Can't Fight This Feeling

By Erin Klingler (ELK on irc)

Summary: What might have happened the night of Lois and Clark's first official date (in the episode "Lucky Leon") if Lois hadn't chickened out and slammed the door in Clark's face?

Chronological timeline of this story: This is my version of what should have happened that night after Lois and Clark's first official date at the restaurant if Lois hadn't chickened out and slammed the door in Clark's face. This is my version of their first date and first kiss. This story is very WAFFY (any of you looking for a-plots…keep looking!) and this is dedicated to all my waffy buddies on the irc. (Big wave to them!) Hope you like it! As always, comments and/or suggestions would be appreciated. erinklingler@cableone.net

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Song: Can't Fight This Feeling by REO Speedwagon Opening dialogue: it was not written by me, but was taken directly from the 2nd season ep, Lucky Leon.

Lois and Clark walked down the hall towards Lois' apartment, both nervous about what would happen next. When Lois finished unlocking the door to her apartment, she opened it slightly. Then she looked up at Clark and smiled softly.

Lois: "Well…"

Clark: "Yeah."

Lois: "Okay, look. Um, Clark, I had a really nice time."

Clark: "So did I."

Lois: "No, I mean I had a *really* nice time. Probably one of the best times I've ever had. It wasn't the funniest or the wildest, but…"

Clark: "Don't knock yourself out, Lois."

Lois: "It just…seemed to…work." She smiled up at Clark. "It was *really* nice."

Lois seemed unsure of what to do next. She desperately didn't want the evening to end. "Would…you like to come in for a minute?" she asked almost shyly.

Clark smiled. "That would be nice."

When the door was shut behind them, Lois looked toward the kitchen briefly, then back at Clark. "Uh, why don't you make yourself comfortable, and I'll be right back."

Clark nodded and watched her walk toward the kitchen. He shrugged out of his charcoal suit coat and laid it carefully over the arm of the couch. He glanced over at the stereo in the corner of the room. "Would you mind if I put on some music?"

"No, go right ahead," she called back. When she reached the fridge, she took out a bottle of champagne that she'd been saving for just such an occasion. Then she went to the cupboard and took down two wine goblets. As she did, she tried to calm the butterflies that were fluttering about crazily in her stomach.

*Why am I so nervous?* she asked herself. *This is Clark, my partner and my best friend. There's no reason to be nervous.* But despite her efforts to put herself at ease, the butterflies persisted.

She leaned back slightly from the kitchen counter as she worked at opening the bottle of champagne, enabling herself to catch a glimpse of Clark across the room from her.

He was squatting down beside the stereo cabinet, carefully studying her CD collection. She noticed that the dim light did nothing to distract from his rugged good looks and well-defined form. But she learned on their date tonight that there was so much more to him that just his exquisite physique.

It was strange she'd regarded him as her best friend for a long time, but it wasn't until tonight that these feelings and emotions had surfaced. And they scared her a little. What would happen if they started dating seriously and then ended up breaking up? What would happen to their friendship then?

Clark seemed to sense her watching him, and he looked up just in time to see her look away, suddenly making herself very busy pouring the champagne into the glasses. He smiled. She was an incredible woman.

He had always known that, but tonight…wow. Things *did* just seem to work, just as Lois had said only minutes before. He watched her from across the room as she finished pouring the champagne. She was breathtaking. Her dark, shoulder length hair fell forward briefly, shielding her flushed cheeks from him.

He sighed happily. He would never get over how truly beautiful she was. But the thing that amazed him the most was just how beautiful she was on the inside as well. He smiled to himself as he remembered their first meeting at the Planet two years ago. She'd been abrupt and distant, her mind focused only on researching her latest story. He had fallen in love with her immediately, knowing that there was so much more to this woman than first met the eye. And he'd been right. Once he'd cracked open that 'I-don't-need-anybody- because-I'm-tough' exterior, he'd found that underneath was a kind, caring and very vulnerable woman.

The sound of glasses clinking together brought Clark back to the present, and he looked up to see Lois coming out of the kitchen with a champagne glass in each hand. He smiled at her, then finally selected a CD and put it in the CD player.

He stood up when she reached him, just as the opening strains of REO Speedwagon's song, 'Can't Fight This Feeling' filled the room.

Lois smiled when the first strains of music reached her ears. "Oh, I love this song," she said dreamily.

"Would you like to dance?" he asked softly.

