The Next Step

By IRC Round Robin

Clark felt broken in two. He could not remember feeling so
heartsick. This wasn't like Lois almost marrying Lex, no, not
even close. Lois didn't love Lex, was in love with Superman and
only loved Clark as a friend. He stared at the television and
sighed.

The past few weeks Superman had gotten in the way of a
relationship that was starting to look like 'forever'. The Man
of Steel, a creation who would give him a normal life, was
ripping normalcy to shreds. Then Scardino showed up. Not a bad
guy ... well ... not for a shark with legs anyway. Clark sighed
again. How could he blame Lois for being attracted to a guy who
actually let her finish a sentence.

The images on the screen seemed to mock him. Even the animal
kingdom was having a better love life than he was at the moment.
He stared at his phone. Lois had already dumped him as Superman
earlier that day. Sweetly and with tears, but dumping is dumping.
She said there was someone who needed her, she just had to figure
out how to get *him* to see that.

"Yeah right," Clark whispered bitterly. "Like Scardino needs a
seeing-eye dog."

Clark picked up the phone and dialed Lois's number. He let it
ring twenty-six times. He set the receiver back in the cradle and
folded his hands under his chin and looked at the screen again.
The narrator was droning on about how animals were like 'us'
and capable of sharing, forgiveness, etc., when there was a knock
at the door. Clark couldn't remember the pull of gravity being
so strong. It seemed an effort to rise from the sofa and ascend
the few steps to his door.

Even before he opened the door, he could see it was Lois. His
heart pounded. He would pay any price not to hear what he was
certain she was going to say.

He opened the door. "Hi."

She looked up at him. "Hi." It was all so awkward. She glanced
in the apartment and noticed the boxes strewn about everywhere.
"Planning a yard sale?" Clark blinked, he couldn't focus.

Lois apologized, "I'm sorry, my therapist says, yeah, can you
believe it, I have a therapist, she says it's a form of
distancing when I say things like that. It all relates back to
some boring childhood trauma ... can I come in?"

Clark blinked again, snapped from a trance of just watching her.
Hoping it wouldn't be the last time, but fearing it would be.
"Sure," he said and stepped back as she walked in. She seemed
distracted, nervous. Yep, she was going to deliver the
'kiss-off' speech.

Without hesitation she launched into what seemed to be something
she'd been practicing. Something she wanted to say properly, but
was still finding the words difficult. "I told Superman I just
wanted to be friends."

Clark closed his eyes. 'Here it comes'.

"And Dan and I.."

That was all! He couldn't take it. "Lois, if you came here to
tell me that you and Dan -- "

"We won't be seeing each other anymore," she said quickly.

Clark stood, his expression somewhere frozen between the anger he
had felt a moment ago, and the stunned expression as realization
slowly but surely burrowed through his head. All events were
suddenly being cataloged at super speed ... 'I just need to get
*him* to see that.' Oh God, I'm the one who needs the
seeing-eye dog.

Lois glanced around. "Wait a minute, this isn't vacation
packing, this is forever packing."

Clark was busted. He was still too stunned to deal with anything
beyond his 'discovery.' Or maybe 'deciphering' of Lois was a
better term.

"I was thinking of moving, but now I'm not so sure ... "

"Were you just going to leave? Send me a postcard from ... I'm
distancing again. I'm sorry," she said, her voice cracking
slightly. "I didn't expect this ... you leaving."

"Well," Clark said, still trying to focus. "You and I haven't
exactly been getting along lately. It's my fault, and I should
tell you -- "

"You're right, it's your fault," she said, sounding much like
she was entering lecture-mode, but then, to Clark's surprise,
added, "and it's my fault."

She began to pace back and forth as she spoke. "We work too
much. We get distracted and fight about silly things and all
because we're hiding from each other," she said, and then
turned to face him. "And I'm *sick* of it. Then her voice
became very soft, almost pleading, "The only reason to hide is
because we're scared."

Clark frowned slightly. "Of what?"

