Clark and Lois – Two Universes - Matchmaker Chronicle Volume 7 32/32
By Ken Janney
Rating PG-13
Disclaimers: The characters in this story are property of DC, December 3rd productions and Warner Bros. No Copyright infringement is intended. I have just borrowed the characters for a short time.
This particular story takes place after Lois and Clarks.
* * denotes emphasis
< > denotes thoughts
(#) footnotes
/ “denotes telepathic communication”/
[ playback of a recording or TV Commentary]For reference purposes the following will hold true throughout.
Universal Locator Designation
Alpha 023 x Gamma 004 x Tau -120 – Canon Lois and Clark universe also called – Prime
Alpha 023 x Gamma 025 x Tau 036 – Canon Alt Clark universe also called – Alt 1
Alpha -120 x Gamma 255 x Tau -190 – Common name – Alt 2
As always comments are welcome. (ken.janney@kjanney.com)
Previously:
Lois said to Carrie, “Sweetie, Daddy is safe and they got the bad man.”
Carrie said, “You and Daddy aren’t safe yet. There’s more hurtie stuff there.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes, Mommy. More hurtie stuff.”
Lois sent, /”Clark, Carrie says there’s more Kryptonite.”/
“Oh, Bill, one more thing, could you have a team go through that bunker with a fine toothed comb? I have it on good authority that there’s more Kryptonite in there.”
Bill turned to a couple of uniformed officers and said, “Kowalski, Hunter, stay here and guard this place. I’m sending in a team to search it once I get up top and can call the request in.”
The two men stationed themselves on either side of the door to wait for the search team.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Superman flew back to the roof of the Plant and a few seconds later Clark Kent exited the stairwell and headed for the conference room.
As soon as he was inside he picked Carrie up and hugged her and kissed her cheek. He said, “Thank you baby. Daddy is very proud of you.”
Carrie threw her arms around his neck and hugged him for all she was worth. She said, “I love you Daddy.”
Clark said, “Mommy and I love you sweetheart. Now, how did you know about the Kryptonite?”
With confusion on her face she asked, “The what, Kryptite?”
Lois interjected, “The hurtie stuff.”
“Oh, that. I don’t know, I just knew it was there and it would be bad and hurt you and Mommy and the baby. Pretty soon Mommy is going to have her baby and it’s going to be a …”
Lois interrupted her at this point and said, “Carrie, remember what we said about secrets? How you have to keep it a secret about who we are. Well, that’s another secret you have to keep. Don’t tell us if we are having a boy or a girl, okay?”
“Okay Mommy, I’ll keep it a secret
And Now:
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Chapter 30 – The Birth
1997
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
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Universal Locator Designation
Alpha 023 x Gamma 025 x Tau 036 – Canon Alt Clark universe also called – Alt 1
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Lois and Clark were on one of their visits to Alt 1 after taking Carrie to Smallville for a visit. They would be in the other universe for at least a day and were going to visit with Lucy and James for dinner and even though they would only be gone for five minutes Alt-2 time they wanted Carrie to be with the Kents and not alone. A lot can happen in five minutes.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Lois and Clark were at home. Lucy and James had come over for dinner. Part of the dinner conversation had been about the Planet.
Clark said, “I spoke to Perry the other day. He has decided not to run for another term in office, so he will be available in about fourteen months.”
James replied, “I guess I could hold on till then, unless, of course, Lois wants to take over as Editor-in-Chief again.”
Lois had a frightened look as she replied, “Not on your life! Much as I liked seeing my name on the masthead, my place is beside my husband, investigating. I guess you’re stuck in the big chair. Besides, I’m going to be taking some time off here, pretty soon.” She reached over and put her hand in Clark’s and squeezed then she pulled his hand over and laid it on her baby bump, which had become more of a mountain as she was nearing her term. “Really soon.”
Lucy asked, “What’s it going to be, boy or girl?”
Lois smiled and said, “This is one surprise package I want to wait for.” She got a faraway look as she said, “Carrie knows.” Turning to Lucy and James she said, “Remember the flower girl?” They both nodded. “She is displaying psychic powers. She was about to tell us what the baby would be, but I stopped her.”
“So, you really don’t know?”
“We really don’t know.”
“Why are you keeping all of the arrangements so secret? You haven’t even told us what hospital you’re going to be in.”
“Lucy, we decided that there could be a problem with my going to a hospital so we thought that we would use a midwife, one that we can trust. We’ve been seeing her regularly so that she could monitor my and the baby’s progress and we’re both just fine. The important thing is that we can trust her to keep my secret.”
“How soon are you due, Sis?”
“We aren’t sure, but it could be anytime.”
“You’ll be sure to call me as soon as it’s born, right? After all I’m going to be the auntie.”
