By Cece Cox <carolhathaway@hotmail.com>
Rated G Submitted
November 1999
Summary: In this sequel to Tank Wilson's fanfic "The Choice," Lois has made her decision.
Note: This story is a sequel to Tank Wilson's fanfic "The Choice." I suggest that if you haven't read the prequel, you should. Otherwise, this will won't make sense. As usual, feedback is greatly appreciated. This is my first fanfic, so be nice! <g> Enjoy! :)
***
A young brunette sat at her desk at the Daily Planet. Papers littered her desk as well as completely covering her lap. She thumbed through a stack of papers in search of a very important phone number. She looked up when her colleague walked by.
"Hey, Jimmy," she said with a smile. "What's up?"
"Not much," he replied, stopping to chat. "How about you?"
"I'm just looking for a phone number in all this mess." She indicated the avalanche of papers on her desk. "I'm sure it's in here somewhere."
"Good luck. I gotta go get the chief some fresh donuts." He made a face as he spoke. "I'll see you later."
"Sure."
They both smiled politely as Jimmy left.
Lois Lane sighed, took the papers from her lap and set them on her already cluttered desk. It wouldn't hurt to add to the clutter. It would all get cleared eventually. She rested her head in her hands, and thought about the past few months.
Crazy months. Busy months. Confusing months. It had been almost nine months since Lady Zara and Lieutenant Ching had showed up at her doorstep. They delivered the devastating news that Clark had been killed on New Krypton. Along with the remains of her beloved, Zara had brought a small vial. It contained Clark's DNA, enabling Lois to impregnate herself, and raise their child on her own. It had been an *extremely* difficult decision to make. One not to be taken lightly. What Zara forgot to mention, though, were the odds of having twins. Lois was only thankful that Clark's parents had decided to move to Metropolis to be with her.
"Lois!" Perry bellowed, shaking Lois from her thoughts. "In my office!"
She sighed again. She stood slowly, stretching her tired back before making her way to Perry's office.
"Have a seat, honey," he said softly.
"No thanks, Perry. I've been sitting all day, and my back is killing me. It's not easy being nine months pregnant with twins." She placed her hands on her hips. "What did you want to see me for?"
"Honey, I thought I told you to head out of here a week ago. You need to be resting."
"Perry, I'm pregnant, not made of glass. I've been working half days, and I gave in to letting you keep me on desk duty since my sixth month. Today's my last day. Honest."
"I hope so. With Clark gone, I worry about you."
"Me, too," she sighed.
After Clark had died, Lois had had no choice but to tell her editor everything. Secret identity and all. To explain Clark's death to the rest of the world, Lois and Perry had told them that Clark had been shot and killed while covering Superman's absence.
"Well, Perry, I'd better get out of here. I'll probably be in tomorrow to straighten out my desk for the temp."
"Alright. Well, you take care of yourself, sweetheart. Call me if you need anything."
"I will. Thanks, Perry. For everything."
He smiled in reply as he hugged Lois. He kissed her cheek. "Bye, honey."
"Bye." Lois opened the door to Perry's office, took one final glance around it, and left.
***
"How was work today?" Martha asked as the three sat around the dinner table.
"Boring," Lois replied. "Same old same old. I really can't wait for these two." With a smile, she patted her belly. "Something new for a change."
"You'll be horribly busy," said Jonathan. "But at least you've got some help."
"Yeah. But I know I can't depend on you two forever. Sooner or later, I'm going to have to be on my own. Don't get me wrong, I love you both. But I'm going to need to be my own support system."
Martha and Jonathan exchanged glances, nodding in agreement.
"That time to be on my own may be closer than we think," Lois said after a moment.
"Why's that, dear?" asked Martha.
"My water just broke."
***
Martha held Lois' hand, coaching her through the pushing. She had been in labor for about ten hours, and was glad to finally be able to push.
"You're doing great, honey," Martha encouraged.
"It's just so hard," Lois panted. "I hope this is over soon."
"You're almost there," Dr. Aymee Lin told her. "One more push, and we'll have our first baby. Ready?"
Lois nodded, and pushed down hard. She moaned in pain.
"Relax, Lois. And say hello to your son."
She looked in awe at the crying infant the doctor held up.
"He's beautiful," Martha whispered to her 'daughter.'
Lois could only nod, too caught up in the spell of her child. The trance was broken however, as another contraction hit.
"Oh, god!" she shrieked.
"Last push, Lois!" said Dr. Lin. "Let's make this count."
She pushed as hard as she could. As she did this, she realized that she would never have thought that natural childbirth would be this painful.
"Okay, and relax." Dr. Lin held up the second twin. "Here's your daughter."
Overwhelmed with happiness and joy, Lois cried. Tears of ecstasy. Tears of sorrow that Clark wasn't there. But mostly, tears of unconditional love for her children.
***
9 YEARS LATER
Janeane Julianna Kent and her twin brother Clark Jerome, sat across from each other at the kitchen table. Both were finishing their homework while Lois was upstairs doing the laundry.
"CJ?" asked Jeanie.
"Yeah?" he replied without looking up.
"Why do we have a different last name from Mom? And what about Dad? Who is he?"
"Like I know. Maybe we should ask Mom."
The two shrugged as they left the kitchen to track down their mother. They found her sitting on her bed flipping through an old photo album. She looked up and smiled as they entered the room.
"You guys want to see something?" she asked.
The twins nodded and on either side of Lois, looking at the pictures in the album.
"This is your father and I. It was not long after we got engaged when these pictures were taken." Lois sighed. "I wish you could have known him."
"Will you tell us about him?"
"Sure, Jeanie." She kissed her daughter's forehead. "I think it's time you guys knew. CJ, did you know that you have your father's name?"
"Really?" he asked with a smile.
Lois nodded in reply. "What do you guys want to know about him?"
"Everything," they answered in unison.
She smiled. "Well, Clark Kent and I met almost twelve years ago at the Daily Planet…"
As she explained Clark's life to her children, Lois realized that the decision she made nine years ago had been the best she'd ever made. Clark would have wanted her to have his children and she knew how much he wanted to have kids. CJ was so much like Clark in his mannerisms. And Jeanie could pass for a carbon-copy of her mother. Whether or not they would have superpowers was still undetermined. But whatever happened, Lois was certain that she would enjoy her life with her children to the fullest. And when the time came, she and Clark would be reunited. And they would dance in each other's arms for all eternity.
THE END
Okay, be nice! It was my first attempt at a fanfic. Let me know what you think! I have to learn to take good, constructive criticism, so be honest. Not too honest. <g>
Cece Cox :)
carolhathaway@hotmail.com