Epilogue

December 20, 2019

The young woman standing in front of the crowd was different this time. She was still polished and sophisticated, but she was also dark and exotic looking. Lex's tastes had changed. Lois also noticed that the holiday decorations were of the red and green variety this year. The holly and the berries actually did give the building a more festive appearance, Lois thought, or maybe it was just a reflection of her own improved disposition.

"Ladies and gentlemen, if you'll follow me, I'll show you Lexcorp's latest technological breakthrough…"

Behind the woman's words Lois could hear the elevator version of "Jingle Bell Rock." She smiled at the canned Christmas carol. Maybe it was the happier music that made things more festive.

Although she'd learned to love "Blue Christmas" by the end of last year.

Her smile turned into a grin at the memory.

As the crowd surged forward, the remainder of the press agent's nicely rehearsed speech was cut short by a baby's cry. Lois turned toward the back of the hallway. She'd recognize those strong lungs anywhere.

"Excuse me," she told Junior, stopping in the middle of the crowd. "I think that's my cue."

Jimmy smiled in response and tried to make room for her to turn around. "Sure, Ms. Lane."

Walking away, Lois could hear Cat's voice in the background. The woman, who was only there to "keep Lois out of trouble" this year, was whispering loudly. "You know, I just don't get her," she told Jimmy. "For her entire pregnancy she called the baby her 'Little Smurf,' for goodness' sakes. Now that the baby's here you'd think she was mother of the year."

Lois had to bite back a laugh as she made her way toward the back of the crowd.

If she only knew…

The reporters parted almost magically but this time it wasn't Lois' glare that had them scrambling to get out of the way; instead, it was bumbling father making his way toward the front. When Lois could see the edge of the gathering, she stopped and watched, amused by her husband's acting abilities.

He had the bumbling thing down pat.

"Excuse me," he muttered, adjusting his glasses while trying to keep a hand on the baby carrier. "Pardon me," he told another reporter who was glaring daggers at him.

Lois rolled her eyes. You'd think they'd never heard a baby before.

As soon as the pair reached her she leaned down to look at her son. "Hey, there, little guy," she cooed. "What's all the fuss about?"

At the sound of his mother's voice, the baby quieted immediately and started to kick his arms and legs with excitement. She smiled.

"Sorry," Clark muttered. "I just couldn't get him to settle down. I think it's lunch time," he told her sheepishly.

"That's all right," she said, taking Clark's free arm before walking with him to the back of the crowd. "You know I hate these stupid press conferences, anyway."

On their way out through, Lois passed Jack Fields from the Inquisitor. "Hey, Lane," he mumbled. Looking up from the baby, Lois kept the smile on her face. Jack blinked in response to the brilliant smile. "Uh, cute kid," he told her.

"Thanks," she said, her attention immediately diverted when her two-month-old son gurgled. She couldn't resist reaching around Clark to smooth the baby's dark, curly hair. Hazel eyes looked back at her with more focus than most two-month olds were capable of. As always, Lois felt her heart swell at the sight. Little Joseph Sullivan Kent was everything she'd ever dreamed about.

When they were out of the crowd, Lois pulled Clark in the direction of one of the side hallways. "I should probably find somewhere to nurse."

She released his arm long enough to rattle the nearest door handle. As she headed toward the next door, Clark's voice stopped her. "Lois," he warned.

"What?" She turned to face him, innocently batting her eyes, before shifting her focus to the handle on the next door.

After the third door, Clark put a restraining hand on her arm.

Lois looked pointedly at it. "Are you trying to manhandle me, Mr. Kent?"

Clark rolled his eyes and loosened his fingers. Slowly, he slid his hand up and along her neck, rubbing at the place below her ear. His fingers ran through her shoulder-length hair.

Lois felt her eyes grow heavy. She sighed.

"No," he whispered softly. "I'm just trying to handle you."

Lois felt her eyes snap open. She snorted. "Like that's ever going to happen…"

Smiling softly, Clark looked down at the baby who was starting to fuss. "Joseph's hungry. Are you going to deny your baby for the mere possibility of getting something more on Luthor?"

Her eyes automatically followed Clark's and Lois could feel herself softening at the sight of her little boy. She sighed. "Okay… okay," she conceded, keeping her eyes on Joseph. "Let's go get you something to eat, little man," she said. Taking the carrier from Clark, she gestured for him to lead the way but stopped mid-way at the sight of her husband's Cheshire grin.

"What?" she demanded.

His smile didn't dim. "Ah… leverage," he said, turning toward the lobby. "Sweet leverage…"

"Excuse me," Lois said, struggling with the baby carrier as she tried to follow her husband's long strides. "Did you just call our son 'leverage'?"

Clark's pace didn't slow. "Whatever it takes," he told her calmly, pushing his glasses up on his nose.

Lois waited until they were in the lounge off the lobby, and Clark had gotten her a snack from the vending machine, before she answered. "Don't get too comfortable," she said softly.

Clark's eyes looked up from where he was watching Joseph nurse under the blanket.

At her husband's blush, Lois raised her eyebrows knowingly and chuckled. "Like I said, Smallville, don't get too comfortable."

Her husband shifted uncomfortably in the small plastic chair. "What do you mean?"

"Well, since I am sacrificing for our son, so I expect you to pick up the slack-"

His eyes grew wide. "What?" He shook his head. "No; this is my day off and I'm not spending it prowling around Lexcorp."

Lois lowered her voice and leaned forward. "Come on, Clark," she whispered. "Just a quick look around… if you know what I mean?"

Clark rested his elbows on his knees and tilted his head forward until his nose was only inches from his wife's. "You do remember what happened last year while you were snooping around, don't you?"

At her husband's proximity, Lois felt her mouth grow dry. Slowly, she licked her lips and watched as her husband's gaze wandered to her mouth. "It wasn't all bad," she whispered seductively. "Without the blue stuff we may never have made Joseph."

Lois continued to watch her husband, feeling her heart rate accelerate as his pupils dilated. "You know," she continued softly. "Joseph will probably fall asleep after this and, if you're really fast, I might be able to extend my lunch hour…"

Before she could finish, her husband was looking around. Before she could blink, he was gone.

With a soft smile, Lois looked down at her son, shifting him easily from one side to the other under the blanket. She could see that his little eyes were already growing heavy. "Ah, leverage…" she whispered.

Her husband may have given her everything she ever wanted but sometimes it was a matter of, as he said, "Whatever it takes."

Lois hummed a little lullaby under her breath.

"Sweet leverage."