I know you'll think this was ridiculous of me Clark, but I told Superman about my feelings for him,...and he rejected me. I think that played at least a part in why I accepted Lex's proposal. I felt so lonely and rejected after that. I thought maybe I could grow to love Lex, since he obviously did love me." Clark felt a pang of guilt at the mention of Superman's rejection of her. So, he was at least partly to blame for what she'd done. If he had just found some way to get past his wounded pride and give her something to hold on to, even if it was *Superman*, she might not have ever agreed to marry Luthor. It surprised Clark at how open and honest Lois was being with him about her feelings. She must be feeling vulnerable right now, he thought. He wished he could go over there, to her apartment, and comfort her. But that was not a job for Clark, her forever friend; maybe Superman, but he was *grounded*. He would just have to be content to comfort her with his words.

"I don't think that was ridiculous. You needed to know how he felt about you. Don't kid yourself Lois, Superman cares for you, he always has. You can see it in his eyes and the way he's always there to help you...I'm sorry he wasn't there to help you today," Clark told her with difficulty.

"That's okay, you were there, Clark.