by Menolly
Lois relaxed in the warmth of the fire, her hand smoothing over her stomach
as she wondered absently where Clark had got to. She wasn't too worried, he'd
show up again as soon as he could, but she was impatient to see him. She picked
up the framed menu from the floor where she'd laid it and scanned the list of
flavours again. The last one nagged at her. Vanilla. She couldn't remember ever
having had it. That's ridiculous, she thought, everyone's had vanilla at sometime.
Obviously just not any memorable times.
She put the menu down, leaning it against the sofa, then got up andwandered
back through to the kitchen to check the freezer. No vanilla. The nearest thing
she could find was vanilla yogurt in the fridge. Clark's, needless to say, since
she hated the stuff. Lois pulled the carton out and wondered whether she ought
to try getting to like it. Weren't dairy foods supposed to be part of a balanced
diet? And the doctor had said something about eating a balanced diet. Lois opened
the carton, ripping the lid as she did so, sending small flecks of yogurt all
over the worktop. She grimaced and reached for a cloth to wipe the top down.
Strike one against yogurt. She found a spoon in a drawer and sat at the table
to eat the white mass, spooning it slowly into her mouth, grimacing again at
the taste. She pushed it away after a couple of spoonfuls and looked at the
carton as it sat, reproachfully, on the table.
Maybe it's just the flavour, she thought. Perhaps chocolate yogurt... she got
up and rummaged in a cupboard, finally finding a small tub of Suchard Express
drinking chocolate. She checked the best before date and noted with relief that
it hadn't expired, then mixed a couple of spoonfuls into the yogurt. She took
a spoonful and ate it, gingerly. Not so bad. In fact, quite bearable. She finished
the carton and threw it in the trash, dropping the spoon in the dishwasher,
then walked back through into the main room and sat down in an armchair by the
fire. She lay back against the arm of the chair, her eyes closing as she flicked
through the memories that came and went like pages in a book. She began to doze
lightly and relaxed into the cushions, basking in the warmth of the fire, sleepily
planning - for what must have been the thousandth time since the doctor had
confirmed her suspicions yesterday - what she was going to tell Clark. Should
she be just tell him, tease him, or what? She fell asleep, trying out various
scenarios in her mind, her hand again curling over her stomach as she dreamt.
Clark let himself into the apartment, hung up his coat and kicked off his shoes.
Lois hadn't called out, and he checked to see if he could hear her in the apartment.
A soft rhythmic thud sounded in his ears, her heartbeat, as he listened. He
walked through into the main room and smiled gently at the sight of her, curled
asleep in the chair, with the fire chasing shadows over her. He crouched at
the side of the chair, and gently pushed back a lock of hair that had fallen
across her cheek. Lois stirred slightly at his touch, her eyes gradually focusing
on him.
"Clark?" she murmured "You're back ... good." She stretched
in the chair, working the cramp out of her shoulders, then relaxed again, smiling
at him. Clark leaned over and kissed her.
"Did you like the present?" he asked with a smile, seeing it propped
against the sofa.
"Mmm," smiled Lois, fragments of the recent series of recollections
flickering into her mind, giving her smile a contented air, "it was...
memorable. Nice way to spend a morning." She kissed him. "Thank you."
"I thought you might enjoy a permanent reminder of your favourite flavours,"
said Clark.
"That's not quite what I was reminded of," said Lois, her smile growing
a little wicked with the memories, "it was ... um ... events associated
with them ... for instance, the castle in Scotland a year or so ago ... you
must remember the ice cream at dinner ..." Her voice grew quiet as she
watched Clark recall the memories still fresh in her mind.
"I think so ... the later part of the evening is a little clearer,"
said Clark, the memory spreading warmth through him. He looked again at Lois,
and noticed the slight glitter in her eyes. Apparently he wasn't the only one
who recalled the later part of the evening, he thought with amusement.
"Mmm ... definitely clearer," said Lois, stretching again, the manoeuvre
more sensual than a necessity, allowing the feeling within her to uncoil through
her as she stretched. She grinned at Clark and got up, abruptly. "I've
got something for you too," she said "I wanted to give you something
... personal." Lois crossed the room to a small chest of drawers, opened
a drawer and took out a package, wrapped in plain gold paper. She brought it
to Clark and offered it to him with a kiss. "Happy anniversary ... and
thank you."
