Monday 23rd June
The six of them sat over breakfast and decided that they should all spend the day together for a change. Every day they seemed to split up and go off as couples.
Lois whispered to Clark out of earshot of everyone. "Do you notice how everyone is happy to spend the day together when she is not here."
Clark knew exactly who Lois meant. The change in Jason's mood was unbelievable and Clark was convinced he could see a spark between Lucy and Jason. Lois had reassured him that it was nonsense and that Lucy was just a friendly sort of girl. Clark just nodded but was convinced otherwise. Time would tell.
"It's peaceful isn't it" Clark joked back.
Chloe suggested going to Neuschwanstein to see the fairytale castle that she had heard so much about but the boys were much keener to try out the Hofbrauhaus for the beer. The boys won but agreed to go to the castle the following day.
Clark and Lois enjoyed strolling hand in hand with the others and not having to worry about Lana. Lucy did keep making wedding jibes at them, but Lois told her there was no way she would be walking up the aisle any time soon. Clark just laughed, he loved to see Lois stirred up.
Jimmy and Jason looked glazed from the three hours window shopping and suggested that the girls should continue their retail therapy whilst they checked out the Hofbrauhaus.
"Chloe, we are purely going for the historical interest." Jimmy smiled cutely.
Chloe laughed. "Yeah right so it has nothing to do with the beer."
"Of course not!" Jason leapt to his defence.
"Ok Jimmy, you should go. I understand your male bonding stuff." Chloe smiled.
Lois looked at Clark. "You go too. It will be nice to spend some more time shopping."
"Trying to get rid of me, are you?" Clark suggested.
"No, of course not, but I trust you. You can't exactly get drunk anyway can you ." Lois joked.
"Suppose not." Clark kissed her goodbye. "I'll see you soon. I love you!"
Lois would never tire of hearing those words from him. "I love you too."
The boys were soon in the thick of the action at the pub. It was a hive of activity. For some reason there seemed to be a lot of weird dancing on tables going on.
Jimmy looked at Jason who was lapping up all the party atmosphere. "Jason, I have never seen you so relaxed. What's going on? Your girl is out of town and it doesn't seem to bother you."
Jason had already downed a few German pints and he was more than willing to voice his true opinion. "It doesn't, that's what is worrying me."
Clark was trying to act tipsy but was not being very convincing, not that the other two noticed. "Maybe you and Lana are not meant to be."
Jason smiled at him. "Maybe you're right. Lana is quite high maintenance as I am sure you know from your time with her."
"She is definitely that. Lois is like a breath of fresh air, so chilled out. Have you spoken to Lana?"
"No I haven't. She called but I didn't answer. I think the distance is giving me the breathing space I need. I am feeling a little suffocated but I did love her."
"Did?" Jimmy picked up on Jason's choice of past tense.
"I mean 'do', well I least I think I do." Jason was not very convincing.
Clark decided he was going to intervene and do something very unlike him. He was going to play matchmaker with Jason and Lucy. Lois was definitely having a strange effect on him.
The girls soon decided to rest their aching legs and get a coffee before they headed off to meet the others.
"I've had a great afternoon. I'm glad I decided to come with you." Lucy smiled.
"We're pleased too Luce." Lois looked at Chloe who nodded in agreement.
"I wonder how the boys are getting on. I think Jason needed some relaxation time." Lucy suggested.
Lois looked at Lucy. "Clark thinks there is something between you and Jason."
Lucy went bright red. "Nothing has happened. He wouldn't cheat on Lana. I must admit he is a nice guy and not bad looking either."
"Lana deserves it. She is cheat..." Before she had a chance to finish Chloe glared at Lois to stop.
Lois realised she had said too much and clamped up, but Lucy was not going to let this drop.
"What?"
"Look Lucy, I spoke out of turn but I will tell you anyway. Lana is cheating on Jason and whether you tell him or not is up to you." Lois stated. She was sick of everyone always trying to defend the Pink Princess and why should they anymore.
"Who with?"
"I'm not saying, but I have had trouble biting my lip since I found out." Lois explained.
Chloe realised there was not much she could do now as the cat was well and truly out of the bag. She interrupted. "Let's go and find the guys."
When they arrived at the pub they were shocked to see what was going on. All three of them including the usually straight-laced Clark were up on the table with some German guys doing one of their traditional dances. To make things even more unbelievable they were all dressed in leather shorts.
