Happy Hauntings


Halloween fell on a weekend and the town of Smallville was going all out on the festivities. There was a children's costume parade in the morning followed by all the local businesses giving out candy from their stores. A corn maze (of course), scarecrow contest, pumpkin carving competition, apple cider and donuts (the donuts Lois was looking forward to most), the "trunk or treat", the family parade at dusk, and a haunted house. The last item being perfect for the costumes the Kent girls had chosen. Well, it was their most recent choice, deserting the family theme that Lois had wanted to render.

Lois adjusted her black leather jacket and poked at the conical hat sitting on the island. The plan had been for the girls to be black cats, while she and Clark were a witch and warlock, respectively. It wasn't going to be difficult to piece together his costume since he had his blur trench coat tucked away in the loft of the barn. Then the girls changed their mind and wanted to be witches too. That wasn't a huge deal. It still fit with the theme and she could adjust.

Then family movie night occurred and there was a race to put together a new costume for both her daughters in twenty-four hours. Instead of re-adjusting the tradition of wearing a family costume, Lois reluctantly let it go and stubbornly committed to the witch she had planned. She at least still had Clark to partner up with.

Little voices rang out and jolted her away from her thoughts.

"I'm going to get you!"

"Yeah, stop right there!"

Lois looked up to witness her daughters running down the stairs in their khaki jumpsuits and homemade protons packs on their backs. Their golden retriever tripped over the white sheet draped over him as the girls chased him into the living room.

"Why does Krypto have a good sheet over him?" she asked.

"That's not Krypto! That's a ghost!" Lara announced, pointing her black hose with a black painted paper towel tube at the dog. It was a hose from the barn Clark had attached to the cardboard box on her back. The same was done with Ella's.

"We need to get the trap!" Ella yelled.

The dog yelped and ran again, his nails scraping across the wooden floor as he darted out.

Lois sighed. Last Halloween they had been the group from Scooby Doo. The girls had been adorable as Shaggy and Velma, while she was Daphne to Clark's Fred.

Lois plucked a piece of chocolate out of the pumpkin bucket and unwrapped it quickly, popping the candy into her mouth.

Hearing the side door creak open, Lois whipped around to see how her other half looked in his costume. Her smile fell when she saw how he was dressed. He was wearing jeans, a white T-shirt with a skull glowing in yellow, a charcoal sports jacket, and a black baseball cap-the brim hitting the glasses he wore in public.

Her arms flailed in the arm as she shrieked, "Not you, too!"

"What?" Clark asked, looking down at his clothes. He played it cool as he gauged her reaction.

"You abandoned the theme! You couldn't have at least thrown on some black to match me? I know you own it!"

He played dumb, not even pointing out his hat was black, and asked, "What was the theme again?"

She grunted and dug her hand into the pumpkin bucket to grab another piece of candy. Clark dipped his head down so she couldn't see his grin. Once he contained himself he raised his eyes to look back at her.

After letting the chocolate melt in her mouth, Lois exhaled and centered herself.

"You know what, I'm not even going to remind you." She then narrowed her eyes at him. "And why did you stray away from tradition? You hate costumes and Halloween and always rely on me to pick something for you anyway, even though you're gambling with that every time."

Lois went to grab a third piece, but Clark's hand stopped her. He clasped hers with his.

"I like Halloween."

Lois let out a laugh. "Since when?"

"Since the girls came along," he explained.

That was proving her point exactly. Her themes worked! Why was everyone bailing on her?

She pulled her hand out from his and touched his upper arm. "Aw, someone had some hocus put in their pocus."

He shook his head. "That makes no sense."

She scanned over him once more. "No, that would be your attempt at a costume."

He looked down again at the ensemble he had put together in haste. He knew exactly what Lois had expected him to wear, but he had chosen these pieces instead. He understood it was going to make her head spin, but it was a means to-hopefully-a satisfying ending.

"What's wrong with it?" he asked, turning the cap backwards.

"You look like a 90s rapper."

"No, I don't," he argued.

"Whatever you say, Clarky Clark . Why don't you round up the rest of the funky bunch."

Clark held down a laugh and called out, "Girls, it's time to go!"

A variety of noises filled the farmhouse. There was a pounding of feet on the ground from little black combat boots, the banging of cardboard against walls and tables, and then the patter of paws as the dog retreated back up the stairs.

