Sorry this took so long. Writer's block is a 'B' and work is a bigger one. As always, I hope you guys enjoy!

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Lois sat resting comfortably against the arm of the couch with a cup of cocoa grasped in her hand. She was watching TV, but her mind was elsewhere. After she woke up the night before, Chloe and Clark had been there very excited to see her and tell her how worried they had been. Her energy had faded quickly and before she knew it her eyes were drooping shut. Clark had come to see her this morning and told her she was staying with him for a couple of days...yes, told her. There was no asking if she would like to stay, he just informed her that it was happening. That, of course, pissed her off and she proceeded to tell him flatly 'thanks but no thanks she could take care of herself'. She had been released from the hospital that afternoon, and he was there with a big smile on his face. She once again told him there was no way she was going to stay at his house. The prospect of forced contact with Lana and Clark was distasteful to say the least.

She glanced over at him, shooting him a dirty look. Stubborn man. He returned her glare with a smug smile. He had eventually used her own doctor against her. Clark got the doctor to tell her that having someone around to keep an eye on her would be a good idea. "This is ridiculous, Clark. I don't need you to do this. I can take care of myself. I don't need anyone to hold my hand. That was low using my doctor like that, by the way."

"Well, what if I want to hold your hand." Lois' eyebrows rose and drew together as she looked at him trying to figure out where he was going with that. Is he trying to flirt with me? "I just want to make sure you're okay. I'm doing this because I care, okay," he said sincerely. "I have something that might make you feel better."

He got up and walked into the kitchen. Opening the freezer, he brought out the carton of ice cream he had gotten specifically for her yesterday. He grabbed a spoon and bowl for each of them and returned to the living room. He handed her a bowl, spoon, and the frozen dessert. "Mmm, my favorite. What's this for?" she began eagerly scooping out large spoonfuls and biting her lower lip in anticipation.

He shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe for 'making' you come spend some time with me so that I can look after you when you've just gotten out of the hospital." He drew out 'making' and plopped heavily on the couch beside her. She snorted in reply, absorbed in her task. He shifted closer to her until their sides were pressed together and took the ice cream she offered him out of her hand.

She felt the warmth radiating off of Clark. She started to relax into him, but caught herself at the last moment and sat up ram rod straight. Clark kissing Lana played in her head, reminding her that he was officially off the market. Clark immediately noticed the change in her posture and looked over at her curious about the cause. He noticed that she had a blank expression that looked forced.

"What's wrong," he asked wondering if he should be concerned.

She avoided eye contact. "Nothing is wrong."

There is that cold emotionless voice that she has been using a lot recently, he thought. "Lois," he said getting more and more frustrated by her attitude as it became increasingly common.

"What," was her one word reply as she stubbornly refused to look at him.

"Okay that's it," he said finally having had enough. "I've wanted to talk to you about this for awhile." He reached out and used his hand to turn her face, forcing her to look at him. His eyes expressed his confusion. "You've been acting like this for days and I don't get it. You've been like this ever since-" The wheels in his mind turned and things fell into place. His jaw dropped and he tried not to laugh, she definitely wouldn't take kindly to that, but the idea that Lois Lane was jealous made him a little giddy - especially since there was no reason to be jealous. A cocky-goofy combo smile split his lips, and he sized her up, head cocked to the side.

She froze, spoon half way to her mouth. "What?" He remained silent, grin firmly in place. "I don't know what's going through that head of yours, but stop looking at me like that," she huffed and shoved the spoon in her mouth, deriving some small comfort from the ice cold treat.

"Like what," he said while chuckling.

She considered him. "Like you're a kid in a candy store with a pocket full of money, trying to figure how much candy you can carry and what to eat first." He chuckled again. His quiet study of her was becoming unnerving. Hold up your side of the conversation, damn it. "What no snarky come back? Take a picture, Smallville, it'll last longer." She shifted uncomfortably and created a little space between them. It was definitely easier to keep her thoughts off of him if he wasn't touching her, and right now she preferred to explore happier thoughts than her lost shot with Clark.

"Sorry, I was just taking a moment to absorb what a jealous Lois Lane looks like."

