This is for you, Elizabeth. I was going to post it tomorrow night, but seeing it's your birthday ...

Happy Birthday. (But I'm not sure it's quite what you wanted )

And for you Laura. I hope you've recovered from fainting

Two parts to go. And an epilogue. A *very* long epilogue

Corrina.

I'm glad you made Clark so angry as anything less would have been somewhat unrealistic given the circumstances. I'm sure you'll send him back to Lois once he has calmed down a bit.

You have written Evan's feelings regarding his past involvement in Clark's imprisonment very well and, like Clark's anger, it is very appropriate given the circumstances.

So looking forward to the final two parts and very much looking forward to the VERY long epilogue.

Thanks again!

Cheers
Elizabeth

I'm so sad. Poor Clark. I knew this was going to be hard on him. I knew that Lois keeping the truth from him would come back to haunt her.

Now, Martha will return to... Lois? The two women will be able to comfort each other, I guess.

Again, Poor Clark. Sad. Angry. Feeling so alone. Tortured. Frightened. Unable to trust the one person he loves more than anything.

Let us hope for some happiness in the next part, please.

Let's repeat:


And what if she's pregnant?

So, you mentioned something about posting 'tomorrow night'? Surely, an extra birthday post wouldn't qualify as reason for changing the remaining posting schedule?

Michael

Always fascinating ! I checked everyday to know what came into your brilliant mind ! Thank you for those quick posting.

Like said, poor Clark, to remember everything must be a great shock ! His anger is justified, he needs to see beyond those horrible years, but it's a great deal for anyone, to forgive them - a superhuman act. I completely understand his fear to see those agents back to make him doing what they want. But I'm sure days he had with Lois will help him to tie the loose ends as well as seeing again his mom.
I like the part with Martha and Evan. You did a great job with Evan's character. Shame he didn't help Clark earlier.

Looking for the last parts and this epilogue ! It is hard to know we are going to an end but so eager to read how our happily ever after will be.

Happy Birthday, Elizabeth!

Clark's reaction was heart-breaking to read, but expected. All those horrific memories. (Good point, Michael, about how at least before the most recent memories would have had prominence.) He's overwhelmed now, as 7 years of memories, each one worse than the last, come down on him all at once, but it won't be long before he starts to remember the moment Lois walked in the cell, and when she washed his hair, cut out the poison, helped him escape, etc. etc. all the way down to last night in the barn loft. He'll be back.

So, who will get to the farmhouse first, Martha or Clark?

Just catching up on the latest installments!

Wow! What a shocker at the end of the last part (18)--I actually got chills when I read the last line! But since part 19 was already posted, I had to jump over right away and read what happens next!

This was what I was afraid of for Lois.

Very powerful part, Corrina! Despite the heartbreaking end (evil, evil ), I'm happy you chose to show an angry Clark. I probably wasn't expecting so much anger, but it still makes way more sense to me than having him react ok after finding out the choices Lois has been making for him through his amnesia.

That said, I'm very sure he'll come around fast enough (there are only two parts to go after all ) and he'll realize she had good intentions. True, there was probably also a little bit of selfishness included, but heck, after all Lois has been through (Linda, her dad, Clark and his struggle to move on after the cell) I think she is way more than entitled to it. She deserved a little happiness and she needed someone to be there for her, to give her the confort she hadn't had, without it being restrained (yes, Clark has been caring all through the story, but there was so much that pre-amnesia Clark wasn't ready to give).

And Martha... and Evan... That was lovely. Her reaction, his worries, their talk... Though having them end up together might seem a little rush, I'm certainly hoping you leave it as a very open possibility. But could Martha be as forgiving as to end up dating one of the men who contributed to Clark's captivity?

Anyway, great part. As Michael said, I too hope you do keep up your original schedule and post part 20 tomorrow night time (which would mean I get to enjoy my morning coffee with a great read )

PS. Maybe you could tell your Clark that the Clark from the show lied to Lois not just for a few days, but for two whole years (and his reasons were a lot more self-centered) and she forgave him...

This was excellent.

I just kept thinking that Clark clearly needs Martha back into his life to talk some sense into him! His anger is very justified, and after the seven years he has been through, anything else would have rang hollow.

Happy the green rock was good for something and that Martha is now going home to Smallville. I guess she will find Lois there first ...

Cannot wait for the two parts and very *long* epilogue

Awesome. I recovered ;-) Wow Clark is going to need to remember recent history to be able to forgive Lois. Maybe she needs to be pregnant for him to feel that he finally belongs. I can't wait for the Martha reunion. I hope Clark doesn't give Martha to hard of a time. She doesn't deserve it. Wow this has been such a gripping story. How will we ever get over it, even after it ends? Laura

I haven't been able to comment regularly over the last several parts, but I have been stealing time away from my crazy schedule to read them and have been loving everything. I really liked seeing how Shadbolt/Scardino/Menzies have been looking for Martha, and how they played their roles behind the scenes to verify her identity while she was in the house.

I also like the twist of Evan developing feelings for Martha, though the parallel story of the secret he's hiding from her threatening their chance at seeing what develops is just as worrisome as Lois having gone through the same thing with what she was keeping from Clark. Neat way to set that up.

I did not anticipate the globe being the thing that triggered Clark's memories, but it was a creative take on things. Good plotting! (As always. ) Clark's anger was hard to see, but it did make sense, especially given he had everything crash down on him at once. That must have been incredibly overwhelming and horrifying for him to experience.

I'm hopeful that once he gets some time away to calm down, though, he'll be back to yearning for Lois and won't be able to stay away. He just needs some time for everything to settle in his mind and for the worst of the emotions to fade. *fingers crossed*

The big question then becomes, will Clark return home before Martha arrives? Or will Martha and Evan show up to find a devastated Lois?

And hopefully Evan will be brave enough to tell Martha the truth before she can hear it from Clark. I think having them show up at the house, only to have Clark angrily expose Evan's role in his imprisonment, would pretty much derail any chance of a relationship between them. Though honestly, I'm not sure that even Clark could be that forgiving, to have Evan be present at family events, etc. Losing any chance of a relationship with Martha might be the price Evan will have to pay for his involvement, even if he is a changed man now.

More, please! I'm beyond sad this story is ending, but I can't wait to see how it turns out.

Kathy

Excellent part. I cannot wait to see more b/t Lois and Clark or how you handle the reunion with Martha. Will she meet Lois first at the house, who'll explain the amnesia situation? That's my guess. Clark will never be able to stand up to the joined forces of Martha and Lois. Lovin' this story but dreading reaching the end.

Elizabeth Until this point, Clark had showed a range of emotions, but never anger. I think you're right, it had to come.

Virginia You're right, in some ways, this would have felt even worse than the cell, because Clark feels estranged from Lois.

Michael More spiders!

Poor Clark - he feels as if he's as his lowest point, and you want his mother to spank him!

Annalina
Yeah, except I wanted Lois to be the one to help him.

Vicki Good point. In a scene that was primarily about Clark, Lois showed that she has grown, too.

MM I know these last few parts were a little rocky, but I tried to get them to you quickly so the angst wasn't drawn-out.

Cristina
That's a really good point. Sometimes Lois's pain got lost a little because Clark's was so overwhelming.

I hope I got 20 posted in time for your morning coffee!

DW

... has passed 9000 words. Can I put it all in one post? Does anyone know if there is a limit?

Laura Glad you recovered.

Kathy
Thank you - from my POV, your sadness is a great thing - if you know what I mean

Emily

Yep.

Thanks everyone. Sorry I got so behind in the FDK replies - I decided that posting the fic was the priority.

Corrina.