Missed Opportunity, or Too Late to Love

By Tank Wilson <TankW1@aol.com> and Wendy Richards  <wendy@lcfanfic.com>; with Kaethel <kaethel@wanadoo.fr>,  Meredith Knight <Meredith@putwet.demon.co.uk> and CarolM

Rated: PG

Submitted: May 2002

Authors' notes:

Tank: Well, after the last time, in which Wendy was pretty  nasty to me, I'm sure everyone expected me to really be  evil and challenge Wendy with one massive Wham fest.   So,  of course, that meant that I couldn't.  Instead I gave  Wendy a little pleasant set-up that contained no angst, no  WHAMs, and a perfectly happy and contented couple.  No  obsessive, blindly driven, yet lonely ace reporter here.    I figured that if there was to be any of those components  in this story Wendy would have to provide them.  But still  the denizens of Zoom's board called me evil... can you  believe it?  So what did Wendy do?  She came up with a  clever ending that retained all the waffiness of the  original set-up and skipped the expected whams and angst.   Now that's evil.

Wendy: Evil? Moi? I'm hurt! <g> Seriously, this was  probably the most WAFFy, and yet most evil, set-up that  Tank's given me. You'll see why as soon as you get even  half-way through the first section. Yes, we had a happy and  contented couple... but *which* couple?! And there were  even suggestions that Tank might be implying something  else... just consider a certain person's initials! <g> Naah  - I simply couldn't allow this state of affairs to  continue. So - I changed things. For the better? Well,  you'll just have to wait and see. As for Tank - well, I've  always thought that revenge is a dish best served cold. So  one of these days, when he's least expecting it, he'll be  presented with an equally evil challenge. ;)

Kaethel: I want to claim my innocence for the little  epilogue; it's entirely Wendy's fault! Yes it is. Of course  it is. <eg> See, when she posted her conclusion to Tank's  evil set-up, several subtle readers (including myself <g>)  immediately complained about...about something I can't  reveal for the sake of spoilers (but remember Wendy  nicknamed me 'ten-ton-truck', if this is any clue <g>).  Anyway, that night, despite my good resolution to turn in  at a reasonable hour, I wasn't able to sleep until I'd  jotted down a little continuation. <g> Big thanks go to  Wendy for allowing me to post this epilogue to her section,  and for editing my grammar. :)

Meredith: I couldn't resist writing my own version of this  story, and Wendy gave me gracious permission to post.  I  think this ties everything up very satisfactorily, even if  I say so myself. Many thanks to Wendy and Carol for BRing  at lightning speed! <g>

Carol: I don't care what anyone else says - I'm INNOCENT!  INNOCENT I say! I don't know why Kaethel says I have gone  to the dark side, but oh, well. Thanks to those who helped  me with this.

~ Missed Opportunity, or Too Late to Love. ~  A Wendy and Tank Challenge

~ Part One by Tank ~

"The mating rituals of the Knob-Tailed Gecko?" Perry White  leaned back in his chair and stared with undisguised  skepticism at the handsome young man sitting across the  desk from him. "Kent, I'm sure these are fascinating  stories, but you see, son, this is the Daily Planet. We're  the greatest newspaper in the whole world. Now, our people  are dedicated servants of the fourth estate, who routinely  handle stories of international significance." Perry ran  his hand through his graying hair. "Now, look - Kent, I'm  sure you're an intelligent guy, but you just can't walk in  here with this kind of resume and expect to get a job. I'm  afraid you just don't have the experience. I'm sorry."

A sad-faced Clark Kent nodded glumly at the renowned  editor-in-chief of the nation's top newspaper. It had  always been his dream to work at the Daily Planet, but he  was well aware of his lack of real experience. It had been  a long shot at best.

"I understand, sir. Thank you for taking the time to see  me."

Suddenly the melancholy proceedings were interrupted by the  office door swinging open and the arrival of the most  beautiful woman Clark had ever seen. One could almost see  the barely suppressed energy radiating from the slender yet  curvaceous body. Thick, glossy, raven-dark hair flowed past  her shoulders, framing a face that caused Clark's breath to  catch in his throat. Soft, dark brown eyes held a look of  determination, yet seemed to have depths that literally  sparkled with life and passion.

"Chief, I think there's a story here and we should have  this guy checked out. You know, the crazy one from this  morning. He was an engineer at EPRAD for ten years..."

Perry White turned in irritation, toward the young woman.  "Lois, can't you see I'm in the middle of something here?"

She stopped, becoming aware of Clark for the first time.  "Oh."

Perry sighed. "Lois Lane." He indicated the young woman  with his hand, then pointed to Clark. "Clark Kent."

Clark's heart missed a beat when she graced him with a  dazzling smile that seemed to light up the already well-lit  room.

She extended her hand. "Hi, nice to meet you."

It took Clark a moment to remember which hand he had to  extend. Taking her hand in his, he felt his palms begin to  sweat. "Nice to meet you, Ms. Lane."

Her smile was warm and inviting. "Oh, please, call me Lois.  So, are you here for a job?"

Clark's face fell. "Well, yes, but Mr. White says that I  don't have enough experience for the Daily Planet."

"Really?" Lois frowned compassionately. "Is this your  stuff?" She motioned to the stack of papers strewn about  Perry's desk. At his nod she picked up some of the sheets.  Her eyebrow arched, she shuffled through them. "Not bad. A  little fluffy, but not bad." She nudged Perry with her  elbow. "What do you say, Chief? Give the guy a break.  Everyone has to start somewhere."

Perry sighed in exasperation. "Lois, when did your title  here change from reporter to editor-in-chief? I would  appreciate it if you let me do *my* job, and you stick to  yours."

Lois placed her hand somewhat coyly on Perry's chest. "Hey,  I remember not too long ago when you gave another untried  rookie a chance." She patted his chest. "That didn't turn  out too badly, did it?" She grinned as she pulled her hand  back. "I know, you can give him a tryout. What about that  story of the razing of that old theater on 42nd street?"

Perry frowned at the young woman. "I thought I gave that  piece to you?"

Lois shrugged. "I wasn't in the mood, plus, I think I'm  going to be tied up for a while with this breaking EPRAD  story." She glanced over at Clark and gave him a wink.  "Come on, Chief, what have you got to lose? Besides, he's  kind of cute, and we can always use another cute guy around  here."

Perry shook his head in mock disgust. "Like you care  anymore."

"Hey, I can still look." Lois laughed, then turned toward  Clark. "Hope to see you again, Kent." She turned and left  the office.

Clark felt like he'd just been in the presence of a force  of nature. He had to get this job, if only to be able to  see her again. "So, that was Lois Lane? I've read her work.  She's terrific."

Perry chuckled. "Yes, yes she is. She can be infuriating at  times, but she is the best damn investigative reporter I've  ever had." Perry pursed his lips together. "And she has  some of the best instincts I've ever encountered too. I  guess if she sees something in you, who am I to argue?" He  stretched out his hand. "Welcome to the Daily Planet,  Kent."

Clark couldn't keep the smile on his face from stretching  ear to ear. "Thank you, Mr. White. I promise I won't let  you down."

"Just see that you don't." Perry tilted his head, a smile  twinkling in his eyes. "You know, the Lois Lane of a couple  of years ago would have come barging in here and barely  acknowledged your existence, let alone stick up for you."

Clark was intrigued. "Really?"

Perry nodded. "Oh, yeah. She's still the best reporter I've  got, but she's mellowed quite a bit in her personal  dealings with people. It's made her not only a better  reporter, but a better person." Perry's smile was almost  fatherly. "She's finally happy with her entire life, and  not just her job."

Clark nodded, but didn't really understand. "What changed  her?"

Perry looked out the window of his office. "Him."

Clark followed Perry's gaze to see a tall, good-looking man  standing next to and talking with Lois. From the smiles on  both their faces, it seemed like they were having a  pleasant conversation.

"Her husband, Claude Kinet."

Clark watched with a deepening depression as he saw the man  lean down and capture Lois' lips in a passionate kiss which  she returned with like passion. Clark felt like he was  falling into a bottomless pit. Within seconds he'd gone  from elation to the depths of despair. Mere minutes ago,  he'd just met the woman of his dreams. A woman he'd never  known had existed and had fallen instantly in love with  her, only to find that she belonged to another. How could  the fates be so cruel?

"Yep," Perry said, oblivious to Clark's inner turmoil.  "Their marriage was the best thing that ever happened to  either of them." Perry chuckled. "It's hard to believe that  anyone could settle Claude down; he never seemed to be the  one-woman type. But that sure changed when he met Lois.  I've never seen two people more in love than those two."  Perry slapped Clark on the shoulder. "Come on, I'll take  you out and introduce you."

Perry guided the suddenly nervous Clark Kent out into the  newsroom. The first person they happen to run into was an  energetic young fellow carrying a stack of photos. Perry  stopped him.

"Jimmy, I'd like you to meet our newest employee, Clark  Kent. Clark, this is Jimmy Olsen."

"Hey, another CK! I guess I'll have to call you Clark,  since I already call Claude, CK. Welcome aboard."

Clark shook the young man's hand. "Nice to meet you."

Jimmy gave him a quick nod of his head. "Nice to meet you  too. Gotta run! If I don't get these photos to paste-up  right away someone will have my head." Jimmy grinned as he  gave a slight jerk of his head in the direction of Perry  White.

