I Won't Lose Tomorrow
Chapter Two: I'm a Dad?
It is only the fifth dimensional imp's words that stop Clark from kissing the floor when rematerializes back at the Watchtower.
That and the toddler in his arms.
Superboy was currently entertaining himself by sucking on the edges of his cape; Clark gently pulled it out of his mouth and was rewarded with a sharp cry in exchange before the toddler yanked the cape out of his hand and popped it back in his mouth, content once more.
Conner was a very loud little boy.
As he walked towards the meeting room, he thought through a myriad of excuses to tell the league to explain why he had broken into Cadmus. Batman, if he remembered correctly had only started investigating the organization a month from now or so. As far as the league had known the company was on the up in up.
It would have to be something believable. Bruce was an incredibly suspicious person and the last thing he needed was Bruce to become suspicious of him. Superman had more than enough faith in the dark knight that he could put something together as unbelievable as time travel with just a few clues. His excuse had to be something the dark knight would believe.
"So you felt him?" Bruce repeated as he observed the baby in Clark's arms, after chewing out the Kryptonian for his 'insane recklessness,' of course.
It had to be something Bruce couldn't prove false.
And despite being a master of nearly everything Clark could think of, Bruce was not a master at Kryptonian physiology.
"I did," he lied. "I had felt this-this tugging for the past week. And today and it lead to me straight to this little guy." Raising the child up to Bruce's level in an effort to disarm the caped crusader. "It must be a kryptonian thing." he offered.
The dark knight looked at him suspiciously but seemed placated for the most part.
Bruce had sent Captain Atom, Red Tornado, Barry and Hal to examine the Cadmus facility that he couldn't believe Clark left to its own devices after learning they cloned him. While only a small amount of leaguers remained in the Watchtower, J'onn on Mars and Diana visiting Themyscira. And it wasn't like Clark could really tell him that despite coming through the facility on several occasions, the Justice League had never found anything of use at Cadmus.
"He's so cute," Dinah cooed, snatching the child out of Clark's hands with ease. "Hi, sweetie, I'm your Aunt Dinah."
Conner giggled particularly loudly at being held by the blonde superheroine.
It seemed like some things didn't change.
"Conner really likes you," he observed.
"Conner?" Dinah repeated confused. "You already named him?"
"W-Well, I couldn't keep calling him, Superboy, all the time." He said quickly, cursing himself for the casual slip. "And he looks like a Conner to me. Don't you think?"
She shrugged. Dinah gave the baby a large wet kiss and sent him into another fit of laughter.
"So what are you going to do about him?" Bruce asked.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, it looks like you're a father now, Clark," Dinah said.
Clark wanted to correct that notion as quickly as possible. Superboy was his little brother. Nothing more. The main reason that he had taken so long to warm up to Superboy in the first place had been these two forcing the role of father down his throat in the first time line.
But the first time around, Conner had been sixteen.
He had been a little more than half of Clark's age. Far too old for the reporter to consider him his child. He was self sufficient and Clark could have easily left him to his own devices. But now due to Clark's own choices, Conner was utterly helpless and needed constant care and attention. And it wasn't like he could ask his parents in their old age to take care of another Kryptonian toddler.
By Rao,
He had become a dad.
After a beat or two, Clark managed to find his voice. "I'm going to take care of him of course," Clark told them with a certainty he did not quite believe himself.
After Bruce finishes grilling him on anything he can think of, he lets Clark and Conner off to freedom with the statement that he'll tell him if they find anything off note at Cadmus.
Clark decided to avoid going back to his apartment and go back home with Conner to Smallville instead.
As soon as he saw his parents he holds his Ma and Pa so tightly he's afraid he might break them. Despite it being only a few months, it felt like an eternity since he had last saw them to leave to that deadly trial. They don't question this action and return it with as much force as their old bones can muster.
"This isn't how I thought I would get grandchildren," His Ma told him after he answered their questions about Conner in his arms. "But it sure is nice to have a baby in the house again."
His Pa dug out Clark's old crib and baby toys from the attic for Conner to use while his Ma teaches him diaper sizes and what foods are acceptable to one year old after changing the baby into a fresh one she had left over from babysitting the neighbor's kid.
"Well at least he doesn't take after you at this point. You were a terror at this age," Martha Kent observed as she saw Conner roll a ball to Pa who passed it back. "You bit everything that came near you like a little piranha."
"Ma!"
"What? It's why no one would babysit you. They would call you Baby Chomp Kent," she teased, her eyes crinkling.
"Ma?"
"Yes, dear?"
"I-I'm not sure I can do this." What could he possible say? That he had let Superboy down countless times before and that was when the boy was older and better equipped to deal with disappointment. There were so many more ways he could mess up with a baby. What if Superboy grew up hating him in this timeline? Or worse?
"Oh honey," His Ma said, patting his hand comfortingly. "When it comes to kids no one is sure about anything at all."
She pointed to baby who was practically falling asleep sitting up.
"All you can do is your best to make them happy and healthy. Will you do that?"
"Of course I will!"
"Then I'm not worried about him at all."
End Chapter
Next Chapter: Lois