East Side Slums, January 8, 2010. "Uncle's given you the go ahead to make the deal—he says to pack your things, you're leaving tonight at 2300 hours," Jacob informed the older drug runner as he casually passed the street corner where the man stood leaning against the brick wall of the building. Parker nonchalantly continued picking under his finger nails, a slight nod of the head the only perceptible indication that anything had been said to him at all. Fifteen minutes later, he moved to speak to an associate halfway down the block and then he simply walked away.

Metropolis, January 15, 2010 3:45 pm. "Hey! Where are you?" Jim asked when Chloe finally answered her cell phone.

"I just got back to the apartment, why?"

"Just checking, that's where I'm headed too."

"I thought you were spending time with your family, showing them around the City and whatnot?"

Jim leaned against the taxi window, trying to get comfortable. "Well let's see: Josh is meeting with one of his comic book distributors while Brian and Jen snuck off to do some baby shopping while telling everyone else they were going to walk around the City and maybe take in a show. Grandma and Grandpa went back to the hotel to take a nap before dinner and Mom and Uncle Jeremy thought it'd be nice to take a historical bus tour of Metropolis, leaving me free until 5:30 when I have to go pick up the twins from the train station. Now let me ask you the same question: why aren't you spending time with your family?"

"Hmmm..." Chloe curled up on the sofa with the phone in her hand, staring outside at the gray January sky. "Well, it sounds to me like your Mom and Uncle planned to be on the same bus tour as my Dad, Aunt Ellen and Uncle Tom, so that should be interesting…as for Anne and Paul, they actually decided to head over to the Vanderworth Museum. They invited me to tag along but after spending a whole morning with them, I was reminded why I only see them a few times a year—they're boring as all get out. I politely declined on the premise that I had errands to run before the party tomorrow."

"I thought we did have errands?" he inquired curiously.

"So did I, but it turns out that the Biltmore has everything under control; there's nothing else we really need to do in preparation for the party tomorrow except show up…and here I was worrying myself to death over all the logistics and details and everything is actually running smoothly for a change; how's that for irony?"

The cab driver stopped in front of his building. "Hey Hun? I'm just outside now; I'll be up in a second. Will you leave the door unlocked for me?"

"Sure."

Jim hung up the phone and paid the driver, an idea beginning to take hold in his mind. Little did he know that his intrepid fiancée was entertaining the exact same thought…

"Chloe, I've been thinking, and just bear with me here," he said as he burst into the apartment, quickly shedding his overcoat. Jim stopped in mid-thought when he saw the opaque, zippered garment bag hanging outside the closet door. "What's this?" he asked, pointing at the object.

She turned around to face him from her seat on the couch, knowing full well what it was that he was referring to. "It's my wedding dress. I was on my way back from dropping off Paul and Anne when I felt like picking it up from the Boutique. I don't know why, really…I mean, the people at the store said they'd hold onto it for me until closer to the wedding, but for some reason I guess I just wanted to have it near me."

At her words, Jim went still with shock just inside the doorway before shaking himself out of it; he hastily hung up his coat and made his way to her side. Sitting on the edge of the sofa, he took both of her hands in his, saying, "You know I love you more than anything, right?"

"Right…" she said, eying him curiously and wondering where he was going with this.

"And I'm all for having a big family wedding, because if that's what you want then that's what I want, because it's your Big Day."

"Our Big Day," she corrected him.

"Right, ok, but what I'm trying to get at here is that maybe we should re-think this a bit. I mean—if the engagement party is this stressful and it's just a party—think of how much worse it's going to get before the wedding in May? We've been arguing more so than usual lately, last night included, and by the time the wedding rolls around the sniping will only get worse; I know you don't want that, and I know I don't want that, so I was thinking that maybe we should…"

"Elope?" Chloe finished for him, looking less surprised by the proposal than Jim was expecting.

Her fiancée looked as though he could have been bowled over by a feather. "But of course, if that's not what you want then that's not what I want either…"

Chloe leaned over and captured his lips with hers to silence him. "Amazingly enough I was just thinking the same thing. I don't like what this whole process is doing to me: stressing me out, making me crazy…"

"Us, Love, us…it's stressing us out and making us crazy," he corrected her.

"Right, us, not to mention that we do have the afternoon off…I have my dress, you have your good suit…City Hall is only twenty minutes away…"

"And," he added, trying to seal the deal, "We'll be able to celebrate with those who matter most to us at the party on Saturday! It'll just be a wedding reception instead of an engagement party, only they won't know!"

