A/N: I see we have some puppy lovers out there... Oh, and as my mother kindly pointed out when she went to review, the email option in the field for anonymous reviews does not state that it is optional. It's been a while since I've reviewed anonymously, but last I checked, you don't have to put anything in there, so any unregistered users reading this: you CAN review without giving out personal information.

Anyway, sorry for how long it's taken me to update. I can't promise that they'll become any more frequent, but I promise to do my best.


Consciousness came to her gradually. Lois groaned slightly, shifting in bed and covering her eyes as sunlight hit them. Reluctantly, she forced them open, coming face to face with the back of her shirt sleeve.

... Her sleeve? Now slightly more alert, Lois pushed herself up, and looked down at herself. Why am I still wearing my clothes from work yesterday?

The events of last night washed over her like ice water, and Lois let out a noise somewhere between a sob and a gasp as the still raw emotions enveloped her. Oh God, what have I done?

Trembling faintly, she stumbled out of bed, looking around the room. A folded scrap of paper on the bedside table caught her eye, and she picked it up. It was a note, with her name scrawled on the front in sloppy lettering. She vaguely remembered collapsing in exhaustion on top of the covers last night. But she'd woken with a blanket over her. Richard must have come in after she'd fallen asleep to leave the note, and pulled the blanket over her, knowing she'd get cold. It was thoughtful deeds like that – even, and sometimes especially, after an argument, that had attracted her to Richard in the first place. She flipped it open, sitting back down as she read the text.

Lois,

I'm so sorry that it had to come to this. I've gone to a hotel for the night: I'll call you later, we'll sort out our things and Jason. Tell Jason I love him.

Richard.

The note was short, dry and hasty, but it ripped at her heartstrings all the same. She crumbled the paper absently, setting it back down. God, how could she have done this? Richard was such a good man: he didn't deserve this heartbreak, he didn't deserve this. She should never have led him on for so long, she should never have let them fall apart like this, she should never have allowed this to happen!

Mechanically, she stood, stumbling into the bathroom, grabbing an outfit without a second glance and running through her morning routine on autopilot. After a while, she went downstairs, cold and composed. Jason was still in his room, so Lois began make them breakfast. Although her years of domestic life had taught her – or rather, forced her to learn - basic cooking abilities. She was no gourmet chef, and in her exhausted state breakfast consisted of no more than a few frozen waffles shoved into the toaster and two glasses of orange juice. Content with the meal she had prepared, Lois trudged back up the stairs, turning into Jason's room.

The boy was sprawled out on the bed, half-under and half-above the covers, his head barely resting on the pillow, sleeping contentedly. Lois smiled at the expression on his face: he looked so peaceful, so untroubled by the chaos that had consumed her life. She reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder, shaking him gently.

"Come on munchkin, time to get up."

Her son groaned, turning away from her and pulling the covers tight around him.

"C'mon, wake up." She sat down next to him, shaking him again.

"Ngh," Jason moaned, yanking the sheets over his head, "I don' wanna get up," he protested groggily.

After a bit more coaxing, she managed to guide the sleepy boy out of bed, into some proper clothes and down the stairs. By the time they arrived, the waffles had already popped, and she arranged them onto their respective plates, putting one down in front of Jason.

"Waffles?" he complained, poking at the slightly charred food, "Why isn't Daddy cooking breakfast? Where is he?"

Los paused, then said, "Never mind, Jason, just eat your breakfast."

"Why? Where's Daddy?"

Lois took a deep breath, walking over and kneeling down to face him. "Jason, honey, Daddy and I aren't going to be living together anymore."

His brow wrinkled in confusion. "Why not?"

"We just aren't, okay Jason?"

"No."

"What?" She blinked, not used to hearing that word from her normally well-behaved son.

"It's not okay. Why aren't you going to live with each other anymore? Where will I live? I don't want you or Daddy to go!"

