Field of Dreams
Clark groaned under his breath as he sat on the metal seat. He didn't know how he had gotten in this suspended position. It had been a whirlwind when the Smallville Alumni Committee called the house and asked if he would be the guest of honor and sit in the dunk tank like he had his senior year in celebration of the new football season. Had he picked up the phone he would have politely declined, however it had been Lois who had answered and accepted the invitation. They had a minor spat over it. He was set in his decision that he wouldn't do it-and yet there he was in his swim trunks and Smallville Crows T-shirt, staring out in front of him to the upper and lower classmen determined to hit the target with the yellow X and send him crashing into the water.
The scowl on his face started to change when he caught the sun's rays shining in a line connecting directly to his wife, casting her in a light that made her glow. The highlights in her hair brightened, the strands pulled back into a ponytail reminiscent of the day she had been a participant in the throwing game. She was wearing his football jersey over her jeans and he couldn't help but let his mind wander as it did when she wore his articles of clothing as her own.
She was looking down and smiling. His eyes traveled in the same direction and landed on his daughter, Ella, her hair matching her mother's as it swayed behind her. She was wearing a replica of his Smallville High jersey that Lois had ordered special, with the number one and the name Kent on the back.
When Lois looked up she had a gleam in her eye and he wondered what surprise she had in store for him.
The coach of the team stepped out with his bullhorn and addressed the gathered group.
"Fifteen years ago, Clark Kent sat in this very dunk tank unmoved until a certain senior, with a golden arm of her own, hit the target head on. Kent fell right at that moment. It was a surprise to him and the crowd."
Clark gently shook his head in amusement. He remembered the moment well. The details were correct, but he analyzed them further. He had fallen physically, but he had also been caught in a free fall that was continuous for years. It had begun even before that moment. He hadn't realized it completely back then, he hadn't been ready. But from the moment he accepted it, he fell for Lois everyday, deeper and deeper.
"And that woman is here with us today!" the voice added.
Lois gave a wave and the crowd of students, players, cheerleaders, and staff started to clap and whistle.
"What some of you might not know is that these two also found their happy ending after the big splash. Years later they got married and even brought their daughter today to celebrate in this event!"
The crowd started to cheer again and Clark could feel his cheeks turning a light crimson color. He adjusted the glasses on his face and waited. If they were going to relive the glory days he prepared himself as he made his prediction for what would be coming next.
"And in honor of the new fall season, and the hopes of another state title, Mrs. Lane-Kent will now have three chances to throw the football and dunk Mr. Kent. Do you think she can do it again, folks?"
Lois gave a sly smile as she looked at her husband.
"You're going down."
He would have used the same retort he had years prior, but he had already been proven wrong then.
He still had to try, though.
"You think lightning can strike twice?"
"Let's find out. Shall we?" she smirked.
"Have at it, Lane."
Lois sucked in her cheeks in concentration as the coach tossed her a football.
"Go Mommy!" their daughter yelled.
Clark failed to hold back a laugh. He then quickly held his breath as Lois stared at the target and threw the ball. It was only a few inches off when it hit the yellow wall. Clark's chest rested briefly as he exhaled.
Lois shook out her shoulders and arms to loosen them. He knew she was focusing again and she was competing with her eighteen year old self. Her arm pulled back and she threw the perfect spiral, yet it only hit the edge of the button and it wasn't enough to send him careening down.
He witnessed the frustration on her face and he would have willingly jumped into the water if it would bring her smile back. But he knew long ago that Lois could help herself and figure out the best strategy in any situation.
Just as Lois was about to take her final throw, their daughter tugged at the hem of her shirt. Lois crouched down and let the little girl whisper into ear. Another smile formed on her face, to his relief, and she gave their daughter a kiss on her head. To his surprise she handed the football to Ella, her tiny hands grasping it tightly.
"It looks like a game changer, folks. The littlest Kent is taking the field!"
The crowd erupted in encouraging cheers for the preschooler.
With a sparkle in her eyes Ella walked up a couple yards closer. Her face wrinkled as she squinted at the target.
"Dunk! Dunk! Dunk! Dunk!" the chants continued, almost echoing from the past.
Lifting both hands up over head she drew back and then catapulted the ball forward with all her might.
It smashed directly into the yellow X on red button.
Clark felt the seat collapse from under him and he fell right into the cold water. His glasses started to float away and he quickly grabbed them and put them on his face before his legs pushed him back up to the surface. Once he broke through he gave his head a shake and then he looked in awe at his daughter.
She was giggling as she watched him, bringing her hands up to hide the bottom half of her face. The crowd was going wild and he could tell she was feeling a wave of embarrassment. It soon ebbed when Lois was right behind her, wrapping her arms around her and squeezing her tightly. She soon lifted her up, their daughter's arms extended in the air as everyone roared in celebration.
Lois walked over, whispering something to their daughter as they made it to the tank. Ella's little hands reached out and for a moment he thought it was for a hug until he felt the small fingers in his wet hair messing it up the best she could. She laughed and it brought him immense joy.
"Daddy, splash me!" she commanded.
"How about you come in here with me?"
In a swift motion she was in his arms and he bent his legs so half of her body went into the water. He waited for her reaction. She soon looked up at him with a beaming smile and flapped her hands against the water, splashing it all over them and Lois.
"There's room for one more," he commented as he looked at his wife.
This time Lois reached both arms out, one hand on her daughter and the other on her husband, ruffling both wet heads.
"This mermaid prefers dry land."
He and Ella looked at each other and then back at her. They each grabbed an arm and tugged. Lois fell halfway in and with a groan let her whole body continue to enter over the side. Ella clapped as the rest of Smallville High enjoyed the show.
"It seems to be a family affair! Let's give the Kent family one last showing of school spirit!"
