Chapter 26
Clark and Chloe jerked awake at the sound of thundering footsteps coming down the stairs. Chloe peered around, wondering for a moment why she was still in the family room and not in her warm, comfy bed. Scratching her head, she turned, her eyes meeting Clark's as he, too, seemed a little dazed as to where he was.
His face settled into a content grin. "Good morning," he husked as he leaned toward her. The sharp cry of "MOM!" followed by Connor launching himself at Chloe made Clark pull back abruptly. Chloe caught Connor and hugged him tightly, kissing the side of his head. Kaid plopped down on the sofa between Clark and Chloe, leaning against Clark's side familiarly.
"Merry Christmas!" They both cried with bright smiles.
"Merry Christmas, guys!" Chloe returned, reaching over and ruffling Kaid's hair.
"It snowed last night. Did you see?" Kaid asked, looking first at Clark and then Chloe.
Clark looked at Chloe and shook his head. "No, we didn't, bud. How much is there?"
"A whole lot! Come see!" Connor bounded from Chloe's lap and grabbed Clark's hand, pulling him from the sofa and dragging him to the door. Kaid and Chloe followed. Clark opened the door and squinted against the clean brightness of the landscape. Connor squeezed between his legs to stand in front and Kaid joined him as Clark wrapped one arm around Chloe's waist. The four stood silently as they looked outside, everything covered in inches and inches of white. A sharp yip! was heard behind them and Chloe lifted a leg as Shelby shot out, barking and jumping in the snow. Connor and Kaid went to follow but were stopped by two strong hands, one belonging to each parent.
"Not without shoes," Chloe ordered.
"Come on, Mom, it won't hurt us," Kaid pleaded.
"Nope. Sorry. Not taking any chances," Chloe replied. They all returned to looking outside, the little boys wiggling with excitement at all the snow.
Clark pulled Chloe closer, settling his chin on the top of her head.
"A White Christmas," Chloe breathed with her head nestled against Clark's chest. "It's going to be a perfect day. Merry Christmas, Clark."
Clark kissed Chloe's head. "Merry Christmas." He squeezed Chloe one more time before stepping back and clapping his hands together. "Guys, don't you want to see what Santa brought you?"
"Yeah!" The twins took off, blurring from the door to the living room.
"No powers in the house," Chloe reprimanded absently, as if she said it almost every day.
"Sorry," they both replied, though not bothering to look sheepish as they dug through the mounds of presents on the floor, trading for each other's names.
"Mom, where's Aunt Lo and Ollie?" Connor asked, ripping the wrapping away on one present.
"Aunt Lo, Ollie and Aunt Martha are coming over later," Chloe answered, taking the paper Clark handed her from the floor and stuffing it into the black trash bag she'd gotten from the kitchen.
"Do you think they'll be able to make it with the snow?" Clark asked over the excited shout of Kaid at the sight of a new video game.
"On these country roads, I don't know," Chloe answered, a little sad at the prospect of not seeing the family on Christmas day.
"Clark can go and get them," Kaid suggested. "Can't you, Clark?"
"Of course I can, bud," Clark answered immediately. "Don't know why I didn't think of it before."
Chloe and Clark exchanged glances before she got up and made a pot of coffee. She returned to the couch, settling back as she watched Clark sitting between Connor and Kaid as they opened their presents. She ran upstairs and got her camera, taking candid shots every other minute as the boys jabbered about their gifts and showed Clark everything. Connor and Kaid, for the most part, ignored their mother, which was just fine with her. At ten o'clock, all the gifts had been opened and inspected, the wrappings and bows thrown away and Connor and Kaid dressed in their winter gear, ready and waiting to go outside. Chloe opened the kitchen door and released them, Shelby following at a sharp pace to keep up. She turned back to Clark, who was getting out things for a pancake breakfast.
"How are you feeling?" Chloe asked, busying herself with the job of cracking the eggs into a glass bowl.
"A little nervous," Clark answer truthfully, measuring out the rest of the ingredients before pouring them into the bowl with the eggs.
