Author's Notes: Thank you everyone who has left feedback, and everyone else who took the time to read it. I'm still in the process of trying to work out my issues with the next installment of "Fallen," so I really don't have an ETA for it. I also want to thank the magnificent Barbara (htbthomas). I don't know what I would do without her, for real!

Chapter 5: Opened Eyes

"Jason, sweetie. Are you ready?" Lois moved around several packed boxes until she got to the stairs, her eyes scanning the top looking for her wayward little boy. "One minute!" she announced at the foot of the stairs.

"I'm coming, Mommy!"

Jason appeared at the height of the stairs, his small hands dragging a huge bag that seemed bigger than him and a backpack over his shoulders.

They were preparing to leave the house she had lived in for the past three and a half years. In her earlier days as a new mother, she had remained in her apartment building a few miles from the Daily Planet until Richard recommended they move-in together. A year later just after they started dating, they began to work together as parents to give Jason a happy and safe home.

It had worked fine for her until Superman came back into her life. She was engaged and for all intents and purposes, she had been content with her life and the life she built for herself and her child. She had even grown to love Richard very much. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough and she would always regret hurting him for it.

"Do you need any help?"

"No thank you," Jason replied as a thump of his big sack coincided with every step down the stairs he took.

Lois beamed at the sight of her son doing the job on his own. Since the incident on the Gertrude, his asthma had slowly lessened to the point where his inhaler was becoming absolutely useless, and his reaction to some of his allergies had disappeared.

Despite her concern about seeing her son's pediatrician after witnessing him throw a baby grand across the room like he was pitching a baseball, her maternal instincts won out along with Clark's support in whatever choice she made in regards to their son.

Thankfully, she was relieved to discover that Jason's doctor didn't find anything out of the ordinary, only citing that he was happy to share that her son was outgrowing his earlier handicaps quite easily.

"Mommy, can I keep my puzzle?" he asked, pointing to the completed Taj Mahal.

Lois looked down to find her son staring up at her with those familiar ocean blue eyes.

"Of course you can," she said, kneeling down to his height. "Don't you want to take it apart though? It'll be easier to carry to the new house." It was hard to believe that she and Jason would be moving into a new home after living in this one for so long.

Jason shook his head. "But we made it together," he explained.

"We can always put it back up," she said, tapping her son's noise with her forefinger and smiled. "You and me, kiddo. How does that sound?"

Seeing the light in her son's eyes, she knew her answer. Two months ago, she didn't think this was possible. For the first time in a long, long time, the gloomy sky that often hovered above her was swept away by the warmth of renewed hope.

It had's been five months since Superman's spectacular return, and two months since she learned Clark was Superman. They had started things slow, keeping themselves romantically at a distance all the while restarting almost every single conversation they had when they only knew each other simply as Lois Lane and the mild-mannered reporter, Clark Kent.

She was surprised to learn that his favorite book was "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, and that he has a huge appetite for the simplest of foods: Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

He on the other hand, replied with, "You always surprise me, Lois."

It was also hard not to notice that they fit remarkably well together.

At the office, she liked giving people a hard time, especially when they were're on the opposite end of a really meaty story, while Clark was satisfied with making sure everyone was happy. But every once in a while, he would surprise her again and show off some of that backbone she normally saw him display when he's Superman.

"There's no story here, so I would appreciate it if you would all just leave this crime scene so the real workers can do their jobs," a Detective said, trying to usher them off.

"Do you mean the workers that pay the taxes that give you your jobs –, those workers?" Clark retorted in that amazingly calm and chastising demeanor that Lois found very attractive.

After that, little pieces of the real Clark Kent would emerge from the shy façade he regularly showed off at the office and she couldn't help but respect him for it. She knew it wasn't easy for him, and while the office will always see him as the bumbling reporter who had an obsession with the word 'swell,' they were less questioning about his character when it came to their budding relationship.

A relationship they did have.

One month. They'dve been officially a couple for one month. Even a few mouths dropped in the office when the news came out; courtesy of Jimmy's over-the-top enthusiasm that the two field reporters he looked up to most were finally together.

Even Perry White took the news surprisingly well, going as far as giving them a huge story to work on together that involved a dirty politician and an international crime lord.

If only their co-workers would stop talking about them behind their backs, things would be perfect.

"Mommy, when is Clark coming?"

"When he's finished at work, sweetie." She had heard on the radio that there was an oil tanker that had leaked a dangerously large amount of oil into the Philippine Sea about half an hour ago, but Jason didn't need to know that. "He'll be here, soon."

"Okay."

Jason darted outside to store his backpack in the car while she waited for Clark to return safely.

"I'm sorry I'm late.," Clark suddenly appeared from the back porch. As soon as he was finished with the oil tanker, he flew as fast as he could back to the East Coast. "There was a— – " but Lois cut him off with a soft kiss on his lips.

"You're here, and that's all that matters."

Clark smiled brightly, the light in his eyes clearly showed off his happiness. The kisses they've shared had all been innocent. Brief. New. Yet every time he got to kiss her, he felt like the luckiest man in the universe. So while their relationship was new to them in every inch of the word, they were taking it slow.

After hurting Richard and disappointing almost everyone, Lois wanted to do this right and without regrets.

"Jason's out front. He's been waiting for you."

"Has he?"

"Yeah," she smiled and moved aside so he can could get to him through the maze of boxes.

He kissed her hand. "I'll be right back." Jogging to the front, he spotted little Jason putting his stuff together by the side of the U-Haul truck his mother had rented earlier that day. "Hey, Jason!"

Jason turned. "Clark!" For someone who had so many medical problems barely even a year ago, he was sure pretty quick and spry on his feet as he launched himself towards his 'other' daddy.

