Summary: When Lois decides that Clark is the one for her, she doesn't leave anything up to chance. But she may know less than she thinks she does.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. I make nothing. All characters, plot points, and recognizable dialogue belong to DC Comics, Warner Bros., December 3rd Productions and anyone else with a stake in the Superman franchise.
Special Thanks: Go to VirginiaR, for inspiring this idea with her challenge on the Lois and Clark Fanfic Message Boards. The challenge called for Lois to realize that Clark is the one for her, so she pops the question first, before Clark can get up the courage to ask her to marry him. The rules were that Lois must be serious, that Lois has no idea that Clark is Superman, and that the proposal comes as a surprise to Clark. My muse loved the idea, so this is what she whipped up.
Author's Note: I'm messing with everything, as usual.
***
Clark whistled as he adjusted his tie in the mirror. It felt strange, to be wearing a plain black tie, instead of one of his typically more colorful, interesting ones. But the place Lois had picked out for tonight's dinner was one of the most upscale restaurants in the entire state of New Troy, let alone in the city. For the life of him, Clark couldn't understand why Lois wanted to go there. Or why she was insisting that tonight's date was on her. Sure, it was their six month anniversary, but that didn't quite justify the extravagance of this date, in his mind.
Date.
A goofy, dreamy grin spread slowly over Clark's face at the idea. He was dating Lois Lane. The woman of his dreams. The woman he hoped to one day to give himself over to in marriage. The one person in the entire world he would one day tell his secret to.
There were times when he still couldn't believe it - that Lois had agreed to date him, and that things had been going so well for them. He just wished things were a little better. Too often, his responsibilities as Superman cut into his quality time with Lois. He never failed to answer the cries for help, but more and more often, he found that it was taking a greater effort to pry himself away from their dates or discussions or even the stories they were working on. Part of him wished he could just tell Lois the truth - that he was more than just Clark Kent, that Superman was a part of him too. The other part of him was terrified of the prospect and the unknown that would come as a result.
Would Lois leave him? He wouldn't be able to blame her if she did. After all, he'd been lying to her since almost the day he met her. He'd manipulated everything to keep her believing that Superman was a real person. He'd lied to the entire world, to "prove" that Clark and Superman were separate entities. Would Lois stay with him, only because of her once overwhelming crush on the Man of Steel? Ever since Superman's appearance, when he'd saved both the space shuttle and Lois in one fell swoop, she'd been head over heels for the man in blue, even if she was now less obvious with her affections.
One thing was certain. Lois was bound to be mad at him, no matter when and how she would find out the truth.
At least Clark knew that she would never, ever betray his secret. It was the one bright spot to this entire mess, he mused to himself.
"I can't lose her," he told the empty air around him in his bathroom.
But here again he found himself caught between the proverbial rock and hard place. If he told Lois his secret, it stood to chance that he would lose her. She would be angry. She would be hurt. She might very well throw him out of her life and lock the door behind her. But if he didn't, he was liable to lose her anyway. His constant disappearances were taking their toll on his relationship with Lois. He knew she was losing her patience with him, and he couldn't fault her for it. After all, if it had been the other way around, he knew each disappearance would drive another knife of doubt into his heart.
"Maybe it's time," he mumbled to himself as he craned his neck first one way, then the other, searing the stubble from his chin with his heat vision.
He knew Lois loved him. She'd already chosen Clark over Superman, so it was safe to say that she would continue to love him for his heart and not for his powers, right? And he knew that Lois knew how much he loved her. He did his utmost to make sure of that, every single day, in all of his actions - bringing her hot coffee the way she liked it, letting her choose what movie to watch, bringing her flowers and chocolate when she least expected it.
He shook his head as he continued to contemplate his dilemma. No. Not tonight. For whatever reason, Lois was going out of her way to take him on an expensive date. He couldn't ruin the night for her by dropping a bombshell like the fact that he was Superman on her.
"Coward," he whispered as he checked his appearance once again in the mirror. He added a splash of aftershave to himself. "How much longer are you going to keep finding excuses?" he asked himself.
