CHAPTER ONE

They stood there in the caves. Staring into each other's eyes. Holding on to each other's arms. Not wanting to let go. Knowing that they would not see each other for a very long time. His hand caressed the side of her face and she allowed a lone tear to fall. His thumb caught the tear and he gently wiped it away. She smiled weakly at him. She loved him. She knew that. It didn't take a genius to figure that out. Despite the banter, the insults, the arguments, the denials. She had fallen head over heels for one Clark Kent. And he in turn fell for her. As they stood there, it felt as if it was the end of the world. Words were not enough. Their eyes and touches saying more than words ever could. She would not see Clark for years… she would not remember her Smallville… her brief time in cohabitation with the Kents… the meteor freaks… none of it. Destiny was such a bitch.

She had moved into the apartment above the Talon. The one that had been occupied by Lana the Pink. She had purposely removed anything that had been used by Lana. Since Lana and Chloe were sharing a dorm Lana didn't need her furniture. So, Lois decided to sell it, with Lana's permission, and gave the money to her. Then she had to disinfect the place. She knew that Clark and Lana had done the deed. And she wanted to get that image right out of the apartment. The idea was just too disgusting to imagine. It bothered her a lot. Images floated around in her head. She hoped that it wasn't going to be that difficult to live there, knowing what had happened. It was sex. And people have sex all the time. But it was just … Clark. Sweet, innocent, naïve Clark. Somehow, she thought, he'd wait longer for this, waited for someone else, not for Lana. Least of all Lana. Lana was Chloe's friend and admittedly there was an obligatory friendship involved. She did like Lana but she was just too good, too sweet for her own good. She looked over the apartment and breathed it in. The smell of disinfectant satisfying her urge to purge anything that resembled Lana or Clark. Satisfied, she flopped onto the bed and slept.

It was night and he was moping. He stared out the telescope staring at the stars. They seemed to calm him when he was … what was he? Upset? Confused? He shook his head. And sat down on the couch his head in his hands. He had everything. He had Lana. He wanted Lana since forever and he had her. But it wasn't what he expected. Okay, he thought, he and Lana did the most intimate act that could happen between two people. But he felt empty now. Lana had moved to Metropolis with Chloe. And these days without her were just empty. He loved Lana. He was sure of it. But did he love her because he wanted to or because he was supposed to? Had he conditioned his brain to love Lana? Had these years of wanting Lana sweep any other train of thought away from him? What did he like about Lana, really? So, she was beautiful, she was nice, friendly, dresses well… nice. That was a short list. He knew nothing about her really. Nothing below the surface. Frustrated, he decided to go for a run. A very long run.

Lois bolted awake. She had a nagging feeling that someone was there. She sat up in bed, listening to any sound of a break in. Even though she didn't hear anything she still had this feeling that someone was there. She reluctantly got out bed dragging her blanket and wrapping it around her. She walked downstairs into the Talon. She walked through the darkness to the doors and was surprised at what she saw. Clark Kent sitting on the kerb. Head in his hands. She quickly opened the door.

"Smallville?"

He turned. Only one person called him that. "Lois."

He stood up and walked over to her. "Sorry, if I woke you."

Lois grunted. "You didn't wake me. This stupid intuition woke me. You just happened to be here."

He gave a small smile. Not knowing how to proceed. He hadn't planned on ending up here. He had run to the limits of Smallville, through farms, around the lake and he just happened to stop here. Unable to think. Unable to have a coherent thought. He was just empty. Lois, not liking awkward silences, invited him inside for coffee. He nodded in agreement. As he wandered up the stairs to somewhere familiar. He was surprised to see that the apartment looked completely different to what he remembered.

"The apartment… you've made it your own," he mumbled, remembering the last few times he had been here. Looking back on them with an air of reminiscence. Supposing, perhaps, that's the only time that he had been really happy with Lana.

"Yeah, well. The pink was starting to get to me. And it smelt a bit funky. Like a poodle or something," she replied, handing Clark a coffee filled mug.

They stood on either side of the kitchen counter. Silence. There was something wrong here. Something very wrong.

"Okay. Spill it, Smallville. You're not just here to sip coffee and admire my work on your girlfriend's former apartment."

Clark nearly choked when Lois had said 'girlfriend'. Now that Lana was in Metropolis and he in school and having to help on the farm he rarely had time to see her. Even with his superspeed. When he had been on the phone to her it was all small talk. About nothing in particular. He could feel himself drifting. He could feel them drifting apart. He sighed and blew into his coffee.

"Fine. Don't say anything. Although, that look on your face is awfully familiar. The pity party face, coupled with a pining for a certain brunette. Although, why this look should reappear is just a mystery," she said. "You really don't want to happy. Mopey."

He glared at her. "I do want to be happy."

"And I am happy," he added as an afterthought, although Lois wasn't thoroughly convinced.

"Sure you are, Smallville. You just keep telling yourself that," she smiled and gently took the coffee mug away from his hand, as Mrs. Kent had done the second time they met. "You should go home, Clark. It's late and Ma and Pa Kent might think I've corrupted you."

Lois was being too nice. And Lois thought she was too. Very unlike her. But she couldn't help it. He wasn't happy and probably wasn't in the mood to be bantering. Plus, she was tired and couldn't put on the act while she was tired. Because that's what it was, an act. Not that she ever let on that it was.

"You called me Clark," he said softly to her, as he made his way out.

She grinned. "Bye Smallville."