Chapter 7: Monday Morning Cometh

They'd gone to bed early Sunday night because Clark wanted to pick up where they'd had to leave off that morning, not that Lois minded. Their one night apart had changed everything and they were both reaping the benefits. But even after making love, more than once and falling into an exhausted sleep, Clark was restless.

He was nervous, she knew, but Lois wasn't sure why because Clark had enjoyed his last assignment at the Planet. He told her he'd learned a lot about reporting from Mr. White and he really seemed to like Clark. They'd even invited Mr. White and his wife to their wedding.

She had the feeling that it had more to do with the circumstances of why he was being sent back to resume his alter ego of Clark Kent, reporter. They both had so much more at stake this time around and the sooner he could find the fellow who had taken the shots at her on the night they met, the sooner he could make sure that Lana was stopped.

And this time, she could rot in prison.

Lois was sorely tempted to wake up her husband, but decided against it. Her insides fluttered at the memory of how it had felt being so intimately connected to him, recalling the feel of his gentle touch on her body.

So she settled for brushing her fingers across his bare chest, hoping she didn't wake him. He still had another couple of hours before he needed to get up and she wanted him to sleep. But even at rest, he seemed to know she was there and rolled to his side, reaching for her.

She considered getting up and leaving him alone, but it hadn't worked out so well the other morning. After Clark's night on the sofa he'd brought her back upstairs and Lois knew what he wanted because she wanted it, too. But no sooner had he rolled her onto her back and kissed her when he sighed, gave her a sleepy grin of apology and kissed her again before sinking down next to her; promptly going back to sleep.

She'd left him to go downstairs, wanting him to get some rest, but he'd come down after her to take her back to bed. He couldn't sleep without her, which was obvious, so she'd stayed with him and fallen asleep in his arms because it was where she wanted to be.

It was still where she wanted to be, but when Clark's hand skimmed down to her backside and then slipped behind her knee, she knew it was time to get up when he drew her leg over his. His body was quickly coming to attention and she felt her face flush.

'I'm sorry, sweetheart.' Lois sighed regretfully. She cupped his cheek with her hand and pressed a soft kiss to his warm lips. 'Tonight, I promise.'

It was a promise she wouldn't have any trouble keeping.

As carefully as she could, Lois moved his hand so she could slip out from under his arm. She then slowly rolled over, trying not to disturb the mattress and moved the blankets back enough to get her feet from under them. But no sooner had she stood up, that Clark reached for her again as she figured he would. His face crinkled into a frown when all he got was warm sheets, but he didn't wake up.

He just sighed and promptly rolled over before she picked up her bathrobe from the foot of the bed and put her arms through the sleeves, all the while watching her sleeping husband.

He looked so tired.

It would have been much too easy to shrug out of her nightclothes and get back into bed, waking him the way she had the morning before; but she didn't. And it was just as well, because her stomach had started to roil before she'd even had the chance to cinch the belt of her robe.

Great, it was going to be one of those mornings.

She walked to Clark's side of the bed, not yet willing to leave him in spite of the sudden nausea, to brush a hand through the messy mop of dark hair, a mess that she'd created. It was only when her knees started to shake she knew it was time to get to the bathroom, hoping it wasn't currently being occupied by either of her in-laws.

She closed the bedroom door behind her and padded quickly to the bathroom, thankful to see that the door was ajar. And not wanting to alert Martha or Jonathan to her predicament, closed it just as quietly before she sank to her knees and retched.

While the morning sickness had eased considerably, Lois still had miserable days in the bathroom. Dr. Francis had told her within another two or three weeks, it should go away all together.

But in the meantime, she started to pant. Because no sooner had she finished retching with little time to catch her breath, she threw up again.

Lois should have known it wouldn't be long before Clark found her. He seemed to have a sixth sense about her morning sickness and she missed the sound of the bathroom door as it opened and then closed again. She felt her hair being gathered behind her and the caress of a large, warm hand on her back. That felt really good.

He didn't say anything, just stayed with her and comforted her while she finished. She reached up to flush, but he got there first and gently commanded her to sit instead and then sat down himself to support her back as she rested against his chest. Her stomach still felt funny, so she knew she might not be quite through yet.

"This is the first time you've been sick in a couple of days." He observed and Lois could hear the concern in his voice. She smiled because she had a pretty good idea as to why. "I thought it was getting better."

"One of the causes of morning sickness is activity." She put her head back on his shoulder and giggled. "And we have been pretty active the last couple of days."

