For the second time in two days, Clark flew through the window to Dr. Klein's office at S.T.A.R. Labs. This time he was not nearly as nervous as he had been before. Now he was certain that the vaccine had been successful. It was like a huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
As soon as Superman landed, Dr. Klein spun around, beaming widely, and exclaimed, "Superman! It's amazing!"
"Dr. Klein?"
The exuberant scientist continued, "I can't believe I've never noticed this." He turned around and sat down at his computer and loaded a few files, muttering to himself. "Incredible."
"What?" Clark had a feeling that he knew what Dr. Klein was going to say, but he wanted to hear the scientist's explanation, knowing the eccentric scientist could be trying to tell him almost anything from geese mating habits to ion channels in the mammalian retina with the results of the vaccine test somewhere in between.
Dr. Klein turned around to face Superman again. "After you left yesterday, I took your new sample and an old sample we had on file and exposed them both to kryptonite."
Clark raised his eyebrows, encouraging Dr. Klein to continue.
"There was a difference. A major difference." Dr. Klein explained. "Your blood was missing a catalytic component after the peroxide exposure."
Clark raised his eyebrows in what he hoped was a shocked expression. "What kind of catalytic component?"
Dr. Klein didn't even look up and continued, "I can't believe I've never noticed this before!"
"What?"
"Oh, sorry, Superman. I exposed your recent samples to kryptonite along with your old samples and I saw something amazing. We've always known that your superpowers are inhibited by kryptonite, but I've never known its mechanism of action." He paused and looked at the Superhero. "There's a component in your blood that reacts with kryptonite."
"Really?" Again, he tried the extremely shocked expression. He was such a great actor, he probably deserved an Oscar!
Dr. Klein shook his head. "I can't believe it. Your blood seems very similar to human blood, but it has two different components. There's one enzyme that seems to account for your superpowers."
"Just one enzyme?" Clark pretended to be in shock.
"I believe it's an entire kinetic structure. When light is exposed to your sample, one component, the di-trans-guanyl-amine-cyclase-like component, binds to a light-sensitive enzyme in your blood and causes a conformational change."
Clark nodded. Yes, that was the D+RYS step Dr. Lois and Dr. Clark had described.
"When kryptonite is introduced into the system, it binds to the di-trans-guanyl . . ."
That seemed like a horrible mouthful of gibberish! "Can we just call it 'D'?"
"Sure, Superman, it binds to the D component and forms a complex that fails to cause the conformational change in the enzyme, thus inhibiting your superpowers and eventually killing you. However, the peroxide binds to the D component and takes the binding spot for kryptonite. Thus, it is still able to bind to the enzyme giving you powers, but not allowing kryptonite to interfere. It's amazing!"
"So you're saying it worked? I'm really immune to kryptonite's effects?" Clark knew he was; Dr. Klein had given him the same explanation as had the alternate Lois and Clark. It worked! It really worked!
"To the best of my knowledge, Superman, I think it worked."
"Really?" Clark couldn't express what he was really thinking because his emotions were so strong. He needed to go home to tell Lois! But he also had to make sure to keep his emotions in check in front of Dr. Klein.
"Yes, really. It's unbelievable that your biochemistry is really so simple. In fact, it's strangely uncanny how simple your superpowers actually are. Besides the one enzyme, I would assume that the rest of your body is virtually human. I hadn't thought to study it so closely before . . ."
There it was, the invitation to talk to Dr. Klein about repeating the fertility tests. Clark interrupted, "If I am so human, why am I incompatible to have children with a human woman?"
Now it was completely out in the open. Neither was sure how the other would react.
The smile on Dr. Klein's face immediately faded. "I don't know," he said simply. "Initially, the results looked quite promising, but then on my final test, something changed. It was like your . . . um . . . sperm . . ." The poor doctor fidgeted uncomfortably.
Dr. Klein clearly wasn't used to talking about the male reproductive system with a patient, let alone a superhero. That's why he had chosen to go into research instead of clinical medicine!
He continued, "But there is a complex in your sperm that made yours different from a normal man's, and that difference was so great, it made you infertile." Dr. Klein rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Interesting. It is very close to the light sensitive protein in your blood. Maybe . . ."
"Maybe you can repeat the tests to see if the peroxide had the same effect?"
Dr. Klein nodded. "It was completely unexpected, Superman. All of the other tests I ran, even the genetic tests indicated that you were so similar to a human. Twenty-three pairs of chromosomes, most of the same genes. There was one mutation that seemed to code for the protein that causes your superpowers. I believe if that protein can somehow become inhibited in your sperm, you will be able to have children."
