A/N: Sorry for the delay. My holiday is nearly over and I had work to do. Bummer. The good news is, this is the last installment.

The Power of Suggestion

Part 7: Epilogue, a few weeks later

"So, what are you in the mood for tonight?" Clark asked Lois as they stood hunched over the movie cabinet. "We have action, comedy, romance, drama, horror, you name it."

"I don't know. How about we just choose one at random?" Lois suggested.

"Okay. Shut your eyes." He counted to three and then they both reached in. Their hands met on a DVD. They opened their eyes.

"I guess this one it is," Lois said, smiling warmly at Clark. "What is it?" They looked down. They were holding a glossy cover with a dancing couple on it. Much Ado About Nothing.

"Oh dear, it's a romance." Lois sighed. She was actually rather in the mood for an action. Big surprise.

"What? It's kind of funny. Come on, let's watch it," Clark cajoled. Not that he'd ever admit it out loud, but he had always preferred romance to action anyway.

"Remind me, who's the girl here?" Lois teased.

"There's a girl here?" Clark asked, feigning surprise. "Oh no!"

Lois laughed and punched him lightly in the shoulder.

"Ouch!" he cried, rubbing it.

"Give it up Bell, I know you're indestructible. Practically an armored tank."

"You've stripped me of my armor. I am defenseless around you," Clark cried dramatically. He straightened up. "And you know, if I'm Bell, that makes you the Beast."

"Ha ha, very funny," Lois said with a sarcastic smile. "Turn on the film, why don't you?" She flipped her hair. "If anyone here is a beast, it's you."

"Very well, if you insist, my princess," Clark said with a bow.

"Call me princess one more time." If Clark picked up on the threatening tone, he ignored it.

"As you wish, my princess." His smile was taunting.

Launching herself off the couch, she jumped at him. He caught her easily in his arms and, before she could protest, kissed her passionately on the mouth. After a long moment, they broke apart. They gazed into each other's eyes.

"When did you fall in love with me?" she asked softly.

Clark paused to consider for a moment. "It was so gradual, I didn't really notice until one day when I overheard the guys talking about it." Clark laughed. "They said you loved me and I was an idiot for not admitting I love you back, although I think the bigger issue was that I hadn't told you about Krypton. It shocked me into realizing they were right. About me loving you, not so much about being an idiot." He nuzzled her neck.

Lois swated playfully at Clark's advances. "I wouldn't want to disagree with any super-strong heros now would I?" Lois abruptly stopped in her swatting and met Clark's eyes again. "When was this?" Lois asked, her brow furrowed.

"About a week before we got stuck in the freezer. Why?"

"That would be the same week I heard Chloe and Dinah. They said you loved me. I decided I didn't care if you had a million secrets, because I loved you." Clark smiled warmly at her words and moved into to kiss her. She stopped him. "I also decided my leniency would only last for so long. You were pushing it, Buddy."

Clark's smile faded some. "Did you arrange the freezer thing just so I would open up?"

"No, but that was a pretty good plan. Masterful even." A glimmer of realization appeared in her eyes. Clark knew that look.

Clark smiled again. "So I guess we owe our happiness to our friends."

"You could say that, although we probably would have figured out we were meant for each other eventually," Lois said shrugging.

"It might have been a while. You're so stubborn," Clark teased.

"You're one to talk, Smallville. How long have we known each other?" Lois slapped him lightly on the shoulder. He caught her hand and pulled her close.

Lois gazed up at him. "I know the perfect revenge." She smiled mischievously.

"Oh?" His smile matched hers.

"I know a certain leader with a certain crush on a certain member of a certain league." Her eyes twinkled.

"Are you certain?"

"Certainly." They chuckled.

After they had quieted down a bit, Clark asked, "So what's the plan?"

"Get Oliver to ask Dinah out," Lois said matter-of-factly.

"I like it. Simple, easy to remember. Kiss me?"

"The princess is always at the mercy of the king," she said, smiling as she went up on her tiptoes to kiss him.

Clark sat down heavily on the couch, pulling Lois on to his lap. As he did so he said, "Even if he makes his living falling on his butt?"

"And what a gorgeous butt it is too! So well rounded and firm!" She gave it a hardy squeeze.

They were laughing so hard that they failed to see Chloe and Jimmy enter the farmhouse several minutes later to join them for movie night.

Seeing them sprawled together on the couch, Chloe turned to Jimmy and whispered, "Mission accomplished."

Beta Note: By now you have finished "The Power of Suggestion." Congratulations. You can thank me for that. Took me nagging Scribbles here for nearly six months to get this done. I ended up writing a good portion of chapter six anyway. And let me guess, you haven't got a clue who I am. Hi, I'm ComicNerd, the editor/co-writer and brains behind the whole story. Any mistakes you find/found are ModernScribe's. She never does listen to a word I say.

Author's Defense: I do listen to her. When she's right. Is it my fault that's not very often? As for co-writing, well that's a load of carp as AC would say. This story is all mine. She was more like the backseat writer or the annoying AM radio playing in the background. Thanks for reading.