It had been a week with the kids and Lois gone and Clark had been moping more than ever. He couldn't wait for the children to call. He would sit by the phone waiting for them, then smiling when he heard their voices. He wanting to talk to Lois too, to she how the job was going, to tell her he missed her, loved her, and wanted back home, but he knew she wouldn't listen to him. When he heard the phone ring he pounced on it faster than lighting.

"Hello?"

"HEY DAD!" Both Kristin and Jonathon said over the phone.

"Hey guys how are you doing?"

"Were doing great dad, school's awesome, there are soooooo many hot guys. And the malls are crazy big." Kristin said laughing knowing the look on her fathers face would be priceless.

"Daddy, remember I'm 15. Mom said I'm allowed to date."

"Yeah, well, I said you aren't until you're married."

"Daddy…how am I supposed to marry if I don't date?"

"That's the point Kris." Jonathon said rolling his eyes at his sister. Clark smiled wishing he could see them.

"So are you going to be there to pick us up tomorrow?" Jonathon asked.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world. How is your mother doing?"

"She's good. She loves her new job. She should be home soon too. OH, hey Dad do you remember someone by the name of Arthur Curry? I guess he was a friend of your's and Mom's when you were teenagers."

"A.C. Arthur Curry?"

"Yeah, do you remember him?"

"Yeah, what about him?"

"Well he's living here in Metropolis and when he found out that Mom moved here he looked her up. Mom was really excited to see him. We got to meet him for a little bit. He's supposed to come over tonight and have dinner."

"Oh really."

"Mom's finally not cooking…she's ordering take out, she doesn't want to kill him on the first date. He's pretty cool Dad." Jonathon said in a menacing voice.

"Not to mention hot." Kristin said smiling at her brother.

"About tomorrow how about I pick you guys up from the house when your mom's there, that way I can talk to her."

"That's fine with us."

"Alright, well I'm sure you both have some homework you need to get done so I'll see you two tomorrow. Love you."

"Love you too Dad, Bye."

"Bye"

"Do you think we got him jealous?" Jonathon asked his sister and she smiled a devilish grin.

"I thing that mission was completed. Did you hear his voice? Oh my gosh! Especially when he was like 'Oh Really'." Kristin said imitating her father's voice. Lois walked in then and smiled at them.

"What are the two of you up too?"

"Nothing, we just got off the phone with Dad. He's going to pick us up here tomorrow. He want's to talk to you."

"You didn't tell him about A.C. did you?"

The twins looked at each other then back to their mother. Lois put her hands on her hips and looked at them with stern eyes.

"Did you tell your father?"

"Maybe we let a little slip?" Kristin said looking at the floor.

"How much is a little?"

"Pretty much all of it." Jonathon said smiling at her and looking completely like his father.

"You guys, I told you not to. Your Dad didn't like him when we were kids. I don't think that's changed in 16 years."

"Why doesn't he like him?"

"I don't know, I don't know the reason behind half the stuff your father does. It's just the way he works guys. Now I'm going to hear how I'm trying to replace him in your lives and all the jazz."

"Are you trying to replace Dad?" Kristin asked quietly. Lois looked back down at her children and noticed the change in their eyes. The happiness went to sadness all in a second. Leaning down she put a hand on each of their shoulders and smiled at them.

"I couldn't replace your father. He's one in a million and he loves you both more than you will ever know. But I think in my case it's time to move on from him and begin a new life. I'm not saying I'm marrying A.C. but I would like a chance to know if I could be happy with someone else."

"So you're saying you were happy with Dad once?" Jonathon asked. Lois looked at him then back down to the floor. She couldn't keep it a secret that much longer.

"I was very happy with your father. Once. But that was a long time ago. So let's not think about it and get some dinner. What are you guys thinking? How about some Italian hmmm?"

"Sounds fine with us." They said then went to the study. Lois sighed and picked up the phone almost dialing Clark.

"What am I doing? I shouldn't be thinking of him." Closing her eyes she set the phone back down and breathed. Then picked the phone back up and dialed the Italian restaurant.

"What's the matter Clark?" Martha asked watching her son pick at his dinner.

"Huh?"

"I asked what the matter is. Clark you have barely touched your dinner."

"Oh nothing really I'm okay."

"Clark I'm your mother I know when something is bothering you. Would you please tell me?"

"It's just that I miss them Mom. It's so quiet around here without them and I don't like it."

"I know darling, but you have to believe it's for their own benefit. All three of them." Martha smiled as Clark looked up from his dinner plate.

"A mother knows Clark. I know you still love Lois, she loves you too, the problem is your both to stubborn to realize it and get passed your differences."

"I think your wrong on this one Mom. I love her, I need her. But she doesn't need or love me."

"You don't see the way she looks at you Clark. You want until you open your eyes." Finishing with her plate she picked it up and went to the kitchen stopping beside Clark and patting his shoulder. Clark looked up and smiled but it never really touched his eyes.

"So A.C. what have you really been up to these last 16 years?"

"Oh nothing, working as a marine biologist mostly trying to save the oceans."

"Why didn't you and our Dad get along?" Jonathon asked and Lois's gave him a stern look.

"Jon, that isn't polite."

"No it's okay. Lets just say when it came to your mother we didn't see eye to eye."

Jonathon nodded and looked back at his plate and Lois smiled back at A.C.

"So why did you leave Smallville so soon after meeting Mom?" Kristin piped in making Lois smile at her daughter but also give a glare warning her to shut up.

"Well I had some things to do that I couldn't do in Smallville. And it's a good thing I did otherwise the two of you wouldn't be around."

"Hahaha, don't you just love kids." Lois said smiling at A.C. who returned her smile. "Why don't you guys clear your plates and call your father hmmm?"

"But…"

"Now please. Thank you." And they did what she said grumbling all the way. A.C. laughed at them.

"They are great kids."

"Yeah they are." Lois said love brightening her eyes.

"You still love him don't you?"

"What?"

"You still love Clark."

"What makes you think that?"

"I can see it, and feel it. You know you're not going to be able to escape it with just seeing me."

"What are you talking about?"

"You need to quit lying to yourself Lois the sooner you do the happier you will be." A.C. smiled and laid a hand over hers.

"I'm just a little sad that I couldn't be the one you were meant for."

"A.C. I don't…"

"Listen to your heart Lois, you will realize what it's been telling you all along. But I have to go, work bright and early tomorrow, and tell the kids I said bye and I hope to see them again." With that said he left leaving a stunned Lois sitting at the dining room table.

"Where did A.C. go Mom? Kristin asked from the kitchen door. Shaking her head and looking up she saw her daughter. Was she really that easy to read?

"Ummm, he had to go. He has a early start tomorrow."

"Is something the problem Mom?"

"What? No, nothing just a little tired that's all. Did you guys get your home work done?"

"Yeah, Dad made us get it done." Kristin said looking at her mother; she could see the sadness back in her eyes and it hurt her more than ever.

"That's good…well I'm going to go to bed." Lois got up and walked over to Kristin kissing her forehead then turning to walk away.

"Mom" Kristin said making Lois stop and turn around, unshed tears in her eyes. "Whatever it is, we'll get through it as a family." Lois nodded smiling a little then turning back to go to her room. Jonathon came out a second later and watched his mom's retreat.

"What happened?"

"I don't know."

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