Lois was quiet all the way back to Oliver's penthouse in Metropolis. He did not want to push her. She would tell him when she was ready.
Once up in his penthouse, Oliver tried to break the silence. He went over the bar. Lois needed a drink. He offered her a bourbon, her favourite.
"No, Ollie. I can't" Lois looked emotionally drained.
"Come on, it will do you good. Calm you down a little." Oliver tried to hand the glass.
"You don't understand. I'm pregnant. " She blurted it out. It actually felt good to tell someone else.
Oliver almost dropped the glass. "How, when, who?"
"Does it matter. I'm having a baby and the father doesn't want to know" Lois started to sob.
Oliver offered her a hug, which she gratefully accepted.
"are you not mad at me?" Lois cried.
"I know I should be, but Lois you are not one to enter into things lightly. It must have meant something to you." Oliver comforted her.
"It wasn't. I did not mean to cheat on you, Ollie. You have to believe me. It just felt right, like I connected with this person."
"Lo, this may seem strange to hear but maybe we weren't meant to be. I thought we had a chance but I haven't exactly been the most reliable and attentive boyfriend. I have been out of town more than I've been in Metropolis. You are a beautiful and amazing woman. I can't expect you to put up with the way I've treated you."
She kissed him on the cheek. "Ollie, you are an amazing friend, to lead you on that we are something else would not be fair."
"What did the father say? Did he categorically say that he did not want to be in the baby's life." Ollie inquired.
"He doesn't know about the baby yet?"
"I don't understand, how do you know that Clark doesn't want a baby" Ollie asked outright.
"How did you know." Lois said, shocked.
"I didn't come down in the last shower, Lois. I have seen the tension between you since you got back and your reaction everytime someone mentions his name."
Lois went onto to tell Ollie about the conversation she overheard.
He understood how Lois may be upset from hearing that, but something told him that there was more to it than that. Clark was not that type of person. He was a secret hero, who put his life on the line for others. Ollie did not know much about his powers but knew he used them for a good and noble purposes.
However his main concern had to be for Lois at this moment in time. She was adamant that she did not want Clark to know and had asked Ollie for help to leave Kansas to get her head sorted out.
Ollie was not happy that Lois planned to skip town. She needed people around her that cared, especially since she was pregnant and in such an emotionally unstable state.
"Lois, pretend the baby is mine, until you find out what Clark's and your feelings towards one another are." Ollie suggested. "I think you will find you are wrong about Clark. Give it time."
Lois stayed quiet for a few minutes, obviously contemplating the offer.
"Would you do that for me and do you think anyone will believe us, especially Clark." Lois asked.
"Lois, does anyone know that we hadn't slept together?" Oliver asked
"No, I never mentioned it, but people probably assumed we have. So I suppose it is not beyond the realms of possibility." Lois started to smile.
"Lois, we will do this, but it is only a short term measure until you sort out what your future is and whether Clark is to be a part of it."
Lois calmed down a little. This gave her a little breathing space.
Lois was starting to feel better over the next few days. Maybe it was because her morning sickness was started to disappear or it could be due to having more time to get her head sorted.
She remained at Oliver's penthouse for a few days. Chloe took this as a signal that her cousin was moving in with Oliver but Lois told her this was not the case. Lois had managed to convince Chloe that she had been diagnosed with a virus but Lois decided to tell Chloe about the pregnancy today.
Lois was feeling apprehensive when she arrived at the Talon appt. How would Chloe take the news. Lois hated lying to Chloe but Oliver and her had decided it was better not to tell anyone the truth, especially her cousin, considering how close she was to Clark.
"Hi Chloe." Lois tried to sound upbeat as she walked in the door.
Chloe carried the coffee from the kitchen to where Lois had sat down.
"Lois, so are you feeling better." Chloe asked.
Lois smiled. "Yes, thanks but I may aswell get to the reason I want to talk to you."
Chloe looked puzzled. "What is it?"
"I never had a virus, I'm having a baby." Lois announced, looking at her cousin for her response.
