{"id":662,"date":"2014-12-11T16:42:38","date_gmt":"2014-12-11T16:42:38","guid":{"rendered":"\/lnc\/?page_id=662"},"modified":"2023-06-10T11:01:42","modified_gmt":"2023-06-10T15:01:42","slug":"go-with-me-on-this-one","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/nfanfic.com\/lnc\/fanfic\/pg-fanfic\/go-with-me-on-this-one\/","title":{"rendered":"Go With Me On This One"},"content":{"rendered":"

Author: Sheila
\n
Email: ethanseth@msn.com<\/a>
\n
Rated: PG<\/i><\/p>\n

\nLois entered the Daily Planet and made a beeline for her desk. She just got past
\nthe mob of reporters that had arrived for the reporters’ convention, which was
\nbeing held in Metropolis this year. It was Monday and the convention would go on
\nthrough Thursday. Lois hated the reporters’ convention more than most things in
\nher career. For the most part, it became a drunken party and people from her
\npast seem to always show up, like Paul Tenney…and Linda King. Already, she
\nwanted it to be over. <\/p>\n

Lois’s feet were killing her. She had had to walk what seemed like miles to meet
\nBobby Big Mouth this morning for information. She decided right then that she
\nwould never do that again in two-inch pumps. She had a one-track mind right
\nnow–get these shoes off–as she plopped down in her chair. <\/p>\n

Lois noticed not for the first time lately that Clark was so handsome sitting
\nthere at his desk. His broad shoulders in that white shirt and crazy tie, his
\nbeautiful smile, his gentleness, and especially his small-town, boyish manners
\njust made her finally realize that she really was attracted to him, maybe even
\nmore. But she didn’t want to risk their friendship, which meant more to Lois
\nthan anything. <\/p>\n

Clark sat on the phone talking with Matt Young. He noticed his partner’s scent
\nand her heartbeat as she approached the newsroom. She was so beautiful and
\nseemed to become more beautiful with maturity. She could always take his breath
\naway. He had been in love with her since they met and had actually almost
\njeopardized their friendship once by telling her and almost proposing to her.
\nShe didn’t reciprocate those feelings, so their friendship had taken a hit, with
\nthe help of the peripheral situation at the time. Slowly, their friendship had
\nrecovered, and with prayer and time, Clark hoped that Lois would one day love
\nhim the way that he loved her. <\/p>\n

Lately, though, Clark thought that he and Lois were becoming closer. Not
\nromantically, but closer friends. He hadn’t thought it possible for them to grow
\ncloser without changing the status of their relationship. But Lois didn’t hold
\nher feelings back anymore. She would now open up to him truthfully about
\nanything except one thing…her feelings for him. That was a subject that they
\ndanced around, and Clark being Clark, he didn’t demand that she go there. With
\npatience, hopefully one day she would tell him what he wanted to hear. <\/p>\n

As Lois kicked off her pumps and rubbed her right foot, she looked over at her
\nbest friend and partner of three years, Clark Kent. He seemed to be just
\nfinishing up a phone call. She needed to fill him in on her meeting with Bobby
\nBig Mouth. Clark would have usually gone with her but he stayed back in the
\noffice to tie up another deadline in the names of Lane and Kent. <\/p>\n

"Yeah, Matt…I’m sorry about your hotel reservation but you can stay for the
\nweek if you need to…sure…well I don’t actually have a spare bedroom…it’s
\nmy couch…sure you’re welcome…see you this evening…bye." <\/p>\n

"Plans?" Lois inquired just as Clark hung up his phone.<\/p>\n

"Uh…no…well, sort of…that was an old college mate of mine, Matt Young.
\nHe’s here for the convention and his reservations got screwed up so…" <\/p>\n

Clark was interrupted by a mob of reporters who seemed to be headed for Lois’s
\ndesk. <\/p>\n

"Lois Lane!"<\/p>\n

Lois spun around in her chair.<\/p>\n

"Yes? Oh, hi Linda…Paul," Lois said sarcastically. What she really wanted to
\ndo was crawl under her desk right now. Of all people to drop by, Linda King and
\nPaul Tenney had to. <\/p>\n

Clark’s eyes stretched above his glasses. He knew immediately who Linda and Paul
\nwere. Lois had told him on a previous occasion of her little adventure with
\nLinda and Paul. <\/p>\n

"Well, Lois…successful reporter, huh? Well, you’re what? 29? 30? Tick-tock,
\ntick-tock! And what? No husband or kids, huh? I’ll bet you don’t even have a
\nboyfriend. Does anyone even ask you out or are you still calling your interviews
\ndates? You see, Paul and I got married and we’re trying for a baby, now. Right,
\nPaul? We just wanted you to hear it from the horse." <\/p>\n

"But Linda, baby, Lois wouldn’t know anything about starting a family. You’d
\nhave to do more than just lie there." The entourage started to laugh at Paul’s
\ninnuendo. <\/p>\n