She confirmed his assumption was right when her eyes shot open in surprise and apprehension. She quickly schooled her reaction and it was back to blank in a flash. She's good, but not good enough, he thought a little smug.

"Jealous? Why in the world would I be jealous? For that matter, what would I be jealous of?"

She swallowed thickly as his grin became lopsided and he looked at her with a predatory gaze. He moved, once again closing the space between them. "I don't know, Lois. You'll have to tell me. You're the one who's jealous," he deadpanned, enjoying his moment of control over the situation.

"Are you sure you're not the one who got hit in the head? Come to think of it, you did get hit pretty hard during Chloe's wedding reception. Really hard actually. How is it that you don't have a scratch on you," she asked attempting to change the subject. Well, that and she really was puzzled by his complete lack of injuries. She had seen blood on his face after all, hadn't she?

"Nice try, Lois. I'm not letting you off the hook that easy."

"Stop looking so smug. Trust me; you're way off base, so drop it." She pushed on his chest trying to create more space between them, but he didn't budge. She was finding it difficult to ignore his lips when they were within kissing distance and his leg kept brushing hers, building friction. Space. That's it. All she needed was space. "And there is a whole couch over there. Do you mind not sitting practically on top of me."

He ignored her comment and her hand which remained pressed against his chest. "So, it's just a big fat coincidence that last week at the Planet you were busy amusing yourself by coming up with clever anecdotes about me and my wardrobe full of plaid…I leave for a few minutes and when I get back you eyes are as cold as the arctic and Alcatraz is calling for advice considering your defenses are so high. Did I leave anything out? Oh yeah," he exclaimed feigning surprise. Lois rolled her eyes and frowned at his dramatic pause. "You had just been talking to Lana." He waited for her to respond, sporting one raised brow. His face saying, 'what do you have to say about that'.

"How many times do I have to tell you that nothing is wrong with me? You're seeing things that simply aren't there. Dial down that ego, Smallville, I don't care who you date," she huffed. If he wouldn't give her space, then she would get it herself. She pushed off the couch and snatched her bowl heading for the kitchen, using washing her dish as her excuse for retreat.

He wasn't going to let her get away or drop the subject. He was off the couch and pursuing her in the blink of an eye. "You can say it all you want, but no matter how much you may hate it…I know you and I can tell you're lying. I should have seen it sooner. What makes you think that I'm dating Lana," he asked switching gears on her.

"Oh please, Clark. You two are pro's at the on again off again thing. You're about as predictable as the rising and setting of the sun. This is just chapter 567 of on again, and there is nothing for me to be jealous of. This is between the two of you. I'd appreciate it if you abided by my long standing request and leave me out of it." She scrubbed ruthlessly at the clearly clean bowl.

He didn't know whether to get frustrated with her or stand back and appreciate how cute she was jealous. "Well, you're wrong, Lois. We're not back together."

At that she finally turned to face him, soap bubbles dripping off her hands. "Oh really? That's why you were kissing her," she challenged.

She saw the kiss? But that was just a peck! "Lana kissed me, if you could even call it that. It was barely a touch. After which I told her that we needed to talk. I have had a lot of time to think and I let her know that there was no more us. Could be no more us."

Lois looked at him speculatively. "That's not what it looked like from where I was sitting," she finally said flippantly and turned back to the sink. "But it really doesn't matter to me and certainly isn't my business who you kiss or date," she added trying to distract him from the fact that she had watched them.

Clark's earlier dilemma on his emotions swung in the direction of frustration. "I suggest the next time you spy on someone that you at least get an accurate view of the situation so that you don't jump to crazy conclusions. I'm telling you what really happened. Our relationship was not perfect the way you describe it. We were having serious issues before she left. At the time I hoped we would work through them, but the months apart showed me that she was no longer the girl I fell for. You helped me see that. You were right, people break up for a reason. I was able to step back from the relationship and without my emotions ruling me, I accepted that.

