Louise knocked on the Kent's front door. She didn't want to wake up Mrs. Kent but she didn't have much choice. She had thought about sleeping in the barn for tonight but it was too cold.

The light came on and Martha opened the door. "Lois, honey, what are you doing here?"

"I'm sorry for coming by this late at night but I was wondering if I could stay with you?"

"Of course," she moved a way to let her come in. "What happened? Please, tell me it had nothing to do with Lana. My son can be so pig-head--"

"It had nothing to do with Lana."

"Did you two have a fight?"

"No, it was just a bad idea to stay there."

"I can see it in your eyes. Something happened. It had to for you to leave in the middle of the night. Is it because you're getting you're memories back?"

"No."

"We can be up all night," Martha said, pouring some milk for them. "You'll get a bed when you tell me what happened."

Louise smiled and took the milk. "That's blackmail, Mrs. Kent."

"Yep and I can do it effectively. I was a politician after all. So again, what happened?"

Louise laughed, "I bet you've never blackmailed anyone a day in your life."

"Don't let the farmer's wife image fool you. I'm doing it now, aren't I? I can wheel and deal with the best of them."

"Point taken. Do you promise not to tell Clark I told you?"

"I promise."

Louise still hesitated.

"I always keep my word. I was an honest politician."

"I don't doubt it. It's just Clark and I--we, well, we kind of--sort of accidentally kissed."

"Accidentally?" Martha said with an amused smile. "Did you trip and he broke your fall with his lips?"

Louise squirmed uncomfortably and avoided looking at her. "Not exactly." She looked up and saw Martha was still smiling and she cocked her head in an annoyed manner. "It's not funny and you know what I mean when I say accidentally."

"I'm not laughing at you. I think it's good news because you're both getting closer to realizing who you actually are."

Louise realized there was no arguing with this woman. "Can I go to bed now?"

"Sure. Do you remember where Clark's room is?"

"I've never been in here before."

"We only have 2 bedrooms. Clark's is the one with the smaller bed and it still looks like a boy's room. I never made it into a sewing room like some mothers do. It makes a great guest bedroom and Jason like to see and sleep in Clark's old room."

"Good night, Mrs. Kent."

"Good night, Lois."

Louise frowned and looked back but she didn't say anything. She just kept going up the stairs.

---

Louise woke up the next morning and in the early morning light, she thought she saw Clark and her mind drifted off to an earlier time in the same room.

"Smallville, it's 5:00 a.m. in the morning," she mumbled into the pillow. "What are you doing?"

"It's a farm. There's chores to do."

"Not by me."

"I didn't say you, did I but in case you've forgotten, this is my room where my clothes are."

She opened her eyes, "Oh, man, Smallville!"

"What?"

"Put a shirt on. I've seen more than enough of you to last me a lifetime. I'd appreciate it if you didn't parade around here half naked," but she hadn't stopped looking.

"It's my house and my room. I can do what I want in it." He opened the last drawer. "And I would have had a shirt on by now if somebody hadn't put all their clothes in my dresser. Where are mine?"

"You can borrow one of my shirts and get in touch with your feminine side. I recommend one of my yellow shirts. I never see you wearing yellow."

"You wear a lot of yellow, don't you?"

"No more than you wear red and blue. A touch of yellow wouldn't look so bad on you, you know."

"Lois, I don't have time for this. Where are my clothes?"

"Somebody got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning. In the closet."

He grabbed a plaid shirt.

"Not the plaid."

He sighed and grabbed one of his solid colored shirts and left the room, making her smile. She hadn't even known him that long and she already had him under her finger.

Louise shook her head sending what she thought was another fake memory out of her mind and she put her feet on the floor. She quickly drew them back up because the floor was ice cold. She grabbed her socks and headed downstairs. She had to remember to buy some slippers, so she wouldn't have to waste time putting on socks. "Good morning, Mrs. Kent."

"Good morning, sweetheart," she said, setting a plate of breakfast food on the table.

"You didn't have to fix me anything."

"I wanted to and it would be bad manners to let you starve to death in my own home. What time do you have to go to work?"

"9:00."

"You better hurry then."

"I know."

"I left a fresh business suit for you to change into in the bathroom. It won't be a perfect fit but close enough. You'll have to do a lot of shopping."

"It's much easier when you actually have money."

"I'll lend you some and you can pay me back when you get a chance."

"I didn't mean--"

"I know but you're going to take it anyway."

"Yes, ma'am," she saluted military style.

"See a perfect military salute. You don't find that unusual?"

"Why should I?" She groaned. "Lois was a military brat, wasn't she?"

"See you know more than you think. As soon as you're sure of yourself, you need to call your dad and tell him you're alive."

"I'll try and remember--Mrs. Kent, you're confusing me."

"And your sister too."

"No offense but I can't hear you. I'm going to go look at apartments after work, so I don't know when I'll be back."

"You better hurry. I'm making a s'mores pie."

"S'mores? I love s'mores."

"I know."

"Are you bribing me into staying with your amazing cooking?"

"I might be," she smiled.

