Arc Talk

By Jennifer L. Adkins (jladkins@iglou.com)

Summary: A continuation of the episode "Oedipus Wrecks," in which Lois and Clark discuss issues raised in the arc that began with "I Now Pronounce You."

This dialogue starts immediately after OW. It depicts a conversation that I think needs to take place, but that we will never see. Spoiler free, assuming that you've seen through Oedipus Wrecks. Warner Bros. owns these characters, and this not meant as an infringement on their rights. They are more than welcome to use this conversation, but I'm not holding my breath. :)

***

"Let's go home."

Superman landed on his balcony, gently setting Lois on her feet.

"It feels so good to remember who I am."

"Let me change." Almost instantly, Clark returns wearing shorts and a T-shirt. "Come sit on the couch. How are you? Is there anything that you don't remember?"

"I don't remember how I got away from Lex. He gave me a shot so that I couldn't call for you, then I kicked him and ran toward you. I was hit by a car, then...I was in the hospital. What happened?"

"Do you want to try to remember on your own? I don't know much."

"Just tell me what you know."

"It's late. I'll give you the highlights tonight, and we can talk more about it in the morning. You thought that you were Wanda Detroit. You had a boyfriend named Red, but I don't know what happened between the two of you. When Jimmy found out that you were singing in a club, I went to find you. Lex beat me there, told you that he was Kent, and you told me that you loved him."

"Oh, Clark. I'm so sorry."

"It wasn't your fault. You were confused. I should have tried to stop you from leaving with him, but I was so hurt by your rejection that I couldn't think. Your clone decided to help me find you, and she died helping me rescue you from Lex."

"We'll leave the fact that you let me go off with Lex for in the morning. Tell me about my clone. Was she very much like me?"

"Once she stopped trying to imitate you, no."

Lois buried her head in Clark's neck. "Did you...enjoy your wedding night?"

Clark pulled back, placed a finger under Lois' chin, and made her look at him.

"She wouldn't sleep with me. I wish that I could say that I knew right away that she wasn't you, but I can't. I'm sorry."

Lois grabbed Clark's hands. "Don't be sorry. Lex knew me well enough to train her to be me. I don't blame you." Lois placed her hand on Clark's cheek. "*Wouldn't* sleep with you? That must have hurt. We waited so that that night would be special. I'm glad that you didn't sleep with her, but you didn't deserve to be rejected like that. Did you...try again?"

"Do you really want to know about this?"

"Please. We gloss over too many things. We seem to have trouble communicating. I think that the only way to keep our relationship healthy is to get everything out in the open."

"All right. The next day, I carried her into the bedroom, and she said that she wished that Superman were there. Lex had told her to find out anything that she could about Superman." Clark tried to lower his eyes, but Lois tilted his chin up so that they were eye to eye. "I thought that she was wanting to...play, so I said that I would try to find him, and I changed."

"What happened?"

"She looked stunned. Then she said that she wanted to eat, and left me standing there. I was hurt. I went out to patrol the world, since I didn't want to think about what was happening. When I got home, she was gone, but my parents were there. I told them what was happening, and Mom suggested that she might be an impostor. When I X-rayed her ankle, it had never been broken. I knew that you had been switched, but I didn't know when the switch had happened. Lex said that it was before the wedding..."

Lois nodded. "When I went to sign the marriage certificate, Lex drugged me."

Clark closed his eyes briefly. "I was afraid of that."

Lois jumped up, then turned to Clark. "Do you know if I slept with him? Or Red? I didn't sleep with Max, but I'm wondering about the others, since Wanda was written to be very...free with life."

"I have no idea. The hideout where I found you and Lex had only one bed, so you probably did. I want you to know that it wouldn't matter to me. You weren't yourself, and I know that you love me and I love you."

Clark stood up to face Lois.

"This weekend, we elope. OK?"

"Please."

Lois yawned.

"It's late. You need to get to sleep. I'm going out for a bit, and I'll be quiet when I come back."

"Are you planning to sleep on the couch?"

"I'll probably float in the living room."

"Are you going out because you want to, or to avoid thinking about sleeping with me?"

Clark grinned. "B."

Lois caressed his cheek. "Do you really want to wait? I don't."

Clark looked into Lois' eyes. "You're sure? I know you're tired."

"Never too tired for you."

THE END

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