NOTE: Back when I was writing this, I had written out to Chapter 9, and only published to Chapter 6 then got lost on how to end it. I'm not editing it, but here's the first draft from before. Usual disclaimers.
Chapter 8 - Rival
Monday February 28, 1994
They'd spent the last two weeks when not writing follow up articles on the lost art work found, digging in searching for any link to Lex Luthor and the hidden art encave. They'd managed one date, or at least one where they'd eaten take out at her place and managed to put away the documents by 8pm to relax and watch a movie both too tired to do any more. She too had gone on a belated valentines date with Lex Luthor, and for the first time since her paper marriage back in November, spent the whole date wishing it would end so she could get home to Clark and his promised chocolate.
Now seventeen weeks pregnant, Lois found herself living in the boxy and loose clothes that she'd previously thought of her chocolate binge clothes and her new chanel channeling styles. Though, with careful posture, and the more boxy styles long as no one touched her, there was no way to know. [{NOTE, clarify before that she was not breaking out the maternity clothes, living in chocolate binge clothes}] Loose on her, she hoped these new boxy styles, and waistless styles would last long enough to get the story of a century. She'd tried on the date to get intelligence for their research, only to find no way to get into Lex's office without him.
That monday after spending the whole day lounging in sweats at Clark's place going over accounts they'd found on Lex's corporations for any clues to open their case up, they'd talked for hours discussing it, and just anything but the most important things. His identity and how they would move forward into a marriage. He'd walked her home that evening around eight insisting that she got a deep sleep before another busy week of work.
He hadn't kissed, her yet there had been a moment in the midst of salad and pizza she'd thought he meant to. Her own glowing heart that seemed to radiate through her took her by surprise. Wandering that night into her apartment she'd found that photo of him behind her medicine cabinet. Then as she hadn't for a few weeks she leaned down to kiss the photo goodnight, yet for the first time she whispered, "Goodnight Clark." Then going to sleep, so that it would be sooner that she'd see him, bringing her breakfast and tea to her desk knowing that she'd skip it just so he could bring her breakfast.
Slipping into her seat, she was startled by Perry calling for the morning massacure. She looked about the conference room, covered with copies of both the Star the rival newspaper, the newspaper that anyone of worth knew was no competition, and inferior to The Daily Planet. Her mind wandered looking at Clark across the table, wondering just what real married life with him would be like. She was suddenly startled by Perry's words. "… The Star's selling twice as many papers as the Planet, news stand and subscription. Anybody know how?"
"Bigger type, smaller words?" Lois supplied before going back to daydreaming.
"Uh-uh." Perry said. "Carpenter's got people out-hustlin' us on the streets Lois…" She zoned out briefly as she felt the baby move again. They had grown stronger, less like strange bass and more as real movement.
"Secretary Wallace is in town to sign that nuclear arms treaty with Omir. We're waiting to hear on a one-on-one." Clark said to some question of Perry's.
Fighting to look attentative, Lois bit in. "I can see them lining up at the news stands for that."
"You got something better?" Perry raised an eyebrow at her.
Lois bit her lip looking at the Chief. She wondered if her lack of being able to think of any comeback was a sign of pregnancy brain. "Nope."
"People, people." Perry looked about the whole room, taking in all the reporters crammed in. "For fifty years the Daily Planet's been the top dog in this town and the Metropolis Star's been the dirty little puppy nippin' at our heels. Now I don't mean to be an alarmist, but if we don't start getting some big stories of our own, the faces around here are going to start changing. We need a good scandal, or a crime wave or a…"
"Hotel fire!" Jimmy shouted form the police ticker.
"That'll do." Perry nodded.
"There's a woman trapped on a ledge of the Metropolitan and the fire department's ladders can't reach her.
"Clark, Lois! Shake some tail!" Perry shooed off the two as they grabbed their things and rushed out.
Almost to the elevator, Lois turned to see Clark pat his pants pockets. "I forgot my beeper!" He said quickly running back to his desk. "Go ahead, I'll catch up!"
Rolling her eyes, Lois thought, at least this was a decent excuse. This was the first opportunity she had to observe Clark in the suit since she figured it out, and with a good story to write, it would be quite worth it.
Charging through the crowd towards the scene, Lois stopped suddenly at the sight of Linda King her college friend turned rival. The blonde Bimbo here, she thought. "What are you doing here?"
