Kittens in Kansas/The Hayloft's Tale/All's Well That Ends Well/ FDK: If I Were You 15 - 06/14/06 09:59 AM
Where do I start, giving FDK on this? Perhaps by quoting this:
Or this:
Or this:
Why does Clark love Lois so much? Well, they say that women fall in love with men who resemble their fathers. I haven't heard people say that men love women who remind them of their mothers, but I do suppose that is equally true. And just contemplate the picture of Martha here, and consider Lois's similarity to her:
That's adorable! Yes, I do think it's true that Clark needs someone who loves him with a firm hand. Someone who isn't fading flower. Someone who is strong and can take charge. But also someone who has it in her to be warm and tender. Just consider the lovely example that Martha and Jonathan set to Lois and Clark in this passage:
And what is it that Lois loves about Clark? Is it that he's Superman? No, it's not, and you explained it so beautifully:
Yes, Lois loves Clark for being Superman. But being Superman ultimately isn't about being superpowered, but about wanting to make a difference, about wanting to fight for what is good and right. Having or losing superpowers can't change the need to fight the good fight. It's Clark Kent who is this extremely good man, and it is Clark that Lois loves.
Ah, but let's proceed to the most delightful aspects of this final chapter, of Clark and Lois daring to show their love for one another. I just loved this:
Awwww.... *melts*
And this:
Unlike Lois, I did find Clark's quip funny. But I also found it so sweet that he was longing so much for her, and that he admitted that he didn't want to wait for her for ages.
Oh, but now I suddenly need to interrupt my happy quoting of passages describing the growing physical closeness between Lois and Clark to quote this very interesting piece of conversation between them instead:
How interesting. Lois feels the need to lie, or at least not to tell the whole truth. To compromise some of the things she believe in so strongly. I think she has a slightly better reason for doing it than Clark had, because he was assuming that Lois would expose his parents to the world if he told her about himself, and that cruel suspicion was uncalled for. Lois, on the other hand, is sacrificing her instincts as a reporter, at least for the time being, so that she can take a vacation with Clark - and so that she can protect his parents, not to mention protecting him, Clark. Still, she begins to understand a little of why Clark has been lying to her.
Let's get back to the physical sweetness between Lois and Clark - I just loved this:
Oh, and.... thanks for bringing The Daily Planet back! And I loved Lois's display of delight. We don't get to see that sort of thing from her to often, so it was just lovely to see!
Finally, there was the epilogue. And the kittens. And the shirt. And the hayloft. Well, it was all a delight, just perfect! Well, I'm really glad that the cat was smart enough to really have her kittens in that box that Lois had prepared for her, and on Clark's unspeakably ugly shirt. Citizen Kane, you lost Rosebud after all. But seeing that you got to make out with Lois Lane in that hayloft, that's a small price to pay. Also you managed to fly her there, so your powers are back!
Finally, Caroline, let me just quote something you said in your closing comment:
Ahh, thanks, Jonathan! Yeah, I'll have one of the kittens - provided you invite me to Smallville so that I can meet you and Martha, and why not Clark and Lois, too!
And Caroline: I so, so, so hope that this will not be the only LnC story that you are ever going to write! I don't have to tell you that we have all been sitting by our computers with stupidly gaping mouths, marvelling at your talent as we've been reading this story!
Ann
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“And I’m sorry I hurt you that day in the park…and then later in my apartment. We’ve both made a lot of mistakes, and we’ll probably make more. Or at least I will. I don’t have any experience at being in love. I’ll probably be a terrible girlfriend.”
He smiled and pulled her closer. “You’ll still be the only girlfriend for me, no matter how terrible you are. I’ve searched the world over, Lois – literally – and there’s only you. I hope that’s not too much to tell you before we’ve even had our first date, but I’m through lying to you. I want this to be forever.”
He smiled and pulled her closer. “You’ll still be the only girlfriend for me, no matter how terrible you are. I’ve searched the world over, Lois – literally – and there’s only you. I hope that’s not too much to tell you before we’ve even had our first date, but I’m through lying to you. I want this to be forever.”
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“Aw, who am I kidding,” he relented. “I’ve been pulling for you two for a long time now. Lois, Clark here’s been mooning after you for as long as I’ve known him. The minute he met you it was like he’d been hit between the eyes with a two-by-four.”
