Great Expectations | Chapter 1/5

[sanalayla]

Disclaimer: The opening scene in this particular story is almost identical to a scene in "Ugly Betty". Those who are fans of the show will definitely recognize it! This is, of course, a Smallville twist on it
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The Test

Lois put the cap back on the stick and then placed it on the counter. Nervously, she ran her hands under the water, scrubbing them clean with soap, with a lot more force and attention to detail than she normally employed. Her foot was bouncing with nerves and she felt butterflies in her stomach that had nothing to do with the lack of food in her system.

After thirty seconds of pacing, which felt more like a few hours of pacing, she stopped and reached out to pick up the stick. After all, the whole waiting three minutes was just a suggestion, right? Didn’t the science work faster than that?

Screwing her eyes shut, she picked it up gingerly, and then cautiously opened one eye to glance down at the display…

“LOIS!!” Lucy’s voice was louder than usual as she pounded on the door. “What are you DOING?”

Startled, Lois dropped the stick. With a muffled curse, she bent down to pick it up, calling back, “Just give me a second.”

“I don’t have a second! Hurry. NOW! You’ve been in there forever.”

Lois closed her eyes and glanced down at the stick. It was upside down, so she couldn’t see the display. “Look… just give me a moment, okay? Just another second.”

Another voice joined her sister’s outside the door. “Lois? Are you all right, dear?” Martha sound very concerned.

With a groan, Lois opened the cupboard under the sink and blindly tossed the test stick in. Then she pulled the door open with a bright smile. “Yes, I’m fine.”

Hurrying past Lois, Lucy made a face and almost pushed her out the door to stand next to Martha. The two women stared at each in confusion for a second and then Lois gave a wry smile, offering, “Looks we both had too much to drink today.”

With a faintly bemused smile, Martha shook her head. “All right, honey.” She gestured towards the stack of towels in her arms and moved past Lois down the hall. “I’m just going to put these in your room.”

Lois watched her go, waiting until Martha had disappeared into the room she was staying in for the duration of their visit. Then she turned her attention back to the door and knocked loudly. “Lucy, open up. Or I’m coming in.”

“Lois. You were in here for an hour. Just give me a minute!”

“No,” Lois shook her head, even though she knew Lucy couldn’t see her. “I need to come back in. I left something in there.”

“What on earth would you leave in a bathroom? There’s nothing here,” Lucy immediately shot back.

Before Lois could respond, Martha had re-joined her in the hallway. With a puzzled frown, she asked, “Lois? What’s going on?”

“Nothing, Mom,” Lois responded, in a re-assuring voice. Then, making a calculated deduction, she added, “I’m worried about Lucy. I think she’s… sick… in there.”

“Lucy, are you okay? Open up, honey.” Martha knocked on the door swiftly.

Lois heard her sister let out a groan and then the door opened. Lucy glared at Lois and then shot a smile at Martha. “No, I’m fine. I have no idea what my sister is talking about.”

Martha cast a suspicious glance between both sisters and then shook her head in exasperation. “I don’t know what’s going on with you two, but I need you both downstairs in the kitchen to help with dinner. Come on.”

*


After an agonizing hour spent chopping vegetables and keeping up a steady stream of small talk with her mother-in-law and very distracted sister, Lois was finally able to sneak away to the upstairs bathroom. Quickly, she opened up the cupboard under the sink and knelt down to take out the test. And then stopped when she saw something that shot a flash of panic through her.

There were two tests.

Blinking a bit, she grabbed both of them and turned both in the direction of the results’ display. And then groaned out loud when she saw that one was positive and the other was negative.

Lucy chose that moment to push open the door and joined her by the sink. “Oh my God, Lois, what are you doing?” Lucy asked, in a frantic whisper. She closed the door behind her and locked it, her eyes on Lois’s hands the whole time. Her face went a couple of shades whiter. “Are you… oh… God… Did you take one, too?”

Lois rolled her eyes and put them both on the counter and then started to wash her hands again. “Yes. Is that what you were doing in here?”