Ella and Lara walked into the kitchen proudly. Clark gazed at his handiwork. Lois had rounded up all the items she could find on the farm (from gloves to goggles to empty cardboard tubes) and he had spray painted and fashioned them together to the satisfaction of their daughters. His mother had left behind a machine that printed and cut iron-on vinyl which provided a way to make patches and personalize their suits. It was a labor of love and he could tell they were enjoying every minute of their cosplay.

"What are you supposed to be?" Lara asked, her eyes scrutinizing her father.

Ella pointed at him. "Oh, I know! He's what Mom says people look like when they run out of clean clothes."

Lois bit her lip trying not to smile as Clark squeezed his eye shut momentarily. She was glad she wasn't the only one questioning his look. She was feeling vindicated by her children, but tried to come to his defense.

"Your dad worked really hard on his costume," she told them with a sliver of sarcasm they didn't detect.

Lara shook her head. "Doesn't look like it."

From the mouths of babes…

"Make that the snarky bunch," he corrected as he looked over at his wife.

"Can we just say he's a ghost?" Ella asked. There was a skull on his shirt, so she figured she could make it work into the story she and her sister were acting out.

"Yeah, the ghost of 90s past." Lois' eyes lit up as a thought entered her mind. "Do you need me to run upstairs and get you a gold chain or a giant clock to wear on your chest?"

"No." he replied dryly and started to grab the bucket of candy they were bringing for the 'trunk or treat' event later on. If he left it with Lois he feared there wouldn't be any left.

For her part, Lois grabbed the orange and purple monogrammed canvas bags her daughters were using for collecting candy.

"Okay, let's go girls." She turned to her husband one last time as they were leaving through the side door. "Are you 90s Brad Pitt?"

"No."

"Christian Slater?"

"No! I'm not 90s anything!"

"One more."

"Fine."

"Keanu Reeves?"

He let out a deep sigh and closed the door. It was going to be a long drive to town.


The girls ran in front of them on the sidewalk as they headed to the next store.

"If you get your emergency plaid from the car you can throw that on and be the guy from Gilmore Girls. I'll even let you hold my coffee to really sell it." Lois said outside of The Talon.

The renovated Talon had reopened years ago and tried to mimic the previous decor, recreating the hieroglyphics painted on the walls and pillars along with the hanging ornaments of sphinxes on the golden walls. It always brought back memories from his younger years mixed with other treasured moments that related to the decorative motif.

"Why don't you throw on that Egyptian goddess outfit?"

Lois' mouth dropped slightly at his suggestion. "You always go back to that "

"It made an impression."

"So you've mentioned quite a bit over the years."

Clark opened the door for her to the flower shop. He poked at her hat before she walked through.

In a low voice, he said, "I remember when you wow me."

Lois felt her body respond to him. "Maybe I'll wow you again later."

Clark let his thoughts dance in his head. He was planning on wowing her first before any mischief at home.

Ella and Lara waited patiently as an older woman handed out candy to the trail of kids in front of them. When they reached the front they giddily accepted their mini Kit-Kat bars and said, "Thank you."

As Lois followed the girls out, Clark stayed behind and went over to the owner.

"How can I help you?"

"Can I have three small bouquets? An arrangement of Irises, roses, and sunflowers mixed together?"

"You sure can," she smiled.


Lois walked into the antique shop and waited off to the side as Ella and Lara repeated their wait on line for candy. She checked her watch to see how much time they had left before the parade. She was excited for the girls to participate. They had already received compliments for their costumes and she knew they were itching to show them off even more in the small town.

Looking behind her she realized that Clark had done one of his disappearing acts. Over the years she had known him, super-powered or not, he knew how to slip away unnoticed.

Not wanting to mingle with the other parents too much (she saw some of the more annoying ones-like Punchbowl Maddie) she drank her coffee and pretended to be interested and intrigued by the items on the table beside her. Suddenly purple, yellow, and red came into her view. She soon noticed they were flowers.

"For you," a deep voice said.

Lois grabbed the flowers and turned to see Clark grinning at her.

Bringing them up to her nose she breathed in the floral scents. "What's this for?"

"Because I love you."

"Or is it because you're apologizing for whatever this is," she said waving her coffee cup at his clothes.

