Going to the Chapel...

By Pam Jernigan (ChiefPam@nc.rr.com) and Sarah Wood (102116.3615@compuserve.com)

Summary: Two really big things are happening in Lois and Clark's   life: their current investigation, which could potentially pull   the plug on Intergang -- and their imminent wedding. The happy   couple hopes these two events don't interfere with each other.

[Note: The authors wish to thank Laura, Donna, Amy, Leigh, Cesar,   Chris, Cindy, Kelly, Elaine, Evelyn, Kelley, and Pam's mom]

***

Part One

"It looks great," Lucy assured her sister. Lois looked at her   reflection in each of the three mirrors facing her and sighed.   She had been standing on a little step stool for a half an hour   while poor Mrs. Tyrell, the bridal shop owner, fussed around her,   taking measurements and adjusting the hemline and clucking to   herself. Before that she'd spent two hours looking at, trying on,   and rejecting an assortment of wedding dresses, and her   enthusiasm for the whole procedure was starting to dim.

"It looks nice," Lois agreed cautiously, fingering the lace   overlay on the skirt. Her mother had been pushing for the   glamorous Cinderella gowns with the puffy skirts, long trains,   flounced shoulders, and beads and sequins everywhere. Lucy had   been trying to get her to wear one of the more modern   mermaid-style dresses that hugged the body down to the knees and   then suddenly flared out in a ridiculous frill. Lois had balked   at both those extremes; she didn't think of herself as the type   to wear frills and ruffles, but this one might just do.

"Well, it's... elegant," Mrs. Lane conceded. She moved around   Lois, inspecting her from all angles. The gown was designed   simply, with a fitted bodice trimmed in seed pearls, moderate   off-the-shoulder puffed sleeves, and a gently flaring skirt   overlaid with a web of lace, also trimmed in seed pearls. There   was barely a train to it at all.

The more Lois studied her reflection, the more she liked it. Her   mother was insisting on a big ceremony, so she might as well   dress the part, she rationalized. And she just knew that Clark   would love it. And, she admitted to herself with an internal   grin, if she bought this one she could be done with shopping for   a dress.

"I like it," she announced. Lucy smiled at her encouragingly.

"You're sure?" her mother asked, with a barely suppressed sigh.   Ellen Lane had hoped for something less... plain, but she   supposed she was lucky her independent daughter would be wearing   a gown at all.

Lois smiled brightly, her decision made. "Yes, this is it.   Thanks, Mrs. Tyrell, I'll take it." Now maybe she could get out   of here and back to her real life.

"All right, now for the veil," her mother said, seemingly willing   to stay in the bridal boutique all day. Mrs. Tyrell started   toward that section of her little dress shop.

"Oh no!" Lois said quickly. "I'm not going to wear a veil, silly   things, completely outdated." The seamstress stopped short and   turned, awaiting the outcome of the latest discussion.

Ellen Lane looked doubtful. "Lois, darling, every bride wears a   veil..."

"Yes, but the symbolism is terrible. Being given away like a   gift-wrapped package. Besides, I want to be able to *see*   Clark!"

Mrs. Tyrell smiled to herself. Another one of those. She quickly   selected just the thing. "Miss Lane? How about this?" She held   out a froth of lace for inspection.

Lois saw that this veil would only drape down the back of her   head, not cover her face. The headpiece had room for some silk   flowers, too, the seamstress pointed out. Lois tried it on, and   they considered it.

"Lois, it's just not the same..." Mrs. Lane protested weakly.

"Well, I could just go without." Lois teased, turning a little to   see the side views. It did look good against her glossy dark   hair, and Lois found that she didn't mind looking just a little   like a fairy princess.

"No, this is fine, dear," Ellen backed down hastily. She'd take   whatever concessions to tradition she could get. A thought struck   her, belatedly.

"Lois, you're not, well, avoiding things, dresses and things, you   know, because of your last experience with a wedding, are you?"   As soon as she spoke, she wished she hadn't, but Lois just looked   at her in disbelief.

"C'mon, Mom, that was two years ago! Besides, this is *Clark*,   not Lex. It's not the same at all. Anyway, I'll take this veil."   She handed it back to Mrs. Tyrell and started her escape from the   gown, assisted by Lucy. "I don't want to rush out on you, but I   just got word about something Clark and I have to investigate.   This could be big, Mom, I mean *really* big!" Her eyes shone as   she spoke of her work. As the Daily Planet's top investigative   reporter, she had excellent contacts throughout the city, and one   of them had come through for her with what looked to be a major   scoop. And here she was, trying on dresses, when she should be   out there tracking down leads.

Lucy laughed. "Uh-oh, there she goes again! Lois, how can you   think of anything but your wedding? It's only two weeks away!"

Lois waved impatiently as she began putting her own clothes back   on. "I know, believe me, but I never realized how much work was   involved in planning a wedding. It's nothing but decisions! Which   hall for the reception, which church, what date, what kind of   script should the invitations be written in, who do we invite,   what kind of flowers do we have on the tables, what color should   the bridesmaids wear..."

"All right, I get the idea!" Lucy laughed.

"Well, I have to make all these decisions and they're just not   things I'm interested in, really, or very good at, and now I've   got this really important story to uncover and I'm wasting time   trying on a dozen dresses..."

"Wasting time?" her mother cried. "Lois! It's not a waste at all!   You want everything to be just right for your big day."

"No, Mom," Lois corrected firmly. "*You* want everything to be   just right, I would've been quite happy having a quiet little   ceremony with just some of our friends and family present, and so   would Clark. You wanted to get the church and the great hall and   invite everyone you know. Well, that's fine, I can live with   that, but right now I've got to get back to the Daily Planet and   fill Clark in on this story." She finished getting dressed.

"Well, Lois, it's just that I want you to have a wonderful   wedding, you know, after what happened..." Mrs. Lane's argument   trailed off at the sound of her daughter's exasperated groan.

"All I want is for Clark to be there at the altar."

Lucy grinned broadly. "Of course he'll be there, Lois! He's madly   in love with you!"

Lois harumphed but said nothing. What could she say, that he   might have to fly off to rescue someone or foil a crime in   progress? In the year since their engagement, since Lois had   finally pieced together the puzzle about Clark's sudden   disappearances, there had been plenty of dates abruptly cut short   and dinners at her apartment that grew cold while she waited for   him.

Clark had sworn to her that nothing would keep him from being   there on time. "You're more important to me than anything or   anyone in the world, Lois, and I promise you I won't let you   down," he had declared, and he meant it, she knew. Yet how could   he ignore someone needing help? How could *she* ignore someone   needing him? As a joke, she'd bought him earplugs to wear the   morning of their wedding, to block out some of his super hearing,   but inside she was more than a bit worried that something would   go wrong, *something* would happen, and that she'd be left   standing alone in the church, with no possible explanation. A   quick ceremony at the courthouse probably would have been a lot   safer, but Lois hadn't been able to disappoint her mother, so   she'd agreed to a church wedding. Which seemed to get bigger and   more complicated every time she turned around.

"Everything will go just perfectly, don't worry," her mother said   soothingly, mistaking Lois's feelings for the more usual sort of   pre-wedding anxieties. "Now, the dress is taken care of, I'm   meeting on Thursday with the video crew, and..."

"Video crew?" Lois let out a groan of dismay. "Mom, I don't need   a video crew!"

"It'll be wonderful to be able to watch it over the years," her   mother insisted, and Lois, once again, gave in. "Where was I? Oh,   yes, the photographer's booked, she'll be at the church for the   first set of pictures." Lois did her best to simulate an   appreciative smile. "Tomorrow we have an appointment with the   caterers at three to select the menu, and then..."

"Hold on," Lois interrupted, wide-eyed. "You didn't tell me about   making any appointments! Mom, I can't make it at three tomorrow,   I've arranged to meet a source then. I can't change that," she   added quickly, forestalling the objection. "I can't get in touch   with him."

"Well we can't delay the appointment with the caterers either,"   Mrs. Lane said just as determinedly as they all left the store   together. "There's only two weeks left before your wedding, we   have to make the final arrangements."

"Can you go alone, Mom?" Lois asked, her eyes pleading. "You have   great taste, I trust your judgment completely! Whatever you   choose, I'm sure it'll be delicious."

Mrs. Lane sighed heavily, but inside she didn't mind at all, it   would in fact be easier without Lois there fidgeting and looking   at her watch and arguing with the caterers. "I'll handle it," she   agreed.

"Thanks, Mom, really, for all you've done," Lois said as she   started backing away from them to head towards her Jeep. "I've   got to run now, I'll talk to you later!"

"I'll call you tomorrow evening," her mother called after her.   Lois gave a little wave and hurried off. Mrs. Lane looked darkly   at her other daughter and said, "Lucy, when you get married..."

"Don't worry," Lucy laughed. "I'll elope!"

"Don't you dare!" her mother said, suddenly smiling. She looked   again at Lois's retreating form. "She's just so..."

"Headstrong?" Lucy suggested

"She seems to be more interested in this new story than in her   own wedding!"

"Well, that's Lois for you," Lucy said cheerfully.

***

Lois tapped the steering wheel impatiently. Trying on dresses had   taken much longer than she'd anticipated, and she was anxious to   tell Clark about this new lead, and make some phone calls to her   contacts, see if she could find out anything more. Anything about   Intergang was news and a potentially big scoop, but if her source   could be believed, this would be a great opportunity to do real   damage to the criminal organization.

The timing, of course, was terrible. Two weeks before her wedding   was no time to get involved in something that required a lot of   snooping around. Thank goodness her mother loved handling the   wedding plans, she thought with a wry smile. Mrs. Lane had been   very disappointed to be left out of the plans for her aborted   wedding to Lex Luthor. Now she could run the whole show.

And what a show it was turning out to be! She and Clark had   envisioned a sweet and simple wedding with just a few guests   present, some pretty flowers, and Elvis music for Perry   afterwards. How had it become a major event? A video crew? The   live band, the huge vases of flowers, the three bridesmaids, and   a guest list that made Lois gasp. She hardly recognized some of   the names there! It seemed that the only person in the world who   couldn't make it would be her father, who claimed that his   research could not be disturbed even for a day. It was a   disappointment in a way, but in his absence, she'd asked Perry to   escort her down the aisle, and the Chief had been walking on air   ever since.

Clark was being very patient and supportive about the whole   thing, she reflected thankfully as she waited for traffic to move   again. He calmed her down, reminded her that her mother loved her   and wanted her to be happy, and assured her that as long as they   were together exchanging their vows it didn't matter what kind of   hoopla accompanied it.

Still, just thinking about the nauseating shade of pink her   bridesmaids would be decked out in made Lois cringe a little. She   worried about the expense, too, although her mother was only too   happy to take care of most of it. Lois shrugged. "If she wants to   spend even more money on flowers and a video crew, I guess I can   live with it," she said aloud.

Then, not surprisingly, her thoughts turned forward to the   sources she could call on for more information. Her eyes narrowed   as she plotted a strategy for getting the scoop of the year,   maybe even the scoop of the decade!

***

When Lois arrived back at the Planet, Clark wasn't at his desk,   so she got right to work. She'd gotten a tentative meeting set up   when she was surprised by hands on her shoulders. She smiled and   tilted her head up. Clark leaned down to give her an upside-down   peck on the lips. Then he settled on the corner of her desk to   wait until her phone call was finished, idly stroking her arm   while she took some cursory notes.

"So, how did the search for the perfect dress go?" he asked as   soon as she hung up the phone, brown eyes twinkling. He knew   about her limited love for shopping.

Lois laughed a little, and entwined her fingers with his.   Everything seemed better when she could share it with Clark. "It   went just fine. I'm all set, and you're going to love it." She   looked at him quizzically. "So where've you been this morning? I   thought you'd be here writing up that vandalism story."

"I was meeting with a source," he replied easily, glancing around   the room in a manner that appeared casual. She recognized his   usual cover story; he'd been needed in the Suit. He didn't   elaborate, so apparently it was nothing unusual. With a brief nod   Lois eagerly jumped in with her big news.

"Clark, listen to this - " She looked around the busy newsroom,   then dragged her partner into an empty conference room and closed   the door. "I was contacted by Bobby Bigmouth this morning, he had   a message for me from Marvin Gates!" she burst out, too excited   to bother sitting down.

"Marvin Gates?" Clark looked puzzled. "Who's... wait, isn't he   one of the lawyers working for the Parrish Casino?"

She nodded. The partners had tried investigating the casino   earlier that year, suspecting it was a front for Intergang, but   hadn't been able to get any proof. "Gates wants to meet with me,   he said he has something I might be interested in. Clark, I just   know he's working for Intergang! I checked him out right after   speaking to Bobby, he earns far too much and works far too   little, it's fishy. I mean, who pays someone who hardly works?"

"No one I've ever worked for, that's for sure," Clark responded   cheerfully.

"Now, what's going on in here?" Perry White opened the door of   the conference room and stood in the doorway. "You know, I don't   pay you two to stand around all day!" The partners looked at each   other and grinned. "Are you talking about your wedding again?"   Despite his grouchy words, there was an indulgent smile on the   Chief's face.

Lois smiled at him fondly, and motioned for him to come all the   way in the room. "Now why would we discuss that?" she teased. "My   mother has it well in hand."

"Lois has got something big, Chief," Clark said seriously, making   sure the door shut behind Perry. The two of them quickly repeated   the news to the Chief.

Perry's attention was caught. "But kids, this could get   dangerous, you're going to have to be real careful."

Clark agreed, shooting a meaningful look at his more impulsive   partner. She nodded impatiently. "I don't think Intergang has any   sneaks working here, but I'm not going to take any chances. I'll   try to set up a meeting with Gates, but I can't contact him   directly, so it's going to take some time."

