Author's Notes: Thanks again for your patience… ^_^ This is the final installment of the The Roads Not Taken. You guys are all great. Thank you for staying with me til the end. Hope to see you again with my next fic or music video, whatever musing or inspiration I have. To those who celebrate Valentine' Day – Advance Happy Valentine's Day!
Remember, The Roads Not Taken features three time lines – 2003 (bold); 2004 (italics); 2011 (normal). Pronouns/sentences/paragraphs that are really important to the story will be underlined. This is an AU fic!
Epilogue: Blue-Eyed Angel
Centennial Park, Metropolis - Present timeline
She watched other kids running around the playground. She walked a few yards away from her mother's work wearing her favorite pink and lavender sweat shirt, gloves and pants. They had cute Disney characters' faces and matched the shoes on her feet. She stopped in front of her favorite bench. She didn't care if someone was sitting on the other end, he was reading newspaper anyways. He wouldn't mind for sure.
She was taller than most six–year old kids, so she managed to climb the bench and sat there without making any noise. She blinked before she shifted her attention to the man sitting beside her. His hair was neatly combed and he wore a three-piece suit. He looked like Harry Potter with the eyeglasses, she thought. He smiled and glanced over the young kid. She was a snob. She directed her attention to him, looking sideways and pretending she didn't see him.
When she felt he wasn't paying attention, she couldn't help but to stare at him again.
"Hey kiddo, what's your name?" He gently asked while putting down his newspaper.
"I am not supposed to talk to strangers." She said in that usual high-pitched tone most young girls have. She matched it with a pout on her lips which reminded him of someone.
He shrugged as he opened his palm for her. "I'm Clark, what's yours?"
She was slightly shocked as she displayed her rounded blue eyes. She bit her lower lip, weighing whether she should stay or go. He looked very decent and kind, she thought.
"Jill." She smiled showing her baby teeth.
"Jill… Clark… So we're not strangers anymore." He smiled widely as they shook their hands.
The kid nodded which he followed with another question.
"Where are your parents?"
"Around." He smiled again. She was a smart kid, very well-trained by her parents. He hoped he had a daughter like her. Though she answered his questions, her attention was focused on another thing: a group of kids buying balloons. The young girl was fascinated with the balloons, but of course she would just stare, unless her parents would buy one for her.
"Sir." He shouted. "Give me one balloon, please." He shifted his gaze on her; somehow he mirrored a younger version of himself on Jill. "Jill, what color do you want?"
The excitement of her face was evident. "The red one!" Clark smiled widely at the kid which she returned equally.
"Keep the change." He told the man.
"Thank you, sir. Here, a red balloon for your daughter." The vendor assumed they were father and daughter, both of them neither confirmed nor denied.
He gently tied the string on her right wrist and because of it he was paid with a bright smile on her face. For some strange reason, he felt lighter whenever she did that. He usually had that same odd feeling with a woman from his past.
"You're like my Daddy." Jill stared at Clark under her long eyelashes.
He smiled at her. "Really?"
"Yes. I saw him in a photo. Mommy is keeping that photo in her wallet. Maybe one of these days, I'll borrow it so that my Uncle will scan it and then I will have my own copy." She paused to breathe.
"Clark, are you going to come back here?" She eyed him while waiting for his answer.
"Maybe yes… Why?"
"That's nice, 'cause I'll show you my Daddy's picture. He also has big blue eyes, like yours." She rounded her two hands and put them on her eyes which served as a telescope looking at him. "He doesn't have glasses though." He chuckled at her talkativeness. The young girl was too open despite the fact that they barely knew each other.
"You never met him?" She shook her head many times while playing with her hands on her lap. He was astonished and silently his heart broke for her.
"Mommy says I will understand when I get older."
He nodded, "I'm sure you will. You're a bright kid."
"I want to see him. Mommy says this is their favorite place. Do you think he will come back for us?" Somehow, her puppy-dog eyes made his heart ached even more.
He was out of words by her statement. He couldn't understand, but he wanted to be her father. She was waiting for his answer, but she cut him off before he could even give his response.