Clark looked at her as a series of emotions shifted quickly in her eyes. Surprise flashed to disbelief…flashed to hope…flashed to defensiveness…went blank again. She just stood there staring at him. "Oh," she said lamely. She had to get control over this conversation. "I never thought I'd see the day, Smallville. The day you said no to Lana Lang. You know my opinion on the matter. I don't want to sound cliché, but I'm proud of you." She patted his shoulder and tried to sound lighthearted and merely casually interested. She turned away and walked away from him, hiding the huge smile that she couldn't hold in any longer. "Oh yeah. I don't do jealous. Geez, can your head get any bigger, Smallville? Lana comes back and you think every girl you know wants you," she shot over her shoulder.

He rolled his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. She was never going to give in and be honest. An idea struck him. Before she could make it to the couch he caught up and placed his hands on her shoulders, turning her around. He towered over her closing the space until they were nearly flush. He stared down into her eyes. She felt like he was looking into her soul. Her throat tightened at his proximity and the intensity in his gaze.

"What are you doing," she asked quietly. She couldn't think with him invading her space. She took a step back and a deep breath. This was better. At least rational thought was possible at this distance. He followed her, once again coming within a breath of touching her. He never let his eyes stray from hers. "Clark?" His name contained all the questions swirling through her head.

He finally answered her with a low, "hmm?"

She moved away from him again, but her back hit something solid behind her. Her hand shot out and felt the wall that was preventing further retreat. "What are you doing," she asked again, attempting to not sound desperate.

Predictably, he followed her, continuing his twisted game of tag. This time he put his hands on her hips and pulled her into him. Her neck had to crane back to see his face. Her heart was pounding in her ears. It was so loud she was worried Clark would hear it racing. "I'm testing that theory of yours that all the women around me want me. I thought I'd start with you. You know, considering you're here and all," he said low and seductive, a crooked smile twisting his lips.

She ran her tongue over her lips in anticipation as his head lowered towards her. Her eyes darted to his mouth just before it came to rest over her eager lips. Her body immediately reacted to him. The chemistry that she remembered so well instantly ignited between them; his full lips gently brushing across hers sent electric tingles through them and down her spine. She heard a content sigh and was surprised when she realized it had come from her.

Lois' arms snaked around his neck and pulled his head down harder, crushing their lips together. She heard him grunt something against her lips that might have been her name; she wasn't sure. Her fingers dug into his thick raven hair as his left arm wrapped around her waist pulling her tightly against him and he drawing random patterns at the small of her back. His other hand trailed up her torso, coming to rest in the crook of her neck. He tilted her head back, allowing his hungry lips better access to hers.

Lois opened her lips in an open invitation for Clark to deepen the kiss. His tongue responded by immediately slipping through her welcoming lips and brushing greedily over hers. They exchanged a synchronized, "Mmmm." Their tongues danced and eagerly explored the velvety sweetness of the other's mouth. Lois felt her core radiating heat and her breathing turned ragged. Clark pulled her waist into him rubbing his pelvis into hers several times, causing a sensual groan to escape them both. She could feel his excitement and it served to turn her on even more.

The weeks - maybe years - worth of tension that had built between them tried to work itself out as their tongues battled and their hands ran over each other trying to memorize every curve. Lois felt the heart ache and anxiety that had plagued her since the moment she had seen Lana fading away. Clark's kiss caused her head to haze over and cloud with passion. She only knew that she needed to feel him and drink him in. Is this really finally happening?

Lois finally had to break away from him, lungs burning, she gasped for breath. Her attention was drawn to his neck and its pounding pulse. She placed hot kisses along the ridge of his collar and up until she found the spot behind his ear that made him gasp out her name. She smiled against his neck and moved her hands, using them to push on his chest. Clark was caught off guard and stumbled backwards towards the couch, not losing contact with her until his legs hit the couch and folded causing him to fall heavily in a sitting position. He sat there, chest heaving heavily as he looked up at her. Her eyes were glassy, passion and desire shone clearly from their depths – mirroring his. Her lips were swollen from the crushing kisses they had just shared.

Her touch seemed so familiar, but she was making it very hard to concentrate on or think about anything but capturing her lips again and feeling her pressed intimately against him. When she didn't immediately join him on the couch, he practically whined his complaint, "Loooiis".

He reached for her and she finally relented, moving to straddle his lap and taking a moment to tease his center with hers. His head lolled back and an intake of breath hissed through his teeth. The confines of his jeans were becoming quite uncomfortable. He reached up, pulling her down to meet him in another searing kiss. He drug his teeth over her bottom lip before gently soothing the marks he left away with soft care from his lips and tongue.