"For what?" asked Clark.
"Everything. Five years, heaven, you, anything you care to mention...
oh, you know ...." said Lois, babbling slightly as Clark took the gift
and began to open it, nervous as to whether he'd like it. He unwrapped the gift
carefully, smoothing away the paper and the tissue paper inside, to hold up
a tie. He looked at it with a smile and looked back to Lois.
"It's perfect. Unique, and definitely perfect." He was touched. Considering
her aversion to his ties, she'd managed to find one that was definitely his
style, although the colours perhaps blended together better than any others
he had.
"You like it? You really like it?" asked Lois, encouraged by the
smile on his face.
"Yes! Did you get it at Farnelli's?" asked Clark "I don't think
I've seen one like it there." Lois shook her head.
"No, it's a little more unique than that." Clark looked at her, waiting
for an explanation of the odd tone in her voice. "Erm ...you remember your
parents came to stay recently, you know, when I wasn't too well a couple of
weeks or so back? Of course you do ...I'm babbling," Clark nodded, smiling
a little at her nervousness. What she was nervous of, he wasn't too sure, but
he'd find out sooner or later he supposed. "Well, I talked to your mother
about what to get you. I knew I wanted to get you a tie, but couldn't find anything
that seemed ... you ... and didn't turn my stomach." She said with a grin
to negate the slightly harsh comment. "Your mother suggested I ... erm
.. make one. So she got me silk paints, and a blank tie. Actually three, two
to practice on. God, did I need to practice!" Lois laughed at herself,
remembering the hideous attempts. "So that's a Lois Lane original".
She looked at Clark, wondering what his reaction would be. He looked at her
for a moment, surprise gradually replaced by something much more tender, and
tugged her close, looping the tie gently round her neck to bring her mouth to
his. He kissed her, a soft, long kiss that deepened as the trouble she'd taken
began to sink into his mind. He traced her lips with his tongue, slipping between
them as she opened her mouth with a soft sigh at his touch, and gently tasted
her. He drew away a little, still placing soft kisses on her mouth as he stood
in front of her, and undid the tie he wore, replacing it with hers.
"It's beautiful. Thank you seems inadequate, but thank you ... I love
it." His words sounded to him more than inadequate, and he tried to cover
by turning to pick up the carton he'd placed on the floor by the chair when
he came in, handing it to Lois. "And this is the second part of your present
..."
Lois laughed. "Vanilla! I'd been wondering why I couldn't recall that
flavour". Clark smiled at her reaction.
"I looked at all the other flavours, but nothing seemed quite ... special
enough," he explained, "so I thought I'd go with simplicity."
Lois smiled at him. "Thank you." She turned to take the tub into
the kitchen to put it into the freezer. Clark followed her.
"You know," he said, trying to sound subtle, "I'd really like
some of that right now ... would you?" Lois looked around, a little surprised,
since they hadn't even had lunch yet, then mentally shrugged.
"Sure. Do you want to get a couple of bowls?" Clark turned to the
cupboard, watching out of the corner of his eye as Lois opened the tub, a smile
curving across his face as she stopped suddenly and looked up at him as she
removed the lid. "What's this?" Clark grinned at her.
"Open it and find out," he suggested.
Lois took the small plastic box from the tub, smoothing away the ice cream
that clung to the edges with her finger, then absently putting her finger in
her mouth to suck off the ice cream. Clark swallowed at the unconscious gesture,
and captured her hand as she took another fingerful from the underside of the
box to lick the ice cream off himself, slowly letting her finger slid from his
mouth, holding Lois' gaze as he did so, watching the arousal he created rise
in her eyes. He kissed her fingertips and released her hand so that she could
open the box. Lois gradually lowered her eyes from his and returned her attention
to the box, lifting the lid. Inside she found another box, nestling in a bed
of dark red silk. She put the smaller box on the table and picked up the silk,
holding it up. As she realised what it was she looked back at Clark, a smile
on her face as he went slightly pink.
"I thought it .... would look good on you," he said, fighting the
blush.
"You mean that?" asked Lois "I'd've thought you meant good off
me... there's not much of it for me to wear," she teased, the scraps of
underwear like gossamer in her hands. "They're beautiful, though... and
practical," Clark looked at her as though she'd gone slightly insane.
