I really fell in love with both versions of Clark and Lois. I hope you do too!

WEDDING WONDERS

Daily Planet, one hour later

Disguised in a trench coat, striped scarf and heavy sunglasses, Lois from the future made her way into the Bullpen and tried to fight back the nostalgia that threatened to overwhelm her. The noise, the activity, and the smells were like home to her and she missed it all, so much. Journalism in the future- when everything was streamed live in real time- just wasn't the same.

After releasing her breath, she looked around, reminding herself that she wasn't here to reminisce.

Her eyes took in the changes as they moved around the room. She sighed with relief when she spotted Clark's desk and nameplate. Strolling toward the empty desk across from his, she took a look at the nameplate and paused in surprise. Who was Catherine Grant?

What the…?

Without thinking, she stormed over to Jeff's desk, the fury clear in her tone. "What is Cat doing sitting at my… I mean, at Lois Lane's desk." Catching herself mid-rant, she grimaced and tried not to squirm under Jeff's scrutiny.

"Uhm, Lois has moved to her new office on the seventh floor," he said, looking down with a roll of his eyes. He wasn't buying the costume but Lois didn't care at this point. Knowing her, she'd pulled a similar stunt before. Turning on her heel, she stalked away, his quip following her, "Undercover or amnesia this time, Lane; or is it the hangover from the Bachelorette party?"

She didn't bother to respond, grateful that his laughter was drowned out by the general din. Storming to the elevator, she pushed the up button, adjusting the neck of her short-sleeved sweater to cover up the scars. When the elevator doors opened, she was glad she'd taken the time.

The only person on the elevator was Chloe, standing there with a determined look on her face. Lois felt her heart swell at seeing her cousin and had to stop herself from sweeping her off her feet. As it was, she couldn't resist giving her a hug when the doors closed.

"Well, I didn't expect such an enthusiastic response," her cousin told her, clearly trying to see behind the sunglasses to Lois' expression. "You must know why I'm here."

"I do," she answered, knowing that they were both there for the same reason. Leaning her shoulder against the back wall, she crossed her arms, hoping to get some ideas for her own lecture. "Lay it on me."

Chloe was clearly taken aback. "Well… uhm… first, I can't believe you actually called the guests to cancel the wedding at the last minute."

Before the words were out, she was shaking her head. "Is that all you've got? Guilt is not going to work on me. Try again."

The flabbergasted look on her cousin's face was priceless. Chloe actually reddened. "Are you making fun of this situation? Because, I can tell you that Clark does not find this remotely funny. I've never seen him more upset."

Lois felt her chest tighten. "I know," she said softly, wishing she could tell Chloe that they were on the same mission but that would only jeopardize the future even more. Turning her thoughts to the issue at hand, she tried garnering some of the arguments the other Lois might make, but there was nothing.

Chloe toned it down herself at her cousin's quiet response. "Lois, he told me you think you're standing in his way."

She nodded, not sure how to respond. God, this other version of herself sounded like Lana. How the hell had that happened?

Chloe kept talking. "What are you thinking? I don't know what you experienced when you were 'suped' up on Clark's powers but you are not holding Clark back." At that, Lois' head jerked up. She'd had Clark's powers?

"He needs someone to keep him going and if he decides one day to take to the skies, he's going to need someone to keep him grounded. You are that person," Chloe put her hand on Lois' arm and the other woman couldn't keep from nodding.

Rokk's words came to her. You must support and challenge him.

Still, knowing that Chloe was expecting it, she countered. "That's the problem, Chloe," she said. "What if I'm the one keeping him grounded? I couldn't live with that."

"Oh, Lois, he doesn't see you that way at all," her cousin said, reaching into her jacket pocket. Clenching her jaw, she pulled out a folded piece of paper and handed it to Lois. "Here," she told her. "If you won't listen to me, read it in his own words."

When they reached the seventh floor, Lois stepped out but turned when she realized that Chloe stayed aboard. "If you can cancel the wedding after reading Clark's vows, then you're not the Lois Lane I know." The elevator doors closed just as Chloe finished, and the last thing Lois saw was her cousin's intent green gaze and raised eyebrows.

