Chapter 2: The Secret is Out
"I hate lying to your parents." Lois commented with a sigh as Clark drove the car toward Smallville. "I know we're doing it for a good reason, but I still hate it."
"I know you do." He glanced at her for a moment before turning his attention back to the road. "I do too. But if we really want to surprise them with this, there has to be a certain amount of subterfuge."
"I know." And out of the corner of his eye, he saw her nod. "It's just that I've already been keeping this secret for a month and I think your mother knows. My clothes haven't been fitting as well as they used to, so it's been getting a little difficult to try and hide it. And with the looks she's been giving me, I keep expecting her to offer me her old maternity clothes."
He probably shouldn't have laughed, but he did because it was something his mother would do.
"I'm glad you find this whole thing so amusing." She had to have been frowning. "You've been off the hook for the last month because you didn't know, so you haven't had to feel guilty."
He reached over and took Lois' trembling hand in his for a moment. "I'm sorry, honey. I'm not trying to make light of it. I know it's been hard on you knowing about the baby and not wanting to say anything before you told me."
"I just wanted us to be together when I did." She sighed again. "Of course that wouldn't have worked if you'd been gone for another month. I would have started showing by then and I would have had to tell you over a long distance line before I told our parents."
"The important thing to remember is that I am home now." Clark squeezed her fingers and let them go, putting his hand back on the wheel. "And because you've told me, now we can tell them."
"We really should stop by the Falcon on the way home." She slid over so that they sat shoulder to shoulder and when he glanced over at her, she smiled. "So sue me, I've missed you. Anyway, since we told your parents you were driving me into town to talk to Lionel, we really should. Then it wouldn't be a complete lie."
"The Falcon it is." He nodded. "So how do you like the doctor? You didn't say much about him last night."
"That's because we weren't doing much talking." She laughed as she tucked her arm through his. "I don't know yet. Would you believe that he was an Army doctor?"
Clark grinned. "Why am I not surprised?"
"He said that he got out after the last war because he wanted the chance to bring lives into the world instead of watching them leave it."
"Do you like him?" He asked and felt her nod.
"For better or for worse, he reminds me of the General." She snickered. "I'm not sure how Dad would feel about that."
"The important thing is that you're comfortable with him." Clark dropped a quick kiss in her hair. "Because if you are, then I will be."
"Well after growing up with my dad, you'd think that would be a given." She sighed.
"Nothing is a given, Lois." He told her as they approached the outskirts of Smallville. "Now where is this doctor of yours?"
"237 Granville Road." She told him. "His office is on the corner."
"That's where the dance school used to be."
Lois nodded. "The girl who ran it decided to join the WAVES and pulled up stakes a couple of months ago. Doctor Francis was looking for larger quarters and took over her lease. So now he and his wife live upstairs and his office is on the first floor."
"That's convenient." He observed.
"Maybe for him, but I'm not sure how his wife feels about it." She countered. "I overheard them talking and she thinks that too many people take advantage of the fact that he lives there because they've started to show up at all hours."
"Lois, don't you remember what happened the last time you listened in on a private conversation?" Clark teased her and got a light smack on the arm for his trouble.
"Yeah, I met you." She tossed back and laughed softly.
"And we made a baby together." He suddenly couldn't find his voice and he felt tears prick the backs of his eyes.
"That too." She whispered back and kissed his cheek. "Thank you."
"My pleasure." And it was.
"Mine too." She kissed his cheek again.
"I know." He chuckled and this time got a swift punch.
"I don't think it's just your dad that my dad's humor is rubbing off on, G-man." She huffed, but Clark knew that she was smiling. "Clark?"
"Mm-hmm?"
"Where Dr. Francis' office is now, that was the studio where you learned how to dance for our wedding, wasn't it?"
"The very one."
"Hmm."
He glanced down at her. "Why do you ask?"
"No reason." She shook her head. "I was just thinking that the two of the biggest events in our lives will have been in that building."
"True." He shrugged. "But I'd say that having a baby is a bigger event than learning how to dance."