"Practical isn't quite the word I'd use, Lois ..." he said.
"Much more practical than, say, a teddy. It'll be an easier fit,"
said Lois. "I'll explain later," she said, wanting to open the smaller
box before she got into explanations. She put down the scraps of silk and lace
and picked up the box, and opened it, the lid hinging back. Clark came and stood
next to her as she looked at the contents. "Oh, Clark, it's beautiful.
Thank you." She picked up the ring, a gold band with a garnet set into
it in a plain oval setting. Clark took it and slid it onto her ring finger,
to nestle next to her wedding band.
"Well, since you had to stop wearing your engagement ring all the time,
since that time you caught it on something and almost broke the setting, I thought
I'd get something ... you were also worrying about whether you'd be able to
wear it when we had a child, weren't you? In case the setting or the stone scratched
..." Lois looked quickly at Clark to see if the comment was more than simply
a repetition of the conversation they'd had a few months ago, and breathed a
little easier when she saw nothing in his face to indicate that it was. He continued
"... and I wanted to get something ... something to show ..I don't know
how to put this." He stopped, and started again. "It's a commitment.
A renewal, if you like. It seemed the best way to show that the last five years
have been more than I could have ever imagined, more than I could have ever
hoped for ..." He stopped again, and gave up the explanation for a simpler
statement. "I love you. More than ever before. I wanted to give you something
to show that. And it matches the necklace your mother gave you at the wedding,
so ..." He kissed Lois, tasting the slight salt of tears on her face and
drew back, wiping away the few tears that escaped from her eyes. "Shh ..
it's ok ..." he whispered, kissing her again.
"Clark ... " Lois sighed, sniffed, and sighed again. Her arms went
around him, hugging him, and she felt his arms circle her, holding her in a
warm embrace. She hiccuped softly from the tears, then laughed. Clark looked
down at her, wondering what had prompted the laugh. Lois smiled up, her eyes
still a little watery from the tears, and said "I suppose I'd better make
the most of this while I can ... while you can still reach."
Clark looked puzzled. "I don't think I'm following this," he said.
His puzzlement increased as Lois laughed again, and put her hand on his chest
and took a deep breath. He wondered what was coming next.
"Not in the kitchen" she muttered, taking his hand and walking through
into the main room. She stopped and turned to face him, still holding his hand
in a tight grip, her nails digging into the palm slightly. He didn't notice.
"I had some plans ... rehearsed what I was going to say. But I can't remember
any of them, so ... well ... that little experiment we had going, you remember,
the human-Kryptonian genetics thing ... it's worked." She stopped, abruptly,
the words tumbling over themselves. She looked hesitantly at Clark, waiting
for his reaction. She knew he wanted this as much as she did, it was just nerve-wracking,
now they'd got to the point of no return. An uninvited thought reminded her
that, actually, they'd reached that point about 6 weeks ago. She watched realisation
slowly dawn as he untangled her words in his mind, but was still startled by
the suddenness of his embrace as he literally picked her up and hugged her to
him. She slid her arms around his neck, looking into his eyes, watching the
emotions chase through them, pride, love, fear. Everything she'd been feeling.
Clark tried to speak, but the words wouldn't come, or too many came. He couldn't
decide which, lost in a flood of emotions. He lowered his head to Lois' as she
reached up to meet his kiss, and he poured into the kiss everything he couldn't
find the words for; a gentle kiss, so sweet, so perfect. They stood entwined
together for a while, kissing and holding each other, smiling softly at the
tears forming in the other's eyes. Clark led Lois to the sofa and sat down,
pulling her down onto his lap. Lois tumbled onto him as he tugged, sitting abruptly,
her arms going around his neck in support.
"Lois, are you alright? You fell ..." Clark found his voice in a
hurry, worried that the fall might have hurt her.
"I'm fine, just stumbled a little. Don't worry, I'm not going to break
into small pieces." Lois smiled. "I'm pregnant, not made of glass."
Being able to say that aloud, cliche though it was, was a relief; she kissed
Clark, who still looked a little worried, his arm around her holding her close
as she lay her head on his shoulder. The worry began to fade as he looked at
her with a sense of wonder, his free hand gently touching her stomach. Lois
chuckled. "It doesn't even begin to show yet," she teased, her voice
not quite steady with the emotions coursing through her at his touch. Clark
smiled at his own actions, and smoothed his hand over her stomach, the span
almost covering it, and rubbed gently, kissing her again.
