k3josai8 notes: The storyline mostly came from me. So don't blame barb1808 if it didn't reach your expectation. But I guarantee that this was well-written by me and her. We poured our hearts and emotions when we were writing this one. Hoping we could reach out to you and feel the emotions of the characters, we put in here. I really wanted to do this last fic of mine memorable to you. Yeap, I had to say my farewell to the fanfic world for the meantime. Maybe for a short or for a long period of time. But you could still have me through my youtube account, k3mylois, I posted my Clois music videos there.

This story is co-written by barb1808, She's a German writer who do most of her Clois fics in German and posted them in German Superman fansites. I met her through youtube and so glad to know that she loves writing too that's why I invited her to do a fic with me. English is our second language, that's why we have a betareader and her name's is Lily aka lilah. I have to thank you ! And to top it all, the Seventh Scene: Enchanted Morning, was written wholly by Barb, her birthday gift for me last December. You read it right, this fic was nearly four months in the making. And it's right down there… Please forgive me for a very loooooooong introduction.

THANK YOUs

To Barbara – Thank you so much for helping me in doing Set You Free, though I originally entitled it as Fragile Heart. Well, I guess Set You Free is way much better. Though I already thanked you for The Enchanted Morning fic, you granted my wish of having snow in December (I live in the Philippines, a tropical country, where I only see snow through television and wild imagination-lol!). Now I wish, you'll be able to translate this fic in German so your friends who don't know the English language will understand what we have in here. Again, thanks for this once in a lifetime experience. Congrats too for a job well done.

To Lily aka lilah1986 - Thank Sis for your all-out support whether I'm in the Clois fanfic or music video world. I actually admired you for being so friendly. *whisper* For the favors I asked you, you never said 'no', you always said 'yes'. Thank you so much, I want to give you an award as being "Miss Congeniality". Seriously speaking, you're such a nice girl and I'm very thankful that I have you as a friend.

To you – yes you… Maraming salamat in Filipino. Thank you very much in English. Muchos Gracias in Spanish. Harigatu in Japanese. "Hey Barb, how can I say it in French, German and Italian?" *whisper* she knows more than two languages. I may not be around writing fics for the next months, hoping this fic will remain in your hearts until I get back. ^_^

The LOVE THEMES of SET YOU FREE

I Still Believe in Loving You

I Have Fallen in Love (With the Same Woman Three Times)

Now, Im going to introduce to you one of my Clois friends, take it away barb…

"I'd like to thank k3josai for challenging me, for her patience, her ideas, her work and for pushing me further and further! And she really had to push me. Another 'Thank you!' to our beta-reader for helping us making this story easier to read."

Summary:

She never knew what was going on a certain farmboy's mind until he faced her and bid his farewell…

SET YOU FREE

By k3josai8 and barb1808

Scene I: Clark's Farewell

Lois's POV

He was out there somewhere. I was here, keeping myself busy by typing anything that came into my mind. My article was almost done. With few clicks on the keyboard and now, I pressed the period button it was finished. Glancing sideways, I saw my partner coming from out of nowhere with tousled hair and an unshaven face. He had slumped shoulders and unguarded eyes. He was not Smallville. Something was off, I could tell.

I stared at him, very much confused on his physical appearance. He sat on his chair without throwing any attention at me. I didn't see him for almost four days; I never got any call, email, or text messages from him. I tried to reach him by calling his phone more than ten times only to be answered by his voice mail. We had been dating for two months, we were a couple as we both agreed and taking it slow was one of the rules that we both followed. Based on his actions or the lack of it flamed the mad dog Lane within me. Watching him work across my own desk and seeing how tired he was, the annoyance I had felt for him was replaced by worry. I gazed at him one more time; his full attention was on the computer screen. Déjà vu struck again, as if this already happened way back when. I needed to say something but I opted not to. I shifted my gaze to the blinking message on my desktop computer. It was from him. I looked up, expecting his sheepish grin but I was met by nothingness. He disappeared again, just like the old times. Without thinking twice, I stood and left.

