Chapter 12

"What do mean I'm the cure?" Lois found herself back in the old Fortress. She backed away from Kal-El slightly, hoping not to set him off.

"When my wife got sick, my father, Jor-El and Dr. Hamilton got to work on a cure," he explained "They both came to the same conclusion. The only possible way to make a successful antidote is with a sample of her blood from before she was infected. Pure and untainted. It's how I found out about the baby. I had to make sure you were healthy."

Lois shook her head in disbelief. "All this for a blood sample. You could've just asked, you know."

"I tried at the Planet. But then your husband attacked me."

Lois smirked as she rolled up her sleeve. "How much do you need?"

Kal-El starred deeply into the blood-filled syringe. He had done it. He'd finally found cure his wife so desperately needed.

"You look like a mad scientist starring at thing," said Lois.

"If anything this will keep me from going crazy," Kal-El smiled. It was his first genuine smile in months. "Thank you. You have no idea how much this-," he stopped, and cocked his head to left the way Clark did when he picked something up with his super hearing. "Something's coming."

"What is it?" said Lois.

"I'm not sure, but it's fast." He barely got the last word out before he screamed in agony as the kryptonite arrow dug into his shoulder.

Lois screamed. "No!"

Kal-El looked up into the eyes of his attacker. Young blonde clad in bright red leather. "Bart," he gasped.

The Flash gave his usual smile. "Sup amigo." He turned to Lois in an exaggerated bow. "Mrs. Kent, you day has been saved." He dodged her right hook with inhuman speed. "Whoa senora, relax. Your taller, darker, though not as handsome hubby is on his way."

As if on cue, Superman came flying in with Green Arrow and the two Watchtowers right behind him. "Lois," he said relieved. He wrapped his arms around his wife. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," she said "Clark, you can't do this to Kal-El. His wife is-,"

"I know Lois, I know. Don't worry; we're going to do everything we can for him."

"Geez Bart," said Chloe "How many times did you stab the guy?"

"Uh, I just stuck him with the arrow," said Bart. "See it sticking out of shoulder?"

"So why's he coughing up blood?"

Lois looked at Kal-El. His head was toward the ground, looming over a puddle blood. Lois gasped when she noticed the shards of glass. "Oh no."

"Kal-El, I know why you came to this world," said Clark. He stood before the Kandorian leader with an outstretched hand. "If you'll let us, we'll do everything we can to help you find a cure for your wife."

"That was the cure," Kal-El's voice was as cold as ice.

"What?"

"Kal needed a blood sample from me," said Lois "In order to make the cure."

"I had in my hands," Kal-El glared at Bart "when you came."

"Oops."

"Do you have any idea WHAT YOU'VE DONE!?" Kal-El shot up from his knees, the meteor arrow still lunged in his arm. He slammed Bart against the wall, pressing a Kryptonian dagger on his throat.

"No!" Clark's eyes turned red with heat vision. Oliver, Tess and Chloe trained their weapons on him.

"Tell your team to stand down Superman," Kal-El spat "Or it'll be the end of your precious Flash!"

"Kal-El please, don't do this," Lois begged "This isn't who you are."

"Why did you do it, Bart?" Kal-El's voice was filled with rage and agony. "Why did you take my wife's last chance at life?"

"I'm sorry man. I didn't know."

"That was her LAST CHANCE!" Kal-El pressed the dagger harder on his throat. "You've ruined everything."

"Clark." Kal-El blinked, clearing his mind of rage and grief.

"Clark," Lois repeated "Please, let Bart go." She placed a hand on his trembling arm. "You and I both know you're not a monster. Now's your chance to prove it. Show them how wrong they are. I'm not asking you to do it for me. Do it for them. Do it for your kids," she pleaded. "For Alexander, who feels like his world is ending, just when he was starting to put it back together. For Ella, who's just as scared, but is too proud to admit it, because she wants to be strong, like you."

Tears formed in Kal-El's eyes.

Lois kept going. "For Jonathan, who believes in you with all his heart and soul. For Charlie and Cassidy, your perfect Christmas gifts, who are so small and so new to the world, that if you leave them now, they will barely remember your face. They're already losing mother Clark. Don't take away their father too," Lois swallowed a lump in her throat. "After my mom died, Dad shipped Lucy and me off to boarding school. It felt like he didn't want anything to do with us. He pushed us way, just when we needed him most. And that's exactly what will happen if you use that knife," she said "You'll be pushing your kids away right when they need you. Is that what you want Clark?"

"They deserve better than me," said Kal-El whispered "I'm a disgrace of a father. I failed them."

"You're only a failure when you give up," Lois corrected. "So don't give up, and let Bart go. Clark, look at me." The pain in his eyes was indescribable. "We can get another sample. We can still give your kids a Christmas miracle."

Kal-El took a shaky breath, and slowly dropped the dagger. "You always know just what to say to make me feel better."

Kal-El handed Clark the crystal he had taken when he had arrived. "Just put this back into the console and the AI will be back online." He said. "Just wait until I leave."

Clark raised an eyebrow. "You don't like Jor-El that much?"