“Yes. Apparently, it didn’t take me an hour like it took you,” Lucy retorted, in a grim voice, and then snatched up the tests. Closing her eyes, she let out a dismayed squeak and then dropped them both in the wastebasket.

Lois went to the towel rack to dry her hands and give her sister room to wash her own. “Why are you even taking a test, Lucy? You’ve only been dating Ron a few months. Haven’t you ever heard of protection?”

Lucy flushed. “What, you don’t ever just get carried away?”

Lois thought about it for a second and then shrugged. “Well, yeah. But I’m on the pill, so it doesn’t matter.”

“Clearly, your method seems to be working for you,” Lucy answered, dryly, with a gesture towards the wastebasket.

It was Lois’s turn to flush. “Hey. It’s not my fault.”

“Isn’t that what they all say?” Lucy replied, with a smirk. She pushed Lois away to dry her own hands.

“No, I….” Lois paused, trying to figure out how to explain that she’d been kidnapped the previous month and that resulted in her skipping two doses of her birth control. And since she hadn’t exactly been thinking about pregnancy when she’d been reunited with her incredibly relieved husband…. After a second, she just cleared her throat and shrugged. “Okay, you’re right. There are moments when you can’t help but get carried away.”

With a knowing look, Lucy turned to face her. “Thank you.”

“Does Ron know?” Lois asked, changing the subject, but also feeling very worried for her sister. “Did you talk to him?”

“No, of course not!” Lucy answered, sitting down on the edge of the bathtub. She buried her face in her hands for a second and then looked up at Lois. “I thought I’d get confirmation first. But… now….” Then, she frowned. “Wait, I didn’t know you and Clark were trying --.”

“We’re not!” Lois interjected. She put her hands on her hips and looked down at Lucy with a firm look. “Do not tell him. I need to know for sure.”

“Why?” Lucy asked, curiously. “I would think you’d want him here when you check the test. Isn’t this the sort of thing married couples do while holding hands or something equally gag-worthy?”

Letting out a sigh, Lois admitted, “I don’t want to get his hopes up.”

Of course, she couldn’t explain to her sister that they’d never really talked about it, because they’d both just assumed that it would be impossible for them to have a biological child because of the whole Kryptonian thing. And it wasn’t exactly at the top of their to-do list to figure out how to get past it in the first few years of their married life. She'd taken the pills more out of habit than the idea that she actually needed them.

But Lois knew Clark well enough to know that he loved kids and he’d probably be very happy at the thought that it was possible. And if turned it wasn’t? She didn’t want to be getting his hopes up just to crush them. Better to be one hundred percent sure first.

Lucy, being a person who understood keeping secrets, didn’t press. Instead, she just said, “Well, I’m sure it’ll work out.”

Lois nodded.

“So, what are we going to do?” Lucy asked, balefully. “Did you get any extra tests?”

“No.” Lois shook her head. “Just even getting that one was hell.” She’d gone to a pharmacy thirty blocks down, because she was too paranoid to go to the one near the DP, their Metropolis apartment or the one in Smallville. “What about you?”

“I figured one was enough,” Lucy answered. “They’re supposed to be pretty accurate.”

“Okay, well….” Lois thought about it for a second. “You need to go to the pharmacy in town and get a couple of new ones. We’ll take them again.”

“Why does it have to be me?” Lucy’s eyes widened with horror. “No way. You go do it. It was bad enough buying it the first time.”

Lois rolled her eyes. “Every single person on that street knows me. The second I walk in, it’s going to be Mrs. Kent, Jr. this and Mrs. Kent, Jr. that. They’ll tell Clark and his mom before I even make it back here.”

Lucy’s brow rose. “Um… Mrs. Kent, JUNIOR? Are you kidding me?”

Lois let out a sigh. “Yeah, I know. It’s disgusting. But they refuse to call me Lane-Kent. And if they call me Mrs. Kent then they get confused when I go into the store with Clark’s mom. So….”

