Chapter 24

Chris was tangled in his blanket, dead like a zombie, Lois peeked her head in, grinning. As soon as she walked in, Chris swung his eyes wide open, Lois looked at him smiling, she said quietly, "Somebody looks older today." She raised her eyebrow up grinning.

Chris jump up on his bed, "I do!"

"You? Why would that be?" She put her hands on her hips walking around his bed.

Chris looked offended, "It's my birthday Momma!"

Lois gasped and jumped on his bed, "It is your birthday!" She sat on top of him while he lay back down.

"I'm five!" He held out five fingers in front of her face.

"You're five?" She pulled him back up to face her.

"Do I get my kisses?"

Lois rolled her eyes, "Oh Okay!" She started giving him six kisses all over his face, "That's five and one for good luck!"

"Knock knock" Lois and Chris both looked up at the door to find Martha Kent peeking her head in the door.

"GRANDMA!" Chris yelled out, surprised to see her.

Lois grinned at her, "Hey"

"And what does my favourite grandson want for his birthday?" Martha walked in and sat beside him on his bed.

"I'm your only grandson grandma!"

Martha gasped, "And a handsome one at that! What does my handsome grandson want for his birthday?" Lois smiled up at Martha.

Chris was taking a bath while Lois and Martha were setting up for his party. "How was your flight to Metropolis Mrs. Kent?"

"It was good. Better to get away from all the politics. Life as a Senator can be a little too much. I wouldn't miss my grandson's birthday for the world."

Lois smiled, "Thanks for coming."

"Anytime Lois." Lois looked down as she was making the fruit salad, Martha continued to stare at her, "I heard Clark came back. I haven't had the chance to see him, I wanted to give you both space." Lois nodded, "How's it going between you two. Adjusting to his return?"

Lois took the bowl of fruit salad and placed it on the food table, "Very slowly. We're just trying to figure out where we go from here. I haven't told Chris he was his father yet. I wasn't ready to tell him yet. Mainly cause I don't know what to even say. But I think Clark understands I'll tell him when the time is right."

Martha looked back at the bathroom door where Chris was playing in the bubble bath, "There is no right time Lois. Whatever you decide, I just hope he won't hold it against you for keeping it from him. Clark's already in his life. You might want to tell him sooner than later otherwise he'll resent both of you for lying to him. Kids this young, they can do reckless things, especially with his abilities. I remember raising Clark, it took a lot to keep him from running away whenever he was in trouble or angry at something. Just be careful with the timing Lois."

Lois took in what Martha was saying and nodded. "You know if he asked me, I would tell him that you were his daddy's mom. But he's so young, and I just let him assume you're my mom. Either way you are his grandma. And I've appreciated everything you've done for me.. mom. You're the one I talk to on how to be a good mother because you've been through this. Honestly, I wouldn't be as good a mother to him if it wasn't for you. Thank you." Martha pulled Lois into a hug.

"Lois no matter what, you will always be like a daughter to me. I'm here for you. And you did an amazing job raising my grandson." Lois nodded and smiled.

"Momma I'm done my bath!" They both looked at each other and laughed.

"I better go." Martha nodded as Lois walked towards the bathroom.

The party had started, everyone from the league was there as well as his friends from school. Clark had walked up to the door nervously standing. He heard laughter and the sound of little kids running around on the other side of the door. Clark secured the wrapped box in his arm and hesitantly knocked on the door. The door opened up to someone unexpected. "Mom?" his eyes widened.

Martha looked back at her son with the biggest smile on her face, "Clark!" She pulled him into a hug and he squeezed her in his arms. He was so happy to see her. Martha had tears in her eyes when she saw her son. "I missed you honey" she whispered in his ear.

Clark was taken aback, "I had no idea you were gonna be here. I missed you too." He kept hold of her hand as they continued to talk at the doorway.

"I just came for my grandson's birthday. I have to leave later tonight."

"I'm glad you're here. How does.. I mean... does Chris know you're..." Clark struggled to get his sentence out.

Martha understood what he was trying to say, "He's never asked so I guess he just presumes I'm Lois' mother. She calls me mom around him anyways. Oh honey I'm so glad you're back! Where have you been all these years?"

Martha stroked his face, he replied, "I've been too far too long. I recovered the lost city of Kandor."

Martha nodded slowly, "Tell me you're back for good."

Clark nodded, "It seems impossible to think I left in the first place."

