By Annette Ciotola (AMCiotola@aol.com)
Summary: Lois and Clark decide independently that it's time to move their relationship forward. How will secrets be received? A story inspired by the song "I Cross My Heart," performed by George Strait.
The song "I Cross My Heart" was written by Steve Dorff and Eric Kaz and performed by George Strait. I believe it strongly explains how Clark feels for Lois. If you agree E-mail me (AMCiotola@aol) Well e-mail me if you disagree, it's my first fanfic, so all comments are appreciated. "I Cross My Heart" was taken from the movie Pure Country. It is found on the soundtrack. If you have not heard this song I suggest that you find it and listen to it, it is a beautiful piece. The movie ain't bad either!! Anyway this may not follow any of the episodes, but it's my story inspired by a song! Oh yeah, you know all the disclaimer mumbo, jumbo!!
***
Clark was tired of playing this old cat and mouse game with Lois. While at one moment she seemed as if she was totally into Clark, the next she was denying that they were anything more than friends, just partners, nothing more. Oh, they occasionally went out to eat or a movie or just stayed in and rented movies. Was that considered dating? No matter. He wanted more. He loved her more than anything. To prove that love he would tell her everything. Tonight.
Clark sighed. He invited Lois to dinner at his place and intended on proposing to her, but not before he told her everything. He had to make her see that he couldn't be without her. As Clark or Superman.
Superman! She was really going to be upset with him for not telling her sooner. *That's just a chance you'll have to take, Kent,* he thought. Anger would be just an initial reaction, one to be expected. She'd recover quickly. Oh wait, this was Lois Lane he was talking about. *Then you'll just have to use your farmboy charm on her.*
It grew late so Clark was forced from his thoughts to prepare for the evening ahead.
***
Lois looked through her closet trying to decide what to wear over to Clark's. Nothing she had seemed right. *Tonight is going to be a special night for you, Clark,* she silently declared. She would tell him how she really felt for him. This kind-of-dating-but-not-really-dating-friendship- partnership-thing wasn't working anymore. She loved Clark and she knew in her heart that he felt the same for her. At least her heart hoped he did. She did know that there was something, some secret, that was holding him back from expressing that undeclared love. No matter what it was, she would love him till the end of time. He could tell her that he was this alien from another planet and she wouldn't care.
Ah-ha she found the perfect dress. A tight black dress with spaghetti straps that settled about two inches from her knees. She knew that it had an effect on Clark. She wore it to the last Kerth Award dinner she attended with him. Boy, did she enjoy his suffering that night. She had caught him, more than once, stealing sidelong glances at her. Not that she didn't take any of her own. Even when they had first met, his effect on her was more that she would care to admit, and no one would have even guessed it. She buried it well. Until now, she sighed. She noticed the time and hurried to get ready. He told her eight and it was nearly seven. She picked out the accessories and started to dress.
***
His apartment look perfect for the woman he loved. The table set for an intimate dinner for two. Lights low, music playing softly on the CD player. Clark sat on couch waiting for Lois. She would be there soon.
*I think I'm losin' my nerve,* Clark thought. No, he had to do this. They had been apart, in a sense, too long. *Oh my god,* he stood up quickly, *flowers!* He had everything but flowers. Her favorite scented candle's lit on the table, her favorite dinner, Chinese(he hoped she would like it. She never seemed to tire of it), and her favorite dessert, chocolate. He rubbed his head trying to think. All the flower shops he knew of were closed at this now. Suddenly he had an idea. He zipped out the window and quickly to Smallville where he plucked twelve red roses from his mom's rose garden. He hoped his mom wouldn't mind, she would understand when he explained later.
He had just gotten back and had the roses in a vase on the table when he heard her knocking. He literally flew to the door, stopping just before he opened it to adjust his tie.
"Hi!" Clark just stood there staring at the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on. At that moment Clark had forgotten who he was, where he was, what he was doing, and how to speak. "I've never seen a reporter at a loss for words, " Lois lightly teased him. When he didn't respond, "Clark? Are you OK?"
"Huh?" he blushed, embarrassed for staring at her. "Um…hi, Lois! W-wow, you look beautiful," that last was barely a whisper.
While he didn't move, but continued to stare, Lois did some staring herself, he looked great!
She cleared her throat. "While farmboys like you don't mind picnicking from time to time, I don't think your neighbors would appreciate us taking up the hall, so why don't we move inside and save that idea for another night." That seemed to break him from his trance. He stepped aside for her to enter his apartment. "Sorry." His face was completely red.
"Wow, this looks so nice. I'm glad I took the time to get dress up. I wasn't sure what to wear and all, but with what you have done here and all…" her voice trailed off.
"Anything on you would look perfect. Dinner is all ready." He pulled out a chair for Lois and motioned for her to sit.
Lois leaned forward and sniffed the roses, "These are beautiful."
