Chapter 8

Clark called the hospital but Lois had already left. Driving back to the farm he pulled in and saw Lois sitting in the chair next to Chloe, who was sleeping on the couch.

"I asked her to heal the babies."

"Are you okay? Is she okay?" Clark asked, rushing over.

"I am. I can feel the babies inside me swimming a little. Chloe's been out for hours. But she told me that's how it would be and so now I'm just waiting for her to wake up."

He looked carefully at Chloe then turned his eyes to Lois. She'd showered and changed into blue jeans and a blouse, her hair down with thick curls. Tan lipstick and eyeliner. She was gorgeous.

"Lois," he said, taking her hand.

"This is our last night, isn't it?"

"We have tomorrow."

"Good, because I changed the doctor appointment so we could find out the sex of the babies."

"What time tomorrow?"

"She can see us at 2:45."

"Get in the car," Clark said softly.

Lois hesitated, not sure he was serious.

"The car?"

"Yes, go. I want to take you somewhere."

"It's nine o'clock on a Tuesday."

"Doesn't matter. Please Lois."

She nodded. "Lemme just leave a note for Chloe in case she wakes up. I want her to know we're okay."

Clark left Lois to gather up some things from upstairs. He retrieved two towels, a blanket and one of Lois's little sundresses. Placing them in a basket he came back downstairs and pulled some drinks out of the fridge for later. Getting a few other things they might need, he went outside and put the large basket in the backseat. Making sure Shelby had plenty of dog food he got in the car with Lois and backed up out of his driveway.

He rolled the windows down and let the warm air in. Both of them were terrified of the time to come when they would be apart. Neither of them said a word as he drove into the dark night. Lois felt her heart clamping and pounding wanting to say the words that she should but having no idea how to get them out. She wanted to be a typical girl gushing words of romance to him but all she felt was afraid.

How could she do this by herself? She had hours left with him and he was the one who'd feel the bulk of it. He would deal with three years. Would he forget her face? Would he still want her? Would Lana be his true love in the end and would he rush back into Lana's arms when the time ended as he had so many times before?

"Where are we going?" she finally asked.

"Back to where it all started."

That didn't really help her curiosity. However when she saw the billion corn stalks again she got the picture. She looked down smiling a little at the memories of the first time she saw Clark…or Kal-El.

But he drove past the corn crops to an open field.

"Clark, where are we going?"

"Wow, for awhile you were doing great with the uncomfortable silence. I think that was a record for you," he smiled, pulling off the road into the grass and turning the engine off.

He got out of the car and came around to her side. Puzzled, she looked in the distance and saw a lake. Unbuckling her seatbelt, he opened her door and got the basket out of the backseat.

"Come on."

He rolled out the blanket but didn't set anything out on it. She couldn't make out his face in the dark, only the silhouette of his body as he held his hand out to her.

Everything inside Lois was fear; fear of losing him, fear of not having him, fear of regretting letting him in and then missing him later. But her heart ached for him. She wanted to take this moment to be with him. She wanted to give him everything she was even if it would only last a second. So she went to him. She took his hand and moved so there was little space between them.

Looking up, she saw his eyes again. He had her hands in his and he raised them as if to dance. Closing her eyes, she felt his mouth on hers but he didn't kiss her. They remained still together, just feeling each other's warmth in the late night. Still deep inside their moment, Lois felt his hands leave her fingers and slide to her waist. Dangling there for a moment he touched her stomach knowing he would never feel her sixth, seventh, or eighth month pregnant stomach. She spread his fingers over her own stomach so he would feel as much as possible.

"They're in there and they will be here waiting for you."

Clark nodded.

"Take it off," he said, pushing her arms straight up so he could lift the blouse off her.

Her breasts were still slightly sensitive so she didn't happen to be wearing a bra. Pushing the unnecessary fabric from body she began to join in, slowly but efficiently she undid his pants pushing them down and he kicked them aside. Stripping down to nothing Clark bent down and got Lois's dress out of the picnic basket. It was blue and loose but it did still cling to her in all the right places. It took Lois forever to find that sensual little number that barely covered her ass and it was the most comfortable thing she owned but honestly she never wore it because it was too sexual. Apparently Clark thought it would perfect for tonight.

