/makes nice, soft landing spot for FDK/

Michael, back later with said FDK

Wow. Clark is delightful when he's trying to resist temptation...and when he stops trying . You capture this beautifully. And I love when he manages to throw Lois off balance even in the middle of desperately trying to regain his own. More please? To quote Lois... "More"...

And I'm so glad to hear there's another story in the works.

This was so worth the wait!!!

Well worth the wait.

Brava!

Joy,
Lynn

Yes, well worth the wait indeed! So many great little moments! I'd have to nearly quote half the story to mention all of them... but some of my favs... the whole teddy thing--and so many other little moments... But mostly how you got their characters right on the nail. This response from Clark is a classic example:
And surely it does explain it all.

And typical Lois:
Humorous and sweet--as it lead to Clark helping with those pesky splinters and Lois eventually saying what was in her heart.

And then the cataloging of the rules at the end--loved it!
I need to go back and read the whole story again, though I remembered bits from some of the references in this part. Anyway, so glad to finally get closure on this story--even if it's sad to see it end!

Thanks for a great tale, Sue!!

Ahhhhhh! Sue, I was super excited to see this posted this morning. Thanks so much for giving us the ending, it's perfect.

"Never sleep with someone you work with." He kissed her neck and Lois couldn't help her reaction at the sensation. Clark knew her so well. He always found that exact spot that sent a rush of heat through her and made her laugh at the same time.

"I'm about to break that one," she confessed.

Clark stood up, cradling her in his arms. "Yes. You definitely are."

Just love this!! I love the way you write the banter between them. Clever and sexy.

Jackie

Poor Clark. Even now...

And how's she going to spin this in the next article?

She going to hug him tighter?

"I found Mayson while scoring the woods! She's alive, can you believe it? And she wants to marry me! I've never been happier in my entire life."
*scnr*

"My parents, uh-- they suspect, I guess. But never broached the subject." Clark took a deep breath, his cheeks scarlet. "So, how did you figure out I'm a virgin?"



Did she play with me? Am I only the Flying Wonder to her? What does that mean for us?

She doesn't look angry, does she?

Now she might be angry.

See?

Hey, he's not thinking about the story. He's thinking about the lies. It's really marvelous how our own expectations and impulses guide our perception of others, isn't it?

That's novel.

Awwwwwww...

I'd thought the flirting. But then, it's been a while

Poor Lois. And *bad* Clark, for making her feel *not* special.

Well, he's always been a bit muttonheaded.

Uh-oh.



Sue, you definitely wrapped this one up perfectly

Michael

Definitely worth the wait!

Thanks for *finally* posting, Sue!!!! This so made my evening (or whole weekend rather)

Wonderful. Very well done. Loved the ending. Bravo! Laura

Delightful. I agree with everyone else that it was worth the wait but I'm afraid that will encourage you to torture us again, I plan on re-reading the entire thing in the next couple of days.

Time to do the feedback dance!

One of the biggest worries I had about this story was the number of times I had to abandon it because of RL issues. And yet you guys stuck with me and nudged me along. I'm very grateful for that. Thank you for picking out some of my favorite moments to highlight.

Jackie - The ending was what I agonized over (and over and over and over…). Poor Brenda must have read at least four or five different endings over the past few months. I'm ecstatic that this one worked for you. Thank you!

Michael, Michael, Michael - OMG! I don't know where to start! I laughed so, so hard at the alternate version of their reunion. I'm going to have to wait to read through it before archiving it, just so I don't wander into snarky directions every time either character is being earnest and/or withholding what they were actually meaning to say. :p (Most especially the "big reveal" being his virginity. /wipes away tears "Do your parents know?" Bwaaaaaa!) Hey, I blame the show. If he'd never used the heat vision to, uh, let's say "warm her feet" in "Sex, Lies and Videotape", I never would have started to wonder what else he could do with it besides burn holes through metal. Seriously - at what point did Clark start practicing his ability to use the precise amount of heat and timing to be able to toast Lois' toes (and other bits)? Were any animals harmed in the process? Fence posts? Desks? It's one of those imponderables that occasionally creeps in to preoccupy me when I'm stuck in traffic or bored in a meeting.

But I digress. My thanks again to everyone for sticking with me. I love you all!

ETA: Upon further reflection, I remembered that he also used his heat vision in "We Have A Lot To Talk About" to dry her off. But that just doesn't have the same sticks-in-your-mind quality as "You missed"/"No, I didn't". That scene makes me blush and say "Golly!" every freakin' time.

Umm... yes my mind keeps wandering on occasion

/directs attention of Muse towards shiny object dangling from ceiling/

I actually sort of not thought about this one for a long time now. I only ever remember the scene it inspired

/mutters and shoos pink elephant out of the room/

Glad I could make you laugh.

Michael

What a great pre/post revelation story. It was warm and so Lois. Regardless of how much trouble she was in, the brain never stopped for a second. She would have never figured it out if she had been a mere mortal like the rest of us.

Great story, Sue. It begs for a sequel. (Just a kindly suggestion.)

Pat

//happy sigh!!//

I enjoyed this thoroughly.

i had almost forgotten about this one and was thrilled to go back to reread the earlier chapters. This is a great ending to a great story. Well done!

Yay! They're so adorably awkward. I remember that stage fondly.

Now I will have to go back and reread the whole thing when I have a little more time. Thank you so much for finishing this.

Sue! You have no idea how excited I was to check the boards today and see this posted!

I was also excited that it turned out to be a slow day at work. I decided to re-read the entire story before reading the last part. I think I like your characterizations and dialogue best out of all the stories I've read.

~Kristen

Great revelation and a wonderful ending to the story.