"Jason, it's complicated, but-"

"No!" the boy screamed, pulling away from her, "You're my Mommy and Daddy! You're supposed to live together with me!"

"Jason-" but the boy didn't listen. Tears running down his face, he sprinted away up the stairs. "Jason!" She cried, running after him but unable to catch up. She reached his room just in time to have the door slam in her face, her son pulling it shut with such force that the doorknob was ripped partially from the door. "Jason Samuel Lane! You open this door right now!"

The only response was the sound of quiet sobbing. Admitting defeat, she turned around and slunk back downstairs, collapsing in front of her uneaten breakfast. She cradled her head in her hands. For a few moments she stayed like that, taking deep breaths as she strained to hold back tears herself. Finally, she stood and walked over to the phone. First she called Jason's school, quietly informing the principal that her son would be absent due to personal issues. Hanging up, she then began to dial Perry's number at the Planet. She couldn't go into work today. She couldn't face Richard's friends, or, even worse, Richard.

Or his uncle... she realized partway through dialing. Richard had probably already talked to Perry about his and Lois' break-up, and if he didn't, she sure didn't feel like explaining it. How would she talk to him, tell him that she needed an off-day because she broke up with his nephew. She pressed the end button, then punched in a different number. If she couldn't talk to Perry...


Clark Kent was sitting at his desk, organizing his notes when the phone rang. Expecting one of his sources, Clark picked it up and answered,

"Clark Kent, Daily Planet. Can I help you?"

"Hey, Clark?" responded a shaky, all-too familiar voice.

"Lois?" he asked in surprise, "Where are you? You're usually here long before I am."

"Yeah, about that: I- uh- I'm not really feeling too good today. I don't think I'll be coming in today. Can- can you tell Perry I won't be here?" Her voice wavered slightly. "Please?"

"Uh, sure... But why are you asking me? Isn't it easier to just tell the Chief yourself?" he asked, baffled at her call. She had hardly spoken with him since he got back, and now this?

For a moment there was silence, then, "Could you just tell Perry that I won't be in today?" Lois asked quietly, almost pleading. Alarm bells sounded in Clark's head.

"Lois, are you all right?" Clark asked in concern. "You sound upset..."

"I'm fine!" she snapped, "Well, no, I'm not, I told you, I'm sick! And what does it matter, anyway? If I say I won't be coming in today, you don't need to badger me about it!" she finished, her voice steadily increasing in volume.

"Lois, calm down," Clark said soothingly, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to intrude."

"Oh God, Clark, I'm sorry. It's just- I-" there was a muffled sob from the other end, "Richard and I broke up last night," she whispered.

"...What?" Clark asked, reeling. Broke up? But- Oh God, this was all his fault. He should've been strong enough to stay away from Lois - just left them alone when he came back. Now Richard had lost his son and fiancé, Lois was a wreck… And Jason! He had destroyed the only family that his son had had his entire life. The boy needed stability, he needed his dad. What was he going to do?

Another quiet sob snapped him back to reality. "God, Lois, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have asked-"

"No," Lois said, "No, Clark, it's okay. I just- I- I guess I just need someone to talk to right now... I'm sorry for- for burdening you with this."

"Lois, I don't mind-" Clark stopped and took a deep breath, "Look- if you- if you need someone to talk to, or if you need anything else- I'm here, okay?"

"Thank you, Clark," Lois said, sounding genuinely grateful, "I just need to- to get this sorted out, okay? I mean, Jason's so upset about it, and Ri- he- I don't know who'll get what and- I don't know what to do." She sobbed again. "I just need some time."

"Shh," he interrupted her, his voice deepening slightly to the octave he used as Superman, "It's okay. It'll be okay."

"Could you just- just tell Perry, I won't be in."

"All right. I'll do that."

"Thank you," she whispered, "I- I have to go." She hung up. Clark stared at the phone for a moment, then pushed himself up and headed towards Perry's office.