"Nice to see you too, Lois. What's it been, six years since graduation? Unfortunately, you haven't changed a bit."
"Look, Linda." Lois snarled. "We're not starting that again. I'm here on business for the Daily Planet and I need to talk to Superman."
"You just missed him. He was very helpful. Not only did he save the woman at the last second, but he was nice enough to give me a quote for my story."
"Your" Lois spat. "Story?"
"Haven't you heard? I'm working for the Metropolis Star." Linda plastered on a plastic smile. "And I believe you've just been scooped."
Lois forced her hands to stay at her sides, as she pushed past Linda in the hope that Clark was not such an idiot that he left them with nothing of a story. An idiot that was what he was. And now, Linda King no doubt was here to repeat history and steel Lois's man.
"Finally there you are. You never showed, and Linda King scooped me." Lois said dragging Clark towards one of the tables in the lobby.
"Sorry, couldn't get a taxi and got on the wrong bus…" Lois rolled her eyes at his words. "So you got scooped. It happens. You just have to focus on the next story."
"Spare me the Smallville pep talk. I wasn't just scooped. A hideous part of my past has reared its ugly head." Lois scratched her nose. "Anyways, Superman gave her an exclusive quote and ignored me."
"He's not yours."
"Clark, yes he is." Lois crossed her arms in front of her breasts. "Anyways, there's no depths that Linda King won't stoop for a story… or anything else for that matter."
Clark leaned in closer to her. "Do I detect the scent of jealousy?"
Lois leaned in closer, "You detect the smell of a rat. Looking over his shoulder, she nodded. "And it just scurried in."
"Hello, Lois. I thought we could get re-acquainted." Linda breezed into the lobby. Lois didn't distain to respond. "Or not." Turning to Clark she held out her hand. "Well, hello. I'm Linda King."
"Clark Kent." Clark looked briefly at his wife. "I've heard lot about you."
"From Lois?" Linda asked moving closer to Clark. "Let me guess. No conscience. Will stoop to anything."
"See?" Lois asked.
Resting his hand on Lois to stop her grabbing her notes and fleeing. "She's kidding."
"NO I'm not." Lois held her notes close to her, watching as Linda tried to read the notes upside won scribbled on the back page. "And one more thing. Stay away from Superman." My husband, she mentally added.
Trying to leave, she found herself held there by hands of steel.
"Your personal source now?" Linda asked, turning to Clark and ignoring the struggling Lois to leave. "I'd love to talk to him again."
"Is that the reason you're here?"
"Wouldn't an introduction fall under the category of professional courtesy?"
"Sorry." Clark shrugged.
"Right good answer Clark." Lois patted him. "We really must get going Linda." She tried to pull Clark with her, only to find him unmoving.
"Don't rush off Lois." Linda smiled again. "Well, then, what should we talk about?" She stepped closer to Clark.
Stepping back a half step, Clark smiled cordially. "I read your piece on the hotel fire. Nice, work."
"Thanks." Lois gave her first genuine smile. "Surprising to hear you say that, though."
Lois rolled her eyes as Clark put his foot in his mouth, flirting in front of her, what about them trying to start their marriage as she listened to him describe some trast that just because they were competitors didn't mean they couldn't appreciate the competition. And then talking about Preston Carpenter the new owner of the Star.
"You know, he's throwing a party tonight at the Metropolis Press Club, maybe you'd like to go?" Linda asked, almost touching Clark.
Really, Lois thought, this was insufferable. Stopping trying to leave, she startled Clark by coming in next to his side. "We'd love to come Linda. So nice of you to invite us. Give us a chance to really catch up." Smiling up at Clark, in a smile she was sure would make him melt, "Come on we've got work to do, Jimmy should have those photos ready. Later Linda."
"Pleasure meeting you Linda." Clark said, following Lois toward the elevators bewildered. "What time shall I pick you up?" Clark asked in the elevators.
"Six. No make it six thirty. I might have to go shopping. I wonder what Linda will be wearing? I have to look better then her, and I'm trying to you know…" The door opened as Jimmy came on from the third floor photo lab. "Those photos all ready?" She asked.
"Yep." Jimmy nodded.
"Good, I want to look them over then I'm taking the afternoon off."
"What?"
"We're stalking out the competition on their turf. Going to a dinner and ball tonight held by Preston Carpenter."
