Chapter Twenty Seven
"Come on Smallville what's taking so long?" Lois huffed as she sat on the edge of his desk and glanced at his computer screen.
"Lois, I have just had to type basically the entire article myself because you can't or won't do it and I need to have it done now since it is Friday and Perry will have us working all weekend if I don't, so will you give me a break here?" He said in a frustrated tone.
She glared at him with one eyebrow raised. He knew what she was doing; she was trying to make everything seem normal for him. This morning he'd returned to her at work completely drained. He had heard a cry for help but when he arrived he found that he had been too late to do anything.
A young woman had lost control of her car on the highway and crashed into the metal barrier head on. She had been killed on impact. There was nothing he could do. But it didn't stop him feeling guilty about not getting there in time.
Lois had been supportive and he'd needed her more than anything else at that moment. Just her presence calmed him down and made him see sense that he couldn't be everywhere at once. Even though he wished differently.
"Where would you like it?" She asked and he looked up to see her smiling.
He couldn't help but smile back as she leaned down to give him a quick kiss on the lips and then returned to her own desk. He watched her for a moment before returning to his task. It was almost done, he just had to save it and print.
While he was waiting for that he got up and walked over to Lois who was now standing by the window, looking out at the Metropolis skyline. He wrapped his arms around her waist from behind and leaned his chin on her shoulder. She sighed contentedly and leaned back against him, resting her hands on his.
A month had passed since they had decided to start dating again and he had never been happier than he was right now. Everything just seemed so perfect. He was still making headlines across the globe as Superman as he continued helping people in need; he had a wonderful daughter, good friends, a loving mother, and the thing he wanted most. The woman now in his arms.
He knew that he had been extremely lucky that the people in his life had welcomed him back so easily and he knew that it was because of Lois. She had fought in his corner and defended him even though her own heart had been broken. She never gave up on him, he would never forget that, and he would be forever grateful for her dedication.
They had been on five 'official' dates over the past few weeks and they were closer than ever. Their working days were filled with an air of electricity and the banter he had always enjoyed participating in. He learned more about her life since he had left and she had learned more about his time away.
He was spending as much time as possible with Ellie and they had actually formed a bond of sorts, he had taken her out flying to make up for Lana interrupting their day and she had loved it so much she wanted to do it all the time. But he had to put a limit on it so that they wouldn't arouse suspicion, which disappointed her but she seemed to understand.
He looked down at Lois and found himself wondering if he would ever know everything about her, it seemed that every day she found a new way to surprise him. Sometimes he felt as if he knew every little detail, then others he thought she was a complete enigma.
But as he returned home to an empty apartment every night, he knew that he wanted to spend the rest of his life finding all those little things out.
"So are we still on for tonight?" He asked.
"Absolutely. Is your mom still okay with having Ellie for the night?"
"She's looking forward to it. I was thinking, instead of going out for dinner, how about I cook us a meal at my place?" She turned in his arms and placed her hands on his chest. His muscles twitched under her touch.
"Your place?" She asked with a grin. "Too cheap to take me out now Smallville?" She chuckled as she pushed his glasses up on his nose with one finger.
"Lo you know that there is nothing more I would love to do then spoil you but I just wanted to spend some time with you…on our own. You know? Away from the crowds for a change."
"I'd love that Clark." She said seriously, reaching up for a kiss.
"Okay so how about seven? That good for you?"
"Seven it is." She said heading back over to her desk. "Oh and Clark?" She said without turning. He shook his head away from the rampant thoughts he was having from staring at her backside and looked up.
"Hmm?"
"The printer's done." She commented, knowing exactly where his eyes were as she leaned over her desk to reach something. He blushed a little and walked over to the printer to retrieve the finished article, hearing Lois' chuckle behind him as he left the office to take it to Perry.
He awoke to darkness again. He couldn't speak. He could only think. He had to get out of here but he didn't know where 'here' was exactly. The fog in his mind had dissipated a little over the last few days but every time he woke up it was dark.
It would eventually pass to a series of grey swirls and then slowly, his vision would return. Blurry but there none the less. How long were they going to keep him here? He heard the same voices everyday, their faces obscured by their hazmat suits, telling him what they were trying to do.
