Author's Note: This story is more based off the Christopher Reeves movies than anything but isn't set at a specific time. Enjoy!

Lois Lane marched into Jimmy White's office. She shoved a note in his face. "You expect me to train a new person? With no experience? You know I don't do that."

He returned her look with furrowed eyebrows. "Well you are about to start or I will be forced to replace you."

She huffed. "Fine. I will try it just this once. But if it doesn't go well, it is your fault and I will quit."

His eyes widened. "Lois," his voice softened, "you are my best reporter. My goal is that if someone is trained by you, our product quality will increase."

"I said I will do it this once," she said through clenched teeth.

A knock sounded on the glass door and they looked up. "And there he is," Jimmy stated. "Come in, Clark," he raised his voice slightly in order to be heard.

A tall, dark gentlemen dressed in a deep blue suit, starched white shirt, and blue and white striped bowtie grappled with the door. Black glasses framed his eyes. He almost tripped over the rug as he came forward to shake Jimmy's hand. "Am I late?"

"No, perfect timing. Clark, this is Lois Lane. She will be training you. Lois, this is Clark Kent, our new recruit."

She offered her hand and instead of shaking it, Clark bowed slightly and raised it to his lips, placing a gentle kiss on the back. "I am looking forward to working with you. Your articles are the best."

Despite herself, she gave him a genuine smile. "Thank you. Now, we have no time to waste. I will show you my desk and get you settled in."

He followed her out and soon they settled into a daily routine.

Several weeks went by and one evening Clark went home and began to discuss his problem with his cat, VitaNovem. The tabby enjoyed curling up next to him and watching either the nightly news or an old western movie.

"Vee-vee," he started, petting his furry friend, "I don't know what to do about Lois. She seems to have accepted I'm a part of her life now, but she's really closed off. She's very pretty and I like her. A lot."

The cat meowed and started purring.

"Ok, I know you're a boy too. But what should I do?"

Vita hopped off the sofa and walked to the door. There he sat and meowed. Then he turned and ran to the fridge.

"I get it. You need food to think." Clark grabbed a cat of wet food from the fridge and dipped a spoonful onto his bowl. However, his pet had other ideas, repeating the process of meowing at the door, then the fridge. The man stood and scratched his head. "What do you want?"

Vita wrapped around and between his legs, then began his ritual once more.

"Ah! You think I need to take her out to eat!"

The cat meowed and began eating his food.

Clark laughed. "Thank you, buddy. I will…ask her…tomorrow…" he groaned and went back to the couch. "Where am I supposed to take her?"

VitaNovem again came running up, this time with a piece of paper in his mouth.

"What is this?" Clark read the advertisement he thought he had thrown away. 'La Vie En Rose', dinner and show. It was a fancy restaurant and live show, reminiscent of the old night clubs during the song for which the place was named. He noticed Lois's favorite singer, Melvin Crosby, was scheduled to sing tomorrow night. She constantly hummed his songs. Clark knew it was expensive, but a good woman is worth far more than the rubies he could purchase with the money he would spend.

The next morning, he stopped at a small donut shop and got a chocolate covered donut for himself, a cream cheese Danish for Lois, and two coffees. He carefully walked up to the office, struggling to open the doors. Lois was already seated at their desk, typing. Straightening, he placed one coffee in front of her, the other at his seat, then gave her the Danish. She looked up. "Is that for me?"

He nodded, grinning. "I thought you might need an extra boost today."

She smiled and gave his hand a quick squeeze. "You remembered covering my least favorite politicians drains me."

His face tinged red. "I did. Uh, Lois?"

She gazed up at him. "What?"

"I, er…was wondering…Is your evening reserved tonight?"

"Not unless you count my couch and a bowl of ice cream."

"Would you like to go to La Vie En Rose with me?"

She closed her eyes, then slowly opened them. "Isn't that expensive?"

"Not when you are concerned."

She smiled. "If you're sure it's alright, I would love to go."

"You would?" he beamed.

"Believe me, all I ever have ask me out are losers. You are the first nice gentleman to ask me since I don't know when. Any girl would be foolish to turn down a night with you."

"Wow, Lois. This is great!" Clark scratched his head, baffled at her comment.

She laughed. "Now get to work. I'm free once we're off."

"Thank you."

Clark found it hard to keep focus all day. Finally, they clocked out. "Do you need to go home and change or anything?"

Lois frowned and looked at her plain but practical white blouse over gray skirt. "I believe I should. Give me about half an hour."

"May I have your address so I can come pick you up?"

She named a place a couple blocks from their destination. "Yu know, we can just walk over there if that is alright."

He smiled. "That is fine with me. I will see you in about 45 minutes then!"

They parted ways.

Clark went home for a bit to tell Vee about his day. "Hey, Vee-vee! Lois is going with me tonight!"

The fur person meowed and rubbed his legs. Then he ran and sniffed at a magazine with a bouquet on the front, some sort of gardening.

"Ok, I will get her flowers. You are such an expert on women!" Clark petted him.

