Charm Bracelet
Jul. 8th, 2010 05:20 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sanalayla “Look what I found…” Lois sang out joyously as she held up a brightly wrapped package in her hand. It was a small box wrapped in green paper and a red ribbon. “My Christmas present from Clark!”
Chloe looked up from the table where she and Zatanna had been going through some papers and maps. “I thought you promised Clark you weren’t going to look for it.”
“Some promises, ‘cuz, are you meant to be broken.” Lois smiled down at the present in her hand. “Besides, he challenged me to find it. How could I pass that up?”
“The only reason you found it was because I put a ‘lost and found’ spell on it,” Zatanna pointed out. She swiveled around in the chair impatiently. “Well, open it already. I’m dying of suspense here.”
“Oh, I’m not going to open it,” Lois replied. “I just wanted to find it.”
“Wait, what? You can’t get this far and then hold back,” Zatanna pouted.
“Yeah, even I’m curious to see what he got you,” Chloe added.
Lois stared at it for a moment and then grinned. “OK, yeah, who am I kidding?” She carefully slid off the ribbon and began to peel off the tape on the wrapping paper.
“Oh for the love of God, just tear into it,” Zatanna implored.
“I can’t. I have to re-wrap it when I’m done.” After a few seconds of careful surgery on the paper, she got to the small white box. She lifted open the lid and swept away the cotton in the box. Slowly, she took out the dainty white gold bracelet nestled there.
“Well, what is it?” Chloe looked at her expectantly.
“It’s a… charm bracelet,” Lois responded, a puzzled frown on her face. “That’s so weird… I mean, Smallville knows I’m not really into jewelry.”
“Maybe it’s a fake gift,” Zatanna offered. “Because he knew you’d look for it.”
“Maybe.” Lois wasn’t convinced. “It looks too expensive to be a fake gift.”
“What charms did he use?” Chloe asked curiously, getting up to check out the gift more closely.
Lois examined the delicate white gold charms dangling from the chain. The charms weren’t just white gold – some had colored gems in them. “There’s a football, an arrow with an emerald tip, a snake with a diamond body, a motorcycle and a rose with rubies.” She looked at it more closely and realized she missed one. “Oh – an American flag. With rubies, sapphires and diamonds.”
“That is the oddest charm bracelet I’ve ever seen,” Zatanna announced. “What do they mean?”
“I have no idea,” Lois admitted. “I mean, well, I guess the football one is obvious.” She glanced at the bracelet again. “I don’t get the others. A motorcycle? Maybe Clark wants to get me one? That would be kind of cool. The snake?” She stopped and laughed. “Well, I’m a Whitesnake fan, so I guess that makes sense.”
Chloe took the bracelet from her hand and squinted at it. “What about the flag? Are you really patriotic or something?”
Lois thought for a second. “Well, my dad is a general. Maybe it’s because of my military heritage?”
“The rose?” Zatanna asked.
“Well, it's girly. Charm bracelets are girly,” Lois pointed out.
“And the green arrow?” Chloe raised her brows. “Why is Clark getting you a charm that totally references your old boyfriend?”
Lois’s own brows furrowed in confusion. “No idea. That is kind of weird.”
“Why don’t we find out?” Zatanna offered, unexpectedly. “I can put a spell on the bracelet to show us what it means.”
Lois and Chloe exchanged an uneasy look.
Lois cleared her throat. “Um… no offense, Zee, but your spells have a tendency to make things….”
“Go a little wrong,” Chloe finished for her.
Zatanna sniffed. “They do not. Everything always works out in the end.”
“Um… no, I think I’ll just wait,” Lois replied. “Thanks for the offer, though…”
Zatanna shook her head. “You guys are too cautious. It’ll be fine. I promise.” With that she clasped Chloe’s hand, who still held the bracelet and, with her other hand, grabbed a hold of Lois. “Noitavitom eht laever. Wonk ton od ew tahw su wohs,” she intoned.
There was a blast of wind and burst of light. Then, all three girls landed in a heap on a soft surface, the Watchtower fading around them and was replaced by the sunny field of Smallville High.
Lois stood up, dusting off her jeans. Zatanna and Chloe followed suit.
“Where are we?” Lois looked around at the throngs of people and let out a startled gasp as Jason – one of Lana’s ex-flames - walked right through her. “Was I just touched by a GHOST?” Lois yelped.
Zatanna turned around to check out the guy who had just walked through Lois with a grin. “No, you’re the one who’s invisible. Apparently, we’re in Clark’s memories. Or – at least – the thoughts he was having when he picked out the charms.” Zatanna looked around the football stadium. “This must be one of the reasons he picked one of the charms.”
“We’re taking a walk down Clark’s memory lane?” Chloe gaped at her. “You have got to be kidding.”
“Not his full memory lane; just the ones linked to those charms,” Zatanna corrected her. “C’mon, let’s go see what’s going on with this one. No one can see us, so don’t worry about stepping on any toes.” She chuckled at her own pun and took off.
Lois followed behind her and grabbed a hold of Zatanna’s arm. “Zee, you’ve got to get us out of here. I don’t think it’s a good idea to be rifling through Clark’s head like this.”
Zatanna shook off Lois’s hand. “I can’t. The spell has to run its course. It’ll end when we’ve seen all the memories associated with the charms.”
Dismayed, Lois looked around again. “And THIS is why we said your spells have a way of not turning out so well, Zee.” She let out a deep, fortifying, breath and then pinched her nose. “OK, fine. Let’s just finish this.”
Lois saw a group of people congregated in one section a few feet away and she made her way over there.
Chloe joined her. “I remember what this is. It’s one of our spirit rallies in our senior year. The one that took place right before you left for Met. U.”
Lois glanced down at her, puzzled. “How do you remember that?”
Chloe shrugged. “No reason.”
The three women managed to make their way to front of the crowd – a feat that became much easier since they could walk through people – and Lois saw that the crowd was gathered to watch the dunk tank. She squinted and saw a younger version of Clark sitting a swing which hovered over the tank full of water.
“Oh my,” Zatanna let out a deep sigh. “Please tell me this ends with him in the water. Clark in a wet t-shirt? I must wander through Clark’s memories more often.”
Lois shot her a dirty look. “He’s underage in this memory, Zee.”
“Just barely,” Zatanna pointed out. “And that’s part of what makes it all so yummy.”
Chloe let out a laugh as Lois rolled her eyes. They all turned their attention to what was happening in front of them.
Lois watched her younger self throw the football against the bulls-eye and miss.
Then Jason threw her another ball. “Keep your eye on the cross,” he told her while Chloe clapped beside him, cheering her on.
Clark crossed his arms and grinned at her. “C’mon, Lois. Didn’t those guys at the base teach you anything?”
Lois grasped the ball in her hands and smiled at him slightly. “Wouldn’t you like to know.”
Clark responded by gesturing to the bulls-eye as though he were daring her.
