Fic: The Things We Lost (10/?)
Title: The Things We Lost (10/?)
Author: Babette babettew54
Category: Smallville (AU)
Characters: Lois/Clark/Kal-El, Tess, Oliver, Lex
Rating: T
Summary: Lois and Clark must accept the cruel reality of their separation as they try to get back what they had lost.
Word Count: 3,400
Spoilers: Dominion (10.19)
Disclaimer: DC Comics, Warner Bros. Entertainment owns these characters (well, except Andrew), dangit!
A/N: In this next chapter, Tess and Oliver find their way, more secrets are revealed, Lois receives good news, and later Clark finally accepts the truth. Please read and review. Thanks, everyone! :D
Story banner by hanakt
Previously:
( Chapter 1)( Chapter 2)( Chapter 3)( Chapter 4)( Chapter 5)
( Chapter 6)( Chapter 7)( Chapter 8)( Chapter 9)
Chapter 10: Destiny Redefined
Watchtower, minutes after Clark had saved the world:
While the rest of the League stood outside and watched Clark's heroics, Oliver and Tess stood at the window as the light from the sun finally shown through, the planet Apokolips gone from the Earth's atmosphere, and Oliver wondered again at this amazing man he called friend. Suddenly, he felt a warm hand move inside his own.
Oliver and Tess both stared up at the sky for a moment. Oliver squeezed her hand. "He's amazing, isn't he?"
"Yeah, he is," Tess agreed.
Oliver turned to her then and touched her cheek. "I'm sorry I had to leave you earlier. Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," she replied and sat down in front of the window, reminding her of their 'friendship' pact all those years ago.
"Do you want to tell me what happened?"
Tess closed her eyes and sighed. "Everything was going along as planned until Lionel showed up."
He sat down next to her then. "Lionel? What did he want?"
"He wanted to warn us to stay away from Lex, but we didn't believe him."
"Why would you? The man is a snake."
"Clark was determined to move ahead with the mission as planned, but there were a few moments there when we thought it was best to abort the mission."
"Why would you abort the mission? What did Lionel say?"
"It wasn't what Lionel said exactly, but what I told them," Tess confessed worried about his reaction once she told him everything.
"Go on," Oliver prompted, even though he had a feeling it was bad.
"It wasn't the first time I tried to poison Lex. It happened about a year ago, but I changed my mind at the last minute because I had a feeling Lex knew what I was planning."
Oliver tried to keep his temper in check. "What else did you tell them?"
"That was all, except ..." She hesitated.
"Except what, what else aren't you telling me?"
"Lionel tried to kill me not long after you and Clark had been gone for a few months."
"What?" Oliver was truly shocked.
"Yes, he kidnapped me, but I escaped. He ... he wanted to steal my heart and give it to Lex," she barely got out.
"Lionel really was insane, but you managed to get away," he stated, upset he hadn't been there for her.
"Yes, I shot him once in the chest, but apparently, he survived."
"You should have emptied the gun in the man," Oliver blurted out.
"Believe me, I wanted to," Tess said then shuddered remembering. "He was disgusting; he made my skin crawl. I just wanted to get away from him, so I ran, but I did warn him to stay away from me and my friends."
Oliver was just happy she had managed to get away from him. He squeezed her hand. "Apparently, Lionel survived and of course, he didn't listen to you."
Suddenly, there was an alert on one of the monitors. It was Clark. Tess hurried over to answer the alert. "Clark?"
"Yes, Tess. Is Oliver there?"
"I'm right here, Clark." Oliver answered him then he stated the obvious, the pride in his voice very clear. "Darkseid and the planet Apokolips are gone, and all because of you."
"Yes, and so is Lionel," Clark told them.
"He's dead?" Tess asked, not surprised by this news.
"Yes. Andrew killed Lionel before I could stop him. Darkseid possessed his body then I flew into it and then Darkseid and Lionel both vanished."
