By anonymous5658
Rated G
Submitted December 1998
Summary: This third installment of the author's "Halloween" series follows Lois and Clark's children, Lane and Chloe, on an eventful night of trick-or-treat. Meanwhile, Lois waits for her husband with a surprise in store.
This is the third installment of my 'Halloween' series. Comments are welcome!
***
10/31/2011
It was a windy night in Metropolis. Colder than usual for this time of year. The Kent house was alive with activity. The two older Kents were doing their best to corral the younger ones, which was a very hard task indeed.
"Chloe, if you don't hold still, I'll never get these tights on you," Lois told her.
"I'm ready to go, Mom," Lane said, coming down the stairs into the living room.
"Me too, me too!" Chloe squealed, jumping with excitement.
"She's almost ready, Lane, it'll be just another minute or two. Where's your Dad?"
Lane gave the universal 'Kent Flying Signal', "He had to go."
"Oh, well, okay." Lois fastened the cape around her daughter's neck, then smoothed her hair.
"Well, honey, you look beautiful." She turned to her son. "Now, Lane, you remember everything we talked about?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"You take real good care of your sister. Go on now, get going before all the candy is gone."
Lois watched both of her children leaving without her and was amazed at how fast the years had flown, while quickly her children had grown up overnight. She placed her hand on her stomach and, though she couldn't yet feel the life growing within, she smiled. The doctors had told her it was slightly dangerous to attempt to have a baby at her age, especially after all the trouble they'd had with Chloe. But a little danger had never stopped Lois Lane.
She smiled again; it'd been at least five years since she'd been known as Lois Lane. When her and Clark had taken joint editorship of The Planet, due to Perry's retirement, she'd made the decision to change her professional name to Lois Kent. It looked so much better on the paper: EDITORS IN CHIEF, LOIS AND CLARK KENT. She also felt she owed Clark that, after all the years he'd accepted the use of her maiden name. She returned her thoughts to the present and straightened up the room, trying to kill some time until Clark made it home. She hoped he didn't take too long. With them having the house all to themselves tonight, she'd decided it'd be the perfect opportunity to tell Clark about the baby. He'd be thrilled — he'd always wanted another child — but after Chloe, they'd never been able to conceive again. She looked up as she felt a breeze on her neck and her husband jumped down off the windowsill.
***
"I wanna go there! I wanna go there!" Chloe was tugging on her brother's arm.
"Chlo' , we'll go there in just a minute. We're going to the Steinbeck's first."
"Gosh, that's really fair!" She pouted, following her brother unwillingly.
They reached the door and rang the bell. Mrs. Steinbeck opened the door and Chloe yelled exuberantly, "Trick or treat!"
"Chloe, oh no, I mean Bat Girl! You look lovely. Let me see what I have for you. Hi, Lane! My, you're getting to be a big boy!" She put two handfuls of candy in each of their baskets. "Happy Halloween!"
"Thank you." The Kent kids said in unison. They continued walking down Hyperion Avenue, away from the house Chloe was interested in. Chloe kept looking back, over her shoulder but Lane was insistent on going where he wanted to. He kept walking toward his next destination, but Chloe was Lois' daughter and she took off in the direction she wanted to go. She walked along, kicking a rock as she went. The yard was dark and by the time Chloe saw the well, it was too late. She fell into the long, dark hole, cold water coming up almost to her mouth.
***
Clark spun out of the suit and walked up behind Lois, wrapping his arms around her waist.
"Hello, my wife," he whispered next to her ear.
"Hello, my husband."
She turned her head around and their lips met. They walked to the couch, Clark sitting down and Lois falling into his lap.
"What was the disaster?"
"House fire."
"Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, no one was hurt. Lane and Chlo' get off okay?"
"She was so excited, Clark. Although, I almost can't contain my laughter when I see her in that Bat Girl costume. Think she'll ever be Ultra Woman?"
"I dunno, Lois. Chances are, she will. Lane's starting to develop powers. But, that doesn't mean either of them will want to do anything with their powers."
"Clark, they're *your* kids. Do you want to hear some amazing news?"
"Sure, Honey, what is it?"
She reached for his hand, laying it on her stomach.
"Lois? Are you … ?"
"Yeah."
He scooped her up in his arms, spinning her around with glee.
***
"Chloe?" Lane was whispering loudly. "Chloe, where are you?"