Smiling to herself, she adjusted the collar of her sweater and muttered to herself. "I'm not," almost laughing out loud at the irony. Her eyes rolled. "My cousin always did have a flare for the dramatic."

The office she was looking for was just two doors down from the elevator. Without knocking, she stepped inside and closed the door, coming face-to-face with herself.

"Who are you?" asked this tired-looking version, setting down the stapler she'd just removed from one of the packing boxes that surrounded her desk.

Adjusting the neck of her sweater, future Lois hesitated for a minute. When her head stayed clear and her breathing continued at a normal rate she sighed in relief. Garth was right. She didn't have any of the disorientation that others faced when coming face to face with themselves. According to her friend from the future, it had something to do with having shared brain waves with her counterpart.

Taking a deep breath, she pulled off her sunglasses and scarf. "I'm you," she said, almost smiling at the stunned expression on her doppelganger's face. Keeping her expression serious, she focused on the importance of this moment for Clark, for Superman, and for the world. She needed to bring her double back around but as they stood staring at each other, she wasn't sure how. Looking at the woman's strained face reminded her that they weren't the same.

She's. Not. You.

As Clark's words repeated in her thoughts, she felt her confidence falter slightly.

The tremor that shook the building seemed to mirror her own wavering resolve. Steadying herself with the back of one of the chairs, she tried to rally her arguments.

Out of nowhere she was hit with the memory of her conversation with Clark at the hospital all those years ago.

"Why me?"

Lois looked at him in amazement. "Are you serious or are you just fishing for compliments?"

"Yes … no … I mean I'm trying to understand," he explained, stepping closer as his wide eyes conveyed his confusion.

All she could do in response was roll her eyes- would the man never understand his worth?

After giving her his most frustrated look, he changed tactics. "Okay …why you, then?"

Lois didn't hesitate, smiling when she looked directly into Clark's eyes, "Because you need me, Smallville."

When the memory faded, the woman from the future felt her confidence return. She straightened her shoulders and looked into the eyes of the face across from hers. There was strength and determination behind the pain. Lois may not be this woman but she still understood her. In any time, Lois Lane was- well- Lois Lane.

After a few moments of silence, her double sighed and flattened her hands on the desk. Looking skeptical, she leaned forward. "That's not possible. Who are you?"

"I'm from the future," Lois told her and watched the other woman's eyes widen in surprise. Part of her wondered if Clark had ever talked to her about their little trip to the "hospital." Given the Legion rules, she doubted it.

"We need to talk," she told her double firmly, unconcerned with the woman's response.

Her double raised one hand to rub against her forehead and Lois knew that she was ready to listen. "About what?"

"Being needed."

Kent farm, early afternoon

The note, written simply in Lois' scrawl, read, "Meet me at the farm as soon as possible."

Standing at the Kent mailbox, Clark glanced at it one more time, his eyes moving to the farm and the small red car parked out front. She was here and she wanted to see him. Heart racing, he sped up through the gate to the kitchen door, pausing with his hand on the knob, his thoughts continuing to race.

Was this some sort of ultimatum or had she changed her mind?

Both reactions scared him now.

After he'd left Lois' office this morning, he'd tried to rectify what she'd told him the barn with what she was telling him now. How could he persuade her she was wrong if he didn't understand? After trying to think things through, all he'd ended up doing was replaying their past two and half years together.

Was it his fault?

Years ago, based on what he'd seen in the future, he'd convinced himself that as long as he had Lois, everything would be perfect. That was a lot of pressure to put on someone. Had she finally buckled under his expectations? He certainly could understand how that would happen.

Yet, she never seemed that intent on making things perfect. She constantly disagreed with him. Their first big fight was over Davis Bloome. Lois joined Chloe in her crazy idea to hide Davis away in the basement of the Talon as a way of protecting Clark. After a while all the secrecy destroyed Chloe's relationship with Jimmy and put a serious strain on Lois' relationship with Clark. In the end, it didn't make any difference. He was forced to fight the beast anyway, after Chloe separated the beast from the man. One short battle later and Clark had buried the creature in the tunnels below the Geothermal Plant.

