A/N: This is an AU. Both Lois and Jimmy know Clarks secret. Jimmy and Chloe are married.
DISCLAIMER: Redplanetkrypton (Jovi) suggested the title of the story and I came up with the idea and concept.
PROLOGUE
I was living for a dream, loving for a moment, taking on the world, that was just my style, now I look into your eyes, I can see forever, the search is over, you were with me all the while...
"So how was your date last night?" Clark asks Lois while he's making the popcorn.
She frowns for a moment. "I don't want to talk about it," plopping down on the couch.
"That bad huh?" bringing a bowl over and sitting down next to her.
"Yep," reaching into the bowl. She looks over at him. "What about yours?" she asks him; munching on the popcorn.
"It was okay I guess," taking some for himself. "She's not really my type though," leaning back against the couch.
"And what is your type anyway? The 'damsel in distress and you have to rescue her' type?"
He furrows his brows in annoyance. "That's NOT my type."
She just shrugs her shoulders and continues to eat. He looks at her curiously. "Do you really think that's my type?" a questioning tone in his voice.
"Sure I do. Need I remind you about Lana?" her eyebrows raised.
"Please don't," folding his arms across his chest.
"Now, now Smallville, don't you pout. I'm just being honest with you."
"Brutally honest if you ask me," still frowning at her.
"You wouldn't have me any other way now would you?" she says teasingly; popping some more popcorn in her mouth.
He looks at her curiously. "I guess not," he remarks; finally smiling back at her. Then he says, "You know, there are times I think you don't know me at all; but others when I think you know me better than anyone."
She just gives him a coy smile. "Haven't we had this conversation before? Because it sounds oddly familiar to me."
"I wouldn't be surprised. We talk just about everything so it's certainly possible."
"You're right," she says; taking some more popcorn.
He looks at her in astonishment. "Did I just hear Lois Lane say that I was right about something?"
"I would savor the moment because it'll probably be a while before it happens again," winking at him.
"Oh I will," flashing her a big smile.
They sit there in silence for a little while; the only sound coming out of their mouths is of them eating the popcorn.
"So," she finally speaks up, "What do you want to do now?"
"I thought we were going to watch a movie?" he replies.
"Okay," getting up from the couch and walking over to the shelf where he keeps the DVD's. "Let's see what you have here," scanning the titles on the shelf. "Not much of a selection Smallville," a frown on her face.
He gets up and walks over to where she is; standing behind her and looking over her shoulder. "How about that one?" pointing to one of them.
"You've got mail? Really Smallville?" turning around to look curiously at him.
"What's wrong with that?" he retorts.
"You don't have to get all defensive on me Clark. I just didn't think you went for girlie movies."
"I wouldn't consider it a 'girlie movie' Lois. A lot of guys also like that movie."
"Okay," she replies; a thoughtful look on her face. "Name me at least two guys who like that movie - and I will watch it," extending her hand to him. "Deal?"
"Deal," taking her hand and gripping it tightly.
"So who are they Smallville?" she asks him.
"That's easy," a big grin on his face. "Jimmy and Oliver," he replies.
She stares at him incredulously. "You're kidding - right?"
"No, I'm not," he says. "Why would I lie about it?"
"Hum," frowning for a moment. Then she takes her cell phone out and dials a number.
"Who are you calling?" Clark asks her.
"Oliver," she replies. "Hello Ollie? It's me Lois. Listen, I have an odd question to ask you. Clark claims that you like the movie 'You've got mail.'" She listens for a moment. "I see," a frown on her face. "Thanks for nothing Ollie," snapping her phone closed.
"So what did he say?" Clark asks her; a barely disguised smirk on his face.
"I would wipe that smirk off your face if I were you Smallville," she warns him.
"Sorry. Can't do it. I'm enjoying this way too much," sitting back on the couch and propping his feet on the coffee table.
She opens her phone again to make another call. "Chloe? It's Lois. I have an odd question for you. Does Jimmy like the movie 'You've got mail?" She listens for a moment. "He does huh? Why am I not surprised," frowning again. "Never mind why I asked. I'll talk to you tomorrow. Okay. Bye," hanging up the phone and putting it back into her pocket. She sits down on the couch and folds her arms across her chest.
"Don't you just hate being wrong?" a big smile on his face.
"I'm warning you Smallville. Wipe that smile off your face."
He leans forward until they're almost nose to nose. "MAKE ME," he dares her.
They stare at each other for what seems like a long time. But it's only about ten seconds before Lois gets back up and walks over to the shelf; picking up the DVD and inserting the disc into the player.
She sits back down and presses 'play'; laying the remote down on the coffee table as the movie begins to play...
CHAPTER 1
Almost two hours later...
"I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm really enjoying this movie," popping some more popcorn into her mouth.
He glances over at her for a moment; the slightest hint of a smirk on his face. Then he turns his attention back to the television.
She happens to catch him looking at her. "What's with the smirk Smallville?"
He looks over at her again. "What smirk?"
"That 'I told you so' smirk that appears on your face when you think you're right about something?"
He picks up the remote and shuts off the television. "What makes you think that?"
"I know you pretty well by now Smallville," a hint of a smirk on her own face.
"Well considering the fact you think you're always right, it's nice to..."
She interrupts him. "Is that what you really think?"
