Author's Note
Well this is the new chapter my friends. Enjoy it.
Special Thanks
To Teresa: my beloved surrogate sister who encouraged me to write this story and she also is my personal consultant on it.
To folc4evernaday: who let me use some of her ideas on my story.
And all the Lois and Clark fan fiction writers who inspired me
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters or the songs which are included in the chapter
Warning: This chapter isn't edited and corrected by Beta so forgive me for my grammar errors. Unfortunately English isn't my first language.
Athena
It had been ten minutes since Clark had gone from Lois' apartment. Still dressed in his Superman suit, he sat in his childhood tree house and stared blankly at the barely, by a silver of moonlight, wooden wall, trying desperately to think of a way of salvaging what remained of his life and his relationship with Lois. The image of Dan kissing Lois outside still haunted him and he knew it always would. He was so like a caveman - fuelled by testosterone and unable to bear the competition of another, especially when it came to the girl he loved. He should have grabbed Scardino by the collar of his shirt that exact moment he dared to kiss Lois without her will, and taught him a lesson he would never forget by dropping him from the roof of the LexCorp Tower and catching him a few inches from the oblivion, just like he had done with Dillinger's clone a few months ago. Clark let out a gloomy sigh and focused on his attention on the item between his thumb and index finger. He didn't blame Lois for Dan's actions, but still it hurt. Lois' only mistake was to trust Scardino while she knew his intentions.
'I don't care if you are three hours or two weeks away from me because of your Superman duties as long as I know that Clark will eventually come back to me. Is that too much to ask for?'
'Lois…I will always come back to you.'
Lois had told him that she would wait for him to come back, yet she spent some of her time with Scardino, while with he was in Lebanon. And on top of that, she was also thinking of having lunch with him. He wasn't mad at her because she felt alone and wanted to have fun with a friend. He angered him the fact that the person she chose was a man who kept making a pass on her. Clark raised his eyes to the heavens and clenched his fist the item, praying the pain he felt in his heart to go away.
"Clark?" he heard a familiar male voice. Clark looked in that direction and saw his father to climb to the top of the ladder, holding a kerosene lamp in his left.
"Dad?" Clark asked in disbelief. "How did you know I was here?" It was one of the few times the he flew as quietly as he could to Smallville, so his parents would not know that he was there, but obviously they had figure it out.
Jonathan crawled inside the treehouse. "Lois called and told us what happened." he began to explain as he set the kerosene lamp on a crude shelf. "She was completely certain that you would be here." he went on and sat next to his son. "She sounded pretty upset and your mother could have sworn that she's' been crying."
"I guess that should make me feel a little better...but it doesn't." Clark mumbled and wrapped his cape around himself.
"I can imagine how hard is to see another man kissing your girlfriend, but I think you and Lois should talk." Jonathan suggested.
Clark looked at his father before he drew a deep breath and opened his fist. The item in his palm glittered back at him.
Although Jonathan had a slight suspicion what Clark had in his palm, he leaned closer for confirmation. And he wasn't mistaken. It was a ring. The most elegant and beautiful ring he had ever seen in his life. "You must have spent a fortune on this."
Clark shook his head. "I only paid the jeweler for the design." he shrugged. "The landowner of the diamond area gave the diamonds to me as a thank you for saving his nine year old son." he explained. "Remember the landslide in the South Africa the previous month?" he reminded his father. "I told him that it wasn't necessary but he insisted telling me to give them to the girl I'm love with."
"And?" Jonathan urged his son to go on.
"I was going to ask her on her birthday." Clark revealed with a sad smile and kept the ring between his thumb and index finger.
"And what is keeping you now from doing it?" Jonathan questioned. "Because of what happened tonight?"
"She went out with Scardino while she knew how I felt about it." Clark protested.
"Maybe she misinterpreted that guy's intentions and trusted him." Jonathan assumed.
"Her nickname isn't Mad Dog Lane for nothing, Dad." Clark argued. "Lois trusts no one, that's why no one can fool her."
"Clark, Luthor fooled Lois." Jonathan reasoned. "You made her believe you were two different people."
"My case is different than Luthor's and Scardino's." Clark defended.
"Is it? Look, son." Jonathan started. "When I first met Lois I wasn't quite sure, she was the right woman for you." he revealed. "I mean her attitude." he shook his head at the memory when Lois visited them in Smallville with Clark and met them.
"What?" Clark asked in disbelief. "You're kidding." He couldn't believe that his father didn't think of Lois as the right woman for him. Yes, Lois was a little bad-behaved, but he never believed that his father wouldn't approve her.
Jonathan nodded. "But do you know what was the cherry on top? The fact that she turned down the really you, Clark, and threw herself on your alter-ego, Superman." he confessed. "And when she accepted Luthor's proposal…" he trailed off as he shook his head in disapproval. When Clark decided to stay in Metropolis Jonathan wondered if Lois was really worth Clark's notice or love while she couldn't return those feelings. He had sometimes wondered in frustration why this reporter could not love his son, Clark, while he had despaired of her ever loving him, but she preferred instead of chasing his alter-ego, Superman. "But I have to admit that I have never seen a woman to love with such devotion like Lois loves you." Jonathan said. "Well except your mother." he pointed out. "But Clark, I can see it in Lois' eyes. And I know you afraid of her leaving you because of your Superman duties." He knew Clark very well his insecurities. His powers always made him uncomfortable and Jonathan had to admit that part of it was his fault. He'd always been fearful of someone discovering Clark and that his son would never have a normal life. "But I gotta tell you. Lois might be a handful sometimes but trust me...she's a rare woman, a fighter. And fighters never let you down. I know I married one myself." he said with pride. "Now shall we go to your mother? She made eggplant pie, your favorite." he suggested.
Clark smiled with a nod "In a while, alright?"
Jonathan squeezed Clark's shoulder to reassure his son and crawled out of the treehouse.
Clark looked at the ring in his palm the moment he realized his father strayed away far from the treehouse.
'Lois, I want you to know that I think what you did for Clark, took incredible bravery.'
'Oh, it was nothing.'
'Was it?'
'No, I guess not. I guess there's nothing I wouldn't do for him.'
His father was right. Lois loved him and she would never cheat on him, but it still hurt him what happened between her and Scardino. Clark drew in and exhaled audibly a deep breath as an expression of despair. As much as he loved Lois he didn't know if they would ever be together again, despite his father's reassurances. Only that thought made Clark's heart hurt like Hell.
