A/N Sorry for the slow update, but my laptop has become completely useless and I've had to write this around my family's use of the main computer. Another thing is that this computer hasn't got an American spell check, so everything is spelt the English [British] way, so sorry if that annoys anybody. I hope everyone likes it and thanks for the reviews! ^_^
Previously...
"She must exchange her human life for the life of a Kryptonian. She will have no powers and will still be able to be mortally wounded, but her body will not deteriorate with age as other humans will. She will naturally outlive all around her. All except you my son."
Clark wasn't sure of this. It kept her alive, sure, but for her to be faced with growing older in the same way he did. Having to watch everyone she loved die, only to be left with Clark in the end. Would she be able to cope with that? Clark looked down at her again.
She would have to.
As selfish as it was, he couldn't let her die. Not after everything that had happened with them.
"Will she still have her memories? Will she still be the same Lois Lane, other than the fact that she won't age as others will?"
"Yes my son, she will have the same mind and the same thoughts."
"Then do it. Bring her back father."
"As you wish my son."
A blinding white light burst from the ceiling and travelled directly into Lois' body. She let out an ear-splitting scream and Clark rushed over to her, only to be thrown back into the nearest crystal pillar. Several seconds passed before the light beam vanished as quickly as it had appeared. Lois' eyes fluttered open, before she was once again plunged into darkness.
Clark groaned as he came to, the fortress blurred into his vision and it took him a while to realize what was going on. Slowly images flashed through his mind like a slide show, filling in those all important blanks that soon swung his head towards the crystal alter and Lois.
"Kal-El, my son, you need to act quickly there is not much time."
Clark stood up suddenly, ignoring the head rush and major migraine that hit him in the action. "What do I need to do?"
A violet crystal flew through the air and rotated slowly before him, a great energy radiating from it. "This crystal is the most precious that this fortress possesses. It is completely unique, one of a kind on Earth and Krypton. Before our planet was destroyed, I discovered a way of preserving us as memories, programmes and energy forces. The voice that you here now is a result of that research." Clark listened intently, his eyes never leaving the crystal. "The crystal is my only way of preserving the Kryptonian I didn't manage to save as I did you Kal-El. This crystal contains the life energy of your mother."
Clark reached out towards the rotating crystal, completely entranced by it but too cautious to touch it. "My mother is in there?"
"You misunderstand. Her life energy is only her means of keeping her alive. There is no DNA or memory or personality in the crystal. It contains the ultimate gift that only a mother can give. It is the gift of life." Clark traced his fingers around the outside of the crystal, keeping no more than a centimetre away the whole time. "Using this crystal will allow Lois to live on. It will not give her Kryptonian abilities as you have my son, nor will she be Kryptonian, but it will mean that she will live a life as long as yours and will heal marginally better than most humans."
It all sounded so good, Lois would be okay, Clark wouldn't be alone. What could be bad about doing this?
"But Kal-El, I must again impress upon you that she will outlive her family, her friends and all those around her. All those apart from you and any children she may choose to have." The voice boomed as it always did, but Clark could only see her. His Lois lying on the crystal table, completely vulnerable. He knew what he had to do, he knew that there was no other option, it was either Lois for the rest of his life or no Lois at all, she wasn't even breathing any more. "So if she were to choose a human mate, she would be forced to watch as he aged, while she would stay youthful for many years to come."
"I understand." Clark allowed his fingers to wrap themselves around Lois' last hope, the only thing that could bring her back to him. Even if she hated him for it, at least she would be alive. And she was still the same old vulnerable self. Well, as vulnerable as Lois could be.
The crystal hummed in anticipation and Clark took it over to Lois. Somehow, call it instinct, he knew exactly what to do next. Taking the angular instrument high over his head, he brought it down swiftly as if to stab her in the heart. Upon impact the crystal seemed to disappear into Lois, not leaving a scratch on her. A purple glow emitted from her body and she radiated for a few seconds before the light seemed to soak into her body. It was done.
Clark stood over her and waited. Even though the fortress was silent, ignoring for his own breathing, he felt the need to listen harder than he ever had before, searching for the only thing that could calm him now: her heartbeat. Weirdly enough, time seemed to stretch endlessly at the fortress, he had always found it strange how coming back from a short trip there seemed to take months in the outside world. But, as Clark waited for the crystal to take its effect, he became impatient after a matter of seconds. All he could think was 'Why isn't this working? Will it work at all?' In an attempt to calm his nerves, he reached forward and clutched her hand; it looked so cold! Clark took off his jacket, not needing it himself, wrapping it around Lois' body and quickly set his heat vision to a reasonable level before running it over her too. Slowly he saw the colour return to her skin, smelt the familiar scent that only she possessed and finally heard that heartbeat he had been waiting for.
"Smallville?" Her voice was small, but it was there and that was enough.
"Lois, it's okay, I'm here." Clark took her hand again and was overwhelmed with emotion when her eyes fluttered open. "Hey. You scared me there for a minute."
She could only smile in response. Blinking a couple of times, she couldn't believe the site before her. "Clark, are we dead?"
"No. You're okay Lois. You're safe."
"But I'm back." She said this with so much conviction, as if she knew exactly what was going on.
"Back where?" He didn't understand, what did she mean 'back'?
"I'm in heaven. It's the same place I came after that plane crash. The one I told you about in the hospital."
"Lois, you're not in heaven. Believe it or not this place belongs to me." Clark placed his hand to her cheek, she shivered in response, he was so warm. Pulling her upright, Clark sat down, her in his lap, and held her close. She was getting too cold. "But I'll explain later, okay? I promise. Just relax. I'll get us outta here."
Lois nodded and closed her eyes, burrowing further into his chest. Clark stood up, Lois still in his arms, and sped off taking the familiar route back to the farm and back to the place where two blonds were waiting impatiently for them.