He sighed as he hung his head, letting his chin touch his chest. Soon. It would have to be soon. But not now.
"Okay," he said, picking up his head again. He brushed a piece of lint off his black suit jacket before checking his watch. "Plenty of time to stop by the florist."
He left the bathroom, grabbed his coat, and headed out of his apartment. He locked the door and shoved the keys into his pocket. Once outside, he decided to go to the florist closer to his place. Benny, the owner, had always been very good to him, whenever he stopped by to pick up flowers for Lois. Carlos, the florist near Lois, was a nice enough guy, but his arrangements tended to be way overpriced, not that he begrudged the extra money. Lois' smile was always worth every penny, but for what he was paying for, the arrangements weren't nearly as nice as Benny's.
"Hey, Clark," Benny said pleasantly as Clark entered the shop.
"Hey, Benny. How's it going?" he greeted the man.
"Can't complain. You?"
"Couldn't be better."
"Date with Lois tonight?" Benny asked knowingly, as he eyed Clark's suit, which showed beneath his open coat.
Clark nodded. "Our sixth month anniversary."
"Ah!" Benny said with a smile. "Congratulations, my friend! Something extra special is needed then. Let's see what I can whip up for you."
Clark smiled. "That'd be great. Thanks, Benny. I was thinking roses but...I don't know. Seems kind of cliché, no?"
"Well, roses are always a classic," Benny hedged. "But maybe we can fix up something with a little more personality."
"That's why I came to you. You're the best," Clark told him, meaning every word.
"Well, I don't know about that, but it's kind of you to say."
Benny came out from behind the counter and started to collect various loose flowers out of the tall refrigerators which stood around the cramped shop. Roses, lilies, carnations, tulips and a half a dozen other flowers Clark didn't know the names of all were added to the bouquet Benny was designing as he went. Martha would have known what they all were, Clark knew in his heart. Maybe he would try to describe them to her next time he visited, and see if he could get the names of them. Leafy greens and delicate white baby's breath were the last to be added.
"How's Ray?" Clark asked as Benny arranged the flowers in a vase.
Benny shook his head. "Staying tough as always. The chemo's been so hard on him. But that kid hasn't complained once, if you can believe it. The doctors all seem to think he's responding well, and that he's got a good chance of beating this thing."
"That's great!" Clark said.
"I pray to God every day that they're right," Benny continued, swallowing hard and blinking back tears.
"How are you and Tess holding up with all of this?"
Benny nodded distractedly as he snipped a few stems. "Better now than we were a few months ago. Back then, we had no answers and no idea if this was going to kill him or not. Seeing him doing so well now...well, he inspires us every day. Oh, and by the way, thanks for talking to your friend, Superman, for us. He visited the hospital last Tuesday. I've never seen Ray so excited about anything in his whole life. It did him a world of good, seeing his hero like that."
"I'm always happy to help, in any way that I can," Clark said truthfully. "Superman mentioned the visit, the last time I saw him. He said he was impressed by Ray's spirit and will to live."
Benny smiled softy. "That's my boy. You believe he's going to be twelve next week?"
"Already? Time flies," Clark said, nodding.
"Yeah. He wants a Superman themed birthday party and everything. You know, practically the whole hospital turned up to meet your friend? Everyone well enough to make it out of their room went to see him. Yeah, he spent hours shaking hands, taking pictures, signing autographs. Then he went around to see the kids too sick to get out of bed. Your friend there? I'm telling you, he's got a heart of gold." He spoke without pausing as he wrapped the bouquet in cellophane and secured it with a couple of rubber bands.
"He's always happy to spread whatever happiness and hope he can," Clark said in a quiet tone.
The visit to the hospital wasn't one he would soon be forgetting. He'd gone to hospitals before, of course. Superman was forever being asked to visit sick fans. But that had been the first time he'd personally known one of the people he'd been asked to visit. It had been a depressing experience, seeing so many kids stricken with illnesses - many of them terminal - but it had been uplifting as well, to see so many kids smiling and laughing amid their hospital stays. In the end though, he'd had to visit Lois under the guise of bringing ice cream sundaes, just to chase away the lingering grief in his heart.
