XYK

Chapter 8 – "Warm Fuzzies."

Lois blocked out the sound of Clarks incessant droning and looked at the lamp on a ledge in the corner of the room. It sparkled as the late afternoon light hit it. The sun strained through the stained glass and Lois allowed herself to be hypnotised by the kaleidoscope of colours dancing across the wall.

"Lois!"Clark snapped, waking her out of her reverie. "You're not even listening anymore."

Lois sighed and turned her attention back to her husband. Talking about her feelings was the last thing she wanted to be doing. Lois wasn't raised like Clark, in a family where they actually talked about their feelings and shared warm fuzzies and hugs. No, Lois Lane was a military brat. She was more accustomed to internalizing everything and preparing for battle, "Of course I'm listening."

"Talk to me."Clark sat down on the sofa next to Lois. "Tell me what's on your mind."He gently picked up her hand and entwined his fingers with her smaller feminine ones.

"Nothing's on my mind." Lois untangled their fingers and stood up "I'm fine Clark. I'M FINE."

"No you're not."

"Oh,but I am."Lois stomped towards the kitchen .Clark didn't need to follow her or use his ex-ray vision to know the sound of banging cupboards and shifting pots and pans, was Lois rummaging around for a stiff drink."I could have sworn I had some Beer here." He heard her mutter to herself.

Clark got up and stood in the door way of the Kitchen. "You drank most of it, and what you didn't drink got thrown away."

"Why!?Why would you do that?" Lois banged her hands down on the kitchen counter, in unadulterated frustration. "God, I'm so sick of you.."

"Sick of me?" Clark couldn't hide his building anger "You don't get to be the angry one Lois; I'm trying my best to fix us."

"Fix us? Fix me, you mean...."Lois barged past Clark ,sailed through the Living room and into their bedroom. Again, he heard the pulling and slamming of drawers and wardrobes.

By the time he reached the Bedroom, in Lois's hand lay a small bottle of Absolut Vodka. Clark silently cursed,he had honestly believed that he'd gotten rid of all the alcohol in the apartment. Lois smiled victoriously.

"A Secret stash.."Clark shook his head in mild disgust.

"I just had a mis-carriage. Excuse me if I feel like crap for a while." Lois stood up amongst the scattered clothes and socks she'd pulled out to get to the alcoholic prize . The Look Clark was giving her was enough to pacify the craving she had for the poison that would dull her pain."If you had lost the baby you would understand!" was all she could say.

Clark froze flabbergasted. Slowly he shifted his gaze from the bottle of Vodka to meet Lois's and with heartbreaking clarity he said, "But,I did lose the baby...".

Clark picked up his car keys,and headed straight for the front door . He hadn't intended to go to The Planet today, but for the first time in forever he didn't trust himself to be around his wife.

TBC