Lois could feel the colour rising in her cheeks and the tears starting to burn
\nthe corners of her eyes. Just then Clark walked up behind her and gently placed
\nhis hands on her shoulders. <\/p>\n

"Honey, you okay?" Clark asked as he leaned down closer to her ear. He had
\nnothing but love and sincerity in his eyes for her. He had already hopped to a
\ngame of pretend just to rescue his partner. <\/p>\n

"Yeah," Lois said simply in almost a whisper.<\/p>\n

"Ah, Lois, who is the tight end and what have you got on him to make him
\nso…caring? Surely he’s just a concerned co-worker. He wouldn’t actually be
\ninterested in you…would he? Paul, you mind if I see if I still got it?" <\/p>\n

"No, go ahead. We already know that Lois ain’t got it!" The entourage broke out
\nin laughter again. At this point Lois had turned to face Clark as he knelt in
\nfront of her. He could see her fighting tears. <\/p>\n

Angry, Clark stood up. "Paul and Linda, Clark Kent. I’m Lois’s…" <\/p>\n

"Husband! You see Linda, Clark and I are married. I’m actually Lois Kent. Lane
\nis just my professional name…" Lois chimed in as she schooled her emotions and
\nstood quickly next to Clark. <\/p>\n

Clark and Lois exchanged looks briefly before Clark continued on. Clark had
\ngiven Lois that very subtle look of agreement, indicating that he was on board
\nthis flight, as they had done many times during their partnership when one of
\nthem got put in a tight spot. With that encouragement, Clark held Lois to him,
\nprotectively, around her small waist. Then he made his way in front of her. <\/p>\n

"Why don’t you get out of here and leave us? You see, when you upset her, you
\nupset me, and trust me, you don’t want to suffer my wrath," Clark continued with
\nclenched teeth. <\/p>\n

Lois noticed that little thing that his jaw did when he was angry. <\/p>\n

"Why, Clark," Linda said as she made her way to him and laid her hand
\nflirtatiously on his chest. "I’ll just bet that under that shirt…" <\/p>\n

Clark quickly pushed Linda’s hand away and said, "Just for the record, you don’t
\nhave it! Now leave or…" <\/p>\n

"What in the Sam Hill is going on in my newsroom?" Perry demanded in his most
\nangry southern voice. But by now the entourage had started to exit. <\/p>\n

"Nothing, Perry!" Clark yelled back as he led Lois by the hand into one of the
\nconference rooms. He knew that her resolve was quickly fading. <\/p>\n

Once the door closed to the conference room, Lois turned to Clark as if she were
\ntrying to find her words to say something, but her control vacated. Eyelids and
\nwillpower that had been dams just moments ago lost their battle and the tears
\nflowed. Clark just stood there and held Lois until her cry was done. After a few
\nminutes, Lois dried up and looked at Clark. It broke Clark’s heart to see Lois
\nlook so defeated. <\/p>\n

"Clark, thank you but I’m so sorry for dragging you into…"<\/p>\n

"Shh…Lois. It’s okay. I don’t mind." Clark hugged her to his chest again and
\nsmiled to himself. It would be a dream come true to pretend for a week that he
\nand Lois were married. Maybe he could convince her that it wasn’t such a bad
\nidea and that they should make it a permanent arrangement. He could prove that
\nhe would really be a good husband and love her the way she deserved to be loved.
\nLoving her took no thought or rehearsal at all. "How do you want to play this?"
\n"I know you don’t want to be marri…I shouldn’t have told them that…" <\/p>\n

"I go with my partner, Lois. You know that." Clark tilted Lois’s chin up to look
\nat him. "Now, tell me what you want to do and my part in this. Right now I’m so
\nangry at them…for being so…cruel." <\/p>\n

"Okay. Will you go with me on this one…this marriage thing?"<\/p>\n

"Of course." Clark hugged Lois to his chest again and silently thanked God for
\nthis opportunity. "We need to settle a few things though, so that our stories
\nare consistent, like where will we live? Where and when did we meet? When did we
\nget married?" <\/p>\n

"Well, we can just tell the truth about how and where we met. Since your
\napartment is slightly bigger and my couches are so uncomfortable, we can live at
\nyour place…" <\/p>\n

"Oh! Matt is staying on my couch this week. But we can’t stay at your place if
\nwe’re married and he and a few of the others already know where I live. But,
\nsleeping arrangements…" Clark sat in deep thought for a moment. <\/p>\n

"Clark, I don’t mind sleeping in your bed…with you. After all we are supposed
\nto be married and Matt would definitely pick up on something if one of us slept
\non the floor or in the loft. That is, if you’re comfortable with it." Lois’s
\ncheeks turned bright red with embarrassment. <\/p>\n

"Yeah, you’re right. Are you okay with that? I’m comfortable with it. You know
\nyou can change your mind. Anytime. " <\/p>\n

