I might be saying this with every part, but this one is now my favorite. I loved the steps taken here, the caring between them both, the playful moment, the quiet doubts of both, and their very open conversation.
I was very struck by the point about how isolated Clark had been and how foreign touch now was to him. Which is incredibly tragic because Clark seems to be a very tactile person.
Another favorite moment--I'm trying to pinpoint just a few so I don't just go over the entire part--is when Lois asks him to counter what Trask and Moine brainwashed him into thinking with what she sees in him. It's kind of a reflection of how Lois wanted to see the world through Clark's eyes in the fourth season.
Another mirror reflection is the fact that this time it's Lois who's trying to be only friends so she doesn't scare off Clark. This is a nice turnaround, and parts of this section reminded me a bit of Clark and Lois's relationship just after the almost-wedding with Luthor.
I love Lois's straight-on method of addressing things--particularly her comment about being a bit impetuous. His return diplomacy had me laughing. The conclusion Clark draws about how he wants to be with her forever was heartwarming.
I can't wait to see what the gift is! Does it have anything to do with the poem?
