A/N: Hello! Okay, I just couldn't wait to post this... gotta get on with the story! THanks again for any suggestions via reviews... tell me more! I hope you enjoy this chapter, let me know. :)
Disclaimer: I own Superman. . . yeah. totally not something i just pulled from one of my dreams. . .
Lois walked into the bullpen with a smile on her face, despite the pit in her stomach.
They would tell their coworkers today. But that was of no concern to her.
She had gotten little sleep the night before. By the time they had gotten Jason to bed and finally got him to sleep, she and Clark had a long conversation about what they would do, how things would work, what was left between them. Clark seemed happier than she had ever seen him that night- she would catch him staring off into the distance, presumably in the direction of Jason's room, and watching the boy with a look of fatherly pride. They talked for what seemed like forever, though in reality it couldn't have been more than an hour or so. Ultimately it was an act of Superman that had to separate them, but not before they had established one thing.
"Lois," he began slowly. "I would understand if you don't want me around much, or even just not constantly. What I did to you. . . when I left. . . well, let's just say it's the biggest mistake I've ever made in my entire life. But even that won't compare to the mistake I'd be making if I didn't ask you this right now."
Her heart skipped a beat. "Yes, Clark?"
He looked to the floor briefly, before gaining the confidence to look her straight in the eye, his electric blue gaze burning into her soul. "Being here with you and Jason tonight. . . nothing's ever felt more right to me in the world. Even if I did ever dream of having a life like this, I never imagined how amazing it could feel. Being a father, having a family. It's the best feeling in the world. But, as greedy as it might sound, it's not all that I want. There's something else."
At his pause, Lois encouraged him to continue. "And what might that be?"
He released a slow breath. "I'd be lying through my teeth if I told you I didn't love you. I always have, and always will, no matter what your answer to me may be. But it's something I have to ask." He paused, collecting his thoughts before continuing. "Lois, I. . . would you go out with me? I know it's a little bit backwards, but I have to know. I need to know if you could ever possibly care about me again in the same way you did before. I need to know. . . if you'd just give me one more chance. That's all I'm asking for- another chance at us. If you feel I've overstepped my bounds, or I've made you uncomfortable, just tell me- I'll do whatever you ask. I'd stay, leave, stick around if only just for Jason- I'd die if you told me to. Just, please, tell me."
His eyes stared into her soul with such intensity that she shuddered involuntarily. Slowly, after trying to bring her pounding heart under control, she inched closer to him. She felt his breath hitch as she placed a gentle hand on his cheek and his own hand came up to cup hers. "You know what, Clark? I think I'd like that." The spark in his eyes sent Lois's heart into a tizzy. "But," she added, looking him squarely in the eye, and noting the brief flash of fear there added a slight smile. "We do it the right way this time. We take it slow, get used to the idea before jumping into things. Is that alright?"
His eyes spoke his gratitude, as he slowly turned his head and grazed his lips across her palm. "Perfect, Lois." Her heart skipping a beat, his breath tickling her sensitized skin as his lips passed over it.
Lois immediately felt a jolt of electricity charge through her, and couldn't seem to tear her eyes away from his- that is until he suddenly looked away, cocking his head slightly as though trying to hear something in the distance. Which he was. When his face turned back to hers it was full of remorse. "Um, Lois, I, um, I have to go- you know-"
She smiled at him genuinely. "Go. I'll see you at work tomorrow."
Clark's expression lit up and briefly he kissed her hand on the knuckles before spinning into his suit and taking off through the window. Lois sighed contentedly, wondering what this would mean for them-
Suddenly Lois ran smack into the glass door of Perry White's office, not realizing how lost she had been in her reflections until it was too late. She swore and rubbed the spot on her forehead tenderly as she opened the door with a little more than needed ferocity- after all, it wasn't the door's fault that she ran into it- aw, screw it. The door should have been open.
"Geez, Lois! You alright, hon? What's going on with you?" Perry helped her inside and sat her in a chair, closing the door behind her.
"Nothing, Perry. I'm perfectly fine," she spoke irately.
"Uh-huh. And I'm Elvis Presley. Now really, what's wrong?"
"Is this what you had Jimmy call me in for?" she grumbled, still rubbing her forehead, which had a slight red tinge to it from the impact.
"Partly. Stop avoiding the question."
Lois sighed. Her editor was far too perceptive- she wished he could be as ignorant as everyone else sometimes. "Really, Perry. There's nothing wrong. Maybe that's sort of the problem. I don't know. It's all going. . . everything's just . . ."
"Swell?" Perry helped, amused grin in place.
Lois sighed, but she gave him a small smile in return. "Yeah. And I don't know what to think about that yet."
Perry nodded. "I understand, Lois. And believe me, I wish the two of you the best in this endeavor- I always figured you two would hit it off- not exactly in the way that you actually did, but all the same. . ." Lois briefly swatted his arm, and he chuckled in return. "But Lois, you know, as much as I love the both of you- if you ever have any concerns about Clark, or things get to be too difficult between you- don't hesitate to, you know, call or something."
He suddenly grew a little embarassed at Lois's smile- she noticing his fierce paternal instincts coming out in his protection of her. After all, Perry White was as much of a father to her as her own father was- in all the important things, anyways. He practically mentored her, taught her everything she knew, and helped her out discreetly when he could. Her real father had been far less supporting of her career choice. "Thanks, Chief. You always were like a father to me. And it's nice to have something to rub in Clark's face in the future." She quirked her lips at him, and he laughed.
"Don't worry about it. Oh, and hon? When Clark gets in, tell him to come by my office at some point today, alright?"