"Well, alright," Perry growled. "Work on that; I'll reassign the   mismanagement investigation. But Lois, I'm still waiting on that   piece I assigned you last week." Lois nodded meekly. "And Clark,   what in tarnation's happening with that vandalism story you're   writing?" Clark took his cue from Lois and just nodded. The Chief   Editor glared at the pair, but he was bluffing and they knew it.   He knew that when they were on the trail of something this big   they would be too distracted for any other work, and he secretly   hoped they would have enough time to handle all the wedding   details. Alice said that planning a wedding was a lot of work,   and while he didn't see what could be so hard about it, he'd   learned not to question Alice.

After Perry left, they sat down to discuss details.

Clark began the brainstorming. "We should prepare a list of   things to ask Gates about."

"He could give us details on some local Metropolis operations."   Lois chewed on a pencil.

"We should dig up every rumor we've got on Intergang," Clark   decided. "And since we can't let this secret get out, we'll have   to do it all ourselves. He's probably involved in that   money-laundering scheme we think they're running through the   Parrish Casino."

"With a name like that, it's got to be connected to Bill   Church."

Clark frowned into the distance. "Yeah... we should look into   that again. Maybe some undercover work? We need to get a closer   look at their books."

Lois slanted an inquiring glance his way. "Is that something   Superman could help us with?" She spoke obliquely out of habit.

He shook his head. "I understand that lead-lined paneling is very   popular these days, in certain circles. This is going to take a   lot of work, but it should be worth it."

Lois shrugged. "For this story, I'd walk to China - Gates could   crack Intergang right open." She flashed a smile at him. "Lucky   for him we're good at keeping secrets."

"You are, anyway..." He smiled tenderly. "Sometimes I don't know   how I managed without you."

She laughed. "Badly. Some of the clues you dropped..." She'd long   since overcome her embarrassment at not seeing the obvious.   "Anyway, we've got a lot of work to do, and I don't think any of   it is a job for Superman. Not yet, at least. I've got some   sources I can talk to. Can you get started searching through our   files? That'll give us our first list of questions for Mr.   Gates."

Clark nodded, and escorted her out of the conference room. "I'll   get Jimmy to help me with that, I just won't tell him exactly why   we're looking." Lois waved a hand in vague affirmation, her   attention already focused on who to call next.

"Jimmy?" Clark looked around the newsroom. Jimmy emerged from the   supply room, looking distracted.

"What's up, CK?"

"We've got to dig up everything we've got on Intergang, Jimmy.   Confirmed, unconfirmed, even wild goose chases, everything."

"No problem." He hesitated a moment, then continued. "I just want   to thank you again, CK, for asking me to be your best man - this   is like the coolest thing I've ever done! I'm really honored that   you picked me."

Clark waved this aside, embarrassed. "I'm glad to have you,   Jimmy. You've been a good friend." He looked more closely at   Jimmy's expression. "Is something wrong?"

"Not exactly," Jimmy hedged. Clark waited expectantly. "It's   just, well, I have to make a speech for you, you know, at the   reception, the best man always makes a toast to the happy couple.   I've never given a speech before, I don't know what to say! I've   been trying all week to get something written down but I..." He   ran out of steam and just sighed. "I guess I'm just nervous. I   don't want to ruin your wedding with a lousy speech."

Clark laughed, resting a hand on Jimmy's shoulder. "Jimmy, you   couldn't possibly ruin our wedding! Don't worry so much about it,   you don't have to make a long speech, just a quick toast. You'll   do fine," he said reassuringly. Jimmy didn't feel very reassured,   but he smiled weakly nonetheless. "Now, let's get to work! If   Perry catches us standing around talking about the wedding again,   he'll have both our hides!"

Part Two

"So, one week left before the Big Day," Martha Kent said   cheerfully to her son and future daughter-in-law over a   nearly-empty dinner table. The Kents had arrived in Metropolis   that morning to stay until the wedding, and the young couple had   been updating them on the ongoing plans for the wedding. "Are you   getting nervous yet?"

Clark and Lois exchanged a wry smile. Lois had a sip of her wine   and let Clark do the talking for them. "Well, Mom, perhaps   'nervous' isn't the right word. You know we wanted just a simple   ceremony, but Mrs. Lane wanted Lois to have a big beautiful   wedding, and things have sort of snowballed."

Jonathan Kent leaned back in his seat, his plate empty and his   stomach full. "Well, you may appreciate all those special things   later, son. I know I would've liked a video of our wedding." He   smiled at his wife, and she reached out and slipped her hand into   his, returning the smile lovingly.

"We know that," Clark said, checking with Lois for silent   confirmation. "It just seems like this whole thing has gotten out   of hand. We just wanted to be together." Mirroring his mother's   actions, Clark reached over and clasped Lois's hand. The Kents   saw the glow on her face, and smiled. Their love had grown over   the years, and it was exciting for them to see their son just   embarking on that same journey. They had always liked Lois, but   in the year of their engagement they had spent more time with her   and their fondness had become love. Martha, especially, felt a   kinship with the feisty young reporter, and saw echoes of her own   youth in those sparkling eyes.

"When you're promising to love one another, you won't really   notice what's going on around you," Martha suggested gently. "I   know on my wedding day, I only had eyes for your father."

A warm and comfortable silence drifted over the foursome.

"That was a great dinner, Mom," Clark said at last, his eyes   still on his beautiful bride. "Are you giving Lois some   pointers?" he added teasingly.

"Come on, Clark, I've gotten a lot better!" Lois protested,   trying not to smile. Her cooking had become a long-running joke   between them.

"Well..." he said slowly, grinning broadly. "Yes, you have," he   conceded.

"It's not as though you're marrying me for my cooking," she added   with a sly grin.

"You've got that right!" Clark laughed, dodging in his seat to   avoid the playful swat she aimed at his shoulder. Martha smiled   indulgently at their horseplay as she began to clear the table.   Clark jumped up to help her, or to evade Lois, no one was quite   sure.

"So, Lois, tell me more about this investigation you two are   working so hard on," Jonathan suggested, as he got up to get a   deck of cards for their regular after-dinner game of poker, a   pastime they had all come to enjoy.

Lois sighed. "Marvin Gates, the lawyer who wants out, has given   us some scraps of information through a third party, and they've   checked out okay, so we know he's legit - but we haven't been   able to set up a meeting with him yet."

Having done the dishes at superspeed, Clark sat down again beside   Lois. "It's very frustrating," he said with feeling. He wanted so   much to be able to nail the Churches without the Suit. "We can't   publish what we have yet because it would implicate him, or so he   thinks. He would be such a gold mine if we could just get him to   produce some evidence!" He sighed, and Lois rested her hand on   his arm comfortingly. "He wants Superman get him out of the   country after he tells us everything he knows, and we agreed to   that. I guess we just have to wait until he gets in touch with   us."

Martha returned to her seat wearing her green visor and carrying   the penny jar. As she began to hand out the "poker chips", Clark   shuffled the deck at superspeed, and Lois gave him a little   shove.

"Show off!" she said softly, smiling at him. His poker skills had   certainly improved in the last year, since she'd insisted on   teaching him the game.

"Oh, I see, it's showing off when I'm shuffling, but it's   completely different when I do the dishes," Clark said, nodding,   his lips twitching as he tried to keep a straight face. "I   thought you didn't like double standards, honey."

"Well," Lois said, uncomfortably aware that he had caught her   that time. "Oh, all right, you win!" she finally concluded,   laughing along with the others. "Just keep doing the dishes,   partner, and I'll forgive all the showing off!"

"I think I just got suckered," Clark groaned, winking at his mom   as he finished dealing the deck.

Jonathan tossed in his one penny ante, and then asked, "So, son,   when's the bachelor party?"

Martha and Lois simultaneously rolled their eyes. "Don't tell me   you're going to have that ridiculously old-fashioned thing," Lois   groaned. "I don't understand why men feel a need to have a wild   night before getting married, it's as if they think marriage is   awful! Clark, you'd better not be planning on going to a topless   bar!"

Clark shot his dad a dirty look before turning to his future wife   with a sheepish, innocent shrug. "I don't get to make the plans,   Lois, the best man arranges everything. I won't let them get too   wild, though."

"Well I agree with Lois," Martha said firmly. "Why does the groom   get a night on the town, and the bride gets household gifts, and   maybe some lingerie if she's lucky," she added with a wink at   Lois. "It's a very old-fashioned way of looking at marriage."

"It sure is!" Lois said vehemently. "I think the bride and groom   should both be given a party wishing them luck and giving them   both things they'll need as they make a life together."

"Sounds much more sensible," Martha nodded as she upped the   ante.

"Sure does!" Clark put in quickly. "Topless bars, it's   ridiculous, right Dad?"

All eyes turned to Jonathan, who was frowning over his cards and   fiddling with two pennies thoughtfully. He looked up, wide-eyed.   "What? Why is everyone looking at me?" he asked, a bit   bewildered.

"Oh, honey," his wife laughed. "Just say you agree with me and   you'll be fine."

"I agree with my wife, absolutely," Jonathan said obediently.

"See, Clark? Listen and learn," Lois advised, a twinkle in her   eye. "Your dad's a real pro at marriage!"

***

Clark was busily tapping away at his keyboard when Lois entered   the newsroom Monday morning. She made a beeline for the coffee   pot and searched for her mug. "Now who's gone and taken my coffee   mug!" she asked loudly. Clark grinned and waved her over.

"Your coffee's ready and waiting, honey," he informed her,   standing up to give her a gentle good morning kiss. Lois slipped   her arms around his waist and smiled up at him. He was so   thoughtful in so many little ways.

She slipped out of the embrace and sipped at her coffee.   Grimacing, she said, "You must've gotten here quite a while ago,   it's cold!"

"Here," Clark said, standing close to her with the coffee mug   between them. He lowered his glasses after a quick study of the   newsroom to be sure no one could see, and used his heat vision to   warm the drink up again. "I've been here for almost an hour, I   wanted to finish that piece on vandalism."

She took another sip of her coffee. "Mm, much better, thanks.   So," she glanced around the newsroom to be sure no one was near,   "do we have an in at the casino?"

Clark smiled. "Charlie the bartender lives! I start tonight, and   I've got you an interview for a waitress position this afternoon   - I told them you were my girlfriend."

"Hmm, that could work. And if they know we're together, I may get   fewer propositions." She grinned.

"I know you can handle a few propositions." Clark had learned the   hard way not to be over-protective of his independent lady; and   he had absolute faith in her fidelity. "I was just tired of those   cover stories where we have to pretend to not love each other."   They shared a bittersweet smile.

"Well, starting tonight is good," Lois said briskly, getting back   to business. "We only have a week to wrap this up, one way or   another." Gates had given them the name of the man in charge of   the money-laundering at the casino, a seemingly minor flunky   named Sam Reynolds who they hadn't bothered to look into before.   A few minutes in his office should be all they'd need. "Let's get   to work."

"That's my Lois!" he responded with a broad grin. "I'm almost   finished with this, then I'll be all ready for our meeting with   Bobby Bigmouth. Chinese food again?"

"Yes, but not from China," she said with a giggle. "We can just   stop in at Peking Palace. I sure hope Bobby's got some good news,   this is very frustrating! I can feel it, Clark, this is going to   be really big! If we can ever get the story!"

"Um, sorry to interrupt," Jimmy said uncertainly from near   Clark's desk. "CK, I think these are the last of the Intergang   rumors." He handed a very slim file over, but hung on tightly to   a clipboard.

"Thanks, Jimmy, you've been a great help," Clark said   appreciatively. When Jimmy shifted his weight from one leg to   another and back again, showing no signs of leaving, the two   reporters shared an inquisitive glance. "Something on your   mind?"

"It's my speech," Jimmy burst out. "Can I try it out on you? You   can tell me what's good and what's lousy and help me rewrite   it."

The partners broke into laughter simultaneously. "Jimmy!" Clark   protested. "I can't proofread your speech!"

"Don't look at me," Lois added with a grin. "You're going to have   to find somebody else!"

Jimmy sighed as he looked down at his clipboard. "I guess you're   right. Thanks anyway." He looked around the room for a moment and   then his face lit up. "Oh Paula! Can you spare a minute?" he   called, hurrying off.

Lois and Clark looked at each other and laughed again before   settling down to get some work done.

***

"What've you got for me?" Bobby Bigmouth asked as he slid into   the back seat of Lois's Jeep, startling Lois. Clark, of course,   had heard him coming.

"That depends," she said cagily. "What've you got for *us*?"

Bobby inhaled the delicious aroma of Chinese food coming from the   bag Lois was determinedly hanging on to. "Egg rolls..." He closed   his eyes and sniffed again. "Sesame chicken?" He debated for a   moment. "Okay, Lane, here's the deal. Gates is definitely willing   to talk, but he doesn't trust you two to protect him. Gimme an   egg roll."

"None of that's news to us," Lois scowled. "No news, no egg   rolls."

Bobby turned to Clark and opened his mouth to speak, but Clark   looked stern. With a sigh, after licking his lips, Bobby   grumbled, "Okay, okay. I told him you agreed to get Superman to   fly him to the country of his choice, but he's worried. Seems   like Intergang suspects something, they're keeping a close eye on   him, that's why it's so hard to get in touch with him now."

"Did you pass along our latest questions?" Lois demanded.

"Yeah, but don't blame me cause he didn't answer them!" Bobby   complained. "He won't tell me anything! All I know is, Gates is   looking over his shoulder all the time."

