By Abigail Jolie (hazlett@sprynet.com)
Summary: Lois and Clark invite both sets of families to their place for Christmas — and Lois finds the perfect gift for Clark. A follow-up to the author's fanfic "Thanksgiving Hunger." Author's Note: This is a kind of follow up to my story Thanksgiving Hunger. If you haven't read T.H. it's not big deal. This story will make sense anyway. Disclaimers claim this spot. Any L&C club or newsletter that wants to use this story can do so. Just E-mail me so I know. Thanks!
***
"Clark?" said a sleepy Lois as she reached for her husband who should have been next to her in bed. He wasn't. She opened her eyes and saw in the early morning light that his side of the was bed empty.
"Oh! Why do those stupid people have to get into trouble around the clock?" she asked aloud. "Why can't they leave me my husband just for the night?"
She was about to fall back to sleep when she heard that familiar whoosh' and opened her eyes a crack. Clark spun into his work clothes and looked at Lois. She shut her eyes again; the last thing she wanted to do was get up.
"Lois," said Clark.
'Damn he knew I was up,' thought Lois and then she said "Oh, I don't want to get up, Clark!"
He sat down next to her. "Come on, you get up and I'll fix breakfast."
"Oh, Fine!" she said as she sat up.
"Good." he said with a smile and kissed her softly. She pulled him to her and responded a little less gently.
"Lois, do you want breakfast or not?" he asked when she finally came up for air.
"I'd rather have you," said Lois with a grin, "but go ahead, make breakfast." She released him.
***
"Clark, I was thinking," said Lois and leaned against his desk. "Maybe we should have both our families come to *our* house for Christmas."
Clark raised his eyebrows at her." You feeling okay, Lois?"
"Yes!" she said, "I just think it would be nice to have a big family Christmas."
Clark put his hand on Lois' forehead.
"Funny, Clark." she said. "Just listen. I mean, we went to your parents house for Thanksgiving, and I think my mom was a little hurt and after all she *is* my mom so I think it would be nice to have her and Lucy as well as your folks over for Christmas."
"What about your dad?" asked Clark.
"Oh, he'll be in Hong Kong." she said with a wave of her hand. "So what do you think?" she asked.
"If that's what you want, Lois…"
"It is." She interrupted.
"Well then, it's fine with me," said Clark with a smile. He loved big family get-togethers, especially around the holidays.
"Thank you, Clark!"
***
"Okay, here's the deal," said Lois as she hung up the phone. "My mom is coming two days before Christmas, Lucy will be here a *week* before your parents, who are coming two days before my mom."
Clark rolled his eyes." You sure you want to do this?" he asked.
***
"So, who all is left on your list?" asked Clark.
They had been at the mall for three and a half hours and he was getting a little tired of it all.
"Just you." said Lois who was about seven times as sick of being there as Clark was "And I'm not quite sure *what* I'm getting you, so we can go home."
"Good." said Clark, "And if you want to know what I want I'll show you."
Lois looked at him expectantly.
He put his hands on her shoulders, turned her around so she was facing a mirror in one of the store windows, leaned down and whispered in her ear. I've already got the best gift in the world, your love."
"Oh, you are *so* sweet!" said Lois turning back to him and placing her hands on his chest; she stood up on tip- toes and kissed him firmly on the lips. "I really do love you *a lot*"
"Hmm," he said against her mouth. "I love you just as much and more."
***
Lois woke up the next morning, December 14th, feeling not-so-well. She ran to the bathroom and threw up. Clark was out somewhere saving the world, as he had been for the past few days. Which was how long she'd been throwing up. He'd only been there with her once and she hadn't told him about the other times because he had been worried and as far as she was concerned he had enough to deal with already (December was a busy crime month).
As she brushed her teeth Lois' mind started working to figure out when she would be over this bout of what, up until now, she thought was the flu. Her eyes widened at the thought that had just formed in her head.
She rinsed out her mouth and went to the living room. She checked the clock: 8:15, Clark must have turned off the alarm. Good thing it was Saturday.