"Mr. Clark, I have to go. Mommy will get angry to Uncle Jimmy if she finds out that I'm not there. Thank you for the balloon." The young girl reached out to kiss him on his face.
"You're welcome." He gently touched her hair. It must have been tough for this kid to grow up without her father, but she was still lucky enough to have a mother, whom he thought did her very best to raise such a sweet and witty girl.
"Hope to see you again… If you have a kid, bring her here so we can be playmates." She winked as she waved him goodbye.
She walked away from him with her red balloon swaying with her movements. Clark watched the kid, her wittiness left him with a wide grin on his face. Then he realized how on earth he forgot to ask the young girl about the name of her father. Somehow, he could help her to find him… He took his luggage and he followed her direction, but sirens got his attention for a second, when he looked back Jill disappeared with the rest of the crowd.
-o0o-o0o-o0o-
Daily Planet, Metropolis – Present timeline
"Jimmy, where's Jillianne?" The young photographer turned white when he heard the voice of the intrepid reporter. He looked at his cornered desk where crayons were spread out.
"Mommy, I'm here." Her long dark brown hair swayed as she ran towards her mother. She carried her and realized that she was getting heavier each day. She was growing up fast and recognized that one of these days she couldn't hold her like this.
"Hey, Jill. I'm sorry that you have to wait until we go to the park. Mommy had a sudden meeting with Perry, but after this we can go there. You need to get stuck at Uncle Jimmy's desk for a while more. This will take just a few minutes."
"It's okay." Jill smiled cheerfully. Her blue eyes glowed in amusement.
"Okay?" Her mother questioned, raising slightly her eyebrow.
"Yes." The young girl answered joyfully.
"Coloring is not boring, isn't it?"
"It's not. I learned to like it." Her reply earned her Mom a chuckle. She gently put Jillianne down and walked towards the young man who stood frozen beside them.
"Tell me Jimmy, did you buy that red balloon for her?" She put her hands on her waist. It was her way to intimidate people, he thought. But still, she was one of the best reporters on The Daily Planet and one of the best single parents he knew. He appreciated her advices and concerns for him. Jimmy knew that deep down her strong personality, she treated him like a younger brother. She comforted him on his first heartache by telling him that everything would be okay and kept on pushing him to do his best on his job. She was tough, but she had a soft spot, most especially for her daughter. He was thankful for catching a glimpse on that side of Lois, but in the meantime, he had to tell her a white lie for his lovely little niece. Though they were not related by blood, he considered Lois, Jillianne and Perry his family.
"Ah…. Yeah, yeah I bought that balloon." His freckles suddenly became more obvious as his nervous tone rose on the surface.
She tapped his shoulder. "Thanks. Got a meeting with Perry, it won't take long. Take good care of Jill."
'Thanks?' He didn't know how to react, she just thanked him. If he had his tape recorder at the moment, he would have recorded it. "Yes Lois." Two words he already said for the tenth time this day.
When Lois Lane left them and entered Perry White's office, he realized he had been holding his breath.
"Uncle Jimmy." Jillianne whispered while playing with her balloon.
He helped her to sit on his chair. "Yes, mini Lois. Wait…" He leveled his height with her. "Where did you go? I was just talking to-"
She giggled, "Yes, I know. You were talking to the girl of your dreams, the Taylor Swift look-alike."
He looked up at the beautiful apprentice who sat a few desks away from him. "Ssshhh… She might hear you. Wait, I'm not finished yet, where did you go? Your mother will kill me if she finds out that you go to the park all by yourself - again."
She bit her lower lip and looked at him innocently
"Ah…. Ah… Ah… I know that look… Jill you did it again. You did it again? The last time you did that, you were almost got yourself kidnapped by..." He was cut by Jill… Mother like daughter, he sighed.
"Uncle Jimmy, calm down… You're panicking." She smiled. "That lady didn't want to kidnap me. She only wanted to have a cute daughter like me." She pouted her lips while opening her coloring book.
"Panicking? Who's in panic? Did you know that your mother almost cut my throat that day?" Jimmy's face was turning red on Jill's reactions. What a hard-headed Lane?
She turned around, "I'm sorry Uncle Jimmy."