"It is, but you learned to dance for me." She caught his eye for a moment. "No one has ever done anything like that for me before, or given me a baby." She added with a smile.
"Well then, you're welcome for both." He kissed her cheek and then glanced ahead. "I think this is it."
They reached the intersection of Route 31 and Granville Road and Clark saw the modest two story studio turned office and pulled up to the curb next to a spot marked for 'Patients Only'.
Lois let go of his arm and sat up after he shut down the engine and opened his door. He walked around to the passenger side to open hers and held out his hand. "Clark, I think I can manage getting out of a car." Her face was flushed. "But it'll probably come in handy in another five or six months."
"I'll remember that." He shook his head in amusement as he continued to hold his hand out to her and she took it.
He knew she would.
After she stepped out of the car, he closed the door behind her and they turned together to face the building. "You don't have to do this, you know."
He shook his head because he didn't want her to misunderstand. "I was just thinking that it was one thing to hear about the baby from you. But to hear it from a doctor will make it that much more real."
"I know." She squeezed his hand. "It's funny though, it didn't seem like it could be true when he told me. And it wasn't until I told you last night and you touched me that it finally became real."
"Lois?" He couldn't help but grin as he looked at her.
"What?"
"We're going to be parents." Clark laughed with delight at the idea.
"I feel sorry for the little guy." She shook her head in mock sorrow. "Me as their mother."
"Hey, he or she will love you because they'll see how much we love each other." And to prove it, in front of God and humanity, he kissed her.
"There is a time and a place for that." He heard the shocked voice of an older woman as she walked by, shielding the eyes of an adolescent child. "Honestly."
"You'd think that you were ravishing me in broad daylight." Lois muttered quietly as the mother pulled her child away.
"Not in broad daylight anyway." He shouldn't have said it, but he couldn't help it and his cheeky comment caught his wife by surprise.
"I'm going to tell your mother." She laughed, even with the stunned look on her face. "Martha Kent's well brought up boy talking about something like that in public."
"And we both know whose fault that is." He wouldn't back down and kissed her nose. "Don't we?"
"Before we get arrested for public indecency, I think we should get inside. Don't you?" She deflected his comment before she took his arm and tugged him gently toward the front door.
It wasn't often that Clark could say something to get his wife to blush, but that moment was one of those rare times and he reveled in it. "You're awfully pretty when you blush, Mrs. Kent."
"And you're a terrible tease, Mr. Kent." He heard her laugh softly as she kept moving him toward the door. "Come on. The sooner we get this over with, the sooner we can get to the Falcon and try not to feel so bad."
"Message received." He tucked her hand close against his body and walked her into the doctor's office.
The bell above the door jingled as Clark opened it and waited for Lois to walk in ahead of him. It jingled again as he closed it behind them and then took his hat off, following her to the admissions desk. A young nurse, she couldn't have been more than a few months out of nursing school, looked up and smiled at them. "May I help you?"
"I'm Lois Kent." Lois told her and he found himself with a smile on his face, Lois Kent.He really liked the sound of that. "I have an appointment with Dr. Francis."
"He's expecting you, Mrs. Kent. But you may need to wait." She explained. "One of his patients went into early labor last night and he was at the hospital with her until quite late."
"Is she all right?" Clark could hear the worry in her voice, no doubt thinking that it could happen to her.
"She's fine." The nurse reassured her. "They're both right as rain and resting comfortably."
"That's good." Lois sighed in relief.
"This is your first, isn't it?" She asked and when Lois nodded, she smiled. "Our first time mothers are easy to spot."
When Clark laughed softly, the nurse smiled at him. "And our first time fathers are easy to spot, too. They won't let their wives out of their sight."
"Well-" He felt the heat of embarrassment creep across his cheeks as he fingered the brim of his hat.
"It's nice to see you here, Mr. Kent." She laughed herself. "Too often husbands aren't able to come with their wives or choose not to because they're uncomfortable with the whole experience."
