"I know not by what power I am made bold, Nor how it may concern my modesty in such a presence here to plead my thoughts; But I beseech your Grace that I may know the worst that may befall my in this case, If I refuse to wed Demetrius."

Hermia, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Shakespeare

"I don't think Lana or Chloe are going to be particularly pleased with pink bridesmaid dresses." Lois remarked, looking over the sketches the designer had just handed her.

"Well, I don't know." Lex smiled teasingly. "I think Lana will be very pleased."

"Fine." Lois said tightly. "I don't think I'm going to be too pleased with pink bridesmaid dresses."

"But Lois," Lex joked tantalizingly. "Everybody's wearing them in Europe."

"But we're not in Europe, are we." Lois answered blatantly.

"Ah, but you were born in Germany." Lex continued to tease. He found Lois ever so attractive when she was wound up.

"Yes, and I had my first period in Russia, but that doesn't exactly mean I like Vodka now does it?" She snapped back.

"Er, maybe I zhould wait ootzide?" The petite designer mumbled, eyeing the office door.

"No, no, Madam" Lex reassured her. "We'll just have two of those." He said, pointing to the pink dresses. "Have my assistant arrange a fitting."

"Qui, Mousier Luthor." The little French woman smiled as she made her way to the door, Lois' eyes on her all the way.

As soon as she had closed the door Lex's smiley face vanished as he snapped round to face Lois.

"What the hell was that?" He sneered.

"That's just what I was about to ask you." She replied.

"With the amount of money I'm pouring into this wedding the least you could do is show some enthusiasm." Lex groaned, his voice thick with contempt. "Or at the very least gratitude!"

This comment cut Lois deep. She had always maintained that she didn't love Lex Luthor for his money, but because…because…

Because what she didn't even know anymore. The Lex Luthor she had fallen in love with over a year ago now had slowly slipped through her fingers. She hardly even recognised the power mad business tycoon standing in front of her.

Ever since he had inherited LuthorCorp, Lex had undergone a radical change. His tongue now longed for the taste of success, and his eyes flashed with the prospect of power, power he had no problem with asserting in their relationship.

How are we ever going to make a marriage work if we can't even manage the wedding? She whispered inwardly.

"I didn't know there was a price on love." She stated, her voice now scornful as well.

"Everything has its price." Lex answered as he moved towards his desk.

Lois watched him turn his back on her once again. "Why are we doing this Lex?" She suddenly asked the question that had been plaguing her all morning. "What's the point of any of this?"

"Why Lois," Lex exclaimed, his voice suddenly much softer. "Because we love each other." He said matter-o-factly, whilst taking her in his arms.

"Oh." She said. "Yes, right. Of course."

"Look, I know this wedding seems like a nightmare, but it will all be over soon. Then we can spend the rest of our lives together."

"I can't wait." She muttered, placing her head on his chest.

"Yes, yes." He crooned whilst stroking her hair. "Soon, everything we've ever dreamed of will be a reality.

And what do you know about my dreams? The thought sprung into Lois' head so fast she wasn't even aware of it at first. But then, maybe it was right. After all, what did Lex know about her dreams?

"And what dreams would these be?" Lois spoke, unsure if she wanted to know the answer.

"Why, any dreams you want." Lex eyed her seductively. "Together we'll be the envy of all the world. I'll be the king and you, Miss Lane, will be my magnificent queen. 'Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven, having some business, do entreat her eyes to twinkle in their spheres till they return. What if her eyes were there, they in her head? The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars.'"

"I thought I told you no more Shakespeare." Lois interrupted as she pulled herself out of Lex's embrace.

"Well, I can't help it if your beauty inspires such words." Lex mocked. "A beauty that soon all men shall gaze upon and feel remorse, for losing the exquisiteness of Lois Lane, to me." Lex smiled, taking her hand and kissing it.

Nothing more than a trophy. Lois pulled her hand back. "You talk too much."

"That's always been one of Lex's many attributes." A familiar voice called from the doorway.

