The next morning Lois was awakened by the wonderful aroma of well brewed coffee, along with something akin to bacon and perhaps just maybe…homemade Texas toast. Smiling, as she inhaled the wonderful aroma, she began to walk down the hallway. She could hear giggling coming from the kitchen, obviously whoever was cooking was receiving assistance from the children. Glancing through the doorway without a door, she saw Mara still asleep, looking like the she was dead; obviously she wasn't a morning person.
Lois was just beyond the kitchen door, trying to keep her presence unnoticed. Listening she heard the conversation between Clark and the children…
"Can I flip the toast?" begged Jordan, whose pout most often won such battles with Alfred.
Clark smiled affectionately saying, "Maybe another day, buddy, but today me and Miss Lois have to get to work."
Clark had yet to get ready for work, ever since he had woken up he had been minding the children and preparing breakfast, running a hand through his bed hair, he began to whip up some eggs.
"Hey Jason," Clark began, "Do you know what kind of eggs your mom and you like?"
Jason who was looking back at Clark, cross eyed through Clark's glasses replied, "Over easy."
Lara was sitting on the counter, holding the eggs when Clark asked her to hand him two. Haphazardly picking up the two eggs, Lara broke them both. Staring blankly at the two broken eggs, she inhaled sharply, rubbing her yoke filled hands together Lara began to cry.
Clark gingerly picked up Lara, rubbing her back.
"She always cries when she breaks things," Jordan said sadly as he watched his sister.
"Lara, it'll be fine…no need to worry," Clark soothed.
Sniffling, along with hip cupping Lara asked, "Are you sure?"
Smiling genuinely, "Absolutely, but now we must get breakfast done before your Mommy comes and wants to cook," Clark finished in mock seriousness.
All the children took an intake a breath and began working eagerly with Clark to finish breakfast.
Lois let out a giggle as she came around the corner to fully look in the kitchen full of frenzy. Just as Clark turned around she took a shocked breath…he didn't wear glasses? There before her stood Clark Kent without any glasses and looking remarkably …uncanny resemblance to…could she even say it?
Clark had yet to see Lois, turning to Jason he asked, "Hey little guy can I have my glasses back?"
Jason laughed asking, "Why…you don't need them?" Just as Clark went to reach for them using his lightening fast reflexes, Jason hopped down from where he had been sitting and over to his mother.
Clark's vision caught sight of Jason, but was distracted by the creamy white legs that led up to the body and then face of a shocked Lois Lane. Jason seeing the tension handed the glasses over to Clark who immediately placed them on his face, coughing nervously.
Lois was flabbergasted, still staring intently at Clark despite him having turned away she asked…no more like stated, "You look remarkable like…"
Before she could say it Clark but in saying, "Peoples ay I have one of those faces," he shrugged.
Groggily Mara walked into the room, having heard most of the conversation. Making a beeline for the coffee she mumbled, "I highly doubt that."
Clark glared at her, and Lois still stared dumbfounded at Clark.
Breakfast preceded in much the same manner, the children silently bickering, Lois silent occasionally glancing in Clark's direction, leaving Clark and Mara to bicker openly.
Mara glaring at her brother in much the same eye contest they had been in since she had awoken turned her attention to Lois, smilingly a little too sweetly she asked, "Who was it you thought dear Clarkie reminded you of?"
Lois nearly choked on her food, and before she could respond Clark said in an authoritarian voice, "It really doesn't matter," his tone leaving no room for argument. Lois any other day would have been totally offended and had blown up on Clark but today she was thankful for his interruption, but Mara was not.
"Well I think it matters," Mara said in a huff.
"Mara why would it matter, I am not whoever she was thinking of," Clark stated innocently.
"Really Clark you should let her say…it might be quite flattering. You never know?" Mara added just as innocently.
"I am perfectly fine being Clark Kent and no one else," Clark grinded out at his sister.
"Are you Clark?" Mara asked edging toward a topic he didn't want to pursue, "Really Clark wouldn't it be nice to be someone else for a while…to let go?"
"How do you know I don't let go?" Clark asked glaring, truthfully afraid his hit vision might burn a hole through his sister's forehead.
Mara through her utensil down with a little more force then she had intended causing the spoon to be vertically imbedded in the wooden table, "Really Clark look at you, so drawn up, you couldn't let go if it killed you…you can't let anyone else in."
"I let you in," then gesturing toward the children, "I let them in, I let Bruce in."
"That's only because he has as many secrets as you do…hell some you even share," practically ready to pounce across the table she continued, "And them you let in because they are blood…all accept Anna, why do let her in…to protect her, to make up for damage done in your youth between her mother and you…what Clark can't you let others in just to love them?"
"Mara I don't know where this is coming from but stop it," Clark growled, now standing as well.
"Lois, have you ever known Clark to have a girlfriend…anyone?" Mara asked vehemently.
"Uh…" glancing between the two, "I don't think I should be involved."
"ANSWER IT!" Mara demanded.
"Don't Lois," Clark growled lowly.
Whispering almost too low to hear, but all heard the faint 'No.'
"You keep any woman who might love you at a distance, but Clark now there others…other consequences to consider. That you cannot ignore any longer!" Mara fumed. Continuing she said, "Giving your love shouldn't be a trial; it should be without reservation, Clark."
"Not all of us can risk that."
"What is that supposed to mean, do I not have my own children to care for, do I not have someone whom I love very dearly, Clark?" Mara went on, "You built your own walls, I can feel them here," she said gesturing towards her heart, and with that she left the table.
Anna's face was solemn and downcast as she asked, "May I be excused?"
"Anna…" Clark began but he voice lost its volume as he nodded in acquiesce. Anna silent retreat from the table was followed by a simple statement.
"Clark…" but Lois received no response from the man directly next to her. Reaching out tentatively and resting her hand on his arm she said again, "Clark…don't let Anna walk away…she needs someone," swallowing her own pride she admitted to the still steely face of Clark, "Every little girl needs a father figure…Anna needs you."
Clark turned to face her, his crystal blue eyes revealing the sadness he felt. As if sensing his question on whether she was being truthful, she nodded with a smile of encouragement. Clark without further hesitation followed after Anna.
Sighing Lois pushed her plate away, placing her elbows on the table she put her head in her hands and glanced at the three remaining occupants. Mara's words echoing in her mind that Clark had let them in because they were related, but where did Jason fit into that, maybe she had forgotten his was there? Shaking her head she smiled and asked, "So…how are you guys this morning?"