"Well, thank him again for me, if you see him," Benny said.
"Will do."
"Okay, looks like we're all set here with the flowers."
"It's beautiful," Clark said appreciatively. A thought occurred to him. "Let me get a box of the truffles too, please."
Benny chuckled. "Fastest way to Lois Lane's heart, huh?" he said as he reached for a box of the chocolate truffles, knowing exactly the box Clark had in mind.
Clark shrugged. "Anything she wants, she gets."
Benny laughed harder. "Smart man. So, six months, you said, huh?"
"I know. I can't believe it either." He shook his head.
"She's a lucky woman to have you."
"No, I'm lucky to have her."
"Yeah, you're right," Benny joked as he rang up Clark's purchase. "You take care not to lose her, you hear me? Women like Lois Lane are rare."
"Don't I know it," Clark replied as he handed the florist his credit card. "Thanks, Benny. The arrangement looks fantastic. Lois is going to love it."
"You take care, Clark. I'll see you around."
"Night, Benny. Say hi to the family for me."
With that, Clark left the humble little florist shop and hailed the first taxi he saw. He supposed he could have flown over to Lois' apartment, but he wanted tonight to be as normal as possible. And that included getting to her place in as conventional a manner as he could. He had hoped to walk, but a quick glance at his watch had told him he wouldn't make it to Lois without being late. There was no way he was going to be late to this date.
Six months.
He'd never made it so long in a relationship before. He'd come close with Lana, but that ship had sunk five months in, when he could no longer take her belittling and manipulations. It had been the longest five months of his life. But with Lois? Six months had passed in a heartbeat. He'd never had so much fun in all his life, nor had his heart ever been so happy.
He made it to her door with three minutes to spare, thanks to the skillful way the taxi driver navigated the city streets. He knocked on her door, holding the chocolates and flowers before him, so she would see them right away.
"Coming!" he heard from within the apartment. A moment later, the door opened to reveal Lois in a tasteful burgundy dress that Clark was sure he'd never seen before. "Right on time," she said with a smile.
"Happy six months," he replied. "These are for you."
"Clark, thank you! The flowers are gorgeous! Tell Benny I love the arrangement next time you see him." She gave him a quick peck on the lips.
Clark chuckled. "Am I really that predictable?" he wondered aloud.
"Only a lot," she gently quipped. "I'm not complaining. He's the only one who sells these particular chocolates."
"I know how much you like them," Clark admitted.
"I do. You're the best, you know that, right?"
He grinned. "I try."
Lois laughed. "Are you ready to go?"
He nodded. "If you are. Did you want me to drive?"
She shook her head. "No, tonight's completely on me. Is that okay?"
He shrugged. "If that's what makes you happy, then I'm okay with it. Just...don't feel like you have to do anything."
"Believe me, I've been thinking long and hard about tonight," she said cryptically. "Now, let's get going. J'Adore doesn't hold reservations for more than ten minutes if people are late."
"After you," Clark said, holding the door open for her.
Lois stepped through the doorway and into the hall, with Clark trailing her. She took a moment to set the locks and then took his arm as they headed for the elevator that would take them down to the ground floor. Clark greeted the few neighbors they came across.
"The car's down this way," Lois said, pointing, as they reached the sidewalk. "I had a hard time getting a spot after work."
"How'd things go?" Clark asked. It had been one of the rare days when one had worked while the other had the day off.
Lois shrugged. "Slow day, but it was almost kind of nice, after how crazy the last month has been. It's like all the nutcases have come out to play this November and December."
"Speaking of December," Clark said, "I was wondering if you'd like to come out to Smallville for Christmas. Or if you'd prefer, we can stay in Metropolis and my folks will fly in. They're okay with either option. Or did you have plans with your family?"
Lois shook her head. "Mom's taking a cruise and Dad usually works straight through any holiday, heedless of whether or not his family would like to spend time with him."
