It was funny how three little words could change a man's life and how those three little words gave him a glimpse at the possibility of a future with her.
Clark hadn't let himself contemplate anything, even with his grandmother's engagement ring tucked safely away in his dresser because before Lois told him that she loved him, it was a moot point. But with the question of her feelings for him no longer in doubt, he knew what he wanted to do.
He wanted to share the rest of his life with her.
But he would have to bide his time and wait for the right moment to see if she wanted the same. Because even though he knew now that she loved him she might not be ready to settle down, or if she even wanted to. She'd been on her own for the last ten years, taking care of herself and only herself and the idea of having to take care of someone else might not appeal to her.
And when children came along, as they surely would, she'd be tied down even more.
Children.
But now that he was thinking about it, who would those children look like?
His dark hair had come from his mother's side of the family and Clark wondered if his sons would inherit his coloring or Lois's, if his daughters would inherit his blue eyes or her gray ones. Would they be even tempered like him or would they be as blunt as their mother?
It startled him to think of Lois in terms of being the mother of his children, when he wasn't even sure she would accept a marriage proposal from him. And the idea being married to her got him to imagining how those children would come about and his mind reeled.
The very thought of her warm lips answering his ardent kiss as they lay entwined together in his bed; his hands on her soft skin and the feel of her gentle touch as they finally showed each other how much they meant to the other, was enough to have him considering the merits of a cold shower.
But a cold shower wouldn't douse the feeling of his always wanting her near, of hearing the sound of her voice or her laughter when Dad told her a really corny joke.
Clark was hopelessly in love with a woman who could drive him crazy, but at the same moment make him feel more alive than he ever had before. No other woman he'd ever known held that kind of power over him, and she didn't even know it.
But he knew that even if she did, she would never take advantage of it.
He was on his way back to Smallville after not making it home for the previous two weeks because he'd been sent, with a couple of other agents, to New York to assist the local Feds with an investigation. It wrapped up in time for him to catch a flight out of LaGuardia and get back to Kansas City almost long enough to get in his car and drive home.
As he approached the turn off that would take him either to Smallville, in one direction or to Metropolis, in the other he chose the Metropolis exit. Fort Ryan was on the way and Clark felt that it was time to talk to Lois' father about what his intentions were.
He'd called General Lane when he got back to the field office and asked if he could talk to him. He got the green light to come ahead and the General told him that the MP would be expecting him.
It was never a matter of having second thoughts as Fort Ryan came into view, when Clark felt the apprehension build at what he was about to do. He'd never talked to a girl's father before about anything remotely approaching marriage and he didn't know how Lois' father would feel about him as a prospective son in law.
He already knew how his parents felt about Lois as a prospective daughter in law.
He brought his car to a stop at the front gate and showed the MP his identification. He was told, after a short telephone call to meet the General at his quarters. He was waived through and General Lane was waiting for him on the front porch as Clark stopped in front of the house a few minutes later.
It surprised him to see Lois' father in civvies and it occurred to him that this was going to be a conversation between a father and the man who wanted to ask for his daughter's hand, not an interview between a three star general and a federal agent.
At the moment, Clark knew which he would have preferred.
"You look like hell, son." The General broke the ice as he walked up to the house. "I've got fresh coffee ready if you'd like some."
"Thank you sir, I'd appreciate that." And shook the hand General Lane proffered. "It's been a long day."
"I don't doubt it." He nodded as he led Clark into the house and closed the door behind him. "I talked to Lo last night and she doesn't seem to know that you're coming home."
"As a general rule, I don't tell them. Then if something happens and I get stuck for another day or two, they won't be disappointed."
"Kent, life is full of disappointment."
"I know that sir." Clark nodded. "I just don't want to be the cause of any more."
He smiled and looked as though he wanted to say something, but didn't as he indicated for Clark to follow him into the kitchen. "I've also got some apple turnovers that Lois made for me and they taste just like her mothers, if you'd like something to eat."
The turnovers that she'd been agonizing over for weeks.
"Thank you, that sounds good." He pulled out a chair and sat down as the General brought a tray to the table with two mugs of coffee, two plates with turnovers, a couple of forks and cream and sugar.