"It's okay, Perry." Lois spoke into the mouthpiece of her cordless phone as she paced back and forth across her living room. It had been two hours since she had seen Clark after he confronted her about the incident with Scardino outside the Planet, After Clark had left her apartment she immediately called his parents and explained the situation. Both Jonathan and Martha sounded very worried and promised that they would inform her if Clark had indeed found sanctuary in his old treehouse. However, two hours later, there was still no word from them about Clark. "Look Chief, I believe that Clark asked Superman to fly him back to Smallville." she went on as she turned and strode to the window, one hand fingering the curtain hanging over the glass. She looked in vain outside the window, hoping that she would see Clark. "I called his parents two hours ago and told me that they would call me if he's there, so I really need to hang up." she informed as walked to the couch and sat down on it. "No Chief, I will be fine." she assured. "Thanks for the offer though. Look, Chief I gotta go. I'll see you tomorrow. Goodnight." she hung up the phone and placed it on the coffee table when her cell phone chimed briefly. Lois immediately grabbed it and checked it. It was a message from an unknown number. Quickly, she pressed the button and read the message.
You were right. Clark is here. Trying to persuade him to make his way back there, to Metropolis-Martha
Lois breathed a huge sigh of relief and tossed her cell phone on the couch. Clark was indeed in Smallville after all and not in the Arctic or on a mountaintop.
'He's having fun in his hometown only God knows with whom and they are laughing at you.'
Lois buried her face into her hands. Suddenly, Dan's words haunted her thoughts. What if Clark was so angry and so much in pain that he decided to find comfort in Lana's arms?
'It was platonic. My relationship with Lana ended before it really began.'
'We are friends since we were kids and even if we were dating for two months in High School, I'm fond of him only in a brotherly way.'
Lois shook head. 'Dan is wrong.' she told herself, feeling the muddled thoughts hanging over her. 'Just trying to get in my head.' Clark was at his parents' farm still trying to comprehend what happened.
'Don't break his heart.'
'When you turned Clark down because you were in love with Superman and in the end you accepted Luthor's wedding proposal, you broke his heart.'
'One year ago, you broke Clark's heart. I don't even know how he survived it. But I do know one thing. Next time he won't. Just...be careful.'
Lois let out a pitiful, muffled groan. What would Lana and Rachel think of her if they found out she had hurt Clark once more? What Perry did think of her after she told him about her and Scardino?
'Don't break Clark's heart.'
Sure, Perry seemed supportive during their conversation on the phone but she knew that deep down he would put the blame on her for this mess.
'Be careful with Scardino. He will cause problems between you and Clark.'
Perry had warned her multiple times about Scardino, yet she never listened. Now she had to pay the price.
"Damn it!" Lois cursed as she flipped coffee table over in grumpy rage. She began to walk around the living room. "Well, Lane, you've certainly made a mess of this one, haven't you?" she berated herself. "But what are you going to do make it right?" she caught herself on a sob. She raked her fingers through her hair, as if debating what to do next. She was desperate for someone to talk to, but she couldn't call anyone, not right now and that kind of hour. She was on her own. But so many thoughts in her head and heart still needed release, so Lois reached for the pen and the pad which now they were down on the floor, sat back on her couch and with bold strokes, she began to write.
Dear Clark...
Dan Scardino was standing outside Lois' apartment across the street all night. After the incident outside the Planet, he followed her car with his own at a discreet distance to her apartment. A smug smile spread across his face when one hour later after she entered her building, he saw Clark Kent to walk out of it enraged and hurt. When Lois had told him months ago that she had chosen Kent over him and Superman he had promised to himself not to give up the next time he would be in Metropolis. Competing for her affections with Superman he could handle, but Kent? He was nothing. A nobody. He wondered Lois could possibly see in him. Although, after what happened the previous night it seemed winning Lois would prove more difficult than anticipated, it was a challenge he thought he could handle. He wasn't one to back down from a challenge. He knew if given a chance Lois would see her attention was better spent elsewhere, more particularly him. Scardino looked at his watch. It was 8 a.m. and Lois still hadn't walked out her building to work which was unusual for her. Scardino was ready to take a sip of his coffee which he purchased yesterday night by a nearby coffee stand when someone grabbed him by the shirt, hoisting him into the air.
"Didn't Lois tell you to stay away from her?" Clark said through his teeth. He was dressed in Superman when during his morning patrol he wanted to check on Lois. Despite what had happened between them, he still loved her and he wanted her to be safe. However, when he flew above her building, he heard her heart beat but he also spotted Scardino across the street. Although Lois had asked Scardino to leave her alone he didn't listen. Now Clark had to teach him a lesson.
"Hey Supe." Scardino said with an attitude. "Long time no see."
Clark pushed Scardino back against the brick wall, pinning him there with his forearm. "I repeat. Didn't Lois tell you to stay away from her?"
"None of your business, Supe." Scardino scoffed. "It's between me and Lois."
"Exactly." Clark pressed his forearm against Scardino's chest. "It has to do with Lois and it's my business." he spat close to his face.
"You should be on my side, Superman," Scardino informed him arrogantly. "She threw us over for Clark Kent."
"Watch your mouth Scardino or else-"
"Or else what, Superman?" Scardino asked with a self-satisfied smile. "It's not in you, Supe." he went on the same tone. "You see, there is one thing about superheroes - no matter which way they turn, they're constantly bumping into their own ethics."
"Be close to her again and I promise you, you will see my ethics disappear." Clark promised through his teeth and pushed him against the brick wall once more. "I will be watching you." he warned pointing his index finger threateningly and directly toward Scardino before he took off with a whoosh.
"Come in." Perry said as he checked the layout when he heard a knock on his office door. "Lois, what are you doing here?" he asked surprised the moment he heard the door of his office open and Lois step into the room. "I told you to take the day off."
"Good morning you too, Perry." Lois snapped sarcastically, slamming the door shut behind her.
Perry let out a sigh of resignation. He should have figured it out that she wouldn't listen, knowing very well how much headstrong she was. "Have you heard from Clark?" he dared to ask.