"You have no reason to be nervous," Chloe told him, laying a hand on his strong back as he whisked the mixture together. She turned and set the griddle over the burner on the stove, turning the knob to get the fire going. "They couldn't stop talking about you since they found out you were Superman."
"But that's Superman, Chloe. I'm Clark, their dad." Chloe didn't miss his tone, half nervous and half amazed. "I'm just a normal guy with a job-"
"And just like them in every way," Chloe pointed out as she sliced of a slab of butter and dropped it onto the griddle with a sizzle. Clark spooned out the first pancake, his eyebrows furrowed in concentration. Chloe grabbed a spatula and stood next to him, flipping the pancakes when they were ready. "Yes, they think it is so cool that you are Superman, but more importantly, you're Dad. They would take Dad over Superman any day."
"How do you know that?" Clark asked, retrieving a big platter from a cupboard, holding it while Chloe slid the pancakes onto it. After transferring all the pancakes, Chloe laid the spatula aside and took the plate from Clark. She set it in the middle of the table and turned back to Clark. He stood by the beam, his clothes a little rumpled from a night on the couch, his hair mussed and shaggy.
She crossed to him and wrapped her arms around his waist, craning back to look into his eyes. "I know because they're part me. And I would take plain ole Clark Kent, Superman or not, any day of the week."
"I love you, Chloe," Clark whispered.
"I've waited years to hear you say that," Chloe replied, laying her head on Clark's chest.
Clark tightened his hold on her. "I've been waiting years to say it."
Chloe looked up and stretched up on her toes. They shared a tender kiss before pulling apart and smiling at one another.
"Let's finish breakfast before we get side-tracked," Chloe suggested with a wink.
"Good idea," Clark replied.
Working together, they quickly whipped up some sausage links to go with the pancakes and some hashbrowns. As Chloe laid everything on the table, Clark opened the door. He turned to Chloe. "When are we going to tell them?"
"I've found the best way to tell them things is the same way I tell Lois things. When her mouth is full," Chloe answered.
"Why didn't I ever think of that?" Clark muttered as he turned back to the door. He bellowed for Connor and Kaid. "BREAKFAST!" He shouted. Connor and Kaid blurred to the kitchen door, stomping their boots to rid them of snow. Shelby trotted over and shook his own feet before padding in, curling up on a pillow over by the laundry room. Clark helped the boys out of their stuff and soon, they were seated at the table in their stocking feet watching Chloe pour orange juice for Clark and Connor and milk for Kaid while getting another cup of coffee for herself. Clark put two pancakes on both their plates with butter and then doused them in syrup. Chloe stabbed a few links and put them on the boys plates, too. Connor and Kaid dove in, not noticing Clark and Chloe sat across from them with empty plates. Clark hung a hand down by his side, open-palmed. Chloe placed hers within and felt her heart-rate slow considerably as Clark wrapped his fingers around hers. She was no longer alone. She looked over at Clark, who looked as nervous as she did. He nodded.
"Kaid, you remember, right after Halloween, you asked me where you and your brother come from?" Chloe started.
Kaid looked up, a drop of syrup hanging at the corner of his lips. Connor's head followed as well. Identical hazel eyes peered at Chloe. Kaid nodded.
"And Connor, you remember when you asked me one day why I never talked about your father and why he wasn't here?"
Connor also nodded. Their mouths were still full, but they were chewing slowly.
"You see, me and your dad were best friends growing up," Chloe said.
"You mean, like me and Claire?" Connor supplied.
"Yes, like you and Claire. And like you and your brother, he was different. Your speed and your strength come from him. And you'll only get stronger and faster as you grow up. You'll develop other abilities, too."
"Like what?" Kaid asked warily.
"Like you'll be able hear when people barely whisper," Clark began. "You'll be able to see through solid objects. You'll be able to blow over a building with a single breath. And just maybe, one day, you'll be able fly."
Connor and Kaid stared back at Clark, their mouths hanging open.
"How do you know?" Connor asked.
"He knows because those are all the things that Clark can do," Chloe paused, feeling a lump form in her stomach. "And you two are just like him."
"Why?" Kaid questioned.
