Not Because I Know How to Yodel

Part IV

Nefertiri's Handmaiden

Disclaimer: I already wrote three! What do you people want from me? Don't you get it by now: I don't own Superman!

Note: Perry White, matchmaker. Lois knows Clark's secret, and there will be hell to pay.

I pity Superman.

That's right. I said it. I pity him.

Now you all think I'm crazy again. But I have a good reason.

I pity Superman because he's always alone. I pity Superman because he can't be closer to his son. I pity Superman because he lives a lie every day he sets foot in this office.

But mostly, the reason I pity him right now is that he is currently suffering the wrath of Lois Lane.

Now you all agree with me.

Poor bastard.

He told her the truth the night of their date. At least, I think that's what happened. It's the only reason I can think of that she was that furious.

And when I say furious, I mean furious. Like she wouldn't mind if someone started shoving Kryptonite down his throat.

She didn't talk to him. She didn't yell at him. She didn't even look at him. She was just so mad she didn't know what to do with herself.

But she still let Jason color at his desk, so there was hope.

It was late one night after everyone else had left when I decided Kent had suffered enough. Jason was sleeping on my couch, and Lois and Kent were still typing away at their desks as I proofed a column. Every few minutes he would glance at her, but she kept staring determinedly at her computer screen.

I stood and walked to my door. Softly, I called for her. She stood up without looking at Kent, but he watched her all the way into my office. Quietly, she sat down in the chair in front of my desk, after checking on Jason. I sat down in my chair.

"Lois," I whispered, not wanting to wake Jason. "This has got to stop."

She looked at me, eyebrows raised. "What?" she whispered back.

"Kent loves you. He's loved you for as long as I've known him. It's time to forgive him."

She narrowed her eyes. "You don't know what he did."

I looked at her seriously. "Whatever it was, I know that he loves you more than anything, and whatever he did, he did it with noble intentions."

"But he-"

I held up a hand as her voice stared to rise. "It doesn't matter. What matters is that he's clearly remorseful and he will do whatever it takes to make you happy. Are you willing to give that up?"

She looked at me defiantly for a minute, and then her shoulders slumped. She stood and headed back out the door. She stopped briefly at the threshold. "You're just a big softie at heart, Perry." I did my best to look stern. She smiled at me and headed towards Kent's desk like a woman with a mission.

I couldn't hear what they were saying, but I watched as she came to a halt by his desk. He looked at her, and then nervously stood to face her. She looked into his eyes for a moment, and then dropped her head to stare at his shoes. I saw her mouth something that looked vaguely like 'I'm sorry,' and a huge grin spread across his face. I saw him say something I was fairly sure was 'I'm sorry too.' Then she said something I couldn't read, and he nodded. Gently, he placed a hand on the small of her back and they headed toward the elevator. They were going to talk on the roof.

I looked over at Jason. His eyes were open, watching the display between his parents. He saw me seeing him and smiled widely, then gave me the thumbs up sign. I returned the smile and the gesture, and went to sit next to him.

"Don't tell Mr. Clark that I know, okay?"

He looked at me in confusion. "Why?"

"Because I think he likes to keep the secret to himself, and I don't want him to be suspicious of me. But you can tell him that you know."

He smiled widely. "Okay, Uncle Perry."

I ruffled his hair affectionately. "Now go back to sleep," I said. He nodded, closed his eyes, and drifted back to sleep.

I looked back in the direction Kent and Lois had gone.

Things were going to be okay.