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Surprise Return
Two Days Later...
"So, have you found out anything about this new guy in town?" Todd asks.
Lois shakes her head. "No, he's only been seen in Metropolis twice since Friday. I did find a report of a flying man in Paris yesterday morning, though. If it's the same guy, it would explain why we haven't heard from him in a day or so," she shrugs. "Hey, Todd, thanks for coming out with Ella and I today. She hasn't gotten to see you in a few weeks and was asking for you.…"
"Who else would go shopping with you?" he asks. "Besides, I've missed my little Lois over there."
Ella looks up from eating her ice cream cone and smiles at Lois and Todd. They both chuckle and Lois shakes her head. "Just like her momma, huh?"
Todd puts his arm around Lois' shoulders and smiles.
Clark walks out of the men's clothing store and rounds the corner in the mall. He purchased some new things that's going to help him change his "Clark Kent" image and he's feeling pretty proud of himself. He didn't even need Lois to help him. Of course, the saleslady in the store did help a little. He stops when he spots Lois and a man across the way. He pushes his glasses up on his face, which is part of the new identity, and makes sure he's out of her sight.
Lois and the man she's with share a good laugh together and then the man picks up the dark haired little girl and kisses her cheek.
Clark feels a twinge of envy for him. They look like the perfect family.
He swallows. He doesn't even want to think about it. But, how does he have the right to get upset if she has moved on? And clearly she has. She has a husband and they have a….daughter? Clark heads the other direction.
"So, tell me about your new boyfriend," Lois says as she wraps her arm through Todd's and they begin to walk down the mall together. Todd is still holding Ella in his arms.
"He's fabulous. We'll have you both over for dinner, very soon..."
Later that night...
Lois gently closes the door to Ella's bedroom. She was out like a light as soon as her head hit the pillow. Lois smiles...a good afternoon of shopping at the mall with Todd will do that to you.
She walks by the kitchen counter and picks up the glass of wine she had already poured before checking on her daughter. She picks up a book off of the coffee table and sits down on the couch.
Once she starts reading, something makes her look up from the book, causing her to look over to the balcony. The curtains are partially covering the glass door but something outside still catches her eye.
Lois stands up, walks over to the door, slowly opens it and takes a step outside.
Whoosh.
She quickly turns to her right. In the distance she sees the outline of a man. She can make out any features but she definitely sees a cape.
"Hello," she says, trying to hide the fear and excitement in her voice.
The man doesn't say anything.
"I...I'm Lois. Lois Lane. I'm a reporter for the Daily Planet. I'd love to interview you..."
She bites her lower lip. The man doesn't say a word, or move a muscle for that matter. He just stands there, his cape blowing in the wind.
"Okay...well, maybe in the daylight would be better," she decides out loud. "Meet me tomorrow at 10am on the roof of the Daily Planet building...I promise to give your side of the story. Whatever that is."
Clark continues to stare at her. Even though she can't see him, the light from her townhouse is shining on her so he can see her perfectly. This is the closest he's been to her in years and he's taking in every feature.
"Metropolis would love to know more about you," she says, almost too softly, but he hears her. "So would I."
"Mommy," Lois hears from inside the townhouse. She turns and when she does, Clark takes the opportunity to fly away.
"I'm right here, baby," she says, turning to go back inside after one last glance to the sky.
After tucking Ella back in for bed and making sure she fell asleep, Lois goes to the balcony again and leans against the railing.
"Who are you?" Lois asks.
She sees the outline of the man that just saved her from being crushed.
He doesn't move. She stands up.
"Thank you."
He still doesn't move.
"Do you have a name? I'm a reporter, I can give you credit for saving me."
He starts to back away.
"No, please," Lois says, taking a step forward. There's desperation in her voice.
He stops.
"This isn't the first time you've saved me, is it?" she asks thinking back to other times when she thought she was going to be shot or burned or crushed by something….and wasn't.
"I just want to see your face. You don't have to talk," she says with emotion in her voice.
Next thing she knows, he's gone.
She sighs. That was her first real meeting with the Red Blue Blur and the last time she was intrigued by something this much.
"How could I have been so stupid back then, to not realize it was Clark?" she mumbles to herself.