Author's Notes: This is the fanfic I wrote last December of 2007. This is the longest so far from my collection of Clois stories. It's a combination of drama and romance. Hope you'll like it. I'm open to your comments and suggestions.

A little history while doing this fic: I wrote it by using pencil and scrap papers because I did not plan to put it on a website. In short, this fanfic is intended to be read by me. Then I realized, after almost a year, I have to give it a shot and shared it to other Clois fans. Then, I had to re-type the whole story (whew!).

This is dedicated to my K friends (k1lorie, k2leng, k4lon, k5lea, k6darren and k7ivy). "Love you guys. Hope to see you soon." To those who read and reviewed my previous stories, thank you so much, more than words can say.

Disclaimer: I own nothing. The characters are owned by Warner Bros. and DC Comics. Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. No copyright infringement intended. This is mainly created for entertainment.

Summary: Clark and Lois were force to marry in order to save the Earth from its total catastrophe.

SO CLOSE AND YET SO FAR

Prologue

A shrill sound coming from somewhere made the petite, blonde-haired woman awake. She opened her eyes although she wanted to get back to sleep; she's really tired from too much stress. She needed to finish the story she's working on. Her boss wanted to publish her story as soon as possible, with the remaining days left, she didn't know if she can make it. It's been few years since she started to write novels, thank God that most of her stories were bestsellers. Because of that, she became famous without even realizing it. Who would have thought that during her teenage years in Smallville, she's the editor-in-chief of their school paper, The Smallville Torch. When she transferred to Metropolis for college, she applied to The Daily Planet in order to support her studies and at the same time to fulfill her dream of becoming a well-known reporter of the renowned newspaper. She never thought that after all those years of struggles she became a novel writer, which she enjoyed more than being a journalist. Today, she still had a deadline to meet just like the old times but in a different way. She smiled when she saw the name of her favorite cousin in the whole wide world flashing on her cell phone screen, Lois Lane. It's been a month since they saw each other. They were both busy on their own profession. Her cousin who didn't want to be a journalist turned out to be the one of the top investigative reporters of The Planet. The fate is indeed so different. You'll never know where it can bring you.

"Hello cuz! What's up?"

"I'm… I'm… I'm okay." Tears fell from Lois eyes down to her pretty face.

"Hold on… My signal isn't that clear here. I'll go outside."

She wiped her tears and breathe out. She tried to calm herself.

"Hello, Lois. Hey, the lines already clear. Are you still there?"

"Yes Chloe, I'm still here. Where are you by the way?"

"Somewhere in Iowa. You know I need another setting for my newest novel. Why?"

Lois knew how excited her cousin to hear her voice. She shook her head. She needed a company right now but her cousin's too occupied at the moment. She can't be at Chloe's apartment in Metropolis all by herself. 'Where am I going?' She thinks so hard, but everything's in blank. She squirmed when she heed her little cousin's voice.

"Lois is there any problem? I talk for about a minute and still you don't answer my questions."

"Ah, yes, what did you say?"

Chloe rolled her eyes. "Your mind is floating in sky high. I said why did you call me?"

"Nothing. I just checked my little cousin, is that prohibited?"

"Hahaha! Definitely not. You really miss me that much, big cuz. Don't worry, there are few chapters left, I'll be home by Saturday. Today is Thursday, which makes it, ahm two days and you'll see me again. Anything wrong?"

Lois sighed. "Check your e-mail, okay?"

Chloe raised her left eyebrow. She felt something's wrong with her cousin. She knew her since they were kids, and Lois is too tough and hard-headed to admit whatever she feels right now unless she's the one who will voluntarily lowered her walls just like today.

"Okay," Chloe replied. "Lois you're scaring me, you definitely have a problem."

"Nothing. Okay, I admit I miss you cuz."

"I miss you too big cuz."

"Take care cuz, I'll hang."

"You too. Wait Lois. Lois. Lois?" The lines already cut by Lois. "The same stubborn Lois Lane." She closed her flip-top cell phone, but something beat her. It's something she can't explain.

Lois turned off her cell phone. The tears falling from her eyes already blinded her. She needed to burst it out 'coz she already knew how her heart was broken into pieces. Her true feelings were revealed from the mask she put on her face. She remembered her Mom who passed away when she was still a kid, since then her life turned upside down. She learned how to be independent and be strong for her younger sister. Her Dad couldn't take the place of her Mom although he tried his best to be.

"Lois!!!" She startled upon hearing the voice of The General. She wiped her tears and put her mother's picture on the table.

"Stand up… Your mother's dead, there's no sense even if you'll cry a river. Stop crying! Crying shows how weak you are. You are a LANE!" She looked at her father's unreadable expression. She just stood there without saying anything; then she ran away from The General. "Lois, come back here!!!"

Chloe decided to open her e-mail address. She made some typing, her e-mail address and password. She made some clicks and browsed at the unread e-mail messages sent to her. She received five e-mails, one from her boss, three from her avid fans and lastly from Lois. She smiled and clicked her name.

Yes, I am definitely a Lane. I must be strong. I must be tough. Nothing and no one can tear me apart. Lois tried to convince herself. She got a sight of ring on her finger. She smiled bitterly and wiped her tears. She increased her speed little by little. Now the rain has started. Lois felt that the sky knew how broken and fragile she was at this moment. She heard a loud thunder and remembered how she met a certain farm boy named Clark Kent, and then she shook her head. There's only a short notice when she found out that a truck loaded with flammable materials was now heading towards her. She made a sudden turn of the steering wheel and stepped on the brakes. But it's too late. The driver of the truck who's still sleepy did the same thing, it was too close. Lois pushed the air bag on her car, tried to protect herself before it made an impact. In short span of time, both the truck and the car exploded, the same time a lightning stroke and a loud noise of the creaking thunder spread throughout the sky.

Few meters away from the explosion, Lois tried to open her eyes. She heard a familiar voice, "Lois, please don't leave me, you have to hold on." Everything felt so cold and numb. She can barely move. She tried to speak but nothing came out but a whisper, "Smallville." "Lois," he answered in trembling voice. Fresh blood flowed from her forehead. She put her hand on his face then everything faded in black….

Chloe read from her laptop computer the message Lois sent to her.

"After he lost his memory and I decided not to tell him who I am in his life, I finally figured out that 'a heart remembers more than a mind does'. You know what cuz, I learned that there are days that make sacrifices seem worthwhile. Then there are the days when everything feels like a sacrifice. And then there are sacrifices that I can't even figure out why I'm the one making them. But when I looked in his eyes and I never got the same looks he had on me before, I realized that it's now the right time to let him go even if it hurts so bad. He's so close and yet so far away from me, Chloe. There's no other choice left but to set him free. "

Chloe let the tears fell from her eyes and discovered how a fighter like her cousin accepted her defeat. She's her family. The one who's always there for her. She closed her laptop and dialed Lois' number; it was out of coverage area. She tried again, until Chloe got a glimpse on the morning news flash report.

"Oh, my god… Lois!"