Clark arrived at promptly six fifteen, with flowers picked up after his afterwork patrol. Who knew when he'd have time to follow up with his next patrol. "Lovely." He grinned as Lois greeted him in her bathrobe. "Definitely most beautiful woman in the room."
Lois rolled her eyes as she quickly closed the door behind him. "You're early." Marching towards the bedroom. "Well, come on, I need your help."
Clark gulped. "What?"
"I couldn't decide, anyways if there's any more formal events i need to go to I need a few more outfits for the next few months so I got two dresses. I need to know which one makes me more drop dead gorgeous."
"Either of them burgundy?"
Lois laughed. "One is. The other's black."
"Burgundy, no question." Clark said.
"Fine. Burgundy. Neither has a waist. Took me two hours to find them. Just let me change. I have to look better."
Clark moved closer nearly touching her. "You look more beautiful now then any woman I have ever seen."
"Ha." Lois said pushing him away. "Long as I look better then Linda."
"Wild guess here, but there's more to this rivalry than just who's the better reporter right?'
"Don't insult me." She pushed him away. "I need to change."
"I insulted you?" Clark asked at the door.
"There's no question who's the better reporter." Lois said as she closed her bedroom door.
She reemerged five minutes later, looking Clark thought even more beautiful still. The flowing chiffon fabric hung off her breasts, that behind the boxy jackets of late she'd been wearing he'd failed to notice had grown lately in preparation for their child. It was a short dress, showing off her legs.
Placing her lipstick into the handbag laying on the table, she raised an eyebrow at him. "Dazzling you think enough to outshine Linda?"
"Who?"
"Good answer." She took his arm, come on partner. Let's go."
They arrived to find Linda King in the center of the ball room dazzling in what Lois swore had to be designer.
"Lois, what a surprise." Linda stepped forward towards them. "You really do have him on a leash. You're his date?"
"You invited us." Lois clarified.
"I thought you two might enjoy catching up. I see Senator Wallace…"
"What happened Linda, your date stand you up?" Lois asked, forcing Clark to stay by her side.
Linda smiled. "Of course not," Turning towards the buffer tables. "Follow me, I'll introduce you. I love your dress Lois, you're so lucky. I can never wear anything off the rack."
Lois rolled her eyes as they followed Linda. "If she only knew." she mumbled.
"Linda." Linda's date said, which Lois observed was non other then Preston Carpenter himself. Addressing Lois and Clark, he put his arm around Linda. "I am at a loss for words to describe her."
"I can help there."
"Preston, I'd like you to meet Clark Kent, a reporter with the Daily Planet. And Lois Lane. His date. Clark, Lois, Preston Carpenter." Lois glared at Linda's words, would that be her future, baby mama forced to put her kids first before her career. Just known as Kent's wife, and Mrs. Lane Kent or something?
"Actually Lois and I are a reporting team." Clark took Carpenter's hand to shake.
"The Daily Planet was a fine paper in ints day. Fine paper. But things change. That's the lesson of life now, isn't it? You either make it happen, or it happens to you."
Lois forced a smile. It didn't matter, she'd be both the best mother, best what ever, and best reporter there was. Linda didn't stand a chance.
Another man came forward, "The Mayor would like to have a moment with you." He spoke softly to Carpenter.
"Please excuse me." The man said, leaving the three of them.
Watching him leave, she turned to Linda. "Well, now we know how you got your job."
"You don't mind if Clark and I dance, do you?" Linda asked as a slow song, one that Lois vaguely remembered dancing with Clark to under the influence on their wedding night. She said nothing, her mind falling back towards that memory, as the song broke open the memories she'd locked away of those days. Only half forgotten dreams till now, they came back full force to shock her so long, she'd barely noticed Clark lead Linda out to the dance floor. Then noticing the two of them dancing to the slow song, the one that she'd realized she'd fallen in love with him to, she rushed out of the building calling for a taxi to take her home.
Lois kept her morning as busy as possible, avoiding both the news room and Clark in either identity. Finally coming into the news room, she was shocked to see Jimmy busily reading the tabloid rag of the Metropolis star.
"Where have you been?" He asked.
"Fire department. They think the hotel's a probable arson. I want you to get down there, get me some aftermath photos, investigators shifting through the rubble, that kind of thing." She pointed at the trash. "Why are you reading that tabloid rag?"
