Author's Notes: Those of you who are waiting for an update for Just Married will have to wait another few days. I'm going to go ahead and finish Constitution in the next couple of days. It'll probably be finished by tomorrow or mid-day tomorrow. Wish me luck.

Act 5 of 6

She felt his lips caress against hers and for a moment, she wanted to forget about everything and just let herself be. With him. Like this.

What was she doing?

Lois pulled away from him, catching her breath. His kiss still lingered on her lips like a memory that won't go away.

"Could you just take me home?"

Clark sat back, nodding. His feelings were out there, all out in the open. It's silly for him to think he could just make her fall for him when it took two years to make him realize just how amazing Lois Lane was. He wanted to berate himself for pushing so hard when it was obvious she was scared and confused.

He stood up first and held her coat out for her.

"Thanks"

"You're welcome." There they were. Back to fake pleasantries. The past few weeks had Clark wondering what life would be like if he had fallen head over heels for her when the first met. He could only imagine the possibilities.

And a part of him wished he couldn't.

It made being a part from her all the more excruciating.

God, he felt so melodramatic tonight.

"Is this the place?" he asked, looking up at the tall building.

Lois nodded softly. "Yeah"

Clark walked her to her door. "I guess this is goodnight"

"More like good morning, but I always thought that never made any sense so goodnight it is," she says the tone in her voice losing all the rough and edginess she normally speaks with in front of him. It was the voice he would hear when she was around Chloe, and it made him realize that he wasn't just falling for her; she was falling for all of her.

Clark smiled. "Goodnight then." He waited at the bottom of the steps, just to make sure she was okay. His eyes slowly sink to the ground when her voice popped his head up again.

"Clark"

"Yeah?"

"Um... nevermind." Lois turned around and inserted her key into the locked door, her mind contemplative. Should she or shouldn't she? What is this? She should be long past this kind of awkwardness with Clark Kent. It was the cafés fault, she concluded. If it hadn't been nice and cozy, nothing would've happened.

But it did.

And it's freaking her out.

Clark couldn't wait any longer. The quiet separation between them was aching. He needed to get away. Think things through. Maybe he was just letting his hopes and dreams get in the way of what's right and wrong again. He didn't know. He just knew he needed to get away from her.

So he started walking away.

"Wait, Clark"

Clark stopped and immediately walked back. "Yeah?" He sounded utterly pitiful, looking like one of those romantic leads in those romantic chick flicks that Chloe, Lana and sometimes, his mom would make him watch over the years. Up until now, he didn't think those things really happened in real life.

Is this what being in love felt like?

Anxious.

Nervous.

Stumbling like a fool.

Acting on impulse.

If it is. It felt pretty nice.

"Thank you... for the walk." Lois turned back around and lightly bumped her head with the edge of the door. 'Thank you for the walk'? Come on, Lane, you're better than that. I'm seriously losing it.

Clark stood behind her flustered but still very much hopeful. He turns to leave again when...

"Clark"

And just like before, he turned quickly back. "Yes?" she practically had him hanging by her ever word. Even if it was just one.

"It's late. Why don't you take my couch for the night and head back to Smallville in the morning?"

Clark is surprised by the offer. "Thanks." He knew he shouldn't have accepted, he could make it back to the farm minutes before Lois would make it to her apartment, but he didn't want to leave her just yet.

Lois smiled at him and immediately rushed inside. He could hear the fast beating of her heart, he'd hear it even if he tried not to and he couldn't help by smile himself.

Clark followed her inside.

She led him to the stairwell and he momentarily wondered why they didn't take the elevator when it dawned on him – she was afraid to be alone with him – he smiled at the thought. It seems he wasn't the only one who's fallen; he just hoped it was more than the occasional attraction for her.

When they finally reached her floor, she continued down the hall without breaking her pace. She was in incredible shape, she wasn't even breathing all that hard. With everything that's on her plate, he wonders where she even finds the time to work out.

"Nice place." Clark walked into her apartment. There weren't a lot of things inside except for some furnishings. The walls looked like they were just painted white and several large boxes remained unopened.

Lois picks up some stuff off the ground and couch, clearing it to make it more livable. "Sorry about the mess"

"It's all right. Compared to the Talon, this place looks amazing"

Lois let out a smirk and then a laugh. "Try not to make a mess." She tosses a pillow to his face which he effortlessly catches and Lois had to remind herself that this was Smallville she was with. She's not interested. Not in the least.

Who was she kidding?

"Goodnight," she said again that night.

"Goodnight, Lois." Clark watched her leave, but at least this time he didn't have to.