"Jill! Don't do that again. Promise me. Next time, ask me to come with you okay?" He scratched his head. He couldn't begin to describe how stubborn this young girl was sometimes, but still she could be sweetest at the same time. To that his heart melted.
"Uncle Jimmy, calm down. Nothing happened. I promise I'll help you with your crush. For sure, she will say yes if I'll ask her to date you."
"Yeah, yeah. That characteristic of yours, you got it from your Mom. Tell me which color you need, I'll help you with your masterpiece."
"You know what, Uncle Jimmy? You're the best uncle in the whole wide world!" And she displayed her famous Lane smile.
Jimmy flushed deep red as he heard 'the girl of his dreams' giggling on her seat.
Jill whispered in his ear. "See? You already have way for first base. One point!"
He ruffled Jill's hair. "Come on, Jill. You should finish this before your Mommy returns from Perry's office."
He took a second to look to the new object of his affection. She winked at him.
-o0o-o0o-o0o-
Lois Lane opened the door of Perry White's office after a knock. The area was not decorated as extravagant as the other editor-in-chief's offices before him. Lesser furniture, bigger space, he always said.
The man in his sixties was seriously reading her article.
"So?" She asked.
He looked up, not even startled by her voice, maybe it was because he already knew she was coming to his office.
"Why didn't you put that article in today's headline? You didn't publish it yet, I assume. I rushed it last night." Her irritation was very obvious.
"Sit down, Lane." His authoritative voice reminded her of her Dad.
She held the back of the chair, but never sat down.
"Lois, you're getting better every day. Lane, I said sit down." She rolled her eyes as she followed his order. Though, they always had this kind of conversations almost every day, she treated the old man as if he was her own father.
"Since you're far more superior to those who are older than you regarding your professionalism and reporting skills, I want you to train a newbie."
She raised one eyebrow. "Train? A newbie?"
He supported his chin with his hand, foreseeing another headache thanks to hard-headed Lois Lane. "Technically, he's not new in the business. He wrote few decent articles at The Planet anonymously."
"What the hell is going on, Perry? I'm not here to teach some wannabe reporter from Nowheresville. Am I a babysitter?" Because of that discussion, she totally forgot about her unpublished article.
Perry chortled, "You're going to have a partner whether you like it or not!"
"Where's democracy here?" She crossed her arms above her chest. "I don't suppose I have a choice then?"
He stood up, "No, you don't." He said in a calm but firm tone.
She was very angry, but Perry's face lit up when someone knocked at the door. "Come in."
"Mr. White."
She rolled her eyes for the second time and glanced at her watch to recognize how many minutes she had wasted in such fruitless meeting. The only thing she could think of was her daughter; Jillianne was waiting for her outside.
"There you are." The old man said to the newcomer. "Come, sit beside Lois."
She neither moved nor paid attention to him. Instead, she opened her cell phone and sent a text message to Jimmy stating that she would be there in a minute. His luggage hitting the floor made a loud thud as he sat on the chair beside her.
"Klutz." She whispered.
"Sorry." He said while fixing his tie. He couldn't believe that it was her. Her beauty was still exquisite, after all these years. For him, it was like; the world had stopped while he was looking at her. He almost forgot that Perry was in the office, until he spoke before them.
"Clark Kent, this is Lois Lane, you're new partner."
"What?" She looked at the neophyte's perplexed expression. "Smallville?" She said barely above whispering.
He shyly moved up his eyeglasses to the bridge of his nose to lessen his nervousness.
Perry looked at Lois and Clark's expression. He was puzzled by the way they reacted at each other. "Sorry, did I miss something?" Perry asked.
"You have no idea, chief." She replied.
He raised his eyebrow. "What do you mean? And by the way, don't call me chief, Lane."
"Mr. White, Lois and I have known each other for a long time." Clark smiled never leaving Lois face.
"Okay, I think there's no need for a formal introduction then. Welcome to The Daily Planet, Kent." They both stood up to shake hands. Unnecessarily, Clark grasped Perry's hand firmer. "What a grip son?"
"I'm sorry, Mr. White."
"Your desk will be placed across Lois's. Meeting is adjourned."