"Absolutely," he replies.
She frowns at him, then turns her head away; folding her arms across her chest.
He looks at her curiously. "Awe. Did I hurt Lanies feelings?" he asks her in a teasing tone; his hand casually rubbing her shoulder.
She looks down and watches his fingers as they gently rub her shoulder. Since when does he touch me like that? She looks up and stares curiously at him. Their eyes briefly lock on each other's for a moment. Why is he looking at me like that? she wonders.
He stares right back at her; a curious expression on his own face. Why is she looking at me like that? he also wonders.
The moment is interrupted by the sound of the ringing telephone. "I'll get that," removing his hand from her shoulder and getting up from the couch.
While he walks towards the telephone, she takes the opportunity to go upstairs; entering the bathroom and closing it behind her. She turns on the faucet and splashes some cold water on her face. What was that? she wonders; dabbing her face with a towel, then exiting the bathroom.
At the same time, Clark was picking up the phone but got the dial tone instead of a voice. He hangs up the receiver; walking over to the kitchen sink. He turns on the cold water and splashes some on his face; taking a deep breath.
What was that look she gave me? That was weird. He takes a towel and pats his face dry. He puts the towel away and goes back into the living room; picking up the almost empty bowl of popcorn and emptying it into the garbage. As he's putting it into the sink, Lois comes back downstairs.
"You know," she begins to say, "I think that I should probably go home before the roads get too bad," she says to him; putting on her jacket.
"Are you sure about that?" he asks her. "It's raining pretty hard out there right now," a look of concern on his face.
"I'll be fine," she insists; picking up her purse. "I'll see you Monday at the office - okay?" walking over to the kitchen door and opening it.
"Alright - if you're sure," looking at her with one of the looks that she still can't figure out after all the years of knowing him.
"I'm sure," giving him a small smile as she leaves. "Goodnight Smallville," she says; closing the door behind her.
"Goodnight Lanie," he replies. Then he walks over to the door and peers through the glass; watching her as she opens her umbrella and starts to descend the porch stairs. But when she reaches the middle step she stumbles slightly, but just enough for her to fall down the last couple steps. Clark stares in shock for a split second, then rushes outside to her side. "Are you okay Lois?" he asks her; helping her to her feet.
"I'll be okay," she says; taking a step forward. But she winces in pain when she puts her right foot down; falling into his arms. "Damn," she swears. "I hope it's not broken."
He lifts her up and carries her inside; setting her down on the couch. He kneels down next to her and stares at her ankle.
"Are you x-raying my ankle Smallville?" she asks him.
"Yep," he replies. Then he looks up at her. "It's not broken Lois," he finally says. "But it is a bad sprain. We need to do the R.I.C.E treatment."
"Huh?" a little confused. "What's that?"
"Come on Lois. You should know what R.I.C.E. stands for. After all, you had a military upbringing. Didn't you learn about first aid?"
"Of course I did," scoffing at the notion. "It just slipped my mind that's all. Can you refresh my memory?" raising one eyebrow at him.
"Sure," he replies. It didn't slip her mind. She doesn't know what it is, smiling inwardly. "It stands for: Rest-Ice-Compression-Elevation."
"Oh, now I remember," she remarks.
"Uh huh," not entirely convinced. "I'll get some ice and a elastic bandage," walking over to the kitchen and opening the freezer compartment. He takes out an ice tray, then speeds upstairs to the bathroom and gets the ice pack and bandage. He returns to the kitchen and fills the pack with ice, then comes back to Lois in the living room. He sits down on the edge of the couch and places a pillow beneath her ankle to elevate it, then lays the ice pack on top. Then he pulls out his cell phone and starts dialing.
"Who are you calling?" she asks him.
"Chloe," he replies.
"Why are you calling her?"
"Shush," he mouths to her. "Chloe? It's me Clark. I was wondering if you can do me a favor. Lois just sprained her ankle and she'll have to keep off it for a couple days." He listens for a minute. "That's right. She's staying with me. So if you could pack a few things for her and I'll come right over and pick them up?" He listens again. "I'll put her on and she can tell you exactly what she needs. Great. I'll see you shortly. Thanks Chloe." He hands Lois the phone. While Lois is talking to Chloe, Clark gets up and walks over to the refrigerator and pulls out a couple cans of soda. When he returns to the living room, Lois has already hung up.
"You've thought of everything haven't you?" smiling at him as she hands him back his phone. Then she asks, "Were you ever actually a boy scout Clark?"
"Nope. I guess it's just in my nature," smiling back at her while giving her a soda and sitting back down on the edge of the couch.
"Well," hesitating for a moment, "I just want to say...thank you."
"For what?"
"For being my friend. I don't know what I'd do if you weren't. Believe it or not, you're like family to me Clark."
He looks at her with the sweetest expression she's ever seen. "Wow," he says. "I'm not used to hearing that kind of thing coming from you. I like it. And you don't have to thank me. I'll always be your friend. And I feel the same way about you. Both you and Chloe are my family," laying his hand on top of hers. Then she lays her other hand on top of his, then he lays his other hand on top of hers. Then she slips her hand out from underneath and lays it back on top. "You always have to have the last word - don't you?" his eyes dancing with merriment.
"You better believe it Smallville," smiling back at him.
TO BE CONTINUED...