Author's Notes: Hey everyone. You all are fantastic. Thank you for all the comments. The prologue was just a catalyst for Lois and Clark to move on with their lives. The story isn't dark at all, not in the least but I'm glad that it had the effect that it did, because losing Jonathan wasn't just their lost, but ours as well. Lois can't stay at The Talon forever and Clark's future doesn't lie in Smallville. You'll know what I mean.

Act 1

Click. Flash. I turn the camera on another angle. Click. Flash. And then another angle. Click. Flash. And finally… Clark appears in frame, startling the hell out of me. Click. "What the hell, Smallville?" Flash.

He smirked. "How do I look?" he asked smugly.

I removed the camera strap off my neck and placed it back in its bag. "Like road kill," I quipped. "What are you doing here?" We hadn't seen each other in almost a year, shortly after his father's funeral. "Last I heard, you were Spain."

He approached me with a smile and I'm glad to see he hasn't lost his sense of humor.

"I'm visiting. I saw my mom and Chloe and I thought I'd say hello." He takes my bags practically instinctually and we start walking. "So," he said rather profoundly. "Chloe told me you signed up for journalism. I thought you have a fear of being seated in front of the most bubbling reporter on the masthead."

Now it was my turn to smirk. I'm glad his memory is in tact as well.

"I haven't gotten that far yet, but I'll be sure to let you know." We reach my car and I see for the first time a freer looking Clark Kent. "Traveling suits you," I compliment sincerely.

He returned my compliment with a big smile. "Thanks." And then he looks at me. What is he looking at?

"What are you looking at?"

"You"

"Me?"

"You're hair is darker… and… and you look different."

I chuckle. "My secret's out." I throw my arms out in the air in dramatic fashion. "I was born a brunette," I reveal heartily as if it was the biggest secret I held.

"Really?" he chuckled.

I shrugged. "Yeah, but when I turned fourteen I got carried away with hair coloring. I haven't gone back till now."

He laughs at that, but it was a different laugh than I'm used to. Like he actually thought it was amusing.

"Do you want to grab something to eat?" he asked, popping his knuckles. He sounded nervous. "I saw a good café on the way here a few blocks east."

"Sure. Why not."

It took me a minute to realize that I just agreed to go out on a brunch date with Clark Kent.

When we reachedthe cafe, we ordered our drinks and began talking, catching up on the past year. Actually, once you get him to start talking, he talks a lot. Almost as much as me. Almost.

"So how long are you here?" I've been curious all afternoon.

"A couple of days."

"Wow." That left me a bit surprised. "So we're nothing but a pit stop for you."I didn't say it to put him down.

"Not a pit stop," he assured.

By the way he said it, I knew he was being genuine so I evaded reacting to his words by asking another question. "Where will you go next?

"I'm not quite sure yet. I'm kind of flying by the seat of my pants."

"Yeah," I chuckled. "Let's not talk in metaphors."

He laughs.

"How about you?" he asked. "We've been here for over half an hour and I'm the one doing all the talking. What have you been up to besides school?"

I shrugged. My life isn't that interesting to talk about, especially the last year.

"Like you said, it's all been school. After I enrolled, the General flipped the bill for room and board. As long as I get through school this time, I'm on an allowance."

"Are you thinking of going to work with Chloe at the Planet?"

I wished he didn't ask that. I've been avoiding visiting Chloe at the news building all year and I don't plan on breaking that habit anytime soon.

"Not really."

"Why not?"

"You ask a lot of questions, Smallville? Whatever happened to the farm boy that avoided conversations with me let alone actual inquiries?"

He frowned. I didn't think I would hurt his feelings. We're friends but we weren't exactly the best of friends. That was Chloe's role in Clark's life not mine.

"Forget I asked," he replied grumbly.

I roll my eyes at his childishness.

"You missed your part where you insult me"

He has this flabbergasted look all over his face when he asks, "Why?"

"Because that's how our relationship works. What's wrong with you?" I wave my hand across his face. "Are you off your clock?"

Now it was his turn to roll his eyes and that makes me smile.

"There you are," I greeted the familiar look.

He shakes his head looking obviously amused.

"I've missed talking to you."

I stare blankly at him. "Huh?"

"Our friendship, Lois. I've missed it," he clarified.

Still not getting it

"Why?"

"Why?" he repeated, both eyebrows raised. "Because I like talking to you."

Yeah, that still didn't make any sense to me. Whenever he needed to talk to someone, it would be either Chloe or his parents and Lana - No, Nevermind, not Lana. He wouldn't gotten much out of her anyway. So going back to my earlier thought, talking was something reserved for 'not me' and whenever it is me, it's usually because it was convenient and that was fine.

"Don't look at me like that," he says.

"How am I looking at you?"

"Like you don't believe me."

I had to laugh. "That's because I don't. Look, we had a few good talks here and there, but that doesn't quite clarify me as your confidant. Besides, if you wanted to talk to me, you know all you needed to do was pick up a phone."

He sighed and I can tell he's frustrated.

"Talking to you is different than talking to Chloe or my mom."

This I've got to hear.

I crossed my arms and waited for him to continue.

When he doesn't continue, I take the better part of valor and give him what he wants.

"All right, so I've got this professor in my English Lit class..." and we spent the rest of the afternoon trading stories about the last year and whatever else that we could think of.

To be Continued...