After work on Tuesday, Martha had a surprise for Clark and Lois. "I got you all dates."

Their faces scrunched into utter confusions. "W--why?" Clark asked, managing to utter the one syllable question. He heard Lois' heartbeat pick up, "D--dates?" she had picked up Clark's stutter. Was it his imagination or were their lying skills getting worse with time. Lois had told him last night that she wasn't so sure that his mom didn't know. Clark thought it was just her guilty conscience talking. He wouldn't mind telling his mother if Lois lived across town or at least next door. He was holding onto a thread of hope that she wouldn't find out, however thin that thread might be.

"I forgot to tell you? I decided to throw a little political function right here in Smallville tonight. I know it's not usually necessary to increase popularity in your own hometown. I just want to let my friends and acquaintances know I haven't gotten too big or ungrateful by becoming a U.S. senator."

"I'm sure they know that already, but it couldn't hurt when reelection time rolls around," Lois said. "Smart, Mrs. Kent. Want us to do a piece for the paper?"

"No," Martha replied with a smile. "I just want to see you kids have fun. That's why I got you dates."

"Thanks," Lois said trying to make it sound genuine, but the look on her face said she was about to swallow cod liver oil.

Clark didn't say anything, but the look on his face showed he was very uncomfortable with the idea.

"They'll be here in less than an hour, so you two better get ready," Martha was already ready in a black evening gown and pearls.

They had no choice, but to comply or tell the truth. They chose to comply.

---

Their dates made it right on time. Clark's date was a curly, voluptuous blonde with an eager smile on her face. Lois' date was tall and handsome enough, but looked very uninteresting and somber.

Martha made the introductions. "Clark, this is Candy. She's the daughter of one my friends in Washington. She's attending Metropolis University. Lois, this is Ernest. He's been handling my taxes the past couple of years."

"Pleased to meet you," Clark said politely to Candy and offered his hand, but he lacked any warmth that could be considered interest by his date.

Candy, however, didn't detect the disinterest and instead of merely shaking his hand, she linked her arm through his arm and dragged him outside.

Lois was about to say something, but Ernest was in her path. Lois tried to offer him a smile because Martha was watching her carefully, but it came out more of a sneer. "We can take my car," Ernest said.

Lois looked at Martha again. Martha was doing nothing to hide that she was watching them. Lois sighed and said very unenthusiastically, "Wonderful."

---

The party was at the Talon. There were a lot of friendly familiar faces in the room. One familiar, but unfriendly face was Tess. They had no idea how she managed to snaggle an invitation, but she didn't appear to be up to anything. She was simply socializing with a couple of other local bigwigs.

By the time Lois had arrived with Ernest, she was ready to bang her head into the wall repeatedly for as long as it took to block out the endless droning about taxes.

Clark, on the other hand, wasn't bored in the least. His date was frisky and he had to keep ducking and shirking her moves which only seemed to make her more determined.

The night progressed very slowly for both Clark and Lois. At one point from across the room, Clark and Lois were finally able to communicate. They desperately needed a break away from their dates. Lois moved her eyes toward the door of the apartment. Clark gave a smile of agreement. They managed to slip away from their dates amid all the dancing and dimmed lights and up to Chloe and Jimmy's apartment. Lois still had the key. They both let out heavy sighs of relief when the door was shut behind them. Chloe and Jimmy weren't home.

"You don't know what a terrible night I've had. Candy--"

"I don't want to hear it, Smallville. At least you have the super speed to dodge that woman. I on the other hand haven't been able to shake Ernest all night. If I never hear another word about income tax and sales tax or any other kind of tax, I'll die a happy woman."

"I can't use super speed in a case like this."

"So then you haven't been dodging that tramp?" she asked with a dangerous look.

"Oh, no. I've managed to dodge her," he assured her. "Just at regular human speed."

"How long does this thing last?" she cried, throwing herself back against the door and sinking to the ground.

Clark sunk with her. "Too long."

There was a sudden knock on the door. Their eyes widened. It was surely one of their dates come to get them.

"Clark, Lois, it's me."

Me was Martha Kent. They didn't answer. They didn't even breathe.

"I know you're in there. Ernest and Candy are with me too. They're looking for you." The knob began to turn. In their haste into their refuge, they'd forgotten to lock the door. They scrambled to their feet, but Martha had opened the door before Clark could whisk them away. "The party still has 2 hours," she told them, smiling. "I'm also doing some political things around Metropolis tomorrow and you all get to come along. Tess told me she wants you two on the story. I've invited your dates to come along. "

Clark looked at Candy who wiggled her eyes suggestively at spending the day together. Lois looked at Ernest, who did nothing, but she couldn't begin to imagine tomorrow's conversations on taxes.

"We're seeing each other!" Clark and Lois yelled out simultaneously.

TBC