Tess and Oliver were both so relieved to hear it. "You should head home, Clark. Your Mother and Lois are waiting for you," Tess told him.
"Thanks, Tess for everything. You too, Oliver," he said and nodded to his friends then he paused. "Superman out!" Clark said and smiled.
"Superman?" Tess and Oliver asked at the same time then they both smiled.
~o~o~
Tess's apartment, a little while later:
At Tess's front door, Oliver could see how nervous she was and he couldn't blame her. She fumbled with her keys. "I'll take those," Oliver said confident and assured in his feelings for her, but Tess still didn't seem convinced of his feelings and his motives.
Tess was nervous, excited, thrilled, hopeful, and a million other emotions were clamoring for her attention, but the one thing that pushed its way to the forefront of her mind ... I still love him.
She turned to him then. "Oliver."
"Tess." They spoke at the same time.
They both chuckled, relieving the tension if only a little.
Her eyes were hopeful as she stared at him. "It's really over, isn't it? No more Lex and Lionel. It's really true?" Tess became emotional then, her eyes filling up with tears.
Oliver came closer. He took her hand and kissed it reverently. "And do you know what else is true?"
She swallowed, as butterflies swirled in her stomach. "No, what else?"
"This," he murmured and then he leaned down and kissed her. They both closed their eyes enjoying the kiss, sweet as it was, but they both wanted more.
Tess closed her eyes and thought about all the long lonely nights she had dreamt about him, wondered about him, if he was alright, if he was even alive, and now here he was in her arms kissing her and loving her. Her dreams were now reality and she reveled in his closeness. He picked her up then and took her to her bedroom.
He stood at the side of the bed for a moment and had to ask her something that he had wondered about since he came back. "Why didn't you?"
Tess was confused. "Why didn't I what?"
"Move on to someone else, like Lois did?"
She lowered her eyes. "There was never any time for that, Oliver, between Lex, my charity work, and ..." She stopped when she heard him chuckle.
"What's so funny?" Tess was indignant.
He laid down next to her then. "Oh, Tess, I know you're lying. Just admit it."
"I'm not lying, Oliver. There really wasn't any time for a life, but I did have offers," she teased him and let him digest that information.
He raised his eyebrows, not surprised, but now he was sorry he had even asked that question. "I'm sorry, Tess. I just ..." He hesitated.
"Just what?"
"I don't want us to start out with games, Tess. Too much has happened, too much time has passed. I had hoped that we could move on from all of that."
Tess was thrilled by his words. "I want that too, more than anything."
"I'm glad, Tess, but are we ready to make that kind of commitment?"
"I'm ready, Oliver, but are you? I know it's been hard for you since she left."
"It was hard at first, but I realized something when I found out Chloe had disappeared. It was staring me in the face for months because all during that time just before the time warp. Every time you and I would run into each other, either working at Watchtower or at LuthorCorp, it really didn't matter, I knew what I wanted, but I didn't know how to go about it."
Tess finally allowed herself to hope. "What are you saying ... that you had feelings for me, even then?"
He took her hand. "They never really went away, Tess, not really. I told myself that if I shoved those feelings inside this neat little box of friendship, that maybe we could work together, see each other everyday, but those feelings refused to be ignored. I tried to forget what we had, what we shared, but it just didn't work."
"Oh, Oliver, you constantly amaze me. I know what you're saying because ..."
"It was the same for you too, wasn't it?" He asked smiling.
She touched his cheek. "You know it was. I just couldn't see myself with anyone else."
"Come here," he said and pulled her close. "No more games, Tess." He paused then looked into her eyes. "I love you," he told her, clutching her close.
She hugged him tighter for a moment then pulled back, eyes shining. "Oh, Oliver you don't how long I've waited to hear those words." She paused. "I love you too," she told him smiling.
He kissed her then, not sweetly, not tentatively, but with the force and determination of a man in love. Oliver closed his eyes enthralled beyond measure. Tess arched her back needing him with a passion that was indescribable almost painful as his passionate kisses were as welcome as a summer rain.
