From part 1:
After changing into her pajamas and climbing into bed, she stared out her bedroom window at the dark, night sky and envisioned the stars above that she couldn't see for the city lights. Closing her eyes, she made a heartfelt wish on those stars--a wish for a better life...a life filled with happiness and love.
Even if love didn't really exist.
**********
Now, on to part 2...
**********
When Lois woke up the next morning, she felt better, less emotional. Her mind was clearer, and for the first time since Lucy's phone call, she felt more capable of looking at things objectively.
As she dressed, she remembered her silly star wishing the night before and laughed at herself. It was something she and Lucy had often done as children. She couldn't believe her life had gotten so messed up that she would think that something as silly as wishing on a star could make anything better.
No, only she could make things better, and it was time to take things into her own hands. If she thought her life was a mess, it was up to her to straighten it out.
Feeling more empowered, she headed into the shower and get ready for work. As she went through her morning routine, she found herself replaying her phone conversation with Lucy.
Love. There was no such thing as the fairytale kind of love she and Lucy had dreamed of and talked about as little kids. And the fact that Lucy seemed to be falling into that trap made Lois worry.
Yes, Lucy had seemed happy on the phone when she'd talked about getting married, but then, her mother and father had supposedly been very happy together when they first got married. And look how that had turned out. Did she really want that kind of life for Lucy?
She got out of the shower and blow dried her hair. As she did, her anger mounted. Ever since they'd been little, she'd protected Lucy--from her parents' embittered battles, from her mother's drunken rages, from the harsh reality of life. It was her job to protect her now, this time from a hasty marriage that she worried would ruin her sister's happiness forever.
There was no such thing as true love. And the fact that her sister believed there was told her an intervention was in order.
Her hands stilled as she applied her eyeliner. Was that what she was considering? An intervention?
She considered that for a long moment. Did she really want to stop Lucy from marrying Neanderthal Guy?
'Of course you do,' the voice in her head spoke up. 'How else are you going to keep her from ruining her life?'
For a moment, bits of her conversation with Lucy replayed in her mind. She had seemed happy. Could it be possible that her sister really knew what was right for her? Could she really be in love with somebody who loved her back?
Lois's throat tightened and tears blurred her vision. For once, she wished she could realize what that felt like--to have somebody love her so deeply, and love them just as much in return. What must that be like? She'd thought she been in love with Claude, and then later with Lex. In both cases, she'd been able to look back and see what a fool she'd been to not see what had been right in front of her. She'd longed to be in love, to be a part of some fairytale-like romance, but in both cases, she'd been a fool.
She shook her head, grabbing those feelings of longing by the collar and hurtling them into the closet in the back of her mind before slamming the door and locking it. She'd been a fool once...okay, twice, and she wasn't about to let it happen to her again. And not to Lucy. She wasn't about to stand by and let her little sister ruin her life.
She knew what she had to do. An intervention was definitely in order. And by the time she was done, there would be no wedding. Lucy would be hurt, but Lois knew she would thank her some day.
Feeling a renewed sense of determination, she finished getting ready for work and went outside to get into her Jeep. Horns blared as she pulled out into a narrow opening in the traffic, but she hardly noticed. Her mind was too busy plotting her course of action.
**********
"Clark! Good, you're here!"
Clark looked up from his desk to see Lois closing in on him from across the newsroom. Her expression was one of determination.
He felt a rush of relief when he gave her a studying glance and didn't note any depression lingering from their talk last night. The look of determination, however, gave him pause. She was not what he'd call a morning person. Usually it took her a couple of hours to get worked up to this level of determination.
He leaned back in his chair, his research forgotten, and met her gaze as she stopped beside his desk. "Morning, Lois. What's up?"
"I've been doing some thinking," she began, her voice matter-of-fact. "Lucy's...fiance..." She stumbled over the word. "...is flying into town next week, and my parents are throwing he and Lucy this big engagement party at my mom's house a week from Friday. I'm supposed to bring a date." She made a face. "The whole idea of an engagement party makes my stomach turn, but there's no way my mother's going to let me miss it. If I have to go, I might as well make the best of it. Would you go with me? We wouldn't have to stay long. Besides, I'm going to need some help with something I have cooked up."
Clark eyed her warily. "That sounds ominous. What do you have in mind?"