"Never mind that they're the ones who get us into this." Lois gave him a gentle nudge with her elbow and his face warmed even more with the titter of laughter in the waiting room.
"Lois." He admonished her quietly and sighed.
"He's so bashful about that sort of thing." She turned to face him and put a soft hand on his cheek. "That's why I love him so much."
He was saved from further embarrassment when a door opened and another nurse stepped into the doorway. "Mrs. Kent, you can come on back now."
Clark motioned with his hat for Lois to go ahead of him and she leaned up to kiss his cheek with a giggle before she followed the nurse. For some reason, he was reminded of their trip to the county courthouse when they applied for their marriage license, as they were shown into Dr. Francis' office and told he would be in to talk to them momentarily.
He waited for Lois to sit down before he sat down next to her and hung his hat on one knee, and then the other began to bounce. It was a nervous tick he'd had since he was a kid, which Lois was aware of. And when she reached over to pat it reassuringly, she laughed softly.
"I'm only doing this for you." He smiled before he leaned over and kissed her.
The door opened suddenly and Clark heard a throat being cleared as he walked around to his desk and sat down. "Lois Kent's husband, I presume."
"That's me." He pulled away from his wife and suddenly felt as though he were sitting in the principle's office. The last time he'd felt like that, he'd met Lois's father.
"I'm glad to see you here." He nodded approvingly and looked suspiciously as though he were trying not to laugh. "I try to encourage husbands to come to these appointments. It helps them feel more a part of the whole process and gives them a greater appreciation of what their wives are going through."
Clark could see why Lois liked him.
"So how is my wife?" He sat forward. "I've been away on a business trip and Lois wasn't able to tell me about the baby until last night."
A business trip. He didn't like having to be untruthful about what it was he did, but it was necessary to protect himself and his family. And now with Lois expecting, he was even keener on protecting them.
"Your wife is fine, Mr. Kent." The doctor reassured him. "I asked her to come back in today to give her the results of a workup I did on her a few days ago."
Clark sat forward and his panic must have showed because the doctor put his hand up.
"The baby is fine, too." He added. "But I always like to be thorough with my new mothers because it gives me a baseline to start with. Having said that though-" And he looked at Lois. "I'm a little concerned about your blood pressure."
"Blood pressure?" It was Lois' turn to sit forward.
"It's nothing to be alarmed about." He shook his head. "It's a little higher than I would like for a first pregnancy, but as long as we keep an eye on it, there shouldn't be any problems."
"Is there anything I can do?" She reached for Clark's hand and he held it tight.
"You work at the Falcon." He looked down at her chart and then back up at her. "As the club manager."
Lois nodded and gave Clark a worried look.
"What are your hours like?"
"I get in about eight o'clock and leave by five." She told him and he frowned as he looked at her chart again.
"Mrs. Kent, I think you should consider cutting back some. The responsibility of a job like that produces a lot of stress and it's stress that won't be good for you or for that little one you're carrying."
"Is there a chance she could lose it?" Clark tried to swallow the knot of fear that had lodged in his throat, but couldn't.
"Don't go borrowing trouble now." The doctor shook his head in the negative. "My point in telling you that is so you understand that stress isn't good on the mother or child and may make the delivery a little more difficult. But if you would cut back your time-" He gave Lois a pointed look. "It would be better for the both of you."
"Are you saying I should quit?" Lois sighed and seemed to brace herself for the answer.
"Not at all." He shook his head again. "It's a job you seem to enjoy and quitting isn't the answer because that creates a different kind of stress. What I'm going to ask you to do is pay close attention to how you feel at the end of the day and if you feel that you only want to work three or four days a week, then do that. It's all a matter of balance and you strike me as the kind of young woman who can do it."
"I'll talk to the owner and we'll work something out." Lois promised him and Clark knew that she meant it.
"Very good." He smiled at her. "So other than the slight elevation in your blood pressure, everything else is fine. Your weight gain is normal and all of your other vitals are normal. I also want you to start walking at least a half hour every day and when you get far enough along, cut it back to twenty minutes if you find yourself tiring too easily."
