By Erica Dias <ericaonline@hotmail.com>
Rated G
Submitted July 2004
Summary: If Clark's phone hadn't rung when Mayson was telling him about her feelings, would things be different? A What-if challenge response.
This would be a response to the "what if challenge" posted by Siggi on the Fanfic messageboards (http://www.lcficmbs.com/).
In this challenge, authors were supposed to come out with a story where if something had happened in a different way, it could change the whole sequence of events afterwards. Let me know if you think I have succeed. Any feedback is welcome.
Special Thanks to SQD and Roo my BRs. Girls, I don't what I would do without you. Thanks to my Boss (LabRat) :notworthy: for GEing it for me herself. I'm honoured!!!
***
It was ten years ago, but I remember as if it were today. I was with Mayson because Lois insisted I should go out for lunch with her. Mayson had just told me she had feelings for me, but what I didn't know was that she was ready to take another step in our relationship.
(What if his phone never rang at that minute?)
"Clark, I…love you. I've loved you since the first time I met you."
"Mayson, I…uh…I don't know what to say."
"Just tell me you have feelings for me too. That will suffice for now."
"I do. I do, Mayson. It's just that…"
"What is it? Is it Lois?"
I nodded, relieved that she didn't hear it from my mouth.
"Clark, I'm sure Lois is a wonderful person, but she is so…so infatuated with Superman that I bet she's never realized what a great man she's had near her all this time.
I was surprised, although I couldn't disagree with her. It seemed to me that, no matter what, Lois would always be in love with Superman. The previous night, she'd proved that by slamming the door in my face. I knew Mayson was right, but I had a problem admitting that to her and to myself. I was lost in my thoughts when she spoke again.
"Clark, I'm opening my heart to you. Just don't feel obligated to answer anything right now. I have a meeting with a client in about 30 minutes. There's another case I'm working on. Can I call you tonight?"
"Sure." I said it with my mouth gaping, still dizzy and astonished by her words.
"Ok, I'll call you before I finish work."
"Ok."
Just then my phone rang.
"Clark Kent. Lois?!? You what? Ok, Superman will get there as soon as I talk to him." I ended the call on my phone and looked across the table apologetically. "Mayson, I also have to go. I'll call you later."
She didn't say anything, just kissed me. I responded.
"I love you, Clark Kent."
I just smiled.
"I'll talk to you later. Take care, Clark."
"I will."
After getting the bad guys, Lois and I were in the newsroom getting ready to go to Mayson's office to give her our statements on the case. But, before doing that, I asked myself something:
* She asked me to call? Or she would call me? Ok, I'll call her just in case. *
"Mayson? Hi, it's Clark. Lois and I are leaving for your office now. If you want, we can have dinner together afterwards. What do you think? All right, so we'll be there in about…20 minutes, OK? Bye."
On our way to Mayson's office, I asked Lois why she had closed the door in my face the other night and why she came back for me that night when she was running straight to an atomic explosion. She told me she couldn't leave me there. She was vulnerable and receptive to any attempt I could have made, but was also hurt, and with another perspective in my life at that moment, I decided not to take advantage of it. Instead, I thanked her and Superman for being there to save the day again.
Lois and I arrived at Mayson's office and she was there waiting for us. She welcomed Lois and moved forward to kiss me. Normally, I would manage to avoid a situation like that, but I didn't do it that time.
I knew Lois was a little shocked by what she was seeing, but she was the one who dumped me anyway. It was something she had to face.
Mayson got our statements and after that, Mayson and I said our good-byes to Lois, who was surprised by my change of behavior.
* What does she expect? She avoided me the whole day…made a fool of me by closing the door in my face. She shouldn't expect me to take her home and be her puppet for the rest of my life. I have to get over it.*
Mayson started the car. We were going to have a romantic dinner, during which we would talk about our relationship and how things would be from that moment on.
A clock started ticking. I X-rayed the car and saw a bomb, but it was too late to make an excuse. I had to save Mayson. The incoming explosion didn't give me time to do anything so I grabbed Mayson and flew out of the car. My secret was revealed. She was a little dizzy, but she knew what she saw. The man she loved was Superman.
"That's it? That's the secret you were hiding from me?"
"Mayson, I…"
"I know, Clark. I know why you did it. You wanted to have a normal life, didn't you? That's what I've always said: You're greater and braver than Superman. You're unbeatable, yet you choose to be a regular guy. Clark, I want you to know that I love you anyway. I love you for who you are and not for what you can do."
She kissed me and I felt a wave of relief and affection for that great woman. We got married a few months later and we adopted a boy, Daniel. Adopting was easy because we are a very calm couple, never putting ourselves at unnecessary risk.
And Lois? She seems fine with that Agent Scardino who arrived in town to investigate the murder attempt on me and Mayson. We're still partners and great friends even after that incident we had. I guess it was just not meant to be. But, it would be interesting to know what would have happened if I kissed her that day. Oh, well…I'll never know.
THE END