Short summary: Clark and Lois vow to marry each other at 30 if they haven't found anyone else. It's getting close to Clark's birthday and Lois keeps setting him up on dates. Is she dreading marrying him so much?

Info: Lois and Clark have been friends and then best friends, and worked together for years but nothing more has ever happened. Prologue takes place on Lois's 21st birthday (and yes that makes Clark younger and yes he is drinking but they are alone and he knows it doesn't affect him).

Story is complete. I will be updating every evening (hopefully) until it's all done.

Prologue – The Pact

"Smallville, you must be made of some kind of metal 'cause you've downed just as many shots as me. How come you're not sprawled on the floor?" Lois lifted a glass and swung it round oblivious when some frothy amber liquid flowed over the edge and down the side. "I've never seen you drink so much as an apple cider before. How are you holding yourself up?"

Clark just smiled into his glass.

"Come on. You're swapping the drinks somehow. Giving me the real stuff and fakin' it yourself."

"I am not!" he protested.

"Well, it's the only explanation," Lois continued, swinging her drink again and spilling all down her top. "Oops," she said and tried to see it, pushing her chin as far into her chest as possible.

"Lois, I think you've had too much." He reached out and took the glass from her and then walked over to the sink.

Lois jumped down from her seat and trotted over next to him. "Maybe I should move onto something else then." Clark turned to see her practically pushed up against him. He grabbed her arm and gently pushed her away.

"Ok, if you mean what I think you mean then you've gone waaaay past too much."

"Spoil sport," she pouted and then turned away.

I know why I'm still on my feet, but how is she doing it? He shook his head and turned back to the sink, swilling out the glass then putting it to drain. When he turned back Lois was gone. Oh, no. The living room. We left some cans in there. He sped in as fast as he could and pulled a can from Lois's mouth.

"Smallville!" she shouted and stamped her foot. "Oooooo," she murmured. "That's not good," and frowned at herself. Clark watched her sway then reached out ready to catch her when he noticed the glassy look come over her eyes.

Lois woke to some hands tugging off her shoes. "Hey!" she muttered. "Give 'em back."

"I'm not stealing them Lois," Clark replied.

"Huh!" She felt completely confused.

"You need some sleep. Stay in my old room. I'll get coffee ready for you in the morning, but I don't expect I'll see you up till afternoon."

Lois shuffled over to the side of the bed and yanked the covers round her. "You're a good friend, Clark."

He smiled and gave a silent laugh to himself.

"Maybe the best one I've ever had," her voice was getting quieter.

Clark widened his eyes in surprise.

"Thanks for spending my birthday with me."

"You're welcome."

"Will you promise to spend every birthday with me, Smallville?"

"What would your husband think, if anyone is ever mad enough to marry you?"

Lois sat up and opened her mouth. Clark expected a verbal tirade against him but instead Lois closed her mouth and frowned, her bottom lip quivering a little.

"What," she stopped and gulped. "What if no-one ever wants to marry me?"

"Oh Lois. I didn't mean it that way." Clark strolled over and sat down on the bed.

"I mean, come on. Who's gonna get my wacky world view and wanna share it with me?"

"I get it." Clark replied. "Sometimes," and he gave a lobsided smile.

"Awwww, Smallville." She reached out to punch him on the arm but her aim was off. "Ok, how about we make a pact."

"A pact?" Clark asked.

"Yeah, like when we are thirty, if we are still, you know, single, then we'll, you know, marry each other."

"Thirty?" Clark lifted his eyebrows and leant his head forward. "Marry ... each other?" He flicked his hand in the air between the two of them.

"Come on, Smallville. I don't want to be alone. You're my last hope."

Clark looked Lois in the eyes. Is she serious or is this the alcohol talking. He tried figure out her motivations. When he saw her eyes start to water he realised she was serious. Or as serious as the alcohol had made her. She was vulnerable at the moment and needed some reassurance.

Clark moved away a little and tried to assess how drunk she was. Will she remember this in the morning? Hopefully not, but it will comfort her tonight.

"Ok, Lois. Pact. If neither of us has someone by the time I'm thirty ... and you're thirty one ... we'll marry each other."

"Pinky swear." Lois held out her hand and opened her eyes really wide.

"Huh?"

She didn't reply, just nodded down at her hand and motioned. Clark sighed and linked his little finger with hers, then they shook.

Chapter 1 – The Plan

Lois stepped off the elevator and looked up to see the door to her office closed.

Clark Kent
Lois Lane

The two names stood out at her. She came to a stop just before reaching for the handle. Is he in there? Take a deep breath, Lois. She turned the handle and strode in as if she hadn't a care in the world.

