucky woman who finally landed the mild mannered reporter. And it wouldn't be because she liked Clark, no, never, he was just a friend, but she would be jealous that she didn't have someone like that. True, she had Richard White, who was completely amazing in his own, but he just wasn't the same as Clark.

That thought alone assured Lois that she needn't worry. Clark was a very trustworthy man. In fact, though Lois didn't show it much, Clark was one of the few people she trusted. He was always honest and so….so….farm boyish in everything he did. Though she hadn't been much of a friend to him, he had always been a wonderful friend to her, always there whenever she needed him (except when she was pregnant, as he pulled a very non Clark Kent move and decided on whim to go on a soul searching adventure).

Of course, at the time, neither knew she was pregnant, otherwise she was positive that Clark would've stayed behind, offering his help even when Lois didn't need it nor want it. Although, Lois always found it quite peculiar that Clark decided to disappear roughly around the same time the Guardian of Metropolis decided to fall off the map. The man had been back two weeks and she hadn't heard a single detail about it.

Suddenly, his words from earlier that evening when she and Richard dropped Jason over at Clark's apartment rang through her ears, sending a shiver down her spine. I'm always around, Lois. Had Superman not said those very words to her last week? What was even weirder was how the tone of Clark's voice changed, reminding her so much of that deep but peaceful timbre in the Man of Steel's tone.

She sucked in a deep breath as another shiver raced up her back.

Superman.

The very mention of his name sent her mind reeling. There was so much to think about when it came to Superman. The past, the future, the present. She remembered each and every detail of the part vividly, except for a few days before and after the superhero's disappearance. Lois could vaguely recall brief flashes of those days, but other that those precious memories, she had nothing. But Lois didn't want to focus on the past. She wanted to focus on the present and, more importantly, the future. Hundreds of questions raced through her mind all at the same time.

What was she going to do about Richard?

What were they going to do about Jason when he started to show more signs of his powers?

How was she going to tell Richard about Superman being Jason's father?

When was she going to tell him?

Was she going to stay with Richard or run into Superman's save, strong arms?

Would Jason's powers reach the same height as Superman's, as he was half human, or not?

And, most importantly, was she still in love with Superman?

Yes. Her mind screamed as she silently mouthed the word 'no'. Lois knew she was lying to herself. Of course she still loved Superman. She doubted that she could ever love any man like she loved him. But he's not a man. He told you himself that even though he was raised by humans, he would never be one. He was the one who had a hold on her heart, not Richard.

They were so much alike, Richard and Superman. They were trustworthy, kind, funny in their own ways, loving, and caring. Perhaps that was why Lois was attracted to Richard in the first place. After all, she had only known him for about a month before they slept together. She wouldn't have done it if she had known that she was pregnant, which she didn't.

Her mind continued to spiral into more complicating thoughts when a hand was lain on her forearm. Lois nearly jumped out of her skin. "Whoa, calm down, Lois." Richard said with a laugh. "It's just me."

She smiled weakly at him as she took a drink of her wine, her hand still shaking. "You just scared me, is all."

"Apparently." He chuckled again. "You were zoning out there. I had to ask you about six times if you were enjoying yourself." Richard grinned. "So, are you?"

No. "Of course I am, baby." Lois replied, setting her false smile into place. "It's nice to meet all your old friends, along with the new ones. Which one was the photography of all these pictures again?"

"How are your egg rolls?" Clark asked after he swallowed his mouthful of chicken fried rice. Jason giggled as a bit of rice fell out of Clark's mouth. He wiped it away quickly, smiling sheepishly at Jason. "Whoops."

"They're good!" Jason exclaimed excitedly, pointedly taking a huge bite out of the egg roll. He mocked Clark, a piece of cabbage falling out of his mouth and into his lap.

Clark rolled his eyes good naturedly and laughed, causing Jason to erupt into a fit of giggles. "Now you're getting to be like," You're old man , "me. And we don't want that happening." I never want you to know what it feels like to have the weight of the world on your shoulders. No one so innocent should ever have to go through that.

"Why not?" Jason said, his eyes widening. "I think you're cool."

There were no words to describe quite was Clark was thinking at that very moment. He believed that the phrase 'over the moon' would've fit the whirl of emotions surging through him as he gazed fondly at his son. His throat closed up with emotion as he racked his brain for what to say. He chuckled uneasily and pushed a nervous hand through his hair, slightly mussing it up. "Aw shucks," He replied, "I'm not that cool at all."

"I think you're really cool!"

"Why?"

Jason smiled knowingly at him and drew his finger across his lips as though zipping them shut.

"What? You're not going to tell me?"

"Nope!" Jason giggled, taking a huge bite of his egg roll.

Twenty minutes later…

Clark held the door open for Jason, letting the little boy scurried out in front of him before quickly seizing his hand. He wasn't about to go losing his son while watching him for the woman he loved, but something told him that Jason didn't plan on leaving his side anytime soon. Earlier, in the restraunt, Jason had handed Clark a folded up drawing and told him that he wasn't allowed to open it until tomorrow morning. Clark had promised that he wouldn't and he wasn't about the break his word, although he was burning with curiosity about what the drawing contained.

Jason squeezed Clark's hand tightly as they walked down the street, their little game still going on from earlier. Clark grinned down at Jason and asked, "What would I have to do to get it out of you?" He was still trying to coax the 'secret' out of Jason, but the boy just wouldn't cave.

Jason looked up at the dark sky (it was already going on eight o'clock. They had spent nearly an hour and a half in the restraunt!) and contemplated the question. He tapped a finger to his chin in thought, making Clark break out into another wide country-boy smile. "Nothing," Jason decided.

"Nothing?" Clark repeated jokingly. A woman in a tight black skirt smiled at Clark and Jason adoringly, mouthing 'cute kid' to Clark. What was it with everyone? Why did they all assume --and correctly-- that Jason was his son. The Kryptonian decided to ignore the woman and looked down at Jason. "Surely there must be something."

Jason's eyes lit up as he exclaimed, "Take me to Disneyworld!"

"Disneyworld? Now, how do you expect us to get to Orlando, Florida when we're in Metropolis?" Clark questioned with a laugh.

Jason rolled his eyes as he spoke in a stating-the-obvious tone. "Fly, of course!"

A/N: And that's the chapter. I hope you guys liked it! Now, if you would all be so kind and respond as well as you did the last chapter, it would be great! Thank you guys for the wonderful Supey love you've been showing! I really appreciate each and every single review. So, keep them coming!

Countess Jackman