My Three Sons

By Ladee V

"Kent, Party of two."

The maitre d looked around for the handsome couple who had put
their name on the waiting list almost 20 minutes ago. They seemed
completely lost in each other when they walked through the door.

"Kent, party of two!"

He called again and was not surprised to find the couple in a
romantic clinch near the corner of the room. He recognized the
Daily Planet's star reporters the instant they walked in, and
silently wondered if all he'd heard about them was true.
Kidnappings, clones, amnesia, it all sounded so unbelievable. One
rumor he knew was true just by looking at them, Lois Lane-Kent
and Clark Kent were deeply in love.

Lois and Clark reluctantly broke from their kiss and followed the
maitre d to their table. They had been happily married for six
months now and life had settled down considerably for them. As
they ate, they kissed and held hands under the table.

"Why did we ever leave home?" Lois asked as she gazed lovingly
into Clark's huge brown eyes. Clark grinned, knowing exactly
where that comment was leading.

"Lois, we have to leave the bedroom once in a while!"

"We do! We go to work five days a week! And, we work a long day!
Can I help it if my handsome husband drives me crazy with
desire?" Lois moved in closer to Clark and massaged that very
sensitive spot, high on his inner thigh.

Clark was just about to engulf her mouth in a passionate kiss
when their waiter approached the table. "Would you like to see
the desert menu?"

Lois whispered in a breathy voice in Clark's ear, "I don't think
they've got what I want on their menu."

Clark, sure the waiter had heard her, blushed a bit and
stammered. "No...no thanks, just the check please...quickly."

Clark paid the check and ushered Lois out of the restaurant.
During the entire drive home, she teased him. Relentlessly.
Nibbling on his ear as he drove, running her delicate fingers
over his muscular thighs.

"Lois, do you think it's wise to be distracting me while I'm
driving?"

"Hhmmm?" Lois purred as she bit down on his ear. Clark thought
they would never get home and quite seriously considered pulling
over on a dark, quiet street and teaching his wife a lesson about
teasing him. Thankfully they reached their apartment and hurried
inside. Instinctively he grabbed her and pressed his mouth to
hers. Searching every inch of it, like he'd never been there
before. Gently he lifted her into his arms and carried her to
their bed, his hands roaming over every curve as he kissed her.

Then he stopped.

"No...please go away." Clark whispered practically to himself.
When it didn't go away he raised his head from Lois' neck,
defeated. She knew too well what was coming next.

"Oh no. You've switched from **that** look, to *that* look."

Clark smiled at her apologetically. "Lois, I'm sorry...it...it
sounds like a child crying."

Lois tried unsuccessfully to hide her disappointment. "Well, go!
It could be life or death or something! Just hurry back!"

"I will...believe me, I will."

In a swirl of red and blue he was gone and Lois snuggled up with
her teddy bear, and a large glass of ice water.

*****

About three blocks away, near a quiet suburb of Metropolis, Clark
was zeroing in on the crying child who was now calling for
Superman specifically. He found the little boy, clad in
"Superman" pajamas, wandering around the vacant lot that was to
be the site of the Lenape Woods housing development.

Landing softly in front of the boy, he knelt down and held out
his arms. The child ran to him and hugged him tightly around the
neck while letting out a few more sobs.

"I knew you would come for me. You said you would come if I
needed you."

Clark smiled and hugged the little boy. Apparently they had met
before, but he couldn't quite remember. "It's OK now, little one.
You're right, I'm here ." He pulled the little boy back from his
hug and wiped his tears. The little face staring back at him was
strangely familiar, and the Man of Steel was instantly smitten.
Something about those big brown eyes...

"There now. Everything's OK now." As the little boy sniffled and
regained his composure, Clark picked him up and gently patted his
back. "Now...do you think you can tell me what happened? What's a
little boy like you doing out here in the middle of nowhere, at
this time of night?"

The little boy looked up into Clark's eyes and smiled. A small
smile. A smile familiar to Clark somehow, but he was unable to
place it.

"A bad man came in our house and hurt daddy and mommy with a
green rock. Mommy hit the man on the head, and I put the rock
back in the box...but...when I ran into the blue
light...everybody was gone.

Clark looked at him, skeptically. The little boy was obviously
upset and *something* had happened to his parents, but his
explanation left Clark even more bewildered.

"Can you take me home now? Can you make sure mommy and daddy are
OK?"

Another tear had formed on the little boy's eyelid and Clark
thought he might cry as well. "Sure, I'll take you home. Can you
tell me where you live?"

The little boy looked at Clark questioningly. "On Senecca Drive -
don't you remember my birthday party?"

Clark, assuming a professional "Superman" had made an appearance
at the child's birthday party, smiled softly. "I'm sorry, I guess
I do a lot of birthday parties."

The little boy was starting to tear up again. "But you said my
party was special, and you took me flying."

"I took you *flying*?"

"Yes. That's when you told me you would always be there if I
needed you, because you're my daddy's best friend and I'm very
special to you. Don't you remember...don't you remember me,
Superman?"

Clark was searching for the words to gently tell the boy that
although he honestly did not remember him, he would still do
everything he could to help him and his parents. Only the words
never came.