He could see her irritation grow in her facial features and it was like fuel for him. So, he added more fire to it.

"I can't help it if you don't understand my costume."

"Reboot hipster Skeletor?"

"No."

"Hipster Hamlet."

"No." He chuckled to himself. He was enjoying this.

"Ugh," she grunted. However, she hid her smile behind the bouquet. He might annoy her, but it had been that way since day one. It wasn't going to change nor did she ever want it to.

"Mom! Dad! Look! We got Sour Patch Kids!" Ella called out as she ran over.

"That's great!" her mother told her.

The candy was practically Lois' personality in edible form. Sour and then sweet.

Lara rejoiced in the amount of candy in her bag. "They liked our costumes so they gave us two each."

Clark's large hand domed over her head. "Did you say thank you?"

"Yes, we did," Ella confirmed.

"Good." he said. From behind his back two identical bouquets appeared like magic and he handed one to each girl. "For my girls."

Lara's eyes were wide as she asked, "Oooooh, is it candy?"

"It's flowers," Ella scoffed at her sister's mistake. She put the flowers carefully in her bag. "Thanks, Dad."

Lara smelled them and smiled, repeating, "Thanks, Dad."

"You're welcome. Now, let's go."

The four traveled along with some of the crowd heading to the next place of business.

Clark spotted that the post office was next and offered a Halloween joke to his family.

"How do ghosts send letters?"

"How, Daddy?" Lara asked as she looked up at him, curiosity in her little eyes.

"Through the ghost office."

The girls laughed and Lois rolled her eyes playfully at the "dad" joke. He got away with the jokes whenever he told them. She hated to admit it, but something about Clark telling "dad" jokes turned her on.

"Really, Smallville?" Lois asked, attempting to snuff out the fire sparking within her.

He simply shrugged and she shook her head as she adjusted the strap of her bag on her shoulder.

After venturing into the rest of the businesses on Main Street, it was time to head to the "Smallville Spooky House" set up around the block. The house was technically an old barn near the municipal building that was owned by the town. It was decorated with pumpkins along the foundation, cobwebs in the bushes, and tombstones in the front yard.

Lois halted the group before they went any further.

"Are you sure you want to go in there alone?"

The girls had expressed wanting to go into the haunted environment by themselves since other kids were doing the same. Ella was eight while Lara was six. They had been able to make it through a modified version of Ghostbusters without any nightmares. Rather, it had been the opposite. Both girls had adopted the identities of wanting to fight ghosts.

Clark understood Lois' reservations about letting their daughters go in alone. He had the same ones, but he also wanted to let them have some independence. It was a Smallville function that was monitored by other officials and parents inside. He and Lois would be outside waiting for them. He was usually the one who worried more, but in this instance he wanted to give them a chance. The girls felt they were up to the task and he wanted them to know he trusted them-even if their excitement about fighting spectral characters was flagged and on his radar.

"Yes, we can do it!" Ella told her mother. She was ready to show her parents that she was old enough to handle it.

Lara waved the blaster part of her hose. "We're not afraid!"

Lois slowly inhaled and nodded. "Okay, picture first then go bust some ghosts."

The girls stood and smiled while Lois snapped a few photos on her phone and then gave the thumbs up for them to go.

"Yeaaaaahhh!" the girls screamed as they ran toward the entrance with their candy bags flying behind them.

Clark saw that his wife needed comfort and kissed the side of her moved his lips up to her ear and whispered, "Why don't skeletons like Halloween candy?"

"Why?" she breathed out. He knew exactly what he was doing to her.

"They don't have the stomach for it."

"You're so corny," she sighed, leaning into his chest as his arms snaked around her.

"I know."

"I love that about you."

"I know that, too."

"Knock, Knock." she stated, starting her own joke.

"Who's there?"

"Handsome."

" Handsome who?" he inquired.

She gently elbowed him in the stomach. "Handsome candy to me."

Amused, he obliged. Lois gave him a peck on the lips as thanks then extended her phone for a selfie to keep documenting the holiday.

Inside the eerie barn, Ella and Lara were on alert as they slowly went through a walled maze. Bigger kids passed them, but they were fine with it. Ella was enjoying being included in the group. Lara however was more apprehensive. She jumped at the flickering lights and ghoulish sounds from the speakers. As they turned a corner a creature flew down causing both girls to scream. Lara suddenly didn't feel brave anymore.