"Really?" He sounded dubious.

"It's a double whammy." She smiled. "Hormones cause activity and that causes morning sickness."

"Dr. Francis said that?"

"Not in those words." She shook her head. "But it was the jist of it."

"Then do you really think it's a good idea that we're-" Clark started to ask but Lois interrupted him.

"Don't even think about finishing that sentence, buster." She shook her head again. "If the trade off for making love with my husband right now is morning sickness, then I'll take it."

"But what if I don't want to be the cause of it?" He asked sensibly and Lois appreciated his concern, but it was her decision.

"Then I'll just have to peruade you." She countered. "And if yesterday morning is any indication, I know I can."

Clark pressed a kiss to her hair and chuckled. "That's because you used our baby to do it."

"I don't think he minded." She smiled, knowing what was coming.

"Or she." He laughed again, having to know she was expecting it.

"You know we never did consider that it could be them." Lois burrowed herself into his chest. "Wouldn't that be something?"

She felt him still and could feel the acceleration of his heart rate as he slipped his hand underneath her robe to gently caress the slight swell of her abdomen. "Is there something you aren't telling me?"

"I'm pretty sure that we're not having twins." She shook her head, laying her hand over his, "Maybe next time."

He leaned close to her ear and his warm breath made her shiver. "You know that in order for us to have twins, we'll have to try twice as hard."

"Well then you'll just have to keep up with me, won't you?"

"I think I can handle it." His lips came down close to hers and she stopped their descent with her fingers.

"I really don't think you want to do that." Lois cautioned him and all he did was grin.

"I suppose not." He kissed her cheek instead. "So do you feel ready to get up, or do you need more time?"

"Just stay here with me, if you don't mind." She should have told him to go back to bed and not worry about her, even though she knew he wouldn't do it; but she liked having him with her.

"I don't mind." He stroked her with a light touch. "I like being here with the both of you."

"So do we," She nodded and then felt her body relax. But no sooner was she ready to ask him to help her up from the floor whenher tummy started to churn again and she tensed. Crap!

"Clark."

He must have heard the urgency in her voice and understood what was happening without her having to say another word. "It's okay, honey. I'm right here."

She felt him shift behind her and get to his knees. He grasped her arms to give her the leverage to get up and once she did, held her hair. When she was done they sat down again, his arms wrapped around her. "How are you doing?"

"Oh, this whole thing is just the cat's meow." Lois smiled and leaned against his solid warmth.

"Cat's meow?" It sounded as though he were trying to stifle a laugh, and failing badly.

"Cat's meow, bee's knees, gnat's eyebrow, it's all the same."

"Sarcasm noted." Clark chuckled softly near her ear. "Now let's get you up and back to bed."

"Not a chance, G-man." Lois resisted his attempts to help her to her feet.

"And not for the reason you seem to think, missy." She didn't miss his humorous tone with a name her father often used with her. "You need to rest."

"So do you." Lois let him help her get up and walk her to the bathroom sink. Her knees were still shaky, so Clark braced her body with his while she brushed her teeth.

"But you're resting for two and that's more important." He was persistant, she'd give him that.

"Clark, it's important we both rest." She reminded him before she splashed some cool water on her face and then blotted her skin dry with a towel. When she was finished, he took the damp towel out of her hands and hung it up for her. "I could have done that."

"I know, but I wanted to." He met her eyes in the mirror over the sink, almost daring her to object further.

"Thank you." She smiled at him in the reflection and he smiled back.

"You're welcome." He stepped back and carefully took Lois up in his arms.

It was only then she noticed that he'd put on a tee shirt. He seemed to be aware of it and his face flushed. "I know you wouldn't have minded seeing me in my pajama bottoms, but I'm pretty sure my parents would have."

"I do seem to remember your mother reminding you once that she hadn't raised an exhibitionist." She laughed, "And all because you were trying to impress me."

"Lucky for me, it worked." He kissed her cheek before he reached for the doorknob and turned it.

"You have been a very lucky fellow, you know." Lois put her head down on his shoulder as he carried her out of the bathroom and back to their bedroom. "If it hadn't been for me, you wouldn't be here."

"That goes both ways, Lois." Clark stopped next to the bed and set her on her feet. "If any other agent had been sent back here other than me-" The sentence went unfinished when she stopped him with a kiss.

