Martha immediately knelt down to engulf Clark in a hug. It was awkward since Clark was lying down, but that did not prevent her from holding on until she felt her husband’s arm on her shoulder. And then she moved only in order to allow him the chance to do the same.
Jimmy sank into the seat cushions. Then looking at Lois in surprise, he said, “You knew? But you were so… so broken up about Clark’s death.”
Clark’s eyes found the floor, the shame apparent in his frame.
“I just found out a few months ago,” she confirmed quietly. She was almost surprised to find herself giving Clark’s shoulder a squeeze
Jimmy looked around and finally noticing Perry, stood to give him a hug. “So you found out yesterday just before you called me,” he said.
“Well, actually, no. I knew before he was shot,” Perry said, suddenly feeling embarrassed.
...
“But… why didn’t you say anything?” Jimmy asked him and Perry could see that Lois’ eyes were focused on him as well, surely wondering the same thing.
Perry sat down quietly, placing a hand on Clark’s shoulder in a show of support.
“It was not my secret. And it was one worth keeping, I thought. Clark deserves as much of a private life as he can get. I guess I got used to not saying anything. I mean, Clark didn’t even know I knew. I thought one of you would say something if you knew.”
Lois’ voice had the edge of anger to it when she asked Perry, “Why does everyone assume that that wouldn’t have been enough?” Her eyes took in Clark as she spoke. Perry’s speech had made her forget her earlier decision to make sure Clark wasn’t upset.
Surprisingly, it was Martha who answered her, “It shouldn’t have been enough, Lois. You know I think Clark should have told you the truth, but that’s not because I thought that would really enable the two of you to be together. You needed to have a life, and what kind of life could you really have had in a relationship that had to be kept completely secret? And it would have been dangerous. If anyone had gotten wind of your relationship, they would have…”
“I know!” Lois nearly shouted, standing now. “I know they would have used me as leverage against Superman. But instead Clark and I were supposed to spend the last ten years miserable and alone?”
“You shouldn’t have been alone, Lois,” Clark said gently. “You should be married.”
Everybody here supports Clark, protects Clark, hugs Clark, finds excuses for Clark, tries to make sure Clark isn't upset or uncomfortable. Nobody, on the other hand, supports Lois. She should have known that Clark was Superman. She shouldn't have asked for a relationship with Superman. She couldn't be trusted to know Clark's secret. She should have gotten married.
Perry, who was described in the show as someone who loved Lois like a daughter, watched Lois sink into despair for ten years and never once had a serious talk with her about Clark. Martha, who told Clark almost as soon as she had met Lois that Lois was in love with him, did little to make Clark go to Lois and tell her truth about what had happened. And here, when Lois is angry, Martha immediately defends Clark, or at least suggests that Lois has no right to be angry.
Lois has just had to buy a new couch, as well as some other furniture and equipment, for Clark's sake. Did Martha and Jonathan offer to help her pay for it? No, they just hugged their boy and defended him against all accusations from Lois.
I have to tell you, anonpip - if Clark doesn't sit down with Lois and have a serious talk with her, and if he doesn't admit to her that what he did was inexcusable, and if he doesn't tell her that he has to apologize very deeply and seriously anyway, then I don't think Lois should stay with him.
And if Martha doesn't apologize for not trying harder to make her boy go to Lois and tell her the truth, and if she doesn't apologize for jumping in and defending Clark's behaviour when Lois was angry, then I really, really don't think Lois should want her for her mother-in-law.
And if Perry doesn't apologize to Lois for not talking to her about Clark for ten years, then I don't think she should go back to the Daily Planet.
On the other hand, if Clark really, seriously apologizes, and admits that he really did choose his secret identity - or at least his secret - over her for all those years, but that he now bitterly regrets it, then I don't see why she couldn't forgive him. And if Martha apologizes, and explains to her that she couldn't force her boy to do anything he didn't want to do, and that she automatically jumped in as a mother and defended her boy when she shouldn't, but that she now regrets it, then I don't see why Lois couldn't forgive Martha, and why she couldn't have Martha as her mother-in-law. And if Perry really, seriously apologizes, and admits that what he allowed to happen to her without helping her was inexcusable, then I suppose she could forgive him too, and come back to the Daily Planet.
But unless Clark, Martha and Perry admit to themselves that they seriously need to apologize to Lois, and offer Lois their support, then I really hope that Lois will go back to John.
I was going to send you this as a private message, anonpip, but I couldn't find your address. Anyway, this is the last time I'm going to write a negative review of this story. If I don't like the upcoming parts of it, I won't be reviewing at all.
I'm glad that Sheila wrote such a positive review of this part. If Sheila hadn't praised it, I wouldn't have posted this. Anyway, I'm sure that Sheila isn't the only one who likes this story. Good luck finishing in, because it is an original story with a really interesting A-plot.
Ann
