The full story can be found here.

It's worth noting that I don't actually believe that Perry takes Clark's side over Lois'. But it certainly felt like something Lois would perceive to be happening. What do you think?

I think that this chapter is amazing ...

Overall, I've never noticed Perry favor Clark to Lois' side. But--we do know that Perry thinks of Lois as a daughter, and that Lois is a bit lacking in the 'cautious department'. And we know that Clark is overly careful--in almost everything he does. Based on those facts...yeah--Clark might win Perry's vote a bit more than Lois does (depending on the subject matter and safety matter of a given topic). Lois though? I definitely could see her thinking Perry is siding her out (regardless of the reality of the situation ).


Mantra that kept repeating in my head: Do not get in a car with strangers! Do not get in a car with strangers! I was freakin' out during this whole ride, Lois--not a smart move!!!


AKA--"Can I bribe you to marry me by rebuilding the Planet?" Creepy! Obsessively, desperately creepy .


I was almost as happy that Clark was back as Lois . YES!!!


This was completely sweet. When the physical lines are blurred when you care about someone. How their space, your space, are one in the same. And I'm sure she realized over and over in these moments just how MUCH she had missed him. Waff galore .


This was the perfect way for Lois to find out. The dialogue was excellent. Particularly loved Jack's responses .


LOL . This exchange was hilarious! About woke hubby up laughing .


It's out there! She knows! He knows! . And--to top it off--she is pant-less, heading to his room . You could not have ended this chapter any better! (But, boy, I would have loved to be able to read a few more paragraphs before you cut us off--what will Clark say when he sees her? what will Lois say? what to do about the lack of pants? ).

Loving it!
Laura

-----------------

Sidebar:


True story--in college, one friday evening, I was doing laundry at the laundry mat. Stayed while the laundry was in the washer, transfered it to the dryer, then left while it was finishing up (errand, homework, something needed done...can not remember ). Go back--late that night--to pick up my laundry. Three or four guys were there, at the laundry mat, when I walked in. Their conversation STOPPED the second I walked in. Creepy . I went quickly to my dryer, carrying my laundry basket, to retrieve my clothes and get the heck out of there. No clothes in the dryer. At all. Empty! . Check the dryer to the right. The dryer to the left. Empty, too. . Where was my stuff??? (Guys presently still quiet...watching me). Looked around a little more--panicky (due to guys and lack of laundry) and got out of there quick. Went home (I was living with my sister in a college rental house) and balled. Where were my clothes??? (and it was a LOT of clothes--big load). A few hours later--now it's early morning--go back to laundrymat, with sister in tow. Protection (not really, but comforting, none the less ). Go to orignal dryer. All laundry in the dryer. Completely clean, dry. Cried with relief. Filled laundry basket. Went home. Apparently a really cruel prank--by really immature college guys --who had absolutely nothing better to do.

Moral of the story: If it's laundry you love, stay with it . Good luck to you, Lois!

Absolutely loved this part! I love how Lois gives Perry, Jimmy, and Jack a little third degree about who Clark loves. Then when he gets back, all of the little subtleties she notices about him. And of course, THE phone conversation at the end! Even though she thought she knew the answer, it still took some conjones on Lois' part to come right out and ask him. Now you leave us dangling, with Lois standing outside Clark's door only clad in his t-shirt!?!? I hope the next part gets posted soon! Sarah

I was so surprised as Lois in finding Clark with Perry. I was imagining he would appear just at the ending of the chapter and suddenly... there he is!

One less piece to take off. I can't help it, the thought popped up automatically in my mind when I read this sentence.

Andreia

Sue, Thank you for the update. As for relieving OUR pressured stress, how could you leave us, urrr...I meant Lois in that situation? Just hearing that Clark returns her love, standing half naked in the hallway and probably (temporarily) forgetting that Perry is in the room with Clark. How could you leave us, err.... I meant Clark in that situation? About to confront in the flesh so to speak, not the fantasy of Lois in his tee shirt, but the actual woman of his countless dreams? Are you trying to give us a coronary? Or, just a really good preview of what's to come?

This was so worth me being 20min late to work this morning!

Good morning!

