HOUR 5 - THE BEGINNING OF THE WORK DAY

THE FOLLOWING TAKES PLACE BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 9 A.M. AND 10 A.M.

"I knew we'd be late," he said with a frown on his face as he steps out of the elevator and start to walk really fast towards their office.

"We're not that late," rolling her eyes and trying to keep up with him. "Could you please not walk so fast?' sitting down suddenly on the nearest available chair and trying to catch her breath.

He glances over his shoulder and stops in his tracks when he sees her sitting down and breathing heavily. He immediately rushes over to her and partially kneels down in front of her. "Alright," reaching up to caress her cheek. "Are you okay? Is there anything I can do for you? Maybe carry you to your desk?" winking at her.

She can't help smiling at his comment. "The only times I want you to carry me is when..." stopping in mid-sentence when somebody walks by them. She waits until they pass, then says, "I think you know the times I'm talking about," winking back at him.

"You bet I do," smiling back at her while gently caressing her stomach. "You know, I was thinking that maybe you should start your maternity leave sooner."

"Are you suggesting that I start it now?" she stares back at him with surprise.

"I think you should," he replies as he stands back up and looks down at her.

"I'm not leaving a minute earlier than I have to," she replies stubbornly as she crosses her arms against her belly.

"Why do you have to be so damn stubborn?" he asks.

"It's part of my nature," she quips. "Besides," trying to get up. "You know how much I love to bust your chops. She sits back down with a sigh.

"Do you need help?" trying not to chuckle.

"It's about time you offered," rolling her eyes and allowing him to help her up. She smoothes down her skirt and looks up at him. "Get my briefcase, okay?" walking away from him.

He watches her as she walks towards their office and chuckles as he picks up her briefcase and quickly catches up with her. He opens the door and she immediately makes her way to her desk and sits down. She turns on her computer and logs in while he's hanging up his jacket. She clicks on her email account and sees over twenty emails in her inbox. She smiles when she sees the name on one of them.

He happens to look up from his computer and sees the smile on her face. "What is it, Lanie?" He gets up when she doesn't answer and walks around to her side of the desk and stands behind her. He rests his hands on her shoulders and peers intently at the monitor. "That was your sister?"

"Yep," she replies. "She says she's coming into town later today and was wondering if we could have dinner tonight."

"How long has it been since you heard from her anyway?" he asks her.

"I think the last time I heard from her was about a month ago," she tells him.

"So what is she up to these days?" he asks next.

"Believe it or not, she's dating Ron."

"You mean Ron Troupe? Isn't he the guy who does the political editorials for the Planet?"

"That's right," she replies.

"That's interesting," he remarks. "I never would have put the two of them together. I wonder what your father thinks of that match."

"I don't know," she says with a slight frown. "He's never liked any of the guys that we've ever dated. You're the exception," looking up at her husband with a smile.

"That's good to know," smiling back at her. "Speaking of your father, have you talked to him lately?"

"Nope," turning her attention back to the monitor.

"Why haven't you talked to him?"

She doesn't answer him. She instead picks up the phone and starts to dial. He takes the receiver from her and lays it back down on the cradle. "You did tell your father you were pregnant, didn't you?" a curious tone to his voice. "You didn't, did you?" he asks accusingly when she bites her lower lip.

"No," she admits.

"Why haven't you told him?"

"Because the last time I heard from him was just before I found out I was pregnant."

"That was seven months ago, Lois," a perplexed look on his face.

"Don't you think I've tried contacting him?" she said while looking up at him with glistening eyes. "I've tried calling, emailing, and texting. Nothing," wiping a couple tears from her eyes. "I finally got hold of his assistant who said the only information he was authorized to give me was that he's on a secret mission overseas and couldn't be contacted. He said he could try to secretly relay a message to him but I declined. I didn't want my father to find out he's going to be a grandfather in that way."

"I can understand that, but I still don't understand why didn't you tell me all this. I thought we could tell each other everything," disappointment evident in his voice.

She turns her head to look up at him, then stands up. "I guess it's now my turn to apologize," a look of contrition on her face. "You know how I am when it comes to my father."

"I know," pulling her up from her chair and into his arms. After a few moments, he pulls away but still holds her as he says, "I still want you to tell me these things, okay? We're Lois and Clark. Clark and Lois. That's a couple," gazing down at her stomach.

"And soon it will be three," looking back up and smiling at him.

He smiles back at her and dips his head forward to softly kiss her lips. "We should get back to work," pulling away from her and making his way back to his desk.

"You're right," she says as she sits back down. "Back to work," closing out the email and bringing up her latest story. "I really need to finish this article by lunchtime so no funny business, Smallville," her eyes narrowing slightly at him.

"Yes, Miss Lane," a big grin on his face as he starts working on his own article...

Coming up next: Hour 6 - Morning coffee break