Okay, so, this is my first Smallville story. I recently, in the past couple months, got introduced to Smallville and fell in love with it. I've been dabbling in Smallville fanfiction since, but this is the first I've completed. There's nine chapters in all, and I should be able to post them not too far apart. Also, I have plans for two sequels, so I hope you like it :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Smallville. That is all.

Lois Lane was most certainly not happy.

She was sitting in the passenger seat in the General's jeep, watching as rows and rows of corn passed by her window. And the occasional cow. But mostly corn.

Groaning, Lois sunk lower into her seat, rolling her eyes. The heat in the jeep was getting to be too much, so she pressed down on the button for the power window. The slight breeze ruffled her bangs and brought with it the smell of…

"Smells wholesome," the General commented gruffly. Lois knew it was just to spite her.

"Smells like manure and prison," Lois muttered, crossing her arms over her chest.

A sign flew by her window, claiming that they were entering Smallville, the meteor capital of the world.

"You brought this upon yourself, Lo," he reminded her, like she needed a reminder.

Lois let out another groan, letting her head drop against the passenger door as she remembered the circumstances of her upcoming exile in hell.

Lois stumbled out of the car, laughing when her legs nearly gave out beneath her, her body falling back against the car. Christina rounded the front of the car, laughing at Lois's expense. "I thought you could hold your liquor, Lane," she commented.

"I can," Lois insisted. "But I swear some of that wasn't liquor." At this, both girls began snorting in laughter.

"Do you think our dads noticed we were gone?" Christina asked, glancing around almost nervously.

Lois waved away her concerns carelessly. "Naw. We weren't gone that long."

"Only about six hours."

Lois and Christina both stood up ramrod straight, turning to find the General fixing them with a commanding stare.

"Daddy," Lois greeted belatedly, wincing.

The General turned to Christina. "Admiral Thomas is waiting for you in his office, young lady." Christina hung her head and nodded, slinking away to face the music. Lois bit her lip and waited for her punishment. "I have had enough of this, Lois Joanne."

"Daddy –" Lois tried, but the General didn't allow her to finish.

"This is the fourth time in two months I've caught you sneaking back on base drunk. You are fifteen. This is the last straw." Lois swallowed heavily and waited for whatever horrible punishment the General had thought up this time. "I'm sending you to stay with your uncle for the summer in Smallville."

Lois's jaw dropped open in complete horror. "Daddy! You can't! That's….that's the middle of nowhere!"

The General's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Perhaps you should've thought of that before, young lady."

Lois gave an almighty sigh as she lifted her head only to drop it back against the door once, twice, three times… Maybe she could give herself a head injury, and the General would have to take her with him…

"Stop that," the General snapped.

No such luck.

"Are we almost there?" Lois asked tonelessly.

"Can't wait to start your summer?" He continued to spite her, and Lois had to hold her tongue. She didn't want to piss him off even more and cause him to make her live in Smallville. She shuddered at the idea.

"I can't wait to see Chloe," Lois corrected him. Her cousin was the one bright spot in all of this. She hadn't seen her favorite cousin since they were both young, after Lois's mother had died. She had missed her dearly. They used to be as close as sisters, closer than Lois was to her actual sister. But, over the years, they'd drifted apart, only sending each other the occasional email and or phone call. Still, Lois knew enough. She knew that Chloe had a crazy crush on some farm boy born and raised in Smallville. Personally, Lois thought that Chloe could do ten times better than some farmer, but to each their own.

The General turned down a road lined with rows and rows of houses, stopping at one that didn't look any different from the others. But, then the front door was opened and Chloe appeared.

"Lois!" she cried excitedly, hurrying down the steps.

Lois unbuckled her seat belt and jumped out of the jeep, meeting Chloe halfway. "Chloe!" she greeted happily, throwing her arms around the smaller girl. "How's my baby cousin?"

Chloe rolled her eyes, but returned the hug just as forcefully. "I've told you to stop calling me that. You're only six months older."

"But six months is six months, meaning you're my baby cuz, cuz." Giving Chloe a final squeeze, she pulled back and grinned at her. "I'm here for my exile."

Chloe gave Lois another roll of the eyes, wrapping an arm around her. "What did you do, anyway?"

"All I did was a little drinking," Lois insisted.

"That was why you could barely stand on your own," the General muttered, taking Lois's bags from the backseat of the jeep and placing them at Lois's feet. "Have a nice summer, soldier." With a stiff nod, he got back in the jeep and immediately reversed out of the driveway.

"See you, Dad," Lois sighed, rolling her eyes as the jeep disappeared down the road.

Chloe turned to Lois, grinning. "Don't worry about the General, Lois. We have the entire summer together!"

Lois cracked a smile, unable to be unaffected by her cousin's enthusiasm. "You're right, Chlo. Bring on the corn!"

"Shut up," Chloe muttered, giving Lois a playful shove. "Come on, we'll get you set up in my room, and then I'll show you around!"

