Title: When the world came crashing down.

Rating: G (Currently)

Warnings/Spoilers: Future fic, so everything in the series is fair game. Also some Doomsday/Death of Superman.

Disclaimer: I don't own Smallville, Superman and/or anything. All belong to the CW and DC Comics.

A/N: A response to Archangel's challenge on DI; What if Superman died, but this time, Lois did NOT know that her friend/boyfriend/fiancé etc. and partner was Superman.

Yesterday was the best day of her life.

Today would be the worst.

'The way things were.'

Prologue

Lois Lane stretched in her bed, her forearm shielding her from the sun that poured in from her windows. Yawning, Lois put her right hand out to turn off the alarm. Her left, scrubbed at her eyes, trying to remove the last remnants of sleep. Lois paused for a moment when she felt cool metal against her flesh. Turning her hand over, Lois was met with the sight of a diamond, set in a simple platinum band. Part of her wanted to giggle. It was only yesterday that Clark had proposed.

Clark.

The thought of him brought a smile to Lois' lips. Her boyfriend, correction, fiancé had chosen the anniversary of the day they met 7 years ago to propose. Usually, Lois might have thought it sappy that someone would specifically choose a 'sentimental' day to propose - hell she would have thought it sappy someone would propose. But Lois had learnt to throw out her preconceived notions and expectations when she began dating Clark nearly a year ago. He continued to surprise her with his kindness and warm personality. Regardless of his constant disappears and excuses, Lois had fallen head over heels in love with Clark. So her yes was delayed only by her own personal choice of enjoying watching Clark squirm.

But the moment she had accepted, Clark's eyes lit up, for a moment they could have looked a completely different colour from the intensity of his happiness. Lois had even felt her eyes well up with tears, not that she would admit it when Clark told her the meaning of his inscription. It said, my love for you is a gift. It covered the whole inside of the band and was from a poem Clark had once read.

I carry the weight of the world on my shoulders,

It is my gift, it is my curse,

I feel the pain of the world,

It is my gift, it is my curse,

My love for you is a gift.

There is no curse in our love.

Lois watched as the stone glinted in the light for a moment before finally hauling herself into the shower. Usually Lois might have put the radio on for some company but today she figured she could live in the silence of her own, happy, thoughts.

Chloe banged on the front of Lois' door, she was feeling slightly frenzied when her cousin didn't immediately call her. Lois opened the door, smiling. Chloe looked at her like she had grown a second head.

"Lois?" Chloe asked warily, trying to gauge her reaction.

"Yeah Chlo?" Lois asked, hands on hips. Chloe looked down to the ring that now grace her finger. Lois followed her gaze. "Last night. Clark proposed and well…"

"Oh Lois." Chloe sighed, hugging her.

"Chloe, what's up with you?"

"Lois, you've been watching the news right?" Chloe asked her, an icy feeling went down her back.

"Not since yesterday." Lois told her.

"Then I have to tell you something." Chloe squeezed her eyes shut and prayed for some kind of strength. "Superman is dead."

TBC…