Kal-El scoffed. "It's been ten years since I shut mine down. I got tired of a giant ice sculpture interfering with my life. Besides I have my real birth father back thanks to the Orb. I suppose I should give this back." He handed Clark back watch from Jonathan's grave. Kal-El held up his wrist to show an identical watch. "I have my own. Why did you bury it anyway?"

"For a long time, I blamed myself for my father's death," said Clark "I let the guilt eat away at my heart for years. When I realized that I wasn't to blame, I buried the watch, along with my guilt."

"I understand," said Kal-El "I have my own guilt to release. I don't think I've forgiven myself for anything really."

"But then Chloe told me what you said," Clark continued "About how the watch made him feel closer to you." He wrapped the watch around his wrist. "Maybe I'll keep it this time, along with the times we shared."

"Maybe we both can learn something from each other," said Kal-El "I won't deny that my heart's been plagued with guilt for the death of my parents, my wives and friends. Right now I'm trying to accept the fact that my mother's gone. That she had cancer, a cancer I didn't notice. Maybe I should consider letting go, along with moving on." He offered his and Clark took it. "Thank you," said Kal-El "For everything."

"If you ever need any help with Lex," said Clark.

"I know where to find you," said Kal-El. He turned his gaze to the female Luthor. "I'm truly sorry for how treated you. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me."

"I owe you an apology too," said Tess "You came to me seeking help, and I acted like you were Frankenstein's monster."

"It still doesn't justify how I treated you," Kal-El said remorsefully.

"Well, I do know how you can make it up to me."

"Name it," said Kal-El.

"Keep my son safe?" Tess asked.

"I will. I promise. Oliver," said Kal-El "I hope there are no hard feelings."

"You mean when you threatened to kill my wife with your home movies?" The Green Arrow laughed. "Don't worry about it." He wrapped a loving arm around her. "If I was about to lose my sidekick, I'd go nuts too."

"We shouldn't have been so quick to judge you," said Chloe.

"Considering what you've been through," said Kal-El "You had every right to fear the worst." He gave a smile to the Scarlett speedster. "Bart, can I speak to you in private for a moment?"

"You're not going to try to cut me again are you?"

"Don't worry my friend." Kal-El placed his hand on Bart's shoulder and led him away from the others. The mischievous grin on Bart's face when they returned made Clark nervous.

"So Clark," Bart's grin widened. "Tell me about this cousin of yours."

Lois cracked up.

"Not a chance," Clark said sternly.

"That's who Kara's marrying?" Lois laughed.

"What?" Clark looked at Kal-El in awestruck. "You're letting your only cousin marry Bart Allen?"

"They love each other," said Kal-El. "That's all that matters. Plus Bart knows that I'll hunt him down if he hurts her. Assuming Kara doesn't catch him first."

"Hey, don't worry amigo," said Bart "If she's as caliente as the Commander here says, there's no way I'm letting a chica like that get away."

Clark clenched his teeth. "Bart, do not call my cousin a caliente chica. Ever again."

Kal-El chuckled. "And you," he pulled Lois into a warm hug. "Thank you most of all," he said softly. "You've given my children their mother back."

"It was nothing," said Lois. "I just hope the sample won't to another little El baby."

"I'll take a pregnant Lois over a dying one any day," Kal-El kissed her hand. "Treasure every moment with her," he told Clark. "She's a remarkable woman." Kal-El walked over to the Fortress' main console and slid in the mirror box. He lined up the two halves of the symbol, and the Kandorian Commander was gone in a flash of light.

"He's right you know," Clark wrapped his arms around her. "You truly are remarkable, Lois Lane."

She gave him a soft kiss. "Lane-Kent," Lois corrected. She rested her head on his shoulder. "Clark, do you think I'd be a good mother?"

Clark smiled. "I think you'd be a wonderful mother. I just hope I'll be ready to be when the time comes."

"Then you better get ready, Smallville."

"What?" Clark starred at Lois. She was grinning from ear to ear.

"I was going to tell you at dinner," Lois grinned from ear to ear at her husband's shocked expression.

Clark's face was priceless as his jaw dropped. "You mean that… That you're…?"

Lois nodded.

"We're going to have a baby?" Clark whispered.

"We're going to have a baby," Lois confirmed. She yelped as Clark picked her up and spun her around.

"What are you two so happy about?" asked Chloe.

"We're having a baby!" they said together.

Chloe squealed and hugged her cousin. Oliver shook Clark's hand while Bart clasped him on the back. Clark pulled his wife into an adoring kiss. "I love you."

"I love you too," she said.

Clark couldn't suppress his smile. It a few short months, he was going to be a father. "It's a Christmas miracle."

Lara plopped down face up on her bed. She had just put the twins down for bed. After getting them dressed, taking them outside to make an army of snowmen, and giving them a bath, Lara was exhausted. She loved Czar and Clara, but they could be a handful. She knew Kara was there to help out, but Lara was their big sister. It was her job to look out for them. She was half asleep when she heard a voice.

"Lara?" He siblings stood in the doorway. Jor was clad in his classic blue denim jacket, a grey t-shirt with a blue House of El symbol, with jeans and sneakers. Van wore a black jacket and a purple t-shirt and jeans.

