Virtuosa: thank you for the interest! hoping this one will hook you in :)

whynot1993: that has always been my problem, short prologues lol. but thank you, at least you've given this a shot :)

Guest: thank you for reading my other stories as well :)

lilbit4: thank you. like I told my sister, I know I shouldn't be too affected, but I am, and writing these stories keep me sane, so to speak. but I know that Clois will always be the endgame. ALWAYS :)

aloLane: thank you for reading! 'more' is coming :)

Without further ado, the next chapter to Clandestine Icy Interlude.

Chapter 1

Chloe smiled at the text message that she has just received from Lois. She completely understood Lois' demeanor: after what Lex had done to them, though unknowingly, she knew Lois wanted to bring the resurrected tycoon to his knees in the best way she knew how: through her pen.

What Lex had done to her friend and cousin brought back what he did then to Clark and Lana. Chloe had consoled a devastated Lana first, coming to Chloe after her tearful goodbye to Clark. She had cried her heart out, making a promise that they would find the way out of this one, raging that Lex would not come out the victor. Chloe never said a word, not really knowing what to say to comfort the brunette.

It was a couple of days before Chloe went to the farm to check on Clark. And it surprised her that Clark was not brooding.

Yes she was surprised. Up until that moment, Chloe knew that whenever Lana stepped in, Clark's world revolved around her. She knew because before, she has repeatedly found herself in the tornado that is the relationship of Clark and Lana. Looking at him then, there was no smile on his face, but there was no anger in his demeanor, unlike Lana.

Chloe could not help but compare. Yes, Lana's and Lois' reaction to what Lex had done had been the same, but Clark? It was worlds apart. No, universes apart.

The computer signaled an incoming communication from Superman, and Chloe immediately opened the line.

"Watchtower."

"Chloe, I need your help. Contact Emil, I need him to run some tests." An urgent Clark said.

"Tests? On what?"

"Not on what, on who?"

"Who?"

"Me."

Chloe immediately assumed that Clark was in some kind of danger. "I'm contacting Green Arrow right now, zeroing in on your loca—"

Clark interrupted. "No need. I'm not hurt. But the Guardian program, the explosion, it was Luthor. He painted me with radiation so he could keep track of me 24/7 using his satellite. I need Emil to run the tests, see if he was right."

"That would mean—"

"Yes. For the moment, I could not return to my life as Clark Kent. Lois—"

Clark had stopped, and after that pause disconnected the line. Realizing Clark's dilemma, Chloe immediately contacted Emil for said tests.

Yes, she could not help but compare. With Lana, Clark had accepted, moved on. But with Lois, he would move heaven and earth just to be free from their separation.

And those words, for the moment, it was as if Clark was certain that they would get through this; that he would be back as Clark Kent, back to Lois Lane.

Her musings were interrupted when Superman's line alerted her on screen. She smiled, knowing what was coming next.

"Watchtower."

"Have you called her?"

"Yes." She said, smiling. "Oliver's satellite's path has now been redirected and it will give you enough time to go to the fortress. Just make sure the fortress would provide the shield to hide you from Lex's satellite."

"And hope Luthor would not dig in as to the cause of my disappearance, though that would be highly improbable. He would always want to know my secret."

"Utmost care, Boy Scout. Utmost care." Chloe said. "And don't worry, the others will cover for you. Bart is coming in. So is Victor."

"Are you sure Lois got the message?"

"Yes!" Chloe said, laughing. "Wow, Clark. I don't know that there's this side of you —"

Their conversation was interrupted by a siren.

"What was that?" Chloe said at the same time Clark said. "Have to go."

Chloe turned on her monitor for the news. Fire at Metropolis' industrial district. She smiled. Whatever the world threw against him, Superman will always try to save the day.

Teddy or baby doll?

Silk or lace?

Red or blue?

"Aargh." Lois said as she slammed the hanger with the lingerie back on the rack. So many choices, it was giving her a headache. Who knew this could be so difficult?

She looked around the store once more, and it frustrated her. It really did. She wanted this to be perfect. She wanted to be perfect.

But looking back, Lois knew she might have worn a sack and Clark would still like it. She smiled, remembering their first attempt at intimacy. It might have ended in disaster, but she truly treasured that trip, seeing Clark did everything just for it to push through.

A small smile on her face, she caught sight of a blue lace baby doll, which she knew would have left nothing for the imagination. Her smile bloomed full force and was already nearing a decision when she caught a display on the cashier, a picture of a little dressed couple locked in an embrace in front of the fireplace, a Christmas tree on the left and a window on the right with snow falling outside. The picture was completed with the store's name on top, and the words keeping it hot at the bottom.

Lois' eyes widened, remembering that the key that Chloe told her to bring would be the key to the fortress. Clark's fortress of solitude. In the arctic. The cold, cold arctic.

Oh no. In all her times that she made the trip to the Fortress, she was always swathed in layers upon layers of clothing, because, in all honesty, they have never made a trip to the Fortress for that specific reason.

Oh no. Looking around the store once again, she walked around racks and racks of lingerie, looking for the thickest, warmest sleepwear she could find, to no avail. Not losing hope, she approached a young sales lady to ask for the said piece of garment.

"Can you suggest something that will keep me warm in one of the coldest places on earth?"

The young woman just looked at her, completely dumbfounded with the question. "Excuse me?"

"Well, you know, you should think of your customers' every possible wants and needs. And right now, I need something that would keep me warm if I go to a place where the temperature is below zero."

"Don't you have a heater at home?"

She wanted to smack the woman in front of her right then and there, but she restrained herself. "It was broken a week ago." She said between clenched teeth.

"Then this is not the store for you. Maybe you should try the department store to find some sweats and —"

Lois put her hand up which effectively halted the sales lady's suggestion. "It's OK. I got it." She said as she turned around and walked out of the store.

She started to walk towards her parked car, and thoughts running rampant inside her head in order to make their first meeting in weeks perfect.

I should call Emil. Maybe he could make cold-weather lingerie for me. I mean, he's the science guy and all.

God, Lois. Emil can not be bothered with such trivial matter.

But this is important. I want this to be perfect.

But Clark doesn't want perfection. Whatever he planned with Chloe only means that he wants to be with you, plain and simple.

She was broken out of her reverie when she heard a siren, becoming louder and louder. She turned around and saw a fire truck drive by fast and turning the next corner, knowing that it was the way towards the industrial district.

Lois ran to her car and started the engine, driving away from her spot and speeding to catch up with the fire truck. She welcomed the distraction. It was going to be a long wait until eight in the evening tomorrow.

Your comments, reviews and suggestions are most welcome. Like I said, while I am writing this for my personal sanity (lol) this is also for all of us Cloisers, so I want this to be the best it can be. Thanks in advance and love you lots