Chapter 20:
Hallway outside Lois' apartment, 5:59pm:
Knock Kent, lift your fist, knock on the door and then wait for an answer. Simple, straightforward, nothing hard; Come on, you can do it. I mentally encourage myself to lift my hand and knock on the front door, alas, once again I chicken out and start pacing the small hallway. My stomach is completely twisted in knots and my heart is racing, I'm so nervous it's not funny. All of this because of two young children; well, they're not just any young children; they're Lois' and mine. I breathe out deeply, just cool it Kent, you're Superman, you can do anything. I take a few deep breaths, collecting myself. I walk to the door, lift my hand and lightly knock on the door twice.
"Coming." Lois yells from within, the door swings open, "Hey Clark, come on in." she smiles, stepping aside nervously, I notice that she's dressed to go out.
"Ah, Lois, was I suppose to come tomorrow night?" I could have gotten the nights mixed up in my excitement.
"No, Bruce is picking me up at seven so we can have a big fight and a public break up. I'll be back by nine, no later than that." Well, that's simple,
"Huh?"
"I thought you were more eloquent than that. Anyway, because the general public thinks that Bruce and I are an item we're gonna set things straight. We thought a fight and subsequent break up in public would leave fewer questions than one of those formal announcements where everybody wants to know more. I'm babbling aren't I?"
I hold my right hand up, a small space between my thumb and forefinger, "Just a little bit. I think I understand what you're saying though. So where are the kids?"
"Martha's getting them cleaned up; we had a bit of an issue with milk and peanut butter…nothing serious."
"Milk and peanut butter?"
"Ah, yeah. Your Mom likes to tell me they're exactly like me; they'll find trouble without even looking."
I grin, my excitement growing with every second that passes. I hear children giggling and talking. I feel like my chest is going to explode. "Would you like a drink or something?" Lois asks, wandering into the kitchen.
"Just some water thanks."
"Ok, easily done." She hands me a bottle of water from the fridge.
"Thanks. Um… Lois, could you tell me a little bit about our kids before I meet them?"
"Sure, what do you want to know?"
"Birthday…what they like….how well they get along, anything. I just want to know."
Lois has a sad smile on her face. "They were born on the 16th of December, and generally they get along. Lara's always looking out for Jack, she's taken it upon herself to be his protector but he thinks he's invulnerable."
"Do they have any of my abilities?"
"Besides having a photographic memory, Jack doesn't have any so far. Lara… she's pretty strong Clark, especially when she's angry and she's pretty fast. Smart too… too smart sometimes."
"Is Jack bothered that he's not strong like Lara?"
"Only when Lara bosses him around."
"Which is most of the time." Mom says as she emerges from a hallway, "They'll be out in a second." Mom smiles slightly and walks into the lounge room to pick up a few toys. I start fidgeting with the water bottle.
"You know, I'm suppose to be the one who fidgets, otherwise what chance do the kids have?"
"Sorry Lois, just nervous. Um, should you be drinking alcohol after last night?" I finally notice the contents of the glass in her hand.
"Probably not but I need something to take the edge off before I have to deal with all those snooty, stuck up-"
"Mommy! Jack won't give me my slipper back, he's gonna spit in it!" Lara crashes into Lois.
"Lara was being mean first Mommy. She was… I'm telling the truth."
Lois looks rather unimpressed and a little embarrassed. "Stop fighting right now, or you'll both be in really BIG trouble. Now Lara and Jack this is-"
"You're my Daddy aren't you?" Lara cuts Lois off. She walks up to me and puts her arms out wanting to be picked up. I immediately fall in love with this little girl.
"Yes Lara, I'm your daddy." I'm too happy and amazed to say anything else, my brain not willing to work.
"You're really tall, I can see on top of the fridge. Hey Jack, I found your Ninja Turtle, he's up there with my light-saber."
"I wanna see. I wanna see!" Jack jumps up and down in front of me.
"Jack, say hi to daddy."
"It's alright Lois, really."
Jack walks up to me, he waves slightly, "Ah, hi. Can I see?"
"Manners Jack." Mom scolds.
"May I see, please?" he asks, not meaning it.
"Sure, little man." I lift him up with my other arm.
"Can we have those back now?"
