Chapter Three

Lois Lane looked at her reflection in the mirror of the elevator leading to her apartment. She had never looked like such a mess. She had been crying for a few hours and her mind would not leave the thought of a certain farm boy suitor.

When he left, she vowed she would never let herself love again. She had been struck by cupid too many times and each time it failed. When she and Clark decided to finally work something out, something about it was different, she thought it would be different.

But there was something mysterious and mystique about their relationship. All the hidden secrets were beginning to be too much and when it finally erupted all the secrets, Clark was gone.

Lois was left alone once more, that was until a certain editor's nephew came into her life. She wasn't sure if she wanted to give love another go, but Richard wouldn't take no for an answer and Lois figured this would be a good opportunity to get her mind off of Clark. Sure, he was a great man, but in reality, everything he did, Lois kept picturing Clark. No matter what, every time she looked in his eyes, she only saw Clark.

As Lois reflected on the night she shared with Clark, she was looking forward to going home and sleeping. Sleeping and dreaming of what could have been with Clark.

The doors of the elevator opened and Lois took one last look in the mirror and fixed herself with the possible thought that Richard could have been home.

She walked out and stumbled into the hallway. While walking to the apartment, she heard more music, and this song was more than familiar.

As the sound became more noticeable, it was hers and Clark's song.

She groaned as she opened the door, "Damn it, Clark, I told you no more!" She opened her eyes to see none other than Richard standing there with rose pedals everywhere and the lights were dim.

"Expecting someone else?" He asked.

She gasped and was in pure shock of the sight, "Richard, what is this?"

His smile dropped, "Too much?" he asked.

She dropped her purse and walked over to him with a small smile, "No, it's perfect." She wrapped her arms around him, "Why though?"

He let go of her embrace and walked over to go pour some champagne, "It's a special occasion."

She jerked her head to the side, "I thought you said your uncle had a story for you…"

He nodded, "Oh he did, the story is about to happen." She looked at him confused, "You see, it's a story that's about to be created."

He pulled her to the couch and sat her down gently while he got down on one knee. Her eyes widened as her mouth dropped at his physical gestures.

He pulled out a small satin box and opened it slowly revealing a 2.5 princess cut diamond ring.

He cleared his throat, "Lois Lane, I know you hate all the sappy stuff, so I'm going to cut to the chase, will you marry me?" He asked with the biggest smile on his face.

She stared at him for a few moments, her mouth left wide open, "Richard, I don't know what to say…"

"Say yes"

"I…" She couldn't find the answer to his proposal.

He began to get worried, "Come on, Lois, don't leave a guy hanging here."

Tears started to draw in her eyes, "I'm not ready." She bluntly stated.

Richard cleared his throat and stood up as he put the satin box back his pocket, "I'm sorry, I thought we were ready to make the full commitment"

She stood up to look him in the eyes, "Richard, it's not you," she walked over to a book shelf where she pulled out a picture album and flipped to a specific page that featured all pictures of her and Clark, "There is still some stuff in my past that I need to come to terms with."

Richard was rather confused and stood there, "What stuff? Honey, we've been open with each other for all this time, why the sudden change?"

She grew irritated, "I didn't say there was a change, there has just been stuff lately that I didn't think would ever resurface but it has and I don't want to go forward until I can settle all of that." She traced her finger over a picture of her and Clark locked in a romantic embrace.

Lois got so caught up in the moment, she did not realize that Richard walked right behind her and caught her gazing at all the memories with Clark.

He sighed and he quickly changed, "So that's what it is, huh? You're not over Clark?"

She turned around to face him, "What?" she snapped, "No, Clark and I are done. We ended the whole thing a long time ago."

"I thought you guys were just friends…" He said as his emotions began to range widely.

Lois realized she had just subtly told Richard about hers and Clark's relationship, she knew she didn't want to tell him the whole truth, so she tried to deny it as much as possible, "We were…"

He pulled the book out of her arms, "So then why are there pictures of you two embracing romantically when you say you two were just friends." Lois went to speak but he stopped her, "You know what? Don't say another word. I was just a mask, wasn't I? Something that could distract you while you were trying to get over you're lost boyfriend?" When he realized that Lois loved Clark and wouldn't answer him, he dropped the book on the floor with all the pictures of her and Clark falling out of place.

Tears fell from Lois' eyes, "I'm so sorry, Richard, I... just... we have a past, it's complicated"

Richard turned around and went to go grab his jacket and wallet, "Richard, please don't leave!" Lois begged while hysterically sobbing.

He walked towards the door, opened the door and turned around as he was halfway through the doorway, "Until you decide until who you love, I won't be here…" He slammed the door on his way out.

Lois fell to the floor as she tried to piece back the only thing that made her happy while away from Clark: pictures of them.

