"So how are you really holding up?" Clark asked Lois again. He gazed at her slim figure as she leaned against the ledge. She looked almost angelic as the sun shone behind her and highlighted her deep brown hair.

"Confused." she stated without hesitation. From the puzzled look on Clark's face, she knew she would have to elaborate. "Clark, it is no secret that I have had feelings for Superman in the past."

Clark pretended to seem surprised, but he could sense Lois knew his reaction was only out of courtesy.

"I thought that those feelings were gone. I mean, he's been gone for five years. After a certain amount of time, I just felt I had to let go. But seeing him again…it just brought all those feelings rushing back." She blushed at this. Clark knew it was rare for Lois to show any vulnerability. Ever since he had met her, she had been nothing but defensive, strong, and poised. It wasn't until he began meeting her as Superman that he discovered that she was secretly a romantic.

"You're not gonna tease me about all this?" she laughed nervously.

"Of course not. I know everything lately has been really hard on you. I just want you to know I'm always around to listen if you need to talk." He hoped adding the line "always around" might spark a memory in her, but Lois' mind was already elsewhere.

"Thanks," she said, "but I won't bore you with this any longer."

Clark was about to protest when he had an idea. "Well, um, I'm gonna go back down and start reviewing those memos. I'll cover for you a bit so you can have some time to think things through yourself." He almost didn't finish his sentence by the time he reached the stairwell. He glanced to see if Lois was turned around, and then opened the door to make it sound like he had actually left. He then jumped into the alley way behind the Daily Planet and made his transformation into the infamous Superman.

Clark had put on the suit so many times, but found even now that he was hesitating. There would always be a part of him that wanted to save the world as Clark Kent instead of a flashy superhero. He yearned for a day in which he didn't have to work so hard to protect his identity.

With a quick sigh, he folded up his outfit for the day and hid it in a safe place. He then flew up to greet Lois.

Lois was so deep in thought that she didn't notice Superman was standing less than two feet behind her until he put a hand on her shoulder. She jumped, only for a second, and then composed herself as best she could.

"I thought you were Clark." she stated flatly, not realizing how ironic her comment was.

"I had to see you again. I wish we could have talked longer that one night, but I figured a deep-hearted conversation in front of Jason wasn't the best idea." He smiled, but Lois was not amused. She knew he was right, but that night she felt she would only be content if she was wrapped in his arms. Her heart ached when she had watched him fly away. Superman seemed to sense some of these feelings and tried to justify himself.

"Lois, I heard everything you said in the hospital. I was overwhelmed by the news about Jason. I talked to him that night while he was asleep. He finally put everything my father has been telling me into perspective. He's so beautiful, Lois, just like his mother." That last comment made her weak in the knees, but she waited to see if he mentioned the other thing she had told him in the hospital. As if on cue, he continued.

"You know how I feel about you Lois. I've loved you since the first day I met you. I feel so alone in this world sometimes, but when I'm with you, I feel complete."

She couldn't take it any longer. She moved towards him and leaned into his chest, but before she could meet her mouth to his, he moved away. She looked at him, confused by his reaction.

"I can't do anything with you Lois. You're with Richard, and despite me trying desperately to find flaws in him, I believe he is a good guy. Being with you would be selfish of me, and I don't think I can live with that."

Lois could not believe what she was hearing, but somehow found herself agreeing with him. "I know Richard is a good guy, it's just…when I'm with you…" But Superman interrupted her before she could finish.

"Someone's coming. I have to go." He turned and flew away.

"Wait!" she shouted.

Superman slowed to a stop in the air and heard her faintly say "Meet me at the pier at midnight."

Lois knew Superman understood her as he drifted out of sight. She then stared at the stairwell door as Perry slammed past it.

"KENT!" he screamed. He then saw Lois and instantly calmed down. "Oh. Lois. I didn't know you were up here. I was looking for Clark. Can you believe I give him a job after he vanishes for five years on a mysterious vacation, and then grant him an ADDITIONAL week off just to have him disappear again on his first day back? I must be crazy."

Lois knew Perry had a temper, but Clark's erratic behavior was unprofessional.

"I'll help you look for him Chief." she said simply, and followed him back down the stairs and into the elevator.

It didn't take long to find Clark, since he was sitting right at his desk. He claimed he hadn't moved since he had returned from the roof, which made Perry so angry that he turned red and retreated to his office.

"I'd be careful if I were you." Lois piped as she again took her seat at the desk. Clark made some comment about having a good lead on Lex Luther's new hideout, but Lois was distracted by the note that was left on her desk.

Dear Lois,

I got a sitter for Jason tonight. I'll make dinner at the house. I think we need to talk. –Richard

"Is something wrong?" Clark asked in response to her silence.

"Just all these memos." she said after a beat. She saw the stack of papers as a way to avoid her feelings about her conversation with Superman on the roof and her confrontation with Richard tonight, and began to sort through them as slowly as possible.