Laura - Thank you! I'd guess that Perry probably favors Lois over Clark, but since it's her POV, she doesn't see it that way. It's their flaws that make the characters so real (and beloved) to me.

Ha! You do realize that Lex isn't exactly a "stranger," right?

It is obsessively creepy, but he certainly does know which buttons to push.

I'm glad that amused you as much as me!

It is, and they do.

What idiots! Luckily, most guys grow out of that phase.

Very true! Something I have learned the hard way. At least they put yours back.

Sarah - Thanks! Lois is smart enough to chase another angle if she's not getting anywhere with Clark's one-guess-per-day game.

Even though we know the answer, she didn't, so I'm glad it came across as a risk.

Andreia - Hey! You're here! I'm glad I could surprise you.

LOL! We're on the PG side of the boards, so nothing else is coming off. In fact, I'll even admit that clothes get put on in the next part, instead of vice versa.

rkn - OMG! I laughed so, so, so, SO HARD! Freakin' Kentucky Fried Movie! My siblings and I still quote that movie to each other. My father has a very warped sense of humor and he made a "clean" version of that movie, splicing together the relatively non-objectionable parts of it and we watched it until the tape literally wore out. Fast forward about ten years, and we're at the video store one night. I convince my husband to rent the movie, telling him what a hoot it is. We get home, pop it in the VCR, and there's 'Catholic High School Girls in Trouble.' I was stunned and I kept exclaiming that I had never, NEVER seen that scene before.

Thank you for the laugh, and for the trip down memory lane!

SupesFan - You're welcome! I told you the pressure would be relieved in this part.

Actually, they each have their own room. It would put a severe wet blanket on the next part if Perry was in there with them.

Oh dear, I hope there aren't any coronaries! Think of it as a gift -- you have a week to imagine all the different possibilities…

Lola - I'm glad! If you need me to write a note for your boss, just let me know.

Thank you all!

Perfection. Just what their reunion should be - the joyous hug, then the inability to stop subtly touching each other at the restaurant, to falling asleep on each other in the car, to the phone conversation in the hotel, to Lois dashing over to Clark's room without her pants. It was absolute bliss. I loved it all!

Yeah, what Groobie said. I loved that Jack spilled the beans. I could picture his expression through that whole conversation. And the way Perry knew just what to do in a crisis.

You are a master of descriptive detail--the little touches that give the story the texture of reality, like the comfort of smelling like Clark's shampoo or hearing Perry singing through the wall.

And that final phone conversation! Such bravery from both of them. I'm looking forward to seeing heir courage rewarded.

May the record also state she ran out of her room without a room key. So a) she can't go back, only into Clark's room and/or b) would have to walk down to the lobby pantless to get a new key---seeing as Perry was the one to pay for the rooms, he'd have to go with her. Awkward.

I know what I would do...

Me, too ...


I posted:

Sue posted:

True...I confess to having 'Stranger Danger' on the brain (blame it on safety talks with the six year old ). But...for as crazy as Lex is, kinda might as well be? --Lex, skirting away from the accusation. You just never know what that guy'll do.

Laura (who is dying to know what is going to happen when Clark's door opens. Counting down the days till you post again...)

Happy Halloween! (pretend there's a scary emoticon here)

Susan - Thanks! If it sings at all, it's due to your patience and encouragement.

HappyGirl - Many thanks! I really liked Jack on the show, I thought he added a fun bit of snark and I wish he hadn't simply disappeared between seasons. Perry always knows what to do in a crisis.

Oh, it definitely will be rewarded!

Lola - You are absolutely correct -- there was no mention of her room key in her mad dash from the room.

Laura - I knew what you meant by "stranger danger," but I couldn't resist teasing you a little. And you're absolutely right. Lois doesn't really know who Lex is. I don't think it's still in the story or not, but in one of the early parts I originally had Lois remembering Clark's word to her at the end of 'Fly Hard': Be careful with Luthor, you don't know him like I do.

Maybe the door never opens. Maybe Clark is so excited that he just walks right through the door…

Thanks, ladies!

No, he’s currently having naughty dreams about her being Bonnie Lane.