“You’ll be the first call I make.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
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Universal Locator Designation
Alpha -120 x Gamma 255 x Tau -190 – Common name – Alt2
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
They were having lunch in the kitchen of 348 Hyperion when suddenly Carrie said, “Daddy, Mommy’s going to have the baby tomorrow.”
Lois looked at Carrie and asked, “Are you sure about that Sweetie?”
“Yes, Mommy, I’m sure. You’re going to have the baby tomorrow and …” Suddenly a look of fear overtook her features, “and then the bad men are going to try to take the baby away.”
Worried now Clark asked, “Carrie, Honey, are you sure about that?”
“Yes, Daddy, I’m sure. Mommy will have the baby and the bad men will come.”
Clark looked at Lois and said, “Forewarned is forearmed. We need to be ready.”
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
They had surprised Martha when they had arrived that afternoon. Lois told Martha that she expected that tomorrow would be a rough day.
They spent a pleasant evening together. Carrie spent most of it in Jonathan’s lap looking at the Farmer’s Almanac with him. Scrappy was curled up on the floor at his feet. Martha was finishing up on another project. She had been relieved that as a result of the longer pregnancy of a Kryptonian woman she had had the time she needed to complete the booties and blanket. With the extra time she had also made a sweater for the baby. She was just finishing up on another project, an afghan for Carrie’s bed. She had asked Carrie what her favorite colors were and Carrie had told her purple and blue. Martha had taken Carrie into town with her when she went for the yarn and allowed her to pick out the colors she liked best so the afghan was alternating stripes of those colors.
Carrie went to bed at 8 PM. Lois and Martha tucked her in. One of the nice things about being Kryptonian under a lighter gravity and yellow sun was the fact that pregnancy didn’t slow Lois down one whit. She was able to float upstairs where an earth human would have struggled.
Jonathan and Martha were in bed shortly after Carrie leaving Lois and Clark cuddling on the sofa in the living room watching a movie. The movie finished at about 11 PM and they also went to bed.
They had decided to sleep in so it was almost ten in the morning when Lois woke up and blessed Martha for her foresight. Thanks to her, Lois had started sleeping on a waterproof sheet. Lois was awakened by a slight pain and a big wet feeling. She looked for Clark and saw his side of the bed was empty. She called him mentally, /“Clark … Clark … it’s time to call your mom.”/
Clark had been with his dad in the barn, but hearing Lois he dropped what he was doing and flew to her side.
A minute later Martha, with Carrie by her side and Scrappy on her heels, walked in and said, “Carrie told me that it was time and I figured I’d better get in here. Was that the first?”
“Yeah, the first and my water broke.” Just then Lois let out a groan as another pain hit. She started panting as she tried to deal with the pain.
When she started panting Clark was instantly by her side, holding her hand and encouraging her.
Shortly the pain had passed and Lois was able to get up out of bed.
Martha nodded and said, “Why are you just standing there? I have the area prepared. Let’s go into the spare bedroom, the one next to Carrie’s.”
Carrie said, “Mommy be okay, baby too.”
Martha had turned the spare bedroom into a birthing center.
Martha entered after them. She asked, “How often are the pains?”
Lois replied, “They just started. That was only the second one”
“Good, okay, the first thing for you to do is remove that nightie. For one thing it’s wet and for another it would just get in the way.”
Martha said to Carrie, “Carrie Honey, I want you to go play for a while, okay?”
“Okay Grammy. I go play in my playhouse.” She scampered out with Scrappy at her heels. Jonathan had built a small house out next to the barn where he could keep an eye on her, complete with a door and windows. He had furnished it with a kid sized table and chairs a play stove and sink. There was even a miniature bed for her stuffies and dolls. Scrappy had a dog house attached to the play house so that he would be right there for his little mistress. He would lay there in the doorway content to be near her.
Lois pulled the nightie off over her head.
Martha knelt in front of her and placed her hands on Lois’ abdomen. After feeling around a bit she said, “Good, the baby is head down already. Okay, you have a choice to make. You can use the birthing stool, you could use the bed or you could float or even walk around. Now, keep in mind that no decision is final. At one point any one may be more appropriate than the others and five minutes later that could change. I would like you to start off on the bed so that I can check to see how dilated you are.”
Lois floated over and lay down on the bed and in order to be comfortable her legs were up and her feet rested on the footboard which was somewhat elevated and which Martha had padded.
Martha did a visual exam and said, “Okay, we have a way to go. I’d say that you are only a centimeter or so dilated. You will need to be at least ten. Because of your invulnerability we will not be able to do an episiotomy. Nor will pain killers help. This is one time that your invulnerability isn’t going to help. Frankly, since this is a superbaby and you are a supermom all things are going to be equal. I don’t know just how much work this is going to be. Since all things are equal it may just be the same as a normal birth and you can’t expect any shortcuts to motherhood because of your powers.”
