A slight detour.

In the elegant banqueting hall of the Grand Metropolis Hotel, the 150 guests had just been served a sumptuous 4-course dinner, the champagne was flowing freely and there was an open bar policy for the evening, all paid for by the sponsors of the event. Each round table had eight people seated around it, and all had turned to face the stage once the award-giving segment of the night had commenced. As for all the other award winners, the applause went up amongst the guests when Lois' name was called out as the recipient of the Press Society award for Mid-West Reporter of the Year.

As people looked around waiting for the recipient to walk on stage, Perry White stopped applauding and stood up. Heading towards the stage and exchanging a quick word with the host of the event, he shook hands and accepted the silver platter before walking up to the podium to say a few words. He'd noticed the applause die down into a hum of confusion, so he steeled himself and cleared his throat. Running a hand through his silvery and receding hairline, he sucked in his stomach to hide the paunch being kept at bay by the starched white shirt and black tuxedo jacket. Now he needed to find some words. Lois would have had a speech prepared but he had to speak on the fly since he'd fully expected his ace reporting duo to be here in person tonight.

"Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. Before you ask, Lois has not had a drastic makeover!" he began, eliciting a ripple of laughter from one or two onlookers as he pointed out his ruddy-cheeked complexion. "Most of you know me, and I'm graciously accepting this award on behalf of Lois and the Daily Planet as she couldn't be here tonight. I know she would have loved to accept this award herself and I'm sure she'd have had more than a few words for you all, but you'll just have to make do with me!"

He surveyed the audience who appeared to be hanging on his every word. It never ceased to amaze him how he inspired a level of awe and reverence amongst people in his chosen field. Many a cub reporter would act like they'd just met the Pope or the Dalai Lama. Perry didn't consider himself to be anything out of the ordinary, unlike the woman he was representing on stage at this moment, or indeed the woman's husband. Whatever reputation he'd earned had come about through persistence and work ethic rather than a natural aptitude for journalism. He could not stop the smile creeping across his face as he decided on how best to express his next thought.

"What I would like to tell you all is that I got a phone call twenty minutes ago, informing me that Lois has just given birth to a beautiful baby girl. Mother and baby are doing extremely well, and I couldn't be more proud of her."

One or two claps in the audience slowly reached a crescendo of noise as everybody began to applaud once more. As much as he would have liked to keep taking advantage of the open bar and really enjoy the occasion, he wanted to remain lucid so that he could make the trip to Smallville the following evening and see the new addition to the Kent family for himself. He had accommodated Lois' needs right up to the point she'd grudgingly accepted the need to take her maternity leave three weeks ago. He'd allowed her to continue working from home but put a stop to it one week ago. Her protests had fallen on deaf ears as he painstakingly pointed out how he didn't want HR and legal on his case.

Martha had just put the dishes in the sink as the comforting scent of home-baked apple pie continued to linger in the kitchen. Glancing over towards the dining table, she saw Lois' father sitting on the bench seat over by the window. The scene before her made her instinctively tilt her head. It was the sort of reaction that is best described as a wordless 'Aww!' as she took in the sight of grandfather and granddaughter sharing a private moment.

Sam Lane had retired several years ago, and while he was still occasionally consulted on military matters, he was very much a civilian now. He still looked after himself as he had always done throughout his career so despite his advancing years, he still insisted on three square meals a day. He still sported the sturdy frame and muscular bulk of his heyday. He still shaved his head once a week, not interested in hairstyles, and he still shaved his face every morning. With the bulk of his adult life having been spent living with routine, it wasn't an easy habit to give up, and nor did he want to. He could still summon up the glare of disdain that had intimidated so many people over the years, but the lines of ageing were much more prominent. He'd kept his dogtags and still wore them around his neck as he felt almost naked without them. The military fatigues and General's uniform had gone, to be replaced by khaki pants and a Hawaiian shirt. Sam had developed a penchant for Hawaiian shirts that always made Lois affectionately mock him the way she would Clark's love of plaid.

Sam was holding Lara in the crook of his left arm, the baby's head fully supported as his hand soothingly rubbed against the baby wrap covering Lara's tiny feet. The knuckle of his right index finger was gently caressing Lara's rosy cheek as he whispered something inaudible to his granddaughter who was sound asleep. The usually stern and regimented figure looked every bit the doting grandfather he was. He didn't notice Martha come over.

"She has that effect on everyone," she said, softly.

Sam looked up. "I'd forgotten what it was like to fall in love. I've been lucky enough to experience it four times now," he explained, the faintest trace of a smile showing on his features.

"It keeps you young."

"That it does, Martha, that it does. You know, I remember what it felt like when Lo was born - it seems like only yesterday. Ella was so tired she couldn't stay awake, even though the men were being put through their paces right outside. Lo had started crying - hell of a set of lungs! - and the nurse couldn't get her to quieten down. She placed Lois in my arms to see if that would work. Here's this tiny little thing, squirming inside her blanket, face turning red, just bawlin' and bawlin'. She'd slept, been fed, burped and had a diaper change but still wouldn't settle. I don't scare easy, Martha, but I was scared then. All of a sudden, I felt a weight of responsibility like I'd never felt before. How would I measure up? Would I measure up? Then I felt Lo's cheek snuggle against my arm, all warm and so so soft, and she stopped crying. Just like that. That's when I knew she'd be a daddy's girl."

Martha smiled at his tender account, as it wasn't often that Sam let his guard down and showed his softer side. "Sam, she still sees herself that way."

Sam nodded. The little smile gave way to sorrowful eyelids and the appearance of a frown, causing Martha to look concerned.

"We all have regrets in life," Sam confessed. "My biggest regret is that I didn't make enough time to just be 'Dad' for my two girls. I know that's had an impact on their lives and the choices they've made. That is the one thing I would change out of everything I've done."

"Sam, you did the best you could. You shouldn't be down on yourself."

"I know, Martha," he sighed. "Being retired gives a man time to think - to look back over his life and the choices he's made. I'm proud of the woman Lois has become, and the woman Lucy is becoming. Like true Lanes, they're taking on the world."

Martha chuckled at how apt that statement was.

"With this little one, I would just like to be 'Grampa'. No General, no orders, no postings to far-flung corners of the globe. Just enjoy her with whatever time I've got left."

"Sam, she is lucky to have Grampa in her life," Martha answered, using Sam's own very informal term for how he'd like to be addressed - not Granddad or Grandpa, but 'Grampa'. "And judging by how she's nuzzling your arm, I'd say she doesn't mind one bit."

Sam turned to look back at Lara, who was indeed nuzzling her cheek into Sam's arm. He revelled in the warmth and softness he could feel against his skin.

"No, me neither."