I think this is the third time I've posted what I thought was the third-last part of this story.

Corrina.

Yea, another part!!!

Well that was a different reaction than most would have thought. This throws a completely different spin on things.


You are quite clear right here Lois...



Maybe she should quit being so rash.


I understand why she would want it to be Clark but not why would she be suspecting it to be. She had been quite specific about him never contacting her again and in previous parts he took her quite literally (the I don't date statement)

Mike

This was heartbreaking to read, but exactly the way the story needed to go. Once Lois pushed Clark for his secret, it had to end like this. He couldn't not tell her, but Clark was absolutely right that it was way too soon. She didn't know him, hadn't met his family, hadn't seen him at work or in his apartment ... all those things that lead Lois to know that Clark is completely "human" before she learns where he came from. Everything was over, and Clark knew it, even as he forced out the words. That poor, poor boy.

Lois's response was devastating, but again, completely expected. What else could she think? The only thing that surprised me was that, while she finally came down on the side that he actually believed the story his parents told him, she never completed the thought with, "I finally meet the man of my dreams and he's mentally ill." Too painful to admit, that she hadn't noticed any other signs of delusion? Easier to believe that his parents were at fault for messing with his head than that he himself may have created his fantasy world?

Of course, with two parts to go, this isn't the end of the story ... and somehow, Lois is going to allow herself to be convinced. And I'm really, really looking forward to seeing how you do it!

As for the phone call, I agree that Lois was completely clear that she didn't want Clark to call her, but given that this is the night he had promised to call (is it nearly 8:00, by any chance?), I'm not at all surprised she thinks/hopes it might be him. Not only has she been thinking about him (and trying not to think about him) for the last two days straight, but she has just admitted to herself that she misses him terribly, despite how things ended. So it makes perfect sense that, when the phone rings, she can't help but wonder if it's him.

But if it is, serious kudos to Clark for being brave enough to pick up the phone. I can't even imagine how devastated he has been these last two days. (Poor, poor boy!!) So for him to put himself out there again, to risk having her hang up on him or scream at him ... very, very brave.

Sob! My poor Clark!

More, please!

Kathy

I wonder why Clark didn't just give her a demonstration? Absent that, of course there isn't any way Lois would believe him.

I can't wait to see how this gets resolved… please post again soon!

No, it isn't Clark on the phone. Mike was right. Clark took her at her word from the first moment. He said he wouldn't push their relationship, so if she said don't call her ever, he wouldn't call... ever. I'm thinking of one of two possibilities: Martha or Jane. I'm leaning more towards the latter. I believe that that there's only two remedies for how Lois left Clark; firstly, she call him and ask for forgiveness and proof. Secondly, he comes out as Superman in a spectacular fashion and she can no longer deny the truth, and ask for forgiveness. And, yet, I cannot see either of those happening.

If Clark was going to tell Lois his secret, why, oh, WHY did he do it in the car??? Where he's seat belted down? Why couldn't they have gone somewhere else private? Did he believe that she wouldn't want to be someplace private with him? If she feared him, or his secret, than that proves that it wasn't the time nor the place to tell it.

How horrible it must have been for Clark to hear Lois belittle his folks, their honesty, and his gullibility all in one swoop. Lois definitely owes Clark an apology, but I cannot see her giving him one, even if she does miss him. He had told her it was too early in their relationship, and he was right. It wasn't as if she knew about Superman and had proof of an alien living amongst us in vibrant colors. No, there was no reason, nor did he give her any, to believe him. She asked for the impossible and he gave it to her in the worst possible way. She's a newspaper reporter, Clark! WHY would she believe you without FACTS or PROOF?

I feel for Clark that the first time he felt compelled to tell someone his secret that he was treated so horribly. Hugs for Clark. His execution earned him zero points, but I still feel for him.

Lois got her self-fulfilling prophecy. So what next? Where do they go from here? Where is forward?

Please, post soon!

There was no way for Clark to get out of telling Lois his secret once she started questioning him about it, but telling her while they were in the car wasn't the best idea. There was no way she was going to believe Clark was an alien with special powers without proof.

Even though things didn't go well during their conversation, it's been one of my favorite parts of the story so far.

I'm looking forward to finding out happens next and who is calling Lois.

I was wondering that as well... but it is definitely the way things needed to go, all things considered. Really curious how this all turns out!

I agree with Virginia. I think it is Jane on the phone. I think she is calling because she and Shane have reconciled. She heard about what happened between Lois and Clark and is acting as intermediary to try to get them back together.

I really hope it's Jane. It'd be nice if it is. I can imagine the chewing out Lois is going to get. Hopefully there is a discussion about Jane's past as well. I would love it if Jane and ended this as close friends after this.

I suspect everyone is right however Corrina is good at bait and switch so who knows. I guess we will have to wait and see.

