Unexpected news can be the best

[slayers_desire]

April felt a little tired after she came home from her shopping experience. Mostly, it was the fact that she had gotten sick that made her so tired.

But at the same time, the realization of why she had gotten sick had made her feel a little energized all at the same time.

Jonathan, who was four now, and Laura, who was two, were both happy to see their mother. Especially since she detailed a plan for them to make cookies for their father -- when he came home from work.

Of course, baking with two toddlers was an interesting experience. The toddlers were going to be covered by flour. And Jonathan is liking the spoon too.

But the cookies are just going in the oven when Clark gets home.

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[kalel_ofkrypton]

When he opens the door and smells cookie dough, he half-expects to see his mother in the kitchen.

"Daddy!" Jonathan says, running to hug Clark, smudging him with flour.

Clark laughs and picks him up. "Were you helping Mommy bake today?"

[slayers_desire]

"Da-da!" Laura toddles over to where Clark is too, a cookie in one hand.

"Careful of the disaster zone when you enter the kitchen." April is wearing an apron, covered with flour herself.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"I think it's too late," Clark says with a smile. "I've been floured by proxy."

Jonathan giggles, leaving white handprints on his daddy's jacket.

[slayers_desire]

"Well yes, the kids and I were making your favorite cookies. As a special treat."

Laura plops by Clark's foot, in favor of eating the cookie in her hand now.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"Special, huh? What's the occasion?" Clark sets Jonathan down and picks up Laura. "That cookie looks good," he tells her. "You did a good job."

[slayers_desire]

"Well kids, should we show daddy the special occasion?" April asks, a twinkle in her eye.

Jonathon took Laura from Clark, so both kids could return back to the kitchen. Where there was a few cookies under a sheet. The kids lifted the sheet off the cookies...

Which were decorated to say (in blue icing): We are pregnant!

[kalel_ofkrypton]

It takes Clark a moment for that news to actually sink in. "We are?"

[slayers_desire]

"Well I have not seen a doctor yet..."

"But all the other signs are there. Including losing my lunch this morning." And that strange half-whisper in her head.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"Oh, wow." He lets out a laugh as a thought occurs to him. "It's a very good thing we've already moved."

[slayers_desire]

"A little unexpected... But I am so excited at the same time."

Laura lifts a few cookies out of the way. "Baby?" She doesn't understand that the new arrival isn't there yet.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"Not yet, sweetie," Clark says with a smile.

He can't resist giving April a kiss. "We did say we wanted a big family..."

[slayers_desire]

April is so glad that he is so receptive. She kisses him back. "And it seems like we are just on a roll..."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"Not rolls, Mommy, cookies!" Jonathan protests.

Clark laughs. "Those too, buddy."

[slayers_desire]

"Go ahead kids, have a couple." Yes, this is the one time she is okay with cookies before supper.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

And of course Clark has to take one or two for himself. "Another baby... wow." He's still in mild shock over that.

[slayers_desire]

"Not that I am looking forward to the morning sickness... but I am very excited too."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"Me too. You'd think after two, we'd be entitled to skip the morning sickness," he says, taking a bite of the cookie.

[slayers_desire]

"I wish." She is choosing not to eat any of the cookies right now. But it does her heart happy to see Clark and the kids enjoying themselves.

Laura keeps on trying to give Clark cookie after cookie.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Clark thanks her for each one, although he slips most of them back when the little girl isn't looking. Can't eat the whole batch in one sitting, after all.

He gets a flash of surprise, though, when he remembers something. "When Brainiac-Five took me to the future, Lex was President and you were pregnant."

[slayers_desire]

"Well... both are those are very true." April is very curious about what else Clark had seen.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"I'd almost forgotten about that... it was a long time ago." Back before Jonathan was born, indeed.

[slayers_desire]

"Was there anything else he showed you? Anything we need to be concerned about?"

[kalel_ofkrypton]

He thinks back, remembering the experience, both in his past and coming up in the future, sometime in the coming months. "The nuclear reactor on the outskirts of Metropolis is going to have a crisis, but it's nothing I won't fix. We'll have to borrow my past self to help keep a helicopter from crashing, but it's no big deal. The really important thing is that you need to give him - me - a pep talk."

[slayers_desire]

"Now that might be hard..." April is jesting. She is always going to be there for him/ past and future versions too. (And to a lesser extent, alternate universe hims).

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"You'll do a great job, telling me just what I need to hear." He smiles and gives her another kiss. "When we get closer, I'll let you know exactly when you need to be in my office to meet me."