Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“We don’t care what you are, we’re friends because of who you are,” Jimmy said. 

Clark blushed a deep red, unable to believe the words he was hearing. His friends didn’t care he was an alien. He would have pulled them into a group hug if they weren’t in the middle of a warzone and their life depended on getting these numbers right. Lasers flew every which way, Lois and Jimmy adding to the fire with their weapons.  And then there was him. Half-naked and useless with no powers. He felt like such a loser. The black hole behind him sputtered in agreement. 

“And we just want you to be open with us,” Lois screamed over the roar of gunshots. He winced, feeling guilty for keeping her at arm’s length. In all fairness, he didn’t know Lois that well. She sure knew how to hold her own in a fight. If he survived, learning martial arts would probably be a good idea.  

Robots marched toward him in sync, their lone crimson eyes burning dangerously. Laser beams bounced off them harmlessly. What would Indiana Jones do? Clark was fresh out of rope and gadgets. He didn’t dare leave Lois’ side, afraid she’d get shot. 

Lois ducked as a stream of fire shot toward her. Without hesitation, Clark jumped before the fire and took the brunt of the blast. His eyes watered with pain. As long as Lois and Jimmy were okay, he’d be fine. He can stomach some pain. Humans feel pain every day. 

“Smallville!” she clutched his naked chest, brow furrowed with worry. She was touching him, that was a good sign she wasn’t mad at him anymore. There was hope for them yet.    

“Open! That’s it!” Mallah screamed, leaping over a robot and hitting buttons on the dashboard. Lightning lit up the circumference of the black hole and it started to grow. 

“What are you doing?” The three of them screamed at the same time. Lois shared a worried glance with Clark.

“We need to open the containment feed and let the black hole hit critical mass for it to stabilize.”  

The black hole whirled and spun madly, intensifying in size. A gust of wind tore at his flesh violently. Clark had enough time to think ‘Uh-oh’ before the black hole grew to critical mass and sucked Lois out of his arms.  She screamed as she was pulled into the vortex. 

“Lois!” Clark reached for her. “Grab my hand!” Clark clung to a metal bar, reaching feebly toward Lois. Their fingers brushed and he leaned forward, closing a hand around her small wrist. The force of the black hole was too much for him and Lois slid farther into the black mass. 

Her eyes widened in fear. “It’s no use, Clark!” tears streamed down her face. “Let me go.” 

“Never,” Clark lunged forward. 

“Clark! No!” Jimmy screamed. 

There was a blinding, white light and a sense of weightlessness. Jimmy’s screams snapped off in the blink of an eye. 

And suddenly he was in the middle of an abandoned field, scorched earth where Cadmus Labs used to stand. The trees in the surrounding area were burned stumps. There was no sign of Jimmy. Clark refused to believe what his eyes saw. Jimmy was standing right next to him seconds ago. Mallah had been tinkering at the dashboard happily. He frowned at the corner where the talking guerilla should have been. There was nothing but dead earth. 

 “No!” Clark covered his mouth. Jimmy was dead. 

“This can’t be right,” Lois said. “A giant building doesn’t just disappear.”

“I couldn’t save him,” Clark choked. 

Lois clutched his arms forcing him to look at her. “Jimmy is not dead,” Lois persisted. 

“Then how do you explain this?” Clark waved his hand at the wreckage. It looked like a nuke had erupted. 

“I don’t know,” Lois said. “But we’re going to figure this out together,” she stood on her tiptoes kissed him on the cheek, and hugged him close. “It’s going to be okay, Clark,” she wiped a stray tear from his face. He hadn’t even realized he was crying. He didn’t know he could. Jimmy was his best friend. He didn’t want him to be dead. 

“Okay,” he said in a small voice. “Okay,” he repeated, at a loss for words. 

“First order of business,” Lois rested a hand on his chest, watching with awe as the cuts and bruises healed. “We need to get you some clothes. Then we investigate.” 

“Right, right, clothes,” he fumbled for his jacket that was no longer there. “Right, I’m naked . . . I mean half naked.” God, he sounded like such a loser. Superman would have never said something so dorky. He didn’t know how to act around her anymore. “My apartment shouldn’t be too far.” If they flew.  

“It’s not a bad look,” Lois turned pink. “I can’t believe I said that out loud.” She jumped away from Clark, mortified. 

The last time they were alone together she told him there was no chance for them. Her heartbeat sounded like firecrackers erupting. He couldn’t decide if she was afraid of him or excited to see him. “I can . . . you know,” he motioned flying with his hand. 

“You’re back to full strength!” Lois grabbed his arm, realized what she did and stepped away.  “I mean that’s good,” she straightened and crossed her arms, all business-like. “Something tells me we’re going to need Superman’s help,” she winced as she realized what she said.

She didn’t say ‘Superman’ any differently than usual but her eyes told another story. She was still angry with him even if she didn’t come out and say it, she was indecisive about how she felt about him. He couldn’t blame her. She just found out her almost-something more was an alien. The chemistry between them was electric but it might not be enough to save them. Things just got way past complicated.  

“Do you mind if I carry you?” he scratched the back of his head. He felt weird asking, Lois had flown with Superman before, but never with Clark. “I understand if you’re uncomfortable . . . we can get a cab instead.” 

“No!” Lois squealed. “I mean yes,” she stepped onto his toes and flung her arms around his neck. Clark scooped her into his arms bridal style and took off. Lois fit perfectly in his arms and he loved the feel of her against his bare chest. She was perfect. 

They flew over the city in awkward silence, Clark staying above the clouds to avoid being spotted by civilians. He knew he should have brought the Superman suit on the camping trip. There had just been no time . . . he was so worried about Jimmy he wasn’t thinking straight. Now he might never see Jimmy again. 

“Clark,” Lois looked into his eyes very seriously. She worried her lower lip. “Did you think so little of me?” she asked. 

“Huh?” he asked intelligently. 

“You really thought being Superman would change how I feel about you?” 

“It does. Doesn’t it?” Clark repositioned her so he could look into her eyes. “You treat me differently now that you know. I can see it in your eyes, I’ve lost your trust.” 

“It bothers me you felt the need to hide a part of yourself from me,” Lois said. “I thought we were friends . . . I thought never mind what I thought.” 

There was no chance for them to be anything more now. He could live with that so long as she stayed his friend. “We’re still amigos, right?” 

“Of course, Smallville,” Lois nestled into his chest. “The best of friends.” 

He didn’t bring up ‘Superman’ again. Though, he felt the gaping chasm separating them. It would take time and effort to rebuild her trust. He was still feeling out of sorts from Cadmus. The thickness in the air weighed him down. Lois almost felt as heavy as a cow. A few times he lost altitude, but quickly reclaimed his equilibrium. 

He landed in the alleyway behind his apartment, out of breath. Lois frowned slightly but made no comment on his strange behavior. They were both reeling from losing Jimmy. Clark hoped he was wrong and this was one big nightmare he’d wake up from any minute now. The thought of Jimmy gone . . . for good . . . made him sick to his stomach. He was a failure as a friend. What good were all these powers if he couldn’t save the ones he cared about? 

Lois clapped a hand over her mouth, stifling a gasp of surprise. Clark followed her gaze. It took him a good second for his brain to process what he was seeing. There was Superman graffiti on the wall with a big black X over the crest. A thin layer of smoky green was spray-painted on top of the crest. It looked nothing like his crest; there was something more human about the ‘S.’ . On the opposite wall in dripping red letters was written ‘Die Alien.’ Numerous other sayings were sprayed across every surface. 

He was going to have to move to a new apartment. 

“I swear I didn’t tell anyone.” 

Lois betraying him had never crossed his mind. There was something odd going on here. He felt exposed like a raw vein. He saw a woman on a fire escape watching him. Her face wrinkled with disgust. “Go back to Krypton!” 

What was Krypton? 

“You go back to the hole you crawled out of bitch!” Lois screamed. “Superman has as much right to be here as you!” The lady flipped Lois off and slammed the door behind her. “How rude!” 

  “LOIS!” Clark screamed. “Language.” 

“What? I hate bullies.” 

“She’s entitled to her opinion,” Clark said. 

“It’s a dumbass opinion.” 

He tried to hide how much the stranger’s reaction upset him. All he ever wanted was to fit in and be normal like everybody else —- to be accepted by Earth as one of them. Because of one lousy mistake, his neighbors knew the truth. 

He wracked his brain trying to remember where he slipped up and came up blank. He had been so careful. Any incident happened in the security of his room. Jimmy wouldn’t blab to the whole world, would he?  He was obsessed with ratings on Flamebird. It was a possibility. 

He quickly dismissed that thought as stupid. Jimmy was dead. He won’t be making any more Flamebird posts. “Come on, the sooner I change, the sooner we can figure out what happened to Jimmy.” 

Clark opened the back door and climbed a flight of stairs, Lois following closely behind. The walls were muskier than he remembered and smelled of weed and beer. There was something else too—something metallic, sharp, almost acidic in the back of his throat.

He stopped in front of his old apartment, frowning at the pile of empty pizza boxes at the foot of the door.

“I could’ve sworn I took the trash out,” Clark muttered, pressing a hand to his temple. His vision blurred slightly.

“That wasn’t there when we left,” Lois confirmed, glancing around uneasily. “Clark, what if you have a squatter? We’re not supposed to be back for another four days.”

“Get behind me,” Clark instructed, voice tight. He didn’t mention the growing headache, or how his knees suddenly felt unsteady. Lois slunk behind him, biting her nails nervously. Clark unlocked the door with the spare key he kept under the mat, but his fingers fumbled with the lock.

As soon as the door creaked open—

“Get the hell out of my apartment, Kent!”

A beer bottle came flying out of nowhere. Clark tried to duck, but his reaction was too slow. It hit him square in the face and shattered, sending him stumbling back with a sharp grunt.

He landed hard on his backside, dazed. The room spun.

“It’s not enough you ruined my life, you have to break into my home too?” Lombard stormed toward him and hauled Clark off the floor by the hair, shoving him against the wall.

“Is this some kind of hazing?” Clark asked, blinking rapidly to clear his vision. “It’s not funny, Steve…”

“Do I look in a joking mood to you, alien?” Lombard snarled. “Get out of my apartment.”

“Your apartment?” Clark echoed dumbly. A wave of nausea crept up his spine. “I live here.”

“Does the missus know you’re high?” Steve sneered. “Wow. How the mighty have fallen. Is the kryptonite turning your brain to mush?”

“Kryptonite, what’s that??” Clark repeated. His heart pounded in his ears.

Lombard drew his iPhone out and started recording. “I’m gonna tell all my followers about how Superman broke into my apartment and trashed the place.”

“There’s no need to get dirty,” Lois cut in, poking her head around Clark’s shoulder. Her smile was thin. “We’re leaving. Sorry to bother you.”

“Who’s the babe?”

He didn’t recognize Lois? But she’d been working at the Daily Planet longer than Clark had. What was going on here?

Lois grabbed Clark’s arm and tugged him toward the door before he could think much more about it.

“Did he look fatter to you?” Lois asked once they made it outside. A soft snowfall had started, but Clark barely registered it—his skin was clammy beneath his clothes, and every breath stung.

“I don’t know, didn’t notice,” Clark said, rubbing his head. “I was kinda busy having beer thrown at my face.”

“Clark, you don’t think Jimmy…?” Lois trailed off, staring at a graffiti wall that read “ALIENS GO HOME” in bold red letters.

“Nah. Of course not,” she answered herself quickly. “That would be crazy.”

“Jimmy would never do that,” Clark murmured. But his voice lacked conviction. The whole world felt slightly tilted, unreal. His head throbbed. He just wanted to lie down and—

“There’s one place I’ll always be welcome,” he said, voice hoarse. “My parents will probably know what’s going on.”

“I don’t know about that, Clark,” Lois said, biting her nails again. “I’ve never met your parents before. This could be a bad idea. And look at you! They’d think we’re… well, you know.” She flushed.

“I’ll be quick,” he promised. “They’d never even know we were there.”