"When?" he asked, his voice cracking slightly as he spoke.
"About seven and a half months from now" said Lois. "The doctor
thinks it's about 6 weeks along."
"And everything's alright? You're alright?" asked Clark anxiously,
looking at her closely.
"I'm fine. A little anaemic, apparently, so I'm under instructions to
eat properly - and regularly - but basically fine. I suppose I'm going to have
to lay off the fudge crunch bars." Lois tried to sound disappointed, almost
succeeding but not quite able to hide the teasing in her voice, and Clark laughed.
"How will you survive?" He kissed her again, more relaxed this time.
"So, when did you find out?"
"For certain, yesterday. I've had some suspicions for a while. Nothing
I could really pin down. Then I was late ... you know ...but that's not particularly
unusual." Clark nodded, recalling her hesitant explanation as to why she
was already taking the pill when they'd discussed birth control some five years
or more ago, and some more recent traumas. "So ...yesterday, that's when
I found out."
"And there was nothing ... unusual?" asked Clark. Lois shook her
head.
"It's all going pretty normally apparently, not that they checked for
much at this stage. I have the option not to allow them to run tests that might
show up something unusual ... something I'd have trouble explaining. I'm going
to talk to Martha soon, to see how things developed with you, but from what
I can remember her saying, I don't think there's likely to be anything unusual,
at least not obviously so." She smiled as something occurred to her. "Anyway,if
you're worried, you can alwayscheck for yourself ..."
Clark chuckled as her words registered. "I suppose I can ... not that
I'm worried, but ..." he said, lowering his glasses as he looked at her.
Lois watched the concentration in his eyes, stroking his head. He pushed the
glasses back up after a moment, and looked up at her, the soft expression of
awe in his eyes creating a surge of emotion in Lois'. "It's tiny,"
he whispered, kissing her again, "tiny, but ... wow."
Lois kissed him back, a brief gentle kiss, smiling at his quiet wonder. She
curved a hand around his jaw. "I love you," she said.
"You're not ... um ... you don't mind that I can see ...?" asked
Clark hesitantly, a little bothered that she might feel she was missing something.
"No," smiled Lois, "it's ... I don't know ... it's just nice.
I mean, I'll get to feel it ... Junior, whatever ... growing, which isn't really
something you can experience, so ... it's nice that there's something about
this that's just your experience."
Clark just hugged her close, resting his cheek against her head as he held
her, rubbing her stomach softly, the caress changing from simple awe and reassurance
- whether reassuring himself or Lois, Clark couldn't tell - to something warmer
as he inadvertently brushed his hand a little higher, his thumb trailing across
the full curve of Lois' breasts. She gasped softly at the unexpected touch,
looking up at Clark, the apology in his eyes swiftly gone and replaced with
a hot desire as he rubbed his thumb over her again with slow deliberation, his
mouth descending to hers, kissing each lip slowly, sucking gently then releasing,
before kissing her fully, his tongue sliding into her open mouth, meeting hers
halfway as she began to explore his lips, deepening the kiss as she put an arm
around his neck, holding him to her.
They drew apart for a moment. "Do you want me to model this present of
yours?" asked Lois, laughing at the slight confusion that clouded Clark's
eyes until he remembered the silk nothings he'd used to cushion the jeweller's
box inside the larger box. His imagination immediately conjured up the picture
of her that he'd had flash into his mind at fairly regular intervals since he'd
bought them, about a month or so ago, and he nodded with some eagerness.
"Mmm ... why not?" he said. Lois laughed again at the anticipation
in his voice, and went through to the kitchen to pick up the underwear. She
walked through to the bedroom, via the hallway rather than the main room, looking
at the scraps of fabric a little more closely. They were, she thought, really
rather beautiful, a bra and panties, mostly lace with small, strategic pieces
of silk, in a dark red which she noticed matched the garnet in the ring. As
she changed, she recalled Clark's comments about the ring matching her necklace
and crossed to her jewellery box to find the necklace, fastening it around her
neck, letting the garnet pendant nestle just above the shadows between her breasts.