"Because Clark is your Dad," Chloe answered.
Forks clattered to the table top as Connor and Kaid looked from Chloe to Clark and back again.
"Really?" Connor whispered.
Chloe nodded, not able to speak.
"You're our dad?" Kaid asked, his little voice small and quavery.
"Yeah, I am," Clark answered, his jaw tight with emotion.
"Where have you been?" Connor asked.
"I had to go away for a while, before the two of you were born."
"Why didn't you come back when you found out about us?" Kaid asked.
Chloe stood and rounded the table. She sat down at the head chair and reached across for the boys hands, dragging her sleeve through maple syrup. "He didn't know. He was in a place I couldn't reach him."
"But you said he loved us and wanted us to be happy-" Connor started.
"I do love you and want you to be happy," Clark broke in. "If your mom could have got to me and told me, there is nothing in this world that could have kept me from you two."
"Where were you?" Kaid questioned.
"Someday I'll take you there," Clark answered. "Both of you."
"Why didn't you tell us when you came back?" Connor fired.
"That was my fault," Chloe began. "Guys, Clark didn't know he was your dad until we got kidnapped. I hadn't told him yet."
"Why not?" Kaid asked with a glower.
"I was scared," Chloe told her sons truthfully.
"Why?" Connor asked, using his and his brother's new favorite word.
"It's complicated," Chloe said. "When you're older, we'll explain everything to you, but right now, I can only say I'm sorry."
The two boys looked from Chloe to Clark, eying him with suspicion.
"Why are we like this?" Connor directed at Clark.
Clark took a deep breath. "I grew up here, but I wasn't born here. I was born somewhere else, on another planet."
"Like Mars?" Connor said with a face.
"You're an alien?" Kaid matched his brother's expression.
"We don't use the word alien, boys," Chloe admonished.
"Does that mean we're aliens?" Connor turned to Chloe, his eyes huge and panicked.
"You're not an alien," Clark said sternly. "You're half Kryptonian. They were people just like your mom and Ollie and your Aunt Lois. They just came from another planet in another galaxy. Our bodies are made up exactly the way everyone else's is except the exposure to the sun here gives us special abilities. You still have a heart and a stomach and a brain. You have blood and spit and tears just like everyone else. The only thing that makes you different is the way we react to the sun."
"Are there any others like us?" Kaid wanted to know.
Clark shook his head. "I have a cousin but she's not here. The three of us are the only ones left."
"What happened?" Connor asked.
"That's a story for another time," Clark answered.
Connor and Kaid looked at their laps and then back at him.
"Are you going to go away again?" Connor whispered.
"I'm going to try really hard not to," Clark replied.
"You promise?" Kaid asked.
Clark stood from his chair and went to the other end of the table, opposite of Chloe. He sat down next to Kaid, laying a hand on his shoulder. He looked up and saw Chloe watching him, the same question swimming in her own eyes. Clark held her eyes for a moment before looking at Connor and Kaid.
"I promise."
Connor and Kaid looked at one another. Connor turned his head back to Chloe with a smile. "We were hoping he was our dad!" He whispered excitedly. As one, they slipped off their chairs and tumbled over to Clark, each boy climbing up onto a thigh and hugging Clark's neck. Chloe stood, pressing a hand to her trembling lips.
Tears that Clark could no longer hold in spilled down his face as he wrapped his arms around his sons, pulling them as close as he could. He felt Chloe come to stand beside him, laying her soft hands on his shoulders.
Connor pulled away and turned excitedly to Kaid. "He's our dad!"
"And he's Superman!" Kaid returned, causing both Clark and Chloe to laugh through their tears.
"Does this mean Aunt Martha is our Grandma?" Connor asked somberly.
"Yes, it does. And that the man in all those pictures is your Grandpa," Clark explained.
"But he's dead," Kaid pointed out a little sadly.
"I'll tell you all about him," Clark said.
"Is our Grandma Kryonian?" Connor asked.
"Kryptonian," Clark corrected gently. "And, no. Your grandparents adopted me."
Kaid looked up at Chloe. "Is Aunt Lo still our Aunt?" He asked with concern.