A mixture of "bok bok crow!" and "go Crows!" filled the air.
Clark was the first to climb out of the tank, still holding Ella. He helped Lois next and then grabbed his shoes and the towels set aside on the table behind the wall. He patted himself down and helped dry off Ella. Lois sighed as she looked at her soaked lower half.
"Wet denim is not comfortable, Smallville," she grumbled. "Or wet shoes."
He glanced at her up and down and he couldn't complain at the sight. "But you make it look good."
She glared at him, "I will get you back for this."
"I was thinking we were even since you roped me into this," he countered.
She narrowed her eyes at him and gave it a thought. "I guess we could do that."
"Sound like a good deal, Ella?"
She shrugged, "I guess so."
"But you have to admit it wasn't as bad as you were dreading." Lois said as they started to walk.
"No, it was nice. It brought back some good memories."
"See, I told you."
"And I guess we started a tradition of me getting dunked into water by a feisty girl with a good arm."
Clark started to tickle Ella and she squirmed and squealed. She had the most infectious laugh and it consumed him every time.
Lois stopped to admire the pair and let her hands fall above her stomach.
"Maybe in a few years you'll have another player on the roster to join the fun."
Confused by her statement he looked over and asked, "Huh?" Behind his glasses his eyes zeroed in on the location of her hands and his synapses started firing making a connection.
"Are you saying…"
Lois gave a little laugh and winked. She then turned and started to dart across the other half of the football field.
"Lois!"
She couldn't just leave it at that.
"Catch me if you can, Smallville!" she called out as she ran towards the goal post.
Still holding Ella, he started to chase after his wife. Once he made it to the end zone he saw the little jersey with the last name Kent and a number two hanging and blowing in the wind. He lowered Ella down to the ground and took a couple steps closer to examine the shirt. He turned to Lois with a wondrous expression.
"It looks like you slipped one past the defense, Kent." Lois smiled. She looked down at where they were standing and back up to him. "Touchdown."
They had talked about the possibility of having another child, but they didn't want to focus too much on the venture only to be disappointed if they couldn't get pregnant. They had adopted the philosophy of allowing whatever happens to happen. It was unexpected and in their favor.
Clark couldn't contain himself and picked Lois up in his arms. They circled around in a twirl and his lips soon found hers.
Ella watched them and exclaimed, "I don't know what is going on!"
The couple ceased their kiss and turned their attention toward their daughter. Bending down to her height they smiled at each other and then at her.
"Looks like you're getting a promotion, kid. Only child season is ending," Lois told her.
"A po-motion?"
"You're going to be a big sister," Clark explained.
Her eyes lit up at the news. "I am!?"
Lois nodded.
"Yaaaaaaay!" she yelled as she ran around her parents.
"Are you ready for another round of this?" Lois asked, referring to the ball of energy currently running circles of excitement.
"Absolutely," he confirmed, his heart ready to burst. "When did you find out?"
"I had my suspicions lately, but it was confirmed about four days ago. I had to put a rush order on that," she said, pointing to the tiny jersey. "I wanted it to be a surprise and I thought this might make the whole experience today worthwhile."
He had been right long ago. Through friendship, dating, and now marriage, she would never stop surprising him.
"It was perfect."
"Mommy! Daddy! Am I going to have a sister or a brother?" Ella asked, pointing to the flapping garment.
"We don't know yet," her mother told her as she plucked the jersey from the post. "We have to wait a little while."
"Can it be a sister?" she pleaded.
"I don't really have control over that."
"Oh," Ella replied and then quickly added, "But I would like one."
Lois glanced at Clark. "I don't know if Daddy can handle three against one."
"I can handle it," he said, stepping up to the challenge. He wouldn't mind another girl, if that's what they were blessed with. The farmhouse being filled with the warmth of family was all he needed-and all he had ever dreamed of. He was grateful for everything life had provided for him thus far. It didn't matter in what form or number, but he welcomed the expansion.
His wife took the jersey and placed it up to the middle of his still damp chest.
"Famous last words. Just remember you said them."
"Is that a promise or a threat?" he asked with a grin.
He placed his hand over hers, holding it in place.
They both leaned forward and kissed again. When their lips pulled away, they rested their foreheads together.
"I love you," he whispered.
"I love you, too," she whispered back.
Ella tugged on both their shirts.
"Am I going to have to share my room?"
Lois closed her eyes briefly and then opened them back up. "And the barrage of questions continues."
"Yeah, I wonder where she gets that from," he quipped.
She formed a fist with her hand and punched him in the shoulder.
"All in due time, my little dunkin' donut," Lois answered her daughter. She then took her small hand into hers and started to walk with her. "But this bun has just started to bake in the oven. So, you don't need to worry about sharing rooms just yet."
"There's a bun in an oven?!" she cried out in confusion.
Clark chuckled as he watched them. He then took in his surroundings and remembered how being on the football field had meant everything to him, how he could get just the smallest taste of normalcy. It had once been his dream to play, thinking it would fulfill him in some way. However, it had been a chance meeting with a girl in a cornfield that turned his world on its axis and brought him the normalcy and fulfillment he had craved and desired. It had shattered the façade he had put together in high school.
He brought his attention back to his daughter and pregnant wife. This was his dream.
"Are you coming, Smallville?" Lois called out.
He hasten his steps, picking up speed to meet up with them. He was still holding the tiny football jersey, Kent 02, thumbing over the numbers and letters.
He had found his soulmate, his companion in life forever who believed in him and in all things that seemed impossible. With her by his side he'd been able to overcome obstacle after obstacle. They had been able to build a life and miraculously start a family of their own. A family that still held more promises.
He had grown beyond the football field and grown into something with more significance.
This was his dream. He had achieved it.
True happiness.
