CHAPTER 14:

Lois had never been a great fan of these types of events, but had to admit this one was for a good cause so she was going to make a huge effort to have fun. Looking at the members of their group she was relieved to have made the effort to buy this dress as she certainly didn't look out of place with Lana and Dinah's ensembles.

Lex and Lana had gotten married four years ago and Lois for one could not believe the change in Lex. He seemed to have changed his approach to so many things and didn't consider every comment to be the starter for a challenge or game. Lois knew that LexCorp had been involved in very unsavory incidents, not the least being genetic experiments, but after his marriage and birth of their first child, Lex had been very public in the removal of all aspects of improprietary from LexCorp. Even Lois would say that LexCorp was now a respectable multi-national company, though she would never be naïve enough to not know that all major businesses have unsavory aspects to them.

After her short "fling", there was no way she was giving it more importance than that, with Oliver, he had met Dinah in Star City. Lois always called her the 'blonde bombshell' as there was something explosive about her. Oliver certainly followed around Dinah and Lois knew exactly who the boss in that family was. "Maybe that was why Oliver seemed so attractive to me," she thought, "he would have done whatever I wanted." Knowing that she would have been bored out of her brain with such a non-challenging partner she laughed listening to one of Bruce's jokes.

Bruce Wayne was Bruce Wayne, rich, gorgeous, big, successful, funny and he made her laugh. There was a lot about Bruce that she didn't know but she never pushed. He could be dark and moody but if she was honest with herself she didn't want to dig too deep and she wasn't that interested in getting him out of his moods. For now, at this stage in her life, the relationship was fun, uncomplicated, and had mutually beneficial terms. She was a partner when Bruce needed one and he was there when she needed to offload to someone. "And the sex is amazing," she reminded herself as he came up and put his hand on her back and kissed her neck.

"Penny for your thoughts or should I just pay you later," he whispered in her ear.

"Sexy, you can pay me later and that's worth way more than a penny," she flirted back with him and laughed out loud as she turned back to the group conversation.

"Look Lex, there they are," said Lana as she waved to Martha, Lionel, Chloe, Jimmy and Clark. Martha waved back as her group started to walk across the floor towards them.

Lois looked up and felt her familiar reaction to seeing Clark. He was seriously gorgeous in a tuxedo and he made her heart beat faster and she felt the butterflies dancing. When she caught his eyes looking into hers, she suddenly felt quite faint. 'Lane, you are going to have to face up to this soon, because being around Clark is pleasure and pain, you are going to have to look at these feelings,' she snorted to herself, 'yeah right, Clark is just going to dig that Lois Lane is into him.'

"Who is the tall man, next to Senator Kent?" asked Dinah Queen in a seriously husky voice.

"That's just Clark," answered Oliver in a slightly pissed-off tone, "She is Senator Kent's son."

"Yes, that's Clark, the teenage heartthrob of Smallville," joked Lana.

Lois was a bit taken back at the tone of their comments but chose to ignore them as they arrived and introduction were conducted across the group.

"So, Clark what's been happening in your life? Lana asked as she took a hold of Lex's hand "It's been like 5 years since most of us saw you."

"Well, after leaving Smallville, I spent a couple of years wandering, meeting different people," Clark glanced at Bruce "and getting an education from different cultures and their views on life. After that I decided to continue seeing the world, but decided to make a living being a freelance reporter and writer until I received an email from Perry White at the Daily Planet who asked if I wanted a job. I thought about that and decided to come back home and to be more settled. Now I am Lois's partner at the Daily Planet." Clark replied calmly.

"Are you still bringing lilies and poems to girls doors?" Oliver asked with a slight smirk on his face.

"No," Clark replied with a smile on his face.

"What's this? What is he talking about Lilies and poems, Clark, you didn't bring me Lilies and you certainly never wrote me a poem?" Lana laughing asked.

"Well you see, back when Clark was all yes ma, no pa, farm boy like and was the plaid king," Oliver replied, "Clark came to visit Lois when I was there, and no my dear I am not telling you what I was doing at Lois's, we found a bunch of lilies and a poem by the door left there by Clark. We had a good laugh at that didn't we Lois?"

"You did, I didn't find it funny at all", snapped Lois.

"I know what you mean Lois," Lana piped in, "after I found out that Clark had been spying on me with his telescope for years I was kind of freaked out and it certainly wasn't funny. Being liked by Clark back then was the most dangerous part of living in Smallville."

Everybody who had been part of that upbringing and knew the dangers of living in Smallville burst out laughing, but both Lois and Chloe could see that Clark wasn't finding the teasing of him to be that amusing.

"Well things have changed a lot since then," smiled Clark "now if you will all excuse me I have a couple I promised to catch up with early tonight so I will see you all later." Looking at Lois, who got the distinct impression she had disappointed him, Clark walked away towards an elderly couple sitting down in the corner.

"What was all that about Oliver?" snapped Lois as she spun to face him, "Why would you bring that up, you know that's hurtful to Clark."

"Oh come on Lois, you know it was funny and as you are quite aware Clark is a big boy and he can handle it."

Before she could continue the argument she felt Bruce's hand on her arm and looking up at him she noticed him barely shake his head, she acquiesced knowing that this was not the night to bring up her anger with Oliver. Once the conversation started up again, Chloe made her way over to Lois, after seeing the look on Clark's face when they walked in Chloe was now ready to investigate what was going on between the two of them.

"Lois, that's an amazing dress, you look sensational."

"This old thing, it was something I found in the back of the closet."

"Liar that must have cost Brucey boy a fortune."

"Are you saying I am not worth it" Lois smirked. "What's on your devious mind Chloe, there is no way you are going to be admiring my dress without an ulterior motive?"

"How's Clark?"

"Why?"

"What do you mean why? I am just asking how he is?"

"No you aren't, you want to find something about Clark. Just ask me Chloe and I will decide if I am going to tell you or not. What do you want to know about Clark?"

"um . . .is he dating anyone?"

"No, and you are not seriously trying to find out if Clark is involved with anyone. For pete's sake Chloe he came to a ball by himself, what does that tell you."

"Ok, Ok, how do you feel about Clark?" Chloe bluntly asked.

"We are friends, partners and confidants as you are well aware Chloe"

"No Lois, I mean how do you feel about him, do you love him?"

"Chloe, that is none of your business but the answer is no and if you have forgotten I am dating Bruce" Lois replied throwing a glance over her shoulder to where Clark was sitting but stopped talking as she saw Clark looking straight at her as though he had heard what she had said saying and there was no emotion on his face at all.