Chapter 21

Lois was at a coffee shop waiting for her order when Jimmy snuck up behind her, she jumped up, "Jesus Olsen! Don't ever sneak up on a girl who has a black belt! I could've karate chopped your nose off!"

Jimmy raised his eyebrow, "Okay I'm a little scared of how that would've turned out. I'll keep that in mind next time."

Lois nodded, "So what's up?"

Jimmy smiled up at her, "Well you never exactly got back to me about those pictures I took of you know who."

Lois knew exactly who she was talking about, "Come on Jimmy. I'm pretty sure it was nothing. All you got was a red and blue blur."

Jimmy sighed of frustration, "You know what that red and blue blur looks like. You can even make out a head! I remember seeing old articles with pictures taken from my brother with this exact same figure before he came out of the shadows." Lois shifted her weight from one leg to the other, Jimmy continued, "I think Superman's come back home after almost four years of being missing."

Lois sighed and took her coffee and walked outside with Jimmy following, "I don't know about that Jimmy. I mean he left before. I don't wanna get your hopes up but what if he's not here permanently. By printing this article, we're giving people false hope."

Jimmy wrinkled his eyebrows, "What false hope? Even when he was gone, a whole League of Superheroes still protected us. It's an article, no one's gonna throw tomatoes at us if he disappears again."

Jimmy had a point, maybe it wasn't the people who were afraid of false hope. Maybe it was her. As they kept walking, Lois heard tire screeching close by. Lois turned to see a car driving out of control. She could see the driver was panicking behind the wheel. It all happened so fast, there was some construction ahead and the car accelerated over a slope and flew in the air, it kept turning in the air ready to fall. It was heading right towards where Jimmy and Lois stood. "Lois!" Jimmy took her by the arms and they both ducked down causing Lois to drop her coffee, everyone around them started screaming. The car was about to crush them when it stopped in mid air. Lois looked up and the hood of the car was so close to her face, but the whole thing looked as if it was floating.

Both of them stood up, Lois brushed her hair away from her face, she looked up at the car with her mouth wide open, "W-What the-"

"Look! Up in the sky holding the car!" A man screamed pointing at something underneath the car.

The car was starting to tilt back into a horizontal position in the air, with Superman holding it from under. "Oh my god! Lois! It's him!" Jimmy said in Lois' ear. Lois seemed like she didn't even hear him. She simply stared up at Superman. The crowd around him was cheering and clapping as he gently set the car back on the ground. He walked towards the passenger door and opened it.

"Are you alright ma'am?" Superman spoke cautiously to the woman.

The woman held her head, "I-I think so. I don't know how.. I just lost control."

"I think you should be checked out at the hospital." He turned towards a pedestrian staring at him in awe. "Call 9-1-1 for this woman. Tell them she's suffering a concussion." He had x-rayed her to check for any injuries. The pedestrian did as he was told and took out his phone to make the call.

Superman nodded and turned around, he stood still, his eyes softened as he stared at Lois, as she stared back. They both stood there for a while, not acknowledging anyone else was around them. Jimmy nudged her, he whispered in her ear, "Lois! Ask him for an interview!"

Lois gulped, "Not now Jimmy." Jimmy was confused. At that moment, Superman flew off, Jimmy scowled at Lois for just standing there, but she didn't care. She came back to reality, "Come on. We're gonna be late for work." She got a text from Perry saying that he needed to meet with her immediately. Lois had a feeling what this was about. She knew news travels fast, but that was too fast even for her to grasp.

Lois walked into the bullpen with everyone in a rush as usual, she went straight to the boss' office, without knocking on the door, Lois just walked in, "You wanted to see me?"

"I'll speak with you later Joe" Perry hung up the phone and signalled Lois to come in. "Ms. Lane. I see that you've had an adventurous morning."

Lois crossed her arms, "I wouldn't say grabbing a quick cup of coffee and getting the scare of my life from Jimmy adventurous."

Perry rolled his eyes, "You know what I'm talking about Lane. You've been saved by the one and only. Superman." Lois looked uncomfortable, Perry continued, "He's back. And you mean to tell me you don't even have a quote from him?" Perry was taken aback, "Lois, this was your chance to get the first ever exclusive interview with the return of the Man of Steel. What, did you get star struck?"