"It took a week for you to come up with this?" she asked   disdainfully. "Did he set a time and place to meet?"

"Not yet, he's trying to plan a cover first, he said he'll be in   touch with me soon."

Lois looked thoroughly displeased. "This is ridiculous! It's been   over a week and we're no closer to getting something we can   print!"

"That's not my fault," Bobby protested. "This Gates, he's a   cautious fellow, and with good reason. If word gets out he's been   talking, his life ain't gonna be worth much."

Clark, seeing the dark flash in his partner's eyes, stepped in.   "Bobby, we need to know what Intergang suspects, what they know,   and what they're doing about it. If Gates is in danger we need to   move fast on this. Bill Church isn't the kind of man to wait for   absolute proof. If he has reasonable doubts about his man he'll   get rid of the problem. Permanently. Lawyers for Intergang have a   habit of ending up dead," he said, remembering Martin Snell's   untimely demise. "We've got to meet with him as soon as possible.   Once he tells us what he knows, we'll get Superman to fly him   somewhere safe."

"You sure Superman agreed to this? Isn't it like aiding a   criminal?"

"It's saving the man's life after the little weasel rats on the   other criminals," Lois said hotly. "Superman understands that   Gates could help destroy Intergang and end their criminal   activities for good."

The snitch backed away from Lois's tirade. "Okay, okay! You   oughta know, you're so close with him."

"Now what's that supposed to mean?" Lois asked testily. It was a   sore subject for her. News of her engagement to Clark was no   secret, so every time she was seen in the company of Superman the   rumors flew faster than he could.

"Nothing!" Bobby cried, holding his hands up as though to fend   her off. He shot a look at Clark, who grinned back cheerfully.   "Listen, Lane," he said more firmly. "I told you all I know, I   passed along your messages, I've gotten messages back to you... I   ain't doing this for fun, ya know. So gimme my egg rolls!"

Lois peered at him through narrowed eyes, as though hoping to   read his mind. Then with a resigned expression she dug into the   bag and brought out a container. "Here, enjoy."

"Mmm, Peking Palace, I always do!" He accepted the container   greedily, snatching it from Lois's hands, and then looked   expectantly at the bag. "What about the rest of it?"

"Are you kidding! For what you came up with? All you told us is,   Gates is going to try to get in touch with you soon. For that,   you get egg rolls."

Bobby argued from the back seat, and Clark gave her a reproving   look. She gazed at her partner's gentle brown eyes, and her heart   softened. "Oh, here!" she reluctantly agreed, handing the entire   bag over. Clark's lips turned up in a warm smile. "But you can   consider that payment for telling me when we can meet Gates!" she   added in a tone that allowed for no arguments. Clark held back a   laugh; she was so determined to get her own way, somehow! That   determination, that drive to accomplish what she set her mind to,   was one of the things he loved about her, even when it   exasperated him.

Stuffing an egg roll in his mouth, Bobby mumbled an assent and   slid out of the Jeep just as quickly as he had come.

"Well, that could've been better," Clark said. Lois merely   sighed. He held her face in his palm, turning her head towards   him. "Oh honey, I know it's frustrating, but we're getting there.   Bobby will probably call tonight, just after you've gone to sleep   no doubt, with a meeting set up for tomorrow night or   something."

"I hope so!" Lois responded. "Do you realize we're getting   married in a few days? How're we going to wrap this up and write   it before the wedding?"

"Hmm, you're right, that is tight timing. Maybe we should just   postpone the wedding."

Lois looked up, outraged and a little hurt, until she realized he   was joking. "Oh, no, you're not getting out of it that easily,   Kent." She grinned, and he returned it, pleased that he'd managed   to lighten her mood. "I did want to see something in print before   we left, though. And I refuse to let someone else write it up   while we're gone. These are our contacts, our sources, we did the   legwork, we investigated things. I know you don't want to see it   under anyone else's byline any more than I do, Clark Kent!"

"You're right," he conceded, "I don't. But I'm not going to pass   up on a honeymoon with you for *any* story."

"Well," she said slyly, "I'm not asking you to pass up on our   wedding night!"

Clark let out a laugh at that one. "If you had your way, we   would've had our wedding night months ago!"

Lois pouted playfully. "Getting you drunk didn't work, and   neither did my attempt to overpower you and pin you down!" She   started giggling at the memory.

"I just want our wedding night to be special."

"It would've been special anyway. Every minute with you is   special."

Clark traced his bride's jaw with one finger and smiled. "Watch   out, honey, you're getting romantic on me!" he teased, and his   kiss cut off her protest. For a moment she tried to push him back   so she could speak her mind, but only for a moment. Kissing him   was simply too sweet a pleasure to deny herself. Of course, they   hadn't done much more than kiss in the entire year they'd been   engaged, and it was driving her crazy! But she knew that, to   Clark, it was important that they wait. She respected him and   would respect his wishes, even though she didn't share them. She   had even enjoyed the game they played sometimes, when she would   tease him and he would resist temptation.

It was just as well, though, that their wedding was less than a   week away. Lois wasn't sure she could keep her hands off him much   longer.

Part Three

Late afternoon on the Thursday before the wedding, Lois   contemplated the stack of files on her desk. It was definitely   smaller than it had been yesterday, but it wasn't yet small   enough. She sighed. She hated to give away her stories, but these   simply couldn't wait until she and Clark returned from their   honeymoon, and Perry would never countenance losing them   altogether. There were other good reporters available, and she'd   just have to force herself to distribute these last leads. She   was doubly frustrated; if she hadn't been working so hard on this   Intergang thing, she could have wrapped some of these up. So   she'd sacrificed several good stories, and Bobby hadn't yet   called back to set up the promised meeting with Gates. It was too   late now, though, with only one day remaining before the   wedding.

She looked around for some prospects, hoping she didn't see any.   It was late in the day, and the staff in the newsroom had thinned   out. Paula, one of the paper's newer feature writers, was still   at her desk, talking to Jimmy. Lois thought that her friend might   not make a total hash out of one of the stories that needed to be   delegated. She gathered up the folder and rose from her desk,   stretching. As she walked up behind Jimmy, she could tell that he   was practicing his speech on Paula. Again. Paula's eyes met   Lois's in a plea for help. Lois grinned, and tapped Jimmy on the   shoulder with her file folder. "Jimmy, I need to talk to Paula,   okay?"

"Yeah, sure, no problem, Lois..." Jimmy flushed, embarrassed at   having been caught rehearsing, and stumbled off. Paula smiled   gratefully for the interruption.

Lois explained briefly what she needed and what she'd already   done. Paula nodded calmly. "I'll cover it, Lois, don't worry."   Paula looked Lois over shrewdly. "So how are you holding up?"

"I'm fine, really." She sat down heavily in the chair next to   Paula's desk. "Getting married is hard work, you know?"

"But you got some fun stuff at the bridal shower," Paula teased   lightly. The bridal shower given by Mrs. Lane (and attended by   all of Ellen's friends) had been a model of decorum and   tradition, and Lois had hated every minute of it; even the   lingerie she received from her future mother-in-law had   embarrassed her.

Lois made a face. "Yeah, right. Half a set of china, the pattern   of which my mother picked for me - I didn't realize I'd let her   do so much, but..." She tapped her fingers on Paula's desk.   "There are so many more interesting things to do in the world   than shop for dishes."

"You mean like go on stakeouts?" Paula asked dryly, having just   returned from one too many of those herself.

Lois smiled dreamily, remembering the stakeout which had been her   'almost-first date' with Clark. "Oh, they're not all that bad.   And undercover work can be pretty fun, too." Their recent work at   the Parrish Casino had proved that, even though it had taken   three nights to get access to the right office. It had also   proved that Intergang was definitely laundering money, but Perry   was holding off on printing that story until they could get more   information from Gates.

The other reporter laughed. "Sure, when your partner looks like   Clark."

Lois flushed slightly, but laughed as well. "Hey, there's nothing   wrong with your partner, you know."

Paula shrugged. "Scott's not bad; we're good friends. But never   mind about me." She leaned forward. "The question on everyone's   mind is - will Superman be at your wedding?" Paula was a keen   observer, and she was perpetually intrigued by Lois's   relationship - or, recently, lack of one - with Superman. It   would be fascinating to watch him watch her get married.

Lois winced. She and Clark had done all they could to cool down   those rumors, but the public apparently loved for their superhero   to have a girlfriend, and maybe they weren't always as good at   hiding their emotions as they should be. "Why does everyone ask   me those questions?"

"Because you always have answers," Paula pointed out promptly.   "So?"

"Alright." Lois gave in to the inevitable. In the last year she'd   gotten a lot of practice at prevarication and obfuscation on this   subject. "I don't know for certain, but I don't believe you'll   see him there." At least with any luck, he wouldn't be wearing   the Suit. "But now, I have work to take care of."

She distributed the remaining files and returned to her   newly-clear desk. She wouldn't have too much work to do tomorrow   unless something broke on the Gates case, so she started looking   around for Clark.

***

She found Clark in Perry's office, with Perry and Jimmy. They all   stopped talking suddenly when she entered the office, awakening   suspicions.

"What are you guys doing in here?" She walked over to behind   Clark, letting one hand rest on the high back of the chair while   the other dropped to his chest. He reached up and clasped her   hand warmly.

Jimmy blushed, and Perry looked away, but not before she saw the   guilty look on his face. Lois had one of the leaps of intuition   and logic that had made her career. "You're talking about a   bachelor party! Clark, I thought you didn't want one?" She looked   down at his upturned face; he looked uncomfortable with the   subject. He would have been just as happy without one, but...

"Well, Jimmy and the Chief went to a lot of trouble planning   it..."

"It's an archaic and outdated ritual that should be abolished,"   Lois said, rolling her eyes as she walked out of the office,   returning to her desk. Clark caught up to her a minute later.

"Lois, I really don't know what they're planning, it could be   pretty tame." Lois, however, was no longer thinking about that.

"Clark, look at this!" She waved a pink message form in his face,   too fast for him to read. "Bobby finally came through for us! Our   'source' wants to meet me tonight!"

"That's great! Where and when does he want to meet?"

"In the old Metropolis quarry, outside of the city, just over an   hour from now. I think I can make it..." She looked at her watch,   all business now, the bachelor party forgotten.

"We can make it, no problem." Clark corrected her. She looked up   at him, startled by his firm tone. "I'm not letting you get the   big break in this case all by yourself - I've worked too hard on   this. Besides, it could be dangerous. Wait right here."

He strode back to Perry's office, and Lois didn't need   superhearing to be able to tell that he was excusing himself from   his bachelor party. A smile played on her lips. It was reassuring   to see where his priorities lay.

Lois dropped her car off at her apartment, then Clark changed   into the Suit and flew her to the quarry. They hadn't had much   time for flying lately, so Lois took advantage of the opportunity   to shower kisses on his face and neck while he laughingly tried   to evade her.

"We're almost there, Lois, and he might be there first, so stop   that."

She made a face at him, but settled back in his arms. The last   thing she wanted was a revival of the rumors.

He landed them near the entrance of the quarry, which was   deserted. Clark, still in the Suit, found a convenient rock to   sit on. Lois paced, watching the entry road in the gathering   darkness. She glanced at her watch. "I guess we're early."

Clark leaned against the rock face, looking completely at ease.   "By maybe half an hour. Well, it won't hurt us to relax for a   little while. We haven't had many chances for that lately. What   with this story, and all our relatives in town..." His voice   trailed off and Lois re-focused on him. She stopped pacing, and   sat down next to him on the rock. Lois tucked herself under one   of his arms, enjoying the warm solidity of his body. For once,   Clark wasn't worried about them being seen in this position;   after all, they'd be able to see car headlights approaching long   before anyone arrived.

"You're right," she commented, after a short interval. "This is   good." She ran a hand over his "S", enjoying the relative novelty   of it. She'd come to understand that these were his working   clothes; he preferred to be out of them whenever possible. Lois   grinned a little to herself. She preferred him out of his   clothes, too, if only he'd give her the chance.

Clark smiled as he felt her relax. Lois in full-throttle mode was   exciting and enthralling, but she needed some coaxing to pull   back at times, to avoid burning out. He didn't expect she'd ever   cease being an overachiever, but it was his goal to help her   relax from time to time, to get a little more balance in her   life. When she could be persuaded to let her guard down, she was   sweeter and more loving than Clark had ever dreamed when he'd   first fallen for her.

She soon started to fidget, playing with her engagement ring. He   waited patiently to see if she wanted to open up. Presently, she   asked, with determined cheer, "So, are you planning to wear the   Suit under your tux on Saturday?"

He heard the worry under the cheer, but tried to distract her,   grinning down at her. "Don't you think I should? After all, if   I'm not wearing the Suit, you won't be married to Superman, only   to me."

She laughed in spite of her worry, and gently slapped his chest.   "You goof! I don't want to be married to Superman." She paused a   beat, then continued. "I wouldn't mind a life-long affair with   him, though."

It was his turn to laugh then. "Planning to cheat on me   already... you think you know a person, then they pull this sort   of thing on you." Clark, forgetting that he was in the Suit at   the moment, threw the straight line out, anticipating an   energetic response. She only sighed.

He tipped her chin up so he could see her face. "What is it, hon?   You're not playing up to par tonight."

She smiled a denial. "It's nothing, really." He held her gaze,   gentle disbelief all over his face, so she continued, her smile   fading. "Well, I know you promised, but I don't see how you could   help it, and I couldn't really even blame you, but how would we   explain it? Oh, Clark, it's just that I'm still worried that   you'll have to, you know, 'go meet a source' sometime during the   wedding. I don't want to be left standing at the altar - and then   no one would understand why I wasn't mad at you, or why we'd   still get married..."