"I really have to go get ready. It's getting late."

As she was heading up the stairs, she thought she heard a dog bark, deeper and unlike Taco's annoying little yips but when she looked, Mrs. Kent was simply standing there doing dishes and there was no dog to be seen. She hoped there wasn't a dog around. It'd be just her luck. "Mrs. Kent, you didn't hear a dog bark, did you?"

"There hasn't been a dog on the farm for 10 years now. You must have imagined it."

'Great,' she thought to herself. 'Now I'm starting to hear things.'

---

"Your story is big news," Perry told her when she got to the office.

"Does everyone know the clone is me?" Louise asked.

"The public doesn't but I'm sure people around the office will. You're talking about a group of people who are paid to be observant and this is Lois' old workplace."

"If the government finds out, do you think they'll wan to run tests on me?"

"It'd be too controversial. They wouldn't risk it. If you were an alien they might take a chance but even Superman is allowed to roam the skies free."

"I suppose that's true."

"You have nothing to worry about except where your next story is coming from. I want you to dig up some more stories on Lex. I don't like him and I want his crimes exposed once and for all."

"Who doesn't? I'll get right on it," she said, starting to head out the door.

"It's nice to have you here, kid."

She smiled. "It's nice to be here."

"I'll get Jimmy to show you the ropes. Open the door for me."

Louise did and without getting up from his desk, he yelled, "Jimmy, get your butt in here!"

"Yes, sir, chief?"

"Jimmy," Perry said in a warning tone.

"I know, I know. Don't use the c word."

"Show Miss…um."

"Louise. I don't have a last name."

"Cool," Jimmy said. "Just one name like Sinbad or--"

"Jimmy, just show Miss Louise to her desk and leave out the chit chat."

"Yes, sir. This way, Miss Louise."

Louise smelled the scent of coffee and ink combined. She was sure nothing else smelled quite as good or familiar.

Jimmy began running his mouth 99 miles an hour once they were out of Perry's earshot. "Wow, Miss Louise I hope you don't mind me saying this but you look just like her. I had no idea just how much. It's neat. I read your article and it's very nice. I'm one of Clark's best friends and I was one of Miss Lane's too. I'm surprised no one told me sooner. Sometimes I feel left out of the loop. Well, here's your desk. You can put pictures or whatever kind of desk decorations you want. You've got a great desk. It's smack dab in the middle of the editor's office and the elevator, equal location. It used to belong to Lois actually. Do you know the coffee here is--"

Louise tuned him out because she spotted Clark getting off the elevator. He didn't notice her at first even though his desk was right across from hers but at last there was brief eye contact. He gave her a quick smile and then with great concentration began shuffling through papers. She could tell it was to give the illusion that he was busy and her heart fell. Their friendship had been ruined by that kiss.

"So if you ever need me to take pictures, I'm your man."

"Thanks, Jimmy. It is Jimmy, right?"

"Right and feel free to call me dummy or idiot. Lois always did when she was mad at me."

She laughed. "I'll be sure to remember that."

He gave her a big grin before he turned around to go. She could tell he was happy to have a Lois-like person at the Planet again. Lois had clearly left an empty place here that wasn't easily filled. She set down on the chair to find out how comfortable it was. It wasn't the most comfortable chair in the world but it wasn't the worst either.

Louise's mouth went dry and an inexplicable panic filled her when she saw who stepped off the elevator next. It was Lana. What happened to 'he's all yours'? Not that she had taken it seriously but they had just broken up. Lana walked right up to Clark's desk and kissed him for the whole newspaper office to see. How had they gotten back together so fast? It had to have been a record. The more Louise got to know Lana, the less she liked her. Louise watched the long kiss and felt like gagging, not to mention her heart was ready to shatter into millions of pieces. What was Clark Kent doing to her? She was stronger than this. What was Lana Lang doing? She hadn't stopped kissing him yet. Louise started to wonder if she was doing it on purpose as a way of marking her territory so to speak. At last, Lana broke the kiss and she even looked over at Louise but Louise was looking at Clark. He was giving her a guilty, apologetic look. Louise looked away angrily. If he wanted to resign himself to a life of misery, it was none of her business.

Lana ambled up to her desk. "Clark and I are getting married on Saturday."

"Oh, um…congratulations." Louise was stunned. She couldn't begin to process this or her feelings. Last night he wasn't even sure Lana really loved him for himself and he knew he didn't love Lana and most importantly he had kissed her, Louise. Then the next morning he's getting married to Lana that weekend and he didn't even tell her first, he'd let Lana do the honors.

"I'm going to have a very small bachelorette party tonight and I want you to be one of my guests."

"Me?" asked Louise, taken by surprise again. "Why me?"

"You're staying at Mrs. Kent's house and she's coming. There's no sense in leaving you out. I'll pick you both up at 8:00," she said in a fakely sweet voice and she left without asking her if she wanted to come or not.

"Why not?" Louise said in an irritated and defeated reply even though Lana wasn't there to hear. She got a strange urge to chuckle, wondering if Lana had roped Clark into marrying her in much the same manner.

TBC