Lois cleared her throat, "No sir. He fled the scene I didn't have time to get an interview."

Perry nodded, "Well I want you to be the one to cover it." Lois looked confused, Perry sighed and continued, "I want you to write his story? Get an interview."

Lois' face wrinkled, "Why me? I'm sure there are so many more reporters who can do better."

Perry raised his eyebrow, "You're my star senior reporter. And you used to cover all of his stories, you ended up getting the best interviews. Don't you remember Lane? You were the only reporter he would let get that personal with him. I'm sure he still trusts you. Your stories about him always made the front page. I thought this is what you wanted?"

Lois took a deep breath, "Things change sir. I don't know about this."

Perry held his hand up at her, "No arguing with me on this one Lane. Either cover his story on why he's returned and where the hell he's been this whole time, or the only thing you'll be writing about is the Kitten Adoption Fair. Is that clear."

Lois sighed, there was no reasoning with this man, to be honest, she would rather write about the kittens, instead she gave her best fake smile, "Crystal." She turned and walked out of his office.

She walked over to her desk and for the first time, simply sat and stared at the blank white page onher computer screen. She had no idea what to write. Her mind was set on Clark. He was saving the world again, and he made his encore public appearance. He wants the world to know their hero is back. Is he trying to send a message. Does this mean he's staying for good? Lois rolled her eyes. Of course not. He may say he's staying. But once someone threatens his family, he's gonna leave again. No doubt about it. Right? Lois took a deep breath. These are the train of nonstop questions she has about Clark Kent. From the corner of her eye, she saw the man in question walking towards the desk in front of her. Lois tried to keep her eyes on the computer screen, attempting to act busy. She felt Clark's eyes on her. "I heard you're writing about Superman's return."

Lois' eyes met his, "How did you-"

"Jimmy. He can't stop talking about him. He told me Perry assigned the best reporter for the job. Just like old times right?"

Lois pressed her lips together. She remembered back in the day, when she got the exclusive interview from the Man of Steel. She always had the best articles about him. Everyone wondered why he chose to only get interviewed by her.

"So Mr. Superman. Tell me about yourself. Where are you really from and how's life treating you here on Earth?"

She leaned against him in bed as she was writing his story on her laptop. Clark chuckled, stroking her arm, "You know all these answers already."

"I know that. It's more fun when I act like I don't even know you. I don't wanna give anyone the impression that I'm married to you."

Clark raised his eyebrow, "Gee thanks?"

Lois laughed, "You know what I mean. I mean married to the Man of Steel. If I write this on my own, I'm bound to get personal and write too much."

Clark closed her laptop and tossed it on the foot of their bed, he wrapped his arms around her and turned her onto her back, crouching on top of her, "Why don't I just give you a preview on what it really feels like spending the night with Superman."

He brushed his lips against hers, "Mmm sounds perfect. You might wanna give me some details." She said, stroking his hair.

Clark chuckled as he kissed her cheek and brushed his lips down her neck, heading down her body.

Lois winced, she tried keeping those thoughts out of her mind. Those happy memories before he left. Her better reporting days. "Lois?" Lois looked up at the sound of her name. She had been silent for a while, consumed by her uncontrolled thoughts. She then remembered what happened between them at Bruce's party the other night. His kisses, his touch, how he knew where to please her like no man has ever done before, like always. Lois shook her head, trying to block out those thoughts. It took her a moment to realize that Clark was leaning his hands on her desk, looking at her with concern.

Lois swallowed hard, her heart started beating fast at his closeness, the tip of their fingertips brushed against each other. Lois blinked a couple of times, trying to pace her breathing, "I'm fine. Just have a lot on my mind."

Clark still voiced a look of concern, "Are you sure." Lois didn't say anything, she just stared into his eyes nervously. Clark spoke up, "Is this about the other night? What happened at Bruce's party..." Lois held her breath, she looked away from him, Clark sighed, "We need to talk about that."

"No we don't. There's nothing to talk about. It was a onetime thing. I was overwhelmed with everything that happened. It-It didn't mean anything."