"What? How?" Chloe looked shocked.
"Do you want me to tell you about the birds and the bees, Chloe" Lois said trying to make joke of the issue.
"That's not what I meant. Is Oliver ok about this?" Chloe asked.
"Well obviously it was a shock but he is dealing with it." Lois was not actually lying she told herself.
"Are you happy?" Chloe put her hand on Lois's
Lois nodded "It has finally sunk in that I am going to be a mom. It is still early days."
"How far on are you?" Chloe asked
"About 8 weeks I think." Lois knew she was only about 5 weeks but did not want to raise suspicions about the dates.
"Well, I'm thrilled for you and Oliver. You will make great parents." Chloe was excited.
Then Chloe's expression got serious. "Can I just ask something.? What is up with Clark? He has holed himself up in the barn. Mrs K said he is not opening up. I think it is because Lana is pregnant by Lex. Do you know anything cos you were the last person to talk to him in depth. Did he say anything?"
Lois did not like the way this conversation was headed. "Nothing, why would I know anything. He talks to you more than me."
Chloe could see that Lois was uncomfortable talking about this but could not put her finger on why.
Lois wanted to sort things out with Clark but she was not ready to see him yet. Why had he gone and complicated matters by saying those three words. Lois was convinced it was Clark Jr doing the talking. But he did seem genuine when he said it. If anything could make her inner turmoil worse, it was those three words.
Oliver called whilst Lois was talking to Chloe.
"Hi Ollie, what's up?"
"No I can't, you know why... Can we talk about it later. ... It would be too awkward... Ok then if I have to..." Chloe could not help but hear what Lois was saying.
"Sounds serious, Lois." Chloe inquired,
"No, it is just Ollie letting me know he is coming to pick me up as we are having dinner at the Kents, he has business to discuss with Mrs K. Should be fun!"
Chloe was getting more puzzled by the minute. Why didn't Lois want to go?
Martha went into the barn. She had tried three days in row to get to the bottom of Clark's dark mood, but with no luck.
"Clark, this is getting ridiculous. I know you are an adult, but you're not acting like one. You have been sulking for three days now. What is it? You need to get over Lana. She has moved on, accept it" Martha was concerned. It was not like Clark.
"Mom, just leave it. I don't want to talk about it. I will come out of the barn when I want." Clark stated.
"Well, you will be coming out tonight. We have guests for dinner and I expect you to be there." Martha told him.
"Mom, I'm not in the mood to hobnob with your political friends." Clark sulked.
"It is Oliver and Lois coming over and you will be there. It will do you good to spend some time with your friends"
Clark's life had just become more awkward.
Lois and Oliver arrived at 7pm as planned. Lois looked absolutely stunning in a bright red dress that showed off her figure to full effect. Clark could not keep his eyes off her or the fact Oliver had his arm around her.
Feelings came flooding over Lois at the sight of Clark. She knew at that moment that she loved him more than anything.
The looks between Clark and Lois had not gone unnoticed by Martha. Something was happening between these two. Then it hit her – what if Clark's mood was not due to Lana, but because of Lois.
As the uncomfortable atmosphere between these two continued, Martha was 100% sure that there was something between Lois and her son. Oliver was just acting as though nothing was happening.
After eating the main course, Lois sprang up from her seat and started clearing away the dishes. Martha suggested that Clark should help her, as she had things to discuss with Oliver. Oliver and Martha went through to the lounge, leaving Clark and Lois in the kitchen.
Lois just stared at Clark and then broke the silence.
"Look Clark, I should not have said those things the other day. I was out of order. I'm sure we both said things we did not mean."
Clark looked at Lois intensely, "Well I meant every word I said."
Lois was taken aback, but she couldn't help but ask. "Every word..."
Clark was not going to back down. "Yes, every word particularly the part where I told you I love you. I love you more than anything else in the world and that will not change."
Tears started to roll down Lois's cheek. Clark grabbed her hand and pulled her upstairs without Oliver and Martha noticing. He led her into the bedroom, closed the door and started to kiss her passionately.