But even as he said it, Clark stumbled slightly. He steadied himself on a railing, blinking against the sudden vertigo. The pain wasn’t stopping—it was building.

And somewhere deep down, he knew: something in the air was wrong.

Chapter Text

The flight to Kansas was long and tiresome. Clark couldn’t shake the pressure behind his eyes or the dull ache in his ribs. His muscles were tighter than usual—like he’d just finished lifting a freight train after pulling an all-nighter. For the first time, Lois felt heavy in his arms. His skin was itchy and clammy. 

Lois was a nervous wreck, muttering under her breath the whole flight. He only caught snippets, ‘This was not part of the plan – we haven’t even had our first date!’ She acted like a nervous girlfriend meeting his parents for the first time, and there was nothing he could do to calm her nerves, not with the pounding in his head. He struggled to keep them afloat. 

His body should’ve cooled off at this altitude, but something was wrong. Kryptonite exposure, maybe? Still lingering from Cadmus? They’d put continents between Cadmus and them. Heck, there was nothing but empty fields where Cadmus used to stand. 

He was relieved when finally the yellow Kent farmhouse came into view. Just the sight of home lifted his spirits. 

“Is that it?” Lois asked, subtly tightening her hold on Clark. He couldn’t tell if the subtle shift in Lois was brought on by excitement or fear. Clark nodded weakly, the strain of carrying her three thousand miles catching up to him. 

“It’s so quaint,” Lois observed. “Like Green Gables.”

“What?” Clark blinked, disoriented.

“It’s a show my mom used to watch with me,” she said softly. “About an orphan searching for family.”

His eyes grew misty. That hit him harder than it should’ve. He spent years searching for a family after he learned his alien nature. The Kents were the best parents anybody could ask for, but it was that unknowing —- not knowing why you were given up— that slowly killed you. Had this world’s Clark found his birth parents? Did he know why he was left on this planet? Was he the first wave of an alien invasion? 

“Careful!” Lois screached. 

Clark swerved to avoid crashing into the window. “Sorry,” he winced. “Lost in thought,” he said. His body started to sink. He bit down on his tongue and kept them afloat. Beads of sweat caked his forehead. 

“Smallville,” Lois shook him. “Are you okay?” 

“I’m not sure,” Clark answered honestly. He strained his vision and saw Ma cooking downstairs. He caught a whif of homemade lasagna and something dangerously nostalgic: Lana Lang’s famous cookies. Good. She wasn’t there. That was one crisis averted. But Dad? He was at the counter…blowing up pink and blue balloons?

“You almost crashed through a window,” Lois said. “Does that happen a lot?”  

“More than you’ll think,” Clark said. “Coast is clear,” Clark rubbed his temple as he slid the window open and dropped into his childhood bedroom.

He staggered the instant his feet hit the floor. He nearly tripped over a box. He braced a hand on the wall, waiting for the dizzy-spell to subside. He forced himself upright and scanned the room. His childhood bedroom was messier than he remembered. The furniture was buried beneath a tsunami of clothes. Towers of books were stacked ceiling high. He saw a pile of paranormal romances – a few with a pregnant human on the cover – and turned crimson. What the hell was mom doing reading that garbage? Those certainly weren’t his books. The closet was ajar with boxes full of more clothes pouring out. Ugh. He hated when Mom went through a cleaning spree. His room always started to look like the Room of Requirment. 

“Oh, I remember this!” Clark grabbed his old Star Trek tee from high school. “It still fits!” He said excitedly, shrugging into the shirt.

Lois plucked a lacey purple bra from the bed. “This yours too?” she held it over her chest self-consciously. “You’re used to more mature women, it would seem.”

Clark ogled the bra, mortified. “That’s not mine. I—I’m not a cross-dresser, Lois!”

He noticed more inconsistencies. The Star Wars poster was on the wrong wall. His Astro Boy Manga were nowhere to be found. The figurines Jimmy and he had collected in college were missing. An iHome replaced the Millenium Falcon alarm clock. A Whitesnake poster hung on the closet with the initials L&C forever scribbled inside a heart in the corner. Lois wasn’t into Whitesnake, or was she? There was still so little he knew about her. But they had never been to a Whitesnake concert before. He would remember a footnote like that.  

His high school pictures were buried under new unfamiliar photographs on the memory board with unfamiliar faces. He studied one of the photos worriedly. He stood on the roof of the Daily Planet hugging two strangers. Clark recognized himself, though he seemed a bit more muscular and confident. A raven-haired beauty kissed him on the cheek as a scrawny redhead happily took a selfie.  

“This is sexy,” Lois blushed as she held up a red, leather jacket. “Not exactly my style,” she said woodenly. He sensed a storm brewing on the horizon. 

“I think there’s been some kind of mistake . . .” he never had a girlfriend with such outlandish clothes. 

Lois' eyes widened and she grabbed a frame from the bedside table. “You’re married, Clark?” 

“What who what now? How?” 

“I thought there were no more secrets!”Lois shoved the frame into his arms hotly. Clark Kent stood at an altar looking lovingly at the same raven-haired girl from the other photos. She was in a simple, yet elegant wedding gown. That was definitely him. Clark recognized his Dad’s tux from the wedding album. But the girl . . . he had never seen her before. He would have remembered getting hitched to such a spitfire. 

“I don’t understand,” his grip subconsciously tightened and the frame shattered, glass flying everywhere. 

“Clark is that you?” Mom called from outside the door. He lowered his glasses and studied the woman on the other side of the door. She had the same all-seeing blue eyes and sounded like his mom, but her red hair had turned white. She had also lost some weight. That wasn’t his mother . . . at least not from his Earth. The truth slowly settled in. Mallah had succeeded in creating a portal to other dimensions . . . and they fell right through it. 

“Quick hide!” He pushed Lois into the closet. 

“I am not hiding from your mom like some common criminal!” 

“I’ll explain everything,” he promised. “Trust me.” He shut Lois in the closet and not a moment too soon. 

 Mom opened the door, smiling broadly. Clark was grateful the room was too dark for Ma to see his face. 

 “You’re back early. Where’s Lois?” she asked. 

“Lois?” he frowned. Oh, right. He was apparently married to this world’s Lois Lane. That would be a reality he won’t mind returning to. He thought feverishly. “She’s . . . ah,” he saw a Pulitzer award on one of the shelves and hoped it belonged to her. “Chasing a lead for a story.” 

“Clark!” Mama scolded. His heart clenched. She sounded so much like his mom. “You can’t let her do that alone in her condition. What were you thinking?” 

“Condition?” he asked. “She’s fine.” 

“Clark, this isn’t a normal pregnancy,” Mom said gently. “You can’t leave her alone. You don’t want her to have another miscarriage.” 

“Lois is pregnant?” He didn’t think that was possible. He tried to hide the shock on his face, failing miserably. “I mean, yeah she’s pregnant and  has a mind of her own.” 

“Are you okay, son? You look a bit thin,” she took his temperature. “That was a nasty bomb. You didn’t lose your memory again, did you?” 

“No, Ma,” Clark pried her hand away from his feverish face. “I’m fine. It’s just a lot to process.”  He was married and going to be a father. He wasn’t ready for parenthood! He still struggled to pay the rent. He couldn’t juggle being Superman and fatherhood. 

Oh, wait. That wasn’t his life.   

“I’ll say, it’s been a chaotic last few days,” she said. 

“You have no idea,” Clark agreed. 

“And I didn’t help any by overstepping bounds. I just want you to be safe,” she said. “If you don’t want to move to Hamilton you don’t have to,” she said. “I worry about you in Metropolis especially now that everybody knows.” 

“I don’t understand how that happened,” Clark said, Lombard’s fierce reaction starting to make sense. Somehow this earth’s Superman was compromised. Boy was he glad he wasn’t in his shoes. He would go crazy if he were Superman all the time. 

“It’s Luthor’s doing, I just know it.” She snapped. Alex? He was a harmless geek. “He’s always been jealous of you,” Ma said. “I wish you would stay here, Clark.” Ma hugged him. “It’s not safe for you in Metropolis.” 

“My life is in Metropolis,” he said, hoping he sounded like his doppelganger. 

“You have a life here,” Mama knotted a fist in his shirt. “People that love you and don’t care about where you came from.” 

“You taught me never to give up,” he said. “There are good people in Metropolis who still need me.” 

“You’re right, of course,” she said. “Just promise me you’ll consider Hamilton. It’s no Smallville, but Hamilton is more forgiving than the big city.”

“I’ll talk to Lois and see what she thinks,” he said.

“Lois will agree with me. Your safety comes first.” 

He scanned the room madly, for what he wasn’t sure, some sort of escape route. Then he saw an opening and picked up his winter jacket.  “She’s freezing,” Clark explained lamely. 

“I imagine so,” she said. “A jersey is not appropriate for this weather,” she smirked. 

“Yeah I know, I keep telling her to dress warmer, but she never listens.” 

“Clark,” Mama said tersely. “Don’t insult my intelligence,” she said. “Lois was not wearing a jersey when she left the house this morning,” she arched an eyebrow at him. “Next time you want to have sex with your wife don’t do it on the side of the road.”  

Oh, God, his counterpart was an animal. “It just sort of happened . . .” 

“I’m sure it was all Lois’ fault,” she crossed her arms.  

“Well, yeah,” he shrugged. “It usually is.” 

“I resent that!” Lois whisper-screamed from the closet. 

“Did you hear something?” Martha faced the closet. 

Clark hurried to block her path. “My hearing is better than yours and I didn’t hear anything.” 

“Martha we’re out of avocados!” Dad screamed from downstairs. “You can’t have a party without guacamole!” Dad loved his Mexican cuisine in every universe. 

“You’re not supposed to be here!” Mom scolded. “Shooo!” 

Clark was left with no choice but to leave. He shot into the sky, shrugging on the jacket as he flew. His stomach twisted into knots, a bout of vertigo attacking him. He hung, frozen midair, doing his darndest to not  plummet out of the sky. His parents were too old to manage a Clark-sized crater. His hand shook as he willed himself to stay aloft.  He swore as Mom started cleaning the room. This was going to take a while. 

“Honestly, Clark, a gazillion powers and you can’t keep your room clean.” she shook her head as she tossed dirty laundry into a basket. “This habit better break when the twins arrive.” 

Oh, God. He hadn’t even met his counterpart and he felt bad for him. He wondered where he was. He couldn’t have been far. Mama seemed to be in the middle of preparing a baby shower for him. He craned his neck and surveyed the town. It was comforting to know Smallville was relatively the same as back home. Lots of fields, open spaces, and friendly people who knew each other’s business. A headache mounted in the back of his eyelids, but he pushed through the pain. 

Finally, he found them in the diner on Main Street. They sat in a booth with Pete Ross and Lana Lang. Lois rested a hand on her plump belly, face taut with tension; she kept scanning the neighboring booths worriedly. She looked nothing like his Lois. She was as tall as Lois was short. Her violet eyes sparked with a similar fire as his Lois but more cynical. Her long wavy black hair was pulled into a cute pony-tail.   

His counterpart scarfed down food as enthusiastically as Clark would have. His windswept black hair hung loosely over his face in a similar manner, except messier. It was so odd watching himself eat. The dude could have been his twin if he lost a few pounds. He wasn’t fat by any means. He was built like a pro wrestler. Clark looked self-consciously down at his smaller frame. Clark wasn’t a toothpick or small by any means, but compared to his counterpart he was a child. Maybe this was an older version of himself. 

 At last, Mama went downstairs and Clark snuck back into the room. Lois crouched on the floor, riffling through the other Lois’ things. “Oh, my god she has one too,” she showed Clark a blue crystal bird. “My mom gave me this before she died,” she said in a gurgled whisper. “What’s Old Blue doing here, collecting dust?”  

Clark guessed they were using his childhood bedroom as storage.

“Put it back,” he tenderly rewrapped the bird and set it back in the box. “That doesn’t belong to you.” 

“I found your diary . . . or I guess the other you,” she looked like a bloodhound on the hunt. 