"Nothing." She shrugged and tried to school her expression into a look of innocence.
He knew better. "Lois, what's going on?" he asked suspiciously. "You have that look on your face."
"What look?"
"That look that says 'I'm planning something and Clark's not going to like it.'"
She laughed. "Clark, where do you come up with these things?" She waved a hand dismissively. "I'm not going to go into a lot of details, but I'm hoping I can persuade you to buddy up with this Brian guy and check him out. You know...really give him the third degree. When you find out he's yet another loser on her long list of losers, I want to know about it."
"Have a little negativity with your coffee this morning, Lois?" he quipped with a wry smile. Shaking his head, he went on, "Why are you so determined to hate your sister's fiance? What if Lucy is right and he really is a great guy?"
"Puh-leease." Lois rolled her eyes. "When have you ever known Lucy to date a great guy? Huh? Take your time. Name somebody," she taunted. "No? See, I rest my case." She squared her shoulders and tugged on the hem of her suit jacket to straighten it. "Just say you'll go with me to this stupid engagement party and you'll see for yourself what a disaster this is going to be."
Clark pushed his chair back from his desk and stood up. "I'll go with you on one condition."
A slight frown marred her pretty features. "What condition?"
"That you'll promise to be a bit more open-minded about your sister's fiance." When she opened her mouth to argue, he held up a hand to cut off her reply. "You said yourself that your sister is happy. Give this guy a chance before you go all half-cocked and line him up in front of a firing squad."
She put a hand on her hip and gave him a curt nod. "Fine. But by the end of the night, I'm sure you'll see this my way. This guy is going to turn out to be just as big a loser as all the others, and if I don't do something about it, he's going to break her heart. And I, for one, refuse to let her go through with it and have that happen."
Clark's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean, if you don't do something about it?"
"Never mind," she said coolly before turning and heading to her desk. "Just plan on me picking you up at seven. We'll head over to my parents' house and you'll see that I'm right about all this."
Clark breathed a heavy sigh as he watched her walk away. It was clear that no amount of convincing on his part was going to change her mind about this and convince her to give this guy a chance. Not today, anyway. He could only hope that by the time the engagement party rolled around, her heart would have softened enough to be objective.
**********
When Clark saw Lois pull up in front of his apartment the next Friday, he grabbed his jacket and keys and hurried out the door. She was just climbing out of her Jeep and had come around the front when she saw him and stopped.
He couldn't help noticing how beautiful she looked. She was wearing dark slacks and a beautiful red sweater that complimented her dark hair and eyes and made her complexion glow.
He smiled as he jogged down the stairs and stopped in front of her. "You look great," he told her, reveling in her answering smile.
"Thanks. So do you," she replied. She jerked a thumb over her shoulder at the Jeep. "Should we go?"
"Sure. Do you want me to drive?"
"No, it's okay," she answered as she moved around the front of the car and opened her door. "It'll be easier if I do. It's a little confusing to get to my Mom's house."
Clark climbed into the passenger side and studied Lois out of the corner of his eye as she concentrated on pulling out into traffic. Ever since the morning last week when she'd asked him to attend this party with her, she'd been unusually quiet. She didn't seem depressed; Clark had become an expert at recognizing her moods, and the signs of depression weren't evident. It seemed more a quietly determined type of mood, but if that's indeed what it was, he'd been unable to get her to talk about whatever was on her mind. Each time he'd broached the subject over the next several days, she'd assured him nothing was wrong. Even his mentioning the party in hope of shaking something out of her did little but get her to admit that she'd be glad when the whole engagement party was over.
They rode in comfortable silence to her Mom's house. When they finally turned into an influential gated community north of town, Clark's eyebrows flew up. He knew her parents had been well-to-do before they divorce, but this...
The gorgeous two-story Tudor style house sat back off the road and had a long, winding driveway leading to the estate and to the guest house beyond. The main house boasted impressive brick columns, huge window bays, and a huge circular driveway where a handful of coated valets were greeting guests and parking cars.
Clark whistled as they pulled into the driveway. "Nice place."
"I guess," Lois mumbled as she climbed out of the car. She turned her keys over to the valet that appeared beside her.
She walked around the car, and Clark held out his arm for her. She looked surprised, but she took his arm and marched up the long front walk with determined strides.