Lois grabbed Clark's appointment book. She flipped through it. "Here we go. He's meeting that old friend of his for lunch at 1:00. That should work." She picked up the phone and dialed a number. "Hello Dr. Higgins' office? This is Lois Lane. Do you think you could squeeze me in around 1:00?" she asked hopefully. Maybe she would have the perfect gift for Clark after all.
***
"Lois," said Clark as he knelt next to her in the bathroom. "Are you sure the doctor said you'd be all right?".
"Yes." said Lois simply. She hated to lie to him. But Christmas was still eleven days away and she wouldn't ruin her gift by telling him everything now.
"Okay well, maybe you should stay home from work tomorrow." he said rubbing her back tenderly.
"Right!" said Lois as she stood up. "Lucy is coming in today and there's no way I'm spending all day tomorrow with her. I'm sure I'd lose it."
"Your mind or your lunch?" teased Clark.
Lois rolled her eyes, but said nothing.
***
Clark had to give Lois credit, She didn't lose it (her mind that is) until Christmas Eve.
"CLARK!!!" called Lois as she stormed into their bedroom. "Why did you let me talk you into this!"
Clark came out from the bathroom and gave Lois a look.
Lois ignored it. "She's driving me nuts!"
"Which one?" asked Clark.
Lois glared at him. "Lucy!"
"How?" asked Clark.
"She's hogging your mom." said Lois.
Clark laughed.
Lois smiled sheepishly, "Well, with my mom and your dad at the supermarket and you up here, your mom's the only one left to talk to. And Lucy's hogging her! And I'm lonely without you."
Clark wrapped her in his arms, "I can fix that." he said.
"How?" she asked smiling seductively.
"I'm done in the shower, I'll come downstairs," he said and started for the door.
"You're no fun, farm boy!" Lois called and followed him downstairs.
***
It was 10:30. Lois sat with her back against Clark who sat on their couch. Martha and Ellen were exchanging stories from Lois and Clark's childhood.
Jonathan and Lucy were talking about farm life.
Clark was rubbing Lois' stomach. She knew he was unaware of the significance of what he was doing but it still made her smile.
"So, did you find me a present or do I just get you?" he asked. "Either way I'm happy."
She placed her hand on his and closed her eyes leaning her head back on his shoulder. "Yeah, I found something I think you'll love as much as me."
***
Lois opened her eyes and looked at the clock. 7:01 a.m. She should have been sick by now but she felt fine. Maybe nature was giving her a Christmas break. Lois turned herself over (which was no small task, because Clark's strong arms held her.) She looked up at Clark's face. He was still sleeping.
'God, is he ever handsome,' she thought to herself.
She slid up a little so her face was next to his. Slowly she ran her tongue over his lips. He opened his mouth and she kissed him passionately. This (of course) woke him up.
"God, Lois, would you get me up like that everyday?" he asked and rolled onto his back taking Lois with him so she was laying on top of him.
"Merry Christmas." she said and bent her head down to kiss his chest.
He pulled her head back up and kissed her hungrily. "Same to you." He said. "So, how long until we have to be downstairs to open presents?"
"I think we agreed on 9:00." said Lois.
"Hmm, what are we going to do for two hours?" he asked innocently.
"Actually, Clark, I was sort of hoping you'd open my gift now." she said seriously.
"Fine by me," he said and reached for the buttons of her pajama top. She grabbed his hand. "Clark, I'm being serious."
"Oh," he said, smiling." Okay."
"Good." she said and got off the bed, she went over to her dresser and pulled out a package. She walked back over to the bed. "At least sit up." she said.
He did as she asked. Lois handed him the gift and remained standing.
Clark opened the card; it said simply: "You'll Need This." He was becoming more curious by the second. He opened the wrapping paper to find a small, but thick, pale yellow book. On the front two small navy blue words read: BABY NAMES.
Clark's jaw dropped. He looked up at Lois, then at the card on the bed, then at the book in his hand and back at Lois, who was smiling.
"Are…are we…you…are you *pregnant*?" he stammered.
"Yeah." she smiled softly at him and placed her hand on her middle.
Clark looked completely shocked." How…how did this happen?" he asked.
"What do you mean 'how did this happen?'," said Lois. " Mr. 'what are we going to do for two hours?'"