Helping her with the very small amount of material he slid it down her body and watched her shake it until it settled on her. It was now tighter across the center by quite a bit, but she could still get away with wearing it.

"What is it that you think you're doing?" she asked him with wonder.

"You don't wanna get your warm clothes wet."

"You wanna go into that water in the dark."

"No, we're going."

She looked at the water and it did look beautiful. It was a small lake that opened off into the distance into a larger body of water, probably the one where the teens of this small town thought they wouldn't get caught smoking whatever it was kids smoked these days. But this place was separate and far from all that. This was theirs tonight. Besides, running full force into open water wasn't going to be an option for her that much longer. So she took his hand and ran, splashing and feeling the squishy dirt beneath her toes. Laughing as they splashed, Clark gathered her into his arms and she dipped her head back in the water, coating her hair with wetness.

She wrapped her legs around his waist, holding on as he swayed her a little in the water. Clark watched her, enjoying her smile as the light from the crescent moon descended upon her. Lifting her head back up she kissed him passionately. Fingers caressing his face, she almost forgot tomorrow.

Clark however, did not forget. Holding this woman in his arms who was finally trusting him, he now had to break his promise to her of always being there. She was the one who could move on. She could do anything while he was trapped in another dimension and it scared him more than anything. And he didn't want her staying because of the babies. There were still unspoken words between them. They would come, but he ached to hear her believe in him, as ironic as that sounded just as he was leaving.

"I love you," he told her.

She tipped her head against his.

"I wanna freeze this moment," she whispered. "I wanna be with you."

He tilted her head back, forcing her to look at him.

"You do?"

"Yes!" she pleaded. "You're such an idiot, Smallville. You've got me, you have all of me and you know that. I don't want you to feel all this time between us. I promise I'll be waiting for you. I'll be here the second you're out of that place." She shrugged a little. "I'll be giving birth so I might not be in the greatest of moods but I will be there for you. No one will step up to me and take me from you."

"I'm gonna go crazy," he laughed sadly.

"Hey, you just look at me. Feel me, Clark. Feel our babies and know that we're in our new house waiting for you. The days are going to be long for you but when you get out you will be able to do everything you ever wanted to do."

He cupped her face and kissed her.

"I need you," he said between kisses. "I'll protect you no matter what happens."

"I know," she sighed, her small nips and kisses sending sparks through him. "What time do you have to leave tomorrow?"

"I should probably go right after the appointment. So many…" he murmured kissing her. "…things I wanted to do with you."

"Don't think about all the regrets. I'm making you do it because if you don't you'll regret it for the rest of your life and there will be no other time to do it that you won't regret it more."

Her legs wrapped tighter like an iron vice, never wanting to let go. The water and friction quickly got to Clark. The moon showed beautifully over them as if giving them permission for their one last night together. He gripped her upper sides and lifted her slightly.

"Clark," she said, unable to hold it any longer. "I love you."

He lowered her back into the water.

"I love you. I can't…let you go and not tell you. I love you—" her words and tears were cut short by his mind blowing kiss.

It still shocked her when good boy Clark Kent would kiss her like that. She loved it. He slipped his hands beneath her thighs and spread them, slipping his fingers down. The water had washed away much of her natural moisture so he pressed down on her clit and opened her mouth with his tongue, eliciting moans of response from her. Gently pushing his fingers into her he reached for her moisture and spread it over her body. Matching the motions of his fingers his tongue toured the insides of her mouth delicately, dancing with hers, erotically licking the bottom and tip of her tongue before releasing her lower lip so her head could fall back in surrender.

Clark's hands fumbled to move the dress away so he could have skin-on-skin contact. What little material there was still managed to drive him crazy. Shoving it up her hips he gently pushed himself inside her, the water bubbling like champagne around them. He rained kisses along her jaw and ran down her neck sucking the tender skin. His fingers clawed at her scalp, lips tangling as their hips rocked together. She felt the muscles of her inner walls contract and release with him inside her. Gasps escaped her kissed lips as the sensations increased, never peaking, frustrating her. She felt the sweat build on her forehead and she ached from her toes to her chest. He was inside her but it wasn't enough.