Maybe someone finds him and takes him home to make him her personal plaything?

I wonder if she might not sleep better if Clark was there, holding her close after they both won.

And yet, I don’t think telling her he’s Superman would keep her calm. At all.

A perfect stand-in for Clark — both a willing punching ball and a snuggle bums at the same time.

Unless Clark got home and wondered why his shower was running.


I believe he would care. He’ll probably never clean that shower again.

She was never sooted up and had to get clean in Clark’s apartment before?

SUPERMAN: She was at Clark’s place. I thought I’d be surprising *him* in the shower with a gush of freezing breath, not *her*!

So she didn’t spend the night at her place and smells like a guy. Wonder what Lex is going to say about his fiancée gallivanting around like that.
LOIS: Fiancée?
LEX: I proposed and paid her father 50 large.

Wouldn’t it be creepy if he said ‘I can see you on the monitor. Come on, Lois! Pick up or I’ll have to send Owen to get you.’

Or that.

She could say that she stayed at Ralph’s place. That way, her mother would stop worrying about why Lois wasn’t home *and* Lex would get rid of Ralph. Two flies. One stone.

Luck? Is it called luck if a corrupt cop places that evidence in a bag to implicate Clark Kent for mailing that device?

Caked in dirt at the least, maybe even crushed by concrete?

Joe’s Jiggle Room?

He probably has specially built versions with a gas-tight backseat cabin.

Whisk her away to a remote place and make love to her. In his eyes. The state might call it something else, though.

It’s a dart place. The owner, an Oliver King, likes all sorts of marksmanship competitions.

Or maybe she could do something else with her mouth to make it all better? Maybe that’s what he wants?
LEX: See? Everyone has their price.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychopathy

So, he’s paying her a building for sex, then?

Maybe if she had a switch blade and could ram it into his neck while kissing him?
LOIS: I prefer to not kill people.

Maybe something like that pea-soup scene from the Excorcist?



Maybe Owen is like one of Euron Greyjoy’s crew on the Silence?

It also depends on whether he knows how to count to two hundred and if he’ll go slowly or just skip numbers when he has trouble.

Wouldn’t it be awkward if Owen was standing there, shaking his head ‘no’?



See? That’s why you ditch people in a ditch with a .22 in the middle of their forehead. That way, you can say, ‘yes, I’m sure’.

“— it’s a very time-honored tradition to trade marriage beds for goods, treaties, or general good will.”

Yes, he does love her like a brother. Platonic.

He enjoys their foreplay?

Go for little superheroes?

So, in China already?

JIMMY:
PERRY:



LOIS: Ultra Woman’s not even a real person! I mean…erm…What?

He likes the torture? He’s shy? He thinks she loves older gents with lots of money?

That he’s in love with a superficial brunette who uses her looks to get ahead in her job?
LOIS:

She could ask ‘is it Lois?’

How knowing makes a world of difference.

He might hold back winning if she ticks him off too much by running away and into dangerous situations. At least, until she manages to scare him senseless, then he might be too relieved and happy to not make her win.

Clark’s! I mean…Clark’s. Yes. Clark’s bed will do.

Yes, but with Perry there, won’t that be awkward? Unless they rent a big villa-type of house and Perry dresses in a black suit and white gloves.
PERRY: Very good, Mistress Lane, Master Kent. Will that be all for tonight?

Adrenalin gives the meat a nice, spicy flavor.

Because she’s started to send out really strong waves of pheromones? Like she did back in November?



Told her that he loves her.
CLARK:

So, Clark’s right next to Lois. Wouldn’t it be better with Perry in between them? To prevent any illicit, premarital hanky panky from starting?



From a certain point of view.

So it belongs to Lex and has video surveillance equipment installed to better record the upscale business traveler and the upscale companion in the king-size bed?




To be fair, neither of them had an amenity-Lois built in next door.









Also, no key, right?

*End*? *END*? What do you mean, by *END* of part 8/12!!!

Michael

Dear, I really wanted to leave a meaningful review to this amazing chapter, I really did...
But then I started looking for Kentucky Fried Movie bits on YouTube, I spent a good half an hour bent in two laughing and now my spleen hurts. So this is all you'll get: ask your boss to let you get a vacation more often, you can tell him/her people from all over the world will benefit of it.