Clark lost all trace of amusement, seeing the depth of her fear.   He turned a little to face her more squarely. "Lois, I promise to   you that I will *not* leave you stranded at the altar, no matter   what the reason."

Lois searched his face, and drew strength and reassurance from   his conviction. She smiled shakily. "You know I love you, Clark   Kent."

He pulled her close for a long hug. "And I love you, Lois.   Nothing will ever change that." He rubbed her back, willing her   to relax again. At length she did, and shifted in his arms to a   more comfortable position. Then he felt her stiffen, and she   said, "Oh, that reminds me, I've got a present for you."

She sat up and started patting her pockets, finally pulling out a   small box, which she presented to him with a flourish.

He looked at her speculatively, then opened the unsealed box.   Inside lay a pair of earplugs, and he began laughing helplessly.

She joined in his mirth, releasing the last of her tension. He   re-closed the box and slipped it back in her pocket, hugging her   once more.

"Oh, Lois..." he said when he could stop laughing. "You're   wonderful. How did I ever get so lucky?"

She gave him a little extra squeeze, and gently corrected him.   "This wasn't luck, sweetheart, we worked hard to get here."

***

They waited like that another hour before Lois insisted that   Clark see what was keeping Gates. While she waited at the quarry,   he flew back to Metropolis. In their research, they'd found out   where Gates spent most of his time; Clark soon spotted the man.   He flew back to the quarry.

"We've been stood up, Lois - he's in the Metropolis Men's Club,   playing billiards." Clark's voice clearly showed his disgust with   the lawyer, and Lois rolled her eyes.

"What a jerk! I can't believe we've spent all this time on him,   and then he sets up a meeting and doesn't even show!"

Clark groped for an explanation. "Maybe he was interrupted, or we   misunderstood somehow?"

"Whose side are you on, anyway?" Before he could say anything,   she answered for him. "I know, I know, you're just trying to give   him the benefit of the doubt. And I love that quality in you -   when it's not driving me crazy!" She threw up her hands, but let   her anger dissipate.

Clark just smiled at her display. Sometimes she positively   sparkled... and even though he was sometimes scorched by her   flame, she was definitely worth the burns. "So, what do we do   now?"

She tilted her head and considered. "Well, either of our   apartments is out, since your parents are staying with you, and I   just don't want to hear my phone ring..."

"And I don't really want to go to that bachelor party," he   assured her.

Lois swept a glance at him from under lowered eyelashes and   smiled mischievously. "We could rent a motel room, you know..."   She closed in on him and started running her hands over the   costume.

Clark grabbed her hands and stood firm. "Lois, I want our first   time to be perfect and special... some cheap tacky motel room   will not do. And the way we've been spending lately, cheap and   tacky is all we could afford."

She pouted, but gave up cheerfully enough. "All right, all right.   Can't blame a girl for trying."

***

After picking up some casual clothing from Lois's empty   apartment, they headed south for a quiet dinner along the North   Carolina coast. They didn't want to be recognized at dinner,   either as reporters or as a cheating fiancee on a last-fling date   with a superhero, so they both wore baseball hats, and Clark went   without his glasses. They'd eaten at the Crab Hut before; it was   the sort of place where baseball hats were practically required.

Their food was delivered quickly. "So," Lois said, cracking a   crab leg, "What do we have to do tomorrow?"

"Not much," Clark answered cheerfully. "I want to go over the   Parrish Casino story one more time; I've thought of another angle   to add to it. And then there's the wedding stuff. I've got to   pick up my tux from the rental place. The rehearsal starts at 5,   with the big dinner after that, so there goes the evening. If we   don't get any more from Gates, the Chief'll probably find us some   chores to do during the day."

Lois made a face. "Sure he will. I hate re-writing other people's   copy, especially when I don't get any credit for it."

"It's called helping out the younger writers, Lois," Clark   lectured amiably. "Everybody needs help getting started, even you   did, I bet."

"I hated being on the other end of it, too," Lois grumbled around   a mouthful of crab. "It's okay for you, you're actually good at   helping them. Hey, there's an idea, you could teach!"

Clark's lips twitched. "And be stuck inside all day? I don't   think so."

She shrugged, grinning. "So write a book. It'd bring in a little   extra money, and being published is always a good thing for a   journalist."

Clark shook his head, but didn't reply, concentrating on his   seafood pasta instead. Lois still made a slightly larger salary   than he did, due to her seniority among other things, but Clark   didn't mind. She still showed flashes of insecurity at times,   comparing herself to Superman, and having a larger paycheck   seemed to help.

After dinner, they walked outside to the darkened beach, moving   away from other people until they reached the deserted area   they'd landed in earlier. The night air had a touch of chill, so   as they watched the ocean, Clark stood behind Lois, holding her   in a warm embrace. She leaned her head back against his   shoulder.

"You know what, Clark? I haven't even thought about what we   should do on our honeymoon..." They'd arranged to spend two weeks   at a remote hunting cabin owned by the Kents' neighbor, Wayne   Irig.

He chuckled. "Yes you have, you've been bugging me about it for   months."

She gave him a playful swat. "Besides that! What does one do at a   hunting cabin?"

"Well, it's not hunting season. There's a lake, so we could fish   a little. Or hike the mountains. Or swim. And when we get tired   of that, we can always fly somewhere - I hear Gotham City has   some wild night life."

"That all sounds good." She hesitated, knowing that she'd have to   share him, even on their honeymoon. "I'll bring some books along,   for when you're... busy."

Clark winced a little at the thought of being busy in the Suit on   their honeymoon. "You're right, Superman ought to be seen while   we're out of town; I'll have to fly some patrols over Metropolis   while we're gone. And probably get pestered by reporters wanting   to know how I feel about you getting married. Your friend, Paula,   can be a real pain on that subject."

"Go with that emotion, Clark, it'll convince her you're upset,"   Lois teased. "She's convinced Superman will be suffering agonies   of jealousy."

"Pretty hard to look agonized these days, honey." He leaned down   to nibble her ear. "I'm very satisfied with life."

She turned in his arms and reached up to kiss him. He returned   the kiss with interest, but pulled back before it could go too   far. She held back a groan of frustration, reminding herself that   soon there would be no reason to halt.

Clark breathed deeply to clear his head. "Well, time to get back   to Metropolis..." He stepped back, took a final look around, and   changed back to the Suit.

Lois nodded. They would have a busy day tomorrow, but the wedding   was the day after that, and then finally they'd have their   long-awaited wedding-night in the Honeymoon Suite of the Lexor   Hotel. When they'd made the reservations they'd laughed with   memories of their previous stay there, and made jokes about   packing a few board games to take along. Afterwards they would   have two whole weeks alone together as husband and wife. Lois   smiled dreamily at the thought as Clark scooped her up into his   arms and they flew home.

Part Four

Lois's eyes flew open. "I'm marrying Clark today!" she said aloud   in wonderment. She leapt out of bed, a most unusual way for her   to wake up. In her haste she knocked her teddy bear to the floor,   and scooped it up immediately. She held it before her and told   it, "I'm getting married!" In an exuberant outpouring of joy she   planted a kiss on the bear's nose.

As she held the bear close for a moment, Lois remembered the fair   in Smallville when Clark had won the bear for her. She had felt   so relaxed and comfortable with him that day, they had had so   much fun together. That trip to Kansas had changed a lot of her   city-girl notions of farm life, and of Clark.

It was very early, and the morning air was still and calm. The   sounds of traffic were muted and distant. Lois felt a peaceful   hush all around her. "This is the last time I'll wake up alone in   my room," she murmured, looking around slowly. "From this day on,   Clark and I will be together, and we'll sleep in *our* bedroom."   It seemed unreal, somehow. Everything did. The morning was too   quiet, the hour was too early, and Lois had the strange sensation   that she was dreaming all of this.

"Ow!"

A quick pinch reassured her that she was, indeed, awake; this   was, indeed, the morning of her wedding to Clark Kent. Lucy would   be asleep on the sofa. Martha would be coming over soon, along   with her mom and the two cousins who Ellen insisted just *had* to   be bridesmaids. Lois rolled her eyes at the very idea, for she   barely knew either of them and saw them only at infrequent family   reunions. Soon her apartment would be overflowing with excitement   and chatter and taffeta gowns in a garish pink, so Lois made the   most of her time alone. She was sure it would be the last quiet   time of the day.

She moved slowly around her room, touching some of her   belongings, letting her eyes fall on everything, wondering which   items she would pack away and which she would have in her new   bedroom with Clark. She would be moving into his apartment when   they returned from their honeymoon. She would never again be   woken by the nasal tones of Mrs. Harrigan from upstairs, who   perpetually left a window open and sang loudly, off-key, while   making breakfast. She would never again bump into the foot of her   bed and stub her toes. She would never have to bang on the   radiator pipes to coax them to life.

"I'm going to miss this place," she admitted to herself, feeling   nostalgic already. She'd lived there for more than ten years, and   it was her home. "Oh stop it," she told herself, wiping at her   eyes. "You'll be with Clark, you'll have a home together, filled   with love and warmth and happiness." She caught a glimpse of   herself in the mirror and a tiny laugh escaped her. "What is it   with me and weddings? I have no reason to cry! Clark is the   sweetest, most wonderful man on Earth! I'm thrilled to be   marrying him, it doesn't matter what I leave behind because it's   nothing compared to what lies ahead."

She nodded to herself, sniffing once more as she got her emotions   under control. "That's better, Lane," she said to the mirror.   "Lois Lane Kent... This time it'll come true," she said, smiling.   Just then her alarm went off; the wedding day had begun.

***

Clark was already awake when his alarm went off. He was lying on   the sofa, thinking about the wedding, and married life in   general, and feeling very strange. He'd dreamed of this day for   so long that it was hard to believe it had finally arrived. He   wondered if Lois was suffering from bridal jitters, but he wasn't   worried about her changing her mind; once she made a decision she   stuck to it. He also worried about getting through the ceremony   without incident. Things should go smoothly, but fate had been   unkind to them before.

Clark stood up when his parents came out of his bedroom. "Good   morning, honey," his mom said, giving him a kiss and looking up   into his eyes. "Did you sleep well?" As usual there was a light   teasing note in her voice.

"Not really," he grimaced. "Nerves, I guess."

Martha smiled knowingly. "That's perfectly normal, Clark, this   will be a huge change in your life! Change can be stressful, but   marrying Lois will be the best thing to ever happen to you."

Jonathan chuckled. "After all they've gone through together,   Martha, they should hardly notice a little thing like a   wedding."

That elicited a grin on his son's face, but it faded quickly, and   Martha inspected him more closely. "Something's still bothering   you, Clark, what is it?"

Clark ran a hand through his hair, agitated. "What if someone   needs me during the wedding? What if, in order to be there for   Lois, I have to let someone die? Someone I could save, but choose   not to." He looked to each of them, searching, but found no   answers, merely sympathy.

"You can't be everywhere, you can't save everyone," Jonathan said   gruffly. "You have a right to a life of your own, Clark, you have   a right to happiness. For today, son, you're not Superman, you're   just Clark Kent, and you're marrying the most wonderful girl on   the planet." He paused, looking over at his wife. "Well, the   second most wonderful girl." Martha beamed at her husband. "Don't   let anything spoil it for you."

Clark gave his dad a grateful smile and nodded.

"Well if that's settled, how about you whip up some breakfast   while we get showered and dressed," Martha suggested. "I have to   go to your bride's apartment soon." She winked at him. "We've got   a busy day ahead of us!"

***

Lois waved away the breakfast offering her mother held out. "I   couldn't possibly eat," she moaned, feeling her stomach tighten   into knots.

"Nervous?" Lucy asked with a cheeky grin.

Lois contemplated throwing something at her sister. "Just wait   until you get married," she muttered darkly, but Lucy only   giggled. Ellen Lane shook her head at the all-too-common   interplay between her daughters. Remembering her own pre-wedding   butterflies she wisely took the plate back to the kitchen,   weaving around her nieces Carolyn and Diana, who were helping   each other with their dresses.

There was a cheery knock on the door, and Lucy jumped up and   opened it to Martha Kent. The hubbub that had been going on for   an hour grew even louder with the new arrival, and Lois felt   herself beginning to feel overwhelmed again. Suddenly there was a   comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Good morning, honey," Martha said softly, giving her a kiss on   the cheek. "Things are a bit crazy, aren't they. Why don't we put   on some nice music. I hear you like "Fly Me To The Moon." Lois   looked up, startled, and Martha wiggled her eyebrows   conspiratorially, brandishing a tape in one hand. "You look   beautiful, Lois, and everything's going to be just fine."

"How's Clark?" Lois asked immediately, envisioning him in a   tuxedo.

"Well, I think he's about as anxious as you are," her   mother-in-law-to-be called cheerfully from the stereo as she put   the tape in. "Would you believe he couldn't eat a bite of his   breakfast? Said he would throw up if he did!" She laughed,   pleased to see Lois smiling also. "I don't think I was able to   eat on my wedding morning either." As the familiar strains of   Lois and Clark's special song together began quietly, Martha came   back to Lois's side. "Did you sleep well?"

Such a normal conversation was a relief to Lois after an hour of   bombardments about hair stylists and make-up and urgings that she   get dressed already. She felt the knot of tension in her   shoulders ease somewhat. "I had a hard time falling asleep," she   confessed.

"So did Clark," Martha said with a laugh. "We could hear him   pacing around practicing his vows!" Lois felt pleased and   reassured that she wasn't the only one feeling nervous and   excited. Clark had maintained such an aura of unflappable calm   and certainty throughout the wedding preparations that there had   been times she had felt so exasperated she wanted to shake him.   Now she realized that he had been performing the duty of a rock   for her to lean on, keeping his own anxieties to himself for her   sake. She sighed softly, her love for him welling up in her heart   again.