Just as Martha was finishing up Lois was hit with a contraction. She screamed in pain, “Aaaarrrrrggggg.” and started panting, breathing through the contraction which lasted over half a minute.
Martha timed the contraction and then asked Clark, “Okay, Papa, how many minutes in between?”
“Almost twenty.”
“So far so good. Just like any other woman.” Martha turned to Clark and said, “You stay with her. Get her anything she wants. She will be having contractions and they will get longer and with less time in between. When they are below five minutes, come and get me. I need to start dinner. Farmers eat early dinners and Jonathan will be getting hungry.” She smiled at Clark and said, “I’ve gotta take care of my man. You have to take care of your woman.” She winked at Lois.
Lois was through the contraction. She smiled to acknowledge the wink and said, “Thanks, Martha. He takes good care of me.”
Martha stopped in the door and turned back to Lois. With a look of aged wisdom she said, “Before this is over, you may change your tune, however temporarily.” She looked at Clark and said, “Don’t you let anything she says bother you. It’s just the situation.” She gave him a wink and was out the door.
Clark turned to Lois and asked, “Do you have any idea what she was talking about?”
“Not the slightest.”
“Do you need anything, Honey?”
“Just, hold my hand.”
Clark moved to the bedside and held her hand.
The next eight hours followed a familiar pattern, familiar to Martha at least. The contractions slowly moved closer together and lasted longer. Lois moved from the bed to sitting on the birthing stool to floating in mid-air to pacing around the room, floating in mid air and back to the bed. Clark stayed with her unless she needed something like water or a light snack.
Jonathan came in from his farm work bringing Carrie in with him, they had their dinner and after reading for a time with Carrie on his lap, they went to bed. Martha, knowing that it was going to be a long night had taken a nap as soon as she had put dinner on to simmer.
Martha was going back to the room at around 9 p.m. to check on things, but as she was passing Carrie’s room, Carrie called out, “Grammy?”
Martha poked her head into the room and said, “Yes, Carrie. You should be asleep, Sweetheart.”
Carrie said, “I know, but Mommy hurts.”
Martha moved into the room and said, “Mommy will be okay, Honey. She’s having a baby and that’s just the way it is when that happens.”
“I know. I’ll sleep better when baby is here.”
Martha patted her arm and said, “It won’t be much longer. You try to get some sleep, okay?”
“Okay, Grammy. Nite.” Carrie scooted down and Martha tucked her in.
She stopped in the door and turned back to Carrie and said, “Goodnight, Sweetheart.”
After leaving Carrie’s room she went to the birthing room. She found Lois on the bed with pillows behind her, propping her up in a semi-reclining position. Clark was by her side, holding one of her hands with one of his while with his other he was stroking her head pushing her sweat matted hair back from her forehead.
Martha asked, “How is she doing?”
Clark replied, “It’s been a rough go so far. Is this normal?”
Martha chuckled, “They’re all different. Actually, this has been mild compared to some I’ve attended.”
Stunned, Clark asked, “Mild??? Really? It doesn’t seem to be mild to me.”
Martha placed her hand over the hand that Clark was using to hold Lois’ and said, “I’ve seen much, much worse. Anyhow, I want you to keep in mind what I told you before; don’t let *anything* she says bother you. She doesn’t mean it and It’ll pass.”
Just then a particularly strong and painful contraction hit Lois and she screamed in pain. “AAArrrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.”
Clark coached her, “Lois, Lois, breathe … breathe … that’s it … that’s it … breathe through it.”
Lois was panting like a dog that had run a race with a fox.
Martha moved to the end of the bed to see just how far along things were. When she finished her exam she moved up by Clark and said to Lois, “You’re looking good. I’d say that you are at about 9 centimeters. Another centimeter or two and we’ll be right where we need to be. It won’t be too much longer and we will be able to start to push.” She continued to address Lois as she continued, ”You’re going to start to feel like you need to push, but I want you to resist that urge. I don’t want you pushing too early. All that will do is tear you. Since we can’t do the episiotomy we have to make sure that you are dilated enough naturally.” Shifting her attention to Clark she said, “Clark, you make sure she doesn’t push. I’ll be back in a little while.”
Martha peeked in on Carrie. Carrie was sitting up in bed. Scrappy was laying there next to her with his head in her lap and she was petting his head. Martha entered the room and crossed to the bed. She sat down on the side and reaching over scratched Scrappy behind his ears. Scrappy moved his head so that Martha had easier access and started an open mouth pant displaying his pleasure. Carrie smiled and said, “He likes that.”