I'd say I was having one of those weeks, but it's kind of turning into one of those years. Every time I think that things at work or home are settling down, it's like tempting fate, because then it goes up another notch on the crazy scale.

I apologize for not coming back sooner to reply, but RL has been insane lately. So I apologize in advance for being brief here.

Michael - As always, thank you for making me laugh (repeatedly!). It's hard to say which picture made me guffaw the loudest, but you get bonus points for including Ramsay, because that made me laugh and shudder at the same time.

HiddenMoon - Not my fault, blame rkn. Or maybe the Zucker brothers. :P

I'm still polishing on part 9. Soon, I promise!

Oh the romantic tension is so great!! Can't wait for the next part!!

Please don't leave us hanging long!!

Poor Lois...been stuck outside in the hall for two weeks with no pants on!

Yeah, come on Sue! Please!!!

-Hello? Oh, hi Adele! No, Sue hasn't updated yet... Yes, I know you've already called (like 999 times), but we're still waiting for the new chapter. Ok, I'll keep you up to date. Say hi to Lionel for me-.

Geez, that girl is such a stalker...

I loved reading this part! Update!

*Bump* Can we get an update soon?? Please?!

Cause I really don't want to send out these guys --

But I will if I have to!

I've been on the edge of my seat for so long waiting for the next chapter. Soon please??? It's such a good story, but I realise RL may be hectic this time of year.

Hi Sue
Hope RL is being good to you. Was wondering if there are any more parts in the pipeline for this story? Have enjoyed it so far, but would love to read more.
Cheers
Elizabeth

Any chance the rest of this will get posted, Please?

Wow! A blast from the past!

Yes, the rest of this will get posted. I got distracted by RL, and then I started overthinking the story. It still lives on my hard drive, and every now and then I pull it up and poke around in it. I kind of made a hash of it in my overthinking phase so I'm having to go back and rewrite the rewrites.

Knowing that someone out there still remembers the story has definitely lit a fire under me. Thanks!

I don’t know how I’ve never come across this story before but I’m glad that I finally have. It is currently 7am where I am and i have just spent the better part of the past 8 or 9 hours reading all the parts of this (when I probably should’ve been sleeping). This story is so well written and has a great plot with some fun moments included as well. I hope you eventually finish this story because I would love to see how this plot ends.

Eclectic - Thanks! You may have found it at just the right time. I've been playing with it for months, tweaking and smoothing the edges on the previous chapters and plodding slowly through the four yet to be posted. To kick myself into gear, I'm going to post part 9 tonight.

Thanks to everyone who's nudged me along to finish this. I'm very grateful that people still remember this story and want to read more.

Now I just need to psych myself up. I think what I'm feeling could best be described as "stage fright."

I'm not sure if the sound I made was more of a gasp, a squeak, or a shout of joy... it may have been a combination of all three. I've loved this story since you started posting it, Sue - so to hear that you are going to post more... it's like Christmas morning!

I'm so excited! I think I'm going to go reread all the parts again, you know, just to make sure I'm ready

Tracey

Sue!!! Oh my gosh, you’re back!! I rejoined the L&C world last summer and have thought about you so many times. I’ve reread everything you’ve written. I’ve always loved your style. I would love to see you finish this one. So glad you’re back!

I'm not sure how I missed replying on this one. Sorry!

Traceylynn - Ha! I've spent the past few minutes trying to imagine what a gasp/squeak/shout sounds like.


I highly recommend refreshing your memory. There's some details that will only make sense if you have a clear recollection of their earlier conversations.

Jackie - Yes, I'm back and I'm extremely honored/humbled by the enthusiastic reception you guys have given me.

Thank you so much! You guys truly do rock my world.

Oh my gosh! I love this chapter so so much!


I wanted to talk about all of the wonderful loveliness, but can't think about anything except how easily Lois told Clark that she loved him and then promptly locked herself out of her room without any pants on.