"Clark, the ground," she whispered in his ear as his mouth feverishly attacked her chest.

Cupping her ass he stepped up out of the water letting it gush from their bodies and they just barely made it to the blanket where they fell back and tore at each other. Having a hard surface beneath her he slammed into her with everything he had. With something now under her he hit her with more impact, her entire body tightening with need. She tried to wait off, to loosen and let him in deeper but she was close and he knew it. She opened her mouth to him, letting his tongue slide with hers, gliding gently, mimicking the movements of their lower bodies. She tried to slow down but the tears came pouring and she needed the release. Taking his hands in hers she squeezed him inside her.

"Clark," she wept.

He sped up again, no longer sweet. Pressing down on her hands he felt this last night and his lips fell to her neck where he sank his teeth into the skin, licking the drops of condensation off of it. He bit her a little, letting her cry out, making her his one last time. He pushed one of her legs further apart to make it easier to feel her pregnant stomach. She adjusted, feeling her orgasm crack, everything falling from her when it peaked. Emotions washed from her, coming hard from her body. Tears poured down her face at the soon loss of the man she loved and she came hard against him, triggering his own orgasm inside her. Flooding himself inside her he took her in his arms, kissing away her tears.

"I'll come back," he said.

She shivered, recovering from the orgasm and all of a sudden feeling the cold. Wrapping her fingers around his arms she clung to him.

"I need you."

"I'm here."

Recovering together with shaking words they relied on body heat with their damp, sweat-slicked bodies. Clark had brought the towels and they still had their dry clothes. He had also brought water. He didn't want her to need anything desperately.

Lois wiped her half-dried tears and turned to her side, propping herself up on her elbow and facing him.

"Do you realize the next time night we face each other we're going to have two children?"

"Never a moment's peace. Any of your college girlfriends ready to baby-sit?"

"Hey, they bailed me out of prison, what's baby-sitting?" she smiled.

"I'm serious," he grinned.

"I know you are," she laughed. "Believe me, I'm going to ask. But it's enough to ask to baby-sit for one baby. And they might get surprised when our babies start doing things like their daddy."

"Oohhhhhhhhhh," Clark moaned in distress. "That didn't even occur to me. Well maybe they'll take after their mother."

She giggled again. "They've already responded to kryptonite. I think that ship has sailed, Smallville."

Clark placed his hand on her stomach.

"I wish I could feel them move right now."

Lois covered his hands.

"Well I felt them move earlier today. I can feel them move, I just wish they were big enough so you could."

"If I make you a tape before I leave of my voice will you promise to play it for them?"

"I'll play it until they're tired of it. Until I'm sure they have your voice memorized. When you hold them for the first time, they'll know it's you."

Caressing her stomach and feeling the swell, he ached to feel her in the months ahead that he would miss. Coming closer he crawled on top of her, careful not to squish her belly.

"I'm going to miss you every second I'm gone and love you every minute for the rest of our lives."

Seeing his eyes above her looking down and loving her she secretly still wondered if he ever regretted his path with her. If he regretted what might've been and the other choices he could've made. But damn, he was good at convincing her otherwise.

"Clark," she whispered, trying to say it again for him. She had to shove the metaphorically parked car off her chest and just feel. "I love you," she breathed. Then she just smiled. "I mean I just…I love you so much. I need you to come back and be with me."

"I'm coming back," he said, her tears falling on his fingers. "And I love that you're so strong that you're smiling and crying at the same time.

"In three years you're not going to fall for some beautiful Kryptonian woman over there?"

"It's called the Fortress of Solitude for a reason. And I won't be having a lot of spare time."

"You'll learn so much. Think about that. Think about how much you can do to help others. Heroes do have to make sacrifices, Clark. I just want you to make the one that will hopefully hurt you less in the end. Where you won't miss months of the babies' lives."

Caressing her face as he straddled her waist lightly, he never remembered adoring anyone more.

"You're giving up your own first memories to share with me though. I know how alone you're going to feel in these next four months. I want you to write things down and retain everything you can so you can tell me later. I want to know, Lois. It's only because I know you're right that I'm even considering this."

She smiled sadly, combing his hair with her fingers.

