Lois stared into the toilet bowl. She had forgotten how fast you could get morning sickness and how horrible it was. Clark, both Clarks, was sleeping through it. She was glad or her Clark would be in there holding her hair back and being supportive and then she might be a little less mad at him for causing this in the first place. She still felt queasy but she had stopped throwing up for now. She went downstairs for something to help settle her stomach. Martha was in the kitchen.

"Mrs. Kent, what are you doing up at 2:30 a.m.? Isn't that too early, even on a farm?"

"Carol thrashes in her sleep. I figured I better get out of there before I get a black eye. I feel sorry for her future husband."

"Yeah, she is pretty tough to sleep with. She never got in bed with us on stormy nights. Lilly and Jason did. She was always a brave and independent little girl."

"She was probably still scared but didn't want to admit it."

"I know. I got in bed with her, so she could sleep better. I got a few bruises that way."

"It's so odd to see you and Clark around my age."

"I can imagine. It's weird to see you young again."

"What are you doing up this time of night?"

"Morning sickness."

"You should have said something. We have crackers and ginger ale," Martha said, as she got them for her. "You're not too happy about the pregnancy, are you?"

"I'm sure I'll get more accepting of it as time goes on. I'm just too old to have a baby."

"I'm going to tell you a story. My great grandmother got pregnant around your age. She was upset. She already had 5 kids. She was afraid they would get too old to raise the baby and that they couldn't afford it. She blamed my great grandfather for getting her pregnant. She got so mad that whenever he came near her, she would physically pass out. It would be tempting to abort the baby or give it up for adoption. An old age pregnancy is full of risks for the parents and child. They kept it though. It was my great aunt Patty. She was a wonderful lady. I wish you could've known her. She was my role model. There was never a sweeter, more giving person. Both my great grandparents lived to be about 100. Aunt Patty helped take care of them. Their other kids wouldn't have done that. She helped raise her sister's kids, when her sister couldn't do it. She was a great blessing to the whole family. She had 2 wonderful kids and 3 grandchildren, all a bunch of the nicest people you'd ever want to meet. The world would've been a little darker without them in it. I'm a firm believer that there is no such thing as an accidental pregnancy. God has a plan for each and every life, even while the baby is in the womb. Whether a person accepts that plan is another matter but there is one in place."

"I suppose I hadn't thought of it like that. I miss these talks with you."

"What do you mean you miss these talks with me?" Martha asked.

"Nothing. You know me. I say things I don't mean. It's one of those stick-my-foot-in-my-mouth moments."

"I know you meant something by it. Am I dead in your time?"

"No."

"I know I'm not going to live forever and I don't think I'd want to. You can tell me the truth."

"You're definitely alive."

"Have we not talked in a long time?"

"We see each other every day. Clark, the kids, and I visit you on a daily basis. Trust me, Mrs. Kent and don't ask too many questions. The future isn't always as nice as we'd like it."

"It's going to bother me more, if I don't know."

Lois took another sip of her ginger ale and studied Martha. "I can understand that," she said at last. "Are you sure you really want to know?"

"Yes."

"Don't tell the others I told you. You have Alzheimer's disease."

"Alzheimer's? How bad is it?"

"It's never that bad at first. Lilly was 6 when you were diagnosed. It starts off with minor things like a little forgetful and some weird things like putting a shampoo bottle under the mattress and your jewelry in the fridge, no rational reasoning behind it. It gradually gets worse and pills slow it down further but it doesn't stop it. It's hard to tell where another stage begins. It starts to affect personality. The sweetest, gentlest people become aggressive and cuss like sailors. You can't learn new things or get new memories. It starts to cut into your old ones. There are days when you can't remember who Clark is. Eventually but not yet, you will be reduced to a vegetative state and not be able to talk or swallow. If you live long enough, you can die from it. Bright and cheery, isn't it?"

"I'm so sorry."

"You're sorry? Are you apologizing for getting Alzheimer's? You didn't ask to come down with it. If anybody should apologize, it should be me," Lois said with wet eyes.

"For what?"

"Clark and I should be taking care of you and letting you live with us. You're like a mother to me. I should be giving you showers and feeding you like you did for Clark, when he was little and couldn't take care of himself. I would have to quit my job to take care of you full-time."

"Then don't, sweetheart. I don't want to be a burden. Your kids haven't left the house yet and you have another one on the way. You don't want to miss watching them grow up because you were busy taking care of me. You would run yourself nuts."

"I think handling the physical needs would be easy. It's the emotional part that would run me nuts. It's hard watching a person you've known so long and loved, slipping away little by little. Sometimes it gets hard to remember the way things used to be. I think it's hardest on the family but then a person with the disease can't communicate in the later stages. If a person can't think anymore, what are they doing in that world of theirs?"

"I guess I'll find out. I think if your mind shuts down, your soul takes over."

"Maybe so."

"So where do I live?"

"We couldn't put you in a nursing home. You could accidentally give Clark's secret away. Chloe and Oliver are good enough to watch you. Their son has already left the house. Oliver's retired and Chloe writes from home. Clark and I both feel guilty about it. You're our responsibility."

"It seems like it's the best arrangement for everybody. Decisions in these matters are never easy. You've made a good one and I approve."

Lois had tears rolling down her cheeks by now. "I'm not getting sappy. It's the hormones," she joked.

Martha smiled through her own tears and hugged her. "Lois, it'll all work out for good. You'll see."

"I think I'm going to go wake Clark up and apologize for everything."

Lois went upstairs. She was about to wake him up, when she saw a piece of paper, sticking out from behind the dresser. It was a letter from Lana to Clark in this time period. It was dated only yesterday.

Dear Clark,
Lex hasn't found out the baby is ours, yet but I think he's getting close. Remember you promised to protect the baby and me.

Lana

Lois crushed the paper in her fist. There was a fresh batch of tears in her eyes but for a different reason. No wonder Lana had named the baby Clark. Her husband was a lying cheat with another son. She stormed out of the bedroom. She didn't care if Zod did break their young selves up.

TBC