Then Lois sided with Kara when it came to Kara's decision to travel permanently to the future. In the end, Clark had lost that argument and, next thing he knew, his cousin had joined the Legion and settled in another time. She wasn't alone. Much to Clark's surprise, Davis decided to go with her. The man was struggling after his separation from the beast and it was Kara who seemed best able to help him with his past and what it meant.

He shook his head, hand still on the door knob. Lois wasn't a woman who had a problem letting him know what was on her mind. If she was feeling the pressure, surely she would have said something.

Maybe the problem was a lack of time. It seemed that the two of them never had enough of it. In the past couple of years, he'd been forced to deal with Zod and the Kandorians, Checkmate, his own training and Oliver's group of heroes.

The last thought reminded him that he hadn't heard from J'onn or the team in a few days. He felt a mild tremor shake the earth and wondered if the team was working on the problem. Lois had narrowed the cause to the west side of the city. If they were working on it, they were keeping him out of the loop. For once he didn't mind.

Was Lois making the right decision after all? Just thinking about the past two years reminded him of all the craziness in his life. As much as the idea pained him, he knew that living with him would never be easy. Maybe he shouldn't push.

Feeling uncertain, his confidence from the morning diminished, he finally opened the door and walked into kitchen. The sight of his mother sitting at the counter, dressed in her semi-formal attire, stopped him in his tracks.

"Mom, what are you doing here?"

The woman calmly took a drink before looking up. "I've been helping the bride."

Clark swallowed nervously and crossed his arms over his chest. "The bride?"

With a sympathetic expression, his mother walked over and rested her hand on his arm. "Clark, it's not unusual for a woman who's getting married to have jitters before the wedding-"

"Jitters?!" He exclaimed, following his mother's gaze up the stairs, and lowering his voice. "Mom, she was ready to call off the whole thing."

"I know, honey," his mother told him with a pat on the arm, "but Lois' reaction was actually pretty typical."

Clark uncrossed his arms and stepped back, letting his mother's hand drop to her side. "Nothing about this is typical." He ran a hand through his hair, letting his frustration show. "Lois got to experience my powers for a day." At the memory of her running around with his powers, he started pacing. "Maybe she has a point," he continued, his voice breaking on the last few words. "Being married to me won't be easy. What if getting married isn't what's right?"

His mother kept her face passive but he could see concern and sympathy in her eyes. "Clark, if getting married was about doing what was right, your father and I never would have tied the knot." A bitter-sweet smile crossed her face. "Marriage isn't always about what's right or wrong; it's about building a life together. Being married isn't easy, no matter who you are, but if you love each other…" The smile stayed on her face as she gripped his arm. "Well, it's worth everything," she told him. "Now, go talk to her."

With that, she turned and walked back to the counter. Picking up the cup, she told him, "I'm going to take my tea outside so you two aren't worried about being completely open."

He watched his mother walk out of the kitchen door before he let his eyes turn to the top of the stairs. Part of him was tempted to use his x-ray vision- was Lois dressed for the wedding now? His mother hadn't told him anything about what she was thinking. Ignoring the urge to violate her privacy, he took the stairs two at a time and opened the door to his old bedroom, only to have it pushed back until he was standing in the hall.

"No seeing the bride before the wedding, Prince Charming. It's against the rules," Lois' voice told him.

He wanted to force open the door so he could see and touch her, but he reminded himself that he'd decided not to push. He'd done enough of that this morning. Standing in the hall, he took a deep breath and forced himself to relax. Uncertainly, he faced the door with his hands in his pockets. "I thought you were calling off the ceremony."

With the door left open a crack, he could hear her clearly. "Well, about that," she said. "I was thinking about what you said this morning," she paused. "And I read what you wrote." Hearing her words fade in and out, Clark could tell she was pacing. "Look, don't have a cow, farm boy, but I read your vows. I know it's against the rules but a little bird gave them to me and, once they were in my hands, I had to look…"

He felt a smile tug at the corners of his mouth. His fiance was nervous and babbling away. Slowly, as she continued, he felt each one of his doubts fade away.

