The day after Superman's miraculous recovery, Lois Lane was late to work. She had lain awake until the early hours of the morning, Richard's constant snores barely registering with all the thoughts that streamed through her head.

Sometime during that fitful night, she had crept out of bed and made her way across the hall to her son's room.

Jason's room was decorated with airplanes, reminiscent of his father's love for flying. But father, could she call Richard that? Without a moment's hesitation, she chastised herself for asking the question. She knew that she could. Richard had raised Jason, believing him to be his own son, loving him as his own. And she was quite sure that even if Jason's true parentage was ever made known, Richard would still be a father to Jason.

But no matter how much he acted the part, Richard was not Jason's true father. Lois made her way to her son's bed and let her gaze run across his face. Thankfully, Jason resembled her more so than his biological father. His parentage had never been questioned, never doubted. But even so, if she looked hard enough she could see the long, straight nose that was unquestionably his. And when threatened, a steely determination shone from Jason's eyes that was purely Superman's.

At this new thought, Lois stiffened. Superman. She didn't even know her son's father's name. And even more so than her son's father, he was her love. Alone with her thoughts, but in the company of his son, Lois Lane could not deny any longer that she was not in love with Superman.

And yet… where did that leave her? With another heart wrenching thought, Richard's face appeared in her mind's eye. Lois quickly strode over to her son, kissed him on his forehead and walked out, choking back a sob as she did so.

And so, Lois Lane was late for work.

As she made her way though the bustling hallways of the Daily Planet, still functioning despite the state of disrepair it was in, the first person she ran into was Jimmy.

"Ms. Lane! Thank god. Please drop these by Clark's desk ok? I got a scoop on a Superman sighting, and I don't have time to go find Clark."

With that, a stack of papers were thrust into her arms and Jimmy all but pushed past her.

With a sigh, Lois turned to make her way to Clark's cubicle. She expected to find him there, typing away, dark hair falling into his glasses. When she got there, she looked around curiously.

Where was he?

She decided to wait, figuring he was grabbing some coffee. It had been days since she had talked to him… She suddenly had an urge to make sure he was alright. She grabbed his chair, rolled it back and slouched in it, relaxing for the first time in days.

His jacket hung on the back of the chair, and Lois unconsciously turned her head toward it, taking a deep breath.

His jacket was a blend of different smells. Coffee, outside air, cologne. Mixed together, it was an unlikely combination, but it was heady and familiar. She felt a sharp pang as she realized how much she had missed him. Five years ago it had all been so much. Two losses within such a quick span of each other. Her lover Superman and her friend Clark had disappeared simultaneously. God, it had hurt. Perhaps that was why she was so quick to accept Richard. He represented warmth, love and most of all, stability.

Her head still turned toward the jacket, she reached up and gently fingered the lapel of the coat as she thought about its owner. Clark Kent. He always looked as if he was too awkward for his body, much like a puppy whose paws had outgrown the rest of him.

Except… well… did he look like that? Her mind recalled him and realized how foolishly she had been characterizing him. Perhaps she had merely assumed that because he was so tall. Richard had wagered 6'4 and she didn't think he was too far off the mark. It wasn't often that you met someone that tall. In fact the only one of her close acquaintance she could credit that height with was Superman.

She smiled and kept her fingers on his lapel. The material was soft and worn and old fashioned, not unlike Clark Kent himself. Clark Kent and his silly glasses. She had often wondered in a day where contacts and other vision solutions were so prominent, why he kept his thick glasses. She should ask him, she thought sleepily.

The roar of the Daily Planet newsroom was slightly dimmer, she thought, over here in Clark's cubicle. Perhaps it was because his desk was pushed in the corner by the wall instead of in the middle of the room like her own. The lack of rest from the previous night was catching up to her and sleep finally found her, curled up in Clark's chair, her fingers still clutching the lapel of his coat.

Superman landed on the roof of the Daily Planet with a gentle thud that belied the speed he was traveling at. Within moments he was dressed. Putting on his glasses and mussing his hair as he trotted down the steps of the fire escape, Clark Kent entered the hustle and bustle that was The Daily Planet.

Clark made his way to his desk and stopped short five feet away, his breath catching in his throat. Lois was asleep in his chair, but nobody else seemed to notice. He looked up and caught the eye of the elderly secretary who occupied the cubicle across from him.

She smiled and shrugged before looking back at her computer.

Clark made his way toward his desk and stared at her. The mother of his child, but foremost, the only woman he had ever loved. Still loved. She was clutching his jacket, which had slid off the back of the chair and now rested in her lap.

He reached out to adjust the jacket to cover her, but the slight movement startled her awake.

Her eyes lazily opened, connecting with the blue gray stare of Clark Kent himself.

For a moment she allowed herself to smile at him, before the implication of where she was dawned on her.

She blinked and in that moment was fully awake.

"Clark!" Scrambling out of his chair, she stood awkwardly and nodded to the papers on his desk. "Jimmy wanted me to give these to you."