"No." Lois shook her head as she sat in the armchair across Perry. She was lying to him. Martha had texted her first thing in the morning that Clark had flown back to Metropolis at dawn, however, he didn't contact her while no one hadn't seen him in the city either as Clark or Superman.
Perry let out a shaky breath and leaned against his desk chair. "I'm sure he will appear and contact you when he's ready." he didn't know if he tried to persuade Lois or himself. Since he had forced Lois to become partners with Clark he had seen the chemistry between not only professionally but also personally. Those two were so different and yet so similar at the same time. That made for some pretty big fights between the two of them, but it also made for some great stories and a very festering romance.
'Lois, anybody with half a hemisphere can see that you two are gasoline and fire, TNT and matches two trains headed towards each other'
A deep sadness overwhelmed Perry as he recalled that day. He wished many times Mayson Drake hadn't died that night. He wished so many times Scardino hadn't showed up both times. He hated that he lived a Norcross and Judd situation again. "Anyway, I think you should go home and rest." he offered. "You seem sleepless."
"Perry I'm fine." Lois replied trying to seem convinced. She was everything else than fine. She had spent one more sleepless night away from Clark tossing and turning and crying occasionally. She still couldn't understand how things had turned out like that. In one lousy second, because of Scardino, she didn't lose only her partner and friend but also the man she loved.
"Lois, when was the last time you ate anything?" Perry asked concerned.
Lois ran a hand across her face. "I don't know." she replied honestly, her own eyes tinged with hurt.
"The last time you slept?" Perry questioned again.
Lois shook her head "I don't know." she responded once more. "But why do you care anyway? You hold me responsible for what happened." she spat before she felt a pang of regret. "Look I'm…I didn't mean to but-"
"It's okay." Perry assured and leaned on his desk rolling his pen between the fingers of his hands. "I just wanna help you clean that mess."
"Thanks Perry but I'm afraid this is a battle I've got to fight on my own." she announced and stood from the armchair.
"Lois." Perry called the moment she went for the door. "Lo-is." he repeated in a warning tone when she went to the door and opened it. "Lois!" he shouted one more time but it was too late as Lois had already strode out of the office shutting the door behind her.
Chocolate torte in raspberry sauce," Mike said and placed a cup of coffee and a slab of cake in front of Lois. "Your favorite."
"Thank you Uncle Mike, but I'm not hungry." Lois pushed the plate and the coffee cup away.
"Lois, hun, you haven't eaten anything for almost two days." Mike observed and across her as a paternal look of concern enveloped his face. When he called Lois in the morning to invite her and Clark for lunch he was surprised to find out about their recent tension between them. When they had visited him the previous week they were so happy and so in love that he couldn't predict what had actually happened a few days later. He thought and loved both his nieces as his kids and he was more than pleased that Lois had found a man like Clark who appreciated her as a reporter, as a partner but most of all as a woman. Mike had never seen in his whole life a man to look at a woman with such love in his eyes the way Clark looked at Lois. As for Lois, Mike had never seen her so happy and carefree in her life. It was such a shame they let that good love go to waste.
"I will be okay Uncle Mike." Lois assured raking her hair back with her fingers.
"Have you talked to him at all?" Mike asked.
Lois shook her head. "I don't think I can do this for the time being." she confessed on the verge of crying.
"Do you want me to talk to him?" Mike offered. "How about Superman? He's both your and Clark's friend and maybe-"
"No!" Lois almost yelled. "You don't have to do that Uncle Mike."
"But Lois-"
"No!" Lois repeated in the same tone. "You don't have to get involved in it." she went on. "As for Superman I gotta say that he and Clark have some kind of male solidarity." she explained. "Besides talking to Clark is something I have got to do on my own."
"Okay. But just know one thing – Clark does love you." Mike emphasized, cupping Lois' cheek tenderly.
"I hope so." Lois wished. "But there's one thing I know for a fact; that you love me and I love you too." she hugged her uncle. Perry and Allie were also father figures to her but he was her father's brother and she was very grateful that she had him in her life when her own father was absent.
"I love you, too, sweetheart." Mike replied and returned the hug, kissing her cheek. "I love you too."
After she left her uncle's restaurant she walked around the streets of Metropolis become she went home. She thought for a moment for stopping by Clark's place but in the end she decided against it. She still wasn't ready have a face to face meeting with Clark. After she struggled to unlock the four locks on her door and turned the doorknob, Lois threw her purse across the living room with a defeated sigh and closed the door behind her, turning the main lock on the door. Kicking off her shoes, she sat on the couch, burying the face in her hands, trying to process what had happened. She was so hurt by the events.
Raising her head after a few moments, Lois caught, with the corner of her eye, the photo that was placed on the table behind the loveseat. Lois stood and took the photo into her hands. It was her most favorite photo in the house. It had been taken by Jimmy few days ago in the newsroom with the logo of the Daily Planet in the background, for the new 'Lane and Kent-The Hottest Reporting Team in Town' campaign of the Planet. She was sitting in her desk chair with her legs crossed while Clark was sitting on her desk behind her with his right hand resting on her right shoulder.
"I love you." It was the only thing that Lois whispered with a shaking voice, caressing Clark's form on the picture as tears pooled in her eyes. She thought that Love wasn't supposed to make someone weak, but stronger. Putting the picture in its place, she turned and walked to her bedroom. With the radio remote, she turned on the radio on her favorite station which played Foolish Beat by Debbie Gibson, one of her favorite songs when she was college.
"There was a time when
Broken hearts and broken dreams were over
There was a place where
All you could do was
Wish on a four leaf clover
But now is a new time
There is a new place
Where dreams just can't come true
It's started the day when I left you
Oohh"
Lois threw herself down on the bed with a deep sigh and stared at phone device on her nightstand.
"I could never love again
The way I loved you, oh
I could never cry again
Like I did when I left you
And when we said goodbye
Oh the look in your eyes
Just left me beside myself
Without your heart
I could never love again
Now that we're apart"
Lois drummed her fingers on her pillow as she kept staring at the phone device and debated whether she should call Clark or not.
"When I was sorry
It was too late to turn around
And tell you so
There was no reason
There was no reason
Just the foolish beat of my heart
Ooohhh"
Lois lay on her back and stared at the ceiling, wiping tears with the back of her hand.