"Of the fact that we're partners, and best friends, and this --
"

Clark watched Lois as if in a dream, because only in a dream
would Lois interrupt a lecture with a kiss. He felt her warm
mouth seal around his, and put his arms around her with what
little conscious thought he maintained at this point. He could
scarcely breathe. His pulse was thundering in his ears. His face
was burning. Lois's slender cool hands were at the side of his
head, holding him to her.

Just as suddenly she broke the kiss. Clark felt he might
collapse. Her mouth stayed inches from his as she whispered,
"Clark, if you're going to run away from this, tell me now."

Clark, his eyes glazed, managed enough air to say, "I'm not
going to run, Lois. I'm ready to take the next step ... if you
are."

Lois smiled, ever so slightly. She draped her arms around him and
melted into another kiss.

Clark felt his blood rushing and his head spinning. She was
there, she was back, she was in his arms! He wanted to lose
himself and all the pain of the past few days in this kiss but he
had to use what remained of his control to keep himself from
crushing her in his embrace too forcefully.

God, how much he loved her and how much he had missed her! He had
told himself over and over again that leaving her would be the
best for her and that *he* had to be happy if she was, but the
moment she put her arms around his neck and he hungrily responded
to her kiss, he knew that there was no way he could be happy
without her. Never, never, never.

Lois moaned softly. It was a happy, contented little sound and it
made Clark smile. Lois felt the slight movement of his lips and
reluctantly opened her eyes. She found herself staring in his
warm, brown, eyes. Those eyes which had looked so sad and torn
only minutes before now had an expression of pure happiness.

Clark shook his head as if he couldn't believe this was actually
happening. "I'm not dreaming, Lois, am I?" he said.

"No you're not," Lois answered softly. She felt something warm
and wonderful open up in her soul. As if finally all the
confusion and bitterness that had tied it up all the time was
gone. She felt like singing and dancing but she remained still
and instead just looked up into his happy eyes and gave into the
feeling of silent delight and relief. Dr. Friskin had been right.
It had been so easy.

Clark pulled her closer and pressed his forehead to hers and gave
her a face-splitting grin. "Good," he said with a chuckle. Then
he pulled her close and pressed his lips to hers for another
long, slow, deep kiss. The kiss ended and they clung to each
other silently, enjoying their closeness. Finally after a few
minutes, Clark broke the silence. "So what do you want to do
now?"

"Well I'm sure my therapist would say that at a moment like
this we should talk seriously about our relationship and where
it's going." Clark looked at Lois warily. "But of course I'm
more of a do-er than a talker," she added.

"So what would you like to do?"

"Unpack your stuff."

"What?!"

"Clark, you're staying, right?" Clark nodded affirmatively.
"Well, I'll just feel more comfortable about everything when
this room doesn't look like you're planning to skip out on your
landlord *and* me. And you do want me to be comfortable don't
you?" she teased.

Clark grinned and nodded again.

"Great," Lois replied. "Where do we start?"

Without waiting for his reply, she grabbed a box and started to
pull it open. Clark held his breath -- if that was the box with
the capes- Lois reached into the box and pulled out an armful of
clothing.

Clark tried not to wheeze with relief. "Oh, hold on there," he
gasped, whisking a dangling item from her fingertips. "I think
you've got more than you can handle!"

She glanced at the piece she had almost dropped, and grinned
impishly. "Well, that settles one question," she commented,
heading for the bedroom.

Clark stared at the briefs in his hand and shook his head. 'I
don't even want to know!'

The minute Lois was out of sight, Clark scanned the boxes and
located the one with his supersuits. He picked it up, just as she
walked back into the room.

"What's in that one?" she asked.

"More clothes."

"Okay, well, give it here and you can ... " she gestured
vaguely towards the other boxes.

"Um-m-m ... " He groped frantically for a way out. "Ah, Lois,
why don't I unpack the rest of my clothes and *you* tackle the,
uh ... " He gestured with his head towards the boxes.

"Oh, right, leave the big stuff to me, thanks a lot!"

"It's just this is kind of personal stuff," he tried.

