There are three, count em three illustrations with this chapter. If you are interested in seeing them, they are posted on my LiveJournal - link located in my profile. This chapter had to be one of my favorite to write. I feel a bit guilty for all the tears and angst. Consider this my apology...

Bequest:
- The act of giving, leaving by will, or passing on to another.
- Something that is bequeathed; a legacy.

Bequest : Chapter Fourteen - Clarity

The fingers of the approaching dawn stretched across the sky, as Clark made his way west toward Kansas. The sounds of Lois' tear-filled breathing echoed through his sensitive ears. Her sobs had long since quieted and her heart was now beating in the slow measured rhythm of slumber.

Amidst the chaos of the events a world away, he'd heard every tremor in her voice as she'd spoken to their son. His heart had broken with hers when the words had fallen painfully from her lips. Clark had been pulling a city bus from a ditch when his son's voice had reached his ears; "Is Clark very sad?... I'll draw him a picture."

Clark had swallowed the lump in his throat and blinked back the tears that threatened to obstruct his view of the job at hand. He'd heard the sobs overtake Lois as she disconnected the call and he had ached to be with her.

Now in the silence of the night sky, he picked up speed, the desire to be home when Lois woke up paramount in his heart.

It was a mere moment later he found himself flying over the barn and slipping silently through the open window of his bedroom. The sun gave its first appearance on the horizon as he slipped into fresh clothes and made his way down the hallway toward the guestroom.

He found Shelby stationed sleepily against the door, her body stretched out in total relaxation. She lifted her head and regarded him with bleary eyes as he approached.

"At ease." Clark whispered, bending down to pat the dog affectionately.

He rose and poised his hand on the knob of the bedroom door. The door opened soundlessly as he pressed gently against it.

The early morning sunlight rose to greet him as the door inched open. Every filtered ray rushed strength to his sore muscles and energy to his weary mind. His gaze lowered from the window to the bed beneath it. There lay Lois, lost within the downy folds of the crisp white comforter, her face relaxed in sleep, her eyelashes fanned out across her cheeks.

Clark listened to the soft rhythm of her breathing and was transfixed by every rise and fall of breath. So focused was he on her sleeping form, that he miscalculated his step and his heel inadvertently found its way onto Shelby's tail.

The old dog shattered the silence of the room as she yelped, her toenails clacking loudly against the wood of the floor as she scrambled to her feet.

Clark froze and squeezed his eyes shut, his features scrunched together. He peeked through one eye and found Lois still fast asleep, her hair tumbling over the side of the pillow.

He turned his attention to Shelby who meandered her way down the hall, pausing only momentarily to cast a reproachful look over her shoulder. Clark whispered an embarrassed apology.

As he stepped into the room, his eyes were fused to Lois' face. He was lost in her beauty and the depth of his love for her. She looked so peaceful. These last few days had been hard on her as well. Clark sat gently on the edge of the bed, sinking into the welcoming softness of the mattress. His eyes took in every one of her features and with each one, he thanked God for bringing her into his life. He couldn't imagine how he could have gotten through this past week without her.

Clark marveled at the idea of no longer having secrets between them. Clark felt more than a little like the prince who'd found Sleeping Beauty. He knew when her eyes opened, they would begin to figure out how to begin this life that they'd been given and with one kiss, questions would be answered. A thrill of joy rushed through him at the prospect of seeing the sparkle in her eyes that would display the whole of their memories together.

Clark smiled gently and turned his face to the window and closed his eyes, letting the sunlight soak into his skin.

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Lois stretched luxuriously as the growing sunlight finally coaxed her out of unconsciousness. She had slept the sleep of the dead, emotionally exhausted from last night's conversation with Jason.

As she moved, her leg came into contact with a warm solid form. She reached down in an automatic response. But instead of Shelby's soft fur, her questing hand found a denim covered knee. Lois's eyes popped open to find Clark sitting beside her, the first rays of the morning sun caressing his face.

