Disclaimer: Characters belong to WB, DC, AlMiles, etc. etc. etc. I only own the story.

Chapter 4

She turned onto the dusty lane that took her straight up to the farm.

It was ten minutes til six. That wasn't too early that she would have to make too much conversation before dinner, but not too late that she was rude.

Yesterday still bothered her. It had been a weird day, as were most of her days in Smallville. But this was a different kind of weird. This was a good weird. She never imagined the anniversary of her mother's passing would be a day she would deem "good," but it was.

She pulled her car up to the bright yellow farmhouse. It was still daylight, but just barely. She turned off the engine and, grabbing Mrs. Kent's dishes from the passenger seat, stepped out of the car and walked towards the house.

She wasn't sure why she was dreading it. But there it was. That feeling. That pit-of-your-stomach feeling. But she had to do it.

She stopped halfway up the steps. Laughter and conversation rang out from the family inside. She'd never really stopped to listen to it before, but somehow, focusing on the things she has over the past couple of days, she became more aware. Those were the sounds she never heard growing up and she missed them.

Mustering up the courage she so desperately needed, she walked to the door and knocked.

"Hey, Lois. Martha said you'd be joining us tonight."

Mr. Kent smiled and held the door open while Lois stepped inside the kitchen, then returned to reading his newspaper on the barstool at the island.

"Hi, Lois. Dinner's almost ready."

Mrs. Kent took the large pan of roast beef out of the oven and slipped a second pan of rolls back in.

"Thanks, Mrs. Kent. I'm returning your dishes, washed, of course. Where do you want me to put them?"

"You can just set them there on the counter. I'll put them away later."

Lois did as she was told and set the bowls on the countertop next to the fridge.

"Where's Clark?"

She didn't mean to ask. It just…came out. She'd later chalk it up to nerves.

Mrs. Kent smiled. Lois wasn't sure why. It was just an innocent question. Right?

"I think he's up in his loft studying. He said he needed to work on something anyway. I assumed he was talking about a project for class."

"Oh, okay."

Should she do it now? Or later? She usually worked better when she had some sustenance in her, and she hadn't eaten all day. Later was looking better.

"Okay, the first batch of rolls are warmed up. Lois, could you go get Clark and tell him dinner's ready, please?"

Great. That's okay. Just go get Smallville and tell him dinner's ready. Simple and easy. Not a problem.

"Sure thing, Mrs. Kent."

She walked out the door and down the porch steps. She strutted briskly and confidently towards the barn. She had a purpose. She was on a mission. She was going to tell Smallville dinner was ready.

She marched into the barn, arms swinging in stride with her step. She stopped abruptly at the bottom of the loft stairs.

Not now. She didn't want to see him right now. Seeing him might make her talk. Besides, Mrs. Kent just said to tell him dinner was ready. Not see him and tell him.

"Hey, Smallville, you up there?"

Not what she was going for, but it would do. The wall was up. She was ready. She wasn't letting her guard down. That happened too easily last night.

"Uh…Lois? Yeah, I'm up here."

He had to question if it was her? Who else called him "Smallville?"

She heard papers shuffling and he sounded uneasy. She ignored it and kept to the task at hand.

"Your mom wanted me to tell you dinner's ready."

"Okay, I'll be right in."

There. Her job was done. Mission completed. She turned and marched out of the barn and across the driveway just as quickly and confidently as she had strode in.

Her pace slowed once she climbed the steps and walked in the house. Better not be too confident. Don't want to tip off the Mr. and Mrs. That would be cause for conversation.

"I told him, Mrs. Kent. He'll be right in."

Mrs. Kent finished putting the plates around the table and walked into the kitchen where Lois stood.

"Thanks, Lois. What would you like to drink? I've got some tea made."

She truly loved Mrs. Kent. She was the only person who ever asked what she wanted to drink. The General either didn't care or didn't think. Water was always his drink of choice, at least when it wasn't Vodka, and thus, it became her and Lucy's drink every meal, too. Tea, especially Mrs. Kent's, was a gift from heaven.

"Tea would be great. Thanks."

"Why don't you go ahead and have a seat at the table while I pour the drinks?"

Lois strolled to the dining table and took a seat in one of the chairs at the side. It was the same seat she always sat in when she was here. She liked having assigned seats, even if that wasn't what it was. Everyone had their place at the table and she loved it.

Mrs. Kent had already set the food on the table, so Lois helped herself and piled helpings of roast beef, potatoes, carrots and green beans on her plate.

She was nervous. She could feel the anxiety growing.