Lois let out a slight laugh. “Doesn’t matter. Because you’re going down.”
Clark let out a mocking laugh. “That’ll be the day.”
The crowd around them erupted, chanting, “Dunk, dunk, dunk, dunk…”
Then Lois threw the ball and hit the bulls-eye and Clark dropped straight into the water. Lois threw her hands up in the air, letting out a cheer. And, within seconds, Clark had come back up with a big grin. Lois ran over to him and ruffled his hair, giving him a huge grin back. When she turned to walk away, he scooped up some water and shot it at her and, feeling the splash, she turned back around. His grin grew even wider and he raked his fingers through his wet hair. They both stared at each other, smiling widely for several moments.
Before the three women could say anything, there was a burst of wind and a bright light and the people and football field was fading around them. After a second, they saw the scene shift and they were at a club.
“Wow, that was really sweet,” Zatanna finally said, after they’d gotten their bearings. “That must have been the football.”
Lois gave her a look. “You think?”
“Oh, c’mon, Lois. You can’t be angry. If I hadn’t cast the spell, you wouldn’t have even known that Clark looks back on that moment so fondly,” Zatanna pointed out. “As well he should – those were some of the biggest smiles I’ve ever seen. You two looked so happy.”
“I barely knew him at the time,” Lois murmured.
“But there was something there, Lois,” Chloe remarked. “I mean, I remember that day pretty clearly and I remember looking at you two and thinking that something was going on.”
Lois flushed a little and made a show of looking around. “OK, well, where are we now? Of all the placed I expected to see in Smallville’s memories, a club wasn’t one of them.”
“Lois. I don’t think this is any club.” Chloe grasped a hold of Lois’s arm urgently, turning her to show her the sign. “This is a strip club.”
The blood drained from Lois’s face. “Oh my God. I’m going to kill him!”
“A strip club?” Zatanna straightened up. “Oohh… this is getting good.”
“Zee, you have got to fast forward through this one,” Lois said firmly. “I don’t care how you do it, but just do it.”
“Can’t. Let’s just go find Clark and it’ll be over before you know it.”
Chloe and Lois glanced at each other and sighed. They followed Zatanna out to middle of the floor. The young Clark Kent was easy to find.
“I’ll have a Coke. Straight up and on the rocks,” he was telling the waitress.
Lois rolled her eyes. “Oh sheesh.”
Zatanna frowned. “What is he even doing here? This is so not Clark Kent’s type of place.”
“He’s undercover,” Chloe explained. “By the way, so is Lois.”
“Lois?” Zatanna’s brows rose. “Where’s Lois?”
Just then the music started up and the announcer said, “Welcome to the stage. All American girl. Amber Waves.” The song blared in the background, “Don’t you wish your girlfriend was hot like me…” and the young Clark shifted in his seat, uncomfortably. A girl walked out onto the stage, wearing shorts and a small white blouse. A cap covered her hair and she was wearing over-sized sunglasses. Her arrival was met with loud cheers of approval from the crowd.
Clark was the only one who sat silently, making no indication that he was in the least bit moved by the scantily clad woman. Until she took off her clothes to reveal the star-spangled banner bikini. At that point he winced. But he didn’t really react until she took off the cap and glasses and he seemed to realize, with horror, that it was Lois.
After a second of discomfort, Lois seemed to actually start getting into it and tried to actually pole dance. Which resulted in a bunch of guys calling out, “bra, bra…” and Lois rolling her eyes.
Then, she looked out across the room and her eyes met Clark’s. Immediately, he blushed and averted his face so she couldn’t see him, but it was too late. She started to make her way down to him.
“I’d salute to that any time. Let’s give up for our red-blooded recruit,” the announcer intoned through the loudspeaker.
Lois walked over to Clark slowly, clearly attempting not to look obvious while she zeroed in on him. She came behind his chair and swept her hair off her shoulder. Kneeling down so she could speak in his ear, she asked, “What are you doing here?”
“What are YOU doing here?” He shot back.
Lois looked over and saw one of the club’s bouncers come over to take a look at them more closely. She smiled nervously and went around to block Clark from his line of vision. Clark turned and got an eye-full of her chest and immediately averted his gaze.
She grinned. “It’s Chloe’s fault. We’re following a murder story.”
“Well, that makes two of us. But I think I’ll stick to my method.”
Lois glanced over her shoulder and saw the bouncer look at them again, so she turned around and settled himself onto his lap. Clark immediately jumped up and tried to pull back, looking around to see if anyone had noticed them. She rolled her eyes and grabbed his face back to her.
“You’re going to get me fired if you keep looking at me like I’m Jabba the Hut,” she said through gritted teeth.
Clark glanced at her chest and then away. “What do you want me to do?”
“Oh…I don’t know,” Lois pretended to think. “Give me a twenty and meet me out back.” She thrust her bra in his face so he could slip it in.
Clark’s eyes widened as he looked her over. “Uhh… um...” He gaze skittered down to her shorts and he reached into his jacket to pull a folded note. His hand hovered over her breasts and then her shorts. He hesitated and then glanced at her chest again.
Finally, Lois rolled her eyes and grabbed the money from him, tucking it into her bra. She made a face and got off of him. Clark let out a sigh of relief and then he glanced at her retreating back, discreetly adjusting his pants.
Zatanna burst out laughing. “Oh that was fantastic. What a memory!”
“Zee, if you tell anyone about this, I’ll kill you,” Lois said, shooting her a look. “I was undercover!”
Before Zatanna could reply the scene around them became hazy and out of focus. When things were clear again, they were at Lois’s talon apartment.
“What? How did we get here?” Chloe asked, looking around with a puzzled frown. “Where was the wind and bright lights?”
“Shhh!” Zatanna said, pointing at a younger version of Clark and Lois talking to each other. “I think it’s the same memory.”
“Clark! Look, I’m not great at this so just keep your mouth shut and listen up,” Lois ordered.
Clark looked confused.
“Even though I was kicking butt out there on the helicopter, it was really nice to have back-up. And you didn’t have to come after me, you always do. So, I wanted to say thank you. You’re a really good friend.”
Clark smiled a bit and made a motion to leave.
“Oh, and about the lap dance. If you decide to tell anyone about it? Your Elmer Fudd nightlight is going to make a very public appearance.”
Clark gave her a half smile and swallowed. He turned to walk away and said, “Aye-aye,” then he turned around at the door and smiled. “Sailor.”
The gust of wind blew through the room and the bright lights started up again. Instinctively, the three woman grabbed each other’s hands and were still holding on to each other when they hit the ground.
“Ow,” Lois said, sitting up and wincing. “Can’t you make your spells less painful?”
Zatanna rubbed her hip ruefully. “I wish. Magic is an iffy science, Lois. You just gotta roll with it.”
They all stood up and looked around.
“Oh,well, this is easy,” Chloe commented, with a grin. “It’s the loft. I wonder what this memory is? You didn’t get on in here, did you?”