As more tears began streaming down his face, the little boy
slowly began to speak. "My name is CJ Kent. My mommy is Lois...my
daddy is Clark Kent. I live at 186 Senecca Drive, Metropolis, New
Troy."

The little boy's words repeated themselves in Clark's head about
one hundred times in the span of ten seconds. Suddenly he knew
why those eyes were so familiar. They were Lois' eyes. That small
smile he couldn't quite place, it was his. The same smile he
smiled in his kindergarten school picture. But how could this be?
Clark's mind raced to come up with possible answers and they all
led to the same person. Tempus.

Suddenly worried the time-traveler was waiting in the wings to
spring some sort of trap, Clark quickly scanned the area and
found nothing unusual. Nothing but a small lead lined box about
five feet from them. Clark picked up the box and turned to his
"son".

"CJ..." It seemed strange to him. Calling his son's name. It
seemed strange to him being so sure this was his son. The more he
looked at him, the more certain he became.

"Is this the box you put the green rock in?"

CJ shook his head yes and wiped his eyes. Clark picked "CJ" up
and held him close for a moment. "Don't cry. It's going to be all
right. I promise."

Not really knowing what to do or where to go, he started walking,
slowly. Back to his apartment. Back to Lois. CJ sniffled quietly
on his shoulder, no doubt reeling from the incredibly confusing
circumstances that had taken place. The last time he saw his
parents, a bad man had broken into their house and hurt them, and
now Superman didn't know who he was.

"It's going to be all right."

*****

Lois was pacing nervously around their bedroom. Clark had been
only been gone about 40 minutes but for some reason she was
worried. Not worried about *him* exactly, but worried.

"Clark"?

Lois called to him hesitantly. She was sure she heard the gentle
sound of him landing on the balcony. *Didn't sound like a man in
a big rush to get back to his wife to me.* she thought. Making
her way to the balcony door she caught sight of his reason for
treading softly. In his big strong arms, he gently cradled what
appeared to her to be a miniature version of himself, fast
asleep.

Clark saw her and slowly put his finger to his lips, hushing her.
He placed the sleeping child on their bed and spun into his
shorts. He put the box on the night stand next to the bed. Lois
quietly walked over to them.

"Is this the child you heard?" She whispered as she smiled down
at the little boy.

"Yes...his name...is CJ," Clark looked at Lois - waiting for her
to take her eyes off the boy. Waiting to have her attention so he
could tell her the rest. Lois just kept staring at him with a
soft look of wonder in her eyes.

"Well, he certainly is adorable, but why did you bring him
here?"

Clark took Lois by the hand and sat her down on the bed, kneeling
in front of her. "Lois, I found him, all alone in the vacant lot
that's going to be the site for that new housing
development...uh...Lenape Woods."

Lois looked shocked. "All alone? That's horrible! What kind of
parents would abandon this helpless little child like that?"

Clark smiled at her maternal instinct kicking in. Instincts she
would have sworn she didn't even possess. Somehow, she felt what
he had felt when he looked at this child. Even before he told him
his name. It wasn't anything he could explain. It was just an
instinct. An overwhelming need to protect him and love him. He
saw it in Lois as he watched her delicately trace the little "S"
on their son's pajamas.

"Lois, I know this is going to sound crazy, but I'm pretty sure
his parents didn't abandoned him because..."

After realizing Clark was hesitating a bit, Lois pulled her gaze
away from their mesmerizing little guest.

"Clark...because what?"

"I think...*we* are his parents, Lois."

Lois looked at Clark in amazement. "Wha...how could..."

Slowly, Clark relayed the pieces of the story that CJ had told
him earlier. Lois was silent for a long time. Not really
understanding, but not doubting either. She just kept gently
stroking this one little wayward lock of wavy brown hair away
from his face, as she had done so many times to Clark.

"I didn't know what else to do but bring him here...bring
him...home."

Lois shifted her gaze from her son, to her husband. "You did the
right thing, he...he's our son. Lois smiled as she said those
words to Clark.

"Well, I guess we know what the "green rock" was...is that it, in
that box?"

Clark nodded. "CJ was able to get it away from...well...*me*,
before he ran into this..."blue light".

"Good. Hopefully that means the future you is recovering from the
exposure. I have a feeling we are going to need *our* help if
we're going to get our son back. If that makes any sense."

Clark sat down on the bed behind Lois and wrapped his arms around
her. They sat there for a while, just staring at their sleeping
son. Letting reality soak in.

"Clark, is it just me, or is he the most beautiful child you've
ever seen in your life?"

Clark smiled. "No, it can't be just you because I was thinking
the very same thing."

Clark hugged Lois tightly and nuzzled her neck. Just then a
sleepy little voice called to them.

"Mommy? Daddy? Is that you? Is the bad man gone?"

The little boy scurried up onto Lois' lap and wrapped his arms
around her neck. Lois was overwhelmed at the feel of him.
Trembling, clinging to her, trusting her to make it OK. She
amazed herself at how she felt so right in the role.

