From This Moment On –Chapter I
Summary: Lois has learned who her son's true father is. She is both extremely relieved and worried. She does not want to hurt Richard, the man who has been there for her and Jason, but it's Superman that she truly loves. What will she do?
Note: This fic requires you to have seen Superman Returns. It is set just a few days after the movie ends.
Disclaimer: I do not own Superman, though I wish I did. :)
"Lois?"
Lois snapped out of her reverie and saw Richard staring at her.
"Oh, hi honey."
"Lois, are you okay? I know that you are a very strong woman, but maybe you should rest a little? In fact, I think we all need some."
Richard was always seeing to their family's needs. A better man was hard to find.
"I'm fine, Richard, really. I was just…thinking." Lois gave him her best confident face, but knew that it was a lie. She was more scared now than any other time in her life.
He smiled in that adorable, casual way. "Alright, but if you feel like you need a break then take it. The world isn't going to stop turning if Lois Lane isn't working on the next big story."
She gave him another false smile, "Of course. I'm going to go get Jason, okay? I'll be back in an hour or so."
He headed back to his posh office after saying goodbye. Lois knew she had to tell him the truth of Jason's paternity, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. Richard had been there for her in so many ways and the last thing she wanted to do was hurt him. Sighing, Lois grabbed her purse and walked quickly towards the elevators.
"Miss Lane!"
Lois turned to see two women walking towards her. She recognized the short brunette as one of the new secretaries. Secretaries were constantly coming and going and always in demand.
"Oh, hi…uh…" Damn, she had forgotten this one's name.
The secretary giggled. "Clare. Don't worry about it, Miss Lane."
Lois was beginning to feel like the worst human being to ever walk the planet at this point and almost missed what Clare was saying.
"….So I was wondering if you wouldn't mind taking Mrs. Kent with you."
Lois snapped to attention. "Beg your pardon…Mrs. Kent? As in Clark Kent?"
Lois looked just past Clare to see an older attractive woman with steel gray hair. The woman smiled very kindly, "Hello, Miss Lane. Clark has told me so much about you. I do hope I won't be an inconvenience."
"Oh no, not at all! I'd be glad to take you to uh…I'm sorry…Where was it that you wanted to go?" Lois made a mental note to kick herself later.
"Clark's apartment. Miss Hines said that you would be going in that direction."
"Oh yes, of course…Wait! Why isn't Clark at work?"
It seemed to have slipped her that Clark hadn't been at work. 'Strange,' Lois thought. 'He never misses work other than the odd times that he up and disappears.'
Clare chose that moment to answer, "Oh, he called in sick. Flu or some such."
Lois frowned and saw that Mrs. Kent was watching her curiously. Lois quickly started moving towards the elevator to press the down button.
"Well, I hope he gets better. Are you ready, Mrs. Kent?"
"Oh please call me Martha, Miss Lane," as she walked to stand beside Lois at the elevator. Lois quickly returned the courtesy.Clare waved at the two "Nice meeting you, Mrs. Kent." She turned and left.
The elevator dinged to let them know it was time to load. People poured out to resume work after their lunch breaks. The elevator was empty when Lois and Martha got on.
Lois felt the need to say something in the quiet confines of the elevator.
"I-I hope that Clark gets better soon. It must be something to keep him away from work."
Martha nodded, "Yes, Clark definitely is a hard worker. Always has been." She paused for a moment. "I'm sure he'll be fine once I get there to make sure he's taking care of himself."
Lois turned to stare at her reflection in the smooth metal of the elevator. The woman seemed very calm and kind. It was obvious where Clark got his personality. 'Perhaps the klutziness is on his father's side,' she mused.
Finally the elevator dinged and opened up to the basement parking level. Lois led the way to her sleek, grey Audi.
While sliding into the car, Lois said, "If you don't mind, I need to pick my son up first. I hate for him to have to wait."
Martha looked at her surprised for a moment, and then her smile returned. "Oh, of course,
I completely understand."
They drove out of the garage and out onto the street making their way towards the suburbs of Metropolis.
"So you have a son?" Something wavered in Martha's voice, but Lois couldn't pin-point what it was. "How old is he?"
Lois smiled that uncontrollable smile of a mother despite the woman's strange tone.
"Yes, he is five."
"Children are a blessing, but it's obvious that you are particularly proud of him."
"Oh yes, he's such a talented boy. Richard and I couldn't have done better." Lois inwardly cringed upon hearing her words. How much longer could she stand this charade?
"Lois, are you alright?" Lois frowned. She really has to stop being so obvious.
"Oh yes, I was just…uh…thinking."
Martha nodded and went silent. The sights of one of the biggest cities on the eastern seaboard had gained her attention. After they had already worked their way uptown, Lois thought to ask her about the city.
"So, is this your first time to Metropolis?"
Martha turned and nodded. "Oh, yes. I've never seen so many people in one place. How do you survive in this chaos?"
Lois laughed, "It's all I've ever known, really. Metropolis is really an exciting place to live, after you get used to the traffic of course."