Lois almost fainted with shock. Jimmy and Jason had no excuse as by the look of them they had obviously lost count of how many drinks they had consumed. Clark, on the other hand, was unaffected by alcohol so what had got into him. She loved seeing him having a fun time. He always seemed to have the weight of the world on his shoulders.
Clark saw Lois and smiled. He put his hand out for her to join her. Within minutes she was dancing with him. This trip was certainly turning out to be an eye-opener.
All this close dancing with Clark was making Lois feel a bit hot under the collar, and she whispered in his ear that maybe they should head back to the hotel for an earlier night. Clark had a better idea and pulled her the back door and within seconds the City of Munich was beneath them.
Lois and Clark were floating above the clouds. The thing that puzzled Lois was the fact that she never felt cold. Clark said it was the heat from his body that kept her warm. Clark obviously had plans for them, but he was keeping it a secret.
Clark was in no hurry to get to his destination, he was enjoying the trip with Lois. It was indescribable to be able to get away from everything except the one thing that mattered. Luckily for him Lois did not get air sick.
Lois was so intrigued to find out where she was headed. She did notice they were crossing an expanse of water, although which one she did not know.
Clark kissed her while he flew. She pulled away and smiled at him. "Clark, could you please keep your eyes on the sky. You have only just started to fly..."
Clark laughed. "Here we are. Can you close your eyes?"
Lois smiled and closed her eyes. She could feel that they were descending quickly. They landed. Even though her eyes were still closed she could feel the strong sunlight through her eyelids and the warmth of the sun on her skin.
"Keep your eyes closed and sit down next to me."
Lois did as he asked. Her heart rate was increasing by the minute with excitement to see where they were.
"Lo, you can open your eyes now." Clark whispered in her ear.
She opened them and saw a sight she had seen many times before but not in person. She could not believe he had brought her here.
"Clark, oh my god. How did you know I wanted to come here?" Lois asked excitedly.
"The 12 times you have made me sit through Captain Corelli's Mandolin in the past year was such a giveaway." Clark grinned.
"Clark, Cephalonia is even more beautiful than I imagined."
Clark grabbed her hand. "Let's go for a meal in town and watch the sunset."
Lois laughed. "No way Clark, not until you do something about those leather shorts. They do nothing for me and you may get some very strange looks. It is as embarrassing as you wearing red pants on the outside of blue lycra."
Clark took off the shorts, luckily he still had his own on underneath.
They found a lovely quiet restaurant overlooking the beach. They ordered some authentic Greek food.
Lois and Clark were oblivious to everyone else around them. They only had eyes for each other that night.
"Thank you Clark." Lois looked deep into his eyes.
"What for?" Clark asked
"For bringing stability into my life and loving me like I thought no one ever could. I never thought I could love anyone as much as I do you." A tear was starting to form in Lois's eye. Clark held her hand and encouraged her to continue.
"Whenever someone had got close to me before, I got suffocated and had to run. But this is different, I will never run. I'm here to stay forever." Lois continued.
She started to fumble for her chain. Clark realised what she was doing and walked behind her and kissed the back of her neck before removing the chain. He took the ring off and put the chain gently back on. They did not say anything to each other, their looks said it all.
Clark got down on one knee, keeping hold of her hand the entire time. "Will you marry me, Lois Lane?" She nodded and he placed the ring on her finger.
He got up and she jumped in his arms and kissed him. There were loud cheers from people on the tables nearby who had realised what was happening.
They finished their meals and drinks and enjoyed their first sunset as an engaged couple. They both talked about the future ahead of them.
A small child was playing nearby and kept smiling at them. Lois's eyes lit up when the boy smiled at her. She was a natural with children.
"Clark, that kid likes you. You are going to make a great father one day. That's if you want children."
Clark looked upset suddenly. "Lois, I would love for us to have children one day but I don't know if I can father children."
Lois tried to tell him it would be alright and that she could cope with not having children if it wasn't meant to be. Clark could see the look of sadness in her eyes..
Clark looked at Lois. "I can see it is bothering you. Can we promise to be honest with our feelings"
"Clark, I am sad because it makes you sad. Babies are a long way off anyway, probably at least 10 years and who knows what is going to happen in the future. All that matters is the here and now and being here with you."