"Yes, sweetheart..." Lois started hesitantly *Mommy, he called me
Mommy.* she thought to herself. "Mommy and daddy are here and the
bad man is gone. You just close your eyes and go back to sleep,
OK?"

CJ smiled up at her and before Lois could complete the tender
kiss she placed on the tip of his nose, he was sleep.

*****

Lois woke up the next morning in the bed she shared with Clark.
Gone, however were the warm, strong, protective arms that
normally surrounded her as she slept. For a moment she wondered
where they were. Then her mind focused on the presence of
another, smaller warm spot, stretching across her chest and
stomach. Knowingly her hands reached out to hold him, and she
placed a gently kiss in the massive waves on the top of his
head.

When her eyes opened she saw Clark, sitting in a chair across
from them. Staring at them. A smile crossed his face.

"My wife...and my son. What a beautiful picture."

Lois returned his smile and held out her hand to him. Clark rose
from his chair and greeted her with a kiss. He floated softly
down next to them on the bed. CJ sound asleep. Mom and Dad
staring at each him.

The voice of reason interrupted Clark's Saturday morning dream
come true.

"Lois," he whispered, "maybe we should talk before he wakes up.
In case he starts asking a lot of questions. We should probably
be together on our story. Whatever our story is."

Lois reluctantly agreed and the two separated themselves from
their sleeping son and headed to the kitchen. Clark had been up,
dressed, and to the store without disturbing either of them. Lois
couldn't resist peeking in the grocery bag on the counter and was
pleased to find the makings of blueberry pancakes.

"So what's our plan?"

Clark shrugged his shoulders and poured them a cup of coffee.
"The truth?"

Lois cringed at the thought. "Do you think he'll understand? He
was so upset last night - I don't want to risk traumatizing him
at such a tender age. How old do you think he is anyway?"

Clark thought back to his son's image. "I'm not sure, he's so
little. But he talks so clear...I mean you can certainly
understand what he's trying to say..." Lois noticed the look of
pride on her husband's face and couldn't help but echo it in her
own. "Four...maybe five."

Lois nodded at his assessment and sat down on his lap. "How about
we play it by ear. Let's just act as if nothing is wrong, handle
the questions, as delicately as possible, as they come up. If
they come up."

Clark raised his eyebrow at Lois. "Lois, this is *your* son! The
questions will come up!" Clark lifted Lois up into a sweet kiss.
"I thought I'd fix us my mom's famous blueberry pancakes for
breakfast! I hope he likes 'em!" Lois licked her lips and smiled
as Clark began assembling his ingredients.

Not long after the first few perfect pancakes came off the
griddle. Lois was in mid-"kiss and compliment" when she noticed
*that* look in Clark's eyes.

"Oh no...what do you hear?

A brilliant smile spread across Clark's face, "Lois, I actually
hear the pitter patter of little feet!"

"Mommy? Daddy?" CJ had found his way to the kitchen door.

"Right here honey," Lois kneeled down and held out her arms and
was rewarded with a huge hug and kiss. She smiled at Clark as she
gave her son an extra squeeze, and turned him to face his dad.

"Look what daddy's making us for breakfast!"

Clark flipped a pancake onto the spatula and waved it in front
CJ's face. "I hope you like blueberry pancakes."

CJ turned and looked at Lois. He stared at her for what seemed
like an eternity, then turned back to Clark. His expression was
somewhat hesitant. Lois and Clark exchanged worried glances.
Suddenly it was clear this was not going to be as smooth as they
had hoped.

"I like them." CJ, still clinging tightly to Lois, he rested his
head on her shoulder.

"Great! Well, everything is ready, why don't we eat?" Clark tried
to sound enthused as he dished out pancakes. Lois sat CJ in a
chair and went to get him some pillows to sit on. There was an
awkward silence in the room that all three were afraid to break.

Clark took his son's plate and cut up his pancakes. Lois watched
intently as CJ seemed to study every thing in sight. He looked
all around his strange surroundings and Lois swore she could see
the confusion in his eyes. Then he looked at her. He just stared
at her with the saddest little eyes she'd ever seen.

Clark had cut CJ's pancakes into bite size pieces and drizzled
them with maple syrup. When he placed the plate in front of his
son he tried to give him his most reassuring smile. "There you
go. Eat up!"

CJ looked down at the plate. He couldn't hold back anymore. Tears
streamed down his face and he burst into tears. Both Lois and
Clark jumped from their seats to his side. "I don't like syrup on
my pancakes!" CJ turned to Lois and she engulfed him in a hug and
carried him to the couch.

She rocked him for a while, waiting for him to regain his
composure. Clark was pacing nervously behind them. Silently
cursing himself for - of all things - pouring syrup on pancakes.

When CJ calmed down, he very matter of factly asked the question
his parents had hoped to avoid.

"Are you really my mom and dad?"

Clark sat down on the couch next to Lois and his son. "Yes, CJ,
we...we really are your mom and dad."

"Then why is everything so different?"

"How is it different?" Clark hoped CJ's answer would give them
some clues as to how to proceed with this conversation.

CJ looked at Lois and ran his hand over the back of her neck,
through her hair. "Your hair is so short now...did the bad man
make you cut it?"

