1st I DO NOT OWN SMALLVILLE OR ANY OF SMALLVILLE'S CARACTERS. I DO HOWEVER OWN KRISTIN AND JONATHON (THE KIDS).

I want to know what you think about my writing because I'm becoming a published author this fall. So comment all you can! Thanks---Ana

"Mom, why aren't you and Dad married?" Kristin asked looking up at Lois as she needed the dough. Lois was startled by the question looking up at her daughter then back down at the bowl of cooking dough.

"Well it's rather difficult to explain Kris."

"Well I'm 15, I think if you told me I would understand. I mean, we live with him and Grandma and everything I just never seen you guys together like other Mom's and Dad's. You never hug, or kiss, or sleep together." At that last words Lois's head shot up and her face grew red.

"Well I mean you had to of once right otherwise I wouldn't be here. But what happened to you guys? Didn't you ever love one and other?"

"I care for your Dad very much Kris, but no I don't love him, not like you want us to." Lois said looking back down at the dough so her daughter couldn't read her eyes.

"I don't get it Mom, the way Dad looks at you when you don't look or not paying attention isn't just one of those 'come here baby, let me have you' looks. He almost looks sad. Then when he notices I'm looking at him he smiles and brings up a topic and it's the same with you. So will you just tell me what happened between the two of you that made you guys leave each other?"

"We were never together Kris."

"You mean my parents never dated or anything?"

"No we never did anything?"

"So I was a one night stand thing?"

Lois didn't say anything, what could she say. She couldn't lie to her daughter so what could she tell her to smooth things over. What Clark and she had was a beautiful night that she would never forget well mostly because she had two beautiful children out of it. But it was more. She did love Clark and had since the beginning.

"Enough with the question's Kris. Why don't you go out to the barn and tell Jon and your Dad dinner is almost ready. Grandma should be home soon so we need to set the table."

"I'm not done Mom, I want to know what happened." And with that said Kristin left to go get her dad and brother.

"Dad, can I ask you a personal questions?" Jonathon said while throwing a hay bail up into the rafters without any troubles.

"You can ask me anything son." Clark said repeating what Jonathon just did.

"Why aren't you and Mom married and stuff?"

"What?"

"I said why aren't you and Mom married and stuff?"

"Well that's a complicated question Jon. I'll tell you when you're older."

"Dad, I'm 15 I think I'm old enough to know why my parents live together but aren't together. I mean you and Mom don't even sleep together."

"Okay I think this discussion is over…"

"DADDY! JON! WHERE ARE YOU?" Kristin's voice came from outside the barn.

"In here honey." Clark said back. Kristin walked in and smiled at her father and brother. Then jumped up to the rafters to catch a bail of hay.

"Mom said it was time for you guys to come in and get cleaned up. Supper is almost ready and Grandma should be home soon. Oh Dad its your turn to set the table."

"Alright tell your mother we will be in, in a second. We have to finish putting these bails up."

"Alright Daddy" and then she was off.

"Hey Dad who ever gets the most up the fastest has to do dishes."

"Deal."

Clark was setting the table as Lois was pulling the Lasagna out of the stove. The silence hadn't left the room since both entered. Kristin and Jon were sitting at the top of the stairs watching their parents looking at the other with sad eyes.

"I don't know what the problem is with them." Jon whispered to his sister.

"I was asking Mom earlier why she and Dad weren't married or together even though we lived in the same house."

"I was asking Dad the same thing."

"What did he say?"

"Pretty much that he didn't want to talk about it and leave it at that."

"I got a little further with Mom but I got pretty much the same response."

"What did she say?"

"She and Dad were never together, it was pretty much a one night stand."

"You mean we come from a one night stand?"

"Looks like it."

"I just don't get it. Why do they look at each other like they do if they don't love each other? I mean, you would think that one if they didn't love each other we wouldn't be living with Dad and Grandma, we would be with Mom somewhere. And two why are they always sad when they look at each other? Something had to of happened to make them end up this way."

"I know Jon; I mean their perfect for each other. Sure they fight but they always make up. I just wish they could be happy."

"Maybe we have to make them be happy."

"How do we do that Jon?"

"We trick them. Think about it Kris? Whatever happened in the past doesn't change the way they feel now. So if we can make them forget about it and remember what made them want to be with each other in the first place, we might be able to make them see their differences and fall in love all over again."

"That is a good idea Jon."

The silence between them was deafening and it was driving Lois nuts. She had to end it.

"I have an announcement to give during dinner." She said hesitantly.

"Is it a good announcement?"

"I think it's good. I know its going to change our lives."

"I don't think I like the sound of that."

"You might not like the news either."

"What is it?"

"I would rather say it when everyone is here."

"Okay" Clark said and then the silence came back. Lois sighed sadly, she missed the days when they were teenagers and able to joke and play with each other without anxiety. Now the fear of making the other angry or saying the wrong thing hung over their heads like a never ending storm. Lois carried the lasagna over to the table and set it down. Mrs. Kent walked down the stair with the children and Lois and Clark sat across the table not looking at each other. Everyone started eating while Martha and the children talked about their days.

"You said you had an announcement for us Lois. Are you going to share it?" Clark asked suddenly, startling Lois from picking at her plate.