Lara yawned. "Hey, what is it?"

"We gonna find Santa," said Van.

Lara rolled her eyes. "Oh come on, not again Jor."

"He's out there," his voice was determined. "I know it."

"Good for you," Lara laid back and covered her face with her pillow. "If you find him, tell Santa I want a maid for Christmas."

"Oh come on," said Van, his green eyes pleading "You got to come with us."

"Pass," she said.

Jor smiled. "Maybe she's scared."

Lara pointed in her direction. "Watch it, Jor," she warned.

"What's the matter? Afraid of catching a cold," he asked coyly "Ella?"

Lara hated her Earth name. It made her feel soft. She wanted to be strong. Like her parents. "I will kick your butt straight to the Phantom Zone, Johnathan." Jor hated that just as much as Lara hated Ella.

Van laughed. "Yeah, Ella's a big baby."

"She's won't go anywhere without Daddy there to hold her hand," Jor confirmed.

"Okay, that's it!" Lara was furious. If there was one thing she hated more than being called Ella, it was being called a baby. "I am Lara Kal-El, and I'm not afraid of anything!" She jumped off of her bed, and grabbed her red jacket. "Let's go find Chris Cringle." And she stomped out of the room.

Jor and Van bumped fists. "Too easy," said Van.

"Works every time," said Jor.

They flew silently through the halls, making sure not make a sound. They didn't want any of the grown-ups stopping them. Lara stopped them outside the living room. "Wait, I think someone's in there." They dropped down and leaned against the walls. Lara glanced around the corner. "It's Grandfather," she whispered.

"It's fortunate that you found the mirror box when you did Kal-El. I feared we were reaching the point of no return" The elder Jor-El walked into the room, a syringe filled with a golden liquid. "We need to get this to her know," he said.

"Will it work?"

Lara was surprised. "It's Dad." He'd been gone all day. Where had he been?

"Was the sample healthy?" Jor-El asked his son.

"One hundred percent," said Kal-El.

"Then do not worry my son," he said "soon, your wife will be healed."

Lara felt her heart stop. Had he done it? Had her father really found the last piece of her medicine? Lara looked at her brothers. Van seemed as unsure as she was. Jor was beaming, his bright blue eyes sparkling. He couldn't control himself. He whooshed around the corner, and tackled his father in a warm hug.

"I knew it!" he said "I knew you'd save her!"

"Jor," his grandfather scolded. "What are you doing-?"

"Father," the look on Kal-El's face let him know it was alright. "You were right son," he said "Superman always saves Lois Lane."

"Van! Lara!" Jor called "She's gonna be okay! Mom's gonna be okay!"

"You did it!" Van flew around the corner, knocking Jor and Kal-El to the ground with another hug "They the three of them laughed, for the first time in months.

"Do you really have it?"

Kal-El looked up to see his little Lois Lane standing in front of him, her big brown eyes full of fear and hope. "I have it Lara. Mom's going to be fine. Everything's going to be alright."

Lara smiled. It was a real one, not an act she put on for the twins. She let the tears of joy in her eyes run freely, as she hugged her father and her brothers. "I was so scared," she whispered.

"I know honey," said Kal-El "We all were. But it's all right now. We're all going to be okay" Lara's sobs turned to laughter as she hugged her father tighter.

"Daddy?" Now the twins were awake. "What's going on?" asked Czar, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

"Is this a slumber party?" asked Clara.

Kal-El smiled. "It sure is sweetheart. You two want to join us?'

"Yay!" they piled on top of Jor and Lara, giggling.

"Hey Smallville." Kal-El looked up from his children's smiling faces and felt his heart race. She was wearing long crimson robe, leaning on Kara and Jor-El for support. Her face was still pale, but Kal-El still thought that she was the most beautiful woman in the world. "Mind if I join the party?"

Lara squealed. "MOM!" She nearly knocked Lois over with her hug. Thank goodness for Jor-El and Kara's super strength. Jor and Van were right behind her.

"Mom!"

"Lolo!"

The twins were more than they could stand. "Mommy! Mommy!" It was the first time she had been out of bed since Thanksgiving.

Kal-El super sped over and gave his wife deep, longing kiss.

"Mmm. Haven't had one of those in a long time," she said.

Kal-El starred into the eyes of his angel, sparkling with renewed life as the cure flowed through her. "I love you," he said.

"I love you too."

Kal-El wrapped his arm round his family: wife, children, father, and cousin, grinning from ear to ear. "It's a Christmas miracle."

The End

Hey readers! Took a look at the reviews you guys posted (thank you again for all of your support! So glad you guys liked it) and saw you were a little upset about Kal-El marrying Alicia and Lana before Lois and wanted to address that for you. First off, Clark married Alicia in the show too (Remember their little Red-K fueled Vegas wedding?). Same thing happened to Kal-El. He just had a harder time moving on from that than Clark did. As for Lana, that will be explained in the sequel, which I have already started working on (So keep your eyes peeled!). Anyway, just wanted to clear that up for you guys. Thanks again for all your support and hope you guys enjoyed this as much I enjoyed writing it! Take care!