Perry then ushered Clark over to where Lois and Claude were  standing. Clark couldn't help but notice that the guy was  every woman's dream. Clark had been told by more than a few  women that he was a good-looking man, but next to Claude,  he was Quasimodo. Claude was taller, easily six foot three.  He had an athlete's build and a face that was quite  handsome but wasn't either too pretty or too perfect. It  was a face that seemed to smile a lot. His thick, wavy hair  was a light brown in color and just a bit unruly. It gave  him a roguish appearance. But it was the eyes that drew  one's attention. They were a startling deep blue in color.  His eyes were so blue they seemed to shine with a light of  their own. In a strange way they seemed the perfect  contrast, and complement, to Lois' own amazing soft brown  eyes.

Clark snapped back to reality as he heard Perry make the  introductions. He took Claude's extended hand.

"Pleased to meet you, Mr. Kent. My wife was just mentioning  you. I'm glad to hear that our esteemed editor took my  wife's advice and gave you a chance. I'm sure you'll like  it here at the Daily Planet."

"So, Perry, I see you're going to give Kent here a chance?"  She batted her eyelashes at Perry. "I wonder what changed  your mind?" She couldn't hold back a girlish giggle.

Perry just glared at the smirking Lois. "Claude, why don't  you take Kent down and show him the lockers; fill him in on  where everything is around here." Perry gave Lois a telling  look. "I think I need to have a conversation with your wife  about assignments."

Claude led Clark to the elevator and in a couple of minutes  he was showing Clark around the men's locker area. "It's  always a good idea to keep an extra set of clothes in your  locker. You never know when you might need to change."  Claude smiled as if reliving an old memory.

Clark opened a few of the empty lockers. "That sounds like  a logical precaution."

Claude leaned against one of the lockers and gave Clark a  wry smile. "So, Kent, I saw you eying my wife up there."

Clark jumped back from the locker and looked at Claude. He  swallowed and had a hard time finding his voice. He felt  like a little boy caught with his hand in the cookie jar.  "I - ah, well, I didn't... that is..."

Claude's laughter rang through the concrete and steel  locker room. "Ease up, mon ami, I'm only having some fun  with you." Claude slapped Clark on the back. "It's not like  every man in the place doesn't lust after my beautiful wife  with their eyes." He chuckled. "It really doesn't bother  me. After all, the lovely Lois chose me."

Claude indicated that Clark should sit down on one of the  benches. "Let me tell you a little story, Mr. Kent."

Clark sat. "Call me Clark."

Claude nodded. "Okay, and I'm Claude, or CK as Jimmy likes  to call me." He gave Clark a reassuring smile. "I don't  know if there has been enough time for anyone to have  mentioned me to you, but believe me, they will. You see,  not too long ago I was what guys would call a ladies' man.  Women had different names for it. A womanizer would be the  kindest." He grinned as he saw Clark's guileless reaction.  "I used to date different women every week. It was all  about the challenge, the chase, and, of course, the  conquest. Once the relationship had been consummated, so to  speak, interest waned and I moved on. I found that the  wanting was truly more fun than the having. Needless to  say, I was a hero to most of the men, and not a favorite of  many of the more, shall we say, liberated women." Claude  gave a snort of laughter. "Not that I can really blame  them."

Claude shook his head, glanced at the ceiling, and sighed.  "That all changed when I met Lois." He looked at Clark and  the look said that he was sincere. "It started out the  same. A pretty young rookie reporter. A challenge to the  old Kinet charm. It didn't take long for me to convince her  that she was in love with me." Claude laughed ironically.  "The only thing I didn't realize at the time was that she  was making me fall in love with her."

Claude sighed again. "Have you ever met a woman who was the  total package, Clark? A woman who was not only beautiful,  but brilliant and loyal, dedicated and amazing in her the  pursuit of her passions? A woman who the moment you met her  you knew she was the one?"

It was Clark's turn to sigh. "Yes."

Something in Clark's voice caused Claude to give him a  strange look. "Yes, well, anyway, Lois is that woman for  me. I swear I've never entertained thoughts of another  woman since Lois came into my life. I never thought I, of  all people, would become a one-woman man, but that's what  Lois has done to me. A few months after we started dating,  I asked her to marry me. And she said yes. It was the best  thing that ever happened to me."

Clark knew he should be happy for the man as he was  obviously very much in love with his wife, but then Clark  thought he might be as well. He was puzzled though. "I'm  happy for you, Claude, but..."

"Why am I telling you this?" Claude grinned.

"Well, yeah."

Claude laughed. "Because, as I said, you are going to be  hearing stories about me. Stories about the legendary  Claude Kinet. A Claude who no longer exists, but some  people don't wish to let die." Claude doubled up his fists.  "I want you to know. I love my wife, and I will till the  day I die. The man I once was is no longer. Lois changed  that. She changed me. And for that I am forever grateful."

Clark was definitely feeling uncomfortable. "Well, I guess  we'd better get back to the newsroom. Mr. White will be  wondering what happened to us."

*************

Lois looked up from her computer screen as the ring of the  elevator bell signaled its arrival on the bullpen's floor.  She saw Claude and Clark get off and she waved them over to  her.

"Hi sweetie," she said as she tilted her face up to him  allowing him to plant a quick kiss on her lips. "I'm glad  you're back. I need to take Clark off your hands for a  while."

Claude gave her a quizzical look. "What's up?"

Lois shrugged. "Well, I was able to convince Perry that  there might really be a story behind what that crazy guy  was saying this morning. You know, about the Messenger  going to blow up, or something." Lois glanced at Clark,  checking for his reaction. He seemed preoccupied. "Anyway,  he's going to let me follow up on it, but the condition was  that I take Clark along with me."

"Really? Why? I'm your partner, not Kent." Claude looked  quickly at Clark. "No offense, Clark." Clark shrugged.

Lois wrinkled her brow. "I know, and I told the Chief that,  but I think it's his way of getting back at me for talking  him into hiring Clark in the first place." Lois smiled at  Clark. "But the laugh's going to be on Perry. I'm going to  break that story wide open, and turn Kent into a top notch  reporter all at the same time. That should show Perry."  Lois frowned at the smirk on Claude's face. "Do you doubt  me, lover?"

Claude held up his hands in surrender. "Not a chance. It's  just that I don't think I'm too comfortable with my wife  hanging out with such a good looking man - who's not me."

Lois laughed as she patted Claude on the chest. "Well, I  wouldn't worry too much." Lois gave Clark a wink. "Kent  here may be a good looking guy but I only fall for tall,  handsome Frenchmen who can sweep me off my feet -  literally."

Claude swept Lois up into his arms and planted another kiss  on her waiting lips. "Good. You just make sure you remember  that."

Lois giggled as she swatted Claude. "Put me down. Perry's  watching and you know how he gets when we play house at  work. Besides, Clark and I have to get going. We have an  appointment to meet with this Dr. Platt."

"Okay." Claude put Lois down and pouted like a little boy  who had lost his favorite marble. Lois answered him with a  laugh.

"Come on Kent, we've got work to do." She grabbed her bag  and a thick file, then headed for the elevator, never  looking back to see if he was following. He was.

******************

Lois took another sip of her diet soda. She glanced across  the table at her new, temporary partner. He was still busy  looking through the papers they'd gotten from Dr. Platt,  the fellow who had caused such a ruckus that morning at the  Planet. The papers were scattered across the table at the  diner where the two of them stopped for lunch, and a chance  to discuss the story.

Clark had shown himself to be bright, and a quick study. He  asked Platt some questions that Lois didn't even  understand. She took pleasure in the fact that it looked  like her instincts were going to be right on once again.  Clark Kent was going to make a fine reporter. He needed to  toughen up a bit, but she really thought he'd have a good  career as an investigative reporter.

Still, there was something bothering Kent. Maybe  'bothering' was too strong a word. Clark often seemed  preoccupied with something. She would catch him staring at  her with the strangest look on his face... like now. She  put her glass down.

"Okay, Kent, out with it. Have I got lettuce in my teeth or  what?"

Clark blushed. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to stare." He  paused and looked away for a moment clearly uncomfortable.  "I just... I mean..."

"Yes?" Lois prompted.

Clark searched for something, anything, to say. "I, ah, was  curious about your - hair."

Lois involuntarily fingered the ends of her long lustrous  locks. "Really? Why?"

"Um, well, you don't normally see professional women  wearing their hair quite that long." Clark internally  groaned and wondered if it sounded as stupid to her and it  did to him.

"I see, and you've known a lot of professional women, have  you, Kent?" Lois was doing her best to keep a grin off her  face.

"Well, no, I just meant..."

Lois couldn't hold back any longer. Clark's discomfort was  just too funny. A wide grin stretched across her face.  "That's all right, Clark. Actually I do know what you mean,  and personally I'm not that fond of it this long. But  Claude likes it long and I don't consider it much of a  burden to have grown it out for him." She raised a brow at  Clark. "What about you, Clark? How do you think I should  wear my hair?" She knew this hadn't really been what was on  Clark's mind, but she wasn't through having fun with him,  and his discomfort, just yet.

"Well... may I?" he asked as he reached his hand out toward  her hair. She nodded. He pushed back the long hair from one  side on her face. "I've always admired a woman's neckline.  There's just something sensual about a long graceful neck  that just wants to make a guy plant tiny little kisses up  and down her..." Clark blushed furiously once he realized  what he'd said.

Lois laughed. "I'll keep that in mind, Clark. Maybe I'll  ask Claude about your little theory." Lois cocked her head  and stared hard at the totally uneasy rookie. "But, let's  be straight here, shall we? I don't think your mind's been  wandering off while you snuck glances at me all day because  you think I need a haircut. What is it, really, that's on  your mind?"