\S/

His heart hurt. Knowing that he had caused Lois to go through such pain, hurt him. He hated himself for doing that to her. He wanted to make it all better for her. He wanted to take her in his arms and let her know it was going to be ok.

But he couldn't do that. He didn't have the right. She was with him now. Richard was the one to comfort her now. Things would never be like they used to.

As soon as Lois left, Clark super sped home. He had nowhere else to go. Chloe was busy with Watchtower. Oliver was off doing his own thing.

So Clark would spend tonight alone.

His plans were to fall asleep quickly. He'd learned that if he stayed awake, his thoughts went to Lois. Her smile. Her voice. Everything about her. He would remember how they use to act like complete dorks around each other when they were alone.
When he dated Lois Lane, he saw a new side of her. He realized that she broke down her defensive walls just for him. And in return all he did was break her heart.

It was no use. She was already on his mind tonight. Who was he kidding? She was on his mind every night.

When he was dating Lois, he thought about telling her his secret constantly. Never would he imagined that his secret would have driven them apart. He always imagined Lois Lane and him with a future. She would be the reporter she is today and when she would get her self in trouble and he was there to save her, she wouldn't have pushed him away like she did now. She would thank him with a kiss. He would fly them back to their home and then they would live happily ever after. But that's not how things were; not at all.

He had to make sure she was ok. He had to know that she made it home safely and that she was sound asleep in her bed at this very moment. There was only one way of doing that.

He thought twice before listening in on her. He didn't want to be nosy. But then he thought again. If Superman wasn't quote nosy unquote, no one would get saved.

But right now he wasn't Superman. Right now, he was Clark Kent.

Nonetheless, he loved Lois. And he would die before he stopped being a part of her life again.

So, he listened to her. And what he heard did not make him happy. It made him sad.

Lois Lane, the woman he was in love with, was crying.

Without hesitation, Clark super sped to her apartment. He didn't care if her door was locked or not, he used his super strength to move her door and get inside. There she was standing in the middle of the living room. He didn't even see the rose pedals all around the room because his attention was solely on her.

She didn't need to turn around to know it was Clark standing at her door. She just knew.

For some reason, he was always at her door. Through thick and thin, he was there. No matter what, he came back.

Slowly she turned around to face him. He didn't ask questions about why she was crying when he walked over to her and embraced her in his arms. "It's ok," he whispered to her.

She couldn't fight him. Clark's arms were just so welcoming. She wouldn't admit it to him now, but she loved being in his arms.

There were a million reasons why Lois had fallen in love with Clark. He was sweet to her. He made her laugh at times that she didn't even feel like smiling. He was just that kind of guy.

However, the main reason she fell in love with Clark was because of the gentle way he treated her. Lois was never the type of her that let herself be handled. For many years she remained independent. But the second she let Clark into her life, he showed love to her. Even before they started dating, Clark cared for her. His family cared for her. Lois never had that in her life and she was forever thankful to the Kent family for giving her that.

He wasn't ready to let go of her just yet. For the past two weeks, he wanted nothing more than to have her in his arms. He had gotten a chance at that earlier when they danced, but right now, Lois was there. She was in his arms and she wasn't fighting him.

He had no idea why she was crying and he didn't care. Well, of course he cared, but no matter what, he would still comfort her. No reason would stop him from being there for her.

Minutes later, Lois pulled away from Clark's embrace. She looked around the room and laughed to herself quietly. "Richard did all this," Lois said.

Clark looked around and saw what she was talking about. He saw the roses everywhere. "Why?" he asked.

"He wanted to be romantic for his proposal," Lois said.

Clark's eyes widened. He didn't want to hear about Lois getting married to anyone else.

"I told him I wasn't ready," Lois said continuing on with her story.

Clark didn't bother to ask why she wasn't ready. Deep down he knew he was the reason. "I know this may not sound right, at the time, but maybe it's for the best," he told her.

"It's not for the best, Clark," Lois said. She pointed directly at him. "This is all your fault?"

Clark wasn't understanding her, "My fault?" Clark asked. It came out louder than he intended.

Lois saw his tone, as an attitude. "Don't you go getting all attitude on me, Clark. This is all you fault and you know it!"

He saw her attitude and raised his voice. There was no way he was going to let her win this. "This isn't my fault, Lois. You're the one who wasn't ready, remember?"

She couldn't believe he was throwing her own words in her face. "Get out," she said.

"No," Clark answered.

"I wasn't asking, Clark. I mean it. Get out!"

"I'm not leaving things like this," Clark said.

"Don't you get it, Clark. You're the reason my life is so screwed up. You broke my heart. So deal with it…Alone. Don't come crawling back for forgiveness because I'm not going to give it to you. It's been over between us for more than a year, Clark. It's time for you to leave," Lois said.

The words that she said got to him. He didn't say anything to her as he made his way towards the door. He turned around to face her one last time before he super sped home.

Little did Clark know that Lois cried herself to sleep that night.

TBC