Clark was standing outside the women's dressing rooms holding purses and CDs and soon he would be holding clothes, if they fit.

"Never go shopping with women," he repeated to himself again and again. How was he going to say no? His best friend was a girl, Lois talked him into things like this, and sooner or later he would have a girlfriend or wife who dragged him around to different stores. Old Lois must've stopped to stare at everything in the store, declaring their future value. When they had gone by the toys, the Barbie dolls had especially excited her. 'Do you know Bratz dolls ran them out of business? These are worth a fortune!' At the CDs she had went to the oldies section and realized she needed the modern section. She had also been advising them to collect good antiques or start a retirement fund because when they got old, social security wouldn't be there. The baby boomers had wiped social security clean, not that it was their fault because they had been paying into it for years. The fault rested on the government who had depended on the current working generation to pay the senior citizens, while they had used the baby boomers' money for other things. At least, he couldn't complain that it had been a boring day.

Old Lois was something else. She still gave him sarcastic remarks and insults but in a different way. He knew young Lois did it to annoy him but with old Lois there was a kind of affection behind it. It was a good thing he wasn't from this planet, otherwise he might be black and blue. Young Lois punched him and old Lois hit him with her cane. A lot of things about her had changed like she didn't drink period, she had become a Christian, she had gained a lot of knowledge over the years, and at the same time, she proved some things never changed. He wouldn't tell either Lois this, but he was beginning to like spending time with her because and despite all of this.

Chloe and old Lois came out of the dressing rooms, took their purses, and gave him the new clothes.

"Pay for our stuff and go put it in the truck, Smallville. We'll meet you at McDonalds. I've really worked up an appetite for supper."

"Aye, aye, Captain Lois," said Clark in mock salute.

"Hey, isn't that Lex over there?" asked Chloe.

"It sure is," answered Clark. "You wouldn't think a rich man like that would go to Wal-Mart."

"Haven't I told you? Lex takes over Wal-Mart and names it Lex-Mart," said Lois.

Clark and Chloe's eyes become wide and their mouths drop open.

"I'm kidding! Who knows what he's doing? He's going out the door now."

Clark and Chloe couldn't help but notice that she seemed nervous, sick, and angry at the sight of him. Did she know what he was up to?

"Okay. I'm going to put this stuff out in the truck," said Clark.

Chloe and Lois were waiting at the table with the food when he got back.

"I took the liberty of ordering your hamburger with lettuce, tomato, and onion."

"Thanks, Lois. That's just the way I like it."

"I know."

That was sweet of her. He didn't know she cared enough to remember how he liked his sandwich. Lana had known once.

"It's been a long time since I've seen that look, but I'd recognize it anywhere," said Lois. "You're brooding over Lana."

Clark was startled that she could read him so well, "I am not!"

"Hey, Lois! I think that old man over there is giving you the 'look'."

"I don't know why. He has to be 10 or 15 years my junior. I take that back. He's about 60 years my senior, now that I think about it. Great, he's coming over here."

"Hey, beautiful! Why don't drop your grandkids off at daycare and come play with me?"

"Why don't you go back to the zoo where you came from?" said glaring Lois.

"Don't be that way, baby."

"You heard her!" said Clark, standing up in a threatening manner.

"Okay! I'm going. Have a crush on Grandma, do you?"

Clark took a step forward and the old man hobbled away.

Why did he feel the need to get involved in her love life? It didn't seem she had given his actions a second thought this time. He wondered if she was a widow or still married. He knew she wasn't going to tell him.

Chloe looked amused, as she said, "You saved the day, Clark."

"I could've taken him out with my cane. This tool for the handicapped makes a great weapon."

"Don't I know it," remarked Clark.

sss

Clark was fluffing his pillow and straightening his blanket on the couch. He had dropped Chloe off, Lois was upstairs getting ready for bed, and his mom was asleep.

Clark heard Lois say his name and so he tuned in with his superhearing to see if she needed help.

"What is the matter with that man? He put his socks in my drawer again and I grabbed up one of his pairs. Now I have to wear his huge socks because the ones I have on has a hole in them after all that walking."

He heard her drop her duffel bag on the floor. Why was she blaming him? He hadn't touched her drawer. He heard a phone ring. That was strange. The phone down here didn't ring and he hadn't seen her with a cell phone. Who was she going to talk to in this day and age?

"What do you want, Dr. Jacobs?"

"I would really appreciate it if you told Superman and his kids to get off me and that you're okay."

"Let go of Dr. Jacobs, everyone."

"Give me that phone! Mom, I mean Mrs. Kent-"

"It's okay, Martha. He's got this time gadget. He knows you all aren't really Superman and Wonder Woman's kids."

"Great. What do you think you're doing, Mom?"

"Don't talk to me like that, young lady! I'm doing what I have to do. How did you find out where I was?"

"When Aunt Chloe called to talk with you, we suspected you weren't really in Gotham City."

"I planned for something like this. I have the time gadget and it won't appear there until this mission is complete. You can't stop it."

"Mom!"

"I love you, sweetheart! Pass the phone around."

She said I love you to four children and then her husband must've come on the phone.

"Honey, I'm sorry I lied, but I'm doing what I know is right. Only I can stop it this time and you know it. It's either this or we will live our lives apart."

"I'd rather have you alive."

"Clark, I love you."

"I love you too, Lois but-"

Old Lois turned the phone off, so that it wouldn't ring. She sounded on the verge of tears, as she whispered, "I'm sorry."

His older self was married to Lois. Somehow, he wasn't too surprised. He had always lived a tortured life and if he wanted to be truthful, a small part of him that had been constantly growing was in love with her. What did old Lois think she had to do? He heard her light snores upstairs. In the morning, he would share what'd he'd learned with Chloe and they were going to interrogate the elderly Lois.