Jimmy grinned at her. "C.K. got his picture on the society page." He held up the society section for her. "He's dancing with Linda King."
Lois took a deep breath trying to calm down her heartbeat, before collapsing onto her desk chair. "I need some good news."
"Then don't read the bulletin board." Jimmy said as Lois snatched the trashy paper from him tossing it into the trash.
"Why?"
"The paper's cut out expense accounts."
The day just got worse. She'd thrown up that morning, a feat she thought she'd escaped morning sickness, she'd struggled sleeping on her side after years of sleeping on her back. The pillows never were comfortable, and she'd felt ugly in her choices of boxy work clothes that though efficient in hiding her stomach just served to remind her she lacked one anymore. "They can't do that!"
"Just did. Memo says it's cost cutting due to lower circulation." Jimmy leaned closer. "C.K. thinks paid sick days are the next thing to go." Lois looked towards Clark's empty desk were even when she saw him in the morning he normally left half his breakfast expecting her to eat it. No trace.
"Where is Clark?" She stood up, hoping that her breakfast was waiting just out of sight.
"I think he had a lunch date with Linda King." Jimmy said, ready for her to throw something at him. "Sorry."
Sighing, Lois grabbed her purse. "If anybody wants me, I'll be at the Fudge Castle. On my own money." Marching towards the elevator, some Husband she thought, I thought he loved us. Startled then by the thought, she began to wonder, did he love her? Or was all of this for the baby? Was he just trying to be honorable, and provide a happy family for their child? She'd spare him the grief, that was for certain and do things on her own.
It was nearly five when Perry called the news room into the conference room, showing them the afternoon additions of both the Metropolis Star and the Daily Planet. The seriousness of the situation filled the room, and for the first time all day Lois Lane saw her husband enter the room. "Now, who knows what's wrong with this picture?" Perry asked, when no one answered he continued. "We have no picture, that's what's wrong! Superman's the biggest story of the day and all we're leading with is a weather graph! Would someone please explain this to me?"
Lois smerked. No doubt he was too busy staring at Linda King to bother setting up a camera on himself…
"Lois?"
"Kent was obviously too gaga eyed by the bottom feeder to set up a camera?"
"Bottom-feeder?" Clark asked, the hairs on his arms starting to rise.
"And what were you doing having lunch with her anyway?" Lois glared at him, careful as she crossed her arms to protect her stomach.
"What are you asking him for?" Perry raised his hands in defeat in the air. "If you want to know something, buy the Star. They know everything!"
"Not everything." Lois mumbled.
"Now unless you have that big story you keep promising me Lois…" Perry stared at her, taking in her sullen expression. "I can assure you, if we don't come up with some solid page one stories PDQ, the only writing you'll be doing is your resumes!" He took in both Clark and Lois, wondering just what had gotten into them the last few days. "Just what in Sam Hill am I supposed to tell the Publisher if he calls?"
"Whatever it is," Jimmy said from the conference room phone, "He's waiting to hear it on line one."
Sighing, Perry took all the news crew in. "Just a warning, folks. I've seen papers shut down. It's not a pretty picture. Not pretty at all."
Clark, exhausted and not knowing what was going on with Lois, ignored her as she followed him towards the coffee machine. Once there, he picked up the discarded Star paper that Perry had thrown on the table. Looking carefully at the photo he took in all the details, wondering just what had caused the elevator collapse, for it hadn't looked or felt like a natural accident.
"I know Linda's writing style is absolutely mesmerizing, but please, don't drool." Lois said, nearly bumping into him as she leaned over his shoulder to look at the offending paper.
"How long are you going to keep acting like this/" He asked. "I don't know what to expect from you?"
"Me?" She asked, raising an eyebrow. "You're the one who's more interested in making the Star's society page then the Planet's front page."
He turned towards her. "Is that what this is about?" He sighed, walking towards the conference room door to close it for privacy. "You're jealous because you think I'm infatuated with Linda King?"
Lois sat straighter, glaring at him. "I wouldn't care if you were infatuated with Don King. What I care about is the quality of reporting at the Planet."
"Hogwash." Clark said, leaning close to her in a whisper he continued. "I don't care if it doesn't fit into our paper marriage rules, but there's only been one woman I've had my eyes on. I'm trying to make this work, for us. Now if we want Lane and Kent to continue as a byline on the planet when little Laney Kent is running around the news room…"
"Laney Kent?" Lois raised an eye brow.