Martha said, “Scrappy likes that the same way we like hugs. Do you like hugs?”
Carrie smiled and said, “Yes.”
Martha held her arms open and Carrie moved into them. Martha pulled her into a warm hug and said, “There’s just nothing like a hug to make you feel better, is there? Do you feel better?”
“Yes, Grammy, I feel better.”
“You’re worried about your mommy aren’t you?”
“Yes, Grammy. She hurts so much.”
“It will only be a little longer. This is a special time for your mommy and daddy. They are giving you a little brother or sister and pretty soon all of the pain will go away. As soon as your brother or sister is born Mommy won’t hurt anymore. Then you will be a big sister and you will be mommy’s helper. Do you want to do that? Help mommy with little brother or sister?”
“Yes, I want to help. I can practice for when I grow up. I can help mommy the way I will help other people the same way Mommy and Daddy do.”
Half an hour and numerous contractions later Martha returned to the birthing room. Before she did though, she stopped in the bathroom and washed, thoroughly because she knew that the time had come and that the baby would be too. When she entered the room, she immediately moved to the foot of the bed where Lois was still reclining. When she finished checking she said, “Okay, Lois, it looks like we are good to go. You are between 11 and 12 centimeters dilated. The next time a contraction hits I want you to bear down and push.”
As Martha finished saying this another contraction hit and Lois screamed out. Ignoring Lois’ scream Martha said over it, “Okay, now … push! … Come on Lois … PUSH!”
When Martha had first given that command Lois had tried to squeeze her abdominal muscles in an effort to bear down and push. The second time, in order to make the effort stronger she had tried lifting her torso off the bed, sitting up straighter. Clark had put his arm behind her back to assist her.
When the contraction passed Lois collapsed back on the pillows. She was panting with the effort and the energy expended. Her hair which was already sweat soaked was even wetter than it had been.
Clark marveled at this, normally temperature extremes didn’t affect their Kryptonian physiology and even when utilizing all of their strength it was a rare event when they broke a sweat. Most of the times he had actually broken out in sweat were times of emotional upheaval or embarrassment such as when Suzanne and Colette had been trying to seduce him. This was eloquent of the effort that Lois was putting into this.
As he finished his musing the next contraction hit.
Lois screamed, “aaaaaAAAARRRRrrrrrrrggggggggg.” She looked at Clark with anger in her eyes as she said, “This is all … *your* … fault!!!! AAAAAAaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh You did this to MMMEEEEeeeeeeeeee.”
Martha shouted, “PUSH!”
Lois was sitting up with Clark’s arm behind her and she screamed at Martha, “I *AM* pushing!!!!!”
Nonplused, Martha calmly said, “Here it comes. I can see the head.”
The contraction passed and Lois collapsed back on the pillows.
Martha said, “It won’t be much longer now. One or two more. The rest should be easy.”
Lois gasped out, “Easy for you to say! You’re not the one on this end. Aaahhh her comes … another … one … aaaaAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRrrrrrrrrgggggggggggggggggg.”
Martha shouted, “PUSH!!!!”
Lois raised up with Clark’s help and bore down with all she was worth. She could feel movement. The second the head passed out through the birth canal and was outside she knew it and started crying in relief’
Martha shouted, “I have the head. One more push should deliver the rest of the body!”
Even as Martha was saying this the contraction hit. Lois was instantly up and pushing. This time she didn’t scream, her whole being focused on delivering this new little person. She felt it when the rest of the baby passed out of the birth canal. The feeling of relief was palpable. She knew that she still needed to deliver the placenta, but that was the easy part.
Martha held the infant up and used a squeeze bulb to clear the nose and mouth of amniotic fluid and holding it up by the ankles gave it a slight swat on the bottom which it responded to with a lusty, healthy cry. Martha quickly used two clamps on the umbilical cord and turning to Clark said, “Use your heat vision to cut the cord, between the clamps.”
He did just that and Martha turned away with the baby to clean it up. She said, back over her shoulder, “Clark, rub Lois’ tummy in gentle circles. She needs to deliver the placenta. I need to clean this little one up.”
A few seconds later, Martha turned around with a clean baby and said, “Congratulations, it’s a …”
Just then, unexpectedly, Carrie came running into the room and shouted, “Bad men are here!” Interrupting Martha.
Suddenly Lois and Clark heard a powerful telepathic communication, /”We search for Kal-El’s child!”/
The communication was so unexpected and forceful that both Lois and Clark were stunned for a second.
Stunned, Clark said, “Kryptonians.”
comments go here The End
The next Volume in the set will be "Clark and Lois - When Worlds and Universes Collide - Matchmaker Chronicles Volume 8"
