XYK

Chapter 29 – Figure of 8

Laughing, Lex helped Lois out of the Limo and held her hand as he escorted her to the front of her building. Dinner had been great. They'd talked Art, Politics, fashion and travel. Lex had been the perfect gentleman over a dinner that should have ended hours ago.

"Thank You for a lovely evening."Lois smiled up at Lex.

"I was hoping you'd invite me up for a coffee."Lex whispered in her ear.

Lois feigned shock. " I don't know what you've heard mister, but I'm a lady."

The two shared a friendly giggle.

"Lex,I'm just coming out of a marriage and I've got a Baby and my sister up there."

"I know." Lex gently kissed Lois's hand."I'm prepared to wait. I'm here if you need me." Lois smiled a genuine smile. Lex had been incredibly kind to her, he had thrown her a life line when she most needed it and she was touched. She could still see why her younger self had once been infatuated with him. Lex Luthor knew how to turn on the charm. The only trouble was that Lois wasn't 21 anymore and her heart still beat for the man that let her go. The man she had let go in return.

Holding on to Lex's hand Lois couldn't help but notice how smooth and soft they were, unlike Clarks that were hardened and slightly rough from years of manual labour on the farm. Hands that were capable of incredible softness, hands that sent electricity shooting up her spine with one single touch.

"I should go ,it's late." Lois kissed Lex softly on the cheek "Some of us have work in the morning."

Lex playfully clutched his chest. He wistfully watched as Lois headed inside. "I'll call you."

Lois opened her front door and went inside. The lights were dimmed and she could hear the faint sound of the TV in the background.

Entering the living room Lois saw Lucy fast asleep,curled into a ball in her plush venetian made smiled and slipped off her shoes, a man's figure caught her by surprise,she looked a little to Lois's surprise it was -Clark! Unexpectedly ,Clark was comfortably lying on her couch.

Sprawled across Clark's chest was 's chubby cheek was mushed against Clark's pectoral muscle. Clarks huge hand was protectively placed on Durga's tiny frame and they were both sound asleep.

Lois stood mesmerized. A tentative smile rose to her lips just watching the man she still loved cradling her child. Something inside her melted, at that precise moment Lois would have given anything to have been able to snuggle up besides them and fall asleep. Instead she unconsciously put her hand over her still flat stomach, as the reality of their situation hit home . She knew she had to wake them but she'd leave it for a few more minutes and immerse herself in the 'what ifs'.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

Lex got into the Limo and told his driver to take him he watched the city submerge itself in night time, he thought of Lois Lane -the one thing he wanted but had so far remained had decided then and there to step up his loved a challenge and more often than not he had proven to be the wouldn't be content until Lois Lane was in his bed,right where he wanted her.

" music to accompany your journey?" asked Wilfred the driver,knocking Lex out of his thoughts.

"Certainly." Lex smiled as Beethoven filled the limo.

Beep Beep

Lex looked down at the caller ID on his phone and sighed."I thought I told you to never ring this number." Lex leant forward and clicked the switch to raise the electric partition between he and his driver.

"Where's our money?" asked the brutish voice from the other end.

Lex picked an imaginary speck of dust from his expensive suit,"From what I hear there are three properties to go."

"You promised us 8 million big ones!" asserted the voice.

"Yes,and you'll get your money once this job's complete."

Lex could hear a muffled sound in the background,as though the rent-a-thug was consulting with his team, "Well,we need more incentive.",said the brute.

"I'll transfer $2 million into the account tonight. The rest at the end of the job. Agreed?"

"Agreed" The voice said.

"And don't ever call this phone again.", content,Lex put his cell phone down,and closed his eyes and let the symphony wash over him.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

Durga began to stir. Lois moved and crossed the living room, kneeling down besides Clark and Durga, She gently hummed and rubbed Durga's back. Clark who was still asleep subconsciously did the same thing. Lois and Clarks hands locked. Clark slowly opened his eyes only to be met by Lois's hazel eyes staring at him intently.

"Hey." Clark said quietly, his voice weighed down by sleep.

"Hey yourself..." Lois smiled "You looked so comfortable. I didn't want to wake you."Lois said in a half whisper, all too aware of the fact that they were holding hands over Durga's back.

"Yeah.."Clark looked down at the sleeping baby on his chest. "I hadn't meant to stay this long. She's kind of addictive."

Lois gave a small chuckle "You're a natural."Lois stared down at Clark who was all sleepy and warm, their eyes locked.

Clark smiled up at Lois,she was radiant, he suddenly felt compelled to kiss her. He wanted to kiss her.

"Hey Lo!" Lucy yawned and rubbed her eyes "You're back."

The spell was reclaimed her hand as if she'd been scolded and stood up,"It's late."

Clark got up and handed Durga over to Lois, "So it is.I should go."

"Bye,Clark."Lucy waved from her still holding Durga followed Clark to the Front door.

Clark put on his coat,"I'd like to talk to you tomorrow, if that's alright."