Lois smiled and shook her head no. "What else?"

"This is not our house. It looks like Uncle JimmyO's apartment
but the furniture is different. And daddy, you didn't make the
pancakes CJ size, you always make them CJ size, just for me, and
then you put syrup on them and you know I don't like syrup, I
never eat syrup, just butter, and Jon-Kyle's not here
and...and...the baby in your stomach is gone."

Lois and Clark sat stunned, trying to digest what their son had
told them. Obviously he had inherited that Lane "babble" gene.
Clark loved it as much in his son as he did in his mother.

Lois gave Clark her best "maybe you should handle this one" look
and Clark took CJ from her lap to his.

"CJ, you are exactly right. Things are different. *We* are
different. But we are your real mom and dad, and we do love
you...so very much. You are safe here, OK?" CJ shook his head.

"But *why*, daddy?"

Clark thought back to his conversation with Lois before CJ woke
up. The truth? Could he really tell his young son that some
time-traveling bandit had sent him back to a time before he even
existed?

"CJ, can you tell us, what you remember about last night.?" CJ
looked sad at the memory of it, but slowly relayed the story.

"Mommy gave Jon-Kyle a bath and put him in the bed. You were
helping me wrap Nicky's birthday present. Can I still go to his
party today? Superman is going to be there and he promised to fly
us around again."

Clark stroked his son's cheek. "The...bad man...that hurt us with
the green rock, did you know him? Did daddy call him by name?"

CJ shook his head no. "Daddy, did he make everything different?"

Clark shook his head apprehensively. "Yeah, he did. See, we
think...the blue light...put you in a different time...a time
before you were actually...born."

There. He'd said it. Slowly he waited for his son to either break
into a fit of hysterical laughter or even worse...tears. Clark
was shocked to see his eyes actually brighten up.

"You mean the bad man was Tempus?!"

Lois looked at Clark, then to her son. "You know...about
Tempus?"

CJ grinned, a huge grin that had "I am Clark Kent's son" written
all over it. "Yes! It's my favorite bedtime story, you always
tell us how you and daddy went back in time to save baby Superman
from him!"

Lois and Clark laughed with relief, as it dawned on them that
their son would indeed understand the truth. He might even enjoy
it. Clark continued, feeling a huge burden lifted from his
shoulders.

"That's right, CJ, we did. Somehow, you've traveled into the past
too. Just like mommy and daddy did. You've managed to travel back
to before you were even born! That's why everything is
different."

An excited smile crossed his face. 'That's why you didn't make my
pancakes CJ size?"

"Yup! And that's why mommy's hair is short and I didn't know you
don't like syrup...and also...why Superman didn't know you."

CJ smiled. A sight that Lois and Clark greatly enjoyed. "Wow!"
Then he turned to them a bit more seriously. "So...you are my
*real* mom and dad...just...not yet, right?"

"Right!"

With that reassurance CJ seemed to turn into a bundle of energy.
He loved the idea of being a "Jr. Time Traveler" and having the
chance to tell mommy and daddy all the things they didn't know
about their lives. He even showed Clark the proper way to make CJ
size pancakes. (CJ rides piggy-back and says "Stop!" when Clark
has poured just enough batter on the griddle to make a slightly
bigger than a silver dollar sized pancake.)

Over breakfast, the Kents learned their son, Clark Jerome Kent
II, (not "Jr." because daddy doesn't like "Jr.") was 5 years old.
He was born on December 8th but he didn't know what year. That
would have helped them figure out what year he had to be returned
to, but since they didn't have a time machine as yet, it really
didn't matter.

His little brother, whom he nicknamed Jon-Kyle because Jonathan
Kal-El was too hard for him to say, just turned 3 on July 31st.
"I can say it real good now that I'm five, but when I was only
two, it was hard."

Superman made a guest appearance at his party too, and of course,
flew them around a little. Lois was amazed to learn that she was
going to have yet *another* baby in what sounded like any day now
because, according to her son, her stomach "is really, really big
out to here!"

Clark's eyes widened at how far CJ hands were from Lois' stomach
when demonstrating this point. He couldn't help but laugh as
Lois' face turned to a paranoid frown. "I hope he's
exaggerating!"

Apparently "Uncle JimmyO" (pronounced all together like
"cheerio") had moved into Clark's apartment when he and Lois
bought the house on Senecca Drive. That would have been right
after he and Aunt Lucy got married. Or right before. CJ wasn't
sure which but it didn't matter. His parents were still wide-eyed
over the idea of Jimmy and Lucy married.

As they cleaned the kitchen, they were proud to learn their
smart, well mannered, rambunctious little boy was eagerly
awaiting the start of kindergarten next month. Something about
riding the same bus and being in the same class as best friend
Nicky Brink.

Clark found himself completely in love with the sound of his
son's voice. He couldn't wait to live the life his son described.
Happily married to Lois, living in a big house she was apparently
willing - and able - to fill with children. Beautiful children,
by the looks of CJ. It was his dream. Almost. Still he wasn't
willing to wake up just yet.