“They came up with the junior,” Lucy finished for her. With a slight laugh, she shook her head, “Talk about Mayberry. I cannot believe Smallville is for real, sometimes.”

“Tell me about it,” Lois responded, wryly. She crossed her arms and prodded her sister. “So, what about it? You can go in and no one will know who you are.”

Before Lucy could respond, there was a knock on the door. “Lois? Lucy?” Clark sounded both confused and amused at the same time. He rattled on the locked door handle for a second. “Mom sent me up here to check on you.”

Both women stared at each for a second and then Lois hurried over to the door and pulled it open. “Um… hi,” Lois said breathlessly, looking up at her concerned husband. “What’s up, Smallville?”

Clark poked his head in and his lips curved up into a grin. “Hey, Luce.”

Lucy gave him a slight wave. “Hey, Bro.”

His brows furrowed in confusion, Clark glanced between the two of them. “What are you both doing in the bathroom?”

“Talking,” Lois answered. At the same time, Lucy burst out with, “Feeling nauseous.”

There was a silence, while Clark put his hands in his jeans pockets and gave them both a questioning look.

“I was talking to her to keep her mind off of feeling sick,” Lois explained, gesturing a bit with her hands to emphasize the point.

Clark’s brows rose skeptically and he nodded slowly. “Riigght. Okay.” With a slight eye roll, he added, “Ron’s here. And so’s the General. So whatever you guys are up to, you might want to wrap it up.”

With that, he turned and left them alone. Lois turned to Lucy and groaned. “The General’s here already.”

“And Ron,” Lucy added, her face turning an interesting shade of puce. “Maybe I wasn’t so far off with the whole being sick thing.”

“Look, we just need to get through this dinner. And then one of us will go the pharmacy... we can make up some excuse,” Lois instructed. “Piece of cake.”

*


“None for me, thanks,” Lucy said, as the General poured a glass of wine and started to hand it to her. “Not today.”

The General gave her a surprised look, but then turned to hand the glass to Lois.

Lois shook her head and said, with a bright grin, “Nope. None for me, either.”

At that, the General frowned. “Girls. This is a fantastic pinot noir. I brought it especially for tonight’s dinner. I thought you’d love it.”

Martha took a sip and chimed in. “Yes, you’re missing out.” She smiled at the General and added, “Fantastic selection, as usual, Sam.”

“Thank you, Martha,” the General responded, with a nod. He handed the glass to Lois, with a look that made it clear he expected her to take it. “I haven’t raised my daughters to turn down an excellent glass of wine.” He poured out another glass and handed it to Lucy, who took it reluctantly.

When the General had poured a glass for Ron, as well, he sat down. And then immediately raised his glass.

“I’d like to propose a toast before we begin, Martha,” he announced with a bit of a smile.

Martha nodded. “Of course.” She raised her glass of wine, as well, and the rest of the table followed suit.

“This is the second time we’re getting together for an Easter dinner,” the General began, his voice gruff, but not unkind. “The last time we did, these two had just started seeing each other,” he gestured towards Lois and Clark, who looked at each other and smiled. “And, now, four years later, we’re here as a family.” He cleared his throat for a moment, clearly not used to showing this much emotion. “Anyway. To an excellent wine. To family. And to Martha, for preparing this fantastic meal.”

Martha grinned and took a swallow of her wine.

Lois grinned slightly and then lifted the glass to her lips, pretending to take a sip. She saw, out of the corner of her eye, Lucy doing something similar.

“Lois?” Sam Lane looked at his older daughter sharply. “Is there something wrong with the wine?”

“Ah…” Lois glanced down at the red liquid and shook her head. “No. I’m just… not feeling well. So, really, I don’t think I’m going to do it justice.” She made a production out of sniffing a bit. “Stuffed nose, Dad.”

One brow rose as he surveyed her. “You sounded all right a minute ago.”

Before she could respond, Lucy coughed slightly and interjected, “You know, I think I’m getting it, too.” She set the glass down decisively and gave her father an apologetic shrug. “I guess tonight was the wrong time to open the bottle, Dad.”