Lois' lips turned up in an unconscious response to his presence. She could get used to waking up like this.

"Hi." He said softly, brushing an errant strand of hair away from her face.

"Hi." Lois reached up and covered his hand with her own, turning her cheek into the warmth of his palm. "Are you just getting in now?" She asked, noticing the weariness in his face.

He leaned forward and planted a kiss on her forehead. "Sorry Honey, the earthquake ran late."

"Don't you need to sleep?" Lois eyes flickered with a moment of worry.

Clark's lips turned up gently. "This isn't the first night I've gone without it." His eyes lifted to the window and the sun that was even now teasing the horizon. "That's the perk of being solar-powered." He looked at her playfully from the corner of his eye.

He returned his attention back to the window, his features falling into a wistful expression. "The sun rises outside this window. When I was growing up, I used to come in here to watch it."

Lois sat up. She tugged the blankets around her and perched her chin on Clark's shoulder. He looked down at her, a gentle smile kissing his lips.

"This room has the best view in the house." His gaze held hers. Lois blushed and smiled back at him.

The sun began its glorious ascent into the sky and the pair watched in silence as the light crawled across the floor toward them. When the sun broke over the horizon, the room was saturated with light. Lois heard Clark sigh as the full splendor of the sunlight reached his face.

He looked like an angel sitting there, his eyes closed as he soaked in the energy the sunlight provided. She felt honored in a way to witness this communion, this private daily ritual that no one else on the planet would ever be privy to. Unconsciously her hand reached out in wonder to touch his cheek. She felt his gentle smile beneath her fingers and when his eyes opened, they seemed to have transferred the brilliance of the sun into their cobalt depths. The smile slowly melted from his lips and he turned to search her face. "Did you get enough sleep? You had…a difficult night." He whispered, his eyes broadcasting his sorrow.

It was Lois' turn to gaze thoughtfully out the window. "You heard."

"Yes." He whispered. "I'm sorry you had to do that alone." Clark took her hands between his, kissing the back of her hand.

Lois examined their combined hands and traced the line of their fingers with her vision. "I know" she said softly.

They leaned toward each other until their foreheads touched. Their breaths mingled in their close proximity and they found comfort for their sorrow in one another.

Lois exhaled. "You've had so much on your shoulders this week, Clark." Lois said finally. "Hard as it was, this was one thing I wanted to spare you."

Clark sighed, his hands holding hers more tightly. "You know, sometimes I make it an entire minute without thinking of her?"

At that, Lois released his hands and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, holding him close. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly, his hands tracing a lazy circle on her back.

"When you want to talk about her, I hope you know I'm here. It's the reason I came. To help." Lois laid a kiss on his shoulder.

"Thank you. You have…so much." He rested his chin on her shoulder. "It just doesn't feel real to me yet. I can still smell the last apple pie she baked. I still walk into the kitchen expecting to find her at the stove. He chuckled humorlessly. It all just seems so unreal. I guess I never prepared myself for a time without her."

"She's still with you, Clark. You have a lifetime of wonderful memories. Every time you think of or share them, she's with you. And I'm sure there are a number of stories to tell and you have someone to tell them to now. Me…Jason..."

Clark slow pulled away from her embrace. "Speaking of memories..." He looked at her with eyes full of meaning.

Realization slowly dawned on her. "Oh, no Clark…it's ok. We don't have to do that right now…" She lowered her gaze feeling somewhat selfish at the excited skip of her heartbeat.

Clark reached out and cupped her cheek. "It's okay. I want to make this right. I don't want there to be anymore unknowns between us. And one never knows when another earthquake will strike in California or a tornado in Iowa…" He offered her a small smile.

Lois fidgeted uncertainly. "Are you sure?" she asked, her eyes searching his even as she leaned into him.

Clark nodded, running his thumb over the curve of her cheek.

Lois exhaled nervously. "Okay. How does this work? What do I need to do?"

