Disclaimer/b I don't own Smallville. If I did, I'd be at the beach right now.

A/N:b In this next chapter, the family travels to the Arctic to speak with the big floating head! *lol* I couldn't resist, although as you all know, in the Smallville universe, he's a disembodied voice. I hope you enjoy it! Thanks, Hana and Nicole for helping me with this one. I went around and around in my head for days about it. *hugs* Please R&R. Thanks!

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Chapter 4 – A Fateful Meeting

Previously:

"Please don't do this." She went into his arms, hoping he would listen to her.

"Please don't cry, honey. I'm sorry I upset you." He lifted her chin to look at him. "I want you to come with us. You'll be there for them. We won't let anything bad happen to them, alright? Jor-El will just talk to them, probably do a body scan, but nothing else, I promise. We need to know what's happening with the kids, and if you're worried about him taking their powers, that's not why we're going. I won't let that happen. Their powers are theirs to keep, no matter what."

"Oh, Clark, of course, I'll come." She hugged her husband as tight as she could. "I want to be there for them. I'll go with you, but if he crosses the line, I'll pull the plug on him, you can count on that."

Clark just pulled her closer, picked her up, and took his wife upstairs to bed.

##

Clark watched his family from the top of stairs as they prepared for their departure for the Arctic Circle to talk to Jor-El. His meetings with his father in the past had led to so many problems and misunderstandings that he couldn't help but feel hesitant about it. He decided to put all that in the past. Lois and I can get through anything as long as we do it together. He believed that firmly and that the meeting would go smoothly. He was determined that it would be no less than that.

He couldn't help but smile at his children. They were positively bursting with energy this morning after he had told them about their grandfather. They were very excited about it, not to mention that they would be flying with their Dad. Lois, on the other hand, was quiet and reserved, which was not like her, but he understood.

"Is everyone ready?" Clark asked, as he came down the stairs.

"We're ready, Dad," Lara said, as she and Jonny jumped onto their Dad, raring to go.

"Easy there guys," Clark said, laughing at their antics. "I have to change into the suit first." He twirled into the suit. He knew the kids would love that. They rarely got to see him do it.

"Dad, that was so cool," Jonny said completely in awe of his father.

"Wow, Dad, that was awesome," Lara said smiling up at her father.

"Alright, Lois, you'll ride on my back, and the kids will be in my arms.

"Oh, swell," Lois said sarcastically.

"Sorry, honey," Clark chuckled.

Then, they headed out back and were off into the sky so fast, that Lois had to hold on for dear life.

##

Lois actually blinked a few times and they were there. As they landed inside the Fortress, the kids were the first to say something.

"Wow, Dad, this is amazing," Jonny said.

"Dad, can we look around?" Lara asked.

"No, kids, I don't want you wandering around. I'll take you for a tour after we visit with your grandfather."

"Lois, are you alright?" Clark asked his wife.

"Yeah, as soon as my ears stop popping and I can hear properly," Lois said.

"Let's warm this place up a little." He took out the Father crystal and put it into the slot, and the Fortress immediately came to life, as warm air flowed throughout.

"Do you feel that, Lois? You should be warm enough in no time."

"Clark, I'm fine. Let's just get this over with, please?" She was ready to leave, and they had just landed.

Clark called to his Father. "Jor-El?"

"Kal-El, my son," Jor-El responded.

"Father, I've brought my family to meet you. You know Lois. She's my life mate now, my wife, as they say here on earth, and these two little ones are my children. This is my daughter, Lara Ellen, and this is my son, Jonathan Clark, your grandchildren. Say hello, children."

"Hello, grandfather." The children chorused.

"Lara, Jonathan. How old are they, Kal-El? Jor-El asked.

"Father, they're twins and they're five years old," Clark said.

"Five years? Kal-El, you should have brought them to me sooner. Have they exhibited any powers so far?" Jor-El asked.

Clark sensed something was going on. Lois came up to stand beside Clark, also sensing something was happening. "Clark, what's going on?" Lois asked. Clark shrugged his shoulders at her, not understanding where his Father was going with his questions.

"Father, why did you ask about their powers?"