Back outside, Lois and Clark waited for the girls to exit.

Lois finished another piece of candy and asked, "Okay, what are you supposed to be?"

"You didn't figure it out?"

She grunted. "Of course I didn't! You're driving me crazy!"

"If you're a witch, then I'm your counterpart." he simply stated.

Her face contorted in confusion. "This is your idea of a warlock?!"

He held up a finger and corrected, "Modern warlock."

"What part of this says that?"

He pointed at his chest. "I have a skull on my shirt."

"You own a black trench coat! You wore that thing for a year! Are you kidding me?!" she hissed.

He smiled brightly to counterattack her irritation.

"You did this to mess with me." she gasped, hitting him in the shoulder with a punch.

"A trick for you and a treat for me."

He pulled her close to him again, but she hit him once more before wrapping her arms around him.

"I'm probably going to hit you a few more times to get it out of my system."

"That's what I'm here for."

Over his shoulder Lois spotted kids that had been standing behind them now exiting the haunted house.

"Clark, something's wrong." she alerted him.

"What do you mean?"

"They've been in there too long."

"Lo-"

"I'm telling you," she said firmly.

Knowing not to balk at her gut feelings, Clark took Lois' hand and they went into the barn themselves. They were met with walls covered in garbage bags with ghosts and spiders pinned at various levels. The lights flickered around them and the speakers came alive with cackles.

"Do you see them?"

Clark concentrated and as they rounded another corner he spotted Ella crouched down beside Lara who was hiding under a table.

"Ella! Lara!" Lois called out.

"Mommy! Daddy!" Lara yelled as she crawled out and ran for her mother. Lois was quick to swoop her up into her arms.

Clark took Ella's hand and led everyone out the rest of the way. Once they were back outside they walked to a nearby bench and sat down. Lara sniffled and moved from her mother to her father's lap and then grabbed on to him.

He cooed his question as he held her close. "What happened?"

"She got scared." Ella answered for her.

"What scared you?"

"There-there-there was-a-" she couldn't get the words out as she began to cry again thinking about it.

"There was something on the ceiling that flew down."

Lois slid her hand under the homemade proton pack and rubbed Lara's back. "It wasn't real, sweetie."

"But…but…but…" she tried to catch her breathing through the tears before crying out, "I ain't afraid of no ghost!"

Ella leaned into her mother's side. "I think she's sad because she didn't fight the ghost."

Clark put it together. "Because it scared you and you couldn't." He could feel her nodding into his chest. "It's okay that you got scared."

She kept her face hidden, shook her head, and mumbled. "No. Ghostbusters don't get scared."

"Of course they do."

"But you don't get scared."

"I get scared plenty." He kissed the top of her head. "In fact, when I was your age I was afraid of the dark."

Lara lifted her head up and sniffed back some tears. "You were?"

"Yep. And I tried to not be and just face it on my own, but I couldn't. So your grandma and grandpa got me a nightlight. And later I put stars on the ceiling so there was always light in the room."

Lois remembered staring up at the ceiling and counting the stars countless times. She had always found them comforting. She also remembered stumbling upon his nightlight. She had used that as leverage for some time.

"But Mommy doesn't get scared."

"I've gotten scared." she told her. "Sometimes when I'm watching a movie there are parts that scare me."

"But you laugh at scary movies." Ella said.

"Most of the new ones aren't very scary, I'll give you that. But there are times where I jump. I used to watch movies with dad when we were teenagers and anytime I got scared I would lean into him and make it like an accident. Then later, when we were older, I would brush past his hand or grab it."

Clark was aware of Lois' tendencies during their movie nights, but he hadn't known she had consciously made the moves. He recalled those instances in their pre-dating days. They became more apparent when they were an item, the small touches then leading to something more-the movie completely forgotten.

"But I don't want to be afraid."

"It'll take time."

"And you have me!" Ella piped up. "That's what I was trying to tell her. We're a team. She doesn't have to be afraid because not only do we have both of you, but she has me and I wouldn't let anything happen to her."

Lara sniffed back her remaining tears. "You won't?"

"Of course not! I'll punch anything that makes you scared! I'm your big sister!" Ella managed to not add a "duh" at the end of her exclamation as she punched the air forcefully.