Clark had to quicken his step to keep up with her. He gave a little laugh. "Lois, where's the fire? When you first mentioned this party, you said you hated the idea of attending. Now you can't seem to wait to get to the door. What's the deal?"
Lois's expression became more determined. "The deal is, I have a purpose for our visit here tonight."
"Yeah, I know. You want me to give Brian the third degree. I remember."
"That's only part of my plan."
"Oh?" he asked, eyeing her curiously. "Care to fill me in?"
She didn't break stride. "Sure. I'm going to make Lucy and Brian see the errors of their ways and break them up."
Clark stopped so suddenly that Lois, still holding onto his arm and walking quickly, was whipped around toward him. She yelped and looked up at him in surprise.
"Lois, you're not!" he gasped in disbelief.
Her expression steeled. "I am. And you're going to help me."
Clark's eyes widened and he shook his head. "No, Lois. No way. You said yourself that Lucy seemed happy. How could you even think of destroying your sister's happiness?"
A look of anger flashed in Lois's eyes. "She may think she's happy now, but if she goes through with this, she'll be sorry she ever said 'I do.' And I'm not about to let that happen. I'm going to save her before she has to deal with a lifetime of heartache. It may hurt now, but she'll thank me later. You wait and see."
She slipped her arm from Clark's and hurried on. Glancing back at him over her shoulder, she cocked an eyebrow at him and asked, "Coming?"
Clark groaned and rushed to catch up. He caught up with her on the top step. "Lois, stop," he hissed. "Let's talk about this."
"Clark, there's nothing to talk about," she whispered back as she stepped inside the entryway and handed her jacket to the man taking coats.
"Yes there is. Lois, what's wrong with you?" he demanded, giving her a reproving look as she moved through the entryway and stopped in the doorway to the living room. "You've come up with some stupid ideas before," he whispered in her ear from behind her, "but this might just be your stupidest one yet!"
She whirled, her face a picture of shock and anger. "Stupid? How dare you!"
"That's what this is, Lois. Stupid." He emphasized the word and stood his ground, glaring back into her flashing eyes. "How can you even think about doing something so mean and thoughtless to your own sister?"
Lois put her hands on her hips and leaned in toward him. He could feel her breath on his face as she hissed back at him. "I'm trying to *help* my sister. I'm protecting her just like I've done all her life. What's wrong with wanting to make sure she doesn't get hurt?"
"Giving her advice to protect her is one thing," Clark argued, refusing to be backed down by the flash of her temper. "But this so-called plan of yours borders on 'running her life.' You need to let her make her own decisions, and it sounds to me like this could be a good one. Why don't you give her the benefit of the doubt?"
Before she could respond, a family friend spotted Lois and came over to say hello, effectively ending their conversation. Lois introduced Clark, and they chatted with the friend of Lois's father for a few minutes before he moved on.
When he was gone, Lois stood on her tiptoes and peered as best she could out over the crowd. Clark felt Lois's elbow in his side a moment later.
"There they are," she stage-whispered, nodding toward the far corner of the room.
Clark looked where she directed and spotted Lucy standing next to a tall, well-built, athletic-looking man with sandy blond hair and handsome features. He watched him and Lucy laugh together at something somebody in their group said, and he couldn't help thinking that they looked very happy together.
What was Lois thinking, trying to destroy that happiness?
He frowned and shook his head in disapproval. Lois was definitely off her rocker this time. He could only wish to be as happy in love as Lucy looked to be.
Just then he saw Lucy look up at Brian and say something, then give him a quick kiss before turning and making her way through the crowd toward the adjoining room.
"Great, here's our chance," Lois said, grabbing Clark's arm. "I'm going to talk to Lucy; you go talk to Brian."
"Lois, I am *not* helping you break them up!" he hissed at her as she started to move away.
She threw a murderous look at him over her shoulder and made a jerking motion with her thumb toward Brian, telling him in no uncertain terms to get going.
He groaned in exasperation and glared at her retreating back. There was no way he was going to be a conspirator in this. But if she wanted him to talk to Brian, at least that was something he could do. But that was all he was going to do. Talk. From where he stood, Brian seemed like a nice guy. Getting to know him better could only help him to somehow convince Lois not to go through with this crazy plan of hers.
