Chapter 4

Richard didn't understand when Lois told him Clark was coming over.

"Clark?" he asked in disbelief.

"Yes, Clark. We need to talk about some things tonight." She had been putting dry dishes away, Richard had been helping her. "In private."

"Private?"

She nodded. "I haven't really talked to him for a long time and we have some things to talk about."

Richard wondered why the sudden change towards Clark. First, all her attention was on Superman, now Clark. "But, are you feeling okay? Maybe he should come some other day. Aren't you worried about Superman?"

"He's fine." She replied immediately.

"Superman's fine?" He asked, "How do you know?" Lois just gave him a look. "Oh, you know…"

"He came to see me." She said, not really trying to hide anything from him. After all, Superman wasn't a problem anymore. Not really.

"It's just that nobody has mentioned anything from the hospital." Richard said.

"They will. Soon."

He stared at her. "And you don't want to be the first reporter to…" But she shook her head before he could finish his sentence.

"Not this time."

Richard nodded his head slowly and sat down on the table where they had just had dinner. He was glad Jason had already gone upstairs to get ready for bed. It had given them a few minutes alone.

"Tell me about Superman. Did you love him?" He asked again, even though every other part of his body knew he shouldn't ask that… again. Even Perry had told him to leave Lois alone.

She pursed her lips and looked at her hands below her. "I guess I did. I know I told you that I didn't… but, it was a crush." She thought it over. "He was perfect. A man that could fly. Handsome, polite. Someone who cared about others. What was not to love? And he…" she turned to look at the window. "… well, he cared about me."

"He told you?" Richard asked.

"Not in so many words. But he was always there for me. And the way he looked at me… well, I guess I was young and…" Finally she faced him, sighing. "I liked me when I was with him."

"But he left."

"Yes."

"And you were angry?"

"Well, yes." She declared.

"Why?"

Once again she thought it over. "I don't know. Pride? I felt betrayed? I felt like I shouldn't need anyone… especially him."

Richard thought he understood. "And now that he's back?"

"Now that he's back I need a man… not a god." But Richard noticed she wasn't looking at him. It was clear she was thinking of someone else. Clark, maybe? "I'm sorry, Richard. I guess I'm… confused. And Clark will be here in a few hours, I should be ready to receive him."

"Right." As much as he tried, he failed to hide the sadness in his voice.

Lois walked to him and kissed his cheek. "I'll be in the living room. Good night, Richard." And with that, Lois Lane left him alone.

After a few minutes of sitting by himself in the kitchen, he gathered his strength to go upstairs by himself to read Jason to sleep. It had been hard to fight the urge to confront her again. About Clark now, more than Superman.

He said good night as he passed the living room, where Lois was sitting with her computer on her lap, typing. She really didn't ignore him, but it almost felt like she did. He went upstairs, tucked Jason in and then took a long shower.

It wasn't long until the doorbell rang.

Richard was then very quiet. He sat on his bed and tried to listen.

The door opened and he heard Lois. "Hi."

Then came a male voice, which of course, was Clark's. " Hi, Lois."

"You look… nice."

"You said you wanted to see me. So here I am."

After a moment, the door closed. "You look… different." Richard heard Lois say, wondering what she'd meant.

"This is me. Just me." Clark repeated… what exactly did that meant? Richard didn't know. Then Clark continued. "Maybe we should go outside."

"All right."

"Is Jason asleep?" Clark asked.

"Yes. Richard took care of that tonight. I told him I was waiting for you."

"That's fine. But we can't talk here. It's not… safe."

When he heard that last word, Richard frowned in confusion. Why wouldn't they be safe? He wasn't going to do anything weird; that was for sure. So, safe from what?

"Let me get my sweater and I'll be right back."

"Okay."

Richard heard Lois making her way up the stairs and into the room they shared. She opened the door that was only half closed and he stared at her in silence.

"I'm here to pick up a sweater, it's cool outside."

"Are you all right? Is he in some sort of trouble?" Richard asked.

Lois frowned at his questions. "What do you mean? He's not in trouble." Then she reconsidered her statement. "Well, at least nothing to be alarmed about."

"Will you be all right by yourself with him?" Richard said. "I mean, out there?"

She snorted at what she heard. "Of course. It's Clark Kent, Richard. And trust me when I tell you he's the safest person to be around in the whole wide world."

Safer than Superman? Wondered Richard. "All right, just be careful."

"I will." Lois had her blue sweater in her hands as she exited the room.