Lois smiled once more as she stood to leave his office. "Alright, Chief, but don't scare him too bad. He's kind of jumpy and flighty sometimes. Go easy on him." Yeah, she thought, really flighty. With that she turned on her heel and trekked out of his office, this time avoiding the door and successfully navigating her way toward her desk.
Then, for good measure and the benefit of those who might later question him about going soft, Perry shouted after her:
"And for God's sakes, Lane! Don't call me Chief!"
Lois chuckled and shook her head as she sat back down to her computer complacently. Her gaze wandered over to Clark's desk, which was left unoccupied, despite the fact that Superman had finished his last tv-recorded rescue several minutes before. Probably performing some minor rescues or something- or finishing an article, or snooping out a lead. . . .
"Hey, Lois," a shy, feminine voice spoke up behind her. She spun around in her chair, smile carefully guarding her true emotions. She recognized the girl as Josie, the blond intern who was one of the firsts to make the assumption that Clark was Jason's father. "Um, listen, I just wanted to talk to you a little bit. I don't know if you really heard, but. . . me and some of the other girls-"
"Some other girls and I," Lois corrected. She might suck at spelling, but that didn't mean her grammar was just as atrocious. Atrocuious? She filed away that word to look up later. Or more likely, she'd just ask Clark.
"Um, yeah. Anyways, we might have accidentally spread some rumors around about you and. . . certain other people that weren't particularly. . . nice. Or well-founded. It's just, well. . . I just wanted you to know that we meant no harm or offence in any way."
Lois's finely arched eyebrow softened as her features broke into a slight smile. "Don't worry about it, Josie. I heard the rumors, and they don't really give me any cause for concern."
The girl looked relieved. "Oh, that's good. So Clark's not Jason's father?"
A flash of emotion entered into Lois's eyes- one mixed with both anger and panic. Curse you, Clark Kent. Where are you whenever I need you? Suddenly she spotted the object of her wrath entering the bullpen, briefcase in hand, stumbling slightly as he made his way over towards his- and by connection, her desk. "Well, I didn't exactly say that, now did I?"
Josie felt her jaw drop, but couldn't seem to do anything about it. "Wh-what?" she finally managed to ask.
Clark materialized behind the intern and, sensing the tension, decided it was his turn to cut in. "H-hi, Lois. How're things goin'? Perry notice I was late?"
Josie spun around and abruptly found herself face to face with their current topic of conversation. "Oh! Hi there, Mr. Kent! I was just. . . I mean, we were just talking about you. . . er, wow. This is a little awkward."
"What's awkward?" he appeared puzzled a moment as he glanced back at Lois, a question written in his features.
Lois cleared her throat. "Uh, Clark, Josie was just telling me about a rumor she heard about you and I that she was looking to reaffirm. You mind explaining to her?"
Josie stammered before Clark could recover from his shock. "No! I mean, oh, I'm sorry. I was kind of one of the people who started it- it really was harmless fun until we kind of stumbled upon the idea and then it became very real, and before we knew it it got out of hand, and-"
Clark placed a reassuring hand on the girl's shoulder- Lois noting a bit smugly that he hadn't stopped the girl with a kiss the way he had with her yesterday- and spoke. "It's no big deal, Josie. It's about time everybody knew anyways."
She finally gathered herself enough to speak. "So. . . it is true then? You are Jason's biological father?" She glanced between the two of them.
Clark locked eyes with Lois for a moment, and a goofy grin occupied his features, one filled with fatherly pride. "Yeah, I am. We didn't want it getting out so soon, in case it looked bad, but. . ."
"We're glad it's finally out. So thanks," Lois finished for him with a smile in his direction. Clark returned it, grin broadening.
Seeing her part in the conversation just about wrapped up, she quietly made her exit. "Well, I've gotta, you know." She gestured behind her before walking off, not quite sure of what just happened back there, except that if they were this happy now, she had at least done something right for once. She'd had to apologize for numerous rumors in the past- but rarely ever had she been thanked for gossiping. That was a new one.
Clark's grin didn't let up. He turned back to Lois. "So, now that that's out of the way, anything else I missed?"
Lois smiled sadly. "I get the feeling that's not all the guff we're gonna get from this issue. I don't know who it'll be worse for, you or me."
Clark shrugged, then quirked his lips upward once again into a grin. "Wanna place a bet?"
She arched an eyebrow at him. "You're really considering that, Smallville? You know where that could land you, right? Besides, I didn't think you gambled, all things considered," she added gesturing at him vaguely.
His head hung briefly. "I usually don't, but I'm in a good mood right now, and I figured, no harm no foul. . ."
She shook her head. "I don't think that would be a wise thing to do, on your part. Whether it's you or me who gets the worst of it, you're still going to lose."
"Why?" he seemed genuinely puzzled.
She shot him an irritated look before he got it. "Think of it this way: I'm gonna be ticked off either way as it is. If you get more problems, you lose the bet. If I get more problems, you're having to deal with a bitter Lois Lane. Either way, you lose. You should know better than that by now, Clark."
"Yeah, I should know better. I always lose arguments against you," he quipped while heading to his desk.
She smiled. "And don't you forget it! Oh, and Clark? Perry said something about you coming by his office at some point during the day- no rush or anything-"
"Which means it must be urgent. I'll go now. Wish me luck." He arched his eyebrows at her before stalking off to his boss's office. Lois chuckled after him, wondering once more how bad this could really get.
A/N: More, you ask? All in good time! Probably sooner than you might expect. Again, I pose to you: should I add a villain, or no? Please review and let me know, cause I could end it pretty soon with a nice little wrap up, or have a minor/major situation with a new villain that changes things (i.e. please no suggestions of Zod or Luthor- may be referenced, but not as the actual villain!) I already have a couple of ideas of who i would use- but again depends if you want it! And hurry- *evil villain of your choice*'s fate lies in your hands!
So Review!