"I know, Clark. Thank you."<\/p>\n

The day came to an end rather quickly. Clark shut down his computer and tidied
\nup his desk. Then he walked over to Lois’s desk and perched on the side as she
\nshut down her workstation for the day. <\/p>\n

"Ready, Mrs. Kent?" Clark asked as he held out his hand for Lois to take. <\/p>\n

"Ready, Mr. Kent." Lois smiled fully for the first time today since her–their–
\nvisit from Linda and Paul. <\/p>\n

Lois and Clark adjourned from the Daily Planet together at about 6 o’clock, only
\nafter filling Perry and Jimmy in on the charade. Perry laughed within himself.
\nHe knew that his dream team was in love but danced around admitting it. Maybe
\nthis would make them see that they were meant to be. <\/p>\n

Clark walked Lois to her Jeep and told her that he had an errand. He would
\nexpect her at his apartment in an hour. <\/p>\n

Lois detoured to her apartment to get a few things before Matt would arrive, to
\nmake it look as if she lived in Clark’s apartment. She showed up on Clark’s
\ndoorstep what would be about an hour before Matt. <\/p>\n

Once inside of Clark’s apartment, he led her to his bedroom and showed her her
\ndesignated drawers for her belongings. As she finished unpacking her things,
\nClark led Lois to sit beside him on his bed and held her hand. He had something
\nto say. <\/p>\n

First he reached in his suit pocket, pulled out a purple velvet ring box and
\nopened it. It held two gold bands, a large one and a small one. Clark removed
\nthe small one and placed it on Lois’s left ring finger and she placed the larger
\none on his left ring finger. <\/p>\n

"Clark, you didn’t have to…"<\/p>\n

"We want to look convincing. And besides, I wanted to."<\/p>\n

Lois smiled and agreed.<\/p>\n

Then Clark gently grasped both of Lois’s hands and looked in her eyes. After a
\nfew moments, he finally started to talk. Lois knew better than to interrupt once
\nhe got going. <\/p>\n

"Lois, you’re my best friend and I should have told you this sooner, especially
\nafter…but…well…I’m Superman. I thought you should know just in case I have
\nto leave during the night…with you right beside me…well…" "Clark? How
\ncould you? Why did you wait so long to tell me? Did you trust me that little?
\nDid you think I’d make a headline out of it?" <\/p>\n

"I’ve never told anyone, Lois. Only my parents know. I didn’t tell you because I
\ndidn’t know if you would still accept me or think I was repulsive, or…and I
\ndidn’t want anyone hurting you to get to me. I’m an alien, Lois. I…please
\ndon’t be too angry with me." <\/p>\n

Clark had decided that it was best to leave out the part about wanting Lois to
\nfall in love with him…Clark…and not the super hero. <\/p>\n

"Clark…we don’t have time for me to be angry with you right now. We’ll sort it
\nout later. Matt will be here soon. All those lame excuses…" <\/p>\n

Clark took the gift horse and galloped away on it. He knew that Lois’s wrath was
\nmuch worse than his could ever be. <\/p>\n

Soon Matt was knocking at the door. Clark reached out for Lois’s hand and she
\ntook it. <\/p>\n

"Are you ready?" <\/p>\n

"Yeah, I guess so."<\/p>\n

Clark answered the door and invited Matt in. They did the male embrace while
\nshaking hands thing. Matt was a tall, good-looking, brown-headed guy. He was
\nbuff, but not as buff as Clark. They had obviously played football together.
\nMatt had blue eyes and a nice smile as well. <\/p>\n

"Matt, this is my wife, Lois. Lois…Matt Young."<\/p>\n

"Nice to meet you Matt," Lois said smiling.<\/p>\n

"Nice to meet you, too, Lois…Lane? Lane and Kent?"<\/p>\n

"Yes."<\/p>\n

"Kent, you’ve been holding out on me, man. You never told me that you had a wife
\nor that she was so beautiful," Matt continued as he kissed Lois on the cheek.<\/p>\n

"She is beautiful, isn’t she?" Clark gently glided his fingers through Lois’s
\nsilky hair and looked into her eyes. <\/p>\n

Lois just smiled. Clark always knew exactly what to say to make her
\nfeel…loved? <\/p>\n

"Well, Matt, make yourself at home. It’s not much, but…it’s enough for the two
\nof us right now." <\/p>\n

"You guys gonna start trying to have kids soon?"<\/p>\n

"It depends on Lois. We haven’t really talked about it yet. And besides, we’ve
\nonly been married for a couple of months." <\/p>\n

"It’s just that a kid would get so much love from you two. You have so much love
\nfor each other. Stevie Wonder…anyone can see that. I mean, I’m an adult and
\nI’m feeling loved just being around you two." Matt giggled. <\/p>\n

"Maybe, we’ll see." Clark laughed in spite of himself. Was he that obvious? <\/p>\n

