Chapter 11

Clark drove up in Lois' car. He'd found her purse lying on the ground and figured he'd bring it to her as a sort of peace offering. He stared at the bag in the passenger seat sadly. Lois Lane, bane of his existence had turned into Lois Lane, love of his life.

It was such a weird feeling. And after that talk with Chloe, he knew what he had to do. He was tired of living his life on the sidelines. He'd lost so much already; his biological parents, his father, Lionel, even Lex and Lana. Now he just wanted to go to her, tell her how he felt and kiss her senseless.

He smiled picking up the bag and stepping out of the small car. He turned toward the barn and noticed the lights were still on. His mother must have left them on by mistake, so he walked over to them intent on shutting them off for the night. He stopped in front of the open door and peeked in; his eyes widening at the sight in front of him.

Lois Lane touched his chest affectionately, like she used to do with him. He watched as he leaned in to her and kiss her, as Lois wrapper her arms around him pulling him closer to her. He watched him step in between her legs and that was the final straw.

Clark turned around quickly and super sped to the house.

He placed her bag on the counter and super sped to the linen closet to get a pillow and blanket. He prepared the couch for himself and lay back with his hands folded behind his head, staring sadly at the ceiling.

He heard the knob being turned to the door and closed his eyes pretending to already be asleep. He felt her presence linger above him for a few seconds and he resisted the urge to open his eyes and knock some sense into her. To beg her to choose him instead and to apologize for every bad thing he'd put her through since they'd met in that corn field years ago.

He heard her tip toe up the stairs slowly, so she wouldn't wake him. He heard her softly close her door. He heard her shuffle around in the room, no doubt getting ready for bed. And the last thought that entered his mind, before sleep took over was; he wondered who she would be dreaming of tonight.

~*~

Lois walked in quietly into the house and looked to the counter at her bag laying there. She smiled sadly. If she didn't know any better, she'd honestly believe he cared about her on a more than friendly level. But she'd heard what he said and he couldn't take it back. Lois Lane was and nor would she ever be Lana Lang. That was the real love of Clark Kent's life and if she ever wanted to move on completely, she had to accept that.

Still, she had a great man throwing himself at her and she couldn't even imagine herself with anyone other than Clark Kent.

She shuffled softly to the couch to catch a glimpse of his sleeping figure. She leaned in slowly and smiled sadly. She wanted so bad to kiss him awake. To tell him she was the one he'd been looking for all along. To tell him that she was tired of competing with the past. To choose her over Lana Lang's memory, as bad as that sounded.

But no words came out, only one tear.

She shook her head and turned toward the stairs. She lightly climbed them so she wouldn't wake him or anyone else. When she got to the room's door, she opened it as quietly as she could and slipped inside. She removed the clothes she was wearing and remembered to call Chloe and Jimmy in the morning, since she'd left her wet clothes in his car. She put on Clark's gold and red plaid shirt and sniffed. She smiled. No matter how many years went by, this shirt has always smelled like him. It's her favorite shirt, and she can't sleep without it. She slipped into bed and turned out the lamp beside the bed. She stared at the ceiling and sighed. The last thought that entered her mind was, she wondered who Clark Kent was dreaming about so peacefully downstairs and if he ever dreamed of her, because she'd been dreaming about him her whole life.

~*~

He woke up to the smell of pancakes and eggs. And it wasn't burnt pancakes so he knew it was his mom's handy work. He sat up on the couch and stretched out the kinks in his back and shoulders.

"Nice to see you're up", Martha said from behind him.

"I got in late last night", he said shrugging.

He stood up and walked over to her, kissing her lightly on the cheek, and walking toward the fridge.

"Good morning mom."

"Morning, honey", Martha said smiling, "You have no idea how amazing it feels to have you home."

He smiled.

"So what's for breakfast", he asked.

"I'm making your favorite pancakes", she said smiling.

"Blueberry", he asked.

"Yes", she smiled, "And chocolate chip for Lois… can you get her up sweetheart so we can all sit down to breakfast together."

He stopped on his way to the kitchen and turned around.

"You sure", he asked, "She might be tired… I think she got in after me…"

"None sense", Martha shook her head, "We're having breakfast as a family to celebrate your return and Lois is a part of that family. Now go upstairs and wake her."

He sighed.

"Fine", he mumbled and shuffled up the stairs toward his room. He reached the closed the door and knocked lightly. He tried to listen inside, but it was quiet. He tried knocking again. Again, no sound was coming from the other side.