Marriage isn't about what's right or wrong; it's about building a life together…

And that's what he wanted to do with Lois- to listen to her babble when she was nervous, to watch her bite her bottom lip when she was tempted, and to simply hold her on those few occasions when she cried. He never wanted her to be perfect; he never needed things to be right. He just wanted to be with her through all the mistakes and the trying times. Just like now.

Her voice floated out to him, interrupting his thoughts.

"So, I know it's breaking the rules but since I already did it…" Clark watched as a sheet of paper was slid under the door. "Here are my vows."

"Lois, I know I pushed you this morning," he told her, his certainty warring with his need to make sure that this was what she wanted. "If you don't want to do this today, I want you to know that I understand." He paused, the words hurting even though he knew they were the ones he should say. "I'll marry you in three hours, three days or three years."

On the other side of the door, Lois felt her heart swell, marveling at how this man could always say what she needed to hear. She touched the door gently, wishing that the hard wood surface was Clark instead. She wanted to throw her arms around him now and apologize. She'd done an about-face after one day with his powers, forgetting that he was a man and treating him like he was nothing but a hero. He deserved better than that.

"I know, Smallville," she told him softly, wanting to kick herself for making him doubt her, doubt himself, doubt them. "I just needed a little push in the right direction, a reminder…." Her voice trailed off. She didn't want to say too much about her visitor from the future, even if she was the only one who'd been able to get through the panic. Only Lois could talk herself out of decision she was firmly convinced was right. That's what happened when she came face-to-face with herself from the future. The woman made her see that in trying to be selfless she'd made the selfish choice. Eventually, with the right support Clark would be a better hero. As her double had pointed out, if she did her part, then more people would be saved.

Reading Clark's vows only cemented what the woman from the future was telling her. For some crazy reason, this man needed her.

"Clark, I'm sorry," she felt compelled to apologize now for the hurt she'd caused. "I think we can all agree that I was never meant to have your powers. They made me a little crazy-"

"Lois…" he interrupted, clearly upset by her self-criticism.

"No, Clark, listen. Having your powers made me focus on what you're supposed to do and made me forget what I'm supposed to do." She swallowed hard and leaned her shoulder against the door frame. It was never easy for her to apologize. Would he accept it?

"What is it you're supposed to do?" Clark asked, his voice growing faint as if he'd turned his back on her. Just the thought made her shudder and the words caught in her throat. "Just… just read my vows," she managed to choke out.

She wouldn't blame him if he wanted to back out. When he'd needed her, she hadn't been there for him. Between her own guilt and his silence, she was having trouble breathing. For what felt like minutes, but was probably only seconds, she paced the floor waiting for him to finish. Finally, she couldn't take it anymore. "Clark?" She rested her hand on the door and leaned her face against it, trying to bring herself closer to him.

Nothing.

Her heart stopped. He wasn't answering. What if she was too late? How would she ever live with herself, live without him? Just when she thought she might start hyperventilating, he spoke.

"I'm here, Lois."

At the sound of his voice- so close, so tender- she almost cried out. The scattered pieces of her heart came together to form a whole and she felt like she could breathe for the first time in days.

"I'll see you at the chapel," he told her warmly.

She inhaled deeply and a lone tear trickled down her face. Impatiently she brushed it away. Exhaling softly, she responded. "I'll see you there."

Closing the door, she leaned against it, taking another deep breath. Clark's footsteps headed for the other bedroom and his tuxedo. She listened to them, her breathing automatically matching his steps.

In her heart, she knew that married life with Clark would have its challenges, that being the support he needed would never be easy. Still, it was role she was meant for…

My destiny is to love you.

Her certainty grew until she could breathe again.

The Chapel at sunset

Lois rubbed the scars on her throat as she stood outside the quaint little chapel and looked through one of the clear panels in the stained glass window. The concrete block she'd commandeered for height wobbled a little and she reached for the sill.

A strong arm steadied her from the side.

