By Lara E. Taylor <Chyronguru@aol.com>
Rated PG
Submitted March 11, 1998
Summary: Shortly before their wedding, Lois worries that she and Clark have never truly let down their guards around each other. Clark's proposed solution? That they spend an evening in … being truly comfortable.
***
Lois eased onto the couch, grimacing at the tightness in her shoulders. She glanced at Clark who was taking off his tie. "What a day! It's like every single time I think, 'Lois, today's going to be a good day', something happens!"
Clark opened his mouth to speak, but Lois continued, "What is it about us that attracts chaos? Do we provoke it? Do *I* provoke it? Frankly, I don't think I do, but that could just be some defense thing that my psychiatrist hasn't told me about yet. I mean, I don't think I go out looking for trouble … at least, not anymore."
"Lois," Clark interjected, "Honey, you need to relax." He gave her that smile, that one that was meant for her alone. "Soon it will all be over … we will finally be married." He sat down next to her and began rubbing her shoulders, still speaking in his gentle voice. "Your parents, my parents, they can do whatever they want … this time it is going to be *our* wedding. We make the decisions … we say … the 'I do's'." His hand reached to cup her face gently. "This will be *our* dream wedding. The one we have planned together." Their lips met and her hands curved behind his neck.
The kiss began softly, but became harder as their passion ignited. Clark's hands moved to Lois' waist, pulling her closer to him. Her hands were everywhere on his back, marveling in the rippling of his muscles beneath her fingers. Clark shifted on the couch, then reluctantly pulled away. "Um, … that's nice. I cannot wait until the honeymoon. Provided *you* get through the wedding." He laughed and kissed her nose.
"Clark, my mother wants control this wedding!" Lois stood up and began pacing around the coffee table. "She is planning her attack, probably ready to pounce on us at anytime." She stopped in front of Clark. "Why, today she told me that she would do whatever I asked and nothing more! And that's just not like her. I tell you … she's up to something."
Clark began to chuckle. "Lois, you really do just need to relax. Here, sit back down and make yourself comfortable. I'll make us some tea." He got up and walked to the kitchen. "What kind do you want?" He glanced back at her sitting on the couch.
"Make myself comfortable? Have you stopped to consider what that really means? I mean, you say it, but do you really mean it?" Lois looked at Clark. "Well, think about it, Clark. We are about to be married, and how well do we really know each other? What about all of those little habits that we have that we have to get used to?"
"All I asked was what kind of tea? Where did this come from?" He walked back to the couch and pulled her to him. "As for the annoying habits?" Clark asked as he wrapped his arms around her. "Oh, I remember. I have this annoying little habit that makes me want to kiss you." Their lips met in a sweet and gentle kiss … until Lois pushed Clark away.
"You are not taking me seriously. I mean, if I took you at your word, and *really* got comfortable, you might be surprised at what you saw. What if I turned you off?" She sat back down.
"Are you telling me that you have never been completely at ease with me? Lois, we are going to be man and wife … sharing everything. I think it's time you let your guard down." He laughs. "I love you … and all of your little secret habits. And nothing can change that." He kissed her again.
"Mm, Clark …"
"Yes."
"I forget what I said about not being comfortable."
***
"So do you want to go out tonight?" Lois was laying on the couch, her feet in Clark's lap.
"Actually, I have a better idea." He began tickling her toes. "It just so happens that I got us a movie to watch. I thought we could just spend the night here."
"Really?" Lois asked. "Stop that!" she laughed. "It tickles."
"Yeah … you seem surprised."
"Well, we don't spend too many nights curled up on the couch watching movies. I mean, there's always some story … or emergency … or natural disaster." Lois sat up and held his hand. "We haven't had too many nights of leisure." She began tracing imaginary S's on his chest. "Soon we will be together, together all of the time. There is so much we don't know about each other. Do you run around in nothing but your boxers when I'm not here? I mean … what if you are scared of the way I look in my facial mask?" Lois paused, panicked. "What if we hate each other?"
Clark began playing with Lois' hair. "I have an idea. Tonight will be an experiment of sorts. I'll fly you to your apartment and you can get whatever you need for a night at home. Then we can sit here and be ourselves, you in your face mask and me in my, what was it? … boxers, and watch the movie I rented. What do you say?"