“No,” Lois responded hastily.
Zatanna gave her a look. “I don’t get it. In the last memory, you gave him a lap-dance and it ended on such a G rated note. Aren’t any of his memories of the rated R variety? Or, at least, PG-13?”
Lois clenched her jaw. “He better not. I really don’t need to stand around with two of my closest friends watching a porno starring me.”
At that point, they saw Clark walk up the stairs and sit down at on the futon in the middle of the room. He was looking at a card in his hand, looking very sad.
“Oh, I know that face,” Lois said. “That’s the Lana face.”
At that moment, they saw Lois’s younger self walk up the stairs and join him.
”I thought you’d be outside Lana’s door with your binoculars by now,” she said.
Lois turned to Zatanna and Chloe. “See, what did I tell you?”
Clark looked at Lois, clearly not amused. “I appreciate your concern, Lois, but Lana and I are none of your business.”
“Please, Smallville, I’ve had three exes put under military surveillance.”
Clark glanced up at that, startled.
“I know I’m not really qualified to dish out post-relationship tact, but it’s time for some tough love. Lana’s going to move on.”
“She already has,” he said, turning to walk away from her. “With Lex.”
Lois followed him. “And it sucks. But you’ve got to trust your gut that you did this for a reason. Whatever reason guys have for dumping smart, hot, fun girls these days.”
Clark was quiet.
“Look, give her some space, Clark. Your whole night stalker routine? That’s going to ruin any of the good feelings she has for you.”
“If there are any,” Clark said, moping once again.
Lois perched onto the arm of the sofa. “Look, sometimes you have to tuck your feelings away until it’s the right time. Like stuffing dollars into a piggy bank for a bike you can’t afford.”
Clark looked up at her. “Except I can’t quite imagine that there is anyone else out there.”
“Well, you never know, Clark. Maybe when you finally crack open that piggy bank, you’ll find that – all this time – you weren’t really saving for a bike. You’ve been saving for a Harley.”
Clark looked at her and smiled slightly. “There are times where I think you don’t know me, at all.” He shook his head. “And others where I think you know me better than anyone.”
Lois avoided his gaze a little. “Well, that’s what I’m here for Smallville. One save at a time.” Then she grinned at him.
The lights came on and, this time, all three girls immediately sat down, in hopes that it would cushion the blow. It worked, because the next place they landed up, they were already sitting.
Chloe glanced around. “OK, lovely. A dark alley. How many more of these do we have, anyway?”
“Well, the first one was the football, right?” Zatanna asked. “And the next one was the American flag? Right, Amber Waves?” she snickered, turning to Lois.
Lois made a face. “Very funny.”
“And we got the motor-cycle. He meant Harley,” Chloe pointed out. “What does that leave? The snake, the rose, and the green arrow?”
Lois stood up and looked around. She watched as her younger self came into the alley, talking on her cell phone, and then starting to beat it up against a dumpster.
“It can’t be,” she said faintly. “How does he have this memory? That doesn’t make any sense.”
The three women watched as the younger version of Lois was mugged and Jimmy tried to help her. Lois turned to her cousin and saw that she had a tender smile on her face, a tear glinting in her eye.
“I’m sorry, Chlo,” she whispered. “You OK?”
Chloe brushed away a tear. “Yeah, I’m fine. He was really brave, huh?”
“Yes, he was,” Lois responded immediately. She grasped a hold of Chloe’s hand and squeezed. “He was a great friend.”
They watched as the fake Green Arrow made his appearance. He fought off their attackers.
He helped Lois to her feet and she grinned up at him.
“Your secret’s safe with me, Oliver,” she said with a smile. And then she kissed him. After a moment, she seemed to realize he wasn’t Oliver, because she stopped and pulled back.
“That’s one hell of a thank you,” Oliver said, in an amused voice.
Lois glanced at Oliver and then back at the Green Arrow. After a second, she slapped him.
Lois turned to Zatanna and Chloe. “Oh my God, I know why he has this memory. I mean, Oliver had him do it.”
She turned back to watch the scene unfolding before them, but the scene had moved with Clark and now she stood, face to face, with his memories' counter-part. Lois watched as he stopped next to a building and ripped of the Arrow’s glasses. His green eyes were bright and he was breathing heavily. After a second, a dazed smile spread across his face.
Lois raised her hands to her lips. “Oh… sheesh….”
“What is it?” Chloe asked.
“Yeah, tell, tell,” Zatanna said.
“It was our first kiss,” Lois uttered faintly. “This was the first time we kissed. I didn’t even know it.”
Before either of the two women could comment, the scene faded a bit and was replaced by the Talon. Lois was sitting on the sofa and Chloe was standing next to Clark, teasing him about something.
Clark looked uncomfortable and gave Chloe a look that made it clear he wanted her to shut up.
“It’s a good thing Oliver showed up when he did. Then you knew for sure.” Clark said.
“Oh she knew even before he showed up,” Chloe broke in.
“You did?”
Lois grinned and nodded.
Chloe smiled up at Clark. “Ask her how?”
Clark turned to Lois. “How?”
“I kissed him,” Lois admitted.
“Isn’t that romantic?” Chloe asked, with a grin.
Clark took a deep breath.
“Oh, I’m sorry, Lois. Finish the story.”
Clark tried to stop her, but Chloe put her hand on his chest. “This is the best part.”
“Well, he was holding me in his arms… Ollie’s a good kisser, don’t get me wrong. But that Green Arrow?” Lois stood up and looked at Clark over her mug. “He could teach Ollie a thing or two.”
The wind blew again and the bright lights started. Again, all three women sat down quickly, holding onto each other for support, closing their eyes.
When they opened them again, Lois said, “Oh, OK, the Kents’ kitchen. This is a nice change of pace.”
“Uhh… Lois?” Chloe pointed to the entry way. “You might want to revise that opinion.”
Lois turned and gasped. A slightly younger, sluttier, version of her stood in front of Clark. A very surprised Clark.
Lois eyes widened in horror. “What’s going on? I don’t have any recollection of this. When did this… OH!!” Her hands clasped over her mouth.
“What, what’s going on?” Zatanna asked Chloe, amused by Lois’s breakdown.
“She was under the influence of a love potion,” Chloe explained. “She doesn’t remember what happened. I guess now she can.”
“Ohh… maybe this one will finally be rated R.”
Lois shot her a dirty look and focused on the scene before her.
Lois grabbed the pitcher out of Clark’s hand and set it down. She picked up his hand and started stroking it. “Wow,” she said breathlessly. “How did I not notice what big, strong hands you have?”
Clark let out a nervous laughter and pulled his hand out of her grasp. “Ah… what’s going on Lois?”
“Well, you know me. I’m not very good with words, so…” she pulled out a CD and handed it to him.
Clark looked down at the cover and then flipped it to the back.
“People don’t think Whitesnake makes power ballads, but they do,” Lois explained.
Clark tapped it against his hand and grinned. “You made me a mixed CD.”
