Lois headed over to the cottage early the following morning, planning it to coincide with a Martha Kent cooked breakfast time.

"Hi Lana." Martha said as she opened the door with a smile. "Would you like a coffee?"

"That would be great, thank you."

Lois really wanted some breakfast so waited for the offer but it never came. The smell was driving her crazy, so much so she had to be forward.

"Is there any breakfast going spare?" Lois asked hopefully.

Martha looked shocked. "Of course there is and I am sorry I didn't offer but you always turn it down."

Lana might, but I certainly don't, Lois thought to herself.

"What would you like?"

Her stomach was doing the talking. "Everything?" she asked bashfully.

"Lana, could you do me a favour and get Clark. He is in the barn at the farm doing chores."

"Of course I can." Lois smiled as she got up and wandered over to Clark's loft.

She walked in quietly to find Clark washing down the horses, but to make matters awkward he was not wearing a shirt. He looked amazing; every move of the brush was showing off a different part of his muscled physique. She tried to announce that she was there but couldn't get the words out. She just found herself, approaching him slowly whilst admiring the Adonis who had been under her nose all along.

She stopped behind him and before she could finally get her words out, he turned around and gave her such a shock that she fell back and ended up in a pile of hay. He then put his arm out to help her up but then stumbled as well landing next to her.

"That was convenient." She said out loud.

"It is, isn't it." He moved his leg over hers, pining her down in the process. "I don't know what is wrong with me but I am so attracted to you. There is something different about you." He whispered.

Lois had already surrendered. One look of those eyes was all that she needed to rid her mind of any guilty doubts. What was taking him so long, her impatience growing by the second. She lifted up her head and caught his lips in a kiss, making him lower his. Her body continued to ask for more and he responded every time.

Her hands were exploring every contour of his back and his hands had found their way up her tee shirt. She was desperate for more skin to skin contact, she reached down and fiddled for his belt. That was a step too far for Clark. He opened his eyes and looked at her in shock. He got up and pulled her up.

"What happened?" Lois asked confused by what had stopped them.

He helped her up. "It is more like what almost happened. Lana, my dad is around here somewhere. We can't."

Lois tried to hide her disappointment. "Sorry Clark. I shouldn't have done that. Tell your mom I will have to miss breakfast."

Clark watched her run off. It was him who had always shied away from intimacy with his powers but it was Lana who was running away now. There was definitely something about her, making him crave her more than ever. It was almost as though someone turned up the passion dial overnight.

Clark was going to go after her but decided to let her sort out whatever was going through her head at the moment. Maybe she was using affection as a way of dealing with the hurt caused by events of the meteor shower. Thinking about it, that seemed the obvious reason and he needed to be there for her when she was ready to talk about it.

Lois fled home back to the Talon. What had she just allowed to happen? Why was she giving in to her sudden desire for Clark? One thing was certain, she felt jealous of Lana and the attention and devotion she commanded from him. She wanted to be that person, the one Clark looked at with those big puppy eyes. But no one but Lana would ever be his soul- mate.

That word suddenly ground all other thoughts to a halt. What had Zatanna said? She said that Lois would meet her soul mate in an unexpected way. She tried to convince herself that it was all a load of crap but this was the same woman who had turned her into Lana. The question was screaming at her – could Clark Kent be her soul mate?

She decided to watch the Exorcist to take her mind off things. Midway through the movie, there was a knock at the door. She opened it to see the one person she did not need to see.

"Come in Clark. I was just watching a movie."

Clark walked over to the sofa and sat down, waiting for her to join him. "What are we watching?" he picked up the remote and almost choked on the handful of popcorn he had piled into his mouth.

"Lana, since when did you like The Exorcist."

"Since now. Lois left it and I fancied watching a horror."

"Can we talk before we watch the end?" he asked.

She hesitated. "Yes, what's wrong?"

"I want to apologise for what happened in the barn. I am pushing things too hard."

"No, you're not."

"I am, Lana. We are not ready for such a big leap."

Her mouth was saying things her head was telling her not to. "Why not? Maybe I am ready." She looked deeply into his eyes and dragged him on top of her by his tee. No doubt she would regret this but at that moment in time, she did not care.

Clark was taken by surprise by her reply and next thing he knew, she had pulled him on top of her. He looked into her eyes and smiled. For the first time ever all his fears disappeared and he knew this felt right.

Just then the door opened to the sight of a surprised Chloe...

