Hey, guys! I'm here with yet another chapter. This chapter is Sarah-focused, so I hope you'll like it. It's her birthday, yay! Just by the way, it's July 31st in this chapter.

Also, I still feel like shit, especially with the coughing, but it's better now. A lot. Which is sad, because I don' want to go to school and keep learning stuff I'm not interested in, but hey, that's life. :D

Disclaimer: I don't own Superman, but I do own Sarah Wilson, and that's a win on its own.


Chapter 31 - The Sweet Eighteen

Sarah woke up to the smell of something delicious. Bakery style delicious – it made her mouth water a little.

Maybe a little more than a little.

She slowly opened her eyes, which felt heavy, and checked the clock on her nightstand – 9:30 AM. Huh. Usually she woke up around 9.

Guess I was really tired after yesterday, she thought.

She went to the gym yesterday after a rather long pause. It felt good – training, making her muscles strain. She ached all over, but it was the good kind of ache.

The smell, however, didn't go away. She then rolled on the other side of the bed and noticed the source of the smell, which made her heart flutter and her face broke into a smile.

There, right next to her bed, was a classic wooden tray, the kind you see in movies, where the man brings the woman breakfast into bed. On that tray were three croissants along with some jam and butter, her favorite orange juice, a Greece yogurt, a spoon for the yogurt, a knife, and, of course, a single blue iris and a note.

Sarah smiled at the flower. He knew she didn't like roses. And how did she figure out who it was from? Well, from who else?

Blue iris represented faith and hope. Something that represented both her, Clark, and their relationship. You can't have faith without hope, and you can't have hope without faith.

Then, she took the note and read it.

Didn't think I'd forget about today's date, did you, birthday girl?
See you later tonight.
Love, CK.

As Sarah's eyes scanned the little note in Clark's, admittedly beautiful, handwriting, the butterflies in her stomach were replaced by warm feeling in her whole body.

Clark Kent officialy got the title of The Best Boyfriend Of The Year – not that he wouldn't get it in the first place, the dork.

She still wondered how in the world she managed to find him. She hook her head a little, trying to collect her thoughts, and gently put the note down. She then took the iris and sniffed it. This particular type of flower comes from Europe, Asia, and Africa, and, knowing the dork of a boyfriend she has, he probably flew over there and got one just for the sake of it. She rolled her eyes with a smile.

She put the flower down and looked at the tray in front of her. Her stomach growled. She patted her tummy.

„Yeah, yeah, I know. Growing teenage girl and all that. Just hold on. You'll get your croissants," she said. She felt weird talking to her stomach.

Quickly shrugging the thought off, she digged into the food. She made a mental note to thank Clark later.


Aunt Ria and uncle Frank surprised her by making her yet another breakfast – not that she was complaining, she was pretty hungry after yesterday's workout, after which she didn't eat anything, just crawled into her bed and fell asleep – consisting of blueberry pancakes.

„Happy birthday, Sarah!" both of them said in unison. Sarah grinned at them, showing her pearly whites.

She went over to them and gave them a big hug. „Thank you, guys. You didn't have to."

„Yeah, we did," responded her uncle after she broke the hug.

„No, you didn't," she retorted.

Both of her guardians rolled their eyes. She could be very stubborn when she wanted to be.

„Alright, maybe we didn't, but we love you and you deserve it. Acceptable?" said her aunt after a few seconds.

Sarah rolled her eyes, but smiled gently nonetheless. „Yeah. And, for the record, I love you, too, guys. You're my family."

Both of them smiled at her softly, and pulled her into another hug. „And you remember that."

„Don't worry, I will."

„Full already?" asked Ria.

Sarah just exhaled deeply. „Not gonna eat for at least another 5 hours..."

She heard her uncle chuckle from the other side of the table. She stuck her tongue at him childishly. He rolled his eyes.

„Got any plans for today, hun?" he asked eventually.

Sarah thought about it. „No, not really. I'll go out with Clark tonight, but.. hm, maybe I'll call Lana and Chloe. I don't know yet. Why?"

„Oh, no reason," he answered. Sarah looked at him.

She saw there was something behind it, but decided not to press the issue.

„Alright, then."

Just then, her phone buzzed. She pulled it out of her pocket and looked at the ID.

„Hey, L. What's up?" she asked after she picked up.

Hey, S. Nothing much, except it's my friend's birthday and she decided not to tell me. Otherwise, nothing extra."

Sarah cringed. „Yeah, sorry about that. I actually forgot about it myself."

Yeah, Clark told me you probably have. Anyway, we should celebrate. Go out. It's a sunny day, girl. And it's not too hot. We can bring Chloe along. Make it a girls'. . . uh. . . day out!"

Sarah chuckled. „Yeah, sure. When?"

Great! You've got half an hour." She then hung up.