"Clark says the same. I still can't believe he actually likes it here. Of course, I've always had my suspicions that he doesn't just stay for his job."
Lois stopped at a traffic light and looked at Martha. She wasn't exactly sure what the older woman meant by that, but she had a good idea it was pointed towards her. Lois had always known that Clark had some kind of affection for her, but she really hadn't paid him any heed. The car got very small and restricting very quickly.
"Really?" Lois stuttered, "What do you mean, Mrs.Ke--I mean Martha?"
She turned to look out the window. "Oh, I don't know who she is. She has a hold on him…whoever she is."
There was more silence until Lois pulled into the pick-up area in front of Jason's private elementary school. She and Richard had agreed when Jason was still an infant that he would go to a private school where he could get extra care.
Lois parked the Audi and got out to meet Jason on the curb. "Hey, sweetie, how was school today?"
He looked up at her in his usual adorable fashion; big blue eyes wide. "Mommy, I made you another picture today!"
Lois bent down to see the picture, which turned out to be yet another picture of Superman. Lois chuckled slightly but with a twinge in her heart. She had to do something…soon. Jason had taken such a liking to him.
Lois helped Jason into his car seat and slid back into the driver's seat.
Lois introduced the two as she headed back downtown. "Jason, this is Mrs. Kent, Mr. Clark's mother." Martha turned in her seat and gave Jason a big smile. "Hi there, Jason."
Jason's eyes lit up again. "Really! I like Mr. Clark."
Lois and Martha both shared a laugh.
"Jason hangs with Clark sometimes in the afternoons. They are good friends."
Once outside Clark's apartment building, Lois parallel parked across the street. Turning to Martha, "Uh, do you know his apartment number?"
Martha had been looking at Jason in the side mirror. Realizing she was being spoken too, "Oh, yes, uh…." She began digging through her purse, "Number eight-thirteen."
Lois nodded and got out of the car. She picked up Jason out of his car seat and grabbed his hand.
"Mama, where are we going?"
They headed across the crosswalk towards the apartment complex.
"We're going to visit Mr. Clark."
Jason scrunched his nose slightly, "Why isn't Mr. Clark at work, Mama?" Jason surprised Lois everyday with something new.
"He hasn't felt well and we have to make sure he is okay. I also have to make sure we can still get our new story finished."
That seemed to sate his curiosity for the moment. He was a very perceptive boy, and Lois knew exactly where he got it from: both of his parents.
They took the elevator to the eighth floor and found Clark's apartment. Martha knocked for them. They waited slightly longer than normal, but finally the door opened. Clark stood there in his pajamas looking somewhat gruff.
"Mom?" He asked. "What are you doing here?"
"Clark, you look a mess. What's wrong?" Martha let herself in and motioned towards Lois and Jason.
Clark noticed them and looked surprised, "Oh-Hey Lois. Sorry, I know I haven't been very reliable this week. I got some kind of bug." He stepped back to let Lois come inside.
Lois moved to stand in the foyer with Jason on her heels. His apartment was on the small side but very clean. "Oh don't worry about it, Clark. I think everyone is a bit slow this week. I can take over-"
Jason interrupted, "Mr. Clark! Momma said you felt sick!"
Clark bent down to greet Jason, "Hey Jason! Yea, I haven't felt too good. How are you doing, buddy?" Clark smiled largely at the little boy who had fast become his friend.
Lois smiled at Jason and addressed Clark. "I can finish the story on my own so you can get better."
Clark stood back up and Lois noticed that Clark was indeed tall. She hadn't really noticed how tall till Richard pointed it out to her a few days ago. "Oh, no. I'll be up and running tomorrow morning. Thanks for the offer, Lois."
Martha, who had been rummaging in the kitchen, said, "Oh no, Clark, I think you had better rest a little longer."
Clark groaned. "Mom, I'm fine."
Lois smiled, "You should do what your mother asks, you know."
He grinned for a moment, "I'm really okay. I've had a week to rest."
"You've been sick a week, Clark? And you didn't tell me?" Martha groaned.
'Strange,' Lois thought. It had been a week since the boat incident and she hadn't seen Clark once since then. Normally, he'd be the first one to ask about her health.
Clark seemed to catch her train of thought, "Oh, I heard about what happened, Lois. I'm glad you and Jason are alright."
Lois gave a sad smile, "Oh, we are too. It was quite an ordeal."
They were all silent a moment.
She perked up a bit, "Well, Jason and I have to head back to the Planet. I hope you get better, Clark, and nice meeting you, Martha."
They said their goodbyes and Lois headed out of the building and towards her car. After strapping Jason back into his car seat, Lois drove back to downtown Metropolis. It wasn't until she was almost at her destination when Lois remembered something.
Clark hadn't included Richard in his well wishes.
Well, I hope you guys enjoyed the first chapter. ;)
I decided to start this out of summer boredom, even though I haven't wrote a fanfic in forever.
If you see a mistake or have a comment, please don't hesitate to e-mail me. Feedback is wonderful if you have the time. -KristinaLeigh