It Can Be
But some things did change and Clark was more than just fine with certain kinds of change, especially the kind where Lois fell asleep with her head nestled against his chest.
Smiling, he glanced down at the dozing Lois. He enjoyed the feeling of her breath tickling the hairs on his arm as it almost silently whooshed out of her mouth. Her warmth mingled with his, making him feel more than a little content as a movie played on in the background.
A muffled sigh exited Lois' mouth as she repositioned herself against him, not coming out of her apparently deep slumber. "Mmmm…"
They had only been "official" for a week but Clark already knew that she was the one he had been waiting for. All those times he had wondered who his soul mate would be…and it had been her…but he had been blind. Though his usual tendency made it easy for him to lament all the time they could've been together, the years that had passed while they had masqueraded as being "only friends," Lois reminded him that he had not been the only blind one. Then, in a typical Lois fashion, she chastised him for letting the past cloud what was going to be a great future for the two of them. They had now and they needed to take advantage of it.
No one could set him straight like Lois Lane.
Taking her advice to heart, he had showed up at her apartment at eight in the morning, on a Saturday, only to be greeted by a pajama clad Lois with murder in her eyes.
"Do you know what time it is Smallville?" she had growled.
"Yes I do. I just wanted to take advantage of the time we could spend together in the present…"
At his smirk, and her words thrown back at her, she had slammed the door in his face, calling out a minute later, "I'll be ready in a bit."
One hour later, she had opened the door looking breathtakingly beautiful and a bit tired. "So," she had asked, slipping her arm through his. "Where are you taking me for breakfast?"
After eating at Lois' favorite diner, the two had headed to Smallville, where they planned to spend the rest of the day sequestered away from the world.
And so far, Clark believed everything had been perfect. They had traded their usual banter through a long walk and a leisurely lunch before Lois suggested hunkering down on the couch to watch His Girl Friday, which was one of her favorite movies. When, in the middle of the film, Lois' breathing had changed, revealing that she was asleep, Clark's opinion of the day had only sky rocketed.
As Lois shifted once more, and the credits began to play, Clark knew that the rest of the day would continue to be just as wonderful…
- - - - - -
"So, they're happy together?" asked Jimmy, flopping onto the couch.
"Yup," replied Chloe from where she was shredding lettuce in the kitchen. "And I'm happy they're together too. It's about time!"
"I know what you mean," Jimmy replied, turning the television on and flipping it to the news. "I saw it long before you, you know."
"As you love to point out," Chloe chuckled, throwing the lettuce into a salad bowl.
At the ding from the oven, Jimmy jumped from the couch, striding quickly across the room to pull open the oven door. "Ah, the chicken is almost ready. Just a few more minutes. Is that salad almost done?" he asked, jabbing her side with his hand.
Pausing in the middle of slicing a tomato, she whirled to face him, grabbing his shirt to bring his lips to hers in a quick peck. Though her life was nowhere near normal, considering she was part of a team of superheroes, it was nice to have moments of normalcy with the husband she had almost lost. Things weren't yet perfect but Chloe felt that they were just right. It was true that she did keep secrets from Jimmy, especially concerning a dozen or so superheroes, but he seemed okay with it, at last. Except that he did know that she worked with them, though he knew she would never reveal to him their secret identities. When he questioned her as to how she even got the gig, she had played up her super computer hacker skills and he had accepted it. It was, after all, mostly true.
"Hey!" cried Jimmy as she pulled away. "I don't think that can be considered a real kiss."
Grinning, she moved to kiss him again when a loud, hurried knock at the door interrupted them. Furrowing her brow, Chloe tilted her head, curious as to who would be visiting them. She happened to know the two most frequent visitors to the Olsen home were busy.
"Could it be a super friend?" Jimmy asked, looking a bit like a little boy.
Finding his youthfulness adorable, Chloe hated to shake her head and disappoint him but she did anyway. "They would call me on my special phone," she told him, exaggerating the word "special."
"Well then," Jimmy said, bounding to the door. "Who can this be?"
In a flash, he had thrown open to door only to reveal their mystery guest. Upon
seeing the person standing there, both felt their jaws loosen.
"Uh," muttered Chloe, unsuccessfully masking her surprise. "Come in…"
- - - - - -
A loud growl roused Lois out of sleep and, embarrassed, as the growl had emanated from her stomach, she glanced up at Clark to see if he had joined her in her late afternoon nap. Seeing he had, she breathed in relief. It was strange that she even cared what Clark thought. After all, had he heard, it wouldn't have been the first time. The two had shared a roof and now sat across from each other on a daily basis.
I guess dating does alter some things…
"Hungry?" came Clark's voice from above her.
