By Blaise Pascal <pascal256@yahoo.com>
Rated PG
Submitted October 1999
Summary: It's a very special day in the life of Clark Kent. He's about to marry his beloved fiancee … Jo. A German version of the story is also available.
Note: This is my very first fanfic. I thought it was time for me to contribute something after reading megabytes of L&C fanfic the past few months. It is with much hesitation that I submit this - I normally don't write at all unless it's for an assignment at school. So please be gentle. :P Comments welcome.
Disclaimer: The story is mine, but (most of) the characters are not. I'm merely borrowing the characters from WB, DC Comics, etc., etc. No borrowing, copying, or distributing without my permission, etc., etc.
***
[Metropolis, St. Mary's Church]
[Saturday, 1:56 P.M.]
"This is it," Clark said to himself. "The moment I've been waiting for all my life." Clark had never thought that this day would come. Today was the day when he and Jo would become husband and wife.
As he waited in the sacristy for the ceremony to begin, Clark reflected on the various events that occurred throughout the years. Many were good, and unfortunately, many were bad. Perhaps the worst of those had happened two years ago, when his partner, his best friend, his sweetheart, his "Little Tornado", died in his arms. He'd been so distraught over the affair that for the first time in his life he wanted to die, to take away the pain, the anguish, and the guilt. Especially the guilt. It didn't matter what his family and friends said. The bottom line was that he hadn't been able to save her in time, and it was *he* who had to live with that fact for the rest of his life.
Clark had never been happier when he was with *her*. For the first time in his life he felt that he truly belonged. It didn't matter that they were not even the same species. What mattered was the fact that they were two lovers, destined to meet, fall in love, and live happily ever after. But *this* did not have a fairy-tale ending. They had been investigating a drug-smuggling operation on the East Side, and while they were poking around an abandoned warehouse looking for clues, three shots rang out without warning. Immediately they ducked, but not before one bullet bounced harmlessly off him and the other two bullets hit her neck and back. The bullets were proven to be fatal for her.
After the funeral and burial, Clark was back at *both* jobs, at times going days without eating or sleeping. He really didn't need to eat, and if he went to sleep, he would have those dreams, nightmares of losing *her*, and Clark certainly didn't want to reenact her death over and over again in his head. He became increasingly distant from his coworkers, from his friends, even from his family. His parents were alarmed at his behavior and tried to break through his shell, but they couldn't. At the time Clark thought it was for the best; 'never let someone get close and you'll never get hurt.' He had therefore resolved never to fall in love again. He would accept the fact that "he was always going to be alone," as his mother once said.
It didn't turn out that way.
The person who replaced his partner was a rookie, much like himself not too long ago. Her name was Jo Shuster. The new partner and the old one were a lot alike. Both were domineering, uncompromising, pigheaded, brilliant… It was eerie. At first it was Clark who tried to push Jo away. The memories were too fresh, too painful for him to work with a partner again. But Jo wouldn't have any of it. It was Jo who broke down his defenses, it was Jo who forced him to talk about his former partner's death and not bottle it up, and it was Jo with whom he fell in love. Never had he thought that would be possible.
Of course, Clark wasn't the only one who had been through a lot. Someone had tried to rape Jo when she was in college, and afterwards she repressed all memories of it. It took Clark's prodding, and their first investigation together on a serial rapist, for Jo to finally talk about *her* problems. Then Jo had to deal with the *revelation*. Just like before, Jo was very upset about it, and it took some time apart and several heart-to-heart chats for the issue to be resolved. Jo also had worries about Clark still being hung up over his lost love, that Clark might be 'settling' for her. Clark had to reassure Jo that he loved *her* for who she was, and that he was finally over what happened in the past. Finally, Clark and Jo had to deal with their work, getting themselves in and out of trouble, time and time again, assuring the world that the "Best Team in Town" wasn't dead just because one its members was. But they survived it all, and became stronger in the process. And now they were getting married.
"Clark?" The priest was trying to get his attention. "It's time. You ready, Son?"
"Yes, Father." Clark replied. He added softly, "As ready as I'll ever be." With that, Clark and Father Dowling walked out into the sanctuary.
