Hello and thanks for clicking on my story! I've had this story idea for a while now, and this first chapter has been written up forever, but I'm just now getting around to posting it. Please, let me know what you think about this and if I should continue. This is a Richard centric fic, because he just doesn't get enough love. I hope you readers like it. Constructive criticism is always welcome! Also, please excuse any grammatical errors...I don't have a beta, and no matter how many times I edit something, I always find errors later. So just know that I'm doing my best at it. :)

Disclaimer: Abigail Booker, Erin Booker (and pretty much every other charrie you don't recognise) and the plot belong to me. Nothing else. Certainly not Superman, Lois, Jason, or Richard. So now that no one can sue me, on to the story!

Chapter 1: Fifth One's the Charm

Richard was glad it was the end of the day. He'd been in London for nearly a month now, and through four secretaries already. Just this one last woman coming up, then he'd be able to go to the apartment. He couldn't call it home yet. After a painful conversation with Lois, the offer of a job in England had seemed like a dream come true. He didn't want to leave Jason, or Lois for that matter, but he knew staying would only complicate things further and cause him more pain. He had always known of Lois's history with Superman. He had always known that Lois was ultimately ruled by her heart, not her head. He had known and understood it all but he just couldn't help but fall in love with her. Looking back on how she started the conversation, he knows he will laugh about it later on in life - many years later, but he will.

"It's just…We're like new shoes Richard. It's good, and they fit nice. But your favorite pair is always your old shoes, because it's great, and they fit right. I never wanted to hurt you. I'm sorry."

He knows that in a few years, he will find it humorous that she compares her relationships to shoes…but it is so uniquely her that it doesn't hurt nearly as much as if she'd have said something else. He tidies his desk, preparing for the new woman to knock and come in, ready to prove how she is better than his previous secretaries. He sighs and hopes she doesn't ramble like some of the others. And that's really all he can do before Tony introduces a Mrs. Booker and leaves him to conduct the interview.

It's been a week, and she's still here. If nothing else, she's lasted longer than anyone else did. She's quiet and efficient. She insists that he call her by her name like everyone else in the office, which surprises him because she is the picture of professionalism. So he tries it for a morning – it doesn't catch. However, he's willing to compromise, and instead of calling her Abby like everyone else, he calls her by her full name, Abigail. He thinks it suits her more than the nickname. He barely notices the very faint blush that rises to her cheeks up from her neck the first time he does it. She's helpful in a way that the others did not manage to achieve, and Richard likes it.

He thinks he might just keep this one.

Another week passes quickly for Richard, still incredibly busy with his new job that has more responsibilities. He almost forgets that he's actually supposed to tell Abigail she'll be staying on as his secretary – but Tony asks him about it over lunch and he suddenly knows why she seemed quieter than usual that morning. He calls her in right away and tells her with Tony sitting there, apologizing profusely for having forgotten about it. She's happy and flushed in a way only a redhead can be and he's glad she's staying.

It's only when he's walking out of his office for the day when he notices the new nicknacks spread on her desk. It's not a lot, and it's certainly not unprofessional. Just a few photos, nicely arranged in a pretty frame. A bit of color here and there that wasn't there before. He notices a small box near the tiny trash bin and smiles to himself. She's only just noticed that he's been standing and looking at the new items with a small amount of curiosity. She blushes again when she sees the raised eyebrow pointed at the small box and almost stumbles over her words. She'd been hoping and just grabbed a few things this morning. He's glad all over again, and smiles a genuine, full-out smile for the first time in weeks. He can tell she's happy when he tells her he'll see her on Monday.

Monday, he's on the phone with Jason when she knocks lightly on the door with the lunch that he ordered. She tries to be extra quiet and pretends not to notice how his face is a heartbreaking combination of love and sadness. He makes these daily phone calls and always seems slightly broken for a while after he says goodbye. She doesn't know who Jason is – she's not big on office gossip – but she can tell that Richard loves him. So today, because she is in such good spirits about having this job and she wants to cheer him up, she takes him some homemade cookies.

"Just thought you could used a little treat. And I really shouldn't eat them all by myself – Erin kept a whole batch at home, so we're all stocked on cookies. I hope you like peanut butter chocolate chip."

"Thank you, Abigail. Erin?" She starts, because she realizes that he must not be big on office gossip either, since he knows nothing about her other than what her small file says.

"Oh! She's my daughter. Erin Noel – she just turned ten last month. We made cookies last night for her class."

"I didn't know you had a daughter. What's she like? I bet she's got your red hair, huh?"

"Actually, she has her father's coloring – dark hair, hazel eyes. She's got my bones though, so I consider it a fair trade. She's outspoken and very bubbly. She's smart too, already in advanced placement classes." She hesitates, but then speaks anyway. "What's Jason like?"

"Jason is…a very sweet little boy. He's only five…he goes to school in the morning so I can call him at lunch. He's smart, very perceptive. He's kind of shy, and Lois fusses over him a lot – he's got a lot of allergies, so she worries."

"And you don't worry?" Her voice is teasing and he smiles back.

"I'm pretty sure he'll grow out of those. He'll take after his father." His smile is gone now and she wonders why.

"Well, that's good. Allergies are horrible. I'll leave you to your lunch now. Oh, and your next meeting is at two o'clock, with a Mr. Steinbeck."

"Thank you Abigail."

She's back at her desk when she presses her hands to her cheeks, knowing they'll be warm. She can't help it. It's not like she's looking for a relationship with anyone, let alone her boss – but she can't help but blush when he calls her by her full name. No one else does that – no one. And it makes her feel special in a way she hasn't felt in a very long time.