There's cold around me, a chill whipping around my skin, and an intense warmth surging and streaking through my veins. I shiver against the warring sensations. I'm not sure where I am but I need, "Haa-ah," I suck in the cold air like I'm drowning. And my heart is pumping like a rush from caffeine. Peeking, I'm blinded by the sun and I try to bring my arm up to block my face.

"Thank you!" That's Clark; his voice is booming all around me, echoing and swirling in the wind. I can hear his panting breaths strangle in his throat.

"Clar-?" I choke, still trying to drink in the air around me. His fingers twitch against me and I finally realize his vast hand is supporting the base of my head; holding me. Twisting in his grasp, I fight to see him.

I can feel my body lowering and his hand sliding down the back of my leg; my knees being caught at his elbow. The second I see his face in my peripheral vision, I wrench toward him and grab onto his shoulder. He lowers me the rest of the way, letting my legs dangle as he pulls my body against his. With his powerful arms locked behind my back, I wrap my arms and legs around his shaking frame and try to soothe him. I can feel his breath against my ear, a whispered, "Thank you."

Pulling back, I look into his face. His eyes are wide and searching my face, my body, needing to know that I am okay. I recognize that stare and I know he's x-raying me. "Clark, am I dreaming?"

His brows fold as his green eyes bore into mine with an inner peace, a soft vulnerability. "Elizabeth, this is a dream-come-true for me." He leans into me and nudges my nose with his. I can feel his lashes and warm breath against my cheek.

"So, none of this was a dream?" I push my fingers into his hair, letting my thumb caress his earlobe, as I search him for answers. "What-?" I don't even know what to ask.

His smile opens up sweetly and wetness creeps into his eyes as he tucks an errant lock of my hair behind my ear, "The baby saved you."

--

She leans her head back and tears leak out the corners of her eyes as she slams them shut in relief. I can feel her chest jerk just once and she takes a breath to reign in her emotion. Opening her tearful eyes to me again, her lips stretch into the most beautiful smile, "So, the baby is okay?"

I can't speak through the catch in my throat, but I nod and whisper, "Yes."

At once, her arms tighten around my neck and she drops her face against my ear. A sweet soulful cry escapes her and I lay my hand on the back of her head and hold her tight.

"And you are, too." I sniff back tears and take a deep breath, cherishing the warmth and responsiveness in her embrace. Looking up into the sky, I whisper one more time, "Thank you!"

Her breath freezes and she pulls back; her face is contorted in confusion, "How did the baby…?" She looks around us and notices for the first time we are in the sky, above the clouds and the wind is whipping the edges of her hospital gown. Shuddering at the cold or embarrassment of her appearance, she stares at me without seeing, "The sun healed me?"

I nod happily.

"Just like it does you?"

I nod again and watch her close her eyes and take in a long deep breath, a smile creeping across her face as she feels the warmth of the sun's rays sustaining her. Her next breath is just as deep, but she releases it slowly and her limbs tighten around me. Her hands slide apart and she cups my cheeks softly but firmly, blindly letting her thumbs find my lips. I close my eyes at the sensual stirrings in my body and before I realize it, her lips are on mine, just barely, kissing softly and tenderly at first. Sucking in a quick draught of air, she presses into me, her mouth tugging on each of my lips; the tip of her tongue teasing mine, belying her raging hunger.

I've missed her and I can't control the flood of excitement drowning us both. My brain disengages to her possible delicacy and I pull from her mouth long enough to breathe desperate air, tangle my hand into the back of her hair and tug her back into my open mouth. She senses my need to taste her and her lips kiss me openly, giving me permission to push my tongue thickly into her. She gulps in a quick breath and at once, her franticness ceases, her limbs going still and tight around me as she moans hungrily.