The screen door slammed. He was inside the house. She kept her back to him and sat still, keeping her eyes down, focusing on the juices from the carrots and beans pooling together. She didn't want to face him until it was absolutely necessary. Any sooner and she was terrified she'd say something in front of his parents.

Mrs. Kent picked up two glasses of tea, walked to the table and set one at her plate and the other in front of Lois.

"Hey, Clark, it's on the table, so go wash up."

He ran up the stairs, taking them two at a time. Whew. Okay, Lane. Just relax. Remember? Just the basics. You can handle this. You've handled worse.

Mrs. Kent moved back into the kitchen, picked up the other two glasses of tea, nudged her husband out of his newspaper trance, and walked to the dining table. She put the glasses at Mr. Kent's and Clark's places, then sat as Mr. Kent joined them.

Lois heard him coming down the stairs. She concentrated on the carrots. Don't look up.

"Lois? I didn't know you were coming over tonight."

What? Did he miss her in the barn calling him to dinner? Did he not see her when he walked in the house? Did he have amnesia again?

He sat in the chair across from her. She knew he was going to sit there. What with there being "assigned seats" and all in this house.

She sighed and looked up from the carrots, staring straight at him.

"I invited her, Clark. I felt bad that Lois couldn't come over last night, so I thought she'd want a fresh home-cooked meal tonight."

Lois turned to face the older woman sitting next to her.

"And I appreciate it, Mrs. Kent. I can't thank you enough."

The two elder Kents smiled. Mr. Kent grabbed his wife's hand and looked at Lois.

"Lois, you are welcome in our home any time. And if you ever need a place to stay again, our door is always open."

Lois smiled. It was official. She loved them both.

She was waiting for it, though. He hadn't said anything. Wait for it. Wait for it.

"As long as you give us advance warning so that we can get a hot shower, and I can make full use of my bedroom before you show up and use it as your own personal closet again."

And there it was. He just couldn't resist. After everything that transpired last night. What a chump. And he had to throw in that stupid grin, too.

"Clark!"

Mrs. Kent tried. But the goofy grin was still there. He had it aimed right at her.

Lois turned to Mr. Kent.

"Thanks, Mr. Kent."

She turned and made direct eye contact with the loon sitting across the table.

"And in case you've come down with amnesia again, let me remind you that I do have my own place now. You know, the place where I let you sleep last night? And, by the way, it's flannel free."

She couldn't believe him. Oh, the walls were way up now.

And if he didn't wipe that smirk off his face she was gonna kick his a-

"Okay, kids. Let's just eat."

The boy better be grateful his pa was around. Next time, he might not be so lucky.

She stabbed a carrot and shoved it in her mouth, all the while giving him the evil eye.

"So, Lois, have you talked to Chloe lately? We don't see her around much anymore since she moved to Metropolis."

You could always count on Mrs. Kent for three things: a home-cooked meal, sage advice, and the ability to change subjects in a single bound.

She sighed, somewhat thankful for the change of topic, and looked at Mrs. Kent while she pierced some green beans with her fork.

"I tried calling her this afternoon, but she seemed pretty busy. She called me yesterday. I didn't talk to her too long, though. She knew I didn't want to talk to anyone yesterday."

Crap. Why? Why does she do these things? Why does she say the things she says? She knows this family. They're the ones that pick up on every little detail that's uttered. She made a mental note to start practicing conversations with people before she has them.

"What happened yesterday? Do you want to talk about it?"

Sure, she would love some of Mrs. Kent's advice. She would love to sit and talk with her. But she already used her "spill your guts" card on a certain farmboy the previous night, and she was pretty sure she couldn't get another one for awhile.

"It's okay, Mrs. Kent. Don't worry 'bout it."

She didn't look at him. But he was watching her. And she knew it.

"You just had a rough day, yesterday, right, Lois? I mean, with working at the Talon and taking those extra classes, it's gotta get to you…right?"

What was with the one-eighty? Smallville could definitely surprise her sometimes. Last night proved that.

She loved their back and forth. After all, it's what kept their relationship interesting. It's also what separated their relationship from his now defunct lackluster one with Lana.

"Yeah, I've just got a lot on my mind right now."

Thank goodness. That seemed to appease the elder Kents and they both resumed eating and engaged in soft conversation between themselves.

She glanced at him. The ridiculous smirk was gone, and was replaced with a half-hearted smile. She gave a little grin and thanked him with her eyes. He returned the gesture and went back to sopping the juice on his plate with his roll.

She hated him sometimes. He could get to her like no one else. But no matter what trouble found her or how depressed she might be, he was always there. She loved him sometimes.