"I'm glad you like them because they are for you. I just took the liberty of putting them in some water." she smiled at him. Her smile was warm. He relaxed a little and smiled back.
"I hope you like Chinese."
She threw him a look and said, "As if I didn't. Where did you get it from? That place around the corner?"
"Nope! Made it myself." He made a plate for both of them and set them on the table. He took the seat closest to Lois.
She tasted it without hesitation. She knew Clark was an excellent cook. Because of all the traveling he had done, he seemed to be a master in the culinary arts. "Mmmmm, this is delicious."
*You look delicious,* He thought.
***
They talked about quite a few things over dinner, work, where he traveled, Perry, his parents, Jimmy, her parents, and then the conversation steered its way back to work and an article they were currently working on.
After dinner and dessert they settled on the couch, sipping coffee. At that moment, they seemed lost in each other's eyes. "Clark, you look so serious. Is there anything wrong?" She looked worried. "You don't seem yourself. Well, you are more relaxed than when I first arrived. But…" she reached over to touch his cheek.
Clark leaned over and brushed his lips against hers. "I've got some things on my mind. Some things I want to share with you," he paused. Lois took his hands in hers. "There is something I've wanted to tell you about myself. But before I tell you, I want you to know that I love you, I have since the very first moment that I laid eyes on you. What I have to say to you will come as a shock to you. I will understand if you become angry with me but I need to know that no matter how angry you are, you will hear me out totally."
"Clark, whatever it is, we'll get through it, because I lo…" He placed a finger on her lips before she could finish.
"Please, just promise me."
"But, Clark…" He held his finger to her lips again. She murmured a promise then looked at him expectantly, his hands still in hers
He took on hand and began to remove his glasses. He almost stopped because he was afraid of losing the love he saw in her eyes. However, he knew that for them to share that love he needed to do this. He placed his glasses on the table beside the couch.
At first she was confused, then it hit her all at once. The excuses, taking off at unexpected moments, Clark never being around when a major news story broke. He was Superman! She felt all kinds of emotions at that moment, hurt, anger, relief, and finally love. Hurt because she was supposed to be his best friend, why couldn't he tell her something like this. Anger, mostly at herself for not being able to figure it out sooner. Here she was, Lois Lane, ace reporter, the other half of the best investigative reporting team in Metropolis. To think, two identities separated by a simple pair of glasses. Relief began to set in. She was relieved to know he wasn't running from her. This thing keeping them apart had been set free. She felt a surge of love for him, knowing what it must have done to him to bring himself to finally tell her. Finally! They could finally love each other, open and honestly.
"Lois?" he squeezed her hand, "Please, speak to me.."
She began to giggle. Clark looked at her as if she had gone crazy. "Lois?" he asked again. He was confused. He expected anger not a fit of laughter, some of which was beginning to rub off on him. He laughed with her — carefully. Very carefully.
"Oh, Clark, " she sighed . "You're lucky I love you. I came here tonight with every intention of telling you how much I do. I figured it was time we moved this relationship forward. I knew there was something standing in our way, but I had no idea that this," she reached over and opened his shirt to reveal the familiar "S" on his chest. "This is what has been keeping us apart."
Before she could say anything else, Clark was on his feet moving towards the CD player. He switched CDs. He set the CD for song number four and reached to pull Lois to her feet. As the song began he slipped his arms around her waist. He started to sway as he felt her arms slide up around his neck. "Lois, I love you. Listen to this. I think this expresses how much I do more than I can right now."
Our love is unconditional,
We knew it from the start,
I see it your eyes,
You can feel it from my heart
From here on after
Let's stay the way we are right now
And share all the love laughter
That a lifetime will allow
I cross my heart and promise to
Give all I've got to give
To make all your dreams come true
In all the world
You'll never find
A love as true as mine
She leaned her head against his shoulder, closed her eyes, and listened.
You will always be the miracle That makes life complete And as long as there's a breath in me I'll make yours just as sweet As we look into the future It's as far as we can see So let's make each tomorrow Be the best that it can be I cross my heart and promise to Give all I've got to give To make all your dreams come true In all the world You'll never find A love as true as mine And if along the way We find a day It starts to storm You've got the promise of my love To keep you warm In all the world You'll never find A love as true as mine A love as true as mine.
When the final notes rang out, she looked up into his tear filled eyes with her own beginning to mist. She reached up and started to kiss him, he needed no more encouragement and he deepen the kiss. When they finally came up for air, he whispered in her ear, "Lois, I want to be with you for the rest of my life. I know we have a lot to talk about, but I love you so much. You have proven that you love me just as much." He looked into her eyes, "Will you marry me?"
***
One year later…
Finally, as husband and wife, they danced to that same song he played for her before he proposed and Lois knew, from that day on, she would be happy for the rest of her life, with her Super man, Clark Kent.
THE END
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