Author's Notes: Ok, I'm going to be more structured now. Thanks for the reviews (Hopefully. The plan is all in my head, which may or may not be a good thing). Sorry about typos and the shortness of length.

So basically so far, Clark and Lois in the caves then goes back to them in SV before they were a couple and then back to them in the caves and then back to before they were a couple, then back to the caves and then Lois mysteriously turns up at Bruce's house which occurs after the caves, Clark after the caves, Clark years later. Hope me trying to explain timeline wasn't confusing.

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Chapter Four

Lois stared around her apartment. It was empty now. All her belongings had been put into storage. She had packed the essentials in her meagre luggage. Traipsing around the world with suitcases wasn't her plan. Her plan … her plan was non-existent. She was going to be dropped off in France, on her own. Start there and work her way around the continent. She sighed. She had direction now yet why didn't she feel … purposeful?

"Penny for your thoughts?"

She grew a small smile.

"You forget how to knock, Smallville?" she said as she quickly turned around to greet him.

"Well, I figured why ruin the element of surprise," he said as he stepped in the apartment. He looked around wistfully and wore a look on his face that she couldn't decipher.

"Here to wish me bon voyage?"

She moved closer toward him. Arms folded in front of her. A wry grin on her face.

He didn't reply. And she couldn't figure out what that look on his face meant. Usually she could decipher all things Clark Kent. He was so transparent, she thought. But it wasn't transparency. It was the ability to read someone you know well. But she didn't think that. Not at that moment anyway.

"Well…" she prompted.

"Just here to help you with your bags. Don't want you coming back because you forgot something," he said finally, eyes resting on her lone bag.

She tilted her head to the side. Neither were good at saying good byes, one of them weren't good at expressing their feelings and the other wasn't good at having feelings.

"Look, Smallville. How about we make this less awkward," Lois said as she turned and grabbed her bag. "We'll shake hands and I jump onto the airport shuffle and be on my way to playing 'Where on Earth is Lucy Lane?' "

She stuck her hand out for him to take. He looked at it for a moment before taking it in his and shaking it gently. And when the handshake ended Clark let his fingers glide slowly down her open hand.

"My, my. Not one for words today," Lois teased.

He didn't say anything.

"Okay then …" Lois began, slightly perturbed by his silence. "We did the shake hands thing so I'm just going to pop downstairs and see if my shuttle's here."

On cue a loud beep beep came from the street below. "And it appears as though it has arrived."

And still no response from Clark.

"It's been interesting. Good, interesting and quiet. See ya Clark."

She pushed past him, confused about Clark's behaviour when she felt him grab her arm.

She didn't turn around.

"Don't go."

His voice was full of sadness. It was not pleading or begging. It was a question. A request. And now Lois had choices.