Lois nodded and beamed. “Yeah.”
Clark gave her a confused look, with a slightly bemused smile.
“I will kill you if you tell anyone this, but there’s nothing I like more than dancing with some big, strong arms around me,” Lois punctuated the big and strong by grabbing his hands and putting them around her waist.
“Oh my God, make it stop!!” Lois closed her eyes and covered her ears. She was flushing bright red. “I am going to KILL him. I cannot believe he knows this and I don’t. I can’t believe he actually picked a memory like THIS for a charm. I’m going to take that bracelet and shove it up his….”
Chloe pulled her hands off her ears. “Lois, Lois!! We’re at a different part of the memory now.”
Lois cracked open her eyes and saw them talking in the loft. She remembered this conversation.
“No, Lois,” he said, with a shake of his head. “I think I’d remember.”
Lois let out a sigh of relief. “Of course you would.” She punched him in the arm slightly. “Highlight of your life.”
“Though… I did find something.” He went to his desk and opened a drawer. He pulled out the CD and handed it to her. “I think you made it for me.”
Lois looked down at the CD in surprise. “Whitesnake? Wow…” she glanced up at him. “I must have really liked you.”
Clark had been smiling, but then he stopped as the two stared at each other.
This time, Lois was prepared and sat down on the couch before they could travel to the next memory. It didn’t matter much, because she was dropped, unceremoniously, to the floor when they materialized in a florist’s shop.
“Well, given our setting, I’m gonna go out on a limb here and say that this is the memory behind the rose charm,” Zatanna said airily.
Chloe shot Zatanna an irritated look as she helped Lois get up. “What gave it away?”
Lois looked around and saw Clark walk into the store.
After a moment of wandering around a saleswoman seemed to take pity on him and asked him if she could help.
“Um, yeah, I’m looking for flowers…” he explained sheepishly. He looked adorably confused.
The saleswoman smiled. “OK, well, then you’re at the right place. First of all, what’s the occasion?”
“She’s in the hospital,” he explained.
“Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that!” She exclaimed.
“Oh no,” he responded hurriedly. “She’s fine. She’s getting out today.”
The woman nodded. “OK, so you want to get her a “get well soon” arrangement.”
“Noo…” he shook his head. “I… want it to be more than that.”
The saleswoman nodded knowingly. “Who is she?”
“She’s….” Clark hesitated, as though searching for words. “She’s my partner. At work. But she’s also my best friend. We’ve known each other for years. She… I mean… she’s more than just my friend,” he paused and looked down, his cheeks tinged in red. “She’s the most important person in my life.”
“Red roses,” the saleswoman declared immediately. “Symbolizing passion and love. Classic.”
Clark’s eyes widened in alarm. “No! I can’t give her that, yet.” He shook his head. “It’s not the right time…. She doesn’t know….”
“Right, of course,” she nodded in agreement. “You’re right. Not the right time and place to go for the red.”
She walked towards the display of roses in the corner and stopped. “What about white? It’s the roses that symbolize purity and….”
“Purity?” Clark interrupted dubiously. “I don’t know… pure is not exactly a word that comes to mind when I think of her.”
She smiled. “There are some people who say it symbolizes hope. And it conveys a message that you’re asking this person to see you as someone who is worthy of love and it shows that you have that hope she will.” She paused. “Take my advice. Give her the white roses now. And, then, when you’re ready, you can give her the red.”
Clark stroked one of the delicate white petals. “A symbol of hope?”
“Yes.”
“OK,” he said. “I want to send her five dozen.”
The saleswoman’s eyes widened. “FIVE dozen?”
“Yes,” he replied decisively. “One for each year she’s been in my life.”
The wind blew again and all three girls huddled together as they landed, for the last time, at their destination. Stunned, they sat silently for a moment.
Lois finally broke the silence. “A red rose. The bracelet has a red rose." She teared up a bit.
“I have to say, I’m impressed.” Zatanna stood up and dusted herself off. “Clark’s good. That bracelet? Total panty remover.”
Chloe groaned. “Zee… mental image. My brain. Don’t.”
Lois took a deep breath and turned to Zatanna. “Look, normally I’m totally against your mumbo-jumbo, but I need you to do me a favor.”
“What?”
“Wipe my mind of everything we just saw.”
Chloe started. “What?”
“Actually, wipe your minds, too,” Lois added. “That was kind of personal and I don’t need you guys to know about it.”
Zatanna blinked. “I could… but why do you want me to?”
Lois glanced down at the bracelet in her hand. “Because Smallville went through a lot of trouble to put this gift together. It means something to him. And the first time I find out what it means, I want him to be the one telling me.”
Zatanna turned to Chloe and shrugged. “OK, as you wish.” She reached out and grasped Chloe’s arm and Lois’s hand.
Christmas morning….
“OK, it’s been long enough. Gimme, gimme,” Lois said, settling down in front of the fireplace with Clark.
Clark grinned and pulled out the small box from his pocket. “I can’t believe you didn’t find it.”
“I can’t either,” Lois responded. “I’m kind of disappointed in myself, actually. Where’d you hide it?”
“Chloe’s office.” Clark handed her the small box with a grin. “I thought for sure, though, that you’d get Chloe to spill.”
Lois looked puzzled. “Yeah, I don’t know why, but the thought never occurred to me to check with her.” She chewed on her bottom lip for a second but then shrugged. She took the box eagerly and ripped open the wrapping.
Clark laughed. “Lois, gentle isn’t in your vocabulary, is it?”
Lois made a face. “If I don’t have re-wrap this thing, what’s the point of being gentle?” She opened the white lid and took out the cotton to reveal the delicate contents. Lois hooked one finger in the jewelry and held it up. She gave Clark a puzzled look. “Um… it’s a charm bracelet.”
“Yes.” Clark nodded.
“Um…” Lois placed it back in the box. “Thanks.”
Clark’s eyes twinkled in amusement. “I know you’re not a jewelry person. But this is… I wanted to get you a gift that meant something. Had a deeper meaning.”
“So you got me something a twelve year old would wear?”
Clark laughed and pulled out the bracelet. “Can you, at least, look at it?”
Lois pursed her lips and looked at the bracelet more closely. “OK, well….” Lois examined the delicate white gold charms dangling from the chain. The charms weren’t just white gold – some had colored gems in them. “There’s a football, an arrow, a snake, a motorcycle, a rose, and an American flag.” She shot him a confused look. “OK, is there a deeper meaning to these things? Because, I gotta say - other than the football - none of this screams Lois Lane.”
Clark gazed at her for a minute. “It’s not supposed to scream Lois Lane. It’s supposed to scream Clark and Lois.”
“Huh?”
“Lois and Clark,” he added. He took her hand. “Each of those charms symbolizes a defining moment in our relationship – a moment where I was forced to stop and think about how I feel about you. And I would get one step closer to this moment… this moment right now.”