Matt, Clark, and Lois talked for a while as Clark made and served dinner. He
\nwhipped up one of his pasta dishes that was one of Lois’s favorites. Most of the
\ntime Lois just listened as Clark and Matt played catch-up. <\/p>\n

"Clark, I’ll clear the dishes. You and Matt go and have some male bonding time."
\nLois kissed Clark on the cheek as she walked by him with an armful of dishes
\nafter they were done. "Honey, you sure? I can take care of them…"<\/p>\n

"Go! You cooked."<\/p>\n

Clark did as he was told. Lois was taking to this wife part pretty quickly which
\nwas much to his satisfaction. He just didn’t want her to explode on him later
\nfor feeling stereotyped. <\/p>\n

Before long Matt was dozing off and they all decided that they should call it a
\nnight. Clark brought out covers and an extra pillow for Matt. He was actually
\nallowing Lois time to get comfortable. Shortly thereafter, Clark returned to the
\nbedroom. Matt was already sound asleep. His snoring was very audible. <\/p>\n

Clark stood on the side of the bed closest to the doorway in his sleeper shorts
\nand a tee shirt. He wasn’t wearing his glasses. He wasn’t hiding from Lois
\nanymore. Lois stood on the opposite side. They were both sort of suspended in
\nanimation. Neither was looking at the other. Finally, after what seemed like an
\neternity, Clark got Lois to look at him and silently asked Lois if she was sure
\nabout this. She in turn reached out her hand to him. Clark came around to Lois’s
\nside of the bed and pulled back the covers. Lois got in with her silky white
\ngown on. Clark then pulled the covers up to her chest and then squatted beside
\nher. <\/p>\n

"Lois, are you sure? It’s not too late to change your mind, you know." <\/p>\n

Lois grasped Clark’s hand and kissed it. Then she answered simply, "I know. Yes,
\nI’m sure." <\/p>\n

Clark went around to his side of the bed and climbed in. He was very nervous
\nabout this. It was going to be a long night with Lois sleeping right next to
\nhim. All of his senses were on edge. She was nervous too. He could hear her
\nheart racing. <\/p>\n

They lay there in the dark for a few minutes in silence. Clark was on his side
\nof the bed and Lois on hers. One was not touching the other. Clark knew that
\nLois wasn’t asleep. He could tell by her breathing and her still-rapid heart
\nrate. <\/p>\n

"Lois, honey…" Clark whispered. He rolled over towards Lois and gently touched
\nher shoulder. <\/p>\n

"If this makes you uncomfortable…"<\/p>\n

Lois turned to face Clark and get closer to him. He responded by cuddling her
\nwith both arms. Lois then replied, "No, just…perfect. Clark…?" <\/p>\n

"Yes."<\/p>\n

"You’ve called me honey a few times when nobody was around…"<\/p>\n

"I’m sorry. I’ll try to be more careful…"<\/p>\n

"No. It’s okay. I just wanted to tell you that you’ve gone above and beyond
\nalready and you don’t have to do that. I know that this is just for a few days."<\/p>\n

"I know. Now get some sleep." Clark held Lois in both arms, cocooned facing him.
\nHe kissed her on the forehead and said goodnight. <\/p>\n

Lois slept more restfully that night than she had in a long time. She awakened
\nbriefly once when Superman made a departure. She even got to see Clark spin
\nright before her eyes for the first time. She couldn’t get comfortable again
\nuntil he returned. He simply said, "Robbery," as he climbed back into bed,
\ngathered Lois in his arms again, and went back off to sleep. <\/p>\n

Lois awakened in the morning disoriented. She was engulfed in a warm, soft
\npillow against her back. As her eyes came into focus, she remembered being in
\nClark’s bed; therefore, the pillow must be Clark. It just felt so right. He
\nseemed to awaken at the same time. <\/p>\n

Clark awakened with Lois in his arms. This felt so right. He breathed in the
\nscent of her hair and it made him almost high. He lay there for a moment, not
\nwanting to wake Lois, not wanting the moment to end. But, too soon later, she
\nstirred. <\/p>\n

They got up, somewhat awkwardly, and got ready for work. Matt was already gone.
\nHe’d wanted to meet some of the guys for breakfast. <\/p>\n

After Lois and Clark dressed and ate breakfast, they headed on into the Planet.<\/p>\n

The first full day at the Planet of Lois and Clark being "married" went like any
\nother normal day in the lives of Lane and Kent. Nothing seemed different to the
\naverage onlooker. But Perry, on the other hand, could tell that a major
\nbreakthrough had happened with Lois. <\/p>\n

Clark had been designated between the two to attend the conference, for a couple
\nof reasons. First, so that Lois didn’t have to deal with Linda and Paul, and
\nsecond, no one would miss him when Superman was needed. Earlier on, Lois had
\ncovered for a Superman departure. It almost came naturally. Clark was surprised
\nthat Lois’s excuses were far better than his. <\/p>\n

