New Year’s Season 8
By: Carrie Rene
Summary: Continued to Season 8 of the celebration of New Year’s Eve with our favorite couple, Lois and Clark. You do not need to read any of the other series to understand this.
Notes: You do not need to read these in order, but they do help.
***
Another year. The countdown was on for 2002. Lois wasn’t feeling too great tonight. It had been a difficult month for her. Smiling and mingling with her co-workers was not something she wanted to do tonight. Yet, she had promised Clark that she would make an effort.
Looking around, Lois stood near the refreshment table in her sleeveless, long black satin dress. The wide-neckline dress felt conservative compared to the dresses she had worn before. This year, though, a black dress was in order.
Too many changes in her life. Perry had officially retired six months ago. His health was declining too fast, and Alice had begged him to retire after a mild heart attack in April. September brought a surprise: Lois discovered she was expecting another child. But this baby was not meant to be.
“Lois, you look lovely tonight,” Melinda Claire said, coming up beside her.
Lois turned to Jimmy’s fiancée with a smile. No one knew about the loss Lois and Clark had suffered. It was something they had kept quiet, with the exception of Clark’s parents.
“Thank you,” Lois replied, sipping her glass of champagne. “Where’s Jimmy?”
Both women looked around the crowd at the La Valle Hotel tonight. It had been Jimmy’s idea to have the New Year’s Celebration at the extravagant new hotel that had opened only two months earlier.
“He’s over with Ralph, trying to stop him from making a scene with Doctor Quinzel,” Melinda explained. “I guess the famous psychiatrist is in Metropolis for the Criminal Justice Mental Health Summit taking place next week.”
Lois shook her head. After all of these years, Ralph was still making a scene and flirting with women well above his pay grade and intellect.
“How are the wedding plans?” Lois asked, turning to the petite school teacher.
Melinda tilted her head and took a sip of her champagne with her stunning diamond engagement ring, which Jimmy had picked out with Clark’s help, flashing as her hand moved.
“We are getting there. Jimmy’s dad stopped by Christmas morning, said he was on a layover for a few hours before rushing off to Dubai. The man actually asked if we were sure about the date,” Melinda explained. “He needed to be sure he had time to finish the contract he was working on.”
“Good evening, Claire,” Clark said, putting his arms around Lois’s waist as he joined them.
“Hi, Clark. Well, I'd better help Jimmy,” Melinda Claire, waving goodbye to her friends.
Lois leaned into her husband’s arms and sighed.
“At least I made it before midnight,” Clark said, nuzzling her neck.
Sighing and tilting her head to let him have more access to her neck, she remembered the past New Year’s Eves and how Clark would arrive minutes before midnight. Not tonight; he had a couple of emergencies earlier, but he had been here for the past twenty minutes.
“This has been a tough year. I’m not sure I could have gone through it without you,” Lois admitted, remembering the feeling of loss that first week afterward.
“Lois, I’ll always be there for you and Natalie,” he whispered. “I love you and our daughter more than anything... Even if we never have any more children, I’ll be by your side until the end of time.”
“Can we get out of here?” she asked him, putting her hand over his, which still circled her waist.
He smiled against her skin.
“Yeah, let’s go ring in the New Year alone,” he said, letting go. He turned and took her hand. They disappeared in the crowd.
Rising above the flashing fireworks moments later, they gazed down and watched the colors explode beneath them. Holding her securely, he kissed her as the New Year rang in. Always together, even when things were difficult, Lois and Clark held each other close and would lead each other to greatness.
The End