"Chloe, we didn't expect you home." Lois announced as she got up and straightened her clothes.

"Obviously not." Chloe replied looking very embarrassed.

Clark stood up and excused himself. "I am going to head back to the cottage. Good night, Lois."

Lois smiled at him and nodded. "I will see you tomorrow."

Chloe and Lois were left standing looking at each other. "Lana, I am sorry I walked in on you but I think I need some warning in future."

Lois could swear she could hear a hint of jealously in her cousin's voice making her feel even guiltier. "Look Chloe, I am going to head to bed."

"It won't be much longer that you'll need to sleep on the sofa. You'll be moving in with Clark at this rate by next week." Chloe suggested.

Lois patted the seat next to her for Chloe to come and join her, which she did. "Chloe, you're not happy about Clark and me, are you?"

"What makes you say that?"

"You are jealous, aren't you?"

Chloe became angry at that suggestion. "Even if I was, why would you ask me that? As if things are not uncomfortable enough discussing this as it is."

"I didn't mean it that way."

"Well it sounded like it, and while we're discussing it I am going to tell you a few home truths." Chloe ranted.

"Ok." Lois replied.

"I don't think you and Clark will last. Your relationship is too destructive. Most of the time I see you together you both look so unhappy. They are probably taking bets on when your next break up will be." Chloe announced harshly.

"But Clark told me he loved me."

"Come on Lana...he does not know any different. To be blunt I have seen more chemistry between Clark and Lois than I have between you two." Chloe explained.

"Lois and Clark? So you would prefer to see them together." Lois asked, wanting to hear more of Chloe's explanation.

"Actually I would because I see something between them that I don't see between you two – sparks!" Chloe remarked and turned around to see the door was ajar and there was a pair of eyes looking at her with such a look of hurt.

"Clark, I didn't mean it." Chloe defended herself.

"I left my keys and Chloe, you definitely meant it. Lana, come back with me. There is no need for you to put up with that." He smiled at Lois and then glared at Chloe.

Lois knew she had no choice. She had to leave with Clark, but would do everything to reconcile with Chloe in the morning.

Clark opened the car door for Lois, who was upset. She wanted to go back in and tell her cousin everything.

Clark climbed into the drive seat and turned to Lois. "Are you ok? She was way out of order."

Lois looked at him. "Maybe she wasn't, Clark. Perhaps Lana Lang and Clark Kent were not meant to be." She said, realising how much she wished that were true.

"How can you say that? After what happened in the barn and back there. There are sparks flying everywhere between you and me especially in the last few days." He smiled and tried to kiss her.

"Don't Clark. It clouds my judgement. I am so confused at the moment, about my feelings, about everything." Lois announced truthfully.

Clark became defensive. "So what does that mean for us?"

"I think we should slow things down until we work out where we are headed."

He nodded. "Ok, but come back to stay at the cottage tonight. There is actually a spare bedroom so I will not have to sleep on the sofa." He smiled.

"Ok then."

When they arrived back, Martha was making cocoa before heading to bed. She was shocked to see Lana.

"Mom, do you mind if Lana stays. She has had a fall out with Chloe and she needs somewhere to crash."

"Of course not!" Martha smiled. "I'll make you a drink. Lana is the spare room ok. It is made up."

"I just have to head over to the farm to check everything is ok for the night." Clark smiled and left.

Martha could see how upset Lois was. "Lana, do you want to talk about it?"

"It is just a disagreement. Chloe is jealous of Clark and Lana." Lois did not even realise her slip.

Martha looked puzzled. "Why are you talking about yourself in the third person." She laughed.

"Guess I must be emotional and tired. Anyway Chloe says that she thinks there is more chemistry between Lois and Clark than us." Lois was looking at Martha for her opinion.

Martha was caught off guard. "Um...Um...you don't believe her, do you?"

"I don't know. Maybe all that banter and fighting is an attraction. What do you think?"

Martha gave an uncomfortable smile. "I wouldn't know really."

Lois smiled to herself and wondered if Clark was attracted to her in some way. Two people seemed to think there was something there. She told herself off for raising her hopes.

As soon as Clark came back Martha excused herself saying she was tired.

"So Lana. Do you want to talk about anything?"

"There is something but I don't know how to ask."

He walked over to her put his hand on his arm, looked deep into her eyes. "What is it?"

"Do you have feelings for Lois?" she knew she was being unfair by putting him on the spot but she needed to know.