Tuesday night, Matt was out late partying with the crowd. Lois and Clark went
\nhome but promised everyone that they would attend the dance on Wednesday night.<\/p>\n

All of Wednesday, Lois had been trying to find reasons not to attend the dance.
\nClark noticed that she seemed fidgety and nervous. On one of his breaks from the
\nconference, when he returned to the newsroom, he took Lois by the hand and led
\nher to one of the vacant conference rooms. <\/p>\n

"Sweetheart, what’s wrong? Why don’t you want to go? I mean, we don’t have to
\nbut…I’d like to show you off." Clark smiled. <\/p>\n

"Oh, I don’t know. Those dances are just so juvenile. Everyone will be drunk and
\nbelligerent. I’m just not…" <\/p>\n

"Paul and Linda will be there and probably try to hurt you or embarrass
\nyou…let me know if I’m getting warm here." <\/p>\n

"Oh, Clark…I just…"<\/p>\n

"Go for me, Lois, and if things get out of hand, we’ll leave. Just tell me. I’m
\ndying to see you in that black gown." Clark smiled jokingly but meant every
\nword. <\/p>\n

"Well, okay then…but if I say…"<\/p>\n

"Then we’ll exit. I’ve gotta go, honey." Absentmindedly, Clark sweetly kissed
\nLois on the lips and ran out. He left Lois standing there with her hand on her
\nlips. "Wow," was all she could say. <\/p>\n

When Clark got to the elevator, he realized what he had just done and thought
\nthat maybe he had crossed the line. It had been wonderful while it lasted and
\nshe did respond. He’d just have to wear his bulletproof jacket home. He smiled
\nto himself. <\/p>\n

Later that evening, Lois and Clark were at home getting ready for the dance.
\nMatt had already gone with some of the guys. Lois was wearing a black evening
\ngown with thin straps and Clark donned a black tux. After adoring Lois from afar
\nas she stared at herself in the full-length mirror, Clark came up behind her to
\nplace her pearls. Then he said in almost a whisper, "You are so beautiful." <\/p>\n

Lois could feel his breath on the nape of her neck right at the lobe of her ear.<\/p>\n

Clark’s hands gently lingered on her shoulders for a few seconds. Just before he
\nretreated, he lightly kissed Lois on her shoulder. <\/p>\n

Lois turned to face her handsome partner with a fresh sheet of tears forming and
\nsimply replied, "Thank you." Then, after gaining her composure, she said, "You
\nare just so handsome in that tux. I’m glad that I’ll be the woman on your arm
\ntonight." Lois smiled. "Linda will really show her claws tonight. She’ll
\nprobably want to chew off one of her paws when she sees you." <\/p>\n

"It’s not Linda that I want to be with."<\/p>\n

Lois stiffened and stared Clark right in the eyes. His mind was saying to him,
\n"Uh ooo…splat!" <\/p>\n

In an attempt to redeem himself, Clark stuck out his arm and said, "Ready?" <\/p>\n

"Yeah, let’s go."<\/p>\n

The dance was uneventful, for the most part. Perry and Jimmy and the entire
\nPlanet staff were there. But it wasn’t long before the resident feline appeared.<\/p>\n

"Well, hello, Mrs. Kent and Clarkie."<\/p>\n

"Hi." Clark started to pull Lois away to the dance floor.<\/p>\n

"Oh, Lois, mind if I cut in?"<\/p>\n

"Linda, I mind," Clark interjected.<\/p>\n

"Fine!" Linda said as she stormed off. <\/p>\n

Clark and Lois danced with Clark holding her close, his fingers mindlessly
\nwandering over her soft bare back. Lois laid her head on his chest. Clark seemed
\nin deep thought but then finally started to speak. <\/p>\n

"You’re so beautiful. You’ve taken my breath away a few times tonight. You don’t
\never have to worry about losing me to Linda…or anybody for that matter. I love
\nyou. You’re the only woman that I want to be with." There, he’d said it. <\/p>\n

Lois’s rational mind shouted, "Danger!" But she tried to remain calm. She
\nsnuggled closer to Clark and just breathed in his scent. She didn’t quite know
\nwhat to say. After all, he didn’t really feel that way. It was all a part of the
\ngrand charade. <\/p>\n

"Um…Clark…I’ve got to go to the ladies room."<\/p>\n

"Okay. You okay?"<\/p>\n

"Yeah, sweetheart, I’m fine." Lois stood on her tiptoes and kissed Clark on the
\nlips. "Stay put, Kent." He just smiled. <\/p>\n

Clark’s was praying that he hadn’t scared Lois off…again…with that
\ndeclaration. But for some reason it had come tumbling out and he needed her to
\nknow how he felt. It may be to his advantage if she thought the declaration to
\nbe a part of the grand charade. Suddenly his super hearing picked up on Lois in
\nthe bathroom. Oh no! Linda King in the bathroom, with Lois, alone! God, he hoped
\nthat Lois wouldn’t let Linda get to her. <\/p>\n