Clark took a deep breath. "Well, er, how long have you and  Claude been married?"

Lois raised a brow. "So, prying into my private life now,  eh, Kent?" Lois laughed when she saw the shocked look on  Clark's face. "Just kidding. I bet I know what this is  about."

"You do?"

"Yeah, I do. I'd say someone has been telling you stories  about my husband's lurid past. Believe me, I've heard it  all. Lois, do you know what kind of man you're getting  involved with? Lois are you crazy, you can't trust him.  Once a womanizer, always a womanizer." Lois captured  Clark's eyes with a determined look. "But you know what? It  doesn't matter what he was because that's in the past. He's  not that anymore. He's my husband and I'm his wife. I love  him and he loves me."

Lois leaned back in her chair, a wistful smile on her face.  "You know, there was a time when I figured that I'd always  be alone, and that was just fine with me. I was determined  to become the best investigative reporter for the best  newspaper in the world. That was all I cared about. My work  was all important and I thought that was all I needed. Then  I met Claude."

Clark waited as Lois got a dreamy look on her face and  stared out into space. "And?"

Lois jerked her head back and refocused on the young man  across the table from her. "Oh, sorry. Well, it started out  as one would expect. I was attracted to his obvious  physical attributes and was dazzled by his cosmopolitan  charm, but then something unusual happened." Lois' smile  was one of satisfaction. "We fell in love. Really in love,  not just a couple of attractive people giving into the  physical lust of the moment. I don't normally believe in  things metaphysical, or spiritual, but..." Lois bowed her  head in embarrassment allowing her long hair to fall  forward covering her face.

Clark leaned closer. "But?"

Lois looked up, brushing the hair out of her face. "I think  I'd have to say that Claude and I were destined to be  together. That we are..." Lois searched for the right word.  "Soulmates."

******************

~ Part 2 by Wendy ~

"I just can't help it, Mom," Clark said, pacing restlessly  around the farmhouse kitchen. "I love her. Every time I so  much as see her, let alone talk to her, I love her more. I  don't know what to do!"

"Clark, she's married," Martha Kent pointed out yet again.  "You know she's off-limits. You just have to stop feeling  this way."

"But I've tried!" Clark protested, experiencing a shameful  desire to weep. "Every day I tell myself that I have to  forget her. She's not available. I *know* that. But I still  can't seem to stop feeling that way about her."

"Clark, you were brought up better than that," Jonathan  Kent said, quietly but firmly. "She's a married woman. You  stay away from her."

"I can't. I work with her! What am I supposed to do? Go to  Mr White and tell him that I'm sorry, but I can't work with  Lois Lane - Lois Lane Kinet - because I'm in love with her  and she's not free and that even seeing her makes me want  to beg her to run away with me? He'd think I'm crazy!"

"Clark, this thing *is* crazy," Jonathan said sternly. "You  know that. I don't care what you have to do, but you can't  carry on like this."

"I know that all you ever wanted was to work for the Daily  Planet in Metropolis, Clark," Martha added, speaking more  gently. "But, you know, maybe you'd be better moving on. If  this is what working there does to you... You're hurting,  we can see that. If you move away..."

"You think I'll forget her, is that it?" Clark demanded.  "Mom, I don't know... I've never felt this way about  *anyone* before in my life! And yes, I know that she's  never given me a single bit of encouragement. And I know  that she's happily married - and though I hate to say it, I  even like her husband - but none of that seems to matter. I  just love her. And I can't imagine what it would be like if  I couldn't even get to see her. I'm not sure I would forget  her."

His parents shook their heads despairingly, and Clark knew  that for the first time in his life they were seriously  disappointed in him. He was disappointed in himself: he  knew very well that in his obsession with Lois Lane,  married woman, he was letting down the standards he'd  always held himself to. He had to do something about it,  but as yet he wasn't sure what - although his mother's  suggestion of leaving the Planet and Metropolis was  beginning to look like his only option.

Dispirited and for the first time feeling that a visit to  his parents had failed to help him find a way out of a  dilemma, Clark took his leave and flew back to Metropolis.  As ever, he stayed well above cloud level. The last thing  he wanted was for someone to discover what he could do;  even if a report about a flying man was very likely to be  dismissed as incredible, he had no intention of taking the  risk.

He had to lose height coming in over Metropolis, since he  hadn't yet been there long enough to find his way back to  the hotel which was his temporary residence without visual  clues. But instead of heading straight for the Apollo, he  found himself flying over Carter Avenue.

Carter Avenue; the location of the home of the Kinets.

Overheard office gossip had informed Clark that, before  Lois and Claude married, Claude had lived in a loft  apartment just off Clinton St, and Lois had been sharing a  small apartment with her sister, a student. When they'd  married, the couple had started renting an apartment in the  small block on Carter Avenue.

Hating himself for doing it, Clark scanned the building.  Lois was sitting on a pristine white two-seater sofa,  surrounded by a stack of papers: working. Claude was... He  hesitated. There was no sign of Claude anywhere in the  apartment. Then he noticed a car pulling up outside the  building. Claude, dressed in dark clothing, seemed to be  checking his reflection in the mirror, and it was only  after several minutes that he emerged and headed for the  apartment building. Not wanting to see the lovers reunited,  Clark took off and flew quickly back to his hotel.

*********

So what had Claude been up to? Why had he been back so  late?

He was being far too suspicious, Clark told himself. The  man was a reporter, like himself and like Lois. The job was  in no way a nine-to-five activity. Sources had to be met at  the most inconvenient times. Stakeouts often took place at  night. Claude was one of the paper's top reporters; there  was surely nothing unusual about his being out late at  night, nor dressed in dark clothing. As for his strange  action in checking his appearance, perhaps he'd been  somewhere unpleasant? Maybe he'd wanted to check that he  didn't have any dirt on his face?

<Or any lipstick>

Clark ruthlessly squashed the little voice inside him. It  wasn't fair to judge Claude Kinet on the basis of his past  reputation. Everyone whose opinion he trusted had said -  not that Clark had been asking - that Claude seemed to have  changed his ways completely. He was no longer a womaniser.  He was completely devoted to his wife. He was loyal, loving  and attentive. And he had never, in the year or so since  he'd been married, showed any signs of interest in any  other woman, even those who'd flaunted themselves blatantly  in front of him.

The man was clearly squeaky-clean; the model husband.

And Clark was only fooling himself if he was tempted to  believe otherwise.

*********

Two nights later, Clark again found himself drifting in the  vicinity of Lois and Claude's apartment. He knew that he  shouldn't be there, and he hated himself for doing it - but  even telling himself that he was practically a stalker  didn't seem to make any difference. He couldn't sleep  anyway, he protested silently, and so he might as well be  flying above the city as lying awake in his horrible hotel- room.

But he wasn't flying above the city; he was floating above  Lois's apartment.

Of course, his day had been very unsettling, which hadn't  helped. It was only by a small miracle - well, that and his  powers - that Lois hadn't been killed. She'd sneaked into  the EPRAD workshop on a hunch that Dr Baines knew more  about the Messenger sabotage than she was letting on, and  had almost died for her actions. Only for the fact that  he'd been worried about Lois and had come after her, she'd  be blown to smithereens.

As it was, he'd only been able to save her and Jimmy by  using his powers; thankfully, he'd been able to pretend  that the force of the explosion had sent them flying. And  Lois was alive, which was all that mattered.

But he'd then brought her back to the Planet, only to see  her run straight into Claude's arms and then disappear into  the conference room with him. <He's her husband!> his  conscience had reminded him, but it hadn't stopped his  jealous side from feeling very aggrieved.

It wasn't just the narrow escape he'd had with Lois's life  which was bothering him now, though. It was the fact that  today's events had given him yet another nagging reminder  that he really needed to make a decision about going  public. All these things he could do, all the powers he  had... what use were they if he couldn't use them openly to  help people? He had to rely on sneaking around, on not  being seen - and yet if he was able to be honest about his  abilities, he could help so many more people.

But if he went public, he also ran the risk of his father's  prediction coming true: that he would be locked up in a lab  and dissected. That the government would take an undue  interest in him - and not only in him, but also in his  family. It was too dangerous, Jonathan Kent had always  said, and Clark, albeit reluctantly, had always agreed.

But what if he could save lives? Didn't he owe it to  humanity to use his powers for good? Wasn't there, somehow,  a way around...

A movement below attracted his attention and interrupted  his argument with himself. A man was emerging from the  apartment building. Using his special vision powers to look  more closely, Clark noted with interest that it was Claude.  Back in the apartment - he checked - Lois was fast asleep  in bed.

So where was Monsieur Kinet going at half past midnight?

Claude got into the silver Jeep which Clark now knew to be  Lois's, and drove off. Clark followed from his position  about thirty feet up in the air, pursuing his colleague  through suburban streets and then out towards the turnpike.  Finally, the Jeep came to a halt at a service area, and  Claude got out.

Immediately, someone slid out of a dark sedan parked at the  rear of the service area, hurrying towards Claude. Clark  hovered, watching. The waiting person was tall, slender...  yes, and definitely female, he finally decided, noticing  the feminine curve of her hip and an obvious bustline.

And Claude greeted her with a hug and a kiss before they  disappeared into the woman's car and drove off. This time  Clark didn't follow them.

*********

Having his suspicions confirmed didn't, in spite of  expectations, make Clark feel any better about the  situation. Yes, Claude was cheating on Lois. So much for M  Kinet's insistence that his womanising past was just that:  past.

