From This Moment On – Chapter V

Notes: Here's the big chapter! I hope you guys enjoy it!

Disclaimer: I do not own Superman, though I wish I did.

Metropolis General Hospital

Lois was nursing an espresso the hospital worker had brought her about ten minutes ago. She didn't normally drink coffee so strong, but she was in dire need at the moment. Her little baby boy was lying there hooked up to all those machines. After Superman left, she had kissed Jason goodnight and went back to bed. She finally fell asleep but then awoke to Jason's convulsions. That feeling she had on the ship returned and it was just as scary as before.

'What if I lose him?'

Richard had gone to get them lunch from the hospital cafeteria since she refused to leave Jason. 'If only I could contact Superman. He'd know what to do, but how can I explain to Richard why he is here?' Lois sighed, 'I should have told him already.'

Lois started when the nurse knocked on the door to the sick room. "Miss Lane, you have a friend here to see you and your son."

Lois nodded and saw Clark step into the room. "Hey, Lois, I thought I'd stop by and check on you guys."

She nodded and welcomed him in.

He went to stand beside Jason's hospital bed. Jason looked so vulnerable and pale, and it made Clark's heart ache. Clark quickly scanned his son's body to check for any problems. Everything seemed okay as far as he could tell, but he was still worried.

"How is he?" Clark managed.

Lois shook her head and looked at Jason, "I don't know. The doctors have been running tests all morning to make sure there wasn't any damage during the fit. The nurse told me that it's probably just a fever convulsion, which apparently is common in children." She sighed audibly, "I've never seen him this sick. Sure, he's had all kinds of small problems, but they were all normal in a premature child."

Clark swallowed, "He was premature?" He hadn't known that. 'Could it have something to do with being half-Kryptonian?' He wondered.

"Yes, he was two months early. My ob-gyn said that he was very lucky to have only small problems. If he had been born a few weeks earlier, it could have been very serious. In fact, there were a lot of abnormal differences in my pregnancy with Jason. I hope that isn't why this is happening."

There was silence while the two thought about Lois' statement.

"Oh…I finished the article, Lois. So you don't have to worry about it."

"Thank you, Clark, you are a good friend." She turned to look at him and smiled.

'Just a friend…friend…ha', Clark thought darkly, 'I have to tell her.'

There was another period of silence and then the doctor walked in. He took note of Lois and Clark sitting next to each other.

"Hello, I'm Dr. Stephens. I'm a pediatrician here in the children's unit." He looked at Lois, "Mrs. White," he looked at Clark, "Mr. White?"

Lois jumped, "Oh, no!" She laughed, "This is a friend, and my last name is Lane."

Clark frowned, but no one noticed.

"Oh, beg your pardon, Miss. Lane. Well, I'm very glad to inform you that your son will be fine."

Lois breathed out a sigh of relief, "Thank goodness."

The doctor smiled, "We found no damage to his brain or motor functions. He may have just eaten something he was allergic too and it caused a fever, which in turn caused a fever convulsion. The only cause for concern is if he was to do it again and hit is head. I would try to further monitor what your son eats to prevent them."

"Thank you, Dr. Stephens. I will investigate what he ate or touched yesterday and inform the teachers."

"You are most welcome, Miss Lane. Oh and as soon as he wakes up he is free to go."

Clark felt extremely relieved. He then remembered the doctor calling him Mr. White.

"Lois, where is Richard?"

Lois looked up from her spot beside Jason's hospital bed, "He went to get lunch. He should be back shortly."

Clark stood up, "Well, I'm going to head back to the office. Call me if you need anything, okay?" While getting up, he stood tall and stretched his back

Lois stared at him for a moment getting that familiar feeling again. She shook her head dismissing the notion.

Clark said bye and headed out of the hospital.

"Bye, thanks for coming to see us."

Roof of the Daily Planet – 7:00 PM

Lois had decided to stay late at The Planet to get caught up on her other articles while Richard stayed home with Jason. They were both greatly relieved that he would be okay.

Lois was sitting on the waist high wall with her back propped on one of the many art deco gargoyles that decorated The Planet. She was currently wishing she didn't throw her perfectly good pack of cigarettes away earlier. "Damn it to hell," she muttered. She knew smoking was bad, but she also knew that if she didn't get one soon it'd be even worse for her health.

She had been up here almost for an hour waiting for him. For some reason she just knew he'd come and see her. She had to find out what he was going to tell her last night. 'He's probably busy with little mishaps all over the city,' Lois thought.

