Chapter 10

Chloe was worried. How would Clark react to his phone conversation with Lois? From the Lois's half of the conversation, Chloe deduced hat Clark had decided to tell Lois his secret. She agreed that it was a good idea to tell Lois but wondered what made Clark decide to tell her.

She was unsure how Lois would take the news initially; she knew Lois was still having problems coming to terms with how she felt about Clark. How would she take learning that Clark was an alien? It seemed like Clark was going to show her the Fortress of Solitude. She envied Lois in a way; Clark had decided to tell Lois, while his hand had been forced when he told her. Still it would be nice to be able to share Clark's secret with Lois.

Chloe pulled up to the yellow farm house and got out of her car. She went to the loft, where Clark always went to be by himself. "Clark, are you okay?" she asked before reaching the top of the stairs. "Clark? Are you here Clark?" she asked getting worried. When she got to the top of the stairs, there was Clark sitting on the sofa with a picture in his hand. She made her way towards him and put her hand on his shoulder and repeated softly "Clark, are you okay?"

Clark almost jumped at the contact. "Sorry Chloe. I didn't hear you come up." He responded without emotion; still staring at the picture.

Chloe looked at the frame and her hypothesis was confirmed. It was a copy of the portrait they had gotten for Lois. "Clark, Lois told me to tell you she was sorry and she will think about what you asked." Chloe said soothingly. At the mention of Lois's name Clark's attention zoomed in on Chloe. "I've never seen you like this before Clark, not even when you and Lana weren't talking. Are you sure you're okay?" she added quietly.

"Chloe, I don't know what to do! Was it a mistake to call her?" Clark pleaded looking into her eyes.

The emotion in his eyes was deafening; he seemed so lost and alone. She had never felt a greater need to comfort him. "No Clark, you did the right thing." she said gently while she sat down beside him.

She pulled him to her and put her arm around his shoulder. "Clark, you just called at a bad time. I was there and I was making Lois face her feelings... it was just bad timing. She told me to tell you she was sorry." She added reassuringly.

Clark whispered "Lois, sorry? What did you have to do to get her to apologize?" trying to pull himself together.

Chloe replied firmly "Well, I did kind of go off on her. I told her you would never hurt her on purpose and that you weren't trying to take advantage on her. Then how does she repay your good intentions? By crushing your feelings beneath her heel. I told her I was ashamed of her."

"Chloe, you were too hard on her. I know she's just confused right now. It's just hard, you know. I finally realize I love her and now she won't even talk to me." Clark said calmly finally managing to organize his thoughts and feelings.

"Clark, she will come around; she really cares for you." Chloe then quietly asked, "Can I ask you something Clark?" Chloe wanted to know but was a little ashamed to ask. After he shook his head she continued, "What made you decide to tell her your secret now?"

Clark sat back up straight and looked into Chloe's eyes. "Chloe, she's family she deserves to know. I trust her, mom trusts her, and dad even trusted her. I tired of lying; if I want any chance with her, I have to start being honest with her." Clark replied stoically.

Chloe squirmed a little under Clark's intense stare. "I'm sorry Clark; I mean you're just throwing so much at her all of a sudden. She's trying to understand what you mean to her and then you're going to tell her all about yourself. I just wondered if you should wait a while. But, I understand. You must really love her. I just hope she takes it well."

"I do too, Chloe" Clark replied quietly. Then after a minute introspection he replied "I can't describe how I feel about her. There's no one way. I feel so many things all at once: happy, kind of scared too, excited, calm, lost and found. I feel safe in a way that I've never known, but in danger too. This thing between us, whatever it is, it's stronger than me. Being with her is stronger than me alone. That's all new to me – all I can say is I love her."

"Wow! Clark that was so … so … sweet. You really do deserve to be happy." Chloe said in awe of what she had just heard. His feelings for Lois were so much different from the emotions he held for Lana; that had been an infatuation that became almost an obsession. Deciding that it was time, she asked "Clark have you tried flying since the other day?"

Taken aback by the sudden change of subject, Clark answered "What? Flying? Oh, sorry no, I haven't even thought about it. Why?"

