Oh, Sonia. How incredibly sad.

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Jory straightened and frowned at her. <Me bad?>

Lois’s eyes widened and she shot a glance at Martha in shared confusion. <No. Never.>

<Why you leave me?>

Steeling herself against the surge of emotion that accosted her, Lois made a fist and rubbed it in a circle over her chest. <Sorry. Very, very sorry.>
I feel my heart breaking for both Jory and Lois. A three-year old isn't old enough to understand why Lois, the first woman besides his grandmother to love him, isn't around anymore. Yes, Lois pushed Clark and maybe insinuated herself when she shouldn't, but the poor boy had no one. Clark is emotionally unavailable and Lois had enough compassion to give him what he needed and deserved - unconditional love.

I don't like this version of Clark at all. I don't care how hurt he's been in the past, he has no right to cause Jory additional pain just because he's unable and unwilling to love and accept him as a real person. Clark is so damaged because Lana hated him and treated him like a thing, but he's doing the same to Jory, an innocent toddler. Worse than being an alien foundling, Jory didn't even have the Kent's love at first.

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“This is beneath you, Lois. It really is. I’m asking you nicely to leave my family alone.” With that, he walked away without sparing her a glance.
*#@$(*&*^! jerk. Lois makes herself vulnerable by declaring her love for him and he ridicules her. The subtext in his words is clear - she's pathetic for asking him to tell her straight out that he doesn't care for her and he doesn't even respect her enough to give a straight answer. I can't even express how disappointed I am with Clark, right now. mad

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Sam caught the look that Ellen gave him and reciprocated it.

“Is something wrong?” Martha asked. Apparently she had seen the look as well.
Oh Martha. It seems as if Clark has lead his parents to believe that Lois has abandoned Jory and only now is Marth clued in that something is wrong. I can imagine how she'll feel when she realizes how Clark is treating Lois. Especially after it was she that asked Lois to look out for them both, I hope Martha confronts Clark and tans his hide like cheap leather. grumble

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“There is *nothing* wrong loving someone. In fact, it is the most courageous and selfless thing you can do. It doesn’t detract from your character; it builds on it and extends it. Having the capacity to truly open yourself to another person’s soul shows strength and compassion, and you have amazed me with that capacity.”
/me sniffles. That was beautifully said. I love to see Lois get the support from her father that she always wanted on the show.
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Clark saw Lois and her father enter the darkened ballroom from the door on the other side of the stage and felt an unexpected surge of relief. The presentation of the award for Investigative Journalism was next and he had feared having to accept it alone. If there was anything he didn’t like more than feeling vulnerable, it was being put on the spot.

…And then there was just the fact that the sight of her always brought with it a sense of calm.
Ack! cat You've *got* to be kidding me. He feels this way and still treats Lois like crap? She's better off without him.

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Yes, we once were a team – or some semblance of one – but as much as my employer would like to sell the idea of our congruency and permanence, there is no team, no partnership.” She turned her head slightly so that her eyes met Clark’s while her mouth remained next to the microphone. “There is no us.”
thud OMG, Lois did *not* just do that in front of everyone. Wow, I figured the ... stuff would hit the fan, but had no idea she'd be the one to do it. Of course, after Clark's performance earlier, I'm not surprised that Lois lashed out, but ... wow.

I'd plea that you hurry back with the next part except that I'm almost afraid to find out what happens next. I keep thinking that things will get better, only to get more angst.

I guess I'm a little ... um, wrapped up in this story, yes?

BJ