They said they were trying to help him but he didn't really believe that. They were studying him. But every once in a while he would hear a sweet voice. Though sometimes that voice was less then sweet when she was addressing the doctors. He never saw the face that belonged to it and he found himself wanting to. She sounded intriguing.
He slowly lifted his hands and pressed on his temples, this was the worst part, when his vision started to return. The headaches were so forceful that he had to literally press hard on his temples to try and relieve the pressure. It felt like there was something growing inside his head.
He had heard the doctors saying it was some kind of tumour but unlike any they had ever seen. What did that mean? Did it mean he was going to die? And why did he feel so different? For the first time since waking up in this place, he slowly stood up, leaning on the edge of the bed for support.
He very carefully made his way over to the little sink in the corner and looked in the mirror above it. For a moment he thought that his tumour must be causing some visual problem because it looked like he had green skin.
But when he looked down at his hands, he started trembling. His skin was green, bright green like the colour of those stupid rocks they had been experimenting with. What had happened to him?
As he gazed back at his reflection he became angry. Very angry. They had done this to him. He was now a freak because of them. He had to get out of here before they killed him or worse, turned him into another one of their science projects.
He looked around the room; there was only a bed with a bunch of monitors surrounding it and the sink he was standing in front of. He flexed his muscles, testing how much strength he had, and then he lifted up one of the monitors and threw it through the big 'mirror' which he knew was one way glass.
They'd been watching him for weeks and until now he hadn't been able to fight them. But he'd had enough of being their guinea pig. He stepped over the wall, his feet crunching on the broken glass, as an alarm sounded over his head and a red light started flashing.
He heard the sounds of hurried footsteps as he ran down the long, dark corridor. As he came to the end he was greeted by two guards armed with guns and a man who appeared to be a doctor behind them.
"Now take it easy son, no one's gonna hurt you." The doctor said.
We need to control this and fast. How the hell did he get out?
He frowned, what was that?
"Get out of my way." He said with a growl.
"Let's just calm down."
Maybe we can sedate him. But this is impossible; he was practically comatose.
Okay now he definitely heard that. Where was it coming from, no one was speaking to him.
Man I really hope I get to plug him.
He looked at the guard who was eyeing him sadistically.
Was he reading their thoughts? That was crazy. Well he guessed it was no crazier then having green skin.
"Get. Out. Of. My. Way." He said again with a little more control.
The doctor nodded to one of the guards and he stepped forward, aiming to take him down. Before he knew what was happening, he'd grabbed the gun and head butted the guard who fell back unconscious on the floor. He waited for the pain to hit him but none came. He felt fine.
Next he grabbed the other guard by the throat and threw him down the long corridor, he banged into the wall and was out like a light. The doctor raised his hands and backed away slowly.
"Easy now. We can talk about this. I can help you."
Oh I'm so screwed when she finds out about this.
He smiled, enjoying the doctor's discomfort at the situation.
"You can't help me. I won't be a lab rat any longer!" He shouted and with a sudden burst of rage he grabbed the doctor and wrapped his hands around his neck. The doctor struggled against him but he realised that he was stronger than he thought.
He could feel it coursing through his veins. The rage was overpowering, clouding his mind and as he looked into the doctor's eyes he saw fear. And he liked it.
He took a few slow steps, looking back at the doctor who was now lying on the floor, dead, and walked out, a smile playing at his lips. He knew exactly where he wanted to go next.
Why tonight? Couldn't they give him a break for one night? Lois wondered as she sat on the couch in Clark's apartment. Their meal had been interrupted by a call for help and he had taken off with a promise that he would be back soon.
That had been half an hour ago. It had all been going so well up to that point. He had gone all out and made them a delicious meal and they sat in a comfortable silence as they ate. He looked so handsome tonight; he'd really made an effort.
It reminded her of their very first date. How nervous he'd been and how gorgeous he'd looked in that suit. And especially how adorable he'd been wearing a tie to impress her when she knew that he hated wearing the things. He hadn't worn one tonight, just a simple pale blue shirt and black pants.
And he still looked gorgeous. It was taking her all of her self restraint to keep from pouncing on him. She was the one who had told him she wanted to take things slowly, but she was beginning to think that maybe they were one of those couples who simply didn't do slow. It seemed like it was all or nothing.
She used this time to call Martha and she spoke to Ellie, who was happily busy helping grandma bake. After saying goodnight to both of them, Lois got up and took a look around Clark's apartment.