Lois entered the bathroom and there, sitting fixing her makeup, was none other
\nthan Linda King. Linda turned in the direction of Lois’s footsteps. Before she
\ncould say anything, Lois spoke through clinched teeth. <\/p>\n

"Don’t start with me, Linda! I’m going to use the ladies room and then I’m
\nleaving." <\/p>\n

Then tears ran down Linda’s face. Lois looked up to the heavens and mumbled, ‘I
\nknow I’m gonna regret asking this.’ <\/p>\n

"What’s wrong, Linda?"<\/p>\n

"Paul…I just caught him in the vestibule with Sam, the weather girl from the
\nSTAR. They weren’t just making out Lois. He had her gown up around her waist and
\nhe was…" <\/p>\n

"Linda, I’m sorry, but think about how you got him."<\/p>\n

"Yeah, you’re right, and I’m sorry for that."<\/p>\n

"You did me a favor because otherwise, I probably wouldn’t be with Clark." <\/p>\n

"Oh, yeah, Clark. Face it, Lois, I’m the one who should be with Clark. I’m
\nblonde and blue, you know rocky road and you’re brown and brown, you know,
\nvanilla…plain." <\/p>\n

"It’s not the outside, Linda. It’s what’s in here," Lois said as she placed her
\nhand on her chest. "Clark knows me better than I know myself sometimes. He is my
\npartner and he still loves me. Obviously with Paul, it’s all about…" Lois
\nwandered off with the wave of her hand. <\/p>\n

"You think Clark and I could go out as friends sometimes? I mean, if he turns me
\ndown then you’ve proven your point, but he won’t. He’d have to be dead or
\ngay…or Superm…no Superman couldn’t even resist me." <\/p>\n

"Listen to yourself! You’re doing the same damn thing! Stay away from Clark!
\nHe’s my husband and I’m more in love with him more than I’ve ever been in love
\nwith Paul or anybody else. And he’s in love with me. Don’t you dare! He would
\nnever be interested in you anyway." <\/p>\n

"How can you be so sure Lois?’ Linda giggled facetiously to herself. <\/p>\n

"Because he doesn’t lie down with stray dogs. He’s afraid of catching fleas. Now
\nI’m going to pee and then I’m leaving. I wish you and Paul well. You deserve
\neach other." <\/p>\n

Clark had heard the ladies room conversation and smiled to himself. Lois had
\nsaid that she was in love with him. Could it be real or was it a part of the
\nfacade? He didn’t want to get his hopes up. Mad Dog Lane…er…Kent…had
\nhandled things with Linda without allowing Linda to get to her. And Paul, that
\noxygen thief, had problems. Clark headed towards the ladies room. <\/p>\n

Lois walked past Linda and just shook her head as she exited the ladies room.
\nWhen Lois opened the door she ran right into Clark. <\/p>\n

"Clark, sweetheart, can we go home?"<\/p>\n

"Sure, honey." Clark placed his arm around Lois’s waist and guided her out,
\nheading for home. He was so proud of her. At that moment, he realized something
\nthat he didn’t think possible. He loved Lois more. <\/p>\n

As they left the dance, with Clark’s arm possessively around Lois, he started
\ntalking. "I heard you and Linda in the ladies…or should I say cat room…" He
\npointed to his ear briefly. Lois understood the gesture. <\/p>\n

"I know. Can you believe her…?"<\/p>\n

Matt had told Clark that he’d be out late again and not to wait up for him. So
\nwhen Lois and Clark got home they went to bed. They laid there in dark silence
\nfacing each other for the longest. Finally Lois spoke. <\/p>\n

"Thank you, Clark."<\/p>\n

"For what, honey?"<\/p>\n

"Being there for me, giving me strength…support."<\/p>\n

"You’re already a strong woman without me."<\/p>\n

"Oh, Kent. One day I’ll explain all of this to you." <\/p>\n

Clark stretched out his arm to welcome Lois to his chest and she accepted. She
\neventually drifted off to sleep with Clark cuddling her there. Clark, on the
\nother hand, didn’t find sleep so easily. He was dreading
\nThursday…tomorrow…the last day of the conference. Friday everyone would be
\ngone and their pretense would be over. He’d be back to sleeping
\nalone…forever…maybe. <\/p>\n

Superman was needed a few times during the night and Clark hated leaving Lois.
\nShe didn’t seem to sleep well when he left her. The second time he returned,
\nLois cuddled back into her human cocoon and mumbled, "I love you." <\/p>\n

Clark responded, "I love you, too, more than life." <\/p>\n

Lois didn’t seem to be fully awake. She was probably just dreaming, but
\nnevertheless the little sleepy exchange made it harder for him to leave her the
\nfourth and fifth times that night. <\/p>\n

