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Chapter 12 – "Round 10."

Lois held on to the hardhat atop her head as the elevator descended upwards. She was flanked by construction workers and architects. Lex stood in front of her chatting in German on his cell phone. She patiently waited for him to finish his call, as the lift stopped at the top floor.

The doors opened to reveal what would eventually be very plush offices, looking around Lois used her imagination to fill in the understated splendour of the magazines reception area.

Lost in thought, she came to with a start when Lex gently touched her elbow."It's perfect isn't it?", he asked unnecessarily.

Lois just beamed; she took his lead and walked into the centre of the space that would eventually be the magazines headquarters.

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The clock struck 10pm on the mantel piece but Lois worked busily arranging papers and looking over plans, she was so enthralled that she didn't hear the balcony doors open or the soft footsteps coming from behind her. A soft gust of wind hit her neck, knocking at her subconscious.

Lois turned to see her husband covered in Ash and black soot. He looked dejected and his Superman costume had been burnt.

"Are you alright?" Lois got up from the table and put her pen down. She wanted to put her arm around him but stopped herself, the mental barrier was much too strong and with all the tension surrounding them lately it felt somehow inappropriate.

"I'm fine." He answered coldly.

"You don't seem fine." Lois looked at her husband worriedly, something had happened it was written all over his face and burned all over his costume.

Clark simply walked past her and opened the refrigerator; he picked up the carton of Orange juice and poured some straight into his mouth. Lois watched him silently. Once he had finished he closed the carton and put it back into the fridge.

"What's this?" Clark indicated to the array of paperwork and building plans strewn all over the work surfaces.

Lois turned to look at Clark dead in the eye, eagerly anticipating his reaction "Building plans and paperwork for the magazine."

"So that's where you were this afternoon?"

Lois nodded.

Clark shook his head in disgust. "You've really thrown Perry through a loop."

"So, I'm just supposed to stay where I am and not even try to reach my full potential because I might hurt Perry's feelings?" Lois asked, both hands on her hips.

"Perry's been good to us."

"I know he has, but I would be crazy to turn this down."

"So you don't care what I think or how I feel?"

"Of Course I do!"

"Then why the Hell are you selling your soul to the devil?"

Lois threw her hands up in exasperation

"Not only did we lose a baby but you Lost your mind as well..."Clark regretted it as soon as he said it, but he couldn't retract it ,not now, it was how he felt.

"I can't keep doing this Clark.." Lois said quietly gathering up the papers "We can't keep doing this. I can't keep fighting with you."

"What are you saying Lois?"

Lois took a deep breath and with tears in her eyes, she said "Maybe I should move out for a little while.."

Clark clenched his teeth and looked at Lois for a long hard moment. "Maybe you should." He concurred as he calmly walked into the bathroom, turned on the shower and shut the door.

TBC.