However, instead of feeling relief that Lois's perfect  marriage was not so perfect after all - and even a sense of  hope that she might be persuaded to leave Claude - Clark  could only feel sorrow and regret for the pain which this  discovery would cause Lois.

He'd lain awake all night arguing with himself as to  whether he should tell her. He had no desire to protect  Claude; the man was a waste of space and didn't deserve any  consideration whatsoever. But Lois... He'd seen the way she  looked at Claude; the way her face lit up whenever the man  came into the room. She'd be devastated.

How could he destroy her happiness like that?

But how could he let her go on thinking that she was loved,  and that her husband was as loyal and faithful to her as  she was to him?

Sooner or later, she'd find out for herself - no-one could  keep up that level of duplicity indefinitely. Most  adulterers were found out sooner or later. Or else the  greener pastures grew too tempting and they eventually  decided to trade in their poor devoted spouse for a newer  model. Wouldn't it be far more painful for Lois to find out  later, after years of what she thought was a blissful  marriage?

The following day, Lois seemed as blithely unaware as  before that her husband was betraying her with another  woman, Clark thought bitterly as he worked with her on the  Prometheus case, writing up the evidence which pinned the  blame securely on Toni Baines and a couple of associates.  Although she chatted happily with him, giving him some good  advice here and there which he knew would be valuable in  helping him to improve as a reporter, he saw the way her  gaze kept straying to Claude; the way they smiled at each  other and couldn't resist touching whenever their paths  crossed.

The duplicitous, hypocritical swine.

Lois clearly didn't suspect a thing, and Clark's blood  boiled within him every time he saw Kinet smile at her. He  wanted to grab the man by the throat and fly with him up to  the roof of the Planet building and threaten to throw him  off if he didn't agree to tell Lois the truth and leave  her.

But, his pessimistic inner voice asked, what if Lois still  claimed that she loved Claude, even despite his infidelity?  What if, even once she knew, she wanted to give him another  chance? There was no guarantee that she'd leave him if she  found out that he was having an affair.

And, of course, even if she did leave Claude, what was the  likelihood that she'd ever look twice at *him*? So far,  she'd shown no sign of any interest in him beyond the  amused tolerance of a senior colleague for a new junior she  seemed to be treating as something of a protege.

Wasn't that what was really behind his burning desire to  confront Lois with the truth? Forcing himself to honesty,  Clark had to admit that a large part of his motivation was  the hope that Lois, freed from a two-timing husband, would  look for comfort to her new colleague, a man who was not  only very willing to offer sympathy and a shoulder to cry  on, but who also genuinely cared for her.

Selfish motives.

His parents would tell him to stay out of it; that it was  none of his business. And Clark knew that they were right.  It *wasn't* his affair - bad choice of word, he mused  wryly.

It was nothing to do with him.

*********

Yet that night he was watching Lois's apartment once more.  And at close to 1 am Claude left again, taking the Jeep and  driving to the same place as before. And the same woman met  him, greeting him with a swift kiss and leading him to her  car.

And the next morning Clark arrived at the Planet  determined, resolved to tell Lois the truth, no matter how  much it hurt her. No matter that she might never speak to  him again - because the bearer of bad news never got  anything but a bad reception - she deserved to know how her  husband was returning her love and loyalty.

*********

"Lois, can I talk to you?"

"Sure!" She turned and smiled at him. "What's up?"

"Not here," he said apologetically. "In private."

She gave him a quizzical look. "This sounds important.  Okay, I think the conference room's free."

He let her lead the way and then took a seat opposite her  in the large, empty room. The door was shut and the blinds  mostly closed; they'd have complete privacy. Lois was  watching him, an enquiring expression on her face as she  waited for him to tell her what he wanted to talk about.

"There's something I have to tell you," he said at last,  awkwardly; now that he'd finally made the decision to tell  her what he knew, it was very difficult to find the words.  Just how did you tell the woman you loved that the husband  *she* loved was cheating on her?

"Yes, Clark?" Lois asked semi-impatiently after several  moments. "Look, I don't want to be rude, but I do have a  busy day..."

"I'm sorry," he said quickly. "It's just that this is  really difficult for me to say..."

"Just spit it out, Clark," Lois advised, giving him a  tolerant smile.

"Okay," he said quietly. "Look, Lois, I need you to believe  that I never want to hurt you in any way. I'm only telling  you this because I don't think it's fair that you don't  know what's going on behind your back - "

"What are you talking about?" Lois interrupted, now  sounding irritated. "I'm not sure I want to know, Clark. In  fact, I'm going to go back to work and forget that we ever  started this conversation."

In desperation, as Lois got to her feet and began to march  towards the door, Clark blurted out, "Claude's having an  affair!"

Lois came back slowly, resuming her seat. "What makes you  think that?" she asked, in what Clark recognised was a  dangerous tone. "Have you been following him?"

He hung his head. "Yes," he confessed. "I'm sorry, Lois -  it wasn't deliberate, it's just that I saw him going off  and... and anyway, I saw him meet her. They kissed. And  then they got into her car. The second time I saw him late  at night, I did deliberately follow him, and he met the  same woman."

Only then did it dawn on Clark that Lois might wonder how  he'd managed to follow her husband without being seen - and  that she would certainly want to know *where* he'd met the  other woman. Just how he was going to explain that, he had  no idea.

"And so from that you conclude that he's cheating on me?"  Lois demanded.

Relieved that she hadn't asked the questions he'd just  started dreading, Clark nodded. "I'm truly sorry, Lois. But  it looks that way to me."

"And what do you expect me to do about it?" Lois asked  sharply. "Throw him out?"

"That's not my business," he said, suppressing the urge to  yell Yes!

She got to her feet and began to pace around the room.  Finally, she said, "So you've concluded that Claude is  having an affair. And you think that I should leave him, or  throw him out - I guess you'd think that if I didn't, then  I must be so weak or so besotted that I'm willing to accept  anything from him as long as he stays with me." She paused,  then turned to face him. "Clark, did it ever occur to you  that sometimes the obvious answer isn't the correct one?"

<More times than you imagine, Lois> he wanted to say to  her. Instead, he said, "Are you telling me that he's not  having an affair?"

She hesitated, then said carefully, "You know, Clark, I'm  thinking *you* have a secret you don't want anyone knowing  about."

Huh? He stared back at her. "What are you talking about?  And what's that got to do with...?"

"What's that got to do with Claude and me?" Lois finished  for him. "Well, let me put it this way. I learnt a long  time ago that if I have a secret I want to protect, it  helps if I have something to hold over other people too.  And you, Clark Kent, *definitely* have a secret."

"I do?" he asked, stalling. How could she know? *What* did  she know?

"That was no side-effect of the explosion which sent us  flying the other day," Lois said in a conversational voice.  "It was far too controlled. I think you can fly, Clark  Kent. And I think you can probably do other things as well  - like overhear things from a long way away, and maybe even  see through walls. Am I right?"

Clark felt frozen, rigid with fear. She knew! There was no  point in denying it; he wasn't even sure that he could get  the words out convincingly. Now what was he going to do? He  should never have tried to tell Lois anything about Claude,  he thought miserably. She'd certainly managed to take her  revenge on him!

"Oh, I won't tell anyone," she continued, now smiling at  him. "Don't worry, your secret's safe with me. But now that  you know *I* know all about you, I don't need to worry  about you telling anyone about *my* little secret, do I?"

"Y...your secret?" he stammered. "You mean you knew that he  was having an affair?"

"You still don't get it, do you?" she said rhetorically.  "Look, this isn't my story to tell. Hang on a minute..."

She left the room, returning a couple of minutes later with  Claude in tow. The two of them took seats opposite Clark,  who was now almost beginning to sweat.

"So, mon ami, I understand that despite everything I told  you, you believe that I am cheating on Lois," Claude said  quietly, meeting Clark's gaze steadily and with a stern  expression which, finally, began to shake Clark's  certainty.

"I saw you, twice, with a woman," Clark began to explain.

Claude shook his head. "Lois has convinced me that I should  tell you a story, Clark. A true story - but one which must  never go any further than this room. Is that understood?"

At that moment, Lois caught Clark's gaze and held it  fiercely. He knew what she was telling him: his own secret  would be on the line if he ever repeated a word of this.  "Yes, it's understood," he told Claude.

"Bien. Well, then, the first thing I must explain is that I  am not a reporter. I work for the French government,"  Claude began. "I was sent over here three years ago to  investigate a man who, my government believes, is  responsible for millions of US dollars' worth of  corruption, not to mention many French deaths. Your  government is also interested in catching this man, and so  they have co-operated with my presence here. Being a  reporter is my cover, and I came to Metropolis because the  man I am investigating is also based in Metropolis."

Claude paused, which was just as well since Clark was  having a hard time taking all this in. Claude was a *spy*?  A secret agent? But what did that mean in relation to Lois?  Or was he going to explain that the woman he'd been meeting  was actually a source? Yet he'd kissed her...

"The role of a womanising reporter was a perfect cover for  me," Claude continued. "It gave me the freedom to go  anywhere I wanted, talk to anyone I wanted, and make  advances to women I knew had once been involved with the  man I was after, all in the hope of gaining information.  But a little over a year ago," he said calmly, with an  admiring smile in Lois's direction, "a not-quite-so-rookie  reporter started sniffing around somewhere I didn't want  her to be. She was investigating the same man as I was. And  at the same time, she started to figure out some things  about me - things I didn't want anyone knowing. Dangerous  things."

Slowly, Clark said, "You mean she figured out that you  weren't what you seemed?" His admiration for Lois as a  reporter, already high, shot up several notches.

