Lois & Clark Forums Forums Fan Fiction Lois & Clark Fanfic FDK - The Third World of CJL - Part 11

"Lois… sometimes I miss my son so much. Seeing you with Clark just reminds me of how much we've lost, but also reminds me how much we've regained, as well."

The two women squeezed each other tightly, both of them crying now. Lois began pouring her heart out to her newly acquired mother-in-law.

"I never had a family as warm as this one. My father was hardly ever home, and my mother was constantly accusing him of womanizing and cheating on her. There were lots and lots of arguments – really nasty ones. My mother started drinking, so I practically raised my sister Lucy myself. That was a big responsibility; it made me grow up so fast. It hardened me also. Was your Lois from a family like that?"

Martha reflected on that question, and gathered her thoughts before responding. "My son's Lois was an orphan. Her parents were killed in a tragic car accident when she was ten. She never had a sister Lucy like both of you Loises do. She was riding in the back seat of the car with her parents when the drunk driver came across the guardrail and hit them head-on. She was the only survivor. She always felt that if she had been able to give them CPR, or knew some medical techniques, she might have been able to save them. So, in true Lois Lane fashion, she decided to go to nursing school. She had worked her way up the ladder and was the Head Nurse in the emergency room at Metropolis General; she was well-respected in her field."

Lois took a moment to let this information sink in. "Did you ever tell Clark this? That the Lois in your world lost her parents the same way and at the same age that he was? When those wonderful Kents died," she said, picturing her recent visit with them in her mind, "my poor sweets, he must have been so devastated," her voice becoming softer and more somber. "What a miracle that you and Jonathan are here now. It's probably Herb's finest accomplishment, bringing you here so that we can all be a family, somehow."

"Honey, I have never told Clark much about *my* Clark's Lois, because he already felt bad that you weren't here to share his life. Of course, now that you're together, it doesn't matter. I may tell him more now - if he's interested, that is," Martha replied.

Lois realized she was *very* curious now, wanting to know more about their son and her other-world twin. "Was your Clark a reporter? I'm wondering how he met Lois if they didn't work together," she asked. "I remember *my* Clark telling me that *your* Clark became a hero when he was a teenager, known as Superboy. Tell me about him, Martha. I find this very fascinating."

"*My* Clark started flying when he was 18, just like this world's Clark did. When he went to college, at Metropolis University, the hustle-bustle of the big city held him captive, in contrast with his Smallville childhood - growing up in a small, rather sheltered town. After witnessing one too many accidents, disasters, and bank robberies, he came home from school one weekend, bringing Lois in tow with him, and asked me to make him a costume, so he could help save lives. It happened to be the Columbus Day holiday, so I was in a bit of a patriotic mood when I fashioned it," she admitted. "And I found the 'S' emblem in the rocket ship that we discovered him in. I figured it was some type of family insignia, so I thought it would be appropriate for him to wear it on his suit. I couldn't believe how similar my design was to this world's Superman. So very strange it all is."

"Yes, and my twin fashioned this world's suit after the one *your* twin designed in the other world. Wow! Hey, who named him 'Superboy' - since the other Lois named him 'Superman' in this world as well as her own?

"Well, there's an interesting story behind that," Martha smiled. "Clark always looked young, and even though he was 18, he could have passed for 15. Right after his debut, a little five-year old girl had lost her cat. Clark was flying by and overheard her calling the kitty's name, Tango, (he was an orange tiger), over and over again. Turns out her pet was up in a tree, looking down at her the whole time! Being the soft-hearted person that Clark was, he stopped, got the kitty out of the tree, and surprised the little girl by floating down in front of her holding Tango, who was meowing like crazy.

"The little girl, named Melissa, was *so* excited; she started screaming, 'Mommy! Mommy! A Super Boy just came out of the sky and saved Tango!' Her parents came running out of the house. Clark introduced himself as 'a friend', and flew off. It turns out that the little girl's mother was a local TV newscaster. Melissa just wouldn't stop chattering about the 'Super Boy' that had saved Tango. It ended up being a front-page story with the headline: 'Super Boy saves lives and rescues lost cats too!' I had a copy of that newspaper saved in storage for the longest time. I wonder if it's still in the farmhouse. We left in such a hurry I didn't get a chance to take any personal effects."

"Aw… that's a great story. I bet *my* Clark would have become Superman sooner if he still had his folks around. Lana wasn't supportive of his abilities at all," Lois mused. "Did your Clark date a Lana also?"

"Lois, I really can see why you're a great reporter. So full of questions; so curious all the time. Yes, Lana Lang was his childhood sweetheart. They went to Metropolis University together, and I really thought they would get married someday. Until the day she found out that he was Superboy. She was so mad that he had kept his abilities secret from her for so long that she never forgave him."

"Hmm; I guess I would be mad if I knew Clark that long and he didn't feel he could share something that important with me too," Lois reflected. "So what happened to her?"

