I thought this was really, really good!
I was upset when seventeen-year-old Lois married Clark in another fic because she was pregnant with another man's child. I just couldn't stand the way this situation seemed to turn our favorite couple into Saint Clark and Slutty Lois, and it didn't help that the kid would be a constant reminder of Clark's chastity and Lois's lack of it. Of course I know that Clark would love Lois's child as if it was his own, and he would never blame Lois for getting pregnant by another man, and I'm certainly not saying that all those who loved this story was wrong about that. It was just totally wrong for me.
Oh, but this situation is totally different! Lois has three things to choose between: staying with Aunt Louise (like the name, by the way, since it may have had something to do with why Lois was called Lois), going into foster care, or marrying Clark. In so many ways, marrying Clark seems infinitely preferable. However, I was really glad when Lois said this:
"Clark..." She took a deep breath and started again. "Clark, marriage implies... certain things..."
Yes, it does! I'm so glad that Lois pointed out that she wasn't ready for this. Of course she isn't. She has no romantic feelings for him at all, so why would she want to have sex with him? Of course she wouldn't, and she trusts him enough to tell him so. I liked Clark's answer even more:
Clark chuckled. "Lois, I understand what you're saying. Don't worry about it." He stroked her cheek gently. "I would never pressure you or ask you to do something you aren't comfortable with."
I totally believe him! This is my kind of Saint Clark. This is the Saint Clark who won't have sex with Lois until he knows without a doubt that
she is ready for it.
Lois breathed a sigh of relief. "I know that, Clark, but what about Social Services?"
I'm glad that Lois is relieved about Clark and worried about Social Services.
"What about them?"
"They'll want to do home visits right?"
He shrugged. "Probably."
"Then for Lucy's sake, everyone has to believe it is a real marriage. That we got married because we're in love and not to just keep us out of the system."
"Not a problem. We will get a place in the city somewhere. A two bedroom if we can afford it and I can sleep on the floor in our room."
Lois sighed. "No. That wouldn't be fair. We'll share." She grinned at him for the first time that evening. "Just no funny stuff, mister."
Good!
He laughed just a little bit and leaned over to kiss her on the cheek. "No funny stuff." He got down on one knee and pulled a box out of his jacket pocket. "Lois, will you marry me?"
Lois gasped. "Clark, where did you get that ring? It's beautiful."
"It was my mom's. She would want you to have it."
Aaaawww. That's beautiful. I love that it was his mom's ring.
She had his mother's wedding band tucked safely away and she'd raided her secret stash to buy Clark a ring the day before. Who knew you could get a wedding ring for under forty bucks? She hadn't told him that though – she hadn't even told him she'd bought it. It wasn't a very nice one, but someday – if this all worked out – she'd get him a better ring. And have it engraved. Engraving for this one was too expensive. Hers was engraved. His parents had had them engraved when they got married. Hers said 'I've loved you since the beginning...' His dad's had said, '...I'll love you till the end', but his dad's had been lost over the years.
So moving. Lois bought Clark a ring. Her parents' rings had been engraved. Her mother's ring had said 'I've loved you since the beginning...' and her father's had said 'I'll love you till the end', but his ring had been lost. How typical, and how appropriate. Because I don't believe he loved her till the end, even though he did come back to her.
Ten minutes later, the minister said the magic words. The words that would keep her and Lucy out of foster care.
But I can't help it, this is so sad. Lois said 'I do', because those were the magic words which would keep her and Lucy out of foster care. She didn't say them because she loved Clark, not
that way anyway.
Clark placed on hand on the side of her face and leaned in until his lips gently touched hers. A shock ran through him, leaving him tingling from the roots of his invulnerable hair to the tips of his invulnerable toes. This was what he had longed for since he first set eyes on a young lady most would have described as a gawky preteen, but who he always thought was beautiful; since he'd kissed her the first time on that rock years earlier. It was only a brief kiss, simply the merest touching of the lips, but it was enough to solidify in his mind that he had done the right thing. The slightest hint of a return kiss was enough for him to know that someday she would feel the way he did.
That his *wife* would someday love him the way he loved her.
Aaaawww!!! That's just lovely.
The older woman nodded. "They're my family and I would take care of them as best I could, but, in general, I don't like children. Lois and Lucy are the only two I could ever tolerate – even their father as a child..." She let the sentence trail off. "Besides, I live in a retirement community that I love. While they would allow Lucy to live with me, she wouldn't enjoy it. There are no other children, except the occasional visiting grandchild, and she would be quite lonely."
Aunt Louise seems nice, but that retirement community is no place for Lucy!
The judge nodded and then looked at Clark. "Mr. Kent, you are willing to take in your sister-in-law as a foster child?"
He stood and took Lois' hand. "Yes, your Honor. I know it would mean a lot to Lois and it would to me as well."
Of course he is willing. This Clark is every bit as nice as we have ever seen him.
She cleared her throat. "Mr. Kent, why did you marry Lois?"
He looked taken aback. "I love her, your Honor."
"I have looked into it a bit, Mr. Kent. You met several years ago and have not seen each other since then."
"We've written regularly, your Honor. I knew the first time I saw her that I'd marry her someday."
"Still, I am more than a bit suspicious of the timing."