Lois heard him take in a breath through his nose, telling her she'd caught him off guard, but he recovered quickly when he got his arms around her waist and kissed her back. She curled her arms around his neck, holding him close, mindful that fairly soon she wouldn't be able to. "I'm so glad that it was you."

"Me, too," He extended his hand, indicating the bed. "So come on, back to bed now. And as difficult as it's going to be I'll keep my hands to myself, Scout's Honor."

"Says the Eagle Scout," She quirked an eyebrow at him as he stepped back and loosened the belt to her robe. When he'd finished, she took his hands in hers and stroked the knuckles with her thumbs. "You have the most wonderful hands."

She glanced up and saw the look of surprise on his face. "You make it difficult for me to keep them off you when you say things like that."

"I know." She loved to tease him because she knew he loved it, too. But she also knew they both needed to rest. So she took the hand he offered to help her up onto the mattress and then moved over to her side and sat down, waiting for him to follow. "But you will."

"Lois." He shook his head with a rueful grin and she could imagine what he was thinking, 'You're going to be the death of me.'

'But you'd die happy, wouldn't you?' She leaned over and kissed him when he sat down next to her. "I know."

She slipped down in the bed and waited for Clark to settle down before she stretched out and felt the reassuring warmth of his arms close around her. Of all the places that she'd been lucky enough to see growing up as an Army brat, being held in her husband's embrace outdid them all.

When she woke again later, Clark was standing at the edge of the bed and looked to be deep thought. From the look on his face, she had a pretty good idea of what was on his mind and she couldn't help but laugh. "So are you coming back to bed or not? I wouldn't mind a quick tumble to start the day."

"Honey, as tempting as that is-" He was turning her down and Lois shook her head.

"Don't think about it, Handsome." She glanced at the bedside clock before she sat up. "We've got fifteen whole minutes before you have to be downstairs and formost ofthose minutes there is only one place I want you to be."

"Lois-" He sighed because she'd wager he wanted it as much as she did. But one of them had to be sensible. "This isn't exactly-"

"The right time?" She finished for him as her eyebrow went up. "Maybe not, But if you don't give me what we both want, you're going to have an awfully difficult time getting through the rest of the day because you're going to be kicking yourself for turning down your wife."

"Lois-"

"The more you stall, the less time we're going to have." She gave him the look he'd once told her could get him to do anything she wanted, got up to her knees and grabbed the ends of his tie. "So you have two choices. You can go downstairs with a smile on your face, or I'll make sure to frustrate you so badly that you'll wish you'd given into me."

She'd do it, too. The Christmas Eve morning after Clark had taken her into protective custody, came to mind. He'd lamented, 'You don't play fair.'

"Well, Mrs. Kent, what kind of incentive are you offering?" He stepped forward and fingered the strap of her nightdress.

As she'd hoped, her handsome husband seemed to have given in and she hadn't had to bring out the heavy artillery to do it; but she decided to bring it out anyway.

"Oh, I'm sure I can come up with something you'll like." Her voice dropped to a whisper as she let go of his tie, brushing the nightdress off of her shoulders and Lois watched his eyes follow the silky material as it dropped to the bed.

"Lois, that is not an incentive, it's coercion." Clark sighed and his hands balled up.

"That is the general idea." Her face was warm as she reached for him. "So why don't you take off your nicely pressed shirt so you don't advertise to your parents what we're about to do and I'll take care of the rest."

"No, you won't." Clark stepped back and unbuttoned his shirt, trying to maintain some control of the situation. But Lois wasn't about to let him, when she grabbed him by his open shirt and pulled him back toward the bed. She glanced over at the bedside clock again and looked into his eyes. "Yes, I will," She giggled. "Because you should have learned by now I always get what I want."

"You make me feel like a charity girl." He sighed dramatically and Lois just rolled her eyes.

John Barrymore had nothing on her husband.

"Oh, shush. You know you want this just as much as I do." She leaned up and pressed a kiss to his chin. "Come on, we don't have much time; so we need to make the most of them."

"I'm all yours." He stepped out of his clothes and pushed them away with his foot.

She caught his face in her hands and kissed him, taking him back down to the bed with her and then waited. "Come on, Handsome. Time waits for no man, or expectant wives for that matter."

"Oh, what the hell," He grinned as he stretched out next to her, trying to sound as though it was the last thing he wanted to do.

"Gee, Clark, I feel so special." Lois feigned a frown and folded her arms across her chest.

"Lois?" She knew he wasn't buying it and truthfully, she didn't mind.

