I hope stories in several parts are allowed for the fanfic challenges, because I can't fit this all in one part. I realize that I'm still writing The Hottest Team in Town, but since the deadline is the end of December, and I'm not at all sure the other one will be done before then, I want to get this one in under the line.
Nan
**********
Home: On The Fourth Day of Christmas ... 1/?
By Nan Smith
Disclaimer: The familiar characters and settings in this story are not mine. They belong to DC Comics, Warner Bros., December 3rd Productions and whoever else may have any legal right to claim them, nor am I profiting by their use. Any new characters, settings, and the story, itself, belong to me.
This is the latest in the "Home" series. Anyone who has not read them is advised that the story will make much more sense if you read at least the vignette, "Home". Basically, this is a soulmates-type of story, wherein Lori Lyons is the next incarnation of Lois Lane, at the end of the 21st Century.
For a geneology of the Kent clan (done by Artemis) go here: http://www.zoomway.net/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=14;t=002513
Sorry, I can't seem to do the fancy ones)
Warning: This does contain some non-waffy stuff. After all, I don't do well without at least some hint of an A-Plot.
**********
Christmas. It had always been the time of year that she loved. Her mother and father always went out of their way to be sure that she got all the things that she had asked for over the year but this Christmas season hadn't gone the way she had hoped. At least, not so far. She still didn't have the one possession that she wanted the most, and it didn't look as if it was going to fall into her lap. The only other solution was for her to go and get it herself.
Uma Kent scowled at herself in the mirror. No, that expression would definitely put him off. Clark liked his women smiling, she knew. And he liked them with dark hair and eyes and perfect figures. His first wife, Lois, had looked that way. Lois had been her grandmother, some generations removed, and Uma liked to think that she looked a little like her. Of course, Clark was her grandfather, several times removed, as well; her great-great grandfather, if you wanted to be technical, but that made them related only by one-sixteenth, if her math was correct. Certainly nothing wrong, if he chose to have a relationship with her.
And he sure didn't look like anybody's grandfather! He was young and handsome, and Uma's young heart did flip-flops every time she saw him! He had the super powers, too -- the ones she should have had if life had been fair. Her father had them, and so did her brothers, but through some cruel whim of luck, she didn't. She had the telepathic talent, of course, but it wasn't the same. She felt cheated, and although Mother and Father clearly felt guilty that she hadn't received the same powers as her brothers, it was their fault that she had been left out. But if she married Clark, it would be almost as good. He could take her everywhere in his strong arms. She had dreamed all her life -- well, ever since she had begun to notice boys -- of someday being able to present herself to him as a grown woman, and have him fall in love with her.
But then, last year, he'd met and married that Lyons female!
Her mother and father had been thrilled, but Uma had been devastated, and hated Lori Lyons immediately, sight unseen. He couldn't really be in love with this woman, Uma had assured herself. She clearly wasn't good enough for Clark. No woman was good enough for him after Lois, except, Uma was sure, herself. She looked so much like Lois, after all. She had the dark hair, the dark brown eyes and the face shape of her great-great grandmother. She was even the same height! Of course, the thought of doing all those dangerous things that family legend said that Lois had done was definitely scary; but then family legend was probably wrong, anyway. No woman in her right mind would do all that crazy stuff. She was sure that Clark would want a quieter woman, one that wouldn't scare him to death, anyway. One who did what he wanted, and was ready to wait on him and take care of him the way they did in those romances about the Twentieth Century that people bought in the romance section of the bookstores. History wasn't her strong point, she acknowledged, but she thought she knew enough about it from what she'd read, and he had been born in the Twentieth Century, hadn't he? That was probably why he hadn't married again after Lois had died until this Lyons woman had come along. Certainly, modern women weren't that way, especially not Lori Lyons, who had risked her life to catch the terrorists that had tried to blow up the Mayflower, and later single-handedly caught a dangerous pair of drug dealers and saved Meriel Olsen's life in the process. She must have deceived him with her pretty face, Uma thought. Or pleased him in other ways that Uma didn't want to think about. He couldn't actually be *in love* with her, could he?
