NOTE: This chapter is a bit short but all my others have been long so...yeah :D. Thank you all so much who are reading my story. There are indeed 2 chapters left after this one :'(. I also must warn you...I was in quite a strange mood when I wrote this chapter, so don't be surprised by the silliness of a certain part of it :D. You'll know what I'm talking about when you read...Enjoy!

Mr. Firenze: Lol! Wait till you see what he does in this chapter...Well, it's not that impressive...

Sunny2006: Thank you! It's good to hear that you think well of my Richard :).

1eclecticreader: 2 chapters left! Wow, thank you so much for all that you said. It means a lot to me that you enjoyed my story so much. Now I'm growing sad to see the end too :). Thanks again!

M.: Haha, yeah it was fun to write that scene with the bullying guy. There's no Lex in this piece but he will show up in the next part. His part won't be that big though, and I hope you still read it. Thanks!

Angel452: Lois and Clark are finally in the clear! Richard will show up at work in the sequel too...Thanks for the review!

LostSchizophrenic: Yup, Richard is a cool guy so I think I'll keep him around :). Thank you!

Kala Lane-Kent: A promise is a promise ;), and yes thankfully my Lois isn't that type, lol. I really appreciate that you want to continue to read on about their lives. That's how I feel about writing it :). Thanks!

Nightcrawler8: Gee thanks :). It's great to know the goodbye for Richard was 'the best scenario'. Many more 'family' moments are on the way! Thank you for reviewing!

malfoysvixen: Just 2 parts :D. Thanks for the review!

Jedi X-man Serena Kenobi: Ah yes, the end! It's sad for me too but that's why I'm doing a sequel :). Glad you like the mush and thanks!

Nette: Thanks :)!

Maddi-B: Yeah, I do believe they might end up in a house in the next piece I'm writing :). Thanks for reviewing as always!

The Kiss of Death: Yes, there are 3 more chapters. Well actually 3 after this one...Anyway, thank you very much for reviewing! I hope you will for the sequel also :).

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

The next day, Jason dressed quickly and hurried out to his mom.

"Can I go see Superman?"

She was caught somewhat off guard. "Uh…I don't know. He may not be home."

"I'll go see."

"I could just call," she said. "I don't want you to be alone for long."

"I won't be. I think he's there."

She rolled her eyes. "There's still three stories to go up."

"Ah, please mom." He looked up into her eyes with those big blue gems. "I'll come right back if he's gone. I promise."

"All right, but just this once. Be careful."

"I will. Thanks mommy!" He ran out the door to the elevator at the end of the hallway. He was glad the number three was a lower number or he wouldn't have been able to reach it on the button panel.

Lois watched as the elevator doors closed and her son was out of her sight. That boy had better not develop any powers soon or it's going to be the biggest handful ever…

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Jason knocked on Clark's door with a small fist. He glanced down the hall both ways as he waited.

"Jason, come on in," Clark greeted with a broad grin. "Your mom let you come alone?" He closed the door.

"Yeah, but she didn't look happy. I said please…"

That got a laugh out of Clark. "It seems Lois isn't the only stubborn one." He went into the small kitchen where the phone was. "I'll call and tell her you're here. Knowing her, she'd appreciate it."

Jason had tagged along behind and was now trying to climb up on one of the barstools. Clark boosted him up as Lois answered her phone.

"Hey, Lois, it's Clark. Jason's up here with me. I thought you would want to know he's okay."

"Thanks, I hoped you would call."

There was a pause.

"You can come over too if you want."

He heard her sigh softly. "I actually have to run some errands and drop off a story for Perry. If you could watch him till I get back, that would be great."

"Of course," he said. Jason was spinning on the stool with his legs stretched out when Clark glanced over at him. Stifling a laugh, he continued. "He can stay as long as he wants."

"Thanks again, Clark. You're my new official babysitter. Well, no, that's not right. You're his father, not his babysitter. Anyway…I'll talk to you later."

"Lois?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you."

There was a pause. He quickly attuned his hearing to three stories down and heard her heartbeat quicken.