"I'd love to."

Clark took the champagne glasses from her hands and set them down carefully on the coffee table. Then he took her in his arms, encircling his arms around her and pulling her close.

Feeling braver than usual now that her 'polite veneer of society' had dropped off, Lois snuggled up against Clark and laid her head against his chest. She could hear his heart beating loudly in her ear as they moved slowly to the music. She smiled dreamily as the first words of the song filled the room, accompanied by the slow, romantic melody.

I can't fight this feeling any longer and yet I'm still afraid to let it flow what started out as friendship has grown stronger I only wish I had the strength to let it show

Lois realized as she listened to the opening lines of the song that the words pouring out of the speakers expressed almost exactly both her desires and fears about her growing relationship with Clark. She'd started to realize how much she really cared about him when he'd been shot by the gangsters and then brought back to life by Superman. But when Clark had asked her out just a few short days ago for that very first time, she remembered worrying that taking the next step with Clark might put their friendship at risk. But she had gone ahead and accepted his invitation, despite the fears that continued to nag at her.

I tell myself that I can't hold out forever I say there is no reason for my fear 'cuz I feel so secure when we're together you give my life direction you make everything so clear

And even as I wander I'm keeping you in sight you're a candle in the window on a cold, dark winter's night and I'm getting closer than I ever thought I might.

As they swayed gently to the music, Lois knew that she had indeed grown closer to Clark than she had ever thought she would. When they'd first met, she'd been determined to stay away from him emotionally, not wanting to open herself up to the heartache she had so often experienced in her past. But as they had continued to grow closer, she knew that she could no longer deny how she really felt about him.

And I can't fight this feeling any more I've forgotten what I started fighting for it's time to bring this ship into the shore and throw away the oars forever 'cuz I can't fight this feeling any more I've forgotten what I started fighting for and if I had to crawl upon the floor come crashing through your door baby, I can't fight this feeling any more.

Clark felt his body melt against Lois', and he realized just how right they felt together like this…here, now. They had something special, there was no denying it. He didn't want to fight the feelings he had for her any longer. He wanted to be able to tell her how he truly felt about her, and then just enjoy loving her.

My life has been such a whirlwind since I saw you I've been running round in circles in my mind and it always seems that I'm following you, girl 'cuz you take me to the places that alone I'd never find

The words of the song made Clark think about how much his life had changed since he had met her. She was so unlike anybody he'd ever met before. She was a flurry of activity everywhere she went, digging for facts on her latest story, and babbling all the way. And he loved her for it. She was so full of energy and enthusiasm that it was almost impossible not to be caught up in it. He found himself drawn to her constantly, and being with her was like no other feeling he'd ever experienced before. And he knew that he could never get enough.

And even as I wander I'm keeping you in sight you're a candle in the window on a cold, dark winter's night and I'm getting closer than I ever thought I might.

Clark felt closer to Lois right now than he had ever before. He wasn't sure if it was the beautiful evening they had just spent together, or maybe it was the words of the song that filled the room as they danced together that helped him realize that they were meant for each other.

He gave in to the sudden urge to touch her, to feel her skin against his, and lifted his hand to gently push at the dark hair that had fallen down around Lois' face.

Lois felt a rush of new sensations course through her at his touch, and she looked up at him, seeing the warmth and tenderness that filled his eyes as he met her gaze.

As Clark stared down at Lois, his warm brown eyes filled with love, Lois knew that for the first time in her life, she was in love. True, Clark was her partner and her best friend. But now, tonight, she knew that he was so much more than that.

The final strains of the song rang out, then slowly faded away. In the silence that followed, Lois and Clark stopped swaying and just stood, gazing into each other's eyes.

Then Clark moved toward her slowly until their lips were only inches apart. Lois' breath caught in her throat and her stomach danced with nervous anticipation. Then Clark leaned down and gently touched his lips to hers. She closed her eyes, enjoying the sweet sensation of his lips on hers, nibbling, tasting and telling her without words how much he loved her.

Looking back later, Lois knew she would always remember every detail about that kiss—the way Clark's eyes sparkled when his face was only inches from hers, the way her stomach danced with excitement when he leaned down to kiss her, and the way she felt afterwards knowing that they had shared something special. Lois knew she would never forget it. To this day she could remember what that first kiss felt like. It felt like coming home.

Fade to black.

THE END

(cantfite.txt)