CHAPTER 13

Metropolis International Airport

"Are you sure you don't need me there when you tell Clark?" he asks as they get off the plane and walk over to his private limo.

"I'm sure," she replies as the chauffer opens the door.

He kisses her before climbing into the back seat and closing the door. Just as she's about to walk away, the window lowers. "I could still give you a ride," he says while sticking his head through the open window.

She smiles back and leans forward to kiss him softly on the lips. "I appreciate the offer, but I have some things to take care of at my apartment afterwards so…: her voice trailing off as she straightens up.

"Alright," he replies as the window slowly rises.

"I'll call you later," waving back at him as the limo slowly drives away.

She picks up her two suitcases and heads for the main terminal. After having her bags examined, she hails a cab and gets inside. "Where to?" the cab driver asks as she settles into the back seat.

"Nineteen Cranberry Street," she replies.

The driver nods and immediately pulls from the curb and into the flow of the traffic, slowly making its way out of the airport.

Mona changes into the red silk nightgown that was a present from her wife on their last Valentine's Day together, then goes into the kitchen and takes out a bottle of champagne that was chilling in the refrigerator.

After pouring herself a glass, she lowers the lights and proceeds to light a few candles. She sits down on the couch and settles back against the cushions before turning on the television. She smiles as she watches the two of them recite their vows, tears streaming down her face as they're finally pronounced married. She raises her glass of champagne to the screen.

"Happy Anniversary, my love," she whispers in a voice full of emotion before taking a sip and going back to the beginning to watch it again, the only other sound in the room coming from the tinkling of the birds and stars bracelet still on her wrist…

A short time later…

The cab pulls up to the curb outside the house. After giving the driver a generous tip, Lois gets out of the cab, grabbing her luggage and heading for the front door. She takes a deep breath and exhales noisily before pressing the doorbell. She could hear It must be him playing in the background as well as the footsteps that were approaching. The chain is removed and the door slowly opens. "Lois?"

"Hi, Mrs. K. I'm sorry to be stopping by so late. I've been trying to get in touch with Clark but he's not answering his phone and…"

"Are you moving in?" Martha interrupts with a tiny smirk on her face while eyeing the two suitcases Lois was carrying.

"No," Lois shakes her head. "I came straight from the airport."

"Come on in," Martha tells her, opening the door wider.

"Thanks," Lois says as she goes past her, setting her suitcases next to the coat rack before entering the living room. "Can you wake up Clark? I really need to talk to him about something."

"He's not home yet," Martha replies as she walks over to the bar. Why don't you take off your coat and sit down. I'll make us a couple of drinks. I want to talk to you," she continues as she makes the drinks.

"Alright," Lois says as she sits down on Jonathan's recliner. "Here you go," handing Lois one of the drinks.

"Thanks," she says as Martha turns off the stereo and sits down on the couch.

"So where is Clark anyway?" Lois asks as she sips her drink. "He doesn't usually go out on Friday nights," setting her drink down on the side table.

"He's out but I don't know where," Martha shrugs her shoulders.

"I see," Lois nods her head. For a long moment there's nothing said between them. Finally Lois blurts out, "I'm really uncomfortable with uncomfortable silences."

"Me too," Martha replies with a smile.

"So you really don't know where he is?"

"I really don't," Martha says while sitting back against the couch cushions. "So…" leaning forward to place her empty glass on the coffee table. "What are you doing here? I thought you were supposed to be in Washington?"

"That's one of the things I came to talk to Clark about," Lois replies. "There's been a miracle."

Martha's eyebrows rise and she stares back at Lois. "A miracle? Well, that's news. Are you saying that your father's recovered?"

"As it turns out, the stroke wasn't as bad as the doctors predicted. I was able to have him transported to Met Gen for the rest of his recovery," Lois tells Martha.

"That's incredible," Martha says while shaking her head in astonishment. "I get the feeling that there's more to your coming back early than just about your father."

"Yeah, but that's something I need to speak privately with Clark about if you don't mind," Lois replies. "I hope you understand."

Martha reaches over to take her hand. "Of course I do," she says with a smile.

"Whew," a sigh of relief escaping her mouth. "So you said there was something you wanted to talk to me about?" looking up at Martha.

"Yes," Martha says. "I have a question that I want to ask you and I want you to tell me the truth if you can."