Clark looked hurt, he took a step back, and spoke quietly, "It didn't mean anything?" Lois kept her head down, Clark shook his head, "Lois, I know you. Whether you admit it or not, you still want me in your life. You still love me. You're right. It didn't mean just anything. It means more than anything. One of these days you're gonna have to bring down those walls you've built up. I know you still want us again." Lois looked sadly at her computer screen, without another word. Clark heard someone's cry for help from afar. He sighed, "I have to go. Someone's in trouble." He took his coat and looked back at her once more. "I'm not giving up on us Lo." He smiled, "Lemme know when you want that interview." With that he walked towards the exit and sped off. Lois closed her eyes and buried her face in her hands.

Lois couldn't sleep that night, she kept tossing and turning. At one point she got frustrated she couldn't sleep and headed towards the kitchen. She poured herself a bowl of Cheerio's and ate it quietly in the kitchen. She heard tiny footsteps dragging through the kitchen. She cautiously turned around and saw Chris rubbing his eyes, "Momma?"

Lois sighed, "Hey baby. Sorry, did I wake you?"

Chris nodded his head, "I can hear you chewing from my room."

Lois rolled her eyes, "One of the perks of having super hearing right?"

Chris walked up to the kitchen counter and sat himself while facing his mother, "Why are you eating breakfast at night?"

Lois looked at the clock which showed 2:30am. "Technically, it's morning now so I'm allowed to eat breakfast." She smiled at her son who gave her a puzzled look.

"A really eaarrrrllyyyy breakfast."

"Sorry sweetie. Momma couldn't sleep."

"How come?"

Lois shrugged, shaking her head, "Honestly, I wish I knew." She finished with her breakfast and washed her dish before turning to her son again, "Come on, you should get back to bed. Little boys should not be up this early."

Chris raised his eyebrow, "And you can?"

Lois squinted at him, "I am a grown up mister. Plus I couldn't sleep! I had the case of the munchies." Lois grabbed her son in her arms and buried her face in his stomach which tickled him. He was laughing hard until she placed him on his bed. She sat on the edge of his bed, pulling the covers over him.

Chris pulled the covers off of him, "Now I can't sleep Momma."

Lois chuckled, "You want me to tell you a story? That always gets you snoozing." Chris nodded rapidly, "Alrighty. What do you want to hear?"

"Tell me a story about Superman Momma!"

Lois didn't see that coming, she hesitated, "Superman? Honey where did you hear about him?"

"I saw him fly Momma! I saw him just outside my school! Everyone yelled out Superman. Who is he?"

Lois took a deep breath, her son had just asked about his father and he didn't even know it. She wasn't prepared for this. She wasn't prepared to tell him about his father yet. She licked her lips, "Well. Superman is.. the world's greatest superhero. He is the bravest and most selfless person I've ever met. He has a big heart, and his duty is to keep the rest of the world safe. He looks after everyone." She taps Chris' nose with her finger, "Especially you buddy." Chris grinned, she continued her story, "Let's see. Superman was born in a little town called Smallville."

"You used to live there Momma. And so did Auntie Chloe and Clark!"

Lois held her breath, she wanted to tell him so badly, but she didn't even know how to bring it up, "Yes. Aunt Chloe and... Clark both grew up in Smallville."

"Cool! Do they know Superman?"

Lois opened her mouth, but no words came out. She didn't want to lie to her child, but she also thought it was too soon to tell him the truth. Instead, she went on with what she could give him, "Everyone knows about Superman sweetie. He was who everyone looked up to. When he first became Superman, a planet was crashing into ours. Superman had to overcome the darkness inside him to be the hero he was meant to be. That included dealing with the past again. He had to face his father, and he was so proud of what his son had become. He grew into the world's greatest saviour and saved our world from being friend into a pancake by another planet. He flew for the first time that day, and he showed himself to the world as Superman in his suit. His mother made him his suit."

"Awesome! Hey Momma can you make me a suit like his?"

Lois laughed, "I can't even cook without setting something on fire buddy. But I'll try making something for you that represents Superman." Chris started getting excited, then he started to yawn. Lois grimaced at him, "Looks like someone's finally ready to sleep."

She kissed his forehead and walked out of his room. Before closing the door Chris called out to her, "Night Momma."

Lois smiled, "Night Chris." She closed the lights and shut the door behind her. She leaned against his door and started breathing hard, shutting her eyes.