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Whatever happens, we’ll deal with it.”
He smiled, his lips curving under her fingers. “We will?”
“Darn right,” she said, stroking his bristly cheek. “We’re partners, and I’m planning on us being a lot more than that. I’m in love with you, and I can be pretty determined when I make up my mind about something. So if I were you, Clark Kent, I’d forget about all that waiting business and just give in and let yourself love me back.”
He caught her hand and kissed the fingers that had been pressed against his lips. “I never stopped,” he admitted. “Trying not to love you was a complete waste of effort.”
He smiled, his lips curving under her fingers. “We will?”
“Darn right,” she said, stroking his bristly cheek. “We’re partners, and I’m planning on us being a lot more than that. I’m in love with you, and I can be pretty determined when I make up my mind about something. So if I were you, Clark Kent, I’d forget about all that waiting business and just give in and let yourself love me back.”
He caught her hand and kissed the fingers that had been pressed against his lips. “I never stopped,” he admitted. “Trying not to love you was a complete waste of effort.”
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“Here, Jonathan,” Martha said, thrusting the ice bucket at her husband. “Rinse this, please, and go get us some ice. In the meantime, Clark, we brought some of your things, and I can help you brush your teeth.”
“Mom,” he complained, “I can brush my own teeth. Just give me a minute to wake up.”
“He’s going to be a terrible patient,” Martha declared. “Comes of never being sick.”
“And of being a man,” Lois pointed out.
“Oh, that too,” Martha agreed.
“You know, Clark and I are both right here,” Jonathan said dryly.
“Yes, and I can’t imagine why,” Martha returned. “You’re supposed to be getting ice.”
Jonathan and Clark exchanged a look.
“Don’t look at me, Dad,” Clark said with a weak grin. “I don’t have the energy to take on either one of them right now, let alone both of ‘em together.”
“Smart boy,” Jonathan commented, on his way out the door.
“Mom,” he complained, “I can brush my own teeth. Just give me a minute to wake up.”
“He’s going to be a terrible patient,” Martha declared. “Comes of never being sick.”
“And of being a man,” Lois pointed out.
“Oh, that too,” Martha agreed.
“You know, Clark and I are both right here,” Jonathan said dryly.
“Yes, and I can’t imagine why,” Martha returned. “You’re supposed to be getting ice.”
Jonathan and Clark exchanged a look.
“Don’t look at me, Dad,” Clark said with a weak grin. “I don’t have the energy to take on either one of them right now, let alone both of ‘em together.”
“Smart boy,” Jonathan commented, on his way out the door.
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“Your father and I are going to turn in.” She hugged Clark. “Goodnight, sweetie. I’m so glad you’re all right.”
“Thanks, Mom,” he said, returning her hug. “I love you.”
“I love you, too, honey.”
She turned to Lois, then, and hugged her, too, and Lois was touched to see Jonathan pull Clark into an embrace. What a lot of love there was in this family, she thought, and she knew without being told that she was now a part of that. It was an amazing feeling, and the warmth of Martha and Jonathan’s hugs stayed with her, even after the door had closed behind them.
“Thanks, Mom,” he said, returning her hug. “I love you.”
“I love you, too, honey.”
She turned to Lois, then, and hugged her, too, and Lois was touched to see Jonathan pull Clark into an embrace. What a lot of love there was in this family, she thought, and she knew without being told that she was now a part of that. It was an amazing feeling, and the warmth of Martha and Jonathan’s hugs stayed with her, even after the door had closed behind them.
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“I take it you can’t shave the regular way yet?”
Clark shook his head.
“What’s the regular way?” Lois asked, pausing in her search through the open suitcase.
“He uses his heat vision,” Martha said over her shoulder on her way into the bathroom.
“Used,” Clark said quietly, looking down at his hands.
“Clark…”
“It’s no big deal, Lois,” Clark said, cutting her off.
“It must be, or you wouldn’t have mentioned it. Your powers came back last time, didn’t they?”
“Last time I was only exposed for a few minutes. I think…this may be different. I think Superman may be gone for good.”
“But Clark Kent’s still here,” Lois said softly. “And if I had to choose, I’d pick Clark Kent every time.”