"Of course," Lois says as she reaches over to briefly touch Martha's hand. "What is it?"

Martha lets go of Lois' hand and straightens up. "Why do men chase women?"

There's a thoughtful expression on her face as she ponders the question. "There is the Bible story about when God took a rib from Adam and created Eve. Maybe men chase women to get the rib back. When God took the rib, he left a hole there, a place where there used to be something and the women have that. Maybe a man isn't complete as a man without a woman."

"But why would a man need more than one woman?" Martha persists.

Lois just shakes her head. "I really don't know. Maybe because he fears death?"

"That's it!" Martha exclaims in an excited tone. "That's the reason!"

"But I really don't know," Lois says with a confused look on her face.

"No. That's it," leaning forward to rest her hands on Lois' shoulders. "Thank you. Thank you for answering my question," she smiles at her before sitting back down.

They both look up when they hear the sound of the front door slamming. "Is that you, Clark?" Martha asks.

"No," Jonathan replies as he walks over to the living room entranceway. "Hi," looking Lois over with narrowed eyes.

"Hello, Mr. Kent," she replies in a level tone as she stands up while Martha remains sitting.

"Where have you been?" Martha asks him.

"I don't know, Martha," he replies in a slightly exasperated tone. "I don't know where I've been, and I don't know where I'm going," turning to look at Lois. "You should have your eyes opened, you know."

"Huh?" looking at him with confusion. "I do have my eyes open."

"You do, huh?" sounding leery. "Stick around. Don't go on any long trips."

"I don't know what you mean," still confused.

"I know you don't and that's the point," gesturing with his hand across his chest. "I'll say no more."

"You haven't said anything," Lois replies as she starts to get annoyed.

"And that's how much I'm saying," starting to turn towards the stairs.

"Jonathan?"

He turns around. "What?"

"I just want you to know that no matter what you do, you're going to die. Just like everybody else."

"Thank you, Martha," he replies with an odd smile on his face.

"You're welcome," she replies with a straight face.

"I'm going to bed now," heading for the stairs.

"I think I better go," Lois says as she stands up.

"Good!" he yells out from the top of the stairs.

Martha shakes her head with amusement. "Like I told Clark, he does like you. He just has a hard time showing it," she says as she walks Lois over to the front door.

"He doesn't like me," Lois replies with a shake of her head. "He hasn't liked me ever since I wrote that article criticizing one of his policies when he was still the Governor."

"He's a stubborn man," Martha replies as she opens the door wide for her.

"Don't I know it," Lois rolls her eyes. "So you really don't know when he'll be home?"

"I haven't a clue," shaking her head as Lois picks up her suitcases. "But thank you for answering my question."

"You don't need to thank me," she replies with a smile before adding, "Can you tell him that I'll stop by sometime tomorrow? We really need to talk."

"Of course I'll tell him," Martha replies before giving Lois a kiss on the cheek. "In fact, why don't you come by for breakfast?" watching as Lois steps outside. "You know what time."

"I'd like that," Lois says with a smile. "See you then," she calls out as she hails a cab and climbs inside.

Martha watches until the cab takes off. It feels like snow, shivering slightly as she goes back inside and locks the door behind her.

"It's cold," Clark finally says after they've been walking for a little while.

"Yeah. It smells like snow," Oliver replies. "Wouldn't it be nice if we had a white Christmas?" he asks as they continue to walk down the street.

"I was thinking that earlier," Clark answers back before lapsing into silence again for a few minutes.

"You know," speaking up again. "My mother guessed that my father was seeing somebody. That Mona-I mean, I'd love to say that that she looked like some piece of cheap goods, but she really didn't. She looked like the kind of woman that my mother would be friends with. How sick am I for thinking that?" finally looking over at Oliver. "What?" looking curiously at him when he notices the thoughtful expression on his face.

"Well…" he hesitates for a moment before he answers. "She looked familiar to me."

"Mona?" Clark asks, sounding surprised.

"Yeah," Oliver replies with a nod of his head. "It's on the tip of my tongue…" his eyebrows rising as he suddenly pulls out his iPhone.

"What are you doing?" Clark asks.

"I secretly took her picture earlier because I couldn't shake the feeling that I've seen her before," Oliver replies without looking up while swiping through screen after screen until he finally stops. "Isn't this her?" he asks while holding his phone out.