“This isn’t right Lois,” Clark tried to grab the diary from her, but she danced out of the way and jumped on the bed. He didn’t have the energy to chase her. 

“Clark, you’ve got to be a little bit curious. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!”

“It’s an invasion of privacy,” Clark said. 

“Is it really, though?” she winked. “He’s you, but obviously more experienced,” she eyed the lacey bra on the floor between them, blushing. She looked at his crotch curiously. 

“Lois!” Clark felt the sudden need to turn invisible. He calmed down once he remembered he was the only one with X-ray vision. 

Oh. MY. God. 

He wasn’t the only one any longer. 

 “What if he sees us?” 

“Listen to this,” Lois said. “Lois can never know the truth,” she read from Clark’s diary. Clark blushed, sheepishly. This was wrong. C.K. was entitled to his privacy. “It will destroy me. I can’t live in a world where Lois Lane hates me – Awe,” Lois gushed. “He sounds just like you.” 

“I’m not that dorky,” Clark crossed his arms. He didn’t dare write his feelings in a diary. The wrong people could find it and ruin his life. 

 “Once the novelty of dating Superman wears off she will realize I’m not human and leave. Everybody always leaves.” Lois continued to read. “That’s so sad.”  

Clark winced in sympathy. It was like his counterpart read his mind. He scratched the back of his head, nervously. Maybe they were more alike than he originally thought. 

Lois leafed through the diary some more and gasped. “I can’t save my child, but I’d be damned if I let Alice be lost forever.” 

“Who’s Alice, Clark?” 

“How should I know?” he asked. “It’s not my life.” 

“We should go ask him!” Lois beamed. “It might be important for the future.” 

Before Clark could react Lois jumped into his arms. “Up, up and away!” 

He groaned, but obliged without complaint. It was impossible for him to say no to Lois. He wondered if this earth’s Lois was just as headstrong as his Lois. He lasted five minutes airborn before starting to feel queasy. His stomach twisted and then dropped. And so did they. Lois screamed and hugged him desperately — legs wrapping around his torso. The wind ripped the skin off his face and his teeth rattled. Instinctively he spun his body so Lois lay on top of him. 

His spine flared as they crashed into the ground.

Chapter Text

“Smallville!” Lois screamed, kneeling on top of him. “What happened?” 

Clark swallowed weakly and braced a hand on his head, surprised when he felt sweat soaking his scalp. Lois continued to ramble in that adorable way she did, but he couldn’t focus. She sounded as if she were miles underground. A haze of pain clouded his mind. Was he dying? Was he suffering from Multiversal Displacement? That was a real possibility. But Lois seemed fine . . . she was a blurry, nondescript blob in the distance. 

“No, stay awake!” she slapped him across the face. 

“Owe,” Clark grumbled, massaging the spot where she hit. A handprint sized rash was forming. Lois’ eyes widened. 

“You actually felt that?” Lois marveled. “You don’t usually feel pain.” 

 “I don’t feel so good,” he admitted, body achy. He was so cold . . . All the heat had been leeched from his body. 

“You’re shivering,” Lois took her jacket off, and draped it around his shoulders. He smiled amusedly through the pain.  Her army jacket barely reached his arms. It looked like a stylish bib. 

“Thank you,” he hugged her to him. It was the thought that counted. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.” 

“We’ll figure it out together,” Lois helped him stand. “Maybe you’ve just overexerted yourself.” 

“Yea, maybe,” Clark agreed. But it felt like more than exhaustion. It was an effort to move any part of his body without spasms of pain. A sharp pain that felt like scorpions were attacking from inside him. “I probably just need to rest for a second.” 

Lois’ hand tentatively brushed against his forehead. “You’re burning hot . . . I mean feverish. Not that you’re not hot,” Lois winced. 

“You’re not so bad either,” Clark caught her hand, smiling tenderly down at the small woman. She was so close he saw a ring of gold around her brown pupils. He cupped her face. It would be so easy to lower his head and kiss her. If this earth was any indicator . . . Lois and Clark were meant to be together. He didn’t feel so sick with Lois nearby. 

“CLARK JOSEPH KENT! HOW DARE YOU!” 

That was a haughty voice he thought he’d never hear again. Lois squeaked and jumped away from Clark. Clark faced the old woman on the other side of the fence. Her curly white hair was pulled into a poofy bun. She wore a bright lime-green dress with a woolen sweater over it. 

“Widow Maud?” Clark gaped at his old neighbor. “You’re still alive!” His Maud had died his senior year in high school.  

“LOIS DOESN’T DESERVE THIS!” she aimed a threatening cane at him. “SHE’S A GOOD GIRL AND THE MOTHER OF YOUR UNBORN CHILDREN! HOW COULD YOU CHEAT ON HER!” 

Clark was too happy to see Widow Maud to process her words. He rushed at her and engulfed her in a tight hug. She smelled the same as he remembered, soap and cinnamon. She passed out caramel apples instead of candy every Halloween. She taught him everything he knew about kneedlepoint. 

“God, I missed you!” he hugged her tighter, but not too tight. 

“What is wrong with you!” she whacked him on the top of the head with her cane. Clark laughed, remembering fondly the times she used to chase Pete and he off her lawn. “AND DON’T PRETEND THAT HURT!” she wagged a finger at him. She shot him a quelling look. The same look she gave him when he had a clumsy misstep. 

“It’s like you’re back from the dead,” Clark stared slack-jawed at her. Maybe this world wasn’t as awful as he originally thought. 

“Don’t flatter yourself,” she said. “You didn’t scare me that much. Nothing I haven’t seen before,” she scowled, gaze drifting to Lois with distaste. “I am so disappointed in you, I don’t know where to begin. And with two infants on the way! Your mother raised you better than this!” 

Clark looked blankly back at her, at a loss. “What did I do wrong?” 

“As if you didn’t know!” she screamed. “Lois Lane has been to hell and back for you, and this is how you repay your wife?” She glared at Lois. 

“Oh,” Clark and Lois said together, subtly sliding even farther away from each other. “I’m not married,” he started. 

“Not married!” Widow Maud echoed angrily. “I’m sourly tempted to shove kryptonite up your ungrateful, cheating ass!” 

“SHUT UP!” Lois screamed. “He’s not your Clark!” 

Widow Maud whirled murderously on Lois. “And he’s not yours either, you little homewrecker!” 

“Lois, please . . .” Clark started. 

“Begging your wife for forgiveness is not going to help,” Widow Maud thundered. 

“I am NOT A HOMEWRECKER!” Lois matched her tone. “YOUR’E A SOUR OLD GOSSIP. SO THERE!” 

“I’m calling your wife. She needs to know about all of this,” she took her ancient cell out of her pocket. That was different. The Widow Maud he knew didn’t know how to use a computer, let alone a cell phone. She punched in a number with one finger and swore. 

Lois’ counterpart answered after the first ring. Clark tuned in with his superhearing. 

“You would not believe what I saw your ungrateful husband doing!” Widow Maud screamed. 

“What is it you’re accusing me of now?” Clark answered his wife’s phone. 

“Clark, sweetie, is that you?” Widow Maud looked at Clark and Lois, face white with horror. 

 “If this is about earlier in the car . . . You try fending off a hormonal pregnant woman.” 

“Where’s your wife?” Widow Maud asked, suspicious. “Why is she not answering her telephone?” 

“She’s in the bathroom,” Clark’s counterpart answered. “Why do you need Lois?” 

Widow Maud narrowed her eyes at Clark, but he wasn’t looking at her. It was taking all his willpower to focus on their conversation. A fierce headache started to grow. 

“Listen, I didn’t want to say anything,” Clark said. “Lois is under a lot of pressure . . .” 

“Of course, that’s to be expected,” Widow Maud said. “Impending motherhood is scary at first.” 

“It’s not that,” Clark said. “She still feels like an outsider in Smallville. I was hoping you could be kinder to her in the future. She’s my wife . . . I know you don’t think she’s good enough for me . . .” 

“That’s not at all what I think,” she said. “Lois is perfect for you. We all love her.” 

“Then you’ll stop being so critical of her?” 

“Of course, sweetie, I want her to feel welcome. She’s part of the family.” 

“Glad that’s settled.”   

They said their goodbyes and hung up. Widow Maud aimed her cane at him. “You’re not Clark!” she said. “Are you Bizzaro? You can’t have his life.” 

“What?” Clark asked, mind foggy with pain. “What’s a Bizzaro?” 

“No,” she thought to herself. “Bizzaro is retarded. He can’t string a coherent sentence together. Then what are you?” 

His headache spiked and he collapsed to his knees, clutching his stomach. “Smallville,” Lois dropped to her knees. “How many fingers am I holding up?” She held up her hand. 

“Two,” Clark mumbled. 

“Close enough,” Lois said. “Talk to me. What hurts?” 

“Everything,” he wheezed. 

“I’m not falling for this ploy,” Widow Maud continued to aim her cain at Clark. “You’re one of those martians I see on the news . . . you have Clark’s face, but you’re not Clark.” 

“Oh, for the love of God,” Lois swore. “I’m Lois Lane,” she indicated herself. “And this is Clark Kent.” 

“You’re not Lois Lane,” Widow Maud protested. “Lois Lane is tall and pregnant.” 

“We’re from another . . .” he winced. It hurt to talk. “What’s happening to me?” he looked pleadingly at Widow Maud. 

“Please,” Lois begged. “You’ve got to help us. I don’t know what to do. He’s never been hurt before.”

“This doesn’t make any sense,” she said. “I just got off the phone with you.” 

“We’re from a parallel earth,” Lois supplied. “He’s not your Clark, but he’s somebody’s Clark.” 

“I don’t believe you,” she said. “You’re talking crazy. There’s only one Superman.” 

“I don’t understand it, either,” Lois said. She guided Clark to a standing position, and leaned against him. “We just want to get home. But I can’t do that while he’s sick.”  

His legs were as wobbly as a sailor on land. He managed to stay upright. He wiped at his damp face. His knuckle came away smeared with red. He stared perplexed at the blood, limbs shaking. It was sureal sight. He hadn’t seen his blood since he was a kid. He had almost forgotten how human it made him look. 

“Looks like Kryptonite poisoning to me,” Widow Maud suggested. “A pity the sun is setting,” she said. 

“Why should that matter?” Lois asked. 

“If he’s anything like my Clark, sunlight heals him.” 

That explained some things.  Lois and Widow Maud sparred back and forth, giving each other the third degree. Their words flowed right thought him — in one ear and out the other. Evidently, at some point, Lois had won the argument. He was heaved onto the back of a horse and they made the long trek across the pasture to Widow Maud’s house.  

The smell of honeyed tea stirred him from his delirium. He was sprawled on a couch in a bright room.  Lois sat behind him, stroking his moppy hair out of his face. Widow Maud sat in a rocking chair across from him, mouth pressed together tightly. She cradled a steaming mug that smelled heavenly. 

“Smells just like I remember,” Clark sat up. He closed his eyes, and inhaled through his nose, soaking in the nostalgia. 

“You’ve been here before?” Widow Maud wondered. 

“Not since I was a kid,” Clark admitted. 

“Are you feeling better?” Lois asked, hands freezing over his forehead. 

Widow Maud watched them with a knowing glint in her eyes. “Some things never change,” she muttered under her breath. 

“I think so,” Clark experimentally clenched and unclenched his hand. It no longer hurt to move. He just felt tired. He glanced at Widow Maud. “You said this was Kryptonite poisoning,” he recalled. “What is that?” 

She looked at him as if he had lost his mind, which was a high possibility. He had no idea how to get back to their earth. “It’s a rock from your home planet, deadly to all Kryptonians.” 

“Krypton-what?” Clark frowned. 

“You really don’t know anything?” 

“Clark can speak three hundred languages,” Lois protested. “And knows Elvish. He

knows plenty.” 

Clark turned crimson. “TMI!” 

Widow Maud gave hearty chuckle, eyes brimming with mirth. “I haven’t laughed this 

hard since . . . never mind since when.” 