He crossed the room and caught Brian before he could engage in a conversation with somebody else. "Brian," he said, getting the man's attention. Brian turned toward him and smiled in greeting, then stuck his hand out to shake the one Clark offered him. "I'm a friend of Lucy's. Of her and her sister's, actually. My name's Clark Kent."
A light of recognition lit up Brian's rugged features. "Oh, you're her sister Lois's partner at the newspaper," he said, his smile broadening. "It's great to finally meet you. Lucy has talked a lot about you and her sister."
Clark's heart gave an involuntary leap at the way he'd said "you and her sister." Did that mean Lucy had talked about them as if they were...together? A couple? Had Lois mentioned something to Lucy during one of their conversations to suggest there might be something more happening between them? Or did it simply mean she'd talked about them in passing during the course of a conversation?
'Stop reading so much into this and get on with it,' Clark chastised himself. Pushing his thoughts aside, he turned back to his reason for approaching Brian--to get to know him better.
"So tell me about yourself," Clark said. "Lois says you're a personal trainer?"
"Yes, but that's only a part-time job to help put me through school," he admitted.
"Oh, really? What are you studying?"
As they talked, Clark realized Lois's assessment of Brian was all wrong. He wasn't some weight-lifting, egg-drinking Neanderthal. Yes, he lifted weights and was a personal trainer, but Lois had him figured all wrong if she thought he had no life ambitions. He was going to college and studying to be a medic and expressed his desire to one day be a trainer for a college or professional sports team, caring for the injured athletes.
But what impressed Clark the most was the way Brian's face would light up when he talked about Lucy. It was clear that his love for Lucy was genuine, and as he talked about how he and Lucy had met, Clark knew Lois would have been happy for her sister. Or should be. Her fears of Lucy not having any stability in her life after marrying Brian were unfounded. Brian was a nice guy and would be good for Lucy.
At least this guy wasn't a cyborg powered by Kryptonite, he thought with a grimace. Brian was perfect for Lucy, and he was sure that if Lois could take a step back and was a little more objective, she would see that, too.
When another couple came up to introduce themselves to Brian, Clark excused himself and nodded at Brian's suggestion for them to talk again later. They had similar interests and had both played competitive ball, and Clark knew they were on their way to becoming friends.
Deciding Lucy's life was in capable hands with this man, he decided to hurry after Lois and stop her before she could do any damage to what seemed to be a very happy couple's relationship.
With a quickness to his step, Clark headed in the direction Lois had gone.
**********
"Lucy, you can't love this guy. He's all wrong for you!"
"Lois, stop!" Lucy frowned as she picked up the spatula and starting removing brownies from the cooling tray to a waiting platter on the counter. "For the past ten minutes you've been telling me everything that's wrong with Brian, but you don't even know him! If you'd quit criticizing him and listen to me, I could tell you everything that's *right* about him." She set the spatula down and licked a smudge of chocolate from her fingertip. "He's an amazing man. He's studying to be a medic and wants to be an athletic trainer for a pro sports team. He has goals and ambitions, Lois. He's not some loser. And most importantly, he loves me and I love him."
Lois made a snorting noise. "Love? More like infatuation. Let me tell you something. The kind of love we talked about as kids? That fairytale, happily-ever-after, knight-in-shining-armor kind of love? It doesn't happen."
Lucy rolled her eyes. "Lois, why are you always so cynical?"
"Why are you always so *un*cynical?" Lois shot back in frustration. "We both grew up in the same family...you know as well as I do what happened with Mom and Dad. And the couple of times I tried to change my own opinions about love...well, look what happened? There was Claude..." She glowered and stopped right there, because Lucy knew all about Claude. "And then there was Lex."
A look of genuine sympathy crossed Lucy's face. She reached out to place a hand on Lois's forearm. "Lois," she said, her voice soft. "Nobody could have predicted that Lex..."
Her voice trailed off, and Lois was grateful. A lump was already forming in her throat and her chest felt tight. Even after all these months, the fact that she'd almost married that psychopath hurt. Hurt more than words could say. But it had also shown her that love was something that couldn't truly exist--not in anything except fairytales, anyway.
Lois swallowed to try to ease the burning in her chest and took a long, deep breath. "I'm just saying that you're setting yourself up to get hurt by this guy, Luce. I don't want to see that happen."
