Chloe had to go to class, so Clark was left alone with 1938 Lois. H.G. Wells had already talked to him. He never thought he would say this but he missed 2006 Lois. He knew ideally she was the same person, but he was getting tired of this mess.

"Come on. I'm going to take you around the city," he said.

"About time, Smallville! I was getting ready to leave without you."

"You call me Smallville in 1938 too?"

"I call you Smallville anytime and anywhere."

They found Lois' car.

"This is mine?" she asked, running her hands over the strange vehicle. "Hand me the keys."

"Lois, I think I should drive. You're not used to modern cars."

She looked a little mad and disappointed, but she agreed.

"Buckle up and we'll go," he told her when they go in.

"Why?"

"It's the law. What, it's not in 1938?"

"Most cars don't even have seatbelts."

"Oh, that sounds safe."

"Shut up and drive."

Step one in the plan: Clark put the radio on a station that was playing an Eminem rap song and turned it up full blast.

"Hear that, Lois? And you thought an underwear commercial was bad!" Clark called out over the noise.

"What? I can't hear you!"

He turned down the volume.

"I said did you hear that?"

"I hear the music. It's, uh, a very interesting sound."

"Did you hear the lyrics?"

"You're supposed to be able to understand the words?"

He whispered to her what the song was saying and immediately she switched it off.

"You can't get away from it. They play that kind of stuff in stores, at dances, in movies, and all kinds of places."

She humphed and ignored him. Step one was complete.

"Where did you want to go?" he asked.

"I want to buy more comfortable clothes."

"Perfect," he said, barely holding in a grin.

"What?"

"I said you'll look perfect."

He made sure he stopped at a sleazy store. Step two was a work-in-progress. Lois went looking through the racks.

"These are clothes?" she asked him.

"Problem, Lois?"

"I'm not wearing this crap. I'll hire a tailor. I don't care if I do look old-fashioned."

Step two was complete.

Lana Lang was waiting out on the sidewalk when they came out of the store. "Hi, Clark! Hi, Lois! Chloe told me you might be here."

"Now's not a good time, Lana," Clark told her.

"I thought we might talk about patching things up, Clark. We're in college now. We can be more mature."

Lois was looking very interested.

"Later," he said. He grabbed Lois and started pushing her in the direction of a café.

"She was pretty."

"What? Doesn't Lana exist in 1938?"

"I'm sure she does, but we've never met her."

"Haven't I had girlfriends?" Clark asked, wondering just how different his life was in 1938.

"Two of them, actually. Now that I know you're Superman. There was Lil. She got shot protecting you from a bullet that would've just bounced off of you. I guess you didn't really date her, but you gave her a kiss as a dying wish."

"Who's the other?"

"You date this other girl off and on. Do you really want to know?"

He looked at her. She was so pretty and Lois that sometimes he thought maybe…"No."

Lois looked nervous when she saw the bill for lunch.

"I'm hoping this is due to inflation and we can afford this."

"Yeah."

"Clark, I've been thinking and I don't belong here. Let's go back to the dorm. I'm sure H.G. is there by now."

"How did you know…"

"I eavesdropped. I knew your plan. I just didn't think it would matter. You have to get used to a time like this gradually. Clark, you're one thing that hasn't changed though."

She placed a hand on his cheek and they had a tender moment. They could both see why they were stuck together in every universe. It was just too bad they wouldn't remember. They were going to be placed near where they had been before.

"Before we go though, might I suggest something?"

"Sure."

"Get some glasses."

"Why?"

"One day, you'll find your calling and future Lois needs to forget what you look like without them."

They stopped by an optician and Lois picked out a pair of glasses, paid for it, and put it in his pocket. Hopefully, Clark would find it later and take a hint.

sss

1938 Clark was looking for 2006 Lois. He had already been enlisted by H.G. Wells too. Unfortunately, Lois was loose on the city without him.

"If I were Lois, where would I be?"

His Lois would be working on a story or at her apartment, but this Lois hadn't encountered that side of herself yet, according to what he was told. He was walking down the street. She had mentioned a Starbucks but he had no idea where that was. She had also mentioned liquor, but he thought she was probably being sarcastic.

"Clarkie!" She had found him. "What's up?" she asked.

Clark looked up in puzzlement to answer her question.

"It's an expression, you dork. You're worse than my Clark."

"What have you been doing?"

"Seeing how different the city is. I want to buy some stuff, but I haven't got any money."

"You shouldn't have left your purse at your desk."

"I didn't know I had one, but you have money, don't you?"

"Yes, but we're in a depression. You can't just waste money."

"It's not going to last much longer. The war that brings us out of it is getting ready to start."

"A war?"

"I probably shouldn't have said anything. It's not a waste to eat, is it?"

"No, as long as the price is reasonable."

Step one was getting Lois to see how careful you had to be with money in this time.

"I'll never get use to it," Clark commented as they looked at the menu.

"What, Smallville?"

"Seeing beer on the menu."

"Prohibition has been over for a few years, hasn't it?"

"Yes, but Kansas is still a dry state."

"No kidding? Those poor people in Kansas never drink?"

"I didn't say that. People make moonshine or cross the state line all the time."

She laughed. "I hope your mom's making it okay in the depression."

"Lois?"

"What?"

"My mom passed away before I ever came to Metropolis."

"Oh, me and my big mouth! It didn't occur to me that the mortality rate is higher in 1938. I'm so sorry, Clark."

Step two was helping Lois to see that medicine wasn't as advanced.

Clark looked like he heard something.

"Lois, excuse me. I'll be right back."

"Where are you going?"

"To use the phone."

"Whatever."

She looked out the window. There was a large crowd gathering.

"I guess I should get used to reporting."

She walked out of the restaurant. There was a man in a cape and tights holding down a thief. The cops arrived and took the criminal into their police car. This wouldn't have been that strange except afterwards the "super man" flew into the sky. It was odd. She would have remembered something like that in the history books. It did seem like she had seen him somewhere before though. Yes! Now she knew! He was the man from her nightmares. She walked back in the restaurant and Clark was sitting at their table. She hit him.

"Where are you when I need you?"

"What?"

"There was some creepy guy outside."

"He's not creepy. He does a lot of good for the city. He's a hero."

"I guess he was kind of cute."

Clark sighed. Was Lois destined to fall for his alter ego first in every universe? "Lois, do you want to go to your apartment? We can eat there."

This is where H.G. Wells had told him to meet. Now, if only he could get Lois willing to go when he showed up, everything would be fine.

"Okay, cheapskate. Let's go."

They stopped by the newspaper office, so she could get the keys to the apartment. When they got to her apartment, Lois went into the kitchen and screamed.

Clark dashed in and cried, "Lois, are you okay?"

"There's no microwave!"

"I beg your pardon?"

"I can't fix my meals without it."

"They don't have sandwiches in the future?"

"Clark, don't be stupid."

"I'll fix lunch, Lois. Just relax!"

"Clark?"

"Yes?"

"Who am I kidding? I can't live in the dark ages."

Clark smiled.

"Mr. Wells should be here any moment, Lois."