A/N: Tribute video is in my profile. Although Ethan would be the perfect age to be mistaken for Kal-El by Kara - she, Davis, and Henry (Jimmy) don't exist. We see Ethan growing up, but most of the story probably takes place within ages 3 - 8. Main characters: Lois, Clark, Ethan, Oliver, Chloe, Tess, Martha, Jonathan, and Shelby. Clark/Lois are the main ship, but includes (shown or mentioned) Chloe/Oliver, Tess/Emil, and Lana/Jason. Contains subjects of teenage pregnancy, child abandonment, and health complications. I write in British English; some spelling/grammar may be different than you're used to. First two chapters are shorter than average, sorry.

Updates will be regular. I'm super excited to share this story, and I hope you enjoy it. If you read the original version from 2013, thank you! Please keep in mind this rewritten version has the same concept and heart of "Ethan" but is plotted as a new story and will be completed.


1: Abandoned

He was waiting. Had been for a while.

Clark enjoyed the solitude of his loft. He knew every creak of the floorboards, every book out of place, and every breeze that brought with it the seasonal hints of corn harvest or winter's approach.

Waiting made the air different. He watched it move dried leaves below, as something stirred the farm's quiet evening. Waiting could be gentle and forgiving, like ocean waves meeting a warm shore. Tonight wasn't like that. It mingled with dread and inevitability, causing a rift in the familiar. Tension radiated in the air.

Clark turned his head, listening in on his parents' conversation back in the house. Plates and cutlery clattered as they cleaned up after dinner.

'He hardly said a word tonight,' Martha said. 'He's been quiet all week.'

'I know, sweetheart.' Jonathan shifted to tinker underneath the sink.

'Graduation is in a few days,' she added. 'When we talked about his future, he was so undecided. It's like he was a million miles away.'

'Clark's probably just thinking about his options.' Jonathan winced as the wrench slipped against a stubborn pipe. 'We've avoided being busy all day, in case he wanted to talk. He knew that. For all we know, it's just normal teenage stuff... for once.'

Martha sighed. 'If only it were that easy. I wish he'd just talk to us...'

Clark tuned out.

The stars were bright tonight, twinkling so far away.

He'd waited for them to realise something was different – not for a week, but months. He was no longer certain his parents would understand. Guilt had a way of catching up to those who tried to avoid it, even someone with super-speed. The longer he stayed silent, the harder it was to mention what happened almost a year ago – the caves, the car, the girl...

His parents gave him space. Clark pretended not to notice their exchange of worried glances and urging looks. He'd have even skipped his chores, if the distraction they provided wasn't so tempting.

Lois' car pulled up in the driveway, adding to his guilt.

The mysterious amnesia haunted him, since he'd met Lois in that cornfield. As far as his parents knew, he'd vanished in the cave then showed up three months later as Kal-El. He'd flown; he'd gone after a Kryptonian crystal; and his mother saved him with black kryptonite. The rest was a blur.

It wasn't the whole truth. He never corrected them from assuming he'd been in the cave the whole time.

'Hey. Didn't you hear me calling you?'

Clark blinked out of his daze, perplexed as Lois entered his loft carrying a box of papers.

'Wow,' she said. 'You're taking brooding to a whole new level tonight.'

He shrugged. 'I've just got a lot on my mind.'

'No kidding.' Lois eyed him, as if to devise the meaning behind his evasive expression. 'Do you think you could brood your way downstairs and help me with some boxes? Chloe's had me running errands all day. Why I have to be the one handle last-minute yearbook stuff is beyond me.'

Lois was an excellent distraction.

... ~ ...

Clark rolled over on the couch, rubbing sleep from his eyes. Moonlight cast through the living room windows. What woke him? Wind moved corn stalks in the distance, a neighbour's dog barked at a squirrel, pattering footsteps ran by the Kent barn, and there was a vulnerable whimper on their doorstep.

He rushed to the back door at a human speed. The concept of sleep vanished at the sight of a baby left out on the porch. A note was pinned to the blue blanket, addressed to "Clark Kent". He scooped the baby into his arms, surveying the darkened farmland void of answers.

As far as he could tell, it was a boy and there were no warnings signs of poor health. Clark gently placed him on the couch and removed the note.

High-pitched crying shattered the quiet night. Panicked, he dropped the note to cradle the baby – trying to calm him before...

'Clark?' Martha appeared at the top of the stairs.

Jonathan followed her to the living room. 'Where did a baby come from?' He turned on the lights, exposing the situation and a lack of sleep soon to follow.

'I don't know,' Clark said. 'I just woke up and there he was, on our doorstep.'

'Am I hearing things or is this another nightmare?' Lois groaned, shoving a sleeping mask off her face. 'Where did that come from?'

The sky transitioned from starlit darkness to the rosy pinks and golden hues of dawn. Martha set about making coffee, and Jonathan rushed outside in search of any sign of who'd abandoned a baby – and on their porch, of all places.

'Here.' Clark placed the baby in Lois' arms.

'No- I...' she protested, adjusting the infant. He whined at the sudden shift and losing Clark's warmth. 'Hey, shhh. It's okay.' Lois shot Martha a helpless look.