Martha smiled approvingly. "Now, honey, I'm going to make you a   cup of chamomile tea and then I think it'll be time to start   getting ready."

"I don't drink tea," Lois said quickly as Martha went to the   kitchen.

"Coffee isn't going to calm you down, this will. You just sit   back and let us do all the fussing," Martha told her.

"That's right," Ellen Lane agreed. "Darling, the beautician's   just arrived, so when you're ready with your tea she'll start   doing your make-up." She momentarily rested a hand on her   daughter's shoulder and squeezed lightly. "It's going to be a   wonderful day," she promised.

***

"Jimmy!" Perry boomed cheerfully, clapping the young man's   shoulder heartily and making him stagger slightly. "Glad you made   it on time! Come on in!"

Jimmy Olsen came down the steps, looking curiously around Clark's   apartment and waving to Jonathan. "Where's the groom?"

"Getting dressed," Jonathan Kent answered as he finished with his   bow tie. "I hate these things, Martha's so much better with   them."

"It looks fine, and so do you, son," Perry added to Jimmy,   somewhat surprised at the transformation in his young   photographer. "Got the rings?" he added slyly.

Jimmy patted his pocket with a faint smile. "I'm not going to   lose them," he said, as if to assure himself of that. "Hey, CK,   you almost ready?" he hollered.

"Be with you in a minute," came the reply.

Jimmy grinned at the two men. "So is he nervous?"

"Is Elvis the King?" Perry drawled. "I've never seen him so   uptight!"

Clark was, indeed, feeling very tense. He stood before the   mirror, trying to perfect the fit of his cummerbund. He felt   somehow naked without the Suit on underneath. He was determined,   as a gesture to Lois, to leave it behind for the ceremony, but he   still felt uneasy. Lois was very important to him, but he felt he   had a responsibility to the planet that had nurtured him, as   well, and it was sometimes hard to find a balance between the   two. Helping people was second nature to him, and the disguise   his mother had created to enable him to do just that had been a   part of his wardrobe for three years now.

He heard his father call to him, telling him they had to leave   for the church soon, and his insides twisted again. He took a   deep breath, staring at his reflection. "I do," he said firmly.   He thought of Lois, pictured her in his mind: those expressive   eyes, those soft lips, those shapely legs. "I do," he repeated   softly.

"Son, I was beginning to think you weren't going to come out!"   Perry chuckled, knowing that Clark would never change his mind   about marrying Lois Lane. He'd seen Clark falling for the   sharp-tongued reporter right at the start and couldn't be happier   about their marriage. Sure, he'd gotten a bit worried during   their courtship, for if things hadn't worked out between them it   could've broken up the working relationship that had led to so   many fine articles and amazing scoops for his paper. Now,   however, with the wedding less than two hours away, he was   confident and filled with good cheer.

"He was probably practicing those two words again," Jonathan said   with a special smile for his son. Clark and Jimmy gave each other   a quick greeting, Jimmy produced the rings to allay any doubts   and safely pocketed them again, and the men stood there looking   at each other for a moment in silence, a little male-bonding   moment that would have had Lois rolling her eyes, Clark reflected   with a smile.

"Well then, son, let's get you to the church," Jonathan said,   resting an arm on his boy's shoulder, swelling with pride and   happiness for Clark. The Kents had worried for years that Clark   might never find someone to share his life with, that he might   never be able to enjoy the warmth and love and family that his   parents had together. Now Jonathan looked at his son and all   those fears were put to rest.

***

"Oh honey, you look beautiful," Martha said warmly as Lois   emerged from her room, fully dressed and made up, the veil   floating down her back, surrounded by her bridesmaids. Against   their bright gowns she stood out starkly, wearing such a simple   elegant gown and looking more poised and assured than anyone had   expected her to look.

"You look wonderful, dear," Ellen added, coming over to kiss her   smooth cheek. She was filled with maternal loving at the sight of   her daughter getting ready to get married.

"Are the limos ready?" Lucy asked, checking her hair again   quickly.

"Downstairs and waiting," her mother answered. "You three girls   will go in the first one, we'll follow you." Just then the phone   rang. "Oh heavens, I'll get it," Mrs. Lane said. "Hello?... No,   this is her mother... I'm afraid not, we're just about to   leave... I'm sorry, sir, but my daughter is on her way to... I   can take a message," she said firmly. Her tone carried to Lois   over the excited chatter of her cousins, and her reporter's   instinct made her come to her mother's side. Ellen frowned at   her, waving her away. "I don't care who you are, Lois cannot talk   to you right now."

"Oh yes I can!" Lois said determinedly, grabbing the phone.   "Hello, Lois Lane here."

A furtive whispery voice said, "Thank God! Lane, it's Gates, I'm   in trouble!"

"What's happened?" Lois asked, glaring at her mother to leave her   alone.

"They're on to me! I had just enough time to grab my disks and   get out of my office, and now they're coming after me. If you   want your story, you'd better meet me in an hour." He shot off an   address that Lois automatically filed in her head.

"Are you positive you'll be there?" she demanded, feeling a   sickening sensation spreading from the pit of her stomach   throughout her body at this terrible twist in plans. She was   still angry about the no-show at the quarry and wasn't sure if   she could trust Gates this time.

"If I don't show it's because I'm dead," the man hissed. "I'll   wait for ten minutes, if you're not there I'm leaving, I've got   to get away. They're following me, I tell you! Make sure   Superman's there as well. One hour," the rough voice warned   again, and then there was a click. Lois stood there holding the   phone, her mind racing.

"Uh-oh," Lucy said slowly, recognizing that look.

"Lois, darling, come on, the limos are waiting, it's time to   go."

Lois blurted out, "Hold on!" to her mother and began dialing   Clark's number.

"We don't have time for this," Ellen Lane said, getting a bit   agitated. "Who are you calling?"

"Clark," Lois said shortly, listening to the phone ring and   willing him to pick it up.

"He's probably already at the church, which is where we need to   be."

Lois hardly even heard her. There was a click on the other end of   the line. "Hi, this is Clark," came a cheerful voice. "I can't   answer your call because I'm getting married! I'll call you when   we get back from our honeymoon. Leave a message."

"Damn!" she said softly, putting the phone down with a bit more   force than necessary. One hour... in one hour's time she'd be   Mrs. Lois Lane Kent, and she'd have missed the chance to bust   Intergang. She couldn't leave Clark at the church, she   *wouldn't*, but Lois Lane did not pass up on a major scoop. "Damn   that man for not showing up at the quarry," she said fiercely.

"What was that? Look, dear, I don't know what that was all about,   but we really need to get to the church now," Mrs. Lane said   determinedly, grasping Lois's arm and steering her towards the   door.

"They won't start without you, but they will be waiting," Martha   said with a worried smile. Whatever that phone call had been   about, it had transformed Lois and shattered her peace of mind.   "I know Clark will get worried if you're late," she added, hoping   to make the bride smile, but Lois instead jumped into action.

"You're right, Clark's there waiting, I have to see him," she   said, galvanized. "Come on, hurry, let's go!" She grabbed her   sister's hand and practically ran for the door.

Martha and Ellen shared a look of astonishment that turned into a   chuckle. It was so hard to keep up with Lois! First she dug her   heels in, insisting on taking a phone call, and then she was   hurrying everyone else out the door in a rush to get married!   Well, she certainly would keep life interesting for her husband!

***

The bridal party crowded into the church, whispering and bustling   in excitement, but the bride herself was looking rather pale and   anxious. Perry was waiting for them, and a beaming smile lit his   face. "Lois, honey, you look beautiful," he said in a hushed   voice, kissing her. He nodded greetings to the mothers of the   happy couple.

"Chief, something's come up," Lois said urgently, sure that he,   of all people, would understand and help her. "I've got to speak   to Clark."

"Well, you know, he's waiting just in there for you," Perry said   with a big grin as he gestured to the closed doors flanked by   church ushers.

"I need to speak to him, in private," she insisted.

"There'll be time for that later," he assured her, thinking she   was just jittery about the wedding. "Is everybody ready? Come on   now, folks, let's shake a tail feather." He helped the ushers to   arrange the procession and got everyone calmed and silenced in   time for the doors to open. Mrs. Lane and Mrs. Kent entered the   church side by side, both feeling more than a little bit   disturbed by the bride's behavior.

"Perry!" Lois hissed.

The two young bridesmaids began their parade down the aisle,   their faces excited and their stiff skirts rustling with every   step.

"This can't wait!" Lois cried softly.

Lucy Lane began her solo walk as maid of honor.

The doors closed, and Perry escorted Lois into position in front   of them. "Calm down, Lois, I know you're excited," he said   comfortingly.

"You don't understand," she groaned helplessly.

"Sure I do!" He took Lois's hand and placed it on his   outstretched arm, patting it reassuringly, standing as tall and   proud as any father. The Wedding March began, its triumphant   notes ringing out in the church. Lois felt a despairing lurch in   the pit of her stomach as the doors were flung open. The   congregation rose as one, turning their many faces towards her.

Clark stood before the altar, looking gorgeous in his tuxedo, and   she could see his face light up with love and joy, and relief,   when he caught sight of her at last. Perry tugged slightly on her   arm, and so Lois began her walk down the aisle, feeling utterly   torn. He was waiting for her, as she knew he would be, and the   love she felt for him made her ache inside. It had been a long   and arduous journey to this moment in time, and there had been   many obstacles to overcome, but they had done it! They were   finally getting married!

Naturally, for Lois and Clark, it was not that simple.

"Oh sweetheart," she whispered unhappily, her eyes never leaving   his face. "I hope you can hear me over this music. We've got a   problem."

Part Five

In the last few minutes before the ceremony began, Clark watched   his mother walking down the aisle towards him, grateful for a   familiar face. He had no idea who most of the guests filling the   church were, and was too nervous to scan the sea of faces in   search of people he knew. Jimmy kept nervously checking the   pocket with the rings, and Clark himself had to fight the urge to   adjust his glasses, his tie, his cummerbund.

Martha reached her seat and smiled at her son, thinking with   pride that he looked very handsome in his tuxedo, although   perhaps a little pale. She saw how restless he was, waiting for   his bride to come to him. When at last the Wedding March began   his eyes lit up, and Martha turned with the rest of the guests to   watch Lois enter the church.

Clark watched Lois start down the aisle with tears in his eyes   and a lump in his throat. He'd waited years for this moment; both   it and she were so beautiful that he didn't realize at first that   she was saying something. He hastily tuned in to her.

"- problem. Gates called me this morning, he's on the run. It's   now or never - what do we do?"

It took Clark a moment to take in what she was saying, but when   he did, the lump in his throat plummeted to his gut. If all eyes   hadn't been on the bride, the groom's dismayed expression would   have been cause for consternation. As it was, people were   starting to wonder about the bride's worried look and the way she   seemed to be talking to herself.

Lois saw her partner's expression change and knew he had heard   her. Thank goodness he hadn't worn those silly earplugs. She   belatedly realized that people were looking at her strangely, and   pasted on a smile. She tried to discreetly speed up their   progress down the aisle, but Perry would not be hurried. This was   his moment of glory, and he was basking in it.

For the rest of the impossibly long walk, Lois kept her eyes   glued on Clark. She had envisioned many variations on this day in   the past year, ranging from a few words said by a judge all the   way up to the fairy-tale wedding of her mother's dreams   (including one nightmare in which Clark had interrupted during   the vows, claiming an urgent need to put more money in the meter,   and had run out, leaving her to face the mocking laughter of the   guests). But nothing had come close to this agony of nerves. To   steady herself, she focused on the man she loved and would spend   the rest of her life with. He looked more handsome than she had   imagined, but the troubled look on his face wasn't very   reassuring.

At last they reached the altar, and Perry tenderly removed her   hand from his arm and extended it to Clark, who took it solemnly.   During the rehearsal Lois had thought this bit of ceremony very   silly, but she was glad of it now; her mind was so full of   turmoil that she didn't feel connected to her body. Perry   gracefully stepped back and sat next to Alice in the second row,   and the wedding party turned to face the preacher as he started   his sermon. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here..."

Clark didn't hear what the preacher was saying. Now or never, she   had said. Two weeks of investigating, of trying to meet with   Gates and get the evidence they needed to expose the Churches and   bring an end to Intergang, and it had to be now, during their   wedding. Fate apparently had something against them.

"What did Gates say?" he whispered to her. The preacher paused,   looking at him sternly, and he gave an apologetic smile.

As the preacher resumed his monotonous reading, Lois whispered   almost soundlessly, knowing he could hear her. "He said to meet   him in half an hour; after that he'll be gone." She chewed her   lip restlessly, wishing they could leave, but reluctant to   suggest it.

Clark noticed her agitation, and came to a decision. "I hate to   say it, but... we'll have to postpone our wedding," he said   regretfully. Lucy noticed the whispering and looked at him with a   puzzled frown.

Lois nodded as disappointment clashed with the familiar thrill of   finishing an investigation.

"Intergang is more urgent than getting married." He gave her hand   a light squeeze, feeling an ache in his chest.

She returned the squeeze, her mind racing as she searched for a   better solution. "Is there enough time to say the vows, sign on   the dotted line, and then go?" she asked hopefully, although even   as she said it she doubted that they would be able to find a   private place for her to change in time for Superman to fly her   to meet Gates. Superman carrying a bride in his arms would create   a major scandal.