"And Lucy?"
"Going skiing in Colorado with her new boyfriend...Steve or Dean or George or Stanley...I don't know. Something. She's only been with him for two weeks."
"You don't know his name?" Clark teased.
"Why would I? She never stays with them long enough for me to get to know them," she said with a shrug as they finally reached the Jeep. "It's sad, really. You know, just before you started at the Planet, she was living with me. She kept pushing me to date, telling me she wanted me to be able to find one great guy so I could be happy. Now, I finally have what she wanted for me, only to want the same thing for her."
"Lois," he said, gently taking her shoulders as she tried to unlock the Jeep. He turned her around to look her in the eyes. "I think it's very sweet that you want her to be as happy as we are."
"Really?"
"Really," he assured her. Then, after a minute, "So, what'll it be?"
"Smallville," she answered without hesitation. "I don't know how to say this but...I've forgotten what a real Christmas is. You know, the kind where Mom cooks some traditional Christmas morning breakfast before everyone dives into the gifts. The one with a lazy afternoon filled with music and games and good conversation. The kind with a real Christmas dinner and talking that lasts long after when everyone would normally be in bed. Since I was maybe eight, my Christmases have been like any other non-holiday day, with the only difference being that somewhere before Mom passed out drunk and Dad snuck off to wherever he snuck off to, someone would shove a gift card into my hands with a tepid 'Merry Christmas.'"
"That's awful!" Clark exclaimed, aghast, though he wasn't completely shocked, given what he knew of Lois' family. "I swear to you, this Christmas will be one you will never forget."
Lois smiled. "For the first time in a long time, I'm looking forward to the holidays."
"Me too," Clark admitted. "I've never brought anyone home with me for Christmas. I've never dated anyone long enough. But now I have the most beautiful woman in the world to spend Christmas with."
He kissed her then, just a short, sweet, innocent kiss on the lips. He gave her a smile when they parted, then opened the door for her. She smiled in return and slipped into the driver's seat. He jogged around to the other side and got into the Jeep.
Lois started the car and turned up the heat. "You know, I've been looking forward to this dinner all week," she said.
"I've heard nothing but great reviews," Clark said, nodding once. "I have to admit, I've been anticipating trying it out. But...I just...I wish you'd let dinner be on me tonight."
She shook her head. "We've been over this. I really do want to be the one to well...to pamper you, if you will."
"You don't have to..."
"I know." She smirked. "Just sit back and enjoy the night, Clark."
"Okay," he agreed after a moment.
It was clear that Lois was adamant about being in charge of the evening. For whatever reason, it was important to her. Clark decided that her happiness was worth more than any antiquated notion of dating etiquette, where the man had to pay for everything. Besides, it wasn't the first time Lois had demanded that she be the one to buy their meal. It was just the most expensive one, that was all.
They arrived at J'Adore a mere twenty-five minutes later. Lois handed her keys over to the valet, and Clark took her arm to escort her into the restaurant. The maitre d' sat them right away, at a cozy little table tucked away in a corner by the windows. Since it was located high above the city streets in a penthouse suite space, they had a gorgeous view of the city, with the lights and colors gleaming in the darkness.
"It's blander than I would have imagined in here," Lois said, looking around at the decor.
Clark glanced around as well. "Maybe, but I kind of like it. There's really no distractions. Just you, me, and a spectacular view of Metropolis."
"And good food," Lois said with a smile. "At least, I hope."
Clark nodded. "And good food," he corrected himself.
"This is nice," Lois said after a minute or two of silence. "I feel like this is the first time you and I have gotten to relax in about a month."
"It has been pretty busy," Clark admitted.
Busy was an understatement, Clark knew. Between their investigations for the Planet and Clark's work as Superman, he felt like he was a man submerged for too long under water. This date felt like his first, long overdue, breath of air. With any luck, the lull in activity would last for a day or two, giving them both a chance to recharge and reconnect as a couple, and not as a couple who happened to work together. It felt like all they did recently was talk about their stories.