"I have an idea. Why don't I see if Superman can fly us all to
Smallville for the weekend? I know my parents would love to see
you!"

"Nana and Pop-Pop Kent's?! I love it there! Do you think Pop-Pop
will take us fishing in the boat?"

Clark laughed and scooped his son up into a hug. "I think he
would just love to!"

CJ was clearly thrilled by the idea. Lois clearly was not. Clark
lovingly ignored her questioning look and advised her he would
"run" to the store and buy CJ some clothes and shoes. Clark
checked the sizes of his pajamas and slippers and before Lois
could finagle a moment with him out of their son's ear shot, he
was gone.

*****

A few moments later, Superman arrived with a bag for CJ. He said
Clark asked him to bring this back while he picked up a few more
things. Lois was to get herself and CJ ready and Superman would
fly them on ahead to Smallville and bring Clark when he finished
"shopping".

Lois eyed Clark as CJ tore into the bag. A "Superman" toothbrush
and underwear, of course, a pair of jeans, a T-shirt, socks,
sneakers, and a red windbreaker. CJ smiled at Superman and gave
him a hug. "My daddy told me why you didn't know me anymore. I'm
in the past!" Superman smiled. "That's right CJ, and now that
we've met, I can see why I think you're so special."

As CJ ran off to the bathroom, Lois shot a determined look at
Clark. "What are you doing?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean don't you think we should be trying to figure out how he
got here, so we can get him back instead of planning "Family Day
in Smallville?"

"We can still do that?"

Lois was about to tell Clark how she thought he was trying to
avoid the inevitable and how much agony their future selves must
be in when CJ ran back into the room.

"Mommy! Mommy can you help me please! I need a washcloth and a
towel, and I can't reach this sink in here and you don't let me
put the tooth paste on by myself yet!"

Her son's melodious voice melted her resolve to reprimand her
husband. "I'll be right there, CJ!" She watched as he skipped
back to the bathroom. "This isn't over, buddy."

Clark knew he would have to face reality at some point. Just not
right now. While Lois was busy with CJ, he packed an overnight
bag for him and Lois and waited. Lois moved particularly slow
while getting herself ready. It gave her a sneaky pleasure to
know she was tormenting Clark with anticipation. Until she
realized she was having the same effect on her son. There was
something about flying with Superman that thrilled him to no end.
*I wonder who he got that from?*

*****

Finally all together in Smallville, Clark was living his dream.
Apparently he *had* done some more shopping before "Superman"
brought him to the farm. Almost $100 worth of toys. To Lois'
raised eyebrow look, Clark responded diplomatically, "We don't
know how long he'll be here, he has to have *something* to play
with!"

A remote control dune buggy, a complete set of "Hot Wheels"
sports cars, with the "Park and Play Car Wash and Garage",
*several* Superman action figures and coloring books, crayons,
("the gigantic, every-color-on-the-planet, box" Lois observed)
and an assortment of "Animaniacs" videos. Lois shook her head in
disbelief as she watched CJ and Clark take the dune buggy for a
spin around Martha's dining room table. Silently she wondered who
was the bigger kid.

Martha and Jonathan were charmed by their grandson as well. CJ
went from lap to lap, excitedly retelling all the details of his
life, and adding the even more startling revelation that somehow,
Lois' parents had reconciled and remarried.

The hours went by like minutes. Lois and Martha prepared CJ's
favorite, spaghetti with meatballs, for dinner. Lois even
volunteered to bake brownies. To which her bubbly son replied,
"Mommy...you don't bake!" Things change, things stay the same.

Jonathan and Clark, with CJ riding on his shoulders, walked the
farm after dinner. The elder Kents were surprised how well CJ
knew the farm and the land. Clark was happy to see that
apparently they were able to visit both sets of grandparents
regularly.

"Daddy, is that your tree house?"

Clark looked up to where his son was pointing. "Yes, CJ, that's
it." The sight of the tree house was somehow an unwelcome
intrusion into the fantasy Clark was living.

"Can I see in there, the way it looks now?"

Clark hesitated but found it hard to resist his son's request.
Jonathan knew as Clark had grown his "Fortress of Solitude"
become an increasingly more painful reminder of his lonely
childhood days. Yet he couldn't tear it down. Neither of them
could.

Clark hoisted CJ to the tree house and the little boy scrambled
inside. Clark joined him as Jonathan looked up from the ground.
CJ looked around silently, and sat down on his father's lap.
Seeing the carvings on the entrance he asked softly. "Daddy, what
does that say?"

"Fortress of Solitude."

CJ looked confused. "What does Solitude mean?"

Clark shifted uncomfortably on the floor. "Alone."

Clark's response had taken on a sadder tone than he wanted to
relay to his son. CJ turned to face him and Clark hung his head.

"You were a lonely little boy, Daddy?"

"Yes...sometimes I was."

"Well...in...where...in the place that I'm from..."

"You mean the future?"

"Yeah the future. In the future, you're not lonely. This tree
house doesn't make you sad. Me and you and Jon- Kyle play here
all the time and we have fun. You know what the door says?"

"No, what?"

