Disclaimer: DC Comics and WB Entertainment own everything. No profit is being made from this story. This is strictly for my own amusement.
Author's Notes: In this next chapter, Lois and Clark figure out what happened to them and why, and later another strange occurrence sends them undeniably into realms of the unbelievable and bizarre. I hope you enjoy it. Reviews are love, everyone.
~o~o~
Chapter 4: We're Living Our Dreams
Meanwhile in another mirror universe:
Newly married and mentally still in Hawaii on their honeymoon, Mr. and Mrs. Clark Kent were in the elevator on their way to the bullpen and they were alone. Staring at his wife's profile he whispered, "One more kiss?"
Instead of answering him, she turned and looked him up and down. "Do I know you?"
"Get over here!" He pulled her arm and then they were kissing a bit desperately each wondering how much longer before they go home and get naked.
The elevator dinged then they jumped apart. Clark cleared his throat and straightened his tie. Lois fixed her lipstick, then like a dutiful wife, pulled out a tissue and wiped his lips. "There, you're decent now."
"Thanks honey," he said and smiled at her.
They exited the elevator and immediately stopped in their tracks. Something wasn't right. "Clark, what's going on? Did we get off the elevator on the wrong floor?"
"There you are," Perry said and went over to shake Clark's hand. "It's good to see you again."
"Perry?" Clark tentatively asked.
"You don't know me that well, son." He glanced at Lois. "Lane, why are you standing around looking lost? Get to work!"
"Sure Chief." Lois frowned, confused by Perry's words. She went in search of their shared office, but she couldn't find it. She spotted Steve and asked him if the office had been moved since they had just got back.
"You must have hit your head during the invasion. Your desk is right over there."
"The invasion …?" She whispered to herself as she followed him. She saw her name plate, but her supposed desk was a mess.
Lois and Clark glanced at each other from across the bullpen. Perry caught their looks but didn't say anything. Maybe they met on the elevator, he thought.
"Kent, before I introduce you to my staff, I wanted to …" Clark wasn't listening. He was still staring at Lois Lane. Perry snapped his fingers in front of his face. "Pay attention young man."
Clark snapped out of it. "Sure … Ummm … Mr. White."
Perry frowned. "Now Kent, before I show you around and introduce you, that lady right over there that you can't seem to stop staring at, is a Pulitzer prize winner. One day you could be half the reporter she is."
Clark was so confused then he blurted it out. "I know that Mr. White."
"Oh, so you know Lois Lane?"
Clark finally got the hint. Apparently, they had walked into another universe or dimension. Inwardly sighing, he had no choice but to play along. "Oh, is that her name? We haven't met exactly. We were in the elevator together."
"I see, well, I'll introduce you." Perry then walked over to Lois's desk and Clark followed him. "Lois Lane, say hello to Clark Kent. He's our new stringer."
Clark tried to give her a look to play along. She got it. "Welcome to the Planet, Mr. Kent." She held out her hand playing along.
They shook hands. "Glad to be here, Ms. Lane."
He smiled at her and Lois was relieved to see that smile then they had the same thought. It was as if they were starting their lives all over again from the moment they had met. They looked each other in the eye. They nodded in mutual understanding.
Shaking his head at their obvious attraction, Perry gave him a shove and directed him down the hall. "Alright Kent, let's move on. The copy center is right over here."
She shook her head and wondered what the heck was going on. Lois watched them walk away then she sat back down and happened to notice a recent copy of the Daily Planet on her desk. Her mouth dropped open in shock. She read the headline: Kryptonians Invade Earth: Superman Saves the World. And it was her story. It was dated a week ago. She turned it over and there was a picture of her husband in his costume. The entire front page was covered in stories about the invasion. She read as much as she could before the staff meeting.
A little while later, after the staff meeting, she looked up from her desk and Clark was coming towards her. "Ms. Lane, could I speak to you in private for a moment?"
"Of course, Mr. Kent." She picked up the newspaper and followed him into conference room.
They entered the conference room and Lois turned as he shut the door. She ran to him held him close. "What's happening?"
He pulled back and took her left hand. "Do you see?"
Lois still couldn't believe it. "Yes, I know. Our rings are gone."
"Clark, do you have any idea what's going on?"
"I think so."
"Why is this happening?"
"I honestly haven't a clue, but Jor-El may be behind this. I don't know what else it could be."
