Carol, I'm glad that the last step backwards for Clark wasn't intentional. It was really heartbreaking to have Clark retreat back to the point where he was questioning his tie to Christopher. After the *almost*-confirmation of it earlier, I expected his feelings to be deeper, not more superficial.
I'm not saying that his feelings were superficial before, just that his initial reaction to the possibility felt like he was getting confirmation that he wasn't alone on the earth--that he finally had a real connection to someone. We all know that to Clark, the fact that his fathers weren't biological didn't matter, and I don't think it matters to Clark's feelings about Christopher--I think it matters to Clark about his feelings about *Clark*. Does that make sense? In his quest and wish for normality, I think he had to have doubted his ability to procreate.
Now, on that trail, his wife is having a second child. One that he is sure from the start is his. I want him to *want* to be involved, to participate in this birth--not because he loves Christopher less--but maybe in a way to relive and relearn Christopher.
Now as for the discussion about the current chapters, I agree with both arguments above. Ann's right, Lois has shown love for Clark in her concern about his feelings (at the expense of her own heart), but I think she understandably is withholding the agape love because she knows it's not coming back.
Sheila is also right, that Lois's focus is on herself. She's in love with Clark--she's admitted as much. And I don't think that Sheila is saying that Lois needs to extend love to Clark without his reciprocation. The point is that if Lois claims to love (external projection of) him, it could be shown through actions, whereas we all know that Clark doesn't *love* her. He's said that he loves her as a friend, but that isn't enough for Lois. Should it be? For Lois, it's not because she can't yet figure out a way to express her love for him as a friend that is separate from expressing love as a partner.
I'm really glad Clark was stubborn in this part. He's taking some deliberate strides toward finding common ground. Lois is too heart-hurt to go along willingly, but she'll get there. Thanks for the cuddling! Just please, please, please, no more AU steps backward for Clark. He's a husband. He's a father. Let him commit his mind to those facts and stop blabbing everything to Lana. BTW- I may not have met her, but I can't stand Laura Lang...
~s
(/who thought she was cured from her addictive refreshing behavior but foresees a slip tonight)
