NOTE: Ah, another chapter my friends! I'm starting to feel bad for Richard, but that's too bad because...well...we all know Superman and Lois belong together. Things get more tangled in this chap. and some more questions answered (hint to Angel452 :) ). Enjoy!

Mr. Firenze: Yes, I am very grateful to Bryan Singer. He has made a very fine piece of work. I also wish more people were appreciative of what he was trying to do with the story. I'm glad you're enjoying mine!

Kala Lane-Kent: Gee, thanks :). I'm glad this is hitting the right emotional notes for you and others. That's what writing is all about!

CindyB: Here's is Richard's reaction. I hope it satisfies. Jason's is coming up soon!

Jacqueline Roget: lol

Maddi-B: Thank you very much. I hoped it would go in the right direction...

Thanks to everyone else who's reviewed!


The next day Lois was at work when Richard returned. She was discussing a potential story with Clark when he arrived.

"Clark, you'd have a great story if only you would just go out and take it with this one. You should try being more aggressive like a good reporter does."

Clark looked down at the floor and shrugged. "Ah, I don't know, Lois." He chuckled. "I'm, I'm not exactly a violent person."

"No, not violent. Aggressive!" She rolled her eyes and smiled. "That 'journey' of yours certainly didn't change your view of things, did it?"

"Well, actually…"

"Hey, Lois!" Richard came over to Clark's desk where they were standing. He kissed her cheek and embraced her.

"You're back! How did it go?"

"It was great. The Daily Planet will have a nice piece on European politics now. Hey Clark, how's it going?"

"Hey Richard, really well actually."

"Oh, I have to go pick up Jason," said Lois after looking down at her watch. "I'll be back soon."

"No, I'll go pick him up. I haven't seen him for a few days now."

"All right; if you want." She turned back to Clark once Richard left. "So you…" She paused when she caught a fleeting glimpse of a strange expression on his face as he watched Richard's back. "Are you doing okay, Clark?"

He immediately looked like himself. "Yeah, I should probably get more sleep. It's been a killer these past few nights." He backed up and knocked over a pile of papers on his desk.

Lois bent to help him. "Here, Clark." She handed him a small stack and their hands brushed against each other. "Wow, your hands are really warm."

Clark suddenly looked bashful and would not look her in the face.

"I'm sorry; I meant it as a compliment."

"Oh…it's just. Never mind. Thanks, Lois."

He was normally a bit klutzy, but she had never seen him so embarrassed before. Or was it embarrassment? The wheels were starting to turn, and she had a strong desire to look him in the eye. But he finished picking up the papers and set them on his desk all without once letting his face be open to her.

Oh, who am I kidding? she thought. I'm being silly.

"Well, I'm going to go back to work," she said aloud.

"All right. Talk to you another time then."


Lois and Richard were preparing for bed later that night and had not really said much, but she knew she could not sleep with the thoughts she had churning in her mind. It was time for she had held out far too long now.

"Richard?"

"Yes?" He sat on the other side of the bed, slipping off his shoes.

"I know you're probably tired, but I need to talk to you."

"That's all right if you need to get it off your chest. I can stay up a while longer."

She leaned against the headboard and pulled her knees up to her chest. "There is no good time to tell you this, and I know I'm risking our relationship in some way."

He grasped her hand. "You know I'll understand." He wasn't expecting this, yet he intended to find out what it was that put such despondency in her gaze. The familiar fear of losing her began to burn in his chest.

"You love Jason like a son, and it's obvious to everyone. You have taken care of him when he's been sick, played with him when he wanted, and watched over him as he grew older. And he loves you as his father."

His face began to darken.

"But…Jason isn't your biological son."

Richard stared at her with a blank look for a long time. Then he turned away and put his head in his hands. So he wasn't premature. I should have realized something wasn't being said. There was a sudden pang inside of desolation and a sense of loss. He loved both Jason and Lois dearly. They meant the world to him and it was painful to know that she was still in love with another man and now that Jason was not his own. I have made him my own, and I hope that doesn't change. "That doesn't make me love Jason any less; I want you to know that."

"I do know and that's why I can tell you these things."

He closed his eyes and drew a hand over his face. "That doesn't exactly make things any easier. It is hard enough."

Lois gripped his hand tighter when he tried to pull it away. "Yes, it's difficult, but you had to know. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner and let you believe a lie. You see, I wanted him to have a normal life with a good father. You've been so wonderful and loving, a great dad for him."

Richard felt he was in a battle and losing swiftly; especially with this recent blow. Firstly, how could he compare with a man who could soar through the air at will, lift planes and entire land masses, save lives every day, and boast of a heritage from another planet? Secondly, how could he look at life the same way knowing both his son and Lois were not completely his own?

"Lois, I still love you too," he said after a long silence.

She lowered her head and sighed, then rested her head on his shoulder. A reply could not pass through her lips, so she said nothing.