“I don’t see what’s funny,” Clark said. 

“You’re not the only Smallville resident who speaks fluent Elvish,” she chuckled. Oh. They seemed to have similar taste also. It couldn’t be a coincidence they lived in the same apartment, albeit on different Earths. 

“Let me guess, you also like Chinese food?” 

“Actually, he prefers Korean,” Lois answered for him.  

“Guess all Lois Lanes like to speak for Superman,” Widow Maud shot her a look of reproach. “Did you also name him?” Lois’ cheeks pinked adorably. The old woman scrutinized the tiny woman, her gaze resting on her flat stomach with a condescending air. “You two haven’t, have you?” She twitched a finger between the two of them, smiling suggestively. 

“No,” Clark and Lois squeaked together. 

“We haven’t even had our first date yet!” Lois said aghast. 

Clark’s head shot up at the mention of the ‘D’ word. He thought for sure anything more than friendship was out of the question. Lois could never love an alien. The skip of her heartbeat gave him reason to hope.  

“But you know he’s Superman?” Widow Maud clarified. 

“Of course I know,” Lois said heatedly. “I’m a reporter. I’m not blind.” 

“How old are you?” 

“Twenty-two,” They said together. 

“Oh wow, you guys work fast,” Widow Maud said. “Clark didn’t tell Lois he was Superman till he was twenty-five and starting to show gray.” 

“I do not have gray hair . . . I mean, he doesn’t have gray hair,” Clark fumbled nervously with his black hair. 

“He didn’t tell me, I told him!” Lois protested. 

“So that stayed the same,” Widow Maud said. “Did you also continue lying when she told you?” 

“No!” 

“You would have if I didn’t jump off the roof.” 

“Oh, that’s much safer than driving your car into the harbor,” she mused. “She’s lucky Clark was listening.” 

“I’m always listening!” 

“What did you mean we work fast?” Lois asked. “Your Clark was only three years older than us when his Lois learned the truth.” 

“They had known each other since high school,” she acknowledged. “Whirlwind of a girl with a one track mind on a story.” Clark chuckled. That sounded like their Lois. “She was a bad influence on Clark.” Lois sheepishly smiled. “I always thought Lana and Clark would have ended up together . . .” 

“Lana?” Clark sat up straighter. “She’s here? In Smallville?” 

“Don’t go getting any ideas, Smallville,” Widow Maud said. “Lana is pregnant,” she said. “Oh, it’s supposed to be a big secret but that girl has a weak stomach.” 

Wow. His counterpart really was an animal. He couldn’t imagine Lana being with anyone else. She had chose to tour Europe over a relationship with him — longing to find herself. He never thought she’ll return to Smallville. If she had . . . he hoped only thing would motivate her to return. 

“Who’s Lana?” Lois asked with a hint of worry. 

“Just the love of Clark Kent’s life,” Widow Maud said. “His first love. We all thought they’d marry right out of high school just like her parents,” she sighed wistfully. 

“How come you’ve never mentioned her?” Lois whirled on him. 

“It was high school,” Clark shrugged. “Nothing much happened.” 

Widow Maud leaned forward and braced her head on her hands. “Do tell us more,” she implored. “Why did Lana leave you?” 

Goosebumps blossomed on his skin. He hadn’t felt this uncomfortable since falling through the stage in second grade. “Think we’ve established I’m not your Clark . . . . and my Lana isn’t your Lana.” 

“I’ve known you since you were in diapers,” Widow Maud said. Clark blushed. Lois covered her mouth to hide her giggle. “You are just like Clark . . . at least pre Nightfall Clark.”

“Nightfall,” Lois echoed. “That sounds ominous. Tell me more.” 

“No, don’t say anything,” Clark warned. “It could affect our future, destroy the timeline . . . or cause a paradox.”

“That’s time travel, not parallel Earths,” Lois said. “I think we’re safe. In our world Nightfall might be a bartender or librarian.” 

“It’s still better to be safe than sorry,” Clark said. “You don’t know what consequences there’ll be if we meet our counterparts.” 

“Well, I look nothing like their Lois,” she reasoned. “So I’m safe. You can wear a disguise.” 

“That’s not going to work,” Widow Maud said darkly. “President Luthor has made it impossible for Clark to have a double life,” she said. 

“Scrawny, geek Alexi is president?” Lois wrinkled her nose in distaste. “See, Smallville? Things are different here. Our Lex will never be president.” 

“Let me finish,” Widow Maud clucked. “The president has created an alien detecting app. Even if they didn’t know Clark, one scroll on the app and they’ll know you’re Kryptonian.” 

“You’ve said that before,” Clark hunched forward, making himself smaller. “Is Kryptonian where I’m from?” 

“Bless your heart, you’re so young,” she said. “Kryptonian is what you are, Krypton is where you’re from.” 

“Do you know what happened to my parents?” Clark asked. “Why they left me on Earth?”  Widow Maud averted her gaze, seeming to drown in sadness. “Please,” Clark begged. “I have to know.” 

“It might be different on your earth,” she said. “You’ll find out in good time. You shouldn’t hurry to grow up so fast.”  

“It’s bad, isn’t it?” Clark’s hands shook. “My parents . . . they’re supervillains aren’t they?” 

“Bite your tongue Clark Joseph Kent,” Widow Maud hissed. 

“It’s Peter actually,” Clark sighed. “Clark Peter Kent.”

“Your middle name is Peter?” Lois’ eyes brightened. “I know what we’re dressing up as for Halloween.” Clark smiled. He’d dress up as a clown if it made her happy.  

“Interesting,” Widow Maud said. “Your maternal grandfather is not alive?” 

“I don’t know,” Clark said, realizing she was changing the subject. He was too tired and achy to care. “Ma never talks about him.” 

“Yeah that makes sense,” she said. “The old tyrant.”

Lois paled and hugged herself. He met her eyes, silently asking what was wrong? Lois sheepishly looked away and forced a smile. “Tell us more. Where are they now?” 

“Last I heard they were . . .” 

The telephone on the wall began to blare. “Excuse me,” Widow Maud woddled toward the phone and answered amiably. “Oh no,” she said after a moment. “That won’t do at all. Not to worry, Martha, I can manage.” 

“Is everything okay?” Clark asked. “Is Mom hurt? Does she need my help?” He made to stand, and his weak knees gave out. He mumbled incoherently as he collapsed into the chair once more. 

“The Kents are out of avocados and lime,” she said. “I’m sorry, I’m going to have to cut this short and head to the grocery store. They need them for the party.”     

“I can do that for you!” Lois offered eagerly. “I’m really good at shopping.” 

“No, I couldn’t ask you to do that,” Widow Maud said. “You stay with your man.” 

“He’s not my man!” Lois protested, turning an intense shade of red. Clark’s chest tightened. There was no hope for them. “You know more about Kryptonite than me,” Lois reasoned. “I’ll be no help to Clark,” she said. “Please, I’ll be back in a flash!” 

“Oh, alright,” Widow Maud consented, scribbling a shopping list for Lois. She handed Lois her wallet. 

“No,” Lois handed it back. “I’ll use my credit card.” 

“It might not work,” Clark said. “Money might be different on this earth,” he said. 

Lois looked into the purse and held up a dollar bill triumphantly. “Looks the same to me,” she said. 

“But think about this, you might have the same card as Lois Lane of this Earth so any money you use . . . will be from her account. You’ll be robbing Superwoman.” 

“Oh,” Lois said. “I didn’t think of it, like that.” 

“Take it,” Widow Maud gave her the purse. “I can tell you’re good people. You won’t rob me. And if you do, Superman will catch you,” she winked at Clark. He blushed. Lois gave a hurried hug and rushed outside. Clark stared mournfully at the closed door. She could be in danger and he was powerless to protect her. 

“Now how about some tea, son?” she poured him a mug. “Don’t you fret, if she’s anything like our Lois, she can handle herself.” 

“Trouble also has a way of finding her,” Clark said. “My powers aren’t back.” 

“You’re not the only Superman,” she said. “Have a little faith.” 

He didn’t even know if he could trust this world’s Clark. He seemed similar enough to him, but still . . . Clark worried. 

Chapter Text

The perks of small town life was that everyone was super friendly and open. Lois hitched a ride into town with a kind old man – a Wayne Irig. Wayne Irig conveniently was also heading into town to buy this world’s Lois a present for her baby. He couldn’t shut up about how excited he was to for them to be a parents – it was like having his own grandkids. So many people were rooting for this world’s Clark and loved him as if he were their family. 

Lois looked down at her flat belly and relaxed. Motherhood wasn’t something she ever thought of . . . or even wanted. She was still a kid herself. But it was more than that. She didn’t have a mother growing up . . . she was damaged. Lois Lane would be a terrible mother. Had this world’s Lois felt the same way? 

Her career mattered more than family. She wanted to win a pulitzer — see the world and bring down corrupt organizations. Babies were so far from her thoughts they might as well be on another planet. Clark was from another planet. It didn’t scare her in the way Clark feared. She loved . . . no liked . . . no accepted every part of him. It didn’t change the way she felt about him. But everything was happening so fast. They were already having a baby. 

No. Scratch that. She couldn’t allow herself to be lost in this world.l Just because it worked out for Lois and Clark in this universe, it didn’t mean it’ll work out for them. Daddy’s work would never allow him to accept Clark. He didn’t say much about his work with the military but she could read between the lines. Superman was the sort of being Daddy’s people hunted. How could she ever be with Clark when being together would put him at risk? She didn’t want to hurt him. That was another reason she held back from Smallville. She didn’t want to have to choose her only family and Clark. 

“You and Lois . . .” 

“Huh?” Lois blinked out of her daze. 

“I noticed your Daily Planet badge, says Lane,” Wayne said. “Are you her kid sister?” 

“No,” Lois said, thinking fast. “I’m her cousin, Lulu,” she lied smoothly. “Our Dads were brothers.” 

“Were?” he arched a bushy gray eyebrow. “I’m sorry, honey,” he said sincerely. “Lois is lucky to have family that looks out for her.” 

“I’m the lucky one,” Lois said tightly. 

The remainder of the ride was rather uneventful. They drove by endless cornfields and open spaces with barnhouses. Her stomach did a little dance. This was Clark’s hometown– a version of it at least. Their relationship was so new, the thought of his home, hadn’t even crossed her mind — not beyond the basic notion of a hillbilly town in the boonies. It was so much more than that. She wondered if everyone in their Smallville knew about Clark’s strange nature. Widow Maud seemed so protective of her Clark. Would she have done the same for her Clark, if Widow Maud had survived?  

Wayne Irig pulled into a parking spot outside WayneMart and killed the engine. She offered to pay for gas money, and he adamantly refused. Lois hugged him in thanks and faltered. Was this world’s Lois a hugger? She had so many questions. She skipped into the grocery store, taking out the shopping list. Three limes and avocados. Easy enough. Apple cyder . . . that was harder to find, but she managed with some help. She stocked up on sweets as Widow Maud suggested, selecting all of Clark’s favorites. She hesitated as she reached for a box of Twinkies. What if Earth 2 Clark didn’t have the same taste? She needed help. Widow Maud had left specific notes stating the sweets were for Clark. 

She searched the aisle and landed on a thin Goldilocks pushing a cart with a child inside. “Alex, make up your mind. We’re going to be late.” 

The little girl kicked her feet. “It has to be perfect. I can’t screw this up.” 

“They’re babies, honey,” the woman said. “They’d love anything you choose.” 

“Excuse me,” Lois said, pushing the cart near her. “I was hoping you could help me.” 

“Of course, honey, what do you need?” she smiled warmly. 

“I’m Lulu,” Lois shook her hand gratefully. “Lois’ cousin from out of town,” she introduced. “I was sent to get Clark sweets,” she said. “But I don’t know what he likes.” 

The woman studied the contents of the shopping cart, ice cream, Twinkies, donut balls, the works. She picked up the ice cream. “Not vanilla,” she said. “He likes chocolate chip cookie dough . . . he’d eat cookie dough raw to be honest.” 