She clung to his broad shoulders as she fell back against the bed, pulling him atop her. Their hungry kisses reawakened the spark that had lain dormant for too long and she felt completely open and ready for him.
Soon clothes were removed and they were kissing desperately each believing that the games were over, that now they could express their feelings like never before, and they did just that.
"Can you feel it, Mercy?" Oliver panted in her ear, heart pounding so hard he wondered if he would ever catch his breath.
"Oh yes," Tess replied between pants and moans. His mouth returned to hers again and again moaning as he covered her mouth fully with his own, his head tilting from side to side as he pressed into the kiss.
Sensing she wanted more, he pressed her back onto the bed, stroked smoothly down her flat belly until his fingertips touched her damp curls. Tess thrust against his hand, silently pleading for him to finish what he started. She was slick with desire and Oliver didn't think he could wait any longer. She dug her hands into arms pulling him closer. "Now, Oliver, now!" She cried begging for it.
He entered her then and then he began to move to pleasure her and him and soon they began that climb and he could feel her body clench around his throbbing length and knew she was coming. He followed her and cried out his pleasure against her neck as he joined her in completion.
They landed safely in each other's arms content and happy at last. After a few minutes of tender kisses and sweet caresses and a few love words, Oliver pulled her close beside him and pulled the covers over them to cool their bodies. He stroked her hair and smiled against her temple.
Tess sighed against his chest and snuggled closer, her head under his chin, her eyes closed, but she couldn't help but think about the past and all they had been through.
"Oliver?"
"Uh, huh?" He replied, as sleep called to him.
"You calling me Mercy brought back all our years together in the past, but it also reminded me of all the years you were away and how things got so crazy, you know, going to work for Lex, and making sure he didn't do anything that would hurt his image. But a part of me thought that I could change him, save him."
He pulled her closer. "That's just the kind of person you are, but eventually, you must have realized that Lex never thought of anyone but himself."
"I know, but he was my brother, Oliver. I can't change that, no matter how hard we try to forget that fact."
'Aren't you forgetting someone?"
She leaned up on her elbow, confused. She asked, "Who do you mean?"
"Conner Kent or Kon-El? Has he said anything to you about you know, his heritage or anything about who he is?"
She snuggled back into his arms, not wanting to talk about it.
"Tess?"
She sighed. "No, in all my visits to Watchtower, he never said anything to me, and he never called me all during that time."
"That's odd. Do you think he remembers anything?"
"I don't know."
"Aren't you curious?"
"Oliver, it doesn't matter. He seems to be well-adjusted." She paused. "Martha did a wonderful job with him."
Oliver decided to change the subject. Tess had told him about her encounter with the 'Red Queen', Martha Kent. He still found it unbelievable that Martha would do that to her, but they had been trying times for all of them.
Tess's cell phone rang then. She reached for her bag beside the bed. She recognized the number and knew who it was. "Hello, Lois."
"Hi, Tess … ummm, is Oliver there?"
"Yes, he's here. Do you want to talk to him?"
"No, no, I'm glad I caught you both. Please come to breakfast tomorrow, here at the apartment?"
Tess stiffened. "Is Martha still there?"
"Yes, Tess, she just got here. You know that. It's time to clear the air. Be here at 10:00. It's the weekend so no excuses, and bring Oliver with you."
"Alright, alright, we'll be there."
"Great, good night, Tess."
"Night, Lois."
'What was that all about?" Oliver asked curious.
"Lois wants us to come over in the morning at ten a.m. for breakfast."
"And I gather you're not interested in going because of Martha."
"You guessed right."
"Tess, it's time to put the past to rest," he told her firmly.
Tess sighed knowing he was right.
