You Weren't Supposed to Know

Lois was frustrated. Bart had promised to help her take photos of the annual Christmas festival at Centennial Park, but he hadn't shown up, and wasn't answering his phone. Being the oft-sneaky reporter she was, however, Lois knew a way of finding his address in school files, and decided to walk over to his house.
   She arrived at the Allens' apartment and rang the doorbell. A few seconds later, a rather pretty woman in her thirties answered the door. Lois was stunned; it was clearly Iris Allen, only older.
   Lois mentally slapped herself. Of course it was her. Bart had mentioned his "Grandma Iris," and that she'd traveled back in time along with him. Truth be told, Lois hadn't completely believed that story, but here, apparently, was proof.
   "Lois," Iris said with surprise. "I... I didn't expect... please come in."
   Lois awkwardly walked inside.
   "Is this about Bart?" Iris asked. "He mentioned something about meeting you today."
   "Yeah. Where is he?"
   Iris shrugged and tilted her head back toward a bedroom down the hall. "He's in his room, asleep. If you've been calling him, I don't think he can hear his phone."
   Lois sighed with slight exasperation.
   "It's his biology," Iris explained. "He uses up so much energy running that his body sometimes just needs to crash. Well, that and he's a teenager. No offense."
   "None taken."
   Iris and Lois shared another awkward moment.
   "So, Lois... is it true that you and Bart hang out with Clark Kent, Bruce Wayne, and Diana Prince?"
   Lois raised an eyebrow. "Yeah. Why?"
   Iris sighed. "Lois, why don't you sit down."

   Lois and Iris sat down on the living room couch.
   "So, Lois, you know about the whole time-travel thing, right?"
   Lois nodded, her eyebrow still raised.
   "Before we came back from the future, things were different."
   "...How so?"
   "Well, for one thing, Metropolis wasn't in the midwest. It was on the East Coast. In Delaware."
   "What?! How is that possible?! Metropolis has always been here; why would it—"
   "I know, I know. It doesn't make sense. But there's more. Stryker's Island prison was originally off the coast of Metropolis, not Coast City. Clark Kent didn't live here when he was a teenager; he lived in Smallville until he turned eighteen. Bruce didn't live here either, and neither did Diana. Hell, Diana was still on her island. And you and I didn't meet any of them until years later. They all lived separate lives until they were in about their mid-twenties."
   "...What are you saying?" Lois asked.
   "I'm saying that things aren't the way they're supposed to be. I mean, you all were supposed to meet eventually, but not for a long, long time. The fact that you're all in high school together... it doesn't make sense."
   "Okay, well, that's weird, but is it a bad thing for us to know each other?"
   Iris realized just how little Lois understood.
   "Lois, in the 31st century, they have monuments to Clark, Bruce, and Diana. Clark even has his own museum."
   "Wait, why would they have a statue for Bruce? He doesn't have any powers."
   Iris smirked. "He's more special than you'd think. You don't need powers to make a difference in this world."
   "...Uh-huh. Interesting. And Clark has a museum?!"
   Iris chuckled. "Yeah. They call it the Sup—... well, I'll just let you find that out. But the important thing is that you're a part of all that history, too."
   "...How?"
   Iris paused, not sure if she wanted to continue. "Are you sure you want to know?"
   Lois gave her an "are you seriously asking that?" look.
   "...You and Clark. Your romance is like a fairy tale in the future."
   "My what is a what in the future?"
   "Before things changed, you and he met when you were both adults, working at the Daily Planet. You didn't know that he was... well, super. He didn't tell you that he had any powers. He wanted you to fall in love with him for him, not just because he was a hero. And, one day, after years and years of him trying to chase you down, you finally did fall for him. There's more to it than that, but that's the gist of it."
   Lois had to force her swirling emotions and flittering thoughts down for the moment. "So... I was his girlfriend?"
   "You were his wife."
   Lois felt a bit overwhelmed. "Why are you telling me this?"
   "Because. Lois, before, when things were 'right' with the world... you didn't know Clark. And even after you met him, you didn't know about his 'secret identity' for years. You weren't supposed to know. But now everything's different."
   "So?" Lois asked. "We're together now. Why should it matter if it happened sooner than later? Are we somehow magically doomed to fail now?"
   "Well, you are in a high school relationship."
   "...Okay, good point."
   "And... if things don't work out like they're supposed to... there's a chance the entire world is in danger."
   It seemed that with every word Iris said, Lois got more confused. "How so?"
   "Clark told me once that you were the reason he kept fighting. That you supported him through all his battles, and that having you with him made it all worthwhile. And the thing is... even though I'd like to say that my husband is the best, the truth is that Clark honestly is the world's greatest hero. Or at least he will be. So, if what he said is true, then your part in it all was very important."
   "So, my part was what, exactly? Being the world's greatest housewife?"
   "Oh, don't me wrong. You were also one of the best reporters in existence. Won half a dozen pulitzers, took down five separate major crime organizations across four major cities, and found information that led to the downfall of a foreign terrorist regime."
   Lois smirked. "Now that's better."
   "But," Iris continued, "Clark needs you. Don't forget that."
   "...I won't."
   Iris smiled a little. "Okay. Good."