"Why?"
"It's good to stay active as early as possible." He told her. "It's good for your circulation and you'll find that you tire less easily the father along you get."
"Does it have to be all at the same time?" She wanted to know.
"No. If you want to break it up into two fifteen minute walks, you can do that. Just as long as it's a half-hour a day."
"I'll make sure she does." He squeezed her hand and smiled at her. "We are in this together."
"That's good to hear." He pushed his chair back and stood up. "By the way, you asked me how far along you were and I can confirm that you are about three months along."
Their wedding night, the hotel? Or was it Kansas City?
"I'd like to see you back here in a couple of weeks so I can see how things are progressing." He picked up her chart. "So make an appointment with the nurse on your way out."
Clark stood up and took Lois' elbow to help her up. The look she gave him was appreciative, but nonetheless told him that she wasn't quite in need of his assistance just yet. He just grinned at her in response.
"Thank you, Doctor." Clark put his hand out and Lois's doctor shook it. "I'll make sure she takes her walks."
"As a good husband should." He smiled and then directed his attention once again to Lois. "And as for you, young lady. Your body is changing so it can take care of that life you're carrying, so you need to take care of it. Let your body tell you what it's capable of and if there is anything going on that concerns you or just have questions about, don't hesitate to call me. All right?"
"I will." She promised him and he shook her hand.
"Mr. Kent, if it's possible I'd like you to be here for these appointments. I find that it helps a woman who's expecting to remain calm when her husband is with her."
"I'll do my best."
"That's all I can ask." He headed for his office door and opened it. Then just before he stepped outside and closed it, he reminded Lois. "Don't forget, two weeks."
"She won't." Clark assured him as the door closed. He then looked at Lois and knew he was grinning like a fool as he reached for her and got his arms around her waist. "Three months."
"That's what he said." Lois' face was turning beet red and Clark was sure he knew why.
"So what do you think?"
"About what?" Her voice was becoming breathy. It only did that when she was nervous and the wary look on her face made him grin even more. She had to know where he was going with his questions.
"Do you think it was our wedding night, our honeymoon or when you came to Kansas City?" He laughed because he couldn't seem to help it.
"Well considering that you wouldn't let me out of bed, it's hard to say." She put her hands on his chest. "But personally? I'd like to think that we conceived this little one at the farm."
"The farm?" He asked, curious to hear her answer. "Why?"
"Because so many important things have happened to us there and since this kind of tops them all, it makes sense that our most important moment would happen there too." The color in her face had faded to a soft shade of pink and she smiled, her eyes sparkling as she fiddled with his tie. "And we've got another big moment coming up this evening and where do you suppose that is?"
"Where else?" He hugged her to him and sighed. "I can't wait to tell them that they're going to be grandparents."
"Me either." She whispered in his ear. "But we're never going to get the chance if we stay here all day, so let's get going."
"Whatever you say, Mom." He laughed again and then because he wanted to so badly, he kissed her.
She kissed him back but was mindful not to encourage him and he sensed that; she would tell him they had time for that later. "You kiss pretty good for someone who's going to be a dad."
"And you kiss pretty good for someone who's going to be a mom." He pressed another soft kiss to her lips and let her go, only to take her hand and walk her out of the office.
When they stepped outside a few minutes later, Clark suggested they walk the few blocks to the Falcon. When Lois gave him a look that told him she wasn't too keen on the idea, he smiled at her. "We might as well get into the habit of walking, Lois. He said at least a half hour every day. And since it'll only take us five minutes to walk down there and five minutes to walk back to the car, that leaves twenty minutes after we get home."
Her answer to that was to take his arm and sigh. "All right. After all, I am walking for two."
"That's my girl." He kissed her cheek and then laughed. Lois looked up at him curiously and he shook his head because he wasn't sure she'd appreciate the source of his amusement. "If I tried anything else, we might get another outraged mother glaring at us."
"Well we can't have that now, can we?" She gave him a slightly exasperated look before she nibbled on the side of her bottom lip, a sure sign she was up to something; and then she smiled at him, just before she giggled. "Keep a look out for any outraged mothers."