There was hesitation in his reply. "Yeah of course. She is like an annoying big sister. I won't lie to you Lana, I do count her as one of my best friends. "

"Ok,that's all I wanted to know."

"There is no reason to be worried. Yesterday, when I saw you in the barn, it was like I fell in love with you all over again. I know I keep saying this but there is something different about you and whatever it is, has made me fall deeper."

"I love you too, Clark." She said as she hugged him, tears pouring down her face. She knew she would have to let him go

Lois excused herself straight after breakfast, she needed to confront Chloe.
Meanwhile back at the Talon, Chloe was keeping herself occupied to keep her mind off her fight with Lana. She did like Lana but hated the way she treated him sometimes although she knew that was partly down to Clark keeping his secret from her. It made Chloe feel special that Clark felt the need to confide in her about his powers when he would not tell Lana.

She went on to her email and noticed Lana had emailed her to apologise. She decided to ignore it.

Just then the door opened. It was Lois.

"Hi Chloe, can we talk?"

"Why bother? I got your email, Lana." Chloe fired back.

Lois started to panic. "Oh...you've not opened it, have you?"

Chloe noticed her change of demeanour. "No, but I am going to now. Obviously you have written something you do not want me to see." She went over and opened the file.

Lois knew she was powerless to act so waited for the fallout.

Chloe read it:
Hi Chloe,
I am sorry for skipping town on Saturday without saying goodbye. Needed to get away from things after the meteor shower. I will contact you in a few weeks and let me know where I am. Please don't tell Clark you received this email from me. Hopefully Lois will have broken the news gently to him."
Love
Lana

The colour drained from Chloe's face. "Wait a minute, this was sent fifteen minutes ago so why does it mention you skipping town days ago unless..."

"Chloe, give me a chance to explain."

Chloe looked scared. "It's you isn't it...Dawn Stiles. You have taken over Lana's body." Chloe grabbed her phone and started to speed dial Clark.

"Chloe, it is me... Lois. Remember when we used to spend Summers together and that time we stole all those clothes from that horrible Ms Green's washing line and blamed Lucy."

Chloe could see she was telling the truth. Lois told her about meeting Lana and Zatanna.

"My god, so you are stuck in Lana's body."

"Yeah, but only until Saturday when I go back to Metropolis to meet Zatanna and get the spell reversed."

Chloe smiled, almost relieved. "I must admit that your acting is good but I do not see why you need to be so convincing with Clark, if he will be dumped on Saturday anyway. I mean that clinch on the sofa looked pretty steamy. How can you act so well?"

One look at Lois's face said it all, mainly the lack of eye contact.

"Oh my god, you weren't acting, were you?" she asked,

Lois started to cry. "I have fallen for him, Chloe and hard."

Chloe went to comfort her. "It happens to the best of us." She laughed.

"But in four days I need to say goodbye to Clark." Lois sobbed.

"Tell him the truth. I think he has some feelings for you too". Chloe said excitedly.

"Chloe, why are you being like this when you are in love with him." Lois asked,

"I will always love him, but I know I will never be more than a close friend. His feelings are not down to you. I know he has feelings for you and I want to see him happy and if that was with you, I would be even happier."

"Why not Lana?" Lois asked curiously.

"I don't think Lana loves him the way he deserves. I think she is obsessed with owning him and loves the way he runs after her." Chloe explained.

"I can't tell him Chloe and you must promise not to either. I cannot be the rebound girl and what happens when Lana works out what she wants in life and comes back for him."

Chloe hugged her. "I am glad you told me. At least we can work through this together. I hate to ask but have you and Clark...?"

Lois's face dropped. "No, of course not but I wanted to. I am now thinking more clearly and realise that would be unfair to him. I just hope he doesn't expect it."

Chloe smiled. "Lana and him have got past first base so I would not worry. Surely you can just reject his advances for a few more days."

"Do you know how hard that is?"

Chloe grinned. "No, but I can imagine. I will come with you on Saturday."

"Thanks, Chloe. You're the best. I think I should stay away from Clark."

"Lois, if my suspicions are correct I think you should keep seeing him. I got a text off him yesterday asking if I thought there was anything different about you. I said I had not noticed. He texted back that he liked ' the new you'."

"So what?" Lois asked, rolling her eyes.

"Basically I think he is falling for your personality even though you look like Lana. Your personality is still the real you no matter how hard you try to disguise it." Chloe smiled.

"Trust me." Chloe winked.

Lois smiled. "I'm sure I am going to regret this."