Lois pushed the tape into the VCR, and sat down on the couch.
She wasn't ready for this. She hadn't opened that box since her father had given it to her. But, she'd found it earlier that day in the top of her closet after she'd gotten back from the Kent farm.
Kent, she thought. Just the name sends a shiver through my spine.
She stared at the remote on the arm of the couch, contemplating whether she should watch the video or not. She finally gave in, pulling a blanket over her as she pressed the play button, tears in her eyes.
They were already puffy from crying. She'd been going through the box, looking at old Blue and all the other things her mom had saved for her.
"I hope I'm doing this right," her mom said on the TV as the video began to play. "Lois," she sighed, "...my little girl," she said as she slapped her leg. "I've asked that you girls not be brought to the hospital." A tear rolled down Lois' cheek as her mom continued. "I know you don't like being told what to do, but I want you to have happy memories of me."
"Mom," Lois cried.
"The Colonel is convinced I'll pull through. He packed a bag with my favorite nightgown and sweater. I didn't know your father noticed those things," she laughed, and Lois nodded slowly, smiling. "He even managed to slip in Blue," she said as she held up the blue, glass bird. "Your father got this for me the day I found out I was pregnant with you. We were stationed in Russia, and there this is considered a symbol of hope." More tears rolled down Lois' cheek as she remembered old Blue sitting on the windowsill above the kitchen sink.
"I know he's going to do a wonderful job raising you," her mom cried. "But sometimes... girls need their mother." Lois sniffled, wiped a tear away. "So, as hard as these tapes are to make..." she sighed. "they're for the days that... I want to be there... and won't be. Play the tapes... think of me... because... losing a parent, it can create a hole in a person's heart. Someday, you're going to meet someone special." As much as she didn't want to, Lois thought of Clark. She thought of the way he held her. She thought of the way his lips felt against hers. She thought of the way he tasted. She thought of the way his body felt against hers, skin-on-skin. She thought of the way their bodies fit together like they were made for each other, their hands doing the same. She snapped back into reality and listened to her mother.
"Knowing you, I'm guessing... tall, dark, and handsome." Lois smiled, realizing her mom knew her all-too-well. "And you can't commit to that person fully if you think there's a love that you're missing from some old memory... like me," she cried. Lois looked down, sniffling, and then back up at the TV screen. "You can't let someone leaving you stop your future with someone else." Lois wiped away her tears, resting her hand on her mouth as her mom wiped away her tears and sniffled. "You know, the thing about being a parent is... it doesn't end. Not with age. Not with death. I will always be your mother, Lois. And I will always love you." The screen turned to static, and Lois cried, taking a shaky breath.
"You know, it applies to relationships too." Lois jumped, turning around only to see her father walk into the living room and sit on the couch beside her.
"What?" she asked, quickly wiping her tears away and sniffling.
"What your mother said. 'You can't let someone leaving you stop your future with someone else.'"
"What do you mean it applies to relationships?"
"In several ways," Sam said as he set his hand on Lois' thigh. "One way is that... you can't let something like Oliver leaving you effect your future with Clark."
"I have no future with Clark. I went to go get him back, and he was kissing his ex."
"Did he kiss her or did she kiss him?"
"I don't know," she sighed, crying. "He said she kissed him, but he didn't stop her."
"If you're taken by surprise, it can take a while for you to react. Trust me, I know from experience." Sam sighed, and patted Lois' thigh. "As much as I hate to say it, Clark was right. All those things that he yelled at me were true."
"What did he say?"
"He said that I may think Oliver was the perfect son-in-law, but that he walked out on a beautiful, kind, talented writer and that you were the one that was perfect. He really loves you, Lo."
"What's the other reason?" she asked, changing the subject.
"If you dwell on the past... let's just say... forget the past, live in the present, and prepare for the future. You never know what's to come, Lois. You write your own destiny. Your life is a book, so don't let anyone else hold the pen. Especially someone like Oliver." Lois took in what he was saying, relaxing as she finally absorbed it all. "Do you know what you want?" he asked.
"Yes," Lois cried. "I know what I want."
"Then go get it." Lois quickly got up from the couch, and grabbed her coat as she ran out the front door.
"Chloe?" Clark asked as he walked into her Talon apartment. "Chloe?" he repeated.