Startled, she sat up, moving her body away from his. At the teasing glint in his eye, she gave him her trademark punch in the arm. Inwardly rolling her eyes at herself for allowing herself to feel awkward around her best friend who was now also her boyfriend, she grinned at him, not caring if he heard her body making noises. At that moment, it chose to make another one, so Lois quirked her eyebrows at him and asked, "What do you think?"
"I think -" In mid sentence, he paused and cocked his head, as if listening to something.
Not at all puzzled by the vacant look on his face, for she had seen it there many times before, she waved a hand in front of his eyes. "Yoo hoo, Smallville? Anyone home?"
Brought back to reality, he stared at her then rose from the couch. "I think I'll go get us some pizza," he told her heading toward the door.
"Pizza sounds good…" she murmured.
At the soft tone of her voice, he pivoted to face her. "What is it?"
"Where do you go?" she asked, squinting her eyes. "In your mind. When you get that look."
Pursing his lips, he appeared about ready to share something with her but, after a second, seemed to decide against it. "I just zone out sometimes, I guess. I'll be back."
Without saying anything more, he was gone, leaving her with the dog, who had been lying on the floor in front of the couch but was now sitting, staring at her with those bewitching eyes of his. At least Lois figured they must be bewitching because she usually hated dogs but, for some reason, she adored Shelby. "While Clark's away, maybe you could help me with a story I've been working on."
Shelby barked in consternation at the remark.
"Yeah, I know," she grunted, sliding off the couch and onto her feet. "I promised Clark I wouldn't work today. But I know when I tell him the importance of this story, he'll understand." Shelby followed at her heels as she crossed the room to her purse. Reaching in, she pulled out a flash drive. Upon seeing it, Shelby woofed loudly. Feeling bad that she was even contemplating breaking her promise to Clark, and even more so because of the possessed pooch who seemed to know what she was intending to do, she slipped the flash drive back. "Right, I know. I say every story is important. While that's true, I won't break my promise to Clark. Okay boy?" Bending over, she patted the dog on the head before placing herself once more on the couch. "Now, let's see what's happening in the world…"
- - - - - -
It had been over an hour since Clark had left for pizza. But really it wasn't his fault. The world was full of people needing a hero and Clark, though he could move at super speeds and he could fly, could only be at one place at a time. Holding a hot pizza in one hand and a carton of ice cream in the other, he stood outside the door of his own house, fully expecting Lois to berate him for taking so long. Breathing deeply, he decided that he needed to tell her the truth. He couldn't be in a relationship with her while neglecting to tell her that one important fact about himself. His continual disappearing acts would only hurt her and that was the last thing he ever wanted. Steeling himself once more, he placed the ice cream carton on top of the pizza box and opened the door. Standing right behind it, arms crossed over her chest, was Lois.
"Long wait for the pizza, huh Smallville?"
Sending her an innocuous look, he passed by her and placed the pizza on the counter. "I got you some Rocky Road ice cream."
Moving to the counter, she opened the box and pulled out a slice of the meat covered pizza. "Ummm…" she hummed, sinking her teeth into a bite of cheese, meat, bread, and sauce. "Well, you got me ice cream, so I can forgive you," she assured him, after swallowing.
"Thanks for your generosity," he told her taking two strides in order to be by her side.
"Well, you know me," Lois replied, shrugging her shoulders. "Just don't let it happen again."
Grinning down at her, he assured her it wouldn't, while knowing that it probably would but by then he would've told her his secret so, hopefully, all would be okay. When she stayed focused on the piece of pizza in front of her, instead of kissing him to make the apology and it's acceptance official, he almost lost it. He briefly wondered if she was playing some sort of game with him. It would be like Lois to tease him in some fashion for his great tardiness. And she had to know what he wanted. Gazing at her face, he noticed that her mouth was attempting to stay locked in a straight line rather than break into a smile. In a second, he had removed the pizza from her hand and ended her protest of his actions by pressing his lips to hers. Instead of immediately shoving him away, she allowed him to kiss her and he tasted the pizza, which reminded him that saving lives had increased his appetite. They broke apart at the same time.
Their eyes didn't meet as Lois quickly recaptured her lost slice of pizza.
Holding in his laughter, Clark joined her in silently eating.
"I think," said Lois, after finishing a second slice. "This is the best pizza I've ever tasted. Or maybe I'm just really hungry because the delivery boy took so long getting the pizza here."
Snorting, Clark finished his piece before answering her charge. "I thought you forgave me."
Turning her head toward him, she pursed her lips and scrunched her brow, making for a very comical expression. "I did."
"That's why you brought it up again?"
"Did I? Well I didn't mean to imply anything Clark. I think you're the one holding onto it."