Lois laughed cause her Clark did that too. She couldn’t bake without the dough dispapearing. 

“Make sure to pick up some Oreos and orange juice,” Maisie made a face. “Don’t understand it, but he swears the juice makes it taste sweeter.” 

“You know a lot about Clark,” Lois said, taking  the woman’s advice and adding orange juice to the cart. The child in the cart had the same oval shaped face as her mother, but her hair was brown and straight as straw. 

She shrugged. “We go way back,” she said. Alarm bells went off in Lois’ head. 

Could this be elusive Lana Lang? Clark seemed upset when he learned she was expecting. “Are you Lana perhaps?” 

“Oh, God, bless your heart,” she said in the same sweet, demeaning tone as Widow Maud. “I’m Maisie, Clark and I grew up together . . . though, I suppose we all did,” Maisie said. “He hasn’t mentioned me?” Lois shook her head. “That stinker,” she sounded hurt. 

“Don’t blame him,” Alex said. “Blame hormonal Lois.” 

“Alex!” Maisie scolded her daughter. “That’s not nice.” 

“He used to visit, then he got married,” she sighed mournfully. “I miss the old Clark.” 

“Oh, sweetie,” Maisie hugged her daughter. “Clark is still the same, lovable uncle. There’s room for both of you in his heart.” 

“But now he’s going to be a Dad,” Alex whimpered. “He’s gonna forget all about me.” 

“Oh, sweetie,” she kissed her head. “You’ve got nothing to worry about. You’ll have two baby cousins to play with and protect.” 

“I guess that would be okay,” Alex said. 

Lois’ heart melted. Here were practical strangers with no relation to the Kryptonian, yet they treated him like family. Much like she accepted Smallville. Maybe there was hope for them after all. “Thank you for your help. I would have been lost without you.” 

“It was no problem,” Maisie said amiably. “Clark is like a brother to me. I want the best for him.” 

“Excuse me,” A gruff voice said. Lois froze. “I couldn’t help overhearing you ladies,” Daddy said. 

No. Not Daddy. The General. Lois tilted her head upwards to look at him. He was battle weary, face drawn taut with age. Silver sprinkled throughout his neatly cropped black hair. She swallowed hard.  

His eyes were the same steel-gray, but colder now, like they’d forgotten how to soften. Deep lines carved through his skin — not just from age, but from war . From command. From making impossible decisions and never flinching when the cost was human. 

His posture was rigid, every inch of him screaming military even out of uniform. No warmth in his stance, no welcome in his gaze. Just assessment. Calculation. And maybe — beneath it all — regret he’d long since buried under orders and armor.

Lois’s chest tightened.
He had her father’s face.
But this man?
This man had chosen the mission over everything else — even her. Was she being too presumptuous? Making him out to be some stone-cold deadbeat. Did he also give Lois an army knife for her tenth birthday instead of the computer she wanted. Did he wake his little girl at dawn to train her to face the harsh world? Looking at his hardset jaw, it wasn’t a hard leap. If two alternate Clarks had similar quirks, the same could be said for the General. 

“You know the alien,” he said, banishing any doubt Lois had about him being different. He was the same strict, drill sergeant she was saddled to. What had he done to this world’s Clark? 

“The alien has a name, General,” Maisie said harshly. 

“Sorry, old habits die hard,” he said. He straightened and Lois flinched away. “I can’t show up empty handed to my daughter’s baby shower,” he said. 

“Perhaps it will be best if you don’t go,” Maisie said. “Clark and Lois are better off without you.” 

“I’m trying here . . .” 

Maisie steered the cart away, turning her back on them. Guess Smallville hospitality only extended so far. It was touching how protective the towns people were of Clark. The General ran a hand over his long face and looked pathetically at the rows of aisles. Lois took pity on him. 

“Maybe I can help, what are you looking for?” 

“It’s none of your . . .”  He swallowed hard. “Sorry. You can’t help me. No one can.” 

“I know Clark,” Lois said, hoping she was right. “Whatever you did, he’d forgive you.” 

“It’s not Clark I’m worried about,” he admitted sadly. “He’s forgiven me, even if I can’t forgive myself. But Lois . . .” he shook his head, and closed his eyes as if in pain. “I’ve lost her.” 

“No, you haven’t,” Lois persisted. “There’s still hope for you. You’ve got to show her you’ve changed . . . show her you no longer fear Clark.” 

“How do you propose I do that?” 

Good question. She could imagine the horrors he put Clark through. The prejudice and hate against all things different. They weren’t going to find what they needed in a grocery store. Only a drastic act would change Lois’ mind. “What exactly did you do that was so bad?” 

“Followed orders,” he said cryptically. “Chose duty over family.” 

Yeah, that sounded like her Dad. But what did that have to do with Superman? She was not going to get any answers out of him. “That doesn’t sound so bad,” Lois said, though she knew it was anything but the truth. 

  “She’d never forgive me.” 

She wished she could reassure him. But she just didn’t know. Would she cut ties with her father if he tried to kill Clark? Shecouldn’t imagine it. But if he had . . . she won’t be able to face him again. “Maybe something more personal, like a family heirloom,” she suggested. “Something to show both of them you’re willing to try to mend past mistakes.” 

“I hope you’re right,” he said in a shaky voice. “I don’t want to miss out on my grandson’s life.” 

“It could be a girl,” Lois said, laughing silently. He clearly hadn’t heard about the twins. This was going to be fun. 

“I don’t care so long as my little girl is happy,” he said. 

“What makes you think she’s not?” Lois asked. 

“The life Superman lives, only ends one way,” The General said. “She might be happy now, but it’s only temporary.” 

“You’re wrong!” Lois screamed. “Clark is a better man than you! He would not choose his country over his flesh and blood!” she spit out. “He would never leave me! You’re the monster not him!” 

“Lois?” The General gaped at her. 

Lois stumbled back, knocking into a shelf of cereal. “Lois who? You’re confused. I look nothing like Lois!” 

“Not from this Earth,” Daddy said. “Do you honesty think you’re the first alternate Lois I’ve crossed paths with?” Her knees turned weak. 

She didn’t know much of anything about Daddy’s work. But she knew when she was beat. “Hello, Daddy,” Lois smiled sheepishly. “How’s it hanging? So you’re gonna be a grandpa, fancy that.” She offered him her fist.  

He drew a hand over his weary face. “Is Clark here too?” 

She dropped her hand and nodded. “He’s not feeling well,” she said. God, she was such a coward. She dealt with pain every day, but watching Clark suffer was something else. Torture. 

“What happened?” he asked. 

“I don’t know . . . we were flying from Clark’s apartment and then he just started feeling queasy.” 

“His old apartment or the new one?” 

“Why does it matter?” 

“It makes all the world of a difference,” Daddy said. “Suicide Slums is laced with Kryptonite.” 

“And that’s bad?” Lois asked. 

The General swore colorfully. “Has his nose started to bleed yet?” 

“Only a little,” Lois said. “He’ll be okay though, right?” 

“The kryptonite is inside his bloodstream, eating him from the inside,” Daddy said. 

Fear entombed Lois. “I’ve got to get back to him.” 

“No,” Daddy stilled her with a firm hand on the shoulder. 

“I know you hate this world’s Clark, but please don’t stop me from saving mine.” 

“What are you going to do? Kiss him and hope that mends his broken organs?” Daddy bit out. “This is not a fairy tale. You can’t help him, but I can.” 

“You’ll do that for me?” Lois met his gaze hopefully. 

“Lord help me, every instinct tells me not to,” he said. “But I’ve made that mistake before and I wouldn’t  do it again.” 

“Thank you, Daddy,” Lois flung her arms around him. His large arms enveloped her, shaking slightly as he hugged her back. When was the last time he embraced his daughter?  “I’ll take care of everything. You just get somewhere safe.” 

“Clark is staying with Widow Maud,” Lois offered. 

“Naturally,” Daddy groaned with distaste. “You go to him,” he advised. “I’ll be along shortly.” 

“I want to help,” Lois begged. “I can’t just sit by and do nothing.” 

“You’re not,” Daddy said. “You keep him awake till I arrive.” 

“Widow Maud can do that,” Lois argued. “I want to help you save him.” 

“Lois!” he admonished in the same whiplashing tone. She sobered. “You are a stranger on an alien planet. The less people that see you, the better.” 

“Now you sound like Clark,” Lois whined. 

“Good, glad one of the Supermen finally have some sense.” 

“What is that supposed to mean?” Lois’ hands flew to her hips. “Are you implying this world’s Clark is retarded?” 

“No, of course, not,” Daddy said. “He’s just headstrong and reckless . . . he’s been around Lois too long,” he said, eyes widening. “Oh, lord, why hadn’t I realized that sooner?” He mused to himself.  

“Touch me again, and I’ll cut your hand off,” A woman said in the next aisle. Somebody squealed and ran away. 

“Lois,” A man warned. “She just wanted to feel the baby.” 

“My body. No touchy. Comprende?” Lois demanded. 

“You don’t mind it so much when  I touch you.” 

Daddy paled, and ducked, dragging Lois down with him. “Why are we hiding?” Lois whispered.

She peeked through the gaps in the shelf. A heavily pregnant woman limped along on the other side. She wore a loose red jersey that failed to hide the round bump. She walked with her hands braced on her back, wincing. Her eyes were glassy with pain. Black curls framed her red face.

The man beside her was so tall, she only saw the whisper of his toned abs through the black T-shirt. “Wow,” she marveled. She had a lot to look forward to. Clark Kent aged like fine wine. His long fingers brushed across the large bump. 

 “Smallville,” Lois sighed. “Keep that up Mr. Kent,  and we’d never make it home.” 

Daddy pulled her away from the shelf, his expression turbulent. “They’re supposed to be at lunch.” 

Lois ignored him and curiously watched the older Lois kiss her husband. That could be her someday. Clark feverishly kissed him back, clawing at his jeans. “Lois,” he caught her hand. “We can’t.” He fastened his pants once more. She moaned in misery. Lois was surprised there were tears in her eyes.  

“Please, I need you!” she begged against his mouth.

 Lois frowned, her mind going to dirty places. She couldn’t be as horny as Lois feared. She would never allow herself to be obsessed with a guy. Sure alien . . . but still. He was just a man. Her career came first.  

“We’re in public,” Clark scolded. 

“I don’t care,” She desperately hung on his torso. “It doesn’t hurt so much when you’re near.” 

Lois’ blood turned to ice. The woman was in pain . . . oh god. Of course she was. She was carrying an alien fetus. Oh. My. God. Her boyfriend was an alien. Wait. No. They’re not dating. But they were about to. She didn’t have the strength to say no to Clark. She’d do almost anything for Smallville. Lois ogled the other woman’s large womb. She wasn’t ready to be a mom. What if Clark was super fast? What if it only took one time. She didn’t want to be a mom. Not now. Not ever. 

“Just keep thinking about the ice cream,” Clark suggested. “That’ll make you feel better.” 

“I need to pee,” Lois announced. “No Superman business,” she ordered him. 

“Zhi, ama,” Clark kissed her hand. 

“Barbar,” Lois teased him with a quick kiss and dashed off, moving surprisingly fast for a pregnant woman. What language was that? 

A gust of wind blew Lois’ coat back. And suddenly he was standing in the same aisle as her. From the back he looked even more well sculpted. He was built like a monument. Solid. Unmoving. Like the kind of thing you looked up at when you needed hope. He looked like he could hold up the sky and still ask you if you were okay.

He looked her way, as if hearing her dirty thoughts. “Sam,” Clark nodded to the General politely, holding a carton of rocky road. Lois made herself smaller behind Daddy, which wasn’t difficult. 

“Kent,” Daddy greeted. 

“We really should stop meeting like this,” Clark laughed uneasily. “Uh . . . I don’t want to sound rude, but—”  

“Why am I in Smallville?” Daddy offered. “Business as usual.” Why was he lying? He was obviously here for the baby shower. It’s all the town could talk about. 