Clark smiled, "I know *how* it happened. I meant *when* did it happen?"
"Hmm." said Lois " Do you remember a certain Thanksgiving hunger you seem to suffer from? One that doesn't involve food?" she asked him wryly.
"How long have you known?" he asked.
Lois could see he was still in shock. "Since the 14th. The due date's in August. Clark, are you okay?"
"I don't know." he said. "I feel like I'm dreaming."
Lois smiled, "You're not." she said. She leaned over and took his hand. She placed it on her middle.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Thank you, Lois."
"If I'm remembering correctly you had a *lot* to do with this too." She said and laughed.
Clark slid off the bed and onto his knees. He took her hands in his and pressed both sets to her stomach. "So, right now *our* baby is growing right there inside you."
"Didn't they teach you all this in school?" she teased.
He looked up at her and smiled. There were unshed tears shining in his eyes.
"Oh, Clark, don't cry. You'll start me up." said Lois her voice already wavering.
He stood up, picking her up with him and swinging her in a circle. "God, I love you, Lois." he said. Slowing he brought her mouth to his. He kissed her like never before expressing all his emotions through the kiss. His mouth was all over hers but his hands stayed at her waist.
***
Martha climbed the stairs and knocked on Lucy's door.
"Time to get up, Lucy. Breakfast is ready."
There was a sort of groan from Lucy's room.
Martha smiled and went to Ellen's room. "Ellen? It's Martha, breakfast is ready."
"I know," called Ellen "I can smell it. Can't wait. I'll be down in a moment."
"Okay." said Martha.
Her and Jonathan's room was next but Jonathan was downstairs already so she went to Lois and Clark's room instead. She heard them laughing rather loudly. "Lois? Clark?" she said.
"Come on in, mom." came Clark's voice.
Martha opened their door.
They sat dressed for the day on their bed. Clark's hand was on Lois' stomach, they were reading a pale yellow book. Obviously there was something very funny in it.
"Morning, Martha." said Lois.
"Morning, Mom," said Clark.
"Good morning you two. Breakfast is ready." said Martha.
Lois closed the book and put it on Clark's bedside table. The two got up and followed Martha. Clark walked behind Lois his hand still slung over her middle.
In the hall Ellen joined them.
"I'll wake up Lucy." said Lois. "She's not a morning person."
"Thanks, honey," said Martha.
Lois removed Clark's hand from her mid-section (She actually had to *pry* it off) and went to Lucy's room.
Martha noticed her son's strange behavior continue through breakfast and while everyone opened presents; he hardly took his hand off Lois' stomach the whole time.
Apparently she wasn't the only one who noticed this. As they were cleaning up the wrapping paper and boxes Lucy spoke. "Okay, this is driving me nuts."
"What?" asked Lois.
"Clark," continued Lucy. "does Lois' stomach have magnetic power over your hand or something? 'Cause, you haven't moved it more than four times all morning and even then it was never away for more than a minute."
Lois burst out laughing. "You go ahead and explain, Clark," said Lois when she was calmer. "It was your present."
"Well," he said beaming. "I'm merely protecting our unborn child."
Four jaws dropped.(making that morning's jaw- dropping total, five).
Then Clark's hand was pulled away from Lois and they were hugged and kissed and patted. Martha, Ellen and Lucy did some sort of weird screaming thing and Jonathan's hand suddenly felt the magnetic power of Lois' mid-section.
***
That night Clark had to go help with a car wreck, so Lois fell asleep alone. Around 1:30 she heard him come home.
He slid into bed and pulled her close placing his hand on her middle.
"Clark, do you plan to keep your hand there for the whole pregnancy?" she asked.
"Maybe," he said snuggling as close as he could to Lois.
She shook her head.
"It really is amazing, our child, Lois, created from our love." said Clark. "I do love you *so* much, Lois ."he added softly.
"I love *you*, Clark Kent, just as much and more." said Lois.
"Thanks for the best Christmas present ever," he said and kissed the top of her head.
"You're welcome." she said. "And it's homemade."
Clark chuckled. "Well, they say those are the best kind."
THE END :-)
(Oh I know, Abigail Jolie queen of fluff. Well I never said it was good <G>)
(homemade.txt)