A/N: The story continues with this second chapter. Clark has returned to Lois's side after five years, causing doubt and uncertainty. There was no denying that they both still burned with love, but five years was a long time. Clark wanted her back, but would she be able to love him enough to trust him again? So here we go! Clois forever! Please read and review. Thanks, everyone! :D

~o~o~

Chapter 2: Decisions

Clark felt as if he were sitting on top of the world. Lois was in his arms and his memories had returned. They ebbed and flowed like waves crashing into his brain and receding like nothing he had ever felt before. His head swam. He touched his forehead again.

"Are you sure you're ok?" Lois asked, still worried about him, as she held him steady.

"I'll be alright in a minute," he replied, and couldn't help but smile at her concerned face. He still desired her as powerfully as he ever had, then he felt the urge to kiss her again. He touched her cheek, leaned down, eyes closed, heart pounding.

Lois wanted so badly to kiss him again, but it just didn't feel right to her, so she pushed him away and stepped back. The look on his face tore at her heart, but it had to feel right for both of them.

Clark felt bereft of her rejection, as he held out his arms. "Lois?"

She shook her head. "I'm sorry, but I can't do this." She left him standing in the kitchen and went to open the door hoping he would take the hint, but she still felt the need to explain. "It's late and I … I have work tomorrow," she murmured then looked away.

Clark didn't know what to do or to say. He wanted to tell her that his memories had returned, but at the moment he wondered if it would even make a difference. He had to try. He came over to her with a pleading expression. "But I have to tell you something. It's important."

Now, Lois was getting a headache. She rubbed her temples, so exhausted she couldn't see straight. "Clark, please, I can't do this right now."

Clark needed her desperately, but it had been a long time for her, only hours for him, but years for her. He understood her need for space. "Alright, I'll let you rest. Good night, Lois."

"Good night, Clark," she whispered not looking at him, for fear he would see her tears waiting to fall. She shut the door quickly before she had the chance to change her mind. Once the door had closed, she leaned against it, covered her mouth with her hand to stop the sobs that wanted to escape. She ran to the bedroom and shut the door.

Clark was still in the hallway on the other side of the door, but he couldn't help it as his x-ray vision kicked in. He could see her clearly. She was on the floor in her closet. He watched as she opened a box and pulled out one of his flannel shirts. She clutched the shirt to her chest and then a sob burst forth from her throat. A sound he had never heard from her before. He couldn't watch or listen anymore. He turned abruptly and left. How could he make this right? He had to try. She was his Lois; she would always be his Lois, no matter how much time had passed.

But no matter how far he streaked across the city, he could still hear her sobs. He covered his ears but he could still hear them. He tried to concentrate on other noises but it was pretty late, almost two a.m. The sirens came into his hearing then and he concentrated on those for a while and continued to several minor robberies, one at a late night convenience store and another robbery of a jewelry store with a silent alarm.

He was in his element now as he continued helping the police long into the night. Lois's sobs finally stopped and her heartbeat slowed to a restless sleep.

~o~o~

Lois was awakened the following morning by her alarm clock which went off at nine a.m. as usual. She slowly lifted her head from the pillow, saw that she was in Clark's flannel shirt, groaned and fell back immediately with one of the worst headaches she had ever had in her life. The fact that she had cried herself to sleep may have had something to do with it. She hadn't done that in a long time. She crawled out of bed and went into the bathroom, took several aspirin and tried to go back to sleep, but no luck. The phone rang. It was Andy.

"Hello?" Lois really should have let it ring into voicemail.

"Lois, you sound terrible. Did you go right to bed last night or were you up all night writing stories again? What did I tell you about that? Why don't you …?"

Lois cut him off. "Andy, please stop. My head is pounding and I don't need you chewing me out this morning, please!"

"I'm sorry you're not feeling well. It's just well, there's breaking news this morning. Have you seen any of it?"

Lois knew what it was. "No, what is it?"

"The Blur is back, Lois. It's uncanny. We were just talking about him last night." Andy was excited about this turn of events.

"Yeah, uncanny," Lois repeated with not much enthusiasm.

"That's not the reaction I expected to hear. I thought you'd be here bright and early this morning ready to write up about his return. Are you sure you're alright? I could come over and …"

Lois stopped him right there. "No, I'm fine, I just need to rest, but I won't be in the office today."

"Really, but the Blur …?" Andy had to wonder what was really going on with her.

"Andy, you know as well as I do that he won't be talking to anyone, unless he's changed in five years."

Andy was silent for a moment. "He wants you, doesn't he?" The question had a double meaning. Silence followed that question. "Lois, are you there?" Andy was really worried now.

Lois sighed to herself clearly not ready to talk about the Blur. "I can't speak for him. Look, I'm really tired. Call me later today?" She asked, trying to placate him.

"Alright, get some rest, and I'll call you later. Goodbye, Lois."

"Goodbye, Andy."

~o~o~

The Daily Planet rooftop, early morning:

Clark stood on rooftop of the Planet building hands on hips surveying the city. His heart had not been in his rescues last night. All he could think about was Lois, her heartbreaking sobs, and what she was going through. He wanted to go to her so badly.

He thought she would be thrilled with is return, that they could pick up right where they had left off, that their engagement was still on as far as he was concerned, and he had hoped to move back into their apartment. But none of that was going to happen, at least not right away. He had to come up with a plan to win her back, but what could he do? Maybe Oliver had some ideas.