"Aunt Lo is still your Aunt," Chloe answered with a grin as she touched his cheek.
Connor and Kaid hugged Clark one more time before returning to their chairs and digging into their pancakes again, bright smiles on both their faces. Clark joined Chloe over at the counter as she watched them.
"Told you," Chloe murmured when Clark's hip met her waist.
"And you were right, as usual," Clark replied.
"You doubted that?" She teased, looking up at him.
One o'clock rolled around and the snow had melted just enough that Chloe and Clark saw a sturdy, maroon colored sedan turn into the driveway.
"Mom's driving," Clark said.
"Good," Chloe responded. "Oliver and Lois are maniacs in this kind of weather."
Martha parked the car in the now invisible ruts in the back of the house. The three tumbled out of the car, Lois and Oliver's arms laden with their own gifts for the boys and Martha circled the car to the back to take out a few packages of her own. Connor and Kaid burst out of the house, running and greeting their family boisterously.
"We better help," Clark suggested as he and Chloe made their own way outside.
Merry Christmases were thrown about as Chloe took a few gifts from Lois and Clark did the same from Oliver while the boys split Martha's. As one joyful unit they walked up the steps and into the house, the boys chattering at Martha the whole time. The gifts were placed under the tree by Oliver and Clark while Chloe asked Martha and Lois what they wanted to drink. She returned with two coffees. Clark and Oliver stood by the tree talking and Clark could see Chloe out of the corner of his eye playing hostess, a role she surprisingly seemed to relish. The twins had already taken to calling Martha 'Grandma', a name she was taking great pleasure in. Each time one came over to show her something and used the endearment, she reached out and hugged them tightly.
Around three, Chloe herded everyone into the dining area to serve Christmas Dinner. Unlike Thanksgiving, the dining table was a happy place. Even though only a few from that day were there, the merriness of the family filled the room causing all parties to be especially thankful for their own Christmas Miracle. A couple of hours later, Lois and Oliver excused themselves, wanting to go for a walk before evening settled. The boys, along with faithful Shelby, went outside as well to play in the snow again. Clark, Chloe and Martha were left in the living room. Martha looked over at the couple sitting on the couch, Clark's arm tucked snugly around Chloe, her hand resting on his thigh. She looked out the window, making sure no one was making their way back into the house.
"Chloe, I think it's time for our gift," she said to the young woman.
"Oh, yes!" Chloe chirped excitedly, leaning forward.
"What is it?" Clark asked curiously. He watched his mother lean over and pick up the last gift. It was a big box with red wrapping and a blue bow with a white tag on it, his name written in his mother's practical hand. Martha handed it to Chloe who in turn set it on Clark's lap.
"The boys!" Chloe jumped up and ran to the door, calling Connor and Kaid. They came trudging in until they saw Clark with the box in his lap. Their eyes lit up and they immediately rushed over and sat on the rug in front of the fireplace.
"Go on, open it," Martha ordered.
Clark looked around at Martha and Chloe and the boys grinning at him. He cocked an eyebrow and lifted off the bow. Tossing it aside, he ripped the wrapping off to reveal a white clothing box. Even more confused, he looked at his family. Chloe bit her lip in impatience. Clark took the lid off and dug through the tissue paper. His hands met a silky fabric, almost like his Halloween Costume. Dragging it upwards, Clark pulled up a suit.
"What is this?" Clark asked, peering at the royal blue hued outfit with a bright red 'S' in the middle of a yellow diamond.
"It's you super suit!" Connor exclaimed.
"We helped make it! The 'S' is for Superman!" Kaid cried.
"It was their idea actually," Chloe explained, taking a seat next to Clark. "They wanted to make sure you had a proper suit. I remembered what your Family Crest looked like and your mom's been working and sewing like a mad-woman since the beginning of December. Personally, I think you look so much better in Technicolor than in black and white."
"It's light enough that you can wear it under your clothes," Martha continued. "I saw the picture in the Daily Planet and it just popped."
"There's a cape in the bottom," Connor said.
"We even found some boots for you, too, but I don't think those are in there," Kaid told him.