"Kal-El, answer my question. Tell me what powers they have," Jor-El pressed his son for answers.

Clark sighed. "Well, they both hover sometimes, they're strong, and they can hear pretty good, too. Jonathan can see through things. These powers all came within the past few days or so. That's it, right kids? There's nothing else?"

They both nodded their heads 'yes.' "Yes, that's all," Lara said.

There was an eerie silence for a few minutes after that. "Clark, let's go. I don't like this," Lois said, tugging on his arm.

Then, quite suddenly, lights started flashing, and the kids hugged their Father and Mother around their waists.

"Father, speak to me please? What's happening? You're scaring the children."

"Lara, Jonathan, step into the chamber," Jor-El said.

"No, Father, not until you tell me what that chamber does," Clark said.

"Kal-El, this chamber will not cause them any harm. It will scan them for any abnormalities and it will determine what abilities they will inherit from you, and it will also determine the status of their health. That is all. Tell me Kal-El, were they healthy when they were younger?" Jor-El wanted to know.

He looked at Lois. "No, Father, they weren't. We were very worried about them, but now, they seem to be very healthy. It wasn't until we brought them home from the hospital that they couldn't seem to stay healthy for more than a few months at a time."

"Clark, you're not actually considering putting them in there, are you?" Lois asked, shocked that he would even think it.

"Lois, I haven't decided anything. I have a few more questions, and then we'll decide, alright?" He squeezed her hand.

"Father, does the chamber do anything else? It won't take their powers will it? We want them to keep their powers and stay just as they are. Do you understand?" Clark asked.

"Yes, Kal-El, the chamber is strictly for diagnosis, nothing more. Are they ready?"

"Lois, I'll let you decide what to do. I think we need this information to help us decide how to move forward. It will ease some of the stress we've been going through, and hopefully, it will help us help them live better and healthier lives."

Lois and Clark looked at their beautiful children, so trusting and so young. The kids didn't appear afraid anymore, just waiting for their parents to tell them what to do. "Alright, Clark, I agree. We need to know as much as we can so we can help them." Clark hugged his wife, and then he knelt down and hugged his children. He looked at Lois. "I think it's the right thing to do, honey."

"Alright, kids, are you ready? This chamber will shine a few lights on you, but it won't hurt. Your mother and I will be right here. There's no need to be afraid."

Jonathan and Lara looked at each other. "Alright, Dad," Lara said. "Ok," Jonny said.

Lois gave the kids a hug and then Clark led them into the chamber. "Father, they're ready," Clark said.

As the chamber door closed, the children looked around, wondering what would happen. As they held hands, the lights started to move over them slowly. The process took only a minute or two. The door opened and the children came running out and into their mother's arms.

"Give me a moment, Kal-El. The analysis will be ready shortly," Jor-El said.

"How are you feeling kids?" Clark asked.

"I'm fine," Lara said.

"Me, too," Jonny said.

"Kal-El, the children appear to be in good health. Their abilities have been awakened in the past month. Lara will develop speed, strength, flight, and her hearing will rival yours, Kal-El. Jonathan will also develop speed, strength, flight and hearing, but Jonathan will also have x-ray vision, heat vision and his breath will have freezing temperatures."

"Wow," Lois said.

Clark was stunned. He never dreamed, but hearing it made it very real to all of them. "But all of those powers will take a long time to develop fully, am I right, Father?"

"Yes, Kal-El, their powers will be fully developed in about ten earth years."

Clark glanced at Lois. "Honey, I have to ask this. Father, will they be vulnerable to … kryptonite?"

"Yes, but only if the exposure is direct and prolonged. The first time was not a prolonged incident."

"What do you mean the first time? They've never been exposed to kryptonite." Clark looked at Lois for confirmation. Lois nodded her head. "No, Clark, they haven't."

"Kal-El, the scan indicated the children were briefly exposed to kryptonite in the past month. That is why their powers were awakened," Jor-El told his son.

Lois and Clark looked at each other and knew the truth.

"The General," Lois and Clark spoke at the same time.

