By Nicki Payne (napayne@aol.com)
Summary: After Clark departs for New Krypton, Lois dreams a vivid dream in which her fiance is caught between life and death.
Author's Note: This is my first attempt at writing fanfic so please forgive me if the writing is not the best. I am not a writer, nor do I claim to be. I am just someone who has been hit with a severe case of LCWS. This is basically a short WAFFy story and doesn't have much of a plot line. It takes place after BGDF.
Thoughts and/or telepathy are within < >.
I would like to thank Ginger Huguelet for keeping me updated with spoilers, fanfic, and other stuff regarding L&C when I didn't have a home computer and for her assistance in editing this fanfic. Shakespeare's Sonnets used without permission (hopefully he won't come after me for my use of them). All DC Comic, Warner Bros., and ABC disclaimers apply… yadda yadda yadda…but the story is mine …all mine!!!
***
"Lois…Lois…Lois…I love you." It had been three months since Lois had heard those words from Clark. She thought time would help her deal with the loss, she had been wrong. The loneliness and emptiness grew with each passing moment. Every time she felt a breeze from her window she grew hopeful, only to have her hopes dashed when she realized it was not Clark flying in, but the wind from a stirring storm.
"Lois, do you have that arson story ready?" Perry asked as he came up behind her, pulling her back to reality. Glancing from her blank computer screen to Lois he continued, "I see that you don't. Lois, honey, I think you may be getting a little burned out right now. You've been working overtime with all the crime stories and I know it hasn't been easy without Kent around to help. Maybe you need to take a vacation and relax until he gets back."
It had been difficult explaining Clark's disappearance to Perry and Jimmy. Lois told them there was a family emergency and that Clark would be away for a while. She could not bear to make up an excuse that Clark may never come back.
"Perry, I'm fine and I don't need a vacation. In fact, I'm going to follow-up on this arson story and I'll be back in a couple of hours." As she grabbed her purse and started to rise from her chair a jolt of pain shot through her back causing her to wince.
"Uh, huh," Perry murmured. "You need to go home and rest. I'll put Johnston on the robbery story from this morning. Speaking of which…JIMMY!" he bellowed. "Where are those photographs from the robbery?" Perry glanced at Lois, "Great shades of Elvis, it's amazing how many crimes have occurred since Superman left. I guess you don't know what you've got until it's gone."
Lois' lungs felt like they were caving in. She had to get out of there. "Maybe you're right, Perry. After I follow-up on the arson story I'm going to head home. Call me if anything comes up."
"All-right, Lois. Just make sure you go home and rest. Even Elvis had to take five."
***
Gradually Clark became conscious and tried to recall what happened. Lord Knor had finally been captured and was being taken back to the capital of Krystar to await trial. At the capital, Clark was to announce that Ching and Zara would marry. It had been discovered that Ching was a distant relative of Clark's and therefore could take Clark's place in the marriage to Zara. The next thing Clark knew he felt a searing pain through his spine and lost consciousness.
<I must have been shot by one of Knor's renegades,> Clark thought rather calmly, <but where am I?> He was surrounded by a darkness that was filled with a peace unlike any he had ever known. There were faint voices coming from his left calling his Kryptonian name. He turned his head to see a bright white light. Two silhouettes appeared within the light and beckoned him to come. Jor-El and Lara were waiting.
<Kal-El, it is time for you to join your family.> Jor-El spoke telepathically. Holding out his hand to his son he continued, <We have been waiting for you. It is time for all of us to be together.> The warmth and love emanating from the light were irresistible.
As Clark turned toward the light, a glimmer to his right caught his eye. He turned back towards his right to find Lois looking at him with sadness in her eyes. A ray from the light had reflected on her engagement ring and caused it to sparkle. "Lois?" Clark whispered in astonishment.
Standing in a flowing white gown Lois spoke, "Clark, you have to come back to me. I don't know how to live my life without you. You are the missing part of me I thought I would never find. Your love gives me the strength to do anything…to survive anything. I don't know if I have the strength to survive without you."