"Shut up and kiss you?" She asked the obvious question and he nodded. So, Lois put her arms around his neck and smiled, "Oh, what the hell."

Then she kissed him.

oooooo

He kissed her shoulder as she trailed her fingers through his hair and a glance at the clock told him that time had run out.

"You're quite a sight, Agent Kent." Lois' breathless laugh made his skin tingle. "This is the first time you've made love with me in your socks."

She was right.

"And if you have your way it probably won't be the last." Clark got up off the bed, picked up his trousers, tee shirt and freshly rumpled shirt from the floor and pulled them on before he retrieved her nightdress and sat back down, handing it to her. "Is there anything special you'd like for breakfast? I can let Mom know if you do."

"She's going to want to iron your shirt first." She laughed and he smiled when her face flushed as she slipped the nightdress back on and the soft satin pooled around her on the bed. "And she's going to know why."

"Clark, breakfast is going to get cold." The sound of his mother's voice drifted up the stairs from the kitchen. "You don't want to miss your train."

"That's your cue." Lois grabbed him by his tie to pull him down to kiss him. "So scram."

"I'll scram when you promise me that you'll go back to sleep." He kissed her back before he reached for her hand and held in between the both of his. "Please."

"After what we just did?" She giggled. "I don't think it's going to be possible."

"You could come downstairs with me, but-"

"I know." Lois nodded. "Your mother will probably scold you for letting me get up so early."

"If she does, they'll have a pretty good idea why." Clark leaned over and kissed her. "And I know you want to avoid embarrassing my parents."

"If it were the General, I wouldn't be so concerned." She shrugged, reached for his open shirt and buttoned it up before taking the ends of his tie in her hands. "He'd just make a passing comment about how some people don't need to bother with alarm clocks."

Clark couldn't help but chuckle because he knew how true it was. His father-in-law had always been candid with his thoughts, not caring how it might sound. "If I could wake up every morning to this, I wouldn't either."

"And while I'm expecting, this will probably happen quite frequently." Her face flushed again before she rolled her eyes, "Hormones."

"I'm not complaining." He smiled and reached up to brush her hair away from her face; he'd never felt anything so soft between his fingers. "Before Dad comes knocking on the door, I'd better get out of here."

"Everything is going to be fine, Clark." Lois' voice was reassuring as she tied his tie. "You'll get back to the Planet, sit down at your desk and it'll all come back to you."

"Would my return to the Planet also include an incredibly beautiful woman getting off of an elevator at some point and taking me to lunch?" He asked her and couldn't help but remember one particular visit.

'And I came down to your lovely paper to surprise my handsome reporter so he can take me out to lunch. Isn't that right, Handsome?'

"Only if you're buying," Lois smiled at him and he got the feeling that she was remembering the same day.

'Since we're not actually dating, I thought we'd go dutch.'

'But no one at the Daily Planet knows that.'

'I'm buying you lunch.'

'No, you're buying us lunch.'

'Semantics.'

She shook her head. 'Starvation.'

"Maybe you'd actually kiss me in the elevator this time." She put her hand on his cheek. "I was so certain you were going to that morning."

"Kissing you in the alcove of the Regent Hotel was much better." He countered with a grin and laid his hand over hers. "Besides, I don't think either of us was ready when you shoved me into the elevator."

"Point taken," She pulled him down for one last kiss before giving him a gentle shove. "Now go, before your dog decides to make an appearance and I start sneezing my head off."

"He really-"

"Loves me, I know." Lois finished for him. "And I think Junior-" Clark frowned. "Or Junior-ette is going to love him."

He stood up, tucked his shirt in and zipped up his trousers. He glanced up when he heard Lois sigh mournfully and he laughed. "I think I'm spoiling you."

"You've got it backward, G-man." She caught her bottom lip between her teeth for a moment. "I think I'm the one spoiling you."

"But I certainly don't mind." He commented and Lois nodded her agreement.

"Neither do I." She smiled at him. "Now go."

Clark was unsure about leaving her, but at least she didn't look as pale as she did before they-

"Going," He grinned at the unfinished thought while he walked to the door.

"Don't forget the-"

"Glasses," He picked them up off of the dresser. "I know."

"Have a good day."

Clark tucked them in his breast pocket and turned around. "Try to get some rest."

"We will." Lois laughed as he opened the door. "And try not to get fired on your first day back."

"I'll try my best not to."

"Clark Jerome Kent, I don't want to hear your mother calling you again." He heard his father's firm voice call him from the bottom of the kitchen stairs and Lois giggled.