“Nothing serious, I hope?” 

“Nothing I can’t handle,” Daddy said. “You enjoy your time with your wife.” The silence stretched between them awkwardly. Lois was impressed Clark hadn’t noticed her yet. 

“So,” Clark said. 

“So,” Daddy echoed. “You’re going to be a Dad.” 

“Yea,” Clark said. “You’re going to be a grandad.” 

“Yea,” Daddy said lamely. 

“Well, got what I came for,” Clark waved the rocky road meaningfully. “See you around.” He blurred away in a streak of black, leaving the smell of cologne behind. 

“That was painful to watch,” Lois said. “What did you do, try to kill Superman?” He stonily looked forward. “Oh, my God, you did! No wonder Lois hates your guts.” 

“It was necessary,” Dad said. “He was brainwashed by Darkseid.” 

“I don’t know who that is . . . but knowing Clark has taught me one thing, there is always another way. You never kill.” 

“I don’t need a lecture from you,” Daddy said. 

“Clearly you do,” Lois said. “You’ve forgotten what you’re fighting for.” 

“I never forgot,” he said candidly. “I’ve done everything in power to protect my baby girl.” 

“I’m sure you believe that,” Lois said. “But if you’re at all like my dad, all she wants is her father not a hardass general.” 

“Don’t pretend like you know me, girl,” Daddy snarled. “You’re not from this Earth.” 

“Things seem pretty similar from where I’m standing,” Lois said. “My Dad trained me to be prepared for any eventuality. Sound familiar?” His silence spoke volumes. “That’s why you want to help my Clark. You failed this world’s Lois and Clark so spectacularly.” 

“Let’s just get this over with,” he steered her to the front of the store. The bubbly cashier rang up her items, chatting gaily as she spotted the Twinkies that were for Clark. Lois added talonal and aspirin to the pile. 

“That’s not going to work,” Daddy said. “Modern medicine has no affect on him,” he whispered. Lois paid for her items and headed outside.  

The temperature had dropped exponentially since she entered. Lois shivered and buttoned her coat. A soft snowfall drizzled over the quaint town. Two cars were left in the parking lot: a black sedan and a crimson Ford Fusion decorated with pastel flowers. Both had Metropolis plates.  

“Then what’s your plan? ” Lois asked. “Find a wizard to save him?” she taunted. 

“The Kents have Hyperion pills,” he said begrudgingly, opening the passenger door for her. “Medicine for Kryptonians.” 

“That’s a thing?” Lois wondered. “I thought modern medicine didn’t work on Kryptonians.” She slid into the car and buckled her seatbelt. 

“Modern medicine, yes that’s correct,” he said. “The Hyperion pills were manufactured off world.” He turned the car on. 

“Then the pills must be very rare,” she said. 

“Yes.” 

“I can’t let you do that,” Lois said passionately. “What if this world’s Clark needs them?”  

“So long as he stays away from Suicide Slums, he will be fine,” Daddy reassured. “Don’t you want to save Clark?” 

“I need to make sure he’d be okay first,” Lois said. 

“Lois Superman has years of experience on your Clark and a high tolerance of pain,” Daddy said, voice shaking slightly when he said that.  

“That doesn’t make it okay,” Lois said. “You’ll be ruining an innocent man’s life.” 

“Don’t be so dramatic,” Daddy said. “He’s not going to miss the pills.” 

“I can’t condemn him.” 

“You’re not,” Daddy said. “This is the only way to save Clark. He might be dead by now.” 

She didn’t like it, but what other choice did she have? 

“I’ll drop you off, and then be back with the pills,” Daddy promised. 

“Okay.” 

Chapter Text

“Clark?” Lois stepped into the brightly lit den. Clark was sprawled on the sofa, body shining with perspiration. Green veins pulsed across his chest. In a few places green pelts patruded outside of his once smooth torso. She covered her mouth to dampen her whimper. Daddy rested a hand on her shoulder. Any protestations she had about stealing from Smallville vanished. Clark needed those pills more than Smallville.  

Clark blearily opened his eyes. “Lois?” he asked. 

    “I’m right here, Big Guy,” Lois clutched his hand. 

“I’ve tried to make him comfortable,” Widow Maud said sadly. “There’s nothing more I can do.” He’s dying, hung unspoken between them. She pleadingly met her father’s eyes. Clark was too out of it to notice the newcomer. Daddy gave a curt nod and slipped out of the room. 

“I should have never left,” Lois lamented. 

“Shh,” Clark coughed. “New world . . . couldn’t expect you to stay on sidelines.” 

“It’s going ot be okay,” Lois brushed her mouth against his forehead. “I’ll fix this.” 

“So?” Clark looked up at her through heavy-lidded eyes. “Did you see them?” 

Lois nodded, shuddering at the memory of how large Lois was. She could never be that person for Clark. She wasn’t strong enough to carry an alien’s baby. “She’s huge,” Clark marveled. “And so uncomfortable.” 

Lois’ eyes widened. Clark mutely pointed to his eyes. “Oh,” Lois mumbled. “You cheated.” 

He shrugged and then winced. “Shame on you snooping,” Widow Maud said. “Your mother raised you better than that!” 

Clark gave a self-depricating smile. “I’m sorry, couldn’t help it,” he said. ‘He’s so much . . . well, everything.” Clark waved meaningfully at his weakened body. “Living the dream.” 

“You think he has it easy?” Widow Maud shook her head. She looked like she wanted to scream. Instead she took a fortifying breath and smiled. “You’re still so young,” she said. “Give yourself time to mature,” she squeezed his shoulder affectionately. Time he might not have. “Never know, a little Kent might be in your future, too.” 

“What?” Clark paled. “Me? A Dad? I don’t think so.” 

Lois laughed uneasily. “Yea, we’ll make terrible parents.” 

“That’s what Lois used to say,” Widow Maud smiled knowingly. “And now look at her.” 

Lois looked down at her belly and imagined an abnormally large bump. She was going to be sick. How did that even work? He was the man of steel! Surely that would hurt a ton. Well, she was a lot taller than little Lois. Maybe that helped. Gah! She was a hot mess. Not even first date and she was having doubts. They were too different. She didn’t see this working long term. She never wanted kids, that much was clear. But Clark . . .  she couldn’t ask him to give up his dream of a family. 

“You don’t think they . . .” Clark swallowed nervously and looked to Lois for help. “Well, you know?” He mimed the large circumference of a womb. 

“Oh, honey,” Widow Maud chuckled. “How else do you suppose the baby got in there?” 

“I don’t know,” Clark sounded exasperated. “It’s just hard to picture.” 

“Is the idea of us together really that disgusting?” Lois’ heart sank. She’d admit she had her doubts, also. But Clark would never disgust her. Despite the risks she wanted to be with him.  

“Of course, not,” Clark quickly protested. “You’re spectacular, Lois,” he said. “A great deal too good for me. I just . . .” he swallowed audibly and started to retch. He bowled forward. Widow Maud set a bucket between his legs, frowning slightly. 

Clark gratefully hugged the bucket and puked green sludge out. Lois couldn’t watch. She ran outdoors, tears blurring her vision. She plopped down on a tree stump and wiped the snot from her nose. She was a terrible friend. First sign of trouble and she ran like a coward. 

Humming cut through the cloud of doubts. “Oh, hello, there!” A tall, robust man greeted her kindly. Smile wrinkles framed his blue eyes. The wavy silvery-gold mane suggested he might have once been a hearthrob.  He draped his tanned arms over the fence. “Something the matter, darling?” 

Lois dried her tears. “It’s been a long day.” 

“Long year,” he sighed. “Things can only get better.” 

“I suppose so.” 

“Good you made it, Jonathan,” Widow Maud woddled into the cold, lugging the grocery bags. “I got some extra goodies for our boy.” 

“You shouldn’t have Maud,” Jonathan accepted the groceries. “This is too much.” 

“Nonsense,” Widow Maud waved him off. “That boy has a long road ahead. Make sure Lois doesn’t eat all the food.” 

“I’ll put it in Clark’s secret stash,” He chuckled. “I see you got company,” he dragged his gaze over to Lois. She could do nothing but gape dumbly at the man who raised Superman. He could have turned out so much worse if he landed on anyone else’s doorstep. 

“A niece from out of town,” Widow Maud said. “Do make my excuses to Martha, I won’t be able to make it tonight.” 

“You’re welcome to come,”  Jonathan told her. “You’re family after all.” 

“Thank you,” Lois said meekly. “I’d think about it.”   

He bid them goodnight and headed back the way he came. Lois watched him take a sharp left down a dirt path. They must have lived close by. She strained her eyes and thought she saw the glow of a farm house in the distance. 

“You know, I used to think Clark was a demon,” she leaned on her cane. 

“What changed your mind?” Lois wondered. 

“Superman,” she laughed sardonically. Lois frowned. “Don’t you worry, those primary colors didn’t fool me – I recognized Martha’s handiwork right awy,” she said. “Each week some new supervillain attacked our boy,” she trembled with remembered pain. “That’s when I realized I spent years villifying Clark, when I should have cared for him like my own,” she said. “It killed me seeing such a bright star torn down.” She looked meaningfully at the house behind them. “That’s your star. Don’t make the same mistake I did. Embrace him.” 

“Clark isn’t the problem,” Lois said. “I am.” 

“Oh?” 

“I’m just Lois,” she said. “I could never measure up to all that,” she mimed an ‘S’ on her chest. 

“I don’t know you, and you certainly don’t know me,” she said. “But I know Lois and Clark. She had the same doubts you’re having.” Lois looked dubiously at her. “It’s true.  She broke off their engagement and told him to date Wonder Woman.” 

Lois gasped. “Did he?” 

“Lord, no,” Widow Maud said. “There’s only one woman for Clark Kent.” 

“What if I’m not what he needs?” Lois asked. 

“And what if you are?” she challenged. “Don’t waste your time wondering what if, just enjoy each  moment you have with him.”

She took Lois’ hand and guided her back inside. Despite, the pain he surely was in, Clark offered a blinding smile. She snuggled close to him and boldly pecked him on the cheek. Both their faces turned crimson.

 “What was that for?” Clark asked.  

“I just want you to know I care about you Smallville,” she said. 

“You’re not still angry with me?” he mimed a whooshing motion with his hand. She chuckled. 

“I’m not angry anymore,” Lois said. 

“Does this mean, you’ll be open to,” he swallowed nervously. “You an’ me,” he elaborated eloquently. “I can show you the world.” 

Lois silenced him with a kiss. It was a short and barely anything more than a peck, but it was a promise of so much more. “Maybe this can be our almost first date,” Lois suggested. 

“I’ll like that,” Clark said. 

There was a knock at the door. Lois didn’t want to leave Clark’s side, but it was unavoidable. She wasn’t prepared for him to meet the family, even if it was an alternate version. He was similar enough. 

“I’ll get it!” Lois dashed past Widow Maud and answered the door. As expected the General stood on the threshold. “Do you have it?” 

Mutely he handed her a black jewelry box. “Be warned, I have no idea if this will work on him,” he said. “It’s never been tested on a Superman from another earth.” 

“How dare you show your face here!” Widow Maud shoved Lois behind her. “You’ve got a lot of nerve after what you put Clark through, General,” she said icily. 

“He’s my father,” Lois pleaded with her. 

“He’s a monster,” Widow Maud said. “He tortured Superman for weeks.” 

“Is that true, Daddy?” Lois hoped to find remorse in his eyes, but there was none. 

“He was an alien threat, certain protocols had to be followed,” he explained. 

“But torture, Clark?” she grimaced. “He was innocent.” 

“There’s a bigger picture you can’t comprehend . . .” 

“Bigger than you hurting the man your daughter loves?” 

“I didn’t know he was Clark at the time,” he said. “I thought he had just arrived on Earth.” 

“It’s time for you to leave,” Widow Maud said. 

“Everything I did, I did for Lois,” he said. “That will never change.” 

