Lois came back to the newsroom with a big smile on her face. She didn't even have time to sit down.
"Lane!" Perry shouted from his office and Lois rushed over.
"I see you haven't changed much in the past five years." She smiled at him. Perry took the cigar out of his mouth and waved it at her.
"And you keep disappearing just when I need you."
"I went out to research a story." She looked at her notebook for a moment, "A few stories, to be honest."
"There's only one story now!"
"Lex will show up eventually."
"That man stuck me in the fridge for five years, Lane!"
"Superman is back."
"What?" Perry stood up.
"I worked on this all day. He showed up in a lot of places all over the country, mostly small rescues, and then he visited Glory Falls."
"What was the response?"
"Superman visited each of the families whose relatives perished in the disaster and expressed his condolences. From what I understand, they welcomed him. One woman even insisted that he have lunch with her family."
"That's a picture I'd like to see." Perry said with a smile. "When is he coming back to Metropolis? Anyone knows?"
"He's already back. Saved a cat in Metrodale. That's where I came from."
"Excellent. Things are returning to their proper place."
"I'm going to write the story. We'll find Lex, I promise." She left the office.
"Olson! What are you doing here? I want pictures of Superman!"
Lois sat down at her computer, giggling softly as Jimmy escaped the newsroom. Within minutes, she sank deep into the story of Superman's return and didn't feel the time pass. Some time later, she felt a pair of large, warm hands gently massaging her shoulders. She raised her head with a smile.
"Working on your third Pulitzer?" whispered a voice in her ear.
Lois got up from her chair, turned around and almost jumped on Clark with a hug. She kissed him before he could say another word. He kissed her back, stopping time. When she looked up at him, she had to giggle.
"What?"
"Your glasses are crooked." She adjusted his glasses. "This is it. Much better." She kissed him again. Clark, his hands around her waist, pulled her closer to him.
"How was the return to the Planet?"
"Great! You're coming back, aren't you?"
"I have a feeling you won't get a negative answer." He smiled at her.
"Not if you know what's good for you." She bit her bottom lip.
"What?"
"Are we going to tell Perry?"
"We're going to tell Perry what?"
"That you are Joseph Clark." Clark's smile grew. "He wants to hire him as an editor."
"I don't want to be an editor."
"Clark, this is just for you and after the Torch and Smallville post..."
"It's still weird being Superman again. I have to get used to being Clark Kent and Superman at the same time, and as an editor I can't really chase you all over town." She kissed him again.
"I can take care of myself, Smallville."
"And steal every worthwhile story in the area." Her smile beamed.
"If you become an editor, no one will kidnap you to a secret military camp and torture you."
"Trying to get rid of some competition, Lane?" She giggled and tightened her hug around him. "I also know how to take care of myself." He kissed her.
Perry cleared his throat loudly, not far from them.
"Kent! Good to see you. How's your leg?" Lois and Clark broke their embrace.
"Like new. How are you, Perry?"
"He's already had enough of harassing Jimmy all over Metropolis, don't worry about him."
"Why bother Jimmy all over Metropolis?" Clark looked at Lois.
"Because Superman is back." Lois said, smiling at him. "And the cats population in Metropolis can breathe a sigh of relief."
"I like cats." They looked at each other, forgetting the whole world.
"Okay, enough of that." Frey said, cracking a smile. "Let's talk in my office."
Clark sat down on the sofa and Perry closed the door.
"Ok." He crossed his arms over his chest and looked at Clark. "How do you really feel? From what these clips showed..." He shook his head worriedly.
"Well, my condition wasn't great. I was limping and all the joints were weak and tender, but the league has access to a lot of resources."
"Wonder Woman's Purple Ray." Clark nodded. Perry sat down in the chair in front of the table.
"Do me a favor, Kent. Next time, do a better job of hiding yourself."
"Sorry?"
"Joseph Clark?" Clark smiled. "You might as well put a big neon sign over your head."
"It worked for four years."
"It's because Lex is such an idiot, sometimes it's hard to believe he was able to start a corporation like Lexcorp on his own." Perry leaned back in his chair. "You did a good job there."
"Thanks, Perry."
"I imagine the last thing you want right now is to sit in one place, but I need you here."
"Perry..."
"I understand that you prefer to remain a reporter, but even before the ... detour we all made five years ago, I planned to promote you to the position of editor. Lois, as soon as the paper gets back on its feet, will be promoted to the position of senior reporter, as was supposed to happen then. The increase in salary will help both of you if you are going to get married."
"I don't want to give up journalism."
"What I was thinking about was absorbing the Torch into the Daily Planet and having you continue to edit it. That would allow you to continue being a journalist, and we wouldn't lose an asset like the Torch."
"That's something I can live with. Thanks, Perry."
"You earned it. You were the only journalist, more or less, who didn't give up."
"Lois in a few months has achieved much more than me." Perry smiled.
"Without the infrastructure you provided, this wouldn't have happened. As always, you're the foundation that allows her to do everything she wants. And we're very lucky that she's not trying to conquer the world. Even Superman wouldn't have been able to stop her." Clark laughed. "So, what are you saying?" Clark nodded. "Excellent! I'll talk to Bruce Wayne's people, and we'll see how we do it. In the meantime, you join Lane and make sure the sharks don't eat her." Clark and Perry stood up and shook hands.
"Thanks, Perry. It's good to see you on the Planet again."
"It's good to be here."
Clark walked out of Perry's office and without stopping, grabbed Lois' hand and pulled her to the elevators after him.
"Smallville?"
He did not answer. In the elevator, he didn't let go of her hand and didn't say a word. They reached the top floor and Clark pulled her up to the roof after him. Lois giggled.
"You could have said we're going up to the roof..."
He kissed her suddenly, and Lois noticed red for a split second before closing her eyes. A strong wind loosened her gathered hair, scattering it over her shoulders, but all she noticed was Clark, the taste of his lips, the touch of his tongue, his big hands wrapping around her.
After an all too short eternity, Lois broke the kiss, so she could breathe. She looked around with a smile. They were in the air, white clouds around them.
"I've wanted to do this since that day in the barn." She looked up at him with glowing eyes, "Welcome back, Lois Lane. I love you."
"I love you, Smallville." Her hands went around his neck, and she kissed him.