"Lois, I don't want to leave you but I don't know if I have a choice."
"Clark. Please don't leave me alone! Don't leave me!"
***
"DON'T LEAVE ME!" Lois screamed as she woke up. She was drenched in a cold sweat and felt like her soul was being ripped apart.
Martha and Jonathan came rushing into her room. They had been staying with her off and on for the past three months to make sure she was all right. It also helped them deal with the loss of their only son to be with the one person that meant more than life to him.
"Lois, honey, are you all right?" Martha's motherly voice asked as she sat on the bed next to Lois.
"Martha," Lois shakily said, "something isn't right. Something has happened to Clark. I can feel it!"
"Lois, Clark is a resourceful young man." Jonathan said as he put his hand on Lois' shoulder, "He'll be fine and he'll come back to us safe and sound."
"Maybe we shouldn't leave today, Jonathan," Martha commented, "she doesn't look very well."
"I guess it was just another one of my nightmares. I'll be O.K. Martha. You and Jonathan need to get back to the farm. You've stayed longer this time than you usually do, and I don't want to be responsible for you losing first prize at the fair with your record breaking tomato this year just because you were looking after me."
Martha realized that there was no changing Lois' mind. "O.K. Lois, but you know if you ever need anything we'll be here for you. You're a part of our family." Martha always said that before she and Jonathan left Metropolis. It always made her tear up to know that such a special family like the Kents cared for her. It gave her a sense of stability that her real family never had.
Lois decided to get up and help the Kents pack for their trip home. "Home," Lois thought. "I don't know what home is anymore without Clark." As she started to leave her bedroom she brushed away a tear that slowly made its way down her cheek.
***
* Two weeks later *
Lois sat awake on her bed clutching the bear Clark had won for her in Smallville to her chest. "O.K. Clarkie, it's 2 am and I'm wide awake. I think this insomnia is getting ridiculous. What do you think?" Hoping to relax, she reached for a book on the night stand near her bed. Tucking Clarkie under her arm, she opened the book and started to read.
"Is it thy will thy image should keep open My heavy eyelids to the weary night? Dost thou desire my slumbers should be broken, While shadows like to thee do mock my sight? Is it thy spirit that thou send'st from thee So far from home into my deeds to pry, To find out shames and idle hours in me, The scope and tenour of thy jealousy? O, no! thy love, though much, is not so great: It is my love that keeps mine eye awake; Mine own true love that doth my rest defeat, To play the watchman ever for thy sake: For thee watch I whilst thou dost wake elsewhere, Form me far off, with others all too near."
"Oh, that really helped." Lois murmured as she put the book back on the night stand. Placing Clarkie lovingly on the bed, she got up and went to her dresser which held the negligee she would have worn on her honeymoon. She drew the burgundy silk from the drawer and brushed it against her face. She quickly changed out of her cotton nightshirt and slipped on the negligee. Wrapping her arms around herself, she walked to her open window.
She looked out through the darkness at the star that held her beloved. It had been two weeks since Lois had the horrible nightmare of losing Clark and every night since she dreaded going to sleep for fear of the dream returning.
She closed her eyes feeling a soft breeze that reminded her of that last precious kiss she and Clark had shared. "Lois" the breeze seemed to whisper. She opened her eyes filled with unshed tears to find emptiness before her. Taking a deep breath she turned and started to walk away.
Another breeze brushed against her back, pressing the cool silk of her gown to her skin. She heard her name called again, <Lois> except this time she did not her it out loud. She heard it in her mind. Lois slowly turned towards her window and saw the most beautiful sight she had seen in three months. Clark was standing just inside her window wearing a pair of faded blue jeans and a black T-shirt.
She couldn't move for fear he would disappear like an apparition. A tear slowly traveled down her cheek.
"I must be dreaming," she said on a sigh.