Riding the elevator had been the most boring place for me this late afternoon. I tapped my left foot waiting for the door to open. I stepped outside as soon as it reached the last floor of the Daily Planet building, where Clark and I were working. There I was on the roof with him. He was facing the afternoon sun lowering on the horizon. In few minutes, the dark sky would consume the light. I wondered what was on his mind and what occupied most of it. There were times that I knew him more than I could understand my own self. Then there were times that I couldn't figure out what was in the head of a certain farm boy and reporter… like today.

Few seconds after, I managed to say nothing but, "Hi!" It didn't startle him. It was as if he knew that I was there already. He didn't turn around when he started to speak.

"Lois, thanks for meeting me up here."

My heart skipped a beat when I heard his voice again. I wanted to run and hug him right there. I missed him so much but I also sensed the scare that crept within me on the things he was about to say.

"You're welcome, Smallville." I sighed. "So?" I tried to humor my voice. I waited for him to speak though patience wasn't one of my virtues. I counted from one to thirty, and then he spoke enough for me to comprehend.

"I have to say goodbye to you." I stood still. My head almost exploded from what he told me. It couldn't be.

"Goodbye? What do you mean goodbye?" I asked. The hurt in my voice couldn't be hidden. It took another thirty seconds before he answered.

"I'm leaving Kansas indefinitely." Did I hear it right? He was going to leave me for good. Wake up Lane, this is just a bad dream, isn't it? I looked at his back with his head bowed. We were few steps apart and I couldn't move from where I stood, something prevented me from doing it.

He took a deep breath as he continued, "La – Lana came back." I was in a huge shock hearing her name again from him. My heart was crushed; I was trying so hard to breathe some oxygen. Without noticing, my hands on both sides were closed. I looked down, blinking back the tears that were about to fall. After all these years, it was still her; only her.

"We're leaving Kansas."

I listened to his broken voice. I didn't want to hear another word. My heart and mind were incapable to process everything that had been laid in front of me. I heard his footsteps coming. I wanted to slap him hard, curse him, let him know what I felt right at this moment, but it was useless. Nothing would change the fact that he chose her over me. She was pretty, sweet, and damsel in distress-y and not hardheaded, loud-mouthed and independent like me.

"Lois, I'm so sorry."

I'm sorry? I didn't want him to say those words. I didn't want him to pity me. Go on Lane, you're a soldier; you can't be hurt or wounded by a bullet or knife. He was just Clark Kent. You can face him with dignity and pride. Because of that, I inhaled and exhaled, I put on my mask – no one could ever read what was within me when I was wearing it. I looked up to be met with his pleading eyes. I smiled. I tried to fake a genuine smile and I succeeded. I reached out to embrace him for one last time.

"Lois?" He whispered.

I held him close. This way I could still feel his warmth and his heartbeat - his heart that had never been mine. And most importantly, to hide stray tears that fell from my eyes. He wouldn't see how broken I was, I silently promised to myself.

"Fix your life Kent; I know you can do it. And don't worry about me, I'll be fine." My own words echoed in my mind.

"Thank you." He choked again. His hold on me tightened a bit. I wondered if he was willing to let me go or not. His actions versus his words – which was the heavier? I didn't know the answer.

"Too much gratitude back there huh?" I laughed painfully. I pulled out from his embrace. Suddenly I felt the coldness of the stiff air blowing my hair. I crossed my arms, trying to warm myself.

I punched him slightly on his chest and stared at him straight in the eyes, my smile never faded. His eyes focused on my face, searching something from the way he was looking at me. With one last stretch of bravery, I finally said. "Goodbye Clark."

I didn't wait for his reply, I turned around, and suddenly everything came into slow motion. I tried to feel nothing but a chilly early evening and a numb heart. My world collided, no one else knew, but me. I was setting him free. I was letting him use his wings to fly where he truly belonged. I reached the parking area, I don't know how, but I managed to get there. Was I too strong to face this situation? Or was I just too hypocritical to give in? No matter what you do Lois; you can't escape a battle without having any bruise or wound. I wipe another batch of tears that fell. Then I started the car's engine. This was where Lois and Clark's journey ended.