Title: As you and I collide [1/?] WIP for NaNoWriMo
Author: Rae
Rating: PG
Genre: Smallville with eventual crossover to Superman Returns
Characters/Pairings: Clark Kent/Lois Lane, Chloe Sullivan/Jimmy Olsen.
Warnings/Spoilers: Set post 8x13 because 8x10 has happened and Lois is obviously back.
Disclaimer: DC Comics and the CW own all rights to the show and Superman, I just took them out to play with.
Summary: Lois Lane doesn't believe in destiny, she doesn't believe she was fated to be with anyone let alone Clark Kent but as the stars align and a series of events unfold it becomes very clear to Lois, destiny waits for no one, not even her.
Author Notes: With inconcieveable thanks to the unequivocal svgurl for beta-ing this for me.
Word Count: 4,000ish

Clark couldn't deny his attraction as he pulled Maxima to his body, her softness teasing him after so long alone. Never alone, not now, not again.

"Smallville!" Lois shouted as her eyes blinked several times, like she could somehow wash the sight from her brain.

The fog was breaking in Clark's mind, like a bucket of ice cold water had been poured over him, "Lois?" Clark squinted, even though he could see her perfectly. Lois looked at him, pain in her eyes, cutting him with the words she didn't say.

"Let her go!" Maxima had begged, insisted, but Clark had to apologise, he needed Lois to know he was sorry.

"Lois, Lois wait!"

"What?!"

"Do you love this man?"

"Underneath it all, do you love him?"

"Yes."

Lois couldn't look at Clark, her confession burned through her body, he was never supposed to know. Because it would never be their story; this life… it wasn't about Lois and Clark.

Chapter One

Chloe sighed. In theory, the evening had been a good idea but no one was counting on the nitpicking and nail scratching between Lois and Clark. Even Jimmy frowned as Lois continued to berate Clark over his choice to give up an article.

"Hey, Lois, you want to lay off?" Jimmy asked, as pleasantly as he could, only to be given the Lois Lane stare of death. A good portion of the restaurant they were in sat staring at their plates and the other half spent their time sneaking glances at the fighting duo.

"Look, if we were in any other kind of business, what Clark did would be kind, great even but we're reporters and you can't go giving up stories," Lois reprimanded him as she pushed a piece of lettuce around her plate.

"Oh and you're pretending like you care today?" Clark threw back, "What? No monster truck rally in the nearest 200 miles?"

Lois gritted her teeth, "Of course there was but why would I be there when I can be here with you?" She laid her hand on Clark's forearm; his eyes went to it immediately looking at it as if it had burnt him.

Clark looked around and finally saw all the pairs of eyes on them. Shaking off Lois' hand, he grabbed her bicep. "Lois!" he hissed under his breath, and pulled her up towards the direction of the elevator at the front of the restaurant. Finally, stopping in front of it, Lois pushed the button for up. Clark looked at her, half questioning before his face set back into a glare.

"Lois, what is wrong with you?" Clark demanded.

"You're the one who yanked me over here, Kent," Lois grunted as Clark pulled her back to face him.

"Lois!"

Lois sighed angrily and threw up her hands, "You're ridiculous!"

"I'm ridiculous?! Lois, you've just spent the last 25 minutes telling me I'm a waste of space!"

"That's not what I said."

"You might as well as have. Jesus, Lois, what did I ever do to you?" Clark's face was a mask of disbelief.

"It's not me I'm worried about." Lois' chest heaved with exertion, her face almost pleading with Clark. To anyone else the conversation wouldn't have made sense; worry seemingly had no place in this contest of wills but it was the unspoken barrier between them both, Lana, that created this chasm.

"We're not like that, Lois," Clark insisted.

"You're not? So the dinners, the cosy nights in, aren't her moseying on in right where she left off?" Lois reeled off. In the last week she had called him six different times to work on a story but he had blown her off in favour of spending time with Lana. Obviously it had not left Clark in her good books.

Clark rubbed the bridge of his nose as if he was suddenly tired. "She's not doing anything. We're not getting back together."

"I want to believe you, Clark but your Lana track record schedules a heartbreak in tee minus 3 days." Lois sighed again, "I thought you were moving on. You know, wild cherry and all that."