"I could never love again
The way I loved you, oh
I could never cry again
Like I did when I left you
And when we said goodbye
Oh the look in your eyes
Just left me beside myself
Without your heart
I could never love again
Now that we're apart"
Lois turned and looked at the phone device on her nightstand as she continued to listen to the lyrics of the song.
"Oh, can't you see I'm not fooling nobody
Don't you see the tears are falling down my face?
Since you went away
Break my heart, you slipped away
Didn't know I was wrong
Never meant to hurt you, now you're gone"
Lois turned her attention back to the ceiling and rubbed her face in her effort to resist calling Clark.
"I could never love again
Now that we're apart
I could never love again
Now that we're apart"
Without further thought, Lois sat up on the bed and turned off the radio the moment the song ended. "Here goes nothing." she murmured to herself as she picked up the receiver and began to dial.
Clark was lying on his couch watching a basketball game on TV. He concentrated on the basketball which spun above his head when his mind was filled with thoughts of Lois and of what happened. He felt very tired both physically and mentally. He thought for a moment if he should go flying in a place of the World where it was still day and stay in the sun for a while to recharge his body, or even get some sleep, so it would take his mind off Lois, but he found himself unable to stop. Clark blew out more breath and made the basketball go higher when he heard the phone ring. He decided to ignore it because he wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone or to do something. He didn't even respond to cries for help or emergencies but let the authorities handled them. Clark kept his focus on the basketball as his phone still rang before he heard the machine click on, playing the pre-recorded message. "Hi, this is Clark. I'm not home right now, so leave a message after the beep and I will call you as soon as I can. Thanks."
"Hey, it's me." Lois said softly on the machine after the beep.
Clark blew out a super breath throwing the basketball against the wall and turned his head to look at the phone. He wanted so much to hear her voice but eventually he made no move to pick it up.
"Are you there?" he heard Lois ask. "I guess you would pick it up if you were."
Clark chuckled. He could almost see Lois roll her eyes at her own statement.
"Anyway, I wanted to know if you are okay." Lois went on. "Look I…" she paused, sucking in a deep breath. "All I want from you is to give me a sign that you are okay, that you are here." she requested. "Anything." she added her voice taking on a more desperate, pleading tone. "Well, I'd better…"
When Clark realized that Lois was ready to hang up he jumped and quickly lifted the phone out of its cradle. "Hi."
"Oh, Hi." Lois jumped out of her bed, surprised and startled at the sound of Clark's voice. "I I…I didn't-" she cleared her throat and sat down on the edge of the bed. "I suppose you heard what I said on machine." she guessed biting her lower lip.
"Yea." Clark admitted slightly.
"And?"
"I'm fine." Clark replied simply. "How are you?" he asked.
Lois sat on the bed, scooting back against the headboard. "I'm fine." she lied trying to sound casual.
"Lois." Clark warned knowing very well that Lois was lying to him. He could read her like an open book especially the last couple of months.
"Okay, I admit." Lois confessed. "I'm still trying to comprehend what happened." she replied "But I gotta tell you that Scardino didn't harass me again."
"Well, probably a particular local superhero brought him to his senses and he will not bother you again." Clark revealed.
"Really?" Lois asked unable to keep the disbelief out of her voice. "Details?"
Clark chuckled staring at the ceiling and informed Lois in detail about his meeting as Superman with Scardino across her apartment building in the morning and the confrontation between them.
"Well, thank you for taking care of Scardino, then." Lois said with gratitude.
"There's nothing I wouldn't do for you, Lois." Clark revealed.
"I know." Lois replied quietly.
"Well, I'm beat. I guess I'll go to bed." Clark said after a few moments of awkward silence trying to find an excuse to end the call. As much he loved Lois she couldn't expect him just snap his fingers make it all go away.
"Me too." Lois also told. "And Clark?"
"Yea?"
"Please, don't shut me out of your life." Lois swallowed hard, trying not to cry.
"Well, there's tomorrow, the Planet." Clark argued.
"Lane and Kent." Lois told Clark softly. "The hottest News Team in town."
"The hottest News Team in town." Clark echoed. "Good night, Lois."
"Good night, Clark." Lois wished and hung up the moment she heard the click after Clark ended the call. She lay down on the bed and stared at the ceiling clenching the teddy bear in her arms. She didn't expect Clark to just snap out of what happened with Dan but she knew she needed to let him work it through, with the hope that it wasn't too late for them.
I don't know if I can do this, Lois." Clark said in an agonized voice and threw his pen and papers across his desk. It had been one week since the incident with Scardino, and Clark couldn't tell that those days were exciting. The day after they had talked on the phone, they went back to work at the Planet, and although they collaborated briefly to the Clemmons story there was very little interaction between them that didn't count as being work related. Clark kept his distance and Lois respected that staying within the boundaries of colleague and friend.
Lois stood from her desk approached Clark. "Clark, if anyone could write this story it's you." she assured. She had to keep their contact minimal and reserved. Although all those days their work hadn't suffered any, their relationship had. They talked, but always within the limit of casual conversation and never about anything personal. She still had to rebuild the lost trust between them over the Scardino incident. They had been so happy and carefree the past few months, and now that all seemed to be erased with one mistake which was not even hers. Clark obviously wasn't going to make this easy on her. She really didn't blame him though, because she would have done the same to him, if their positions were switched. However, that didn't stop her from being angry. Angry at Clark who needed and asked time to sort things out. Angry at herself because she was giving him that time and she didn't bother to make any moves and speed things along between them. Angry at Scardino who appeared and made that mess. Angry at... well, she didn't know who else and why. Everything between her and Clark was a snarled and tangled mess and she had to pretend that nothing was wrong. However, she had to be patient. Like Clark once had told her, there was an ancient Kryptonian saying that his birth father had told him through the globe: 'On a long road, take small steps.' Those words exactly described her relationship with Clark. Nevertheless, she was willing to go down that road for one more time.
"I don't know." Clark leaned against his desk chair. "I mean…" he trailed off as he picked some of the papers he threw away earlier in his hands and stared at the page in front of him. "He was supposed to be one of the good guys." he mumbled. He was shocked to find out that Matt Young a NIA Agent who gave them the exclusive for the corruption of the NIA was also dirty. However, what shocked Clark the most was that Young framed an innocent man, John Hendricks who was also dead, and he wrote a story that ruined his life. Clark felt terrible knowing that something he did, it had played such a big part in all this.
