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“Was it vanilla or buttercream?” She mutters under her breath, staring at the display case in front, rocking the pram back and forth as she stares at the cupcakes in front of her. “Where’s your father when you need him?” She frowns at Jonathan Samuel Kent in his pram as he looks up at her with a smile. She brushes her finger over his onesie. “Classic Clark,” she snorts, seeing the giant S in the middle of the Superman onesie.
“May I be of assistance Miss?” Lois turns to her side to see a young woman dressed in Muffin Man’s uniform, looking at her with a bright smile. “Here at Muffin Man we are always eager to make your day——”
“Yes, yes, thank you,” Lois interjects, not willing to listen to the spiel she’s heard over a thousand times growing up as a kid in Bakerline. “It’s my son’s birthday and his dad was in charge of the cupcakes but something came up.” Lois shrugs.
“Oh?” The young woman—— whose name tag spells Maria—— coos at Jon who holds a Krypto plushie. “How old is he?”
“One,” Lois brushes her fingers through her hair, frowning at the cupcakes.
“Oh, may I suggest our newest red velvet Superman cupcakes?” Maria bounces excitedly on her feet. “There’s also the vanilla bean frosted Superman cupcakes and it even comes with a Krypto made of chocolate, which I see your child adores!” She beams.
“Yeah, his dad is a big fan of Superman,” Lois snorts, the confusion on Maria’s face making her amused.
“His father seems to have excellent taste,” she bites her lower lip, as the voice behind her prompts a hush to fall over the crowd in the bakery.
“It’s Superman!”
“Oh my gods, Lily, it’s Superman! Do you think he will sign my T-shirt?”
“Green Lantern is cooler.”
Lois tries to not laugh as she notes Clark rolling his eyes at the last claim, before smiling at her with a look she knows will be analysed by everyone present, the moment the two leave the establishment.
“Miss Lane,” he tilts his head in acknowledgement, a small smirk prompting the corners of his lips to curve upwards.
“Superman,” she grins, unable to help the blush that coats her cheeks as his dimples deepen.
“Hey, Lois!” She blinks, surprised to see Conner, otherwise known as Kon-El waving excitedly behind Clark who glances behind him with an exasperated look.
“Oh. My. Gods. That’s Superboy.”
“He’s so cute!”
“Do you think he’s single?”
“Isn’t he dating one of Batman’s sidekicks?”
Conner snorts, before clearing his throat and waving at Jon who giggles.
“Hey, Kon-El,” Lois smiles.
“I thought I told you to help with the clean up,” Clark looks pointedly at Conner who shrugs.
“Bats has it handled,” Conner shrugs, walking forward to stand in front of Jon who flails stuffed Krypto around with delighted laughter as Conner plays peek-a-boo.
“How does this random woman and her son know the Super family?”
“That’s the Lois Lane, idiot.”
“Wait, didn’t she like, send Lex Luthor to jail years ago when the Boravian invasion happened?”
“She’s hot.”
“Buying cupcakes?” Clark clears his throat, drawing Lois’s attention away from Kon and Jon, and the poorly hushed whispers of the present crowd.
“Yes,” Lois shrugs. “Jon’s father was supposed to have done it yesterday,” she looks at him pointedly, a perfectly arched eyebrow making him wince.
“Perhaps he was occupied with something else and by the time he was done, all the bakeries in Metropolis were closed,” he smiles sheepishly.
“Perhaps,” she purses her lips to stop herself from laughing.
“Whatcha getting?” Conner looks up, kneeling on the ground beside the pram as he boops Jon’s nose.
“Haven’t decided yet,” Lois shrugs.
“The vanilla cupcakes look good,” Clark nods towards the cupcakes with Superman “S” cookies on top.
“Do they?” She bits her lower lip, tilting her head.
“The young man seems to like Superman,” he beams brightly, his eyes softening as he looks at Jon giggling loudly.
“I don’t know if Jon’s decided on his favourite superhero yet,” Lois shrugs. “His father’s a big fan of yours, you know?” She chuckles as a blush travels up his neck.
“And you?” Superman tilts his head, his gaze sweeping up and down, prompting her to wrap her arms around herself as she tries to not run up to him and kiss him on the mouth. “Are you a fan of mine as well, Miss Lane?”
A corner of her lips twitch upwards, as she tries to not grin like a fool.
“Holy shit, is Superman flirting?”
“Wait, didn’t she mention her child’s father?”
“Wait, did you hear about the rumours that they used to date?”
“Who knows, maybe her and her baby daddy are coparenting, or maybe they divorced.”
A small furrow appears on Clark’s face which he smooths away when Conner snorts while Lois looks at him with a pointed “don’t give it away” look.