He ripped away from her mouth and nibbled and sucked up her neck, feeling her racing pulse pounding under his lips. Her heavy breathing and occasional thrust of her hips had his stomach tightened into a desire induced molten knot. "Sss…oh god…Clark. Mmm," Lois mumbled mindlessly as he found a sensitive nook behind her ear, making her writhe. She arched into his chest and her hips performed slow agonizing circles against his lap, making him moan into her neck.

Her fingers scrambled down his chest to his waist, coming back up with his shirt in tow. He raised his arms above his head and she easily slipped the shirt off. He gazed at her as her eyes ran over his newly exposed flesh. He watched her lids droop, physically exhibiting her appreciation for the sight in front of her, and a wave of male pride washed over him. Her hands followed the path her eyes had taken and he had to restrain himself from pulling her roughly against him as she eagerly explored his bare skin, creating hot torrents of need to burn through him.

Lois leaned down and laid wet kisses along his tight chest, enjoying the jump of his powerful upper body under her exploring lips. She loved how tight his muscles were under her curious fingers and how he smelled intoxicatingly like Irish Springs and something all Clark. She straightened and looked into his eyes; both were breathing raggedly as they stared longingly at each other. Blue and hazel mesmerized and frozen in the moment.

Clark needed to feel more of her…needed her skin on his. His hands came around her back, slipped under her shirt and streaked up her back, pulling her flush against his chest. His fingers fervently ran over the silky skin and gentle curves of her back and shoulders. She leaned down cupping his jaw between her hands and reclaimed his lips.

She was clouding his thoughts and overloading his senses. It struck him hard that if he didn't stop things now that he would get lost in the heavenly sensations she was covering him in and wouldn't have the will power to stop. He pulled back, groaning at the loss of contact with her. This was going to be hard, but he had to do it.

"Lois. Lois." She ignored him making things anything but easy for him as she tried to capture his lips again while keeping his head centered between her palms. He had to talk to her. "Lois…please. I can't do this without talking to you."

She finally acknowledged his pleas and sat up, looking at him with glazed and confused eyes. "W-what? What are you talking about, Clark?" After all the tension between them and her memories of a drunken night to haunt her, all she could think about was continuing her exploration of him. Before he could say more, she decided stopping was stupid and her teeth found his ear lobe, applying the perfect pressure before sucking it into her mouth and swirling her tongue around it.

"Lois…ugh. Mmm…you're going to kill me." He recognized that she had no intension of stopping. He had to get space and clear his head. He couldn't do this until she knew. What would happen if she found out after the fact? If she rejected him he would be crushed. No, he had to talk to her now. He had planned on telling her everything anyway; so, he decided now would have to work.

He extracted his hands from her shirt and stood up causing Lois to yelp in surprise as her feet hit the ground. He made sure she was steady on her feet before withdrawing around the couch, using the piece of furniture as a shield between them. He leaned against the back of it and took deep calming breaths as he tried to compose himself, sooth the ache in his stomach, and lessen the strain against his jeans.

He got himself reasonably calm and finally looked up at her. She was staring at him brows drawn together in confusion. "What's going on, Clark," she asked, her voice husky and filled with disappointment. She took a step towards him which he countered with one of his own, shifting to the side making sure to keep the couch squarely between them. Space was crucial right now. It wouldn't take much on her part to have him under her sexual thrall once again.

He swallowed thickly. "I have to tell you something." He tried not to notice her rapidly rising and falling chest, glazed hazel eyes, and rosy swollen lips. I just have to think about something else…anything else.

"Now." Her question was thick with frustration and incredulity. "This again? What's his deal? Always stopping just when it's getting good," she asked under her breath, not thinking he could hear it. He had.

"Yes." His forehead scrunched in confusion. What was she talking about?

When he didn't provide more her eyebrows shot up and hands waved for him to continue. "Well? What is so important to interrupt…that?" She pointed at the couch. She ran a frustrated hand through her hair and sought to cool her heated body. "You seemed okay with the idea two minutes ago. What changed your mind?"