"You couldn't have known, Clark." Lois told Clark softly and placed a hand on his shoulder, supplying a gentle comforting squeeze. "He tricked us all. If it wasn't Jack, Jimmy's father and the whole mess with Trevanian we would have been still in the dark."
"That doesn't exactly make me feel any better." Clark grumbled.
"How about this?" Lois began. "Why don't we polish the copy of the Clemmons story up now?" she suggested with a smile. "And I can stop by your place later to help you with the story." she offered in an attempt to approach him.
"Will you really do that for me?" Clark asked in disbelief ending his question with a slightly playful tone.
"If you grab my favorite Chinese food from China and share the byline with me." she said, half teasing and half-serious. She noticed the steady, penetrating look Clark was giving her, the light in his eyes. It was the same look he had given her while they were having Chinese in the newsroom during their first assignment together when she had told him not to fall for her. Lois felt a sudden lurch of panic and fear as a thrill of excitement ran through her body. 'Don't go there.' she shook herself mentally and she instantly suppressed what she felt. "Look." Lois hopped down from Clark's desk. She looked at her watch needing to escape the closeness of the moment they had shared and to break the spell she could feel being woven around her when Clark gazed at her with those soft brown eyes. "I have to run some errands the following hours, so eight o'clock?" she asked as she turned her attention back to Clark.
"Eight o'clock. It's a date." Clark announced.
"It's a date."
"What do you mean you don't know much, Bobby?" Lois asked in disbelief and pulled a plate with a club sandwich from Bobby's reach.
"Hey!" Bobby protested. "What are you doing?"
"I'm not feeding you for nothing," Lois shot back pissed.
"I didn't say I had nothing. I said I didn't have much." Bobby clarified and eyed the club sandwich in the plate appreciatively. "And taking food from a hungry man? Cruel."
"Bobby." Lois began in a warning tone. "If you want to eat, you have to talk. That's the deal. Got it?" she responded.
"Breaking up with Clark has made you cold." Bobby remarked annoyed and reached across the table to grab the plate.
"You're not helping your case." Lois told him cautiously, sliding the sandwich closer and closer to the edge of the table. "And how do you know about me and Clark?" she asked curious. "Never mind. I don't want to know." she said quickly, rolling her eyes.
"I thought you had stopped to be obsessed over Superman, Lois." Bobby commented. "Is he the reason you and Clark broke up?" he asked concerned.
"No, he is not!" Lois defended intensely. "Superman is a friend of ours and we want to help him." she explained. "Besides he is providing us with the Swiss chocolates you like so much." she informed. "Now back to the matter in hand."
"Lois, I don't know anything concrete." Bobby shrugged his shoulders. "But there's chatter…"
"There's always chatter," Lois cut Bobby off. "Look, Bobby." she went on more calmly and pushed the plate in front of Bobby. "Look, all I want to know if there is any word about Superman's spaceship and where the Bureau 39 might have taken it."
"Remember when Superman's behavior a few months ago was a little odd." Bobby reminded.
"Yes." Lois nodded. "Bill Church Senior had commissioned Gene's Newtrich Team to find Kryptonite but he found the red variety which affected Cl…Superman mentally."
"Well." Bobby took a piece of sandwich and bit it. "There are rumors that they located the place where Kryptonite was, by the data they had recovered from Bureau 39, and they had also found the location of the warehouse where the Agency had stored its findings after they moved them-"
"I know, I know I know." Lois cut Bobby once more. "About the spaceship…"
"Right." Bobby said and took one more bite of his food. "According to what I heard Church has Superman's spaceship and it's under heavy guard in a basement at the main office of Costmart."
"That's impossible I was there." Lois said in disbelief. "The Police was there."
"Well, maybe they moved it over there afterwards." Bobby shrugged his shoulders chewing. "Unfortunately that's all I know."
"That's more than enough." Lois threw a few bills on the table and stood to go. "Thanks." she said with gratitude and ran across the street to her car.
"Thank you for helping me to write the story." Clark said sincerely as he gathered the notes which were scattered on his desk. "I couldn't have done it without you." he added. "And thank you for the information about my spaceship." It had been three hours since Lois had come to his house and they had started working on the new NIA story. During that time nothing indicated the cooling between them although there was not any interaction that didn't count as being work related. They were so close, yet so far and Clark didn't know what to do about it.
Lois turned off Clark's laptop. "You don't have to thank to me." she said as she stood from the chair. "You are sharing the byline with me." she went on as she put her notepad into her purse. "As for your spaceship…I knew how much you wanted to find it." she added, hanging her purse on her shoulder. "Maybe you will find out more about your birth parents and Krypton." she shrugged as she walked out the room that Clark used as a study/office into the hallway.
"Well, I don't think I will learn more from it that I have learned from the globe, but it's worth the shot." Clark replied following Lois, hands shoved into the pocket of his jeans.
"So." Lois stood in front of Clark's front double doors. "When will Superman pay Costmart a visit?" she asked as leaned against the door.
"As soon as possible." Clark replied as he adjusted his glasses. "But first things first." he went on. "We have a story to publish."
"You don't have to worry about it." Lois assured. "I have already sent a copy to Perry." she informed and, unconsciously, she placed her one hand on Clark's chest over his heart. She felt a jolt of electricity go through her body that made her heart race and her nerves sing when her hand came in contact with the cotton fibers of his shirt. She felt his heartbeat under her palm and looked at him immediately getting lost in those big brown eyes of his. It was the same look he had when they shared their first kiss, the same look he had when she and Clark made love for the first time.
Clark felt Lois' hand on his chest, his eyes locked with hers, and the entire Earth seemed to stand still. No single notice from the city heard, and silence filled the room. Every last bit of air seemed to have been sucked out of his lungs. He couldn't breathe. He felt like he was drowning. He wanted so much to touch her, to kiss her, to make love to her, so he would feel alive again, yet he just stood there, facing her.
Lois immediately pulled her hand off of Clark's chest. "I'd better get going." she announced.
Clark nodded. "Yea." he responded. "Good night Lois." he wished and opened the door for her.
Lois pushed herself from the door. "Good night, Clark." she said back and stepped out of the door.
Clark shut the door slumping against it with a sigh, the moment Lois walked out the entryway and shut the exterior door.