Clark felt a blush from his face to his toes spread out through his body, "I have moved on…," a gulp later, "Wild cherry, withstanding."

"Well, I can't watch her trounce all over you again, Clark. I mean why don't you just start introducing yourself as 'Hi-I'm-a-doormat'?"

The blush dissipated as quickly as it had come. Clark was already back on form, flying back with barbs he hoped would land as well as Lois' ones had on him. "I appreciate your concern, Lois but whether or not Lana and I do anything is really none of your business."

"I'm your friend, Clark, of course it's my business," Lois said flippantly as if it was something that was always true, like he was an idiot for thinking otherwise.

"This fortunately isn't." Clark glared, his eyes fixated on Lois' dark ones; he was staring so intensely he could see the flecks of gold in her irises and the warmth that seemed to emanate from that single look. It was point one Lois Lane as Clark looked away from her heated gaze.

The elevator pinged and opened its doors. "Fine, whatever, Clark but when it all ends in tears, which it will, don't come complaining on my ear about it," Lois told him as she poked her finger into his chest. Stepping into the elevator, she waited for Clark, "Coming Smallville?"

"I'm going to apologize to Chloe and Jimmy. For ruining their welcome back dinner." It was obvious that it was a poke at Lois more than Clark actually wanting to apologize.

Lois rolled her eyes at Clark's look, then nodded, "I'll catch Chloe in a bit, right now, I really need to go change."

Clark would have agreed if he wasn't so in favour of Lois' current state of dress. The expectation of the restaurant had lead to everyone dressing with some sort of formality; luckily it wasn't out of place when they arrived. But Lois looked…good, her dress was a simple dark grey silk that scooped at her neck and touched her toes at the bottom but had left her back completely exposed to the elements. Clark had been restraining himself since they left the bar to cover at least some portion of her back with his hand.

The doors closed and the sound brought Clark back to the present. He turned and walked back into the room, trying to ignore the curious looks as he walked back to their table.

"Hey, CK," Jimmy said, tapping Clark on the back in a friendly gesture. "I see you're still alive."

"Almost, it was touch and go but Lois favoured comfortable clothes over my demise," Clark explained but Chloe's eyes on him told him she knew a different story. "Sorry about all that. Guess working together hasn't worked out all the kinks in our friendship."

"It's okay, Clark, I too have been on the receiving end of a Lois rampage, it's not a pretty sight," Jimmy concurred as Chloe nodded.

"Sure, Lois said she wasn't feeling well, I guess she's just got a bad case of the grumps," Chloe offered up, Clark smiled gratefully.

Jimmy raised his glass, "To Lois, may we never cross her bad side."

Clark laughed, this time it was real and genuine, "Yeah, to Lois."

Clark put the card key into the door and let himself into the hotel room. Upon, Chloe and Jimmy's return from their honeymoon, Lois had insisted that they go all out to make it memorable after the wedding fiasco. Which was why they were now in one of Metropolis' most exclusive and expensive hotels, courtesy of Oliver, sharing a room.

"Lois?" Clark called.

"Hmm?" He heard a voice mumble, "Clark? In the bathroom."

Clark laughed to himself., Lois' look when she had seen the bath had been priceless; had they not been late for dinner, he assumed she would have stripped there and then. A slosh of water later, Clark heard Lois talking to herself, things he knew he shouldn't be listening to, so he tuned her out, sitting down on the bed as he stared out at the skyline. With floor to ceiling windows, Metropolis looked like a glittering jewel in the night. But Clark knew the truth, that there had been 3 thefts, 2 robberies and 6 fights scattered around the town.

"Penny?" Lois asked as she opened the bathroom door. She leaned against the door frame, clothed in a fluffy white robe.

"What?" Clark asked confused.

"Penny. As in penny for your thoughts." She shook her head; he could almost hear her thoughts about his farm town upbringing.

"Right. Well, nothing interesting. Just Metropolis looks…nice," Clark replied as Lois sat down on the bed beside him. Clark tried to stop his breath from hitching when it dipped, he failed, Lois looked at him expectantly.

Lois nodded, "Sure, what shiny light show doesn't?"