"Now you're in for it."

Clark quietly closed the door and walked back to the bed. He kept his eyes on her face as he approached because the clingy gown she wore, emphasizing everything, was much too distracting. "I'll just tell them my wife wouldn't let me out of the room until I made love to her."

"You?" Her eyebrow lifted skeptically even as her face flushed and she struggled to stop a smile. "You may think you're a man of the world, Clark. But not even you can face your parents and screw up enough courage to actually say it."

True, but-

He walked back to the door and just before he opened it, looked at Lois with a straight face. "Are you sure?"

He picked up his dress shoes, opened the door and quickly stepped into the hall, closing it behind him, but not before hearing Lois' indignant voice. "Clark Kent, you wouldn't dare!"

Of course he wouldn't and really, she knew that.

He had a smile on his face as he went downstairs and walked into the kitchen. "I'm sorry I took so long."

"Your mother and I were young once too, son." Dad remarked from behind the morning edition of The Smallville Ledger. And from the sound of his voice, he'd swear his father was trying not to laugh.

"Jonathan, we're not exactly ancient." Mom feigned a frown as she turned from the stove and set a plate down on the table in front of Clark. "Now eat this before it gets cold. I don't want to put it back in the pie warmer again. And I can press your shirt while you're eating, if you like."

Lois was right, what a surprise.

"My shirt?" He tried to act as if he didn't realize it was rumpled and plastered a look of surprise on his face.

"Don't play dumb with me, young man. I know for a fact Lois ironed it for you last night." She raised an eyebrow at him, a habit she'd picked up from her daughter-in-law. "She said she wasn't going to have any husband of hers look like his wife couldn't take care of him."

"But I'd wager she did this morning." Dad remarked before he started to cough again and Clark felt his ears burn with embarrassment because he knew his father was trying to cover a laugh.

Oh, lord.

To say he wanted the floor to open up and swallow him whole would be an understatement. And with his parent's enjoying the fact his own wife put him in these situations was icing on the cake.

"Would it be impertinent of me to say that you've been spending too much time with Lois's father?" He sighed and loosened his tie, undid the buttons and took out his cufflinks.

"Yes." They answered him together. Clark shrugged out of the shirt and handed it to his mother, who fished the glasses out of the pocket and handed them to him.

"Just thought I'd ask," He replied before she walked out of the kitchen, headed for the laundry room where her ironing board was always set up. He set the glasses down on the table before he picked up his fork to take a stab at his scrambled eggs.

"You know we don't mean to embarrass you." He heard the sound of the newspaper as Dad lowered it and when Clark glanced up, his father smiled at him. "When you were young, it seemed the least little thing would embarrass you. Even after four years at Central Kansas, you were still such a shy young fellow when you graduated. It wasn't until you left for the Academy and became an agent that you shook the hay out of your hair, as your granddad would have said."

He sighed before he continued. "When you finally came home after five years, your mother and I hardly recognized you. Our bashful boy had become a man who was much too serious, always seemed to be on edge and didn't seem to be comfortable in his own home. Let alone his own skin."

"Dad," Clark remembered those first few weeks, while he readjusted to the peace and quiet of life on the farm, and how out of place he felt.

"Let me finish now." He shook his head. "It wasn't until you brought Lois out here that you finally seemed to relax. She brought out the boy you were before the city changed you into someone we didn't know. And because of her, your mother and I got the first genuine smile out of you since you'd come home." And he smiled. "Lois has been a blessing, son. She's made you happier than you probably thought you deserved-"

He was right about that.

"Now she's going to have your child and you're content in a way I've never seen." He reached over and put a hand on Clark's arm. "I don't believe it would have happened with anyone else."

"I know." Clark nodded his agreement with his father's assessment. "We talked about it, before we got married. And I told her if I hadn't gone to the Academy, I never would have met her. Because even as nice a club as the Falcon is, I never would have stepped foot in it if I'd just been a farmer from Smallville."

"Clark, you never would have been just a farmer from Smallville." His father smiled again. "Your mother and I always wanted more than the uncertainty of this life for you. We wanted you to have the chance at something beyond this land, something to give you a sense of worth and a sense of purpose; the way this farm has done for me."

"Dad, my job is so much velvet compared to everything you do everyday." Clark sighed, suddenly feeling so inadequate sitting across from his hard-working father. "I'm happy with what I do and it's given me the chance to see a good bit of the country. But at least when I come home at night, my job gets left at the field office; your job is never ending."

