Disclaimer: I don't own Smallville or any other characters from the DC universe... just throwing that out there. :P

Summary: Zod finds a way to time travel and plans to kill Clark in the past. Lois finds out and she and Clark follow him to thwart his plans. When they return to the future, certain aspects of their lives have changed and things get interesting...

Tagline: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Pairing: CLOIS

CLOIS CONTENT WARNING: Reading Clois fanfics will lead to many hours of wasting time reading the fluffy goodness of Lois and Clark instead of doing necessary items such as: homework, eating, sleeping, and taking a shower. All fans who decide to disregard said warning should be prepared ahead of time by: eating a large meal, making sure snacks are close by, getting homework finished (or be prepared to face the consequences of not having it done), and being well rested. Proceed with caution.

(^^ Credit for Clois Warning: Nerwen Aldarion from kryptonsite)

A/N: So, I've been done with this story since 4/11/10, but I was waiting for the trailer to be done before posting. You can see it embedded below the poster under this and give lots of love to heavenlyi for making such an EPIC trailer. And don't forget to give lots of love to Jovi (RPK_Jovi) for whom without her, this story wouldn't have even existed. It was her poster that inspired me to write it back in December.

I started writing this right after Pandora aired. It turned out to be 111 pages on the dot - by far my longest story EVER. I split it into a Prologue, 13 Chapters, and an Epilogue. The chapters vary from being 5 pages to 11+ pages. It all depended on where I thought was the best stopping place and the evil cliffhangers… You know me.

I'd like to thank Jovi (RPK_Jovi) for sending the poster that started all this, Mary Ellen (gem6519) for helping me brainstorm by bouncing off ideas, and Heavenly (heavenlyi)for making the absolute EPIC trailer you see in my profile page!

Okay, so enough with my rambling which you guys really aren't even reading, you probably just skipped ahead to read... which I totally understand. I thank you all who reply to my stories and to those of you who just lurk and read. It all means more to me than you know.

Okay, I'll shut up now... without further adieu... I give you Cause & Effect.

Cause & Effect

Prologue

Daily Planet

The newsroom bustled with activity and in the middle of all the commotion were Lois Lane and Clark Kent hard at work, well at least Lois Lane was; Clark on the other hand had an ear on the city. In addition to being an investigative reporter who sometimes partnered with the woman sitting across from him, he was Metropolis' resident hero – the Blur. A smile was adorned on his face, but it wasn't a result from the sounds he heard in Metropolis, no that was due to the fact that he finally was with the love of his life – Lois Lane.

"Hey, Smallville," Lois picked up her now empty coffee cup, "Could you get a refill for me? I'm almost done with this article and I don't want to lose my train of thought."

"Yeah, of course, Lo," Clark got up and grabbed her cup. He was more than eager to appease her. Lois watched him go, smiling as wide as Clark had before.

She didn't know what she did to deserve him. He truly has grown into a man from the boy she met in the cornfield all those years ago. Of course, he wasn't that much of a boy when she met him, he was definitely a man. She grinned to herself and bit her bottom lip as an image of her first meeting with Clark came to mind.

A couple months ago out of nowhere Clark suggested that they become a couple; well he bluntly said it more than anything. She didn't know what to say, she wasn't sure if they should, but after he assured her they'd go slow, she wouldn't have it any other way. And now these past couple of months have been the best she can remember.

In fact, last week Clark told her all about himself. That's right, her boyfriend is an extra-terrestrial and the resident superhero, so what? At first she was just hurt, not mad. That was the kind of thing you tell your significant other. You know, those little things: I love chocolate, I hate the smell of smoke… I'm an alien. But after a fun adventure and by fun she meant 'near-death experience', she understood where he was coming from. He wasn't just trying to protect her, he was trying to protect both their hearts and she respected that. She would've done the same thing if she was in that position.

"Here's your coffee, Lois," Clark came back quicker than she expected. She must have been lost in her thoughts about her wonderful boyfriend longer than she intended. She accepted the coffee and took a sip. He had heated it up for her with his heat vision to the exact temperature she loved.

Clark brought her out of her coffee-induced haze, "Didn't you say earlier that you wanted to stop off at Tess' office? You know, to try and get that interview with Bruce Wayne for some announcement he wants to make about Wayne Enterprises?"

"Huh?," Lois looked up, "Yeah I did, thanks for reminding me, Clark." Clark just nodded a welcome. She handed the half-drunk coffee cup back to him and got up, "I'll be right back."

"I'll miss you," Clark smiled. Lois couldn't help but let out a small laugh, she gave him a quick kiss on the lips, and headed to the elevators.

Tess was working on her computer when Zod entered her office.

"Tess," he greeted her.

"Zod," Tess quickly stood up, closing her laptop, "What are you doing here?" She was right to be suspicious of the man in front of her, after all, he was an evil military man from another planet.

"Just checking in on you," Zod shrugged, running his finger along the desk, walking up to her.

"Checking in on me?," Tess raised an eyebrow, "I didn't realize I needed to be checked in on."

"You," Zod raised his finger, "You are not as cunning as you think you are, Tess."