“You have always been there for us,” Lois begins slowly, running her tongue over her lips. “Protecting us, taking care of us,” she shuffles on her feet, tucking strands of her hair behind her ear as she looks at him from underneath her lashes. “It’s hard to not like you.”
“Oh, Jesus Christ,” Conner mutters under his breath, pretending to gag as he looks at the two.
Lois rolls her eyes as Clark reprimands him with a half-hearted glare before grinning at Lois. “You like me,” he echoes.
“You are our city’s favourite superhero,” she points out, shrugging casually.
“And yours?” He prompts.
“Are we sure there’s not something between them? I can’t be the only one who feels like you can cut the tension with a knife, right?”
“Wait, I’m confused. Is she divorced or friends with her baby daddy or cheating on him?”
“Well she has a wedding ring.”
“Maybe she’s in a polygamous relationship?”
“Ewww.”
“It’s the twenty-first century, Brendan. Get a grip.”
“But aren’t they exes?”
“Those are rumours.”
“From what I’m seeing, they don’t feel like rumours.”
“Well,” Lois licks her lips, blushing as his eyes fall to her mouth before meeting her gaze, his icy blue eyes a darker shade. “One of them,” she nods.
“Well,” he runs a thumb over his lips. “You’re my favourite superhero.”
“Can’t wait until you grow up,” Conner grins at Jon who babbles incoherently.
“I’m a journalist,” she laughs.
“An everyday hero,” he shrugs. “And I wouldn’t have been here without you, Miss Lane.”
“That’s not true,” she scoffs. “You would’ve been here regardless.”
“You have helped me out more times than I can count,” the fond smile on his face makes her flush in embarrassment.
“The least I could do after all you’ve done for us,” she shrugs.
“Do you think they’re going to kiss? Cat Grant is gonna love this,” Conner whispers conspiratorially to Jon who throws the stuffed Krypto hard enough to fly over Conner’s head and hit Superman.
Lois narrows her eyes at Conner who holds up his hands in mock surrender as Clark deftly catches the stuffed Krypto and sighs in exasperation.
“Seriously?” He looks at Lois, holding the stuffed dog.
“My son’s aunt got it for him,” she replies sweetly.
Clark hums, moving forward to place the toy beside Jon. His eyes crinkle at the corners as he smiles softly, “Hey, Jon.”
Jon grabs a hold of his finger, putting it into his mouth as he tries to chew it with a frustrated frown on his face.
“Oh. My. I swear my ovaries are going to explode!”
Conner laughs far too loudly, drawing everyone’s attention. He quickly morphs it into a cough, glancing at Clark who shifts uncomfortably, his cheeks a flaming red.
“He looks so cute with a baby!”
“It’s a shame they broke up. They would’ve made really cute babies.”
“They’re both very hot.”
“Do you think they broke up because of the harem rumours?”
“Miss?” Lois turns to face Maria who has a bright smile on her face, but Lois Lane is nothing if not a good observer and she can clearly tell Maria is getting impatient with her lack of decisions regarding cupcakes.
“Twelve dozen cupcakes with the Superman crest,” she nods, glancing at Clark who looks at her in surprise, before a grin breaks out on his face. “Make the fillings a surprise. It would be a good prank to play on my husband,” she stresses out loud, glancing at the other aliens who scramble to return to their cellphones and previous conversations, like they haven’t been trying to eavesdrop the entire time.
“Twelve dozen?” Maria’s wide eyes are truly comical. “Would you like me to deliver them to you?”
“It’s fine,” Superman pipes up. “Kon and I can carry it to your apartment, Miss Lane.”
“Oh, he’s such a gentleman.”
“Are we sure she’s not in a threesome with her husband and Superman?”
“That’s fine,” Lois rolls her eyes, looking at him pointedly with a glare. “My husband, Clark,” she stressed his name, “will take care of it.”
Superman clears his throat, chastised as he nods quickly. “Of course, Miss Lane.” He stands up, pulling away from Jon who whines, extending his hands and making grabbing motions with his fists. “Goodbye, Jonny. I’ll see you later,” he leans down to place a kiss on top of Jon’s head before making his way out of the establishment.
“I’ve got it,” Conner swipes the gold card in his hand faster than Lois can whip her own out.
“I can pay for my son’s cupcakes, Kon,” she narrows her eyes at the young man who shrugs casually.
“Not my card,” he shrugs. “Robin gave it to me,” he looks at her meaningfully.
“I highly doubt his father knows about this,” she looks at him pointedly.
“It’s a couple of hundred bucks,” Conner shrugs. “I doubt he’ll even notice.”
“Thank Robin and his father on my behalf, will you?” She sighs with fond exasperation, ruffling his hair.