She didn't want to be nosy but she was so curious about the way he lived now. Everything was so neat and tidy and clean and it had an almost sterile feel to it. There were no pictures hanging on the walls or on any shelves, there were no personal items at all really. She realised sadly that he probably only spent enough time here to sleep. The rest of his time would be spent at work, or out helping people or with her and Ellie.
It seemed like a very lonely apartment and she couldn't bare the thought of him living like that. She took a quick look around his bedroom, seeing what the view was like out the window but as she turned to leave she noticed a picture frame on his bedside table. She picked it up and smiled down at it.
It was a picture of her and Clark together. He was sitting down on the bench on the porch and she stood behind him, leaning down with her arms around his shoulders. His hands were holding hers and their fingers were entwined.
She was looking at the camera but her face was turned towards Clark's as she placed a kiss on his cheek. She remembered the day it was taken like it was only yesterday; Martha had taken it. She had been taking photos of pretty much everything, something she had picked up since Jonathan had died.
She said that she wanted as many memories surrounding her as possible. She smoothed her palm over the glass and frowned, it was five years ago. Before he left, before Ellie, before her life and his had changed forever.
"That's my favourite picture." She heard him say softly and she turned to see him leaning against the doorframe. He was wearing his normal clothes again minus his glasses.
It was still a breathtaking sight to see him transform into his Superman suit and take off into the air. That was something she thought she would never get used to. And she did have to admit that it was hot. But seeing him looking at her like he was now was doing things to her that she hadn't felt in years.
"It's all ragged around the edges and creased?" She said, her brow furrowing as she looked at it again. He came towards her, hands in his pockets and her throat went dry. He was so gorgeous. His presence seemed to fill the room.
"That's because wherever I went, it came with me." He sighed longingly as he looked down at the photo.
"You kept it all that time?"
"Yep. That was the picture I woke up to and fell asleep looking at every single day." She looked up into his eyes and he smiled lovingly at her. "It kept you with me." He said, his voice barely a whisper as he moved closer to her.
The tension was building between them and she had to take a step back but as she did her legs bumped into the bed and she suddenly remembered where they were.
"Um…that's sweet. I called your mom and Elli while you were gone." She said. He let his head drop for a second before looking up at her again.
"Are they having fun?" He asked. She felt bad but she didn't want to give him any hint that something could happen here when she wasn't sure that was what she wanted so soon.
"Yeah they were baking." She replied.
And then there was silence. She had no idea what to say to him. He reached out and took her hand, leading her back out into the living room. She sat down on the sofa but he sat on the coffee table in front of her.
"Lois I want to tell you something." He seemed so nervous; she didn't know what to do. She wanted him with every fibre of her being but she didn't want to ruin what they had now. It had taken so long just to get back to that point. She groaned inwardly, why was this so hard?
"What is it?" He took a deep breath grabbed her hands.
"Do you remember when I told you about the Kawatche caves in Smallville?"
"Yeah when you met that girl? Kyla was it?" She vaguely remembered him telling her about that.
"Yeah." He said with a little sadness. "After she died, Professor Willowbrook gave me something, something that I was to keep until I knew the time was right." She was confused now. But she stayed silent and let him continue.
"I think I fell in love with you the night I met you. It's true that most of the time we didn't see eye to eye exactly…" He smirked.
"Smallville we drove each other up the wall." She giggled.
"Yeah but in all that time I couldn't see what was staring me in the face. We were friends; good friends I like to think but then something changed and I began to see you differently. You were so fiery and vivacious and whenever I was around you I felt more…alive. You made me feel like I could do anything…be anything…yet at the same time I'd never felt more normal. I don't know how you did it or how you still do it now but I know that I love you with everything that I have. You never gave up on me and I know that hurt you badly. Both physically and emotionally…"
"Clark…" She tried to interrupt but he carried on.
"But I want you to know that I will never again do anything to hurt you. I never expected to be welcomed back after so long and definitely not so easily. I have you to thank for that. You've given me everything I ever wanted, someone to love and who loves me back. I don't feel like I'm from a different planet when I'm with you, you make me feel human. And you've given me the one thing I never thought was possible. A child of our own. I still can't get my head around that one but I love that little girl with all my heart." She touched his cheek.