"Pete Ross kept asking her out, and finally, to spite Clark, she said 'yes'. I was personally so angry with Lana myself that I didn't talk to her for a couple of years!" Martha said with much energy. "She ended up marrying Pete right out of college. But it was OK, because Clark had met his Lois at Met U, and they eventually married as well."

"Huh. So what exactly *did* he do for work, after he graduated?"

"My Clark was an EMT. He decided that he could best utilize his special gifts if he was present at the scenes of emergencies and disasters. In his own subtle way, he could lend support to the victims. If he was needed as Superman, he would tell his working partner, who knew his secret, and then slip away, changing into his alter-ego. It was quite effective, the arrangement he had. His partner was an old friend of his from Smallville who had figured out who Superboy really was. He protected his secret, and was very trustworthy. You're going to be surprised when I tell you his name," Martha said, with an impish smile. "There are such interesting and subtle differences between the various parallel worlds."

Lois' face bore a horrified look. "No… it can't be… Lex Luthor, right?"

Martha nodded. "Yes, Lex was about 8 years older than Clark; he was like a big brother to him. Lex had visited him one weekend at his dorm at Metropolis U; he had slept overnight in his room. Inadvertently he witnessed Clark change into his Superboy suit and fly out the window. Clark had been a little careless; he thought Lex was still fast asleep. This was early on in his Superboy career, when he was quite impulsive and not as cautious as he should have been.

"Later on, when Clark graduated from Met U and had just gotten married to *his* Lois, Lex was already a renowned research scientist, funding his own Luthor Foundation for Advanced Scientific Research. Lex was quite the humanitarian. He didn't need to work, since he came from a wealthy family. Intuitively knowing that Clark's biggest goal in life was to help people, he purchased an ambulance company and offered my son an opportunity to be his co-owner and partner, calling the business 'L & C Ambulance and Emergency Services'. At first, Clark refused the offer, feeling it was too generous. It was at that time that Lex admitted to Clark that he had long ago figured out his true identity. Clark decided that if he was that good of a friend to have known all that time and to have still honored his secret, it followed that Lex was worthy of his unconditional trust. He agreed to the business venture.

"The company was successful largely because of Clark's talents – their slogan was 'L&C Gives You TLC'. Sometimes that 'TLC' involved a personal flight with Superman to the hospital," Martha reflected with sadness in her voice. "Do you want to see their business card? It has their pictures on it. I always keep it in my purse, so I had it with me when Herbert rescued us. It's the only remembrance of my son that I have, sadly."

"Of course I do!" Lois exclaimed. <Wow… I get to see yet *another* Clark. This parallel universe stuff is really amazing!>

Lois' mouth dropped wide open as Martha handed her the card, which included a photo of Clark and his best friend Lex Luthor… who looked *exactly* like Lenny Thorul, not the Lex Luthor of this earth! Same curly red hair, only with a charismatic smile, bereft of evil. A carbon copy older version of the kid she had just interviewed.

"What's the matter, Lois? You looked shocked. Why? Because *our* Clark and *your* Clark could be identical twins?" Martha asked.

"No, no… it's because… your world's Lex Luthor didn't look exactly like the Luthor of *this* world. I guess there *are* some worlds where your counterpart isn't your exact double." <Just a fraternal twin, maybe? Hmm.>

"Well, Clark's always told me how evil this world's Lex was. Our Lex was a great, charitable man who always did the right thing *because* it was the right thing to do," Martha said with sincerity. "I miss him, too. Maybe that's why Clark doesn't want to tell me what happened over there – Lex is probably dead, too."

"<Or he's over here, making my life miserable as Lenny Thorul. No! Stop it! That's *not* possible!> "Wow, Martha. That's quite a testimony to his character. It's so nice to know that there was a good and decent Lex Luthor out there somewhere.
"So tell me more about Clark and Lois and how they got together!"
”Well they met their freshman year at Met U. It was, of course, love at first sight. And we loved her as well. She was extremely bright, and became a real miracle worker in her profession. They made an excellent team – professionally and personally. What irony that they were visiting us in Smallville when those horrid Kryptonians came to town. To save innocent townsfolk from harm, Clark had to reveal he was Superman. Lois was with child; they had come to visit to tell us the good news. Oh, it was *so* ..." Martha was unable to continue, overcome with grief from the recollection.

"Oh, Martha - I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have brought this up. It's gotten you too upset." Lois hugged her and they sat quiet for several minutes, both of them digesting the graveness of the horrific world Martha had left behind.

Lois broke the ice first, as usual. "Let me try to make you laugh, Martha, to change the subject. Hmm… do you have any idea what a lousy nurse your *new* daughter-in-law would have been?" she grinned.

Martha looked in Lois' eyes, and said, "I think I know, dear. Right up there with your cooking, huh?" Her face brightened as if a dark cloud had lifted.

"Well, if I hang around with you enough, Martha, some of your culinary expertise has *got* to rub off on me," she joked.

Martha smiled and said, "Not necessarily."

Both women shared a giggle and a moment of camaraderie; as they looked up, Clark and Jonathan were on their way back to the house.