Matt left at noon on Thursday after the conference closed. Clark had asked Lois
\nto stay on Thursday night. His excuse was that there might still be reporters,
\nnamely Linda and Paul, lingering through the weekend. She agreed. <\/p>\n

Lois had wanted to stay the extra night but couldn’t come up with a valid excuse
\nso Clark’s excuse was welcomed. <\/p>\n

Thursday night, Clark made a special dinner for his and Lois’s last night as
\nhusband and wife. He made a Mediterranean shrimp dish over ziti pasta, with
\ngrated sun dried tomatoes and artichoke cubes, which was another one of Lois’s
\nfavorites. They had a white wine from Italy that Superman went for while dinner
\nwas in progress. After dinner they talked until late. Perry had given them a
\nthree-day weekend because of having such a busy week. At least that’s what he
\ntold them. Truth be known, he was giving them time alone to…well…work
\nthrough things. <\/p>\n

At about ten thirty, after Clark showered at super speed, he ran Lois a bath.
\nWhen Lois was done with her bath and donned her gown, Clark had her lie down
\nprone on his bed while he gave her a massage. It was like an out of body
\nexperience for Lois. He applied slight heat vision in tense areas. It felt so
\ngood. Now Lois knew what he’d been doing all those times before she found out
\nthat he was Superman. <\/p>\n

Speaking of…Superman, they had to get past that bombshell.<\/p>\n

"Lois, are you mad about Superman?"<\/p>\n

"Good thinking, Kent. Ask when you are doing such wonderful things to my body
\nand I can’t get mad at you. Did you plan that?" <\/p>\n

"Nope. Improvised on the spot." Clark chuckled.<\/p>\n

"I’m not mad. You’ve been too wonderful to me, Clark. And I understand why you
\ndid it." <\/p>\n

"You do?"<\/p>\n

"Yeah, I do." Lois looked back at Clark and smiled.<\/p>\n

Finally Lois and Clark got under the covers and settled in, facing each other.
\nAfter a long silence, Clark leaned over and kissed Lois on the lips thoroughly.<\/p>\n

"Wow! What was that for?" Lois asked after the kiss.<\/p>\n

"I guess…because it will be our last kiss…as husband and wife." Clark
\ngiggled a little as if he had just made a joke, just to lighten the mood, but he
\nmeant every word. Lois snuggled into Clark’s embrace. <\/p>\n

"Thank you, Clark. I put you in an awkward position and you almost had to help
\nme…or humiliate me." <\/p>\n

"Trust me, Lois. I didn’t do anything that I didn’t want to do."<\/p>\n

Lois and Clark talked until much later, with Clark making delicate circular
\nmotions on Lois’s back, arms and shoulders. Eventually they were off to sleep.
\nClark held Lois all night. Superman wasn’t needed. There was a God smiling down
\non them from heaven! <\/p>\n

Lois awakened to Clark watching her sleep on Friday morning. It was nine thirty.<\/p>\n

"Hello, sleepy head."<\/p>\n

"Hello. I must have really been tired. Why didn’t you wake me?" Lois stretched
\nlike a cat. <\/p>\n

"I guess I didn’t want it to end." Clark smiled a sad smile.<\/p>\n

"I guess I need to get up and get my stuff." Lois wasn’t looking at Clark. She
\nhad dreaded this day. She had wanted this facade to be real so badly. She needed
\nto get some emotional space. "I’m gonna run home and put on some jeans and then
\nI’ll be back for my stuff, okay?" <\/p>\n

"Sure. I’ll be here unless…" Clark made the Superman flying motion. "But don’t
\nleave before I get back if…you know…Superman is needed." <\/p>\n

Lois was then up and out of bed. She thought, ‘No need to prolong the
\ninevitable.’ <\/p>\n

Much later Lois entered Clark’s apartment with the key that he had given her
\nearlier during the week. He hadn’t even acted like he wanted the key back. It
\nwas dark and quiet. She thought that Superman must have been needed. Lois then
\nentered Clark’s bedroom to find him sitting on the window seat staring out the
\nwindow. He seemed so preoccupied that he didn’t seem to be aware of Lois’s
\narrival. <\/p>\n

"Clark?"<\/p>\n

"Yeah."<\/p>\n

"You okay?"<\/p>\n

"Yeah, honey. I’m okay. I was just thinking. It’s the first time all week that
\nI’ve been alone long enough to think." Clark never turned to face Lois from the
\nwindow. <\/p>\n

"I guess our little game of pretend is over. I’ll just get my things and give
\nyou back your space," Lois stated, almost as if to no one in particular. Clark’s
\ninference sort of stung at her a little. He was obviously ready for her to
\nleave. <\/p>\n

"Clark, I just want to thank you…for this week…for improvising on the spot.
\nYou rescued me yet again. You always knew exactly what to say…what to do." <\/p>\n

Clark never acknowledged that Lois had spoken. He kept looking out the window.<\/p>\n

