ALTERNATE ENDING (In case you want to insert this story directly into the series in the place of ‘Swear to God, This Time We’re Not Kidding’):

“Lois,” Clark groaned. Moving suddenly, he picked her up in his arms, laying her gently on the bed as his lips again found hers.

The unexpected sound of a man clearing his throat caused them to jump apart.

“Oh, hello,” said a man wearing old-fashioned clothing and a bowler hat. “I hope I wasn’t interrupting anything. Well, more to the point, I hope I was.”

Lois and Clark looked at each other in confusion before Lois suddenly recognized their uninvited guest. “H.G.Wells,” she groaned into the pillow.

TO BE CONTINUED in ‘Soul Mates’ (Season Four, Episode Four of the Series) <g>.

She was slightly surprised when he lay next to her, facing her, instead of pulling her into his arms. She turned onto her side, still seeing the demons that were haunting him. Leaning forward, she kissed him as his hands slipped beneath the large sweatshirt she was wearing, as if he was drawing heat from her body. She was surprised when his hands actually seemed cold. She hesitated a moment before suddenly sitting up, removing the sweatshirt and pulling him into her arms, cradling him against her breast.
She heard him give a shuttering groan as he pulled her closer.

There was nothing, or almost nothing, sexual about the experience. Even though there was practically no clothing between them, even though she could feel his hot breath against her skin, and even though it was probably the most intimate moment of her life to date - more intimate, in fact, than those few occasions where she had crossed the intimacy threshold with a man - it was not sexual. It was so much deeper than that. It was... She hesitated slightly as she tried to find the right word. 'Spiritual' was the word she finally decided on.
Not in the traditional sense, perhaps. Not in a way that a minister might describe it given that they were practically naked in bed while still unwed, but... It was spiritual, nonetheless. In fact, it was probably the most spiritual experience she'd ever had.

Pushing those thoughts aside, she ran her hands soothingly over his back as she held him against her. She was relieved when his muscles begin to relax and his breathing became more regular, deeper. Still, she didn't sleep. As she lay there, holding the love of her life in her arms, it suddenly hit her what she'd taken on by loving Clark.
He was the man holding up the Golden Gate Bridge.

And now... she was the woman holding up the man holding up the Golden Gate Bridge.

"Mmm... you thought of everything," Lois said, pulling him in closer. "Now..." She nipped at his adam's apple. "...let me see if I can make you forget everything."

And now... she was the woman holding up the man holding up the Golden Gate Bridge.

Just bring him to a chapel and expect him to get married. It was so... Lois.

"Well, since I know how much you make..."

"How do you know how much I make?"
Lois shrugged.

"You snooped," Clark said in mock indignation.

written for the sole purpose of causing the reader to scream, "AHHHH!" as many times as possible while reading

It is total and unadulterated fluff - written for the sole purpose of causing the reader to scream, “AHHHH!” as many times as possible while reading

But that was what made this such a Catch-22 situation.

“What?” Clark asked as if he’d never in his life even contemplated something as unneighborly as pretending not to be home. In fact, he looked as if she was suggesting he rob a bank or commit a murder.

With that warning, he lit the remaining lanterns, revealing a small structure, much like a square gazebo, complete with roof. On one side was a wall made entirely of logs with the exception of a stone fireplace built into the center. On the remaining three sides were wooden railings. Mosquito netting had been draped decorously over the exposed sides.

She pushed the netting aside and stepped inside, a smile lighting up her face. A large bed was set up, complete with overstuffed pillows and red satin sheets. There was also a table and chairs and a large spread of food.

“It’s not finished yet, but this was the best I could do in the limited time I had.”

“It’s wonderful, Clark,”