"Yeah, keep thinking of it as Laney Kent. Makes it more real."
"Try living with it twenty four seven." She rolled her eyes. "Didn't sleep more then two hours last night. What with you abandoning me…"
He cut her off. "I did not. I danced one dance with Linda and then couldn't find you."
"Whatever." She shook her head. "So how are we going to ensure that Laney Kent will live to not just run around my stomach giving me gas all the time to running around the news room giving Perry a heart attack…"
"Then you'll be happy to see this." Clark pulled out a short piece of thick cable.
Lois shrugged. "Okay, I see it. When do I get happy?"
"This is elevator cable. I found it in the shaft after the accident. Check the end." Clark handed it to her.
Shrugging again, Lois shook her head. "Well, I'm still not happy, but I'm closing in on bored."
"It's not frayed, Lois. It's smooth. Like it's been cut."
"Cut?" Then the accident…"
"Wasn't." He finished for her. "Somebody wanted that elevator to fall."
Handing it back to him, she grinned as wide as a chestier cat. "Clark, do you know what this means? I can scoop Linda!"
"You?"
She turned, from quickly rising in her seat. "Us, Didn't I say us? I meant us. Lane and Kent."
"Uh-huh." Clark took the cable from her hand, preventing her from rushing off. "Before we write anything I want the lab to verity my, I mean, our theory."
She grinned at him. "Of course. Absolutely. That's the rational thing to do." Rushing towards the door, she opened it. "Messenger! Somebody get me a messenger!"
Clark grinned, calmly walking towards the barking Lois who was startling the whole news room. "Lois, let's grab a bite to eat, sit down and talk this through. You seem a little tense."
"Tense?" She spoke over her shoulder. "Me? I'm fine. Where's that messenger?" The last words nearly came out in a growl.
They'd ended up eating at the press club, where Clark reminded her, others wouldn't perceive it as a date with them trying to keep things under wraps. She'd rolled her eyes. Truth in all, they'd gone in the four months of their paper marriage on two dates. None since they'd decided to take down Lex Luthor, but that didn't matter at this moment, she thought. They'd reached a dead end anyways lately with proving Luthor was the Boss. Right now it was beating Linda King.
"All right, let's think it through." She said over their menus. "Assume the cable was cut. Who would benefit? You'd kill a random person."
Clark set down his menu. "The building owner? An insurance scam?"
A waiter then came by, offering them a copy of the star. "What's this?" Lois asked.
"Looks like a new promotion by the Star. Every customer receives a free copy." Clark suggested.
Lois tossed her copy aside. Linda King was the perfect fit for the Star. "It's bad enough Carpenter cut his news stand price. Now he's giving it away. What are you looking at?" She leaned closer, frustrated that he seemed more interested in the paper then her and her theories.
"Carpenter has an editorial demanding stronger building codes in light of the elevator accident, calling for a criminal investigation into the manufacturers." He supplied.
"So?" She raised an eyebrow.
"So he's a fast writer." Clark put the paper down. "It's in the same edition as Linda's article."
"Clark." Lois studied him, "The man's a walking opinion. It's not like he has to do a lot of thinking."
"Still…"
"Clark," She leaned in close. "I need to use the powder room. Order me Pepperoni and eggs."
"Pepperoni and Eggs?" He whispered.
"Fine, anything with pepperoni. I'm craving Pepperoni and Eggs." She grinned before whispering. "Get me Pepperoni and Eggs in a dish that doesn't look like pregnancy cravings and tell me Linda who?, and I might just forget our who agreement and kiss you tonight."
"Linda who?" He asked in mock befuddlement.
"Good boy." She patted his shoulder as she rose from the booth. Wondering if she could follow through her threat if he found a way to get the chief to serve her eggs and pepperoni, but it was true about pregnancy cravings she found. Maybe for taking a stake in her marriage, she needed to take some boldness.
Linda King had been awful she thought, simply her normal awful self walking in on her in an awkward moment as she tried to reach for the bracelet that had slipped off into the waste bin. "Looking for your career?" She'd asked before proceeding to criticize her fashion sense, her figure, her career, the Daily Planet… The last straw had been Linda's long description of Clark Kent's body.
"Speaking of bodies, your partner has a great one. Talk about buns of steel."