"She did." Claude met his gaze, and it was apparent that  his admiration for his wife was also boundless. "I had to  tell her all, including what I knew about the man we were  both interested in. And she insisted that we should work  together. That, I confess, wasn't easy. We were not  investigating this man as a Planet story, and without any  kind of proof, nor could we. And anyway, my superiors do  not want his attention drawn to the fact that someone is  interested in him. So my chere Lois suggested that we  pretend to have an affair; that would explain the fact that  we would be spending time together."

Claude paused again, reaching to take Lois's hand. "That  was not an appropriate solution, for me. With my  reputation, any affair would have to be a transitory thing.  And since Lois knew the truth, I needed to be able to  protect her. The best protection I could offer was to marry  her. That way, my cover became even more secure, and I  could be confident that Lois was protected: I would be with  her both night and day."

"Except when you're meeting sources," Clark pointed out  dryly.

"Actually, she is my handler," Claude explained. "My NIA  contact. I report to her when I have news - and it just  happens that this week, thanks to the good work you and  Lois have been doing on your investigation, there has been  much to report."

"You seem very... close to this handler," Clark said  gruffly, almost aggressively; he was still feeling as if  the ground had been pulled from under him, and he wasn't  sure how to react.

Claude glanced at Lois, then said apologetically, "We...  care about one another. It is possible that, once this job  is finished, we may... become involved. Or we may not.  That's the way life is when you are a secret agent - many  relationships are transitory."

*Lois* was a transitory relationship? Again Clark felt his  blood boiling. "So you'll dump Lois and go off with this  other woman?!"

"Clark." Lois spoke quietly, and yet her voice impelled him  to look at her. Softly, she added, "Claude and I aren't  really in love. We're friends, yes; he's my best friend,  Clark. I've learned a lot from him, and he's changed me for  the better in so many ways. But we're not lovers, and we're  not in love. When it comes time for our marriage to end, I  won't be heartbroken. I'll miss my friend, but I won't be  distraught, and neither will he."

Claude covered Lois's hand with his own. "I do love you, ma  cherie - but as a friend, perhaps as the soeur - sister - I  never had. I wish I could say that we'll always be friends,  but you understand that in my kind of job that kind of  promise is impossible to keep."

"But..." Clark protested. "You're always kissing,  touching..."

Claude grinned at Lois, who winked back at him. "Lois is  such a good actor, mon ami - she would make an excellent  secret agent if she ever decided to give up being a great  reporter."

"Well, kissing him wasn't exactly hard," Lois said,  laughing. "He's easy on the eye, isn't he? But that's all  it was. We had to put on an act, or no-one would have been  convinced that Claude the womaniser would have stayed with  me - or that I'd have looked twice at him."

Stunned, Clark slumped back in his chair. All those  demonstrations of affection, the passionate kisses, the  longing looks... they were all pretence. All to maintain  the outward appearance of a blissfully happy marriage; a  marriage which neither participant regarded as real.

Claude - a spy. Lois, his willing 'cover'. They weren't in  love. She wasn't in love with Claude. She was heart-free...

... but she was still married.

Trying to hide both his elation and dismay, Clark clutched  at one straw. "So, who is this man you're investigating?"

Claude looked wary, but Lois said calmly, "We can trust  him."

Claude nodded. "Lex Luthor."

Luthor! Clark hadn't liked him from the second he'd laid  eyes on the man, when he'd accompanied Cat Grant to the  White Orchid Ball. A manipulator, he'd thought, with an eye  to the main chance and, probably, a murky past. It was good  to know that at least some of his instincts were still  reliable.

"We're very close to nailing him, as you Americans say,"  Claude continued. "In fact, if all goes well, my Lois and I  will be staging our 'break-up fight' in a week or two. I  will confess that I'm glad you're around, Clark."

"Uh... why?" Clark asked, lost.

"Lois will have to play the heartbroken wife," Claude  explained soberly. "It will be better for her if she has  someone who can be seen to... comfort her. And, as you know  the truth..." He trailed off, winking at Clark in a way  which made the younger reporter wonder just what the  Frenchman was hinting at.

Clark shot Lois a glance, wondering how she felt at hearing  her husband plan her immediate future for her. She merely  smiled enigmatically back at him.

"I must go," Claude said, getting to his feet. "Ma chere, I  suspect that you have more you wish to say to Clark? I will  leave you to it." With a casual, Gallic wave of his hand,  he left the room.

*********

Lois regarded Clark thoughtfully, wondering in amusement  whether he'd got over his shock yet. She couldn't help  wondering which had shocked him most: the discovery of the  truth about her marriage, or the knowledge that she knew of  his abilities.

"So, Clark, I think you and I have a lot to talk about,"  she told him after a few moments.

"I guess so," he said weakly. "Uh... I'm sorry, I know I  shouldn't have tried to interfere in your marriage..."

"Oh, it's probably just as well that you did," she said,  interrupting him. She knew that would surprise him, but  given the way he'd been looking at her almost non-stop over  the past week, could he really imagine that she was unaware  of his feelings for her? She'd been on the point of warning  him that he'd have to cool it; this way was better.

"What did you want to talk about, then?" he asked. "My...  powers?"

"Among other things," she said airily. "You know, Clark,  you really should think about the potential of what you can  do. You could help so many people, save so many lives..."

"And get myself locked up in a laboratory," he muttered; it  sounded like something he'd learned by rote, she thought.

"Not if you do it carefully enough," she said. "Not if...  if they don't know it's you."

*********

Clark sat rigidly, listening to her.

If they didn't know it was him...

<An extra set of clothes... You never know when you might  need to change...>

A slow smile formed across his mouth as the germ of an idea  came to him.

"You're a genius, Lois!" he said, grinning.

Lois got to her feet, smiling at him in return. "And you're  a pretty super guy," she said softly, coming to stand  beside him. "And... you know," she added tentatively, "now  that you know that I'm not really head over heels in love  with Claude - and that he's probably going to be bowing out  of my life in the next few weeks..."

His heart thumping, Clark said, "Yeah?"

"Well... I was kind of wondering..." She broke off, and  suddenly her lips were on his. The kiss ended almost as  soon as it began, and Clark was only just beginning to  recover some sense of equilibrium as she opened the  conference-room door.

"What?" he asked her shakily.

"Well... maybe there could be more for us than just  friendship, Clark," she said softly.

"You mean it?" he asked, almost breathless. Her grin gave  him his answer.

"And you don't mind about the flying?" he couldn't help  asking.

The grin grew wider. "I only date guys who fly," she  answered, then strolled off to rejoin her husband.

~ The End ~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~ Epilogue, by Kaethel ~

~ Five months later ~

She was burning under him, whimpering his name as he  trailed kisses down the length of her throat. His hands  fumbled between them, tracing the buttons of her short  dress as if to undo them, then changed course to run down  the side of her body and cup the back of her bare thigh. He  was aching to take this further, to sweep her into his arms  and carry her to the bedroom. Oh, Lois...

He belatedly realized he'd moaned her name aloud, and he  felt her nails dig into the skin of his back as she writhed  beneath him. She joined her lips to his, swallowing his  sigh of pleasure.

This was heaven. This was heaven, and he didn't want it to  end. He wanted the moment to last forever; he wanted to be  with this woman for the rest of his life and share every  breath he took with her, always with her.

Her warm hands spread on the hard planes of his chest, and  she slid them upwards to cup his strong shoulders and push  his shirt off his arms. She was going fast...too fast...and  he felt his control inexorably slip away. The kisses she  planted on the side of his neck were almost his demise, but  he held on tightly to the thin line of his consciousness  and reluctantly found the strength to pull away. His wince  was caused almost as much by the frustrated moan of his  partner as by the loss of contact with her curvaceous body.

He let out a long sigh and sat up, brushing a hand through  his disarrayed hair.

"Clark?"

She reached for him again, unaware of his struggle not to  fall back into her warm embrace and resume their  activities. "I'm not sure where we're going with this,  Lois."

Her lips brushed the skin of his shoulder, and a shiver ran  its way down his spine. "I thought it was pretty clear."  There was a pained edge to her voice, and he turned towards  her, immediately wrapping his arms around her and pulling  her to him.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean --"

"It's all right. If you don't want us to...I mean, I can  understand. We don't have to..." She trailed off as he  brought his hand up to tenderly cup her cheek.

"Lois, it's not that I don't want to...make love to you.  God, there's nothing I'd like more right now. I love you,  Lois. I love you more than I ever thought I could love, and  I love you more each day." The huskiness of his voice was  probably betraying the desire burning through his veins,  but he didn't care. He'd always been honest with Lois about  his feelings, always. Except with that one thing that  endlessly tugged at the back of his mind when she was in  his arms, the questions that constantly haunted him and  kept the happiness he should feel in her company a few  breaths away. Not far, but out of his reach. "I think we  need to talk."

She sighed but didn't protest, and she leaned against the  back of the couch, rearranging her dress and looking  uninterested. He knew this attitude; she only acted with  indifference when she was embarrassed or upset, and he  hated the fact that he was the origin of her reaction.  Seizing her hands in his steered her gaze back to his face,  and he flinched at the pain glistening in the brown depths  of her eyes.

"Lois, Claude left barely two weeks ago and --"

"No." It was only a whisper, but the word was spoken firmly  enough for him to stop. "Clark, this isn't about Claude.  This was never about Claude."

"I think, on the contrary, that it has everything to do  with him."

