Lois & Clark Forums Forums Fan Fiction Lois & Clark Fanfic Advent Calendar for FoLCs

Lois paused just inside the doorway, her coat slipping from her fingers. She stood frozen, her eyes locking on Clark, crouched by the fire. The golden light caught in his dark hair, softening the exhaustion etched into his features. His broad shoulders, usually so steady, seemed weighed down tonight.

An ache rose in her chest, sharp and sudden. He was her husband, her partner, her safe place in the chaos of the world. And yet tonight, he felt more fragile - more human - than ever.

She stepped closer, needing to feel his presence. When she stopped beside him, her hand hovered over his shoulder before she finally broke the silence.

“You’ve been busy today,” she said quietly, her voice flat, betraying none of her usual spark.

Clark turned to her, offering a small, weary smile. “So have you. Did Perry like the story?”

“He loved it. Front page for tomorrow’s edition.” Her tone was hollow, devoid of the pride that usually accompanied such news. She moved past him and sank onto the couch with a sigh, pressing her fingers to her temples. “But it wasn’t exactly easy, writing both halves of Lane and Kent today.”

Clark exhaled quietly, his expression tightening. Rising to his feet, he joined her on the couch, lowering himself slowly as if every movement required effort. “I’m sorry. Long day, huh?” His words were gentle, but there was an edge of weariness he couldn’t quite hide.

Lois laughed bitterly, shaking her head as her arms folded tightly across her chest. Her eyes shimmered, betraying the storm of emotions churning inside her. “You could say that. It’s not every day I cover the aftermath of a collapsing bridge while trying not to panic because my husband is still holding part of it up - knowing someone planted Kryptonite there to hurt him.”

Her voice cracked, and she dropped her gaze. “It wasn’t an accident. That piece of Kryptonite was planted. They knew you’d come. And you still went.”

Clark’s jaw tightened, and for a moment, he didn’t respond. The ache in his muscles and the lingering nausea from the Kryptonite were reminders of how close he’d come to the edge.

Clark’s jaw clenched and for a moment, he didn’t speak - she was right.

The ache in his muscles and the lingering nausea from the Kryptonite were reminders of how close he’d come today.

“I know,” he said finally, his voice low. He ran a hand through his hair, his movements slow and deliberate. “The second I saw it, I knew it was a trap. But I couldn’t just... I couldn’t let those people die.”

“I know…” Lois’s face crumpled at his quiet admission and her hands curled into fists. “Clark, you were already struggling. And when the Kryptonite rolled closer...” Her voice broke and she looked at him, her eyes blazing with emotion. “You were bleeding. Superman doesn’t bleed.”

She swallowed hard, as she tried to steady her trembling voice. “I know you have to do it. I know you can’t stand by and let people suffer. And I don’t want you to stop - not ever.” Her hands unclenched. “But when I see you like that, when I see you hurting…” She broke off, shaking her head, her voice dropping to a whisper. “It feels like the world is shattering under my feet, and there’s nothing I can do to hold it together.”

Clark reached for her hand, but she pulled back.

Her voice rose, raw and trembling. “Do you have any idea what it felt like? Watching you fall to your knees, knowing I couldn’t do anything?” Her shoulders shook as her tears began to fall. “I can’t lose you. I can’t.”

She pressed a hand against her stomach instinctively, her lips parting as if the words were about to spill out. But she stopped herself, biting down hard on the wave of emotion surging within her. It wasn’t the right moment - not yet. Instead, she took a shaky breath. “You mean everything to me. And I don’t know how to keep going if you’re not here.”

Clark leaned forward, his hand hovering near hers until she let him take it. His grip was firm but gentle, his touch grounding her. “I’m sorry,” he said softly. “I hate putting you through this. I hate that I made you feel that way.” He paused, his voice faltering. “Lois, but I swear to you, I’ll always do everything I can, to come back to you.”

Her breath hitched and she shook her head, her tears spilling freely now.

He cupped her cheek, gently brushing away her tears with his thumb. “I’m here,” he whispered. “I’m home.”

She closed her eyes, leaning into his touch as her tears slowed. After a moment, he pulled her into his lap, wrapping his arms around her like a protective shield. She rested her head on his shoulder, her fingers clutching the fabric of his shirt.

