Title: Three Rings

Author: Fuer Grissa Ost Drauka

Pairing: Clois (of course)

Spoilers: none

Disclaimer: don't own any of it

Feedback: always appreciated

A/N: this fic was inspired by the song 'Austin' by Blake Shelton


Part 1:

"You never did tell me why you left," Chloe said, looking pointedly at Lois over the top of her coffee mug.

"I needed some time to think," Lois said, trying to sound as casual as possible.

"Lois, you left over a year ago."

Lois shrugged. "I've had a lot to think about." There was a long pause before she continued. "Besides, he's probably moved on anyways, after all, it has been over a year."

Chloe stared long and hard at her cousin before placing her mug on the table and held out her hand towards Lois. "Give me your phone for a minute."

"What? Why?" Lois asked, surprised by the request.

"I'm proving you wrong."

Lois sighed deeply and handed Chloe the cordless phone. "Just how do you suppose you're going to prove me wrong?"

"Every few days, Clark changes the message on his answering machine."

"So what. People change their recordings all the time."

Chloe dialed Clark's number and handed the phone to Lois, who attempted to refuse it.

"Relax, Lois, he's not even home right now. Just listen to the recording."

Lois sighed slightly in resignation and accepted the phone. After the third ring, Clark's answering machine picked up.

Hey, this is Clark. If you're calling about the spare room, it's no longer available, and if this is Monday night, I'm working on something for the Ledger. Leave a message after the beep and I'll get back to you when I get in. And, if this is Lois… I still love you.

Chloe caught the phone as it fell from Lois's hand and ended the call. "Lois?" Chloe

asked her shell-shocked cousin.

Lois got up from the couch and started pacing around the room, mumbling something about it being an old message.

"Lois, that's a new message," Chloe said.

"That's impossible; it's been over a year," Lois protested.

"Lois, Clark changes the message on his answering machine every few days, but he says something like, 'If this is Lois, I still love you.' on every single message he's had since you left."

"No normal guy would be hanging on to a relationship for this long."

"We both know that Clark Kent isn't exactly a normal guy."

Lois found her way back to the couch and sank down into it. "Yeah."

"I've gotta get going, Lois. I have a class tomorrow," Chloe said as she stood. "Besides, I think I gave you enough to think about for a while. Just, think quickly, and stop running, Lois."

"I- I'm not-" Lois protested, only to be cut off by Chloe.

"No, Lois. You got scared and ran. There's nothing wrong with being scared, but you need to stop running and face your fears." Chloe took a breath, "At least think about what I said, all right?"

"Okay, cuz. See you soon," Lois said as she stood and gave Chloe a hug good-bye.


Lois sat, curled up, on the sofa, clad in a pair of baggy sweatpants and an equally baggy sweatshirt. In one hand was a spoon and in the other was a carton of chocolate ice cream - a necessity for this kind of heavy thinking. It had been four days since she and Chloe had their talk about the one subject she had been avoiding giving too much thought to for a long time. Their talk, however, had put to rest the question she hadn't wanted to face: Was Clark still in love with her? Now that she knew the answer to that question was 'yes', a new question arose - becoming the main cause of the sleepless nights she'd been having for the past few nights. What was her next move?

Finding a new and surprising resolve, Lois got up and put the carton of ice cream in the freezer and tossed the spoon into the sink. She walked back into the living room and picked up her phone. She dialed Clark's number, having no clue what she'd say when he answered - if he answered. At the third ring, Clark's answering machine picked up once again.

Hey, this is Clark. I'm on a camping trip right now with Pete and my dad, but leave a message and I'll get back to you when I get in on Sunday night. And, Lois, if that's you, I still love you.

As soon as she heard the 'beep', Lois left a short message with little more than her name and number. She turned off her phone and placed it back on the charger. Now, she just had to wait until Sunday night to see if Clark would return her call.


Clark and Pete got out of the truck and grabbed their camping gear from the back. "You can take my room," Clark said as they walked through the front door of his apartment.

"You sure man?"

"Yeah, it's no problem," Clark said, setting his gear down next to the sofa. As Pete went into the bedroom, Clark went over to the answering machine and pressed the playback button.

You have one new message, the machine informed him.

Clark walked into the kitchen area and got himself a glass of water as the message began to play.

Hey,

Clark froze. The glass of water fell from his hand, shattering as it hit the floor.

It's Lois. Uh, give me a call when you get in. My number's: 533-1701. Bye, Smallville.

Clark cleaned up the shattered mess at superspeed before speeding over to the phone and dialing Lois' number.