"It's not that, Lois. You don't understand. You might want to sit down."

Her left eyebrow rose. "Oh, I'm not going to like this," she muttered, taking his suggestion and dropping onto the couch.

Her eyes followed him warily as he began pacing in front of the couch. "I've been thinking about this for awhile now," his hand motioned back and forth between them, "but your feelings when it came to Oliver stopped me from pursuing anything." That didn't come out right, he thought.

"What," she burst out, interrupting him. "Oliver? Clark we've been broken up for almost two years. I really don't think you should feel threatened by him." She shook her head and pinned him with her eyes, crossing her arms.

Oh boy. This is it. I have to do this, right? Yes. It will never work between us unless she knows who I really am. "Not Oliver so much as his arrow toting alter ego." Her eyes flew open in surprise. He continued. "You've been very clear on how you feel about dating guys with 'hero complexes'." He stopped pacing and turned deadly serious. "But when I saw you hurt and bleeding; I realized how close I was to never having the chance…I realized how much of a mistake it would be to never try...how much I would regret never trying. Chloe says I run into physically dangerous situations all the time, but when it comes to my heart I run scared." He felt like he was rambling and shut up. His eyes watched her nervously scanning her for any reaction.

He could tell she was trying to process his rambled speech, but he couldn't read how she felt. "You know about the Green Arrow," she said finally, head cocked to the side. He nodded slowly, yes. "You may have a penchant for showing up to help your friends from time to time, but I hardly think that puts you in the same category as Oliver."

His eyes fell to the floor. "It's not just my friends, Lois. There's a side of me you don't know. I started working at the Planet so that I could help more people…so I could hear the news as it happened and be there for more people."

Her stomach tightened. A side of him I don't know? "How exactly do you intend to do that," she asked softly, afraid what he might say. It could be anything; he did come from Smallville after all. Could he be a meteor freak? He wasn't crazy or psychotic, and all the meteor infected people she had heard about had channeled their best Annie Wilkes impressions.

He walked to the couch and sat down, leaving a wide gap between them. "I have…abilities." He shifted back and forth on the couch and shook his right leg up and down quickly - burning nervous energy.

"What sort of abilities," she urged, looking at him sideways. She was getting more nervous as a direct result of his twitchy behavior.

He couldn't think of a gentle way of revealing his secret. I'll tell her about my powers and if she's okay with that then I'll attempt to explain my other worldly origins. "You know the good Samaritan you've been so keen on finding?" He clasped his hands together, knuckles turning white as they clutched tightly on his lap in an attempt to stop them from rubbing up and down his thighs.

She nodded numbly. "You're trying to say that you're the good Samaritan," she mocked sarcastically with a laugh that came out like a bark.

"I would choose a different name if I had the choice, but yes." He finally let his eyes meet hers again. He could clearly make out surprise and a serious case of doubt.

"You didn't answer what your 'abilities' were. If you are the Good Samaritan, then what can you do and when can I expect a demonstration," she said her tone dripping with skepticism – she felt like she was humoring his crazy talk tolerably well, though. Her mouth turned down in a disbelieving frown. What is he pulling here, she wondered.

He quickly listed off his powers. As the list grew so did her eyes. "…and recently I've figured out how to … how to f-fly."

"Oh come on, Clark. You seriously think I'm just going to buy it that you're the one who's been playing knight in shining armor to Metropolis for months? You're with me most of the time! Where do you find the time?" She crossed her arms over her chest and cocked her head to the side, her features growing petulant.

He sighed deeply. Leave it to Lois to be a skeptic. "Fine. I'll show you." He stood quickly and retrieved his shirt from the coffee table. Her heart skipped a beat as she watched his shoulders and arms flex as he pulled the garment on. Before she could blink he was at her side scooping her up in his arms.

"Clark! What are you doing?" She squirmed in his arms, but quickly relaxed when she looked up and met his eyes. Her stomach fluttered and she instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck. It's not fair that he can do this to me with just a look. Well, not just a look. The warmth of his arms made her feel like he was surrounding her, and the ease with which he picked her up made her feel light as a feather.

"I'm giving you that demonstration you mentioned." She opened her mouth to comment, but before she could the world blurred around her and when she blinked they were just outside Clark's barn.

