By Vanna <vsantana@br.homeshopping.com.br>
Rated: G
Submitted January 2, 1998
Summary: What if Lois hadn't said 'No' to Lex in the episode "Fall of the House of Luthor" and Perry, Jimmy and Jack were an hour or so later in arriving with Inspector Henderson?
NOTE: This story takes place at the end of season one when Lois is going to marry Lex. I also made some changes in the original plot but nothing too harmful.
***
Clark could still remember that day at the Planet when Lois told him Lex had asked her to marry him and that she was actually going to think about it. It had happened so fast like a bad dream that you can't wake up from.
First the end of the Daily Planet, then Lois said 'yes' to Lex Luthor. When he decided to tell her he was in love with her, she not only said she thought she was in love with Lex but she also asked him to contact Superman. But what hurt him the most was listening to her saying "If you had _no_ powers… if you were just an ordinary man leading an ordinary life, I'd love you just the same. Can't you believe that?" Now there was nothing he could do. Perhaps if Superman had said he loved her too she wouldn't marry that monster. But as much as he hated seeing Lois with Lex he wouldn't allow himself to do such a thing.
After everything he'd told her how could she ask him to go to that stupid wedding. He had tried to keep himself busy investigating the 'accident' of the Planet's destruction but, even with Perry, Jimmy and Jack there to help, they hadn't had enough time to prove Lex Luthor had blown up the Daily Planet… at least not enough time to stop the wedding.
Clark had two hours 'till the wedding. He had cleaned the whole apartment, patrolled the whole world twice and pressed all his costumes. Not having anything else to keep his mind off the wedding he decide to make his folks a quick visit.
"I don't know what else to do, mom," Clark said, taking one long sip of the glass of milk his mother had poured to him.
"Honey, I think she would be pleased to see you there at the wedding. I understand that you don't want to go and I really hate to tell you this but not going will not prevent her marrying him."
"Mom, I told her that I love her and she said she only loved me as a friend. What am I going to do at the wedding? Shake Lex's hand and say 'I hope you'll be happy!' No way I'm going to do that!"
"That's not what we're saying, son. We are only saying that she probably expects you to be there for her this time too. You never know what will happen, that's all," Jonathan said, putting an arm over his son's shoulder.
"Do you really think I should go to this wedding?" Clark asked, looking into his parents eyes as they both nodded. With that Clark whooshed out of the window into the sky, toward Metropolis. Clark landed in his apartment balcony and quickly changed into his tuxedo and headed for the door.
Clark entered the chapel right on time. The room was full of people, most of whom he had never seen before. Not seeing Perry, Jimmy or Jack anywhere, Clark found a place in the last row where he sat quietly. In only a couple of minutes the music started playing, the doors opened and there she was, as beautiful as ever in a white dress. It was even a simple one, considering she was marrying a guy who was always trying to get attention from everyone.
Clark wasn't paying much attention to the ceremony. He was just thinking of the wonderful times he and Lois had had together in the last year and how they they had become best friends. When Clark came back to Earth, the first thing he heard was a low, unsure female voice saying 'I do'. If Clark hadn't been so lost in his thoughts, he would have seen Lois' searching eyes and the uncertainty shining through her eyes before her weak 'I do'. Lex planted a light kiss on Lois' lips, hooked her arm on his and started walking down the aisle as cheering faces greeted the passage of the new couple.
All Clark could permit himself to do was look down at his feet in disgust and try to get away from here, hoping Lois hadn't seen him. It was in this exact moment Lois spotted a tall and very handsome man with framed glasses and recognized him as her partner. At the reception, Lois was always looking over people's shoulders but Clark wasn't anywhere to be found. Almost every guest had greeted the new couple, the band had played the first song and yet not a sign of Clark. Lois had lost her hopes completely and was now in the midst of a bunch of ladies. She was wondering where they had appeared from when someone gently placed one hand on her shoulder.
She slowly turned around and, to her surprise, there was the one she longed to talk to.
"Hi!" she said happily hugging him. "I thought you said you wouldn't come," she said with a fading smile.
"Yeah, well, I didn't have anything to do at home anyway," he said, with a playful smile. The one she hadn't seen in a long time.
"So, where are Perry and Jimmy and Jack and Cat?"
"Cat went to Los Angeles. She got a great offer from LA Times last week. And as for Perry and the others, I have no idea," he said, shaking his head. For a long time their eyes locked. Each one knew they had so much to say to the other but neither spoke a word. Clark's eyes started to wander all over Lois' body as he cupped her face with his right hand. He pulled her close to plant a small kiss on her cheek and then hugged her.
"Clark?" Lois spoke in his ear.
"Hmm?"
"Do you wanna dance?" she asked, breaking their hug. Clark hadn't even noticed the soft voice of the woman singing. A lot of couples were already on the dance floor but everyone noticed when the bride and her partner stepped onto it.