And she kissed him, without a care for what anyone thought.
It was one of the reasons he loved her so much.
Clark's knees were shaking by the time she pressed one last, soft kiss on his lips and then took his arm, as though nothing out of the ordinary had just happened. "Come on, Dad. I have to walk."
She tugged him along with her and in a haze, he followed her.
Hell, he'd follow her anywhere.
By the time they got to the Falcon, Lois had her keys out of her handbag and she unlocked the front door. Clark opened it for her and waited for her to walk in ahead of him and then she promptly locked the door after he came in behind her. "Since we're here, I'm going to check and see if the liquor inventories are on my desk yet."
"I'll wait here." He told her, but before she had the chance to walk back to her office, Lionel Luthor strolled out of the club and into the foyer, a half full tumbler in his hand.
"Lionel, what are you doing here? I thought you were supposed to be retired." Lois smiled at him.
"Well, Lois that is one of the advantages of being retired. I can come and go as I please." He took a sip of his scotch, straight up and smiled back.
"You're bored, aren't you?"
"I needed to get some fresh air." He gave her a look and then shook his head. "I fear I made a deal with the devil when I persuaded the judge to release Lana into my custody because she is making things, difficult."
"She should be grateful she isn't in jail." Lois glanced at Clark and she was frowning. "She threatened my life and could have killed my husband."
"Lois, you know doesn't quite see it that way and nothing I say makes a bit of difference." He sighed. "It's the reason the judge wanted to send her some place for a, shall we say, recuperative period?"
"The Kansas State Home for the Criminally Insane is hardly a place to recuperate, Lionel and you know that."
"And the fact that she isn't there gives me something of an advantage over her." He shrugged casually. "But the fact of the matter is, she may yet end up there."
"Is she threatening you?" Clark stepped forward. "Mr. Luthor-"
"Lionel, please." He said easily and took another sip of his scotch.
"Lionel, I don't mean to question your decisions. But I can't help but feel that it might not be in your best interest to keep her in your home. She should be where there are doctors who know how to deal with people like her."
"Son, the thing you need to understand about Lana is that she is perfectly lucid. But she has this misplaced anger-" He glanced hesitantly at Lois and sighed. "And, I dislike saying it, hatred toward your lovely bride. She holds Lois responsible for the loss of your affections and can't be made to see the truth. Namely that you never loved her and that you love your wife."
What would she do if she found out about the baby? Clark couldn't help but worry. Lois seemed to sense the same thing because she reached for his hand, looking at him with trepidation.
"Agent Kent-"
"Clark, please."
"Clark, is there something that's bothering you?" Lionel looked at him and then Lois, and then a slow smile spread across his face. "Would it be presumptuous of me to ask if you're anticipating a blessed event?"
The temptation to tell him was strong, but their parents had to be the first to know; that wasn't open for debate.
"I'm just concerned that something could happen to my wife." He tightened his grip on her hand. "Lana wouldn't leave her alone before we were married and I don't want it to continue."
"Leave that to me. That girl thinks she's smarter than I am and it's what makes her careless." Lionel put a hand on Clark's shoulder. "I can use that carelessness against her, she just doesn't realize it."
He wasn't entirely convinced.
"Just take Lois home." Lionel walked to the main door, effectively cutting off further discussion. "I know you haven't said as much, but under the circumstances your attention needs to be on the woman whose hand you're holding so tightly. Don't let outside circumstances change that."
"Just keep me informed about what's happening." Clark asked as they followed the older man. "I can't protect my wife if you don't."
"Agreed." He nodded as he unlocked the door and then opened it. "Lois, if you ever feel the need to change your schedule, please don't hesitate to say something."
He knew.
"I'll remember that, Lionel. Thank you." She put a hand on his arm. "Please watch yourself."
"Don't worry about me, my dear." He covered her hand with his. "I'm not the doddering old man that young hellcat thinks I am. She tends to forget that I was single handedly running a bootlegging operation when Lex was still in short pants."