“I’m sorry! It’s just...” Her voice was muffled against his shoulder. “Sometimes it feels like home is only home because you’re here.”

Clark’s arms tightened around her, his heart aching at the vulnerability in her words. “It’s the same for me,” he admitted. “You’re my home, Lois. No matter what, I’ll never willingly leave you.”

The room fell silent except for the steady crackle of the fire. For a long moment, they simply held each other, letting the warmth of their embrace soothe the raw edges of the day.

Finally, Lois exhaled, her breath shuddering as she whispered, “Yeah... home.” Though the word still carried a fragile weight, it was enough.

On the table beside the couch she noticed the advent calendar bag, untouched. “We didn’t get to open it this morning.”

Clark followed her gaze, a faint smile touching his lips as he gently reached for the bag. He placed it in her lap and brushed a strand of hair from her face. “Let’s fix that,” he said softly.

Lois untied the string with trembling fingers, pulling out a small globe similar to the one yesterday’s bag held, though it held a reddish hue. Her breath hitched as her thumb traced the designs, the patterns unfamiliar yet oddly captivating.

“Is this…?”

Clark reached for something nearby, retrieving a larger globe - the one she had seen years ago in a photograph. It was almost forgotten, a fleeting memory from before she knew the truth about him. “A replica of this one,” he said softly, holding it out for her to see. “I made it for you.”

Her eyes widened, and she inhaled sharply, her voice barely above a whisper. “The globe…” She turned to Clark, her expression a mix of wonder, disbelief, and something deeper - something profoundly touched.

“You’re sharing this with me?” she asked, her voice breaking. “Clark, this is…” She stopped, unable to finish as emotion welled up, threatening to spill over.

“You’re a part of who I am, Lois - and I want to share everything with you.”

He turned the larger globe over in his hands, his expression contemplative. “This was with me when I came to Earth but got lost. When I discovered the kryptonian artifacts in Trask’s warehouse, I could only grab the globe and hide it - as soon as I touched it - I somehow knew the name krypton. But I thought it was just a relic, not much more than a fancy paperweight - months later, it’s glow woke me in the night, when I touched it… it showed me messages from my father, Jor-El.”

Lois blinked, her eyes narrowing slightly as she processed his words. “Messages? Like… recordings?”

Clark nodded. “Holograms, actually. My father speaking to me, telling me where I came from, why I was sent here.” His voice grew quieter, tinged with a mix of nostalgia and lingering unease. “It told me who I was, where I came from. For the first time, I understood that I wasn’t just some science experiment or an abandoned child. I was loved.” He swallowed hard, “I wasn’t left alone.”

Her breath caught and she reached out, her fingers brushing his arm. “Clark…” she whispered, her voice soft but full of emotion. “I can’t imagine how that must have felt, to find out after all those years.” Lois placed her hand over his, her touch gentle but firm. Her eyes shimmered with emotion as she whispered, “Clark, you weren’t left alone. You’re not alone now. You’ve got me.”

Clark smiled, the warmth in his eyes melting away the shadows of his memories. “I know,” he said softly, his voice steady and full of gratitude.

His voice wavered as he continued. “When it was stolen, I panicked. I knew someone else had it - Lex, most likely. I could see the messages, but I also knew they could too. It became my greatest fear: that it might reveal something that could hurt my parents or expose me. My biggest treasure turned into my greatest weakness.”

Lois’s brows furrowed. “That must have been horrible!”

Clark hesitated, his jaw tightening. “That’s why I couldn’t risk anyone else getting it again. So I hid it. I wanted to show it to you so many times, but life got in the way. And then, honestly, I forgot about it until recently. This advent calendar felt like the right time to bring it back.”

“Forgot about it?” Lois echoed, her tone disbelieving but softened by the awe in her voice.

Clark gave her a sheepish smile. “It went quiet again for a long time, and I didn’t think there was anything left to learn from it. Life got busy.”

He pressed his palm against the globe and it floated into the air, glowing softly. Lois gasped as an image appeared - a tall man with strong features and an air of quiet dignity.

It played the five messages, telling them about the end of Krypton and Clark’s journey to earth.

