Under a full moon that night, he found himself hovering outside the Talon window, cursing himself for acting like a stalker and her for killing him. He finally made his way to her door. He knocked twice, half expecting her to ignore it, though he knew she was home.

Instead the door swung open and she barked, "Come in," while walking back to the kitchen counter, back to him. He shut the door and said nothing. When she turned around to ask him what he wanted, he was right in front of her. She was unnerved by his proximity. "What do you want," she managed to blurt out, but noted that it didn't sound nearly as harsh as she'd intended. Nonetheless, her tone shook him. What had happened? She wasn't avoiding his eyes anymore, instead glaring at him defiantly. But he could still see the sadness there. He realized he hadn't spoken when she practically yelled at him next.

"CLARK. What do you want?"

He answered as honestly as he'd ever, almost whispering, "You."

Her features softened slightly, but he could tell she was fighting it. He didn't know what was going on. He couldn't understand why she was shutting him out. All he knew was that he felt like he was dying, like someone had shut off the sun. He sunk back away from her slightly and she darted past him to the bathroom, slamming the door behind her. He heard the lock click. He walked toward the door and could swear he heard sobs.

"Lois?" he whispered at the door. "What happened?"

No answer.

"Lois, please talk to me?"

"Lois?" His voice was cracking uncontrollably now.

"Baby, please," he pleaded.

"DON'T CALL ME 'BABY'!" she shrieked at him through the door.

"But … Lois."

"NO! I'm not your 'baby'! I'm not your anything!" He could hear slamming and banging and imagined her throwing things around the small bathroom. He hit the door with his fist, leaving a dent. The impact hushed her.

"Lois … you're … my … everything. He said, tears flowing freely from his blue eyes. "Don't you know that? God, Lois, my everything."

Silence. He hit the door again but weaker this time, turned to rest his back on the door and slid down to a slumped position on the floor. He took a deep, ragged hard breath.

"If you … don't… want me," he forced out, "Tell me and … I'll go." He'd struggled to mean the words but the next flowed out with purpose: "But I'm not leaving until I hear you say it. I'm not letting you go that easy again. I can't …."

After a few moments of silence that felt like millennia, he heard the door lock click again. He pulled himself up and turned to faced her as the door opening. They stood staring at each other for a few moments, both breathing shallowly.

She looked at the floor, wringing her hands and said where only he could hear, "I saw you … with Lana."

Confusion, realization, frustration and then relief washed over him and immediately he moved toward her. But she took a step back and it pained him.

"Lois," he began but she interrupted.

"How can you say things like that to me when you still love her?" She still wasn't looking at him.

"Lois," he said moving forward and hunching down to catch her eyes with his. "I love you and only you." He paused, waiting for her to say something. When she didn't, he moved forward again, taking her hand. When she didn't pull away, he pulled her hand to his chest and lifted her chin to face him. "I came to Africa to tell you that I love you ... that I need you. Lois, there's no one else for me. What you saw … I'm sorry … but I told her … you're it for me … you're everything."

She crumbled into him laying her head against his chest and breathing deeply. He wrapped his arms around her and they stood silently, taken with each other.

When she spoke again, her voice was stronger than it'd been. "I thought my heart was being ripped out when I saw her kiss you." He squeezed her. "I never understood why she left and thought you might still think she's the one for you."

"Lois," he practically exhaled her name.

She slid her arms around his waist. "I came home for you, Clark. Don't break my heart."

He squeezed her again then pulled back to look down at her and she up at him. He could see the sadness dissipating. It had killed him that he'd caused that pain but elated him that he was making it go away.

"Lois, if I broke your heart, I'd break my own," he said, and he leaned in for the sweetest kiss they'd ever enjoyed.