I adore this tale. i was thrilled to see a new update tonight. I don't know who I feel worse for which Lois or the Clark who knows how wonderful their life is.

you're not supposed to make me cry when DH is home...

Loving it!

More soon!

Carol

Very nice chapter, I like how we're splitting time between, well, the two times.

Loved that line...

But the second half was so sad, =( However....

*snicker*

I'm glad you're not going to have them sleep together just because "they're still with A Lois/Clark.

It may be tempting for the married party, but it wouldn't be something the unmarried party would be comfortable with.
Furthermore, like I said before, Clark is not the same Clark that he was before he was married. And Lois isn't the same Lois before she was married either.
In many ways, we've got an Alt-Clark with canon Lois and Alt-Lois with canon Clark here. (Only they're both canon, so it's more confusing.)
But married Lois is still in love with MARRIED Clark, not the Clark she was dating a few years ago.
And married Clark is love with MARRIED Lois, not the Lois he was dating a few years ago.


P.S. - I wonder if Clark is going to cach the "Utopia issue" about the kids.
(1)"Tempus likes to mess us up so our kids won't create Utopia."
(2)"We can't have kids."

???????????????????????

(Of course, I tend to believe that the issue will be a little tougher than "Lois got pregnaut and Dr. Klien was wrong!" But it's certainly a clue that they WILL solve their fertility problems)

EDIT: Oh, and I don't mean to burst your bubble or be rude or anything, but I don't think I'm the Sara you think I am. I've only been around for about six months. Hope you appreciate the FDK, anyway. Still loving the time travel.

Loved it. very powerful chapter. In my mind you have opened up a lot of possibilites for this story to go

I think im gonna cry now - and it's all your fault. hurrumph. ok, ready for more now? love the story - thanks for the quick posts!

Have no time!!! Maybe I'll come back later...

But I loved how you made future!Lois so teasing and playful and relaxed around past!Clark - because surely she wasn't teasing him when she sounded half-asleep and asked if he was home and told him she was too tired to make love??? - and how past!Lois was so skittish and tense around past!Clark. (By the way, that thing you said about 'Flois' in the feedback - surely that had to refer to future!Lois? But if future!Lois is Flois, then surely past!Lois must be Plois? You know, that reminds me of 'floozy' and 'police', as if we were talking about Lois's id and superego here!)




Superego Lois (Police Lois) - don't come too close?

[img]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3232/2749068285_78ef9c60f4.jpg?v=0[/img]

Id Lois (Floozy Lois) - come to my red wig and take it off? (And how about that skirt?)

As I said, I loved how Flois teased Pclark, putting her hand on his thigh, smiling at him when he was dressed as Superman and making him all uncomfortable, etcetera. I loved how you brought out how it was Clark who was playacting, with his 'Superman stiffness' in front of her. Say what you will about Lois, but she wasn't playacting around Clark/Superman.

Fclark had to admit to Lois that he was Superman, but then he kept deflecting her questions, making her even more uncomfortable. He is still stuck in his belief that the best way to make Lois love him is to lie to her. Or at least, he believes that nothing is a greater threat to his future with Lois than the truth, particularly if it is Lois who knows it.

But I loved how you ended both segments of this part with Clark listening to and looking at Lois while she sleeps, or while she prepares to sleep. And all he can think of is her. He may be a lying lunkhead, but his love for her is so desperately genuine.

Ann

Awwwwww... Poor Lois and Clark and Lois and Clark. But you can make it better posting the next part today. What do you think?
Please? Pretty please?

Andreia

Wonderful. In a sad way. FClark was breaking my heart there at the end -- he's got this conviction that Lois is too good for him, or that he doesn't deserve her, or that she wouldn't really want him if... etc. Marriage has done a lot to wipe that out, but here it came roaring back. Still with all that, he doesn't even think of trying to persuade her; it's all her choice. He takes that attitude to unhealthy extremes, at times, but it really is admirable -- he loves Lois so much he wants *her* to be happy even if her choice makes him miserable.

However, I want them both happy, so get to work, Sue! You haven't posted since yesterday!

PJ

OMG, so heart wrenching! Entropy is winning! Keep the story coming fast.

Artemis

Oh dear! I felt so sorry for Clark here. And poor Lois, however I suspect that she'll bounce back with her usual flair. This story is so full of potential for comedy as well as tragedy, and I expect to see both as we go on.

I do sympathize with HG Wells' wish to do something about Luthor, but he really should have learned his lesson the first time he messed with Time. Wasn't Tempus enough of a disaster?