Narrowing his eyes, he regarded her with mock anger. "I'm the one…you know what Lois -"
Her laugh put an end to his statement and without any warning, she took a piece of the pizza, removed the toppings and smashed the saucy crust against his face.
Stunned, he remained immobile while she darted toward the back door, chortling gleefully at her prank. The pizza slid down his face, down his shirt, leaving a red mark, and landed sauce side down on the floor, where Shelby promptly began consuming it. Ready to play her game of chase, a game he would inevitably win, he spun around, smile in place. Lois was already out the door and headed down the road. She stopped at the sight of a car zooming down the road. Upset that the game was already over before it had really begun, Clark sighed, squinting his eyes to see who had chosen to visit at such in a time. When his eyes focused on the driver's face, he found himself becoming slightly numb.
What was she doing here?
Apparently, Lois felt the same way. Her walk, at least, led Clark to believe that. The angered expression on her face only further fueled his belief.
The driver stepped out of the car, her eyes darting from Clark to Lois, then back to Clark again. Bounding down the steps, Clark headed toward her but Lois reached her first.
"Hello Lana," said Lois bitterly.
Swallowing, Clark regarded Lana then offered his own greeting. "What brings you to Smallville?" he asked, smoothly.
The woman in question fixed her eyes on him as she tried to understand what exactly was going on. Then, shaking her head, she bent over and retrieve something from the passenger seat of the car. "This," she said, taking a few steps to stand in front of Clark. As she passed him the folder of papers that she held, her fingers brushed against his hand. The slight touch revealed something and understanding dawned upon him. No painful reaction assailed him which meant…the kryptonite had been completely flushed from her system. After a moment, Lana realized that Clark had something red all over his face and smeared down the front of his shirt. "Clark…" she trailed off, cocking her head, clearly expecting an explanation.
Lois moved closer and, as she did, Clark began to smile. "This," Clark told Lana, gesturing to the red sauce. "Is a gift from Lois." Pausing, but still within reach, Lois arched an eyebrow at him. She had almost thought he had forgotten about her. With one finger, he wiped away a whole glob of sauce from his face and, before she knew it was happening, had spread it on Lois' nose. At his laugh, both women just stared at him.
"Oh Smallville," said Lois sweetly. "If I didn't feel the need to talk to Lana right now, I would kill you."
Biting his bottom lip to stop his laughter, Clark just gave her a look.
"You n-need to talk t-to me," stuttered Lana, looking more than just a bit nervous.
"Yeah, it will just take a sec," Lois assured her, an almost evil glint in her eyes.
"I'll, uh, be inside, looking over these." Clark shifted on his feet, curious as to what Lois might have to say to Lana but he had no intention of trying to persuade her against it.
Smiling, Lois spun towards Lana, looking more than a bit ridiculous with red pizza sauce on her nose. "The barn?"
"Uh, sure…" Lana replied, though she sounded anything but.
Once his feet landed on the porch, Clark let his gaze linger on his current girlfriend and his ex, before he opened the file in his hand, eyes drawn immediately to the words at the top of a piece of loose leaf paper. His mouth fell open as he focused on the words, reading them and re-reading them.
It couldn't be true…could it?
- - - - -
Lana Lang would never admit it to anyone but something about Lois Lane had always intimidated her a bit. Now, standing in the loft of the barn, she felt fear creeping along her scalp. Not wanting Lois to sense the fear, she plastered a smile on her face and waited for Lois to say what she wanted to say.
Lois, on the other hand, was having trouble controlling her rage. Last time Lana had breezed into town, she had captivated Clark once more, trapping him in a relationship. And then, just like the previous break up, she had stomped all over Clark's heart and left him. Although Clark had never talked to her about it, it was implied and Lois was certain that it happened just that way. She was just as certain that Lana was back to repeat history. And Lois wasn't about to let that happen. Even if Clark did love Lana more than her, something of which Lois wasn't quite certain, that didn't mean she was going to stand by and watch him get hurt. Finally, she managed to bring her anger into check and she started to speak to Lana, her voice so low that Lana had to move closer to hear. "I know why you're back Lana. I saw the way you touched Clark. But don't think I'm just going to stand by and watch you hurt him like you have in the past."
Biting her top lip, Lana nodded at Lois' words as she inwardly tried to figure out the best way to answer them. Obviously, she couldn't explain the truth to Lois, since that would involve revealing Clark's secret, but there had to be some way to make Lois understand that Lana hadn't wanted to walk out that last time. "Last time I left… I never wanted to hurt Clark… It's very complicated."
Lois narrowed her eyes at the smaller girl, while crossing her arms over her chest. "Isn't it always?"
"I understand your concerns," Lana went in, smiling a wide smile at the other woman.