"Everything is going to be alright, Tess." He pulled her to him and then he rolled her to her back and looked into her eyes. "Remember this, and never forget it, Tess. You did make a difference in Kon-El's life, I know you did, and as far as Lex is concerned, you're nothing like him. You may share the same genes, but you Tess, are so far above him, not only in the things you've done, but the person you are inside. Never forget that." He paused as he gathered his thoughts. "Do you believe me now when I tell you that I love you?"
"Yes, I believe you, Oliver," she replied and smiled.
"Good, now let's get a few hours of shut eye. I have a feeling we're going to be very busy in the morning, now that 'Superman' has arrived.
"Oh, you're right about that, but before we get that shut eye ..." She said and gave him a flirtatious look while she stroked his ear.
"My thoughts exactly," he whispered and then he kissed her.
~o~o~
Lois and Clark's apartment earlier that same evening:
After Clark had returned and told Lois everything that had happened, they decided to let Martha sleep. It had been a long flight, Martha was exhausted, and Lois didn't want to upset her anymore. Then Lois told him about Tess's reaction to Martha being in town.
"I know what happened, Lois," Clark confessed.
"Tell me so we can fix this. Tess and I, well, I don't want to lose her friendship, Clark, not over something that should have been settled between them years ago."
"To be honest, Lois, Tess's loyalties were still in question back then, and my mother felt that Tess was getting too close to the secret. She just wanted to protect me."
"What did Martha do?"
"She went to Tess, held a gun to her and forced her to turn over the disk, the disk that would send Zod to the Phantom Zone."
"Oh, no, anything else?"
"My mother told her to stay away from me."
Lois chewed her bottom lip deep in thought. "It looks like Martha and I both need to apologize to Tess."
Clark frowned, not understanding.
"I have to tell you something."
~o~o~
Lois and Clark's bedroom, early the next morning:
Lois was sleeping peacefully when Clark arrived back at their apartment, after his morning rounds. He twirled out of the suit then he sighed as he glanced at Lois's purse. He had to know. He took the lead box from her purse and opened it. He barely managed to close the box, but he felt the effects of the kryptonite in moments. He let out a groan, awakening his fiancé.
"Clark, what happened? What in the world did you do?" Lois asked as she helped him into bed.
He couldn't look at her. "I'm sorry, but I had to know."
"But you said it didn't matter, but … apparently it does," Lois said and stroked his hair.
"It's finally over. He's out of our lives for good," he said and pulled her to him.
She hugged him close. "Yes, it's over."
"I have some news," he began, hoping to put all of it all behind them.
"Is it good news, because I could definitely use it."
"Yes, it is good news. First thing Monday morning, we have jobs to go to."
That got her attention. She sat up and smiled at his twinkling eyes. "Where?"
"Can't you guess?" He teased.
"No, not the Planet?"
"Yep, the Planet."
Smiling at him, she said, "You really are a miracle worker. What in the world did you say to Perry?"
Clark sat up then, rang his hands though his hair, not looking at her. "Ummm, about that?"
"Oh, no, what did you say to him, Clark?"
"Just the truth, nothing more," he replied not meeting her eyes.
"You told him about yourself? Really Clark?"
"Yes, he knows I'm Superman."
"But why?"
"Well, he knew the truth about me, Lois. He wouldn't stop no matter how hard I tried to deflect his questions. He just kept asking about my disappearance, why you left the paper, all those strange things that happened to him years ago in Smallville, and I just felt it was best that he know." He paused. "And then when I asked for your job back, I guaranteed him a front page story about Superman written by none other than 'Lois Lane' herself," he told her hoping to boost her spirits.
"And what did he say to that?" Lois asked, getting excited about getting back to writing stories again.
"Well, ummm, he thought about it for a minute, but then he mentioned an opening of a staffer who had, ummm, recently died," he reluctantly admitted.
Her face fell. "Uh, huh, thanks Clark," Lois mumbled unimpressed.
TBC!
~o~o~
A/N: *giggles* This chapter was so much fun. Well, will Tess forgive and forget? Thanks for reading. Only two more chapters to go.. *iz sad* Reviews are love.