"Ah, Perry. I'm on leave today." Lois said in a bumbling way. Perry just waved his left hand, signaling his approval.
The old man watched them left his office with a wide smile on his face. His instincts told him that something would be out in the open pretty soon.
Lois stormed out their editor's office. She didn't know how to react after seeing his face again. Years had passed and she was still haunted by their past. Clark followed her, but he didn't know exactly what to do. He was out of breathing, just like her. His long absence never faded his true feelings for her and, seeing her again, served as a proof that he still felt the strong connection they shared before.
Lana was right; he would find Lois at an unexpected time and place. He stopped at his desk, trying to read Lois's body language. She wasn't paying attention to him. She chose to get her things and prepared to leave.
"Sorry Clark. I have an important thing to do. We can catch up some other time." He nodded understandingly, though he was saddened by her response.
"Mommy, look at my drawing. This is Uncle Jimmy, me, you and Daddy. I saw someone that looked just like him at the park today." Clark stared at the owner of the voice and suddenly felt his feet glued on the floor.
Jimmy interrupted, "Yes at the park, when we went like an hour ago." His eyes asked for forgiveness, making Lois nod as she sat up in front of Jillianne.
"It's beautiful." Clark suddenly said.
The young girl looked up, too surprised to see him at The Planet. "Hey Mr. Clark, how are you?"
He sat down beside Lois, in order to level up at Jillianne's height. He saw the look in her eyes, questioning why he was here.
"I work here."
"You work here? This is the first time I've seen you here." She said continuously.
"This is my first day." He replied.
Lois blinked back tears that were about to fall. She shifted her attention to the television screen. This must have been the right time for them, when she saw the date flashing on the screen…. February 11, 2011. She remembered the fortune teller's voice.
"Don't give up on him. Wait until its February 11, 2011."
Clark stared at her. His eyes were full of emotions, she couldn't define them all.
"Lois, how old is she?"
That was it, the question that bombarded her. She couldn't answer him easily. His eyes were pleading on her, she couldn't take it anymore.
"Six." That was all she could tell for now. She prepared herself for this kind of situation, but no matter how hard she tried to say the words she rehearsed, nothing came out. She was still unprepared. "I'm sorry Clark, we need to go."
"Yes, of course. Sorry if I interrupted you." He didn't want them to leave, but he guessed not everybody was ready to face this kind of situation. He gave them space, so they could go.
JIllianne looked up at Lois and Clark and yanked her mother's hand. "Mommy, if it's okay, can he come with us? I like him."
"Jill, Clark is busy. He just got here, maybe some other time."
"Yes, you mom is right." Clark agreed with certain batch of hope creeping in. Their connection never faded, it was getting stronger.
"Bye!"
"Bye."
-o0o-o0o-o0o-
Clark Joseph stood behind the trunk of an old oak tree, hiding, watching the exchange of laughter between two people who were enjoying each other's company. Their giggles sounded like music to him. They were like his angels sent to change his whole life. How he wished they would let him in their lives? He really wanted to become a part of their family. A family? He hadn't got that for a long time. On the outside looking in, he stayed and recorded in his memory their smiles and laughter.
He saw Lois put a hat on Jill's head, with a big sunflower in front. The snow stopped from falling that was why the weather wasn't that freezing cold, but still most of the people were wearing thick clothes. He laughed to himself; maybe he wasn't feeling cold because seeing Lois and Jillianne from afar, he could tell, they warmed his heart.
His cell phone rang and he allowed himself to see who was on the other line, though he had a feeling to who it was. He could sense that it was about to come. They both said the usual hellos. He was grateful that she called. She stayed with him through all, thick and thin.
"Lana, it's nice to hear your voice again."
"Same line since we were teens, huh?" She mocked him like the in old days.
"I'll visit you as soon as I'm settled here in Metropolis." He smirked when he saw Lois carried Jill on her back. He heard a peal of laughter from the young girl.
"I can tell you're smiling now." Lana said on the other line.
"How do you know about that?" He scoffed.
"I have x-ray vision." She joked which made Clark laugh.
"Lana, thank you so much."
"For what?"
"For helping me find Lois and Jillianne – as an added bonus. I'm curious why did you never mention Jill before?"