Of course, Uma wasn't really like that either, even if she didn't catch drug dealers in her spare time, but Clark didn't have to know that, did he? And if he loved her enough, he wouldn't mind if he found out later that she wasn't. She was sure of that.
She had refused to go to the big party at Uncle Jon's in honor of Clark's new wife, or to the big wedding later that they had held for the family. She'd even stayed away from the Christmas party that year, held at Cousin Carrie's. She just couldn't bear to look at the woman who had usurped her rightful place. She'd had to go to this year's Christmas party at Aunt Lara's, though. Her parents hadn't let her get out of that, and so Uma had come. And that Lyons woman had been there and had the nerve to act like she was really one of the family.
Uma had been shocked at the sight of her. She had refused to look at any of Clark's wedding pictures, or any of the ones that Aunt Rhonda had brought to her parents of their Hawaiian honeymoon, so she had no idea what Lori Lyons looked like. She had imagined some ditzy blond female with lots of makeup and an overblown figure. The picture she had built up in her mind didn't match the real person at all; Clark's new wife wasn't anything like she had imagined. Lori Lyons was slim, petite and athletic, and she looked enough like the pictures of Grandmother Lois that she could have been the same person, although she was younger than the pictures of Lois that Uma had seen in the family archives. She wore her hair in a long bob, and her eyes were exactly the same, with the long eyelashes that Uma had been so proud of inheriting from her grandmother. She was everything Uma had tried to be, and she hadn't even had to try! Uma felt a wave of bitter jealousy. She had almost given herself away, then, but had managed to project an air of cool, sophisticated calm.
Of course, Meriel Olsen had been her usual snotty self; she obviously was completely fooled by this interloper; grateful, no doubt, that Lori Lyons had saved her life the year before, and besides, Meriel had never made a secret of the fact that she didn't like Uma. Then, when those home invaders had come in, Lyons had stepped in and saved the day, or so everyone said. Uma knew differently. Her brothers and cousin Donny had done the work, and Lori was getting the credit for it. Even Barry, Mike and Donny thought she was the coolest, and Barry hadn't been able to stop talking, later, about how she'd just taken over and planned the whole thing. Uma thought he had a crush on her, which was really sickening. Didn't he know the woman was nothing but an intruder, who had taken away the love of her life? And then Clark had shown up, too late to get the real credit, and had treated Uma like a little girl, and acted soppy-in-love with Lyons. Then, the next day, Clark had come by with gifts for Barry and Mike, to thank them for helping with the crisis. He hadn't really paid her the attention she deserved, and seemed somewhat distracted while she tried to explain to him how frightened she had been and how much she wished that he had been there to help them all.
That was when Uma had decided that it was time to take action. She had to force Clark to realize what a mistake he had made. He had, no doubt, believed that she thought of him as an old man, and would probably be surprised and delighted when he discovered that she found him to her taste. Then he would, no doubt, divorce Lyons, or, to save face, simply not renew their contract when the term was up. She could wait, she told herself. She and Clark could marry, and Uma would be the new first lady of the Kent Clan. It would almost make up for her not having inherited the super powers. They were destined to be together. She'd known that for years.
She'd contacted her cousin, John Olsen, the Editor of the Daily Planet, and presented him with the story she had prepared, only to learn that Clark and That Woman were on their Christmas holiday, and wouldn't be back until the 28th of December. Even the thought of him spending any time with his so-called wife was annoying, but there wasn't much she could do about it, so she had made her arrangements to arrive on the day of Clark's return. After she saw him, everything would be straightened out. And she would be Superman's wife. It was Destiny.
**********
"I don't want to tell anyone yet -- except Ronnie, of course," Lori said. She closed her suitcase and snapped the catch. "I mean, I lost one baby in February. For all I know, it could happen again."
"I don't think that's likely, honey," Clark said. "You're young and healthy, and Ronnie told you that there was no reason you should have trouble with future pregnancies. It was just one of those unfortunate things that happen, sometimes."