***
The bridal procession in, the readings read, and the homily given, the congregation's attention was now turned to Clark and Jo as they said their vows. Clark repeated after Father Dowling.
*"I, Clark,
take you, Joanne,
to be my wife.
I promise to be true to you,
in good times and in bad,
in sickness and in health.
I will love you and honor you
all the days of my life."*
Clark was so overcome with emotion that it was hard for him to be heard while he said his vows. It was quite understandable; those who were sitting in the congregation were close to the couple, and they all knew about the obstacles Clark and Jo had to overcome to get to this day.
*"I, Joanne,
take you, Clark,
to be my husband.
I promise to be true to you,
in good times and in bad,
in sickness and in health.
I will love you and honor you
all the days of my life."*
Clark noticed tears in Jo's eyes as she said her vows. In fact, Clark discovered, most of the congregation were either crying or holding back tears. His parents were worst, with tears streaming down their cheeks.
Father Dowling proceeded to take the rings from Clark's best man and blessed them. Giving Jo's ring to Clark, he invited Clark to place the ring on her finger with these words:
*"Joanne, take this ring,
as a sign of my love and fidelity.
In the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit."*
Father Dowling gave Clark's ring to Jo, and invited her to place the ring on his finger with these words:
*"Clark, take this ring,
as a sign of my love and fidelity.
In the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit."*
The remainder of the ceremony was a blur. All they could do was look at each other while they lit the unity candle and received some blessings from Father Dowling. Clark and Jo reflected on their future, the fact that they would be husband and wife (well, in a few short minutes), the fact that they were going to be together for the rest of their lives, and the fact that they loved each other so much. They were so lost in each other's thoughts that they almost didn't hear Father Dowling finish his final blessing.
"It is my privilege to pronounce you as husband and wife. Ladies and Gentlemen, may I introduce to you Mr. and Mrs. Clark Kent, Jr." Clark and Jo's lips pressed together as Mendelssohn's "The Wedding March" roared from the organ. Since Clark's mind was occupied at the moment, he didn't hear his mother whisper "Finally…" to his father, even with his superhearing.
***
[Metropolis, 348 Hyperion Avenue]
[Saturday, April 1, 2023, 11:23 P.M.]
It was evening at 348 Hyperion Avenue, after the wedding reception, and Lois Lane was on the phone. "Promise me you'll have a party when you get back, C.J…" (To everyone else he's 'Clark,' but to his family he's 'C.J.') "Good… Um hmm, I'll tell your father and Laura. Give Jo our love… Love you… 'Bye." Lois put down the phone just as Clark emerged out of the kitchen with a white box and two forks. Lois could only stare.
'God, he looks good,' Lois thought. At 57, Clark had gray hair and a few wrinkles, but his physique remained impressive. He was still aging normally, despite Lois' fears. 'Giving some of his life force to Jimmy years ago might have something to do with it,' she mused. Lois looked him over, letting him know what she was thinking. After 26 years of marriage, they still could not get enough of each other. Clark was still wearing his tuxedo (black, her favorite), but without the jacket. He also was giving Lois a stern look.
"Lo-is, you called C.J. and Jo? On their wedding night?"
"No, Cla-ark, C.J. did. Just before they left for Hawaii via 'Superman Express,'" Lois giggled as she traced an 'S' on Clark's chest. 'At least *they're* going to Hawaii,' Lois thought wryly. "He didn't get a chance to really talk to us at the reception tonight."
"I see… What did C.J. want to say?"
"Oh, he just wanted to apologize for being the lunkhead he was the last two years, and to thank us for putting up with him. I told him that we're his parents, and 'putting up with him' is part of our job."
"Well, Sweetheart, if *you* had died before we got married, like Mary did, I would have been acting the same way." Putting the small box of wedding cake on the table, Clark sat down on the sofa, and Lois joined him. Despite having a feast at the reception, Lois had insisted on sharing a piece of the wedding cake right this minute, because (of course) it was a chocolate cake with white frosting.
"You and C.J. are so much alike, it's scary," Lois agreed, as she took a bite of the cake. "Oh, Clark," she sighed, "I still can't believe all that C.J. had to go through these past couple of years. What we went through was cakewalk compared to this."
