Sorry this took a little longer to produce. A story is like an over-microwaved cake -- the middle is tough.

Disclaimer: Superman and his fellow characters are the property of Warner Bros. Studios and DC Comics and created by Joe Shuster and Jerry Siegel. The fact that Clark keeps waffling about telling Lois who he really is, is beside the point-- and not my fault. I can't count the late night heart to hearts we've had on the subject.

8. Immortal

Soaring above the Arctic tundra… turning south to make the trip back to Metropolis, Superman watches the landscape change from ice and snow, to wildflowers and corn, and finally to glass and steel. The inevitable conversation with his father -- the one he wanted to postpone -- had happened anyway. It replays in his mind like footage of a train wreck -- horrible, but riveting in its finality and clarity.

"Um… Father I… I'm not the last son of Krypton… not anymore, um… Lois and I --"

"--I understand, my son. The compatibility of Human and Kryptonian DNA… and your… emotional upbringing -- this was always a possible outcome, but not unwelcome.

"I love him, Father, and want to be a part of his life – and Lois's too…"

"The child may not have all your abilities, but the Kryptonian genes will be dominant."

"He is strong already, Father, and can hear and see beyond the ability of other children."

"Then, he will be able to help you on this road, Kal-el, and he will be there when… SHE… is gone. It will be a long and difficult time and you must be strong in your resolve."

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Lois paces on her balcony, smoking, cordless phone in hand. She is disheveled, even for her, in threadbare sweatshirt and jogging pants – her comfort clothes.

She rolls her eyes and sighs, "Richard -- I need you to keep Jason a little while longer."

At the Planet, Richard crouches at floor level with Jason, playing jacks. "Lois, I can't -- Perry thinks there may be a break in the Luthor story…"

"What do you mean you can't?" This is so… but he wouldn't ask if he had any choice – aw, what the hell -- damn Perry anyway, — "no… fine, just… bring him home."

Lois smashes the cigarette out on the patio table, and drags herself back into the sitting room. She flops down on the couch, lies back on the cushions and falls asleep.

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Jason pauses as he draws yet another Superman masterpiece, and examines his work with a child's critical eye. His shoulders sag, and he asks Lois a question while still looking at the picture. "Mommy, where is Daddy gone?"

Lois studies the fall of his satiny chestnut hair. Poor little munchkin – he's terrified -- he must have heard Richard or Perry mention Luthor's name. She reaches out to caress a strand and soothe him. "He's just working, Jason, don't worry. Uncle Perry needed him to do some more research. He doesn't know how long he'll be, but --"

Jason interrupts her, and waves his crayon sketch for emphasis. "-- No, I mean my other daddy -- Superman. I saw him on TV at Daddy Richard's. The TV lady said he was trying to stop the island from falling."

Stunned, Lois tries not to overreact. Can he hear my heartbeat racing – or my pulse? Can he do that… yet?

"Um, he… I'm not sure… where he is, sweetheart. He'll come by to see us after, when he's not busy." Lois looks away to the dog-eared envelope on the coffee table.

"We saw it… Mom." Jason goes over and tugs Lois's hand. "Mo-om…" She blinks as if waking up and seeing him for the first time. She tries to smile, and he hugs her, which elicits a sigh. She hugs him back, and holds him at arms length, devouring his darling littleboyness with her eyes.

"What -- honey, what did you want to tell me?" Lois sniffs and reaches for a tissue, coming up with a shredded handful from the ruined box. It's been a rough couple of days – need to go… shopping…

Jason waits for her to compose herself, and as she marvels at what a little man he's become, he says the thing that sends an icicle through her heart.

"The island made him sick last time, right Mommy? And he went in the hospital."

Keep it together Lois. "Yes, sweetie… yes it did."

"I saw it up in the sky, when we went flying, and Daddy told me what it was."

"YOU saw it?" This is too fast. Oh God… and he's not here -- Jason I can't help you…

Jason swallows, and his beautiful eyes brim. Tears tumble down the baby planes of his tiny face, and Lois's heart clenches. "Will he have to go in the hospital again, Mommy?"

