Should I be ducking rotten tomatoes or hiding from pitchforks?

Whoa! I was so relieved that was a dream Lois had. Whew!! You do know how to very effectively torture us!! I was getting ready to start

Yep, I'm really happy that was a dream (or really, a nightmare). The intro to the Times Man of the Year was really great. Little do people know how he is still suffering.
The island was great.
Way to contrast the good and the bad.
Ready for more.

Artemis

Tremendous!
I almost cried when I read this. Poetic, poignant, a testimony to your expertise as a writer. And so true to how Lois would have changed, given everything she's been through.

Loved the intro to the Time's Man of the Year - it was excellently written!

Also liked the time on the island.

And the part where Lois wondered if the Lois of ten years ago would recognise her current self - it illustrates very clearly how she has grown and matured over the years.

And what do you call somebody who goes willingly back for more torture, plus hates the waiting between two torture sessions?

Michael

I'm hoping that with this baby Lois will some how lose her invulnerability and UW will stay on New Krypton or something.Suddenly, I want Lois to be a stay/work at home mom.I know, I'm losing it.

That was a great part, so rich and varied. There were so many emotions different situations in it. But you gave me a heart attack with Lois's dream. For a moment there, I thought it was for real.

Ann

I loved this part and (since I didn't say so for the past few posts) I've really enjoyed the direction the story is taking. I'm much more confident that no matter what happens with the baby, I think that Lois and Clark could weather it. I certainly don't want anything bad to happen, I just think that their relationship is strong enough now that they could work through it in time.

The only sticky point for me now, is what will happen to Clark's investigation into the Triads. There's potential for such heartache there if something happens that reminds him of New Krypton.

Can't wait for the next part,
B

Hi everyone,

Thanks for reading and commenting, especially given how cruel I was with this part.

I'm glad you didn't really start crying, Evelyn. I feel bad enough given what I do to fictional Lois. I wouldn't want to make a real person cry.

Thanks, Artemis. I was hoping this part could show the difficulties of their multiple personas - having to keep up the appearance of everything being okay when it really isn't, etc.

Iolan, thanks for your comments. I'm really glad you liked that segment. I figured a little reflection from Lois at this juncture in her life makes sense. They really do lead a life less ordinary, but oddly enough, it's the ordinary things that are most important to them.

Thanks, DW. I'm glad you liked the Man of the Year stuff. I figured someone ought to acknowledge just how big a freakin' deal Superman's return was.

Masochist, Michael. Such a person is a masochist. Thanks for reading.

Sorry, SJH, I someone can't see that in the cards.

I know I'm a big jerk for doing it, Ann, but I thought it was necessary to show the dream to give a flavor to just how awful the waiting really must be for them. I can't even begin to imagine...

Thanks, BJ. Most of the recent development in this story has been an attempt to show just how far their relationship has come - at various points in the last year and a half, it seems like they were only hanging on by a thread. Now, it seems like they are exactly where they're supposed to be, at least as far as their relationship with one another goes.

More is on its way!

Regards,

Rac