By ML Thompson <thomplaw@tbaytel.net>
Rated: PG
Submitted: December 2006
Summary: As the new century turns over, Lois reflects on the past — and in particular on one sin she has yet to apologize for.
This is a fanfic based on the television show, Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. No copyright infringement is intended. I'm borrowing these characters for a little fun and not for any profit. For a complete disclaimer, go to: http://www.thompsonlawoffice.ca/Disclaimer.htm.
Let's just call this a moment of madness. In case you haven't noticed, I don't write holiday stories. I don't like the holidays — with the possible exception of Arbor Day (what is Arbor Day anyway?). And now, within a couple weeks, I've written two of them. (Of course, neither are your typical holiday stories <g>)
Thanks to Gerry and Carol for beta reading this story for me.
***
"One minute to midnight," a voice yelled out over the crowd as the band fell silent.
Lois looked over at her handsome husband. Like the rest of the crowd here tonight, he was counting down the moment to the new millennium. Her mind of its own accord drifted into the past. Who would have thought when they had met seven years ago that she would be happily married to him today? She had been such a bitch to him back then. The idea that he'd fallen in love with her at first sight was still so incomprehensible to her.
"Forty five seconds."
She reached over, slipping her hand into his. It was amazing to her that, in spite of everything, he'd stuck by her, showing extraordinary patience in getting her to see the man beneath the suit.
"I love you, Clark," she whispered softly.
He turned to look at her, having heard her above the roar of the crowd. Leaning in, he gave her a brief kiss. She moaned as he backed off. Yep. She was certainly glad he hadn't given up on her.
"Thirty seconds."
He looked back at the clock at the front of the room, the one every eye was on as they welcomed in the twenty-first century. Lois' mind drifted again. This time to Lex Luthor. How Clark had stood by her after that entire fiasco, she had no idea. And not only then. Luthor had been a thorn in their side so many times since her aborted marriage ceremony to him. Maybe if she'd told him no the first time, he wouldn't have come back to haunt them so often. His rise from the dead. His demolition of their first marriage attempt. Even having two of his sons come after her. Yet through it all, Clark had been her rock.
"Ten."
"Nine."
Yet even that paled to the way she'd treated Clark when they first met. She cringed even now as she remembered stealing his story. She'd never done anything remotely like that before. She was good enough to get her stories on her own. Yet when he'd managed to get the story of the suicide attempt that Superman had prevented, she'd been crazy with jealousy.
"Eight."
She could remember her conversation with Lucy the next morning as if it were yesterday.
"Seven."
"You're unhappy with yourself so you focus on me," Lucy had said to her as they made their way into the newsroom.
"You are so wrong."
"Six."
"Really? Who was it who called me last night, practically in tears, because she had stolen a story from Clark Kent?"
"I didn't steal Kent's story."
"Five."
"You stole it."
"I competed for it and won."
"Four."
"You stole it."
"I stole it. I've never stolen a story in my life. How could I do that? It's him; it's Superman. Ever since he held me in his arms. There's something between us, Lucy, I know it. A connection a…"
"Three."
"So that makes what you did okay? You should be ashamed of yourself."
"I am. I'm ashamed of myself."
"Two."
"And you'll never do it again."
"I won't. Never again."
"One."
"And you'll apologize to Clark Kent?"
"Not in this millenn…"
"Happy New Millennium, everyone!" the host yelled out as 'Auld Lang Syne' began to play in the background.
"Happy New Year, Lois," Clark said, turning towards her and taking her in his arms.
"I'm sorry, Clark," Lois said softly.
Clark crinkled his eyebrows. "What for, honey?"
A slow smile lit up her face. "I'll tell you later," she responded, her hand finding its way into his hair, pulling him to her so that she could find his lips with hers. It was a new millennium, after all.
THE END