"Just the same," Lori said, with a touch of stubbornness, "I don't want to raise everybody's hopes and then disappoint them. Besides, I have this feeling that if everybody gets all excited about it, something's likely to go wrong."
"But, going skiing didn't scare you?" Clark asked.
"Of course not. You were there," Lori said, reasonably. "Skiing was a wonderful way to spend Christmas. When did Ronnie say we should get to her office?"
"In about an hour," Clark informed her. "This is her 'Family Day' at the office. Plenty of time for me to drop off the suitcases at home."
"Are we likely to see any of our other relatives there?" Lori asked. "Family day" was the one Rhonda reserved for members of the "Superman clan" who needed treatment of one sort or another. She had taken over the service that her grandfather, Bernard Klein, had provided for her other grandfather, Clark Kent, and later for his children.
"Probably." Clark rolled his eyes, but couldn't help grinning slightly out of sheer happiness. It was times like this that *he* was the one having deja vu. Lori had no difficulty with completely contradictory reasoning when it involved her, even though she could reason with the incisive logic of a professional investigative reporter when it concerned her job. "You don't have to tell any of them why we're there. If you like, you can say you have a hangnail."
"As if *I* would make that kind of fuss over a hangnail," Lori said. "Go ahead and take the stuff home, would you? I don't want to be late."
He returned from his trip across the continent within bare minutes. Lori, he saw, hadn't moved from her seat on the foot of the bed and he could see her biting on her lower lip as she did when she was stewing over something. She looked around when he opened the door and got to her feet. "Let's go, shall we? I'm in a hurry to get this over with."
"You're not in the least excited about it?" Clark asked. She was, he knew, but if he knew his Lori, she wouldn't even let herself acknowledge it until she was sure everything was all right. He understood her apprehension. Having lost one baby, she wasn't going to let herself be disappointed again.
"Not yet," she said, on cue. "I don't want to be disappointed."
"Lori, there's nothing wrong with you, physically. Besides, you're still feeling nauseated, aren't you?"
"Well ... yes."
"Then, things are going okay."
"So far. I'll relax when I'm sure," she said. He saw her smile waver slightly. "I just don't want to get my hopes up, Clark."
He slipped his arms around her. "Honey, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make fun of you."
"I'm just a little afraid to start hoping, yet," she said.
He tightened his arms, pulling her into a warm hug. "I understand," he said. "We'll let Ronnie check you over and get her opinion. If you want tests, we'll do that, too, just to be sure. I know you're a little scared but Ronnie said there isn't anything wrong with you."
She sniffled softly and drew in her breath. "I know. Let's go, shall we?"
"Okay." He held out his arms. "If you need me to stop part way or anything, just tell me, okay?"
**********
The waiting room at Rhonda Klein's office was neat and professional. Even the reading material was up to date.
Lori checked in with reception and took a seat next to Clark, who smiled reassuringly at her. Across the room a dark-haired woman, whom she recognized from family gatherings as Henry Olsen's wife, was holding a small girl by the hand. Lena Olsen glanced at her and then gave her a second look. "Lori? What are you and Clark doing here? You didn't get hurt during that thing at Lara's the other night, did you?"
"No," Lori assured her. "Just a checkup." She looked at the child. "Is Paula okay?"
"Just here for a physical," Lena assured her. "I think she takes after Henry. She hasn't caught a cold or an ear infection or anything since she was born."
"That's great," Lori said. "Marcy's beginning to wonder if Robby takes after Ryan. He hasn't had so much as a sniffle, at least so far."
"So, when are you and Clark going to -- " Lena broke off. "Sorry, none of my business."
Clark grinned. "Eventually," he said.
The door slid open and one of Rhonda's personally selected nurses stuck his head out. He was one of the Kent family, Lori knew, although she didn't recall his name. She vaguely remembered him from some of the family gatherings, but the Kent descendents and their mates were numerous enough that she hadn't memorized all of them, yet. "Paula Olsen," he called.
"Right here," Lena said. She rose, scooping up her daughter, and followed the man through the door.
Lori waited until it closed behind the trio and glanced at Clark. "Is *everybody* in the family wondering when we're going to have kids?"