Clark bit his lip. "I haven't really done this before."

Lois' eyes widened.

Clark couldn't help but smile at her momentary panic. "Don't worry. It'll be fine." His smile faded and Clark's expression grew serious. "Close your eyes." He whispered.

Lois did as she was told and tilted her face up toward his.

Clark's lips descended on hers and Lois was lost in the sensation. His lips were soft against hers, brushing gently at first and then with increasing intent. There was a warm burst of air against her face as he exhaled a sigh of bliss. She answered with a sigh of her own and wrapped her arms around his neck, drawing him ever closer.

When the first memory was born into her consciousness, she jumped in surprise. Clark held her closer to him, acting as her anchor, as the sea of memories crashed over her.

Lois did as she was told and tilted her face up toward his.

Clark's lips descended on hers and Lois was lost in the sensation. His lips were soft against hers, brushing gently at first and then with increasing intent. There was a warm burst of air against her face as he exhaled a sigh of bliss. She answered with a sigh of her own and wrapped her arms around his neck, drawing him ever closer.

When the first memory was born into her consciousness, she jumped in surprise. Clark held her closer to him, acting as her anchor, as the sea of memories crashed over her.

First, there was a flash of their flight to Niagara Falls. The emotions of the moment rushed through her, primarily annoyance with being stuck on a fluff piece with of all people, Clark Kent. She remembered him sitting so innocently in the seat beside her, unaware of her frustration at the niggling suspicions in her mind that he could have gotten them a much cheaper flight. One with tights.

She felt Clark's smile as his lips swayed and slanted against hers. He was reliving her memories with her she realized in wonder. She returned his smile and chuckled at the absurdity of Superman flying coach.

A parade of images blurred past her mind's eye; Clark nervously holding her hand as they walked beside the Falls, her hair-brained attempt to force a confession out of the man who made Fort Knox look like a cake-walk, by jumping into the freezing river.

Clark's chest rumbled with laughter as they poured over the image of him pulling her out of the river and subsequently falling in himself.

Clark's lips grew softer, almost reverent as her revelation of his identity was displayed before them. Lois' fingers tightened around his shoulders, gathering the cloth of his shirt into her balled fists as the memory of their time spent in his fortress flowed languidly through her mind.

Lois found herself reveling in his kiss, her skin alive with sensation, his lips literally burning against hers. At the same time, she struggled to breathe, as wave after wave of sensory information flooded her. Lois' heartbeat thundered in her ears as she recalled every moment, every whispered word, and finally, every caress. She was besieged by an army of emotions that had been locked away in Clark's heart for all these years. She felt his love for her so strongly she was nearly overcome.

All too soon her memories darkened and there was an array of feeling ranging from helplessness to fury, accompanied by horrifying images as they found themselves once again at Zod's mercy. Lois' heart pounded against her chest as she relived her fear of Clark's defeat and gloried in his decisive and clever victory.

Suddenly they were in the copy room of the Daily Planet and Lois' heart broke anew as she read the pain in Clark's eyes, coupled with the self-sacrificing determination to stop the cause of her pain. In her mind's eye he took her in his arms, his sorrowful eyes filling her view…

All at once the memories ceased. Clark was silent and still against her, his breath coming warm and labored against her cheek.

When at last she opened eyes the tears that had been collecting behind her closed lids found release down her face. Her tearful gaze met with Clark's and she was surprised to see his eyes shining as well. Lois' eyes were wide with amazement, with knowledge. She held his hand so tightly that her knuckles were white with strain.

She released his hand from hers and reached out, her fingers touching his lips. His lips rose to meet her fingers with equal force, pressing a kiss against her finger tips. As her fingers slid over to touch his cheek, Clark reached up and wrapped his long fingers gently around her wrist. She eyed him quizzically for a moment before his lips found the sensitive skin in the center of her palm. He nuzzled his cheek against her fingers, his lips thoroughly kissing every knuckle as it passed.