“You can tell them yourself,” he grins. “See ya around, Lois Lane,” he yells loudly, before speeding away and out of the establishment.
“Sorry, sorry, I’m late,” Clark Kent stumbles inside, fixing his tie as he bumps into a client leaving the bakery. “Sorry, ma’am.” He hurried towards Lois, placing a quick kiss onto her cheek before leaning down to do the same to Jon. “Hey, darling.”
“That’s the husband?”
“He looks like a nerd.”
“She broke up with Superman for a bumbling dork with glasses?”
“He’s cute.”
“Took you long enough,” Lois gives an exaggerated sigh, shaking her head at Clark who grins sheepishly.
“Got held up at work,” he shrugs, wrapping an arm around her waist and leaning down to place a kiss on the corner of her mouth.
Her arms encircle his shoulders, as she stands on her tiptoes to kiss him back.
Soft, sweet and slow.
She smiles into the kiss, running her hands up his chest, stopping right above his heart, which beats furiously.
She feels herself being lifted off the floor, prompting her to laugh into his mouth.
A creaking sound prompts the two to break apart.
The handle of the pram is twisted slightly at an odd angle.
Clark’s wide eyes make her smile brightly, as she giggles. “Let’s get out of here, shall we?”
“Yes, ma’am,” he nods.
“How will you be carrying all of this?” Maria frowns, staring at the boxes on the counter.
“He is,” Lois shrugs.
“Alone?” Maria stares, mouth agape.
“Mmm, thanks, Maria,” Lois pushes the pram outside as Clark grabs the boxes and sweeps them up in both arms, stumbling slightly.
“Holy shit.”
“He has muscles, that’s for sure.”
“Well, duh, didn’t you see the way he picked her up?”
“Awww, no way she’s cheating on such a sweetheart. He’s enamoured by her. Which woman wouldn’t want that.”
As the hushed whispers follow them out, Lois can’t help but snort when she catches the last one.
“Yeah, it’s definitely a polygamous relationship.”
———————❖———————
“You need to stop flirting with me when you are in the Boy Scout getup,” Lois looks at him pointedly as he places the boxes nearly on the kitchen island and opens the refrigerator.
“Can’t help it if my wife is the most radiant and ethereal creature in my life, Lo,” he throws a cheeky grin her way as she swaddles Jon in the purple blanket Martha had made for him.
“What’s goin’ on?” Martha walks into the kitchen, followed by Jonathan Senior who moves to assist his son. Martha approaches Jon, cooing as he gurgles happily.
“Your son couldn’t stop flirting with his wife for two minutes, Ma,” Conner breezes inside from the door leading to the garden outside. “You should’ve seen these two.”
“I wasn’t flirting,” Lois protests, flushing red.
“Oh, yeah, and I’m the love child of Bruce Wayne and Batman,” Conner rolls his eyes. “I swear you two were ready to give Jon a sibling right then and there.”
“Conner Kent!”
Four chiding voices prompt the young man to grin, as he holds his hands up, “Hey. I’m just telling it exactly as I saw it.”
“Superman cupcakes?” Martha laughs, as she peeks inside one of the boxes.
“Both of Jon’s parents love Superman,” Conner snorts. “No surprise there.”
“The backyard is all set up for Jonny,” Jonathan chuckles, voice gruff. “The balloons were set up by Kara and Kon.”
“Krypto hasn’t destroyed everything, has he?” Clark sighs, putting the last of the boxes inside the refrigerator.
“Stop blaming my dog, Kal,” Kara grumbles, shutting the door behind her. “Jonny’s favourite aunt is here!” She whistles.
“KARA, NO!”
Krypto flies inside, crashing into Conner who holds him and scratches behind his ears.
“Relax, he’s much better trained now,” Kara rolls her eyes. “Got the paper cups, where do you want them?” She holds up the bags in her hand.
“Outside on the table between the punch bowl and chocolate fountain would be great, dear,” Martha smiles appreciatively.
“What’s the point of all this?” Kara grumbles. “I’d be pissed is I was Jonny and grew up to learn I missed out on a shit ton of chocolate,” she speeds past them all and out into the garden.
“Kon, take Krypto outside, will you?” Clark sighs in exasperation.
“Superman abandons cousin’s dog,” Conner announces dramatically as he walks up to Clark and holds Krypto to his face. “How can you do this to him, Clark?”
“With zero regrets,” he deadpans, turning Conner by the shoulders to face the door which leads to the garden outside.
“Cruel, you are, Kent,” Conner clicks his tongue in mock disapproval before speeding outside to assist Kara.
“Where are the plastic cutleries?” Kara pokes her head inside a few seconds later.
“Tell Kon to get them from the storage room upstairs,” Lois waves her off. “He knows where they are.”