The General looked at the two of them, clearly skeptical, but he didn’t say anything. Instead, he focused on taking a bit of roast.

Letting out a sigh of relief, Lois turned her attention onto her own meal, even though she really didn’t have an appetite. Looking across the table, she saw her sister push her food around, apparently just as disinclined to eat as she was.

When she felt Clark’s gaze on her, she turned to look at him and saw that he was staring at her with concerned frown. He mouthed, “Are you okay?” And she nodded back at him silently.

“So, how are things at the Planet, Clark?” The General asked, before taking another bite of potatoes.

“Ah… it’s going well,” Clark answered, inclining his head a bit. “Can’t complain.”

“Heard you got another promotion,” Sam said, in a matter of fact tone, where it wasn’t very clear whether he thought it was worthy of praise or not.

“Yes, I did,” Clark responded, shooting a glance towards Lois, as though wondering when she’d told her father.

Lois shrugged back. If there was an opportunity to brag about her husband, she was going to take it. After all, it wasn’t like Clark was going to – he never did. Either as Superman or Clark Kent.

“That’s good news,” the General responded. And then, in a casual tone, asked, “So, now you guys are probably all set to start that family?”

Lois choked on a carrot and started to cough. A glass of water materialized in front of her and she took it from Clark, gratefully, taking a swig and trying to get her breathing under control.

“Dad,” Lois finally managed to get out, shooting him a dirty look. She glanced across the table and saw that Lucy had gone pale.

“What?” The General gave her one of those looks where it was clear he was trying to appear confused as to why she was annoyed with him. “It’s a perfectly legitimate question.”

Clark glanced towards his mother, as though for support, but Martha immediately took the General’s side. “It is a good question. I would love to know the answer myself.”

Clark’s brows furrowed in confusion as he glanced back and forth between his father-in-law and mother. “Um… well… Lois and I are…” Shooting a pained looked towards his wife, he grabbed her hand, as though for support. “We haven’t really talked about it….”

“Why not?” The General interrupted. “You guys have been married for three years. Known each other for years before that. What are you waiting for?”

At this point, Lucy came into the conversation. “Daddy.” She put his hand on his arm and gave him a warning look. She jerked her head towards Ron, who sat to her left, and pointed out, “You know, this is Ron’s first family dinner. Maybe we could hold off on the interrogation until the second dinner?”

“It’s okay, Lucy,” Ron said, reassuringly, and put his hand on her hers.

With a slight smile at Ron, Lois said, “Thanks, Ron. That’s sweet.” Rather pointedly, she directed the last part of the sentence towards her father. “But, really, my dad is moving on now.”

“Oh, he’s fine,” The General gave a dismissive gesture towards Ron. “The fact is that I want to see my grandkids in Westpoint before I die. That’s not going to happen if you and Kent keep dawdling.”

“Sir….” Clark shook his head slightly. “We’re….”

“You know, Lucy,” Lois interrupted, standing up abruptly, almost making her chair fall over in the process. “Let’s go check on the pie!”

Shooting to her feet, Lucy nodded frantically. “Yes, excellent idea!”

Without waiting for anyone to respond, both women fled towards the kitchen, leaving everyone staring at them in confusion.

*


Clark entered the kitchen and saw that Lois wasn’t there. Using his x-ray vision, he saw that she was out on the porch, sitting on the swing. Shaking his head slightly, he went outside to join her.

“Lois, what are you doing out here?” Clark went and sat down next to her, taking her hand in his and rubbing his thumb across the back of her hand absentmindedly. “I thought you guys were checking on the pie.” Curiously, he glanced around. “Where’s Lucy?”

“She went to go….” Lois paused and then looked out towards the field. “Um… she went to go pick something up from somewhere.”

Clark waited for Lois to expand on her explanation, but she didn’t. After a moment, he ventured a guess. “I take it that it has nothing to do with the pie?”

His wife turned in his direction and bit her lip, clearly holding back a grin. “Yes, Einstein. It has nothing to do with the pie.”