"Clark, I just unpacked a box of your underwear, you have
something more personal than that?"

Clark swallowed. Some men dug themselves into holes with a
shovel, but not Clark Kent. He had a backhoe. Then, a flicker of
inspiration. "Well, Lois, remember the whole Diana Stride thing?
Superman leaves his suits here, well -- "

"His outfits? You were going to skip town with *the* suits?"

"No, no of course not, I was..going to mail this package to you.
I always felt ... well, like Superman belonged to you..in a
way."

Lois softened, "Okay, I forgive you, but ... could..I just see
one..up close?"

Clark smiled. In the back of his mind, the thought that he would
have to tell her the secret soon made this 'sharing' all the
better. He opened the box and handed her one of the costumes.

"Wow," she whispered. "I never knew it was so..complicated."

Clark raised his eyebrows, "Complicated?"

The tunic, and ... ooh, he has..well ... I guess I never thought
of him ... I mean I did *think* of him ... but this -- "

"Lois, please just *say* it."

Lois blushed and put her hand through the 'access' way that
would normally be hidden by the external red briefs. "He has a
... to..um ... I guess use the.."

Clark grinned. "He's a *man*, Lois, if that's what you're
driving at."

"Of course he's a man," Lois laughed, but in that manner that
indicated she had no idea what she was really talking about.
Clark loved that about her. He loved everything about her.

"Seen enough?"

Lois looked up from the costume guiltily. "What's that supposed
to mean?"

"The suit, Lois. Have you seen enough of the suit?"

"Yes," she said trying to sound nonchalant. "I've seen
enough. What about the cape? It wasn't attached, I mean, I
thought it would be attached."

"Well the cape is kind of an interesting thing," Clark said as
he removed one from the box. "It attaches to a harness under the
tunic. To keep the cape from pulling it out of shape."

Lois folded her arms. "Show me."

Clark chewed his lip. "Well this outfit isn't exactly designed
for Clark Kent, Lois, I wouldn't want to disappoint you."

"I'm not expecting Tom Cruise, I just want to see how the thing
fits."

Clark sighed loudly and pulled the harness from the box and
started to put it on. Lois held up her hand, "No, not over the
shirt."

"Lois, I am *not* going to put on one of Superman's shirts."

Lois tugged back and forth on the long sleeve of Clark's black
shirt. "Just take this off."

Clark's mouth went dry. "Off? My shirt?"

"Was that sentence Pennsylvania Dutch? *Yes*, take off the
shirt."

Clark looked firmly at her, but her arms were crossed, he'd lose
this battle. "Okay," he sighed and began unbuttoning his shirt.
He pulled it off casually and tossed it on the sofa. Lois made
some noise in her throat that Clark couldn't identify. He
shrugged and strapped on the harness. "Satisfied?"

"Oh yeah," she said breathlessly.

Lois pulled a cape from the box. She rubbed it against his arm.
"And how does this attach?"

Clark felt his heart pounding would set off car alarms in the
street. "Dra..drape it over my shoulders."

Lois drew the fabric slowly up over his muscular back.

Clark could feel his face growing red as his pulse grew more and
more rapid. He could hardly believe this was happening. Barely
fifteen minutes ago he'd been thinking everything was over
between him and Lois and now ... now she was ... He wasn't sure
how much of this he could stand. He'd dreamed of sharing moments
like this with Lois. But was this the right time? After all,
they'd only had one date ... Things didn't move this fast in
Smallville, that's for sure.

Lois had pulled the cape up onto his shoulders and was moving
around to face him, holding the ends of the fabric in her
fingers. Clark knew he needed to stop this, for both their sakes.
Lois seemed to be particularly vulnerable right now, not to
mention that he wasn't sure if now would be the best time for
her to find out his secret. Of course, his parents would be
thrilled for him when they learned that he and Lois were -- His
parents! Oh, god! They could be back at any time.

"Lois!" he said more sharply than he'd intended.

She looked up in surprise. "What? Is the harness hurting you?"