"Jor-El did this to us? But why?"
He left her side and began to pace. "The last time I saw him, he pretty much gave me a tongue-lashing about my leaving Earth and everything that happened between us. I think he was still in shock about … about Jason."
The pain and heartache shot back into her heart. "Oh, Clark, he never got to meet him."
"I know that, sweetie."
Lois walked over to him. "So you think he's teaching us some kind of lesson?"
"Not you honey; it's me he's upset with."
"Because … because you left us." It was a statement. Lois hated to think about that terrible time.
Clark could see she was getting upset. These moments of pain cropped up every now and then, and their honeymoon was no exception. "Come here," he whispered and held her close. "I'll go see him and try and fix this."
"But Clark, I read the article that I wrote and there is no fortress."
"What do you mean no fortress?"
She showed him the article. He walked over to the window and read all the articles about the invasion, Lois Lane's involvement with all of it, and the fact that she had close ties with him. Clark was a fast reader so it only took a few seconds. "I see then we have a problem."
"But Clark, there's someone who can help us."
"Who?"
"Superman and, if we're really lucky, Lois Lane herself." She grinned.
Clark's eyes lit up. "You may be right."
~o~o~
Meanwhile, back in the other universe:
Lois Lane slowly awakened and reached for him, but he wasn't there. She also realized that having sex did not solve the problem. "Clark, Clark?" Where is he? The shower wasn't running and there was no noise coming from the kitchen. She looked around for a note and there it was. Reading the note, Clark wanted her to get dressed and to wear something warm, very warm. She shook her head and realized what it meant. They were going to Canada. He couldn't mean that, could he? Jor-El was gone wasn't he?
Then Clark walked in. She decided not to rail at him about the sex because he was fantastic last night. He was wearing the suit and he seemed anxious and excited all at once. "I thought you would be dressed by now."
"Clark I just woke up." She held up the note. "Is this what I think it means?"
"Yes, Lois, we're going back to Canada."
"But … I don't understand."
"I'll explain everything once we're in the sky." He headed to the closet and pulled out a pair of heavy woolen slacks, a few sweaters and a pair of long johns wouldn't hurt either. "There," he said and laid them on the bed.
"Ok, I hope you know what you're doing," she said and got out of bed. She ignored her pounding head. Maybe it was anxiety from all the stress of the past few days. She showered and changed and was dressed and ready to go in just a little under fifteen minutes.
"Let's go," Clark said and held out is hand. She took it without hesitation.
Once they were in the sky, Lois had a few questions. "So, this is your last hope for us to leave here?"
"Yes, I was thinking about Jor-El and this universe and I realized he must be here as well."
"I see, that does make sense," Lois thoughtfully said.
"It's the only thing that does make sense in this world. I just hope he can help us. I found this ice palace this morning and it had to be the same place this Clark comes to talk to him. I wish I had something like that." He paused. "I miss him. I'd give anything to do that."
"I know you would. I'm sorry about that, but what if he can't help us? Will we be stuck here forever?" Lois voiced both their fears.
"We can't think that way."
"I can't help it. We don't belong here." She paused. "I want to go home."
"I do too," he whispered and pulled her close and wrapped his cape around her.
Lois needed to tell him the truth. "Clark, I'm not sorry about last night. You were wonderful, so sweet and loving."
"Lois," he began. He felt a little embarrassed.
"I know I've been hesitant about us making love and what that could mean for you and me." She paused. "I just needed to be sure, and Clark, I am sure about us." She smiled at him.
"You don't know how much that means to me, Lois."
She pulled him closer. "I think I do." They both smiled.
"We're here." They looked down at the beautiful ice palace. "It's beautiful, isn't it?" Clark asked, enthralled by what he could see.
"Yes it is." Lois definitely agreed.
Soon, they landed inside and Clark took it all in. Hand in hand, they walked over to the console, then he instinctively picked up the green Father crystal and placed it in the slot.
Moments went by and then Jor-El appeared before them. "My Son," Jor-El spoke to him.
"Father?" Clark murmured becoming emotional.
Lois squeezed his hand. "Hello, Jor-El, it's good to see you again."
"Hello Lois. It's good to see you too." He paused for a moment. "I know why you're here, Kal."
Clark wasn't surprised. "I had a feeling. I have so many questions. Why did this happen? How can we get back home? Can you help us?"
Silence for a minute. "Yes, Kal, I can help you."