Author: Babette babettew54
Category: Smallville (AU)
Characters: Lois/Clark/Kal-El, Tess, Oliver, Lex
Rating: T
Summary: Lois and Clark must accept the cruel reality of their separation as they try to get back what they had lost.
Word Count: 3,400
Spoilers: Dominion (10.19)
Disclaimer: DC Comics, Warner Bros. Entertainment owns these characters (well, except Andrew), dangit!
A/N: In this next chapter, Tess and Oliver find their way, more secrets are revealed, Lois receives good news, and later Clark finally accepts the truth. Please read and review. Thanks, everyone! :D
Story banner by hanakt
Previously:
( Chapter 1)( Chapter 2)( Chapter 3)( Chapter 4)( Chapter 5)
( Chapter 6)( Chapter 7)( Chapter 8)( Chapter 9)
Chapter 10: Destiny Redefined
Watchtower, minutes after Clark had saved the world:
While the rest of the League stood outside and watched Clark's heroics, Oliver and Tess stood at the window as the light from the sun finally shown through, the planet Apokolips gone from the Earth's atmosphere, and Oliver wondered again at this amazing man he called friend. Suddenly, he felt a warm hand move inside his own.
Oliver and Tess both stared up at the sky for a moment. Oliver squeezed her hand. "He's amazing, isn't he?"
"Yeah, he is," Tess agreed.
Oliver turned to her then and touched her cheek. "I'm sorry I had to leave you earlier. Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," she replied and sat down in front of the window, reminding her of their 'friendship' pact all those years ago.
"Do you want to tell me what happened?"
Tess closed her eyes and sighed. "Everything was going along as planned until Lionel showed up."
He sat down next to her then. "Lionel? What did he want?"
"He wanted to warn us to stay away from Lex, but we didn't believe him."
"Why would you? The man is a snake."
"Clark was determined to move ahead with the mission as planned, but there were a few moments there when we thought it was best to abort the mission."
"Why would you abort the mission? What did Lionel say?"
"It wasn't what Lionel said exactly, but what I told them," Tess confessed worried about his reaction once she told him everything.
"Go on," Oliver prompted, even though he had a feeling it was bad.
"It wasn't the first time I tried to poison Lex. It happened about a year ago, but I changed my mind at the last minute because I had a feeling Lex knew what I was planning."
Oliver tried to keep his temper in check. "What else did you tell them?"
"That was all, except ..." She hesitated.
"Except what, what else aren't you telling me?"
"Lionel tried to kill me not long after you and Clark had been gone for a few months."
"What?" Oliver was truly shocked.
"Yes, he kidnapped me, but I escaped. He ... he wanted to steal my heart and give it to Lex," she barely got out.
"Lionel really was insane, but you managed to get away," he stated, upset he hadn't been there for her.
"Yes, I shot him once in the chest, but apparently, he survived."
"You should have emptied the gun in the man," Oliver blurted out.
"Believe me, I wanted to," Tess said then shuddered remembering. "He was disgusting; he made my skin crawl. I just wanted to get away from him, so I ran, but I did warn him to stay away from me and my friends."
Oliver was just happy she had managed to get away from him. He squeezed her hand. "Apparently, Lionel survived and of course, he didn't listen to you."
Suddenly, there was an alert on one of the monitors. It was Clark. Tess hurried over to answer the alert. "Clark?"
"Yes, Tess. Is Oliver there?"
"I'm right here, Clark." Oliver answered him then he stated the obvious, the pride in his voice very clear. "Darkseid and the planet Apokolips are gone, and all because of you."
"Yes, and so is Lionel," Clark told them.
"He's dead?" Tess asked, not surprised by this news.
"Yes. Andrew killed Lionel before I could stop him. Darkseid possessed his body then I flew into it and then Darkseid and Lionel both vanished."
Tess and Oliver were both so relieved to hear it. "You should head home, Clark. Your Mother and Lois are waiting for you," Tess told him.
