Not what we want? What?! This is great! So...real. I mean, you might expect some over the top reaction from Lois -- fainting, bursting into tears, etc -- but this...this is really nice, very true to life. Sometimes your reaction is just shock and confusion and even disbelief on a completely reasonable scale.
And the upcoming angst is so clear. It's gonna be a doozy...
Yet, attuned as Lois was to her children, she was oblivious of how deeply Vicky had buried her longings for Clark. The child hid her feelings well behind a wall of bubbling vitality and an insatiable curiousity about the world she lived in. If any members of the family suspected her loneliness it was the elder Kents
...like this. My trepadition on how Vicky's going to take all of this is growing to mammoth proportions. You've made everyone's love for Clark so evident that his recovery time is going to be excrutiatingly painful for the characters and readers alike. When he doesn't recognize Vicky, or Sarah, when he can't quite be the superhero dad Matt's been missing...I'm already crying over it.
And this!:
why had Clark not found his way home? He'd always said he'd come back to her. As long as he had life left in his body, he'd promised to return
Ah the doubt rears its ugly head! Those impossible questions -- why didn't he come home? -- even when they get answered are still going to leave some intense doubt behind. Lois and Clark's connection, their love, has always been so strong, has enabled impossible things to happen that the expectations for it are incredibly high. When Lois realizes that that love didn't lead Clark home...well, the doubts and the guilt she's probably going to be fighting already have me dying of angst!
BTW, LOVE. THIS. LINE.:
Because without him you've lost your belief in happy endings.
Beautiful.
And some mminor notes...I like the glimpse of Clark Lois got in the beginning. Nice connection there. And I loved the poignant "mom" worrying Lois does. It just really clarifies the fear she feels every time Matt goes off somewhere and reminds you that losing your husband to something your son has taken up isn't easy no matter how many years go by. Nicely done!
I will admit to some confusion though 1)(Minor) Why is Sarah's hair so light? 2) I thought Clark had been gone for six years, not four (Not that I'm complaining!)
So...loved it! Great chapter. Also, I'm not sure what going on with your husband's health, but I wish him a speedy recovery!
Please don't rush, getting there is half the fun. 
I'm thoroughly enjoying this.
