Chapter 8: And Her Answer Is

He waited in baited breath for her response.

"I..."

She glances downward as Clark's eyes follow.

"I..." She started once again. "... need to sit down," she ended, pacing quickly toward a nearby bench. She sat down only to abruptly rise again. She wasn't making this easy, Clark thought.

"This is..." Looking around her environment. "I'm feeling a little claustrophobic, aren't you?"

"Uhh... Well..." He looks around himself, raising an eyebrow. "Lois, we're outside," he pointed out, they were still at the park. He grabs hold of both her shoulders lightly to stop her from possibly running away.

"Lois," he whispered. There was a longing in his voice.

He slowly leaned in and rested his forehead atop hers, both very much aware of how their lips were only inches apart. She suddenly felt like she couldn't move. He searched her eyes for any sign that what he was doing was wrong, but he saw nothing of the sort, all he saw was eyes that longed for something, just as he does. His hand caressed the side of her cheek, while the other pushed a lock of hair behind her ear.

He was cupping her face now as the pull between them seemed only to get stronger. They remained still, unmoving, he didn't want to look away in fear that she wasn't real.

His mouth hovered above hers, waiting for her to make the first move. She knew how he felt, but he needed to know that she felt the same way, so this was one move he wasn't going to initiate first.

And then when he thought he would once again be left alone, it happened.

Time stopped and the feel of her lips were on his; if this was heaven, it didn't feel so bad.

The kiss started slow, tender, her arms making its way slowly around his neck while his hands slipped down from her face then reaching back up behind to the small of her back. The kiss quickened, whatever hesitancy that existed before was replaced by fervid passion.

As they continued to kiss passionately, the familiar ring of her phone took them out of their intimate embrace. She quickly pulled back, the both of them left with heavy breathing.

He touched his lips, the taste of her still lingered. This wasn't a dream, it was real. "Did I do something wrong?" It was a stupid question to ask, but she looked confused, almost lost. How can something feel so right be wrong.

She ignored the ringing of her phone. "I shouldn't have done this," she weakly uttered.

She didn't sound very convincing. He moved a little closer, but she only stepped away.

If he didn't know Lois as well as he did, he would've been crushed at the gesture. "It takes two to have done what..." he stared at the spot they were at mere seconds ago. "... we did just now," he finished, remembering how good it felt to have her in his arms.

"It never should've happened"

She was running away, he concluded. He found it slightly amusing since it was a move he usually used on himself.

"I wanted it," Clark spoke out, surprising not only Lois but himself too. "Why are you being so stubborn?"

"Have you even thought about what this would do to the people we care about?" She points to herself. "Chloe?" She gestures to him. "Lana?"

"I'm not in love with Chloe," he answered truthfully, the mention of her name bringing back the memory of their earlier conversation, he thought it best to leave that part out for now. "And I'm not in love with Lana," he added with genuine conviction. "I don't know when it all started to change, but I know how I feel, and when I'm with you, I'm happy." His eyes begin to glisten with tears, while Lois was already brushing hers away. He lightens his tone. "Granted, there's frustrating, annoyed, challenged, but then there's happy." He smiled bigger this time. "Truly. Genuinely. Happy."

He continues his confession. "There are things about me that I keep from people, and it's not because I don't want to tell them, but because I'm afraid that they'll hurt me if I do." Lois stared at him with a mix of sympathy and mild confusion.

"Clark," she didn't know what to say. She was right back where she started.

"Lois, I'm not asking for your hand in marriage." That in itself would a prove an interesting day. "You either like me or you don't. Which is it?" It wasn't that he was impatient, but if this goes on any further, he'll be inclined to reach out and kiss her again, and make the decision for her himself.

"I'm just... surprised," she replied.

"I know, I didn't think it all the way through. I just needed to see you, you've been bothering me more than I care to admit"

She grins at this. She finally feels her nerves calming down.

"Can you do something for me?" she asked carefully.

"Anything," he replied.

Somehow, she knew he wasn't lying. This time, it was Lois who closed the gap between them, resting her hand on his cheek.

"I need some time alone to think"

"I guess that means it's a 'no'"

She shook her head before pulling him into a kiss. Clark realized her action contradicted what he initially thought was her answer.