"Then what are we waiting for?! I don't care about the hoopla, Jim, all I want is to marry you so let's do it already! Besides, I think it'd be worth it to see the look on everyone's faces, don't you?" she asked mischievously, smiling and looking more like her old self as the stress and tension of the past few days began to melt away.

He leapt up off the couch, grasping her hand in his and pulling her to her feet. "I'll go change into my suit while you grab what you need so you can change at City Hall; I don't want to see you in that dress until we're standing before a judge—it's bad luck otherwise—and then we'll just go!" Jim was halfway down the hall before he stopped and turned back to his fiancée; he took Chloe's face in his hands, kissing his bride-to-be in a manner most would consider indecent were it done in public. "Chloe Sullivan, I love you. YOU HEAR THAT WORLD?!" he cried out, turning to face the closed living room windows, "I LOVE HER!"

"Silly man," she chided as she patted his chest. "I love you too! Now get going, we're only wasting more time!"

"Right, sorry, be back in two minutes!" and he bolted off down the hall again as if his feet had sprung wings.

Five minutes later, they were packed and ready to go, standing on the curb trying to hail a taxi to take them to City Hall so they could legally become husband and wife.

4:29 pm. Clark was returning to the Daily Planet after helping end a hostage situation in Maine when he heard familiar voices drifting up from the streets below. Slowing down, he scanned the area beneath him until he found the source—there was Chloe, with Jim close on her heels, discussing something as they dashed up the steps to City Hall with two bags, a brand-new ring box and a small bouquet of flowers.

"Did you remember to ask Josh to pick up the twins at the train station?" she asked, clutching his hand as they made their way to the front door.

"Yes I did, while you were in the flower shop. And before you ask, no, I didn't tell him why I needed him to pick them up even though he asked at least half a dozen times; I just told him that there was something I had to take care of that couldn't wait and that we'd see everybody tonight at Rodney's."

"Phew! Ok, that's good; don't get me wrong, I love your brother but he doesn't strike me as the type of guy who could keep a secret for long…especially a secret this big."

"Boy, have you got him pegged. Good call with the rings too—I had completely forgotten about them. Alright, now all we need to do is find the clerk's office and get a marriage license before you change and we can get hitched, right?" Jim asked as they pushed through the front doors. Clark tuned out of the rest of their conversation as he whipped out the cell phone he kept clipped to his belt.

"Good afternoon, Daily Planet, Lois Lane-Kent speaking."

"Lois, it's me. Can you get away from the office now and meet me at home? I'll pick up the kids from your mother's; trust me, it's very important that you hurry home as quickly as you can…"

"Ok, sure, but can you tell me why? The kids are ok, aren't they? Wait, are you ok? Clark, answer me, please, you're starting to scare me a little…"

"Sorry Sweetheart, no time to explain, but as far as I'm aware we're all healthy. See you at home in a little bit, bye!" He felt marginally guilty for hanging up so suddenly but he was quickly bolstered by his new mission. He raced over to the Planet to retrieve his three-piece suit before soaring over to the Base to collect Jason and Haley from his mother and father-in-law's.

4:50 pm. "Oh good, you didn't spill anything on your suit today," Clark said by way of a greeting as soon as his wife walked in the door. She saw that he had dressed Jason and Haley in their nice clothes and bundled them up in their winter jackets, ready for an outing. Jason held one of his father's nicer work suits folded up in his outstretched arms, as Clark stood nearby in full Superman regalia.

She reflexively smoothed a hand over the front of her favorite, purple skirt suit. "No, I didn't spill anything; now Clark, will you please tell me what in the world is going on here?!" she asked angrily, hand on her hip.

"Chloe and Jim are eloping, right now."

Lois' mouth fell open at the news. "Noooo!" she answered in disbelief. "Really?! Right now?! Where?"

He nodded, his hair falling forward and mussing up his regal Kryptonian curl. "City Hall and we're going to go there and stop them. I left Mom a note so she'll know where we've flown off to when she gets back from shopping; now I'm going to take you and Haley first, then I'll come back here for Jason and we'll meet you inside, wherever it is that the Justice of the Peace usually conducts marriage ceremonies…"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa—what do you mean 'stop them'? I may not have known Chloe as long as you have, but I've seen her and Jim together and I'm pretty sure that neither of them strong-armed the other into doing this…maybe this is what they really, truly want, have you thought about that? Besides, what right do we have to stop them?"