Lois and Clark would have to remind her that she couldn't punch her way out of every situation, but they left it alone for the time being.

Lara slid out of Clark's grasp and ran for her sister, pulling her into a big hug. The two little girls swayed as they clung to each other.

"I love you, Ella."

"I love you, too."

Lois could feel the tears brimming in her own eyes at the sight.

"We got lucky, Smallville."

Clark extended his arm behind Lois and placed it on her shoulders. "That's not luck."

Lois dug quickly into her pocket, retrieving her phone, and snapped a picture of the moment between her little munchkins. The perfect combination of her and Clark with their love and support behind them every day.

Living in the moment, she put her head on his shoulder. "You're right."


After picking and eating at an assortment of donuts, Lois struggled to open her water bottle as the Kent clan traveled back to the truck. Clark gently took it from her and opened it, returning it back to her without a second thought.

"Always looking out for me," she commented.

"It's my job."

"And my job is to surprise you," she chuckled. "Keep you on your toes."

He let out a laugh. She wasn't wrong and their daughters took their marching orders from their mother.

"Speaking of surprises, you know I do have one for you."

Her interest was certainly piqued. "What is it?"

"It's in the truck."

Finally making it to where they parked, Clark opened the door to the covered bed of the truck. It was all decorated for the "trunk or treat" and he had to admit he had outdone himself with the ghostly theme. He hadn't been lying when he told Lois that he appreciated Halloween more after having their kids. Hidden to the side were two painted boxes and garment bags lying flat. He pulled out the two bags. He kept one and handed the other to his wife.

"What is this?" she asked, inspecting the outside of it.

"I had my fun. Now we get to have yours."

Lois tilted her head to the side and glanced at the bag again. "Is this what I think it is?"

"Maybe," he hinted.

"I don't see a phone booth to change in," she teased.

"I think we can go back to The Talon and change there."

"Okay!" Lois squealed and started to run for the door that was a few stores down.

"You really made her happy, Daddy." Ella told him.

His cheeks were tinted pink as he watched his wife gleefully disappear. "I know. That's what I'm here for."


At the family parade Ella and Lara were hand in hand as they strutted in front of their parents. Lois glanced down at her name ironed on her tan jumpsuit. She turned toward her husband and punched him in the shoulder for the fourth time.

"I can't believe you made this for me. And one for yourself!"

"I knew how much this meant to you."

"You're amazing, Smallville."

"I couldn't do it without you."

"Because we're a team?" she asked, repeating the terminology Ella had used.

"Exactly."

"Must be tough working with someone like me."

" Absolutely, " he joked with emphasis.

She laughed. "We hated each other from the get-go. Tough times."

"We've both grown a lot since then."

"We have," she confirmed and gestured in front of them. " Literally. By two people."

"All for the better."

"Well, it made you love Halloween so I would definitely call that growth."

"You're already thinking about next year's costumes, aren't you?"

She smirked, "Maybe."

When the four reached the end there was a photographer waiting for them.

"Oh, a ghostbusting family! That's perfect for this town.!" He then prompted, "Who are you going to call?!"

"Ghostbusters!" The family shouted as they posed.


After trick or treating in one of the other neighborhoods, the Kent's made it home in the dark. The girls were crashing from their sugar high, struggling to get out of their costumes and wash up. After putting the kids to bed, the parents collapsed on their mattress.

"Every year it gets more exhausting," Lois complained.

"But you love it."

"I do," she smiled.

"They had fun, that's what matters."

"Did you have fun?"

"I did," he responded truthfully.

"Good." Lois stared up at the bare ceiling. "You want to put some stars up there so you always have light in here?"

He turned his head toward her. "You're my light."

"Oh, that was a good answer."

"Was it?" he asked, snuggling closer with his face in her soft hair.

"Oh, yeah. As sweet as the candy that's sitting downstairs." Lois looked at the door longingly. She was as bad as the kids when it came to candy and she couldn't quite force herself to stand to go and get some.

Planning ahead, Clark dug into his pocket and pulled out some mini chocolates, offering them to her.

"My hero!" she said as she snatched them from his hand.

"Maybe I'm just trying to wake you up with another sugar rush."

Lois brought the chocolate up her lips seductively.