Ignoring the jab, he gazed at her for a second and then asked, in an even tone, “What’s wrong? You’re acting weird.” When she didn’t answer, he continued, “Is it because of what your father said? Because….”

“No,” Lois cut in. She untangled her hand from his and stood up, walking towards the railing. She turned to face him, her arms crossed. “There’s nothing wrong, Smallville. I’m just waiting for Lucy to get back.”

Feeling a flicker of annoyance, Clark stared at her for a moment. Did she honestly think he didn’t know her well enough to know when she was hiding something from him? “Lois,” Clark began, not even exactly sure what he was going to be saying.

“Yes?” Lois asked, her brow arching up. It was clear she was attempting to look as innocent as possible. And that just made Clark all that much more suspicious. “What is it, sweetie?”

Sweetie? Clark’s own brow rose in response to the term of endearment. “Lois,” he began, firmly, deciding that the direct approach was the best way. “I know you’re hiding something. I know you well enough to know when you’re --.”

“Clark,” Lois interrupted, taking a couple of steps back and holding up her hands. “Seriously, it’s no big deal. I’m just waiting for Lucy to get back and that’s it. Okay?” She cast him a sharp look and added, “If we needed to have a heart-to-heart right now, I’d have one with you. But we don’t.”

Mulling that over for a second, Clark reluctantly responded, “All right.” He wanted to remark on the obvious sigh of relief that escaped Lois’s lips, but he stopped himself. If Lois didn’t want to share, then no amount of pushing from him was going to make her do it.

Martha opened the screen door and peered outside. “What are you two doing out here? Where’s Lucy?”

“She went to go run an errand,” Lois explained, with a smile. “She should be back soon.”

His mother looked surprised, but didn’t question it. Instead, she just stated, briskly, “Well, both of you can come inside. We’re having coffee and pie. Lucy will join us when she gets back.”

Lois jumped to her feet and gave his mom a wide smile. Without waiting for Clark’s response, she sailed right past him into the kitchen. Clark stood out on the porch for a second and then shook his head, following her back into the house.

*

The pie and coffee were probably delicious, but Lois’s stomach was tied into such nervous knots that she couldn’t help but feel nauseous. Or, maybe, it wasn’t because of the nerves. Was it possible that she had morning sickness already? Lois tried to remember everything she’d ever heard about pregnancy and the symptoms.

Unfortunately, her knowledge was limited because she had a tendency to zone out whenever any pregnant woman happened to talk to her about anything related to babies. She grimaced at the thought. Now, she really wished she’d paid more attention and quizzed the women in great detail. But the thought had never occurred to her that it would be a subject she’d need intimate knowledge of. At least, not for another couple of years.

Almost unconsciously, her hand strayed to her flat tummy and she tried to imagine a tiny little being growing in there. She had thought the idea would freak her out, and – truthfully – it kind of did. But it was also, strangely, a little exciting.

She cast a glance Clark’s way and took in his profile. He was sitting next to her father, leaning in a little to the older man, as the General gave him a lecture about something or another. Clark’s expression was one of polite respect, as he absorbed everything her father was saying. Studying him for a minute, she took in his dark, wavy hair (a lock of which had fallen across forehead – he needed a haircut) and the way his glasses perched on his nose. They just barely masked how his features were perfectly chiseled in exactly the way Michelangelo must have envisioned when he first created David.

As though he sensed she was staring at him, Clark turned to look at her, his green eyes meeting hers for a moment. One corner of his mouth lifted up in a wry smile and the amusement was clear in his eyes. He probably figured she was focusing on him because he was talking to her father, and she was worried that her father was about to go off on Superman. Little did he know. Unable to help herself, she gave him a wide grin in response. He winked and then turned his attention back to her father.

