CHAPTER 20: THE FINALE (AKA THE HONEYMOON - DAY 7)
"I HATE YOU!" she hisses.
"And I LOVE you," winking at her...
The next morning...
"When do we have to check out?" Lois asks Clark as she's packing up her suitcase.
"It would normally be 10:30 - which is what time it is now, but Oliver arranged it so that we could check out at 12:30 instead," not looking up from his own packing.
"So we can have some more beach time before we have to leave?"
He looks up at her. "Sure," a smile on his face as he closes the suitcase. "How about we go for a walk now?"
"Okay," closing her own suitcase and putting on her sunglasses. "Let's go," smiling back at him.
He comes over and takes her hand; leading her out of their villa and onto the beach. They take their time; just enjoying the peace and quiet. "I really love it here," she remarks as they walk along the water's edge in their bare feet.
"I do too, but in a strange way I can't wait to get back home," he says.
She lets go of his hand and stoops down to pick up a seashell. "I know what you mean. I can't believe I actually went one whole week without checking my e-mail," marveling at the thought.
"I still can't believe you actually agreed to no computers," he remarks; stooping down next to her.
She looks over at him. "I know," looking back down at the seashell in her hand. "But you were right about not having ANY interruptions on this trip," giving him a sideways glance.
He looks at her curiously. "That fire was not my fault," he replies.
"I know that," she says; standing up.
"And I had to go when I heard that cry for help," he says in a somewhat defensive tone as he stands up; glaring at her slightly.
"I know that too," standing on her tiptoes to give him a soft kiss on the lips. "You are sooo easy," chuckling a little. "Don't you know by now that I just love to bust your chops, Smallville?"
"You have since the beginning," wrapping his arms around her waist. "But I have to confess that I love to bust your chops too," pulling her flush against his chest.
"You know," she begins to say, "I was wondering when it was that you felt that you were in love with me."
"Well, there wasn't really any one specific moment. There have been a lot of them. But I think it's safe to say that I had feelings for you - or rather - feelings about you from the beginning."
"Really?" looking curiously at him.
"Really," smiling at her as he tells her the story...
"It's funny isn't it? After everything we've been through, I thought it would take us longer to get over it."
Clark looks at her curiously. "Us?" he asks.
"You and Lois," she replies.
He looks incredulously at her. "Lois? She's bossy. She's stuck up. She's rude. I can't stand her."
She can't help but smile at his reaction. "The best ones always start that way"
"So what about you?" he asks Lois.
"Well," thinking about it for a moment. "I think it might have been when you told me that you were going to be working at the Planet. After you walked away, I remember taking a deep breath. But at the same time, I couldn't help smiling at the thought of seeing you all the time."
"You probably just wanted more opportunities to get under my skin," he quips.
"You think so, huh?"
"Absolutely," he replies. "But I also think you wanted to be UNDER my skin," a grin on his face.
She frowns slightly at that remark. "You couldn't be more wrong," pursing her lips into a pout.
"You want me to prove it?"
"Go ahead, give it your best shot," a smug look on her face.
"All right, you asked for it," scooping her up into his arms and super speeding them back to the villa...
One hour later...
"So did I prove it?" he asks her.
"WOW!" looking down at him.
"Told you," winking up at her.
"I never thought in my wildest dreams that we would ever make love on the ceiling."
"Now aren't you glad you married me?" his hands caressing her back.
"In more ways than one," her finger lightly stroking his chest.
"I suppose we should finish packing. Our flight back to the airport leaves in one hour," he says reluctantly.
"Okay," sighing a little. "But promise me we'll have more of this when we get home?"
"You better believe it," reaching up to softly kiss her lips...
Later that evening...
"Well, home sweet home," Lois remarks as they climb up the porch stairs.
"I know," setting the suitcases next to the door. He takes out the keys and opens the door, then returning them to his pocket. She's about to step inside when he stops her; scooping her up into his arms.
"Haven't we done this already?" looking up at him.
"This is our home," carrying her over the threshold; not stopping until they're in the living room. "The husband always carries his new wife over the threshold and into their first home as a married couple," staring intently into her eyes. "I don't want to jinx it," he adds.
She looks up at him just as intently. "You really are a romantic aren't you?"
He smiles down at her, then lowers his lips to hers.
"Umm," she sighs; smiling up at him after their lips pull apart. "I can't get enough of that."
"I'm happy to hear that," kissing her again before he sets her down. He goes back to the porch to retrieve the suitcases, then comes back in and closes the door behind him.
"Hey, Smallville, look at this," holding up a sealed envelope.
"Where did you find that?" he asks; walking over to her.
"I just found it on the kitchen table - along with this," a bottle of champagne in her other hand.