Clark rolled his eyes, "Can't you appreciate anything for what it is Lois?"

"Yeah but Metropolis is something that looks beautiful but in reality is so much worse. It's like praising the devil."

"You're not religious."

"I could be. Okay, I'm not, but still. Nothing is what it seems, Clark, so don't take things for face value okay. You don't know what you could be getting yourself into," Lois told him thoughtfully.

Clark's voice was low and quiet when he replied, "Another pearl of Lois Lane wisdom."

"Like you could live without them." Lois smiled, facing him.

Clark smiled and nodded, "Doubtful. Where would I be without your guidance and expertise?"

"Probably in a gutter, wondering what your life could have been like," Lois told him.

Clark smiled, his tone teasing, "Yeah, well what is my life like with you in it?"

Lois looked at him, serious, "Oh it's going to be…interesting of course, lots of mystery and intrigue but mostly you're…"

Clark noticed that they had leant into each other; he could almost feel Lois' shallow breaths on his cheek. "I'm…?"

Slowly, Lois bit her bottom lip, Clark's eyes followed the movement, "You're…"

There was a knock at the door, sending both of them metres apart. Clark coughed and practically ran to the door, opening it, "Hello, hi."

"Clark?" Chloe looked at him, suspiciously, "You okay?"

"Chloe, yeah, I'm fine. What's up?" Clark asked, trying to not look back at Lois.

"Figured if Lois was feeling better you guys might be up for a movie. Jimmy bought a couple earlier today if you want to come over." Chloe smiled, Clark looked back at Lois, who nodded at him.

"Sure, give me a minute, there's something I had to do but umm, I'll be there. Lois?" Clark noticed her flushed look as she walked towards him.

"Give me 5," Lois said quickly.

"Okay, see you guys in a bit." Chloe touched Clark's arm in a warm gestured and he offered up a half smile. Closing the door, Clark stuttered, "Actually, Lois there is something that I have to do…"

"Go, I've gotta change unless…" She raised her eyebrows; Clark's blush came back in full force as he caught her meaning.

"No." Clark mumbled, "I really have to…go."

Lois was frowning as Clark practically tripped out of the door.

Clark had several pieces of popcorn in his hair when he tried to brush them out, Lois would only throw more. He had stopped 2 of the thefts he had heard, all of the robberies and the worst of the fighting, all within 20 minutes. Lois was already with Chloe and Jimmy, watching some sort of action movie; she was currently telling Jimmy that you would never take down the bad guy that way. Clark laughed internally as everyone welcomed him to take a share of the huge bed and he some how ended up wedged between Chloe and Lois after starting off at the end of the bed.

"Come on, those two are already snoozing," Lois said pointing to Chloe and Jimmy, cuddled up in each other's arms.

"Well I can't move until you do." Clark gestured to the edge of the bed.

"I can't because your mountainous proportions have me trapped between you and this cabinet." Lois poked Clark's rib as if that would somehow help him to move.

"Lois, what are you doing?" Clark asked as she started to shift, her leg going between his two.

"I'm shuffling," she told him as she put her arm over his waist, her hand brushing his side. Clark tried to stay perfectly still as Lois tried to pull herself up her balance failed and she fell with an oomph on to his chest.

"Next time, I'm on the end," Clark muttered to himself but Lois heard him.

"…And what? Miss out on this bizarre game of twister?" Lois laughed and it made her body vibrate against his. Clark was not unaware of some of the charm Lois held. Lois let out a whoop of victory as she sat upright on Clark's thigh. Clark's hand went to Lois' hip to steady her as she almost fell back. The silence between them was unbearable until Lois coughed and got up. Clark kept his eyes trained to the floor as they made their way back to their room.

Opening the door, Lois turned to Clark, "Hey, since we're still up you want to…"

"What?" Clark suddenly felt like a deer caught in headlights as Lois scooped up the remote.

"Watch another movie?" Lois flicked through some of the channels until she picked one, music flowed through the room.

"No,." Clark said, but not with as much force as he maybe could have.

"Oh come on, Clark, I love this movie!" Lois grinned as she did a little pirouette in front of him. Clark was bemused to see this side of Lois, maybe he could suffer a little bit to see her smile.