Lois responded immediately. The only thing stopping her from taking things further was the presence of her 'boyfriend' and Martha downstairs.
"I want you, Lois." Clark mouthed, trying to get her zip undone
Lois pushed him off. "No Clark, we can't. You don't understand. We just can't. I'm pregnant."
Clark's look was one of shock and panic. "Is it mine?" he asked.
Before she had the chance to answer, there was a squeal of excitement from downstairs. It was his mom. "Lois, Lois, is it true?"
Clark and Lois descended the stairs to find Martha running to hug her. "Oliver has just told me that you are going to be parents. I'm so thrilled."
Clark felt his heart shatter into a million pieces. He could not take anymore. First, Lana and Lex, now Lois and Oliver. Maybe he was meant to be alone. But what he would give if Lois was carrying his child.
Things were too complicated now. He knew he had to let Lois go. He was not being fair. Saying that he would raise Lois's child as his own, but he knew that could not happen. Oliver was a good man and would be a great father. Clark had no right to interfere in that, so he backed off. He promised himself he would never again bring up their time together.
But he would cherish it and no doubt dream about what could have been.
The rest of the evening was filled with Martha's excitement at the pregnancy announcement. It was maybe her only chance of being a grandmother, well sort of since she considered Lois as a daughter.
Lois could not make eye contact with Clark. Clark had gone quiet on her. In fact after a while he got up and announced that he was going to the barn. Lois wanted to follow but knew if she did she would end up telling him the truth.
She was so confused. In one respect she thought Clark would come around to the idea of being a father, but she could not get his 'cold' words about Lana's pregnancy out of her mind.
He had made his feelings clear. He did not want to be a young dad and be 'tied down' as he put it. Lois made an excuse about feeling tired and needing to go back home.
Oliver dropped her off at the Talon. Oliver was needed in Metropolis tonight. He had heard rumours that a bank robbery was planned and needed to do something about it. He asked Lois if she would be alright and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
What he did not realise is that Clark was watching his every move.
Clark sat on a roof opposite the Talon for a few hours, just listening out like he had done in Bradshaw County. Clark did not know why, but he was suddenly very protective of Lois and her baby.
He needed to make sure that she got home safely. Clark told himself that he could not go on acting like this, he needed to separate himself from his feelings for Lois. Maybe now was the time for him to start his training. There was nothing in Smallville for him.
His thoughts were disturbed by a call from Oliver. He was at a bank robbery and needed help. Clark was there in seconds. Things had got out of hand and one of the guards was being held hostage. Clark looked at Green Arrow and knew what he had to do so approached the building, but just then Clark collapsed.
It was kryptonite. He then saw that the thiefs were using some sort of Kryptonite powered laser to gain entry into the vault.
Oliver went over to help Clark up
"Are you ok, Clark?" Oliver asked.
"It's the laser. It's kryptonite, I'm powerless." Clark said weakly "I need to get away from it."
Oliver started to drag Clark to the other side of the building. Clark started to get his powers back.
"I thought the meteor rocks gave you your powers, they seem to for every other meteor infected person." Oliver whispered, so they would not be heard.
"I'm not meteor infected." Clark announced, much to Oliver's surprise.
"What gives you your powers?"
"Oliver, I'm not human. I'm from another planet. The kryptonite is what is left of my home world and it can kill me." Clark trusted Oliver. "anyway if you can disarm the laser I can take care of everything else"
Oliver was so shocked by the revelation but got his mind back on track. He fired a arrow at the laser and shattered it. Clark took care of the robbers and rescued the guard.
"Job well done," He said, patting Oliver on the back. He was not angry with Oliver. It was not his fault about the things going on between Lois and Clark.
It dawned on Oliver that this changed everything. Lois was carrying an alien's baby and what effect could this have on her and the baby. Clark looked human but wasn't. Oliver needed to talk to someone who knew about Clark and the possible effects on the baby.