"Thanks, Tess for everything. You too, Oliver," he said and nodded to his friends then he paused. "Superman out!" Clark said and smiled.
"Superman?" Tess and Oliver asked at the same time then they both smiled.
~o~o~
Tess's apartment, a little while later:
At Tess's front door, Oliver could see how nervous she was and he couldn't blame her. She fumbled with her keys. "I'll take those," Oliver said confident and assured in his feelings for her, but Tess still didn't seem convinced of his feelings and his motives.
Tess was nervous, excited, thrilled, hopeful, and a million other emotions were clamoring for her attention, but the one thing that pushed its way to the forefront of her mind ... I still love him.
She turned to him then. "Oliver."
"Tess." They spoke at the same time.
They both chuckled, relieving the tension if only a little.
Her eyes were hopeful as she stared at him. "It's really over, isn't it? No more Lex and Lionel. It's really true?" Tess became emotional then, her eyes filling up with tears.
Oliver came closer. He took her hand and kissed it reverently. "And do you know what else is true?"
She swallowed, as butterflies swirled in her stomach. "No, what else?"
"This," he murmured and then he leaned down and kissed her. They both closed their eyes enjoying the kiss, sweet as it was, but they both wanted more.
Tess closed her eyes and thought about all the long lonely nights she had dreamt about him, wondered about him, if he was alright, if he was even alive, and now here he was in her arms kissing her and loving her. Her dreams were now reality and she reveled in his closeness. He picked her up then and took her to her bedroom.
He stood at the side of the bed for a moment and had to ask her something that he had wondered about since he came back. "Why didn't you?"
Tess was confused. "Why didn't I what?"
"Move on to someone else, like Lois did?"
She lowered her eyes. "There was never any time for that, Oliver, between Lex, my charity work, and ..." She stopped when she heard him chuckle.
"What's so funny?" Tess was indignant.
He laid down next to her then. "Oh, Tess, I know you're lying. Just admit it."
"I'm not lying, Oliver. There really wasn't any time for a life, but I did have offers," she teased him and let him digest that information.
He raised his eyebrows, not surprised, but now he was sorry he had even asked that question. "I'm sorry, Tess. I just ..." He hesitated.
"Just what?"
"I don't want us to start out with games, Tess. Too much has happened, too much time has passed. I had hoped that we could move on from all of that."
Tess was thrilled by his words. "I want that too, more than anything."
"I'm glad, Tess, but are we ready to make that kind of commitment?"
"I'm ready, Oliver, but are you? I know it's been hard for you since she left."
"It was hard at first, but I realized something when I found out Chloe had disappeared. It was staring me in the face for months because all during that time just before the time warp. Every time you and I would run into each other, either working at Watchtower or at LuthorCorp, it really didn't matter, I knew what I wanted, but I didn't know how to go about it."
Tess finally allowed herself to hope. "What are you saying ... that you had feelings for me, even then?"
He took her hand. "They never really went away, Tess, not really. I told myself that if I shoved those feelings inside this neat little box of friendship, that maybe we could work together, see each other everyday, but those feelings refused to be ignored. I tried to forget what we had, what we shared, but it just didn't work."
"Oh, Oliver, you constantly amaze me. I know what you're saying because ..."
"It was the same for you too, wasn't it?" He asked smiling.
She touched his cheek. "You know it was. I just couldn't see myself with anyone else."
"Come here," he said and pulled her close. "No more games, Tess." He paused then looked into her eyes. "I love you," he told her, clutching her close.
She hugged him tighter for a moment then pulled back, eyes shining. "Oh, Oliver you don't how long I've waited to hear those words." She paused. "I love you too," she told him smiling.
He kissed her then, not sweetly, not tentatively, but with the force and determination of a man in love. Oliver closed his eyes enthralled beyond measure. Tess arched her back needing him with a passion that was indescribable almost painful as his passionate kisses were as welcome as a summer rain.
