The next few weeks were positively surreal, both for Clark and for Lois. In some ways, it was like a long undercover assignment, only they were undercover as themselves. At the office, or anywhere in public, they did their best to act as if nothing had changed. Lois never let on that she was in on The Secret. She quarreled with Clark about horning in on her story on the Metros gang. She complained loudly about her greenhorn partner. She accused him of male chauvinism after he slapped her butt and dropped her in a dumpster. Clark argued with Lois about taking too many risks. He teased her unmercifully about her chicken costume and her cocktail waitress uniform. And he accused her of being jealous of Toni Taylor.
But in private, they dropped the act and were honest and open with each other. They both needed that down-time when they could just be themselves, and they took to spending almost every evening together, hanging out most often at his apartment. Lois told Clark in advance what she knew about the Toasters, their link to Toni Taylor and Toni’s link to Lex Luthor. They couldn’t use Lois’s inside information in their stories. They still had to gather the evidence that Perry would require before they went to print, and “Lois knows because she’s from the future” sure wasn’t going to cut it. Besides, they still weren’t certain whether they should be changing the timeline more than necessary. For now, they drew the line at saving lives (like Allie’s and Max Mencken’s), but otherwise tried to keep things as similar to the original timeline as they could.
But boy, all that inside knowledge sure saved a lot of misunderstanding and hurt pride that had gotten between the young Lois and Clark the first time around. And it saved Lois some discomfort and inconvenience. For one thing, she didn’t have to spend a night in a rat-infested warehouse in order to know what Toni Taylor and the Toasters were up to.
On the other hand, it also added some discomfort from other sources. It was nerve-wracking for Lois even to be in the same room with Lex Luthor, let alone act as if she were taken in by his philanthropist façade. And she didn’t dare share *all* of her Lex Luthor history with Clark. She was starting to wonder whether she should be doing something about Lex—something to bring him down earlier than had happened before. There were probably even lives involved. But that would be such a drastic change of the timeline, she just didn’t know what to do. She hoped that Mr. Wells would turn up soon. She’d never been stuck out of her own world for this long.
At least she could confide her troubles in Clark. She’d come to depend on the close relationship she shared with her husband. There were so few people who knew what their lives really entailed, they had no choice but to rely on each other. Not that they minded. She loved being married to her best friend. And, while this young Clark was not her husband, he was a good friend. It felt especially good to vent to him when she had Amy Valdez living with her. Lois was much more confident in her mothering skills this time around, but she didn’t have personal experience mothering a pre-teen girl, and it was still tricky trying to gain Amy’s trust enough to get her to lead them to the other “Smart Kids.” And, it made her miss her own kids even more.
Meanwhile, Clark was dealing with his own mixed feelings. It was a tremendous relief to be able to be honest with Lois. He loved the time they spent just hanging out together. He’d never had a friend with whom he could truly be himself. It was positively liberating. And she really was his friend. She alone, besides his parents, understood the pressures he faced just living his life. And she helped him bear the burden. She covered for him when he had to leave work suddenly. She encouraged him to be honest with her and with himself about the state of his own emotions when a rescue went wrong. She constantly reminded him that he wasn’t God and therefore couldn’t be expected to be everywhere or save everyone.
But she was driving him crazy. He didn’t think she even realized how often she touched him. A hand on his shoulder, a pat on his chest, a proprietary linking of arms as they walked. She didn’t really mean anything by them. They were just common, everyday gestures to her. Maybe this was even how she had been with Him when they were first getting to know each other. But to Clark, who loved her and knew he couldn’t have her—couldn’t even hope to win her—it was torture.
And where was Mr. Wells? Lois was starting to get desperate. She had been determined not to let anyone else in on The Secret, but at some point she was going to have to give in and track down Bernie Klein. He was the only person she knew who A. could be trusted to keep Clark’s secret and B. had some hope of inventing something which would allow her to signal Mr. Wells. Even that was a long shot. But she couldn’t just stay here forever. Hmmm….how long would it take Wells to realize that this Lois and Clark were not going to get married, let alone have kids….<That would put a damper on Utopia, wouldn’t it, Herb?> She wasn’t going to wait that long. Looking ahead, she realized that she couldn’t allow herself to still be there when Miranda showed up with her pheromone perfume. Lois might not be able to control herself, and it would be terribly unfair to expect poor Clark to keep her in check. So, if she hadn’t heard from Herb by the time she got back from Smallville, it would be time to initiate Plan B.
