By Stopquitdont@bellsouth.net
Rated: PG
Submitted: November 2002
Summary: It's Christmas in Smallville. The snow is falling, the air is filled with expectancy, but what could be better than this "magic moment"?
This is pure fluff. I was on the message boards a week ago when I read a story by Supermom. She had written in her description that she was answering a call for a feel good story to help ease tensions in wake of September 11. I agree that you can never have enough stories about all being right in the world.
So… here's my contribution. Don't shoot. I wrote it in a matter of hours. Please send your opinions, good or bad. I do not own any of the characters. This is written for fun.
***
Through the kitchen window Lois watched the snow fall around the large barn. She smiled sadly as she finished the lunch dishes. She dried her hands and took her coffee to the den.
It had been four months, four long months, since Clark left to go to New Krypton. Lois nearly died that first month, but the Kents had become her pillar of strength. They talked on the phone at least three times a week, exchanged daily e-mails, and saw each other once a month. Martha and Jonathan had gone to Metropolis to spend Thanksgiving with Lois. So, she couldn't imagine spending Christmas anywhere but on a farm in Smallville.
Superman was believed to be helping his race on a strange planet a galaxy away, and it was also believed Clark went along to record all the events for the posterity of Earth. No one understood why Lois hadn't gone as well. She explained it away as a lost bet. This appeased everyone's questions.
The older Kents desperately missed their son but they were thankful for the daughter they had in Lois. Together they helped each other through the pain and loneliness. It was just amazing how one man had affected them all so deeply.
***
Lois settled on the couch with some photos she was arranging as a gift for the Kents. The hours were winding down on Christmas Eve. Soon she would join Martha and Jonathan to go to the program in town. Her smile was a little brighter this time as she listened to her surrogate parents preparing their dishes in the kitchen.
Lois jumped when she heard her cell phone ring. She'd brought it along in case of an emergency at work. "Of course it would have to be Christmas Eve for an emergency," she mumbled as she went to the bookshelf to answer it.
"Hello?" she snapped her reply. The answer was silence. "Hell-oo?"
"Who is it, dear?" Martha asked. She and Jonathan had come to the doorway to see what kind of crisis would take Lois away tonight.
Lois shrugged at Martha, then continued speaking to the caller. "Listen, buster. Do you know what…?"
"Lois?"
Lois nearly dropped the phone when she heard the soft voice on the line.
"Clark?" Her voice was a whisper as her eyes filled with tears.
Martha and Jonathan were immediately by her side.
"Yes, honey. It's me."
"But… how?"
Clark chuckled softly. Leave it to Lois to question everything. "Kryptonians are very advanced. Let's just say we figured out how to bounce off Earth's satellites."
Lois sank onto the chair by the shelves. "Oh God. It is so good to hear your voice."
"And yours, too. I couldn't let Christmas pass without telling you how much I love you."
"I love you, Clark."
"How are Mom and Dad?"
"They're right here. Do you want to speak to them?"
"Not yet. I just want to listen to your heart beat."
Lois' eyes refilled with tears. "Clark…"
"I know, sweetie. Hey, we figured out how to send things across space, too. I sent you a Christmas gift."
"Really? I didn't get anything. You know what? It probably went to my apartment."
"No, honey. I knew you would be at Mom and Dad's."
Lois smiled. "You know me so well."
"Umm. I do. You're gonna love my gift. Are you sure you didn't get it?"
"No. I didn't get it."
"Well, it's pretty big. Why don't you check on the porch?"
Lois rose to her feet. "Big? Clark, what have you…?"
Her question ended as she opened the door and was face to face with Clark. She was frozen in place, not wanting to move in case he wasn't real.
Clark closed his cell phone and smiled at her. "Merry Christmas, baby."
Lois dropped her phone, threw open the screen door, and launched herself into Clark's arms. He held her to his chest tightly, breathing in her scent. At the door his parents were both in tears.
Lois drew back enough to smother Clark in a passionate kiss. When they came up for air, both were breathless and crying.
