Smallville: The Talon
7:23 P.M.
Saturday, July 3rd
"Chloe, are you sure they won't mind that we're late?" Lana asked as she balanced a paper bag full of chips and soda on her knee. She proceeded to get the bag filled to the top with shoe boxes, but Chloe snagged it first.
"Yeah, I'm sure they won't mind," Chloe said, slamming the trunk of her car shut. "Besides, we brought food as a sign of apology."
"Okay then," Lana said, following Chloe toward the double doors of the Talon. Lana moved in front of Chloe to pull the door open, seeing that Chloe had her hands full with bags of clothes and shoes.
Lana opened the door to find her aunt, Martha, Lois, Anne, and Jane seated at a table in the center of the coffee shop. Colorfully wrapped presents and gift bags were piled on top of the table along with a small cake that Martha Kent had whipped up. A karaoke set was also set up on a small stage toward the corner of the room and balloons were floating in midair. The cappuccino machine was still up and running and empty mugs already piled the countertops.
Lois was the first to speak up. "Finally the bride and the maid of honor decide to join us."
Lana opened her mouth, ready to apologize, but Chloe cut her off with a look that said "Let me handle this."
"I'm sorry Lois, but I didn't realize that this was your party," Chloe said with a smirk, dropping off the shopping bags on an unoccupied table.
"It's okay, Lana; you and Chloe weren't that late," Anne spoke up.
Lana smiled gratefully at her. She had given Anne an application on one of Martha's busy days and while Anne had filled out the application, Lana had gushed about Clark and their upcoming wedding. Thus, began their friendship.
"Well, Chloe and I brought food if you want any," Lana offered, dropping the bag on the table.
"I'll pass on the chips," Jane Grayson said, standing up to hug her former dorm mate. "I barely fit into my dress."
"If it makes you feel any better, Chloe and I are also watching what we're eating," Lana said, returning the hug.
"Well, I hope you girls will still be eating Martha's cake," Nell said, also hugging her niece. "She worked hard on it, you know."
Lana glanced at her soon-to-be-mother-in-law and saw an unmistakable blush on her countenance. "I think we'll be able to squeeze it in with the other junk food," Lana said with a reassuring smile.
"As Chloe was nice enough to mention, this is your party," Lois said, standing up. "So, you get to decide what we're doing first."
"She probably wants to open the presents," Anne said, nudging Lana in the ribs. "You should see what Lois got you."
Lana raised her eyebrow and turned to Lois. "Hmm…I guess I will open the presents first." The girls laughed and waved her to sit down.
"The best for last," Lois said, moving her present behind all the others. "Anyone got a camera? I want to see a replay of the look on her face when she sees my present."
"Camera phone ready," Chloe said as she gathered around Lana with the other girls, Nell, and Martha.
"Jane's first, okay?" Lana grabbed a blue and yellow polka dotted gift bag and pulled out a gray envelope. "A day at the spa for two," Lana read with a smile. "Aww…thanks; just what I need to de-stress."
"You can use it after your wedding too…you know, in case you and Clark feel like…" Jane trailed off, knowing that the mother of the groom and the aunt of the bride were in the room.
"There's more?" Lana asked, surprised that her friends had spent so much on her. She pulled out the final item from the bag. The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks.
"I thought it would fit nicely with the whole wedding theme," Jane said, shrugging.
"Thank you," Lana said, pulling her into a hug. "'Kay, who's next?"
"Mine," Anne said; picking up a thin present wrapped in shinny blue paper. "I know it's not much…"
Lana accepted the gift from her with a smile. She slid her finger down the part where tape met paper and gently pulled the tape off. When she was done, the blue paper revealed a black and white sketch of her and Clark. Lana immediately recognized the moment captured on paper. It was the day where she and Clark had spent a Sunday afternoon just strolling down the streets of Smallville. She was holding an ice cream cone in one hand and the other hand was placed on one of Clark's cheeks. Lana smiled sightly when she saw Anne had also managed to capture Clark' ice cream smeared cheek.
"Oh my God…" Lana said softly. "This is amazing, Anne. You did this all by memory?"
Anne blushed and nodded as the others crowded closer to view the work of art.
"Now, that is art," Lois said, impressed.
"It's lovely, Anne," Martha commented. "I never knew you could draw so well."
Lana decided to spare Anne the embarrassment and asked, "Is this one yours Chloe?" she picked up a yellow gift bag and almost dropped it. "Wow what did you get my Chloe? Rocks?"
"Haha…open it and find out," Chloe said with an air of mystery.
Lana pulled out a silk bathrobe with her initials on it. Realizing that a bathrobe couldn't weigh as much as a rock, Lana dove back into the bag and withdrew a basket filled to the rim with bath necessities. Some of those necessities were lavender scented soap, bath oils, and lotion.
"Thank you Chloe." Lana beamed and reached for the next present which was from Nell.
