Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters except Lacey, and believe me, she wishes I didn't. Everyone else belongs to Warner Brothers, DC Comics and all sorts of people that are not little old me.
Three
She knew she'd find her here. It was lunchtime and she knew that her target frequented the diner. Maybe it was the fifties theme. The homegrown feel. Or maybe it was because the diner was just around the corner from the Planet.
Lacey was a little confused when Lois Lane joined her at her booth and sat down across from her. The two stared at each other as a waitress came by.
"What can I get you two ladies?"
What the heck was Lois doing here? Lacey wondered over the possibilities as she ordered a chocolate ice cream soda and a large order of fries. Lois quickly followed up by ordering a hacienda chicken salad and a cup of coffee.
The waitress left, leaving the women in silence.
Lois set her arm on the table and rested her chin in her hand while watching Lacey. "You're good for him."
Okay.. Lacey was even more lost now. "Good for who?"
"For Smallville." Their drinks arrived and Lois took a sip of her coffee. "He's relaxed around you. It's good for him."
"Urm.. Right. If you say so." Lacey wasn't sure where this conversation was going. It wasn't that she didn't like Lois, because she did. When she first woke up in this world, she had fully expected to hate her, but it turned out that she couldn't. When it came down to it, personal issues aside, Lois was a pretty decent person. "Can I ask what brought this on?"
"It keeps his mind from other things." Lois said with a mild shrug. She knew Clark used to be in love with her. Maybe he still was. But at least now, he wasn't acting like a puppy. It wasn't right. Not for him.
Lacey stirred her soda with her straw. "What things?"
"Things that are better to move on from. And things.. That need a little time."
It wasn't the words that caught Lacey's attention. It was the tone Lois used. Her attention went full focus on Lois as the reporter took another drink of her coffee, oblivious to Lacey's inner musings. She couldn't.. Could she? "Okay, you're being cryptic woman, and see, I don't respond well to cryptic moments. I tend to want to smack things with wiffle bats and sledge hammers."
Lois smirked at her and shook her head. Her secrets were her own and while she liked Lacey, she didn't dare share at this point. "I just think you're good for each other right now. You get him to laugh and he gets you to smile."
"Right…" Lacey sighed internally. This was weird and she was almost positive that Lois knew the truth about Superman. Did she remember? Naturally, she figured out about her son, but the secret identity? This meant something.
Their orders arrived at the table and the pair began to eat while making small talk. Lois asked her why all she ordered was some fries and Lacey replied that fries made everything better. See? Small talk.
"Can I ask you a question?" Lacey suddenly asked.
Lois looked intrigued. "Of course, but it doesn't mean I'll answer."
Lacey fought the urge to smile. "Just.. Pretty much everyone at the Planet knows about your history with Superman. Why-"
"You want to know why I'm still with Richard and not Superman." Lois finished for her. Even her sister Lucy had asked her that one. She watched Lacey's silent nod. "Because the day I went to visit Superman in the hospital.. Richard offered to take me. What he was really saying was that he was letting me go. The problem with that was that I didn't want to let him go."
"I'm not denying there was or still is something between me and Superman." Lois continued and thought about Jason. That was a bond that could never be broken. "But Superman is the ideal. No one can live up to him."
"I don't get it." Lacey said, confused. "But you could have him, why-"
"Because he can't live up to Richard either." Lois shrugged. She'd thought about this. "Both are good men. The best, no question. Ask me a few years ago and I would have chosen Superman. But wants change. Needs change. People change. Richard gives me what I want and need now. We're equals in every way that matters to me and I love him."
Lacey could understand that, but something still pulled on her curiosity. "But are you in love with him?"
Lois grinned. "Absolutely." She paused with a thoughtful smile. "I think I just needed real, solid, face to face closure to make myself realize what I had and stood to lose."
That insight alone made Lacey's respect for Lois go up even more. Everywhere she turned, this world just kept surprising her.
It was starting to freak her out.
