Author's Note: Hello Smallville fans everywhere. This story is how Love and Capes was meant to be read. I sat down to free write this story idea a few months ago and wound up posting it as is. I wrote this version later but didn't want to change the chapter as then no one would reread the story to see the change. So this post is my solution. The free write will stay posted as it currently appears, while this story will be my final draft. Hope you enjoy and don't forget to reply or visit my forum.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters AOL/Time-Warner does.

Love and Capes: The Women's Tale

Part One: A Reporter's Tale

Chapter One

Mid. June, 2018 AD, Metropolis

A ray of light shone through the window of Lois Lane's bedroom. The aroma of rich Columbian coffee played at her nostrils as she roused from sleep. She smiled at the sweet smell. Coffee brewing could only mean one thing, Clark was home. Lois and Clark had been married for several years now and in that time Lois had hardly woken to find Clark at home. It seemed that Clark was always off somewhere stopping a mugging or averting some natural disaster. Getting out of bed Lois wandered into the kitchen of their New Hampshire home. Clark had purchased the house after their one year anniversary. Lois could still remember how she felt when Clark had shown her house. She had, on that day felt more right about where her life was going than any day before. She had a nice middle class home in a wonderful neighbourhood with a wonder husband and an adorable son, how could life be better. She could see Clark lying in the couch as she walked into the living room. The TV was broadcasting Cat Grant's show 'Good Morning Metropolis'. She had never gotten along with Cat personally and she certainly didn't like watching her show. Pouring a cup of coffee in her Daily Planet mug she sat down on the floor in front of Clark as he watched.

"This is Cat Grant saying 'Good Morning Metropolis'. Today we're talking with international business man Bruce Wayne. So Bruce what's your opinion on the people of Metropolis's fears that you're taking advantage of Lex Luthor's recent disgrace in the public eye to take control of the majority of Metropolis real-estate." Cat said in her airy voice.

Wayne had a smug grin on his face as he addressed the camera "Well I wouldn't go so far as the majority but there were several businesses I had my eye on." The image of Bruce communicated his playboy demeanour. "Wayne Tech and Wayne Enterprises recently merged with Lex Corp. Industrial, As well as Luthor Communications my plan is to streamline all of my businesses into one large company called Wayne Corporation. This should allow us to better manage all of our business ventures under one roof." Bruce sat back and rested his index finger on his cheek smiling coyly at Cat.

"Wow now you really are the wealthiest man in the world." She adjusted her dress shirt and read over the news cards in her hand. "We will return after these commercials with an interview from this year's hottest new pop-star Dailey Judd."

Clark clicked off the television and sat up on the couch. "I wonder what he wants with Luthor Communications." Clark said getting up and walking to the kitchen.

"Do you know what publication they own?" Lois said joining him by the coffee pot. "Luthor Comm. owns the Gotham Gazette."

Clark turned to her and furrowed his brow. "Isn't that the paper that Chloe works for?"

"Precisely" Lois replied a smirk firmly planted on her face.

"How mad do you think she is going to be?" Clark said understanding what Wayne had done.

"Are you kidding Smallville, she's gonna go berserk." Lois said before returning to their bedroom to get ready for work. Twenty minutes later Lois walked into the foyer to see Clark ready and waiting. Some times that super speed of his really ticked her off.

Traffic in Metropolis was murder. It was only four in the morning and cars were already bumper-to-bumper. Lois hated the monotony of driving to work. By the time they reached the Daily Planet the entire building was in a rush to put out the morning edition. The Planet published two editions every day, one was the normal sized morning edition that went out to newsstands at six a.m., and the second was a smaller evening edition that went out before the five o'clock rush hour.

Lois and Clark shared what used to be Lois's ex-fiancés Richard's office. For years before their marriage they worked at desks in the main newsroom but Lois liked the peace and quiet of a private office. The office also allowed Clark to make impromptu disappearances through the window of their private storage closet.

Lois put her coat on the hook by her desk and was surprised when she saw that Clark had not followed her into the office. Lois was so used to Clark always being right behind her that she had failed to notice his absence. Walking out into the newsroom she surveyed the area and couldn't see her husband anywhere, catching Jimmy Olsen as he walked by her office. "Hey Jimmy have you seen Clark?"

"I'm sorry Mrs. Lane I haven't seen him anywhere." He said shrugging his shoulders. "Maybe he went up stairs to see if he could catch a peek of our new owner."

"New owner" Lois was astonished she didn't know their publisher was selling. "Why hasn't the Chief said anything?"

"Apparently the he didn't want the news to backlog the morning edition." He said before walking over to the communal coffee pot.

Lois closed the door to her office and walked up to the executive floor. She had never had much need to come here before. She couldn't even remember the last time she had seen the publisher. Walking up to the publisher's office she could hear hushed tones coming from the other side of the large mahogany doors. Leaning close to the door she tried to make out what was being said. Almost as soon as she put her ear to the door the voices stopped. Lois panicked, had they heard her coming? She had just decided to leave when the door was thrown open. Clark stood right inside the door and smiled at the sight of her ridiculous position. Behind him a hearty voice laughed uncontrollably. Lois had never heard a laugh quite like it before. Standing up she walked past Clark into the office.

Much to her surprise the laugh belonged to Bruce Wayne who was currently sitting behind the publisher's desk.

"Careful Bruce or she'll think you laugh like that all the time." Clark said as his smile drew even deeper.

"We wouldn't want that would we?" Bruce said a curt smile on his face.

Lois could tell that Wayne was very comfortable around her husband. She had no idea that they were that close. She had only met him a few times, mostly in Smallville. Bruce had bought the chemical plant from Lex Luthor shortly after the death of Lex's father Lionel. He soon disappeared and no one heard of him for nearly seven years. Lois remembered getting phone calls from Chloe talking about interviews she had had with him. That was before she got onto this kick about the Batman. She seemed obsessed; everything she wrote involved the Gotham urban legend. Lois couldn't understand it but recently she had been getting news from Chloe that Bruce had been taking her out and introducing her to high society.

The man sitting before her didn't feel like the same cold shouldered man that she had heard of from her cousin. This man was open and warm.

"So you bought the Daily Planet as well." She said a mischievous smile creeping along her face. "Since it seems you're on this purchasing kick how about buying our house so we don't have to worry about the mortgage."

"Lois don't be rude, he is our boss after all." Clark said he seemed to have returned to his normal mild-mannered self.

"Oh don't worry Clark you guys won't be seeing much of me around here anyway." Bruce said. Lois saw his entire face change like it had shifted into the profile of someone entirely different. His eyes went hollow and his face was suddenly filled with wrinkles that didn't match his age. When he next spoke his voice was a dull murmur. "I'm not sure when I might be back in metropolis."

"I understand, hope every thing goes well in Gotham once you return. I have a feeling that a certain reporter might not be thrilled." Clark answered as he opened the door. "Come on Lois let's leave Bruce to his brooding."

It might have just been her imagination but Lois could have sworn that as she and Clark left the office Bruce had winked at her husband.

The rest of the day went smoothly nothing major happened in the city which was news in and of it self. Clark actually stayed in his office all day chasing leads over the phone. Lois drove home with Clark in the car of the first time in weeks which she found eerie. She was so unused to the idea that not a word passed between them. They shared a quiet meal and watched the stars loom over the city of Metropolis in their orchid garden. Lois sat in their gazebo warmed by the presence of her Kryptonian husband and for one jealous moment she wished that things could stay like this forever.