"This is the best Christmas gift," Lois whispered before she tenderly kissed Clark again.
Clark looked up as his parents stepped onto the porch. "Hi Mom, Dad. Merry Christmas."
Lois stood aside as Martha pulled Clark into her embrace. "Oh, honey. You're home."
"Yes, ma'am. And I won't leave again. Ever."
Martha reluctantly released Clark to Jonathan's waiting arms. He leaned back to see his face. "My boy. You are a sight for these old sore eyes. Welcome home."
"Thanks, Dad. It's good to be home." Clark looked over at Lois and his mom. "I take it all of you like this gift."
They all laughed before Martha spoke. "You must be starved." Jonathan held the door for his wife.
Clark pulled on Lois' hand to stop her. "Mom, we'll be there in a second." She smiled back and hurried to get her son's lunch on the table. Jonathan followed.
Lois turned to face Clark. "You are home, right?"
"Yes." He lifted his hand to her face. "I will never leave you again. Their war is over, Zara and Ching are leading their people, and Kal-El realized who he really is."
"And that's…?"
"Clark Kent: son, reporter, occasional super-hero and…" He drew his other hand to hold Lois' face. "Lois Lane's husband…at least, soon anyway."
Lois smiled at him through her tears. "That sounds so good."
"God, you are more beautiful than I remember."
Lois placed her hands on Clark's sides. "So are you," she whispered back.
"Marry me, Lois. Now. Tonight. I want you to spend the night in my arms… as my wife. I never, ever want to be apart from you again." He drew the pad of his thumb across her cheeks. "When we go back to Metropolis, I want us to go home; to our home… together." Clark pressed his lips to hers. "Please marry me, baby," he whispered against her mouth.
"Yes! Yes!" Lois leaned back and placed her hands on his face. "Yes. I will marry you."
Clark drew her into a passionate kiss. When it broke, he pulled Lois' ring from his shirt. "See… safe as my love for you."
Lois pulled his hand up and placed his palm over her heart. "See… your heartbeat."
Clark's gaze grew both heated and tender. "Lois, I have loved you from the beginning…"
"…and I will love you until the end."
Following another kiss, Clark drew back again. "Come on. My powers aren't back yet, and I'm cold." He leaned to pick up the two bags on the porch.
"Maybe I can warm you up."
"Ooo, I hope so," Clark replied with a smile.
***
Clark was ushered to the kitchen for a late lunch. As he ate he told Lois and his parents about his trip and the war. They filled him in on the things that had been going on with them. Clark told his parents that he and Lois wanted to be married that night. His mom immediately retrieved a marriage license that had been acquired for them weeks earlier. She said she wanted to have it just in case they couldn't wait. Jonathan called the pastor at the church, who thought Lois and Clark exchanging their vows during the service would be a wonderful addition. With everything set, they were soon on their way.
***
Lois stood in the stream of moonlight coming through the bedroom window, admiring her wedding band on her finger.
She smiled as Clark wrapped his arms around her from behind and kissed her neck.
"Hello, wife."
"Hello, husband."
Clark lifted her hand so that he could see her ring. "Are you happy?"
Lois turned his hand to see his gold band. "Very."
"Do you like the dress?"
"Clark, I love the dress." He had brought her a beautiful white silk gown back with him. He had seen it in a shop window and immediately had one sewn for Lois.
She turned in his arms and looked at herself. "It feels like you're hugging me close." Lois ran her hands across his chest and shoulders. "You look great, too."
Clark wore a black suit he'd had made from the same material. "Umm… I feel fantastic. I'm home, married to the woman I love, and starting a new life."
"I love the sound of that. A new life; our new life."
Clark kissed Lois softly. "I have another gift for you." He went to retrieve it.
He returned with a small box and a bag. "Actually, two gifts." He held out the box. "This is from Zara and Ching."
Lois opened the box to reveal a gorgeous gold and diamond bracelet and a small piece of plastic.
"Put it in your palm. It's an information chip."
