While I'm working on my plot for the last story in the Nightfall series, here's a nice short one to round off the Wedding Series. Don't look for villains or crises. Just a few little loose ends tied up.
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Disclaimer: The familiar characters and settings in this story do not belong to me. They are the property of DC Comics, Warner Bros., December 3rd Productions and whoever else can legally claim them. I have written this story solely for its entertainment value and am making no profit from it whatsoever. The story, however, is mine.
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Wedding Accomplished: 1/2
By Nan Smith
The wedding reception that had been hastily arranged by Martha Kent and several of her friends from the church was a small affair. Wilma Cooper, owner of the town's oldest bakery, had provided the wedding cake and she regarded the towering white-frosted confection with tears of pride. Two ladies from Martha's art class were still fussing over the arrangement of the flowers at the central table when the sound of the Reverend Sweet's pickup truck outside alerted them to the fact that the wedding party was arriving.
Sure enough barely two minutes later the bride, dressed in a lacy swirl of frothy white, entered on the arm of her groom, followed by the crowd of chattering guests. Wilma sighed sentimentally at the sight of the handsome young man. She could remember Clark Kent from the time that he had been barely tall enough to see over the counter of her bakery - and before that, really. She still recalled the day when Martha Kent and her husband had walked proudly into her store with their beautiful baby boy. She knew that Martha and Jonathan had always wanted a baby. They had adopted Clark privately, Martha had told her -- there had been some mention of one of Martha's distant cousins who had died unexpectedly in some kind of accident, leaving Clark an orphan, and no one questioned the explanation too closely. Wilma had a cousin of her own whose parents told exactly the same story -- a polite untruth, she knew, to hide the illegitimate birth of a baby to some other young female relative by her embarrassed family. Such a story hadn't been particularly uncommon back in those days. Wilma knew the rumor had been generally accepted, many years ago, and she had always regarded the Kents' willingness to give a home to the innocent result of such an indiscretion to be a very kind act. She was sure that Martha knew of the rumor, but she hadn't seemed disturbed by it. That was something that Wilma had always admired about Martha Kent. She never let the opinions of others bother her.
In any case, that was water over the dam. Clark had been a charming little boy and later an equally charming teenager. Wilma had often wished that her two sons would take a page from Clark Kent's book when it came to behavior, but of course they hadn't. She had seen him often during his high school years, for he had been a member of Smallville High's football team and he would frequently stop by her bakery on his way home after football practice to purchase some dreadfully fattening treat to tide him over until dinner. She'd fully expected it to go to his waistline, but obviously her worry had been unnecessary, she thought, observing Clark Kent's broad shoulders and narrow waist in the charcoal suit that he had worn for his wedding. Wilma sighed again, gazing happily at the young couple. Clark's bride was a lucky woman. Wilma would never criticize her darling husband, but Thomas was beginning to grow broader across the middle these days, and even in his youth he had never had a form like Clark Kent's. Thomas's weakness for chocolate éclairs had finally begun to catch up with him, she knew, but he continued to believe that the football that he'd played thirty-five years ago had put him into such shape that he didn't need to worry about his diet.
Martha Kent caught her eye and the two women managed to make their way through the small crowd to an empty spot near the back of the room.
"Any sign of those nuisances?" Martha inquired in an undertone.
Wilma giggled. "No," she replied, keeping her voice as soft as Martha's. "Some new ones showed up this morning in town and were asking for directions to your place, just as Maureen and I were putting the cake into the van -- with 'Congratulations Lois and Clark' as plain as day on the icing. They didn't even notice. I guess they're out there now with the rest of the mob. How are you ever going to get home?"
Martha chuckled. "Superman promised to drop us off after the wedding. I figure if they hang around the farm for another day, it'll give Clark and Lois a good head start. The last thing that they need is the press following them around on their honeymoon!"
"Oh, I know!" Wilma said. "I read some of the awful things the Dirt Digger was saying about her. They were being just plain mean!" Wilma shook her head. "They should be ashamed of themselves. Don't worry," she added. "If any more reporters ask me anything, I won't know a thing. I can play the sweet, confused little old lady very well, thank you!"
Both women giggled this time.
"I wonder how long it's going to take these city people to figure out we're not as stupid as they think," Martha said.
"I don't think they ever will," Wilma said frankly. "I hope most of them don't, anyway. It's been so much fun sending them out chasing their tails since they showed up in town."
Martha laughed softly. "Well, after tomorrow they may not stick around once they realize Lois isn't here anymore." She glanced around. "Where's our band? They're supposed to be here."
"They're changing clothes in back." Wilma waved to the doors at the rear of the Community Center. "I guess everybody's about in their places. It's almost time to cut the cake."