He shook his head. “You were right, Lois. I didn’t want to admit it, but Superman was a big part of me. And if I’ve lost that part…I’m not sure I know who I am anymore.”
She crossed over to him and put the razor and shaving cream on the side table before kneeling in front of him and taking his hands in hers. “You’re Clark Kent,” she said firmly, “farmboy from Kansas. And you’re Superman, Kal-El of Krypton. And you’ll be those people whether the powers come back or not. You think Superman is about what you can do, Clark, but he’s not. Superman is about the fact that you choose to do it at all. Kryptonite can’t take that away from you.”
Clark shook his head.
“What’s the regular way?” Lois asked, pausing in her search through the open suitcase.
“He uses his heat vision,” Martha said over her shoulder on her way into the bathroom.
“Used,” Clark said quietly, looking down at his hands.
“Clark…”
“It’s no big deal, Lois,” Clark said, cutting her off.
“It must be, or you wouldn’t have mentioned it. Your powers came back last time, didn’t they?”
“Last time I was only exposed for a few minutes. I think…this may be different. I think Superman may be gone for good.”
“But Clark Kent’s still here,” Lois said softly. “And if I had to choose, I’d pick Clark Kent every time.”
He shook his head. “You were right, Lois. I didn’t want to admit it, but Superman was a big part of me. And if I’ve lost that part…I’m not sure I know who I am anymore.”
She crossed over to him and put the razor and shaving cream on the side table before kneeling in front of him and taking his hands in hers. “You’re Clark Kent,” she said firmly, “farmboy from Kansas. And you’re Superman, Kal-El of Krypton. And you’ll be those people whether the powers come back or not. You think Superman is about what you can do, Clark, but he’s not. Superman is about the fact that you choose to do it at all. Kryptonite can’t take that away from you.”
Ah, but let's proceed to the most delightful aspects of this final chapter, of Clark and Lois daring to show their love for one another. I just loved this:
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Clark did feel better after taking a shower and shaving, though he nicked his chin during his shave and stared at the blood on the tissue with what Lois told him was a positively morbid fascination.
“This is only about the third time in my life I’ve ever seen my own blood,” he said defensively.
She snatched the tissue and tossed it into the trash. “Your blood looks just like everyone else’s, Clark.” She kissed the tip of one finger and touched it gently to the cut on his chin. “There. All better.”
“Hurts here, too,” he said, pointing to his cheek.
She couldn’t discern any injury, but she raised up on tiptoes and pressed her lips obediently to his smooth cheek. “Anywhere else?” she inquired.
“My lips,” he said quickly. “They hurt bad.”
She raised her eyebrows at him. “You cut your lips shaving?”
“I think it was the Kryptonite,” he murmured, tugging her closer, his intention obvious. “It does terrible things to the, uh, lips.”
“This is only about the third time in my life I’ve ever seen my own blood,” he said defensively.
She snatched the tissue and tossed it into the trash. “Your blood looks just like everyone else’s, Clark.” She kissed the tip of one finger and touched it gently to the cut on his chin. “There. All better.”
“Hurts here, too,” he said, pointing to his cheek.
She couldn’t discern any injury, but she raised up on tiptoes and pressed her lips obediently to his smooth cheek. “Anywhere else?” she inquired.
“My lips,” he said quickly. “They hurt bad.”
She raised her eyebrows at him. “You cut your lips shaving?”
“I think it was the Kryptonite,” he murmured, tugging her closer, his intention obvious. “It does terrible things to the, uh, lips.”
And this:
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“Let’s go to bed.”
He opened his mouth to speak, closed it, and then tried again. “Lois, just so I know that we’re on the same page…”
She grinned at him. “To sleep, Clark. To sleep. I think anything else should wait for a day when we’re not quite so exhausted and one of us hasn’t nearly died.”
Clark’s eyes widened in exaggerated horror. “Lois, I don’t want to rush you into anything, honey, but if we have to wait for a day when you haven’t nearly been killed…that could be years…decades, even.”
“Oh, very funny, Kent. Hilarious. Perhaps we need a reminder of just who rescued whom today...and did you just call me ‘honey’?”
He gave her a sheepish smile. “I was just trying it out. What do you think?”