"The Kent Gang - Members Only! Pop-Pop even comes up sometimes.
He always sneaks us some cookies or something."

Clark laughed at the thought of his father actually climbing up
the ladder to his tree house, harboring goodies he was sure his
mom only let him *think* he got away with sneaking. Clark hugged
his son for a long moment. Apparently the future was a very
bright place.

"Clark!" Jonathan called up from the ground.

"Yeah, Dad?"

"Looks like the ladies are waving us in. I think those brownies
are getting impatient!"

Clark and CJ descended the tree house ladder and Jonathan was
certain he saw a tear in his son's eye.

*****

Later that evening as Martha bathed her grandson and got him
ready for bed, Clark realized he could put Lois off no longer.

"Can I talk to you outside?" She whispered.

Clark followed Lois onto the porch and prepared himself for what
he thought was going to be a severe verbal lashing. The money he
spent at the toy store. His absolutely non-existent attempt to
even *think* of how to get CJ home. Much to his amazement, she
instead wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him into a
soft, gentle kiss.

When it ended, somewhere around Clark's earlobe, Lois whispered
softly in his ear. "I know the effect he's having on you. I know
this is a taste of everything you've ever wanted. He is a
charming little boy, and I'm not immune to his innocent wiles
either. I feel it too. But Clark, he's only been in our lives one
day and we're crazy about him. Think about how our future selves
must feel. What they must be going through thinking their little
boy is lost in time."

Clark broke from the hug and sighed. "I know, Lois, I just can't
help it. I want to play with him and listen to him babble.
But...of course, you're right. We should be trying to figure out
how to get him...back to the future."

Lois laughed and was glad to see realization in Clark's eyes. "So
I don't have to beat you over the head with a kryptonite bat or
something?"

Clark feigned a painful look and pulled Lois into a bear hug.
"No, mam, I don't think that will be necessary!"

"Well, OK...so you Kent hunter-gatherers go on off on your little
fishing excursion tomorrow morning, but when you get back..."

Clark interrupted her with a kiss, then completed her sentence.
"We get to work."

*****

Before the sun rose the next morning Clark was up and dressed and
having a cup of coffee with his dad. It had been a while since he
and Jonathan had an outing together and both were looking forward
to it. As Jonathan quietly prepared sandwiches and thermoses of
coffee, Clark went to wake CJ and get him dressed.

Once out on the lake, CJ was trying his best to whisper so he
wouldn't scare all the fish away. CJ sat on "Pop- Pop's" lap
listening intently as Jonathan instructed him on the finer points
of picking and hooking a lure. Clark couldn't help but recall
when he had been the little boy on his dad's lap, in this very
same boat, on this same lake, getting the very same lecture.

"Daddy."

"Daddy!"

Clark's mind traveled forward about 22 years as he heard his
son's strained whisper. "Yes...I'm sorry, what did you say?"

CJ smiled and repeated his question. "I said, do you wanna hear a
fish joke?"

"Sure."

"Why do fish swim in salt water?"

"I don't know, why?"

"Because pepper makes them sneeze!"

Clark and Jonathan looked at each other for a split second, then
burst into laughter. All thoughts of keeping quiet completely
left their minds. Clark reached his arms out to CJ who, happily
stepped into them.

"Where did you hear such a funny joke?" Jonathan asked.

"Nicky told it to me!"

As Clark, Jonathan and CJ continued laughing loudly, about a
hundred fish quietly swam away.

*****

Back at the farm, Martha and Lois prepared a hearty lunch for
their mighty fishing men. Clark said, fish or no fish, they'd be
back around 1:00pm. As Lois took one of Martha's pies from the
oven she noticed Jonathan, Clark and CJ making their way across
the yard.

"Here they come, Martha, and I don't see any fish! Good thing we
had a plan B!"

"Lois...could you come here a minute, dear?"

Martha's voice had lost it's jovial tone and Lois noticed it as
she headed for the living room. What she saw completely amazed
her. By the look on Martha's face, she was at a loss for words
herself.

Before her eyes...there she stood. She and Clark. Looking tired
and worried and...older. The strain of suffering through missing
a child evident in their faces. They had come for him. They had
let nothing stop them from finding their son.

In the future, Clark was just as handsome as ever. His physical
appearance didn't seem to change much at all except his hair was
a bit longer, and his glasses were different.

She on the other hand looked quite different. Her hair had grown
down to the middle of her back and she wore it in a loose French
braid. "It grows like a weed when I'm pregnant" she would later
explain. "Clark loves it long and since he helps me take care of
it, I haven't cut it."

"He helps you take care of it?" Lois asked herself.

"Oh yeah. I wash it for her sometimes and I've become quite adept
with a blow dryer." Clark smiled at his younger wife's amused
reaction.

She was also seven months pregnant and in Lois' opinion CJ had
*not* exaggerated about how big her stomach was. Still, she
looked...right. As strange as it was seeing herself pregnant, she
could tell she was happy. Generally speaking. Maybe not so much
the past few days, or hours, or whatever it had been for them,
but usually.

Clark looked around the room and hesitantly asked if CJ was
indeed there.

