Author's Notes: Ah. The continuing adventures of Lois and Clark. For those curious about the status of Metamorphosis. I'll be wrapping that up soon. I've already put you all through a lot of stuff, Lois and Clark too. LOL! I'm not going to drag it out further than it has too. The story has pretty much run its course and I'll close it with a decent (Hopefully decent) ending. Thanks everyone whose taken the time to check it out. I appreciate it greatly.

Chapter 4: Twists & Turns

"We've got to establish grounds for annulment"

"Okay," Clark nods.

"Fine," Lois said.

"All right… um… were you two under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the marriage?"

The married couple in question, Lois and Clark, looked at one another questioningly. Clark shrugs, uncertain how to respond. Lois throws him an unknowing glance as well. It's becoming more apparent to Chloe that examining the non-newlyweds was a lost cause.

"Were either of you mentally incompetent at the time?" Chloe asked for the hell of it. If they were going to be stubborn, she might as well have a little fun with them in the process.

Lois is aghast. "Of course not!"

"How could you think that?" Clark adds, equally surprised at the inquisition.

Chloe retreats. "Okay. I'm sorry. Don't kill the messenger," she said, holding up her white handkerchief. "I'm just asking all the required questions that'll enable you two to get this marriage voided"

"Well, I vote for possession," Lois raised her hand.

Clark looks at her almost with contempt. "I don't believe the courts will attest to a possession"

"Yeah, the last thing we need is for a Vatican representative to come knocking on my door," Chloe joked. When she catches her older cousin's disapproving glare, she comes right back to her side.

"Okay, Lois, the only other thing that's working for you two is making a claim that you were intoxicated at the moment of marriage and post-marital sex has not been conducted"

Lois and Clark's eyes perk up. "What?"

"You two are just gonna have to pretend that – "

"No," Lois interrupted.

"The one you mentioned after that," Clark followed.

Chloe looked between the two oddly. "You mean post-marital sex? It shouldn't be a problem since you two have obviously not – wait a second – "

Lois starts to look away while Clark tries to change the subject.

"Have you heard from my parents yet, Chloe?"

Something was definitely off, Chloe thought to herself. She eyed the two like a jackal, their body language spoke volumes and she is just realizing that Lois and Clark has made extra attempts to keep as far away from each other as humanly possible. The huge gaping whole in between them on the couch proves that.

Chloe felt the beginnings of a giggle turned full out hilarity. "Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh my God!"

Lois looked up to the ceiling and sighed, grabbing the small pillow to drown herself in advance.

This is so humiliating.

Clark just tightened his eyes closed, crossed his arms and hoped the floor opened up and swallowed him whole.

"You two didn't." Chloe's mouth was open in shock and astonishment. Her two best friends… they really are married.

"It's not what you think," Lois assured, but then she retracts. "On the other hand, it kinda is"

Chloe looked at her, confused.

"Huh?"

"What Lois is trying to say is – we don't remember it ever happening either," Clark jumped up and explained further.

"Then how did you – should I even ask?"

"Please don't," Lois requested innocently.

"Oh my God," Chloe said once more for good measure. "What are you guys gonna do? An annulment is out of the question now"

"Oh come on," Lois protested. "On a mere technicality. Clark and I don't remember… ever… doing anything." This is so hard to talk about aloud to her cousin who had once carried a huge torch for her husband.

Husband. Lois shuddered at the thought. This is only temporary. They are going to get to the bottom of this and everything will go back to the way it was.

"I'm gonna go call my parents before one of them gets a heart attack," Clark said quickly, excusing himself, leaving the cousins alone for the first time since they arrived.

"Oh my God," Chloe said for the hundredth time.

Lois broke down and told her everything. Waking up naked besides and equally nude Clark Kent. Discovering that they were married. Seeing the security feed of them making out in the hallway. Now that there was a third party involved, Lois didn't hold back her frustration.

"I don't know what to do, Chlo"

"We'll figure it out, I promise"

"Everything is just falling apart. Clark and I are married. As in 'to have and to hold' and I don't even remember saying any of it. Oh, and let's not forget about Clark's parents." She sighed. "What would they think of me now?"

"Lois, it's not your fault"

"What if it was?" she argued. "I didn't look the least bit objective in the security videos"

"What's really bugging you? It can't just be being married to Clark, and I admit, that's a good reason enough, but I can't help but think there's more going on here"

Lois avoided answering in detail. "It's been a crazy week, that's all." The one thing she was afraid to reveal to anyone, even to Chloe and most definitely to Clark, was that a lot more happened between them that forgotten night.

And it scared her to think what it could mean.

"How did it go with your parents?" she inquired, thoughtfully.

Clark returned from the terrace after being on the phone with his parents for a good half-hour to forty-five minutes.

He smiled. "The truth"

Her eyes go wide, practically horrified.

He wanted to laugh. "I mean, the basic truth. That I went to Italy... which was basically the extent of the truth, the rest was just improvisation"

"In other words, you lied"

"I already know I'm going to hell, Lois," he said, half serious and half-jokingly.

"Let me guess, you crashed and burned?"

"On a third degree level," he continued to smile. "It's a horrible sight"

She grinned. "I bet"

Clark looked around. "Where's Chloe?" he wondered for the first time.

"Oh, she's working the graveyard shift at the Planet. She's going to stop by in the morning to help us figure out a game plan. I think she's on information overload. I don't blame her."

"She can take it"

"We're family. Of course she can," she beamed, forgetting a little about what's been happening, but only a little. "What about you?"

"I gotta head back to the farm, I want to keep my parent's blood pressure's low"

She chuckles at that and so does he. They unexpectedly share a carefree moment.

"I'll see you tomorrow then?" he asked, hopeful.

"Yeah. Tomorrow"

"Great," he said, relieved. "I'll see you then"

Lois walks him out the door. She speaks a quiet goodbye before closing it. She stayed put, pressing her hand slowly flat on the door as her head leaned against it, her mind in deep thought and contemplation.

Unbeknownst to her, Clark remained outside her door as well, his hand lay gently against the same spot where her hand was placed from the other side.

Everything has changed, and they both knew it.

To be continued…