Clark takes the phone and studies the picture, his eyes widening. "Yes!" he exclaims and looks up at him. "How did you-"

"Remember what I said when we first met about what access I have to the latest in cutting edge technology?" quirking a brow.

"I remember," Clark replies.

"It also includes having the latest in facial recognition software at my disposal," he replies with a twinkle in his eyes.

Clark just shakes his head in astonishment as he reads the caption beneath the picture.

"I think it's safe to say that your father is not cheating on your mother," Oliver says while looking over Clark's shoulder. "They were the first same-sex couple to legally marry in the state of Kansas. Your father was Governor at the time and he was the one who officiated at their wedding. Isn't her wife beautiful?" smiling at the picture of Mona with Janet. "What I don't understand is why your father was the one escorting her to the opera tonight and not her wife."

"I don't know," Clark says with a sigh as he hands the phone back to him.

"What's the matter now?" Oliver asks as he slips the phone into his coat pocket. "I thought you'd be happy."

"How can you ask me that?" Clark stops in his tracks and turns around to face him.

"You're making me feel guilty again," Oliver says in response.

"You are guilty," Clark replies. "I'm guilty."

"Of what?" giving Clark a questioning look. Only God can point the finger, Clark."

"I just know what I know," he replies with a shrug.

"And what do you know?" Oliver asks as they start walking again. You told me my life? Well let me tell you yours. I'm a wolf? You run to the wolf but that doesn't make you a lamb," stopping again. "You're gonna marry Lois. Why on earth would you want to sell your life short?" stepping closer to him. "Playing it safe is just about the most dangerous thing a man like you could do. Why didn't you continue to wait for the right man?"

"Because he never came," Clark's voice starting to rise.

"I'm here."

Clark fixes his eyes on Oliver's. "You're late," he states with finality.

Before he could respond, Clark turns around and looks up at the building in front of him. "This isn't my home," turning back around.

"This is where I live. My penthouse is on the top floor," Oliver replies.

"So this is where we were going," Clark stares back at him with an irritated expression on his face. "You know, we had a deal," poking his finger on Oliver's chest. "If I came with you to the opera you'd leave me alone forever, and I came with you. Now I'm gonna marry Lois and you're gonna leave me alone forever, right?"

Oliver still doesn't respond so he continues on.

"A person can see where they've messed up in their life, and they can change the way they do things, and they can even change their luck. So maybe…maybe my nature does draw me to you, but that doesn't mean I have to go with it. I can take hold of myself and I can say yes to some things and no to other things that are gonna ruin everything. I can do that. Otherwise, you know what is this stupid life that God gave us?"

He stops again. "Oliver? Are you even listening to me?"

"Yeah," he responds at last. "Everything seems like nothing to me now. I guess I just want you in my bed again."

Clark shakes his head sadly. "No, Oliver."

"Yes," Oliver replies firmly. "The past and future is a joke to me now. I see that they're nothing. I see they're not here. The only thing that's here is you and me."

"No," Clark insists insistently. "I want to go home."

"No," Oliver grabs his arm.

"I'm going home," turning to face him. "I'm freezing to death," his voice quivering slightly.

"Come upstairs," he gives Clark a pleading look.

"Oliver, please," his eyes beginning to mist up as he pulls his arm away from Oliver's grasp.

"Clark, I love you. Not like they told you love is. I didn't know this either. Love doesn't make things nice. It ruins everything. It breaks your heart. It makes things a mess. We aren't here to make things perfect."

He stops when a snowflake drifts down between them. "Snowflakes are perfect," he goes on. "The stars are perfect. The moon is perfect," gazing up at the night sky for a moment before looking back at Clark. "Not us. We are here to ruin ourselves and break our hearts and love the wrong people…and die!"

The tears are freely rolling down Clark's face. "Now, I want you to come upstairs with me and get…get in my bed!" gesturing to the front entrance before turning back around and holding out his left hand.

"Come on," he says in a soft voice.

Clark stares at the gloved hand in front of him as the snowflakes continue to drift down around them. Finally his hand slowly reaches out and his fingers wrap around Oliver's.

No more words are spoken as Oliver leads Clark into the building. They walk through the lobby until they reach Oliver's private elevator, his fingers still wrapped around Oliver's hand as the doors slowly close behind them…