"I'm still not sure how Chloe managed to talk us into going along with this assignment," Lois grumbled.

"Because you'll do anything for a story and a job at the Daily Planet, even marry me," Clark said.

"That's true, but how did you manage to get talked into it?"

"Because Chloe's persuasive and I'm a sucker."

Lois laughed but didn't take the sucker bait. Instead, she peered uncertainly into the window of what was a little, white chapel with a flashy sign displaying 'Chapel of Love'.

"Okay, so I get that we have to go undercover as a wife and husband. Now explain to me why we really have to get married."

Clark smiled, almost like it tickled him that they were getting married. "Because we will be checking into a married-couples-only hotel, where for some strange reason all the couples gamble away everything they own down to the clothes on their back. You have to have proof that you're married to sign in and they know when the license is a fake because they check up on it."

"Won't they think it strange that we got married right before we checked in?"

"They'll think we're on our honeymoon and this is Las Vegas. People get married, even to strangers, like marriage is going out of style. We'll hardly stick out."

"Yeah, but those people are usually drunk That's why they should make it a law that you can't get a license immediately or at least wait until the hangover kicks in."

"Where's your sense of romance?"

"Maybe I can find it at the bottom of a bottle of whiskey. I would feel better if I was drunk."

"You know how long it takes you before you even begin to resemble drunkenness and being on assignment, you have to keep your senses about you. Don't worry. The marriage is fake. We'll have no problem getting it annulled."

"Yeah, you're right. I'm being stupid." She took a deep breath. "Let's do this."

They went into the chapel. They walked up to the desk, where a middle-aged couple sat.

"We'd like to get married," Clark said.

"That's usually why people come in here," the woman smiled. "Let's see it's 8:00 now. We have a couple coming in at 8:30. Right, Bill?"

Bill nodded to confirm it.

"You'll have to fill out this form," she told them.

Clark took it and started filling it out.

"Setting an appointment isn't very Las Vegas, is it?" Lois asked.

"It's good if you want a nice place and assurance that they can fit you in," the woman answered.

"Lois, what's your middle name?" Clark asked.

"None of your business," Lois replied.

"You're about to become my wife and it's necessary information for the license. I think it is my business."

"Joanne."

"That's pretty," Clark said, writing it down.

Lois rolled her eyes but looked pleased.

"What's your social security number?"

"Give me that," Lois said, snatching it from his hands. "I'll fill out my stuff. I'll have to sign anyway. Wow, I'm impressed. You got my birthday right."

"Of course, I did. I'm your husband-to-be, aren't I?"

"You'd be surprised how many husbands forget their wives' birthdays," the woman said.

"When have I ever forgot you birthday, Elizabeth?" Bill asked.

"Plenty of times."

"Here," Lois said. "Is that all you need?"

"It's not very complicated around here. I'll need to see your photo IDs, but it only takes a matter of minutes to process it and 55 dollars. Then we'll need 50 dollars for the ceremony, but there will be no blood tests or waiting period." Elizabeth said, standing up. "Oh my!"

"What?" Lois asked.

"The way you're dressed. You're not getting married like that, are you?"

"What's wrong with it?" Lois demanded, looking down at herself.

"Tennis shoes, jeans, and a Whitesnake t-shirt?"

"For your information," Lois defended herself, "Whitesnake can be very romantic."

"Yeah, she's right," Clark said, his eyes twinkling with contained laughter. "She made me a special Whitesnake CD to show just how much she loves me. You should have seen the cover—Ow!" Clark pretending it hurt when Lois jabbed him hard in the ribs.

"Aww, how sweet," Elizabeth cooed.

"You don't understand," Lois said. "I was in love. I mean I wasn't in control. I—oh, never mind." She glared at Clark and then a terrible idea popped into her head. "You know you don't have to explain anything to Clark. He's had a Las Vegas wedding before."

"What?" Bill and Elizabeth chorused.

"Lois!" Clark whispered. "What are you doing?"

"Oh, yeah. He's a pro," Lois continued.

"I am a real pastor," Bill explained, "despite my surroundings. I don't approve of marrying divorced people unless I know the circumstances."

"It's not like that," Clark assured them. "I was—drugged at the time by the girl. I didn't marry her of my own free will and it wasn't consummated. It got annulled."

"Then he dated her."

"Lois!" Clark warned. "Forgive her. We knew each other back than and she was jealous."

"I was not jealous, but I shouldn't have brought that up," Lois apologized to Clark. "I guess I just have pre-wedding jitters."

"That's ok," Clark said. "I understand."

Elizabeth put an arm around Lois. "You two love each other and you're about to make a lifetime commitment. That's what matters."

"You have no idea how last minute the decision was. If—" Lois started to say.

"We were on vacation," Clark covered. "Our family is going to be mad that they missed our wedding, but we couldn't wait anymore, could we, buttercup?"

"No, darling and please, I've asked you not to call me buttercup," Lois said through gritted teeth.

"I don't remember you saying that," he smiled sweetly and in truth, the topic had never had the need to come up.

"Come on, dear," Elizabeth said. "Since your shirt is so sentimental to the two of you, you can leave it on, but we'll find a dress to put over it." She started dragging Lois off.

Lois looked back at Clark pleadingly like if she ever needed to be rescued, now was it.

Clark just waved and smiled. He hoped he got a souvenir picture of Lois in a frilly, white wedding dress, marrying her favorite foe. This was a picture to hang up and to laugh at whenever he needed some cheering up.