Widow Maud slammed the door shut. “Good riddance,” she washed her hands of him. Lois’ mind reeled. It couldn’t be true. Daddy was caring man deep down. He loved his daughter. His work was also dangerous. Was that the fate that awaited Clark when they returned? Endless torture. She had to find a way to show Daddy Clark wasn’t the enemy. If he would just spend a few days with Smallville, he’d see Clark was no threat. 

“Who was at the door?” Clark feebly faced them. The green scabs had spread up his neck.  

“No one of importance,” Widow Maud said venomously. “You don’t worry, your sweet head,” she patted Clark affectionately. 

“I missed you so much,” Clark mumbled. 

“I never left, sweetie,” Widow Maud said. “Rest now. You need it.” 

“This might seem like a strange request,” Clark bit his bottom lip. 

“Anything for my sweet boy,” she said. 

Lois wondered if Sam Lane was not the only one trying to make amends for past wrongs. 

“Could you make me caramel apples like you used to for Halloween?” 

“That’s easy enough,” Widow Maud said. “Rest now, no funny business you two,” she shot a warning look at Lois. “Be good.” 

Goosebumps scampered across her arms. She was alone with Clark. It left her with a strange, queasy feeling in her stomach. She hoped that wasn’t the beginning of an alien fetus. Did Kryptonians even procreate normally? What if it was all mental like Athena springing fully formed from Zeus’ skull. Her pregnant counterpart seemed to suggest it was a normal enough pregnancy. But how did they manage it? Had to be more than usual sex. 

 Clark smiled sheepishly. “She caught this world’s Clark and Lois in a compromising . . .” 

“Enough said,” Lois placed a hand on his chest, silencing him. “I don’t need the gory details.” 

“Sorry,” Clark hiccupped. “Just makes you wonder.” 

“I don’t want to think about it,” Lois said, beet-red. 

“It’s all I can think about,” Clark said. “It shouldn’t be possible.” 

It’s all Lois could think about too. 

“Maybe they’re using sorcery,” Lois said. 

“Maybe,” Clark echoed. “Or I’m more human than I thought.” 

She bit her tongue. She was dying to ask him if everything looked normal under his clothes. They had more pressing matters. She opened the box. Inside were two glowing pills that seemed to be imbued with sunrays. 

Clark flinched. “What is that?” 

“Medicine,” she said. “Open up?” 

“I’m not eating that! It’s glowing.” He wrinkled his nose in disgust. “It looks unnatural.” 

“This is no time to be squeamish. It’ll help you heal,” Lois chided. He wasn’t getting better on his own. This was his only chance. Clark shut his eyes and shook his head like a petulant child. She grit her teeth. “Would it help if I put it ice cream?” 

Clark opened one eye eagerly.

 “You’re such a child,” Lois grumbled. It was a good thing she bought Vanilla as well as cookie dough. She scooped the ice cream into a bowl and buried the two pills inside the cream. She returned to Clark triumphant. “Now will you let me feed you?” 

“I suppose,” Clark gave a big yawn. Lois sat crosslegged beside Clark and fed him a spoonful. “Mhmm, Bluebell, my favorite.” 

“Smallville’s favorite is chocolate chip cookie dough,” she said. 

“I thought I was Smallville?” Clark pouted. She wiped vanilla off his chin with a napkin. Distractedly she recalled the ghost of five-ocklock shadow on Smallville. 

“You can’t expect me to call you both Clark,” Lois chided, offering him another spoonful, this time careful to include the pill inside the bite. Clark swallowed it without complaint. Almost instantly the color returned to his cheeks. 

“I want to be Smallville,” Clark demanded. “You can call him Clark.” 

“Alright deal, Smallville,” she said. Clark’s eyes drooped in defeat. She fed him the second pill. 

“Do you suppose there’s a Jimmy on this earth?” Clark asked, the longing in his tone unmistakable. He was feeling guilty for once again leaving Jimmy behind. 

“I imagine so,” Lois said. “But he won’t be in Smallville.” 

“But he’s friends with Clark,” Clark reasoned. “He should be there for his friend’s baby shower.” 

“I think it’s a last minute surprise,” Lois combed his moppy hair out of his face. “If he knew about it, I’m sure he would have been here.” 

“Yeah,” Clark said, tuckering down in the cushions. “You’re right.” 

“Get some sleep, Smallville,” Lois kissed his brow. 

“Okay,” he agreed easily, eyes drifting closed. “Lo,” he slurred his words, forcing his eyes open. “Do you think Jimmy is okay?” 

“Worried sick about us,” Lois said. “But okay.” 

“Yeah,” Clark closed his eyes again. “I always worry him.” He started to snore. Was that normal? She had seen Clark sleep before. He didn’t usually snore. Like ever. She sat there silently, soaking in the lion’s roar. Maybe it was a sign he was healing. She gently covered him with a quilt and headed for the kitchen. Widow Maud stood by the stove dipping an apple in syrup. 

“You’re really doing it!” Lois marveled. 

“Of course,” she said. “Such a small thing. How is he?” 

“Sleeping,” Lois said, situating herself on a stool at the counter. 

“Good,” Widow Maud said. “Kryptonite packs quite a wallop. He’ll be out for hours.” 

Lois’ stomach plummeted. Patience wasn’t one of her strong suits. She missed Jimmy too.“The Kents live two miles from here,” Widow Maud offered with a wink. “It’ll be a pity for all that food to go to waste.” 

“I couldn’t,” Lois said. “It’ll be an invasion of privacy.” 

“You heard Jonathan,” she said. “You’re family. Perhaps Lulu Lane could make one last appearance?” 

Lois’ jaw dropped. “How?” 

“Please, darling, nothing happens in this town without me hearing about it,” she said. “It would be rude for Lois’ cousin not to show support.” 

“You’re incorrigible,” Lois chuckled softly. 

Chapter Text

Widow Maud fixed Lois up with a tray of fresh brownies and two knitted blankets for the twins. One blue with star patterns, the other purple with moons. It was heartfelt gift. Lois traded her army jacket for a Icelandic wool sweater and drew her bangs back with a crimson headband. Lois thought she looked like a grown-up Kiki, minus the broom. 

It was a short walk through muggy fields. Felt like hardly a minute had passed before the yellow farm house swam into view. Lois timidly knocked on the door. Music blasted out of the crack in the door and boisterous laughter sounded. She knocked a second time, this time harder. And then a third. 

The door swung open. Lois forgot how to breathe as she stared up at the overtowering Kryptonian.  He was even more gorgeous up close. His eyes were the color of tropical waves. When he smiled her whole body was set on fire. 

“Hello,” he spoke using Smallville’s deep, throaty timber. The ghost of dark stubble coated his lower face. She distractedly wondered how Superman shaved. She had never thought of such trivial things before. His hair was longer too, flowing in midnight-blue waves. Wisps curled at the base of his neck, unnaturally black. 

“I brought brownies and cookies,” Lois said lamely. 

“Perfect, I’m starving!” Clark purred. 

He snatched the tray and tossed two cookies in his mouth. Chocolate dripped into his stubble. Was it wrong she was super turned on by him eating? She reminded herself she had Smallville. 

Yikes. It was hard to think clearly with Superman smacking in such an adorable way. Lois placed the gift on the living room table, mostly to give herself something to do other than ogle the Kryptonian. She wondered how old he was. He didn’t look a day over thirty. 

He swallowed. “Sorry, umm Clark,” he said through a mouthful. “You are?” 

“Lulu,” Lois squawked. 

“Lois’ cousin,” Clark supplied. “Welcome to Kansas,” he offered his hand. Lois shook it gingerly. “Come on in. Don’t be offended if Lois doesn’t say hi . . she’s hiding.” 

“I don’t blame her,” Lois said, surveying the mob of unfamiliar faces in the living room. An older woman, she assumed was Martha, waved at her. It was a mistake coming. The only person Lois knew she had conflicting feelings for. How was that possible? She hardly knew the guy. Was she projecting unresolved feelings for Smallville toward Clark? This was so confusing. 

“Can I get you anything to eat?” Clark asked, sounding achingly like Smallville. 

“I could eat,” Lois followed him into the kitchen, feeling like an invader. A redhead woman sat at the counter, half asleep. She looked to be around Clark’s age, but the gaudy makeup made her look older. An untouched chocolate cake sat before her. She moaned pathetically.  

Clark wordlessly draped his jacket over the stranger’s shoulders. “Lana, I won’t be insulted if you leave.” 

Lois did a double take. This was the enigmatic Lana Lang! Clark’s first love! She didn’t look like such a big deal. She was almost as short as Lois and had the face of an abandoned Barbie doll. 

“If I move I’m going to be sick,” Lana groaned. “I used to love chocolate,” she lamented. “There’s something seriously wrong with me.” 

“Iced tea always helped Lois with morning sickness,” Clark said. “Want me to make you some?” 

“Anything,” she plopped her head on the cold counter. Clark laughed. “This is not funny!” 

“Weren’t you the one lecturing me about one night stands?” Clark teased. 

“Shut up,” Lana hissed. She blinked blearily at Lois, noticing her for the first time. “Either I’m hallucinating or there’s a strange Asian girl in your kitchen.” 

“Lulu,” Lois smiled sweetly. “Lois’ cousin.” 

“Another one,” Lana groaned, sitting up with some difficulty. “Are you a cop also?” 

“No, I’m a reporter,” Lois spoke without thinking. Both heads shot to attention. Lana turned up her nose in distaste. 

“Oh, what paper?” Clark asked as he fixed her a plate. 

“The Daily . . . Bugle,” she thought on her feet. 

“Never heard of it,” Lana scowled. 

“You won’t have,” Lulu said. “It’s in Korea.” Clark slid a plate of burgers and fries across to her. Lois thanked him and dug in. She didn’t remember the last time she ate. Was it two days ago?    

 “How convenient,” Lana remarked. “You can’t possibly believe her,” Lana faced Clark. He shrugged and set the iced tea in front of her. “You’re too trusting.” 

Something both Clarks had in common. “So,” Lana sipped her tea. “What’s the last story you broke?” 

Lois paled. She couldn’t say Intergang . . . Superman would know about that. Was there Intergang on this Earth? God she hoped not. That would be very, very bad. One Slade was one too many. “I’m just an intern,” Lois said truthfully. “I just get the coffee.” 

“I remember those days,” Clark said fondly. 

“SMALLVILLE!” 

There was a scream from upstairs. 

“She’s super needy,” Lana made an ugly face. 

“And you’re what exactly, an angel?” Clark said harshly. Lana fell silent. She hadn’t even said thank you for the tea. Lois smirked triumphantly. Good for Clark. A whisper of wind pushed her hair back and Clark disappeared. Lana slirped her tea, sulking silently. 

“You’re in love with Clark,” Lois guessed. 

“Excuse me?” Lana roared. 

Lois didn’t back down. “Just calling it like I see it.” 

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Lana said. “I’ve moved on.” 

“Sure,” Lois said dubiously. She moved on because she didn’t have any other choice. The better woman had won. Not that it had ever been a real competition. 

“Superman!” Lois said in a singsong voice, stomping downstairs. “Ama is hungry!” She barreled into the kitchen, flaunting her large womb. Both Loises blushed. Lois wore very revealing red lingerie. A black velvety rose balanced beneath her full breasts. Her bump proudly poked out of the lacey cleavage. 

Lois looked pathetically down at her flat chest and then back at her hotter, older self. She looked she knew she was a hot mama and owned it. Lois hoped she looked that good when it was her turn. 

No. 

No. 

No. 

She was never going to be a mother. No siree. Not Lois Lane. Not in this life time, not ever! This world’s Lois was off the wall crazy! She would never allow that to happen to her body. Babies complicated everything! No babies, ended everything. It was career suicide. 

Lois stroked the circumference of her womb, smiling with no shame. She calmly snatched an apple and bit a chunk out of it. “You’re still here?” she sounded annoyed. 

“It’s only Seven-thirty,” Lana said. “Don’t you think you should change? You still have guests.” 

“It’s midnight somewhere,” Lois said. Her gaze drifted over Lois. “Cousin?” she asked. 