The preternatural ability to lie, hide, and protect -- known only to mothers -- emerges from Lois subconscious, and allows her to whisper to her son, "I hope not honey. Let's not worry about stuff before it happens, okay?"

Jason looks up at her, and squints slightly. I've seen that look before – is he… x-raying me? Okay – now you're getting paranoid Lois.

Satisfied with this, Jason nods and yawns. "Okay. I'm gonna go to bed now. Maybe he'll visit me tonight." Jason kisses her cheek, and Lois nods, stunned, as he runs down the hall to his room. His door slams in time with the crunch of the envelope crushed in her hand. She looks down at it, and runs her fingertips over the outline of the small object within.

A key?

Lois smoothes the envelope out over her knees, and then places it back on the table, willing herself to be the one, on top of everything else tonight, to have x-ray vision.

I wish I could take my own advice.

As Superman nears Lois's apartment, an air of calm settles on him like a warm blanket, and he uses a combination of telescopic and x-ray vision to check on her.

I was naïve, and took the fortress -- my heritage -- for granted. Now, both my past and my future lay in that tiny package, nestled under a Star Wars comforter, two doors down a penthouse hallway.

He smiles when he sees that Jason is back and asleep in his own bed, but, with Lois's distress, his smile vanishes like a reflection in water when disturbed.

He floats down to meet her.

He alights, and the heartbreakingly familiar sound, tiny but unmistakable, makes her turn and look out through the patio doors to the balcony.

At first, she thinks she has nodded off, and squeezes her eyes shut. Wake up. However, when she opens them, he is seated beside her on the couch -- his perfect gaze taking in her every movement -- his impeccable hearing gauging her heart rate and blood pressure, and assessing it without a thought.

After what seems like forever, he points to the envelope on the table and picks it up.

He smiles grimly. "You didn't open it."

Oh, I do not want to pursue this – I am too tired. "No…"

Naiveté personified in spandex, "Why?"

Lois rolls her eyes, but in a kind way. "It's, um… like an obituary, I guess – I didn't want to jinx you."

Not that it didn't call to me like a triple layer fudge cake with mocha mint frosting.

Fine.

"I vowed I wouldn't open it till you were bloody and cold in my arms – otherwise, I wouldn't really know that you were dead, and... how could I open it even then… I mean… it says 'on the event of Superman's death' and… I had to be sure – but, if you were dead, then I might want to--"

"--Lois, you're babbling."

"It's what I do best."

"Here, open it – I want you to."

Lois jumps up, and distances herself from him and the envelope as if he had offered her a cup of Hemlock, "Why?"

"You should know – everything."

"Everything – what… everything?"

"What I wanted you to know, what you would… know… if I was dead."

"I don't want to -- not like this… I… I… can't."

"Why not?"

"Because -- this is too easy. People don't put all their secrets in a letter, to be revealed on their death, unless there's a good reason why they are keeping the secrets in the first place. Whatever you haven't been able to tell me… all these… years - why would the existence of this--" She waves at the letter for emphasis. "--make any difference?"

Kal looks at her. He goes to say something and she rushes to crouch before him, a trembling finger pressed to his lips. "No, you have to want to tell me… for the right reasons – then it's real."

Superman swallows, whispers something too quiet for Lois to hear, and reaches his hands out to smooth her unkempt hair. He wipes her tear-streaked face with his broad thumbs with such care; her breath catches at his touch.

She pulls herself up and sits beside him. With shaking hands, she rips open the end of the envelope and slides out the key.

"Keep your key." –an apartment key… a lot like mine – Lois, where is the courage of your convictions? She tosses it to Superman, who plucks it from the air and holds it in his closed fist.

"And, as for this…" Lois stands, and tosses the envelope, with its secrets, in the fireplace.

Clark turns shining eyes on her. She smiles, shy, and ducks her head.

"I sure hope you remember the pretty words you said in that letter, Mister, 'cause I'll expect, one day, that you'll recite them word for word – and I hope I won't have to wait too much longer to hear them."

Clark pulls her to him, and, in a voice that sounds warm and familiar -- yet, a voice she has never heard, he says, "Lois, I love you."

TBC