"You mean there's something other than corn and cows here?" Lois asked teasingly, picking her up bags and following Chloe up the porch stairs.


"Welcome to downtown Smallville," Chloe said grandly, holding out her arms to gesture to Main Street.

"Is there even anything to do here?" Lois asked, looking around, obviously bored with the sights that greeted her.

"Of course there is," Chloe defended. "I mean, sure, it's no Metropolis, but it's still got some fun stuff."

Lois pursed her lips, taking another look around. "If you say so." She turned to Chloe, requesting with a grin, "Show me your world, cuz."

Chloe's enthusiasm returned and she grabbed Lois's hand, eagerly heading down the sidewalk. "Let's go to the Talon!"

They stopped in front of a shop that had a marquee with some clever saying about coffee on it, a colorful sign identifying it as the Talon.

"So this is the local teen hangout, huh?" Lois asked, pushing open the front door and looking around at the Eygptian-esque decorations and cozy setting. "Seems a little…tame."

Chloe rolled her eyes and reminded Lois once more, "This isn't Metropolis, Lo."

"I was thinking more of Gotham," Lois said with a shrug, letting Chloe lead the way to the counter.

"Hi Lana," Chloe greeted the girl behind the counter happily. "This is my cousin, Lois."

Lana smiled sweetly at Lois. "So, this is the famous Lois Lane. Chloe talks about you all the time. It's nice to meet you."

"I hope only good things," Lois teased, elbowing Chloe.

"Are there any good things?" Chloe shot back, grinning.

Lois gave her an injured look before turning back to Lana, "It's nice to meet you too. Chloe's told me a lot about you too."

"My life can't be nearly as interesting as yours," Lana said with a laugh. "I've only ever lived in Smallville, but you've lived all over. It must be amazing to see the whole country."

"It's not all it's cracked up to be," Lois admitted, "Sometimes I barely have time to unpack before we're leaving again." The momentary admission left her looking vulnerable, so she smirked and added, "But, then I don't have to worry about long goodbyes and all the sentimental crap."

"Chloe!" a voice behind them called.

All eyes turned to find a tall boy with dark hair, a pretty face, and a horrendous clothing choice of plaid and farmer jeans coming towards them.

"I was looking for you," he added, smiling at Chloe.

"Hi Clark," Chloe said, returning the smile. "What did you need?"

However, before Clark could respond, Lois interrupted loudly, "Oh, you're Clark!"

Clark frowned, turning to look at Lois for the first time. At the unfamiliar face, he looked back at Chloe for an explanation.

"Uh, Clark, this is my cousin, Lois Lane. Lois, this is Clark Kent," Chloe introduced, slightly embarrassed at her cousin's outburst, but it wasn't any less than she'd expected.

Lois looked him up and down, a dismissive look on her face as she finished her observation. "I expected you to be hotter."

"Lois!" Chloe cried, now completely embarrassed at her cousin's bluntness.

Clark's jaw dropped open, staring from Lois to Chloe in shock. "What?" he finally asked, looking embarrassed and confused.

Lois simply shrugged, unashamed. "Well, I've heard so much about you, I just expected you to be hotter."

Clark now turned on Chloe, who was glaring at Lois. Behind the counter, Lana seemed at a complete loss for words. However, before anyone could say anything, the door to the Talon opened and a woman came in, coming right toward them.

"Hello Chloe, Lana," she greeted, her smile warm and friendly. When she noticed Lois, she asked, "Who's this?"

"My cousin, Lois Lane," Chloe answered with a weak smile. "Lois, this is Clark's mom, Martha Kent."

Martha gave Lois the same warm smile. "It's nice to finally meet you, Lois. Chloe has been telling us all how excited she is to have you here for the summer."

"As excited as I am to be here," Lois said with forced cheer.

"Why don't you come over for dinner tonight, dear? We'd love to have you."

Lois was about to politely decline, until she saw the pleading face Clark was giving his mother, subtly shaking his head. Thinking that it might be fun to mess with the farm boy, Lois gave Martha wide grin and agreed. "I'd love to, Mrs. Kent."

Clark groaned, his shoulders slumping.


"Behave yourself," Chloe reminded Lois as they walked up the dirt driveway of the Kent farm.

Lois rolled her eyes. "I know, Chloe. You've only told me fifty times since Mrs. Kent invited us over."

"Well, I didn't think I had to tell you." She shook her head. "I can't believe you said that to Clark!"

"How was I supposed to know it was taboo to tell Clark he was unattractive?" Lois asked in exasperation.

Chloe threw her cousin a glare. "You know that's not what I'm talking about."

Lois refused to answer, instead glancing around at the place Clark Kent called home. It was a small yellow farmhouse with a red barn and sprawling green fields. It was…quaint. Homey, even.

The two girls climbed up the stairs and Chloe knocked on the door before opening it and walking in. "Mr. and Mrs. Kent? We're here."

"Hello girls," Martha greeted, turning from the stove and taking off her oven mitts. "The boys should be in soon. Just finishing up a few chores in the barn. Make yourselves at home. Dinner will be ready in a little bit."