Sarah's eyes widened. Half an hour? She checked the time. 10:30 AM.

„What's wrong?" asked Ria, protective mother mode activated.

Sarah shook her head and smiled at her aunt. „Nothing. Lana just told me I have 30 minutes to get ready, we're going out for my birthday."

Ria grinned. „Well? What are you waiting for? Go, girl!" she said as she ushered her into her room. Sarah laughed the whole way. Leave it to her aunt to make her day even better with her funny remarks.


Sarah sighed. She decided she'd wear classic denim shorts and her old faded Breaking Benjamin t-shirt. She let her wavy light brown hair go free after a little brush – she loved that about her hair, that no matter how bad it looked in the morning, after a few brushes, it looked amazing, no matter how long it was. And it was pratty long. She looked at her reflection in the mirror.

„Smokin'," she mumbled and then laughed at her own joke.

And that's why I have so many friends, she thought sarcastically.


„So, how does it feel to be eighteen, Ms. Wilson?" teased Chloe.

The three of them – Lana, Chloe and Sarah – were currently sitting in a random café in Smallville. Hey, it might be called Smallville, but it's still a –ville.

Sarah rolled her eyes. „Kinda good. I can finally have the tattoo I always wanted. Plus, I always made fun of Clark for me being older than him, but now, it'll feel even better."

The girls laughed. „You already called him your bunny, didn't you?" said Lana.

Sarah smiled slyly. „I'd be lying if I said that I haven't."

They burst into laughter again. Sarah didn't miss some of the boys on the other table checking them out, but she decided to ignore them.

„Sarah, you ever thought about what you're going to do? You know, after school?" asked Lana after a little talk.

„I always wanted to be a biologist. Bio-engineer, to be precise. I always loved Biology," she said without missing a beat. Both of her friends smiled at her.

„What about you?" she asked then.

„Probably journalism or something along the lines," said Chloe after a minute of thought. Sarah nodded, and they both looked at Lana expectantly.

„Fashion designer," she said. „What? I have dreams. You have dreams, too!"

She mock-pouted and crossed her arms over her chests. The girls just laughed, and a second later, Lana joined, too.

„Yeah, yeah, make fun of me," she said, after they stopped laughing. „Why wouldn't you?"

Sarah patted her shoulder. „Nah, it's alright. It's actually an achievable dream. I saw the way you dress, girl. You're smokin'."

The girls didn't catch the Mask reference. Sarah rolled her eyes.

„Seriously? The Mask? Jim Carrey? Cameron Diaz?"

At their dumbfunded looks, she just had to roll her eyes again. „Tomorrow. Movie night. My house. We're watching The Mask."

The girls grinned. Sarah had a suspicion that they both have seen the movie before. She smiled.

The conversation carried on from there. From Whitney, to Chloe's not-so-secret crush on Pete, through Clark to the Justice League.

„Aren't you a little worried?" asked Chloe.

„Worried about what?"

„You know.. Clark working with some of the heroines. Wonder Woman, Black Canary. Zatanna."

„Any particular reason why you put the extra pressure on Zatanna's name? And no, why should I be worried? Girls, you've both known Clark for much longer than I have. Do you really think he would cheat on me? Or anything like that? Because I don't think so," said Sarah calmly.

„That's true. Plus, you've got him wrapped around your finger. Didn't you say just a few minutes ago that he brought you breakfast from.. where was it? France and Greece?"

Sarah blushed a little. „Yeah, I may have mentioned it."

„Yeah, you may have," said Lana with a sly grin.

Sarah rolled her eyes. Again.

They talked like that for what must have been hours. Sarah liked having friends who were actually girls. Don't take her wrong, Sarah's best friend was still Clark, no matter what, even if he was her boyfriend, but having girlfriends is really good, too. Clark just doesn't gossip the way girls do.


After checking the clock, they quickly paid the bill and made their way through the city. They decided to go a little shopping, and then, they'd probably go home. At least, that's what they said. Sarah saw something in their eyes. A sparkle of mischief. And she didn't like it.

So, they went shopping, but they didn't like anything the shops had to offer, and in turn, they came out of all the shops empty-handed.

„By the way, you mentioned a tattoo in the café," remarked Lana while they were walking on the sidewalk.

„Yeah?" asked Sarah cautiously. She knew some people didn't like tattoos, and she really hoped Lana wasn't one of them.

Lana's eyes sparkled as she grinned. „Tell me about it. Everything."

Sarah's eyes widened a little. „Uh, sure. I've had it in my mind for almost 2 years now. A latin quote, my favorite, actually. You may have heard it before. Per aspera ad astra," she said.

Chloe's eyes perked at that, while Lana's reaction was not having a reaction at all.

„Through the hardships to the stars?" translated Chloe, though it sounded as a question.

„Did you just translate it or memorized it?" asked Sarah.