"I know it sounds strange," Clark continued, "but, with everything that's been going on, I've missed you terribly. I know we see each other all day every day and all night as well, but..." he shrugged. "I feel like we haven't had a chance to really...be together."
Lois nodded. "I know what you mean. All we've talked about lately has basically been tied to our job. I miss just being us. That's part of the reason why I picked this place. That and...can you believe we've been dating for six months already?"
Clark shook his head. "I'm still in disbelief that we're dating at all. It's a dream come true for me and sometimes...sometimes it feels like it's too good to be real. If that makes any sense."
"It does," Lois said agreeably. "There have been times when I've felt the same way."
The waiter returned with the champagne Lois had requested. They each lifted their glasses in a toast.
"To love," Clark said, raising his glass just a tad higher. "And the most amazing woman in the world."
"To love," Lois concurred. "And the best relationship I've ever been in, with a pretty wonderful guy."
They clinked their glasses together and drank. Clark was surprised as the bubbly drink hit his tongue. He'd been all over the world and had tasted many exotic and expensive wines, beers, and champagnes. But this one had to rank among the best he'd ever had.
"Wow," he said approvingly, as he inspected the bubbles that were racing to the top of the glass.
Lois dabbed her mouth with her napkin. "Yeah. I wasn't expecting it to be that good." She laughed a little, almost nervously.
Clark took her hand across the table. "Thank you, Lois, for asking me out tonight. You don't know how badly I've been needing some quiet time with you lately."
"Me too." She smiled shyly, then gestured to the menu. "Shall we?"
Clark nodded. "Absolutely."
His mouth was watering. With his heightened olfactory sense, he could pick up all kinds of wonderful smells wafting through the air. Garlic. Aged cheeses. Hot bread, fresh from the oven. Dozens of spices. Juicy, fresh cut fruits. Seared meats. Heady wines. He could scarcely wait to get a taste of the restaurant's famous cuisine.
They each wound up ordering a steak and grilled lobster combination dinner with a broccoli, carrot, and green bean medley. It was a delicious meal, and Clark immediately understood why the place had the lofty reputation that it had. The steak had practically melted in his mouth and the lobster had been exquisitely seasoned. He cleaned his plate and noticed that Lois did the same. All the while, they enjoyed pleasant conversation that studiously avoided anything related to their job.
"Dessert?" Lois asked as they sat back in their chairs, content as they began to digest.
"I could go for dessert," Clark said with a nod. He might have declined, but he could see that Lois was hoping for him to say yes, to justify getting some dessert herself. He picked up the dessert menu that the waiter had dropped off at the table just a few minutes before. "The Crème Brule looks good."
"I'm eyeing the chocolate torte," Lois replied with a grin.
Clark chuckled. "Of course."
He hadn't expected any different. Lois Lane's greatest weakness was, after all, chocolate.
"Any dessert this evening?" their waiter asked when he returned.
"Yes," Clark said. "The chocolate torte for her and I'll have the Crème Brule."
"And coffee for both of us," Lois added.
"Excellent choices," the waiter smiled. "It'll just be a moment or two."
When the desserts arrived, they, like the rest of the meal, were incredibly delicious. Clark carefully spooned some of his Crème Brule into Lois' mouth, while she fed him dainty pieces of her torte. Clark enjoyed every moment of it. There was something incredibly sensual about feeding Lois some of his dessert, and being fed by her in return.
"That was a wonderful meal, Lois," Clark said when they'd finished their desserts and drained their coffee cups. "Thank you for this."
"You're welcome. I'm glad this place lived up to its reputation. I was worried it might have turned out to be one of those over-hyped places that food critics love to rave about but that normal people wouldn't go to twice."
Clark chuckled.
Lois took the check on the table, checked it, and slipped her credit card into the black guest check presenter. She moved the whole thing to the edge of the table. The waiter was over just a minute later, promising to be right back.
"Clark?"
"Yes?"
"I was wondering. Could we go somewhere? Maybe a walk in the park? It's such a nice night out, after all."