"I just don't want you to underestimate her."
"I never underestimate those I don't trust, Lois." He patted her hand and then stepped away. "Go home now. If you'd like to take another day off so you can spend time with your husband, I certainly won't mind coming down to the club for awhile."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm sure." He nodded and nudged her gently toward the open door. "You need to spend the time together when he's home. I'll see you on Monday."
"Thank you." She leaned up and pressed a brief kiss to his cheek.
"You're welcome." He smiled at her and Clark ducked his head to hide his smile when he saw Lionel Luthor's face flush. "Go on now, before I have to fire you."
"I'd like to see you try." Lois laughed and walked outside with Clark right behind her. And no sooner were they on the other side of the door, then it was closed behind them and he heard the firm click of the bolt.
Lois took his arm and they walked back to the car, strolling at a leisurely pace. "He knows."
"I got that impression." Clark nodded his agreement. "And we will tell him."
"Clark, I wish he hadn't made a deal with that judge." He felt her cheek on his shoulder. "Lionel should be enjoying life right now, not tying himself down to her."
"Honey, it was his choice." He knew he was telling her something she already knew. "But if it'll make you feel better, I'll keep an eye on things."
"Just as long as you don't let her keep too close an eye on you." Lois sighed and Clark frowned. "I don't trust her any more than Lionel does."
"But you trust me, so you don't have anything to worry about." He pulled her elbow against his body and held it there before he sighed. "Lois, I don't trust her either so I'll be careful. I promise."
"I just won't ever forget that she shot you." She glanced up at him and the look on her face was of deep worry. "If Lionel hadn't surprised her, we probably wouldn't be here."
"I know." He nodded and then tried to lighten the mood. The last thing he wanted to be doing at that moment was talking about Lana Luthor. "We'll have to start thinking about names at some point."
"Clark, we still have a few months before we need to make a decision." He heard her soft laugh and smiled; he didn't like seeing her in distress. "And not knowing if it's going to be a boy or a girl, it doesn't make a lot of sense right now."
"That's why I think we should start a list." He reasoned. "We can leave it on the dresser and every time we think of a name we'll write it down. And after we have the baby-"
"You mean, after I have the baby." She reminded him and he shook his head in amusement.
"Then after you have the baby, it won't be that hard to come up with something."
"You know, you're pretty smart for a fed." She commented quietly and laughed again. "And you're pretty good in bed, too."
"Lois." He felt his cheeks burn with a blush, but he'd bet a dollar to a donut hole that she was blushing too as she leaned up to kiss his cheek.
"Let's get home."
"Your wish is my command." He told her as they continued their leisurely walk back to the car.
oooooo
Maybe it was because he and Lois kept glancing at each other all through dinner that evening that had their parents glancing at each other, and smiling.
The opportunity never presented itself during the meal and Clark began to wonder if they were ever going to get the news out. The fact was, he was going to be a father and he wanted to share that with his parents.
It wasn't until his mother suggested that they take their coffee and dessert out to the parlor, that he knew they'd been given the opportunity and the feel of Lois' hand in his told him to take it.
When he and she had settled down on the sofa, his parents had taken one overstuffed chair and her father had taken the other, Clark nervously cleared his throat.
'I give it nine months.' His father in law's words from their wedding day came back to him as he looked at the expectant faces and cleared his throat again; this wasn't going to be as easy as he thought.
"It's not bad news, is it?" His mother finally asked, her smile dimming somewhat. "You and Lois have had this look all evening of the cat that swallowed the canary."
"You haven't been drafted, have you?" His father was starting to look worried and Clark shook his head.
"I'm too old for the draft, Dad. And before you ask, I haven't volunteered."
"Well then, what is it?" Lois's father frowned at them. "Because from the looks on your faces, it certainly isn't a baby."
That's what he thought.
"Actually, Daddy it is." Lois made the blunt announcement and he felt a blush burn his cheeks; leave it to his wife to cut to the chase.
