Ah, that's better-- everything's fixed up now and, to echo those who have posted before me, they've kissed! Yay!
Seriously, this was sweet, Wendy. I liked this whole story! I love a Lois who takes all Clark's abilities in stride as he reveals them, and I liked how Lois knew about Clark almost from the beginning. I liked how she (and he) put those abilities to use, and how quickly they found evidence to use against Lex once they were able to focus their considerable skills on their investigation.
Lex was so arrogantly sure that he'd be able to eliminate Lois as a threat. Even though she escaped what should have been a certain death by drowning or hypothermia. And escaped an escape-proofed building in the middle of nowhere, amid mountains and dense forests. And got back to Metropolis on pretty much the other side of the country, without leaving any clues in the form of a car rental or airline ticket purchase, and with no trace of her presence anywhere in between.
Faced with that kind of luck, he should have hightailed it back to the beach house to destroy any potential evidence. Imagine his initial surprise when he was faced with the police. And he took the coward's way out by killing himself.
Clark not only saved Lois's life at least twice, he also saved her with his debut in the suit. After a few weeks of heat, she dropped out of the news once her Super Rescue Guy showed up. Then she got down to turning all the bad into good. I liked that she not only donated a bunch of money to legitimate charities, but that she made an effort to right some of Luthor's wrongs.
Lex wouldn't be just rolling in his grave, he'd be spinning so fast you could hear the whir above ground!
And the ending was just right-- you've got them working as partners at the Daily Planet, with Perry as the editor and Jimmy doing his information-gatherer bit. We leave them at what is usually the beginning of it all, with Clark as a new superhero and Planet employee. The big difference is that they're starting their official Planet partnership as friends and more.
One of my favorite scenes in one of the shows (among many favorite scenes) is where Lois and Clark kiss in the newsroom, and one tells the other that everyone is watching them. But neither one cares, even when Jimmy snaps a photo in the background-- they're in their own sweet, magical little world. That's the mental picture I was getting during the kiss at the end of your story-- not so much the specific poses or location, as the sentiment in the scene.
Oh, yeah-- and I really liked the bits you put in about Rachel, among others, after Superman's appearance. Loved her comment! There's an ally if he ever needs one-- like Lois's Henderson, except that Rachel knows about Clark's other job.
Thanks for a good read!
~Toc