Taking a cream silk dressing gown from the closet she wrapped it around her
and walked back through to the main room, pausing in the open doorway to watch
Clark as he sprawled on the sofa in front of the fire, his eyes closed and his
head tipped back against the cushions.
Clark opened his eyes and turned to look at Lois, a gentle smile tinged with
passion curving his mouth at the sight of her standing in the doorway. He held
out a hand to her. "You look beautiful. Gorgeous."
Lois smiled back at him. "You haven't seen it yet" she said, a laugh
in her voice.
"That doesn't matter. You look beautiful all the time."
Lois smiled again at the flattery and walked over to stand on the rug in front
of him. He dropped his hand to his thigh as she stood, and watched her, waiting
for whatever she was going to do. Lois paused deliberately, then slowly tugged
the belt she'd tied loosely around the robe and let the material slide back
from her shoulders to fall to the floor, whispering against the rug as it fell.
She felt heat on her; from the fire at her back and from Clark's eyes, a heat
she knew was reflected in her own eyes. She watched him swallow as she stood
in front of him wearing his rings, her necklace, and the present he'd just given
her.
"Wow," Clark whispered, then cleared his throat. "Wow."
Lois smiled again, her eyes widening a little with the pleasure his obvious
appreciation created in her, and turned a slow circle to let him see how it
looked on her. She came around to stand in front of him again, and looked down
at herself, looking at what he was seeing. She drew up a hand to rest it on
her stomach again, then glanced up at Clark. "This is what I meant when
I said it was practical," she said, "I can carry on wearing it even
when I'm ...larger. Although maybe the bra won't fit ..."
"They do larger sizes" said Clark, forcing the words through with
an effort, "I'll get you one when you need it ..." Lois laughed and
moved to sit on his lap again, meeting his kiss hungrily, her hands going to
his collar to loosen his tie, sliding it from his shirt and beginning to undo
the buttons of his shirt as they kissed. Clark's hands wandered over her skin,
tracing her spine, sliding forwards to follow the lace edge of her bra, dipping
briefly under to smooth a finger over her breasts, then down over her stomach
to skim the top of her panties. He slid his hand down the lace edging that led
from her hips to her thighs, Lois moaning softly at his touch and edging her
tongue against his as she kissed him. She finally got the shirt open, and flattened
her hands over his chest, lowering her mouth to kiss the hot skin as she ran
her hands over him, her fingers following the firm muscles. Clark leaned back,
closing his eyes at her touch, then stopping her as her hands found the button
at the waistband of his trousers, a finger on her lips stopping the protest
before it began.
He picked Lois up and carried her through to the bedroom, laying heron the
bed and sitting beside her, his fingers trailing a path along her skin as she
stretched out and watched him, the gentle smile on her face at odds with the
passion in her eyes. Clark leant over and placed a soft kiss on her stomach,
then moved up to kiss her mouth, nipping softly at her full bottom lip before
soothing it with a kiss as he swiftly unfastened the bra and slid her panties
down, dropping them both over the side of the bed.
Clark felt Lois' hands return to finish unfastening his trousers and took a
sharp breath, a near-whistle, as she slid her hands inside them and let her
fingers outline the hardening length of him through his briefs. Lois caressed
him with soft strokes, an almost imperceptible pressure; feeling his erection
grow and lengthen further under her hands she reached up slightly to kiss him,
his mouth close to hers as he held still under her touch. She ran her tongue
along his lips as she trailed a finger along him, from base to tip, then slid
her tongue slowly into his mouth; pushing her hand under his briefs she caressed
him, hot and hard under the silk-softskin.
Clark groaned at her touch and stood up, swiftly removing his trousers and
briefs, kicking them in a tangle to a corner of the room, his socks with them.
He sat back on the bed, stretching out to lie on his side next to Lois as she
turned to face him, her head propped on one elbow. She reached over to touch
him, her hand trailing down his side. He slid an arm around her and pulled them
closer together until they touched. Lois could feel the urgency of his arousal
against her stomach, and drew her leg up over his thigh, shifting to let him
slide between her thighs, needing the pressure of him hard against her. Clark
bent to kiss her as he moved to place himself against her, sliding shallowly
into her, just flicking the tip of his tongue into her mouth as she absorbed
the tip of his erection. He drew his head back a little.