Clark rethought his choice of words at his wife's compelling argument. "Ok, maybe stop was the wrong word to use, but as their friends I think we should at least go there and talk to them, make sure that this is what they want and not just some spur of the moment decision that they're going to regret later."

"I agree." Lois strode over and picked up her daughter, balancing her on a hip with one arm while clutching the fold-up stroller in her free hand. "Well? What are we waiting for?"

4:48 pm. Chloe stood in her wedding gown just outside the Judge's chambers, feeling a little foolish for wearing a strapless gown in the middle of winter. Then again, how could I have known that I'd be eloping? She continued to worry to herself as she paced outside of Judge Dryver's office. He was a delightful, older, Southern gentleman who'd been preparing to get an early start on his weekend when they'd burst in on him ten minutes earlier, the ink not yet dry on their marriage license. He agreed to marry them after quickly ensuring that their paperwork was in order and that they were truly in earnest about getting married and not just doing this on a whim. She rapped lightly at the door. "Are you ready for me in there?" she called out to her waiting groom. Who knew that eloping could feel so right? she thought with a smile as she paused to hear their response.

Jim nearly jumped out of his skin at the sound of her voice and the elderly man before him gently rested a hand on his shoulder while giving him a reassuring smile.

"We sure are Darlin'," Judge Dryver called out in his twangy, Southern drawl. He looked over at his secretary, Marlene, who was to bear witness to the ceremony, and with a quick nod of his head a recorded version of the wedding march filled the air. Chloe pushed on the solid oak door, and it easily fell open just wide enough to admit her. She steadied herself with a calming breath and readjusted her grip on her bouquet before beginning her leisurely walk down the 'aisle' created by the Judge's desk and several bookshelves.

The young photographer stared wide-eyed at his bride, unable to recall ever having seen her look lovelier. Her gown clung to her svelte figure in all the right places, not a hair was out of place, her make-up was flawless…and only his Chloe would dare to fix him with her "come hither" grin at their wedding. He snapped a quick picture of her with the small digital camera he had stashed in his left jacket pocket, before reflexively feeling for the rings in the pocket on his right. Jim had just enough time to tuck the camera out of sight before Chloe joined him in front of Judge Dryver; he reached out to grasp her delicate hand in his larger one and they both turned to face the officiate.

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony, which is a state honorable among all men…"

"Wait! We object!" Clark cried out, striding into the room with Lois by his side, pushing Haley before her in her stroller while Jason stood on the other side of his father.

"What on Earth…?!" Jim asked incredulously as his gaze fell upon the young family. "How did you guys know we were here?"

The Judge nearly dropped his book in surprise. "Well I never…"

"Guys, may we speak to you for just one minute?" Clark asked pleadingly. Jim and Chloe looked at each other before shrugging in acquiescence. Lois quickly took Chloe by the arm and gently pulled her away from her groom while pushing Haley ahead of her; their heads bent together in quiet conversation as she steered her friend towards the corner of the room.

Clark watched his wife and childhood friend for a second before draping his heavy arm across Jim's shoulders in a brotherly fashion. Jim looked panicked for a moment before he realized that his friend wanted nothing more sinister than a quick pre-nuptial chat. "What happened to having a formal ceremony where your family and friends could participate? I thought that's what you two had planned; don't you want that? Your brothers acting as your groomsmen, Chloe's father walking her down the aisle…"

"I appreciate your concern, CK, really I do, and I don't know how you even found out about all this, but this was our choice to make," Jim said, standing up to his friend even though he knew the tall reporter had the best of intentions when he burst in on their wedding. "We arrived at this decision together; I didn't make her do this, just like I couldn't make her do anything else she didn't want to do. Yeah, it would've been nice to see her walk down the aisle with her father, but what's most important is that Chloe and I love each other and we want to be together forever, with our forever starting today. We didn't want to wait another four months to get married and risk driving ourselves crazy in the process."

Clark nodded solemnly before extending a hand out to Jim. "Ok then, if this is what you guys really want, then who am I to stand in your way?"

"Good," Jim answered, smiling broadly. "Because I'd hate to have to find out if that old cliché 'the bigger they are, the harder they fall' is actually true or not." The two men laughed heartily. "Oh, and Clark? Since you're no longer trying to bust up my wedding, would you stand with me as my Best Man?"

"Jimmy, I'd be honored."

"Chloe, I know you and Jim love each other and that you want to get married, but are you sure that this is the way you want to do it? I mean, have you really thought this eloping business all the way through?" Lois asked the bride quietly.