"We...ll -- " Her husband squirmed uncomfortably. "Well, they haven't exactly said so, but -- "
"They're hinting, aren't they?" Lori said.
"Uh -- well ..."
"Never mind," Lori said, sounding resigned, even to herself. "I should have known."
"Well, honey, the thing is -- " Clark gave an embarrassed smile. "Lara and the others are all hoping they'll have a baby brother or sister pretty soon. And any baby of ours will have the -- um -- family talents, you know."
"I know." Lori said. "All your kids will have them. But that's why I don't want to tell anyone until I'm sure everything's all right." She glanced around as the door opened and a tall, blond woman walked in followed by three youngsters, the oldest of which might be nine or ten. She proceeded to the check-in station and Lori raised her eyebrows at Clark.
"That's Louise, Clark Frazier's wife," Clark said, softly. "Arnie's sister-in-law."
Lori wrinkled her nose in an effort at memory. Clark Frazier, as she recalled, was one of Carrie's sons who lacked the super powers. He resembled his brother, Arnie Frazier of STAR Labs, but was considerably shorter than the scientist.
The nurse stuck his head through the door once more. "Lori Kent?"
"That's me." Lori got to her feet, casting a quick glance at Clark. He smiled and rose as well.
"Okay. This way, please." The nurse gestured Lori into the main screening room. Neither by expression or tone of voice did he let on that he recognized her. He smiled professionally at Lori, "Why are we seeing you today, Ms. Kent?"
"I just found out I'm ... " Lori hesitated. "I'm pregnant. I -- I lost a baby back in February, and --"
"I'm sorry." The man nodded at the scale. "Let's get your weight, and then we'll take your blood pressure..."
Some minutes later, he escorted them to a small examining room, presented Lori with the usual flimsy, disposable garments, and departed. She changed into them and sat down on the examining table, feeling terribly exposed. Clark leaned against the table and took her hand. "It'll be okay, honey," he said, reassuringly.
She swallowed and nodded but didn't speak.
Barely ten minutes had passed when there was a knock on the door and it opened. Rhonda Klein said, "Clark, Lori -- so, I hear I should be congratulating you."
"I hope so," Lori said. "Clark says I'm pregnant."
Rhonda let the door slide shut behind her. "You are," she said, smiling. "I can hear a heartbeat."
"She's worried," Clark said. "You remember what happened last February."
Rhonda nodded. "Of course I do. But you remember, Lori, that I examined you and I told you that there was no reason you couldn't have more children. It was unfortunate, but it happens. Still -- " She smiled at the much younger woman, "I know it can be scary. I'll run the standard blood tests and throw in a couple designed to detect any genetic abnormalities. Will that make you feel better?"
Lori nodded. Rhonda's smile widened. "So, lie down and let's check you over, first, okay? Would you like Clark to step outside?"
She shook her head. "Can he stay here with me?"
"No problem," Rhonda said, as Lori lay back on the padded table. "After all, he has an interest in this, too. Why don't you stay up there by her head and hold her hand, Clark? I usually find that works well."
Clark squeezed Lori's hand. "Just what I was thinking," he said.
**********
"So," Clark said, as they flew through the crisp, December air toward Metropolis, "It will be a July baby. Are you sure you don't want Ronnie to tell you what the sex will be?"
"Positive," Lori said. "I want this first one to be a surprise. And, don't you dare peek!"
"Wouldn't dream of it," he assured her, maintaining a poker-face with some difficulty. "Besides, I might have a little trouble telling at this point, anyway. You can't see much at nine weeks."
"Well, no peeking later, either."
"Superman keeps his promises," Clark said. He dropped a kiss on the top of her head. "Anyway, Ronnie said everything looks fine. I guess you feel better about it, now?"
"Some. I'll feel even better after the results of those tests come back." She snuggled closer to him. "I don't mean to be a worry-wart, but I just don't want it to happen again. Especially since this is a special baby. One of yours," she clarified.
"Honey, *all* babies are special," he said.