Okay, so back to the beginning. You were able to weave so many emotions together, but I think I like the tantalizing bits of a Lois that is no longer denying her attraction to Clark, but hasn't done anything about her desires yet.
Actually, Lois, I think that Clark most definitely will care. He will care very much. In fact, he will want to be there to give you a good 'talking to'.

Creepy, creepy, creepy. I don't think Lois should ever go home. She should move into Clark's apartment for good immediately. Good for her to basically give Lex the finger by not answering the phone. /me shivers at the ride from Lex, his 'proposal' that she sell herself for the Daily Planet, and for having to ditch Owen.


OMG! I did not expect her to cheat by asking Perry, Jimmy, and Jack who Clark loved. I think it's hilarious that Jimmy and Perry refused to say anything and Jack just laughed at her for not realizing it was her.

From there to the end, I loved being inside Lois's head, seeing how dazed she was with the realization, with her attraction, and then the sweet picture of her falling asleep against his shoulder in the cab.

Yay! I got at least one more nighttime phone call. Can't wait for the next part!

Ok i don’t even know what to say about this chapter. You’ve let me speechless. I got everything I wanted. Lois and Clark’s reunion was adorable. I laughed out loud when Lois asked Perry, Jimmy and Jack about who Clark is in love with. The tension between those two was so thick you could cut it with a knife! And that phone call!! Ahhh! The best!!

Brenda - Yay! So glad you loved it!


Well, she was a bit flustered. The fact that it was so easy to tell him how she felt is just further proof of how right he is for her.


LOL! I love that! It was definitely a diss to him to not answer the phone. I think Lex has underestimated our lovely Ms. Lane.


How is that cheating? You gotta use all your available sources if you want to get the truth. I'm glad you enjoyed their reactions to the question because that was one of the parts that made me giggle as I wrote it.


I love the mental image of her falling asleep on his shoulder, too.

Jackie - Speechless? Truly? I'm glad you got everything you wanted.


Artemis - I'll answer over here. Thank you!

Thank you so much! You guys are what brought me back and you're definitely what keeps me writing.

I read this already, but I never had time to FDK! Back at it (and hopefully we'll get those last few chapters out of you... *nudgenudge*)

Awww! On the one hand, Clark would definitely be more than a little turned on knowing she used his shower, but he'd probably like knowing she felt like he was giving her a hug when he wasn't there even more.

Creepy Lex doing what he does best... *shudders*


Here's hoping that thumbprint isn't Jack's... Or Lois' come to think of it. Or Clark's!!

Good example that Lois won't reveal him as a source, since she won't even say who told her about the Kryptonite...

Oh my gosh, I know Lex is a bad guy and he's always creepy, but this level of skeeviness is just gross and psychotic. Well done.

This illustrates just how Lois did kind of fall for Lex in the show so well. It's all just so unbelievable that Lex could want her, that he could love her, that he could hurt her... But also, that's just the sort of psychopath he is.

But also I'm not shocked because... (see above)

Ha!

Go, Lois, Go!!


AWWWWWWW!

Double Aawww!

This little passage is adorable too. I never really thought about it before but I guess Perry does take "Clark's side" as she perceives it quite a bit. And also, you're only being nicer now Lois because you *like* him.

This is perfect! She gets two seconds while Clark's gone to talk about anything she wants and she picks up this thread again? And their reactions are spot on.

Awww. Good ol' Perry always puts it best. This fic has me bouncing between "Eww" at Lex and "Aww" at practically everything else.

Help me I'm melting!

Perry's gonna be scared spitless when he checks on Lois in the morning and realizes she's missing... Or hears a lot of ruckus with the mattress springs.

Sure, Clark. Keep telling her that. She'll believe it.
LOIS: See if I tell that lying caped freak anything again!

Haha! Too cute. Also, that chicken outfit she wore at the Metro Club might ease her into the conversation... Just sayin'.

Oh! I have stomach flutters for Lois' sake.

I don't imagine Clark ever anticipated her straight up asking him.




Squeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!

Oh my gosh, this is so perfect. I love this whole interaction, this whole chapter, this whole fic... I can't wait to get to chapter 9 (hopefully tonight) and see how Lois gets to the bottom of this no-pants situation...