"Ohmigod! Of course!" Lois was so amazed at the sight of them she
temporarily forgot they were not there on a social call. "He's
right outside with Clark and Jonathan."

Lois went to the door and looked out into the yard. CJ had
managed to talk Jonathan into a tractor ride. There he was on
Pop-Pop's lap, fighting to turn the giant steering wheel. Lois
called to Clark who waved Jonathan and CJ into the barn to park
the tractor.

When they came in, CJ excitedly ran to Lois and began telling her
about the fish he caught but had to throw back. "He was only a
little bigger than my hand so we throwed him back!"

"Threw him back, CJ" Clark corrected. Then he noticed their
future counterparts immediately, and the smile that had been
there almost constantly since yesterday's breakfast slowly began
to fade.

Lois noticed the pained expression in Clark's face and her heart
ached with him. Quietly she turned her attention back to their
son. "CJ - look who's here."

When CJ saw his mom and dad waiting patiently across the room, he
bolted over to them. This was the mommy and daddy he knew and
loved. Lois and Clark, Martha and Jonathan watched quietly as CJ
hugged and kissed and was hugged and kissed by the parents who
obviously adored him.

Once the three had sufficient time to reunite, Martha and
Jonathan took CJ to the kitchen to fix everyone sandwiches and
coffee. Both Loises and both Clarks sat down and filled each
other in on what had happened since that moment in time on Friday
night. Clark confirmed that it was indeed Tempus, trying yet
again to do away with him. This time both Lois and CJ had saved
his life. Lois by knocking Tempus unconscious, (before collapsing
from the pain the kryptonite was causing the baby) and CJ by
putting it back in the lead-lined box.

"He didn't know what it was exactly, but he knew mommy was trying
to get rid of it. We think he was headed to the kitchen garbage
can with it when he walked through the time line."

Clark pulled the time travel device from his pocket and pointed
it towards an empty corner of the room. It looked like a
palm-sized remote control from a television set, but a blue beam
shot out of it and formed a line about ten feet across and ten
feet wide.

"When Tempus fell, it accidentally turned on. Once CJ ran through
it, it shut off automatically and we had no idea where he went."

Both Loises winced at the thought of what could have been. Clark
took the device from himself and looked it over carefully before
handing it back. "I guess this is the 21st century's version of
that cable car we traveled in." His Lois looked at him and
smiled. "Modern technology."

"Once we recovered," Clark continued, "we had to figure out how
to work the thing so we could put Tempus away for good - a
maximum security prison built just for him - in Utopia - and then
find CJ."

A tear filled Lois' eye as CJ entered the room with her sandwich.
"We had no idea where to start looking. He could have been
anywhere. We could have been off by years or weeks or days." CJ
climbed up onto the couch next to her and rested his head on her
stomach.

Martha sat down on the arm of the chair behind her Clark. "So,
are you and the baby OK?"

Lois smiled. "Yes, we're fine. He did do Olympic- caliber
gymnastics for a few moments though."

"He?" Lois asked. "Well, we don't know for sure yet. I guess I
just say he out of habit. Actually I'm hoping for a little girl
this time."

Clark looked at his future self sorrowfully. "I'm sorry we
weren't doing more to help you on our end. We just...well, I just
got so wrapped up in the idea of having a son. How did you find
him so fast?"

Clark explained that whenever he and Lois checked a few time
lines and didn't find him, they went back to their present to see
if anything had changed, before trying somewhere else. Martha had
been the one to notice the videos and toys appear in CJ's room.

"Mom found the registration card you filled out for the car,
thankfully, it had the date of purchase on it.. So actually, you
were more help than you realized."

After everyone had finished eating, Clark announced that maybe it
was time they started getting things back in order. They had left
a very worried Nana and Pop-Pop Kent with Jon-Kyle in their time.
CJ and Martha packed up the toys and clothes Clark bought him, as
well as a few brownies for the road.

When it came time for Clark to say good-bye to his son, he felt
an overwhelming sadness. "I'm going to miss you so much."

"Actually..." Clark corrected himself, "you won't miss him at
all. We need to return things to the way they were." Clark
lowered his voice to avoid CJ overhearing. "There is no way the
"Jr Time Traveler" is going to keep this a secret. He may not
know why the green rock hurt us, but if he starts telling that
story, someone is bound to figure it out. Since I'll have the
device, I'll be the only one of us with any knowledge of what
happened."

Both Loises shot him an upset look. Clark put his arm around his
Lois. "Don't worry, I'll tell you all about it."

Clark and Lois shook their heads in solemn agreement. "I will put
the four of you, CJ and my Lois back to whatever it was you were
doing the Friday night before he went through the time line."

The future Lois and Clark smiled knowingly at their counterparts,
waiting for them to remember just what that was. As realization
hit them, Martha and Jonathan were tipped off by Clark's familiar
"newlywed blush".

Before Clark activated the time line, Lois asked her future self
if it was possible she could retain a little bit of the knowledge
she had gained over this weekend. She and Clark had always been
so uncertain about whether they could even have children, let
alone what they'd look like or if they'd be good parents. She
wanted to be left with the peace of mind that everything turned
out OK.