"Clark." Lex beckoned over to his friend, who was currently standing in the office entrance, with his arms crossed over his chest. He had been making quite a habit of that stance lately. "I'm sorry, I didn't see you there. Come on in."

"No, it was my fault for interrupting, I should have knocked." Clark said with more than a hint of attitude as he strode over to the happy couple.

"Since when have you been sorry, Smallville. You've always come and gone as you please." Lois' voice was harsh but her actions seemed far more insecure. She was dusting off her legs, unable to get rid of the sudden feel of dirtiness that had washed over her.

As she looked up her eyes met Clark's, and they stood for a moment, caught in each other's gaze. Lois couldn't help it, her eyes pleaded with Clark's to save her, to take her away. But this time it was Clark's turn to look away. Not here. Not like this.

Lex spotted Lois and Clark's little stare, and had thusly noted Lois sudden chance in disposition. Something's going on here.

"Now," He commented, his prepared utterance barrelled with double-meaning. "What's gone on with you two? You've not had another fight be any chance?" He eyed them menacingly.

"No." "Not a chance." Lois and Clark said simultaneously, which was far from a coincidence as far as Lex was concerned. He'd let it pass though, for now.

"Well, it's good to know everything's okay. I could hardly have my bride and my best man at odds now could I? Still," He paused dramatically. "I suppose there could be worse alternatives." Lex looked between Clark and Lois, neither of whom was showing any reaction to his comment, at least not outwardly.

"So Lex," Clark spoke suddenly, eager to shift the uncomfortable silence that had settled. "You wanted my help with something."

"Ah, yes, that's right." Lex answered enthusiastically. "Lois, love, be a dear and leaves us alone a minute."

Love? Dear! What the hell is he getting at? A similar thought flashed through both Lois' and Clark's mind.

"Lex," Lois half-snorted, "Why on earth would I want to do that?"

"So that me and Clark can discuss a very important topic." Lex reassured her, but his patience was clearly waning. This is what Lois wanted, she wanted Lex to lose his temper, get incensed, become mean, abusive, so that she would have no regrets about walking out of the door there and then. Men are like steel; when they lose their temper, they lose their worth.

And if she walked out Clark would follow her, and she would feel safe, happy, loved. That same feeling that she'd felt the night before. All she had to do was walk out. Walk out. Walk out. It was easier said than done.

Clark looked from Lex to Lois. She was holding her head high. She looked proud, stubborn, and beautiful save for, her fringe, which she'd brought down to cover the left side of her face. She had a tendency to do that when trying to hide grief or tears. He couldn't understand how no one else seemed to notice it, not even Chloe. It had taken him just over a year to figure it out, and they hadn't even been particularly close at that time. Nowadays he'd almost subconsciously checked to see if she had done it, like she had last night. His mind was suddenly flooded with memories…

"It's funny." She said, thinking her thoughts out loud. "All they are is just giant balls of gas, burning billions and billions of miles away. Most so far away that they're already dead, and their light's only just reaching us now. I don't know why," Lois added. "It makes me sad… Clar..."

She turned to face him to find that he was already gazing at her.

Their eyes locked. They stood for a moment in total silence.

Then Clark caught a strand of hair that had fallen over Lois' face. He carefully tucked it behind her ear. Lois knew what this meant, it had happened to her a thousand times before. It meant he was going to kiss her.

This was never going to work. It was all wrong. I can't bear to be around her. Not now, not like this.

"Lois, Chloe was eager to speak to you." Clark's voice was the epitome of monotone. "I think she was heading to the Talon."

You're dismissing me! How dare you Smallville. Right, well, see if I care.

Lois was doing her best to keep her face passive. How could one man not bear to let her out of his sight when all she wanted to do was get out of it, while the other one couldn't seem to bare being around her. It's called the Lane effect. Her head told her.

"Well," Lois said sweetly, or, as sweetly as she could manage. "I better go meet her then, and leave you two boys to your own devices."

She grabbed her coat and keys, and shot Clark a look that could have been coated in kryptonite, gave Lex a twisted smile and stormed towards the door.