Smallville. That was a comforting thought. Lois was looking forward to a few days in her favorite get-away spot. She loved Martha and Jonathan like her own parents. She was closer to them than she was to her own parents. And, even though this Martha and Jonathan didn’t know her yet, and even though she still had to figure out how to deal with Jason Trask, she was still anticipating the comfort of just being in their home for a few days and the warm welcome she knew she’d receive.
She was in for a rude awakening.
*****
Clark Kent was tired. First, he had spent the entire flight from Metropolis to Wichita trying not to break Lois’s fingers in his death grip. He hated flying. Commercially, that was. But they had to keep up appearances, and Perry White would be expecting their expense report to come across his desk with two plane tickets included. Then, Lois had spent most of the drive on the interstate trying to convince Clark that the time had come to deviate from the timeline in an attempt to flag down the elusive Mr. Wells. They were still debating the point as Clark pulled the rental car off the interstate onto the two-lane state highway that would lead them into Smallville.
“Lois, you’re talking about our kids’ future. There has to be another way.”
“There may be, Clark. If Wells doesn’t show up this week, I’m going to track down a scientist friend of mine. But Bernie doesn’t know me yet, so I don’t know how he’ll react. And, even if he agrees to help us, there’s no guarantee that he can. Even a genius like Bernie Klein is limited by the available materials and equipment. And I don’t know enough about how the time machine works to be able to help him. Let alone the soul tracker since I would like to have my body back, and I’m sure your Lois would, too.”
His Lois. Clark didn’t really think of the young woman he had first met at his interview as His Lois anymore. By now, he’d known this older Lois for just as long. And, frankly, he liked her better. But that was beside the point.
“I don’t know, Lois, it still seems like an awfully big risk. I mean, we’ve put so much effort into preserving the timeline so that you even have a future to go back to. It just seems a shame to blow it all now. Maybe we should try a less subtle method of advertising for him first.”
“That’s no use, Clark. If he hasn’t seen the ads we’re already running, there’s no reason to think he’d see anything else that would be subtle enough not to grab unwanted attention from someone else. And it’s been so long. Even if we could keep preserving this timeline forever, what’s going to happen when your Lois gets back? How is she not going to notice that six weeks have passed? I think we’re already operating way off the map.
Besides, I really don’t want you exposed to kryptonite. You don’t know how close Trask came to killing you last time. And your life wasn’t saved by anything I did. It was Rachel Harris who shot Trask, and not a moment too soon. Ten seconds difference in the chain of events could be fatal, Clark. Our kids would have no future anyway because their father would be dead!”
That stung. He thought they were friends. Now she only cared about his life because it would one day belong to her husband? She must have seen the hurt look on his face, because she hurried to reassure him.
“Clark! I’m sorry! I didn’t mean that the way it sounded. You know I care about you, don’t you? I want desperately to get home to my family, but, even if I could never go back, if I was stranded here forever, I’d still be your friend. You believe me, don’t you?
He sighed, “Yeah, Lo. I know you care about me. It’s just not the same.”
“I know, Clark. You’ll have your Lois back soon, I’m sure. And one day it will be the same for you, too. You’ll see.”
Maybe. If he could get her back. And if he knew what to do with her once he did. He’d rather have this one, but that obviously wasn’t an option.
In an obvious attempt at lightening the atmosphere, Lois let out a contented sigh. “I can’t wait to see your folks. I love your parents, CJ. They’re just so…normal. I know they don’t know me yet, but they’re always so welcoming. It’ll be good to be in Smallville for a while.”
Clark hesitated. He hated to burst her bubble, but…”Um, Lois, I wouldn’t get your hopes too high. I mean, I’ve told my folks all about you, and I think my mom has her back up. She doesn’t believe you’re really from the future, and she thinks you want something from me. So, I’m afraid she might be doing the Mama Bear thing, if you know what I mean. She’s going to take some winning over.”
“Clark! You told Martha I was from the future?! What were you thinking? Oh, wait, what was I thinking? You’re the original mama’s boy; of course you told her.”
“Lois! I am not a mama’s boy. It isn’t my fault that you and my parents are the only people I can really talk to.” The next part would sting, but he was mad, so he said it anyway, “And it’s not my fault that you can’t talk to your parents, either!”
Lois could have struck back. Hard. But she didn’t. She remembered that this was not her husband she was talking to. This was a younger man with a thinner skin who had been a good friend to her for the last several weeks, despite how difficult it must have sometimes been for him. And besides, she could see from his expression that he was already sorry he had lashed out at her.