Joan

Yay! Wonderful fic Sue! I really love this sexually confident Clark and a reasonable Lois (after finding out the secret). Some things I liked that were not part of the canon (at least not that I remember)

- that Clark knew of Lois Lane before he came to Metropolis
- Clark's rules

And I loved your depiction of Lois having a disguise that she let Clark in on. So sweet!

You have a way of making non n-fic stories so sensual! Thanks for completing it!

Wonderfully WAFFY ending! Loved it.

Holy Toledo, you finished!

I loved it.

I'm just going to lay back and bask in the happily ever after.

Jen

Okay. Another late night for me reading Sue-Fic. This time I can't blame Michael. OK. I can blame Michael because he recommended you the first time. But I digress.

I'm sorry I didn't FDK more than a couple of times, but I got sucked in again.

I love that Clark/Superman got so worried about Lois that he forgot to shave and even appeared out in public as an unshavened Superman. That he let his public appearance go, because he was thinking more about Lois than himself. That really showed how much Clark

Yay! More!

Pat said: Regardless of how much trouble she was in, the brain never stopped for a second. She would have never figured it out if she had been a mere mortal like the rest of us. That's why I have Clark pointing out that he fell in love with her because she was Lois. She has an extra gear of determination (I think). A sequel? Um... next question?

Joy – You went back and reread the darn thing? Golly! Here's an extra hug for all that effort. Thanks for sticking with me all the way through (and then some).

Phyrry – Thanks! It thrills me to have lured someone out of lurkerdom to comment. That "awkward stage" is my absolute favorite. There are so many ways she can find out/he can tell her.

Kristen – And I was so excited to see you leave feedback! You also get extra points for reading the whole darn thing again. Thank you so much for your kind words on characterization and dialogue. I'm betting those episodes you cringed at were in the third or fourth season. After Deborah Joy Levine left, the show (to me) went downhill fast. I base my characterizations on her version of the characters. Her vision of L/C is what made me fall in love with the show to begin with.

Joan – Thanks! It really does mean so much to me to see the same people coming back on each part of the story. I'm glad you liked the story.

Steph! – As always, I just want to grope you. <g> It's not canon that Clark knew who she was before coming to the Planet, but it makes sense to me that he did. It's a world-class newspaper, she's his age and she's already won two major journalism awards. His rules are never explicitly stated, but he had to have had some (especially since we see him more than once freaking about crossing lines/causing harm).

Ken – Thanks! WAFF makes the world go 'round.

Jen! – What, no update on how many times you moved while I delayed for months in posting the story?!? :p I'll join you in the basking (only mine is because it's finally freakin' finished and I can cross it off my conscience).

Virginia said: Yes, Lois, for weeks now I haven't been trying to tell you I'm Superman, but that I'm a virgin. That first one isn't that important. That is the gift that keeps on giving. Thanks (again!), Michael! Yay! You might be relieved to know that there are some short (or shorter) stories on the archive.

Thanks again to everyone whose left feedback. It means a lot to me to have kept you all entertained. Especially when I left you all hanging for months. I apologize fervently for that and promise to try never to do it in the future. Hugs for everyone!

Oh Sue!
What a great story! I have missed your writing. With your flowing style, it is so easy to see Lois as she plans how to get out of that train car. Her suborn persistence, even when she realizes she is going the wrong direction, is classic. And Clark's thought process is heart wrenching as he spirals into depression as the hours tick by with no sign of Lois.

I also enjoy how you have Lois remembering her times with Clark where we see him –so- wanting to tell Lois the truth but being afraid. So he leaves all of these clues that Lois finally puts together. Fun Stuff!

Now, you hinted that you were willing to take our two heroes to the N-side. You write such beautiful interaction between Lois and Clark. If this current crew of “Sue Fans” has not read your writing before or your Nfic, run, don’t walk, to the achieves on the G or the Nfic side and read any of Sue’s stories. They are just SUPER!

I’ll be watching on the N-side.
Write on Sue!
Anne

Thanks, Anne! I've missed hearing from you, too. I'm glad you liked the story. Thanks, also, for the kind words about my other stories. You've given me a much-appreciated shot of encouragement.

Hey, I had to pop in here to comment on Sue's posting the much-awaited last chapter of her latest fic!

I have to start by repeating what Sue said in her previous chapter:

Exactly! That's why, in the movie Superman II, the relationship between Lois and Superman was over when he took her memory of his identity (and their lovemaking) away. And that's why Clark proposed to Lois in the comics without telling her his secret. If Lois doesn't know who Clark is, then Clark isn't fully committed to her.

On the other hand, what if Clark really is fully committed to her? How scary is that, knowing that about Clark? About Superman? About Clark, who is also Superman?

Love that portrait of Lois's numbness, of her unawareness of so many things - I don't remember, is she wearing clothes, or how much does she reveal when she is dropping that blanket? - her instinctive need to be close to Clark, and then her self-consciousness about touching his 'S'. She wants to be close to Clark, and the touching of his 'S' reminds her, I think, of everthing that has to be worked through between them yet, before there can be normalcy between them. Normalcy and love.

But Clark isn't worried.

The aloof mask of Superman is gone, indeed. Because now he is fully committed to her, and he has no more secrets from her. But what can she say to this super man when he is offering her his cornucopia of love, holding back nothing?

He's going to tell her! Now!

And she is so excited that she can't wait for him to finish! How typical of her! Ah, but it's just as well she couldn't keep quiet, because we all know that Clark can find sudden reasons not to tell Lois his secret even if he had planned to, not right at this moment!

She said his name! Aww!

Ann

Sue,

I just read this on the archive and loved it. And the ending? Perfection.