"I can let you go, Smallville. Not forever, but I do believe you'll come back to me."

"Do you?" he questioned. "Do you really?"

She looked into his beautiful eyes and smiled.

"Almost."

"I'm going to drive you crazy when I get back."

"Please, drive me crazy. You know I didn't think you and I would ever be but now I can't imagine how I'm going to spend these four months away from you with your children growing inside me."

"If you're scared call the Justice League. They'll keep you safe from Lex or anyone else."

"It was weird, Lex helping me."

"Don't fall for it."

"Oh, I won't, you kidding me?"

"I know he has a good side to him but don't ever trust that you can find it."

"You believe there's still good in him?"

"I don't…know. I'm sure he'll do more horrible things before he's done and I'm telling you, stay away from him, but I know that somewhere in there he has something pure, Lois. Having said that, can we talk about Lex at another point in time?"

"Gladly. Lex is the last thing I want to think about. I want to think about us. I want to think about Chloe being fine and us finding out what our babies are and moving into the house together and what you're going to do with your life when you get back…all of that."

"You're going to be sick of me, I promise."

"I just want you to know that I'm on your side. No matter what you do."

Clark touched her lips with his thumb.

"I do know that. You don't have to prove anything. Everything is alive between us and it's real. The only thing we have to worry about is surviving the time apart. And, one other thing."

"What's that?"

"Part of the deal with Jor-El."

Lois sobered up instantly. "What? What does he want?"

"He wants to see the children."

"Did you tell him no way in my lifetime would that ever happen?"

"Lois, they're his grandchildren. I said yes. But I made sure you could come with me. You'll be there the whole time. Whatever he could say or do, you'll be there with us. It'll be fine. I promise. Don't let this ruin our last night. Don't let this ruin anything."

Lois sighed. "He's got a lot of damn nerve but if you think he's a decent being, I believe you."

"How…out of character for you to agree without a much bigger fight."

"I don't have time to argue with you. We can argue when you get back…and believe me we will."

"I would never endanger our children."

"I know, I know," she nodded, trying to be understanding. "Three years, you don't even get a break, do you?"

Clark shook his head.

"I think he's going to work to make it as painful as possible in return for letting you feel only four months."

"And this man is your biological father? He sounds like a prince," she smirked.

Clark was still straddling her waist when Lois's cell went off.

"Could be Chloe," she whispered. "Move off me for a sec," she said twisting her body with him straddling her hips to reach her cell.

Lifting his weight off of her she flipped her phone up and saw the number.

"Chloe?" she breathed.

"Yeah, it's me. I'm up. I don't want to interrupt your night. I just wanted to tell you I'm okay."

"You sound terrible."

"Well, yeah, kinda how I feel. Don't worry about anything. You two just enjoy your last night together. I'm going to just rest. Mind if I stay the night?"

"No not at all. Take the guest bedroom. Clark and I will be home soon."

"No rush. Love you."

"Chloe, I can come home right now and take care of you."

"No, don't do that-"

Before Chloe could finish, Lois hung up the phone and sat up, Clark still over her.

"Baby, I need you to get off me. She needs us."

Clark smiled, lifting himself off her midsection, realizing for the first time she felt comfortable using an endearing term for him. Lois began putting her clothes back on and rolling the blanket back up when suddenly she stopped cold.

"Clark, wait!"

He stopped the cleaning up and looked at her.

"Come here, they're moving."

Clark rushed over and touched her stomach, desperately wanting to feel his children. Waiting patiently for something he was saddened when he felt nothing.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

He smiled. "Don't be. I can still feel you pregnant and it's beautiful."

Her eyes watered slightly in the moonlight and she, for all her comebacks wasn't quite sure how to respond.

"Let's get in the car."

She yawned on the drive home and turned the radio on to some soft music.

"I want to check on Chloe and then hold you all night," Clark said.

"You got me. I feel kind of guilty leaving her after I used her to get better. But I needed to be with you."

"I'm sure she understands."

"She's been so good to me…when I really needed it. And I'm really going to need it when you're gone."

"She'll be there. I'm not leaving you alone."

"No, I know that. And I am strong, Clark."

"I know you are."

~~~~~~To Be Continued~~~~~