"Wow," Clark said, momentarily stunned. "Thanks." He continued to look at it. He liked it. He really did. It was made with love which meant it was important.
"Do you like it?" Connor and Kaid asked, standing at his knee.
"I love it!" Clark set it aside and leaned over and hugged both of them.
"Come on, guys. Let's go build that Snowman!" Martha said, standing from her own chair and making her way outside with Connor and Kaid. "You two coming?" Martha asked as she stuck her head back in.
"Yeah, we'll be out in a minute," Clark answered. Martha nodded and shut the door. Clark and Chloe could hear the happy shouts of the boys as they played in the snow, Martha directing them on how to roll the big balls for the body.
"You do like it, don't you, Clark?" Chloe asked, gesturing to the suit.
Clark looked at the suit and then at her. "I do, Chloe. I really do. The only thing is, it's so noticeable."
"That's the point," Chloe replied.
"Chloe, that one time was not something I want to do again. I could be easily recognized," Clark pointed out.
"Who is going to believe for a moment that Clark Kent, mild mannered reporter who covers things like kitten adoptions and Senior Swim, flies around the city in a blue, skin-tight suit saving people? That, in itself, is a disguise. The city needs to see you. I've been reading online about how just Bruce's presence as Batman in Gotham has the criminals running scared. You could do the same for Metropolis. The city needs a beacon of hope." Chloe cupped one of Clark's cheeks and turned his face to hers. "It's time to step out of the shadows, Clark."
Clark looked back at the suit. He'd give it a try. "Okay, but the first crack Bart makes, it's back to the trench."
"Whatever you say, big guy," Chloe giggled, kissing him on the cheek. "Now come on, we have a Snowman to help build."
"Wait, I've got a present for you, too," Clark said as they stood.
"Clark, I already told you-"
Clark silenced her with a kiss. "It's in the barn."
"It's in the barn?" Chloe repeated with raised eyebrows.
Clark quickly shut the lid on his suit and stuffed it back beside the tree. Sliding into coats, Clark led Chloe by hand to the barn. "Stand right here," he ordered, positioning her in the middle of the structure. Chloe continued to eye him warily as he went around one of the tractors into a corner. Kneeling down, he swept his hand over the secret trapdoor covered by years of dust, hay and time. Wrenching it open, he pulled up the box. Unclasping the wooden knob, he lifted the lid and reached inside. Wrapping the object in his shirt, Clark rubbed it with super-speed. When he held it up, it winked in the light. Replacing the box, he walked back over to Chloe. He stood over Chloe quietly before holding the Kawatche bracelet up before her.
Chloe let out a breathy sigh. She reached out and ran her fingers over the smooth, flawless surface and the perfectly oval, turquoise stone set within. "It's beautiful, Clark. Where did you get it?"
"Professor Willowbrook, the head of the Kawatche Tribe here, gave it to me back when I was fifteen. He told me it had been passed down from generations through their clan. It was to be worn by Numan's True One, the human woman he chose to be by his side for all eternity," Clark spoke slowly, almost reverently, his words caressing over them as they stood so close together. "You see these symbols on either side of the stone? They're Kryptonian."
"What do they say?" Chloe asked in a hush.
"This one," Clark pointed to the left symbol. "Means 'Courage' and the one on the right, means 'Virtue'. Professor Willowbrook told me that the woman who was meant for this bracelet would possess both those things. The one on top of the stone means 'Unending' and the one below means 'Devotion'."
Clark met Chloe's eyes again and she swallowed as he went down on one knee.
"The first time I saw you, Chloe, I could tell you were special. As we got older, I knew that even if we were never anything but friends, I would spend the rest of my life with you. I just knew that. I realize now that long ago I chose you. I chose you to be the one at my side. You were the one I trusted and depended on. You were the one I always wanted to have with me, whether we were busting Lex or having a bad day, you were the one I always felt better having with me. You always try so hard to make me happy and you've always accepted me and never expected anything in return. You're the one I want to have with me for the rest of my life. I never asked you properly and I don't have a ring, so I hope this will do," Clark lifted the bracelet up between them. "Chloe Anne Sullivan, will you marry me?"