He placed his hand on hers. "You're right I am getting ahead of myself. I just want you to be happy."
"I am happy Clark... Listen it is getting late. The others will be wondering where we are."
Minutes later they were landing behind the hotel. They assumed Jason and Jimmy would be nursing hangovers from their afternoon drinking session, so were surprised to see them propping up the hotel bar with Chloe and Lucy.
"Hi guys." Clark said sheepishly.
"Where have you two been? Or should we not ask?" Chloe
Clark was about to answer but Lois got in there first. "Clark took me for a Greek meal."
"Greek." Lucy interrupted. "I love Greek, maybe we could go there tomorrow for dinner."
"It was horrible, we asked for our money back." Clark panicked.
"Oh, I see." Chloe knew that there was more to the trip than met the eye.
Something caught Lucy's eye. She squealed. Chloe was puzzled what was going on until she noticed the same thing – the ring on Lois's finger.
"My sis is engaged." Lucy was hugging Clark and Lois and jumping around. "Can I be bridesmaid."
"Lucy calm down... we haven't even set a date yet. It's going to be few years down the line yet." Lois commented.
Lucy looked disappointed.
"Look Clark and I want to discuss it with dad, and the Kents before we make a formal announcement so if we could just keep it amongst ourselves."
Lucy pouted but then smiled. "Whatever you say, sis."
Jason and Jimmy came over and hugged Lois and Clark.
"Are you two not drunk yet?" Clark asked.
"No chance of that, we have been ordered to just drink mineral water since we left the pub." Jimmy smiled.
"Clark, Lois. We have been discussing it and have decided to give the castle a miss tomorrow and head of to Prague earlier than planned. Is that ok with you? Also we are flying back early with you from London." Chloe explained.
"Chloe we trust you..." Lois laughed.
"What about Lana?" Clark asked.
"She called earlier to say she was staying in Venice as she had met an old friend and would be flying to London to meet us in a few days." Jason explained.
"I'm sorry Jason..." Clark replied.
"Don't worry Clark, I'm not... I don't need Lana to have a good time. This trip has made me realise I am still young and there is so much to see before I settle down."
"So are you and Lana over?" Lois asked
"Yeah, I think so. I need to talk to her in London and tell her." Jason smiled. He seemed more relaxed since he had taken that decision.
"make sure you get that ring back of her." Lucy piped up.
"She can keep it as far as I'm concerned."
"Jason, it cost $10000...how can you let her keep it. Did you win the lottery or something?" Lois looked shocked.
"It didn't cost $10000, I tipped one of the sales assistants to tell Lana that. It was only $250. I do feel awful but Lana was so set on it. She liked how big it was and how much people would notice it. The stones are fake and she has no clue. No doubt she will find out eventually, probably when she decides to sell it."
The others couldn't help themselves and burst into fits of laughter.
Tuesday 24th June.
They caught a train early that morning. They arrived in Prague mid afternoon. This was the last stop before London.
Sitting in a cafe in the main square, they all talked about the holiday and their futures once they returned to the US.
"So Jason, what have you got planned when you go back..." Lucy asked.
"I have been headhunted for the past year by several universities. Maybe it is time I took a serious look at some of the offers. Smallville is a nice place, but it is not exactly the big time in terms of coaching." Jason laughed. "No offence, Clark."
Clark smiled. "None taken...Mind you I don't see what Smallville hasn't got that big cities can offer."
"Are you looking forward to going to Met U?" Lois asked Chloe.
"Yeah, but I will miss you guys. Lois, are you sure I can't change your mind and get you to join me."
"Chloe, you will have Lana for company, what more can you want in life."
"I would rather have you there, but I understand. The chance of working for your future father in law is to much to pass up."
Jason looked serious for a moment. "I hate to drop this on you but I don't like your chances of Lana letting you live in the Talon. She did mutter something about you having to find a new place to live after she found out about you and Clark."
"Oh, I didn't think about that." Lois commented.
Clark saw Lois's disappointment. "Lois, don't worry. I'll ask if you can live back at the farm. I'm sure I can move onto the sofa for a bit longer."
"I honestly don't think your parents will be up for that. Neither will I to be honest... I couldn't resist coming to see you in the middle of the night."
"We'll talk to them when we get back." Clark smiled, hopeful he could convince his parents it was a good idea.