Chapter Twenty Five
Clark walked through the wet grass passing headstone left and right until he came upon the one he was searching for. He paused for a second unsure how to handle the situation while looking over the grave which was covered in dead leaves and the dried roses he had left there on his last visit five years ago.
The tight grip on the new bouquet caused the thorns to bend against his flesh as he let out a shaky breath before stepping forward clearing off the leaves and removing the dead flowers to replace them with the newly bloomed ones.
He kneels down at the grave staring at the etched stone and runs his hand over the name: Alicia Baker.
"Things were so much easier when you were alive." He admits while his hands dropped when he noticed the engagement ring tucked in between the tombstone and the ground which causes him to smile instead of grow sad, "After you left I never thought that I would be happy again and I tried so hard to push people away because I was afraid of getting hurt but…" he trails off with a large smile on his face at the thought of a certain intrepid reporter, "I think I may have found that other part of me that I didn't even know I was looking for."
"I just don't know how I can be with her when I'm constantly hurting her." He shakes his head and looks around the abandoned graveyard before finally looking back at the headstone, "Can I finally stop running?" he asked not only to the headstone but to himself.
Silence and a cold gust of wind swept through the cemetery, if the weather affected him then he would shivered at that the feeling that surrounded him giving him the sign he so desperately sought after.
Lois sat at her computer so off inside her own thoughts that she didn't hear the sound of a familiar voice calling out to her, it wasn't until she felt something tug at her sleeve that she snapped out of it and immediately locked eyes with the familiar eyes that belonged to Maggie Kent.
"W-What?" she looked around confused as to how the eight year old was here when the child pointed over her shoulder to Kara, "I take it your father doesn't know you're here."
Maggie nodded, "He's just being hardheaded, it's a trait we kryptonians share. My dad cares about you, just the mere mention of you or whenever you're near it makes him smile and he doesn't smile that way with anyone but you"
"I wish that were true but if your father really cared then he wouldn't be running away like he did before."
The girl upset by her words and she went to wrap her arms around Maggie's frame, "We'll still see each other." A sob escaped from the child's mouth and Lois could feel the tears splash down on her blouse.
"You're the closest thing I have to a mother." The words hit Lois hard as they pulled away and she wiped away the child's tear, "I…We can't loose you not after we just found you."
One look into the pleading child's eyes and Lois Lane did something she hadn't done ever…she let the remnants of the wall around her heart breakaway and she made a choice that would impact the rest of her life.
Clark sat on the stairs while Jonathan went over towards the broken tractor, "It's been broken since I was kid. I don't see why you won't let me buy you a new one." Jonathan just smiled and went right on with fixing the piece of machinery.
"Just because it's broken doesn't mean it can't be fixed." Jonathan holds out a wrench to Clark who rises up from the wooden steps and accepts the tool, "Now tell me what's bothering you."
"It's everything. Since my alter ego showed up its all anyone can talk about and now Lex thinks I'm somehow going to turn on them with my powers like some kind of monster." He fights off the temptation to snap the wrench in half or smash his fist on the tractor's hood.
"That's not all that's bothering you." Jonathan states look up at him, "I can always tell when you're having troubles even when you try to hide it."
Clark sighed in frustration and put the wrench back in the box while his other hand rubbed the back of his neck trying to relieve the tension, "I just feel like I'm failing Maggie. She's the most important person in my life and I'm supposed to be there for her no matter what but now…" he trails off with a distressed look on his face, "I don't think I can do this anymore Dad."
"Do what?"
"Juggling two lives at once." He responds while running his fingers through his hair, "I was stupid to think I could have it all."
Jonathan stopped working and rose up from the broken tractor where he went to comfort and give Clark a much needed pep talk, "Ever since we found you in that cornfield I've watched you become your own man even in your darkest moment you were there for others with no concern for yourself." Clark to stares into Jonathan's eyes, "You've earned the right to do what you want and no one can take that away from you. I'm proud of you no matter what you choose to do with your life."
"Thanks Dad."
"Well someone has to get you prepared for your first pep talk. Maggie will come to you with questions when she's older and you might not always have the answers but she'll look to you for guidance." Jonathan gives Clark's shoulder a squeeze then moved back towards the broken down tractor, "Now come on and help your old man get this things running."
Clark smirked and walked around to the other side where father and son began working on the machinery together just like old times which brought a smile to the younger farmer's face.
Hours Later…
The sound of a car approaching stopped their work, "That's probably Kara with the groceries." Jonathan said while his head was still buried in the tractor's engine, "Why don't you go help her. I think I've got it covered from here."
Clark nodded and went to wipe the grease from his hands while walking out of the barn only to pause when he saw who was exiting the car, "Lois" he says her name softly but still surprised to see her standing in the farm's driveway, "W-What are you doing here?"
"Four years ago I let you walk away from me and I'm not about to make the same mistake twice." She walks towards him and grabs him by the collar of his oil stained shirt and pressed her lips against his conveying everything she was feeling through that bond, "I love you." She says after pulling away from him, "You're going to snap out of this funk, go back to Metropolis with me and beg Perry to take you back or so help me I will bop you with a sack of kryptonite and drag you back myself."
Clark gulped at the seriousness in her voice and cleared his throat before replying, "Okay" a loud shrill of excitement was heard from the backseat of the car causing the kryptonian to look over and see Maggie's head quickly duck down, "I think your rubbing off on her."
She just shrugged, "I have that affect on people." She smiles and leans up ready to kiss him when someone clear their throat causing the couple to turn to see Jonathan standing there looking between them, "Hi Mr. Kent" she greet the sandy haired farmer with a smile, "It's nice to see you again."
"You too Lois" Jonathan replies before turning his attention towards his son, "Why don't you go wash up. Supper should be ready in a few minutes." The kryptonian nods and goes to kiss Lois on the cheek before walking towards the yellow farmhouse, "Thank you. It's nice to know that he's not alone." He turns and walks back towards the barn with his granddaughter following close behind.
The table was set and everyone gathered around to share dinner together. Everyone chatted and laughed when it was appropriate while they passed the food as Clark sat there looking around him as Kara began telling a story to Maggie who laughed controllably, Martha gave Jonathan a kiss on the cheek when he passed the salad until finally his gaze moved to Lois.
She gave him a soft smile and turned around when someone called her name. Clark Kent never wanted this moment to end and to think he was ready to throw it all away because he was scared.
The night continued on like this while Lois and Clark's hand stayed intertwined under the table.
TBC
I told you it wouldn't be long before Clark came to his senses. This little crisis really gave him the chance to look at his life and that scene in the graveyard was his way of shedding the past in order to move on kind of like in Homecoming when Clark said goodbye to Jonathan.
The scene with Lois and Maggie wasn't planned on but instead of Clark crawling back to Lois I wanted her to fight for their relationship with a little help from the little one.
I want to know what you guys thought about how this all play out. Did it strengthen the Lois and Clark relationship? Are you happy with the resolution? FEEDBACK!