"But you don't have anything to be concerned about. This time Clark and I will finally have our happy ending. I'm not going to hurt him, I promise."
So wrapped up in Clark and Lana fantasies was Lana that she didn't notice a faint sheen in Lois' eyes. Blinking a couple of times, Lois straightened her back, then looked Lana in the eyes. "You better keep that promise," she growled, threateningly.
Pulled out of her reveries, Lana's eyes shot to Lois. Suddenly, she understood. Lois had feelings for Clark. Sympathetically, Lana took a few steps forward and placed a hand on Lois' forearm. "I will."
Holding her head very erect, Lois didn't answer, just moved her line of vision past Lana, to the sky that stretched beyond the large outlook there.
Taking that as a sign, Lana left her alone, heading toward the house. The walk there seemed longer than it ever had before. At the door of the house, she paused, took a deep breath, then went inside. Her eyes grew misty as she watched Clark sorting through the papers she had given him.
Without moving, he spoke. "Is this true?"
She felt like she was floating as she came to stand beside the coffee table. "It is. But there's something I need to talk to you about before we discuss this."
Finally glancing up, he asked, "What?"
One trembling hand stretched down to caress his upturned face, reveling in the sight of his face not contorting in pain. "Us."
Obviously bewildered, he jerked his head back. "Weren't you just…talking about something with Lois?"
Despite her best efforts, her bottom lip still jutted out in an almost pout. She hadn't expected him to react in such a manner. She had thought that he would jump into her arms, declaring his undying love for her. "Yes. And…you should know something. Lois has feelings for you."
Squinting his eyes at her, he still remained in place. "She has… Did she say that?"
"It was obvious."
A strange look passed over Clark's face and for a minute Lana believed he might burst into laughter. He pressed his lips together once, then said, softly and slowly, as if to a child, "I know Lois has feelings for me…and I have feelings for her."
The words were like a blow to Lana's gut but instead of ceasing there he kept going.
"In fact, I love her. More than I've ever…" He cut himself, with a clearing of his throat. "I mean… What I mean to say is… Lana, you were my first love but Lois is- "
"No, I understand," Lana said, curtly. "It's perfectly clear to me that the last several months I spent at Star Labs, undergoing any experiment to rid my body of that suit, mean nothing. I did it for you Clark. For us." As she talked, her volume grew so low that if Clark hadn't had super hearing, he would've had to strain to hear what she was saying.
"I'm sorry," was the only way he could respond.
Unable to stop them, tears began to flow from her eyes. "If that's all you have to say, then maybe I should leave."
This time, he had nothing to say.
Feeling more pain than she ever had, Lana fled the Kent house, rushing past Lois, who seemed to be on her way to the house, jumped in her car and took off down the gravel road, little rocks flying everywhere.
Clark emerged on the porch just as Lois was hopping up the steps. One eyebrow rose as their eyes met and all she could do was send him a shrug.
"Was that a test?"
"A test?" Lois tucked a hair behind her ear, trying to appear innocent and failing miserably. "Why would I test you?" At the skeptical look on his face, she sighed, relenting. "Fine. I didn't tell Lana we were together because I wanted you to."
The skepticism faded away as he saw a flash of vulnerability on Lois' face. Stepping forward, he put both of his arms around her and pulled her flush against him. "Did you think there was a chance I wouldn't? Once upon a time, that might've been the case. But, Lois, you have to know how much I love you. How could I ever love anyone else after loving you? It's impossible Lane."
Trying to remain aloof, and not allow the tears of joy to spill from her eyes, Lois nodded, letting her fingers play with the material of Clark's t-shirt. "I am quite the catch, aren't I?"
In order to show her that she really was, he allowed his lips to meet hers in a heart stopping kiss. After a few minutes, he pulled away, asking, "What did you say to Lana then?"
Smiling, Lois said, "I'll tell you some other time…" And with that assertion, she was leaning in again, planning on kissing him and ending any further conversation.
However, he seemed to have other plans as he evaded her kiss. "Lois, you have to see what Lana brought. You'll never believe it…"
- - - - - -
Several miles away, Lana made a sharp right, bringing her car to a screeching halt by the side of the road. One small hand hit the top of the steering wheel, producing a spasm of pain that traveled up her arm. Thinking of Lois and Clark, together, as a couple, she cursed.
"It can't be, it can't be," she muttered, tears still falling.
Her whole body shaking, she tried to make sense of it but found she couldn't.
"It can't be…" Pausing, determination took hold of her as a plan began to form. "It can't be so it won't be…
Note: I think Lana may have been...er...a bit OOC so sorry if that disappoints anyone reading this...I think she may be more in-character next chapter. Please, if you read this, let me know what you think. Your thoughts are valuable to me!