"I know you do Clark, she loves you too. And so do I." That last sentence seemed to strengthen his resolve and he grasped her hands tightly in his and placed them against his chest. She could feel his heart beating so fast and she wondered what had him so agitated.
"I'm not trying to freak you out with all this Lo and I'm not trying to rush you either but I just couldn't keep it in any longer. I had to tell you all this because it was eating me up inside. I need you to know how I feel about you. You and Ellie are all I've ever wanted in life…you're my family."
She could feel tears building and she blinked to try and hold them back. This was obviously very important to him and she didn't want to stop him. He looked scared; as if she were about to tell him she wanted to break up.
He slowly reached behind him and pulled out a silver box.
"This was given to me by Professor Willowbrook to give to the woman I love. To the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with. My destiny."
He opened the box and as she looked down the tears gathered and she was powerless to fight them this time. It was a beautiful silver bracelet with a turquoise emblem in the middle of it.
"Clark, it's…" Lois didn't know what to say. It wasn't the bracelet itself it was more the gesture he was making.
"But this belonged to Kyla, I couldn't take that Clark."
"Lois you don't understand, this bracelet is of Kryptonian origin. It was found by Kyla's people and passed down. But it was always meant for me to give to my true one. The one who would be with me for the rest of my life. That person is you Lois. You're my soul mate. So this bracelet was always destined for you."
His eyes held hers for the longest time and she suddenly felt so stupid. All the little thoughts about ruining things with him and wanting to go slow seemed so silly now that he was talking about things like destiny and soul mates.
This incredible man was sitting here telling her all the things she had dreamed of hearing since the day he'd left and she honestly didn't think she had ever known a time when she felt more loved.
It wasn't just about the words; he was baring his heart and soul to her and it was almost like she could see into him, she could see that he would never hurt her, he would always love and cherish her and he would never leave her again. So why was she holding back? She no longer had the answer to that question.
"It's beautiful Clark." She let him slip it on her wrist and pulled him into a hug. As he slowly rubbed soothing circles on her back, she let the tears fall onto his shoulder. He pulled back and wiped them away with his thumbs as he caressed her cheeks.
"Hey, what's wrong?" He asked. "I swear I didn't tell you all that to rush you Lo, I just had to tell you." She placed a finger on his mouth and shook her head.
"I know that. I know that you're my destiny too Clark. I've never loved anyone the way I love you. I don't even think I really knew what real love was until I met you. You bring hope to so many people in this world Clark but I now realise that you can't do it alone. Even superheroes need someone to come home to at night, someone to take their own pain away and love them. I love you so much Clark and I want to be the one who gets to be there for you too."
His eyes slowly took in every inch of her face and he smiled as he leaned down, kissing her with such tenderness she thought her heart might break. It lasted a long time, neither one of them willing or wanting to end the kiss. But eventually Clark was the one to pull back first.
"You're shaking." He noticed and rubbed her arms up and down to generate some heat. But the second he touched her skin it felt like it was on fire.
"I'm fine." She said.
His hands lingered on her bare arms, barely touching but sending shivers down her spine right to her very toes. His touch was alluring and she wanted him so badly. She reached her own hands up and slid them over his chest, feeling her way as they made their way to his shoulders and back down again. Looking deep into his eyes, she slowly popped the top button of his shirt open. His widened a little as he took in what she was doing.
"Lois…I…"
"Sshh. No talk, just kiss me Clark."
And with that he took her into his arms and stood up, his mouth crashed down on hers as she undid more of the buttons on his shirt. He wrapped his strong arms tightly around her and lifted her up.
Without breaking the kiss he carried her into the bedroom and carefully laid her down on his bed. He stopped for a moment, staring down into her eyes and she nodded. There was no need for words; they let their bodies communicate with each other.
Lois groaned and lost herself in the ecstasy of the man before her.
++++++ To read the adult part of this chapter click on the link below:
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She was almost asleep when Clark pulled her into bed, tucked her into his side, and pulled the bedclothes over them. But even in her sleep Lois was not prepared to let him go. Curled into his body, she rested one of her hands on his leg. Not that she needed to hold him. Before he had fallen asleep Clark had thrown a possessive male leg over Lois', imprisoning her where he intended to keep her. At his side. Forever.
