It was two days later and Clark had called Lois a dozen times yet again to nag her into moving back to the Kent Farm. She'd argued with him to give it a rest and let her make up her own mind but he was relentless. Martha had gone back to Washington but had promised to return as soon as possible.
Though Lois hadn't given Clark a specific date on moving in with him she began organizing her things for the address changing anyway. Putting clothes and accessories into piles she heard a knock on the door.
"It's open."
Chloe peaked her head in.
"Hey," she said.
"Hi Chlo," Lois said nonchalantly.
Chloe looked at all the piles.
"Taking another trip?"
"No," Lois said, not looking up at her cousin. "Clark asked me to move in with him, you know, because of the baby so even though I'm not exactly thrilled with the idea it's the only way he'll get off my back."
Chloe's heart stopped. "You're-you're moving in with Clark?"
Lois finally made eye contact with Chloe.
"I'm pregnant with his baby, as you blatantly told him."
Chloe tried to hide her shock at Lois's harshness.
"Are you mad at me, Lois?"
"Yes!" Lois cried out, going back to organizing.
Chloe came closer to Lois, her heart pounding with fear. The last thing she ever wanted was there to be any animosity between them.
"Lois," she said, but Lois furiously threw her clothes into piles. "Lois-stop!"
Lois stopped.
"Thank you," Chloe said. "Come sit down with me, please. You're scaring me. You're barely a month pregnant barely and already you're running around like a crazy lady. Please, let's talk."
Lois reluctantly went to the sofa with Chloe. Chloe tried to take her hand but Lois pulled back.
"What is it that you're hiding from me? What else is there?"
Chloe frowned. "I-I don't—"
"No, you will tell Clark, your hero, your perfect man. You are keeping something else. Why Chloe? Why do you trust him more than me? I need you to trust me. I'm tired of being kept in the dark!"
"Okay! Okay. Alright."
Chloe looked down.
"I developed abilities. I'm a meteor freak, Lois. I can heal people and that's why you're alive. I healed you."
"When I was stabbed at the dam? You brought me back. You saved me, didn't you? I always knew that something wasn't right, but I didn't know what."
"Yes. I have the ability to save people, but only with the risk of hurting myself. I put my own life in danger to do it. It started last year. Clark and I were investigating the disappearance of a bowling alley employee at Lana's bachelorette party. It led us to find out he was meteor infected and that a lot of other meteor-infected people had been kidnapped with their memories erased. Anyway, long story short even though my powers are dormant, I have been afraid that I will end up dead or at Bell Reve. But I do possess this ability and Clark is the one who knows."
Lois couldn't believe Chloe would keep that from her. In her own distress she said, "Why wouldn't you tell me that? I would've been there for you. Why wouldn't you let me help you through that?"
Chloe shrugged sadly.
"I'm sorry. I guess it just wasn't something that I felt like sharing unless I had to."
"I feel like you don't trust me or see me as someone to value. I would've been on your side completely. You have Clark and you are so involved in him that you don't even see me standing there. I'm crying and you go to him. How could you search my apartment for that pregnancy test and then tell him without even discussing it with me?"
"I'm sorry-"
"You always choose him over me and I know, I know that you must feel for him in some way so my being pregnant with his baby is hard for you, and I'm sorry about that but I'm in a really, really hard place right now and I need you to be there for me. I need you to be on MY side. If you choose Clark in this I…" Lois felt the tears come upon her.
Chloe placed a comforting hand on Lois's back.
"Hey," she said. "Hey, I'm here."
Lois stood up, ignoring her support.
"Are you in love with him?"
Chloe didn't answer immediately.
"Oh my God, you are."
"No, I think the real question is, are you?" Chloe asked. "You're the one who's pregnant, not me. Lois, he's my best friend. I've known him forever but I've seen the little moments you two have."
"Oh yes, and speaking of that. What the hell is wrong with you?" Lois said, turning back to Chloe.
"What?"
"Your little idea to have me tell Clark what a good kisser he was after he pretended to be Green Arrow."
Chloe did her best to keep from smiling at the memory but failed miserably, pissing Lois off even more.
"Shut up, Chloe," and Chloe laughed even more.
"Oh, come on. That was funny."
"Funny is gonna be me kicking your ass in about two seconds! How could you do that?"
"Well you both seemed to enjoy it so much I had to bring it to your attention."
"My attention? Why would you embarrass me like that?"
"Embarrass you? Did you see his face? He was the one that was embarrassed. And if you're at all mad at him for lying to you, you should give me a metal."
"I cannot believe how much pleasure you're getting out of this," Lois half smiled.
Chloe was all grins.
"If you think that was fun, this pregnancy's gonna be a blast."
Lois's heart skipped a beat.
"Really? I mean you could really, really and truly stop with the secrets and be there for me? I don't want you to be in a bad place. I know you and Clark have something—"
"Look, if I made you feel like I didn't love or trust you then I have made a huge mistake. Clark has been someone to me that was just out of my reach. I'm telling you this in the strictest of confidence but I have watched him be with Lana for years and I stood by the sidelines. He never saw me and I thought maybe if he could just get past her he might see me. He always came to me as a friend but nothing more. When you came to town, let's just say you kept him on his toes. He was never bored with you. There were several moments when I knew if it wasn't Lana, it would probably be you."
Lois frowned.
"Are you kidding me?"
"Lois, come on, be honest. You may not be sure of it yet, but you two have something. And I've sabotaged a lot in my life in the name of Clark, but I think I'm done."
"I'm not trying to be the person after Lana who takes something from you that you desperately want."
"No, I know that, but he was never mine. I know that. I want you two to be together if you two really want to be."
"I don't even know what I want. I think about Clark, I do. I still have leftover feelings about Oliver but Clark, Clark is Clark and he's becoming something to me. Something I can't stop thinking about and if this is something I can't talk to you about you just tell me but I really, reallyneed you, Chlo."
"Oh I'm here," Chloe said pulling a teary eyed Lois into her arms. "Does the General know? Or Lucy?"
"No, they don't. I'll tell them when I tell them. Let me handle one drama at a time."
"Okay, you take your time. I'm so sorry for making you feel like I put you in second place."
"It's just…I know he's eye candy but damn."
Chloe laughed. "Well, we are going to buy maternity clothes and cute ity bity things and eat chocolate and let you crave dirt if you want or newspaper or whatever it is pregnant women crave these days and ooh! Cheetos."
Lois breathed in relief. "Thank you."
"Hey, hey be happy. You're pregnant. This is huge and this is a great, great thing. And I'll help you pack but why don't we go out to dinner, I'll take you anywhere you want to go and we can just talk all night."
Lois nodded.
"Okay."
They arrived back at the apartment at about eleven thirty and Lois passed out on her bed. Chloe covered her up and decided to be a little mischievous, getting into Lois and Clark's business. So she made a phone call that she might regret in the light of day.
"Hi, I need to speak to Oliver Queen."
~~~~~~~To Be Continued~~~~~~~