Lucy's expression softened and she stepped forward to give her sister a hug. "I appreciate that, Lois...really, I do. But Brian loves me. He's not going to hurt me."
"I'm sure that's what Mom said when she married Dad, too," Lois grumbled stubbornly.
Lucy sighed. "All I'm asking is that you give Brian a chance. If you'd only get to know him, I'm sure you'd realize how great he is. He's good and kind, and he loves me for me. Just once, Lois, I wish you could feel like I do, and feel how much love--and finding that one special person--can change a person. How it can make you want to be a better person. I wish you could see how it feels to have somebody love you, totally and completely and unconditionally. If you did, maybe then you would see that love really does exist, and that it's the most amazing feeling in the world. I love Brian. He's a good man who loves me. And whether or not you think I should, I'm going to marry him. Maybe if you really understood what love feels like, you could finally be happy for me."
Her words hit home. Lois felt frozen in place as Lucy picked up the tray of brownies and hurried out of the kitchen. Feeling tears sting her eyes, Lois slumped against the counter and rubbed a weary hand along the back of her neck.
Lucy's words hurt. A lot. Her sister had no way of knowing that what she was suggesting was something that Lois longed for and was, in fact, one of her deepest desires--to be loved completely and unconditionally be a good man who she loved and trusted in return. If her sister had known that, she might not have thrown the accusation so lightly.
As it was, the steel prongs of her sister's barb bit into her heart. Lucy was right. She had never been lucky enough to experience true love. But did she have to throw that in her face? She was already miserable enough about her lack of good fortune in that department. Couldn't it be enough for her sister to realize that she was simply trying to protect her? Why couldn't Lucy see that was all she was trying to do?
Deciding that she needed to find her sister and apologize for voicing her arguments so harshly, and maybe try again with a softer approach, she pushed away from the counter and turned toward the door.
To her surprise, there, in the doorway leaning up against the door frame, stood Clark. Judging by the sympathetic expression on his face, he'd overheard at least the last part of her and Lucy's conversation.
Unable to hold his gaze for fear he'd say something to make the sting of Lucy's words plunge even deeper into her heart, she looked away and hurried past him through the door.
She paused a few steps inside the room and watched Lucy approach Brian. Her sister's hurt and frustrated expression changed into one of adoration as Brian broke off whatever it was he was saying and slid an arm around her waist. She lifted her face to his and they shared a gentle, loving kiss.
Lois's throat tightened. It really did look like they loved each other. And the way he looked at Lucy--it said everything. He obviously cherished her and would treat her like a princess.
For the first time in her life, she felt jealous of Lucy. Happily-ever-after didn't seem to be something that existed in real life, but at least Lucy had a man willing to try for it.
A tear slid down her cheek and she quickly lifted a hand to swipe it away before anybody could see it. Just then she heard a quiet voice behind her.
"Lois."
The familiar gentleness and compassion is Clark's voice wrapped around her like a warm blanket. He was there. Just like always.
A sob rose in her throat. It wasn't fair. How had Lucy gotten so lucky to find a man who loved her, when all Lois had were federal disasters for relationships? She had friends like Clark--a good, decent, honorable man--who was destined to remain a friend and nothing more. Why couldn't she be as fortunate in love as her sister? To have men as good as Clark love her and cherish her?
Lucy had found that in Brian, and Lois knew she shouldn't be feeling jealous of her sister; she should be happy for her. And she was happy for her. But it also caused the aching longing in her heart to grow to almost unbearable levels.
Clark must have sensed her teetering emotions because he took a step closer and put a hand on her shoulder. His touch was her undoing.
Tears that had been threatening finally started to blur her vision. Clark was a good man, always watching out for her and caring about her. He deserved better than the way she'd treated him tonight when they'd arrived. He was patient and kind, but he stood his ground when he felt he was right. And in this case, he was. Lucy was happy. She should have left things well enough alone and trusted Lucy's decision.
Unable to stand there and watch Lucy and Brian share loving kisses and meaningful glances a moment longer, she moved out from under Clark's hand and headed for the door. She caught a glimpse of Clark's confused, concerned expression as he hurried to catch up.
"Lois, where are you going?"
"I'm sorry. I just...I need some air," she managed, opening the front door and heading outside into the cool, fall night.
**********
to be concluded in part 3...