"More rocks?" Lois and the others looked at the square shaped package that Lana was now beginning to open.
"A toaster oven…" Lana said with an amused smile when the wrappings had all been removed. "That's really…"
"Nice, right?" Nell asked, peering at her niece's face for her true reaction. "I figured since you're getting married and all…a toaster oven could come in handy." When Lana's smile neither faltered nor brightened, Nell continued. "And look, it even has a two year warrantee."
"Yeah…that's really thoughtful, Nell," Lana said, figuring that her aunt meant well. She and Clark had opted for an inexpensive toaster since they both knew Clark could have their toast ready in five seconds. Both had originally not planned on getting a toaster at all, but Lana figured she would cut Clark some slack on being an alien. Who knows…maybe one of these days Clark's heat vision will fail.
"Thank you, Nell." Lana rose to hug her aunt and Nell slipped a more likeable gift into her hand. A cook book.
"I knew you wouldn't be exactly thrilled about getting a toaster oven as a shower gift, but how about a cook book with some of mine and Martha's own recipes in it?" Nell said with a small smile.
"I bet Clark would be surprised to see you in the kitchen making something else besides cup noodles…seeing as it was the only thing you could make in college," Jane teased which elicited laughter from everyone present.
"Hey!" Lana yelled over the laughter. "Don't forget that one time where I made scramble eggs for us…it turned out pretty good too."
"Haha…great to know that your cooking skills has grown from cereal to cup noodles and scrambled eggs," Chloe joked, leaning against the table with one hand.
More laughter ensued and finally Anne broke it up with, "Anyone want anything to drink?"
"A cappuccino sounds nice right about now," Martha said walking over to where Anne was now standing; behind the counter.
Lana, ready to begin her second venture of opening presents, picked up the final unopened present from the table. "Victoria's Secret?" Lana looked at the bag curiously, then at Lois. Lois simply shrugged which caused Lana's curiosity to mount even higher.
Lana's eyes widened as she opened the package further to find two lingerie sets. Attached to them was a yellow sticky note from Lois that read, 'Hope you and Clark enjoy them!'
Click. "The expression on your face should go in a commercial for Visa Card or something," Chloe said, pulling the Polaroid out of the camera. "It was priceless."
"So…you like it?" Lois asked when Lana didn't say anything.
"Of course," Lana said, blushing. "It's just a little…"
"Embarrassing?" Nell finished for her.
Lana's cheeks flushed even harder as the girls tried to stop giggling. Martha took sympathy on her soon-to-be-daughter-in-law and suggested, "Why don't Nell and I go cut the cake and refill some of the drinks?"
Lana shot a grateful look in the direction of Martha and mouthed, 'thanks.' It was embarrassing enough with a bunch of her closest friends. She didn't need her aunt and the mother of her fiancé knowing what she and Clark were planning to do on their wedding night.
"Thanks Lois…it was really…thoughtful of you," Lana said, not able to hold in a giggle.
"I bet Clark's gonna like it even more than you," Jane said, which provoked even more laughter.
"Oh, and we also got a last minute gift for you Lana!" Chloe said excitedly. She nudged Anne and Lana watched as Anne scurried off to her bag to retrieve a present wrapped in pink tissue paper.
Lana viewed her friends with an inquisitive gaze upon her face. She cautiously accepted the present, handling it as if it were a bomb ready to go off. She slowly removed the pink tissue, keeping an eye on Chloe in case she planned on whipping out her camera again. She removed the black item from the depths of the tissue with her forefinger and thumb, pinching it almost, and brought it to the air.
Whoosh. Chloe's camera went off again; capturing Lana's parted lips and stunned expression. "I'm definitely showing Clark these pictures!"
"Oh my God…" Lana groaned and flashed her present in front of her friends' eyes. "Are these mine?"
"Sorry Lana," Anne said with an apologetic face. "Lois made us do it."
"Hey!" Lois cried as everyone started laughing. "You guys agreed to do it too! Besides, it's cute, right?"
Lana surveyed the black panties that now had 'Mrs. Clark Kent' written on them in white marker. "I'm sure Clark will love these too," Lana said sarcastically.
"I'm sure he will Lana," Martha said, surprising Lana so badly that she jumped in her chair.
Lana flushed and shoved the presents she had gotten from Lois and the panties back into the gift bag.
"Here you go; everyone gets a slice of cake," Nell said, passing out paper plates with a piece of chocolate cake on each one.
"There's plenty leftover on the counter if you want more," Martha said, also handing out cake. She purposely handed Lana a slice of cake with a candle sticking out of the middle. "I know it's not your birthday or anything, but I thought it would be kind of different if you made a wish—you know, maybe something for your wedding or your marriage."