"Clark, I love you too."

They hung up and Clark already missed hearing her voice.

"What're we doing today?" asked Jason. He used the counter to push into another spin.

"Well, I don't know, kiddo. What do you want to do?"

"Ummm…I don't know either."

"How about we go find out? We're close to some pretty cool shops and places. Let's go." He grabbed Jason up from the barstool and swung him through the air to his feet.

"Whoa, is that what it's like up high? Can I ride on your back?"

Clark laughed. "I suppose…" He swung Jason up behind him so that he held onto his neck and Clark held his legs wrapped around his chest. They headed for the door.

"Your glasses! Don't forget 'em," cried Jason.

"Thanks for reminding me. That would have ended badly."

"Yep."

They got a few looks as they came down through the lobby and out the door, but neither noticed.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Lois came back a couple hours later. She headed straight for Clark's apartment. When her hand was poised to knock, she paused for she could hear laughter. She smiled and rapped on the door.

Jason answered it. She looked down when it opened.

"Hey bud!" She gathered him up in a hug.

Clark appeared behind him. "Come in, Lois." His eyes drank in the sight of her: it was like a refreshing cup of cool water on a hot day.

She avoided eye contact. She still was not used to Clark being Superman and the man she loved. She walked in to join them.

"So…you guys sounded like you were having fun." It was then she noticed the popcorn scattered on the floor around a bowl full of kernels. "Uh…dare I ask?"

"We were just…uh…just messing around," said Clark.

"It's really great, mom! He can pop popcorn with his eyes!" He ran over to the bowl. "Watch! Can you do it again, Mr. Clark?"

Clark rolled his eyes with a smile then focused them on a kernel. It suddenly popped into the air.

Lois could not help it. She burst into a fit of laughter and collapsed on the couch.

"Were you doing this the whole time?" She barely got the question through the hysterics.

"No," Clark fervently responded. She could see he was slightly embarrassed. "We got back not very long ago."

"I'm sorry," she said as she regained her breath. "I needed that. I feel a lot better now. It just struck me funny…"

"Obviously," he smirked. His eyes were glittering with amusement.

Jason got on the sofa beside her. "Can I stay here for a while longer?"

Lois brushed hair out of his eyes. "Sure." Her blue eyes wandered up to Clark's. "Mind if I join you?"

He smiled and slipped a hand into hers. "Of course not. I was hoping you'd ask. You're always welcome here."

The sincerity and longing in his eyes plucked a chord inside. She did not understand how she could ever stand to leave his side when she felt so complete and in high spirits with him. It only added to it to look at Jason and know he was their son, a son with the man she loved more than words would ever articulate.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Jason could sense something was up by the way his mom was smiling and fidgeting on the way home from school the next day. He began to get excited too though he didn't know why.

They walked into the apartment, and he looked at his mom before heading to his bedroom. As soon as he opened the door, a wide grin spread from ear to ear.

"Wow!" he whispered.

The walls were deep blue, the ceiling was scattered with glittering stars, and all his things were set up like in his old room. A few planes and spaceships hung from the ceiling suspended in flight, and his bed was shaped like an aircraft. He laughed and spun around to find his mom. She was already standing in the doorway. When he saw her face, he knew she was not the one who had done it.

"Where is he?" he asked.

Lois never ceased to be amazed by her son's intuitive perception. She knelt to his height. "I don't know. He's probably helping people out in the world right now."

"When can I see him?"

"Sorry, sweetie, but I don't know. He's not particularly predictable…"

He hung his head and nodded. Lois began to remember why she ever had doubts about leaving Richard to be with Superman. Superman would not always be there, and he could miss important things in their lives. Jason would have to understand that soon or he would be very disappointed.

She ruffled his hair and smiled. "Do you want to go to the park?"

His eyes brightened. "Yeah."

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

NOTE: In the next chap., Superman has another opportunity to save Lois though not necessarily her life...(it's just a last brief 'adventure' before this piece comes to a close).

Please review before the story has ended :).