"I know. But the whole family is going to be all excited about it. I guess I'm just scared of disappointing them."
"Lots of pressure, huh?" he said.
"Sort of."
"Lori, nobody expects miracles even from you, you know. I know they've been hinting at the subject, but I told Lara that there was plenty of time."
"Well, when we know for sure that everything's okay, then you can tell them," Lori said. She paused. "Oh, heck!"
"What?"
"How on Earth am I going to tell Mother? She'll be sure my career is ruined!"
Clark tried to smother a snort of laughter and failed. Lori glared at him. "It's not funny!"
"You'll just have to show her that you can still do the job, that's all," he said, making a valiant effort to keep the quiver of mirth out of his voice. Lori was in panic mode, and though he sympathized with her feelings, it reminded him of the fact that certain qualities belonging to his soulmate carried faithfully through the incarnations. "It will all work out. You'll see. Your mom adjusted to the idea when Marcy told her about Robbie, didn't she? It was more of a risk that a pregnancy would interfere with her modeling career than with your reporting career -- and besides, your dad will be thrilled."
Lori eyed him suspiciously. "You're enjoying yourself," she accused.
He hugged her, unable to suppress a grin. "Do you have any idea how much I love you, sweetheart? It's been a long time since I've been a new dad. I can't help being all excited about this."
She was silent for several seconds and then sighed. "I'm doing it again, aren't I? I'm sorry."
"It's okay, honey," he said. "I like it when you babble, remember? It's one of the unique things about you."
"You must be the only guy who does," she said, but she gave a small, embarrassed smile.
"I'm just as happy about that," he said. "Or I would be, if it were true. Haven't you ever noticed the looks you get from men? Mark Butler, down in Sports, practically drools every time he sees you, and he asked me last month when our contract was up. I was sorry to have to disillusion him. But not much." He smiled at her surprised expression and dropped a kiss on her forehead. "Really, though, it'll be okay. We don't have to please anybody but ourselves -- and we don't have to spread the news for a while, if you don't want to. John won't say anything until we tell him he can."
"Well, it's not the kind of thing you can keep secret forever, you know. People are going to notice after a while."
"True, but it'll at least give you a little time to get used to it."
"Yeah, that's true." She gave him an anxious look. "It's not that I'm not happy about it, Clark," she assured him. "It's just that last night, it suddenly hit me about how important this is. What if I'm no good as a mother? I don't know much about babies. I mean, Lois did such a great job with Lara and CJ and Jon and Annie -- what if I'm terrible at it? What if I put her diaper on backwards? What if I drop her?"
"Her?"
"Or him. That part doesn't matter, Clark! What if -- "
Clark firmly controlled his twitching lips. "You've held Robbie and you've never dropped him," he pointed out.
"Yes, but this is *our* baby! I've only diapered Robbie twice and you had to help me the first time!"
"I'm sure Marcy will let you practice diapering Robbie," Clark said, "and I've had a certain amount of experience over the years." He grinned. "Lois didn't know much of anything about babies, Lori. She learned what she knew from her mom and mine -- and through experience. You're going to do fine. I know that for certain."
Lori didn't look entirely convinced but she didn't pursue the subject. They were flying over the mountains to the west of Metropolis, covered in snow and evergreens, and he nodded toward the terrain below them. "Looks like there was a snowstorm while we were gone."
"Well, it is the twenty-eighth of December," Lori said, prosaically. "Three days until New Year's Eve."
"But, no champagne for you," Clark said.
"Believe me, I can live without it. I'd rather drink milk, anyway."
**********
"So," John Olsen said, "how was your Christmas?" He leaned back in the desk chair and planted his heels firmly on the desk in front of him.
"Fine," Lori said.
"We spent Christmas Day skiing," Clark elaborated. "The snow pack in Aspen was fantastic."
John surveyed Lori with a smile. "No casts on your ankles today, I see."
"Clark was right next to me all the time," Lori said. "He made sure I didn't fall."
"Smart boy," John said. "I take it nothing's official, yet, huh?"