Nan

Oh so sad! Poor Clark misses his wife and is afraid to lose her! And Clark who hasn't got a clue is confused and wondering why... Lois is starting to look at her husband of the future with interest. I like that idea. Where will that lead? How can they resist each other? I am sure you will weave all these elements together in a really wonderful and spicy way. Can't wait! Laura

Okay, so 1998 is really putting the M in melancholy...

And then, if that's not enough:

Get, real guys! If you can time travel, you can fix this. Have a bite of a reality sandwich. I find it interesting that Future Lois is totally cool with the time jump, and Future Clark is what, mentally packing up his life for the dumpster already? Get a grip, boy.

Great part,
JD

And completely unrelated, are you kidding, after two and a half years of living alone, you'll never go back to having roommates. But I do need to move if I expect to rejoin the real world, instead of you know, making websites all day in my PJs.

Sue, it's so great to see that tons of FDK causes daily posts

This is thanks for response to my question in the feedback to part 2. (What were the eight times that Lois flew with Superman?)

Thanks!

Also, part 3 is excellent (as usual) in a melancholy way. I look forward to you untangling the threads.

Ahhhhh - it's so good to come home from a long and hectic day and find FDK.

cp33 - I feel sorry for both of them - the Lois and Clark who know what they're missing. <sniffle>

Carol - I swear, I'm not trying to make you (or anyone else) cry. I just enjoy torturing Clark on occasion.

Lieta - Thank you (yet again!) for laughing at the right parts. Hee!

Sara - You know, it took me a day or two, but it sort of dawned on me that you might not be the same Sara. By then, though, it was kinda too late to go back and change my post. I'm delighted that you're reading, no matter how addled my brain gets.

You do bring up an interesting point:
But married Lois is still in love with MARRIED Clark, not the Clark she was dating a few years ago.
And married Clark is love with MARRIED Lois, not the Lois he was dating a few years ago.

All that is true, BUT they weren't married when they first fell in love. Their love has certainly grown and deepened, but it was always there. Give me a few more parts and I'll elaborate.

And, no, this isn't a "Dr. Klein was wrong" story and neither version of Lois is going to end up pregnant.

Robinson - New reader! Yay! Thanks for replying!

sarahg - No tears! Not until the end, anyway. Oh, wait. Uh… No, no tears at all. <g>

Ann - Yes, Flois is relaxed and somewhat playful around Clark, but she definitely wasn't deliberately teasing him when she touched his knee. It was a completely unconscious gesture, one that she stopped as soon as she caught herself. Her sleepy "are you home now" was entirely because she wasn't fully aware of the circumstances.

I have to take exception to this: He is still stuck in his belief that the best way to make Lois love him is to lie to her. Or at least, he believes that nothing is a greater threat to his future with Lois than the truth, particularly if it is Lois who knows it.

Not true! Clark isn't lying to Lois to try and make her love him. He's evading her questions because he honestly believes that he/they shouldn't jeopardize the future by changing the past. If PastClark were the one he was talking to, he'd still evade all questions! It's my belief that Clark is always the more cautious and idiotically self-sacrificing (especially when he can't see that it's actually both their happiness that he's sacrificing) of the two. For example, his "break up" with Lois or his early avoidance of telling her his secret when he believed she wanted to marry Lex.

I'll break the seal of the author's confessional enough to hint that maybe there are things about all four of them (past and future Lois/past and future Clark) that need to be discovered by all four of them. There's a darn good reason (or two) why HG Wells picked this time and place for the swap (on both ends).

You were absolutely right that Clark's love for Lois (no matter which one he's confronted with) is "desperately genuine". Actually, that goes double for Lois - she just might not realize it yet.

Andreia - You always find the funnest little gifs for your posts (I still giggle about the seal). I'm not trying to make you sad, I promise. Things will pick up!

Pam - You said: he doesn't even think of trying to persuade her; it's all her choice. He takes that attitude to unhealthy extremes, at times, but it really is admirable -- he loves Lois so much he wants *her* to be happy even if her choice makes him miserable. Yes! Yes! I'm glad that someone else sees his character the same way! <high five!>

Artemis - Ha! I promise, entropy doesn’t win. <g>

Nan! - Now I have Nan reading, too! <woot!> You are correct - Lois will bounce back with her usual flair. You're right again that Wells should have learned his lesson about tweaking time after Tempus. However, maybe that's why no one got an explanation? <heh> If Tempus doesn't notice, did they really get switched and/or did anything change? <double heh>

Laurach - Lois is looking at her future husband with interest. As for whether they can resist each other -- well, geez, it's Superman. Surely he can resist? <g>

Jen - LOL! Get, real guys! If you can time travel, you can fix this. Have a bite of a reality sandwich. Yeah, we'll be serving sandwiches in the rear of the compartment shortly. On a different topic - what kind of websites are you designing in what kind of pajamas?