A smile that seemed to light up the barn with ten times the brightness of the sun spread over her face. Placing her hands on Clark's broad shoulders, Chloe laid her forehead against his.
"I would love to marry you, Clark Joseph Kent," she whispered as tears ran down her cheeks.
Clark tilted his head upward and caught her lips. Chloe wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back, her happiness and overwhelming joy spilling into him. Clark surged to his feet, catching Chloe to him as he twirled her around. Setting her back on her feet, Clark pushed up the sleeve of her jacket. Lovingly, he slid the bracelet onto her wrist. A golden glow surrounded her wrist for a moment, a single, sweet note humming quietly before the light ebbed away and left both Clark and Chloe looking around the silent barn.
"Clark, look!" Chloe whispered urgently.
Clark looked down at her wrist. She had it turned to where the underside of her wrist was showing. Where there had been a gap in the metal was now connected, the metal fused together seamlessly. Clark ran his fingers along it, the metal warm under his touch.
"Does it hurt? Is it too tight?" Clark asked with concern. He didn't know it was going to do that.
"No," Chloe answered. "I can't even feel it." She looked up in awe at Clark.
"You really are meant for me," Clark murmured.
Chloe leaned against Clark, nuzzling into his arms. She laughed quietly. "We match. His and hers bracelets!" She teased.
"Hey," Clark replied with a glower. "Mine's not a bracelet. It's a wrist band."
"Clark! Chloe! Where are you?" Lois called out.
"In the barn!" Chloe yelled back. She took Clark's hand and looked up at him. "I love you."
Clark squeezed her hand. "I love you, too." Together, they walked out of the barn.
"Dad! Think fast!" A little voice yelled. Chloe ducked but it took Clark a moment to realize Kaid was yelling at him. A snow ball hit him square on the chin. Clark wiped the wetness off his chin, drips of it running down into his shirt. He looked to his left and saw two blonde heads hiding behind the hood of the farm truck. Oliver, Lois, Martha and now Chloe were each hiding behind Martha's sedan.
Suddenly, Oliver stood and bellowed, "Now!"
Snowballs began to fly from all directions, pelting him in his chest and thighs and neck. Clark gathered up as much snow as he could, throwing it back but being sadly out-numbered. Soon, everyone came out from their hiding places and began throwing the snow at each other. Lois was stuffing it down Oliver's collar while Chloe and Martha tossed snow balls at each other. Clark felt two solid things attach to his legs and he fell down. Connor and Kaid climbed on top of him, wrestling the way they did the morning they all went to breakfast. Clark got a hold of each with an arm and held them imprisoned, soon finding they were as ticklish as their mother was.
"We give in! We give in!" The boys yelled with laughter.
Clark released them and all three got to their feet. The snow ball fight had stopped and everyone stood grinning at each other. Connor and Kaid slipped their hands inside Clark's.
"Come on, Dad," Connor said, looking up at his tall father. "Help us make a snowman."
"All right, son," Clark replied, a lump forming in his throat. He let the boys lead him to the front where they had started the bottom. A few minutes later, he looked around at everyone pitching in to build the snowman. Chloe, Lois and Martha were helping to form the upper part of his body while Oliver was searching for stick arms. Soon the Snowman was erected. Chloe had found an old hat to sit on his head while Lois relinquished her scarf to wrapped around his neck. Clark and Oliver placed the sticks as arms and the boys were making his eyes, smile and buttons with little pieces of coal they'd been given. Finally, Martha came out with a carrot and completed him by giving him a nose. They all stood back to admire their work.
Clark stood with Chloe and Martha on one side and Lois and Oliver on the other, the twins and Shelby in front of them. He wrapped an arm around Chloe and the other around his mother, pulling them in for a hug.
With a deep, contented sigh, Clark said, "It's good to be home."
Connor and Kaid looked back up at their parents. "Do we still got to move to Baltimore?" Kaid asked with disgust.
Clark and Chloe looked at each other and then back at their sons. "No," they answered in unison.