Timeline: During and after Superman Returns; Spoilers for Superman I, II, and Returns
Disclaimer: Lots of people own the rights to Superman…except me. *cries*
Summary: Birthday fic for rizny. Superman left Lois pregnant and alone. Inspired by Josh Groban's February Song.
A/N: There was just way too much bitterness, anger, and hostility in Lois' voice in SR that I just couldn't let the idea go that there's a history between her and Superman that hasn't yet been told. This is my attempt to tell that story, especially now that we're not getting another movie. *tear*
Also, just so you know, I haven't read much in the way of Superman fic (or comics, etc.), so if I seem a little green (esp. since this is my first Supe story), I apologize. rizny only asked for a nice, happy fic (Clois, I assumed ;) ) that included Richard, and surprisingly, this plot that I've had rolling around in my brain for the last two years totally fit that criteria. So yay!!
This story has taken so many avenues, being written and rewritten and completely discarded only to be resurrected almost two years later… Let's just hope this is its last trip. :) Thanks to htbthomas for the beta!! *hugs*
Enjoy!!
Part One: Lost in a February Song
The words repeated in his mind, like a broken record:
Were you in love with him?
He was Superman – everyone was in love with him.
But were you?
And her reply, one simple word that now haunted him even more than the others: No.
It hadn't turned out anything like he'd thought it would have. Sure, he was gone a long time but he'd always thought that love had no time limit; Lois would wait for his return. Surely she knew he would come back, even if he hadn't had the guts to tell her why he was leaving instead of just disappearing the way he had, at least in her eyes. But in retrospect, he should've said something.
She'd been a little foggy after he'd erased her memory with a kiss, but didn't harp on it too long; after all, she'd written the article covering their experience with General Zod and his band of Kryptonian rebels, so there was no need for the memory. Still, he could tell that it bothered her, at least now and then.
He tried working with her, but it turned out to be as difficult for him as she'd claimed it to be that first morning back at work, trying to pretend they were just friends. But he knew what it was like to kiss and intimately touch her and could not just push it to the back of his mind. His apartment was empty and lonely each night, so he spent some time visiting with Martha back in Smallville, eventually confessing at least some of what had transpired between him and Lois when his mother called him on it.
Without going into details, he told her about their brief relationship, confessing why he'd had to put an end to it and Martha just sat back and listened until he was through. Then she asked some pointed questions that led to the epiphany that Lois' problem had been that she knew the truth about his identity. She loved Superman and could probably handle his busy lifestyle, but having to pretend that she wasn't in love with her awkward partner was a bit tougher.
Superman can have a relationship with her, but that doesn't mean that Clark has to, she'd said, and suddenly he saw the world open up before his eyes.
He presented Lois with flowers and a confession of love on her balcony the next evening, and almost immediately, they were inseparable.
Lois already had the exclusive reports on his rescues, but now she didn't have to chase him down for them; he volunteered them. In fact, on a few occasions, she was an actual eyewitness, since things would happen while they were out and he had to be the hero. Soon, the press got wind of it, and random pictures would show up in tabloids with headlines for stories blown out of proportion, but for the most part, they ignored them. So far, no one had any real proof of anything except that they were spending more time together, and her frequent articles explained away most of the rumors.
They spent a few nights at her apartment, but for the sake of privacy, his Fortress became their prime nighttime spot, spending entire weekends there when she (or he) wasn't working at the paper. For the entire month of February, she was wholly his, and she never once suspected that he and Clark were one and the same.
And then he saw the article.
It was a short, mundane story published in the science section of the paper, tucked away almost unnoticeable. But with his x-ray vision, he'd seen the headline even before opening the pages to read it more slowly. Astronomers Find Evidence of Krypton. What if they'd found his home world? What if there were survivors?
He'd intended to tell Lois that he was planning a trip to see Krypton for himself, but he didn't want to see her happiness turn into that same sadness he'd seen that fateful morning, when he'd kissed her, expecting never to hold her in his arms again. He didn't want to taint the beautiful bond they'd built with the prospect of a dangerous trip, from which he might not ever return. If and when he did come back, he thought she'd simply be relieved, and the two of them would pick up where they left off. He had no idea that she would be angry enough to move on without him.
Speeding up as he reached outer space, he heard his father's voice in his mind, reminding him, you are not one of them. She had a right to move on, and Richard did seem like a decent enough guy and Jason… He was a great kid, and he knew she was lucky to have him, too.
He just hadn't expected it to hurt so much knowing that she'd moved on so soon after he'd left. It would've been nice to know if she'd pined for him at least a little…
He had to focus on his purpose. They could be a great people, Kal-El – they wish to be, his father had said, going on to tell him that that's why he was sent to Earth. So, as he floated in space, he closed his eyes and listened, focusing all of his attention on his adopted planet, trying to live his purpose. Whatever it was, he knew he had to let Lois go, and not expect her to be a part of it anymore.