Lori could feel her cheeks turning crimson. Clark glanced at her with a smile and shook his head. "Lori wants to be sure everything's all right before we announce anything," he said. "Stage fright."
John nodded solemnly, but his eyes were twinkling. "Don't blame you a bit."
Lori threw her husband a dirty look. "This is important, Clark! I don't want to disappoint anyone."
"She's right, you know," John said. "Annie wouldn't thank me for saying it, but it's been over eighty-five years since a half-Kryptonian was born. I can think of four people who will be pretty happy to find out that they have a new brother or sister on the way. You'll have more babysitters than you'll know what to do with."
Lori gulped. Clark put an arm around her. "Nobody's going to be disappointed. Cut yourself some slack."
Lori took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "I guess I'm sort of blowing it out of proportion, huh?"
"Sort of?" Clark said. "Honey, you're in a full-scale panic. You have another seven months to prepare for it. It'll work out. You'll see."
John grinned. "Maybe you should start babysitting for some of the family in your home. That way Clark can give you lessons. And I'm sure Marilyn would be willing to help."
"Do you think she would?" Lori asked.
"Sure do. Would you like me to ask her?"
She hesitated. "She won't say anything yet, will she?"
"Of course not," John said. "Neither of us will say a word until you give permission."
Lori glanced at Clark, who nodded. "I think Marilyn would be the perfect person to help," he said.
"Okay, then." Lori made up her mind. "Could you ask her for me, John?"
"No problem." John's eyes crinkled at the corners. "I'll give her a call at lunch. In the meantime, I have something for the pair of you to do. We're still a news service, if you remember. I need somebody to do a write-up on the floats for the New Year's Day parade. I realize that it's not your usual fare, but it's been a quiet news day, so far. Eva hasn't got back yet, and Wally called in sick, today. His wife says he's got some kind of stomach bug. So if you two wouldn't mind ..."
***********
The tour of the floats, still in the stage of being assembled, took the rest of the morning. Lori had appointed herself the official photographer for the day, and was careful to obtain a complete view of each float for the holographic illustrations that would grace Clark's article. Clark made a point of getting a short quote about each one, intending to sort them out later. When they had finished at last, they returned to the Jeep and Lori climbed into the driver's seat.
"Do you mind of we stop for something to eat before we go back to the Planet?" she asked. "I'm so hungry I can't see straight."
"There's a coffee shop one block over that I can recommend," Clark said. "And, next time, tell me. I don't want you passing out from hunger."
"Clark, I never faint."
"Yeah, we'll you've never been pregnant with a superbaby before, either. Believe me, it burns up fuel like crazy. Ask your sister."
"I'll take your word for it," Lori said. "I've been thinking about a double banana split for the past two hours."
"Well, that's lucky, because they serve banana splits. Let's go. But I'd like you to get something a little more substantial at the same time."
"Okay, okay," she said, starting up the engine. "I was actually thinking of a Philly cheese steak with a side of fries and some onion rings, and a salad. Maybe a bowl of soup, too, and a big glass of milk. I'll have the split for dessert, if I still have room."
"Believe me, you will ..."
**********
Clark munched on a club sandwich, watching, unsurprised, while his wife put away enough food to feed three ordinary women. The first time Lois had been pregnant, her enormous appetite had astonished both of them and Bernard Klein, but in the hundred years since, he had seen it happen over and over with the non-super wives of his super-powered male descendents, and had come to accept it as the norm.
Lori finished the last French fry. "That was good," she said. "I'm ready for the banana split, now."
Clark glanced around. "It's almost ready," he said. "Would you like anything else besides the split?"
Lori shook her head. "Clark, you're hovering."
He gave a slightly shamefaced grin. "Yeah, I guess I am. Sorry."
"That's okay. Just remember that I'm a grown up girl, now. But, I love it that you care."
"I'm sorry, honey," he said. "I guess I'm pretty excited about being a dad again."
The banana split arrived and he saw her eyes light up at the enormous ice cream confection. When they were alone again, Lori reached across the table to lay a hand atop his. "I know you are, and I hope I don't disappoint you, again."
