Chapter 7

The drive to Smallville was full of chatter and laughter, Lois spent the time either half turned in her seat talking to her cousin sitting in the back, or Chloe sat forward pushing her face in the front and all three conversed. The girls caught up with each other, Clark joined in and the atmosphere was light without even a hint of awkwardness.

"We're almost there Lois." She nodded absently and kept talking to her cousin. He grinned in amusement. She really hadn't changed, talking was still something that she liked to do, but this time he was enjoying it.

When he pulled up in front of the house, Lois stopped talking, stepped out of the car and stared. The smile on her face grew wider when his mom appeared at the top of the stairs; the two women stood smiling at each other for a moment, then with a screech that could shatter glass, they ran and hugged each other hard.

Clark turned to smile at Chloe, saw that she also had a huge smile on her face, and after giving the women a little time to talk, he decided it was time to butt in.

"Mom...mom." She waved at him absently and continued chatting but after calling her name several more times, she turned, saw him and Chloe and blushed.

"I'm sorry sweetie." Martha reached over pulled her son into a fierce hug, turned to smile and hug Chloe then turned back to look at her future daughter in law; only to find her looking at the house.

"Does she know?" Martha whispered quietly, but at his quick head shake, she nodded and winked "Well don't worry, Chloe called and asked me this morning to find out if Lois is seeing anyone, so I'll...." She trailed off when Lois turned around and smiled. Linking arms with her, the two women walked her up the stairs and into the house, with Clark and Chloe trailing behind.

Clark wondered how he could stop his mom from questioning Lois. He no longer needed help to find out if she was seeing anyone as he now knew the answer, but decided it was best to just let it go. Maybe his mom could casually question Lois and ferret out some answers, which in turn would help him to understand exactly what kind of ghosts he had to contend with.

***

Lois looked around the farm house and shook her head in wonder; being here made her feel like a girl again. Standing outside earlier had been lovely, but when she'd stepped inside the farm house, memory after memory had rushed over her; seeing so many familiar things made it hard to believe that she'd been gone for so long. The furniture had changed but only a little, some of the photos were still the same one's that she remembered, while others were new, but overall the house still felt as warm and homey, as the very first time she'd stepped inside it.

She turned, looked at the group of people standing behind her and smiled "It's nice to be back."

"Oh honey it's so nice to have you back." Martha smiled tearfully and pulled Lois into a hug once again.

Lois hugged her back then pulled out of her arms and shook her head once again "It's funny but it really feels like I never left. I expect to find Shelby beside me, Clark retreating to his loft to brood and everything to be the same way it used to be; but it's not, is it?"

Martha shook her head "No, a lot of time has passed since then, but seeing you here again, it's hard to believe that you haven't been with us the whole time."

"It's like that for me too...Shelby?" Lois questioned softly and looked around.

"Shelby died a few years ago." Clark put in quietly and saw sad understanding in Lois' eyes.

She sighed and nodded "I expected it, but I hate hearing it all the same."

Hoping to dispel the gloomy atmosphere, Martha gestured to the table "I know it's early, but I thought if we have lunch now, then the three of you can take your time looking over the town, and come back for afternoon tea before you have to leave."

"I'd like that, thanks Mrs Kent."

"Martha." She corrected with a smile, leading the way to the table.

"Martha." Lois agreed and took a seat.

Conversation during lunch was minimal other than requests for something to be passed, but once all were fed and full, the chatter began once again.

"So what have you been doing with yourself sweetie, are you a journalist?" Martha asked with a smile.

Lois grinned and shook her head "No, I do have a journalism degree but I'm a writer."

"She writes true crime novels mom; and she's damn good." Clark inclined his head in Lois' direction then continued before she could speak "And here's something I only learnt this morning when I looked through her books; Lois dedicated one of her novels to you and dad."

Lois blushed when Chloe turned to her and grinned "I didn't know that Lo."

She coughed lightly in reply "It was my first book."

Martha picked up her hand and squeezed it gently "Oh Lois, I wish I'd known. That has to be the most beautiful thing anyone's done for Jonathan and me."

Lois smiled and squeezed her hand in return "I was so grateful to both of you; it was the two of you that made me realise I could be a lot more than just a college dropout who served coffee at the Talon. Mr Kent made me his campaign manager, you made me your chief of staff; and you have no idea just how much it meant to me that you both believed I could do great things, when I didn't even believe in myself back then."

"I always knew that you could and so did Jonathan." Martha replied quietly, squeezing her hand once again "I'd like to read the book."

Lois chewed her lip uncertainly for a moment before confessing softly "Um, it's not a nice story Martha, it's pretty intense and unpleasant."

"I'd like to read it anyway; I'm pleased as punch to know a published author, and I can't wait to tell all my friends." Martha grinned in pride.

Lois smiled and nodded "I'll send you a copy, but just so you know, I consider you to be this published authors mentor."

"If you don't stop I'm going to cry." Martha admonished gently but couldn't suppress the flush of pleasure at the younger woman's words.

Letting out a watery gurgle herself, Lois nodded once again.

Retrieving the tray of coffee, Clark brought it back to the table, everyone helped themselves, and deciding it was time to gently feel out the younger woman, Martha began to slowly pull out details.