When they finally broke apart, Clark looked like he was in a dazed state. "Some time alone, huh. Well, uh, I think I could let you go for a couple of days," he stuttered, trying to contain his happiness. They may just have a chance.

Several hours later in Smallville, Chloe exited her bathroom, preparing to head to bed when she noticed a familiar car parked outside. She quickly put her robe on and rushed down stairs. Opening her front door, she saw a figure, but couldn't make out who it was due to the darkness of the night.

She opened the screen door.

When she got a clearer view. "Lois?" She runs up to her. "Oh my god, Lois, what are you doing here?" Then the thought of Clark appeared in her mind. "Aren't you suppose to be in Metropolis right now?"

She shrugged. "More or less." She pulled her knees closer to her body. "Can I stay the night?" She asked softly. It was moments like these that reminded Chloe that Lois was just as fragile as the rest of the world. It's hard to even think of Lois as incapable, but even the strongest of individuals deserved a break.

"Is this about what happened with Clark?"

Lois looked at her, almost frightened. Reluctantly, she answers. "How did you know?"

She's falling in love with the man Chloe's been in love with for years. How does she tell her that without sounding so guilty. When she left Clark at Metropolis, it broke her heart, everything just suddenly became so confusing and the only thing that seemed to make sense was when he held her, kissed her. Quoting Joss Whedon, I'm going to that special level of hell, that level reserved for child molesters and people who talk in the theatre.

"Well, he went to Metropolis to tell you how he felt, I'm guessing from your sudden appearance on my porch, it didn't go over too well"

What the heck? Lois's mind was racing. Chloe knew. Her cousin knew what had happened. Is the world punishing her or was this some sadistic trick. Her face fell, the feeling that she betrayed her cousin continues to torture her.

"Chloe, I'm so sorry, it just happened," Lois tried to explain. "One minute, I was studying for my final and the next, there was Clark." She tried to continue but stopped herself when Chloe reached out and held her tightly.

"It's okay," Chloe whispered. "I'm not mad." Then it dawned on her. She let Lois go and looked at her dead in the eye. "You study?"

Lois rolled her eyes like she did this morning with Clark, but it didn't keep the tears from showing. "I'm trying to be serious for once here"

Chloe smiled. "I know, I know. I'm sorry. Why don't we get some sleep and we'll talk about this in the morning," she replied supportively. Lois knew better, she wasn't going to get any sleep tonight.

Morning came and Chloe caught Lois in the living room looking at photo albums of themselves when they were children. If you kind of think about it, they still were. There's just so much too learn, so many years ahead of them to make more mistakes.

Chloe noticed a familiar photo and reached for it. "Remember this," she asks, raising the photo for her cousin to see.

Lois nods her head that came along with a big smile. "You kidding me," she starts off excitedly. "Daddy had a fit"

"A rebel in the making," Chloe chimed in. Then she moved to sit by her, still holding the photo in her hands. She hands it to her. "You know, I was the one who convinced you to go in there that day, we got in trouble because I was just a little too curious for my own good. But," she paused. "... It never mattered to you. You jumped right on in there and took the blame. You've been looking after me for years and you've never held any of it against me."

"Come on, Chlo... you're not just family, you're my best friend"

"I know, I know, and I guess because you've never let me down, I've sort of been spoiled in that aspect." She takes a deep breath. "Whatever reservations you may have about Clark, please don't let one of them be because of me. As much as I love Clark, I love my cousin more."

"Thank you," she responded gratefully. The tears forming in her eyes were very close to being released.

Chloe nudges her. "I know you too well. If I asked you to stay away from him, I know without a doubt you would. But then I think about all the times you were there for me, protected me, made me a part of something worthwhile and I realize, I'm just being selfish. You never needed my blessing, Lois, but if that's what's keeping you from him, then you have it"

Both girls were crying now. Lois smiled. "You're not selfish," she hugged Chloe like they were really sisters.

"Oh, I know I am, but I appreciate you thinking otherwise," Chloe quickly retorted. "So, give me the 411. You and Clark?"

Lois eyed her carefully. "You sure you want to be talking about 'that' with me?" No matter what her cousin said, Lois will always regard her feelings respectfully.

Chloe's face scrunches. "No, not really," she admits. "It was a good try though, wasn't it?" she mused.

Lois's face brightened.

"I thought you handled it perfectly"

To be Continued...