Regarding this chapter, I'd just like to say: I really enjoy the DC universe. :)


Chapter 23 – Houseguests (again)

Three months later

Dick's eleventh birthday was anything but a typical celebration for a boy his age. There was cake and presents, true, but the activities afterward… well, they were a far cry from laser tag or bumper cars down at the family fun center. Although, there were training lasers and colliding objects they had to outrun, so maybe it could be considered good, old-fashioned fun after all.

Ratcheting Dick's training up a level was the thrill they both needed that afternoon. Invigorated by the session, they scaled the steps up from the Batcave, having been down there for two hours. Alfred and Selina had strict orders not to interrupt them during that time. They'd earned a relaxing evening of board games, video games, and a home theater movie if time allowed.

As they crawled out from behind the clock in the main study, however, they realized those plans would have to wait.

Three heads turned to greet them from leather armchairs: Selina, Clark, and Lois.

"Good afternoon!" grinned Clark. "How nice of you two to join us!"

"Clark… Lois," Bruce coughed, wiping his sweaty brow. "I didn't know you were coming today! Selina, did you - ?"

Selina shook her head. "I'm just as surprised as you are, Bruce. Isn't it wonderful?"

"Of course," Bruce led Dick across the room. "Dick and I just need to go shower first. Sorry about the timing."

"No problem," Clark said politely. To Bruce's further surprise, Clark rose from his chair and casually followed them out.

They all paused out in the hall. "Go ahead and rinse off, Dick. I'll be up later," Bruce dismissed the boy, turning to Clark with a confused look. "Mind telling me what's going on? Not that I don't love your and Lois' company, but something about this just seems… strange."

Clark smirked approvingly. "Glad to see your instincts are as sharp as ever. Come back and sit with us, Bruce."

"But I –"

"No one minds if you haven't showered yet, I promise."

Deferring to his friend's request, Bruce reentered the study and chose the remaining seat next to Selina. He saw a significant look pass between Lois and Clark, at which point Clark spoke up.

"So, today is Dick's birthday?" he began.

"Yes. He's eleven now."

"That's great. Isn't it amazing how fast kids grow up?" Clark said wistfully.

"Sure," Bruce looked questioningly at Selina, whose eyes playfully danced.

"Well, we didn't know today was his birthday," confessed Clark. "But we came to tell you there will be another birthday in just a few months."

"Lois', you mean?"

"No," Clark swallowed, then looked to Lois with anticipation. It was then that she removed a pillow from her lap, exposing a slightly swollen stomach. A pregnant stomach.

Bruce stared, completely immobilized. The shock of seeing Clark outside the cathedral three months ago paled in comparison to this. This was… this was…

"Impossible…" the word escaped his mouth before he could stop it.

Lois shrugged, smiling sheepishly. "I guess not."

"You - you told me this was totally impossible for you two!" insisted Bruce, his voice raising.

"I… I'm sorry, Bruce, I don't know what to tell you…" Lois stammered.

"Is this some sort of joke?" Bruce looked accusingly at Clark. "It's not very funny."

"Bruce!" Selina hissed, mortified by his rude response. "What are you doing? Is this any way to congratulate them?"

"It's not a joke, I promise," Clark said quietly, taking Lois' hand. "We thought you'd be happy for us."

Staring intently at Lois' abdomen, Bruce said nothing for a long minute. "You knew at our wedding, didn't you?"

"Yes," Lois admitted. "But we didn't want to compete with your special day. And… we wanted to wait until we knew the baby was healthy."

"Uh-huh. I see." Bruce rubbed his eyes. "Clark, may I talk to you out in the hall for a minute?"

"All right…"

When they reached a remote enough corner, Bruce's shoulders tensed along with his voice. "Clark, I need you to be honest with me. Is this really happening?"

Clark looked hurt. "Yes, Bruce. Why would I lie to you?"

Shaking his head, Bruce looked up at the ceiling. "It's just… first you disappear for two months, don't return any of my calls, or send a single text. Then, you show up on my wedding day, which… don't get me wrong, you don't know how relieved I was, but–"

"You want to know what happened last fall," Clark interrupted.

"Yes!" Bruce almost yelled.

"Fair enough," Clark nodded, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "There's still a lot I don't fully understand either, just so you know. Lots of scientific terms and mumbo-jumbo I don't get. But apparently, back in October, there was a 'super' solar flare, biggest one ever on record. And I happened to be flying over a solar array down in Missouri when it happened."

Seeing that Bruce wasn't skeptical of the story so far, Clark continued. "Only thing I can compare it to is a circuit overloading. I felt this electric shock go through my body, and next thing I know… I'm falling out of the sky."

Bruce was holding his breath at this point.

"Thankfully, there was a hydro plant reservoir right next to the array. Three square miles of water for me to land in. If that hadn't been there…" Clark's face turned grim. "We wouldn't be having this conversation right now."

Wheels were rapidly turning in Bruce's mind, shifting pieces together after months of uncertainty. It all made sense now. "You swam out, headed back to Metropolis, and laid low."

"More or less. I stopped in Smallville first. Got a change of clothes at my parents' house and some money from the old safe," Clark sighed, recalling the grueling process. "Then it was one long bus ride home, and a very distraught Lois when I got there."

"And two months of not knowing if and when your powers would return?"

"You got it."

"Oh, my word…" Bruce rubbed his hands down his face, exhaling. "Clark, I am so sorry. I had no idea."

"I wish I could've safely contacted you back then, but Lois and I were so scared. Nothing like that has never happened before. We couldn't risk anyone finding out."

"No, I get it. I get it," Bruce assured him. "And so you spent your time finding a… silver lining."

"You mean the baby?"

Bruce nodded.

"We didn't know that would be a… side effect of the situation," Clark confided. "Although in retrospect, it makes sense."

"Clearly," Bruce smirked. "How far along is she?"

"About five months. She's due in July."

"That's amazing. Congratulations," Bruce offered the hug he should have much earlier. "Sorry about my reaction before."

"I'll forgive you," Clark said thoughtfully, "on one condition."

"What's that?"

"Tell Selina about me. Everything."

Bruce blinked, certain he'd misheard.

"Lois and I asked her a few probing questions before you came upstairs," Clark clarified. "It's obvious you still haven't told her that I'm Superman. You've been married three months now. What are you waiting for? Your twenty-year anniversary?"

"A-are you sure?" Bruce asked incredulously.

Clark laughed. "She can be trusted with your secret identity, but not mine? Come on, Bruce. Let's go get this over with."