"I really don't know how you and Clark managed it, but the stress of this wedding is tearing me and Jim apart," Chloe replied, the hand holding her bouquet fisted rakishly on her hip as she gesticulated with the other. "All of the pressure we're feeling right now isn't likely to diminish in four months time either. We just want to get on with our lives…our married lives, that is. Jim and I love each other and this is how we've chosen to celebrate that love, by eloping here, now."

Lois beamed at Chloe. "Ok. If this is what you want, then I won't hold you up any longer."

"You mean it?" At Lois' earnest nod she relaxed her stance a bit and caught her friend in a small hug.

Lois looked beyond her friend's shoulder to find her husband and Jimmy joking around and smiling. "Looks like Clark's ok with your decision too."

Chloe sighed quietly, "I guess I really don't have to ask how you found out about our plans, huh?"

"Nope…next time you might want to look up before you decide to elope at City Hall, ok?" her friend joked.

The bride shook her head vigorously at the insinuation. "There isn't going to be a next time, this one's for keeps…and since you and your family seem to be sticking around for the ceremony, will you be my Matron of Honor?"

"Oh Chloe!!" Lois squealed, throwing her arms around the blond woman's slender shoulders. "Of course I will! Ok, first things first," she said, examining the bride with a critical eye. "Do you have your something old?" Chloe lifted up the hem of her dress and extended her foot, indicating the older, comfortable pair of heels she wore. "What about something new?"

"I think that, in this instance, the dress technically qualifies as new."

"Absolutely. Something blue?" The bride touched her ear, pointing at the sapphire studs she wore. "And lastly, your something borrowed?"

"Now that one I hadn't actually thought about…" Chloe replied, biting her lower lip at the thought that she had almost jinxed her own wedding.

"That's ok, I've got you covered." Lois bent over her daughter and deftly untied the white ribbon Clark had put in the infant's hair. Haley stared at her mother with wide blue eyes and cooed happily, but otherwise did little to protest. "Here, let's tie this around your flowers."

"Good idea…oh, and give this to Haley, she can be my flower girl," she replied, tugging a light pink carnation from the bouquet.

Jim eyed his bride and his friend who were still preoccupied in the opposite corner and took the opportunity to approach Jason who'd been standing quietly in the middle of the aisle; he'd been silenced by all of the activity going on in the room and now had his eyes focused on the judge in his long black robes.

"Hey Buddy," Jim said, crouching down so he could be at eye level with the young boy.

"Hi Mr. Jimmy," the boy replied, giving him a toothy smile.

"I take it you understand what's going on here? Your Aunt Chloe and I are getting married."

"Yeah…does that mean I get to call you Uncle Jimmy now?"

He tousled the child's hair affectionately. "Yep it does, but only after the party tomorrow, ok? Everybody else doesn't know we're doing this yet…matter of fact, I'm still confused as to how your folks even found out." Jason just shrugged his shoulders in answer and the young photographer pressed on. "I have a big favor to ask of you, but if you don't want to do it you can say no."

The young boy eyed him suspiciously. "What is it?"

"Well, I was wondering if you'd like to be our ring bearer?" he asked, pulling the ring box out of his pocket and showing him the matching white gold bands that lay inside. Jason looked at the rings a moment before his gaze darted all around the room. "What is it Jason? What are you looking for?"

"When I was ring bearer at Mom and Dad's wedding, I had a pillow to put the rings on, but there isn't a pillow here."

Jim chuckled and stood up, the box still open in his hand. "It's ok, we don't need a pillow today. Here, you can hold the box, just like this," he said, closing the cover and cupping his hands together to show Jason how he could carry the rings. "But like I said, you don't have to do it if you don't want to…"

"No, I wanna help!" Jason exclaimed anxiously, reaching out for the box and holding it just like his Uncle had shown him. Jim gave him a wide smile.

"Thanks Bud."

"Ahem," Judge Dryver called out in his slow drawl, clearing his throat and surveying people in the room. "I don't mean to be rude, but it's almost five o'clock…are we ready to proceed here?"

"Yes we are," Chloe and Jim answered as one, returning to their spots before the Justice of the Peace. Clark led Jason over to stand with him beside the groom, while Lois wheeled the stroller around and took her place next to the bride.

The only other interruption during the rest of the service was that of Haley Kent laughing happily as she wildly waved the pink carnation clutched in her chubby little fist.