"Yeah, I did it on purpose, you know? I wanted you to find out by yourself."
"Thanks a lot." He said the words sincerely.
"You don't have to. That's what friends are for, right? You did greater things for me, compared to what I've done. Clark, you don't need to stand behind that old oak tree. Why don't you approach and join them? You deserve each other."
Clark was surprised as he turned around and saw Lana on the other side of the street sipping a cup of coffee.
"I wish you all the best in the world."
"Lana, I wish the same for you."
"I know you do. Bye Clark."
"Bye Lana."
She heard the click signaling he was gone. She kept her eye on him as he moved towards the two most important people in his life, towards the place where he truly belonged. She was thankful that Lois allowed him to be there for her during the worst days of her life. Although she felt guilty most of the time, because she trapped him on times, he felt responsible for taking care of her. She was just too afraid of losing him and too scared of dying young, helpless and alone.
She admired how strong Lois was by letting him go, when in fact she needed him the most. She had been able to raise a kid on her own. Lana regretted how self-centered she was, because of that Clark wasn't able to see Jill's first cry, first smile, first step or heard her first word. If she could turn back the hands of time, it wouldn't be like this. Her conscience told her that it wasn't her fault after all, because nobody knew about Lois's pregnancy. She kept her condition a secret, even to Clark.
When the doctors told Lana that she was cancer-free, this second chance of life provided her light on the matter and she decided to do the right thing. Embracing her new life meant that she had to make the biggest sacrifice of all – and that was for the only man she truly loved and she would always will – letting him embrace his destiny. One that included Lois and Jillianne.
Lana smiled watching Lois and Jill in Clark's presence. She reminisced the times she busied herself looking for Lois whereabouts while Clark was away for his training. It took years before she finally found her at an apartment in Metropolis. Lois just came back from a seven-year stay in Canada and decided to settle in Metropolis after getting her job at The Daily Planet. Watching Jillianne play in the living area, she never doubted she was Clark's, her facial features were undeniable. Though Lois was a bit hesitant on their first personal conversation, she managed to convince her about the honest reasons to be there.
"I'm sorry if I took him away from you, I didn't know about you and the kid."
"That was nobody's fault, Lana. Don't blame yourself, I certainly don't blame you." Lois held Lana trembling hands. "I understand."
With that she cried on the shoulder of the woman who stole the heart of her Clark Joseph. "I want to say how sorry I am too. I never intended to be part of Clark Joseph's life. I thought he was Clark Jerome. I let Joseph go because it was the right thing to do."
The right thing to do. The words echoed on her mind and it was her turn to give back what she had borrowed.
"Clark loves you so much, Lois. Even when he was with me, he never forgot you. He always mentioned your name, even in his sleep. He always had those faraway looks in his eyes, like he was waiting for someone to come back. I felt it, but I never said a word to him because he wouldn't tell me. He was just too polite to conceal that he fell out of love with me. I never got the same look he had for me before. I denied for a long time, keeping to myself with different scenarios. That maybe he found someone, but later on he would forget about her. That maybe he was really busy or that maybe he was teaching himself to detach himself from his feelings for me, so when I left, he wouldn't feel that bad. I kept it on until one day, realization hit me full blast. He didn't love me the way I wanted him to love me. The feelings… They had just evaporated, meaning we were not really meant for each other." She smiled bitterly, wanting to hide her feeling, but they showed on her face. Lois was listening intently, focusing on each and every word she said.
"Lois, Clark is special. He will always be. When he comes back from his training, though I'm not in the right position to ask, please give him another chance. I'm doing this, not because of him… but for me. I don't want to be the old Lana – who always thinks of her own happiness. People's lives do not revolve around me. I see that now."
Lana smiled genuinely for the first time in her life. She felt light-hearted as she never did before. Was this the feeling of fully letting go of all the uncertainties of life and embracing whatever life offered to her freely? She turned around and walked away from her past. She moved toward the path she was supposed to travel, years ago – to forgive herself and move on. It wouldn't be easy for sure, but for sure she could do it. She was a survivor.