Clark shook his head a bit. "We're going to have to drive." He   turned to face her, his face full of regret. "I'm so sorry,   honey..." Jimmy discreetly elbowed him in the back, wondering   what was happening.

Lois gave him a very faint smile. "So am I, sweetheart, but   there's nothing else we can do. I guess this'll just have to be   our almost-wedding day," she said with determined cheer, assuring   him with her eyes that she was behind him completely.

She abruptly leaned forward to tap on the preacher's black book,   interrupting his droning voice. "Excuse me, we're going to have   to do this some other time." His jaw dropped as he looked up,   astonished by the brazen interruption.

Together, Lois and Clark turned to face the gathering. A ripple   spread through the sanctuary as the guests stared forward in   fascination. Ellen Lane put her hand over her eyes in   resignation, shaking her head slowly. Martha and Jonathan looked   at Clark with raised eyebrows, only slightly surprised by the   turn of events clearly taking place.

Lois had opened her mouth to make their excuses to the guests,   but then she caught sight of her mother. "Sorry, Mom," was all   she managed to say.

Clark squeezed her hand reassuringly. "Ladies and gentlemen," he   said loudly, "we're terribly sorry, but there's been a major   break in our investigation. We're going to have to postpone our   wedding." There was a collective gasp. "Why don't you all go   ahead to the reception and we'll be there when we can."

Relieved, Lois started tugging him down the aisle, making a   beeline for the front entrance. She hiked her skirt up to be able   to run, hearing the buzz of startled conversation rising as they   fled down the aisle, her veil streaming out behind her. As she   neared the exit she realized that she still had her bouquet in   hand, and she tossed it over her shoulder. It landed in Cat   Grant's lap. Cat stared down at it with wide, horrified eyes.

Lois and Clark flung the double doors open and ran down the wide   stairs together, presenting a most unusual sight to the   passers-by on the street. Clark saw the limo waiting at the curb   and gestured to it. "We might as well get some use out of it."

The driver was stunned by the unorthodox arrival of the bride and   groom as they ran towards the car. Lois dove into the back seat,   struggling to pull her skirt in with her, the veil catching and   being pulled askew. Clark hurriedly scrambled in behind her as   she quickly moved over and gave him room to sit down. Lois gave   the driver the address Gates had provided, a warehouse near the   docks. "And hurry!" she added urgently. The driver shrugged,   obligingly pulling away from the curb with a squeal of tires.   Lois found herself thrown into Clark's lap.

Clark put his arms around her to keep her there, and she brushed   her fingers over his face lightly. "Well, we did it, we canceled   our own wedding," she said softly.

"If there had been some other way..."

She put a finger over his lips. "No regrets. We can get married   any day, but this is a once-in-a-lifetime shot."

"I was afraid you wouldn't see it that way," Clark confessed.   "You were so worried about Superman interfering with the   wedding."

"This is different," she said. "This is our story, not you   running out on me." She gave him a tender smile. "I was afraid   you wouldn't let me cancel the wedding, after I gave you those   earplugs and everything." She sighed. "I hope Mom isn't too   upset. I don't think she understands how huge this story is."

"She will when it hits the headlines tomorrow," Clark said   comfortingly.

"Oh, Gates wants Superman to be there," Lois suddenly   remembered.

He kissed her lightly on the nose. "Well, almost-Mrs. Kent,   Superman started his vacation this morning, so you'll have to   take me instead. We can contact him later, after Gates has given   us the evidence."

Lois arched her brows in surprise, and pretended to peek under   his tuxedo shirt. "You mean you're all alone in there?" she   whispered.

"I wanted it to be just us," he whispered back, and she gave him   a beautiful smile, touched by his gesture. "Of course, we ended   up having to go meet a source after all," he added with a grin.

"I think it gave the wedding a unique, Lois-and-Clark feel to   it," she returned teasingly. "I gave that preacher a shock,   though." She giggled as she remembered the look on the dour man's   face. "Next time perhaps we should get married in the middle of   nowhere, where there won't be anything to interrupt the   ceremony."

"Is Kansas nowhere enough for you?" Clark asked, his eyes   sparkling with mirth.

"Perfect!" she returned, winking at him mischievously before   giving him a happy kiss.

The car slowed down, and they were startled to see that they had   arrived at the docks already. "Here it is," the driver said,   coming to a halt after cruising past several abandoned buildings.   "Are you sure this is the right address? Place looks ready to   fall down."

"This is it," Lois said determinedly as she took Clark's hand,   gathered her skirts in her free hand, and awkwardly climbed out.   "Don't bother waiting, a friend is going to meet us and give us a   ride back later."

The man shrugged again, thinking they were the most unusual bride   and groom he'd ever seen, and drove off, leaving them standing   before a thoroughly dilapidated warehouse. They glanced at each   other. "See any sign of him?" Lois asked quietly as Clark scanned   the building over the top of his glasses.

"The paint is lead-based, it's hard to see much," he said. "Let's   go on in, but watch where you step in those heels, honey."

Lois picked her way carefully over a pile of planks and other   debris, holding her partner's hand for balance and trying to keep   her hem from catching on things. "I hope he makes it this time,   I'll kill him myself if he doesn't show up after we put off our   wedding," she muttered.

"I hope he managed to get enough evidence to put both the   Churches in jail forever," Clark said fervently, pulling a couple   of boards away from the door and helping Lois through. She smiled   a thanks at him, brushed some dust off his tuxedo, and tried to   straighten her veil.

"He said he had just enough time to grab his disks and run, so at   least he's got something," she said reassuringly, for she knew   how important this was to Clark. "See anything?"

He scanned around them and pointed, leading the way towards what   might have been an office. A creature, probably a rat, scuttled   away in the darkness and Lois shivered, keeping close to Clark's   side. A few holes in the ceiling let in a bit of light, but that   mostly served to emphasize the shadowy reaches of the immense   building.

"Gates?" Lois hissed.

"Lane?" came a cautious response. The reporters entered the room   and saw him standing there, in his expensive Armani suit, amid   the filth and cobwebs. He was obviously nervous, but immediately   began pulling himself together. "Thank God you're here," he   snapped, regaining his composure. "Who's he? And what's with the   get-up?"

Lois folded her arms across her chest. "My partner, Clark Kent.   Obviously we were on our way to get married." She couldn't help   but glare at him. "So, we finally meet. The quarry was too much   trouble for you? Couldn't bear to leave your billiards game?" she   inquired icily.

"I got collared by some of the other attorneys, they took me to   the Metropolis Men's Club, I couldn't get away without arousing   their suspicions," he explained irritably. "But that's not   important."

"Not important?" Lois spat. "We had plans, mister, that we   canceled for that meeting, and you never showed." Clark put a   steadying hand on her arm, reminding her to cool off.

Gates glared at her as he mopped his brow with a silk   handkerchief. "In my briefcase is enough evidence to convict both   the Churches of a number of crimes and cripple Intergang. I'm   sorry for the inconvenience in getting it to you," he added   sarcastically. "In case you forgot, I'm the one whose life is on   the line here."

"It's not my fault you're a criminal," Lois mumbled in disgust.

Clark shot her a warning look. "Why did you decide to get out   now?" he asked Gates, wanting more than just hard evidence for   their story.

"Pete Langley and I were siphoning Intergang funds into a private   account," Gates explained, looking almost proud of himself. "We   embezzled almost a million dollars in the last two years, but   Church finally got suspicious. Pete wasn't careful enough. He had   an 'unfortunate accident' driving home one night. I was afraid it   might happen to me one day, so I got in touch with you," he said   to Lois. "I know you're friends with Superman, and he's the   safest way for me to get out of the country."

"So this isn't prompted by any moral scruples," Clark said, not   surprised in the slightest.

"Hey, I'm a tax attorney, I never hurt anyone," Gates scoffed,   his hard eyes showing no remorse. "I'm giving you the evidence   you need to put the Churches in jail, you're supposed to have   your pal Superman to get me to safety, so why don't I see a cape   around here?"

"He'll be here soon," Lois said quickly. "He promised he'd help   you, so come on, open up the briefcase, show us what you've   got."

The arrogant man considered that for a moment, brow furrowed.   "Well, I guess Superman wouldn't go back on a promise. I'll show   you how to find what you're looking for. I've got computer   records of different companies that Intergang set up in the   Caribbean, such as Island Realty and Bishop Industries, and the   transactions to them. The system for laundering is complicated."

"We'll try to keep up," Lois said sarcastically. Gates hefted his   briefcase onto a filthy table, stirring up a thick cloud of   choking dust. The three of them coughed, waving the air in front   of their faces, which only stirred up more dust. "Nice spot you   picked," she couldn't help but say.

"You know, Lane, I'm beginning to wish I'd approached Kent, here,   instead," Gates growled as he turned the combination latches.   Clark, wondering if Lois could hold her temper for the few   minutes it would take him to fly home for the Suit and come back   to rescue the sleazeball, used his X-ray vision to look into the   briefcase, curious to find out how full it was. With his mind   thus occupied, it took him a moment to realize what he was   seeing. Thin wires ran from the latches to a flat package hidden   in a compartment along the bottom of the attache case.

At that moment Gates flipped the latches open. "No!" Clark   screamed, grabbing Lois and swinging her away from the briefcase,   trying to shield her with his body. Her protest at being so   roughly pulled away was never heard as the trigger set off the   bomb and it exploded with a thunderous boom. The windows were   blown out an instant before Clark was propelled through them by a   powerful shock wave. A blast of heat engulfed them, a roaring   filled their ears, and pieces of debris rained down on them.

Clark prayed he had been able to protect Lois from harm. He   looked down at her and let out a horrified cry. Tongues of fire   were licking at her wedding gown and eating their way rapidly   through her veil. Now a safe distance away from the inferno, he   set them down, snatching the veil from her head and flinging it   away as he turned his superbreath on her dress, putting the   flames out immediately.

"Lois? Are you alright?" He examined her closely, terrified that   her legs had been burned, for the entire bottom half of her skirt   had gone up in flames, and the new hemline around her knees was   scorched. Fortunately he had reacted so quickly that only the   material had burned.

"I think I'm okay," Lois said shakily. It had happened so quickly   she wasn't quite sure what was going on. "Clark!" she suddenly   squealed, slapping at him wildly. "Your jacket's on fire!" He   quickly took it off and together they stamped out the little   flames. Then, inevitably, their eyes turned to what remained of   the warehouse. Flames hungrily devoured the plentiful wood, and   pieces of debris littered the water alongside. Parts of the   building still stood, but they could hear occasional crashes as   more of the roof fell down.

"Stay here," Clark told her firmly. "It doesn't look safe for   you. I'll be right back." He went to the office first, although   he knew in his heart that nothing could have survived that   explosion. The outer wall remained, blackened. He used his   superbreath to put out the fires and blow away some of the smoke   before climbing in through the window.

The furniture was gone, the inner walls had been blown away. He   searched without much hope and found a barely recognizable piece   of the briefcase and the bomb. He didn't touch them, knowing that   the experts would want to examine what remained for any clues. He   didn't see any computer disks, and didn't expect to. Nor did he   find any remains of Gates himself.

"Clark!" Lois called from by the window. "Did you find anything?"   she asked hopefully. Then she saw the wreckage he stood in and   her face dropped.

"Nothing," he said, just as dejected. He climbed back outside to   join her. "I saw the bomb just as Gates was unlocking the case,   it was rigged to blow when the latches were sprung open. I didn't   have time to do anything but grab you and try to shield you from   the blast. I'm sorry, honey."

Lois stepped closer to him and held his face in her hands. "You   have nothing to be sorry for! You saved my life."

"I wish I could've saved the briefcase too," he said heavily.

"Well you couldn't," she said firmly. "Don't be so hard on   yourself, sweetheart. We're alive, that's the important thing,   and it was a very close call. I think we're pretty lucky."

Looking down into the eyes of the woman he cherished, Clark felt   warmed. "Very lucky," he agreed, pulling her into his arms and   hugging her tightly. "Your dress and veil were on fire," he said   with a shudder.

She glanced down, for the first time noticing her damaged gown   and reflexively putting a hand to her head. Looking around she   spotted a tiny scrap of satin and lace and picked it up. There   were several scorched burn marks and holes on what little   remained of it, and with a gulp she realized that it had, indeed,   been a very close call. She examined Clark to assure herself that   he was fine.

"I don't think the tuxedo shop is going to be very happy with   me," Clark said ruefully, as Lois fingered a long tear in his   shirt.

"It's a good thing you don't have the Suit on under this," she   pointed out as the first wailing clarion of the fire department   trucks reached her ears. "What's our story going to be?" They   quickly agreed upon an explanation for the officials just before   the first truck came screaming towards the still smoking   warehouse.

Part Six

The police agreed to take down their statement at the scene as   long as they promised to come to the station the following day   and answer any more questions. Lois and Clark nodded, both   feeling tired and let down now that the crisis had passed. They   were supposed to meet Marvin Gates in the building, just as they   approached it exploded, they didn't see him but they presumed he   had been inside at the time. Yes, they were lucky to be alive,   no, they didn't need medical attention, they just wanted to go   now. The police officers finally finished asking them questions   and they began walking towards a street where they might find a   phone.

Lois slipped her arm around Clark's waist. "We canceled our   wedding for nothing," she said in a small voice, feeling   unbearably disappointed.

"Not for nothing," he disagreed gently, rubbing her back   soothingly. "The chance to get that evidence was too important to   pass up on, we had to try."

"But it's all gone."

"The evidence Gates had, yes, but it isn't a total loss. All our   work investigating the Parrish Casino has given us a lot to go   on; we can look into the accident that Gates's friend Langley was   in, see if we can find any evidence there; and now we know about   two Intergang-owned companies, we can look into them. And we've   got the inside story on the explosion," he added teasingly, but   Lois wasn't in the mood to banter.