"Oh, yes, um I don't know how to put this exactly."

"Just spill it Mom, that's what you always tell us to do." Jon said. Lois smiled at her son and nodded.

"Alright, I got a new job." Everyone started to congratulate her, everyone except Clark who kept quiet until everyone else was done.

"Where?" he asked, making her look at him then look back at her plate.

"Lois where is this new job at?" He asked again. She looked up and gave everyone a fake smile.

"Metropolis. I would be a lead investigative reporter for the Daily Planet. I can start in one week. They already set us up with an apartment and I wouldn't be working the long hours I do now, I would be home around the time the kids get home. Plus the schools are great."

"Wait a minute, your saying that we're going with you? We are going to live in Metropolis?" Jon asked.

"Yes, I already have it arranged." She smiled when the kids started cheering and talking about new people and stores and a big new house. When she turned her head back to Clark her smile faded as she saw the hardness of his face.

"May I speak with you upstairs please?" He said dangerously quite making the children stop their chattering. They looked at their parents then back to their Grandmother who continued to smile as they watched their parents walk up the stairs.

"It's just a shock that's all. They will figure this out?" Martha said to Kristin and Jonathon.

"Dad didn't look to happy Gran, he looked pretty pissed off."

"Well you'll be leaving, but he needs to understand this is a great opportunity for your mother and the both of you. Plus you will be coming back to visit every weekend." Martha said smiling as she began to hear the yelling coming from up stairs.

"So you wanted to spring this little announcement on me at the dinner table? Didn't you think I had a right to know before hand?"

"I wanted it to be a surprise."

"Big surprise, you're taking my children away from me and you call that a surprise."

"I thought you would be happy for me Clark. You of all people. You know how much this job meant to me."

"Yeah to you, now you are picking up my kids and moving them 3 hours away."

"They're just as much my kids as they are yours, if not more so. I'm their mother I'm not leaving them behind."

"I'm their father and you expect me to let you take them. I love my children you have no right to take them from me."

"Clark they will be coming back every weekend and most holidays. We will trade off Christmas and Thanksgiving and summer break they can be with you too."

"You don't understand. Those are my children I want them here with me."

"WELL YOU DON'T ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU WANT CLARK! I'm not leaving them behind. Either we can agree on the terms or we can go to court. Either way they will be living with me."

"What did I do to you, to ever make you hate me this much? First you leave me with the kids when they are babies now you're leaving again. What did I do to deserve this. You took them away once now you want to do it again."

"YOU didn't want me. That's what you did Clark. I wasn't the one that left us behind it was you."

"You always say that but you never tell me how. I want to know. I want to know now!"

"You already know you're just too blind to realize it." And with that said Lois stormed out of the bedroom downstairs and back to the table leaving Clark to fume.

Four days later Lois, Kristin, and Jonathon were all packed up and ready to head off to Metropolis to get settled into their new house. The kids were sad and excited and Lois has stayed up the night before silently crying herself to sleep. Martha was out helping them pack and Clark was still in the barn not wanting to say good-bye.

"You know how he is with good-byes dear. He doesn't like them; it's like a end to him, not a beginning." Martha said putting her hand on Lois' shoulder.

"I know but he should at least be out here for the kids. He is their father."

"I know. I'll tell them to go in to see him. You might want to say good-bye to."

"Yeah I will once their done. I don't want him in a even worse mood while he says his good-byes."

"Reasonable." Martha went off to find the kids. Once she did they ran off to the barn tears in their eyes.

"DADDY!" Kristin yelled into the barn smiling sadly at Clark when he appeared trying to be brave for his sake. But instead both children ran and hugged their father. Tears started to fill his eyes as he looked down at their heads his hands running down Kristin's Black waves and Jonathon's brown curls.

"Now listen to me. We're going to see each other every weekend starting Friday after school. This is a big break for your mom so you have to be happy for her."

"I'm going to miss you Daddy." Kristin said rubbing her cheek into his work shirt.

"I'm going to miss you to beautiful. Jon you're the man of the house now. I want you to take care of your mother and sister alright. It's a big city and there are a lot of creeps out there."

"Yes, sir." Jonathon said hugging his dad tighter. Lois watched and she began to cry again. She knew Clark was trying to be strong for their children's sake and god bless him for it because she didn't know if she could. Clark looked up and saw Lois standing in the barn door.

"Alright guys its time to go. Give me a hug and kiss and don't forget to call me when you get there so I know you arrived safe." They twins nodded and hugged and kissed their dad then left to say good-bye to their Grandmother. Lois stayed and walked to Clark smiling a little as she did.

"I'm going to miss you Smallville." She whispered and watched his look change from sad and hard to stunned. She hadn't called him Smallville since she left the first time. She leaned up kissed his lips and then gave him a quick hug than ran out of the barn before he could say anything to stop her or make her cry. After all the good-byes were said and the car loaded up they drove off towards the city.

Clark stood in the barn window watching until he couldn't see them anymore and finally let himself give over to the sadness that swept him. His children were gone and the love of his life with them. Now the house was going to be quiet and empty again. He waited until after his mother went to sleep to go into the house and up to his old room. He laid in the bed and breathed in the smell of Lois then exhausted went to sleep dreaming of her.