"Yes. No. I mean -- I mean ... what if Superman comes back and
finds you ... me ... us doing this. Didn't you say that you'd
told Superman there was someone else? Wouldn't he think it odd
to see you dressing me in his costume?"

Lois looked around quickly, as if expecting to see the Man of
Steel flying into the room. "Does he come here a lot?"

Clark sighed in relief. His words seemed to have made her think.
She was lowering the cape away from his shoulders, and was
wearing a contemplative expression. She walked away from him in
silence and began to gently place the cape back into the box.
Clark removed the harness and reached for his shirt, acutely
conscious of the sudden silence in the room.

When she didn't turn to face him again, he walked up behind her
and put his hands on her shoulders. "What's wrong, Lois?"

He heard her sniff and was instantly remorseful. "Lois, I'm so
sorry. I didn't mean to -- "

Lois whirled around. "No, Clark! I'm the one who should be
sorry. I come here ... <sniff> and tell you that <sniff, sniff>
that -- "

Clark didn't wait to hear more. He pulled her into his arms and
held her close. "It's all right, Lois. It's all right." He
wasn't sure exactly what the problem was, only that she was
hurting and he wanted to make the hurt go away.

Lois clung to Clark, thankful for his strength and his
understanding, and also (because she was a woman, and women are
capable of thinking of several things at once) that she was
rather glad that he hadn't had time to button his shirt. His
bare chest felt so warm and strong and welcoming.

She let Clark hold her for a while longer because he seemed to be
enjoying it so much, but she knew she would have to come clean at
some point, so she forced herself to pull back from him so she
could look into his face.

"Clark, I hope you didn't think that I wanted you to try on
Superman's stuff because I still have a 'thing' for him ...
because I don't. I love you, Clark."

Clark's heart swelled with happiness and he could feel a
confession hovering on his lips, but would now be the best time?
Then he wondered how could he not tell her after all she'd just
said to him? "Lois, I want to -- " Just then he heard his
parent's laughter as they entered his building. They would be
here any moment. He wouldn't have time now.

"Want to what?" Lois asked him.

"I ... well, I -- " Clark looked around desperately. Should he
say he needed to check his mail? No, that wouldn't work. It was
night, and besides, he'd used that one before. "I want to say
that I love you, too, Lois."

His parents were nearly at the door, but he was sure there was
time for one more kiss. He leaned forward and sighed happily to
feel Lois responding to him. God, but she felt wonderful in his
arms.

Clark was slow answering the door. The kiss they shared lingered
and grew deeper. It was only when Clark's ear picked up a noise
at the lock, that he reluctantly let go of her and moved towards
the door. He opened the door quickly -- and found himself face to
face with Martha, who, picklock in hand, was just ready to have
another go at the lock.

"Clark! -- "

"Hi, Mom." Both of them looked startled.

"Sorry. We thought you were ... But you're -- "

"Yes, I'm still here," Clark finished for her. Then suddenly
he grinned, reached out and pulled her into an embrace.
"Everything's fine, Mom."

"I'm glad to hear that, son," Jonathan's voice boomed from
behind her.

Quickly, the three of them were engaged in a threefold hug. After
some more hugs and back slapping, Martha disentangled herself and
began to move towards the door. "Well, let's ... " Looking at
Clark, she suddenly noticed his attire and, standing on tiptoe as
unobtrusively as possible, peeked over his shoulder.

Lois by then had approached the steps leading up to the doorway.
Curiosity won the better of her, and she quickly skipped up the
steps to stand behind Clark. "Hi, Martha."

"Hi, Lois." Martha found herself looking from Clark's open
shirt to Lois's slightly disarranged hair and back again. She
blushed and quickly stepped back, putting her arm around
Jonathan. Her gaze had not gone unnoticed, however. Clark's face
had turned a rather healthy color as well as he started to fumble
with his shirt buttons.

"Oh, Mom ... won't you come in? Lois just stopped by, and ...
" He ran a hand through his hair. "And ... it's ... "

"And ... " Martha paused, again looking from Lois to Clark and
back again, deliberately this time, " ... it's really warm
tonight, isn't it, Clark?" She had a hard time keeping a
straight face by now. "But we really can't stay. Your father
and I just came back to tell you we were going to the theater
tonight. Didn't we, Jon?"

