The Beginning in the End

Author's Note: I would like to say thank you to the people that are still reading this story. It has taken me about two years to finish but it is finally done. I ended it in a way I hope ties all of the loose ends in the seven year gap of the finale. There won't be an epilogue but I do hope you will review. Thanks so much again!


Chapter 12

The moon shining the tinted windows gave everyone in the room a glow. The entire gang had reunited for the first time since Tess' arrival home. They all stood around the desk that was scattered with papers and pizza boxes.

"I love it Lois," Oliver says as he holds up the newspaper.

The headline reads MY DATE WITH SUPERMAN and underneath it was a picture of Clark in his full prime colored suit saving a woman and her newborn from a burning building. It was the first full length interview any news outlet had gotten.

"And now everyone in the world is wondering why a beat reporter snagged an interview with the latest American hero." Tess says as she twirls her chair and laughs at the irony.

Clark put his arm around Lois and smiled, "She got the exclusive."

"Oh, I am sure she does," Oliver deadpanned.

Lois hit him in the back of the head, "Get that mind out of the gutter, Queen. You'll soon be the father of my nephew and I won't have you raise him up to be the same quick lipped ladies' man that you are."

Oliver chuckled awkwardly. "Yeah, well, I am sure Chloe will be a fine mother so it will counter any damage I might inflict."

"Well she sure will be without you around messing with her heart and head." Lois snapped. She was still very bitter about the end of Oliver's relationship with Chloe. And she had yet to learn he had gotten back together with Tess.

Oliver shared a look with Tess and she had become suddenly very interested in the newspaper article. He did not want the future to be filled with sudden silences and awkward moments so he figured it was not time to face the firing squad.

He had to talk to Lois.

"Hey, Clark," Oliver started, "Why don't you take Tess upstairs to show her the information on our latest addition, Bruce Wayne. She will need to be very familiar with him now that she's leaving the Planet to cover Watchtower full time."

Clark nodded, "Yeah, why don't we go see if we can get him on voice chat. Although, he is not usually a very chatty person, the title the dark knight fits me so well."

Tess nodded. She stood up and ran a hand through her soft curls. Oliver was so mesmerized by the movement that he did not notice Lois shooting a glare with her mouth falling open in surprise.

"Yeah, I'd like to do that," Tess replied, "I talked to Perry today and he is flying in from Washington next Monday to take over. I understand that you know him well."

She stood up, made her way around the desk, and she was lost in conversation with Clark as they made their way up the stairs of Watchtower and within seconds they were out of sight and earshot.

Suddenly, Oliver felt the sting of Lois' palm connecting with his cheek.

"What the hell?"

"Yeah, I hope that hurts." Lois said as she rounded on him and pointed toward the stairs. "That red haired hussy is the reason you broke up with my cousin, your wife while she is pregnant with your child. How much lower can a guy get! Pond scum has more integrity than that."

Oliver stared at her through watery eyes.

"Lois, it's not what you think!"

Lois huffed and crossed her arms. "Of course it is. Why else is would you break up with my cousin, who is the like third most awesome person in the world!"

Oliver furrowed his eyebrows, "Third?"

Lois shrugged, "Yeah, behind me and Clark, of course."

Oliver cracked a smile and shook his head, only Lois.

But he quickly returned to the more serious matter at hand and he knew he did not have much time.

"Look, now I don't know what Chloe told you," Oliver started but Lois interrupted.

"She certainly did not tell me that you left her for another woman. Now, I know it was to save you from my wrath because that's the kind of person she is, loyal and caring."

Oliver put his hand up to massage his sour cheek. "I know that. And it's not that I don't love her, a part of me always will and I will love our child but Lois, it would have been much crueler to let her go on believing I wasn't pining for another. So when she confronted me about it, I had to spill my guts."

Lois growled a little but he continued.

"I know it sucks and I agree that I am lower than pond scum but my intention was never to hurt anyone. And when I told her everything, Lois she graciously stepped aside because she is that caring, loyal, and incredible person. Now, wouldn't you rather she get a chance to find her special guy than to let her think that guy was me."

Oliver pleaded with Lois through his gaze.

He was really hoping that she would be able to move passed her justifiable anger. He didn't deserve her forgiveness but he hoped for it because it would make this transition easier on everyone including the baby that was on the way.

Lois contemplated her next move while she chewed on her bottom lip.

Oliver's heart was pounding in his ears as Lois got a sad look on her face.

She spoke.

"The thing is Oliver; I think she already found her special guy. It was the same guy that gave her this very apartment as a wedding present and that guy is never coming back to love her again. So I just hope she's able to recover this heartbreak to find a special guy even if it's not her special guy. So I am going to let this slide but you better stay the hell away from her from now on except in matters concern my future nephew, Jonas."

Oliver nodded, "Of course."

Lois leaned against the desk sending the conversation in a casual direction. "You know she is moving to Paris, right?"

Oliver nodded, "Yeah. She got a job at a magazine over there."

"Are you okay with Jonas being so far away?"

Oliver nodded as he leaned next to her against the desk, "We agreed that she would raise him for the most part and besides, I have my own private jet. And it's only a little fuel."

Lois bumped shoulders with him, "So you and Tess, huh? She is quite the handful. Are you prepared for that?"

Oliver did not get his chance to answer the question as Tess and Clark walked up to them.

"Prepared for what?" Tess asked as she came to stand next to Lois.

Lois shrugged. "Oh, it's nothing. Just a little girl talk without the chubby hubby,"

Clark laughed. "Oliver, I always figured you had a lady's delicate charms."

Oliver nodded as the three of them burst out, "Laugh it up, guys. Laugh it up."

Only a few moments later, while still catching her breath, Tess voice broke through the moment.

"Not to crash this laugh riot but we do have some business to get down to. We have a new matter to settle."

Tess approached one of the computers and started to punch sequences into the number pad.

The three of them formed a group behind her and the screen to get a better look at what she pulled up.

They were staring at the picture of a man.

"He looks harmless." Lois commented. "Kind of like Santa, actually."

"Well he does not have toys for all the good little boys and girls of Metropolis. Guys, this is Bruno Mannheim, the leader of the organization known as Intergang. It's the largest organized crime syndicate in the city."

The group fell into a buzz of activity as the moon continued to cast a glow on the four of them.


The End of Chapter 12