"I just hate that when you do finally get married, everyone will think that you
\nhave been married before and that you failed at it and got divorced and…you
\ncan tell them that it’s my fault…and you would make a wonderful husband…and
\nshe would be so lucky…" <\/p>\n

Clark finally turned his face to Lois and reached out his hand to her. What Lois
\nsaw tore at her heart. Clark’s eyes looked glazed over with a fresh sheet of
\ntears. She responded by reaching out her hand to him and made steps towards him.
\nSomewhere halfway, they closed the distance until Lois was standing right in
\nfront of Clark. He then stood facing her and held both of her small hands with
\nhis much larger ones. <\/p>\n

"Lois, honey, it was never pretend for me." Clark bore into Lois’s doe brown
\neyes almost as if he could see her soul. "And don’t even think about what people
\nare going to think because there is only one woman that I will ever want to
\nspend the rest of my life with, and she’s standing right in front of me holding
\nmy hands." Clark smiled. "Be my wife, Lois." <\/p>\n

"Clark, I’m a big girl now and I can handle my college associates. You don’t
\nhave to protect me anymore…" <\/p>\n

"Lois, I meant what I said on Wednesday night as we danced. I love you. It
\nwasn’t just a part of the charade." <\/p>\n

"Oh, Clark…" Lois had to fight back tears.<\/p>\n

"Are you in love with me, Lois? Because I am so very much in love with you." <\/p>\n

"Yes, I am…so much in love with you, too, and for so long…I think from the
\nbeginning. I’m just so scared, Clark." Lois’s tears started to fall. <\/p>\n

"Lois, honey, I’m afraid, too. I’ve never done this before. But I will never
\nhurt you. I don’t have much, but everything I have…I am willing to share with
\nyou. I promise to take care of you and protect you. And we have no more secrets
\nnow." <\/p>\n

Clark held Lois securely to his chest and smiled to himself, in the way that
\nonly Clark could. Lois held on to him like a lifeline. After a few moments he
\npushed Lois back enough to look in her eyes and asked again. "Will you marry
\nme?" <\/p>\n

"Yes, Clark. Yes!"<\/p>\n

Clark looked down at Lois as he held her face gently in his hands and initiated
\nthe most loving kiss. <\/p>\n

A few moments later after the kiss ended, Clark took Lois’s hands again and led
\nher to sit with him on the window seat. <\/p>\n

"Lois, why didn’t you tell me before now that you loved me…that you wanted
\nmore than just friendship?" <\/p>\n

"I was afraid that you wouldn’t feel the same way. I mean I’d had my chance. And
\nwe had such a wonderful friendship and I was afraid of losing it. Why didn’t you
\ntell me?" <\/p>\n

"I was afraid of rejection…again. I wasn’t even sure of what you would say
\ntoday. I just went for it. I thought that maybe you felt something after this
\nweek…but then I thought that maybe it was a part of the charade." <\/p>\n

"No. It was real. It was all real…for me…the whole time. I was dreading
\ncoming back over today to pack my things because I didn’t want it to end. I got
\nused to falling asleep in your arms and waking up next to you. It felt so
\nwonderful." <\/p>\n

"Like I said, Lois, none of it was pretend for me."<\/p>\n

After a long moment of silence, Clark continued. "Even Matt could see that we
\nwere so in love with each other and he’d never even met you. I guess we were
\nhopeless, huh?" <\/p>\n

"I am so happy about it, though." Lois looked at Clark sitting beside her with
\nso much happiness. "What do we do with these?" Lois asked as she removed the
\ngold band from her finger. <\/p>\n

"You can keep it but I have another one for you. It’s a little bit nicer." Clark
\ngot up abruptly. Lois just watched him. He went over to his bedside table and
\nopened the drawer. He removed a black velvet box and came back to Lois. Down on
\none knee again, Clark asked, "Lois, will you marry me?" <\/p>\n

"Yes!" Lois responded simply as she held out her left hand for Clark to place
\nher engagement ring. It was a beautiful 1-karat, emerald-cut solitaire on a
\nsimple platinum setting. Tears slid down her cheeks again…happy tears. <\/p>\n

"Did you just…how long have you had this?"<\/p>\n

"I’ve had it for two years, praying that one day you would love me enough to
\nmarry me. I guess I bought it…I was going to propose to you in the park that
\nday when you told me that…well…you know." <\/p>\n

"Clark, I’m so sor…"<\/p>\n

Clark quieted Lois’s apologies and her sobs with kisses…of promise. <\/p>\n

Three days later, on Monday, Judge Dean Cain, a friend of Lois’s, married the
\nhappy couple at the Metropolis Courthouse. They’d wanted to marry as soon as
\npossible. <\/p>\n

After a couple of weeks’ honeymoon, Lois and Clark would return to the Daily
\nPlanet as full partners. Perry was so proud of his reporting couple. That extra
\nday off for the dream team did actually pay off. <\/p>\n

fin <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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