Her hands jerked from his touch and she abruptly rose from  the couch, whirling around to face him. "All right, let's  have it, Clark! Let's have this discussion that has been  obsessing you for months. Go on, ask all your questions.  Did I enjoy it when he kissed me? Did I sleep with him? Did  I ever wish it wasn't just an act?"

He shook his head, refusing to respond to her rising anger  with what would only lead to a heated argument. Still, he  needed to know. "Did you?" he asked softly, almost timidly.

*********

Lois's irritation disappeared as quickly as it had boiled  up in her, and the biting words stayed stuck in her throat  when she met Clark's haunted gaze. His insecurities were  genuine, and she suddenly felt guilt invade her heart as  she realized what he'd been going through for the past few  months.

No matter what her feelings for Clark were--and she'd made  it clear to him that day in the Planet's conference room  when they'd revealed their secrets to each other that she  was attracted to him--she still had to keep on acting the  lovesick wife of Claude Kinet for the sake of her friend's  cover.

She'd done her best to avoid Clark's gaze when the charade  forced her to make public shows of affection with Claude.  Suddenly, the kisses that she'd let herself enjoy on a  purely physical level made her feel like she was cheating  on her boyfriend, and the unexpected emotion infuriated  her. She wasn't linked to Clark in any kind of way; they'd  only shared a very fleeting kiss once, at *her* initiative,  but nothing else had happened between them since. In fact,  until Claude had completed his investigation, put Luthor  behind bars, and organized his break-up with her, there had  been no hint of a relationship other than purely  professional between Clark Kent and herself.

He'd trusted her with his secret the same way she'd had  with hers--or more accurately, Claude's--and she was  grateful to him for not explicitly asking her to keep it to  herself. He barely knew her, and yet he hadn't doubted that  she would understand the importance of keeping his  abilities to herself. In fact, she'd been amazed with how  quickly he'd come to rely on her to help him come up with  plausible excuses when he had to run off and save the day  under the guise of the new persona he'd created.

Superman.

Clark was just amazing, and it wasn't the powers that made  him so special. Under the incredible strength and--all  right, she conceded--the pretty fascinating ability to fly,  he was a shy, insecure man who'd spent most of his life  hiding his real self from the entire world.

Amazingly enough, she hadn't found it hard to keep Clark's  secret from Claude. At first, she'd thought that lying to  her best friend, even to protect someone she deeply cared  about, would make her uncomfortable, but she'd ended up  taking it as a way to ease her guilt at living with Claude  and secretly fantasizing about the Planet's newest recruit.

But until Claude left, she'd had to avoid too close contact  with Clark. It would be too easy to give in to the  attraction she felt for him, and letting anyone at the  Planet get suspicious about the nature of her relationship  with Clark would only make things more complicated than  they already were.

When Luthor had finally been nailed, Claude and she had  tried to find the most believable way to break up without  destroying each other's reputation. She'd refused Claude's  offer to go for the extra-marital affair scenario; she  might not be in love with him, but he was still someone she  esteemed very much, and knowing his name would be tarnished  forever once he left the United States was unbearable to  her.

Leaving Claude because she was in love with Clark was  closer to the truth, but she wasn't fond of an idea that  made her the bad guy, and would probably hurt Clark just as  much.

Finally, they'd gone for a subtler but safer approach. The  waning interest for each other hadn't gone unnoticed by the  Planet's grapevine, according to Clark. Soon enough, a few  shameless reporters had started gambling money on how long  it would take for the Kinet marriage to sink. In the end,  it hadn't surprised anyone to hear about their separation.  There had been some speculation about Claude's  faithfulness, but as he'd reassured her before stepping  onto the plane that would fly him back to France, it was  unavoidable.

Now, though, he was gone, and nothing was standing between  Clark and her. But the months he'd had to spend, keeping  his distance from her, excused the questions she would  otherwise find intrusive and insulting.

"Clark, I won't lie to you," she finally said to answer his  anxious enquiry. "I used to enjoy being Claude's wife,  feeling like I was loved, even if it was just an act.  Before Claude came along, I was alone, I had no social life  whatsoever. Oh, I pretended to have dates, but they were  just your basic interview with a couple of sources or  important politicians. Nothing personal. Even with Claude,  at first it was just a professional relationship.

"When I found out about him and confronted him with the  truth, he was shocked, but his first reaction was to ask  for my help, and it was flattering. To feel needed. To feel  that I could be useful to something that obviously mattered  a great deal to him. So we got to work, and quickly enough,  we realized we'd need some kind of solution so that no one  else could blow Claude's cover. You know why we decided on  marriage.

"So yeah. At first it was nice, to see all my female  colleagues watch us with such envy, because we were the  picture of happiness. Or everyone thought we were. But I  *swear* to you, Clark, there were never any romantic  feelings involved between us. We knew right from the start  that our cover meant we couldn't have any close  relationship with anyone else, but considering how empty my  life was at the time, it wasn't really a problem. Of  course, it all changed when you came along."

He looked up at her sharply, as if shocked by her words,  and she came back to the couch to sit beside him.

"Claude and I had to carry on, but what had been acceptable  until then suddenly became almost unbearable."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

She shrugged sadly. "I guess I was scared...of us."

"Of us? But why?" He looked taken aback, almost hurt by her  admission, and she reached for his hands.

"I meant it when I said there was something more between us  than friendship. Even then, I meant it. And for the first  time in my life, I wasn't totally in control of what was  happening. I knew that if we got too close before...before  we *could* be together, I wouldn't be able to resist, to  hold on for the few more weeks it would take for us to get  Luthor behind bars."

She leaned forward and touched her lips to his, tentatively  at first, then more firmly when he responded and wrapped  his arms around her. But she still needed him to  understand, to know what was happening, if they were to  build their future on a solid basis. "Clark," she gasped  against his mouth, resisting the chill of arousal coursing  through her body. "Clark, I never...Claude and I never did,  I mean --"

"I know."

He kissed her deeply, pulling her closer and pressing her  slender body to his bare chest, and she was lost to the  world. Lost to the emotions swirling in her heart,  screaming feelings that she couldn't restrain. "I love you,  Clark Kent," she murmured against his lips. A thrill of  pleasure ran up her spine as her lover tightened his hold  on her in response, and for the first time in her life,  Lois Lane knew for certain that love wasn't just a flight  of fancy. It was real, it was passionate, and it was  burning there, between Clark and her, now and forever.

~ The End ~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~ And now, the Alt-Epilogue, by Tank ~

Lois was alone in the elevator car as it sped its way up  the five floors toward the newsroom. She glanced at herself  in the mirrored walls. She grimaced at her reflection.  Today was the day. Her marriage was about to come apart and  this morning would be the kick off. She was nervous. She  hoped she could pull it off.

She and Claude had discussed this last night, but the  actual scene was going to be another thing. She just hoped  that the extra little step she took would help in selling  the argument. The car stopped and the doors opened with  their usual chime.

Jimmy was the first person she ran into, literally. "Sorry,  Jimmy, I didn't see you coming," Lois apologized for  bumping into the young man.

"Hey, that's okay, Lois. Lois?" Jimmy stared at her as if  he didn't recognize her. "Whoa, what did you do to your  hair?"

Lois smiled as she fingered the ends of the short, head- hugging style. Her nervousness didn't have to be faked. "I  decided to cut it short. I needed a new look. Don't you  like it?"

Jimmy whistled as he slowly walked around Lois, getting the  full view. Lois rolled her eyes toward the ceiling. "You  know, Lois, if you'd asked my opinion before doing this I  would have said no way. I always thought you looked hot  with the long flowing hair." Jimmy stared some more, then  nodded, more to himself than to her. "But, I have to admit,  it looks good. It looks real good. Sexy, but in a different  way than before."

Lois smiled and placed her hand on Jimmy's arm. "Thanks. I  will admit that I'm a bit nervous as to what people will  think. It's a big change for me."

Jimmy laughed. "I'll say. What does Claude think of it? I  always thought he liked your hair long?"

Lois bit her lip, creating the perfect image of insecurity  and anxiety. "Well, he hasn't seen it yet." She put up her  hand to forestall his next question. "And, no, I haven't  told him yet... it's going to be a surprise."

Jimmy stared at Lois. "Are you sure that was a good idea?  Oh, I want to be here when he comes in. I bet he is going  to go ballistic."

"Jimmy!" Lois scowled at the young man as he rushed away,  shaking his head in wonder as he went.

Lois continued on her way to her desk, but was stopped  short by another familiar voice. "Lois, honey, am I seeing  things?"

Lois placed a look of mock irritation on her face and  turned to see Perry only a few feet away. "What is it,  Chief?"

Perry's grin was mischievous. "Oh, nothing. I was just  curious as to why a woman who for years has worn her hair  to the middle of her back would suddenly just cut it all  off?"

Lois shook her head and gave Perry her best indignant  expression. "And why shouldn't I cut my hair if that's what  I want to do?"

Perry's brows raised. "What does Claude think about it?"

"It's my hair. Why should Claude have any say in how I want  to wear it, or if I want to cut it all off or not?" Lois  answered, feigning irritation.

Perry nodded, his expression suddenly turning serious. "I  see. You haven't told him yet. It's your funeral, darlin'."  Perry raised his hands as if in surrender and turned to  head back to his office.

Lois quickly gained her desk and sat, going through the  motions of booting up her computer. So far so good. When  she and Claude had discussed possible scenarios for their  break-up argument, Lois had flashed back to what Clark had  said about short hair on a woman.