"Ah! There they are," Martha said. "Is the food all set out?"
"The guys from the Korner Kitchen were unloading it a few minutes ago," Wilma assured her. "I'm sorry it had to be a buffet, but there wasn't time for anything else."
"No, it's better this way," Martha said decisively. "Better go sit down. I think we're about ready to start."
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Clark Kent glanced around the room of the old Smallville Community Center. He'd been here for many local events during his growing years and now he was here to celebrate his wedding to Lois Lane.
Jonathan Kent escorted them to their places of honor at the head table and he gazed with almost a sense of unreality at one of Wilma Cooper's famous wedding cakes. Wilma, as he'd come to know her over the years, was the kind of cook that gave dietitians and aerobic instructors nightmares, and the high-caloric creations that emerged from her little bakery made no pretense of being anything but what they were -- but they tasted as good as they looked.
"It's a good thing we're going to be getting plenty of exercise," Lois murmured in his ear. "I've gained five pounds already, just looking at that cake."
"Don't worry," he said as innocently as he could. "We'll work it all off -- and then some."
Lois looked sharply at him and then, to his surprise, suddenly giggled and blushed to her hairline as she belatedly translated his meaning.
Perry White was approaching with a large cake knife in his hands, decorated with a lacy, white bow. He presented it to Lois. "All right, folks!" he announced. "It's time for the bride and groom to cut the cake!"
Clark rested his hands on the knife but let Lois guide it. She cut out two tiny slices, as Jimmy Olsen's camera flashed brightly.
Now came the moment of truth. Did Lois expect him to mash the cake into her face? He'd seen it done but he certainly had no wish to do the same. That kind of practical joke on his wedding day wasn't the slightest bit appealing. Carefully, he took his tiny shred of cake and raised it to Lois's lips.
She cast him a look of gratitude and opened her mouth to accept the bite. He saw her eyes open wide as she tasted the cake. Wilma's cakes never had the "commercial" taste to them of most store-bought cakes. It had almost seemed to a much younger Clark Kent that they could nearly have been baked in his mother's oven.
Lois raised a piece of the confection to his lips and he took the bite.
"Thanks," Lois whispered.
"You're welcome," he said softly.
Somewhere in the background someone had started tapping his spoon on the table and rapidly the sound spread until everyone in the room had joined in. The guests were demanding that the groom kiss the bride. Clark gave a bashful grin and obeyed, to the cheers of the assembled crowd. In the background, the band struck up and he led his bride out onto the floor for their first dance as a married couple. Somewhere behind them he was aware that his mother had moved in on the cake and was cutting it into chunks for their guests. From the rear of the Community Center, he could smell the aroma of well-prepared food that had certainly come from the Korner Kitchen. From somewhere, the pop of a champagne cork punctuated the music. All in all, it was starting off to be a great wedding party.
"How do you like your big day, Mrs. Kent?" he murmured in her ear.
"I'll like it much better when we check into our hotel this evening," she whispered back.
A finger tapped Clark on the shoulder. "Do I get to dance with the bride?" Jonathan Kent's voice asked, sounding amused.
Clark grinned down into his bride's face and surrendered her to his father. Ellen Lane was standing a short distance away and Clark stepped over to her, bowing gracefully. "May I have this dance?" he asked his new mother-in-law.
Lois's mother nodded, giving a tiny smile and let Clark put his arm around her waist.
She was surprisingly light on her feet. They danced in silence for a short time and then Ellen spoke. "I suppose you know what you're letting yourself in for, Clark."
Clark consciously resisted the impulse to stiffen. "What do you mean?"
"The tabloids," Mrs. Lane specified. "Right now they're excoriating my daughter as a gold digger. They're claiming that she married Luthor for his money."
"I know," Clark said. "I hope you believe me when I say that the money has nothing to do with how I feel about Lois. I loved her long before this -- situation -- took place. Neither of us has any interest in it -- except that it's nearly gotten Lois killed several times."
Mrs. Lane regarded him neutrally. "I'm not sure I completely believe that," she said. "How can the money not matter to you?"
"Believe me," Clark said, "Lois and I are perfectly capable of supporting ourselves. Luthor's money is more trouble than it's worth. I'm not interested in it and Lois isn't the sort to live behind electric fences for the rest of her life. We'll be making arrangements to deal with that situation after the thirty days from the date of Luthor's death are up."
Mrs. Lane cocked her head at him. "What can you possibly do with it?" she asked. "It's not as if you can just act as if it doesn't exist."
"We have lawyers working on it," Clark said quietly. "We'll take care of it later. Right now, Lois and I have just gotten married. I want her to enjoy her honeymoon without having to worry about other things. And the last thing I want her to think about is Luthor."