She clung to his broad shoulders as she fell back against the bed, pulling him atop her. Their hungry kisses reawakened the spark that had lain dormant for too long and she felt completely open and ready for him.
Soon clothes were removed and they were kissing desperately each believing that the games were over, that now they could express their feelings like never before, and they did just that.
"Can you feel it, Mercy?" Oliver panted in her ear, heart pounding so hard he wondered if he would ever catch his breath.
"Oh yes," Tess replied between pants and moans. His mouth returned to hers again and again moaning as he covered her mouth fully with his own, his head tilting from side to side as he pressed into the kiss.
Sensing she wanted more, he pressed her back onto the bed, stroked smoothly down her flat belly until his fingertips touched her damp curls. Tess thrust against his hand, silently pleading for him to finish what he started. She was slick with desire and Oliver didn't think he could wait any longer. She dug her hands into arms pulling him closer. "Now, Oliver, now!" She cried begging for it.
He entered her then and then he began to move to pleasure her and him and soon they began that climb and he could feel her body clench around his throbbing length and knew she was coming. He followed her and cried out his pleasure against her neck as he joined her in completion.
They landed safely in each other's arms content and happy at last. After a few minutes of tender kisses and sweet caresses and a few love words, Oliver pulled her close beside him and pulled the covers over them to cool their bodies. He stroked her hair and smiled against her temple.
Tess sighed against his chest and snuggled closer, her head under his chin, her eyes closed, but she couldn't help but think about the past and all they had been through.
"Oliver?"
"Uh, huh?" He replied, as sleep called to him.
"You calling me Mercy brought back all our years together in the past, but it also reminded me of all the years you were away and how things got so crazy, you know, going to work for Lex, and making sure he didn't do anything that would hurt his image. But a part of me thought that I could change him, save him."
He pulled her closer. "That's just the kind of person you are, but eventually, you must have realized that Lex never thought of anyone but himself."
"I know, but he was my brother, Oliver. I can't change that, no matter how hard we try to forget that fact."
'Aren't you forgetting someone?"
She leaned up on her elbow, confused. She asked, "Who do you mean?"
"Conner Kent or Kon-El? Has he said anything to you about you know, his heritage or anything about who he is?"
She snuggled back into his arms, not wanting to talk about it.
"Tess?"
She sighed. "No, in all my visits to Watchtower, he never said anything to me, and he never called me all during that time."
"That's odd. Do you think he remembers anything?"
"I don't know."
"Aren't you curious?"
"Oliver, it doesn't matter. He seems to be well-adjusted." She paused. "Martha did a wonderful job with him."
Oliver decided to change the subject. Tess had told him about her encounter with the 'Red Queen', Martha Kent. He still found it unbelievable that Martha would do that to her, but they had been trying times for all of them.
Tess's cell phone rang then. She reached for her bag beside the bed. She recognized the number and knew who it was. "Hello, Lois."
"Hi, Tess … ummm, is Oliver there?"
"Yes, he's here. Do you want to talk to him?"
"No, no, I'm glad I caught you both. Please come to breakfast tomorrow, here at the apartment?"
Tess stiffened. "Is Martha still there?"
"Yes, Tess, she just got here. You know that. It's time to clear the air. Be here at 10:00. It's the weekend so no excuses, and bring Oliver with you."
"Alright, alright, we'll be there."
"Great, good night, Tess."
"Night, Lois."
'What was that all about?" Oliver asked curious.
"Lois wants us to come over in the morning at ten a.m. for breakfast."
"And I gather you're not interested in going because of Martha."
"You guessed right."
"Tess, it's time to put the past to rest," he told her firmly.
Tess sighed knowing he was right.
