Chapter 8.

Dr Emil Hamilton was sat on a small swivel stool, alternating between watching the monitor and the patient lying on the bed in the exam room. Emil was still the calm, resourceful and highly intelligent man Lois had first met many years ago, yet it was evident how much the doctor had aged. The glasses and the thick sideburns were still there but the hair was significantly greyer and formed what was commonly known as a bird's nest. In a strange sort of way, to Clark it brought to mind an old acquaintance, Dr Frederick Walden. Emil's advancing years had added quite a paunch to his midsection too.

After receiving the call from Clark, he'd asked if they could come over to his private clinic after 8:00 that evening. He'd be finished with all his patients and now that he didn't work for the hospital, he didn't need to be on call. He'd be free to see Lois and another benefit was the added privacy required for such a special case. He was registered as Lois' physician, and Oliver had set him up with the lab facilities required to conduct blood tests and so on. He worked extensively with the Justice League and understood the absolute need for secrecy. This ultrasound screening was very early for a normal pregnancy but Emil agreed that this was an unusual case and one for which he needed a bit of a head start.

Lois was lying on the bed wearing her comfortable sweats which she'd rolled up to her chest so Emil could place the plastic sheets that prevented the ultrasound gel from running and staining her clothes. He was moving the scanner over her not-yet-showing belly and trying to pick up the sound waves to get a picture on screen. The regular rhythmic sound of a heartbeat could clearly be heard, and this allowed Lois to relax a little more.

"And here," Emil indicated as he pointed to a spot on the screen, "is your baby."

Clark was sat on the opposite side of the bed, holding her left hand in both of his, staring at the monitor with awe. The tiny little white thing that looked like a jelly bean was the thing that would change their lives forever from now on. Lois was also so busy staring at the monitor and smiling as she spotted the jelly bean, she didn't even notice Clark raise her hand and place a soft kiss on her palm. She was riveted by the future in front of her. Lois Lane, star reporter for the Daily Planet, force of nature and former army brat, was going to be a mother.

"Is everything OK, Emil?" asked Clark.

Emil smiled. "So far so good. Healthy heartbeat, no unnatural biorhythms. I've still got to analyse your blood sample Lois, but so far I'd say everything looks pretty normal at this stage of the pregnancy."

Lois turned to Clark, gazing into his baby blues as she put her hand to his cheek. His own expression was one of both awe and exhilaration.

Emil spoke again. "Lois, have you had any of the usual symptoms? Morning sickness, cravings, uncomfortable cramps, back pain…"

"No. Actually, I feel really good. I guess I'm still getting used to the idea that I'm eating for two."

"Glad to hear it," replied Emil. "We'll stick to the regular schedule unless anything else comes up. I'll be your OB/GYN so your records don't fall into the wrong hands. And may I be the first to say 'Congratulations' to you both. I'm really happy for you."

"Thank Emil. We just wanted to be sure before we went around shouting from the rooftops. I still can't believe it. My dad and Chloe will be so psyched."

Emil pressed a few keys on the keyboard, and the photo printer beside it whirred into action to produce a crystal-clear copy of the image on the monitor. A keepsake for the mom and dad to be. He reached over to the counter behind him and handed Lois a towel to wipe the gel off her belly, and handed the photo to Clark as he stood up.

"You're always welcome guys. And remember, if you have any questions or feel any unusual changes, don't hesitate to drop by or call me," he added. "I'll call you once the blood results are in."

"Emil, you're a star," said Lois as she stepped over to give the doctor a hug.

Clark then stepped over, feeling a bit self-conscious all of a sudden. "Uh…maybe a handshake?"

Emil nodded and laughed, shaking Clark's hand.

"Now go on, get outta here. I have to lock up!" said Emil in jest.

After the couple had left, Emil got busy writing a few notes in Lois' personal file on his laptop, which he then placed in the hidden vault room behind the exam room. It housed all the Justice League files as well as his research on the effects of meteor rocks on different applications - a little side interest to his main work. However, this pregnancy was really going to be interesting.

Lois and Clark were strolling on the sidewalk in the night air, hand in hand as they made their way back to his truck parked around the corner.

"So, what are you in the mood for?" asked Clark, thinking up dinner plans.

"What do you think about triple choc ice cream?"

"If you want. Or I can dash to Tokyo to pick up some sushi or maybe Naples for some pizzas if you like."

"I wasn't asking you, Smallville, I was asking my little one." Then with a sidelong smirk held long enough to get Clark's attention, "I think it agrees with me!"

Clark shook his head as they continued on. Such was life. You could sacrifice the things that you yearned for and really struggle to deal with it, only to end up with something altogether bigger and better than anything you could ever have imagined. The rest of the evening would be filled with ice cream, excited phone conversations and a slightly nervy Skype session. Clark wouldn't have changed any of it for the world. The last son of Krypton had found the peace he'd spent his life searching for in the arms of the one person he once thought was the antithesis of a peaceful life. All was well in Kal-el's world.

"When it comes to getting me Smallville, you don't have what it takes!"

How wrong did that turn out to be?

FIN.