Ellen Lane looked at him curiously but said nothing. When the music stopped, he bowed slightly to her. "Thank you for the dance."
She smiled faintly. "You're a very good dancer." She paused. "Be good to Lois," she said finally. "I haven't been the kind of mother she should have had, but I do want the best for her. I hope you believe that."
"I do," Clark said sincerely. "So do I." He escorted her back to her seat next to Perry and Alice White and turned to look for his bride.
The band started to play again. Lois and his father were just coming across the floor toward him when they were intercepted by Sam Lane. Clark mentally crossed his fingers in the hope that everything would go well during the dance and headed across the floor toward his mother.
Martha Kent looked up as he bowed formally to her. "May I have this dance?" he inquired.
His mother got to her feet. "I was wondering when you were going to ask me."
Clark grinned as the band swung into a fast country dance. "Come on, Mom. Let's show them how it's done."
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The wedding party spilled out of the Community Center two hours later, following Lois and Clark. On the steps of the building, Lois turned her back and raised the bouquet. There was immediate movement as the younger women in the party were chivvied toward the front. Lois waited, to give them time, and then tossed the bouquet over her shoulder.
Clark glanced back and grinned when he saw that the flowers had sailed slightly to the left and that a surprised Pete Ross was clutching the tasteful arrangement of Baby's Breath and white roses. Then he opened the door to Reverend Sweet's pickup truck and gave his bride a hand into the ancient vehicle.
Moments later, Superman quietly deposited the truck in its parking space behind Reverend Sweet's home. He leaned in the window of the passenger side to give his bride a quick kiss. "I'll be back in a few minutes, honey."
Lois turned the quick peck into something more substantial. "Hurry up, Superman," she told him. "I'm anxious to get on our way."
Clark grinned. "Your wish is my command," he told her. "Give me fifteen minutes to get everybody back where they belong and we'll go."
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It was actually twelve minutes and twenty-three seconds by actual count when Clark Kent knocked on the window of the pickup truck. Lois opened the door and stepped quickly out. "Is everyone home?
He nodded. "Yes. I told Bill Henderson that I planned on taking about four more weeks of rest and recovery time before I made my reappearance back in Metropolis. I did, however, recover our luggage from the plane."
"Plane?"
"The one we left in the mountains."
"Oh, *that* plane."
"That's right. I figure I'll drop it off at Metro Private Airport sometime around midnight. That way Perry's friend can have it back. It's in perfect working condition except for the radio. It's just low on fuel. I wouldn't want someone who was trying to help us out to have to absorb a cost like that."
"That's true," Lois said. "What did Bill say?"
"About me coming back? He said it was a good idea. He said he doesn't want Metropolis to see a sign of Superman until he's fully recovered. I told him a little more about what Luthor did. Hopefully, it will give him a little leverage with Luthor's assistants."
"I hope so," Lois said. "Next to us, I trust Henderson more than any other investigator in Metropolis."
"I guess confidence isn't an issue with you, is it," Clark said. He smiled widely. "It's good to see the Lois I've always known back." He pulled her into his arms for a long kiss. "I was worried about you, you know."
"I know." She put her head on his shoulder. "I *did* doubt myself -- after making such a horrible mistake. You were nearly killed, the Planet was almost destroyed for good, Jack nearly went to prison -- and Lex almost had him killed, too. And that was only the part we know about. Who knows what he had in mind for everyone else?"
"It wasn't your fault," Clark said.
"I know," she said. "*Now* I know. Lex planned the whole thing. He always got what he wanted, no matter what it took, and he wanted me. I was a challenge that he couldn't resist. If you want the truth, I think he preferred to break the law to get what he wanted. I think it gave him some kind of sick thrill, but that wasn't my fault. It was his."
"Exactly," Clark said.
"In fact," Lois continued, "I was only really at fault one way. I wouldn't listen to you. I was so determined to be right, to prove that *my* judgment about men wasn't at fault, that I refused to listen to the only man I've ever really trusted -- my best friend. That was where I went wrong."
"I can't really blame you for that," Clark said. "I messed up too, you know."
"I know," she said. "But if we remember to talk, to really communicate from now on, and to really listen to each other, I don't think we'll have too much trouble in the future. Do you?"
"Probably not," Clark said. "At least I have my parents' example to copy."
"So do I," Lois said. "And I have *my* parents' example *not* to copy. Between both sets of examples, I think we'll do all right."
"So do I," Clark said. He nodded to the rear door of Reverend Sweet's house. "They're waiting for us inside," he added. "Once we change clothes, we can really be on our way. We have a honeymoon to begin."
Lois took his hand and started toward the little wooden house. "In that case, Mr. Kent, let's not keep them waiting."
This *was* going to be the end, but now...Continued in Part two--The Epilogue.