#You give your hand to me And then you say hello And I can hardly speak My heart is beating so And anyone can tell You think you know me well But you don't know me
Clark put his arms around her waist and pulled her closer, without realizing he was doing so. For a moment, he thought Lois would pull back but instead he heard a low moan coming from the back of her throat.
#No you don't know the one Who dreams of you at night And longs to kiss your lips Longs to hold you tight Oh I am just a friend That's all I've ever been Cause you don't know me
What had started at just an innocent dance started to get everyone's attention. Over the crowd, there were comments; "How close Lois is to him" or "If I hadn't been at the ceremony, I would think he was the groom." But neither of the dancing couple cared about what people would think and Lois regretted even more her last words to the archbishop.
#I never knew the art of making love No my heart aches with love for you Afraid and shy I let my chance go by The chance that you might love me too
Even the comments meant nothing to Lois or Clark. It was really getting on Lex's nerves. Although what he was about to do would be considered impolite, he couldn't bear to see her dancing with Clark like that. As calmly as possible, Lex walked towards the dancing couple and gently tapped Clark's shoulder. With a small smile, Clark backed off to allow Luthor to dance with his wife and slowly walked away.
#You give your hand to me And then you say goodbye I watch you walk away beside the lucky guy Oh you will never know The one who loves you so Well you don't know me
Clark was about to leave the room when he met Perry and inspector Henderson in the hall. It was a little late to stop the wedding but not too late to bring Luthor down. After that dance with Lois, he knew she wouldn't be too upset with him for putting her husband in jail.
"Are you okay, son?" Perry asked with an expression of worry.
"I'm fine. Did you get everything we need?"
"Everything and I'm here to put Lex in jail," Inspector Henderson said, motioning to his men to invade the room where the party was being held.
"Chief, I'm going home. Okay?"
"Sure."
The music stopped playing instantly as Henderson walked into the room. When he had everyone's attention, he began to read Luthor's rights as stunned faces watched him.
"This must be a joke," Lex said, smiling.
"No, Mr. Luthor, this is not a joke. I have a warrant here charging you with arson and other crimes too numerous to mention."
"Sorry, Lois. I'll have to take a rain check. I'm afraid something's come up."
With that Lex quickly looked around and ran in the direction of the emergency door behind him, Henderson's men following him quickly. Perry approached Lois who didn't seem to be too upset about what just happened, as if she'd already known that Clark and Perry and the others would get him.
"Lois?"
"Yes"
"Is everything fine?"
"Yeah, I guess." After a moment in silence, she continued, "I don't know, Perry. I think I should be feeling something but I'm not. I'm just…I don't know."
Perry took her arm and led her to the exit. "Let's get out of here."
By this time Lex had climbed to his penthouse and stepped to the edge of the balcony looking down.
"It's over, Luthor. Give yourself up."
Looking down once again, he responded, "Lex Luthor will not live in a cage."
"No, Luthor!"
Lois met Jimmy and Jack on the side walk and greeted them both.
"Perry, I'm really tired. I'm gonna go home."
"Did you know this is the tallest building in Metropolis? The top of the World!" Lex yelled as he jumped off the edge, directly to the Metropolis sidewalk.
"Luthor!"
Clark picked up Henderson's scream. In a flash he got up from the chair in his parents' farm house, spun into the red and blue suit and, faster than a speeding bullet, flew to Metropolis. But Superman wasn't fast enough to save Lex's life. Clark didn't know if it was because he'd almost hit an airplane on his way to Metropolis or if a small part of him hadn't really been eager to save that man.
Superman stayed a while, trying to help Inspector Henderson with what ever he needed. As soon as the officer dismissed him, he ran to the nearest alley to change into his civilian clothes. Within a couple of hours, he was facing Lois' apartment door, wondering if he should knock or not. He decided to knock. He knew that her mother was in town for the wedding and maybe his appearance would be considered a rescue.
"Oh, Hi!" Lois said as she opened the door.
"Hi. Are you okay? I just heard about what happened on the radio."
"I'm fine," she said, stepping back to allow him to enter. Quickly looking he noticed all the lights were down and with the sun setting, the room was getting a light twilight color.
"Are you alone?"
"Yeah. My mother got tired to talk to herself and left an hour ago," she said, sitting on the couch and motioning to him to do the same.
"I'm sorry about what happened, really," Clark said, cupping her face. For the second time in the same day, their eyes locked and once again, neither of them said a word. Slowly Clark bent down to kiss her but when their lips were only inches apar,t Lois broke off and abruptly stood up.
"You know, as a matter of fact I'm tired. I think I should lay down a little, take a nap," she said walking to the door and opening it for him.
"I think you should," he said as he got up from the couch and walked toward the door. "If you need anything just call me. Okay?"
"Okay." Lois closed the door and as she heard his steps getting further away, she regretted doing so. "I think I will have to wait to see how things will be," she said to herself as she walked to her bedroom.
THE END
The song from the wedding is Jann Arden's "You Don't Know Me", and, guess what? It's on the "My Best Friend's Wedding" soundtrack.