And, in that moment, Lois saw a series of snapshots run through her mind, like a slideshow. A baby girl, with dark hair and piercing green eyes; chubby and smiling. A moment, on the beach, with a little girl, holding her father’s much larger hand as she stumbled to keep up with his steps. A teenager, petulant and cross, drinking milk straight from the jug while she talked a mile a minute about all the things that were wrong with her very young life, while Lois herself stood by and watched. A beautiful young woman, with long black hair, walking down the aisle on her proud father’s arm. It was as though Lois had known that young woman her whole life. And was just waiting to meet her. Ella Lane-Kent.

“Lois?” Martha’s voice cut into her thoughts.

Lois snapped to attention. “Um… yes?”

Clearly concerned, Martha frowned slightly. “Are you okay? You seem lost in your own world.”

Letting out a slight laugh, Lois shook her head. Little did Martha know. She’d been lost in a future world that may never even exist. “I’m fine. Just a story I’m working on,” Lois lied. “It’s on my mind.”

Seeming to accept the excuse at face value, Martha nodded.

Thankfully, the front door opened, and Lucy came in. She was clutching a brown paper bag in one hand and seemed startled to find everyone gathered in living room. Everyone’s eyes swiveled in her direction and Lois leapt to her feet.

“Lucy!” Lois exclaimed, with a bright smile. “Did you find what you were looking for?” Hurrying to her sister, she grasped her by the elbow and moved her towards the stairs. In a hushed undertone, she added, “What took you so long?”

“The pharmacy was closed,” Lucy shot back, in an annoyed whisper. “So, I had to stop at some random gas station on the way back. They only had one there and it looks it’s about twenty years old. I hope it works.”

“Only one?” Lois’s eyes widened as she glanced down at the paper bag. She reached out to grasp it. “Okay, I’ll go take it. You wait here.”

“I don’t think so.” Lucy gave her a look and tightened her own grip on the bag. “I’m going to go take it and you can wait here.”

Lois let out a deep breath. “Lucy. It doesn’t matter, does it? I mean, I’ll take it. And then you’ll know what’s going on. By process of elimination.” As she said this, she tugged on the bag.

“Right,” Lucy nodded, in full agreement. “So, when I take it, you’ll know by process of elimination, too.” She yanked the bag closer to her.

Resisting the movement, Lois rolled her eyes and hissed under her breath, “No way. I’m going to take it. I’m not taking any chances.”

The bag, not really created for this level of abuse, let out a loud rip in response to their tug of war. Neither girl realized what was going on until it was too late and the box was flying through the air back towards the occupants of the other room.

Letting out a choked gasp, Lucy reached out to stop it, but she was unable to catch it in time. And the box landed and then skidded to a halt right near a very polished, black boot.

Lois watched, with more than a little horror, as her father picked up the box and looked down at it quizzically. One brow rose as he took in the title and the description on the cover the box. His eyes widened a bit and he looked sharply over at Lois and Lucy, who both stood very still.

Lucy turned to Lois and the message was clear in her eyes. Save me. Do something. For decades, Lois had been the recipient of that particular look. And, as usual, she was unable to resist answering instinctually.

Taking a deep, fortifying breath, she stepped forward and plucked the box out of the General’s hand. “That would be mine.”

Martha had been looking very shocked, up to that point, but now her lips began to curve into a delighted smile. “Lois!”

“Lois?” This time, her name wasn’t said with delight. Instead, her husband looked decidedly un-delighted. His jaw was set and he was - rather unconsciously, she was sure – looking incredibly Supermanish, with his arms crossed and the stern stare. She’d seen criminals and members of the Justice League quake under that look. Thankfully, she was made of sterner stuff.

One shoulder lifted up in an apologetic shrug and she said, “Sorry. Um… I’ll be back.” Without waiting for a response from the very silent group of people, she grasped Lucy’s hand and hauled her up the stairs, taking the steps two at a time.

Once they were upstairs, Lois thrust the box into Lucy’s hands and pushed her into the bathroom. “You go. Take it. I’ll be right out here.”

"Okay," Lucy agreed and shut the door behind her.

Lois leaned against the wall, right outside the bathroom, with her arms crossed. And thought about how this was going to be the longest three minutes of her life.

To be continued…