“Oh, I can’t believe our Jonny is one-year-old,” Jonathan’s eyes water as he gazes at his grandson.
“Ye’ ol’ mush,” Martha laughs. “Will ya cry on every birthday of his, Jonathan? It’s supposed to be a party, ya know?”
Lois looks down at her son, feeling her heart fluttering as warmth spreads across her body.
Growing up with an emotionally absent mother and an equally physically and emotionally absent father resulted in feuds between her and her sister.
Her stepmother’s affection towards her brother and her father’s constant praise of his only son, had made her envious as a teenager.
Lucy pulled away when their parents divorced, with their father getting custody of her, and their mother getting custody of her younger sister.
Even years later, when she has a much better relationship with both her siblings, Lois can’t help but feel terrified that she will mess it up somehow.
That no matter how hard she tries, she’ll never be able to be the mother she wants to be.
“Hey,” Clark’s voice breaks her out of her reverie, and she looks up to her side to see him frowning at her in worry.
Martha and Jonathan can be seen laughing with Kara and Conner, outside.
“Hey,” she clears her throat, forcing a smile on her face.
“Are you okay?” His eyebrows furrow worriedly, despite the smile on his face.
“Yes,” she shrugs. “Why would I be?” She glances at Jon’s smiling face to stop herself from letting the dam burst.
“Your eyes are teary,” he whispers softly.
“Oh,” she blinks, surprised to feel a tear rolling down her cheek.
“Lois?” He prompts.
“I know we discussed it while I was pregnant,” she says slowly. “And before marriage,” she sighs, “but I’m scared.”
“Of?” His gentle and encouraging tone helps to ground her.
“Of messing it all up,” she rests her head on his chest, smiling tiredly as he runs his fingers through her hair. “Of becoming someone like my stepmother instead of a mother like Martha.”
“Hey,” Clark places a hand under her chin, nudging her face up to look at him, “You, Lois Lane, are the single most brilliant star in my life. You shine brighter than the morning sun,” he places a kiss on her cheek. “You’re brave, bold, kind and fiercely protective. You’re loyal to a fault and there is nothing you wouldn’t do for the people you love and care about.”
“It’s Jonny’s birthday,” Lois lets out a watery laugh, as she glances at her son who is frowning at her worriedly.
“You’ve been a friend to Kara, you’ve guided Kon,” Clark smiles fondly.
“Just fulfilling my stepmotherly duties,” she grins.
“Lois,” he sighs in fond exasperation.
“Okay, okay,” she laughs. “I love annoying you both about it.”
“Yeah, we know,” he rolls his eyes, before shaking his head with a smile. He places a kiss on top of her head. “You’re like a daughter to my parents,” he continues, his voice gentle. “They’ve said on more than one occasion that you’re the daughter they never had, you know?” He looks at her pointedly.
“I know, I just,” she sighs. “My mother was pampered as a child and was well liked by her in-laws too. My grandmother was angry at my father when they divorced,” she snorts. “She still ended up pulling away. She tried her best but we never could return to what we had before my parents divorced.” She rambles on.
“Lo——” Clark tries to interrupt.
”What if it isn’t enough?” She looks down at Jon, who reaches out a hand to touch her cheek. She leans into it, seeking warmth and support. “What if I’m not enough?”
“Hey,” Clark turns her around to face him, a hand on her cheek. “Don’t ever think like that. You will always be enough. More than enough. We all love you, Lois Lane. We all love a brilliant reporter, an avid seeker of justice who always uses her voice to fight for the truth.”
“Thanks,” she whispers softly.
He wipes away the tears on her face, “You’re the best darn mother our son could’ve ever asked for, Lois Lane-Kent. And don’t you ever forget that!”
She throws an arm around his neck, pulling him down to kiss him.
He goes willingly, a hand on her hip as the other cradles Jon closer to the two of them, his hand on top of hers.
A happy gurgle breaks the two and they stare at Jonathan with a laugh, before sharing a soft kiss.
“Oi, lovebirds,” Kara barges in. “Stop traumatising my poor nephew, Holy Rao. Terrific texted. They’re right around the corner, so get ready.” She leaves once more, ever a whirlwind.
“There’s no alcohol, right?” Lois arches an eyebrow, staring after Kara’s retreating figure. “Not even cider or champagne?”
“Nope,” Clark shakes his head. “I already need to put up with Guy Gardner. I’m not dealing with a tipsy Kara Zor-El.”
“Shall we?” Lois brushes her nose against’s her baby’s who laughs happily. “Happy Birthday, Jonny.”
“Happy Birthday, my son,” Clark places a soft kiss on Jonathan’s small tuft of curls, gazing into the blue eyes, the exact shade he fell in love with within his first month at the Daily Planet.