Chloe quickly added "Clark, you need to gain control over your powers. What would happen if you suddenly started to float in the middle of Main Street? You know what you could do? You can try to fly! No one's around." Chloe was not at all surprised at Clark's response. His whole being was trying to unravel the mystery that was Lois Lane.

"You're right Chloe. My parents usually help me gain control of my powers. Let's go outside and see what we can do." Clark said as he got up from the couch. He helped Chloe up and they walked outside. Clark looked around to make sure no one was watching and said "Here we go." He willed himself into the air and nothing happened.

"Clark, did you try?" Chloe asked seeing the perplexed look on Clark's face.

"Yes, but nothing happened. Let me think a second... What happened last time? How did I feel? …I was kissing Lois" Clark said to himself. He tried again, thinking about the kiss this time, trying to relive it in his mind but nothing happened. "I felt so perfect, so whole, and so complete."

Once again he tried to relieve those feelings, still noting. "What else was there?" Chloe asked, trying to get him off the ground.

"I felt a pervasive love; I was suffused with love, my love, her love. We became one great all encompassing love." He said, as he tried once more to remembering the love, the all encompassing love he felt; when he opened his eyes he discovered that he was floating above the barn. He saw Chloe waving and willed himself to land. He landed right next to Chloe, who was beet red. "Chloe are you okay?" Clark asked worried.

"Clark, your feelings trigger your powers?" Chloe asked quietly.

"For some of them, extreme emotions are the initial trigger at first. Later, I learn to just will them to work. You probably remember when I got my heat vision sophomore year. Other powers, like my hearing, come when they are most needed." Clark added shyly.

"During the sex-ed film?" she asked remembering the fire that just appeared on the screen.

"Yes." Clark admitted quietly.

"So fire for lust, flight for love, I wonder if you have any cold powers and what would cause them to activate. Not to mention the ability Kara showed when she wiped that car out of existence." Chloe pondered the implications.

Clark was already a man and still gaining more powers. How many more would be added to his already impressive repertoire? Clark blushed, as soon as Chloe had mentioned lust, remembering that day. Then, when she said love, he blushed even more, realizing he must he spoken aloud his thoughts while trying to fly.

Chloe noticed his reaction and chuckled. After a couple seconds, she said "Come on lover boy, let's keep on practicing." They practiced until Clark could control the speed of his ascent and descent, which was relatively fast.

Clark after landing for the last time said, "Thank you Chloe. (Hey,) why don't you stay tonight? I'll sleep on the sofa, that way we can practice some more tomorrow."

Chloe smiled and replied "Sure, Clark. I would love that." Then they went inside the farmhouse.

The next morning, Chloe had Clark flying an obstacle course. By midmorning, he could fly the obstacle course so fast Chloe could barley see his red tee shirt as he passed by. As he flew his last circuit, Chloe thought 'Clark's a new man this morning. Actually, once he remembered the love that had manifested itself in his first flight and once he had remembered the love that had poured into him from Lois; he had become much more confident of himself.'

He practically radiated an aura of confidence, which she had never seen in Clark. As much as she had loved him, she couldn't help but be awed by the power of his feelings for her cousin. Clark was right. Lois completed him in a way no one else could ever hope to emulate. Lois was going to be awed by the new Clark Kent.

As Clark landed beside her, Chloe said "Clark I get going, I've got a lot of work to do and I still want to see Lois before I leave. I know everything is going to be okay."

"Thanks for all your help Chloe. Do you want to go on a quick flight?" Clark asked merrily, like a kid with a new toy.

"I would love to Clark, but don't you think Lois should be the first passenger on the Kent Air?" she replied playfully and added "I'll take a rain check. Okay?"

"Sure Chloe anytime." Clark said as he bent down and kissed her on her cheek. "You're a great friend Chloe; I thanks for everything you've done for me."

"Clark, just sweep Lois off her feet tomorrow. She deserves to be happy and I know you'll make her happy." Chloe said honestly as she closed the car door.

As Chloe drove away, Clark thought 'Tomorrow, Lois will know all about me, I'll never have to lie to her again. She may take some time, but I know she loves me. I felt it. It filled me. Someday, she will admit to herself that she does love me, and on that day, my life will be complete.'