By Megan Sullivan (lessa1@geocities.com)
Summary: A continuation of the story "A Little Kent in Their Future." Lois and Clark decide to forego using a doctor for prenatal care and instead settle on their favorite midwife — Martha.
This story is a continuation of "A Little Kent in Their Future". If you haven't read it yet, you can get it from the archive, or from my fanfic page, found at: http://members.aol.com/meganc99/fanfic.htm
Thanks to Debby for all her encouragement.
{NOTE: In this story, I do in no way mean to imply that Clark uses x-rays to look at the baby. When I say he looks at it, I really mean that he listens and then creates a sonogram, but in the context of a story, looks sounds much better.}
Telling All the Friends - Chapter 2 in the saga begun in A Little Kent in Their Future
***
One month later…
After a long discussion with Martha Kent, Lois and Clark had decided that it would be best if Lois didn't receive prenatal care from a traditional doctor. There was always the chance that a doctor could discover their secret. Instead, Martha had suggested that they let her take care of Lois's prenatal needs. After discovering that she and Jonathan couldn't have kids, Martha had decided to become a licensed midwife. Which she was. When Lois had asked about sonograms, Martha had replied "Honey, what on earth do we need all that expensive equipment for? We've got Clark here, remember?" Lois had agreed that this was the best idea for all involved, so that was the course they began to follow.
Only a month into her pregnancy, Lois was already beginning to show. This worried her, and when Clark 'looked' at the baby, he told her that it was growing fast, that was all.
"So I'm guessing that this pregnancy is going to be far from ordinary," she said.
"Lois, nothing in your life is ever ordinary," Clark replied.
They were again visiting the Kent Farmhouse when Martha broached a subject that had slipped both their minds.
"So, have you two told your co-workers at the Planet about your happy news?"
"Mom, we completely forgot about that! I mean, we told Perry, but we never said anything to anyone else."
"How do we tell them now?" Lois asked in a scared voice. "I mean, we all know that this pregnancy is not normal. Who knows? In three months, I could be ready to deliver this baby. And how do we explain that?"
Martha thought for a moment. "Lois, my suggestion to you two would be to tell everyone as soon as possible. But make it sound as if Lois has been pregnant for a while. Lois, start wearing baggier clothes that completely hide your stomach. That way, people will have no way to tell how far along you are."
"Martha, where do you come up with all these great ideas?"
"Pure genius."
"One problem though, Mom. What if someone asks when the baby's due?"
"I think I can answer that one, Clark," replied Lois. "All we have to say is 'Not soon enough'. That way, people will laugh at the joke and probably forget their original question." She paused. "But what do we say when Perry asks? He is going to have to know when I'll be off for maternity leave."
"We'll just have to play that one by ear," answered Martha. "When it looks to us that the baby will be born in a few weeks, then you can inform Perry. We should be able to figure out a due date by using Clark's amazing hearing. He can listen and then basically draw us a sonogram picture. We'll keep a day to day log of the size of the baby, and then compare it to a normal gestation chart. We should be able to tell how long it will be until you give birth."
"This is incredibly complicated," sighed Lois.
"That's what happens when you marry someone 'super' like Clark," replied Martha, with a sly smile.
"Thanks, Mom."
***
After spending a wonderful afternoon with the Kents, Lois and Clark were back in Metropolis. And even though they had taken the day off, they decided to go to the Planet.
They arrived and entered the elevator.
"So, Clark, are you going to tell them, or am I?"
"Do you want to tell them?"
"I don't know. You can, if you want."
"But do you want to?"
"Clark!"
"Sorry. I just want you to be happy. Besides, you should try not to get so stressed out. I've read that it's bad for the baby."
"Oh great. Are you going to be one of those husbands who make their pregnant wives do yoga and eat herbal junk and meditate and stuff like that?"
"Do you want me to be?"
Lois just sighed and rolled her eyes at him.
The elevator doors slid open on the press room of the Daily Planet. Lois stepped out, closely followed by Clark. Jimmy saw them and did a double take.
"Hey CK! I thought you and Lois took the day off."
"We did, Jimmy, but we had to come back for something." He glanced at Lois, who shrugged her shoulders, as if to say 'It's now or never'.
Clark took Lois by the hand and led her over to the area in front of Perry's office. "Can I have your attention for just a second?" he called. Everyone turned to look at him. "Lois and I have an announcement to make." He smiled down at Lois. "We're going to be parents."
A great clamor rose over the whole staff. Shouts of 'Congratulations' and 'Way to go, Clark' were heard over the noise. Jimmy came rushing over to them.
"Wow. A baby Kent. Congratulations! I woulda never thought that you were pregnant, Lois."
"Thanks, Jimmy."
"And might I suggest a name? James Bartholomew Kent." As he said the three names, he moved his hand to indicate a billboard, or something of the sort.
Clark laughed. "I don't know, Jimmy. I think one James Bartholomew is enough for this town."
A voice came from behind them. "Then how about Elvis? Or Priscilla, if it's a girl."
Lois turned around to face Perry. "Please tell me you're kidding."
Perry laughed. "Of course I'm kidding, Lois. Heck, I wouldn't even do that to my own child. I mean, to have to live all your life with people calling you the king. Although I wouldn't mind it too much."
Clark shook his head. "Figures."
***
That evening, Lois and Clark were finally back at home, after a long day. Clark was making supper for the both of them.
"Hey, Lois?" he called from the kitchen.
"Yeah?"
"I just thought of something." He walked into the living room, where Lois was lounging on the couch. "Jimmy and Perry brought up some interesting questions. What are we going to name the baby? I mean, it's something we should really think about."
"I haven't really thought of it. But I have always thought that names were special. Like they should mean something important."
"Oh, like someone being named after someone else."
"Yeah."
"Do you have any specific names in mind?"
"Well, I think that your Kryptonian mother has a beautiful name. Lara. I just like the sound of that. Maybe we could consider that if it's a girl. Or we could name it after your birth name."
"You'd name an earth child Kal-El?" he asked with a questioning look.
"Well, I was thinking more along the lines of something like Kyle. They sound sort of alike."
"I like that. Wait, let me find a piece of paper. We'll write these down." He ran into the kitchen and returned a split second later with a pad of paper and a pen. "Let's see. Kyle and Lara. How about Laney, after her beautiful mother?"
She blushed. "That's kind of pretty too. Picking a name is going to be harder than I thought."
"But I think we can pick the right name for our child.
***
And so ends chapter 2 in the continuing saga of Lois, Clark, and Baby Kent.
Tune in next time.
Who knows what you'll discover.
THE END
(telling.txt)