"Really?" Clark's eyes lit up. This was the final test. If this worked, then he and Lois would finally be able to have children. Even though they weren't ready to have children right now, he was desperate to have the knowledge that he was normal, that they would be able to have children when they were ready.
Dr. Klein nodded. "Do you want to try again?"
Clark nodded enthusiastically.
"You know where to go? What to do?"
Blushing, Clark nodded. It was still embarrassing, but he knew he had to do it. "I think I've had enough practice."
Dr. Klein laughed nervously and handed him a small cup. "Okay then, you know what to do. You don't need any . . . help?"
Clark couldn't help but smile internally at the frightened tone in Dr. Klein's voice. He fleetingly wondered what the scientist would do if Superman had said yes.
Quickly, Clark turned on his heel so Dr. Klein wouldn't see his expression, and headed to the familiar private room.
Dr. Klein interrupted, "You know you can tell me, Superman. Is there a special woman in mind?"
Oh no! Not again! Clark turned around abruptly. Not again! "No." Clark took a deep breath and continued, "Right now, no. It's for my own information. I'm just . . . curious." He wanted to add 'insanely curious to find out if I can have a baby with my wife, to form a real blood connection with someone, to see that I have a purpose in life'. But he restrained himself quite nicely.
"Superman," Dr. Klein said quizzically, obviously not believing him.
"Really, Dr. Klein. At this point, I am just curious, wondering about my origins and my genetic make up."
"Really?"
"Of course, Dr. Klein. Why would I lie to you?"
"Oh, really? Okay, then. You know where the room is, right? And you don't need any . . . help?"
Clark adopted his best Superman voice and said, "Yes, Dr. Klein, I know where I'm going, and no, I don't need any help. I'll be back shortly."
*************
A short while later, Clark came back into the lab with a full cup in hand.
"Here you go."
Dr. Klein looked at the cup and then up to it's holder. "Okay, Superman."
"How long is this going to take?"
"I only need to repeat the final test." Dr. Klein shrugged. "A few minutes to run the assay."
"Let's do it!"
Clark felt his breath catch in his chest. This was it, the final step in their fertility test quest. He almost dreaded the answer. His emotions were running on overdrive sending him through the gamut from fear to excitement. How he wished Lois were here with him right now.
They stayed in complete silence as Dr. Klein mixed the sample with several chemicals, stirred the solution, and ran a program on the computer.
"Amazing," the scientist breathed, breaking the almost reverent silence.
Clark's heart was beating faster than he could ever remember. "How does it look, Dr. Klein?"
"It's a miracle. Your sample seems to perfectly mimic that of a normal man. I think if you ever find the right woman." Dr. Klein stopped and winked. "You'll be able to have children."
"Are you sure?" Clark couldn't help but let his voice waver slightly. His emotions were too hard to control.
"Absolutely."
Clark's face broke into a huge smile. He couldn't believe it. "Thank you! I don't . . . I don't know what to say."
"Oh, Superman." Dr. Klein blushed, not sure what to say. "I'm glad I could help."
Suddenly Clark realized this was the best time for his other nagging question. "What about my child?"
"What about your child? You have a child?"
Gosh, Dr. Klein was certainly nosy today. Okay, every day. "Of course not!" Clark said immediately. "I don't even have a girlfriend yet." He sighed internally knowing that he had lied. Maybe he hadn't lied! It was true that Clark Kent was happily married to the love of his life, but as far as the world knew, Superman was still single and an eligible bachelor. No, he was kidding himself. It was a lie. "All I'm trying to figure out is if my son or daughter will inherit my superpowers."
"Oh, well . . ." Dr. Klein ran his hand over his head contemplating his answer. "Hmm, I'll have to examine this further, but I can't be sure. Since the light conversion enzyme is inhibited upon fertilization, I'm not sure if it can be re-activated or if it is a recessive or dominant gene."
"So in English, Dr. Klein."
"I don't know. It's serendipity, Superman."
"Serendipity?"
"Happening by a happy chance. From the word Serendip, a former name for Sri Lanka, coined by the early English writer Horace Walpole after the fairy tale 'The Three Princes of Serendip' where the heroes made many fortunate discoveries."
"I know what the word means . . . and it's not even related to this situation." Clark hated snapping at someone who had helped him so much, but it was way off the topic at hand. Although maybe he had a point . . . Clark was just too excited about everything that had happened to keep his emotions in check.