"Clark?" Chloe walked into the living room, and threw her arms around Clark. "I haven't seen you in forever. How are things?" The look on his face answered her question. "Uh-oh. What's wrong? Is it Lois?"
"Actually, it is."
"What'd she do?"
"Oliver came back," Clark said as they sat down on the couch.
"What?" Chloe asked, astounded.
"He came back and she left with him. She had come back to try and win me back, but she walked in at the wrong time..." he trailed off.
"What do you mean?"
"Lana kissed me just as she walked up the stairs to the loft."
"Oh, god," Chloe said. "Do you love her?" she asked, raising her eyebrows.
"Yes. With everything I have. I can't imagine life without her."
"Then you need to let her know that. She called me a while ago and said that she'd fallen for you."
"I'm scared, Chloe... what if she doesn't take me back?"
"She will," Chloe smiled.
"Oh... should I give her this?" Clark asked, and he pulled Lois' Christmas present from his pocket and showed Chloe.
"Oh my god," Chloe said, gawking at it. "Yes! Yes, give it to her, Clark. She will be so happy. It will be the best Christmas gift she's ever had."
Clark grabbed another beer and sat on the couch, opening it and taking a huge slug. Just as he was about to turn the TV on, there was a knock at the front door.
"Come in," he said, not wanting to even get up. He was too depress. Nothing prepared him for what happened next. "Lois?" he asked, standing up at and staring at her. "I didn't think you would come back."
"Me either," she said. Clark walked closer to her, and she gulped loudly.
"I'm sorry," they both said at the same time.
"I'm sorry," Lois said again. "I should've have walked out on us."
"No, I'm sorry... for what happened with Lana and what happened at the party, and- and everything."
"I don't blame you for what happened with Lana... I mean, how gorgeous can you get?" she asked, tears in her eyes.
"Lois, I promise you that you're the only one. You've always been the only one. I love you." Clark wiped away a stray tear that managed to slip out of her eye, and Lois looked up at him.
"Just hold me," he said. Clark had his hands at the small of her back, and she had hers wrapped around his neck. Her head was on his chest, and his was leaning against hers. He pulled her closer, pulling her flush against him, and she started to blush. "There's something I want to give you before we go." Lois pulled away, and Clark sighed. "I, uh... this is your Christmas present from me."
"Clark," Lois scoffed. "You didn't have to get me anything."
"I know. But I wanted to. I was going to give it to you before your dad and my mom found out, before our fight, before everything, but... I was too scared. I'm still scared. But I, uh... I need to stop rambling and get it out." He sighed, reaching into his pocket, hiding something in his hand. Lois looked at it, but could only see dark blue velvet. "Lois, I... I love you. I love you with all my heart, all my soul, and all my mind. You're the one. You always have been, and you always will be. I can't promise to be perfect, but I can promise to try my best, because I want to be yours, always and forever."
"Clark..." she started. "What'd you get me?"
"I don't know. Look up," he said. Lois looked up, and smiled as she realized they were standing under the mistletoe. She looked back at him, and he had tears in his eyes. "You're the woman that I love," he said, getting down on one knee. Lois was short of breath, and started to breath shakily as he opened the blue velvet box, only to reveal a beautiful diamond ring. "Lois Lane... will you marry me?"
"Yes," she cried, shaking her head. Clark smiled, and placed the ring on her finger as he stood up. He pulled her to him, bringing their lips together, and wrapped his arms around her waist as tears welled up in her eyes. They pulled away from the kiss, and Lois smiled.
"It's snowing," she said, looking out the window. Clark turned around, and smiled as he saw the white flakes fall onto the ground. He turned back to Lois, and he couldn't believe it. She was the one. He was married to the love of his life.
When he first met her, he'd never expected they'd be here. He thought she was obnoxious, annoying, and stuck up, and she was, but... she was also so much more.
That first moment that he saw her, he knew she was beautiful. He couldn't stop staring at her. He never realized he'd love her, though. There were no words to explain how much he loved the woman in front of him.
So, neither of them said anything. They just stared into each others eyes, smiles plastered across their faces from ear-to-ear.
So... now you guys finally know what Clark's Christmas present for Lois was... it was an engagement ring! What do you guys think?
This was kind of a short chapter, but I said that in the previous chapter. I also said that chapter 10, the final chapter, will sort of be an epilogue.
Leave reviews and let me know what you think and what you expect to see in the epilogue!