In the meantime Lois leaned against the exterior door with a sigh and shut her eyes. She fought so hard urge to kiss him, to touch him, to tell him how much she loved him. She didn't know where she took the strength to just simply walk away. Lois opened her eyes and readjusted her purse that hung over her shoulder. She descended the stoop when she felt a drop of rain fall upon her face and she walked toward her Jeep quickly. She was ready to unlock the car door when an arm was wrapped around her waist from behind and shoved her brutally against her car. The startled scream that tore from Lois' throat was muffled by a man's lips, Clark's lips that had clasped against hers. She had forgotten how it felt to kiss him, how fast it made her heart beat. Lois felt the warmth seeping from Clark's body when he pressed himself against her, the arm that was wrapped around her now freely wandering her body, caressing and stroking.
Clark placed his hand in Lois' neck and pulled her closer, never wanting to let her go again. He felt fireworks in his stomach and everything inside him exploded now that he was kissing her again after one week. His hands went through her long hair and he felt more alive than ever before. All he wanted to do was stay like this forever. With her lips on his, as his entire world felt soft and warm.
The kiss seemed to last endless, until both of them were completely out of breath. They rested their foreheads on each other's, the eyes still closed. Suddenly, as if it was out of nowhere thunder clapped and a downpour of rain started. Both Lois and Clark opened their eyes and looked up feeling the cool rain on their still slightly burning flesh. Clark pulled Lois into him and looked into those gorgeous eyes of hers while Lois returned the look to his brown eyes through the glasses, which they were dotted with rain drops, and just stared into his soul as the rain continued to pour down. Thunder boomed again and lightning flashed in the sky above the moment they lips collided once more. The world seemed to spin as they kissed in the rain passionately like it was right out of a movie.
Clark kept kissing Lois as he lifted her up, his hands curving her hips to carry her inside the house. He felt her legs and arms to wrap around his waist and neck securely.
Lois buried her fingers in Clark's hair as trying to keep up with his fiery kisses as he carried up her the stoop. She threw her purse and her jacket across the hallway the moment they stepped into the house. Momentarily she pulled away from Clark and stared at him as he stopped dead to look back at her. His glasses were dotted with rain drops and his hair was just as wet as if he'd just gotten out of the shower. She still couldn't believe that he was kissing her again after one week. Lois pulled the glasses from Clark's face and threw them on the floor when the room blurred. It was seconds later when her surroundings cleaned up and found herself and Clark at what was his bedroom.
Clark eased Lois onto the mattress. He felt her body to slide down the length of his her lips bright and plump as she looked up at him. Clark regarded Lois for a moment as lightening briefly lit up the sky, illuminating the room. Even without supervision, he could see her hardened nipples showing through her wet white fabric of her T-shirt and her bra. As thunder clapped, Clark gripped with a low growl the neck and tore the shirt from collar to hem, exposing Lois' ivory, naked skin.
Lois gasped in surprise by Clark's action, but flowed with him as he pushed her back to recline on the pillows. She could feel his knee pressed firmly into her crotch, as he hovered over her. Lois began to unbutton his shirt one button at a time desperate for the feel of his skin against hers. When the last button sprang free she slipped her hands inside and slid them around to the back of Clark's neck pulling him close to her.
Clark leaned forward and began to kiss Lois. The kiss was perfect; the right mixture of heat and need and love, and Clark found his head becoming thick with fog, as it always did when he was attacked by Lois's lips. But this time he demanded her attention in the way he kissed and touched her. He felt urgency unlike anything he had experienced before. It was so intense, so lustful as the tongues were clashing between them Clark pulled away from her touch and into clarity. He slid his shirt off his shoulders and gave Lois a quick peck to her mouth before his lips moved across her jaw line, sliding his hands slowly down on her sides, moving them afterwards on her back where the clasp of her bra was.
Lois took the cue and lifted her body slightly, so she could help Clark on his purpose before her all body pressed the mattress again. Every time he touched her body, Lois was writhing as waves of exquisite sensations were racing into her core. His breath was hot. Each time he blew a hitched breath out against her skin, she tensed her body ever so slightly. She shivered and felt her body heat up with each of his touches. Lois felt her body melting as Clark planted sweet kisses on her skin, blooming with feelings of pure warmth and love.
Slowly, Clark began kissing Lois down to her breasts. He licked down the middle between them, as his hand drifted down the side of Lois' stomach to her belly button undoing her pants. He wanted his tongue to taste and touch every inch of her body. She was so perfect and lovely. He felt an uncontrolled passion growing inside him, but as much as he wanted to rip her pants off and tug off her panties sinking himself into her right now, he wanted to make it last forever. He wanted to her brand her with his kisses and his touch until she existed only for him-as he would exist only for her. Clark knelt on the floor and began to remove Lois' shoes and socks before pulling her pants off along with her underwear. Thunder clapped in the distance and lightning flashed revealing Lois' naked body to him. She was beautiful and radiant as always. Clark removed the rest of his clothes and climbed up Lois' body.
Lois' eyes followed Clark as he lowered himself onto her. The thunder was rumbling overhead at a steady rhythm now, rain pounding soothingly on the roof. Rolling thunder, pounding rain…and the touch of Clark's hands on her shoulders as he leaned down to pepper her with kisses made Lois' insides positively melt for the serendipity of this moment; it was in no way rushed and heated, but instead cadenced and blissful. Lois placed her arms around Clark's neck wrapping her legs around his waist and pulled him much closer making all her intentions clear as she reached up, took his chin in her hands and kissed him deeply, biting gently on his lower lip.
A crack of lightning halted their actions, and they simply gazed into each other's eyes. They closed their eyes, focusing only on the feel of their joining. Lois' hands found Clark's shoulders, her nails leaving slight imprints on his bronzed and invulnerable skin. Once fully seated, they released the breath they had been holding. Eyes opened and briefly locked as a smile formed to convey the love they shared and the rightness of this act.
Suddenly, there was a loud clap of thunder, followed by a low rumbling that shook the house and in one fluid motion, Clark thrust himself inside Lois.
"Oh!" Lois gasped when she felt him fill her so completely for the first time after one week. There was a slight stretching pain for a split second and she wrapped her legs around Clark more securely. They simply laid there for a moment and let themselves be, holding each other in the midst of the storm.
