Wow, I am really impressed! Ann, this was a marvelous conclusion to an equally delightful set-up, so consider me very happy.
When she first discovered his secret, her planning had been predicated by love: he was Superman, therefore she loved him, and she had to show him as much. The more she thought about it, the more that she discovered that she cared for Clark a lot more than she had ever let herself realize. She loved the way he talked to her, worked with her, played around with her. It was kind of exciting to put her respect and, yes, love, for those parts of Clark together with all the qualities that she loved about Superman to make a complete person.
Thank you for getting this in there so early. I'd been a little worried (though not too much considering it was only a two part story
) that she'd only reach the first stage -- seeing him as Superman and trying to figure out how she could use Clark's crush on her to seduce him -- so this was very nice to see.
And you did a nice job, too, of acknowledging that Lois has suspected all along that Clark had a romantic interest in her. I've always felt this to be the case, that Lois knew from the beginning about his crush, and in fact, found it flattering, even if she didn't want it to go anywhere.
“I like it when you smile,” Lois said. Clark’s eyes went almost imperceptibly wider, then snapped to her face. His cool, smiling outside gave away the shock that he felt at those words, and at the tenderness with which they had been said.
“Do you?” he asked, heavily.
I think my heart flip-flopped as much as Clark's did. <g>
All of a sudden, a mask seemed to go over Clark’s face. He bore an expression that she knew well from both of his guises, one of polite distancing. He picked up her wine glass and twirled it around, bringing it up to his nose and taking a deep breath. “Are you sure you should be having any more of this?” he asked. “What kind of perfume are you wearing? You might be...”
And if I didn't love him before, I sure do now. Oh, gosh, what a sweet guy ... the strength and the vulnerability. You just want to hug him. (/me elbows Lois, hint, hint)
“I once told myself that hearing those words from you, directed at myself, would be the sure sign of the apocalypse. Surely the icecaps would melt first. Surely pigs would start shooting across the sky first. Surely...”
Can I kiss him as well as just hug him?
Lois stared at him, her heart pumping slowly, deliberately. She had never realized... The tone of his voice was so deep and sincere. And so full of pain from a long year of suffering. She had no idea how he felt, and faced with it, she didn’t know what to say. “Oh, Clark,” she said. At her words, he took her hand in his and brought it up to his mouth, kissing it gently.
I'm falling ... falling ...
“All I expect of you is to not break my heart,” she said finally, coaxing a smile from him. “I know that I have a lot to learn about you, and you have a lot to learn about me. But tell me you love me –“
“I love you,” he said eagerly, almost giddily.
Clunk.
Awesome story, Ann! I absolutely loved it.
Please don't be a stranger ... we'd love to suck you in and keep you writing for us.
Kathy