"Well, ok," Lois agreed. "But let's just go ahead and turn on the movie. I can get comfortable without having to go home." She got up and walked to the phone. "So what are you hungry for tonight?"
"Well, how about some Moo Moo Gai Pan?" Clark said as he walked toward the bedroom. "I'm just gonna go change." He walked back out wearing a pair of black shorts with the letters SHS embossed on the right leg.
"I've never seen those before." Lois couldn't take her eyes off of the muscles in his legs. "Are those … are those … new?" Lois looked at the receiver in her hand, realizing that someone was speaking. "Oh yes, please add some hot and sour soup to that. Thank you." She hung up the phone.
Clark glanced down at the obviously worn shorts. "Uh, no, I've had them for quite some time."
"Really? Well, I must say … yes, I like them." Lois smiled and said, "Well, food's ordered. Let's start the movie. What did you get?"
"Aren't you going to get comfortable?" Clark looked pointedly at Lois' outfit. "You did agree to the experiment?"
"Yes, I agreed. And, yes … I will get comfortable. So what movie *did* you get?" She sat down next to him and began to take off her shoes.
"Aw, come on, Lois. Shoes? That's hardly getting comfortable."
"I do this in stages, Clark. You will just have to relax, ok?" She patted his thigh, then began to take off her jewelry. "Maybe you should just turn on the movie."
Clark put the tape in the vcr and looked at Lois. "I never did make that tea, you know. Do you want something to drink?"
"No, I want you to come sit with me … and watch this movie. It's starting."
***
"I can't believe you rented 'The Princess Bride.' Couldn't you have rented 'Waiting To Exhale' or 'The Net' or something?" Lois was laughing. She was lying on her back on the couch with her head resting on Clark's leg.
"It's a classic. Besides, I love the characters and the humor. Not to mention the story of an enduring love; it's wonderful. Reminds me of us." He looked down at Lois. "Comfortable?"
Lois sat up. "Actually, I'm not. Excuse me, but this bra has got to come off. I mean, they say eighteen hours, but they don't really mean eighteen hours. More like seven hours. How can anyone make a piece of clothing that is so uncomfortable?" While Lois was talking, one hand slid behind her back and unfastened her bra.
Her left arm then disappeared inside her shirt sleeve. Lois kept talking as if everything was normal. Clark's eyes did not leave Lois' arm and the shirt sleeve. He had never been so tempted to use his x-ray vision, but he refrained.
"I mean, whoever makes these things must be a man. Because no woman would ever design a bra so unpleasant to wear. It's really … liberating … not to wear one." The left arm reappeared as soon as the right arm vanished. "I swear, if it were exceptable, I would go braless all the time." The right arm reappeared with a bra in her hand.
Clark was astounded. "Lois, how did you just do that? I mean, that must have taken some … um, coordination. Did you ever take gymnastics?"
"No, I didn't. Why?" asked a confused Lois.
"That was incredible. You just took your bra off and did not remove your shirt. I don't think even *I* could do that!"
Lois laughed as she put the bra in her purse. "Clark, honey, every woman on the face of the earth can do that. It's one of those inherent female things."
***
Clark stood in front of the mirror, imagining a bra around his chest. "I just don't think I could do it," he whispered to himself. Clark shook his head in amazement, wondering what else his mother had conveniently forgotten to mention about women. "Oh, well. At least it is something I can live with." He grinned at his reflecton.
"Clark? Hurry up or you'll miss the ending. The wedding scene really is the best part." Lois called from the living room "Wove, wove, wove," she mimicked. "This priest reminds of our last … well, almost wedding …"
"What was that, Lois?" Clark walked back into the living room and sat on the couch. "Did I hear something about a … wedding?"
"You have a one track mind, don't you, Mr. Kent?"
"Only when it comes to you …" Clark leaned across and kissed Lois with an intensity she had never before felt. The heat of the moment almost overwhelmed them, but they reluctantly pulled apart.
"You know, this waiting for the honeymoon … is getting harder and harder." Clark said.
