Hi Kathryn!
December 6th
Naughty list alert! Not even Kryptonian powers can get you out of trouble for jumping ahead.
CLARK: I never *ONCE* jumped ahead. I always made sure Lois got there first.
LOIS: /jots down ‘satisfied’ on naughty list/
“children clean their shoes and leave them out on the evening of December 5th, hoping Sinterklaas will fill them with treats by morning.“
Sure enough, Lois found them there. Nestled inside were her favorite chocolate bars and a small, wrapped present.
Lois’s grin widened. “A parade, chocolate and you whisking me off on a holiday adventure? Today you’ve outdone yourself again.”
And the parade’s not even in Lois’s honor!
They followed the sound of music toward the Oude Gracht, Utrecht’s historic canal.
Okay, I gotta ask, do the canal and the city have a shared etymology?
Clark nodded, his eyes sparkling. “Sinterklaas is all about creating joy. It’s why I thought you’d love it.”
Okay, we so need a story where Lex has to play the giving Santa Clause in a parade, including interacting with children.
“Almond paste,” Clark replied. “It’s a Sinterklaas tradition. Want another?”
/googles/ oh dear.
Lois laughed, reaching for more. “No thanks, I don’t have your metabolism, at this rate I won’t fit into any of my outfits soon.”
Hmm… “Truth, Justice and the Pleasuring of Lois Lane” by Artemis probably was the one about calories and exercise. Or it was a Sue fic.
Clark kissed her forehead, his lips lingering for a moment. “Lois, you make it all worth it. Seeing you smile, hearing your laughter... That’s the best gift I could ever ask for.”
Yes, every day he manages to rescue Lois from the clutches of certain death by an evil-doer’s contraption is a day to celebrate!
Lois tilted her head back, her eyes shining. “You’re not so bad yourself, Kent. But if you keep being this perfect, you’re setting the bar impossibly high for every Christmas after this.”
Clark chuckled, pulling her closer. “I’ll take that challenge.”
/eyes author expectantly/
Clark smiled, his voice soft. “Sinterklaas is a symbol of generosity and care for children, for bringing hope and joy. It reminds me that, no matter how uncertain the future feels, there’s always room for hope.”
Lois blinked, his words settling deep in her heart. She turned to him, her voice barely a whisper. “Clark...”
And now I wonder if that’s where the story is headed.
As they walked along the glowing canal, the little gift nestled safely in Lois’s bag, she felt a quiet kind of joy. For the first time in months, the ache in her heart eased, replaced by the warmth of Clark’s unwavering belief in their future. And for the first time, she let herself believe, too.
Awwww
See you in part seven!
Michael