"Oh. Sorry, I just discovered its derivation and I found it quite interesting." Dr. Klein blushed sheepishly.
Trying to get the subject back on track, Clark said, "So you're saying you don't know."
"I'll need to do further tests after fertilization."
Clark shrugged. "Okay. I was curious. It's just a hypothetical question." It was an important question, but still a hypothetical at this point. "Thank you so much for everything." He smiled at the scientist, knowing that he could never convey his gratitude.
"You're welcome, Superman. Any time."
Superman nodded to the scientist and flew out the window without a second thought. His mind was filled with thoughts of Lois. He needed to see her to tell her his good news. She would be overjoyed. It had worked. Their wildest dreams had become reality!
*************
As Clark flew through the window, he found himself exclaiming, "Lois!"
His wife had been sitting on the bed waiting for him. "Clark! Oh my god! You look happy. It worked! I know it worked."
Clark quickly changed into the clothes he had worn earlier and picked Lois up from the bed. "It worked! It *all* worked."
"The fertility tests, too?" Lois didn't want to assume too much. She would be happy with just the kryptonite vaccine.
Clark nodded and proceeded to set her on the bed again and cover her lips with his own, whispering, "Everything."
Lois surrendered to his kiss and allowed her hands to roam over his back and up through his hair lacing her fingers through the dark, smooth locks.
She pulled away and whispered, "We can have kids?"
Before Clark kissed her again, he whispered, "Right now if we want."
Lois pushed him away abruptly. "Wait."
"What?" Clark pulled back and scowled at the horrified expression on Lois's face.
"You didn't mean that, did you?"
"What?"
"That we should try to have kids right now." She took a deep breath. "I'm not ready yet. I mean, I am so glad to know that the option is available for us in the future, but . . ."
Clark put a finger on her lips and finished, "Now that we know it's possible, why rush it?"
"Exactly. We have all the time in the world."
Clark laughed as he said, "Let's wait a little longer until we're ready. Just let it happen naturally, serendipitously."
Lois smiled. Clark understood exactly what she meant. "Happily unexpectedly."
"Exactly." Clark leaned down to kiss her again, this time without any resistance.
Before Clark's lips covered hers completely, Lois said, "I'm still chasing that illusive Pulitzer, Clark. If our alternate doctor counterparts can have a Nobel Prize, we surely deserve a Pulitzer!"
"And we'll get it, honey," Clark promised before he surrendered completely to the feel of her body against his.
*************
A little over a year after they confirmed the kryptonite vaccine and the fertility treatment, Lois and Clark welcomed a new family member into their lives.
The shelf that had always housed six Kerth awards now had a new inhabitant. In the middle of the shelf, the crowning jewel of journalistic excellence glowed out over the entire room. It was beautiful; it wasn't a glistening trophy like the Kerths, but its significance was so much more important. The Pulitzer Prize certificate cast an ethereal glow over the whole room, over Lane and Kent's lives.
But right now, no one cared about the Pulitzer Prize. Its glow was overshadowed by a new glow that had overtaken Lois Lane and Clark Kent. The glow of parenthood.
It was something they had both always wanted, but had never truly expected. A serendipitous occurrence had truly happened when least expected, but when they needed it most.
Clark pushed the door open and escorted his wife and new bundle through the door.
"Welcome home, Jonathan Herbert Kent," Lois whispered, planting a soft kiss on her baby's head.
"I can't believe it!" Clark gazed at his wife and baby and his heart was filled with a deep emotion that he had never felt before. It encompassed his every nerve ending. The pure beauty of everything that had happened was absolutely awe-inspiring.
Even before they could settle into their new life, Clark's head jerked up, superhearing kicking in.
"It's Mr. Wells," he whispered. "At the corner."
"He's here to take Johnny back to our past selves." Lois felt her breath catch in her chest. At the time, it had changed their lives, but right now, she couldn’t understand how she had done it.
"Without him, this day would have never happened," Clark whispered.
"We owe him our lives." Lois took a deep breath. She knew she had to find a way to let Mr. Wells take her newborn son back to the past. It would be hard, too hard to imagine, but she had to do it. "Without him, this day would have never happened."
Clark kissed his wife on her forehead and said, "You're right. We owe him more than we can ever give."
Lois cuddled her new son. "I never knew I wanted it, but he's the greatest gift in the world."
Clark wrapped his arms around his family, and said, "It's serendipity."
Soon, their new baby boy would travel to the past to begin the long journey to this point bringing their lives full circle.
A plan from an outside source had brought them to this point in life, but serendipity would guide them into the future.
The End
