Note: This is the last chapter! Thank you to everyone who read and reviewed my story! It means a lot to me that you took time to read my story. Hopefully, I'll have a new fic out soon. Feel free to suggest any fic ideas. Now on with the story!
Smallville: Kent Farm
Saturday, July 17th
5:59 P.M.
Clark sighed impatiently as he stood in front of a full length mirror and tried to get his bow-tie on straight. In an hour, he would soon be wed to Lana Lang, the woman he had been in love with since he was five.
"Need some help getting that thing on straight?" Pete asked as he sat down on Clark's loft desk that had been completely cleaned out.
"No, I've got it," Clark said gruffly. After a few more twists and strange maneuvers, he gave up and sat on the desk next to Pete. After a few creaks, he jumped off the desk, afraid that it might break. He began pacing with his hands behind his back then in front of him, twisting them.
"Clark, stop pacing," Pete demanded after watching Clark for the past five minutes.
Clark ignored him and continued pacing, all sorts of thoughts running through his head.
"Clark! Stop pacing!" Pete finally cried, jumping off the desk. "You're making me nervous!"
Clark stopped and faced Pete. "I thought I was the one who was supposed to be nervous."
"Well with all that pacing you're doing, a guy can't help but feel nervous," Pete said, gesturing at Clark's legs that enable him to walk. "Just relax; everything's going to be fine."
"What if she says changes her mind about marrying me?" Clark asked, finally voicing his thoughts. "What if she never shows up the aisle? What if she runs away with some else?"
Pete started to laugh, but stopped when he saw that Clark was being serious. "Don't sweat it, man…Lana's not going to run away or do any of those things. After chasing you from Smallville to Metropolis, do you honestly think that's gonna happen?"
Clark sighed and gave Pete a grateful smile. "I guess not…my nerves are getting to me, that's all." He shrugged and sank onto the red and blue couch that he had convinced his mom to let him keep up here.
"Hey, being the best man isn't exactly stress free either," Pete commented, sinking into the couch next to Clark. "Do you know how much I worry about forgetting to do one little thing? Like painting one little spot on that gazebo of yours."
Clark snorted and said, "Pete, I don't think anyone's going to notice a micro spot of unpainted wood."
Pete shrugged. "See, that's my point. I wake up in the middle of the night drenched in sweat because I've forgotten the wedding rings."
"Now, you're just pulling my leg," Clark said, bumping shoulders with Pete. "Thanks for cheering me up."
"Hey, no problem," Pete said. "What's the best man for anyway?"
At the Alter
6:36 P.M.
Clark scanned the audience in hopes of finding his mom amongst them. He sighed. He hadn't been able to talk to her all day—minus the lemonade incident. Clark figured she was busy with the cake and helping Lana with the dress.
"Hey, Pete, have you seen my mom?" Clark asked, turning to his best man. He and Pete were already at the alter, waiting for the ceremony to begin. The seats were filled up and the joyous mood was contagious. All that was left to start the ceremony was the lovely bride and her bridesmaids.
Clark viewed the crowd again and this time spotted his mom walking up the aisle to the gazebo. Clark met her half way by taking the steps of the gazebo down to meet her.
"Mom, I've been looking for you," Clark said to her, reaching out to kiss her cheek.
"And I've been looking for you too," his mom said breathlessly, beginning to work on his bow tie. "Your bow's crooked again."
Clark allowed his mom to fix his tie in front of the audience of friends and family members. Most of the town had shown up, considering that this was the biggest wedding of the year in Smallville. Most folks, when they got married, usually left the town for a more exotic wedding.
"Mom, are you alright?" Clark asked, concerned laced in his voice. He had just noticed how red her eyes were.
"Oh, yes, I'm fine," Martha said, standing back to look at her handiwork and her son. "Oh, you look so handsome. Lana looks just as equally beautiful." She placed her hands on his shoulders and smiled, tears filling her eyes. "If only Jonathon were here to see you."
Clark's eyes watered at the thought of his father. "He is here, mom. He's here in spirit."
Martha smiled and pulled her son into a hug. "I'm going to miss you, honey. Things around here won't exactly be the same without you and Lana."
Clark crinkled his face in confusion. "What do you mean? Mom, Lana and I aren't going anywhere—we're staying here in Smallville."
To his surprise, his mom laughed. "You may think that for now, but you're going to want to go away soon. Just thinking of all the possibilities out there will make your heads spin."
Clark shook his head. "Mom, Smallville's my home. It's Lana's home too. We wouldn't dream of going anywhere else."
Martha smiled and nodded. Then, she pulled something from her pocket and placed it in Clark's hand. Clark took one look at it and became suddenly confused.
"Mom…where did you get this?" Clark asked, looking at the check with a wrinkled forehead.
"I sold the farm," she said simply.
"What?" Clark took a breath and tried not to bombard her with questions. "Mom, why? I thought you were happy here."
"I am happy here, honey," Martha said, taking her son's hand. "But…it's just not the same without Jonathon. And with you moving away soon…I have no reason to keep the farm. Before, it brought so many happy memories. But, now, it just brings sadness every time I think of it."