He opened the door slightly and poked his head inside. He found her spread out on the bed with her arms at her sides. He smiled and walked up to the bed softly.

He touched her shoulder and shook her softly.

"Lois", he whispered close to her ear, "Wake up…"

"Hmm", she mumbled.

"Lois", he said a little louder.

She responded by smacking him hard on the face and her opening her eyes.

"Oh my God", she said quickly when she realized he was in the room, "I'm so sorry… are you okay…"

"It's okay", he said, "It was my fault… I should have tried poking you with a stick first."

"Very funny", she glared, "Seriously are you okay?"

"I'm fine", he glared, "Man of Steel remember…"

She rolled her eyes.

"Right", she winced.

"What about you", he said noticing her wince, "How's your hand?"

"I'll live", she mumbled rubbing it.

He super sped out of the room and by the time she looked up he was standing there hold out an ice pack for her. He placed it on her hand and they both shuddered when their hands touched.

"Thank you", she whispered softly.

"No problem", he said pulling back, "So… mom wanted me to tell you that breakfast is ready. She made your favorite pancakes."

Lois smiled.

"I'll be down in a minute", she said smiling softly.

He nodded and smiled.

"I'll let her know."

With that said he super sped out of the room. Lois watched the door as it shut behind him.

~*~

By the time she made it downstairs, Clark had already helped himself to breakfast. As had Chloe, Jimmy and Martha. She stood off to a corner admiring the tight knit group and sighed sadly. She'd never really be a part of their family.

"Lois, honey", Martha called out catching sight of her, "Come… sit… I made your favorite…"

"Awe Mrs. Kent", she smiled, "You didn't have to…"

Martha smiled.

"Sit", she commanded pulling out the chair next to Clark and pushing Lois in it.

She began serving the young girl a little bit of everything and Lois smiled softly at the gesture.

"Thanks mom-"

Clark choked on his orange juice and looked up at her quickly, then at his mom.

Lois had never really called her mom before.

"Sorry", she began apologizing noticing the reaction around the table.

"Don't be", Martha said smiling, "I've always considered you my daughter Lois…"

Jimmy decided to speak up.

"So we bought you your clothes, Lane", he smirked, "You left them in my car…"

"I have your stuff upstairs", she said sliding back, "I'll go get it."

"Lois", Martha smiled, "You can get it later… let's sit and eat like a family…"

"Alright Mrs. Kent…"

"So, Lois", Chloe smiled, "I spoke to Detective Jones… he says he'll let us know soon as he finds John's body…"

"There's no need", she said softly, "He came to me last night…"

Clark watched her from over the rim of his glass, waiting to see how much detail she'd give of their encounter last night.

"Came to you", Chloe asked, "Like in a dream?"

"Like in real life, Chlo", she said, "We talked… he told me everything."

"He's alive", Chloe asked.

"Yes", Lois nodded, "Professor Vale was able to bring him back to life…"

"How?"

"I'm not sure", she said, "But I'll find out when I go see him later today…"

"You going alone", Clark asked angrily speaking up for the first time.

"I don't need a bodyguard, so yeah", she bit back.

"Don't let me stop you", he mumbled taking a sip from his glass.

"Wasn't planning on it", she said turning to Martha, "Thanks for everything Mrs. Kent but may I please be excused… I've got to go find John…"

"Sure", Martha nodded sadly.

"Thanks", she mumbled standing up and bouncing up the stairs out of earshot.

"Clark Jerome Kent", Martha scolded, "What has gotten in to you?"

"Ask her", he said quickly, "May I be excused too?"

Martha looked at him with confusion. He'd barely touched his food, which wasn't at all like him.

"Of course", she nodded.

He stood up and walked out the front door super speeding down the drive way.

"What got into him", Jimmy asked.

"I think", Chloe and Martha looked at each other nodding, "The Green monster…"

~*~

Lois stepped into the elevator at his apartment building and went up to the floor where the white pages said he lived. This was a long shot, since he might have been going underground, but she had to try.

She waited patiently, until the doors dinged and she stepped off.

She walked down the hallway, coming up to 23 B and knocked.

The door unlatched and she peaked around the corner.

"Lois?"

"Hey", she smiled, "You taking visitors?"

"Only pretty ones", he smiled opening the door wider.

"Must be my lucky day…"

"You have no idea…."

She stepped into the apartment and gasped.