Clark supposed he was lucky. No one truly knew him in Metropolis. No one knew of his personal life, and so he wouldn't find it difficult to get a mortgage and buy a house. He had decided that it was time for him and Lizzie to move in together. She was still in Kansas, living with his mother until the press coverage of her death died down.

Thankfully the uproar didn't last that long, and within a month people had forgotten about what they had seen in Metropolis's skyline. Clark could wander around and no one would look at him. No one would ask him questions when he told them his name. And if they did he said that they had the wrong person.

People at work had known of Elizabeth, but Lois had spread the rumour that their relationship had ended before her death. That way it wouldn't look so suspicious when Clark turned up to work with a wedding ring around his finger in the not too distant future.

Lois was the only one who knew the truth. Clark had to talk to someone. He needed to confide in someone about this large secret which was a giant weight on his shoulders. He supposed that Lois was the only friend he had in the office. It was only when she caught him looking on the internet at houses did she question him further.

"That's not work," Lois informed him as she swung around in her chair next to his.

She had her legs folded and a salad balanced on her knees as she picked at it with the plastic fork. Clark reclined in his chair and looked at the property. He knew that it was difficult to find houses in Metropolis, especially ones at reasonable prices for a mortgage.

"I know," Clark said to her.

The office was empty as people went on their lunch breaks and decided to go out to buy food. Normally Clark would find that it was just him and Lois stuck in the office during the free hour. That was when he would talk with her.

She whistled lowly as she saw the property price. "You're going to have to ask Perry for a pay rise if you want that place."

Clark smirked as he heard her and he shook his head, one hand running through his hair.

"I doubt he'd agree to that," Clark replied. "No, I have some money...well...enough money. My mom had some in a separate account for when I reached eighteen. I never used it so hopefully we'll be able to get a mortgage."

"Does Lizzie know of this?" Lois asked, eating the lettuce slowly.

"Annabel," he corrected her with his fiancée's new name. It was still taking Clark some time to get used to calling her it. He struggled, but it was the price he had to pay to be seen in public with her. "She has a vague idea about it. I mean, we've talked about it. I just want to surprise her with it."

"Now that is a surprise," Lois said. "Buying a house without your fiancée truly knowing could be risky. She must really trust you, or she loves you too much to care."

"I'd like to think there's a bit of both in there," Clark said. "I'm going to look around it tomorrow. It's on the outskirts, but it's not far away."

"What's she going to do when she gets to the city?" wondered Lois. "She can't be a stay at home mom all the time, can she?"

"She's determined to find a job," Clark said. "I told her that there is no need to rush into anything. She's pregnant and I don't want her to strain herself. She'll probably have a few years off and then find something. The baby is the most important thing."

"Does she have any idea what she wants to do?" Lois asked. "I mean, she interviewed at the Planet a few times, didn't she?"

"She has two options in mind," Clark complained as Lois arched a brow. "She wants to be involved in Politics. The senator's office is large. She thinks she could work there...managing schedules...writing speeches...I used to joke about her being President one day. Seems that she could be the brains behind a President, I suppose."

"Smart woman," Lois nodded. "And what is the other option?"

"It's a bit more unconventional," Clark said. "And she wouldn't get paid."

Lois's brow furrowed as she listened to Clark. He shook his head as he ran a hand down his cheek and looked over to Lois, his tone full of scepticism as he spoke to her;

"She wants to help me," Clark mumbled. "She thinks that it would be good if she could. She won't let the matter drop. She's like a dog with a bone."

"Well," Lois said, "you know that she could help you. I mean, she is strong enough. I guess she can't at the moment, what with baby Kent on the way."

"I don't want her to help," Clark said. "I don't want to see her hurt, Lois. There are always people out there who are willing to hurt her. I don't...just to see them try..."

"Look," Lois said, "I think that Lex Luthor was a one off. He's gone now and Superman is still flying around, isn't he? He's keeping people safe enough and no one is trying to kill him."

Clark nervously shifted around in his seat, supposing that Lois had a point to make. She normally did.

"And what if people discover who she is? What if they find out?"

"You wear glasses and slouch. No one has said a thing," Lois reminded him. "I know what you mean, Clark. I honestly do, but she's just trying to help you. I guess I can't blame her. If I was her then I'd love to have a go. Can you imagine sitting back and doing nothing now?"

The question lingered in the air as Clark took in Lois and her point of view. She shrugged as she picked at a large tomato in the salad box.

"I mean, I could do an article if she ever did join with you...tell people that she's from Krypton like you are. It wouldn't be difficult, and it would mean that I am the one to sell more papers."

"You always sell the papers," Clark scoffed before looking back to his computer screen. He didn't really know what to say back to her. "Well...we still have a lot of things to think about before then. Besides, she might change her mind when she's had the baby."

Lois scoffed. "Your fiancée is more stubborn than you. I wouldn't put anything past her."

...

"Promise that you won't peek."