Chloe led Lois into the living room, assuring her, "Mrs. Kent is the best cook."

"Anyone's better than the General," Lois put in with a smirk, taking in the framed pictures on the mantle. "I'm surprised Clark's baby pictures aren't on display."

"Clark's adopted," Chloe informed Lois with a shrug.

Lois turned in surprise. "Really?"

"Yeah. The Kents adopted him when he was three."

"Oh." Lois frowned, her brow furrowing. She returned her gaze to pictures, her gaze landing on one of Clark in grade school, a huge smile on his face, brilliant blue eyes shining.

In the kitchen, the screen door banged open and a multitude of male voices followed. Chloe grabbed Lois's hand, grinning. "C'mon, you've got to meet Mr. Kent and Pete."

"Pete? Your friend Pete?" Lois asked, once more letting herself be led by her energetic younger cousin.

"Mr. Kent, Pete, this is my cousin, Lois," Chloe introduced immediately to an older man standing by the counter and a dark-skinned boy by Clark. "Lois, this is Jonathan Kent and Pete Ross."

Pete's eyebrows rose, a grin appearing on his face. "Well, it's nice to meet you, Lois."

Lois arched an eyebrow, immediately picking up on the flirtatious look on his face. "Not in this lifetime, buddy."

Jonathan cleared his throat, turning attention away from Pete's shocked expression. "We've heard a lot about you, Lois."

"That's what I keep hearing," Lois confessed, "But I haven't heard what was said about me."

"Maybe that's for the best," Clark muttered.

Lois's eyebrows rose in mock surprise. "Oh my, it actually talks."

"When there's actually someone worth talking to."

"Clark!" Martha cried, shocked at her son's callous words.

Lois, though, was grinning. "It's okay, Mrs. Kent. I appreciate that Clark's trying."

Martha glanced between Clark and Lois, eventually shaking her head. "Well, dinner's ready."

Everyone moved to the dining room, where for a while there was the only the sound of silverware hitting plates.

"This is great, Mrs. Kent," Lois complemented Martha eventually, having had enough of the silence.

"Thank you, Lois," Martha said warmly. "Does your mother cook often?"

Lois pressed her lips together, briefly wondering why Chloe hadn't informed everyone about her mother. "Oh, my mom's dead."

Martha's eyes grew wide, apology clear in her expression. "Oh my, I'm so sorry. I had no idea."

Lois waved the words away. "Don't worry, Mrs. Kent. She's been gone since I was six."

There was an awkward silence for a moment before Jonathan asked, "What made you want to come to Smallville for the summer?"

"Oh, I didn't want to," Lois answered immediately, without thinking it over, "The General exiled me for going out and getting drunk with another girl on the base." This time, the silence extended for a much longer period, with Lois getting a few incredulous looks. When it got to be too much, Lois confessed, "I didn't mean to say it like that. I just have this foot-in-mouth thing…"

"I think we could tell," Clark put in lowly.

Lois turned to him with a scowl. "Quiet over there, Smallville."

Clark looked confused at the name. "What did you call me?"

"I called you Smallville. I think it's the perfect nickname. Don't you?"

Before the conversation could escalate into a fight, Pete asked Lois, "Do you have any siblings?"

Lois gave Clark a smug look before she turned to Pete to answer. "A sister. Her name is Lucy, and she's two years younger than me. She goes to school in Switzerland because she's a genius."

"So that's why you're here then?" Clark asked, looking quite proud of himself for the insult.

"Clark Kent!" Jonathan scolded, a frown on his face. "Lois is our guest. You'll treat her with respect."

Clark looked properly reprimanded, sinking slightly in his seat. Lois stuck her tongue out at him victoriously.


"Thanks again for dinner," Lois told Mrs. Kent as she and Chloe headed for the door.

"I told you it was no problem, Lois. Come over any time," Martha invited, giving both girls another warm smile as they both waved goodbye.

It wasn't until they were both well down the driveway before Chloe asked, "What was that about?"

Lois frowned, turning to her cousin in confusion. "What?"

"You and Clark," she clarified.

"What about me and the boy wonder?"

Chloe rolled her eyes. "That. The teasing. It seemed… It kind of seemed like you were flirting."

Lois snorted at the idea. "Oh God no, cuz. I was giving him a hard time. It's fun because he gets so flustered trying to think of a comeback."

"So…" Chloe looked small and unsure, and Lois didn't like that one bit. "So you don't like him?"

Lois wrapped an arm around her cousin's shoulders, giving her a loving squeeze. "Of course not. Middle of nowhere farm boy might be your type, but it is certainly not mine."

Chloe's smile was a bit more normal now. "Good." She paused before adding, "I mean, not like he's my boyfriend or anything like that, it's just –"

"You don't have to explain it to me, Chlo," Lois reminded her gently. "I get it. If no one else does, I get you."

Chloe grinned up at Lois, wrapping her arm around her in return. "I know, Lo. It's what cousins are for."

"Exactly."