Lois glanced at the clock as she carried a tray of breakfast to the bedroom. Clark had stumbled in about an hour ago, exhausted from a long night of rescues and she’d let him sleep while she quietly whipped up an easy breakfast of toast, scrambled eggs and fresh coffee.
She nudged the door open with her foot to find him half-awake, his hair adorably rumpled. His eyes lit up as she approached.
“Good morning, honey,” she said, setting the tray on his lap. “You’ve been saving the world all night, I figured it was my turn to take care of you.”
Clark blinked at her, clearly touched. “Lois, this is... thank you.” He sat up straighter, taking in the spread. “You didn’t have to do this.”
She shrugged her robe off, slipping back into bed beside him with her own mug of coffee. “Maybe not, but I wanted to. Also I managed to make a pretty decent breakfast, so I figure we better celebrate the accomplishment.”
Clark chuckled, shaking his head fondly. “I think you’ve been learning a few things in the kitchen, Mrs. Kent.”
“Well, I am married to the best teacher,” she teased, giving him a wink. “Besides, you deserve it after last night.”
They ate together, the quiet morning stretching comfortably between them. As Clark polished off the last toast, Lois grabbed her robe and took out the small bag from its pocket.
She untied the ribbon and peeked inside, pulling out a small, polished seashell. She turned it over in her hands, her curiosity piqued. “Okay, I give up. What’s the deal with the seashell?”
Clark leaned back, watching her with a twinkle in his eye. “Australia.” He said with a grin. “Since it’s summer there, Christmas is all about being outdoors, barbecues, picnics and the beach. My plan was to recreate that vibe with a picnic on a beach towel, but after breakfast in bed, we’re cutting it close for work.”
Lois smirked, setting the shell on the tray. “Well, I don’t know about a picnic, but I like the idea of a warm Christmas. No shoveling snow, no frozen pipes… just sunshine and sand.”
“Maybe someday,” Clark said, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “But for now, we could talk about it on the way to work.”
---
Clark stepped into the living room after work, a mischievous glint in his eyes as he surveyed the space. Lois watched him curiously from the doorway, arms crossed.
“Alright, farm-boy, what are you up to now?”
Clark grinned and gestured to the pile of items he’d collected: a large, colorful beach towel, a platter of grilled veggie skewers, a pitcher of lemonade and a small portable fan.
“Since it’s too cold for a real beach day, I thought we’d bring the Australian Christmas indoors,” he said, spreading the towel on the floor. “In Australia, families often celebrate Christmas outside, barbecues, picnics and time on the beach. So, consider this a warm-weather Christmas, Metropolis-style.”
As they sat cross-legged on the towel, Lois took a bite of her skewer and sipped the lemonade. The portable fan hummed softly, creating a gentle breeze that made the scene feel surprisingly summery.
After they finished their meal, Lois leaned back, looking up at the ceiling as if it were a wide, open sky.
Clark smiled, his eyes warm. “It’s not so much about where you celebrate, but who you celebrate with.”
Lois turned her head to look at him, her smile soft. “Well, I can’t argue with that.”
“Okay I admit,” Lois said, leaning back on her hands. “This is really nice, I can almost feel the sun warming my skin. Christmas in Australia is a good alternative for all the snow and ice here.”
Clark laughed. “That’s the beauty of it. It doesn’t have to look the same everywhere. It’s about the people you share it with and finding joy in the little things.”
Lois smiled, her gaze softening. “You’re pretty good at this whole Christmas spirit thing, aren’t you? Are you sure you didn’t forget to tell me about your secret identity as Santa?”
“Just trying to help you see the magic, honey,” he said, leaning over to kiss her cheek. “And you know all my secret identities.”
They lingered on the towel, the wintry world outside fading as they shared their makeshift Australian Christmas - simple and unexpected - feeling perfect.
Just like every moment they spent together.