"I won't," Lizzie said to Clark as he opened her side of the car door. He took hold of her hand before he helped her out of the cab. She stood on the sidewalk whilst Clark paid the driver and moved back to her. He wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her on the neck as she grew impatient.

"Where are we?" she asked from him. "Clark." Her whining voice made him smile.

"Open your eyes," he told her, his voice timid and soft as he did so.

Lizzie's orbs quickly opened and she blinked profusely at the sight in front of her. Her mouth gaped open as she looked at the wooden white building. The porch stood out at the front of the house, a small walkway leading up to it besides the driveway. She kept quiet for a moment, looking over the building before she turned to see Clark.

"I've been looking at it for a few days," he admitted. "I wanted to bring you here before...well...to see if you liked it."

"You've been looking at houses?" Lizzie checked with him.

He nodded and allowed a small gulp to escape him. "You don't mind, do you?"

Placing her hand on his cheek, she turned his gaze to meet hers and she kissed him chastely.

"I love it," she told him. "It's beautiful...it's..."

"I know," Clark told her. "Come on, the estate agent gave me the keys. They want a quick sale," he explained, taking her hand and walking with her down the path. "They said the old couple who own it are planning to retire to Florida. They want a life by the coast now that their kids have all flown the nest. I met them this morning when I picked up the keys."

"They're leaving the family home and we're after one." Lizzie said, a smile on her face as Clark pushed the key into the lock and entered the house.

Lizzie followed him, looking around in the hallway. Of course the decor wasn't to her taste. Everyone had different opinions. But she could see them doing something with the house. She could see them living there.

"Clark, this is amazing," Lizzie said, moving into the kitchen.

"I'd like to think so," he told her as she ran her hand over the counter and he folded his arms, resting against the wooden frame in the doorway.

"Can we afford it?" Lizzie wondered. "I mean, you're the only one earning now. I could find a job, I mean, I will find one now that everything has settled down."

"We can," Clark told her. "My mom had some money saved for me which I never touched."

"I have a savings account," Lizzie confirmed. "I mean, this is too beautiful, Clark."

"It is. I'm assuming you already have plans for it?"

"You have no idea," Lizzie smirked, her hand resting on the curve of her stomach. "It's a big thing."

"Everything has been big since we found each other again," Clark reminded her, moving to kiss her on the cheek.

...

Lizzie had been wandering through the streets of Metropolis two weeks later. She and Clark had moved into their new house and she had run all of her ideas by him. Clark had agreed with her most of the time, grabbing a banana for breakfast and rushing from the house so that he wasn't late for week.

She'd spent most of her days inside, painting walls and searching through catalogues for furniture. The time finally came for her to buy all the small bits that she wanted. Her mother had decided to fly into Metropolis to stay with her and help her with designing. Her mother had always been good at interior designs.

She stood outside the window of one shop, looking into it as she saw a photo frame and a lamp which would go well in the living room. She made a mental note of the price before she set off walking again. She looked around the crowded street, doing her best not to become easily frustrated as people pushed against her.

It was as she was walking when she became distracted with the sight of a young couple in front of her, both of them pushing a pram. She smiled with envy before she felt a weight lift from her shoulder. She looked down, noticing that her satchel had gone missing. Her mouth gaped open as she looked into the distance, her sight better than anyone's on the street as she noticed the brown material in the distance on a hooded man's shoulder.

"Bastard," she whispered, pushing her own way through the crowd so that she could keep up with the man. She moved with haste, looking into the distance as she finally saw him turn into an alleyway.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Lizzie snapped. "Stealing from a pregnant woman in the street? It's disgusting."

"Back off, bitch," he warned her as Lizzie folded her arms over her shoulder. Lizzie didn't move as he dropped her bag to the floor and moved into his pocket, producing a small blade. Lizzie didn't startle as she saw him come towards her.

She grabbed hold of his wrist, her grip increasing as she twisted his arm behind his back. He squealed in pain as people heard and looked on at the sight in front of them. Lizzie grabbed the knife from his hold and examined it.

"Don't play with toys that you can't use," she warned him. "Do you not understand that, little boy?"

He groaned in pain as she continued to twist his arm.

"Now, if I ever see you around here again then I will break your arm, do you get that?" Lizzie snapped at him, her voice low for only him to hear.

The embarrassment of being beaten by a pregnant woman made his cheeks flush as he tried to get out of her hold.

"I'll take that as a yes," Lizzie said, pushing him hard enough against the wall to knock him unconscious.

The crowd gasped as Lizzie picked her satchel up and wiped the handle of the blade on her skirt, clearing her prints from it before handing it to the nearest man she saw.

"Give that the police when they arrive," she told him.

No one said anything as she slowly walked down the sidewalk again, her hand on her stomach as a smirk came over her. She'd never felt so liberated before. Now she could see why Clark felt like he did.

...

A/N: Thanks to anyone who has reviewed and to those who are following! Hope you'll let me know what you think of it so far.