Lois and Clark glanced at the each other, relieved beyond measure. "Thank you, Father, but I was thinking. Was it because of the other one that our lives were switched with them?"
"Yes, Kal." He paused for a moment. "Kal-El in this world has struggled with his destiny, his inability to commit to Lois, and his need to find a true home."
"Was that the reason he left her without saying goodbye?" Lois asked needing to know more about them.
"Yes, Krypton was destroyed, but Kal-El could not accept it. False rumors that Krypton still existed were spread and Kal-El believed them. Instead of telling her the truth, Lois's memories were sacrificed to protect her. He felt that her knowledge of his secret could hurt her in the long run. He felt responsible for her and he let his emotions dictate common sense and left Earth."
Clark inwardly winced at his Father's apparent disapproval.
"What do you mean her memories were sacrificed?" Lois was intrigued by their story.
"Lois had found out the truth about him, that he was in fact Clark Kent of Smallville. Kal-El removed that memory as well as several incidents that had put her in harm's way. He felt that her life would be put in jeopardy by that secret. Unfortunately, he did not know, however, that she was pregnant."
"And he left her." She paused. "How horrible for her," Lois said, feeling a kinship with her doppelganger.
Clark put his arm around her. "So it's true, they are in our world because we haven't seen them."
"Yes, Kal, they are in your world, while you are here in theirs," Jor-El explained.
"They must be just as scared and worried as we are," Lois commented.
"One more question, Father. Once we return to our world, will they be transported back here?"
"Yes, I believe so," Jor-El thoughtfully replied.
"You're not sure?" Clark asked, surprised and worried.
"I see no reason why it shouldn't work. You see, because I transported you here using an invisible barrier between two universes, this device will work for you but I'm not sure if it will for them. It's never been activated in that way before."
"Oh, no," Lois whispered, truly worried about all of them.
"Don't think the worst, honey. I guess we're ready to do this."
Then the device appeared before them. "A few things before you leave, Kal."
"What is it Father?"
Jor-El then spoke to him in Kryptonese and surprisingly, Clark understood him. A few minutes passed as they spoke to each other in their native tongue.
"I see. Yes, Father, I understand." He shook his head amazed by the news.
"Clark, what did he say?" Lois asked, as he turned to her.
"Well, he gave me instructions on how to use the device. He also said that I could take the Father crystal with me and it would construct a fortress in my world."
"That's wonderful news. You will see him again, Clark." Lois was happy for him.
He squeezed her hand. "Yes, that makes me very happy." He paused as he stared at her with new eyes.
He was staring at her so strangely. "What is it?"
He squeezed her hand again. "We won't know for sure until we return, but it is possible that you could be … pregnant."
"What did you just say?" Lois was so shocked that she felt light-headed. She touched her forehead then she fainted.
He caught her before she hit the icy ground. "You can take her in there, Kal."
He followed his Father's directions and a bedroom opened up and it was heated, surprisingly. He laid her down and loosened her jacket, removed her gloves and her hat. He rubbed her hands to warm them then smoothed her hair away from her forehead.
After a few minutes, her eyes fluttered open. Instead of ranting at him, she actually smiled then she frowned fearing the worst. She touched her stomach. "Is it true what he said? It can't be true because this is not even real. I can't be pregnant."
"Lois, I think all of this is real. I wasn't sure at first, but now I think this is really happening."
"Really? Then … I could be pregnant?"
He nodded, but didn't say anything. His throat closed up and his eyes watered.
She watched him closely. "I can see you're happy about this." She paused. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves, Ok? I'll have to be checked-out by a doctor we can trust."
He had to ask her. "You're not upset by this? I mean it was only that one time and I know you didn't want to sleep with me, well, at first you didn't."
She sighed and shook her head at him. For answer, she pulled his head down and kissed him. He kissed her back for a moment. "Does that answer your question?"
He had to say it before he burst. "I love you Lois."
Her eyes watered. "I love you too."
He wiped a stray tear from her cheek. "Jor-El did say something else. He mentioned Jason and why he didn't survive. Once we return to our world, you may need prenatal gene therapy to minimize the risk of a miscarriage or a premature birth."
"I have heard of that, and I agree. But once he's born, he won't be sick, will he?" She was truly worried about that.
"As long as she's full-term, she should be alright." Clark was sure of this.