"Lois…"

"Look, there's fighting, a damsel in distress, a hero and a villain. Right up your street." Lois bit her lip to keep herself from laughing.

"He's a beast forced to know what it's like to be human but always be different," Clark replied.

"But he was redeemed, Belle saw past all that and fell in love with him. Just because he was different doesn't make him unworthy of love," Lois reprimanded as more strands of music weaved their way into the room.

Tale as old as time, true as it can be,
Barely even friends then somebody bends unexpectedly,
Just a little change, small to say the least,
Both a little scared neither one prepared,
Beauty and the Beast.

Beauty and the Beast, Lois Lane's favourite Disney movie, who knew? Clark sighed, defeated he laid back on the bed as Lois sat beside him.

"You really think that no matter how different he was that Belle could really love him, above all others?" Clark asked, as Lois became enmeshed in the movie.

"What, like soul mates? It wasn't because he was different that she loved him, it was because they were the same. His being different stopped mattering after that."

"Love is not finding the perfect person but finding an imperfect person perfect."

"You could write a column, huh Clark," Lois said sleepily, trying to stifle a yawn.

"If you're tired Lois why don't you go to sleep?" Clark asked Lois as she curled up, using her own arm as a pillow.

"I'm not," Lois continued to protest but when Clark checked on her not even 5 minutes later she was snoring lightly. Covering her with a blanket, Clark grabbed a pillow and made his way to the reasonable looking couch.

Clark woke up on the floor, having at some point falling off the couch in the night. Rubbing his elbow, he looked around, light was blaring in through the hole in curtains and as Clark turned his head he noticed Lois wasn't in the bed.

Turning to the small dining table, Lois was sitting there sipping a cup of coffee, "Hey Clark."

"You could have woken me up," Clark said grumpily as Lois grinned.

"But you looked so peaceful there…on the floor."

"Of course, it's good for the back," Clark threw back at her.

"Sure. Pancakes?" Lois offered, she had a plate of blueberry flavoured ones in front of her, maple syrup to her right.

"Urgh, I don't know how one person can handle so much sugar," Clark said half disgusted; he knew she put a mountain of sugar in her coffee as well and it only seemed to deepen his nauseous feeling.

"It's what gets me through the day," Lois stated, "Here have some fruit, you okay Clark? You look a little green."

Clark didn't know what it was, he just felt like his stomach was going to refuse anything it was given, "Just feel a little sick is all."

"Maybe it's food poisoning and you could write an article and sue the hotel." Lois grinned again.

"Doubt it and no," Clark replied as he chewed on a piece of apple thoughtfully.

"So what do you wanna do? It's Sunday and we're in the big city," Lois asked as she picked up a copy of the Daily Planet.

Clark stared at her blankly for a moment.

"Oh right, you should probably get back to Lana."

An annoyed look crossed Clark's face. "No, Lois, as Lana isn't at the farm."

"No? Where is she?" Lois tried to be nonchalant but her look of interest kept it from being so.

Clark couldn't very well say with Oliver so he just shrugged, "Out. I'm not her keeper, Lois."

"Coulda fooled me, Kent." Lois rolled her eyes, "Okay, we need to buy you a suit."

"What?" Clark looked at her slightly disbelieving.

"Sure, your shirts and pants are great for around the office but you need something more…suitable for the big stuff," Lois said as she ate a forkful of pancake.

"Lois I don't need a suit."

"Sure you do Clark, let me help with this okay?" Lois' tone indicated she would take no prisoners.

"Has anyone ever told you that you're just a bit controlling?"

"Zip it farm boy."

Several hours later, Clark was cursing Lois quietly under his breath. She had forced him into 10 different shirts, 5 sets of pants and three suits.

"Okay, enough is enough,." Clark said as Lois tried to get him to put on another white shirt and black pants.

"I'm just being a friend Clark."

"Friends are friends, this is pure torture."

"Okay, what bee got shoved up your bonnet?" Lois said, her mouth turning into a scowl.

"You know what Lois? I like my clothes, I like my style!" Clark said, exasperated.

"Yes because plaid is what everyone is wearing this season," Lois scorned.

