Originally I thought this would be a one-shot. Now I'm thinking it's 5 parts (this being part 3), but that's tentative.
Thanks for hanging in there with me and still reading.

Comments always welcome!

Well I will be the first to respond (probably due to the Holiday Weekend here in the States).

I was wondering how you were going to handle getting them back together without a revelation and you did it masterfully! I loved how you let the pace of acceptance of each participant work itself out and did not pressure either Lois or Clark. You had the 'House of Luthor' series situation with the 'We Have A Lot to Talk About' version of Lois (much more mature and understanding of her feelings). Lois did not bring up the “Love is not whom you can see yourself with, it is who you can’t see yourself without.” line directly in this chapter but you probably should at some point mostly because I love the line/concept... I also really await how you have Lois tell Lex that she will not marry him now THAT will be interesting and probably cement Lois' new view of Lex.

I am so glad you are continuing this story and really love that it will be 5 parts in length which should give you a lot of room to explore the reactions of all three of the major players here.

Mike

I'm glad that Lois and Clark are finally coming to their senses and talking! Although, since Lois broke Clark's heart with a green studded Kryptonite bat this afternoon, it only makes sense that everything between them feels awkward and heavy. I'm glad that they've decided to use the mantra "Don't be cruel?"

This made me chuckle, though:
Poor Superman had worked so hard to not be cruel and what does he see, Lois crying her eyes out. So, of course, he blamed himself instead. At least, he did check her surroundings to make sure it wasn't someone else first. THEN he blamed himself. But she's not crying because of what Superman said, but because of how *she* treated Clark and what a mess her life was currently in because she'd ignored her initial gut reporter feelings about Lex. It was a hard truth to realize about oneself.

Wow, Lois opening herself up to Clark and being vulnerable enough to admit that she was wrong. I love that she knows him well enough to see when he's mad and that makes her want to soothe him. Yea for the hug! It was just what they both needed. Lois found a way for them to go to bed (home, in this case) without anger. Good for her!

I agree with Mike, her upcoming rejection of Lex will not go well. Now that Lois knows more about Lex's true character will she be worried about her safety? What AM I saying? This is Lois Lane! The thought won't even cross her mind, until it's too late. What will Lex do? How will he try to ruin Lois and/or Clark? I hope she doesn't mention Clark during her talk with Lex. How are you going to solve this in only 2 more parts?

Hi Mike!

Yay Comments!

Happy Labor Day Weekend!

Glad you liked how they got together without THE revelation. I thought if Lois had time to process what was going on without a painful rejection, she'd come to different conclusions and make different choices. Throwing a wrench in Lex's plans is fun. No spoiler here for how Lois confronts him.

Thanks for reading and commenting!

Hi Virginia!

Yay More Comments!


I'm enjoying writing them actually talking, not yelling at each other. They're watching their words, and even when angry or upset striving to live up to the mantra "Don't Be Cruel." Glad you like it too.


YUP! Exactly.


Glad this worked. Lois really can only show her true self to Clark, or at least show him first. The hug almost wrote itself, and seemed the right place to end this chapter.


Yes she's Lois, and some things never change! Great questions, and I plan to answer them all. Doing my best to keep to the 2 parts, although that could change. I'm not planning an epic here, although 2 parts may be optimistically naive.

Thanks for reading and commenting!

Brava!

I'm rather overwhelmed at work at the moment (and likely will be for at least the rest of the school year), so the fact that I read this part knowing full well that this may turn into a long story should tell you just how much I enjoyed the parts that came before. And part 2 lived up to its promise

Well done.

Joy,
Lynn

p.s., I just read this thread and saw you are hoping to wrap up the story in only two more parts. I've mixed feelings about that -- given that things are likely to get even busier at work, I'm glad that I should probably be able to make time to read two parts, but I will be sad when this story comes to an end.

Wonderful part, Cuidadora !

I've been looking forward to when you would post. What a treat to read tonight!

I really enjoyed the effort it took to get Lois and Clark to Clark's apartment. Lois getting in a good cry and then heading over...but Clark stopping back after his first rescue--checking to see if Lois needed rescuing since she was crying--going home to change to come back over, and then having to follow Lois back to his place to meet her there. It was great detail, and really showed what life is like for someone living with some pretty special abilities .

The conversation at Clark's apartment was handled really well. I really liked that you let Clark be angry, show his frustration a bit. He put his heart out on the line and got hurt today. And Lex--everything that Clark's had to deal with concerning him (pretty much alone). I'm glad Clark could talk to Lois about all of his suspicions. Having Lois recognize Clark is hurting and her wanting to be the one to help felt really great.

Glad there will be more story . Can't wait!
Laura

Hi Lynn!

More comments!

Wow!! I'm thrilled you like my story that much. And honored you're taking time from your busy schedule to read and comment. Thank you.

I hope the rest of the story lives up to your expectations.

I'm delighted that the last parts should fit into your schedule, and honored you have mixed feelings about the story ending.

Comments and/or readers are welcome anytime, and don't have to be "current" to the story.

Hope things go well for you at work. Overwhelm is often difficult, to say the least.

Hi Laura!

Comments! Yay!

Glad you liked the details. I find it a balancing act to put in enough details without bogging down the flow of the story. Part of why I have my multiple multiple edits before finally posting.

That conversation was definitely a challenge. Clark losing enough control to show his anger is not something he does often or lightly. And Lois seeing his pain and wanting to comfort him is definitely new territory for them both. Glad you liked the final version. They're not done talking yet tonight, as you'll see in the next part. The hug seemed like the best place to end this part.

Thanks for reading and commenting!

I'm quite enjoying this gem of a story! Lois and Clark's 'voices' ring true.


Yeah, I would bet the farm on Martha any day when it came to defending her family. Jason Trask, Tempus, even Lex had better head for the hills!


Because neither you nor any of these other folks were looking for evil where they thought they saw good. Even Perry missed the clues! Clark also mentioned how children have been affected by Lex's cruelty, starting with Amy Platt, a young handicapped girl who will now have to grow up without her father because of Lex's perfidy. This is something I never read about before, what a very different, refreshing angle!


Yes! Give their relationship time to grow and mature. Far too often writers are rushing Lois and Clark to a wedding at warp speed!

So glad to know the number of parts this delightful story has. Please don't take too long on the next installment!

Hi Morgana!



Thanks so much. Wow. That's a huge compliment, and something I've been struggling with in my drafts. I'm so glad their voices ring true.


Me too. Yeah, they'd better watch out if Mama Bear Kent sees them first.


Thanks. You're right, everyone else took Lex at face value. They wanted to believe he was the "good" man he portrayed. Which of course makes him all the more evil because he seems benevolent. It just seems natural that Clark/Superman would identify with the children. I imagine he endured teasing if not outright cruelty growing up from rumors of his unusual adoption. Contrasting that with Lex who caused the children's pain makes Clark look even better.


That's what I thought too. Neither one is emotionally prepared for marriage at this point. They need to build their relationship and learn to trust each other.


Doing my best.

Thanks for reading and commenting!