Lois held the chip in her palm and watched as a hologram of Zara and Ching appeared. "Hello, Lois. Clark promised he would not give you this until you were married. Greetings and congratulations. We know Clark is truly happy now. "We wanted to take a moment to thank both of you for your sacrifice to our world. We will always be eternally grateful. We include you, Lois, because if you had asked, Clark would never have come. That tells us your convictions are as strong as his."
Ching spoke then. "We feel we know you. Clark talked of nothing else. We may not understand this emotion you call love, but we do understand loyalty. That is most definitely something Clark possesses.
"For his sacrifice we wanted to say thank you. Our scientists discovered a way to protect Clark from kryptonite poisoning. Lois, that is our gift to you. Thank you both. Be well, be happy."
Ching bowed and Zara once again started to speak. "Lois, the bracelet is the ceremonial wedding band for the ruling house of El. Since Clark will always be remembered as Kal- El, Lord of the House of El, and has finally married his soulmate, the people of New Krypton feel you should wear it. To you, First Lady, we give you back your heart. Be well My Lord and Lady. We will never forget you."
The image faded, and Lois lifted the bracelet to look at it. "This is gorgeous."
Clark took it from her and placed it around her wrist. "Now it's gorgeous." He looked up into Lois' eyes. "I love you, my Lady." He held out the bag with the other gift in it. "This is from me."
The bag contained a black teddy, very lacy and very revealing. Clark blushed slightly and shrugged. "What can I say? I'm a man… I have matching boxers," he replied and waggled his eyebrows.
"Really? Are you planning on getting lucky?"
Clark reached out to touch the silky material. "Nope. Just hoping."
Lois rubbed the fabric in Clark's face. "Well, my Lord, I guess it's my duty to make my husband happy. I'll use the bathroom. You change in here."
***
Clark, clad only in his boxers, finished lighting the last candle as Lois stepped into the room. He ran his gaze down his wife's slim figure; very little was left to the imagination.
"Wow! Honey, you look… wow!"
Lois slowly walked up to Clark. "So do you." She ran her hands over his chest.
"I'm glad they didn't hurt this gorgeous body."
Clark smiled as he pulled Lois into his arms. "Nice gift?" "Umm… the best." Her smile faded and she looked deep into Clark's eyes. "I want to give you a gift."
"Sounds good."
Lois smiled. "That, too. But I was thinking of something a little more special."
"What could be more special than that?"
"I was thinking… a baby."
"What?"
"I don't want us to use birth control. I want to give you the gift of a true connection to this world."
"Lois, you are my true connection to this world." "So what better gift than to be able to hear our combined hearts beating as one?"
"We don't even know if that's possible."
"Clark, I know," she said that with complete faith and conviction.
"Are you sure?"
"I've never been more sure of anything in my life. I want you to fill me with life."
"Oh God, baby." Clark covered Lois' mouth with his own as the world faded around them.
***
Lois and Clark lay on their sides facing each other, basking in the afterglow of their love making.
"Let's not go home until after the new year," Clark said as he lifted Lois' hand to kiss her fingers.
"Umm… absolutely."
"Lois, I can't tell you how incredible I feel now."
"I know, honey. I never want this magic moment to end." She rolled onto her back with a smile. Suddenly she grew still and her smile faded.
"Lois, honey, what's wrong?"
She turned her gaze to Clark with tear filled eyes, then placed his hand on her stomach. His eyes grew wide as he felt what he could only be described as an electric jolt. "Honey, that's our hearts combining to beat as one."
Clark leaned to kiss her stomach before settling over her to look into her eyes.
"In this place, in this moment, my life is complete. I love you."
"And I love you." Their lips met again. The magic moment would continue, for now.
***
Okay, I told you I wrote it in just few minutes. I got the idea from a commercial, of all things. Actually, I've been getting a lot of great ideas from really strange places. I found out these little stories help with writer's block. I'm hoping I can finish a longer story soon. I hope you enjoyed this one though. I had a good time writing it.
THE END