"I know exactly what you mean. But it will all be worth it. Trust me." Lois smiled and took his hand. "Before you, I had no idea what happiness was. But your love changed all of that. Now I have the opportunity to give you some happiness. Believe me, I don't intend to disappoint."
"Oh, I know I won't be disappointed. Not after what I have seen tonight." Clark smiled. "I never knew you were so … limber."
"Clark! I told you … all women can do it!"
"Well, I'm just glad that *you* can," Clark whispered against her ear. His lips gently caressed her earlobes and Lois' head fell back.
***
"Lois, honey, wake up. I have a surprise for you." Clark sat down beside her on the bed. He gently kissed her neck until she awoke. "Rise and shine, sleepy head. You have missed half the morning already." There was a smile in his voice. "I really love seeing you like this. Waking up and finding you next to me … it's a dream come true."
"Um … for me too." Lois kissed Clark's check. Then her lips moved closer to his mouth. "A girl could get used to this … "
"A guy could too." His hand massaged her leg. "But we did decide to wait." Clark pulled away. "Now get up, because I have a surprise for you." Clark stood and walked into the living room, laughing to himself.
"A surprise? What kind of surprise? Clark?"
Lois pulled herself out of bed and put on the robe he had left for her. She followed him into the living room. "What's this about a surprise? You know I don't like surprises. I mean, look how well I took finding out that you were Superman. That almost ruined our whole relationship."
Clark lauged, "Lois, honey, relax. Consider this … sort of … a wedding present."
Lois looked at the box that Clark was holding. "Is that it? It seems harmless enough. What is it?"
"Well, you have to open it to find out. But first, there is something that I want to tell you." Clark walked towards Lois and took her by the hand. Leading her to the couch, he put the gift on the coffee table. "All of my life … I have been alone. I never thought that I would find someone … that I could be myself with. Until I met you. And all of that changed … at least for me." Clark laughed. "Of course, it took a little longer to convince you … but that has finally all worked out." He kissed her gently. "What I am trying to say is this … I thought I had it all. Every power or strength that any man could ever want … or need … until I met you. Then I realized what my life was missing. I realized how helpless … and how alone I was. But lucky for me … you decided to change all of that."
Lois began to cry and Clark wiped her tears as he continued, "You are the dream I have waited for my entire life. The other part of me, that I never knew was missing … until you showed me that it was. I can't imagine ever losing you or being away from you. Lois, you continually surprise and inspire and excite me. Every day there is something new about you that I want to discover. And I can't imagine my life without you."
"Oh, Clark …"
"Shhh, let me finish. Last night, once again, you surprised me. You amazed me and reminded me that there is so much for me to learn. So much about you that I don't know. I can't tell you how that fills me with wonder.." He reached for the gift.
"I want to give you this. I want you to know that even though I have all of these powers … without you, I am nothing. You have called me your superhero before, but I want you to know … that *you* are my suprehero. You are the one who has made all of my dreams come true." He handed her the present. "That's why I got you this. I hope you like it."
Before she could open the present, Clark pulled Lois to him. The kiss seemed to last forever … a sweet, gentle reminder of things to come. When they finally pulled apart, Lois looked down at the present, overwhelmed by her love for the man sitting beside her.
"I don't know what to say. Ha! For once, I am speechless. Boy, Perry would never believe this. Clark …"
"Lois, don't say anything else. Just open the gift."
She looked down again at the present and began to cry again. Lois knew that she would love it no matter what, simply because Clark had given it from his heart. She slowly began to unwrap it, tears streaming down her face. Her eyes opened wide in amazement when all of the wrapping was removed.
"Do you like it?" Clark asked anxiously.
"Well … it definitely suits … you. I'm not sure it suits me," Lois replied with a smile. She held up a bra. A white bra with blue, red and gold "S"'s on the cups.
"It really did remind me of you." Clark smiled. "I hope you are not offended."
"Oh … it's just … not what I expected. But I … like it." She held the bra up to inspect it better. "Well, at least you got the right size. Thank you." Lois looked at Clark and gasped at what she saw in his eyes. She swallowed hard, "So you think I'm 'super', huh?"
Clark smiled as he pulled her close. Their lips met in a passionate kiss, and the bra dropped to the floor.
"Well, I must say … you do have your moments."
THE END