Clark didn't sleep at all in the next couple of hours. Lying on the couch in Lois's condo apartment, he simply lay there staring up at the ceiling. He wasn't counting sheep or singing to himself of how many beers were left on the wall – he was just lying down, thinking.

Remembering.

Clark couldn't recall a time where any girl, even Lana, made him so sleepless. He just could not stop thinking about her. Maybe this was just another crush, but somehow, he knew, it wasn't. He liked who he is when he's with her. When he's with her, he could rise about the world just as fearlessly as she would.

Suddenly feeling constricted on the couch, he turned to lie on his back when he noticed, "What the..." he was floating.

Floating several feet off the couch.

"Oh no," he says softly with a chuckle, looking around himself as he stayed elevated a good distance above the couch. If his parents could see him now, breaking the laws of gravity yet again.

He only hoped Lois didn't come out. He wouldn't even know where to begin if she caught him hovering in mid-air.

Suddenly, the lights flickered on.

"Crap"

With her eyes totally closed, she worked real hard tying to fall asleep with little success. What happened tonight was in some kind of a loop in her mind, constantly on replay. It was really annoying her, literally getting in the way of some needed rest. She needed to think and she can't think straight if she's too tired in the morning.

She really shouldn't have invited Clark to stay.

What was she thinking?

With her throat getting dry, she got up to get a glass of water. Lois flicked the hallway light on and exited her way towards the kitchen when she heard a sudden crash in the living room.

She hurried over there to see if everything was okay.

"Clark?"

"Clark?"

Clark looked up at her, completely and utterly embarrassed. He stood up, his hair disheveled.

"Lois. Hey!"

She rushed to his side, helping him up, not that he needed it but he gave the impression that he did. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, thanks"

"What happened?"

"I fell"

"You fell?"

"Off the couch"

Lois looked at the situation and began to think that maybe she's had a little more coffee and lack of sleep than she realized.

"You fell off the couch?"

He nodded sheepishly.

"How exactly did you fall on the rear side of the couch?"

Clark internally groaned. She just had to be so observant. He hadn't thought that far ahead and simply shrugged in response but then thought of something else. "I have... a mild case... of sleepwalking?" he added unconvincingly.

Lois didn't seem convinced too. "Sleepwalking?"

"Uh huh"

"Does this happen all the time?"

"No," he answered truthfully. "I should've added a little more emphasis on the mild."

"Right." Lois didn't really believe him. She's lived with him for the last year and a half, and not once had he ever sleepwalked before. And not once had he ever fell off the couch on the other side and there were plenty of chances.

Clark frowned. "You don't believe me"

"I can tell when you're not telling me the truth, so yeah, I don't believe you"

"It's really hard to explain, Lois"

"That's the beauty of our friendship, Clark. As long as you don't become an axe murderer while I sleep, you don't ever have to."

Clark was speechless.

Lois smiled and started to leave when Clark takes a hold of her hand and spins her back around.

"Stay," he whispered softly.

She chuckled. "That'll be easy. I live here"

"No. I mean stay." He moved closer, their bodies touching one another. "What are you doing?" she asked, lost in his eyes.

"I'm going to kiss you again"

"Don't"

"Why not?"

"Because you're Clark." He lowers his head further. "And I'm not supposed to like you." And further. "And I don't like to lose control." Clark's lips finally meet hers, her hands slowly making its way around his neck as his own went around her waist.

And just like the first time, she pushes him away.

"Okay. We need to stop!" her labored breathing was running away from her. Letting him stay was definitely a bad idea. A very bad idea. The worst idea she had ever. What was she thinking when she invited him to stay?

Clark has never felt this way before. Being with her made him feel like the man he could be. Not just the uncertain farmboy with feelings of doubt and loneliness plaguing his life. With Lois, he could just be, and it made him feel like flying.

"I'm sorry," he apologized. "Actually, I take that back. I'm not sorry." He really wasn't sorry. He has wanted to kiss her for a long time and he wasn't going to feel guilty about it.

Lois stood confused, lost in her own chaotic thoughts. She moved to the couch and plumped down. Clark does the same.

"I really like you, Lois. Why can't you see that?"

"No, I see it," she assured. "I see it quite well." Lois looked everywhere but him. She decided to focus her eyes on the coffee table. Knotty Pine top with 'cream white' skirt, legs, and shelf. Legs have a saber taper that attach to corner blocks with machine screws. Skirt is decorated with rust color metal arched pattern. Spacious lower shelf. The dimensions are about 48" x 27¾" x 19" tall. She should know, she assembled the damn thing.

"Lois"

"Yeah?"

"I'm in love you"

If she wasn't already sitting down, this is the moment where she would have fallen face first on the ground.

"You're what?"

To be continued...