With her wrapped tightly around my body, I let my hand roam down from her waist knowing my fingers will find bare skin to caress. I'm not disappointed as the gown she's wearing is split open in the back and my fingers find her skin, cold but softer than ever before. At my touch, she sucks in air and slides her body up mine until her fingers tug on my hair and she breaks our desperate kiss. "Clark," her voice is thick and begging, "take me home."

"Baby," I choke out before she kisses me again and I pull back. "I don't think we can, you know, the baby…"

She smiles confidently and settles back down on my shoulders, her lips brushing sensually across mine. "…will be fine." She pulls back and brushes my hair off my forehead. I drown in her happy eyes, eager to hear anything she has to reassure me with, "Look what he's survived already."

She's right, the baby cheated death. For both of them. Her tongue slips across my mouth and I smile, closing my eyes and parting my lips for her.

--

at Play

It's nearly dark when we finally break our kiss and begin flying home. "What time is it?" I yell out into his chest with the wind flattening my hair to the top of my head.

He glances down, "Here, it's about 8:30, but we're about to cross into a new time zone."

"Timezone? I thought we went to Ollie's hospital?"

"Yeah, we did, but I needed to chase down the sun for you." He looks down and winks at me, "It's about 11:30 at home."

We crossed 3 time zones to get to the sun? I was that sick that we couldn't wait until dawn? The brevity of my situation sinks heavily into my heart and I wrap my arms tighter around my husband's ribs and push my face into his warm chest.

His hand squeezes my waist and he yells, "Are you okay?"

I choke out, "I'm just cold." Physically and mentally.

His flying arm comes down and his large hand cups the side of my head. "You are cold." He tugs his jacket around my shoulder and face, keeping his arm across me, and picks up his speed. "Hang on, we'll be home in a second."

He wasn't kidding. Before I know it, I'm being set down on our front porch. The door opens and then I'm standing in the living room with Clark's quilt being wrapped around me. "I'll go start a hot bath for you." He kisses my forehead and I tug the quilt around my shaking frame and plop down on the sofa to tuck my legs in.

Hearing the tub faucet cut on upstairs, I look around our dark living room and notice things are in disarray. The phone is lying on the floor, off its hook. The bookshelves in the corner are half-emptied, the books tossed in a heap on the floor. My mother's Philodendron plant is lying on its side with dirt sprinkled out on the carpet. Just as I start to panic, Clark is at my side handing me his open cellphone.

"Here, someone will want to know you're okay." He smiles knowingly, his green eyes twinkling.

I place the phone to my ear and hear it ringing already. "Clark?!" Chloe's voice pierces my eardrum.

I can feel a smile stretch my face, "Chloe, it's me."

"Beth! Oh, God, you're okay! So the sun healed you? Completely? Where are you? Are you guys back home? Did you have to fly over Metropolis half-naked?"

"Yes!" I finally break through her barrage of questions and pause deliberately to torture her, biting my lip.

"Yes?" She pauses at something Oliver is saying to her. "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't let you answer, huh?"

"I love you, Chloe!" I can feel my eyes stinging again. "I'm completely healed, we're home, and yes, I was half-naked when he flew me over Metropolis." I wink at the surprised look on Clark's face. "But it was dark out!"

"Oh, Beth, we are so happy you're okay!" The relief pouring from her voice chokes me up. "I cannot wait to tell Miss Colleen."

"Who?"

There's a pause on the phone and I can hear Oliver mumbling something in the background. "Oh, Beth?"

"Yeah?"

"Ollie says he's sorry if his men left a mess at the farm."

"Ollie's men?" Feeling tension mounting, I rise and walk into the kitchen to find cupboards left open and sugar and flour dumped out in the pantry.

"Yeah, after we got you here, he had them go all Ace Detective on the farm to clear out any nasty presents left by the Luthors. All they told him was they found some meteor rocks and would leave him a more concise report on his desk tomorrow." She pauses, "What Oliver? Oh, thank you, you are the best!" I hear a kiss through the phone.

"Chloe?" I pull my quilt tighter around me.

