Unaccompanied

"The snow is coming down like crazy… Still?.. Yeah… yeah, no. Not anytime soon. The forecast is calling for more… Yeah, it's starting to look like postponing Christmas might be our only option at this point…. No, we're not celebrating without you, Clark. At this point, the boys and I won't even be able to make it out to Smallville until their snow melts some." Lois frowned, one hand holding a marker and tapping out possible free days to hold their celebration, while the other hand held her cellphone.

Her husband, Clark, was currently off-world as Superman had been needed to help out the Green Lanterns with an invasion of some sort.

Which left her alone with Kon and Jon for Christmas.

Traditionally they'd be spending a few nights at the Kent farm, from Christmas to the new year, but Smallville was currently under several feet of snow, and Metropolis was trying its best to catch up.

"He's gonna be back in time, right?" Jon, wrapped in a slightly-too-big Superman hoodie that had been an early gift from Lois due to how quick the temperature had dropped, frowned as her marker got further and further away from the square he'd decorated with a Christmas tree.

Lois moved the phone so it was pressed against her shoulder, more out of habit than anything. She knew it wouldn't stop her husband from overhearing their side conversation. "No, sweetheart. I'm sorry. But we're looking for another day to celebrate."

Jon looked crestfallen. "But… but what about Santa? He only goes out once a year! If we miss him… if we miss him, we'll have to wait a whole nother year!"

"Oh, honey. No. I-its okay. Look. Sometimes people have things come up and they aren't able to celebrate on Christmas day exactly. What matters most is that you're able to spend the day with the people you love. And, I'll let you in on a little secret. Okay?"

Jon nodded, still upset but curious nonetheless.

Lois got down on his level and whispered in his ear, like she was sharing a major secret. "If you've been really, really good all year, sometimes Santa will drop something off for you a little early."

She had to bite back a smile at the way his face lit up. "Really? Is- is he gonna come tonight? Can I stay up and watch for him?"

"Well-,"

"Please?"

Lois smiled and directed him over to the fridge, where she had hung a piece of paper. "Actually, he stopped by this morning. I didn't want to wake you. Why don't you go check out what you and Kon got while I finish talking with your father?"

Jon nodded and ran over to the fridge, snatching the paper and running off with a squeal of delight. "Kon! Kon! Santa came! We got something from Santa!"

*So, tell me. What did 'Santa' get the boys?* Superman asked.

Lois could hear the smile on his face as he asked.

"Kon got an invitation from Bruce Wayne. Apparently there's a party going on tonight for kids eligible for a Wayne Foundation Scholarship. It says that families can come, too, but it's not required since they'll have chaperones. The letter says it's mainly just an incentive to show the kids around Wayne Tech and let them have fun, but there will be information available if they think the scholarship is right for them. Since it says there will be food, movies, a tour, and games, I thought I'd just drop them off, let them have some fun with people their age, and swing by the office to grab those papers I forgot."

"So much for Christmas being about spending time with family, then."

Lois turned back to the kitchen doorway. "Kon-,"

"Yeah, I heard. You're busy, he's busy, Grandma and Grandpa are snowed in, and now I get to spend Christmas eve thinking about school while babysitting Jon for you." He rolled his eyes and walked back out of the room. "Merry Christmas, I guess."

Lois closed her eyes and took a deep, slow breath. Kon had only come to live with them about a year ago, right after Aqualad and his team had destroyed a Cadmus lab and found him, and, while she loved him dearly, he was perpetually in full on teen angst mode.

She understood, of course. She had been pretty rebellious herself at his age, and that had been without Cadmus messing with her head. But that didn't make it any easier to raise or connect with Kon.

*I'm sorry, Lois, but Hal’s calling me. We've got to get going. Cell reception is going to be getting spotty, so I'll call you when I can.*

“Okay. Goodbye and be safe. I love you.”

*I love you, too.*

The call ended and Lois stood in silence, listening to the sounds of Jon in the next room excitedly telling his brother aallll about his absolute most favorite holiday of all time, and how much fun the two of them were going to have at a Mr. Wayne party.

Kon responded just enough to keep Jon engaged, but she could tell he wasn't looking forward to it.

Taking things one day at a time worked in the beginning when they had first brought Kon home, but that was months ago. He was sixteen, stressed, frustrated and, as his only interactions with people had been the scientists who raised him, members of the hero community, and some online teachers and therapists, starting to feel fairly isolated.

Due to how he grew up, it was difficult getting him to socialize with people he didn't already know and trust, which she understood, but it was also important to push him out of his comfort zone every now and then.

Hopefully this party would be good for him. And maybe, if he had fun, he'd be able to make some new friends all on his own.