Lois's throat went tight, franticly wondering if Linda had figured out Clark's secret, or worse had told her, yet didn't deem it necessary to tell his wife, a fact that she was secretly fuming about like a pot on a low boil. "How would you know?"
"You don't need Superman's x-ray vision to figure that out." Linda said.
Lois turned towards Linda who stood beside her at the sink. "I'm warning you, Linda. Stay away from him."
"That's what you said about Superman." Linda stared at her. "What is it with you?"
"Superman is a friend of Clark's and mine. He can be a little naive about sharks."
"I doubt that." Linda said. "Well, I'm sure Clark can make up his own mind."
The woman had the nerve, Lois thought, to follow her back to her dinner with her husband. Of course, she nor anyone else knew that they were married. Let alone involved, well, she thought, they weren't involved, just married, parents, and all of it was complicated.
"Clark, I need to ask you a favor." Linda said, pushing past Lois.
Lois ignored Linda, taking her seat beside Clark in the round booth, quite happy to see that their food had arrived. Clark had even succeeded in supplying her with eggs and pepperoni. "He's working, we're working."
"You look like you're about to have dinner." Linda said.
"You had lunch with the man. Aren't you full yet?" Lois snapped back.
Linda ignored her and addressed Clark. "I'd like you to walk me to the subway. It'd really help me out."
Lois took one look down at her plate, then over at the attentive look Clark seemed to give Linda, it was, she thought as though when Linda walked into a room she faded away. "By all means, Clark. Help her out. Then lock the door behind her."
"Such wit, Lois. I hope it'll help pass the hours at the unemployment office."
Clark placed his hand on Lois's arm to calm her down. "Do you two mind if I speak?"
"Tell her 'no,' and let's eat."
"She probably doesn't know her way around." Clark said to Lois. Then leaning in close. "Let me see her safely to the subway station, then we can really dig in. No distractions."
"She knows her way around enough to beat us twice since she got here." Lois stabbed a pepperoni with her fork.
"Trust me." He smiled at his wife. Then turning to Linda, he wondered just what he had to do to get peace. "There's a subway a couple of blocks from here." Turning back to Lois. "I'll be right back. Five minutes. Don't leave." leaning in closer. "You're more beautiful then anyone else here. I worked hard for your dish… stay."
Clark rose, ushering Linda out the door. She slipped his arm through his, then turned over her shoulder to gloat at Lois only to find Clark pull his arm out from hers to hold open the door, sticking both arms firmly at his sides.
Once on the street, Linda turned her charm on him. "Come with me to my place. We'll build a fire, make some coffee."
"Lois is expecting me back at the Press Club. We were in the middle of dinner."
"Lois should be used to disappointment." Linda said.
"Look, I don't know what it is between the two of you, but she is my partner…" And my wife, he thought, with the worlds nearly threatening to slip out of his tongue, yet for the past few weeks, he realized he'd been doing little to try to make a future with her. They rounded the corner, with the subway sign just in front of them.
"Here you go. Subways come by every few minutes." He nodded. "Goodnight.
She stopped him as he turned to walk away. "You said your relationship yesterday with Lois was 'not defined.'"
He took a deep breath. "Professionally it is." privately… that was a whole other kettle of fish.
"Well, if you ever want to redefine yourself professionally or personally…"
"Goodnight." He turned, wondering just what it was between Linda and Lois.
He rushed back to the restaurant, nearly flying in his hurry to return to Lois and his dinner. She was rising from the table. "Leaving?" He asked. "I said I was coming back, I was only gone a few minutes…"
"I'm a busy person." She sat down though with him again, returning to her plate. "I thought you said Linda who?"
"I'm a gentleman, that's the way my parents raised me." He leaned in close. "The way we'll raise our child, when someone is a stranger you're hospitable. Especially when they are an old friend of your wives." He whispered.
"Ah, now you're spouting fiction."
"You're really letting her get to you, why?"
"Get to me?"
"Finish up. Tell you later. Too many ears in the Press Club."
He grinned. "As you wish."
They finished their meal up speaking on their speculations about work, and various other work projects. Then ten minutes later, the two were strolling down the street towards the marina. "So what's the story between Lois Lane and Linda King?" Clark asked.