Clark carried him into his arms and embraced him lovingly.

"Look what Mommy and I did, Clark," Jason saisays excitedlyingly, pointing to all the filled boxes that littered the driveway. "We did it together," he added proudly.

"You did?" Clark squeezed his son a little tighter. "That's great!"

"Wanna help me?"

At the front entrance, Lois responded incredulously, "Hey! What about me?" She hads been asking her kid if he needed help all day.

Jason shrugged innocently while showing off a lop-sided grin.

She, along with Clark and Richard, sat Jason down a couple of weeks ago and told him that Richard wasn't his biological father – Clark was. She remembered how confused he was at first, but when she noticed how good Clark was with kids, she and Richard stood back as they watched Clark kneel in front of their son and spoke in such a soft assuring voice.

"I had two dads, too. Did you know that?" Jason nodded shook his head that he didn't. "My biological mom and dad passed away when I was a baby, and they sent me to live with my other parents in Smallville," he slowly explained. "Do you understand what I'm saying, Jason?"

"I think so."

"Even though I never really got to know them, I know my biological parents loved me very much…" Clark paused, looking back at Lois and wondered if he should continue. To his surprise, it wasn't Lois who urged him on, it was Richard. "I love you, Jason."

The wait was unbearable as all three adults waited for Jason's reaction. With his back against Lois and Richard, Jason did the most curious and shocking thing.

He took off Clark's glasses.

"Jason," he spoke softly.

Jason held the glasses in his small hands inspecting it. Then, he picked his head up and faced Clark with curious eyes. Jason reached out with his fingers and traced the outline of Clark's face before letting out a small smile.

"What am I supposed to call you?"

Richard looked at the two thoughtfully from behind while Lois sighed in relief that it was all that Jason questioned. She almost believed that the jig was up as soon as her son took Clark's glasses off.

Has her son always suspected the connection? Damn, he would make a great reporter one day, she thought to herself.

"Clark. Clark is just fine," he said teary-eyed. Clark pulled Jason into his arms and whispered once again how much he loved him into his ear.

Since then, things had adjusted pretty smoothly with the occasional small mistakes here and there.

Clark was a natural when it came to kids, so it wasn't long for Jason to think of him as a father. Unsurprisingly, Richard was supportive of the relationship, accepting the cold hard truth that their lives will would never be the same as it was before Clark's return; he was making strides to work with Lois and Clark to give Jason the best possible life he deserved.

Rivalry Being rivals for Lois's affection wasn't going towouldn't have given their son that.

To be honest, these past two months Richard hads seen who Lois Lane truly belonged with even if he didn't want to admit it.

"So, I was thinking…" Clark turned to Lois nervously.

"Anytime this year, Smallville," Lois waited impatiently.

"My mom's in town and I was thinking it's time that Jason met her – and you too."

Freaked out by the possibility, Lois stared at him blankly.

"You mean in person?"

"That's generally how it works, yes."

"Oh." Lois panicked and wondered if Superman's mother will would like her and Jason.

"She'll love you two," Clark assured.

"Can't I stay here instead? There's so much to do before we move into to the new house."

Clark raised his eyebrows, amused at her discomfort. "So what you're telling me is – you'll let Jason meet his grandmother alone while you hide out here?"

"He's the grandson, that alone scores points with her. I've got nothing."

Clark laughs. "I don't know about that."

"Name one."

"You gave her a grandson," he offered.

Lois's eyes narrowed. "Name two."

Clark smiled. "You make me happy."

The soft and loving look in his eyes totally broke her and for the rest of the day, everyone worked diligently to get the leftover furniture into the truck and moved to the house Clark had purchased from all his savings. It was a four bedroom three bathroom home just outside of the city.

"You really think she'll like me?"

Clark pressed a light kiss on her forehead. "Why don't you turn around and find out?"

Spinning around abruptly, Lois found herself face to face with a familiar woman she couldn't quite pinpoint where she first saw. She opened her mouth to greet her but nothing other than silence came out.

"Hello."

Lois was struck at the light and pleasant tone of Martha Kent's voice.

"Hey, Mom." Clark rushed passed past Lois and enveloped his mother in a warm loving hug. "I'm glad you made it."

"Nothing would keep me from being here even if a tsunami had hit."

Clark smiled widely. "Mom, I'd like you to meet Lois." He gestured behind him for Lois to step forward.

"Oh. Right. Hi," she started like a nervous wreck. "I'm Lois Lane. I'm your son's… I mean, I'm Jason's mom. He's my son. I'm…" Giving up, she looked to Clark embarrassed. "I'm babbling aren't I?"

Clark chuckled. "A little bit."

"Miss Lane," the sound of Martha's voice took her concentration away from Clark. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you. Clark has talked about you for years."

"I hope Clark hasn't said anything too bad about me."

"Not at all. He said you gave him a hard time a lot."

Lois laughed humorlessly. "Yeah, I was just… testing him. Seeing what he's made of and all. Um… are you thirsty, because we've got plenty of water in the fridge. Please excuse the mess, we just tidying everything up."

"Miss Lane –— "

"Please, call me, Lois. Formality seemsed wrong at the moment." Her heart started to get erratic when she turned back to Clark. "I think I'm babbling again."

Martha smiled. "It's okay, Lois. I don't bite."

Lois's response ran away from her before she could chase after it.

"Are you sure?"

Martha laughed, and looked between her son and his lady love. "I see now why you're so taken with her. You did good, Clark. You've done really well." Without notice, Martha grabbed Lois's hand and pulled her into a hug, and after an awkward embrace in return, Lois released her fear and anxiety and simply relaxed in his mother's arms.

"Would you like to meet Jason?"

Martha let go of her, her eyes watering with tears.

"I'd like that. I'd like that very much."

The End