"Oh, sorry, Oliver said that if Clark sees a dark van across the road, apparently you and I wouldn't be able to see it. Anyway, that's his men and they know you're home and will be keeping an eye on the farm for you guys."

"Your tub awaits." I turn to find Clark standing in the kitchen doorway, filling it deliciously with his large body, my plush robe and a thirsty towel folded over his forearm like you'd find a server in a fancy restaurant. I giggle.

"Beth?"

"Tell Ollie thanks, Chloe, okay? I've gotta go," I push my lips into the phone and lower my voice, "If you know what I mean…"

"Gotcha!" I can hear the smile on Chloe's face. "I'm gonna start a little fire, myself. 'Night."

"Bye!" Closing the phone, I turn to see Clark wide-eyed with his chin sticking forward. "What?"

"You talk about sex?" His cheeks are flame red.

I shuffle toward him to keep from tripping over my quilt, "Um, sometimes, but not really about it, just that it happens." At his eyes rolling, I squeak out, "And she said she had plans, too…"

"No-no," He covers his eyes dramatically, his embarrassed grin tickling my insides. "I don't need any help with mental pictures, okay?"

Touching his arms softly, I apologize, "I'm sorry, but Chloe and I really don't visualize when we, um, share."

He uncovers his eyes swiftly and his brows go up, "Really?" He's genuinely surprised to hear that.

"Gosh no, I don't need to picture anything." He relaxes in front of my eyes and I try to tickle his ribs. "Does Clarky feel better now?"

"Hey," his eyebrows go up and his mouth opens in shock. Once again, my teasing has surprised him. "You little devil-"

I squeal and try to back up as he smiles broadly and grabs the quilt, twisting it in his hands and dragging me back to his massive frame. "No!" I tug and pull to get away, but there's no way I can fight his strength, playful or not.

"Oh yes, come to Daddy!" His paws snatch me up off the floor and lift me kicking and wiggling up to his chest. His smile is electric and I wonder if he realizes what he just said. "Your bath is going to get cold."

I wriggle my hand out from the quilt and wave it snooty-like toward the stairs. "Onward, James," I demand.

His eyebrows go up and he smiles with a twinkle in his eyes. "So that's how it's going to be, huh? I have half a mind to throw you over my shoulder like a baby calf and dunk you in a trough." I pinch my lips together to keep from laughing outright and it apparently dares him further. "Okay," he wrenches me up and instantly I'm looking down at him from the ceiling.

"Clark, don't!" I scream out as fast as I can, but I know it's too late, my stomach is going to hit his shoulder hard. I slam my eyes and brace myself.

But the hard never happens; using his superspeed, he catches me in his arms. His face is red as he peers down at my wide eyes, "Sorry."

I raise my eyebrows and squint at him, "Me, too."

We both take a deep breath and he walks me up the stairs at normal speed while I share all of Oliver's messages animatedly. Setting me on my feet in our bathroom, he winks at me and tugs on the doorknob.

"You're not staying?"

He shakes his head, eying the tub, "There's not room in there for both of us and let you relax."

I can feel disappointment creep into my mind. "Where are you going?"

He steps back into the small room, towering over me, and rubs my quilt-wrapped arms, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," I shrug. I didn't want to make a big deal out of it. "I guess I'm not ready to share you just yet with Bangkok or Argentina, not tonight."

He smiles reassuringly and kisses my forehead softly, "Don't worry, I'm not feeling that ambitious. I was going to take coffee out to Ollie's men and grab a quick shower." I can hear my own breath escape in relief as he bends forward and catches my lips with his open kiss. "I'm all yours tonight." With my heart beating a little faster, he backs up and grabs the doorknob, "Call me if you need anything, okay? I can warm up that water in a jiffy!"

He closes the door and I find myself in heaven as I wash away hospital and atmospheric grime, even shampooing my hair. Leaning back against the tub, I drape my wet washcloth over my chest and close my eyes, listening to and enjoying the silence of the house around me.

--