After that, instead of returning to its dormant state it played another message.

“My son,” Jor-El’s voice went on, resonant and calm. “You have seen these messages before and I hope they have guided you well. But there is more of Krypton I wish to share with you, so that you may carry our legacy forward. Devices like the one you’re holding were used commonly on krypton, to function as a library. Even though your mother and I can’t remain in this realm, know that a part of us will always be at your side, this globe shall give you the wisdom of our people.”

Lois leaned forward, watching as the holographic image shifted, showing a city of crystalline towers beneath a red sun.

“There was a time in Krypton’s history when darkness threatened to divide us - fear, famine and war,” Jor-El continued. “But out of that chaos came the Festival of Light - Tor'Quinta'Rao, a tradition to remind us of the unity and hope that binds us. On the solstice, we would gather as families to light a single flame, passing it from one to another until our homes were filled with light.”

The image flickered, showing families holding glowing, crystalline lanterns. “Even in the darkest times, the light endured, a symbol of our shared strength.”

Lois’ hand tightened on Clark’s as the message concluded. The globe returned to his hands, its glow fading.

Clark turned to her, his voice thoughtful. “My parents never had the chance to teach me their traditions, but maybe we can make our own festival of light with our friends and neighbors next year - even though most of them will never know its origin.”

Lois smiled, her fingers brushing his. “I’d like that.”

Clark’s expression softened as he laid his hand with the globe on her lap, letting her see it up close. She placed her hand over his, their fingers naturally intertwining, a comforting gesture that felt as instinctive as breathing.

As their hands settled on the globe, a faint vibration stirred beneath their palms - a subtle, rhythmic thrum, like a heartbeat awakening from a long silence. Lois’s breath hitched, her gaze flicking to Clark, but his wide-eyed wonder mirrored her own.

The globe pulsed with energy, a soft hum filling the air as it sprang to life. A warm, golden light poured from its surface, spilling over their hands and bathing the room in an ethereal glow. The globe hummed with a gentle glow, as though responding to their shared touch.

Clark tilted his head, his brows furrowing in quiet amazement. “It’s... never done that before,” he murmured, his voice low and reverent.

Lois swallowed hard, her free hand instinctively brushing against her stomach. “What does it mean?” she whispered, though deep down, a part of her already felt the answer.

The light seemed to focus, its glow intensifying briefly as if in recognition, before softening again. It was as though the globe had attuned itself to something new - a connection that went beyond Clark alone.

“I don’t know,” Clark admitted, his voice almost a whisper, his gaze locked on the globe as it continued to pulse. “But whatever it is… it’s reacting to us. To both of us.”

Lois’s heart skipped, her fingers tightening slightly over his. She felt a warmth that went beyond the globe’s glow - a subtle but undeniable presence that seemed to echo within her.

The globe’s light began to fade, dimming until it returned to its dormant state, but the energy in the room lingered, leaving them both in awed silence.

Clark looked down at her, his expression tender yet searching, as though trying to piece together a puzzle he didn’t yet have all the pieces for. “Lois... whatever just happened, it’s something new. Something… amazing.”

Her lips curved in a small, wavering smile. “Yeah,” she said softly, her voice thick with emotion. “It really is.”

The golden light of the globe lingered, warm and steady, as though it had embraced not just their touch but the essence of their bond. Clark’s hand rested beneath Lois’s, their fingers still intertwined as the globe pulsed softly. He tilted his head, his expression a mixture of wonder and quiet reverence.

Lois blinked, her gaze shifting between the globe and Clark’s face. The gentle vibration beneath their hands seemed to resonate not just with the globe but with something deep inside her. The thought made her heart race, though she kept her composure.

Before either could speak further, the globe brightened again, its light shifting from gold to a soft, silvery hue. A familiar voice, calm and resonant, filled the room.

“My son, this message is for you and the one you have chosen to share your life with.”

Lois’s breath caught as the light expanded, the walls of their living room dissolving into a field of stars. It was as if the universe itself had opened before them, infinite and breathtaking. Clark’s arm instinctively tightened around her waist covering her stomach in a gentle supportive gesture, grounding her as the celestial vision swirled around them.