"I won't argue because you're right. But you know as well as I do it's never quite the same job everyday." He replied. "And if you stop and think about it, your job is that way, too."

"It's-"

"Not the same." They finished in unison and then laughed. "It is the same. As a field agent, you usually never know where you're going to be from week to week. And every assignment you get sent out on, it's never for the same reason.

"And I must admit to feeling a bit envious of you sometimes." Dad looked embarrassed at his confession as he folded up the paperand set it down on the table. "Now I wouldn't trade what I have here with your mother for all the tea in China. But as part of your job, you've had a chance to see parts of the country she and I can only wonder about."

"That's why I always included a picture postcard in my letters so you could get an idea of where I'd been."

"And your dad made sure to save every one." Mom's amused voice informed him as she walked back into the kitchen with a freshly pressed shirt in her hand. "Ask him to show you the shoe box sometime, where he's kept all the postcards."

Clark took the shirt she held out to him and put his arms through the sleeves.

"You've hardly touched your breakfast." She frowned as he buttoned up the front, slipped the cufflinks back in and tightened the tie Lois had done up for him earlier.

"That's my fault, Martha." Clark's father pushed his chair back. When he stood up, he grabbed his coffee cup and walked to the stove. "I started talking and didn't give him the chance."

"It's okay, Mom," Clark shoved the tail of his shirt into his trousers. "I'm not that hungry anyway."

"First day jitters?" Dad topped off his cup and turned around with a look of concern.

"That's part of it." He nodded and sat down with a worried sigh. "I have a wife and a baby on the way and no clue how to find the fellow who shot at her. I need to find him before Lana plans anything to hurt either one of them."

"Honey, it seems to me since Lana hasn't made much of an effort to hide the fact she dislikes Lois so much, it should only be a matter of time before she shows her hand." Mom picked up his plate from the table and set it in the sink.

"And I'd rather it be before my wife ends up on the wrong side of a revolver." Clark sighed again as he pushed his feet into his shoes and tied the laces.

"Son, just treat this situation the same way you did when you first brought her out here." His father advised. "You relied on your training to keep her out of harm's way and we got through it."

"And you know your father and I will help any way we can, just as we did before." Mom reassured him. "We're all a family now, Clark. You and Lois, the baby, us and Sam, too."

"If he had his way, she'd be on her way to Fort Ryan under armed guard." He sat up and glanced at his parents. "And I have to admit, it's a tempting idea."

"One I'm sure Lois would object to." She set his plate on the stove.

"She sure would." The sound of Lois' sleepy voice startled him and he turned to see her standing at the foot of the stairs, holding out his suit coat. "You forgot this on your way downstairs."

"You didn't need to get up." Clark stood up and rushed over to her, taking it out of her hand. "I could have gone upstairs for it."

She pressed a kiss to his cheek. "I know. But I couldn't sleep anymore, anyway. And besides, junior-ette is hungry."

"Junior-ette?" Mom asked, a lilt of humor in her voice as Clark shrugged into his coat.

"It's a long story." He and Lois answered at the same time and she smiled.

"And my G-man needs to get going or he's going to miss his train." She straightened his tie and gave him a critical look. "Something's missing."

He knew what she was looking for and picked up the black thick-framed glasses from the table and tucked them inside the breast pocket of his coat. "Don't worry, honey. As much as I'd like to forget them, I won't."

"Then you're all ready, aren't you?"

"I think so." He nodded. "My briefcase is by the door and I put in a few pictures for my desk."

"Come on, son." Dad set his coffee cup down on the counter and started toward the parlor. "With all of the jawing this morning we're running a little late."

"Call me if you need me." Clark took Lois' shoulders in a gentle grip and then kissed her, still unsure about leaving her.

"We'll be fine." She smiled at him and kissed him back. "Now go."

"Yes, ma'am," He grinned and Lois gave him a pointed look.

"Clark, you're not going overseas, just to Metropolis." His father called and opened the front door. "I've got your briefcase, so all you need is your hat and coat."

He kissed Lois again and walked to the front door, which his father had left open. After he got his hat and put it on, he shrugged into his overcoat and turned around. She looked tired. "Lois?"

"Is this is how it's going to be when this little one starts school?" She put a hand on her abdomen. "If it is, you get to do the honors."

Message received.

"I'm going." He stepped out onto the porch and just before he closed the door, he heard the soft voice of his wife follow him.

"I love you, too."

And he was on his way.