He patiently waited for this time to come and it took his breath away. Lois and Jilliane were making different faces on pieces of stones. He smiled remembering that, the time he had met her, she was writing on a piece of stone. 'Some old habits never die.'
He cleared his throat before words could come out. "Would you mind if I join you?"
They both looked up at him. Jill was the first to answer by greeting. "Hello Mr. Clark!"
"Hello, Jill!"
Lois stared at him and he could hear her speedy heart beat, one that matched with his own. Early this morning she visited Clark Jerome's grave and she never expected that his twin brother would appear now. She just whispered a short prayer to Jerome by sending her thanks for bringing Clark Joseph into her life. Because of Joseph, she had Jill. Was it really fate? Was it really true that she and Clark Joseph were fated to be together? Before she didn't want to believe it, but now… She really did as soft wind blew before her.
"Jill."
"Yes Mommy." She looked up at her mother waiting for her to speak.
"I need to introduce you to your father – Clark Joseph Kent. Smallville, she's your daughter."
Her rounded blue eyes were in awe as she transferred her attention from Lois to Clark, "Can I call you Daddy?"
Clark was teary-eyed as he offered his arms to hug her tiny body, his own flesh and blood. "Of course you can my blue-eyed angel."
Lois couldn't help but to cry too. The roads they traveled once were not that easy for them… Some sacrificed their own life… Her Dad… Clark Jerome… And someone had to let him go… Lana Lang – and for that she admired the most.
Clark took the stone out of his pocket and placed it on the center of Lois's palm. It was the stone she gave him seven years ago.
'I will always love you.' She tiptoed and he lean down to kiss her. It was sweet yet simply passionate.
They stopped kissing when they heard someone shouting 'yippee' and clapping. It was Jillianne, happiness mirrored her face.
"Daddy, if you ask Mommy to marry you, tell me first so I can help you."
"Well, I will do that because I know your Mommy will answer faster with your help."
"Mommy?"
"I think it depends on how Daddy asks me."
"Daddy?"
"I'll do it when your Mommy least expects it."
"Mommy, Daddy… Sometimes it's so hard to understand grown-ups like you." Lois and Clark laughed together with the kind of daughter they had.
"Daddy, Mommy, I'm hungry." She pouted her lips signaling she wanted something different.
"Where do you want to eat?"
Lois and Jill said in unison. "Mc Donalds!"
Clark chuckled, "Like mother, like daughter."
Lois punched him on his right arm. He smiled at her while he seized her hand, never wanting to let her go again. He put Jill on his shoulder, making her the tallest among the three of them. They began walking towards the road they chose not to take before. Though it was long, rough and winding, it didn't matter. What mattered most now were that they had each other and that they were looking on the same direction.
"I think I know what you're going to eat… Chocolate sundae, fries, fried chicken, apple pie and cheese burger." Clark said contentedly.
"Daddy, how do you know?"
"Those are my favorites too."
"Ah… Make it a quarter pounder." Lois replied.
"And add spaghetti too."
Clark watched at his new-found happiness and strength. Crossing the street now wouldn't be that scary. Taking each step with them would never lead him astray. From this moment on until forever… he wouldn't trade his new experiences. He would never get tired of it… He looked up at the blue skies, behind the cumulus clouds, he whispered… 'Thanks brother'.
I led a normal life. The way I perceived it to be… It wasn't perfect. I experienced ups and downs, the same as anybody whom I shared the yellow rays of the sun, the cleanest water of falls, the deepest sea, the greenest forest, the bluish skies, and the freshest air I breathe. The beauty of Earth. The beauty of living, I never appreciated them until I met her.
Maybe I was destined to become the bridge of two people who were really meant for each other. It was not easy, but it was not difficult either. Maybe, it depends on my perspective. Living the life I had, having these two special people in it, made me truly complete. Like anyone else, the ups and downs I traveled – they made me who I am today.
So I'm sending this letter to you from the heavens, wherever you are right now, whatever you feel today. You're always welcome my brother.
Clark Jerome Kent
/S/
The End
Reviews are welcome! Though this fic will end today, a week earlier than the intended schedule, please post your review... ^_^ That will make me feel better... Thank you so much. Marami pong salamat.