Clark huffed furiously, "What is your problem, Lois? You go on at me about Lana, the way I dress, my mannerism, hell my personality… if you don't like me that much about me, why bother at all!"

Lois stood there, shocked by Clark's little outburst. "Clark…"

"Don't Lois."

The ride back to the farm to pick up Lois' car was a long and quiet one. Lois didn't attempt to speak to Clark and he didn't either. His anger had dissipated pretty quickly but there was something in Lois' look that told him not to go any further.

Not one to heed the signs Clark said quietly, "I'm sorry."

Lois looked at him from under her lashes;, she was sleepily leaning against the window of the truck's cab. "Hmm?"

"I said…" Clark smiled, Lois heard every word but for her, not doing the 'I-was-right-dance' was a great victory. "I said I was sorry. I should have bit your head off."

"It's okay Clark. Apology accepted."

"Thank you. Now my life can go on."

"Make fun off me all you want Smallville, you're going to miss me when I'm gone."

"Hardly,." Clark threw back. But the truth was he probably would, he would misses that bizarre, sarcastic, insanely strong and beautiful woman like a hole in the heart.

"Trust me, I'm Lois Lane."

"Lois Lane. Synonymous with the Daily Planet." Clark grinned.

"Damn right."

"So what will your first Pulitzer winning article be about?"

"The good Samaritan of course," Lois said as she stared at the now raining sky.

"You think he's Pulitzer worthy?"

"Why wouldn't he be? A man who can blur and is stronger than your average man? People will want to know about him and what's up with the red cape."

Clark mentally cursed Ollie for the cape stunt. He knew it had looked ridiculous. "The cape was a bit funny."

"Funny? Sure, but it did look pretty cool in the wind."

"But you weren't there."

"Somebody filmed it; it's circling YouTube as we speak."

YouTube, his faked rescue turned actual rescue was on YouTube. "Well still good luck to you trying to find the good Samaritan."

That was the one thing he could control, he wouldn't speak to Lois until he was absolutely sure or unless he absolutely had to.

"He'll come around, he just needs to see that we're on his side."

"…And you are?"

"Somebody who selflessly helps others with no credit?" Lois' eyebrows rose. "No, I'm going to burn him at the stake."

Clark sighed, Lois looked at him, "Come on Clark, the good Samaritan is a hero, but whenever he gets mentioned you suddenly look like someone killed a cat."

"It's not that. Everyone is putting so much stock into this guy. What if he can't live up to what everyone expects?"

"It's not what about people expect Clark, it's that he's even here to begin with." Lois' hand touched his on the gear stick. Clark stared at their hands for a moment until Lois looked uncomfortable and let go.

"Jeez Smallville wipe the windows will ya?" Lois teased as the rain began pelting the windscreen harder until it became near impossible to see out of.

Clark sighed, "Right."

Clark dropped his keys on to the table, running his hand through his wet hair as he looked back at Lois, she was shivering, "Wait, let me get you a jumper," he said as he jogged up the stairs.

Lois was holding on to the teapot when Clark returned in his now dry clothes, she signaled to him if he wanted a cup, he nodded. Lois continued to go about her business in the kitchen, while Clark left the jumper and a pair of sweats on the side as he walked into the living room. Making sure that Lois was in no danger of coming into the room, he narrowed his eyes, the familiar feeling of warmth welled up behind his eyes and shot right through them, lighting the fire in the fireplace.

Flicking the television on, Clark put the news on, watching the weather forecast until something more interesting came on. Lois handed him a mug of hot tea, her hand swimming in his jumper.

"Thanks, nothing is worse than wet clothes on a cold day," Lois said, smiling.

"No problem, it's not like you wouldn't have raided my wardrobe anyway," Clark teased.

"Right, because every girl dreams of primary coloured clothes and enough jeans to last a lifetime."

"I don't own that many pairs, Lois."

"I bet you do." Lois sat down beside Clark, tucking her feet under her, trying to get them warmer.

"Another movie? To keep you busy?" Clark suggested.

"Why not, it's not like I want to go back out into that." Lois wrinkled her nose in disgust as she stared back out to the dreary sky.

Sitting there in the warmth of the Kent living room, Lois was barely awake for a third of the film before she fell asleep.