"You've never disappointed me," Clark said, firmly. "Even if it had turned out that for some reason we couldn't have children, I still wouldn't have been disappointed in you, because I have *you*. That's all I need, Lori. Don't ever doubt that."
"But you love children," Lori said.
"Yes, I do. But *you're* essential to my happiness. There's a difference." He nodded to the small mountain of ice cream in front of her. "Now, go ahead and eat that monster. I'm going to organize my notes while I wait."
**********
Uma Kent hesitated in front of the huge building that housed the headquarters of the Daily Planet News Service. It was bigger and more intimidating than she had expected it to be. John had said she could come by about one and he'd see to it that she was brought right up to the newsroom. He'd really bought that line she'd given him about doing a report for her Journalism Science class. It would be her opportunity to meet Clark without all the family members around. Somehow, the thought of any of them overhearing her conversation with him was embarrassing. Now that she actually was standing here, the thought was unexpectedly daunting. What if she made a fool of herself?
Nonsense, she reminded herself. Clark was meant to be hers. She'd seen him in action on the vidscreen many times, and, of course, spoken to him at family gatherings. Surely, he must know that they were meant to be together. She knew that those of the Kent family who had the telepathic talent, as she did, bonded immediately with the person they were meant to spend their life with, and she was sure that the feeling that she had for Clark meant that she had bonded to him. Why, even thinking about him with that Lyons woman made her want to claw Lori Lyons' eyes out! How dare she encroach on Uma's territory?
But surely, she told herself, after Clark explained to her that their marriage was a mistake and that Uma was the true love of his life, Lori Lyons would accept the inevitable and let their contract end. It was the only way for her to keep his friendship, not that Uma intended to let him anywhere near her after they were married -- but he didn't need to know that. All that needed to be done was for her to explain the situation to him. They were soulmates, destined to be together all their lives, just the way her mother and father were.
It would, she told herself, be a good idea to let him wait until his contract ended, anyway. Uma wouldn't be eighteen for nearly two years, and her parents would surely object to her marrying before she was of age, but it would be just as well to make sure she and Clark had an understanding before then.
John must have already notified Security, she thought, for the big door opened instantly for her and she crossed the wide, marble-floored lobby to the bank of elevators. One opened for her at once, and she stepped in.
There were two occupants already there, and she was startled to see that they were the very two about whom she had been thinking. Clark looked as handsome as he had at the party last week, and he was holding the Lyons woman's hand. Uma looked significantly at their laced fingers, but neither took the hint. Clark glanced at her casually and then gave her a second look. "Uma?" he said. "What are you doing here?"
"Oh ... um, I've got a report to do for my Journalism Science class," she stuttered. "I'm supposed to shadow a journalist for a couple of days, and I picked you."
"Really," Clark said. "Well, Lori and I work as a team, you know, so if I'm not available, you can always go with her until I get back. Do you remember Uma, Lori? She's a relative of mine."
"We met at the party," Lori said, noncommittally.
"Um ... yeah." Uma glanced quickly at Lori's face and back to Clark. Now wasn't the time to bring up such an intimate subject, she thought. Later, when his so-called wife wasn't around to distract him ...
The elevator arrived on the newsroom floor and Clark stood back to let Uma exit first. She daringly took his free arm, ignoring the startled look he gave her, and the three of them left the elevator together. Annoyingly, he didn't let go of Lyons' hand, either, while Uma had him by the other arm. Surely, she thought, he could have been enough of a gentleman to give her more attention. As a matter of fact, he disengaged his arm from hers and was helping Lori remove her coat. "Can I get you anything?" he asked. "A snack or something to tide you over until the break?"
"My usual," Lori said. "And an extra doughnut, if there is one."
"If there isn't, you can have mine," he said, escorting her to a desk that Uma saw, by the name prominently displayed on its surface, apparently belonged to her. "Would you like a doughnut, Uma?"
"Sure," Uma said.
"This way," he said and led the way to a table on one side of the room where a coffee machine and a large box of doughnuts resided. "Take your pick."