"Is this really necessary?" Her Clark asked.

She said nothing, just gave him a glaring look and turned back to the widow, her heart full as she watched the culmination of what the Legion started years ago. What she started years ago. Now she felt like a proud parent- well, sort of.

"Are you feeling sickly?" She asked the man standing outside with her.

He shook his head. "No, we must be far enough away. I'm not getting any of the dizziness or disorientation that Garth warned me about."

"Good," she whispered, taking another peek through the small clear pane.

The music was playing now, loud enough that she could hear it on the outside. Attendance was good, she noted with satisfaction. From her perspective she could see most of the team- Victor, Dinah, A.C. and his wife, Mera- only Bart was missing. She recognized several prior co-workers, including Randall and Jimmy, as well as some of her relatives. Mrs. Kent had already been seated and, as she watched, Chloe and Oliver walked happily down the aisle.

Without realizing it, she squeezed her man's arm, sighing at her cousin's happiness.

"Chloe." His voice was barely above a whisper as he leaned in to see what Lois was looking at. She turned at the sound and was surprised by the pain on his face. Sometimes she forgot what he'd been through before he brought the Darkness to Star City. After succumbing in Metropolis, Clark had tried to pull others with him to the dark side. Chloe resisted the Darkness and fought tooth and nail beside Oliver. She was killed as a result.

It was a lot for her Clark to deal with.

With a soft hand, she turned his face to hers. Given the block she was standing on, they were eye to eye. "Leave what happened in the past in the past," she told him firmly. Turning back, she continued to watch. "My cousin's happy now."

She felt him nod before she turned back to cup his chin in her hand, using her thumb to smooth out the wrinkles that had formed around his mouth. Before she could lean forward to kiss away his remaining guilt, the wedding march began and the crowd stood.

She turned back to the window, only to find her father blocking the view of the bride. "Crap," she muttered under her breath. "The General's in my way."

Clark's breath was warm against her ear, even with the sarcasm in his voice. "I'm sure you look beautiful, Lois."

"Ha, ha," she replied, shuffling on the block to change the angle of her view. "She'd better," she muttered, trying to shift her position. Moving to the left didn't help her to see the other woman, only made her more unsteady on her makeshift step.

At least the General looks proud.

She smiled at the thought, her eyes traveling to Martha. She looked proud and happy as well.

Her eyes sought out the groom, who was waiting patiently next to Oliver in his three-piece suit. His eyes were completely and utterly transfixed on the bride. From Lois' perspective the look on his face was the happiest she'd ever seen. By the time the bride reached him, the groom's expression was so radiant Lois was forced to look away.

One side of her mouth turned up as she turned her gaze to the man standing next to her. "He looks happy," she remarked, unable to stay silent for long.

"He is." Clark's tone was quiet, almost assessing.

"Wouldn't it be something if he started floating right here in the Chapel?"

Her Clark turned back to her with a near-panicked expression. "Don't even joke about that."

She had to suppress a laugh to keep from interrupting the proceedings. At the mirth in her eyes, however, her Clark shook his head. "What are we even doing here?" He turned back to look at the bride and groom. "This has got to be the weirdest thing I've ever done."

She ignored him with a "shushing" sound and returned to studying the other pair as they started speaking their vows. She couldn't hear all the words but she knew most of them by now. Her mind went to the moment this morning that her double read the words Clark had written.

I, Clark Kent, take you, Lois Lane to be my companion, forever…

With you by my side, I will never be alone.

When I've been lost, you've always been there to bring me back…

You've always believed in me… and I believe in you… and when you believe in someone, it's not just for a minute or for now, it's forever…

Once she'd seen the words, Lois knew her double understood. All the heartache and the self-doubt on her double's face simply seemed to melt away.

"He needs me," the other Lois said, not seeking confirmation as much as giving it to herself.

Lois from the future nodded, "Yes, he does."

"I'm an idiot."

She nodded her agreement with a smile on her face and tears in her eyes.

Now, looking at the bride's face, everything was there… all the love and understanding that she hoped for when she started this journey. Right now, even though she couldn't see them, she was sure that the bride's eyes were shining with tears.

