Author's note: This is a fic based on the ending of Season 3 and the premier of Season 4. Martha never seperated Kal-El from Clark. Clark united the stones and there wasn't the silly storyline of witches and aincent artifacts. Clark spent 2 years in the fortress, Chloe moved on to METU with Lois, who doesn't really remember much about Clark. Lois was the one who saved Chloe from the Terminator 2 reject in the second episode of season 4. This fic will explore how Clark has to change from an overly insecure teenager to a confident man, and Lois and Clark's developing relationship. Definite Superman stuff comes in later chapters.

Thanks for the reviews. They let us know how we're doing. If I am way off base with this story, lemme know.

Ranger Iggy

Disclaimer: I still own no part of Smallville, Superman, IBM, Starbucks or anything remotely profitable. I am willing to sell myself into indentured servitude for coffee, however.

Ch 2 - New Beginnings

Chloe Sullivan stared with venom at her alarm clock. The damn thing was demanding her attention, tearing her away from the wonderful dream she was having. She slapped the snooze button and burrowed beneath her covers, begging for five more minutes. The aromas in her dorm pulled her out of bed. Her roommate had already started a pot of her favorite Kona blend brewing. She stretched and scratched her scalp, moving to intercept the first cup of the day. Her roommate burst in, wearing a terrycloth robe and fuzzy bunny slippers. "Hey, Lois" Chloe said sleepily.

"Hey, cuz" replied Lois, stealing Chloe's cup of coffee. "Thanks!" she said brightly.

Chloe glowered at Lois Lane. She could do without this melodrama every morning, but she would let her cousin get away with anything. Lois had saved her life one day in Smallville. A meteor freak with true Ginsu power had almost sliced and diced Chloe, but Lois tracked her down and saved her. Lois hadn't let it get to her head, but Chloe never forgot about it. After her own personal super-powered savior up and disappeared, she was looking for a hero. Lois filled in nicely. She was tough, smart and sassy. Chloe had always tried to emulate her. Lois was inspired by Chloe's love for journalism, and applied to MetU with her. They began interning at the Daily Planet together, and Chloe had to admit, Lois was better than her. Lois had chased some obscure leads and gotten big breaks. The new editor-in-chief Perry White had his eye on Lois. Chloe wasn't jealous, well, not too much. She loved her cousin to death and couldn't begrudge her anything.

Chloe got ready for her classes with the usual efficency. A quick shower, followed by a quicker combing of her hair. Throw together an outfit and out the door with her favorite mug of coffee. She walked with a purpose through campus, mind on her assignments. She almost didn't stop when she heard a deep voice say "excuse me, I'm looking for a certain snarky blonde reporter."

Chloe froze. She knew that voice. She turned slowly, not believing her eyes. "Clark?" she whispered. He had changed. There was a gravity in his eyes that wasn't there before. The promise of the farm boy had been realized in a gorgeous man. He smiled his mega-watt smile and opened his arms for a hug. Chloe screamed and threw herself into his arms, weeping for joy.

Once Chloe collected herself, she and Clark sat in a quiet corner of the quad. "So, Clark…what questions should I ask first, 'where the hell have you been' or 'what the hell was so important that you had to disappear for two years'?"

Clark cleared his throat nervously. "Well, I guess that my departure was kind of sudden, huh?"

Chloe nodded. "My cousin said that she found you naked in a cornfield one night, then you disappeared the next day without a trace."

Clark frowned. "Your cousin?"

"Yeah, Lois Lane. She came to Smallville after the explosion, to investigate my supposed murder." Said Chloe.

Clark's jaw dropped. "Is she the brunette that found me naked in a field? I didn't know she was your cousin?"

Chloe looked surprised. "Yeah, she's the one. She couldn't shut up about it for a few days. You impressed her with certain…well. Anyway, she was the one who tracked me down when Lex's plan went wrong. She saved me from the Terminator reject who was trying to separate me from this fragile mortal coil."

Clark looked down in shame. "I don't know what to say, Chlo. I should've been there."