Lana flashed her a smile complete with dimples. "I think that's a wonderful idea, Mrs. K—Martha," Lana said, correcting herself. She accepted the cake and just for dramatics' sake, closed her eyes, made a wish, and blew out the candle.
Clapping ensued and Lana couldn't help but feel giddy. The room was filled with energy and with the rapidly approaching wedding; Lana was beginning to feel as if the pieces in her life were finally coming together. Just to think…in two weeks I'll be married to Clark… Lana sighed with a blissful countenance.
Three Hours Later
"Thanks for coming!" Lana waved to Chloe and Lois as they headed to their cars. Lois, being the good reporter that she was, was returning to the city and Chloe was heading over to Pete's parents' house. Pete had suggested that Chloe crash the night at his place since he knew that she and Lana still had some last minute wedding shopping to do around Smallville. Lana had opened her apartment to Chloe, but she had declined, hinting at the fact that she didn't want to see her and Clark getting all 'cozy.'
"Lana? Can you come here for a second?" Lana heard someone say. She turned around and there was Martha Kent standing in the threshold of the double doors.
"I know you're probably thinking I forgot about your shower present," Martha began, but Lana cut her off.
"Oh no…I wasn't thinking about that at all," Lana lied, knowing that Martha wouldn't believe her.
Instead of accusing her of telling a white lie, Martha just smiled. "Well…I didn't forget about you and I have your present right here." She pulled out an envelope from her purse and handed it to Lana. "I was just waiting for the right moment…you know, away from the prying eyes."
Lana laughed and accepted the envelope with a curious smile. "Thank you." She opened the pink envelope and pulled out two plane tickets.
"Oh my God…" Lana whispered. "Mrs. Kent…how…?"
"Now before you jump to conclusions," Martha said quickly, "Clark did not put me up to this. In fact, I had to pry the information out of him and ward off all his questions."
"But…how…" Lana paused, trying to figure out how to word the question without sounding rude. Fortunately, Martha saved her from sounding awkward.
"I just cleaned out the farm recently and sold a few odds and ends. It's amazing how the things you consider junk will get you two open ended, round trip plane tickets to Paris, France."
Lana's eyes widened a considerable amount. She hadn't read where the ticket would take her to.
Seeing that Lana was speechless, Martha decided to continue. "Now, don't you dare try to slip this back into my purse or apron pocket. This is a gift for you and Clark. You two deserve it. I've seen you and Clark struggle through so many things these past last years." She lowered her voice. "It must have been hard for two, but I'm so glad that you and Clark made it this long."
Lana nodded and blinked away a tear. "Thank you…you don't know how much this means to me. Not just the free honeymoon—but everything that you've done for me. For once, I feel like—like I have a true family."
Martha nodded and pulled Lana into a hug. "You've always been part of this family, Honey."
Lana felt a tear slide down her cheek. "It's not even the wedding yet and I'm already crying."
Martha laughed. "Well, I have to get going now. Bye Sweetie." Martha gave Lana a swift squeeze and moved over to allow an approaching Nell to give her niece a quick kiss on the forehead.
"I'm proud of you, Lana," Nell said out of no where, tears in her eyes.
Lana tried to keep the shocked expression off her face and just hugged her aunt back. "I love you," Lana said, surprising herself and her aunt. She hadn't uttered those words in such a long time to anyone else except Clark.
"I love you too," Nell said. Finally she pulled away and followed Martha to her car. She was spending the night at the Kent Farm again. Lana waved to them from the threshold of the double doors and when the car had disappeared from her view, she shut the door, locking it.
A few minutes later, she was in the shower, her bridal shower presents lying on the round table where she and Clark usually ate together.
Lana allowed the warm soapy water to drip down her body. The hot water, it seemed like, washed away all the wedding stresses and jitters. When all the soap gone down the drain, Lana stood there, mulling over the day's events. Finally, her thoughts rested on Clark and a goofy smile appeared on her face.
Hmm…I hope Pete and Colin don't keep Clark out too long… Lana thought, wishing that he was in bed waiting for her so he could envelope her with his warmth.
Lana turned off the water and stepped out of the shower; grabbing her towel and wrapping it around herself. Although it was a warm night, she couldn't help but shiver slightly. As Lana dried herself off, she thought about making a cup of tea, but decided against it. The caffeine in the tea wouldn't let her sleep.
A moment later, the hair dryer went on and Lana's hair came flying out in all directions. When Lana was satisfied that her hair was dry enough to sleep with, she grabbed her bath robe and stepped outside the bathroom, heading toward the bed where she had laid her pajamas out on. She picked them up and suddenly got a change of heart. Maybe I will wear those Mrs. Clark Kent shorts. Lana smiled and grabbed a white camisole to go them the shorts. I'm sure Clark will appreciate my choice of clothing for this evening, Lana thought with a soft smile on her face, getting into the inviting bed. Soon, the stress of the wedding and the day's events wore on her and she was slumbering.
