A/N: Hey there! This section is basically a continuation of the last chapter. It had to be done this way. Lois needs some things addressed and some time to process. So here's her response to the last chapter. I've officially decided that there will be seven more parts to this story, after this one. And don't worry at some points- as I hope I've said all along, I'm a Clois shipper. There will be a happily ever after, no matter what goes on (though it's not this chapter I expect most of you will be worried about. . . ). As always, read an review! I live off of feedback (and that's pretty much literal at this moment in time) XP

Disclaimer: Until I am served some sort of court summons for the destruction of and/or tampering with the characters, settings, and general ideas of the Superman franchise, I will continue writing these fanfiction stories. Regardless of the fact that I own nothing.

Three Cautious Words

The breeze on the roof was strong, blowing Lois's hair into a tangled mess. His apology would have been enough to gain her forgiveness. If he'd have let her finish, then he would have learned that she was ready to forgive him and move forward with their relationship as soon as the night before.

But then he gave her back her memories.

Lois felt comfortable standing there in his warm, consoling embrace- so she didn't move. She had long since stopped crying- though she felt so fragile now that she could break down without warning at any given moment. But something about the way he wrapped his arms around her, combined with the memories he'd just returned, seemed to make everything alright again. The world seemed better in his arms than it did when she was out of them.

Finally, Clark spoke, his voice gravelly and hoarse from his crying. "Lois, are you alright? You haven't said anything since. . ." he trailed off.

Lois stood there silent and motionless for a moment before answering. "Yeah, Clark. I'm okay. Everything's okay now."

Clark felt hope flutter in his chest. He looked down at her brown head of hair, and leaned away from her, causing Lois to look up at him. "Everything?" he asked, expression full of hope.

Lois considered. Finally she spoke again. "No, it's not all okay." Clark's expression looked pained at this, and Lois put a gentle hand on his cheek. He flinched briefly, unsure of what would happen next, but relaxed into her caress. "But we can make it so it will be."

His features were lightened by a small, shy smile, worry erased from his expression. He embraced her again, wrapping her slight frame into his warm arms, pressing her tight against his body, never wanting to let go. She felt so perfect there, so wonderful. Clark felt complete. Lois breathed in his unique scent, wondering why she never caught on to it before. Coming to terms with the fact that she actually had at one point caught on before. Biting her lip, she asked her question. "What did you think?"

Clark frowned and looked down at her. "What do you mean?"

Lois tried to make him see her side of things, growing more uncomfortable by the moment, and pulled slightly away. "What was running through your head when you did it?"

Clark paled at the realization of what she was talking about.

"What, did you think I was going to commit suicide or something?"

It was Clark's turn to bite his lip. "Honestly, Lois, I'm not quite sure what I was thinking. I just didn't want to see you in pain. I still hate that feeling. You were hurting because you were worried that we could never be seen together-"

"Yeah, Clark, I gathered that," her voice dripped with sarcasm, but her features remained soft, staring into his face.

Clark paused a moment before almost whispering his words. "I had seen how dangerous it had been. I couldn't afford to lose you. So I gave you up."

"So that's it then? You couldn't afford to lose me one way so you decided to lose me another?"

Clark flinched. "Well, when you put it that way. . ."

Lois stared at him hard. "That's moronic, Kent."

Clark shifted before replying. "I would rather be in pain myself than see you hurt. The way I handled it- yes, it came back to bite me, but you would be alright. You would never have to feel that pain again. Wishful thinking, I suppose."

"And what about you?" Lois spoke up after another pause. "You don't have any right to be happy? To have anyone in your life just because you're Superman? That's not fair."

Clark paused. "I never claimed it was fair. But it's what seemed right."

Lois turned away from him, facing the city rather than him. "Is that why you left? Because of me? Not because of Krypton?"

Clark released a sigh. "Mostly. I couldn't handle the fact that. . . that I knew what we had, and yet you looked at me only as Clark Kent again. Like nothing happened." He bit his lip. "Like the rest of the world."

Lois looked pained at this and returned to his side, slipping her hand into his large, warm one. He turned to look at her with a small smile, but still with a sheltered look in his eye. She smiled up at him. "Well I don't care what the rest of the world thinks of you. I still think you're pretty great. I always have."

His expression lit up like a tree at Christmas. Clark took her face into his hands and leaned in to kiss her. Lois closed her eyes and parted her lips in anticipation of his.

But suddenly Clark froze. Lois frowned in disappointment before opening her eyes to see the expression on his face. "I know that look." She sighed. "This isn't going to be easy, is it?"

Clark looked at her apologetically. "Sorry. But you know I can't just let them-"

"Yeah, I know. But we'll make it work."

Clark grinned for what felt like the first time in forever. At least since he had revealed his true identity to Lois and she had turned him down flat. He placed a chaste kiss on her full lips before spinning into the suit and taking off at speeds faster than the naked eye could see.

Lois watched the sky after he left, and even though she doubted he could hear her at those speeds or this distance, she gave him her last well wishes. "Be careful, Clark." She closed her eyes gently, and for the first time in a long time, finally felt at peace with herself.

A/N: Okay, so next chapter should go up in a few days. I'm actually close to finished with writing this story (YAY! Finally! A long story that I can say I've finished. . . Fingers crossed.) So hopefully I can wrap this up soon (soon being a relative term) and you can all have it to enjoy while I work on other stories! Remember, reviewing inspires me! It will help me write faster! *hinthint*