"What the..." she said awe filling her as she glanced quickly around. "Faster than the shudder on Jimmy's camera," she murmured breathlessly.

A small trepidatious smile curved his lips. "Are you okay," he asked barely above a whisper, watching her face for any hint of fear or a desire to get far away from him.

She swallowed a lump in her throat. "T-that was fast." She guessed she couldn't deny he was telling the truth about having powers…well, at least the speed was true. She wasn't sure how to feel about these developments. It was a lot to take in. Her emotions were going in ten different directions at once. She was perversely excited by his 'demonstration', while at the same time scarred to death about what it might mean.

"Do you trust me?"

He sounded like a little boy and she could see the complete vulnerability filling his eyes. She realized how hard this must be on him. He was baring his most closely kept secret to her. Something that made him different...special. She felt the need to protect him. How ironic is that? She tried to reassure him with her eyes and reached out to softly caress his square jaw. "Yeah, Smallville."

He smiled down at her. That was the first time she had used his nickname since they had started this complicated conversation. Tension that had been steadily building in his chest loosened a bit as he realized she wasn't freaking out - it was replaced by a spark of hope. He knew he should give her time to process everything he was hitting her with, but he couldn't stop himself from bending down and brushing a chaste kiss on her lips. He pulled back before she could respond and bent his knees pushing up powerfully and rocketing into the night's sky.

The hand on his cheek quickly wrapped around his neck again. He looked down at her confidently. "Don't worry. I've got you. I've gotten better at this," he teased and flashed her his classic Kent smile...the one she found charming, he remembered.

"Yeah what was up with that? You don't know what the hell you're doing and you go around picking up helpless passengers," she went on the offensive, her voice holding halfhearted accusation.

She felt his chest rumble with a chuckle and her fingers involuntarily began playing with the hair at the back of his neck. He leaned down and much like he had that night weeks ago, he whispered, "You were in trouble, so I helped." She felt her stomach flip as his breath caressed her ear. She melted even more into his arms and reveled in the sensation of his big strong arms holding her protectively against him.

He had been her sole focus since he had carried her outside and while she had felt him jump, she hadn't looked away from his eyes as they spoke. "Oh my god," she said as her gaze took in the view surrounding them: the small lights of Smallville and the surrounding farms sparkled below them and the bright stars twinkled above them. It was breath taking...literally, and she sharply sucked in the crisp night air. She remembered the night at the docks and looked at him astounded. How had she not picked up that it was him? She had noticed strange things happened around Clark Kent since she had met him in high school. Lois wondered now why she had never looked deeper or questioned the strange circumstances that seemed to swirl around him...because, she explained to herself, to her he had always been Smallville - Kansas farm boy - not some mysterious figure that needed investigation. She had judged him soon after their meeting and had stubbornly refused to reassess him. Her idea of him had blinded her from recognizing all the signs around her. She had learned to love that innocent gorgeous farm boy. What did this big revelation mean for those feelings? Stupid. Stupid. Stupid, she chanted mentally. "How did I not figure this out?" She accidently voiced her mental question. He noted that she sounded angry...with him or her he was not sure.

"That night we were investigating the drug ring I thought you might. You were about to fall off the building and I panicked not knowing what to do. Honestly, I thought you would immediately recognize me, but I guess with everything that happened that night you were too distracted."

"Distracted...yeah." Her mind drifted off into its own little world and she realized how often she must have been too 'distracted'. He stayed quiet, letting her work things out. She remembered the mugger and being attacked in her apartment by Sebastian. "I called you and you came," she mumbled.

"What?" He hovered in the air, enjoying holding her close, but when he saw her shiver slightly, he started to descend back to earth.

"When Sebastian was trying to kill me. I called you and suddenly he was flying into the wall. Now that's just child's play...I should have put that one together. I mean unless this savior was stalking me how would he end up in my Smallville apartment!" Her brows were drawn together so closely it looked almost painful. Her features suddenly relaxed and she looked up at him. "There were so many times that you were there and I didn't even know it, or you gave a lame excuse that I always bought." She shook her head in amazement. "You do these incredible things and never stick around to take the credit. That's really amazing, Smallville," her eyes flashed with pride and admiration.