After a while, the man locked up and set out towards Lois's flat, stopping at a flower vendor along the way. He chose some brightly colored Gerber daisies, knowing they would hold up better than some of the more exotic flowers.

He checked the flat number for the umpteenth time, finally located it, and then stood staring at the door. He tugged at his tie, then rang the doorbell, hiding the bouquet behind his back.

"Just a minute!" he heard her call. As he waited, thumping and bumped sounded. Then Lois finally answered. "Clark!"

He bowed slightly. "Lois!" He then extended the flowers. "These are for you."

"Oh Clark! You shouldn't have!" she sniffed them, then took a blue one out and tucked it behind her ear. Snatching a matching one, she threaded it through this buttonhole, trying not to notice he was more muscular under his suit than she thought. "There. Do you want to come in a minute?"

"It is up to you. This night is all about you."

She smiled. "I am getting peckish so how about you let me grab my purse and we can go?"

"Ok." He barely stepped in as she grabbed a vase and put some water in it, then the flowers. She snatched a small black clutch from her sofa. "Ready?" he asked, offering his arm.

"Yes." She accepted his offer and threaded her arm through his. He definitely worked out, at least daily.

They threaded their way through the crowed New York street and were beckoned in by a waiter in a black suit and white shirt. "Two?"

"Yes," Clark answered, leading Lois as they followed him to an empty table. The waiter set a couple of glasses of water in front of them. "We just got a new moscato from Italy. Would you like to try it?"

"Red or white?"

"Rose, which is in between."

"I will try a glass, thank you."

Clark caught the man's eye. "I will have one as well."

The waiter turned away. Clark opened his mouth to speak, but then an announcer stepped onto the stage. "Ladies and gentlemen, we have a special guest with us tonight, the acclaimed singer Melvin Crosby. The dance floor is open to anyone who cannot help but move to his music!"

Lois beamed. "Melvin!"

Clark grinned. "I thought he was a favorite of yours."

The tenor began a rendition of Smoke Gets in Your Eyes. Lois swayed back and forth to the beat. "Do you want to dance?" she asked him.

His eyebrows raised. "Uh, sure…" She tugged him up and they began to waltz. He turned and twirled her, and as the song came to an end, he dipped her. The audience cheered for them and the bowed. Melvin then began Mambo Italiano, and the couple again moved along to the music. This time they ended with Clark on one knee, Lois lightly perched on his leg. She laughed, eyes sparkly, as they went back to their table. The waiter had just delivered their dinner.

"This is fun!" she said.

"It is!" he replied. "Mind if I pray real quick?"

"Go ahead."

Their heads bowed, Clark clasped her hand. "Father, I am grateful for the time we have this evening to get out and enjoy ourselves. Use this food to sustain and nourish our bodies as we prepare to go back to work tomorrow. In Jesus' name, amen."

"Amen." They dug into their food, chatting between mouthfuls and lulls in their entertainment. At last, it was time to go home. Clark again offered Lois his arm. She gently nuzzled against it then straightened again. "Thank you for a lovely evening. I can't remember the last time I had so much fun and was treated so nicely."

"You should have the best. You work hard and need a break every now and again."

"But why are you being so good to me? I wasn't exactly easy on you these past few weeks."

Clark stopped and looked at her. "Lois, I like you. I see someone in you who has been hurt and needs a friend, even though you try to close yourself off."

She glanced down. "Well…I guess you are right about that. Will you forgive me for being so mean?"

"I do, and I will forget it."

"Thank you! So…you just want to be friends?"

Clark tried to hide a frown. "That is all I can ask for now."

She smiled. "Wow. You are definitely a rare breed."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"That I appreciate your friendship and that you're not being pushy, just taking things slow and actually treating me as a lady."

It was his turn to smile.

"How about you let me fix you dinner sometime next week?"

"That would be wonderful."

Lois unlocked her door. "Maybe Saturday evening?"

"Sure! We also need ice cream sometime, since I shorted you tonight."

"Everything was so much better than ice cream alone."

He grinned. "I'm glad you had a good time. You get some rest now."

"I will! Thank you again."

"The pleasure is mine." He waited until he heard her lock the door, then turned to go home.

Lois stopped and smelled her bouquet. He didn't try to hug her or kiss her or anything. It sure was nice to have someone who expected nothing but to make sure she had a good time. She could definitely get used to something like that. He really was a sweet guy, and definitely better looking than she had first thought. She had just determined to swear off men before she had to train Clark, having found them thus far to be complete jerks interested only in what they could get from her. She knew even from their first meeting that Clark was different, a real gentleman. Now she felt really bad about how she had treated him. From now on, she was going to make sure she appreciated him. Their office mates all thought he was a clumsy geek, constantly making fun of him. Until she was with him on the dance floor, she likely would have said the same thing. But he had been surprisingly good, moving with ease, sticking to the beat, and leading her firmly but gently, giving the appearance they had been dancing together for years. She sighed. Wow.