Countdown: Clark's Story

By CarolM <carolmfolc@gmail.com>

Rated: G

Submitted: October 2008

Author's Notes: This was a 2007 Holiday Ficathon story for Jessi. Her requests are at the bottom.

Thanks to Nancy for the beta :).

Thanks to Tricia for GEing this!

***** Countdown: Clark's Story *****

10...

It was now or never. Thoughts flew through Clark's mind at Superspeed. What to do? They'd had such a wonderful Christmas evening together, watching the snow after 'decorating' her Christmas tree with the star he'd given her.

Now, a week later, he had a decision to make and not much time to make it in.

9...

Superman had offered to fly 'them' to Smallville to spend a couple of days with his family since Clark had 'missed' his flight and hadn't spent Christmas with them after all.

Now, it was New Year's Eve, bare seconds before the calendars would flip over to a new January and the countdown would begin all over again -- 31,556,926 more seconds until he'd have this opportunity again.

Lois stood next to him, her head resting on his shoulder as the countdown continued.

8...

They were on the porch of his parents' home waiting for the fireworks over Smallville. Though they were past the outer fringes of Smallville, they would still be able to see the explosions of light from here. The only thing marring the evening was the overcast sky.

That was until it started to snow, bare seconds before the new year began.

7...

Without thinking, his arm snaked around her, pulling her slightly closer as the opportunity he was waiting for drew ever nearer. He felt her body willingly lean in just a bit. As ever when they stood close -- when he held her in his arms to let her cry after another failed attempt on her life or for any other reason -- he was amazed at how well their bodies molded together. They fit perfectly.

She was his lobster.

6...

Lobsters mated for life. Actually, he didn't know if lobsters actually mated for life, but that's what he'd heard. And it seemed to fit. Like they fit. Perfectly.

So why was he absolutely filled with trepidation over what he was about to? If he kissed her at the stroke of midnight and she kissed back -- well, that was the outcome he was praying for. However, if he kissed her at midnight and she simply returned his kiss with a little light pressure of her own before wrapping her arms around him in a fierce New Year's hug... well, it was New Year's. That was why he'd kissed her. Not that he was harboring a deep, all consuming love for his partner.

5...

Time had slowed down to a virtual standstill. He'd had thoughts fly through his head before while working a rescue trying to figure out the best thing to do, what order to rescue victims in or which support was going to give way first, but the 'I love her's and 'I hope she kisses me back's and all the potential scenarios and repercussions flew threw his head faster than a speeding bullet.

4...

He inhaled deeply. Here it came.

She grabbed his hand and pulled him off the porch and into the yard -- filled with snow as the snowflakes continued to fall.

Time seemed to speed up...

3...

Faster...

2...

...and faster. Now... it was time.

1...

He turned to Lois, his heart in his throat, and she turned to him, a smile lighting up the night.

"HAPPY NEW YEAR!"

The four of them yelled in unison.

His parents, as they always did, kissed at the stroke of twelve. In past years, it had embarrassed him to no end because they never were able to keep their hands off each other.

But this year...

This year, he didn't care.

He smiled down at the lovely woman in front of him and bent down slightly to wrap his arms around her waist and hoist her into the air. She laughed as he twirled her about.

Time stood still again as he moved closer to her, her face only inches from his, until his lips touched hers.

The fireworks he could hear over the town of Smallville had nothing on those he could see behind his closed eyelids. Explosions of color all around.

And then she was kissing him back.

It seemed like an eternity until they broke apart.

But when they did, he could tell she had wanted him to kiss her as much as he had wanted to.

"Clark," she whispered. "I have a secret."

His strong arms were still around her waist, her feet still several inches off the ground.

"What's that?" he whispered.

"I was hoping you'd kiss me at midnight."

Clark laughed softly. "I'm only too happy to oblige." He took a deep breath. If they were going to start a New Year telling secrets, maybe it was time to share his.

"I have a secret too, Lois."

"You do?"

He nodded and took a deep breath, determined to tell her before he lost his nerve. "I'm Superman," he said softly.

She giggled. "Wanna know my other secret?"

Puzzled by her reaction, he nodded.

She smiled and leaned in close until her mouth was next to his ear. Barely louder than breathing, she whispered.

"I already know."

*****

Fin.

Three things I want in my fic:

1. a kiss in the snow

2. a secret revealed

3. Smallville and/or Martha and Jonathan

Preferred season(s): S1, S2, S3

Three things I do not want in my fic:

1. an argument

2. songfic

3. Dan or Mayson