Lois’s eyes travelled from him to the bracelet and then back to him again. “All right, then. You’re going to have to walk me through this trip down memory lane.”
And, so, he did. And Lois listened….
Chloe looked up from the table where she and Zatanna had been going through some papers and maps. “I thought you promised Clark you weren’t going to look for it.”
“Some promises, ‘cuz, are you meant to be broken.” Lois smiled down at the present in her hand. “Besides, he challenged me to find it. How could I pass that up?”
“The only reason you found it was because I put a ‘lost and found’ spell on it,” Zatanna pointed out. She swiveled around in the chair impatiently. “Well, open it already. I’m dying of suspense here.”
“Oh, I’m not going to open it,” Lois replied. “I just wanted to find it.”
“Wait, what? You can’t get this far and then hold back,” Zatanna pouted.
“Yeah, even I’m curious to see what he got you,” Chloe added.
Lois stared at it for a moment and then grinned. “OK, yeah, who am I kidding?” She carefully slid off the ribbon and began to peel off the tape on the wrapping paper.
“Oh for the love of God, just tear into it,” Zatanna implored.
“I can’t. I have to re-wrap it when I’m done.” After a few seconds of careful surgery on the paper, she got to the small white box. She lifted open the lid and swept away the cotton in the box. Slowly, she took out the dainty white gold bracelet nestled there.
“Well, what is it?” Chloe looked at her expectantly.
“It’s a… charm bracelet,” Lois responded, a puzzled frown on her face. “That’s so weird… I mean, Smallville knows I’m not really into jewelry.”
“Maybe it’s a fake gift,” Zatanna offered. “Because he knew you’d look for it.”
“Maybe.” Lois wasn’t convinced. “It looks too expensive to be a fake gift.”
“What charms did he use?” Chloe asked curiously, getting up to check out the gift more closely.
Lois examined the delicate white gold charms dangling from the chain. The charms weren’t just white gold – some had colored gems in them. “There’s a football, an arrow with an emerald tip, a snake with a diamond body, a motorcycle and a rose with rubies.” She looked at it more closely and realized she missed one. “Oh – an American flag. With rubies, sapphires and diamonds.”
“That is the oddest charm bracelet I’ve ever seen,” Zatanna announced. “What do they mean?”
“I have no idea,” Lois admitted. “I mean, well, I guess the football one is obvious.” She glanced at the bracelet again. “I don’t get the others. A motorcycle? Maybe Clark wants to get me one? That would be kind of cool. The snake?” She stopped and laughed. “Well, I’m a Whitesnake fan, so I guess that makes sense.”
Chloe took the bracelet from her hand and squinted at it. “What about the flag? Are you really patriotic or something?”
Lois thought for a second. “Well, my dad is a general. Maybe it’s because of my military heritage?”
“The rose?” Zatanna asked.
“Well, it's girly. Charm bracelets are girly,” Lois pointed out.
“And the green arrow?” Chloe raised her brows. “Why is Clark getting you a charm that totally references your old boyfriend?”
Lois’s own brows furrowed in confusion. “No idea. That is kind of weird.”
“Why don’t we find out?” Zatanna offered, unexpectedly. “I can put a spell on the bracelet to show us what it means.”
Lois and Chloe exchanged an uneasy look.
Lois cleared her throat. “Um… no offense, Zee, but your spells have a tendency to make things….”
“Go a little wrong,” Chloe finished for her.
Zatanna sniffed. “They do not. Everything always works out in the end.”
“Um… no, I think I’ll just wait,” Lois replied. “Thanks for the offer, though…”
Zatanna shook her head. “You guys are too cautious. It’ll be fine. I promise.” With that she clasped Chloe’s hand, who still held the bracelet and, with her other hand, grabbed a hold of Lois. “Noitavitom eht laever. Wonk ton od ew tahw su wohs,” she intoned.
There was a blast of wind and burst of light. Then, all three girls landed in a heap on a soft surface, the Watchtower fading around them and was replaced by the sunny field of Smallville High.
Lois stood up, dusting off her jeans. Zatanna and Chloe followed suit.
“Where are we?” Lois looked around at the throngs of people and let out a startled gasp as Jason – one of Lana’s ex-flames - walked right through her. “Was I just touched by a GHOST?” Lois yelped.
Zatanna turned around to check out the guy who had just walked through Lois with a grin. “No, you’re the one who’s invisible. Apparently, we’re in Clark’s memories. Or – at least – the thoughts he was having when he picked out the charms.” Zatanna looked around the football stadium. “This must be one of the reasons he picked one of the charms.”
“We’re taking a walk down Clark’s memory lane?” Chloe gaped at her. “You have got to be kidding.”
“Not his full memory lane; just the ones linked to those charms,” Zatanna corrected her. “C’mon, let’s go see what’s going on with this one. No one can see us, so don’t worry about stepping on any toes.” She chuckled at her own pun and took off.
Lois followed behind her and grabbed a hold of Zatanna’s arm. “Zee, you’ve got to get us out of here. I don’t think it’s a good idea to be rifling through Clark’s head like this.”
Zatanna shook off Lois’s hand. “I can’t. The spell has to run its course. It’ll end when we’ve seen all the memories associated with the charms.”
Dismayed, Lois looked around again. “And THIS is why we said your spells have a way of not turning out so well, Zee.” She let out a deep, fortifying, breath and then pinched her nose. “OK, fine. Let’s just finish this.”
Lois saw a group of people congregated in one section a few feet away and she made her way over there.
Chloe joined her. “I remember what this is. It’s one of our spirit rallies in our senior year. The one that took place right before you left for Met. U.”
Lois glanced down at her, puzzled. “How do you remember that?”
Chloe shrugged. “No reason.”
The three women managed to make their way to front of the crowd – a feat that became much easier since they could walk through people – and Lois saw that the crowd was gathered to watch the dunk tank. She squinted and saw a younger version of Clark sitting a swing which hovered over the tank full of water.
“Oh my,” Zatanna let out a deep sigh. “Please tell me this ends with him in the water. Clark in a wet t-shirt? I must wander through Clark’s memories more often.”
Lois shot her a dirty look. “He’s underage in this memory, Zee.”
“Just barely,” Zatanna pointed out. “And that’s part of what makes it all so yummy.”
Chloe let out a laugh as Lois rolled her eyes. They all turned their attention to what was happening in front of them.
Lois watched her younger self throw the football against the bulls-eye and miss.
Then Jason threw her another ball. “Keep your eye on the cross,” he told her while Chloe clapped beside him, cheering her on.
Clark crossed his arms and grinned at her. “C’mon, Lois. Didn’t those guys at the base teach you anything?”
Lois grasped the ball in her hands and smiled at him slightly. “Wouldn’t you like to know.”
Clark responded by gesturing to the bulls-eye as though he were daring her.
Lois let out a slight laugh. “Doesn’t matter. Because you’re going down.”
Clark let out a mocking laugh. “That’ll be the day.”