"I know, Lois. I can still hear C.J. screaming from that night." March 15, 2021 was a date that neither Clark nor Lois would forget. Not only did it happen to be the tenth anniversary of Lois' father's death, it was also the date when Mary Louise Morgan, C.J.'s fiancee, was shot to death while she and C.J. were investigating a drug- smuggling operation for the Chicago Tribune, their newspaper. Clark was in Argentina at the time, and Laura, C.J.'s twin sister, was in London, yet both heard C.J.'s scream nevertheless.
Clark was visibly troubled as he remembered that day. "Laura and I flew right away to Chicago, and I'll never forget seeing C.J. with Mary in his arms, as she lay dying." Clark held back tears. "Like I said, if it was you who was shot and died in my arms, I know that a part of me would have died too." Lois wordlessly put her arms around his waist. Clark gave up and let the tears fall as he continued. "The worst part was for us not being able to do anything for him. He withdrew into his own little shell, not letting Laura or us help him. He definitely changed at the time, Lois."
Lois brought her hand up to wipe Clark's tears away. "How many times did Jimmy give us time off at the Planet to go see C.J. in Chicago? Thirty? Forty?" She sighed. "It was a good thing we used 'Superman Express,' otherwise we would have gone broke with the airfare," said Lois, trying to lighten up the mood.
It worked somewhat. Clark smiled as he fed Lois more of the cake. "I don't know what would have happened if Jo hadn't come into his life. The circumstances were so much like our first meeting, it was history repeating itself." Clark chuckled at the memory.
"Oh, don't remind me! I'm still kicking myself after all these years for ignoring you at first. But it was the other way around this time, with C.J. trying to push Jo away. But I knew, I *knew*, that when he started talking about her that Jo Shuster would be the one for him. It took awhile though for C.J. to realize it." Lois grinned in spite of herself, remembering how the same happened to her and Clark.
"She didn't take C.J.'s revelation very well either, as I recall," Clark said. "Like a certain person I know," he added teasingly.
Lois rolled her eyes. "At least C.J. didn't wait until he made sure that Jo would say 'yes' to his marriage proposal…"
"Ouch," Clark winced. He had to agree with that.
"… and whereas your parents flew over and knocked some sense into us, Jo decided to come flying to Metropolis just to talk to *me*. You gonna finish that?" Lois asked, indicating Clark's cake.
Clark gave his cake to her, and watched her as she continued eating. He could never grow tired of watching her, whether it was at work, around the house, in bed, or even while eating a piece of wedding cake. It fascinated him.
"I don't think I'm the only one who eats like an eight-year-old and look like Mr. Hardbody," Clark commented.
"Is that supposed to be a compliment or an insult?" Lois asked, eyebrows raised.
"What do *you* think?" Clark retaliated.
"Well, I think you must really need glasses now, because I'm not exactly Mr., or I should say Ms. Hardbody. I'm more like Mr. Hardbody's grandmother."
"Lois, I'll say it again, and as many times you want. You're very beautiful to me. Always have been, always will be."
"Oh, Clark," Lois whispered, her eyes tearing up at the simplicity of his words. She couldn't believe how lucky she was, being married to Clark, with two grown children (though no grandchildren yet, since Laura was married only six months), and still part of the "Hottest Team in Town" in Metropolis. "I'm glad that C.J. and Jo *finally* got married. I've never known two people who were more in love than they are."
"I do," Clark said. He leaned forward and gave Lois a tender kiss to prove his point. The kiss deepened, and a split second later, Lois found herself lying on the sofa with Clark on top of her, kissing her lips, her chin, and placing a line of kisses down her neck. Lois arched her back and moaned. 'God, what Clark still does to me, after all these years,' she thought. 'Here we are, necking like a couple of teenagers.'
Clark pulled back with a twinkle in his eye. "Let's say we move the celebration to our bedroom, shall we?"
Lois grinned, and, reaching up, ran her tongue around his earlobe. "I thought you'd never ask," she purred. With that, Clark took Lois in his arms and flew upstairs into the bedroom.
THE END