"Yeah, that's right, son." Jonathan cleared his throat.

"And it'll get late," Martha chimed in again. "So we thought
we'd just pick up our stuff before so that we don't ... disturb
your beauty sleep."

"Are you sure?" Clark couldn't help notice that his mother was
holding on to his father for support.

"Yes, we are," Jonathan answered for them.

"All right, then let me lend you a hand." It was with great
relief that Clark stepped back into his apartment, quickly
collecting Martha's and Jonathan's baggage.

After several minutes of heartfelt hugs and kisses and a few
words of Martha's whispered encouragement into his ears, the
older Kents got into a cab and drove off into the night.

Clark shut the door and turned to Lois. "Now where were we?"

Lois grinned and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him
close. "Here, I think."

Clark sighed and kissed her gently. She responded for a moment,
but then pulled back. "You know what I would like to do?"

"I know what I'd like to do," he replied with a smirk. Lois
slapped him on the chest.

"Not yet, you don't," she laughed. She turned serious. "What
I'd really like to do is go out on a date with no interruptions.
Do you think we could manage that? We could go somewhere neutral
and talk. I don't know about you, but I think I need some time
to get used to this."

Clark nodded. "So do I, but I wouldn't mind getting used to
this part either." He bent his head and gave her a kiss that
made her toes curl.

"Mmmm. neither would I," Lois sighed, after coming up for air,
"but we do need to talk."

Clark released her reluctantly. "You're right. Where do you
want to go?"

"I was thinking of maybe a walk in the park, but let's finish
getting you unpacked first. That way I'll know you're really
staying."

When the last box was unpacked and put away Clark turned to Lois.
He saw her stifle a yawn. "Are you still up for that walk?"

Lois looked up at Clark. "I'm not that tired." She yawned
again. "How about if you walk me home? We can talk on the
way."

"Sure." Clark took her hand and steered her to the door. As her
fingers entwined with his, he couldn't help but feel warm and
fuzzy all over.

Still clutching Lois's hand Clark led her down the stairs of his
apartment building and out into the quiet street. They walked
along silently for a few moments. Then Lois began to giggle.

"What's so funny?" Clark asked.

"Oh ... nothing," Lois replied, still giggling.

"Come on."

"Well, if you must know, I never expected Clark Kent, the
ultimate Neatnik, Mr. 'I back everything up on floppy disks',
to be such a packrat. Where did you get all of that stuff? It's
absolutely amazing!"

Clark blushed a little. "I'm *not* a packrat," he said a
little defensively. "Those are just souvenirs, that's all."

Lois smirked "A brick?!"

"That brick was from the Sarah Bernhardt Theatre."

"Oh."

"Since my first story for the Planet involved it I wanted to
have a piece of it. It made it more real somehow. But I forgot -
that kind of story isn't your cup of tea."

"Actually, Clark," Lois replied as she gave him a wistful
smile."I liked your story a lot."

"You did!?"

"Yes, it was very moving ... very sweet."

They walked a few more steps in silence. "You really liked
it?"

Lois chuckled lightly. "Yes, Clark. I really, REALLY liked it."
She leaned up and kissed him lightly. "It was ... what was the
word Jimmy used? ... oh yeah, 'smooth'. Kinda like Tennessee
whiskey."

"Tennessee whiskey?"

"Uh huh. Easy to take, but with enough bite to it that it
lingers with you for a while." She sighed. "You have a way with
words that is so different from anything I've ever written."

"How so?"

"Well, I'll admit that I love the 'investigative' part of our
job. I enjoy the challenge of trying to figure out something.
It's like solving a murder mystery."

Clark grinned. "We do solve murder mysteries, Lois."

"Yes, but we do much more than that, Clark! I just love being in
the middle of a great adventure."

Clark smiled at her enthusiasm. It was just another thing he
loved about her. "No one can say that you don't love your job,
Lois."