"What?" The stunned look on his mother's face made him smile.
"A baby?" His father looked just as surprised and then he smiled. "You're having a baby?"
"I'm due at the end of September." Lois supplied more information as their parents looked at each other.
"Well hell, Lo." Sam blinked a few times and his face colored. "I wasn't serious when I said I wanted another grandchild so quickly."
"I know, Dad." Lois laughed softly. "But apparently another grandchild wanted you."
"How are you?" He asked and then glanced down to her abdomen. "How's that little one?"
She put a hand on the spot her father was looking at and glanced at Clark before she sighed. "We're both fine. My blood pressure is a little high, but Dr. Francis will keep an eye on it and he's suggested that I might think about cutting back my hours at the Falcon."
"I don't suppose I could talk you into quitting?" Her father asked and as expected, Lois shook her head.
"Clark hasn't asked me to do it. So until he can come up with a good reason, or I just feel like it's time, I'm going to keep working."
"You do what you feel is best, honey." Mom told her. "And if you need our help, don't hesitate to ask."
"I won't, Martha." She glanced up at Clark again. "Since the FBI keeps sending my husband all over the country, I'm probably going to need it."
"About that." Sam fixed a stern look on his son in law. "I don't suppose I could talk you into finding another line of work?"
"Dad."
"I'm only asking." He glanced at his daughter briefly, but persisted. "It was one thing when you were on your own, but now you have a wife and a baby on the way. Don't you think they deserve some consideration?"
"Sam, I joined the FBI because I wanted to help people." Clark sat forward and Lois' hand slipped down into his to give him her support. "It's who I am. Every day I wake up with a purpose."
"I understand that." He nodded. "But don't you think that purpose should be focused on your family now?"
"Dad." Lois got her father's attention. "I wouldn't ask Clark to change his career for me any more than he would ask me to quit my job for him. And as much as I don't like it when he's away for so long, to ask him to do anything else would mean that he wouldn't be the man I agreed to spend the rest of my life with."
"I just don't want him to miss out the way I did." His head dipped and then he shrugged before he looked at Clark again. "I don't want him to look back and regret that he missed out on seeing his children grow up."
Clark hadn't thought about that, not really. And the idea of missing out on his baby's life made him sigh.
"Clark Kent, don't you dare." He heard her low voice near his ear and she knew what he'd been thinking. "You're not Dad."
"But I'm going to be a dad." Clark replied quietly and to his consternation, his eyes were suddenly moist.
"Come with me." Lois stood up and held her hand out to him. When he stood up next to her and took it, she looked at her father and his parents. "We'll be right back."
"Don't forget to bundle up. I know it's March, but it's still cold out there." Clark could hear the concern in his mother's voice as Lois headed toward the front hall with her husband in tow.
She grabbed a scarf from the coat rack and covered her head before winding the ends around her neck and then stuck her arms through the sleeves of the coat that Clark held out for her. While she buttoned it up and pulled a pair of gloves out of the pockets, he wrapped a scarf around his neck and shrugged into his coat.
Lois opened the door while he buttoned up his own coat and then followed her outside, closing the door behind him. She then took his arm, leading him down the porch stairs and away from the house.
There were large patches of snow on the ground as they walked out of the yard and strolled toward the barn. A late winter snowstorm had blown through earlier in the week, but it hadn't warmed up enough to melt the last of the slush.
"Clark, my father means well." She finally said. "And in his own ham handed way, he's still trying to protect his family."
"He does have a point, you know." Clark felt the need to tell her. "We never considered that we'd be starting our family so soon after we got married."
"Who does?" She looked up at him and he could see the moonlight reflecting in her eyes. "I figured that I'd be working for awhile before I became a mother. But that didn't happen, did it?"
"It wouldn't be fair to you or to the baby for me to be gone so much."
"And it wouldn't be fair to you to give up something that you love doing." Her voice was soft, but firm with conviction. "In spite of the fact that you're gone so much, which I know you don't like very much either, you love your work. And for me to ask you to change that would change you."