Only when another thunder clapped, this time further into the distance, did Clark pick up a steady rhythm, enjoying the sounds of the rain pummeling the roof, the storm waging in the skies, and Lois' low, pleasure-filled groans close to his ear. He loved to make love to her slow and tender. Clark lifted Lois until he felt the tip of his cock bump the back of her womb. He had never been so deep in her like he was that night.
Lois moved her hands in Clark's hair, with her mouth hanging open and her eyes squeezed shut as he thrust into her. She wrapped her legs around his waist tighter, digging her heels into his back to feel him as deep as she could. Lightning flashed outside the window, illuminating the room and glittering against the carpet, the sound of rain pattering against the window only making the situation more sensual to her.
Clark began to leave wet kisses across Lois' body licking up beads of sweat and rain from it. He felt her body increasing its hold on him each time he thrust into her. He started to nimble her breasts. Sweat and rain glued Lois' hair to her face, clinging to her neck in tendrils and he began licking her throat before he bit lightly where her neck met her shoulder. He smiled at Lois' growl because of his actions and he immediately licked and sucked on the spot, half apology and half branding her as his.
Lois moaned and threw her head back as their bodies came together with a wet squelch and separated with a vulgar sucking noise. She loved how their bodies fused together as if they were one, their skins illuminated by the subbed light of the lightning. It aroused her in ways she never thought it would. Thunder clapped in the distance and lightning flashed, adding to the mood of the room and Lois moved her hands from Clark's damp hair to the bed clenching the sheets. This was more than just love making; it was dominance and submission, ownership for both parties, a meeting of the flesh that transcended typical relationships. Each stroke, each nibble wound her tighter and tighter. Lois tossed her head back and forth on the bed, her fists grasping the bedclothes in an attempt to cope with the onslaught pleasure. No one had ever touched her like this; no one had ever loved her like this. Lois' hands were entwined in Clark's damp hair once again. Every so often, a flash of lightning would illuminate the room and Clark's enormous body as he moved against her. A clap of thunder would always follow shortly after.
Clark held on to Lois and dug his fingers into her hips. He scraped his teeth at soft skin, sucking the water and sweat off of her body as alternated his thrusts between long and deep and shallow and quick, angling her body along his for their mutual pleasure. He couldn't get enough of her. The feel of her walls on his member nearly made him lose his mind. Each thrust, each clench of muscles, it like a gift only he would ever be graced with, because now he knew that whatever had happened in his past and hers, the love they shared right now would make it bearable to face the future in front of them, no matter what happened.
A brilliant fork of lightning erupted from the dark and there was a loud clap of thunder, followed by a low rumbling that shook the house for one more time as Clark sent them over the edge. He could feel the flood that erupted within Lois as his seed split inside her. Clark collapsed onto Lois' frame and buried his face in the curve of her neck, his hands threading into the silken strands of hair. That moment there was no other place that he would rather be than he was now, the arms of the woman he loved with all the power of his soul.
Clark awoke to an empty bed. It took a moment for him to realize it was much too early for Lois to be up. Τhat night they made love only once, as they preferred to fall asleep wrapped in each other's arms. When he woke up and didn't find Lois next to him he feared that she had snuck out of his place once he was asleep, but then he looked around until he saw her wrapped in a blanket on the window seat. Lois sat with her back against the wall and her head resting against the window as she watched the raindrops roll down the windows. Clark was amused by how much Lois loved that window seats but quickly grew concerned when he saw her raise a hand to wipe her eyes. Clark got out of the bed putting his boxers on. "Hey," he said softly as he approached her. "Lois, what's going on?" he asked in the same tone as he brushed the moisture from her one cheek with his fingers, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
A booming thunder followed up by an intensively bright lighting and Lois' eyes glanced momentarily at Clark before she turned her attention back outside the window. "I was thinking."
"About?"
"About all the silly, stupid things I let bother me." Lois answered. "That I kept inside and let keep us apart."
"I know." Clark nodded. "I was the same thing." he admitted as sadness burnt his eyes and his watery eyes fell on the floor, doing his best to cover up. Once he somewhat composed himself, he decided that it would be best to listen to what Lois was going to say next.
"I'm scared." Lois she half-sobbed out the words in a choked voice.
"Of what?" Clark asked.
Lois turned and look at Clark. "Of this. Of us." she half shouted gesturing between them. "I've tried to deal with this fear but failed miserably." she added with sobs. "You believe that I am strong enough to live without you but I can't." she went on. "When you told me about Superman when you told me that you had grown to depend on me and-"
"I was scared too. If you hadn't taken the first step..." Clark interrupted. "And you know that I meant any word back then." he assured. "I still do."
"So did I." Lois argued. "I still do. I can't live without you. I have grown to need you so much and that scares me. You have so much power over my heart." she admitted.
Doubtful whispers plague his mind even as he exuded confidence, and he could sense Lois' hesitation. Like her, he had spent years carefully constructing a wall around his heart because of his powers. Now it was in shambles, and his instinct was to rebuild it- but, no. No. He couldn't. He wouldn't. Her heart was raw, too; he could tell from the way she was staring at him, pleading and hoping and yearning. Of course there were no guarantees that things would work out between them, but nothing in life- in anyone's, but especially theirs- was guaranteed. Not even tomorrow. "It's the same for me, Lois." Clark defended. "This week I was away from you was Hell and if you walked away now…" he trailed off with a sigh and ran his fingers into his hair. "And it might sound ridiculously cheesy, but It's like a privilege for me to get to love you." he said with embarrassment.
Lois knew he expected her to laugh or roll her eyes but she could not. After all, beneath the tough reporter exterior she was a woman deeply in love for the first time in her life. "A little dramatic, perhaps," she teased gently, "But they are still words I will be happy to hear any time you wish to say them."
"Good. Because I have every intention to say them many times during day, if you move in here with me." Clark stated as casually as he could and a thunder clapped, making both him and Lois jump.
"What?" Lois asked incredulously.
"You heard what I said." Clark responded. "Move in with me." he repeated. "Here." he looked around the room.
"Don't you think is too soon?" Lois wondered.
"It's never too soon or too late, it's always the right time." Clark answered. "So what do you think?"
"One condition, no cheating, no super powers on packing." Lois stated flatly.
"But Lois-"
"No cheating, no super powers." Lois repeated.
"Fine." Clark whined. "Shall we go back to bed now?"