When it was her turn- her double's turn- Lois caught only bits and pieces of the vows but was proud of what she heard. In any time and any place, she had a way with words.

I wanted these vows to be perfect but perfection is hard thing to get your hands on…

With love, it's like the General always says about the army, you should sign up if it's the only thing you could imagine yourself doing.

I could not imagine spending a moment of my life without you…

You're my best friend, you're my home and you're my true love…

I am yours and will be forever.

With the vows complete, the minister started speaking, and the woman standing outside leaned forward to place a kiss on her man's jaw. "All right," she told him. "You've indulged me long enough, I suppose." She looked at the messenger on her waist and her heart sank. "It's time to go."

Hazel eyes met blue and she knew he could see the fear in hers. His lop-sided smile sent her heart into overdrive, as it always did, but behind the smile she could see his worry and his own fear. Holding her gaze, he inclined his head toward the bride and groom.

"We have time for the rings," he said softly.

His words filled her with mixed emotions. She knew they were putting off the inevitable but part of her wanted to forget and live in this moment. What her Clark was willing to do for Superman, for them all made her love him more. What he was willing to do for her seemed boundless and now that they'd lived together in the future, she couldn't imagine her life without him. She couldn't imagine any other man who would help her stalk her own doppelgangers' wedding.

With a nod, she plastered a smile on her face turned with him to watch the front of the chapel. Her hands moved to his shoulders and she rested her chin there, tilting her head against his. After a minute, her eyes closed, working against the tears that threatened as her mind continued to dwell on the sacrifice this man was willing to make for her and for the world.

Her arms moved around him and she tightened them, promising herself that she would not lose him again. With her eyes closed, she was surprised when he moved away. Opening her eyes, she found her Clark facing her. Over his should she could see Oliver moving to hand the ring to the groom.

Her questioning gaze met intense, heated blue; his eyes shining in the sunset.

"What are you doing?" Her words were whispered.

"Marriage isn't a big a deal the in future, unfortunately," the man told her, his gaze turning even more intense as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box. "Lois, I know I don't have any rights after what I've put you through," he told her, pulling a ring from the box and reaching for her hand. "But, I want you to be my wife."

He paused and waited for her reaction. When she stood frozen in place, he lifted her hand and placed the ring on her third finger. Stunned, Lois could only listen, a dim part of her brain registering that Clark's words echoing the ones being said in the chapel.

"With this ring, I promise to love and honor you for the rest of my life," he said intently, a small smile playing around the edges on his mouth.

Vaguely Lois could see that the bride was taking her turn with the ring in the chapel, but she could only watch. Her Clark had taken her completely by surprise. She had nothing except her words.

"Clark, I…" when she would have said something, made her own promises or excuses- she wasn't sure which- he stopped her with a finger to her lips.

Leaning forward, he kissed her gently, the softness of his lips turning her to mush. Lois sighed when he pulled away, her heart beating with so much love and, when she remembered what he was here for, so much fear that she thought it would burst out of her chest. "Clark-"

"Later, woman," he interrupted, his teasing expression turning serious and the light leaving his eyes. "You can tell me whatever you want… just, do it after."

At the meaning behind his words, her eyes filled with tears. He continued to watch her intently, the sunset making his eyes glow. As the woman from the future watched her man, she tried to memorize the moment- the feel of his hand on hers, the look on his face, the pounding of her heart. She never wanted to forget, no matter what happened.

When she couldn't take in anymore, she nodded her agreement. Releasing the breath he was holding, letting out a soft growl, Clark capture Lois' face in his hands, kissing her in a way that made her knees go weak.

Opening her eyes when he pulled away, she caught a glimpse of the bride and groom over his shoulder, sealing their own promises the same way.

Seeing the other two finalize their vows was like standing on the roof of the Chronicle- a reminder that her efforts had made a difference. Like that night, she felt resolute, giving a bright smile to the man who had pledged himself to her.

Some things were just meant to be.

Her heart swelled with hope.

That's when the ground started rumbling.