Michael - Oh, PastClark is definitely going to wonder about this altered Lois, but he doesn't know yet about time travel, so he can't come up with a good explanation. Personally, I think it's kind of fun for Lois to be the one with the secret while he's clueless. <vbg>

Iolan - Threads will (eventually) be untangled. There's still seven parts to go. We can't solve it all in one part. Well, I could, but I'd be leaving out all the little scenarios that I wanted so desperately to write.

Many, many thanks to everyone who has replied. You guys rock my world!

Hi Sue

Lois is so evil but she should stop talking while she sleeps

And thanks for sending Clark to me but I sent him back after a few hours he wanted back to you in case you need him as an inspiration

Looking forward to it

I just started reading this one today. I read all three parts and then dumped major spoilers on James over supper. (He never minds spoilers, and I like to talk a lot. We're a great couple that way.) I wouldn't be surprised if he starts reading tomorrow.

One of my favorite tidbits was Clark's concern for Lois when she realized that her clothes and hair had changed and her jacket was missing when she came back from her encounter with Lex. I love it when he's protective, especially when he's not lunkheaded about it.


Elisabeth

What? No part 4 yet? Sue must be upping the feedback requirement.

Please don't let this be foreshadowing, please don't let this be foreshadowing, please don't...

I loved the interaction between the two pairs, especially Plark's reaction to a sleepy Flois. Now that Plark knows what Lois dreams about, he doesn't want to miss a word.

Please come back soon with part 4.
Brenda

Ahahahaha! After a weekend spent sans-internet, it was twice as exciting to get back online and check the boards. It's one of those days when the whole world seems glorious and full of promise - I have FDK *and* my Steelers won.

Kathryn - And thanks for sending Clark to me but I sent him back after a few hours he wanted back to you in case you need him as an inspiration. I hope it made your birthday that much brighter.

Michael - Ah, good. I'm glad you enjoy seeing Clark in the dark, too.

Elisabeth - Thank you so much! I'm thrilled that you would take time to write me when I know you have so many other, much more important, things going on in your life. It made me giggle to read that James doesn't mind spoilers and you enjoy talking - that sounds vaguely familiar.

Brenda - LOL about having a "feedback requirement", but the delay is due to the fact that, while parts 4-7 are written, they are also unbeta'd and scarcely fit for human consumption. The last three parts are outlined and mostly written, but my hopes that posting would kick me into gear never exactly materialized. I'm tentatively going to be posting 4 on Wednesday. Ahem. Moving on…

Thanks for hanging with me guys! I promise I'll have more soon.

Just caught on to this superb story and looking fwd to more...

I'm not sure how I missed this story last week, but I'm glad that I saw it this morning. I must have been distracted by the Super Bowl preparations.

I'm looking forward to the rest of the story, so be sure to post when you can.

Well, now I'm off to the parade. Nothing like being with 250,000 of your closest friends cheering the Steelers!

I don't think I've given you any feedback yet, but I absolutely love this story. I love it when LnCs from the wrong time get mixed up. I'm super curious to see why this happened!

Just adding my voice to the above comments, loving this story so far, very intriguing.

You have such a great way mixing A and B plots together to enhance the story, rather than having either one of them detracting from the other.

Keep up the good work, looking forward to more!

Sue, I need my Ricochet dosage

Yep, I need my Ricochet update also. You spoiled me with three quick chapters and now i'm dying!

Just pointing out that Part 3 was posted on January 26 and it's already February 6!

I'm spoiled too - I want more! More! More!

Just a message from one of your adoring public.

ok, I am caught up with parts 1-3.

Let me 'splain what Elisabeth means by major spoilers.

"James, I read time traveling story were Lois from the future, after season 4, is switched with Lois from the past, just before their first date."

That is her definition of major spoilers.

I never have a problem reading a story that she has told me about because she has given me the 20,000 foot view of the story. I can still enjoy the wandering among the trees.


That all being said...FClark is still a LUNKHEAD

He needs more confidence in their love.

Looking forward to reading Part 4.

James