He stopped for a moment after he set the tray down and snapped his fingers. He turned back to the counter, picked up a spoon and handed it to Clark. "Can't very well stir without this."
They sat quietly as General Lane sipped his coffee, black; the way Lois drank it. Clark drank his the way his parents did, a touch of cream and a half-teaspoon of sugar. Dad always joked it went down better that way.
"So what exactly brings you to Fort Ryan, son?" General Lane set his cup down. "It's not exactly on your way to Smallville."
Breathe Clark.
It was all he could manage.
Lois' father chuckled and Clark got the feeling he knew what was coming. "I figured that."
Just say it and see what he says.
He took a breath and felt his face warm. "I'm thinking about proposing to her."
The General nodded and it appeared as though he was trying not to grin. "If you're talking to me about this you're doing a lot more than just thinking about it, I think you've already made up your mind. Have you gotten a ring?"
"Dad gave me my grandmother's engagement ring."
"So you've talked to your father about this?"
Clark shook his head. "The other way around, actually."
"You're father is a very observant man. And if he gave you the ring, he must think you're ready to ask." General Lane smiled.
"I wouldn't even know where to begin because I don't know that Lois wants to get married." He shrugged. "I know she loves me, but I don't know if it's enough."
"Clark, the only thing that I can suggest is to follow your instincts. They seem to have served you well with her so far." The General took another sip of his coffee. "Keep in mind as well, that one of the reasons she's shied away from marriage up to now is that she doesn't want to be taken care of.
"You strike me as the kind of fellow who really understands that and it can only work in your favor. Deep down Lois knows that too, so just keep courting her and she'll let you know when she's ready."
"How?" Lois' father called him Clark.
"Just keep your eyes and ears open." Was all he would say. "There's something else that you need to keep in mind; Lo's never been in love before. And because of that, she's not in control of the situation, which is where she always likes to be. As I'm sure you've already discovered."
Clark nodded as he considered what the General was telling him.
"This may seem an obvious question, but do you love Lois?"
"Yes." He answered simply.
"And she knows that?"
"Yes." He affirmed with a nod.
"Good. At least you're both on the same page now." General Lane chuckled in amusement. "And it's best that you stay on that page together so there aren't any misunderstandings between you."
"Sir?"
"Talk, son." He frowned in frustration because he could see that Clark wasn't comprehending what he was trying to say. "Every good marriage thrives when the two people involved talk to each other. Ellen and I took our opportunities whenever we could find them because I was gone so much. And I'll wager that your parents talk to each other too."
Clark nodded with a reminiscent smile. "For as long as I can remember."
"You and Lois are that way too." He took his fork and speared a piece of the cobbler. "To those who don't know you, it would seem as though you snipe at each other. But from the first day I met you I could see it was just how you were. Only people who are comfortable with each other can talk the way you do and not take offense, or worry about being misunderstood."
"That's already happened." Clark smiled.
"And somehow you still managed to fall in love with her." The General laughed.
"It was easy." He shrugged without apology. "I'm still trying to figure out how she fell in love with me."
"Having been there myself, I do understand." Lois' father smiled back. ""But if it helps, I've never seen my daughter happier than when she's with you."
"Happy enough to marry me?" Clark hadn't intended to verbalize his doubts, but the General seemed to understand.
"Just trust what your heart tells you and listen to what my daughter is telling you. Because underneath that tough exterior is a young woman who's been waiting for the right fellow to come along, and saving her heart just for him.
"If you love Lois enough to want to marry her, that tells me you're the fellow she's been waiting for. And it also tells me that she's the girl you've been waiting for. If she weren't, we wouldn't be having this conversation and you wouldn't be tying yourself up in knots worrying over a proposal."
"I've never proposed to a girl before." He admitted. "And if she says no, I don't know what to do."
"Son, stop borrowing trouble." General Lane laughed again. "Just wait for the right time and the right place and pop the question. And if she says no, keep courting her until she says yes. I happen to know that persistence pays off."
"You?"
"Me." He seemed embarrassed to admit it. "I persisted because I knew deep down Ellen loved me and just needed time because she understood that by marrying me, she was also marrying the Army. And more often than not, I was going to have to be away from her and she wasn't sure if she wanted that. She wanted what most married couples have, to be together.