"I can't believe this. I could be pregnant and only after one time?" She paused as she watched him for a moment. "Did you say she?"
Clark grinned at that question but didn't reply. A daughter resembling her suited him just fine. He helped her to sit up. "Are you feeling alright?"
"Yes, I'm alright." She put her gloves back on her hat then he helped her to stand.
"I have one more question for Jor-El and then we can leave." They headed back to the main chamber.
"Father, Lois is alright. I have one more question for you."
"Yes, Kal, what is it?"
"Once the fortress is built in my world, can they go home just as we did?"
"Yes, but remember that the device cannot travel between universes. I will construct another device for them to use."
"I understand." He picked up the device and the Father crystal.
"Thank you for helping us." He paused as he stared at him. "Goodbye, Father, I will see you soon."
"Goodbye, Kal."
"Goodbye, Jor-El," Lois said.
Jor-El was very happy that Lois may be pregnant. "Promise me that I can meet him one day."
"It may be a girl?" Lois said and smiled at him.
"That is true," Jor-El grinned. "Goodbye, Lois." And then he disappeared.
"He seemed so happy about being a grandfather." She paused. "I like him," Lois said.
"Yeah, one of a kind, that's for sure." He turned to her. Placing the Father crystal in his back pocket, they held onto the device.
"Clark, before we go, it wasn't a total nightmare."
He smiled. "No, it wasn't."
The device was activated and then they were gone in an instant.
~o~o~
Meanwhile, back in the other universe:
Lois Lane-Kent and Clark Kent managed to find much needed time to talk to each other their first day back. Instead of going to lunch, they headed to the rooftop to talk. Now that she knew the truth about him, it made all the difference to them.
Clark had come to the realization that the lies and deceit that had existed between them was the main reason why things had gone so wrong. The fact that he kept the one secret that would have pulled them closer together had eventually torn them apart. His rash decision to leave and take her memories only compounded his mistake.
They talked about Jason too. Lois did not blame Clark for the death of their son. Jason was an angel, a true angel and he was now at peace. His struggles every night just to breathe broke her heart and the doctors had no idea why he was so sick. She wouldn't trade one minute of her time with him. She wanted more, of course, but it was not to be and she had accepted that. She did have her moments of despair and heartache, but Clark was there for her. She would always have her memories but now they were a balm to her soul and she believed she would see Jason again.
It was now time for them to leave for the day and, of course, because of everything that had happened over the past few years, the Pulitzer award ceremony had been postponed numerous times. The fact that they were in a different world, they had no idea if they would make it back in time to attend the ceremony.
Of course, they were still in a daze about the city and all the destruction that had happened. According to Lois's article, most of the damage had been caused by the renegade Kryptonians but of course Clark sensed that the other Clark would take full responsibility just he had done all those years ago.
And so later that same day, they left the office and took a drive to their favorite park just outside of town. It was a beautiful night. They sat on a park bench, Lois's head on his shoulder.
"Have you figured out how we're going to get home?" Lois asked her husband.
"No, I haven't." He looked up at the sky. "There's been no sign of him all day, but luckily nothing too bad happened which was a good thing."
"But if he doesn't show up soon, you'll have to take care of any emergencies that may happen," she told him, truly worried about getting back home.
"I realize that, but I was thinking and it's highly possible that we were switched. They're in our world while we are here in theirs."
Lois sat up straighter. "Of course, that explains why we haven't seen them."
He sighed. "This is not good. They can't come home and we can't get back either."
She put her head back on his shoulder. "There must be something we can do."
Clark had no answers.
Minutes went by and then a blinding light appeared before them. They slowly stood up and tried not to gasp because there standing before them were Lois Lane and Clark Kent, he in his costume and Lois standing beside him.
Everyone stared at each other, too shocked to move or to speak.
TBC!
~o~o~
Song Inspiration: Unbreakable, Alicia Keys.
A/N: Ha-ha! I love this so much! YAYY! Two Clarks and two Lois'?! Oh, the conversations they could have! So things took a decidedly odd turn with the appearance of Jor-El, but you guys must have figured it out that he was involved in this. So apparently, this was not a dream, so Lois could very well be pregnant. Things played out like this: SR/Clois was Earth 2 because of the tragedy and heartaches, and MOS/Clois was Earth 1, which was a more honest and truer story. Is Lois pregnant? Stay tuned. I may have a few more chapters. Comment, please? Thank you so much.