Wow, news really spread fast in Smallville. Lois nodded, too scared to speak in her presence. She had so many questions! Did it hurt . . . making love with Clark? Was she as angry at Clark as she was when she learned of the lies? How could she forgive Clark? Did they use magic to conceive? Was this Earth’s Clark, not an alien? Didn’t she feel like she was losing her identity with the pregnancy? 

“Ummm,” Lois blushed. “Nice outfit.” She mentally kicked herself. 

“Welcome to America,” Lois said. “Stay away from junk food. It’s a trap,” she advised. In the same breath she grabbed the tray of brownies. “I’m stealing your snack, Smallville!” she screamed at the ceiling. 

“Is Clark upstairs?” Lana asked. 

“No,” Lois replied. “But he’s always listening.” She paused at the door. “Lana, be a doll, when you see Clark, tell him his Queen is waiting.” Lana’s face turned green with envy. Lois thumped back the way she came. 

“She makes pregnancy look so cool,” Lois marveled. 

“It’s not cool,” Lana drained her glass. “It’s torture.” 

“No, really you too?” Lois grimaced. She mimed a large belly like Smallville had. “But you’re so tiny!” 

“For now,” Lana slammed her head on the counter. “I can’t wait for this to be over.” 

“I’m sorry,” Lois patted the other woman’s back. “I’m sure you’ll be a great mom.” 

“Ugh.” 

Clark reappeared with a basket of French pastries. Lois giggled softly. Figures. She watched fondly as Clark decorated a tray for Lois. He carefully placed violets in a vase on the tray and laid out a quiche and creme brulee. Awe, how sweet. 

“You’re spoiling her,” Lana said, jaded. 

“I want my wife  to be happy, is that a crime?” 

“You’re going to make it harder for her to lose the baby fat.” 

“She had no problem losing baby fat  with her other pregnancies,” Clark said icily. “Thanks for the concern.” 

She’d been pregnant before? How many babies did this Lois have? Oh My God. Lois Lane had turned into a baby-making machine. 

  Clark disappeared upstairs, taking the tray with him. Lois ate her meal in silence, warding off Lana's glares. Lois reeled from the revelation of having multiple kids. She stared at the children playing in the living room. Wrapping paper littered the floor, spilling into the kitchen. A beautiful little girl crouched in the entrance playing with a toy horse. She had Lois’ oval-shaped face and sharp cheekbones. Lois would guess she were around Flip’s age. Suddenly a black boy grabbed the horse from her. 

“Sammy give it back!” 

“You’re too old to play with toys, Ella!”

“You’re not the boss of me!”       

 “Oh good you made it,” Jonathan stepped over the kids in the doorway, mumbling a soft reproach, as he lugged a full garbage bag. The children scuttled off to play somewhere else. Oh. MY. God. She had a daughter. And she was beautiful. She named her after her mom. Lois’ throught got scratchy and eyes turned moist. Maybe having kids won’t be so bad. At least then, Mommy’s memory would live on through her daughter. Okay. She wanted a daughter. 

But not any time soon. 

 “Clark fixed you up, then?” Jonathan asked, depositing the garbage by the back door. 

Lois blanched at a lost for words, stuttering incoherently. She nodded meekly. “Good lad,” Jonathan said. “He around?” 

“He’s upstairs,” Lana said. “With his Queen.”

“You see him, tell him he’s needed in the barn. A friend needs his help.” 

“Oh?” Lana arched an eyebrow. “Friend? Or super friend?” She glanced sidelong at Lois. Clark had Super friends? She thought he was the only superhero . . . Well, him and the nut in Gotham. But we don’t talk about him. 

Jonathan gnawed at his lip worriedly and looked at Lois uncertainingly. “Our mutual friend from Central City,” he said. Lois sensed there was a double meaning behind his words. 

“What if he doesn’t come back downstairs?” 

“I guess one of us is going to have to interrupt their majesties,” He said in a louder voice. 

“I’m coming!” Clark screamed from upstairs. A gentle breeze rustled her clothes amd a door slammed shut somewhere. Lois frowned. Who lived in Central City that was so important? She made a mental note to ask Clark later. 

“Want me to drive you home?” At first Lois thought Jonathan was talking to her, but he was looking at Lana. “You look beat, honey.” 

“Did Pete already leave?” 

“Afraid not,” Jonathan said. “He’s in loft catching up with the guys.” 

“He’ll be a while, won’t he?” Lana sighed. Lois felt a twinge of sympathy for the other woman. 

“Looks that way,” Jonathan said. “Offer still stands, it’s no trouble.” 

“Okay,” Lana stretched like a cat waking from a nap. “I am rather tired,” she conceded. Jonathan helped her into a coat. “It was nice meeting you, Lulu,” Lana smiled sincerely. “You’re a good cousin, unlike some I know,” she looked at Jonathan meaningfully. 

“Now, now,” Jonathan reproached. “Cut Kara some slack,” he said. 

“She should be here,” Lana protested. “Clark is her only cousin.” 

Clark? Lois’ ears perked to attention. She thought he was the only Kryptonian. Were there more of them? This would mean the world to Clark. He would no longer be so alone. 

“I’m sure she would be here if she could,” Jonathan said. “You got to remember, it’s hard for her to see Clark moving on with a new family.” They bid Lois goodbye and headed out the backdoor. 

This was monumental! Superman had a cousin. Lois jumped off the stool, propelled forward by unanswered questions. She studied the living room, unsure what she hoped to find. Pictures, clothes? Anything to hint at the mysterious Kara Kent. She studied a baby photo of Clark, smiling fondly. All the photos were more of the same, stereotypical baby pics. Then she landed on a snapshot of a teenage Clark. A pink-haired wisp of a girl hugged Clark from behind. He looked miserable. Could that be her?  

“That’s personal,” Lois grabbed the photo from her. Lois stepped back, embarrassed. She was grateful Lois was fully clothed. She traded the lingerie for a sensible red dress. It hugged all her curves and looked super uncomfortable.    

“Is that Kara?” her reporter’s instinct took over. “Superman’s cousin.” 

“No,” Lois said. “Kara is a two-faced witch,” Lois said. “That’s Jill Kent, the Kents’ niece. She hasn’t been seen in years.” 

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Lois said. “I didn’t mean to pry.” 

“Yes you did,” Lois said. “Clark told me you’re a reporter.” 

“Okay, yeah I was snooping,” Lois admitted. “But it’s not what you think.” 

“You’re not a reporter digging for dirt on my husband?” She said crispily. “I don’t have a cousin in Korea. You can fool Clark, but don’t play with me.” 

“We’re very distant cousins,” Lois said. “I promise I come in peace. I just wanted to see how the other half lived.” 

Lois narrowed her eyes, unsatisfied. She was saved from more scrutiny when identical boys appeared on each side of Lois. He booped Lois’ bump with a nerf gun. 

“You’re a dead Mama!” One of them giggled. 

Lois ripped the nerf gun out of the boy’s hand. “You’re going to be a dead Allen!” 

His brother disapeared and reappeared behind Lois. “Got you a present Mama!” He dropped a confetti egg on Lois’ head. 

“It’s not even Easter,” Lois whined. “Where did you get that, Henry?” She wiped madly at her hair. 

“I’m not Henry,” Henry said. “He is,” he pointed to his brother. He made a noise of disappointment in the back of his throat. “Honestly woman, you call yourself our mother? 

“Can’t you tell, I’m Don?” The twins said together. 

“I’m going to kill Clark!” Lois’ hands formed into claws. “That joke is not funny anymore!” 

“No, we’re hilarious!” 

“I’ll show you hilarious!” Lois snatched the nearest twin and gave him a wedgie. He laughed so hard, he seemed to be vibrating. “Choke on that you speed demon!” She shoved a deviled egg onto his hair. 

Lois couldn’t believe she was being so violent with her children. Though she supposed they could handle it, being invulnerable and all. Lois might have been driven to do the exact same thing if they pushed her buttons too much. Poor Lois, identical sons, and another set of twins on the way. And an adorable daughter with an obsession with horses. How many babies did they have? That would make it five once the twins were born. She would have been happy with just one. Was Clark trying to repopulate Earth with a new hybrid race? 

Technically she was Henry and Don’s mom too. She should do something. Lois screamed as the boys disappeared, leaving a ghost of laughter in the air. She lunged at the twins and Lois hugged her from behind, halting her advance. 

“Let go of me, Korean Barbie!” 

“They’re part of Clark!” Lois begged her to see reason. “You hurt the children, and you hurt your husband.” 

“EXCUSE ME?” Lois elbowed Lois in the stomach. 

“Umh-uh-oh,” Lois moaned in pain and fell on her bum. 

The angry pregnant lady whirled on her, towering above her. Lois was a wee-bit scared.  Her eyes burned with anger, and for a second Lois thought she saw a flash of red. Uh-oh. “Those Terrible Terrors are not my children!” 

“No, they belong to me,” a tall redhead said, as she wrangled one of the twins, keeping him from grabbing another cookie. “You don’t need any more sugar.” She shot Lois Kent an apolegetic smile. “Hi, I’m Iris,” she waved at Lois. 

“But the super speed. . . I thought–” Lois gazed at the black haired girl. She was snuggled in a blonde woman’s arms, playing on an iPad. “It’s an easy mistake.” 

“You thought, what?” Lois’ hands flew to her hips. “Let’s all go gawk at the alien’s wife, and see her hybrid brood!” A crowd had gathered surveying the scene with various expressions of amusement and concern. Cash was exchanged between a black man and Elvis knockoff. Lois recognized the woman from the grocery store. 

“She’s your cousin from Korea!” Maisie got between Lois and little Lois. “This is just one big misunderstanding. Let’s all calm down.” 

“We don’t have a cousin in Korea,” the blonde woman said. She locked eyes with a plump brunette carrying a toddler. Chubby shrugged in a ‘Hell if I know,’ motion. She shared the same strong jawline as Lois Kent. 

 Lois Kent waved her hand in a case-in-point motion. “Goddamn idiots! A cop’s wife, and an Agent of the D.O.D,” she glared at the plump brunette hotly. “And nobody thought to question the stranger?” 

“I can explain . . .” Lois tried to get a word in edgewise. 

“Explain how a nosy cub reporter infiltrated my baby shower to get a story.” 

“Now just a moment!” Lois wagged her finger. “I bet you’re just as bad as me! Leading Clark straight into the lion’s den on a lead for a story.”

“She’s got your number,” Iris chuckled. Her freckles bounced as she laughed. Lois Kent glared at her. 

“Are you sure she’s legal?” one of the twins asked. “She’s super small.” 

“I’m not small, I’m fun size!” Lois retorted.   

“She bought Clark dessert,” Maisie argued. “Seems harmless enough.”

 There were rumblings of ascent from the women gathered. Next to Lois, Iris was the tallest woman present. She had an approachable face that belonged on television. She held onto one of the hyperactive twins with each hand.  

“Want me to call Bart?” Iris asked Lois. Lois hoped that wasn’t code for super-friend. She was going to have a hard time explaining her presence to Batman.  

Lois gave a crisp nod, reminiscent of the General. Iris reached for her smartwatch and suddenly the landline erupted, halting her in place. Lois squealed and jumped a milimeter into the air. She had forgotten what a landline sounded like. She thought those types of phones were extinct. There was a collective gasp, as people held their breaths while Lois  Kent stomped to answer the telephone. 

She frowned slightly as she listened to the person on the other end. “She belongs to you?” Lois Kent shot a sidelong glance at Lois, brow creased with doubt. Lois heard Widow Maud’s loud voice on the other end. “Your niece?” Lois asked. “But I thought she was my cousin from Korea . . . Alright, alright it’s for you.” Lois said, untangling the cable and offering the antique to Lois. 

“HELLO?” Lois asked, holding the red telephone with both hands. She felt like a kid roleplaying in her grandparents’ kitchen. 

“No need to scream, love,” Widow Maud grumbled. “I can hear you just fine,” she said. “You need to come home.”