"This isn't going to hurt you ... either of you ... is it?" he asked,
trying to hold back whilst his mind and body were screaming to get closer to
Lois.
She shook her head. "No, it's perfectly alright. The doctor said to watch
it in the last six weeks or so, but until then there's no problem." She
laughed ruefully. "At least, no problem except the fact that you're not
going to be able to get anywhere near me in a few months time, not unless you've
developed some contortionists' powers."
Clark smiled at the picture, then grinned. "I'm sure we can think up some
alternatives ..." he said, pushing a little further into her; reinforcing
his grin with a gentle thrust of his hips against her. An idea suddenly occurred
to him. "This one for a start," he added, withdrawing, kissing Lois'
immediate protests then turning her over to lie on her other side, facing away
from him. He slid an arm under her neck, his hand inching over her to cup her
breast lightly, and moved next to her, to lie against her back. He smoothed
his free hand over her stomach as he kissed her neck, then moved his fingers
further down to brush against the curls between her legs, dipping further in
to slide into the damp warmth he'd just left; curling his hand around her inner
thigh, lifting her leg slightly, he nudged his leg between hers. Lois shifted
against him, moving her leg back over his, opening to his touch as he trailed
his fingers back to slide first one, then a second into her, exploring her slowly.
Lois moved restlessly against his hand, his touch feeding her arousal. She could feel his erection against her, lying hard against the back of her thigh, and reached back between them to stroke him; holding him in her hand she moved him back between her thighs. Clark followed her implicit request, his fingers withdrawing as he re-entered her; his hand curved back over her to rest at her waist as he thrust slowly, carefully, into her. Lois arched back against him, bringing her legs forward to give him more room. She moaned softly as he slid further in, his legs resting against hers as he moved. Clark slid his hand back down to touch her, his thumb rubbing over the hard nub between her legs, kissing her back and shoulders as she shuddered at his touch. Lois moved her hand to his, bringing it back to her waist.
"Not unless you want this to be over really fast," she gasped, turning
her head, twisting her upper body to face him. Clark smiled at her, the heat
of him inside her showing in his face, and kissed her. His mouth gently closed
over hers, tasting her as he moved against her, inside her, faster and harder
with each kiss, his tongue pushing into her mouth in an echo.
Lois turned back; unable to hold her position twisted next to him she arched
against him again, pushing back down over him as he pulled her with him; closer,
ever closer, to climax. She slid her hand back over him, holding his hip as
he thrust into her, encouraging him; alternately following then setting the
rhythm until she simply clenched her hand against his skin. Lois bit the pillow
under her head as the tension within her grew unbearable; suddenly the tension
snapped and she shattered into bright lights, bursting behind her closed eyes.
She heard Clark's soft cry of her name against her ear as he thrust hard into
her one last time, heat flooding through her.
She could hear him gasping for breath behind her, aware that she was shuddering
with each breath herself. She twisted back to him, not breaking their contact,
to kiss him - small breathless kisses on his lips, against his jaw, anywhere
she could reach - as her hand unclenched and smoothed back over his hip, stroking
the warm skin absently. Clark opened his eyes, and captured her wandering kisses
in his mouth, with a gentle kiss. Lois smiled, her lips brushing against his.
"Somehow, I think this is going to be fun," she whispered, "coming
up with alternatives ..."
Clark laughed, "Mmm ... yes ..." he said, some more possibilities
already wandering through his mind. He kissed her again. "Do you want some
of that ice cream now?"
"That'd be nice ... " said Lois, stretching a little and shifting
against him, her voice a soft purr.
"Want anything on it? Chocolate or something?" asked Clark, trying
to spin it out, not wanting to have to release her just yet. Lois thought for
a moment, then grinned. Clark wondered what the grin was for as he waited for
her answer.
"Pickles?" she said, her voice breaking into laughter at the expression on Clark's face. She curled against him, still laughing, as she amended her answer. "No, nothing, just the ice cream and you will be fine. I'll leave the cravings for later. Don't bother with a spoon though ... "
Back to Dayzs #11
Uploaded: 11 February 1997
Written: December 1995
See index page for disclaimer and copyright acknowledgements. This story, however, is my copyright and is not to be distributed without my permission.