"This doesn't leave the two of us, understand?" She waited for his nod then continued. "Okay, Linda and I were Best Friends, but it was very competative. You may not believe this, but there was a time when I had to be the best at everything…"
Clark held back a laugh.
"Anyway," Lois ignored him. "There was this Editor I was trying to impress, a guy named Paul Bender. He was a Senior, and I had a very big crush on him. My first. So when I found out some of the school's football players weren't taking their own exams, I thought, this is it. This is the story that's going to get Paul to really notice me."
"Did it?"
"No. Somehow Linda stole my story and wrote it under her name. Of course, he fell for her and she continued to impress him, in ways I won't go into. Needless to say, that was the end of our friendship." She stopped facing him. "So now you know everything. Happy."
"So, she stole a story and she stole a guy and now she's trying to do it again, huh?" He raised an eye brow as he fished.
Lois laughed. "You're certainly being receptive to her advances." Crossing her arms she looked him dead in the eyes. "She's got it all planned out no doubt, destroy my career, steal you and steel Superman."
"He's not yours."
"Oh yes he is."
"Fine, me or Superman."
"What?"
"Pick."
"We started this marriage with me being the bottom rung in your option between the two real contestants, Lex Luthor and Superman. We've got a child on the way and it's time we make this real. We've gotten to the bottom of Lex Luthor, or are you still pining for him too?"
"What, you!" Lois snarled. "You showed me the evidence, told me to trust you so I did. Not only that, the last time I went out with him, I kept my eyes on the lookout and nothing of confirmation, but when Lois Lane's nose is on a story, it can spot a crook a mile away and he's a crook. We're bringing him down, and if before the next time I have to go out with him, so much the better." She poked him. "You, you think you're competing against Superman?"
He crossed his arms. "You think he's yours. You've got his picture in your medicine cabinet. I heard you that night I stayed over. You whisper goodnight to him and kiss the photo."
She laughed. It was that or cry or punch him in the eye. Of all the idiotic things the man was jealous of himself. "You're jealous of him? As I explained to Linda." She tried to get her voice under control. "Superman is not from here. He, like you can't always recognize the sharks. He's your friend and mine. And I…" She was suddenly caught off guard by a far away look in his eye. He cocked his head to the side as if hearing something from a distance.
"Lois, I forgot my pen in the press club. Special pen. Catch a taxi, we'll finish talking in a bit. Meet you at your place with desert."
"So that's your idea of a date?" She called after him, as he rushed down the street. He turned the corner at an alley, and she could have sworn she heard a sonic boom only a few minutes later.
An hour later, dressed in sweats she was busy cleaning the grout in her kitchen debating just what she was going to do with Superman, with Lex, with Linda, with well, everyone. Clark Kent was jealous of himself, what a shocker. Who would have thought Superman would have an inferiority complex. Yet, when she paused her wipe her forehead, finally facing the questions that she'd refused to face, instead letting her anger boil in the background while they threw themselves into investigating Lex. Just what would married life be like with Clark / Superman. Would he fly home? Rush off in the middle of the night to do rescue missions? What side of him was the real man? For surely, neither identity she knew was all of who he was. One more investigation to add before baby Laney was born. That was a good nick name for the kid, for now anyways. She'd been called that and hated it, but maybe that then made it fitting for her kid. Until she got a better one, and a better future then this paper marriage pretend things aren't real.
He enter the apartment without knocking. "Lois?" He called out. "Got us some imported european chocolate. It should last you a week. The high quality stuff."
She turned. "Where are we going to live? What are we really going to name this kid? How are we going to figure out this marriage stuff? How are we going to raise this kid? How will we balance work and family and…"
"Lois." He shook his head, setting the imported chocolate on the table. Putting his arm around her he lead her towards one of the love seats. Sitting down beside her, he pulled her close as she began to cry.
"You went back to her." She sobbed.
"What? Who?" He asked.
"Linda Flirt."
Stroking her hair, he shook his head. "Already told you, Linda Who, but she has me suspicious, that whole paper does. There's something fishy about it. They're always on hand and ready for disasters. Think of that editorial. Ready in the same edition?"
"Clark, I…" She suddenly grabbed his hand, slipping it under her sweatshirt. "The baby moved."
"I… Felt it." He gave her the softest smile. "Lois. Know you are who I want. My family."
Lois reached up to stroke his hair, then swallowed. "But then why'd you leave me for Linda Flirt?"
