Their case was up next.

"Kal, explain to me why you don't look nervous," Lois said.

"I know we're in the right no matter what the sentence is."

Lois still didn't know how he could be so confident. At least Zara and Ching hadn't been dragged into this. They didn't rebel against the marriage and publicly express their feelings. She peeked into the courtroom. The Supreme Council was made up of 5 men and women. Then there was the Council of 5, who were made up of scientists. Jor-El served on this council but though this council was influential, the Supreme Council ultimately made the decision and punishment. Lois sat back beside Kal-El.

Kal-El put his arm around her and told her to relax.

"We could be going to the Phantom Zone," she said. "I liked their old method of punishment better. They put you in suspended animation and when you served your time, you were treated to remove your criminal tendencies and then they released you back into society. Then they had to discover the Phantom Zone and no one has ever been known to escape it. It's only a step above hell. It's dark, lonely, and torturous. I know Kryptonians don't believe in capital punishment but there are some things worse than death."

"You know what makes hell worse than the Phantom Zone? The absence of Rao or God, as He was called on your planet. This council may unjustly sentence us but Rao won't. There is life after the Phantom Zone. Only hell is eternal."

"You really think so?"

"I know so."

He hugged her and they heard, "Case # 4,083, Kal-El and Lois Mas-La vs. Kryptonian marriage laws."

Kal-El and Lois went to stand in the center of the room.

"State your case," said the Head of the Supreme Council.

"I believe," said Kal-El, "that man and woman were made for each other and not for political or even society's purposes. The main purpose for a man and woman to come together is to give each other company. What good is that company if the man and woman don't love each other? I'm not completely rejecting Kryptonian marriage laws. I think once a man and woman come together, they should stay that way in most cases. Especially if they chose each other in the first place. Their union brings children, making it even more important that they stay together and provide two stable and loving parents. Marriage should involve the decision of two people and no one else. All people have this instinct deep down and that's why you all felt the need to push people into a marriage sooner."

"Is that all you have to say?" asked the stone-faced Head of Council. "Do you have anything to add, Lois?"

"He summed it up nicely," Lois said, "but I do want to say that our love would have to be pretty strong to defy laws, backgrounds, and fear of punishment. Love is more powerful than anything. Maybe that's why it says Rao is love."

The councils whispered together for what seemed like the longest time.

At last, the Head said, "we have decided the laws will not change. Parents will still arrange marriages. It has been proven that in most cases the marriages turn out successful and happy. However, we have given special consideration to your case and have decided to make a new law. If the couple decides after getting to know each other that they cannot have a successful or happy marriage, they will be released from their contract and free to marry another."

Kal-El and Lois hugged each other. They were not going to be punished and they could get married.
---

Lois surveyed herself in her wedding dress, as she stood in front of the mirror.

"You look beautiful, dear," her mother said.

"I'm no Lyla Lerrol, the movie actress, but I don't look half bad. Mom, I'm nervous. My alien heritage is going to cause so many problems. There's the gravity issue and then there's the question of if I'll even be able to have kids. What if my marriage fails?"

"You love each other and that's more than most couples have entering a marriage. You can face any problem. Zara and Ching are doing well and their marriage wasn't arranged. Love can overcome anything. Your dad and I are so proud of you. You have a wonderful job and you're about to have a wonderful husband. We always knew you were special but you have exceeded our expectations," her mom said, as she hugged her.

Lois asked, "Have you seen the wedding jewelry we chose?"

"No. What do they look like?"

"We decided on rings instead of bracelets because that's what they used where I was from. Gold was rare there and that's what they used to make the rings. We thought it would be a nice gesture to my origins, if we had gold rings too. We added some expensive jewels so it didn't look like we grabbed a rock and put a hole in it. Each Kryptonian couple has their own matching, unique rings or bracelets that no other couple can copy but I don't think Kal and I have to worry about being copied."

"Probably not. Your jewels aren't made from Jewel Mountain, are they? It's bad luck to wear them on your wedding day. The jewels are made from the crystalline skeletons of ancient, extinct animals. Therefore, it's a symbol of bringing death to the marriage."

"No, Mom. They're not from Jewel Mountain. I don't believe in superstitions anyway. My favorite ones are if you see a comet, you have to hide in a cave for 24 hours or die and if a criminal draws the mythical one-eyed grumpy, the Kryptonian demons bring them good luck. You have to wonder who came up with these things and why?"

There was a knock at the door.

"Who is it?" Lois' mother asked.

"Pardon me, ma'am but I was wondering if I could speak with my future daughter-in-law in private. I have a gift for her," Jor-El said.

After Lois' mom left, Jor-El presented Lois with a small box. Lois opened it and it was a bracelet.

"It's beautiful, Jor-El. Thank you."

"You're welcome but it's no ordinary bracelet. Try it on."

Lois put it on her wrist and instantly felt as like a heavy suit of armor had been lifted off her body.

Jor-El smiled at her surprised reaction and said, "I was determined to find a way to fix your problem. I've been working on it for months and I finally did it. It puts out a very small anti-gravity force field, so now you're a normal weight."

Lois hugged him and said again, "Thank you."

"I want you to listen closely to what I'm going to say. One day you're going to realize just how real all of this was and I want you to share it with my son, Kal-El. Lara and I are so glad and proud that you will be our daughter-in-law. You are good for him. I know that if Kal-El were the alien on your planet, you would be the one woman who could fully love and accept an alien as a husband. The reverse is holding true. Kal-El loves and fully accepts you as the alien. I hope you see that I am not cruel and unfeeling. One day you will find all that's left of me is information and memories but that doesn't mean I didn't love. If I seem harsh and controlling, remember it's not me doing it. My soul, the real me, will be with Rao, so do not be confused by what is left of me. I wish I could communicate this to my son but I'm afraid he wouldn't listen. He will listen if it comes from you. He could have been just as happy and loved by his parents on Krypton but it just wasn't meant to be. All planets come to an end. Love slows things down. Don't ever let science become your god. It's tempting to become wrapped up the world and in only what you can see but something greater lies beyond it all. Remember that, Lois."

"Are you feeling okay?"

"I'm fine. I wish you well on your wedding day."

"Thank you. You've lightened my load. Literally."

Jor-El laughed and left.

---

Kal-El and Lois were standing under the Cosmic Clock. They had decided against having their wedding at the Palace of Marriage. They didn't want to bring back bad memories. The Cosmic Clock counted the years Krypton had existed. It was at 10,000 years. Kal said their love was going to last much longer and Lois agreed. After the wedding, they would have their honeymoon in the floating city.

"Kryptonians bear witness to this eternal union between Kal-El and Lois. It will not be broken. The couple has requested to do their own vows."

"Kal-El, I cannot even begin to tell you just how much I love you. It wasn't love at first sight or even second sight. I guess a lot of it had to do with the way life treated me but you didn't give up on me. You stayed with me no matter how much rejection and insults I threw at you and I slowly began to realize how special you are. I love you more than I ever thought it was possible to love someone. I was never able to understand why someone would want to be a wife because that means forever but now I do."

"Lois, I loved you from the beginning. Not only because you were the prettiest girl I had ever seen but because I saw so much strength of character in you. However, as much as I loved you then, I love you so much more now. I think my love for you grows on a daily basis and I love you so infinitely much that I don't know how that's possible. I'm the luckiest man alive because I'm going to be your husband."

"You are now husband and wife. May Rao bless your union."

Kal-El and Lois had their first kiss and it was worth the wait.

TBC