“I kinda like it,” she admitted. “Almost made me forget about your pathetic attempt at humor.”
He opened his mouth to speak, closed it, and then tried again. “Lois, just so I know that we’re on the same page…”
She grinned at him. “To sleep, Clark. To sleep. I think anything else should wait for a day when we’re not quite so exhausted and one of us hasn’t nearly died.”
Clark’s eyes widened in exaggerated horror. “Lois, I don’t want to rush you into anything, honey, but if we have to wait for a day when you haven’t nearly been killed…that could be years…decades, even.”
“Oh, very funny, Kent. Hilarious. Perhaps we need a reminder of just who rescued whom today...and did you just call me ‘honey’?”
He gave her a sheepish smile. “I was just trying it out. What do you think?”
“I kinda like it,” she admitted. “Almost made me forget about your pathetic attempt at humor.”
Oh, but now I suddenly need to interrupt my happy quoting of passages describing the growing physical closeness between Lois and Clark to quote this very interesting piece of conversation between them instead:
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“Do you really want to go to Kansas?”
“I really do. I think we both need a few days of peace and quiet.”
“And Mom’s cooking.” A small smile touched his lips.
“Mmmm,” she agreed.
“What happened today is going to be the biggest news story in a decade. Do you really want to leave now?”
She sighed and rolled onto her back, staring up at the ceiling. “Part of me doesn’t,” she admitted. “But the other part knows that I’m too close to this one to write it up objectively, and there are too many parts of the story I hope are suppressed, for one reason or another. That feels…strange, to not want to tell the whole truth about a story. I’m not quite sure how I feel about that yet.”
“Yeah,” he said softly. “Tell me about it.”
“I guess you’ve had to get used to that, huh?”
He shook his head. “I’ve never gotten used to lying.”
“It’s not lying, Clark. It’s just not telling the whole truth. There’s a difference. It’s just going to take some getting used to, that’s all.”
“I really do. I think we both need a few days of peace and quiet.”
“And Mom’s cooking.” A small smile touched his lips.
“Mmmm,” she agreed.
“What happened today is going to be the biggest news story in a decade. Do you really want to leave now?”
She sighed and rolled onto her back, staring up at the ceiling. “Part of me doesn’t,” she admitted. “But the other part knows that I’m too close to this one to write it up objectively, and there are too many parts of the story I hope are suppressed, for one reason or another. That feels…strange, to not want to tell the whole truth about a story. I’m not quite sure how I feel about that yet.”
“Yeah,” he said softly. “Tell me about it.”
“I guess you’ve had to get used to that, huh?”
He shook his head. “I’ve never gotten used to lying.”
“It’s not lying, Clark. It’s just not telling the whole truth. There’s a difference. It’s just going to take some getting used to, that’s all.”
Let's get back to the physical sweetness between Lois and Clark - I just loved this:
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“This has been a day full of miracles, Lois, and this…” he gestured at the two of them, nestled together in the tumbled bed, “this is the most amazing one of all. I love you so much.”
“I love you, too,” she said, making no attempt to hide the tears his tender words had brought to her eyes.
And then with one final kiss, she fitted herself into the strong curve of his body, heaved a deep sigh of contentment, and relaxed into sleep.
“I love you, too,” she said, making no attempt to hide the tears his tender words had brought to her eyes.
And then with one final kiss, she fitted herself into the strong curve of his body, heaved a deep sigh of contentment, and relaxed into sleep.
Finally, there was the epilogue. And the kittens. And the shirt. And the hayloft. Well, it was all a delight, just perfect! Well, I'm really glad that the cat was smart enough to really have her kittens in that box that Lois had prepared for her, and on Clark's unspeakably ugly shirt. Citizen Kane, you lost Rosebud after all. But seeing that you got to make out with Lois Lane in that hayloft, that's a small price to pay. Also you managed to fly her there, so your powers are back!
Finally, Caroline, let me just quote something you said in your closing comment:
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(Jonathan wanted me to mention that the first four people to offer feedback on this final chapter will receive a free kitten… )
And Caroline: I so, so, so hope that this will not be the only LnC story that you are ever going to write! I don't have to tell you that we have all been sitting by our computers with stupidly gaping mouths, marvelling at your talent as we've been reading this story!
Ann