It was well known around the Planet that Claude adored  Lois' long, silken locks. It was also known that she wore  it that way to please him. When she broached the idea to  Claude he had been resistant. He truly liked her long hair  and the thought of her cutting it short bothered him. Lois  used his own reluctance to point out that it would make a  good focal point for the start of an argument. His  sentiments were well known and while it may not be enough,  in itself, to be the reason for a break-up, it would be a  good reason to have a very public argument. The fact that  Clark had been the one to suggest it to her would add even  more juicy fuel to the fire. By the time she and Claude  were through, the Daily Planet was going to be afire with  gossip and rumors about the so-called 'perfect couple'.

"I'm seeing it but I don't believe it. Jimmy told me, but I  thought he was kidding."

Lois glanced up to see Cat Grant standing over her desk.  "What is it, Cat?" Lois sighed.

"I don't believe that little miss 'perfect wife' would do  something so drastic, and against the wishes of the beloved  hubby." Cat leaned closer. "You and Claude have a fight?"

"No, Cat, we didn't have a fight." Not yet, anyway, Lois  thought. "I just decided that I wanted to try something  different. Is that all right with you, Cat?"

Cat held her hands up in defense. "Sure, Lois, that's just  fine with me." Cat gave a shake to her own ample auburn  mane. "Now no one will argue who has the best hair around  here."

Cat was reacting just the way Lois wanted her to, but the  woman's attitude still bugged her. Suddenly a slight smile  twitched at the ends of Lois' mouth. While Lois was well  aware that Clark harbored some real feelings for her, she  also knew that Cat had a crush on Clark. She had managed to  get a couple of dates with him before Lois and Claude took  him into their confidence.

Lois glanced up at Cat, her one brow raised in wry  amusement. "You know, Cat, I got the idea for this haircut  from Clark."

"Clark?"

"Yeah, it seems he really likes an exposed neck on a woman.  Says there is something erotic about it. Drives him wild."  She had to bite her lip as she watched Cat's hand sneak up  and touch the ends of her own long hair.

Cat scowled at Lois and stalked away. Lois giggled and  wondered if the mighty Ms. Catherine Grant just might be  thinking of a radical change herself.

Lois thoughts were interrupted by the chime of the  elevator, indicating its arrival. She turned and saw Claude  exit. His eyes immediately sought hers. They widened in  very real surprise. She had only gotten the haircut this  morning so Claude, even though he knew it was coming,  hadn't seen her new style yet. She took a deep breath.  Showtime!

"Lois! What have you done!" Claude came storming down the  ramp toward her desk.

Lois stood up and tried to look like she was nervous, yet  with the infamous Lane backbone. She had a hunch that the  selling job on this 'fight' was going to be more dependent  on her performance than on Claude's. Not only was he a  consummate actor, due to his chosen profession, but she was  sure that he wasn't going to have to act out of character  in this instance.

"What do you mean, lover?" Lois reached out tentatively to  touch Claude's arm.

He reached up and seized a handful of her new short hair.  "You know what I mean! This! This abomination. Whatever  possessed you to do such a thing?" The anger in his voice  was so real that it momentarily startled Lois.

Putting the fact that this was an act to the back of her  mind, Lois allowed her normal anger to react to the  situation as it was playing out. She jerked away,  dislodging his hand. "Claude, what is wrong with you? You  hurt me! I just got a stupid haircut, that's all. I felt it  was time for a change, and I got it cut. No big deal."

Claude clenched his fists. If Lois didn't know better she'd  think he was about to strike her. "No big deal! You know  how I feel. How could you do this to me? I married a  beautiful, sensual *woman*. Now you choose to look like a  little boy." He turned his back to her.

Lois stomped around until she was again facing him. "Don't  you ever turn your back on me, buster! I happen to like  this haircut, and it's my *hair*, so if you don't like it,  tough."

Clark chose that time to walk into the newsroom. Lois  wasn't sure if it was accidental or if Clark had planned it  that way, but Lois was thankful anyway. His appearance  proved to be perfect timing.

Lois hustled over and grabbed Clark by the arm and dragged  him over to where her 'husband' was fuming. "Clark likes my  new haircut, don't you, Clark?" Lois captured Clark with a  meaningful stare.

Clark appeared genuinely confused. Lois wasn't sure if he  was play acting or really thrown by her and Claude's scene.  "Ah, yeah... it looks good, Lois."

Lois turned back to Claude, a look of triumph on her face.  "See, someone thinks I still look good."

Claude's eyes narrowed in a look that those observing would  call dangerous. "So, that's what this is all about, huh?  It's more important to please your junior partner than your  husband?" He reached out and grabbed Lois' arm.

"Ow, Claude, you're hurting me."

Clark stepped up and grabbed Claude's arm. "Hey, let her  go."

Claude shoved Clark. "Don't you ever touch me again! I'm a  real reporter, not some hack from nowhere that has to be  carried by another man's wife!" Claude stomped his way up  the ramp toward the elevator. "And I shouldn't have to, but  I'm warning you to stay the hell away from my wife!" Claude  stabbed his finger at the elevator call button. "I'll see  you at home, Lois. This isn't over by a long shot."

Lois glared at her retreating husband. "Maybe, maybe not,  Claude! As in all things regarding me, it will be my  decision." Lois turned to a befuddled-looking Clark sitting  on the newsroom floor. "Are you all right, Clark?"

The astonished crowd of Planet staffers, who'd witnessed  the tumultuous scene, began to drift away, back to their  own duties. Lois looked up to see Perry frown at her, then  turn and go back into his office. Lois glanced around. Most  everyone was purposely 'not' looking in their direction.

Lois leaned in close. "Clark you were terrific. Your timing  was perfect. Everyone is sure to think that Claude and I  are heading for a major marital spat."

Clark pushed his glasses back onto the bridge of his nose.  They had slipped down when he found himself on the floor.  "Yeah... great."

"It shouldn't take much more to convince everyone that the  'perfect marriage' is on the rocks and headed for  dissolution."

Clark stared into Lois' soft brown eyes. His hand, of its  own accord, reached out and touched the soft, short ends of  Lois' new hairstyle. "I'm sorry, Lois."

Lois, confused, met Clark's gaze. "Sorry? For what?"

"For giving you the idea for the haircut. I think Claude  was really mad."

Lois let a sardonic smile grace her lips. "Well, maybe, but  remember, pretending is what he does for a living." Lois'  smile became a grin. "Besides, it doesn't really matter if  he likes it or not."

"It doesn't?" It was Clark who was now confused.

"Nope, it only matters if two people like it."

"Two?"

Lois nodded as she tapped Clark on the chest with the tip  of her finger. "Yep. Me... and you."