Jason had to spend another day at work with his mom and dad, so he again searched for something to do to entertain himself. Lois always told him to stay in daddy's office, but he often stole out into the large office room where people were constantly in a hurry or busy. Mr. Kent was usually willing to tolerate his eagerness to occupy himself and stopped whatever he was doing to be with him.

So off to his desk he went.

Jason put his elbows on the little open space there was and watched Mr. Clark writing on a piece of paper. He liked to watch him a lot ever since he wondered if Clark was the same person as Superman. Seeing him stand by a TV with Superman's picture on it had convinced Jason that the strong resemblance was not coincidence. Didn't anyone else notice too?

"Hey kiddo," said Clark. "How are you today?"

"Good."

"You look kinda bored."

"Yeah." He tilted his head. "Are you gonna send me back to daddy's office?"

Clark laughed. "No, not if you don't want to."

"Will you play a game with me?"

"What sort of game are you thinking of?"

Jason's eyes wandered around the room. "I don't know. How about hide-and-seek?"

"Well, as long as we don't bother anyone else…"

"I won't, I promise," he said quickly.

"Then you'd better go hide!"

Jason grinned and hurried away. He searched for a hiding place and spotted the closet on the far side of the office.

Once he went inside he did not shut the door all the way so there was still a thin line of light to see by. He backed further in and bumped into something. It was a suitcase like the one at Mr. Kent's desk. His childlike curiosity kindled. He pulled it out to see and slowly opened it just enough to peek inside.

His breath started to come in full, quick gasps as his asthma took over and his little heart pounded. The shaft of light pushing through the door had fallen across a folded suit of blue and crimson with a large 'S' on the breast, the very same he had fingered in the hospital. Even though he could not breathe well, he closed the suitcase again and stood alone in the closet without his inhaler.


Clark knew all he had to do was use his super vision to find Jason; nevertheless, he decided to play fair and searched all around the office space. After not discovering any sign of him, his eyes fell on the door to the closet. It was not closed all the way.

He walked straight to it, finally using his vision to look through the door. All sense of amusement and enjoyment fled as he saw Jason gasping for air inside. He hastily opened the door and knelt in front of the boy.

"Jason! Where's your inhaler?"

Jason shook his head.

Clark took his son in his arms and held him close. "Just take slow, deep breaths. Let your heart slow down and don't panic. Just breathe." He closed his eyes and breathed how he wanted Jason to.

Jason was suddenly breathing normal again far quicker than Clark had expected. It was a rather abrupt change.

"It happened again," Jason said in a low voice. "Like on the boat when I didn't need my inhaler."

When he threw the piano. "Are you going to be okay?" He was watching for any signs of...unusual...activity in his son like the things that he would happen to him when he was young.

He nodded and threw his arms around his neck. "Thanks, Superman," he whispered.

Clark was taken aback. How had he known?

"I promise not to tell."

"Thank you, Jason." He ruffled his hair and studied him for a moment. "You'd better get back to your…to Richard's office."

After Jason was gone, he looked down at his suitcase lying on the floor. So that's how he knew. He put it back in its place. I need to find an apartment soon.

But isn't that what I wanted? That someone would find out who I really am so I would not feel so isolated anymore? If only Jason knew the other secret being kept from him. So many secrets…

He had never feared for his own life, but it always struck a chord when people he cared for were in danger. Seeing Jason like that was not easy, and he had to take a deep breath before stepping out back into the rush of the Daily Planet.


Clark finally bought a new apartment for when he needed a place close by or for show. It was very simple, but then he didn't need much. The view was nice too.

He stood at a window and gazed out on the city. Evening was fast approaching, the time when he removed the mask of Clark Kent.

The resurfacing feelings of loneliness brought on by the loss of his true love Lois Lane were somewhat stifled by the admiration and appreciation of the rest of the world. It was the cheering, the applauding, and the loving expressions on people's faces that kept him going.

His son was another reason to persevere in his calling. His true desire was to be able to have Lois and Jason as his own, yet that would mean hurting Richard and revealing everything all at once in a chaotic mess.

I want to be there for him and spend time with him, but how? Richard truly is a good man…


A few weeks passed and all the complications were put on hold while life intervened and moved on. During those weeks, Lois and Richard noticed a swiftly-developing bond between Jason and Clark Kent. Their son would linger around Clark's desk or follow him when he was up doing things, so Lois asked Jason about it one day.

She picked him up from school, and they were driving to the Daily Planet. She glanced in her rearview mirror. "Jason, I see you've been hanging around Mr. Kent a lot at the office. You know you should probably let him get his work done: reporters are usually very busy."

"He doesn't mind. I asked."

Lois let it go for the moment since she figured Clark wouldn't tell Jason if he really did want to be left alone. They were not together all the time or every day even, but Jason certainly had not warmed up so much to anyone else at work. He seemed to have placed Jimmy second. She had to admit though that it was amusing to see the small boy trailing along behind Clark who was a big guy. I suppose he's a bit of a babysitter now. She laughed quietly at the thought.