Her future self reminded her that facing uncertainty together was
what helped their relationship grow. She told her the trials and
insecurities they went through held them together, and taught
them to depend on each other.

Clark looked at his Lois, then at Clark. "The first time...when
she tells you you're going to be a father..."

Both Clark's eyes were misting up and the younger Lois was not
surprised to see that he still got all tongue-tied when it came
to expressing his deepest emotions. His Lois came to his rescue.

"It happens quite unexpectedly. At a time in our lives when we
had almost given up hope. It was the sweetest surprise you could
ever imagine. All three times! You'll want to experience it that
way. Trust me."

Lois and Clark hugged their future son good bye one last time.
Their own counsel had convinced them to go back in time, once
again without any knowledge of their future. Clark pressed the
button and activated the time line and Lois, Clark, Jonathan and
Martha prepared to follow them into the blue light.

CJ looked up over his dad's shoulder and saw a tear run down his
future mother's face. As he reached out and touched the tear from
her face he told her, "Don't cry mommy, I'll see you in the
future."

*****

Instinctively he grabbed her and pressed his mouth to hers.
Searching every inch of it, like he'd never been there before.
Gently he lifted her into his arms and carried her to the couch,
his hands roaming over every curve as he kissed her.

Then he stopped.

"Clark...what's wrong?"

"Nothing...I'm just...I'm just getting the strangest feeling...of
deja vu."

Lois smiled and pulled his face back down into her neck. "Well we
do end up in this situation about three times a night."

Clark laughed and bit gently on Lois' ear. "Well you are quite
insatiable but...I mean, really."

Lois looked into Clark's eyes. "You know, now that you mention
it. I felt it earlier tonight too. When you blushed at my
assessment of the desert menu in the restaurant."

"I didn't blush!"

"You did too!"

A mischievous grin returned to Clark's face as he remembered his
wife's unabashed flirting. "Well, anyway, it's gone now. That
"deja vu" feeling, I mean...cause that other feeling...that
hasn't left me..."

Lois purred knowingly in his ear. "Rrrrreally? What feeling would
that be?"

Clark took Lois' hand and ran it slowly over his solid chest and
rippling stomach, stopping for a particularly long time over the
area reserved only for her...

*****

"There! It's perfect!" CJ exclaimed as he placed a big red bow on
the Superman action figure he had wrapped for Nicky's birthday
party.

"All right now, it's time for you to get to bed young man." Clark
scooped his son up into his arms and carried him upstairs.

"Daddy, are you sure Superman will come to the party tomorrow?
Did he *promise* you he would or did he just say he'll try?"
Clark lovingly rolled his eyes up in his head as he heard that
question from his son for what had to be the tenth time that
night.

Lois smiled as she followed her husband down the hall to their
son's bedroom. "I was there, CJ, Superman *promised*. And you
know, Superman never breaks a promise."

CJ smiled and hugged his mom and dad goodnight. After tucking him
into his bed, Lois and Clark crossed the hall to their other
son's room and found him sleeping soundly.

Arm in arm they walked back to their bedroom where Clark began
his nightly ritual of brushing Lois' long brown hair. Noticing
she seemed to be a million miles away Clark began playfully
kissing her neck between brush strokes.

"Clark...I know I said I didn't want you to look but..."

Clark knew where this conversation was going. He had anticipated
Lois having an argument with herself over whether she wanted him
to x-ray her stomach and tell her the baby's sex. It usually went
something like... "I want to know. No...wait...I want to be
surprised...no, tell me...no...never mind, I'll wait!"

Clark learned early on not to attempt to get a word in edgewise.
She would come to her decision not to know all by herself. She
did it a million times with CJ, ten million times with Jon-Kyle
and was up to at least that much now with two months to go.

"...I've changed my mind."

When Clark didn't respond Lois gently poked him in the stomach.
"Claaark! I'm serious. I want to know. So just take a quick peek
with your vision gizmo thing and tell me what you
see...or...don't see."

Clark smiled and took Lois' hand. "Now...you're sure..."

"I'm sure"

"Positive?"

"Positive!"

"You know once I look there's no turning back..."

"Clark!"

Clark chuckled to himself as his wife shook her tiny little fist
at him. "OK, one moment please..."

It seemed like Clark was taking forever to peek inside her
stomach and give her the news she'd hoped for. A precious little
girl. In reality, their baby was being particularly shy, and
Clark had to move practically behind Lois to see for sure.

"Well?"

"Lois...it's...a boy."

Lois faked a horrified wail and flopped down on the bed. Clark
laughed and flopped down beside her and rubbed her protruding
belly.

"You're not too disappointed are you?"

Lois smiled up at him. "How could I be? Another little boy with
the man I love...life *is* good."

Clark kissed her gently and invited her to assume her favorite
and most comfortable snuggling position. A difficult thing to
achieve at this late stage of pregnancy. As she leaned back into
him, she felt an unfamiliar bulge in his pants pocket.

"What's this?"

Clark pulled the offending object out of his pocket and smiled.

"Lois, have I got a story for you..."

THE END