"The Churches aren't likely to be spending any time in prison."

"We'll get them, someday," Clark promised fiercely. "And if we   can close down their primary money-laundering operation it'll   take them a while to get back up to speed." Finding a phone, he   placed a call for a cab. They stood close together next to the   phone booth while they waited, trying to ignore the stares they   were getting for their filthy and haggard appearance.

"We'll write up the explosion straight away," Lois said,   beginning to plan her next moves, and Clark smiled fondly at her.   Somehow she always managed to bounce back. "You can write about   Gates himself, the human interest thing, while I do the hard   news."

"Of course," he said with a grin.

"Well, anything I would have to say about that slime wouldn't be   very complimentary," she pointed out persuasively. "Anyway, we   can write this up pretty quickly and then go to the reception."

"Maybe we should go there first," Clark suggested.

"No, then we'd never get away in time to have the story ready for   the Sunday headlines."

He recognized the glint of determination in her eyes and simply   nodded. "I suppose it won't take long, and we can leave them in   Perry's box for someone else to go over." Seeing Lois open her   mouth to object, he gave her a firm look. "Everyone is waiting   for us."

"Okay," she gave in, contenting herself with the knowledge that   at least the story would be under their byline. Even though it   wasn't the Scoop of the Decade, it was still a Lane & Kent   piece.

***

The reception faltered along. The food was excellent, the live   band was superior, the bar was open, and the guests certainly had   a lot to talk about, but as the hours passed without sight or   sound of the bride and groom, the guests gradually began to drift   away, making polite thank yous to Ellen Lane as they left.

Perry White got up on the small stage and appropriated the lead   singer's microphone. "Now, I know that things didn't go as   planned here today," he said to the thinning crowd. "Y'all came   to see a wedding, and the bride and groom had to answer the call   of duty. Even Elvis served his country, you know. He came back,   and so will they." With a wicked grin, Perry asked the band to   play "Heartbreak Hotel" and "Are You Lonesome Tonight".

"Come on, people, this here's a party! Let's not waste it!" He   and Alice opened the dancing and were soon joined by the Kents   and a few other couples. Jimmy, both relieved and disappointed   that his speech wouldn't be needed, consoled himself by   convincing the bridesmaids that ceremony demanded that they dance   with the best man. Lois's cousin Carolyn, an 18-year-old blonde,   held his attention in particular.

The Daily Planet reporters took over two tables and managed to   have a wonderful time. They debated the issue of whether Lois and   Clark would reschedule the wedding or just slip off and elope,   and none of them were in the least surprised that the intrepid   reporters had put an investigation ahead of their own wedding   ceremony.

Cat Grant breezed in, eye-catchingly attired in a glittery green   body suit. She danced with all the men, laughing as Perry dipped   her, spinning a breathless Jimmy around the floor, and even had a   whirl with Jonathan Kent, much to his consternation and Martha's   amusement.

"Enjoy your dance, dear?" Martha asked with a sly grin as her   husband returned to their table, out of breath.

"Well yes... I mean no..." Jonathan was flustered by the   unexpected attention. "Oh, let's just play cards, I don't want to   dance anymore." He withdrew a pack of cards from his inside   jacket pocket.

Martha's eyes widened. "What on earth did you bring those for?"

He looked up, surprised at the question. "For our after-dinner   poker game, of course."

Martha laughed. "Oh Jonathan! Well, Ellen, what do you say? Are   you in?"

Mrs. Lane had been feeling rather withdrawn, embarrassed by her   daughter's behavior, knowing that all her friends would be   gossiping about this little scandal for some time to come.   Everyone had been very polite, of course, assuring her that the   wedding would no doubt be rescheduled, that it was a magnificent   party, that the investigation was obviously very important, and   that weddings were called off all the time. For a while she had   felt angry that all her work arranging the wedding had gone to   waste, and then she had been disappointed that she still hadn't   seen her daughter actually get married. Watching the guests   dancing and chatting finally relaxed her; everyone was enjoying   the party despite the lack of a happy couple to toast, so her   work hadn't been for nothing.

The invitation to play poker brightened her up. "Certainly," she   accepted warmly. "It will give us something to do while we wait   for the bride and groom to arrive," she added dryly. Shaking her   head, she laughed softly. "I suppose I should have known that   something like this would happen when the phone rang this   morning. Lois has been so busy on this story for a couple of   weeks now."

"I understand it's a very important investigation," Jonathan said   carefully. "They're trying to get enough evidence to put two of   Metropolis's most dangerous criminals in jail."

Ellen's eyes widened slightly, for she had been too busy with   wedding preparations to pay much attention to the story Lois was   so distracted by. "Well, I hope they're successful, then. It's   just a shame that they couldn't wait another hour or two."

"You must be very disappointed," Martha commiserated. "I know you   went to a lot of work to put all this together."

Ellen made an elegant motion of dismissal with one hand. "I loved   doing it, but I should have paid more attention to what Lois   really wanted. They weren't comfortable with all this," she   admitted, gesturing to the band. "I suppose this is what *I*   wanted for Lois. At least it's a day we'll all remember, and at   least they left the church together."

Wanting to help his son's relationship with his future   mother-in-law, Jonathan spoke up. "Clark loves your daughter,   Ellen. They will get married."

"Somehow," she agreed more cheerfully. "I'll let them arrange it   themselves next time, though. After all, I have another   daughter," she added with a smile as Lucy wandered over. "Lucy,   darling, would you like to join us for some five card draw?"

Lucy sat down agreeably as Jonathan began to deal the cards.   "Great party, Mom! The band... the food... When I get married,   are you going to throw a big splash like this for me?"

Ellen and Martha shared a quick smile. "If you want it, dear,   absolutely."

"Cool!" Lucy exclaimed, bringing some consolation to her mother's   heart.

***

When the would-be bride and groom finally arrived at the   reception, still wearing their ruined outfits, only the closest   friends and relatives remained at the reception hall. The poker   game was in full swing, with Ellen as the surprise lead, proving   to be as competitive as her daughter. At another table a few   reporters lingered over their drinks. After all, it was an open   bar. Perry and Alice were swaying to a soulful Elvis tune, as   were Jimmy and Carolyn.

"Lois!" Ellen cried, spotting her daughter at the door. Alarmed   by the charred remains of her wedding gown, she ran over to hug   her daughter tightly before pulling back and examining her. "What   on earth happened? Are you two alright?"

"We're okay, Mom," Lois reassured her, glancing around as   everyone crowded in to greet them and hear the news. She   explained about the explosion and looked down mournfully at her   once-beautiful gown. "It's ruined," she said a little sadly,   looking at her mother apologetically. "I'm sorry, Mom."

Ellen hugged her again. "Oh Lois, I don't care about the silly   gown! I'm just relieved you're alright."

"But we canceled the wedding, and you worked so hard to try to   make everything perfect for me," Lois sniffled, not wanting to   start crying in front of everyone.

Her mother smiled at her gently. "There's no need to apologize,   darling. I understand that you had an important break in your   story that just couldn't wait." Then, with a twinkle in her eye,   she added, "But next time, dear, just send me an invitation!"

Lois hugged her in relief and gratitude, drying her eyes.   "Thanks, Mom," she whispered.

Perry White hugged Lois too. "Are you kids sure you're okay?" he   asked, concerned by their tattered clothes.

"We're fine, Chief," Clark said. "Unfortunately, the evidence was   destroyed in the explosion, but we wrote up what we could for the   morning's headlines and we'll set to work on Monday following up   some other clues we've got. Our pieces are in your in-box,   perhaps Paula could go over them."

"We're too tired to do any more work tonight," Lois added. "I'm   sorry we were so late getting here, but we just had to get our   story in tomorrow's edition."

Perry, proud of his star reporters, asked a few more questions   about their meeting with their source, and others chimed in with   questions about the explosion, until Clark held up his hands to   quiet everyone down. "You can read all about it in tomorrow's   paper. We're in need of a shower and some clean clothes, I   think." He wiped a smudge of grime from Lois's chin with a smile.   "Lois and I would like very much to have a very small wedding at   my parents' house - next weekend?" He looked inquiringly at his   parents.

Jonathan looked pleased, and Martha rapidly calculated a few   things in her head. "That would be wonderful, Clark, but it will   be a very small ceremony..."

Lois and Clark shared a smile. "That sounds great, Martha," Lois   replied.

The couple thanked everyone again before going outside. They   strolled hand in hand down the path to the waiting limousine.   "So, where to?" she asked.

"Well, we have reservations at the Lexor Hotel for the honeymoon   suite," Clark said a bit uncertainly. Lois stopped abruptly and   looked up at him, searching his eyes. "It'd be a shame to let it   go to waste."

"Are you implying what I think you're implying?" she demanded,   suddenly feeling butterflies flittering crazily inside her.

Clark smiled at her, and the impact sizzled up her spine. He   gestured to the car, where the driver was holding the door open   for them expectantly. They entered it quietly, sitting beside   each other without actually touching, suddenly less at ease with   each other than they've been for over a year. Lois's heart was   racing. After waiting so long, could he possibly mean what he'd   said?

"Is this okay with you?" he asked quietly.

"You know I've wanted this for a long time," she said with an   unsteady laugh. "Are you sure it's what you want? We're not   actually married yet." As much as she had teased him about   waiting, she didn't want him to do anything he'd regret later.

Clark looked at her, his eyes as intense as she'd ever seen them.   "That's just a technicality. Today is our wedding day. I love   you, Lois, and I will marry you. I came so close to losing you   today, so tonight I want to hold you close to me. I need you," he   said fervently, clasping her hand between his.

"Oh Clark," she murmured, moving closer to cuddle against him,   feeling a thrill course through her body at the contact between   them. "Tonight will be perfect."

Clark held her close to him, and their lips met in a passionate   kiss as the limousine glided through the night.

***

With a sigh of satisfaction, Lois grabbed the printout of her   copy and perched on the edge of her partner's desk. "How's it   coming along, sweetheart?" she asked, leaning over to plant a   moist kiss on his cheek.

Clark paused in his typing long enough to give her an intimate   smile. "Almost done."

"I'm going to drop mine into Perry's box," Lois told him. Clark   nodded as he turned his attention back to his writing.

Trailing her fingers over his shoulder in a light caress as she   rose, Lois enjoyed a little shiver of delight. They had had a   magical night at the Lexor, it had been everything she had   fantasized about and more, and she couldn't wait until the   weekend. The partners had agreed, after that one night together,   to stay at their respective homes during the work week and wait   until their true wedding, but Lois was already regretting that   romantic promise. Every glance at Clark reminded her of that   evening and made her heart race. Concentrating on work had proved   to be a very difficult task.

Perry looked up with a special smile he reserved just for Lois.   "Hi honey, finished the follow-up piece on the Parrish Casino?"

"At last! Mine's about the Intergang connection, Clark's writing   the financial angle of it."

"How's the police investigation coming along?" the chief asked as   he picked up Lois's article to skim through it.

"I spoke to Detective Marley earlier. The Feds closed the casino   down and raided it for evidence. Sam Reynolds, who was in charge   of the money-laundering, has been taken into custody. There's no   telling right now how much Intergang managed to delete or remove   first, but it looks like the investigation will have some major   results," she said, with deep satisfaction. "And in the meantime,   with the casino shut down, Intergang can't funnel their money   through it, which means they can't finance any legal operations   until they've set up a new laundering operation. That should take   them a while."

"You two did a great job," Perry said seriously, extending his   words to Clark, who was entering the office with papers in hand.

"Unfortunately, neither of the Churches are being implicated,   there's nothing to link them to the casino," Clark said, still   upset on that score.

"We'll get them, partner," Lois told him determinedly. "Perhaps   when we look into Island Realty and Bishop Industries, those two   Intergang fronts that Gates told us about, then we might find   something implicating the Churches. We'll start on that first   thing tomorrow morning."

"Okay, partner," Clark said, feeling better knowing that Lois   would work hard with him to expose the Churches as the heads of   Intergang. They gazed into each others' eyes, forgetting where   they were, forgetting about their boss sitting at his desk.

Perry looked fondly at his ace team. "Why don't you two lovebirds   call it a day, go on outta here."

Clark held out his hand to Lois, and she slipped hers into his.   "See you tomorrow, Chief."

"Well now, hang on a second," Perry said, a bit disgruntled. "You   two were supposed to be enjoying your honeymoon this week and   next, you're not supposed to be in here working, you should be   off together, alone."

"We're going to have our honeymoon next week," Clark told him,   giving Lois a look that showed her how difficult the waiting was   for him as well. "We'll be working this week, tracking down the   other leads we have. After postponing our wedding over this   story, we want to cover every angle we can think of!"

"Well, if you're sure," Perry said uncertainly. It was clear to   him, from the way the partners were lost in one another, that   they ought to be alone together, but he certainly wasn't going to   kick them out of the newsroom and assign the Intergang pieces to   another reporter.

"We're sure," Lois answered. "This is *our* story, Chief, and   we're going to see it through."

Somehow, Perry was not surprised.

Part Seven

Lois frowned as she woke, because Mrs. Harrigan from upstairs was   singing like a rooster. She opened her eyes, looked around at the   unfamiliar room, and sat bolt upright, instantly awake for the   second time in her life. She realized that she was hearing a real   rooster, not her old upstairs neighbor. This was Clark's   childhood bedroom, she was in the bed he had slept in almost all   his life. His high school pennant hung on the wall above the desk   where he had done his homework, a row of athletic trophies lined   a shelf, some academic certificates were framed and on display.

