Author's notes: Awwww… Thanks for the reviews Cloisers! I'm going to analyze all the readers' reactions to TRNT for the prologue, chapters 1 and 2. Here it goes; some things are getting clearer for some of the readers right now. Others still feel that they're clueless. Some already gave up even before I posted chapter 2. I was saddened by the last feedback. If I chose to post the whole story, maybe I didn't get that kind of reaction. But the story is way too long for a stand-alone/one-shot fic, that's why I opted to post it chapter by chapter. To those who are still holding on and keep on believing about the saying, 'patience is a virtue' – this is for you. This story will run for less than a month – it can be two or three weeks. For now – enjoy the story.

To my unsigned reviewers, how I wish I could explain the story to you until this chapter, but I'll spoil the suspense.

Remember, The Roads Not Taken features three time lines – 2003 (bold); 2004 (italics); 2011 (normal). Pronouns that are really important to the story will be underlined.

And now… Chapter 3 of TRNT…

Chapter 3: Save Me

Centennial Park, Metropolis (2004)

"Hey, what's so special with this place? Do you really want to hang-out here?" He took a sip of his soda while he made himself comfortable sitting on a bench with this lovely woman. He watched her take her own cup of soft drink. She smiled while the straw was on her lips.

"Sort of." She replied and bit her cheeseburger. She shrugged a little, "I just love this park so much. Too many memories, I guess."

He nodded while munching on his own food. "Are you sure we can eat all of these?" Clark pointed out the fried chicken, French fries, apple pies and vanilla sundaes with chocolate syrup.

She rolled her eyes as she spoke, "Smallville, you already said that twice and I'm going to punch you if you'll ever say it again. Of course we will."

"Wait, who's Smallville?" He watched her closely while she turned her way to meet his eyes.

"You said yesterday you're from a small town called Smallville, right?" She paused for a while. "Whether you like it or not, that's my nick for you." Lois smiled widely which made Clark smirk while shaking his head.

"That means I don't have a choice." He frowned, though he couldn't hide that she lightened his mood again.

"As if you ever did." She laughed earnestly, and then concentrated on her food again. "Sorry Smallville, I'm really starving."

"It's okay, I'm hungry too." He took his share of the chicken. "Lois, what are you doing? Why did you put away all the crunchy skins of the chicken?" He looked at her confused.

"You told me once that I shouldn't eat this." She showed him the breaded part of the chicken and whispered, "Cholesterol."

"I did? But that's my favorite." He replied without thinking that he revealed some part of himself to her.

She turned her gaze to him. "Are you sure?" She paused, analyzing what he just said. Clark gulped, waiting for her response. "Maybe that's one of the side-effects from the medicines you took while you're at the hospital. Sorry, maybe someone hit your head?" She finally said, which made him realized that he was holding his breath. "Don't worry I never followed what you said before 'cause I just save this for later." She winked, "Save the best for last. And I finally comprehended you said it because you wanted to eat my chicken skins too."

He chuckled, "I actually can't figure out how big your appetite is. Most of the girls are dying to meet their strict dietary needs. No offense."

"None taken. It's in the genes." She laughed.

Clark squinted his eyes. "You're boastful, aren't you?"

"Not if it's true."

She blushed slightly, realizing the way Clark was gazing at her. The looks he had on her were too familiar, yet she was still puzzled. There was something different about him, but she couldn't point it out, until she became conscious of how his eye color had changed from bluish green to the deepest shade of blue. This was the first time she had seen those meaningful eyes.

"The truth is I will need a few kilometers of jogging after eating all of this. And since you paid for it, you'll help me." She winked, taking the fries and the sundae. She dipped two fries into the sundae and ate them. He looked at her, amused by her actions.

She handed him the packed catsup. "I know you love fries with catsup, particularly tomato catsup, right?"

"Yeah, but it's cool to try new tastes."

"Are you sure? Last time I checked, you puke them out. Wait! Hey! You're eating my fries and sundae. You have yours!"

He laughed carefree, as he never expected he would do. "I just thought it would taste different. And it is not that bad, a combination of salty and sweet."

An hour had passed and they were still there, catching up with what had happened during the past year.

"You never told me you had a farm." She eyed him.

"Never?"

"Never."

"And now I'm telling you."

"Do you see yourself as a farmer in the future? Or maybe you should try other jobs? Not that farming is not a good source of income, but remember you're destined for a much greater purpose."

He gulped. Greater purpose? What was that? Was it all about the secret that he couldn't share with Lana but he had been able to tell with Lois? Then he saw a white light. He realized that this wasn't a dream anymore because he was fully awake. The flashes… They were here again. The boy… Screams of people… Dark alley…. Rubbles…. Fallen buildings…. A dying man holding something… Staring down at him, he was too shocked that he was a lot like him…. He was a lot like him.

"Clark, oh my god! Look at me!" Lois held his face while trying to get him back where they were presently. Her worries were evident on her face. Clark blinked back while he was struggling to get back to her.

Lois steadied his face by holding him much closer. Once he set his eyes into his hazel orbs, he finally returned into his reality.

"Clark?"

Without saying a word, he reached out for her. She never hesitated to embrace him back. They both knew this was where they belonged.

They decided to stay at the Centennial Park and tried not to talk about what had happened minutes ago. Lois in her silent way, she understood that Clark needed enough time to process the things that bothered him – which were so mysterious for both of them. She wouldn't push, she just wanted to let him know – she would always be here for him.

"Clark, I don't know what happened to you this past year. I do know you have so many responsibilities; I understand that, though sometimes, you're so weird. And weirdness is part of you." They both smiled at her last sentence. Clark gazed at her intently, while she focused on not looking at him, but at the people that walked by.

The sky already started to gray. The sun was colored as yellow orange as she continued to speak. In few moments, darkness will consume the sky. "Look at them." She pointed out a father and son playing with a baseball and a bat. Then she faced a father and daughter tickling each other. "I miss my Dad." The sadness in her tone affected him too much.

"Where is he? Maybe I can take you there."

She stared at him, so baffled. "Smallville, I don't know maybe this is the one of the days you're acting different."

"I'm sorry Lois." He blushed at her words.

"It's okay Smallville. I forgive you and your amnesia. You'll remember things soon." She smiled and punched him slightly on his left arm. She quickly diverted her attention to the children with their dads who were starting to pack-up their things.

"Today is the day my father left me and my mother. He saved a kid from being hit by a car. I wonder how the life of that boy is right now. Was my father's sacrifice worth it? What if things would have been different? Dad would still be here. Mom wouldn't have died due to the great sadness of losing someone she loved so deeply. I wouldn't have been an orphan at that young age." She looked down in order to hide her tears, which she successfully did.

"The what if things… Yeah, we always ask about what might have happen if we have chosen the other option, or what if other things have happened all together. I also ask those questions, but I never get the right answers to any of them. Maybe if that had never happened, we hadn't met at one of this crossroads. Regardless of the bad things that came to pass, there are also good things that will cover them up. We just need to open our eyes in order to see them."

He held her hand. "There are so many mistakes I've done in the past, but I can't undo them. So I need to move on and, at least, try to correct them by not taking that same path again. A few days ago, I was too lonely… Astray… Never knew what to do with my life… Until I found you. Thank you for saving my life."

Releasing her hand from his grip, she wrote something on her stone. Then she wrapped his hands with her own. He eyed her questioningly. "I want you to read this when I'm not here." She stood up. And just like the other day, she disappeared within the crowd.

He opened his palm and read the message she had written. 'Thank you, you saved mine too. ' He grinned, looking at a smiley drawing she had done.

TBC

Reviews are welcome!