Lois nodded with a smile and Clark scooped her up in his arms, leading her back onto the bed.
Clark sighed happily, resting his head against the soft pillow of his bed, as he willed sleep to come. He and Lois were together again. During that week they were apart, he found himself faced with the possibility of a future where Lois Lane wasn't a part of his life he wasn't the same Clark Kent. He wasn't the same Superman. Kryptonite exposure had nothing on the pain he felt in his heart because of Lois' absence. Thunder clapped outside the bedroom window, followed by a bright flash of lightning. Clark turned and looked at Lois who was sleeping in his arms. He couldn't seem to wipe the smile off his face. She was going to move in with him and from now own she would be spending all day and night on his side. Clark closed his eyes and allowed the memory of his conversation with Lois in The Honeymoon Suite a year ago to come to the front of his thoughts.
'Have you ever lived with anyone? I mean, full time. A relationship. With a member of the opposite sex.'
'No. Not full time.'
'Me neither. Full time. What do you think it's like?'
'I guess, scary at first.'
'Compromises.
Forced intimacy.'
'Sharing responsibilities.'
'You're never alone.'
'You're never alone.'
Another flash of lightning followed instantly by a tremendously heavy clap of thunder, its sound mixing in with the thousands of thick, heavy Metropolis raindrops that pelted and drenched everything in their paths. Clark looked outside the window before he glanced at the bedside clock. It was 07:00 a.m., yet the sky was still dark outside because of the clouds. Clark kissed Lois' cheek, pulling out of her embrace not to wake her and quietly climbed out of the bed. He tied the belt of his robe securely and descended the stairs going towards the secret compartment to wear one of his suits in case Superman was needed that day, when he noticed his glasses along with Lois' purse and jacket onto the floor. Clark grabbed all the items from floor when accidentally Lois' notepad fell from her purse. After he placed on the coffee table the things he collected from the floor, he turned to his left, where the lamp on top of a small table lay, and his fingers pulled on the light switch. Clark lowered himself onto the couch, and acting purely on curiosity instinct, he began to flick the pages over the spiral. There were notes about the story they worked the previous night, considering Young, the Clemmons story, and some others she had worked along with him or solo in the distant past. However, when he started to flick back to the page where the notes about Young's story were, Clark's eyes caught a lengthy text that seemed to be a letter. Clark studied closely the text and his heart raced. It was really a letter. A letter addressed to him. Clark took a deep sigh and started to read the letter with a dreamy voiceover by Lois.
Dear Clark, it began.
I'm sorry for this evening. I shouldn't have left Dan around me, knowing how you felt about him.
Anyway, there are so many things I wanna tell you but I don't know how, so this letter is way to get them out of my chest. Clark, falling in love with you has been so easy I don't know why I fought it for so long. For a long time before we admitted our feelings to each other, you were the first thought on my mind when I woke up in the morning and the last one before I went to sleep at night.
Heart beating, both in anticipation of what he'd find, and shame over his blatant invasion of her privacy, Clark continued to read as he imagined Lois to keep writing.
I miss you so much, my love. I already miss every second I spent in the same room with you, the way you touched me, the way you kissed me, the way you made love to me. I miss every minute that you were laying by my side and now all I can think about is what we had, and what I'm afraid we have lost.
Few days ago we were happy, we were in love. You trusted me, you touched me. We had a freedom together that I could've never dreamed of when we were only partners and colleagues. That's what I'm missing now. I miss my lover, my partner, my friend. You are my best friend, Clark. I never had a real best friend until I met you. Though you never pushed, you slowly found your way through the cracks in my defenses and into my heart. You made me see you in a new light, and before I knew what happened, I counted you as my truest friend, though I had known you the shortest amount of time. Clark, you became the one person I could always count on as a friend and partner, but now I can't, I don't want to settle for only friendship and partnership with you.
I don't know when I'm going to give this letter to you; I don't know if I ever will. But if I do or even you ever find it, I know it will be when the time is right.
Things are hard right now, you are confused because of what happened with Dan and I get that, but I also want you to know that I love you. I love you and I will always love you from the depths of my soul, with everything that I am. I love you so much - More than I ever have and more than I ever thought I could love anyone. I love you more than I've allowed myself to admit. I. Love. You. And I don't know what to do about that...I can't live without you, Clark, nor would I ever want to again, so please don't walk out of my life.
Forever yours, Lois.
Tears pricked at the corners of Clark's eyes, as he finished reading Lois' letter. His throat was constricting as he tried to hold back tears. How could he ever have doubted about Lois' love? Her suffering was clear in the shaky letters and he could hear the pauses in her words as Lois tried to remain composed. Clark wiped the corners of his eyes tightly when another thunder clapped followed by lighting. The words on the paper danced before his moisture-filled eyes as the enormity of Lois' feelings for him sank in.
"Clark?" he heard Lois say and immediately turned his attention in the direction of Lois' voice. She was standing on the bottom stair dressed in one of his shirts. "I woke up and I didn't find you there." she explained. "I didn't even find a note when usually Superman…" she trailed off when he saw her pad on Clark's hand. "You weren't supposed to read that." she told almost terrified. Why that should worry her, after last night, she couldn't say. But still, the natural instinct to hide her notebook - hide the letter which revealed her heart - was still intact.
Clark stood from the couch dabbing at his tears with the already-sodden sleeve of his robe. "I know." he said softly as he approached Lois. "And I'm sorry." he apologized. "But I found it on the floor and…" he trailed off. "Here." he offered Lois the pad.
Lois took the pad from Clark and stared at it, fighting with her rapidly beating heart and practically hyperventilating before she looked back at Clark. "Oh Clark." she shouted and tossed the pad across the room, throwing herself onto Clark's arms afterwards. "I love you so much." Turning her face into Clark's robe, she buried it against his solid and broad chest, and breathed in the calming scent that was him. "I'm sorry," she mumbled into the fabric.
"I'm sorry too sweetheart." Clark also apologized as he pulled Lois in closer."I love you too. So much." he said holding her against the steady beat of his heart and dropped a kiss on her temple. "So much."
Thank you for reading and PLEASE REVIEW so you would let me know what you think and encourage me to continue writing. And remember: You can always contact with me and express your opinion about my Author's Note through PM or my Twitter Account. ( hellaslar), having as only request the reviews will be only for the storyline.