I hope the low-angst finish didn't disappoint. I didn't think a high-angst story would have been right for something that was based on a funny short.

I figured that as long as Lois had her memory, things would be fine. Lois knew that she'd been the instigator of their relationship and that Clark had tried his best to navigate the waters in which he found himself.

Comments here please.

Bob

Bob, thank you again for this wonderful story! I have a suspicion that there may be Kerths in store for it.

Well done, I really did not think you could pull it off but you did. Well done.

Yay! Lois doesn't hate him!



I've enjoyed this story, thanks

Tara

Awwwwwwwwwww. Well, you fooled me. All my guesses were wrong, but that's half the fun. Glad it was calm Lois who came to Clark, not angry Lois -- she can be exhausting.

So, if she isn't Lo-Lo and she isn't Lois, who is she? Lo Kent?

Thanks for explaining the science behind the treatment. They probably should have mentioned that in advance to Clark.

Great story! Held me at the edge of my seat. Bravo!

Great ending, Bob. Now that I've read it, I think you chose the only possible way to get a realistic and happy ending. Lois needed to get the antidote treatment - without it, Clark (and probably Lo, too) would never know if what they had was real.

Lois keeping her memory meant she was able to remember things as they had been.

Intriguing set up and very well written.

Corrina.

I'm glad to see I missed some of my guesses. I was only half-right about the cure, I missed the truth about the relationship between Samantha and Jason, and I missed how Lois would come out of the experience. But I like your ending better.

I really like the science you wrapped into the story. You do that sort of thing very well, and I always enjoy reading your stories because of that aspect. I also like Lois' balanced attitude in this chapter, how she explains that even though she's back from Sugarland and that Lo-Lo is gone, she wants some of the things from that life to go with the fire and the drive she's recovered.

She's found both sides of her personality and integrated them as one. This Lois didn't have the chance to grow into the kinder, gentler Lois we saw on the show. Instead, she was pushed into a crucible and crushed, even if she didn't understand it. And I'm glad that Clark resisted her Lo-Lo marriage plans and strongly encouraged her to take the cure. That worked in his favor when Lois came back with a vengeance.

I'm also glad that Lois apparently didn't spill The Secret, even when she was overwhelmed with negative emotions. That means that she still retained some intellectual control over what she said and did.

Good story, Bob. Tense with a very satisfying ending. Thanks for the interesting ride!

Great story, Bob!

Joan

Chicken.

Bob,

Loved it. Very well done!

I was wondering about what she had given to Perry. A diary was the ideal thing just in case she forgot just what they had.

I was relieved that Luthor didn't get his grubby claws into her.

Loved this story! What about a sequel? I'd love to see Luthor's reaction when he finds out that Lois is really in love with Clark even after "the cure".

Andreia

for happy ending.

I wish Clark had not wandered back there, but I guess the story needs tension. I am so glad Lois remembered everything. I think her journal would have worked, but things would have taken longer.

I am really glad she still wants to marry Clark.

A sequal of having to deal with a thwarted Luthor might be interesting.

Very nice!

First off, thank you all for the taking the time to post the feedback. As I’m sure you all know, it's what keeps the muse coming back the next time an idea hits.

As for this story and where it went, it was the story that I wanted to tell. There are many “tragic” endings to this story. Some that I considered (not very seriously, but considered)
1. The anti-Revenge antidote leaves Lois stuck in permanent “I hate everyone” mode.
2. Same as ‘1’ above but she ends up marrying Lex because he’s the only person that is right about the world.
3. Lois returns as normal but hates her life. She deliberately re-doses Revenge and becomes Lo-Lo forever.
4. Lois’s ACC ends up damaged and she comes back as bipolar Lois. ½ the time she’s angry and cold and the other ½ the time she’s Lo-Lo. (This is very close to my original chapter 8!)


Queen of Capes: Thank you. And thank you for the inspiration.


Framework4:
Thank you. I just told the story that was there.


