The creaking of her chair was irritating him. He should have picked up on her odd behaviour earlier on. He sat there trying not to rise to Lois' bait. And it didn't didn't help that she had come back from South America all tan and sexy. He sighed deeply.
"Is there something on your mind Lois" He said giving up
"So how long did it take you to realise that I wasn't myself?"
"Well I should have picked up on it sooner. You weren't as bossy as usual."
"Well little blonde sources tell me that you don't mind my assertive flair"
Clark looked up from his computer in shock.
"Let me see it" Lois said leaning forward.
"I don't know what your talking about?" he said in a passable lie
"You have a terrible poker face Smallville" Lois stood and he pointedly kept his gaze up at her face.
"Gimmie gimmie" She said
Clark relented and fished out the rules and gave them to her. He thought she looked touched, and proud.
"Wow who would have known you were this sentimental. I think we should hang it up."
Clark had it out of her hands in a flash.
"This is a momento from my first day on the job and a constant reminder that there's only one Lois Lane."
"You better believe it" Lois smiled and walked back to her desk. Gathering her coat and handbag
"Big night?" He asked
"Yeah a guy in first class asked me out and I figured why not."
Clark kept his face neutral and muttered a murmur of assent.
"What about you?" Lois asked "Plans"
"Oh I was just going to hang around here, follow up on a few thing, want me to call you if anything comes through the wire?" He hated how desperate he sounded
"You mean if you want to stand me up again?" Lois said a little cruelly
His breath hitched
"Lois that was..."
"A mistake..Agreed" Lois said "Lets go back to basics, keep the game on the field"
And Clark being the idiot as he is agreed.
He watched her walk away.
He sat on the edge of his desk. Furious with himself. He was tired of being the one who is pining. For who he didn't want Lana. That last time had been a colossal mistake. He knew Lois liked him and for the most part he liked his life. He was not a foolish love sick boy. He was smarter than this.
His choice made he quickly rushed after her.

The elevator doors were just closing when a male arm shot out in between them. The doors opened and Clark stepped in looking determined.
"Lois I need to ask you a question?"
Lois knew this was important relationship importance.
"Yeah"
"Why now? what's changed?" He said
"What?"
"Between you and me, what has changed so much between two years ago and us now."
"Why are you asking this?"
"What about me has changed over the last year that made you suddenly attracted to me?"
"Clark you arrog.."
"No, Lois for once lets just say what we feel."
"You seem more mature and happier" Lois said
"Lois I am happy, I am. Ever since I came here. To the planet. With you. For the first time in my life I feel like this is where I'm supposed to be. That I have found my place. Working here. With you Lois. You got me this job. Lois this is where I wanna be. I know I'm hopeless with all this stuff and I'm sorry I didn't kiss you at the wedding. But I feel worse about standing you up. I care about you Lois. I'm just scared, I should have gone but I..."
Lois kissed him.
He wrapped her up in her arms and he relaxed into her. It felt so good. Relief.
Lois pulled away and started to giggle "I didn't expect that?"
"Lois, I do mean it, I want to be with you"
"I know you mean it" She said
"Good" Clark kissed her again.