„Memorized it. One of my favorite quotes, too. But why this one?"

Because it reminds me of what I've been through, and that I came out stronger than before. Because it reminds me that even when you feel like it's all worthless, and that it's too hard, there's always a light, a star, at the end of the way, she thought.

„It has a personal meaning to me. Long story. Maybe I'll tell you one day," she opted for this answer instead, and smiled teasingly.

„Where do you want it?" asked Lana then.

„Hm. I always thought my about the inside of my forearm. But now that I'm thinking about it, maybe on the side of my ribs? I don't know. I just know that I want it, sooner or later. By the way, even Clark doesn't know about this."

And it's true. He doesn't. She never told him that, and she still wonders why.

„When are you going to do it?"

„I don't know," she said truthfully.

„Let's do it now," suggested Lana.

Sarah's eyes widened. „WHAT?"

„You heard me, S. Let's do it now. Come on. There's a good tattoo artist in town. A friend of Whitney's. Makes the most beautiful tattoos I've ever seen, and since you only want a quote, I bet it's going to be quick and easy. Now, come on," she said as the dragged her by her hand.

„I don't know.."

„You said you were thinking about it for the past two years. Two years. That means you've put a lot of thought into it," she reasoned.

„That's true," said Sarah. She grinned. „Okay, let's do it!"


And, one and a half hour later, Sarah came out of the tattoo parlor, with her left forearm wrapped in a bandage, and a paper full of instructions on what to do and how to properly heal it. Sarah grinned. It was pretty painful, but she'd probably do it again. She didn't regret it.

The three of them decided to go to over to Sarah's house, as it was already 6 PM and watch the movie they planned to watch tomorrow, when they all felt a sudden swoosh in the air.

„Excuse me, miss. I need you to come with me. Justice League matter," said the deep voice Sarah's grown to love behind her.

She grinned, as did Lana and Chloe. The trio turned around.

There, hovering a few inches off the ground, stood Clark, or rather, Superman, full-clad in his supersuit.

„Seriously, Clark?" asked Lana as she crossed her arms over her chest. „Show-offing much?"

Clark's eyes widened for a second, but then he just rolled them. His feet touched the ground. „How long have you known?"

„Since your face was plastered across every newspaper in the States. Seriously, Clark, how dumb do you think we all are? We've known you for years. By the way, Pete knows, too. And I have a hunch that Whitney knows as well," she said as she rolled her eyes, but smiled at him.

Clark just smiled. „Well, there's nothing I can do about it now, I guess, except trusting you, guys. You will keep it a secret, won't you? Please?"

He gave them his puppy dog look. Sarah was suddenly very glad that there weren't any people on the street. She couldn't imagine their reaction at seeing Superman giving a puppy look to three teenage girls in a small town in the middle of Kansas.

„Yeah, don't worry. Now, I believe you wanted to take our birthday girl away? For League business?" Lana made air quotes as she said the last two words, while she grinned.

Clark rolled his eyes. „Yes. Now, may I?"

Sarah laughed and nodded. „Yes, you may, Superdork:"

Clark laughed, whispered something into Chloe's ear, who grinned and nodded, and then pulled Sarah close to him. She felt the air around her shift, and when she looked around, she was at least two hundred feet in the air.

„Clark, where are we going?" she asked after a couple of minutes. He seemed to go very slowly. Much slower than usual, even when he was flying with her.

„You'll see. Just enjoy the view for now," he said eventually. Sarah did as she was told. And yeah, the view was magneficent.

The town looked amazing from up there, and the vast fields looked magneficent. The sun slowly falling into the horizon looked even better, and when she looked at Clark, he seemed to enjoy the sun, too, though for completely different reasons.

„Is that a tattoo I see on your forearm?" he asked lightly, but she heard the curiosity in his voice.

„Yeah, it is," she smiled, „I'll tell you about it later."

He nodded. „Alright."


A few minutes later, they started to descend, and Sarah's smile grew wider.

„You remember," she whispered quietly, knowing he'd hear her. He chuckled.

„Of course I did. Our first interview. The beginning of our relationship, at least, for me. I remember you telling me this is your favorite place in all of Smallville."

His feet touched the ground, and yet he didn't let her go.

„Well, it used to be," she said.

He looked at her questioningly. „Used to be?"

„Yeah. Now, you're my favorite place in all of Smallville," she said cheekily.

He looked at her for a couple of seconds with a quizzical expression on his face, before he started laughing his ass off. He had to wipe some tears from his eyes, and she just laughed along with him.

„Too corny even for you, Kent?" she asked amusedly.

„Maybe," he said after a few seconds.

He then finally let her go, and changed into his normal attire – a Ramones t-shirt, jeans, and a grey hoodie.

„When do you keep your normal clothes?" she asked him.

„The cape. It has this sort of big pocket or something. I just keep my clothes there."

