Lois stirred, nestled in Clark’s arms. His lips brushed her forehead, drawing a sleepy smile.
“Morning,” Clark murmured softly.
“Morning,” she replied, resting her hand on his chest.
He kissed her temple, his arms tightening briefly. “Ready to face the day?”
“Not yet.” She pressed a quick kiss to his jaw. “Five more minutes.”
Clark smiled, pulling her closer. “Anything to make you happy.”
Half an hour later, though, the lure of coffee won, and they finally left the warmth of their bed.
In the living room, Lois paused by the calendar before heading to the kitchen. She hesitated briefly, an odd feeling tugging at her, but she brushed it off as the week’s exhaustion. Grabbing the bag, she followed the scent of coffee.
“I’ll have your coffee ready in a second,” Clark said, gesturing to the table already set with breakfast. “Sit down, and we’ll eat.”
As he finished setting the table, Lois loosened the drawstring on the bag and pulled out a small carved baobab tree ornament, its angular branches and broad trunk beautifully detailed.
She held it up, intrigued. “This isn’t your typical fir tree.”
Clark sat beside her. “It’s a baobab tree, called the ‘Tree of Life.’ It symbolizes resilience and strength, which reminded me of you.”
Lois smirked, brushing her thumb over the smooth wood. “Sweet talker. So, what’s this tree got to do with Christmas?”
“In South Africa, baobabs are sometimes decorated like Christmas trees. It’s a way of blending local culture with the holiday season.”
“Decorating a giant tree in the heat? Not exactly snowy Christmas vibes,” she said, raising an eyebrow.
“That’s the beauty of it,” Clark replied. “Christmas there is about family, summer, and unique traditions.”
Lois set the ornament on the table, intrigued. “So, how are we pulling this off in Metropolis?”
Clark’s grin widened. “There’s a South African group hosting a gathering in Centennial Park tonight. They’ve set up a baobab tree replica, with music and food. Thought we could go after work.”
Lois tilted her head with a smile. “Sounds good to me. Alright, let’s get to work.”
---
After a long day at the Daily Planet, Lois and Clark arrived at Centennial Park, where the baobab tree replica stood glowing softly in the evening light. Families and friends gathered around it, draping colorful ribbons and handmade ornaments on its branches. The rhythmic sounds of marimbas and drums filled the air, lending the scene a vibrant, festive energy.
Lois took it all in, a smile tugging at her lips. “This is incredible,” she said, slipping her arm through Clark’s.
“It really is,” Clark agreed, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. “And a perfect reminder that Christmas traditions come in all shapes and sizes - literally.”
They joined the group at the tree, adding ribbons to the lower branches. A woman organizing the event approached with warm smiles and plates of traditional South African treats: flaky koeksisters, spongy malva pudding and crunchy biltong.
Lois sampled the malva pudding and sighed in delight. “This might be my new favorite holiday dessert,” she said, nudging Clark.
“It’s fantastic,” he replied, savoring a piece of biltong.
As the evening unfolded, they listened to stories from South Africans reminiscing about their Christmas celebrations. They spoke of braais, games under the summer sun, and caroling beneath starlit skies. Lois found herself laughing along, swept up in the warmth of the shared memories and the sense of community that bridged continents.
As they listened, an elderly man stepped forward, pointing to the tree, his voice rich with nostalgia. "When I was a boy," he began, "we didn't have much, but Christmas was always special. My father would bring home a small baobab branch, not a proper tree, just something from the bush. My siblings and I would make decorations from scraps of paper and string. We’d hang them on the branch and call it our Christmas tree."
He chuckled warmly. "One year, my father fell ill and no one could find a branch. So my mother turned an old woven basket upside down and said, ‘Here’s your tree.’ We decorated it just the same. We sang, ate what little we had, and told stories late into the night."
The man’s eyes glistened. "Seeing this takes me back and reminds me that sometimes the little things are all we need."
Lois glanced at Clark, his hand resting lightly on her back, and felt a quiet resonance with the man’s words.
When the event wound down, Lois and Clark stepped back to admire the fully adorned baobab tree. Its colorful decorations shimmered under the lights, a striking contrast to the bare December trees surrounding it.
Lois leaned into Clark, resting her head on his shoulder. “I can’t believe how much you’ve done for me this Christmas. You’re outdoing yourself every single day - and still handling two jobs.” Her voice softened, carrying both awe and gratitude.
Clark wrapped an arm around her waist, his tone steady and sincere. “It’s not about outdoing anything. It’s about showing you how magical Christmas can be, no matter where, or how, you celebrate it.”
Lois smiled, her heart full as she gazed at the vibrant tree. “Mission accomplished, fly-boy.”
A faint flutter in her stomach gave her pause, not the usual kind sparked by Clark’s smile. It was fleeting, and she dismissed it as nothing, focusing instead on the warmth of the moment and the man beside her.
As they prepared to leave, Lois glanced back at the glowing baobab tree, its lights casting a soft radiance over the gathering. She placed a hand absently on her abdomen, a quiet thought flickering through her mind.
“Clark,” she said softly as they rose into the air, “thank you for showing me the world through your eyes.”
He smiled, holding her close as the city lights blurred below them. “Thank you for always being willing to see it.”