"Clark told me you were divorced Lois, I'm sorry sweetie." Martha said softly in regret.

Lois bobbed her head sadly in agreement "Yeah so was I; he's a great guy, I'm a great girl, we just weren't so great together."

"How long have you been divorced?" Chloe asked casually.

"Almost two years, and I really am ok about it. I'm not sorry, just regretful that it didn't work out; that's what really hurts y'know?"

Chloe and Clark nodded in understanding while Martha gave all three smiles of sympathy "Are you dating or seeing anyone in particular at the moment?"

Lois shook her head "No, I go on dates but it's just casual; I'm not interested in getting involved with anyone."

"Well maybe one day you'll be ready to try again." Martha put in carefully.

"I doubt it." Her voice was soft, but all heard the iron clad certainty resonate in her tone.

Hearing the tone Martha felt distressed, not only for her son but for Lois as well. Reaching out, she laid a hand over Lois' free one "You're still a young sweetie; don't close yourself off to love just because things didn't work out the first time. I'm going to tell you what I told Clark when he got divorced; I know it must hurt and the thought of trying again is scary, but one day when you least expect it, you will find the right someone, and then you'll be ready."

Lois smiled genially but instead of replying, she sipped her coffee and looked around the room.

The three shared a swift look of concern. Not wishing to upset the younger woman, but feeling unbearably sad that Lois wasn't willing to open herself to the possibility of love again, Martha tried once more "It's not too late for love sweetie, it's never too late." She put in firmly and patted Lois' hand before sweeping her eyes over all three "I believe your time will come; all three of you will get another shot at happiness."

"I like to think so." Chloe put in cheerfully while Clark nodded in agreement. Lois however, sighed and gave a lopsided smile "Not for me Martha, I'm never going to put myself out there again, but thank you anyway."

Lois sipped her coffee and hoped the conversation was over. When her phone rang she let out a silent sigh of relief, and addressing the table in general excused herself, pulled the phone from her purse, and checked the caller ID. There was no name, and not seeing a familiar number, she shrugged and clicked "Hello." At the sound of Abra's voice, she smiled "Can you hang on for a minute?" At the affirmative reply she shot a quick look at the tables occupants before getting to her feet "I'm just going to take this outside ok?" They all nodded and with a quick step she left the farm house to sit on the front porch.

Once she was gone the three turned to each other.

"She's clearly scared of being hurt again and I don't blame her, but...." Chloe broke off and blew out a deep breath "What are you gonna do?"

Clark sipped his coffee, looked at the two women and smiled lightly "I'm going to show her that she doesn't need to be scared, because I'll be there to catch her anytime she falls. I'm going to prove to Lois that I am right the man for her, and when she's ready I'm going to marry her."

"Well if anyone can do it you can." Martha smiled tearfully, then reached over and hugged her son.

"And at least now you know there's no competition for her affections." Chloe put in softly.

He grinned "I already knew, I asked her again when I took her back to her hotel last night; I also told her everything about myself."

"Talk about not letting the grass grow under your feet, but it's probably a good thing. By telling Lois everything straight away, you're proving to her upfront that you trust her. She must also have a pretty good idea that you're interested; I mean let's face it, telling someone you're an alien with super-powers, isn't the kind of thing you just blab out to anyone." Chloe replied and Martha nodded, but when Clark's face flushed, the women lifted their brows in query.

He rubbed the side of his face and confessed "I think she had a pretty good idea I was interested in her when I um..." he coughed lightly "...when I spent the night with her."

The women's mouths fell open; they turned to each other and back to Clark again completely stumped for what to say.

He smiled sheepishly "I didn't intend it to happen, I asked if I could talk to her, so we sat in her room and I told her everything. As I was leaving I kissed her, and then....well you can guess what happened next."

"That was fast." Chloe shook her head in stupefaction "You're not kids but....that was fast." She repeated dumbfounded.

Martha nodded in agreement "Well you're both adults so I'm not going to say anything; in fact I prefer not to think about it at all."

"Are you disappointed mom?" Clark asked softly.

She shook her head "No sweetie, as I said before you're both adults and I know your intentions are honourable, but as your mom, I don't want to think of my son...." She broke off and smiled "As you're mom, I prefer ignorance in these matters."

He nodded in understanding "You'll both be pleased to know that I made sure Lois knew it wasn't just a one night stand. I told her that I wanted us to be friends, and that I was going to see her when she went home." His lips quirked into a small smile "She didn't believe me at first, but I wasn't going to let it rest until she understood that it wasn't just a fling for me. I'm going to win her heart, and I'm going to prove she doesn't need to be frightened of trying again; and I'm not going to give up until the day she agrees to marry me."

Chloe grinned and wiggled her brows "Well I'm guessing after last night, Lois won't be thinking of you as the annoying boy she used to know; so my money's riding on you."

"Mine too." Martha put in then quickly held up her hand "But I still don't want to think about it."

"Don't worry mom, I won't tell you any details, but I might come to you and Chloe for ideas or advice on occasion." He looked between the two women hopefully; they looked at each other, grinned, turned back to him and nodded firmly.