He unfolded the letter, turning in an attempt for privacy.

Dear Clark,

His name is Ethan. He's your son.

I wanted to tell you how sorry I am, but words aren't enough. I needed money, and some scientists wanted a baby. I thought it'd be simple, but I was wrong. When I met you, it was almost like fate. Then we got to talking. You were a good friend, Clark. I didn't think I could go through with it. I swear, I didn't mean for this to happen after that. Somehow, it still did.

Then you just disappeared. I figured I'd may as well get paid. I mean, I'm only 18 and I don't want kids. When I saw Ethan for the first time, it was like everything became really obvious, you know? Maybe it was fate, because it's like he was always yours.

I couldn't just trade someone's son for money. I told the scientists I lost the baby, and I covered it all up. They can't trace it back to you. I looked after him until I could find your farm. It made me certain of what I had to do. He's yours, Clark. He was never mine, and I want to keep it that way. I hope one day you'll find him a real mother who loves him more than I ever could.

Please don't come looking for me. I made a lot of powerful people mad when I changed my mind. I know how that will end for me. I'll never see you or Ethan again, but at least I know he's safe now. I hope he grows up to be as wonderful as his father.

Kelly.

Lois tried to read the letter while rocking an unhappy baby. 'What's it say?'

He couldn't speak. The envelope contained the birth certificate, custody stuff, and medical records. Words blurred together, as he sank onto the couch, staring at the letter.

'There's no sign of anyone.' Jonathan sighed. 'Shelby couldn't sniff out much either.'

'Clark, what is it?' Martha asked.

Aware of his onlookers, he tried to gather thoughts. 'Uh...' Clark frowned, shaking his head in disbelief. 'His name is Ethan. He's about six months old. He's... he's my son.'

'He's what now?' Lois stared at the baby. 'How is he your son? Did you sneak off with a girl a year ago and leave her pregnant? What the hell, Clark.'

Ethan whimpered. She held him out like a bomb about to go off.

'No.' Clark retrieved his son. 'I don't know. It's signed "Kelly" but I don't know anyone by that name.' He stuttered, light-headed.

Ethan gurgled, leaning into his warmth when he saw who held him. Despite his racing thoughts and heartbeats, Clark cracked a smile. There were no baby photos of himself but, as he looked at his son's face, he imagined a resemblance.

Was he just seeing what he wanted to?

'The girl obviously made a mistake.' Jonathan reached for the kitchen phone. 'I'll call Sheriff Adams. Maybe-'

'No,' he said. 'Please, Dad, don't call her. We don't need to call anyone, okay?'

Lois made a beeline for the coffee pot.

'Clark...' Martha said, sympathetic. 'I know you're trying to do the right thing by taking care of this baby, but you need to consider the possibility that he might not be yours.'

'I believe her.' He couldn't explain the certainty. No one could write a letter like that if they weren't being honest, right? Ethan had his eyes, dimples, and dark hair. The time of conception also aligned with those mysterious three months.

Jonathan sighed. 'Clark, there could be a million different reasons why someone would leave a baby on our doorstep. It doesn't make him your son just because they say so. We don't have to decide anything right now...'

'Why not?' He frowned, cradling Ethan close. 'Why would someone make this up? I'm on the birth certificate. His last name is Kent.'

Martha read through the letter and documents. Lois peered over her shoulder, clutching a mug of coffee.

'There's a really simple solution here. Well, maybe not that simple for a needle-phobe like Clark, but...' Lois shrugged. 'Just get a DNA test.'

Clark and his parents exchanged wary glances.

'I don't need one,' he said, smiling at his son's little face. 'This is my decision to make. I'm gonna keep him. He even looks like me.'

Lois winced as Ethan cried. 'He certainly whines like you.'

'He's probably hungry.' He shrugged, glancing around the kitchen as if a bottle would appear.

'Or cold,' Martha added. 'I'll see if we have anything of yours in storage that's small enough.'

Jonathan fixated on the papers, ignoring anything else.

Clark tried to calm his son while Lois downed her coffee. His life would change. Luckily, he'd graduate soon; being a parent while attending high school didn't feel possible. Some people managed it, but he couldn't accept that statistic.

Lois' hand on his arm held back a wave of panic. 'What do you need?' she asked. 'Anything, you name it.'

'Uh, formula.' He gave her an appreciative look. 'Diapers. Clothes...' There were so many things Ethan needed that they didn't have.

'Basically everything from an over-priced baby catalogue? All right. Consider it done.' Lois nodded. 'I know the roosters haven't crowed yet, but I'll break down a door if I have to. Sit tight, okay? I'll be back soon.'

'Thanks.' He nodded. 'Hey, you're okay. You're okay.' He tried to soothe Ethan while Martha wrapped him in a thicker blanket.

'Are you sure about this?' she asked. 'A baby will change your whole life. It's a lot of responsibility for anyone, let alone someone at 18.'

'I know, Mum. He's my responsibility now.' Clark watched Ethan calm at the sound of his voice. 'We can test his blood with kryptonite, but... I can't explain how I feel. You and Dad showed me what a great parent looks like. I want to give that to Ethan.'

His decision was final. Ethan Kent was a member of their family.