"Lara, you have to remember your manners and how about I make a deal with you two?"
Lara folds her arms across her chest and tilts her head to the left, "What kind of deal would that be Mommy?" I grin; I really want to laugh but don't want to undermine Lois. She really is her Mother's daughter.
"You get your toys back tomorrow if grandma and daddy tell me that you've been good."
"Deal!" Lara sticks her hand out to shake on it.
"But I didn't agree." Jack pouts.
Lois looks at Jack, "What do you think about the deal Jack?"
"Deal!" He puts his hand out too. Lois shakes both of their hands.
"Well now that that's taken care of, what do you want to order for take out?"
"Pizza!" they both answer excitedly.
"Is pizza alright with you Clark?"
"Yeah, I like pizza."
"The usual Clark?" Mom asks as she picks up the phone.
"Yes please Mom." Mom walks down the hall to order the pizzas. Jack reaches out for Lois and she takes him from me. My breath catches in my throat as I watch Lois hold our son. She looks absolutely beautiful. Lara hugs me tight.
"Can I show you something daddy?"
I didn't think it was possible but my smile grows wider… "Lead the way." I lower Lara to the ground; she takes my hand in her own and leads me down the hall to the bedroom she shares with Jack.
"This is my bedroom daddy," she puts her hand up, indicating that what she's about to tell me is a secret.
"Jack's just in here for a little while. He gets scared at night when I'm not in the room."
"Well you're a good big sister aren't you?" She smiles proudly.
"Yup, the bestest!" she walks further into the room, "We just got a new bed, look it's a bunk bed and I get to sleep on top."
"That is very cool."
"Yup." Lara continues to show me around her room, introducing me to her teddy bear, aptly named Ted. Lara puts her arms out to be picked up again as we leave the room. I couldn't deny her if I had kryptonite strapped to my chest. Lara seems to fit perfectly in my arms. We walk into the kitchen where mom and Lois are quietly talking, Lara whispers into my ear… "Mommy got yelled at by grandma earlier, I don't know what for but she got yelled at."
"Really?" I ask, not really surprised. I figured Mom was going to have a few words with Lois after she was done with me.
"Yup. Oh no! I'm missing Kim Possible." Lara jumps out of my arms and runs to the couch to sit next to Jack.
"Lara's amazing." I sigh as I lean against the bench.
"I'm surprised she's taken to you so quickly. She's not very trusting."
"Just like her mother." Mom adds in under her breath.
"I heard that Martha."
"I know you did."
"I think you've been spending too much time with Alfred." Lois rebuts.
"Alfred? You should try looking in the mirror every now and again Lois. I'm sure things would be much clearer." Humor evident in Mom's voice. I'm confused, were my Mom and Lois just bantering? Hmm…
"They both look like these two children that were in a dream I had. Actually, I swear they are the children from the dream I had; right down to the names." Lois looks shocked; Mom has curiosity written all over her face.
"Really?" both women ask at the same time. I'm about to reply when there's a knock at the door.
"That'll be Bruce. I'll be back soon; I have a public break up to attend to. Bye munchkins, be good and bed by nine."
"Yes!" I hear them both exclaim.
"Be good to daddy. Love you. See you soon Clark, Martha."
"Bye Lo." Mom hugs Lois, "Don't make too much of a scene."
"You know me." Lois winks.
"I think that's why she was warning you. Bye Lois."
"Thanks Smallville, have fun." Lois calls out over her shoulder as she swings her jacket around her shoulders and picks her purse up. "Bye everyone." She yells as she walks out the door.
I hear the ending to Kim Possible and see the munchkins walk around to a stack of DVD's.
"So what are we going to do now?" I ask innocently.
"I wanna watch Pirates of the Caribbean." Lara calls out.
"But I wanna watch Shark Tale." Jack pouts.
They start arguing. "Hey, c'mon. We can sort this out. We'll watch one movie then the other."
"Pirates first." Lara chimes in.
"No Shark Tale." Jack rebukes.
"Mom, a little help please." There's a knock at the door… "Pizza delivery."
"Sorry Clark, I've got to take care of the pizza guy." Lara and Jack start wrestling on the floor. I take my glasses off and run a hand over my face. I drop my head to my chest and sigh; this isn't going to be easy…
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