Lois could sense something ominous in his tone of voice. "Umm,sure.I'll be home all evening. Just drop by."

Clark nodded and left closing the door behind him. Lois couldn't help but wonder. He couldn't possibly know about her secret could he? Martha wouldn't tell him, would she? Or maybe he sensed it....a multitude of thoughts ran through Lois's mind.

Lucy unwound her limbs and stretched. She yawned "Good night?"

Lois nodded "Yeah,I had fun." She went into her bedroom and placed Durga in her cradle. "What was Clark doing here?"

"Oh , he just stopped by to see the baby,I guess." Lucy switched off the television set " and we had a lot of catching up to do."

"What did you talk about?"Lois asked,biting her lip.

"Oh,you know..this ,that and the other...It was all very illuminating."Lucy stood in Lois's bedroom doorway."Ok.I'm gonna hit the sack."

"Nite,babe."Lois said, as her and Lucy exchanged kisses and hugs.

Lucy started to leave the room but stopped and turned back around to face her sister "You have a glow about you."

Lois looked up at her sister, unsure of what to say ,"I do?" she managed to stutter.

"Yep.I didn't notice it before."Lucy smiled and shrugged, "Well...Goodnight."

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

The next day:

"I've come to talk to you about Lex Luthor." Clark said ,taking a seat opposite Lois.

Lois had been totally unprepared for that had expected a pro-termination had spent most of the night tossing and turning, mentally preparing for the inevitable battle that would result from the knowledge of her pregnancy. But now that the hour had presented itself and Clark wanted to talk about lex Luthor, Lois was stunned...and then relieved that he didn't seem to know, and then incredibly pissed off.Here we go again,she thought to herself.

Clark relayed everything he'd found out thus far. From the fires to the properties and the bids made on Lois remained nonplussed by the whole thing. "Do you hear yourself, Clark ?I mean really."

Clark stopped talking and sat in disbelief at Lois's mocking tone. "Of course I hear myself."

"Lex Luthor is a lot of things but a cold hearted murderer, I doubt it!" Lois scoffed "Lex is a philanthropist; he gives millions away every year to deserving causes. He's been awarded the model business person award five years running and.."

"Wow, you really are brainwashed ...what happened to you Lois?"Clark cut in " You used to be an investigative reporter, the best this city has ever seen and now you're just.."

"I'm just what!?"Lois shot back, her tone challenging him to finish his sentence.

Clark shook his head in disgust.

"Are you sure that this isn't some sort of misplaced vendetta against the man you can't stand?

"You think I'm being spiteful and malicious?"

"Just calling it like I see it." Lois shrugged, the expression on her face completely unyielding.

"Stop being so blind,Lois!" Clark groaned in frustration.

Lois stood up,outraged "Blind?I'm not the one allowing my jealousy to overrule my ethics!"

"You think this is jealousy!?" Clark stood up too.

Lois stood in front of him"Yes.I think you're jealous."

"You think I'm jealous?"Clark snarled

"Yes.I think you are!" Lois snarled right back, poking her index finger into his chest "You can't stand the fact that Lex Luthor saved me!"

Lois took a step forward, forcing Clark to take a step backwards.

"You can't stand the fact that he's given me my life back!"Lois continued prodding and stepping forward "You can't stand the fact that I'm happy."

Clark clenched his teeth.

"You can't stand the fact that Lex Luthor is the one making me happy!" Lois exclaimed

That was the last straw. Clark could feel his anger boiling and bubbling to the surface.

"No,Lois" Clark spat, standing his ground. "What I can't stand is the fact that you seem to have undergone a lobotomy."

Lois gasped.

"What I can't stand is that you'd defend a criminal, despite all the evidence against him!" Clark growled, stepping forward reclaiming the power and forcing Lois to take steps back.

"What I can't stand ..."Clark snarled so low and forcefully, it actually made the hairs on the back of Lois's neck stand up "..is that you actually think that you're happy. You're nowhere in the vicinity."

Lois gasped as she hit the wall, there was nowhere left to go. There was little more than an inch between them. Lois could hear her heartbeat reverberating in her ears. They were so close they were sharing the same breath. The tension was palpable. Lois licked her dry lips,forcing Clark's steel gaze to trail from her eyes down to her full moist lips .There was a silent intensity that had settled between them. Their eyes full of anger, but there was a flicker...passion?maybe,Lois thought in passing. She was certain Clark was going to kiss her and if he did she was certain that she wouldn't have been able to resist.

RING RING

The sound of Lois's cell phone broke the moment .Lois extricated herself and slid around Clark to the other side of the room where her cell phone resided.

Still fuming and shooting daggers at Clark, Lois picked up her mobile phone.

"Hi, is Keisha Sharp."

Lois exhaled to deflect her anger and turned away from Clark,"Oh,Hi Keisha. How can I help you?"

"I don't know how to tell you this but .."Keisha took a deep breath "...We've found a man we believe to be Baby Durga's biological father."

Stunned ,Lois put the phone down.

TBC.