"Lois." She was making it too easy.
"Don't 'Lois' me." She chided him gently with a tug on his sleeve. "I knew what I was getting into when I agreed to marry you. My dad's heart is in the right place but I already told you, you aren't him. Besides, we have something he didn't."
"What's that?" He sighed and pressed a kiss into her hair.
"Our parents." She put her cheek on his shoulder and held onto his arm as they walked. "Luce and I didn't have the chance to grow up around family, but this one will. And you'll be around as much as you can, which is a lot more often than you seem to think."
"I don't know about that."
"Part of this is my fault." Lois stopped in mid stride and sighed. "I meant what I said about knowing what I got myself into before we got married, but I seemed to forget that when I found out that I was going to have a baby."
"When you found out that we were going to have a baby." He teased her and felt her nod.
"You're right. Because I certainly didn't get into this by myself." She laughed softly. "Not that I mind at all."
"I was happy to help." He laughed with her and sighed again. But this time, he could feel the weight that had begun to settle on his heart, ease.
"And I was happy to let you." She leaned up and kissed his cheek. "But in the meantime, I'd really like to get back to the house. My feet are freezing."
"I think I can help you with that." And without any warning as to what he was going to do, Clark picked her up in his arms. She looped her arms around his neck and he saw her face flush; though that could have just been from the cold air.
"I do have two perfectly good feet, you know."
"Two perfectly good feet that you just told me are cold." He reminded her. "So what kind of a husband would I be if I let my wife walk back to our house with cold feet?"
She seemed to ponder whether to argue with him, but in the end she gave him a light shrug and put her head down on his shoulder; and then she laughed. "The last time I had cold feet was on our wedding night. But you took care of that very nicely."
"With a lot of help from you." He couldn't help but chuckle and got a punch in the arm for his trouble, which only made him laugh more.
"Well, since you have me in your arms, why don't you take me upstairs?" Her head bobbed up and she smiled at him. "We've given them the news now. So if you don't mind, I'd like to spend the rest of the evening alone with my husband."
"I don't mind." He assured her with a nod and pressed a kiss to her lips as he carried her back.
"I didn't think you would." She put her head back down and didn't say another word as he got her inside the house. He closed the door behind them and as Clark moved to set her on her feet, Lois shook her head. "You're not done being my pack mule just yet."
"What was I thinking?" He laughed softly and looked into the parlor only to see the amused faces of their parents. "I've been given a direct order to get my wife upstairs, so I think this is going to be good night."
"It's best you learn early, son." Sam didn't bother hiding a grin. "Never disobey a direct order from a Lane."
"Even when she's not a Lane anymore." The former Lane and newest Kent reminded her father from the shelter of Clark's arms.
"You may not have the name any more." He was still grinning. "But you'll always be my daughter."
"That's true." She agreed with a smile. "Good night, Dad."
"Good night, Lo." His grin softened. "Sleep well."
"We will."
"Goodnight, you two." Dad looked suspiciously as though he was trying not to laugh.
"Don't let him keep you up, Lois." Mom gave him her best chastising look, but it was tempered with a gentle smile. "I know he just got home, but now is the time when you should be getting your rest."
"Don't worry, Martha." Lois assured her. "I'll make sure he keeps his hands to himself."
"I'd like to see you try." He remarked under his breath, but her wide eyes and flushed cheeks told him she'd heard every word. She leaned close to his ear and he felt his chest tighten at the feel of her warm breath against his skin as she giggled in his ear.
"I'm telling."
"I dare you." He challenged and then kissed her nose.
She opened her mouth and for a brief moment, Clark wondered if she was actually going to say something. She must have seen a look on his face, mirroring the very thought and she laughed again before answering low in his ear. "Give me some credit, will you? I know who keeps me warm at night."
"Shelby?" He raised his eyebrows in question.
"Say good night, Clarkie." She brushed her lips across his cheek and put her head on his shoulder.
"Goodnight." He looked at their parents and shrugged before he carried his wife up the stairs, without any intention of keeping his hands to himself.