"What on Earth are you talking about, Zod?," Tess turned to face him. He was practically in her face, so he took a step back, but continued to circle her like she was his prey.

"I'm talking about your knowledge on the Blur… Kal-El," Zod cocked his head to the side.

"You're on a first name basis with the Blur, congratulations," Tess replied sarcastically.

"You know who he is," Zod stated.

"Yes, he's Metropolis' savior," Tess turned her head to look in Zod's eyes. She was going to stand her ground.

"No," Zod shook his head, "I know you know who he is."

"I think you're the only one who understands your inane ramblings, Zod," Tess replied.

He ignored her jab. He lifted a hair by her ear and whispered, sending chills down her spine, "Clark Kent."

On the other side of Tess' office, Lois was about to enter when she heard voices. She let her fist down and put her ear to the door.

Zod repeated himself, this time louder, "I know that you know that the Blur is none other than Clark Kent."

This immediately piqued Lois' interest, her eyes widened in shock. She was not expecting this on her trip to Tess' office.

"Clark Kent? The Daily Planet's cub journalist? I think somebody's reaching," Tess covered for him.

"Don't try to cover for him, Tess," Zod said, "I know it for a fact. When Jor-El died, I watched him use his powers, his heat vision, to burn his family crest into stone."

"Well if what you're saying is true, then why is he working here? He got bored?," Tess rolled her eyes, her voice oozing with sarcasm.

"He obviously wanted to blend in with you humans, I have to admit that is rather clever," Zod's hands were entwined behind his back as he circled Tess once again.

"Kal-El has flaunted his powers for far too long," Zod started, "He tried to befriend us, but I could tell he had ulterior motives. The best plan of action is to eliminate him before he becomes a threat to our project."

"Our project?," Tess raised an eyebrow, "I didn't realize that my name was being put on the solar towers along with yours, Zod."

"It can be," Zod replied, "You'd be a credit to your kind… and Kal-El… Clark is hindering that."

"And you want to kill him?," Tess shook her head, "Last I checked, the man was invincible, good luck with that."

"He may be invulnerable now," Zod agreed with a nod, but continued with a sly smile crawling on his lips, "But he wasn't always… he wasn't always this strong, this fast, this resourceful."

"What are you saying?," Tess narrowed her eyes.

"I'm saying that in the orb of which my people and I emerged, I have discovered a way to time travel to different times on this planet," Zod said, radiating pride, "All I have to do is go to a time when he wasn't as powerful and eliminate him."

Lois clasped a hand over her mouth to stifle her shock. She composed herself and kept listening to see what else she could learn and save Clark.

"You're going to time travel," Tess couldn't believe it, "How far back will you go?"

"I'm not sure actually," Zod replied, pursing his lips. He turned around and sat in Tess' chair, then proceeded to prop his feet on her desk, "You see, I thought the best time would to go back to his arrival on Earth, but that wouldn't be a fair fight. I'm a military man, and I like to see the lights in my adversary's eyes go out… killing a toddler just wouldn't be right. I am a father after all."

"How merciful of you," Tess remarked, a glint of sarcasm in her voice.

Zod didn't pick up on it and continued, "So, I went on and I've decided the best time would to strike him at the most confusing time in anyone's life… his teenage years. His freshman year in high school seems like the best choice."

"You're going to go back to his freshman year in high school and what? You're going to kill him while he's in gym?," Tess raised her arms, shaking her head.

"Of course not, Tess," Zod leaned further back in the chair, "Did you think I was going to tell you my entire plan?"

"Damn it," Lois swore in her head outside the door. At least she got that much, they were going to have to figure out a way to follow him and stop him.

"And what's to stop me from going down to the basement and warn Clark about all this right now?," Tess challenged him.

Zod stood up, clasped his hands behind his back, and walked right up to her. He replied with only one word, "Me."

"You will be taking a leave of absence from the Planet as well as all communication with Luthorcorp and Queen Industries," Zod told her.

"I am?," Tess replied.

"Yes, in fact, you've already sent e-mails to everyone to notify them," Zod smirked. They started for the door; Lois widened her eyes and darted for the first hiding space she could find – a storage closet.

Zod opened Tess' office door not a moment after the door to the storage room shut with Lois safe on the other side. He led Tess out, gesturing with his hand, and with a sigh she walked with Zod to the elevators and out of the Daily Planet.

"Oh my God," Lois sighed, "I've gotta warn Clark. We have to do something." She pulled on the handle and let out a frustrated sigh.

She was locked in the storage room, "Perfect."

A/N: So? What'd you guys think? You like it so far? Was it worth the wait? I'm not sure about the updating schedule as of right now. I am going to be taking some summer classes and I possibly will get a summer job on top of that if I hear back from the Detroit Zoo. Otherwise, it'll just be my taking classes that eat up the updating time. As it stands right now, I think I can only manage once a week updates - like I did with Home towards the end. ;)

Please comment you guys! Each time I see a new one, I light up. I love them all and I thank you all for taking the time to read and comment or simply read!

Clois Forever!!!!!!!!! :D