While she hesitated, trying to decide how to broach the subject, Clark selected two large, chocolate doughnuts with chocolate frosting and chocolate sprinkles, and assembled a drink consisting mostly of chocolate with a small amount of coffee for flavoring, and then chose another doughnut and a cup of coffee for himself.
"Is she going to eat all that?" Uma said, a little disdainfully. "She'll be fat in no time!"
Clark shook his head, looking a little surprised. "Not Lori," he said. "Go ahead and choose what you want, and then go on into John's office. It's through there." He nodded in the direction of the office marked "Editor" while he skillfully balanced his burden of doughnuts and coffee. "He'll need to know you're here."
Frustrated, Uma watched him stride back across the newsroom floor to his wife and set his offerings on her desk. It was disgusting, she thought, watching him lean over her shoulder to look at her computer screen, resting one hand on her shoulder with familiar affection. Lori turned her head to look up at him and he kissed the tip of her nose. Uma's heart sank. Clark obviously had some feeling for this woman, and she knew how he hated to hurt anyone. Detaching him from Lori Lyons might be more difficult than she had anticipated, but surely, she pointed out to herself, he wouldn't want to hurt Uma, either, and she was meant to be his wife. She'd known it for years. Now, all she had to do was to draw it to his attention. This could all be handled without a fuss, Uma thought, assuming that Lori Lyons would give in to the inevitable like a lady. She certainly wouldn't want to look bad in front of Clark, after all.
The door of the Editor's Office opened and John stuck his head out. Uma jumped guiltily, aware suddenly that she was staring at Clark and Lori. It wouldn't do to give herself away too soon. She picked up a doughnut without even glancing at her choice and made her way toward John's office.
John had always intimidated her a little, and she had to remember how much respect he would have for her once she was Superman's wife. Clark -- Superman -- was the real head of the family, after all. All of them respected him, not only because of that but because of the fact that he had lived longer than all the others and had the most experience. All of them would be respectful of her as well, once she was his wife. The thought that she would be married to him and that they would all look up to her, was a heady feeling.
"Uma," John greeted her, matter-of-factly, closing the door behind them, "Now, since you want to shadow Clark for the next couple of days, you must realize that there are times you won't be able to, if he has to leave for some of his other duties. However, since Kent and Lyons are a team, I'm sure that Lori won't mind if you accompany her when Clark can't be there. It can only be a plus for your report. Kent and Lyons are a well-respected reporting team."
Uma nodded, but she wasn't able to completely hide her grimace of distaste at the thought of having to accompany the woman she was going to replace on her reporting duties. John tilted his head to the side. "Is there something wrong?"
"No," Uma said. "I just ... didn't expect to have to go with *her* while I was shadowing Clark."
"There shouldn't be a problem," John said. "Lori is a very nice person."
"I met her, at the party," Uma said. "She seems okay."
"I'd forgotten," John said. "Well, that incident should have shown you a few things about her. Lori is an extremely competent journalist, Uma; nearly as good as Clark." The corner of his mouth twitched. "In some ways, she's better than he is, and he'd be the first to tell you so."
Uma felt startled. How could *any* woman be a better reporter than Clark? Especially one like Lori Lyons? She hadn't even been a real reporter for a full two years, yet! "That's not possible," she said, hoping she sounded reasonable. "How could somebody like her be as good a reporter as Clark? He's got so much more experience than she does."
"But she makes the intuitive leaps of logic," he explained. "That's how she broke the NTSU drug ring last year, when none of my investigators managed to connect the dots. If she hadn't, both Meriel and Clark would have been dead. You can learn as much from her as from Clark. Go on out there, now. They're going to be heading out in a few minutes. There's been another murder, and I want them to cover it for the Planet."
"*Another* murder?" Uma felt slightly dismayed. Her single semester of experience on the Garner High School Roadrunner hadn't included any murders.
"Unfortunately, yes." John said. "We've had a series of murders recently, and the police think it's the work of a single person: a serial killer. Go ahead. It should make an interesting point in your report."
Uma gulped. She hadn't expected this.
**********
(tbc)
