Lois stirred, her cheek pressed against Clark’s shoulder, their legs tangled beneath the blanket. She blinked drowsily, something stirring her from the depths of sleep. The room was quiet except for the soft hum of the furnace, but something felt... off.
Her fingers brushed against his chest and she realized they were gently swaying. Her eyes flew open. “Clark.”
“Hmm?” His voice was thick with sleep, his arms instinctively tightening around her.
“Are we... floating?”
Clark’s eyes opened fully, and his gaze darted to their surroundings. A sheepish smile crept onto his face. “Uh, yeah. Sorry about that.”
Lois raised an eyebrow in amusement. “Sorry? Care to explain why we’re hovering above the bed?”
He shifted slightly, lowering them back down to the mattress with practiced ease. “I think it happened while I was asleep. When I got back last night, we were talking about the rescue, remember?”
Lois nodded, recalling how he’d quietly slipped into bed after a late-night save, his voice calm as he recounted the details.
“Then we... well...” His cheeks flushed slightly.
Lois smirked, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “You’re still such a boy scout - we made love. I remember. And then I fell asleep halfway on top of you.”
Clark nodded. “I must’ve started floating in my sleep. You know that it happens sometimes. But when I felt you on me, even unconsciously, I held on to keep you from falling.”
Lois laughed softly, shaking her head. “Even when you’re out cold, you’re still protecting me.”
Clark grinned, leaning down to kiss her forehead. “Always.”
She sighed, stretching against him. “So fly-boy. Feeling festive today?”
“Maybe.”
---
A bit later Clark was busy at the stove, the rich scent of coffee filling the air. Lois wandered into the kitchen.
“Hey,” she murmured, her voice still thick with sleep.
“Hey, yourself,” Clark replied with a grin, turning to kiss her on the cheek before returning to the stove. “I’ve got something special brewing today.”
Lois smiled, leaning against the counter, watching him with affection as he moved around the kitchen. “Oh? A surprise breakfast?”
Clark raised an eyebrow. “You could say that but I’ll let the advent calendar tell you where today’s tradition is from,” Clark said, turning back to grab the steaming mugs of coffee.
She went to get the bag, immediately opening it as soon as she was back in the kitchen.
Inside was a small figure - carved from wood, with exaggerated features and a mischievous grin. Lois raised an eyebrow as she held it up. “What on Earth is this?”
Clark emerged from the kitchen, carrying two steaming mugs of coffee. He handed one to Lois, his eyes twinkling. “That’s your clue for today’s tradition.”
She studied the figure, her brow furrowing. “A creepy little goblin? I’m almost afraid to ask.”
Clark chuckled, settling onto the couch beside her. “It’s a Kallikantzaros. In Greek folklore, these mischievous goblins cause trouble during the twelve days of Christmas. They sneak into homes, hide things, break stuff and generally make a mess.”
Lois smirked, sipping her coffee. “Sounds like they’d get along with Perry after Ralph’s latest scoop.”
Clark grinned. “Maybe. But there’s a way to keep them at bay - people believed that a clean, tidy home would ward them off.”
Lois tilted her head, intrigued. “So, let me guess: today’s plan involves cleaning?”
“Part of it,” Clark admitted, setting his coffee down. “We’ll spruce up the house a bit to get it ready for Christmas. But we’re also going to bake some melomakarona and kourabiedes - Greek Christmas cookies. A little cleaning, a little baking, and a lot of fun.”
Lois leaned against the back of the couch, a playful smirk on her face. “Cleaning and baking, and here I was hoping to be swept off my feet and flown to Greece, today, fly-boy.”
He smiled back at her and replied. “Sorry honey but you know our friends and colleagues are coming over for the Christmas dinner and didn’t your newlywed magazine say something about the importance of doing the housework together, to strengthen their bond? Come on, let’s start with a Greek coffee and some yogurt with walnuts, honey and apricots.”
Lois grumbled a bit under her breath. “I prefer a different kind of bonding…”
Clark laughed, reaching for her free hand. “Hey, the Kallikantzaroi remind us to laugh, even in chaos. That’s the real spirit of the tradition - not taking life too seriously.”
Lois softened, her eyes warm as she looked at him. “Alright. But I also wouldn’t mind a bit of extra bonding.”
Clark chuckled, leaning in to kiss her temple. “Deal.”
---
By late afternoon, the warm, spiced scent of the cookies filled the house. Lois took a bite of a still-warm melomakarona, the honey glaze melting on her tongue.
“These are amazing,” she said, closing her eyes as she savored the flavor. “I like this tradition.”
Clark smiled, leaning against the counter. “It reminds us to find joy in the little things and to tackle life’s challenges together, one goblin at a time.”
Lois chuckled, wiping her hands on a dish towel. “Well, the house is clean, the cookies are perfect and the goblins are officially out of luck.”
Clark slid his arms around her waist, pulling her close. “And now we can bond. Just us, no mischief.” He grinned.
Lois leaned into him, resting her head on his chest. Clark’s arms around her and the warmth of their home surrounding her.
Whatever was coming, they’d face it together.