I can understand why she thought she was going to need more than two parts to finish this up as she has painted Lois into quite a corner and that takes time to let the paint dry. Of course Corrina does not have to wrap everything up in a bow at the end in fact she often just starts the bow tying at the end (like the overhand knot part) leaving it to the readers to interpret (finish tying the bow) where it goes from there.

Mike

Poor, heartbroken Lois and Clark. It was catch 22 for both of them. I think Clark should have prepared the ground for his unusual confession. It isn't something easy to believe, especially without proof.

I hope it's Jane trying to help Clark. I wouldn't be surprised if Jane had known (or suspected) more about Clark than he realized.
Please, post soon.

Great job!!! Im sooooo hookeeeddd on this story. Pleaseee post part 9 as soon as you can

I just thought of another possibility (although an unlikely one). It COULD be Clark but Clark wanting to explain something and ask her if she would interview him. It's possible he's ready to go public.

Good Lord... This has to be a nightmare to Clark! He opened up his heart and she didn't believe him! But, really she is a reporter... and needs hard facts and without them, is logical that hardly believed Clark's revelation.

I'm eager to read next part!

I really enjoyed this part of the story--but hated, for Clark, the secret having to come out like it did (and I completely agreed with him as it as happening--there was no way it wasn't going to work out badly at the time...that soon, in the car, etc). Why would Lois believe him? Being in her shoes--even though she has a good gut feeling about Clark, knows he's a great person, and so on, hearing someone say what his secret was? Yeah...it just comes across seeming a bit...um, 'off' .

But I agree with what Lady Loisette stated:


He had to tell her then...he had no choice but to tell her then. It was officially 'out there'--being that Lois knew Clark was hiding something. Having it happen in his car definitely didn't help. Like others have stated, some sort of demonstration/proof would have eliminated a lot of doubts for Lois...though I can sort of see why Clark didn't. He was very much caught off guard there in the car. Put on the spot. A deer in the head lights. Maybe he just didn't think to get into proving himself--he took her not believing him as what it was.

KenJ stated:

Me, too . Clark has followed along with Lois' wishes very closely throughout the story, so I don't know if I see him calling her. Lois made it VERY clear on that subject...but now, with time to think, it almost seems like it could be one of those 'I'll tell him not to call, but I hope that he calls' sort of things.

I really enjoyed how you wrote the confrontation about the secret btw them in the car...Lois' first question about asking if he was "married", followed by "wanted by the police", and then followed by "You had an affair with Jane?". Clark's "No!" (about being with Jane) was great . The whole scene was written really wonderfully

Very much looking forward to the next part...

Great story, Corrina!
Laura

Not a revelation I would have ever expected! But so good for the story. Angst ensues.

"Hello"
I think it is Perry calling Lois about a new story of a guy in a weird suit flying around Metropolis rescuing people and telling her to get on the story. Suddenly light dawns on who it just might be.

Artemis

I agree with everything that everyone said, even the parts that conflict. This story pulls so many different ways!

I'm thinking the phone call may be Jane....and may be about Clark.

Good story, Corrina!

Mike


'Suspecting' is different to 'expecting'. The phone rang, Lois's thoughts jumped to Clark (because they'd been stuck there for days!)

Kathy This wasn't the night Clark had promised to call - it was two nights later. Lois had deliberately been out at the time Clark had promised to call, so she didn't know whether he'd tried or not. No cell phones, then, which was very convenient for my story!

Debbie The real reason Clark didn't give a demonstration is that I didn't think of it. But in hindsight, I think he would have been wary of anyone else witnessing something they shouldn't, so he would have had to convince Lois to go somewhere private with him. That could have gotten messy.

Virginia

I think maybe Clark might have thought that proof would have spooked her even more. And with her being a reporter, did he really want to present her with proof? As much as Clark wanted to be with Lois, he also had to try to salvage a life sans Lois.

Lady L It's nice to have a reader enjoy some angst.

MM As I've said, giving proof to one of the top reporters in the country is not conducive to him being able to continue his life. And having his alienness splashed across the front page of the DP wasn't going to good for his parents, either.

Ken Very close, Ken.

Christina I don't really see Jane as a person to be giving anyone a 'chewing out', which could be good for Shane, because he probably deserves one!

And later ... interesting idea. That's another tangent completely.

Kate Clark felt cornered. It's not easy to prepare anything when MDL is snapping at your heels!

Seme Glad you're enjoying it. Sorry for the delay!

chelo I think it was tough on both of them.

Laura


Usually, the scenes when something dramatic is happening are easiest to write. This scene was very clear in my head a long time before I got to it. It's the fiddly/in-the-middle scenes that take so long to get right.

Iolanthe In a fandom strewn with great revelations, it's nice to pull an unexpected one occasionally.

Artemis It didn't even occur to me that Clark might out himself as SM. Interesting idea.

Amy So glad you're enjoying the story, Amy.

Kismatt Nice guess - almost right.

Thanks to everyone for reading and taking the time to leave FDK.

Corrina.