3pilogue - One Year Later
He was shaking.
He told himself it was excitement, not nerves. He told himself he was anxious to see his bride-to-be, to call her his wife for the first time. To hold her in his arms and know that this was it. Lois and Clark. Together forever. His stomach churned and twisted, but it wasn't butterflies.
Forever never felt this fragile.
Clark took his glasses off and ran a hand over his face. It should be the happiest day of his life. He set the frames gently on the dresser and turned to pace across the room nervously. Breathe. He wasn't breathing. He stopped to lean his back against the wall and fold forward, letting his head hang between his knees as he tried to pull air into his lungs. The panic that was coursing through his body slowly started to drift away with each labored breath. What was he thinking? This wouldn't work. Sure, it was what he wanted, what they both wanted, but what happened when something changed? What happened when she found out?
He exhaled deeply, ignoring the way the silk bedskirt fluttered in the breeze.
She wouldn't find out. He was done with it all. He'd made a promise, and he'd stuck to it. He just had to take a little break, to handle some things. He'd put it aside again. Soon. Tomorrow even.
He scrunched his eyes tight enough that he could see spots.
Tomorrow was no good. It was their honeymoon, and he wasn't planning on returning to Metropolis for the week.
As soon as they got back. He'd handle things again and get it all back under control. Then he'd put it down forever, and his word would be true once more. Clark brought his hands up to scrub across his face, wishing a cigarette would do the trick but knowing it would only stress him out more. He cursed his invulnerable body not for the first time, and stood to his full height. He could do this. After all, he was Ultraman.
He inhaled one last shaky breath, and strode slowly back over to the dresser. His glasses stared back at him innocently, almost mocking him. Clark swallowed back the lump of fear inspired by his reflection, and grounded himself by planting his palms firmly on the oak chest.
Monday. It would all be settled by next Monday.
He glanced at his reflection in the television set, and flashed a weak smile at himself. It wasn't quite there yet. He ran a hand through his hair thoughtlessly and took another attempt, grinning broadly, falsely, toothily...
A beautiful smile flashed across his mind, and just the thought of how she smiled at him, had his lips turning up into a genuine grin.
Lois.
Everything he did, he was doing for her. His perfect, wonderful, beautiful...
A chirp sounded from his watch, and he glanced at the time. His stomach flipped, with excitement, and he finger-combed his slightly mangled looking locks. He locked up the sense of dread that had been encroaching on him for the past few hours and focused on his wedding.
He was marrying his best friend, the woman of his dreams, his main confidant. What could go wrong?
*****LnC*****
This was perfect. This was exactly what she needed. Just him and her, and a justice of the peace. Sand between her toes and the big blue sky stretching out into pink and orange tones around them. The waves crashed and rumbled in the distance, and she stepped towards him in a similar rhythm. She didn't know why she stressed this so much.
One step.
The crush of sand beneath her bare feet was soft, like the sand was untouched before this moment. Trust Clark to find the most secluded beach in the country for their runaway wedding. It was perfect. It was destiny.
Two steps.
He stood ahead, staring back at her with the world's biggest grin. Her insides flipped and fluttered at the sight of him, gorgeous as ever. She couldn’t wait till she could rip that suit off him and they could enjoy each other’s bodies for the first time as husband and wife. He seemed to read her thoughts, and wagged his brows at her flirtatiously. Lois looked down to her feet as the blush raced up to her cheeks and she took another step towards him. He was so ridiculous. She wouldn’t put it past him to pay the justice to speed through the ceremony just so they could get to the “good parts,” as he would say.
She bit her lip to cover her grin. Good, indeed.
Lois shook herself and tossed her mid-length locks over her shoulder to look back up at him.
For a split second, she could have sworn she’d seen a flicker of uncertainty cross his face.
As quickly as it appeared, it was gone again, replaced by that knee-weakening, soul-warming, megawatt smile. She smiled back at him, but suddenly her mind was racing. Was he nervous? Why? Should she be nervous? She supposed it was a little nerve-wracking, committing to someone for the rest of your life. That’s probably all this was. Or maybe even it had nothing to do with her; maybe it was a cry for help that he felt he had to take care of. Her stomach settled. Of course. That’s what it was. It had to be.
She smiled at him, searching his eyes for any moment of hesitation, took another step closer.
He smiled still, but his brow wrinkled in a funny way, as if questioning her own expression.
This was ridiculous. She cast her gaze down again and tried to play it off as bashfulness as she talked herself off the ledge. She was marrying her best friend. The only real friend she'd ever had. He was smart, funny, crazy good-looking, great in bed… He knew everything about her, and she him.
Everything.
She squashed down the niggling doubt at the reminder of the past and steeled herself. Now wasn't the time to dwell on all that. It was in the past. He'd changed. She'd changed him. She had the power in this relationship; she didn't doubt he'd do anything she said, even without her holding the past over his head.
Her train of thought was leaving a sour taste in her mouth, so she chose to focus on the good. She took another step closer, reaching his side, and noted how excited he was, practically bouncing on the balls of his feet, his pupils blown wide. She couldn't help but grin in return.
They were going to work out.
He held out his hand for her and she smiled at him crookedly as she gave him her hand. He caressed her knuckles with his thumb and deftly brought them to his lips. She curled her toes in the sand.
God, was he handsome. Not yet married, and he already knew exactly how to make her respond in just the right way.
She couldn't wait to get to the rest of their lives.
*The End*