The crowd around them erupted, chanting, “Dunk, dunk, dunk, dunk…”
Then Lois threw the ball and hit the bulls-eye and Clark dropped straight into the water. Lois threw her hands up in the air, letting out a cheer. And, within seconds, Clark had come back up with a big grin. Lois ran over to him and ruffled his hair, giving him a huge grin back. When she turned to walk away, he scooped up some water and shot it at her and, feeling the splash, she turned back around. His grin grew even wider and he raked his fingers through his wet hair. They both stared at each other, smiling widely for several moments.
Before the three women could say anything, there was a burst of wind and a bright light and the people and football field was fading around them. After a second, they saw the scene shift and they were at a club.
“Wow, that was really sweet,” Zatanna finally said, after they’d gotten their bearings. “That must have been the football.”
Lois gave her a look. “You think?”
“Oh, c’mon, Lois. You can’t be angry. If I hadn’t cast the spell, you wouldn’t have even known that Clark looks back on that moment so fondly,” Zatanna pointed out. “As well he should – those were some of the biggest smiles I’ve ever seen. You two looked so happy.”
“I barely knew him at the time,” Lois murmured.
“But there was something there, Lois,” Chloe remarked. “I mean, I remember that day pretty clearly and I remember looking at you two and thinking that something was going on.”
Lois flushed a little and made a show of looking around. “OK, well, where are we now? Of all the placed I expected to see in Smallville’s memories, a club wasn’t one of them.”
“Lois. I don’t think this is any club.” Chloe grasped a hold of Lois’s arm urgently, turning her to show her the sign. “This is a strip club.”
The blood drained from Lois’s face. “Oh my God. I’m going to kill him!”
“A strip club?” Zatanna straightened up. “Oohh… this is getting good.”
“Zee, you have got to fast forward through this one,” Lois said firmly. “I don’t care how you do it, but just do it.”
“Can’t. Let’s just go find Clark and it’ll be over before you know it.”
Chloe and Lois glanced at each other and sighed. They followed Zatanna out to middle of the floor. The young Clark Kent was easy to find.
“I’ll have a Coke. Straight up and on the rocks,” he was telling the waitress.
Lois rolled her eyes. “Oh sheesh.”
Zatanna frowned. “What is he even doing here? This is so not Clark Kent’s type of place.”
“He’s undercover,” Chloe explained. “By the way, so is Lois.”
“Lois?” Zatanna’s brows rose. “Where’s Lois?”
Just then the music started up and the announcer said, “Welcome to the stage. All American girl. Amber Waves.” The song blared in the background, “Don’t you wish your girlfriend was hot like me…” and the young Clark shifted in his seat, uncomfortably. A girl walked out onto the stage, wearing shorts and a small white blouse. A cap covered her hair and she was wearing over-sized sunglasses. Her arrival was met with loud cheers of approval from the crowd.
Clark was the only one who sat silently, making no indication that he was in the least bit moved by the scantily clad woman. Until she took off her clothes to reveal the star-spangled banner bikini. At that point he winced. But he didn’t really react until she took off the cap and glasses and he seemed to realize, with horror, that it was Lois.
After a second of discomfort, Lois seemed to actually start getting into it and tried to actually pole dance. Which resulted in a bunch of guys calling out, “bra, bra…” and Lois rolling her eyes.
Then, she looked out across the room and her eyes met Clark’s. Immediately, he blushed and averted his face so she couldn’t see him, but it was too late. She started to make her way down to him.
“I’d salute to that any time. Let’s give up for our red-blooded recruit,” the announcer intoned through the loudspeaker.
Lois walked over to Clark slowly, clearly attempting not to look obvious while she zeroed in on him. She came behind his chair and swept her hair off her shoulder. Kneeling down so she could speak in his ear, she asked, “What are you doing here?”
“What are YOU doing here?” He shot back.
Lois looked over and saw one of the club’s bouncers come over to take a look at them more closely. She smiled nervously and went around to block Clark from his line of vision. Clark turned and got an eye-full of her chest and immediately averted his gaze.
She grinned. “It’s Chloe’s fault. We’re following a murder story.”
“Well, that makes two of us. But I think I’ll stick to my method.”
Lois glanced over her shoulder and saw the bouncer look at them again, so she turned around and settled himself onto his lap. Clark immediately jumped up and tried to pull back, looking around to see if anyone had noticed them. She rolled her eyes and grabbed his face back to her.
“You’re going to get me fired if you keep looking at me like I’m Jabba the Hut,” she said through gritted teeth.
Clark glanced at her chest and then away. “What do you want me to do?”
“Oh…I don’t know,” Lois pretended to think. “Give me a twenty and meet me out back.” She thrust her bra in his face so he could slip it in.
Clark’s eyes widened as he looked her over. “Uhh… um...” He gaze skittered down to her shorts and he reached into his jacket to pull a folded note. His hand hovered over her breasts and then her shorts. He hesitated and then glanced at her chest again.
Finally, Lois rolled her eyes and grabbed the money from him, tucking it into her bra. She made a face and got off of him. Clark let out a sigh of relief and then he glanced at her retreating back, discreetly adjusting his pants.
Zatanna burst out laughing. “Oh that was fantastic. What a memory!”
“Zee, if you tell anyone about this, I’ll kill you,” Lois said, shooting her a look. “I was undercover!”
Before Zatanna could reply the scene around them became hazy and out of focus. When things were clear again, they were at Lois’s talon apartment.
“What? How did we get here?” Chloe asked, looking around with a puzzled frown. “Where was the wind and bright lights?”
“Shhh!” Zatanna said, pointing at a younger version of Clark and Lois talking to each other. “I think it’s the same memory.”
“Clark! Look, I’m not great at this so just keep your mouth shut and listen up,” Lois ordered.
Clark looked confused.
“Even though I was kicking butt out there on the helicopter, it was really nice to have back-up. And you didn’t have to come after me, you always do. So, I wanted to say thank you. You’re a really good friend.”
Clark smiled a bit and made a motion to leave.
“Oh, and about the lap dance. If you decide to tell anyone about it? Your Elmer Fudd nightlight is going to make a very public appearance.”
Clark gave her a half smile and swallowed. He turned to walk away and said, “Aye-aye,” then he turned around at the door and smiled. “Sailor.”
The gust of wind blew through the room and the bright lights started up again. Instinctively, the three woman grabbed each other’s hands and were still holding on to each other when they hit the ground.
“Ow,” Lois said, sitting up and wincing. “Can’t you make your spells less painful?”
Zatanna rubbed her hip ruefully. “I wish. Magic is an iffy science, Lois. You just gotta roll with it.”
They all stood up and looked around.
“Oh,well, this is easy,” Chloe commented, with a grin. “It’s the loft. I wonder what this memory is? You didn’t get on in here, did you?”
“No,” Lois responded hastily.
Zatanna gave her a look. “I don’t get it. In the last memory, you gave him a lap-dance and it ended on such a G rated note. Aren’t any of his memories of the rated R variety? Or, at least, PG-13?”