"Want to see what's underneath the jumpsuit?"

He nodded his head emphatically.

Feeling a resurgence, she rolled away from him and bounced up off the bed.

"Where are you going?" he practically whined from the loss of her.

"I've been fighting specters all day. I have to wash off all this ectoplasm." she role-played as she moved towards the door.

Getting the hint he got up from the bed and started for her.

"I should probably help you with that, get all those hard to reach places, since we're a team and all."

"Thanks, partner. "

She reached out for him and pulled him by the utility belt, a move she had perfected with years of experience.

"Happy Halloween, Lo."

"Happy Halloween."

She met him with an open mouth kiss, remnants of chocolate still on her tongue and causing Clark to react with a low growl.

"Let's go," she whispered in haste.

The two snuck down the hallway. Before they entered the bathroom, Clark presented another joke. "Why don't ghosts shower?"

"I don't know."

His lips brushed against hers as he revealed the answer. "It dampens their spirits."

"You are such a dork," she said with a rasp. She was getting hot and bothered by his dumb jokes. "Get in here!"

She roughly pulled him into the bathroom and closed the door with a final click of the lock.


As the morning light peaked through the drapes and across Clark's he stirred awake. It was when his ears perked up at the sounds of clanging downstairs that his eyes snapped open.

"I hear something," he harshly whispered to his wife who was comfortably sprawled over his chest.

"What?" she mumbled.

"I hear something downstairs."

"Time to investigate," she groaned as she reluctantly moved off of him.

Lois grabbed one of Clark's plaid shirts and threw it on as he adjusted his own white t-shirt over his pajama pants. They carefully walked down the stairs, the clattering growing louder the closer they got to the pantry.

"Almost there," a little whisper said on the other side of the door.

Clark opened up the space to reveal his daughters, Lara on Ella's shoulders trying to reach for the candy bucket. Items she had knocked down surrounded them on the floor. A trail of flour led to Krypto who was happily wagging his tail covered in the white powder.

"Busted," he announced to his little ghosts.

"Aw, man." Ella sighed. She was looking forward to getting candy before their parents woke up.

"What do you two think you're doing?" Lois asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

Lara put her hands on her hips and declared. "We're a team!"

Clark shook his head. This alliance was only going to lead to double trouble down the road, but for today he'd accept the sibling solidarity was adorable, even if they were breaking the rules.

"Well, a team needs to eat something other than candy." He told them.

"Yeah, like the sugar filled cereals we have on the shelf." Lois added, not exactly helping the argument.

"Or," he stressed, "let's go out for breakfast. I think we've earned it. After all the ghost fighting yesterday." He helped Lara off her sister, jumping down to the ground.

Ella tugged at Clark's shirt. "I think I heard ghosts last night in the house."

His brows furrowed. "You did?"

"Yeah, I heard moaning in the wall."

Clark choked on his breath. He guessed the sound of water from the shower hadn't dulled the noise like he had hoped.

"Don't worry, your father trapped that ghost." Lois assured her, with a gleam in her eyes directed at her husband. Trapped right up against the shower wall, she recalled.

Clark could feel his face turning red. " Anyway, let's go out. What are we thinking?"

"Pancakes!" "Waffles!" The girls yelled out as they skipped toward the kitchen.

"Sounds good to me. Go get dressed and we'll go."

The girls excitedly raced each other up the stairs and back to their room.

"So, what are you in the mood for?" he asked his wife.

"I think you know better than to ask that question," she told him as she sauntered over to the stairs.

He took a deep breath. She was right.

"How long do you think it'll take them to change?"

"Those two? They take after you." he commented, meeting her at the bottom step.

"You also take forever, Smallville." she said, poking him in the middle of his chest.

He shook his head. "That's…un-boo-lievable."

Lois bit her bottom lip and grabbed him by the hem of his shirt.

"Let's go."

"Yes, Miss Lane."

"You're killing me, Smallville." she complained as they quickly moved up the steps.

"That reminds me," he said when they reached the top.

"What?" she huffed, tapping her foot in anticipation.

"What kind of cars do zombies drive?"

She put her hands on her hips. "What kind?"

He smiled. "Monster trucks."

She let out a spirited cry and pushed him into their bedroom, closing the door with a click of the lock.

The Kent farm was marginally haunted that morning.