Disclaimer: This fanficiton is not written for profit and no infringement of copyright is intended. All quotes from Oscar Wilde fall within the public domain. The fairytale quote last chapter was from The Selfish Giant, if you're wondering...

EPILOGUE

I know what you're thinking. No really, I do. You're thinking "Are you out of your mind? You two are like TNT and matches, water and gasoline." And you're right, you're absolutely right. Me and Clark make each other crazy, make each other dumb. But there's one change that came about in all this that you're not figuring in, boys and girls, and that's this: I love the mook, and he loves me.

It's taking time, and we still have our moments. Richard's fond of saying that emotional stupidity has no cure, it just occasionally goes into remission. We both have stuff to work through, and hang ups, and bad habits but we're making progress. It took him a long time to regain my trust; it took even longer for me to finally vent my anger (his apartment, three cans of spray paint, don't ask). We're clumsy around each other, we say and do stupid things. But when he was called to the hospital because Martha had had a stroke, it was me who went with him, who sat in the chair and squeezed his arm and laid my head upon his shoulder. When I staggered home after going a couple of rounds with a Mob enforcer who didn't like my poking around in his business premises, it was Clark who cooked me chicken soup and checked my bandages and read to me so that I could fall asleep. Jason loves him, and they do practice together: he plays catch with Richard, but he plays different games with Clark.

I know some things, like my waking up to an empty bed so much, and having to give him a rain-check on so many dates, still bother him. But at least now he believes me when I tell him it's okay. And now he accepts that it's my decision, my choice.

So really we're making progress.

The truth is… The truth is, I am Lois Lane, Ace Reporter, and I have loved three men in my life: My son, the man who was father to my son for four years, and the father of my son. Try saying that five times fast. The truth is that nothing is perfect, that everything is process and that people screw up. The truth is that my life, for all its fractures and tears and holes and dropped stitches, is beautiful.

The truth is take a risk, you try and you just wait and see.

The truth is that you forgive and move on, because that's when you grow. That's when your life becomes a gardem, bursting with possibilities.

And the truth, never forget, can set you free.

A/N I just want to thank everyone who has read and reviewed, and i hope that you've enjoyed this little tale. As for the ending, blame Tandrelmairon and her God of Second Chances; i mean, c'mon... What's the point in doing AU if you can't have a little fun? Lois and Clark won't live happily ever after, but they'll give it their best shot. I feel like i can give them a little privacy now: the crazy kids have gotten some sense. So thanks again, and cheers!

Hobbits away, ho!