Martha's eyes were full of tears, tears of joy, "You have no idea how happy that makes me!" She wrapped him in a warm embrace once more. "Come in. Someone's been waiting for you."

Martha held Clark's hand as they walked into the living room where everyone were. Chris was reading a card on the couch as Lois was crouched over him on the side helping him read it. They both looked up at him, their looks were the exact same. He was definitely Lois' son. Clark smiled at them as Chris jumped up in excitement, "Clark you're here!" Lois looked up at him and formed a smile on her face once she laid eyes on him.

He ran up to Clark, who bent down to give him a bear hug, "Of course I came buddy! I wouldn't miss this for the world!" Chris giggled, Clark presented him with a neatly wrapped present, "Happy birthday Chris."

"Thanks!" He grabbed on to the present and ran to Lois, "Can we open the presents now momma pleeeaaaseeee!"

Lois chuckled, "First you need to cut the cake."

As if right on cue, Chloe walked in with a huge ice cream cake and lit up five candles, everyone sang happy birthday in sync while the obviously pregnant Chloe was trying to put the cake on the table in front of Chris. Oliver laughed and helped her put the cake down without dropping it. "Make a wish CJ! Something you really want." Bruce called out to him once everyone finished singing.

Chris looked at the candles and then back at his mother who gave him an encouraging nod. He looked back at the cake and squeezed his eyes shut, Clark stared at Lois, who's eyes eventually met his. They silently stared at each other when Chris finally opened his eyes and made his wish, "I know what I want more than anything!" With that he blew out the candles as hard as he could, while Lois and Clark kept their eyes on each other.

After everyone had their cakes Chris was anxious to open his presents, "Momma can I open my presents nowwwww!"

Lois chuckled, "Alright you goof. Go on open your presents."

"Yayyy! Present time!" He ran over to the couch where all the presents were built up in a fort. The first present he opened was from Martha, he unwrapped it as fast as he could, inside it was a remote control race car. "Cool! Thanks Grandma!"

Martha smiled, "You're welcome sweetheart."

The next present he unwrapped was from his uncle Ollie and Aunt Chloe. He gasped when he saw what was inside it, "An Xbox? NO WAY! THANKS UNCLE OLLIE THANKS AUNT CHLOE! THIS IS THE BEST!"

Lois narrowed her eyes at Oliver, "Trying to spoil my kid are ya?" Oliver gave her an innocent look, as if he had nothing to do with it. Chloe wrapped her arms around his waist as he hugged her winking at their nephew.

Chris opened up Bruce and Diana's present, which was a basketball jersey signed by Lebron James. "Oh my God! LeBron James actually signed this? What does it say Momma?"

Lois read aloud the signature and the message written by the basketball player, "Chris hope you have an awesome birthday, I'll see you soon in the NBA one day. LeBron James." Lois' eyes widened, "Wow Bruce, you guys went all out. You realize this is Chris' idol?" Bruce smiled proudly at his gift. Oliver gave him a dirty look to which Lois rolled her eyes, these two are always in competition at who can spoil the kid the most.

"This is yours Clark" Chris took the box and shook it next to his ear.

"Just open it CJ. Don't leave us hanging." Bruce teased.

Chris unwrapped it, not caring about the wrapping and opened the box. In it was something very familiar to Lois. It was a very antique telescope, it had gold around the rim with the body wrapped around in black leather. It was very rare. "Looks like Clark got you a telescope honey."

Chris looked up at Lois when his jaw dropped, "It's so cool! Can I see Mars with this?"

Lois chuckled, "I'm pretty sure you can, we can check it out later tonight." She looked up at Clark, she recognized the telescope because she gave it to Clark as a gift once upon a time ago. She smiled up at Clark, who nodded his head.

Chris looked up at Clark as well, "Thanks Clark! I love it!"

Clark grinned at his son, "Your welcome buddy." Lois couldn't keep her eyes off Clark. It wasn't until Chris got her attention.

"I'm opening yours now Momma" Lois looked down at her son and nodded.

Chris unwrapped the thin box, and pulled out a red fabric. When he spread it out, he saw that it was a red cape. The Superman sign was perfectly stitched on in yellow, just like Superman's actual cape. There was something else in the box, Chris swung it out and saw a mini Superman costume. Chris gasped at the suit with the familiar red and yellow Superman symbol attached to the blue and red suit, "Momma! This is just what I asked for the other night!"

