Richard stared through the glass of his office at his fiancé. She was such a blessing in his life. He didn't really know how he could survive without her anymore. And yet, he could feel her slipping away. It was torture.

He knew she loved the caped wonder, he only wondered...

No! It couldn't be! When he came into Lois' life three years ago, sure he knew she had had a past with someone, Jason was proof enough of that, but she had always refused to talk about it. But…

No… Superman couldn't be the father, it was impossible… and even if he could be… Richard would never mention it. Jason's safety depended on that. Richard wandered if even Superman knew.

No way to tell.

He shook himself out of his reverie… it was impossible anyway….

"Hey Richard, you up for lunch?"

Richard looked up to find Lois at his door and he couldn't help but smile. She's such a beautiful woman, he thought.

"Right, let me just finish this and send it off to Perry. Where do you want to go?"

Lois sauntered into the room, "I was thinking about that Chinese place down the road. I have a sudden craving!" She looked over his shoulder, "What are you doing? Why on earth are you researching my past articles on Superman!"

Richard exited out of the file, "No reason, just curious about the guy."

Lois looked suspicious; Superman was a very touchy subject with her lately. It was beneath her to faint, yet he made her do it. It was maddening.

"You know what," she stated curtly, "you can just finish that if you want. I certainly don't want you to bring that project home with you! It isn't enough that Perry is pushing the man down all of our collective throats, I don't need it in my house!"

She marched out of the room, "CLARK! LUNCH! RED DRAGON! YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES!"

Clark looked surprised to say the least, Lois hadn't said much to him since he had gotten back into the office. But even so, you don't look a gift horse in the mouth, or whatever that dumb saying is. He stumbled over his chair and hurriedly followed her to the elevator. "I'm coming, I don't need five minutes. I'm good."

Lois didn't say anything. She definitely was in a mood. Not a good one.

Lois seemed to simmer down as the elevator lowered to the ground level.

"I'm sorry Clark; I didn't mean to snap at you like that, I was frustrated. Not the best way for an old friend to start catching up with you."

"That's fine Lois. So, the Red Dragon huh? That new?" He glanced at her nervously, this was the first time he had been this close to her since the other night on the roof. Even as Clark in the office she'd kept her distance, distracted, most likely by his alter-ego. Again, he wondered if she hated him.

Lois laughed, "Good old Smallville, has it really been that long? I'm going to need to bring you up to date on where the food worth eating is aren't I? Say, have you found a place to live yet?"

"Not really." Clark admitted, shifting nervously and staring at his feet. He hadn't really had time, what with saving the world and all, fighting back death, waking from a coma, finding out he had a son… Not that he had been busy or anything.

"You could bunk at our place for awhile, I'm sure Richard won't mind, and Jason seems to like you!"

Clark swallowed several times at the mention of his son, tried to reply.

Looking at Clark quizzically she prodded, "It wouldn't be any bother, Clark. It's been a long time, but you are still a good friend. For you we have an open door."

The elevator door opened and Lois walked out at quick pace. Clark followed stumbling over his words.

"Oh sure, you know me Lois, but Richard and I are practically strangers, I wouldn't want to impose on him. We were good friends once; I wouldn't want to impose in your house, with your fiancé. I'm sure I'd be a nuisance."

Lois stopped at the word "once" and stared at him for a moment. She knew she hadn't paid much attention to him in the last few days sure. It had been years, that was true, but the sudden thought that she couldn't have Clark as the friend and comrade he had been before was like a blow to the gut. She didn't know why and it unnerved her. She pushed the feeling down and kept walking.

Oddly vulnerable she whispered, "Clark, please be the same old Smallville, be familiar, be who I know, I need you."

She'd said it quite enough that he knew she hadn't meant him to hear, but the sadness in her voice tore at his heart. He kept walking and turned back when he was a few paces ahead of her.

"You coming Lois? Red Dragon won't wait!"

Lois smiled and rushed to catch up with him, "No way I'm letting you beat me to it Smallville!"

They bantered happily as they walked down the busy city street, easily falling into a rhythm that seemed as natural as the wind in the trees. For a moment Lois felt truly at ease. She had missed Clark. He wasn't awe inspiring like Superman, nor to good to be true like Richard, he was just Clark, simple, down to earth, and yet still so intriguing. She needed this friend. The moon and stars might cease in their courses, but Clark would always be her country boy.

After they had ordered their meal and sat down across from each other at the table Clark started to shift nervously, trying not to look at the beauty sitting across from him. He wasn't so used to this act anymore, was sure it would take a while to get back into it. What was worse, he truly didn't want to act at all, especially with Lois. But this was the only way he could be a part of her life, and he knew it.

"So, Lois, how did you meet Richard, he seems like a great guy." Clark tried to keep his voice from fluctuating, failed miserably, and just hoped she would right it off as a "Clark" trait.

Lois rolled her eyes, "He was working at our sister paper in England, and when he transferred over here guess who Perry wanted to partner him up with! I swear I hate it when Perry tries to partner me with someone, I don't mind you Clark, and you're somewhat manageable I guess." She laughed, "I guess we got partnered off anyway, just not the way Perry was thinking."

"You've always been a one woman army Lois; no story could hide from you."

"I wouldn't go so far as that Clark, I remember some good times we had out in the field. I've missed it while you were away. Tell me about your trip, did you just spend time with the llamas or did you do something interesting like discover a lost Pyramid?"

Now it was Clarks turn to laugh, "Discover a pyramid? Besides, Llama's are cool!"

"Cool shmool, where is the reporter in you Clark! You should be ashamed! Are you a city boy or a country kid? Oh wait!"

Clark looked embarrassed, but smiled.

"We should get back to the office before Perry has a Stroke or something." He said.

"You're right. It was good catching up a bit Clark; we should do it again sometime, for old time's sake. But if you ever say I'm a softy I'll destroy your country boy reputation before you can say 'faster then a speeding bullet.'"

Clark hesitated, but plunged into the subject before he could back down, "Speaking of the man often mistaken as a bird or a plane, what's been going on with that, before I left, you were basically his press agent. Now your eyes turn red whenever he's mentioned."

"Is that the talk around the water cooler? Lois hates Superman?"

"No, just something I've noticed" Clark looked nervous. Lois thought it was just because he expected to get his head cut off any minute for bringing the subject up, but it was really because he was afraid of what she would say.

Oddly though, Lois wasn't angry at Clark for bringing it up, maybe it was his farm boy charm that put her at ease, she didn't know. Or maybe she didn't think of him seriously enough to really get riled about it. But amazingly, she answered him somewhat honestly.

"I cared about Superman, somewhat, before he left. If you repeat that to anyone you're dead. But anyway, I guess I'm just so surprised he's back, I don't know what to think. He makes me feel out of control. I hate that feeling. I don't anything to do with him at the moment. He shouldn't have left."

Clark spoke quietly, "Neither should have I."

They had arrived back at the Planet and suddenly Clark heard an alarm go off somewhere in the city.

"Uh, Lois, I think I left my wallet at the restaurant. I got to hurry back and get it, see you later."

Before she could turn around and respond he'd already disappeared. She chuckled. "Good old Clark."