Lois clenched her jaw. “He better not. I really don’t need to stand around with two of my closest friends watching a porno starring me.”
At that point, they saw Clark walk up the stairs and sit down at on the futon in the middle of the room. He was looking at a card in his hand, looking very sad.
“Oh, I know that face,” Lois said. “That’s the Lana face.”
At that moment, they saw Lois’s younger self walk up the stairs and join him.
”I thought you’d be outside Lana’s door with your binoculars by now,” she said.
Lois turned to Zatanna and Chloe. “See, what did I tell you?”
Clark looked at Lois, clearly not amused. “I appreciate your concern, Lois, but Lana and I are none of your business.”
“Please, Smallville, I’ve had three exes put under military surveillance.”
Clark glanced up at that, startled.
“I know I’m not really qualified to dish out post-relationship tact, but it’s time for some tough love. Lana’s going to move on.”
“She already has,” he said, turning to walk away from her. “With Lex.”
Lois followed him. “And it sucks. But you’ve got to trust your gut that you did this for a reason. Whatever reason guys have for dumping smart, hot, fun girls these days.”
Clark was quiet.
“Look, give her some space, Clark. Your whole night stalker routine? That’s going to ruin any of the good feelings she has for you.”
“If there are any,” Clark said, moping once again.
Lois perched onto the arm of the sofa. “Look, sometimes you have to tuck your feelings away until it’s the right time. Like stuffing dollars into a piggy bank for a bike you can’t afford.”
Clark looked up at her. “Except I can’t quite imagine that there is anyone else out there.”
“Well, you never know, Clark. Maybe when you finally crack open that piggy bank, you’ll find that – all this time – you weren’t really saving for a bike. You’ve been saving for a Harley.”
Clark looked at her and smiled slightly. “There are times where I think you don’t know me, at all.” He shook his head. “And others where I think you know me better than anyone.”
Lois avoided his gaze a little. “Well, that’s what I’m here for Smallville. One save at a time.” Then she grinned at him.
The lights came on and, this time, all three girls immediately sat down, in hopes that it would cushion the blow. It worked, because the next place they landed up, they were already sitting.
Chloe glanced around. “OK, lovely. A dark alley. How many more of these do we have, anyway?”
“Well, the first one was the football, right?” Zatanna asked. “And the next one was the American flag? Right, Amber Waves?” she snickered, turning to Lois.
Lois made a face. “Very funny.”
“And we got the motor-cycle. He meant Harley,” Chloe pointed out. “What does that leave? The snake, the rose, and the green arrow?”
Lois stood up and looked around. She watched as her younger self came into the alley, talking on her cell phone, and then starting to beat it up against a dumpster.
“It can’t be,” she said faintly. “How does he have this memory? That doesn’t make any sense.”
The three women watched as the younger version of Lois was mugged and Jimmy tried to help her. Lois turned to her cousin and saw that she had a tender smile on her face, a tear glinting in her eye.
“I’m sorry, Chlo,” she whispered. “You OK?”
Chloe brushed away a tear. “Yeah, I’m fine. He was really brave, huh?”
“Yes, he was,” Lois responded immediately. She grasped a hold of Chloe’s hand and squeezed. “He was a great friend.”
They watched as the fake Green Arrow made his appearance. He fought off their attackers.
He helped Lois to her feet and she grinned up at him.
“Your secret’s safe with me, Oliver,” she said with a smile. And then she kissed him. After a moment, she seemed to realize he wasn’t Oliver, because she stopped and pulled back.
“That’s one hell of a thank you,” Oliver said, in an amused voice.
Lois glanced at Oliver and then back at the Green Arrow. After a second, she slapped him.
Lois turned to Zatanna and Chloe. “Oh my God, I know why he has this memory. I mean, Oliver had him do it.”
She turned back to watch the scene unfolding before them, but the scene had moved with Clark and now she stood, face to face, with his memories' counter-part. Lois watched as he stopped next to a building and ripped of the Arrow’s glasses. His green eyes were bright and he was breathing heavily. After a second, a dazed smile spread across his face.
Lois raised her hands to her lips. “Oh… sheesh….”
“What is it?” Chloe asked.
“Yeah, tell, tell,” Zatanna said.
“It was our first kiss,” Lois uttered faintly. “This was the first time we kissed. I didn’t even know it.”
Before either of the two women could comment, the scene faded a bit and was replaced by the Talon. Lois was sitting on the sofa and Chloe was standing next to Clark, teasing him about something.
Clark looked uncomfortable and gave Chloe a look that made it clear he wanted her to shut up.
“It’s a good thing Oliver showed up when he did. Then you knew for sure.” Clark said.
“Oh she knew even before he showed up,” Chloe broke in.
“You did?”
Lois grinned and nodded.
Chloe smiled up at Clark. “Ask her how?”
Clark turned to Lois. “How?”
“I kissed him,” Lois admitted.
“Isn’t that romantic?” Chloe asked, with a grin.
Clark took a deep breath.
“Oh, I’m sorry, Lois. Finish the story.”
Clark tried to stop her, but Chloe put her hand on his chest. “This is the best part.”
“Well, he was holding me in his arms… Ollie’s a good kisser, don’t get me wrong. But that Green Arrow?” Lois stood up and looked at Clark over her mug. “He could teach Ollie a thing or two.”
The wind blew again and the bright lights started. Again, all three women sat down quickly, holding onto each other for support, closing their eyes.
When they opened them again, Lois said, “Oh, OK, the Kents’ kitchen. This is a nice change of pace.”
“Uhh… Lois?” Chloe pointed to the entry way. “You might want to revise that opinion.”
Lois turned and gasped. A slightly younger, sluttier, version of her stood in front of Clark. A very surprised Clark.
Lois eyes widened in horror. “What’s going on? I don’t have any recollection of this. When did this… OH!!” Her hands clasped over her mouth.
“What, what’s going on?” Zatanna asked Chloe, amused by Lois’s breakdown.
“She was under the influence of a love potion,” Chloe explained. “She doesn’t remember what happened. I guess now she can.”
“Ohh… maybe this one will finally be rated R.”
Lois shot her a dirty look and focused on the scene before her.
Lois grabbed the pitcher out of Clark’s hand and set it down. She picked up his hand and started stroking it. “Wow,” she said breathlessly. “How did I not notice what big, strong hands you have?”
Clark let out a nervous laughter and pulled his hand out of her grasp. “Ah… what’s going on Lois?”
“Well, you know me. I’m not very good with words, so…” she pulled out a CD and handed it to him.
Clark looked down at the cover and then flipped it to the back.
“People don’t think Whitesnake makes power ballads, but they do,” Lois explained.
Clark tapped it against his hand and grinned. “You made me a mixed CD.”
Lois nodded and beamed. “Yeah.”
Clark gave her a confused look, with a slightly bemused smile.
