This Woman and this (Super)Man

By Erin Dawn McInnis

Summary: Lois knows -- now will she forgive Clark?

And here's my second story... Any and all replies, comments, criticisms, etc. can be sent to emcinnis@pris.bc.ca

Please remember, this is meant as a fluff-filled, short, revelation piece with no actual purpose.

***

He had told her. The Truth. His timing had been the worst, with no warning. They'd been on their way back to the Planet after lunch, when they had heard the sirens. A fire had broken out in a building, with people trapped inside. Clark had tried to make an excuse to duck into an alley and change into the suit, but Lois wasn't about to just let him disappear again. With the desperate cries of the those trapped inside the burning building ringing in his ears, and no time to spare, Clark pulled Lois into the alley with him, and, to her amazement, quickly changed into the familiar blue and red suit.

With a quick, "I'll explain later," Clark had taken off, saving the trapped people and helping to contain and then put out the fire.

Two hours had passed before the danger was over. Lois was nowhere in sight. It's probably better this way, Clark tried to reason. This will give her a chance to cool off. *Yeah, right, like that's going to happen,* that annoying little voice inside his head was telling him. Things had been going so well for them lately. They had been dating, and had shared a few passionate goodnight kisses. She had even agreed to go to the Hospital Charity Ball with him tomorrow night. *The Ball! She'll never go with me now!!* They had to resolve this, the sooner the better. Truth be told, (and it had been!) he was glad his secret was out. Now there was nothing left between them, nothing left to keep them apart. *If she'll ever speak to me again.*

Clark, still wearing the suit, went directly to Lois' apartment. Using his x-ray vision, he saw that she was curled up on the couch, eating chocolate ice-cream from the carton. *Big surprise.* Tears streaked her cheeks, but her eyes looked as though made of cold steel. Clark knocked softly on the window. Lois looked up, and calmly *too calmly* walked over to unlock the window, then walked back to her couch. Feeling more nervous than he ever had before, Clark floated into her apartment, and settled down before her. Both waited in silence for what seemed like hours.

"Lois, I'm so sorry. I never meant to keep this from you," the words finally spilled out of Clark, "But the longer I waited, the harder it got, and I was so scared that I'd lose you." Clark dropped to her side, "I saw that you loved me as Superman, but I wanted you to love me as me. The real me." He gently placed his hand on her cheek, turning her head until she faced him, forcing her to look him the eye. "Lois, I love you, with all my heart."

Lois sat there, staring into the eyes of the man she thought had been her best friend. She had picked up the corner of his charred cape, and was fiddling with it in one hand.

"Please, say something, say anything. Cry, scream, I don't care," Clark pleaded.

"I'd slap you but I'm afraid I'd break my hand," Lois said quietly.

A long sigh escaped Clark's lungs. *At least she still has her sense of humor. That's something*

"I'd like to be alone...Clark," she had paused before saying his name. "I'm angry, and upset, and most of all, I'm hurt. I need some time to think things through."

"I'll give you all the time you need," Clark stood up, "but please remember that I love you." Slowly, he turned around and walked to the open window. Lois kept her head down as he flew off, but he could hear her say, "If you ever mention the Cheese of the Month Club again, I definitely _will_ hit you." Chuckling softly, Clark flew to his parents' home in Kansas, and told them of everything that had happened.

***

The next day, Clark wondered about that night's Charity Ball. He had promised Lois time to sort things out, but how long? Did she want to go to the Ball? Did she want to go with him? He received the answer when he returned to his apartment after an early morning patrol of Metropolis. An envelope had been pushed under his door while he was gone, with his name scrawled across the front in Lois's handwriting. He tore open the envelope and quickly read the note inside.

Clark,

I'll meet you at the Hospital Charity Ball.

Lois.

Clark anticipated that night with fear and hope and a thousand other emotions. As he dressed in his tux, he wondered if it was possible for Men of Steel to have butterflies in their stomachs. Clark arrived half an hour late, due to an unexpected stop at Metropolis Bank to catch a gang of robbers. When he finally reached the banquet hall, he searched for Lois, but found no sign of her. *What if she doesn't come?* And then, all of a sudden, there she was. She walked through the open doors of the hall. The sight of her in the black evening gown, with her hair swept up, took Clark's breath away. She stepped up to the side of the stage, and whispered in the ear of the conductor.

Clark was so busy watching Lois, he almost missed the announcement. "This next song will be sung by one of Metropolis's own, Miss Lois Lane."

Lois walked lightly to the center of the stage, all eyes on her. Softly, she began to sing...

Trying so hard just to talk to you Haven't heard half of what you want me to Hurt so bad over where we've been Don't know how not to go back there again I know what I want to say Can I get it through to you now In some other way...

Like there was this woman and there was this man There was this moment they had a chance to hold on to what they had How could they be so in love and still never see Now nothing could be sadder than This woman and this man

A stranger's eyes in a lover's face See no signs of a better time and place Have we lost the key to an open door I feel the need to reach out to you even more It's a circle we're going 'round If we don't get us out from under It's going to take us down...

See there was this woman and there was this man There was this moment they had a chance to hold on to what they had How could they be so in love and still never see Now nothing could be sadder than This woman and this man

For all we've got to lose there's so much to gain If we come this far and leave it behind There's only you and me to blame

There was this woman and there was this man There was this moment they had a chance to hold on to what they had How could they be so in love and still never see We can get it back again This woman and this man

When the song ended, thunderous applause filled the hall. Lois stepped down from the stage, and walked right up to Clark, and asked, "May I have this dance?" Speechless, Clark took her hand and led her out onto the dance floor. Lois leaned her head against his chest as they swayed to the music. He heard her murmur the words he'd been longing to hear. "I love you." He held her tighter, and they stayed that way all night, neither saying anything, neither needing to.

THE END

This Woman and This Man' is the property of Giant Records and Clay Walker.

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