Oliver had managed to help him get his life back on track, well, electronically anyway. He now had a cell phone, a small apartment and a few articles of clothing. He was still surprised to see that Lois still had his clothes after all this time. He knew she still loved him, but that love had been damaged by their separation, and the fact that he hadn't told her his ill-advised plans concerning the Phantom Zone. He knew that now; he had to accept that truth and try and make things right.

Clark knew it was late, but he had to call his Mom. Hopefully, it was still early enough in Washington and she hadn't seen the news yet. He dialed her number, took a deep breath when she picked up and he heard her voice, his sweet Mother's voice, "Hello?"

"Mom?" Clark almost whimpered. He was so happy to hear her voice again.

"Clark, Clark, is that you?" Luckily, Martha had not heard the news yet.

"Yes, Mom, it's me. I'm back," Clark murmured about to cry.

"Oh, son, I'm so happy. Are you ok?" Martha asked, worried about him.

"I'm alright." Clark then remembered Connor. "How's Connor? I'm so sorry I wasn't there to help him adjust."

"Connor is fine, Clark. He finished high school last year and he's here with me. I convinced him to go to college and he reluctantly agreed, but he's like you son. He wants to help people."

"Oh no, what is he doing when he's not in school?"

"Well, I managed to contact a few of your friends Clark, your 'superhero' friends and Connor is working with them, and he has a new 'superhero' name. You can call him Kon-El now," Martha said chuckling a little.

Clark smiled at the name. He liked it. He also liked that Connor was now working with the League. He felt relief about that. "Thanks, Mom, I'm sure he'll be alright. I'll contact him from here." He paused then. "Mom, about Lois …she …" He couldn't say it as he wiped at his eyes, trying to hold it in.

"Oh, I know. I'm so sorry, honey." She paused. "I have to tell you something."

"What is it?" He didn't think he could take any more bad news.

"Lois and I, well, she came to Washington about a year ago. We talked and I convinced her to move on, Clark. I'm so sorry."

Clark closed his eyes and inwardly sighed. He couldn't blame his Mother for it. Lois had a mind of her own and if he didn't know that about her, he didn't know her at all. "It's alright Mom. At least, she's not married, right?" He tried to look on the bright side, even though his heart felt as if it might break in two from the pain.

"Oh, Clark, yes, she's not married. That's the right attitude, son." She paused again but felt the need to explain. "Honey, she was just so miserable. She practically fell into my arms at the door. We cried together, honey. She wasn't herself and I wanted to help her, but I didn't know what to do for her. It was the only thing I could do. Do you forgive me?" Martha rambled a bit but she had to know if he understood why she had done it.

"Mom, of course I forgive you. None of this was your fault. It's mine. I think Lois would have forgiven me if I hadn't done something that made her think I didn't trust her. It hurt her deeply and I have to convince her that I do trust her and our life together, well, before I went away."

"I'm sure you'll be able to do that, honey, but you have to give her time to adjust to you being back. Please don't push her, because it could backfire on you. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

Clark sighed, understanding. It was hard for him to sit back and not go to see her, to talk to her, to know that she was alright. It was painful for him, especially now when she needed him. He remembered long ago when his first instinct was to run away from her, run away from his feelings for her, but none of that was true now. They had been engaged, they had moved into an apartment together, and they had worked together for years. He sighed again. "I'll try to keep my distance."

"I know it will be hard for you son, but I think that's for the best. She'll come around soon; I know she will."

"I hope you're right, Mom." He paused as he gathered his thoughts. "I'll come by when things die down around here. It's like long before the Blur appeared. Crime is pretty rampant everywhere. I have to go, now. I'll try and come by and see you soon, I promise. I love you, Mom."

"I love you too, son. When you see, Lois, tell her I love her."

Clark grinned sadly thinking he'd like to say those words too. "Sure, Mom. Good bye."

"Bye, son."

~o~o~

After talking to his Mom, Clark was more determined than ever to convince Lois to take him back. He had to see her if only for a moment. He decided to streak over to her apartment, hover outside and take a look just to be sure she was alright.

He was in the alley and then he peered through the walls, and what he saw there made his eyes burn, his heart pounded with jealousy, and he wanted to hit something hard.

Clark couldn't believe that she would do this to him; to them. He had told her last night that he understood why she had moved on, but that was his head talking, not his heart. He felt betrayed, hurt, jealous and angry.

'He' was there at Lois's door ready to knock. Clark could see his face clearly. He was Lois's co-anchor. His name was Andrew Burns. He'd seen them together doing the news casts on his cell phone. Lois was still 'seeing' him? Just before the heat vision came out of his eyes, he closed them, took a deep breath to get control over his emotions, and then he peered at the man again.

Clark could not believe his eyes. His cell phone went off then. It was Oliver.

"What is it, Oliver?"

"Meet me at Watchtower … NOW!"

"I'll be there in a minute," he replied, then closed the phone and looked at Andrew again. This must be the reason Oliver wanted to talk to him so urgently. Clark didn't want to leave Lois alone with him, but he had to.

TBC!

~o~o~

A/N: Well, Lois and Clark at odds with each other broke my heart. I hope you enjoyed it, even though it was sad. *hugs Clois* I promise not to keep them apart for too much longer. Thanks for reading. Update in about a week. Reviews are love.