“I will kill you if you tell anyone this, but there’s nothing I like more than dancing with some big, strong arms around me,” Lois punctuated the big and strong by grabbing his hands and putting them around her waist.
“Oh my God, make it stop!!” Lois closed her eyes and covered her ears. She was flushing bright red. “I am going to KILL him. I cannot believe he knows this and I don’t. I can’t believe he actually picked a memory like THIS for a charm. I’m going to take that bracelet and shove it up his….”
Chloe pulled her hands off her ears. “Lois, Lois!! We’re at a different part of the memory now.”
Lois cracked open her eyes and saw them talking in the loft. She remembered this conversation.
“No, Lois,” he said, with a shake of his head. “I think I’d remember.”
Lois let out a sigh of relief. “Of course you would.” She punched him in the arm slightly. “Highlight of your life.”
“Though… I did find something.” He went to his desk and opened a drawer. He pulled out the CD and handed it to her. “I think you made it for me.”
Lois looked down at the CD in surprise. “Whitesnake? Wow…” she glanced up at him. “I must have really liked you.”
Clark had been smiling, but then he stopped as the two stared at each other.
This time, Lois was prepared and sat down on the couch before they could travel to the next memory. It didn’t matter much, because she was dropped, unceremoniously, to the floor when they materialized in a florist’s shop.
“Well, given our setting, I’m gonna go out on a limb here and say that this is the memory behind the rose charm,” Zatanna said airily.
Chloe shot Zatanna an irritated look as she helped Lois get up. “What gave it away?”
Lois looked around and saw Clark walk into the store.
After a moment of wandering around a saleswoman seemed to take pity on him and asked him if she could help.
“Um, yeah, I’m looking for flowers…” he explained sheepishly. He looked adorably confused.
The saleswoman smiled. “OK, well, then you’re at the right place. First of all, what’s the occasion?”
“She’s in the hospital,” he explained.
“Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that!” She exclaimed.
“Oh no,” he responded hurriedly. “She’s fine. She’s getting out today.”
The woman nodded. “OK, so you want to get her a “get well soon” arrangement.”
“Noo…” he shook his head. “I… want it to be more than that.”
The saleswoman nodded knowingly. “Who is she?”
“She’s….” Clark hesitated, as though searching for words. “She’s my partner. At work. But she’s also my best friend. We’ve known each other for years. She… I mean… she’s more than just my friend,” he paused and looked down, his cheeks tinged in red. “She’s the most important person in my life.”
“Red roses,” the saleswoman declared immediately. “Symbolizing passion and love. Classic.”
Clark’s eyes widened in alarm. “No! I can’t give her that, yet.” He shook his head. “It’s not the right time…. She doesn’t know….”
“Right, of course,” she nodded in agreement. “You’re right. Not the right time and place to go for the red.”
She walked towards the display of roses in the corner and stopped. “What about white? It’s the roses that symbolize purity and….”
“Purity?” Clark interrupted dubiously. “I don’t know… pure is not exactly a word that comes to mind when I think of her.”
She smiled. “There are some people who say it symbolizes hope. And it conveys a message that you’re asking this person to see you as someone who is worthy of love and it shows that you have that hope she will.” She paused. “Take my advice. Give her the white roses now. And, then, when you’re ready, you can give her the red.”
Clark stroked one of the delicate white petals. “A symbol of hope?”
“Yes.”
“OK,” he said. “I want to send her five dozen.”
The saleswoman’s eyes widened. “FIVE dozen?”
“Yes,” he replied decisively. “One for each year she’s been in my life.”
The wind blew again and all three girls huddled together as they landed, for the last time, at their destination. Stunned, they sat silently for a moment.
Lois finally broke the silence. “A red rose. The bracelet has a red rose." She teared up a bit.
“I have to say, I’m impressed.” Zatanna stood up and dusted herself off. “Clark’s good. That bracelet? Total panty remover.”
Chloe groaned. “Zee… mental image. My brain. Don’t.”
Lois took a deep breath and turned to Zatanna. “Look, normally I’m totally against your mumbo-jumbo, but I need you to do me a favor.”
“What?”
“Wipe my mind of everything we just saw.”
Chloe started. “What?”
“Actually, wipe your minds, too,” Lois added. “That was kind of personal and I don’t need you guys to know about it.”
Zatanna blinked. “I could… but why do you want me to?”
Lois glanced down at the bracelet in her hand. “Because Smallville went through a lot of trouble to put this gift together. It means something to him. And the first time I find out what it means, I want him to be the one telling me.”
Zatanna turned to Chloe and shrugged. “OK, as you wish.” She reached out and grasped Chloe’s arm and Lois’s hand.
Christmas morning….
“OK, it’s been long enough. Gimme, gimme,” Lois said, settling down in front of the fireplace with Clark.
Clark grinned and pulled out the small box from his pocket. “I can’t believe you didn’t find it.”
“I can’t either,” Lois responded. “I’m kind of disappointed in myself, actually. Where’d you hide it?”
“Chloe’s office.” Clark handed her the small box with a grin. “I thought for sure, though, that you’d get Chloe to spill.”
Lois looked puzzled. “Yeah, I don’t know why, but the thought never occurred to me to check with her.” She chewed on her bottom lip for a second but then shrugged. She took the box eagerly and ripped open the wrapping.
Clark laughed. “Lois, gentle isn’t in your vocabulary, is it?”
Lois made a face. “If I don’t have re-wrap this thing, what’s the point of being gentle?” She opened the white lid and took out the cotton to reveal the delicate contents. Lois hooked one finger in the jewelry and held it up. She gave Clark a puzzled look. “Um… it’s a charm bracelet.”
“Yes.” Clark nodded.
“Um…” Lois placed it back in the box. “Thanks.”
Clark’s eyes twinkled in amusement. “I know you’re not a jewelry person. But this is… I wanted to get you a gift that meant something. Had a deeper meaning.”
“So you got me something a twelve year old would wear?”
Clark laughed and pulled out the bracelet. “Can you, at least, look at it?”
Lois pursed her lips and looked at the bracelet more closely. “OK, well….” Lois examined the delicate white gold charms dangling from the chain. The charms weren’t just white gold – some had colored gems in them. “There’s a football, an arrow, a snake, a motorcycle, a rose, and an American flag.” She shot him a confused look. “OK, is there a deeper meaning to these things? Because, I gotta say - other than the football - none of this screams Lois Lane.”
Clark gazed at her for a minute. “It’s not supposed to scream Lois Lane. It’s supposed to scream Clark and Lois.”
“Huh?”
“Lois and Clark,” he added. He took her hand. “Each of those charms symbolizes a defining moment in our relationship – a moment where I was forced to stop and think about how I feel about you. And I would get one step closer to this moment… this moment right now.”
Lois’s eyes travelled from him to the bracelet and then back to him again. “All right, then. You’re going to have to walk me through this trip down memory lane.”
And, so, he did. And Lois listened….