Their gazes locked, their shared knowledge fusing them together, mind, body, and soul. He dropped one last kiss on the pulse point of her wrist before letting her hand slip gently from his.

He regarded her with trepidation, waiting for reaction to what had just occurred between them.

She pressed her fingers against her lips and closed her eyes, awash in the moment's revelation. Finally, she opened her mouth to speak. "I may have forgiven you too quickly." Lois peeked at him from behind her lashes, a small impish smile playing across her lips.

A look of worry flitted across his features and then broke into a grin in response to her smile.

Lois' smile dimmed as she leaned against him, safe in the circle of his arms. "Oh Clark… I can't believe you carried all of that alone for so long." She exhaled softly, snuggling closer to him.

"I would do it again to spare you the pain…"

"You better not. I appreciate the gesture and the sentiment, but if I find out you clocked me with another lip whammy you'll be on the business end of a hissy fit."

Her whole body bounced as Clark burst out laughing. "We can't have that…"

Lois was quiet for a moment, her mind whirling with new information and questions. She smiled at the thought of spending the rest of her life finding the answers to them.

"So…this 'hearing across the world' thing isn't an every day occurrence is it? Will I need to order birthday presents in Morse code?"

Clark grinned and rolled his eyes. "I know Morse code." At her expression he added quickly, "But no. My hearing is selective and I respect your privacy." A playful expression colored his face. "I do have something I never stop listening to."

Lois tilted her head in question.

"This." Clark touched his hand lightly to her chest, just above her heart. "Sometimes when I'm alone, I tune everything out and I let everything else fall away but that sound. I hear your heartbeat, slow and even, and I know that somewhere you're asleep, peaceful, and safe. And other times if I manage to smile at you just right, I hear it skip." Both of them smiled as her heart did that very thing. "Most of all, I like how it beats faster when I come into the room."

Lois' eyes narrowed even as she grinned. "So now you know all my secrets too?"

Clark grinned and pulled her onto his lap. He took her hand and covering it with his, placed it over his heart. Lois felt its strong steady beat beneath her fingertips. Lois' gaze traveled from their hands to his face. They smiled as one when their lips met and his heartbeat skipped beneath her fingers.

She settled into his embrace and they sat that way for a long time, totally comfortable, relaxed. Together, they watched the day begin outside the window. Lois was swept away with the beauty of it when Clark chuckled quietly.

Lois tilted her head to look into his face. "What is it?"

Clark's chuckle evolved into a melodious laugh. "I have to say I'm glad my hearing is so sensitive, because you my darling, could sleep through an atom bomb!"

Lois picked up a pillow and whacked him with it. "The perks of being a city girl." Her eyes widened. "City…Omigosh! Richard and Jason! We have to get them from the air strip! Richard is landing the plane at 7:30!"

"I know…" Clark said matter-of-factly. "They're running late though."

"How did -" Lois ran a hand through her hair. "Never mind. 'You heard, you heard.' I need to remember I'm in love with a man who can hear everything. Pretty soon you'll be listening in on my thoughts!"

Clark's chest vibrated with laughter. "If only. It would save me so much trouble." He grinned down at her, his eyes sparkling. He leaned forward and nuzzled her neck with his nose. "Did you say…love?"

Lois' face broke forth into a smile. "See this is one of those things you'd already know if you could read my mind." She wrapped her arms around his neck and brought his lips to hers. This was a kiss of love in its purest form, a kiss of promise and commitment. Finally, there was nothing between them any longer but the love they shared. Lois groaned as she pulled away from him. "Now, scoot." She said breathlessly, holding her and against her flushed cheek. "I have to get dressed. Give me five minutes."

Fifteen minutes later Lois descended the stairs, and Clark stood near the front door, keys in hand. He bit the inside of his lip trying and failing to conceal his amused smile.

Lois made a face at him as she brushed past him and stepped out onto the porch.