“I know it’s not, CJ. I’m sorry I hurt you. You’re right, you’re not really a mama’s boy. I still wish you hadn’t told them, though. Martha Kent with her back up is not a pleasant prospect.”
“Yeah, Lo, tell me about it.”
****
“I don’t understand, Martha. If you are so sure that this Lois Lane person is out to swindle Clark somehow, then why are we inviting her to stay with him at our house? Surely she can get a hotel room, Corn Festival or no.” Jonathan Kent was packing his grilling gear –apron, long-handled spatula, tongs, plenty of paper towels—into a canvas bag while his wife filled the dishwasher.
“Because, Jonathan, I’ll be able to keep an eye on her better if she’s here. She’s had Clark to herself for weeks, feeding him this nonsense about time travel, and he’s eating it up. I don’t know what’s gotten into that boy, but I intend to put a stop to it once and for all.”
“I don’t like it any more than you do, Martha, but Clark is a grown man. And, apparently, there isn’t much he hasn’t already told her. You know that I didn’t want him telling anyone about what he can do. You know how strongly I warned him against it. But, as far as Lois Lane is concerned, the cat is out of the bag. It’s too late to change that now. At least she hasn’t published anything.”
“Yet. I just don’t trust her, Jonathan. You heard how Clark was talking about her, even from the first day he met her. Our boy has fallen hard. And at first I was all for it. It’s about time he finds someone to love. But not this one. She’s up to something. I just have to find out what. And that is why she’s staying at our house.” Martha closed the dishwasher and started the cycle. Jonathan picked up his bag and took the keys to his pick-up truck from their hook.
“Well, come on then, Martha. My turn at the grill starts in twenty minutes.”
****
Lois was feeling even stranger than when she first arrived in this time frame. At least the people in Metropolis knew who Lois was, even if they didn’t know how old she was. Here at the Lowell County Corn Festival she was surrounded by familiar faces---Maisie Garver, Helen Randolph, Pete Ross’s folks, Sarah and Dennis. She even knew most of the kids –they were teens in her day, but she could still recognize them. The trouble was, not one of them had a clue who Lois Lane even was. Not even her best friend in Smallville, Rachel Harris.
At first, Lois had argued for skipping the Festival altogether and heading straight for the Kent farm. But Clark had pointed out that his folks would be at the festival and it might be more politic to wait and let them be the ones to show Lois around the house. Besides, even if they didn’t really need to go looking for Wayne Irig, they needed to look like they were. They might need Rachel’s help later, and it would be good to lay the groundwork now.
What she had really wanted to do was bulldoze her way straight past Carol Sherman at the Irig farm and catch Jason Trask in the act of kidnapping. But Clark checked in on Wayne with his enhanced vision and, though he looked uncomfortable, he wasn’t injured. Trask would just claim that Wayne was being questioned about the supposed pesticide contamination. They were unlikely to be able to make any charges stick.
So now Lois was on her way to meet Martha Kent. And she was not looking forward to it. As they drew closer to the barbeque area where Jonathan was manning the grill, Clark intentionally put his arm around Lois’s shoulder. If they were going to have to face a hostile Martha Kent, they were at least going to present a united front.
Martha saw them before they saw her. “Clark!” she called out to her son as she dashed up to enfold him in a welcoming hug. Clark smiled as he returned her greeting, then stepped aside to reveal Lois standing on the other side of him.
“Mom, I’d like you to meet Lois Lane. Lois, my mother, Martha Kent.”
Lois gave her warmest smile and held out her hand, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Kent.”
The warmth left Martha’s face in a rush. It was a cool hand and a cool greeting that met Lois’s. “How do you do, Miss Lane.” Oh. So that’s the way it was going to be.
Jonathan was a little more welcoming than Martha. But not by much. Clearly, he was taking the wait-and-see approach. Lois was walking on eggshells all evening. She barely said two words during the barbeque supper that the four Kents shared. <I’m still a Kent, even if they don’t know it,> Lois thought stubbornly. She was glad for the time alone in the car with Clark as they followed Jonathan’s pick-up truck out to the farm after supper.
As soon as they all entered the Kent house, Martha lost no time in getting herself alone with Lois. “Clark, why don’t you and your father put the packages away and make up the sofa bed? I’ll show Lois upstairs to your room.” It was a pretty transparent ploy, but the confrontation was inevitable, and Lois gave Clark a brave half-smile as she turned to follow Martha up the stairs to Clark’s old room. She set down her overnight bag and closed the door behind them.
“Now, Miss Lane, while my son is otherwise occupied, you and I are going to have a little chat.”