„Oh," she said, „interesting."

„Yeah, interesting. But not as interesting as you," he said.

„Look who's corny now."

He rolled his eyes.

„Happy birthday," he said eventually, while looking into her eyes. She smiled at him, and he gently lowered his lips onto hers.

No matter how many times they kissed, Sarah's insides still turn into a pile of goo. After they broke apart, Clark smiled at her.

They both set on the swings.

„I know you're not into jewelry that much, but I wanted to give you, or rather, make you," he said, and her eyes widened a little, „something meaningful – something that would remind you of me, of our relationship, and something to give you hope. So, I made you this."

He then pulled a blue box with red ribbon out of his hoodie, and gave it to her.

Sarah took it from him gently and gave him a watery smile.

„Open it," he urged her, and she saw that hint of nervousness in his eyes, even though he tried to hide it.

So, she did as she was told. She gently untied the ribbon and opened the box. She covered her mouth with her hand.

She pulled it out of the box. It was a beautiful necklace, with a silver crest of the House of El attached on a silver chain. Sarah examined it closely, and noticed that the material, though looking like silver, was not silver at all. It felt different to the touch.

She looked at the crest, at the familiar S, and noticed something written in Kryptonese on the other side of it.

„It's beautiful, Clark. Thank you," she whispered. Clark smiled gently. „What's it say?"

She knew little Kryptonese – she finally learned the symbols, but the grammar and vocabulary was something she still couldn't get a grasp on. Even with her intelligence, Kryptonese was an extremely hard language to learn. Chinese Mandarin looked easy compared to that.

„It's in Kryptonese," he said, and Sarah nodded, indicating that she already figured out that part, „and it says Don't give up hope. The symbol of the House of El also means hope. Something every person needs. It's something I aspire to give people. And," he paused a little and looked down, „it's something you give me. Every time I see death, every time I see evil in the world, one look at you, at your eyes, at your smile.. and I'm full of it. Full of hope that there's still good in this world. So, yeah. I wanted to give you something meaningful."

When he finished, he looked up at her, his eyes.. unguarded. Childlike. Sarah smiled gently and slowly kissed him, pouring a lot of emotion into it.

„Thank you, Clark. It means so much to me. You have no idea just how much."

He smiled gently. „Want me to put it on for you?"

She nodded, gave him the necklace and pulled her hair out of the way. „By the way, what's it made of?"

Clark stood up from the swing and kneeled behind her. The swings were pretty low. Obviously.

„Kryptonian metal. Basically indestructible."

She smiled at that. „Are you expecting me to get into some trouble, Mr. Kent?"

„Not at all, Ms. Wilson," he answered, and she could hear the smile in his voice.

„There, done." He said after a few seconds. The metal felt cool on her skin. She liked it.

He smiled at her and wrapped his arms around her from behind. He kissed her shoulder, and she felt his lips even through her t-shirt. „Happy Birthday, Sarah."

She closed her eyes and leaned into him. „Thank you."

They were quiet for a few seconds, before Clark broke it. „Now, what about the tattoo?"

She laughed. „Per aspera ad astra," she whispered.

„Through the hardships to the stars," said Clark almost immediately.

Sarah hummed in confirmation. „You know Latin?"

„Yeah. Who doesn't?" he asked teasingly. She chuckled at that.

„Chloe doesn't."

„Which reminds me, Ms. Wilson, as much as I'd like to stay like that forever, we do have a party to attend."

Sarah's eyes snapped open. „What party?"

„Well, your birthday party. What other party did you have in mind?"

She rolled her eyes. Of course they'd make her a party. She should've guessed it.

„Plus, I can't wait to see Frank's reaction on your tattoo," he said. He leaned and whispered into her hear. „Priceless."

She punched his shoulder with her elbow. „Ow."

He rolled his eyes. „Seriously?"

„Didn't you mean.. siriously?"

He choked on his spit as he started laughing. „Really? Harry Potter puns? Now?"

At least someone got her puns. Well, as long as the only one to get her puns is this dork cuddling her from behind, she doesn't mind in the slightest if nobody else doesn't.

„By the way, thank you for the breakfast."

„Tasted good?"

„You bet."

„I'm glad."

„By the way, how did it feel breaking and entering into a teenager's apartment while she was sleeping in a pair of short shorts and a tank-top without a bra?" she teased.

She didn't have to turn around, she knew he saw as rad as a tomato.

„N-now. It's 7 already. Shouldn't we get going?" he stuttered a little.

She laughed at first, but then groaned and untangled herself from his embrace.

„Nah. Let them wait a little," said Sarah after she turned around and locked her lips with his.

Clark didn't have any complaints.


Alright, thanks for reading this chapter, I really appreciate it. Please, leave your review and tell me what you think about this chapter:)

Until next time:)