"Sure," he said with a smile and a nod. "I'd love to."
Lois looked slightly relieved, though Clark couldn't imagine why. He didn't have time to dwell on it. The waiter returned and his thoughts scattered. Lois signed the receipt and stood. "I'll meet you up front in a few minutes. I'd like to wash up before we leave."
"Me too."
She headed off in the direction of the ladies' room while Clark headed to the men's room. He quickly washed up, checked his appearance in the mirror, and used the facilities. Satisfied that he hadn't inadvertently spilled food or drink on his suit, he went to meet up with Lois. Less than a minute later, she joined him at the front of the restaurant.
They rode the elevator down to the ground floor in companionable silence, then Lois had the valet retrieve her car. Clark offered to drive to the park, and this time, she let him. He found a spot easily enough. He helped her out of the passenger seat, then linked arms with her.
"This is nice," Lois remarked in a dreamy voice as they leisurely strolled through the park.
"Mmm-hmm," Clark hummed in agreement.
It was a brisk night, but well above the average early December temperature for Metropolis. Still, Clark was ever mindful of Lois. At the first sign that she was getting too cold, he would find a way to persuade her to leave the park for the comfort and warmth of her Jeep and/or one of their apartments.
"It doesn't even really feel like December yet," Lois remarked, as though she could read Clark's mind.
"I was just thinking the same thing," he confessed. "I'm glad. It's nice to be able to get out and enjoy the nice weather."
Lois gestured to the left, and they wandered down the path to where the fountain was. She indicated that she wanted to sit, so Clark led her over to the stone benches.
"Clark? Can we...can I talk to you for a bit?" She bit her lower lip in nervousness.
"Sure, Lois. You know you can tell me anything. Right?" he said, trying to put her at ease.
"It's just...I've been doing a lot of thinking lately. A lot of thinking," she said as she sat.
Clark sat next to her, angling his body toward hers. "Hopefully good things?"
"I think so," she said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "We've been going out for half a year now."
Clark nodded.
"And when I think about it, it's really only a very short amount of time. But, at the same time, I feel like we've been dating for years. I guess that's because we came into this as such good friends." She looked down, blushing. "It's made me very aware of how much..." She paused a moment, appearing to search for words. "I've changed a lot in these last six months, Clark. My priorities have changed."
Clark's stomach clamped and churned in nervousness. Was Lois trying to call it quits on their relationship? Was that what she meant by saying that she'd changed? But that didn't make sense, paired with the lovely dinner they'd just had. Or was she just trying her hardest to let him down as gently as she could?
"I used to be just fine as a loner. I felt like I didn't need anyone in my life. Not a boyfriend, not even a friend. And then, one day, out of the blue, you showed up in Perry's office and smack-dab into my life. If only I'd known back then how great a guy you really are." She sighed, appearing to be lost in her memories for a moment. After a couple of seconds, she shook her head, as if shaking off her thoughts. "I didn't want a partner back then. I felt like I didn't need one, that one would just drag me down. But no matter what I did - and I did some regrettable things - you never gave up on me. Before I even knew what had happened, you'd become my best friend and the best part of my life. Dating you...it's been incredible."
"For me too, Lois. It's been my every dream come true."
"The other night, after you brought over that sushi and we watched Lethal Weapon while we researched the Espinoza case...I got to thinking. About us. About...where we're headed with this relationship of ours. And I came to some conclusions. Basic truths about myself."
She took his hands in hers and Clark's nervousness grew, despite the fact that her touch always soothed him.
"I can't live without you in my life," she said, gazing into his eyes. "I need you, Clark. Today, tomorrow, always. I know this seems crazy and impulsive. But...I've been thinking long and hard about this Clark. This is what I want. I'm not jumping into this head first without checking the water level first. Please, believe me, Clark."
"I do, Lois," he replied, though he was confused. Just what was Lois getting at? "But, uh..."
He didn't get the chance to ask his question.
"Clark Kent? Will you marry me?"
To Be Continued...