"Hope you're ready for a busy news day, Smallville, 'cause I've got a scoop for you." She stopped and dropped her hand from the handle then slammed the door behind her.

"He's not even here," she mumbled to herself. "Argh. All that for nothing." She threw her bag down on the edge of her desk and dropped herself into her chair. Her bag teetered and tottered on the edge of the table and then dropped to the floor with a plop.

"What am I going to do?" She put her fingers to her forehead. "I'm turning Thirty-one tomorrow. That means it's his Thirtieth in just a few months." She slammed her hand down on the desk. "I've not had a date in ..." she paused. "Too long, if I can't remember."

Lois lent back in the chair and nibbled on a fingertip. Bouncing the chair back and forth she gave in to her nervousness. "I can't marry him. I just can't. It would be too hard. It's hard enough hiding things from him when we share the same office."

She pushed herself up and out of the chair and wandered round to his side of the desks. Always so neat and tidy. Pens away in the drawer. Paper stacked at the side. She trailed a finger along as she walked round picking up her name plate and his as she passed. Lowering herself into his seat she played with them in her hands knocking them against each other.

When she stopped and held them still she noticed something. Clark's was behind, his last name just peeping out.

Lois Lane Kent

When Lois realised she was smiling ... quite widely ... she dropped them immediately. "Oh no." She jumped out of Clark's chair and ran back to her side of the room. "Not going to happen. I need to do something about this quickly. I need to find someone." Lois nibbled nervously on her fingernail again. "But there's no-one willing to go on a date with me anymore," she admitted.

She twirled her chair from side to side.

"That's it." She sprung up. "I'll find someone for him. I'll find Clark his soulmate." She dropped back into her chair. "I just need to do it in under two months."

Clark stepped off the elevator and looked up to see the door to his office closed.

Clark Kent
Lois Lane

The two names stood out at him. He came to a stop just before reaching for the handle. Is she in there? Take a deep breath, Clark. He turned the handle and strode in as if he hadn't a care in the world.

"So, what's the scoop this morning, Lois?" he said brightly. She jumped out of her chair in shock.

"Didn't they teach you to knock back in Smallville ... Smallville?" She frowned at him.

What? Why is she acting like I caught her doing something she shouldn't?

"Hey, it's my office too. In fact, my name is first."

Lois swung round to glare at him. "And don't you gloat too long over that. The moment the boys from ops realise I'm not gonna stop e-mailing them about this, they," she pointed, "are getting swapped."

"Lois. It's been five years. They're not swapping them." He strolled towards her. Casually throwing his trench coat over to his side he sidled up next to her and leaned over her shoulder. She quickly reached out with a hand and flicked off her computer screen.

"Ah, private matter, Smallville." When he raised an eyebrow at her she stood and pushed him away. "Hey, I'm allowed a break."

He shrugged and strode to his chair. Lowering himself he adjusted his glasses and then pulled out his notepad. He made some notes on the 'incident' which had made him late this morning then started to pull them together into an article.

Lois watched him become engrossed then flicked her screen back on.

Clark tapped away at his keyboard but kept glancing over the top of his screen to his partner. She could be so much more, Kent. If you went for it. He shook his head and went back to his work.

You know that time is running out. For some reason she remembered that stupid pact. And then made you swear again when she was sober.

Clark gritted his teeth. The thing was, as time went on, he began to want it more and more. But Lois hadn't brought up the subject in ... oh ... about two years.

Maybe she's forgotten. That's good. It would be too complicated being married to her, having to explain things, having to hide things. Yes, I'm glad she's forgotten.

But Clark knew he was lying to himself.

Lois kept peeking over her screen to see if Clark was watching. She tried to type furiously. To get the application filled out as quickly as possible. Her heart jumped out of her chest when he stood suddenly.

"I'm just heading off for an interview, Lois. Back later."

And he was gone, just like that. She peered round the side of her screen. But he's left his notepad? She shook her head and went back to the screen.

"OK. Name – done. Age – done. Interests. Music. Films. What does Smallville like? Or rather, what does he want his perfect girl to like? Think, Lois, think. You need to fill this out so it matches him to the perfect girls."

She typed away, inputting answers and then deleting as she tried to fill out the perfect profile. After pushing 'submit' she leant back and smiled. "Smallville won't know what hit him. These girls are gonna be irresistible to him."

A light bulb went on in her brain and Lois reached forward to the keyboard again. "While I'm at it why don't I see if I can find my Prince Charming? Just need to make sure I put in the right answers to score myself a classy guy."

Review please, then come back tommorrow for Chapter 2