Chapter 20: A Celebration at Clark's*

Lois arrived at Clark's apartment that evening, a bottle of wine in hand, her eyes glinting with mischief. She knocked, and when Clark opened the door, his carefree smile greeted her, and before she could say anything, he leaned in and kissed her lightly on the lips. There was no hesitation, no second thought—just a simple, natural kiss that took Lois completely by surprise.

She blinked, recovering quickly, though a smirk tugged at her lips. "Well, someone's feeling bold tonight," she teased, holding up the bottle of wine. "Celebrating already, are we?"

Clark chuckled, his cheeks flushing slightly. "Maybe a little. I just... had a good day."

"That so?" Lois stepped inside, placing the wine on the counter. "And what's for dinner, Master Chef?"

"Spaghetti marinara," Clark said proudly, motioning toward the simmering pot on the stove. "All from scratch. Using my mom's recipe."

Lois raised an eyebrow, impressed. "Martha's marinara? Fancy. Smells amazing."

"Want to help?" Clark asked, already reaching for an apron and tossing it toward her.

"Sure," Lois said, catching the apron and slipping it on with ease. "What do you need?"

Clark handed her a knife and pointed to the fresh basil. "Chop this up for me while I finish the sauce."

Lois grabbed the basil and began chopping, falling into an easy rhythm. As she worked, she glanced up at Clark, watching as he stirred the sauce, his broad shoulders moving fluidly. She couldn't help but admire the way he moved around his kitchen—it was so... domestic. But that wasn't why she was here. She had questions.

"So," she began, her tone casual but with an edge of curiosity, "how'd the interview really go? I mean, I know you nailed it, but did Perry give you any hints about what your first assignment might be?"

Clark glanced up from the stove, a sheepish smile forming on his face. "Not really. He just said I'd be starting Monday and that I'd be learning from the best."

Lois stopped chopping for a second, one eyebrow arching up with playful disbelief. "Wait, wait... let me get this straight. You're telling me you didn't ask any follow-up questions? No details on your beat, your editor, *anything*?"

Clark shrugged, grinning like a guilty schoolboy. "I guess I was just... excited. I didn't think to ask."

Lois set the knife down, leaning forward with a mischievous smile. "Clark Kent... giddy? You? Not asking questions?"

Clark rubbed the back of his neck, clearly enjoying the teasing but also a little embarrassed. "I mean, I did ask some questions..."

Lois took a step closer, closing the gap between them. "Uh-huh, sure. Basic journalism rule number one: *always* ask questions." She poked him lightly in the chest, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "I thought you knew that, Smallville."

Clark laughed, leaning down just slightly so they were nearly face to face. "I do. Guess I was a little... distracted."

"Oh, I can tell," Lois said, her tone low and teasing. "All these years of training, and you get so giddy over a job you forget the basics." She shook her head, grinning, before stealing a quick kiss.

Clark blinked in surprise but responded immediately, returning the kiss with a soft smile against her lips. "You're right. Guess I'll need a refresher course."

Lois leaned back, still smirking. "Good thing you've got me around to keep you sharp. Honestly, you'd be lost without me."

Clark's hands rested on her hips as he tilted his head slightly. "Completely lost," he agreed, his voice warm. "Should I be worried that Perry's going to think I'm a clueless rookie?"

Lois grinned, leaning in for another quick kiss. "Don't worry. I've got you covered. But next time you forget to ask follow-up questions, I'm docking points."

Clark laughed softly, shaking his head. "Docking points, huh? What's the penalty?"

Lois tapped her chin thoughtfully, pretending to consider her answer. "Hmm... maybe you owe me extra dinner duty. Or you take over coffee runs for a week."

Clark raised an eyebrow. "That's it? Sounds like I'm getting off easy."

Lois chuckled, leaning in close, her lips brushing against his ear. "I could make the penalties much more... creative, if you want."

Clark's heart skipped a beat at her words, and his hands instinctively tightened around her waist. "You're dangerous, you know that?"

Lois pulled back slightly, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "And yet, you keep inviting me over. Who's the real danger here?"

They both laughed, the tension between them easing as they settled into their easy banter once again. Clark went back to stirring the sauce while Lois finished chopping the basil, but every now and then, they'd steal glances—and a few more kisses—between tasks.

When dinner was finally ready, they sat down at the table, the air filled with the comforting aroma of homemade spaghetti marinara. As they ate, the conversation flowed effortlessly, but Lois deflected any attempts Clark made to bring up deeper topics. She wasn't ready to talk about Lana, Superman, or even where their relationship was heading—not tonight. Tonight was about enjoying the moment.

They laughed and joked through dinner, and by the time the dishes were done and the wine bottle nearly empty, the mood had shifted to something warmer, more intimate. Clark leaned against the counter, watching Lois with a soft smile as she dried her hands on a dish towel.

Lois walked over to him, placing her hands on his chest and standing on her toes to kiss him again. This time, the kiss lingered, growing more heated, more insistent. Clark responded in kind, his arms wrapping around her, pulling her closer as their lips moved together in perfect sync.

But then, Clark hesitated, pulling back slightly to catch his breath. He rested his forehead against hers, his voice soft but serious. "Lois... what do you really want to do? Because if we're going to take things slow, this might be the time to stop."

Lois blinked, her heart racing from both the kiss and his question. She looked up at him, her mind battling with her emotions. She wanted him—there was no doubt about that. But Clark was right. If they didn't stop now, they might not be able to slow down later.

After a few more soft kisses, Lois finally pulled back, her breathing uneven. She gave him a small, playful smile, though her eyes were still filled with desire. "Yeah... I guess you're right."

Clark exhaled, a mix of relief and disappointment in his eyes.

Lois touched his cheek, brushing her thumb gently across his skin. "You're kind of perfect, you know that?"

Clark laughed softly. "Far from it. But I want to get this right."

Lois nodded, stepping back slightly, though it was clear from her expression that stepping away was the last thing she wanted to do. "You will. We will." She reached for her bag and slung it over her shoulder, her lips quirking into a grin. "But for now... I need to get home."

Clark walked her to the door, still holding her hand as they reached the threshold. "Thank you for tonight," Lois said, leaning in to press a soft kiss to his lips.

"Thank you," Clark replied, his voice warm and genuine. "For everything."

Lois smiled up at him, her eyes twinkling with affection. "Congrats on the job, Smallville. The *Planet's* lucky to have you."

Clark smiled, his heart lighter despite the lingering tension between them. "Good night, Lois."

"Good night, Clark."

As she walked away down the hall, Clark stood there for a moment, watching her go.

To be continued...*