"Really?" taking the envelope from her. "Let's see who it's from," walking over to the desk and picking up the letter opener. He carefully opens it, then slides the note out and begins to read it out loud...
Dear Clark and Lois,
I hope you had a wonderful time on your honeymoon. And here's an extra wedding present for you: I was able to arrange for the two of you to have a few extra days off - PAID of course.
ENJOY!
Oliver
PS: Dinah and I are now officially dating *wink*
Clark returns the note to the envelope and looks over at Lois; a big smile on his face. Then without a word, they both rush up the stairs to their bedroom...
Nine months later...
"I HATE YOU!" snapping at him.
"I know you do," he quips.
"Just one more push and the baby will be here," the doctor tells Lois.
"You can do it honey," Clark tells her in a soft voice while holding her hand.
"You're never touching me again," she hisses at him.
"Yes dear," he replies calmly.
"Don't you placate me," glaring at him. "I mean it."
"Of course you do," he says.
"Mrs. Kent, you really need to push. You don't want to carry this baby around forever now, do you?"
"He's right, Lois," agreeing with the doctor.
"FINE," scrunching her face up into a pout. "One more push, but that's it."
"Okay," Clark replies; now standing behind her with his hands on her shoulders.
"Okay, now," the doctor tells her.
Lois starts grunting; beads of sweat on her forehead as she pushes one more time.
"That's it," the doctor exclaims as the baby comes out; crying like there's no tomorrow. "It's a girl," a big smile on the doctors face.
Lois collapses back against the bed; her eyes half-closed from exhaustion.
"I knew it!" Clark exclaims; looking over at the baby, then turning back to Lois. "She's beautiful," softly kissing her face; his eyes watering.
"Would you like to cut the umbilical cord?" the doctor asks him.
"Really?" Clarks face lighting up even more.
"Of course," the doctor replies; handing him the scissors.
Clark takes the scissors and cuts the cord; handing him back the scissors and turning back to his wife. "Lois?" whispering in her ear.
She finally opens her eyes and gazes up at him. "Clark? Where is she?"
He puts his arm around her shoulders and kisses her on the top of the head. "They're cleaning her up." The words are barely out of his mouth before the nurse comes over with the baby all wrapped up in a blanket.
"Would you like to hold your daughter?" the nurse asks Lois with a smile.
"Of course I would," rolling her eyes slightly. The nurse carefully lowers the baby and places her in Lois' arms.
"We'll leave the three of you alone," the nurse says with a smile; walking out of the room with the doctor.
Lois looks down at the baby's sleeping face; her fingers tentatively caressing her cheek. "She's so beautiful," tears rolling down her face.
"Just like you, Lois. Just like you," smiling down at her. "So what should we name her?" pulling up a chair and sitting down next to the bed.
"I was thinking of that name that your mother suggested the other day. I think it suits her."
He studies the babies face; his finger lightly stroking the soft wisps of hair on the top of her head. "I think you're right," he replies.
"So we agree?" she asks him.
"Yes," smiling back at her. "Her name is Jennifer." Then his eyebrows rise; suddenly bolting out of the chair and rushing over to the window.
She looks up and sees him staring intently out the window. He turns back around; a frown on his face.
She knows THAT look. She also knows what's going to happen next. "Go, Clark," she says to him.
He comes back to her and the baby. "I'll call Oliver," reaching into his pocket for his cell phone.
"No, Clark," shaking her head. "Somebody needs your help."
"But you and Jennifer need me," a worried look on his face.
"We'll be right here. We're not going anywhere," smiling up at him.
"Lois..." he begins to say.
"If you don't go, you'll feel guilty about it and you know it."
He bites his lip; knowing how right she is. "Okay," kissing both Lois and their newly named daughter. "I'll be back as soon as I can. You can count on that."
"You better," pretending to scold him.
He smiles back at her, then rushes out of the room. She looks down at her daughter. "You know," beginning to talk, "Someday you'll understand why daddy will disappear at all hours of the day and night. But never doubt for a moment that he loves you," softly kissing her head. Then she hears a knocking sound on the window pane. She looks up; her eyes widening at the sight of Clark in his Superman outfit floating right outside.
"I love you," he mouths; blowing a kiss before taking off into the sky.
She waves at him until he's no longer in sight.
"That was your daddy," stroking her cheek. "Did you know that daddy was Superman?" smiling down at her. "Now THAT'S a story I can't wait to tell you about." She settles her more comfortably in her arms. "Actually - since we're going to be spending a lot of time together, maybe I should just tell you the story now. You see, it all started when your daddy was born on a distant planet called Krypton..."
TO BE CONCLUDED...
COMING UP NEXT: THE EPILOGUE