##

The family returned home exhausted from their travels to the Arctic. Lois put the kids to bed. Clark had to go out on an emergency, and Lois found herself first in Jonny's room watching him sleep, and then in Lara's room making sure she was also alright.

Lois was restless and unable to come to grips with what Jor-El had said. It was her fault her children had come into their powers so young. She was the one who had left them alone with their grandfather. She was their mother and it was her responsibility to keep them safe from harm. There was no way she could have known that her father would expose them to kryptonite, or that they could have been harmed on an Army base. The thought was unheard of. She had spent her entire life on bases around the world, and she had never had any reason to be afraid. Now, that was not the case, not anymore.

She didn't have the chance to talk with Clark, but they would have to make a decision about her father. He would have to be told the truth about everything. There was no other way around it. She dreaded the conversation, but it had to be done.

It was late when Clark arrived back home. Lois was sitting up in bed when he came into the bedroom. He kissed her cheek, told her he was taking a shower, and then went into the bathroom.

"How did it go?" Lois asked her husband as he came out of the bathroom toweling his hair with a towel wrapped around his waist.

"It was ok. The fire was contained on several floors, and I was able to rescue all the residents, but it did take time because they were elderly. Lois, honey, it's late and you should be asleep."

Lois sighed. "I can't sleep. I just keep thinking about my father. Clark, why would he do such a thing? Why would he have kryptonite on the base? It makes no sense. They know that stuff can kill you."

"Lois, we can ask your father all those questions when he comes here tomorrow night. You did call him, didn't you?"

"Oh, yeah, I called him. He should be here around eight o'clock. I don't want the kids up too long. They can greet him and then we can talk to him alone."

"Lois, aren't you being a little harsh? He had no idea the kids are mine or that I'm Superman. We can't fault him for not knowing the truth. We should have told him when we got married."

"Clark, you don't need to remind me all of this is my fault, alright? I feel bad enough as it is."

"I'm sorry, honey, but you know we have to tell him everything, and the sooner the better."

"I know we have to tell him. I just never wanted him to know, not ever."

Clark sighed. "That wasn't realistic, honey. He wants to be in their lives and he should be. They are his only grandchildren." He climbed into bed and pulled Lois into his arms. "We'll get through this like we do everything else … together."

Lois pulled her husband close. "I know, Clark. I'm just not looking forward to it."

"Honey, we have to know why that kryptonite was there and what they're doing with it. It has to be destroyed, Lois. You have to convince him of that."

"I'll try Clark, but you've met my father. He's always been so … gung-ho, straight-up military man, all yes-sir and no-sir. Sometimes he tunes everyone out and only hears what he wants to hear. It's so frustrating sometimes."

"I know. Please try and relax, honey. You're all stiff and tense," Clark said, rubbing her shoulders and arms. "Do you want me to help you relax?" Clark asked grinning, hoping she would get in the mood.

"Smallville, you are so transparent." She kissed his cheek. "Goodnight, honey." Lois said, grinning to herself.

Clark sighed heavily. "Goodnight, Lois."

Later that night, Lois helped him relax. He really was the best husband any girl would be proud to have.

##

General Samuel Lane missed his daughter and her beautiful children. He was surprised and happy when Lois asked him to attend the kids' fifth birthday party. He wasn't accustomed to going to birthday parties, but he really enjoyed it. He liked seeing them and getting to know them. They brought so much joy into his rather staid and mundane life, that he hoped she would let him visit with the children, or she could bring them to the base to visit him again.

When Lois had called yesterday and said she needed to see him, it sounded urgent. He hoped the family was alright. He arrived at the house at eight o'clock sharp just as Lois had asked him. He knocked on the door.

"Good evening, Lo." Sam greeted his daughter.

"Daddy, come in," Lois said opening the door for him.

"How are you? How are the kids? When you called, it sounded urgent. Is everything ok?" Sam was worried about them.

"Good evening, Sam," Clark said. He was standing at the top of the stairs in the suit, the kids were standing beside him in their pajamas, and they were holding their father's hands.

"Oh, my god," Sam whispered, stunned.

##

A/N: It looks like Sam has some explaining to do. Tell me what you think! Thanks for reading. Reviews are love!!