"And if for some reason Lo were to turn you down, I'd wager it would be because she'd have to share you with the FBI and she might just need time to get used to that."
Clark hadn't thought in those terms, as far as his being away so much. And then he began to wonder if it was fair to her or to him to have what could turn out to be a long distance marriage. And what about kids they might have? Would it be fair to them to be a long distance father?
"Don't talk yourself out of it." The General seemed to read his mind. "It's not good for a fellow to travel through life by himself, especially when he's found a woman who loves him and who he loves back. I found that once and even though our time together was short, she gave me two beautiful daughters who have always been a reminder of what we had."
"She can be stubborn."
"So can you." He pointed out. "You just have to be even more stubborn."
They sat in a comfortable silence as Clark finished his coffee and his cobbler. Though Lois wouldn't admit it, she was becoming almost as good a cook as his mother. He got up from the table and the General followed. "I'd better get on the road so I can get home in time for dinner."
"I thought your parents didn't know you were coming."
Clark smiled. "They don't, but Mom always cooks as though she does."
"I'll let you go then." He walked Clark to the door and opened it. "Lois has always known her own mind but when the time comes for you to ask, I think you'll get the answer you want.
"And even though you didn't ask for it, I'm giving you my blessing and her mothers. Ellen would have thought as much of you as I do because you make our daughter so happy."
Clark hadn't expected that, though the hope had been in the back of his mind that Lois' father might give his stamp of approval to him as a future son in law, and he had. He put out his hand and the General took it and shook. "I appreciate that sir. And I'll do my best to make Lois happy."
"I know you will son and she does too."
oooooo
A half-hour after leaving Fort Ryan, Clark turned off the main road from Smallville and drove down the lane toward the house. He saw Lois' car parked next to his father's truck and he smiled as a warmth spread through his chest because he couldn't help but feel as though she were home.
When he walked into the house he could hear the faint sound of music and when he followed it, found Lois in the kitchen. Where else would she be these days?
A radio was on as she stood at the sink and it looked as though she was shelling peas. But his attention was drawn to her as she swayed and hummed along to the music. 'Snowfall'. That song brought back memories of a romantic Christmas Eve dinner and he knew that she was remembering it too.
As he watched, it seemed as though something had her attention because she was looking out the window or maybe he was lucky enough that she was thinking about him. All he knew was that it gave him the perfect opportunity to surprise her as he approached quietly and put his hands on her shoulders.
Clark was the one who ended up being surprised because she didn't start as he expected her to. Instead, she turned the water off and grabbed a dishtowel to dry her hands. She turned around and was smiling as she put her arms around his neck. "You're getting too predictable."
He slipped his arms around her waist and smiled back at her. "I'll have to work on it then."
"You do that." She nodded as he pulled her close and they turned in a slow circle as they began to dance. He closed his eyes as they moved together enjoying the feel of her against him and he heard her soft voice in his ear. "I missed you."
He nodded. "I missed you too."
"But I guess it's something I have to get used to." She said quietly and sighed.
Her comment got Clark to open his eyes and he leaned back to look at her for a moment, just before he kissed her. His love, his life and if she would just give him the chance, his future.
She sighed as she pressed herself into his embrace and kissed him back.
He loved it when she did that.
Who was he kidding, he just loved her.
"He headed straight for the kitchen, Martha. Just like you said he would." Clark heard his father laugh softly as Lois let him go and he turned to face his parents. "You know son, your mother and I could take this personally."
"But you won't." He grinned at them as Lois moved to stand next to him and tucked her hand through his elbow. He secured it against him and tried to remember the last time she'd taken his arm, and couldn't.
"Only because we know that you're happy to see us too." His mother smiled.
"Mom, that goes without saying." He answered.
"So why didn't you tell us you were coming?" Mom asked him. "I would have set another place for dinner."
Because I wanted Lois's father to give me his blessing to marry his daughter.
"I wasn't sure when I would be getting home so I figured you wouldn't mind if I just showed up."
"Of course we don't mind Clark." Dad told him. "This is still your home."
It was and he felt that and if he played his cards right, it would be Lois's too because she'd already become such a part of his family.
He just hoped that she wanted to make it official.
Because he knew he did.