Clark took a deep breath. "Your Honor, I love Lois, truly I do. The timing... well, you're right. It's highly unlikely that we would have gotten married if Lois' parents hadn't died – at least not until Lois was 18 or maybe after we graduated college, but as I said, I've known for years that she was the woman I would marry. I know what I'm getting myself into. I love Lois and she loves Lucy and doesn't want her to go anywhere else. I'm an orphan myself. I know what it's like to bounce from family to family, never staying in one place too long. I don't want that for Lucy."
"I can appreciate that." She sighed. "I mean it, Mr. Kent. I will be keeping a close eye on this situation and if I ever feel that Lucy would be better off elsewhere, I will move her."
"Understood."
"This is a huge responsibility for someone so young."
"I know it is, but I've essentially been on my own for a long time and I know I can do what I need to do to take care of Lois and Lucy."
"See that you do, young man." She watched as Clark left the room. Somehow she knew that Lois and Clark would make it.
Sorry about the long quote, but I love it. The judge questions Clark about his motives, and when she is finished with him, she believes in Lois and Clark. That's lovely.
"Aunt Louise, you don't need to do that," Lois protested.
"Nonsense. You may have been right that I don't particularly want to raise children, but I do love you and not just in that we are family so I have to way. And I want to do this."
"Ms. Lane, it is really not necessary," Clark told her.
"Clark, please call me Aunt Louise. You're family now. And I insist. It's your wedding day. Now, Lucy and I weren't there for the wedding and I may have a thing or two to say about that later, but I'm not going to ruin your wedding day with that kind of griping. What I am going to do is get you two a room for the week. You do not need to start your married life living with your crotchety old aunt and your little sister. Lucy will be moving in with you two soon enough. So, I'll get you a room at a nice hotel, which I'm sure the two of you can't afford right now anyway, and you can spend your time together and looking for a place to live rather than being with the two of us." Her face softened. "I remember what it is like to be young and in love." She held up a hand as Lois opened her mouth to question her. "No, I never married, but that's because the man I loved gave his life for his country on Iwo Jima. My heart never recovered. Consider it a birthday and wedding present."
That's lovely, too! Aunt Louise may not like children, but she is adorable anyway. She pays for Lois and Clark's wedding night, and she gives it to Lois as a birthday present, too. And she never got married herself, because her loved one died at Iwo Jima.
Iwo Jima. So moving.
I think there is supposed to be six American soldiers in this picture, although I only think I can see five. But I have read that three of these soldiers didn't make it home alive, because they were killed at Iwo Jima. One of those who were killed was the front man in this image.
"I am also going to put some money on the account – order room service, get a massage, do something nice for yourselves. I'm going to tell them that I get whatever is left back so don't think you can just not do anything and keep the cash. It's for you two to spoil yourselves for the next few days. Now, Clark, get the keys to Ellen's car and load your bag into it. I will help Lois pack up a few things."
Aaawww!
Louise sat down on Lois' bed. "This is something I reluctantly gave your mother because I wanted someone to have it. I knew she wouldn't appreciate it, but I couldn't die without passing it on to someone. She later told me that she had never even taken it out of the box. I found it in their closet the other night."
She opened the box reverently. "I bought this when I wasn't much older than you. Joe had gone off to fight in World War II and we were going to be married as soon as he came home. It never occurred to us that he would never be back." She pulled the nightgown out, holding it by the spaghetti straps. "This was for our wedding night. I could never bring myself to actually get rid of it until I found out your father was going to marry Ellen. Even then, it didn't feel right, but, as I said, I didn't want it to completely go to waste."
Lois fingered the white satin. "It's beautiful, Aunt Louise." She didn't have the heart to tell her that it wouldn't get used on this night either.
Louise gives Lois a wonderful nightie, which she was going to wear herself for the wedding night that never came to pass. She gave it to Ellen, who never wore it with Sam. How sad that Lois doesn't want to wear it either, although I most certainly don't blame seventeen-year-old Lois for that!!!
"It feels right this time. I can't explain it but it does." Her eyes glinted with unshed tears as she looked at Lois. "Don't think you're fooling me for a minute, young lady. I know you don't love Clark like a woman getting married should, but I see the way he looks at you and I know that, deep down, someday, you will know that you love him too." She smiled at the younger woman. "I know you won't use this tonight, but I am right that you two need some time just the two of you to figure this whole thing out. When you're ready, you'll have it."
Lois' eyes filled up with tears. "Thank you, Aunt Louise."
That's lovely! Lovely! And I'm glad that Lois understands it, too. I'm sure she can see that her Aunt Louise does love her.
Clark opened the car door so Lois could get in. He shut it behind her and turned to Aunt Louise.
"Thank you, Aunt Louise."
She held out her arms. "Come give your new aunt a hug."
Clark willingly obliged, wondering how Lois' impressions of her aunt could have been so wrong.
Louise pulled back and looked up at her handsome new nephew. "I know you love her, Clark. And I know that right now, she thinks she doesn't love you. It's going to take some time – probably a long time – but someday she will come around." She smiled slyly. "Tonight, I gave her something I bought for my wedding night that never happened. Someday, she'll wear it and then you'll know."
Clark pulled her in to him again and squeezed her quickly. "Thank you." He released her and headed to the driver's side of the car. He turned to thank her again, but all he saw was the front door closing.
Aaaawww! Adorable!
I love this, Carol!
Ann