By Jennifer Walsh (brenwalsh@aol.com)
Summary: A continuation of the episode "And the Answer Is …" in which Lois doesn't yet know the secret.
Here is my try at writing a fanfic:
I have never tried writing a fanfic before, but I have read a lot of them. I know that many people have wrote ones that continue ATAI on, but this one was easy to write. Please send any comments to brenwalsh@aol.com or ccma35b@prodigy.com. Thanx!
This story starts where "ATAI" left off.
***
"Lois," Clark asked, looking into her eyes, "Will you marry me?"
"Clark …" Lois paused. "I …" She looked at Clark strangely, staring at his face. She seemed to be debating something in her head. The rain had blurred the lenses of his glasses. Lois reached out to slowly take them from his face. "No," she murmured, "How?" Her tone changed considerably as she realized what Clark's secret was, "Clark? How could you not tell me?! I trusted you … SUPERMAN!"
"Shhh," Clark looked scared as he glanced around to see if anyone could have heard Lois's sudden outburst. But nobody else was out in the rain.
"Oh …" Lois groaned, "How could I have been so, so stupid?" She put her hands up to cover her face, "I'm supposed to be a reporter."
"Lois, you AREN'T stupid. Nobody knew."
"But I was closer to you than anybody. At least I THOUGHT I was!"
Clark was nervous. This had been what he had been afraid of all those times when he had thought of telling Lois his secret. "Lois, you DO know me better than anyone. I wanted to tell you, I really did. And I should have told you before you found out like this … I'm sorry."
"You should be sorry, Clark Kent! I don't believe you. We're partners. Best friends … and now you're proposing to me. When, exactly, WERE you planning on telling me? AFTER we were married?" Lois took a deep, shaky breath, trying to regain control of herself. "I … I thought …" she shook her head. "All this time, and you still don't trust me. And HOW am I ever supposed to trust YOU again?" Lois's eyes filled with tears, and she looked down. There was no way she was going to let Clark see her cry. Not now.
"I don't know, Lois." He touched her chin, "Please look at me, don't hate me."
Lois looked up, "I don't hate you, Clark," she whispered.
"Can you understand WHY I didn't tell you? It could put you in danger if anyone found out, you know. It could put my parents in danger if anyone found out. I … wouldn't be able to be Clark anymore. It would take away any chance of me having a normal life."
"I wouldn't have told anyone." Lois looked hurt.
"I know that," Clark sighed, "I … I love you, Lois. And I care about you. More than I've ever cared about anyone before. I wanted you to know. But I was afraid-"
"Of what?" Lois cut in.
"Of losing you. First to Superman-"
"But you ARE Superman!"
"No, Lois … I'm CLARK. Superman is just something extra. And when you were in love with Superman I didn't know if you were in love with him just because he could fly or not. I wanted you to be in love with Clark."
"I think I can understand that," Lois said softly, remembering telling Superman that she would love him without his powers, and then telling Clark that he was just a friend. "But I DO love you, Clark."
Clark smiled when he heard those words. "I thought you wouldn't anymore after you found out. I knew you'd be upset, and I thought you might decide you never wanted to see me again."
Lois looked up at the sky. The rain had stopped. She looked at Clark, who was looking at her. She looked at the box clutched in his hand, at the sparkling ring. "We better go in."
Clark nodded. They were both soaking wet and Lois was cold. He gently pulled off his jacket and wrapped it around Lois's shoulders. Lois didn't protest.
When they were back in Clark's apartment, Clark gave Lois some clothes to change into. The sweatshirt and shorts were much too big, but it didn't seem to bother Lois. Clark sat next to Lois on the sofa. They were both quiet for a few minutes, neither of them knowing what to say.
"Want some coffee?" Clark asked, finally.
Lois nodded.
As Clark got up to make the coffee, Lois noticed the ring box sitting on the table. She picked it up and turned it in her hands, eventually opening the lid. The ring was beautiful, Lois thought. She removed it from the box and slipped it on her finger, just to see how it would feel.
Clark turned with a cup of coffee in each hand. He nearly dropped both cups when he saw the ring on Lois's finger.
"I think I could get used to it," Lois's expression was unreadable. Clark set the cups on the counter and went over to Lois. He got down on one knee again.
"Then will you marry me, Lois Lane?" he asked, taking her hand in his.
"Yes," Lois said with a smile, "Yes, I will, Clark Kent." She leaned forward and their lips met in a long kiss. Clark pulled Lois to her feet and they kissed again. Lois felt her feet slowly leave the ground. She giggled when she realized they were floating. Clark held them there, hovering in mid air. "I love you, Lois."
"I love you too," Lois said, touching his cheek, "I love you too, Clark."
THE END
(Of this story …)
(willyou.txt)