Chloe rolled her eyes. "Enough of the Clark Kent Superhero Guilt Complex! Everything turned out alright. Besides, if you had been there, you probably would have been sliced and diced along with the ex-special forces guys Lex had protecting me. I'm alive and living my dream, in my own way of course." She smiled. Chloe was sad to discover her own feelings had changed over the course of time. She was glad that Clark was back, and she definitely loved him. But it was a more friendly kind of love, not a passionate need that seemed to drive her in the past. She looked at Clark somewhat sadly, mourning the death of what she had once. "Hey, Clark, please don't close down. I really missed you."

Clark looked at Chloe. "I didn't realize how much I needed you as a friend until now, Chlo." Clark looked around. "Chloe, I have to tell you everything."

Chloe gave a small jump. Clark had almost severed their friendship over Chloe investigating his past. It had driven him and Lana apart. Now, full disclosure? "Clark, you can tell me anything, you know that."

So, in simple declarative sentences, Clark told her everything.

Chloe and Clark were walking in silence, wandering all over campus. She hadn't spoken in over an hour. Clark gave her space, silently willing her to accept him. Chloe stopped walking and turned to Clark. "Well, I guess that things are making more sense now. The quick exits, the miraculous saves…".

Clark turned to her. "Do you see me differently now, Chlo?" he asked quietly.

Chloe cocked an eyebrow at him. "In a way, yes. But in a way, no." she said, sighing. "You can do all these amazing things, and you take zero credit. That makes you more than a hero, you're a superhero."

Clark smiled. "It's just beginning, Chloe. Clark Kent can work behind the scenes, but Kal-El won't. I'm going to turn the world upside down and help humanity realize their potential."

Chloe grinned. "That might be something to see, alright!" She frowned. "There's just one thing you could do for me, though?"

Clark shrugged at his best friend. "You know all you have to do is ask, Chloe."

"Could you take me flying?" she asked in a small voice.

Clark laughed and scooped her up, rocketing into the sky.

Lois walked in her dorm room to find her cousin sitting at her desk, staring at the wall. "Hey, Chloe! Did you forget about the five classes you skipped today?"

Chloe shook herself, looking at Lois in a daze, "Huh?"

Lois snapped her fingers in front of Chloe's face. "Earth to Chlo! We're going to be late for work if we don't hurry up!" Lois shook her head and stalked off to change into her work clothes. Chloe distractedly got dressed. She couldn't stop thinking about her time with Clark. She was shocked and awed at the sheer power he possessed. Flying was incredible, with just his strong arms holding her up. They had gone to the Arctic Fortress where he had spent his training, where he demonstrated some of his abilities for her. Chloe couldn't get over how much he'd changed from the brooding farm-boy she had known. Clark had shown her his "degree" from Central Kansas University in journalism. He had the entire curriculum downloaded into his head in the space of an hour. His computers hacked into the school system and created his files and grades from nothing. He had a complete cover story for his absence, including a picture of him at graduation. They talked about Smallville, Krypton and life in general. Chloe was shocked to find that he was in contact with the new editor-in-chief of the Daily Planet. Clark had plans to travel the world and would be sending stories to Perry White that would be published under a pseudonym. He planned to return after a while and start working at the Planet. He wanted to be in the middle of the action and have a heads up on important happenings in the world. He had it all planned out "After all, Chloe," Clark had said, "It's the perfect cover. Mild-mannered Clark Kent by day, Kal-El by night." Chloe laughed when he had put on a pair of fake glasses. She began to see the value in his disguise when he showed her the meek mannerisms he had practiced. Clark might just be able to pull off the invisible routine.

Chloe and Lois drove in silence. Finally, Lois could take no more. "Alright, spill it!" said Lois. "You're acting like you've seen a ghost or something."

Chloe turned to Lois. "Well, I kind of did."

Lois frowned. "This isn't a return to the Wall of Weird, is it? I thought you gave all that up when you left Smallville."

"No, nothing like that," said Chloe with a small smile. If only you knew, Lo. "I just ran into an old friend, one that I think you've met before."

Lois quirked an eyebrow. "Oh, well, do tell?"

"Clark Kent." Said Chloe. Lois frowned, not recalling the name. "Tall, dark, handsome…naked" said Chloe.

Lois eyes widened. "Amnesia boy from the cornfield? I thought he disappeared right after he was found?"