"Hello, Lois."

Finally, he had come. He stood on the ledge in front of her with his arms crossed. He was in his red and blue splendor that left little to the imagination. It's amazing how her body can go from aching for nicotine to a much more primal need almost instantly.

She didn't move from her spot on the ledge, "Hey, you."

He chuckled, "Aren't you afraid of falling?"

"Nope," she smiled, "That's why I have you."

He gave her a preachy look, "Now, Lois, you should always—"

"I know…I know," She groaned as she hopped down. "I've been waiting for you….You left me hanging last night."

"Yes, I did. I'm sorry about that. A boy was caught on top of a cargo container on a dock further down river."

Lois nodded, "We had a scare today with Jason, but he's going to be alright. He had a fever convulsion, which is common among children. The doctor said that it was probably a reaction to something he ate."

"Yes, I know. Lois, we need to talk…again." He looked serious.

"Well, like I said last night, I'm going to tell Richard about Jason," Lois paused and took in a deep breath, "Before I do that though, I'd like to know how it happened….I mean…I-I know how it happened…Just not how it happened…." Lois looked at the ground.

Superman stepped down off the ledge and walked up to her. "That is what I've been meaning to explain to you."

Lois looked up at him and into his beautiful, blue eyes. "It's strange…I remember uh," Lois blushed fiercely, "that…but only that. I cannot remember where we were or how I got there."

"We were at the Fortress of Solitude in the arctic. It is something like my home away from home."

"Home is Krypton?" Lois asked.

"No, home is in Smallville, Kansas with my mother."

This confused Lois. She looked at Superman, "What? Smallville? You live in Smallville?"

Superman smiled, "No, I live here in Metropolis most of the time, but it doesn't feel like home." He paused, "Except when I am with you."

Lois smiled but still looked confused, "So you are saying that you were raised in Smallville?" Shaking her head, "Then you must know Clark!"

Superman laughed, "Yes, very well actually."

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"I didn't think you were ready the first time you knew, but Jason changes everything."

"What?" Lois looked at him and then it dawned on her.

Standing there before him, everything that had ever taken place between her, Superman, and Clark connected.

"Oh-oh….my…god." Her eyes grew as she looked at him. "YOU! The WHOLE time it was YOU. The glasses, the klutzy mistakes, the weird disappearances…." Lois sat down on the ground. "You…." Her mind was reeling and she felt faint. She put her head between her knees and rocked.

"Lois, I—" He started.

"Don't!" She was breathing loudly. "All this time…you…" She looked up at him suddenly, "Why didn't you tell me?"

Superman swallowed, "I didn't mean to fall in love with you, Lois. Clark was my disguise in Metropolis. You don't know how bad I've wanted to tell you all of these years."

She got back up and started beating on his chest while crying, "I've been made a fool. You've been there the whole time….Hearing all of those things I said….and Richard! You had to see me with him everyday!" She started crying even harder and fell back down to the ground.

Next thing she knew, she was being pulled into his strong arms. "Lois, don't cry. I understand that you are angry with me, and you have a right to be. I had to do what I did."

She looked into his eyes and saw love there, "I threw myself into Richard's arms because I thought you left me and didn't care about me," she sniffled, "I've been putting off my marriage because I kept hoping you would return."

"You told Richard that you didn't love me?" It was more of a question than a statement.

Lois began crying again, "I lied to him. I'm so awful…such a terrible person. I-I didn't know what to say…This is going to hurt him and it's my entire fault."

"No, Lois, it's not. What you did was natural, although unfortunate. I shouldn't have ever left you like that. It will never happen again." She could tell he was sincere.

"Then you do love me?" He had to know.

"Yes, I've always loved you…ever since you told me what color underwear I had on." Lois laughed remembering that night.

He grinned, "Blue."

It took her a minute to understand and then she playfully slapped him. She said, "I wasn't asking."

He smiled mischievously, "Oh, my mistake." Then, he dipped down and kissed her in the most amazing way imaginable. Suddenly, everything made sense and all of the gaps were filled in. "I'm sorry that I made you forget, but it was tearing you apart at the time. I can no longer go without you knowing…and Jason will need guidance."

"Yes, I know. I need you too." She hugged him and kissed him again. "So, where do we go from this moment on?"

Feedback is appreciated!

-Kristina Leigh