"Does that mean you're okay with this," he asked hopefully. His feet touched the ground and he gently put her down.

She took a tentative step back and kicked a dirt clod in thought. "Of course I'm okay with you saving people. What kind of person wouldn't be? I've been on the receiving end of your heroics too many times to think differently." His smile lit up the night. "But-"

Ah! The dreaded but, he thought and a worried frown settled over him again. "But," he repeated trying to swallow the dry lump that instantly formed in his throat. His heart felt like it was beating out of his chest and his throat constricted as he waited for her to continue.

"But you lie to everyone around you, Clark. You're not yourself even to those people closest to you. How do you justify that?"

"People who have special abilities have been turned into lab rats by people like Lex. Lois, he had facilities all around the world where he caged and studied-"

"So, you're meteor infected," she asked.

His eyes dropped to his feet. "No. My circumstances are more complicated because people like Lex aren't my only problem. The government doesn't approve of my presence. If they knew who I was then they would be coming for me…they've proven that."

Lois was completely lost. Why would the government care about Clark Kent? "You're not making any sense. You're going to have to give me a little more here."

He looked up at her. She was right. He grabbed her hand and led her into his loft. He motioned to the couch and she sat, never taking her eyes away from him. He paced, trying to think of the best way to word his confession. "It's just like you said..." Her eyes opened wide and she jutted her chin towards him. Her expression conveying her thought 'and what the hell would that be'. "You asked me how many spaceships you had to stumble over before I would admit that there were aliens among us. Well, the government got their hands on a spaceship, and they aren't fond of the idea of an alien presence."

She burst out laughing. He squinted at her in confusion. She placed both hands on her stomach as her laughter grew. Of all the reactions he had expected this definitely ranked low on the list. She wiped a tear out of the corner of her eye and she tried to speak. "So...you're trying to...ha ha...say that...heh...that you're an alien." She met his gaze and swallowed her laughter as he gave her the same stoic look his dad had given him when he found out he wasn't from Earth. He looked at her with slightly raised brows, head slightly tilted and sincere eyes. She sat up straight. "That's impossible, Clark. You're a man...a human man," she felt the need to add. She pointed her finger at him, moving it from his head to his toes and back.

He strode across the loft and sat next to her, taking her hands in his. "What other human do you know of that can do what I can," he asked softly, begging her with his eyes for understanding and acceptance.

"This is Smallville - land of the weird, home of the strange," she shot back.

He ran his hands through his hair in frustration. "Would it be more believable if my mom told you how my parents found me and my ship after the first meteor shower?" Her eyebrows shot into her hairline.

"Ooookay." She took a big breath. I think you need to start at the beginning.

He nodded and started telling her everything. They talked late into the night. He had intended to keep things brief and just give her the highlights, but her curiosity had her asking ten questions for each one he could answer. He covered everything: his high school years, Kryton, all the different varieties of Krytonite, Jor-El, Kara. It seemed like no matter how much he said she still wanted more.

It was really late or really early depending on how you looked at it. A few hours ago they had returned to the house and gotten a midnight snack. They stayed in the kitchen and continued talking.

"Wow," Lois said, looking at him with her head slanted to the side.

"Is that a good wow," he didn't mean that to come out sounding so insecure.

"That's a wow, wow," she replied. "This answers so many questions. Like the barn door. I knew that wasn't an atmospheric pressure change," she sounded disdainful.

She wasn't giving away anything to let him know how she was feeling, and it was absolutely killing him. He was so nervous. His chest felt like a large man was sitting on it and his stomach was a mass of cramps. He'd had enough. He had to know. He closed the distance between them and stood towering over her. "Lois! You're going to give me a heart attack." He took her hand and brought it up to cover his heart, holding it in place with his. She could feel a frantic rhythm pounding under her palm. "What are you thinking? How does this make you feel?"

"My head is so full that it's kind of hard to put together coherent thoughts. You want to know how I feel. I have a lot to digest right now. I don't know how I feel. I need to think," she said rubbing her head. "I think that's a fair question for you to answer. How do you feel, Clark?" Her eyes showed an uncharacteristic emotion, vulnerability.