Chloe nodded. "He's back, and he's…himself again. He just graduated with a degree in journalism from CKU in two years."

Lois chuckled. "Wow. That's fast. As long as he remembers how to dress himself now."

Chloe laughed. She promised herself that she would call Martha Kent later that day and catch up. She felt a strong connection now to the woman who had been a surrogate mother to her in high school.

Lois and Chloe swept into the basement office, going to their usual places. Chloe's desk was cluttered. Both pairs of eyes went to Lois' desk. Usually it looked like a grenade went off in a filing cabinet. It was empty today. "What the hell?" shouted Lois.

A nervous intern approached Lois. "Uh, Lois? The chief said that when you got in, he wanted to see you right away." The young man beat a hasty retreat from Lois' fury.

Chloe looked despondent. "Maybe it's not what you think, Lois" she offered.

Lois looked at Chloe with tears in her eyes. "What else could it be? I'm fired. I'm a failure." Lois sat heavily in her…former chair.

Chloe came around and hugged Lois. "Lois, you're not a failure. They're just too stupid to recognize greatness when they see it."

Lois hugged her cousin back. "Thanks baby cuz." Lois sighed and dashed a hand at her eyes. She would be damned if White would see her cry. The General would do backflips in disgust if she did. "I guess that I'd better go see the Chief."

Lois took the elevator ride to the top floor to put together her arguments. She had broken three big stories since interning at the Planet, one of which landed a City Councilman in jail. She had never slacked in her duties as an intern, either. She had gone above and beyond the call of duty. How dare Perry White fire her? She would show him!

Lois marched parade-ground straight into the editor-in-chief's office, intending to give him a piece of her mind, and maybe a right cross to boot. Perry looked up as she came in, "Lane, park it!" he said gruffly, pointing to an old couch.

Lois stopped, turned and sat, somewhat mollified. She looked expectantly at Perry, waiting for the crushing blow. "Lane, how long have you been interning here?" asked Perry.

"About six months," said Lois.

"Six months, huh?" said Perry. "How far along are you in your degree?"

"Two years left, Mr. White." Said Lois.

"I've got to tell you, the three articles of yours that landed on my desk were some of the best examples of misspelling that I have ever seen in my thirty years. How many 'm's in communist are there, anyway?"

Lois looked down, "Um, three?" she asked hesitantly.

"You see, that's what I'm talking about. There's two." Said Perry. Lois looked dejected, waiting for the hammer to fall on her dreams. "But, they were some of the finest investigative work I've seen in my thirty years as well."

Lois looked up. "Then…why am I being fired?"

Perry frowned, "Who the hell said I was firing you? I'm giving you a job! Full reporter."

Lois jaw dropped. "But, Mr. White…I haven't finished school yet!"

Perry waved a hand negligently, "Bah! Degrees are a dime a dozen! I got mine five years ago, solely so I could be an editor. You've got raw talent and drive. I'm going to harness and develop that better than Met U ever could." Perry got up and walked around his desk, "There's stuff that you can't learn in a classroom, Lois. Like integrity, passion and a need for the truth. I see that in you, and I want it writing full time for the paper. Your things have been moved to your new desk…unless you want to pack them up and move back to your dorm?"

Lois jumped up and shook his hand vigorously, "NO! I mean yes! I'll take the job!"

Lois left Perry's office walking on cloud nine. She was finally going to make something of herself.

Chloe and Lois went to their favorite Thai restaurant to celebrate. Chloe couldn't help but be jealous of Lois' success, but was happy for her cousin nonetheless.

"So, Miss Big Shot Reporter, what stories of corruption and evil are you going to break first?" asked Chloe.

Lois smiled, "I get my first assignment tomorrow. I'll have to drop out of school and find a place to live too." Lois sobered and looked at Chloe. "Chlo, I hope that you're okay with this. I know that I've kind of stepped in and am living your dream…"

"Lois, it's okay, really. I am so happy for you I'm bursting!" Chloe said. "Anyway, I'm going to be just a few years behind you. Lane and Sullivan, Metropolis' greatest investigative team!" They clinked their glasses together, celebrating the future.

"To new beginnings" said Chloe. Lois smiled as the future looked brighter than it ever had before.