"Lane?"
Lane heard the slightest sound and then he felt the insides of his ears tremble and the sound came in loud and clear.
"Lane, help me!"
He jogged a couple of steps and before he knew it, he was beside the well. He looked into the hole but it was too dark for him to see anything. He squinted his eyes and suddenly he clearly saw his sister in the water.
"Hang on, Chloe, I'll figure out something."
He frantically searched the yard and found a coil of rope.
***
Clark's head shot up right in the middle of their celebrating.
"What? What do you hear?"
"Nothing, I mean I thought I heard something but it was like whatever was happening stopped happening. Anyway, Honey, are you really sure?"
"Yeah, the baby's due in April. I went to the doctor a couple of weeks ago, thought I had the flu."
Clark carried Lois over to the couch, sitting down and cuddling her in his lap.
He looked deeply into her eyes. "Are you sure it's safe, Honey? The doctors said we shouldn't try again after Chloe. They said you might not make it this time." His voice cracked at the end of the sentence.
She laid her forehead against his, staring intently into his eyes.
"Clark, your dad once told me, 'a love that risks nothing is worth nothing,' and I believe him. We'll get through this, just like we've gotten through everything else. I want this baby, Clark, and no matter what happens, nothing is going to change that."
"I want this baby too. Lois, I love you."
She leaned forward kissing him gently.
***
"Chloe, I'm gonna lower this rope to you. You're gonna have to grab onto it and hold on tight. *Don't* let go. Do you understand?"
"Uh huh."
Lane lowered the rope and Chloe gripped it with all of her might. He started pulling her up slowly, haltingly, all the while speaking soothing words to ease her fears.
When she was finally to the top, Lane sat her down on the ground. She was freezing, her teeth chattering uncontrollably. The cold night coupled with the even colder water was taking its toll on Chloe.
"Lane … ne … ne … I'm free … ee … zz … ing."
"We'd better go home."
"No, Lane I don't wanna go home." She'd gotten her chattering under control but she was still shivering.
Lane focused his eyes on Chloe, concentrating and squinting slightly in the stance he'd seen his dad do many times, even before he'd been let in on 'the secret'.
With a few seconds of low grade heat vision, Chloe was soon warm, dry and toasty.
"How'd you do that?" Chloe said, eyes wide.
Lane searched his brain for an answer. "Do what?"
"Make me warm."
"I don't know what you're talking about, Chloe. You're warm because you're not in the water anymore."
Chloe tilted her head to the side, staring hard at her brother trying to see through his story.
***
Lois yawned.
"Sleepy, Honey?"
"Yeah. I've been really tired lately."
"Why don't you go to bed? I can take care of the kids when they get home."
"I think that's a good idea." She started to get up but Clark picked her up and carried her upstairs. He laid her down gently on their bed.
"I'm gonna lay here with you, until you go to sleep."
She snuggled up close to him and he laid his hand on her stomach. He stroked her hair with his other hand and before long her breathing became steady and he knew she was asleep. He tuned in his superhearing, trying to hear the baby. He'd become almost a pro after listening to Lane and Chloe so many times. He first heard Lois' heartbeat and focused his hearing, tuning in the faintest heartbeat. His eyes became wide as he heard three distinctive heartbeats. One for Lois and one for each child she was carrying.
***
The Kent kids were approaching their fourth house, their previous near-disaster almost forgotten. Chloe was inspecting all the candy she'd raked in and didn't see the car careening towards her. Lane saw what was happening just in time to run and push Chloe out of the way. The car plowed into Lane, knocking him two feet down the road. The driver rushed over to Chloe who was standing next to Lane.
"Is he all right? Son, are you all right?"
Lane started getting up; it hadn't hurt him, just knocked the wind out of him.
"Yes, sir. I'm fine, thanks for stopping and asking."
"Do you need me to take you two home?"
"No, sir we'll be just fine."
The man got back in his car and drove off.
Lane dusted himself off and looked at Chloe.
"Chlo' , I'm ready to go home."
She rubbed her eyes and said, "Me too."
The walk back home was much shorter than their trick or treating excursion.
They came through the door of the townhouse quietly, but their dad still heard them. He came down the stairs and saw them dumping their candy out on the coffee table.
"So, kids, what happened tonight?"
Lane looked at Chloe and they both said, "Nothing, Dad."
THE END