"I see you later sweetheart." Lex called after her. Lois could think of a thousand responses, none of them subtle.

Once she'd left the room Lex turned to his friend.

"Woman." He laughed and turned away. Clark was far from amused.

Men! They're all the same. Lois screamed to herself as she cascaded down the small country roads. She'd been driving for an hour now along the windy path, not caring where she was going or how long it would take. All she cared about was getting as far away as possible from Smallville. Sure, some come nicer packagings but ultimately, underneath they're all just over-sexed, under-sophisticated slobs, without whom the world would be a far better place!

"Arg!" She roared, releasing all her built-up frustration. "I am not going to be some playboy millionaire's piece of arm-candy! I don't care anymore." She chocked suddenly as the awkward truth finally caught up with her.

"I don't love Lex." Lois sighed, trying to hold back an onslaught of tears. "I don't… I won't… I… I can't do this."

Salty tears glistened in the moonlight as they slowly started to escape from her eyes. Her pale skin was only marred by her flushed cheeks. Her hands started to shake on the steering-wheel as a sudden coldness grew inside of her. Her heart and eyes laid heavily, so much so that she almost didn't see the skeletal figure that came running out from the side of the road.

A sudden glint of light caught Lois' eye. She looked up just in time to notice the slim figure now frozen in the middle of the road, just a few yards ahead of her. The adrenaline rush took over and she swerved the car off the road, not a moment too soon.

She stumbled out of the silver convertible and turned to see her antagonist still rooted to the spot. It was too dark to see his face, but Lois was pretty sure he been scared out of his wits. That was no excuse.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing!" She barked, her sorrow had quickly turned to anger. "You see these things?" She viciously pointed to her face. "They're called eyes, buddy. You might want to try them out!" Still no response.

"What? What?" Lois sighed, trying to calm her voice. "What's up?"

"Please." A weak voice emerged from the dark. "Help me."

"Help you with what?" Lois asked more sympathetically. The boy was still standing, so he couldn't be that badly hurt.

She grabbed her keys out of the lock and, switching on the small torch fixed to her key ring, moved swiftly towards the young man.

As she neared him though he pulled back, away from the small light.

"Do you promise to help me?" He called haplessly.

"Yes." Lois answered with all sincerity. "Yes, I promise to help you." She offered her hand forward as if to reiterate her willingness to help. Obviously, this person was either very shook up or very messed up. Probably both. Lois considered. Why else would he be running around fields in this light?

"What's you name?" He yelped.

"Lois Lane." She replied. "Now, come on, we need to get you somewhere safe."

"No, no." He whispered in a sing-song manner. "There's nowhere safe. Nowhere that can help me. You have to help me. You."

"And I will." Lois comforted. "But you have to let me get near to you." In the small light of her flashlight, Lois could see that the man was now cradling himself, swaying his arms side to side.

"Lois Lane, you're Lex Luthor's fiancée, aren't you?" He suddenly exclaimed.

"If I said I was reconsidering that title, would it make any difference to you?"

"No."

"Oh…" Lois sighed. "Well then, yes, I am. Why?"

"You can get me medicine." The man's voice was now becoming higher and more excited. "Those big labs that LuthorCorp have. You'll be able to find me a cure."

"I don't think I can do that." Lois said as her feet subconsciously started to back towards the car.

"No you promised!" He shrieked as he started to run towards Lois.

Lois' legs took off even before her body had time to think. Her feet pounded down on the hard concrete. In the dark she kept her head down, preying no cars would come down the secluded road. Her ears strained for sounds of her assailant, but she could hear none. Had she lost him?

Suddenly her foot slipped down a pothole and she crashed to the ground. She tried to get up, but some stronger force was pushing her down. As Lois lay flat on the floor, she felt a sudden presence kneeling over her. She could feel someone breathing on her ear.

"You're going to help me." A curt voice whispered. "Whether you like it or not."

Lois' world was suddenly filled with darkness.