He took a step closer to her, his eyes softening. With his free hand he cupped her cheek. "After tonight you really have to ask me that?" When she remained silent and her expression remained vulnerable, he went on. "I told you the biggest secret I have to offer. Plus, you know me, I don't take relationships lightly. I don't just go around kissing anyone. Do you really doubt how I feel? Do I really have to say it?"

Her eyes flashed with anger. "After what I've been through these last couple of days…um…Yeah!"

He almost suggested that she had just admitted she had been jealous…almost. He chose instead to wrap her in his arms and bring his lips within a hair of hers. He heard her heart rate increase, and he cleared his dry throat. "Lois, no one has ever made me feel the way you do. You bring out a whole side of me that no one else can reach. You frustrate me and sometimes drive me a little mad, but somehow at the end of the day I can't help but smile. You challenge me and don't let me slip on anything," he said with chagrin and a slow shake of his head.

She just stared intently into his sparkling blue eyes, returning his smile and hanging on every word. A sense of awe overcoming here. For the life of her, she could never have predicted Clark saying these things to her, and she certainly would never have thought she would soak them up greedily wishing for more. Clark had stopped talking. Why had he stopped? She searched his eyes and it appeared he was trying to summon his courage. She fisted her hand in his hair and rose onto her toes to brush a tender reassuring kiss across his lips. She dropped back to the floor and he followed, resting his forehead against hers.

"I've been trying to sort through how I feel for awhile. I realized that when I'm with you the weight and responsibility I carry around with me because of my powers…it eases. You feel so right in my arms, like we're two pieces that were designed to fit together." He felt her nod and it made his heart beat even harder. He didn't think that was possible. "In the five or so years I've known you, you've gone from the person I am constantly verbally jousting with to a friend…from friend to partner." Lois couldn't breathe. Her heart waited to beat as he continued, "…from partner to the women who somehow stole my heart," he finished barely above a whisper his voice hoarse with emotion.

She pulled his head down and began kissing him slowly and languorously. She put everything into expressing her feelings through her lips, taking her time and softly exploring his lips. She lavished special attention to each lip in turn. He moaned leaning her against the refrigerator, and met her unhurried lips, returning her slow loving strokes. Their earlier kiss was hurried by pent up lust and desire, but this one was the exploration of the deep affection and love that had developed between them. Her hands slowly drifted across his chest before stroking back up his rippled shoulders.

She pulled back and pushed his shoulders back. He straightened and looked deeply into her eyes. She cleared her throat and suddenly ducked under his arm. "Wow, what time is it. Is it really that late? I can't believe we've talked till three in the morning. We really should pick this up tomorrow." She started for the stairs, leaving a dumbfounded Clark in her wake.

He caught up quickly and stopped her, holding her shoulders between his hands. He spoke close to her ear from behind. "Lois?"

She spoke without turning. "I just need to think, Clark. This has been a very unexpected night of revelations, and I've learned things out of this world…literally; so, I might need some time, that's all. And I think my doctor mentioned something about rest. I'm not sure if moonlighting till three in the morning falls under that criteria," she said with a teasing tone, trying to lighten the blow of her withdrawal.

She heard him sigh deeply. "Yeah. You're right." She laid a hand over one of his and stroked lightly before moving up the steps. Clark had set up his parent's old room for her earlier. He watched longingly as she ascended the steps. When she disappeared from view, his eyes fell and he let out the breath he had been unconsciously holding. What now? Did I do the right thing? Can she handle me as I am? His fear of rejection immediately sent him into a session of second guessing himself.

He was well on his way to completely freaking out when a strange calm washed over him as he remembered what he'd just told Lois. It had all been true and remembering all his reasons for doing this tonight eased his anxiety. He had taken a chance, but you without risk there was no reward. Right?

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A/N: When I started writing this I meant it to be the final chapter, but it turned out longer than I expected. I decided to cut it off here for now…even though I have another solid 2,000 words already written…because it just seemed like a logical place. You'll understand why in the following installment. Hopefully I can finish up what I have a good start on and update very soon.

*mumble darkly to self* On a totally unrelated topic…Abyss really pissed me off and I just needed to tell someone that. ;D

Please review!