StarKat: As I said above, I always saw Lois’s memory as the key. Let’s face it, Clark is a really nice guy. She – as Lo-Lo – lived with him for all that time and would know what kind of person he was. If she has her memory, I can certainly see an ending where Lois decided to break off their relationship, but the only way that I could see her hating him would be if there was some other factor such as the anti-Revenge not wearing off.


VirginiaR: That reminds me of my original version of Chapter 8.
Yes, but where would be the fun in that?

My real explanation is that it was a medical issue and Clark had no standing for the doctor to discuss Lois’s medical issues. Since Lo-Lo never asked for a briefing in Clark’s presence, then the doctor had no reason to say anything to Clark. The error here was Lo-Lo’s for not asking for an explanation in Clark's presence, but she did have other things on her mind.


Corrina: It would almost be tempting to write the other story. What would life with Lo-Lo be like over the long term? What kind or marriage would that be? Would Perry eventually fire her?


Terry: Many of your ideas were very close, and all of them would be good story. Thank you. I hate it when the science is so obviously wrong that it interferes with my ability to enjoy the story. (For me, that happens a lot.) In one draft of Chapter 8 Lois talks about fighting to not say anything, but that didn’t make the final cut. Thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed it.


Joan:
Thank you.


SJH: I’m not sure what you mean. I guess you wanted a more angsty end. I’m sorry that you didn’t like the way the story turned out, but that was not the story that I intended to write.


Ken: Especially with the work being done at Lex Labs. Ending #2 above is a very dark future indeed.


Andreia: Some of those are certainly interesting, but I don’t have any ideas for a story arc now. I have been having so much trouble with writers block that I’m amazed I was able to find this story. I guess all I can say is that I’m not opposed to more, but right now I don’t have anything in mind.


John: I love a frustrated and angry Lex. When I think of Lex reacting badly to Clark and Lois getting together, my “Gold Standard” is what he does in The Accidental Husband by Erin Klingler . However, right now I’m working on something else to frustrate Lex in another story.


Laurach:
Thank you.


Bob

That's how things should be in the L&C universe, so I think you made a good choice to give us the happy ending you knew we'd want. (And admit it; you wanted there to be a happy ending, too. )

Thanks for sharing this one with us; it was a real treat to be able to follow it these last several days.

Kathy

Whew! After betaing the alternative ending this is a much better, wiser solution.

Hi Kathy Of course. Some day I'm going to write one of those dark stories I've been sitting on, but this was not that day.


Morgana: Bipolar Lois was never my intended outcome. The reality is that after writing Lo-Lo for the whole story, I had trouble finding the real Lois.

However, I am now looking for as story where I can use "angry Vulcan" Lois. How about this... Imagine a LnC - Star Trek crossover where Clark is an ambassador from Krypton to Vulcan. Lois is his Vulcan contact and doesn't think much of this over-emotional Kryptonian. Hmmm. I think there may be a real story there.

Anyway, thanks again for all you help on this.

Bob

Yay! Bob, I really loved this story. The angry Lois part threw me for a loop for sure, and had me very concerned, but all's well that ends well, as they say! Definitely a Kerth-worthy fic! I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Hi, Mouserocks Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Part of me still thinks I should have dragged it out a little longer, but that was not this story.

Thank you for the feedback.

Bob

So, he went into deep space?

Wouldn’t it be a bummer had he stumbled across an Antarctic research station?

Picture album: Baby’s first anvil rattle. Baby’s first tractor rattle. Baby’s first fire. Baby sneezed and caused a tornado.

He could get out that piece of Kryptonite he’s stashed away for emergencies, grind it up, and slosh it down with some wine.

Michael

Hi, Michael, I considered adding a scene where where Clark was searching the Antarctic for a place that was quiet enough so that he felt completely alone given his hearing. This reminds me of parts of Smallville S1. Yes, I thought that sounded like a Cat + Lo-lo worthy story! It was my pleasure. I'm glad you enjoyed it. And thank you for all the wonderful and detailed feedback.

Bob

Awwww, poor Superman. Michael