(fin)

~~~~~~~~~

And the alternative endings as follows:

~ Part Two by Meredith  ~

The minister pronounced the final blessing, and the small  crowd began to break up.  Perry White, his silver hair  shining in the late autumn sunshine, moved across to the  slender figure in the black dress.

"My dear, I'm so sorry," he said gently.  "Clark was such a  good man - and one of the finest reporters I ever had the  pleasure of working with."

The woman bowed her head and dabbed at her eyes with a  black lace handkerchief.  Her hair was cropped short enough  to be almost invisible beneath her hat, exposing the long,  graceful line of her neck.  "Thank you, Perry," she said  huskily.  "I'm just so grateful I have five wonderful years  as his wife to remember.  And it was mercifully quick."

Another man approached, and put a protective arm about her  shoulders.  Perry turned to him and held out his hand.   "Claude," he said sombrely.  "Such a dreadful loss.  An  incredible reporter... and you made her so happy."

"Thank you, Perry," Claude said jerkily, gripping the  outstretched hand for a moment.  Perry breathed a silent  sigh of relief that he had escaped one of Claude's Gallic  hugs.  "She went on the job... it was what she would have  wanted, I think.  I was always telling her to be more  careful, but for her the story was all.  And Superman was  always there to save her."

"Even this time," Perry agreed.  "Who could have guessed  there'd be Kryptonite in the bomb?  I hope you two kids are  staying away from the State Memorial Service.  I know he  was a close friend of all four of you, but you need to  think of yourselves now."

Lana nodded.  "Claude and I are going to go up into the  mountains for that week, to get away from it all."

Her voice broke on the last word, and Claude hugged her  shoulders a little tighter.  "Lana, cherie - let me take  you home now.  You should rest.  Perry, thank you for being  here with us.  I know both Clark and Lois thought very much  of you, as their editor and their friend."

Perry nodded and watched the tall, striking couple leave.   <Such a senseless waste,> he thought sadly.  <And so little  left of the bodies that they had to analyse the clothing to  find out who was there...>

**********

A time window opened in Centennial Park, Metropolis, and a  dapper old gentleman stepped out. He loosened his  anachronistic overcoat, ran a fine silk handkerchief over  his forehead and then looked up at the statue in front of  him.  "To the founders of Utopia", read the inscription in  flowing script, and Wells smiled benignly.  This universe,  at least, was in no need of his expert assistance.

He gazed up mistily at the figures of his favourite  couple... but something seemed to be wrong.  He took his  glasses off and cleaned them carefully, but it didn't help.   Finally, he bent down to read the smaller letters on the  plaque.  "Claude and Lana Kinet", it said.

Wells's mouth hung open for a full ten seconds before he  recovered the power of movement.  Then he began to tremble  violently, all over.  "Oh my, oh my," he whispered.  "This  will *never* do!"

**********

A few hours later (in subjective terms), Wells had the  answer.  In his own universe, Claude Kinet had married a  woman in France, and left her to travel to America.  Unable  to divorce her, he had settled for casual affairs with  every woman who caught his eye, including Lois Lane.

In this newly-discovered universe, Claude's wife had died,  leaving him unembittered and free to marry again.

All Wells had to do was save Sophia Kinet's life, and  another world's history would be saved from disaster.

**********

A time window opened on a cliff-top in France, and Wells  stepped out.  He looked around hastily, and hurried over to  a sad woman standing a few yards away.  "Madame Kinet?" he  gasped.

She turned.  "Oui?"

Wells breathed a sigh of relief.  "Madame, I'm so glad I  have got here in time.  Please, dear lady, I implore you -  reconsider!  Nothing is so bad that you should have to kill  yourself.  Come and sit down, and we'll talk about your  problems - I'm sure you'll discover another way to solve  them."

The woman frowned at him, puzzled.  "I think you 'ave got  the wrong pairson," she said in slow and heavily-accented  English.  "I 'ave no intention to kill myself.  It is a  sin."

Wells grasped at her sleeve.  "Madame, please listen to  me!" he implored.

Her eyes dilated with fear.  "You are mad!" she said.  "Go  away and leave me alone, madman!"

She struck his hand away, and a beam of light flashed from  the strange device on his wrist.  Another time window  opened, this time in the same space Wells's body was  occupying.  His scream was cut short as his body was sucked  away - only his head remained, bouncing and rolling across  the grass to Madame Kinet's feet.  She stepped back,  opening her mouth to scream in horror, and vanished over  the edge of the cliff.

The End.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~ Part 2 by CarolM ~

"Soulmates, huh?"

Lois nodded. "Ever since I met Claude, everything in my  life has just... *clicked*." She stood. "Now, come on -  we've got a story to investigate!"

*****

Several hours later, Clark followed Lois into her palatial  home on the outskirts of town.

"Not quite what you expected, is it?" she asked with a  grin.

"Um, no. I mean I didn't discuss salary with Mr. White, but  this... is a bit beyond what I expect to be able to  afford."

Lois laughed. "My father was a brilliant physician and  great investor to boot. He made tons of money then died  leaving me the house and money for its upkeep."

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that." Clark wasn't quite sure what  to make of her cavalier attitude towards her father's  death.

She shrugged as she tossed her keys and her purse onto a  table in the foyer. "Don't be. We weren't close.  'Brilliant' was in more of a mad scientist kind of way. He  was the one behind the boxers that tried to take on  Superman, among other things."

"Wow. I read about that. Your article, as a matter of  fact."

"Really? What did you think?" She led the way towards the  kitchen.

"Well written, as always. Everything I've read of yours has  been. And that brings me to something else I've been  meaning to ask you..."

"Yes?" She tasted a bit of the spaghetti sauce in the pot  on the stove. "Mmmmm. Claude's cooking is heavenly! Here  try." She held out the spoon to Clark.

He had to admit that the guy's spaghetti sauce was better  than his own.

"Your question?"

"How do you and Claude get all those Superman exclusives?"

"Mon amour!"

"Tresor!"

Clark looked away as they kissed, again and again. He  couldn't quite catch what they murmured to each other and  was glad.

"The French endearments are one thing but that's quite  another, isn't it?"

A beautiful brunette entered the kitchen.

"They'll be like that for hours. We may as well eat on our  own." She stuck out her hand. "I'm Lucy. Lois' sister."

Clark shook her hand and then took the plate he offered  her. She went to the other side of the island in the middle  of the kitchen and helped herself and then put some on  Clark's plate. "This garlic bread he makes is to die for."

She walked to an adjoining room that held a magnificent  table.

Clark followed, dumbfounded. He had been 'wowed' this  morning when he met Lois, but Lucy, Lucy was... wow! Who  was this wonderful woman who had walked into his life?

"So, do you talk?"

"Um, yeah. Sorry. I was, uh..."

"Lost in thought?"

"Yeah."

"Thinking about your next story? That's what Lois and  Claude are always doing when they aren't..." She nodded  towards the kitchen.

"Ah." Clark took a bite of his dinner while trying not to  look at Lucy. Her hair was just as he had suggested to Lois  earlier in the day and what he wouldn't give to be  nibbling...

No, he had to keep his thoughts on dinner and safer things.  Otherwise he'd want to take Lucy in his arms and kiss her  like Claude and Lois were doing in the other room.

He somehow managed to make small talk through the rest of  the meal. He wasn't sure how he managed, but he did and the  next thing he knew, he was being invited to go for a swim.

As they put their dishes in the sink, he noticed that there  was no sign of Lois and Claude.

"I swear, those two are like rabbits. I can't believe  they've been married as long as they have and I don't have  any nieces or nephews yet." She shook her head. "Pool's  this way. They keep some extra suits around for guests."

Ten minutes later, Clark exited the restroom to find Lucy  waiting for him in a very becoming black one-piece. He  couldn't help but notice her wide-eyed glance at his chest.  He should hope so! He worked hard to stay in shape! Two  hours a day hard! Weights, running - someone had even said  once that they thought he was better cut than Superman.  Superman *was* a little on the skinny side for a superhero.

"WOW!"

"The view takes your breath away, doesn't it? The first  time Daddy had us over that was exactly what we all  thought. Mom was insanely jealous. Still is."

The glass doors opened to a sparkling blue pool that really  deserved the description of 'small lake'. It looked like  something out of an advertisement for a Caribbean resort.  It seemed to spill over into the Atlantic Ocean beyond.

"There's a private beach if you go down, and if you go over  the edge, it's really a slide into the rest of the pool."

"Wow!"

"The hot tub is over there and there's a wet bar too. I'm  not sure I want to know where Daddy got the money for all  this, but I'm certainly not complaining! I live out in the  guesthouse for free and I get to eat Claude's cooking -  which is more than I can say for Lois and Claude half the  time!"

*****

Clark hadn't had so much fun in years! Not since, well, he  didn't remember when he had so much fun. They swam for  hours, going down the slide, soaking in the hot tub. They  even have a splash war - which he had won.

Now they were sitting on one of the ledges, just sort of  lounging and watching the stars come out. He couldn't help  but notice how close Lucy was. Close enough to touch.

She turned towards him. "Okay, Clark. Time to talk."

"Talk? Isn't that what we've been doing?"

"Well, yes, but it's truth time."

"Okay."

She moved a little closer. "Is it just me? Or is there  something between us?"

"Us?"

"Yeah. Us." Her fingers reached out and drew lazy circles  on his chest.

"You mean something electric? Something magical? Something  cosmic?"

She leaned in so that he could feel her warm breath on his  skin. "Yes," she replied in a breathy whisper.

He grinned. "Nope. Nothing like that." He turned to avoid  the onslaught of water headed towards his face.

Lucy floated towards him. "Then if I did this -" She softly  kissed his chest. "- it wouldn't bother you?"

"Nope, not a bit."

"Good." She kissed it again. "That?"

"Still nothing." Clark could feel himself growing warmer,  despite his feigned nonchalance.

"What about this?" She nibbled on his collarbone.

He gulped. "No." He barely managed to squeak the word out.

She shrugged. "Okay then. Guess I was wrong." She slyly  moved away from him and then wasn't surprised when she  heard a low growl and felt a pair of strong arms around her  waist.

He spun her around in his arms and whispered. "Let's see if  you feel anything, now." He paused for just a second,  before lowering his lips to hers and for a moment he knew  what it was like to be Superman - to float among the stars.

*****

"You were right, mon couer."

"You doubted me, lover? I know my sister and I got to know  Clark a little bit today and I knew they would be as happy  as we are."

Lois snuggled into the bare chest of her husband as they  watched the younger couple below.

"Now, about what we were doing before..."

"Yes?"

"How about we try again, cherie? For that baby we've wanted  for so long? Lucy is wondering why she has no nieces or  nephews."

Lois turned and smacked him lightly on the chest. "You were  eavesdropping!"

"Only while you were freshening up, lover. Wanted to make  sure they were okay on their own."

"Well." Lois kissed the chest in front of her. "You know  what happens when you do that."

"Oh, I do, mon amour. Why do you think I do it?"

Lois smiled. "As long as you don't use a little 'buzz-buzz'  while we're playing poker."

"Only when we play with others."

"Claude!"

"We'll have to tell him eventually, you know, if you're  right."

"I know. He already asked me how we get so many  exclusives."

"Do you trust him?"

"We will." She kissed him. "Enough about him. Where were  *we*?"

*****

Eight months later, Clark stood nervously at the front of  the chapel, Perry on one side and Jimmy on the other. He  watched as a very pregnant Lois preceded her sister and  husband up the aisle. Claude had been the obvious choice to  give Lucy away.

The last few months had been like a dream. Ever since that  night in the pool with Lucy... That was where he had  proposed. She had come down the slide into the lower pool  and he was waiting with a diamond. She had squealed and  jumped into his arms. He had taken it for a 'yes' and now  here they were. His parents were in the front row and he  was about to marry the woman of his dreams.

He was happy.

He had found his soulmate.

What more could he ask for?

*****  fin

May 2002

Tank Wilson <tankw1@aol.com> Wendy Richards <Wendy@lcfanfic.com> Kaethel <Kaethel@wanadoo.fr> Meredith Knight <Meredith@putwet.demon.co.uk> CarolM <carolmfolc@gmail.com>

Table of Contents

Missed Opportunity, or Too Late to Love

~ Part One by Tank ~

~ Part 2 by Wendy ~

~ Epilogue, by Kaethel ~

~ And now, the Alt-Epilogue, by Tank ~

~ Part Two by Meredith ~

~ Part 2 by CarolM ~