Chapter 21

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Part I: Clark

Martha arrives shortly after 11 am and starts getting lunch ready.

You feel incredibly useless sitting on the couch without being able to do anything to help. When you were a child, you always wanted to help your parents, either by washing the dishes or by mowing the law.

"You always wanted to help people," your mom told you once during one of your visits home after your father was gone. "You always had it in you."

Luckily, Arthur arrives before noon and keeps you company while Martha cooks. It isn't the first time he shows up when your mom is in town and you suspect he comes over for her cooking skills rather than to visit you.

"So," Arthur begins. He's sitting on the couch across from you, all but laying back on it. Always spacious, that one. "Diana's back, huh?"

You sigh, pinching the bridge of your nose. "Yes, yes, she's back. And yes, it's for good."

He's quiet for a while before saying "I'm just looking out for you, bro. You know you're like a brother to me. When she left, a bag of dog shit had more life than you."

You guffaw. "Nice."

He smirks before turning serious again. "What I'm trying to say is that I love her too, but I worry about you more."

Arthur has always been a good friend and you can't be angry at him for worrying about you.

"I do appreciate it, man. I do. But we've talked things out. We're good now."

He shrugs. "Alright. If you say so, I believe you."

"Had it happened to you, wouldn't you take Mera back?" Arthur pauses, certainly not having expected or thought about that. "Knowing she's the only one you want to spend the rest of your life with, waking up everyday to her face, could you turn her down?"

The long haired man sighs deeply. "Fuck, bro."

You smile. "Exactly. Diana is the love of my life. I know her better than I know myself. She made a mistake, she's human. We both suffered, tried to move on, but couldn't. We talked things out and we are taking one day at a time."

Martha walks in, but doesn't interrupt you, which is just as well. She needs to hear it too.

"So I appreciate if no one," you look at your mom, "no one," you repeat, "meddles in mine and Diana's business. We are both grown ups and we can make our own decisions. Diana is the same woman we all fell in love for, so please treat her like you did before." You look back at Arthur. "Understood?" He nods and you turn to your mom. "Ma?"

"Loud and clear," she assures with a nod. "Now, if you're finished, lunch is ready."

Arthur leaps from the couch and runs to the kitchen. "Dibs!"

Sitting on the couch, with your broken leg stretched before you, you turn to your mother. "Did he really just call dibs to a guy with a broken knee?"

Martha shrugs. "That's Arthur."

.o.o.o.o.o.

Part II: Diana

June 2nd, 2015

New York City

Diana's Apartment

Upper East Side

Wine, check.

Background music, check.

Sexy lingerie, just in case, check.

One nerve wrecked female, double check.

It's been almost a month to the day that you and Clark have been dating, without a doubt the happiest 30 days of your life. He makes you feel things you've never felt before and he treats you like the only woman in the planet.

He also respects you like no one ever before, which is why, a month after meeting him, you still haven't slept together.

There had been many opportunities, several, in fact, when you were more than willing to take it to the next level, but he was the one who held back.

And you loved him for it.

Yes, the four letter word that hit you like a ton of bricks.

Truth is, you've loved him from the moment you saw him at the Gala. you were never one to believe in love at first sight or any of those shenanigans, but after meeting Kal and looking into those incredible blue eyes, you know you were a goner. When he showed up at the museum with dinner, you were a 100% positive.

But you won't say it out loud, not yet. It'd be too fast and the last thing you want it's to scare him away. So you push the feeling down, at least for now.

Your phone buzzes and you press the snooze button on the alarm. Kal should be arriving any time now so you dash to the bathroom to give the final touches to your makeup and dwell once again whether or not you are wearing the right dress.

.o.o.o.o.o.

Part III: Clark

White tulips. One of her favorites.

The lady at the flower stand told you they only bloomed in the winter and those had been imported from Holland per your request when you visited a week earlier.

You hadn't planned to give them to her today, but Diana invited you for dinner and you couldn't arrive empty handed. You would have brought flowers regardless, but you're glad you got these.

The doorman lets you in, having seen you drop Diana off several times before. Once at her floor, you knock on her door twice before the opens it with a smile on her face.

"Hey," she beams and your heart does a little dance.

Naturally, she looks breathtaking in a simple, yet elegant white dress. You have yet to see her in yoga pants and a sweatshirt but you are positive she will look just as stunning.

"Wow," you breath out, a smile of your own on your lips.

"What?" She blushes.

"Will it ever go away?"

She frowns. "Will what go away?"

"The butterflies I get in my stomach whenever i see you."

Wrapping her arms around your neck, she asks "You get those too, huh?"

"I do, yeah." You kiss softly, leaving the promise of deeper kisses for later. "You look beautiful. As always," you add once you pull away. "And these are for you."

Diana smile widens and the sight of the white tulips.

"How did you get these? It's almost summer."

You shrug nonchalantly. "You know, made some calls, people I've met along this journey we call life…" She chuckles. "I had them brought from Holland."

She stares at you, agape. "Are you serious?"

"Yeah. Gotta woo my girl."

She shakes her head as she walks up to you. "Haven't you noticed you have already wooed me, Kal?"

Kal? No one's ever called you that before. You love it.

"Still," you say, wrapping your arms around her waist, "can't risk another guy sweeping you off your feet and away from me."

She tugs gently at the hair on the back of your neck. "That will never happen. Do you understand? No one's taking me away from you."

"I don't know, you might meet a-"

Diana grabs one of your hands and places it over her chest, right over her heart. It's beating rapidly against her ribcage and yours speed up even more at that.

"Feel this? Feel how fast my heart is beating?" You nod, licking your lips. "It's how I get whenever you are near me."

You grab her other hand and place it over your own beating heart. "Thought that was only me."

Her fingers flex against your shirt, bunching up the soft fabric. She bites her lower lip as she looks at you and you know this is it. It's your moment, the moment you both have been waiting for.

"Can dinner be reheated?"

"Fuck dinner."

Later, you can't recall who reached for whom faster.

-o0o-