"Somethings fishy with that whole paper."
"It's the star, it's trash…"
"Lois." He cut her off before she could shift into full rant mode. "You two are daggers at each other fighting when ever your around each other. I had to talk to her without you to see if I got any clues."
She pulled her hand back, crossing her arms over her belly. "Well, did you find any clues? Mr. Wandering eyes?"
"MY EYES ARE NOT WANDERING!"
"Really?" She reached out to grab his tie, pulling him closer to her. "Sure looked that way."
"She's your friend, or was. I'm being polite, since your not."
"She's the competition." Lois yanked him closer.
"Keep that up, and I'll kiss you." He said so softly, yet his words caused her to quickly drop his tie as though it was fire. Pulling back sadly, he stared at her. "It's ok for the past several months while we tried to figure us out for you to throw yourself at Luthor and Superman, yet it's not okay for me to be friendly to an old friend. She may be throwing herself at me, but that's different. She doesn't know and I can't tell her I'm taken, for good."
"I don't…"
"You do and have. We haven't kissed once since we discovered we eloped."
"Hello, the honeymoon suite?" She poked him to drive her point. "You threw me on the equipment and attacked my mouth when the maid came in."
He ran his fingers through his hair. "Lois." He growled in fustration. "That," He clarified, "Was pretense. Not the same thing. If the maid hadn't been walking in, and I'd pulled that stunt. You'd have broken me in half." His voice dropped down to a whisper.
Lois sighed. "I guess, I guess I would have. I was, I am too scared to loose my best friend."
"You're not. But you've thrown yourself at Luthor and Superman."
"I was scared. They were safe."
"You kissed them." He stated.
Lois reached to him, gently pulling him to face her again, shocked at the tears in his eyes. Upset about Luthor kissing her, now she could understand, but of the two times she'd kissed him in the suit, he'd been the willing participant. How could he be so jealous of himself? The words accusing him of that came up her throat yet stopped before her mouth opened. If she spoke now, she'd be angry and the situation would only get worse, likely he'd fly to Linda, literally. She thought of her parents, the fighting she endured from them for years. Perhaps this was that moment where they proved they'd fail at communicating as her parents did, or unlike them learn to communicate. "I'm scared Clark, and I've been scared. They can't hurt me like you can."
"Hurt you?" His voice nearly broke.
"Our future, it could be so great. But what if we screw it up? Sometimes it feels easier to just not try then to fail. I hate failing."
He reached out to cup her cheek, stroking it gently. "We'll succeed because we're the best team there is."
She laughed at that. "So how do we bring down our rivals so we can set up for the big unveiling of Happy Families?"
"What?"
"Linda King and Lex Luthor?"
"We keep searching for that tie that will hold up in the courts for Luthor. Linda, I don't know if she's aware of what's going on with the Star, but somethings fishy there."
"Yes, Linda."
"No, Editorial on elevator safety in the same edition as the accident. And not stuffed in some corner where there was room but on the front page. I think." He paused. "I think it's time for me to do some solo investigating."
"No way! We're a team!"
Clark took a deep breath preparing for his idea. "Linda offered that if I want to switch alliances, personally or professionally."
"Don't you dare."
"Hear me out. I go undercover at the Star, as her partner. We stage a fight in the morning, so everyone thinks we're not speaking. You keep the planet afloat, we'll arrange met up times when we can to go over our notes."
"I'll go undercover, with Lex. See if I can get into his study without him."
"No."
"What?"
"You're not doing that without back up. We can't put our child's life at risk. You both mean too much to me, I can't loose you." He almost choked on a sob, at the suddenness of the tears that came to him.
"Clark." She reached forward to wipe his eyes. "You're never loosing me." She then moved closer to him, adjusting herself to fall into his arms, snuggling her face into his chest. "We're married for life."
He held her close. "For life." He leaned down, kissing her hair.
They sat there for some time, before Lois sighed, stretching, pulling out of his embrace. "What is it with pregnancy and bladder shrinkage?"
Clark sighed. "I guess I should be going."
She nodded, pushing him towards the door. "We've got a fight to stage tomorrow. Let me get some sleep."
Clark Kent sighed in satisfaction the next morning, when slipping into the Chief's office, he agreed so quickly for him to go undercover. "Lois won't like it." Perry had said.
"No." Clark shook his head, "But I have to do it."