Clark's eyes filled with tears. He usually didn't show his emotions, but this was the farm they were talking about—his childhood home, the only safe haven he had as a small child and teenager.
Martha sniffed and wiped her tears away with a smile. "I've told Lana about it already and she was upset as you are about it too. But, she understands why I have to do this. I'm giving you and her the chance to move the Metropolis with this money."
Clark nodded, trying to take it all in. "But, mom…"
"No buts, Clark. You take this money and put it to use." Martha closed his fingertips around the check, creasing it a little.
Clark nodded and pulled her into a hug. "Thanks mom."
Martha patted her son on the back and ushered him back up to the gazebo. "It's almost time for the wedding to begin. Lana's going to be walking up the aisle any minute now."
At the mention of his angel's name, Clark's face brightened up immediately. He walked back up the few steps of the gazebo and waited with his hands folded in front.
He didn't have to wait very long as the wedding music began by the pianist they had hired. He took a deep breath and tried to relax. This was it.
Clark kept his eyes fixated on the aisle on front of him and was finally able to spot the bridesmaids, Amy and Jane exiting the house and making their way up the aisle. Then came Chloe. Clark tried to catch her eye, but he noticed she was looking at someone next to him. He couldn't help but send a smirk at Pete's direction.
As if on cue, the music reached maximum volume and out came Lana in a beautiful strapless gown. Clark wasn't staring at the gown, as beautiful as it was. He had locked eyes with Lana and he didn't let go until she was at the gazebo. Clark took her the hand that wasn't holding a bouquet and helped her up the steps.
Clark followed Lana's line of vision and saw her looking at his mother and her Aunt who were both crying. Then, her eyes reached his again and he smiled, mouthing, "I love you."
Lana gave him a dimpled smile and squeezed his hand. She handed her bouquet to Pete for the time being. Then, the minister spoke.
"We are here today to celebrate the union of two souls, Clark and Lana's." He gestured to them and continued. "Lana and Clark have chosen their own vows and they will be reading them aloud."
Clark cleared his throat and the felt the feeling of nervousness washing over him. He looked into Lana's clear green eyes for reassurance and found not only that, but love running deep for him.
"The day that I first laid eyes on you is also the day that my love for you began," Clark said, licking his lips. "Some may call it love at first sight, but I wouldn't necessarily call it that. It wasn't full fledged love because love is something that manifests over time—something that can't happen without two people nourishing it and creating it." Clark paused and shifted his feet. His gaze never left hers.
"I knew what it meant to love someone with all your heart and unconditionally—my mom and dad. But, what I didn't know until you and I came together was how it was like to be in love. You taught me to love, Lana. You gave me hope for my future—even at times when it seemed dark and doomed. You were the one always there for me, loving me unconditionally, and for that, I'll always be grateful to you for."
"Lana, there are no words to describe how I feel about you. You are kind, loving, and all the positive adjectives in the English dictionary rolled together. No matter how brief or long our marriage lasts, I'll love you and always will."
Sobs could actually be heard coming from the female members of the audience. Even Clark's vow had managed to touch a few of the men. Lana had tears running down her cheeks and a smile was on her face.
"I don't know exactly how I'll top Clark's vow, but here I go," Lana said, eliciting laughter from the audience. She squeezed Clark's hand and that seemed to give her strength.
"Every little girl dreams of the day of her wedding—when her prince charming comes and sweeps her off her feet. When true love is professed openly and isn't questioned. When everything just seems right—like a huge puzzle that needs one final piece for the happy ending."
"You, Clark Kent, are the final piece of that puzzle. You are my shining knight in armor, riding on that white pony I've been wishing for since I was seven. You've shielded me from all the hurt that came my way. You've saved me from drowning in my misery and despair. You made my life worth living." Lana's voice cracked and she paused to regain composure.
"And for that, I am forever in your debt. I can't say that I've been in love with you since I was five, but I can say that I love you with all my heart. No matter where the road of life takes us, no matter how many obstacles we have ahead of us, I will always be by your side, urging you on. And, when the time comes, I will let you go to protect this world, knowing that you'll find your back into my arms."
Clark blinked back tears and fought the urge to kiss her.
The minister too was having trouble holding back tears. He turned to Clark.
"Do you take Lana Elizabeth Lang as your lawfully wedded wife, to love, honor and cherish, to have and to hold for all the days of your life?"
"I do," Clark said, placing the wedding band on Lana's finger, next to her engagement ring.
"And, do you take Clark Jerome Kent as your lawfully wedded husband, to love, honor and cherish, to have and to hold for all the days of your life?"
"I do," Lana said softly, also placing a wedding band on Clark's finger.
"With the power invested in me, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may now kiss the bride."
Clark smiled and leaned over, pulling her veil from her face. He placed a kiss on her lips, his hands trailing down to her waist, pulling her closer to him. Lana brought a hand to his cheek and gently stroked it. When the kiss ended, cheers could be heard and Clark swept Lana off her feet and into his arms, carrying her down the aisle.
And with the end of teenage and college love comes something even more pure and just as beautiful. It is the union of two souls becoming one, loving each other unconditionally, always and forever.
