This is indeed a lovely chapter. I smiled when Lois got sad because her car was ready to go. I smiled when they fell asleep next to each other on the couch. And I thought Martha's teasing was both funny and so very in character, as well as both Clark's and Lois's reactions.
It reminded me of one of my first dates with the lady who is now my wife (we were teens at the time). We came back from an outing with my family, went downstairs to listen to some music, and she fell asleep leaning against my shoulder with my arm around her. I was so thrilled that she trusted me enough to sleep beside me (we were sitting upright at the time) that I almost woke her up to thank her for her trust.
I understood completely when Clark saw the sign for entering Metropolis. The city is taking this woman out of his life, this woman who's become so very important to him. And her father, a man whom Clark already doesn't like very much, is there.
One wonders if Sam Lane (who is far colder and far more heartless in this story than in most) is also violent. If he gets so angry at Lois's adventure that he hurts her, will Clark go off on him? Because, surely, Lois won't be able to keep that information from him.
This is a wonderful alternative beginning, and I almost wish it had happened this way in the series. It would have been interesting to see our favorite (but somewhat younger) actors put this together on screen. Thanks for sharing this heart-warming story with us.