Lois was flustered and by God she hated it.

Clark still hadn't said a word, just stared at her dolefully, as if willing her to see something.

Frustrated by this particularly noncommunitive approach to civil conversation, Lois made her way to move past him.

This seemed to startle Clark out of his daze. With surprising agility for one normally so clumsy, he reached out and gently stopped her.

"Lois… you look like you haven't slept."

"I'm fine," she mumbled as she tried to brush past him, uncomfortably aware of the unexpected rigid muscle she had just brushed underneath his sweater.

First Superman, now Clark? I'm turning into a first class harlot.

"Seriously Lois, you need a break," Lois scowled at him, but it didn't deter him. "Come with me."

Giving up, Lois allowed Clark to drag her to the elevator and finally onto the roof of the Daily Planet.

The sky was a pearly gray, though dark clouds rolled ominously nearby. The breeze that whipped her hair behind her was strong, but it seemed to clear her head.

Lois glanced over at Clark. His hair was tousled from the wind, his eyes taking on the gray tinge from the air around him. She swallowed. He really was a handsome man. He'd probably make a good father one day, to some lucky woman.

At that thought, a stab of jealousy shot through her and lightning streaked across the sky. Rain started to fall, thick heavy droplets that only intensified as they hurled toward earth.

They had been standing in silence, both lost in their own thoughts, when the rain began to fall.

"I'm sorry Lois, I didn't know it was so bad up here," He gestured for them to walk toward the exit.

Lois smiled; the first real smile in days.

"No Clark, I haven't been outside in the rain for years," she said dreamily. The rain continued its siege on the cement floor.

In moments they were both drenched.

A gust of wind blew hard against them and Clark took a step closer to Lois to steady her in case she slipped.

Clark swallowed nervously. Why was it that he could easily hurl continents out to outer space but the mere sight of this reported made him tongue tied?

Especially like this. Soaked completely, alone with him, her tight sweater leaving nothing to his imagination.

Lois was delighted. For the first time in a long while she wasn't thinking about Superman or about Richard. Standing on the rooftop of the tall sky scraper was always exhilarating, but intensified tenfold in the thunderstorm. She knew it was dangerous—but for once her mind was clear. There was one way to clear the nagging doubts in her mind and she planned to do so, risking humiliation.

"Clark," she turned toward her silent companion. He had been watching her intently, captured and unable to turn away.

"Yes?" His voice rumbled low in her ears. It was the final proof she needed.

"Will you…" she stepped closer to him, her lips mere inches from his. "…Indulge me in a whim?"

"Anything." Her nearness was intoxicating, he could barely breathe.

"Take off your glasses."

He looked at her in silent amazement, his eyes widening.

Then, slowly, he reached his hand up to his face and removed the thick lenses.

"Oh my god…" She started to speak but then thought better of it and simply crushed her lips on his.

He was startled, but returned in kind eagerly a moment later.

Lois Lane was kissing him… Lois knew. She figured it out all by herself.

Coherent thoughts left his mind as the kiss continued and deepened. She reached up to run her fingers through his slick hair and he closed his eyes as warmth that he hadn't felt in years spread through him. Freezing rain continued to pour around them, but Clark barely registered it. He opened his eyes for a moment to glimpse her face.

In that moment, her face was illuminated by lightning. Suddenly his gentle grip on her changed. In a quick, fierce move, he had swerved in front of her, pushing her out of his arms. A split second later, lightning stuck down on the spot Lois had just vacated.

Part of it split his arm and he hissed in pain for a moment until it subsided seconds later.

"Are you alright Lois?" He dropped to his knees beside her, anxiously aware of how even his lightest push could have severely injured her.

She could only nod, before Clark had bundled her in his arms and ducked her inside.

Once out of the rain and danger, Clark inwardly cursed himself silently for allowing such a thing to happen.

Gently he knelt and cradled her in his arms as he examined her for any injuries.

"Clark let go of me, I'm fine." Her elbows were bruised from where they had broken her fall, but on the whole she seemed intact, though Clark was still loathe to let her out of his arms. "Thanks to you. You've saved me yet again, Mr. Superman," she said softly. "That's the fourth time."

Clark furrowed his brow. "Four? No, only three."

"No, I believe it's been four."

"The plane, the boat, just now… you have a growing knack for finding trouble, Ms. Lane, but you aren't that accomplished yet."

Lois laughed softly and rested her head against his, speaking quietly into his ear.

"You've saved me from myself and a lifetime promised to a man I don't love," she said simply.

It was as if a sudden clenching on his heart finally released and a breath of fresh air and life breathed into him.

Yes, things would be alright.

Please don't hate me for the shameless fluff this piece was. And also for having Lois figure out he was Superman. I hoped I dropped enough hints in there to make Lois' logic believable.

I might be able to write more, if god willing I can think up some decent plot, but as for now I'll leave this as a one piece. I hope you enjoyed.

Laura