Clark slowly walked towards Lois. When he was just inches away he took his left hand and brushed away her tear. Cupping her cheek in his hand he raised her head so she could look into his eyes. Lois saw the tears of happiness that filled his own eyes.
"I feel like I'm dreaming too," Clark said. There were so many things running through his head that he wanted to say. He wanted to tell her how much she meant to him, how much he missed her, how she brought him back from death's door, how he could not wait to come home, but all he could say were four little words, "I love you, Lois."
Clark ran his hand through Lois' hair and slowly pulled her to him. Their lips met in a kiss that was as tender as any kiss they had shared. She brought her hands up to encircle his neck as he slipped his other hand around to the small of her back and drew her close. The kiss grew more passionate as the seconds passed. Breathing hard, Lois slowly drew back and brought her hands down to his chest. Looking into his eyes she said breathlessly, "I can't believe you're here. I had hoped for so long that you would come back to me. I was so afraid that something might happen. That once you met your people you might not want to come back."
He shook his head and smiled, "Lois…you and my parents are my people. How could you think that I could *ever* choose *anything* over you? Never in my life have I known the happiness I know when I am with you. Every moment I was away from you I felt dead inside…I wasn't whole. The most important part of my life was missing. I never want to be without you again." He stepped back and took the chain that held her wedding ring from around his neck. Lois smiled at the realization that he still had it.
"Lois…in my heart you are my wife." He took the ring from the chain and placed it on her finger.
Lois turned, went to her dresser, and pulled out a small box. Walking back to Clark, she opened the box and took out his wedding ring. "Clark…you are the love I thought I'd never find. In all my life I have never met anyone as kind, compassionate, or as loving as you. When you were away, I felt so incomplete. I never want to feel that way again." She then placed the ring on his finger. "In my heart, you are my husband."
Lois reached up, pulled Clark's face towards hers, and kissed the tears of happiness that were flowing down his face. He turned his face to capture the sweetness of her lips. On her lips, he tasted his tears of happiness mixed with the tears of hers. He reached around and pulled her close, feeling the silk of her negligee as he rubbed his hands up and down her back. It was almost more than he could bear. She was there in his arms. He rained kisses down her neck and over her shoulder, kissing the small strap that held the silk to her body. She spread her hands over his back and massaged his hard muscles. His lips made a return path over her shoulder and back up her neck to her ear. He whispered words of love and devotion in her ear as her lips searched for his. As their lips connected, they released all the pent-up emotions that had been haunting them. Their kisses quickly grew more passionate and more demanding.
Breathing heavily, Clark pulled back. He knew the passion between the two of them was quickly getting out of control. As much as he wanted her, he did not want to shock her by pushing her so soon after his return.
Sensing his hesitation, Lois looked seductively into Clark's eyes. "Since I consider you my husband, and you consider me your wife…don't you think it's time we start our honeymoon…Farmboy?"
Clark saw no hesitation in her eyes…only love. He reached down and scooped Lois into his arms. The intensity of the desire she saw in his eyes was only matched by the intensity of the fire she felt when he gave her an earth-shattering kiss that made her whole body burn.
As he carried her into the bedroom, a soft breeze brushed through the pages of the book Lois had been reading and settled on one page.
"O, never say that I was false of heart, Though absence seem'd my flame to qualify. As easy might I from myself depart As from my soul, which in thy breast doth lie: That is my home of love: if I have ranged, Like him that travels I return again; Just to the time, not with the time exchanged, So that myself bring water for my stain. Never believe, though in my nature reign'd All frailties that besiege all kinds of blood, That it could so preposterously be strain'd, To leave for nothing all thy sum of good; For nothing this wide universe I call, Save thou, my rose; in it thou art my all."
THE END
* Replies and comments would be appreciated…just please be gentle, this is my first =3D).
Sonnet LXI and Sonnet CIX by William Shakespeare.
(reunited.txt)