"Everything is going to be alright, Tess." He pulled her to him and then he rolled her to her back and looked into her eyes. "Remember this, and never forget it, Tess. You did make a difference in Kon-El's life, I know you did, and as far as Lex is concerned, you're nothing like him. You may share the same genes, but you Tess, are so far above him, not only in the things you've done, but the person you are inside. Never forget that." He paused as he gathered his thoughts. "Do you believe me now when I tell you that I love you?"
"Yes, I believe you, Oliver," she replied and smiled.
"Good, now let's get a few hours of shut eye. I have a feeling we're going to be very busy in the morning, now that 'Superman' has arrived.
"Oh, you're right about that, but before we get that shut eye ..." She said and gave him a flirtatious look while she stroked his ear.
"My thoughts exactly," he whispered and then he kissed her.
~o~o~
Lois and Clark's apartment earlier that same evening:
After Clark had returned and told Lois everything that had happened, they decided to let Martha sleep. It had been a long flight, Martha was exhausted, and Lois didn't want to upset her anymore. Then Lois told him about Tess's reaction to Martha being in town.
"I know what happened, Lois," Clark confessed.
"Tell me so we can fix this. Tess and I, well, I don't want to lose her friendship, Clark, not over something that should have been settled between them years ago."
"To be honest, Lois, Tess's loyalties were still in question back then, and my mother felt that Tess was getting too close to the secret. She just wanted to protect me."
"What did Martha do?"
"She went to Tess, held a gun to her and forced her to turn over the disk, the disk that would send Zod to the Phantom Zone."
"Oh, no, anything else?"
"My mother told her to stay away from me."
Lois chewed her bottom lip deep in thought. "It looks like Martha and I both need to apologize to Tess."
Clark frowned, not understanding.
"I have to tell you something."
~o~o~
Lois and Clark's bedroom, early the next morning:
Lois was sleeping peacefully when Clark arrived back at their apartment, after his morning rounds. He twirled out of the suit then he sighed as he glanced at Lois's purse. He had to know. He took the lead box from her purse and opened it. He barely managed to close the box, but he felt the effects of the kryptonite in moments. He let out a groan, awakening his fiancé.
"Clark, what happened? What in the world did you do?" Lois asked as she helped him into bed.
He couldn't look at her. "I'm sorry, but I had to know."
"But you said it didn't matter, but … apparently it does," Lois said and stroked his hair.
"It's finally over. He's out of our lives for good," he said and pulled her to him.
She hugged him close. "Yes, it's over."
"I have some news," he began, hoping to put all of it all behind them.
"Is it good news, because I could definitely use it."
"Yes, it is good news. First thing Monday morning, we have jobs to go to."
That got her attention. She sat up and smiled at his twinkling eyes. "Where?"
"Can't you guess?" He teased.
"No, not the Planet?"
"Yep, the Planet."
Smiling at him, she said, "You really are a miracle worker. What in the world did you say to Perry?"
Clark sat up then, rang his hands though his hair, not looking at her. "Ummm, about that?"
"Oh, no, what did you say to him, Clark?"
"Just the truth, nothing more," he replied not meeting her eyes.
"You told him about yourself? Really Clark?"
"Yes, he knows I'm Superman."
"But why?"
"Well, he knew the truth about me, Lois. He wouldn't stop no matter how hard I tried to deflect his questions. He just kept asking about my disappearance, why you left the paper, all those strange things that happened to him years ago in Smallville, and I just felt it was best that he know." He paused. "And then when I asked for your job back, I guaranteed him a front page story about Superman written by none other than 'Lois Lane' herself," he told her hoping to boost her spirits.
"And what did he say to that?" Lois asked, getting excited about getting back to writing stories again.
"Well, ummm, he thought about it for a minute, but then he mentioned an opening of a staffer who had, ummm, recently died," he reluctantly admitted.
Her face fell. "Uh, huh, thanks Clark," Lois mumbled unimpressed.
TBC!
~o~o~
A/N: *giggles* This chapter was so much fun. Well, will Tess forgive and forget? Thanks for reading. Only two more chapters to go.. *iz sad* Reviews are love.