Sitting there in his bed, Lois pulled her knees up and wrapped   her arms around her legs. This past week had been incredibly   busy, a time to follow up on all the clues they had, and   triumphantly print the story of the Parrish Casino being shut   down by the authorities... but it had seemed like the longest   week of her life. She'd been glad to finish everything and escape   to the quiet, peaceful countryside.

The rooster crowed again, and Lois scowled. She had been under   the city-girl impression that roosters did that only at dawn, but   she had hazy memories of that sound disturbing her several times   during the night as well. The sun had come up, though barely, and   she could hear Jonathan Kent outside, tending to some farm   chores. Definitely not the life for her, she thought. She sniffed   the air and smiled as she realized that Martha was baking   something. Her own attempts at baking had led to a kitchen   covered in fine white powder that had proved remarkably difficult   to clean up, but she loved Clark's mother's cooking and fresh   baking. Clark obviously accepted the fact that Lois was not much   of a cook and didn't expect her to take his mother's place, and   during the year of their engagement they had frequently flown to   Smallville for home-cooked dinners and a competitively friendly   game of poker.

"I should try to get some more sleep," she told herself, feeling   anything but sleepy. "I don't need to be up for another hour at   least." She climbed out of the bed even as she said the words,   wandering around the room, trailing a finger over the certificate   Clark had received for journalism in high school. The first time   she had been in this room she had been critical of his awards,   coming as they did from such a small town, and she had looked   around as though investigating Clark's background. Now, however,   she let her eyes fall on each treasured momento of his childhood,   wishing she had been there to share it with him.

Going over to the open window, Lois pulled the curtains back and   rested her elbows on the sill, her head propped in her hands as   she surveyed the fields. She felt so relaxed and peaceful out   here. Clark was right, it was a wonderful break from the fast   pace of the city. The air was fresh and sweet, since it wasn't   blowing from the directions of any animals, the smell of baking   wafted up from the kitchen window, and she could hear birds   trilling.

Leaning forward a little she could just see the red roof of Wayne   Irig's house in the distance, where Clark and Jimmy had spent the   night, the Kents' farmhouse having barely enough room for Lois   and her family. Lois smiled, feeling a familiar warmth glow   inside her, as though a ray of sunshine had been let into her   heart. "I wonder if you can hear me," she said aloud. "Well, just   in case you can, I love you." Her smile turned into a big grin.   Talking softly and knowing Clark could hear her had been endless   fun in the past year, a wonderful game she played with him. It   was a shame, she often thought, that she couldn't hear him in   return. Or perhaps it was just as well, she suddenly decided,   thinking of all the times she had mischievously distracted him   with whispered sweet nothings while Perry was trying to talk to   him. Clark would certainly have paid her back for that!

She took a deep breath of the country air, feeling hungry for one   of Martha's fresh rolls, and gazed up at the sky. Yesterday's   weather forecast had called for increasing cloudiness and chances   of showers during the day. She had exchanged a secretive smile   with Clark over her mother's head, and Clark had excused himself   for a few minutes. He had probably blown the clouds further east;   at any rate, the sky above was a soft, pastel blue, with only a   few wisps of white.

"What a beautiful day to get married," she murmured, gazing   dreamily at the Kansas morning while she pictured Clark in his   tuxedo.

***

"No chance of showers on *our* wedding day," Clark murmured in   satisfaction as he gazed up at the sky. He was standing on Wayne   Irig's back porch in his boxers, enjoying the fresh farm air.   Being back in Kansas was like a balm to his spirit, for as much   as he loved his life in Metropolis, he needed at times to get   away from the noise and the rush and return to this peaceful   place.

He stretched, wishing he could go for a flight over the wheat   fields. They were so beautiful from the air, dancing and rippling   in the breeze and stretching out endlessly below him like a   golden sea. With Wayne whistling nearby, however, he knew that   was impossible. He concentrated momentarily and picked up the   sound of Jimmy mumbling slightly in his sleep inside the   farmhouse. Just then he caught Lois's sweet voice, and his head   lifted immediately as his eyes sought his bedroom window and   zoomed in on it.

There she was, chin in her hands, looking his direction although   he knew she couldn't see him from so far away. "I love you," he   heard her say in a tender voice, and he felt a warmth course   through his veins. She looked comfortable and relaxed as she   always did when in the country. It took her a few hours to shed   the vigor that city life required and settle down to the slower   pace of the small town, but it had proven a wonderful respite   that had softened some of her edges over time.

Of course, Clark knew that Lois's relationship with his mother   had a lot to do with that. The two of them were like kindred   spirits in many ways, although Lois was far more driven. Martha   had been both a confidante for Lois and a motherly figure, and   watching the two of them side by side as they prepared dinner, or   looked through the Kent family photo albums, or read the   Smallville Press, had given Clark a great deal of joy. Ever since   discovering his super powers he had felt a despairing sense of   loss, of not belonging. He had been set apart from everyone in   the world, and only his parents could know and understand him. He   had been so afraid that his desire for a woman to share life   with, his longing for a family of his own, would remain   unfulfilled.

He cherished Lois all the more for making his life complete, for   accepting him as he was, for loving him without reservation and   becoming a part of his family. He saw her gaze up at the sky with   a dreamy expression and felt a humble gratitude that she was a   part of his life. He could remember the loneliness of previous   years, the pain of not knowing who he was and where he had come   from. Those days were now distant memories, however. Today he   would truly embark on a new life, an exciting life with Lois   forever at his side, partners in every sense of the word.

In a few short hours he would pledge, before friends and family,   to love Lois for the rest of his life, however long that might   be. In his heart he had long since made that vow, even before   they had gone on their very first date. There would never be   another woman for him, he had known that with complete assurance   for a long time.

This past year had been magical for Clark, the fulfillment of   dreams he had nearly abandoned. Their love had grown stronger and   fuller with the passing months, as they had learned more about   one another and opened their hearts and bared their souls to each   other. Clark had learned to be comfortable using his super powers   in front of Lois, a major adjustment after spending so many years   hiding them from everyone but his parents, and Lois had   reconciled the two separate identities of Clark Kent and Superman   into what she sometimes jokingly referred to as her "Super   Clark".

The road they had traveled to reach this day in time hadn't been   an easy one, it had been fraught with peril and liberally   scattered with potholes and speed bumps - Clark grimaced slightly   as the name Scardino flashed into his consciousness - but perhaps   that made this moment all the sweeter and more precious. An   excitement began to blossom in his heart as he realized that soon   he would be married to Lois, for he knew that here and now there   would be no dramatic interruptions.

***

Sweet strains of Mozart drifted softly over the garden. Jimmy   patted his pocket yet again, assuring himself that the precious   rings he had been entrusted with were still there. Jonathan   turned once again to the back door of the house, wondering if the   bride was ready yet. Wayne Irig adjusted his Sunday suit   uncomfortably for the fifth time. Father Thomas, who had known   Clark for most of his life, smiled at the young man in a   reassuring manner, not realizing that the groom felt no sense of   uneasiness or anxiety at the delay.

Clark stood serenely in the summer sunshine, feeling its warmth   on his head and shoulders, his soul tranquil and suffused with a   sense of rightness about everything; the morning was beautiful,   the breeze carried with it the scent of the flowers his mother   had gathered and arranged on the small table in front of Father   Thomas, and he basked in the love of these people who were so   dear to him and in the love of the feisty and impetuous woman who   meant the world to him. The passing minutes merely gave him a   little more time to appreciate the wonder and joy in his heart.

The back door opened and all eyes turned towards it immediately   in excitement. Martha and Ellen came out of the house, both   wearing simple but festive dresses and both smiling happily. They   propped the door open and came down the porch steps, which they   had decorated with clinging vines and interspersed daisies   running along the banisters. They approached the small knot of   men slowly, side by side, looking proud of their children and   joyful at the occasion. Lucy Lane appeared in the doorway, the   flowers artfully tucked into her hair and a flowing blue dress   combining to give her an air of prettiness and simplicity. She   paused there a moment, enjoying the attention, before sedately   making her way to her place in the small circle.

Everyone's attention was riveted on the doorway, awaiting the   first glimpse of the bride. Ellen felt a momentary flash of worry   that, once again, something would occur to disrupt her daughter's   wedding. Martha gazed at her son, bursting with pride in him and   happiness for him. Jonathan, who had been similarly bursting for   several minutes now, waited with excitement for his   daughter-in-law to come into their family's open arms. Jimmy held   his breath, one hand firmly held over the slight ridges in his   suit that were the rings he had been guarding for some time now.   Wayne, having panned his camcorder over the assembled group and   garnered plenty of footage of the groom, was ready to at last   capture the bride on tape.

Before the pause could lengthen into a discomfiting delay, she   was there. Perry White, obviously aware of the honor bestowed   upon him, had a hand clasped over Lois's on the crook of his arm,   perhaps to assure himself that she wasn't going to pull away.   Clark, however, had eyes only for Lois.

Framed by the ivy-bedecked doorway she stood out starkly in a   white dress that seemed to float around her calves and lend a   surreal quality to her beauty. The sweetheart neckline bared an   expanse of creamy skin unadorned with any jewelry, her hair shone   with auburn highlights in the sunshine, and her face was aglow   with an inner light that sprang from her love for Clark.

Clark knew he would never be able to say with any certainty what   the dress was made of or in what style, he would only remember   that Lois had never seemed more beautiful to him, and their eyes   connected across the garden and never wavered. She came down the   stairs as though floating over them, without looking down at her   feet, trusting Perry to guide her to her fiance. Watching her   approach him, Clark felt an almost painful surge of loving and   tenderness.

Lois was in no hurry this time, she allowed Perry to escort her   with dignified paces. Every deliberate step brought her closer to   the man she loved, and she felt the glory of the moment wash over   her, filling her with light and love until she felt as though she   were gliding on air. There had never been a sky as blue, air as   pure, or a moment as beautiful as this. She had never experienced   such a profound sense of destiny.

At last Perry was lifting her hand and placing it in Clark's   strong one, and their fingers entwined and squeezed gently as   they gazed at each other in awe and wonder. Father Thomas began   to speak in a gentle, lilting voice. He spoke of togetherness, of   love that could overcome anything, of trust and sharing. Neither   of them heard the words but the feelings touched them and brought   them closer together.

Standing facing one another, holding their hands between them,   surrounded by a circle of people who loved them and shared in   their joy, Lois and Clark smiled at each other, blissfully   savoring and treasuring the moment.

"Do you, Clark, take Lois for your wife? Do you promise to love   and cherish her every day of your life, and respect and honor her   above all else?"

Clark found himself so engulfed with emotion that he had to   swallow before he could answer. Lois's trusting eyes were so   clearly filled with love that he wanted to take her in his arms   and hold her close against him. He accepted the small, simple   ring from Jimmy and slid it reverently onto Lois's trembling   finger, then lifted her hand to his mouth and brushed his lips   softly against it. "We do," he said, speaking the first word   softly for her alone and letting the second one sound out clearly   for all to witness. A delighted smile added even more brilliance   to her face and made his heart well up with pleasure.

Ellen sniffled softly, seeing the adoration plain on the handsome   young man's face, the love he so clearly felt for her daughter   giving her a wonderful contentment even as she swallowed the   sadness of her little girl leaving her family to start a new one.   The sweet man she would be proud to call her son-in-law was so   completely in love that he had gotten the vows wrong, she thought   with tenderness.

Lois barely heard the preacher's voice as he asked if she was   prepared to do the same. Her entire world was narrowed to this   one man, this honest and gentle soul, who had always been there   for her since the day they met, whether she had known it or not,   looking out for her, keeping her safe, loving her without   hesitation or reservation. He had never turned his back on her,   never treated her selfishly or cruelly, and she knew he never   would. She was overcome by a sense of awe that she could be so   lucky as to be loved so passionately and so deeply by him.

With a start she realized that the preacher's question hung in   the air and everyone was waiting expectantly for her answer.   Seeing that the bride had been utterly lost in Clark's loving   gaze, there was a ripple of soft laughter that she shared in.

She flashed a smile at Jimmy as she took the remaining ring and   placed it on Clark's finger. "I do," she said, her voice clear   and sweet and certain as she slid it into place.

Father Thomas spoke some more, but once again the couple hardly   heard the words. Overwhelmed by their feelings, they breathlessly   waited for the moment that they could erase the slight space   between them and be forever united. At last they heard the magic   words pronounced, husband and wife, and with a small cry of   happiness Lois took a half step forward and slipped her arms   around Clark's neck. He held her close, one hand cupping her face   as he bent his head to kiss her full lips, and Lois felt his   tears land on her cheek. Their lips met with all the sweetness of   a first kiss, and each was aware that it was made all the more   special for being the first kiss of their life together as a   family.

"You may kiss the bride," Father Thomas said wryly as the   couple's closest ones laughed and clapped in a display of love   and joy.

Lois let her head fall back, looking up into her husband's eyes.   Clark gently brushed his own tears from her face. "I love you,   Lois," he told her, his voice husky with emotion.

"And I, you, Clark, with all my heart," she vowed, pushing back   the lock of hair falling into his eyes. "Forever."

"Forever," he echoed as he swept her into his arms again and   buried his face in her soft hair, letting the smell and feel and   sense of her envelop him completely.

"I think you'd better put us back on the ground," Lois whispered   into his ear in merriment as she felt herself floating.

"We are on the ground," he responded, and flashed a beautiful   smile at his wife's startled expression.

"Then kiss me again," she demanded softly, her eyes dancing.

So he did.

THE END

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Table of Contents

Going to the Chapel...

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

Part Four

Part Five

Part Six

Part Seven