She smiled at him. "Yeah, I love my job." She sobered slightly.
"Especially now that you're my partner."

Clark was surprised at the depth of honesty that Lois was showing
him. He knew that what she had just said wasn't easy for her.

"Don't look so surprised, Clark. It's true. We DO make a good
team."

Clark could barely contain himself. 'She loves me ... she likes
being my partner ... wow ... ' "I like working with you, too,
Lois," was all he could manage to say.

"Thank you," she grinned back at him. "But I still think
you're a packrat." She poked him in the ribs. "I mean, please,
you've got a mountain of ties -- some of which I haven't seen
you wear more than once-"

"You keep track of my ties?"

"Clark, some of your ties are blindingly unforgettable!"

"I like my ties," Clark protested.

"They do ... stand out," Lois admitted. "And what was that
stack of books on geckos?"

"Research."

"Uh-huh. And the pictures of that actress?"

"Um ... research?"

"Try again."

"I'd rather have pictures of you," he whispered, leaning down
to nuzzle just below her ear.

She turned a little into his arms, tilting her head to encourage
his nuzzling, stroking his hair. Finally she sighed. "Clark,
I've got to get to bed."

"Is that an invitation?" he grinned against her neck.

"Clark!" Lois pulled away to stare at him in mock-shock.

Clark blushed and rolled his shoulders. "Just thought I'd check
... " he mumbled.

Lois reached up and pressed her lips to his, then grinned against
his mouth. "I'm flattered, Clark," she said, pulling away,
"but let's take this one step at a time, okay?"

"I'm all for one step at a time, Lois," he said and started
walking again. "But nothing says they can't be *big* steps."

Lois smiled and nudged him with her hip. "And *forward* steps
would be nice."

"Definitely," Clark said and his voice softened. "I want this
to work ... us ... I -- " He stopped and smiled and then tugged
Lois back a few paces.

Lois frowned, "What are you doing?"

"Switch sides. I want you to experience this part of the walk
from this side."

Lois shook her head, "Walking in front of Neiman's Department
Store is some sort of ... thrill for you, Clark?"

"Trust me," he insisted.

Lois sighed. "Must be a Kansas thing." She switched sides with
Clark and they began walking again.

Clark stopped. "Now look in the window."

Lois complied. "Okay? Pocketless T-shirts don't seem to thrill
me in the same way, Clark."

He put his arm around her. "Is that all you see?"

She suddenly rested her head against his chest. "I see *us*. A
couple."

"Yes!"

She patted his chest. "Only you could make that romantic," she
sighed.

"It's romantic because it's us ... this..well..whatever it is
... I just -- "

Lois put her fingers on his lips. "I know, Clark. This whole
thing makes me high." They began to walk again. "But it scares
me a little. You get drunk, it's great, then you get the
hangover."

Clark crooked his arm around Lois's neck as they turned up her
street. "The cure for a hangover is the hair of the dog that bit
you."

She laughed softly. "You bite?"

He walked her up her steps. "Only if you want me to."

They stopped at the outer door. They faced each other and Lois
put her arms around his shoulders. "I'll let you know."

They kissed, and Clark had to glance down once to make sure he
was not floating. "Thanks," he said when their lips parted.

Lois smiled. "You don't have to thank me for the kiss, it's
fully returnable."

"I love a woman who keeps receipts," he said and kissed her
again. "But I was thanking you for choosing me over Superman and
Dan."

"Dan wasn't really part of the choice," she shrugged. "And
Superman ... well, don't tell him, but you look much better in
his cape ... or out of it."

Clark raised his eyebrows. "You really think so?"

Lois blushed. "Yes, but remember I feel high right now."

"True." Clark tried not to laugh.

"But please tell Superman when you see him that I didn't mean
to hurt him."

Clark stroked her cheek. "He knows, but I'll tell him."

Lois kissed him quickly again. "Goodnight, Clark."

"Goodnight, Lois."

Clark flew home, with only a slight delay in the sky doing barrel
rolls.

THE END