Lois grinned, "You didn't think I forgot did you?" Lois looked up to see the entire League stare at her with a surprising look. Chloe, Bruce, Oliver, and Kara looked very taken aback, but they genuinely smiled back at her. Martha had glossy eyes, and Clark, he kept his eyes on her, stunned at the mini suit. Lois found a way to somehow keep her son close to his father. Lois looked at no one but Clark, she smiled back at him and tilted her head down to her son, who tried on the cape as he was too lazy to try on the entire suit. The party was eventually over, but some people stayed. Chris was running around with his cape, and eventually put on the entire suit, playing Xbox, and eating some more of his cake.

Oliver went up to Bruce, "You can flaunt that you know people, like oh I don't know, Basketball players, but he still loves his Xbox way more."

Bruce rolled his eyes, "You keep thinking that Oliver."

Oliver narrowed his eyes at Bruce, "Who's gift is he playing with right now? He's probably forgotten all about the jersey."

He took a sip of his coffee as Chloe walked in. She kissed Oliver and spoke to both him and Bruce, "Play nice boys. He's lucky to have uncles like you to spoil him." They laughed together.

Lois was cleaning up, making sure everyone was okay. Clark watched as she took a pile of empty dishes and walked into the kitchen to clean them up. Clark followed her into the kitchen and they were left alone. Lois' back was facing him as he watched her, "The suit looks good." She stopped cleaning when she heard his voice.

She turned around and smiled at him genuinely, "It took a lot of time to do it perfectly, I think I probably got a billion blisters from screwing up." She chuckled to herself, looking at the blisters on her fingers. Clark walked up to her and took her hand in his, feeling her pricked fingers. Lois looked up at his face. He was inches from her body. Her breathing became loud and Clark could hear her heart beating faster.

"He really loves the suit."

Lois smiled up at him, "I had help from your mom. She told me the instructions over the phone. Superman is his hero after all. He loves the suit just as much as he loves the telescope. Lois shook her head, smiling, "I can't believe you still had that. I gave it to you ages ago when we just started dating."

Clark nodded, "I remember. I figured since he's my kid, he has to have a passion for space."

Lois chuckled, "You have no idea how true that is." They stared at each other for a while. Lois sighed and turned around to the sink, "I should uhh.. I should get back to cleaning. I don't want the sink to pile up otherwise I'd never end up doing it." She kept her back turned to him as she tried to pace her breathing.

Clark walked closer to her, Lois suddenly became aware of his body that was so close she could feel his warmth. He wasn't touching her, but she could feel the faint brush of his chest against her back. She could feel his breath down her neck. It was getting harder for her to breathe properly with him so close to her. Lois swallowed hard, her hand was leaning against the counter when she felt his hand lightly brush up against it. He had caged her against the edge of the counter. She kept silent. Clark moved closer to her, he buried his nose in her hair and breathed in. He took in her scent, closing his eyes brushing his lips against her hair. Lois' heart was beating faster, it was ready to jump out of her chest. His wrist touched her wrist gently. He moved his lips away from her hair. Lois suddenly felt his lips brushing very lightly against her neck. She cringed when she felt his breath on her shoulder. His cheek was inches from hers. She yearned to touch him, to have him right there, how much she missed his touch.

They heard footsteps and laughter coming towards the kitchen which made Lois jump. Lois turned around and suddenly found herself nose to nose with Clark. As a reflex, Lois moved out of his arms and stood far away from him when she saw Chloe walk in. Chloe raised her eyebrow at the tension in the room. "We're all ready to leave Lo. Thanks for having us." She walked up to her cousin and kissed her cheek. She walked up to Clark, "See ya Clark." She grinned at him and gave him a quick hug. Lois and Clark stood in the kitchen in awkward silence. Lois leaned against the wall.

Clark bit his lip, "I guess I better go too."

Lois nodded slowly, "Okay." He slowly walked towards her and bent down and softly placed his lips on hers. It was a light and gentle kiss. The kiss was short lived when Clark pulled away too soon for Lois. She opened her eyes and looked back at him as he walked away. Lois was trying to keep from having a heart attack. Man her heart was beating so fast! She hadn't had this feeling in a while. Lois stood alone in the kitchen smiling to herself, when she saw her little Superman run in with his cape flying on his back. He jumped on his mother who grabbed him in time. She spun him around until they were both dizzy.