I cannot believe that I missed this or I would have replied sooner! Anyway, another great part and I still cannot believe that you're going to wrap up in one more chapter.
Lois got down on the floor and pulling over a toy truck she found under the table, she ran it over CK’s leg. He laughed, sitting down beside her and within moments the two were the best of friends.
“Well, I never thought I’d see the day,” came the voice from the doorway.
I never thought I'd see the day either.
“I never pictured you as being good with kids, Lois,” Jimmy said.
“What do you think I was saying?” Perry asked, referencing his comment on entering the house.
“Hey,” Lois looked up at them, her voice indignant. “I spent the last several years taking care of my niece. I’m good with kids,” she declared.
“No, Lois. You are wonderful with kids,” Clark corrected as he came out of the kitchen with Pam behind.
There is an undertone of desire for kids...with Lois...on Clark's part. He wants Lois to know that he's noticed these changes about her and he wants to be a part of wherever those changes take her.
“Pam, Jimmy knows something that is a secret. Nearly everyone who knows it is in this room. And I know Jimmy is struggling with keeping his word that he wouldn’t tell anyone and not wanting to keep secrets from you.” Clark turned to Jimmy, “I guess we should have talked about this before, Jim, but I don’t expect you to keep secrets from your wife for me.”
Jimmy immediately looked relieved and smiled. “Thanks, CK,” he said, his voice quiet. Lois reached over to takes Clark’s hand, feeling strangely proud of him for realizing that this was not a time to protect his secret at all costs. He really did seem to have started to come to terms with the fact that sometimes there were things that were more important.
There was a moment of silence before Pam laughed. “I should have known,” she said. “Jimmy put you up to this, didn’t he? I was wondering when it was going to happen.”
“When what was going to happen?” Lois asked.
“The prank. Jimmy goes into withdrawal or something when he’s been away, so it’s always bigger. I should have realized he’d rope one of you into it.”
Clark reached up to remove his glasses and placed them on the table and then pushed his hair back into a style more like Superman. He knew it would not be perfect without the hair gel, but hopefully it would be close enough. “I’m sorry, but this isn’t a joke.”
Pam, however, continued to laugh. “I have to admit, hon,” she said to Jimmy. “This is one of your better ones. Clark does look a lot like Superman.”
Clark walked into the kitchen and came back out with a steak knife. “I wish I could do something more convincing, but hope this will work.” Lois closed her eyes as Clark moved the knife over the skin of his arm. She knew Bernard had had some trouble getting the needle in to Clark’s arm yesterday, but he was able to do it. What if Clark was not invulnerable yet?
Like Ann, I have a problem with Clark so willingly sharing his secret with Jimmy's wife...whom he has known for all of 5 minutes and then provide proof to convince her when she didn't believe him but would not share this with Lois over 10+ years.
A tear slipped down Clark’s cheek and Lois got up to place her hand in his. Clark looked down at her with a look of wonderment in his eyes. “Yes,” she whispered to him. “All of us are glad to have you back.”
And there is that touch that says everything between the two of them. They know each others needs so well. Enough of the hand holding! It's time for them to kiss...and not retract it!
I think it's sweet that Jimmy named his son after Clark but what will Clark and Lois name their son?
Nice job and though I don't want the story to end, hurry back with part 25! BRAVA!
~Sheila