Jor-El’s voice continued, steady and filled with quiet conviction. “Know that Krypton, its dreams and hopes, live on, not just in you, but in those who will come after you. May Rao’s light guide you toward a future of love and unity.”

The stars shifted, forming a vivid image of Krypton. Gleaming cities stretched toward twin moons, their light reflected in rivers of crystal. The people of Krypton moved with purpose and joy, their faces alive with hope. Lois felt her chest tighten at the beauty of the scene, its vibrant life a stark contrast to the fate Clark had told her about so long ago.

Jor-El’s voice grew steadier, filled with quiet resolve. “Kal-El, you were born to a world of great knowledge and power, but also of great mistakes. Your mother and I sent you to Earth not to bind you to our past but to give you a choice, to forge your own path, unburdened by our failures. When I recorded the message for you and your birthwife, Krypton stood on the brink of collapse. Pressured by tradition, I signed the bond of your birth marriage, hoping it might preserve unity in the chaos. Yet in my heart, I always wished for you to choose your own way. Now that you have triggered this message, I see that Earth has given you that freedom - the freedom to shape your destiny, guided by love, not obligation.”

The vision of Krypton dissolved, replaced by Earth as seen from space. Its blue and green surface glowed softly, a beacon of life and hope. Lois’s fingers tightened around Clark’s hand as Jor-El’s voice continued, softer now but no less powerful.

“Your life, my son, is your own. The bond of your birth marriage, though sacred to our people, has no claim upon you now. Krypton’s traditions were meant to guide, not to shackle. You are free to choose love, as your heart leads you.”

Lois felt her throat tighten as Jor-El’s words lingered. Her gaze flicked to Clark, whose expression was unreadable, his eyes fixed on the globe.

Jor-El’s voice softened further, imbued with a quiet, hopeful strength. “To you and the one who stands by your side, I offer this blessing: may your union be strong, your hearts steadfast, and your love endless. May you build a family rooted in the values of compassion, courage, and hope. Together, you carry the legacy of Krypton - not as a burden, but as a promise. It lives in you - and in those who will follow.”

Lois’s breath hitched again, the phrase echoing in her thoughts. Her hand instinctively tightened over Clark’s, her heart racing. For a moment, the globe’s light seemed to radiate outward, embracing them both in a warmth that felt as tangible as it was ethereal.

Jor-El’s final words resonated softly in the air. “May Rao’s light guide you toward a future filled with love, unity, and new beginnings.”

As the glow dimmed and the globe fell silent, the room returned to its familiar warmth. The fire crackled softly in the hearth, its light mingling with the faint remnants of the globe’s luminescence.

Lois turned to Clark, her eyes wide and shining with emotion. “He sent you here to have a choice,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “And you chose me.”

Clark’s gaze softened, his free hand brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Always.”

Lois blinked, her mind racing. The words “those who will follow” echoed again, and she swallowed hard, her secret pressing against the edges of her resolve. She wasn’t ready to share it - not yet.

“It’s… beautiful,” she said finally, her voice soft but steady.

Clark shook his head, his expression tinged with both wonder and sadness. “He couldn’t have known - but we’ve done everything we can to confirm it, Lois. Dr. Klein, your dad - they both said it wasn’t possible. We have to accept that.”

Her throat tightened, but she nodded. “Mhh, maybe,” she murmured, her fingers brushing his hand. “But sometimes, even impossible things have a way of surprising us. And whatever happens, we’ll face it together. That’s what matters.”

Clark’s eyes searched hers, his expression tender as he wrapped an arm around her. “I know,” he said quietly, resting his chin against her hair. “But maybe Jor-El wasn’t just talking about children. Maybe he meant something more - legacy, love, hope. All the things we build together, the lives we touch.”

Lois closed her eyes, leaning into him as the weight of her secret remained nestled safely in her heart. “Maybe,” she murmured, her voice soft, her fingers tracing small circles on his hand as if committing this moment to memory.

They sat in comfortable silence, the glow of the fire casting long shadows across the room. The globe rested quietly in Clark’s hand, its mysteries now shared between them.

“Thank you for sharing this with me,” Lois whispered, her voice filled with quiet gratitude.

Clark kissed the top of her head, his voice tender. “Thank you for being my light, Lois.”