To make life easier, I’ve decided that I’ll start the fdk threads for this story.

So, what do you guys think? Do you want more, or should I quit while I’m ahead? Leave your thoughts here.

- Alisha

Very interesting premise... can't wait for more... kinda sad though... and I wonder how Martha and Jonathan and possibly even Smallville itself fared...

Well written, interesting, but, like Lieta said, sad. Poor Clark. And poor Lois too, although she brought on her predicament herself. This Lois isn't galactically stupid, but she hasn't got her priorities straight.

I suspect that Clark is going to have to save Lois again, whether he wants to or not. I also hope that Lois will be able to do something to sort of make it up to Clark, although what that would be I have no idea. (And what about Jonathan and Martha? I have a bad feeling about them.)

Ann

Love the premise and looking fwd to it. What's the posting schedule?

An exposed Clark and a guilt-ridden Lois..wow!

Baby Rage.. that means the Churches or is Luthor still there?

In a word: oh boy! I know,that's two words, but I typed 'em fast.

Oooh so sad.

I know Lois did that herself but I think she probably would have done just that if she had found out at that time ... but still the short encounter between Clark and Lois nearly made me cry.

I'm curious where this will go...

Wow, that was a powerful start... lots of angst (love it) and a very bleak set of circumstances for this Lois and Clark to cope with. Can't wait to see where it leads.

I had to ponder this one for a while before I could give feedback.

This is so sad. I'm not sure that I'll be able to stay with it, but for now I intend to try.

Now, sad that it may be, I think it's a really good idea. If Lois would have found out too soon, this is a very reasonable thing to have happened. So, even though it's way over on the "noooooooo" side of my scale, I think you have done an excellent job with this.

Bob

Are you going to tell what happened to Jonathan and Martha when the article came out?

I'm not sure that we'll get a happy ending to a story where Lois headlines Clark's secret. But I'll bite! The start is very alluring. Just don't keep us waiting too long for the next post!

~Sheila

Interesting this leave this Clark right where Lois left AltClark.

Looking forward to more.

Oh wow. That was a pretty brutal start. So for me, it all depends on where you're going.

In this part, we really just have your premise and setting. I can envision the Lois/Superman relationship turning into something beautiful, or continuing its downward spiral and leaving them both in ruins.

So I'm hanging in (and hoping that the A plot doesn't overshadow the character development), but if I don't see any signs of hope at all in the next two or three posts, I don't think I'll be able to keep reading.

Your writing itself is, as always, quite lovely.

Carolyn

Heart breaking. I hope they make their peace. I assume that is the path you'll take. I hope anyway, unless HG Wells shows up and fixes this mess, you have your work cut out for you. Laura

Wow that was a wham without death! Poor Clark, how sad for both of them.

I look forward to more.

Hi,

I agree, this seems a tragic beginning, and I'm not sure things are going to get any less harrowing, but that said, your story is written very well.

You made me feel for Clark, and for Lois, though she had been the one to instigate the sad situation.

I think that for the moment I will stay with it too, and hope life does improve for both Lois and Clark.

Yours Jenni

More please! I want more now!

AAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

Okay, you've got me hooked. More, please.

That was incredibly sad ... but so well written.

I'll keep reading - I just hope you can somehow pull a happy ending out of this.

Wow.

That truly is a brutal beginning. And it's probably about the way things would have gone had Lois worked without blinders and discovered Superman's secret so early in their friendship, before he'd managed to insinuate himself into her heart.

And now she's destroyed Clark Kent pretty much forever, or at least until the notoriety dies down. But I wonder if it ever would? I just finished a biography of Evelyn Nesbit, the "girl on the red velvet swing" who was the mistress of New York architect Standford White, then the wife of crazy playboy Harry Thaw. She first came to fame as a beautiful teenage portrait and photo model, then as a witness in her husband's trial. Oh, did I forget to mention that Harry Thaw shot and killed Stanford White in a theater audience with a thousand people around them? Thaw spent the rest of his life in and out of insane asylums, never able to get a grip on life. And he never acknowledged the child he and Evelyn had together.

Evelyn never got away from being "the girl on the red velvet swing" for the rest of her life. The case followed her until she died at age eighty-two, and she was never able to be herself again. People who are swept up in events such as those nearly always fail to escape them. I don't think either Clark or Lois could ever get away from such a tragic event. They'll be tied together for the rest of their lives, even if they never reconcile.

As for me, I don't think that Clark would ever let Lois die. I think he'd rescue her and treat her just like any other person in danger, but when that danger was past I think he'd be at a loss as to how to treat her. I don't think he hates her, but I do think he doesn't know how to relate to her. It's a sure bet that he doesn't trust her personally, but he surely doesn't believe that she's a criminal. This situation is going to take some serious difficulties to resolve. And I have every confidence that you'll be able to pull if off.

Looking for the next part, where Lois gets in danger once again and has to call for Superman's help yet again.

Oh! I'm looking forward to more!

I can't imagine the lifestyle that the Kents are enduring at the moment. I'm afraid for them. I am very curious to see how the sad Lane and Kent relationship developes.

Hope to see more.

Wow, your Lois is a real scumbag. Well, at least she regrets her actions.

Well, I guess they will somehow reconcile. Wonder what Clark Parents are doing. And, also, what is Clark Job now? he has to pay the bills to. Is he working for the police department?

Hi Alisha!

Figured that I would have gotten around to it by now, but no... Anyway. It is on my reading list and I hope to catch up in a couple of days.

Michael

Hi guys, thanks for all your comments. Sorry it’s taken me so long to respond, I’ve been very busy this week and this is the first opportunity I’ve had to get online.

I don’t have long so I’ll just respond to some of the bigger points, or at least ones that aren’t going to give anything away!

Posting schedule: I’m aiming for once a week, but I have chosen a silly time to start posting because my life’s going be quite hectic over the couple of weeks! Still, fingers crossed! Part two should be up tomorrow.

I’m aware that this story is probably not going to be to everyone’s taste, so I’m grateful to those who are willing to give it a go even if they’re not sure that they’re going to enjoy it. There are some stories out there that I’ve had to give up on for one reason or another, it happens.

I’m not going to guarantee a happy ending for Lois and Clark, but I will tell you that I’m a big fan of happy endings, although sometimes the characters head off in a direction you don’t necessarily want them to. Read into that what you will. If anything is really bothering anyone with regards to where the story is going etc, feel free to send me a PM with your questions/concerns and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.

- Alisha

Alisha,

Sorry - I know you've already posted the second part (which I'll be going to right after I post this), but this has been my first chance to get online and read in days.

The premise here is very interesting. At first, I was surprised by how little time Lois and Clark had known each other before she blabbed about his secret. It makes sense - much later and she would have kept it a secret, but she seemed to know Clark so well considering how briefly they had been friends. But I guess a Lois who could see straight to Clark's secret right away would also be a Lois who would see Clark right away, too, and not dismiss him so easily.

Like others, I kept wondering what happened to Martha and Jonathan and the fact that Clark has settled in Metropolis makes me think it's not good.

I don't see how Lois and Clark could ever be friends after this, let alone fall in love, but then the story has just begun, right?

Hi Alisha!

I finally got started on this. Very nice. I did sort of expect it to having been Lois printing his secret. You really don't pull any punches, do you?

Michael